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
JCJ
August 30th, 2011
10:59 pm
Just trying to figure out which side to take.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 30th, 2011
11:10 pm
I have seen a few postings explaining why Boise is favored by the bookmakers – last year’s records for both teams, media darlings, etc. I always thought that the line was set in order to get a 50:50 split of bets. If more people bet on one side than the other, the line moves. That way the bookies are sure to make a profit because of the vigorish – it is a heck of a business plan. But hey, what do those professionals in Vegas know?
Jordan
August 30th, 2011
11:11 pm
Preview of Georgia’s Defense: http://isportsweb.com/2011/08/30/georgia-bulldogs-defense-preview/
Texas-Dawg
August 30th, 2011
11:12 pm
The Dawgs need (5) more 5 stars and (8) more 4 stars to commit for 2012 season. Lets make this the best dream team in USA! Commit now!!
OldFan
August 30th, 2011
11:15 pm
Well said, Jeff. I completely agree. If the turn around doesn’t start this Saturday, we won’t see it this year.
Snoop Dawg
August 30th, 2011
11:29 pm
Well, with Boykin talking crap that just tells me we’ve still got a discipline problem on the UGA football team. Richt should have been in control of making sure that our stupid trash talking players don’t make up good bulletin board material for the Boise State coaches to use to motivate the players any more than they already are.
If UGA loses, I want Boykin in the press room after the game so the press can talk to him.
The big mismatch for this game is in the coaching department. You see, the two teams have opposite coaches. The Boise State coach overachieves with two and three star recruits while Richt and Bob underachieve with four and five star recruits. It’s that simple.
If UGA loses on national TV in their roller ball uniforms, Richt is a dead man walking…
drbasic1
August 31st, 2011
2:15 am
snoop
you are a moron
katrinafogg
August 31st, 2011
3:04 am
The Oklahoma campus will be unveiling the statue, which will stand erect in Heisman Park, on August 31. http://bit.ly/p5kP0u
Stinger2
August 31st, 2011
4:12 am
Amazing how the UGA fans continue to find fault with just about anything that they can find available.
1. CMR and Coach Bobo. If you don`t like them find another team. Maybe you would like GT and CPJ. Try it.
2. President Adams. He is an avid footbal fan. Why would he hinder recruitment as several of you have said?
3. Schultz and Bradley: You are all wrong. These guys write a lot of positive stuff and support UGA`s program.
DirtyDawg34
August 31st, 2011
6:37 am
Snoop Dawg is exactly wright,its been anything goes for two many years,with the caliber of players we have theres no excuse for the way they have played in the past,now we have gotten rid of the bad seeds in ealey and king according to most fans,i guess we will see saturday night what the future holds,BOBO quit calling some the bonehead plays that even we can see coming from a mile away PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
Thomas Brown
August 31st, 2011
6:51 am
Beating Boise State is easy as pie, given that they have never really beat a team who finished as a great team that season, not ever with just 8 wins over the 6 BCS Conferences and of those the top 4 best wins all were over 3-Loss teams, one who ended up ranked # 16, one # 11, one # 10 and one # 9. Look, they have Lost to 23 of 31 games vs the 6 BCS Conferences, average # 69 in Scout.com rankings all 5 of the last 5 years including this season, have only 15 in the NFL, and they can be as used to winning as they want to be – but the facts are that Mark Richt has beat more teams who finished in the AP Poll Top 10 than Boise State has with # 4 vols 2001, # 6 LSU 2005 and as you say # 9 Auburn in 2006 – five long years ago (6 years ago now this including this season.)
Beating South Carolina, who Lost 5 games last season, is also easy for everyone else. We have a soft schedule. These are are only 2 football games and neither of them are world-beaters. There is no team who will finish the season in the AP Poll Top 10 on this schedule.
Thomas Brown
August 31st, 2011
6:59 am
Stinger2 you are wasting your time. You are unranked. You play cupcake-city for opponents. Your student-athletes who are any good at a sport are arrested for murder bordering plane in LA to come here to Atlanta for shooting a 23-year old lady on a city street here. Your Football team and your men’s basketball teams are routinely beat handily by ours, and both of your football team and men’s basketball teams are also both on NCAA PROBATION – repeat offender. And, your graduation rates in football and men’s basketball are also both way worse than ours.
So, you run in here and have something to say about UGA ?
Guess what the bloody reply is
Stinger2 ?
david
August 31st, 2011
6:59 am
just tackle!
RedandBlackDAWG
August 31st, 2011
7:23 am
In my opinion, I really don’t think Boykin provided a lot of quote, “bulletin board material”, for Boise. If they needed that pretty tame statement on a persons tweeter page to get them up for this game, they are in trouble in the first place. People like Snoop Dawg, are just the usual clowns that complain about everything UGA anyway, and this just provides them another opportunity to express their hate for UGA. He has probably said more about it than the majority of the Boise players.
A lot more than that is said to each player at each other when they are on the field. Most of it wouldn’t be fit to put on a twitter page either. It is the game of football, and emotions run high both on and off the field. The young man is confident in his abilities and if folks can’t see that, it doesn’t matter what he says or doesn’t say. They will still come out with negative crap about UGA on these blogs anyway. If the young man were to have a chance to run it back 100 yards and did, what would the negative bloggers say then?
GO DAWGS and GATA
chilidawg
August 31st, 2011
7:38 am
What’s up with the penalties against Miami? Are they serious? What a joke!
Damon Evans
August 31st, 2011
7:42 am
If any UGA player finds a pair of red panties in the locker room, please return them to me.
chilidawg
August 31st, 2011
7:46 am
Ever since the news broke on this, is seems the media has been telling the NCAA, “you CAN’T give them the death penalty, look what it did to SMU.” It seems to me that the two situations are the same. Administrations willingly allowing this to go on. Shapiro says that he pumped millions into the program. The NCAA comes up with: okay, you pay back $140 and sit for one game. You pay back $100 and sit for one game.
OOOOhhhh, that’ll show them!
Inbred Dawg
August 31st, 2011
7:47 am
Boise State = Loss
S. Carolina = Loss
Coastal Carolina = Win (by late field goal)
1-2 to start the season won’t be much fun for you all you Jawja rednecks. How many of you ranting on here actually attended UGA? Or should I say how many actually graduate high school? Grown men getting excited about a bunch of 19 -21 year old boys. Creepy!!
taste like dawg guano
August 31st, 2011
8:02 am
jon jenkins gets tired and cant hang cuz he aint in shape. Boise 38 – pups 6
Good People
August 31st, 2011
8:03 am
Chris Peterson is “Good People”.
Mtn Dawg
August 31st, 2011
8:05 am
“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. ”
He left off ‘coaching smart’ and I’m referring to none other that the master of not-so-smart coaching/play calling, our man BOBO. If we lose games because of idiotic play calling the lynch mobs will begin to form and he will be absent from the sidelines in 2012.
brad
August 31st, 2011
8:05 am
its gonna be pretty loud in that place when Boykin returns one 100 yards.
Mtn Dawg
August 31st, 2011
8:10 am
This is the one area that player talent cannot overcome – stupid play calling. I am not a BOBO fan. Never have been. He’s not a bad QB coach but doesn’t have it as a OC. Break out the check book and go after a REAL OC.
longtimesecfan
August 31st, 2011
8:13 am
even this gator is pulling for the dogs as an SEC rep. unlike many
dogs most of us suport you when playing outsiders. also we look on you as our farm team. so good luck go gat-i mean but sniffers.
Good People
August 31st, 2011
8:15 am
spread the red and them panties too!
Toothless Dawg
August 31st, 2011
8:17 am
Man I am taking the money I normally spend on meth and getting me a new Georgia flag fer my trailer. All of us trailerparkwhitetrashrednecks shore do luv them Bulldogs. Woof woof
midland Dog
August 31st, 2011
8:17 am
Mike- your comments are profoundly correct! when our offense scores 30+ points, we should WIN!
Field Goal Jesus
August 31st, 2011
8:20 am
UGA’s player of the game – Walsh. Boise 31 – UGA 12
2010 National Champs
August 31st, 2011
8:36 am
WHile you guys are trying to alter your perceptions from being a bunch of waqnnabes homos t a bunch real homos….we’ll be in Auburn working on another title
bitter--DA--TRUTH
August 31st, 2011
8:38 am
RED PANTIES—was trying to make coach richt look bad for years———giving him countless
responsibilities that tied him up————-no that red panties is cleaning floors and we have a
real A.D. at the helm————coach richt will be his ole self this year and beond
======remember the first thing the new A.D. did when he took over was to remove all
the bull—-sh—duties that red panties had hang on richt and then he put richt on the recruiting trail
then came ———–DREAM TEAM————–
———————-
————————————F===@#$—–LAME AS— DIAEM EVANS—AKA—-RED PANTIES
WDE
August 31st, 2011
8:41 am
Man there are a TON of trolls this morning..what’s the matter little men you wake up on the wrong side of probation this morning? Or do you just have a case of the Pre-Dragon Con jitters? That’s it hold on tight to your light sabers and repeat after me.” I don’t really fear the Bull Dog, I don’t really fear the Bull Dog” see how much better you feel now…run along and we will see ya’ll soon…bless your hearts.
bitter--DA--TRUTH
August 31st, 2011
8:42 am
@ 2010 NAT CHAMPS—————-try buying another title with the ncaa looking up your as—-
————–5-6 this year ALL-BURN—PAY FOR PLAY————-hahahahaha
Bama Mike
August 31st, 2011
8:43 am
Boise crossing patterns and underneath curls will eventually wear down the Georgia defense. Also is it just me or does CMR remind you of Pat Boone.
John, a true Dawgs fan
August 31st, 2011
8:46 am
Joe, you can comment all you want, but you are NOT a Ga. fan!!!!
Joe
August 31st, 2011
8:47 am
Depth really isnt going to matter inside the temp controlled dome…..outside in Athens mid afternoon would have….silly us…or stupid us for agreeing to play this team in the dome
McDawg
August 31st, 2011
8:49 am
the great part of our schedule is that if we go 2-0 there is a good chance we would be in the top 10
WDE
August 31st, 2011
8:50 am
@Bama Mike with Tree and Jarvis in the middle I hope they throw some crossing stuff early. We have a few guys this year that hit real hard. But we will see as much as Boise passes they have receivers with the stones to attempt going across the middle lets see if we have the answer for that. And yes CMR doesn’t remind me a little of Pat Boone much like Saban reminds me a little of Satan.
Sigh
August 31st, 2011
8:53 am
“Teams with a habit of winning are hard to beat.” Yeah, they are, too bad your too stupid to figure out how to do that Richt…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 31st, 2011
8:54 am
These blogs are to the point where you just read the article and leave the site. Until the AJC brings back registration or you pay for certain content the UGA followers are stuck with having to put up with this crap.
PaulieOldSchool
August 31st, 2011
8:57 am
I really like Adam Murray, but he’s not enough for UGA to beat Boise State. The rest of the team has to show up, too. I don’t think that’s gonna happen, unfortunately. This program is going in the wrong direction.
Kiss The Ring
August 31st, 2011
8:59 am
UGA fans are like The 40 year old Virgin…..walking amongst the LSUs, Auburn, Florida who know what its like to get some. Classic.
Bama Mike
August 31st, 2011
9:09 am
WDE. I do think the Dawgs will be better this year. Boise has been coming up big last 3 years and will not be over-confident. Their routes are a killer for any defense. You have to have quality depth. Hope I am wrong as it would be good for conference for Georgia to win against top 5 team to kick off the year. I just have doubts about Georgia being as physical right now as Auburn Alabama or LSU. We will know within first two series though.
joe
August 31st, 2011
9:10 am
The perceptions, from a fleabag and in state perspective, are that UGA is the top 10 program. So in that case, yes, Richt has a chance to change that, cause they’re no where close to that at this point in time. A few years ago, maybe, but definitely not now. And what’s the perception of UGA nationally? Well, when football fans not in the south are shown a picture of the UGA helmet, they ask, why is the Green Bay Packers helmet red? Get a clue homers.
Bama Mike
August 31st, 2011
9:11 am
Forgot. He does look like Pat Boone. I wonder if he could sing those old Chevrolet Commercial lyrics ie., “Take a Chevrolet across the USA”"
Kiss The Ring
August 31st, 2011
9:11 am
Our dawgs just need to hunker down and explode all over BSU. I mean leave it all on the field.
Mike Bbbo 17 INT
August 31st, 2011
9:17 am
It will be business as usual this year for the Dogs, 8-4 at best, and CMR will get another 3-5 year extension. The Dogs will either drill Boise, or Boise will drill them. Regardless, if the Dogs lose excuses will fly about penalties or how the Dogs did not get a break.
There is no urgency in Athens for winning titles, everyone appears to be comfortable with talking about the 1980 title.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
August 31st, 2011
9:19 am
The most famous saying in Athens….”wait until next year.”
PreyDawg
August 31st, 2011
9:19 am
@Joe- I don’t think you are a life long Georgia fan. All you I hear from you is complaining. I am not a big fan of smack talk either, but to say Championship teams dont do it is a fantasy. Every team at every level does it and it never stops. The culture promotes it. As this sort of crap goes, what Boykin said was mild. And if they kick to him, I bet they dont make him eat his words. But it sounds to me like you would get real pleasure out of that. Sounds like you want to see the team that you are supposed to be a fan of, get racked. You don’t sound like much of a fan to me.
@Top Dawg- You would be the same guy b_ _ ching on here if we had four or five starters hurt going into the game. Instead we are going in relatively healthy. Early season injuries have killed this team in recent years. THAT is why we are not hitting on Tuesday. We have been hitting all summer.
Where have you whiners been? All off season we have read about how much tougher conditioning has been and how much this team runs and conditions. Now half of you are calling them soft and they have not taken the field yet. I hope all of you negative so called fans are man enough to come back to the boards after the game. I will be here. I say this team will not play soft. Don’t know if we will win, but I bet we show em a war this time. If we don’t I will be here to eat crow. If we do play like Junkyard Dawgs are the rest of you going to cowboy up?
Kiss The Ring
August 31st, 2011
9:22 am
Poor UGA fans…still trying to chase the holy grail.
Eddis Loondoogie
August 31st, 2011
9:23 am
Too many question marks on this puppy team. Boise wins hands down. Buh bye Mark Richt!