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
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
I have not seen a lot of comments on here about UGA’s team THIS YEAR. Most of you seem to be living in the past and think it will reflect on a team this year, that will have a lot of new athletes playing that saw limited action last year.
UGA knows what it has to do to win the games that are important, and since they haven’t played the first game yet, or even had a fall practice yet, a lot of folks on here are just blowing smoke out of their lower posterior region.
GO DAWGS
Eddie
June 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
Although I know some of you kooks with dawg in your name are not really Georgia fans, it sickens me to see anyone who calls themselves a UGA fan talk down our team and coach even before the season starts. You are pathetic and that is being kind. For all of the opposing fans, your obvious fear of what UGA is capable of is apparent by your constantly spending time on a UGA blog. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
STEVE SPURRIER
June 28th, 2011
12:43 pm
Calm down people – I will sign my visor and give it to Ritch after I beat him – It will be wort alot of $ when we win the SEC this year.
RW
June 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
Spurrier got a lead, then played keep away from Georgia. He could have scored 40, only needed 1 td to beat an offense that couldn’t score a single td. South Carolina’s great in the red zone against winning teams, Georgia’s terrible: poor play calls, turnovers, dumb penalties, etc.
And Richt still is ranked #12 in SEC in turnover margin, for 2nd straught year, against winning teams.
Delbert D.
June 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
OK, where’s my post?
solja
June 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
Yet another THuga player in trouble with the NCAA for illegal benefits. Georgia has got to be the most corrupt football program in the country. And yet their fans all cry and whine and point fingers at the National Champion. It’s YOUR program who breaks all the rules. Oh, and we havent’ even begun to hear what is to come out of all the recruiting violations THuga pulled this year to get their hilariously named “dream team” (snickers to himself writing this tripe).
RW
June 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
Wonder if Murray will beat a winning team this year? Wish we had a big time competitor like Garcia, man, see that game against Ala?
tide roll
June 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
Also. please question Richt and Bobo regarding, what I hope was an unbasied evaluation, that would have resulted in their placing the greatest quarterback in College football history, the Heisman winner, and NFL No. 1 draft pick, at Tight End !!. These facts should be of concern to you and all true Bulldogs. When are you going to start looking at your program and its issues objectively? It’s frustrating! It’s fair to argue that yours is the most under achievivg program in America ! What, did the Liberty Bowl not happen? Any other school serious about their football program and heads roll after that debacle. Your coaches and players QUIT Bill.
RW
June 28th, 2011
12:47 pm
UGA will score less this year without Ealey, Durham, and Green, top 3 scorers all gone. No one on the team scored more than 2 td’s last year. You have no proven scorers.
Columbus Dawg
June 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
Have not seen as much negativity on this blog since D.J. was going into 2005 as the starter. I cannot hardly remember anyone giving him a snowball’s chance, that is until about halfway through the Boise game. Look guys, Murray would not be getting the hype he’s getting nationally if they did not think he was any good. Colt McCoy had nothing but great things to say about Murray before last season started. It took Stafford until his last year at Georgia to put up numbers like Murray’s freshman campaign. Murray ain’t gonna be the problem.
Defense will continue to improve, and yes that includes the secondary. Boykin Smith, and Commings will all surprise. I look for them to compare to 2002 secondary once we get the safety position settled. Grantham’s fire will be turned loose this year, as Richt will know that he needs every advantage available to him.
Don’t know what to think about what Crowell will bring, as running back position as freshman can go either way. If i remember correctly, the last highly rated incoming freshman back that actually played a lot in his first year was Garrison Hearst. I think he had something like 800 yards that year, and truthfully, along with King and Boo, that should be all Crowell needs for the running game to be successful.
The starting OL has been given some acclaim by national publications as well, as the Dawgs will enjoy one of the largest lines in the nation. Depth will play out as season goes, as Gates actually won a starting spot as a frosh last year. All the Dawgs need this year is a little depth be created from incoming class. I don’t personally see this as being an impossible task.
There are in my mind more positives than negatives for the 2011 edition of the Georgia Bulldogs, and can’t wait to see these blogs after the SC game.
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
12:51 pm
@Solja, I hate to have to state the obvious to you here, but Jarvis’ issues were with USC. Man I freakin’ hate idiots on these blogs.
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
Murray beat Kentucky…they were a winning team.
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
12:54 pm
Agreed Columbus Dawg. Plus, the past years of the OLine underperforming were under Searel’s regime. Let’s see what the new guy can do with them. As for losing AJ, it’s like Matt Ryan to Tony Gonzales…Murray will no longer HAVE to get the ball to AJ as the focal point so ball distribution to the best TE corp in the country will easily make that a wash. I like our chances to surprise some folks this year!
RabidDawgFan
June 28th, 2011
12:54 pm
People act like these losses were on Murray. I don’t get it. Our defense played downright ugly some games. Murray played well enough to win most of our games. It was our defense that let us down sometimes.
JDawg1785
June 28th, 2011
12:56 pm
Thank you, Columbus Dawg! I get so sick of the doom and gloom crowd that claims to be UGA fans yet refuses to support the team. Get behind the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs or get the heck out of the way!
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
Can’t wait til Sept 11 on this blog….GO DAWGS!!
Also USC better worry about the NCAA making Garcia sit out games, turns out he did some acting and got paid. He was Barny on the simpsons..BURP..
GO DAWGS!!!
sheepdawg
June 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
all you so called “adults” need to get a real life, hanging your entire emotional state on the decisions and actions of teenage thugs who in no way or form embody a true “student athlete” is very sad…..but an indicator of our society and education in the deep south
RedPantsDawg
June 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
Anyone attend the spring game? If you did, tell me how you expect UGA to score points behind a line that doesn’t block, a running game that doesn’t exist, and WR’s that drop the ball. Think running Carlton Thomas up the middle is going to do the trick? Crowell will run behind a depleted line that can’t block. About all we have back there is Murray and he’ll be running for his life all year. The defense is going to be much better and will keep games close.
And about the schedule, there is not a SEC team on the schedule UGA can just show up and beat. With the exception of Vandy every team is going to be better than they were last year. Does anyone really believe this team and program is better than a year ago? I’d like to hear the reasons for that belief.
bad dream but true
June 28th, 2011
12:59 pm
Had a dream the other night I was at a game in Sanford Stadium. Not necessarily USC. We’re down 13-6 with about 3:45 left on the clock before halftime. Just got the ball back on our own 17 yd line on a Boykin pick. Bobo throw’s incomplete on 1st down, runs a draw for 2 yds. on 2nd down, throw for 6 yds on 3rd down. Punt. D’fense goes 3 and out, we get the ball back with 1:23 left on our own 9 yd line after not calling timeout when our opponent didn’t convert their 3rd down-losing 30 seconds of precious time. We take a knee on consecutive downs and go into halftime down 13-6.
As a leader/manager Richt has put his future in Bobo’s hands and still can’t manage a clock aggressively. Hate to say it but this dream was/is too real. Still hopeful, but weary.
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
@RedPantsDawg. UGA has ALWAYS had the most boring, vanilla spring games in the history of spring games. Carlton Thomas will NOT be running up the middle. That will be left to Boo and Caleb, and eventually Crowell. The OL is not nearly as weak as you’re stating. Ben, Cordy and Gates, with the new OL coach will surprise. King, Marlon Brown (due for a breakout), Bennett, Orson, Aaron White…hmm…a few more weapons that you failed to mention. DO NOT put “Dawg” in your signin name and leave this blog immediately.
truedawg
June 28th, 2011
1:04 pm
We all know the D will be vastly better. The S&C will be better. Alot of the bad apples, bad attitudes are gone. WR will drop off, but I see us using the tightends more and balancing out the passing game more in doing so. This team is better. I’m not aying great, but better, if the dawgs loose any games it will be to TN, Boise, UF or Miss state. but I expect to loose only 2 (TN and MS) I belive a trip to the Dome to face Ark or bama. and then a trip to the Sugar. GO DAWGS!!!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
When does UGA ever look good in the Spring?Hell if the OL blew out the DL then you would be b******* about how the DL looked! The Spring is not meant to impress you, the fan. So sit back and have a glass of shut the hell up.
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
Love it Lowcountry!!!!!
RedPantsDawg
June 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
@EDawg71 Are you going to tell me I’m not a “true fan”? lol.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
I will.
S Spurrier
June 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
Should be easy win for us…same ol GA.
EDawg71
June 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
@RedPantsDawg, YUP!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
1:13 pm
Should be a easy win for UGA. Just pop Lattimore in the jaw and he will lay down in the biggest game USC played all year. Pop Garcia in the jaw and he will look for a cold beer to drink and a couple of chicks to take back to the hotel room.
The Joker
June 28th, 2011
1:13 pm
Q: Three UGA athletes are riding together in a car. Who’s driving?
A: A state trooper
What tha...
June 28th, 2011
1:15 pm
Where are the arrests???? How are we to defend The Richt Cup???
Montez r & Zach m.
June 28th, 2011
1:17 pm
Garcia doesn’t beat his women, low country.
LeQ
June 28th, 2011
1:18 pm
Kentucky went 6-7. Murray has never beat team that finished with a winning record. Last year those were Auburn, Florida, SC, Ark, MSU, UCF, Murray also lost to Colorado.
Jiggy Smaha
June 28th, 2011
1:18 pm
We’ll kill them boys.
Syvelle Newton
June 28th, 2011
1:18 pm
I regret that I participated in the theft of $18,000 dollars worth of video equipment from Williams Brice Stdium. It just goes to show you just what USC players think of the dump of a school they attend…..
LeQ
June 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
Defense will be worse. Lost playmaker Houston & leading returning tackler Dowtin transfered. Jarvis will likely be suspended for 2-6 games.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 28th, 2011
1:20 pm
Look above we dont have players that are already in the program that steal from the University. Thanks Syvelle….
LeQ
June 28th, 2011
1:23 pm
Team beats New Mexico, Coastal, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Also beat Tech & Kentucky.
Loses to Boise, SC, Aub, Fla, Tenn, and Miss St.
Bitter "dawg reporter------aka---Chip Towers."
June 28th, 2011
1:36 pm
if and it is not a far off possiblity that a well coached boise st can beat UGA–then the domminoes
—————–fall——-it will be a devistateing blow—-then S.C. will blow out UGA
——————————–and the richt era will cease to excist
—————————————on a finally note i have banned all tree killers and pay for play trolls-haha
Alphare
June 28th, 2011
1:36 pm
The power ranking of the East has shifted, SC is now the new king. They are the reigning king in SEC-East football, and repeat national champ in baseball.
DrSEC
June 28th, 2011
1:41 pm
Actually, Spurrier has an easy schedule, and should win the National Championship. He has all the pieces on offense, and his front 7 on defense might be the best in the country. I see Spurrier going 14-0. Georgia will not be a difficult game for him. Clowney will have a field day up against inexperienced Georgia gaurds. Marcus Lattimore will score 3 td’s and run for 225, and Garcia will throw a couple of td’s to Jeffery. Georgia will not score a td, just like last year, especially without AJ Green or Kris Durham, and with a weak O-Line, 4-8 for Georgia is not out of the question. They have nothing on offense.
gcs
June 28th, 2011
1:44 pm
I’m telling you: you all have GOT to stop looking past Boise to the South Carolina game. Just look at what the Broncos did the past two seasons. Their WHOLE season is about beating UGA.
You can start talking about SC on September 4th.
.
JDawg1785
June 28th, 2011
1:45 pm
Alphare, I’m not sure what team you were watching last season. I’d hardly call an average team that won a weak division and got destroyed in its two “post-season” games the new king.
bjohndawg
June 28th, 2011
1:48 pm
One game at at time. Boise State first. You can worry about South Carolina week two.
I have high expectations for this time 11-1 or 10-2 require season. If they cant with the schedule and TN and Fla in down years and not having to play LSU and BAMA, if they cannot win the EAST, then something is wrong. They have some beasts up front, and extra year with the defensive scheme, a seasoned QB and RB who is experienced.
GO DAWGS!
JWTWDT—-”Just win the whole damn thing!”
mgdawg
June 28th, 2011
1:48 pm
Well here’s how I see the NCAA allegations and how UGA needs to play this thing. The Pope kid needs to claim that he didn’t know about his mother accepting money, that’ll take care of that when you cite Cam Newton. With Jarvis have the NCAA hold off the suspension until the start of next season, cite ohio state. If we can get those two things to happen the effect will be minimal.
bucket
June 28th, 2011
1:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Tennessee?
June 28th, 2011
1:58 pm
70% of the squad are freshmen and sophomores Dooley has a very long road ahead of him.
Richts Farewell Tour 2011
June 28th, 2011
1:59 pm
Turn out the lights the party is over!
UGA Insider
June 28th, 2011
1:59 pm
In other related news it appears Channing Crowder sold game jerseys while at Florida which would make him ineligible per the NCAA. I think that improves UGA to 5-15 over the past 20. Boy I feel better now.
Alphare
June 28th, 2011
2:00 pm
JDawg1785,
that’s the thing, SC is not that great last season, but they still managed to be the king. True, SC lost their bowl game, but so did UGA. UGA couldn’t even score a TD against the 4th best team in the state of Florida.
SC has Lattimore, Jeffrey, and the new national No. 1 recruit. That’s a better team than UGA in my book.
ugaclassof2004
June 28th, 2011
2:01 pm
UGA ‘05
The Dawgs have a good defense??? What team have you been watching the last 4-5 years? They gave up 34 points to Florida and Tech last year. Do you have ANY idea how bad those two offenses were last year??
Bottom line: Richt goes under 8-4 and he’s gone. No excuses! I don’t care if Murray gets hurt. This is quite possibly THE easiest schedule the Dawgs have ever had. The don’t have to play Bama, LSU or Arkansas. UT, Florida, and Auburn are in complete rebuilding mode. They play 3 sisters of the poor every year in Vandy, Kentucky, and Tech( teams that always have less talent than UGA). The only games that should be even remotely challenging are South Carolina and MSU. If Richt can’t win 10 games with this schedule, then he seriously needs to be fired.