Florida paper slams Dogs again: Most overrated ever
Buck Belue's touchdown pass to Lindsay Scott was a "fluke" play, the Orlando Sentinel says. (University of Georgia)
Say this for the Orlando Sentinel: They’re at least consistent in their orange and blue advocacy.
You’ll recall that the Sentinel, whose sportswriters appear to operate as an unofficial arm of the Gators sports information program, drew headlines a while back for ranking the Georgia Bulldogs as only the 64th best team in the country this season.
Before that, the Sentinel had been among the first of the media outlets in states surrounding us to get the Mark-Richt-on-the-hot-seat bandwagon rolling. And, of course, they did it in typical hyperbolic style, noting in complete disregard to the facts that “It seems almost every season Richt’s name comes up as being on the hot seat.”
Now the Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi has taken another flying leap into absurdity. In writing about the SEC Media Days, he opened his latest blog saying, “Keep hearing and reading about how Georgia coach Mark Richt is on the imaginary hot seat.”
Such talk, Bianchi generously allows, “is a disservice to one of the classiest coaches in college football and one of the best coaches Georgia has ever had.” (It was, of course, Bianchi who raised the “hot seat” question question to Richt at the SEC media gathering.)
Naturally, he was just setting up Georgia fans for the Sentinel’s latest swipe. The problem, he says, is “Georgia fans have way too high of an opinion of their program. In fact, I believe an argument could be made that Georgia is the the most overrated program in college football history.”
His case consists mainly of calling Lindsay Scott’s touchdown catch in the 1980 game against the Gators “one of the biggest fluke plays in college football history,” and he concludes that without the national title that the Bulldogs won that year thanks to Herschel Walker and Scott, “Georgia would be closer in history and tradition to South Carolina than it is to Florida.”
Yes, we all know Florida has dominated the Dogs-Gators rivalry the past 20 years (the only period of college football history Gators fans pay any attention to) and that Florida has won a couple of BCS national titles and Georgia hasn’t.
But Bianchi’s notion that Georgia football history is pretty much limited to 1980 is so far off the mark it’s embarrassing. If he checked NCAA records, he’d find UGA is ranked as one of the Top 15 winningest college football programs of all time … and ahead of the University of Florida.
It’s one thing to try and rile up a rival state’s fandom, but at least Bianchi and the Sentinel could try and keep it based in reality.
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468 comments Add your comment
Red-N-Black
July 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
Mike is an idiot, he couldn’t even cut it in Jacksonville and was let go from the Jacksonville Times Union. He pretty much hates anything GA and would deny the Falcons beat the Bucs while at the game. Hey jealousy does things to bitter people right Mike? LOOSER.
scott
July 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
OERATED UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS AN OVERATED FOOTBALL TEAM FOR YEARS AS WELL AS AN OVERATED FOOTBALL COACH..IN A VERY RACIST REDNECK HAMLET(ATHENS(
George Clooney
July 23rd, 2010
7:05 pm
I was in the Atlanta airport Thursday night, and saw a guy with a shaved head and a goattee. He was wearing a 1997 Dale Jarrett hat, orange tank top and jorts. The tank top was tucked into the jorts, ‘natch.
So I walked over and asked “What time is your flight to Tampa? And are you driving from there to Gainesville, or is your brother driving down to pick you up in the truck?”
He stared at me with his mouth open for a good 10 seconds, then smiled and said “dang man, how jew know thas where i’s goin?? Yer GOOD man!”
Mick
July 23rd, 2010
7:16 pm
I have to agree with the Orlando Sentinel. How many SEC teams have more national championships than UGA? Alabama, Florida, LSU, Tennessee. UGA has the same number as Kentucky and Ole Miss. Hell GaTech has more championships as a member of the SEC than UGA does.
Take away Hershel Walker and you have a solid football history but not a great football history.
Patsy
July 23rd, 2010
7:21 pm
Dogs do have many wins since Right came but many were of the Patsy type. Just look at last year when you actually played a “ruff” schedule…you were lucky to win eight. But you did learn…just start with Patsy.
Mick
July 23rd, 2010
7:21 pm
Also, the total victories argument is skewed by the fact that UGA started playing football long before many other colleges. So that isn’t necessarily a valid measuring stick.
Bill King
July 23rd, 2010
7:22 pm
Alphare:
One difference. I’m the UGA fan blogger. I’m SUPPOSED to be a homer.
Mick
July 23rd, 2010
7:29 pm
Ryan, the “red panties” thing is just getting started. What do you think you are going to see on the field at every away game?
Sven Ottke
July 23rd, 2010
7:32 pm
“If you go by NATION-WIDE clothing and merchandise sales, UGA has been in the top 5 for the last 10 years and actually was #1 Twice.”
Well heck yeah, coach smith, because that’s what all football powers go by–clothing and merchandise sales, not wins and losses. What are you some kind of girl? Clothing and merchandise is your UGa data point? You need to turn in your man card.
dandydawg
July 23rd, 2010
7:35 pm
Georgia fans,
I think we better prepare ourselves for a lot of red panties to be thrown at the players and on the field. As a fan, just suck it up and laugh at the folks who are throwing them. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprise if our fans throw them. Here’s looking forward to the season… Good Dawgs!
Clevon Little
July 23rd, 2010
7:37 pm
Well Bill, Idiots will be idiots…….
Gatorbait 17-3
July 23rd, 2010
7:39 pm
Ok, Ok, a fluke play didn’t beat Florida in 1980, but it was an IMPROABLE PLAY! Florida had the unbeaten and #2 ranked UGA bulldogs beaten 21-20 with less than 2 minutes left and had Georgia in a 3rd and long on it’s own 8 yard line. The QB is running for his life in the end zone and nearly sacked for a safety when he throws a 17 yard pass to Scott.
Now please tell me just how often does a 17-yard pass on 3rd and long from your own
8-yard line result in a winning TD. I’m taking nothing away from a stunning win for UGA,
but please don’t tell me that’s the way ole Vince drew it up. Also, I understand that’s why we play 60 minutes and not 58. (on a side note that’s what Urban was teaching Richt in 2008)
The bottom line is the Gators had Georgia’s BEST TEAM EVER beaten for 58 minutes and lost on a most improbable play. How has Georgia done against Florida ’s National
Roy D. Mercer
July 23rd, 2010
7:43 pm
Go Dawgs! Looking forward to another year between the hedges! The way people are talking I just hope we can win 2 or 3. You know what I bet your butt we will be in the thick of it again!
Barack Dawg
July 23rd, 2010
7:58 pm
Orlando is irreleveant. No one cares about flying f— about mickey mouse or the paper.
kerryb
July 23rd, 2010
8:28 pm
For all of you UF fans out there. From 1970-1989 UGA was 15-5 against UF. From 1990-2009 UF was 17-3 against UGA. It’s now 2010, it is now UGA’s time to start dominating again. Your run is up.
wiley
July 23rd, 2010
8:52 pm
Well to be fair I can understand what the author is saying…UGA fans are notorious for acting like their program is the best when quite frankly the results on the field say otherwise. UGA fans talk trash like USC, Ohio State, and Nebraska fans but they have one (1942 was during WWII it should not count) national title in 100 plus years of organized football. USC has over 10, Ohio State has 7 or so, and Nebraska has 5…I mean all these programs are elite programs with massive amounts of tradition. Why do UGA fans think they can compare? They typically only win the SEC in down years…other programs such as Alabama and UF win the national title in addition to the SEC crown…until UGA does that they cant talk smack like the big boys…and if they do people will remind them of the facts. I am in no way insulting UGA but the facts dont support the arrogance that many see from UGA fans…winning could change that though. Until UGA wins big again…not just a conference title…they will face this criticism…it is what it is. In this state we act like UGA is very important in college football but the rest of the country does not share that opinion…after growing up in this state I thought UGA was a power house but once I traveled and actually studied the history of college football the truth became apparent…UGA has always underachieved and has never deserved to be in the same breath with the “powerhouse” programs. Don’t get me wrong they have had some success but never to the level of the top programs…in this case the truth hurts.
David Granger
July 23rd, 2010
9:12 pm
Good. Glad they’re underestimating us. Let’s just keep our damn mouths shut, not worry about it, and work hard to be ready for the season. We’ll get a chance to SHOW where we belong.
FL DAWG
July 23rd, 2010
9:18 pm
SABAN, IF YOU ARE A GEORGIA DAWG, WOMEN JUST GIVE YOU THEIR RED PANTIES…………..ETC…………
Stan Oliver
July 23rd, 2010
9:46 pm
Georgia leads Florida in the overall series by 7 or 8 games. There were two ties…
I live in Orlando, Florida and am a HUGE DAWG FAN…
Truth hurts
July 23rd, 2010
9:52 pm
“Georgia fans have way too high of an opinion of their program.” Article sounds a little over the top but that comment is dead on.
Rod
July 23rd, 2010
10:09 pm
The home state AJC paper, Jeff SHultz andMark Bradley sling mud on UGA every day. They try like heck to ruin our recruting class every year. All the other sec schools don’t get this type of treatment from their own state newspapers.
Kramerica
July 23rd, 2010
10:11 pm
Not the most overrated ever, but overrated in the Richt era. Who have they beat? Can’t beat Flor. Will lose to either Tenn. or Aub. every year. Until last year, play no one out of conference. Beat mediocre Big 10 teams in bowl games,Hawaii and FSU with Anquan Boldin at QB!!
BG
July 23rd, 2010
10:30 pm
Who cares what a writer for an Orlando paper says.
wreckmeister
July 23rd, 2010
10:33 pm
Well, I wouldn’t say they’re quite as pathetic as SC, but they are right in line with Clemson (one NC each, lots of talent that under produces, etc.)
Crimson fan
July 23rd, 2010
10:39 pm
Coach Smith,
Your math could be a little better. Florida had 5 down years from the Zook to the Meyer era. Not 7. The gators won the sec in 2000, went 5 years without, then won it again in 2006.
Your statement that Florida will go through down periods just like anyone else is true. All programs will go through down periods. Texas, USC, Ohio State, and OU were programs that have been on top in the 2000s but in from the late 80s throughout the 90s those programs were dormant. My Bama team was dormant from 2000-2007 with exception of a couple great years in 02 and 05.
Only difference is that Florida with all its talent and resources will no longer stay down for long. Just a fact of life nowadays unless they get a series of bad coaches in the same way that Bama did between Gene Stallings and Nick Saban.
GT Fan
July 23rd, 2010
11:21 pm
Yes UGA is the most overrated team ever. Go Jackets!
South Ga Dawg
July 23rd, 2010
11:22 pm
hahahahahah!!! I said its great to be a GEORGIA BULLDOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roy D. Mercer
July 23rd, 2010
11:29 pm
GT Fan – What happened last November at Historic Grant Field? Talk about overrated! Damn there goes Caleb again!
Losers
July 23rd, 2010
11:30 pm
it’s true. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES. YOU ARE OVER RATED AND HAVE BEEN FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. SHUT UP!
GT Fan
July 23rd, 2010
11:35 pm
Roy D. Mercer – We lost that game but we won the ACC we made up for the UGA lost. UGA is going to be behind Alabama and Florida as long as Nick Saban coaching the Tide and Urban is coaching the Gators. UGA was favorite to go to the national championship with Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno but it didn’t happen that is what I call overrated. UGA sucks.
Roy D. Mercer
July 23rd, 2010
11:36 pm
Losers – I see where you got your name from. You are a loser! Goooooooooooooooooo Dawgs!
Roy D. Mercer
July 23rd, 2010
11:39 pm
GT Fan – We may suck, but what does that make you’ll. Big deal beating Clemson who can’t beat SC. Better be glad you are in the ACC. As long as Richt is coaching the Dawgs, the Jackets will continue to be #1 in the ACC, but #2 in the State!
SatillaDawg
July 23rd, 2010
11:48 pm
If Bianchi had any talent whatsoever, he’d be working for a larger market newspaper.
He’s a hack.
And hacks are too lazy to look up UGA’s overall record against UF, which just happens to be:
47-39-2
Enough said, Gator Breath!
GT Fan
July 23rd, 2010
11:53 pm
Roy D. Mercer – I’m glad you admitted that UGA suck cause if you didn’t then you would have been lying to yourself. Clemson wasn’t sorry C.J. Spiller was a handful Tech beat them twice but both games were tough games. SC have good teams Spurrier knows how to put together a game plan so don’t make it seem like SC is sorry. If GT can continue to have success and UGA keep under performing then GT is going to leap UGA and become the state #1 team I believe it’s going to happen.
Roy D. Mercer
July 23rd, 2010
11:58 pm
i don’t believe Tech will leap over UGA, you keep dreaming. You know we beat Spurrier. You know Alabama and Florida have pretty good teams so if you lose to them does that mean you are slipping. I don’t understand your logic. You keep bogging down. The bottom line is that UGA owns Tech and if UGA defense had not had the worst performance in UGA history Tech would have won 45-42 two years ago. That was a fluke!
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:00 am
GT Fan – the above post was for you.
GT Fan
July 24th, 2010
12:07 am
Roy D. Mercer – GT should have won last year against UGA if Demarius Thomas wouldn’t have drop that last past UGA got lucky. Mark Richt better get a better recruiting plan cause Vince Dooley son at Tennessee is going to get alot of Georgia players that UGA should be getting. It’s going to be some rough up coming years for UGA cause Alabama and Florida are going to rule the SEC. Go Jackets!
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:14 am
GT Fan – You need to change your name to What If Fan. Ask any fan and they will tell you the game last year was not as close as the score. Did you forget about the 3 big dropped passes by the Dawgs? Oh I am starting to sound like you, what if. Have you been following the recruiting, I believe Coach Richt is doing fine. Why are you so worried about UGA against Florida and Ala. You better worry about Tech’s recruiting and beating the Dawgs.
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:17 am
GT Fan – Are you one of those guys that wear the Gold wigs with no shirt and letters on your chest? If you are you may want to tell your buddies that you can’t hardly read the letters because of the ribs showing. By the way I heard they are going to call that section the Rib Shack.
GT Fan
July 24th, 2010
12:23 am
Roy D. Mercer – Tech will beat the Dawgs between the hedges this year (book it). Nesbitt could be in the running for the Heisman he’s going to rush for alot of yards this season and I think he’s going to throw more also. Tech got a favorable schedule they may only lose 1 or 2 games the only two games that’s going to be a toss up is the UGA game and the VT game other than that they can win the other games and still have a great year.
dawg-catcher - gator=chomp
July 24th, 2010
12:30 am
I bet you that writer must be a UGA grad (or at least a UGA fan) – Just using this as bulletin board material to fire up the dawgs 3 months ahead of time. Besides – UGA has always thought it was better than it is. Look at this time 2 years ago when UGA THOUGHT they were #1 in the nation – and you did what? Lost 3 games? Always #1 in your their own feeble minds.
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:30 am
Well we will see. It has been fun but I better go to bed so I can get up early in the morning and call Coach Richt and tell him he had better worry about Derek Dooley getting all the recruits. Nesbitt has had a good carrer, but he is not close to being a Heisman candidate. When good teams don’t let him turn the corner it is over. He never turned the corner last year against the Dawgs. If he is the best player in the country it is going to be a weak year as far as talent. Nothing against him but he is not in the top 10 players in the country.
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:33 am
dawg catcher-gator=chomp – Where did you come from? Just got off your pizza delivery job?
GT Fan
July 24th, 2010
12:35 am
Alright Dude. Nesbitt is a Athlete not a QB he will probably play running back in the NFL. Nesbitt is going to have a breakout year he’s going to prove all the haters wrong. Go Jackets! Dawgs Stink!
kcar919
July 24th, 2010
12:35 am
Bianchi wears jean shorts.
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:39 am
GT Fan – He won’t be able to take the beating the NFL backs take. He couldn’t take the beating the Dawgs gave him. He may be a backup QB. Hey one minute you say we suck and now you say we stink, which one is it?
bottom line
July 24th, 2010
12:39 am
UGA will lose again to Fla.in 2010. That folks is the bottom line.
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:42 am
bottom line – I can see why you are on the bottom. Florida better watch out. You don’t have Tebow and eye gouging Spikes. And I hope you don’t lose one before you play us or your coach may quit again.
GT Fan
July 24th, 2010
12:49 am
Roy D. Mercer – Tech and UGA have split the last two games against each other so UGA hasn’t beaten up on Nesbitt. UGA suck and stink both apply to yall. UGA is Gator bait they will eat the dawgs I mean puppies in Jacksonville again like always this season.
Roy D. Mercer
July 24th, 2010
12:59 am
GT Fan – By the way how many times has Tech beat UGA in the last 8 years? Tech must suck and stink worst! We knocked Nesbitt out last year and he missed most of the second quarter. Are you a Jacket or a Gator? You need to be GT/FLA Fan. Then we can beat you twice in one year.