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
Reality Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:11 pm
Harry and Dan, sittin’ in a tree. B – L – O – W – I – N – G
Reality Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
First comes the head
Reality Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Then comes the shaft
Reality Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
Now Hairy’s gonna take it in the aft!
Reality Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
Alright guys… I will stop… but this losing thing to lesser teams is killing me. I am going to jump on the be good bandwagon. Let’s hope we can turn this thing around.
Art Vandaley
September 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
All of Richt’s and UGA’s problems can be solved by a nice, laid back trip to the pool for a dip. Richt lands a killer dive off of the 10 meter, and all worries are gone. Grantham should then counter that with a cannon ball!
Wally
September 26th, 2010
2:22 pm
Art: Is Dan president of Kramerica?
Elephant Mann
September 26th, 2010
2:31 pm
Seems UGA has been in a tailspin ever since the blackout game against Bama in ‘08. They were ranked pretty high up ’til then and boom, the bottom seemed to drop out. It seems to be a recurring theme with teams after a beat down from Bama. Tubberville fired, T. Bowden fired, Richt on the cusp, Croome fired, Fulmer fired, Kiffen bailed, Urban has heart palpitations and retires briefly, Les Miles is on the hot seat if he can’t beat Bama this year, Nutt was fired from The Hogs and will soon be put out to pasture by the Ole Miss faithful. Bobby Bowden was fired and Bama don’t even play FSU. Nick Saban has changed the landscape of college football. The other coaches in the conference even had to make up The Saban Rule to limit a HCs contact with recruits and that didn’t stop him. He’s set the bar too high for lesser coaches and talent evaluators and they’re starting to fall one by one. Look for what happened in the wake of Bear Bryant’s success. He put more of his assistants into HC positions in college football than any other coach ever. Look for guys like Muschamp, Smart and McElwaine to start getting major offers from D-1 schools. This might help level the playing field some more, but just keep in mind, the master doesn’t tell all of his secrets, Grasshopper…….
Elephant Mann
September 26th, 2010
2:32 pm
Enter your comments here
Ziggy
September 26th, 2010
2:39 pm
There are alot of people on here that are angry and miserable in their everyday life. So they get on a blog and talk smack to people to insult them. They feed on this. These people need the Lord Jesus. Oh yes, I know the jeers and insults about Mr. Richt and Christianity will follow this post. Please hear from Christ himself, untill next time good morning.
Knowing this first , that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Wally
September 26th, 2010
2:46 pm
Eddie Long and Ziggy should get together.
alwaysbelieve
September 26th, 2010
2:49 pm
Enter your comments here
alwaysbelieve
September 26th, 2010
2:56 pm
I am saddened and dismayed at the anger seething from people’s comments. Don’t you realize UGA has a new defense, a new freshman QB, and their best player out? Are you only for a team if they are winning? Would you tell your child these type of comments if their team lost? I know these young men put a lot of their time, sweat, and tears into this game for us, and can we not be grateful for them trying their best? They even sacrifice their bodies long-term to play this game. If we say we are a fan for a team, it is ok to be disappointed. Let them learn from their mistakes, and then let’s build them back up. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Lets help our team in the good AND BAD times.
crossdawg
September 26th, 2010
3:11 pm
BooBoo is part of the problem but the buck stops with MR. I hope mike adams is proud of his team.
K. Whittingham
September 26th, 2010
3:24 pm
Long year this will be for sure. Our HC is as clueless as any coach in the nation. He was getting fired up on the sidelines last night wasn’t he? Taking his headphones off – I am sure the players were shaking in their shoes. What a joke!!!
Fla Boy
September 26th, 2010
3:33 pm
Sad Sad Sad, How long does Ga let this go on. When would a coaching change take place? At the end of the year after the Tech game.
EricADawgFan
September 26th, 2010
3:41 pm
I am a TRUE Dawg Fan. Win or lose, I would still support the Dawgs. But I must say that Coach Richt had better get a lot more assertive with his players, and coaching staff. He has to get very tough on the Coaches, and the players as well. As mush as I am a rivalry with Steve Spurrier, (being anywhere and playing against the Dawgs) I have to admit that Coach Steve Spurrier makes champions out of his players. He also has absolutely no tact when it comes to his players, and his coaching staff. If there is something wrong with either of them, he will definitely make it known to them, and to the public. Last night, against Auburn, he took out Garcia (Quarterback) and benched him. In Garcia’s replacement, he put in a freshman quarterback without any hesitation. You see, Coach Steve Spurrier, says what he means, and he mean what he says. Being quiet and passive with your players and coaching staff and not holding each and everyone them accountable for their actions and performance, in unacceptable and it will get you in the hot seat to be fired. Coach Richt appears as if he does not have control of his players, and the entire team. Coach Mark Richt had better wake up and get total control of his players and coaching staff. If the players are not performing up to his potential, Coach Mark Richt have a duty, and a responsibility as a Head Football Coach to bench that player. if your Offensive Coordinator are not performing to your standards, and the team is not responding well to the play calling, then you need to take over the play calling and terminate the Offensive Coordinator. The time is now Coach Mark Richt to take control of your Team before your team and coaching staff take control of you. Food For Thought.
Common Sense
September 26th, 2010
3:56 pm
Richt in an overloyal moron.
Bobo never left UGA. Player, then Grad Assistant, then QB coach, then OC.
No perspective, no creativity, and seemingly no appreciation of what it truly takes to Git R Done.
HIS STEADY (and woefully undeserved) ACCENSION HAS BEEN THE GENESIS OF OUR OFFENSIVE DECLINE.
Demetre Baker
September 26th, 2010
4:00 pm
Reading this blog while watching the game replay is enough to make me drink & drive. Too bad I’m in lockdown
Common Sense
September 26th, 2010
4:03 pm
@ Ziggy
Go sell crazy somewhere else.
We’re all good here.
Really dont need social commentary on a football blog and stop taking it so seriously.
Yoda
September 26th, 2010
4:09 pm
Underachiever CMR is.
SEC1
September 26th, 2010
4:13 pm
Soft, lethargic, uninspired, passive, tentative. Any others?
Richt’s team approach for the football season is like that of a couple’s retreat – let’s meditate, hold hands, go swimming, and get to know each other a little better. We will runs some plays later.
Saban/Meyer appear to be all business, all football, and focused on winning.
I get the impression that a player called in to Richt’s office might say something akin to, “hey Mark, thanks for the hug, I’ll try to do better next time”.
On the other hand, Saban’s player has a bowel movement in his under armour’s before entering the doorway.
Sometimes fear is a good thing.
Yoda
September 26th, 2010
4:31 pm
All that UGA isn’t.
bamadawg
September 26th, 2010
4:33 pm
Been a CMR fan for years, but there are issues! He needs to handle play-calling and somebody needs to fire-up our defense(it’s pitiful). I don’t even want to watch any more. It’s too painful.
JRW7
September 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
CMR is a good man, but not a good coach. CMR, IT’s time for you to go!!
DawgNation
September 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
Jeff,
I am publicly apologizing for being so negative towards you in earlier posts on the issue of CMR ability and responsibility to get a handle on his players off field actions. After #10 on the Clark Co hit parade, and the first for the 2011 Fulmer Cup race, I am now in agreement that something has to be done and the axe should loom over the coach’s head. Losing to Miss St aside his position as the head coach should be re evaluated and a no tolerance policy implemented on all student athletes that can not act with in the laws and interest of the University. We do not need those kids or the administration that tolerates them. Again let me apologize and I am now on board with your statements of past.
Falcon Wing
September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
Georgia is the new Vanderbilt.
Falcon Wing
September 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
Wait a sec…Vanderbilt’s players aren’t stealing, doing dope, DUI, or in jail every night of the week.
Georgia is the new Miami. Once storied power program reduced to a has-been laughingstock.
Anybody seen Damon Evans’ panties? Maybe those are Mrs. Richts’ panties.
southmobb32
September 26th, 2010
6:37 pm
who ever thought bobo could call plays too damn predictable ,the whole worlds knw wht play is coming next. bobo was a sorry QB so what make him a good cordinator ,richt lay off the herb dude
Hairy Dawg
September 26th, 2010
7:24 pm
Enter your comments here
Jerry
September 26th, 2010
7:24 pm
It could be worse, you could be like Saban and have a bad year 32 out of 36 seasons, instead of Richt’s 1 bad seaon out of 25.
Jerry
September 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
Saban lost 4 in a row in 07′ at Bama including La Monroe AND Miss St. It could be worse.
Georgia was in the SC game until 2 minutes to go.
Georgia was in the Ark game until 15 seconds to go. Dropped last pass in end zone.
Georgia was in Misss St. game until last 5 minutes.
B-Daddy
September 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
CMR does not need to go!!!! He does need to let his people coach. If that means “Crazy” “Out of Control”…. so be it.. We have to win games NOW!!! Not later, Go Dogs
AD Stinky Fingers
September 26th, 2010
7:55 pm
For UGA to be the new Vandy, they would actually have to be a respected academic institution that had some class. That could never happen.
THUGA is more like a steaming pile of offal.
bogey man
September 26th, 2010
8:16 pm
i am all for opening the checkbook for Jim Harbough!!!!! he can coach with the sabens and the meyers
fsu model
September 26th, 2010
9:03 pm
richt brought the fsu / bobby bowden to ga—recruit thugs, just win, keep things covered up, keep players eligible for big games, make a bunch of excuses, and fans will be happy. It didn’t work. That model died 10 years ago.
playing time
September 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
I think Richt now wonders if he can still coach in this league.
Cobb Dawg
September 26th, 2010
10:15 pm
I think God’s trying to tell CMR to move on.
Will Bishop
September 26th, 2010
11:24 pm
Let’s run another play action pass on third and long from under center. Fire Bobo!
south eastern chumps
September 26th, 2010
11:29 pm
so let me get this straight, Baker kicked off the team and becomes the SCAPEGOAT for the 3 losses and 10 arrest. BRILLIANT CMR that’s showing them!
south eastern chumps
September 26th, 2010
11:32 pm
drag GT into this mess, at least the Jackets won in Starkville while you all laughed and said it was beating a bottom feeder team, what does that make you all look like now, buffoons that’s what. To lose 3, you can do that with 3 star players you do not have to knock yourself out aiming for the top of the heap.
moron university
September 26th, 2010
11:37 pm
The scary thing about the majority of these comments is that you UGA grads cannot spell. I realize some of you did not graduate from UGA but it really makes you look like morons. And if you want the Stanford coach as your next coach, his name is Harbaugh idiot.
DOO DOO LEE
September 26th, 2010
11:40 pm
One thing as well you people have failed to mention is money. If UGA has to pay off CMR, where is the money coming from to hire another coach? You do not even have the money to build an indoor football practice facility. Good luck with that.
NW Georgia dawg
September 26th, 2010
11:56 pm
Compared to years past our offense and defensive lines are not as strong as they have been. Georgia is being pushed around. We are not strong nor or we quick. This is a very wimpy Ga. team. Maybe a new strength coach is needed. They are not making things happen.
Technophobia
September 27th, 2010
12:10 am
Wow, so a kid who doesn’t even dress for the games gets thrown off the team after all those others get a slap on the wrist?? Sounds like a scape goat to me. I doubt he would have been dealt with so harshly if he’d been a starter. Really lost a lot of respect for Richt on this one. Is he so dense that he doesn’t know the difference between discipline and destroying someone??? Man of God my rear. He’s just covering his you know what.
acdc1996
September 27th, 2010
7:38 am
Mark Richt’s Mistake was not letting Bobo go last year.
If he had, he would have been given a GRACE Period this season with a freshman quarterback and two new coordinators. Since he kept him, then he must live with consequences of his decision.
I’ve told people the last 3 years that BOBO was the true source of the problem, not Martinez. They just turned their nose up at me. A defense can handle only so many three and outs and can handle only so many turnovers deep in their own territory. Thank God we have not turned it over in our own territory this season.
Our defense has played well this year. They have also played from behind this year which makes it very difficult. Get them a lead and let’s see what happens.
I do not think Richt needs to go. I think he needs to mature as a head coach and it needs to happen soon. I think this season, like last season should have been, it about developing Murray and beating UF. He needs to assume the reigns of the offense and prepare his guys to beat Tennessee and Florida. That is our bowl game in my opinion. Not whether we play San Jose State in some Liberty Bowl.
Late.
acdc
September 27th, 2010
7:39 am
Mark Richt’s Mistake was not letting Bobo go last year.
If he had, he would have been given a GRACE Period this season with a freshman quarterback and two new coordinators. Since he kept him, then he must live with consequences of his decision.
I’ve told people the last 3 years that BOBO was the true source of the problem, not Martinez. They just turned their nose up at me. A defense can handle only so many three and outs and can handle only so many turnovers deep in their own territory. Thank God we have not turned it over in our own territory this season.
Our defense has played well this year. They have also played from behind this year which makes it very difficult. Get them a lead and let’s see what happens.
I do not think Richt needs to go. I think he needs to mature as a head coach and it needs to happen soon. I think this season, like last season should have been, it about developing Murray and beating UF. He needs to assume the reigns of the offense and prepare his guys to beat Tennessee and Florida. That is our bowl game in my opinion. Not whether we play San Jose State in some Liberty Bowl.
Late.
Fair and Balanced
September 27th, 2010
7:49 am
CMR must take the play calling himself. Bobo can coach the QB’s only. CMR needs to be rebuked for his poor handling of the program. Adams is gonna get involved soon. A loss next week will be the death knell of CMR. Gotta win a game – VERY SOON!
Jerry
September 27th, 2010
7:53 am
I thought Georgia played Ark tougher than Alabama did. Very proud of how a young QB and new defense fought.
In the Miss St game, Georgia beat Georgia again with the 2 turnovers. In the SC game, another turnover on the goallline.
Georgia been in each of the 3 games, which is surprising, I thought they’d all be blowouts. Georgia’s fighting, just not showing up in the win column yet.
Mike
September 27th, 2010
7:55 am
Jeff-
Wow, what sensationalism! You’ve been saying Richt’s doomed for 4 years now. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. Still here, driving people like you nuts.
I’ve never seen writers who are so far off in their predictions of doom and gloom for a team than Jeff Schultz. Been wrong every single time so far.