Dogs could benefit from schedule in 2010
Georgia's schedule finally breaks Mark Richt's way. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Over the past two seasons, as the Dogs were trying to survive absolutely killer schedules, I kept looking ahead at the 2010 and 2011 schedules and thinking that if Mark Richt could solve his defensive problems and find a quarterback, he’d be looking at a definite window of opportunity.
The rotation of SEC West teams that the Dogs face definitely turns advantageous this season (no Bama or LSU) and the most challenging opponent on the nonconference schedule looks to be our in-state rival.
CollegeFootballNews.com is thinking along the same lines. In doing their roundup of the SEC composite schedule for 2010, they see Georgia’s “realistic best case record” as 11-1, the “worst case” record as 7-5 and peg the Dogs’ “likely finish” at 10-2.
Their summary paints a pretty optimistic scenario: “Georgia won’t be the best team in the SEC, but it has the schedule to look that way. Any SEC East team worth its salt would take this slate in a heartbeat. There’s no Alabama or LSU to deal with, Florida, as always, is at a neutral site, Tennessee is a home game, and the road games are at South Carolina, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Auburn. Throw in a home date against Vanderbilt and anything less than a New Year’s Day bowl appearance will be a mega-disappointment. Even the nonconference schedule works out well with the Georgia Tech game at home and the one tough road trip at Colorado. On the negative side, the game against the Buffs is coming off a road trip to Mississippi State for the only back-to-back road games of the year, and the week off doesn’t come until late November.”
One caveat: CFN also predicted a 10-2 finish for the Dogs in 2009.
And, of course, that neutral site for the Florida game hasn’t proved very helpful for the Dogs in recent years. Plus, under Richt the Dogs actually play better on the road than at home. But a return to New Year’s Day certainly does seem within this team’s grasp. Let’s face it, if they hadn’t blown it against Kentucky last year, they still probably would have played on Jan. 1.
So what do you think? Will anything less than the Outback or Capitol One be a “mega-disappointment” this season? Or is CFN underestimating the rebuilding Richt faces this year?
SUCCESS AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
The men’s basketball Bulldogs aren’t there yet, but the team definitely has improved since Mark Fox came to town, especially in one aspect of the game: free throws.
The Athens Banner-Herald takes a look at that improvement, which sees the dogs leading the SEC by making 72.7 percent from the free-throw line heading into tonight’s game in Knoxville. That’s up from the 63.8 percent they shot last season (which ranked 297th in the nation out of 330 Division I teams) and is on pace to be the team’s best percentage from the foul line since 2001-02, when the Bulldogs converted 73.7 percent of the time, the ABH says. Under Dennis Felton, Georgia never shot better than 67.9 percent.
Travis Leslie, for example, has improved from shooting 57.5 percent last season to 76.1 percent this year. The other Dogs have also improved.
Trey Thompkins, who leads the conference by making 85.7 of his free throws, tells the ABH, that the key to the turnaround is “we just shoot millions and millions of free throws. Once we’re done doing all the grinding in practice, we step up to the free-throw line and knock down free throws. You can’t leave unless you knock them down.”
I’ve never understood basketball coaches who don’t emphasize practicing free throws. It’s like a football coach who ignores the kicking game. Too many games are won or lost at the line.
This is just one more reason for Dogs basketball fans to be pleased with the Fox hire.
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518 comments Add your comment
UA Alum92
February 17th, 2010
3:45 pm
I’m not really familiar with Auburn’s history, but I always thought they had one NC won in the late 50s with Shug Jordan. Any Auburn fans here that can help out?
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
3:45 pm
“Bulldawgs, looking back over the past 10 years, Florida has been to four SECCGs winning three of them. That ties them for appearances and victories with LSU since 2000.”
Not arguing with you about that. Florida has been the premier school for football in the SEC for some time now. LSU as well. Bama is now the future. Auburn may rejoin that class in the coming years. Especially if Chizek continues to recruit 5 star players.
Gatorbait 17-3
February 17th, 2010
3:46 pm
ga gator
You may have forgotten, he coached in two Super Bowls, that should count for something.
UA Alum92
February 17th, 2010
3:50 pm
Thanks, Bulldawgs. Auburn should be interesting to watch. Great recruiting class and Chizek seems to have brought some fire with him. Still they went 3-5 in the SEC last year and let’s see what he can do to improve that.
Gatorbait 17-3
February 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
UA Alum92
I along with several others am impressed with your candor. No matter
what happens in Tuscaloosa, there will be a rematch one way or another
in Atlanta, between the two best teams in the SEC.
Ted Striker
February 17th, 2010
3:55 pm
Nice article, Bill King
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
3:56 pm
For some reason my comments are not posting.
ga gator
February 17th, 2010
3:56 pm
Balldawgs, one thing you won’t find UF fans and UGA fans doing and that is bragging on the other teams in our state. Course when you aren’t the best in your state that is understandable.
ga gator
February 17th, 2010
3:57 pm
gatorbait, I hope your right because Favre torched their secondary.
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
3:57 pm
UA Alum92
I had a long followup to your comments but for some reason they won’t post.
Anyhoo, it basically said that Tubs let the program go downhill and Chizek came in to rebuild which he is doing. People seem to forget that Chizek coached on two undefeated teams.
UA Alum92
February 17th, 2010
3:57 pm
Thanks, Gatorbait. This has been a fun rivalry the last couple of years and I’d love to see it continue. I’ve been lucky enough to get to go to the last to SECCGs and had a blast! Granted last year was a lot more fun than 2008! The game in Tuscaloosa should be great!
Otto
February 17th, 2010
3:58 pm
Ga Gator, Yes Miami has had UF’s #. Good thing UF dropped them
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
3:58 pm
“Course when you aren’t the best in your state that is understandable.”
So, is that a jab at GA as well? I mean, GT did have the better record on the year.
Auburn beat Bama 6 years in a row. It’s time for Bama to rebound and have a few of their own now.
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
3:59 pm
What I find interesting is the fact that UF before Spurrier ever got there, had been the Miss State of Florida for decades.
UA Alum92
February 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Bulldawgs, I agree. Auburn seems to be on the upswing. 2010 should be telling.
Otto
February 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Ga Gator,
Oh wait….
“best in your state”
but you were talking about UGA vs GT the series that UGA wins 70% of the games since the 60s and 80% this decade.
Independent Thinker
February 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Oh, yeah…..great “rivalry” with UF….what is it, 3-17 in the last 20 years…soon to be 3-18. UGA…a national program “wannabe.”
Russ the Temporary Mascot
February 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
All I got to say is that sorry excuse for a bulldog at Missy State is in for a butt-whomping if I can get my bowels under control and they don’t paint up my butt.
Blackberry Cobbler
February 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
All 4 of those SEC road games (@ South Carolina, @Miss State, @Auburn, and @Ky) will not be easy games. UGA could potentially lose at least 2 of these.
I don’t see the Dawgs sniffin’ a 10-2 season unless they can sweep these road games and even then, maybe not.
ga gator
February 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Balldawgs, not hardly; UGA beat them on their own field and has owned them for some time.
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:01 pm
“Balldawgs, one thing you won’t find UF fans and UGA fans doing and that is bragging on the other teams in our state.”
That’s because Auburn fans aren’t as venomous and pious as UGA and UF fans.
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:02 pm
“Balldawgs, not hardly; UGA beat them on their own field and has owned them for some time.”
And yet, the Jackets had the better record. But still, I guess any team in the SEC can win the Shreveport Bowl.
ga gator
February 17th, 2010
4:02 pm
Balldawgs, I guess when you start labeling fans you admit you were wrong, anyway out!!!!
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:03 pm
“UGA could potentially lose at least 2 of these.”
Well, Miss St does have Ex-Florida coaches coaching them. Auburn just signed the 4th best class this year but who knows?
We’ll just have to wait and see.
UA Alum92
February 17th, 2010
4:03 pm
True, Bulldawgs. Florida has damn sure turned it around now. I wonder if it should be more suprising that they weren’t very successful before the OBC’s arrival with such fertile recruiting ground.
Gen Neyland
February 17th, 2010
4:04 pm
General Neyland; Attention, Sir!! : First of all, a heck of a tag. If I were you, I’d shorten it or use your real one. Second, I address and stress the need for coaching continuity to be factor in any program, especially ours. I do so on my Home Blogs regarding Tennessee Football. Did you know Jonathon Crompton had 4 different OC’s in his time at Tennessee..? I think that’s pitiful. All in all, if you’ll look at things realistically, Tennessee did pretty good with the lack of stability in the coaching ranks over those years. Won the East in 2007 (like it or not, it’s a fact), second 2009, etc…Just think what’s possible with a staff that stays for a second cup of coffee. It’s been a whirlwind Atop Rocky and we fans don’t hire, fire, or offer jobs to the Left Coast for the recently hired. We’re victims…Can I be compensated..? Three, no we’re not Top Tier SEC team. Today. In these modern times, we’re struggling like everybody but Florida, Alabama and LSU and Auburn rising. Will we turn a corner in 2010..? Heck no, .500 will be a marvel. Four, I did not go to the University of Tennessee. Didn’t know that was a prerequisite for being a fan. Does that mean we can eliminate 98.6% of the pro-Dawg fans on these UGA boards..?Anyway, thanks for implying that to be so. Five, I think I can be honest and fair about my program of choice. I think you try to do the same. I have respect for the honest HomeBoy that reads things as they really are and not for what they imagine them to be. GBO…
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:04 pm
“I guess when you start labeling fans you admit you were wrong, anyway out!!!!”
Grammar fail, part 2.
Georgia Tech For Life
February 17th, 2010
4:06 pm
brew dawg…you say tech has annoying fans? HA THAT HURTS COMING FROM A GEORGIA FAN. UGA HAS THE MOST UNEDUCATED, REDNECK IDIOTS AS FANS WHO MAKE UP EXCUSES FOR EVERYTHING. BOO HOO THOSE REFS CALLED A PENALTY ON AJ GREEN AND LOST US THE GAME AGAINST LSU. THAT “BOI” GOT A PENALTY FOR ACTICTING LIKE A JIVE!!
Georgia Tech For Life
February 17th, 2010
4:07 pm
*ACTING*
coachdawg 2000
February 17th, 2010
4:07 pm
I’m very concerned about the 3-4 “aggressive defensive philosophy” that we will employ.It seems pretty feast or famine to me.
martin
February 17th, 2010
4:07 pm
How can the Colorado road game be tough? The Buffaloes were 3-9 last season. This weak schedule may buy CMR one more year before the Bulldog nation admits he is destined to bring mediocrity for the rest of his career. The prayers aren’t motivating the players.
Shankit
February 17th, 2010
4:07 pm
There are many polls which rate National Champs.
Today, the AP is recognized as “The Poll”
However, up until a few decades ago, the AP declared
the National Champ at the season’s end and did not
recognize bowl appearances.
The Harris Poll during this period, waited until after the
bowl appearance to declare the NC>
Example:
1942 – GA and Ohio State had identical records.
AP voted Ohio State NC after season’s end.
Rose Bowl offered GA and Ohio STate an appearance.
Ohio STate declined not willing to sacrifice their already NC>
GA accepted and defeated UCLA, and was then declared
NC by the Harris Poll.
GATOR
February 17th, 2010
4:09 pm
7-5 independence bowl hahaahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahaahahhahahahahahahah
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:10 pm
Shankit
It’s a mess ain’t it!
Shankit
February 17th, 2010
4:16 pm
Balldawgs
Ten Four
The media screws everything up, and now with these
blogs, internet, jounalists and Tiger they have even
screwed up golf. No more sanctimony.
gators09
February 17th, 2010
4:16 pm
Richt wont beat Florida again…you will lose 4 games this year. That is all.
UA Alum92
February 17th, 2010
4:17 pm
Well… have fun gentlemen. Duty calls. Man, I can’t wait for September 4! This is going to be a L-O-N-G offseason…
brewdawg
February 17th, 2010
4:18 pm
I honestly think GT is better then us and Georgia is full off thugs…
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
“This is going to be a L-O-N-G offseason…”
Well, baseball starts up in 2 months. WOO HOO!
Gatorbait 17-3
February 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
Beware of Auburn, they just signed the best junior college player and quarterback in
the nation Cam Newton. He’s 6′ 6 “, 245 and runs a 4.5 forty. He was to be Tebow’s replacement, but was kicked off the team and has been in JC for two years–this is a MAN.
Gatorbait 17-3
February 17th, 2010
4:25 pm
Balldawgs
Richt is just too nice to be a head coach and you are seeing the
results of a lack of disipline. BAD AS MIAMI PLAYERS, that’s a little harsh,
but you may have a point.
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:27 pm
“BAD AS MIAMI PLAYERS, that’s a little harsh,
but you may have a point.”
Not sure what you’re talking about. Never said anything about Miami.
Shankit
February 17th, 2010
4:29 pm
Gatorbait 17-3
And how is your redshirted lineman doing that
just strangled his girl friend?
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:29 pm
“He was to be Tebow’s replacement, but was kicked off the team and has been in JC for two years–this is a MAN.”
I’m concerned about that but it’s no different from the thugs that Florida has/had…what’s his name? The guy who punched the UGA player and also got in trouble for a DUI?
82Dawg
February 17th, 2010
4:30 pm
Balldawgs…… never said anything about Miami players?????? See below
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:20 pm
MARK RICHT IS A D-BAG AND UGA PLAYERS ARE JUST AS BAD AS MIAMI PLAYERS.
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:31 pm
82Dawg
Someone stole my blog name. It happens all the time on these blogs. I did not say that at all.
Georgia Tech For Life
February 17th, 2010
4:31 pm
Your right about “players being as bad as Miami players” I’ll give you that
Phone Check Homey
February 17th, 2010
4:31 pm
2010
UGA will humiliate Trek again in 2010.
61-39-5 is inevitable
Urban will reveal his true condition and proceed with his vaginoplasty to end his mental anguish
The gaytors will be in turmoil and lose 4 games, including FSU
UT will realize what a mistake they made in Dooley and suffer endless humiliations and gun related player incidents
Mississippi State will continue to search for opponent’s phone numbers so that their KKKlassy fans can spew more racial slurs
Vandy will be Vandy
South Carolina (not USC lest there be a lawsuit since USC says you can’t use USC) will continue thier losing (534–536–44) tradition
UK will be Vandy
Balldawgs
February 17th, 2010
4:33 pm
Georgia Tech For Life
Again, someone pretended to be me. I would never say anything mean and nasty about Richt.
Gatorbait 17-3
February 17th, 2010
4:36 pm
Balldawgs
Unless someone highjacked your name, you’ve been busted -see 4:20 post.
And yes I think a 6″ 245 lb. QB is a man. Also, he came from a good family in Atlanta
and was accused of taking a lap top computer in a dorm, closer to a prank than theft.