Georgia has dropped below the bar now in SEC
Mark Richt has won two SEC titles, but his program is no better than fourth in the conference now. (Jeremy Scott/AJC)
If Florida and LSU did not account for four of the last six national championships, and if Alabama wasn’t so clearly moving in that direction, maybe this wouldn’t even be a subject for debate. Everybody would be happy and content with the two SEC championships and five top 10 finishes in the last eight seasons and not think, “We need more please.”
The problem is that the magnitude of college football has spun ridiculously out of control and the bar in SEC — technically, still an amateur conference — has been raised to well north of the clouds that hover over Sanford Stadium. The problem is you look at the SEC now and Georgia is no better than the fourth best program in the conference, with no signs of closing the gap. If anything, its the gap behind the Bulldogs that’s closing.
Bottom line: Georgia needs to get better. Georgia needs to get smarter. Georgia needs to stop this developing annual tradition of ranking among NCAA leaders in the dumb stuff: penalties and turnovers. Georgia needs to start knocking down bodies on the offensive line and stop getting run over on defense — because football still comes down to blocking and tackling.
If you believe recruiting services — and that’s a subject for another day — Mark Richt has had some of the nation’s top recruiting classes in the country. But penalties and turnovers — that’s not about skill. That’s about focus and intelligence. That’s about coaching.
On Saturday, Georgia plays its biggest SEC game of the season thus far, hosting LSU. If the Dogs want people to believe they belong, this would be a good time to show it. Because I sense faith may be going in the other direction.
“We’re 3-1,” Richt reminded everybody this week. “We’ve put ourselves in a position for this game to be very meaningful. That’s what you want at this point. Have we peaked? No way. Will we peak? That’s the question. Will we be solid and consistent enough to win a game like this? Time will tell very shortly.”
Les Miles gets a lot of criticism for a coach who won a national championship two years ago.
Last season, he had two future NFL stars to work with, Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Yes, we know about about the injuries. We know about the young offensive line. We know football is a team sport. But you know what else we know? The Dogs underachieved. They lacked a presence, an edge. Their biggest games were their biggest losses. They had an opportunity to have a special season. They blew it.
Nobody knew what to expect this season. Nobody could be certain if the line would be any better, or the defense would stand up or Joe Cox was going to be worth the wait.
Four weeks later, we still don’t know. Game to game, quarter to quarter, series to series — they’re constantly mutating into a new species. The only thing they haven’t done is smack an opponent in the mouth. May want to try that sometime.
Asked what he expected this season, Richt admitted: “There was a lot of mystery to me. I wasn’t sure what we could do. Not knowing what our running backs would do. Who could make a play other than A.J. Green? All of the other questions everybody else had.”
LSU is 4-0 and ranked fourth. By the sound of the complaints this week, you would think the Tigers were no better than UTEP. Georgia should have such problems.
LSU won a BCS title in 2003 under Nick Saban and in 2007 under Les Miles. That matches Florida’s two championships in the last three seasons. Alabama was undefeated last season until losing to Florida in the SEC title game. It’s a three-team conference right now. Georgia is running as a field entry.
During Richt’s tenure since 2001, four programs have won SEC championships: LSU (three), Florida (two), Georgia (two) and Auburn (one). During that same eight-season span, the Dogs and Tigers are tied with the most top-10 finishes in the final AP rankings (five). That’s ahead of Florida (three), Auburn and Alabama (two each), and Tennessee (one).
The body of work is impressive.
The question: Is the body of work enough any more?
Richt again: “Right now I feel very energized. I feel excited about where we are and where we’re going.”
This would be a good time to show it.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
489 comments Add your comment
Saint Simons
October 2nd, 2009
11:29 am
45 – 42 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahaha
The Lone Trumpeter
October 2nd, 2009
11:33 am
Good article Jeff. A few things though. Richt did go 13-1 in 2002, won the sec, and didn’t get his shot. We are very close every couple of years. The coaching issues are the biggest concern of mine. We desperately need some defensive assistants that can use our speed aggressively instead of sitting back and playing cover 2. That 1/3 pressure, 1/3 man, 1/3 zone crap Wille gave as a philosophy in an interview was b.s. He plays zone all the time.
Jeff Schultz
October 2nd, 2009
11:36 am
Saint Simons — Thanks for checking in. Again.
The Lone Trumpeter –Agreed. I really tried to write this without somebody coming away with the message, “He thinks Mark Richt’s a bad coach.” If I thought that, I would’ve written that. Just saying because of circumstances, the grading scale has changed.
PMC
October 2nd, 2009
11:36 am
Nicely done jeff. It’s tough to read it this year as they are rebuilding really and coming off a tough year… but yeah to get where they wish to be they have to get a lot better as a program.
Coach Johnson at Tech isn’t pulling any punches trying to get his team to championship level and neither should Evans, Richt and co.
Dalton Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:37 am
Mark Richt is the right guy, Willie and Booboo aren’t!
Yadro
October 2nd, 2009
11:37 am
Now this guy knows what he is talking about. If you were born after 1980 the chances of you witnessing Georgia win a National Title are slim. They are no longer in the elite of the SEC, they are in the middle of the pack maybe 5th-7th. Last year was Georgia’s shot and they choked big time. Stafford + Moreno and the #1 Pre=Season ranked Dawgs = 10 points in Jacksonville.
Jethro
October 2nd, 2009
11:39 am
One more time in Saint Simons honor – 49-10 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
takedowndawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:39 am
Jeff, unfortunately I think that you are right in your accessment. If we are not in slippage mode then why are there not more IA colleges after our assistant coaches. Gardner was approached but I personally think it is more for his recruiting skills and connections to HS across the South than his coaching abilities as DL coach. Seareles maybe the exception but the OL has been having a very good year when one judges our running game. NOONE has been knocking on CWM and that is no surprise to anyone! The Alabama, Florida, Virginia Tech’s consistently get it done many times with lesser ranked talent. Our talent alone will not carry us as we wade ourselves through our great conference.
Saint Simons
October 2nd, 2009
11:39 am
Your welcome Jeff.
Dawgs73
October 2nd, 2009
11:42 am
I couldn’t have put it better myself. You hit all the major points in regards to the progression or lack thereof with this program. They are certainly the fourth best team in the SEC and if Mark Richt is not willing to make the tough decisions, they will continue to fall. The discipline is just not there with Richt and his staff. The penalties & turnovers are the sign of a very poorly coached team (which has been a running theme for the better part of two seasons). I think that Richt is afraid of being upstaged by hiring a competent coordinator to that challenges him to improve.
Paul H
October 2nd, 2009
11:44 am
Only Tech fans live and die but what another team does versus what their own team does. Kind of pathetic, really.
Many Thanks
October 2nd, 2009
11:47 am
I’m a UGA grad, lifelong fan of UGA athletics, and I hate to see the Dawgs lose. Thanks to you and the other AJC writers who have been writing articles on Martinez, Richt, and who are posing the tough questions in a public forum that so many loyal and devoted UGA fans have been discussing privately. I want to see Richt succeed, but he’s going to have to make some serious changes and difficult decisions in order for UGA to contend with FLA, ALA, and LSU…all three, every year.
GO DAWGS!!!
sarfdawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:47 am
Last year, expectations were through the roof, and quite frankly, for the first time in Richt’s tenure did Georgia fail to meet expecations. Both SEC titles came in years where Georgia was certainly not the favorite. LSU fans can claim the national title in 2007, but that was a gift, and they know it. Georgia was better than them at the end of the season, and ESPN contributed to their famous #9 to #2 jump one week after losing to Arkansas.
All in all, 2008 was a season set for Georgia to fail. They were good but not great. However, after the 2007 season, Georgia was the team to beat in the SEC. I’m amazed how quickly you guys write them off.
If I have one serious concern about Georgia it’s that it now seems that week in and week out, I wonder what coordinator is going to look like a complete fool. Against Oklahoma State, it was clearly Bobo. In weeks 2 and 3, Martinez’s side of the ball looked completely lost. Last week against Arizona State, Bobo kept calling the same play and kept running straight at the best defensive player Georgia will see all year in Burfict. I really think Richt needs to re-evaluate where Georgia is going in those directions and not wind up like Bowden has at Florida State – looking like a moron without his coordinators.
Saint Simons – 7 out of 8, Bia. Soon to be 8 for 9.
Delbert D.
October 2nd, 2009
11:47 am
“Where we’re going” for Mark Richt is back to Tallahassee, where huge $$$ and the good times will roll again. He won’t have to be concerned about ADs, presidents, and any kind of academic standards. He knows that FSU can win the recruiting battles again with the big Bowden uncertainty finally gone.
Paul H
October 2nd, 2009
11:48 am
I’m pretty sure there are about 110 other college football programs who wish they had UGA’s problems right now. Granted, the dumb stuff must stop but the bar has been set so high based on UGA’s own success that only perfection is considered acceptable at this point.
HotDawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:48 am
Enter your comments here
Heck of an article Jeff! I think you are perfect with this article. I don’t know why we should feel like we should be inferior when it comes to the big boys like FLA, ALA, and LSU. With the talent we have something just isn’t right!
SouthGaDawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:52 am
Hey Jeff,
Georgia actually has 6 top ten finishes in the coaches poll in the past 8 years to go along with their 5 top ten finishes inthe AP poll. (which would make them the top of the SEC)
And as for Alabama being a better program right now than UGA…well lets wait until they actually win an SEC title until we declare that.
And lets stop with the badmouthing of Georgia. Richt has put them in a position to be in the SEC title hunt every year. How many other programs in the SEC can say that? That’s the problem with a lot of UGA fans (and you), you only see what UGA hasn’t done. You don’t see what they HAVE done.
All Richt needs is one lucky year. Its interesting to note that UF and LSU have won national titles with the same record UGA had when it won its two SEC titles. Its not that UGA is not as good of a program as either of the two, they have just been luckier than UGA. And that’s the truth.
So lets stop this non-sense about UGA having fallen behind the other schools. Did you see LSU last season? Further, lets see what UF does next year when Tebow is gone before we crown them as being a better program. And for god’s sake, lets stop griping about what Richt hasn’t done. Would you rather have Ray Goof or Jim Donnan? I don’t think so.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:55 am
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
And NO we do have not forgotten about the Goff and Donnan years as SO many bloggers want to point out. Times have changed and UGA is quickly becoming irrelevant in the National landscape.
Many Thanks
October 2nd, 2009
11:55 am
Saint Simons: It should be ‘you’re welcome’…you idiot.
Karma Police
October 2nd, 2009
11:55 am
Nice article, Jeff. The SEC was easier to navigate when Phil Fulmer, Ron Zook, Lou Holtz and Mike Shula were the competition. I still wouldn’t trade CMR, but he has to upgrade his assistants. I believe he will this off-season, because we’re about to start a stretch of games that will probably embarrass us again.
sarfdawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:56 am
Somebody tell me how in one year Alabama has leaped so far ahead of Georgia. Really? Georgia went over there and beat them two years ago, an Alabama beat Georgia last year. Alabama, like almost everyone else, lost to Florida, and they got whipped by UTAH in the Sugar Bowl. I know Saban (although a jerk) is a heck of a coach, but talk to me when he gains some consistency there.
takedowndawg mentions Virginia Tech. Really? Would Georgia trade programs wtih them? Please. Georgia was the hottest team in America at the end of the 2007 season and won 10 games last year. Are we really ready to look for the nearest bridge?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 2nd, 2009
11:56 am
See it didn’t take long for some knucklehead to remind us.
dan
October 2nd, 2009
11:56 am
Jeff,
I don’t think we do have the talent that we once did. Richt recruits good skill position guys, but that defense is not talented. Who’s the best guy on that defense, Rennie? Jeff Owens? I think those guys are pretty average in comparison to a David Pollack or a Thomas Davis. Willie is terrible as well, but he really doesn’t have much to work with. It’s a bad combination of lousy talent and lousy coaching.
As a play caller, Richt was GREAT! I think he was one of the best offensive minds in college football the last 20 years. As a head coach, from 2001-2005 I would have said that Richt was a great coach. But from 2006-now, I think he’s just good. A head coach at this level has to have almost a CEO mentality. 30% of being a head coach is the actual coaching. As a leader, I also think Richt is just good. He’s a good man to work for because he’s loyal to his staff and players. But I’m not sure that Richt is great at assessing talent, players or coaches. Urban Meyer puts his best guys at coordinators and his best players on the field, whether he likes them personally or not. Same with Saban. When Bobby Bowden put Richt in there at OC, he did so because he believed that Richt was his best coach on Offense just like Mickey Andrews was his best coach on defense. Combine that coaching with talent and you have a recipe for success. But Bobby became subjective when he hired his son Jeff to be the OC after Richt left, which was a terrible decision! Combine that with short sighted recruiting and you see the results.
Richt had his best coach when Brian Van Gorder was there. He was the fire to Richt’s ice, the Bad Cop to Richt’s Good Cop. I’m not sure that Richt cared much for Brian’s abrasive style of coaching, but they were successful when he was there. If Richt doesn’t make some changes, his program will be like how FSU’s is right now, a once proud program that has become irrelevant.
Time for a Hard Look
October 2nd, 2009
11:57 am
DO you think Saban or even Paul Johnson would allow their teams to rank near the bottom of the country in turnovers, penalties and points allowed? Somebody (players or coaches) would have to answer to this and there would be changes made to make sure this was corrected. Not sure Richt is demanding his staff make the changes necessary to correct these problems before it’s too late to salvage a great season!
Paul H
October 2nd, 2009
11:57 am
Hotdawg –
Richt is 3-1 against Bama and 3-0 against Les Miles. Not sure where the “inferior” part comes in to play. And 7-1 against Tech. Not that anyone is ever considering Tech a “big boy.”
kemp's ghost
October 2nd, 2009
11:58 am
for dogs to win another NC, theyre going to have to
lower the standards much much further
Rich
October 2nd, 2009
11:58 am
Good points all around, Jeff.
Keep in mind I am a Tech fan, but from my perspective, in comparison to the three programs you believe they trail (and anyone who pays attention and doesn’t wear blinders should agree with that assessment), UGA lacks the intensity level both on the field and the coaching staff. Having to watch my team be led by Chan Gailey for what seemed like decades following a nice run under the helm of George O’Leary, I know what happens to teams with a lackadaisical approach and practice.
Looking back, I used to be envious of UGA for having Mark Richt while we suffered through Gailey’s ineptness. However, I now realize that there really wasn’t any difference between the coaching styles of the two. The only real reason UGA has played better under Richt than those Gailey teams played is because UGA recruited better players. I firmly believe it had very little to do with the results the coaches could produce from said players.
The current UGA stock not only lacks the intensity needed to make a legitimate climb to the top of the SEC heap, but they also have a disturbing lack of discipline, as evidenced by the many turnovers lost and penalties assessed each week. As noted, that is on coaching. You can have the best group of players available, but without strong leadership, they will only remain as good as they were when they first arrived on campus.
I also believe UGA lacks innovative offensive play-calling and defensive strategy in comparison to Alabama, Florida, and LSU. I’m not saying they need to be stealing plays from Tech, but they are entirely too predictable, and rarely surprise anyone during a game, whether it be a fan who watches every down every season, or their opponent who has seen a ton of film.
It may be nice to be able to pound your chest and boast that your school is one of the biggest in terms of producing NFL players, but the opposite of that by building their players to suit the NFL style of play, they are hurting themselves keeping up at their own level.
Of course, I could be wrong.
Catch the Sports Buffet each Monday night at 9:00 PM ET, brought to you by Georgia Wrestling History and the GWH Radio Network.
Joey
October 2nd, 2009
11:59 am
God bless you Jeff. Seriously. If sportswriting were gymnastics, you just did a perfect routine and scored a 10.
Schultz's Wife
October 2nd, 2009
12:00 pm
You are the most negative sports writer in the history of sports writing history. history.
I want a divorce, and in the agreement I am taking your Rogain. Have fun being the bald negative underperforming (you know what i mean) sleeze bag in your industry. People don;t like you, and neither do I.
Ridiculous Expectations
October 2nd, 2009
12:02 pm
You’re all just plain nuts! Have you checked Richt’s winning percentage the last 8 years and compared it with the rest of the coaches in the FBS? Have you also looked at what UGA had before Richt got here? Are you aware that these are college players we are talking about and that the turnover on the Offensive line – where most of the penalties have occurred – has been unheard of the last two years? Yes the penalties and defensive and offensive play calling have been hard to watch and need to change, but to say that the direction of the program is backwards is ridiculously. Just last year they were the toast of the SEC and now they are SLIPPING? I agree with you Jeff that the bar has been raised, but it’s by a bunch of idiotic people who call themselves fans and expect perfection. I love their passion but they are unreasonable for the most part. Adjustments need to be made and i believe they are being made. I have seen a team learn from mistakes and work through them together so far this season and i expect that to continue on Saturday. This is college. . where progress and learning are paramount. Give them time and space to learn people. Cheer them on instead of deriding them. . man, i’m sick of all the negative noise.
Chris
October 2nd, 2009
12:05 pm
‘The grading scale has changed’. That was an astute assessment Jeff. I suffered through the Goff years and never understood why Donnan wasn’t able to win the big games given his background and recruiting but this is the first year I’ve questioned Richt as a coach.
If you would have told me in August that we’d be 3-1 right now, I would have thought that meant great promise for the season. Instead the lack of mental toughness…focus as you say is spot on. I can see us getting back to the years of Pollack and Thomas Davis and even the latter part of ‘07 when we punched people in the mouth (see: Alabama now) but not this year and it is on the staff to clean up the dumb stuff.
I never thought I’d question him and thought all the bloggers saying he was ‘too nice’ was garbage. They said that sort of thing about Mack Brown before he won a NC as well and the list of guys who came close but had to wait for the timing to fall just right is long…guys such as Osborne and Bowden and Paterno. Bottom line is you’re right. They do need to take a hard look at themselves as a coaching staff.
Tuck Fech
October 2nd, 2009
12:07 pm
The main difference in the UGA program and the Georgia Tech program:
UGA- 10-3, win bowl game, finish season ranked top 15 = HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT
Tech- 9-4, get BLOWN OUT in home-town bowl game, finsh season ranked in top 15= Greatest season EVER!!!!
I said, it’s great, to be, a Georgia Bulldawg!!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
Many Thanks
October 2nd, 2009
12:07 pm
I am baffled by the “Want to go back to Donnan and Goff?” argument. Has anyone ever called for them to be rehired? No. Never. Not one time.
All we’re asking for–and Schultz is clearly stating the case–is that Richt and the program need to step it up and make changes for the good of the program.
Some people are saying “all we need is luck”. Well, to that, I say that we’re using up all of our luck this year by winning games despite an absurd amount of penalties and turnovers. Imagine if we played with discipline, had great coaching, AND had good luck! Could have happened this year with the wave of great luck the coaches are riding. Don’t use it up now, we’re gonna need it later in the season.
Tuck Fech
October 2nd, 2009
12:08 pm
(((1-7))) hahahahahahaha
(((12 wins vs UGA since 1965))) hahahahahahaha!!!!
dixie clear
October 2nd, 2009
12:11 pm
It sure must suck to be a mutt!!
Beautiful Monte
October 2nd, 2009
12:11 pm
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
There’s not another major college program IN THE COUNTRY that’s done LESS with MORE than UGA.
The Dawgs are blessed with a fantastic recruiting base, a gigantic war chest, excellent facilities, rabid (literally) fans … and yet, they haven’t won a national championship since Herschel had one personality.
To put that in further perspective, BYU, Colorado, and Georgia Tech have won or shared national titles since the last time UGA won it all. Heck, even NOTRE DAME has won a national championship since UGA’s last one.
As far as Saint Mark Richt is concerned … well, he’s just a younger, less senile version of his mentor, Booby Bowdown. Saint Mark doesn’t win because he’s a brilliant strategist; he wins because his athletes are superior to those of most his opponents. (That’s why UGA is 3-1 this season despite so many penalties.)
And when Saint Mark’s athletes are not superior? You get 49-10.
Having said all of that … the Dawgs will “upset” a criminally overrated LSU team on Saturday. Why? Because Les Miles ain’t exactly Knute Rockne, either.
UGA 34, LSU 23
BIGBOY
October 2nd, 2009
12:14 pm
Jeff what have you been sipping on so early in the day?What SEC title has ALA won since Mark Richt has been here?UGA has smoked LSU 3 straight games.Do you really think the 07 Tigers were better than the Dawgs that season?Fla has won big but it’s funny that when we win in Jax we are 2-2 and 3-3 over the last 6.Wins are more important than cutting down on penalties…seems like MIA,FSU and USC led the nation in penalties during their run at the top of college football.You guys like to throw out all these general statements about UGA has slipped but when faced with ACTUAL head to head matchups it don’t pan out like you imply.
ricardo
October 2nd, 2009
12:17 pm
Say what you want about them, but Urban and Nick can coach circles around Richt in their sleep. That’s the problem for UGA. If those coaches stay at UF and UA, Richt will be long gone before them.
sarfdawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:19 pm
ricardo, really? Saban’s going to be there longer than anyone else? I’ll be glad to bet my dimes to your doughnuts that he’s hunting his next job as we type.
Just you wait till next year !!
October 2nd, 2009
12:22 pm
our conference is over rated…. we just play with our selfs. no quality teams ever. Idaho St. La. Tech. and on and on….most SEC teams go 3-0 up to 5-0 every year because they play no one. 12 teams in the Conf. and we don’t play half of them…and when we do, we boost teams like OKST. if SEC teams are better than USC ..play them and see. nahhh that will never happen , we’ll just keep screaming we’re the best and never play anyone. after all the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
SimpleDawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:22 pm
Hammer meets nail ! Georgia hasn’t gotten worse; everyone else has gotten better. The standard has been raised everywhere. The programs where there’s not been recent improvement have new coaches.
Our talent level is comparable to the other top programs in the SEC. Coaching…..not so much.
I think Bobo’s pretty sharp. It appears he’s a good QB coach, and a great recruiter; his play calling isn’t the problem, it’s the inability of the players to execute the plays without mistakes.
Where’s the disconnect?
We seem to have really good athletes on defense, but we do seem to be out of position a lot in the secondary. Of course, without pressure on the passer, even a Siamese twin can gain separation with enough time.
What’s the problem? Do we not have someone who can teach defensive end play? The defensive tackles we have this year should be wreaking havoc on everyone we play – every play.
College Football at a major university in a major conference is a BIG business, and should be run accordingly. This isn’t a fraternity house, a bunch buddies on a FCA retreat, or home for passive coaches; it’s a BIG TIME Football Program – defined by the passion and expectations of the fan base.
This ain’t the limbo, boys; it’s a high jump. Somebody better start jumping higher.
Hungry Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:23 pm
Jeff the Dawgs are at worst the #3 team in the SEC this years as they will prove tomorrow and have the potential to challenge both UF and Bama. Do they need to get consistent on both sides of the ball, yes! But if Cox hadn’t been sick in the first game against Okie-St. and the refs made the right calls in several instances (Goal line stand, Reshad Jones hit etc.) the Dawgs would have won that game and be 4-0 right now and in the top 10. Take away the points scored due to turnovers and none of our last three games is even close (not to mention the bad call in the ASU game that took away a TD by Green which photo’s now show was clearly a TD). The Dawg’s aren’t out of the race for the SEC at this point and anyone writing them off this early needs to do a reality check. Tomorrow will go a long way towards defining UGA’s season and my prediction is that it will be a win for the Dawg’s and a turning point in the season for UGA.
“Dildo D.” you only wish that Richt would leave for another team so that Tech doesn’t have to get their butts handed to them 7 out of 8 years. Unfortunately for you Richt is happy where he is and the majority of Dawg fans firmly support him and the type of program that he is trying to run.
SouthGaDawg I couldn’t agree more.
Geaux Dawgs, Sic em, Woof Woof Woof!!! Bon Temps Rolle
ricardo
October 2nd, 2009
12:24 pm
sarfdawg- Spoken like a true UGA fan! You and other UGA fans wish that other SEC coaches would leave to make things easier on the Dawgs. This UGA fan deals with reality….If Urban and Nick stay at their schools, Richt will be gone. The competition and lack of wins will cause it to happen.
JB Wright
October 2nd, 2009
12:24 pm
Richt is another Dooley. Always behind the greats. He’ll stay 20 years, maybe get that 1 championship like Dooley & Shug Jordan did…
But he ain’t Bear Bryant. He’s not even an Urban Meyer. And like Bobby Cox, we’ll NEVER get rid of him.
So, get used to it GA. If he ever does have a chance, he’ll blow it, like he did in the 14-7 loss to Fla that ruined our season a few years back when he just HAD to put Shockley in for no apparent reason, even though David Greene was great. Shockley threw the interception that sealed our fate.
Great coaching.
Starring Peter Graves as Capt. Clarence Over
October 2nd, 2009
12:25 pm
Tuck: Where in this article has to do with Tech? It sounds like you are obsessed with Tech for some reason. Why don’t you worry about your dawgs & see if they can beat LSU, UT, Vandy & UF. Oh,never mind, UF owns you, so don’t worry about that one. GO GATOR.
Nolabigdawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:25 pm
Jeff,
It never ceases to amaze me how utterly ridiculus the state of sports has become in this country. You state how ridiculously high the bar has been set with regards to an amateur game, yet you perpetuate it along with the rest of the hopelessly imature fans in this nation. You, along with the vast majority of sports media are gradually taking the fun out of what used to be beautiful afternoons of college athletics. CMR coaches the Dawgs with honesty, class and a respect for the game. They perform consistently at a high level. So they haven’t won the MNT, most teams haven’t and would love to have the problems that the Dawgs have. Please, all loyal Dawg fans, can’t we just enjoy the competition and gain a little perspective and just cheer the Red and Black? Don’t let the cute and fuzzy bunnies of the goad us into the win at all costs mentality.
dawgfacedboy
October 2nd, 2009
12:27 pm
It just seems to me that there has been an excuse for the last 3 years. We’re young, we’ve had injuries, the penalities kill us, blah, blah, blah. Evans and Adams need to ask one question and one question only. Can Mark Richt get us to the National Championship? Can you get past Tenn, Fla, Bama/LSU, AUburn in the same season and play for the NC? Is Richt a National Championship coach? Frankly I don’t give a $hit if we win 10 games a year if all it gets us is Capital One Bowl appearances.
BR
October 2nd, 2009
12:28 pm
Poor St. Simons and Jethro… no life, and no other blog to be on but the UGA one! Speaks volumes to me!! I can tell you right now that I am a UGA graduate and die hard Dawg, and I do not spend my time on Nerd or Redneck (Gator) blogs.
Saint Swishy
October 2nd, 2009
12:29 pm
Saint Simons – since you obviously live only to post blogs, then wait around all atwitter about what the responses will be, let me try and remind you (again) that you misspelled a word – it’s “YOU’RE”, not “your” welcome. You’re welcome.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 2nd, 2009
12:29 pm
Fla is going to lose at least two games this year so the FLA is the greatest thing going crap will go down in flames soon.ALA looks good now but for what it’s worth BAMA faded at the end of the year both season’s under Saban so let’s wait until they ACTUALLY WIN SOMETHING before we crown the Tide as a champion.LSU is lucky they won a tittle in 07 because with as many top 3 recruiting classes they have pulled in over the last 5 years Miles would be fired for underachieving with all that talent he has(they are still 0-3 in the last 5 years against Mark Richt..that includes the great Saban.)
Just you wait till next year !!
October 2nd, 2009
12:30 pm
Just you wait till next year !!
Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:30 pm
Saint Simons… you still haven’t answered the question you were asked over and over two weeks ago…..WHERE WERE YOU AFTER TECH GOT THEIR A**ES HANDED TO THEM BY MIAMI?!!?!?! Didn’t hear much from you then. Typical fair weather nerd!!!
By the way… 7 YEARS IN A ROW HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:31 pm
It’s GREAT to be a Dawg, thank you very much!!!!!!!!!
sarfdawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:33 pm
ricardo – never said I hoped he’d leave. His track record precedes him. He can’t stay at one job long enough to build a dynasty.
“Lack of wins?” You have fun explaining that one. You have absolutely zero to go on with that comment.
Larvell "SugarBear" Blanks
October 2nd, 2009
12:34 pm
Shultz,
One of your best and hard hitting articles. Period!! Great assessment of where we (UGA) is at a time right now. The turnovers, penalties and lack of heart points to one area that is reallys starting to concern me. That is a lack of discipline. We have heard all year how this team was special, of how they banded together during the off season, of how they were going to hold one another accountable.
What do we see? The same amount of penalties and turnovers. AND, last saturday night when this game was seriously in doubt of being lost I saw UGA players dancing and cutting up on the sideline! DANCING and Cutting UP!
CMR has some tough decisions to make after this year. I suggest he pray pretty hard about this because CWM and Mike Bobo have clearly peaked as coordinators. My suggestion is that CMR takes over the playcalling and go search high and low for a competent up and coming DC. I doubt we could get Foster our of Va Tech. But if we don’t make changes in the coaching staff in the off-season then the slide is going to continue!
Stafford=Top NFL pick; Tebow=Top CFL pick
October 2nd, 2009
12:34 pm
Jeff – please educate yourself prior to writing your propaganda. Richt has finished in the top 10 six out of his eight seasons at Georgia (yes he finished #10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll last year, the same poll that hands out the BCS Natl Championship trophy). You call that middle of the pack? You have to be very lucky to win a Natl Championship – Florida would not have been in the Natl Champ game in 2006 without USC inexplicably losing its final game to Karl Dorrell and UCLA. Look at LSU in 2007 and the circumstances in which that two loss team made the championship game. Richt simply has not had that kind of luck bestowed on him yet – matter of fact he should have been playing for the Natl Championship in 2002 and 2007 if not for some luck of the opposite kind.
How can you say it is a three team conference? What championship has Saban won at Alabama? Not even a Sugar Bowl championship (see Utah). Richt is 1-1 against Saban. He is also 2-3 against Florida the past five seasons – not really what I would call domination. And didn’t he beat Lester Miles for the conference crown in 2005? When did Richt ever have five loss seasons? Miles did last year; Urban and Saban both did in 2007 as well. Richt will finally put aside his personal feelings after this season and hire a good DC.
Saint Simons – aren’t you wasting taxpayers money? You should be out there looking for a job rather than wasting time posting your nonsense daily while you collect your unemployment check. I have a number for you – Overall Record Georgia leads, 59-39-5. hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Tech has been insignificant since Dodd mistook Tech for being Notre Dame and attempted to go independent.
Brandon
October 2nd, 2009
12:35 pm
To Whom It May Concern:
I’ve never understood the purpose of going on a blog and repeatedly posting a score from a game that has absolutely nothing to do with this season. Yes, big victory for Tech last season but why would you go around posting about your 1st win in 8 seasons against UGA and only your 15th win in 40 years or so. It just doesn’t make sense. Focus on the current season, its far from over.
UGA is a talented team we all know that. But averaging 9-10 penalties a game and being -9 in the turnover margin is unacceptable. It’s time for these Dawgs to hunker down and make a stand. With all due respect to Willie Martinez I thinks it time he steps aside from the D-Coordinator position. If I had my way, Kirby Smart would be running the D at UGA. But it is what it is. The season is still young and you never know what might happen.
GATA
jeffschultzhater
October 2nd, 2009
12:36 pm
Jeff Schultz, could you do a better job than Mark Richt? Wait, I think I know the answer. And it is an overwhelming “no.” You couldn’t even come close. So why don’t you keep to your ignorant blog writing and stop bashing a man that is an outstanding coach and could probably write better articles than you. You are a freaking idiot.
PT
October 2nd, 2009
12:36 pm
Rediculous article
long time falcon
October 2nd, 2009
12:37 pm
Georgia’s problems are simple. Richt has surrounded himself with a bunch of below average assistant coaches. The Recruiting is top shelf so talent isn’t the problem. I wouldn’t cry if both Bobo and martinez were sent packing. This program was one of the elite in the entire country when Van Gorder was coaching defense and Richt was calling the plays on offense. The recruiting hasn’t changed so whats the problem? I think we all know the answer to that question.
DirtyDawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:38 pm
Hey guys…BigBoy, SouthGaDawg…you’ve got to remember that it’s Schultz’s job to stick a poker up a Bulldog’s butt every now and then ’cause he knows it’ll 1) bring out the ‘naybobs’ and 1) those of us that are damn glad we got Richt and believe that he knows a hellovalot more about it than anybody posting around here. That way he doesn’t have to think of anything legitimate to write about…all he has to do is to ‘get the fight started’. And he certainly knows that he couldn’t get the same rise out of Techies, so he concentrates on us because he knows he can count on us to ‘fill the space’ for a while.
Will we beat LSU, hell, I don’t know, but we damn sure won’t quit – which is more than I would care to say for dawg73, or dan, or any number of others that have become so cynical over the years that they take every thing that doesn’t go the way they’d like it is a personal affront to them.
SouthBendDawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:39 pm
Most loyal fans can recognize Georgia has a defense in decline. If we get to the end of the season and things have not improved, a change will be made.
However, for all the gloom and doomers, what if we go out and play a turnover free, hard fought game, and win it? I guess then, things won’t seem so bad. In fact, I would kind of like to be atop the SEC East with our destiny within our own control. My point is, let them play the darn game before you chuck the program under the bus.
Go Dawgs!
JSS
October 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
Sarf Dawg, Many Thanks, and well kids read this so I won’t type that name…
Why does one guy typing out a score get your underwear in such a wad?
And you know what the rest of the Country says when you get so defensive…
17 for 19… It is like those Michigan fans who have such a inferiority complex about Ohio State or those UCLA fans who whine about USC (that is the real USC for you myopic SEC fans) dominating them… But the difference is, when the little brother whips them, they take it like a man and hope for a better result the next time… There is a reason most of the Tech fans take the ribbing that LSU fans give them because the last two times they’ve met, the Tigers have handed them their hats, fair and square…
Reality sucks… 45-42, 49-10, and 41-30 are the barometer…
Excuses, Excuses
October 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
Hungry Dawg: I appreciate your loyalty as a fellow Dawg fan, but these are the same excuses heard once again:
Cox was sick (why didn’t a healthy QB get a shot?), the refs hate us, take away points on turnovers (let’s just write a rule where fumbles don’t count), injuries (happens to every team), we need good luck (don’t use luck up to balance out penalties, play calling, turnovers), we’re inexperienced, etc., etc., etc.
I’m tired of hearing excuses. I want to see adjustments and results.
DirtyDawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:42 pm
OK, so I should proof-read my stuff…whataya gonna do about it? And Brandon, they do it because that’s all they got.
MikeJones
October 2nd, 2009
12:42 pm
Who died and made you Terence Moore?
BoboFett
October 2nd, 2009
12:43 pm
Some of you are delusional if you dont think that Alabama is a better program than UGA right now. Granted they didnt do much pre Saban but if you look at the turn around that program has made in his three years its remarkable. Right now they are one of the top 5 programs in the country, we are not.
Brandon
October 2nd, 2009
12:43 pm
Dirty Dawg,
Yeah your right about that.
Tech Man in Dawg Country
October 2nd, 2009
12:44 pm
While the questions may be valid, I think UGA should be very happy with all that they have accomplished. Everyone is trying to upgrade. Unless you play all small 1AA schools, everyone can’t win all the time. To have them in the top 10 year in and year out is fantastic. My only questions with CMR is whether he is now trying to be the Pete Carroll of the east. But overall, I know I would be happy if CPJ can get us to the level that UGA is at. Be happy with what you got … it could be a lot worse!
jimmy
October 2nd, 2009
12:45 pm
a great article
Dr. Craven Morehead
October 2nd, 2009
12:45 pm
Georgia, being the flagship university of the state, 35,000 plus students, a huge stadium, and one of the top 5 richest athletic departments in the country should be at a much higher level. With all of that going for you, it’s got to be the boss’s fault. He’s had enough time.
JSS
October 2nd, 2009
12:45 pm
Oh Jeff Schultz, I’m going to fire you an email on why the New York 2012 and now the Chicago 2016 Olympic bids went down in first ballot flames tomorrow… It has a Atlanta Connection… What is the real legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Games?
Whopper Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:46 pm
Essentially where we are right now is when talent is even we get beaten and maybe badly, when we have more talent, we usually win, but that margin is usually small. If we run up against an offense with an option mix, it is big trouble – W Vir, FLA, Tech last year.
Our coordinators are fair at best. This is a critical year for the Dawgs, with Papa Kiffin going against Bobo and the new Auburn spread offense going against 1/4 Willie, we could lose 5 games easily.
Jeff Schultz
October 2nd, 2009
12:50 pm
PMC – Thanks.
Takedowndawg – A lot of schools have gone after Rodney Garner, but, yeah, that’s more for recruiting. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in Martinez, Bobo right now.
Many Thanks – Many thanks.
Paul H – Agree on the 110 programs thing. The question is: Is this about the other 110 programs or the top 10, or the top 1?
Dan – You might be right. But again, I’m just going by post letter-day rankings. Either they’re way off, or the players aren’t getting better when they get here. If David Pollack as good if he’s not coached by Brian vanGorder? Maybe. But we’ll never know.
Paul H – Just as a matter of accuracy, he’s 1-1 vs. Saban (at Ala.)
Rich – Thanks. Agree on the intensity part.
Joey – Thanks. I’ve been accused of falling off the beam and on my head a few times. (My daughter was a gymnast, fyi.)
Schultz’s wife – Shouldn’t you be with your students right now?
Joe 5-Star Recruit
October 2nd, 2009
12:51 pm
Everybody wants ME but I will choose UGA. So you fools start coddling me NOW.
I cain’t wait to grow my hair long and braid it into corn-rows, dancing to MY kind of music over your loud speakers – no matter what the score is in the game.
I cain’t wait to be coddled by a position coach that will never be fired, no matter if we win or lose.
I cain’t wait to be coddled by, and get free sway from, the Music City Bowl or Capital One Bowl peoples.
I cain’t wait to be the BIG MAN on campus with the women and not worry about class, cost of education, studying or working.
I will HANG OUT with you fools for about 2 or 3 years, then leave to become a ZILLIOARE in the NFL.
Enjoy your little lives watching me on your field. I am a 5-Star Recruit so you fools show me respect the way Richt and his boys do!
Heywood Jablowme
October 2nd, 2009
12:51 pm
Hey Dawg – 7 in a row? Old news. If you want to dredge up history, then Tech has 8 in a row. So, shut it and concern yourself with the next game because that’s the only one that counts.
JDW
October 2nd, 2009
12:54 pm
SouthGeorgiaDog at 11:52 is right on. Over the 8 years we are clearly in the group top of the heap. We have not had great breaks when the 2 teams for the MNC game were picked. I think we were the best team in the country in 2007 and 2002 but did not get our shot. We underachieved at 10-3 last year…how many programs underachieve with 10 wins? There is also no doubt the injuries hurt us last year. Do we need to play better? Yes so does every other team in football. Are we “Under the Bar”…no chance.
SouthBendDawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:55 pm
Dr. Craven Morehead – Much higher level than who? It is a short list. (I will concede Florida.)
If that was the formula, the NY Yankees would never lose a game. And that is a professional sport. Given that all the resources may be in place, you are still coaching 18 year old kids. For the most part, they don’t even know what they are capable of until they are in the game sitations.
GT
October 2nd, 2009
12:56 pm
If Georgia could play on the west coast they would be national champions, unfortunately they play in the heart of the SEC and are an average angel in heaven. A hyped team can escape reality in most parts of the country because they are never tested so the assumption in what the hype is. The skill of a Ohio State or a Penn State is not being caught in a game with a Auburn or a Georgia which get little respect because they live among men teams that test them every week. Big fish or in appearance anyway little ponds. What Georgia has that many SEC schools do not is first selection of the richest talent pool in the country. Even Florida has to share their state with Miami and FSU but not Georgia. Tech for the first time in years is picking up 2 or 3 but nowhere near as competitive as Georgia in recruiting and many times has to wait for the first wave to go to Georgia and take what is left. Georgia assistants pick who they want to recruit and the thought here is they are picking the wrong all American high school players. Maybe there is something more to football than what you run the 40 in and maybe whatever that is Georgia doesn’t know it.
ApopkaDawg
October 2nd, 2009
12:58 pm
Jeff:
You’re right on the money with the expectations and the fact that UGA has slipped over the past few years. I, like so many others, do believe that it is coaching. CMR has stated that he is the CEO of the Program. That is why he stepped down as Offensive Coordinator. Okay, it is time to be the CEO. The recruits are there. We have the atheletes. What we do’nt have is the fundamentals that are instilled in the players through coaching. I beleive that Bobo will be just fine. I don’t agree with all of his play calling, but he pleasantly surprises me enough that I believe he is a good coach. Martinez and the Defensive staff have gotten progessively worse over the past 4 years. CMR needs to realize this and make some sweeping personel changes on the Defensive Coaching staff. Do that, and I believe we would have an overall better change of getting over the mountain.
Big Mouth
October 2nd, 2009
1:04 pm
Ive been telling you guys for years but you are so in awe of his persona. The man Richt is one of the biggest underachiever to ever grace Georgia. I have him ahead of Bobby “blow another one”Cox. Easily the man has had a top 5 recruiting class every year since he has been here and has never competed for or got into the championship game of the NCAA championship. For the Richt-ites who will say well hes won two SEC titles…well that would be fine if you had a top five recruiting class every year for the sec…But he has had a top 5 recruiting class for the NCAA so he should be competing on that level. Thats what he was brought here to do!!
Dr. Craven Morehead
October 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
SouthBendDawg – ALL college coaches coach 18 year old kids. That is the product. Georgia has the situation of the Yankees. If you ain’t winning it, you should at least be playing for it. Just like the Yankees, Georgia must have the wrong Skipper.
BS Patrol
October 2nd, 2009
1:05 pm
Paul H is obsessed w/Tech. He sees the writing on the wall.
Richt will be gone to the U or FSU before PJ leaves Tech.
The SEC is UF & 11 dwarfs. Ga is as overrated as LSU.
Tech is superior in every single field of endeavor, academics & athletics. And the athletes can actually read!
Jeff Schultz
October 2nd, 2009
1:06 pm
Big Boy – I never said Bama’s won an SEC title since Richt’s been there. I said right now the Bama program is ahead of Georgia. Not many are going to dispute that after last season and this season.
Sarfdawg – I don’t disagree at all. Nick’s not at once place for very long, Wouldn’t count on Meyer being at Florida that long either (NFL or Notre Dame).
Nolabigdawg – I’m just writing about the situation as it is. If you don’t like the situation that’s fine. But don’t put that on me. And if you support Mark Richt and the job he’s done at Georgia, I certainly don’t disagree with you. I wrote the numbers for you on SEC titles and top-10 finishes. Some are happy. Some want more.
Jeffschultzhater – I believe Les Miles said it best: Have a wonderful day.
JSS – Not enough people kissed up to Samaranch and the IOC and too many busses broke down, which upset the European media, which upsets everybody in the IOC. Personally, I thought way too much was made of all that because the facilities were great, the competition and the atmosphere – yes, even with the T-shirt kiosks – was great. The IOC also wants Olympic stadiums to stand as legacies to the games, which is fine in Europe, but in the U.S. we need to convert them to things like baseball stadiums (Braves) because otherwise they become a money pit. How am I doing so far?
Big Mouth
October 2nd, 2009
1:07 pm
GT
October 2nd, 2009
12:56 pm
Thats a cop-out. Florida, Alabama , LSU and Auburn all play in the same conference as Georgia but have found in within to get to the championship game, level or in fact won a championship or two…GET REAL!
FisheriesDawg
October 2nd, 2009
1:08 pm
takedowndawg:
Virginia Tech constantly gets it done? Gets what done? What has VPI done that is head and shoulders above what UGA has in the Richt era? Other than win a conference full of special ed kids (actually two different conferences full of special ed kids), the one thing they’ve done that UGA hasn’t is reach a MNC game with a once-in-a-lifetime athlete carrying them there only to lose to FSU (who happened to be coached by one Mark Richt).
DawginLex
October 2nd, 2009
1:10 pm
Jeff,
How is Bama ahead of UGA as a program? What is Bama’s record this decade? how many BCS bowl games? How many BCS wins? How many SEC titles?
We may or may not need a new DC but I would d@mn sure go to battle on Saturday with Richt at the helm than anyone else we have ever had in my lifetime and that includes dooley.
92 Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
1:16 pm
What complete BS!!! GA has had the misfortune of having great seasons the same year that the other BCS conferences had undefeated teams. Just because GA has not won the mythical national championship does mean they are inferior to other SEC teams that have been lucky enough to have good seasons combined with other conference teams losing a game or two. Florida was one blocked field goal away from losing to SC in 2006. LSU loses the last game of the season, has two losses yet still gets to the mythical BCS champion. It’s all a beauty contest anyway.
pete van wieren
October 2nd, 2009
1:17 pm
No more comments, please, st. simons. It is hard to take anyone seriously who doesn’t know the difference between you are…you’re, and the possessive, your. I think you should revert to your more accurate alias……Simple Simon.
how2fish
October 2nd, 2009
1:19 pm
Yadro and Co your morons…Jeff some valid points however not Saban,Meyer, Miles, Carrol or the Devil himself has EVER won a NC with the number of season ending injuries UGA had to deal with NO ONE , EVER has done that or WILL DO it…and CMR ended the year 10-3 and in the final rankings ahead of TECH..folks the only ones who want CMR gone..are UGA’s opponents..we are 3-1 and play a huge game torrow against LSU we need to focus and beat the Tigers…who by the way we beat the snot out of last year and yet Jeff’s article holds MIles and his program over UGA…..somedays you just have to say WTF??
HH
October 2nd, 2009
1:21 pm
Schultz: There may be hope for you and Bradley yet. Comming from me, Schultz, that’s a hell of a compliment.
aarh
October 2nd, 2009
1:24 pm
There may be a problem w/ the assistants. This could turn out to be wrong, but Les Miles won his NC w/ Saban’s talent. They have more NCs that we do…true, but we’ve had 2 teams that came close, but didn’t have their shot in the current, messed up BCS system. If you go by head to head…UGAs beaten LSU the last 3xs they’ve payed them, & none of those games have been close. It’s funny how most of the time people talk like UGA doesn’t have a chance in those games too. I’m not the biggest Martinez fan, but UGA was maybe the hottest team in the nation by the end of the ‘07 season under him. I’ll agree it’s a little dissapointing that the team doesn’t have the results of FL & LSU, & that they don’t seem to be heading in the direction of AL. One thing I’ve learned though….is you never know whats going to happen. In ‘06 & ‘07 they weren’t playing good, but by the end of the yr. it was a total turnaround, & they beat some great teams down the stretch. I definitely see room for improvement w/ this team, but I’m not going to ignore the positives. I haven’t been too impressed w/ LSU either. I’m not saying UGA will win, but if they do, & LSU goes on & has another mediocre yr. Couldn’t you say they’re going in the wrong direction as well? Trust me…if that happens, then everyone will say that Miles won on Saban’s talent, but not w/ his own. Even though I know LSU has talent, but either way…I’m not convinced yet that Miles is that great of a coach. I could be wrong though, & I guess time will tell.
Sautee Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
1:24 pm
Jeff,
Would you assume that Pete Carroll is in the same position as CMR?
Georgia Fan
October 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
I would argue that UGA is on par with any program in the SEC with maybe the exception of UF. Our record, conference record, SEC championship appearances, and SEC Championships over the last 8 years is essentially equal to or greater than any program in the SEC. The only thing we are missing in the mythical national championships. That is the only measuring stick that relies on luck and journelism majors as much as anything else.
It would be one thing if the other SEC schools were going undefeated and winning national championships but that is not what has happened. We can’t control whether we are fortunate enough to win the SEC in a year in which there are not two BCS teams with a better record or an equal record but more media love. LSU was fortunate enough to win the SEC with two losses and get to play for a National title due extenuating circumstances. Florida did not go undefeated in either of its season’s that culminated in a national title.
Going undefeated in a major conference and especially in the SEC is VERY difficult. As long as we keep putting ourselves in a position to contend for the SEC championship that is all we can hope for and as long as our program remains a legitimate contender for the SEC year in and year out (which we currently are, even in this “rebuilding” year) we are just as likely to win a future National title as anyone else in the SEC.
not an AJC sportswriter
October 2nd, 2009
1:29 pm
LSU loses a game or two every year. Bama lost twice last year. Florida lost to Ole Miss. You’re not gonna win them all in this conference. Richt is the man, but he does need a better supporting cast.
senoiadawgs
October 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
Great article Jeff. I still think you left out one piece of the puzzle to getting on the national stage(MNC) which is directly related to the head coach. Before I say the below I do believe CMR is the right man to lead the program.
The answer is simple and for those of you that say we were the best in the land in 07(which I agree with) here is why the polls did not treat us as such.
45-16
26-23
20-17
42-30
44-34
24-13
31-17
Those are the scores from game we won against some of the SEC and non-sec opponents. What do UF, OK, TX, USC, LSU, OSU, etc… do in years where they play for the MNC historically. When they win against when playing the lesser teams they leave no doubt. In today’s college football the score has to be run up. If CMR wants to feel better about it put in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams but run the same game plan not dive to the left and dive to the right trying everything possible not to score anymore. Also from the score above you can see while our defense was outstanding at the end of the year if really hurt our national perception. Look I don’t like showing up the other team any more than the next guy but it is a fact of life. When you play the lesser opponents and everyone in the country is not watching final score means a lot. Not only that but it also gets our backups and younger guys meaningful time on the field in real situations by continuing to implement the gameplan. All of these others schools do it, why can’t we?
not an AJC sportswriter
October 2nd, 2009
1:30 pm
I’d rather have Richt and go 0-12 than have Urban Crier and a NC.
KJ
October 2nd, 2009
1:31 pm
“Tech is superior in … athletics.”
Thanks for the laugh. But Tech is definitely superior in the field of muggings, so at least you’ve got that!
“And the athletes can actually read!”
The Roddy Jones interview suggests otherwise.
Bobby B.
October 2nd, 2009
1:32 pm
If y’all don’t start going easier on Mark, I’m going to end up getting him back as offensive coordinator, bless his heart. He can replace Jeff. Can any of y’all remember who my team is playing next? I hope it’s not Valdosta State dadgummit.
long time falcon
October 2nd, 2009
1:32 pm
Europe can take the olympics and shove them straight up their a$$ as far as I’m concerned. In the great United States we have NFL, NBA, MLB, College Football, College Basketball, etc. Not to mention our Pro Golf tour is superior to the european version. What do they have? Of course they hate us and try to hold the Olympics over our heads. They eliminated Chicago first in order to try and insult us in front of the world because they are so bitter at Americas success. Im glad they gave it to Brazil that country has had some hard economic times recently so this will help them immensely.