Ending Dogs’ drought against Florida starts between ears
Mark Richt and Dogs celebrated after 2004 win over Florida, but celebrations have been few.
ATHENS – It was the Tuesday of Florida week, and Mark Richt took the expected route for a coach who has been on the losing end of too many of these things. Downplay the history. Downplay the emotions. Downplay any suggestions that the other team is in Georgia’s heads.
Like that first play of the game last year when Aaron Murray threw an interception to Janoris Jenkins? It wasn’t about Murray being overcome by the moment, Richt said. “I think it has a lot more to do with the fact [Florida] just played well. A guy breaks on the ball and he makes a play. I don’t think it had anything to do with emotion. It’s more of an execution issue, really.”
Here’s the problem with execution issues: An athlete’s body parts can do only what the head tells them to, and sometimes there are all of these things that get in the way. Nerves. Atmosphere. Confidence. The general dread of, “We’ve been here before.”
This was Murray’s answer to the same question Richt was asked: “There were definitely a lot of nerves, a lot of jitters, and I definitely didn’t start out the way I wanted to.”
Georgia plays Florida again Saturday. A case could be made that this is the most important game in the series during the Richt era. There are potential ramifications for both this season (SEC East race) and the big picture. Theoretically, the Bulldogs could lose to Florida and still win the East. (Richt: “This wouldn’t bury us, the way things are happening in this league. It wouldn’t count us out, [but winning] it wouldn’t count us in.”)
But a loss would drop Richt to 2-9 against Florida. That would be a difficult thing to sell to the administration after this season, especially since the Gators carry a three-game losing streak into this game for the second consecutive year (and won last season 34-31).
Richt must win this game. The Florida game is simply that important to the season and to the program. Florida matters more. It follows that it has caused the most misery.
The numbers are dizzying: three consecutive losses, 11 of 13, 18 of 21.
Vince Dooley went 17-7-1. His 25-game winning percentage: .700. Since then, Ray Goff (1-6), Donnan (1-4) and Richt (2-8) have gone 4-18. Their 22-game percentage: .182.
How can players and coaches not think of that history, even if they weren’t here for most of it?
Some players weren’t even born yet. Murray? He actually was born Nov. 10, 1990 — the day Steve Spurrier’s Gators tortured Goff’s Dogs, 38-7. That’s when this 21-game stretch started. So it’s all Murray’s fault.
When one signature program loses 18 of 21 games to another, it’s not just about talent. At some point, it’s between the ears.
Georgia’s starting quarterbacks in the past three meetings have thrown nine interceptions. Florida’s, one. The Dogs have committed 12 turnovers. Florida, one.
That not about athleticism. That’s one team being calm and the other having a meltdown.
Richt has tried different ways to prepare his players. Twice, he brought in former players and coaches who had previous success against the Gators to speak to the team during the bye week.
“One year we won, one year we lost,” he said. “I think we might be better off just focusing the things that truly matter: What’s your job? What’s your assignment? What are you going to do if this happens? When we get there, I don’t think we’ll have any problem with emotions.”
Easier said than done. Defensive back Sanders Commings said, “It’s hard not to get caught up” in the hype and surroundings. Early in last year’s game, Florida’s Trey Burton fumbled at Gators’ 14-yard-line. Commings had a chance to fall on the ball. Instead, he tried to pick it up and run for a touchdown. But he failed, and the Gators kept possession, eventually driving 91 yards for their first touchdown.
“It was early, but it could’ve changed the game,” Commings said. “Next time I’ll just fall on the ball.”
That’s the way it has gone for most of the past 21 years. Richt made history in Athens, winning two SEC titles early in his tenure. But this is one part of history he hasn’t been able to change. And as much as he wants to try to play this off as being just another game, it isn’t.
By Jeff Schultz
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347 comments Add your comment
midland Dog
October 26th, 2011
5:34 pm
if i was playing UGA, i would have a fake kick on every single 4th down. they never fail. we are the worst prepared team in the country on these, and we better get a special teams coach in to address this issue!
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
5:35 pm
Tebow? Oh yeah, the Florida QB that was sacked 9 times in 07?
It is what it is
October 26th, 2011
5:38 pm
AR – maybe during the regular season, but not in the Dome. With the SEC and national titles in play, the East rep will get Bama or LSU’s undivided attention, and that will be ugly. The East will get it together eventually, but the gap is way too big this year.
Coach Goof
October 26th, 2011
5:40 pm
Nah, the Tebow that broke Hershey’s rushing TD record against UGA.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
5:44 pm
It is what it is
I don’t disagree with you BTW but, football is a game of emotions and thats why we like it. Do I entertain any thoughts of it happening? Frankly no but truth is often stranger than fiction
Gator Man
October 26th, 2011
5:50 pm
The overrated dogs with the community college schedule of the Sec, should take us this year, I mean after 19 out of 22 every dog has their day, gators been playing with 3 string QB most of the year no seniors on defense, 1st year coach.
I hope the Dogs go all the way to the Sec title and have to play some real football against Al, LSU.
By the way who did the Dogs pay to have this community college shedule? Florida has played LSU, Ala two straight years”””
michael
October 26th, 2011
5:51 pm
If Bobo stops calling up the middle on 2nd and 10 we win. It’s that simple!
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
5:56 pm
Gator Man
Whining is very unbecoming, even for a Gator fan. Scheduling is what it is. You are really pulling from the bottom of the bag with that one. None of you douchebags were making note when Georgia was playing the toughest schedule the last 3-4 years. Why now?
jerry
October 26th, 2011
5:58 pm
It was all mental? Sure it wasn’t voodoo? A witch’s spell? Coaching? Nah. Recruiting? Nah.
AU in ATL
October 26th, 2011
6:06 pm
Fun stat: AU has gone undefeated the same number of times that UGA has beat UF in almost the same amount of years (actually less).
The Truth
October 26th, 2011
6:13 pm
Big Al – I’m not arguing that UGA would beat Alabama, but let’s see the Tide put together a complete, 4 quarters of football against Tennessee & Ole Miss before touting the prowess of the scout team.
Win by 20
October 26th, 2011
6:25 pm
This game could be a laugher. Fl has lost to the only good teams they’ve played and have one of the worst offenses in the league. Dawgs get up early and win going away: 30-10==take it to the bank!!
War Dang Dawg
October 26th, 2011
6:34 pm
As Dooley, and then Spurrier showed, it’s mostly what’s between the coach’s ears that counts. The players take their cues from the coach.
If Richt wins against an average, if not mediocre Florida team, and finishes the remainder of the season strong, he should get another year. If he loses, he should be fired even if Georgia finishes 10-3. 2-9 against Florida is unacceptable.
And truth be told, take away 3 of Tebow’s 4 years and Florida hasn’t been all that good during Richt’s time at UGA. They’ve had 4 five-loss seasons and one 4-loss season, one 3-loss season, and this year it’s hard to see them not losing 4 or 5 games even if they win Saturday. Not exactly up to their 1990s standards.
No more excuses. Beat Florida.
War Dang Dawg
October 26th, 2011
6:39 pm
By the way, since Richt arrived at Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss and Miss St. are a combined 9-5 against UF. I’d put Auburn and Georgia on the same level; the Mississippi schools are a notch below. There’s no reason for Richt to be 2-8 against Florida. If it becomes 2-9, he should be fired, period.
LKB
October 26th, 2011
6:42 pm
As a UGA Fan I am just going to come out and say it. The UGA players and coaches do not have the “Balls” to go out and beat the Gaytors. They would rather just piss their pants in fear. Win a few and we may change our perception.
waytogoricht
October 26th, 2011
7:03 pm
Time again for the super, two out of ten, exposure game, which once again reveals Richt is not worth his contract when it comes a) to beating Florida or b) beating a credible program. Doesn’t matter if Zook is coach, doesn’t matter if Santa Claus is coach. Richt is twp out of ten and Florida must have had serious injuries to key players on those days or Richt would be oh-fer versus Florda.
AFDawg
October 26th, 2011
7:05 pm
JS, Please tell us something we all haven’t heard a million times before. I have never heard exactly what type of injury Brantley and Demps are recovering from — can you find out for us? Thanks.
AFDawg
October 26th, 2011
7:24 pm
UCF owns UGA; 5:08 pm, Actually the series between UGA and UCF is tied at one win apiece — I hardly call that “owning” someone. If they ever paly a tiebreaker — my money (and the vast majority of Las Vegas) will be on UGA.
Dawgenuff
October 26th, 2011
7:50 pm
Gator Man,you’re time is nigh! UGA has a history of beating a championship calibre Alabama! So bring on the S.E.C. championship, we will be ready,after taking care of a little matter in Jacksonville!We have our chance to play Alabama and LSU the next two years. With John Theus and Avery Young in the Offense line,blocking for Keith Marshall and Isaiah Crowell,Aaron Murray in his junior and senior years will blow you away! Book It!
jeff lovely
October 26th, 2011
9:01 pm
Coach Mark Richt, his coaching staff, the entire team and for that matter, Bulldog Nation entire, should be focused on one thing and that thing is this… There is blood in the water and the one that has bit our ass the most is wounded and weak. One of our own has taken over and the curse gets reversed. Forget the ghosts of the past. It’s time to take our dignity back.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
October 26th, 2011
9:35 pm
Gator Man: CMR has a better won-loss record than either Miles or Saban and UGA played LSU and Alabama two consecutive yrears and YES we will take the same schedule next year. I ate it that we jumped through all those hoops to get Boise State in Atlanta as our opening game.
TheFlamingEars
October 26th, 2011
9:51 pm
1. UGA has had more talent than Fla in Richt era. According to rivals.com, Richt was No. 2 in recruiting in the nation, and only top 5 recruiter for decade to not win the National Championship.
2. Execution isn’t the problem. It’s strategy. Get a 100 yard rusher, and you win 100% of the time under Richt against Florida. Clearly, the triple running back rotation system has resulted in 8 losses. Crowell either gets 100 yards, or UGA loses. YOU CANNOT WIN THIS GAME PASSING THE FOOTBALL!!!
TheFlamingEars
October 26th, 2011
9:58 pm
hERE’S THE RESEARCH ON rICHT nO. 2 RECRUITING RANKING VOER DECADE. CLEARLY, NOT TALENT.
http://uga.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1238729
Senator Blutarsky
October 26th, 2011
10:04 pm
I don’t care what the stats say, Aaron Murray needs to throw the ball 45 times. He’s the greatest QB in the universe. Greatest athlete to ever play. And that’s an understatement. At my law firm we track this sort of thing, and we know UGA will win.
Barbosa
October 26th, 2011
10:22 pm
In 2001-2009 UF-UGA Games, not counting last year 2010, looking at those 9 games 2001-2009, and over 100 variables, 3 keys were:
1- UGA has 100 yard rusher = 100% win
2- UGA’s TE > yards than Florida’s TE = 89% win
3- Be leading after 1st quarter = 89% win
orlando dawg
October 26th, 2011
10:56 pm
this is finally the year for georgia to win—florida’s way down and out. I can’t even get any betting action down here giving fla fans 9-10 points. They are expecting a UGA blowout win. Ga will win easily and win the SEC east—Ga upsets alabama!
funny...
October 27th, 2011
12:14 am
Donnan was fired for the 8-4 season but his were different.
Those 4’s were always UT, UF, Auburn, and Tech.
Donnan couldn’t beat the big four UGA opponents.
Richt has done well against three of the four. Remember UF has been super great over the last decade.
but I don’t see how he stays if his record aganst UF goes to 2-10.
shutout!
October 27th, 2011
6:52 am
I watched this bad UF offense against an average auburn D—UF couldn’t even get one TD!!! Against Georgia’s monster D—forget about it. Fla may not even score a point!!! This game will get ugly early when crowell and murray light it up early for a few TDs. Dawgs 36 fla 3
OnTheMoney
October 27th, 2011
7:41 am
It is all seup and trending to be the the Dawgs year to crush the Gators.
It will NOT happen!
This game will be a 3 pt game that could go either way but the Gators will win
24-21 and hopefully end Richt’s UGA coaching career.
The Dawgs WILL win the east even after losing to the Gators then get BEAT by LSU by 20+ pts in the SEC championship in Atlanta.
Hopefully even though Richt wins the East McGarity will realize that only WAS because we played the 3 weakest teams in the West!!! IT”S TIME for a “CHANGE, PERIOD!!!!”
Let The Frenzy Begin : BamaFootball4Life
October 27th, 2011
7:44 am
[...] Ending Dogs’ drought against Florida starts between ears An athlete’s body parts can do only what the head tells them to [...]
Columbus Dawg
October 27th, 2011
8:05 am
It would seem that these D.A. Bama fans would find a blog from Alabamastan to hang out on. LSU and Auburn spanks Bama this year, natives of Alabamastan start to get restless, “Saban takes $1,000,000.00 from Texas” story to follow…..
Coach Goof
October 27th, 2011
8:15 am
Florida is way, way, way down this year. Their offense is terrible. They were crushed by Alabama. They don’t look well coached. Given all of this, I’m really, really, really, really confident of a HUGE Georgia win. In fact, this Gator team reminds me of last year’s Gator team that we completely dominated in Jax……oh, wait……nevermind.
Stomp II!!!
October 27th, 2011
8:35 am
UGA will win easy and Richt will pour it on with another Stomp!!! Dawgs roll—31-6!!!
just sayin'
October 27th, 2011
9:08 am
UGA has some new starters that don’t have any ‘fear’ of FL…this will make a difference..the other starters will feed off of the intensity the ‘new’ guys bring…go dawgs…
From Where I Sit
October 27th, 2011
9:13 am
You UGAY fans make me sick as all of your trash talking and your sorry program has not won jack in 30+ years! ZERO NC’s since 1980!
FL OWNS GA!
Enough Said!
papadawg
October 27th, 2011
9:14 am
All time favorite DAWG win was when Spurrier was QB and Fla. was on their way to great things. Spurrier has never forgotten
FRED
October 27th, 2011
9:25 am
The players react to the coaching. If they see the head coach nervous they will be nervous.CMR may not think he is nervous buy he is and the team can see it.
Steve Spurrier
October 27th, 2011
9:42 am
Papdawg – You’re right, but I felt much better after going 11-1 against the Mutts during my years in Gainesville. Another thing I’ll never forget is putting up half-a-hundred between the hedges!
Choker
October 27th, 2011
10:07 am
Grantham’s pulling out the choke signs again when fla drops another punt!
Hedgepruner
October 27th, 2011
10:17 am
UGA SUX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF U LOSE RICHT,U SHOULD B FIRED
October 27th, 2011
10:56 am
PLEASE BEAT UGA FLORIDA
LETS GO GATORS
IF U LOSE RICHT,U SHOULD B FIRED
October 27th, 2011
11:00 am
WATCH ALL THE RICHT SUPPORTERS DISAPPEAR AFTER THE FLORIDA BEATDOWN!
LETS GO GATORS,BEAT UGA SO MARK RICHT WILL BE FIRED!
DogStyle
October 27th, 2011
11:09 am
Dogs win this game easy—it could get ugly early with florida’s bad offense. Ga 33 fla 9!!
Schultz$$$
October 27th, 2011
11:34 am
Schultz telling us how an athlete’s body parts and head are connected … as if he would know. That’s laughable. The liberal mindset of this worm has gives him thoughts no rational human being can have. Even on the rare occasion he stumbles on the facts and truth, you wonder how he did that. I think his other pen name if Luckovich … a barometer on misstatement of the facts on which all of us can rely. We thank the good ole AJC for that!
Who are u fooling?
October 27th, 2011
12:21 pm
The Beginning of the End is a mole! A Tech fan that disguises himself as a whoever we’re playing fan. Next week he’ll be on here acting like a New Mexico State fan and the next week he’ll show up as an Auburn fan. He’s was on here as a gamecock earlier in the year preaching Lattimore 101. But we all know you’re a tech fan trying to spread some crap. Everyone please disregard his comments and don’t respond to his post.
'94 UGA Alumni
October 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
That play where Commings tried to scoop the ball up instead of falling on it still haunts me. I also remember a potential interception going right through his hands and the recevier caught it for a TD. Since then he’s become a good player for us and I think this is his chance as well as the rest of the team for redemption. That’s the theme for this game……..redemption!
Jordan
October 27th, 2011
6:15 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/10/27/dawgs-vs-gators-preview/