UGA vs. UT: Ouch

I shot my 6th straight Georgia game yesterday. After the season opener at Oklahoma State I remember looking ahead at the long stretch with apprehension. I was worried I'd burnout physically from lugging the heavy gear and battling the sidelines. I thought the mental stress of long hours, travel, and night game deadlines would do me in. I feared I would run out of money as every away game meant another weekend of pricey dog boarding. It turns out I made it out alive just fine. The Georgia Bulldogs on the other hand did not.

Georgia football players head to the locker room before their 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers.

Georgia's Brandon Wheeling and teammates head to the locker room before facing the Tennessee Volunteers.

Georgia waits to take the field before the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday Oct. 10, 2009, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.


Georgia Cheerleader takes photos of Uga VII before the game.

Early in the game it seemed like it might be another neck and neck battle after Georgia's Brandon Boykin immediately answered Tennessee's first touchdown with a 100-yard kickoff return. That kid is something else as this was his second time to take it all the way this season. The Volunteers surged back however with another 2 touchdowns. The first half ended with a 21-12 score after the Bulldogs nailed a field goal and blocked a punt for a safety.

Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton passes with pressure from Georgia's Justin Houston.


Georgia's Justin Houston and a hoard of Bulldog defenders take down Tennessee's Monatrio Hardesty in the first half.


Georgia's Joe Cox looks for an open receiver in the first half.


Tennessee's Dennis Rogan, left, and Steven Hensley celebrate after Rogan's interception in the 3rd quarter.


Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton hands off to Montario Hardesty in the first half.


Tennessee's Monatrio Hardesty is lifted up as Georgia's Justin Houston tackles him in the 1st half.


Tennessee's Marsalis Teague catches a pass in the endzone in the first half.


Georgia's Richard Samuel runs the ball in the 1st half.


Georgia's A.J. Green catches a pass in the first half.


Georgia's Bacarri Rambo slides off of Tennessee's Bryce Brown while trying to tackle him in the first half.


Georgia's Brandon Wood (#97) and Reshad Jones (#9) take down Tennessee's Bryce Brown in the first half .


Tennessee's Gerald Jones catches a pass to set up for a touchdown with coverage by Georgia's Bryan Evans.


Georgia mascot Uga VII

The Vols drew first blood in the 3rd quarter with a quick field goal, but Georgia's Bacarri Rambo made an action movie sized play when he returned an interception 28-yards for a touchdown cutting the lead to 24-19. This gave the Bulldogs a chance to get back in the game, but they did not capitalize. The offense got nowhere and the defense couldn't do anything to stop the Vols as they surged further ahead with two 3rd quarter touchdowns.

Georgia QB Joe Cox hands off to Washaun Ealey in the second half.


Georgia's A.J. Green reacts after dropping a pass.


Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton looks for an open receiver down field.


Georgia's Bacarri Rambo celebrates after returning an interception 28-yards for a touchdown that cut the Vols lead to 24-19 in the 3rd quarter.


Tennessee's Montario Hardesty breaks away from Georgia's secondary to score a 39-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter.


Georgia's Brandon Boykin chases Tennessee's Montario Hardesty who broke away for a 39-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter.


Tennessee's Montario Hardesty breaks away from Georgia's secondary to score a 39-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter.


Tennessee Volunteers celebrate after Montario Hardesty's 39-yard touchdown run.

The score perched at an almost insurmountable 38-19 when coach Mark Richt rallied his team for a sideline pep talk before the 4th quarter. The Bulldogs proceeded to build a promising drive, but then receiver Michael Moore took a hard hit after completing a pass and the ball popped out. Tennessee's Eric Berry made the play returning the fumble 46-yards setting up the final death blow touchdown. The score settled at 45-19 and sat there until the final, pointless minutes lapsed off the clock. I spent most of the 4th quarter with my camera trained on the sideline trying to capture the emotion of the loss.

Georgia coach Mark Richt gives a pep talk before the 4th quarter as the Bulldogs were down 38-19.


Georgia's A.J. Green catches a pass.


Georgia's Richard Samuel runs the ball in the 4th quarter.


Tennessee's Art Evans breaks up a pass to Georgia's Michael Moore in the 4th quarter.


Georgia's Carlton Thomas runs the ball in the 4th quarter.


Tennessee's Eric Berry catches a popped up fumble by Georgia's Michael Moore in the 4th quarter of the Volunteers' 45-19 win Saturday Oct. 10, 2009, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Berry returned it 46-yards and set the Vols up for a touchdown.


Tennessee fans go wild after Eric Berry's 46-yard fumble return in the 4th quarter.


Georgia's Joe Cox looks down on the sidelines during the final minutes of the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers .


Georgia's A.J. Green sits on the sidelines during the final minutes of the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers.


The Tennessee Volunteers huddle late in the 4th quarter.


Georgia's A.J. Harmon, left, looks on during the final minutes of the Bulldogs' loss.


Georgia's Vince Vance walks head down back to the sidelines.


Georgia's A.J. Green hangs his head on the sidelines during the final minutes of the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday Oct. 10, 2009, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.


Georgia mascot Uga VII is walks across the Tennessee Volunteer endzone after the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss.


Georgia's Darius Dewberry and teammates walk off the field after the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday Oct. 10, 2009, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

Georgia fell out of the top 25 rankings after their heartbreak loss to #4 LSU in the final minute of play last week. Now 3-3, the Bulldogs face overcoming their worst 6-game start since 1996. The talk in the media room pondered if the pre-season #13 team would even be bowl eligible once it is all said and done.
In the last two seasons of covering Georgia I only saw them lose twice. In 2007 their only losses to South Carolina and Tennessee happened to be 2 of the 3 games I didn't shoot. In 2008 I was there to photograph them being pummeled by my Alma Mater Alabama and outpaced by their instate rival Georgia Tech. This season is only half over and I've already shot 3 losses. It definitely sucks a little of the excitement out of following the team, but when it comes down to it its all about the challenge of making good pictures and I love that challenge win or lose.