
Was Georgia's humiliation by South Carolina more than just one loss? (Bob Andres / AJC)
So, how do the Georgia Bulldogs and their fans bounce back from the debacle in Columbia?
Saturday night, Mark Richt started making his case for shrugging off this disappointment and looking ahead when he said that “whether you lose by 28 or lose in overtime, it counts as one loss.”
True. But sometimes a loss is more than just a loss. This one hurt in a lot more ways than just the won-loss record. Richt’s team looked so bad that even the happy-talk ESPN announcers ripped into them for their disappointing showing in the nationally televised contest. I’ve no idea whether that sort of thing hurts in recruiting, but you’ve got to figure it’s certainly not helpful.
Plus, the manner in which the Dawgs lost and the fact that they once again failed when faced with a ranked opponent has left the UGA fan base pretty demoralized.
That malaise lasting the rest of this season and translating into more empty seats is a distinct possibility.
Richt is right that there are games still to be played and history has shown the Gamecocks are prone to stumble down the stretch. So they certainly could wind up losing two and opening the door for the Dawgs to return to the SEC Championship game if Georgia wins out (though at this point the SEC East playing out exactly the same way as last year seems to defy the odds).
And, of course, that would still be contingent on Georgia beating Florida, which at this juncture looks like a much bigger challenge than was envisioned six weeks ago.
Still, even if the Bulldogs somehow manage to make their way to Atlanta again, the prospect of facing the collegiate buzzsaw known as Alabama brings up visions of last year’s meeting with LSU. There’s a been there, done that feeling to that scenario.
Sure, a season with 10 or 11 wins is definitely preferable to what we went through in 2009-10, but if you’re not realistically playing for a championship, what galvanizes the fan base? What does Georgia have left to play for, if the Gamecocks win out? Finally beating Florida two years in a row for the first time in more than two decades?
It’s not like a win over anyone else on the schedule is going to excite Georgia fans (though losing to one of them probably would mark this as a train wreck of a season in its own right). If Georgia loses to Florida, say, and finishes 10-2, the result would likely be another non-BCS New Year’s Day bowl in Florida. I can hear the collective yawn from the Bulldog Nation now.
But hold on. What if Georgia does regroup, the offensive line improves, Todd Grantham’s defense finally decides to try living up to its offseason hype, and the Dawgs finally blow the Jacksonville jinx to smithereens and beat the Gators? Remember 2007? The Dawgs didn’t make it to the SEC championship, but they finished the season as one of the nation’s hottest teams, got a Sugar Bowl bid and wound up as the No. 2 team in the nation. I remember most Bulldog fans being pretty satisfied with that season. Who doesn’t like a postseason trip to New Orleans?
At least one analyst, CBSsports.com’s Jerry Palm, sees the makings of a similar story this year. Palm has South Carolina winning the SEC East, falling to the Crimson Tide in Atlanta and winding up in that SEC Championship loser’s purgatory known as the Capitol One Bowl.
As for the Dawgs, he sees them beating Florida and finishing the season 11-1. With Alabama playing in the BCS title game, Palm forecasts the Sugar Bowl would take a one-loss Top 10 Georgia team as its SEC replacement to face the Big East champion.
That might sound unfair to Steve Spurrier and Gamecocks fans, but as Palm notes: “Bowls, the BCS games in particular, have a history of passing over teams that lost their league championship game if there is any other decent choice. Bowls fear that those fans, who just traveled to a neutral site game at the beginning of December and went home disappointed, might not venture out in as high of numbers a month later. 11-1 Georgia would qualify as a decent choice. In fact, the Bulldogs might even automatically qualify under BCS rules if they finish in the top 4 of the standings.”
No, it’s not the sort of championship the Bulldog Nation hungers for, but as football seasons go, such an outcome would be not too shabby.
So, yes, as Richt noted, the sun did come up Sunday, the Bulldogs “do still have an awful lot to play for” … and Georgia fans still have a team to cheer on to better days.
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— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
407 comments Add your comment
Top Row Dawg
October 8th, 2012
1:08 am
Hope the players don’t quit on season like the fans have.
SSIgator
October 8th, 2012
1:09 am
Bill King -
How do you find guys like this to re-enforce some positive spin for UGA:
“Jerry Palm always wanted to be involved with sports, but wasn’t blessed with natural athletic ability. So he found other ways to be involved in the games.
For instance, despite his lack of athleticism, he was a four-year all-American on the gridiron at Purdue. Actually, he played Alto Sax in Purdue’s All-American Marching Band. He also spent 16 years as a baseball umpire and refereed basketball for eight years, so he developed the thick skin you need in this gig.”
I had to dig through layers of junk on the CBS site to even find this guy. This is really grasping at straws even for you Bill.
Sautee Dawg
October 8th, 2012
1:15 am
Right Bill, still alot to play for. You would like to control your own pathinstead of depending on someone to help you out.
Some of these fans questioning CMR’s demeanor during games should buy a ticket and come to a game and watch.
Every game this season he’s been out on the field getting in the ear of the refs over questionable calls. And on plays that there were missed calls.
Most of this is not seen on TV because of Discount Double Check commercials.
Bill I can’t think of a better coach that we could have, just think that a better game plan could have been drawn up.
Even Clowney said he knew the snap count because the O-line telegraphed it on every snap. For SC to know this, why do we not change things up for these big games?
If you noticed a much shorter Shaw took 7 step drops on his pass plays so he can see down field.
Couldn’t our coaches figure this out by watching film?
Florida match-up not looking good Bill, I’ll be there as i have in the past cheering for my Dawgs but, as of now if nothing changes it will be another long ride home from Jax.
And for anybody on here that’s made that long trip home from Jax you know how bad it hurts.
SSIgator
October 8th, 2012
1:25 am
Sautee Dawg -
“And for anybody on here that’s made that long trip home from Jax you know how bad it hurts”
________________
So then, win or lose stop and stay a couple of extra days on St. Simons Island and chill out – our local economy could use the extra money.
Larry Tucker
October 8th, 2012
3:49 am
This may sound far fetched, but I can see it happening. Ga. Tech is going to fire Paul Johnson eventually. If they make a good hire who is a good recruiter, Mark Richt is really going to be in trouble. He basically has no competition from Tech in recruiting. Somebody, either it be Georgia or Georgia Tech is going to get a Coach that can recruit and Coach up the talent in State and win big. I just hope it’s Georgia and I hope it’s Mark Richt, but I afraid it’s not going to be.
Larry Tucker
October 8th, 2012
3:49 am
This may sound far fetched, but I can see it happening. Ga. Tech is going to fire Paul Johnson eventually. If they make a good hire who is a good recruiter, Mark Richt is really going to be in trouble. He basically has no competition from Tech in recruiting. Somebody, either it be Georgia or Georgia Tech is going to get a Coach that can recruit and Coach up the talent in State and win big. I just hope it’s Georgia and I hope it’s Mark Richt, but I afraid it’s not going to be.
Ty
October 8th, 2012
3:57 am
The key is to recruit enough offensive linemen each year and develop them. Richt mentioned not moving the OL around much after the game……..He does not have anyone except the top 7-8 to move around. We have tons of receivers and RB’s but not enough OL to protect and block for the skilled players. Recruit the best OL in the land and things will fall into place.
FOOLS GOLD AGAIN....
October 8th, 2012
6:17 am
WE BUY INTO THE FOOLS GOLD EVERY YEAR…THIS HAS CONFIRMED IT. WE ARE AN OVERATED PROGRAM….HUGE RECRUITS AND NO RESULTS. THERE GOES THE SEASON, THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE 2013 RECRUITING CLASS……RUN BRICE RAMSEY, RUN…..
CHDawg
October 8th, 2012
6:38 am
Could everybody take a deep breath and start acting like adults please? As fans, we are doing the same exact thing that people are saying they hated about the game. The minute adversity hits, we collapse, losing our senses, and our poise, and we have started acting stupid. How about we support the team and staff right now? Let the season play out, and then if you want to campaign for a new coach do it then? You can write letters to the AD, whatever you like privately, but support the team publicly. Everybody trips, stumbles, makes a bad decision, and once in a while you do it all in one day. The Dawgs had such a day and they were completely blown out by a team they should have been very competitive with on the field. I’m not saying overlook it or make excuses; I am saying that the hate and frustration is counter to your goal if you are really a Georgia fan. I am all for making changes, and there was plenty I wasn’t happy about in the game, especially the offensive packages. I still support *our* Dawgs! Finally, congrats to our fine feathered friends in Columbia–as terrible as we prepared and played, they did great. Go Dawgs!
FOOLS GOLD AGAIN....
October 8th, 2012
6:56 am
WE’VE BEEN TAKING DEEP BREATHS SINCE 98……HOW MANY MORE DO WE NEED TO TAKE BEFORE WE SEE SOME RESULTS?
fan
October 8th, 2012
6:58 am
As I have said many times all fans are not equal. If you do not give BIG bucks you are expendable. RICHT IS MEDIOCRE. He has made the team in his own image. 1 loss is not terrible. But the pattern is unmistakeable. The only way to win is a better coach. The only way to get one is to stop with the money!. But sadly next summer”we have the best d in the country” We have the best rb in the country ” we have the best o line in the country” our new SC coach and attitude will change things ” we have the best kicker in the country ” Every year 1 of the above comes to your lips. Please! These quote go back 4 years . what a pantload. get a grip. richt has made ga. ordinary. USC has passed UGA with spurrier. it ain’t gettin better kids.
Dog4Life
October 8th, 2012
7:10 am
Spurrier said it best sunday in columbia–Ga doesn’t own anyone anymore–sad, but true!
Coarch Ric
October 8th, 2012
7:19 am
I see at least two more losses to Ole Miss and Florida. A 9-3 season is still pretty impressive though. That’s a 75% winning record. Not too shabby.
tide is in
October 8th, 2012
7:26 am
UGA fans I have said over and over you guys have some of the best in state talent, high school,(yes Tide fans better than Alabama) , tons of money and fan support, great facilitates, however you will only go as far as your head coach. FANS DEMAND EXCELLANCE. You are 1 of 4 teams in the SEC that should never underachieved and have no excuses.UGA,UA,LSU,and FLA. These should be first tier teams. Tenn. AU, and SC do not have all of the factors. these teams HAVE to go out of state to recruit. Just beat albarn.
VA DAWG
October 8th, 2012
7:29 am
Another year of just enough not to be fired and not good enough to be worth the time. They’ll probably end up 10-2, beating nobody of substance. I’ve been in Richt’s corner long enough, but I can no longer defend him anymore. A great man of character and leader of young men, but an above average coach (and that’s debateable). I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I’m looking forward to basketball season (no expectations). Go DAWGS!
Sigma Dawg
October 8th, 2012
7:30 am
Once again, Dawg Nation is left to ponder the What If’s and maybe next year. When will it come to the point that you have to seize the moment. Why wait every year for someone else to determine what happens to us? Aren’t you tired of the same old every year. One of the most pathetic things I heard Jeff Dantzler say on the fifth qtr call in show was that GA may have to wait up to 4 years to see the silver lining in the problems that GA has, but why later when you can have success now?
ozzfest
October 8th, 2012
7:35 am
ONE BIG PROBLEM AWAITS EVEN WITH A “WIN ALL TH REST OF THE GAMES”…..
McGARRITY INFURIATED ME WITH THE 3 GARBAGE GAMES ON THE HOME SCHEDULE…NO ON WHICH I WILL ATTEND…..
THERE IS NO WAY I AM GOING TO NEW ORLEANS TO WATCH GEORGIA PLAY LOUISVILLE OR UCONN.
WHAT PURPOSE WOULD THAT SERVE?
Coarch Ric
October 8th, 2012
7:36 am
Auburn is looking more and more like a potential win. That’s why I predict 9-3, rather than 8-4. Ole Miss is a problem. I think they’re a better team than is South Carolina.
Return to Glory
October 8th, 2012
7:37 am
Where do we go ? Same as always feast on the week teams, lose to Florida finish 10-2 lose in the bowl game to wind up 10-3, recruit some more selfish thugs, eveyone brag about what were going to do in 2013 and then get smoked again by the good teams in 2013. will the cycle ever end ? not as long as we keep CMR. I have supported him up until now, I am tired the excuses. We HAVE TOO MUCH TALENT to get blown out. If we were playing hard, smart and tough and losing close games against the elite teams that would be a sign of hope and understandable. But we do not, we get blown out and make the same dumb mistakes every year.
gomdawg
October 8th, 2012
7:51 am
tHE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS GET BEHIND OUR TEAM AND SHOW THAT WE ARE PROUD OF THEM . YES WE GOT OUR AS- BEAT BUT ITS OVER . TIME TO MOVE ON . I THINK OUR PLAYERS FILL JUST AS BAD AS WE DO. BUT IT TIME TO SHOW OUR TEAM THAT THEY HAVE A LOT TO PLAY FOR HELL WE CAN STILL WIN THE EAST AND PLAY FOR THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP ,THAT’S HOW CHAMPIONS PLAY IF WE DO THIS THEN IT WILL KILL SOUTH CAROLINA LIKE IT HAPPEN LAST YEAR. SO TAKE THE LOSS AND GET OVER IT OUR TEAM NEEDS OUR SUPPORT. GO DAWGS 11-1
chilidawg
October 8th, 2012
7:55 am
Where do we go from here? Orlando.
Minnesota Dawg
October 8th, 2012
8:02 am
Y’all come live in Minnesota and root for the Gophers and then you will be thankful for what Georgia has and it’s tradition of winning. Go Dawgs!!!
astrouga
October 8th, 2012
8:08 am
Boy, the dogs just didn’t show up. That is the on the coaching staff. No other way to put it. They lost this one on the first would-be-pick that turned into a big gain for SC. No doubt, UGA plays the chickens at home and this is a different game.
Still, none of that matters. I’d say it would take a miracle for UGA to make the NC game, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see USC lose to Florida and perhaps both Tennessee and LSU. So the East is still worth playing for.
I was pretty determined to throw in the towel this weekend, but I suspect UGA will bounce back. One thing is for sure, after the 0-2 loss last season NO ONE predicted 10 straight wins. We looked worse in the Boise St game last year.
Dave
October 8th, 2012
8:13 am
Simply put, USC is a much better team than UGA, in spite of our talent level. The biggest difference is their defense, which is nothing short of brilliant, and our offensive line. They outmanned us, outplayed us and were faster than us. Murray was very off, but he barely had time to take two steps back before they came crashing in on him. We don’t have an answer when defenses come straight ahead, al a USC, FL and AL. I don’t see us getting past FL from what I saw from them against LSU. It is what it is. I hate it, but I’m not going to lose my shirt over it. We just lost to a better team and USC might not have a loss until they play Florida and then it’s a toss up. They were just better than us….a lot better. I would venture to say to look at the plays Spurrier drew up and throw them into the play book. Spurrier is a great, great coach and even better of an offensive mind. There aren’t but three of four coaches in his league in all of college football. That being said, I hope UGA improves and gets better.
Wayne
October 8th, 2012
8:13 am
Everyone keeps asking me how I can call every game from kickoff to the end. If you know anything about people and football it is very very easy. I stated before the game that our TB’s wouldn’t get 100 YDS between them, they didn’t. I told my father in law that we might get some garbage points in the game but don’t be surprised at a shutout, dead on. I knew the defense would be riddled, especially in the passing game, we are as porous as a piece of chicken wire. I knew that Murray would struggle and again have that look in his face. And we will not even go into the Coaching staff, they are the worst at what they do and you can script darn near every play. This was ALL evident in the Missouri game but everyone drank the kool-aid because we squeaked out a win. The day Richt was hired I told everyone that we will never win a NC with this coach, he has no heart, no desire, no guts, no motivation, and certainly no reason to try any harder since he knows that as long as he wins 9 to 10 games a year he is safe. Seems the Alum have bought into his scam because they aren’t making any noise. Hell, Penn State seems to have a better program than we do and after all that team has had to endure. The only thing that will insure a change is empty seats, but there are way too many Richt lovers for that to happen. Maybe that is one of our problems, a couple of hundred thousand Mark Richts’ in the stadium. Of course in this age of everyone gets a trophy we have to be amused at our constant failures. Face it people, society is changing, and we in Georgia are leading the way in accepting mediocrity as the new standard, not excellence. Changing one DC or OC here and there won’t change nothing, the head of the dragon must be severed, and a new attitude installed. But that cannot happen ever again at this institution. Stick a cross on the dirt pile and give last rites, the bulldogs are finished.
CMR
October 8th, 2012
8:17 am
You’ve got to admit my hair and tan look lots better than Coach Spurrior’s. Also, I’ve got a better looking wife!!!
Wayne
October 8th, 2012
8:18 am
PS – Spurrier will be blasting his team come Tuesday because of all of their mistakes; only two touchdowns over three quarters of play, against that Georgia defense, bet on it. He doesn’t accept the excuses from players as we do.
Hanky Panky
October 8th, 2012
8:19 am
DRAFT JON GRUDEN FOR UGA HEAD COACH.
START THE MOVEMENT, DAWG FANS!
Xenophon
October 8th, 2012
8:19 am
Losing is one thing, getting splattered and humiliated (every season) is another. Call it the Richt pattern.
oakwood dawg
October 8th, 2012
8:21 am
I said last year it was a mistake to extend CMR’s contract. I said it should have been put off until after this season. This season was supposed to be even better than last year. Now we have CMR for another 3? years. Mark my words–it won’t get any better. Great person but no so good a coach.
Wayne
October 8th, 2012
8:21 am
Minnesota Dawg – I’d rather support an 0-10 team that at least makes an effort and puts their heart and soul into each and every game. When was the last time our teams have showed anything even resembling those qualities?
Mobile Dawg
October 8th, 2012
8:25 am
Bill, I quit listening what Richt has to say a long time ago. Seems every time he opens his mouth nothing of substance really comes out. Facts and actions speak much louder than words. Tell you where I go from here, fishing, a little golf, honey do’s, spending more time with family. I quit my donations several years back, Richt has done nothing to make me remotely consider reestablishing my monetary support, now he’s lost my interest.
I’ve said it many times before, it’s not really the winning or losing that I pay attention to, it’s whether we’re competitive or not.
FOOLS GOLD AGAIN....
October 8th, 2012
8:25 am
JUST WALLKED THROUGH THE OFFICE TO A HAIL OF LAUGHER AND “WHAT HAPPENS?’ I AM A DIE HARD FAN..MY CUBILE IS DECK OUT IN RED AND BLACK, MY CAR IS RED AND BLACK AND I INCORPERATE RED OR BLACK INTO MY DRESS ATTIRE EVERYDAY, BUT TODAY I AM ASHAMED TO BE A DOG FAN…..9 MORE HOURS OF THIS…..
RT
October 8th, 2012
8:26 am
The DAWGS can play down to the competition when playing a small college, but can’t play up to competition when facing a tough test. Frustrating and disappointing! GO DAWGS!
Michelle in Euharlee
October 8th, 2012
8:27 am
The catastrophic blowout loss was a classic case of players and coaches reading their press clippings and believing they were God’s gift to the football world, and thinking that all they had to do was show up, and the walls of Jericho would fall down, figuratively speaking. That didn’t happen, of course, and it’s 99% the coaches’ fault for letting the players walk into the lions’ den in Columbia with that attitude.
It’s going to be another long, disappointing season with Richt at the helm.
TossSweep
October 8th, 2012
8:27 am
After every loss, the coaches and players keep saying they have to look at the film and evaluate. We’ve got to do this, we’ve got to do that. We hear “We’ve got to” from the coaches and trickled down to the players each and every year we lose to a team we are expected to beat or at least compete with. At the same time, while they’re evaluating how to get better by “we’ve got to” mentality, every other team which UGA whipped in the past has leap-frogged them. When will UGA stop adjusting after a loss and actually be a top tier program like Alabama, LSU, and now SC and actually win games they are supposed to win every time. No one is scared of UGA like they are Alabama and LSU. When people think of the Top 5 teams, they automatically think Alabama, LSU, Florida. We don’t see Georgia in that category consistently. What’s the possibility of hiring a really good coach next year such as Christ Petersen from Boise State who will actually take talent and use them to their full potential? I don’t think SC is ever ranked as high as UGA in recruiting yet their players have become bigger, faster, stronger and more disciplined than UGA. Am I wrong?
Columbus Dawg
October 8th, 2012
8:33 am
This was the third game that goes to the demise of Richt’s tenure. LSU in the dome, and Michigan State in the bowl were the other two. It took several of these kinds of games to finally do Ray Goff in. Coach Richt is a good man, even though he is not a Bulldog like Goff, he has earned enough respect at Georgia that it will take about as much to finally do him in. Donnan was easy to get rid of because he was neither a Bulldog or a great man like Richt. One can only hope that as long as it took to get Richt’s new contract done, that it’s aspects fall in Georgia’s favor. Richt is set financially, and with the business climate being what it is, it’s hard to feel sorry for him. I have supported Richt, not to say that I have not been critical of a lot of his shortcomings, but I have always supported him up until the Michigan State loss. Sure I had high hopes for this season, but of coarse those hopes were tempered by reality. Every Dawg I know is now ready to turn the page on the Richt era. There is a good coach out there that is not a P.O.S. like Saban or Spurrier that can take the state of Georgia’s talent base and turn it into a championship season.
dale
October 8th, 2012
8:34 am
Enter your comments here
Dwag One
October 8th, 2012
8:34 am
You know, there are worse places than Shreveport. Right offhand, I can’t think of one, but I’m sure there are.
Or maybe not.
Mobile Dawg
October 8th, 2012
8:36 am
Why not make a serious run at Muschamp, I couldn’t think of any better way to stick it to the Gators, well, other than beat them consistently. He’s cleaned that program up and got it going in the right direction in two short years.
Xenophon
October 8th, 2012
8:39 am
Dawg One, if you’ve ever been to Gainsville, FL, you know it’s worse.
GaDawg
October 8th, 2012
8:39 am
A Gator friend of mine told me four years ago that as long as all you dog fans accept winning 9 or 10 games a year that Richt will never be fired.
No sugar falling from the sky
October 8th, 2012
8:40 am
A few salient comments about UGA:
1. Four different SEC teams have won the last six BCS championships.
2. UGA was NOT one of those teams.
3. During that period, UGA did not even win an SEC championship.
4. Red panties and Damon Evans.
5. 84% of UGA football recruits would not be admitted to UGA based on grades and SAT scores. These morons are called “Special Admits.”
In other words, UGA has sunk into total irrelevancy both regionally and nationally.
So why is UGA still paying Mark Richt millions of dollars a year?
Rooster
October 8th, 2012
8:44 am
I told you what was going to happen. Clowney and co. mopped the floor with the leg humpers. We know right where UGA belongs now.
HM
October 8th, 2012
8:53 am
I do not understand how UGA is consistently unprepared/unmotivated for big games. Also, it could not have taken a whole week to devise our game plan. Did any of our coaches watch any film? Did any of our coaches try to come up with something new for this game? It certainly didn’t look it to me.
FLA DAWG
October 8th, 2012
8:55 am
Richt, Grantham and Bobo were out – coached and the team was outplayed for four quarters on both sides of the ball.
Absolutely disgraceful. I am ashamed to be a UGA Dawg.
Richt has been given more chances (and talent) and done less with it than any other SEC coach I can think of over the past three years.
Bama, Auburn, LSU, UF and UT would have fired him years ago. Three of these won BCS Titles afterwards. Instead, we give Richt and his dopes contract extensions and raises !!
Those of you who continue to support Richt are to blame as much as he himself.
Until Dawg Nation DEMANDS his firing we’ll see more of the same.
This season we will lose to Florida and GT (and possibly even Auburn). Of course whatever bowl game we end up in we will lose that too.
FIRE RICHT – HIRE DEREK DOOLEY
Red & Black 4 life
October 8th, 2012
8:57 am
No, no more kool-Aid for me, i have had enough! We got destroyed again on national TV. I’ll pass, same coach same results.
FOOLS GOLD AGAIN....
October 8th, 2012
9:12 am
THIS WAS THE ONLY GAME WE HAD TO WIN…THE ONLY ONE AND WE BLEW IT….DOSENT MATTER IF WE BEAT FLA OR NOT NOW……TOILET BOWL HERE WE COME.
GatorsWaiting
October 8th, 2012
9:12 am
We passed you so fast in the rankings on our way up and your way down it was just a blur.
Well, at least things are finally back to normal. The Gators have an embarrassment of riches. And the Dawgs are just an embarassment.
FOOLS GOLD AGAIN....
October 8th, 2012
9:13 am
AGAIN…