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?
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
246 comments Add your comment
BabsTolstoy
December 28th, 2010
8:36 pm
OMG, As an Auburn fan I’ve been so preoccupied with worrying about the Oregon Ducks I didn’t even realize you guys were in a bowl game this year. I think that’s great. I think you guys should try your best and play real hard and just keep slugging and maybe one day you’ll get to play for a big prize too, but then again you are Georgia, and Florida is still your daddy, so……..
War Eagle King you dweeb. Nick Fairley sends his regards.
Dawg94
December 28th, 2010
8:52 pm
Sitting in Memphis with my family and as a 94 Grad of UGA and having spent one post season in Shreveport during that time….any bowl other than that one is a good bowl. People forget that The Liberty is one of the oldest and there are worst places to be than in Memphis on Beale Street with good BBQ and Bourbon. Suck it up Dawgs…its not Glendale but it beats the hell out of Shreveport!
Dawg94
December 28th, 2010
8:55 pm
And Babs…I have Family that are Auburn Grads with more class in their pinky finger than you do. You forget this is the first time you actually have had the opportunity to play for a ring so shut your fat face. When you’ve been there more than once like we have…then you can crow!
michael
December 28th, 2010
9:02 pm
The attached comments are so dumb they don’t deserve a reply.
The Mutts suck, they have for years, they will for years, get used to it.
Play the game and make some effort to win, rather than being the quitters that you are. Aything liess is an embarrassment to the SEC.
BabsTolstoy
December 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
Hey dawg, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. Do you play football? I don’t either. (But I bet you lift weights what with all that tough talk.)
Mark Richt won with Donnan players and BVG
December 28th, 2010
10:00 pm
I agree with Scott. UGA doesnt warrant to partake in any bowl this year. Im tired of the Party and Thug mentality. Im tired of attending a hip hop concert rather than a hard nosed football game in Sanford Stadium. UGA needs big changes.
RanDawg
December 28th, 2010
10:08 pm
-I agree with swimdawg68…I’ve been a ticket buyer for 40 years and I looked at the tickets available from StubHub compared to the “other” sections and saw that I was gonna get shafted once again….so I said screw it,I’m not even going if that’s the best they can do…the whole bowl idea needs to be re-examined…I also think we should consider not going at all if we are only 6-6…send a message to the players coming back next year…
Dawg R
December 28th, 2010
11:13 pm
I’ll be up there partying hard. hopefully, uga blows ucf off the field with an easy win.
Stone
December 28th, 2010
11:36 pm
If Murray was ranked #75 or worse in ALL these areas in passing accuracy, Georgia wouldn’t be 6-6:
1) 3rd down
2) 4th quarter
3) 1st quarter
4) red zone
5) 3rd and 10+
6) against teams with a winning record
aarh
December 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
The guy makes some good points. I think anytime you can get more practice tims in it…it has to be a good thing. Yeah, Murray will be throwing to some receivers that won’t be there next yr., but it’s not like he’s going to throw every ball to 2 receivers. Don’t you guys think it will be good for the other receivers to get some extra pracice…it can’t hurt right? Grantham also grought up the point that it will be good to get that extra pracice time…considering that they did install a new defense this yr. As far as the revamped Line theory. Yeah, we’re losign a few Srs…probably about 3 or so, but once the line started struggling…they reshuffled it w/ K. Gates, FR…Sturdivant came back form an injury, & he should be back unless he goes pro. We’re losing only about 2 starters on the line. Even if they do reshuffle the line…it still doesn’t hurt for players to get more experience even if they don’t start, bc that doesn’t mean they won’t still play, & it would definitely be valuable for an inexperienced player like Gates to get some more esperience…especially when you consider that he could be atarting next yr. I do agree w/ teh bowl strign too. It would be a shame for it to end just bc we would turn a bowl down…when it really wouldn’t have otherwise.
aarh
December 28th, 2010
11:51 pm
sorry about the typos
swarles _barkley
December 29th, 2010
1:20 am
This is a bowl game. Everyone whining about standards needs to shut up for one week out of the year and enjoy a fun exhibition game. Start your ‘Fire Mark Richt’, ‘No mo Bobo’, and ‘I have never played football but have lots of opinions about it’ rants on Saturday. Thanks.
Fair and Balanced
December 29th, 2010
4:06 am
Too many bowls is causing a dumbing down effect of the whole bowl season now. The NFL is more interesting right now. This bowl string is not really a thing to be proud of when you consider the last 2 that GA has been to. I mean, with 35 bowls it means that you only have to be in the top 70 to make it to a bowl now. A string of BCS bowls is a record worth talking about, but alas, GA has no string going here!
UGA FRIEND
December 29th, 2010
5:18 am
No major conference team deserves to play in a bowl game unless they have a winning regular season record. Let
the smaller conferences sent teams to the less appealing bowls.
BoWeevil
December 29th, 2010
5:27 am
Another month for a HORRID COACHING STAFF to continue to play the wrong guys as their FAVORITES and to NOT TEACH ANY OF THEM, a damn thing correctly.
And, to get yet another win over yet another cupcake in Mark Richt’s 10 year history of doing NOTHING but that.
JB
December 29th, 2010
6:41 am
Ask the lonely 5000 tickets sitting unused in Athens in the Athletic office, and that’s your answer. I’m glad Richt is not running for office. The program is a little sick at this time.
bardawg
December 29th, 2010
7:52 am
Hate to say it , but evidently , judging by sales of tickets , not many dawg fans feel that we need to be playing in a bowl game . ith such a lackluster season , can’t say I blame’em !
virginia dog
December 29th, 2010
8:45 am
bill with the new rules on how much time players can spend with coaches it is vital that you get that extra 30 days of practice. As far as your friends good points. they are silly … as we know great talant like cam newton and hershal walker are the exceptions to any and every rule.
the real test is for Richt… because this game is the start of 2011 and he knows it. the clock starts ticking at 3:30 in memphis. if the dogs have another 7-5 type year then 2011 will be Richt’s last year to coach.
Snoop Dawg
December 29th, 2010
8:59 am
It doesn’t matter whether or not the worst team in the history of UGA football goes to a loser bowl or not. It doesn’t matter whether the players get to practice or not. It doesn’t matter which players might jump off the sinking ship to the NFL or what type of recruiting year we will have. No none of this matters as long as we have the worst coaching staff in the NCAA at the helm. As long as CEO Mark Wrecked remains at the helm with his assistants like Bobo and Garner and Searles etc, the program will sink deepeer and deeper. When the revenues from empty seats hit the balance sheet, then even a dull blade like Adams will surely pull the plug on da Preacha Man.
Have any of you ever wondered why nobody on the UGA coaching staff gets offers to accept positions at other competitive schools? What does that tell you?
All you Richt Apologists, better get your tickets to the Toilet Bowl in Memphis because unless we get competent coaches you will not even get invited to a bowl next year. Next year is going to be an complete unmitigated disaster of historic proportions.
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:16 am
Unfortunately for Richt, if he goes with 6 LOSS QB AARON mURRAY in 2011, his cxareer at Georgia will be over.
Murray is an average QB. Couldn’t beat a single team with a winning record.
Georgia will lose to Auburn, Boise (thanks McGarity), Florida, South Carolina, and 2 or 3 more.
Richt is officially done, thanks largely to the wrong choice at QB, lack of a running game, and his stubburn attitude towards change, when the ship’s going down.
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:17 am
Murray should have been benched at 1-4, and should have benched in the Florida game after his 4 turnovers.
Dawg Squeeze
December 29th, 2010
9:21 am
Richt is officially done, thanks largely to the wrong choice at QB, lack of a running game, and his stubburn attitude towards change, when the ship’s going down.
All dawg fans know that’s true. So why is Richt still in Athens???
Mark Richter
December 29th, 2010
9:26 am
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited about next 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 six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 7-5 or even 8-4 occasionally, but another team 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.
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:28 am
Bobo is largely responsible for Richt’s downfall–poor QB play last 2 seasons, and poor running game. Can’t believe Richt hasn’t fired Bobo. It will cost him his job, guaranteed.
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:32 am
Murray is, as we all now know, a lot like Brantley, good in high school (due to good teammates and poor competition), and terrible in college. Both went either 6-6 or 7-5 as a starter and gave their coaches their worst year ever.
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:33 am
No one I know is excited about 2011. It will be the worst season in a long time, without AJ Green, you saw how Murray did in the first 4 games without AJ, 1-3?
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:36 am
Richt’s only hope is to make a change at QB, going with inexperienced Lemay or Mason, and to somehow transform into a potent rushing offense under Bobo that gets 215 to 280 yards rushing a game, like all the other SEC winners have last 3 years.
The D-Line has to suddenly find a way to stop the run, and a way to get pressure on the QB, without Houston.
Richt hates change, so he won’t make the needed changes.
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:39 am
Look at the 2011 schedule.
How does Richt get out of these 9 games without 6 losses?
Boise? South Carolina? Florida? Miss St? Auburn? Ga Tech? Tenn? Kent? Ole Miss?
Stone
December 29th, 2010
9:43 am
I’m not sure which is worse:
Rush offense (ranked #71 in NCAA)
Rush defense (ranked #60 in NCAA)
How do you fix both in 1 season?
The first step in McGarity's stair step program
December 29th, 2010
10:35 am
Greg McGarity is the IN CHARGE AD at UGA. Damon Evans was lost in that job. All UGA connected folks know that to be true. AD is THE NEW SHERIFF in town.
Greg is now a puppetier ………………..it is he who is controlling the prgoram right now. He is micro managing Richt. The Liberty Bowl was a no choice thing. It is step ONE> Richt must win it to go into 2011 on a positvie footing. The new AD wants it to start with a nice win over USF or UCF or FIA.
Step Two: Be shed of the troubel makers like Caleb King and the rest of that ilk, like AJ Green. HE HURT UGA this year. THAT is AJ’s legacy. He will be forgotten in two years.
Step Three: Recruiting needs are met with TWO TOP FLIGHT RUNNING BACKS. and TWO Nose tackles
Step Four; Players are on target in their S&C programs and their classroom participation with no hitches.
Step Five: Spring practice is un eventful and new stars emerge …………like Marlon Brown or Wooten.
Step Six: Summer time with no arrests or issues. This area is job 1. $$$ Alums insist on this.
Steps 7-12 are to win 5 or 6 more games vs 2010 AND a trip to the SEC C Game.
Achieve these goals and then, Richt has a job IF he wants it. I say he leaves in 2011 for his missionary work, which is HIS passion. He hopes to right the ship, then leave. He is a case of burn out. 2011 one way or other is his last year.
Go Dogs
UGA class of 71 & 73
Hey Mark Richter
December 29th, 2010
10:49 am
How long has Alabama been great lately? is it two years or is it three? One NC and then two other fair years. Remember the ugly Sugar Bowl stomping at the hands of Utah ? or was it Utah State??THAT was only three years ago, clown. WHat happened to Alabam this year and with a HEISMAN???
My point? Well, um Alabama had been “down” for MANY years prior to Sabin. THAT is why he got that job. ALabam had at least 4 coaches or 5 since they won the NC in 91 or 92.
I got your point that lately ( two or three years ) Alabama has had some talented coaching but beyond last year, what have they done with it and ALL of the ALL WORLD RECRUITING???
Over the last 10 years compare their w/l record with UGA.
Florida? They just LOST their coach. AU? When the FBI gets done with AU they will be out of sports entirely with all of the dog track gambling and such. UT? Two more years away, but with a nice QB however. ARK? Mallet is gone. Ole Miss is Ole Miss and LSU is LSU. SC is SC and will not be any better in 2011 and will lose about 4 or 5 games.
SEC in 2011 is wide open.
Go Dogs.
Red-N-Black
December 29th, 2010
10:53 am
Pulpwood / WOOD GAZER. Isn’t it bad enough Tech lost in shreeveport that you shouldn’t be posting on a dash board. Obviously you suffer from Wood envy as indicated by your screen name.
Bo Williams
December 29th, 2010
11:13 am
There is something in between elation over a good season and “fire the coach” after a mediocre season. Try being “humble” and enjoy football. Your team is not the only team and you are not the only fans.
Auswehr
December 29th, 2010
11:17 am
Go TECH!!!!!!!
tech
December 29th, 2010
11:19 am
HAHAHAH Check out this article: http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/29/news/companies/college_football_dollars/index.htm
UGA had the 2nd highest revenue / profit in all of college football…..and they had an amazing 6-6 season. LMAOLOOLOLOL
Preston
December 29th, 2010
11:27 am
I just hope they win! Although a loss to UCF wouldn’t be nearly as embarrassing as tech’s loss to AF. LOL!
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 29th, 2010
11:31 am
Jerry:
6 FUTURE NFL STARS? WASHAUN EALY, NFL??? ONLY GREEN HAS A CHANCE, THERE ARE NO OTHERS….JERRY, WHAT YOU SMOKING, BOY?
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 29th, 2010
11:34 am
Stone=STUPID
STONE, THE QB HAS PLAYED BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE FIELD EXCEPT MAYBE GREEN AT WIDE RECEIVER….AND FIRE THE GUY WHO HAS COACHED HIM? STONE, YOU’RE JUST ANOTHER STUPID UGA BANDWAGGONEER WHO HAS NO CLUE ABOUT FOOTBALL…
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 29th, 2010
11:36 am
Stone:
THIS AVERAGE QB IS SETTING ALL THE GEORGIA RECORDS…YOU ARE EITHER A TECH GUY OR THE STUPIDEST GEORGIA FAN ON THE PLANET…
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 29th, 2010
11:38 am
ADD Snoop Dawg TO THE STUPID LIST….SNOOP DAWG GOT ALL THE ANSWERS…PROBABLY CAN’T SPELL FOOTBALL….
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 29th, 2010
11:45 am
TECH:
WE SURE DON’T WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AFTER YOUR YELLOW JACKETS THRILLED THEM IN SHREVEPORT WITH THE FULLBACK DIVE FOR 4 QUARTERS….LET LITTLE AIR FORCE STUFF THE VAUNTED PAUL ” SCHULTZIE’S GENIUS” JOHNSON’S TRIPLE OPTICON OFFENSE TO THE TUNE OF ALLOWING ONLY 7 POINTS…AND MAKE NOTES OF THE 2ND ATTEMPT AT A 2 MINUTE OFFENSE IN THE PAST MONTH…NOBODY RUNS 2 MINUTE FROM UNDER CENTER EXCEPT TECH, EVERYONE ELSE IS IN THE GUN….
Stone
December 29th, 2010
11:46 am
Any way you measure a great QB:
1- In the clutch (Murray’s one of the least accurate on 3rd down & 4th quarter)
2- Play against winning teams (Murray’s bottom 20 accuracy there) and has never won a game against a team with a winning record
3- Win/Loss record (Murray’s 6-6 as a starter)
“F” score in all of the big 3 mentioned above.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
December 29th, 2010
11:50 am
STONE:
MURRAY MUST HAVE TAKEN YOUR GIRL FRIEND…THIS GUY IS THE BEST QB GEORGIA HAS PUT ON THE FIELD SINCE DAVID GREENE, AND HE IS ALREADY BREAKING ALL THE RECORDS…AND TO MENTION PUTTING THIS GUY ON THE BENCH AND STARTING MASON OR A ROOKIE, BOY, YOU ARE A REAL FOOTBALL MAN TO PUT THAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE ON US…GET BACK IN MCDONALDS FROM YOUR SMOKING BREAK AND SUPERSIZE THOSE FRIES….
fan
December 29th, 2010
11:54 am
its never tough for this UGA fan to watch UGA play. It will be tough for the fairweathered uga fans(like most of the ones on this blog) to watch the dawgs play.
Reginald Ball
December 29th, 2010
12:09 pm
When do the jackits play? Is it fourth down yet?
Stone
December 29th, 2010
12:36 pm
Funny how Richt benches Ealey after a fumble, and doesn’t bench Murray after a fumble and 3 interceptions in the Florida game.
Blatant favortism.
KB
December 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Watching the Dawgs play on TV is always a bonus so yeah one side of me is gald they are in the bowl. I much whether watch UGA than Florida AIU, Cincinnati, Texas El-Paso etc.
In all likely hood accepting this bowl bid hurt UGA’s “bowl value/likeability” in the future. Our fans are not willing to drive a day to see their team in a bowl game. What does that say to prospective bowl committees the next time UGA is 6-6 or 7-5?
.
KB
December 29th, 2010
2:03 pm
The silver lining will be losing to UCF in this bowl. We have nothing to play for and UCF has everything to play for.
Honestly which team and coaching staff is going to be up and most prepared for this bowl????
We, the UGA Fan Base, will have to answer some very hard questions after UCF beats us.
gtfanfrom1951
December 29th, 2010
2:15 pm
If tech had UGA talent we would be able to play in BCS bowls! The Air Force can not be compaired to Texas A&M last year. UGA is an under achiving football team! Coach Dooley would have them winning most of their games. The only thing this team wins is number of players in jail!!!!
2010 Alum
December 29th, 2010
2:15 pm
Word around Athens is that McGraity wanted to get rid of CMR, but felt he couldn’t because it was his first year as AD. If Richt doesn’t turn this ship around he is a goner.