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?
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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433 comments Add your comment
Tricky Dick
July 28th, 2011
10:06 am
Richt is a complete liar, slanderer and a cheat. He is completely untrustworthy. You can’t believe a thing that comes out of that guys mouth.
DunceHead
July 28th, 2011
10:08 am
I SEE GOING FROM 11 WINS IN 07 DOWN TO 10 WINS IN 08 DOWN TO 8 WINS IN 09 DOWN TO 6 WINS IN 10 AS A POSITIVE SIGN THAT THE TEMA IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,.
Lane Kiffin
July 28th, 2011
10:09 am
Wait, you mean Logan Gray and Washaun are available? Dang, I need to send one my coaches with some cash to get those two All Americans!
Paul Johnson
July 28th, 2011
10:10 am
We tried to get Ealey, but he didn’t want to come to a school on probation.
DunceHead
July 28th, 2011
10:11 am
GOING 0-5 AGAINST RANKED TEAMS IN 2010 IS A SIGN OF ALL THE GREAT VIBE IN ATHENS RIGHT NOW.
Mack Brown
July 28th, 2011
10:12 am
That Benedict kid is AWESOME! I’d love to have him for my scout team.
Nick Saban
July 28th, 2011
10:14 am
I don’t see what Coach Richt sees in that Murray kid. I’d take any of our three all american QB’s over him. I wished Logan Gray had picked us over Colorado- I”d start him a minute. He’s entitled to the job after the way Coach Richt treated him.
Butch Davis
July 28th, 2011
10:16 am
I just wished I had a job still. I bet UGA will hire me though, after they fire that loser Richt.
Jim Tressel
July 28th, 2011
10:19 am
Me too!! UGA would have won all of their first 4 with me as coach. Who cares about the NCAA? They can’t do anything to you. If you ain’t cheatin, you ain’t trying, right?
Ricky Bobby
July 28th, 2011
10:24 am
Hey, what happened to Duncehead? I wanted to hear his thoughts on why CMR isn’t giving Parker Welch a shot at the QB job. The kid is awesome. CMR is just handing the job to Murray- entitlement policy you know:
Check out Parker Welch’s eight grade highlights: http// pwelchalllamericaninthemake.com
Still@theBAR
July 28th, 2011
10:34 am
Bill,
How about an article/blog on what jobs will BOBO be a candidate for as coaches get fired.
Will Bobo be considered for the UNC job? Where do the UGA fans think BOBO could be a successful
coach.
Still@theBAR
July 28th, 2011
10:38 am
Bill how about an article on how long will Uga IX be on the sidelines. Will the new Uga have some color?
SSIgator
July 28th, 2011
10:40 am
Still@theBAR -
Russ is still firing blanks. Pretty much like the UGA football team tryimg to have a wimming season.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 28th, 2011
10:43 am
I always get a feeling after reading a lot of the darn stupid negative posters on here, that it like feeding goldfish. You put your hand near the fish bowl and they all swarm to the top, trying to be first. Not a lick of sense amongst the great majority of them, but they all like to be in a feeding frenzy. I am sure at least half of them are tech. fans(?) just trying to act like fools. The other half , I am not sure of their origin. Then again, most likely their mom’s aren’t either. The only thing they are doing is taking up web page space. Useless remarks, boast and down right stupid displays of low mentality.
They are amusing for the most part though, since they have never participated in any type of organized sports, or for that matter, any group activities. Not sure about their dating habits.
To those of you the above so accurately describes, the season will start in less than 6 weeks, so get your digs in while you may. After that, go cry in your homes and prepare for basketball season and some new worthless garbage you can say about Coach Fox and the UGA team.
Most simply show that they are jealous or even scared of UGA and it is such a shame to see, jealousy cause them so much panic.
Duncehead
July 28th, 2011
11:47 am
UNCLE! UNCLE!!!! PLEASE STOP!
the real Kirby Smart
July 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
If we start 0-2, then i think we would have to run the table for CMR to be here in 2012. And while that looks reasonable on paper, the loss of all this pre-season momentum and negativity surrounding the program if we go 0-2 will make that impossible in reality. It will be like goff’s last 2 yrs as far as atmosphere, FIRE CMR signs being flown over the stadium, booing etc. And he will deserve it too.
Russ
July 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
I eat trolls for breakfast
RedandBlackDAWG
July 29th, 2011
9:08 am
Russ,
You gotta change your diet my friend. You would get more nutrition by eating at Mickey D’s than eating a lot of these trolls. You don’t want to take a chance and dumb down like some of them do.
Whiskey Breath
July 29th, 2011
10:40 am
I know Mark Richt. His ego tells him he will go out on his terms. He knows he is going to have a rough season but also knows his good guy image will get him thru. He is probably right. Ga doesn’t have guts to fire the man. And that is just fine for the rest of us in the SEC.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 29th, 2011
11:45 am
Whiskey Breath,
You think that McGarity doesn’t have the guts to fire CMR or anybody else under his management. I wouldn’t bet my lunch on that my man. If UGA were to somehow have another season like 5-7, there will be a new coach in town. Dr. Adams is also behind the coach and AD, so that would never be a problem.
I don’t expect UGA to have another season even close to that, but I don’t doubt that the AD can make the tough decisions when he has to. His criteria may be just more than wins or loses, but I think he has told CMR what has to be obtained in order to remain in good standing. With the support the AD has given CMR so far, I expect there will be a vast improvement on the field this year, as well as on the sidelines.
The players know what to expect, as our center said during the media days, “We don’t want our coach to be fired, because of the way we play, so everybody is going all out to do the right thing.” Not the exact quote but darn near. The players are behind CMR and have really tried to put in the effort, with the S and C program, and even the young guys are burning up the playbook, trying to learn and get ahead. Leaders have emerged and I believe this team wants to get after some folks this year. Players with bad attitudes, that could not adjust, have left the building, and leadership has been established among the players.
If position coaches fall down on the job, they will not be here either, next year. This is my belief but I think the A D knows what he is doing. He had a pretty good mentor, with the A D at Florida having taught him how to succeed..
Russ
July 29th, 2011
3:43 pm
RedandBlackDawg, you are right *buuuurp*- trolls give me the runs.
DAWGMAN
July 29th, 2011
6:13 pm
Past time for Love. Past time for Patience. How about getting paid for each game. Win and you get paid. Lose and you don’t. Got the fire in your belly now?
RedandBlackDAWG
July 29th, 2011
6:58 pm
DAWGMAN,
Could you get the same deal for loyal fans also. Looking to supplement my retirement income without having to work.
Boiby Bowden
July 31st, 2011
2:21 pm
Who cares – its only jawga.
BG
July 31st, 2011
3:05 pm
DAWGS will win the first 2! The DAWGS record against Carolina speaks for it self
dd
July 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
Be careful what you ask for; you just might get it.
On the other hand, here’s a coach that told us before the Liberty Bowl that the team was having exceptional bowl practices. Don’t have to tell everyone how we stunk it up. Hate to see the outcome if the practices had been bad.
Give CF credit, they played better, but we shouldn’t be losing to teams like that.
Maybe our coach needs to make one more Ford commercial.
Yeah, that’s it, That’s what our program has been missing. Not enough time on the movie set and too much time on the practice field.
Get it together CMR or else buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dawghater
July 31st, 2011
3:18 pm
Go ahead fire Richt. We dare you!
I Blame 'Nam
July 31st, 2011
4:35 pm
“Patient” is the third least likely word I would use to describe UGA fans (right after “intelligent” and “classy”).
suwanee dawg
July 31st, 2011
4:35 pm
0-2 is tolerable as long as we play with heart, play all 4 quarters, and the games are competitive. We need to play with pride and respect (no more thug behavior). If we beat FL and finish 2nd in the east then we will be fine for the year. Beating FL means everything.
THE DUDE
July 31st, 2011
5:23 pm
DOES IT REALL MATTER? WHO YOU GONNA REPLACE HIM WITH, paul johnson.
Huh
July 31st, 2011
6:36 pm
Who cares. It’s Georgia.
Let the young men play
July 31st, 2011
6:43 pm
@ I Blame Nam… “Patient” is the third least likely word I would use to describe UGA fans (right after “intelligent” and “classy”)
I grudgingly have to agree with you
Crowell Star
July 31st, 2011
9:50 pm
It will take a year or two for all these superstars in the dream teams to mesh–Richt should get at least 2 more years. If he wins 8-9 games this year, that will be OK.