Lack of BCS title doesn’t keep Dogs from decade’s Top 10
UGA fans have had a lot to celebrate in the past decade. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
We’ve heard a lot recently about how Georgia fans are disappointed with the way things have been going lately for Mark Richt’s program. But it’s worth noting that most of that disappointment is focused on the past two seasons and, in fact, is prompted in large measure by how consistently successful the Dogs have been since Richt came to Athens.
Richt raised the standards of what Georgia fans consider acceptable, and how he has to live up to those standards.
That point is driven home by some numbers crunching done by the CFB Data Warehouse (with a tip of the hat to Rivals’ Fanblogs.com for pointing this out).
Factoring in winning percentage, schedule, national championships won and Big 4 bowl appearances, the Data Warehouse folks have compiled a comprehensive college football ranking for the years 2000-2009, and UGA comes in No. 8 for the decade. (That covers Jim Donnan’s last season and all of Richt’s to date.)
Here’s how the Top 25 looks:
1. Southern Cal 2. Florida 3. LSU 4. Ohio State 5. Oklahoma 6. Texas 7. Miami 8. Georgia 9. Oregon 10. FSU 11. Virginia Tech 12. Alabama 13. Oregon State 14. Michigan 15. Auburn 16. Notre Dame 17. Tennessee 18. Georgia Tech 19. UCLA 20. California 21. Penn State 22. Iowa 23. Wisconsin 24. West Virginia 25. Boston College
What’s especially notable is that all of the teams ranked ahead of Georgia won a national championship during that decade and the Dogs are the highest-ranked team that didn’t win one.
While it might be popular to judge things from a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately point of view, Richt’s most severe critics have to concede that when you look at the overall record, he’s done a remarkable job, even without winning a crystal football.
Whether you think he can keep it up in the next decade and eventually get UGA a BCS title is certainly something that’s hotly debated in Bulldog circles. You either see this past season and a half as a hiccup for a still successful program, or you see a program starting to decline.
I’m with the hiccup crowd. What about you?
While on the subject of the decade ranking, it’s also notable that using the same criteria, the SEC was the top-ranked conference for 2000-2009, followed by the Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, ACC, Big East, Mountain West, Division 1-A independents, the WAC and Conference USA. Which might come as a surprise to a lot of Big 12 boosters.
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307 comments Add your comment
Bama fan
February 23rd, 2010
12:48 pm
JB,
Let me help you out there. Throw out the last 2 years for Bama and throw out the last 2 years for Georgia and Georgia is way ahead of Bama? How absurd. How about if we as Bama fans choose to throw out 2000 for us as well as 2006 and throw out 2002 and 2005 for Georgia. I guess if we did that we would be wayyyy ahead of Georgia.
What was that about Bama fans only think football was played between Bear Bryant and Nick Saban? Come again. We won a national title with Stallings and even won sec titles with the likes of guys like Ray Perkins, Bill Curry, for God’s sake even Mike DuBose won an sec title.
Between Vince Dooley and Mark Richt how many Georgia coaches won sec or national titles you ignorant fool? Inquiring minds want to know. How many smart guy???
War Eagle
February 23rd, 2010
12:48 pm
Bill, didnt Auburn get cheated a couple of years ago? No one on here will admit it!
Old Dawg
February 23rd, 2010
12:49 pm
War Eagle, I didn’t reference Herschel or the early 80s for a reason — that was another decade. It’s difficult to question the ability of UGA to recruit/play on a superior level if everything works like it does on paper and that obviously hasn’t happened. There are a lot of factors that play into final results, too many for me to post here.
That being said, y’all have been completely robbed of championships in years past. I’ve always said that and I always will.
biggerthanbigdawg
February 23rd, 2010
12:49 pm
jut saying can eat it too.
Liars make stats and stats make liars
February 23rd, 2010
12:50 pm
Funny to see the dawg fans picking a point in time to make the absurd argument that their program is a traditional top 10 program.
War Eagle
February 23rd, 2010
12:50 pm
Oh thank you Old Dawg, the War Eagles, Plainsmen, Tigers all have a friend on Old Dawg.
Got 12?
February 23rd, 2010
12:51 pm
“There’s a lot of Bama-hating on the blog today. I read all the posts to this point and didn’t see one that wanted such attaacks. What’s the deal?” says Got12? while gazing at his replica BCS trophy.
Just Sayin
February 23rd, 2010
12:51 pm
biggerthanbigdawg, couldn’t eat it because your head is up your … just like most of these delusional dawg fans.
Brewdawg
February 23rd, 2010
12:52 pm
Its Great to be a Dawg fan and i cant wait until next season! I believe CMR and CTG have what it takes to lead us to the promise land.
Go Dawgs!!
THWGT
Just Sayin
February 23rd, 2010
12:53 pm
Brewdawg, Grantham is no better than Van Gorder and where did he lead you?
The Hard Truth for UGA detractors
February 23rd, 2010
12:55 pm
Top 10 FOOTBALL program over a decade
One of the MOST VALUED BRANDS over the last few years, as rated by FORBES.
Top 6 in overall seats sold for home games.
MONEY TALKS AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH WALKS
My, my …………for sure UGA IS “a program in decline” and blah, blah, blah and so and so and “Richt is so gone in” so and so. Blah, blah , blah.
The JEALOUS keep on getting GREEN with envy about UGA.
AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA
Goooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. Sic em!!
.Liars make stats and stats make liars
February 23rd, 2010
12:57 pm
IS FLORIDA A TRADITIONAL TOP 10 PROGRAM?
Got 12?
February 23rd, 2010
1:00 pm
Bama fan,
Let them have their statistics. Back in the probation days, I’m sure we would have clung to such statistics.
Paul's Johnson
February 23rd, 2010
1:01 pm
In terms of consistency, Georgia’s probably where they belong. Them and Oregon are pretty much neck in neck as programs that won a couple of conference titles in the decade, but failed to garner or play for the big trophy.
Unfortunately for ‘Bama the last couple of years don’t erase the dodgy years that preceded, I guess.
What is ironic is that Suntan has won at a better clip that Dooley, but in terms of conference stature, his program is perceived at a lower level than it was in Dooley’s days. Fourth place at BEST in the SEC.
While Mutts’ future is uncertain, their past is getting brighter every day.
How2fish
February 23rd, 2010
1:02 pm
Let’s see Miles won the NC with Saban’s players..since then not so much..oh and Bama fans..if you lose the appeal on the NCAA sanction stripping you of 20+ wins from 2005 to 2007 you won’t finish quite as high… http://www.bhamweekly.com/2009/06/11/ncaa-puts-alabama-football-back-on-probation-vacates-wins/…in fact winless in 05 and 06.
Just Sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:03 pm
Who would be jealous of UGA Hard Truth? You guys are the entertainment.
Doctor House
February 23rd, 2010
1:05 pm
Strange but can’t find anything wrong with Urban Meyer except he won’t get out of the hot tub with Phil Fulmer!
War Eagle
February 23rd, 2010
1:05 pm
No one cares about us Bill! Talk about when we were screwed and talk about how we screwed Tommy Tubberville!
Just Sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm
Just think Doctor, #1 recruiting class while in the hot tub.
Bama fan
February 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm
How2fish,
Vacated wins because some players abused the textbook distribution system to help out friends doesn’t change the on the field status of what happened. We won those games and the opponents know it. Changing the recordbook doesn’t change that.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
February 23rd, 2010
1:08 pm
bump in the road this coming year may be bumpy also but it will be good again soon and the true fans know this.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 23rd, 2010
1:08 pm
Bama Fan, the only game that matters is the next one. All the past history is for is bragging rights for fans. Congrats on the MNC last year and good luck down the road. I for one get tired of the historical spin that’s spewed out by everyone, most SEC teams have been really good at some point in the past and will be so again. But it’s the next game that matters most
biggerthanbigdawg
February 23rd, 2010
1:09 pm
Are all Auburn fans still stuck in 2004? “We got robbed the BCS is fixed boo hoo” I would say the SEC has since made up for it. I mean do you hear the Florida fans saying how lucky they are for the 2006 (UCLA beat USC) or LSU in 2007? My word all the stars lined up for them that last weekend. Even the 2008 Gators were not undefeated. I say the most impressive BCS title winner was Aladamnbama last year -14-0 is really remarkable.
How2fish
February 23rd, 2010
1:09 pm
Paul’s Johnson ..well we will always have the Bugs to turn to in time of trouble and turmoil..just like this year….ahhh fond memories for certain and for sure!
Just Sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:09 pm
Bama fan, funny how quick they are to point fingers but forget about the academic scandal when Jan Kemp was a prof at UGA and about one of the Hershels having a firebird.
War Eagle
February 23rd, 2010
1:10 pm
Yea but we got cheated; nobody mentions us, we was robbed and I dont like it one bit.
Brewdawg
February 23rd, 2010
1:11 pm
Just Sayin, How do you know that Grantham is no better than Van Gorder? He hasnt even coached a game with the Bulldogs yet. I was just saying i have faith in our coaches and that it will lead to a National Championship soon. Dont respond to my comments if you are just going to talk trash.
DawginLex
February 23rd, 2010
1:12 pm
The problem for UGA is that Florida is not only in the same league but also in the same division as UGA. Folks complain that Richt is 2-7 vs Florida. What are the other school’s records against florida during the past 9 years? I don’t know the answer off the top of my head but I would guess that Bama has a couple of wins and LSU has a couple of wins and maybe UT. Auburn has beaten them but doesn’t play them every year.
We all want the same thing: Beat Florida and win the SEC in the same year. The rest will take care of itself.
biggerthanbigdawg
February 23rd, 2010
1:12 pm
just saying could eat it because he has his head up my … too. You know why? Because I put him there! Howboutme!! GATA!!
Brandon Spikes
February 23rd, 2010
1:12 pm
I wish we could of played home and home instead of Jax because I would of liked to gouge washuans eyes out between the hedges.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 23rd, 2010
1:14 pm
War Eagle, IMO you guys should have played for the NC that year. Other than the strength of schedule I do think that the whole Petrino affair might have cost you guys in the polls.
Big hiccup Bill. I have always siad Richt has done tremendous things as HC and that even though he is in his 10th year he is still learning. Hell he is the longest tenured coach in the conference.
just sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:14 pm
Did Van Gorder get fired by the CLEVELAND FREAKIN BROWNS brewdawg? bigger than big, you’re wife says your exaggerating.
just sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:15 pm
gdawginkalamazoo, he might be the longest tenured; but he would have been fired at LSU, Florida or Bama by now; especially since it took him too long to free willie.
Bama fan
February 23rd, 2010
1:15 pm
Dawginlex,
We’ve beaten them 4 of the last 6 including 3 blowouts 34-7, 31-3, 32-13. No disrespect toward the gators though. jest sayin that if there is one sec program that has absolutely no fear of taking on the gators its us.
How2fish
February 23rd, 2010
1:16 pm
Bama fan doesn’t change anything?? Well just ask Bobby Bowden about that…and if you think the rest of the SEC fans won’t remember if this comes down that Bama was officially winless in 05 and 06 because they once again CHEATED..you really need a trip to Betty Ford…it will be the same old refrain that Bama foes have used for 30 years..if Bama ain’t cheating Bama ain’t winning..I hope they don’t uphold that ruling, but have to admit watching and listening to some of the suddenly all powerful Bama fans squirm is a little bit fun.
robodawg
February 23rd, 2010
1:16 pm
LSUnAtlanta – not sure how many teams only got to the national championship because they liked to run up the score, but I’d bet it’s not many.
Ghost of Bobby Dodd – you’re not using a consistent metric.
War Eagle
February 23rd, 2010
1:17 pm
gdawginkalamazoo, see even you agree with me. I am strOkin out over this. That banker dude who tried to hire petrino was tryin to do the right thing. Somebody help me on this.
DawginLex
February 23rd, 2010
1:18 pm
Thanks bama fan. We have played them close except for 2008 and 2009. 2003 we lost on the FG at the end of the game, 2005 Shockley not playing killed us and we lost 14-10, 2006 we lost 31-14 to the eventual national champions.
Come to UGA where fractions are fun!
February 23rd, 2010
1:18 pm
I see that uGump has Alabama beat…Why don’t morons go brag to an Alabama fan about that. LOL… How many more blogs can you dolts put together to try and make yourselves feel better about your under achieving program. Good grief it is a wonder you all don’t need shoulder surgery from patting yourselves on the back. Nothing like going through life with rose colored glasses…eh morons.
HugoStiglitz
February 23rd, 2010
1:19 pm
1. Southern Cal 2. Florida 3. LSU 4. Ohio State 5. Oklahoma 6. Texas
This is a good list. Im guessing everything after this is pretty far behind and pretty irrelevant. These teams dominated college football last decade.
DawginLex
February 23rd, 2010
1:19 pm
21-14, not 31-14
War Eagle
February 23rd, 2010
1:19 pm
How2, if Bama ain’t cheating Bama ain’t winning. thats good dude. They were part of the conspirachy that got us cheated out of winning the NC. Do I have a witness?
biggerthanbigdawg
February 23rd, 2010
1:20 pm
just sayin- my wife is far sighted and has small hands…so what?
just sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:22 pm
biggerthanbigdawg, I’ll bet your boyfriends hands are small too?
just sayin
February 23rd, 2010
1:23 pm
Bill, you look like you just sat on somethin.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 23rd, 2010
1:23 pm
DawginLex, I agree that’s the whole thing. Not too many teams have beaten Florida over the past two decades.
.
February 23rd, 2010
1:24 pm
You can talk the trash but you can’t walk the walk…rankings =nothing if you can’t back it up.
Go UF!
biggerthanbigdawg
February 23rd, 2010
1:24 pm
just sayin-u should know honey…see u at home
bama fan
February 23rd, 2010
1:26 pm
Dawginlex Bear once said if UF ever got the right coach they could dominate. I guess the Ol Ball Coach was that coach and Urbs has taken it to another level. It could be us and them for a while unless CMR turns it around.
How2fish
February 23rd, 2010
1:26 pm
War Eagle amen by brother amen..