What do you expect of 2009 Dogs?
I’ve been hearing a range of predictions from UGA fans on how Mark Richt’s 2009 team is going to do. (I’m holding off on my own trip out on the limb until next week.)
Loading ...I’ve heard a few more folks predict an 8-4 season, but more commonly I’m hearing 9-3 regular season or 10-2. No one seems to be picking this year’s Dogs to do any better than that (though admittedly I haven’t asked my brother Jon, who never picks against Georgia).
What I’m wondering, though, is what sort of record would constitute a disappointing season, from a fan’s view.
Obviously, 7-5 would be a big letdown and probably would renew the calls for someone’s head (most likely Willie Martinez’s).
But what about 9-3? Or even 10-2 if it doesn’t include a trip to the SEC championship? I’ve actually heard fans refer to 2004 as an off year for the Dogs for that very reason.
And even the 2007 team, which finished No. 2 in the country, disappointed some folks because those losses to South Carolina and Tennessee kept the Dogs out of the SEC title game and, thus, out of the BCS championship. It was such a screwy year that had that totally unnecessary, self-inflicted loss to the Gamecocks not happened, Georgia most likely would have played for the crystal football even with the loss to the Vols. (The disaster in Knoxville was such a complete collapse that I’ve just written that one off to fate, bad karma or a Phil Fulmer pact with the devil.)
So what’s the minimum the Dogs have to do in 2009 to keep from being labeled a disappointment?
Does anyone really have a right to expect a team that lost so much of its offensive production from the previous year to make it to the Georgia Dome, barring a complete implosion on Florida’s part? Is a 10-win season good enough, even if that has to include the bowl game? Or, under the circumstances, would 8-4 and a bowl win live up to your expectations?
Feel free to comment, vote in the poll or do both.
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230 comments Add your comment
Carl Spackler
August 28th, 2009
6:58 am
“Freshman Matt Barkley named USC’s starting QB…By GREG BEACHAM
The Associated Press”
Gee Whiz, could it be that USC pulls the trigger and starts planning for yet another National Championship run…the other QB Aaron Coup cracked the head of his fibula and will be available a couple of weeks back…then again they scheduled San Jose State as their first game…we’ll see if he’s still there against Ohio State…
Mike Gundy
August 28th, 2009
7:18 am
The UGA car flags will be out in full force Saturday… and they will all be GONE after OK.STATE kicks their arses Saturday night. Fairweather drunken trash talking LOSERS!
“I’m a man, I’m 40!”
Big Jon
August 28th, 2009
7:20 am
When coach CMR grows up as a head coach and finally realizes this is a business and not a Sunday School Class, no offense, Georgia will be a contender. Till then CWM and BoBo will be with us a while. CMR does not feel the heat and is not effected by the economy(life is good in Athens) after another 9-3 season we will probably give him another 3 million raise. We baby coaches too much at UGA. Get use to it Bulldawg Nation. Sorry, Truth Hurts.
Jack Schitt
August 28th, 2009
7:44 am
Give a Georgia redneck a 12 pack of PBR, Slim Jims, and computer access and they suddenly become football geniuses. You boobs that say UGA is going 12 – 0 or 10-2 need to put down the PBR. UGA will get throttled by OK State. Opie Cox won’t know whether to pee his pants or throw the ball away. The Mutts will be lucky to go 7-5 this year and thats being optimistic. Get ready for an azz-whuppin up in Neyland Stadium. It will be a long drive from Knoxville back to the trailer park in Athens for you UGA fans. UGA SUCKS. Now everyone sing it with me….”Rocky Top you will always be…Home Sweet Home to Me…Good Old Rocky Top Tennessee….Woooooooooooooo!!!
Tech sucks
August 28th, 2009
7:45 am
The bar has been set at 10 games. This is a team absolutely loaded with talent. No reason any Dawg fan should accept 9 or fewer wins. The defense should be immensely better, the Oline is considered by many to be the best or 2nd best in the country. Joe Cox is a leader and knows the offense inside and out and has one of the best 3 WR’s in the country. Loaded at DT, RB, WR, TE, CB, S, and all the OL positions. The media is sleeping bigtime on the Dawgs.
GatorNation
August 28th, 2009
7:49 am
You guys hanging your hat on a 3 year back up that’s only had mop up duty. Sure he won in high school but that’s high school. Things are definitely different in big time SEC country. The majority of UGA fans say his an excellent QB. Where’s the proof, practice HA HA HA!!! Even if you guys went 11-1 it still would matter because that meant you lost to us. No SEC championship and no NC!!!!
Call it Like It Is
August 28th, 2009
7:56 am
Lucky to win 7 games.
Gators win another SEC and NC!
Enough Said!
Cuz
August 28th, 2009
8:11 am
Bill is AWOL. I hope he is okay.
coach joe
August 28th, 2009
8:31 am
so jim ur goona upset UF and ala so where ur 2 loses coming from
Big time?? Not
August 28th, 2009
8:36 am
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
Trade School Junkie
August 28th, 2009
8:45 am
What to expect for 2009 mutts? Simple
Same old over-rated, over-hyped, Kool-Aid drinking BS…right up until halftime in the OKST game. That game wil be OVER at the half.
After OKST destroys the mutts, it’ll get real quiet on this blog.
Then, after losing to the hawgs in game 3, this blog will light up again with mutt fans screaming for CWM’s head on a platter.
WTF???
August 28th, 2009
8:56 am
Whatever record we finish the season with, it will still be better than GT’s.
Tech will lose to Miami, NC,FSU,VT & UGA.
UGA will go 10-2 with losses to UF & LSU, Capitol One Bowl….
BruffDawg
August 28th, 2009
9:35 am
See this is the difference between UGA and GT. When we have an “off” or uncertain year we still expect to win 8-9 games. When GT has an “off” year they just hope to become bowl eligible.
Georgia News – 8/28/09 | MrSEC.com
August 28th, 2009
9:38 am
[...] That could be a dangerous mix for the Dawgs next Saturday.The AJC’s Junkyard Blawger wonders if a 10-win season would be disappointing for Georgia fans this year. A… 10… win… season.Defensive coordinator Willie [...]
MattDawg
August 28th, 2009
9:51 am
TWO FREE Georgia Tech Football tickets with purchase of a 2-Liter!
Justin
August 28th, 2009
9:59 am
Jerry, So what if USC plans to start their freshman. What does that have to do with the program at UGA? It should tell you instead of being a better team out there, they just don’t have a decent upperclassman QB to choose from. Apples and Oranges.
Justin
August 28th, 2009
10:01 am
BruffDawg, I have to politely disagree with you there…when GT has an “on” year, they just hope to be bowl eligible.
Justin
August 28th, 2009
10:04 am
Jack Schit, the name aptly fits…it’s as about as much as you seem to know. have fun watching UTurd lose 6-7 times this season…again.
shards1967
August 28th, 2009
10:05 am
If the Dawgs stumble and lack hard hitting and smart D play ( being properly deployed ) then, THE disapointment will be if WM is NOT CANNED immediately after the last game.
Remember, Coach Fabris was named as CO Def. Head coach along with Gardner and of course, with CWM. That was a HINT directed at Martinez, I am sure.
This year ought to show us a HUNGRY and MOTIVATED defensive squad. If not, then changes must be made or the UGA faithful will howl. I for one will be looking hard at our safety #9. Has he learned to lock up and drive the ball carrier yet?
Johnny Test
August 28th, 2009
10:07 am
Here is the deal; beat the teams we should beat..South Carolina, Arkansas Arizona State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Tennessee Tech, Auburn and Kentucky. Win two of the 4 we are supposed to lose… OK State, LSU and Ga. Tech and Florida. If I could chose I’d chose Tech and Florida. Most likely it will be LSU and Tech.
Trade School Junkie
August 28th, 2009
10:28 am
Useful link here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/08/26/georgia.scrimmage.ap/index.html
I give credit to CMR, it was a smart scrimmage idea.
It appears that CMR is VERY concerned about mutts chances in Stillwater. Point is…mutts have no chnace. mutts are gonna get DRILLED.
But, the article makes the case: OKST is gonna score a TON of points.
Even All-SEC, #1-uga cheerleader/homer Barnhart has flatly stated, mutts are gonna HAVE TO score 30+ to even have a chnace to win.
dawgs wont score 30.
This is shaping up to be one of THE biggest beatdowns of the mutts in recent history.
It will be a TIVO classic.
DirtyDawg
August 28th, 2009
10:32 am
Optimistic predictions at this stage are just asking for trouble…but I will say, once again, that – and as Vince pointed out a few weeks ago – it is indeed what’s up front that counts. If the predictions of superior talent on both sides of the ball at the lines of scrimmage are accurate, then you’ve got to like your chances in any game we play…and that’s about all you can ask.
I will say that Florida will not win ‘em all this year, won’t win the NC – and probably won’t play in it, and maybe not even play in or win the SEC. Something about ‘front-runners’ in general and the UF in particular, that says that just when you think your crap don’t stink, you get hit in the face with it. Shoot, that’ll be almost as much fun to witness as beating ‘em – I said almost.
Call it Like It Is
August 28th, 2009
10:40 am
Keep wishing DirtyDawg,
As the Gators will put on another beat-down again in JAX, and yes, bank on it, no loses, with winning the SEC hands down especially the East.
Another Heisman, and a NC, Enough Said!
Crow
August 28th, 2009
10:57 am
Looking at your schedule – 7 wins given: South Carolina, Arizona St., Tenneessee, Vandy, TN Tech, Auburn, and Kentucky. 2 Given Losses: Florida and LSU. And 3 that could go either way, Oklahoma St., Arkansas, and Georgia Tech. I personally don’t think you’re going to beat Tech but I don’t want to crush your already bruised ego. UGA should go no worse than 7-5 and at best 10-2. Lets go with…8-4 with a loss to GT and Ok State. Good luck! Can’t wait for the season!!!
Jack Schitt
August 28th, 2009
11:59 am
Hey Justin….what are you doing home from school today? You will never get promoted to the 10th grade if you keep playing hooky. You probably have a picture of Stafford on your wall and pleasure yourself while looking at it…don’t you? Anyway, if you are waiting on UT to lose 6-7 games this year you will be in for a long season. Now get off your Mommy’s computer and get your little zit-faced butt to class. But before you leave your room sing this with me……..”Rocky Top You Will Always Be..Home Sweet Home To Me. Good Old Rocky Top Tennessee” Vols 2009 Season 9 – 3 at worst!!! Vols Rock Baby!!!
Justin
August 28th, 2009
12:14 pm
Jack, What am I doing home from school today? Kiss your mom on the lips later and that may answer your question. By the way, she has some pocket change now.
Jack Schitt
August 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
Wow Justin….you really zinged me on that one. If you only have pocket change then you must be a UGA graduate and I was wrong about you being in high school. At least living in your mommy’ s basement keeps you from paying rent. Must be the first double wide with a basement…congrats. You are truly a stooge….Larry, Curly, and Justin. UGA Sucks…but then I bet you knew that already didn’t you? You just don’t have the intelligence to know any better. Rocky Top will always be home sweet home to me…….Wooooooooooo!!!
Carl Spackler
August 28th, 2009
3:25 pm
What does it say about starting Barkley…well it speaks volumes…they must have Barkley prepared…UGA can’t even name a soild #2 QB…I hope all this decepition is for the media…how can you be playing next weekend and they say Gray has the upper foot as a backup, but hasn’t been named…Gray should be playing somewhere so that he can showcase his speed and athleticism…why would an athlete of his caliber be subjected to a red shirt season, then a special team player season, and now “maybe” as a backup to a QB w/ little experience that wasn’t even trusted enough to play in games even in a mop up roll…as far as Barkely/Murray goes, I believe his team went against Murray’s out in Portland and got spanked by the Florida team…if Murray hasn’t been given a fair chance to beat out Cox and Gray, then I hope he transfers…maybe Murray only knows 95% of the play book, well guess what, w/ Cox’s being limited on plays that he is able to execute, then Murray is probably even, or ahead…is CMR looking for an excuse to bench Cox following a loss…will this season wind up being an uphill battle after just one game…I’ve heard that all of the QB’s do a pretty good job working w/ the first team…it should be either Gray or Murray starting while casting an eye to the future…why would you want to be in the same position next year…either Gray or Murray should be able to establish themselves as the starter for this year and the future; if not then CMR better start beating the bushes yet again for a starting QB…
Justin
August 28th, 2009
4:41 pm
Jack, Listen, are you always this stupid or are you just making a special effort today? You seem like the kind of a man that someone would use as a blueprint to build an idiot. I don’t know what’s in the water up there in Tennessee that makes you so stupid, but it works really well.But really, I shouldn’t make fun of you, afterall, I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to pronounce.
Enjoy your 6-7 loss season and be sure to ask if your university has a refund policy.
AceDawg
August 31st, 2009
12:15 pm
No matter how good Florida is, it is a fact that they are vulnerable like every team. UGA certainly can’t underachieve knowing that even overachieving in Jacksonville could result in a loss, but winning this game and having Tebow leave as 1-2 against UGA would be pretty nice for the Dawgs. I can’t imagine UGA going undefeated even if everything goes their way, but they need to give UF hell this year and claim a little pride.