Dogs’ first two games could make or break Mark Richt
Dogs face a big challenge with their opening game.
“None, I don’t feel any pressure. None at all.”
That’s Mark Richt’s not entirely convincing answer to the question of whether he’s feeling pressure coming off a losing season. Richt made the comment when his spring speaking tour stopped at the Savannah Golf Club on Wednesday, as reported by the Savannah Morning News.
I know the guy is supposed to have ice water in his veins, but with most of the football world figuring his job is probably on the line in the coming season, you’d have to figure that maybe, deep down inside, Richt is feeling the pressure. Just a little.
Something Richt also said Wednesday night does a nice job of summing up the enormity of his situation.
“I think the biggest challenge is to be at midseason form for our first two games,” Richt said. “They’re big games for us. [The Boise State game] will help set the tone for our season. The very next week, South Carolina will be big. Since they’re one and two, we have to be ready.”
Beating South Carolina would make Georgia the SEC East favorite.
Rarely has a team coming off a losing season and with a coach considered to be on the hot seat entered a season with two bigger, more important opening games.
One way of looking at it is that Greg McGarity has stacked the deck against Richt by putting Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against a high-powered offensive juggernaut the week before the Dogs open their SEC season against Steve Spurrier’s defending SEC East champion Gamecocks. But conversely, McGarity also has given Richt (who agreed to the scheduling of Boise State) a chance to completely turn things around for his program in just two games.
As Richt said in Savannah, the nationally televised game against the Broncos gives the Dogs a chance “to show the college football world we’re still a pretty good football team.”
Win both of those first two games and the Dogs, whom Chick-fil-A’s Gary Stokan seems sure will be ranked in the pre-season Top 25, likely will vault themselves into the Top 10 and put themselves in the driver’s seat in the SEC East in a rebuilding year for the Florida program.
Lose both of them, and even Richt is going to be sweating bullets.
Split the games and the Dogs will have either a quality nonconference win but start out in a hole in conference play, or have a nonconference loss against a well-regarded team and still be favored to take the SEC East.
No pressure? Yeah, right.
So what are your expectations for Georgia’s first two games? Are you dreading them? Do you expect Georgia to take both? Or, if you’d be satisfied to come out of those games 1-1, which game would you rather have as a win? Does a conference game always trump a nonconference one, or is defending the SEC’s honor against Boise State more important this time?
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317 comments Add your comment
ugaclassof2004
April 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
I am convinced that there are 3 types of people on this blog:
There are the 40% that are the Blind Homers. These are the people who think that UGA is ALWAYS one player away from competing for a National Title and that Mark Richt can do no wrong despite 3 consecutive years to the contrary. Trying to argue with these kind of people is a worthless exercise.
Then there the Haters/Aka Trolls, which make up another 40%: These are usually fans of opposing teams who come on here and say things like “Boise will win 60-7″ or “AJ Green sucks” or “Murray is a midget”. It is also worthless to argue with these people.
Then there are the rest of us in the middle 40% like myself, who ultimately love UGA football but at the same time are getting REALLY tired of the subpar results. We praise the team and players when they do well, but aren’t afraid to get onto them when they lose. These are the type of fans that are worth talking to, and every fanbase has them.
I would love for the Dawgs to have a good year this year. At the same time, I have no illusions about our program being in a healthy state. This is not 2002, our program is not on the upswing, we are in neutral. We will either get worse or get better. And if we get worse, then our donors need to decide if we want to be the kind of program that is content with just going to a bowl game every year, or are we going to be the type of program that competes for championships every year. The lack of direction in this program from top down is astounding. If Richt can keep his job after going 6-7, then how bad does it have to get for us to let him go??? 4-8 or 3-9?? Is this something we can afford to have happen due to loyalty towards ONE GUY?
Brucerugby79
April 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
Bill do not even consider losing either game we will win and beat fla somebody may trip us up but this will be a great year!!
BYRDDAWG
April 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
ABSOLUTELY!!!
Sleepy Dawg
April 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
Bruce – Stick to rugby we will lose at least 2 of those games, 1 definitely being to UF. Some of the delusion on this board is insane. We could not beat one of the worst UF teams in 20 years last year yet we will definitely beat them this year. Man there are some fools in our fanbase.
2 field goals and a cloud of Bobo
April 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
A lot of work to do,
but at least both games are in the state of Georgia,
Reaper
April 21st, 2011
3:39 pm
What the hell is mid season form. You better play at a championship level from start to finish. His answers make him sound stupid. Just damn be a real coach for a change and get the job done. Leave Grantham alone and let him yell all he wants to if that’s what it takes to get the guys to do their job. The problem is the offensive coaching staff. Light some fire under their ass and demote anyone that can’t get the job done. Save the St. hood for Sundays and be a HC and win on Sat. You were the OC at Fla. St., lets see some of that offensive creativity that was displayed at Fla. St. or did someone else actually develop the offense and run it and you were just the figure head.
King Saban
April 21st, 2011
3:42 pm
Yawn. Georgia Bulldogs? Yaaaaaawn. Wake me up when they start talking about the top 2-3 ranked teams in the nation for 2011.
Rich
April 21st, 2011
3:43 pm
2-0 or bust for CMR. The Boise game is essentially a home game. Plus they lose a lot of firepower on their offense and their secondary is susceptible. South Carolina is at home and we should be able to contain Lattimore better because of Geathers/Jenkins. Both teams are very beatable given the situation so 1-1 or 0-2 would be disappointing to say the least.
JB
April 21st, 2011
3:49 pm
AJC should mark this as blog 1 of 300 on this subject so we can keep up. Nothing gets hits like Richt’s Status. Bottom line, McGarity see’s a lot of improvement and a couple of more wins this year, or UGA will seek a new coach. I like Richt, but that’s where we are. Let’m play and we’ll see.
Reaper
April 21st, 2011
3:49 pm
People can say what they want. As of now, recruiting stinks and we need something big to happen but, I know that recruiting will be based on the season that we have. The first two games are really important and we need to win.
JB
April 21st, 2011
3:51 pm
And if we lose Mark, I hope we don’t hire Peterson from Boise. Paul Johnson could win big in that league.
Mtn Dawg
April 21st, 2011
3:54 pm
UGA will beat USC in Athens, but do we have the defence to keep Boise off the field? Do we have the offense to stay with Boise because they will put up some points. I don’t know. Good chance we could go 1 – 1 to start the season.
LakeDawg
April 21st, 2011
3:54 pm
I think the schedule is great! It forces CMR to have his team ready early. He likes to ease into seasons, which means he usually wastes preseason practices that are vitally important to the development of the team and season. Whether he knows it or not McGarity did him a favor. If CMR can coach a lick, UGA goes 2-0 and is off and running with no tough games back to back after the first two. I don’t think CMR should feel pressure. I think he should view this as a huge opportunity to turn the program back around. He has already felt the pressure. Hopefully he’s breathing a sigh of relief for this opportunity at redemption.
DawginLex
April 21st, 2011
3:55 pm
We may not win more than 8 or 9 games in 2011 but if that Bama bunch that I saw last week is the best team in the country, college football is at an all time low……………..
rocketfuel
April 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
To the Boise St.fan who posted earlier.The last time Boise came to Ga.they left with a loss.And some of the Boise Fans said after the game what does ya’ll mean.And we politely replied “It means as in Ya’ll got your asses handed to you.Look for more of the same .GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawginLex
April 21st, 2011
3:58 pm
2011 Georgia Bulldogs Football Schedule
Date/Time TV Opponent Result Tickets
09/03/11
8:00 p.m. ET Boise State 1 Buy
Tickets
09/10/11
Time TBA TBA South Carolina Buy
Tickets
09/17/11
Time TBA TBA Coastal Carolina Buy
Tickets
09/24/11
Time TBA TBA at Ole Miss Buy
Tickets
10/01/11
Time TBA TBA Mississippi State Buy
Tickets
10/08/11
Time TBA TBA at Tennessee Buy
Tickets
10/15/11
Time TBA TBA at Vanderbilt Buy
Tickets
10/22/11 — Open Date — —
10/29/11
3:30 p.m. ET Florida 2 Buy
Tickets
11/05/11
Time TBA TBA New Mexico State Buy
Tickets
11/12/11
Time TBA TBA Auburn Buy
Tickets
11/19/11
Time TBA TBA Kentucky Buy
Tickets
11/26/11
Time TBA TBA at Georgia Tech Buy
Tickets
12/03/11
Time TBA TBA SEC Championship 3
***************************************************************
Looks like we have some other folks to play after the 1st 2.
Miss St-top 15
UT-on the road
Florida
Auburn-we must destroy them
Tech-in Atlanta
Can we trade schedules with Boise?????????
JB
April 21st, 2011
4:00 pm
Look at Auburn’s schedule this year. Boise wouldn’t get bowl eligible playing that. Gonna be a long year on the Plains this year. All that talent gone and most of the money boosters in Jail.
Charlie Weis
April 21st, 2011
4:01 pm
That’d be your only chance of winning more than 6 games there DawginLex, changing schedules.
p.s. I hate you
JB
April 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
Weis named Golden Corral man of the year……
UGA Insider
April 21st, 2011
4:04 pm
I have had some very, very interesting phone conversations today. Let me tell you what happens if The Dawgs go 0-2. The CMR era at UGA is over effective immediately after the USCe game. I guarantee it like I guarantee that ths sun is going to rise tomorrow. CMR and his staff have already been told by McGarity and that is it….plain and simple. Go 0-2 and you are out!
Also, McGarity is going to interview Chris Peterson for the HC job during that first week. Both parties have mutual interest for sure. Stay tuned on that one.
CMR’s unlitmate downfall will go back to the fact that he should have given Brian VanGorder a heafty raise when he asked for a little more. Instead, he let VanGordor go and promoted a man who NEVER should have been a D1 coordinator. And if you will note this decision by Richt is what led Kirby Smart ultimately to Alabama. He left UGA for that reason alone.
McGarity is about to clean house with Damon Evans and Vince Dooley remains folks…it’s just a matter of time. He is one tough SOB behind closed doors.
Charlie Weis
April 21st, 2011
4:06 pm
Whats that JB? I was busy polishing my Super bowl rings and counting my money. Take a little gander at what I did just last year. Then think about what I’m going to do to your doggies.
“Weis was named offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs for 2010. In Weis’ first year, the Chiefs improved from a record of 4-12 to 10-6 and returned to the playoffs after winning the AFC Western Division. With Weis as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs had the NFL’s best rushing attack, averaging an impressive 165 yards per game on the ground. Offensively the Chiefs ranked 9th in total offense, 11th in points per game, 1st in rushing, and 28th in passing. The Chiefs also sent three players on offense (WR Dwayne Bowe, RB Jamaal Charles and OG Brian Waters) to the Pro Bowl. Bowe and Charles will make their first ever trip to the Pro Bowl. Weis has also been credited with the improvement of QB Matt Cassel who had a career year throwing for 27 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions in 14 games.”
David Granger
April 21st, 2011
4:09 pm
It’s not necessarily the number of wins that I’m judging the team by, but a lot of other factors:
1. Are we still seeing Georgia players having all kinds of legal trouble off the field? (How much sense does it take to know that you don’t have a valid driver’s license?)
2. Are we still making a lot of foolish penalties at crucial times?
3. Are we playing to WIN the game, or are we just playing not to lose? (A draw play on third and long is a good call on occasion…but not five third downs in a row.)
4. Are we still playing “gimmick” football, or are the guys hitting the weight room and blasting the other team off the line of scrimmage during crunch time at the end of the game?
5. Are we still doing that “black out the stadium” nonsense, and wearing several different color combinations…like that makes any difference at all? (I swear…Coach Richt is going to have the team prancing out wearing capes and plumed helmets one day.)
6. Does Coach Richt EVER tell the team to deliberately break a rule again, even a minor one like “excessive celebration”? (He’s coaching GEORGIA now, not that FSU scum.)
7. Does the defense buckle down and STOP people when it counts?
8. No matter WHAT the band is playing, are we ever again going to see Georgia players dancing and shimmying on the sidelines in the late moments of a game we’re LOSING?
I’m glad we’re opening with good teams. I hope we continue to do that.
Dave
April 21st, 2011
4:11 pm
First, he could loose both, win the rest and win the East and all would be forgiven. Second, he could win the first two, lose the East, lose to Florida and be in big trouble. All this speculation is nonsense.
JB
April 21st, 2011
4:11 pm
UGA Insider……………Nope, you lost me there….It won’t happen like that. The University would look foolish and any prospective Coach with any credentials would frown on that as a place to work.
JB
April 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
But Charlie, you sucked as a big time college coach. Sorry.
Bean
April 21st, 2011
4:14 pm
I agree with JB, I don’t think there’s any way Richt gets fired after an 0-2 start. Mcgarity will wait til after the season and can him then. Then Charlie Strong, Dan Mullen, and Kirby Smart will be called in to interview.
WDE
April 21st, 2011
4:15 pm
Charlie Weis…..college football laughs at you…biscuits fear you!
Charlie Weis
April 21st, 2011
4:16 pm
What’s that JB? It’s kind of hard to read this driving in my Porsche. Maybe I didn’t do to well as the head man but I am a darn good oc if I do say so myself. We will hang 30+ on you this year, take that to the bank.
7576DAWG
April 21st, 2011
4:16 pm
UGA Insider
Everybody should have known McGarity was not going to come into Georgia and just clean house without evaluating everything including talking with the big time money boosters. CMR couldn’t win even one game last year from a ranked team and if he loses both of the first two games this year will continue that history.
Lose the first two games and I agree that CMR will probably get replaced . Win the first two convincingly and he will probably get a 3 year extension which would be important in recruiting.
UGA Insider
April 21st, 2011
4:19 pm
JB and Bean
I normally would agree with you guys. I am as as shocked as you. But that is what I am told from a very credible source. Lose the first two and it is over for CMR after USCe.
Dawg Gone
April 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
UGA Insider I always listen to what you say and most of it turns out to be pretty reliable. What floors me with this is that the AD plans on talking to another coach with a HC still on the payroll?? That’s a bitter pill for any body.
JB
April 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
Charlie, LMAO, you can’t fit in a Porsche
Dawg Gone
April 21st, 2011
4:23 pm
JB you haven’t heard Porsche now makes a cargo van!
JB
April 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
UGA will not fire Mark after two games. I would bet my house on it. That is pure knee jerk from any perspective around the country.
UGA Insider
April 21st, 2011
4:25 pm
Dawg Gone,
I agree but understand this….McGarity worked for Jeremy Foley who is the nation’s best athletic director and is always one step ahead of the game.
robodawg
April 21st, 2011
4:25 pm
0-2 would be rough. (And the S Carolina game is the more important of the two.) But it will be how we close the season that matters most. Sweep Florida, Auburn and Tech, and it will almost always be remembered as a good season. And coaches (usually) don’t get fired when they have a good season.
UGA Insider
April 21st, 2011
4:28 pm
JB,
I doesn’t matter because I think UGA will go 2-0. But you better listen to what I say about 0-2, because that is a fact.
Beast from the East
April 21st, 2011
4:41 pm
@ugaclassof2004,
40% are blind homers, 40% are trolls and 40% are like yourself? That’s classic!
You can’t make this stuff up….LOL!
GH-Phoenix
April 21st, 2011
4:42 pm
A few points: 2005 game–BSU’s quarterback was a head case and was personally responsible for 6 turnovers. What team wouldn’t get creamed? BSU has been a different team for several years, now. –In the NC last yr, how much did Auburn beat Oregon by? How did Oregon fare against BSU the yr before when they were out for revenge after being beat in their house the year before by a freshman QB?– didn’t get a 1st dwn until midway thru the 3rd Q, Blount held to minus 5 yrds for the game, and that was with BSU making a lot of first game mistakes and having a sophomore QB. –VT spent 5 months preparing for BSU game, hired someone to do an in-depth study of BSU’s “system”, had better recruits, had de facto home field advantage–how’d it work out for them? —BSU has enough starters returning on both sides of the ball, and back-ups for all positions got plenty of game time last year. Moore rarely played past the 3rd Q. –Don’t worry. There will be good receivers stepping up to replace Young and Pettis. — BSU plays good solid smash mouth football, and once in a while, they throw in a well-executed trick play. Schedule: Last yr, the WAC ranked ahead of the ACC and the Big East. I’m sure Richt and his staff and fans who know football are taking the BSU game very seriously. The 2,000+ mi. trip, the humidity, etc., will have an effect on the Broncos, but they’ll still have the edge. I hope it’s a good game.
UGA FRIEND
April 21st, 2011
4:42 pm
UGA will NOT lose two games during the regular season.
I see 11-1 easy. Maybe 12-0 if the can beat both SC and FLA. Dawgs are loaded.
icallbs
April 21st, 2011
4:44 pm
I call BS on UGA Insider. When was the last time a major football program fired its coach after two games into the season? Good grief. UGA Insider? How about TECH Instigator?
Beast from the East
April 21st, 2011
4:44 pm
JB,
UGA Insider is the same guy that told everyone a couple of months ago that UF was in trouble with the NCAA. Take all of his “inside” information for what it is……nothing. He probably knows a janitor with a drinking problem over there in Athens and thinks he’s getting top notch info for giving him a bottle of Old Crow.
Dawg Gone
April 21st, 2011
4:50 pm
GH-Phoenix the humidity in the Ga Dome is the least of Boise’s problems…the frothing at the mouth, we are sick if hearing we have no shot vs the Smurfs, Dawgs will be a big problem. I agree that CMR and the UGA coaching staff and players will be deadly serious about this game and that is another problem for Boise…..And all summer the Smurfs will hear how there are going to kill the Dawgs, and the Dawgs will be hearing the same…
UGA Insider
April 21st, 2011
4:51 pm
icalbs,
Didn’t Foley and McGarity fire Zook after the Ole Miss loss???
RR Rider
April 21st, 2011
4:52 pm
It’s time for Mark Richt to either win his div in the EAST, or let’s get a new coach.
Tired of the underachievement.
There’s too much talent to not win the SEC East right now.
bjohndawg
April 21st, 2011
4:53 pm
Just win the whole damn thing.
Silky
April 21st, 2011
4:53 pm
If Richt beat Florida & Spurrier, he can save his job, otherwise, don’t let the door hit ya….
Rev Critter
April 21st, 2011
4:57 pm
I think Dawgs win both. Their defense will be a beast this year, and will carry them thru the season.
Dawg Tired
April 21st, 2011
5:05 pm
Well, nobody really knows what’s going to happen. That is why you play the games. Having said that, I think the South Carolina game is the tougher of the two. I expect the Dawgs to beat Boise. That USC game will be very tough. Defense needs to redeem itself after very poor tacking performance last year against Lttimore. If they do, it win be a very close game unless either team gets turnover happy.
tell me again
April 21st, 2011
5:05 pm
All of you people who are so scared of Boise have OBVIOUSLY FORGOTTEN what happened to the mighty spud chuckers when they last came to Athens with their “Offense of the century”……it was a massacre. The Dawgs will be ready – they will TROUNCE the spud chuckers.