UGA, Richt have a lot riding on the South Carolina game
Could Mark Richt's future at UGA come down to one game? (AJC file)
Georgia football’s long, hot but relatively quiet summer unfortunately got a bit more eventful this weekend.
UGA announced that redshirt freshman Brent Benedict, a backup offensive lineman who spent last season rehabbing a serious knee injury, is leaving the program for “personal reasons,” and as you’d expect when a vague official statement leaves people wondering, there’s been a raft of rumors and anonymous-sourced online reports about what really went on there.
But whether it was simply a disagreement about UGA’s conditioning regimen or a case of the young man and his father brazenly looking to buy him another year of rehab by transferring to another SEC school, the fact is that any impact on the Dogs’ program likely won’t be felt this year. As recently as late May Benedict himself was talking about not having any feeling in one foot, and reports are he was unlikely to see much, if any, playing time this season.
So, yes, the Dogs’ offensive line is terribly thin when it comes to depth, but that was going to be the case whether or not Benedict was on the roster.
More troubling is the latest sorry story to bubble up from the cesspit that is AAU basketball, which has the eligibility of two UGA athletes in question over benefits they allegedly received that have absolutely nothing to do with the University of Georgia other than the fact that its programs might suffer the consequences.
It’s difficult to know just what the NCAA will decide, especially in the case of transfer linebacker Jarvis Jones, where an apparent “pre-existing relationship” with one of the parties might be a mitigating factor. But chances are both Jones and much heralded basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will end up sitting out some games.
For Mark Richt, the similarity to last year’s A.J. Green debacle must be particularly aggravating, as Georgia might lose its starting outside linebacker for those crucial opening games against Boise State and South Carolina. (And, knowing the NCAA, Georgia probably won’t get word on Jarvis until a couple of days before the season begins.)
Speaking of the Gamecocks, Georgia’s game against Steve Spurrier’s team at Sanford Stadium is looking bigger all the time. CollegeFootball News has picked it as one of the Top 5 SEC Games of the Year.
CFN’s Barrett Sallee sums up the game’s importance to UGA pretty well by noting: “For Georgia, this could be the most important game of the season, and possibly Mark Richt’s career. A win here, and Georgia vaults from SEC East also-ran, to SEC East favorite in a matter of just three or four hours. The Bulldogs miss Arkansas, Alabama and LSU this year; and get Auburn and Mississippi State between the hedges. The toughest road game? At Tennessee. In the past, that’s been a problem, but I don’t see it being one this year. A win over the Gamecocks almost certainly makes it ‘Atlanta or bust’ for the fan base, and for Mark Richt’s job. Prediction: Georgia 20, South Carolina 13.”
What do you think? Is the South Carolina game a make-or-break situation for Richt and UGA?
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544 comments Add your comment
ugaclassof2004
June 29th, 2011
2:54 pm
To be fair to Richt( and the rest of the SEC for that matter), its not like Florida has been a bunch of bums the last 20 years. Spurriers teams in the 90’s were blowing everyone out. Urban Meyer’s teams in 2006,2008, and 2009 were just better than us. The Dawgs had a bad break in 2005 when Shockley got hurt. We’d probably would have beaten them had he played. And the Gators had a bye week before the UGA game last year. I think the Dawgs would have beaten them had they played them again, but unfortunately this isn’t the Pro’s where you get to play your division rivals twice a year with the opportunity to avenge an early season loss.
Also, lets take it easy on Richt for losing to the Zooker. Zook, although not a great head coach, was a hell of a recruiter who had plenty of talent on his roster. And sometimes talented teams can put together for a game or two even if the coaching sucks. Zook was the only coach to beat Nick Saban in 2003, and LSU won the National title that year.
Even if Richt had turned the tide against the Gators, at best he probably would have only been 5-5, because hey…Florida is a REALLY good program. Sometimes you just have to give the opposition credit. That being said, if he loses to Florida this year, then Richt needs to go.
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
2:54 pm
chazzo, you really should show more respect for those fans doing the hard things to save us here. It’s tough work to type this stuff out. Noble work. Not at all, just about them.
I mean, what if the whole deal was just left up to actual people, and, you know real actions?
chazzo
June 29th, 2011
3:00 pm
Muschamp> humpmeister. That’s funny, dude. but, yet again that lame kool aid metaphor.
Ty this: Your dish isn’t picking up anything but AM radio. The minutes on your pre-paid cell were used up months ago. Your trying to get through customer service with a dial phone.
You took the brown acid. Put down the nutmeg. Stop licking toads. Your thinking cap has a point on top of it.
There’s no bait on you hook, fella. You spell Koolaid with a “c.”
Any of these will suffice to point out that someone is delusional. Some are better than others. These were off the top of my head. Surely we can come up with something a little less trite.
WDE
June 29th, 2011
3:11 pm
@Muschump tell you what win a game then talk…I’m a koolaid drinker? My HC has 2 SEC titles you have yet to win a game ,your QB has underperformed last year and this spring and your OC is the planets biggest destroyer of college football programs and buffets on the planet….what flavor is your favorite ??
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 29th, 2011
3:12 pm
Bill is getting 10 pages worth and practice hasn’t even started!
chazzo
June 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
AltDawg: And, what if the well-being and education of the young men on the team were a priority over beating rivals and winning championships. All I want to see is for every player to reach his fullest potential. That’s not all on Richt.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 29th, 2011
3:15 pm
Where are the SC fans?What kind of team do have?
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 29th, 2011
3:16 pm
You have I mean
Dawg Tired
June 29th, 2011
3:27 pm
South Carolina is probably the best team on our schedule. Normally that makes it a big game.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
3:40 pm
chazzo
what gets me about you and your arm fishing buddy Altamahadog you want to talk about how you pull for the program. No you two put Richt ahead of the program. Everything he does you two support and you find an excuse for his losses and stupidity handling his coaches. I guess the 30+ arrests in the last 5 yrs arent an indication of the program on the slide either right
How about another round of Kathryns Kryptonite Kool-aid
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
3:50 pm
chazzo, did you know that you did all that? That’s pretty big news to me. And here I always thought that I was the expert on what I think.
chazzo
June 29th, 2011
3:57 pm
Kathryn’s Kryptonite Kool-aid. That’s all right. I don’t put Richt ahead or behind or anywhere else. I pull for him to be successful because I want my all time favorite team to win. I am not delusional about his short comings, failures, miscalls, or the discipline problems, nor am I delusional about his successes. Finally, I am not delusional to think that my opinion, will, or ego have any affect on the situation whatsoever.
My opinion of Mark Richt is that he is a good coach. I don’t think he is infallible. I think he is a good coach. Maybe he will get fired, and UGA will get a better coach. Maybe he will get fired, and the program will flounder for decades while sorting through a carousel of saps.
Of this I am certain, the decision to fire or keep Richt will have absolutely nothing to do with my opinion of the man, good or bad.
That being said, I am excited about the Defense this year. If the O can just manage 3/4 of last years production, the D can keep them up with any team on the schedule. I am willing to bet that the O does better than that.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
4:06 pm
yes Altamaha I figure an expert arm fisherman would know such things
by the way, how much do you charge for the arm fishing expedition
I figure I would pay for chazzo to experience drinking some muddy river water instead of all the kool-aid he loves to drink
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
4:09 pm
The bottom line is that there is a not a person in this room that can honestly say that IF they had to stand in Greg McGarity’s shoe this past December, they would have handled it any differently. Is all great to say how you would have fired Richt, and maybe some folks can even convince themselves they would have, but I don’t beleive the overwhemliming majority of rationl fans (especially having to actually be responsible for the program) would have, and it has absolutely nothing to do with personal feeling about Richt. That being the case, I think most folks just don’t really see any reason to play along with the pretence.
Choke Artist Club
June 29th, 2011
4:09 pm
Mark Richt = Dave Perno = Mark Fox…… Where there are no National Championships amongst them!
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 29th, 2011
4:26 pm
Flat Tire,
Man , you got a lot more wrong with you than just a flat tire. Every few days you must have off because you spend all day putting down UGA and CMR. At least change yout tune occasionally, instead of always having to defend your same old worn out, exagerated, comments. Try being original sometimes. You might get a little ess criticism.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
AltamahaDawg
I wouldnt have fired him last year. He deserves another year
Frankly Altamaha 8-4 is fine with me this year so long as we dont lose to FL, enough is enough. Its high time he starts beating them not every year but not every 5 or 6 yrs. Come on bud Richt is paid $3million thats unacceptible for a top 10 salary
I can assuredly tell what I would have told Richt if I were Greg McGarity
Coach you had a rough season and I know you would want a better outcome. I do to. So what can I do to help get things turned around because coach Im letting you know things are going to be turned around.
The first thing that gets turned around is the embarrassment of player arrest stops as of yesterday. Im not going to read no more about double digit arrest, frankly Im not going to read about more than 2 arrests per year, is that understood.
Now coach what do you need to get things fixed, some money to go after good assistants because if your sticking with what you currently have accept your current DC then let it be known FL has a new coaching staff, so basically theres no excuse in losing to them next year.
I want that series turned around My goal is for you to at least have a 500 record against FL. We want to be in the hunt for an East title and win the east several times this decade. We also need to stop losing to teams like Tenn who are having a down season or KY and Vandy
That is what I would have done
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
4:43 pm
Great. Pretty much what the entire world has been saying. I think if you had put all that in letter, mailed it to GM last December, you could have spared us all this 8 month temper tantrum you have been throwing.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
It Ain’t Rocket Science
Every other day I must be off lol really. Wow I guess you must be off all the time too since you supposedly see me every other day on here which I might add for you to please prove your ignorance and Sat and Sun does not count and neither do nights.
Also you want to tell me I talk about the same thing wow the only thing that I talk about repeatedly is beating FL but I do talk about other stuff as well for example
Giving McClendon a raise when that story was going on, the cost of tickets that fans have to pay with poor results on the field. Ive talked dancing on the field issues. And the arrests issues but I guess you dont know that because you dont know what your talking about anyway
Why do I talk about FL #1 we lose to them every year, #2 everytime I come on this blog I read about how UGA fans like you, are thinking this is the year, this is the year, we have this, we have that, and every year its the same ole thing lose to teams you shouldnt have lost to and get a beat down by FL
But at the end of every year you and every other kool-aid drinker on here says, well we beat GT and we have a great recruiting class coming wait til next year.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
4:54 pm
AltamahaDawg
You could have spared us the I think things are going to turn around this next season tantrum crap too. Then you wouldnt have heard the facts from me as to why I dont believe it will happen
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
5:10 pm
Much of my optimism come from knowing we have folks like you taking care of the hard things for us. I mean heck, that faux lecture to coach from the perspective of Mcgarity, played by you, made me feel better. Win more game. Lazer beam right there.
chazzo
June 29th, 2011
5:13 pm
Flat tire: That’s just it, man. None of the people you are lashing out against are saying this is the year. Who here is saying we are going undefeated and bringing home the crystal? I think the most optimistic predictions are involve winning the East or having a ten win team. I am positive about things being better than last year. I doubt we’ll be playing in the Sugar Bowl. Although, that would be fantastic.
I didn’t watch BSU play a single game last season. I have nothing to base a prediction on other than they are ranked really high and UGA is ranked really low. The SC game is always a slugfest. I think it will be one of the better games of the season.
Finally, just for fun, I would love to see a two TE set with Lynch and White at TEs, Orson Charles split wide, and Figgins at FB. Everybody go beat up some one on D on 2.
As far as Kool-aid swillers (to use your trite phrase): There are two types. Those with rose colored glasses and those with s#*t colored.
Mobile Dawg
June 29th, 2011
5:13 pm
Man, this is better than Dr. Phil, Oprah, and The View, all in one. What’s going on Alt?
UGA? R U Kidding?
June 29th, 2011
5:14 pm
Wow, what an insightful blog…….Pulitzer prize winning headlines! You just don’t get this kind of analysis anywhere. (uga football…..31 years and counting).
Mobile Dawg
June 29th, 2011
5:19 pm
The hype leading up to the UGA/Boise game is going to be astronomical. The talking heads are already giving the “best QB in the nation” award to Kellen Moore.
Roswell
June 29th, 2011
5:20 pm
1. SC has a big game QB
2. SC has a better RB
3. SC has a better WR
4. SC has a better offensive line
5. SC has a better defensive line
6. SC has better linebackers
7. SC has better secondary
8. Georgia has a better kicker & punter
Verdict:
South Carolina 77, Georgia 0
Beast from the East
June 29th, 2011
5:21 pm
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110629/ARTICLES/110629518/1136?Title=SEC-East-preseason-predictions
One of the Gainesville writers is picking the Dawgs in the East this year.
Atlanta87
June 29th, 2011
5:23 pm
Heal you two, sit!!
Roswell
June 29th, 2011
5:26 pm
On ESPN, Ed A. ranks SC better than Georgia in:
OLine, RB, WR, DLine, Secondary
Ranks Georgia better at:
Linebacker, QB, Special teams
iF Jarvis out for the SC game, edge on LB would go to SC.
bill
June 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
All the usual hype is making me tired…beat Florida, or start the Richt ministries. That is all…
John B
June 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
South Carolina is the most important game. Lattimore must be stopped or forget about it. Also, try not to give up the big passing play to Garcia.
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
It’s all good Mobile. Just having fun with my pal there.
shane#1
June 29th, 2011
5:51 pm
Kyle King suggests that we Dawg fans not panic, but that we should practice panicking. Well, I grew up hunting and fishimg in the creek swamps of South Ga. and have made an art form from the simple panic. Like feeling a copperhead roll under ones foot or having said beast want to share a john boat with you. Contacting an unseen hornet nest with ones rod tip always brings on a good panic, as does trespassing on a bull gator’s turf in mating season. With UGA’s usual luck Jones will be suspended for four games and another O lineman will blow out a knee. Also not out of the real of the possible are a couple of arrests and a meteor strike on Sanford Stadium.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
5:56 pm
chazzo
Lets get one thing straight you mental midget no one lashed out until you and your arm fishing buddy Altamah dope made your comment towards me earlier today
And did I say anything about Richt must win a national title or the people on here saying were going to win a NC nope
I just stated Im tired of hearing the same ole were going to have this great season crap over and over and over and over
Finally yes people on here have been talking about winning the east with my response of how is that going to happen when we’ll lose to FL obviously and probably lose to a sorry Tenn team like weve done two times
yet you want to get mad when I bring up losing to FL. Well in case you didnt know FL is in the east and has appeared 11 times in the SEC championship game in the last 20 yrs
Now with that said why get all enthusiastic when you have a coach that cannot beat the main team in the east
So take your phrase;
“As far as Kool-aid swillers (to use your trite phrase): There are two types. Those with rose colored glasses and those with s#*t colored”.
Take your rose colored glasses to the local hooked on phonics school so you can learn to read an comprehend to help the crap between your ears understand what you read
lANKY
June 29th, 2011
5:57 pm
UGA IS SO EASY TO BEAT. JUST JUMP ALL THOSE 5 YARD PASSES, MURRAY AN’T COMPLETE A LONG BALL TO SAVE HIS LIFE (ANYBODY WATCH HIM ON G-DAY–0 COMPLETIONS OVER 5 YARDS IN THE AIR). LOOK FOR BOISE & CAROLINA & GATORS TO JUMP ROUTES, STOP THE RUN, AND MAKE MURRAY DO WHAT HE’S WORST AT, BEAT YOU WITH THE LONG BALL.
lANKY
June 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
UGA IS 12TH IN TURONOVER MARGIN FOR 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR AGAINST WINNING TEAMS. LAST IN THE SEC. RICHT AIN’T GOOD AT FIXIN STUFF.
Oompa Loompa Dawg
June 29th, 2011
6:16 pm
Watch the midget get a lot of his pass batted down this year because of a weak O line. More to come like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyiLcqLcC9k
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
Well in the spirit of full disclosure, I said that folks who arent smart enough to come up with anything better to say than “drinking the cool-aid” needed to stay away from forums where other people are expressing actual original ideas, a long time ago. So it wasnt just today.
Rotten Apples
June 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
Now it’s Lars Tate’s son in trouble for illegal drugs. An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and UGA has a lot of rotten apples, don’t they.
When is crap-coach Saint Mark going to be canned?
Oompa Loompa Dawg
June 29th, 2011
6:20 pm
defense still sucks if you watch this Video. jury still out on Grantham. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyiLcqLcC9k
Oompa Loompa Dawg
June 29th, 2011
6:26 pm
AltamahDawg… I remember you were so smart last year. Your intelligence and well thought out arguements should carry over into this season . You should however put in a good word for Donnan and Ray Goof every once in while since you do an excellent job in defending Richt.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
AltamahaDawg
Once again a comment with no substance
“I said that folks who arent smart enough to come up with anything better to say than “drinking the cool-aid” needed to stay away from forums where other people are expressing actual original ideas”
Still waiting on why the program is on the rise not the same ole comments about phrases and metaphors people use that you think earns you respect on this blog
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
Are you taking about last year when I was predicting that we were not going to have as good of a year as a lot of folks were saying? Convinced the defense would struggle, especially early, worried about the QB, especially early, and questioning is the O-line was really that solid? That year?
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
6:38 pm
I’m sorry, I didnt realize that you had asked me that question there buddy. I have discussed in detail why I think the UGA football team will have an improved year. Please go back and read it.
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
6:52 pm
Not only did you NOT ask me, which makes it quite silly to suggest you are still waiting on an answer, but the implication that I got was that you specifically did not want to hear it.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
6:57 pm
Altamaha
Point me to your comment of substance that explains why UGA is on the rise on this story blog
I looked, all I saw was those knee slap no substance comments that you usually make
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 29th, 2011
7:04 pm
If the UGA defense can put some pressure on the O lines they play, they will be better. Last year we did not have a true NT and it would appear that they weren’t well conditioned. This year we have a couple of true NT’s and I think the S and C program, will show a lot of improvement. The D will have to control the game as much as possible since our O line is mighty thin, and we have bunch of new guys that will take a few games to learn their positions fully.
I think the team is helped by the fact that CMR, is rededicated to the game he coaches and I know the AD is better than we had. A lot of improvement can be made also, if he has more input into the play calling, which I think he will.If UGA goes at worst 1-1 for the first two games, They can come in with 9 or 10 wins. UF is rebuilding as well as Tenn. We miss Alabama this year and Auburn is also rebuilding and coming to the house. Georgia Tech. is well, just Ga. tech, so we should have the upper hand in that game. S. C. is going to be our biggest SEC game, but if UGA controls the line of scrimmage with the defense, Lattimore will get some yards but will not run over UGA, like he did last year. Their QB is a crap shoot, because you never know who is going to show up. He tends to be either, pretty good or pretty bad, depending on the pressure put on him.
These are my reasons for optimism and I stand by my beliefs.
By the way, I don’t drink Kool Aide or liquor. I do have an aversion towards sweet tea.
GO DAWGS
AltamahaDawg
June 29th, 2011
7:08 pm
sorry, I guess I am not as clever as “hand fishing”.
no name
June 29th, 2011
7:13 pm
Enter your comments here
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 29th, 2011
7:18 pm
“I think the team is helped by the fact that CMR, is rededicated to the game”
LOL
At $3 million a year he should have never lost the dedication