Georgia has chance to alter perceptions with one win
Mark Richt and Georgia hope to take control of SEC East with win over Will Muschamp and Florida.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There are those rare games that can unify a fan base. This is one of them.
Just for a moment, put aside that Georgia’s defense has underachieved and may have a level of dysfunctionality in the locker room. Put aside that the Bulldogs, in a week where they should’ve been focused and in assault mode, made Kentucky look relevant. Put aside whatever it was that happened in Columbia.
One game changes everything.
Georgia isn’t just playing Florida on Saturday in Jacksonville. It’s playing for a chance to change its season and obliterate perceptions about “big game” performances. That doesn’t mean the Bulldogs haven’t won big games under coach Mark Richt, but the results in recent seasons certainly aren’t something that any coach wants slapped on his resume: 3-11 against Top 25 teams since 2009, 1-9 against top 10 teams since 2008.
One win over Florida, the No. 2 team in the BCS, would act like a bucket of Kilz. Clean wall, fresh start, new season. It would put the Dogs in control in the SEC East and give them a chance to return to the SEC title game. All of their goals, save an undefeated season, would be restored.
Is Georgia capable of beating Florida? Of course. The perceived talent on this defense is unequaled by most programs in the nation. The freshmen running backs are solid, and the quarterback, Aaron Murray, is solid and certainly the better of the two in this game.
There’s just all of this baggage. The season hasn’t been nearly what anybody expected. A record of 6-1 looks good in most college towns, but not when it’s owned by a projected top-10 (at least) team with a soft schedule, and that team was absolutely bodyslammed by its only ranked opponent (South Carolina).
“I’m sure it gnaws on Aaron, and it gnaws on everybody — we all want to win the big game,” wide receiver Marlon Brown said. “If we win this game, the fans maybe will stop talking about the South Carolina game.”
Questions about games like this always seem to wind up at the same intersection: What does this mean for Mark Richt?
It’s not a situation exclusive to Athens. It happens at every major college football program, and certainly on every campus in the SEC (save, maybe, Vanderbilt). As many as four conference schools (Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn) may change coaches after this season. Among those who soon could be out of a job: Gene Chizik, who won a national championship at Auburn two years ago.
The sparks around Richt have lingered really since 2008, when lopsided losses to Alabama and Florida derailed SEC and BCS title hopes. Even the 10-game winning streak after the 0-2 start last season didn’t appease all critics because none of the wins came over great teams (Auburn was No. 24, Georgia Tech No. 25 by the Associated Press).
So what would it mean to Richt if the Bulldogs lost? I’m not sure anything.
Richt obviously needs this to alter perceptions by some that his program has hit a ceiling. But if the Dogs lose in Jacksonville and then win the remainder of their games, they will finish the season 10-2 (pre-bowl).
I can’t claim to know what’s going on inside the head of athletic director Greg McGarity. But canning a head coach with a 10-2 record just doesn’t seem plausible – especially if the second loss came to the No. 2 team in the country.
That said, Richt will have to do as good a coaching job as he ever has to pull off a win. He will have to unify his players. One of the team’s co-captains, safety Shawn Williams, vented earlier in the week about the defense playing soft. He might’ve been right. But the bigger issue came when Williams suggested lineup changes, which effectively threw two of his teammates, linebackers Michael Gilliard and Christian Robinson, under the bus.
Gilliard said he “felt disrespected.” Robinson said, “I’m not mad at (Williams),” but disputed his comments and said, “I’ve got to go back to work with him and we’ve got a big game to win.”
A bigger game than we’ve seen for some time.
By Jeff Schultz
What you may have missed:
• Weekend Predictions: Sorry Doggies, Gators look too good
• Georgia has one edge on Florida — it’s Aaron Murray
• Pessimism reigns by Georgia fans on Twitter
• Georgia Tech stops the bleeding but assumes nothing
• Larry Drew is prepared to work without a parachute
• Weekend Predictions: Bulldogs, Jackets rise from the dead
• Falcons are NFL’s last unbeaten team: Here’s fate of others (with video)
• Falcons 6-0 but Turner is frustrated with running game
• Fan revolts out of control, one even wanted to fight UGA player
• Weekend Predictions: No sacrifices, but Falcons, LSU win
• Radakovich says Johnson is ‘right person for job’
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399 comments Add your comment
DIT
October 26th, 2012
12:28 pm
Agree AR dawg. He needs to shadow Driskell so he can’t take off and run.
The Poster Child for You are Still going to Whine
October 26th, 2012
12:28 pm
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2012
12:25 pm
SouthGaDawg
Lets be clear on one thing; I wont be appologizing if UGA wins by 95 points tomorrow; this coaching staff continues have SC type ballgames every single year and beating 1 top 20 team for the 1st time in 4 seasons isnt going to erase a perception
Go and beat Bama and win out then you will start changing peoples minds not beating an over ranked FL team; a team that doesnt have the same great talent as UGA does
********************
what a pathetic baboon you are
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2012
12:30 pm
I didnt know that a true UGA fan is supposed to expect…….
0-10 vs the top 10
not beating a top 20 team in 4 years
2-14 against the top 25 in 4 yrs
9 blowout loses in 4 years
I didnt realize UGA football was supposed to be on the level of Vanderbilt
or did I miss the sign walking into Sandford stadium that reads “”PLAY LIKE A LOSER”"”
Realistic
October 26th, 2012
12:30 pm
Richt isn’t going anywhere this season regardless of what happens Saturday. Right or wrong, he will be given next season to figure it out. Unfortunately, it will be a much tougher schedule making it easier on the AD to make a change. Like Schultz mentioned, there are going to be a lot of openings and this year so it is probably best to wait another year anyway. I can’t see a lot of top tier coaches anxious to come on board when a 10-2 coach is fired. And please spare me the “but this is Georgia” talk. Tenn and Auburn are both programs that have done more than us over the last 10-20 yrs. And before you flame me, I am a lifelong UGA fan.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2012
12:30 pm
avalanche
Or maybe a fan might. Call me an idiot sans the koolaid if you wish. Georgia will likely win this game. It’s a perfect storm in the Dawgs favor. Now, go back to your high school stadium and your 15K fans in Atlanta
SSIgator
October 26th, 2012
12:38 pm
“It happens at every major college football program”
__________________
But not at programs with as much talent as UGA and/or for as long of a period of time.
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
Realistic
I agree with that; but I wont be surprised if this team loses to Miss or GT after another loss to FL especially after realizing they wont be going back to the dome
BigJim
October 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville: you are 100% correct! 100%!!! Please don’t listen to these apologist appeasers who want nothing more than for Georgia to run the table every year against GA Southern, Central Florida, UAB, and other, sorry DIV II opponents…whikle falling on their faces against quality, ranked opponents! Keep in mind…Georgia finishes in the top 10 recruiting class every single, solitary year but has a 2-15 record against ranked teams, since 2009!!! PATHETIC!! Richt should take his $3,000,000 salary and jump in a lake!!!
gdawginkalamzoo
October 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
Flat Tire you forgot the last two bowl games.
logrhd
October 26th, 2012
12:39 pm
well lets see. what did S Carolina do to Ga what did Fla do to S Carolina? Doesn’t look to pretty if ur a Ga. fan. Could be worst u could be a GT fan like me!
BigJim
October 26th, 2012
12:41 pm
MARK RICHT: 2-15 AGAINST RANKED TEAMS, SINCE 2009!
Jimnalph
October 26th, 2012
12:42 pm
And UGA can solidify perceptions with a simple loss.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2012
12:44 pm
logrhd
your logic is flawed
dawgfacedboy
October 26th, 2012
12:44 pm
Saying that two guys should never leave the field is a compliment to their ability. Gilliard and Robinson may be good but if the guys in front of them are great then they need to play the majority of the game.
One thing I’m tired of hearing is guys play based on how they practice. Ever heard of “practice players”????? I played with a few in college. Dudes were studs in practice but when it came game time they crapped the bed…a lot more times than not. “Gamers” are guys who up their play when there’s 97,000 in the stands. Those are the guys I want on the field.
A win changes more than just the season too. It goes a looooooooong way in starting to change the perception of this program.
Can’t fire a 10-2 coach??? Then everybody needs to readdress their expectations of this program going forward.
John
October 26th, 2012
12:48 pm
Calling Charlie Strong….C’mon UGA, that just makes too much sense. And I guarantee you won’t lose a recruit, you may even pick up some from Alabama, Auburn and Clemson. CMR has done the best he could, next year UGA team looks like a mess, the whole defense is going to the NFL. (even the juniors)
SSIgator
October 26th, 2012
12:49 pm
Hey UGA fans, I know you like to “party like rock stars” when you stay on SSI before the game in Jax, but do not upset the SOB’s (Save Our Beaches) crowd by throwing your trash all over the beach like you do at your home games. It upsets them terribly.
Alphare
October 26th, 2012
12:49 pm
I was thinking betting my house on a dawg win. But that’s before I realize that girly hurricane Sandra is coming. Sandra will mess up any/all of Murray’s passing prowess.
BTW, do I have to remind anybody UGA’s D is mediocre, including last year?
ARdawg
October 26th, 2012
12:52 pm
Alphare
Thanks but we don’t need that reminder. It’s pretty obvious to most of us.
I don’t forsee Sandy hampering the game. Hopefully I am right
Mitch Kumstein
October 26th, 2012
12:54 pm
60-24 Fla.
And I’m a Dog Fan from way back!
We simply are not talented enough to keep up with them.
Hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think so…
Red Stick
October 26th, 2012
12:54 pm
Georgia’s defense has only played one decent complete game this year and that was against Vandy. I just don’t see them turning on a light switch and playing well against a physical team such as Florida.
Maybe I’m wrong. Nevertheless this is a crucial game for Richt and I’m looking forward to watching it.
Good luck to both teams.
SSIgator
October 26th, 2012
12:55 pm
Just noticed the above picture of St. Markus Rectumus. What a great new self-promotion opportunity – Weight Watchers and also moving up to the Ford 250 Class truck.
Buckeye
October 26th, 2012
12:55 pm
Urban looks really tan!
John, Ducktown
October 26th, 2012
12:55 pm
I wish I had the confidence to pick the Dawgs, but UF simply has our # and it simply comes down to turnovers, penalties and special teams (missed FG and extra points). Every year, even when we win, Florida seems to play a good solid game, and we don’t. We are sloppy, we turn over the ball. I haven’t looked at the #’s, but I would guess that in every loss we’ve had, we probably have at least 2 more turnovers than them and we miss a FG. I think Blair Walsh had some of his worst games at GA/FL. Even in games we’ve won, except Donnan’s victory and the end zone TD dance, the games have been close and should not have been, and it’s for the same reasons, we turn the ball over, crazy penalties and special teams. It also seams like FL scores in bunches and we just never react. They’ll score 17-21 points in a 4 minute period and that either gives them a small lead or it puts the game away, just like that. similar to the FL/SC last weekend.
What I’m afraid Richt has become is the Snyder of K St in the 90’s and early 00’s and Mack Brown. Coaches that just can’t get over the hump (like Dan reeves, Wade Phillips, Marty Schot- all great coaches- just not excellent coaches).
The other issue is that you can’t be in a conference with Saban, Miles, Spurrier and then whatever other top notch coach the SEC hires and at some point not finish 4th or 5th and still feel good about being a top 20 team.
Dawg Tired
October 26th, 2012
12:56 pm
Georgia has chance to alter perceptions with one win
Right Jeff. The same chance as a “snowball in hell.”
AFDawg
October 26th, 2012
12:57 pm
I’m interested in seeing how Grantham attacks Driskel/Gillislee early in the game. Of the 187yds that Shaw/Lattimore rushed for in the loss at uSC, 70% of it came in the first half. The percentage of yds from UF’s offense from the Driskel/Gillislee zone read is pretty large. Limit the zone read to a couple yds per play the first quarter or so, their offense becomes much more predictable. Oddly enough, the Dawgs have defended the zone read well at times this year.
Pitbull
October 26th, 2012
12:59 pm
At least we were not 2-4 at the half way point with a pounding by MTSU.
That would make me want to jump off the upper deck to end the pain.
Oh yeah, I forgot.
Flat tire On I95 in Jacksonville
October 26th, 2012
12:59 pm
Hope Paul Johnson wears a tight shirt this weekend!
Patty McGroin
October 26th, 2012
12:59 pm
Mitch, we ARE talented enough to win against anyone in the SEC; the issue is the character of GA players… whether due to the fact that they play to protect their future NFL careers, are selfish or are just not intelligent… But it’s not due to a lack of pure talent. Also, we never seem to be prepared for meaningful games. We are completely undisciplined.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
October 26th, 2012
1:03 pm
Still very hard to even believe that a second year coach has his team ranked so high.
And where does CMR have UGA?
DAWGS will probably come out very “up tight”…WIll will have UF fired up.
The weather will beat UGA.
TheSmoker
October 26th, 2012
1:04 pm
Will Georgia Sieze the moment?
Short answer – No.
Long answer – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WILL MUSCHAMP
October 26th, 2012
1:06 pm
FLORIDA 55, PUPPIES 7…
gdawginkalamzoo
October 26th, 2012
1:07 pm
I am thinking that if I want to be shocked this weekend I’ll have to hook my testicles up to a car battery.
gdawginkalamzoo
October 26th, 2012
1:10 pm
No matter what happens this weekend we are already bowl eligible.
P_The_Ricker
October 26th, 2012
1:12 pm
Marlon Brown’s quote says it all:
“…the fans will maybe stop talking about the South Carolina game.”
Marlon, why are you not focusing on that game??? that game and lack of effort/execution is the reason why over half of the UGA fan base is disconnected to you and several of your teammates.
pull together and play with some pride!!! everyone knows that UGA is capable of winning this game…..it’s just a matter of actually doing it!
THE YANKEE Educated, Tolerant Marching Band
October 26th, 2012
1:15 pm
It would be nice to see Muschamp stunned and angry on the sidelines due to a GA victory… buuuuut something tells me that ain’t gonna happen. y’alllz.
wastedyears
October 26th, 2012
1:17 pm
ON TO THE MASSACRE IN JAX …GATORS…..38….PUPPIES…..16…..FIRE MARK RICHT ALREADY
Techster
October 26th, 2012
1:18 pm
The Gators will do to the dogs what Clemson did to Wake Forest last night. They will walk all over them. Should be fun to watch.
wastedyears
October 26th, 2012
1:19 pm
IN ATHENS 3 MILLION AINT BUYING A WHOLE LOT
Danny Newnan
October 26th, 2012
1:19 pm
Self-inflicted injuries will be the difference here. GA is well known for starting slowly, having bad penalties at the wrong time and handing teams points from weak turnovers. Dogs lose yet again. No doubt about it.
blue
October 26th, 2012
1:21 pm
banshee; I am not either a SC fan or UGA fan, but the “just like SC caught us on a bad night” sounds like an excuse. SC did not catch you on a bad night, the MADE YOU HAVE a bad night by dominating both lines of scrimmage…point blank and period.
wastedyears
October 26th, 2012
1:23 pm
I WILL NOT BEAT THE GATORS IN JAX..OR IN GAINESVILLE…OR IN ATHENS…I WILL NOT EAT GREEN EGGS AND HAM…I WONT ..CANT AND CANNOT BEAT THE GATORS IN ANY TOWN ..I WONT I CANT ….MARK I AM!!!!!
TVDog
October 26th, 2012
1:25 pm
UGA defense is giving up 24 points a game, same as Auburn’s did in 2010, and only 1.9 more points per game than 2011.
The UGA defense has improved it’s 2nd half defense scoring, and 4th quarter defense scoring. Both hover @8 pts in 2nd half and 4.5 pts in 4th qrtr. If Florida starts slow in the 1st half, they’ll have a tough time scoring on this defense.
I doubt anyone expected UGA to be this good this year at top 20 in offensive scoring and offensive total yards in the nation AND No 10 ranked in the BCS after 7 games, but here we are.
Perceptions are this is a top 10 team nationally. I believe it’s a #1 team, we’ll see soon if UGA beats Florida again, dominates the 1st half in the SEC Championship like last year, and then finishes stronger in the 2nd half of the big game.
Obviously, as a coach that’s had more top 10 finishes (6) in his first 11 seasons that Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, and Bobby Bowden COMBINED, Mark Richt will go down as the best coach in the history of the NCAA.
Danny Newnan
October 26th, 2012
1:28 pm
LOL!! PUT THE CRACK PIPE DOWN, TVDog!
wastedyears
October 26th, 2012
1:29 pm
GOOD THING OUR TOP 5 DEFENSE GOT A REST AT KENYUCKY THEY SHOULD COME OUT AND GIVE UP NO LESS THAN 45 POINTS!!!!
STUDENT ATHLETE
October 26th, 2012
1:29 pm
The game will confirm perceptions. You are what your record says you are. 0-12 against ranked football teams. Barely able to stop Buffalo, Ft. Lauderdale College, Missouri, and Kentucky. Blown out by Boise State, LSU, South Carolina (twice) Michigan State and tomorrow – Florida.
Fla. 45 UGA 6.
Flo-Ri-Duh
October 26th, 2012
1:29 pm
Depends on the weather – 20 + MPH winds equal a low scoring game on both sides. Turnovers will be huge in a low scoring game. Murray needs to get on his running shoes and roll out. He has been told to not run. Time to turn him loose.
Thomas
October 26th, 2012
1:30 pm
Win against Florida= Job Security!
TVDog
October 26th, 2012
1:31 pm
The pressure is ALL on Muschamp who has never won this game, as a player or coach. Muschamp isn’t a big game coach, he’s 2-6 vs. ranked teams after 2 seasons, Richt was 6-2 after 2 seasons vs. ranked teams. Muschamp wins .330 of these type of game, and loses .670 of the time. Richt is 1-0 vs. Muschamp, he owns Muschamp. Can Muschamp change perception that he isn’t a big game coach? Doubtful. He couldn’t beat UGA in 2011 with 4 time Super Bowl Champ Weis running his offense. 1st year Offensive Coordinators do not fare well in the SEC, especially against Mark Richt, a guy who wins .740 of his games and hose teams have finished in the top 10, 20 out of the last 25 seasons (the best in NCAA history).
BlueGator
October 26th, 2012
1:35 pm
The article hits on some interesting points, but makes one argument that is pure fallacy:
“Murray is solid and CERTAINLY the better of the two”
Sure Murray has had some very good games, a few with big numbers, but against ranked teams has struggled, there is no way he is CERTAINLY is better at anything Driskel does….. except for chucking it up more often and throwing picks
GT Lee
October 26th, 2012
1:35 pm
Hey Schultz, when are you gonna post your picks for “Sack Schultz” game?