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
Minnesota Dawg
September 21st, 2010
11:20 pm
This Minnesota Dawg will always be a fan. I grew up in Georgia and there is nothing like a fall afternoon listening or watching the Dawgs play.
AFDawg
September 21st, 2010
11:20 pm
Dog fans will never turn their back on their team. I just bought tickets for the Idaho State game when the returned tickets went on sale. Don’t forget, we’ve got wins over TN, FLA, and Tech to look forward to. GO DOGS!
EasleyDAWG01
September 21st, 2010
11:53 pm
DAWG through and through – let the whiny little beetches start pulling for tech – we don’t need you!
ApopkaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:16 am
Bill:
You mentioned having gone through the Ray Goff and Jim Donnan years at UGA. Well, that is exactly what UGA fans want to avoid. Yes, Mark Richt is a good man. Yes, Mark Richt started fast at UGA and got the ship turned around. However, is he the right guy to get us to the next level? One thing that has to be considered in all of this is “where is the program headed?” Here are some RED FLAGS that fall sqarely on Mark Richt’s shoulders…
1. UGA is ranked preseason No.1 in 2008 and goes 10-3. In reality, we were 3 plays away from going 6-6. Take into account game saving plays against South Carolina, Kentucky, and Auburn. As we all know, 2009 was a DISMAL year, going 8-5. This year is looking like it is’nt going to be any better. In short, we are losing the battle on the football field. UF is elite, AL is elite, LSU is elite, ARK is coming on, AU is coming on, and even Miss State looks to be improving. UGA is stagnant at this time.
2. We are losing the recruiting battle. Last year was the first time in a long, long time that the State of GA had more Blue Chip prospects coming out high school than Florida, Texas, and even California. You would think that with all that in-state talent, UGA would have had a ligit shot at having the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Instead, we have one of the worst recruiting years under Mark Richt. We are losing the recruiting battle.
3.) Off the field instances are on the rise. As you well know, the arrests of UGA football players has become laughable. Every year we seem to all hold our breath and hope none of the UGA starters are arrested. Every year we seem to start the season with a few players unable to play due to arrests. We are losing the team decipline.
If Mark Richt wants to save his job 2 things need to happen immediately. 1) He needs to take over the O-Coordinator job and put Bobo back at full time QB Coach. 2) He needs to find a way to keep his team motivated. why to they look like they are going tbrough the motions out there?
If Richt can’t make these “CEO” type decisions, then lets move on. Jim Harbaugh would be an excellent coaching choice for UGA right not. He is doing a great job at Stanford and will probably win the Pac-10. Harbaugh would be my choice because:
Peterson – only thing he has proven is that he can occasionally get his guys up for a big games. Otherwise, he is great at beating up WAC teams. No thanks,
Muschamp – great D-Coordinator, but unproven as a head coach. Plus he came out of the Goff era (like Bobo) and I don’t want anyone with the Goff stink on them coaching UGA.
Kirby Smark – great D-Coordinator, if he is actually calling the plays. Again unproven at the head coach job
Bill, you tell me…What has Mark Richt done right (in the football world) in the past 3 seasons?
Richt
September 22nd, 2010
12:39 am
AD Supports Me. Many of you are finally rallying to my side. Life is good. I am here to stay. Get used to it.
Zumadawg
September 22nd, 2010
12:59 am
I’m like Lewis Grizzard and his friend, Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr. (a great American), I’m Bulldog born and Bulldog bred and when I die I’ll be bygod Bulldog dead!!!!!!
Georgia G
September 22nd, 2010
1:21 am
I did not graduate from UGA. My Dad raised me watching the dawgs. This team belongs to the state of Georgia. From Rome to Valdosta. From Savannah to Columbus. This is Bulldog country! Athens is our capital. These young dawgs will be back. CMR is the best thing that has ever happened to Georgia football. He is not perfect nor the players or other coaches. This is not the NFL where we you just reload with players. We have a winner in CMR. The record speaks for itself and the dawg nation will be back on top soon! We will finish in the top 20 this year….Stay tuned!! I will bear the red and black regardless of the record. This team is my team! I love you Dawgs, you have brought me more smiles than tears and for that I will be forever grateful! Those players sporting that red helmet with that oval G on the side represent the people. Show your support even in the tough times!
Chap
September 22nd, 2010
3:11 am
Mr. King,
I would hope in the future you would not merely listen to ESPN commentators before you accuse of Coach Richt of being a liar.
Please view this replay of the 3rd and 4 your article referenced: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f60ooNaGSjQ. You can fast forward to the 7:12 mark to the play in question. Watch the second receiver from the top break down his route just past the first down marker to come across the middle, thus giving one of the short outlets you state are not apparent from the replays.
I do not know why you would want a short outlet route to be any shorter, because you need the receiver to get past the first down marker.
The fact that Aaron Murray did not have any time in the pocket to find an open receiver is not a play calling issue. It is a blocking execution issue.
In the future, I would hope that an employee of the largest journalistic organization in the state would do some independent research before he blindly follows the statements of someone on television, just to merely pander to those who know little about playcalling and think Coach Bobo does not know what he is doing.
wonderdawg
September 22nd, 2010
3:40 am
So now your not a real fan if you don’t like it when you see sloppy play,bad play calling and awful coaching.Are we to spend gobbs of money supporting this team watching them fall to SC and ARK the way they did and keep our mouths shut cause it makes us BAD FANS? What a joke. The fan that asked that question worded it wrong no dout,he should have said why waste my money 4 months and all my saturdays when i know my dawgs are gonna play with no heart and passion like you coached them?Why did you calm down coach TG? Was he making you look bad?At least he was trying to get his defense to play with heart.Now I feel like maybe your gonna blame the fans for your problems!EVERYBODY knows its the coaching on this team that has the fans up in arms and asking you to do your job!!!
BoWeevil
September 22nd, 2010
4:00 am
What is “supporting the team” ?
Denying that we are 1-5 the last 6 SEC East games ?
Or, saying that that it totally unacceptable ?
Running on here like
AltamahawDawg
&
RED DOG 77
saying how GREAT Coach Richt’s coaching staff is
2-6 vs last 8 SEC teams ?
Or, saying that Coach Richt fired all but 1 defensive coach, and now after this season, surely must fire all the offensive coaches – which of course means that Coach Richt gave our men NOTHING – not 1 coach to coach them.
What is a fan ?
Someone who BRAGS how great we are when we are anything but
or
Someone who sees the OBVIOUS and demands MORE of the # 11 program All-Time in wins ?
Because we sure as hell, have not been the # 11 program after 2005.
Leather Helmet Blog: Dawg Daily 22Sep
September 22nd, 2010
4:02 am
[...] Junkyard Blawg: [...]
BoWeevil
September 22nd, 2010
4:10 am
Another point
I don’t give a crap if Coach Richt is viewed as successful because I care about this University and our Football Program, not lies that Coach Richt is so damn great because he is a Christian.
This is NOT about his character or Nick Saban’s either. It is about NOT BEING ARRESTED every month for 10 years, while winning only 3 meaningful games in 10 years and even with each of those 3 great wins, we lost 4 games those 3 seasons or we lost 3 games those 3 seasons : beat # 4 vols 2001 lost 4, beat # 6 LSU 2005 lost 3, and beat # 9 Auburn 2006 lost 4 games.
How freaking great are we ?
I am FED UP with the Bible-Thumping Crowd who run in here to BRAG to me that Coach Richt is a BETTER MAN than Nick Saban and prefer him over Nick Saban BECAUSE OF THAT.
There is supposed to be a SEPARATION of CHURCH and state, and THOSE FANS have stepped OVER THE LINE.
I bleed red and black
September 22nd, 2010
4:31 am
Cut me open and I bleed red and black. As a member of the class of ‘69 I have been a faithful fan for over forty years. I remain faithful and will be faithful to the end. BUT I don’t like the current state of Georgia football. Too many arrests, too little dedication and discipline, too little passion and fire. The last few years has not been Georgia football. I don’t enjoy thugs and low life ego centered street thugs with tatoos, dread locks, brands and “you know” repetitions giving half hearted efforts on Saturday. My concern is that CMR can’t get his team up and Mike Bobo has got to be one of the worst OCs in the nation. I believe Adams sent a message to CMR about lawbreakers and the new AD should send a message to CMR. Recruit players that have integrity and grit and passion and fire that are dedicated to go on the field and give it all for UGA. I’ll stay loyal and faithful but I don’t like what I see in the UGA program.
BoWeevil
September 22nd, 2010
6:31 am
You cannot say that.
RED DOG 77
AltamahawDawg
will NOT allow you to say that here.
Never mind they are BOTH hiding behind their keyboards BOTH of the last 2 weeks.
Rosezeee
September 22nd, 2010
6:44 am
Enter your comments here
Rosezeee
September 22nd, 2010
6:44 am
The difference between coaching up and coaching down:
Petersen v. Richt
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1129276
Complete meltdown
September 22nd, 2010
7:15 am
Fire these clowns now please ! Stop the bleeding because CMR will never win a MNC at UGA !
AltamahaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
7:17 am
I’m hiding? I ask you direct questions a couple of days ago that you dodged. What a surprise. But its fair to say that I don’t feel like spending quite as much time bantering with the lunitic fringe right now.
Can we assume that we have seen the last of captain 12-2? You put that cardboard mask and bedsheet cape in the drawer.
Care to compare what we both actually said coming into the season? As opposed the stuff that you completely make up that I have said.
Because I would really enjoy that.
turkeycaller
September 22nd, 2010
7:18 am
Sid, Excellent post.
AltamahaDawg
September 22nd, 2010
7:26 am
Wait now, did I just read that correctly. I have been running on here saying how great Coach Richt”s staff is? and nobody else can say anything differently? is that what you said?
Ah, Ok, now I see the problem.
Quote me big boy. Go ahead.
edumacated
September 22nd, 2010
7:30 am
I will always support the Dawgs, but that doesn’t mean I will always have to support their coach. It’s painful to watch what’s been going on in Athens, but just like all of you, I’m still here.
Richt has to beat Florida at least in order to salvage something from this season. A loss to Florida, again, when they are as down as they are gonna be for years, would be too much for this GA boy’s pride to take. I hate those barbarians.
East Dawgs vs. West Dogs | Battle Hymn Notes
September 22nd, 2010
7:32 am
[...] routes with the Bama train- a while back. As Coach Richt pointed out in his teleconference, and as Bill King said so well, if you’re a real fan you’re on for the long haul regardless of your [...]
jerry
September 22nd, 2010
7:41 am
If UGA can sell out every game win or lose, what’s the incentive for winning? I will guarantee you that given a choice they will take a losing season of sell outs over a winning season of 75,000 a game.
joe
September 22nd, 2010
7:57 am
I think the level of hate that appears on these message boards when we lose is sickening. Quite frankly, IF you are all real true fans of this team, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. Only one or two teams each year manage to go undefeated. People have been trying to temper your expectations for 8 months. Nobody in the world thought we’d get by USC and Arkansas without a loss. I HOPED we would but never realistically thought it would happen.
The bottom line is if you are a true fan you will support you team no matter what. I grew up in Athens and Watkinsville and grew up on the dogs. I loved this team when they had losing records just as much as I loved them when we went 13-1.
Getting on these message boards and spewing venomous hatred (and don’t fool yourselves, reread your posts) does absolutely nothing to support this team. Al it does is drag the entire Bulldog Nation down.
If you harbor this much hatred toward a coaching staff and a couple of 18 and 19 year old kids…….you need to get a life.
Old Guy
September 22nd, 2010
8:04 am
I saw this headline and thought that I would say that it was the cheapest worst headline I have ever read. I won’t even read the article. I will always be a Georgia fan but will no longer read any of your hack posts. 1 less click for you from me. I hope you become a Clemson fan Bill King. Go to hell.
yoyo
September 22nd, 2010
8:29 am
hahaha, worst fans in football. Always bragging about how big and full your stadium is, let’s see how many empty seats there are after a couple of 7-8 win seasons…losers.
edumacated
September 22nd, 2010
8:32 am
There sure are a lot of folks on here claiming to be better fans than others. Examples of their reasoning is that you need to be an UGA grad, or have been attending since they wore leather helmets, or had to have been raised in Athens. Is this the way you guys quantify what a “true fan” is? If these examples where true, then I can promise you Larry Munson would have never gotten as famous as he did all over Georgia. I contend that “real fans” (if there is such a thing) don’t try to downplay the status of other fans as if there is a hierarchy. You see those little kids playing pee-wee football on Saturday guys? They are just as much a Dawg fan as you.
4evrdawgfan
September 22nd, 2010
8:40 am
I will be a dawg fan,no matter what their record is. I would rather root for an 0-12 UGA team, than root for a 12-0 Bumblebee team.
how2fish
September 22nd, 2010
9:06 am
joe/edumacated good post great points..yoyo your name tells everything we need to know about you.
HickorySprings Dawg
September 22nd, 2010
9:44 am
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/can-georgia-win-a-championship-with-mark-richt/ I am a Dawg until I die, but this article really does make you think about the future of Georgia football. Not sure who the author is, but it is an interesting read
timthebrave
September 22nd, 2010
10:09 am
I graduated from UGA and I bleed red and black no matter what. I think this week we turn the corner and people will be happy with things to come. Of course you will have a few that complain no matter what
fedup_11
September 22nd, 2010
10:26 am
Plenty of us remain fans but as fans, we can be vocal about the decline of the program. And we should. Way too much talent to waste with a coaching staff that under develops these kids. Play calling that is suspect, missed tackles and so on. Absence of discipline on and off the field, etc., should all be scrutinized. Look, I appreciate that CMR prioritizes the development of good citizens but at 3.5 mil a year, we ought to be getting more than just a mentor to these would-be good citizens. Jus sayin’. As fine a man as CMR is, he’s a pathetic manager. If you haven’t the nads to fire friends for poor performance, don’t hire friends. Hanging on to CWM until pressured to make a change is happening again with CMB. CMR is no Saban and UGA deserves better.
Chris Phillips
September 22nd, 2010
10:31 am
I have been a fan of UGA since the days of Herschel Walker. I am also a fan of Mark Richt. But it is getting so very hard to watch our offense the last couple of years. I hope CMR will take the time to think very carefully about Bobo and Searels. CMR made the right decision last year in regards to the defense. Let’s hope he mights the right decision about the offense.
fedup_11
September 22nd, 2010
10:34 am
Joe- read your post. I believe your perception that our expectations are for an undefeated season miss the mark completely. Instead, I expect to be consistently competitive. However, we all too often get blown out or look like a doormat team with excessive penalties, clock mismanagement, miss tackles, etc. Consistency has been absent for years. Few of us get upset with a couple loses; the SEC is tough. It about the level of performance. Rightfully though, we should be upset with sloppy play that is becoming the norm. This program has been in decline for several years. If true, not acceptable. And THAT, is a true fan talking.
McDawg
September 22nd, 2010
10:35 am
nothing compared to the inepitude of last couple of years on the D-i’m optomistic for this team but ultimately someone needs to step up and take ownership for the team–a 10-3 season is certainly a realistic goal-with key wins over Auburn, GTech, (Kentucky??)and a bowl game
hotbobby
September 22nd, 2010
10:38 am
Let’s see how the tone changes when we finish in CowBellHell. We are the laughing stock of the whole country. Our coach makes millions for mediocrity. Our players, for a large part, come to Athens to party-playing football is a side DUTY. Watch and see how many of our commitments start falling off as their parents become aware of what happens under the watchful eye of ST Richt!
VICTORIA SECRET
September 22nd, 2010
10:41 am
Would it be in violation of NCAA rules if we
approached the coaching staff and some of
your players to do some modeling for us in
our next issue?
ga gator
September 22nd, 2010
10:41 am
Bill King this is one of the dumbist ideas for an article I have ever seen. Run out of things to write about?
There are Dawgs and then there are fans. Dawgs will always be loyal and fans are simply that, they go with what is hot and leave when it is not.
atl xmen
September 22nd, 2010
10:43 am
he didnt throw him under the bus folks. murry would tell you the same thing and i would too. in that play the tight end was actually running a 5 or 6 yard out but it seemed like murry was wanting to try and get in field goal rang that play instead of taking the first down then. he actually could have ran for the first as all he had to do was step up and and go right or left. murry knew he had 4th and 4 if he didnt complete the long pass. but as far as the play called there were shorter routes call not all were running 20 yard routes. the tv guys just flat out missed that. so enough all ready about the play calling ..most times bobo calls are the correct ones just have to be executed correctly.
STUBBA HUBBA
September 22nd, 2010
10:45 am
Plenty of tickets available for remaining Dawg games.
Free Hot Dogs and Cokes to purchasers.
Please fans, do not send us any more tickets,
the supply has exceeded the demand.
Buy a large block and we can schedule kickoff
for your attendance.
atl xmen
September 22nd, 2010
10:50 am
the program is not in decline. quit being a drama queen. you seem to for get that they play in the sec where every so often a team goes threw this. ala, fla all the teams in the sec do. last year could have been 10-3 just like we could be 3-0 right now with a little bit of luck. uga will get threw this as they usually do. no worries here.
atl xmen
September 22nd, 2010
10:52 am
a program in decline doesnt get top 10-15 recruting classes like UGA gets. now take tech for example. they are in decline as they are signing tons of div 1aa talent these past two years.
Rick
September 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
atl xmen, A program IS on the decline when they sign top recruiting classes every year and don’t even compete for a division title with them. Given the recruiting and the other resources UGA has, it’s not unreasonable for UGA FANS to expect to be in the national championship hunt year in and year out. Yet we are now not even close and seem to be getting farther away. This year, the Dawgs are basically irrelevant on the national level after just two conference games. Think about that.
Yeah Right
September 22nd, 2010
12:24 pm
Mark Richt is a fucin pansy, not enough heart or fire to lead a team to a national championship. why cant he see that Mike Bobo “the fucin clown” is causing us games. Fire the Clown CMR!
Vick=Dog killing thug
September 22nd, 2010
12:58 pm
I don’t expect the dawgs to win every game but I do expect them to play hard nosed intelligent football.
UGA football is an elite program which should content for a national championship every year.
The players and coaches need to live up to that. Ain”t happening lately…
eltrompoDAWGSfan
September 22nd, 2010
2:26 pm
Never attended UGA but have been a near lifelong fan, and will continue to be so. I wish for competitiveness and accountability, as well as talent, but I won’t back out of being a fan if those qualities are found lacking. I think the same fans on here crucifying the team and threatening to leave or are always pessimistic are the same fans you see on DOB’s Braves blog doing the same thing. No life. Go Dawgs!
Fair and Balanced
September 22nd, 2010
4:58 pm
Murray does hold the ball too long. Even his big completions should have been TD’s but they were late and underthrown balls. But he is young and inexperienced and the loss to Arkansas will probably teach him a lot. But coaches spreading the blame all around to the O line, backs blocking, Murray etc. and NOT mentioning the play calling say one thing to me: The coaches are arrogant. They won’t take responsibility for their own poor coaching. I know it is hard to “dis” an asst coach on the air, but come on! Why dis your players like that! They only do what they have been coached to do so who is to blame for that?
Kyle
September 22nd, 2010
5:29 pm
I support CMR. The talent level has slipped. Without Moreno/Stafford, ‘07 would not have been a good year. I feel that getting AJ back will make the offense click. He is a gamebreaker whose loss cannot be underestimated.
I am willing to give CMR time to get the talent level back up and to now get the right people for the 3-4. GO DAWGS, GATA!
To be a contender, you need at least one special player at each level – o-line/d-line, linebacker, defensive backs/safety, receiver/tight end/ running back, and the QB needn’t be the most gifted athletically, but he needs to be smart and a solid game manager.
Shaq
September 22nd, 2010
10:01 pm
Maybe the reason the Coach wont critize Bobo is because he may be signing off on the play calls. After all this is Mark Richt’s offense. Who knows it better than him. Remember it wasn’t to long ago that Coach Richt was calling his own plays. And as far as I can see he hasn’t change the offense since he has been there. I think on certain levels we have a talent evaluation problem. Ealey and King have not become Mareno. Then to top it off we redshirted Knowshaun. So is it the scheme maybe however, I think when you look at our talent across the board teams like Florida, and Alabama have clearly top notch talent. I can’t believe that we can’t find a better punt returner than Logan Gray. Sure he will catch the ball however, he will not take it to the house. You win with talent, and you lose with bad coaching.
Tweets that mention Do the Dogs have to win for you to stay a fan? | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg -- Topsy.com
September 23rd, 2010
2:36 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Poop Anonymous, Jim Kelley, Walter Hardeman, Ryan Scates, Susanne Ford and others. Susanne Ford said: Do the Dogs have to win for you to stay a fan?: And the unhappiness with the mediocrity that the Dogs have exhibit… http://bit.ly/atrn6j [...]