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
dawg
June 28th, 2011
11:59 am
The 6 points UGA scored against Central florida are as relevant to this year as the 73 points scored in the 2 games prior to it it. Move on , find some new material.
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
11:59 am
If we lose to Boise or South Carolina it won’t be because we are lacking one linebacker. Does the name Ray Drew ring a bell? I know he’s a freshman but he’s level headed and has a good demeanor about him. Seems to be a hard-worker. I see us beating Boise but being in a dogfight against S. Carolina and we may even end up losing because of the defensive line that they have. They have one of the best D-lines in the country and I can just hope that our O-line can block those guys for 4 quarters.
I know we lack depth on the O-line but you only need 5 guys to get the job done. Hopefully Glenn, Gates, Jones, Burnette, and Anderson can be those 5 guys that just maul everyone in front of them. I think Glenn is going to be a star at LT and an All-SEC selection.
We beat Boise by at least 21, and I say we beat S. Carolina 21-14.
New Kid on the Block SEC East
June 28th, 2011
12:01 pm
Move over mutt puppies and swamp lizards. Gamec@cks now rule baseball and football!
Jingle Bells Batman smells
June 28th, 2011
12:03 pm
The dawgs O line stinks period. Midget QB will be running for his life and will throw a ton of int’s.
Central Georgia Dawg
June 28th, 2011
12:03 pm
So you are telling me that a former AU players parent can tell the NCAA that yes I solicited money. He knew nothing about it. AU knows this happened (wink), and now UGA players actions from over 2 years ago will be scrutinized. SC players stayed in a hotel, OSU players traded tats for jerseys. NCAA board of directors I think we have a problem here. The NCAA has got to figure out a way to fix this. This has been happening for decades. Needs to be addressed, and repaired. Get rid of BCS. Give players a small stipend, set up an annuity if the school uses that players jersey for advertising for that player. As for South Carolina, this is always a war. If not for the Ealey fumble UGA wins last year. UGA wins a close one at home.
GoDawg.Real
June 28th, 2011
12:03 pm
Sorry I don’t agree with you guys.
UGA loses to Boise in humiliating fashion.. bounces back to play respectfully with SC.
There’s nothing I can see that would show why we could compete with a team like Boise at this point. If we can beat Boise, we can win the SEC or at least be second.
Contractor
June 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
Dirty Dawgs,
I’m with you on the Peach Bowl.
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
rule the east?? how many SEC titles in football does SC have? one year and you talk smack? You barely beat a terrible UGA team last year at home! You beat a falling apart UF team. You got beat by UK!! Get ready to get heart broken if you think SC is going back to the Dome this year. GO DAWGS!!!
UGA Insider
June 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
dawg:
We stunk in those two games as well.
LogicalUS
June 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
“Dawgs winning if Garcia is taking the snaps”
You do realize that Garcia is the best returning QB in the SEC this season ON THE FIELD. He has some immature problems off the field but NOBODY returning in the SEC compares to that guy between the sidelines.
He threw for 3000 yds last season with 3 times the number of TD to INTs.
Garcia lead SC to victories last season against UGA, Bama, UT, @FLA and @Clem. We know what the reaction of UGA fans would be if Aaron Murray had acccomplished half of that last season.
The reality of the SC game is unavoidable…SC is simply better at virtually EVERY position..
QB
RB
WR
OL
DL
S
CB
SC wins over UGA barring injuries to major SC players before the game.
RxDawg
June 28th, 2011
12:08 pm
“If not for the Ealey fumble UGA wins last year. UGA wins a close one at home”
I think you are thinking of another game. USC smacked us in the mouth purty good last year. I’m pretty worried about dem boys.
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:08 pm
Again with calling Murray a midget…there’s some midget QB in the NFL that has a Super Bowl ring…Hmmmm he plays for the Saints…oh yeah, Drew Brees.
Drew Brees: 6′0
Aaron Murray: 6′1
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:09 pm
Murray didn’t even throw a ton of pics last season bozo. He only threw 8. And he was a FRESHMAN in the BEST conference in the country. He’s only going to get better.
Weeping and Wailing and the Other Stuff
June 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
South Carolina 34, Georgia 17.
Oh the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
And the drunks puking all over the place.
Jo
June 28th, 2011
12:12 pm
2 issues.
1- Richt isn’t a big game coach, 0-6 vs. winning teams last year, 2-9 vs. ranked teams last 2 years. Richt rarely wins a pressure game, he chokes.
2- Murray isn’t a big game QB like a Garcia (Garcia beat Georgia, Alabama, and Florida last year and played the best game of his career against the #1 defense Bama). Murray threw up 4 int’s against Fla, 3 against UCF, couldn’t score against SC.
3- King isn’t a big game RB like Lattimore. Latt ran for @200 against Georgia Fla last year.
Bottom line, SC wins by 14.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
If UGA allows USC to run like they did last year they will allow as collateral damage, Jeffery to have a monster game. UGA cannot allow Lattimore another 40 carry 215 yard game. Hold him to under 50 yards and 20 carrys, you may have a shot. Of course you are putting the ball in the hands of a good returning QB, but you have to pick your poision and this is your only chance.
1) Stop the run
2)Create pressure w/ Jenkins and Geathers directly up the gut so he cannot be comfortable in the pocket making him…
3) Throw INT. Need to get 3. Gotta win the turnover battle.
4) Stay focused, limit needless penaltys before the snap of the ball.
5) Win the field position battle on Special Teams.
Simply really
JDawg1785
June 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
If Georgia’s D is as advertised, the Dawgs should win this one.
The keys will be Georgia’s size upgrade on the defensive line to stop Lattimore from running up the middle all day long (like last season) in addition to the LBs’ ability to get pressure on Garcia, who is very prone to panicking. He has reminded me of Joe Cox at times…
It will be a big game for Georgia and an even bigger one for CMR. Even if the Dawgs lose that one, they HAVE to beat Florida or it’s over for Richt. Go Dawgs!
STEVE SPURRIER
June 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
I am currently confused with the noise that is coming from UGA fans. Do you remember the game last year and I had the pleasure of watching the GT game as well. Man that was a very sad story. You guys barly could handle a freshman filled GT team.
Burma Shave
June 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
Carolina will win
We all know that
Spurrier’s the champ
Richt just looks fat
BURMA SHAVE
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
Why are we bringing up last year only as if Richt just started coaching? Look at the man’s resume; it speaks for itself. How many SEC titles can South Carolina say they’ve won in football? They lost to Kentucky last season, (which Murray beat), South Carolina showed up to the SEC title and got WHOPED 56-17. Who does that? If your good enough to get there, don’t get beat like your from Div II. That was a horrible performance and yes they had Lattimore.
They didn’t even blow UGA out last season and we were starting a BRAND NEW QB, a brand new defense, in South Carolina’s BACK YARD, etc, etc. So many players out of place, etc.
Give me a break. And your going to blow us out this season? Yeah right.
FloridaGator-98'
June 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
Bill, if you’re not the bigger homer I’ve ever seen, I don’t know who is.
That away buddy. Hype it up! Hype it up! Hype it up!
That’s going to make it ever so much more enjoyable when you bozos drop back-to-back games to open the season.
It’s bad in a way, because by the time you come to Jax for your yearly beat-down, our win will be relatively meaningless.
Orange and Blue will be in the Georgia Dome in ‘11. Count it.
Dawg4ever
June 28th, 2011
12:16 pm
UGA want beat S.C. with the D.B’s they have. These are the same D.B’s that were afraid to come up and hit Lattimore in the 4th qtr. last year. Hitman Hamilton is the most overrated nickname in college sports, this guy hasn’t hit anyone since he has been at UGA, and Rambo is still gunshy after hitting the Auburn back 2 years ago. Add those 2 with whoever the corners are, Boykin, Cummings, Smith, none of these guys are physical corners. Bottomline is Lattimore will have a huge game, and SOS has learned how to ride a big physical back late in the game. UGA’s lack of recruiting in the past years will raise it’s ugly head, with no depth at O.L., Receiver, R.B., linebacker, and most glaringly the Safety position, this team will be lucky to win 8 games even with this schedule. The sad thing is McGarity want have the balls to dump RIcht, and the NIGHTMARE in Athens will continue. Sucks being a UGA fan right now.
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
IF Sc was so good why didn’t they win by 14 last year when they had UGA at home??!!
Dream on, USC isn’t that good, not bad, but not anywhere near dominating, look last years team was the best in SC in 10 years, and you think they would have beaten the the best UGA teams, or UF teams or Tenn teams over the past 10 years??!! GO DAWGS!!
Linda Lovelace Dawg
June 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
I will be there in Athens to watch Marl Richt choke on the C@cks!
Linda Lovelace Dawg
June 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
Mark
bullodg keith
June 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
It is really getting old to read the border line fans. It is the start of a new season, anything can happen. There is no way to know what will happen to any of the players before the game starts. The ncaa is still killing UGA for the Jan Kemp stuff in the 80’s but will let an Ohio St. corrupt from top to bottom skate. Auburn is paying players for YEARS, and yet nothing. Expect UGA to get hit with the last minute suspensions and start the year on a bad note. But as a poster mentioned earlier, if one player causes us to fold like a deck of cards, then we have much bigger problems.
Just one DAWGS opinion.
Lindsey
June 28th, 2011
12:18 pm
UGA vs South Carolina always seems like a close game no matter who is ranked where. Hopefully the Dawgs will be coming off a big win against the Broncos and get the Evil Genius where it hurts, GO DAWGS!!!!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
Floridah Gator-98,
Yes he is a homer. The blog is called the junkyard blawg. It is a blog intended directly to Georgia Bulldog supporters. Might wanna work on ironing the jorts rather than worrying about wether or not the guy who writes the Junkyard Blawg is a homer or not,lol. WOW!
JackDennis
June 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
Under achieving will continue. As will the downward spiral. Bwahahahaha
Phat Fill Phulmer
June 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
UT 35, UGA 24
STEVE SPURRIER
June 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
SAVE SOME $ ON THOSE FORD COMMERICALS – YOU WILL NEED IT
- ROTFLMAO
Swami Sez
June 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
Mark Richt’s waterloo while going 0 – 2 and losing to the c@ck a doodle doo in Athens too.
STEVE SPURRIER
June 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
GEORGIA IS FORD TOUGH – LMAO!!!!!!
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
These people on here are hilarious. But they will be no where to be found when the season starts after we win. That’s why you shouldn’t run your mouth before something happens because you’ll be the one looking stupid. What I want to know is why do Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, etc fans wake up, get on the computer, come to AJC.com, go to UGA’s webpage and look at what someone has said about us. You guys seriously need a life. If you wake up worrying about UGA, then you have bigger problems than I thought.
Richts Farewell Tour 2011
June 28th, 2011
12:29 pm
Roll out the Dalton Red Carpet!
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
12:31 pm
Bud light salutes you stephen garcia..Real man of Genuis” only you would think to show up drunk to a game and throw beers to evil steve in pre game. We salute you..brothers of the chicken wing and beer..
S1
June 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
Let’s see here, Garcia, Lattimore, Jeffery vs. Murray & 2 Kings? SC 38, UGA 6.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
The ones calling Bill a homer are funny to me. DUH!!!! Hell he aint going to be a Tech fan! Its a blog for UGA fans,lol. Is he supposed to be offended by that label, a homer? Some of these guys are really funny, but some are low in the ole IQ department.
S1
June 28th, 2011
12:33 pm
Home team in UT/UGA is 4-0 in last 4. Tenn 32, UGA 16.
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
@S1, when was the last time a blowout happened in the South Carolina, UGA series? And if so, who won?
S1
June 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
UGA gets 18 points a game on offense vs. winning teams. Not enough to beat South Carolina, who gets over 30 a game against winning teams.
S1
June 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
South Carolina has best DLine in SEC. UGA has worst O-Line.
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
Don’t underestimate the effect Jenkins and Geathers will have on the interior line. I just don’t see Lattimore running wild like he did last year with the DL improvements from last year. You can rest assured these 2 beasts will have plenty of packages where they are on the line at the same time!
tide roll
June 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
Bill, It’s the guess here that Benedict’s dad questioned Joe T, and Kasay’s credential’s, or lack thereof. and how this might put his son at risk. Why don’t you do us all a favor and compare the qualifications of your strength and condiitoning director to that of say, Florida’s, a program that has basically owned you in excess of 20 YEARS!
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
I can’t wait till they get a taste of John Jenkins AND Kwame Geathers. That’s over 700 pounds of man right there.
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
no blowouts in the UGA/SC series in last 10 years. not going to be either. also USC hasn’t won back to back..not going to either….Always a close game, but UGA wins it at home 17-10.
UT fan..32-16? really? you sound like a SC fan with that wild prediction.. I’ll bet i change my name on here to Dawgs sux if Sc wins by 14 or if Tenn wins by 14..not gonna happen. any takers? I bet not
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
12:39 pm
@S1. You’re such an idiot. SC 38 – UGA 6??? Come on man! As bad as we were last year we still had a chance to win that game if it weren’t for an Ealey fumble. Get real. And don’t even get me started about your UGA/UT prediction. HA!!
Herschel Talker
June 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
More shenanigans in Richt’s program. What a surprise. We will lose a bunch this year with Coach Clueless Doofus, but we will retool strongly in 2012 under someone who actually has a clue what’s going on and who doesn’t let the inmates run the asylum.
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
some people just blog, never watch games..
chazzo
June 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
All likelihood: UGA/USc decides the East. UF won’t suck but Bama, LSU, AUburn in a row, they will likely be knocked out of any tie scenario. That leaves UT as a spoiler, and I am not ruling out the possibility of them being tougher than predicted (especially if our Dawgs are feeling high and mighty about a good start). Garcia being in or out does not matter. USc is going to be tough, tough, tough.
My far out prediction of the year, a lesser ranked East team will beat an NC contender West team in Atlanta, and two non-SEC teams will play for the crystal.