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
Ty
October 27th, 2012
2:27 am
The problem is not Murray. The problem is that Murray has done so well that the emphasis from the coaches has been on his ability to pass and not the rest of the team, i.e. the offensive line, the running game, use of the ball control during the whole game, defense being on the field so long because many times the offense does score quickly. If UFgets a lead late, forget it. If UGa gets a lead late watch out, Richt and Bobo will sit on the ball and not use the running game well and UF will be in a position to catch up. Seems like a pattern UGA has shown in recent years.
Silly
October 27th, 2012
2:44 am
We are not fair weather fans, we are real fans who see the obvious. We will lose, not because of the players, because of their coach. But that is okay for most of you on here as long as we beat GT right?
too much talent to be soooo BAD! Has been over 30 years since we won the NC, can we do it again before i die, or is this mediocre team play good enough for you?
Back to the future
October 27th, 2012
2:47 am
1st down, dive play, second down reverse to Mitchell, 3rd down incomplete or drop by KING, Punt, punt return for a touchdown….the Rout begins!
coaches looking dazed, players have already got on the bus to Athens, Fans stuck to watch another beat down, recruits watch beat down and coach keeps his job and does it all again next year!
Go Dawgs!
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2012
2:51 am
Mark Richt is The SEC Coach of the Year. In the Red and Black student-newspaper today, Florida fans ran an ad pointing out that Richt has won 1 game and lost 10 games against teams ranked at game time in the Top 10 over the current 5-Year Mark Richt era. Of course, we all know that he has Lost 10 SEC games in a row against teams who put-up a winning SEC Record; he’s lost 16 of the last 18 games against teams who made any top 25 poll; he lost 14 of the last 17 games against teams who made the Top 10. He has in addition 65 scholarship recruits plus 1 transfer-in who can play out of the 107 he signed to play 2012. And, he had to Suspend 10 players all for multiple games this season : (1) Kolton Houston NCAA violation all of 2011 and 2012, (2) Zander Ogletree half a season 6 games unspecified (3) Alec Ogletree 4 games, (4) (5) and (6) Nick Marshall, Sanford Seay and Chris Sanders kicked-off the team for stealing $ 500 cash and other valuables from their own teammates whom Mark Richt did not even call the Police about according to the Chief of Police, (7) Chase Vasser 2 games DUI, (8) Sanders Commings 2 games (9) Bacarri Rambo 4 games and (10) Isaiah Crowell kicked-off the team after 3 suspensions; and none of these 10 suspended scholarship recruits are counted in the 25-other scholarship recruits he brought here for 2012 season whom he has also either kicked-off, forced-out, transferred-out or flunked-out. But, with the # 108 Strength of Schedule all 2012 season including all 12 opponents, his Official NCAA Strength of Schedule should award him with an 11-2 season record in a 14-game season. Either that, or 11-3. I believe if a man can accomplish all this at a Top 10 All-Time Football Program in Wins and keep his $ 3 million dollar a year job, that he should be Awarded the Coach of The Year in The SEC. He’s absolutely earned it. I’ve documented in detail every word. What do you think ? Obliterates all this by beating Florida ? I think not, Jeff Schultz.
Game Changer
October 27th, 2012
7:15 am
This game is huge for the UGA football program and its future. A loss and UGA FOOTBALL survives through the 2012 season and then starts crumbling for many years until top to bottom changes occur. A win gives us all hopes of a surprise SEC Championship Game and a shot at the NC and then crumbling starts 2013.
This is the last shot we have to compete for many years to come, the poor leadership and accountability of our OVER PAID AD and Coaching Staff will take its toll
LakeDawg
October 27th, 2012
7:23 am
Roll Tide with Pride!!! @ October 26th, 2012
2:50 pm
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
October 27th, 2012
7:45 am
Mark Richt is on the clock no doubt. He has to win this game today. USCe beat the shat out of him and stole his only free lose token a couple of weeks back. “You’re time to jump in the pool Mark and don’t forget to hold your nose”. Mark liked he results of Lee Corso’s dive so lets see if Mark can perform as well.
Miss State is going to take Bama to the limit tonight and could even win. No way Bama will cover that spread.
Jeff
October 27th, 2012
8:05 am
Fire the Athletic Director. He tied his wagon to CMR. Get rid of the AD and his replacement will have no illusions about expectations. Everything that CMR has asked for has been provided and the results have been the same. Sick of the excuses and wait until next year.
World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
October 27th, 2012
8:07 am
Georgia has a chance to defend the SEC East title.
muschamp that.
Delray Beach Dawg
October 27th, 2012
8:10 am
Here’s my take on the top 5 comments from defeated dog fans…
No. 1 comment will be fire Mark Richt
No. 2 we will get them next year
No. 3 we are gonna kill Tech
No. 4 we need to have the game in Athens
No. 5 we suck!
÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
No. 6 the stars weren’t aligned properly to favor the dawgs
No. 7 Florida just got lucky
No. 8 The wind mussed up Richt’s hair
No. 9 Richt was exhausted from doing truck commercials the day before
No. 10 Jan Kemp
North by Southeast
October 27th, 2012
8:15 am
“Body slammed” by SC is putting it mildly, but the “strategy” of a soft schedule seems to have fooled some BCS voters. Gators will put an end to that.
World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
October 27th, 2012
8:15 am
Shawn ‘hit real hard’ Williams woke up the Dawg Defense.
muschamp that.
King Gator
October 27th, 2012
8:30 am
5 o’clock somewhere!
UF 31
GA 13
Me- silly &happy
Ga8TR
October 27th, 2012
8:50 am
One thing is certain. CBS will replay Belue-to-Scott and Herschel clips today. Of course, to today’s high school recruits, that would have been like playing Doak Walker clips back when Herschel played. Totally irrelevant. But hey, that’s UGA. The past is all you’ve got….
Hater
October 27th, 2012
9:28 am
UGA has no shot. Our players are soft losers. Our coaches are stupid. Our fans are delusional. But I don’t live in Florida…so I’m pretty much winning at life.
Rick in Macon
October 27th, 2012
9:38 am
Forget it Schultz, ain’t gonna happen. Florida by 20.
Jimbo
October 27th, 2012
9:46 am
Jeff put this in your pipe and smoke it, ponder on it a while, then give us your thoughts. Could this happen, Coach Richt retires within the next couple years, maybe after this season, and Bobo is named head coach.
Vance
October 27th, 2012
9:55 am
I could not agree with your analysis more that this is a huge game…for Richt and for Murray. While I don’t think Richt will be gone right away if we lose this game, which I think we will, but the flames of his critics will grow. His legacy, along with Murray’s with a loss, will be amost but not quite there. If fans are content with that level of performance, with an occasional divisional championship, then he stays. If they demand a conference title with hopes for a BCS title, then Richt goes, eventually. These are goals Richt has had, but somehow cannot deliver with all of the talent and coaching changes he has made. So, to say a win today would be big for him, and for Murray, is dead on point.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 27th, 2012
10:08 am
Bobo will NEVER be a head Coach at a college that matters.
King Gator
October 27th, 2012
10:11 am
Yawn, Gators win as usual Dawg fans get on comment board and call for CMR’s head. Nothing to see here, move along… Go Gators!
DogsRoll
October 27th, 2012
10:22 am
dogs pull the upset–they will shock the world. Fla’s overrated—Dogs 27-Fla 13!! Dogs win the east!!!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 27th, 2012
10:33 am
It is Game Day…..get your Gangnam Style on………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60MQ3AG1c8o
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 27th, 2012
10:36 am
DogsRoll……WHAT SEC team ISN’T/hasn’t benn OVERRATED?
LSU
UGA
USC
Miss ST
ArkieSaw
Florida
Texas A&M
pb
October 27th, 2012
10:45 am
What in the he**% is Gangnam Style ? And what has it to do with football? If you are only slightly loved by Jeff Schulz, you are lucky. He is more tolerant of disagreement than the others you mention. UGA wil bite dust once again, proving cannot win big games.
jelly
October 27th, 2012
10:52 am
What pb said.
King Gator
October 27th, 2012
10:57 am
I thought that video was when Georgia scored that touchdown. Dawgs dance and high dive, Gators win BCS titles. Go Gators!
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
11:30 am
Patty McGroin
October 26th, 2012
1:50 pm
I want TV Dog to be a man and show up here on Monday and use the same name.
________________________
Keep dreamin’. It’ll never happen.
tripwire
October 27th, 2012
11:39 am
I pick the Dawgs to win,but not with out a fight. They have the most big time players! Fla needs to be exposed as an average team at best. The Gamecocks had a ton of players with a stomach virus,also
Clowney and Lattimore were not 100%, and Kelsey Quarles, a key interior lineman stayed in Columbia.,Just sayin!
NCDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:43 am
For all of you that are saying that this game will not erase the past failures, you are correct. But that does not mean that this game is not a pivotal moment for the program. You can’t erase past mistakes. In fact, nothing you can do can make up for them. All that is left is moving forward and trying to not make the same mistakes again.
This game could be a turning point. In 2002, it was the hobnail boot. Tennessee had owned the Dawgs for years but we finally got over the hump and won. Today is an opportunity. We can possibly mark the end of the Gator dominance in this series by beating them for a second year in a row. We can also change National perceptions about our program. Everyone saw UF beat up LSU and SC. If we look good beating UF, it will do alot for dispelling our under achiever reputation.
It is for this reason that I have repeated said that if the Dawgs lose today… by touchdowns or a measly FG… it is time for a culture change in Athens.
Programs can get momentum too. Just like a big turn over can shift the momentum of a game, winning a game of this importance can shift the momentum of a program. That is what I’m looking for. A win could be the end of the “can’t win the big one” pall that has hung over our beloved Dawgs for the past few years. A loss… well that is just not acceptable any more.
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
11:50 am
GTBob
October 26th, 2012
2:02 pm
LSU rushed for 238 yards against Florida last year. South Carolina rushed for 215. How did they do against Florida this year?
____________________
After dissing fla all season despite my admonitions, now you’re suddenly tooting the gators’ horn. You and Thomas Brown. What a couple.
NCDawg
October 27th, 2012
11:58 am
Ok, for those of you that say one win can’t erase what has happened the past few years, you are correct. Nothing can ever “make up for” past mistakes. That is why there is only looking forward and doing your best to not make those mistakes again.
This game can be a program changer just like the hobnail boot was in 2002. Goff and Donnan got us in the “can’t win the big game” reputation for years. Beating Tennessee, in Neyland, got us over that hump. The Dawgs have that opportunity today. Win and we can alter “national” perceptions of our program as well. It can lead to a momentum shift for the program.
It is also for this reason that I have said for weeks that if the Dawgs lose, by touchdowns or by a measly FG, it is time for a culture change in Athens. The program is being killed by the national perception of softness and the inability to win big games. Losing today would be almost like driving the last nail into the coffin. Forget about what happened to Tennessee. We can get a top notch coach with our resources. The question is whether CMR can prove he is still that coach. This game is a referendum on his tenure at Georgia. Win and build… lose and say good bye.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Bashing
October 27th, 2012
12:40 pm
`
7-0 gators go 7-6 again.
Ed
October 27th, 2012
12:51 pm
(picture)
Muschamp: “Mark, I was 0 for 4 in this game as a player. If I lose to YOU today, then I know I’m REALLY &^%$#@* cursed in this series.”
Mark: ‘Golly Gee Will, that wasn’t nice. Bless you, brother.”
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
12:52 pm
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?
__________________
Few, if any.
World's Largest Outdoor Dawg Bite
October 27th, 2012
12:54 pm
Fire Muschump
DisappointmentDawg
October 27th, 2012
1:01 pm
Don’t make me come out from under this porch!
Birdhair
October 27th, 2012
1:04 pm
Ramsey Pool high dives
Ford Truck Commercials
Building huts in central america
Adjusting the headset and mic
Tanning Bed
Worrying about summer haircuts
ESPN commercials
1 Hour conversations with Montravious’ mom before the game
Eric C.
October 27th, 2012
1:10 pm
DawgNole and Stinger 2…while I haven’t gone as far as calling for CMR to be fired, that is an apology I would not mind making.
If the Dawgs pull this win out of the hat, most will definitely be forgiven as it would soothe a couple of big ailments: 1) win against a top 10 team and 2) back-to-back wins over UF
pb
October 27th, 2012
1:15 pm
Yes, if Dawgs somehow win, I will be glad to make an apology, But don’t see it happening. Just going by past history… Nothing against UGA and Richt. Just tired of getting hopes up, only to be crushed in big games. MAYBE TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT ?
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
Lattimore just wrecked the same knee he hurt last year. A good man. Hate to see it.
DawgNole
October 27th, 2012
1:31 pm
Eric C.
October 27th, 2012
1:10 pm
DawgNole and Stinger 2…while I haven’t gone as far as calling for CMR to be fired, that is an apology I would not mind making.
If the Dawgs pull this win out of the hat, most will definitely be forgiven as it would soothe a couple of big ailments: 1) win against a top 10 team and 2) back-to-back wins over UF
pb
October 27th, 2012
1:15 pm
Yes, if Dawgs somehow win, I will be glad to make an apology, But don’t see it happening. Just going by past history… Nothing against UGA and Richt. Just tired of getting hopes up, only to be crushed in big games. MAYBE TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT ?
________________________
I agree with your sentiments. Just hoping the Dawgs give you both the “opportunity” to make those apologies.
He Hate Gator
October 27th, 2012
1:46 pm
Would not make a lot of sense to replace Richt with Bobo????? I think my future corpse just turned over…
He Hate Gator
October 27th, 2012
1:47 pm
I don’t want to see it happen but if Georgia gets destroyed in this game are the Richt apologists going to come on here and “apologize”? …..probably not
kerryb
October 27th, 2012
1:57 pm
As much as I hate SC I hated to see that happen to Marcus Lattimore. Tough thing for a 20 year old kid. Like Lou Holtz said I hope he broke his leg instead of tearing his ACL. He was projected to be the first RB taken in the draft in April.
tripwire
October 27th, 2012
4:32 pm
Cheap shots will come back to haunt you, just settle down and play sound football. Florida is not that good !
tripwire
October 27th, 2012
4:41 pm
Dognole,you are incorrect ,the other leg ,the Tibia was injured. You need to pull for your dogs and tell Aaron he is throwing to the wrong colored jerseys!
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2012
7:51 pm
We should all give them Hell every week. That was great. Way to go Aaron Murray. Jarvis Jones Player of the Game. Don’t tell me Malcolm Mitchell is not our best wide receiver – All America. Did you see the block downfield to spring him to the end zone by Artie Lynch. That is a great win. Wonderful. There is one important discussion to today and that, of course, is my hero Marcus Lattimore. May God be with this young man. We lose you Marcus. Todd Gurley, on this day of Marcus Lattimore’s tragedy, you can move on now and play for him and us; play for all of us who Love this game of College Football. Better than the hobnail boot David Greene to Verron Haynes in the checkerboard end zone because we Lost 4 games 2001 beating # 4 vols. Better than our latest in 2009 Georgie tek on all runs all day beating then top 10 knocking them down to make their ranking # 13. Better than # 6 LSU for SEC Championship Georgia Dome because we Lost 3 games and made our ranking not as good as LSU and not as good as Alabama DJ Shockley’s 2005 season. Better than # 9 Auburn we beat in 2006 because we Lost 4 games 2006. 2012 we can hold our heads up high and Celebrate. We all should give our team Hell all week every week. Awesome. 1-Loss Season; face # 1 Alabama, and we can go in there and play Georgia Bulldogs’ Football, for on this night in JAX, we won back-to-back over # 2 Florida to knock them out of the BCS, knock them out of The SEC East and SEC Championship Game, and propel us from # 10 in the nation to obviously somewhere in the Top 5 or so. Just Awesome. A Win. Todd Grantham went over to Aaron Murray after the touchdown pass, on a drive when Aaron Murray with the ball and us a 1-point lead with 10 minutes to go, put us on his back, and willed us to the win. A Todd Gurley rush was stopped, and every other play an Aaron Murray pass, culminating in hitting Malcolm Mitchell with the 45-yard TD Pass thanks to the block by Artie Lynch. Maybe Florida can get to their 3 or 4 Loss season, yet; still holding out hope for that. Congratulations. We play well when we are mean and nasty. Bring on Alabama, for we have a better win than they. But, don’t take anything away from Florida on this night, or our Defense which just man-handled Florida – giving the ball back to the offense all night long, punched in once to begin the game by Todd Gurley and punched in by Aaron Murray to Malcolm Mitchell. Followed by Jarvis Jones forced fumble to Bacarri Rambo to put the game away; 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries Jarvis Jones – Most Celebrated Linebacker in Georgia Bulldogs’ 120-year history.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:18 am
Thomas Brown
October 27th, 2012
7:51 pm
Maybe Florida can get to their 3 or 4 Loss season, yet; still holding out hope for that.
______________________
Don’t go changin’ it, Thomas, you weasel! You know damn well you predicted “four or five losses in 2012″ for the gators, you lying slimeball. Want me to go find that post for you and all the rest of the bloggers who are sick of your garbage?
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:31 am
tripwire
October 27th, 2012
4:41 pm
Dognole,you are incorrect ,the other leg ,the Tibia was injured. You need to pull for your dogs and tell Aaron he is throwing to the wrong colored jerseys!
__________________
I stand corrected on Lattimore’s injury. It was the other leg. In any event, I hope he pulls through it. And unlike Thomas Brown, I did indeed pull for the my Dawgs and Aaron, who certainly threw too many to the wrong-colored jerseys.