How much patience will the Bulldog Nation show this season?
How hot will Mark Richt's seat get if the Dogs open with two losses? (Associated Press)
Much of the preseason talk about the Georgia Bulldogs has centered on the high-stakes nature of the first two games against Boise State and South Carolina and how much this ratchets up the temperature under Mark Richt’s seat.
Winning both games would be huge and would probably make the Dogs the early-season Cinderella of the national polls and media pundits, but not too many folks are predicting that.
Most fans I’ve talked to would be pretty satisfied to come out of those opening two games with a split, especially if the win was over the Gamecocks, giving Georgia an edge in the SEC East.
But what if the Dogs lose to both highly ranked opponents?
I’ve lost track of how many observers from outside the Bulldog Nation have put forth the idea that if Georgia starts out the season 0-2 that Richt’s fate will be sealed. I’ve even seen predictions that losing the two opening games would mean he wouldn’t last out the season.
I don’t think that’s the case, however.
Starting out 0-2 would not make fans and alumni happy (especially if the games are not close), but I don’t believe it would be cause for writing off the season. After all, as Richt pointed out Monday night at the Bulldog Club gathering at the Cobb Galleria, Georgia opens with what appears likely to be “the two best teams we play all year.”
Oh, I’m sure the “fire Richt now” crowd would be much in evidence on the blogs and discussion boards, but I think the majority of UGA’s supporters would recognize the high difficulty factor in those two opening games and the fact that, at 0-2, Georgia still could have a pretty terrific season.
But if Richt’s Dogs go 1-4 again, like last year, that would be another matter entirely.
That would mean losses to both Mississippi schools, including Ole Miss, which is expected to be the SEC West’s celllar dweller. At that point, the wheels might well come off the bandwagon and Greg McGarity would be under a lot of pressure to do something about it.
I really don’t think it’s likely to come to that, though. I will be surprised if the Dogs don’t go to Knoxville with a winning record.
How about you? Would 0-2 have you on the ledge, or do you think Richt can “withstand all the stuff that will come,” as he put it, if the Dogs lose to both the Broncos and the Gamecocks?
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433 comments Add your comment
Swami Sez
July 26th, 2011
11:23 am
The reason why UGA loses both to Boise and SC: coaching!
Athens= God's Country
July 26th, 2011
11:24 am
I really think Boise State gets blown out by Halftime. 42-14 final.
We really do need to be patient with Richt this year. 2012 and 2013 are our best chance at a NC since 2007. Like I have always said, Richt gives us a chance at least every five years for a National Championship. He can stay as long as he wants. He built this program from nothing. How quickly we forget.
AltamahaDawg
July 26th, 2011
11:25 am
Yes, funny, you do. Because a pretty big factor in the job being on the line is that nobody really had much patience for the learning curve that flipping his defensive staff brought on last year. So, going throught that again the very next year is the LAST thing you would do. Now IF the defensive side shows that it is pretty stable, or will be, then 2012 offeres the earliest opportinity to fire caoch Bobo, if it comes to that.
RxDawg
July 26th, 2011
11:25 am
Let’s play the IF game. IF the Dawgs drop to both Boise and USC, yeh the negative nancies will be in full force. But IF the Dawgs then go lay one on the Gators and get a nice revenge game win on Auburn then all will be forgiven quickly.
UGA will be 1-1 2 weeks into the season though.
Mtn Dawg
July 26th, 2011
11:28 am
@Pete – man you are dillusional. There will be an old fashion whoop-ars in the dome so your troops better be prepared for some embarassment, ’cause the Broncos will be high-tailing back to Boise as it is …. with a ‘1′ in the loss column.
icallbs
July 26th, 2011
11:29 am
@Pete: Three letters for you: WAC. It is in that absolute joke of a conference that all that positive crap about Boise is derived.
Ceasar
July 26th, 2011
11:33 am
With this year’s cupcake schedule, 12-0 or OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WDE
July 26th, 2011
11:33 am
@Pete for a guy who’s team has never beaten a SEC team you talk smack like a Rap star. Case in point last time you guys came to Athens we heard it all..better coaches, faster smarter players blah blah to the 10th power blah…We have a Heisman blah, we have a DL blah…Pete we are going to beat you like we own you..we suxed last year and we didn’t like it..we are staying focused and out of trouble more, we are running and in the weight room more…the media gives us NO chance none of that is good news for the Smurfs ..oh and Pete you no TE’s that could make our depth chart and as for kickers I think we trump you at both.
Don't be so quick to fire...
July 26th, 2011
11:34 am
Other coaches on team and staff have families. Your firing all of them, too.
Is that what you wish for if it were your butt on the line?
Eric Tee Pee
July 26th, 2011
11:35 am
Richt’s toast if he loses both opening games. He’s already been buttered up.
Remember, he’s an FSU Seminole any way.
topdawg
July 26th, 2011
11:37 am
Pete- considering the last time we played you we won like we win against teams like Idaho St/coastal Carolina, I really dont see why you are bragging about us losing to Colorado and UCF.(two teams that are much better than the majority of teams on your schedule). I look forward to hearing about how much more talent Boise has than UGA on Sept 4. Until then, I suggest comparing Boise’s talent to teams like Nevada or Oregon State before you compare them to a team that humiliated them back in 2005.
Gator Gus
July 26th, 2011
11:37 am
Please be patient with Mark Richt. He’s a terrific coach, we all respect him a bunch in Gainesville. Please don’t fire him after the first two games, we always look forward to playing a team coached by Mark Richt. Be patient, even if he starts out 0-6, please do not fire him.
Pete
July 26th, 2011
11:37 am
Wow, it’s difficult to even respond to many of your delusional fans comments……. You guys can’t even bring up reasons why uga has a chance, reason–> uga has nothing going for them and there are no reasons uga has a chance.
The best time for a dawg fan is the pre-season, “because anything is possible.” Quickly followed by regret and loss, but hey, you guys get to look forward to 2012 season really soon, actually sept 4th.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
11:39 am
SC QB coach arrested for urinating on the street with a smell of alcohol on him!!!!!
Well, at least we know where Garcia learned it from.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who's better?
July 26th, 2011
11:39 am
When idiots are so quick to want to get rid of a coach and staff, they never come up with a legitimate solution.
For instance, who is AVAILABLE at that time that is BETTER, and HAS THE PROVEN RECORD to come in and win immediately.
Coach Richt has been successful in the past and will be in the future.
Mtn Dawg
July 26th, 2011
11:42 am
@Pete – Let me think. How well did the Smurfs do agaiinst Nevada last year? Ahh.. Too bad. You were exposed and exposed bad. You’re not that good. FACE IT!
RxDawg
July 26th, 2011
11:42 am
Pete is just a nerd dressed up like a cowboy. They are having some fun on the blogs routinely.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
11:43 am
@Tide roll you want to talk about demanding answers….seems Saban and company need to answer a few of these ..stay trollish my friend http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bad2h
Drew
July 26th, 2011
11:46 am
Kellen Moore is 38-2 as a starter.
Garcia beat Alabama last year.
Murray beat Colorado.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
July 26th, 2011
11:47 am
UGA has to get past recruiting players that eventually get kicked off the team, or ruled ineligible. If Richt shares any of the culpability for these past transgressions, then he needs to answer to the alumni and fans. That might include termination.
topdawg
July 26th, 2011
11:47 am
@Pete- Im sure its fun for you to look forward to the season every year when your in a conference with a bunch of high school teams.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
11:48 am
@Pete no Peter the koolaid drinker would be the one who has yet to post a victory against our conference..The guy who makes statements to the fact the Smurfs are better and EVERY position, the guy who put blinders on to the fact his OL and DL are smaller and the OL will be facing opponents that are way bigger and faster.Heck our Full back could play OT for the Smurfs…
Stalkin' Your Mom
July 26th, 2011
11:48 am
Amy Winehouse has a better chance of surviving 2011 than Mark Richt’s SEC Coaching career.
(What? Too Soon?)
rational
July 26th, 2011
11:48 am
UGA fans expect their team to win the east, and possibly the SEC every year. If they don’t then they seem to not want to blame the coaches, players or anybody else, they just go right back into preseason mode and begin expecting a title the next year. It’s a pretty interesting dynamic. It’s rare to see a fan base that has such high expectations but also such disinterest in accountability when those expectations are not met.
Joey
July 26th, 2011
11:48 am
“….a nerd dressed up like a cowboy.”
Oh boy that’s funny, RxDawg!
Pete
July 26th, 2011
11:49 am
@Pete – Let me think. How well did the Smurfs do agaiinst Nevada last year? Ahh.. ”
Better than uga did against all the crap team uga lost to hahaha!~
At least they were ranked, 1 loss, bowl team. Not a crap UCF CUSA team, or Colorado one of the worst teams in the country. You lost to teams ranked in the bottom 20 of all the teams in the country! That’s just awful, you lost more games last year than Boise has in the last 5 years.
I feel bad when you uga fans can’t come up with any good points. I actually do feel bad for the few decent fans, it’s sad for a team with such little going for them and such a bad fan base.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
11:51 am
@Big Ten Champs Nebraska….Dawg how are things in the Big Ten…corn still growing , sun still hot….YAWN!
Troll Power Ratings
July 26th, 2011
11:54 am
@RxDawg: you nailed it. I was just getting ready to post the same thing. You can always tell, they always give themselves away – “he best time for a dawg fan is the pre-season”.
TECHIES, you can run but you can’t hide.
allwehaveishope
July 26th, 2011
11:56 am
As alluded to in this article it’ll be the way they/if lose (1st 2 games) that will determine the temperature of the hot seat CMR sits atop. The run up the middle on 3rd and longs, getting fooled by trick plays, no imagination to trick the opposition, poor tackling, etc., will open the old wounds of last season that called for the heads of this coaching staff.
If there is no difference from last season in how they perform from sideline to sideline then there is no more chances and a change in coaching must be a serious consideration.
j$dawg
July 26th, 2011
12:01 pm
Most likely scenerio:
Game 1: Fired up and beat the Broncos like a mule.
Game 2: Edged by SC in a nail biter.
I hope I am wrong on the 2nd.
The first 2 games will not seal Richt’s fate.
Lose the first 2, then, it’s obviously a huge uphill battle and would need at least 3 out of 4 vs. Miss St./Tenn/Florida/Auburn.
Overall, the season will be (or at least should be) judged based on overall performance and not one or two games. The first 2 games of the season will be easily forgotten IF they kick ass the rest of the season.
I expect a 9-3 season. Go 8-4 (depending on injuries and competiveness in those losses) before even considering letting Richt go.
Pete
July 26th, 2011
12:02 pm
Techies??????????
I wouldn’t be a fan of any team from Georgia…… cmon girls, there are no good teams in Georgia lol.
But seriously, i’ve never seen a fan base so convinced every year that “this will be the year!” Sorry ladies, not this year, not against Boise. Trust me when I say Boise fans aren’t excited about this game as we were against Oregon the last couple years or VT last yr.
You’re unranked, and SEC bottom dweller, nothing to be impressed about besides the score when it’s 72- 12 at 3rd qtr. Boise takes this one by halftime.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
12:04 pm
@Pete you think our fan base is bad now….sonny wait till you see 50,000 plus of us in the Dome……I still think the 05 Smurfs walked into Sanford and just freaked out in the face of Bull Dog Nation..I know that QB your bunch had did.
powerhouse?
July 26th, 2011
12:07 pm
Most heroes take chances. Dogs coach has a chance to start the season a hero.
All you idiots ought to go to Vegas
July 26th, 2011
12:07 pm
For all the idiots that think they’re only right and everybody else is wrong, go to Vegas and lay your savings on the line.
Oh that’s right, you don’t have any savings cause your an idiot that justs sits on computer and denigrates others all day.
DAWGS forever
July 26th, 2011
12:07 pm
Could really start 0-2 and then finish 10-2. Hope it doesn’t happen that way but could be a reality.
I’m hoping a big win in the dome propels us to where we NEED to be.
DREAM SEASON
ugaclassof2004
July 26th, 2011
12:11 pm
I look at it this way: With the instate talent and resources UGA has, 8-4 should be the WORST they should ever do. From 2001-2007: 8-4 was the WORST the Dawgs did during a regular season. From 2008-2010: 9-3 was the BEST regular season record they posted. Simply put, that’s not getting the job done. Outside of maybe the Atlanta Braves, the Dawgs are the most watched team in the state of Georgia. When you put 7-5 and 6-7 football on the field, you are devaluing the “G” brand. Richt can’t continue to be allowed to put a crap product on the field. Our fan-base has given him FAR too much leeway because of the kind of person he is, which to some degree is fair because of his earlier accomplishments. But now its put up or shut up time. If Richt goes under 8-4 with THIS schedule, he should be fired. I don’t care if Murray gets hurt or if half the team comes down with swine flu. Enough of the excuses! If Richt goes below 8-4, McGarity has no choice but to let him go. Donors will quit sending money if 6-6 continues to happen. But if Richt finishes 8-4 or better, and he can stay.
Eric Tee Pee
July 26th, 2011
12:16 pm
UGA needs to hire Brian Van Gorder as head coach. When he was at UGA we were good.
Woof Woof
July 26th, 2011
12:17 pm
If we can’t beat Satan – I mean Spurrier – this year then Bobo definitely has to gogo.
Drake
July 26th, 2011
12:21 pm
7-6 wining the Bowl game would be an improvement, as long as none of the losses are more than 20 points. Wins against Coastal Carolina, New Mexico and Vanderbilt for sure. Should win aganst Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech. Don’t know about the rest (Florida, Auburn, Boise, South Carolina, Miss St., Tenn) 6-6 plus the Bowl win, 7-6??
Bronco Buster
July 26th, 2011
12:22 pm
Pete, Keep believing Boise will be playing the 2010 Georgia team. You probably were running your mouth 2005 too? Boise acts as though they have beaten some powerhouse in VT and Oregon and a 3 loss Oklahoma squad. Ever won a game vs SEC? Boise will leave the Dome with nothing left to play for, not that you play real football schedule to start with.
tide roll
July 26th, 2011
12:22 pm
All your offensive line depth is with your rivals: 6′7″ 320lb. JuWuan James OT (Tennessee), 6′5″ 340lb. OG Rokevious Watkins (S. Carolina), 6′4″ 320lb. Center A.J. Hawkins (Ole Miss.), 6′4″ 320lb. OG Chance Warmack (Bama), All in state kids and all gone. It’s especially frustrating when you consider the youth and inexperience on the defensive lines at Florida and Auburn. These are the very athletes that would have allowed you to wear AU/FLA. down ! How does this happen? Anyone with a modicom of foresight could have glanced at Auburn and Florida’s rosters, been aware of these shortcomings, and recruited IN ADVANCE to take advantage of them! Unbelievable. Richt/bobo, in the face of all this, have somehow managed to actually REDUCE rather than INCREASE your offensive line depth – to the point of having, maybe FOUR SEC caliber offensive linemen. It’s comical.
Let the young men play
July 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
@ rational 11:48
UGA fans expect their team to win the east, and possibly the SEC every year. If they don’t then they seem to not want to blame the coaches, players or anybody else, they just go right back into preseason mode and begin expecting a title the next year. It’s a pretty interesting dynamic. It’s rare to see a fan base that has such high expectations but also such disinterest in accountability when those expectations are not met.
That was very well said . Football is BIG business at UGA . As long as everyone is making good money and the fan base is having fun it doesn’t really matter if they win the SEC or not. UGA goes after the best talent in Georgia they can recruit. It is kind of like rooting for your local highschool team. You want them to win but you are still going to support them no matter what happens .
IslandDAWG SSI
July 26th, 2011
12:24 pm
Those first two games will be tough to get through unscathed. If Crowell shows up and continues to impress, like he has all summer, then the running game will be good. The major concerns against Boise St. is the offensive line. I can’t remember the last time the dawgs have gone through the entire month of August without at least one injury on the offensive line. And if we lose one guy we might be looking at starting a true freshman the very first game. So if the O-line makes it through practice then the offense should flourish, that is if the receivers don’t drop catchable balls. After hearing Kris Durham on the DawgCast, I’m pumped to see these receivers that didnt get a chance to play because of the depth we had at the position last year. He talked about how early on in his career he didnt play because of guys like A.J. Bryant, Mohammad Massaquoi and A.J. Green, but when he did he made plays. I think that’s gunna be the case with guys like Marlon Brown, Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe. So The offense should be extremely fun to watch, especially with a guy like Aarron Murray at QB. And if Big John Jenkins lives up to the hype and Kwame Geathers continues to improve like he has, with Tyson at DE our Line could be dominant. The linebackers we have are gunna be the best group in the league, with or without Jarvis Jones (but hopefully with). If he does become ineligible that just gives the highly touted freshman Ray Drew a chance to show everyone what he can do early on. So as long as we get that Safety spot filled with someone that isnt gunna give up the homerun, look out cause the D is gunna be unbelievable this year.
I expect the Boise game to be our coming out party with a solid win over the WAC’s best. 35-17 Dawgs win.
The game against SC is gunna be by far the toughest game of the year. Spurrier somehow always gets the best out of his team when they play the Dawgs and i don’t expect anything different this year from the defending East champs. But if we handle Boise like i think we will then theres no SC is coming to Sanford Stadium and leaving with a W. Dawgs win 24-21.
The Dawgs will finish the year 11-1, unexpectedly losing in Knoxville after celebrating the win over Miss. State. We’re Coming back to Atlanta.
GOOOO DAWGSSS!!!!!!
Pete
July 26th, 2011
12:25 pm
“@Pete you think our fan base is bad now….sonny wait till you see 50,000 plus of us in the Dome……I still think the 05 Smurfs walked into Sanford and just freaked out in the face of Bull Dog Nation..I know that QB your bunch had did.”
——————-
You’re absolutely right, our QB Zabransky did mess up big-time. But that’s why Boise fans aren’t real worried. While to the casual observer a 48-13 defeat looks bad, anyone who watches football and Boise knows the game was lost by 1 person, the QB. Even though I’ll admit Boise probably would have lost by a td if our QB didn’t implode, no logical football fan thinks a defeat like defines any team.
That game was lost by 1 person. Boise fans are ok with that, Georgia fans seem to hail that game as a superbowl, even though uga was heavily favored. This game, Boise will quiet the crowd just like in Landover, Eugene, and Phoenix, in the first few minutes of the game.
The real question is, does uga has what it takes to come back after Boise becomes complacent with 3 td lead? Not from what i’ve seen.
edumacated
July 26th, 2011
12:26 pm
So this is where Richt has us? Wondering if he can beat Boise State? Not only that, but making excuses for him if he can’t? Pathetic.
"Good People"
July 26th, 2011
12:27 pm
So many delusional fans here but they are still “Good People”. Mark Richt is “Good “People” but he is all but done when he goes 0 – 2 and loses to Flardy.
edumacated
July 26th, 2011
12:30 pm
@ Pete,
Look fella, the reason GA kicked your teeth in during that game was because Zabransky, and every one else on your team were not used to facing a team so much bigger, stronger, and faster than they were. If I remember right, you guys later went on to have a stellar year facing your normal cast of no-name teams out west
One guy caused you to lose 48-13, har har. That is rich.
Curious George
July 26th, 2011
12:30 pm
Will the 2011 Fulmer Cup Victory be Mark Richt’s LAST ONE..
… at Georgia?
Shane
July 26th, 2011
12:31 pm
I’d take 5-7, as long as we beat the Gators!
wiseoldawg
July 26th, 2011
12:32 pm
Let’s see, Boise wants to be taken seriously and contend for a shot at the BCS championship, right? So they decide to change conferences to enhance those chances. Do they try for admission to the Big 12 to replace Nebraska or Colorado ? No. Do they try for admission to the PAC 10 like Colorado or Utah ? No. they instead join the WAC!! LMAO !! They don’t want to compete with top teams on a weekly basis, they just want to play one or two tough games a year then brag about their record against one of the weakest schedules in the nation. Give me a break !!