Early projection for season sees Dawgs standing pat
RPI pioneer and BCS expert Jerry Palm came out with his ridiculously early bowl projections this week for CBSsports.com.
Palm has LSU winning the SEC championship and meeting Southern Cal in the BCS Championship game. With the SEC champ headed to the national title game, he sees the Sugar Bowl taking Alabama to play West Virginia of the Big 12 rather than the SEC runner-up, which he once again predicts will be Georgia. He has the Dogs playing Big 10 runner-up Nebraska in the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando.
So obviously he sees Georgia losing to LSU again in the conference championship.
(Some of you might ask, if the SEC champ normally goes to the Sugar Bowl and instead goes to the BCS, why wouldn’t the No. 2 team in the conference take their place in the Sugar? Because that’s not the way the bowls work! The loser of the SEC championship game usually doesn’t get a BCS bid because they’re usually not the second highest-ranked conference team in the polls.)
Palm has 10 of the SEC’s 14 teams playing in bowls, with South Carolina in the Outback, Arkansas in the Cotton, Auburn in the Chick-fil-A, Florida in the Gator, Texas A&M in the Music City, Missouri in the Liberty and Mississippi State in the BBVA Compass.
Of course, these projections are good for nothing more than an excuse to talk college football during March Madness, but it does raise a question for fans: If Palm’s scenario plays out, Georgia would once again win the SEC East but also would lose again to LSU in the Georgia Dome and wind up in a non-BCS bowl, though one notch higher than this past season’s Outback Bowl.
So it essentially would be a replay of the 2011 season, only with a slightly better bowl.
Obviously, that would be a successful season for Mark Richt’s program. But would you find it satisfying? After suffering through a losing season, winning the SEC East looked awfully good to UGA fans. But would a second straight season of conference bridesmaid status look as good? Especially considering all the starters that Georgia returns and an infusion of highly regarded talent, especially in the backfield?
Feel free to share your thoughts and expectations for the 2012 season.
A STRONG EXPENDITURE
UGA has released the salaries for its newly reconfigured strength and conditioning staff, and the Athens Banner-Herald notes the program will be spending $108,039 more annually in that area, with salaries totaling $440,000 for the five-person staff. That includes $140,000 for former Penn State strength director John Thomas, who’ll be senior associate director of strength and conditioning, and $85,000 for speed specialist Sherman Armstrong, the associate strength and conditioning coach. Senior director of strength and conditioning Joe Tereshinski will make $150,000.
Considering the Dogs’ problems over the past couple of years with fading in the fourth quarter, the upgrading of the S&C staff looks like money well spent to me.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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237 comments Add your comment
LawDawg
March 16th, 2012
1:07 pm
Routinely finishing in the top ten or fifteen is extremely successful in CFB.
DAWG258
March 16th, 2012
1:08 pm
Giving LSU their QB this year and having tape from the SECCG last lear. it would have to be SEC champs or bust this year…….. which we all know where that puts us in the bowl rankings.
GO DAWGS! GATA 2012
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 16th, 2012
1:10 pm
Ok, relax everyone I’am back to break it down for you……
Yes, another mediocre season for UGA football with a possible 8-4 or maybe 9-3 records, but nothing to write home about. CMR gets an extension, along with Grantham, but no national titles on the horizon.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 16th, 2012
1:11 pm
Winning only 1 (concensus) national championship in 118 years is a total program failure. Alabama, LSU, OU, Texas, Florida and Miami are crowed with national titles…..UGA still has plenty of shelf space.
MATH GENIUS
March 16th, 2012
1:12 pm
Its funny how no Dawg fans would have had expectations like this heading into any season in the 90s. THANK YOU MARK RICHT FOR TURNING THIS PROGRAM INTO A LEGIT CONTENDER. GO DAWGS!!!
WDE
March 16th, 2012
1:14 pm
@Buckeye got Bowl Game??
DIT
March 16th, 2012
1:15 pm
@Mike Bobo 17 INT
Just out of curiousity, who is your team again?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
1:17 pm
DIT i don’t know who he should hire as OC but he can’t get rid of Dawg 4 Life and Dooley by marriage MIKE BOBO. I don’t see Richt making that call.
DIT
March 16th, 2012
1:18 pm
@ Still… Your probably right. If he was going to make that move it should have been a few years back.
MATH GENIUS
March 16th, 2012
1:21 pm
***not have had
DIT
March 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
@WDE
Buckeye is not anywhere close to being as out spoken as he was before the Suckeyes had their scandal and pitiful season. I remember him being on this blog just about every second of every day it seemed telling everyone how awful they were, but how wonderful the Suckeyes are.
I see a blurp from him every now and then. I guess he’s just testing the waters.
That my friends, is what you call a “Fair Weathered Fan.”
Welcome back Buckeye!
DIT
March 16th, 2012
1:25 pm
Math Genius – I remember with Goff it was more like. Just please do not embarrass us!
CEPH
March 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
Why would anyone expect anything more than second place? Thats Richts mantra and he is perfectly happy with it.. As long as he wins 8,9,10 games he won”t get fired andd he knows it… He has brainwashed the UGA fans with “wait until next year” and he can win just enough games to remain employed. It is a sad state of affairs at UGA and personally I am sick of it. We are so far behind the top programs it isn’t even funny and the powers to be (i.e McGarity) won’t do a damn thing about it. I personally give up!!!!!
Smokewagon
March 16th, 2012
1:49 pm
I remember the offense last year trying very hard to lose to KY but Grantham’s group would not allow it. You could hear people unwrapping hot dogs in the stands. I can’t explain it but every year they play at least one game where they look unprepared and not wanting to play.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 16th, 2012
1:53 pm
CEPH…dead on with your last comment and totally agree. Medicocrity is the staple for Athens football these days, and for that fact, for 118 years.
Old Dawg.
March 16th, 2012
1:55 pm
Wet Willie: Ala. loses to LSU & Ark.you heard it here first.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
1:55 pm
@CEPH sorry you feel that way Bull Dog Nation will miss you.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 16th, 2012
1:56 pm
UGA only beat 2 ranked teams in 2011, GT and Auburn and GT. UGA got drilled by LSU, lost to MSU in the Chico Bail Bonds Bowl game, then CMR gets an extension. Keep up the great work!
WDE
March 16th, 2012
1:58 pm
@DIT Buckeye is like most fans of teams that have been overall pretty successful they can dish it out but can’t take it….good or bad I’m a Dog fan and I will admit it was tough during 2010 going 6-7 but we got thru it. Go Dogs !
Will Crafton
March 16th, 2012
1:58 pm
No way . Another season like this previous one will disappoint me and the bulldog nation. A LOT. We GA fans are tired of other SEC teams stealing the BCS spotlight, and now that we have incoming talent and top 3, top 5 defense, we MUST win the SEC. The natl. championship would be great, but we need a BCS win. Another regular bowl won’t cut it.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
2:00 pm
@Mike Bobo 17 INT what would you know about it…you’ve never been a Dog fan and we the members of Bull Dog Nation are pleased as punch that you aren’t..
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
2:04 pm
Does anybody know how I can find how many countries and states are represented in the UGa student body right now? I just saw a report on Tech but I am not sure how to search that for UGa.
BonkersDog
March 16th, 2012
2:06 pm
LSU with Mettenberger will be a much better team, missed a strong passing game last year, that will be fixed with Mettenberger’s missile of an arm. LSU will win it all in 2012, and UGA will go either 9-5 or 10-4, UGA hasn’t finished in the top 20 in a while.
BonkersDog
March 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
UGA hasn’t finished in the top 10 since 2007, and top 20 only once since 2007.
Roll Tide with Pride!!!
March 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
I would like to see UGA in the SEC title game – just NOT convinced UGA will make it.:
I see USCe going 6-2 (losses to LSU and ARK).
I see FL going 6-2 (losses to LSU and USCe)
I see UGA going 6-2 (losses to USCe and FL).
UGA was dang lucky to beat Florida last year – and Gators will be much improved in year 2 under Muschamp. Until UGA actually has a good OL – just not convinced UGA will be good enough offensively against a stout defense.
UGA has lost 2 in a row to USCe – and the game is in Columbia – Conner Shaw is a much better QB than their former loose screw under center. Again, UGA’s OL is questionable – and Spurrier has Richt’s number – last years game convinced me of that.
BAMA will make it to the SEC title game and win – regardless of who we play.
Here’s the deal – besides beating Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl – UGA has been pathetic the last 3 years against good teams. Last year – the 4 losses were to Boise, USCe, LSU and MI ST. UGA was not worthy of a national ranking – In my opinion.
Richt and staff have an issue when it comes to playing big time programs when those programs are good. I am looking at trends of the last 3 seasons – that’s what counts – not what Richt did 7 to 10 years ago – no relevance there. Confidence severely shaken for UGA under Richt/Bobo when they line up agaist the big boys.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
2:14 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBAR I know the terrorist nations are well represented at Bug U..but are there still any Americans?
7576DAWG
March 16th, 2012
2:17 pm
We lost the Michigan State game because three things came together to not allow Georgia the win:
1- Murray had three turnovers.
2- Walsh missed the winning field goal attempt
3- Michigan States senior leadership was outstanding and rose to the occasion.
If only one of those things fall into Georgia’s favor. WE WIN.
BMac
March 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Wow, it amazes me the number of idiots and trolls that get on here just to bad mouth UGA. Why did you even read the article? Probably didn’t just scrolled right to the bottom because your team is a joke… (coughs) GT and can’t even beat us and you have nothing better to do with your time then post your mind numbing stupidity on some online message board. College football is cyclical, Bama and LSU will both come down, other teams will rise. Thats how it works. Alot of programs would die to have a coach like Richt at the helm… proper execution by your players makes any coach seem like a genius and vice versa. Nobody accepts mediocrity especially not our coaches. But I guess thats why you morons are making almost 3 million a year and not coach Richt who has been leading a successful SEC football program for the last 11 years.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
@Roll Tide with Pride!!! lets see our coach is 3-1 vs your bunch..St.Nick used every bit of his pull to convince the SEC to reschedule UGA with Missouri so Bama didn’t have to play us..tell you what we will do everything in our power to again win the East, get your bunch to try and get the West and lets play.Deal?
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
7576DAWG,
What are you wishing away all 4 of those you list ?
13-1 SEC East Champions 2012
March 16th, 2012
2:26 pm
College football is cyclical ?
When does that start ?
09-14 Loss Sakerlina 2001 # 13
26-24 Win vols 2001 # 4*
10-24 Loss Crocodiles 2001 # 3*
17-24 Loss Allbarn 2001 Unranked**
31-17 Win Georgia tek 2001 # 24
16-20 Loss Boston College 2001 # 21**
27-25 Win Alabama 2002 # 11
13-20 Loss Crocodiles 2002 Unranked**
24-21 Win Allbarn 2002 # 14
26-13 Win FSU 2002 # 21
30-00 Win Climpsum Farmers 2003 # 22
13-34 Loss LSU 2003 # 2*
13-16 Loss Crocodiles 8-5 in 2003 # 24**
41-14 Win vols 2003 # 15
10-17 Loss LSU 2003 # 2*
34-27 Win Purdue 2003 # 18
45-16 Win LSU 2004 # 16
14-19 Loss vols 2004 # 13
06-24 Loss Allbarn 2004 # 2*
24-21 Win Wisconsin 2004 # 17
10-14 Loss Crocodiles 2005 # 12
30-31 Loss Allbarn 2005 # 14
34-14 Win LSU 2005 # 6*
35-38 Loss West Virginia mountaineers 2005 # 5*
33-51 Loss vols 2006 # 25**
22-24 Loss Vandie 4-8 in 2006 Unranked**
14-21 Loss Crocodiles 2006 # 1*
20-24 Loss Kentucky 2006 Unranked**
37-15 Win Allbarn 2006 # 9*
31-24 Win Virginia Tech 2006 # 19
12-16 Loss Sakerlina 6-6 in 2007 Unranked**
14-35 Loss vols 2007 # 12
42-30 Win Crocodiles 2007 # 13
45-20 Win Allbarn 2007 # 15
41-10 Win Hawai’i 2007 # 19
30-41 Loss Alabama 2008 # 6*
10-49 Loss Crocodiles 2008 # 1*
42-45 Loss Georgia tek 2008 # 22**
24-12 Win Michigan State 2008 # 24
10-24 Loss Okie State 2009 Unranked**
19-45 Loss vols 7-6 in 2009 Unranked**
13-20 Loss LSU 2009 # 17
17-41 Loss Crocodiles 2009 # 3*
30-24 Win Georgia tek 2009 # 13
27-34 Loss Kentucky 7-6 in 2009 Unranked**
06-17 Loss Sakerlina 2010 # 22**
24-31 Loss Arky 2010 # 12
12-24 Loss Missy State 2010 # 15
31-34 Loss Crocodiles 2010 Unranked**
31-49 Loss Auburn 2010 # 1*
27-29 Loss Colorado 5-7 in 2010 Unranked**
06-10 Loss Central Florida 2010 # 21**
21-35 Loss Boise State 2011 # 8*
42-45 Loss Sakerlina 2011 # 9*
10-42 Loss LSU 2011 # 2*
30-33 Loss Michigan State 2011 # 11
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
2:28 pm
WDE funny but what a STUPID comment. UGa is full of Drunk Fake Blonde White Girls from the state. The reason UGa can fill a stadium is because UGa grads never leave the state. NOBODY outside of the south knows what UGA is.
The WORLD knows Ga TECH as represented by the next students admitted to Tech. Those admitted for next fall boast an average 3.9 GPA and a 1430 out of 1600 on the math and verbal SAT. By high school graduation these students would have taken an average of eight college-level courses, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate. About 14,700 students applied for one of the 2,400 spots for fall or the 250 spots for this summer. The admitted class represents 86 countries and 49 states. No one from Wyoming was admitted.
I was really wanting to know the breakdown of the UGa student body. They are mostly White Girls we know, but where are all the students from? if they are from GA that is not all that impressive considering the pathetic state of the government school system in this state. I tried a few searches and couldn’t find the info I was looking for.
James Stewart
March 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
I noticed we have a prediction from georgia tech,s DOUBLE DUMB ASS CLUB for a techie win and they have been wrong 10 of the last eleven years GO DOUBLE DUMB ASSES
DublDawg
March 16th, 2012
2:30 pm
I don’t expect much of Richt and Georgia these days, he has proven he is not the guy to get us to top tier status. Giving Richt a 5 year extension without a cheaper buy-out clause based on performance is stupid. Perhaps we will have something to look forward to in the defense if the idiot players will behave.
Although I don’t expect much from Georgia, I can’t believe the Gay Tech fanboys are on here talking trash about Georgia when their program is in such disarray. They have had a revolving door of coaches and coordinators with no ostensible improvement from new hires and the program and Johnson are in a trend of decline. This will be Johnson’s next to last season at Tech, he will be gone after 2013.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
2:33 pm
WDE….Richt is 2-3 against SABAN who now coaches Bama. The 3-1 against Bama is misleading now that there is a different coach that Richt has a history against.
Spike 80DF
March 16th, 2012
2:36 pm
I’ll agree with that prediction for the most part b/c LSU and Bama are top tier programs and CMR is NOT a top tier coach and never will be. As long as the athletic dept is making money hand over fist and fans keep saying “look where we were before CMR came” he will always have an overpaying job at UGA…..
WDE
March 16th, 2012
2:36 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBAR Did the applicants pre-req’s include IED making and how to field strip a AK-47 in the dark? You holier than thou pencil neck,lighten up Nancy or did I hit a nerve?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
2:39 pm
DublDawg
March 16th, 2012
2:30 pm
They have had a revolving door of coaches and coordinators with no ostensible improvement from new hires and the program and Johnson are in a trend of decline. This will be Johnson’s next to last season at Tech, he will be gone after 2013.
You really need to explain this statement. We had some coaches take head coaching jobs and other coaches followed them.
Since Johnson got to Tech he is 34-19 and in that same time Richt is 34-19.
7576DAWG
March 16th, 2012
2:40 pm
I think all McGarity was looking for was in 2011 was Georgia to show improvement in our players and coaching and he got both. Georgia’s players and coaches were night and day better than the effort we saw in 2010 . They busted their rear ends all year getting ready for the season . Yes we lost 4 games and should have won at least two of those games but the improvement of the team and their attitude was tremendous and McGarity did the right thing in standing pat.
Georgia did not lose any games that we were suppose to win like a lot of teams did and we were in all the games we lost . All McGarity wants is for us to show improvement and for us to do that in 2012 not only will we be expected to win the games that we are suppose to win but THIS year we will be expected to win the hard games that we are not favored to win. Also if we win the East the only way we can improve from last year is to beat all the teams ourselves and not back into the championship. That happens and we show the improvements McGarity expects. If we get into the SEC championship game we could even lose the game but if we played , probably Alabama or LSU ,for 60 minutes instead of 30 Georgia will show improvement and we can not ask for any more and I don’t think McGarity will either. Of course all of us want Georgia to win every game but the question will be how did we stack up against other teams to finish with the record we got at the end of the season and how did we look getting to that record.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
2:41 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBAR pencil neck I said vs Bama, what you think the first time we beat them after Saban leaves it won’t count somehow ?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
2:42 pm
WDE name calling lil boy I see. So people from other countries are all terrorists and you fear them? You lil scared man. Stay in your white bread inbred redneck world and be happy.
kerryb
March 16th, 2012
2:42 pm
LSU is not winning the SEC this year with a new QB. UGA has the most experienced QB in the SEC. Bama is replacing 7 starters on defense. They are only picked like this because of the name and what they’ve done the last few years. The last few years mean nothing now.
TN Dawg
March 16th, 2012
2:47 pm
Does anyone else wonder why another team has never asked to speak to Mike Bobo about another job. Wouldn’t you want a coach on your staff that was at least desirable by a division 3 program. He is the worst OC in the state of Georgia including 1A high school. We will never go anywhere with him. If I see a delayed draw one time next year I am driving to Athens to kick him in the nuts.
JB
March 16th, 2012
2:54 pm
Boy, ole George Clooney gets around. At the White House dinner earlier in the week….and today in Jail…LOL
BonkersDog
March 16th, 2012
2:55 pm
2010- 0-5 against teams who finished ranked top 25
2011- 0-4 wins against teams who finished in the top 25
No improvement in 2011. Still winless against the top 20 type teams.
JB
March 16th, 2012
2:55 pm
Tn Dawg……..If the second half offensive game plan was Bobo’s in the second half of the LSU game in the SECCG, he should of been fired right after that game. Horrible.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
2:56 pm
@Still@theKool-aidBAR now now Nancy that’s pretty bold talk from a MAN that starts out insulting women or is it just white women you insult not sure what’s up with that…man you are awful testy…are you trying to stop drinking again?? And no not all people from other lands are terrorists but you have to admit Bug U seems to attract them.
vadawg
March 16th, 2012
2:58 pm
I am a dawg fan for sure hear in Virginia but can not see UGA winning a national championship with Coach Richt at the helm of the ship…maybe he has matured in association having a excellent offense line. Sorry so far he does not see the light!! the defensive side of the ball yes! Grantham is a winner take all Richt “well we are working hard and we have to play players on the offense and defense just to go get to 10-2″ Do what!!!!!!!!!!!! Hire the coach at Utah, Kyle Cunningham and u have a national championship team in contention every year. GOT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
3:01 pm
JB…in Jail long enough to sign some autographs maybe. We have Osama Obama in town kissing Tyler Perry’s rear.
BonkersDog
March 16th, 2012
3:02 pm
Scoring offense under Bobo was 4th in SEC overall, and also 4th against ranked teams.
Socring defense under Grantham was 11th in SEC.
Bobo did a commendable job last year, particularly considering he went up against 6 of the top 20 defenses in the country.
Grantham had a really, really, really bad year against ranked teams, coughed up nearly 40 points a game.
i was rough on Bobo last off season, and sung Grantham’s praises last off-season, but it’s reversed this offseason, Bobo did much better, Grantham did much worse.