Richt: “It’s time to go back to old school.”

A lineman went down in the first tackling drill.

A lineman went down in the second tackling drill.

“You start thinking, ‘My gosh. We’ve lost two guys in the first 45 seconds of practice,’” Mark Richt said Monday. “That’s sort of how the whole year went for us. You think about things like that and, yes, I’ve got to say it was a reflection on how we prepared for games. I put that on me.”

Here's how Brandon Spikes defined motivation.

This is how Brandon Spikes defines motivation.

It has been over two months since Georgia’s last football game. It will be six months before their next one. Sometime between now and then, the Bulldogs need to relocate their edge, toughness and resolve, which Richt now concedes was so obviously missing last season.

He blames himself.

On the eve of spring practice, the Bulldogs coach said Monday he erred by running softer practices last season after the team began accumulating so many injuries so early.

“When a lot of guys get hurt and you’ve got bodies on the ground, you start thinking, ‘If we lose one more guy, our game plan is shot,’” Richt said. “Then you have to re-invent the wheel on Wednesday or Thursday. You start making decisions based on that. It affected our defense in particular. Defensive players need to practice with an edge. When you don’t do that, you can lose some of that team speed and attitude. We had three scrimmages in the fall. But by the second scrimmage we weren’t going at full speed.’ That’s just not football.

“You make those calls in the interest of the team. But in hindsight it probably wasn’t the right thing to do. It’s time to go back to old school.”

We will never know to what degree Georgia underachieved last season. But we know the Dogs were a pre-season No. 1 and never looked the part. We know when a team lacks such mental toughness that it allows 135 points in three losses, and it struggles to beat two teams (Kentucky and Auburn) that went 4-12 in the SEC, there clearly are issues beyond bones and ligaments.

Their heads never were right.

Reality began to set in for Richt following the home loss to Georgia Tech. He decided to go back to full-contact practices before the Capital One Bowl game against Michigan State, and it’s probably no coincidence the Dogs won, 24-12, holding the Spartans to two field goals until the fourth quarter.

“I think we had more contact before the bowl game than we did the whole season,” he said.

“I’ve learned a lesson. There’s a balance between keeping guys healthy and keeping them ready to play.”

The first game is in six months. But the tone needs to be set now. Richt called it “crucial.”

“This is when you set the expectation level,” he said. “This is when you start to learn who your leaders are. You learn how far people have come, or how far they have to go.”

Florida had more than talent last season. It had the memory of a 42-30 loss to Georgia in 2007.

That game was the focal point of the Gators’ off-season workouts. Players were forced to do 188 push-ups or crunches, one for each yard of Knowshon Moreno’s rushing total. They did 42 repetitions at weight stations, one for each point allowed in the game. Coaches called them “soft.” Pictures of the Bulldogs celebrating in the end zone were stuck to their lockers.

“I think everybody does things like that,” Richt said, with a laugh. “And the team that wins gets to talk about it.”

Does he have similar motivational techniques for his players this off-season?

“Those are the kind of things everybody likes to keep private.”

No matter. Richt says he has learned a lesson, and the result of that lesson next season will be public enough.

148 comments Add your comment

P-Man

March 16th, 2009
4:36 pm

I would be more concerned if he DIDN’T learn from last year. Every team is different, and reacts differently to situations. The trick is knowing when to push and when to back off. Richt pushed all the right buttons in 2007, but the wrong ones in 2008. I believe ha and the coaches will get it right again in 2009.

DawginLex

March 16th, 2009
4:39 pm

Rambler,

This is a nerd free blog zone. Back off………………..

I’m glad Richt realizes that changes need to be made in attitude and effort. Being underdogs will only help. It is easy to get knocked off the perch when you aren’t ready to be up there. Tech will discover that soon enough.

Truth-serum

March 16th, 2009
4:54 pm

Richt needs to go all right, go somewhere else and underachieve.To quote you Shultz the measure of a coach is how he manages to get the most out of the team he has. I agree. Ive grown so disappointed in a top 5 recruiting class every year for 10 years running, being ranked in the top five in every major publication and sport organization(last year preseason number one by everybody!),only to FUNK out on a losing note and end up as a “also ran”. Playing for Georgia means you’ll never win a National championship or compete for one because Mark Richt CANT COACH!!! Each year all you can hope for is that someone will invite you to a bowl worth watching.

Georgia under Richt is a launching pad to the pro’s. USC,LSU,Ohio State,Florida even Alabama have all won 1 or more national championships with LESSOR TALENT!! in the past ten year. Richt hasnt even come close. Rather than go back to old school I have another place id like the coach to go, somewhere where it very hot and people pay for there sins. Like the sin of underachieving. A place where theres a devil with a pitch fork, no Jeff, Im not talking about Arizonia.
Make sure you judge Richt by the same coaching standard you judge Woodson by. How much he gets out of the talent he has.

Truth-serum

March 16th, 2009
5:02 pm

Jeff Schultz

March 15th, 2009
9:10 am
Truth-Serum — Everybody wants winning teams. The way a coach is judged is he is getting the most out of his athletes. You can’t expect a great coach with bad players to win a championship. The way he and this team ultimately will be judged though is over the body of work Would you agree?

Thanks
JS
Jeff, should a good coach with a good team win a championship?

Wes

March 16th, 2009
5:04 pm

Sounds like UGA will be pretty well versed in the art of the pushup thanks to Roddy Jones

SECFootballRocks

March 16th, 2009
5:16 pm

The Dawgs need to work on 4 areas for improvement:

1 Wrap arms when they tackle rather than trying to bump people to the ground. When you score 42 points and lose a football game to a team you know is going to run, it is time to teach players how to tackle rather than bump.

2 Punish players for penalties. Run laps, do pushups, run the stadium steps, etc. There were so many personal foul and false start penalties last year. Get their heads in the games.

3 Recievers need to look the ball into their hands. So many of them turned their heads to start running before they had the ball. If I can see it the the coaching staff should be able to see it too.

4 Make the team quit waiting for a “playmaker” like Stafford and Moreno to win the game for them. It is like the rest of the team just goes through the motions waiting for a playmaker” to do something. Get every player motovated to make a difference.

Bottom line:

If Mississippi can beat Florida in Gainesville, we can beat them in Jacksonville.

If Utah can beat Alabama, then we can too.

If your offense scores 42 points on Tech, you only have yourself to blame for losing the game. You beat LSU in Baton Rouge and LSU beat Tech 38-3 in the bowl game.

Otto

March 16th, 2009
5:28 pm

UGA has a new receivers coach which I am glad to see. Dropped balls have been a chronic problem. Stafford was the QB and going for the big play that often killed drives. I’m glad to see Cox in. The defense will be better for it. I bet we see fewer penalites and Kiffen sees the yellow flag alot this year. You don’t make headlines in the SEC by ticking off the SEC front office.

Jeff

March 16th, 2009
5:34 pm

Truth-Serum needs to get a life. Just like all of the “fringe” dawg fans out there that don’t know what they are talking about. They bark the loudest, but know the least. The dawgs faded last year because of a lack of leadership on the defensive side of the ball. Jeff Owens was their leader. He was hurt early and Ellerbe failed to step up at all. The Offense was the #1 offense in yards in the SEC. Our defense could not get ANYONE off the field. Richt is “manning” up to the fact that he controls what edge the team has, and he is saying that they lost their edge due to a lack of preparation. I agree(not that it matters), and I am proud to be a UGA grad(which I am quite certain Truth-Serum is not). 09 is a new year and a new team. Both lines are stronger. Lastly, Mark Richt is the best thing to happen to UGA football since Herschel Walker. He has given us an identity and a consistent Top 10 team. He has one 2 SEC championships in 8 years and played for one more. He has accumulated a staff of desired assistants across the nation. He has loyalty and resolve. Our 02 and 07(and 05 if Shockley doesn’t go down) teams could have easily played for the BCS title. UF backed into the game in 06 as did LSU in 07. UGA could have easily been in their place. So, stop the Richt bashing!

SECFootballRocks

March 16th, 2009
5:36 pm

Oh, did I mention that we should actually kick off into the other team’s end zone rather than letting it bounce out of bounds inside their 10 yard line which gives their offense the ball at the 40 yard line?

Other teams kick off into their opponents end zone. Why don’t we?

Dogs #1 in baseball, #2 (in Georgia) in football!...for a full year!

March 16th, 2009
5:43 pm

That is how much they under achieved.

Jeff Schultz

March 16th, 2009
5:45 pm

Truth — Well, there’s a difference between “good” and “great.” But generally — yes, good coaches with good teams should be contending for championships and win one once in a while. Richt has contended most years he has had good teams (he’s been in BCS bowls). But there’s no question last year’s team underachieved. Two first-round draft picks on offense? You’ve got to do better. I think we have common ground there.

SECFootballRocks: I’ve seldom seen a worse tackling team or one that committed more dumb penalties than last year’s Georgia team.

Jeff (no relation, I think): I agree that Richt’s body of work has been impressive at Georgia. But that doesn’t mean last year’s didn’t underachieve, and now we at least know part of the reason why. If the man is saying himself he did something wrong, I don’t think fans are off base by saying the same thing. That doesn’t make them “bashers.” It just makes them objective.

I’ll check back in later.
Jeff

Jeff

March 16th, 2009
6:17 pm

Jeff(brother from another mother)- I am not making excuses for last year’s team. I am agreeing(I typed it above)that we had ZERO edge of Defense last year and that is why we underachieved. That is a result of motivation and coaching. I am tired of people like Truth-Serum who says that USC,OSU, UF, LSU, and Alabama(didn’t win a national championship) have “Lessor(sp)Talent” than UGA and won national championships. All of those teams have had Heisman Trophy winners and multiple first round draft choices. These fans call for good coaches heads as they are building a STRONG program underneath them. UGA has a chance to win the SEC EVERY year with Mark Richt. We have NEVER had that from a coach. Coaches like Richt can be a program maker. Same with Bob Stoops in OU. I bet I could get on an OU blog and find some idiot fringe OU fan ready to call for Stoops’ job because they haven’t won an NC in 8 years and they keep losing BCS bowl games. To write that Mark Richt “CAN’T COACH” is moronic. Look at what he did with a team like our 05 Dawgs that won the SEC. No dominant players that year. Just a solid team built by a solid man. Also, a statement like that makes them bashers, not objective.

Ralph

March 16th, 2009
6:25 pm

All that is fine and good but IS IT POSSIBLE THAT GEORGIA COULD, JUST ONE TIME, HAVE LESS THAN 10 PLAYERS ARRESTED OR SUSPENDED FOR THE OPENER??? THIS YEAR IT IS AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE AND IT SURE WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A COMPLETE TEAM FOR A CHANGE.

Seriously, is is THAT HARD to not get arrested or suspended during the summer????

FLDAWG

March 16th, 2009
7:18 pm

I’ll throw my hat in the ring with Richt above any other coach. He knows football, he consistently has us in a position to win the SEC, he has had us in position to play for the NC at least twice and he is solid man. Under Richt, we have two SEC championships and multiple 10 win seasons. The team needs to get their edge back as Richt said and I feel certain they will. Second, UGA needs to get a few breaks and we are in. In 07 we got half a break (all the teams lost that needed to)at the end of the season and the pollsters voted us out of the championship game (part of the game). UF got their breaks in their NC seasons as well as LSU and every other NC team. UGA just needs to keep putting itself in the right position and we will win a NC.

Sautee Dawg

March 16th, 2009
7:19 pm

Nice read Jeff.

Truth-serum

March 16th, 2009
7:29 pm

Jeff

March 16th, 2009
5:34 pm

I appreciate your EMOTIONAL reation to the facts presented. Reality is reality. You did furnish a lot of reasons why the puppies did not compete nor win. Your explanation and breakdown may be correct. The bottom line minus the reasons,excuses and cop-outs is they did not compete once again.
Mr. Shultz. I call competing coming down to the wire with the decision in waiting. Competing is not knowing 3 games before the season is over that you are out of the running or hoping some one else loses so you can fall in the consolation spot…..thats not competing.
If I have a top 5 recruiting class, every year, I want to be competing for a national title not just the SEC, as glorious as it is. Neither you Shultz nor Jeff addressed the reality that USC,LSU,Ohio State,Florida even Alabama have all won 1 or more national championships with LESSOR TALENT!! lower recruiting classes, in the past ten years. Any time you count finishing 2 or 3 games out of the SEC title game competing, I must ask at what level. I would expect a superior coach to win 1 or 2 national titles and 4 or 5 SEC titles with the kind of recruiting classes that Georgia has had. Jeff(not Shultz) Im sorry if I hurt your feelings by telling you the truth. Ive been a Georgia fan all my life. I dont however allow my emotions to overrule my judgement. When you get past the hype and glamor Mark Richt is just an average coach at best.

SECFootballRocks

March 16th, 2009
8:00 pm

Truth-serum = Tech pathetic loser

south ga boy

March 16th, 2009
8:31 pm

look jeff, truth serum may be a little strong but not off base. i have been a fan for all of my 46 yrs on this earth. i love cmr as a person and he’s a better than avg. coach but im afraid he will never be a good coach. every year there is more on the job training. it took 6 yrs for him to understand that he cant be the off coord. and head coach. to many games were mismanaged, too many discipline prob (which is still the case), and now he realizes his team lost its edge from lack of full contact during the season. he’s nearly 10 yrs in and still learning the basics. he could be ok with a hard-nosed def. coord. like Van Gorder, but he wont make the hard choice of letting a friend, like martinez, go. at this pace he will be a good coach by the time he’s ready to retire. again, i think he’s a great man, but just an avg. coach. and that truth serume is hard to take for life-long ga fans like myself, but i am afraid its still the truth

Jeff Schultz

March 16th, 2009
8:39 pm

South: Surprised it took this long before somebody mentioned Willie Martinez. And the floodgates are now open . . .

patricksulley

March 16th, 2009
8:42 pm

UGA will win 11 games this year including the one in jax. BANK

Georgia Dawg By Way Of Las Vegas

March 16th, 2009
8:51 pm

Exactly! Teach the Puppies how to be Dawgs! Make them learn to wrap up and close the tackle like they were supposed to do and get the stops for no yards gained instead of 50 and 60 yard touchdowns! There was no fire in their hearts when they got blasted by Alabama early and it was no joke when Urban and his Gators basically slapped the Bulldogs silly in what should have been a classic Georgia /Florida game. Instead the Bulldogs cried about what could have been if a couple of things had gone right. I love our Bulldogs but enough is enough! Get your heads and ***** in the game and tackle like Dawgs that have bite and not little pooches when it comes to playing real teams like Florida and Alabama. The Georgie Tech loss was sickening! They score 42 points and give up more than 400 yards rushing. No more talk. Just get it Done!

Cuz

March 16th, 2009
8:54 pm

Truth, time to take some more serum. Alabama has not won a national championship since Gene Stallings in 1993 for the 1992 season. I choose to believe you are just mistaken and not a liar with an agenda. If you are so sick of the program under Richt, become a Tide fan. If you have been a Dawg fan all your life, it must be a short one because there were times in the eighties and ninties when I and alot of fans thought that an 8-3 season was pretty good. We had no illusions of winning a National Championship. We just wanted to see a good game.

After the latter years of Dooley, the Goff and Donnan years, I will take an average coach like Mark Richt. And I respect and admire all three previous mentioned coaches. I am just glad that Mark Richt is our head coach. I feel every season that we have a chance to win the SEC. I never felt that way with the three previous coaches.

I may be in the minority of fans, but I don’t think that winning a National Championship is the only thing that matters in being a head coach. Character, concern for the student’s welfare, leadership and accountability, all count as much to me as wins. We went 10-3 last year and you want Mark Richt to burn in he11 and you call Jeff emotional? I guess a firing squad would be your choice if he ever had a losing season.

Another of your misconceptions is Georgia finishing 2 or 3 games out of the SEC Championship. In 2008 we finished one game behind Florida for the title game. In 2007 we tied Tennessee, they had the tie-breaker by their victory over us. In 2006 you are right on the money, three games behind Florida. In 2005 we won the SEC, I guess you have no problem with that, just the bowl game. In 2004 one game behind Tennessee. In 2003 we won the SEC east but lost the Championship game. In 2002 we won the SEC east and Championship and the Sugar Bowl too. I guess your problem with that year is that we did not make it to the National Championship. In 2001 we finished two games behing Tennessee in Coach Richt’s first year. We finished the season 8-3 with the notable game being the “Hobnail boot game” at Tennessee. I guess you wanted Coach Richt fired that first year.

According to your logic Mr. Truth. In eight years Mark Richt should have won two National Championships and four or five SEC titles. The only one I can think that is close to that is the Urban Legend with two National Championships and two SEC Championships in four years. Good for him. I will still keep Coach Richt.

I get past the hype and glamour. I know a good coach when I see one. And I see one in Coach Richt.

SamoanDawg

March 16th, 2009
8:58 pm

Glad to hear coach is going back to old school.. especially on D. We need to get back to hardnose physical football. We were too datgum soft last year, too many datgum penalties & too many datgum missed/arm tackles. We will come into the season with a chip on our shoulders. Coaches and players and me too, had bad taste in our mouth from last season. I can’t wait!

Go Dawgs! GATA!

south ga boy

March 16th, 2009
9:04 pm

jeff, the thing is martinez is a good guy and an ok position coach, but not a def. coord., quick- can you see him head-butting his players with their helmets on aka,(well, you know who). just once i would like to see him or cmr himself get after a player on the sidelines (say, maybe after a dumb penalty) like saban or meyer. but its not their personality and leopards and spots come to mind. richt, on the sidelines, reminds me of looking at glavine on the mound, you have no idea whether you are 40 ahead or behind. that fine for a pitcher, maybe even preferrable, but not for a college head coach. thank for the reply, jeff. your commentary is always insightful. well, at least, that is what your mother told me to say. lol

Bobby Bowden

March 16th, 2009
9:23 pm

I can’t stand it if someone misuses my words. That’s dadgum not datgum and you said it three times……dadgummit.!!

Snoop

March 16th, 2009
9:29 pm

Adams giving Richt and his assistants a raise for a 9 and 3 regular season is like Bush saying “Heck of a job, Brownie” after Katrina. Richt will continue to recruit great talent, six of whom may not graduate from high school, and post winning seasons, but he is not a championship coach.

dawgfan1911

March 16th, 2009
9:33 pm

The fact of the matter is that Rict will be good enough to stay at Georgia for as longg as he wants. He will never be fired and I cant see him taking another job anywhere else. Is he good enough to out coach Meyer, Saba, Nutt, Petrino, Spurrier and company,,,, I dont know, but the guy is a asolid coach and maybe Georgia will be able to get some breaks and win it all.

Bama Stan

March 16th, 2009
9:50 pm

31-0 at the half?!!

It’s mark of a good coach that continuew to reflect and learn from his own experience – and try to learn from others. This is what is so impressive about Saban. Each year – he critiques himself as a head coach and his coaching staff on how effective they were as teachers, recruiters and motivators. And adjustments are made to be a better coach.

As for Richt – 2008 was a bad job of coaching. Football is a contact sport – and he became a soft coach. Hey, I understand the injury situation – but Dooley had Bloody Tuesdays – regardless of injuries. Stallings and Coach Bryant understood that injuries happen – but to play and practice to avoid injuries – is a disaster.

When it came down to it – UGA was just not “MAN ENOUGH” in 2008. Balme injuries – but by going soft – Richt did not prepare the replacements – and it showed physically and mentally.

31-0 at the half!!

ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GW

March 16th, 2009
9:53 pm

Even with the OLine injuries the offense was pretty tough last year but the defense was soft. I’m glad Richt is admitting that the team was soft but I fear the “be careful” philosophy on defense lends itself to a soft team. This approach has to change for the team to have an edge. A defense can’t let an opponent nickel and dime their way down the field and face first and goal the whole game long. The AJC is as easily offended as Richt when the defensive coach is criticized. Nothing personnel but I don’t see a defensive “edge” in the making playing a soft TOO-Deep zone and the opponent reading it like a book. Find a way to create some turnovers. Break on the ball and intercept a few passes and then see how tough the team looks.

GW

March 16th, 2009
9:58 pm

I know…personal, not personnel.

Bama Stan

March 16th, 2009
10:07 pm

CUZ – enjoyed your post. Iagree with you admonishing your fellow Dpg fan ….. my take is that if you are a UGA fan for life – and want to jump ship – don’t come to the Tide – because you are a loser not to back your team when your team needs it the most. Do something like petition or be vocal about your concerns – but by jumping ship – you are a loser or a Tennessee fan!!!!

How about 9-4 Florida in 2007? Would you bale???

Also Cuz – you actually explained to me why UGA will never win a National Title under Richt. UGA wants to talk the talk – but they are wannabes when it comes to winning National Titles. It’s a mental attitude, a swagger , that creates the “luck” and to make that additonal play that is in Alabama’s DNA and Saban is reviving – and Florida and LSU also have that attitude. They are not playing for the SEC Titles – these schools are playing for National Titles in the biggest baddest league in the land – and a SEC Title is merely a stepping stone.

UGA just does not have that in their DNA. Richt hopes for a chance to play for a National Title. Saban, Meyer and Miles play to win the National Title and are disappointed and consider themselves unsuccessful unless that win it – more than once!!!

ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE SUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

glassceiling

March 16th, 2009
10:10 pm

Richt was schooled by the old master in disciplineless football. Bobby Bowden. I think CMR has a very impressive resume and has certainly stacked up some wins in the SEC east but to have the talent that he has access to and often nets in the state of georgia and not have a title ??

I agree that without a playoff its based alot on luck and the bounce of the ball but he always seems find a way out of the mix.

I am not saying fire him. He is far too successful for that but I cannot honestly say that I feel we will compete with UF over the next 5 seasons and that is where it all starts.

Bama Stan

March 16th, 2009
10:21 pm

31-0 at the half?!!!

Truth-Serum – excellent post – you get it!!

Richt’s goals are to try to win the SEC East – and that is what he is playing for – and that attitude is why he will never win a National Title at UGA. Florida, LSU and Alabama’s goals are to win National Titles – big difference mentally – which carries onto the field.

Richt will win his share of games because he CAN bring in the talent and he is a good coach – but he is shy of being a National Elite Coach.

I am not the only one the feels that way. We thought UGA had something in Richt 6 years ago and again 4 years ago – but UGA became soft and Urban has come in and totally kicked butt. Look for Tennessee to quickly pass UGA in the mental edge department as well – UGA is soft mentally and physically can’t hang when the game against a top tier team in on the line.

ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PTC DAWG

March 16th, 2009
10:27 pm

Can the idiot aka Bamastan not find his own blog? Seriously, what a tard.

truth-serum

March 16th, 2009
10:33 pm

Cuz

March 16th, 2009
8:54 pm
My bad. I CAN ACCEPT CORRECTION! You guys are right. What I meant to say is that Alabama got to the championship with less talent.
Georgia has had world class talent. Georgia is in the top four team for sending player to the pros…and Georgia has 0 national championships. Yeah They participated/competed in the SEC….So did 11 other teams. The bottom line is they have very little to show for so much talent.
I some times begin the season feeling like even Mark Richt Will eventually win with all that talent and top 5 recruiting class every year…but every year i get the same results and people like Jeff-march 16th, 20095:34 pm and SECFootballRocks March 16th, 2009 abusing me for realizing the bottom line while they live in denial and try to paint one disappointing year after another as a banner season.
8:00 pm
FLDAWG

March 16th, 2009
7:18 pm
Being good means you dont have to pray for a hail mary or a break. Being good means you make your own break. You so called Dog fans have come to accept losing! you even convince yourselves that losing is winning. What ever!!

intellibird

March 16th, 2009
10:59 pm

Uh, didn’t I just watch Alabama get blown out by Utah? Mark Richt is an excellent coach. As Truth-serum said, UGA has top 10 recruiting classes each year…that by itself makes Richt an excellent head coach because top recruits want to play for him and it also guarantees that Georgia will continue to be contenders for the SEC and BCS titles.
And I am unbiased since I did not attend an SEC school.

Shane

March 16th, 2009
10:59 pm

Bama Stan Mark Richt owns Alabama 3-1 record.

Shane

March 16th, 2009
11:00 pm

BTW Bama Stan when is Bama’s next probation coming. This year or next lol

Minnesota Jacket

March 16th, 2009
11:01 pm

PTC DAWG your a Georgia fan and all of your fans are the tech blog’s bashing Tech sooo I think its only fair someone else comes to your blogs.

intellibird

March 16th, 2009
11:01 pm

Also, I would look for Florida to take a couple steps back after Saint Tebow leaves next year.

jacketbacker

March 16th, 2009
11:01 pm

i just love to read about that ” home loss to Georgia Tech”……that just NEVER gets old!!

45-42!!!

THWG

Shane

March 16th, 2009
11:03 pm

Lose to Utah ?!?!?????

Priceless. Guess Saban cant coach with the big boys like Utah

Shane

March 16th, 2009
11:03 pm

45-42 enjoy it while it lasts

Shane

March 16th, 2009
11:08 pm

Nick Saban Record 110–50–1
Mark Richt Record 82–22

Ill take Richt

Which of Sabans season were most impressive

The 8-5 LSU Tigers in 2002
The 8-4 Tigers of 2000?
or maybe the 6-6 Michigan State Team

Saban has basically had a couple good years coaching and was a total bust in the pros.

Shane

March 16th, 2009
11:10 pm

In other words Richt could go 28 and 28 over the next 56 games and he would tie the great Saban.

jacketbacker

March 16th, 2009
11:11 pm

45-42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!….it hurts doesn’t it big boy!!

THWG

S.E. Dawg

March 16th, 2009
11:20 pm

Truth-serum, it sounds like you’re trying to bend time and space so I think you need to find yourself a wormhole.

Your logic just kills me. You should start hanging out with Ray Goff.

Sister Bessie

March 16th, 2009
11:29 pm

The AJC sure swept that Moody/Ealy/ECI blog under the rug in a hurry! Must be be juicy.

BravesAreDone

March 16th, 2009
11:31 pm

Truth-Serum

You say…”USC,LSU,Ohio State,Florida even Alabama have all won 1 or more national championships with LESSOR TALENT!! in the past ten year. Richt hasnt even come close.”

That is just such a stupid comment even for the standards set on these blog responses. Do you remember the 1-loss season a few years back?? LSU won the NC with a 2-loss season here recently. The Bulldogs were way way better than that LSU team the year the Bulldogs lost just one game. It comes a lot down to luck and how other teams do during their great years…but to say Richt hasn’t come close is stupid and ridiculous.

ed

March 16th, 2009
11:33 pm

why does everyone talk about the defense, blame the offense thats is going to have two high first round picks and a second rounder in Mohamed Massaquoi.

SamoanDawg

March 16th, 2009
11:37 pm

I’m confident Richt will eventually win the big one. It takes luck to get there sometime. So, this year, we need every luck we can get. It won’t surprise me if this GA team makes it to SECCG this upcoming season. That’s right! all you Dawg haters can bash me all u want.

Rebels should be the team to represent the West. Gators could be the East representative, but the Dawgs are saving up their time outs, TV time outs, a red-flag challenge and some cocktails to celebrate in the end zone: )

Rosie O'Donnell

March 16th, 2009
11:48 pm

I see 2 absolute losses for the DAWGS with 5 toss-ups. All we need is a little luck we should be playing for the NC.

SamoanDawg

March 17th, 2009
12:12 am

**Mr ed**, I ain’t worry about our O. I think we’ll have a better team without those two future top picks. The **O-LINE** will lead the O this year. We don’t have mega star backfields, but I like the young talents we have back there. Joe Cox & Logan Gray will have pockets to operate in. Richard Samuel, Caleb King & Carlton Thomas will see some gaping holes. The O-LINE has vowed to carry and take a lot of pressures off our QBs. Searels will have his guys ready.

FLDAWG

March 17th, 2009
12:55 am

Truth,

The breaks I am talking about are outside of play on the field. Voting of Pollsters for example. Oklahoma for example did not win their conference, yet they were voted in. In UF’s first NC, certain teams had to lose for them to get a shot at the championship. You are right that breaks and luck on the field are induced by a competent team, no qualms about that. However, all teams get a break to some degree based on who wins and loses in other games. UGA has to take advantage of those type of breaks by winning games on the field. You have to have both.

Jeff

March 17th, 2009
6:23 am

CMR falls on the SWORD for CWM !!! I hope this is the LAST time!!

[...] speaking of Coach Richt, here’s his confession regarding letting his foot off the gas a little too much last [...]

AltamahaDawg

March 17th, 2009
7:25 am

Minnesota Jacket, you are telling us that your aspiration is to behave no worse than the childish UGA fans that get on the tech blog? Congrats to all.

BILLY JACK

March 17th, 2009
8:09 am

Truth serum Alabama has not won a national championship in 16 or 17 yrs.You keep saying 10-Im not sure why.

F.G.

March 17th, 2009
8:14 am

Richt is the right fit for Georgia. What he should do is fire all of his coaching staff and hire these fools on this blog.

Mark

March 17th, 2009
8:27 am

One thing is becoming familiarly apparent over the course of season after football season –Mark Richt always has an excuse. He’s learned his lesson –great. What will he ba saying next year?

MoDawg

March 17th, 2009
8:38 am

Nice picture. If I recall, this is the play where Knowshon slipped and Spikes basically crawled over him. The picture makes it look like it was some massive hit. If you want to see one of those, watch Eric Berry hit MoMass and Knowshon in last years’ game.

It’s like they say – it’s all about editing.

The Gators were motivated due to the way the media and Urban Meyer blew the whole endzone celebration out of proportion (admittedly after the whole team mistook what Richt wanted to happen) and they were the better team, and won the game. However, and any self-repsecting Gator will admit that until we started shooting ourselves in the feet (both of them) it could have gone either way. The fact remains that it went WAAAAY the wrong way for us in the 2nd half, but still…

Richt is an awesome coach, and awesome person and UGA will be fine for years to come with him at the helm. He does what he thinks is best for the program and for the kids, and that’s what “we” pay him for, isn’t it?

Techsters, your jealousy is becoming more funny every time you post your little 45-42 score. How many months has it been? It is reaching pathetic how tight you folks are holding onto that. Repeating that score won’t earn you any respect. In fact, it is having quite the opposite effect. Grow up!

Phil

March 17th, 2009
8:50 am

WOW! Mark Richt finally learns that football is about being physically tough. It’s about time – he’s fifty years old and been a HC and OC for a long time. Truth is he’s just an OC still, masquerading as a HC at UGA. He’s underachieving as a HC – he just does not have the toughness and discipline that NSaban and UMeyer, the great ones have.

williebkind

March 17th, 2009
8:54 am

No matter how good you coach the offense and no matter how great your run may be, you must have a championship defense. FIRE MARTINEZ! Only then will the dawgs challenge the better teams.

After reading some of your blogs, it seems most of you are content winning against mediocre teasm. I just do not understand that!!

BR

March 17th, 2009
8:54 am

Bama Stan–didn’t Georgia score 31 points in ONE QUARTER against your team? By the way… what happened in the bowl game to your mighty Tide!?!?!? HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

K

March 17th, 2009
8:57 am

Poor Tech nerds… still hanging on to that pitiful win over an average GA team. You geeks really have nothing else to live for all season do you??? I guess wins in the big bad ACC (HAHAHAHA) aren’t really a big deal. Makes me laugh every time a nerd brings up the pathetic three point win over a crappy GA team!!! And as always, on the UGA blog. Do you dorks not have your own blog?? Oh yeah, you’d have nothing to talk about!

gdawginkalamazoo

March 17th, 2009
8:58 am

Amen Cuz, amen. Truth you need to find another team to cheer for. When I was a UGA we had to worry about beating Vandy year in and year out. And this was before they went all intramural and got rid of their athletic dept (much improved since they did that I might add).

Looks like the Moody kid will end up at Florida. More likely Kiffin is on a plane to Georgia with paperwork.

Music City Dawg

March 17th, 2009
9:00 am

Really? It took him until the Tech game for ‘reality to set in’? If that’s true, what the heck was going through his mind when we were getting pounded by Florida? Which combo meal he was going to order from Wendy’s on the bus ride back? Jeez.

RAMBLE ON!!!

March 17th, 2009
9:09 am

Wow, Schultz open the door wide open for us State Champions on this one. Since it’s St. Patty’s day, I’m going to cut you fleabags some slack.

But don’t get carried away, or I’ll have to come back and lay the smacketh down.

gdawginkalamazoo

March 17th, 2009
9:11 am

Ramble On! Funny man funny. Please enjoy the green beer and the year of smack talking allocated until November. Drive safe.

Mark C.

March 17th, 2009
9:15 am

Bama Stan

31-0 at the half, is that really what you’re hanging your hat on from last year? A halftime score from September? Bama finally beat Auburn, went to the SECCG and the Sugar Bowl, Tuberville is out, Fulmer is out, but a halftime score is what gets you fired up? Get a life.

Ryan

March 17th, 2009
9:24 am

Cuz- There is no doubt Richt is a good coach, but to say you would take him over anyone is a bit silly. Meyer, Saban, Spurrier hell maybe even Les Miles are just a few names I’d take over Richt. Meyer And Saban are great coaches, and Richt is a good coach. It’s all about the crystal baby.

Jborodawg

March 17th, 2009
9:25 am

Truth: get a life. You, like far too many, put too much emphasis on recruiting rankings. They hardly mean anything. A “sort of” gauge, but not completely accurate. To suggest that CMR be fired begs for a suggestion on who would be better; and available. There are about 115 schools each year that don’t win the NC. Also, as I recall, The Evil Genius had winning the SEC as his goal each year. Win the SEC and there’s a chance to play for the NC; but it’s not guaranteed. I won’t repeat all the “pros” that have been offered for keeping CMR; but they far outweigh the “cons”. All the coaches know the failures from last year: poor tackling, penalties, poor kicking (I think we had fewer dropped passes than in ‘07). Stafford was good but not great (great only in spurts); a few clock management “episodes”. CMR has said he and the staff will do things differently this year. We’ll see how it translates on the field.

Still amazing: only a couple bashings of CWM so far! Good; it gets old; he’s not going anywhere.

Go Dawgs! Beat OSU!

[...] wants more beatboxing, Kangols. After a soft 2008 effort from Georgia, Mark Richt is vowing to go “old school” with their offseason practices in an effort to toughen Georgia up. The article also features a picture of Brandon Spikes owning Knowshon Moreno, which is always a [...]

Otto

March 17th, 2009
9:26 am

Cuz well said.

Bama Stan what was the final score? Bama didn’t finish the game or the season well.

Bobo deserves just as much of the blame as CWM. How long were the drives in terms of time off the clock, how was red zone offense, and how many drives were killed with long passes that didn’t connect? 2007 could be blamed on Bobo in place of CWM, Bobo just called another screen against S. Car. I think we’ll stick with the running game against Tenn.

As long as Richt is winning SEC titles he has a chance at the National title. We’ll see how Urban does once Tebow leaves Gainesville. Richt looked great with Greene and given a few breaks which the past 3 national champs have had could of played for a Title.

FalconDawg

March 17th, 2009
9:40 am

Hey maybe GT will take Dexter Moody they get are left overs anyway! I’m so ready for next season. One thing richt can do is rebound from a bad year! Check 2006-2007, I know deep down we will be greater next year without all the hype and having more talent. The D will shut up all of are rivals. And offense has the ability to be better than last year. A much improved O line,AJ Green, Caleb King J Cox Dawgs will make a statement early by playing a great talent in OSU as the opener. GO DAWGS!!!!! the rest can kiss my A**

Huh?

March 17th, 2009
9:41 am

Ryan, Urban Meyer has two subpar 9 win seasons under his belt at Florida. And if you don’t think there are more to come you are smoking crack rock. Nick Saban has had more mediocre seasons in his college head coaching career than I can count. 8 or 9 wins was the norm for him at LSU. Look it up. He went 6-6 last year at Alabama. Les Miles? Are freaking kidding me? Richt has absolutely laid the wood to this guy every time he’s faced him. The games have hardly even been close. These are all great coaches but you idiots act like they are completely infallible and win all their games by 30 points. You are shortsighted and, quite frankly, not that bright. Thanks.

Truth

March 17th, 2009
9:46 am

RIGHT ON HUH! Richt owns Les Miles, in fact Richt has beat just about every coach in the sec a great amount(check his record just in case it speaks for it’s self) Or how about his on the road record, or his record against non SEC teams (yeah he rocks you guys are just haters) WE WILL GET THE NATIONAL WITH RICHT! you can bet like the sun comes up partner GO DAWGS SIC EM

Dawg Fud

March 17th, 2009
9:48 am

thanks for the pardon today, RAMBLE ON!!!

Bama Stan – Bama is a great program and i certainly respect the job Nick Saban has done. but before you come on here bashing Richt and the Dawgs…please tell me what Bama actually won last year…besides the SEC West? gained a lot of confidence and had a GREAT season but no hardware to show for it. pipe down there chief.

Huh?

March 17th, 2009
9:52 am

“Bobo deserves just as much of the blame as CWM. How long were the drives in terms of time off the clock, how was red zone offense…”

Georgia was 2nd in the SEC in time of possession and 6th in red zone offense. Not bad. I’ll take it. The red zone ranking is skewed because alot of our scoring came from OUTSIDE the red zone. That is what we call a good thing people. Yes, we had a big play offense last year that sometimes would strike fast and get off the field. I fail to see how this is a bad thing. I do not understand the Bobo criticism at all. I think he’s doing a great job, especially considering the offensive line troubles.

jo-jo

March 17th, 2009
9:54 am

“Also, I would look for Florida to take a couple steps back after Saint Tebow leaves next year.”

riiiight. so instead of a 39 pt win, maybe only a 3 TD win?

Tebow is backed up by the Gatorade POY, John Brantley. If the pups couldn’t beat the Gators with their 2008 Pre-season #1 Greatest team of all time, good luck next yr and thereafter. Gators are getting deeper on defense, and now have 4 top 5 recruiting classes, so it’s back to the Spurrier days.

Mark

March 17th, 2009
10:00 am

hey mo dawg; 409

Doc 54

March 17th, 2009
10:10 am

Mark Richt is one of the finest human beings in the game today. He is an excellent offensive coordinator, and a better than average head coach. However, he lacks the one thing most offensive minded successful head coaches have: a first rate defensive coordinator. Urban Meyer, Mac Brown, Les Miles, and others all have a great defensive coordinator working for them because even in this era of more offense, defense still wins championships. Florida shut down Oklahoma’s scoring machine to win the title. Georgia’s defensive players spend too much time trying to make the “big” play rather than making the play. If you tackle properly, good things will happen. The fumble at the end of the Tech-FSU game was caused by a player making a proper form tackle and the ball popped out. You may make some big plays when you tackle the ball, but if you tackle the ball carrier, you will make more plays for your team.

reality again in '09

March 17th, 2009
10:10 am

oh just look at ‘em. look at all the dawg fans getting ready for the ‘09 season –beat OSU ..i don’t think so. The reality of ‘09 for the dawgs will be 4-5-6 losses. stop whining at the tech fans for giving you guys crap –you deserve it.

UGA went from pre-season #1 to giving up 409 yards and 45 points to GT. think about that –you were pre-season #1 and tech was nowhere on the radar. in ‘09 tech will be better and UGA will not be as strong. tech will then be even better in ‘10 –the ‘11 game is @ BDS. getting the picture yet? UGA fans better be prepared for 3-4, perhaps more, straight losses to the nerd school. sign o the times gents –sign o the times.

but no, here we are yet once again. another off season and the dawgs are already barking –but you’re barking up the wrong tree if you think your team is even remotely going to have a great season. 8-4 at best, 7-5, 6-6 more likely. now bark.

GATORZONE

March 17th, 2009
10:19 am

Music City, good point. What did he think after alabama? Or how about the previous year against Tennessee? Richt is a good coach, and a great recruiter but he is lacking something. He looks out coached in really big games too often. Also, he does set his sights too low. The goal every year should be to win the National Championship, not the SEC.

That being said, I do think Richt will get the breaks eventually and win it all. It may take 10 more years, based off of the fact that he is still learning the basics but it will eventually happen.

GO GATORS!!!!!

There is no National Championship in College Football

March 17th, 2009
10:20 am

I would like to take a moment and remind everyone AGAIN, that there IS NO NATIONAL CHAMPION in Division 1A college football. It does not exist. There is the fruadulant BCS. And before that, several beauty pagent polling system winners. But the governing body of college football, the sanctioning entity, does not award OR RECOGNIZE a national champion and never has. It would be akin to Doritos awarding the Super Bowl trophy, with no recognition from the NFL, and no playoff to legitimize the occasion. You have two teams paired together, that didn’t play any of the same teams, may or may not have the same credentialing, etc, playing in an arbitrary game. So, evaluation a team based on whether they are coincedentally in a game at the end of the year which isn’t even recognized by the NCAA, and to further have the audacity to call it the “National Championship” is beyond rediculous. Now, the SEC Championship and the Pac 10 Championship, and the Big 10 Championship ARE won on the field and ARE recognized by the body that sanctions them. The SEC trophy is awarded by…………….The offices of the SEC. Novel idea I know. Florida deserves much praise for winning the SEC in 2006 & 2008, as does LSU for winning in 2003 & 2007. Those four teams all lost at least one game, the 2007 LSU team lost 2, but played in the beauty pagent. The 2004 Auburn team won the SEC and went undefeated, and the 2002 & 2005 Georgia teams won the SEC with one and then two losses, but neither played in the beauty pageant. Results should be judged by on the field results, and since Richt has been at UGA, Georgia has beaten every single team in the SEC, except Florida, more than vise versa. And by that notion, Florida deserves to crow for that and only that, because that’s what matters. Tech deserves to crow about 45-42, but nothing beyond that because the subject above, Mark Richt, is 7-1 against the Jackets.

Otto

March 17th, 2009
10:21 am

I didn’t ask time of position but the average time of the drives. UGA was a big play offense that had a hard time making a 5+ minute drive to put the game on ice. The Auburn game last year atleast 3 drives were killed by long pass plays that did not hit. What was Stafford’s completion percentage for passes over 20 yards? If the offense could convert on more sure shorter passes, UGA would not have had to survive a last minute Auburn drive. The result is the defense is given a short field which skews time of possesion. I’ll still take both coaches especially with Stafford gone. Was Richt and Van Gorder better than Bobo and CWM?.. without a doubt yes.

dbc

March 17th, 2009
10:22 am

The first thing CMR needs to do is get tougher himself. It seems that the DAWGS lack that killer instinct. CMR plays not to lose, rather than to beat an opponent into submission. The Tech game last year is a perfect example. Coach, keep the foot on the pedal and don’t let off for a second! Hopefully CMR realizes this now.

Also, I’m excited to see Cox and the offense move the chains systematically down field, rather than rely on a long pass that connects less than 20% of the time. I, for one, won’t miss Stafford one bit. He had his chances…

Unbiased

March 17th, 2009
10:27 am

The SEC was absolutely horrible in football this past year.

There is no National Championship in College Football

March 17th, 2009
10:31 am

Georgia finished 2008 with a better record than Oklahoma State, against better competition, and beat the shat out of the Pokes that last time the two played………..and based on that OSU should beat UGA next year? OSU may win, but to try to draw in any trends to make the argument is stupid.

DBOY JONES

March 17th, 2009
10:35 am

JO-JO,
You are kidding yourself if you think Brantley is anything like Tebow. He is not as athletic, big or strong not to mention the competitor Tebow is. Yes Fl will take a step back once Tebow leaves you can bet the house on that!!! I see them trying to get a big time qb next yr to replace Tebow. Brantley wasn’t even the #2 QB behind Tebow. The other kid was I forget his name but he came from Westlake High school in Atlanta. So spare me wit the Brantley talk he can’t even run so he is not a double threat.

DawgGirl32

March 17th, 2009
10:37 am

Great article in ESPN today by Bruce Feldman. He ranks the top ten teams that he predicts to win a National Championship in the next 5 years. The dawgs are #4. The nerds? “Just missed the cut.” Ha!! Don’t they always just miss the cut?? Face it, nerds. You’ll always be the red-headed stepchild.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3986102&name=feldman_bruce&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3986102%26name%3dfeldman_bruce

GATORZONE

March 17th, 2009
10:39 am

DBOY, you do not know what you are talking about. Brantley is a great pocket QB and has been the number 2 since he stepped onto campus. Cam Newton was penciled in as #2 Brantley’s first year, but on gameday when UF got ahead it was Brantley getting the PT.

Also, UF has a kid named Trey Burton coming next year that is built just like Tebow. Big, strong and fast!

Huh?

March 17th, 2009
10:41 am

“I didn’t ask time of position but the average time of the drives.”

I think they get at the same thing. You claim that we were always swinging for the fences and if we didn’t connect we were unproductive. That simply is not true. Again, look at the stats. They don’t support your argument. We were 2nd in the SEC in 1st downs and 3rd in third down conversions. All of the stats that I have cited suggest that we were moving the ball and not just doing it with 50 yard bombs and 60 yard runs by Knowshon. What was Stafford’s completion percentage of throws over 20 yards? It was probably better than any other SEC quarterback, if not the entire nation. This guy has a rocket arm and you want to waste it with dink and dunk crap to jack up his completion percentage, the most overrated statistic in all of football? I could not disagree more. I saw absolutely nothing wrong with our offense last year other than an offensive line that sometimes had trouble asserting itself. That’s a personell problem, not an X’s and O’s coordinator problem. Again, Bobo does a great job working around that and calling plays that play to our strengths. I personally think he is alot more imaginative than Richt was. Just my opinion.

Totally agree on BVG over Martinez though.

There is no National Championship in College Football

March 17th, 2009
10:42 am

………….and never has been. Evaluating a teams performance based on whether they won a beauty pagent that is neither sanctioned or recognized by the NCAA is beyond comical. The SEC Championship is won on the field, so is the Big 10, the Pac 10 and every other conference. The 2006 & 2008 Florida teams, the 2003 & 2007 LSU teams played in the beauty pagent game because of dumb luck. Auburn in 2004, Georgia in 2002 & 2005 had the exact same credentials as either of the those schools, Auburn arguably had more because they were undefeated. It would be like Doritos sanctioning a game and awarding a Super Bowl trophy when the NFL neither sanctions the event NOR RECOGNIZES it. The two teams paired together didn’t play each other, any of the same teams, may or may not be equally credentialed, were party to no playoff system, and didn’t necessarily win their own conference (Nebraska 2001, Oklahoma 2003) but they are in the beauty pagent nonetheless. So to use the Beauty pagent as some sort of gauge for the success of coach is lunacy. And for the record, Richt has a winning record against Tech and every team in the SEC except Florida. And for that Florida has the right to crow, but not because they were coincedentally fortunate to be selected to play in a trumped up exibition game.

DBOY JONES

March 17th, 2009
10:46 am

You guys that say his goals are too low don’t know how coaching works. You set your goals that you have control of 1st or shall I say your short term goals 1st. The short term goal is to win your conference. In high school your goal is to win your region 1st then after that is done then you set your goal to win the State Title and in College the National Title. Once Richt wins the East then he can concentrate on winning the Conference and once he wins the conference then he can win the National Championship with a little bit of luck and votes. You guys place to much on this dumb a** college system on awarding national champions. Its not a true system to determine the best team in the nation.

williebkind

March 17th, 2009
10:46 am

Then we all agree…FIRE MARTINEZ…

Give Martinez some bail out money and a new college.

Music City Dawg

March 17th, 2009
10:49 am

CMR, can we address the kicking situation? Blair Walsh needs his scholarship yanked. Period.

DBOY JONES

March 17th, 2009
10:51 am

GatorZone,
Cam Newton was in Urban’s dog house for things other than football. We all know that Cam was a better athlete than Brantley. He can run and pass. Brantley is a pocket passer in Urbans spread option offense. We will see how that works out. With no escapability the dogs should have no trouble with him. Plus Percy Harvin was the best threat that Fl had on offense. Percy just broke down defenses. To much credit was givin to Tebow anyway. Percy should have been the MVP of the National Championship game. Also to all the critics and Gator Fans Tebow won 1 Championship. Chris Leak won the other one damn it!! Stop giving him all this credit.

GATORZONE

March 17th, 2009
10:54 am

There is no National Championship in College Football… Spoken like a true fan of a team that cannot get over the hump.

I would bet your perspective would change if UGA won it all, or even made it to the Championship game.

Music City Dawg

March 17th, 2009
10:55 am

I don’t know, Dboy, that Demps kid is no joke. He’s like Percy 2.0.