Do the Dogs have to win for you to stay a fan?
Any time you start out 0-2 in conference play, you can expect unrest in the fan base.
Mark Richt seems to be looking the other way when it comes to Mike Bobo's handling of quarterback Aaron Murray. (Brand Sanderlin / AJC)
It’s been a rough couple of seasons in Athens, with a few highs and way too many lows. And the unhappiness with the mediocrity that the Dogs have exhibited of late has been exacerbated by the fact that Mark Richt had gotten off to such a great start in the first half of his tenure in Athens, with two SEC titles.
So it’s not surprising that most of the barking of late in the Bulldog Nation hasn’t been the kind the cheerleaders elicit.
But there are two sorts of college football fans: those who enjoy the ride on the bandwagon when everything’s going great, but are ready to jump off when it gets bumpy, and those die-hards who support their team even when they’re not happy with the way things are going.
A caller to Richt’s Monday night weekly radio show who apparently falls into the former category asked the coach to “sell” him on continuing to support Georgia’s football program.
Richt rightly demurred.
“The bottom line,” he told the caller, “is if you’re a true fan, in my opinion, you’re going to support your team no matter what. I don’t think you’re going to just love the boys when they win and hate on them when they lose, you know.”
I’m certainly not happy with the current state of the Georgia program. There’s lots of room for improvement.
But as a lifelong fan, whether it’s the mostly good times with Vince Dooley and Richt or the mostly painful times with Johnny Griffith, Ray Goff or Jim Donnan, I support the Dogs. I love it when they’re riding high, but I’m still invested in the program (literally, thanks to my season tickets) even when things aren’t going well.
I still think Richt is the right man to lead this program. Of course, that view might change at some point.
And as a fan I certainly reserve the right to criticize the problems I see, whether it’s the work of an assistant coach, players besmirching the university’s name with dumb decisions or the head coach who at times doesn’t seem to demand quite enough from his players or coaching staff.
But whether the Dogs are challenging the conference elite or struggling to keep from slipping into the perennial also-ran category, I’ll be there at Sanford Stadium, cheering them on and proudly wearing the red and black.
I grew up as a Dogs fan. I graduated from UGA.
They’re my team, no matter what. And nobody has to “sell” me on supporting them.
SPEAKING OF PROBLEMS …
I’m puzzled why Richt refuses to acknowledge (at least publicly) that Mike Bobo’s playcall on that third-and-4 sack Saturday was a bad one.
Talking about the play, Richt said, “I did watch the TV copy myself, and I know the commentators were saying … there was no outlet, there was no short route, that there ought to be. I don’t know what he saw, but there were actually two routes that were about a five- or six-yard depth and a couple of them that would be deeper routes.”
Maybe so, though you certainly can’t tell it from the replays. And obviously Aaron Murray didn’t see them, either.
As we’ve already discussed here, Bobo blamed Murray for holding on to the ball too long and blamed him for most of the six sacks the Razorbacks got. Richt did at least spread the blame around a bit more, saying, “It’s a combination of an offensive line issue, a running backs issue as pass protectors and quarterback issues. It was spread out across the board.”
He didn’t mention a “playcalling issue,” though. Whatever the problems with execution by the players, I’d feel a whole lot more encouraged about the direction of things if Richt was willing to concede that Bobo’s call in that situation at the very least did not maximize Murray’s chances of success.
Murray will learn and get better. But if his boss continues to give him a free ride, I’m not so sure about Bobo.
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404 comments Add your comment
Stat guy
September 21st, 2010
2:29 pm
How many losses can I take? As many as happens because my happiness or sadness in life is not defined by a football team’s success or failure.
Made famous by Hershel
September 21st, 2010
2:31 pm
Keep drinking the Dawg Kool-Aid, mediocre at best. Won’t be long before the puppy fans are crowing about pre-season rankings LOL
how2fish
September 21st, 2010
2:37 pm
Made famous by Hershel I’ll make a deal with you…you keep your slimy Bug AZZ off the blogs and we will continue to drink the kool-aid AND I will stay off the Buggish blogs. Deal?
Matthews Dawg
September 21st, 2010
2:40 pm
Bill, Are you kidding all of us??? Of course I will ALWAYS BE a DAWG!! Athens is my home away from home! I was there this weekend and I want my kids to go to school there! It’s GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG!! No matter the record, I will ALWAYS support the DAWGS! Always have and always will. Go Dawgs
mdawg
September 21st, 2010
2:43 pm
Y’all realize that we are one loss away from the apocalypse right? And the season is OVER in SEPTEMBER. I just can’t see AL of FL fans being OPTIMISTIC if they were faced with the same fate. SADISTIC maybe. But definitely not OPTIMISTIC.
Phil
September 21st, 2010
2:43 pm
I will stay a fan, although a very disappointed fan.
Bozo(Bobo) the Clown should have been relieved of his duties from calling plays like 3 years ago. He’s over his head. I know he has 10 kids and all that, so instead of firing him, just put him back as QB coach and bring in a top notch Offensive Coordinator. Anybody that calls that play on 3rd and 4 needs to be fired right there on the sidelines!
Richt did the right thing getting rid of Wille(although I can’t tell much of a difference right now). Bozo is not qualified, it’s as simple as that.
Larry
September 21st, 2010
2:47 pm
I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?
As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see many alums and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school most people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole stateI’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?
As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see nearly enough alumni and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school most people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole state of Georgia.
Will it never end? Apparently not while Mark Richt is at UGA. Richt is perhaps the biggest hypocrite in the United States. But even with all the cheating and lawlessness that he ignores, he still can’t win the SEC.
So you’re paying him to be BCS champions, but he can’t even win his SEC division. So why do you pay him millions of dollars a year?
Just asking. of Georgia.
Will it never end? Apparently not while Mark Richt is at UGA. Richt is perhaps the biggest hypocrite in the United States. But even with all the cheating and lawlessness that he ignores, he still can’t win the SEC.
So you’re paying him to be BCS champions, but he can’t even win his SEC division. So why do you pay him millions of dollars a year?
Just asking.
TrueDawgFan
September 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
I will always be a dawg fan thru thick and thin but I hate when we lose and I’m not on here calling for coaches heads what they need from the fans is support not drilling them in the ground they lost to 2 very good second team the dawgs will be fine,richt will be fine, the D will be fine and they have a damn good QB…. Bank on it people!! this is one guy who will always be yelling GO DAWG NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!
Daniel
September 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
Hang on, folks. The preseason 2011 rankings will be out in a few months.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
I think it’s Richt’s nonchalant response that irks me the most. Then subsequent weeks it’s the same story, same chapter, same result. Here ARdawg, eat this turd sandwich and wash it down with this Kool-aid. I am as big a fan as anyone, anywhere. No, I didn’t attend UGA and I don’t make yearly contributions other than the 4 years I paid to send a kid there or the tickets I buy to attend the games. Other than that I probably pay more taxes than 95% of the yahoo’s on this blog. That’s enough financial support in my way of thinking. I have been a fan since early childhood because I liked them why, because it’s GEORGIA.. I still do and I have been a fan for over 40 years. I wanted to play football at UGA but wasn’t good enough. I will recognize and discuss the big pink elephant in the room. Right now, Mark Richt is that big elephant and he is due some shots over the bow. Fix it Richt
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
You realize you really screwed that post up don’t you. Nice try though
bgdawgfan
September 21st, 2010
2:50 pm
I am a Dawg til I die! 12-0 or 0-12. Its only natural to be upset but we are young and hopefully we’ll turn this around. Hope that the O line mans up and plays their potential. For all the “bandwagon” fans sitting in Sanford on Saturdays, I will gladly take the tix off ur hands so the TRUE fans can be there to cheer on the Dawgs.
Dawgs88
September 21st, 2010
2:51 pm
Even with as bad as the dawgs are, still beats being a Tech fan who has nothing better to do but be a smart a$$ on a UGA blog. Go Dawgs!!!
Norman
September 21st, 2010
2:52 pm
I don’t think you can ever truly excel if you’re satisfied with mediocrity. Tiger Woods was driven to be the best by never being satisfied with prior accomplishments. To me, Richt seems all too willing to focus on minor accomplishments and areas where his teams have shown improvement. I don’t believe that’s a recipe for long-term success. Maybe it’s just his demeanor, but I want a coach that hates to lose more than he loves to win.
how2fish
September 21st, 2010
2:53 pm
Larry just asking when did you fluke out of Bugville? Just Asking?
Nick Saban
September 21st, 2010
2:57 pm
Basically Norman, you want me as a coach because I am an absolutely miserable human being but I will out coach your guy 10 out of 10 times.
Bill Larche
September 21st, 2010
3:01 pm
I was 8 years old when the dawgs won the N. C. I have been a die hard fan
Ever since then and will allways be. I’m the same fan when we went 4 and 7 and 10 and 2.
Roll Tide!
September 21st, 2010
3:07 pm
Any Bama fan can feel your pain. Any Bama fan can tell you that no matter how dark the days are, never lose hope in your team. Things will get better.
Dawg Bone
September 21st, 2010
3:10 pm
When does Basketball Season Start? Woof Woof Woof…………..
how2fish
September 21st, 2010
3:11 pm
Roll Tide! Well said that is the mark of the true fan..
chilidawg
September 21st, 2010
3:16 pm
To be a fan of the Dawgs, no they don’t have to win. To be a fan of Richt, yes they have to win.
Valdosta Dawg
September 21st, 2010
3:23 pm
UGA can lose every single game and I will be a DAWG, I was born one and just grew bigger! That caller needs to go be a bandwagon fan somewhere else!!! GO DAWGS!
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 21st, 2010
3:24 pm
The season is not over we have a lot of big games left on the table.If you are only a fan when you are winning you are not a fan anyway.We teach our kids to judge their friends the same way don’t we?
ColumbiaDawg
September 21st, 2010
3:29 pm
I didn’t hear the program, but I am speculating that the fan wasn’t so much asking why he should continue to support the football team as much as much as he was ask why he should continue to support Richt and the coaching staff.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
3:37 pm
Lowcountry
I screwed up my post?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
Larry did
mark twain
September 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
WELL BOYS LET ME SAY THIS QUICKLY CAUSE MY RIVERBOAT NEEDS A TUNE-UP. I REMEMBER THE GLORY DAYS SITTING ON THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS,SIPPING MY MINT JULIP,CUSSING THOSE auburn FOLKS AND GETTING WILD EVEN THOUGH WE LOST THAT DAY,BUT REMEMBER WHEN THOSE germans INVADED PEARL HARBOR WE DID NOT GIVE UP THEN AND WE WILL NOT NOW. WHO IS WITH ME ? TOGA. TOGA. TOGA. I WILL BET SOME NERD FROM tech WILL THINK THE GERMANS REALLY DID ATTACK PEARL HORBOR. NOW LET ME GET BACK ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
Lowcountry
heh heh it’s redundant, redundant.
I didn’t get past the first paragraph the first time around. The hoity toity mamby pansies make me want to puke.
Hmmmmm
September 21st, 2010
3:46 pm
“But there are two sorts of college football fans: those who enjoy the ride on the bandwagon when everything’s going great, but are ready to jump off when it gets bumpy, and those die-hards who support their team even when they’re not happy with the way things are going.” If so Mr. King why does UGA still not have Ray Goff or Jim Donnan coaching this program? I mean true loyal dawg fans would have backed these guys no matter what …. right Mr. King ?????
Andy
September 21st, 2010
3:48 pm
Very well said! Why isn’t Bobo being held accountable? Here is The Case For A New Play Caller At UGA
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 21st, 2010
3:49 pm
I almost equate it to this:
If you speak out about whats going on now in America, does it make you un-American? If I do not support Obama am I a bandwagon America fan?
David
September 21st, 2010
3:50 pm
I am a third generation UGA graduate and have been attending games since 1964 so I have seen the good and the bad. I am troubled by the direction that the program is headed. Its not so much about losing a game. Its about playing solid, fundamental football and leaving it all on the field. We can all live with that even if we don’t win. What has really bothered me is the way we have been losing lately. Is there any dispute that we got humiliated by Tennessee in 2007, humiliated by Alabama and Florida in 2008 and humiliated by Florida again last year, not to mention inexcusable losses to Vandy and Kentucky over the past two years? The frustration comes when one sees the same mistakes being made over and over again, i.e. personal fouls and penalties in 2008 and 2009 and off the field arrests year after year. This is embarrassing. I am not advocating firing Mark Richt but the direction of our program is troubling and we seem to continue to replicate the mistakes of the past (keeping Willy Martinez for too many years); see Mike Bobo. Can anyone point to some part of our program over the past three or four years that has dramatically improved other than the punting game?
Freddie
September 21st, 2010
3:50 pm
@ARdawg
So you make no contributions but buy tickets. This means you buy them from the boys on the street after the school has sold them. The school receives nothing from this. Hope you buy a coke for mixer.
papadawg
September 21st, 2010
3:50 pm
All you fake Dawg fans who want to fire Coach Richt & Bobo, just who are you going to replace them with
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
3:51 pm
I will have to admit, I was a bit perturbed when Donnan was axed. He was a bit slow out of the gate but he was an Xs and Os coach. He brought Georgia up from the depths sunken to in the Goff years. I still say that firing was premature
papadawg
September 21st, 2010
3:54 pm
I heard Saban wants to Coach at Georgia so he can win a national championship with three different SEC teams. Do you really think he wouldn’t jump at that chance
muttsuck
September 21st, 2010
3:57 pm
Pitbull
September 21st, 2010
2:03 pm
We just come over to see if there are any new arrests..LOL!
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
4:01 pm
Freddie
No I don’t buy my tickets from the guy on the corner in a trench coat. I do in fact purchase them from the university. But if I did, does that somehow lessen me as a Dawg fan? It’s a pretty safe bet I have sent more money to the university than I will ever receive Saturday afternoon pleasure. I pay taxes and yes plenty of cokes and every other licensed garb the university sells. You missed the point that being. You don’t have to have a UGA degree or be an alumni or big contributor to be a fan. We’re all fans because we choose to be and that’s enough without measuring pedigrees of who has a right and who doesn’t to belly ache and moan when a coach is getting side railed.
dawgstyle
September 21st, 2010
4:01 pm
I am a Georgia Bulldog tried and true! Went to my first game at age 10 in 1971. I am a UGA alum and I have had at least 8 other family member than attended UGA. I have been through “great” times and not so great times with the Bulldogs and winning is very important. Losing does dissapoint me. I have faith in Coach Richt to right this ship! I will always be a Bulldog fan
erika
September 21st, 2010
4:04 pm
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/will-georgias-woes-continue/#more-156
erika
September 21st, 2010
4:04 pm
http://pricezack.wordpress.com
GaGator
September 21st, 2010
4:06 pm
Bill,
Is it a coincidence that Richt’s won/loss record began to slide with the arrival of Miles, Meyer and Saban? Frankly, I don’t think he can out coach them. Give Spurrier the talent Richt gets and Spurrier will beat him every time or 9 out of 10. Look at the SEC West, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, and Alabama are better coached than UGA. Look out for Miss State when Mullin starts attracting better players. Mullin will give Richt the 8 and the break.
Richt’s wonderful person status is not what you need in a head coach, you need someone with fire in their belly who will dicipline the team on and off the field.
Hmmmmm
September 21st, 2010
4:06 pm
dawgstyle…. did you have faith in Ray Goff or Jim Donnan ?
Tide roll
September 21st, 2010
4:10 pm
Stop erasing my posts
Jay from VA
September 21st, 2010
4:13 pm
I’ll never jump off the bandwagon. I went to school there and I’d be supporting the team even if we had the track record of Vanderbilt. (Going to a game would probably be more pleasurable and less stress inducing if we had Vandy’s expectations.) I can’t get all nasty and negative, and I would never ask the head coach to sell me on being a supporter. I was here a long time before he was, after all.
All that said, the program does seem a little wobbly to me. Too many things fall between the gaps, whether it’s blown coverages or missed blocks on the field, or behavioral malfunctions off the field. For about the 100th time I’ll say out loud that I like and admire Coach Richt. I’d really hate to see him go, because I respect him as a man and a representative of the university. However I get the sense that he accepts things that Saban, for instance, would never accept. Different personalities for sure, but it’s hard not to wonder if that’s why our programs are going in opposite directions these days.
On the positive side, we lost to 2 good teams and we competed (unlike some big games the last 2 years.) However, there’s still those inexplicable screw-ups. The fumble on the 3 in Columbia that kept us from perhaps tieing that game. The wide open Razorback receivers Saturday, and of course the blown block late that kept arguably the best kicker in the nation on the sideline when he might have won a game for us. And yes…..the offensive play calling at critical times just makes you want to puke!
I don’t have the answers. Therefore since I can’t change anything and I have a heart condition, I’m just going to take it one game at a time and try to have some fun. It is just a game, after all. I’m going to keep telling myself that.
Dawg Days
September 21st, 2010
4:15 pm
Georgia fan born and bred – and I will die a Georgia fan!!! If I can support the Falcons all of those years when they sucked, which is most of them, then I can certainly weather a few bumpy starts. I do, however, think it is cowardly to hang your freshman QB out to dry – just saying…
cliff
September 21st, 2010
4:17 pm
Always a DAWG fan regardless
Sandman053
September 21st, 2010
4:18 pm
I love reading these boards and have noticed some trends…
First off, yes the athletic department cashes my non-alumni check just like they do everyone else’s. No biggie. Now if I make observations and state my opinion, does that make me less of a fan? I think not. I am just frustrated with the multi-year rebuilding that has been going on (other than the tail end of 2007, but with that said how did 2008 turn out?)
I’ve noticed on here there are four groups:
First off the bugs from the Joke by Coke who don’t know squat about football who are rubbing it in that we are 1-2 and 0-2 SEC. Who cares? We still run this state!
Second, those who say remain patient and see what happens. These people are a lot of old-time fans and they have my respect. They remind us the Bear and even St. Vince had bad years. I agree and I remember some bad years and bad losses for both programs.
Third, there are those like me who want some effective RB’s who are big and can run over folks and block. We also want an OC who, unlike Bobo, can actually CALL effective plays that the folks up in section 604 can’t predict. Give CMR another year and a new OC and see if that doesn’t improve. If we can recruit a big healthy back, he is certain to start over Ealey, especially with his performance the last two games.
Lastly those calling for Richt’s head. I don’t think that it is time to let him go just yet. I mean, who would replace him? Kirby Smart? You think he’d come? or would it be the disaster it was trying to get him to be DC? Muschamp? I don’t think he would, but it is possible. I think we should just get an OC or let Richt call the plays.
On another note, don’t fire Bobo….just let him work with the QB’s. He did a good job with Shockley, Greene, Stafford, etc… the man just can’t call an offensive game.
OldFan
September 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
Love the sinner; hate the sin. And sometimes it’s been a real sin the way these coaches and players have behaved on and off the field. We expect more from both, and if they live up to that, the program and the record will take care of themselves. Take responsibility, show some passion, display a little discipline, be grateful for your opportunity as a coach and your talent as a player, and play the damn game the way it’s meant to be played.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
4:21 pm
Good post there Jay from VA
But I disagree with the end. Nothing really indicates that AR or SC is really a good team. Those were not “big games” in the sense of a Florida, Bama or LSU. We have nothing now on which to hang our hat. Sure, in the last 5 years we’d lose most “big games”. LSU and 1 Florida game being the exception. We we play good teams, we get beat. Now, playing mid-level teams we are getting beat. The future isn’t doesn’t look favorable. I’m not calling for anyone to be fired. My mantra is Richt needs to fix it and fix it now. Why does he have to be on the perverbial “hot seat” before reacting?