Florida game bigger for Dogs’ SEC hopes than it is for Richt’s job status
Can Mark Richt survive a loss to Florida this year? (Associated Press)
In a season of “must-win” games, Georgia will make the trip to Jacksonville facing twin imperatives:
First, with South Carolina holding the tie-breaker over the Dogs in the SEC East, a loss to Florida might not finish off UGA’s chances of making it to the championship game in the Georgia Dome (the Gamecocks, after all, are missing Marcus Lattimore), but the odds surely would get a lot longer. Without a win over the Gators, Georgia would need South Carolina to lose at least twice more in the conference while the Dogs won over Auburn and Kentucky.
And secondly, if Mark Richt, who’s won only twice against Florida in his 10 previous seasons at Georgia, can’t get a victory against a first-year coach of a team that’s lost three in a row and is on thin ice when it comes to its quarterbacking corps, the heat under his seat is going to suddenly ramp back up to pretty near the level it was when the Dogs opened 0-2.
But is this really a must-win game for Richt to keep his job? I don’t think so. Sure, it’ll get awfully ugly in the Bulldog Nation if he loses again to the Gators, but if the Dogs then win out and finish 9-3, with a decent bowl likely in the offing, I doubt very much Greg McGarity and Michael Adams would be thinking coaching change at the end of the season.
Conversely, if Georgia collapses down the stretch and loses two or more games but somehow gets a win over hated rival Florida, it’s possible Richt still would survive to face another season of hot-seat speculation.
So, yes, Georgia-Florida is a very important game for both the Georgia team and its head coach.
But I don’t see it as a must win.
Agree or disagree? Feel free to share your views in the comments. Go Dogs!
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199 comments Add your comment
dawgette
October 25th, 2011
6:01 pm
@ICMII- I agree with you. The idea of the Dawgs being embarrassed on national tv AGAIN only this time by either Bama or LSU is sickening. Why not let USC be thrown to the SEC West winner? And/or FL?
Barstow
October 25th, 2011
6:03 pm
Win or lose, it’s past time to run Richt out of town on a rail.
Bob
October 25th, 2011
6:04 pm
Doesn’t matter…I think a deal has already been worked out for Richt to retire after the season. Anyone can see he just doesn’t have it anymore, and the Vandy game was a preview of his future abilities. I think it’s time for a change, too.
Barstow
October 25th, 2011
6:07 pm
“I think a deal has already been worked out for Richt to retire after the season.”
If that’s true – which I doubt – it would make everyone happy.
War Dang Dawg
October 25th, 2011
6:27 pm
Anyone who has a “just beat Tech” mentality never grew up as a Georgia fan in South Georgia. Or lived and worked in the state of Florida. I’ve done both.
Enough of this b.s., this is the second year in a row that Florida has been very beatable. If not this year, then when?
2-9 in that series just won’t cut it. 0-3 against 1st year Florida coaches won’t cut it.
It’s definitely a must-win. No more excuses, just get it done.
War Dang Dawg
October 25th, 2011
6:42 pm
And having less success against Florida than Ole Miss, Miss. St., and Auburn during the Richt era is equally unexcusable. UF is a combined 5-9 against those schools during Richt’s tenure.
Bill Grogan
October 25th, 2011
7:46 pm
If your AD had not scheduled the BS dome game and you guys still played (and won) Lou’ville, your team probably would be undefeated now. I’m sure they would not have played SC with their heads hanging low…just like my goats, you were doomed!
dogdawg
October 25th, 2011
8:16 pm
This game is bigger than the Dawgs or MR! Its for UGA,the fans and state pride.If Mark Ritch can’t beat a one armed Gator we need to find someone who can preiod!
Walmart dream team
October 25th, 2011
8:32 pm
19 out of 21….49-10, 41-17, 34-31. The beat goes on. Best chance this year, FLA HC is from GA.
Les Miles
October 25th, 2011
8:42 pm
Sure hope GA wins the SEC East..that way I can rest my First, Second, and Third string in the SEC Championship game.
still a dawg fan
October 25th, 2011
9:10 pm
If CMR losses to the worse Florida Team in 25 years , he is done
RollDog
October 25th, 2011
9:21 pm
I cannot believe how soft this program has become and how accepting you fans have become. Who cares if we win the east? We can’t even walk on the same field as Bama or LSU. I despise Nick Saban, but this seriously I’ll prepared team will not stand a chance against Saban.
Richt stated a loss to UF wouldn’t bury us. He also said that not selling he game out against Coastal Carolina was not a big deal. THEY BOTH ARE BIG DEALS! My god people, how long are we going to allow this corpse to run and ruin our program?
Ginger
October 25th, 2011
9:23 pm
It is hard to say….who really knows what Adams and McGarity are thinking…Don’t think that 1 game makes or breaks anything…although it hurts to lose and helps to win….Richt would get another job if fired—good coach, overall great record, very likeable, great recruiter. Adams and McGarity would be wise to see how the rest of the season plays out–Georgia is on the upswing and stability is important to a program…the next 2 recruiting classes have some great commitments if Richt stays—Theus in 2012 and Ramsey in 2013 just to name 2. Keith Marshall # 1 running back in America is likely to go to UGA if Richt is there….this past yr’s class really has some top talent…..so it would appear that good chance UGA will do really well in the next few yrs—Murray, Mitchell, Crowell, J.Jones, Drew, Washington, Herra, Vasser, Gillard, Commings, Swann….so great nucleus….I would be very careful of making a change when it appears we are on the verge of breaking out of the slump…we are trending up…UGA Football stock—looks like a buy right now !!
Dr. Morpheus
October 25th, 2011
9:33 pm
I’ve been a solid supporter of CMR and I’m pleased with the progress this season, especially our defensive unit (currently #6 nationally in yards allowed per game). Winning five in a row is a great trend. However, last season was embarrassing and alarming. Even with the improved performance, beating Florida 20% of the time isn’t good enough. Losing this year would be very disappointing- a decisive win would make a real difference in my confidence in our coach and would make it a lot easier to stomach a third loss to someone else (i.e., Auburn), should that happen.
Rationalizations
October 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
“stability is important to a program”
Not if it’s stable mediocrity..
FLA DAWG
October 25th, 2011
9:52 pm
Why have you made no mention of the teams we’ve beaten since our 0-2 start this season?
The only sold, decisive (and surprising to me) win since then was against MSU. The Dawgs looked strong and motivated. (Note I discount the Coastal Carolina Game as a controlled scrimmage against our Scout Team would have been a tougher contest).
I submit to you that a loss against Florida this season would be worse than last – primarily because UF is even worse. The ONLY thing giving us wins this season is the caliber of the teams we’ve played. They stink.
Bottomline UF stinks worse than UGA but since we have coaches that are as bad or worse than Muschamp & Weiss (and throw in the fact that this is an annual home game for UF) then I believe the edge goes to UF – though I believe the Vegas odds go with UGA by a slim margin.)
Frankly, who the he!! cares!
Whichever team wins The East will be absolutely eaten alive by LSU (who will beat Bama by 14 or more).
If Richt is back next season then this ongoing sage continues ad infinitum and we will await one or two more years for the final bell to toll on the UGA coaching staff.
Top Dog
October 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
I love Coach Richt and I agree he will be back no matter what. Win lose or draw, Go Dawgs and Coach Richt!
Saban
October 25th, 2011
10:15 pm
Gerogia loses by 50.
Gertrude(Dawg in Lex) runs off with Crowell and Richt handles the marriage ceremony as Choakdawg eats the Florida Coach.
Rationalizations
October 25th, 2011
10:20 pm
Interesting analysis coach.
pragmatic
October 25th, 2011
10:32 pm
I don’t understand how 9-3 gets you to a good bowl. That record would put you number 5 or 6 in the SEC. so what do you call a good bowl?
Hairy Perry
October 25th, 2011
11:47 pm
Bill the attitude towards this game as not being a must win is the reason Florida wins year in and year out. Florida sees it as a must win and that’s why this game has become the debacle it has. That’s what seperates us from the alpha teams. They see every game as a must win!
Saban is a Nat
October 25th, 2011
11:48 pm
Give it up we all know your yellow. Saban. Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaassssssse.
Saban is a Nat
October 25th, 2011
11:54 pm
When will you guys realize most of the “gator” fans that post on here are NATS!!!! OH yeah and SABAN is a total BUG!!!!!!
AceDawg
October 25th, 2011
11:58 pm
At some point, we as UGA fans, alums, etc must experience what it is like to beat Florida more than once in a blue moon. Personally, losses to Florida far and away are the most disappointing. I don’t see UGA winning the SEC East if it falls to Florida again, so I’d tie winning this and Richt surviving pretty closely together. I’ll respect Richt as a person either way, but he needs to show he can beat a UGA player turned Gator for the fans.
Big Gator
October 26th, 2011
12:05 am
You Georgia fans are pathetic. The only thing that is acceptable is a national championship. Richt will never get you there. For whatever reason, he has become too mellow. If you have to pull stunts to prove you have a pulse, you’ve already lost.
As long as you single out individual games as “must-wins,” you’re doomed. They’re all must-wins.
And finally, enough about the wussy “It’s a home game for Florida” crap. The stands are evenly divided and if your administration didn’t think the pluses outweighed the minuses, they would have changed the venue long ago. And what about the SEC Championship game? Under this rationale, that would be a home game for Georgia… if they could ever get there.
C'mon MAN
October 26th, 2011
3:15 am
If we don’t win this game, not only will Richt lose his job but we will not make the SECCG.
bubba4dawgs
October 26th, 2011
7:10 am
Oh well, try to beat’em anyway! Will the real Dawgs please show up!!
Thomas Brown
October 26th, 2011
7:14 am
NCAA federally mandated graduation success rates are out. Georgia tek men’s basketball 27 percent; UGA men’s basketball 43 percent. Georgia tek football 55 percent; UGA football 65 percent. Georgia tek women’s basketball 73 percent; UGA women’s basketball 77 percent. Overall all sports, Georgia tek 77 percent; overall all sports UGA 79 percent.
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/newmedia/public/rates/index.html
Georgia tek sports and excellence in education in their sports.
FLA DAWG
October 26th, 2011
7:24 am
Glad Florida got Muschamp.
He’s certainly gotten The Gators some attention – FOR LOSING BIG.
I believe The Dawgs are picked to win this one by a slim margin.
Muschamp and UF are about to be drilled doggiestyle.
JE
October 26th, 2011
7:24 am
Duh!!! If this is a must win for UGA is it a must lose for UF???? Is there something wrong with both statements?
JE
October 26th, 2011
7:35 am
Brilliant!!!!! Since when is a football field 100 yards long?
Rationalizations
October 26th, 2011
8:11 am
We don’t really need to beat Florida to win the SEC East.
Another Dog
October 26th, 2011
8:23 am
Wrong on both counts, but then, I expect nothing from a foolish Richt-humping homer like King.
Nub
October 26th, 2011
8:41 am
A must win for Richt to keep his job……!
Thomas Brown
October 26th, 2011
8:44 am
Florida # 100 Passing Offense
Florida # 109 Turnover Margin
Florida # 120 Penalties
Florida’s worst football team in 24 years – 1987
If Mark Richt cannot beat this Florida team, he is gone
FLA DAWG
October 26th, 2011
9:07 am
I agree T B.
But Garcia did all he could to give us the South Carolina Game and we couldn’t take it.
I’d love to see a win (finally) against UF and on paper we win this by 10 or more.
But just look how close The Vandy Game was.
Well, let’s look at it this way – If we win we finally beat The Gators and if we lose we unload Richt & Bobo (hopefully).
So we win either way.
Dawg Fud
October 26th, 2011
9:14 am
Totally disagree.
It would be the 3rd time Richt has lost to a 1st year UF Head Coach.
Unacceptable.
J.T. Keene
October 26th, 2011
9:22 am
Lets see, Fla has won 18 out of the last 21. UGA wins this one and the monkey will be off their back and it will all be even. Yeah about right the way some people think.
FLA DAWG
October 26th, 2011
9:24 am
Gotta tell ya boys I’m not so sure I want my Dawgs to win The SEC this year.
I hate to write this but if Richt & Bobo bring The Dawgs to play against LSU I’m afraid it will be like UGA v Hawaii but in reverse. Players being dragged off the field.
LSU is nothing but great this year and they will beat Bama to a pulp, win The SEC and The BCS.
bill
October 26th, 2011
9:24 am
Not a must win? I would say you gotta be kidding, but unfortunately this is the mind set of much of the Bulldog fan base as we continue to sink to the SEC middle-tier.
To say it plainly for Coach Richt, win this game or be gone! If our players can’t beat their players this year, it’s not ever happening under this coaching staff…
FLA DAWG
October 26th, 2011
9:25 am
No J.T. it won’t be even.
The Dawgs have an all time winning record against Florida.
Use all the stats if you’re going to use any.
npgator
October 26th, 2011
9:26 am
I hate to say it but the Dawgs will win this year.
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
10:29 am
Disagree with Bill King.
This game defines Mark Richt. If he loses, no matter what has happened or will happen the rest of the year. Richt should be out on his ear. He is currently 2-8 against our biggest rival (although we are no longer theirs, Thanks Richt). A victim of his own early successes, possibly but who cares?. If Richt doesn’t beat Florida this year on surely their most down year in many years, how can he lead the Dawgs for years to come. No Bill, This game is defining Richt as a Georgia Bulldog. I am personally waiting on the results
ARdawg
October 26th, 2011
10:33 am
bill
If the Dawgs make it to ATL is a crowning achievement on what is a dark time in Georgia football. Just being there is turning a corner. I’d love to see the Dawgs beat an LSU in the Dome but, just being there and competing would finally be the foundation we have sorely lacked for the last 5-6 years
Re@Listic Dawg
October 26th, 2011
10:45 am
Georgia will win if :
Murray plays smart and does not make dumb turnvers
Defense can contain demps and Rainey (Do not give up big play)
Crowell can make some big runs in space
Good Special teams
Don’t fall for any trick plays, gimmicks etc…
Go Dawgs!
UGA Insider
October 26th, 2011
11:17 am
No more excuses about the Gators playing great. Have the team prepared and win. No excuses.
Danny
October 26th, 2011
7:57 pm
I agree but now is the time for Ga to rise up and win this one for the bulldog nation as well as for themselves.
bobby
October 28th, 2011
1:13 am
ABOUT COACH RICHT JOB SITUATION, LET’S FACE IT THE FLORIDA GAME EVEN THOUGH UGA IS CLEARLY A BETTER TEAM, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW HOW THEY WILL PLAY AGAINST THEM THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF TIMES WHEN UGA WAS CLEARLY BETTER AND HAD BETTER RECORD AND LOST LIKE 2002, 2003, 2010 WHEN THEY WERE BETTER AND LOST SO WITH THEIR HISTORY AGAINST THEM YOU JUST DON’T KNOW BUT AFTER THAT THEY HAVE NEW MEXICO STATE, KENTUCKY, AND AUBURN AT HOME AND THEY SHOULD BEAT THEM. AND AT TECH AND IF ANY ONE SEEN TECH THEY’RE NOT A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM ON NEITHER SIDE OF THE BALL AND UGA HAS NO BUSINESS LOSING TO THEM AT ALL SO AFTER THE FLORIDA GAME, THEY SHOULD WIN THEIR LAST 4 GAMES. I SAY 9-3 AT THE WORST.
bobby
October 28th, 2011
1:18 am
ALSO IN 2006 UGA SHOULD OF BEAT FLORIDA AND THE GAME MARTEZ MILNER DROPPED SEVEN PASSES AND UGA AS A WHOLE DROPPED 10 PASSES OR MORE IN THAT GAME THE DEFENSE PLAYED WELL ENOUGH TO WIN IT’S JUST THE OFFENSE MADE NO PLAYS THAT GAME THE SCORE WAS 20-13.