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
Tim Tebow's Tears
February 21st, 2010
1:29 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:30 pm
I suspect I have been a Bama fan longer than you. Who has Bama fired with a record like CMR?
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
1:33 pm
the last 1–was curry
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:34 pm
Yea they ran curry off the year he finished 10-2
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:39 pm
I have no doubt Bama would have ran Richt off as soon as they saw his defense, loosing in the 4th quarter to a horrible ASU team, dancing in between plays like they were auditioning for Soul Train or something. It was truly sickening and after that night I knew that Richt had lost it and needs to go.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:44 pm
Curry was not fired, he quit to go to Ky. He did receive pressure but he could not beat Auburn. CMR is doing prettty good in that area. No comparison between Curry and CMR and you know it.
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:45 pm
Curry resigned but he would have been fired so to save face they let him “resign”.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:46 pm
Jelly, we all know you hate CMR but you do not use facts, you use your own disdain and constantly show your lack of knowledge. But you are young, you will see the errors of your way when you get older.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:49 pm
Jelly, he would not have been fired that year. Like I said it was about Auburn and not the record. CMR beats GT and Auburn regular, plus he wins SEC, etc.
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:51 pm
And what “facts” are you referring to exactly?
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:54 pm
Hahaha. He won a couple of SECs in a down conference when he honestly didn’t have much competition. Unfortunatly the conference has improved and we have not.
I don’t hate him, I like him as a person and appreciate the contributions he has made to the program however his time has come and gone and he needs to move on.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
1:57 pm
The facts of his record versus any other UGA coach you want to compare him to. When I was younger I always wanted to fire the coach because I thought we should win SEC every year. Now I realize there is ebb and flow to a coaching carreer and CMR is the best coach we have ever had. It matters not that someone might be better than him in a few year window. Overall we are lucky to have him and I am proud he is our coach.
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
hey bruce you just asked for a coach that bama fired (ran-off) with a record like cmr’s theres your comparison
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
1:59 pm
Yea… Coaches are routinely committing career suicide by leaving programs like Bama to go to Kentucky willingly so they can go 4-7, 3-8,4-7,1-10,4-7.
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
2:02 pm
if you dont win the crystal ball. your career is short lived at bama. if you do,well you have the key to the state.
jellybeandawg
February 21st, 2010
2:04 pm
Of course he was ran off but Bruce mac wont believe it. He is apparently some “expert” fan of Bama, UGA, and probably any other program you would care to discuss. He seems like a nice guy but with age comes senility/dementia so I hope he takes his meds and stays well.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
2:04 pm
There is no comparison between Curry and CMR, that is a fact. Certainly I don’t need to research records here to prove my point. Again, Curry was not fired at all and certainly did not have the record of CMR.
Greg
February 21st, 2010
2:06 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong but wern’t yall supposed to win a ship’ 2 years ago. How did that work out again?
JacketFan
February 21st, 2010
2:08 pm
Haven’t we heard this same kind of “We’re gonna win it all in (insert potential dream season here)” from the Dawgs for the past 30 years? Yes, the Dawgs are poised, once again, to have all of the right pieces to compete for a NC, but the Bulldawgs need to remember they’re competing in a conference With two (UF and Bama) if not three (LSU) teams that are consistently in the top of the class in regard to talent and coaching. They also have that game around Thanksgiving that has shown new life in the past two seasons against a team that, regardless of one’s allegiance, has a new, improved swagger. The Dawgs are going to get better – even through the lens of my Old Gold and White-colored glasses I have to admit that the Dawgs, in spite of what some of my fellow Jackets may want to believe, aren’t going to just lie down anytime soon. However, Dawg fans need to realize that the teams they compete against year-in, year-out are also getting better – some at a level out of reach for most FBS programs. I WANT the Dawgs to be a top-ranked team – just as much as I want my Jackets to make the next step. It’s great for the state of Georgia and it’s great for college football in the South. I just think 2011 is just a little too soon to start barking about a National Championship.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
2:10 pm
Again, I am big Bama fan and they are the standard for excellence in the South. UGA or Bama would not fire CMR with this record. He probably would be getting more heat at Bama then UGA but he would not be fired yet. If he doesn’t turn it around he will be under pressure at UGA soon but he will.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
2:12 pm
Greg, the media picked us to win. CMR didn’t pick us to win it all. We had 19 season ending injuries and still finished number 10 in the country with New Years Day Bowl win. Yea, UGA with CMR really under performs over and over?
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
2:16 pm
hey bruce they’ll be cruitin against each other now for ga. players ,who ya think will win them battles in a couple of years curry w/ bama’s help
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
Bama will continue to get a few great players in GA, Fla, TN, MS and almost all the good ones they want in Alabama. Georgia will continue to do well assuming we have good year on the field in 2010. Rodney Garner is a great recruiter, not as good as Saban but UGA has advantage in Georgia.
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
2:23 pm
im asking about uga against gsu and curry
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
2:24 pm
Funny. Probably about like UGA will do against Kennesaw and Dooley.
Tech Man
February 21st, 2010
2:24 pm
This discussion that the muts will win any kind of championship is totally ludacris.The only thig they will win is a happy meal at McDonalds which they will enjoy the prize in the bag.Get in the real world where the hedges will be coming down Nov.27 and the score will stay up for a second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Because we know what happen in 2008 and it will happen many time in the future.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
2:28 pm
Tech Man, at least you and your brethren are consistent. Lose on the field and brag in syber space. Good job, keep up the good work. And the McDonald jokes are sooooo funny.
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
2:28 pm
i pull for georgia any time they play sombody wearing orange ,i just hate that color
Tech Hater
February 21st, 2010
2:29 pm
Bobby Dodd is not coming back and Paul Johnson probaly peaked this past season…so Tech fans shut up and get where you belong on the second page of the AJC behind the UGA stories.
Mark Richt has as much ability to win a NC as anyone outside of Myer and Saben.
With a rock solid defense and some breaks UGA could win it all in the next 2-3 years.
GO Dawgs.
Tech Man
February 21st, 2010
2:30 pm
UGA FANS LIVE IN A BUBBLE OF IMAGINATION!!!Maybe they think it’s 1980 and Herschel Walker in running down the field.At least get in the same planet we all live in!!!!!!!!!!!
Tech Man
February 21st, 2010
2:32 pm
Tech Halter: WAKE UP IN GET IT TOGETHER.You suck!!!!!!!!!!!!
hightide for years to come
February 21st, 2010
2:34 pm
herschel still has a year left, that would be x5 for each personality
Keep Dreaming
February 21st, 2010
2:40 pm
Are you kidding me?
Think of atleast winning your division first. I think UGA will lose 4 games out of the following at USC, at MSU, Ark, UT, UF, and at Auburn in conf play. And don’t forget about Tech… that won’t be easy.
So no National Championship year… sorry Charlie
george
February 21st, 2010
2:42 pm
are you smoking crack?
Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Football, Mark Richt,BCS Champions | TeenDawg
February 21st, 2010
2:42 pm
[...] Bill King of the Junkyard Blawg has suggested that Mark Richt may be holding one of these trophies in 2011. [...]
big vol
February 21st, 2010
2:45 pm
Are you serious?…..Jeez, please.
shane#1
February 21st, 2010
2:46 pm
“You don’t go into the season thinking about a national championship. You think about winning your conference. There too many things needed to win a national championship that are out of a coach’s control. Win your conference and you have done all a coach can do.”-Steve Spurrier
01HAWK
February 21st, 2010
2:52 pm
I have a better chance of winning THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
DirtyDawg
February 21st, 2010
2:53 pm
Hey Bill, not sure what your contract calls for around there, but rather than coming up with asinine questions about the year after next in football, why not prompt discussion on basketball? Now if you don’t feel you know enough about Bball – a shortcoming that hasn’t kept you from doing football, I might point out – then get yourself a ‘guest blogger’ – shoot, I bet Herb White or somebody could get a couple of fights started around here…or maybe even former Bballer at UGA, and recently retired Cox Communications guy, Chuck Dowdle. I mean, this kind of speculation – football in ‘11 – is pretty useless, unless you’re just looking for ridicule.
athensdawg
February 21st, 2010
3:03 pm
we ain’t even started spring practice and you are writing about 2011?
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:12 pm
Bill KIng is a idiot…I would say 4th or 5th in the SEC East and a Pappa Johns bowl bid.
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
Tech Hater you are hilarious…GT has a better change than UGA and we are not talking NC.
Rod
February 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
All of you ignorant thugs that voted not until Richt is gone should support another team which Im sure you do anyway.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
3:32 pm
Sorry Reality CMR has never finished 4th or 5th in SEC East. As matter of fact they finish first or second 88% of the time under CMR. Keep up the non sence though, it only serves to make yourself and the other Techies look lost.
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:34 pm
ok Bruce Mac how many time has UGA won the NC under Richt? What makes you think next year will be any different than 2 years ago?
Reality
February 21st, 2010
3:35 pm
Bruce and you UGA fans lok intelligent talking NC after an 8-5 season…typical UGA ignorance.
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
3:36 pm
I do not think they will win NC, I think they will win SEC East in next two years and the rest who knows?
bruce mac
February 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
Reality, also if you follow college football at all, what was Bama’s record two years ago?
Tech Man
February 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chris
February 21st, 2010
3:41 pm
that was me that asked that ? on rivals and no he didnt really give me a answer