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.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
237 comments Add your comment
JB
March 16th, 2012
3:03 pm
BonkersDog………….True, but you have people on this blog more concerned with Mark Richt than Georgia football…… The “excuse” of we’re better off than before he got here is getting old. Football schools, especially in the SEC, And maybe we still are one, have a goal of winning Championships…….And yes, I know it’s Mark’s goal…….0-11.
SC Fan
March 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Georgia used to have an above average program. not now. mr. richt is an average coach at best with superior talent. how do I know? you are looking up at South Carolina.
BonkersDog
March 16th, 2012
3:08 pm
Special teams were atrocious last year too.
Horrible kick off defense, pathetic punt return defense, deplorable field goal percentage.
Needed a full time Special Teams coach, has been a weakness for many years.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
You dawgs see Hines Ward is selling his Sandy Springs around the corner form my parents? Big Price Tag $7.5 mill for this market.
BonkersDog
March 16th, 2012
3:11 pm
Defense, against ranked teams, and special teams, are the two off season weak points.
Bobo, to his credit, finished 4th in SEC in offensive scoring, overall, and even against ranked teams. So Bobo is on the right track.
Grantham and special teams need to be completely overhauled, hard to be worse than 40 points a game against ranked teams, not many defenses in the nation were worse than Grantham’s defense against ranked teams. 40 points per game? Bama & LSU are down under 20 a game.
WDE
March 16th, 2012
3:12 pm
@SC Fan Sorry I was sure we were SEC East Champs this year…looking up at who again?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
3:21 pm
SC fan who is the ONLY team in the East to beat every team in the East? yep they are still looking up. Sit Russ. Stay Russ.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
3:27 pm
no BAMA fans talking about the game right now? Creighton is playing well with 4pt lead and 4 min left.
sprouse27
March 16th, 2012
3:33 pm
This is funny. I’m readying all these ‘we have tow in the SEC and the BCS or get rid of Richt’. I’m all on board with those sentiments, but it’s a little since CMR just got a huge extension and payout would be huge. Nah, we’re saddled with mediocrity for a long time to come. I see us 8-4 with another Weedeather bowl. C’est la vie.
A Father
March 16th, 2012
3:46 pm
We will see more empty seats in Sanford Stadium this season than anytime the last 35 years.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
3:48 pm
Bama headed home. Glad you could stop in for a cup of coffee in North Carolina.
mdr
March 16th, 2012
3:55 pm
It would not be satisfying, but it might be about the best we can expect at this point. A good year, but far from a great one.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
3:55 pm
Would never be so cheap and easy for a UGa player.
George Clooney just bailed out of jail after being arrested for crossing a police line this morning in Washington D.C. His bond — about as cheap as it gets — $100. Clooney and others were protesting in front of the Sudanese Embassy, voicing dismay over the killing of innocent men, women, and children. Clooney was arrested by U.S. Secret Service after he refused to move away from the protected area around the Embassy. In all … 15 men were arrested, including George’s dad Nick as well as a congressman, and 2 women. Moments after he was released, George was asked about his ultra-short stint behind bars — and he joked, “Really rough you can imagine … Have you ever been in a cell with these guys?”
PT
March 16th, 2012
4:28 pm
With the talent that Richt has and the fact that Georgia hasn’t even played for a title in thirty years, any thing less than a NC Title game is unacceptable! I just don’t see why a contract extention was needed until after the end of the season.
harold
March 16th, 2012
4:34 pm
REMEMBER: RICHT IS 24-16 HIS LAST THREE YEARS. HE “DREAMS” WHILE SABAN AND MILES DO!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
4:34 pm
So you DAWGS can no understand why Ga TECH has a low graduation for Athletes. Any moron can get through pretty easy and fast at UGA.
Only 1 in 4 — 24 percent – of entering freshmen in Georgia’s public four-year colleges get a degree within four years, according to a new database compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education that looks at nearly every U.S. college.
Okay, time for bragging rights, but not much bragging. The University of Georgia has by far the best completion rate in four years — 51.3 percent, compared to just 35.1 percent for Milledgeville’s Georgia College and State University, No. 2 on the list. Georgia Tech is third-highest at 32.9 percent. Our regular students are real smart and have a hard time.
reebok
March 16th, 2012
4:48 pm
Hey Doggies, this Georgia Tech fan thinks you will go undefeated in the regular season and lose to LSU or ‘Bama in the SEC Championship. You guys caught a real sheduling break by missing LSU. Alabama and Arkansas on the conference schedule. The only thing I think could derail you from a berth in the SEC CG is an injury to your QB…he’s the heart of your team. My 2 cents’ worth…Happy Friday!
beanster
March 16th, 2012
5:04 pm
“You dawgs see Hines Ward is selling his Sandy Springs around the corner form my parents?”
Around the corner from your parents, huh? My gawd you are pathetic.
clint
March 16th, 2012
5:05 pm
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.
________________________________________________________________________
Hmmmmmm, let me help you out with that comment. 2009 NC was won by Alabama with McElroy at QB, a first year starter. 2010 NC was won by Auburn with Newton at QB, a first year starter. 2011 NC was won by Alabama with McCarron at QB, a first year starter. So the last 3 NC have been won by first year starters and you make that statement. OOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!
Oh and Bama will be very good next year. Offense will be very balanced and those starters on D that need to be replaced are all being replaced with 4 and 5 star kids.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
5:10 pm
beanster…yes it is just around the corner from my parents home. Hines Bought s lil more land and tore down a pretty big home to build his monster. He is trying to get a lot of money for it now in this market. There are a few more of these newer monsters on Riverside but selling now is a money loser for sure.
RHall55
March 16th, 2012
5:21 pm
Goldenrod, that golden rod must have pierced your brain, if you think Ga Tech will beat UGA!! UGA has to make major changes after next season (OC / CMB is a QB Coach and RC / CRG has gotten lazy!!) to beat AL or LSU!!! “Win, Baby, Win!!”
Dean
March 16th, 2012
5:27 pm
It’s time for Richt to start overachieving again. If they can’t win with the talent we have then it’s time to move on.
FLA DAWG
March 16th, 2012
5:57 pm
Who cares anymore?
Dawg Bite
March 16th, 2012
6:05 pm
Battle cry of the Univ. of Georgia……”Wait till next year”. The Dooley years were mostly mediocre except when the man from Wrightsville cast his lot with UGA. HW not only carried Dooley to three straight SEC titles, HW drug ole Vince all the way to the NC! We better continue to get comfortable with it, we are a mediocre program on the national landscape, always have been , always will be with the coaching staffs we have in place.Look at all major sports programs at UGA. Mediocrity in football, basketball, and baseball. Golf and tennis, we are very good in, but not the revenue sports.
LagDawg
March 16th, 2012
6:10 pm
It doesn’t matter how much talent that is brought in on the offensive side of the ball. As long as Bobo continues to be the playcaller, UGA will continue to stumble against better teams with smarter DCs. He does not know how to prepare for each game. He can’t breakdown the other teams defense and continues to utilize the players the wrong way. They don’t have enough sense to make the change at QB when Murray is not getting it done. The talent to win a NC is here, just not the coaches to get it done.
SugarHillDawg
March 16th, 2012
6:19 pm
Does ANYBODY know CMR’s buyout amount??????
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 16th, 2012
6:26 pm
SugarHill….the report on Richt’s contract didn’t give enough details I don’t think to figure the exact buyout. When it is final the freedom of information act will allow Chip to do a final story and let people know then.
jojo
March 16th, 2012
7:04 pm
old dog is right. gotta block and hold the defense off Murray. our defense will be awesome. but still gotta score a lot more touchdowns when we get in the red zone.
Ringleader
March 16th, 2012
7:53 pm
Sugar Hill……….He gets his full contract amount if he is fired during the first three years, then it begins to dimish. It is just like the one Tubberville had at Auburn.
We probably should have redshirted McGarity before giving him any
control. What he has done with the student seating, band location, and playing with the schedule will cause many, many empty seats. The tickets will sell, but if you do not use them you will not be able to give them away.
FLA DAWG
March 16th, 2012
8:09 pm
Anyone notice that NOT ONE of these guys who make the Big Decisions even attended UGA?
These guys – Adams, McGarity (was he a UGA grad?) & Richt have no concept to this day of the rich tradition our great school had prior to their arrival. They can read about it but they didn’t live it. Reading about it isn’t the same as living it. You guys who lived those great years know exactly what I mean.
Our great tradition was resurected under Dooley only to drop into an abyss under Goff, Donan and Richt. Bobo wasn’t even a standout QB in the SEC and he’s the O.C. !!??
If they ever got serious and hired an NFL type O.C. the way they did with Grantham we might get somewhere. But with Richt and Bobo it’s, “Good Night Nurse”.
dawgfan2003
March 16th, 2012
8:14 pm
My main concern is that the DAWGS don’t seem hungry enough. I like the pressure they had on them last year to perform. The discipline problems seem like they are back and why are we doing the mat drills again? I thought we scratched them because they were ineffective? It just seems like last year we changed to get the program started in a new direction and now we are back to what we were doing before???? If everything works out next year and the DAWGS win the SEC then I guess it was the right call. But from the outside it just doesn’t look like an SEC championship team. I’ll revisit this after G-Day. But right now it is a little concerning. (And I know that they are doing the mat drills because he wants a faster team or something. I believe that was the quote I saw. I guess that is how I would describe LSU and Alabama….really fast??????)
guy
March 16th, 2012
9:06 pm
Old dog is right on the money! If a team has no running attack,then the game is over.Running Carlton Thomas on third down and three yards needed is a joke!
ham bone
March 16th, 2012
10:08 pm
I can not for the life of me figure out why a lot of people on here have us losing to Mizzo. Why may I ask?
Snoop Dawg
March 16th, 2012
10:51 pm
The Dawgs will not do as well next year as they did the last because of lousy coaching. Now that Richt has a contract extension and the heat is off of him, he can return to his complacent, conceited CEO personality, remaining aloof on the sideline above it all in Millionaire Acres.
FLA DAWG
March 16th, 2012
11:01 pm
The Dawgs will not win The SEC and I doubt they will win the East for that matter.
UF, Auburn, Mizzou, UT, KY and even Ole Miss and Vandy are all possible losses with the Head and O Coaching we have.
New contracts breed laziness and it passes onto the players……….
Tell me…….what has changed to make next season a team that can actually beat ranked teams?
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 16th, 2012
11:23 pm
@ Fla Dawg:
You appear to be one of the “saner” posters on here so I’ll try to talk to you.
Your contributions are so full of inaccuracies and conflicts I’m wondering how old you are(mentally anyway)?
You talk about McGarity, Adams and CMR having no concept of UGA history and you praise V. Dooley to high heavens.McGarity is the only UGA grad out of all those. Dooley is from Auburn, Herschel won Dooley a MNC. CMR’s winning percentage(4th in the nation among active coaches) blows Dooley away. Also beats Saban and Miles who, by the way, didn’t attend Bama or LSU which apparently means a hell of a lot to you and your ilk. In 11 years at UGA CMR has won 6 SEC East titles and 2 SEC titles.
You and your ilk sicken me with your negative, uneducated and ignorant BS. I highly appreciate Calhoun Dawg and several others who came on here to try to add a little common sense to this blog. No bigger idiot exist that those who spout off about “If CMR doesn’t win the SEC title and/or the MNC game he needs to be fired. Just how stupid can you get??? I will bet you $10,000.00 EACH YEAR you can’t pick the MNC winner in advance if you are given ALL the D-1 teams to pick from yet proven idiots(No you are not alone) like you and your ilk demand that a team with a very inexperienced OL and only one halfway experienced RB win a conference or national title. I know people that don’t know anything but you and yours don’t even suspect anything and should not be allowed out in public without adult supervision.
None of you idiots will ever approach what CMR brings to Dawg Nation and UGA that is over and above your single digit IQs. CMR has a 5 year extension and it won’t be his last so things aren’t looking too great for you nonbelievers. The thing you and yours can’t grasp is football isn’t the most important thing in life so my suggestion to you and your ilk is to slide across the State Line and become BAMA fans. Actually you and yours make me crave posts from Bama fans. At least they are rational and support their team without outrageous and unreasonable demands
realist
March 16th, 2012
11:33 pm
LSU lost two qb’s and some defensive players, Bama lost their RB and Two wide receivers and some key defensive players. UGA lost a CB and a TE that they didnt use and that’s it. They have literally their whole team coming back. UGA has the most experienced team in the SEC this year. Everyone who is slated to start this year for UGA has started a game last year, with exception to there O-line. No position on the field for them is young with exception to the OL, but even the OL may be an upgrade from last year. With the weak schedule that they have, they should win the entire SEC, not just the East, and play for a NC. If they dont make it to the NC game this year, they never will, and UGA needs to really consider finding them a new HC. There are no excuses this year, and dont start saying your missing CB’s because that shouldnt stop you. This is their year or never, UGA has no excuse to why they cant beat LSU or Bama this year. Every starter on UGA was offered by other SEC schools, so they are all good enough to beat those two teams. If they dont win the SEC this year then its obvious these players are not being coached up. I cant remember the last time UGA had this many starters coming back. You all have an All SEC QB, RB, WR, TWO LB’s, and Safety. Its put up or shut up this year UGA and UGA fans.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 16th, 2012
11:37 pm
Fla Dawg:
“Hire an NFL type like Grantham”
Who other than UGA has DC or OC of “The NFL type”. Is it Saban? No!! Is it Miles? No!!! What happened to the Gator’s NFL Type OC, the refugee from Notre Dame who lasted all of a year???
The more you run your mouth about anything the more you appear to be the King of Fools.
Sorry to pick on you but as I said earlier, you appear to be one of the saner in your BS group!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 16th, 2012
11:40 pm
@ realist:
Realist = 1 step up from Fla Dawg = Zero
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 16th, 2012
11:50 pm
@ Ringleader:
Are you some kind of VIP???
You keep chirping about “We” should do/should have done this/that/the other!!
Fortunately for UGA, Dawg Nation and the free world you don’t even remotely have ANYTHING to say or do when it comes to things Dawg Nation. CMR has a NEW 5 year contract and there is one damn thing you and your ilk can do about it.
Just remember that you Little Wannabe Twerp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
realist
March 16th, 2012
11:50 pm
Brainiac, your obviously a blind follower. If you dont agree with me about you all having the most experienced team this year with there being no excuses for them to not win the SEC, then you are a Dawg for life that is the reason why your program will continue to stat mediocre. With the exception to ARK, you all have the most experienced QB, and you all lost only one player that kept yall in games last year in Boykins, because you didnt even use the TE so he really doesnt matter. Every year you all talk about how young you are, well you are not young this year. Brainiac, if you dont think your team should be in the NC game this year, then you just dont think that you all are any good, because Im not a UGA fan, but even I see that there is no reason why you shouldnt be there. You have EVERYONE COMING BACK!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 16th, 2012
11:51 pm
Isn’t one damn thing
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 17th, 2012
12:07 am
@ Realist:
Are you picking UGA for NCs???
I got $10,000.00 that says you are wrong.
Every team loses sooner or later just ask Bama. Are you picking Bam???
I got $10,000.00 that says youe are wrong.
Any other team???
You are wrong>
I’m just trying to make a point about what FOOLS think it takes to not only get to the NC game let alone win it. I love UGA and CMR and will stand behind them because football “Ain’t the only thing in the world” and the sooner people figure that out the better off they and the whole country will be. The lack of insight and understanding, by you and your ilk, of what it takes to put a competitive D-1 college team on the field EVERY year or most years is overwhelming. If you could only see your BS through the eyes of people that have a rational and fairly accurate understanding of the college game you would hope nobody knows you personally and it appears you have a lot of company on this blog infected with single digit IQ.
The Factor
March 17th, 2012
12:12 am
@Brainiac
Good job. You sir, are a Patriot……carry on……
6-18 Against Ranked Teams Since '05
March 17th, 2012
12:14 am
My gawd “Braniac”, I’m gonna start a collection for people on this blog to start a collection to buy you a Mark Richt blow up doll you can cuddle up with…….keep on ranting, if mediocrity is your thing
For the sane folks here…..the SEC currently reminds me of “Dukes of Hazzard”…..Alabama and LSU are Bo and Luke Duke……meanwhile Mark Richt and Prez Adams are Roscoe P. Coltrane and Boss Hogg, respectively
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 17th, 2012
12:17 am
@ Reebok:
Right on dude. I pretty much agree.
Thanks for the good stuff. Damn Good Jacket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ghost
March 17th, 2012
12:21 am
Fla dawg, With the offense we have coming back, you mean the offense that was 3rd in SEC last year avg yards per game and 2nd in SEC in passing yardage.? With a bevy of talented WR , a 2nd team all sec qb Richt has won 10 or more games every season he has a returning starter at QB, the last 2 #1 rated rbs in the nation a totla of 3 5 star athlets competing at TB., and a defense with 2 ap all americans returning with about another 6 or 7 that will be drafted in 2013. I’ll take your money. Name the bet and the amount, Candy from a baby.will gladly take your money.
The Factor
March 17th, 2012
12:22 am
Two other points, however. How could Fla Dawg not know McGarity is all Dawg having played tennis for UGA. And Brainiac, I may have posted too early. Did I read where you said Bama fans are rational? I beg to differ.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 17th, 2012
12:24 am
@ 6-18 agaist ranked teams:
Thanks for your thoughtfulness but I already have a CMR blowup doll.
Maybe you should try it. It would have to be better than locking yourself into your room ALONE to have sex but everybody to their own choice.
Hey!! I’m kidding. You weren’t to rough on me. Thanks for responding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6-18 Against Ranked Teams Since '05
March 17th, 2012
12:28 am
Yup, Braniac is a symptom of what’s wrong with this country…..mediocrity is fine with him.
I bet he’s one of those people who feels that ALL the Little League teams should get a medal just for showing up….
Excellence, achievement, and being the best is an anathema to Braniac’s communistic vision