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.
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314 comments Add your comment
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
1:59 pm
Impatient dawg says ‘(let’s beat the bamm/ers of the world’ ummmmmm richt is 4~ 1 aGainst bammer. Get a clue. Moron
Sec recordkeeper
April 22nd, 2010
1:59 pm
Patrick,
Richt is 3-1 not 4-1 against Bama with his 3 wins coming over Bama teams crippled by probation. Even LA-Monroe and the Mississippi schools were beating Bama in the early 2000s. Its not as if beating Shula coached Bammer teams playing with half a deck is a big deal.
As for winning 3 of the last 4 against them they can just as easily say they’ve won 4 of the last 7 against UGA. And then they can say they own the overall series lead by double digits 11 games.
You would do well just to ignore rabble rousers like Toga.
Last, no one cares that Richt was beating weak Bama probation ridden teams 7 and 8 years ago. What does that have to do with here and now? What does it have to do with the current direction of the UGA program?
If you want to live in the past and compare records vs the Bammers it is an argument you cannot win. They have more of everything. More national titles, sec titles and division titles, more overall wins, head to head they own UGA, more bowl wins,etc. Just give it up and ignore folks like Toga.
Blackberry Cobbler
April 22nd, 2010
2:00 pm
Sorry, but Stafford will be remembered more for his “keg incident” than his performance on the field.
Stafford = strong arm
Stafford = weak athlete
Stafford = baby
Stafford = over-rated
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
2:02 pm
Patrick,
Richt is 3-1 vs Bama not 4-1. Now who is the moron?
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:03 pm
Idiot
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
Sooooooo 3~1 is zsooooo much better. Lol
Bremen Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
2:05 pm
I don’t think that Stafford came to UGA to be a dog like Greene did. I think he came to learn a pro style offense to be a little ahead of the learning curve in the NFL. His parents thought very highly of Richt.
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
2:06 pm
Patrick,
And those wins of Richt’s against the bammers came several years ago 2002,2003, and 2007 in OT in Saban’s first year. Sooooooo 2 of those wins were 7 and 8 years ago and you’re still talking about games played 7 and 8 years ago?
This is 2010 Patrick or haven’t you noticed. Start living in the present idiot.
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
2:07 pm
Keep living in the past Patrick as if its 2002 or 2003 when its 2010. See how far that gets the dawgs. Moron.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:09 pm
So instead of ala losing to richt 80 % of the time its a much better 75% yep that’s much better LOL
Jackson
April 22nd, 2010
2:10 pm
I would have to agree with an earlier poster on the why’s Knowshown and Stafford aren’t beloved in Dawg Nation. The expectations were extremely high and we touted ourselves bigger than we were. Obviously, I have talked at length about the terrible O line play over the last 4 years. When was the last O lineman/TE’s actually drafted in the NFL? 2006 Pope TE (3rd rd) and Jean-Gillis G (4th rd), 2007 Milner TE (4th rd) and Shackleford T (6th rd), 2008 Chester Adams G/T (7th rd). Everyone touted the strength of the Offensive Line and it is quite evident that their is not talent, skill or a lack of coaching consistency up front. Having said that, the Dawg Nation never gave enough credit to Moreno or Stafford for their ability to make up for the vast shortcomings along the offensive front. If Moreno was not as talented as he was, we would have been horrendous running the ball and Stafford despite his shortcomings would not have been as successful of a passer without his talent. Year after year we talk about the strength of the Offensive Line and year after year no one hones in on that being the issue. Yes the defense had lots of issues… yes we weren’t super deep at the Wideout positions but everything starts up front on the O and D lines. Our O line never started up and thus last year you see the end result.
Evansdawg
April 22nd, 2010
2:11 pm
I cannot stand the black helmets…win or lose. I thought I was watching a Grambling game. Don’t mess with the tradition of the red helmet. You can do what you want with the rest of the uniform…just stay away from the helmet.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:12 pm
Ala has beaTen richt ONE TIME in HISTORY. Yep richt sucks LOL
EASTsiders
April 22nd, 2010
2:12 pm
Didn’t it take bringing Joe Cox in the game to score a touchdown in 2008 against those evil Gators?
AceDawg
April 22nd, 2010
2:12 pm
Moreno deserves to be loved by the UGA fans for his hard work and hustle. He got gipped by the coaches when he was redshirted the first year. Otherwise I imagine he’d have given us three great years, not just two.
Stafford really does kind of just fit in the middle. He is appreciated, but he didn’t have the very same connection with fans. Partly because of not winning SEC like his predecessors, but I think moreso because his nature and demeanor didn’t draw as much attention. He was solid, but not legendary in the college game.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
2:13 pm
Ditch the black helmets unless your match ‘em with black facemasks, a la the Atlanta Falcons.
Wear ‘em only for home blackout games , with the black jerseys and silver britches. Now THAT would look sharp!
Other than that one game a year, though, I’m all about tradition. Good grief with all the mixing and matching of uniforms. You don’t see ‘Bama, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State doing this sort of gimicky stuff. In fact, I think what so many fans LOVE about college football IS that’s its so rich in tradition.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
2:15 pm
Hey, Anonymous… what’s Richt’s record against Saban, all-time, all-schools, though? I’ll look it up for you: he’s 3-3 against the great Sat, I mean Saban. So if he’s ONLY good enough to match up evenly against Saban, he should DEFINITELY go, then, right? Sheesh.
Gillislee
April 22nd, 2010
2:16 pm
“He won no titles. It is as simple as that.”
Not only that he didn’t even play in an SEC Championship Game. No travel plans to the Dome needed for the Dawg faithful during Matt’s watch.
Dave In Tampa
April 22nd, 2010
2:22 pm
I like Stafford. He was a world of talent, but there was NO legacy he left behind. Not all his fault. There were many injuries. Legacies leave behind Championships. If I recall he did not.
I liked the Black helmets. I would not mind seeing them again.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:23 pm
So having a winning record againsy every SEC team except one means Richt sucks….oh ok I get it now.
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
2:26 pm
Patrick and Ron Roberts,
Richt is 3-3 against Saban alltime. One of those games was against Saban in his first year at Bama in 2007. This was a mediocre Bama team that finished 7-6 and had jr and sr classes decimated from probation. Richt’s stats against Saban and Bama are skewed by probation weakened Bama teams. That is my point. Also, Saban has won 2 bcs and 3 sec titles in 8 years of coaching in the sec. Richt has won how many bcs titles and sec titles in 9 years of coaching? 2 secs and ZERO bcs titles? Is that right?
My other point is that Richt did well in the early 2000s when Bama was down and when Florida had Zook. What has Richt done in the last 4 years in his own division? 10-10 against the sec east including 2 losses to the mildcats? Are you serious?
Fact of the matter is that Richt did well when the sec in general and Bama and Florida in particular were in down years with loser coaches. Things have changed in case you haven’t noticed. Its not 2002 or even 2005. Its 2010 and Richt’s established program in year 10 is on downward trend. 10-10 in the last 4 years in the east division proves it.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:26 pm
6 top ten finishes in last 9 years…….that’s twice as many sa fla and more than any SEC team. Yep he sucks
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
2:26 pm
toga..tell you what tough guy lets wait until the next time the Tide and UGA play to thump our chests because I like my chances to howl afterwards…admit it you want CMR gone because you FEAR CMR…
oledawg
April 22nd, 2010
2:27 pm
Now it’s Dittmer! Excuse my racism, but when will these white guys stop embarrassing this team? It’s like they never learned to drink in the white ghettos. An educated black friend tried to help and what did he get?-a punch in the mouth. What makes these white guys so aggressive when they drink? Does it take an act of Congress? Oops…forgot that most of them came from the same degenerative racial background. These kids are an embarrassment to other well-mannered black members of their team. The racial disparity seems to be growing with the hard-working achieving black players doing what is right for their NFL careers while the white players seem to be interested only in cutting lawns for the rest of their lives. Don’t get me wrong. They come from athletically disadvantaged lives and it’s inspirational to see them attempting to lift themselves up…literally. They are trying to go beyond their European ancestor’s despotic brewing heritage to take their place among the black achieving community, but I guess it’s just in their genes. We know how the Native Americans tried to take advantage of them by using this flawed characteristic , but we know now how the whites twisted historical perception. They ramble around at all times of the night, drinkin’ their hooch and emulating their idols from the NFL. Of course they accuse the police of racial profiling, but we know that’s not true because a black cop lost his job trying to help a liquored-up white NFL player. They even have white power groups that feel they are superior to the God-fearing hard-working black people, but that was nipped in the bud by a NY black congressman who pointed out that if the last President was any indication of white superiority then we don’t have anything to worry about. When will these white players ever learn?
Simple Simons
April 22nd, 2010
2:28 pm
GT = Mugged U
NCDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
2:29 pm
Red Helmet Always…
Black Jersey Sometimes
Red Pants or black pants with White Jersey
Never Red Jesery with Red Pants
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:30 pm
What has richt done in last 4 years. Ummmm 2007 is within lazst 4 years. Allhe did was finish second in the nation…….yep his last 4 years have been abject failure. LOL
Otto
April 22nd, 2010
2:31 pm
All this blame on the defense, How many 3 and outs did UGA have agianst GT in the 3rd Qtr.? UGA had 2 or 3 3 and outs and 2 turn overs in the first half against Bama during the black out game.
Was this Stafford and Moreno’s fault or Bobo and CMR? IMO if Stafford was one of the greatest at making the reads which, every one of his coaches think he is, he either did not execute the throw or Bobo had the wrong play in as the next option.
Either way yes the defense was bad, but special times and offense did them no favors. If Stafford had Greene’s defense, I doubt the team would have an SEC title and I would not blame Stafford.
I’m hoping Grantham raises Bobo’s game. I do not want to see a Dawg run out of Athens but the past few years have not lived up to what they could.
Also CMR lost alot of my respect last year in Jax. Yes winning is what matters put the extra time in a game plan, calling plays, sitting in position meetings not uniforms.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
2:31 pm
Anonymous, you got a lot of excuses for Saban’s losses to Richt, but don’t seem to see things the other way. Kinda odd, ya think?
One of Saban’s losses to Richt came on the heels of his national championship, and he left Athens with a THUNDEROUS @$$-whooping, despite being the higher-ranked team, as I recall.
And I don’t care how “decimated” a Bama team is, Richt never lost to a ULM-like program.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:34 pm
Oh wait….second in the nation……… that’s higher than his first 5 years. And higher than uga has finished in last 30. Yep his last four years were horrible. HE SHOULD BE FIRED. How’s dare he finished ranked second.
G
April 22nd, 2010
2:34 pm
Bill,
Staff has no legacy at Georgia as far as im concerned. He only won one big game and that was on Knowshons coat tails. Hopefully the days of soft UGA qb’s are over and they will be treated like the rest of the players. Look at Stafford last year in Detroit he was in much better shape than he ever was in Athens. Let the qb’s spend some time with Gratham and get them tough and get them stronger , ther not kicker’s Bobo. And the uniforms are bogus they fire up the other team just as much if not more , I knew the game in Jax was over when we came out in gimmick uniforms. Thats my thoughts
Otto
April 22nd, 2010
2:35 pm
Ron Roberts, Agreed it is tradition once in a blue moon can be fine.
Penn St. has the dullest uniform in sports but it is an Icon and the fans come in 10s of thousand for a white out.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
2:35 pm
Excellent point Ron
Daniel #12
April 22nd, 2010
2:37 pm
tradition. Always red helmets. Red jerseys at home, white on the road. Silver brithches. If you want another color helmet, what about silver? UGA wore those when I first started following in the early 60″s.
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
2:38 pm
$750K get a life many of the teachers getting laid off can’t teach and due to the stranglehold the teachers union has they can’t be fired..this is a much needed weeding out of the lazy and uninterested..
jaglaw
April 22nd, 2010
2:39 pm
SILVER, SILVER, AND BLACK. Silver pants, silver jersey, black letters, and black helmet..with white…I dont think the black helmets are bad if they didnt have the “red” cross bar. ( that was stupid). Black helment goes with white or silver cross bar……. or do a White helmet with black G
G
April 22nd, 2010
2:42 pm
Wear Georgia uniforms and go hit somebody it’s not a fashion show.
REALDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
2:42 pm
BLACK PANTS BLACK JERSEYS WITH RED HELMETS…..THINK ABOUT IT….
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
2:43 pm
Patrick,
I never said Richt sucked. I’m merely making the point based on division stats that the program has sunk lately, especially in the last 2 years. And forget about Saban for a moment. Meyer owns Richt 4-1 with several blowouts. Even the Zooker won 2 of 3 against CMR and he is now 2-7 against UGA’s biggest rival. Sorry but there is no lipstick you can put on this pig. Meyer has 2 bcs titles in 5 years while CMR has zero in 9 years. Mmmmh! Championships are what count. End of story.
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
2:43 pm
G now that hits the nail on the head! Well said!
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
2:47 pm
Ron Roberts,
Everyone remembers Richt whupping LSU 45-16 the year after LSU whupped UGA and won the national title. So what? They traded butt whuppings. What is your point? Mine is that Richt has not won a bcs in 9 years while Saban and Meyer have won 2 each in lesser time. And Meyer has won 2 in a mere 5 years while Saban won 2 in 8 years after taking over major rebuilding programs. Bama was abysmal when he took over and LSU had 8 losing seasons in 11 years when he took over. Richt at least inherited a steady 8-3 program every year. Big differences.
And what is going to be your excuse for Meyer and Florida in general owning Richt. Richt is 2-7 against UF and 1-4 against Meyer including several blowouts? I can’t wait to hear this next bit of babble from you.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
2:48 pm
One more thing, Anonymous… in the last four years Richt took the ‘Dawgs to a BCS game, finished #2 in the nation, has beaten Florida (soundly, too, WITH Tebow on the field, I might add). He HAD the best team in the nation in the eyes of most fans that year, when it was all said and done. No biggie; he’d ALSO have had a shot at a BCS title (I believe) were it not for D.J. Shockley missing a game (vs. Florida) where we STILL almost won the game despite having to play our 3rd string QB that year; and his first 1-loss campaign came in one of those (now) “fluke” years where twoi teams actually managed to go undefeated going into the bowls.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
2:50 pm
Anonymous (way to put your name on the line, there, big guy…), you don’t seem to GET “the point” I’ve made from the get-go… Richt is good enough to be at a draw against Saban, pure and simple. It’s there, in print: 3-3. And Richt NEVER lost to a “ULM.” Ever. With or without “decmated” blah blah blah
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
2:51 pm
Anonymous..Mmmmh! Championships are what count. End of story. So I guess the cheating Bama did to void 20+ wins doesn’t count anymore since they have since won a NC…really? I mean does ALL that matters is a NC ? Honor, sportsmanship, teaching young men to succeed in life none of that matters…if just win Baby is all you hold dear..I truly pity you. I’m certain Saban and CUM would not agree with that.
REALDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
2:51 pm
Anonymous,
I wouldnt get to hyped up about your boy Saban. Rumor is hes bolting after this season.
mgdawg
April 22nd, 2010
2:52 pm
Stafford and moreno I feel like have a different legacy. I think Moreno is the second best RB ever at UGA. I think stafford is probably the most talented qb ever at UGA, I don’t think he was the best qb though at UGA. That’s the difference I think, he never lived up to his potential. Especially when Greene did better then anyone ever thought and in one year as a starter shockley did what was expected. I think that is why many people don’t feel as much love for stafford, although as mentioned earlier with a better defense who knows how many championships UGA may have had.
As far as the jerseys, I like wearing different colors, and I know the players like changing it up. I actually liked the black helmets, I just didn’t like the red facemasks, go with a black facemask.
G
April 22nd, 2010
2:56 pm
Richt is still learning how to be a general and is in it for the long haul. CEO Bobby got it done in the ACC when it was weak that won’t cut it in the SEC. Nice guys finish last in the SEC.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
2:56 pm
See, “Anonymous,” we can ALL pick apart a coach in any way, shape, form or fashion; I’m not gonna discount what Saban’s done because his record speaks for itself; but don’t come here and think you can say Richt’s not done well in his tenure, when the record says otherwise. ‘Bama doesn’t have Florida every year (hell, even LSU does); ‘Bama doesn’t have to play TWO top-tier SEC schools within its division each year along WITH whatever comes out of the other division. See, Georgia ALWAYS has Florida, Tennessee AND Auburn every year. You have Auburn (when they’re occasionally good) and LSU (when they’re now occasionally good) and two lousy MIssissippi schools and an Arkansas program that’s actually bitten the Tide once in awhile. By the way, when’s the last time Miss State U. beat ‘Bama? Been fairly recently, hasn’t it? Who’s worse – Kentucky or Miss State, the last 4-5 years?
See, it could go on and on; but it’s absurd to.
UGA J
April 22nd, 2010
2:57 pm
Stafford was a great athlete, but not a great leader. He knew very early that he was headed to the NFL. It’s hard to make a kid care about losing when he know’s he’s going to be a millionaire. I don’t blame anyone for going after that kind of money, but college is supposed to be about the school, and the purity of the sport. I think every player should have to play through his senior season. If they manage to actually graduate, even better.
mgdawg
April 22nd, 2010
2:58 pm
impatient dog: Ohio state had a uniform change this past year, I remember hearing about it on gameday. Personally, I don’t care what ND and Nebraska are doing these days, and look at what florida does as far as uniforms. I know this, I’m around football players everyday and they love changing up the uniforms. There’s a saying that I heard when I got into athletics “if you look good then you’ll feel good, if you feel good then you’ll play good.” Jerseys aren’t some magical thing that is going to make a team win if they are clearly worse, but it can change the dynamics sometimes.