SEC title would mean Georgia’s return to elite status (video added)
Mark Richt has Georgia in the SEC championship game for second straight year. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(VIDEO ADDED BELOW)
This might stun starry-eyed middle-schoolers and high school players, who are otherwise oblivious to ancient history before 2006 in the SEC. But even the football Godzillas of this conference and, it follows, the globe, aren’t that far removed from humility (and Shreveport).
Before the last five seasons under Nick Saban, Alabama had an 11-year stretch (1997-2007) when it reached double digits in wins only three times, suffered through four losing seasons, four non-bowl years, lost to Auburn six straight years, went to the Music City Bowl twice and even was subjected to the Independence Bowl . . . three times! There’s your, “Roll Tide.”
Florida fans would like to forget the Ron Zook era of relative torment, sandwiched between Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer.
Auburn just fired a coach, Gene Chizik, who won a national championship two years ago.
LSU: You say Saban and Les Miles. I raise you Mike Archer, Curley Hallman and Gerry DiNardo.
The Dogs have given fans much to cheer about. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
It happened before, it can happened again. It happened to Georgia. Mark Richt won two SEC championships in his first five seasons (2002 and 2005). He is still waiting for a third.
So before anybody makes any grand declarations about what Georgia’s return to national relevancy this season means for the future of the Bulldogs’ program, place a ping-pong ball on the kitchen table, open the window and try to give assurances that it won’t roll off the edge at some point.
However, Georgia’s ascent this season — and actually it’s climb since the 0-2 start of 2011 — has significance. Credit to Richt, his staff and all associated with the Georgia program, because a team doesn’t go 21-1 in a stretch of regular season games, even it managed to avoid Alabama or LSU, without doing a lot of things right. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 3 in the BCS. They are back in the SEC title game again, facing No. 2 Alabama in Saturday’s SEC championship. The winner faces No. 1 for the national title.
It’s this simple: Georgia has an opportunity to affirm itself as a member of the SEC’s elite, and ranking among the SEC elite is synonymous with the national elite. Imagine how this feels for Richt, after seeing his program seemingly erode over several months, going 7-9 in consecutive SEC seasons, losing to the likes of Kentucky, Mississippi State, Colorado and Central Florida.
“It’s what you always hope for,” Richt said Sunday of the team’s position this week. “It’s what you want. We know pre‑season rankings are for the fans. Where you’re ranked at the end of the year is the most important. [But] it’s not about me. It’s about Georgia. It’s about this program, this team, these young men, this coaching staff. I don’t worry too much about all the personal stuff. But it is great to be in this position at this point. You fight like mad every year to get your team in this position.”
Georgia was in the SEC title game a year ago against then-No. 1 LSU, but there’s a greater sense of excitement and confidence in Athens now. The Dogs ranked only 14th in the BCS before last year’s SEC game. National title hopes were smothered in Week 1 (loss to Boise State). Respectability hopes were stomped on in Week 2 (loss to South Carolina).
If Richt wants to play the no-respect card with his players this week, it’s available. Most of the national commentary has focused on the potential of an Alabama-Notre Dame final. But that was expected. One doesn’t eclipse Alabama until one beats Alabama.
Even while acknowledging that Georgia and Alabama mirror each other in several areas this year, Richt said: “One thing they’ve done is they’ve been national champions and we’ve not. They’ve been SEC champions and we’ve not, during the time-frame of these kids’ careers.”
They are the measuring sticks all go by. Richt has won his share of games since 2006 but his accomplishments have paled compared to Saban, Miles and Meyer. Saban is 39-9 (.812) in the SEC with one conference and two BCS titles. Miles is 40-10 (.800) with two SEC and one BCS championship. In Meyer’s last five seasons at Florida (2006-10), he went 31-9 (.775) in the SEC, with two conference and two crystal trophies.
Georgia is back on the doorstep to both. The climb has been impressive.
– By Jeff Schultz
Video: Is Georgia’s defense more talented than Alabama’s?
A trip down blog Memory Lane
• Georgia playing at level we haven’t seen under Richt
• Short takes (UGA): Rambo’s ascent, Gurley’s comfort
• Upsetting Georgia would give Tech needed boost for future
• Weekend Predictions: Georgia will win on Red-and-Black-Saturday
• Vince Dooley: Joy from Georgia’s resurgence, pain from son’s firing
• Wonder why SEC is on top? Look at other conference finals
• Falcons win — but run before somebody changes their mind
• Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS title possibility
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502 comments Add your comment
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 26th, 2012
9:56 am
Donnan
Auburn gonna hire Petrino?
Beast from the East
November 26th, 2012
9:56 am
HUH?????
November 26th, 2012
9:49 am
UGA beat UF 17-9.
That’s the best UGA could do against UF. UF’s defense is nowhere near as good as Bama’s defense. Saban will have Bama MORE than ready to destroy UGA.
——————
I’ll stack UF’s defense up against anyone in the country. Ask UGA, SC, LSU, A&M and FSU about that Gator defense. Bama’s is currently ranked #1 and UF #5, but take a look at the disparity in SOS.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
9:56 am
“OSU would lose to the following and the games would not be close:”
Urban Meyer owns CMR and the UGA mutts.
Buckeye
November 26th, 2012
9:57 am
donnan,
What other “proven” winners are out there and available?
For the record, I doubt he wants to come back anywhere anyway.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
9:57 am
“Auburn gonna hire Petrino?”
Doubt it. I don’t think Auburn will land any good coach because probation is coming to the plains.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 26th, 2012
9:57 am
Donnan
Urban KNOWS his defense is not good. He admitted it all year long. We would destroy them
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 26th, 2012
9:58 am
Donnan
Will Malzahn take it?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
9:58 am
“What other “proven” winners are out there and available?”
No one. I’d love to see Chip Kelly, Patterson, or Strong come into the SEC.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
9:58 am
“Will Malzahn take it?”
Nope, he’ll most likely end up at Arkansas.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 26th, 2012
9:59 am
Arkansas? I thought Strong was going to get that job
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:00 am
” Bama’s is currently ranked #1 and UF #5, but take a look at the disparity in SOS.”
Doubt it all you want, but Saban will have Bama fired up for the championship game. Just ask Les Miles about it. He’ll be happy to tell you about it.
Cdpridg
November 26th, 2012
10:00 am
Donnan..I dont have to try and win an arguement. My team beat yours on the field. Y Whichever team you want to hide behind. You are on a pro Georgia Bulldog article. You have lost just by being here. Not smart enough to figure out huh….
Dawglasville
November 26th, 2012
10:00 am
Hey, Georgia is playing Bama this week. Now, for one week only, 75% of you Bama guys on this blog aren’t being trolls. So please, go on and tell us how great you are.
Congrats to UF, USC, A&M, LSU, Bama, and UGA for great seasons. I have zero problem with UF playing in the Sugar Bowl. They deserve it. They are one year short of the four game playoff. That sucks but they are certainly not the first team to have a real beef with the way the college championship is decided.
Beast from the East
November 26th, 2012
10:00 am
Take a look at defensive rankings versus RANKED opponents. UF is tops. Bama is #25. Not even close!
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/leader/national/team/defense/split13/category10/sort01.html
kingdaddy
November 26th, 2012
10:00 am
Bucky
Y’all had a good year this year. Too bad you’re on probation. We (The SEC) would love to play yous guys again. Stay off probation and we’ll (The SEC) see you next year. Know you’re looking forward to it…
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:00 am
“I thought Strong was going to get that job”
I could see Strong end up at TN.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:02 am
“I dont have to try and win an arguement.”
Win a what? Get back to me when you can spell like an adult.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 26th, 2012
10:02 am
Heard a guy on radio in Tenn yesterday talking about UT bringing Fulmer back.
That would be weird
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:02 am
“Heard a guy on radio in Tenn yesterday talking about UT bringing Fulmer back.
He might have been talking about bringing him to eat at UT, not coach.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 26th, 2012
10:04 am
No he was serious. Bring him back for 3 or 4 years and stabilize things and apologize to him for how he was treated. Then move him into football operations position. Said no top coach will touch UT right now
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:07 am
” Said no top coach will touch UT right now”
Why, it’s not like UT is on probation or anything?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:08 am
BTW, if Auburn were to hire Petrino, you’d see Auburn fans revolt like crazy. Auburn already has enough of a bad reputation and doesn’t need the stink of Petrino on it.
joe jenkins
November 26th, 2012
10:08 am
I think thomas brown is the best poster on the ajc blogs. the man really knows uga football. I enjoy reading his post. buckeye you are lowlife and a miserible humanbeing….still crying over the 93 citrus bowl loss. well anyways i think he is a tech fan. Come on dawgs please get the win
kingdaddy
November 26th, 2012
10:13 am
Why would Fulmer want to go back? They did him dirty. A lot of the people responsible for pushing him out are still in place. It would be like remarrying my crazy 3rd ex-wife. Not going to happen. She was hot, but it ain’t never, ever going to happen…
gdawginkalamzoo
November 26th, 2012
10:15 am
I hope we win Saturday. I feel like this game will come down to disciplined play for the whole 60 minutes. That’s about the only thing we have been lacking the past 3-4 years is discipline. Otherwise I hope this is one of those Richt teams that is gaining steam at the end of the year and can pull this one out. Good luck to the Dawgs! It would be nice to ruin Florida and Bama’s season in the same year.
Steve
November 26th, 2012
10:15 am
“Donnan Of A New Era” are you really as pathetic as GTBob and only comment on other peoples comments? Grow up.
gdawginkalamzoo
November 26th, 2012
10:17 am
kingdaddy, that UT football for you. Ask Fulmer how he got the job, or better yet ask Johnny Majors how Fulmer got the job.
BTW 3rd wife? You should have ended that never going to happen again sentence with a period not ….. other wise it looks like you are holding out some hoep there. Just sayin’.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
10:21 am
““Donnan Of A New Era” are you really as pathetic as GTBob and only comment on other peoples comments? Grow up.”
Pot meet kettle. I love irony.
kingdaddy
November 26th, 2012
10:25 am
Zoo
LOL, she’s a dozy bro. I see you like to speculate on affairs of the heart, but you can’t fix crazy. This time, the last time was the last time. No chance of a replay…
ShadeTree
November 26th, 2012
10:35 am
To DONNAN OF A NEW ERA:
As a Georgia Fan as well, at least do some research like Mr Thomas Brown does. “Notre Dame has never won more than 11 games in its entire history”, was your statement, I guess you forgot about 1988 and 1989, 12 wins both years.
Kind of lose your credibility you know
I'm a Georgia fan. It's a license to be stupid.
November 26th, 2012
10:38 am
Pat Forde just ripping UGA’s schedule on Dan Patrick Show…America knows a pretender when it sees one…Bama 43 UGA 16…”elite” and “Georgia” are like “oil” and “water”…
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
10:39 am
“Donnan Of A New Era” are you really as pathetic as GTBob and only comment on other peoples comments? Grow up.
You would think Steve would be a happy guy these days. I guess not.
Dawglasville
November 26th, 2012
10:45 am
Beat UF, Bama, ND – three top five teams and there ain’t a whole lot people can say about UGA’s schedule (except USC fans can crow about 3 in a row). Lose to Bama and we have to listen to the same crap we have been listening to for years. It really is that simple.
Steve
November 26th, 2012
10:46 am
No GTBob, I’m not. UGA is the worst team in the SEC and in the worst division in the world so why should I be happy? Ha ha. It just gets old seeing so many people come on here and post things that are either not true or they act like things apply only to UGA. For example you have the moron, “I’m a Georgia fan. It’s a license to be stupid” making fun of UGA’s schedule when Alabama this year played Western KY, FAU, and Western Carolina, three cupcakes, just like UGA and like pretty much every other ACC and SEC school. It amazes me that people still don’t get that UGA has no control over their SEC schedule and have no control over Tech being so bad every year. IF UGA beats Bama, there will still be idiots like that on here with some excuse of why UGA is still no good.
flagboy?
November 26th, 2012
10:51 am
Steve, if UGA beats Bama, it won’t matter what idiots like that say on AJC blogs.
In fact, it really doesn’t matter now either.
Ty
November 26th, 2012
11:02 am
New Rumor has it that Auburn has been in contact with Tressel….. Anyone else hear that?
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
November 26th, 2012
11:05 am
Finally…someone who admits the Dawgs ARE NOT
dawg fan
November 26th, 2012
11:06 am
Buckeye
THE Ohio State University is the official name of the SEC’s toilet.
For example, The Buckeyes have never beaten an SEC team in a bowl game. They’ve had nine chances, too.
In the last 20 years,
1993 Citrus UGA 21, OSU 14
1995 Citrus Bama 24, OSU 17
1996 Citrus Tenn 20, OSU 14
2002 Outback S. Car. 31, OSU 28
2007 BCS Champ Florida 41, OSU , 14 – nice close game that won was
2008 BCS Champ LSU 38, OSU 24 – closer but still not a good game.
Until next time, here is your Ajax and Toilet Brush…
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
November 26th, 2012
11:07 am
Finally, someone who acknowledges the DAWGS ARE NOT currently an elite team!
Buckeye
November 26th, 2012
11:16 am
tom brown
look up stephanie spiel man and the work chris continues that tell me how you are making a difference, ok?
Buckeye
November 26th, 2012
11:18 am
dog fan,
The SEC! SEC! has its own toilet: Auburn. They don’t reload, the impload.
SEC! SEC!
Thomas Brown
November 26th, 2012
11:22 am
Elite team 2012 ?
# 3 in AP Poll
# 3 in USA Today Coaches’ Poll with one Number # 1 VOTE
# 3 in BCS Poll with 1 ranking left for 2012 after Saturday at 4pm
Yes, that is one of the Elite teams 2012, having beat # 4 Florida and playing in the semi-final game vs # 2 Alabama as # 3 UGA, having already beat # 4 Florida.
11 NFL Draft Picks from the team
Started the season # 6 in every poll, bar none.
No unbeaten team except Notre Dame and Notre Dame has beat no one in the BCS Top 15 even.
I think you could go further than to state that UGA is 1 of the Elite teams 2012.
We’re one of the top 4 teams in the nation for 2012, and therefore YOU are in here talking about it, like everyone else in the nation is talking about :
Georgia
Florida
Alabama
Notre Dame
There is no one else even in the CONVERSATION 2012, now is there ?
If that ain’t an ELITE TEAM 2012, what in blazes is today ?
Our Opponents, not counting the bowl game are over .500 at 61-59 all UGA opponents 2012 season, not counting the bowl game yet.
SEC East is 52 – 32 which is 20-games OVER .500
SEC West is 52 – 32 which is 20-games OVER .500
Georgia and Vandie have Won 6 games in a Row, USCe & FL have Won 4 in a Row
In SEC West only Texas A & M has Won 5 in a Row, next best is LSU with 3 in Row
vs Ranked Teams SEC East is 8 – 22 a 26.67 win % vs ranked teams
vs Ranked Teams SEC West is 9 – 25 a 26.47 win % vs ranked teams
We are The SEC East Champions.
We are in the # 1 Football Conference.
We are playing for our 3rd SEC Championship of our Young, fine man coaching our team this Decade only so far. He has sent 74 to the NFL in the NFL Draft already, only 2 behind Southern California who have to have 10 selected to Mark Richt’s 11, to stay ahead of Mark Richt in the Mark Richt Era starting 2001.
Mark Richt has been SHAFTED by Ohio State twice already 2002 and 2007, when he should have played BOTH BCS Title Games instead of Ohio State both times.
UGA is Top 10 All-Time Football Programs for Wins
We are trying to win our 7th national championship.
We have 5 former Bulldogs who have won the NFL Championship Game MVP Award.
http://www.sicemdawgs.com/football/fb_his.php
Yeah, we’re 1 of the Elite Teams in 2012, AGAIN.
Thomas Brown
November 26th, 2012
11:32 am
joe jenkins November 26th, 2012 10:08 am
“I think thomas brown is the best poster on the ajc blogs. the man really knows uga football. I enjoy reading his post. buckeye you are lowlife and a miserible humanbeing….still crying over the 93 citrus bowl loss. well anyways i think he is a tech fan. Come on dawgs please get the win”
___________________________
Thank you Joe; I won’t let you down.
The National Champion, as far as I am concerned is Florida 2012. Notre Dame has cheated Florida from getting the winner of the UGA Alabama game for the NC. Once the BCS goes to the 4-team play-off, Florida would have DESTROYED Notre Dame. And, they would be playing US in the NC for 2 wins over Florida in the same year. Aaron Murray can be EVEN better than he was with the 2 TD drives he had against their defense and I still don’t see Florida scoring a TD on UGA’s Defense.
reality time
November 26th, 2012
11:42 am
Elite status for the puppies, who have these puppies beaten? oh, I forgot 4 point win over UF, this team get beat by 28 against average SC team, and these low standard fans of UGA think they are the best in the country, what a joke.
I can not wait to see what excuse Mark is going to use when they get beat by Ala and in the bowl game against good teams.
rawdawg
November 26th, 2012
11:45 am
Hey Buckeye – big talk from a guy whose season is already OVER!
Thomas Brown
November 26th, 2012
11:49 am
Florida’s defense is better than Alabama’s defense. It’s just that Alabama has beat only # 7 LSU while UGA has beat # 4 Florida, while Florida has the # 1 toughest Strength of Schedule in the nation, and that is the reason why Alabama’s Defense is ranked # 1 and Florida’s defense is ranked # 5.
Florida’s defense is better than Alabama’s as Beast from the East told you. I’ve read Beast from the East for years and years, and find his posts the best posts there are.
Gene Chizik, Joker Phillips, and Derek Dooley Felt the Bite
November 26th, 2012
11:49 am
CMR: Hey Gene didn’t I beat ya’ll? GC: Yes CMR you did ! Hey Joker didn’t I beat ya’ll? JP: Yes you did! Derek didn’t I beat ya’ll too? DD: Yes you did, and I can’t even go home without being reminded. Will ya’ll remind Saban that I have a winning record against him, and the Gator Nation that we’ve beaten them twice now in as many years. Now who do we need to fear? Don’t we play in the SEC? Don’t we have two of the best backs in the nation(and there freshmen) don’t we have the best OLB and ILB’s in the Nation on Mel Kipers board, the best NT in the SEC, and # 2 on his board. Two safeties that will be gone by round two of the NFL DRAFT, and you doubt us? We’re Dawg nation you Outsiders, #3 in the Nation and we have only the Rednecks and Catholic ingrates to conquer before we ascend to the Top of the Football Nation. Yes the Chicken heads can say they beat us, but look real close and you’ll see they been the luckiest S.O.B.’s in football for two years.This is the SEC Afterall, and even the Turds next door lost one on there way to a title last year. They fear us in the ACC, The Big 12, Wac, Big East, and even in the Pac 12. We ‘ve had guys like A.J Green, Champ Bailey, Matthew Stafford, Geno Atkins, Chris Clemons, go and Make Pro Bowls in the NFL, and you doubt us? Fla, Oregon, Kansas State, and others had your chance to be here but failed just as we were hitting our peak. Tide Nation we;ll show no mercy, we’ll really show none to the cross the line sellouts who;ll need to seek employment within Georgia’s state lines one day.May we bust your heads to the white meat. THIS IS DAWG NATION, and WE WILL SHOW NO MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
11:57 am
” I guess you forgot about 1988 and 1989, 12 wins both years.”
Just reiterating what ESPN said last night.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
11:59 am
“We are trying to win our 7th national championship.”
Someone is lying. UGA does not have 6 national championships.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 26th, 2012
12:00 pm
“New Rumor has it that Auburn has been in contact with Tressel”
Nope and there isn’t anything on the Google to suggest that.