Ga. looks to add to SEC success

• By SCOTT RABALAIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 25, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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HOOVER, Ala. — It stands to reason, at least in Georgia.

Florida: 2006 BCS national champion.

LSU: 2007 BCS national champion.

In 2008, it’s Georgia’ turn — isn’t it?

The Bulldogs came close a year ago. Right stadium, wrong game. They clobbered previously unbeaten Hawaii 41-10 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Superdome, a week before LSU humbled Ohio State 38-24 in the BCS championship game on the same field.

Some, including Georgia coach Mark Richt, grumbled when the Tigers leapfrogged the Bulldogs in the final BCS standings to reach the 1-2 matchup with the Buckeyes.

Over time, though, the frustration has faded for a Georgia team that didn’t even make it to the SEC Championship Game.

“LSU deserved to be there,” Georgia flanker Mohamed Massaquoi said Thursday during SEC Football Media Days. “They won the SEC. They put themselves in a position to go.

“This year we want to put ourselves in that position. We control our own destiny.”

With an returning offensive juggernaut in players like Massaquoi (32 catches, 491 yards, four touchdowns), junior quarterback Matthew Stafford (194 of 348 passing, 2,523 yards, 19 TDs, 10 interceptions) and sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno (1,334 yards rushing on 248 attempts, 14 TDs), Georgia looks like a potent force going into 2008.

Just the opposite of the way the Bulldogs looked just a half-season ago.

A 16-12 upset loss at home to South Carolina and a 35-14 shellacking at Tennessee extended Georgia’s losing streak against SEC East opponents to a shocking six straight games dating to 2006. A week after the Tennessee defeat, the Bulldogs had to rally from a 10-0 halftime deficit against Vanderbilt to pull out a shaky 20-17 victory.

Georgia coach Mark Richt decided it was time for a drastic change of mood going into the annual grudge match with Florida on Oct. 27.