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
atl-xmen
February 21st, 2010
11:09 am
guys..just look at the teams that have won the NC the last 10 years…all of them all had more upperclassmen playing on both off-line and def-line . and that is what the difference is when winning titles. having jrs and srs starting and playing instead of fresh and sophs with a jr or sr there sprinkled in. uga has been very young the past 2 years on the off line and def line. while teams like fla and ala and lsu have had jr and srs. go back and check the rosters out. those years uga had mostly upperclass men on the off-line and def line uga only lost a total 3 games and if not for vandy missing the field goal or a dropped pass in that fla game about 4 or so years back uga would have been playing for a title. now that uga will have mostly jrs and srs on the off-line again this year and next year i can easily see thme challenging for a sec title and a national title. uga talent is as good as ala and fla but now uga’s talent will be older and better than ala in fla the next few years.
the future is look real good for the dogs .
bamadawg
February 21st, 2010
11:14 am
We win it in 2010…Why, you ask? With a “NON-WILLIE”, we win the LSU game in 2009, we also win the Kentucky game in 2009, we also win the Okie St. game in 2009, so we are 11-2 and with a junkyard defense we are 50/50 to wint the Tenn. and Florida games….now put that in your pipe and smoke it….we were closer than you think? No, I am ;not delusional!!! Go Dawgs…
mike
February 21st, 2010
11:14 am
Seriously, I think Georgia Tech is slowly building a powerhouse. That coach doesn’t mess around. He just up-graded his football staff without much fanfare and less money. I don’t see the Dawgs on the level with Alabama or Florida or winning a National Championship very soon, but you never know.
yea bill,
February 21st, 2010
11:15 am
this is the stupidest thing i have ever read in my life. bahahaha
ViningsDAWG
February 21st, 2010
11:18 am
Whatever you are smoking, stop! It is not good for you.
We have some problems to correct on this team before we can even think of a SEC championship.
Serious problems!
Sid
February 21st, 2010
11:33 am
You can’t say it any clearer…………………..!!
Ivan Vasilii Vladivostok, aka “Pasha dat GT a$$”
February 20th, 2010
12:27 pm
How about we start beating UF and UT and quit the damn BCS talk? I mean, let’s get to the top of the SEC first and then take on the nation.
Jeff
February 21st, 2010
11:36 am
Here we go again……seems ike I have heard this song and dance before. Yes I am a diehard Dawg fan but I have come to realize that we will never get to the next level. For us, its always next year with a bunch of excuses….we are Dance champions, penalty champions, smack talk champions, turnover champions….i wish I could beleive it but face the facts…..I love UGA and will always root for them but I dont have expectaions past going 10-2 some years…maybe an 11-1 some years…
Joe
February 21st, 2010
11:40 am
can you really save 15% on your car insurance by switching to Geico?
Does UGA always count on “Next Year”?
Tim
February 21st, 2010
11:46 am
I would like to thank you for this column I needed a good laugh. Get real UGA fans you don’t even control your own state and Richt has proven what type of coach he is. Just settle down and enjoy being middle of the pack every once in awhile you pull a rabbitt from a hat and win a meaningful game. Keep your standing reservation in Orlando,Tampa or even Shreveport, leave playing meaningful games to the UF’s,Bama’s Lsu’s and soon Auburns of the world. I don’t think Meyer,Saban,Tuberville or even the idiot Kiffin is coming to Athens anytime soon. So enjoy the dance king Richt and being 8-4 9-3 every year.
atl-xmen
February 21st, 2010
11:57 am
thanks tim for the laugh you just gave me..=) uga controls everything in ga just go outside every now and then. uga stuff everywhere. while your tech team is loading up on div 1aa players now that pj is coaching his high school offense, uga is loading up on 4-5 stars hoping to make it to the pros one day.
uga is already a top 5-7 program right now and when richt wins a few national titles in the next 4 or so years, uga will be at the top. as for tech they will most likley be looking for another coach with the losses he racks up in the next 4 or so years.
atl-xmen
February 21st, 2010
12:00 pm
with richt here at uga i feel uga will always have a shot of winning it all. he wins 10-11 games a year,most of those years will lead to a sec title which now since 2005, leads to a nationla title.
AltamahaDawg
February 21st, 2010
12:01 pm
what “facts” would those be jeff?
Fair and Balanced
February 21st, 2010
12:06 pm
Unless you are a genuine prophet, you can’t predict when ANYONE will win a national championship! It takes a lot of skill plus a lot of luck to win the NC. To predict that Mark Richt can’t win a NC is not fair and too negative. Why try to stir up this kind of talk?
Barbara Bush
February 21st, 2010
12:15 pm
I have a better chance of getting a successful makeover.
Ed Ogeron
February 21st, 2010
12:16 pm
I have a better chance of having a shirt on.
SEC fan
February 21st, 2010
12:17 pm
UGA is eons behind Bama and UF. They lack the talented arsenal that UF has as well as Bama. And they certainly lack the on and off the field discipline, focus, and mental toughness that Saban’s Bama teams have. UGA picks Bama back up on the schedule and if by chance UGA wins the east they will have to likely play Bama a 2nd time. Tough to beat Saban once let alone twice when he has a built up program.
Florida had perhaps the greatest recruiting class ever assembled this year and Bama has had back to back no. 1 classes who will be jrs and srs in 2011 followed by a 4th rated class this year.
Brantley will also be a senior at UF in 2011.
Even AU and UT will be tough with Chizik in his 3rd year and Dooley in his 2nd year fter a tough transition year. Odds are UGA won’t have the luxury of playing any SEC teams in a transition year in 2011.
A 2011 bcs title is as big a pipe dream as it gets for UGA.
CatsFly
February 21st, 2010
12:19 pm
Yep they will, and Tiger will relinquish his booty.
HardTruthSoldier...
February 21st, 2010
12:21 pm
UGA vs. Texas in 2011 for BCS title Bank on it!!!
UGA
February 21st, 2010
12:22 pm
I have a better chance at outrunning a greyhound.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying...
February 21st, 2010
12:22 pm
This headline and article are delusional. That is all.
Willie Martinez
February 21st, 2010
12:23 pm
I have a better chance in growing hair.
atl-xmen
February 21st, 2010
12:24 pm
in 2011 uga will have mostly srs all over the place. they could easily beat ala sophs and jrs. ala will lose the better players after the 2010 season to either the nfl or the srs graduating.
uga is set up nicley with the experience coming back on both sides of teh ball in 2011..2010 as well but i will give ala the advantage in 2010. still uga has the talent and coaching to upset them.
Derek Dooley
February 21st, 2010
12:26 pm
I have a better chance in putting a beat down on CMR and UGA.
USC FOOTBALL
February 21st, 2010
12:30 pm
I have a better chance of receiving actual NCAA penalties and sanctions.
BO BO Da' BABY MAKER
February 21st, 2010
12:31 pm
I have a better chance in the bedroom.
bigstack19
February 21st, 2010
12:32 pm
One can hope. There is no lack of talent in Athens and 2011 the stars could line up and shine on the Dawgs. Also, some other sports predictions for 2011. The Braves will come from three games down to beat the Yankees in the World Series under first year manager Terry Pendleton thus making Frank Wren a genius by signing Bob Horner and Dale Murphy in the off season to fill holes and trading Tommy Hanson for a bag of sunflower seeds and a Chipper Jones TOPPS rookie card. The Falcons will have won every game since the end of the 09 season and capture their 2nd straight Super Bowl beating Brett Favre and the Oakland Raiders. Favre also finally retires. The Hawks who signed LeBron James and Dwayne Wade in the 2010 off season added Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard in 2011. They still have Mike Woodson as coach however, and are eliminated in the 2nd round. The Thrashers will be winning a Stanley Cup in 2011 although it will be as the Winnipeg Jets and not the Atlanta Thrashers. Georgia Tech will complete a near perfect season only losing to eventual National Champion Georgia during the regular season. They go back to the Orange Bowl where they lose 123-3 to Big East champ Syarcuse who went 6-6 during the season. Brett Favre announces he is coming back as a Los Angeles Jaguar.
HardTruthSoldier...
February 21st, 2010
12:35 pm
When you play in the Gayest state in America, are the players gay to? I don’t see the “hitman” mentality that T. Davis or G Blue had. UGA just 8 years ago was putting feared safeties in the NFL, LB’s that hit like Mack Trucks, and DE’s that got upfield rush’s and had sack capabilities. Where is all that now? Hopefully Todd Gratham brings that “Hitman” mentality back to the UGA sideline. Until then I must wonder are we playing Gay Players?
Preston
February 21st, 2010
12:35 pm
Stranger things have happened. If Grantham is the man to get the most out of the defensive talent that we have, then we can do it. The offense will not be a problem. So many weapons. Ealey for Heisman! Go Dawgs!
Preston
February 21st, 2010
12:37 pm
Sure would be fun to watch UGA beat Bama and Kirby Smart in the SECCG. But the pollsters would probably screw us out of playing for the NC again.
HardTruthSoldier...
February 21st, 2010
12:40 pm
bigstack 19, You forgot to mention Al Davis brings his logic to the east and Buys the Jets and names them the Rajets….Espn Adds another station called ESPN junior high, and gives Lame Kiffin a job so he can recruit mom’s who are having boys!
joe
February 21st, 2010
12:41 pm
Don’t have the Coaching
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
12:44 pm
Have you noticed now that UGA has one bad recruting class (I guess top 15 is bad) that is all that matters in Bama, Auburn and Gator Land. The end is near, we outrecruited UGA. Talk about delusional? Un frickin believable. I guess they have forgotten that we have Seniors, Juniors and Sophomore still playing in Athens.
HardTruthSoldier...
February 21st, 2010
12:44 pm
Hey Bill you want a story? Here’s a good one. “Who transfers in 2011, Mattenberger, Murray, or Mason?
atl-xmen
February 21st, 2010
12:51 pm
mason will most likely red shirt this year so neo need to transfer in 2011. dont think murry will transfer since he will be the starter and metts was pretty much born a bulldog. his mom works there…neither might transfer which is fine with me.
SagaciousSam
February 21st, 2010
12:54 pm
Certainly sounds like a reasonable proposition. Let’s hope reality recognizes it. However, we do need to address some offensive deficiencies as we have done with the defense. The Crystal trophy would look terribly nice in our trophy case, but more importantly, it would mean that we defeated those mean old Gators at least one during 2011 and that….would be even nicer.
HardTruthSoldier...
February 21st, 2010
12:56 pm
You people soooooo delusional about “recruiting” remember this 75% of those recruits want be relevant next year, and 50% want be relevant the year after in the big scheme of things. Think I’m lying? Let’s play a little quiz right now. Name one WR that’ s gonna get PT RIGHT AWAY, OL,, LB’S, QB? Out of all the recruits this year, I can see maybe Ken Malcome(RB), Mike Thorton(DT) , “Hitman Hamilton”, and Ogletree getting time on the field. Maybe Garrison Smith if they make him a DE, and Stripling as a situational player!
rob
February 21st, 2010
12:56 pm
Contrary to the PC police, we need the word retarded in our daily language – not for demeaning those less fortunate but to say that an article like this is RETARDED!!!
Retarded!!
Retarded!!
Retarded!!
GSU Eagle 91
February 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
I needed a good laugh today..And I just got it….
How will a 8-4 team play for a national title? UF is going to beat the dog crap out of you, and I see 2-3 more losses on the schedule as well….
Keep up the comedy..In these difficult times, we all need it…
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
UGA has as good a chance as anyone to win MNC, but to predict it is not realistic. Win the SEC East and see what happens.. UGA has done it four times under CMR so almost 1/2 of the time UGA is in the hunt.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:05 pm
GSU, it is called a bad year. What was Bama’s record two years ago? You apparently do not follow college football much but keep laughing and imagining whatever you choose.
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
1:09 pm
YEA BRUCE MAC– but we havent forgotten how they play,and im sure they will still remember wearing them black shirts…. hahahaha
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:10 pm
The problem with Bill King and the majority of Dawg fans are they are stuck in the 80s and are almost as delusional as South Carolina fans. The reality is that the UGA football program is so far behind UF and Bama that there is no way we will even win a conference Championship, much less a National Championship.
Face it Meyer and Saban are the cream of the crop of the conference and Richt will play second fiddle to them as long as they continue to coach in the SEC.
Bill you must have been really desperate (or really high) for topics to write about to come up with this worthless dribble. The topic is so asinine that I cant believe you even think its a possibility. You might as well right your next blog about whether or not pigs will sprout wings and fly because it has about the same amount of possibility and relevance.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:14 pm
High Tide, I am a big Bama fan but CMR has done well against Bama. Saban is great coach and CMR has held his own with him as well. All I am saying is that don’t assume we are going to fade away just because we had one bad year and recruting is not the total indication of future success. We played poorly in the Black Shirts, isn’t it fair to say Bama has played poorly at times?
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
1:18 pm
sure it is.but uga has great recruiting classes year after year and they just dont pan out… just saying
gte268p
February 21st, 2010
1:18 pm
Holy Crap. You guys are hilariously delusional!
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
1:21 pm
spurrier said it , something happens to players when they get to georgia
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:22 pm
Hightide, what do you consider panning out? I would consider 9 wins a year, 7 wins in bowls games and winning SEC East half the time panning out pretty good. If you are referring to the previious coaches then yes. But to say CMR hasn’t panned out is not accurate.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:23 pm
Spurrier wasn’t referring to CMR. He isn’t saying that anymore since CMR has beaten him more than visa versa.
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:25 pm
Not every Dawg fan is delusional but after reading this its obvious that Bill King certainly is. I mean just look at his picture and you can tell the guy is high as a kite!
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
1:26 pm
hey i like cmr hes a good man and coach if your happy w/ the results thats what counts. at alabama that wouldnt be good enough……. just saying