Are Dawg fans’ BCS title hopes for 2011 realistic?
When will Mark Richt get to hoist one of these crystal babies like Nick Saban? Or will he? (Associated Press)
It’s that time of year between signing day and the beginning of spring practice when college football fans look ahead with optimism. That certainly applies in the Bulldog Nation, where many, if not most, fans appear to have concluded that the 2010 season will see an improvement in the Dogs’ on-field performance. A frequent refrain I’m hearing is that 10 wins, at least counting the bowl if not in the regular season, doesn’t seem out of reach, even with all the questions surrounding this team.
And if you then look ahead to 2011, with a year of experience at QB and the new defensive scheme established and battle-tested and a fairly advantageous schedule, well, the sky seems to be the limit in many fans’ estimation.
Yes, just three months after the debacle that was the game against Kentucky, some Dogs fans are daring to think BCS national championship in 2011. We’re nothing if not resilient. (Or deluded, I’m sure Bama and Florida fans will say.)
One of those true believer Dawg fans recently raised the issue with Olin Buchanan, Rivals.com college football senior writer, asking him when he saw Georgia winning another national championship. “I’m hoping 2011 is our year,” the fan added.
After retracing Georgia’s history winning national titles and having some years where a catch or two might have provided the opportunity for another, Buchanan didn’t exactly give the fan the answer he was hoping for.
“Most championship teams have strong defenses and reliable, experienced quarterbacks,” he noted. “This past season, Georgia had neither. Junior Logan Gray and redshirt freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will compete to be this fall’s starting quarterback. We’ll have to see if one emerges as a reliable passer. Meanwhile, coordinator Todd Grantham was brought in to bolster a defensive unit that was the third-most generous in the SEC last season. Can he rebuild that unit back to usual SEC standards? Again, we’ll see.”
Loading ...So how do you feel about Georgia’s prospects? Is a 10-win season this year the minimum you would find acceptable? Do you really think the Dogs, probably minus A.J. Green, can surpass Florida and Alabama out of the SEC and become a BCS championship contender in 2011? If not then, when? On the latter point, feel free to vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments.
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613 comments Add your comment
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
3:42 pm
What was Florida’s record two years before they won the MNC?
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:43 pm
And UGA is every bit as good as Bama?????? The Tide has better talent and a much better coach….You’ve got to be kidding..
Tech Man
February 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
Reality: I am with you on this ignorant issue that the UGA people are thinking.
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:45 pm
UGA is a 2nd tier SEC team. Talk to me when you can beat UF and UT consistently.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
3:47 pm
Says who? Facts say you are incorrect. CMR is as good as any and UGA has the talent. I don’t see how anyone can predict the popularity contest winner that is the MNC. I think UGA wins the SEC East and if they do, they have a chance. We will see.
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:48 pm
They will not even win the SEC East….but I appreciate your optimism.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
3:51 pm
We do beat UT consistently. CMR is 5 and 4 against UT head up and have finished ahead of UT eight of nine times. CMR finished ahead of UF 4 of 9 times so it is nip and tuck. You better stay with the rhetoric and leave the facts out of if.
DominationContinues
February 21st, 2010
3:51 pm
Pretty far fetched to entertain the delusion that UGA will compete for the MNC, let alone the SEC title. CMR just doesn’t have that go-for-the-throat, killer instinct style of coaching that it takes to prevail in this extremely tough conference. Urban and Nick both do and will face each other in the Georgia Dome during December for years to come. The upshot is that UGA will continue to DOMINATE the North Avenue Trade School nerd boys for pretty much the next 9 or 10 years. We run this state!!!! GATA, hunker down Hairy Dawgs and THWGT!!!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 21st, 2010
4:00 pm
Yada yada and Urban and Nick are the same coaches who lost 3-4 games 2 years ago.Look up the SEC history no team has made the SEC championship and returned the following year after losing key starters I said starters not a starter or two.Never happened and wont this year either.Some of you guys are drunk on “the coach is the key” koolaid.PLAYERS win ballgames not the coaches.Coaching plays a role sure but NOTHING trumps god given ability.Bear Bryant could lead Vandy to a SEC title if he had 30 years to get it done.
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 21st, 2010
4:01 pm
Er the Bear COULD NOT lead Vandy to a title I meant to say
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
Hey Jonah… Defend Trinton Sturdivant and Justin Anderson. Or Michael Lemon.
Or how about Randy McMichael:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1831533
Hello Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle…
Of course, most UGA players know Mr. Pot. (Or the guy that sells it)
Mike Bobo Offense
February 21st, 2010
4:23 pm
National Championship? This is why people HATE uga fans
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 21st, 2010
4:24 pm
I guess CMR suspending Randy McMichael after a fight in downtown Athens really didn’t help. Especially since he supposedly does such a good job of turning young men into responsible, Christain adults….
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
4:30 pm
You might want to see about Crittendon while you are bailing out Thugs? Childish
cindy Hendrix
February 21st, 2010
4:48 pm
Hey Ric Flair I think you are confusing college football with pro wrestling in c fb every 4 yrs we get new players therefore our chances change & they do not get older you wrestled in the same league for yrs then went to another league with differen’t partners but you still got older we have a new defensive coach & LB coach & good recruits Fl has Urban Meyer who had to take a leave of absence dan mullen gone HC at MSU & other coaches left tebow gone & 6 other good players Meyer is not the type of coach who can let others take over for too long he likes to call all the shots & is a control freak & FL fans are spoiles who have gooten used to winning they don;t even like to 2 or 3 games when meyer comes back if he does this fall the pressure cooker will still be there of being a HC FL fans when he comes back they will be concernded about his health for a littlwe while as long as they keep winning let them lose a few & it will change. Things at Uf will not be the same with all of theses changes despite good recruiting the gravy train has to end sometime & now is the time UGA fans give TD & his new defense a chance & our new LB coach we have faith & good luck this spring I think we will suprise some folks great hire CMR & never count the DAWGS OUT!! as always GO DWAGS. Cindy
Gen Neyland
February 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
I’d wager if Steve Spurrier had averaged a wad of 10 wins per season in Athens with the personnel that played between the shrubs in those really good years, he’d have rammed home at least one Crystal Football in Butts-Mehre…JMO…GBO
Pago Flyer
February 21st, 2010
4:51 pm
If we can’t beat UF/UT/UK then how can we be #1?
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 21st, 2010
5:02 pm
Bruce Mac… You don’t even want to get into a FACTUAL debate about arrest records for your beloved leg humpers and GT. (And I’m not even a fan)
I’ll give you a pat on the back for a few years ago. I mean after all, who could expect anyone to win a championship with INJURIES…
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 21st, 2010
5:04 pm
17 wins out of 20… UF.
But hey, you guys run this state! And you have all of those recruiting titles too!
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 21st, 2010
5:14 pm
You can’t live in the past so I guess it’s no point of pointing out Dooley’s record against FLA
Spell Checker
February 21st, 2010
5:23 pm
I’d be ashamed to identify my school if I couldn’t spell any better than many of the posters on this blog. People from Tick[Sic] and Alabanana[Sic] are the biggest offenders.
Shane
February 21st, 2010
5:29 pm
Why not? We were second in 2007 and have been close a few times under Richt.
Cali Dawg
February 21st, 2010
5:35 pm
Last time I checked, there were 2 National Champion flags flying in Sanford Stadium…42 and 80. Did they take one down?
Denver Dog
February 21st, 2010
5:52 pm
This might be the most outrageous blogpost I’ve ever read. I suggest this kind of stuff belongs on the LSD or other heavy drug circuit, and not the UGA blog.
rob
February 21st, 2010
6:09 pm
Not that there was ever much to begin with, but I have lost ALL respect of the author – what an idiot!
Pope UGA XXIII
February 21st, 2010
6:20 pm
Am I at a Black Sabbath concert or something ???????
(What are you people – on dope ???
Mr Hand… Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
Let’s worry about playing for the SEC championship first
before discussing this type of silly conjecture. And yes, I am
a UGA graduate and a 39 year season ticket holder.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
6:22 pm
I would be the first to admit I don’t know the history of arrests at other schools. I have a job and as such have better things to do. Again, childish postings of small minded fans without enough productive endeavors. By the way, please name me one other team that has had 19 season ending injuries?
Since Vince
February 21st, 2010
6:39 pm
Diamond Dawgs lose to Baylor oh well the baseball team suxs too… What else is new with UGA?????
Since Vince
February 21st, 2010
6:41 pm
1942 flag is Bogus Cali dawg….
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
6:44 pm
All Mythical National Championships are bogus, what is your point? Until there is a playoff system, none of them amount to anything except a popularity contest.
elmer Fud
February 21st, 2010
6:55 pm
481nd
Pat
February 21st, 2010
7:00 pm
Awful article.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
February 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
Love the dawgs and hope for the best but I’m passing on this batch of kool-aid. I look for the dawgs to be better, especially without Wille but lets be real. Every game will be a fight…
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
7:16 pm
hey calidog you dont get that 42 trophy cause people cant remember that far back— like they forget bama has 13 when all they have to do is pull up the nzaa record book
superDawg
February 21st, 2010
7:16 pm
Tuck Fech!!!
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
7:21 pm
The NCAA does not recognize any football National Championships. Look at the trophy in this article, where does it say NCAA Champion on it?
Not Saint Simons
February 21st, 2010
7:45 pm
487th!
See? It’s just as stupid when you post first too.
Not Saint Simons
February 21st, 2010
7:46 pm
Psst – Diamond Dog’s Parole Officer – we’ve played more than 20 times…
icedawg
February 21st, 2010
10:21 pm
What have you been smokin’? There has to be a dramatic, a very dramatic turnaround on the defense, a consistent and productive running game and a QB who will not self-destruct. What’s the likelihood of all of those happening? It’d be a miracle. It’d be a miracle. NC, not likely, competing for the SEC East, maybe.
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 21st, 2010
10:25 pm
NSS: Well then, let’s discuss National Championships.
bruce mac also posts under the name patrick.
Stinger
February 21st, 2010
10:32 pm
dawgs suck big ones
Stinger
February 21st, 2010
10:33 pm
What the hell are you smoking? Dawgs can’t even win the SEC east. Bottom feeders at best.
JOE DAWGS
February 21st, 2010
10:52 pm
I SAY ALL DAWG FANS GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE DAWGS WHAT IS IN THE PAST LET IT GO. THINK ABOUT THE NEW YEAR AND ”GO DAWGS”.
Gator Dominance
February 21st, 2010
11:16 pm
Georgia’s not winning anything big with Richt—Meyer and Saban will own the SEC for years—mark it down! Georgia will be lucky to make the chick filet bowl in 2010 or 2011. Stop the dreaming dawgs–another blowout is coming in 2010—Florida’s offense will be loaded. Brantley’s got an NFL arm and will be lighting up the scoreboard in Jax, as usual
RED DOG 77
February 21st, 2010
11:30 pm
Stinger, Tech Man, Yellow Fuzz, Buzz Butt……..All of you GT. people, I asked a question last night. None of you took the time to respond. It was as follows : What kind of year do you expect your bees to have this year ? Who won the last meeting between GT and UGA ? How many times have your bees won while playing UGA in, say the last 10 yrs.? What is your most recent bowl record[ last 4 yrs.] ? Do you think your bees can stay on the same field with UGA this year ? if yes, how ? What would you say were your biggest games this yr.[ top 5] ? Think you can win a single one of them ?………Now tell me, Honestly……..Who’ s your Daddy ? really now…..Who’s your poppa ?……..Think you can win 4 games this year ? I, for one think it will be a tall order for a bee team that just lost everyone of your top players. And dont tell me that QB of your is a top player [ remember, dude cant throw the ball]………So tell me, GT boys, why do you come to a UGA site to try to have a few laughs ? Do you really think GT will have a better year in 2010 than UGA ? Talk about having some laughs !………Now tell me again…Who’s your Daddy ?
RED DOG 77
February 21st, 2010
11:41 pm
JOE DAWGS………..Yer dern tootin my friend ! best post all day ! Tell em to put those big ol ‘G’ decals on their bumpers and back windshields ! Tell em to wear their RED and BLACK ! Tell em to talk up their DOGS !……..2010 Is a brand new year ! New QB , new 3-4 Defense, Scrappy bunch of mean BULLDOGS, better schedule, more like BAMA, or FLA last year, Tell em to ………GO DOGS !!! Tell em to GATA !! Thanks JOE DAWGS !!! Regards, RED
G DOG
February 22nd, 2010
12:00 am
CMR did a great job in hireing todd grantham as dc.But uga will never win a national title with BoBo calling the plays. He’s not an sec level oc.
BuLLdawg
February 22nd, 2010
5:18 am
QUOTE :
AltamahaDawg
February 21st, 2010 9:06 am
“I would say that is certainly a realistic goal.”
END QUOTE
Somehow, I expected you to agree with Bill King that UGA is a year away from winning the BCS National Championships, never mind we lose 14 seniors after this season and another 5 juniors including AJ Green.
How many of those we lose after this season are Starters ?
All of them.
2001 Lost to Florida
2002 Lost to Florida
2003 Lost to Florida
2004 Lost to Tennessee vols
2005 Lost to Florida
2006 Lost to Florida and Tennessee vols
2007 Lost to Tennessee vols
2008 Lost to Florida
2009 Lost to Florida and Tennessee vols
BuLLdawg
February 22nd, 2010
5:22 am
18 games in 9 years of Coach Richt Era against
Florida and Tennessee vols, and
we have won exactly 7.
7 wins out of 18 games in Coach Richt Era vs 2 teams in our own Division of our Conference.
We have beat in 9 years of Coach Richt Era NO Top 10 Final AP Poll team in ANY bowl game.
Relevant on the National Stage with 14-game seasons nowadays ?
9 years Coach Richt Era won more than 11 games once.
SEC FANATIC
February 22nd, 2010
5:37 am
Might I recommend that you establish who your starting QB will be for the next few years before you start talking national championships?? Just a suggestion….