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
Really Just Sayin'
February 23rd, 2010
4:56 pm
You are classic…you actually think we care what you say…dude you are a flo-ri-duh fan…c’mon man…Fellow Dawg, this idiot will alway hate us…but you know the feeling is mutual…Your new DC has done what? that right nothing…buy some pillows…it will soften your fall…
Gatorbait 17-3
February 23rd, 2010
5:01 pm
Bill Lumbergh
“81 games in 8 years for Saban”
How’s this for Florida’s head coach—–96-18 for 9 years!
Bill Lumbergh
February 23rd, 2010
5:07 pm
Gatorbait 17-3, See earlier post:
Nick Saban has averaged 11 wins per season at Alabama
Urban Meyer has averaged 11.4 wins per season at UF
Urban Meyer has won 2 SEC in 5 years
Mark Richt has averaged 10 wins per season at UGA
Mark Richt has won 2 SEC titles in 9 years
Urban has won more games per season that Richt and won the same number of SEC titles in 5 years that Richt has won in 9 years. And 2 National Championships… But some UGA fans don’t count those. Strange thing is that UGA flies 2 National Championship flags at Sanford & Son Stadium. Weird…
Bill Lumbergh
February 23rd, 2010
5:08 pm
Yo Haters:
You’re right, nobody can beat UGA fans in an arguement. An argument would be a totally different discussion…
just sayin
February 23rd, 2010
5:10 pm
Bill, when jawja won it was a national championship, when everyone else wins it is a mythical national championship. These jawja boys are more entertaining than Leno or Letterman combined. The sun actually rises and sets in Athens.
ga gators
February 23rd, 2010
5:11 pm
Haven’t been on in a couple of days and nothing changes.
Hello BuLLdaug
February 23rd, 2010
5:12 pm
If the daugs continued their non patsy thing like last year, you guys were headed downhill fast.
Got to give you credit, you corrected that problem quickly.
Gatorbait 17-3
February 23rd, 2010
5:15 pm
Bill Lumbergh
I was basically agreeing with you. Since Miles, Meyer and Saban arrived,
Richt is definitely in 4th place at best and his record is in decline.. Maybe worse if some of these newer SEC coaches take off—-Nutt, Peterno?, and the Auburn coach.
NO EYE GOUGING Cheating Gators!
February 23rd, 2010
5:24 pm
DAWGS 46 Gators 39 ….Can’t wait to get the series back to Normal starting this year with a DAWG WIN!
Come to UGA where fractions are fun!
February 23rd, 2010
5:30 pm
Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley
-We don’t need to have a daily blog proving that we have a good program.
-We don’t need National Championships to compare with UF,UA,UT or USC…
-We don’t have care if we should have won a NC and ended up choking.
-We don’t care if some players are on work release programs.
-We don’t care if we give up on our teams when the game is on the line.
-We can beat our biggest rival every once and awhile and still be good
Because we are good enough
Because we are smart enough
And dawgonit, people like us
You know what? I think this is the best blog we have ever had. And you know what? We deserve it….because we are good enough, smart enough, and dawgonit people like us.
scholar but no gent
February 23rd, 2010
5:42 pm
Speaking of consistency, if you click on the CFB Data Warehouse link above and go to the quarter century rankings, you’ll find five periods. (The first period is 31 years long.) What is the only team ranked in the top 40 in the first period (expanded due to the number of teams presently in the FCS), ranked in the top 25 in the four quarter century periods of the 20th century, AND ranked in the top 10 of the first decade of the 21st century? That’s right, you can’t spell sugar booger without UGA!
PSU
February 23rd, 2010
5:49 pm
Wow…Penn State #21…Dang, knew they had a few rough years; guess they only had a few good years.instead..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
Clay
February 23rd, 2010
5:52 pm
Miami at #7 and FSU at #10 really? No way Miami was top 7 over last decade
70 Dawg
February 23rd, 2010
5:57 pm
Bama Fan, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to respond to your response earlier but I actually had to go back to work. I would like to say that I didn’t pick the last 10 year period. The poll was based on the the last 10 years and Bill king merely reported on it. My point was that Alabama has been mired in mediocrity over that period and didn’t belong in the top 20 for that period. UGA does. Neither I nor the article said anything about the 90’s or any other decade.
I would like to correct my stats though. I believe for the first 8 years of the decade Bama’s W-L record was 53-46. That period included seasons of 3-8, 4-9, 6-6, and 6-7. That, sir is mediocrity. Granted you’re playing better under Saban but 2 great seasons shouldn’t be weighted enough to put you at #12 in my opinion. And I’m not even figuring in the 21 wins that must be forfeited for 2005-2007.
TC
February 23rd, 2010
6:02 pm
AJC always builds up the dogs – then they fall on their face. Top 10 what a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stevo
February 23rd, 2010
6:09 pm
Finally a positive article for UGA, although you usually are pretty fair,Bill.
Anyone upset that Ohio St is up in the top 5? I thought the SEC proved twice that any timne OhSt is up against talent they show that they really are not elite. Plus, Pac 10 the 2nd best conference? Only USC really did anything that decade. And why is Bama so high up? I’m guessing its from the Nat’l championship, but as a decade team? I don’t think they deserve to be up there
70 Dawg
February 23rd, 2010
6:49 pm
Stevo, I agree See my post at 5:57. I think NC was weighted too high and consistency wasn’t given its due
Gratefuldawghead
February 23rd, 2010
7:06 pm
TC the AJC does not always build up the DAWGS! I thought they were rather negative during the season. The AJC does however know to cover Georgia’s most Beloved team!
C from Marietta
February 23rd, 2010
7:18 pm
My first rule of football. Never get in a pi**ing match over the team you love to WATCH. It’s really juvenville and in the end shows a lack of intelligence. This team stinks, this coach this, etc…
Camden Mark
February 23rd, 2010
7:29 pm
Took MR to long to figure out Willie was a terrible cord.
Thats not the mark of a great HC.Hopfully he’s learned somthing by now.
Any year without at least the SEC title is a let down,don’t care how you sugar coat it and thats how it should be.
mack brown
February 23rd, 2010
7:30 pm
If you are not a DAWG FAN stay of our sight. Yall crying about all does bought championships making yall better than the rest are really getting on our nerves that watched all them games thet had no merit except greed. Georgia does not have to stoop to does levels to produce noteable players.
Mike
February 23rd, 2010
7:45 pm
Tiger fans are funny….it’s about to be 5 in a row.
Mike
February 23rd, 2010
7:47 pm
TC is a tard. The AJC is so Anti-UGA. Its sad to see that, cause UGA is Georgia’s top team.
romebuzz
February 23rd, 2010
7:56 pm
well you do not run fla.
Iraq Dawg... HOOAH!
February 23rd, 2010
8:00 pm
Where did Tennessee rank in the poll? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Big L
February 23rd, 2010
8:18 pm
LSU won the Nat Champ of 2007, in spite of Les Miles. That man is as inept an HC as it gets and LSU will let him go in two years. No clock skills , going for a TD when a FG will win. They are gonna wish they let him go to Michigan.
Big L
February 23rd, 2010
8:21 pm
Okay, you people that wanna prove that you’re smarter than the rest of the world by telling us that there is no Nat Champ, get off the damn blog. How bout accomplishing something on your own instead of talking down to folks to feel better bout yourself. You are losers.
bama_fan01
February 23rd, 2010
8:35 pm
Hey, Cherokee…no bellyaching here. We were nowhere near the top team of the decade. In the early part, we had some pretty bad years. UGA, on the other hand, may be overrated – as usual – since they were skilled at being mediocre through the decade.
jaxdawgfan
February 23rd, 2010
9:16 pm
Enter your comments here
rob
February 23rd, 2010
9:33 pm
The writer is the worst example of journalism I can think of – what hack and a homer!!
Ed
February 23rd, 2010
9:49 pm
Major college football national championships (currently known as “BCS titles” – removing the C would make a more apt title) exist the same way Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny exist. Only in the hearts of the true believers. How about we win the only real championship we’re eligible for – the SEC. Richt’s done that twice in his 9 years, which is about the same pace Dooley had in his 25 years. A big letdown after the potential shown from ‘02-05, but still better than the Donnan and Goff years.
Uh Duh
February 23rd, 2010
9:53 pm
rob
February 23rd, 2010
9:33 pm
Bill writes a UGA blog on the AJVfor fan enjoyment. Just as Doug Roberson does for the AJC on the GT blog. Hello?
rob
February 23rd, 2010
10:32 pm
Wow!! Is that what this is? Just wow!
Dawg 39
February 23rd, 2010
10:59 pm
What I said was that we have had 2 down years but starting now we are back, and the next 4 years will prove that I am right (or not). The main thing that I am sure of is our next coach will not be as successful as CMR. Again, only time will tell.
Tell Burke
February 23rd, 2010
11:11 pm
Seems the Bama and L.S.U. fans aren’t smart enough to find their own blogs !They talk like a herd of weenies !
BuLLdawg
February 23rd, 2010
11:42 pm
When do you see the Dogs winning the SEC and national championships again?
Not until Mark Richt is gone (28%, 1,026 Votes)
2011 (18%, 659 Votes)
QUOTES :
by
JC in Powder Springs
February 20th, 2010 2:06 pm
“I don’t believe Bama’s QB McElroy was any better or worse than Joe Cox (McE was better coached and had better playcalling). Ingram is no better or worse than Knowshon. Bama and dawgs have similar talent – the difference has been coaching. Grantham, Lakatos and Belin won’t be a problem. It’s Bobo that worries me – he’s simply not an SEC-level OC. If Richt resumes playcalling or Dawgs somehow overcome Bobo’s lousy playcalling”
by
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.”
tyler
February 24th, 2010
1:03 am
Well, usually I like to get on here and see what GT fans are saying about UGA and so forth but HOW2FISH is giving Dawg fans a bad name. You sound extremely pathetic. Sad, really. Just face it- Alabama is wayyyyyy ahead of UGA, as is Florida and UT is neck and neck with you- which is bad considering their coaching issues the past 14 months or so. Jealousy is not a very pretty thing on you….leave the football talk to the big boys, you guys should be worried about being the only team in the top 8 that failed to the win the National Championship this decade.
chazzo
February 24th, 2010
7:41 am
I think the program is fine. It is funny that under Richt 8-4 is a hiccup when it was a banner season for past UGA coaches playing easier schedules. More Ws on the way.
chazzo
February 24th, 2010
7:50 am
#1 is under investigation. UGA slammed #3 LSU several times. Miami? Nobody goes to those games unless they are playing FSU or UF. Ohio State and Oklahoma never fail to disappoint in the big game. UF had Tebow and Texas had Vance. Bottom line, just I have recently been called out on, Georgia is a power house program.
SnoopDawg
February 24th, 2010
7:53 am
No National CXhampionship = the Atlanta Braves of college football.
“sigh”.
I would trade (1) National Championship for all those wins.
Sure would help slow down all of the Georgia recruiting defections to out-of-state schools
SnoopDawg
February 24th, 2010
7:55 am
AT LEAST
The Braves won ONE championship……..”SIGH”
CatsFly
February 24th, 2010
8:42 am
Question here: UNC vs UGa. Both schools established roughly same time; both claim to have been established first. Research shows that UGa first to charter, but UNC up and operating several years before UGa. So my question is, why so you think UNC has overshadowed UGa academically over the years? This is a serious question, not a flame.
no more swimming and bowling
February 24th, 2010
8:45 am
CMR is a nice guy and a great person but lets face it when it comes to getting down and dirty to win a National Championship CMR lacks to get it done. He needs to put his foot to the pedal when he can against teams like Vandy, Kentucky and SC. Im Sorry but Style points do count in college football among the sports writers and even fellow coaches whether you believe it not. Too many times CMR coached teams has had to hold on for dear life to teams that have much less talent. Key words here are “too many times”. Not too mention his pathetic record against the Gators and getting blown out by them too. The National Sport pundits ain’t giving UGA too much credit right now even though CMR’s Record looks good but he hasn’t been able to get past Florida and bring in the big prize. Im just sayin!!!!
Since Vince
February 24th, 2010
9:08 am
No more swim…. I agree that CMR needs to start winning with more Authority against the sisters of the poor of the SEC. Tired of seeing UGA hanging on till the end in many games the last three years. Blow out losses need to cease also before UGA even sniffs a SEC title or a National Championship.
UGA89
February 24th, 2010
9:43 am
The glories of yesteryear –The UGA program peaked in 2008 and will never achieve that level again in terms of both talent and national stature. Georgia Tech was 19th and was saddled with Chan gailey during most of the decade. I see in the decade ahead GT moving up and UGA moving down. But mourn nor UGA fans, you’re used to hanging on to past glories.
SEC realist
February 24th, 2010
10:54 am
Richt did well in the early 2000s when Florida had the Ron Zook years and Bama was going through crippling probation. Let’s face it. Richt’s stats were skewed because the 2 conference superpowers were both down in the early 2000s. Richt is a fine man but he has peaked and the fans are starting to suffer the syndrome called coaching fatigue.
And while the stats are skewed because we are looking at a 10 year window what about a 5 year window. In that time frame Florida has 2 national titles, 2 sec titles, Meyer is averaging over 11 wins. Bama has a 10 win season in 05 and under Saban they are averaging 11 wins per year with 2 consecutive no. 1 recruiting classes that will now be jrs and srs. Like Florida they have a headfull of steam and look unstoppable for the next several years. Oh yeah, they also won a national title this year and will start out no. 1 this year with an obscene amount of talent on that team.
In the more recent 5 year window Georgia is not only wayyy behind Bama and UF but falling even further behind. In this year’s recruiting UF landed what many considered the greatest recruiting class ever landed while Bama finished 4th. Dogs finished something like 16th or 19th. These guys have incredible momentum on the field and in recruiting momentum.
The 5 year window is far more telling about what really is going on in the sec than the 10 year window which includes glory years like 2002 which are no longer relevant. And in the 5 year window UGA is not looking too good. Not good at all.
how2fish
February 24th, 2010
11:24 am
Bill Lumbergh..shall we get together after the Bama appeal is decided and then go over Saban’s wins if the NCAA’s ruling holds up and they have to void the 20+ wins in 05,06, and 2 in 07 which would reduce his total to 31 in 3 years…or just let it ride?
how2fish
February 24th, 2010
11:25 am
UGA89 …the one thing that will never be a “past glory” is kicking the Bugs ass…
Standing on the sidelines
February 24th, 2010
12:06 pm
2012 will be the “magic year”. 2010, with a new coordinator, gives him a pass. If 2011 turns out not to meet expectations, then, if he cans Bobo, he MAY slide into 2012. Come 2012 and no SEC championship or better, Richt will be history. The next three years will be fun to watch.
What's Up with Urban Meyer?
February 24th, 2010
4:25 pm
Meyer can’t win an SEC Champ with his own recruits.
Meyer hasn’t beat a top 10 ranked team during the season since 2008. 5 coaches have quit since December.
5 Jrs left Meyer early for the NFL.
Urban only helped teams get to 1 Natl Champ in 15 years as an Asst Coach (Richt coached in 5 National Championships at FSU)
Why does Meyer schedule so many bad teams like Charleston Southern, roy & Fla Intl?
Meyer finishes 5-3 in the SEC 40% of his seasons at Florida.
Meyer is 0-2 against Auburn & New Mexico–winless against both.
Makes you wonder if Meyer just got lucky with Charlie Strong and Percy Harvin. I think Meyer got lucky and he’ll never be a facotr again in the SEC.