Is it tough to get excited about a 6-6 Georgia team’s bowl trip?
I’m always grateful for another chance to see the Dogs play football, but it appears a lot of UGA fans are having some trouble getting excited about this week’s Liberty Bowl match with Central Florida.
Only 4,800 tickets have been sold so far, despite Memphis being a definite step up in bowl destination from last year. (At least the Dogs didn’t find out, like Tech did, that if there’s anything worse than playing a bowl game in Shreveport, it’s losing a bowl game in Shreveport!)
Still, a bowl game, any bowl game, is a plus for any season, right?
Well, not in the eyes of my pal Scott, with whom I had an interesting discussion last week. Scott said he is “philosophically opposed to playing in this bowl.” He takes the point of view that UGA should refuse to participate in lower rank bowls in order to make the point to the players that they’re serious about setting a higher standard in Athens.
Scott says that if Mark Richt “really wants to hammer home the ‘this is uncceptable’ theme, a money-losing bowl in an underachieving, nonwinning season should be the place to start. I don’t go for the ’seniors reward’ line — reward for what? Going 6-6?”
I told Scott I certainly could understand that viewpoint, but a big factor in favor of accepting a bowl bid was getting another month of practice, which gives a program a headstart on the next season. Scott didn’t buy that argument.
“How much did running the scout team for 14 extra days in preparation for Shreveport play into Aaron Murray’s development last year? Not much, I bet, compared to finally working with real players in spring/fall camps. I think any benefit derived from 2-3 weeks of practice is less than proving you are serious when you say ‘this is unacceptable.’ To me, it’s just more lip service along the lines of what we’ve heard last year.
“Cam Newton didn’t get any extra practice with Auburn during last year’s bowl, but he seemed to pick up the offense OK without it. I think the ‘we need the practice’ argument is voiced by all coaches as part of their natural controlling nature. All coaches think they need more practice in any sport. But bowl practices are way too far removed from next season to have any real bearing on improved play. I think you get players’ attention more by saying We’re Not Going Anywhere Until We All Step It Up.”
I agreed with Scott that setting higher standards is a good thing, but I noted that the conference might balk at Georgia turning down a bowl since everyone splits the take.
Do the 2010 Dogs deserve to be in a bowl game? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
“But that’s also somewhat of a mirage,” Scott said. “We will lose money going to Memphis. Did you see the Sports Illustrated story on bowl finances a few months ago? Ohio State lost $79,000 going to the Rose Bowl last year despite a payout of $18 million; the Big 10 has the same pooling plan as the SEC. The real factor is if an SEC team turns down any bid from a Shreveport or Memphis, the bowl will drop affiliation for fear of getting burned in future. And the SEC doesn’t want that (or even the reputation for it) so they go along with the it’s-better-to-accept myth. It’s the tail wagging the dog.”
But, Scott said, “Imagine if UGA became the first SEC school to announce, henceforth, only winning teams will accept bowl bids. You don’t think that would create a little aura for the program? Heck, even if Vandy made that statement you’d have to respect them more. And it also would show coaches/players/recruits that UGA is serious about having ‘acceptable’ standards for success.
“Instead we have a lose-lose situation vs. George O’Leary and Central Florida, where Murray gets three extra weeks of practice throwing to receivers who won’t be here next fall, while Washaun Ealey practices running behind an offensive line that is looking at a likely overhaul this spring. How is any of this going to help in 2011?
“I’ll tell you one thing — bowl practice in 2009 didn’t seem to do much for the 2010 season. And, oh yeah, our only national championship in the last 50 years came after a nonbowl practice season. I don’t think a couple of extra weeks of Donnie McMickens and Carnie Norris getting some practice reps would have allowed them to keep the job over Herschel Walker.”
OK, I’ll concede that point. But in the end I’m still in favor of Georgia accepting the Liberty Bowl despite a 6-6 record for one big reason: It kept the Dogs’ bowl streak intact. I would have hated to see our streak broken while Tech kept theirs going.
Still, Scott makes an interesting argument about what it takes to raise the standard of an acceptable season for the Dogs. What do you think? Should a 6-6 Georgia team be in a bowl? Should any 6-6 team be in a bowl?
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246 comments Add your comment
DawginOH
December 28th, 2010
11:56 am
I see both sides of the argument, but I’m in favor of whatever makes the 2011 Dawgs a better team. I’ll be with them 100% of the way, win or lose, but these last two seasons have been insulting. Good luck in Memphis, Dawgs!!
Destin Dawg
December 28th, 2010
12:01 pm
Predictable play calling on offense….. Have we ever tried a fake punt/on side kick/reverse ????? Dawgs surprised me and didn’t show up in big games… need conditioning ??? That’s the basic coaching.. talented undisipilined.. losing to Colorado and Floida in their worst year ?? !! I thought the new DDDD coaches would bring a more aggressive mentality to the staff… Tech is pitiful… but we need to kick butt
Dawgdad (The Original)
December 28th, 2010
12:01 pm
To all those who spout off about our defense being a little better this year, I would like to point out the AF held the vaunted Bees to 7 points. They were a bunch of undersized,non athletic, disciplined, white boys, who played their positions, stayed home, and filled the holes they were suppossed to. UGA with all our 5 star athletic, but poorly coached, undisciplined guys, did not do as well.
Otis
December 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
As Bill King has found out, if there’s anything worse than writing for the AJC, it’s not getting paid to write for the AJC.
Grow up. You don’t see Tech’s blogger taking shots at UGA. Leave that up to the losers who read your poorly written articles.
Paul is a Johnson
December 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
“Colorado? South Carolina? Miss St? Florida? Arkansas?
These wern’t great teams this year.”
We were not a great team either
woofn
December 28th, 2010
12:08 pm
Auswehr
December 28th, 2010
10:49 am
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
bad year, but with that we beat ur nerds and that’s funny…AGAIN.
Paul From Milton
December 28th, 2010
12:08 pm
The fallacy in that argument is that Georgia’s players are not trying to lose any game. Telling them that only winning teams play in bowls won’t make them want to win more and in fact will be used against them in recruiting.
You want to send a message then go to Memphis and destroy Central Florida. That will get the mindset right right leading into next year.
Tripledawg
December 28th, 2010
12:10 pm
UGA alumnus here. Headed to Memphis with the remaining 5,000 LOYAL UGA fans in hopes of having some fun with the family and seeing the Dawgs win the game. Wish we could have a great or undefeated season every year, but even when we don’t, we go see the Dawgs whenever and where-ever they play….that’s the definition of a “FANatic”. Be safe traveling to Memphis Bulldog Nation…see ya on Beale Street for New Year’s Eve! PS: there WILL be more than 5,000 Dawgs fans in attendance, as many purchased tickets from the Liberty Bowl to get better seats.
Jim Mora Jr.
December 28th, 2010
12:11 pm
Maybe we should just create the Dawg Bowl and play it in Athens since teams like New Mexico State already do it. I personally can’t believe how the fanbase manages to lower their expectations year after year. If you’re seriously looking at a trip to Memphis, Tennessee as something to hang your hat on this season after you had to win your last game just to get bowl eligible, then you’re grasping at straws. What’s the trophy for this game? A Duralast car battery held up with 4 spark plugs? The problem is UGA is too scared to turn a bowl bid down because of what the SEC would say about it. Mike Slive is nothing more than a money hungry prostitute that plays backstage politics and manipulates which SEC team goes to which bowl. 2 examples of bowl manipulation: how come Auburn gets in the Outback Bowl last year over UGA, yet an SEC East team can’t play in the Cotton Bowl. Then this year, Kentucky and Tennessee go to better bowls over UGA with similar records, yet both lost convincingly heads up to UGA. Just because you sent 10 of your 12 teams to bowls this year doesn’t make you the best conference…not when 30 percent of those teams were .500, and Florida was 1 loss from making it 4. The SEC…where being average is rewarded with trips to Memphis, Birmingham, Nashville, and Tampa Bay.
BG
December 28th, 2010
12:18 pm
Memphis will be fun and the Dawgs will win another bowl game.
LydiasDad
December 28th, 2010
12:28 pm
Boring. Just as boring as Tech’s bowl. Both teams are loser teams. The only reason they’re in bowls is that there are too many bowls. If people would quit watching these useless games, the NCAA would take a hint.
Skitty Fritty
December 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
Memphis has the Peabody Hotel, Graceland, Beale St. & Mud Island plus great places to eat. No UGA is not a major power this year but this bowl game will be a good time for the fans and team.
dd
December 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
No & No!!
wildbill
December 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
Richt’s game plan. 2 runs, 1 pass, 1 punt. That’s it. I have to keep reminding myself that he gets 3 mil a year.
BirdDog
December 28th, 2010
12:35 pm
Personally, I don’t think any 6-6 teams should go to bowls. However, it’s not UGA’s fault that the system is set up like this. But to say that they should have turned down the offer is just plain stupid! Not even worth debating IMO. What other school turned down their bowl offer? That’s what I thought…
bill
December 28th, 2010
12:38 pm
Got to agree with Dawgdad..AF SHUTS DOWN Tech, holds them to 7 points, and our CTG-led defense gives up over 500 yeards to the Bees…our defense stinks! Holding my breath for how they play against O’Leary & UCF, because if Richt thinks the fire is hot now, just imagine the blow-back if we lose to Central Florida.
T-Bob
December 28th, 2010
12:38 pm
@ Jim Mora Jr: You are an unemployed a$$ clown!
ozzfest
December 28th, 2010
12:39 pm
BOULDER WAS A WAY COOLER EXPERIENCE THAN ANY BOWL GAME WE HAVE EVER PLAYED…EXCEPT HONOLULU. YES, I HAVE MADE THE TRIPS TO NEW ORLEANS, NASHVILLE, TAMPA, AND ORLANDO.
LET’S FACE IT…THE WESTERN U.S. IS JUST PRETTIER THAN THE SOUTH…AND THEY HAVE BETTER BEER.
UGA Insider
December 28th, 2010
12:51 pm
Well said bill, I thought the same thing last night when I watched the Tech game. Our defense must really stink. I doubt we can stop UCF as well.
how2fish
December 28th, 2010
12:53 pm
Really folks are questioning the benefit of a few weeks extra practice with a team losing what nearly twenty players to graduation? It will give the coaches a much better idea going INTO spring ball of what they have to work with..surprised so many don’t seem to see the up side to that. I mean you think we will get better with less practice ?
Steve Padre
December 28th, 2010
1:00 pm
I’m excited to watch football. Any football will do. I’ll watch practice if they’ll air it. Bad football is better than “great” basketball.
WE NEED A %$#@! PLAYOFF
December 28th, 2010
1:02 pm
AND YES I’M YELLING IN CAPITAL LETTERS….
Ed (The Original)
December 28th, 2010
1:05 pm
Yes, very tough. Especially after Air Force (which doesn’t start a single player on defense that would be recruited by Georgia) schooled us on stopping Georgia Tech’s triple option.
I like the way Scott thinks, and I agree with him 100%.
“OK, I’ll concede that point. But in the end I’m still in favor of Georgia accepting the Liberty Bowl despite a 6-6 record for one big reason: It kept the Dogs’ bowl streak intact. I would have hated to see our streak broken while Tech kept theirs going.”
I don’t get your point of view. Bowl invites are handed out like candy at Halloween, there’s really nothing special about them anymore. Anyone with a pulse and a decent fan following gets an invite. I couldn’t tell you about anyone’s “bowl streak” – I’d rather my team have a two-season streak in meaningful bowls that a long streak filled with minor bowls with strange names against second-tier competition. Most of the games up to this point have been unwatchable. Toledo, FIU and UTEP have played in bowl games this year. We get UCF. Big deal.
I’m opposed to any team going to a bowl when that raises the possibility of a losing season. Let’s face it, historically this would have been a losing season for Georgia. Today, we play the likes of La.-La. and Idaho State, so only the worst teams actually end up with losing records. Back in Dooley’s day (when Clemson would have subbed for one of those patsies), this is probably no better than a 5-6 or 4-7 team. Not bowl worthy.
Beeeeg Boy
December 28th, 2010
1:06 pm
Its football and its UGA, therfore I’m Excited!!!!!!!!
DAWG
December 28th, 2010
1:09 pm
THE ISSUES THAT THE PLAYERS HAD IS OLD NEWS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. NOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH IS THE BOWL GAME, AND WHICH TEAM WILL SHOW UP, THE BOTTOM LINE IS I COULD GIVE A CRAP WHAT THEY DID AS LONG AS THEY WHEN THE GAME. BUILS A BRIDGE AND GET OVER THE PAST!
Mel
December 28th, 2010
1:10 pm
Mtn Dawg
December 28th, 2010
11:06 am
“Reduce the number of bowls and require 7 wins to be eligible.”
There is absolutely nothing else that needs to be said.
Old Dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:14 pm
Ask any coach and athletic director and they will tell you that the extra bowl practice is paramount to success the following season. The same for lower division schools who make the playoffs.
I’m not excited about the trip to Memphis but I am ready for one more chance to watch the Dawgs this season on New Year’s Eve.
I don’t like all the negative references etc about the program. They all have up and down cycles, and this is one of them.
Happy New Year to all the Dawgs and Dawg fans everywhere. Bill, thank you for your blogs through the years. They are always enjoyable to read!
dawgs777
December 28th, 2010
1:20 pm
MARK RICHT BETTER WIN THE EAST IN 2011.THREE BAD SEASONS IN A ROW WILL GET HIM FIRE. MR. RICHT GOT ONE MORE YEAR TO TURN THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM A ROUND.
7576DAWG
December 28th, 2010
1:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
December 28th, 2010
1:25 pm
@ ozzfest, I agree on the Boulder trip, the beer was awesome (but most beer is). I’ll be in Memphis, cause like Steve Padre said, bad football is better than good basketball.
scottw
December 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
That Scott could’ve been me! I think it’s totally unacceptable for any 6-6 team to go to a bowl. If they stopped accepting these bids and got serious, it might help turn things around. And it might help turn things around for the NCAA and their silly “we can’t have a playoff.” Did you see the stands in Shreveport last night? Pitiful. How many more people would’ve been there if it were two teams with really good records actually playing a meaningful game? Why can’t the NCAA figure this out? No, no bowl games for 6-6 Georgia team. Simply put, they did not earn the reward.
Bowling on the river
December 28th, 2010
1:32 pm
Let’s face it-playing in a bowl game is no longer a special reward for an outstanding season. In fact, a bowl invitation lost its lustre years ago. I do not brag about the number of bowls UGA has played, nor brag about our recent bowl success. However, if you allow bowl games to represent an opportunity for the players to play against new competition and for the sponsoring cities to experience a major college football game, you will find that bowl season is actually a lot of fun.
Magnolia,Tx dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
Be careful, DAWGS. What happened to Tech could happen to you.
7576DAWG
December 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Bill
I have made two comments in the last few minutes and neither were accepted . All I get is a duplicate reply when I resubmit.
BG
December 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
Can anyone explain how OSU lost money after splitting $18 million eleven ways? Maybe Gordon Gee’s bonus was too big?
Pago Pago Dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:52 pm
No need to cut the number of bowls. We all like going on bowl trips, the team, band,fans and we help the local economy. Plus maybe a few $$ in the bank.
Pago Pago Dawg
December 28th, 2010
1:58 pm
Actually, The Pizza Bowl…TOL vs FIU was pretty exciting, it went to the final second….and…..you buy beer and wine.
59bulldawg
December 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
Your buddy Scott is right!
Boca Baby
December 28th, 2010
2:05 pm
If the Dawgs don’t like playing in this type bowl, they have it within their power to change that.
Mobile Dawg
December 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
Have got to disagree with you Bill. I haven’t gotten excited about a game the last two years. I’m not into getting jacked up just to be let down. This coaching staff has lost my respect as far as their ability to do their job. I honestly believe Mark Richt put our program on auto pilot 5 years ago and has forgotten what hard work is. He’s more into fellowship IMO….I guess we will see in 2011. I hope things get better.
Football Fan
December 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
The bowl is a reward for kids who often don’t get to travel with their families. Just look how excited FIU was to go to its first bowl in school history. Be thankful that we won enough games to qualify.
tony
December 28th, 2010
2:15 pm
It’s amazing how uga sports director can’t see the real problem with uga football program. Even most of uga fans believe that the dawgs defense is undersize. For from the truth!
Air force 3-4:
nose tackle weighs 260lbs
defensive ends weighs 275lbs and 245lbs
UGA 3-4:
nose tackle weighs 292 lbs
defensive ends weighs 295lbs and 274lbs
Air Force DL is much smaller than the dawgs DL but they manage to hold Tech to 1 touch down. Air Force coaches have their less talentive team playing at a very high level whereas UGA coaches have their much talentive team playing at a very low level.
UGA Insider
December 28th, 2010
2:16 pm
CMR has NOT been offered an extension and the Maryland job is still open. Could this be the last game of the CMR era at UGA? Stay tuned.
Bob C
December 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
Bill, sounds like you need a new pal. What a bonehead. Conceding what point? Receivers who will not be here? Like who other than AJ? T.King? The Herschel comparison was also silly. Herschel will always be an exception.
Jim Mora Jr.
December 28th, 2010
2:27 pm
@ T-Bob: If they were handing out bowl invites based on your name calling, you wouldn’t have even been eligible.
Old Flatulent Dawg
December 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
Gosh, I sure hope our coach doesn’t eat the same stuff the coach from Tech ate. Heck, I couldn’t figure out whether he (CPJ) was constipated or was angry. But after having that little fellow at QB throwing nuckleballs late in the game, it sure did look like his (CPJ) drawers was hanging kinda heavy and low as the game ended. Hey, just a opinion, I can’t speak from personal knowledge.
Boca Baby
December 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
UGA Insider: Stay tuned? As if there are not more glamorous positions out there available other than Maryland. Maryland. Who wants that job? We have a couple of down years and you say because Richt has not received an extension this may be his last game? Get real.
Forever Dog
December 28th, 2010
2:29 pm
For the first time in 14 bowls, we’re not going. Sick of the low standards we have accepted. Richt has allowed program to sink, and all his apologists keep shouting “he’ll fix it”. Please………..
Go Dawgs
December 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
I really have no opinion on whether UGA should accept a lower bowl bid. I’m sure the SEC governs all of that anyway and it may not be in the hands of the University. Notre Dame refused to accept bowl bids for many years, of course they were not in a conference.
As for me, I am a third-generation UGA alum, 25 year season-ticket holder and in addition to all home games, made the trips to Colorado (lost) and Jacksonville (lost). I am not spending the money to go see a losing team play a nothing team in a nothing bowl. Maybe the fans can have more to say about interest in these games.
Hairy Perry
December 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
Don’t feel bad dog fans. When ever we feel like crap about the way our program has performed, we can comfort our selves by thanking our grandpas and dads for making us bulldogs, instead of wimpy little sissy boy jacket fans.