Deciding who’s the ‘real’ Bulldogs in the SEC
Russ will play host to the "other" Bulldogs Saturday. (University of Georgia)
My friend Harvey Parson and I have this (relatively) good-natured thing going where we joke about which of our teams is the “real” Bulldogs.
Of course, outside of the state of Mississippi, there’s no real bone of contention there, so to speak, but whenever UGA plays Mississippi State you hear the yipping of Maroon Bulldog fans (along with lots of bad doggy wordplay).
Speaking of which, I miss the old big red fireplug that the Georgia cheerleaders used to pull out on the field for Uga, don’t you?
Anyway, with interim Georgia mascot Russ playing host to pretender Bully this week, I asked Harvey whether he’s optimistic about Saturday’s game Between the Hedges, and he said he’s “feeling pretty good about the ‘real’ dawgs.”
OK, that could be read two ways, but Harvey made clear that he thinks MSU, which won 24-12 last year in Starkville in one of UGA’s worst games, can do it again.
His take: “I think our D-line and corners give us the edge on defense. And I like the changes [Dan] Mullen is making on our O-line; should restart our offense. Moving our center back to his natural position and taking our big ole left tackle and moving him to the right guard position should create some push for us. My biggest concern is our safeties and linebackers against your passing game.”
"Bully" will find out who's top dawg in Athens. (MSU)
Care to make a prediction, Harvey?
“Sure. MSU 27, UGA 17.”
The oddsmakers in Vegas don’t quite see it that way, installing Georgia as a 7-point favorite, at least in part because MSU had to go to overtime last week to take care of lightweight Louisiana Tech.
Last year, Georgia moved the ball pretty well against MSU between the 20-yard lines and had 100 yards more offense, but made key mistakes (a Washaun Ealey fumble on the goal line), drew a shower of penalty flags and in the second half got just plain whipped on both lines of scrimmage. The Georgia defense just couldn’t seem to get off the field as MSU continually ran it up the gut.
This year, Georgia looks much stouter against the run up the middle, but Mark Richt has openly expressed concern about what Mullen’s spread option attack could do with sweeps and reverses on the outside, where the Red and Black Bulldogs have been vulnerable.
MSU’s offense is led by big QB Chris Relf, who on his better days looks almost like a Tim Tebow wannabe, and tailback Vick Ballard, who’s averaging 7 yards a clip. But the Maroon Dogs have struggled on third-down conversions lately (while Georgia’s defense, conversely, has been much better this season at stopping opponents on third down). Last week against Louisiana Tech, Relf was 2-for-9 passing with one conversion on third-down attempts.
But while running is the main thrust of the MSU attack, Georgia’s secondary needs to keep speedy receiving threat Chad Bumphis in check, even though State also has been struggling lately in the passing game. I was encouraged by the way the UGA defenders were breaking up passes against Ole Miss last week.
Bumphis also is a threat as a punt returner, though, which concerns me considering Georgia’s recent struggles on special teams.
But MSU has had to reshuffle its injury-depleted offensive line and the front seven of its defense hasn’t been all that impressive to date, while Georgia’s Isaiah Crowell is coming into his own.
Bottom line: I think Georgia is still smarting from last year’s loss in Starkville and will be out to prove something against the other Bulldogs. As long as they don’t get flag-happy like last year or give up points on special teams, I think the “real” Bulldogs win by at least a touchdown.
And, oh yeah, Harvey, that means the Dawgs in red. Woof!
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198 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
September 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
SSI
you are on my ignore list but I will assure you that I don’t troll and steal other blog handles.
You are a waste of time IMO and I dam sure wouldn’t waste any of my time stealing your handle and posting childish crap like you do.
i will expcet another idiotic kool aid or Midol or tampon comment in
3
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2
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1
DawginLex
September 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
expect
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:06 pm
DawgInLex,
Do you ever have anything to say about UGA football, other than how great being # 29 is in won/lost after the 2005 season – Seven (7) Seasons ago now – or, other than just how great you are putting down others who do come in here and post about football with a realistic view ?
ARdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:07 pm
I find DawginLex to be above reproach in blogdom. He is a solid enough chap he doesn’t need to retort to stealing monikers
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:12 pm
ARdawg-
Understood. I don’t think that Richt doesn’t have a hand in it. I think a little less now though, because of the hurry up offense that we are trying to run. Our attempt at it has gotten better, but against to lack luster teams. Every drive is probably already drawn up and practice in the preceding week. I just wish that we had more play alternatives. If IC and the O-line could block a little better, it would be easy to go from a two TE ace set to a spread shotgun, with our athletic TE’s. Especially against teams that think they have a good set in a 3-4 or 4-3. we could even go from an I-formantion with figgins. He still has good hands. push him from FB to TE and then push Orson out in a SE. The possibilites are endless with the talent level at key positions. I just would like to see more creative play calling. It does fall on Richt, because in business terms, he is the CEO of the team and need to deligat to his middle managers. I don’t think Richt looks into Bobo’s plays enough. He probably tought them to him 5yrs ago and now Bobo doesn’t have the kahunas to think to far out of the box. INNOVATION. We need it.
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:14 pm
*deligate*, sorry. And maybe kahunas is correct but you get my point.
I-DOG
September 30th, 2011
4:15 pm
To those that say “support the team, just cheer louder, give Richt a chance” I think it is interesting that the Red Sox fired their manager after one bad month.
I’m not suggesting that we do the same at UGA when a coach has a bad month or even a bad season, particularly when they have had the success that Richt had in 02-06.
Richt is the dean of SEC coaches by a wide margin. This is his 11th season and he has beaten Florida twice. I think that he has been given a reasonable chance to succeed at UGA and the last 3 plus seasons things have certainly been going downhill.
We seem to be a very patient fan base by comparison and I’m not sure that has served us well.
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:17 pm
Crap, I wrote a nice response to you ARdawg but it didn’t post. I catch your drift. I just think Bobo is to scared to think to far outside of the box so he doesn’t get Richts panties in a bunch. Sometimes making a change when you are told not to is what creates success.
virginia dog
September 30th, 2011
4:18 pm
Bill
good grief … From here on out every game is a must will. So please stop stating the obvious. Bring us your A game. I might as well be asking my 78 year old mother what is happing with UGA football on September 30th 2011
I want insight i want scoop. Henry Grady would die of embarassement that a graduate of his school could do no better than this. Your an athens boy to boot … come on i know you can and if you have nothing. Then don’t print. Quality not quanity. I’m sure its hard to spin UGA bad and Richt is on his way out every day. Besides that We need to be talking about the next step.
I don’t think we fire Richt this year unless we have a BIG NAME in the bag and i don’t mean Kirby Smart or Dan Mullen.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND RICHT NEEDS TO WIN 8 and with the 8 wins there CANNOT BE ANY EMBRASSING LOSSES. But if the AD and Adams pull the pug ( and they will because UGA will lose 2-3 in October) They need to go get there guy in secret and fire RICHT after the fact.
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:23 pm
I agree I-DOG, but I still haven’t jumped on the fire Richt train yet. Sometimes I appreciate commitment and tradition more, i.e. Joe Pa. I am not saying Richt compares, but he has had success and will again. People are just so quick to pull the trigger, and have the “everything must be perfect, NOW” attitude. Even though the schedule is kinder to us this year, I think we can’t loose more than 2 more games and keep Richt. The team and program isn’t as far off as most imply. Subtle changes would completely change the scene on the field. Now if they can make those changes, is what will determine the fate. But some of history’s coaching greats have had awful years in the middle of their great years of coaching. I am tired of loosing, but I don’t want to loose everything.
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:24 pm
*lose*
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
If Mark Richt only wins 8 games, there have to be embarrassing losses.
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:27 pm
Missy State
vols
Vandie
New Mexico State
Kentucky
Georgia tek
bowl game is obviously against another cupcake, that is all we play in bowls
Which 1 of these 7 could Mark Richt lose and not be embarrassing ?
Answer : None.
This still leaves Florida – lose that and that is hugely embarrassing
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:28 pm
what would an Auburn loss be ?
Not embarrassing ?
None of these teams are any good
I-DOG
September 30th, 2011
4:28 pm
Desert Fox:
I share that concern. 3rd and 6 or 7 could be a little scary as this is the first mobile qb we have really faced this year. Hope we can get off the field on 3rd down.
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:29 pm
TampaBigDawg,
Name the 2 teams Mark Richt can lose to that neither would be embarrassing ?
ARdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:31 pm
tampaBIGdawg
I can’t say I’ve ever been on the fire Richt wagon either. By the same token I am not a “let’s keep him because he’s such a great guy and good christian either. This is the age of McWin in college football. Richt is paid to win at most, be competitive at best. The last several years, we’ve had neither. Perhaps options do need to be explored. Winning and losing in college ball is ebb and flow. It comes and it goes. I don’t know that Richt will build another contender. It’s not because of the facilities or the talent as he has a plethora of both. Much too often we are flat out coached by teams with less. I will say, I lost all respect for him as a footballer as I walked away from the Liberty Bowl in the rain. That was without a doubt the worse coaching I have ever seen of my beloved Georgia Bulldawgs. That covers a lot of years my friend
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:31 pm
We certainly do not have a dual-threat QB
GT
September 30th, 2011
4:32 pm
Bizzaro Dawgs vs Bulldogs….
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:34 pm
I’d like to ask about 2002
1 other SEC team, only, ended up in the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 – Auburn # 14
Was The SEC down in 2002 ?
I am not saying that is Mark Richt’s fault. I am however asking if it is tainted. He did lose to a team who did not finish in the Top 25, Florida – going 0-11 on 3rd Down Conversions for the game.
Join us at the Kool-aid Bar
September 30th, 2011
4:36 pm
Thomas Brown
I take it your not going to join Altamaha Dawg, WDE, and Dawgin Lex at the bar tonight
We have a large and colorful selection of ice cold kool-aid
And if UGA beats Miss St a pitcher is on the house after the game. Your color of choice
Thomas Brown
September 30th, 2011
4:41 pm
I am not down on the program.
I am studying it closely.
I believe 2002 was not much a season by SEC standards.
I also know for a fact that 2005 we ended up not # 1 in The SEC, but # 3 in the polls.
Frank Lane
September 30th, 2011
4:47 pm
UGA should win by three touchdowns.
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:54 pm
Another loss too UF would definitely demolish the fan base, but I depending on how well UF does against Bama and LSU, I don’t think the AD would fire Richt. Same with Tech. I absolutely hate both of those teams, and they are our biggest rivalries, but at the same time, they are good programs for the season thus far. I can, a probably will change my opinion by game time of each, but if UF and GT both are only a 1 or 2 lose team by that point. The AD probably won’t make a change. Personally, a loss to either is unacceptable. If we loose to them and they are on the down turn then Richt gets let go. If they are still ranked and performing comparitively better coming into each game. He stays until his contract is up so we can spend is buyout on a better coach. I am willing to say the next coach UGA goes for will be proven and also will become the highest paid in the SEC, which probably means the highest paid in the country, barring any national changes.
tampaBIGdawg
September 30th, 2011
4:55 pm
sorry about spelling errors, don’t ream me on them.
Urban Meyer
September 30th, 2011
5:05 pm
Now that I’m out of the picture, I can speak freely. I think that you should give Mark Richt tenure and grant him a lifetime contract extension. I’ve already forgiven him for that whole dancy thing.
ga gator
September 30th, 2011
5:06 pm
Thomas Brown, I would say that Christian LeMay is an outstanding dual threat QB.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2011
5:07 pm
I’m with you tampaBIG, a loss to either FL or the bugs is unacceptable. Perhaps more digestible if it is only to the bugs. I don’t think Richt can withstand another lost to the Gators and at 2-9, he shouldn’t. Richt had a number of those 9 losses that should have been wins even in his good years.
The buyout is a non-issue. Money is not in the equation. It’s the question McGarity has of rather Richt can get out of his funk and return to being a contender in the SEC east. Losing to FL is a no to that question.
Boise in ATL
September 30th, 2011
5:07 pm
Best of luck to the REAL DAWGS this weekend. Will be rooting for the Red & Black!
ga gator
September 30th, 2011
5:09 pm
ARdawg, the loss last year to a Gator team that started 3 true Freshman on defense should have been more embarrassing than this year. Last year’s UF offense was the worst since the year before Spurrier arrived in Gainesville and to give up 33 points should have gotten Grantham fired.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2011
5:15 pm
ga gator
You won’t get any argument here. We were both awful last year and UGA was perhaps less awful than FL, we still couldn’t beat you. I can think of several other years we should have pounded the Gators. We were big, stronger, faster more talented and we still lost. Two of those years were to Zook. Richt has the mental lapse when it comes to the Gators. I mentioned upthread somewhere how he just flat gets out coached by less. It can happen to every coach and does but, it happens all too often to Richt. The Liberty Bowl was a prime example
alpha male
September 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
ardawg…thta bigger,stronger thing ain’t happened in the last 25 years…
ARdawg
September 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
alpha male,
You’d be wrong
Rotten in Denmark
September 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
The problem that none of you — critics or kool aid drinkers alike — seem to be realizing is that CMR doesn’t think anything needs to be improved. Go back and listen to his interviews, parse his words, watch his actions. He’s very satisified with the way things are and have been for the past 3 years. If we give him more time, we get more of the same.
And to everyone saying “we’re getting better as a team each week…” isn’t the whole idea of the pre-season is to become as good as you can be week #1? Big Whoop, by the time we beat the yellow bellies in November on our last regular season game, we’ve finally become a decent team? Guess those first 3 months of games – including all the conference games — are just practice.
Honestly, I don’t see how you all drive to work each day, you’ve got your heads so far up your colons all you can see is yesterday’s lunch.
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2011
5:51 pm
Must win…that’s a tough one…let’s see…yeah, go ahead and win. But don’t ask me again.
whatacrew
September 30th, 2011
6:12 pm
Bill King – you mentioned “Georgia’s Isaiah Crowell is coming into his own.” – yeah – but that is against very lame defenses such as Ole Miss (Vandy’s back had about 180 yards against them) and Coastal Carolina – which I can even run through them. I do think MSU is overrated – I mean Lossie Tech nearly beat them. Either way Bulldogs win.
Texas Dawg
September 30th, 2011
6:39 pm
Dawgs over MSU 31 to 17
Join us at the Kool-aid Bar
September 30th, 2011
6:41 pm
The kool-aid bar will be at South side gates by the bridge under the shade tree
We will be serving fresh kool-aid to all those Dream Team Fans
Buy 2 drinks and get a free foam finger for when Richt says its time to cheer
17 games, 8W's and 9 losses
September 30th, 2011
6:41 pm
The real story in this game is if Ben Jones is able to walk out of the game. Last year Jones
put a cheap shot on MSU def tackle Flechter. It occured 20 yards down field from
the line of scrimage, with the MSU running back 10-15 yards in front of them.
As they trotted behind the play, Jones chopped blocked Flechter and put him out of the game and the next as well. I believe MSU has something in mind for Jones—–they will be going at his legs until they put him outof the game. Pay back is hell but, he brough it on himself.
Daniel#12
September 30th, 2011
6:43 pm
Until AD steps in and takes the mascot away from Sonny, we will be doomed to the sick, lame looking mascots of the last several years. Bring on the pup Isaiah held up at signing. He should be old enough now.
Rotten in Denmark
September 30th, 2011
7:02 pm
MSU wins, doesn’t matter if it’s by 1 or 100. They will win. We lose.
CMR won’t care. Won’t change a thing. Doesn’t think it needs changing.
AD McGarity won’t take any action. Either silence or lip service.
Status stays quo.
Morons will continue to gulp down the kool aid and think all we need is just more cheers to get a NC.
Half the AJC writers will continue to bash CMR, the other two will continue to try and tip toe around the obvious.
SEC West will continue to outpace the East and leave it in the dust.
SEC East will re-stratifie its layers and UGA becomes the new perenial bottom dweller. Vandy will rise a slot above simply because it will become a “who knows?” team, whereas UGA becomes a team expected to lose everytime, and seldom fails to live down to expectations.
UGA relegated to has-been status for decades.
Glory, Glory to Old Georga
After we lose to MSU – fire them all. Immediately. At the end of the game. Charge them rent if they haven’t cleaned out their offices by Sunday morning. Give them a police escort to the city limits and lock the gates behind them.
Turn the coaching for the rest of the season over to the RedCoat Band.
Worried you’ll just see L’s the rest of the season? Other than NMS, we will anyway. And I could beat NMS all by myself while in a full body cast.
icedawg
September 30th, 2011
7:07 pm
Well State has had Bulldog bragging rights for the year after what they did to us. If the offense and special teams don’t give away any points and the defense doesn’t spend most of the game on the field, then Georgia should prevail. We’ve got more talent. 24-14 DAWGS in a dogfight. I still think that the season pans out 8-4, losses to BS, SC, UT and UF. The Wreck ain’t lookin’ so bad either, that could be the killer.
Pago Pago DAWG
September 30th, 2011
7:22 pm
So if Crowell is the second best rb in the USA, why isn’t our record better!
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2011
7:32 pm
We’ll look at the tape, and clean some stuff up. I think we are still headed in a positive direction. One game doesn’t make or break a season. Everybody played hard, I’m sure that we can move on from this.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 30th, 2011
7:43 pm
If MSU beats us tommorrow it will be the first time since WWII they beat us in Athens
Tiger Mania
September 30th, 2011
7:44 pm
Losing on satuday ends the tenure for CMR.
Tiger Mania
September 30th, 2011
7:47 pm
Burnt Toast for Auburn in Columbia, and burnt fanny for CMR in Athens.
luxomni
September 30th, 2011
7:50 pm
Uga has more talented players. Bully has more of a team. It should be a good game with a lot on the line. Bully is coming off two tough losses and an overtime win over a lesser team. Uga is also trying to get on the right track. This game could be the key to a successful season for the top dog.
Personally, I don’t have a dog in this hunt, just an interested SEC fan. I have to go with Bully, but a flat nose.
Tiger Mania
September 30th, 2011
7:50 pm
How many players jump off the train conducted by CMR before that train wrecks?
Seriously
September 30th, 2011
7:53 pm
You guys should try running that high school offense that GT uses. They seem to be having success with it