Weighing pros and cons of Dogs opening up against Boise State
Today's Boise State isn't the same program that fell to the Dogs in 2005. (Associated Press)
So Georgia’s going to swap out a home game against Louisville in order to open up next season against Boise State in one of those Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
I’m not sure I think this is entirely a good idea, though I can see some of the logic behind it. Georgia gets to dump a weak home-and-home series against Louisville arranged by Greg McGarity’s predecessor, will open the season in the national spotlight (keeping one of its SEC rivals from occupying that spot, though I don’t know how big a deal that really is, recruiting-wise) and will pick up a nice piece of change in the process.
But on the debit side, the Dogs give up a home game Between the Hedges (which is the biggest negative about it from my view as a season ticket holder) and will have to open up what needs to be a crucial turn-around season for Mark Richt’s program by facing one of the hottest teams in the country over the past couple of seasons. Probably without A.J. Green. True, the Broncos haven’t yet beaten an SEC team and will lose some of the talent from their current team, but this isn’t the same Boise State program that D.J. and company throttled 48-13 in Athens back in 2005.
Louisville would be an easier win. And an early season loss wouldn’t be a great way to bolster the confidence of a team coming off its worst season in many years.
It would, however, make the Georgia Bulldogs “relevant” from a national perspective as the new season kicks off. Which beats the heck out of being relegated to noontime games.
A gamble? Yeah. But if Georgia somehow wins, it will be a big boost to the team’s confidence and perhaps restore some of the swagger they’ve lost over the past couple of years.
While I was weighing all those pros and cons, I asked my brother Tim what he thought about it.
“It will be the first win in an undefeated season,” he responded. “I’ll let you know later as to which team I’m talking about.”
Indeed.
So what do you think of this move?
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239 comments Add your comment
Jacque
November 21st, 2010
8:29 am
Exterminator, did someone give you a wedgy with your red panties?
also
November 21st, 2010
8:44 am
Bama was just on Thursday. Dogs just wish they were good enough to get invited!
jr
November 21st, 2010
9:00 am
i cannot believe that some of you actually believe that boise can beat uga. what are you on crack. boise is wack playing in a sorry conference. this uga team would be undefeated if it had boise schedule. and to the writer it was uga crushing boise on its blue turf in 2005, that was not a home game for uga. if uga cant beat boise next year they should join the wac. and mark richt should be fired on the spot.
Hal Combo
November 21st, 2010
9:06 am
But Bill, what if Boise St hits as hard as Auburn did? The Lady Dogs won’t be able to cry all week next season: Spurior’s bunch is going to play too rough, too!
Pago Pago Dawg
November 21st, 2010
9:23 am
What’s the deal about “this game will help recruiting”….we always have a Top Ten class…but…nothing happens.
Smith
November 21st, 2010
9:28 am
McGarity living up to his ESPN billing as the SEC’s worst AD. Now I see why? One of the dumbest moves he’s made, and that says a lot, after this season’s dumb and dumber moves by McGarity.
I still can’t find anyone who can name 1, one, 1, positive thing McGarity has done for Georgia in 2010 that helped Richt in 2010.
Tiger
November 21st, 2010
9:35 am
R U gonna play your sissy quarterback wearing a pink dress? Do ya want a practice game first with your betters? Come on over to Auburn, we will show you, again, how this game played.
savannadawg
November 21st, 2010
9:43 am
Great chance to recruit Greg Petterson to be our next Head Football Coach!!!!!!!!
jack bull
November 21st, 2010
10:13 am
bill, we give up a home game in Athens this year for basically a home game in Atlanta, PLUS, we’ll get to add a 7th home game next year, where we would’ve had to go to Louisville..i don’t see anything negative about that at all, myself…
and who is Greg Petterson?
PMC
November 21st, 2010
10:33 am
Any of you guys killing BSU because they play in the WAC don’t understand football. Yes their record is inflated because they play teams that aren’t on their level during the regular season. Georgia lost this year to a miserable Colorado team. Boise is beating all comers and they have done so with different layers of talent in the post season. Even when they don’t have equitable size and talent.
Boise State is a very good football team. They tackle well, they execute and they understand their assignments. 3 things that we wish Georgia were able to do. They haven’t done that now for 3 years or more.
I applaud UGA for taking this challenge. At the very least it keeps another SEC contender out of that slot. There is a heck of a lot of work to do probably finding junior college talent and getting these Dawgs ready to compete next year.
I hope it’s a good outcome.
SickandTired
November 21st, 2010
10:35 am
I think its wonderful. I think McGarity is a genius for setting this up. He’s setting Mark Richt up to crash and burn and at the same time give the fan base a really close look at the next head football coach at Georgia if the AD can convince him to come there. So remember Georgia fans don’t be booing when Boise is jacking up the scoreboard. You want to make a nice impression on the guy that will bring you out of the wilderness that Mark Richt has led you in to.
DAWG55
November 21st, 2010
11:06 am
Great move…..especially if Boise goes undefeated this year. I like the stage, setting and opportunity.Much more to win than to lose. Atlanta will be basically a home game for us.
Woodstock Dawg
November 21st, 2010
12:45 pm
Much more upside than downside. Great exposure for a program that has been in decline the past couple of years, and a great opportunity to get back on the college football map. Boise could possibly be in the NC game this year (possible but unlikely). Also, the Dawgs will have a great motivation to stay focused over the summer which is something they haven’t done in a while.
Nick
November 21st, 2010
12:51 pm
UGA has nothing to lose and everything to gain. It’s a brilliant move by McGarity. If UGA loses to Boise it’s not the end of the world by any means, but it won’t be easy to get ready for Lattimore and SC in game 2. Look what happened to VT after they lost to Boise this year (lost to James Madison University to start the season 0-2)
Emory in Macon
November 21st, 2010
1:20 pm
Boise State 49
Georgia 13
Warden, Athens Correctional Institution
November 21st, 2010
1:25 pm
The outcome will depend heavily on how many ThUGA players are in jail or suspended for the first game.
Remember… this is the team that won the Fulmer Cup.
Red Pantalones
November 21st, 2010
1:28 pm
The dawgs’ lucky red panties will pull them through.
Vote For Pedro
November 21st, 2010
1:29 pm
First!
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2010
1:31 pm
Well, Smiths, that’s because we all are not in the closed door meeting listening to the conversation between McGarity and Mark Richt. Nor are any of of in his office to see what he is doing all day. If we go by his few comments, he has asked Richt what he can do and committed to doing anything he can. I assume most of an AD’s job is done behind the scenes with little regard for making some public display so that ESPN can supply you with an opinion. As far as not making some big grand jesture of support publically for Richt, I would suggest that you find yourself as a first year AD at a school when the football team is having its worst year in a while before you decided what public comments are appropriate, given the need to balance a lot of different factions at work. Personally, I think he has done a masterful job of saying exactly the right things and nothing more. Recruits aren’t stupid, they know what the deal is, they aren’t hanging up on the AD’s words. As far as uncertainty, there really isnt any, is there? There is no circumstance that Mark Richt is not the football coach of the UGA next year. That’s not even in debate. Are you wanting him to say something about 2012 now?
What was that other thing that bothered you, he could get the NCAA to drop the blatent rule breaking suspension of AJ? uh huh, and he should have done what exactly?
Snoop Dawg
November 21st, 2010
1:38 pm
Playing Boise State is a great decision for one big reason. When the Dawgs get smacked down on national TV with all our 5-star recruits by a team that plays on blue astroturf because of our coaching staff’s obvious ignorance and incompetence , it will hastene the day when Adams and McGarrity have to pull the plug on Da Preacha Man Marked Wreck and his Freak Medicine Show with the clown Bobo.
IRISH DAWGS
November 21st, 2010
1:39 pm
georgia sucks this year and will sucks next year.thank to loser coach mart richt.
Ceasar
November 21st, 2010
2:15 pm
Will the tfUGA fans trash Atlanta like they do Athens???
zippity doodah
November 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
How is it a bad idea to play a good team? I get sick of all the jostling in scheduling. Winners play to win and should be willing to play anybody, anytime, anywhere. If you don’t have that kind of confidence, then go home.
cc
November 21st, 2010
2:23 pm
Bad idea and will lend to cementing Richt’s future as “former” head coach.
Ceasar
November 21st, 2010
2:27 pm
CMR gets $3 Million and loses 6 games… AJ gets $1000 and is suspended 4 games… Something wrong with this picture!!!!!!
FloridaStateinDC
November 21st, 2010
2:33 pm
yea, uga has shown nothing to show they can or will beat boise state….keep thinking they are
the team from 2005 and you’ll get run out of the ga dome early…
Dawg gone
November 21st, 2010
2:59 pm
Bill (Dawg with a bag over your head)
You are totally irrelevant. No one cares what your think becauseyour brain is so very small. Please keep the bag on your head!
VInings Dawg
November 21st, 2010
3:01 pm
Dang I was hoping the AJC would fire you Bill. Your columns are terrible.
Ceasar
November 21st, 2010
3:02 pm
Have you read about the salaries of Purdue’s cronies!!!!!!!!!! Investagation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fair and Balanced
November 21st, 2010
3:02 pm
GA is in trouble with this new AD. He has already made a big step to a new level of dumb! This is just dumb. But aside from that, it is against what everyone thought was a past mistake: Scheduling powerhouses in OOC play. Additionally, it deprives UGA season ticket holders of another home game. Every elite NCAA football program has 7 home games. Oh yeah, I forgot – GA is not elite anymore. Hence, we hire Evans and droop down to McGarity. Great going Adams!
oakwood dawg
November 21st, 2010
3:15 pm
okay so playing bs is a bad idea it can only help, at least uga is not afraid to travel to other schools outside the conference. when is the last time mighty florida traveled outside the south to play in the regular season, oh wait let me think “NEVER EVER” i would say quit giving uga crap. remember steel sharpens steel, so to be the best you play the best :i.e: miami in the 80’s and 90′ would play anybody anywhere SO SHUT UP .
Maddawg
November 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
I think it’s a great decision to play them. Georgia needs to be more like the USC Trojans with their mind-set, “we’ll play anybody at any time at any place”. Play with no fear! We ARE the Georgia Bulldogs!!
TVDawg83
November 21st, 2010
3:44 pm
The last Potato State team to play UGA had just beaten Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl? Wasn’t that right? Whether or not, doesn’t matter. Georgia will fry the taters again. Blue Hashbrowns State is not that good and UGA is not as bad as many here want to think. AJ Green is not the entire offense. Hell, Bobo can’t get the ball to AJ enough anyway. Besides, the NFL will strike and AJ will be back in 2011. Let UGA play the game. It’s a big plus for recruiting, especially in Georgia and the rest of the country. UGA is smart to play this game; what, you want Bama back in the state to steal our players? Give me a break. The glass is half full, people.
TVDawg83
November 21st, 2010
3:47 pm
Love the Free Shoes U. comments, LOL. FSU, King of the All Crap Conference….oh wait, not so fast…LOL….Miami is the All Crap Champ…again….when was the last time Free Shoes U. won the ACC?
Waiting, convicts.
TVDawg83
November 21st, 2010
3:50 pm
Hey Tiger…enjoy probation and the death penalty. LOL. Auburn: the SMU of the South.
Will
November 21st, 2010
4:28 pm
Any competent high school coaching staff could take the talent UGA will have next year and win a minimum of eight games. The elite high school staffs in Georgia woudl win nine or more games.
Richt and his staff will win no more than seven games next year and UGA will be looking for a new coach.
Scheduling cup cakes would only delay the inevitable.
Easy Win
November 21st, 2010
4:55 pm
GA will beat boise easy—they are overrated and losing 3-4 of their top players. Plus, Ga will have 95% of the fans. This game will get ugly early—GA 33 Boise 13.
Alabama Jack
November 21st, 2010
5:12 pm
Yo dawgs – Boise State ain’t Idaho State
Ringleader
November 21st, 2010
6:19 pm
Uga68 You read it just like they planned it. The Chic is not paying the buyout, it was deducted from Georgia share. Alabama is being paid 2 million. This takes away a home game and hurts Athens. This is set up to be just like a weekend in Jacksonville.
Devil's Advocate
November 21st, 2010
6:27 pm
There are some unresolved ‘issues’ in the Dawg’s camp, but I can’t enumerate. If these are not addressed properly, and some holes filled, Boise may just have fun with the Dawgs.
awesome
November 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
I’m a season ticket holder and I love this move. This is basically a home game anyway b/c of how close it is and the fact that Boise is only getting 7500 tickets. As a season ticket holder, you’ll be able to get tickets if you want them.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2010
8:06 pm
So, let me understand the logic here. The “fans”, boosters, the ADmin, whomever, are going to call for Richt to be fired IF he were to lose to a top 10 high profile team to open the year, BUT that SAME group were going to be fully supportive of him and job he is doing IF he were to beat a Louisville? Sure.
I think it’s much more likely that those camps are already set up.
luvthosedawgs68
November 21st, 2010
8:37 pm
in reference to the comment from jr. If our dawgs can’t beat the lowly Colorado Buffaloes, how do you think they’ll do it against Boise State?
luvthosedawgs68
November 21st, 2010
8:40 pm
I hope the team and coaching staff don’t underestimate the Broncos like some of the fans are. Huge mistake……
Tangp
November 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
This virtually guarantees that the Dawgs will start the 2011 season with a loss.
Better to schedule Georgia State University for the inaugural game to have any chance of winning.
It is past time to show Mark Richt the door. That pseudo holy roller can’t win football games or keep his players out of jail.
still a dawg fan
November 21st, 2010
9:04 pm
Hey Everyone,
Be careful what you wish for—The Boise Team we will play next year WILL HAVE MORE TALENT then our team even though they are losing some seniors.They are at the point now where they re-load every year—-something we use to do.
There offensive & defensive lines are a lot better then our’s. They are much more physical on both side of the ball & there QB Moore will better the best QB we will play against next year.
RECRUIT BETTER& WE WILL WIN
wildbill
November 21st, 2010
9:12 pm
Still a Dawg fan, I agree with what you said but your conclusion.
AltamahaDawg
November 21st, 2010
9:23 pm
Somehow I don’t think the guys will be relying on the fans for the scouting report on the Broncos.
Delbert D.
November 21st, 2010
9:28 pm
As a public service to southern football fans, excerpts from The Onion:
“Report: Majority Of College Football Fans Way Too Into Favorite Teams”
“INDIANAPOLIS—According to a yearlong study released Monday by the NCAA, 87 percent of college football fans are “way, way too into” their favorite teams. “The degree to which collegiate football dominates the conversation, correspondence, Internet use, mode of dress, and television habits of its fans, especially during the season, intrudes on nearly every aspect of their daily lives,” the report read in part, explaining that many casual football fans found their more-invested counterparts either annoying, brainwashed, or slightly pathetic for being so emotionally invested in the lives of 20-year-old boys. “In almost a quarter of cases, fans interviewed were unable to go three sentences without alluding to college football in some way. Moreover, Auburn sucks; rammer jammer, yellowhammer.” NCAA researchers apologized for the lateness of the report, which was conducted last season but suspended in the spring due to unavoidable conflicts with March Madness.”
funny...
November 21st, 2010
10:24 pm
For one thing, ESPN doesn’t want a “crappy” Georgia team. Look for ESPN to really bolster their support and ranking of the Georgia team in the offseason. Either way, Boise will be ranked very high, and ESPN will artificially rank Georgia as high as possible to make the game a big time matchup. It’s a win/win for Georgia. It will either provide the program with a big time TV win or speed up the process of a regime change in Athens. If they win, the team gets confidence and has momentum going into USCe. If they lose, the Richt detractors will be hard to stop. Especially after not delivering in 2008.
Either way, Georgia will know what they are after this game. Hopefully it’s a big win.