Georgia’s ascent to SEC title game is positive sign for future
Mark Richt has Georgia back in SEC title game for first time since 2005. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
In Mark Richt’s first five seasons at Georgia, the Bulldogs played in three SEC championship games. In the next five, they played in zero. So this somewhat qualifies as a welcome back to relevancy.
But does the euphoria of playing in the conference title game against LSU on Saturday project to long-term significance?
If Georgia’s 10-game winning streak wasn’t the mere residue of a soft schedule, if Richt once again truly is in command of this program, if the relative off-the-field peace – let’s put Isaiah Crowell aside for a moment – isn’t some aberration, then the Dogs can celebrate much more than a division title.
Georgia may suddenly find itself in a position to flip the power structure in the conference.
That’s not to suggest LSU or Alabama may implode any time soon. (They won’t.) But given the Dogs’ youth and ascent, the maturity and resiliency following the 0-2 start, returning talent, and an expected impact on recruiting, completing for SEC titles may be the norm again. And competing for SEC titles means relevancy on the national landscape, as well.
Athletic director Greg McGarity isn’t that far removed from having to ponder making a coaching change after this season. So he has been careful not to be overly effusive in praise or make grand proclamations in recent weeks. But he didn’t hesitate when asked about the future.
“The potential is there for us to build on what we’ve established this year,” he said. “Things are definitely going in the direction we want them to be going in. But you can never stop having a sense of urgency.
Isaiah Crowell (center), the subject of rumors in recent days, will suit up, but Richt wouldn't address status of his running backs. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
“I think we’ve seen in this conference that you can turn things around quickly. That’s evidenced by what Steve [Spurrier] did at Florida. It’s evidenced by what [Nick] Saban has done at Alabama, and what he and [Les] Miles did at LSU. The difficult thing is staying competitive. If your recruiting falls off or you have [coaching] turnover, you can fall behind in a hurry. Look at what happened at LSU before Nick got there. Look at Tennessee now.”
The Dogs don’t need to upset LSU in the Georgia Dome to validate their season. But not getting blown out would help. And they have a legitimate shot to win this. Aaron Murray is playing that well. So are his receivers. So is the defense.
The biggest problem is the running game in general and Crowell in particular. He has been a cyber-rumor with ears in the past few days. Pick one: He malingered at practice; he feuded with teammates; he quit; he got suspended. The only certainty is that his health (lately his ankle) has been an issue all season.
Crowell was at the Dome with his teammates Friday. He is on the “dress-out” list. Richt again declined to comment on the status of any of his running backs. But McGarity chuckled when asked about the suspension rumor, saying he knows nothing of it and commenting, “I’d know, wouldn’t I?”
If the situation is weighing on Richt, he hid it well. He seemed at peace. He referenced his 100th career win at Tennessee, the comeback against Florida, the wins over Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia Tech. It was a news conference of reflection for Richt, which is unusual for him during the season.
“We’ve had a lot of really special times with this team this year,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it maybe as much as any season that I’ve coached.”
He referenced the 0-2 start, the 6-7 record in 2010 and “all of the things I knew were swirling around, which I’m sure intensified. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it, but I knew it was out there.”
When a national writer asked Richt if he felt vindicated, he responded: “This year in particular I’ve been very thankful for everything that’s happened. I’m thankful for a group of men who bought in back in January and went through all the things you have to go through to create team atmosphere and chemistry.”
It got them to the title game. It could get them to more in the future.
By Jeff Schultz
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608 comments Add your comment
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:13 pm
TampaGator, in other words what you are saying is that UF will be rebuilding for a while. Are Gator fans going to be that patient?
Bad Dawg
December 2nd, 2011
10:14 pm
ck gator, I agree with your comments but it is convenient that you used the recruiting website that ranked UGA the lowest, I could do the same thing and say that UGA has the #15 ranked recruiting class according to ESPN. To be more objective you should do this: Scout has UGA at #32, ESPN has UGA at #15, and rivals.com has UGA at #22. I have no idea which site is the most accurate but those are just the facts.
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:15 pm
OkieDawg, I also heard that Meyer was taking UF’s S & C coach and one of their defensive coaches to be his DC.
5150 UOAD
December 2nd, 2011
10:15 pm
NoGD…………I am not sure as we have seen if Garcia was a plus or minus. Yes Auburn did beat them. So Dawgs lost to USC and that is 1 lose each. Now make UGA play a team equal to Arkansas or remove Arkansas from USC and add an Ole Miss. UGA would be at home with either 2 loses or equal loses but the head to head goes to USC.
Even you can admit that can’t you?
TampaGator
December 2nd, 2011
10:15 pm
CKGator….
I think Georgia is an elite program……if elite programs are teams that are consider in the top 25 programs in the country….which Georgia and Florida are. Georgia played and won this year. You need to give ‘em that and get over it. The Gators will be back…..and soon. I think they will get the players to make up those 4 points in JAX next year.
flagboy?
December 2nd, 2011
10:18 pm
umm. . rough times when you’re having to come around here to tell us how awful UGA is. . . slow night for most of you.
TampaGator
December 2nd, 2011
10:19 pm
keeryB…
the interm coach is the DC at OSU….and Stoops’ brother has been offered the co-DC postion. So you heard wrong. I would not be surprised is the S&C coach left for Ohio State….he has followed Meyer everywhere he has gone. But Florida workout area is second to none in the country….so maybe he will stay. He has it good at Florida. The “defensive coach” is the special teams coach….who has also followed Meyer everywhere. If either leave, Florida will hire from a long list of the best people to replace them.
SSIgator
December 2nd, 2011
10:20 pm
sammiamm -
Hey, you seem to be catching on. Keep working on your spelling. You are really doing well. Make sure you check back in tomorrow. Later gator.
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:21 pm
TampaGator, I think Richt is going to start owning this series some now. One thing this years game showed is that UGA players mind set about this game is different now. You won a lot of those games because this game got into the players head some. Going down 17-3 and coming back shows that it is different now. In the past if we got down 17-3 it would be over even though some of those UGA teams were just as good as the UF teams.
Energy Vampire
December 2nd, 2011
10:21 pm
Kick that Thug Crowell off the team and Get the coaches out there to recruit some damn running backs or fire these clowns!
TampaGator
December 2nd, 2011
10:23 pm
Have a nice everning. Good luck on Saturday, most of you Dawg fans. The rest of you, I hope your cable in your trailor gets turned off from failure to pay your bills…..just kidding.
Polyman77
December 2nd, 2011
10:23 pm
GTbob: Ten out of the last eleven. Bye.
TampaGator
December 2nd, 2011
10:24 pm
keeryB….
Georgia won this year because Florida did not have any type of offense. I don’t think that will happen again…..but that is why they play the game.
PerroGrande
December 2nd, 2011
10:24 pm
CKGator, Aren’t you funny. You lost 41-11 to LSU, and you lost to Alabama 38-10. So what is the elite programs Bama/UF/LSU description? I’ll tell you. It is a Gator sandwich. Elite Gator tail, sandwiched between LSU and Bama. Look, we don’t want to talk down the Gator program, but people like you force it. If you want to talk football, do it with a little tact.
Ckgator
December 2nd, 2011
10:25 pm
Perro – I applaud the Maginot reference! That was good.
Tomorrow will be a reenactment of the Falaise Pocket, with Georgia playing the part of the Germans.
It’s true we stink this year, but Muschomp is the right guy and will get the right players on the bus. And for the record, it took Georgia 2 picks in our red zone, to beat the worst FL team in 25 years, with a one-legged QB, by 4 points. These are the facts.
MarineDog
December 2nd, 2011
10:26 pm
@TampaGator,
You always seem to make good analysis on the state of both UGA’s an FL’s progress. I for one do not believe that FL will be down for long. I also think that UGA is on the upswing, along with SC. I further believe that the west does not have much respect for the teams in the east. With that being said; UGA will not come into tomorrow’s game intimidated by LSU. They feed off of big plays. If we are able to prevent that, then we have a decent chance of beating them.
All the pundits point out that we played a weak schedule. However, we don’t get to choose how good those teams will play throughout the course of the year. All the predictions and stats comparisons mean nothing. The game is won and lost on the field.
DILLIGAF
December 2nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Trust me when I say that UGA will have another top ten recruiting class. There are only eleven commits with probaly fourteen left including the #1 RB in the country, Marshall.
I do believe that after the success of this season and extensions for key members of the coaching staff that the “Dream Team” reality momentum will reverberate into signing key recruits that are on the fringe.
An upset tomorrow could transcend into one of the top five recruiting classes in the country.
UGA/85′
GATA!
PerroGrande
December 2nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Tampa Gator, Good night and thx for being tactful. CK Gator, if my team had lost to LSU and Alabama by a combined score of 79-21, I don’t think I would be bragging about how great the three of us are.
Falcaints
December 2nd, 2011
10:28 pm
I just don’t see Ga stopping the LSU ground attack. Lattimore ran all over them and so did Vandy. I also doubt that Murray will get much time to sit back and wait for his receivers to get open against probably the best secondary in college football.
BiggDawgK
December 2nd, 2011
10:28 pm
I see the usual pathetic hate filled losers i.e. 5150, gt bob, ssigator etc… are here in force to spread lies and bask in the hate of their superiors. By superiors I mean every member of Bulldog Nation.
Hey techies and gaytors since no one at all sees anything in either of your programs that indicates y’all will be any better in the near future how long before the new coach search starts? north avenue trade school has already been exposed as liars and cheaters and lost a title because of it. The aptly named sewage filled swamp has feared Meyer left just to avois an upcoming ncaa investigation and the buzz is by this time next year uf will be too worried about lack of institutional control to care they are not in a bowl.
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:29 pm
TampaGator, keep thinking that when you keep losing over the next few years. UGA has better players and coaches now than UF. You don’t have a Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Aaron Hernandez,Demps, Brandon Spikes,Urban Meyer, Charlie Strong and Dan Mullen anymore. The quality of player and coach is not at UF anymore.
Former Georgian
December 2nd, 2011
10:29 pm
Statistically, Tech has a 9% chance of beating Mark Richt each year. Georgia has at least that much chance of beating the team currently ranked #1 in the nation.
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:30 pm
Will Muschamp is a career assistant and Charlie Weiss is no offensive genius. At least not one that Todd Grantham doesn’t know how to stop.
Bad Dawg
December 2nd, 2011
10:30 pm
nerds are funny,
Your display of either ignorance should be embarrassing to dawg fans. You are the “delusional fan” I hear about on this site so often. First, who cares if UGA beats Ga. Tech? UGA is supposed to beat Tech all things considered. Then you try and degrade the University of Florida football program when they are obviously in decline as well as most other teams in the SEC east. Anyone with a brain knows Florida will be back and sooner rather than later and in all honesty UGA is not “back” yet. Muschamp does not make more than Richt for no reason. Obviously Florida’s athletic director knows how to hire championship coaches, see Steve Spurrier, Ron Zook, and Urban Meyer. I would gladly take those championship over consistent 9-10 win seasons. I am a dawg fan soon to be an alumni, I just at least want my children to see UGA win one championship. You should be able to understand that right? Thirty years is a long time.
Ron Zook
December 2nd, 2011
10:37 pm
That’s right, I’m a championship coach.
And don’t you forget it!
5150 UOAD
December 2nd, 2011
10:38 pm
#7 v #7 will be huge. Murray will need to not try to force the ball to Charles.
I still don’t see what you guys see in Crowell. He would be red shirted at LSU or the #4 back. Hillard was the #4 back and is now the #2. i have been honest that i am not a Huge Murray fan. if he really plays good against LSU I will give his credit. If he has 2-3 INTS and 2 or less TD’s, I will still say he is more potential than production.
Ckgator
December 2nd, 2011
10:38 pm
Tampa – Thanks for the suggestion but I’ll call it as I see it. UGA is a GOOD program, not elite. Current elite programs have pedigree, visibility, and multiple conference championships and or NC’s in recent years. UF, LSU, and Bama qualify as such in the SEC. Texas, OK, Ohio St., USC, and maybe Oregon also qualify. Even Boise could make an argument….were it not for that schedule.
Don’t confuse this with current rankings. Georgia is a little like FSU, Miami, Texas A&M, South Carolina. A nice history, but only one or fewer conference championships in recent years. Not a bad thing, just not as good as the next tier up.
Ckgator
December 2nd, 2011
10:42 pm
Saban lost to Louisiana-Monroe in his first year. I have complete confidence that Muschamp will hav what Gators competing for Championships in 2-3 years. With that recruiting base, it can only go that way.
oakwood dawg
December 2nd, 2011
10:49 pm
how funny that the gaytors on this blog put us down if they win and put us down if we win. me thinks they hate us but i don’t care because everybody knows THERE IS NOTHING GREATER THAN A GAYTOR HATER and after we beat their a$$ 9 out of the next 10 years( got to let them win every once and a while or they will quit playing us) they will crawl under a rock and shut their mouth like all little gayturds do.
@ GT Bob
December 2nd, 2011
10:49 pm
You are the biggest loser … without appearing on TV.
Bad Dawg
December 2nd, 2011
10:51 pm
Pound it into their heads CKgator so they do not forget it. To be stupid enough to believe Florida will return to national prominence is like believing the sun won’t come up in the morning. Florida is the sunshine state. I still do not see why other UGA fans are bragging so much about beating some of the worst teams the SEC East has fielded in all my years watching them play football. If this has what being a “true” UGA fan is about then UGA is on the verge of losing all respect that this team had in the past. When will people wake up and realize what is going on?
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:56 pm
UF fans are just delusional. They don’t realize that they have taken a back seat to UGA and USC now. Superior is even out recruiting them. Your problem is that you are loading up on so called 4 and 5 star players that are not 4 and 5 star players. 4 and 5 star high school players don’t mean they are 4 and 5 star college players. Some of them pan out and some don’t. I think a lot of t
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
10:58 pm
to finish my point: I think a lot of them that UF has picked up the last couple of years are not panning out.
Ckgator
December 2nd, 2011
10:58 pm
Well I’ve touched some nerves tonight, so enough of that. Best of luck representing the East tomorrow Dog fans.
Have fun, be safe, and watch for fake tickets at the Dome.
DILLIGAF
December 2nd, 2011
10:59 pm
Ckgator:
“I have complete confidence that Muschamp will hav what Gators competing for Championships in 2-3 years”
I give him another year, two depending on whether you get 7 wins next year.
Perception versus reality, ask Paul Johnson about his theory on that.
It was perceived that Muschamp was the defensive mastermind at TX. Will that make him a great head coach? That remains to be seen. The mastermind behind your offense has yet to win at any level.
Same perception of Smart at AL. Is he really the great mind behind that defense or is it all smoke n’ mirrors? Enquiring minds want to know. When the time is right we will have our answer.
I think that I can speak for the UGA faithful in saying that right now, no one really gives a _______ about any of your much hated programs.
UGA/85′
GATA!
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
11:00 pm
BAd Dawg, I don’t think you are a TRUE UGA fan. I really don’t believe that Muschamp has what it takes to take Florida back to where they were 3 years ago.
OkieDawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:01 pm
I’m headed to bed. Gotta be fresh for the SECCG. Dawg fans need to be rested and ready to go. I assume all GT and Gayturd fans can stay up late and sleep in. After all, their team will be watching the Dawgs…..GATA!
kerryb
December 2nd, 2011
11:04 pm
Goodnight everyone left. The Dawgs are going to shock the college football world tomorrow.
Ckgator
December 2nd, 2011
11:07 pm
Kerryb – just when I thought I was out…
You are correct in saying that many of Florida’s recruits have not panned out. Such is the folly of over-hyping recruiting rankings. If you are consistently top ten, you should be fine. But even elite programs like Florida go through a rough patch with attrition.
As long as the state of Florida continues to produce 3-to-5 star players at two to three times the rate of neighboring states, it’s flagship university (UF) will remain an elite program.
Again, good luck to the dogs tomorrow.
kybodawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:10 pm
maybe the gt in gtbob stands for girlie tush. thats why hes upset.
athdog
December 2nd, 2011
11:11 pm
TampaGator,
Always good posts, enjoy reading them. However, I must say that it is true, Georgia won this year with Florida having no offense…I’d also say it is true that the last five years, prior to this one, Georgia had no defense.
I look forward to it becoming a rivalry again and not one sided….unless it’s our one side.
Go Dawgs
DILLIGAF
December 2nd, 2011
11:15 pm
A big bowl of rocky road ice cream with crushed oreos and chocolate syrup drenched in milk is calling my name. Goodnight and Merry Christmas. Reflect on all that you truly have to be thankful for this holiday season.
All crazy banter side, good luck kitty cat fans, may everyone escape without crippling injury and may the best team win. (Dawgs)
UGA/85′
GATA!
herschell??
December 2nd, 2011
11:16 pm
Hope all you koolaid drinkin nutlickers are wachin the oregon /ucla game cause that is a preveiw of the missmatch we’re gonna see tomorrow. The only difference is there is no way in HELL UGAG scores 24 points. It is gonna be great watching as those cameras zoom in on that SEA OF RED headin for the exits. But please all you LOYAL FANS hang around at least till the 3rd qtr. GEAUX TIGERS!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
December 2nd, 2011
11:18 pm
@GT Bob: Nothing delusional about the last 11 Dawg/Bunglebee games,
Dawg Whisperer
December 2nd, 2011
11:22 pm
CKgator and friends… UGA has a much better tradition than UF, just not over the last twenty years. You know, college football did not begin when Spurrier finally lead the reptiles to their first SEC title in the 90s. UGA is among the top 12 NCAA schools in winning tradition unlike the lowly gators.
Furthermore (4) trips to the SEC championship in the last (10) years is not evidence of a below par coach or program. If, in defining elite program, current means in the last ten years, UGA qualifies as elite. If you define current as in the last year, then UGA is elite. Gator fans should not be so concerned about Mark Richt or UGA, you’ve got bigger problems to concern yourselves with. And if you think UGA fans are “delusional” but not gator fans, then maybe you are one as well. I’ll take enthusiastic “delusional” fans anytime. If it bothers you gators so much, go slink back in the swamp and hibernate for the winter.
RMikel58
December 2nd, 2011
11:24 pm
Bitter, shameless and jealous namesayers yet again have to get their little babyish comments in about Georgia. There not even worth responding to.
Life goes on. The psychological supremacy shows its ugly head again with all these cajuns spitting and spewing about how great their LSU team is. Please close your mouth while eating aligator turds and removing your teeth.
We have heard you and your beligerant cries trying to convince anyone but yourselves how great LSU is. Next thing they’ll be doing is building a statue of Les Miles at the Louisiana Border on I-20.
Yady yady yady ooooooooo we so scared!
Heck inform the governor that Georgia cant play cause those LSU sewer rats are too mean and scary. Most of the time you cant even understand what those cajuns are saying. I bet they have to text eachother just to carry on a conversation.
After LSU loses on saturday ya’lls canz get bak to ya’lls crabn dippn and gatur chazing bak in da swamp.
Ought to be pretty easy for all you cajuns, just follow I-20 back toward the sunset and when you pass the Les Miles Statue, youz in da swamp.
The Turd Pickler
December 2nd, 2011
11:32 pm
UGA Sucks and will lose. That is all…
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
December 2nd, 2011
11:35 pm
@Bad Dawg: How would you know what a “true” UGA fan thinks and acts. You are a cancer to UGA/Dawg Nation. Nothing I have seen from you indicates any serious UGA support.
Dawg Whisperer
December 2nd, 2011
11:36 pm
Well, it is time to make my “delusional” prediction. Methinks UGA will fare well but come up short. Our “D” is certainly good enough but I can see a couple of turnovers by our “O”. LSU is clearly a dominant team especially with their defense. I do think UGA has grown up during the year and is much improved, just not enough to upset LSU without a little help from our cajun friends. Something in the order of 27-17 seems about right.
OkieDawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:37 pm
Absolutely beautiful RMike, but if LSU goes back on I-20, they may not get home. Baton Rouge is on I-10, don’t confuse em.