Richt: ‘We’re not dead yet’
Mark Richt said he'll do "anything and everything" needed to get Georgia back on track. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
You might have expected Mark Richt to be a little tense this week as he tries to get his floundering team to shake off last week’s second-half collapse and prepare for a Georgia Tech offense that gave the Dogs big problems last year.
But the Richt who dropped by the Touchdown Club of Athens meeting Tuesday night at the Athens Country Club appeared relaxed as he teased UGA color analyst Eric Zeier and recounted how his efforts to recruit Zeier to FSU came to naught.
Richt noted that Zeier has done such a good job of analyzing Georgia in the radio booth that Dogs supporters have been urging him to add Zeier to his coaching staff. In reference to widespread criticism of that staff, Richt cracked: “I said that if I hired him, he wouldn’t be so smart any more.”
Talking about Georgia’s past two games, Richt said he thought the Dogs winning the turnover ratio for the only time this season was the key to beating Auburn. As for the Kentucky game, he said, the first thing he told his team “was to protect the ball.” He said he stressed ball security at halftime of the game against the Wildcats, only to see his team turn it over four times.
Perhaps, he said sarcastically, “I should just say fumble and throw picks all you want and maybe they’ll do the opposite of what I say” again.
More seriously, he said part of the problem with Georgia getting more takeaways has just been the way the ball bounces, with the Dogs getting few chances to cover an opponent’s fumble. “It’s just been one of those years.”
But, he said, “I don’t think the team fell apart” in the second half against Kentucky. “We had a couple of freshmen spit it up. It wasn’t a bunch of guys giving up or quitting. We just found ways to hurt ourselves.”
And he promised the crowd of several hundred Bulldogs fans, “We’re not dead yet.”
On the subject of injuries to Bacarri Rambo and A.J. Green, he noted that Rambo was unable to practice Tuesday and would try again Wednesday. “If he can practice [Wednesday], he’ll be OK to play.” Green, he said, hasn’t been able to practice “but has not been counted out. There’s a little bit of hope that he can play” on Saturday.
Richt was asked by someone in the audience how Georgia having an off year is affecting recruiting. “Are [other programs] trying to steal players from us? Yeah. Are they saying Georgia’s having troubles? Yeah, they’re doing that. But so far no one has decommitted.”
And Richt said he didn’t expect to lose many recruits “because we don’t feed them a bunch of crap. We tell them how it’s going to be. I feel like we’re still in very good shape.” He added that at quarterback he’s sticking with Logan Gray, Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray for next year. “We’re not bringing in a freshman [quarterback] in this class, as of right now.” He said Georgia is looking at some potential walk-on QBs “for emergency situations,” but said he did not anticipate signing a junior college quarterback.
Asked about the Dogs’ troubles with kickoffs, Richt said that Blair Walsh has been doing a “stellar” job of kicking off, but “we just haven’t been covering good” this year. That was what led him to try a variety of approaches in the Kentucky game, including squib kicks. He just didn’t think his coverage team was capable of stopping the Cats and “the strategy was to try and disrupt what [Kentucky] was trying to do by doing some different things.”
The result, he said, was “two that were embarrassing, two that were not very good and two that were pretty good.” The squib kick returned to Georgia’s 49 popped up higher than Walsh expected, he said. It was supposed to be more of a line drive.
On the subject of penalties, he said that some of the personal fouls called were “not very smart” but others have just been the result of aggressive play that the Georgia staff thought was legal but the official “didn’t see it that way.” The officials, he said, “are human. They’re gonna call what they see.”
Same with holding calls, like those that have been called on center Ben Jones, he said. “We signed that kid because he’s a mean snake. He goes after it. But if he locks onto a guy and buries him, sometimes they think he’s holding him.”
Richt didn’t directly address the likelihood of any staff changes after this season, but he did pledge to the Touchdown Club: “I’m gonna do anything and everything I can do to get us back on track.”
ZEIER: RICHT IS THE MAN TO FIX THINGS
Speaking after Richt, Zeier said he thinks the Georgia program will be better off for having survived the kind of season it’s had this year. Citing his own career in football, which included time in the NFL, he said, “Challenges like this push you out of your comfort zone. … For the past several years, we’ve had a lot of success and were in a comfort zone. But when that happens, people will catch up to you and pass you before you know it. ”
Zeier thinks the abundance of young talent at UGA is the key to a turnaround. “We are on the verge of some really good things.” He said he’s already seeing the changes wrought by adversity. Over the past three weeks, he said, they’ve changed from a “loose, cocky bunch” to a more determined group.
And, he said, he thinks there’s “no better man for the job” of turning things around than Richt, who Zeier said “has earned the right to take this program where he wants it to go.”
Zeier said his “biggest fear” for this team is that it will buy into the excuses that the loss of players like Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno was responsible for the downturn. “When you allow challenges to become excuses, you have every reason not to win.”
Georgia, he said, has the talent to be an elite program again. “We’re a year or two away from being back at that level. “And we’ve got the right group [of coaches] to do it.”
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216 comments Add your comment
Andy
November 25th, 2009
10:40 am
First!?
Me
November 25th, 2009
10:42 am
Check back Sunday morning…..
JB
November 25th, 2009
10:45 am
Gotta walk it up, not talk it up…………………………..
cooldawg
November 25th, 2009
10:46 am
Unconfirmed report on 680 the Fan this morning that Martinez will tender his resignation on Sunday. Hopefully, Fabris does as well. Zeier said that this was the coaching staff to get us back on top, huh? Looks like its minus one effective Sunday.
NAZ
November 25th, 2009
10:49 am
3rd! Upset this weekend…UGA 34, GT 24. Go Dawgs!
Sigh
November 25th, 2009
10:49 am
Takes poster on message board to point out to coaching statt that Cox has been tipping pass/run plays:
Will writes: David, is there any way you could bring up the point the Senator pointed out on his blog recently about Cox’s footwork tipping off opponents to the coaches? I just don’t know how else to get that to them. If we, as fans, can see this (and confirm it in numerous game film examples from this season) it can’t have slipped past other defensive coordinators.
David: We all owe a big tip ‘o the cap to The Dawgfather, who noticed this well before most people… including Mike Bobo apparently. But even Bobo now admits… it’s true!
“We did go back and look at it and it was more so in the Kentucky game,” Bobo said. “It was not every play of pass-run, but there was definitely more of a stagger this past week, and that’s something we’ve got to work to correct.”
My follow up: So you hand’t seen this before the Kentucky game?
“No,” Bobo said. “We usually have a stagger, and he had gotten a little more square on certain plays.”
http://ugadogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/from-mailbag-turnovers-talent-and.html
dawggirl
November 25th, 2009
10:50 am
I’m sorry, but what is the big deal about first? Who cares? It’s so childish, like a third-grade mentality. Maybe it’s a guy thing, although my boyfriend thinks it’s stupid and childish too.
Anyway, after a long and disappointing season, I’m somewhat tempered by Richt’s comments regarding “anything and everything”. I’ll believe it when I see it, but I do think he sees the writing on the wall.
I’m not in any way under the illusion that we can beat Tech as much as it pains me to say, but I will still root for the team. I’d be happy for the coaches and players of Tech, but not the fans.
Ernest Borgnine as Ernest Borgnine
November 25th, 2009
10:50 am
And I quoteth the American commander in “The Patriot” after Mel Gibson’s son dies, “Stay the course.” Patience, people, patience. Crap happens, get thorough it, beat Tech, and go west to Bumminham and eat pizza.
DAWG
November 25th, 2009
10:50 am
Zeier is right. CMR is anything but a quitter. He’s proven that time and again. UGA is having a down year due to many causes, including the early leaving of players that had been counted on to avoid transition. Are there coaching issues? Yes. But I for one would rather have CMR in position to affect changes than anyone else. It takes a man of character to address problems in the appropriate manner and CMR has more character than anyone else I can think of in the coaching world.
DOG FAN
November 25th, 2009
10:51 am
LEAVE RICHT ALONE HE WILL FIX IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gator Fan
November 25th, 2009
10:57 am
UGA fans… Once you improve the talent you will start winning again!
The talent level is not that great right now, you may have one player who will play in the NFL!
Coach Richt is still a good coach, he is the right man for the job!
xl dawg
November 25th, 2009
10:57 am
As always the further removed from a loss we get the real perspective. A change at DC will bring about a new attitude. A change at QB, Logan Gray will never take another snap, will give us a stronger arm and a bigger playmaker. Recruiting is going extremely well again. Mat drills will unify the team like never before and Saturday night will definitely be all right for fighting. Yes I am a Dawg fan to the core but look at the records of the great coachs. Everyone has ups and downs. One in a row is not a streak or a trend.
"Go west and eat pizza....
November 25th, 2009
11:00 am
…ROFLMAO!
Cameron
November 25th, 2009
11:01 am
Cooldawg,
Zeier said Richt was the coach to fix the program. Not that this was the staff to do it.
bobby1976
November 25th, 2009
11:01 am
a year or two away??, and by looking at our incoming recruiting class which has only ONE offensive lineman(the second commit blew out his knee and may never play again), it looks like a young, inexpereince-lack of depth offensive line will be the excuse in two years.
GeorgiaGrad
November 25th, 2009
11:02 am
We’re dead.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
11:03 am
Here’s Georgia and Ga. Tech opponents’ W-L leaving out the games
against Georgia and Tech:
GEORGIA
Florida 10-0
Ok St. 8-2
LSU 7-3
Ark 7-3
Auburn 7-3
UK 6-4
USC 6-4
UT 5-5
Ariz St 4-6
Vandy 2-9
TN Tech 6-4 *
TECH
Clemson 8-2
Va Tech 8-2
UNC 8-2
Miami 7-3
FSU 6-4
Duke 5-5
Wake 4-6
MS St 4-6
UVA 3-7
Vandy 2-9
Jack St 8-2 *
* FCS opponents
cooldawg
November 25th, 2009
11:03 am
Cameron. The last sentence says we have the right group [coaches] to do it.
Gordon
November 25th, 2009
11:04 am
Dawggirl,
90% of us Tech fans respect UGA and are nice people. Obviously we want to win and are happy with the way the season is going. Don’t let the few who are over the top make you think otherwise. I’m sure the same can be said for UGA fans. That has been my experience.
There is no doubt UGA can win this game. If they end up plus 2 or more on turnovers they probably will win. Tech is the better team this year, but anything can happen on a given day.
instate
November 25th, 2009
11:07 am
nice thanksgiving article
Official Sports Report: November 25, 2009
It’s Not The End-all, Do-all
Johnson said it; other examples prove it
by Matt Winkeljohn, OSR Managing Editor
ATLANTA – Right off the bat, before I dabble in the delight of Paul Johnson’s weekly council fire with the media, I am compelled to opine a tad on something almost entirely unrelated.
Georgia Tech is playing host to Georgia Saturday night in a football game that is important in one way or another to a whole lot of people aligned on two sides of an occasionally ugly line.
But learning as I did a few hours ago that Tech baseball players are about to launch into a fundraiser for a would-be Georgia baseball player not only made me blink, but re-consider the idea of trying to lend gravity to a mere ball game.
Then, I read again what I couldn’t believe I read the first time I read it.
Chance Veazey, a talented UGA freshman from Tifton who went through fall workouts with the baseball team, crashed on a scooter in Athens in late October.
Now, he’s at the Shepherd Spinal Center here in Atlanta, torn nearly asunder. He’s paralyzed from the waist down. After leaving a study hall of some sort, he hit a car, or it hit him.
Doesn’t matter which.
Here’s the double-take maker: Yellow Jacket baseball players are working up a fundraiser for a young man who hasn’t even played against Tech.
Sorry to jump the gun on a story Sting Extra OSR’s Jon Cooper will write for next week, and sorry again that the Tech sports information department folks preferred that SE-OSR wait to write about this until later for fear of compromising this weekend’s start to the Michael Isenhour Toy Drive.
The moment moves me, though, and the greatest joy in my role with Sting Extra OSR is something approximating an absence of rigid oversight.
I have no great, deep, super meaningful words here. It seems a bit of a shame to go this route when Johnson was more intriguing than usual – and that’s saying something – today with a big and perky media crowd in attendance.
But holy cow!
In taking into account all the recent conversations I’ve had with my 12-year-old son about the dangers of motorcycles, we’ve had none regarding scooters.
So in an odd way, this underlines yet again for perhaps the 10,000th time in my life, the fragile nature of existence, and the value of – and need for — perspective.
We all assign different emotional values to things material and ethereal.
I’m having a hard time calibrating the emotional verdict that should be rendered on the concept of the Jackets raising money for a Dog.
But I think it’s big.
In a way, it renders easier to believe Johnson’s comments today that the Georgia game, while very big to some, will not define this squad of Jackets. It’s not likely to define much, in fact.
Johnson referred to a larger body of work meaning much more. He was onto something.
The pending act of the Tech baseball team defines the potential of humanity in simultaneously small and huge ways. This is a small thing writ large.
If I need to apologize for getting your hopes up, for teasing you into reading on with the idea that there would be great Johnson nuggets, I will. I’m a little low on that kind of juice right now, though, as I close another edition of Sting Extra OSR with children behind me who need to be put to bed.
I’m also unabashedly proud to have been moved by all of this, proud that my older and more calloused heart still has soft spots. And I’m glad that people are capable of greatness on many levels.
Lastly, I’m thankful ahead of a special holiday for a forum to open that ever older heart.
Bless Chance Veazey and all on the wrong side of fate. Bless, too, the baseball Jackets, and all who endeavor to help those in need.
Matt Winkeljohn is managing editor of Sting Extra OSR, with a mail box at gtstingx@gmail.com. He promises more football later in the week.
Advertisement
dawgerbrown
November 25th, 2009
11:08 am
Hey Gator Fan, thanks for you confidence in Richt, and, I agree. However, talent is there. Alot of youth. Three UGA defensive tackles will be drafted this year.
Jefferson
November 25th, 2009
11:10 am
UGA is not half the team they were last year.
Gordon
November 25th, 2009
11:13 am
If I were a UGA fan, the only thing that would bother me about Richt is that 2 of the major problems from last year’s team were not addressed: penalties and bad defense. Why were those not fixed? Nor have they been fixed as this year has progressed.
On the other hand, Zeier and others are right that a guy who has averaged 10 wins a season for nearly a decade has earned the right to have a bad year. Next season will be huge for Richt.
Ogeechee Dawg
November 25th, 2009
11:15 am
My adivce to Richt:
– Tweak the staff – new DC and reassign Martinez
– Keep the faith
– Let’s get through this season
– OFF SEAson (spring) addtional focus on turn-overs – takeaways and prevention -and kickoff coverage.
We will be in good shape – 2010 will be better – 2011 – we will be in the thick of SEC East title race!
Bryan G.
November 25th, 2009
11:15 am
Um, I noticed the two freshmen spit it up and that was bad.
But it wasn’t as bad as your FIFTH YEAR SENIOR QUARTERBACK throwing two of the most idiotic picks ever.
Why throw the frosh under the bus???
Progress, of a sort « Get The Picture
November 25th, 2009
11:15 am
[...] of a sort Jump to Comments At least he’s realized who’s not to blame for the kickoff woes this season: Asked about the Dogs’ troubles with [...]
WTFyousay
November 25th, 2009
11:16 am
Any coach that wants to talk about his resume and what he’s done in the past is a dead man walking. Paul Johnson wouldn’t have Mark Richt as a position coach at Tech.
SGD
November 25th, 2009
11:19 am
Richt indeed is the right man for the job (that’s what Eric said anyway, not the whole staff: we’ll see on that part). Richt has been there, he’s won, he’s quickly became one of the best coaches in Georgia’s history. As for the other articles about his sideline demeanor, etc. who cares?!?! His calm, cool, and collected visage was raved about when the Dawgs were whippin up on opponents. Fans are so fickle.
BTW, Eric Zeier has forgotten more about football than 99% of any blogger/poster will ever know.
BEN
November 25th, 2009
11:20 am
The fans that even think we should first CMR are idiots. The man has resurrected our program!!! The fans that talk this garbage didn’t sit in the stands during the Goff and first couple of Donnan years and wish we had a team that could just compete. CMR knows changes have to be made and they will happen once the season is over. We are a very young football team and I am personally excited about the future. It is sad to see people in here talk about be Dawg fans and all they do is bash…One season should define the work CMR has done for our football team. GO DAWGS!!!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
11:22 am
WTFyousay – Crude statement. Johnson doesn’t need an offensive coordinator, which was Richt’s specialty.
jimmy
November 25th, 2009
11:25 am
ididn’t know zeier dr5ank heavaly
ajfdog
November 25th, 2009
11:27 am
In other words, we are a year or two away, meaning we should not expect to compete for the SEC next year and possibly the year after. Problem is, the coaches don’t consider last year the start of the down turn, so they say it is one year. If/when we struggle next year, it will be the third year in a row. Sorry guys, but we should have been out of our comfort zone last year going into this year.
Richt is a gimmick coach (end zone celebration, black jersey, black pants and helmets). Problem is, gimmicks should be used when you do not have the talent to compete, not in place of coaching. I am ready for new leadership.
raoul75
November 25th, 2009
11:29 am
Delbert D
Great point on comparative records but it’s flawed logic, Einstein. Of course, more teams playing UGA have better records, they all played UGA. Sprinkle 4 more victories in the win column of Tech opponents and they would be almost identical (down one) to the number of wins that the UGA
opponents have. Tech can’t help it if their two opponents from the big, bad, SEC were below par. Heck, even our FCS opponent was stronger than Tennessee Tech.
DirtyDawg
November 25th, 2009
11:30 am
Not that CMR needs my suggestions, or doesn’t already know it, but the problem is speed, or lack of it, on defense…and most importantly with our linebackers and defensive ends. They are the ones that have not been able to keep backs from reaching, and turning, the corner…they are the ones that have been unable to get into position, and react, in order to execute a zone pass defense – and forgetabout them being able to cover man-to-man. Speed…even if it means losing a little weight…sure getting there ‘firstest with the mostest’ is the goal, but first you gotta get there in time.
PMC
November 25th, 2009
11:40 am
Well, they have a good man at the top anyway. Martinez was a mistake from the jump. Secondary and Special Teams coaches… need to go. Honestly they could probably clean house outside of Richt and do better than wha they have now. They have had plenty of time to prove what they could do toegther. It just didn’t work.
Styles
November 25th, 2009
11:42 am
Why are we having to get “creative” on something so fundamental as a friggin kick off!!?? That spells trouble right there!! It’s like the wicked slice on my golf swing…sure I can get a quick fix by aiming extreme left but it’s not a permanent solution…
another ptc dawg
November 25th, 2009
11:44 am
We have seen what CMR and his coaches have done on the field for the last two years. Let’s see what CMR can do off the field to improve the Dawgs for 2010. He has earned the right to get the program back on track.But with an inexperienced qb next year, it may take a little longer than one year.
p.s. Can we get rid of all the night games?
PMC
November 25th, 2009
11:45 am
I tend to believe overall the problem is not skill position talent but speed at linebacker and the quality of the previous Offensive line classes. They made some mistakes in recruiting. It happens. Until the Kentucky game I felt like the coaches as a whole had done a much better job getting the team to focus and play better after the Tennessee game. Not having Rambo and Green arguably the two best players on the team at thier respective positions and some really bad turnovers killed them in the Kentucky game outside of the obvious penalties for lack of focus.
I tend to believe that Richt can and will turn it around…and I seriously doubt he fires anyone but I also believe they can do a lot better than Martinez and Fabris etc.
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
11:45 am
THE DAWGS ARE PITIFUL…. THEY WILL LOSE AGAINST TECH AS WELL.
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
11:46 am
WHAT A TEAM OF UNDER ACHIEVERS!!!!!!!!
Nick Papagorgio
November 25th, 2009
11:46 am
I feel happy. I feel happy.
I am not dead yet
I can dance and I can sing
I am not dead yet
I can do the Highland Fling
I am not dead yet
No need to go to bed
No need to call the doctor
Cause I’m not yet dead
He is not yet dead
That’s what the geezer said
No, he’s not yet dead
That man is off his head
PMC
November 25th, 2009
11:46 am
Not being able to cover a kickoff is plenty enough reason to fire a special teams coach.
atlvols55
November 25th, 2009
11:47 am
UGA fans, be afraid, be very afraid when opposing fans start telling you to keep your coach….I remember last year when all of a sudden, Florida, Alabama, Georgia fans started all telling us how nice and what a great coach Fulmer was…”you guys should keep him.” Bottom line is the exact same things that are happening at Georiga, over-confidence, stupid penalties, no adjusting style of play, players to concerned with getting to the NFL, getting arrested for stupid stuff…all happened to Fulmer and you see the results….trust me, just firing Willie Martinez/Bobo will not fix all of your problems
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
11:48 am
FACE IT. THE DAWGS ARE NOT MAN ENOUGH TO BEAT ANYONE ELSE….. AS MUCH AS I AM A DAWG FAN, THEY ARE EMBARRASSING. THIS DAWG FOOTBALL SQUAD IS NOT WORTHY ENOUGH TO CARRY GA TECH”S WATER COOLER.
bill
November 25th, 2009
11:48 am
No on eon the blogs will speak the truth and put blame where it need s to go. Joe Cox is the biggest reason for the losses this year. The coaches can put in great plays but if they are not executed it does no good. It amazes me that people will not focus on the worst QB in Ga history and say something. Thanks Joe Cox for the loses. I fanyone has the guts to agree with me do it.
Matty Ice Chernoff
November 25th, 2009
11:49 am
CMR is a damn good man just like UGA is a damn good dawg! Woof Woof Go Dawgs! I would rather lose as a Dawg than win as a Jacket anyday, like Arnold says, We’ll be back!
Numnutts Dawg
November 25th, 2009
11:51 am
There once was a coach named Mark
His Bulldog team was no bite and all bark
The team kept losing but he did not seem to care
At least he was tanned and had it going on with his hair.
TC Dawg
November 25th, 2009
11:52 am
Thanks instate for the comment about what really matters in life. The question I have is, why don’t we hear more of these kind of stories? For all the lunatic fringe’s screams, I would not trade Mark Richt for any other coach. Period. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that everyone thought Les Miles could do no wrong? Now, he has fans calling for his head. Interesting that instate brought up Chance Veazey. I live in Tifton and know the family. Great people. But when you see how Mark Richt, David Perno, and the athletic staff have put aside their own problems and took precious time with this family, it is unbelievable. Georgia has promised Chance that his scholarship will stay in place for six (yes, I said six (6)) years. If I had a kid being recruited, that would speak volumes to me as a parent because it speaks loud and clear to me as a fan. Would I love it if we had won more games? You bet! But character is what will build a program for the long haul and Mark Richt is loaded with it as far as I’m concerned. We’re still better off today than we were the day he walked in the door and I’m still proud to be a Georgia Bulldog.
another ptc dawg
November 25th, 2009
11:53 am
Quincy “cokehead” Carter is at the head of the list of bad qbs. The Carolina game that he threw 5 int, he came off the field laughing and smiling every time.
Dion
November 25th, 2009
11:54 am
Excuses can be made about losing Stafford, Moreno, and Massoquoi, but how many National Championships did they win while at UGA. I love the Dawgs and the talent is there. Freshmen will overtake this team next year and do better than this year IMO. Look for Aaron Murray to break out and hook up with Orson Charles just like they did in High School. We do need another DC and OC, these two have become lackadaisical in their coaching. Good luck in the ATL this weekend, it should be a good game since it is a rivalry, no blowout, sorry GT fans!!
Chad
November 25th, 2009
11:55 am
Wish they could play in the Dome Saturday. That would be a moneymaker and give more poeple a chance to go to the game.
Pitbull
November 25th, 2009
11:55 am
I hope the Georgia defensive coaches have seen enough film to know that 90% of the time Tech passes to open up the other team’s defense for the run, Tech throw to their number 8 (don’t know his name).
If they cover that kid with 2 and committ 9 to the run then Georgia will win.
I remember the 1976 Georgia – Alabama game when Alabama was number one and came to Athens. They ran the wishbone and Georgia didn’t play a defensive man more than 5 yards off the line of scrimmage and the kids knew how to wrap up and tackle rather than than that hitting them with the shoulder routine. Georgia won that game 21-0.
The same can happen Saturday.
Remember: No turnovers. Not penalties. Wrap up the ballcarrier when you tacklet them.
Then you will win.
Styles
November 25th, 2009
11:56 am
One more thing…anyone who has been a fan or alum for UGA/GT for a while knows that anything crazy can happen in this game. Both teams get up more, both physically and mentally. With that said, I wish Gailey was still at GT b/c CPJ could be the deciding factor! GO DAWGS!!!!
AW
November 25th, 2009
11:58 am
The pressure is on Tech this year, not Georgia. I wouldn’t be surprised if Georgia wins.
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
JOE COX COULD VERY WELL BE A NICE GUY AND GOOD STUDENT. BUT IT STOPS THERE. HE IS NOT DAWG MATERIAL. RICHT SHOULD HAVE BENCHED HIS BUTT A LONG TIME AGO…. HE SUCKS AS A QUARTERBACK. HE CAUSED A LOT OF LOSSES THAT THE DAWGS ACQUIRE ALONG WITH THE PENALTY PRONE DEFENSE.DAWG CAN’T WIN FOR LOSING SO MUCH.
RICHT IS A GOOD COACH BUT RICHT SEEMS TO HAVE AN INABILITY TO SEPARATE FRINDSHIP FROM BUSINESS.
Cuz
November 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
I respectfully disagree afj about last year being the start of the downturn. Anytime you can pull out a 10-3 season with over twenty key players injured is a miracle to me. Maybe not you, which is fine, this is a discussion not a yes man seminar.
Coach Willie is gone at the end of the year. The only way to save his job is to shutout Tech, and no one sober thinks that is possible. Fair or not, he is gone. There are five worse DC’s in the SEC and Wommack at Tech is on par with Willie. Wommack will probably be replaced but there is less hue and cry from the Techsters. Maybe a 10-1 record has something to do with it.
Yes I think CMR is the man to right the ship and set in on the correct course with some heading adjustments. I think we can compete in the SEC next year and with Tech also. We can compete with Tech this year if we do not throw the pics, do not fumble and give them short yardage, and get after Nesbitt early and often. Tech’s D is no better than ours. That being said, their offense is better than ours and we cannot stop it but we need to slow it down.
Kirby Smart
November 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
I want to fix UGA’s defense!
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
Pitbull
MAYBE YOU NEED TO CALL THE DC MARTINEZ AND TELL HIM BECAUSE HE DOESN’T EVEN HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON…..
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
RICHT NEED TO SEND HIS OC HIS DC, PACKING AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
bill
November 25th, 2009
12:05 pm
Thank you EricADawgFan for agreeing with me on Cox
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:06 pm
WIN THIS DAWG TEAM LOSE TO TECH ON FRIDAY, THE FANS WILL BE SAYING
“DAWG GONE”!!!
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:07 pm
YOU’RE WELCOME BILL…
Nick
November 25th, 2009
12:08 pm
dawggirl , couldn’t agree more about your “first” comment. No, I don’t think it’s a guy thing, just a dumb thing. What a bunch of tools.
Anyway, I wish Martinez and Fabris well, just somewhere else! I’d also like to see Searels gone and Bobo demoted. Richt needs to shake things up and turn it around. He can do it and I believe will.
My opinion.
Go Dawgs!
Tim
November 25th, 2009
12:09 pm
EricADawgFan – Either you are a tech (or other school’s) fan posing a UGA fan or you’re just an idiot. Either way, you’re not a real UGA fan.
Yes, UGA is having a down year. Happens to everyone. College Football is cyclical. I have faith that Richt will make the changes that need to be made, in order to turn this thing around. If not, well, he won’t be here much longer. But, I think for all that he has done for this program, he deserves a chance to fix things. And he deserves our support. The team deserves our support. I’m as frustrated and disappointed as the next guy, but what makes me a true fan is, that at the end of the day, I still support the team, and don’t go on message boards spouting off, in all caps, about how lousy we are, etc… If you are a UGA “fan”, please do the rest of us a favor, find another team…
td
November 25th, 2009
12:10 pm
ajfdog, I am ready for some new fans. I think it may be time for you to give up your season tickets, burn your UGA gear and put on another jersey so you can make those stupid comments on their boards. CMR is the right man for the job and will be at Georgia for a long time to come. If you do not like, PLEASE, PLEASE find another team to support.
GO DAWGS
gators81
November 25th, 2009
12:11 pm
keep him please!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom
November 25th, 2009
12:13 pm
“YET” is the key word. I have never seen someone who is so emotionless as Richt. Its okay to get mad on the sidelines! People say, oh that shows players a lack of control. Judging by the penalties, turnovers, and immaturity Id say there’s a lack of control to begin with. So at this point, why not throw the headset? We’re playing bad now what good does it do to be calm on the sidelines?
Something needs to be done! But I’m sure the administration and athletics will do NOTHING and sit on their hands like the passive agressive bumpkins they are!
FIRE RICHT, HIRE TUBERVILLE
jason
November 25th, 2009
12:15 pm
I have been on the fire CMR bandwagon for a while, but I will go along with what Zeier was saying about Richy being the GC to turn things around. All along the problem I have is not one with CMR rather some of the decisions he made or didn’t make. Football is an ever evolving sport. It is all all about constant change. Whether the changes are subtle or major. CMR #1 flaw was not evolving with football. Maybe this is the season needed to right the ship to start playing for MNCs as well as SEC Champs.
CMR has proven in the past to reconize problems and make necessarry adjustments. This off season will call for more than just simpily adjustments. The offense will be fine as long as we have a strong defense. When the defense goes bad it exposes the offense as being pretyy mush one dimensional. We need DL help bad. We are losing I think 4 DTs (3 reliable). We have to have pressure on the opposing QB by the front 4. It is better to pick and choose when you will blitz rather than having to blitz to create pressure. This will make our DBs look better. Speaking of DBs, they need to be more aggrressive. I know about the soft zone, but they still need to step up and make plays. We will have a ball hawking safety who is a heavey hitter in Rambo next year. We also will have commings, Smith and Cuff. The talent is there in the secondary.
Anyways, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. All be safe this long holiday weekend.
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:19 pm
Tim ,
I am a Dawg Fan, and it sickens me to see the these Dawgs in this sad state of affairs. While you may want to pretend with the Dawgs, I am realistic. They are a bunch of under achievers and I take it personally. I support this team financially. How how you? Before calling someone an idiot, look into the mirror and say you’re an idiot.
jason
November 25th, 2009
12:21 pm
I don’t see Bobo going anywhere; Demoted or anything. I think Bobo has been handcuffed this year by his QB’s weaknesses, and the lack of a sound RB throughout much of the year. I don’t think there were alot complaining about Bobo last year. Bobo is a young OC and will get better. Now to arguue about hin getting the OC to begin with has merit, because of a lack of experience. But Bobo has shown the talent and the brilliance to get the job done. More pressing matters are CWM and his defense. Also STs. We have to tackle on STs before the opposing team gets to the 40.
EricADawgFan
November 25th, 2009
12:24 pm
I KNOW ONE THING, CMR HAD BETTER MAKE A DRASTIC CHANGE IN HIS COACHING STAFF ON THE OFF SEASON BECAUSE IF HE DOESN’T, AND THIS DAWG TEAM DOES A REPEAT NEXT SEASON AS THE SAME OF THIS DISMAL SEASON, THERE WILL BE A AN ALL OUT CAMPAIGN FOR HIM TO GO TOO….
SEC1
November 25th, 2009
12:24 pm
We will see if we have a pulse come Sunday morning…
Brian Evans & Prince Miller
November 25th, 2009
12:25 pm
First?………………..
Mikey
November 25th, 2009
12:25 pm
In spite of the play this year , CMR doesnt have to send out mass e-mails asking for fans to come to this game and the ACCCG like CPJ did.
The JOKE by the COKE…
GO DAWGS!
dawgdays
November 25th, 2009
12:27 pm
Anyone else wearing a paper bag on their head at the game this sat?
(AKA the unknown dawg fan?)
Stinger
November 25th, 2009
12:28 pm
Let the beatdown begin !!!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
12:29 pm
raoul75 – I’m certainly not Einstein, and I am in fact a Tech fan 1st, a Georgia fan 2nd. The logic of posting the W-L records as I did should answer some comments that “Tech hasn’t beaten anybody; just a bunch of mediocre 8-3 teams.” I think it also shows what the 2nd tier of the SEC looks like without the wins or losses to Georgia. Leave out Florida, and the W-L of the 2 teams’ opponents looks more balanced.
jason
November 25th, 2009
12:36 pm
Who beats whom is all subjective. You only have to beat who you play. Tech can no more pick who they play or determine how those teams play as UGA can. As a DAWG fan, I can say that UGA thought at the time they scheduled, the Cowboys were going to be a mid teir Big 12 team; not the second best team there. The same can be said of the Sun Devils also. Add to the fact that we play Vandy, USCe, and UK yearly. That’s like plying Wke, Duke, and NCST. It all equals out in the end. Oh and by the way, we lost to UK. Tech did beat Wake, even if in OT.
GB
November 25th, 2009
12:36 pm
Anyone who watched the spring game this year could see that Aaron Murray is a much better QB than Cox. This was going to be a rebuilding year anyway you look at it. I’m a Tech fan, but the next 3 years are going to be special for UGA. Lot of great talent. Good luck Saturday, but I hope we win!
jason
November 25th, 2009
12:39 pm
GB, while that may be true. Murray is not as good as Staff. That’s why Murray Red shirted, bad shoulder or not. Simpily put as good as Murray is or could be, at the time he was not good enough to see the field his Frosh year. Staff did play in his Frosh year. Next year we will know for sure how good Murray is. Anyways it is all water under the bridge at this point.
Commentater
November 25th, 2009
12:40 pm
Richt: ‘We’re not dead yet’
No, but the dog is dead.
Eric Cartman
November 25th, 2009
12:40 pm
Wake up people!!! Ginger Cox is the REAL reason for the 2009 demise!!!
This is what UGA gets for allowing a Ginger to lead the offense. Look at history, can any of you name one single Ginger that has done anything positive? You can’t because Gingers are firey red-headed anger-mongers who have been sent here to destroy all that is good. Just look at what just ONE Ginger was able to do to UGA’s program.
I say to you all, Ginger Cox has bamboozled and hoodwinked the UGA coaching staff into believing he is the best QB to lead the team. How was he able to do this you ask? Simple, he used his mystical “Ginger-hypnosis” – which is caused by staring at the Ginger’s freckles for too long. I fear that his face time on TV has allowed him to reach the fanbase as well. People are blaming our beloved coaches for all the ills of the program, but they as well as the players have been led astray by this crafty Ginger. Ginger Cox may represent the rise of the Ginger King as foretold in the Ginger Prophecy. Beware the Ginger!!! The solution to the Dawgs problems is simple my friends…once Ginger Cox leaves the program, we must make sure that no more Gingers are ever recruited. Just letting one into the program has nearly destroyed it. Indeed the Ginger is a dangerous lot and we must protect our beloved program from this infestation in the future. My goodness could you imagine if there were two Gingers on the team? It could set the program back for decades.
Go Dawgs!!
NO MORE GINGERS!!!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
12:41 pm
“If they cover that kid with 2 and committ 9 to the run then Georgia will win.” (11:55 post).
Sorry, that won’t work. There will be Ty Melton or Stephen Hill standing by himself split out to the other side. That in fact happened once this year, and the kicker, Scott Blair threw a 34 yd. TD pass to the WR who was all by himself.
Blair’s Passer Efficiency Rating is 715.6.
HardTruthSoldier...
November 25th, 2009
12:41 pm
Let’s fire Richt, Let’s fire Miles(LSU), hell let’s fire Spurrier to! Listen out here in blog land you people who don’t know football, and the business of football, Richt is by far one of the most succesful coaches ever to coach in the SEC. His record itself speaks volumes, but one bad season and the clueless come out by the truckloads.Here’s a little reminder people of what you have here:’02 Sugar, ‘03 Capital One, ‘04 Outback, ‘05 Sugar, ‘06 Chic- Fil-A, ‘07 Sugar, ‘09 Capital One. Now I dare anyone (especially those 60 miles up the road) to question this man’s coaching ability! Name one other program in the SEC that lost three players in the top 50 on the NFL draft that is in the top ten in college football right now! Name one other program that has 3 players that got drafted, are all tops in there statistics for rookies, like STAFFORD, MORENO, MASSAQUOI, and a forth one who is getting major contribution time with the Vikes(Minnesota) like A. ALLEN. People this isn’t a program on the down turn, this is a program in transition. If you want to find optimism in this year, rather than pessimism, look no futher than O. Charles, W. Ealey, R. Wooten, B. Smith, Abry Jones, and M. Robinson getting playing time this year. All freshmen people! We will survive, and if I were Tech fans, I wouldn’t get over confident come Saturday, nothing worse than a Dawg who’ wounded and still got fight in him.
Butters
November 25th, 2009
12:44 pm
Ehhhh, Eric is RIGHT!!! NO MORE GINGERS!!! You tell em Eric!!!
JenniferGO Dawgs
November 25th, 2009
12:45 pm
WHY DON’T YOU “SO CALLED UGA FANS” GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND “SUPPORT” ANOTHER TEAM! Since you are so unhappy with UGA, I for one am supporting them no matter what their season and will stand by Coach Mark Richt. This is his first season THAT I can remember where it has not been a “GREAT” one! But look at the statistics and you will see it should have been worse! So if you cannot hang with the Big Dawgs then get off the porch! Just saying….. GOOOOO DAWGS! I BLEED RED AND BLACK ALWAYS!
wayne
November 25th, 2009
12:46 pm
The Dogs need change. Coaching and Player change. The recruiting of players who are uncoachable does not warrant that Richt and his staff remain at UGA any longer than is needed. This crop of players are perhaps one of the worst recruited bunch I have seen in a long time. Joe Cox should have been benched after the first 4 games and a backup should have been used to get some experience for next season. Instead we suffer on losing with a quarterback that wont be here next year. He may or may not be a huge problem but what is the point on continuing an obvious losing season with someone who wont be around next year. You may as well lose with younger quarterback who is picking up valuable snaps who next would be way ahead of learning curve. A huge bonus in my view.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
The Jackets are -7.5 point favorites.
I’m not sure I understand all I know about that line.
jason
November 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
Delbert D., I was saying that earlier after one of Tech’s wins. Hill provides a nice compliment to Thomas. Hard to stack 8 in the box. Hill has really come on in the past few weeks. The DL of UGA are going to have to play their best game as a unit to have a chance.Assigment football on Defense and mistake free on offense, That’s the best chance UGA has for survival in this game.
HardTruthSoldier...
November 25th, 2009
12:51 pm
Everybody Keeps talking Murray next Year, need I remind BULLDAWG Nation there is a 6′5 235 pound rated #10 in the country kid competing besides him. Mattenberger, ya’ll remember his name!
HardTruthSoldier...
November 25th, 2009
12:56 pm
Tech , It’s simple, ya’ll going down. Hard and the birth of Bulldawg football 2010 will then be born in your house!
jason
November 25th, 2009
12:56 pm
HardTruthSoldier… , I think you left a z out…
just kidding. You are right. We have to talented QBs and may the best QB win.
td
November 25th, 2009
12:57 pm
wayne, I bet you would have been on this same blog after teh 70 season saying we needed to fire Dooley (two 5-5 seasons in a row)? You would have been saying Bama needed to fire Bear after the 70 season (two 6-5 seasons in a row)? Does Stoops need to go at OK? Does Carroll need to be fired at USC?
Cindy Hendrix
November 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
I agree & respect what Eric said richt has a good record at UGA the last 2 yrs not as good but all teams have good & bad yrs this yr one of the bad!! Richt when he came on board took us back to where we had not been since Dooley. I think & hope he now sees the big picture & what needs to be done. I support Richt & yes I am a true & loyal UGA fan I stick with them through bad times & good if other so called fans don’t you are not a true fan!! I stuck with them through Goff & Donnan I almost cried the last yr with Goff but I stuck it out this yr I still support richt but watching them this yr has been hard almost cried this yr too but still supported the team but I also think some asst coaching changes need to be made maybe richrt should take back over calling the offense let Bobo try the defense or get someone else too. I really wish Richt would seriously reconsider asking Zier to join his staff!! I’m sure he would suprise him!! & be even smarter!! he would be a great fit for QB’S coach you want great QB’S it could not hurt to have a former UGA QB great & record setting QB & who played for the pros coaching them !! Richt knows how good a player Zier was if not he would have tried to recruit him when he was at FSU I support Rich but I also want to UGA getting back to the team I know they can be winners we have a lot pride us UGA fans & have always been know for having good running backs & never quit no matter who we play & we don’t back down from any team we play hope to see us get back to where we once belong & the Seilers will have us another fine dog for mascot next yr they have been breeding English Bulldogs for yrs & are very carefule what happened to UGAVII was just unforseen & unfortauently these things happen sometimes the Seilers had UGAI when they were still in college & long before Sonny became a lawyer PETA lay off we will have a live mascot & the same breed & from the seilers no robot dog!! what would you have us too do change our from bulldos to another mascot not gonna happen we have been known as bulldogs for a long time & will continue to be!! as always GO DAWGs & when we get back to the UGA we love & are force to be reckoned with we will come back with a vngeance & get our payback!! so to all our rivals watch your backs because it’s gonna hurt you when we come back!! PAYBACKS HELL Cindy
ty44
November 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
CMR…WILL GET UGA TURNED AROUND…..JUST WAIT AND SEE……DONT COUNT THE BULLDOGS OUT SO SOON EITHER TECH FOLKS.
HardTruthSoldier...
November 25th, 2009
1:02 pm
JenniferGO Dawgs, I’m glad to see a real football fan of the Dawgs, and just think all these whining little boys on here. Pray and hope you don’t ever meet one of these whiners. Well on second thought it would be good to have a Dawg Woman take his Home, Car, and half his money. You know the half he uses for season tickets!
Tom
November 25th, 2009
1:07 pm
“Georgia fans are passionate, but let’s face it – they’re not the brightest fans. Passionate, but not bright.” – Eric Zeier, November 21, 2001
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
1:08 pm
Mattenberger. Got it. Who does Mattenberger play for? Mississippi State Bulldogs?
Ca$hville Dawg
November 25th, 2009
1:08 pm
“We’re not dead yet?!?!”
Are you kidding me? My best advice to Richt is, you better start preparing your bullshi.t post game explanations after Tech rolled over 400 rushing yards and win by 3 TD’s.
UGA will be 6-6 and we will be lucky if Papa’s John or Liberty Bowl takes them. SEC has 9 qualified team for Bowl games.
Give me break. Richt suxs!!!!!!
Bohgey
November 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
Moon? Is that you?
The thing about CMR is that as much as well like to call him too nice and having a lack of the killing demeanor, we don’t know how he acts behind those locker room doors. I know he follows the Bible and adopts orphans, and we love him for that. He is in the business of making men and football champions. How would you like to depend on a football team to keep your job? I know I wouldn’t.
He once gave a halftime interview to Holly Rowe, I believe that began and concluded with, “We have to get after that Ass.” I saw GATA written behind him on a bulletin board during a locker room speech. I just don’t believe that he found the right motivating tools this year. I think they have the right morals and the right talent, he just has to put the pegs in the right places.
As for possible replacements for Silly Willy, the list should be short. As in, there aren’t many out there. If the staff wanted someone that was mean as a snake in Ben Jones, maybe they should look for one to roam the defense. I could see Van Gorder kicking a kitten if it meant cashing in on a turnover. Not that I enjoy kittens being punted, but we need that kind of unstable mentality around Athens. You know, someone that goes to the bathroom with the door open, makes his own beef jerky and talks about…
If Bobo does happen to suffer, the Hatch attack is free and looking. I’m sure Chris Hatcher is looking for a head coaching gig, and he’ll land one. But, until he does, how about we throw the ball like a bunch of screaming banshees?
I’d really like to see the likes of someone like Kevin Sumlin of Houston or Bud Foster at Virginia Tech land a good head coaching job. It would be nice to have both of them. Foster isn’t going anywhere and Sumlin’s next move would be a Virginia or their equal. It is a shame we couldn’t have Muschamp. Kirby Smart would be fine with us, but he is next in line for a head gig too, I think. If he can control his ping pong paddles.