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
Post of the night
September 4th, 2011
1:29 am
“if Richt was at GT he would have fired 2 years ago”……hahaha…classic.
Tech fans are smart enough to know the difference between religion and football.
Gadawg30
September 4th, 2011
1:30 am
Congrats “tell me again” on the comment of the night. The rest of these a** bags couldn’t have put it better. The money that UGA has is embarrassing given it’s performance on the field. That is the truth. We will always be just an average SEC team until Richt is gone.
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:30 am
Yeah UGA should have fired Richt last season and brough in Muschamp! Instead Muschamp is trying how to forget about being a UGA alum and getting his Masters in Underwater Basket Weaving from Florida so he can claim them as his former school.
Cane-Dawg: Real Dawgs drink POWER-aid. Will you homers toss the Kool-ade now?
September 4th, 2011
1:31 am
Where are all of the Kool-aid guzzlers tonight? Probably drunk and passed out from all the dreams and lies they sold themselves to believe things were going to be better after the Liberty Bowl debacle. The bottom line is after tonight’s performance CMR and the Dawgs must HUNKERDOWN !!
Give the Broncos credit, Boise played a smart game with the hurryup offense and kept great field position throughout the entire first half to wear the Dawgs defense down. UGa was not ready offensively for this type of game against a ranked opponent. The Dream Team true freshmen that played gave it their best shot and performed admirably considering they are still in the infancy of their college football careers. So the loss can’t be blamed on youth or inexperience. Face it UGa doesn’t have a good running game or the depth at RB to be successful. The O-Line took a beating and didn’t excute in crunch-time situations. Most of the fingers are pointing at the offense, but the defense and special teams struggled and let down as well. Again I ask is the coaching staff at UGA working hard to prepare talent & outcoach opposing coaching staffs or simply relying on the talent they assemble to compensate for their coaching deficiencies ? In the Boise game it kind of looked that way again, that the coaches were praying for somebody to make a big play. Andit happened a couple of times, but not frequently enough to change the predicted outcome.
Criticize Bobo all you want but it doesn’t matter. Even if Richt would have took over a OC he wouldn’t have had a clue either how to successfully attack the Boise defense either. Don’t you think if CMR had any real answers on offense wouldn’t the mediocrity be replaced with more acceptable outcomes for the Dawgs ?! After all he is on the hotseat and it’s getting close to now or never time for him to turn things around. So one would think he would take more responsibility for the offense with so much on the line.
When UGa scored on the long trick play run I felt that was it. That was our best shot and we lucked up and sprung a big play for once. I asked myself is that all UGA really had ? Boise sensed it too and began a workman type assault en route to a 28 nothing run on the Dawgs. The Dawgs were clearly playing for what little pride they had left at that point at a virtual “home” game in Atlanta. I was very surprised to see them score what would be two meaningless touchdowns for damage control. The uniforms had nothing to do with Boise being better prepared and more confident in themselves than the Dawgs. The 3 million dollar question is, how many more beatdowns and embarrasements must UGA continue to endure until the UGA Kool-Ade community will man up and face the truth and rightfully place the blame on those responsible for the string of humiliations this once proud program has endured over the last three going on four years. Until the delusional UGA fans in high places wake up and face the truth UGA football will continue to get worse before they get better. The Kool- aiders and reprobates still don’t realize the days of entitlement wins for UGA are over !!
As we Dawgs limp around licking our wounds again up next comes the #11 South Carolina Gamecocks, lead by UGA nemesis Steve Spurrier. Hunkerdown !!!
Half a brain
September 4th, 2011
1:31 am
Festus may be on to something
Muddiver
September 4th, 2011
1:31 am
Even newer joke: How does a no star recruit become a first round draft pick? Play against Mark Richt for 4 years
RTW
September 4th, 2011
1:31 am
To those who say that “Boise was just better”: You’re right and THAT IS THE PROBLEM! Would be nice to see the Dawgs play again “like that had a pair”! Jumping on comment alert, but “YOU LOST TO TEAM THAT PLAYS ON A BLUE FIELD!” …and before that, Central Florida! Dawg’s deserve better and it’s time to demand it!
athdog
September 4th, 2011
1:32 am
Well, same song different verse. The little drag route across the middle was open all night, next week I expect the ‘wheel’ will be open all night and Spurrier will exploit it. Burning time outs because of incorrect personnel on the field, running the ball on third and long and finally, Boykin makes one appearance on offense, scores….and is not seen again.
The season is not lost, long way from it. Lose next week and the distance becomes much shorter.
Tn.Benny Bulldawg
September 4th, 2011
1:32 am
We had 9 months to prepare for BSU…We brought in a new conditioning coach(gave out before halftime) looked like last year…OL could not block…DL could not rush or tackle anyone…Secondary looked like last year…I thought this was a rerun from last year…Our coach thought it was funny…I don’t…coach can recruit…but can’t coach up…we had another coach that could recruit(Goff)but that was all he could do…Pay off his contract NOW and move on…If you don’t its going to get really,really uglier…faster.
Joe50119
September 4th, 2011
1:32 am
0-2 soon Dawgs.
jimmy donnan
September 4th, 2011
1:32 am
if they had kept Me, i wouldn’t have ponzi on my bankruptcy form.
Gadawg30
September 4th, 2011
1:34 am
“Post of the night” you hired a crap coach and a crap offense. You’re smart? Come to terms with the fact that no one takes you seriously. The ACC will be over soon and you’re hopes of being a relevant football team with it.
Ray Guy
September 4th, 2011
1:34 am
This Mark Richt guy is making me look like a genius!
Harry Dawg
September 4th, 2011
1:34 am
Richt has lost his fastball. Ever since we were ranked #1 heading into the 2008 season, we haven’t been a solid football team. I’m not one of those knee-jerk nutjob fans who wants to fire a coach after every loss. Richt has to find a way to get his fastball back for the South Carolina game. If he can’t do that, then I think the only way he can keep his job is to win nine of ten to finish the regular season. 8-4 is not good enough.
Richt+Bobo=Clowns
September 4th, 2011
1:35 am
Give Crowell the carries and he could have kept the defense off the field. Malcom Mitchell should have started as well. He’s a player, Crowell is a player and Bobo is a clown. Period.
Sam
September 4th, 2011
1:35 am
USCe fell way behind an unranked opponent before coming back for the W. Auburn struggled and finally pulled off a win against an unranked opponent. The Dawgs played a #5 team and kept it close until the 2nd half. They played terribly in the 2nd half and ultimately lost. UGA is being called an embarrassment to the SEC on this blog yet other SEC teams had problems today with far lesser opponents and are heralded as superior?! Don’t get that…
Post of the night
September 4th, 2011
1:36 am
UGA would be 5th in the ACC, with the most talent…..Richt sucks and so do the fans for supporting a BUM coach because he is a good person.
RTW
September 4th, 2011
1:36 am
BLUE FiELD is nice. I ate mushrooms ONCE there and WILL soon AGAIN. “CENTRAL FLA. ROCKS !
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:37 am
Sam
Maybe you missed the stat that UGA is 1-9 against ranked opponents and the fact that Auburn won the NC last season… Whats not to get?
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:38 am
Post of the night
did you see what ray guy said about CMR earlier that has to be the post of the night.
MF in Auburn
September 4th, 2011
1:38 am
Jeff Schultz, I hate to have to tell you this, but you’re bald. I think it’s called Rogaine (sp?) or something. I can’t say for sure, but probably a dermatologist would be able to tell you. Anyway, those UGA uniforms were hideous. They deserved to be beaten for that. Let’s hope think better of using them henceforth.
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:38 am
Ray Guy
September 4th, 2011
1:34 am
This Mark Richt guy is making me look like a genius!
Kevin Butler
September 4th, 2011
1:39 am
Just a bad game all around. Bad coaching,bad offense,bad defense,missed field goal,penalties,vendor dropped a hot dog in a chicks lap….
CMR is an idiot
September 4th, 2011
1:41 am
I hate to say this. But if CMR is such a big Christian person how come he can’t pray for a win or two? Maybe he’s not such a Christian or….
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:42 am
LMAO@ Kevin Butler
Post of the night
September 4th, 2011
1:42 am
Richt has already QUIT he is just collecting the money for the rest of the season…..as long as you UGA Fools want to pay him 2.8mil to suck, he will stay. HE LOOKS LOST ON THE SIDE LINES….I GOT 5 STAR PLAYERS AND I STILL CAN’T WIN…someone get me a V8.
Herschel Walker
September 4th, 2011
1:43 am
I wish I would have kicked Richt in the head after the first half!
frank phillips
September 4th, 2011
1:44 am
I guess the BUS showed up empty.
Ray Guy
September 4th, 2011
1:45 am
I take the job if you guys want to let me steal money. I never got paid that good to look that bad.
BipolarDawg
September 4th, 2011
1:46 am
Good morning yall stoopid asz dawg haters…It’s 1:40 am right now. Go ahead Lyao next time will be mine.
I am Uga fan and i can say i’m a loser so what? thing goes up must comes down. I will support them lose or win they are my team they are my Bulldawgs! yeah……if you wanna say about fattaz GT well beat them again this year…they can laugh all they want about we lost last night.
Charlie Weis
September 4th, 2011
1:46 am
Did you see UGA’s offense? Where did they get their playbook? I swear I have seen them plays before……. Tecmo Super Bowl
Sam
September 4th, 2011
1:48 am
@Fire Richt Now: I concede the facts of Auburn’s NC and our 1-9 record. However, look at USCe…good season last year, no NC, no SEC, got hammered in the SECCG and have a history of failure yet they are deemed head & shoulders above us? Yes we have regressed over the last few yrs, and there is no excuse for that. We should finish #1 in the East every season. However, this was the first game of the season, AU and USCe did not look good either. Spurrier has not accomplished great things in his long tenure at SC; Richt has shown moments of greatness. If they drill us next weekend then I eat my words.
Say whaaaa?
September 4th, 2011
1:49 am
My friend at the AJC just accessed AW info. Now he is off to apply for some new credit cards and make some online purchases. Anyone else gots 3 degrees to brag about?
Also, the “front page” AJC sports news is not a “Bulldog blog,” dogweed. AJC just happens to be owned by the University of Georgia. Anyone wanting to belittle Tech fans would have to go down the hall, turn right and wait for the elevator to the “GATech” sports section. Only people who have gone to the North Avenue Technical School care to go to that much trouble.
Dave M
September 4th, 2011
1:49 am
Mike Bobo is a terrible play caller. We are down 21 to 7 and we line up in the I and drive to the Boise State 25, then we line up in the stupid shotgun. First down – off sides, First down again – dropped pass, Second down (still in the shotgun) – short run, Third down – sack, Fourth down – missed field goal. Why did we drive down the field in an I backfield and then jump into shotgun? We always get in the shotgun on first down inside the 30 yard line. If Richt doesn’t go back to calling the plays, the season is lost…
Doug Wiley
September 4th, 2011
1:49 am
I respect Richt and what he DID for Georgia. I furthermore respect him as a man of his beliefs and what he stands for than about anyone in this day and time. He is a great family man, a devoted Christian that believes in setting an example and giving back what God has awarded you. He is smart, good looking and even adopted two children from the Ukraine after his other two children. I hope he gets as he deserves the Coach of the Year for his beliefs, compassion and community work from the NCAA Giving Back Program or whatever they have. Now, I do not think UGA is paying $3 million a year for a philanthropy program. Nick Saban and Bill Bellichick are considered to be tough SOB’s. I have defended Marc Richt until tonight. I would encourage him to get into the ministry or a school like BYU. Well, okay not that one, but maybe Baylor would be a better fit. He is going to be roasted and toasted here as is his family, and the man does not deserve that, EXCEPT he continues to accept the paycheck and the position that goes with the job. No doubt, a great man, and at one time a fine coach, but his priorities have changed. Georgia’s priorities remain the same. Win most of the time with class and as frequent as possible, beat our main rivals. By the way, what an audition. If he saw the crowd and they saw his team, I believe our next head coach might have been in the building tonight. Talk about adjustments after halftime, keeping you seniors for whatever reason. That was a well coached team. I wonder if $3.5 million to come to UGA might turn his head. I stood by as long as could and I can not defend this anymore.
Sam
September 4th, 2011
1:49 am
*no SEC championship
I got the blues
September 4th, 2011
1:50 am
UGA got beat by a well coached team that had great field position most of the night. UGA started inside their 20 yard line quite often by not rushing the punter and allowing great kick coverage. The fact is that UGA is not that bad but Boise is that good. Boise would dominate every team in the ACC and defeat all the teams in the SEC. Their offense is virtually unstoppable. So rave on you crippled brain dunces with bad breath and beards but you will see that UGA is a good team except for the line blocking and play calling. Ban zone blocking, draw plays on 3rd and long, deep passes down the sideline, and passes on critical downs to King. Other than that have a great day.
gadawg30
September 4th, 2011
1:50 am
“post of the night” you’re an idiot. We all know UGA is no good and yet your craptastic jackets still can’t beat us. Stop running an offense from the 1920’s and live up to the fact that your lame conference has never and will never live up to the hype.
Post of the night
September 4th, 2011
1:51 am
The Mark Richt Ponzi scheme…
make the check payable to: Bad football coach/ good christian
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:51 am
@Sam. SC would have clobbered their opponent if Spurrier’s ego wasn’t so damn big. Why didn’t he start Garcia? IF Garcia would have started SC would have hung 70 on the scoreboard. Im a UGA fan too and the decline from season to season is why Richt needs to be FIRED!
savannadawg
September 4th, 2011
1:52 am
Lets recruit more skill players, who needs more offensive and defensive linemen that can’t move or block well.
dbc
September 4th, 2011
1:53 am
So LSU had distractions and TONS of adversity. They overcame it. Auburn clearly sucks. They overcame it. Notre Dame clearly sucks… sorry. Boise had big time adversity with 2 starters sitting out. And they win going away. Mark Richt builds momentum in his mind. It never translates to the field. His players still talk smack. He thinks it’s cute. This isn’t the 700 Club. No, actually, we fork over our money for tickets without so much as a “good luck and God Bless!” There are no good tidings. The planted seeds never grow. We might as well pee on them, for it’s out of our hands. And Mark laughs like it’s all in fun. As Alec Baldwin said in the famous movie and Broadway Show GlenGarry Glenn Ross, “I told them to fire your fuc in a$$ because a loser is a loser…” No truer words have ever been spoken. Richt is never gonna turn this train wreck around. He has no idea how. Chris Petersen is the perfect solution. He’s classy. He’s humble. He doesn’t tip his hand. He develops players (kind of important) and he doesn’t give in to the “woe is me, we just lost because… Hopefully McGarity will stop this taffy pull and do something before the UGA Brand is worth zilch.
Georgia Pride
September 4th, 2011
1:53 am
DREAM TEAM!!! Can’t out recruit a school in Idaho! Spurrier was right – what happens to all these high school wonders when they get to Georgia?
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:55 am
Did you see the stat to start the game. That UGA’s line averaged 327 lbs I am wondering if it the absence of a strength and conditioning program. Maybe that is why they are bigger and slower than ever.
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:56 am
@Georgia Pride. Maybe they listen to Richt preach and not coach.
Mr. T
September 4th, 2011
1:57 am
I pity the fool who picks Mark Richt over the ole ball coach.
Fire Richt NOW!
September 4th, 2011
1:58 am
I would bet that Quincy Carter would be a better play caller than Mike Bozo!
Jim
September 4th, 2011
1:58 am
At least the true Georgia fans have a helluva lot more class than some of you on here, gloating in Georgia’s loss. Those kids are hurt, disappointed, and trying to regroup for a tough game next week, and some of you are gleefully reveling in this loss like it’s wonderful. You know what? It’s not. Whether you root for Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Boise, whoever… what good is it if, say, Georgia’s program falls apart to what Michigan has been the last few years? How satisfying is it to beat a losing team that you’re SUPPOSED to beat? How much fun is it to kick somebody when they are down? Wouldn’t you rather your school beat a GOOD Georgia team?
Wouldn’t it be better if Georgia was top 10 and a strong SEC team, then when YOUR team beats Georgia, it’s a big deal? All you pathetic, ignorant Tech fans who know nothing about college football… what’s the big deal if you beat a 5-6 Georgia team in November? Great, you’re 8-4, Georgia is 5-7, big deal? Wasn’t it a much BIGGER deal in 1984 to beat a GOOD Georgia team that just came off the best 3-year run in recent history? Or was is sweeter in 1990 when you beat a terrible 4-7 team?
Come on… lay off. Georgia lost, Georgia is hurting, and it could be a difficult year. WHY the glee, the joy, the unbridled hate for a struggling team? Mark Richt is a GREAT man who has never done ANYTHING to you… he’d give you the shirt off his back. Aaron Murray is a GREAT kid, full of integrity. There are some GREAT stories on Georgia’s team — some kids who have struggled past learning disabilities, severe injuries, etc., and they are working their butts off… and some of you clowns who could’t even run 10 yards without getting your fat butts winded are LAUGHING and celebrating their demise?
That shows a complete, utter, massive lack of class and character on YOUR part… and whatever team YOU root for, be it Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, etc…. well, YOUR program has warts, too. They all do. I just don’t get the almost unhealthy pleasure some of you get from Georgia having a bad game and losing to somebody… it’s really sad and pathetic and I pity you.
The thing is, Georgia WILL be back. People said we wouldn’t be after Dooley left, or after that 4-7 season, or after Donnan lost to Tech 3 straight years, etc. But Georgia always rallies, and we’ll be a strong team again. This year, next year, whenever, but we lose a few games and some of you think UGA is Prarie View A&M? It’s sickening and pathetic the way some of you are blogging on here. Try to act like adults, why don’t you? If you are symbolic of your fan base, I would NEVER want my kid to go to school there.
FloridaDawg
September 4th, 2011
1:59 am
This was the most embarrassing defeat since last January!
Our defense is pitiful…and we are paying the Defensive Coord…how much money?????
And the head coach too???
Maybe we should get out of the SEC and join the Mountain West or something that we can at least be middle of the road.
We’re in the dumps…have been for a long time.
Sam
September 4th, 2011
1:59 am
@Fire Richt Now: Garcia didn’t manage to win the SECCG last season with Lattimore and company. Yeah he had to face Cam but they didn’t even keep it close. UGA had a better showing against Auburn when they played. Garcia hasn’t accomplished greatness in the yrs that he has played for SC. I don’t suspect that he will establish himself as a reliable QB this season either. The decline of the UGA program is inexcusable…I give you that. I am going to wait and see what happens next weekend before I give up hope.