Georgia’s embarrassment grows more historical by week
Mississippi State's Arceto Clark leaps high to catch a touchdown pass over Branden Smith, one of many plays to not go Georgia's way Saturday. (AP photo)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Was this convincing enough? Georgia just made Mississippi State look like a major force in the SEC. It’s seldom a force even within state borders.
Last week the Bulldogs lost to Arkansas for the first time in 17 years. This time they lost to another conference opponent for the first time in 36 years.
Doesn’t that suggest this isn’t some aberration?
The Bulldogs are 0-3 in the SEC. They stand alone in the conference in that regard. Behind Mississippi State, behind Vanderbilt, behind the schools you used to joke about. They are no longer the team that can beat everybody except Alabama and Florida. They are the team that can lose to every team well below Alabama and Florida.
After a 24-12 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday night, Georgia is 2-7 in its past nine SEC games. That’s not trivial, and it’s certainly not an aberration. The opponents in those seven losses are LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State.
Such widespread failure screams this isn’t about missing one suspended player, no matter how good A.J. Green is.
“We’ve got to fix a lot of things,” said the maligned offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo. “It’s not just A.J. Green. We got beat on the field. You’ve got to go earn it.”
Turn back the clock. Cover your faces. The Dogs just lost to Mississippi State for the first time since 1974 and the first time in Starkville since 1951. Their humiliation becomes more historical by the week.
Embarrassed?
“It’s one of those things where you’re not embarrassed to be a Georgia Bulldog,” wide receiver Kris Durham said, “but we’re embarrassed at the way we’re playing.
“Our season could turn into a catastrophe if we don’t stay together.”
Georgia was coming off losses to South Carolina and Arkansas. Mark Richt remained optimistic (of course). He didn’t believe his team would come into Starkville in a funk. But in the first three minutes of the game, the Dogs went three-and-out on offense and allowed Mississippi to drive 53 yards to a touchdown in four plays.
If that’s not a funk, it’s the early stages of rigor mortis.
Offensive-line play remains mediocre, particularly in the running game. The offense had three red-zone possessions in the first half, resulting in a net of six points (two field goals, one fumble). Georgia’s only touchdown came with less than two minutes left.
At least give Bobo credit for throwing himself under the bus: “You can’t turn the ball over, and you can’t have penalties. That’s coaching. It’s our fault.”
Starkville is cowbell central. Think vuvuzelas, only slightly less obnoxious, thanks to an SEC rule that allows fans to ring their bell only during the pregame, timeouts and following Mississippi State touchdowns and field goals. The video board at Davis Wade Stadium even carries the message, “Respect the bell.”
Regardless, coach Dan Mullen implored Mississippi State fans to make life as miserable for Georgia as possible. Just 15 minutes before kickoff, he stood in the end zone with a microphone and yelled: “Our team is ready to go, and I know our students are ready to go!”
Glad somebody was.
Many of Georgia’s early problems were self-inflicted. Washaun Ealey fumbled at the Mississippi State 1 following a 20-yard run after he was clocked by safety Nickoe Whitley. The Dogs also fumbled when a Mississippi State punt inadvertently was touched by Bacarri Rambo, then quickly recovered by the home team.
The offense has gone from a mild concern to a five-alarm blaze. Bobo has replaced Willie Martinez, the departed defensive coordinator, as fans’ primary punching bag.
But this is about more than one assistant coach or one suspended player. Once again, Richt did not have his team ready to play. The Dogs should have played desperate. They didn’t. They certainly didn’t play smart or play well.
They are 0-3, having lost three in a row under Richt for the first time. They are somewhere south of ordinary. And it’s not a blip.
♦
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1,247 comments Add your comment
Skye
September 26th, 2010
8:34 am
For all of you preaching about loyalty: the position of Head Coach at UGA is a job, not a Supreme Court appointment. Richt is very well paid, and the fact is that he hasn’t been delivering for quite some time. He recruits kids of questionable integrity who clearly have no respect for him or his staff, he doesn’t teach discipline, and the program has gotten away from him, pure and simple. Liking the guy is not the issue. And as for Georgia fans being of the “what have you done for me lately” breed? Hardly. Take it from someone who lives in Baton Rouge. Tiger fans have been screaming to fire Les Miles for two years, and he won a National Championship in ‘07.
Anybody ever consider Gus Malzahn for the job?
0 and 3 in the SEC
September 26th, 2010
8:35 am
If I produced on my job as equally as the coaching staff from Georgia and Georgia Tech, I’d be standing on a street cornor with a can and a sign! Listen Coaches, Fumble once, (Ark Game) and shame on him and let him play. Funble twice (Miss St) sit his ass on the bench!!!!!
Ava Crowder's Butt
September 26th, 2010
8:35 am
BoWeevil, I don’t give a crap if the coaches pray together, or at all for that matter. I don’t think UGA recruits for high character, but that’s a crapshoot anyway, IMO with 17 year old boys that have never gone away from home. I do think Richt and his guys do a good job with them once they’re there. You’re right, it’s football and we all have our own priorities, but if I had a son that was a D-1 prospect, I wouldn’t take UGA off the table because they hadn’t won a BCS championship. I think, and this is a guess, that they’re treated with more respect at UGA and probably leave as better people. Championships are great but how long are you going to live off that memory when you’re in the real world?
Fumbleitis has set in
September 26th, 2010
8:36 am
AMEN SEC, Sit him on the bench if he can’t hold the ball!!!
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
8:36 am
Mark Richt just got an endorsement for red panties. His hair spray deal just expired.
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
8:37 am
Auburn held Lattimore to 33 rushing. How much did he get against Thuga?
Washaun Ealey
September 26th, 2010
8:38 am
Hey since I cant sell my jersey I gotta make some money by shaving points during the game. Dem two goal line fumbles were not accidents. Man dem bookies done paid me some big money to keep da score low.
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
8:38 am
39-17 Georgia Bulldogs Coach Richt and his sorry butt “coaching staff”
Get it straight that it is not just the last 3 years, and please note that we lose 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors after this season – so 2011 with a far tougher schedule than this, is going to be no different.
NONE.
Note please that Demetre Baker ARRESTED for DUI at 4:26 a.m. this morning is ARREST # 10 for Coach Richt’s recruits SINCE MARCH 7.
Message To
September 26th, 2010
8:41 am
Seriously, I would like an answer to Ealy’s letting the ball just sit uncovered literally inches from him in the endzone. And in a flash a MS player, playing with vigor and enthusiasm, recovers the ball coming from 10 yards away. This I must know an explanation please. I think Ealy recovered his helmet and trotted back to the bench.
DAWG 4EVER
September 26th, 2010
8:42 am
Enter your comments here
hardy
September 26th, 2010
8:42 am
Well its time to grade this team
1. Coaching F
2. Quarterback B
3. RB C-
4. Recievers C
5. Tight Ends F (where are they during game day)
6. OL FFFFF
7. Defense what Defense
So now we have to teach coaches how to coach and players how to play. What a difference a year makes.
Topp Dogg
September 26th, 2010
8:43 am
UGA football is just horrible i dont know what to do except change staff from top to bottom at the end of the year.It looks like losses at KY AU UF AND MAYBE VANDY….WTF IS GOING ON?
Alphare
September 26th, 2010
8:43 am
Dawg fans, please stay calm. This is just a game. Who said UGA cannot lose MS St? they beat you guys 5 times before.
If dawgs have Green, it’d a totally different team. If Ealey didn’t fumble, the outcomes could be different for 2 games.
It’s never as bad as you thought when you are in the lows. I predict dawgs will have a good winning streak once Green is back.
TampaGator...where are you, phrase man?
September 26th, 2010
8:44 am
By the way….where is the phrase man who was on here all summer with his “Aaron Murray is better than Brantley posts because he played on a AAAA high school and Brantley played on a AA high school team?”…..as if that had anything to do with coaching and playing college football. Where are you phrase man???????? What ya got to say….phrase man????
How about this phrase….phrase man……”AA Brantley is 4-0 and AAAA Murray is 1-3.”
dexter
September 26th, 2010
8:44 am
go to kansas and bring ZM back from the juco ranks Murray is not the answer and send Bobo packing, I am in the army at fort carson, will be at the game in boulder next week. The talent base we have was strong enough to win without AJ but you cant when the coaches can’t coach. Muschamp or Smart they have bloodlines.
UGAFAN
September 26th, 2010
8:45 am
We’ve become FSU North. A “saint” for a coach, team full of thugs, and a pitiful record. Yes, Kirby Smart is the answer. Georgia passion, Saban knowledge, and championship experience. Had sense enough not to join this staff. Can’t get here soon enough!
GT
September 26th, 2010
8:46 am
I think back to Georgia dancing in Athens last year after beating Auburn. On the side lines in the forth quarter group together like a parking lot disco dancing. Last night Mississippi State was doing the same thing. Waving towels around and dancing like a ritual of the hunt. I was thinking last night of why refs penalized Georgia last year for excessive celebration in that Florida game or why Green gets the book throw at him in game penalties. Why a Florida linebacker wants to poke Ealey’s eyeballs out, the same Ealey who every Georgia high school coach talked about as a trash talking cheat shot artist while he played in this state. The rest of the world hates how Georgia handled winning is the reason why. They see the thugs they were and are. It is not just Tech fans or Auburn fans it is the NCAA. Tony takes great effort in protecting them and only independent information will give you the truth. They had a horrible reputation, and now they have a team to match.
georgiavol
September 26th, 2010
8:48 am
Who ya going to hire? Lame Kiffin? Chill, people! All this ranting and raving will do is impact your recruiting class. Don’t think these kids aren’t watching the way you treat the team and coaching staff when things aren’t going the right way. Besides, most of you knotheads aren’t even UGA grads. So get a life.
TampaGator...where are you, phrase man?
September 26th, 2010
8:50 am
Dawg fans….
there is always next summer to dream of a dream team. And why would the coach (Peterson) at Boise State leave a top 5 team to an unranked Georgia team that just lost to Mississippi State? Don’t think that is going to happen. I hear the great DC at Texas….who just got blasted by a terrible UCLA team….might be looking for a job. And Kirby Smart…well, he better stay with the man who makes him look great at Bama….a Mr. Saban. Two great coaches next weekend going face to face….Meyer vs. Saban. It should be fun to watch.
Dan
September 26th, 2010
8:51 am
Mark Richt is a great coach. A great coach who’s become totally disinterested in what he’s doing. I liked Dennis Felton but it got to a point where it was pretty obvious he needed to go. Now, sadly, I feel the same about Richt. He’s a great guy unfortunately he’s no longer a great coach.
And for all the Willie defenders, Willie is an idiot and did need to go.
Happy Morning
September 26th, 2010
8:53 am
Can you say, “Oh and three in SEC, Oh and 3 in SEC, Oh and 3 in SEC?” Bring back Damon and the red panties. At least things weren’t this bad under his watch…
Pensadawg
September 26th, 2010
8:53 am
Yall want Chris Peterson? thats what Colorodo thought when they hired Dan Hawkins. You have to be careful when you dump a head coach, it creates immediate instability and you never know what your really going to get (Charlie Weiss, Dan Hawkins, Tubberville, Ron Zook etc…….)Be careful what u wish for. Things are bad, everyone agrees, but Richt has earned the right to “rite the ship”. Boise St. is an odd situation, I’m sure Peterson has learned from Hawkins that Boise is an abberation and he’s not about to leave. Boise is a gimmick and it works because of the players they recruit and the “environment” they are in. it would not work week in and out in the SEC. He’s way to smart to leave for ANY school. Be a true DAWG fan and support the team. If things continue, changes will be made. Don’t forget, modern college football is a business not just a sport
TampaGator...where are you, phrase man?
September 26th, 2010
8:54 am
Folks….coaching is the name of the game….Meyer gets a three star player in Trey Burton (QB) and turns him into a 6-TD scoring machine in one game…..as a freshman…..from the wildcat formation as a running back, in the H-B formation as a receiver, and from the QB position as a runner and passer. It IS about coaching up your players.
Gatormeat
September 26th, 2010
8:57 am
dogs, dogs, dogs, what a poor future you have ahead of you. Did you see the spanking our Mighty Gators gave kentucky? Multiply that by a factor of three and you will have what we are going to do to you in Jacksonville. From our perspective the chant is: KEEP MARK RICHT KEEP MARK RICHT, we are loving the direction you are going, the east belongs to us
Dawgman566
September 26th, 2010
8:57 am
CMR better watch out. The villagers are up in arms and gathering their pitchforks and torches. It’sf getting really messy.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
September 26th, 2010
8:57 am
Cam newton looks like tebow after the last two games!..
maybe we can spoil bama’s hopes and dreams this year:)
WAR DAMN EAGLE
oh yeah, sucks that ya lost to cowbell U….I heard all 23 of Herschel walkers personalities were disgusted at the effort. Better luck next week!
TampaGator...where are you, phrase man?
September 26th, 2010
8:58 am
Pensadawg…..Chris Peterson (the OC at the time)….was why Dan Hawkins was considered a great coach….that is obvious. Boise State is much better now than when Hawkins was their coach. Chris Peterson…if he leaves Boise…will go to the NFL….not to Georgia. He is a great coach at all levels from what I can tell. Boise lost their DC and they are still very good on D….thanks to Peterson’s leadership and coaching skills. I think Peterson is on the same level with Saban and Meyer as coaches.
Message To
September 26th, 2010
8:58 am
Message to: Coaching staff. Subject is Coaching 101: Come on down to Camden County and learn the coaching profession. Your teacher will be Coach Jeff Herron, head coach extradionaire of the Camden County Wildcats. Watch coach Herron and his staff before, during and after the game……it is a thing of beauty and maybe you can learn some things.
BTW, Vegas has called the upcoming match up of UGA versus Camden County a ” toss-up “.
jsmiith
September 26th, 2010
8:58 am
for all you people that are so upset about losing a football game and want to see people get fired ….. you need to get a life!!!
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
8:59 am
Sorry…forgot to take off the phrase man add on…on that last post ID.
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
9:00 am
Don’t worry Bulldog Nation. Georgia Homers Barnhardt and Bradley say Thuga will finish 9 and 3. LOL.
NOLA
September 26th, 2010
9:00 am
all we need now is for the ‘cons to lie down like the dogs and the whole state will be in mourning.
Bill Curry and GSU are on their way to being the best team in the state.
go Panthers.
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
9:01 am
Georgia State has asked to schedule Thuga for State’s homecoming game next year.
Dan
September 26th, 2010
9:02 am
jsmiith, you’re on the wrong board.
RGP
September 26th, 2010
9:02 am
The Ealey fumble on the one and the holding penalty on Durham’s touchdown hurt. Those two mistakes took 14 points of the board. Too many mistakes and penalties at critical times.
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
9:02 am
Athens police say Wayshon just hit another parked car.
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
TrishaDisha….
I wouldn’t get down by 17 and 14 points in the first half against Bama and expect to win. And I am very happy for one, Cam Newton. He turned it all around…and he is a great athlete….from Georgia by the way….Dawg fans.
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
Somebody please get Saint Mark another bottle of hair spray. His hair being messed up was the reason Thuga lost last night.
Gatormeat
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
KEEP MARK RICHT KEEP MARK RICHT
Go DAaaaaaaaaaWGS
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
Laughing stock of the S E C
How do you spell embarrassing? U G A
Gatormeat
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
KEEP MARK RICHT KEEP MARK RICHT
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
9:04 am
Wayshon is driving the team bus to Colorado. The team is leaving on Monday. Please come by the practice field for the send off.
Gatormeat
September 26th, 2010
9:04 am
Everything is fine dogs, KEEP MARK RICHT KEEP MARK RICHT
Herschel Walker
September 26th, 2010
9:04 am
What does UGA stand for? U Get Arrested.
maybe next time
September 26th, 2010
9:05 am
so sad
jerry
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
The defense did not lose this game nor the SC game. Spurrier was held to 17 in Columbia and Ms. State was held to 17 until the offense gave them the ball at the UGA 21 with 4:22 to play after failing on 4th down. The defense had an interception and the offense lost two fumbles.
Denver Dog
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
It’s OK Dawgs. IF there wasnt a fumble, IF AJ played, IF CMR used less hair spray etc etc.
OH and 3 in the S E C, sing with me y’all.
GO DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwgs
Gatormeat
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
dogs on the bottom of sec east, as it should be
Neutral
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
What amazes me this morning, is that too many UGA fans are afraid to look in the mirror and admit they suck this year. They would rather badger people at GT and USC. Wake up Dawg fans! You suck this year and will be lucky to be a .500 team. The expectations at other schools are not as high. You are a perennial football factory that is in the toilet this season.
Gatormeat
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!