Rankings prove Georgia has lost benefit of doubt
Georgia's Mark Richt doesn't have to wonder what it's going to take to pass Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson: win. (AJC photo)
(Last update: 2:10 p.m.)
In two weeks, this becomes less about perception than reality.
Games start, the season unfolds, myths get busted, the guy on the bar stool who never said a word before suddenly says I told you so, a Big 12 coach locks a player in the broom closet and eventually we get to January and scream about the BCS. It’s college football’s circle of life.
But for now, it is about perceptions, and this much has become clear: Pollsters believe Georgia Tech has passed Georgia on the football field.
This is what consecutive years of failed expectations and a five-loss season will do to a program.
When last season ended in Shreveport, the Bulldogs were not ranked in the final Associated Press poll for the first time since 1996. That also left them behind the Jackets (13th) for the first time since 2000.
When this season begins, Georgia will trail Tech in the preseason polls for the first time since 2001, which is the year Mark Richt was hired. The AP’s preseason rankings were released Saturday. They’re similar to the coaches’ poll that came out two weeks ago, which had Tech ranked 17th and Georgia 21st. The gap in the AP poll is a bit wider: The Jackets are 16th and the Dogs are No. 23.
It’s worth nothing that the AP is no longer part of the BCS formula, having pulled out after the 2004 season because of the illogical selection process, to say nothing of the fact orchestrating a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game and rendering all other bowls relatively insignificant is just a bad idea. But the AP still is the most watched preseason and in-season poll, and it fuels what many previously believed:
Georgia has lost the benefit of the doubt.
This bit of reality won’t go over well in Athens. Richt inherited a program that hadn’t won an SEC championship since 1982. He proceeded to win two in his first five seasons. Then Georgia finished strong in 2007 to end the year at No. 2. Such cachet tends to carry over in polls from year to year.
But a preseason No. 1 ranking in 2008 turned out to be only a gateway to lopsided losses to Alabama and Florida, and a home upset by Georgia Tech (in coach Paul Johnson’s first season). Then came last year’s tumble to 8-5. Richt began to feel some heat for really the first time in his tenure. The Dogs now are at a prove-it stage. At Tech, most assume the arrow is pointed up. In Georgia, few are assuming anything.
The Jackets are 20-7 in Johnson’s first two seasons and went 11-3 with an ACC championship last season. They lost four stars (Demaryius Thomas, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Morgan, Morgan Burnett) to the NFL draft. But perceptions remain that they’re better than Georgia. Why?
“We won more games than they did last year,” Johnson logically concluded Saturday morning, when asked about the recent coaches’ poll.
Asked if he cared about perceptions, he gave the expected response: “Not really. I just worry about what I perceive and what actually happens. I’m more worried about what happens at the end of the year. Being ranked before somebody at the beginning might be nice, but I’d rather be ranked in front of them at the end.”
Since the non-ranking in 2001, the Dogs have ranked No. 8, 11, 3, 13, 15, 13, 1 and 13 in the preseason under Richt. At 23, they’re now closer to the “others receiving votes” category with Connecticut, Temple and Middle Tennessee State.
“I am thankful we are ranked,” Richt said Saturday when asked about the AP poll. He added, “I hope we play well enough to move up. That’s the plan.”
That’s the way to play this. Richt raised the expectation level at Georgia. This shows how missteps in consecutive seasons can significantly alter public opinion. Georgia finished out of the rankings four consecutive seasons (1993-96), but when it finished 10th in 1997, the Dogs suddenly were back in the preseason rankings in 1998 (19th) for the first time in five years.
It figured there would be a hangover after last season. The preseason rankings might be cause for debate, but that’s what rankings are all about. There’s no reason for Georgia to scream. In two weeks, the games start, and the Dogs will have a chance to change perceptions.
♦
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688 comments Add your comment
dawgfan
August 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
Still no mention of 30-24. Still waiting Jeffrey….
Jeff Schultz
August 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
Dawgfan –Georgia defeated Georgia Tech last year 30-24. How’s that?
Question: Why would you think that’s a big deal to me, and what does it have to do with this column?
Warhorse
August 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
UGA is 10-10 in the SEC East during the past four years. That is average — and average teams do not get ranked highly. Another year of average and this site will explode because the recuiting rankings during that four years has been better than average.
Delbert D.
August 21st, 2010
2:47 pm
Heywood xxxxx – Did you see any of those games about 50 years ago? I did. We used to go over to Sanford stadium and get in for $1, high school admission. Saw Tarkenton, Namath, Pat Dye, “General” Patton, Lothridge, those guys. One thing I learned early on is that the past doesn’t count for much, bragging rights are good for 1 year.
Dawgtime
August 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
We defeated GT last year which happened to be one of GT’s best seasons and UGA’s worst. What does that say about GT’s program? You always have the bugs hoping for UGA’s failure because we dominate them. That has never changed. Why worry about rankings before the first game is played? That is a little nerdy. UGA happens to play in the greatest conference in the nation. An 8 win season in equal to an undefeated season in the ACC. You need proof. Who was the ACC champs last year? What SEC team defeated them? Go DAWGS
Roscoe
August 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
DentalDawg-
Wow, you think Jeff stinks as a journalist? What? Couldn’t DISAGREE more wiht you on that one.
Jeff’s a top 10 journalist you egghead. Just because he writes something you disagree with, doesn’t mean he’s a bad journalist.
I consider Jeff to be one of the more talented sports writers in the country. Always thought provoking, always good strong writing.
dawgfan
August 21st, 2010
2:52 pm
Uh, what does it have to do with this column? Did you seriously just ask that question? Oh I don’t know Schultz. You wrote a column about Georgia and Georgia Tech football. You wrote a column about the “perceptions” of these programs. I just thought an actual football game played between these two teams on a football field might somehow warrant a mention. Crazy me. Lets just stop playing the games and talk about it on the internet. That will settle everything. Good grief.
Oh, and you also mentioned a “body of work.” Schultz, do #7 nationally ranked teams typically lose to 6-5 teams at home with two weeks to prepare? You’d think they could win a freaking bowl game too. And this program is on the rise? Seems like same ole same ole to me. I’m sorry I’m just not that impressed with wins over 8-5 Clemson and Wake Forest. The pollsters apparently aren’t either. The defending ACC champ is still only #18. I guess we’re not the only ones with a benefit of the doubt problem Schultzie.
Bill King is a ..................
August 21st, 2010
2:54 pm
Shultz………….i dont have time to read all the posts. So forgive me if i repeat some of the samethings that might have already been said.
UGA had a down year last year….and even in a down year, we still BEAT tech!! I could really care less about Tech til Thanksgiving. UGA will be much improved over last year. You want to talk about perceptions??????????? Once we roll into Columbia and put a beatdown on USC….all or you nonbelievers perceptions will change about the Dawgs!! Thats all it will take is for us to beat the COCKS and all this crap will be put to rest. Thank goodness we have TG!! That will be the difference for us. DEFENSE!!!!!!!!
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
August 21st, 2010
2:56 pm
Jeff, I have been waiting for a call but I really think Grantham got all the money. It’s hard to believe they are paying him $750,000 and here I am with a painted a$$ and no assurance of a job this season.
Alabama Jack
August 21st, 2010
2:56 pm
When its all said and done, dawgs still suck.
JV
August 21st, 2010
3:00 pm
30-24 doesn’t conclusively prove anything, but it does disrupt the “Tech up, UGa down” narrative, so it doesn’t get discussed (along with the Orange bowl). It is as though those two events never happened.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
August 21st, 2010
3:02 pm
Jeff, why doesn’t Coach Richt have a potato chip commercial? Every SEC coach eventually talks potato chips on television but I am thinking Coach Richt will be talking broccoli. Not many people know this but he is afraid of dogs and sometimes I will growl a little when he is around. He’s always wearing RayBans but I know he’s watching me.
Paul in RDU
August 21st, 2010
3:06 pm
I’ve seen plenty of posts that UGA has beaten GT 9 out of the last 10 years. Have I missed a year?
As far as the rankings are concerned, they’ll take care of themselves as the games are played.
I expect UGA to lose 2 – 4 games and for GT to lose 2 – 4. Of course, the way the polls work, an early loss doesn’t seem to count as much as a later loss, so who knows where both teams will end up. The game after Thanksgiving is the likely difference in where UGA and GT end up.
Dawg'88
August 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
You know what the polls really show JS….that our point is stupid/irrelevant…What else is new?
If the polls were really reliable to show things accurately, then the following wouldn’t be true. Why do Auburn, Arkansas and Yech get the benefit of the doubt when all 3 of them lost to Georgia last year (a year which so called by JS…”removed the benefit of the doubt”?
Not only that but Georgia has defeated Auburn 4 times in a row, Arkansas has never beaten Georgia in SEC play, and Yech has lost 8 out of 9 to the team that “no longer has the benefit of the doubt”. So you see your points null and void simply for 2 reasons…the polls are never reliable/meaningfull and you’re never right about anything concerning UGA.
But you do show your true colors again….you just hate CMR because he stood up to you. Its obvious that it still sticks in your craw. BTW…still waiting for the rebuke that I called for a longtime ago in how Tenn.’s Dooley really isn’t changing the culture there.
They get in trouble too and his handling of the most recent incidents (suspensions lifted…but suspension from what?..not game playing time) should have been criticized as you did CMR’s handling of discpline. At least players lose what they want most at UGA…playing time! What did the Vols offenders lose? Once again it shows a bias…you are so transparent!
Hang it up or then again Shut IT!
Athens, Georgia
August 21st, 2010
3:21 pm
.
.
… NESBITT for HEISMAN
.
.
heeldawg
August 21st, 2010
3:25 pm
Jeff, this column is about nothing except the blathering pontifications of Captain Obvious. The preseason pollsters are, in general, brainless. They look at last year’s won/loss record, look at the big names that left and the big names that are staying, and take a stab at a ranking. It’s inherently unscientific, which is why no one should take much stock in preseason polls. Coach Johnson’s right–Tech’s ranked higher because they won 11 games last season. Georgia won eight. Tech lost a few horses and dropped a few notches from last year’s end-of-season rankings; Georgia gained a few new coaches and went up from where they ended up a season ago (which was, as you have remarked, unranked). Where was Tech last preseason? Where did they end up? That’s what really matters.
In preseason polls, perception is more than half of reality. And my perception of this column is that it’s a bunch of fluff.
doggit
August 21st, 2010
3:30 pm
Didn’t UGA run for 300+ yards on GT last year and win the game?
hugedawgfan
August 21st, 2010
3:32 pm
I love UGa-absolutely hate GT. But previous posts about 1990 NC and that GT wanted no part of Colorado is just plain crazy. That GT team was one of the fastest and most athletic teams to ever play college football. They destroyed Nebraska and would have done the same to Colorado. Don’t let your hate for the bees impair your judgement fellow Dawg fans.
Stumpknocker
August 21st, 2010
3:34 pm
“Destin Dawg” / Since when did Parade Mag become the gold standard of anything?……much less rankings of colleges? A likely ploy by said mag to boost sales on big college camps. On another note, your recent post to (CPJ and recruiting myths) you stated that CPJ followed Chris Hatcher to Ga Southern and CPJ benefitted from Hatcher,s recruits. You also stated that Hatcher was a personal friend of your son……..so be it. The facts are the Erk Russell, Paul Johnson and TimStowers all won multiple national champs at Ga Southern and were long gone before Hatcher ever made the scene there. Hatcher’s tenure there was short-lived because he couldn’t consistantly win. Coach Monken, there now, is a former assistant of CPJ and is re-installing the flex-bone/spread option offence. Like the Parade Mag and recent post of recruiting myths, shows only that you are an over-zealous dawg fan looking for anything negative to print against GT……..and anything positive to print for you sagging dawg program.. Pssst, don’t tell anyone but UGA has had 43 drug/alchahol arrests in just the past 2 weeks.
Fortunate segment of the populace
August 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
`
Pollsters believe Georgia Tech has
passed Georgia on the football field
So do I.
Warhorse
August 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
Nobody but Tech grads even remember that the Jackets won a national championship. Of course, UGA fans have absolutely nothing to remember that happened during the memory of anyone under age 30. Not sure which is the most relevant to today.
bamaguy
August 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
To me the UGA/Tech rivalry is like Tennessee/Vandy. UGA will win 85% of the time for the same reason, those pesky academic standards at their “rival”. True rivalries are between in-state equals: Alabama/Auburn, USC/Clemson, MSU/Ole Miss, Florida/FSU, etc. This UGA/Tech thing is just the older bigger brother picking on his smaller, smarter little brother.
Shultz = Hogan's heros
August 21st, 2010
3:41 pm
Which poll counts the most since there are about a dozen and they are all different?
I believe tek was rated #7 when UGA ran over them in Bobby Dud Stadium at Grunt Field last year. That shows you what polls mean.
Jeff Schultz, I see nothing, I know nothing………
Shultz = Hogan's heros
August 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
Unless winning 90 games in the lat nine years, 6 top ten finishes, 2 SEC Championships, 8 of 9 over the bugs and winning records vs al SEC opponents except Florida…. then you are right UGA has nothing to remember
UGotta
August 21st, 2010
3:47 pm
These Pre-season polls mean absolutely nothing. Each year presents new challenges for UGA and GT because their schedules are so different. Everybody believes in the hype of ranking of high school players which is not an exact science either. It boils down to what you do on the field. Bad recruiting and Richts loyalty to Martinez has hurt UGA. With a new Defensive Coordinator and his aggressive style, I believe this will be a special season for UGA.
Herchel
August 21st, 2010
3:49 pm
Jeff, you seem logic challenged in this article. Yech lost to UGA, lost their best D players, their only WR, their RB, and they have passed UGA?
Being champions of the All Cupcake Conference = 4th in the SEC East.
Hotel Shreveport
August 21st, 2010
3:51 pm
`
‘Shreveport’ is the destination for two
unranked teams this football season.
From 11-3 to 14-0
August 21st, 2010
3:53 pm
I believe this will be a special season for Georgia Tech.
TommyP
August 21st, 2010
3:58 pm
“Lost the benefit of doubt”, huh?
When the predictions mirror last year’s end results, they’re not predictions. And that’s what preseason polls are…simply people remembering last year.
Only a couple mags make predictions and Phil Steele and CFN are two of the few.
JDW
August 21st, 2010
4:02 pm
Ahhh, for the old days of Gizzard, Bisher et al. Schultz and Bradley just don’t cut the mustard.
Hairy Dawg
August 21st, 2010
4:06 pm
Dawgs is best at running state and winning becuase playing in SEC that best with talent and speed. SEC talent for NFL want play for Coach Richt to win champs and party the best in Athens. Then Coach Richt best at Christainizing and that why we recruiting talent for SEC with speed.
Dawgs dominates this year with starting at number 3 and moving up to win champs. We got best line, RBs, WRs, and fixed defense from Wet Willie bend and break wind. We just need QB experence and then win SEC and nation. We got schedule to have time to develop QB to win.
Gaytors stinks and lose talent with more holes then Dawgs and nervous breaking Oscar Myers hot dog coach. Visor Boy passed game by and losing in Columbia followed by La LA chump Tech coach Dooley Boy in Knox taking peices from Lame Kitten. Kens Tuck got a Joker for coach and Vandy coach give up and quits like WW2 frenchys. I don’t see no good coaxching from Cheese Whez at Aubie or Midnight Escape Artist sewee pig Peturdo neither.
With rest of league Dawgs dominates to SEC title and then facing Bammers but then having QB experence that to need winning.
Pestky bugs and fat slob arrogants horse backside coach get steam roll on Dawgs path and irreverlrant in state with GSU best in ATL.
Sam
August 21st, 2010
4:12 pm
If you play in the ACC then you are not being truly tested as being the best of the best. A winning percentage due to weak scheduling year after year doesn’t equate to becoming a legacy program or qualify you for a #1 spot. Play in the SEC or the Big 12 season after season to be tested and see how you measure up as a team. With that said, the Dawgs have an opportunity to move up into the top ten if they prove themselves by dominating opponents on both sides of the ball. We must win and win big to have a shot of making it to the SECCG and redeeming ourselves as a top tier program. GT, well they can only garner respect when they dominate opponents outside of their crappy conference. It hasn’t happened yet and frankly I don’t see a change in that trend.
BG
August 21st, 2010
4:15 pm
UGA owns Ga Tech look at the series. 8 out of 9!!!!!!!!!!!!
mello yello fello
August 21st, 2010
4:24 pm
The AP pre-season ranking is significant.
Only 16 teams since 1950, won a National Championship, that were not ranked top 10 pre-season AP.
So, 75% chance Georgia or Georgia Tech will not win a National Championship in 2010.
However, of the 16 teams that did it, 15 went undefeated. If you have 1 loss, and start outside the AP top 10, you’re not going to get invited to the National Championship.
Hike
August 21st, 2010
4:27 pm
I hope this is not true…but, I think Meyer and Saban have left the rest of the SEC behind. UGA is not really competitive with them anymore. Coach Richt doesn’t have the right personality to really win “BIG”. There…..I said it.
Benjamin
August 21st, 2010
4:30 pm
Going to be an interesting year in both Athens and Atlanta. [...personally, and I know I'm nuttier than a squirrel terd for even thinking this, but I think both teams will play in their conference title games. Georgia is going to beat Florida this year in the SEC East.]
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
August 21st, 2010
4:34 pm
I don’t know why I punish myself by reading Schultz’s horrific, pro-Tech, anti-UGA chickenscratch. Maybe I’m a glutton for BS. Maybe I actually have hope that he can put out a decent column every once in a while (een Bradley does that … occasionally). But no matter.
At any rate, the only reason why Tech is ranked is because they won the ACC last year. If Clemson had won the ACCCG, then I can promise you they’d be where Tech is.
I mean, look at Tech. They lost nearly all their good players to the draft, including their top receiver, running back and defensive player. Nesbit? He can’t even complete a forward pass, and he was recruited to play in a pro-style system by Chan Gailey.
Al Groh will be a bust (I don’t recall his last few defenses ar UVA being worth a crap, and Tech doesn’t recruit a helluva lot better than the Cavaliers) Tech loses 5-6 this year as Florida State or Virginia Tech wins the ACC.
UGA, on the other hand, beats Tech again en route to an SEC Championship and a BCS Bowl win. I don’t know which BCS Bowl (either Sugar or BCSCG), but we’ll win either way.
mello yello fello
August 21st, 2010
4:36 pm
The margin for error for Georgia in particular, starting so far back in the AP poll, is slim to none. If they lose a game, they’re out of the National Championship picture.
The AP poll, while not accurate in the slightest at predicting eventual champions, is really important, because it influences all the other polls that make up the BCS formula.
Special Season
August 21st, 2010
4:44 pm
It will be a special season for tek ok, especially bad…… loses to Miami, Florida State, VT, NC and UGA. The will also lose their fifth bowl game in a row.
Warhorse
August 21st, 2010
4:46 pm
UGA fans would do well to buy a condo in Shreveport, a home away from home for the holidays. Omar Hunter, the Gator DT from Buford has trimmed down 30 pounds and will feast on the midget QB from Athens.
All the debate by poodles with Jacket fans is meaningless to the real goal of getting back to Atlanta in early December. 3-17 is the real figure that counts in life for the poodles.
gatorman770
August 21st, 2010
4:50 pm
It’s George Bush’s fault, just ask the dimocraps!
Former Georgian
August 21st, 2010
5:02 pm
This shows that the AP has no respect for the ACC-since we all know GA was last year’s ACC champion.
gatorman770
August 21st, 2010
5:09 pm
Personally, I think Gators are ranked 3 or 4 places too high (I’d place them around 7 or 8th until they make it thru October 3rd undefeated)and the Curs are ranked 4 or 5 places too low. Both teams have had a number of great recruiting classes in a row, but both teams have a lot of questions at different positions due to inexperience. It should be a interesting season. As far as comparing GT and UGAs ranking, I’d put them both at around 17 or 18.
Another Dawg
August 21st, 2010
5:12 pm
I like that Schultz highlights whenever someone calls him an idiot as great debate skills, but never bothers answering the numerous eloquent counterarguments to every dumb post he makes.
It’s more of a testament to how overrated the ACC is that they have so many ranked teams. Lest we forget the week before the ACC championship game, both division winners lost to their (unranked) SEC opponents.
I don’t see how Tech improves on either side of the ball this year. If that’s good enough for #13, that’s all it’ll ever be good for.
chazzo
August 21st, 2010
5:26 pm
Enter your comments here
From C-Cup to D-Cup in one Year!
August 21st, 2010
5:28 pm
Mrs Johnson: ” Paul, honey, see if my d-cup will fit you. You look so uncomfortable in that c-cup!
chazzo
August 21st, 2010
5:30 pm
Schultz,
When you’re right, you’re right. If this team doesn’t play every week like they have something to prove, I will be disappointed (not that I think my disappointment has any consequence). That #1 ranking shot everything to heck. It was ridiculous, and the players and coaches responded poorly. Last year was completely understandable. Both years involved a heavy schedule, injured players, and a laid back D.
Rabun Dawg
August 21st, 2010
5:33 pm
Hey Sam, Dawg fan. Lay off the “cool-aid”. You are getting way too delirious this early in the evening!
David A. Patten
August 21st, 2010
5:40 pm
Get used to it mutts. You’ve enjoyed your last bit of success against GT as long as Paul Johnson is head coach.
Shreveport Waffle House Cook
August 21st, 2010
5:43 pm
We’ll take the responsibility to lock our women and children away in December. But y’all leave our dogs and cattle alone. See you in December, Dawgs.
P.S. We have jails down here too.