Road to championship for UGA doesn’t have to go through Eugene
Seven games a year in Sanford Stadium is part of Greg McGarity's plan for UGA football. (University of Georgia)
OK, so I’m not going to pretend I can get excited — or even moderately interested — in the Dogs playing Charleston Southern.
Still, I’m fully on board with Greg McGarity’s new Florida-esque scheduling philosophy of making Tech the only BCS-level nonconference opponent regularly appearing on Georgia’s football schedule and trying to have seven home games in Athens most seasons.
I didn’t come to that view easily. I used to be one of those fans who complained about yawn-inducing home games against schools with directional names. I longed to see Georgia give up a diet of cupcakes and upgrade its nonconference schedule to include regular-season games against the likes of Texas or Michigan or that school that doesn’t like to be called Southern Cal.
Damon Evans cured me of that.
In a bid to build a national “brand” for Georgia, Evans scheduled home-and-home series with Colorado, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Oregon and even Louisville.
The trips proved popular with fans. A large, vocal contingent in red and black actually took away the home advantage when the Dogs played at Arizona State, and I know a lot of fans, including my son, are looking forward to the trip to Boulder this week.
But the wear and tear of long-distance travel wasn’t a hit with Mark Richt, who noted this week: “It sounds like a good idea and it’s kind of romantic I guess. It seems like everybody would enjoy doing that. I’m sure a lot of fans enjoy taking some of those trips, but it is tough on your team, your players and coaches.”
Indeed, the week after that 2008 trip to Arizona State the Dogs came out flatfooted in what was being billed as the game of the decade and quickly fell behind 31-0 to the Crimson Tide.
Then there was last year’s brutal schedule that saw Georgia playing three BCS nonconference foes, including the opener at Okie State. Meanwhile, Florida was facing the likes of Charleston Southern, Troy and Florida International, and Bama was feasting on Florida International, North Texas and Tennessee Chattanooga on its way to the BCS title.
True, the Tide also played Virginia Tech, but they don’t have a regular BCS nonconference rival on their schedule like the Dogs do.
So one of the first things McGarity did was get out of the Oregon deal. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s too late to do anything about Louisville, a matchup that doesn’t excite anyone anymore, if it ever did.
One of the arguments in favor of scheduling these regular season games outside the Southeast was to boost recruiting. But as Richt said this week, “Playing that kind of game does draw attention. It does get you on the other side of the country, but do we really recruit over there? We really don’t.”
As for Evans’ idea of building the brand, which is more likely to do that, playing a team on the West Coast or winning the SEC and contending for the BCS national championship? As McGarity put it, “I think winning and running your program the right way is what promotes your brand.”
Plus, McGarity indicated he’s still open to playing a Southeastern nonconference rival like Clemson every few years and even possibly a once-every-decade high profile game against someone like Texas or Michigan.
Actually, I’d like to see Georgia go one step further in that regard and put the rivalry with Clemson on some sort of permanent rotating basis, with the two teams playing home-and-home, taking two or three years off, and then doing it again.
I especially like the idea of seven home games a year, too.
Bottom line, though, is that no matter how boring those games against the Charleston Southerns are, they’re a necessary building block nowadays in putting your program in the best position to compete at the highest level. As McGariy says, if the Dogs can win out in their SEC schedule and beat Tech, they’ll likely be in the national championship conversation. Any year.
Of course, mastering that SEC schedule looms as something of an obstacle for Georgia right now. But that’s another discussion entirely. …
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167 comments Add your comment
Bryan G.
September 30th, 2010
11:15 am
I think the schedules UF, Auburn, and Alabama have played are embarrassing. I’m not sure I like McGarity’s idea on the schedule. Just seems like a cheap short cut.
Does This Mean ??
September 30th, 2010
11:17 am
Does this mean we will start having the week before Florida off ???
UGA Insider
September 30th, 2010
11:28 am
Oregon wanted out of the deal as bad as UGA did. They will have a brand new schedule starting next season and their in-conference games will be much stronger and their travel itinerary’s will be tougher as well. My contacts in Eugene say this was an amicable split but UGA is getting all the bad press for backing out. I wish McGarity would come out and explain more.
Big Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:29 am
I’m open to something new: new recruiting philosophy (or at least a new way of coaching up our recruits), new strength and conditioning program, a new sense of enthusiasm, new intensity, a new OC, a new HC…whatever!
The recent direction UGA has been going is obviously not working.
SatillaDawg
September 30th, 2010
11:31 am
Go Dawgs!
I don’t care who we play, as long as we produce good football teams.
Now, let’s get this year’s team back on track.
Sic ‘Em, Dawgs! Beat Colorado!
extrapoint
September 30th, 2010
11:34 am
Look at the Big Ten last week, cupcakes across the broad and it’s the fourth week of the season. Ohio State also played one the week before. Did they drop in the rankings after playing no name schools their first three out of four games. NO! Rememeber how they stuck it to Georgia the year we were No. 1 when we didn’t blow out Georgia Southern in our opener. Dropped from first and good-bye season. Even Notre Dame threw in the towel and dumbed down their schedule. These schools want to play for millions and prestige at the end of the year. That’s how you maintain your top ranking while playing cupcakes.
Newman
September 30th, 2010
11:34 am
Just block and tackle.
Cobb Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:35 am
I agree with McGarity — so long as you don’t have so many creampuffs on your schedule that it starts to wreak havoc with the BCS computer rankings (assuming UGA ever works its way into that discussion again.) Probably a pretty fine line. But if it worked at Florida, let’s give it a try.
championships vs. red panties
September 30th, 2010
11:35 am
anyone have any other questions about the differences between ADs?
PNWDawg
September 30th, 2010
11:37 am
I just don’t like the idea that playing easier schedules is how you win a championship. I though champions were willing to line up against anyone and not complain about jet lag. “We don’t want to play Alabama cuz were tired.” Give me a break.
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
11:38 am
Why not schedule an off week after playing an Oregon,Colorado,Louisville? Wouldnt that make sense? I personally like the far away games like this and I am opposed to dropping them. I was really pumped about going to Oregon.
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
11:39 am
But with my last post-Im not going to argue with the success McGarity had at UF.
gomdawg
September 30th, 2010
11:40 am
If Boise State can play a weak schedule so can we. I’m all for the National Rating is the name of the game . DAMN GOING WEST.
38 Yardline Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:42 am
We don’t have to schedule teams on the left coast to have interesting matchups with BCS teams. I even can understand the case for playing some creampuffs, but make them more interesting…say like NOTRE DAME!
Tweets that mention Road to championship for UGA doesn’t have to go through Eugene | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg -- Topsy.com
September 30th, 2010
11:42 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by SEC World , Gordo and Tim Tucker, AJC Junkyard Blawg. AJC Junkyard Blawg said: Road to championship for UGA doesn’t have to go through Eugene http://bit.ly/dkbpxL [...]
38 Yardline Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:43 am
BTW, if Bobo is not replaced by the end of this season, I will not be buying my season tickets again. WHO’S WITH ME?
joe mac
September 30th, 2010
11:47 am
Whatever! This philosophy is pathetic as is Richt’s gripping and moaning a out.
Man up and get better instead of running from things.
Richt has blamed that 08 Bama loss on that Arizona St. trip so much im about to vomit. That Bama loss was a result of one thing and one thing only; a well prepared, experrly coached team versus the exact opposite!
Richt has become a kool-aid salesman leaning on EXCUSES rather than reasons to explain away the vast weaknesses in his sprogram. Now, UNFORTUNATELY, he has a stinking GATOR to powder his butt on these issues.
PATHETIC!
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
11:47 am
Would like to see us play Miami,Fsu,North Carolina,West Va teams like this.
SoCal Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:49 am
This is a tough one. I would love to see us play USC, Ohio St.,Michigan, Texas, ND but we play in the SEC. We need some cup cakes in order to recuperate. If we played in the Big East I would say we have enough cupcakes so bring on the big boys but we already play the big boys on a regular basis in the SEC. Simple fact is if we play for BCS Championships we will play the “big boy” outside of the SEC.
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
11:55 am
Going to Ohio State would be great! Been to Texas and Michigan-not to much fun. Oklahoma or Nebraska is a good time
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
12:00 pm
38 Yard Line Dawg,
I wouldnt do that. You will regret not renewing your tickets.Unless you have a ton of money to buy your way back in you wont get them for a very long time. Believe it or not there is actually a pretty long waiting list now for new season tickets
robodawg
September 30th, 2010
12:00 pm
Boulder, Colorado, is beautiful in October. Done right, a trip like that can be good medicine for the team. If you let it just add to the drudgery, you’ve already lost. Playing football should be fun.
RunningDog
September 30th, 2010
12:05 pm
What’s the point of rooting on your team when half of the home games are tomato cans. I love college football, but the constant arguments against strong competition, traveling and playoff is what I can’t understand about many advocates of our sport. Sure it’s great to win, but are you a tough guy when your 20-years-old beating up on 12-year-olds. Travel didn’t lead to the loss in Starkville.
uga_b
September 30th, 2010
12:07 pm
Maybe we should opt out of our in-conference games too. That seems to be oure problem. This was a weak message in a year with a weak home schedule, weak attendance, and weak timeslots. I can’t help but think this will affect their revenue.
I was really excited about the Oregon trip. Thanks UGA.
Coachdawg 2000
September 30th, 2010
12:07 pm
Murphy-
If we could sked off week it would possibly work but the SEC controls the conference sked. and we typically play the chix in week 2 and any other week is too taxing. Some of yall forget that these long trips cut into classtime(means late night tutoring sessions to pay catchup)and cuts into sunday film study and other off the field duties. I would love to see us play Notre Dame or clempson but we play Tech every year where as Bammer can handpick all of their out-of-conference games.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2010
12:08 pm
Thats all well and good MaGarity but there is another drawback on that philosophy. If the team isn’t any good, being in the NC conversation does neither the team, school or the fans any good and certainly doesn’t win any championships. At UGA’s current rate, the Ga Southerns and Charleston Southerns likely will beat us.
Fix the problems and build a championship teams. This way it doesn’t matter who you play.
robodawg
September 30th, 2010
12:09 pm
This is a tough one. You do need those directional schools to give your program confidence and build your depth emptying the bench. It’s a step above a scrimmage because the result counts (and your highlights get to be seen on Sportscenter).
Opening the season on the road last year, with an inexperienced QB, definitely started the season off on the wrong foot. It was just not the right year to be doing that. And, you can’t know years in advance when it will be the right year to do that.
That said, I hope McGarity doesn’t overdo it. An occasional trip to Arizona or Colorado ain’t bad. There’s probably too much at stake in a matchup with a perennial top 10 team like Oregon. (Man, that was something to look forward to, though!) But unranked BCS conference teams that you should beat seem okay to me. Maybe not every year, but every 2 or 3 years would be fine with me. (Of course, you don’t know when you schedule ‘em how good those teams will be — who knew Okie State would peak last year?)
If at all possible, we need to play them in a soft spot in the SEC schedule — say, before homecoming week or before an off week — and not until October, when your team has had some time to gel.
Coachdawg 2000
September 30th, 2010
12:12 pm
It was nice to spank Okie State in ‘07, Boise State ‘05, and Clemson in 02-03,AzSt.-’08 but we how bad did it suck to lose to Okie st. in ‘09? If we had played Joe’s Horseshoe Academy then we go 9-4 instead of 8-5. Having an early season loss can suck the wind out of your sails early.
ATL Bama Fan
September 30th, 2010
12:13 pm
I love it! When all else fails to fool yourselves about UGA becoming a lower tier SEC team blame Bama. Of course the blackout failed cause the doggies had jet lag from the week before, not because UGA and Richt rely on costumes and gimmicks rather than hard work to win football games. And of course the reason Bama won the NC and UGA didn’t was because of Bama’s “easy” schedule compared to UGA’s. Just pay attention to FL Intl., etc. and ignore the slate of ranked teams Bama had to get through. It’s looking like UGA fans are learning from your coach; put the blame on anyone other than who deserves it. What a pathetic, classless school.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2010
12:14 pm
@Runningdawg
Good post. AZ ST didn’t cause us to have our azz handed to us by Bama either. Richt’s grasping at straws to deflect his inability at coaching
ARdawg
September 30th, 2010
12:17 pm
robodawg
We should’ve beaten OK ST like a drum last year even with a Fr QB. As the season revealed, OK ST was over hyped and just wasn’t that good
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
12:18 pm
Coach Dawg,
A schools A.D. can make schedule request about open weeks. Just ask Jeremy Foley about always getting that week off before the GA game.Spurrier and Foley made those request yearly.
ATL Bama Fan
September 30th, 2010
12:24 pm
I would like to thank the UGA fans with class that can see through this blame others mentality that has swept through the school, coaching staff and fan base lately. I wish y’all were the majority.
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
12:26 pm
Atl Bama Fan,
I dont blame playing ASU as the reason we lost to Bama. We were outcoached and out player period… No excuse can be made for that.
aaron in arizona
September 30th, 2010
12:28 pm
extrapoint—– I agree w/you. You hit the nail on the head.
I remember, over the past 2 seasons, we were actually being “punished” in the preseason rankings/on espn because of our schedule. I remember reading and hearing that due to our schedule being seen as more difficult that we would not fair as well as others w/easier schedules. We, as Bulldogs, were being congratulated on such a schedule but at the same time being ranked lower, by those rankings on how teams will end the season.
However, I can hear many grandparents saying, “Well, if the other kids would run and jump off a cliff, would you do it, too?” In this instance, yes! It seems we have to, secondary noone is complaining in the media/fans come championship game time that the two teams playing are being heckled/penalized for who they played in September. Strength of schedule does not count for as much as it did in the beginning of bcs system. GO DAWGS!!!!!
ATL Bama Fan
September 30th, 2010
12:35 pm
Murphy,
It’s fans like you that I appreciate and why I made the 2nd post. I don’t mind having a big ol’ target on our back this year; that’s what a NC does to you. But, it’s getting very old to have so many UGA fans and bloggers (looking at you, Mr.King. I actually used to enjoy reading you), blame or deflect blame from UGA’s current situation onto Bama’s past success. Take care of your own house before you blame others’. And, make it to the SEC CG and take Bama down there on the field, where it should be done, instead of trying to take us down in blogs.
Keep Coach Richt
September 30th, 2010
12:37 pm
Hope Coach Richt is around to see it. Here’s why I think he will.
http://thesportsdebates.com/2010/09/29/the-fire-mark-richt-debate-verdict/
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
12:41 pm
ATL Bama Fan,
Everyone hates a winner. Must be nice to have a program everyone else strives to be like. Good luck on sat but be very carefull next week in against S.C-They are ready for Bama.
ca dawg
September 30th, 2010
12:49 pm
@newman: best thing i’ve ever read on this discussion board.
btw i love the headline, bill. i laughed my rear end off when i read it.
ca dawg
September 30th, 2010
12:57 pm
@ ATL BAMA FAN: i definitely think it’s incendiary and overstating the matter to call my school and team “pathetic” and “classless” because of what a few fans do or say (i’m sure you’ll admit that bama has got some idiotic fans, too), but i have to agree that bama beat us in ‘08 because they were a better football team and handled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. anyone who would blame that loss on traveling doesn’t know very much.
for what it’s worth, i think it’s good for the SEC and good for college football when alabama is thriving. hope you put one on the gators this weekend.
Ted Striker
September 30th, 2010
12:58 pm
I could do without seeing UGA/Tech every single year. The game means more to Tech fans (regardless of age) than it does to UGA fans under the age of 50.
MURPHY
September 30th, 2010
1:07 pm
Would be cool to open up with Tech. Be just like playing Charleston Southern
258DAWG
September 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
I thin its absolutely brillant! if Bama and UF do it, why shouldn’t we.
It also gets your schedule ready for the playoff system that we all know is coming soon.
Bottom line is there is no team in any conference in the country that plays a harder SOS than the SEC teams so feel free to schedule teams equal to the Washington St, Kansas St, Iowa St, Washington, Baylor, Northwestern, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Duke, Virginia, Maryland, Wake, Boston College, Texas A&M, ND and everyone on there scedule and the whole Big East. Along with all the other chumps that fall into this category. I know I have forgot a few but you all know who you are!
GATA the rest of the way! Go Dawgs!
SadSawg
September 30th, 2010
1:28 pm
““I think winning and running your program the right way is what promotes your brand.”
*********************************
Bill, I bet that McGarity remark made Richt’s stomach flutter . . .
SadSawg
September 30th, 2010
1:40 pm
UGA already has more annual, border-rivalrys than most teams (SC, UT, UF, AU), plus Tech. That’s 5 teams that list UGA 1st or 2nd as their “most-love-to-beat” team.
If McGarity gets us back in the SEC picture (I don’t trust Richt to do it), the “Brand” crap takes care of itself, no matter who we play OCC.
Irrelevant
September 30th, 2010
1:44 pm
It must be noted that UGA is irrelevant in football in the SEC or any where going forward.
Just like it has been posted numerous times and as a prominent national sport’s writer posted yesterday. UGA fans have unrealistic expectations and are out of touch with reality because of 2 or 3 seasons that occurred 30 years ago when H. Walker was playing there.
For you no-brainers who think that scheduling patty cake teams will enhance UGA’s chances of playing for a championship should think it through more thoroughly. The Gators and Bama can get away with it for a certain amount of time because they have recruited the players and coaches that are recognized nationally as some, if not the best, in the country. UGA can’t say that. UGA has not proven themselves the last 3 or 4 years. UGA is NOT a credible championship contender SEC or nationally.
The UGA fans think alot more of their program than sports writers and coaches around the country. And believe it or not, the writers and coaches opinions are the one that counts most since they vote the polls.
You UGA fans can sit around and believe what you’ve been told by the UGA AD that the cancellation of the series with Oregon was a mutual decision if want. However, I guarantee you the rest of the country doesn’t see it that way. Especially since McGarity immediately broadcasts his scheduling philosopy of patty cake teams to fill out the schedule.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2010
1:49 pm
Irrelevant,
Wow, you just set the entire Bulldog Nation straight, didn’t you? Did your mother have any children that lived?
Andy
September 30th, 2010
1:50 pm
I think McGarity is probably right. Where is the incentive for an SEC team to go out and play a bunch of good non-conference teams? There is none, and until there is, doing the best we can within our conference should be our primary goal, even if it means playing a few more warm-up games. Clearly the formula has worked for FL and AL. It’s not like we’re Boise St. or something, who is out there trying to prove that they are good despite playing in a nobody conference. We are in the best conference, we just have to prove we are the best team in that conference (maybe next year?). It would be nice to play all the best teams and beat them all, but that is not going to allow us to win SEC championships or have a shot at the national championship under the current system.
RA
September 30th, 2010
1:51 pm
Check the SEC schedule.
Ten teams have 7 home games this year. Georgia has only 6, and Auburn has 8.
I like the change.
James
September 30th, 2010
1:59 pm
McGarity hasn’t done ANYTHING to help Georgia THIS year. He seems to have his focus on 2015. Hello, it’s 2010!
McGarity’s 1st 2 snafus:
1- Not getting AJ Green’s suspension reduced or thrown out
2- Not coming out already, for recruiting purposes if nothing else, and saying, Mark Richt will be the coach at Georgia in 2011, regardless of how 2010 turns out. McGarity’s “tough guy” stance on not supporting his head coach, is killing recruiting.
SadDawg
September 30th, 2010
2:01 pm
Irrelevant, contender or not the last 3 years, you know UGA starts out 7-0 in ‘11, it will be in the top 5 in the polls. We would still be ranked behind AL and UF if they had the same record.
What rankles you guys and makes you post under a name like “Irrelevant,” is the fact if Tech was also 7-0 in ‘11, you would be ranked below UGA.
UGA is irrelevant this year, along with Tech, but UGA will be relevant again sooner.
SadDawg
September 30th, 2010
2:06 pm
James, you think McGarity shoulda just walked into the NCAA office and kicked somebody in the nuts? Jeez.
It was handled by UGA attorneys, according to Adams, and AJ better be glad he didn’t lie to the NCAA or he wouldn’t have played at all in ‘10.
Everybody with a brain knows Richt will be back for ‘11. Bobo won’t be OC, though.
Tommy Tuberville
September 30th, 2010
2:08 pm
Did you people learn nothing from my 2004 undefeated team? Georgia ain’t Florida and won’t get the benefit of the doubt if it plays cupcakes- that my friends is reality.
Gator Bob
September 30th, 2010
2:09 pm
Here’s the deal:
1. You want to build your brand? win your league!!!
2. You want to win your league – schedule OOC games that help prepare you for your league games! Scheduling a west coast trip before ALABAMA did nothing to help you prepare for ALABAMA.
3. If you think UGA is dumbing down their schedule – who cares – UGA is only doing what ALL ELITE teams are doing – maybe have ONE – yes – just ONE legitimate OOC game against a major opponent – which UGA has built in with GT.
The most important thing for any team to do – is win your league. And the SEC is deep with good teams with at least one team and sometimes two teams in the top 10 every year. That’s plenty tough.
All you guys bashing – what school do you root for and look at their OOC schedule over the past few years. Compare Florida, Alabama, Ohio STATE, MICHIGAN, Texas – and even TENNESSEE.
TENNESSEE’s biggest rival is Alabama! They do a good job of scheduling one major OOC game a year – like UCLA or Cal.
But they also feist on UAB, UT Martin, TN TECH.
UGA has the advantage of having GT as a MAJOR RIVAL! Beyond that – focus on your conference and games that will help you build depth work on things to improve.
James
September 30th, 2010
2:14 pm
McGarity should have hired better alwyers. Bama got Darius’ suspension reduced from 4 to 2 games.
I agree, Richt’s gonna be the coach in 2011, so why nt, for recuriting purposes, come out and tell recruits that?
Dumb moves all around. McGarity should be fired.
Boredom
September 30th, 2010
2:20 pm
Gator Bob- you’re right to a point. The problem is that only playing GT every year as your toughest out of conference game is boring! I have been lucky enough to have been to Autzen- and many other college football venues outside of the SEC- the experience is fantastic and really is louder than stadiums twice it’s size. Seriously, don’t you ever wish you could take a great roadtrip in early September to see Florida play in a prime college football destination just for the experience and joy of college football? Trust me, win lose or draw, you are missing out. Florida is a powerhouse but even with all those championships it’s not USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, or even Penn State or Alabama because it never leaves the South.
76-DAWG
September 30th, 2010
2:23 pm
I think we should add another SEC game to the schedule. If we are going to have to play 12 games a year then playing 9 SEC teams is not too many. Then play GT as your quality non conference game, that leaves 2 games that should be easy. Until the other conferences in the country can match the SEC with an average of 5 or 6 hard inter conference games a year the SEC should not play into the other conferences hands and feel we have to add a 7th hard opponent when they get away with only playing 2 or 3 top 20 games. IMHO some SEC teams with 5 losses could beat most of the teams that end up in the final poll rankings from # 15 to 25.The SEC will never get the respect they truly deserve from the rest of the country. Most other top football program from other conferences wouldn’t even consider scheduling 6 top 15 opponents.
So to hell with the rest of the country and trying to cater to them . It is not our job to make their conference more respectable , it is theirs. Keep the revenue in the SEC.
uga_b
September 30th, 2010
2:27 pm
I think we should skip bowl games unless they are against Charleston Southern. This is a joke. If all we care about is beating up nobodies let’s jump ship to the Big East and be done with it. Simple cowardice. Honor your contracts. At least we are doing that.
uga_b
September 30th, 2010
2:28 pm
76, the realistic option would be to add Ole Miss again but it will never happen.
Party on Mill Ave
September 30th, 2010
2:31 pm
Just ask any Bulldawg if they had fun in Tempe!! Hold tight to those memories because it ain’t happening again anytime soon…
lionel hutz
September 30th, 2010
2:46 pm
Tempe was a blast. Boulder will be too. Eugene would have been. How do you create confidence in your players and your system by showing that you are scared to take on real opponents?
FrankCostanza
September 30th, 2010
2:48 pm
That sucks! As a Dawg fan in California, I was really looking forward to the game in Eugene.
When the NCAA eventually pulls its collective head out of its behind and moves to a playoff system, and winning the conference is what matters, not the polls, we’ll see games early season games like UGA vs Oregon on the schedule again.
sports guy
September 30th, 2010
3:07 pm
Scheduling easy wins is nothing new. When Dooley was coach we did it all the time only he was so good at convincing everybody an 0 and 30 team was due for a breakout game and the fans bought it. Does anyone know the combined record of opponents during the 1980 season?
Hogwash
September 30th, 2010
3:26 pm
Coming out flat against Alabama had nothing to do with the trip to Arizona St.. That is called poor coaching and as usual another lousy excuse. Evans had a great idea and it should have been continued. If the current coach can’t handle playing tougher programs, then he needs to resign and move on to be a pastor. It is apparent that his love for the game has passed him by and any little excuse he can use to justify why this program has hit rock bottom is okay with him. UGA should be a national name and Evans had the right idea. It would have helped in recruiting better athletes but, it is apparent that we will never be a national power like Alabama has become. Say what you want to about Saban, he gets the job done and if UGA does terminate Richt at the end of the season, they better be prepared to pony up the money to hire a coach that can come in a take us to a NC. With the lackluster performance over the last three weeks it is plain to see that the players have taken on the HC’s atttitude and it says “I have a job no matter if this programs continues to get worse, because these idiots love me so much and they won’t fire me. Playing sub par teams just says that you are afraid to put your program up against the top teams in the nation. I’m pretty sure Lane Kiffin wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to showcase how good his team is and even on probation they are out recruiting UGA. This mentality to keep everything local will never win us a NC. Times have changed and UGA is being left behind, especially with that boring offense and that boring underachieving HC.
DDPO
September 30th, 2010
3:29 pm
Quote from Stewart Mandel, Sports Illustrated:
In all my travels, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a fan base whose self-perception is so far from reality. Georgia fashions itself a national power in the vein of Ohio State, USC, et. al., based primarily off one glorious three-year run 30 years ago with Herschel Walker (and some kick-butt years in the 1940s).
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/09/29/mailbag/index.html#ixzz112iBsBzG
Dawg Tell
September 30th, 2010
3:33 pm
We are talking about scheduling!! Hell we need to talk about how to put a good football team on the field and win regardless who we play. Wait Till Next Year! And the next ,and the next.
sports guy
September 30th, 2010
3:43 pm
Hang in guys it will only take 3 goods win in the future to play for a NC. Beat Fla., SC and win the SEC title game. The rest of the schedule is less than impressive if we can’t beat the vandies, ky and the nonconference schools we are way less than average anyway. The Sec is a tough league but lets face it the east has built in wins.
Blowing Smoke up my rear end
September 30th, 2010
3:48 pm
Im tired of the scheduling excuses and whining. I want to see a damn good football team on the playing field. I dont care who UGA plays just play intensity,discipline and focus win lose or draw. Right now UGA is pathetic and its embarrassing. Get you act together Mark Richt or be gone !
Old Dawg
September 30th, 2010
3:52 pm
I know some SEC teams play UCLA etc, and that’s their choice. Tennessee, which has really poor high school football, uses the trips for recruiting players, especially in California. The Vols recruiting budget is much higher than other SEC school as a result of national recruiting.
But if you play Alabama and LSU on a rotating basis every five years, that’s as good as playing other national powers. And playing Florida and Auburn every year isn’t a cupcake either. I’ve often said that if Florida and Alabama switched schedules with Ohio State and Michigan one season we would have good view of the competition levels of both conferences. Or Georgia and LSU doing the same thing.
The long-distance travel schedule is a bear on college players as well. It’s difficult for many to remember that they have classes etc along with football practice and games, so it all takes a toll on their energy levels.
The image of playing games with schools across the country is nice. The reality is it really doesn’t help your school that much.
Tom
September 30th, 2010
3:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Since 2006 when NCAA went to a 12 game schedule every year Florida has played 7 homes each year plus the GA/FLA game in Florida and has scheduled during that time period 1 I mean 1 non-conference game vs a BCS school (Miami 2006) other than their permanent FLA ST.
During that same time period (including this 2010 season) Georgia only plays 6 home games a year not 7, and has scheduled 5 non-conf BCS games plus Ga Tech every year.
If you don’t think that plays a huge factor your crazy. We have put Mark Richt behind the 8 ball with our schedule for the past 5 seasons and in his first 9 years only 4 coaches in NCAA history have a better winning percentage.
Now that McGarity has already said he is going to impose that same scheduling mind set here let’s check records after 2015 and see how we look. I hope Richt is around to enjoys the same bogus wins Fla gets every year.
I like playing these big non- conference games, I am not saying we shouldn’t schedule them just wish everyone else had the same brass ones as the Dawgs.
With the exception of Florida that has it’s natural rival in state and is in a BCS conf like we have in Ga Tech. No one else in the country faces that everyone else I can think of Ohio St -Mich, Ala- Aub, Ucla vs UCS, all of their natural rivals are in conference so if they schedule a big out of conference game with a BCS conf team they look like they are hero’s but they only have 1 BCS non-conf game if we do it which we have we will have no less than 2 BCS non-conf games because of our game with Ga Tech.
Fyi I just looked while I was typing this Alabama has had 7 home games every year since 2006, also as I am checking Ohio St has 8 HOMES GAMES this year. Gimme a break that is a huge advantage everyone has that but us.
I never wanted to move the Ga/Fla game from Jax but it is huge disadvantage for us in scheduling. Find some other BCS School that does what we do. Oh yeah by way Texas this year has 8 HOME GAMES plus TX/OKL in Dallas.
Any opinions back are encouraged and welcomed.
turkeycaller
September 30th, 2010
4:01 pm
We are where we currently are thanks to Richt. Time to move on.
patrick
September 30th, 2010
4:02 pm
Bryan G.
September 30th, 2010
11:15 am
I think the schedules UF, Auburn, and Alabama have played are embarrassing. I’m not sure I like McGarity’s idea on the schedule. Just seems like a cheap short cut.
==========================
cheap short cuts got Fla and Saban….yep u guessed it….BCS titles
patrick
September 30th, 2010
4:05 pm
turkeycaller
September 30th, 2010
4:01 pm
We are where we currently are thanks to Richt. Time to move on.
====================
yes thank God for Richt with that brutal schedule we’ve had over the last few years any lesser coach and we would not have won 10 games a year on ave.
patrick
September 30th, 2010
4:09 pm
come on man…it has been the schedule this whole time…..do you really think we would be 1-3 against Fla’s first four teams they played? Do you really think UGAs offense would have only gotten 26 total yards against Miami of Ohio in the first 3 quarters? Dont be a fool.
Right now, this simply does not matter
September 30th, 2010
4:14 pm
Folks, UGA is in deep, deep trouble. Until we see them fired up and actually trying to plysically dominate anybody ………..anybody, I could care less about the schedule in the years ahead.
I want to see a UGA team on offense that looks entirely different than what we have had to endure the last three horrible weeks. I want to see a spread offense with ball control passes. Yes, set up our runs with the pass like Tx Tech used to do under Leach. If we try and play muscle ball we will lose. Our lines are simply not man enough to go out and play smash mouth. Our backs are small but they are slow.
UGA needs to go like 7-5 this season plus, some suck a lemon bowl win. In 2011. Richt had better put it all together like around 10-1 or 11-1 with NEW O coaches for the backs, the receivers and the linemen. We in 2011 had better win the SEC EAST at a minimum.
UGA 24-18 Colorado. This will sadly be a low tempo game of field goals. What about Ken Boo Malcomb of SWD HS? is he ready??? He is s decent running back, put him in.
I hope that AJ is allowed to play late, late in the 4th quarter. If starter Kris Durden is hurt, then play the 3rd string wide out in place of AJ.
Go Dogs.
Joey
September 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
The program’s in great shape. Top 10 in profit. Top 10 in recruiting. Top 10 in win % of coaches with 5+ years experience. Richt’s win % was top 5 for 200-2004, then top 20 2005-2009. Love the new coaches.
If UGA is such a weak program, somebody needs to tell Urban Meyer, because he keeps scheduling his bye week for Georgia instead of Alabama, guess Meyer didn’t get the memo.
Drive this
September 30th, 2010
4:22 pm
This is bad for UGA. As the LA_LA game this year proved, playing cupcakes neither prepares you for the season, or provides any indication of team strengths and weaknesses. Just because other SEC teams do it does not mean we should. This means under McGarity’s rule, there will be no games against Clemson, which used to be a lot of fun given the proximity of the two schools. Instead we get to play Charleston Southern? Why not just add Valdosta State and West GA to the schedule as well. that will encourage the media, who already thinks UGA is overrated year after year, to really give the dawgs some good press and boost the rankings. but then again, if UGA keeps up with the 5-win (maybe) seasons like this year, rankings will not be an issue anyway.
Ralph
September 30th, 2010
4:24 pm
Good to see Georgia doing it “The Florida way”, aka, play a bunch of sorry teams, have a bunch of home games, and the poll voters will rank you high.
Georgia played 4 top 10 ranked teams in 09′, and still somehow finished 8-5, nobody else would have done that.
Florida plays 1 top 10 team per year, the rest are sorry teams.
Layla Kiffin
September 30th, 2010
4:25 pm
Joey- Urban is just following Spurrier’s lead. Georgia beat Florida the only years Florida didn’t have a bye before Jacksonville under Spurrier.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2010
4:29 pm
@Tom
Damn fine point you made
david
September 30th, 2010
4:32 pm
championships????? hell, lets just try and win a game
edumacated
September 30th, 2010
4:34 pm
I think it will be cool to eventually beat Florida at their own game. This is the first step. Next, let’s hire the hottest coaching property in the country at the end of the year. Then let’s bribe all of the SEC officials so we can cheat all game long and get away with it.
76-DAWG
September 30th, 2010
4:39 pm
Those who are in power or have the money must still want the GA-FLA. game in Jacksonville.On a unbiased, non personal basis anyone would agree with me and wonder how having the game in Jacksonville can ever be better than Athens and Gainesville? It doesn’t make good sense. As long as we have the game in Jacksonville, Florida will always laugh at us and wonder, just how stupid can one school be?W e are spotting Florida 7 to 10 point every year and they don’t even need it.
I would really like to know who is getting that much business or money from Jacksonville that they have the power to keep it in Jacksonville. Hopefully with their death’s more sane , rational ,and intelligent thinking will go into where the GA-FLA. game should be played.
I don’t want it in Atlanta either . I want it in Athens. I am not hoping it will let UGA win more often. If we lose every other year for the next 20 years I can live through it but at least Florida would beat us on our own turf and Athens businesses will get the revenue and not Jacksonville.
Because of the fan base UGA is on TV of some sort every week , we don’t need the networks controlling where we play our games.
Tom
September 30th, 2010
4:41 pm
Thanks AR if FLA had to play our first 3 SEC games at South Carolina, at Miss St( which only lost 17-14 to Aub at home and they might be 2nd best team in SEC this and Arkansas no way would they be undeafeated they would be lucky to be 1-2 like every other team in the SEC will find out and with out our best player. No doubt we have not looked good at times this year but we had a chance to win every game but turnovers or poor execution has hurt us. East and West winner will both have 2 loses this year with exception of ALA but their schedule might bite them.
saban
September 30th, 2010
5:01 pm
Soon they will be calling Georgia, Boise State east.
Maybe you can get into the ACC also.
ByrdDawg
September 30th, 2010
5:12 pm
It is a sad day indeed to see us making excuse after excuse about why we cannot contend. Bama kicked our a$$ because they were a better team and better prepared. Not because we had to fly west and take on the “dangerous” Sun Devils. Having stronger opponents outside the conference year after year is a rewarding challenge that would only improve our chances of a BCS title. Traveling to Jacksonville didn’t seem to be a problem in 80’s, but now somehow it is? Quit making excuses, and quit the damn whining. That is what losers do and we are nothing short of that with the current state of affairs. Bama whooped our a$$ in the black out. The Gators got revenge for 08′, and the Tech put it to us that same year. It has been downhill ever since and unless we win 7 of our next 8, this season is a complete and utter failure. We want to be considered in the class of UF, and BAMA but are nowhere close. Man up and for once FINISH THE DAMN DRILL. Anything until then is just hot air.
Blackberry Cobbler
September 30th, 2010
5:14 pm
CMR thinks it’s “romantic”? What a pansy for a football coach!.
TheTaxJacket
September 30th, 2010
5:15 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***
(((( 45 – 42 ))))
Georgia Suck s
September 30th, 2010
5:29 pm
Chicken sh**
Put your money up
September 30th, 2010
5:34 pm
Maybe we could just pay everybody to let us win so we can get another NC.
pops
September 30th, 2010
5:53 pm
guys the road for ga has always been thru J—–VILLE
The Florida Way
September 30th, 2010
5:56 pm
Ralph
September 30th, 2010
4:24 pm
Good to see Georgia doing it “The Florida way”, aka, play a bunch of sorry teams, have a bunch of home games, and the poll voters will rank you high.
Georgia played 4 top 10 ranked teams in 09′, and still somehow finished 8-5, nobody else would have done that.
Florida plays 1 top 10 team per year, the rest are sorry teams
Let’s see, the Florida way with Urban Meyer, 15-1 against his top 4 rivals, Miami, FSU, Ga., and Tenn.
Gators win 17 of 20 from the dawgs who do it “doggie style”. Three 13-1 seasons in 4 years, with 2 National Championships and 2 SEC Championships and 3 SEC EAST Championships.
Yea, that’s a terrible way to run a program————I hope you see how foolish you are.
Rick
September 30th, 2010
5:59 pm
Hooray for Mr.McGarity. This is exactly what UGA needs to do.
Come on man
September 30th, 2010
6:33 pm
Charleston Southern be like playing Tech? Not exactly Murphy.
Mudcatjoe
September 30th, 2010
6:39 pm
Bunch of wussies! Can’t play with the big boys! Go Jackets!!!!
Vandy
September 30th, 2010
6:53 pm
Road to Championship????? of what??? Bunch of losers………….
south eastern chumps
September 30th, 2010
7:40 pm
this charleston southern scheduling will come back and bite you on the ___, might as well play snellville pee wee league..God how shameful your new AD is and the fans like YOU that agree with this SHAMEFUL tactic. UGA use to beat important teams and be somebody, just because this may not be the year, can you not MAN UP? Obviously, Bill King cannot but this looks so cowardly. P A T H E T IC…wasn’t but last season you morons laughed at GT for playing Vanderbilt and Ms St. Bet you stopped laughing after last Saturday night. What happened to you cowards? You lost to Ok St on the road in 09 and that put an end to everything. GEEZ have some kahoonas.
Reality Stinks
September 30th, 2010
8:00 pm
Here is the hidden message that Mcgarity is begining to send to Richt
Were wanting to be in the hunt coach, were going to change the schedule up
Continue to lose to FL and I will schedule a moving van for you
HAWK01
September 30th, 2010
8:39 pm
Quote from Stewart Mandel, Sports Illustrated:
In all my travels, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a fan base whose self-perception is so far from reality. Georgia fashions itself a national power in the vein of Ohio State, USC, et. al., based primarily off one glorious three-year run 30 years ago with Herschel Walker (and some kick-butt years in the 1940s).
Could not have said it better myself. Overall weak program that would like to be like Ohio State, Florida, BAMA, Texas and a few others.
Always claiming they have a top 10 recruiting class except for it is a TOP 10 MOST WANTED CRIMINALS CLASS.
You beat Hawaii in the SUGAR BOWL. …………………….SO WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!
National champs in 1980. 30 years and counting and the program is in SHAMBLES. All everyone wants to talk about is HERSCHEL WALKER. Give me a break.
WELCOME to the lower tier of the SEC.
VANDY, MS. STATE, OLE MISS, KENTUCKY……………………We welcome you with open arms !!!!!!
HAWK01
September 30th, 2010
8:47 pm
Alabama will play Michigan in 2012 in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Crimson Tide also will play games in Atlanta in 2013 and 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, Saban said.
The Crimson Tide will visit Penn State on Sept. 10 next year
On Sept. 3, 2016, Alabama will play host to Michigan State
On Sept. 3, 2016, Alabama will play host to Michigan State. On Sept. 2, 2017 — the Tide will visit Michigan State
This is how you win recruits. Kids want to play in the spotlight. They do not want to keep playing CUPCAKES.
SABAN takes on anyone anywhere.
Reality Stinks
September 30th, 2010
8:49 pm
Hawk01
You can leave Ohio State off your list
They won there first national championship in 32 yrs due to a bad call
And we have seen what happens when they play good competition
So you can delete that crap school
Reality Stinks
September 30th, 2010
8:53 pm
Ohio state got a beat down by a third tier SEC east UGA team in 92
HAWK01
September 30th, 2010
8:56 pm
Can’t face the truth…………………..Can You……………UGA.
Ohio State has a much better program than UGA has ever had.
Still living in the HERSCHEL WALKER AGE.
EARTH TO ATHENS…………………EARTH TO ATHENS………………….HE KICK BOXES NOW !!!!!!!!!
GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES !!!!!!!!!!
Reality Stinks
September 30th, 2010
9:03 pm
Ohio State what a joke yea earth to Ohio
Your state sucks and so does your Ohio State
Start playing some real teams and you might compete in a championship game
Just be glad you have all those biased sports writers that have votes to place your sorry buts in the NC game yr after yr
If your state wasnt such a depression hole people would find better things to do than sit at home and write about the joke Buckeys
Reality Stinks
September 30th, 2010
9:04 pm
92 still feels good doesnt it
HAWK01
September 30th, 2010
9:07 pm
EARTH TO REALLY STINKS……………………………..I AM A BAMA FAN…………….You know the team that beat you guys on BLACKOUT GAME DAY.
HAWK01
September 30th, 2010
9:09 pm
Could care less about Ohio State. Just saying that they have much more success than UGA has had.
Reality Stinks
September 30th, 2010
9:16 pm
Ohio State has had what success the luck of being one of the darlings of the media and the previlage of being put into big games like there trying to do to Boise
Dont cry when Bama has one loss and the media puts Boise in playing your highly successful Ohio State team
UGA fans are so ...
September 30th, 2010
9:18 pm
Layla Kiffen: You stated that UGA beats Florida when they have an open date before the Florida game. Didn’t UGA have their open date before the Florida game last year? And did they not come out looking like Grambling? And did they not get ANOTHER BEATDOWN from the Gators 41-17?
The open dates have REALLY helped the last 2 years-STOMPED by Florida & getting run all over by Tech in the 2nd half 33-14 on the way to a 45-42 loss.
Mandy
September 30th, 2010
9:21 pm
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking two years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the seven or eight wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but Florida will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 25, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
Dennis
September 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
True colors, Just like Dooley in the olden days. Run run run away! Get a backbone bullpuppies and play all comers. You never get the test when you cut class.
HD27
September 30th, 2010
9:42 pm
@Hawk01,
In the last decade Ohio State has also had more success than Bama has had! Bama has had an impressive last two years with a program full of rich tradition! Welcome back to college football! And congrats on the National Championship last year!
Coach Richt Fan
September 30th, 2010
9:45 pm
We’ve tried it both ways now. When we had easier non-conf. games, the sports media said our schedule was too soft. When we schedule tougher non-conf., our schedule was to tough. Go ahead, schedule the cupcakes. That will give us more time to prepare for our SEC schedule. Everyone calm down. Florida will find out what it’s like to not have Tebow. Alabama is in a class by themselves right now. This year,when they are on, no team- not FL, Ohio St., South Cal, Oregon, etc.- can beat them. Can you just image what Bama would do to Boise State????
HD27
September 30th, 2010
9:53 pm
@ Mandy
I understand last year was dissappointing and this year isn’t going so well. But occassional top 25? Where have you been? We have been a consistant top 10 program through Mark Richt’s 10 year tenure 5 or 6 out of his 9 years (you can break it down however you like AP, ESPN, Harris Poll) much less a top 25 team! I understand you may want to bash the UGA program while its at a low point, but be real!
HD27
September 30th, 2010
9:55 pm
@ Coach Richt Fan
The same thing they did to Utah? They look impressive, but the games are played on the field!
Coach Richt Fan
September 30th, 2010
10:01 pm
HAWK01
Alabama may be regreting that kind of scheduling in the near future. Again, Dawg fans need to calm down. We’ve had some recruits that just haven’t panned out. Recruiting is a fickle, unpredictable thing. Happens to every coach during their career. We’ll have some more guys coming in next year.
Coach Richt Fan
September 30th, 2010
10:05 pm
HD27,
Your right, that’s why they play the games; however, if I was a betting man, my money would certainly be on Alabama. This isn’t the same team that played Utah. But,seriously, do you really want to see a Boise State vs. Alabama NC game??
Funny Comment
September 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
It will be interesting in the up coming seasons to compare the “strength of schedule” between Georgia State and UGA. Bet you that Georgia State will have the tougher of the 2.
WOOF,,,WOOF on that REDNECKS.
Let's see, the whining humpers had an open date in 2009 before the Fla game, same result 41-17. The only sport the humpers win the NC in is whining
September 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
Pathetic.
2007 Dancing with the Stars National Champions
September 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
Coach Richt and the Dancing Dogs.
Stewart Mandel
September 30th, 2010
11:35 pm
In all my travels, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a fan base whose self-perception is so far from reality. Georgia fashions itself a national power in the vein of Ohio State, USC, et. al., based primarily off one glorious three-year run 30 years ago with Herschel Walker
Ron Zook
September 30th, 2010
11:35 pm
Coach Richt Fan I didnt have Timmy Tebow and how did you stack up against me? Memory short? How about 1-2.
Buck Blew
September 30th, 2010
11:36 pm
Stewart, I made my living off that glorious 3 year run.
Old Dog
October 1st, 2010
12:04 am
We used to enjoy beating up on “Clemmons College” back in my day.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
12:24 am
Bill King, that is B.S.
10 years now of this Coach Richt B.S. and who the LIVING HELL has he beat ?
(1) 2001 he beat # 4 Final AP Poll vols BUT LOST FOUR (4) games
(2) 2005 he beat # 6 Final AP Poll LSU BUT LOST THREE (3) games
(3) 2006 he beat # 9 Final AP Poll Auburn BUT LOST FOUR (4) games
Coach Richt has not, therefore BEAT ANYONE EVER.
Charleston Southern for Oregon and you run in here to support this
B.S.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
12:30 am
UGA is # 11 in all-time wins 1-A
If we sound like we are pretty good football program
NOT SATISFIED
39-17 after 2005 season until today
It is because we are in fact # 11 best all-time.
THAT is not a 3-year run because of 1 man
TidePrideGa
October 1st, 2010
12:48 am
The only championship Georgia will be competing for this year is for the toilet bowl championship. You dunderheads are the most unrealistic fanbase in the nation. History proves that you are far frim elite. A 64 percent career winning percentage isn’t elite. Its middle of the pack.
TidePrideGa
October 1st, 2010
1:00 am
Boll, it took you guys 20 years to win another title. How many years since 80 were you even in the national title hunt? 2002 and 2007. Thats hardly elite. Just sayin
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:18 am
We are unrealistic ?
That coming from an Alabama fan ?
After 2005 to-date :
# 1 at 52-04 Boise State Chris Petersen
# 2 at 52-07 Florida Urban Meyer
# 3 at 48-08 Ohio State Jim Tressel
# 4 at 48-09 Texas Mack Brown
# 5 at 47-09 USC Lane Kiffin after Pete Carroll
# 6 at 46-10 TCU Gary Patterson
# 7 at 46-13 Oklahoma Bob Stoops
# 8 at 44-12 BYU Bronco Mendenhall
# 9 at 44-12 Utah Kyle Whittingham
# 10 at 44-13 LSU Les Miles
# 11 at 43-13 West Virginia Bill Stewart after Rich Rodriguez
# 12 at 43-13 Penn State Joe Paterno
# 13 at 43-15 Virginia Tech Frank Beamer
# 14 at 42-15 Cincinnati Butch Jones after Brian Kelly
# 15 at 40-17 Boston College Frank Spaziani Jeff Jagodzinski Tom O’Brien
# 16 at 40-19 Central Michigan Dan Enos Butch Jones Jeff Quinn Brian Kelly
# 17 at 42-14 Wisconsin Bret Bielema
# 18 at 42-16 Missouri Gary Pinkel
# 19 at 40-16 Oregon Chip Kelly after Mike Bellotti
# 20 at 39-16 Texas Tech Tommy Tuberville Ruffin McNeill Mike Leach
# 21 at 39-17 Georgia Bulldogs Coach Richt & his sorry butt “coaching staff”
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:19 am
Did I miss something Alabama fan ?
Where is Alabama after 2005 season through today ?
NOT 1 of the Top 21 teams, now are you ?
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:24 am
NCAA
Division I-FBS institutions on probation
The following Division I Football Bowl Subdivision institutions are currently on probation by the NCAA in one or more sports:
Institution Sport(s) Expiry
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa :
Football, Softball, Baseball, Women’s Gymnastics, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Golf, Women’s Golf, Men’s Swimming, Women’s Swimming, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Indoor & Outdoor, Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Track
CMR is the Problem
October 1st, 2010
1:27 am
Great – Just Great – I guess the doggies don’t think they can compete with GOOD OC Teams – so they now want to play the powder-puffs. Next thing you know UGA will be scheduling the Tri-Delts sorority. A team that has PRIDE in itself and think of itself as a national power would NOT be afraid to play quality OCT.
Jeff
October 1st, 2010
1:28 am
Hawk 01 — you are DEAD wrong, buddy.
A program in shambles is what North Carolina is about to be… it’s what Vandy has been for 50 years… it’s what Washington State is… it’s what Ga. Tech was in the 1-10, mid-90s years.
Georgia’s program is prestigious, wins more than it loses and has a massively loyal fanbase.
Georgia has one of the top-five stadiums in America, size-wise, and has filled it up for decades. How many expansions has Sanford gone through since the 70s? Ga. Tech had to REDUCE their seating a few years ago.
Georgia is considered to be “bad” or have “down years” if it doesn’t go 11-1 or 10-2 and play for an SEC title. That means expectations are through the roof, and that comes from WINNING 10 or 11 games a year to BUILD that expectation. Mark Richt has done that more often than not at Georgia.
Until the last year or so, UGA was a tremendous road team under Richt. Check out his road record from 2001-2008. Pretty impressive. Not many schools win like that on the road.
Georgia gets top-10 recruiting classes most years. Programs in SHAMBLES don’t.
Georgia is one of the most coveted coaching jobs in the country. Ask how many coaches would apply if the UGA job came open. The resumes would number in the hundreds, including some high-profile coaches.
Until the last year and a half, Georgia dominated the SEC as usually the 3rd or 4th best team in the league. Yes, there have been some bad losses in 2009 and 2010, but before the last 15 games or so, the only teams considered better overall than Georgia in the SEC were Florida, Alabama and maybe LSU. For the best college football conference in the nation, that’s pretty dang good.
Under Richt, Georgia is at least IN THE RUNNING most years to go the SEC title game, which means it has a shot at top-5 nationally and maybe getting a shot at the national championship. Can Ga. Tech say that? Nope. I understand the last 15 games haven’t been the best, but I am judging the last decade of work, not the last 12 months. IN THAT PERIOD… OVERALL… Georgia has been a force, knocking off top-10 teams like Auburn, Va. Tech, LSU, Ga. Tech, etc.
Oh, yeah, and check out Georgia’s record vs. ACC teams over the last 3 decades or so… it’s pretty dominant.
None of those “lower tier” SEC teams you want to lump Ga. in with have won ANYTHING for decades. Georgia has won SEC titles and been to BCS bowls under Mark Richt… only the aforementioned Fla., Bama and LSU can lay claim to that.
No, I’m not happy with Georgia’s fortunes this year… but I’d rather an 8-win season be considered bad than be at a school where an 8-win season is the GOAL and considered GOOD (South Carolina, Ga. Tech, Ole Miss, most Big 10 teams, most Big 12 teams, any Big East team, etc.)
Case closed.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:29 am
Alabama is ALWAYS on PROBATION
It is ALL you do
Alabama is ON PROBATION this year, today, all of 2010
All of 2011
2012 until JUNE 11
Alabama was ON PROBATION in 2002, or you WOULD HAVE BEEN ranked in the Top 10.
Subjunctive case, contrary to fact.
I love me some Alabama fans with your freaking PRIDE of being on
PROBATION your whole damned existence.
Jeff
October 1st, 2010
1:32 am
Oh, and by the way, despite how TERRIBLE you haters think Ga. and Richt have been recently… Georgia has NEVER had a 3 or 4 win season under Richt… in fact, the worst team over the last 40 years or so I think was the 1990 team that was 4-7. OTHER THAN THAT… Georgia usually wins 8 games or more. In the ultra-competitive SEC, in the best league in the country, in the league that has four straight national titles… that’s not bad.
Yes, this is a bad year… yes, Ga. is struggling this season… no, we won’t win any titles… but ya know what? Richt has never been far off from ripping a 10-2 season right after a “bad” year. Give him some time, things will get fixed. And Georgia will once again be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the SEC very soon.
Jeff
October 1st, 2010
1:34 am
And if I’m not mistaken, didn’t Bama go 3-8 not too long ago? Wasn’t Tech 1-10 sometime around ‘94 or ‘95? Hasn’t almost every team in the SEC or ACC struggled at periods over the last 10 years or so? NOBODY wins 10 or 11 games for 20 straight years, not even Bama or USC or Florida or Fla. State. Look at Tennessee… playing for the SEC title one year, plummetting down to a five-win season and the Lane Kiffin fiasco just a couple of years later. Georgia hasn’t slipped to that yet, and I don’t believe it will.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:35 am
Jeff,
Good piece, however, Virginia Tech was NOT a Top 10 team in the Final AP Poll
Georgia tek was NOT a Top 10 team in the Final AP Poll, either.
Jeff, here is Coach Richt Era, in total :
Winning Percentage Coach at Current School
.928 # 1 Chris Petersen Boise State 52-4 year 5
.859 # 2 Urban Meyer Florida 61-10 year 6*
.823 # 3 Mack Brown Texas 131-28 year 13
.823 # 4 Jim Tressel Ohio State 98-21 year 10
.823 # 5 Chip Kelly Oregon 14-3 year 2
.822 # 6 Nick Saban Alabama 37-8 year 4*
.812 # 7 Bob Stoops Oklahoma 121-28 year 12
.795 # 8 Brian Kelly Cincinnati 35-9 year 4
.785 # 9 Les Miles LSU 55-15 year 6*
.760 # 10 Gary Patterson TCU 89-28 year 11
.752 # 11 Joe Paterno Penn State 397-130-3 year 45
.752 # 12 Mark Richt Georgia 91-30 year 10*
Jeff
October 1st, 2010
1:38 am
Boweevil — sorry for not remembering the rankings… but you get the idea. Georgia has beaten some good teams in big games (beating top-five Auburn on the road a few years ago comes to mind.) And so I see by your numbers, Richt is one of the top-12 winningest coaches in the country over the last decade or so… fine, I’ll take that. Top 12 out of what, 119 Division 1 teams? That’s upper echelon stuff there… I’ll take being in the top 10 percent of anything.
Go Dawgs.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:42 am
The other part of it Jeff is, when you look at your great piece, what did you really point to ?
1. Win over vols # 4 Final AP Poll 2001 – lost 4 games
2. Win over LSU # 6 Final AP Poll 2005 – lost 3 games
3. Win over Auburn # 9 Final AP Poll 2006 – lost 4 games
There is NOT any other Top 10 Final AP Poll team Coach Richt beat.
3-8 vs Top 10 Final AP Poll Coach Richt.
ALL the OTHER SEC teams you just listed WON MORE vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in just 1 GREAT YEAR than Coach Richt has won vs Top 10 Final AP Poll in all 10 years.
This is where you really MISS THEIR POINT, Jeff, sir.
In the years Coach Richt was “GREAT” to quote you, he BEAT NO ONE.
TidePrideGa
October 1st, 2010
1:52 am
Thanks for proving my point for me Boll. You really are the most unrealistic fans in the nation. And when faced with facts you fly off the handle. Here’s another fact for you. Georgia has been cited fir probation more than Alabama has. I’m sorry your team sucks, but thats just reality. Something you doggie fans have trouble dealing with.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
1:58 am
Not only has Coach Richt NOT BEAT a SINGLE Top 10 Final AP Poll team in a SINGLE year in which he did not lose 4 games, 3 games or 4 games that season and only did that 3 times out of what could have been 142 games now; but he has added in some really hard to EXCUSE AWAY 9 losses to teams NOT RANKED in the Top 25 Final AP Poll. Remember a 4-win Vandie just a few years ago, the same year we beat Auburn who ended up # 9 ?
What the other fans of other schools are trying to tell you Jeff is that Coach Richt really has NOT BEAT the Top 10 teams in the Final AP Poll at 3-8, NOT beat the Top 25 teams in the Final AP Poll at 17-21, and has ADDED in NINE (9) MORE LOSSES against LOUSY TEAMS.
You might take that.
I don’t.
There we differ, you and I, Jeff. There I side with the fans of other teams.
Georgia tek fans I would NOT side with, however.
Alabama fans I would not side with, either. Like you said, and like I said to that numbnuts Tide fan posting to you and to me Jeff. Alabama had to VACATE 21 wins the last few years and REMAINS ON PROBATION as they ALWAYS ARE.
I see no qualifying comments about LSU, as you qualify their “better status” you say Jeff. They have been MUCH BETTER than Coach Richt. So, has Florida.
Alabama too, if they were NOT ALWAYS ON PROBATION.
This in our own conference.
I get no DAMN SOLACE, Jeff, out of 20-15 vs SEC after 2005 season. In the SEC East, alone, there has only been 1 team after the 2005 until today. That is Florida. Want to explain the 10-11 record vs SEC East after 2005 season to-date Jeff ? I didn’t think so. It is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE for Coach Richt. You talk about the last 2 years. I talk about the last FIVE (5) YEARS including this one.
Jim Donnan left a TON OF TALENT here for Coach Richt. His OWN RECRUITS have DONE FAR WORSE both ON THE FIELD, especially vs SEC, and OFF the field filling the damn jails, Jeff. Why did you neatly just skip over that please Jeff ? Why NOT ONE DAMN WORD about Fulmer Cup National Championship 2010 and # 2 Fulmer Cup after 2005 season to-date ?
Jeff, you cannot discuss Coach Richt and NOT DISCUSS he is # 2 Fulmer Cup Standings for all of the years after the 2005 season in the most arrested / suspended football team in America. Hell, 10 this year arrested.
If we are a power in football, not were, but ARE, then who is our
RUNNING BACK ?
For example ?
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
2:04 am
Tide Pride you have NO CREDIBILITY.
Alabama is ON PROBATION
And, you run in here to the UGA blog to BRAG to ME that
ALABAMA is on PROBATION.
PROBATION
Try SAYING IT Tide PRIDE, you blithering IDIOT.
This is what YOU want to talk about
PROBATION.
It is NOT a topic you can win.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
2:07 am
Alabama is NOT even in the Top 25 in Wins after the 2005 season through today.
If you win every game this year, and you could, you STILL will
NOT BE IN THE TOP 25 TEAMS IN WINS AFTER 2005 SEASON THRU TODAY
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
2:11 am
How FREAKING great is Alabama ?
That 1 of YOUR FANS runs into our blog to DISRUPT a discussion about our F’up football program among us UGA Bulldogs’ fans.
YOU WANT US TO STOP DISCUSSION OF IT
And, talk to YOU about Alabama PROBATION yet AGAIN.
You have zero intelligence, no credibility and are breaking up a discussion you have no dawg in.
To TALK ABOUT PROBATION at Alabama.
Which of course is NOT why I or any of the rest of us came in here.
To talk to YOU about your LOUSY FOOTBALL PROGRAM not even in the Top 25 programs in wins over these last five (5) years now this year being year 5.
You want to talk about PROBATION at Aladamnbama.
TidePrideGA
October 1st, 2010
2:13 am
That you have to bring up the whole probation thing shows that you are desperate.. You can’t deal with reality so you have to call me names and insult me. Thats what we call and ad hominem attack. You can’t win the argument so you resort to silly namecalling Try looking that up. if you want to have a constructive argument on UGA”s strengths and weaknesses I would be happy to oblige you. But personal attacks make you look desperate and foolish. Like I said look whose been cited for probation more UGA or BAMA. The Answer is UGA. But judging from your previous replies you seem to have trouble grasping the reality of the situation facing UGA. Maybe one day you will win a National Championship, but then again I doubt it. Have a nice evening,
TidePrideGA
October 1st, 2010
2:16 am
I didn’t know this was your personal blog Boll, I am a fan of the SEC and like to talk college football in general. I didn’t know that I needed a personal invite from you to post on this forum. Like I said I would be happy to have an intelligent conversation with you, lets leave out the name-calling though. It doesn’t help anyone.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
2:23 am
I did not start it Tide Pride, you did.
I just finished it.
I can do it a lot better than you could ever hope to.
You are not in my class Tide Pride; yet, you started it with ME.
Read it above, and your comments to ME.
Then, you got it back.
Dish it out.
But, you cannot take it.
And, I by God Above, will give it back to you.
Go whine to someone else.
BoWeevil
October 1st, 2010
2:28 am
LIAR.
You also are a LIAR Tide Pride.
I posted and you waited
18 minutes
The, you REPLIED to ME :
“You dunderheads are the most unrealistic fanbase in the nation.”
Since then, you have been the LOW MAN ON THE TOTEM POLL
So, take your LIES, and your WEAK BUTT B.S. and shove it that you are hurt that I called you names in REPLY you sorry little piece of crap
TidePrideGA
October 1st, 2010
2:28 am
Wow, you’re a real internet tough guy aren’t you. Your village called, they want their idiot back.
jr
October 1st, 2010
4:26 am
hawk01 you ignorance is apparent but you are right georgia is now bottom tier program. but not because of talent but because of poor coaching. if you put nick saban at georgia he will win the title every year or at least play for it. the same goes with urban myer. uga has the same number of players currently in the nfl as fl, and bama. and ohio state is a joke the last title they won the refs took from the canes. every year they play the sec school they get crushed.
Bama Fan #2
October 1st, 2010
6:35 am
The hate for the crimson tide is getting deep these days with the dawg nation!! Good luck in the
Rocky Mountains and ROLL TIDE!!!
George
October 1st, 2010
7:00 am
This is really funny. You people are 1-3 and talking championship. I’m not sure of what beating Charleston Southern will make you champions.
However Foley did say McGarity was the best office manager he ever had.
Court Deputy
October 1st, 2010
8:09 am
How do it know?
Dawg Fud
October 1st, 2010
9:10 am
So freaking lame, McGarity. So freaking lame.
Dirty Dawg
October 1st, 2010
9:43 am
I won’t bother to comment at Schultz’s and Barnhard’s site (or whatever these are called)…they have always been like our Tech, and others, friends that seem to relish rubbing our noses in ‘it’ at every turn. Sure we’re all pretty damn disappointed – actually that’s not strong enough – but we still look for reasons to be, at least a little, optimistic. I looked at the stats of the two teams and it would appear that we’re pretty even – except that we’ve played tougher opponents. Jim Donnan said it yesterday, this is the worst team we’ve played so far, and that includes LA-LAF. They beat a bad Colorado State and an average Hawaii…then they got beat by about 50 by a Cal that beat ‘em about as bad as they did Cal-Davis…and which then lost to Nevada by 21. So unless we’re so completely in the tank that the coaches couldn’t bring us out of it, then we should cover the 4 and half by which we’re favored.
Gilly Walker
October 1st, 2010
9:46 am
I am a UT Chattanooga fan, and we’ll take a piece of that dog meat. Bring it on.
01HAWK
October 1st, 2010
9:59 am
You guys are so jealous of BAMA and there rich history and outstanding coaches. Dooley is no comparison to BEAR BRYANT and CMR is no comparison to SABAN.
I just love going to work and seeing all of the red faced UGA co-workers and rubbing it in your faces. Sometimes you guys just put your head between your legs and go the other way ………………….Like a dog.
PUPPIES lose to BUFFS on Saturday…………………….LOSERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
01HAWK
October 1st, 2010
10:01 am
I am a Colorodo Buff fan……………………..Lets go Buffs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
01HAWK
October 1st, 2010
10:02 am
Many of my co-workers will not even wear there UGA gear now that you guys are in the TANK !!!!!!
01HAWK
October 1st, 2010
10:05 am
I bet DUKE could beat you guys and they are one of the worst football schools around. When they beat you, then Duke can say……………………..Also, by the way, you will probably be working for me in the future……………..That was FUNNY !!!!!!!!!!!
Sick of the trolling
October 1st, 2010
10:09 am
If you are sick of people ‘trolling’ these boards with juvenile comments, please send the AJC a suggestion to require a user name and password log-in to post comments. I think that this will dissuade this behavior as they will lose the ability to use multiple user names. Also, only people who really are motivated to comment will take the 5 minutes to register through email. Personally, I’d like to see some civility and intelligence return to these boards. You can send your suggestion/request through this link: http://projects.ajc.com/customercare/contactus-form/
01HAWK
October 1st, 2010
10:28 am
WOW…………………………COLORODO won a National Championship in 1990 and UGA…………………………Still living in 1980 with HUSCHELL WALKER.
When will the fire CMR websites start coming up ? I guess after the BUFFALO’S beat you.
Time for the BUFFS to get a BOOTNAIL and stick it to you.
Boise Dawg
October 1st, 2010
12:14 pm
Bill, Richt is wrong and his attitude about traveling to play big games convinces me more than ever he isn’t cut out to be a head coach at a major program. Playing national games against other marquee programs HAS to help with recruiting… and I am not talking about attracting high school kids on the west coast. It helps even for recruits in the state of Georgia because most kids are going to love the exposure and excitement of playing on national television. Games against the likes of Oregon bring ESPN Game Day and an 8pm game on ABC.
The problem with McGarity’s philosophy is while it might make it slightly easier to win an SEC East title… it does very little to help you in the BCS picture where strength of schedule does factor into the voting.
Alabama and Florida have a strong brand right now… Georgia doesn’t and this new scheduling philosophy doesn’t help in my opinion. You either have a championship quality team or you don’t… and a softer schedule doesn’t make your team any better. Maybe I’ll change my tune if we win another SEC title and/or finally get into a BCS championship game in the next 3 or 4 years… but without that where does McGarity get us? Further down the path of irrelevancy.
ATL Bama Fan
October 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
Bo Weevil, The Bama fans are chiming in because the author of this blog “started it” as you said by implying the loss to Bama was due to poor little UGA being jet lagged from a long trip. Don’t belittle our win just make yourselves feel better. And, why do you only go back to 2005 with your stats? Because you realize that’s the only way to make Bama look different than they are. I wish y’all were doing better this year so we could beat y’all on the field in the SEC CG and end this once and for all.
Doug
October 2nd, 2010
8:07 pm
I am a UGA grad and a lifelong fan, and I have never been more embarrassed. Whoever said it first, said it right. Georgia is in the second if not third tier of the SEC but is not even close to AL, FL, LSU and TN.
still a fan
October 3rd, 2010
12:16 am
Atl
bama fan
Please do nor presume to know the class level of Bulldogs by the people who write on this, they are not a representative of the fans I know. Ithe fans I have talked to are heartbroken for the players and the fans. The coaches, not so much…they are making BIG bucks and we have big talent on our team.Almost all the problems can be traced back to a lack of discipline and that is a COACHING!!! By the way, why do you spend too nmuch time on our site if you dislike our comments, why don/t you and all those Tech fans stay off this site?
Atlanta Sports Fan
October 3rd, 2010
11:03 am
The onus is on the coaches and team now. You know they feel awful. They must be tired of this losing streak. How they start handling the next few games will go a long way in deciding if CMR is around next season.
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