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
poopdawg
February 21st, 2010
9:14 am
Gator in Miami, you shouldn’t be so worried. Those Tebow Tears doesn’t get any sympathy here.
AltamahaDawg
February 21st, 2010
9:15 am
of cource the tech fans are worse, but nobody is puzzled by that from them.
Tom
February 21st, 2010
9:15 am
We could MAYBE win the SEC, but its a longshot. No chance at a NC. What a joke!
ReptilesRule
February 21st, 2010
9:18 am
Are you kidding me?? Didn’t you just lose to Kentucky???
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:18 am
AltamahaDawg, yes it is odd, almost as odd has the same people showing up at the same stadium for the last 30 years waiting for the same thing to happen again. You maybe losing your edge however; instead of saying were going to win next year, now your saying wait until the year after next. You guys are priceless.
Judy Garland
February 21st, 2010
9:19 am
“Somewhere, over the rainbow…”
George W Bush
February 21st, 2010
9:20 am
I’ve got a better chance of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:21 am
01HAWK, win back to back and I will believe. If it (institute) can help you deal with the weekly pressure of having a target on you, it will be successful. Remember 1 NC after a decade of mediocrity doesn’t crown you champs forever.
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:22 am
I have a better chance of hitting the POWERBALL than JAW-JAH winning a NC.
erk russell
February 21st, 2010
9:23 am
Im not dead, I am rip van winkle and we are going to win again.
DawgSinceBirth
February 21st, 2010
9:23 am
Ghost…5 NATIONAL TITLES, TURD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just sayin’,,,,,,,,,,
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:23 am
Ponce DeLeon………………………………….Still living in the PAST OF 1980………………..SAD.
verge
February 21st, 2010
9:24 am
You have to be kidding me! National title! UGA fans, don’t get upset with other coming on your site keeping you guys and gals neutral. The fact is UGA will not be winning he SEC East or a title no time soon…
poopdawg
February 21st, 2010
9:24 am
Ponce Deleon ,you give proof in AltamahaDawg 9:11 post.
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:25 am
It worked for bama up to last year, livin in the past of Da BEAR.
Dick Cheney
February 21st, 2010
9:27 am
I’ve got a better chance at winning that Olympic ski/shooting event.
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:27 am
poopsie, you give proof in my 9:18 post.
Bill Clinton
February 21st, 2010
9:28 am
UGA has about as good of chance as me getting excited with Hilary(ous).
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:29 am
What do you call a GEORGIA player with a championship ring?
A thief!
HAHAHAHA
February 21st, 2010
9:29 am
The AJC will print anything to get dumb rednecks to buy their paper!!! Stay tuned for next week’s story: ‘Dawgs Looking Good for 2015!’
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:30 am
01HAWK, no asleep in a dream.
dixie clear
February 21st, 2010
9:31 am
are you serious????? this is a joke, right?!
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:31 am
Very few Dawgs on here this morning; started to read the posts, looked in the mirror and went back to bed.
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:32 am
BAMA won a NC in 1992,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Not in 1980 like UGA did. Also, the BEAR was always better than DOOLEY. Case closed.
I have a better chance of driving in the DAYTONA 500 than UGA winning a NC.
Delusional Dawg
February 21st, 2010
9:33 am
skyhigh and I would like to know where we can buy our 2011 National Championship Tee shirts!!!
Joshua
February 21st, 2010
9:33 am
Alabama went 7-6 in 2007 winning the Independence Bowl
Two years later Alabama went 14-0 winning the BCS National Championship
Georgia went 8-5 in 2009 winning the Independence Bowl
Two years later Georgia went……………………………..”Hey it could happen”
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:34 am
DREAMS are for GEORGIA TECH AND GEORGIA FANS.
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:35 am
01HAWK, good, Dooley was better than us; hell everyone was better than us except KY, Vandy and Miss State. But not anymorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Tiger Woods
February 21st, 2010
9:35 am
I’ve got a better chance at winning Husband of the Year!
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:36 am
BIG difference is UGA has CMR and BAMA has SABAN.
Absolutely no comparison.
UGA……………………………DREAM WEAVERS
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:36 am
Joshua, yea it could happen but Bama had Saban and you got Richt.
JLC
February 21st, 2010
9:37 am
I needed a laugh this morning…thank you
Joshua
February 21st, 2010
9:37 am
Alabama went 7-6 in 2007 winning the Independence Bowl
Two years later Alabama went 14-0 winning the BCS National Championship
Georgia went 8-5 in 2009 winning the Independence Bowl
Two years later Georgia went……………………………..”Hey it could happen”
Octomom
February 21st, 2010
9:37 am
I think it could happen for sure. And I also believe in responsible birth control…
Barak Obama
February 21st, 2010
9:38 am
I got a better chance of winning re-election.
Barak Obama
February 21st, 2010
9:39 am
Joshua wake up dude your dreamin.
Frank Sinatra
February 21st, 2010
9:39 am
Start spreadin the news……….
Balloon Boy
February 21st, 2010
9:41 am
Why does everybody think this idea is so pie-in-the-sky???
Moron
February 21st, 2010
9:43 am
I’ve got a better chance of spelling Barack Obama.
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:43 am
UGA has a better chance of Vince Dooley coming back to coach……………………………..OH, I apologize,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,He was not that good of a coach either.
#2 BAMA FAN
February 21st, 2010
9:45 am
01hawk knows his bama stuff!!! RTR
UGA class of 71 & 73
February 21st, 2010
9:45 am
Geeeeeeez, we need to focus ONLY ……….ONLY ON winning the darned SEC East, then WIN the SEC Championship …………..things will possibly work out if we focus ONLY on this scenario.
IF UGA does have a fine season in 2011 ………I believe we will still lose to an Auburn in the regular season or someone like that ( Auburn is on the way up and fast ) but somehow end up as EAST CO CHAMPS, then play Auburn again in the Dome or maybe Alabama.
In our league ………….. and unless I see some entirely new coaching and player attitudes around UGA, we will lose one in conference play and it cannot be Florida. I do not see UT being a factor for awhile, given the fact that their staff is untested, un proven and has no record of even winning. The NCAA is gonna put the kabash anyway on UT’s future, due to Blame’s violations.
Year 2010 could be one very, very fine year. UGA players and coaches ( not alumni) have a lot to prove. Now, let’s see if they can.
Goooooooooooo Dogs.
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
9:46 am
The US Government sent all of the TEXAS NC merchandise to HAITI.
Maybe Georgia could intercept the shipment and change it somehow to say GEORGIA.
OH, did I say intercept………………………………….They could not catch a beachball if it was handed to them on defense, so that is out.
Ponce DeLeon
February 21st, 2010
9:50 am
UGA class of 71 & 73
I gotta give you credit, your hope springs eternal. I would say instead of winning the east first; start having Samford as a place where opposing teams hate to come. Your home winning percentage is mediocre at best.
#2 BAMA FAN
February 21st, 2010
9:50 am
I like the dawgs because of my father, but the dawgs winning the NC is not going to happen anytime
soon!! RTR
Barack Obamaq
February 21st, 2010
9:51 am
Moron I left out Hussein
Joe
February 21st, 2010
9:52 am
lololololololololololol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joshua
February 21st, 2010
9:53 am
Oh……I forgot that Saban is a “GOD”
Please Richt, is no less of a coach than Saban, I would say they are equal in coaching. There head-to-head pretty much proves that. Saban has embarrassed Richt once in 2008 (40-31), and Richt to Saban in 2004 (45-16). They have the same amount of SEC Championships…2 a piece. Richt has a better overall head coaching winning percentage of 79% to Saban’s 71%………BOTTOM LINE is they are both great coaches………..
Can’t stand to see people raise Saban up like he is something so magically and wonderful…..need I remind some of you that Saban has lost to Louisiana-Monroe at home and went 7-6…………something Mark Richt has never done.
All I am saying is that back in 2007, Nobody, even Bama fans, thought that Alabama could win the BCS two years later…………………..If Bama could do it, so could Georgia, Auburn, or even Tennessee. They line up athlete to athlete every Saturday.
AltamahaDawg
February 21st, 2010
9:54 am
I wonder if Nick Saban learned a thing or two with that DECADE head start coaching he has over Richt? I’m guessing that Alabama thought so when they hired him for 4 million dollars.
Ric Flair
February 21st, 2010
9:54 am
UGA’s chances of winning a national title are about as good as my chances of winning another championship belt.
To be the Man, you have to beat the man. UF is the Man. Woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!