It took only one Saturday for many students and fans to declare Joe Cox wasn’t a legit starting quarterback. A quick glance at Facebook following Georgia’s 24-10 loss to Oklahoma State showed who fans blamed for the poorly-played opener.

And one comment in particular made my blood boil.

“There is a reason Joe Cox hasn’t played the past four years. He sucks and shouldn’t be the starting quarterback.”

As a football beat writer for The Red & Black, I’ve been around Joe. He’s approachable, respectful and fun in conversation. Of course, nice guys don’t always make good football players, but given the circumstances, I give Cox a pass for the season opening performance.

The game was his first start in three years and there were nine months of offseason buildup providing pressure. Not to mention he was having trouble keeping food down and running a fever less than 48-hours prior to kickoff.

Yes, Joe’s arm strength was average looking, and he made a few bad decisions. But he’s not listening to those who disrespect his status as the Bulldogs’ starter.

“It’s not tough at all, to be honest with you, because half the people that make comments after games have never played a down of football before in their entire life,” Cox said.

The person who left the comment above is in the “never-played-football” category. I know because I went to school with him.

True, Cox only completed 50 percent of his passes and fumbled once and threw an interception. But I didn’t see any negativity after the Bulldogs’ opening drive, where Cox led the team 80-yards and threw a touchdown pass.

In the locker room after the game Cox, went to his offensive peers and said he messed up. He apologized to the defense because, in his mind, he let them down.

Everything he said to the media began with, “I didn’t do.” or “I could have done.” And he said, “I felt like I let a lot of people down today.”

“After the game Joe was the only one in the locker room talking,” said receiver A.J. Green.

There’s no denying he’s a leader and that losing eats him alive. And also his commitment and love for the University of Georgia is unquestioned.

The “reason” Joe hasn’t played in the past? Only because the most talented signal caller in Georgia history came in a year behind him. Matthew Stafford was the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft and has been named the starter for the Detroit Lions.

Cox didn’t quit, or transfer or even complain. Just last week two quarterbacks left Miami because of a lack of playing time. Joe didn’t do that – he kept working. And Georgia head coach Mark Richt said he prepared and went through every practice like it was a real game.

Yet message boards and text messages filled with Joe Cox hate dominated the weekend.

There is clamor for Cox to be replaced by Logan Gray or freshman Aaron Murray. But the coaching staff sees these guys every day. If those two were better than Joe, we’d have seen them in on more than two plays (Gray had a four-yard run and was in on a punt return; Murray didn’t play).

The rest of the team hasn’t lost faith in Cox.

“I told him he was going to be fine, and you can’t worry about what people say about you,” Green said.

“We all should have taken heat for the loss,” said linebacker Rennie Curran. “We all realized that there was more that each of us could have done, you know, to make sure the team was successful.”

Fans who don’t see what happens in practice or can’t sit in on meetings or get the chance to hang out in the locker room shouldn’t so adamantly say that Cox should be dumped.

Cox is focused on the future, saying the loss is behind the team and South Carolina is the only thing of importance. Anything said other than game plan and strategy will be brushed off his shoulder.

“Stuff like that doesn’t bother me. You’ve got to look at it as somebody just talking. And if it’s somebody that’s never played football, I could care less what they say.”

If Georgia beats South Carolina this Saturday, I’m sure I’ll see a more positive spin on status updates. That’s just the fickle way fair weather fans are.

- Fletcher Page is a sports writer for The Red & Black.