Which season has been the high point of the Mark Richt era?
There’s no question the national championship season of 1980 was Vince Dooley’s best, and the relatively slim pickings from among the Ray Goff and Jim Donnan years make picking their best seasons pretty easy, too: 1992 for Goff, when the Dogs finished 10-2 and beat Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl, and 1997 for Donnan, also with a 10-2 record that included beating Florida and a win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.
But looking back over the past 10 years of Mark Richt at UGA, the choice of best season isn’t quite so clear-cut. The 2002 and 2005 teams won the SEC while the 2007 Dogs wound up the season ranked No. 2 in the country and with so much momentum that next year’s team was the preseason No. 1.
Dayne Young of HolyTurf.com tackled the question recently in his overview of the past decade. He noted that the most impressive season of nonconference play for Georgia under Richt was probably 2007, when the Dogs beat Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech and a highly touted Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, while Richt’s best season in the SEC was 2002, with the only loss being to the Gators.
As for the overall best season, Young writes: “This was a tough decision because Georgia ended the year as one of the top teams in both 2002 and 2007. The team in 2007 was probably the better team and more feared by opponents. But the team in 2002 lost one less game, so they get the nod here. That was only Coach Richt’s second season at Georgia. But, they ended up pummeling Arkansas in the SEC Championship by a score of 30-3. The miraculous moment of that season was at Auburn when David Greene completed a corner endzone touchdown pass that gave the Dawgs the victory. The only blemish of the season was a loss against Florida. Georgia ended the season with a 26-13 defeat of Bobby Bowden and Florida State. The Dawgs ended the year ranked number three in the nation.”
Loading ...The 2002 Bulldogs had a pretty awesome lineup, too, with Greenie, Musa Smith, Jon Stinchcomb, Terrence Edwards, David Pollack, Boss Bailey and Sean Jones. And more importantly they went 13-1, with the inexplicable lone loss coming to a less talented Florida team in Jacksonville. That year’s team pounded Arkansas in the SEC championship and cruised to a Sugar Bowl win over FSU, finishing No. 3 in the final BCS standings.
So 2002 gets my vote as Richt’s best season to date. How about you? Feel free to share your views in the comments, vote in the poll or do both.
A LOYAL BULLDOG
I like this a lot: Asked in a teleconference interview about his shout-out to the Bulldog Nation after his “Dancing With the Stars” win, Hines Ward said he wanted to thank Georgia “because that’s where I started from and I still live in Atlanta. Georgia will always be home for me. I love the fine people in Athens and Bulldog Nation. People always come up to me and tell me they went to Georgia — it’s a family to me. The first thing people tell me when I’m signing autographs is ‘Go Dogs!’ I went to school there and I understand the connection with the Bulldogs and the football team. I’m grateful for my time there, and for the fans who have supported me my whole career and are still staying with me and voted for me on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’”
Go Dogs, indeed!
Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!
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168 comments Add your comment
BirdDog
May 29th, 2011
10:00 am
‘02 gets my vote. Remember the Edwards drop @ FL when he was wide open down the middle? Our best receiver drops an easy TD, ugh. I went to the SEC Championship game that year and they destroyed Ark. They were on a roll late and would have beat anybody in the USA.
kb
May 29th, 2011
10:15 am
Thomas you need a math lesson.
kb
May 29th, 2011
10:17 am
Thomas, hit the submit button too soon on who’s recruits did what and the years it was accomplished.
Buckeye's an Idiot
May 29th, 2011
11:02 am
OSU = PROBATION YOU FOOL
BigRedBlackDawg
May 29th, 2011
11:56 am
2002 because of SEC title but really all of them because CMR is such a class act.
If anyone doesn’t thing the Dawgs could have their 6th National Championship whenever they want it is an IDIOT. All the president of UGA has to do is let in all the players that want to be Dawgs but don’t have Ivee League like grades. Everyone knows that UGA has the best acadeamic standards of any school other than the Ivee League (Yale, Harvard, Georgetown for those who don’t know).
GO DAWGS!
Beast from the East
May 29th, 2011
12:15 pm
BigRedBalckDawg appears to be a real “Ivee Leaguer”. LOL
Icing
May 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
Everyone knows that UGA has the best acadeamic standards of any school other than the Ivee League.
What utter BS. And you can’t even spell “Ivy,” you moron.
Thomas Brown
May 29th, 2011
12:57 pm
Vince Dooley told Mark Richt that he had to show up, a week before Signing Day 2001. He wanted to go to an Assistant Coache’s national meeting for another week. No, the 1st 5 years all 5 had Jim Donnan recruits on our teams – all of them. The last 5 have not. And, we are 21 Losses – average in EXCESS of FOUR (4) LOSSES a season.
kb
May 29th, 2011
1:36 pm
After 2002 very few Donnans recruits remained, Donnan was fired in December you think Richt wasn’t recruiting the 2001 Class? Then you are misinformed. You should really take a look back at the roster and the main contributors from 2003 forward.
Ed (The Original)
May 29th, 2011
1:47 pm
Have to go with ‘07 – an SEC Championship season like ‘02 is sweet, but bittersweet when that includes a loss to Florida. Richt hasn’t put together a truly satisying season yet – championship mixed with a win over Florida. But when you’re 2-8 against your biggest rival, that’s to be expected.
Ed (The Original)
May 29th, 2011
1:47 pm
“And more importantly they went 13-1, with the inexplicable lone loss coming to a less talented Florida team in Jacksonville.”
Inexplicable at the time, but 9 years later we know that choking in Jax is the norm for Richt.
Gator Girl in Ocala
May 29th, 2011
2:28 pm
“Inexplicable at the time, but 9 years later we know that choking in Jax is the norm for Richt.”
And that’s a problem?
War Eagle
May 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
2002, SEC has changed, Coach Richt has kept the same demeanor…. CAN`T WIN THE BIG GAME. There are 4 teams in the SEC West that will as strong or better than UGA in 2011, only South Carolina and florida in the East
Bodda Getta
May 29th, 2011
3:59 pm
Ranking the SEC right now (with last year’s record):
1. Auburn (14-0 – until someone beats us this is where we stay)
2. LSU (11-2 – very solid, returning one of the best defenses in the NCAA)
3. Arkansas (10-3 – solid offense, improving defense)
4. Alabama (10-3 – good team, but big questions in the passing game)
5. Mississippi State (9-4 – strong along the lines but can they move the ball?)
6. South Carolina (9-5 – excellent skill players, need players to step up along the lines)
7. Florida (8-5 – starting over but loaded with talent)
8. Tennessee (6-7 – came on strong the second half of the year)
9. Ole Miss (4-8 – in a very tough division – better than their record indicates)
10. Kentucky (6-7 – solid offense – questionable defense)
11. Georgia (6-7 – good kickers but little else)
12. Vanderbilt (2-10 – starting over)
waytogoRicht
May 29th, 2011
5:26 pm
Hopefully, this next one, and I would be pleased for UGA if Richt could win the three key games in my book, Boise, Florida and Auburn. But this is the prersent day Richt and reality has been very pervasive lately.
Fast Eddie
May 29th, 2011
6:46 pm
Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun said it best: “Georgia always wins the offseason.”
Reality sets in...
May 29th, 2011
7:52 pm
“11. Georgia (6-7 – good kickers but little else)”
I would move UGA up a couple of places, but they’re certainly no better than 3rd in their division.
The so-called Dream Team is nothing but a huge bust.
canine
May 29th, 2011
7:58 pm
Reality , Another jealous Tech fan? Bodda getta a brain your rankings are hilarious, it 2011 not 2010 Auburn may win 7 it was a one year wonder.
rankings! here they are! get 'em while they're hot!
May 29th, 2011
8:04 pm
I think ‘02 was the better season AND the better team.
I would rank the teams in this order:
1. 2002
2. 2007
3. 2005
4. 2003
5. 2004
6. 2008
7. 2006
8. 2001
9. 2009
10. 2010
Spot on Bill
May 29th, 2011
8:42 pm
The 2002 season was very special for me; as I was a student, and was able to hit the SEC championship game and the Sugar Bowl. The team was great, but I am not sure had we gone undefeated that we would have played in the NC game. The SEC was somewhat on the outside looking in. I would have to give the nod to the 2007 team as being the better team. I think all of America knows the 2 best teams to close the year were UGA and USC, and I am sure we would have beaten LSU and/or OSU by 2 touchdowns. The swagger that team had was amazing; even down to the “Soulja Boy” dance on the sideline. I think we lost some of that swagger when we stopped some of those antics. I did not always agree with some of the antics of the ‘07 team, but the amount of confidence that team played with is unsurpassed during Richt’s tenure. I think this year’s team will do a lot to get us back in the limelight. Go Dawgs!
Thomas Brown
May 29th, 2011
11:24 pm
6. 2008 7. 2006 8. 2001 9. 2009 10. 2010
So, according to you, the worst years are the last years here at UGA for Mark Richt, and he is now what he was his 1st season – not getting better.
Which is it kb, the years we had Jim Donnan recruits, Mark Richt did better – or, worse ?
Still@theBAR
May 29th, 2011
11:32 pm
Nice call Thomas Brown
Which is it kb, the years we had Jim Donnan recruits, Mark Richt did better – or, worse ?
kb is all over the place on that one.
Buckeye
May 30th, 2011
9:06 am
Only days now until Isaiah, The Annointed One II, crosses the Clark County line.
Rejoice, dogs.
Buckeye
May 30th, 2011
9:10 am
BREAKIN NEWS
Tressel Resigns ( as i ealier preodicted….I said sooner than later)
http://www.dispatch.com
Still@theBAR
May 30th, 2011
9:17 am
But look at what Tressel was able to do in the time Richt was at UGA.
Ohio State’s coach since 2001, Tressel took his teams to three national championship games, won seven Big Ten titles and had a 9-1 record against Michigan
1eyedJack
May 30th, 2011
9:30 am
What’s a Luke Fickell? Any kin of the Fickells around Moultrie? That’s one of the ugliest and sorriest clans of red headed doofey’s around.
Will Muschamp
May 30th, 2011
9:38 am
I Guarantee UGA will have a new football coach next year!
Thomas Brown
May 30th, 2011
9:40 am
He also did not fling the football around the field, the way Mark Richt does. And, he played defense, unlike Mark Richt. He also won the BCS National Championship 2002, unlike Mark Richt. He also was 106-22, unlike Mark Richt 96-33. He didn’t lose to easy opponents, unlike Mark Richt. He had a top record against top-ranked teams, unlike Mark Richt. But, Mark Richt is a Christian and a nice guy. He had a great coaching staff, all of whom remain, while when Mark Richt is let go for failure on the football field, none of his “coaching staff” will remain 1 second. He also was 56-9 the last 5 years while Mark Richt is 44-21. And, so yet another BETTER coach is not there – this makes Mark Richt the # 3 best coach nationally at the same team for more than 10 years. (What hogwash.)
1eyedJack
May 30th, 2011
9:46 am
He’s also out of a job and disgraced, unlike Mark Richt.
Will Muschamp
May 30th, 2011
9:49 am
Mark Richt is a script coach. He cannot coach on the fly or make immediate adjustments. Tressel coached period. Mark Richt will be toast by December.
Bawbie
May 30th, 2011
9:53 am
Fire UGA’s womens softball coach. Another one that chokes!
Sven Ottke
May 30th, 2011
9:59 am
It has to be winning the trophy baby……..The Fulmer-Richt Cup!
Chickasaw
May 30th, 2011
10:01 am
2002 year has to get the vote, with only 1 loss, an SEC championship and a bowl game victory. But the question is a bit like asking, following the 1979 season: “Which season has been the high point of the Vince Dooley era?” I suppose I would have picked 1966, when the only loss was that 6-7 one to Miami, but that loss still rankled. Until Coach Richt has a 14-0 national title season, there will always be an asterisk to the answer.
Buckeye
May 30th, 2011
10:14 am
To err is human. Tressel erred with the world watcing.
He is a good man and this Buckeye will forever have his back.
Go Bucks!
Beat dogs in 2020!
D Bag Trolls!
May 30th, 2011
10:44 am
Lie, cheat, and steal! How is that working for you Jim? Funny stuff out of OSU. This guy just sunk your ship!!!!!
Les Miles = winner; CMR = not so much
May 30th, 2011
11:01 am
great to see UGA softball tean continue the choker tradition in Athens…not to worry, ole’ Bill will soon have a column about the greatest UGA softball teams that never won anything…enough living in the past losers!!!
Thomas Brown
May 30th, 2011
11:02 am
Jim Tressel vs. Teams finishing in the AP Poll Top 10 :
Won Miami of Florida # 2 for 2002 Consensus National Championship
Lost Penn State # 3 for 2005
Won Notre Dame # 9 for 2005
Won Washington State # 10 for 2002
Lost Texas # 2 for 2009
Won Penn State # 9 for 2009
Lost Texas # 1 for 2005
Lost Southern California # 3 for 2008
Won Iowa # 7 for 2009
Lost Penn State # 8 for 2008
Won Iowa # 8 for 2003
Lost Iowa # 8 for 2004
Lost LSU # 1 for 2007
Won Michigan # 8 for 2006
Lost Michigan # 6 for 2003
Won Michigan # 9 for 2002
Lost Florida # 1 for 2006
Lost Wisconsin # 7 for 2010
8 wins vs teams finishing Top 10 with 10 Losses vs finished Top 10
He held his own 8-10, not 3-10 like Mark Richt vs teams finishing Top 10 AP.
Les Miles = winner; CMR = not so much
May 30th, 2011
11:06 am
@ Buckeye…you can forget UGA in 2020…they’ll back out just like they did with Oregon (LSU stepped up…) why play TOSU when Chattanooga is probably available…and they can’t understand why ESPN shows the program no respect…they are a joke!!!!
Thomas Brown
May 30th, 2011
11:06 am
Jim Tressel is a better football coach than Mark Richt. And, in the face of this, you say, Mark Richt is a Christian and a nice guy. They both had the same total compensation per year at 3 million 400 thousand dollars.
He beat the teams he was supposed to beat, and he nearly held his own vs those who truly were the best teams he could possibly be matched-up against.
8-10 vs teams finishing in the Top 10 AP Poll Jim Tressel
3-10 vs teams finishing in the Top 10 AP Poll Mark Richt.
DFWdawg
May 30th, 2011
1:48 pm
2007 team had better offense, especially in the red-zone. 2002 team had a vastly better defense and special teams. Overall, 2002 team is better.
Outside looking in
May 30th, 2011
1:58 pm
Thomas, take a look at most the ranked teams he beat were from from his own pathetic conference and didn’t deserve the ranking.By the way 9 of those games were played while using players recruited by John Cooper and 3 of those you list were played in 2002 using Coopers players.he five wins over ranked opponents since 2005, 4 came within his own conference 1 win (notre dame)vs ranked opponents outside the big 1 little 11 since 2005.
redneckDawg
May 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
High point was 9 years ago? 9 years? You gotta be kiddin me.
UGADawg83
May 30th, 2011
8:08 pm
In what season did Bill quit writing lame blogs? Wait—that hasn’t happened.
needums
May 30th, 2011
9:12 pm
So are we already looking back at what CMR did instead of what is going to be done? It look’s more and more like this will be his final year at UGA.
swampjacket
May 30th, 2011
10:14 pm
Perfect Blog for Dawg fans, who live in the fantasyland of the past….should run it every year. “People drink in the past when the future dries up”!!!
Still@theBAR
May 31st, 2011
6:13 am
Richt’s best year had to be when he had a “KID” (as old as Matt Ryan is right now) playing QB for him at FSU winning a Heisman. Everybody thought Richt was the NEXT Great Offensive mind. I mean he did have 2 Heisman Trophy winners. 1 became a NBA point guard for a minute and the other was and OLD man in College. RICHT must have been Brilliant to coach those guys to Heismans.
DawginLex
May 31st, 2011
8:47 am
2002 was the best total season but the end of 2006 was Richt’s best coaching job and set up 2007. Beating Auburn like a drum, then GT who was ranked and then coming back against VT in the bowl was as good a series of wins as Richt has had.
Nick
May 31st, 2011
9:33 am
Why not 2005? He did alot with a much less talented team and more question marks coming into the season I thought.
it is what it is
May 31st, 2011
10:06 am
how bout year 2010, six and seven, 11 arrest, lost to UCF in Liberty Bowl but managed to have what some 10 players drafted, now that is coaching, keep up the good work on that
Stinkin' Dawg
May 31st, 2011
10:30 am
The key with blog’s title is “HAS BEEN” because that’s all this team of mutts can do – is look backward for glory.
Richt and the rest of his God-awful staff need to replaced ASAP or we’re gonna continue getting lapped by others in the division and conference (USC, UF, AU, UA, LSU, etc.).