Sound off on Stafford’s legacy, mix-and-match uniforms, spring stupidity
Do you consider Matthew Stafford a Damn Good Dawg or just a talented guy who spent three years in Athens? (Associated Press)
As the NFL teams take their pick of the best of the nation’s college football players again, Dogs fans’ thoughts naturally turn to a year ago and UGA’s $41 million man, Matthew Stafford, going first in the draft.
Yes, a year ago the considered opinion of the NFL brain trust was that Mark Richt’s program had produced the nation’s best quarterback, which pleased most fans in red and black. And yet Stafford doesn’t seem to hold much of a special place in the hearts of a lot of folks in the Bulldog Nation.
My son was commenting the other night on the frequency with which you see Georgia fans taking shots at Stafford, who clearly isn’t viewed with anything like the affection folks have for SEC championship winners David Greene and D.J. Shockley or even earlier quarterbacks like Eric Zeier who, like Stafford, failed to bring a conference title to Athens.
Maybe, he suggested, some Georgia fans see Stafford as getting more out of UGA than UGA got out of him. Oh, they’ll cheer for him to do well in the NFL, but he’s not beloved as you might expect a No. 1 draft pick to be.
I’ve said it here before: Stafford and Knowshon Moreno probably were the most talented quarterback-tailback tandem UGA has ever had, but I’m not sure they’ll ever enter the pantheon of Bulldog immortals because they left school early without achieving what the Bulldog Nation expected of them.
So how do you feel about Stafford a year later? If he becomes a big success in the NFL (which might require getting traded), do you think that will add some glow to his UGA legacy?
SEEING RED, BLACK AND WHITE …
Talking to the Lake Country Bulldog Club this week, Richt was asked about the possibility of another Blackout and Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports he first took an applause poll of the fans in attendance (more seemed against a Blackout) and then said, “What I’m thinking is if the seniors really want one, we might do it, but they’re going to have to earn maybe making it to Atlanta or beyond to get a Blackout,” Richt said.
Which sounds like an entirely reasonable response, the key being if they earn it.
Do you ever want to see those black helmets again? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
But Richt went beyond that and raised the possibility of black jerseys (or, gulp, helmets) just becoming another rotating part of the Dogs’ uniform wardrobe, much like black uniforms have for other UGA teams, including basketball.
“What I’m thinking about doing, and it won’t happen this year,” Richt said, is “it wouldn’t be a bad idea if we have red, black, white jerseys and maybe a red helmet or maybe another color helmet, I don’t know, black helmet. And then just say this is part of what we do and then maybe make them match. Not to save them for any one special game. … I think just winning games is the most important thing.”
Well, he’s right about the winning, but I think perhaps he’s on to something with demystifying the black jersey by taking it out of the “special” category. And after all those years of watching that clip of Herschel run over Bill Bates, I’m sure I’m not the only fan who’d get a kick out of seeing the red britches again. (Though definitely not with red jerseys and helmets.)
I also liked the black britches a few years back with white jerseys and red helmets, but not with red jerseys. And the black helmet? I’m not so sure about the black helmet, which I doubt would have won over many fans even if the Dogs had somehow managed to upset the Gators last year while wearing it.
What do you think? Would you favor the Dogs mixing it up a bit in their uniforms, or would you prefer to stick with the tried and true standard uniform of red helmets, silver britches, red tops at home and white jerseys on the road?
TALK ABOUT BAD TIMING …
Two thoughts on Trent Dittmer’s arrest this week in Athens for public intoxication:
First, if you consider the home page of a newspaper’s Web site to be the digital equivalent of the printed paper’s front page, it’s amazing to me that anything to do with a walk-on backup punter who’s never likely to grace the field in a game could be considered front page news, even an arrest.
And second, we all know that college students are prone to do stupid things from time to time, especially related to drinking. But how clueless does a young man have to be to go out and get drunk, get in an altercation and get arrested the same week one of his team’s quaterbacks has been publicly humiliated and kicked off the team for an alcohol-related incident?
Sounds like it’s time for one of those team meetings.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
314 comments Add your comment
gomdawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:31 am
NO BLACK HELMETS THEY ARE THE UGLYES I HAVE EVERY SEEN, I LIKE THE BLACK,RED AND WHITE JERSEYS AND PLEASE JUST SILVER PANTS.
NO NO NO BLACK HELMETS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
38 Yardline Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:32 am
Beat Flordia, Tennessee and Auburn IN THE SAME SEASON, say two years in a row, and then wear whatever color outfits you want. Until then, just wear the usual and focus on WINNING instead of gimicky wardrobes!
38 Yardline Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:33 am
Dang, I meant “Florida”.
Harry Hamlin
April 22nd, 2010
11:34 am
Stafford was a great talent, but did not have a championship mental makeup and used UGA like a minor league apprenticeship.
I will always root for him to do well, but will remember his time in Athens as one of the greatest periods of underachievement that I have witnessed in sports.
This is Georgia
April 22nd, 2010
11:34 am
OK, Enough already! I’m sick of all the headlines coming out of Athens that have nothing to do with FOOTBALL. Arrests, Uniforms, Transfers, Grades, Coaching Changes, Drafts, blah blah blah blah! Can somebody please remind the Powers that Be that this is GEORGIA. We may not have the most championships or the most #1 draft picks but this is supposed to be TAILBACK U! We are supposed to be tough, disciplined, hardnosed beat you up on Saturday and be in church on Sunday Morning football team! I don’t like the trends I hear coming out of Athens these days. I don’t like them at all – they are not Georgia.
11Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:35 am
The black jerseys definitely need to make a comeback. The fact is, we have them and they look awesome. Maybe if we just always wore them for night games against SEC teams or something.
Also, silver britches always. It just doesn’t look right without them.
38 Yardline Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:35 am
Nick Saban didn’t need a white out or maroon out or whatever to win a National Championship at AL!
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
April 22nd, 2010
11:37 am
First of all, Stafford was the most physically gifted QB to ever attend UGA. He was also an extremely smart QB (he could read defenses and make the appropriate pre-snap audible better than just about anybody).
Some complain that he wasn’t a vocal leader ala Tebow, but there is more than one type of leadership. You can go out, hoot and holler, which works very well for some people, or you can lead by example. Stafford was one of the latter. He went out there and played to the best of his ability week in and week out.
So why all the (unfair) Stafford hate? Well, he left early for the NFL, which, whether they’ll admit it or not, othered a lot of people, which is selfish on their part. The man played hard and played well for UGA those three years (helping us win the Sugar Bowl and finish #2-3 in the country [depending on which poll you follow] in ‘07), but some people think he “betrayed” UGA somehow by going pro. Yeah, he didn’t win an SEC title, but if you think that was all his fault, you’re stupid.
Did you see the defenses he had at his back? 07’s was decent at best, and 08’s was just plain bad (you should never score 42 points in a game and LOSE, especially when you have a 16-point lead at halftime). He also didn’t have a heckuva lot of receiver help until ‘08. Receivers alone were the reason we lost to South Carolina in ‘07. There were about 3 or 4 TD passes thrown INTO THE HANDS of receivers, who promptly dropped the pass, Coutu also missed a mind-boggling 3-4 field goals that game. I could go on for hours about the ‘07 team but I won’t.
The ‘08 team, offensively, had everything you need to win a championship. Defensively, they sucked. 49 points to UF, 41 points to ‘Bama, 38 (or so) points to UK, 45 points to Tech, 38 points to LSU. Need I say more? You can’t win (or compete) for a championship with a crappy defense.
To conclude, he is one of those legendary UGA QBs. And I think his stature will only increase with time. Stafford was lucky to have the opportunity to play for Georgia, and Georgia was lucky to have the opportunity to field a player of his caliber.
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
April 22nd, 2010
11:37 am
*bothered
Alabamadawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:38 am
Loved the black-out, and actually loved the black helmets, it was a nice change…
PMC
April 22nd, 2010
11:39 am
We aren’t far enough away yet to really appreciate Stafford either. He’s one of the best QB’s ever to come through Athens.
richham
April 22nd, 2010
11:41 am
I would like to see them use the old school silver helmets instead of black. I wasn’t a fan of the black helmets.
Grandad
April 22nd, 2010
11:41 am
Cmill – I’m right there with you.
As long as they wear “Silver Britches”
I don’t really care about the rest.
Say what?
April 22nd, 2010
11:41 am
Grambling called….they want their helmets back!
jzdawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:42 am
Mixing up the uniform every now and then is ok but just don’t pull out the black helmets again please!! UGLY!! Red face-masks? Come on!
On Stafford – I think he came to UGA because he liked Richt and not because he bled red and black. I think if he and Moreno would have stayed one more year and led the team to a SEC title or a NC then he would be revered at UGA. But money talks!!
HunkerDown27
April 22nd, 2010
11:42 am
I actually don’t mind the black helmets and black pants, I think most teams have an alternates anyway. And for those that don’t like it, get over it and the mystique behind them…. they’re just alternate uniforms! Hmmmm……..2010…. Silver Helmets please! roof roof!
kentucky cade
April 22nd, 2010
11:42 am
cats have your number!!
How2fish
April 22nd, 2010
11:44 am
Stafford and Knowshon were and are Damn Good Dawgs…and that’s all I have to say about that…
Jon
April 22nd, 2010
11:45 am
I like the black helmet, I just don’t like the red face mask. A black or white face mask would make it look better. As for Stafford and Moreno: I feel that fans didn’t get the time to truly embrace them and they left school with people asking “what just happened here?” Shockley and Greene were both in the program for five years each. So, we got see them and know them a little more. Also, it didn’t hurt they won SEC championships. Moreno was the most exciting, relentless, and overall most talented RB I’ve seen at UGA. (I didn’t see Herchel really, but I saw all the other good ones post Herschel.) Losing him hurt more than losing Stafford to me. He would have made Joe Cox seem like a better QB.
Silver Britches
April 22nd, 2010
11:45 am
Never again with the black helmets. It just came off like a gimmick. And (with all due respect) we looked like Grambling.
Mix the jerseys and the pants up, although NEVER red pants and red jerseys. Leave that on the golf course.
Chris Phillips
April 22nd, 2010
11:46 am
I think you answered the question about UGA fans not being high on Stafford. He left school early without achieving what the Bulldog Nation expected of him. I wish that he and Moreno would have stuck around for another year. But I am a fan of Stafford. I hope he does very well in the NFL. He showed true grit last year when he came back into the game while hurt. I think he has earned the respect of his teammates & coaches, and hopefully Detroit fans. As for the uniforms, I love CMR’s idea. Let’s make it happen. The black helmet, white jerseys, and black britches rock. Bring it back! Please!!
SimpleDawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:48 am
I don’t understand the negative vibes for Stafford. Yeah, he got more out of being at UGA than the team achieved on the field, but I’m not sure that was his fault. He played and tried to win every game, but a rifle can only do so much. I thought Bama was going to kill him in that massacre in Sanford Stadium.
As for the Black Helmets….NO WAY. They look like Grambling. Jerseys come and go, but your helmet says who you are. We are Georgia; we wear RED HELMETS with the big G, that’s that.
NC Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
11:50 am
Just DO NOT mess with the red helmet. Mix and match the rest, but no changing the nation’s best looking college helmet.
DawginJax
April 22nd, 2010
11:51 am
Mythoughts on the uniform issue:
Many of you have referenced Oregon and their mix-and-match style: They can do that because the owner of Nike is an Oregon grad and the Nike headquarters is in Eugene, and he basically gives them new uniforms each week while also using them as a blank canvas to test out new ideas. While that may work for Oregon (sometimes I love their uniforms and sometimes they are ghastly), I don’t think we should have any kind of similar mix-and-match uniform, no matter how awesome I think the black jerseys looked with the silver britches and red helmet.
Nearly all of the most respected programs in the country (Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, SC, Penn State, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, e.g.) have a traditional uniform that doesn’t change week-to-week, year-to-year, or even decade-to-decade, and that includes the trim as well as the color combinations. It’s a brand, and you know exactly who it is the second you look at them. The traditional Georgia uniform, with the silver britches, red jersey, and red helmet with the black and white “G”, is currently like that. Anyone who glimpses at a Georgia uniform knows exactly what team it is for without even having to see the “G” on the helmet. That level of tradition and iconography can only help in marketing the program and recruiting the right kind of football players.
Second, on a more practical level, I think we could spend the money better elsewhere than just to appease the football team’s and the fans’ sense of fashion. Do you have any idea how much an extra set of jerseys, an extra set of pants, and an extra set of helmets would cost each year? Tens of thousands of dollars easily.
fanfromathens
April 22nd, 2010
11:52 am
“Go you Silver Britches!”
Mark Richt better win some Championships before he starts thinking about fashion.
fanfromathens
April 22nd, 2010
11:54 am
Right on DawginJax!
richtfan
April 22nd, 2010
11:54 am
i like the red pants for ALL road games. if it’s good enough for herschel, it’s good enough for me.
i don’t care for other helmets than red, but i’d alter the pants colors.
TruthSeeker
April 22nd, 2010
11:54 am
Stafford is one of my all-time favorite Bulldogs. Great arm, great competitor. Those who say he didn’t bleed red and black don’t know what they’re talking about. If he was only looking out for his pro career, he wouldn’t have sacrificed his body to make that touchdown-saving tackle against Michigan State in his final game.
You can’t hate on him for leaving early. The point of going to college is to prepare you for your career. If you can get $41.7 million guaranteed, you’d be a fool not to take it. Greene or Zeier or any of these other “true Dawgs” would have done the same. So would I, and so would you.
lrh
April 22nd, 2010
11:55 am
What’s a helment?
toga
April 22nd, 2010
11:58 am
Georgia missed their best chance with Stafford and Moreno to win the SEC Championship. No excuses Dog fans. You know you coaching cost you a championship. The best you can now hope for in the next 3 to 4 years is the chance to get smoked (again) by Bama in the SECCG.
I think they should wear yellow. The way they gave up in the Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky games last year was hard to watch. Richt should have been fired after the Ky game.
ROLL TIDE
dawgnation
April 22nd, 2010
11:59 am
Coaches please focus on the game plan and not on fashion. If it charges the players up so much then why have we gotten beat pretty bad the past couple of times it’s been changed. The night time black-out jersey’s are ok every now and then but please don’t mess with the traditional UGA uniform that everyone recognizes and the fans love.
matt
April 22nd, 2010
12:02 pm
Red helmets, silver pants anything else is negotiable.
How2fish
April 22nd, 2010
12:05 pm
toga 1st nearly 20 season ending injuries doomed us in 08. As far as your yellow comment how did it turn out last time Bama told us weren’t MAN enough..no one I want to see across the field from us more that Bama we tend to do pretty well against you clowns and will again.Now go play hide the crystal ball with yourself..I have a suggestion where you can put in and its not Walmart.
Bill King is a....................
April 22nd, 2010
12:08 pm
Bill, as much as i hate it when you ask what we think, i have to weigh in on this one. I have no love for these guys. Mainly because of all the hype that was built around these guys. These two were the ones we all had been waiting on to lead us to the promise land. All along the notion of everyone was just wait til MR gets his players in here. And what did we get for it?? Nothing. Sure we got a trip to the Sugar bowl two yrs ago but no championships of any kind. As long as i can remember….uga fans(myself included) have always thought how much better our players are than other teams. And year after year…we keep getting our hearts broken.
I want players like Sam Bradford. He stayed for his senior season. He would have been a 1st rounder last year. He’d have gotten the big bucks. But he said he had always wanted to be the QB at Oklahoma and thats what he wanted to do. I know these kids are looking to make millions in the pros but as a loyal UGA fan i’m here to see our team excel and win championships. Give me players who want to be here because they want to be a DAWG. Having #24 and #7 set our program back 3yrs.
Cuz
April 22nd, 2010
12:09 pm
Not only did we look like Grambling versus Florida we played like Grambling versus Florida.
Joe
April 22nd, 2010
12:10 pm
let’s see….hmmmmmmm….what a waste for us. His heart was never here. All he cared about was himself and impressing the NFL….he and Marino= not even the SEC East Title. During the awards banquest when his team mates were being recognized- he is texting on the stage. Shows what he thinks of his teammates…huh? hmmmmmmm…even with our year last year- i am glad he chose to leave early. Chalk this up to stupid recuriting….we need players who are committed to UGA and their team….
WonderDawg
April 22nd, 2010
12:10 pm
Football is about championships. From high school to the pros, teams play for championships. Greenie and Shockley led UGA to championships and Stafford didn’t. Yes, we had a terrible DC while Stafford was here (Shockley had Martinez too) , but Stafford had a hand in some of that with his interceptions (some for TDs) in big games.
He may one day be the best NFL QB from UGA, but he’s got a long, long way to go to catch Fran Tarkington.
And, he will be admired and liked by most Dawgs, but just not as beloved as some others who led UGA to greatness.
Bob
April 22nd, 2010
12:11 pm
Our regular unis are great. Stop worrying about the damn fashion stuff and focus on winning big games. Last SEC title appearance is now 5 years ago. Win baby, just WIN.
Cory
April 22nd, 2010
12:13 pm
Stafford ended up where he deserved to…..losersville in DTW. His heart was never at UGA. Agree with above- stupid recruiting on our part. Full of himself….doubt he will ever come back to Sanford- and doubt we will ever be cheered thats for sure
Bill King is a....................
April 22nd, 2010
12:13 pm
People fell in love with Knowshon for the way he hustled his 1st season. He’ sprint back to the huddle. Our players and fans fed off of that. He was anxious to make a name for himself. And he did just that. Also in the process….all of the jive dancing on the sidelines and the discipline problems started about the same time. My favorite in 08 was Thomas Brown and i would take that kid 7 days a week over Knowshon. And i’d take a David Greene and a DJ Shockely 7 days a week over Stafford. We won championships with #14, 3 and 20. We didnt win a damn thing with 7 & 24. Enuff said!!!
Let's get back to the traditional...
April 22nd, 2010
12:15 pm
…uniform of UGA – white pants w/red&black stripe, red home and white road jerseys (with black at home on occasion), and always the red helmets. The silver britches and the red britches could also be used as a “change-up”, but the crispness of the red and white is how it should always be…with white shoes…
DirtyDawg
April 22nd, 2010
12:18 pm
When you think about it, finding fault with Stafford and/or Moreno for leaving early with some unfinished business, while adoring Herschel when he did, virtually, the same thing. Sure we got a NC with him – but that was in ‘year one’, we wanted more, and by damned we’da probably had it if he’d hung in for another one. Of course, I blame Donald Trump and Jack Manton for all that – and the money, of course. And saying that Stafford and Moreno was the best ‘QB/RB’ tandem Georgia ever had? Sure Buck might not have been the gunslinger Stafford is, but we are talking about a ‘tandem’ here ain’t we? No way that the combination of the latter is better than the former. Ask the fans who they rather have back – in their prime.
As for the unis, please, lets don’t be an Oregon with a different combination every week – even if Nike were to pay us to do it. Don’t have problem with the red pants with the white tops – like the Tennessee game in ‘80 – but never again black pants and red tops like that game with Florida where we looked, and played (football), like the Redcoat Band…love the band mind you I just don’t want to be reminded of that game.
toga
April 22nd, 2010
12:19 pm
How2fish – what will your excuse be this year? and the next? For the record Alabama has a winning record against EVERY SEC program. Your guys gave up last year, this is a direct reflection on Richt.
Look, I get it. You are blinded by wanting so bad for Richt to do a good job. You really can not see outside your football world. I went throught the same thing with Shula.
History will prove that Richt and Ga under performed with great talent. You will only wake up once Richt is replaced.
ROLL TIDE
Bill King is a....................
April 22nd, 2010
12:19 pm
Chris Phillips…..if you really love the hideous uniforms we wore in the Ga/Fl game……go atten the Grambling games. I bet you are an alumni of Grambling, arent you?
yeah whatever!
April 22nd, 2010
12:21 pm
“A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” George Washington
Jon P
April 22nd, 2010
12:23 pm
Red helmets only (Home & Away)….Red (Home only), Black (Home only) or White Jerseys….Red (Away only), Black (Away only) or Silver-not gray (Home only) pants.
Stafford and Moreno were both extremely talented, but will never be beloved because Stafford never led us to a championship and Moreno only played for 2 years.
yeah whatever!
April 22nd, 2010
12:23 pm
hey toga…………… Mark Richt is 4-1 aIn case you cant count thats 8-1 against the state of ALA. Maybe you should stop posting on this website as Alabama is not worthy to critique UGA. 8-1 is entirely embarrassing even with the one mythical NC
yeah whatever!
April 22nd, 2010
12:24 pm
thats “4-1 against ALA and 4-0 against Auburn”
Al
April 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
If they win every SEC game this year, then I say let them wear purple jerseys and green helmets if they want to. But, until then, stick with the standard uniforms.
kauai dawg
April 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
SEC championships are important. Greene and Shock have them and Stafford and Moreno do not. Plain and simple. Will be remembered as DAWGS just not champions. Without injuries overload they probably would have had one in 07 but that is water under the bridge. Go DAWGS!