Richt and Georgia have a chance to alter perceptions
Mark Richt is only 2-8 in his past 10 games against ranked teams. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – It wasn’t Mark Richt’s intention to contrast the recent state of two college football programs Tuesday when he praised Boise State. But the words just sort of tumbled out that way.
“They know what they’re doing, they believe in what they’re doing,” the Georgia coach said Tuesday. “Teams with a habit of winning are hard to beat.”
When the Bulldogs face Boise State on Saturday night in the Georgia Dome, it will be an opener like no other Richt has had. That’s not merely because most believe this season will determine his future. It’s just that nobody can be sure what to make of the Georgia program right now.
We know athletes still flock to the program because recruiting services tell us so. We know they can still sell tickets and romance donors and build wonderful facilities. But are they still a player where it counts most? Richt went 48-18 (.727) in 66 SEC games beginning in 2002 but is only 5-9 (.357) since. The Bulldogs went 24-11 against ranked opponents from 2002 through mid-2008 but are 2-8 since.
Boise State begins this season ranked fifth. The last time Georgia defeated an opponent that highly ranked was in 2006 (37-15 over Auburn). Since then, the Dogs have lost four consecutive to top 5 opponents by 39, 7, 24 and 18 points.
Georgia has had a number of habits in the past two seasons, but winning is not one of them. Losing Saturday won’t necessarily stamp this season as a lost cause any more than winning the game would ensure success. But perceptions swing heavily this week, and they should. If you choose to embrace the endless blather about how an SEC team should beat a bunch of spud boys from Idaho who play home games on blue turf and in a weak conference, fine. But what exactly has Georgia done of late, other than lose to Colorado and Central Florida?
“I don’t personally think the season’s riding on the one game,” Richt said Tuesday. “It’s really not. But it’s a game we absolutely want to win. It’s a game that we expect to win. It has no bearing on the Southeastern Conference race. But what I do think it will do is give us a pretty good feel for what we’re made of. It will give us a pretty good idea what it’s going to take down the road.”
Richt knows. His players, his program and his fan base are in no position to mock diminish Boise State’s accomplishments. Or mock anybody. They finished 6-7 last season and did not beat a team last season that finished with a winning record. Two years ago, Richt fired several assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. This year, he demoted strength coach Dave Van Halanger and promoted Joe Tereshinski.
He is running out of scapegoats.
Nobody questions Georgia’s talent. For Georgia to defeat Boise State or South Carolina next week, it will need to excel in areas that it simply hasn’t of late. Playing smart. Playing tough. Blocking and tackling. Showing some semblance of resolve.
Tight end Orson Charles said the first two games “will make or break our season. We’ll definitely know where we stand.”
Quarterback Aaron Murray said, “We want to be the kind of team that’s beating these top teams. We need to go out and prove it.”
Richt struggled to answer why Georgia fizzled in so many games last season.
“Is it because of the physical nature?” he said. “Is it because a guy couldn’t make a play or the ball bounced the wrong way? That may be. But we just need to get beyond that.”
After a while, the wrong things can become habitual. They begin to define a program. If Georgia wants to alter perceptions, it needs to start this week.
By Jeff Schultz
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281 comments Add your comment
CHDawg
August 30th, 2011
8:33 pm
Some pearls of wisdom there, Mike H. CMR is a great coach, and people need to respect his record and ability. All great coaches have a down year. Some fans are just obnoxious. They are either obnoxious, trash talkers to the other team (when winning), or they are obnoxious complainers when we lose–they are always belittling somebody. Larry, Boykin isn’t a jackass. He is a great player, a fine young man (from what I have seen and heard), and a fine team leader. I don’t think he realized how a seemingly fun tweet could become a distraction. Is it possible CMR wanted him to do it. I guess, but I doubt it. I just wish they would correct it. Either way, it is time to move on. I hope it doesn’t become a storyline on the televised game.
Fran Who?
August 30th, 2011
8:41 pm
Dawgs on top…37-24.
Fire Mark Richt
August 30th, 2011
8:42 pm
Well said, Jeff. It’s time to stop the excuses and win. Boise is supposedly inferior, so beat them. South Carolina is still South Carolina, so beat them. Tennessee is average at best, so beat them. And Florida has a first year coach and is coming off a mediocre season, so man up for once and beat them. If Richt can’t do it this year, fire him and find someone who can. He’s out there somewhere.
FLA DAWG
August 30th, 2011
8:44 pm
Thanks Honcho!
I could damn well do better than 6 -7 with a loss against UCF – and so could you.
Ray Goff
August 30th, 2011
8:45 pm
I don’t understand the optimism. Will be more of the same.
Jeff
August 30th, 2011
8:47 pm
I know you have to rush things out in the Internet era but proof a bit better pal, ok?
#1BAMAFAN
August 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
Good luck DAWG fans, I for one, will be for LSU and GA on Saturday night. Ready for some football…RTR and go SEC
joe taxpayer
August 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
Come on UGA has Bosie’s playbook. Its called Michael Tamburro who transfered from Bosie to UGA this spring. He was there backup qb. WQe should win.
Dawg Tell
August 30th, 2011
8:55 pm
With Richt stating that the season’s not riding on one game makes my forcast of 8 and 4 dead on.Why would he say this 4 days before opening kickoff???OMG,I would say “Hell I want to win them all”and I want the nation and UGA fans know that we are back!Oh well-Go Dawgs.
Good googily moogily that thang is juicy
August 30th, 2011
8:59 pm
aint no use in worrying about spurrier we got dis
Good googily moogily that thang is juicy
August 30th, 2011
9:01 pm
i think mark richt needs a raise. his aggregate record is stellar!!
Beast from the East
August 30th, 2011
9:01 pm
Represent the SEC and don’t let us down!
Go get ‘em, Dawgs!
BobDawg
August 30th, 2011
9:02 pm
I just sent my SI (Sports Illustrated) College Football edition to the athletic offices in Athens last week… I didn’t see my beloved Dawgs in the top 25 anywhere….
MAYBE THIS TEAM CAN CHANGE THAT?! I’m ready for toe to meet leather on Saturday.
Let NONE in
August 30th, 2011
9:09 pm
Richt studied football.
Ha
August 30th, 2011
9:14 pm
Get ready to get beat down you trailer monkey A$$ pimples. Burn Athens Mr. Sherman.
It's all perception, isn't it?
August 30th, 2011
9:16 pm
Alter this perception: UGA loses to Boise State and South Carolina. Season over, play in another Toilet Bowl.
Say adieu to Mark Richt.
JB
August 30th, 2011
9:20 pm
Dawgs win Saturday. We will run the ball and control a lot of clock. Much improved D will make us proud. Lot less haters on here come Saturday night.
Troll Power Ratings
August 30th, 2011
9:20 pm
TECH Trolls (too numerous to name – you know who you are). This is just too rich :Said Herbst-Lucke, “You’ve got a lot of people in there that are saying, ‘We’re going to run this like a business. We’re going to find a way to make this program successful.’”
One angus burger at a time.
L O L
1980 is just a faded memory now...
August 30th, 2011
9:21 pm
“The only good thing about UGA starting 0-2 this year (and they will) is that Mark ‘We didn’t worry about penalties at FSU’ Richt will be gone.”
Amen to that. I think we all agree that it’s past time for Richt to get his butt out of Athens.
Hairy Dawg
August 30th, 2011
9:21 pm
Boys Eez not goning to know what hitting them with SEC speed. We unloading the whooping can on them for daring to come into our house when ww run state.
Aaron Muuray is the real deal and we are stacked at TE Charles. Young WRs step up to replace AJ while Crowell breaking TDs like Herschel did it. Then D has tslent and knows how tp do assingments in 3-4 this year.
Final score: Dawgs 48 – Boys Eez 12
Gooooooooo Dawgs! Sick ‘Em!
Hairy Dawg
August 30th, 2011
9:25 pm
Boys Eez not goning to know what hitting them with SEC speed. We unloading the whooping can on them for daring to come into our house when we run state.
Aaron Murray is the real deal and we are stacked at TE Charles. Young WRs step up to replace AJ while Crowell breaking TDs like Herschel did it. Then D has talent and knows how to do assingments in 3-4 this year.
Final score: Dawgs 48 – Boys Eez 12
Gooooooooo Dawgs! Sick ‘Em!
Mobile Dawg
August 30th, 2011
9:30 pm
JB, couple of good posts. I’m still seeing a lot of kool aid opinions here, and I hope they’re right. History says we won’t commit to a running game, smart money says we have to have a running game and control the clock. We will learn a lot about Mark Richt Saturday vs Boise. I’m expecting the worst, and hoping for the best. Just not going to get to worked up or have any expectations. I will sure be majorly disappointed if we do see the same old Richt and Bobo. To win this one we need to establish dominance early. We will be in Atlanta for this one.
JB
August 30th, 2011
9:40 pm
Stay safe Mobile. I’ll be watching on the 55 inch HDTV.
bitter red panties
August 30th, 2011
9:42 pm
red panties was without dought the worst A.D. in the sec history———-he hated coach richt and
did everything he could to pile on bull-@#$% duties that keep him from being a head coach on
the field—————-since he was ploting to get richt fired and hire a black coach———that my friends
was his only mission———get richt fired———-red panties was a bonnified racist!!!
———-since his drunk–ed scre— the secritary nite——–and our beloved ga state patrol
———————coming to the bulldog nations rescue————this team will prove that coach richt
————–is a top level head coach————-but he is no whinner——-and he would have never called
————-out red panties (evans).———his believe in god came to his rescue.
Hairy Dawg
August 30th, 2011
9:50 pm
Evans was a problem but Adams still is. Stop Adams choking the recruiting and Coach Richt’s Dawgs win several BCS, SEC, and bowls with talent in this state. We just got to take off the Adams hancuffs and we dominants SEC and nation.
Anotherseason
August 30th, 2011
9:53 pm
Why is it that CMR seems to be taking BS very seriously?? To read all the posts on these blogs from UGA fans – you all think that BS doesn’t deserve the time of day to start with – much less even a Top 25 team. So – IF BS were to beat Georgia on Saturday (which I don’t think they will) – does that mean – according to most of the disrespect UGA fans have shown toward BSU on these blogs – UGA ISN”T a Top 20 team???
Mobile Dawg
August 30th, 2011
9:54 pm
Thanks JB, no way we can possibly justify losing this game. It completely falls on the shoulders of Mark Richt, period.
It isn't easy...
August 30th, 2011
9:55 pm
…being an expert, but all of us seem to think we have that covered. Teams’ records vary year to year, and even the greatest coaches in history have had some bad seasons. By no means am I saying Coach Richt is one of the best in history, but he is a heck of a coach. Who do we go out and get if Richt is fired? Who is going to do a better overall job? And be realistic.
Us Dawg fans need to be just that…Dawg fans. Know your role and shut your mouth. Support the team, support the players, support the coaches and even support the uniforms…regardless of the flippin’ color. Georgia born, Georgia bred…and when I’m gone, I’ll be Georgia dead!
Burma Shave
August 30th, 2011
9:59 pm
Boise State will win
Over the clown suits
UGA will feel
Those hobnail boots
BURMA SHAVE
Nan in Ballground
August 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
Lots of Kool-Aid being swilled. I hope the Kool-Aid factories can keep up with the dawg fans’ delusions.
Hairy Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
Exactly get behind Coach Richt as we roll power house over Boys Eez and show rest of league whose boss. Coach Richt does it right by being Christian and just needs Adams support to end recruiting restrictoins. The we can get best talent for winning while casting out tthe bad players like Ealy and Kings. Then we get to support Coach Richt and having talent stockpile on team and at Hargraves. But we got to get behind to supports Coach Richt to take us to champions and titles.
Pulpwood Smith
August 30th, 2011
10:06 pm
Jeff…..has anybody let you know (don’t take it personally) how bad ajc.com sucks? I mean, I have a 4G connection and whenever I click on your’s or Bradley’s column…..I wait….and I wait….and I wait. Then I wait some more. Then when all of the cheese & milk in my refrigerator goes bad, your column finally loads….then locks down my browser. Don’t know who your IT guys are, but they’d be better off refurbishing Atari games…..just pitiful.
bitter red panties
August 30th, 2011
10:06 pm
@burma shave—-speaking of clowns—your wal-mart gear-(blue and yellow vest) reaks of clown
—————————hahahahahah————go dawgs
CoachB
August 30th, 2011
10:10 pm
BSU will start out fast. If they get rolling the game will be 24-0 before halftime. Georgia has better players but BSU makes zero mistakes. Should be a classic game that goes down to last 1:30..prediction BSU 31, Georgia 27
bitter red panties
August 30th, 2011
10:10 pm
@pulpwood smith———-better skills than ole #34—-butt you had a 2 cent head
———–great run against bammer in 1984————–go dawgs
UGA wins because. . .
August 30th, 2011
10:12 pm
Geathers, 6′6″, 350lbs goes against their center, 5′11″, 288lbs.
UGA wins because. . .
August 30th, 2011
10:14 pm
UGA 20 – Boise 10.
Defense scores one of the 2 tds. walsh seals the deal. 2011 is about defense. the offense will get
better, but will take a few games.
Crystal Ball
August 30th, 2011
10:15 pm
The team that scores the most points will win the game.
Hairy Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:15 pm
Geathers goning to smother there center and that cause fumbling.
D Fence
August 30th, 2011
10:15 pm
All well said there Schultzie. Either UGA and Richt are “man enough” now to do something about it or they are not. Alot of questions, alot of promise, hopefully alot of positive answers come Saturday night.
Mobile Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:16 pm
…fortunately you don’t have to be an expert to see where the problems have been. As strongly as I feel, I have to challenge those who ignore the obvious, all in the “righteous” name of being “supportive”.
bitter-----smurff--ett
August 30th, 2011
10:18 pm
anyone so doped up on drugs to think that football was ment to be played on blue carpet
————–should be stomped on real hard—————–dawgs rule —————-smurffs—–hahahaha
Columbus
August 30th, 2011
10:24 pm
Richt’s record is SO FAR AHEAD OF DOOLEY’S IT IS PATHETIC! Sheesh. Dang Uga was expected to be down with Cox at QB right? Right. Last year was expected to be similar with new DC, freshman QB, other new coaches and suspensions. Lat year was growing pains but yes should have been better and could have been but stuff happened like Murray having 4 turnovers against florida, fumbling against Sc at the end, Green being suspeded. Still could have won both. IT HAPPENS. You people were not talking all this crap when Richt won at LEAST 10 Games 6 TIMES IN 8 YEARS WERE YOU? SO SHUTUP AND GET OFF OF RICHT’S BACK AND SUPPORT HIM THROUGH THIS THING. He is going to make it through anyway, so is the team, so why make it si hard instead of just a little bit of understanding and support! Dooley and Bryant WISHED their record after 10 years was even in the same neighborhood as Richt’s, HIS IS AMONGST THE BEST IN NCAA HISTORY, AMONGST THE VERY BEST OVER TA HEAD COACHES FIRST 10 YEARS. And yes that includes the last 2! Heck, Texas went 5-7 last year! It happens. You got to take the good with the bad, but with Richt, it has been FAR MORE great years, than bad years. Got it? Good! Because the next 5 years are going to be VERY GREAT! SO shutup you little ignorant, impatient, poor losers. Are you men or immature little boys? That goes for all the writers who do not write ANY stories talking about how Richt measures up against all the great coaches in history and how they too had some losing seasons, then after making it through them went on to be better coaches and to win their first NC. Dooley, without Hesrchel, would have won 1 SEC championship and tied another and that is it! No national championship. Richt went to the SEC championship game with 3 DIFFERENT QB’S and won it twice! Murray will be 4th. You know, the ignorance and stupidity of UGA fans is ridiculous and sad. UGA is going to be fine, but will not be with Richt? You want to start over with another first time head coach? Nobody on staff can do the job and Saban or Miles will not be coming and I dont want anyone else. Richt is in the top 5 coaches in college football and he runs a clean program. THE GRASS IS NOT GREENER, I ASSURE YOU. BETTER REALIZE WHAT YOU GOT AND APPRECIATE IT AND IN THE TOUGH TIMES. I do and you will too over the next 5 years.
But please do not cheer when UGA wins with Mark Richt, because we will. All you Fran Tarkenton’s who contribute and support NOTHING but want to run your mouth can move to Siberia or Alabam and moan and groan the rest of your lives to one another, while Richt is winning games at UGA and he will. Best coach in UGA history. Hands down.
Canton Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:30 pm
@ Mobile Dawg: I agree that our football program has problems winning right now, but I will take a couple of bad seasons over the crap USC, Miami, Ohio State, etc are dealing with. Our football program is operated with integrity. The winning will come, and when the Dawgs DO win another NC, we will have no doubt it is legit.
If nothing else, maybe these past two debacles of seasons have lit a fire under the coaches’ rears. In either case, I support Richt and our Dawgs, as blind as that support may sometimes be. I’m a homer, what can I say?
JCJ
August 30th, 2011
10:39 pm
Why is Boise favored?
Canton Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:40 pm
Because they are ranked #5, and we are #19…we also went 6-7 last year. They SHOULD be favored.
JCJ
August 30th, 2011
10:42 pm
It’s a home game.
Canton Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:50 pm
It’s not Sanford…it may be in Atlanta, but it’s on turf, so it’s a push. The Dawgs have not proven anything on the field in a couple of seasons…Boise has. They SHOULD be favored. That crap doesn’t matter anyway…the result of the game is not determined by who is favored prior to it.
Canton Dawg
August 30th, 2011
10:52 pm
As Boykin stated, “They should be #5…they should be #1.” The higher they are, the farther they fall.
Troll Power Ratings
August 30th, 2011
10:56 pm
Boise is favored because they are higher ranked and because of their performance (specifically win/loss) of the past few years. Georgia had their worst win/loss in 15 (16?) years last year, and had some really bad losses in the last two years – UCF and Colorado. Boise is also a media darling at the moment.
Georgia has a wonderful opportunity to turn the program 180 degrees Saturday night. Being a fan, I think they will. They have made significant changes – coaches and players (new bunch and weeding out trouble-makers). They have a qb that has the potential to steal the show and a freshman rb that could be the best rb Georgia has had for many years.
I could not care less that they are not favored – I actually prefer it. It will be so, so sweet when they win!