Georgia gets hammered and doubts about Richt grow
The looks on the faces of Georgia coach Mark Richt and defensive assistants Todd Grantham (center) and Rodney Garner (left) say it all Saturday night. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(UPDATED: 12:10 a.m.)
This is when you start struggling to remember the good times. This is when a Georgia fan thinks back to an early seven-year span under Mark Richt when Georgia went 24-11 against ranked opponents and wonders, “Wait, did that really happen? Or was it those brownies I ate?”
If it wasn’t bad enough that the Bulldogs were underdogs (get used to that) in their season opener and a relative home game Saturday to a school from Idaho — something difficult for so many to swallow — the team’s response made all past criticism seem understated. With eight months to prepare since a humiliating effort against Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl, Georgia couldn’t give Boise State any tougher of a game than it usually receives from Wyoming.
Save some trickeration — an 80-yard touchdown run by Brandon Boykin that gave the Dogs an early 7-0 lead — it was Boise State’s night. It was Boise State’s celebration. It was Boise State that played smart and physical, the kind of performance that gets teams into BCS bowls. Remember BCS bowls?
Both teams made loud statements. Georgia just made the wrong one. Following that Boykin touchdown, the Bulldogs saw their opponents real off 28 straight points. Boise State went on to win 35-21, and it didn’t even feel that close.
Georgia’s defense looked as bad in its second season under Todd Grantham as it did in the first. The Boise State offensive line dominated. Quarterback Kellen Moore at times seemed to toy with defenders.
If only the Dogs had more than eight months to prepare.
If only they had completely revamped their strength and conditioning program.
Oh, wait a minute …
Since going 24-11 against ranked teams, Richt is 2-9. That’s more than a trend. The next ranked opponent also is the first SEC opponent: South Carolina, next week in Athens. The level of desperation just went up.
Richt must realize that. He just didn’t show it after the game. In fact, what he showed was somewhat alarming. After some standard introductory comments — “They were better than we were. We’ve got a lot of work to do before next week. But we know everybody is 0-0 in league play” — Richt actually laughed. Yes, laughed. He turned to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Chip Towers, who had been pestering Richt all week about the status of safety Bacarri Rambo, laughed and said that Rambo would not be suspended for the South Carolina game. Richt had been playing coy with the media, but Rambo was held out Saturday as expected for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Laughter may be a defensive mechanism for Richt. But his team just got whacked with a 2 x 4 in the season opener. Is laughing in the post-game new conference really a good idea?
Richt has been getting a lot of heat. He should. Fact is, Georgia’s slide hasn’t been merely about the ascension of Alabama and Florida in the SEC. In the last two years alone, the Dogs have lost games to Oklahoma State, LSU, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Colorado, Auburn and Central Florida. How long ago was it when you could not have imagined Georgia losing to many of those teams?
The Dogs suffered borderline humiliation on their first possession. They had a false start penalty before the first snap. They had a false start three plays later. They were whistled for delay of game before punting. Before the first quarter was over, the Dogs also were called for an illegal formation for having five players in the backfield (the penalty was declined) and they burned a timeout before a Boise State punt for having only 10 players on the field.
This is why having the biggest, strongest and fastest players sometimes doesn’t matter.
Boykin’s touchdown would be the Dogs’ only score of the first half and it comprised more than half of the team’s yardage (151). The Dogs totaled 71 yards in the other 29 plays.
Georgia’s defense looked strong for the first few Boise State series. But the Broncos appeared to make some adjustments in pass protection and Moore starting find holes in the zone. He moved the offense well in three of BSU’s last four possessions in the half, two resulting in touchdowns (the other, an interception by Branden Smith).
Boise State’s offensive line took over in the second quarter. Moore wasn’t sacked all game and completed 28 of 34 passes, three for touchdowns. He could’ve had a Baracalounger in the backfield to recline before some of his throws. At the outset of the third quarter, Georgia looked lost and overmatched on defense. Moore went 7-for-7 for 69 yards on Boise State’s first possession of the half. Then on second down from the Dogs’ 7, running back Doug Martin faked Smith into oblivion and danced into the end zone for a 21-7 lead.
It wasn’t over. But it was over. Once Boise State’s offense got going, Georgia couldn’t stop it.
The slide continues. It’s uncertain if Richt can stop that, either.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,481 comments Add your comment
Dogs Smell
September 4th, 2011
9:55 am
I predicted BSU by 14 and you homers posted all week how you would kill BSU. Reality check you are not any good ! Did any of you see Tennessee? Thats another loss along with UF and Vandy ! Georigia you may win 5 ganes this year Dream team !
Where is athens dawg?
September 4th, 2011
9:55 am
Losses to Boise SC Miss St Fla Tenn and Gt
6-6. Enjoy the blueberry bowl
Bronco
September 4th, 2011
9:56 am
Georgia=Georgia Tech. Frankly, there’s not much difference between the quality of those two programs. The last few games between those two teams have been close. Congrats uga.
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
9:56 am
still kicking myself becase I could have paid off the trailer.
Steve Powell
September 4th, 2011
9:56 am
Wow is Aaron Murray the most over-rated quarterback in the country. Every time he gets pressured he throws a high ball and gets a receiver killed. How disgusting to watch an unprepared team as evidenced by 3 penalties in an opening drive and needing a timeout because your time is not in physical shape to stop a drive. I love Mark but this is the first step in his last season.
Love Richt?
September 4th, 2011
9:57 am
The lucky red panties didn’t help much, did they? At least Mark Richt got paid a ton of money by Nike. That’s something. So he’s making about four million now, plus the under-the-table money from Nike.
At least Richt is happy. And very very wealthy.
Isiah C
September 4th, 2011
9:58 am
Yo I be good. You jus wate. My dready lox show I am relyabull. I be getin 57 yards on 15 tries. Dat betta dan herschel did. You jus wate. I will rush phor 62 agense the gamecox.
sickdog
September 4th, 2011
9:58 am
Richt has to go. He removed all doubt about his capabilities. CROWELL IS JUST ANOTHER DUD
playmeortrademe
September 4th, 2011
9:59 am
Somewhere this morning Mike Bobo is thinking up another draw play.
Message to high school recruits!
September 4th, 2011
10:00 am
You keep signing with UGA!! Keep it up. And keep being losers!! Keep thinking you MUST go to UGA when better choices in state await. You lose going to uga in more ways than one.
Bud
September 4th, 2011
10:01 am
Are we the Georgia Bulldogs or Power Rangers. I put some blame on whoever is setting up these opening games. We need to go back to Ga. Southern or “The Hilltoppers”. And once again we can’t block or Tackle!
Bronco
September 4th, 2011
10:01 am
Sportscenter’s on. This should be fun!
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
10:01 am
but left with 10 minutes remaining in the nationally televised game so America could laugh at me!
An Eye Opener
September 4th, 2011
10:03 am
You don’t see a team of mostly white boys beat an SEC team heavy with African-American athletes often do you. But that’s what happened/
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
10:04 am
got wasted before the game so the game didn’t hurt that bad and I didn’t really act that different than normal
playmeortrademe
September 4th, 2011
10:04 am
Clemson will probably need a new HC after this season and since Richt runs an ACC offense and defense anyway….
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
10:05 am
cant buy smokes or play lotto this week so not sure how I feel
ArmchairQB
September 4th, 2011
10:05 am
If you are a real Georgia fan, and you want Georgia Football to be great again then you will pull for losses until CMR gets the axe!
CMR is a L-O-S-E-R. Everything that comes out of his mouth is loser talk. It’s time for him to go.
This team will not have my support until he is gone.
dawgfan75
September 4th, 2011
10:05 am
The first game in the dome on plastic grass(giving BSU an advantage since thats what they practice and play on) was STUPID! Leave the chicken money and keep our home games in Athens where they belong. The second STUPID thing was taking the ball first. The crowd was anxious and lubricated and loud. Many of the UGA faithful do not understand that they need to be QUIET when the UGA offense is on the field especially in a dome. If you saw the first two series for Ga. you know what I mean on these two points. KEEP OUR HOME GAMES IN ATHENS! KEEP OUR HOME GAMES IN ATHENS! KEEP OUR HOME GAMES IN ATHENS! KEEP OUR HOME GAMES IN ATHENS! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!
Chillahill
September 4th, 2011
10:05 am
Seems that bobo was calling plays he found in the press box from the Corkey Kell classic! Hey boys look at these plays! I bet they’ll work! Yea that the play ! Hmmmm didnt work that time.Lets see if they will fall for it again? Ok i know lets run that play again- they wont expect that! Ok
Lets try this one more time!! What? punt are you kidding! Ive got a play they will never expect c’mon CMR give me one more chance!! Ive got the perfect play, we’ve got em right where we want em!!!
Don
September 4th, 2011
10:06 am
We are past time for a change. Richt is like the man who keeps changing his clothes because everyone around him doesn’t like the smell (note he doesn’t noticed the odor). Greg McGarity has come in to a house on fire and can’t put out the flames for trying to decide which part will burn first and what is worth saving. I think he needs to just let it burn. As much as i hate to see the team I have loved since childhood fall into ruin, I don’t think we have any choice. Come the conclusion of the Tech game, look for Richt to be handed his walking papers along with the entire staff. This mess will take a while to clean and make right again. It’s not going to happen next season, and probably not for a while after that. All I can say is this is a lesson, a much needed lesson in resilience and patience for Bulldog Nation. Sad, but true.
No
September 4th, 2011
10:07 am
Gt recruits primarily well rounded 2-3 star kids. You recruit mostly thugs and kids from no baby daddy where mommy runs things and coach marky doesn’t know how to handle that cause he doesn’t have any military background. I hope you keep richt. You will continue to regress.
Ben Dover
September 4th, 2011
10:07 am
RIchard Alpert, check your schedule before you make fun of GT’s opponent. I believe the puppies play Coastal Carolina in two weeks. Suck it puppies!!!!
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
10:07 am
long embarrasing walk to my car after the game. Im thinking maybe I won’t wear red to games anymore
Boom-Boom
September 4th, 2011
10:07 am
I for one have seen enough already. Fire his a$$!!!!
john
September 4th, 2011
10:08 am
Georgia may have brawn ,but Boise State had BRAINS ! We bring in players who need remedial help and we get remedial play . Big is never better ! This team will disappoint this year and it way past time for a sweeping change in the coaching area.
Producer
September 4th, 2011
10:09 am
Enter your comments here
Bronco
September 4th, 2011
10:09 am
Yep uga looked as bad on SportsCenter as they did last night lol
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
10:09 am
Georgia football. Get less with more!
Brad SC
September 4th, 2011
10:10 am
I told you idiot ga fans that losing aj and kris would hurt but you morons swalloed richts dream team bs hook line and sinker. Don’t stop believing as Journey sings cause it’s an easy win for us.
Sorry A$$ Program
September 4th, 2011
10:10 am
You werent expecting more of the same???? Why not???
If you cant win with three first round and a handful of NFL picks playing on the same team, you might as well fold up the tent cause you aint winning.
This program has been and will continue to be second rate. Dont expect more unless top down changes are made, which, unfortunately, will not happen unless UGA fans turn off the money spigot.
paid $500 for my ticket to the game
September 4th, 2011
10:10 am
Ever felt like you overpaid for something?
Ted
September 4th, 2011
10:11 am
Once again they were ranked too highly going into the season and got out coached. They need stop it with the uniform stuff to get attention too.
Max
September 4th, 2011
10:11 am
Boykin had 25 more yards on ONE carry than isiah had on 15!!! NUFF SAID dream team idiots.
Producer
September 4th, 2011
10:12 am
Doubts? Perish the thought!! But he’s such a good man, don’t you know! Why do we put up with his incompetence season after season? I truly do not understand our tolerance! Throw his worthless butt out the door now, before Monday morning arrives. And for all of you apologists, be sure and clean your knee pads and wipe your mouth.
Will we be ranked ?
September 4th, 2011
10:14 am
We should move up, Boise is good. Richt is improving. You need patience. He will get this turned around.
Will we be ranked ?
September 4th, 2011
10:15 am
Knock it off producer. At least he has the crime stuff under control.
Jake
September 4th, 2011
10:15 am
You many just need to change the oil in Marks paints and keep him. Lession learned in K-ville, when Fulmer was let go. It’s take a long time to recover.
Tea party'er
September 4th, 2011
10:17 am
Just like with obama, you need to get rid of the flu that’s made you sick. Richt doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing anymore. Obama never had a clue and so many were duped by a media that is pro liberal and that is scary. More and more uga fans are waking up to the fact richt doesn’t have a clue anymore. Very similar to bowdens fall.
ticked dawg
September 4th, 2011
10:17 am
South Carolina will roll this weekend, and that pisses me off because I love the Dawgs! But how can you watch this crap year after year, saturday after saturday. A team with the talent we have should be on top of the world but not Georgia. All georgia teams suck, braves,falcons, hawks,tech & uga. Notice everyone that leaves a pro team from georgia becomes a hero. Richt for the Love of the bulldawg nation that you probadly hate do something with those nimrods you call coaches before mcgarity fires you. You know urban is just waiting for the call.
TheItalianDawg
September 4th, 2011
10:17 am
Kirby Smart era has begun!
George Stein
September 4th, 2011
10:19 am
Somehow I’m sure this proves how tough the SEC is.
Sure was cute
September 4th, 2011
10:20 am
Cute how we put Georgia as the name on the jerseys. Showed our unity for this great state! And it worked too. Those idaho’ers got pummeled!
Lamont
September 4th, 2011
10:20 am
Those uniforms were so sexy!! And the hunks filling them so divine. Has UGA lost their freaking minds/ Why would any Division 1 head coach tolerate a player of his tweeting the head coach of an opponent for any reason. And you dawg fans wonder why the football world hates your guts?? Your program has zero class!!
Joan Rivers
September 4th, 2011
10:21 am
Who dressed the team….Rachel Zoe. Ruby Red Slippers made me wish I was in Kansas. Although the play made it seem I was rooting for Kansas foorbal.
Crazy Al
September 4th, 2011
10:21 am
Same old UGA. Defense is horrible and does not belong in the SEC. Offense is a joke…always a wing and a prayer nothing consistent. Richt is a nice guy as they say and recruits well enough. He should have fired Bobo and could have done much better than Grantham. Unfortunately, he will suffer the consequences and be out of work next season. Spurrier may not be as gracious next week and it could get really ugly. It all comes down to bad coaching. All the stupid penalties. Lack of preparation. No real game plan. The talent is there to be competitive. Need a change…I would accept new OC and DC…but unfortunately too late for that.
ted prevost
September 4th, 2011
10:22 am
Mark Richt has been at odds with his bosses at Georgia since before the bowl game. It has shown up in his attitude more than anything else. Something was done to really upset him and his days are numbered at UGA. The bigger issue is that UGA has some of the best athletes in the country, Who is going to coach these kids and get along with senior management? In conferences like the SEC, there is not a lot of room for soap drama.
ticked dawg
September 4th, 2011
10:22 am
And also the improvements that the pregame radio show said had happened in the off season……yea right our players were dropping like flys. Coach Joe T. sucks too. Crowell didn’t impress me at all. Who will be the reject team that will beat us this year? central Fl last year. If anyone shows up sat in red (maybe the gamecocks will not take over sanford stad.) you should chant fires the uga coaches the entire game.
Lamont
September 4th, 2011
10:22 am
The only way the loss could have been any more beautiful was for it to have been played in about 10 inches of rain out in the open. or maybe the roof collapsing. You Dawg fans are truly pathetic!
pepper rogers
September 4th, 2011
10:23 am
I can come there and coach you guys on how to run the option. Just heard Munsen say, ” Man these dawgs look like a HIGH SCHOOL squad. There’s ***t falling from the sky!