Bulldog Bites: On weak opening opponents and SEC power rankings
Are the Ragin' Cajuns worth sitting in the early September heat?
With tickets still available to Georgia’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette, I asked someone who follows the Dogs religiously but only goes to the occasional game whether he was considering taking in the home opener.
“Naw,” he said. “Noon kickoff. Too hot. I’ll watch it on TV.”
I asked another fan, who has season tickets, whether he’d be there on Sept. 4. Nope, he said. “I’m going to let a friend take my seats. I just can’t see sitting there in that heat for Louisiana-Lafayette.”
Let’s face it, as home openers go, this year’s isn’t particularly compelling. While I expect the game eventually will be an official sell-out, there’ll probably be some empty seats — just as there usually are for games against weak opponents.
And yet a year ago when the Dogs opened on the road against the highly touted Oklahoma State Cowboys, fans (and Mark Richt) were complaining that Georgia’s nonconference schedule was too tough with three BCS schools.
Personally, I prefer an opener against a “name” opponent, and if you look at the Dogs’ opening games in the Richt era, their best years have started out with what was at least nominally more of a challenge: Clemson in 2002 and 2003, Boise State in 2005, Okie State in 2007. Last year, also opening with the Pokes, was the exception, but that was on the road.
Of course, given the consistency of Richt’s tenure, the years they’ve opened against Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky, the Dogs haven’t exactly had bad seasons. Just not their best.
So what are your feelings about opening opponents? Do you like essentially buying a win against a no-name as the Dogs get ready for the conference opener against South Carolina, or do you prefer the years with Georgia puts it on the line from the start? And what about this year, will you be in the sweltering throng in Athens watching the Dogs vs. the Ragin’ Cajuns or will you watch this one on the SEC Network?
SEC POWER RANKINGS
Georgia has made a move in the latest preseason SEC power rankings compiled by Chris Low of ESPN.com. Coming out of spring practice, Low had Georgia at No. 6, but in his latest list UGA has jumped up to No. 3, behind Alabama and Florida.
Explains Low: “The Bulldogs’ returning experience on the offensive line, their playmakers on offense and some of the best special teams in the country was what separated them from Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and South Carolina.” He adds, though, that “There’s not a lot of difference in the third best team and eighth best team, which should make for an intriguing fall.”
Do you agree the Dogs look like the third-best team in the conference at this point?
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124 comments Add your comment
Sam
August 10th, 2010
11:21 am
3rd sounds about right. A lot of questions need to be answered. Depth on defense might be an issue not to mention a new system. QB who has never taken a snap also has to be a concern.
lastgrad
August 10th, 2010
11:24 am
Fill the stands with our fans watching a big game. The opponent will enjoy our Dawg Days Afternoon heat as much as we will. Not to mention the beat down we give them on the field.
Athens > Hotlanta
August 10th, 2010
11:35 am
Dawgs #3
http://cfn.scout.com/2/990840.html
PT
August 10th, 2010
11:35 am
A fine example of why the SEC is the best in all of college football
Athens > Hotlanta
August 10th, 2010
11:36 am
**Dawgs #3 in Nation
http://cfn.scout.com/2/990840.html
guy
August 10th, 2010
11:45 am
PT: what is a fine example? teams playing cupcakes for their openers? uga being ranked 3rd in the sec? how aare either of these examples of the sec being the best in college football?
(not that i disagree, but your comment makes no sense)
Gunny
August 10th, 2010
11:46 am
I’m looking forward to seeing the new defense. I remember when ERK was alive and was Ga’s def coach.You have to hope the new QB gets settled against an inferior opponent and gets his rythem.
The Advocate
August 10th, 2010
11:49 am
I say Mark Richt has to put up or go away. Since he has been at UGA, LSU has won two national titles with two coaches, one of those coaches, Nick saban has won two titles the latest with Alabama and Urban Myer has won two national titles, what has the great Mark Richt done? Every now and then he placates the Bulldog nation with an SEC Title, that’s it. He seasons are at best mediocre with teams that have tremendous talent. Again, he needs to produce or move on.
kevin
August 10th, 2010
11:52 am
3rd sounds right to me with SC being close behind. The Arkansas hype is unjustified. They have a strong, more experienced offense returning, but they also return the worst defense in the SEC–and while pundits have been picking them rather high, there has been no mention of an improved defense. They look to be the same team as last year.
lifer
August 10th, 2010
11:54 am
I will be in the sweltering throng in the stadium!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kevin
August 10th, 2010
11:54 am
The Adovocate,
In 2002 UGA finished with the same record as LSU and UF the years they won their NCs, but did not benefit since their were 2 undefeated teams that year. In 2007, UGA was clearly the best team in the SEC at years end and was denied the NC game. Can’t blame Richt for UF and LSU’s luck and our bad luck.
How2fish
August 10th, 2010
11:55 am
I think that ranking is about right , and I for one am glad we have a opening game that will allow Murray and the new D some game day experience prior to opening our SEC schedule . I’m glad we don’t open with South Carolina heck the next week will still be tough as heck to get a win in Columbia. Hopefully we can get a win some game experience and no one gets hurt!
civi dawg
August 10th, 2010
11:57 am
I like playing name opponents to start the season, but the major changes to our defense almost necessitates a weak, transitional game. As for the rankings, as much as I like our O-Line (most important piece of a strong offense), I can’t agree with us being #3 right now. I really feel like we need to prove ourselves. I think that we definitely have the potential to win the East; we need to prove it on the field though.
kydawg
August 10th, 2010
11:58 am
I would love to be there in the heat but I live too far away and don’t have tix. I think 3rd is about right…we’ll have to earn the rest on the field!
With our QB’s being this young…we need an easy opener…although we could struggle if we take too lightly.
Hunker Down
August 10th, 2010
12:00 pm
How about GA State openner in the future?
South Jax Dawg
August 10th, 2010
12:01 pm
Run the ball, run the ball, and run the some more! We can pound the rock against any team in the counrty. Do this and we can get to Atlanta.
SD Dawg
August 10th, 2010
12:01 pm
I think the ranking is about right, particularly the part about there not being a lot of difference between 3-8. Yes I believe we have more talent than most of those other teams (except for maybe LSU), but we need to prove that on the field. And we’ll have an opportunity in games 2 and 3. We’ll see…
How2fish
August 10th, 2010
12:06 pm
Hunker Down Ga State is an interesting idea.
Dbalcer
August 10th, 2010
12:12 pm
I will be there on opening day to root the DAWGS on. I can’t wait.
Hunker Down
August 10th, 2010
12:15 pm
Howtofish,
I agree 100% that give Murray some game experience and hopefully if a mistake is made it won’t defeat us in the game. Yep, we need to keep everyone healthy this year.
RFP
August 10th, 2010
12:16 pm
I have season tickets, but will not be attending the home opener. One of my friends I met at UGA scheduled an out of town wedding that weekend. I’m really rethinking our friendship.
Also, I don’t mind opening against a cupcake. Everyone else does it and we can certainly use it as a tune up since there are no preseason games and we’re breaking in a frosh QB.
Dog Forever
August 10th, 2010
12:30 pm
I have been a dog fan since I can remember. I am 47 years old and I must finally say this. Georgia will never win squat until Mike Bobo is not calling plays. If you look at every single game he has called plays, it was screwed up. Georgia has the same exact talent, facilities, support, and schedule as everyone else that is winning national championships. The key to every Ga. loss is we are outcoached every single game. Go back on look at the tape.
tbone
August 10th, 2010
12:30 pm
Hopefully the coaches will be putting in the Offensive & Defensive game plan for USCe before we play ULL. We need the game experience more than we need to surprise Spurrier. Having confidence, not doubts, going into that game will be huge too. That all works for me.
John
August 10th, 2010
12:33 pm
As an Auburn season ticket holder, I see the same thing happen. When Auburn plays one of the directional schools or a 1-AA opponent, a lot of the people around me either don’t show up at all pr give their tickets away. The student section, which usually fills close to an hour before the game and is still full at the end of the game, has some empty seats and usually vacates by early in the third quarter. I don’t like fans who do this but I really can’t blame them. I really wish all SEC teams would beef up their nonconference schedules.
Hunker Down
August 10th, 2010
12:35 pm
To RFP,
My wife scheduled our wedding date in Novemeber of 1988. What was she ever thinking? we played UF on that day. I seriously considered being down at the local sports bar instead. The good news is we did win that year in Jacksonville. Go Dawgs!
Dogit
August 10th, 2010
12:38 pm
Will it be too hot to wear red panties?
Reality
August 10th, 2010
12:39 pm
As usual, over rated and over hyped. This team is a second tier, mediocre SEC team. Say, behind Bama, FLA, LSU, ARK, SC, AUB, TENN, and then GA.
Blackberry Cobbler
August 10th, 2010
12:39 pm
With so much uncertainty about this years team, there are no cupcakes on the schedule.
I agree with Advocate at 11:49. I’m tired of UGA mediocrity and the problems/issues on and off the field. It’s past time for CMR to produce a winner or pack up and he and Watergirl move on.
WOW
August 10th, 2010
12:49 pm
Did anyone watch the Georgia team last year?
JP
August 10th, 2010
12:50 pm
What is CFN smoking? UGA @ #3 is hilarious.
RFP
August 10th, 2010
12:52 pm
Hunker Down, I feel for you. The good news is that we will still be able to catch the opener on TV before the wedding.
Glad to see the Tech fans decided to join the conversation (Dogit and Reality). In reality, we open and close the season with cupcake teams. Wouldn’t we all agree that beating someone 8 out of the last 9 years would make the losing team a cupcake? Sorry I can’t wait for the responses from the Tech nerds, but I am heading to the airport.
Go Dawgs!
I will not be the next head coach at Alabama. I am the head coach of the Miami Dolphins
August 10th, 2010
12:54 pm
Great discussion here. Though, we have missed one important point. When booking nonconference teams (open weekend or not), we have to look at who we play from the SEC West. In a year that we rotate to Bama and/or LSU, we don’t need to add another possible loss to them, Auburn, TN, and UF. This year, we rotate to MSU and Arkkansaww, and could have booked a more formidable nonconference foe. Though, we do have Colarado, who was once a pretty good team. We booked this series several years ago, when perhaps CO was having a more successful run.
In the end, we have to keep in mind most nonconference games are scheduled several years out.
News
August 10th, 2010
12:56 pm
Feedback from Athens says Smith isnt going
to make the roster
BR Dawg
August 10th, 2010
12:59 pm
The Advocate: If you think that CMR must “put up or go away,” I would love to know how you feel about Les Miles. His mediocrity has been hidden behind the talent on his team & luck on the field in the past, but finally peeked out last season. I give him one more season at LSU, because let’s face it, the Tigers will have one too many losses this season that the fans can put up with.
Go Dawgs!
ca dawg
August 10th, 2010
12:59 pm
cfn has a longer memory than those of you who apparently just started watching UGA play last year. they know that even the best programs have occasional bad years (UF in ‘07, or oklahoma last year, for example). not saying we’re on the same level as these teams, but i am saying we’ve consistently been one of the best teams in the SEC under CMR.
but bill, to answer your question: we’re somewhere in the second tier (#3 to #5; i think #6 is too low). i firmly believe we can beat florida this year and win the east, but there’s no reason for anyone to give us that kind of deference in the preseason. we have to go out and do it on the field.
Reality CHECK
August 10th, 2010
1:00 pm
Reality, Either your not real smart or don’t know the first thing about college football. Second tier team….You are first tier dumbA$$
ACC
August 10th, 2010
1:01 pm
They are too busy with all the drunkenness at UGA ( No 1 Party School) to play football. SEC is going down and ACC is coming up. More teams in top twenty for ACC preseason rankings. ACC better with Academics too. SEC is for losers and party like UGA. No academics. Losers party instead of taking academics and future serious. ACC all the way.
guy
August 10th, 2010
1:05 pm
so does that mean uga is a cupcake game for florida? we beat you guys more often than you guys beat vandy. or kentucky…
ca dawg
August 10th, 2010
1:08 pm
reality: your assessment is out of step with virtually every fact in existence. last year our subpar dawg team beat three of the teams you mention as being better than us. i don’t understand how you figure UT is better than us: they’re breaking in a new QB, an entirely new OL, a new RB, and their DL is decimated by injuries. please gather some information before forming an opinion.
the truth is that UF and bama are clearly at the top of the SEC, and things are hard to project below that. there are a number of teams that have some strengths and weaknesses, and it’s hard to know how it will play out on the field.
Reality
August 10th, 2010
1:08 pm
Reality CHECK
August 10th, 2010
1:00 pm
Reality, Either your not real smart or don’t know the first thing about college football. Second tier team….You are first tier dumbA$$
Oh, I know a lot about college football. I know you were pre-season #1 in 08 (as usual, over-ranked), got your butt whipped by the little bugs in your own cesspool, they laid 45 on your “pre-season #1″. Lost in the cesspool last year to Kentucky—-KENTUCKY???. Blown out by TENN, even with a new coach, etc. For 20 years, Florida’s beeyotch…yep. as usual, over rated and over hyped.
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
August 10th, 2010
1:10 pm
Hey mutties!
((((((((((((((((((41-17)))))))))))))
DawginLex
August 10th, 2010
1:27 pm
Reality,
don’t let the facts get in the way of your venom but go back and check out the last 20 years and compare preseason ranking to final ranking.
i think you will be surprised to learn that Georgia scores higher at being underrated than florida does.
I know this will destroy your venom spewing based on years of sound research you have conducted so just ignore it like all the other facts.
Dr M
August 10th, 2010
1:43 pm
You can’t talk about “fickle fans” because the phrase is redundant.
RedPantsDawg
August 10th, 2010
1:44 pm
Not having Willie and Fabris on the sideline is going to make a huge difference this year. The talent is there; but hasn’t been coached up for a while. Correcting being out of position, forcing turnovers, and getting the kickoffs corrected are going to bring better results this year.
dawg daze
August 10th, 2010
1:49 pm
You are lucky to start with a scrimmage this year with a QB that has no starts. What would happen if you started with a “Pokes” type game this year?
Start with a loss to ranked team and stay unranked for a long time. Start with a patsy win and at least you do not go down in rankings. But….SC will be your first L
abc
August 10th, 2010
1:52 pm
SEC is the best in the nation, really? The Big 12 has twice as many teams in the preseason top 10.
‘Course, that’s just the preseason rankings. We’ll see what’s up a few weeks in.
bungle bee
August 10th, 2010
1:55 pm
Ya know I don’t get all the GT excitement, for all the crowing the nerds are doing about their last year’s team performance, they won the ACC sure, but of their regular season wins; 4 are by 5 points or less
And this season they lose two of their biggest offensive weapons; so why in the world do the nerds think the cripple option is so great? Who cares if you rack up a million yards but only win by 3 or 5?
I’d be worried about opposing d-coordinators formulating better schemes having seen the same offence for two consecutive years. Those 3-5 point wins could very well be 3-5 point losses in 2010
CharlestowneDawg
August 10th, 2010
1:56 pm
I don’t think LA-LaFayette could come at a better time. I’d be a lot more uneasy about the season in general if we were leading off against Okie State again.
Florida doesn’t win National Championships by scheduling Ohio States and Michigans for their season openers (i.e. Charleston Southern, Western Kentucky, Hawaii). Just making it through the SEC slate is difficult enough.
If you’re gonna have a no-name opponent, it’s best to put them as the opener. People will still come out to the opener because it’s the first game of the season.
Seriously
August 10th, 2010
1:59 pm
bungle
3 points was enough in 08 wasn’t it?
DawgByte
August 10th, 2010
2:05 pm
With a great coach…we’d likely be top 10 in the nation and certainly favored to win the SEC in a down year like this one. Bama has to replace 9 on D. UF has to replace 5 stud defensive stars and Tebow! LSU is certainly not as good as the the Tigers of a few short years ago. UT is in the dumps! We won the National title in 1980 with a weakened SEC. We only played two SEC teams that year with winning records. The SEC may not be that weak this year but in comparison to the past 4 years this is by far the weakest the conference has been. Yet, Richt does not really even have us in the conversation for SEC champs much less anything nationally. What’s up with that? Time for a change in Athens! His stardom on the party video certainly shows his Christian hypocrisy…Believe Christ was against drunkeness and other elements that go along with partying.
How2fish
August 10th, 2010
2:07 pm
guy and yet we lead in the series with the Gators..oh yeah and with UK and Vandy too. .your soooo easy!
guy
August 10th, 2010
2:10 pm
bungle. the thing about collegiate is things change year to year. players graduate and new ones step in. so really it doesnt matter what happened last year as this is a new season, with new players plugged in at tech, and every other school they play. 4 of uga’s wins last year were by less than a TD. those, like tech’s wins, couldve gone the other way with a different bounce of the ball/call of the ref. thats football.
you could make your comment about any school. every year they play, the opposing coaches have another years worth of tape to watch to develop schemes against them. uga’s 3-7 point wins could just as easily be 3-7 point losses this year. or 41-17 losses for that matter.
guy
August 10th, 2010
2:12 pm
how2fish: that string of uga victories in the 1910s and 20s sure was sweet wasnt it? i’ll buy you a free coke and hotdog if you can name me 3 players from the era without looking it up.
guy
August 10th, 2010
2:12 pm
also, “you’re”.
F. Sinkwich
August 10th, 2010
2:27 pm
Hey, Gators, this is from College Football News:
http://cfn.scout.com/2/990840.html
Sux to be you
Seriously
August 10th, 2010
2:29 pm
How2fish
August 10th, 2010
2:07 pm
As usual, you mutties live in the past…especially 1980. How about those “series records” against Bama, LSU, Tenn? Talk about those, huh. It’s 2010, your 1 NC was in 1980, and Herschel is still gone.
bungle bee
August 10th, 2010
2:29 pm
That’s my point exactly Guy; given all the deficiencies that Georgia had last year; turnovers, poor QB play, Injuries, penalties, porous secondary, etc. VS GT who’s only basic problem was a spotty D and the lack of a consistent passing threat. Were I a GT fan I would be scared poopless that 2010 without Dwyer and bey-bey, Morgan, etc is going to be a train wreck. I just don’t see GT’s D improving that much with the loss of personnel.
On the other hand if just the defense play improves and by virtue of a better schedule; Georgia should have the better season, in 2010.
Pago Pago Dawg
August 10th, 2010
2:34 pm
The DAWGS should open with gt, that would get them out of the way early.
Had a friend, a UM grad married a UM grad on game day at The Big House.
The marriage lasted less than a year.
Seriously
August 10th, 2010
2:35 pm
F. Sinkwich
August 10th, 2010
2:27 pm
Hey, Gators, this is from College Football News:
http://cfn.scout.com/2/990840.html
Sux to be you
Seems in 08, your little team was pre-season #1. That worked out real well, didn’t it? And lost to the bugs on your field, with a new coach, and a new offense.
Nope, sux to be you, I would say.
guy
August 10th, 2010
2:39 pm
we’ll see on the field. much like uga, if GT can improve their defense even a little over last year (see esp the fsu and uga games), then we can be a better team. that being said, our schedule is harder this year, so even with a better team we could end up with a crappier record. we had our share of issues last year as well. defense, special teams, the passing game in general (esp short passing). most of these should improve this year, though admittedly we need someone to step up in the absence of bey-bey, since most of our passing last year was of the ‘huck it down field and bey-bey will probably catch it’ variety. i’d like to see us develop more of a short and intermediate passing game as well as the long bombs this year. we’ll see.
im not worried about other teams ‘figuring out’ the option. theres decades worth of footage of it in action. it’s not really a surprise whats coming. it just comes down to execution and personnel. if we dont execute and miss blocks, we get shut down (see LSU and iowa bowl games the past few years). it’s not that those teams ‘figured it out’, so much as they had much better D linemen that dominated our O line and caused us trouble. GT lost some of our better players, but still have a ton of seniors coming back this year. im not really worried about too much of a drop off on either side of the ball.
JB
August 10th, 2010
2:57 pm
I’m usually for a big opener, too, but with a RFr at QB, I’m all about the patsy.
Two, why do folks think it;s so hot between 12:00 – 3:00? It’s far worse between 3:00 – 6:00.
Suck it up and come see what we got. Don’t truly be a “fair” weather fan.
HBTD!!!
PHIL
August 10th, 2010
2:59 pm
I love practice games for the first one of the year. I’d schedule two if I it were up to me. Ohio State plays a whole year of practice games and they are always ranked high. They are always over rated, but no one seems to care.
And you call Boise State a “name” opponent??? Bill…………..please. They would be bottom third of the SEC, maybe next to last if they had to play SEC teams each week.
guy
August 10th, 2010
3:04 pm
phil: i agree that if you dumped boise state into the sec this season they probably wouldnt fare too well with the weekly pounding. small schools like that have some decent talent, and can usually get up to make a game of one or two big games a year, but not always (see hawaii vs uga or florida vs cinci last year). the flip side is that if boise state were in the sec, they’d be able to recruit better players and would up their game, so they wouldnt necessarily be bottom feeders for long. we’ll see how this pans out with utah in the pac 10/12 over the next several years. they’ll probably start off slow but could grow to contend for the conference in a few years with more exposure and thus better recruiting opportunities then they had in a smaller conference.
dap01
August 10th, 2010
3:20 pm
The Advocate: Don’t reinvent history. Your agenda obviously is larger than logic. Know the facts and go pick a zit in your Tech dorm.
Beast from the East
August 10th, 2010
3:29 pm
F. Sinkwich,
Why would a #4 pre-season ranking suck? Did you actually read anything or did you just see that they had UGA ranked #3 and so it must suck for everyone else. I think us UF fans will be more than happy with the product on the field this year. We aren’t expecting any National Championships…..just good, hard-nose football from a very young and talented team. Where that has them ranked after all the dust settles remains to be seen. The winningest college football program over the past 20 years….yeah, it really “sux” to be a Gator……jorts, mullets and all! LOL!
Richt vs Zook
August 10th, 2010
3:41 pm
Even Zook had no losses against Vandy and KY. He’s got this year with a pass, but if he doesnt win it in Murray’s second year, fire the preacher and hire Chris Petersen from Boise, before one of our rivals does.
Bill W.
August 10th, 2010
3:45 pm
@News,
Where did you get your info about Branden Smith? CMR said we wouldn’t know till the end of the week.
haters are skaters
August 10th, 2010
3:47 pm
hey bill,
regarding attendance at the home opener, were your 2 sources your long time friend/former roomate at uga and your son?
Pokie
August 10th, 2010
3:56 pm
I like starting out against easy teams like Meyer does. Meyer talks about how important ‘momentum’ is for college athletes. We need some early wins to create confidence, and we need to dominate SC & Ark by 20+ points.
As for Chris Low’s rankings, last year he was wrong on 11 out of 12 of his SEC rankings, so I don’t put stock in much of anything he writes.
News Update
August 10th, 2010
4:11 pm
Should make the 11:00PM news. Smith is off the roster.
Going to need lots of explaining how a
Sophomore in a joke major cant make grades.
col fot
August 10th, 2010
4:21 pm
Like the yellow trash on North Avenue never schedules weak opponents,,,right!!
Bo
August 10th, 2010
4:33 pm
I think that 3-7 in the SEC is very close. I don’t think Ole Miss will be that great.
Pokie
August 10th, 2010
4:39 pm
Bill-
Can you kick off the rumor mongers like “News Update’ who like to start up fales rumors. Richt has said Branden Smith will resolve his academic issue by the end of the week. He is not off the roster.
DawginOH
August 10th, 2010
5:10 pm
I’m generally not a big fan of openers against weaker opponents, but this year I think it’s in the Dawgs’ best interest to play a team like LA-Lafayette as a way to let Murray and the new D get some confidence going into Columbia.
As far as the ideal opener goes, I really enjoyed the Clemson home-and-home in 2002 and 2003. It would be nice to try to renew the rivalry by making that permanent.
Looking forward to sitting in that early September heat on the 4th. Go Dawgs!!
Eric
August 10th, 2010
5:34 pm
As a huge Dawg fan, I’m on the fence about whether to schedule a cupcake for the first game.
One one hand it’s great for a couple of reasons. It gives the kids who haven’t played yet a chance to get used to the stadium, the speed of the game, etc. Also, I begrudgingly admit, it benefits us if any of our players are suspended for the first game for something they did during the offseason. It would be hard to play a big time opponent right off the bat if we’re missing a couple of players.
However, I feel like we perform better when we have a name opponent in the first game. Our players are focused on that game all offseason and work hard to make sure we show up in the first game. Sometimes we play a cupcake and then get smacked in the mouth when we have to play an SEC team in game 2.
weather guy
August 10th, 2010
6:06 pm
@JB….the angle of the sun adds to the relative heat.
12-2
August 10th, 2010
6:15 pm
Let’s buy a win against a 4-win all season Vandie team to start a season ?
No wait…
Sorry
We LOST that game 22-24 in Athens with Knowshon Moreno REDSHIRTED and Matthew Stafford our Quarterback, after our “Offensive Coaching Staff” ranked Joe Tereshinski III the # 1 QB and Joe Cox # 2 with Matthew Stafford # 3.
As for your comments about Coach Richt’s record, Bill King sir, Coach Richt has LOST to 8 teams NOT RANKED AT ALL in the Top 25 Final AP Poll EVEN WITH THEIR WIN over Coach Richt.
Okie State you bring up is 1 of the 8.
5 of the 8 have come in the last 4 years against SEC East teams. You know ? The lousy division of The SEC who has OFFERED UP as opponents for UGA only Florida the last 4 years with our 10-10 record you seem so proud of Coach Richt’s record against.
I ain’t.
Dawg Stephen
August 10th, 2010
6:23 pm
No Pokie, he wont block anyone who does that. he would rather block us real fans who disagree with him, this paper and the joke this blog is.
12-2
August 10th, 2010
6:27 pm
I agree that we have 10 Starters back on Offense and that the 10 Starters were in the BOTTOM HALF of The SEC in EVERY Offensive Category.
I also agree with Chris Low that therefore based on having them back means we are in Chris Low’s words not much different from the # 8 team in The SEC.
6 ranked SEC Teams and we are # 5.
South Carolina is not ranked now. # 35. If they beat us, not only does Coach Richt have a LOSING RECORD vs SEC East teams the then last 5 years in a row; but, we would be # 7 in The SEC at best in the rankings week 2.
That also is BOTTOM HALF of The SEC.
I do believe we have a great defense and great special teams.
I do NOT believe that all the interceptions are by walk-ons. We have 2 Freshmen Quarterbacks and everyone else is a walk-on or preferred walk-on at Quarterback.
Nice planning.
Over the last 4 years, we have been # 3 vs SEC East teams behind Florida and the vols and # 4 vs SEC teams behind Florida, Alabama, LSU and then us.
So, Chris Low says we are # 3 now, but throws in not much difference between UGA at # 3 and UGA being # 8.
Does that then mean that Chris Low ESPN says that Georgia will not be in The SEC Championship Game again for the 5th year in a row ?
If that is the case, please line up your EXCUSES for the 2nd half of the Coach Richt Era over his first 10 years, because the 2nd 5-Year Coach Richt Era have been NOTHING like the first 5-Year Coach Richt Era here.
12-2
August 10th, 2010
6:30 pm
After this season, we lose 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors.
So, make hay this season, for we surely cannot next year in 2011.
12-2
August 10th, 2010
6:33 pm
If you look at the 3-8 record of Coach Richt vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, and add in these LOSSES to NOT Top 25 Final AP Poll teams now standing at 8 more LOSSES,
we have LOST 8 to the really good teams (won 3 only of 11 vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams) and we have LOST to 8 MORE really lousy teams who even with their win over Coach Richt have NOT been Ranked in the Top 25 Final AP Poll.
Dawg Stephen
August 10th, 2010
6:37 pm
I know there are a lot of things that havent gone right, but exactly what part of 90-27 record gets you fired again?
Keep in mind, a 10-2 season this year and CMR will be 100-29….we have the right man for the job
12-2
August 10th, 2010
6:38 pm
Then, you try to reckon that with your statement to begin this blog Bill King that Coach Richt has a great record.
NOT.
12-2
August 10th, 2010
7:06 pm
Dawg Stephen sir, which is it ?
Coach Richt is GREAT ?
Or Coach Richt’s Coaching Staff the entire 9 years has put Coach Richt into this position that AFTER this season, he LOSES 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors and therefore CANNOT POSSIBLY be great next year – and that for the last 4 years we’ve averaged # 3 vs SEC East, # 4 vs SEC, # 19 in the nation at 38-14, not been to an SEC Championship Game the last 4 years, averaged # 3 in Fulmer Cup Rankings over the last 4 years, averaged 21 fumbles a year each of the last 4 years in a row, averaged # 96 in Penalties the last 4 years in a row, been 10-10 vs SEC East the last 4 years when the ONLY opponent in The SEC East for us was ONLY Florida, and averaged 14 interceptions a year every year of the last 4 years in a row ?
Dawg Stephen ?
12-2
August 10th, 2010
7:09 pm
Coach Richt does not have more wins than
ALL THESE TEAMS over the last 4 years :
Boise State
Florida
Texas
Ohio State
BYU
Southern California
Oklahoma
TCU
Cincinnati
Virginia Tech
LSU
Penn State
Utah
West Virginia
Central Michigan
Boston College
Missouri
Wisconsin
Pretty LONG LIST here of teams the last 4 years that Coach Richt does not have more wins than.
12-2
August 10th, 2010
7:14 pm
Also, Dawg Stephen I have no idea how we go 10-2.
It is a 14-game season, as have been EVERY YEAR of the Coach Richt Era, except 2 that both were 13-game seasons.
What??
August 10th, 2010
7:23 pm
This year we are starting a redshirt freshman at QB. That being said I have no problem with starting with a team that is not as competitive as in the past two years.
In years that we have the experience at QB, OL, D etc., I have no problem playing a tough team in our 1st game.
It is very subjective.
12-2
You are an idiot!
Dawg Stephen
August 10th, 2010
8:10 pm
Umm, Coach Richt is GREAT, and we have 12 regular season games. The only years we played 14 games were 2002, 2003, 2005. When we had our bowl game, and the SEC Championship game.
Other than that, its 13 game seasons.
I was merely saying a 10-2 REGULAR season would equal 10-2. and thus BEFORE the bowl game make Coach Mark Richt 100-29. EVEEEEEN if we go 9-3 and win the bowl game to get to 10-3, that would make CMR 100-30, thus still being pretty darn good, and GREAT in my book, and he can stay as long as he wants.
Just a fan
August 10th, 2010
8:29 pm
I think we are some where in the 3-5 range it all depends on how we start the year out I believe we will end up 10-2 regular season with an appearance in SEC title game but we could be 9-3 at worst IMHO
Just a fan
August 10th, 2010
8:36 pm
12-2 how do you know we are losing 4-5 juniors the season hasn’t even started and A.J. is the only one I know of that will leave next year but if you know something i don’t please feel free to share
Dostoyevskiy
August 10th, 2010
8:43 pm
It will be hotter than you think when the Dawgs bring the heat against mighty La. Lafaette.
tbone
August 10th, 2010
9:20 pm
If the Dawgs go 9 & 4 or better this year, they will have put together the best 10 year run (won/ lost record – percentage) in the history of UGA football (all under CMR). . In my opinion he is the best coach my Dawgs have ever had. I hope that the next coach you want & get will do as well. Personally I do not think that he will.
Sad Richards
August 10th, 2010
9:21 pm
Dawg Stephen is such a blind homer…..
Just a fan
August 10th, 2010
9:32 pm
Coach Dooley was a great coach as well as Coach Richt fans want to win all the time if that were possible we would all be in utopia but this is the real world some people win some lose CMR is a great coach and I am not sure there is anyone else better out there right now we could always go back to the 90’s and be 4-7, 5-6, 6-4-1,8-4 is that what yall want get off the man’s back he is a good man and a good coach. We have one down year since his first year which could have been avoidable if he had replaced D-coordinators the year before but you know we didn’t so give it a rest CTG will bring back the old junkyard dawg mentality
extrapoint
August 10th, 2010
9:46 pm
The Colorado game has been changed to a later time. This is why florida does not play West of the Mississippi. We will be dragging for the Tennessee game and could be ripe for an upset. Want to win a National Championship. Look at Florida’s schedule of non conference teams over the last seven years. Playing weak teams has not proven to be a problem for them. We’ll talk about that home game in Jacksonville later, but it’s a great party. Flying versus a long bus ride should help.
NO LINDSEY SCOTT,NO 1980 TITLE MUTTS
August 10th, 2010
10:12 pm
ONCE AGAIN IF MIKE DUMBO BOBO WOULD HAVE STAYED WITH THE POWER RUNNING GAME,UGAG WOULD HAVE BEATEN OK STATE!
P.S. MARK RICHT FIRE MIKE BOBO,AND CALL THE PLAYS YOURSELF,LIKE YOU DID AT FSU WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING UP THE SCORE ON THOSE ACC TEAMS!
Ed
August 10th, 2010
11:35 pm
Check out the 1980 schedule, not a single I-AA school or cupcake. Georgia opened at Tennessee, played Clemson and South Carolina before the latter was a conference game, and played (and routed) Texas A&M and TCU. Add Tech and the usual SEC schedule, and it made for an exciting season week-to-week. The current practice of scheduling one or two cupcakes cheapens won-loss records and produces boring games.
There’s no excuse whatsoever for Georgia and Clemson to not play each other annually.
OC_Dawg
August 10th, 2010
11:39 pm
I’d take tickets to any game! I’m lucky to get a UGA game televised out here.
Bamafan
August 10th, 2010
11:41 pm
Good teams should play a tough early game against a worthy opponent to see where they stand in the
rankings and conference standings!! RTR
12-2
August 11th, 2010
12:34 am
OK, 10-2 you say regular season. Is that ALL you care to be ? 10-2 ? There have been SEC Championship Games the last 4 years you know ? We just haven’t been to ANY of them. Still, even from your own perspective there is a bowl game. Did you notice that NOT ONE SINGLE YEAR Coach Richt has beat a Top 10 Final AP Poll team in ANY Bowl Game ? In fact, the ONLY bowl game Coach Richt has even played where the team was in fact a Top 10 Final AP Poll team, we sat down in our seats and were behind 28 to nothing before we stopped booing Michael F. Adam$ and his wife at the Sugar Bowl Game in Atlanta.
That is as far as you go sir. You care about only him being 10-3 on the average.
PARDON ME, they ALL were 14-game seasons except for 2. And, he averages 10 wins. He averages 3 Losses, and he has MISSED the 14th game, 7 years out of 10 and 4 out of 4 the last 4 years missing the SEC Championship Game. He didn’t make it there.
10-win season
10-win season
10-win season
14-Game Seasons every one but 2 of entire Coach Richt Era, and he averages 10 wins and averages 3 losses.
12-2
August 11th, 2010
12:36 am
THAT is NOT GREAT Dawg Stephen, sir.
ALL of his success came with Jim Donnan Recruits. Once they all graduated after the 2005 season, he has done NOTHING.
NOTHING.
38-14 the last 4 years.
He is ASSURED of having an OFF YEAR after this one when he after 2010 loses 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors.
He has a 1-year window here, after 4 years of 10-10 vs SEC East alone, where he can make hay.
If he doesn’t make hay this season and loses 2 games BEFORE The SEC Championship Game – since they obviously would not be Louisiana Lafayette, Georgia tek, Colorado, or Idaho State, what you are saying is that he loses to South Carolina and Florida or Arkansas and Florida. He cannot be in The SEC Championship Game for the 5th consecutive season, if you are right. 14-game season and he will play 13 only AGAIN.
12-2
August 11th, 2010
12:41 am
5th consecutive year of 13-game season for Coach Richt while ALL 5 are 14-game seasons, only he missed losing 10 of the 20 games vs SEC East the last 4 years.
Now, you say he loses 2 this season BEFORE The SEC Championship Game and then he plays who ?
Bowl game against what # 19 Hawaii ? # 24 Florida State a 5-loss team ? Is THIS your goal ? This your EXPECTATION ?
There are 18 teams I listed for you over the last 4 years whom Coach Richt does NOT have more wins than.
Then, you post this that you are happy and satisfied Dawg Stephen with 10-win seasons in 14-game seasons of which we average 10 wins and average 3 losses and 6 out of 9 seasons didn’t even make The SEC Championship Game.
ALL you can actually admit to is “I know there are a lot of things that havent gone right” Dawg Stephen.
12-2
August 11th, 2010
12:44 am
You are DAMN STRAIGHT “there are a lot of things that havent gone right” Dawg Stephen.
Go ahead, you can say it.
He has played 14-game seasons all but 2 of his now 10 years this year, and he averages 10-wins. There are 4 games he either doesn’t get to play in because he is NOT GREAT, or LOSES. As a matter of fact, a third of the time, he does BOTH.
He also is the most penalized football team in America ON THE FIELD and off the field is the most arrested / suspended team.
He is 3-8 vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams.
He is 17-19 vs Top 25 Final AP Poll teams.
He has LOST to 8 teams NOT RANKED in the Top 25 Final AP Poll.
He has NEVER beat ANY Top 10 Final AP Poll team in a bowl game, ever.
2003, The SEC was WAY DOWN with only # 15 Auburn ranked at all in the Top 25 USA Today Coaches Poll. Our SEC Championship Game was against 5-Loss NOT RANKED Arkansas. Our reward for beating that crappy team was playing # 22 Florida State another 5-Loss team.
12-2
August 11th, 2010
12:45 am
2005 DJ was great, but pardon me, we LOST 3 GAMES.
THE WHOLE ENTIRE ISSUE, is what happens AFTER your 10-2.
And, yes if he goes 10-2 this season and FAILS to reach The SEC Championship Game for the 5th year in a row FACING LOSING 15 SENIORS AND 4-5 JUNIORS with Mike Bobo still his O.C., you can bet like HELL that he and his FORGIVING MANNER for all this, will be on the HOT SEAT after this season.
It will be VERY HOT.
2005 was NOT a 14-game season as you state Dawg Stephen. 2005 we were 10-3. If instead of STOPPING COUNTING after the regular season, you addressed what happened in the NEXT 2 GAMES, you might be able to see, we have PLAYED NO ONE the next 2 games, and NOT even been on the NATIONAL STAGE except for Arrests / Suspensions at the All-Time # 3 Record Pace, third worst college in the nation Fulmer Cup Standings All-Time, which cover from 2006 to-date. In other words the last 4 years. In other words the same years we have averaged finding now 18 teams who Coach Richt DOES NOT HAVE MORE WINS THAN.
We are the # 11 football program in all of America in 1-A wins All-Time.
18 teams Coach Richt does NOT have more wins than over the last 4 years at 38-14, and you say that Coach Richt is GREAT.
B.S.
12-2
August 11th, 2010
1:12 am
tbone
August 10th, 2010 9:20 pm
“If the Dawgs go 9 & 4 or better this year, they will have put together the best 10 year run (won/ lost record – percentage) in the history of UGA football (all under CMR).”
LIAR
27 LOSSES by Coach Richt in 9 years 2001-2009
21 Losses by Vince Dooley in 9 years 1980-1988
21 Losses by Wally Butts in 9 years 1940-1948
Vince Dooley from 1980 to 1988 nine years was
83-21-4
.787037
BOTH Wally Butts and Vince Dooley had BETTER 9-year runs than Coach Richt.
90-27 Coach Richt 9-Year Era .7692307
Wally Butts 1940-1948 also has a better Winning Percentage than Coach Richt.
12-2
August 11th, 2010
1:14 am
Both during these 2 far-better stretches won consensus national championships, beat Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in bowl games and lost only 21 games in 9 years, not Coach Richt’s 27 losses, no Top 10 Final AP Poll team beat in ANY bowl game ever, and obviously not ranked # 1 in NOTHING except Arrests / Suspensions.
.787037 Vince Dooley 1980-1988 nine years consensus NC
.7704081 Wally Butts 1940-1948 nine years consensus NC
.7692307 Coach Richt 2001-2009 nine years # 19 last 4 yrs 38-14 own recruits arrested / suspended instead of Winning.
DISNEYdawgs.com
LIAR and DISNEYdawgs.com tbone
hop
August 11th, 2010
4:32 am
are you kidding me,playing okla state last year was a huge mistake and dawgs never recovered from it.
playing in the SEC is tough enough that also scheduling other tough opponents makes for a long and injury prone season.
until all the sec teams change their scheduling habits,there is little need to do otherwise. last year was a prime example of WHY not to schedule tough opponents before the wars of the SEC BEGINS.
DodgerDAWG
August 11th, 2010
4:44 am
SERIOUSLY, Maybe we should move tech to the first game of the season. Recent history shows that the game is not much of a rivalry. Post Walker era: Record of 19-8, score of 744 – 560. Twice UGA has won 7 in a row while tech managed one 3 game streak.
1980 Dawg
August 11th, 2010
7:43 am
Beginning the season with an non-ranked opponent is not too bad. It gives your time a chance to practice more before it gets into the strength of the schedule. In years past, we have seen where the polls do not appear to take into consideration strength of non-conference games. Look at the non-conference games of Florida and Alabama. Neither is looking for a tough opponent outside of the SEC. Alabama is playing Georgia State for goodness sake. Pollsters like to see more wins, and less losses. So, this opener should not hurt UGA. Watching the game in air conditioning. Sold my tickets to a friend.
BirdDog
August 11th, 2010
7:50 am
I like the fact that this year they have a weak opponent to open with considering all of the new personnel in place. It’s not like they have several “cupcakes” to begin with b/c they jump right into SEC play on the road.
beatdowns galore
August 11th, 2010
8:13 am
Dawgstepen you need some insurance on your brain ! Florida is ranked high because of it proven record, coaching and recruiting. Dawgs are ranked where they are because of the beatdowns courtesy of the Gators ,Rocky Top while also struggling against teams like SC,Vandy and Kentucky. Take of those rose colored glasses !
Joey
August 11th, 2010
8:20 am
12-2 (BuLLdawg), Richt may have won his SEC titles with Donnan’s recruits, but he sure did better than Donnan did in his years here, right?
Bill, the schedules are made in advance, but it sure worked out this year for us starting a QB who has never taken a snap in college. I hate to think about him taking his first one in Columbia, though, it’s gonna be bad enough there as it is.
BirdDog
August 11th, 2010
8:20 am
Bamafan, what do you have to talk about? Bama opens with San Jose St and then plays Duke in week 3! Are you kidding me?
DawginLex
August 11th, 2010
8:26 am
That’s BS bulldawg.
Richt recruited DJ Shockley and all of the offensive line seniors in the 2005 season. donnan had nothing to do with DJ. He was Richt’s first recruit.
You are a total and complete DA
BG
August 11th, 2010
9:00 am
UGA is the only team in the SEC that plays 3 BCS non conference opponents.
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
9:26 am
Why cant this game be postponed to 7 or kick it off at 11 tell CSS to go stick it. I dont know if I will make it either due to the heat much less stay past the 2nd quarter
Nature Boy Ric Flair
August 11th, 2010
9:42 am
Georgia’s record after 2005 can be more attributed to the loss of Brian Van Gorder than to not having Donnan’s recruits, as someone mentioned. Many think that problem has been remedied.
I am looking for 10 wins this year, and to challenge for an SEC title in 2011.
I am impressed with the Dogs overall sports programs, they win titles as regularly as I applied the figure 4 leglock.
Also what’s up with Linda McMahon running for the U.S. senate?
producewiz
August 11th, 2010
10:43 am
should do like basketball.Interconference openers SEC-Big 10,ACC-Big 12,Big East-Pac 10, and so forth
OldFan
August 11th, 2010
12:00 pm
Third or Eighth? Not enough difference now to make the call. Beat SC and Ark, then we’ll know. But until we can beat Florida more than once a decade, the rest doesn’t matter.
EricADawgFan
August 14th, 2010
12:23 pm
If Mike Bobo does not do a good job this year even on a softer regular season schedule, he could very well be following Martinez being an ex Dawg Coach.
bchomping
August 18th, 2010
10:06 pm
stinkwitch uga was #1 in nation at the beginning of the season a couple of years ago and look what happen
Reply to 41 Points
August 21st, 2010
10:40 am
One word reply – BAMA!
OMG, did I type that?
To Georgia Wagon Fans
August 21st, 2010
10:41 am
If you can’t stand behind CMR, get off the wagon and walk. Or better yet, Some gaytors south of the border will gladly take you in.
ya mama
August 25th, 2010
4:43 pm
I went to UL Lafayette. The people are very nice at least. Our football team leaves a lot to be desired, but we are excited to be playing such a big name school. Back in the 90’s when I was there, we had a big game against Texas A&M and everyone thought it was a huge joke. We had Jake Delhomme playing for us at the time and we ended up winning. It was a huge deal in the town. Maybe, just maybe….well…maybe not.