It’s been too long since Richt, Dogs have had signature win
This isn't the last time Mark Richt celebrated, but it might be the last time a celebration really meant something in the big picture. The game? Two years ago against Florida. (AJC photo)
Two years ago, Georgia made news with a team-wide celebration in the end zone. In retrospect, maybe the team should’ve pitched a tent there. The program hasn’t had a signature win since.
“I’m trying to think,” Mark Richt said Wednesday night. “Did we win any big ones last year?” And then he laughed, that little oh-jeez, has-it-been-that-long, kind of laugh.
It hasn’t been an easy season for Richt. The Bulldogs are 4-3. They’re given little chance of upsetting No. 1 ranked Florida. Bowl prospects include words like “Independence” and “Liberty,” which would be fine if this was something minor like a revolution, not college football in the S0uth.
Georgia still has five games left in the regular season, but it’s fighting a perception problem. Teams are defined, to some degree, by “signature” wins. Within the SEC, the Dogs have come up dry since beating Florida in 2007. They are 9-4 in conference games since the start of last season, and those nine wins have come over (in order): South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, LSU, Kentucky, Auburn, South Carolina (again), Arkansas and Vanderbilt (again). The LSU win looked big at the time, but the Tigers went on to finish only 3-5 in the conference. In fact, every win came over a team that finished with a losing or .500 record in the SEC, save the current South Carolina team (which is 3-2).
Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer got their revenge against Georgia last season (AJC photo)
Meanwhile, the four losses came to Florida (7-1), Alabama (8-1), LSU (4-1) and Tennessee (1-3).
Fans cling to hope, and perception feeds into that hope. But when the mind has to travel too far back to think of a high point, hope deteriorates. Beating Vanderbilt a week ago after getting whacked by Tennessee didn’t build hope. All that did was prevent Butts-Mehre from being turned into the Russian front.
Georgia needs a win over Florida because the program has done nothing to affirm it belongs with the conference elite since that day in Jacksonville two years ago. There is no opponent left on the schedule, Georgia Tech included, that could send out such a positive signal.
Asked if he believes in the “signature” win concept Richt said, “I don’t think you can talk about them prior to any game. I think you can look back and say, ‘That was a signature win.’ Usually a signature win is a win that propels you into something very meaningful as far as a championship, or maybe helps define your problem. When we beat Auburn and that got us into the SEC championship game [in 2002] for the first time ever, that was a signature victory. But I don’t know if you can say when you’re 4-3 and you get a win, it’s a signature win.”
When asked what he felt was Georgia’s last signature win, Richt said, “I’d have to think about that. What do you think?” Told Florida, he responded, “Yeah, that was a big game. That helped propel us into a streak where we ended up finishing No. 2 in the AP.”
He referenced a win at Alabama in 2007. He even referenced a last-second desperation win at Vanderbilt a few weeks later because it stopped the bleeding following a loss to Tennessee, set up a seven-win finishing kick and the enabled the Bulldogs to end at 11-2.
Similarly, one huge upset Saturday changes a lot. “It could erase a lot of negativity,” defensive end Demarcus Dobbs said. “We’re pretty much down in the hole.”
What was Georgia’s last big win? “To me, it’s Florida,” he said. “A lot of people would probably look at beating an undefeated Hawaii team in the Sugar Bowl. But to me, it’s Florida.”
Two years ago, they had a dog pile in the end zone. Some thought that was a problem. Turns out, that was the high point.
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357 comments Add your comment
Saint Richt
October 29th, 2009
1:11 pm
And again, for the 43rd time for all you UGA morons, Tarrant was suspended immediately and would never have been welcomed back had the charges not been BS. He was out an entire year before being found NOT GUILTY!!! So that is actually a great comparison between our coach who has a sack and your coach who doesn’t.
Kim Z's Packace
October 29th, 2009
1:11 pm
JASON that is not possible and you know it if you went to college. I am not sure you did but you should know better. Can you provide a link to U-tube of a photo of that? I bet you are just a 4-3 Dawg crying for any attention you can get. Try again JASON or put your mask on and go kill some chicks on the UGA campus for Halloween to make a new movie.
Yellow Fuzz
October 29th, 2009
1:11 pm
jason,
That is funny especially if he changed his mind.
The funniest thing I think I’ve ever seen was a few years back, I believe immediately following a big win. They were interviewing one of georgia’s backs (a SENIOR at the time), and neither me nor the man interviewing him could understand any of his answers. Finally the announcer who I know felt terrible said “back to you Jim”. LOL. I think is major was speech.
SSI gator
October 29th, 2009
1:12 pm
Sam Adams -
Yeah. There is nothing classier than seein UGA girls dressed up like “working girls” throwing up all over themselves. Real class.
emmit
October 29th, 2009
1:13 pm
Sam Adams
Quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever read on here. Classic!!!!!
Saint Richt
October 29th, 2009
1:13 pm
Schultz, any insight on why Vance’s license was suspended? Any more details on the arrest? I doubt its quite as innocent as these Dawg fans would like to believe. There has to be some sort of prior transgression to have your license suspended? Sounds like a repeat offender to me.
Urine color jerseys
October 29th, 2009
1:14 pm
Fuzz,
Clearly you’ve managed to miss every interview Michael Johnson attempted to give. Talk about comedy gold.
Sam,
You couldn’t be more accurate if you tried.
CJ
October 29th, 2009
1:15 pm
yellow,
I saw that game/interview. LOL
sammiamm
October 29th, 2009
1:15 pm
You sure brought ‘em out this time Jeff.
Saint Richt
October 29th, 2009
1:16 pm
Sam Adams,
If I were a UGA fan, I would attack the wardrobe and fashion of Florida fans, too. Since you certainly can’t run your mouth about football with a Gator.(considering they own you)
Jon P
October 29th, 2009
1:18 pm
Yellow Fuzz…it’s very funny for a Tech fan to make fun of the lower bowls as a signature win. I guess Tech’s had a lot more “signature” appearances in those unheard of bowl games than anyone if that is the criteria! It’s sad that the last major bowl (i.e., BCS bowl) that Tech played in was the 1955 Sugar Bowl.
mickey
October 29th, 2009
1:19 pm
– Sam Adams,
If you just came up with that off the top of your head then you need to take that show on the road. That’s f’n hilarious because it’s so true!!! I’m going to copy and paste that and send it to my friends. Thank you!
Saint Richt
October 29th, 2009
1:19 pm
Michael Johnson is in the league now and can afford “Hooked On Phonics.”
the obvious
October 29th, 2009
1:19 pm
Hey Saint Richt,
You mean how UGA owns Yech? That type of ownership?
Yellow Fuzz
October 29th, 2009
1:20 pm
sammiamm,
Maybe you can should take your happy azz over to Bill King’s Junkyard Blawg. AJC made it just for the dog nation. I’m interviewing for their “Yellow Fuzz Jacket Blawg” next year.
Iceman
October 29th, 2009
1:21 pm
If you Techies would spend half as much energy on liking the Jackets as you do on hating the Bulldogs, your fanbase MIGHT be a little bigger.
What am I saying…you’re too concerned with hating the Dawgs to think about anything else. Never mind.
He Hate Gator
October 29th, 2009
1:22 pm
For those who think Georgia’s problems on defense are lack of talent: “I’m flipping on Georgia (on tape), and statistically, I know everybody is like, ‘What about this and what about that?’ ” Urban Meyer said. “All I know is what I see, and that’s as good a defensive personnel as there is in college football.” From ESPN…
Dawg Nation
October 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
Who are you people?
Kim Z's Packace
October 29th, 2009
1:29 pm
Cupid the TOUCHING was not what she said to ge the cops out there was it? No, the charges were dropped and the “Touching” was how the called it to makesure the “PROBLEM” would go away. J Terrant Had sex with a young lady the then complained. IE KOBE. Maybe it was not a good but it was no more that happens every night in the UGA dorms, frat, and soro. houses and don’t kid yourself.
p b
October 29th, 2009
1:29 pm
Why doesn’t everybody ignore Yellow Fuzz? He seems to do nothing positive on the blog, just slamming UGA and trying to get people worked up. Like a kid that has had too much candy, seems too hyper and very annoying!
Saint Richt
October 29th, 2009
1:30 pm
Yes, exactly, how Georgia owned Chan Gailey. And how Paul Johnson is now going to own Mark Richt and the Dawgs for years to come.
And please read about the Tarrant case before making stupid comments. I would be defensive too if my coach didn’t have a pair.
Pi$$onaDawg
October 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
This is tooooo funny. The bigest game in UGA’s history in the last 10 or so years and you people are talking about Rape, Touching, Driver License, and Jokes on UF fans clothing. TOO F>>>> funny. LETS get back to BOBO & WILLIE and hoe UGA VII is going to drink the ANTIFREEZE straight from the Ramblin Wreck to avoid anymore embarrassment.
skip
October 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
p b: In my mind yellow fuzz has been right a whole lot more times than he’s been wrong.
123456789
October 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
By “signature” game for the hounds….
…dont you mean this game is a “Write-Off” ??
sammiamm
October 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
Yellow Fuzz;
You sure can should.
Yellow Fuzz
October 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
Blame it on me if you want to p.b. After Saturday, Georgia’s football program will officially be “irrelevant” on a national, regional and state level.
And NO fan base deserves it more!
Stinger
October 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
Pi$$:
Why waste good anti-freeze on some sorry-azz hound ??
p b
October 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
JS,
I agree that the blog would not be the same without Yellow Fuzz- it would be better! He doesn’t really contribute anything except to slam UGA during a down year. Wonder what he’ll be saying when Tech is back down and UGA up (which will happen sooner than a lot of you think)?
Old School Gator
October 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
I challenge all of you DAWG fans to only one thing after the Game this Sat. If Georgia wins I will post on the Blog that GA won because they were the better team. If Fl wins, I ask all of you to do the same.
TXDawg
October 29th, 2009
1:51 pm
Jeff is funny when he’s policing the blog…..lol
I vote ED the official head of the bloggers research department….wowzers on the BAMA fake championships!!
Yellow Fuzz…..oh nevermind….every drama needs an antagonist!
sammiamm
October 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
Yellow Fuzz:
Lunch whistle blow?
gdawginkalamazoo
October 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
Fuzz, you are thinking of Patrick Ewing from Georgetown. They asked him about the second half strategy and Patrick said something to the effect “we wanted to come out and uh, uh……uh, what’s the word I’m lookging for, uh…… STOP them under the boards.” They then asked him another question and he froze….”back to you Jim was all the anouncer could say. Funny and sad at the same time.
I believe Vince was arrested for an invalid driver’s license because it was a learner’s permit and he was required to have somebody 21 or older in the vehicle with him. To arrest the kid on that though? Must be something else going on for sure. They had to recognize the kid? Why not write the ticket and be done. Not like he was DUI.
p b
October 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
I agree with Old School Gator, and hate to say. Yellow Fuzz. If UGA wins (highly unlikely), I will say they are the better team, at least in that game. If Florida wins same thing. But UGA still has Tech game to look forward to?!
Yellow Fuzz
October 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
p b,
lol. Like my grandpa used to say, the dogs can dish it out but they sure can’t take it.
Don’t count on Tech returning to the Chan years anytime soon. We are now on an even playing field for the first time in years and all the letters you can write to the editor will not change that.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 29th, 2009
2:01 pm
Old School Gator, no problem. I have congratulated all the teams that have been beating us of late. It is more than usual but hey we are down right now. We will be back. No doubt.
JP
October 29th, 2009
2:03 pm
As a Gator fan, I can’t believe the line is around 16 points. I think UGA makes this very close. Gators are vulnerable right now. It’s good to be 7-0, but UGA is the more desparate team….
Charleston Dawg
October 29th, 2009
2:04 pm
Jeff, You are a glass half empty guy aren’t you? It’s always easier to be negative, always. It takes less energy and thought and makes us feel important when we can point out the negative.
notbowleligible
October 29th, 2009
2:07 pm
All the mutt bags have to talk about is jean shorts, mullets, cokes, stadium size and such. Nothing about football. That’s because they are loooooooserssss!!!!!!!!! About to be .500. What a bunch of dooshes! Just the facts!
gdawginkalamazoo
October 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
We have nobody but ourselves to blame for the outbreak of the Tech fans and their “smack” talk. It has been years since they have been able to run smack on us and they obviously have forgotten how to do it. Immature, incoherent, out of left field, irrelevant rants it’s all there. Give them time and it will get better. They only have about 30 more days before the drought begins again. Let them practice while they can. Throw some barbs back at them to fuel their fires. GT smack talk 2009.
DaltonDawg
October 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Jeff,
I agree with pb. Yellow Fuzz needs to be banned from our blogs. It’s hard enough enduring a lousy season without having to put up with his idiotic coments.
Dawgs
October 29th, 2009
2:11 pm
Maybe if UGA jumped in Florida’s endzone last year they would have won. If seemed to work pretty well for them the last time they did it. And you Tech fans can eat a bowl of dick! When your team can win 86 games, 2 conference titles, 6 top ten finishes, and can go 7-1 against your instate rival: then come back and talk to us. As for UGA: I don’t want to hear the Dawgs talk about National Titles anymore until they can at least go 5-5 with Florida in a decade.
Old School Gator
October 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
PB, I know better to ask for anyone to say that they are the better team of all time. Just for this Sat’s game. All SEC teams no matter thier record for the year can stand up and whoop up on anybody. I hope i’m not the one typing this after Sat, but will be true to my word.
drunk dawg
October 29th, 2009
2:16 pm
get that S$it outa here honky! Them dogs have to fire that cracker Martinez befor ethey can win a chapionship. aint that right Shultz?
homer
October 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
Tebows throws 6 tds but dawgs win 27-17
Mark Katnik uga fan
October 29th, 2009
2:25 pm
We need to fire Mark Richt now and hire Turner Gill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim Mahaffey
October 29th, 2009
2:29 pm
Go Clemson! We might make the final top 20 poll! UGA needs to go ahead and hire RADIO; he will run laps around Mark Richt’s football IQ
Dan Pratt uga fan
October 29th, 2009
2:32 pm
Mark Richt likes young boys and i do too!!!!!
Cuz
October 29th, 2009
2:35 pm
Old School Gator, I have complied with your request for years. Believe it or don’t, there are some fans on this blog that know about Sportsmanship.
Now back to our regular scheduled insult fest.
Mark Summy-former Cheerleader/tosser
October 29th, 2009
2:36 pm
I cant wait to toss Tebow in the air after he pounds us!
cory
October 29th, 2009
2:36 pm
The way yellow fuzz is yappin’ you’d think it was Tech that was 25 wins ahead of UGA in the all-time series…..