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
As for Georgia.....nobody cares for them
February 20th, 2010
3:14 pm
HAHHA NOBODY! BUNCH OF LOSERS!
Is Georgia ranked?????
February 20th, 2010
3:16 pm
Are they? LOL
HilariousArticle
February 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Since UGA only has 1 National title in around 110 years of playing the sport…I doubt very seriously they are a serious threat to win the title 10 years from now much less in the next two. I will admit a very weak schedule the next several years makes it much easier for them to contend but the fact is they have a coach that can recruit but simply can’t get the most out of the talent on hand. I don’t see them winning the SEC East either year much less anything on the national or even SEC level. There best chance is not 2011 but 2010. UT has a new coach, My Gators have to replace huge amounts of talent plus uncertainty at the coaching positions, shoot the best team is likely to be South Carolina which shows how the SEC East is weak this year. This will not be true in 2011.
Regardless, UGA still hasn’t been a real threat at a National title since Hershel Walker was a Freshman in 1980 and that was the only time in over 100 years. I certainly like the 100+ to 1 odds against any real chance! LOL
Back to Shreveport for UGA butt lickers
February 20th, 2010
3:22 pm
mark it down mutt fans!
UGA Goes from Contenders to pretenders
February 20th, 2010
3:24 pm
Every year. Keep making all those predictions that you can’t keep you dumb hillbillies.
MVP
February 20th, 2010
3:26 pm
CHOKE!……..THE OFFICAL DRINK OF THE GEORGIA BULLDAWGS!
Lane Kiffen
February 20th, 2010
3:27 pm
I did not lie!! I did beat Georgia !
Dan
February 20th, 2010
3:31 pm
D wins championships. i like the thought of a new defensive scheme and i like richard samuel at LB. 2010 could end up surprising us all
Standing on the sidelines
February 20th, 2010
3:43 pm
Bobo will definitely be more of a hindrance than a help. JC in PowderSprings is right.
Minnesota Dawg
February 20th, 2010
4:00 pm
I don’t think winning a Championship is all on the coach only! You’ve got to have the players to perform at the right moment (22 individual players). One makes a mistake and there goes your Championship season. Why has Alabama and Florida and LSU won? All I can say is that they had all the pieces in place. Just wait a few more years. They won’t always win! Our time will come! How many times do you have a Tim Tebow or Hershel Walker come around? Not very often! Folks, I think we need to realize that winning a National Champinoship is not very easy. You’ve got to get lucky many times. Sure if you are a Florida fan, you can brag and say you know why, but hindsight is always 100%. Why did Alabama win this year? They capitalized on their opportunities. They should have lost to Arkansas, but they blocked that field goal!
daddo
February 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
Until u get a new head coach, Georgia will never win a national championship. Yall are the only fools I’ve ever seen that can lose the number of games u did this year and then talk about all the great talent coming back. U are not Alabama, never have been and never will be.
What color uniforms will u try this year?
CatsFly
February 20th, 2010
4:11 pm
Only if UNC doesn’t.
Gatorbait 17-3
February 20th, 2010
4:15 pm
daddo
You are as right as rain!!!!!!!!!!!!
dawgfan24-7
February 20th, 2010
4:32 pm
What’s with all the non-uga fans saying we only have 1 national title. We have 2 (1942 & 1980) and could claim to have more but don’t because before 1970 every team with a decent record claimed to be national champions. Like Ga. Tech. Six polls in 1942 declared us the national champions. We also had the Heisman trophy winner on that team. For some reason if one of the polls declared you the national champion some schools took it to heart. UT claims to have six I think. They really only have two. UGA was voted #1 by some of the polls in 1927, 1946 & 1968. Yeah they were good years and someone out there thought we were #1 but we don’t claim those years as national titles. I’d love to hear what some Ga. Tech fans and UT fans have to say about all the national titles they claim to own.
Dawg 39
February 20th, 2010
4:36 pm
No Dawg coach could win the SEC after Herschel left until CMR came along. He believes in the Dawgs and the coaches he hired Believe in him and the Dawgs. The players are talking championship. IF CMR leaves, I will not be a believer. As long as he is the HC, I remain confident. He is the best coach the Dawgs have had in the 60 years that I have been been an avid, loyal, and knowledgeable DAWG FAN. You Others are wrong.
Reality
February 20th, 2010
4:37 pm
BWHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA – (inhale) – BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
puppy fans are soooo delusional
Cal Dawg
February 20th, 2010
4:50 pm
Richt’s going to be holding bobo on a tight leash this year and calling more plays. With the improved D, Georgia should win the SEC east pretty easily, since tennessee and florida don’t have much coming back.
John
February 20th, 2010
4:50 pm
Are you shizzing me. Never, too hard. Too many things have to go right. Ga recuits un coachable monkeys.
Bill King is a .....
February 20th, 2010
4:59 pm
Bill…..ur a moron. So what do you think about that?
ncdawg9295
February 20th, 2010
5:28 pm
1-Overly optimistic Dawg fans… it depends on whether the ‘10 QB is a Joe Cox or a D.J. Shockley. We could be 8-5 or 11-3 or 11-2. I have no reason to believe the QB will be a Shockley. Gray doesn’t appear to have the talent, and M&M are to young.
2-Overly optimistic Tide fans. Enjoy this championship, and maybe the next one, but I wouldn’t sleep too soundly at night … Saban will leave you. Soon.
Dawg 39
February 20th, 2010
5:37 pm
John: WHY ? Vandy & UGA are the 2 toughest school in the SEC for student athletes to get into. They give fewer offers to marginal students and put more emphasis on off field behavior than other schools. Example: the 2005 signing class of 19 had only 12 to report that fall. This is a constant for UGA & for CMR. Again: WHY ? .
Dennis
February 20th, 2010
5:52 pm
Instead of Lars and the Real Girl, dawg fans are Mark and the National Contenders. Both are delusional and make for a good movie.
North Georgia Dawg
February 20th, 2010
6:17 pm
I think we have a better chance this year than next. Granted we have a new defensive scheme and an unproven quarterback. However, we have a lot of guys leaving after this year. So now is as good a time as any.
NC Dawg
February 20th, 2010
6:22 pm
At least we own the state! Right, little bees?
Dandy Don
February 20th, 2010
6:33 pm
I agree, especially if Sturdivent (the best offensive tackle in the SEC as a freshman) can play alll
year!
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
February 20th, 2010
6:44 pm
THE JELLO JOCKITCH WILL ALWAYS BE, HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
February 20th, 2010
6:47 pm
THE JELLO JOCKITCH HASW A NEW COACH THAT IS ANATOMICALLY APPROPRIATE CALL AL GROHin. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
February 20th, 2010
6:49 pm
THE ONLY GOOD THING THE JELLO JOCKITCH HAVE DONE FOR THEIR TEAM IS TO DISPLAY THEIR IMAGE IN THOSE WATERLESS TOILETS AT THE CALLAWAY GARDENS. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
RobDawg01
February 20th, 2010
6:49 pm
“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.)”
Is it delusional for UGA fans to EXPECT a national title? Sure, it takes a good bit of luck to make the game (ask Auburn). Is it daring or delusional? No.
After all, Alabama lost to La-Monroe in ‘07, lost the SECC the next year, won the MNC/BCS in ‘09. How is this different for Alabama fans? It was out of conference – the SUN BELT CONFERENCE. Was anyone claiming the Alabama fans were delusional about their future then?
Florida had a debacle against UGA in ‘07 (they were leading in the 2nd Qtr..but the delusional UF fans forget about that little fact. And they lost 3 games during the regualar season. But no one claimed their fans to be deluded when they thought their team would win the MNC/BCS in ‘08.
RW
February 20th, 2010
6:52 pm
What has CMR done to convince any of us dawg fans he will out fight Nick Saban or Urban Meyer for the Sec much less a NC? Wasting a year of AJ Green with Joe Cox as QB. I mean how does this guy start a linebacker as #1 tailback? Yes we have talent and will continue to recruit talented players,but i am one Dawg fan who has lost faith in the head coach. I watched the 1980 NCG the other day and was pretty sad watching the celebration take place because its probably the only one we’ll see for a while.CMR will not win a NC at Georgia. He will do enough to keep people thinking it “could” happen in the “next couple of years or so”.
Tlsport
February 20th, 2010
6:54 pm
I was travelling back from Dallas on Friday and sat next to Matthew Stafford…He was riding coach class with the rest of us, I my add, and headed to Athens. I didn’t talk to him much because he had has his headphones on and was reading the newspaper (USA Today). But below are the highlights…”Next year’s QB race at UGA should be one of the most competitive ever. While Aaron Murray is the most athletic, Zach Mettenberger has one of the most gifted passing arms he has ever seen. He has a cannon and is so accurate.” I asked him why one of them didn’t play some last year. “I don’t know, but if I had to guess it would because the coaches didn’t think either was ready” I asked him if was surprised about Willie Martinez losing his job. “No, not really. The defense just gave up too many points. Coach Martinez is a great recruiter and a well respected coach. I think that was proven by how quickly he got another job.” As for Georgia’s chances next year…”They need players just like we do in Detroit. They’ll be back.”
CGA
February 20th, 2010
6:54 pm
The delusions of grandeur have started even earlier this year!
Jona
February 20th, 2010
6:55 pm
Florida boots Brown from the team
Bahahahahahah
Already starting
Jona
February 20th, 2010
7:00 pm
Come on Gatorbait 17-3
Defend a punk who roughes up women. he is one of your precious lizards.
tony
February 20th, 2010
7:02 pm
I believe the dogs can win the sec and a nc in 2011. Aaron Murray is no Joe Cox and Todd Grantham is no Willie Martinez. Aaron Murray will execute and his targets with precision and Grantham aggresive style defense is the way our young men likes to play. We will see a different beast on the field in 2011.
Gator Hater
February 20th, 2010
7:18 pm
Even better than the NC is to beat the heck out of Florida. I’m so tired of losing in Jacksonville. Can’t Georgia stay in the Game with the Gators. To me the Ga/Fla game is the championship game of the season. I judge the success of the season on this one game. O, how i hate the gators.
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 20th, 2010
7:23 pm
RW Richt has already beaten Saban and Meyer so I don’t get your point.Maybe you are one of those folks who THINKS it all about the HC.If that were truly the case those teams would go undefeated every year.UGA would have won 10 games with Joe Cox if he had the same OL play and running game in the 1st game at OSU as we had in the last game at GT.I guess you missed what happened at OU and USC in 09.You are not going to just replace starters overnight and have the same success.I don’t care who the HC is.As far Samuel at rb maybe it had more to do with King and Ealey being injured and unavailable in the 1st few games.
Hope?
February 20th, 2010
7:33 pm
Is hope a strategy?
ps…that 10 game/year thing seems to be going, going, gone soon
RW
February 20th, 2010
7:43 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 you do have some points. I certainly hope i am wrong about CMR; but i have lost faith in him taking us to the top. I am not saying he is a bad coach. If you could please explain to me the 2008 season and the constant gimmicks. Also please explain to me why the team flat out just doesnt have any fire in big games. I think that has everything to do with CMR. Yes he has beat Saban and Meyer but the point is they will make sure he doesnt do it again.
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 20th, 2010
7:56 pm
IMO people went on and on about WM but in all the big games we lost over last few years…FLA,AU,Tenn,LSU etc it was ACTUALLY the Offense that sucked and inability to score points or move the ball effectively is why we lost.Some folks may be more concerned with “window dressing” IE losing by 3 or 4 instead of 15-20 well whopee do as far as I’m concerned.A loss is a friggin loss.The Offense is.. was ..and will continue to be the problem until the OL and running game is up to par.I don’t care if we had 3 AJ Greens.. we are not going to win ANYTHING without strong OL play and a running game.
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 20th, 2010
8:17 pm
There is a stat out there that says Mark Richt is 38-3 when he has a back rush for over 100 yards.38-3! seems to me that running the ball should be where our focus every game every year.My major knock against CMR since he has been at UGA is we don’t run the ball enough.Hey I love the AJ’s, Marlon Brown’s and Da Rick Rogers of the world but I’d rather see King and Ealey triple the touches of any WR.
King Gator
February 20th, 2010
8:24 pm
Not likely, but good luck..
Too Vanilla...
February 20th, 2010
8:39 pm
Bama’s QB McElroy was not touted as the team leader, Cox relished in the thought that he was going to be the team leader…he talked the talked, but sadly couldn’t walk the walk…Cox didn’t inspire anybody…now, could you tell me some of the leaders that have been present during the Richt era…at other schools there is always some one who stands out, whether it be a QB, LB, DE, RB, SS, special teams, something or someone is the face of the team…it needs to be someone who has some swagger and that can back it up…Orson has it, Murray has it, their old coach diffidently had it…I saw a summer league game against another team that was coached by Cris Carter going against Murray, Charles’ team; man you talk about trash talking Cris Carter was jawing and the coach at Plant was giving it right back (a HS coach giving it to a former 8 time all pro player), well this carried onto the field and Murray/Charles and team sent them packing (it was fun to see)…now, is it just because CMR doesn’t recruit/attract some players with a little personality? Who knows…I doubt Orson would have gone to Athens if Murray wasn’t there, but he did because he knows what Murray is capable of doing…every team needs at least one character to provide a little swagger…hard to believe CMR played at the “U”, or maybe after being a part of that atmosphere is why he became the way he and the teams he coaches; VANILLA…the coaches need to win a game or two and not loose any thru bone headed decisions…
SOUTHGADAWG88
February 20th, 2010
8:48 pm
Aww but the “U” type of personalities wouldn’t work at UGA.Some hated the lil soulja boy dancing when Knowshon was here.
S.E. Dawg
February 20th, 2010
9:00 pm
The heck with 20011, let’s play 2010. I’m excited about this year. If these new coaches are as good of teachers as been advertised then let’s go get it this year. With our young QB’s being in the system for a year, will not look like Stafford his first year. Murry and Mett will have been in spring practice 2009, fall practice 2009, practice the entire 2009 season and now spring practice 2010, fall practice 2010. That’s a lot of practice time for them before either one has taken a snap in their first game.
Gen Neyland
February 20th, 2010
9:05 pm
Ask Auburn about advantageous schedules…
RED DOG 77
February 20th, 2010
9:18 pm
I just wish I was half as smart as the ‘brain gifted’ ‘experts’ I read while roaming the AJC blog range………….Oh Home, Home On The AJC Range…….Yes, that is what I sing while reading these enlightening posts. Just imagine my friends, you are at a place where people can tell the future, now that is indeed amazing ! How can all these people be right though ?….Some say this and some say that, gives me a brain cramp ! But one thing is for sure, I love my GEORGIA BULLDOGS !!! and I will support them win or lose. My guess is [because that is all I can do] that my University of Georgia BULLDOGS will do much better in 2010……..and with coaching changes, the new 3-4 defense, a stable of talented young QBs, and a hungry bunch of scrappy dogs…….we should even do better in the following years to come…….I just hope all ‘real’ UGA fans out there will support the dogs, wear your REDand BLACK, put those ‘G’ decals on your bumper and back windshields, and show our DOGS we are with them………I can assure you, that will help our DOGS with the confidence that only ‘real’ fans can give them………GO DOGS !!!! GATA
Westside Jax Dawg
February 20th, 2010
9:20 pm
I’m sick of living down here in Jacksonville and having to put up all these obnoxious gator fans every year after another blowout loss by richt—he better start beating florida on a regular basis, or damon evans needs to clean house.
Bulldog59
February 20th, 2010
9:21 pm
SET GOALS WHERE YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR DESTINY:
My friend is a long time and big UT booster. The UT fan base has been obsessed the last 2 years with getting UT a National Title in the next few years, so much so, they bet the farm on P.T. Barnum to coach the team in 2009. Look where it got them! He took their money, folded his tent in the middle of the night and ran to USC. You can’t buy a BCS Title, nor will a perfect season even guarantee a shot at the title.
CMR will get Georgia back where they belong, because he knows to focus on goals that you can control. With Georgia’s 2010 schedule, and the current state of other SEC East schools’ football programs, winning the SEC East is attainable for Georgia in 2010. Building on that, winning the SEC Championship in 2011 is also attainable. A BCS title requires your program to do almost everything right in a season and usually a few things out of your control to fall into place. Georgia should simply focus on SEC Titles, the chances for BCS Titles will come.
BD
February 20th, 2010
9:33 pm
Stop sniffing glue and writing articles.