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
ugaclassof2004
October 26th, 2012
4:15 pm
Jeff,
Everything that needed to happen for the Dawgs to get to Atlanta, has unfolded for Mark Richt & Co. 2 weeks ago, it seemed like the door was slammed shut. But now, it has opened again. Richt failed his first test miserably vs. South Carolina, but to not take advantage of a SECOND opportunity? Well I’m sorry but that is a fireable offense. I mean McGarity has seriously done everything in his power to help Richt by giving him an easy schedule two years straight. C’mon man, I shouldn’t have to worry about us squeaking out a win vs. freakin Kentucky! What is the difference between 10-2 or 8-4 if both land you in the Outback Bowl? Our fan base has stayed loyal to Richt beyond a reasonable point and its time for him to reward that loyalty by giving a crap and putting a good product on the field. If he can’t do that the he needs to leave….THIS YEAR!!!
UFFan
October 26th, 2012
4:17 pm
We went from unlucky last year, -12 in turnover margin, to lucky this year in +11 in turnover margin. Our pass offense still stinks as bad as last year, maybe worse, we’re not moving the ball any better than last year. On defense, we can’t seem to get pressure upfront, special teams can;t score a td yet all season, hopefully we’ll keep getting lucky on turnovers. Otherwise, Muschamp might be looking for a job.
Bottom Line
October 26th, 2012
4:17 pm
Winners point to the scoreboard. Losers point to stat sheets.
Joey
October 26th, 2012
4:17 pm
ARdawg, you predicted, and had me believing, against my better judgement, a rout in our favor over SC. I think our ineptness of that game convinced you for a week or two that we were fooled by the easy schedule.
I ain’t gonna fall for it again. Muschamp has an OC who knows how to beat UGA, and he has the best D I’ve seen this year, against actual good teams, not cupcakes like we’ve beaten.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 26th, 2012
4:17 pm
Bluey
October 26th, 2012
4:07 pm
Look here. Mark Richt has a .740 career win percentage at UGA.
Higher than Nickky Saban.
BOOM!
———————————————–
I love that winning percentage but I would ask for you to recalculate it. I would ask the you try to calculate Richt’s winning percentage against TEAMS that end the season with better than a .500 record. I think you will be crying until Christmas. Bullies win fights all the time against the runts of the litter, but a REAL MAN wins the fight against the other Bullies.
OrangeBlue
October 26th, 2012
4:20 pm
We tried everything we could in 2011, but Georgia ran for 200 on us, and we could even break into positive yardage on the gorund. That Georgia front 7 stonewalled us, not looking forward to another shallacking. UGA 32, Gators 17. Hurts, but true.
will
October 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
i started the week thinking we were going to get our butts kicked especially after what the gaytors did to the chickens…but i’ve been thinking it and i really think we will win. The defense is going to finally play like they are supposed to and murray will be the difference
CDAWG
October 26th, 2012
4:25 pm
Stinger2, UF has beaten 3 good teams not 2. LSU, A&M and SC. I don’t think UGA would beat any of the 3. Do I think they COULD, absolutely with the right coaching and game plan.
Well the game is 23 hours away so we will see if our Dawgs rise or fall! If the wind picks up like they are predicting that will be bad for Murray.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2012
4:28 pm
Joey
C’mon now. I didn’t predict a blow out but I did predict a convincing win. I expected one and am still convinced should have been one. Who, among us really saw that one coming? I was 100% wrong and admit it. Still, without partaking of any koolaid, we should have won that game. We are better than SC again, We were out planned, out prepared and out coached.
With that said, I think we are still a more talented team than is the Gators. Will we be out planned, out prepared and out coached in this game? Twice so close and in the same year? Might be but, I don’t think so.
Make no mistake my friend, I want my Dawgs to win every game no matter who they play and I will cheer them on and keep the faith. It matters not what happens afterward nor no matter how much I disagree with the coach and AD, I will never wish them to lose. Make sense?
FloridaFollower
October 26th, 2012
4:29 pm
actually Coach Muschamp has only beaten two good teams in the eight games he’s coached at UF. His record is 2-6 against ranked teams,
I am nervous, the guy chokes more times than not in big games, and none was bigger than his 2011 UGA-UF choke.
Hope I’m wrong, I do think we’ll score, but hard to imagine more than 14-20 points with this offense, but UGA’s offense is really good, and their defense really manhandled us last year, UGA 38, UF 17.
*BREAKING NEWS*
October 26th, 2012
4:34 pm
Tim Tebow is going to be paraschuting into the stadium.
The Last Real Analyst
October 26th, 2012
4:35 pm
At some point as athletes you have a moment that changes you(Shawn Williams) and people around you get it. Georgia had a moment where other guys got it, when LB’S were called out. This team is to good not to achieve, and I think the blood will boil inside come Saturday. CMR needs t have a moment like this and kill the level of complacency that is now UGA FOOTBALL. Standards are high in this League(SEC) and UGA has the horses to compete with the best. If Mark Richt and staff looses this game close he must start looking for capable ASSISTANTS, if it’s a blow out Gregg McGaritty must start the re-birth of UGA football with a young vibrant mind and set the Standard early. Mediocrity is not a trait that can be allowed.
Joey
October 26th, 2012
4:35 pm
ugaclassof 2004, are you not paying attention to the Fan-Boys?
Richt has a “better winning % than Saban.”
They are the some of the most idiotic, head in the sand, Fan-Boys I have ever seen. They wish to make somebody believe that Richt is better than a workaholic, perfectionist, Nick Saban who is heading for his 4th BCS Title.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2012
4:36 pm
If Murray assumes his role as offensive leader and the D steps up to have just a decent day, Dawgs win. Anything less and we lose. We’re not splitting atoms here
Fair n Balanced
October 26th, 2012
4:38 pm
We have a chance. Could be the perfect storm in our favor. We could get blown out too. I’ll still be a Bulldog no matter what!
falconsrus
October 26th, 2012
4:39 pm
meatloaf is a little off but dogs get gatornesia and win big
Cause
October 26th, 2012
4:39 pm
Georgia needs to go after their punter each and everytime they punt. We cant field a punt anyway so why not.
Joey
October 26th, 2012
4:40 pm
“Who, among us really saw that one coming?”
*******************************
Who among us should known it was coming? That is the better question, ARdawg.
Oh I absolutely want the Dawgs, and Richt to win every game. At least, give a good showing – come to play. But it doesn’t happen anymore, ever, when we play a good team.
Maybe tomorrow . . .
whiskey breath
October 26th, 2012
4:40 pm
Damn, Jeff I really don’t have a dog in the fight. However Driscall already has won bigger games than Murray. You need to do a tad bit more homework unless you are doing the homer thing.
If you can let go of the homer crap, you know the Dogs are going to buckle real early . You have been in Atlanta long enough to know that. They have always been soft even when Richt won big.
FloridaFollower
October 26th, 2012
4:42 pm
I thought that too last year, Murray had an off day last year, changed my mind, he completed less than 50%, limited him to one touchdown, but we still loss. Murray doesn’t have to play great, we just hope he turns the ball over a lot, he didn’t help us out there last year, so without any offense, we lost, even though Murray had an off day.
Honky Talkin'
October 26th, 2012
4:46 pm
Georgia has only faced 1 team with a winning record this year. How’d that turn out?
*BREAKING NEWS*
October 26th, 2012
4:46 pm
i just pooted
FloridaFollower
October 26th, 2012
4:49 pm
We got a bad reputation on penalties, since we finished last last year, and are next to last in the conference this year in penalties, have a feeling that will come back to haunt us, as the refs won’t hesitate to throw the flags when they know how undiscipled we are.
you figure uga takes advantage by throwing deep when they need a big first down, looking for a flag, might even see a flop there, because refs are conditioned to throw the flags against a muschamp coached team. just concerned.
Gatorhead
October 26th, 2012
4:54 pm
UF has only faced one offense as good as UGA, we know T A/M isn’tr as good as UGA, so we’re nervous, these guys can score 50 points on you in a hurry, heard they’ve set all kinds of scoring records this season. Wouldn’t be surprised if UGA drops 50 on us.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 26th, 2012
4:54 pm
I thought UGa had NO SHOT after the KentSucky game. I started to change my mind during the week and started to think PMS(pad my stats against crappy teams) MURRAY and the dWags had a Shot. I just read BOBO is still the OC and I spit out the Kool-Aid and got a F….ing Clue.
Damn glad I didn’t “BET THE HOUSE” or “TAKE IT TO THE BANK” when i was Kool-Aid Drunk……
Joe Don Donnan
October 26th, 2012
4:58 pm
All of this “keys to the game” crap is nonsense. Georgia can’t tackle. Plain and simple. If Grantham focused more on fundamentals, and less on his silly antics on the sideline, it would be a good start. Another overrated season, another fall into reality. Another year in the life of Georgia sports
Joe Don Donnan
October 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
and quit calling Richt “CMR” — it sounds stupid.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
Gatorhead…..here is the TRUTH….UGa hasn’t scored 14 against a good team yet.
2012 GEORGIA BULLDOGS SCHEDULE
Buffalo W45-23
Missouri W41-20
Florida Atlantic W56-20
Vanderbilt W48-3
Tennessee W51-44
#6 South Carolina L35-7
Kentucky W29-24
Joe Don Donnan
October 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
and quit airing that Ford commercial featuring “CMR” at the grill. It’s stupid too
Skokie Dog
October 26th, 2012
5:01 pm
How about this one?
In the photo, Muschamp says, “And I tell our punt returner to use both hands to catch the ball, and then to hang on as he runs really fast toward the goal line.”
Richt replies, “BOTH hands, huh? I shoulda told our guy to do that too when he’s back to catch punts or kickoffs. And here I’ve been telling our placekicker to hold his hands out like that when he kicks PATs. I better study up more next offseason before I coach our kickers.”
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 26th, 2012
5:03 pm
For all the dWags heading to JAX…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVlsMLOejH0
Gatorhead
October 26th, 2012
5:04 pm
UGA dropped 24 points on us last year, converted four fourth downs, when Murray had an off day, and Gurley and Marshall look pretty good compared to Crowell, and then Malcome, he terrorized us last year. Murray looks a lot more accurate this year, and if you look at his efficncy, he’s in the top 10 in the country, hopefully, we get some pressure, and force him to throw it up for grabs like he did so much in 2010. But he doesn’t seem to do that anymore.
trailerparkted
October 26th, 2012
5:06 pm
FLA 44 UGA 10
Joe Don Donnan
October 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
and quit pointing to stats for everything. Here’s teh stat you need: Georgia sucks against Florida. Every. Single. Year.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 26th, 2012
5:09 pm
If you LOVE the DAWGS then check these guys. It would make a GREAT Christmas Gift maybe but you have to see Them.
Puppychase Kennels
Angus and Pheebee’s litter. Three girls and two boys.
DOB is Oct. 11th $3500
Four days old.
http://www.englishbulldogpuppychase.com
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
Welcome to JAX….
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=548340108514345&set=a.307033735978318.94232.306762402672118&type=1&theater
ARdawg
October 26th, 2012
5:24 pm
Joey
There is certainly that one game (at least one every year) that the dawgs show up with that “deer in the headlights” look. That is generally the FL game. Ocassionally TN or AU and now SC for 3 in a row. I admit the coaching deficiencies but you know, it is what it is.I can’t do anything about it, wish I could
Mike Franklin
October 26th, 2012
5:25 pm
If the Dawgs play to their potential, they will win. If they do not and the lizards play up to theirs, we will lose. If neither team plays well… who knows?
JRW7
October 26th, 2012
5:28 pm
CMR has 6 wins this season, over teams that have a combined 12-31 record, that’s not beating anybody!
Jackson
October 26th, 2012
5:32 pm
I think UGA is due for a surprising win. Only way they save face for underperforming.
Skokie Dog
October 26th, 2012
5:34 pm
Jackson: I agree that if U.Ga. wins, it will be surprising.
Stinger2
October 26th, 2012
5:36 pm
If UGA beats FL, will any of the fans who have made negative comments and called for CMR to be fired if they lose post a message of apology and that they were wrong?
Skokie Dog
October 26th, 2012
5:39 pm
Muschamp in the photo says, “When I saw Urban after I took this job, he held out his hands like this and said, ‘This is the size of the egg that Richt’s team usually lays when they play U.F..’”
Richt replies, “Dang, Will, that’s about the size of an ostrich egg. We ain’t THAT bad.”
Skokie Dog
October 26th, 2012
5:41 pm
Stinger2: I think Richt has enough apologists on the AJC blogs, but I don’t mind posting that I was wrong about the outcome of this game if the ‘Dogs rise to the occasion tomorrow. The point that you’re missing is the TREND of big-game losses that we’ve observed. As others pointed out above, it will take several wins in big games for the “naysayers” to shut up about Mr. Richt and his staff.
Woofy One
October 26th, 2012
5:44 pm
Dawgs by a decent margin. Should be a grand contest !! GO DAWGS
Skokie Dog
October 26th, 2012
5:49 pm
Muschamp: “Yep, last week, we played well enough to make Spurrier’s head just this big.”
Richt: “Uh, when we played South Carolina, he didn’t even throw his visor.”
What
October 26th, 2012
5:52 pm
Alter perceptions. What! FL is a farce too, vs SC 29 yds in first half and 21 points because of the defense.
If GA loses, it’s typical. If they win, Richt is still and idiot that Saban will destroy….again.
DAWG with two bags over head
October 26th, 2012
6:00 pm
Best case scenario, we’re 1-10 against Top 10 teams since 2010. Still a very negative trend. The answer is still the same. Richt can’t win big games. Time to let someone else have a shot. No apologies need.
Stinger2
October 26th, 2012
6:02 pm
What: Have you checked CMR`s record against Saban at Alabama? Just asking.
Also, what is your definition of an idiot as it relates to CMR?
DirtyDawg82
October 26th, 2012
6:07 pm
The team that executes and maintains discipline wins this game. It has nothing to do with who has the most talent or best quarterback or any particular position. The dawgs have executed against poor teams, but the execution rate of success and discipline appear to become rare matched against equal talent. An inspired Georgia team that can maintain any level of consistent execution and discipline will win this game, but the pattern the last few years, and in particular this year is not creating much confidence. In the end we can get frustrated and angry, but if the players don’t mind being discounted and dismissed, why should we. It’s about pride and being relevant and we shall see if excellence and pride in your work matter to this team and this coaching staff. I’m not very encouraged but I am willing to try to watch one more time.