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
Nub
June 28th, 2011
8:52 pm
Answer for don’t get ….. no …perfect example tuberville at Auburn or shula at bama …. If you don’t at least win 50% of the time against your biggest rival ( tech means very little … You can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a ACC pig) and play for the SEC crown at least every 3 years you better be working on your resume at those schools … Probably could say the same at UF and LSU….
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
8:53 pm
dont get it
The answer is no FL would not put up with it just look at all their coach’s they have fired and their records.
I dont know if you had the chance to see the College Football Live Interview of Will Mush-chump
In it they asked him about the pressure at FL. His comment was Yea I get it, FL fans want to win, I get their emails everyday.
EVERYDAY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
Thats the difference.
Our fans email and say hey coach way to beat GT that hated Div 2 level team that doesnt have a fan base that can fill a high school size stadium can we extend your contract.
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
8:54 pm
SGD I really question the deep down DAWG in you when you just accept losing to the Gayotors every year. Again its fans like you that will keep Richt employed another 10 years. Only at UGA….
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
8:55 pm
If it’s trivial then why haven’t we beaten FLA-AUB-GT all in the same year only a handful of times going back 30 years?Throw Tenn in the mix and it’s even fewer.UGA is about more than one big game a year.I’ve seen us on both sides of the streaks.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
8:59 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88
Yes your right if we are lucky enough to hope FL loses out and that has happened for Richt on every SEC championship appearance
But what happened in 2002
Ding ding ding We were not allowed to play for the NC because we lost to who FL
We will not get the respect of voters until this lopsided crap with FL stops
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:03 pm
2002?Get over it man…Fla has won what 4 NC’s since the 90’s and didn’t go undefeated once.Never have in their entire history
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:04 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88
Here’s another problem
Saban, Meyer, Chizik, Spurrier, etc all tell these recruits they raid from the state of GA
Why go play for UGA when they cant beat FL, you dont have a chance to play for titles at UGA because they cant beat FL
Nub
June 28th, 2011
9:04 pm
If you watched the spring game did you notice anything different from last year? Be honest!
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:04 pm
SGD – not in 20 years you havent!
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:06 pm
Hey SGD name the last time that beating UT or GT would have put us in the national title game? Its UF stupid!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:06 pm
Yes but they didnt lose to the same team.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:09 pm
Nub
Lets see,
Sideline pass
Run up the middle
Dump pass over the middle for 5 yrds
Nope!
Nub
June 28th, 2011
9:11 pm
I’ll give you a clue remember the loss to UCF…. How well do you think that would have went over in belly slider country…. And 2 yrs of regression …
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:12 pm
I vote FLAT TIRE for HC 2012! When Spurrier came in he called out UGA from the get go. When Richt came to UGA he made his wife water girl.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:13 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88
What happened to the coach at Ohio State who was 1-9 against Michigan in the 90’s
Yea he was replaced and what happened they beat their main rival Michigan again and how many Big10 titles did they win this past decade
Get a clue
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:13 pm
Where did SGD go? all this truth run him off?
Saints Alive
June 28th, 2011
9:15 pm
SC 37, UGA 17.
God bless Saint Jan Kemp.
And may God forgive Mark Richt for all his transgressions.
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:15 pm
OH no flat tire – as long as we beat miss valley state were good. Dont worry about florida. these things run in cycles…you know like floods or drought.
Nub
June 28th, 2011
9:16 pm
Let’s play …. Bobo’s call—– 3rd down fifteen to go on your 40 ?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:17 pm
Nub
Lets have a rewind in UGA history
4 down 3inches on the 3 yrd line first drive of the game against
A TEAM THAT WAS DIV II JUST A FEW YRS AGO AGAINST A BIG TIME PROGRAM THE LAST 100 YRS
Yes kick it
I mean this is UCF a conference USA team UGA fans we might lose the prestigous Liberty bowl here
KICK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:17 pm
It’s beating ALL THREE stupid…that’s the goal…what is our record when that happened is a better way to look at it.And there are over 60 kids a year from Georgia going to SEC schools….don’t know how we can sign them all.For that matter Eric Berry is the only GA kid I can think of recently having any impact in a game played against UGA.Some of our best players have come from OUT of state.
Mobile Dawg
June 28th, 2011
9:18 pm
From my perspective either way we win. If Richt loses we get another Coach. If he wins, it means he’s gotten it and righted the ship. The USC game will be brutally physical. Richt teams have demonstrated they can’t stand up physically and trade punches. They have beaten the lesser teams with finesse. You don’t beat the big boys with finesse.
I’m sorry, my bet is Richt just doesn’t get it.
Nub
June 28th, 2011
9:20 pm
Enter your comments here
waytogoRicht
June 28th, 2011
9:21 pm
Hey Richt. Ray Goff just called, he wants his “dag gone it, these are the reasons I can never beat Florida” excuses back. Also Richt, Jim Donnan just called, he wants his recruits back with which you had your limited early successes with(oh excuse me Richt the 13-1 trip was against Florida wasn’t it). Richt, Coppertone just called, your giving them a negative image and they want their products back.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:21 pm
The SEC is not the Big10 and for that matter neither Mich or OSU plays a SEC caliber schedule.Lastly that coach was fired because he was losing other games too.OSU was not 7-1 every year with a loss to Michigan
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:22 pm
We could beat Fla EVERY year but go 2-8 against GT.Is that ok with you?
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:25 pm
SGD – when did I ever say anything about Ga kids going elsewhere? infact I agree with you that we cant sign them all. My point is that we should get more out of what we have. Not only me but recently other head coaches in the SEC have siad as much. And its not about all three. GT is not in our division or the SEC dumb ace. Aub is not in our division. Nor has either one of them owned us for 20 straight years. Read any magazine or watch any tv show. They all say ” as long as Florida is on that schedule they will have to deal with second or third in the east” and guess what? they sre right! It’s about UF stupid!
Nub
June 28th, 2011
9:28 pm
Wrong answer Flat Tire… correct answer —-draw play to Carlton Thomas — pick up of 6 yards …. Punt…. Glad we didn’t have a turn over ….
Bobo’s call …. 2nd down against UF disregard distance?
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:29 pm
SGD – you are truly richt’s best friend. Turning a blind eye to reality and truth. It must be nice where you live. What did beating GT get us last year? oh a loss in the “i cant believe we are here bowl” yep real important game doosh bag
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
been fun SGD you sleep tight in Richts lake house. I gotta go to bed, unlike Richt I will get fired if I dont show up ready to go in the morning.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:32 pm
Your age shows alot.I remember when GT was a bigger game.And what does 20 years have to do with Richt?You “fans” are the ones who have turned your butts up and laid down every year.Look at your comments..One things most SEC fans agree on is that UGA fans are about the worst in the League.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:33 pm
But’s it’s always been that way…. a lot of folks wanted Dooley’s scalp before Hershell came along.That’s with DOMINATING the Gators
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:38 pm
dont get it
I affraid our friend SOUTHGADAWG88 is from the era of Bubba Dudd when GT was relevant
He’s so thrilled with winning against GT he would sign Richt to a lifetime contract if that meant not losing to them once a decade
Im not worried about Tech anymore, they dont have the fan support and they cannot get the elite athletes to qualify nor the desire to come their because they wont get to play in front of big crowds and beat relevant teams
Thats why TECH doesnt bother me
I mean look at Clemson, I lived in SC in the 80’s I would have never thought SC would have beaten them as many times as they have of late, why, just like a buddy of mine whose a Clemson fan told me the fan support is not what it was
And thats what scares me about our fans of late. We just love 10 win seasons
Just look at our schedule, 10 win seasons really arent that hard especially with the talent we can get
Vandy
KY
GT
2 Div 1AA
SC
Give or take a down season of TENN or Aub
Then you usually have an Ole Miss Miss St or Ark and thats 8 wins right there
We dont AL and LSU in the same yr except once every 5 yrs or so
SO really whats so great about 10 wins
Mobile Dawg
June 28th, 2011
9:38 pm
Are you saying CMR needs a Herschel?
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:41 pm
SGD – I grew up in Gville Florida and worked three jobs to help pay for tuition at UGA. Don tell me about being a DAWG. the problem with our fans is too many of them are stuck in the past and so ignorant they cant see the writing on the wall. This has nothing to do with Herschel (not “Hershell”) or VD. Its about facing the facts. Richt is a failure. Thats the fact you cant deal with. You just turn on your nascar, sip your natty and go to sleep now.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:44 pm
Mark Richt needs a Defense.Dooley had one of those…his offensive scheme sucked.Tenn is a proud program and wont be down for ever…neither will AUB.There is a reason we haven’t swept that trio many times.What’s so great about 10 wins?From 84-2002 we had about 2
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:47 pm
So what? I grew up 30 mins from Tallahassee and AUB and GT always meant more to me.It doesn’t make you more DAWG than me or vice versa
dont get it
June 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
My point exactly Flat tire. And we dont play AL, LSU, or Ark this year. what does that mean for richt? Capital one bowl and a win against some POS big ten school and SGD turns back flips on his quarter acer lott next to “the river”….makes me sick.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
Nub,
Pass blocking is usually much harder because you are holding the line and trying to remain as stationary in your block while holding the defense in check. Run blocking involves more movement and there fore the OL is moving to clear the path for the runner. He gets to open holes for the runner, versus trying to close any holes up and protect the QB. Passing plays are also slower to develop and therefore take more out of you.
Mobile Dawg
June 28th, 2011
9:48 pm
Defense wins “championships”. Always has, always will ! Like I said earlier, IMO, CMR just doesn’t get it. It’s almost like he’s to pretty to get down and dirty in the trenches.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
9:54 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88
Thats just it Richt needs a defense
And yet he had one under Van Gorder. Yet Richt put his friendship ahead of the program and made Van Gorder mad and he left
Whose fault was that RICHTS
and thats my point Richt has put himself in the predicament he is in.
Martinez is coaching what at OK not the DC I can tell you that
Jon Fabris fired after 1 yr at Louisville, took Richt how long to realize he was the right man for that job
And Bobo, is not a play caller he should go back to coaching QB’s or find another job
But Rich does nothing and yet on the Bill King show this morning they were talking about how bad our play calling is. Its not just me everyone see’s it
Stop being a fan and take a step back and look at the big picture
I like Richt but I love UGA more and he is not above the program. If doesnt do what it takes then oh well the program needs to move on.
But I do hope he can turn it around but I just dont see it happening
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
9:55 pm
The facts are CMR’s 1st 10 years re still better than ANY coach at UGA and better than any current coach in the SEC.If that’s failure ok.
Mobile Dawg
June 28th, 2011
10:00 pm
Hate to ID you SGD, but, fans like you are the problem. Richt’s last five years have been a failure, any way you look it. He’s not taken care of his job. The lack of preparation, lack of discipline, his inattention to his football duties. It’s so clear, I don’t see how you don’t get it.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
10:01 pm
I don’t know if every thing is Willie’s fault…IMO it’s simple…the Defensive recruiting at UGA has been subpar for the last 5-6 years.That is the culprit here for Richt to me…as the HC ultimately it falls back on him regardless.But BVG had better players than Willie and frankly BVG didn’t exactly leave the cupboard stocked either we he left.One difference between UGA and FLA to me lately is that the Gator’s D always seems to be a couple of notches above ours.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 28th, 2011
10:03 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88
Fact is no one has coached as long as Richt has currently
All the programs in SEC have had new coaches since he’s been here
And your saying his is better than Miles Chizik Saban Meyer who havent coached a full 10 and have already won a NC
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
10:04 pm
Mobile Dawg that is a dumb comment I’m sorry.The last 5 years were a failure…you must be joking
Top Dawg
June 28th, 2011
10:05 pm
Do you want a prediction with our without our offensive line?
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
10:05 pm
I specifically said FIRST 10 YEARS COACHING PERIOD.Not at their current jobs or SEC
Mobile Dawg
June 28th, 2011
10:06 pm
The defense has been sub par, the Oline, sub par, the lack of discipline is well documented, the fundamentals, poor, penalties, gimmicks, all leads to the conclusion, “poor coaching”, and a lack of focus.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 28th, 2011
10:06 pm
HC that is