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Tag: Georgia Bulldogs football

  • Indiana grabs top seed in College Football Playoff. Alabama and Miami make it, Notre Dame left out

    Nobody paying attention over the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana leading the way into this year’s College Football Playoff.

    But anyone paying attention over the last 24 hours knew the only sure thing beyond the Hoosiers was that the playoff selection committee was destined to get picked apart when it released the pairings for this season’s 12-team bracket on Sunday.

    Most of that second-guessing came from Notre Dame, which was passed over in favor of Alabama and Miami for two of the bracket’s bubble spots. The Fighting Irish dropped two notches in the CFP rankings over the last two weeks, to No. 11, despite a 10-game winning streak, winning their finale by 29 points and simply sitting on the couch Saturday.

    “There is no explanation that could possibly be given to explain the outcome,” Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports, hours after the bracket was revealed and Notre Dame said it would skip bowl season altogether. “We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes.”

    Notre Dame’s loss was Alabama’s gain. The Crimson Tide didn’t move an inch the CFP rankings despite a 28-7 loss to No. 3 Georgia that looked worse than that.

    No. 10 Miami didn’t play, either, but the Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over Notre Dame in Week 1 played a role once the teams were grouped right next to each other after BYU lost its game on Saturday and dropped one spot.

    “Everyone can spin the metrics in favor of the team or teams they support,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said. “You’re always going to have controversy. That’s why we debated for so long, 9, 10 and 11, into the early-morning hours, and woke up at sunrise to do the same thing — make sure we got it right.”

    The committee’s other key decision was choosing James Madison over Duke for the final spot. The selection left the Atlantic Coast Conference champion out of the mix, but didn’t fully exclude the ACC because Miami made it.

    The rest of the field includes No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Texas Tech, all of which joined Indiana in getting first-round byes.

    The Hoosiers moved up to No. 1 with their 13-10 win over the Buckeyes on Saturday — their first Big Ten title since 1967 — and the teams’ 1-2 positioning sets up a possible rematch in the national title game Jan. 19.

    Then it was No. 5 seed Oregon, followed by Mississippi, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, American champion Tulane and James Madison of the Sun Belt.

    The playoffs start Dec. 19 with No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma. On Dec. 20, it’s No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon.

    The winners move to the quarterfinals, which will feature Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, then Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

    A costly miss for Notre Dame

    It was a particularly costly and painful snub for the Fighting Irish.

    They lost their first two games of the season — one to Miami, the other to Texas A&M — by a combined four points. They did not play a tough schedule the rest of the way; it was ranked 44th, compared to sixth for Alabama but 45th for Miami. But the Irish won all those games easily.

    It also hurts the pocketbook. Where conferences split $4 million for each team they place into the first round, Notre Dame — as an independent — would have banked the full amount for itself.

    Yurachek said the committee had not previously considered Miami’s Aug. 31 win over Notre Dame because there were always other teams in the mix, namely Alabama and BYU. But when BYU lost, the Irish and Hurricanes ended up right next to each other, which made that Miami win more important. Yurachek directed the committee to go back and rewatch it.

    “Really, how Miami’s defense dominated Notre Dame’s running game, where for the rest of the season, their running game dominated most of the teams they played,” Yurachek said when asked what the committee saw in that game.

    Alabama back in after snub last year

    Alabama (10-3) is in despite three losses. Those who believe the Tide deserve it will look at these factors:

    — An eight-game winning streak after a shocking 14-point, season-opening loss to Florida State that included a 24-21 victory at Georgia for a season split while, for instance, BYU lost both its games against Texas Tech.

    — Ignoring the above, there was the “you can’t lose ground for playing in the title game” argument. Last year, Alabama had three losses and was passed over for SMU, which was coming off a loss in the ACC title game. Using the same logic, someone other than the Tide needed to go this time.

    Duke’s argument falls on deaf ears

    Duke tried to make a compelling argument that its seven wins over Power Four teams, including the victory over Virginia in the ACC title game, made it more deserving than James Madison for that fifth and final automatic spot for conference champs.

    But the Blue Devils had five losses. And Virginia was ranked four (now nine) spots lower than Miami, the ACC’s best team by many measurements.

    James Madison’s playoff game against a mega-team from a mega-conference — Oregon — will suss out whether teams like that should be playing for the title.

    History, however, might look back on Duke’s win if league title games are ever eliminated from the schedule due to their growing irrelevance. Other than eliminating BYU (but not Alabama) and flip-flopping Indiana and Ohio State, this year’s set of games in the Power Four meant next to nothing.

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  • Oregon is back in the top five of the AP Top 25 poll, Miami leads pack of 5 ranked ACC teams

    Oregon returned to the top five of The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll Sunday, five Atlantic Coast Conference teams were ranked for the second time this season and Georgia Tech took the biggest fall after its second loss in three games.

    Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M remained the top three teams for a sixth straight week, and Georgia was No. 4 for the second week in a row.

    Oregon jumped over idle Mississippi to No. 5, its highest ranking since it was No. 3 in the Oct. 5 poll. The Ducks strengthened their College Football Playoff resume with a 15-point victory over then-No. 16 Southern California, extending their winning streak to five games.

    Mississippi was followed by Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Alabama.

    Ohio State is No. 1 for a 13th straight week going into its game at No. 15 Michigan. The Buckeyes received 58 first-place votes and were 53 points ahead of Indiana, which was listed first on seven voters’ ballots. Texas A&M got the remaining first-place vote.

    Miami, which beat Virginia Tech by 17 points on the road, moved up a spot to No. 13 and was the highest-ranked of five ACC teams. Virginia climbed two spots to No. 17. Georgia Tech, beaten 42-28 at home by Pittsburgh, dropped eight rungs to No. 23.

    Pittsburgh, which has three losses, was one spot behind the two-loss Yellow Jackets. No. 25 SMU re-entered the poll for the first time since Sept. 2.

    No. 20 James Madison of the Sun Belt Conference remained the highest-ranked Group of Five team in the AP poll. The Dukes, up one spot from a week ago, came from behind to beat Washington State 24-20.

    No. 21 North Texas of the American Conference was one spot ahead of Tulane. The Green Wave were the only Group of Five team in the CFP selection committee’s rankings last week, at No. 24.

    In and out

    — No. 24 Pittsburgh bounced back from its 22-point home loss to Notre Dame and returned after a one-week absence.

    — No. 25 SMU beat Louisville by 32 points for its third straight win and can return to the ACC championship game with a win at California.

    Missouri (No. 23) and Houston (No. 25) dropped out.

    Poll points

    — Five teams from the state of Texas are ranked for a second straight week. The Lone Star State hadn’t had five teams in back-to-back polls since 2016.

    — The ACC, in addition to this week, had five teams in the poll on Nov. 9. That makes this the fourth straight year the ACC has had five teams ranked in two or more polls.

    Conference call

    SEC (8 ranked teams): Nos. 3 Texas A&M, 4 Georgia, 6 Ole Miss, 8 Oklahoma, 10 Alabama, 12 Vanderbilt, 16 Texas, 18 Tennessee.

    ACC (5): Nos. 13 Miami (Fla.), 17 Virginia, 23 Georgia Tech, 24 Pittsburgh, 25 SMU.

    Big Ten (5): Nos. 1 Ohio State, 2 Indiana, 5 Oregon, 15 Michigan, 19 USC.

    Big 12 (3): Nos. 7 Texas Tech, 11 BYU, 14 Utah.

    American (2): Nos. 21 North Texas, 22 Tulane.

    Independent (1): No. 9 Notre Dame.

    Sun Belt (1): No. 20 James Madison.

    Ranked vs. ranked

    No. 1 Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) at No. 15 Michigan (9-2, 7-1, No. 18), Saturday: Buckeyes have lost four straight to Michigan. They haven’t dropped five in a row to their archrival since they lost six straight from 1922-27.

    No. 3 Texas A&M (11-0, 7-0 SEC, No. 3 CFP) at No. 16 Texas (8-3, 5-2, No. 17), Friday: Aggies lock up spot in SEC title game with a win; they would need lots of help to get to Atlanta if they lose. Arch Manning’s six-touchdown day against Arkansas gives the Longhorns mojo for this rivalry game.

    No. 4 Georgia (10-1, No. 4 CFP) at No. 23 Georgia Tech (9-2, No. 16), Friday: Bulldogs have won seven straight in the series and haven’t lost to Yellow Jackets in Atlanta since 1999.

    No. 12 Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2 SEC, No. 14 CFP) at No. 18 Tennessee (8-3, 4-3, No. 20), Saturday: Commodores are going for a 10th win for first time in program history. They’re 12-41-2 all-time in Knoxville, and only four of those wins have come in the last 50 years.

    No. 13 Miami (9-2, 5-2, No. 13 CFP) at No. 24 Pittsburgh (8-3, 6-1), Saturday: Both teams still have narrow paths to the ACC title game. Miami clinging to playoff hopes. Pitt trying to land best possible bowl.

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  • Fran Brown’s arrival lifts expectations in Syracuse for a brighter Orange future

    Fran Brown’s arrival lifts expectations in Syracuse for a brighter Orange future

    SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Expectations are growing in Syracuse, where Orange football is undergoing a fresh start under Fran Brown, who is already cashing in on his reputation as one of the nation’s top recruiters.

    Hired in December to replace Dino Babers, the former Georgia defensive backs coach has persuaded key players to stay put and assembled the program’s highest-rated recruiting class since rankings have been compiled. He also lured a group of high-profile transfers, including former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and ex-Texas A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs.

    “I want to make sure that Syracuse gets back to where they belong, where it was,” Brown said. “You’re going back to Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, all those guys that played. I want to get back to those same eras. You had (quarterback) Donavan McNabb, (receiver) Marvin Harrison, (defensive end) Dwight Freeney, (safety) Donovin Darius. All those guys are important to me.”

    The Orange faltered under Babers, who was never able to recreate the success he enjoyed during a 10-3 finish in 2018. He was fired one game short of completing his eighth season, and finished with a 41-55 record, and 20-45 in conference play.

    A first-time head coach, Brown has several important, high-impact players who can help the Orange surpass the modest expectations of ACC media members who picked them to finish 12th in the 17-team conference.

    The offense has a chance to be dynamic under McCord, a former five-star recruit who threw for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions for the Buckeyes in 2023. His surprising choice of Syracuse gave Brown and the program an immediate shot of adrenaline.

    Key returnees include running back LeQuint Allen (1,064 rushing yards and nine touchdowns), a second-team All-ACC pick last season. Another is All-ACC preseason tight end Oronde Gadsden II who returns after a season-ending Lisfranc injury and is expected to be one of McCord’s top receiving targets. And then there’s slot receiver/returner Trebor Pena, who was limited to one game last year due to injury.

    They’re joined by highly touted freshman running back Yasin Willis, and transfer wide receivers Jackson Meeks and Zeed Haynes (both from Georgia) and Justus Ross-Simmons (Colorado State).

    If the offensive line, bolstered by 6-foot-8, 340-pound transfer Savion Washington (Colorado) does its job, this could be a fun offense to watch.

    “Yeah, I think we’ll be dynamic I think at every single position, offensive line, tight end, receiver,” McCord said. “We have a lot of great weapons. I’m excited to get going.”

    The strength of Syracuse’s defense, which shifts to a 4-2-5 scheme under first year-defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson, lies in its linebacking and secondary groups. All-ACC preseason linebacker Marlowe Wax returns after fears he was leaving for the NFL. Also back are safety Justin Barron and defensive backs Alijah Clark, Jayden Bellamy, Devin Grant, Jaeden Gould and Duce Chestnut, who returns to the Orange after a year at LSU.

    Other notables include Diggs, freshman lineman KingJoseph Edwards and first-year corner Marcellus Barnes Jr.

    Protecting McCord

    Dual-threat quarterbacks Eric Dungey and Garrett Shrader have been able to mask inconsistent line play in recent years. Protecting McCord, a traditional pocket passer, and giving him time to get the ball to his plethora of weapons, is critical. The line has size on its side, averaging 6-foot-5, 313 pounds.

    Staying upright

    Ryan Nassib is the last Syracuse quarterback to play in every game (2012). If McCord goes down, the Orange face a drop-off in experience. Unproven returnee Carlos Del Rio-Wilson is joined by transfer Michael Johnson Jr. and freshman Jakhari Williams.

    Flag day

    Syracuse has been among the nation’s leaders in penalties. The Orange led the nation with 105 penalties in 2022. Last year, only nine teams had more penalties than the 95 committed by Syracuse.

    Hot starts, slow finishes

    The Orange’s final two seasons under Babers followed a similar pattern. Last year, the Orange opened 4-0 before going 2-7, including a 45-0 loss to South Florida in the Boca Raton Bowl under interim coach Nunzio Campanile. In 2022, Syracuse turned a 6-0 start into a 7-6 finish, ending with a 28-20 loss to Minnesota in the Pinstripe Bowl.

    The schedule

    Syracuse opens against Ohio on Aug. 31 and could get off to a fast start playing its first four games at home. The Orange have the easiest schedule among Power Four schools, according to the ESPN Football Power Index, and doesn’t have to face Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina. Pivotal games against NC State, Virginia Tech and the season finale Nov. 30 against Miami at home will determine just how successful Brown’s inaugural season will be.

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    AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report.

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  • Buckeye defense motivated to limit big plays against Georgia

    Buckeye defense motivated to limit big plays against Georgia

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — J.T. Tuimoloau stood in front of the Buckeyes before practice the week after Ohio State’s second straight loss to Michigan.

    As the sting of defeat began to set in and the prospect of missing the playoff remained a possibility, the second-year defensive end offered a reminder to his teammates.

    Ohio State still has a chance.

    “I felt like we just needed to get back on track, and these boys push me to go my hardest and bring out the best in me every day,” Tuimoloau recalled. “I know what we can bring so I just wanted to come and just reiterate that. The job’s not finished.”

    That’s the focus for Ohio State’s defense ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against No. 1 Georgia (13-0) in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31: Correct mistakes and limit big plays.

    Ohio State (11-1) allowed 530 yards of offense during its loss to the Wolverines on Nov. 26, including five plays of 45 yards or more that went for touchdowns. Those explosive plays have been on the mind of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

    Knowles said he takes ultimate responsibility for Ohio State’s miscues in its only loss of the season.

    “Any call that goes for an explosive, you have to look at, take responsibility for,” Knowles said. “You got to evaluate the call from top to bottom and the game plan.”

    Coach Ryan Day said Michigan’s 85- and 75-yard touchdown runs were enough to “ruin the whole day,” but he’s taking the good with the bad when evaluating his defense.

    “There was still a lot of good things that happened,” Day said. “It wasn’t like you watch the film and you’re like, ‘Jeez, we just got completely outmatched.’ It was just a lack of execution and too many big plays.”

    Occasional questions on defense have lingered for much of Day’s tenure.

    In 2019, Day and the Buckeyes won the Big Ten and advanced to the CFP behind a stout defense that held teams under 260 yards and 14 points per game.

    But in 2020 and 2021, those numbers ballooned. Ohio State gave up 401.6 yards and 25.8 points per game in his second season and were 372.9 yards and 22.8 points on average during his third, which prompted him to seek out Knowles and make changes on the defensive coaching staff.

    Knowles’ defense allowed just under 304 yards per game and ranked No. 12 in total defense this season, and he’s been doing his part to quickly turn the focus toward the CFP.

    “We’ve been having some of the best practices we’ve had all season,” safety Ronnie Hickman said. “Being able to have this second chance is huge, so we’re just doing everything we can to not let it slip through our fingers.”

    The defending national champion Bulldogs boast the No. 7 overall offense and topped 500 yards in seven games this season.

    Georgia’s passing and rushing offense both rank among the top 20 in college football, and its duo of running backs between Daijun Edwards and Kenny McIntosh topped over 681 rushing yards apiece.

    Ohio State’s defensive line consisting of Tuimoloau and Zach Harrison will also be challenged by Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, a Heisman Trophy finalist. Harrison thinks it’s been a source of motivation to set the tone up front.

    “Everything under the sun, we’ve heard it,” Harrison said. “This team’s got a lot of fight and this team’s got a lot of heart. We’re just not going to give up on this team and not going to give up on this year and just try to win it all.”

    Explosive plays kept the Buckeyes from the conference championship game for a second year, and Ohio State will need its defense to bounce back if it hopes to make the title game Jan. 9 against either TCU or the rival Wolverines.

    “It was a big loss, but after going through everything and seeing our outcome play out, for me and my family and my family here, it’s been like, ‘Hey, we got a shot,’” Tuimoloau said. “We got an opportunity. Let’s go do this thing.”

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  • No. 1 Georgia eyes perfect season with tightly bonded team

    No. 1 Georgia eyes perfect season with tightly bonded team

    ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia added another title to its growing collection, yet there wasn’t a whole lot of reason to celebrate.

    The Bulldogs, you see, are chasing the loftiest of goals.

    Perfection.

    Having locked up another trip to the Southeastern Conference championship game as the top dog in the Eastern Division, No. 1 Georgia (10-0) quickly moved on Monday.

    “I didn’t really celebrate too much,” receiver Kearis Jackson said. “I know we have bigger goals ahead of us.”

    It’s a rather lengthy list, for sure.

    The Bulldogs are positioned to make a run at their first SEC title since 2017. They certainly have their sights on a return for the College Football Playoff as the top seed, which would undoubtedly be rewarded with a short trip to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl semifinal. And, of course, they want to become the first team since Alabama in 2011-12 to repeat as national champion.

    Last year’s title team had a blemish on its record — an upset loss to the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game. In fact, only two teams in Georgia’s modern football history have made it through a season unscathed.

    The 1946 Bulldogs went 11-0, tied for the SEC title, won the Sugar Bowl, but only finished third in The Associated Press rankings behind Notre Dame and Army, who played to a scoreless tie in what was billed as the “Game of the Century.”

    The 1980 Georgia squad, led by freshman star Herschel Walker, finished 12-0 and, until last season, was the only team in the school’s storied history to win a consensus national title.

    Can this team complete what is undoubtedly a more difficult undefeated journey, with the longer schedule and additional gauntlet of a conference championship game and four-team playoff to get through?

    “That would be great,” Jackson said, his face lighting up. “I’ve never been a part of an undefeated season, besides like rec league or something like that. I’m sure it would be very difficult and very special, but I think this team is special enough to accomplish a goal like that.”

    Without question, these Bulldogs are instilled with a passion and desire that often slips away from a reigning champion.

    There’s a reason they say it’s harder to remain on the mountaintop than it is to get there.

    “The pitfall of every profession, of everything people do in society, is being able to repeat habits,” coach Kirby Smart said. “Can you do what you do better than the people in your profession on a daily basis and not get bored with monotony. It’s hard to sustain anything in life, in your career, whatever it is.”

    Smart’s job was made a bit easier, in a way, by losing a record 15 players in the NFL draft. Many of the players on this roster are getting their first crack at a starring role.

    But there’s also something more innate going on, a hunger that never ceases even as the Bulldogs have every reason to stumble over their already impressive accomplishments.

    “Sometimes people get comfortable.,” Smart said. “When you get comfortable, you’re not always at your best. We’re trying our best to be at our best. That’s our job.”

    Don’t overlook the culture that Smart has built in Athens, which makes the sum of the roster greater than it’s individual parts.

    “We say we’re at our best when the worst happens,” the coach explained. “It’s hard to be connected when a guy misses you for a touchdown pass and you don’t pout about it. A guy fumbles, a guy throws an interception, a guy gives up a huge pass interference. Where’s your connection now when it’s needed most?”

    No worries there. Smart is hard-pressed to recall another group of players who were so invested in each other.

    “That’s the muscle that we like to say is the strongest muscle on our team,” he said. “If you’ve got it, why not use it?”

    ———

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  • Vince Dooley, longtime Georgia football coach, dies at 90

    Vince Dooley, longtime Georgia football coach, dies at 90

    ATLANTA — Vince Dooley, the coach who carried himself like a professor and guided Georgia for a quarter-century of success that included the 1980 national championship, died Friday. He was 90.

    The school announced that Dooley died peacefully at his Athens home in the presence of his wife, Barbara, and their four children. No cause of death was given.

    Dooley was hospitalized this month for what was described as a mild case of COVID-19, but he pronounced himself fully recovered and ready to attend his regular book-signing session at the campus bookstore before an Oct. 15 game against Vanderbilt.

    Dooley had a career record of 201-77-10 while coaching the Bulldogs from 1964 to 1988, a stretch that included six Southeastern Conference titles, 20 bowl games and just one losing season.

    He is the fourth-winningest coach in SEC history, trailing only Bear Bryant, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban.

    After retiring from coaching, Dooley continued as the school’s athletic director, a job he held from 1979 until 2004. He built a program that achieved success over a wide range of both men’s and women’s sports.

    The field at Sanford Stadium was dedicated in his honor during the 2019 season.

    “It was a great experience and a moving day,” Dooley said after the ceremony, which he shared with his wife. “I’m thankful for all the people that were a part of making it happen, and all the people that shared in this, which is the greatest thrill. The players, family, cheerleaders, the band, the managers, the trainers, some very special people of the Bulldog nation.”

    Dooley was the second prominent member of Georgia’s storied football history to die in the past two weeks.

    Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Charlie Trippi died on Oct. 19 at the age of 100.

    Dooley’s death came just one day before Georgia, the defending national champion and ranked No. 1 in the nation, faces one of its biggest rivals, the Florida Gators, in the annual “Cocktail Party” game at Jacksonville, Florida.

    Dooley dominated that series during his coaching career, going 17-7-1 against the Gators. The most famous victory came in 1980, when Lindsay Scott hauled in a 93-yard touchdown pass from Buck Belue in the closing minutes.

    The improbable 26-21 triumph propelled the Bulldogs to a perfect season and their first consensus national title.

    Dooley lived long enough to see another. Georgia won it all last season, beating Alabama in the national title game.

    Dooley withstood the pressure of winning at a football-mad SEC school during an era when Bryant ran a powerhouse program at Alabama. Dooley won over skeptics early on, using a trick play to upset the defending national champion Crimson Tide 18-17 in the 1965 season opener.

    The following year, Georgia won the first of his SEC titles. By the time Dooley stepped down from coaching at age 56, he was one of only 10 NCAA Division I-A coaches to win 200 games.

    Stoic in his demeanor and elegant with words delivered in a Southern drawl, a renaissance man who dabbled in horticulture, studied Civil War history and wrote numerous books, Dooley had his greatest run of success after landing a running back from tiny Wrightsville, Georgia.

    Hershel Walker.

    During Walker’s three years between the hedges, the Bulldogs went 33-3, won three straight SEC titles, captured their only undisputed national title and nearly won another in 1982.

    Dooley was a graduate of Auburn, one of Georgia’s most hated rivals, and had no head coaching experience when he was hired by the Bulldogs at the age of 32.

    It was not a popular hire, as Dooley often noted through the years.

    “My qualifications were such there’s no way I would’ve hired myself,” Dooley conceded in a 2014 interview with the school newspaper, The Red & Black.

    No one was complaining by the end of his reign.

    Dooley once described coaching as a “series of crises,” adding that he could draw upon plenty of experiences on and off the field.

    There were low moments, to be sure.

    Near the end of his reign as athletic director, the men’s basketball program was caught up in a scandal that led to the resignation of coach Jim Harrick and resulted in the Bulldogs removing themselves from the SEC and NCAA tournaments.

    Dooley’s four-decade stay ended unceremoniously. He was forced into retirement after a nasty spat with then-university President Michael Adams in 2004.

    Dooley never left Athens and remained a fixture around the football program, often sitting in on news conferences conducted by the last coach he hired, Mark Richt, and the current coach, Kirby Smart.

    Coaching ran in the Dooley blood, for sure.

    Vince’s younger brother, Bill, was the head coach at North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Son Derek held the top jobs at both Louisiana Tech and SEC rival Tennessee.

    When Derek returned to Athens as the Volunteers’ coach in 2010, Vince knew he couldn’t pull against his son, but he didn’t want to be seen rooting against the Bulldogs in their own stadium.

    So he stayed at home, watching the game on television as Georgia romped to a 41-14 victory.

    “In a perfect world, I’d rather him be farther away and not in the same conference,” Vince said. “But it is what it is. We’ll make the make the best of it. I am very proud of him.”

    At Georgia, Dooley coached a plethora of standout players — from Bill Stanfill to Scott Woerner to Rodney Hampton. But his most famous recruit was undoubtedly Walker, a running back who possessed an almost supernatural combination of bruising power and sprinter’s speed.

    Walker made his mark in his very first college game, running right over Tennessee defensive back Bill Bates for a touchdown that helped the Bulldogs rally for a 16-15 victory.

    “My god, a freshman!” longtime Georgia radio announcer Larry Munson screamed over the air.

    Walker rushed for 1,616 yards and 15 touchdowns that season, but the Bulldogs’ national title hopes appeared doomed when they trailed Florida 21-20.

    Then Belue and Scott hooked up on perhaps the most famous play in school history. Thanks to another memorable call by Munson, the game would forever be known as “Run, Lindsay, Run.”

    Georgia capped its 12-0 season with a 17-10 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to clinch the national championship.

    That season would be the pinnacle of Dooley’s career, though the Bulldogs nearly won another national title two years later. Walker won the Heisman Trophy and Georgia was ranked No. 1 heading into the Sugar Bowl after an undefeated regular season.

    But No. 2 Penn State captured the championship with a 27-23 victory in what turned out to be Walker’s final college game. He bolted for the upstart U.S. Football League after his junior season.

    Walker is now running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. Locked in a tight battle with incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock, Walker received the endorsement of his former coach in a recent ad.

    While Georgia’s run of three straight SEC championships ended in 1983, the Bulldogs capped a 10-1-1 season with a 10-9 upset of Texas — a game that Dooley would still look back on with pride years later.

    Best known for his coaching accomplishments, Dooley took pride in running an athletic program that was among the nation’s best in a wide range of sports.

    “The greatest satisfaction from being director of athletics comes from working toward the goal of putting a program together in which all the sports have an opportunity to compete at the highest level,” he said.

    From tennis to swimming, gymnastics to baseball, the Bulldogs won 19 national championships under Dooley. He was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

    Dooley was born into an athletic family in Mobile, Alabama, on Sept. 4, 1932. After graduating from McGill High School, he went to Auburn on a football scholarship and played basketball.

    Dooley was an outstanding defensive back and captain of the 1953 team, a year in which he also played in the College All-Star Game. He graduated from Auburn in 1954 with a degree in business management before serving in the Marine Corps for two years.

    In 1956, Dooley became an assistant coach at Auburn and was freshman coach at the school for three seasons before being named head coach of Georgia shortly after the end of the 1963 season, taking over a program in disarray after three straight losing years under Johnny Griffith.

    Twenty-five years later, Dooley was carried off the field after his final game, a 34-27 victory over Michigan State in the Gator Bowl.

    Survivors include his wife and their children: Deanna, Daniel, Denise and Derek.

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    Retired AP Sports Writer Tom Saladino contributed to this report.

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    Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 and find his work at https://apnews.com

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    More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap—top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF

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  • AP Top 25: UGA back at No. 1, Alabama slips to 3 behind OSU

    AP Top 25: UGA back at No. 1, Alabama slips to 3 behind OSU

    Georgia took back the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press college football poll from Alabama on Sunday after being bumped out last week by the Crimson Tide, who slid to No. 3.

    The Bulldogs received 32 first-place votes and 1,535 points in the Top 25, presented by Regions Bank, to easily reclaim No. 1. They were just two points behind Alabama at No. 2 last week.

    Georgia thumped Auburn 42-10 on Saturday. The Tide, whose Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young was sidelined by injury, escaped an upset bid at home by Texas A&M.

    Ohio State moved up a spot to No. 2, receiving 20 first-place votes and 1,507 points.

    No. 3 is a season-low for Alabama, which was preseason No. 1 but fell to No. 2 after Week 2. The Tide received 11 first-place votes.

    There were two notable season debuts in the Top 25: No. 24 Illinois is ranked for the first time since 2011 and James Madison is in the AP Top 25 for the first time in its program history. The Dukes are playing their first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in Division I college football’s highest level.

    Clemson overtook Michigan and moved up to No. 4 and the Wolverines fell one spot to No. 5.

    Tennessee moved up to No. 6, which is the best ranking for the currently undefeated Volunteers since No. 5 early in the 2005 season. Tennessee stumbled to a 5-6 and unranked finish that year.

    Southern California fell one spot to No. 7, and Oklahoma State, Mississippi and Penn State held their places to round out the top 10.

    POLL POINTS

    The shuffle that Georgia’s made from No. 1 to 2 and back No. 1 over three polls hadn’t happened in more than a decade.

    Florida went back and forth between Nos. 1 and 2 in 2009, flip-flopping with Alabama as both teams won in late October.

    The Tide is the first team to drop from No. 1 to No. 3 off a victory in 25 years, when Nebraska beat Missouri in overtime on the famous “Flea Kicker.” Michigan jumped from No. 4 to No. 1 on Nov. 10, 1997, after it won 34-8 at No. 2 Penn State.

    IN

    The week after Kansas handed the ignominious title of Power Five conference team with the longest streak of being unranked to Illinois, the Illini are now off the schneid in their second year under coach Bret Bielema.

    Illinois improved to 5-1 by beating Iowa and landed in the poll for the first time since Oct. 16, 2011 — 178 polls.

    Next up on the list of longest ranking droughts for Power Five schools are: Rutgers (2012), Oregon State (preseason 2013) and Vanderbilt (final 2013).

    — James Madison has been a powerhouse in the the Football Championship Subdivision for years, winning a national title in 2016 and losing to North Dakota State in the NCAA championship game in 2017 and ’19. The Dukes have had no issue moving up so far, going 5-0 and averaging 44 points per game.

    — No. 22 Texas is ranked again after blowing out rival Oklahoma and tied with Kentucky in the Top 25.

    OUT

    — BYU is unranked for the first time this season after losing to Notre Dame.

    — Washington dropped out of the rankings after a second straight loss.

    — LSU’s return to the Top 25 was brief after getting thumped at home by Tennessee.

    CONFERENCE CALL

    The Sun Belt went from its inception in 2001 to 2015 without having a ranked team. The conference has now had at least one team ranked for at least one week each of the last five seasons and six of the last seven.

    James Madison is the second Sun Belt team to reach the Top 25 this season, along with Appalachian State.

    SEC — 6 (Nos. 1, 3, 6, 9, 16, 22).

    Big 12 — 5 (8, 13, 17, 19, 22).

    ACC — 4 (Nos. 4, 14, 15, 18).

    Big Ten — 4 (Nos. 2, 5, 10, 24).

    Pac-12 — 4 (Nos. 7, 11, 12, 20).

    American — 1 (No. 21).

    Sun Belt — 1 (No. 25).

    RANKED vs. RANKED

    A season-high six games matching ranked teams:

    No. 10 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan.

    No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee.

    No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU.

    No. 15 North Carolina State at No. 18 Syracuse.

    No. 16 Mississippi State at No. 22 Kentucky.

    No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah.

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    Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com

    ———

    More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP—Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF

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  • AP Top 25: Tide retakes No. 1 from UGA; Kansas snaps drought

    AP Top 25: Tide retakes No. 1 from UGA; Kansas snaps drought

    Alabama reclaimed No. 1 from Georgia in The Associated Press college football poll in one of the closest votes in the recent years, and six teams — including Kansas — made their season debut on Sunday.

    The Crimson Tide received 25 first-place votes and 1,523 points in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, two points more than the Bulldogs. Georgia received 28 first-place votes to become the first team since Alabama in November 2019 to have the most first-place votes but not be No. 1.

    The Tide was No. 2 behind LSU that year, with 21 first-place votes to the Tigers’ 17.

    The last time there was a two-point margin between Nos. 1 and 2 was Nov. 1, 2020, when Clemson was ahead of Alabama. There have been three other polls with a two-point margin at the top since 2007.

    Ohio State remained third, but the Buckeyes also gained some ground on the top two, getting 10 first-place votes.

    The Crimson Tide started the season at No. 1, but the defending national champion Bulldogs took the top spot away from their Southeastern Conference rivals after Week 2 when Alabama needed a late field goal to beat Texas.

    The Bulldogs remain unbeaten but needed a fourth-quarter rally to beat four-touchdown underdog Missouri on Saturday night. Earlier in the day, the Tide managed to pull away from Arkansas in the second half without Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young.

    Young sprained his throwing shoulder in the first half and missed most of the game in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

    No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Clemson and No. 6 Southern California all won and held their places this week, though the Wolverines and Tigers are now separated by just three points.

    No. 7 Oklahoma State, followed by Tennessee, Mississippi and Penn State, round out the top 10.

    The rest of the AP Top 25 got a major overhaul after 10 ranked teams lost, five to unranked opponents. That cleared the way for seven teams to move into the rankings this week, most notably No. 19 Kansas.

    The Jayhawks are ranked for the first time since Oct. 18, 2009, which was the longest drought for a team currently in a Power Five conference.

    POLL POINTS

    The closest margin between Nos. 1 and 2 in AP poll history is zero. Oklahoma and Miami tied for No. 1 in the 2002 preseason poll, and Miami and Washington shared the top spot in mid-October 1992.

    The last time there was a one-point margin between the top two teams was 1992, when the Hurricanes and Huskies were separated by a point in the weeks before and after they were tied.

    With Kansas back in the rankings, the longest poll appearance drought belongs to Illinois, which was last ranked in 2011. And the Illini have positioned themselves to make the leap with a 4-1 start heading into their home game against Iowa next week.

    Next up on the list is Rutgers (2012), Oregon State (preseason 2013) and Vanderbilt (final 2013).

    IN

    The voters generally decided to start from scratch at the back half of the rankings, flipping seven teams.

    — No. 17 TCU is in the rankings for the first time since a brief stay in 2019 at 25th.

    — No. 18 UCLA is off to its first 5-0 start since 2013.

    — No. 19 Kansas stayed unbeaten by knocking off Iowa State. The Jayhawks last started 5-0 in that 2009 season, then proceeded to drop their next six games and fall to the bottom of major college football for more than a decade.

    Both Kansas schools are ranked for the first time since Oct. 14, 2007.

    — No. 22 Syracuse improved to 5-0 with an easy victory against Wagner and finally cracked the rankings. The Orange are ranked for the first time since early in the 2019 season.

    — No. 23 Mississippi State has been ranked for only one week (after the first regular-season game of 2020) since the end of 2018 season.

    Both Mississippi SEC schools are ranked for the first time since Nov. 11, 2015.

    — No. 24 Cincinnati. The Bearcats are the one team to enter the rankings this week that already had been in this season. Cincinnati fell out after a Week 1 loss at Arkansas and has won four straight since.

    — No. 25 LSU has its first ranking under coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers have won four straight, including two SEC games, since losing a heartbreaker to Florida State on Labor Day weekend.

    OUT

    Among the seven teams to drop out of the AP Top 25, five of them will be unranked for the first time this season: Oklahoma, Baylor, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Pittsburgh.

    Florida State and Minnesota had brief stays in the AP Top 25. The Seminoles and Gophers were teams on the rise for a week and then both lost at home.

    CONFERENCE CALL

    SEC — 7 (Nos. 1, 2, 8, 9, 13, 23, 25).

    Pac-12 — 5 (Nos. 6, 11, 12, 18, 21).

    ACC — 4 (Nos. 5, 15, 16, 22).

    Big 12 — 4 (Nos. 7, 17, 19, 20).

    Big Ten — 3 (Nos. 3, 4, 10).

    American — 1 (No. 24).

    Independent — 1 (No. 16).

    RANKED vs. RANKED

    No. 25 LSU at No. 8 Tennessee.

    No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas.

    No. 11 Utah at No. 18 UCLA.

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    Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com

    ———

    More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP—Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF

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