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
Dawg Tired
April 21st, 2011
5:06 pm
Of course the word is tackling- I think.
UGAfan
April 21st, 2011
5:08 pm
I’m more than willing to just wait until we’ve played these two talented teams before deciding who will win. Without any evidence to support such a forecast, prognosticating at this time seems both silly and pointless. I surely hope my beloved Bulldogs win; but, one can never tell about an event as dicey as a college footbal game and I’m pretty sure that neither witchcraft nor voodoo would do us even a drop of good. If it might, there would be lots of dawg fans looking for a local withdoctor. A great big ole dose of ‘good luck’ would be might welcomed though.
Josh Rosen
April 21st, 2011
5:12 pm
@ David Granger
re: Your 4:09
Yes, indeed.
I like Coach Richt, but he’s let some things get out of hand. And when that happens, it’s hard to regain control. I hope he can do it.
Einsteindawg
April 21st, 2011
5:22 pm
We can win both games. We can’t afford to play short-handed with player suspensions. If any of our guys have so little respect for their teammates, their coaches, their free education, and themselves that they break rules, then they certainly don’t deserve to represent UGA. Pull their scholarships and let them go. As a 42+ year Hartmann donor, season ticket holder, and Georgia taxpayer, I’m tired of seeing our money thrown away and the ridicule our fine university has had to endure.
DJ Schockly
April 21st, 2011
5:28 pm
Didn’t BSU already show up once in Athens….. oh yeah, I had 5 touchdowns.
Joe
April 21st, 2011
5:32 pm
Your first two articles of the season could make or break your job Billy King….I could only hope! Its losers like you that continue to stir the pot. Tell me MR. KING…….why not an article on what happens if we do lose this coach and DO have to start over…Please dear Sir…tell us how far it sets the program back…PLEASE you moron….tell us to take a look at UT……Please- tell me who comes in and starts over. It wont take you long to bash them either. You are a sorry excuse for a DAWG
John, the real UGA fan
April 21st, 2011
5:35 pm
You said just what I have wondered about- Have the tables been set against Mark Richt by scheduling Boise and SC at the beginning of the season????? Check other SEC teams first two games, if you can recognize them because they are sooooooo easy, which should be at the start of the season.. UGA’s schedule for the first two games seems to be a setup against the coach. I do like McGarity but wonder about his motivation. ???????
SOUTHGADAWG88
April 21st, 2011
5:48 pm
Geathers and Jenkins need to be better performers than Tripp and Wood.That’s a must
Snoop Dawg
April 21st, 2011
5:52 pm
If Richt isn’t feeling any pressure, he’s even dumber than I thought. Or it just confirms what a slickster he really is… This guy is in checkmate.
FB Fan
April 21st, 2011
6:02 pm
Based upon the past few years I believe we lose eight or so players each offseason to drugs, alcohol, arrests, academic suspensions etc. (maybe I am low). Any predictions for this year? Would Bonner count in this year;s total? Does that mean we have only seven to go?
If the answer is zero we split first two games.
lizard king
April 21st, 2011
6:29 pm
I think Richt has already been broken in—two——-by Florida——i guess we will never know the answer to that little riddle except—–UGA cannot get their s=======t ————together——and who is usually the problem when such things occur———coaching. Vince Lombardi didnt have that problem———he worked over time to make sure his guys were ready. Endlessly. So, never mind the excuses this year—if Rickity doesnt win the division he is out!!!!———————yea baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!——–Bring on someone who is mean and ruthless—–and wants to win.
the dawg fan FB
April 21st, 2011
7:01 pm
pb , if you are still around you suck and so does whatever crap team you root for . guarantee the dogs are gonna stomp mudholes in boise state and walk them dry with sc . go dawgs !!!!!!
DAWG with two bags over head
April 21st, 2011
7:28 pm
Dreading every minute of it. Expecting 0-2, hoping for 2-0.
John
April 21st, 2011
8:13 pm
Did Murray win the competition for the QB job this spring? I couldn’t tell by the spring game, the best QB looked like LeMay….but what do I know, I think Murray lost last year QB competition to the guy starting at LSU next year. This is the same coaching staff that wanted Newton as a tightend?…he beat the crap out of UGA rearend.
schmeckdawg
April 21st, 2011
8:22 pm
First two games could make or break Richt. Duh Bill REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lakedawg
April 21st, 2011
8:25 pm
Insider making those big predictions knowing that no way the Dawgs lose to Boise and SC at home with a tailback that does not fumble game away and #9 and #22 linebacking and big guys up front Lattimore gets half what he did last year.
Law Student
April 21st, 2011
8:40 pm
Dawghater = dumba**. Are you talking about the same Virginia tech who lost to james madison who plays in the acc? Thought so…Kellen Moore will not make it in the NFL. The best he can hope for is to carry the clipboard.
suwanee dawg
April 21st, 2011
8:41 pm
Nothing matters without OL improvement. After the spring, I am not sure we have that. Sure hope in the future our “dream teams” have many horses up front. With that, hope springs eternal – go dawgs and beat fla! If we beat Florida and finish strong no one will care about the first two.
USC GAMEC0CK
April 21st, 2011
8:45 pm
USC will be whipping the dawgs tween the hedges and georgia folks wont even be in the stadium by the 4th quarter so stop dreaming….USC will be top 10 after the georgia game and Richt will be feeling some serouus heat…and it is only gonna get worse for georgia in 2011….facts are facts folks
USC GAMEC0CK
April 21st, 2011
8:49 pm
oh yeah, if Lattmore breaks 100 yards rushing…USC wins…period.
georgia will hear this a lot….and there goes Lattimore for another USC first down…then under his breath the dude says…geez will somebody tackle that guy.
trupert
April 21st, 2011
8:54 pm
Boise St did not lose their QB, Moore returned for his senior season.
Richt will be fine and will have a good season, with the season being what will be the determining factor in his job status.
GA has had everything that a SEC and MNC team needs except for a top 10 defense and it looks like the only question about the defense is at safety. No team in the SEC has every position settled and established at this point. Ga has plenty of time to get the safety position settled and Ga will now have what’s been missing, with that being a real good defense.
Richt will be fine, Ga football will again be fine. Looking forward to a good season.
trupert
April 21st, 2011
9:06 pm
If Lattermore breaks 100 yds, SC may win but it won’t be easy this time.
SC and Lattermore had the luxury of playing a Ga defense that was just starting to learn the new 3-4 system, and that was using players at key positions that were not of the propper type to fill those positions, with nose guard being only one.
Lattermore better be looking to run outside this time around, because the middle will not be manned by an undersized player trying to fill a role that he is not capable of.
I hope Lattermore and SC takes this defense to be the same as last year because this will be one of the better defenses in the SEC and lattermore won’t be looking forward to playing against the dawgs in 2012.
SC better figure out how to get Garcias head in the right place because this Ga defense will be ready.
A Moveable Feast
April 21st, 2011
9:24 pm
Boise State will feast on the dawgs, and SC will pick the bones clean.
Another very grim year for Saint Mark and his goons.
Vol Luvver
April 21st, 2011
9:29 pm
Have any of you rocket scientists factored into your calculations how many players will be arrested and suspended, and how many games that Ealey and King will fumble away?
Just askin’…
Scott
April 21st, 2011
9:52 pm
The way I see it, Boise is irrelevant cuz it an’t a sec match up.
richt got to win vs. sc, vs. fla, lose those 2, and he is done.
no more excuses.
Lets Face it
April 21st, 2011
9:53 pm
Spring practice and the G day game revealed a mass rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic. I think Richt is toast after this season.
Jame
April 21st, 2011
9:54 pm
hOW MANY YARDS DID lATTIMORE PUT UP ON THE dOGS AS A FRWEHSMAN BUCK 88? PROBLY BREAK 200+ THIS TIME.
DOGS AIN’T GONNA GO FROM #10 IN SEC TO #1 IN 1 LEAP.
WAIT TILL THE DOGS MEET CLOWNEY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
IF DOGS THOUGHT 2010 WAS BAD, 2011 D-LINE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA IS BETTER.
Lets Face it
April 21st, 2011
9:55 pm
I hope we get Mike Leach next year.
Eman
April 21st, 2011
9:57 pm
Sure, Richt gonna go from 0-6 against ranked teams last year to start out 2-0? Come on now…be lucky to win 1 game against ranked teams this year.
richt averages 7 wins a year, last 2 years.
Kool aid Drinker
April 21st, 2011
9:57 pm
The Dawgs Will win the SEC and MNC this year while the AJC will become a conservative news outlet.
frannie mae
April 21st, 2011
9:59 pm
hope and change means UGA is in BIG BIG trouble!
Nub
April 21st, 2011
10:00 pm
3rd and 9 during g day game and you call a lateral pass…. cmr is done!
frannie mae
April 21st, 2011
10:05 pm
I’m too stupid for words. It’s painful.
"Good People"
April 21st, 2011
10:14 pm
Richtopen up at 1 – 1 then he will lose to Dooley,Gators,Auburn and yes as much I hate to say a huge upset at Yech.
Bawbie
April 21st, 2011
10:17 pm
Lets go ahead and Fire Dave Perno too!
All in the Family
April 21st, 2011
10:20 pm
Mark Richt = Mark Fox = Mike Bobo = Jay Clark = Andy Landers = Dave Perno = CHOKE ARTIST
sports
April 21st, 2011
11:15 pm
Georgia will win both games. GA. 34-27 over Boise St. and GA. 24-21 over South Carolina.
runforit
April 22nd, 2011
12:13 am
Not much longer now:
“Kellen Moore won’t make it in the NFL”
“The Dawg’s players are more talented than BSU’s”
“Playing Boise State does not matter, only SEC games matter”
“It will be 2005 all over again”
“Kellen Moore = Jared Zabransky”
“Boise will find out it’s not the champion they think they are when the DAWGS get finished with them………..”
“Bsu’s one game per year does not a program make”
“Kellen Moore won’t have time to complete many passes with Jarvis Jones in his face all night”
September 2010………..Complete silence at FEDEX Field, 70,000 VT fans stopped talking, then the Boise State fans started chanting Boise State! Boise State!
If the Dawgs coaching staff or the players believe any of the statements above, history will be repeated in Atlanta.
Dawgs Roll
April 22nd, 2011
12:26 am
Boise st. lost a lot of talent—Ga should win that game easy with the home crowd. South carolina—dawgs win at home in an upset, even if garcia plays—mark it down.
PB
April 22nd, 2011
12:30 am
runforit…………..
ditto…………… it’s funny here where anyone can post under any name these dawg fans say anything, but when in a forum where they have to login, DAWG FANS ARE MUCH MORE HUMBLE AND REALISTIC ABOUT THEIR CHANCES.
I can’t wait for the first couple minutes in the game when however many yelling dawg fans will be silenced and… pause… gulp… and remember the good ol days(preseason) where anything was possible and their hopes of a win is still alive.
Gosh, I love being on the winning side..
remember dawg fans, the first few minutes you will be silenced. Good luck either way as good sportsmanship ppl would say.
PB
April 22nd, 2011
12:32 am
And if I hear one more ignorant fan say something about how Boise lost a lot of players i’m gonna! have to tell them that we are returning a lot, and a lot of players that got a lot of playing time because most our starters were out before halftime.
So quit telling yourselves that to try to make yourself feel better, it only makes you sound ignorant and uninformed.
Old Blind Dawg
April 22nd, 2011
12:57 am
Dawgs win them both……..next.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 22nd, 2011
5:06 am
PB,
Why don’t you just give it a rest. Boise state did lose a lot of players and if you think Boise State is so great, why aren’t they playing a tougher schedule, instead of going the easy route to build up their record, year after year. Now they have joined a decimated conference where their biggest conference game is what? Are you trying to tell people that losing your two top receivers when you are a poassing team, is not a little problem? Don’t they also have to break in new people for the 5 defensive players that left also? Did those replacements play against a major college team? The answer is no, since by then, Boise state had already played their one tough team for the year. Your QB will get some yards but I bet he does not look like a world beater after the game. I am sure Boise State must have a blog somewhere, that you can go to to try to pump yourself up a bit. You can talk all you want on another teams blog but talk is cheap. That’s why they play the game.
AltamahaDawg
April 22nd, 2011
7:02 am
Dreading them????? Why would a person even bother to be a fan of a college football team if so???
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 22nd, 2011
7:30 am
DAWGS ROLL,
I hope Garcia does play for the SC game. UGA knows how to get him out of his comfort zone quick. Have the big D line control the line of scrimmage, and force Garcia to pass, when the running game is bottled up. That is a formula that is usually good for at least 2 picks from Garcia. We don’t know that much about the sophmore Shaw, I believe it is, so in this case, it is better to know your enemy. I don’t see Lattimore being 3/4ths of their offense this year, especially against a big line, that is strong and fast.
Tony31005
April 22nd, 2011
8:11 am
Win or lose the first two games, I predict the dogs to have a 10 win season.
Minnesota Dawg
April 22nd, 2011
8:28 am
Remember, it’s Boise State’s first game and also South Carolina’s first game! Anything can happen as you well know. I believe we can win both! Go Dawgs
DawginLex
April 22nd, 2011
8:53 am
If Insider is right, we all better hope that we don’t start 0-2. If we start 0-2 and he cans Richt, the program is instantly 2 years away from doing anything win/loss wise barring a $180,000 QB recruit coming our way.
That makes 2011 a throw away year.
That makes 2012 Year 1 of a new system
That makes 2013 the first year that realistically we can win anything.
It would be a lot better if Richt could pull this out of the crapper and build some momentum for 2012 by winning 9 or 10 games in 2011, finish ranked in the top 15 and head into 2012 as the favorite in the East.
But what do I know?
PMC
April 22nd, 2011
9:18 am
Of course he feels pressure, it’s the SEC and they’ve accomplished essentially nothing meaningful since 2005.
That said, I think they are going to be ready for a resurgence this year. I’m concerned about the OL, but the defense looks ready to play for the first time since 2005.
GR82BAG8R
April 22nd, 2011
9:19 am
Georgia wins over Boise State easily, after trailing at halftime.
Georgia and USC go into overtime in a low scoring game. The bounce of the ball determines the outcome.