Hawaii Brought Back to Earth

No. 4 Georgia 41, No. 10 Hawaii 10

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 1 -- With an unabashed show of dominance, Georgia used the Sugar Bowl to make a resounding statement about both the past four months as well as the next 12.

By obliterating previously unbeaten Hawaii, 41-10, before 74,383 at the Louisiana Superdome, fourth-ranked Georgia exhibited why many of the Bulldogs feel they should have been selected to play in next week's national title game. They also demonstrated why many believe they will be an even stronger national title contender next season.

Georgia (11-2) used relentless pressure and ferocious hitting to rattle Hawaii's record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan and shut down a prolific offense that led the nation with 46 points per game. The Bulldogs sacked Brennan eight times, intercepted three of his passes and forced the senior to fumble twice. Hawaii committed a BCS-game record six turnovers.

In all, Brennan, who did not throw a touchdown pass, completed 22 of 38 passes for 169 yards -- the fewest in his career -- before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter after being hit for the 14th time in the game.

"The SEC is probably the fastest conference in all of college football," Brennan said. "And we got a taste of that tonight."

The Heisman Trophy finalist took the brunt of whatever frustration Georgia players still harbored against the poll voters who helped keep them out of the national title game. Players had been perturbed that Louisiana State earned a berth in the title game by leapfrogging the Bulldogs during the final week of the regular season.

Georgia also knew the Sugar Bowl could be a springboard for next season. Coach Mark Richt knows that a strong bowl performance helps ensure a higher preseason rank, which, in turn, puts a team in better position to ultimately play for the national title. The Bulldogs will bring back the bulk of their starters next season, including heralded running back Knowshon Moreno, who scored the game's first two touchdowns Tuesday night.

"I think we will have a chance to make a run at it," Richt said. "But so will six or seven other teams in our league."

Hawaii (12-1) entered the game carrying the hopes of an entire state and of small schools nationwide. The Warriors, who were the only remaining undefeated team in Division I-A, had an opportunity to validate the success of their quarterback and their season. But Tuesday night's rout gave credence to those who believed Hawaii's undefeated record and No. 10 ranking were largely the results of playing a soft regular season schedule.

The Warriors were the second consecutive Western Athletic Conference school to play in a BCS game, but they did not come close to duplicating the magic Boise State had in last year's epic 43-42 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Hawaii committed an inordinate number of penalties and watched a fast and aggressive Georgia defense completely disrupt its precision run-and-shoot offense. One of the most memorable hits came in the third quarter, when Georgia defensive end Marcus Howard pounded Brennan in the end zone, knocking the ball loose. Howard recovered the fumble for a touchdown, leaving Hawaii dazed and defeated.

"It is going to leave me open for all the analysts to take shots at me," Brennan said about his performance. "I took one right in the mouth. Fortunately, there is always tomorrow.