10 things a Bulldog fan hopes not to see
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, it’s not so much who will start at what position that concerns me, but whether Mark Richt and Co. can fix some of the recurring problems that nagged the Dawgs throughout the 2008 campaign and even before. The kind of problems that put you in a hole and give the other guy an advantage.
A lot of these problems speak to coaching, or a lack of it. They’re fixable. But I’m not convinced Richt’s staff has a handle on some of them; at least, they didn’t last year.
So here we go, in no particular order on things I’d love never to see again from the Dogs:
1. Those high, short directional kickoffs that either sail out of bounds or give the return team a head start, resulting in the opponent getting the ball at the 40-yard line or even near midfield. Richt has talked on both sides of this issue; at season’s end he was lamenting the need for a kicker who could boom it out of the end zone, while earlier in the season he defended the directional kicks, saying they were easier to defend than a returnable kick down the middle. The latter is a problem because Georgia doesn’t seem to be able to get rid of that big seam down the middle of its kick coverage, which generally is slow getting to the ball carrier. And those pooch kickoffs? Don’t get me started!
2. Awful special teams play. No. 1 on this list is actually a subset of the bigger problem: special teams at UGA aren’t special. I know, I know, I’ve harped on this incessantly. But it’s the second longest-standing problem of Richt’s tenure, after clock management difficulties. Special teams coach Jon Fabris, who also handles the defensive ends, hasn’t gotten the job done and Richt doesn’t seem to put a whole lot of importance on special teams, unlike Urban Meyer, who coaches special teams himself and puts great emphasis on them. Meyer knows, like some other great coaches, that special teams win and lose games for you.
3. The Dogs offense suddenly going conservative in the red zone. We saw this time after time last year, including in the Florida game and even the bowl win over Michigan State. What is it with Mike Bobo and the red zone? Georgia came out looking great in its no-huddle offense and raced down the field against the Spartans, only to go away from the no-huddle and sputter once they were inside Michigan State’s 20. Why does Bobo depart from what’s working when Georgia gets within scoring territory? And why does Georgia so often go into a mid-game lull of predictable playcalling that leads to too many three-and-outs? Without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to rely on, we’re going to see whether Bobo is really capable of blossoming as an offensive coordinator.
4. Penalties, penalties, penalties. The Dawgs’ ridiculous penchant for drawing flags played a big part in Alabama’s first two scoring drives and deprived Georgia of the fast start they needed against the Tide. Early in the season, Richt sent mixed signals on this, too, saying he wanted the team to stop putting themselves in a hole with needless penalties, but also saying they were the result of aggressive play and he didn’t want them to be less aggressive. The penalties were part of a larger problem last season that Richt does appear to be addressing already: a lack of team discipline. I don’t know if making them tuck in their shirts and shave their goatees will do the trick, but at least it shows he’s thinking about the problem.
5. Penn Wagers and his inept officiating crew working another major Georgia game and blowing another call by not knowing what the rulebook says. I know UGA has no control over this, but it’s just gotten ridiculous over the past couple of seasons.
6. Georgia showing up for a game looking unprepared and unfocused. Last season, this manifested itself in the team’s difficulty putting together two good halves of play, most noticeably in the Alabama game but really throughout the season. And that was still the case in the bowl game, where Georgia kept the Spartans in it through turnovers, penalties and poor special teams play in the first half. Again, this would appear to be a coaching problem.
7. A Georgia opponent scoring more than 30 points. Or, worse, Georgia scoring 42 points and losing. This isn’t the Big 12 or Mountain West. You’ve got to play shut-down defense in the SEC. Georgia played four major games last season and had fatal meltdowns in three of them for losses. And even the LSU victory saw our defense hemorrhaging points. Same thing in the too-close-for-comfort victory over Kentucky. Yes, Georgia had some personnel deficiencies and didn’t get much pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but that’s no excuse for the rampant poor tackling that was a hallmark of the D for most of the year. The defense looked much improved in the bowl game, but can that be sustained? Whether Richt is willing to acknowledge it or not, his pal Willie Martinez is definitely on the hot seat in the upcoming season. One way or another, things have to change.
8. Georgia just squeaking by teams that it should thrash and looking less than impressive even when it wins easily. Playing down to their opponents’ level is a longstanding problem with Richt teams and the one that made Georgia’s tenure as the nation’s No. 1 team so short last year. I know we’ve upgraded our schedule, especially compared with some other SEC powers, but the problem really seems to be a lack of killer instinct. The Dawgs need to develop it. And I don’t think Richt’s “Hey, a win is a win” attitude helps.
9. Another epidemic of pass-dropping. I know the G-Day game isn’t really indicative of what we can expect this fall (at least, I hope not), but wasting scoring opportunities because you can’t hold on to the ball is the worst way to lose. Remember the South Carolina game two years ago?
10. The Dawgs wilting in the face of adversity. This one’s related to the earlier problem about not playing a complete game. Think back to the season before last. After Georgia’s opening score and end zone celebration, the resulting flags helped the Gators race back down the field for their own score. But Georgia didn’t flinch. That wasn’t the case in the 2008 season. Too often, the Dawgs played scared. Perhaps that was a result of the reported lack of on-field leadership. And maybe fiery redhead Joe Cox, known for rallying the troops in that long-ago win over Colorado, is part of the solution. We’ll see.
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205 comments Add your comment
ACC>SEC
April 24th, 2009
10:58 am
“Or, worse, Georgia scoring 42 points and losing. You’ve got to play shut-down defense in the SEC.”
You forgot to mention more than shutdown defense against the ACC, because, please correct me if I’m wrong, this occurred against an ACC team!
Savannah Dawg
April 24th, 2009
11:22 am
The greatest thing about Tech fans is the fact they will forever hate Georgia more than they love Tech. AJC created a Tech site for a reason! Get lost!
Otto
April 24th, 2009
11:25 am
Its sad when an official is a household name. When will the SEC run this guy off the field?
Red zone offense and special teams play should rate higher than the problems on defense. I like the list.
murfdawg
April 24th, 2009
11:29 am
Bill,
How about the injuries? After last year, we shouln’t have any injuries for about 5 years.Now that our line has grown up another year,(still playing 3 so and 2 jr)maybe we can pound the ball like a real sec team when we get inside the red zone. I am still fuming about Bobo’s calls in 07 vs USC. That game cost us a chance at the sec championship game.
On the penalities, take a look at these stats. In the seven games before fl, UGA was penalized 43 time and their opponents penalized 45 times. After the fl game and embarrassing Penn Wagers, UGA was penalized 104 times in 11 games and their opponents 64 times. This is fact, not fiction, and not whining. Unfortunately, Penn Wagers is the SEC official for games on CBS. If we can get the game moved off CBS. we can play fl without PW. Fla was a better team last year as was Bama. But a couple of calls going the Dawgs way could have made a big difference in the score. Not necessarily the outcome.
La Jolla Dawg
April 24th, 2009
11:30 am
Great list Bill.
Are you the only one covering UGA for the AJC? I hope they are paying you!
AltamahaDawg
April 24th, 2009
11:38 am
11. Haggard grumbling and moan-fest in a sports blog.
murfdawg
April 24th, 2009
11:40 am
Bill,
My post on the qb issue was too late last night.
Greene–best because of # games won
Belue—best because of championship games won
Tarkenton–best vs AU
Cavan—best vs FlA
If I am down by six, 65 yards to go, 1:29 on the clock, I want Andy Johnson. Maybe not the best, but my favorite.
Preston
April 24th, 2009
11:44 am
No doubt murfdawg, it also cost us a national championship. Nobody was better than UGA at the end of 07′. Stupid early season play calling cost us.
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
12:02 pm
Gee Bill, I like your column and I love the dawgs, but it sounds like the whole UGA coaching staff is just inept!
TommyP
April 24th, 2009
12:13 pm
Give me a break….let’s see, Bill. Richt is pretty much inept in too many areas to count, Martinez needs to go, Fabris needs to go, Bobo is on your short leash… This is an embarrassing article.
With all that you see “wrong” with the program, we sure do seem to end up in the top 10 annually.
I’m a HUGE Bulldog supporter but I get so sick and tired of hearing the whining with a lot of Bulldog fans, including you, Bill.
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
12:18 pm
I guess 20 season ending injuries (or whatever it was) will make alot of coaching staffs look inept. Most teams would love to have 10 win seasons and New Years Day bowls.
Bill King
April 24th, 2009
12:39 pm
Are you happy with 10-win seasons, or would you like to see the program where Florida’s is?
DawginLex
April 24th, 2009
12:51 pm
Don’t take “10 win seasons” for granted. Just ask the UK folks up here where I live about UK basketball and the annointed savior Billy Clyde gillispie. The Tubby bashers are eating crow in a big way.
To the ACC nerd: Stay the heck off of the UGA blogs. You and your nerd herd friends gripe when I show up on a Tech blog so it goes both ways. same to Rambler, M and pi$$onadawg.
I believe the defense will be much better in 2009.
I believe the penalties will be reduced because of more consistency on the lines of scrimmage and more depth. Playing tired=penalties.
I believe the new kicker will remedy the need for the short kickoffs.
I believe Richt has dialed up the discipline and intensity meters after last year.
I see 10 wins or more with a break or two.
Doyouknowshon
April 24th, 2009
12:53 pm
Bill,
It is not all about winning national titles. I will take 10 win seasons and top 10 finishes every year if it means we can keep players off our team who use dead people’s credit cards and fire AK-47’s in the air as a form of intimidation. Richt is a good man who tries his best to get the right players to represent Georgia, even if that means missing out on a few here and there.
Eddie
April 24th, 2009
12:56 pm
Bill–whoever you are–I think you need to be wearing another hat. That was pathetic!!
keith l
April 24th, 2009
12:59 pm
sad to say, but an accurate and comprehensive list
BugKiller
April 24th, 2009
1:05 pm
Bill, here’s the REAL list of the top-10 things DawgNation hates seeing:
1) Willie Martinez
2) Willie Martinez
3) Willie Martinez
4) Willie Martinez
5) Willie Martinez
6) Willie Martinez
7) Willie Martinez
9) Willie Martinez
10) Willie Martinez
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Until Willie Martinez is fired, the great promise this program showed under the Richt-Van Gorder team will never again be reached.
dap01
April 24th, 2009
1:05 pm
Great article. I wish CMR and the whole staff and team would read it.
Tech fans are sad. They are the first to blog on another team’s blog.
But hey that 38,000 has got to stick together.
GW
April 24th, 2009
1:07 pm
I believe UGA could survive much of King’s 10 if they just did one more thing…toughen up. Mistakes and injuries happen to all teams but the tough staffs and players usually find a way to win. I too think it is foolish to complain about any victory over any team, no matter how it happens.
Ferndolin
April 24th, 2009
1:07 pm
Murfdawg, you are spot-on about Andy Johnson, Apple Juice (AJ) we used to call him. One of my memories of Andy is single handedly bringing home to Athens High School a share of the state championship with Valdosta in 1970, I believe, 26 – 26, played in Valdosta. Another memory is the death of his father while watching him quarterback the dawgs.
JB
April 24th, 2009
1:08 pm
Great Article…..Most of us don’t know we snore if our wifes don’t tell us………..10 wins with this many problems. if we can get over half of them…..just maybe…………….Injuries and suspect coach or two and waiting on two players to do something was last years hot problems……And Tech can forget about ever beating us again…………Johnson or no Johnson.
Mac
April 24th, 2009
1:09 pm
I hear Donnan and Goff are still around if y’all would rather have them. What undeserving jackals.
JB
April 24th, 2009
1:10 pm
Damn bugkiller…………..I agree.
David
April 24th, 2009
1:10 pm
This is a great list. It is funny how the coaches address things that fans have brought up when they should be proactive. These next 2-3 years will be very interesting because we could possibly have new QBs each of those years. I also think it is a critical time for WM. The defense needs to take a major step forward. Even as good as it was 2 years ago, they still got run by TN.
the real OLD GOLD
April 24th, 2009
1:11 pm
You know what Tech fans hate? Having a UGA graduate as their beat writer.. AJC sucks.
Ferndolin
April 24th, 2009
1:16 pm
You’re right, Bugkiller. There in lies the problem but nobody wants to talk about it anymore. It was obvious last year but now it’s not? Van Gorder to the rescue.
JB
April 24th, 2009
1:18 pm
Ga. fans hate Tech winning 1 of 8 by 3 and screaming “we’re back”
Eston
April 24th, 2009
1:18 pm
Bulldog fans, like their players, also hate seeing the inside of a classroom, seeing a repot card, seeing the gators hoisting their coach on their shoulders after yet another victory over the average dawgs
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
1:18 pm
As a season ticket holder during the Goff and Donnan years, I will take ten win seasons. And that is just what it is, my opinion.
elvis
April 24th, 2009
1:19 pm
Hmmm….I wonder if the slump in special teams ( other than kicking which is separate)
is related to UGA injury depleted team with very little overall depth as a result….hmm I wonder.
When our special teams were chaning games by blocking kicks and punts Boss Bailey, and even David Pollack were out there. Last year it was comprised of 90% walk ons….though Mr. Renner did his part, you can’t rely on walk ons to be GAME CHANGERS! I fully expect this year to be different for the specila teams- I hope that includes the kicking as well.
Herschel Talker
April 24th, 2009
1:20 pm
Sorry, but I’m as big a UGA fan as anyone, and I have to say that Bill King is a complete tool.
Herschel Talker
April 24th, 2009
1:20 pm
OLD GOLD likes men
Reebok
April 24th, 2009
1:22 pm
Not-so-sad Tech fan here…I read the UGA blog because I love college ball, I have a lot of friends who are UGA grads and fans, and I like to read the commentary. Now, who is this Penn Wagers guy? Is he personally responsible for coating UGA a game last year, or does he just ?
JB
April 24th, 2009
1:24 pm
Tech players putting the UGA-Tech score on their Chick-fi……err peach bowl rings rather than the LSU beat down score should be in the dictionary definition under NERDS…….LMAO
Jones
April 24th, 2009
1:26 pm
Who the heck is Bill King and why does he think his opinion on football counts?
Eston
April 24th, 2009
1:27 pm
JB & Herschel Talker, when Tebow drops another load on you and your wussy dawgs….take it like a man and grab your ankles….you can tkeep living off of 1980
elvis
April 24th, 2009
1:28 pm
Was Bobo’s redzone the reason why UGA was so amzingly successful in the redzone in 07 then? I guess he forgot what he did over the course of the year…or wait,maybe it was the decimated line not being physically brutish enough to knock anyone off the ball.
Being agile is great, but on the 3 yardline, you need to be able to flex. It’s not Bobo’s fault on most of those redzone results.
elvis
April 24th, 2009
1:36 pm
SO tired of the mentally challenged fans who fixate on Martinez as a quick fix/pancea to any Defensive woes.
FIRE MARTINEZ!?
Seriously, that is how simple it is? Well, why didn’t I think of that? I guess Richt must be more inept at running the prgram than even Bill Kind would indicate.
some sense
April 24th, 2009
1:38 pm
Ten things is a reach…many of them not really issues until we ran into a year w/ poor defensive end personnel and play. Lists like this just give the rednecks more reaction fodder. The guy who listed Coach Martinez ten times should be ashamed of himself.
Only one of these holds up over the long haul…the short, directional kickoffs. Excrutiating.
slimpickens
April 24th, 2009
1:42 pm
I remember alot of season’s I would have given anything for 10 wins! I don’t want to be a Gator under any circumstance, I am damn proud to be a Dawg! Do I want to win a National Championship, yes but sometimes things don’t go the way we all want them to. Let’s be a little less critical and try to understand team dynamics before we are ready to run the entire coaching staff off.
JB
April 24th, 2009
1:43 pm
Eston…..Why are Tech folks so obsessed with pulling pants down to ankles…..
also, about Florida, you hardly ever hear a Dawg fan on here saying we’re going to Jacksnville and kick Gator Butt…But you guys spew that 24/7 about playing us……..Real fans know the deal. You play the game…nerds just dribble and run their mouth about never losing to us again. you sir, will be in for some disappointing afternoons in that state of the art stadium of yours.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
1:49 pm
JB, of course dawgs fans dont speak of going to Florida to beat the Gators…because winning only 3 times in the last 13 years against us keeps you in your place….and even with stafford and notalent mareno you could only muster 10 points in last years game…..lay down little puppy and let the big gators rule
TommyP
April 24th, 2009
1:49 pm
some sense: You about summed it up as well as could be said. “Lists like this just give the rednecks more reaction fodder.”
Bill: I’ll take exactly what we have with our football program. You, like so many, appear overly fixated on national championships as the only indicator of success out there. Richt has put Georgia in the position to play for two national championships….he just didn’t get the luck that’s needed as well.
Let’s see, Bill. You probably would’ve asked for the ouster of Tom Osborne if you were a Nebraska fan years ago when he still hadn’t won a title. Took him 17 years, didn’t it? Of course, he wouldn’t have been there with your mentality.
Elvis summed it up with his statement about Bobo. Everybody LOVED him from midseason on two years ago. I guess he forgot how to coach.
Fabris sure seemed to have great special teams the first several years of the Richt era. Only the past couple have been subpar.
This is simply a redneck article.
And please take that picture down.
Voice of Reason
April 24th, 2009
1:52 pm
I would just like to remind everyone talking about “Tebow dropping another load on” us that the dawgs made him cry like a bit*h on the sidelines in 2007. Against UGA, tebow is only 50%
Eston
April 24th, 2009
1:57 pm
Voice of Reason…..last time I looked, he has National Championship jewelry….and you probably wear a shirt with your name on it…like most uga grads
Tom
April 24th, 2009
2:02 pm
Bill…..
Since there was an article in the AJC last month dedicated to Percy Harvin’s Wonderlic score of 12, should we now expect articles on Jarius Wynn’s 12 or Knowshon Moreno’s 13?
Adam
April 24th, 2009
2:08 pm
I think the Tech fans are jealous of the Dawgs! They last time they went to a BCS game was in 1967 and the have recently enjoyed going out to Boise or some where out west to play in the Emerald Nut Bowl. Sure they won a Co-National Championship in 1990 but no remembers that but them. GO DAWGS!!
Otto
April 24th, 2009
2:08 pm
Elvis, As other have pointed out Bobo’s play calling against S. Car. especially killed the ‘07 title chances. UT was not much better sticking with the run far to long. CMR was a far better play caller than Bobo.
Crazy4GT
April 24th, 2009
2:12 pm
As a GT fan, it doesn’t hurt me to see UGA lose. That said, I think you can sum up all of UGA’s issues with one word – INJURIES. Youth creates mistakes. I think even with the loss of 2 1st round picks, y’all are much deeper this year. I hope both UGA and GT are defeated come Thanksgiving!
Okay – done being nice THWG!
Eston
April 24th, 2009
2:13 pm
“but no remembers that”….Adam….you took your English classes at UGA didn’t you
Tony
April 24th, 2009
2:13 pm
I hate this blog, for one. Bring back a real sportswriter — Chip Towers! — and go back to features.
Crazy4GT
April 24th, 2009
2:14 pm
Adam said “They last time they went to a BCS game was in 1967″ – Amazing, I didn’t know the BCS was around back then.
Tom
April 24th, 2009
2:15 pm
Adam: “Sure they won a Co-National Championship in 1990 but no remembers that but them.”
……and, apparently, you.
LOL!
Preston
April 24th, 2009
2:15 pm
GW, I agree that all teams suffer injuries every year but seriously, have you ever seen a team suffer as many as UGA did last year? Pro or college, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Hopefully we won’t have another injury plagued year like we did in 08′. If we remain healthy through 09′ and fall short, then I’ll start pointing fingers. No excuse for the piss poor special teams play though or lack of intensity.
JB
April 24th, 2009
2:24 pm
doesn’t Crazt4GT mean ” UNDEFEATED”
Crazy4GT
April 24th, 2009
2:26 pm
JB – right. proofreading is everything…
Preston
April 24th, 2009
2:26 pm
TommyP, you hit the nail on the head. UGA could have easily played for two during the Richt era but the BCS is a joke. LSU and UF got the ball to bounce their way in this quagmire of a system and I’m glad they did being a supporter of all SEC teams during bowl season. But the idiots on here that constantly dog UGA for not winning a national championship since 80′ need to really understand how the system works and understand that UGA puts itself in position to play for it as well. They just don’t get the love that other teams get.
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
2:27 pm
Bill, I’m happy where our program stands. We’re not that far behind Florida. We had an off year last year, but it happens…especially when you have three freshman on the o-line. Richt has 82 wins in 8 years which isn’t too shabby!
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
2:28 pm
Damn! Does anyone work on Friday afternoons anymore?
Saint Simons
April 24th, 2009
2:29 pm
45-42!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahah
Bryan G.
April 24th, 2009
2:29 pm
Bill, this is easily the best Junkyard Blawg ever written. You made GREAT points that I’ve lamented for a while. I don’t think I can add a single thing to what you wrote.
Great blog, sir. The “aww shucks a win is a win” thing drives me up the freaking wall. I wonder if we will ever have perfection (like Meyer and Saban get) until Richt actually DEMANDS perfection.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
2:37 pm
Dawg fans can grumble over anything. Yes, the defense and special teams were disappointing in 08. But, knocking the offense is just stupid. They scored 40 points at least half the time last year. And, if you didn’t like the offensive production last year, it aint gonna get better with the losses of Staff, Moreno, and Massaquoa. Jaxdawg is right. Quit the griping and enjoy UGA’s status-a consistent top-10 contender.
Meyer
April 24th, 2009
2:42 pm
To doyouknowshon, or your players destroying hospital property while being drunk.
Tony
April 24th, 2009
2:48 pm
Whenever I hear that someone is a Tech fan I feel sorry for them & tell them it’s o.k. I’m sure there is a support group out there for you, or a 12 step program. I believe it is a disease, but not terminal if treated early.
rDUCK
April 24th, 2009
2:48 pm
#11- Paul Johnson
Bill King
April 24th, 2009
2:49 pm
I agree that 10-win seasons are not too shabby. But if your program has the potential to do even better than that, I think it’s silly to pretend there aren’t things that need improvement.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
2:50 pm
Tony,
I know what you mean…every time I hear a bulldawg fan cry about how close they came to winning…I sit back and look at both of the titles that Meyer has won for UF
Sanford Drive
April 24th, 2009
2:53 pm
Sure Tech fans get on here and spew, but none of them will publicly admit they pull for Ga Tech.
SEC1
April 24th, 2009
2:56 pm
AMEN, Bill
Please send copies of this to the coaching staff at UGA, PLEASE!
I’m hoping this was an anomoly of a season, given all the hype that went to the players heads, and the relative softness from the coaches. There were the injuries, but overall there was no excuse for the sorriness I witnessed last year. I have several former players as friends and they too commented that they had never seen such an undiciplined team.
The optimists out there say hurray for the 10 wins, but during my tenure at UGA in the late 80s, we would have been a 7-4 or at best an 8-3 team. (the “ten” means nothing when you just have more cupcakes on the schedule) PLease think about that, folks. Ten wins today is not the same as 10 wins before the additional game was added to the regular season schedule.
I love the dogs and I cheer for them week in and week out. The point here is to discuss ways to improve!!!
Over.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
2:56 pm
Bill King-Of course things will need improvement…It’s college football.
The question is: Does 10-win seasons in the nation’s best football conference satisfy a reasonable person. Answer: it should. Winning a national title requires as much luck as skill. There are around 114 Div-1A or whatever the heck they call the level now who compete and about half of those teams (about 60) are in reality eligible for the BCS. 1 in 60 odds ain’t so great.
Old Retired Army Officer
April 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
Martinez should be carrying a clipboard for an experienced defensive coordinator who knows what he is doing and ditto for Bobo for an experienced offensive coordinator. Other than that, they could collaborate as a vaudville team: “Martinez and Bobo”. They’d bring down the house.
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
If everyone stays healthy and we still see some of the same problems that plagued us all year last year, then I think it would be fair to start pointing some fingers at the coaching staff. Until then, you have to give the coaches credit for getting us back to the top and keeping us there.
Yellowsforpiss
April 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
Techies need to hold on to last years win, & be proud of it, besides one out of eight aint so bad. Write it down on a hankie, date it & put it under thier pillow every night for a year. Next November when they lose yet again they can use the hankie to wipe away the tears & the slobber from thier bubblin lips. Another bad thing about being a Techie is that a few of them can sit around talking football & one can say “you remember the time we beat Georgia” & everyone will know what year he’s talking about.
SoCal Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:00 pm
I can’t believe how many of you are “satisfied” with 10 wins. If I was vandy I’d love 10 wins but we are THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS!!! I don’t like losing practically every big game we play in… UF example. All Bill did was point out what every UGA fan I know is already saying. I like CMR but that doesn’t mean there is not room for improvement.
dogeater
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
Preston…..UGA don’t get the love other teams get…… Win games and maybe you could win a national championship. CMR is a great person but not a great coach. There is one word that sums him up SOFT, thats why Fla St did not want him as their coach. There is nothing wrong with winning 10 games every year if the fans are happy with that and then watch other SEC teams play for the national championship. Look at how many big name kids are leaving Ga to go play at other schools because they know that UGA will not make it to the national championship. If high school kids can figure this out why can’t the coaches and the fans. Instead of saying every year that this is going to be the year UGA wins the national championship just make shirts up that say “Another 10 win season and we are happy” because with CMR thats all you are going to get.
Old Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:02 pm
I’ve said this before and I know I’ll say it again: UGA leads the list of top-tier SEC teams of the past 8 years in victories with 82. Under CMR, Georgia is 6-2 in bowl games and 2-1 in SEC championship games. With the exception of Florida, UGA has a winning record against every team it plays in the SEC and Tech.
Along with his overall record, CMR has an amazing road record.
It’s easy to sit back and be critical of every facet of the team, and it’s easy to provide answers. Like many folks, I recognize weaknesses in the team, but at the same time it’s difficult to exclude the overall production when reviewing the team’s success under CMR. It is also obvious that the coaching staff has reviewed its mistakes, is working to correct the injury problems and working feverishly to overcome Florida’s dominance … which, by the way, it holds over the remainder of the conference!
It always amazes me how critical folks are of football and other athletic teams, but when it comes to their slip-ups at work and in the family there are always other factors to consider (dude, that’s not my problem).
In other words, if we all were as perfect in the business world as we expect football coaches to be, we’d all be billionaires and we wouldn’t be in the financial meltdown we’re currently experiencing.
Grow up people, no one is perfect!
jaxdawg
April 24th, 2009
3:03 pm
SEC1 are you kidding me?? Have you looked at Georgia’s schedule? There’s only one cupcake on there and that’s Tennessee Tech. Every team shoots for 10 wins, and that’s considered a good season these days.
Kendawg
April 24th, 2009
3:03 pm
If we can solve our kickoff problems, that would be a substantial improvement in our chances to win big games. Maybe one day Richt will understand that.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
3:05 pm
Old Dawg says it for me.
Altamaha Dawg and Cuz
April 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
Our top 10 (repeated in almost every blog ever written):
1) Everybody would love to be 10-3. Doesn’t matter how much talent you have or what the expectations are, a coaching staff that loses only 3 times by any margin deserves to be showered with love and praise.
2) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs for anything is not a true fan and shouldn’t be allowed to watch a game at Sanford Stadium.
3) CWM is a great coach. We know because CMR likes him. As such all true dawg fans must love him also.
4) Anybody criticizing the dawgs doesn’t have a sophisticated understanding of football (like us).
5) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs didn’t play the game and shouldn’t voice their opinion.
6) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs has their priorities all wrong-these are college kids.
7) We had more injuries than anyone in the history of football and shouldn’t have been held to a high standard.
9) Anybody criticizing the bulldogs doesn’t remember Ray Goff.
10) Life would be perfect if we were the only 2 fans at the games from now on!
Denver Dog
April 24th, 2009
3:07 pm
Way to go Eston, you are a genuis. Go to your blog, oh yeah your school doesn’t have one, or you don’t have a school, other than jr high.
Bill, I don’t want to see a rash of injuries. I don’t want to see poor calls on any side of the ball. I really want to see everyone quit dissing coach Martinez, or any other UGA coach.
I want to see us play well now and score at will. Stop the other teams, kick the ball into the endzone, make tackles and make field goals. If we do that, we won’t have to worry about the rest
Uradork
April 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
Eston,
I bet a person such as yourself likes putting dollar bills in all the strippers “jort thongs” at all the gay strip clubs you visit on the weekend with your mouth. Is Eston pronounced with a lisp?
UGAly
April 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
Florida fans like Eston, have to resort to vicariously living off the successes of their favorite football team to make them feel better about themselves. I doubt he ever even saw the inside of a UF classroom. Imagine a Gator tank top, jean shorts and a mullet.
SEC1
April 24th, 2009
3:08 pm
Agreed. The SEC is tough. I’m referring to those who are not on the level of a Florida or LSU. (not necessarily a GA Southern) The Vandys and Kentuckys should be “cupcakes” for us. Perhaps I should have used another term, but my point remains the same…
Tony
April 24th, 2009
3:12 pm
Uradork,
I can’t stop laughing. Thanks.
Northern Sympathizer
April 24th, 2009
3:13 pm
There are no guaranteed wins in the SEC any more. Everyone is good. Gone are the days when you can count on a win over Vandy or Kentucky. They field good teams. Parody is here to stay. Ask Michigan, who got spanked by Appalacian!
JB
April 24th, 2009
3:15 pm
Obama working on a way to Tax Wins……..Florida is in trouble….Uga at 10 wins will get a tax increase.
Tech will get a stimulus check i’m sure
rome dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:16 pm
Look Willie is not that bad. Look at the team we had last year. Stafford was good but he lacked the leadership that the Dawgs needed. Look at the D-Line. There was not a defensive end on the line that could do anything that the ones in the past could do. Every team has a down year. It is funny that every one complains because Georgia was ranked number one at the beggining of the season and ended up ranked 9 at the end. To tell you the truth I am happy that we had 10 wins because it could of been a hell of a lot worse! We, as fans, need to quit blaming the coaching and start accepting that UGA is on the rise! They have not made it there yet but will in do time. I will say this anyone that thought UGA was going to go all the way with the teams they had to play last year was a damn fool. I bleed red and black but I am also a realist. Just wait, I know every fan says it but, for the next couple of years. And as much as I liked him good riddens to Stafford but I sure wish Knowshown would of come back! Lets GO DAWGS!!!
Daniel
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
This might be one of the stupidest things I have ever read. Really, you think Mark Richt doesn’t care about special teams…”Meyer knows, like some other great coaches, that special teams win and lose games for you.” Wow I guess Richt could read this article and learn something from you, actually I will put a little more trust in a guy that has one of the highest active winning percentages in the NCAA. News flash…this is a COLLEGE PROGRAM, so you will always have dropped passes, wilting in the face of adversity, and not being prepared- that doesn’t mean we can;t curtail on them but these guys are 18-22 years old. Please don’t write down 10 things a 5 year old could get frustrated about and call it an article
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
UGA fans are sooo sensitive…We Florida grads will continue winning our national championships….and UGA can continue celebrating top 10 recruiting classes and 10 win seasons….you will always be the woulda coulda shoulda of the SEC….stay down little puppies or get out of the way for the Big Gators
Tony
April 24th, 2009
3:17 pm
I know it’s probably not very popular here to say that CWM isn’t the problem. He’s had a few bad games last year, but his over all body of work is very good. I wouldn’t have anyone else except Muschamp, & from the look of things it’s not gonna happen any time soon.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
Uradork, why dont you continue to share with the rest of the blog your knowledge of the inner workings of Gay strip clubs….its ok to just admit that you smoke a bologna pony….for you at least
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
April 24th, 2009
3:19 pm
King of Slop is what this is. Cut and paste article with a question added
Digidydawg
April 24th, 2009
3:20 pm
Whenever I read Eston’s comments I hear it in my head with a lisp. Funny.
Golden Dawg 84
April 24th, 2009
3:22 pm
OK, many will give the dawgs a pass on 2008 and perhaps rightly so. The problem for the rest of us is that after many very good years under CMR 2008 appeared to be the best chance in decades for the dawgs to break out and contend for the MNC as a favorite from the beginning. We all know how talent cycles run in CFB and this seemed like a culmination of talent and experience with no glaring weaknesses.
To regularly come completely undone and give up points in bunches was extremely disappointing. As Bill points out, many of the issues seemed to stem from attitude. I’m truly glad that many of my bulldog brethren can brush 2008 off as no big deal. The fan group I hang out with (as fervent as any-traveling to most games home and away and yes, all with real lives) haven’t yet recovered from the massive letdown that was 2008.
Here is hoping that we snap back in 2009 despite obvious talent shortages at key positions. How this team responds will go a long way to determining the CMR legacy. Is he a great guy and good coach who can occasionally compete for a SECC (hey that’s not bad-seriously-certianly better than what we used to have), or an elite coach who will have us competing for championships every year.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:23 pm
Uradork….thanks for taking up for your girlfriend tony
Uradork
April 24th, 2009
3:24 pm
Take it easy Eston. I must have touched a button. I would admit it, but I’m sure you give demonstrations.
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
digadydawg…..do you hear a lisp when i call your dawgs choke artist? Or is your crying, from another “we should done better year” drowning out my lisp
LAC
April 24th, 2009
3:27 pm
WOW… Whata complete waste of space & time for all…
Eston
April 24th, 2009
3:30 pm
A demonstation….sure….first tony unzips his pants….and then uradork drops to his knees with a big smile on his face and then……Tony starts to sing the uga fight song
Big Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:31 pm
3. The Dogs offense suddenly going conservative in the red zone.
This has disturbed me greatly since Coach Richt has been at Georgia and the thing that sticks out in my mind most is personnel. The Dawgs seem to be able to move the ball then when they get inside the opponents 30 yard line they seem to sputter. IMHO from watching a lot of Georgia’s games over the last 8 years that is because the Dawgs have a tendency, which was highlighted last year, either a player would take themselves out or the coaches changed personnel. I have noticed that a lot under Coach Richt the Dawgs would get into a good rythym and personnel changes would cause a misfire, also to be successful in the red zone you have to be able to consistently pound the ball, except for 2002 with Musa Smith we haven’t had that.
JB
April 24th, 2009
3:31 pm
CWM had a bad year for all the reasons stated, but because of injuries could not hit during the week ( Mark says that will not happen this year. What concerns me about CWM is his trend. look at the last three years stats and it will alarm you…..The conference is getting better. Our D is not. This will be the year to watch close..
Charlotte Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:36 pm
I think Bill’s list is right on time!
And I like to point out he again mentioned Richt not having a killer instinct. Very true, very true. Just now way around that.
I mean did you see how he acted after the 2007 Vandy game? It is football coach Richt…NOT GOLF!! They celebrated and jumped on the logo. Countless #’s of teams have done that to us in Athens. GT even ripped out our hedges. But you didn’t see PJ crying about it and apologizing for his whittle kids actions. His troups hit Goliath right in the mouth and he let them celebrate.
Richt does not want to kick the enemy when he’s down, doesn’t believe in payback, and is way to calm and accepting of pathetic play, etc.
I want the meanest S.O.B out there for a coach. To be feared is to be respected.
He’s just too nice!
Huh?
April 24th, 2009
3:37 pm
The most hilarious thing about all this whining is that this time last year Richt was a frickin football zen master and on top of his game according the same whiners that are whining like little babies now. Do you idiots really think he forgot how to coach in those months between the 2007 and 2008 seasons? Think about it, if you’re able.
TC Dawg
April 24th, 2009
3:42 pm
What a load of crap. However, the AJC has what it wants, controversy and readers. Look at how many people have responded to this piece of crap article. Let’s see, the golf team just won the SEC tourney, the baseball team is off to one its best starts, great recruiting class in football, we were able to keep what most of the other coaches in the SEC consider the best offensive line coach at a cheaper rate, same goes for Rodney Garner, the Gym Dawgs just won an unprecedented fifth national title, etc., etc. Give me a break about time past in UGA football. Other than the 80’s when Hershel was here, we were a team only feared by Florida and at that time, nobody cared about Florida. What a peice of crap written by someone who looks like a cartoon character.
Jacket Steve
April 24th, 2009
3:46 pm
45-42!!! GO JACKETS!!!
Soulja Boy
April 24th, 2009
3:46 pm
His Holiness left out entitled thugs mugging for tv, victory dances after giving up long gains, arrrests, arrests, arrests.
i heart fl jorts!
April 24th, 2009
3:47 pm
I heard Eston likes little boys…sicko…
hop
April 24th, 2009
3:50 pm
it is easy to lament about various mistakes,errors, mental lapses,but one major problem was the loss of more experience players due to injury.
we lost a total of 25 plaeys at one point or the entire season, and they were replaced with less experience players including a freshmen kicker!
a team cannot survive that many injuries especially with so few players allowed on scholarship from the ncaa and expect to have a banner year.
we did very well last year especially with all the injuries and i think the coaches did a yomans job having to find replacement players to come in and compete in the toughest conference in america.
the dawgs were one of the very top teams at the close of 2007 and ,but that was due in part to very limited injuries.,
I don’t know if that translates into more victories or not this year since we lost our two best players the passed season,but we will be far more disciplined this year, unless we again have a rash of injuries due to playing a more experience plaers on the field.
i think this team will surprise us all this year.
austindog
April 24th, 2009
3:50 pm
11. The Shotgun Draw play. Handing off to a flatfooted tailback from the shotgun formation. The only positive effect this ever had was making the defence think our OC was insane and could try anything.
austindog
April 24th, 2009
3:51 pm
“defense” (dang)
PeligroPero
April 24th, 2009
3:55 pm
OK, I have a stupid question. When you refer to “MNC”, what does the “M” stand for? I understand the National Championship part. It can’t be for “Men’s” since there is no Women’s NC in football.
bulldog ellis
April 24th, 2009
4:02 pm
Fire Bobo,Martinez.Problem solved
uga_b
April 24th, 2009
4:05 pm
The only one that I want to never see again after the Kentucky game is this:
1) Playing Nickel in the redzone against a running QB>
Go back and watch the tape. When we went back to the 3-4 we stopped them. Nickel is awful against the run.
uga_b
April 24th, 2009
4:07 pm
Austindog, you can add the slow moving QB draw to your list.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
4:08 pm
No stupic question Pero. MNC stands for Mythical National Championship. Since there is not a playoff, even with the BCS you will have an MNC. The two best teams do not always play. Heck if you don’t give us a shot in 2007 because we did not play in the SECC, USC should have gotten a shot to play in the MNC. I am an SEC fan and was pulling for LSU but I thought USC could have beaten LSU and the Ohio State University.
clemdawg
April 24th, 2009
4:12 pm
I would rather read a story on the college football player, that will, as a mentor, make a difference in in a trouble youths life. Negative stories like this does nothing for anybody. bye
BeachGaBulldog
April 24th, 2009
4:26 pm
I couldn’t agree more! Especially #5. Its bad enough when you are having to battle your opposition, but having the refs screw you, its time to bend over and touch your ankles.
I hate Penn Wagers! I can’t stand to look at his ugly face. And, everytime I see he is doing one of our games, I know that he is going to stick it to us.
Todd
April 24th, 2009
4:29 pm
Couldn’t agree more Bill. I’m still numb over the out from nowhere ass whippin from UF in Jax and Stafford and Moreno sitting on the bench at the end of the game, not even standing. Last yr.’s special teams play was unbelievably awful. Logan Gray returning punts spoke volumes as to the coaching of special teams.
A few consistent themes of the MR era. 1)cannot beat UF, Tenn in the same season and sweep the East 2) mystery blowout games, Tenn. a few yrs. ago in Knoxv. and 31-0 at half last yr. to Bama…..3)MR’s playcalling in the early yrs. particularly against UF in the Ron Zuke yrs., those brutal, awful to sit thru 13-10 games, not laying it out on offense, kicking and missing field goals.
As much as you can list the MR achievements in 8 yrs. and how can you not like what the guy stands for and goes about his business, I think he’s blown his opps. in the SEC and I just can’t see him getting over the hump. Aron Murray & co. is the last chance.
LSU
April 24th, 2009
4:40 pm
You people are the biggest bunch of crybaby b!thces!! Only a uga fan would actually have a referee as somthing to blame for the short comings the team. You wonder why so many people make fun of uga fans.
BS Patrol
April 24th, 2009
4:50 pm
10 things doggie fans REALLY hate to see:
1) Gailey leaving
2)Ball leaving
3)Paul Johnson coming
4)J. Dwyer coming
5)Roddy Jones coming
6)Rasheed tackling
7)Staffy leaving
8)Knowshow leaving
9)Mass leaving
10) 45-42
ACCblows
April 24th, 2009
4:53 pm
ACC>SEC…………Are you retarded? Yes the ACC slips up and has a decent season against the SEC, but history shows and will continue to show that tha ACC is mediocre at best. pathetic comment, truly pathetic.
HAHAHAHAHa
April 24th, 2009
4:55 pm
BS Patrol are you in middle school?
P B R
April 24th, 2009
5:00 pm
Does anyone know if Wyoming had rings made after they beat Tenn? What cheezy pathetic school does that? Hmm…
UGAfan
April 24th, 2009
5:02 pm
I hope not to see the DEFENSE wait half way through the 3rd quarter to make adjustments.
chazz
April 24th, 2009
5:09 pm
I am a big Mark Richt fan, but my one criticism of him is his conservative play calling, specifically in the red zone. This problem existed before Bobo took the coordinator position. I remember David Green all but willing a touchdown after a long succession of settling for three. Yeah, I think its time to blow it out.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
5:10 pm
I agree with you LSU, a heap of whiners. And when I point out the glass is half full not half empty, well you can read earlier posts attacking my optimistic outlook. Football is supposed to be fun. Heck I went to UGA because we beat Bama and Tech in ‘76 and I thought this was the most fun I had ever had with most of my clothes on. I still think UGA football is the greatest show on earth, win or lose. So call me a blind Homer Simpson, I don’t care. As Lewis, I am Bulldawg born and Bulldawg bred. And when I die, I will be Bulldawg dead.
chazz
April 24th, 2009
5:20 pm
You can’t blame the tech fans. It is so unusual to pull of a vicotry, it is all they can talk about. I guess we will have to hear about that 45-42 score until the evening of November 28th. Brag while you can yellow flies. Brag while you can.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
5:26 pm
Is it just me or is anyone else tired of the homophobic comments. What is next, racist allegations for opposing fans? Why don’t we just go back to my Coach can beat up your Coach?
DawgGirl32
April 24th, 2009
5:28 pm
I agree with Crazy4GT: I would say that 8 out of the 10 things on that list were caused at least partly by injuries. I know we’ve heard it time and time again but when you have to keep moving people around to different positions and playing kids that have never played college football before because half your team is injured, you’re going to have these problems.
Bill, I understand what you’re trying to say about “wilting in the face of adversity” but couldn’t you also say that with 22 season-ending injuries (A LOT of adversity), 10 wins was a damn good feat? I mean, if you had told me how many and which players we’d have on the sidelines at the beginning of the year, I would think that 10 wins would probably be impossible. As crazy as it sounds, I think this year might have been one of the better coaching jobs in the Mark Richt era considering what he had to work with.
We have to remember that we’re just one year removed from an 11-2 season and a BCS bowl win…..with the same coaches. Did they just forget how to coach? I doubt it. I think the biggest improvement we’re going to have as a team next is healthy bodies. That’s something you can’t coach. I think we should reserve judgement until then.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
5:33 pm
Chazz, I remember the last time we beat UF in 2007. I still have my 42-30 ring though I was tempted by cash for gold. Let Tech have some fun, what else is there to do on North Avenue.
SoCal Dawg
April 24th, 2009
5:37 pm
Cuz its not about and optimistic outlook or if 10 wins makes a good season. Its about living up to your potential. Its about being the best you can be. If UGA were a bunch of over achievers 10 wins would be great but unfortunately it is an under achieving program.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
5:39 pm
DawgGirl, you are wise beyond your years. You go girl. Has anyone ever told you that you can see the forest for the trees.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
5:44 pm
SoCal, I will agree that there were plenty of underachieving moments in 2008. The first half of the Bama game. The third quarter of the greatest beatdown in UGA-Tech history, well they think so. Failure to just put away the little brother in the opener. And the beat goes on. But I can say the same thing of the 2006, 2005 season, Sugar Bowl. Big letdown then a battle to make a comeback. I just think we were snakebit in 2008. I blame the pre-season polls and my friend gator-the-dog-catcher just because I can.
macrotech
April 24th, 2009
5:47 pm
Yellowsforpiss, it’s not hard to remember ‘the year’….last year! Would be REALLY great if this could become a consistant response to ‘remember when Tech beat the dawgs’ question. Of course, I’m biased in my thoughts and will, PROUDLY, make this statement in public. By no means, do I think that CMR is losing his touch. uga had a tough year at a time that Tech had an amazing year! Should make for some fun football for the next few years…time will tell. Can’t we ALL just get along? Group hug in Between, Ga.? GO TECH!!!
john
April 24th, 2009
6:24 pm
Well it’s good the vast majority of the UGA fans are happy with mediocrity. Because that’s exactly what the UGA football program is under Bobo and Martinez. There will always be some lame azz reason for why UGA lays an egg in a big game: an injury, somebody missed an assignment, the official flagged us unfairly. On and on. Always something to blame to avoid admitting it’s Bobo or Martinez. I wonder how long Bobo or Martinez would last at Florida? I’d say 1 season, maybe 2. But that’s the difference in their coach, their AD, their alums, and their sidewalk fan base.
But, oh well. Let’s just be happy as pigs in mud that UGA chokes in at least 2 to 3 big games each year.
Jack Schitt
April 24th, 2009
6:52 pm
I am a UGA gradiate and love thim Dogs and what I dont wont to see is them Tinnasee Vols beeting us we dunn stole sumthin. That thar Lane Kiffin will have hour nomber four yeers to cumm.
I'll take 10 wins every year
April 24th, 2009
7:13 pm
Not win the SEC Title or a National Championship……EVER!
AltamahaDawg
April 24th, 2009
7:59 pm
The Florida program of 2008, or the Florida program of 2007?
AltamahaDawg
April 24th, 2009
8:15 pm
elvis, its the same reason a squacky parrot says the same thing over and over….to get attention. Not difficult to learn what to say to make a handfull of people pat you on the head.
BT
April 24th, 2009
8:46 pm
I’m tired of HAIR and DREDS sticking out of players helmets! Richt came in with a rule on long hair and somewhere along the way forgot about it. I’m also sick of everybody having a different pair of cleets. This sounds picky and it is. The bottom line, get rid of all this individual crap on the field! What happened to BIG TEAM-little me?
UGA FOOTBALL JUST AN AVERAGE PROGRAM
April 24th, 2009
8:58 pm
Keep your ten wins while LSU and Florida win National Crowns, UGA always watching from the sidelines.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
8:59 pm
I’m tired of tatoos. Anyone with a tatoo, yank their scholly. What, you’re kidding me. Okay I have been told we cannot field eleven men on either side of the ball without tatoos. Throw that idea out.
Cuz
April 24th, 2009
9:05 pm
Hey Alt, I feel like David Letterman. We finally got a fan give us our own top ten list. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Somehow I think they meant flatulance instead of flattery.
Skip Jacobs
April 24th, 2009
9:19 pm
Bill:
I do not think Willie Martinez is the problem. Last year’s defensive problems resulted from two
issues
1. Penalties-which you correctly addressed(and I mean offensive penalties too!!!)
2. Injuries-which you partly addressed.
Not only did the rash of injuries deplete top talent on the field, but coach Richt made a decision to limit live tackling in practice after the first few games for fear of losing more players. This resulted in the defense losing their edge; and Richt acknowledged(after GT) that in
hindsight this hurt the defensive performance. Coaches live and learn-they make mistakes
and learn from them just as we all do in our professions.
To say that coach Richt does not seem to be concerned with emphasis on special teams I
think is fairly flippant statement. Anyone who has been around football for very long- much less coached-knows the importance of special teams.
You correctly observed that the defense looked much better in the bowl game- I understand
coach Richt returned to regular schedule of live tackling in the bowl practices-and it showed.
Sissy Dawg
April 24th, 2009
9:20 pm
CMR is a great guy, but all the teams problems relate to one thing, “No Discipline”. On the field or off the field, the players don’t take him seriously. Georgia will be lucky to win eight games this year.
Buddy El
April 24th, 2009
9:24 pm
Eston: Is there anything else you do other than pick your nose, wet the bed and sleep with your mother? I’ll bet your parents were just doing it for fun in the bed of a pickup the night she got pregnant with you.
Buddy El
April 24th, 2009
9:31 pm
Obviously the injuries were a huge part of the problem but I saw several Dawgs that were playing with very little intensity. If all played with intensity, play after play, like Rennie Curran it would have not only have looked a lot better but probably would have made a huge difference in certain games. When one gives his/her best it is hard to criticize regardless of the final score.
BS Patrol
April 24th, 2009
9:34 pm
While you’re at it, make sure they know their ABC’s.
Whoops! Couldn’t field a team then either, you say?
Buddy El
April 24th, 2009
9:38 pm
Why do I keep seeing all this hype about “Florida and LSU”? Florida yes indeed. LSU’s record against UGA and several others is so-so. I do really appreciate their spanking……make that mauling……the Bunglebees in the Fruit Bowl.
savanadawg
April 24th, 2009
10:09 pm
Hey, try to get video on B.J.Butler he is a “BEAST”.
Reptilian Rhapsody
April 24th, 2009
10:43 pm
Wow, some of the comments by Dawg fans on here absolutely floor me. Yes you have a very good program at UGA but doesn’t every fan want “greatness” for their program/team?? Hey, not every year, but every once in a while? You don’t want to be like Florida?? You’re happy with the same results year in and year out?? You’re happy to see my Gators raise the trophy 2 out of three years?? I know I would NOT be so content if the shoe was on the other foot!!! Maybe thats why you’re where you’re at…And by the way, whats this wearing jean sorts thing you always laughingly accuse the Gator fans of??? I haven’t seen anyone around here wear jean shorts since the 1970s. In fact the last time I can remember even seeing them anywhere was in a movie my nephew had to absolutely drag me to a couple of years ago called the Dukes of Hazzard…a movie that featured fictitious characters from a place they called Hazzard County, GEORGIA…
Walker
April 24th, 2009
11:08 pm
########1 People making a list and complaining who NEVER PLAYED FOOTBALL!!!! Hey Bill, How Long would would the list be if you coached? Do you even know how to put pads on?
esaun
April 24th, 2009
11:29 pm
what? an ajc writer really callin it for what it really is instead of giving cmr bear bryant praises. remember cmr was kiffin, new unproven face in the sec the only difference cmr does not face pressure to win that kiffin will. good job king to point out the10 things that also separate the elite coaches from the rest; scary to ponder if richt is a coaching genius or a good guy whose coaching skills are average
AltamahaDawg
April 24th, 2009
11:34 pm
Interesting how everyone thought Coach Richt should give up some duties to concentrate more on just head coaching, but Urban decides to coach special team and he is a genius, huh? Our terrible KO coverage team last year was TWO yards worse than his. I got news for him. As rough of a time as we had last season for UF to only be 2 yrds better in KO coverage, less than half a yard better in KO returns, 3 yrds worse in punt returns…..doesn’t seem like much of a deal. The truth is that in 4 yrs at FL his squads have been in the lower half of the SEC as much as they have been in the upper half in all of the special teams stats. Sometimes slightly higher than UGA and sometimes slightly lower.
Exactly when was this big concern for Fabris before now, since UGA has been extremely competant in special teams every year since he has been here. In fact it was only a few games this past year where we seemed to have issue. Playing third stringers and a new kicker could not have had anything at all to do with that. It was that we didn’t have Coach Meyers coaching them. And for the love of pete, there is not a coach on record that doesnt say it’s better to kick the ball to the side, not in the middle. Throw your hands in the air all you want to, but the laws of physics and geometry aren’t going to change. When the freshman did it right, it was covered very well, when he did not, we gave up a few extra yards over the national average runback. Can we stop exagerating?
AltamahaDawg
April 24th, 2009
11:46 pm
I dont know where “around here” is, but I was in St. Augustine a few weeks ago and saw 2 jorts wearing gator fans at the same eatery inside of an hour. The blue tank top and slicked back silver hair was a nice touch. Don’t pretend.
UGAfan
April 25th, 2009
12:42 am
Hey reptillian rhapsody………It is safe to say that UF has been really successful, right? That would mean that they probably have a blog right? Go get on it./
Oledawg
April 25th, 2009
1:57 am
Bill- Crud happens and you are the Scarab Beetle of UGA football. Have you blogged under non de plumes this year? Some of your trash looks awfully familiar. Please take me off your reminder list. Thanks.
stendec
April 25th, 2009
3:34 am
Lions and desperate fans (Yankee scum every one) expect Stafford to produce like Ryan and that other rookie QB did in 2008. Will not happen! Stafford does not possess leadership qualities or physical/mental toughness required. If he starts he will not last out the season without an injury. Rushed passes will be off target while perfect aerials will be dropped. Why? Because Lions are anti-Red Wings. Always have been. Always will be. The Falcons have sucked for decades but, thankfully, never pitched an oh-fer (winless season). A dubious mark which CAN ONLY be matched NEVER surpassed (if that is correct word). Complete failure is its own reward. Much like revenge being a dish best served cold.
Reptilian Rhapsody
April 25th, 2009
3:54 am
Altamahahahaha “Dawg” Yeah, you’re special teams are just terrific, I especially liked that onside kick attempt up in Jax last year…by the way, thanks for the TD!!! Not that we needed it…Also, you said you were in St Augustine??? I doubt that seriously, with a name like you’ve got I doubt you’ve ever been out of your own state! Sounds like something out of “Deliverence”(also filmed in Ga). And by the way, it’s D-O-G! (English language version). And UGAfan…I DO visit UF Blogs but fortunately, unlike you, I can chew gum and walk at the same time so I visit other blogs as well.
Pago Flyer
April 25th, 2009
7:53 am
I think we all know “special teams’ can win games. Does the coaching staff know this!
Cuz
April 25th, 2009
8:07 am
Rhap we spell it Dawg to distinguish ourselves from the other cannines in Starkville. The Altamaha river is not in North Georgia and St. Augustine is in North Florida. Glad I could help.
turkey
April 25th, 2009
9:17 am
The worst thing bulldogsfan see is more Willie “hardlick” Martinez. It almost goes back to the Goff and Spurrier days when Spurrier would say, “You can show up with yours and I’ll show up with mine we could switch teams and I’ll still beat you.” Thats how much confidence I have in Willie Martinez. Bugkiller, are we the only ones who see this?
Raleigh
April 25th, 2009
10:04 am
12 things Dawg fans would like to see:
- Beat OK State
- Beat South Carolina
- Beat Arkansas
- Beat Arizona State
- Beat LSU
- Beat Tennessee
- Beat Vandy
- Beat Florida
- Beat Tennessee Tech
- Beat Auburn
- Beat Kentucky
- Beat Ga. Tech
OK, Bill – you’re turn – tell me why the Dawgs and their coaching staff are too sh*tty to beat more than 3 of them. While you’re concentrating on what could go wrong and how a smart guy like you could teach them Dawgs how to win, I’ll optimistically look forward to:
- how Joe Cox handles his turn in the saddle
- how AJ Green follows up his All-SEC performance while completely healthy this year
- how a deep, seasoned offensive line performs for one of the best offensive line coaches in the country
- how newcomers like Branden Smith, Orson Charles and Marlon Brown contribute (along with the rest of a top-notch recruiting class)
- how Rennie Curran continues to grow into a dominant playmaker and leader at LB
- how Jeff Owens returns to re-form a mean combination with Geno Atkins on the DL and create opportunities for DEs like Justin Houston
It’s a helluva lot more fun going into a season looking forward to what could happen rather than dreading perceived, inevitable failures. Maybe you have an article in your back pocket titled “10 things a Bulldog fan hopes TO SEE” – but I doubt it.
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2009
10:28 am
It’s a-l-l-i-g-a-t-o-r in the “english language form”. But I’m sure you knew gator was simply a southern U.S. informal version of the real word.
And yes, I have indeed been to St. Augustine. A few times. Hoping to be there on June 1st to see James Taylor. That’s a little before your time, sport. Pretty much been to every corner of Florida. Lived in a couple of them. Shucks, I’ve even been to New York City. And L.A. But I wasn’t chewing gum at the time.
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2009
10:48 am
But Raleigh…..there was that thing that happened 25 games ago.
Raleigh
April 25th, 2009
10:55 am
Altamaha – huh?
Hunk Erdown
April 25th, 2009
11:17 am
Alt
I was down in St Augie a while back too. Saw a couple of gator boys with there jorts on except they wore them down low with their crack hanging out. You know why they do that?
It keeps the gnats out of their face.
Hunk Erdown
April 25th, 2009
11:27 am
I wish ya’ll would take it easy on Bill, he’s all we’ve got anymore…
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2009
11:32 am
Raleigh, joke, not very good obviously. I’m saying good for you, trying to size up the next season, not stuck on who dropped a ball the time before last we played SC.
The guys I saw had those jorks pulled up way up, as high as humanly possible. I guess when wearing jorts, there is no right or wrong.
shane#1
April 25th, 2009
1:16 pm
Alt, I have been to LA a few times too. If you can’t have a good time with those Dothan girls on Saturday night you might as well become a monk. You were refering to Lower Alabama, right? I have been wondering how Matt can spend all that money. Here are my top five. 1- Buy Dad a new house, Mom probably made out like a bandit in the divorce. 2- Hanging with his homeys. He can buy Biff and Chuck and Kevin flashy rims for their Beemers and new polo shirts. They can cruise the mean streets of North Dallas. 3- Hook up with some fly Shortys. Buffy and Heather are waitin’ on ya Dog. 4- Give some back. Matt can buy country cub memberships for the poor kids in his neighborhood. 5- Keepin’ it real. Just because he made it big he can’t forget where he came from. He can still hang out at Gil Brandt’s house.
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
Shane, I use to date a former Miss L.A. Her Daddy was a prominant Dothan attorney. Much better memories than any I have from that visit to California.
How ’bout that Matthew Stafford. #1 pick, record setting guaranteed money. I am starting to rethink my position that he would improve his situation to stay his senior year.
Hunk Erdown
April 25th, 2009
1:52 pm
Stafford don’t know it but he ought to buy one helluva monument for a certain NorthWestDawg, who had to be his #1 fan and probably an angel on his shoulder pads last year.
Curly Headed Devil
April 25th, 2009
1:56 pm
Doyouknowshon, get your facts straight about the Gators. The player who took the credit card of the dead girlfriend of one of his teammates was immediately kicked off the team by Meyer when he learned of the crime. Same thing for the idiot lineman who fired the assault rifle.
Your envy of the UF program is turning you from red and black to GREEN!
shane#1
April 25th, 2009
2:37 pm
Curly Headed Devil, he ain’t green, now Matt Stafford, he’s green! Alt, I tried to stay away from lawyer’s daughters. Too dangerous, if you get my drift. You are right though, Dothan is a lot more fun than California. Hunk you are right, Ol’ Buck is smiling down from heaven now. A marble monument is the least that Staff could do.
Hunk Erdown
April 25th, 2009
3:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Hal Vernon
April 25th, 2009
3:22 pm
Nice picture, gopher boy!
AltamahaDawg
April 25th, 2009
4:30 pm
Did I mention she was a beauty queen.
Cuz
April 25th, 2009
5:15 pm
I can hear Buck telling Lewis Grizzard, “I told you that Stafford boy is the real deal.” UGA VI barks in agreement.
stendec
April 25th, 2009
6:04 pm
Lions and desperate fans (Yankee scum every one) expect Stafford to produce like Ryan and that other rookie QB did in 2008. Will not happen! Stafford does not possess leadership qualities or physical/mental toughness required. If he starts he will not last out the season without an injury. Rushed passes while he runs for his life will be off target while perfect aerials during scarce seconds of adequate protection will be dropped. Why? Because Lions are anti-Red Wings. Always have been. Always will be. The Falcons have sucked for decades but, thankfully, never pitched an oh-fer (winless season). A dubious mark which CAN ONLY be matched NEVER surpassed (if that is correct word to utilize here). Complete and utter failure is its own reward. Much like revenge being a dish best served cold. BTW – I am a DIEHARD Dawg fan! Moreno will fare well in Denver.
Pago Flyer
April 25th, 2009
6:48 pm
Ohio State had almost 97,000 today and they charged $5.00. The DAWGS couldn’t even get half that many. So much for SEC football!
SEC is King
April 25th, 2009
7:15 pm
What else is there to do in Ohio???
BamaBob
April 25th, 2009
8:04 pm
The problem with you georgia boys is that you is too soft. The whole state is soft. You lucked into the 1980 championship an you ain’t gonna do squat ever again cuz you a buncha candy asses
Oledawg
April 25th, 2009
8:43 pm
BamaBob-Let’s see; are you the short ,quick up and down motion bob? If so , I have something for you to bob. Or, are you the fraud and cheat bob? Probably the latter. Maybe the Dothan talk got you wound up and you had no other place to go except on this blog. If you are bobbing the Ross-Clarke Circle tonight, try Cowboy’s on 241 S. I’ll be the big guy in the cowboy hat at the end of the bar. Just ask me if I’d like to be “BamaBobed”. I’m old, but I’ll try to get it up for you. Haven’t been “BamaBobed” in years.
Hunk Erdown
April 25th, 2009
8:49 pm
Stendec
If you are really a dawg fan do us all a favor and stop posting the same thing on every blog… we all got it the first dozen times.
Oledawg
April 25th, 2009
8:53 pm
If you look at the # of bloggers online any sports web site, you will see the preponderous of actives are OSU. They really don’t have anything else to do except groan while “Beanie” gets passed over again and again. Didn’t ESPN push him for the Heisman over Moreno last Sept thru Nov? Yep. Again and again.
BS Patrol
April 25th, 2009
10:02 pm
Oledawg, Knowshow for Heisman? You got Alzheimer’s, right?
Rabun Dawg
April 25th, 2009
11:10 pm
As an old Dog from the last of Butts to the first of Griffith, I will take ten wins any season and love it!! And Dooley did not have many of them until #34 showed up!! Most of you younger Dogs remember those glory years of “80, ‘81, ‘82, and before that ,we were not a major force to be reckoned with. Just a good middle of the road team. Hey, we did not even play Bama, LSU, etc., many of those years. Coach Richt has elevated our program to a contender every year, so quit thinking that we are an elite program, we were not for many years. Just the facts,sorry for that!!
Questioner
April 26th, 2009
9:11 am
This wil probably P O both dawg and tech fans but what do Georgia Football and Tech basketball have in common? “It seems both do a great job of getting excellent players (note the NFL Draft and McDonalds all americans)but for some reason neither can rise to the top of the NCAA in their sports. IS there something lacking (like coaching)when you have great players and can not win conference much less a national championships? Flame away.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
April 26th, 2009
9:17 am
UGA fans will continue to see a program in the tank, a defense that continues to lead D-1 in penalties and an overpaid coach.
CMR remains on schedule to lose his job in 3 years or less, and here is why:
1. Meyer will continue to dominate and humiliate the UGA program year after year. 2008 was just a warmup to 2009, 2010 and 2011.
2. Paul Johnson will continue his winning streak, and that is something that Athens will not be able to tolerate. Johnson will prove he is a better coach and has a better program than UGA, and that will leave those UGA fans scratching their heads while eating their BBQ in their double-wides.
3. Old Miss will continue to get better under Nutt, and UGA will run out of options of who to schedule for conference games.
4. Spurrier alwasys finds a way to beat the Doggies, and really the only valid reason he remains at USC as opposed to playing golf full time.
Bottom line is CMR has sold you a load of goods, but no one in Athens can see past his good looks and Oakley Sunglasses to see how bad the program really is. I guess you cannot fault CMR, because anything is step up from Donnan and Goff, so like everyone says about UGA football….”bless their hearts, they really do try.”
RedandBlack
April 26th, 2009
11:29 am
It is another great day to be a Georgia Bulldog!! September is getting closer and we are getting better and stronger every day. Go Dogs!!!
SugarHillDawg
April 26th, 2009
3:49 pm
Mike Bobo 17 Int,(Closetted Tech Fan), I guess Tech really made a statement by blowing us out in our own house last year huh? If CPJ turns out to be a better coach , UGA will not hesistate to run CMR off and NO we won’t put up with getting beat by an inferior program. If Florida keeps it up, CMR will be shown the door too. UGA unlike Tech, does NOT abide mediocrity.Man, I’ve NEVER seen one game make so many IDIOTS drink the Kool-Aid. Beleive what you want, I won’t wake you man.
Georgia Dawg By Way Of Las Vegas
April 26th, 2009
8:42 pm
Great List! Keep up the good work. My statement is for any and all who say that fans should be happy with 10 win seasons. That’s a bunch of ********! The most important point about Georgia Football? … True fans require nothing but the absolute best effort from each and every player to make the team and are sick and tired of consistantly losing to the Florida Gators! Mark Richt’s record against Ron Zook (1 – 2) Urban Meyer (2006 & 2008 National Champions versus Mark Richt’s Zero!) the 13 – 1 season should have been 14 – 0 but once again they lost to who? Florida! Steve Spurrier? … sigh … why should I bother with stats. Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators owned the Bulldogs. Nuff said. This team has had tremendous talent but a lack of discipline, dumb*** play calling in the Red Zone, Time Mismanagement and outright Boneheaded Defensive lapses (trying for highlight hits which turn into missed tackles where the opponent runs for 40 – 60 yard rushes and touchdowns instead of being tackled for no gain … does this ring a bell?) has made the Bulldogs the SEC’s laughing stock. I love the Georgia Bulldogs. I am a lifelong Die-Hard BULLDOG! The fact is … The Bulldogs need to put some bite in their bark! Just get it done! No more excuses. No more a win is a win. I’m talking complete domination against all opponents! When they win they win barely. When they lose they lose badly!
FIX THE PROBLEM!
I’m done with my rant. Thanks for listening. (O_O)
Mike Bobo 17 INT
April 26th, 2009
10:41 pm
Well here are seveal things Dog fans hope not to see:
1. Urban Meyer
2. Nick Saban
3. Steve Spurrier
4. Paul Johnson
CMR remains on track to be fired in 3 years of less from the blog, because:
1. UGA will continue to be dominated by Florida, and 2008 was just a warmup.
2. Spurrier only remains at USC, because he hates the Dogs worse than I do.
3. Johnson will continune his winning streak at the Nerd School, which will be the final nail and in coffin and expose CMR as a weak and overrated coach.
4. UGA will drop the opener against OSU in Tulsa this fall, then it will be all downhill “again” just like 2008.
5. John Parker White
6. Tim Tebow
7. Josh Nesbitt, Michael Johnson and Roddy Jones
You know what though, everyone knows the Dogs try real hard, and you can say…”bless their hearts.”
Mike Bobo 17 INT
April 26th, 2009
10:48 pm
RedandBlack
Well that is a load of s#$t.
I love to see a fan base that can live with 9-3, 8-4 or even 10-2 and be happy as hell. Do not hand me that SEC crap, because Florida is on the only dominating team in the SEC, while Alabama got their asses handed to them by Utah.
I have never seen an SEC team so humiliated as what Utah did to the Tide, and what they would have done against Ugay, since the Tide totally demolished the Pups on 41-30 on 9.27.08.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
April 26th, 2009
10:53 pm
Georgia Dawg By Way Of Las Vegas
This is the only Dog fan that makes any sense. Forget stats, and focus on the fact that the Dogs lack team discipline and get dominated by Meyer year in and year out.
Bill King
April 27th, 2009
9:53 am
Raleigh,
Actually, I do plan a column on what I’m looking forward to this year.
UrbanCryer
April 27th, 2009
10:44 pm
Hey Reptillian if you know where the FLA blogs are then after your done filing your comic books and cleaning your Star Wars figures get your boyfriend and go to them. We all will just refer to you as Reptillian Sheott.
dawes
April 28th, 2009
1:35 pm
i think when you had 19 season ending injured like georgia had and still won 10 games that is something special they would not been a anothing team with that many injured would won 5 ball game
JenniferGO Dawgs
April 29th, 2009
2:24 pm
Losing to Auburn, GT, and UF………THAT is not what I want to see or to STEVE “WHINER” SPURRIER, who seems to have a replacement the UT coach
Iceman
May 1st, 2009
11:20 am
Mike Bobo 17 apparently doesn’t realize that
1, Tebow ain’t gonna be there forever. Yeah, the truth hurts doesn’t it?
2. Tech will always suck. They have a bright spot here and there, but they will never be on Georgia’s level. And anyhow, Richt is not going to best bested more than once by an inferior program like the Bugs.
3. Spurrier is nothing. He gets the Chickens ready for one game a year, and even if they do beat UGA, someone else will beat them later to help the Dawgs out.
4. Urban Meyer will go to Notre Dame when they show Weis the door in a year or two.
Kathy
May 3rd, 2009
11:23 am
Where can I get in touch with Hershel Walker? I wonder if I could ask him to drop in on a high school principal’s retirement luncheon? Impossible maybe but I want to try-this man idolized #34.
Kathy
Mike Bobo 17 INT
May 14th, 2009
7:44 pm
Dawes
Stick with special…that is a nice goal for UGAY. Let the big boys focus on titles.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
May 14th, 2009
7:54 pm
Iceman
1. You just confirmed it with Tebow. UGAY is scared of UF and Tebow, and UF will continue to pound on you. Meyer is light years ahead of CMR in terms of coaching, and not to worry, he has another 5-10 Tebows just waiting in line. The difference between Meyer and CMR, is that Meyer can recruit and produce. CMR can only recruit and fails to have the discipline to bring a title to UGAY.
2. CMR continues to be on track to be fired. North Ave. is not a stellar program, but has 3 more natioanl titles than UGAY, with a more recent title. Johnson may not rip off a long winning streak, but when UGAY drops the next 2 meetings with Tech and UF continues to beat the hell out of UGAY, CMR will be fired and will be back in Miami, replacing Randy Shannon.
3. Spurrier owns the dogs, plan an simple (see 1995 between the hedges with UF) Spurrier has already bought and sold your program, so nothing more needs to be said.
4. Meyer may go to ND, but UF could hire a local middle school coach, and the Gators would still beat the hell out of UGAY.
Note: once CMR returns to Miami he will win them their 6th title within 5 years, because Miami is an overall superior and much more mature program as compared to UGAY.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
May 14th, 2009
7:59 pm
It would be nice to one day see a UGAY fan be objective about the their program. It is so annoying to see UGAY fans try and defend a program that is in tank, and still live in the Buck Belue and Herschel Walker days.