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
KB
August 31st, 2011
12:43 pm
I can’t believe this is happening, I actually agree with Mr. Schultz with 100%!
A good, solid, well coached, disciplined, prepared UGA should reach the SEC Championship undefeated this season. But over the last 3 seasons we have been anything but a team that possesses those attributes.
This is the easiest regular-season UGA has had in years and we cannot say with confidence that UGA will win the first 2 games.
We are owned by Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida and now South Carolina. We are competitive with Miss State, Tennessee (who is also down), Arkansas and Kentucky. We are better than Vandy and Ole Miss.
Face it fellow UGA fans, we are a middle-of-the-road SEC team, at best. Hopefully the 2011-2012 team will return us to prominence and achievement. If we reach 0-2 then Richt needs to step-down and allow UGA to start the rebuilding asap. Let Coach Garnder be the interim HC and immediately start the search. At least that will let prep players that are interested in UGA know that the ship will be righted.
Bama in Atlanta
August 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
@WDE 12:05pm
“@Mike Bobo 17 INT how many titles Bama got if every time they have been on probation they have to give one back..wouldn’t they own a few if that happened? Remember the line from the 50’s and 60’s IF Bama’s not cheating Bama’s not winning?? And lets just see how Suitgate turns out they could be down another one.”
=====================================================================
Alabama football has been placed on probation 3 times and Auburn football has been placed on probation 4 times. Even if you subtract the 3 probation times from our 13 NCs as you ask, that would still leave us with 10 NCs.
bubba4dawgs
August 31st, 2011
1:01 pm
The DAWGS certainly are taking this season more seriously! They seem to be much more focused with a stronger desire to win. I’m concerned with the secondary on defense. Kellen Moore is going to throw a lot….and complete a lot. Nothing boils me more than to see the DAWGS hold’em for two downs and leave 3rd and long, then get burned with a bomb down the field while the defensive back is asleep at the wheel. Stay awake back there, guys! Don’t let this happen! GO DAWGS!!
PreyDawg
August 31st, 2011
1:15 pm
Bama. You are a stand up Dawg. We discussed our differences and I do agree with your point about the Sprint Draw. That makes me mad every time too. I will look for you on the blog Sunday morning after the game. Hopefully we will both feel like celebrating. But if not. I will admit my mistakes.
Skokie Dog
August 31st, 2011
2:08 pm
If the Dogs’ defense shuts down the wheel route repeatedly on Saturday night, then one of my perceptions will definitely be altered. If I’m unable to guess Bobo’s calls on at least half of the offensive plays, then a second of my perceptions will be altered. If I see Boise players being tackled to the ground by the first defensive player to arrive, we’ll be three for three. I’m hoping that all of this comes to pass, but the proof will be seen on the field soon enough.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 31st, 2011
3:22 pm
We are about to see if we have made the right changes or not in just a few more days
Val
August 31st, 2011
4:49 pm
Let’s see how much is really the ex-strength coach’s fault. Don’t think it will be any at all.
Old Time Dog
August 31st, 2011
5:40 pm
8-10 wins. After the 4th game we will have a pretty fair idea of what we really have. By the 7th game we will be what we are. Don’t think we are physical enough or have the depth as far as line play. Wooten, Mitchell and Swann may suprise folks.
Old Time Dog
August 31st, 2011
5:48 pm
To the Tech fan posing under several different names and saying buh bye……. That would be an excellent suggestion as to what you could do.
UGAmutt
August 31st, 2011
6:15 pm
If Richt gets blown out both games, they’ll make Gardner the interim for sure (although with Adams’ blundering, they might actually promote Bobo. LMAO). If that does indeed happen THIS season (before the end) the top picks IMO for that HC spot? 1)Kirby Smart 2)Gus Malzahn (yes he would walk out of that contract to HC at Georgia) 3)Bud Foster 4) John Chavis 5)Gary Patterson 1,000,000,000)Mike Bobo
Mike Bobo 17 INT
August 31st, 2011
9:50 pm
Bama
UGA is just jealous of the dominating Alabama program, and you have so many titles, taking a few away means nothing. Speaking of titles, wait until Auburn has their title stripped with CamGate. There is only one thing worse than not winning a national title, and that is winning one, then having it taken away.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
August 31st, 2011
9:52 pm
Get rid of Dooley, and you get rid of Bobo. Dooley is the source of the problem with this entire program, but everyone in Athens is so in love with Dooley, that no one has the nuts to do anything about it. Just keep losing baby…..just keep losing.
Does anyone ever complain about the money and time invested for the past 30 years, and nothing to show for it? Guess not, just keep those checks coming and pay CMR another bonus.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
August 31st, 2011
9:54 pm
How bad is the UGA program? Kirby Smart already rejected UGA, and Will Muschamp skipped Athens for a superior program in Gainesville.
Your own boy don’t even come back, and Stinchcomb said it best when he was quoted “UGA will never win a national championship, because you do not play as a team.”
PowerDawg
September 1st, 2011
5:19 am
I was reading a piece from our friends over at “The Grit Tree” and was reminded of a fact I had long forgotten about…
The 1984 game vs. #2 Clemson. A come from behind gut check eventually won by a 60 yd FG by Kevin Butler. The pundits said we couldn’t win that game. Clemson was too tough.
Final score: UGA 26-23
These facts I remember. The one I had forgotten? The date.
September 3rd.
How about the 2005 game vs #18 ranked Boise State? We were ranked 13th. The pundits said we were headed for an upset for sure.
Final score: UGA 48-13
Remind me again what date this Saturday falls on?
Coincidence?
PowerDawg
September 1st, 2011
5:24 am
In case you all are wondering, the 2005 game was on September 3rd also. Leaving that part out kinda took the shine off of my revelation.
Sometimes my zeal gets the better of me.
My apologies.
Hairy Dawg
September 1st, 2011
7:31 am
That shows how God looks out for Dawgs on Sept 3rd. Can’t wait I’m pumped to whoop some Boys Eez tail.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
September 1st, 2011
8:21 am
Hairy Dawg
Will you be back blogging if you get throttled by Boise? Doubt it……just more UGA trash talking, and nothing to back it up.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
September 1st, 2011
8:23 am
And the beat goes on….
http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2011/08/31/uga-football-recruit-collin-barber-suspended-for-game-after-being-arrested-for-destruction-of-mailboxes/
LHarding Dawg
September 1st, 2011
8:53 am
I wish this Bobo child would give his mother back the computer. Talk about mental!
possum
September 1st, 2011
8:55 am
it might not be a “make” game, but it can sure as hell be a “break game”!!
1eyedJack
September 1st, 2011
8:57 am
I would just love for the Dawgs to make those know-it-alls at ESPN look even more foolish than normal.
RedandBlackDAWG
September 1st, 2011
9:19 am
Mike Bobo 17 INT is an example of what a lack of education will get you.
Obsessions such as yours are not healthy. If you are truly a Bama. fan and somehow I doubt that, you need to see a shrink, as you appear to be obsessed about a group of men, that you know little about. Who in the H*** cares what you think no matter what school you go for. Your obsession with the UGA team borders on kinky. Perhaps getting a woman for a companion would help out this problem.
GO DAWGS and GATA
Mike Bobo 17 INT
September 1st, 2011
4:30 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmZkKznB2gc&feature=related
Gdawg65
September 1st, 2011
5:36 pm
If Richt had replaced Bobo I’d say he is making progress and may be able to turn things around. We need an experienced and proven offensive coordinator – and need him soon. Dump him Richt, Bobo’s a loser!
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[...] a run the rest of the schedule, they’re potentially in the BCS title game). The Dogs simply have to prove they can play smart, tough and with some resiliency, particularly against a ranked opponent. That’s something we haven’t seen much of [...]
sickdog
September 3rd, 2011
10:09 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT!!!!!!!!!!! NOW!!
sickdog
September 3rd, 2011
10:11 pm
mark richt is a fool
sickdog
September 3rd, 2011
10:16 pm
georgia looks like a herd of idiots playing football!!
sickdog
September 3rd, 2011
10:17 pm
Crowll poved to be another dud
sickdog
September 3rd, 2011
10:23 pm
please keep the dawgs off tv I rather watch lopez