ATLANTA - Despite suggestions that Georgia's superiority in its intrastate rivalry with Georgia Tech has made the game more important for the Yellow Jackets, Georgia coach Mark Richt says bragging rights mean as much as ever for his players.
Richt said Sunday the meaning of Saturday night's 14-7 victory over Tech was obvious after spending only a few minutes in the locker room following the game.
"It didn't take long," Richt said. "Just to be in the locker room with those guys and see the looks on their faces and the hugs and congratulations - the seniors, they definitely wanted that game," Richt said. "They wanted to be able to go through their career without a loss to Tech."
In a streak that covers the Richt era, the Bulldogs have won the last five games, and 12 of the last 15, against Tech. Tech coach Chan Gailey is 0-4 in the rivalry.
Those numbers make the series seem lopsided, but Saturday night's game and the Bulldogs' 19-13 win in 2004 were decided in the final minutes - each time with Tech threatening to pull even or take the lead.
Tech players have an appreciation for the renewed competitiveness of the rivalry.
"You've got to love it," said Tech cornerback Kenny Scott. "It was a big game out there. Both defenses played very well. Anytime you're in a game like this you just have to bow your neck."
Added senior safety Chris Reis: "It's never fun to lose but it happens. We fought hard. I can't ask any more of these guys."
Georgia (9-2) remained No. 13 in Sunday's Associated Press Top 24. Tech (7-4) dropped four spots to No. 24.
Richt said his players and coaches were drained after the late game and will need a few days to recover for next Saturday's Southeastern Conference championship game against Louisiana State in the Georgia Dome.
"It takes a little bit out of you," Richt said.
Tech's Calvin Johnson made a touchdown catch on a fade pass from Reggie Ball in the first quarter. Georgia answered Johnson's touchdown grab with a game-tying drive later in the quarter. The 7-7 tie held until late in the fourth quarter, when Bryan McClendon caught a play-action pass from D.J. Shockley, despite tight coverage by Tech's Dennis Davis.
An interception by Tim Jennings near the Georgia goal line with 1:11 left to play saved the Bulldogs' win.
"The kid just flat-out guessed and guessed right," said Gailey of Jennings. "It's just one of those things. You've got to give him credit for guessing right. If we had the fade on he'd be in trouble, but we had the hook and he guessed right."
Gailey, who received a new five-year contract earlier this month, has had three straight seven-win seasons. Tech could reach eight wins with a bowl victory.
"I told them it's great we're playing in a bowl because I sure don't want to end on this one," Gailey said, referring to his postgame talk with his players.
Tech athletic director Dave Braine says the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl in Nashville is interested in the Yellow Jackets.
Other bowl possibilities for Tech include the Dec. 28 MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho, and the Dec. 31 Meineke Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
"I've heard a bunch of guesses and that's exactly what they are," Gailey said Sunday. "I don't think anybody will know anything until next Sunday.... It's best not to have personal preferences. It's better to be open to all of them and be excited about what you get."
Georgia may play as many as three straight games in Atlanta. Following the win at Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium, Georgia plays LSU in the SEC championship game, and the SEC champion will return to the Georgia Dome to play in the Jan. 2 Sugar Bowl against Big East champion West Virginia.
If Georgia loses to LSU, it still could return to Atlanta to play in the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome.
Notes: Gailey said senior offensive tackle Brad Honeycutt, who was held out of the Miami and Georgia games with a knee injury, would not return for a bowl game but instead will have surgery on the knee. "The consensus was he needed to go ahead and get it done," Gailey said. Honeycutt was the only senior starter on the line. Salih Besirevic moved up as the replacement for Honeycutt at right tackle the last two games.... Gailey said he will be on the road recruiting this week and Tech won't have another practice until next weekend.
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