The Hot Button: Will UGA win a BCS title under Mark Richt?
What once seemed inevitable remains an unanswered question. In 2002 or 2004 or even 2008, Mark Richt was primed to guide his program to a national championship. But he’s about to enter his ninth season as Georgia’s coach and the Bulldogs haven’t gotten there yet, and only once in 11 years has the BCS title been taken by a coach who’d been in place that long — Bobby Bowden of Florida State in 1999.
That Richt is a good coach is beyond dispute. He has won at least 10 games in six of the past seven seasons. He has led Georgia to three SEC East titles and two conference championships. He recruits at the highest level and just saw two Bulldogs taken among the top dozen in the NFL draft. Georgia has finished in the top 10 of at least one major poll five times and in top five twice. But it hasn’t won, or even played for, the BCS title.
Last season was supposed to be the breakthrough. Georgia had finished No. 2 in the AP poll after the 2007 season and was ranked No. 1 last August. It wound up 10-3, and if ever 10-3 could be considered a rank disappointment this was the time. At season’s end the coach made much of the 10-win season in light of so many injuries — and the Bulldogs did have a bunch — but for the first time under Richt it was possible to look on UGA and think, “That team wasn’t very well coached.”
And now Richt has a new quarterback (and figures to have another new one in 2010) and his team has been given almost no chance to win the East, where Florida reigns, and the question occurs: Have we seen the best of this gifted coach? Or is Richt, who has done much already, capable of more?
To be fair, Richt hasn’t failed so much as he has been unlucky. LSU won the 2003 BCS crown with one loss a year after one loss cost Georgia a berth in the championship game. LSU won the 2007 title with two losses after emerging from a league that also housed Georgia, which likewise had two losses. Sometimes you have the right team at the wrong time.
Loading ...But last year’s glaring issues — the rash of penalties and the defensive collapses in Georgia’s three losses — have made some among us wonder if Richt is too nice to finish No. 1. He has vowed to be stricter regarding discipline this time, and it must be noted Georgia didn’t face the same problems with players being arrested this summer as last. And he has promoted John Jancek to co-defensive coordinator alongside Willie Martinez, whom Richt has never once criticized.
Still, it’s worth noting that Steve Spurrier needed six seasons at Florida to win a national championship, and it didn’t happen until he hired Bob Stoops from Kansas State to coordinate the Gator defense. And Mack Brown took Texas to the BCS title in his eighth season in Austin only after importing Gene Chizik from Auburn to lead the Longhorn D. Something similar might need to happen for Georgia and Richt to take the final step.
But would Richt, for whom family and fraternity are of massive import, ever demote or fire Martinez? Is keeping a longtime friend who’s a solid coach — solid as opposed to inspired — more important to him than taking a risk that might (or might not) lead to a greater reward?
We know Mark Richt can coach football. What we still don’t know after eight years of watching is whether he’s pragmatic enough to be a national championship coach.
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446 comments Add your comment
Tech sucks
July 30th, 2009
9:55 am
It’s not Richt that is the problem. It’s the flawed BCS system. The 1 loss 2002 UGA team under Richt was easily as good as the last 4 or 5 national championship teams. They just got screwed with 2 undefeated teams ahead of them. Hell LSU won with 2 freaking losses.
It’s all luck in this crappy system.
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
10:02 am
GA G8tor…good point, no Gator fans are worrying about when Richt is going to leave Georgia or were celebrating when Mareno and Stafford left early. And no matter to us, we know the Gators will still have the better team even if Meyer goes elsewhere (WHICH ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME). But the Dawg fans can remain in fantasy or “la la” land about Meyer leaving and Tebow leaving and Strong leaving and Mullen leaving (how his leaving is going to hurt our offense…NOT), etc. etc. etc. Spurrier and Zook left (and especially after Zook left) and Florida got even better. If Florida lost Meyer for some unknown reason (again, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN), then Foley, the Florida AD and the best AD in the country, would just go out and get the next best coach in America to replace him and the story would just continue on for the next 20 or so years.
Mark Bradley
July 30th, 2009
10:03 am
A lot of it is luck, yes. But it’s worth noting that the two times Georgia under Richt was ranked highest in preseason — in 2004 and 2008 — it didn’t win the SEC East. And those two teams lost a total of three games in Athens.
Bayou Philosopher
July 30th, 2009
10:06 am
I give Mr. Bradley some credit: a couple of years ago (2006?), I recall a column on how the Dogs were now the class / marquee program of the SEC. It’s only fair that he revisit that issue now that a collective four national championship crystal balls sit in the trophy cases at LSU and Florida. BTW, to the Dawg fans that continue the whinning (yes, whine-ing) about 2007, recall in the SEC championship that LSU with it’s 2nd team QB defeated a Tennessee team that in October, had cleaned your clocks 35 – 14. Games in September and October count — unless you live in Michael Adams fantasy land where many of you do, I guess.
MR. GROUCH
July 30th, 2009
10:07 am
dd
July 30th, 2009
7:14 am
Saint married one of tech’s ugly women>>>>>>
He married her for the money!!!!! But he is your wife’s employer and he’s banging her on the side!
Odell
July 30th, 2009
10:07 am
Great coaches do not promote bad sportsmanship. Throughout Richt’s tenure at UGA, his teams have led the country in player arrests and penalties. Richt is Barry Switzer dressed in sheep’s clothing.
Red Elephant
July 30th, 2009
10:07 am
This is one Alabama fan that can’t wait to see the abuse that saint simons will receive on the blogs next year. Gee, they win a couple a decade against you guys and they lose their mind. I used to respect GT until I moved here and saw how pathetic they are in losing and insufferable they are when they pull out a win.
Now to the question at hand. Yes, I see a NC in Richt’s future as well as 4 or 5 more SEC Championships. I think Richt will stay at Georgia 25 or 30 years. He will retire as the greatest UGA coach of all time. You guys have been the best team this decade NOT to win a NC.
big dawg 89
July 30th, 2009
10:07 am
big dan is right, when nobody expects it. like this year. i’m telling ya. watch out for the dawgs this year.
and watch tech lose 4-5 games this year. if that happens, i would love to hear what they have to say.
something else to look for, the game chickens may only win 3 games this year. mark my words, and the ole ball coach will hang em up for good.
GA G8ter
July 30th, 2009
10:09 am
I’m worried about OUR team’s NC talk this year and the fact that UGA has a week off before they play us. I know, we should have enough confidence to win, but that game scares me. I know how talented Georgia is and how important the trenches are. They have a possibly dominating O-line and D-line this year. I think UGA’s tough early schedule will benefit them down the road this year. They may lose 1 or 2 but they will be a very good team.
MR. GROUCH
July 30th, 2009
10:10 am
Sorry a little harsh I went over the line sorry! I don’t even know you!
Yeah I do your a UGA grad you probably cut my grass or deliver my pizzas!!
CookMyOwnFries
July 30th, 2009
10:11 am
Going out on a limb…
UGA D will DOMINATE. DOMINATE. 2 reasons: Jeff Owens and Rennie Curan, who said, “We need to tackle more VIOLENTLY.”
Joe C has FIRE. This is his moment. He isn’t getting drafted #1. He’s playing for now, not a league audition. Our offense will be GOOD. They practice against our D.
No one knows who our RB will be – this can help us. Hard to prepare for the unknown. I think Knowshon was running not to get hurt. The leap was pretty, but he should have run over that CMU guy (He still got tackled on the play).
Kickoffs – Just kick it out the endzone and let our D DOMINATE.
Penalties – Stop giving yards away. Each man is accountable to the TEAM. We’ll have a TEAM this year, not individuals. Don’t hurt the TEAM.
I really think this could be our year. Love our TEAM. The D will tackle VIOLENTLY. Might even see some 3-3-5 wrinkles on it.
Might even hoist a crystal football this year…
Dallas Dawg
July 30th, 2009
10:14 am
Do you remember the Ray Goff era?? Thought so…..
RAMBLE ON!!!
July 30th, 2009
10:16 am
The only way would be to schedule UF and GT the first two games of the year and then run the table.
get the two automatic loses out of the way.
That’s the only way…
Paul Johnson will never, ever let the mutts win a NC.
The Other St. Simons
July 30th, 2009
10:16 am
The original saint simons poster was just caught shining his ring in between handing me my coffee and chicken biscuit at the new Chic-fil-a.
JB
July 30th, 2009
10:19 am
Mark, What year did Dooley win his….15th or so year……..Too much media now, internet and such….everyone is an expert…..Florida’s success ( hat’s off to them) hasn’t helped ANYONE who would be coaching at UGA….. I have to believe that with the influx of talent EVERY YEAR, our stars will line up……Maybe Meyer is a better coach than Mark, I’ll still take Mark over that guy…..I think Mark stays in Athens as long as we’ll have him, winning 80% of his games. Meyer won’t be a Gator for much longer. Too successful and too much money out there is why.He’ll be the FIRST 10 mil a year head coach. Book it.
Saint Simons
July 30th, 2009
10:19 am
Uga should have a ring made like a cupcake, they love those cupcake teams!!!!!!!!!
TheItalianDawg
July 30th, 2009
10:19 am
I have no doubt that Georgia will soon win the BCS crown, I agree with Mark that Georgia was unlucky; the 2002 and 2007 Dawgs could have beaten anybody but never given the chance.
Jacksonville is not fair for the dawgs as well, now is different than the 70s and 80s, the games are so competitive and little things can make or break the season. Jim Donnan, Mark Richt and other football experts clearly indicated that Jacksonville is not a neutral site. beside the economy is really tough, why dont we spend our money in Georgia?
heyberto
July 30th, 2009
10:21 am
I think Martinez is less the problem than the media likes to make him out to be. Defenses under Martinez have been good enough (2007 being the best example). Not saying Martinez is absolutely the answer either..but as we all know 2007 was really just unlucky. We’ll get our shot at some point, as long as Richt doesn’t have a collapse of monumental proportions. He’s certainly gettting the talent, and that’s probably one of the biggest parts of the puzzle.
GA G8ter
July 30th, 2009
10:21 am
Ramble On!!!!
do you think you are funny? Or cute? You post the most ridiculous stuff EVER on these blogs. Do you think UGA is worried about Tech and Paul Johnson? What happened last year was a rare treat for you, kind of like Ole Miss sneaking up on us. I don’t see GT has a major player in the near future. You certainly will NOT beat Georgia this year. Go back to fantasy land.
Mike
July 30th, 2009
10:23 am
Mark- Please tell me what the picture above has to do with the article???? DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE FLA EVERYWHERE????? GEZZZZZZ Again, this is the ATLANTA paper- you would never see it in Gainsville. I am over it- loser-
Mike
July 30th, 2009
10:28 am
ATL Gator…FLA wins championships and thats the bottom line???? what a complete and utter idiot! As if the rest of us have not?? Lets have a history lesson you dork- UF yes FLORIDA was the ONLY SEC TEAM that had never won a SEC TITLE let along any National Championship. and for as good as UF has been in recent times- tell me Gator what is the UGA-UF series record???????????????????????????????????????
Mike
July 30th, 2009
10:29 am
ATL Gator- had never won the SEC until 1991…….
uuugh.
July 30th, 2009
10:30 am
I hope Meyer Stays at Florida. I hope Johnsons stays at GT. I hope Kiffen brings UT back to respectability (although he is off to a rough start). I hope South Carolina gets better. Finally, I hope Richt stays for another 25-30 years.
It will all fall into place at some point for the dawgs. Keep filing away 10 win seasons and great recruiting classes–eventually we’ll get the breaks UF and LSU have had in their MNC seasons (anyone remember Vandy missing that field goal?). Last year Florida was lucky we had so many injuries. I would still like to see a full squad match up of the two. Florida has been extremely lucky that Tebow hasn’t been seriously injured as much as he runs the ball. These schools get all the good breaks one year, bring home the trophy and half of our own fans want to punish our great coach for it. Consistency is the name of the game folks and we have it.
Leave it to M Bradley and the Tech idiots on here to get the pot stirred up. Leave it alone already. We don’t need to know everything and we shouldn’t express doubt about things we know very little about.
As a side note…Keep up the great work AJC. I bought a Sunday paper last weekend and the Sports section was as bad as I have ever seen it. I will never buy another one of your papers. Anybody know where I can subscribe to the Athens Banner Herald or any of the other local papers? My home town paper is garbage.
braveswin
July 30th, 2009
10:32 am
All this Gator talk is wearing thin, The Fighting Tebows have a 1 thats ONE game winning streak over this “mediocre, never win with this coach” Ga team. Hate to break it to all the Gators out there but for all the talent and momentum Fla has going for it, your team must still play the games. I have no animosity toward Fla, (at least they’re not Tennessee) and I damn sure respect what Fla has accomplished, but this “we are the greatest and can’t be beat” attitude is sounding more like Ga Tech fans. Folks you’ve been there before, try to act like it. You guys are the SEC Champions you don’t have to brag, you did it on the field. Thank you in advance for your co-operation.
steve
July 30th, 2009
10:32 am
first of all will muschamp will only came back to uga if he is offered a head coaching job not a coach in waiting. The person they need to go after is kirby smart at bama he has worked for nick saben 7 years who else better to be DC fire willie gardner will leave after this season he will take a head coaching job, kirby smart is one hell of a recruiter.
Tide Rising
July 30th, 2009
10:37 am
Mark,
How many years did it take nice guys like Joe Paterno, Tom Osborne, Dooley, etc. to win national titles? I want to say it took Paterno and Osborne 20 years or so and Osborne was dominated forever it seems by his nemesis Switzer at OU before he finally broke through. Dooley took 15 years. There’s probably several other coaches you could say the same thing about.
Bottom line is that it takes a combination of several things including a little luck to get into position to play for a national title and it may take several more years for that to happen for Richt. But plenty of nice guys have won it like Osborne and it may have taken awhile for them to do it.
Robert
July 30th, 2009
10:40 am
Not as long as we keep losing our better in-state recruits like Mack Brown and Neiron Ball to the blue and orange crew to the south of us.
Willie Martinez should be coaching high school, not our Dawgs.
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
10:40 am
Here is one very basic insight into winning college football championships:
For all of the rhetorical excess applied to the offenses of Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer during their 1996, 2006 and 2008 championship seasons, it was the Gator defense that was the difference in each of those seasons. The defenses of Bob Stoops and Charlie Strong made the differences in the close games that got the Gators into the championship games, and in 2006 and 2008, the defenses shut down the Buckeyes and Sooners’ offenses.
Some famous coach said “Offense puts butts in the seats; defense wins championships.”
Now, what conclusions do we draw from this example for the future of Coach Richt and the Dawgs?
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
10:42 am
Who is this ATL GATOR person?
braveswin
July 30th, 2009
10:42 am
BIGBOY (from 9:50), Touche!! son, mouth smashing Touche!! If you ain’t with us, you’re against us!!
Sting 'em Buzz
July 30th, 2009
10:46 am
I could see Richt winning a NC in 2011 or 2012.
Jim morrison
July 30th, 2009
10:46 am
Mike,
Who gives a F about the series record?
Truth is UGA has not won anything worth mentioning since 1980.
Until they do, you have nothing to talk about.
Again, GO GATORS!
Enough Said!
BDawg
July 30th, 2009
10:51 am
Give me a break, takes alot of luck along with a good team to win a championship….as for Tech, they were lucky last year, got us in a year all our defensive ends were hurt…don’t think your going to run around the corners this year….the Dawgs and everyone else will be ready for you….7 win season for you guys, if you stay lucky….the Dawgs on the other hand seem to have the team chemistry that they may have been missing the last few years….Yea, the baby lizards will be tough and our schedule brutal, but watch out, I think something good may happen this year…..and Techster’s if you played our schedule instead of your pansy slate, you wouldn’t even have a winning season. Everyone needs to get off CMR back….he shown meddle and I’m sure he willgo down as one of the best coaches in NCAA history before it’s all over.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 30th, 2009
10:51 am
I am not sure what the question is, but I know Willie M is not a good answer to any of them. Good Luck Dogs. You are always better than the bottom half of the SEC, but not always better than the top half of the SEC. CMR is a good guy and a good coach, but IMO I do think UGA has the money to get better coaches to join his staff to make him better. Mark knows that if he let Willie go there would be no team beating down the door to hire Willie for a job. Pat Nix knew the same at Tech and left for Miami before Chan was gone. Pat lasted 2 yrs. and is gone. CMR is being too nice to Willie and getting him paid before he is a car salesman in Alabama.
Pitbull
July 30th, 2009
10:56 am
I think UGA will win a BCS under Coach Richt when they are least expected to do so.
People forget that UGA experienced its only losing season under Coach Dooley in 1979 before coming out and winning the 1980 National Championship with the same players except for new starting QB Buck Belue who was not as strong a passer as his predecessor Jeff Pyburn, but was a stronger leader. Soung familiar?
And we won the first of 3 straight SEC championships, and a Cotton Bowl victory over No.1 Texas in 1984.
The 4 greatest years in Georgia football 1980 – 1984 came when expectations were not that high.
Some would say that the 2001 — 2004 period was the 4 greatest years in Georgia Football due to the 44 wins during that period. Again, we were excited to have Coach Richt as our new coach but did not have the expectation of that type of success at the time.
I think it will come when we are least looking for it. In the meantime I read that UGA is either number 1 or 2 inwinning percentage by BCS Division teams over the past 9 years that Coach Richt has been here.
I will take that any day of the week.
Herschel Talker
July 30th, 2009
10:59 am
Jim morrison likes men. So does Pi$$onaDawg.
Loyal Homer
July 30th, 2009
10:59 am
Mark,
Interesting column. Are UGA fans really getting restless with Coach Richt?
By the way Mark, I referenced you and your colleagues in my sports blog debate yesterday. We are friends of you with Twitter. Check it out!
http://thesportsdebates.com/category/tsd/the-espn-dedicated-local-coverage-debate/
Huh?
July 30th, 2009
11:01 am
“A lot of it is luck, yes. But it’s worth noting that the two times Georgia under Richt was ranked highest in preseason — in 2004 and 2008 — it didn’t win the SEC East. And those two teams lost a total of three games in Athens.”
That says more about how absolutely clueless you media folks are than it does about Georgia. Georgia football does not rank itself and should not be punished for failing to live up to the expectations that others set for them. The fact that Georgia continues to befuddle the preseason prognosticators tells me that the preseason prognosticators don’t know anything about Georgia. Watch a little ESPN if you don’t believe me. They can rattle off the names of LSU and Florida players like they’ve got the media guide memorized, but can only name 2 or 3 Georgia players most years. And you continue to act Mark as if Georgia is the first team in all of history to not live up to a lofty preseason ranking. Earth to Mark Bradley: It happens every single year. Even the mighty Florida Gators have taken a preseason #3 ranking and turned it into a 9-4 barely top 15 season, and that with Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow. It happens Mark. You seem bitter that Georgia exposed you as a clueless media blowhard last year. Can’t wait for 2009 Georgia Tech to do the same. Good day.
braveswin
July 30th, 2009
11:05 am
RAMBLE ON, This is your reality check, CPJ has nothing to do with whether or not CMR wins a NC. He will build a fine GT program, but it’s still the ACC (Almost Competitive Conference) Yes I can see GT beating UGA 2 or 3 times a decade most times less sometimes more. Good luck to you and all GT fans
Native Atlantan
July 30th, 2009
11:07 am
When looking at differences between Florida and Georgia, you can start from the top. UF AD Jeremy Foley is willing to make tough decisions and get rid of people and replace them with who he thinks is best for the job. When Zook was winning 8 or 9 games, many people would be happy. Foley wasn’t. Not only did he fire the coach in the middle of the season, the popular and easy decision would have been to re-hire Steve Spurrier. Foley instead opted for Meyer, which appears to have clearly been the right decision.
Meyer appears to be ready to make tough decisions and execute them as well. If someone on his staff isn’t cutting it to give him and the Fighting Gators the best chance to win, he will cut that person loose and go get a better employee. Mark Richt will not do this unfortunately. If Willie Martinez was the DC and if Jon Jancek was the LB coach at UF under Meyer do you think they would still be on the UF payroll after “great” performances such as giving up over 50 at home to UT in 2006, giving up 49 in the Jax game, giving up 38 to Kentucky w/ a QB who should be playing WR or Corner, giving up 45 to Tech at home? No way in Hell.
On the other hand, the history at UGA is quite different. Vince Dooley was ok with “Significant Improvement” Ray Goff & “let’s give him another chance” Jim Donnan. 7 and 8 win seasons were clearly ok with Dooley. BCS to us meant “Before Christmas Special” because that was our last bowl game with Jim Donnan, Christmas Eve vs. UVA.
Evans and Richt are an improvement, but that last hump to national titles is a big one. To get over this hump, the head coach has to have the best possible assistants he can hire. There are better ones out there Richt could hire but he won’t do it because demoting or replacing Martinez and removing Jancek are tough decisions and actions CMR is not willing to make. Meyer will make those decisions in a heartbeat.
Sunshine
July 30th, 2009
11:14 am
SEC, and specificaly Gawja is such a bore. Bunch of loud mouths that never live up to their talents. Hey your preseason champs after all!
Gregg T
July 30th, 2009
11:14 am
Winning BCS championships is about good players, good coaches, and most of all, a favorable schedule. At least Meyer is honest about it. He says he is not about to ubgrade his schedule because he plays enough big games in the conference depending on the “luck of the draw” for that year. OK, Penn State, et al are the same. No matter how good you are, and the Gators, Sooners, etc. are very good, if you happen to get your non-conference schedule filled with reasonably good teams, maybe even a BBCS team, your chances of making it to the dance are practically zero. These kids just can’t do it every week with just one freebie. All the top 10-15 teams get good players and have good coaches. It’s the ones that manage the make up of their non-conference schedules that pick up the trophies. That’s UGA’s real problem. The AD listened to us ignorant fans about these small games on the schedule, and they gave us OK State and ASU to go along with a good TECH. It looks great on the schedule until the reality hits on game day. Oh well, such is life.
Scott
July 30th, 2009
11:15 am
Georgia can forget about national titles.
They do the same thing every year, win 8 – 10 games, never win their division because they always lose the big games, never win the SEC, because of better coaching and programs elsewhere. They simply aren’t a “national power” like the THINK they always have been.
BugKiller
July 30th, 2009
11:15 am
Mark,
First, I read the article and think that you finally get it about Martinez.
Then, you go and say something as illogical as “I’m not saying Martinez is a bad DC… the numbers alone prove that.”
REALLY?
Because actually, the numbers PROVE, unequivicably, that Martinez is NOT a good DC, and that any success he had early was the product of players coached by BVG.
Mark, really go look at the numbers. Right them down. Then draw a line graph. I’ve actually done this.
POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME.
YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME.
The most important stats to a defense.
Do it. Go to http://www.georgiadogs.com and find these stats and draw a line graph.
You know what that line graph does?
It goes UP. For both stats. EVERY YEAR.
That is a TREND that cannot be explained away by injuries.
That is a TREND that proves that Martinez is absolutely incompetent. His defenses have gotten worse every year.
And let’s not even talk about the mental breakdown of his defenses over his four years. The stupid, avoidable MeAngelo Hall-like personal foul penalties, which have grown under Martinez, not to mention back-breaking in-game breakdowns like against Auburn in 2005.
Or the times they’ve come out not even looking prepared. Sugar Bowl 2006. Tennessee 2007.
Or the times Martinez has refused to make a single adjustment in-game. Especially in games where he lets an experienced, yet not-so-talented QB pick apart his secondary because he refuses to let pressure come from anywhere but the line. Florida in 2005. Tennessee in 2006 and 2007. Alabama in 2008.
Mark, Martinez is anything BUT a good defensive coordinator.
Can you explain why, Mark, Martinez got a RAISE last year when NO ONE WANTED HIM???
Can you explain why Mark Richt gave his BFF a raise after Miami took a look at Martinez and said NO MAS?
I mean, Martinez is so bad, his alma mater doesn’t want him. Randy Shannon looked at Martinez and decided he’d be better off taking on twice the work-load to be his own DC.
Mark… I thought you got it… and I think you’re almost there to make that intuitive leap.
Find the numbers.
Make the graph.
See, in FACT, written on paper with lines that go UP and never go down, just how horrible Martinez is.
Volman
July 30th, 2009
11:16 am
Simply put… NO, they will NEVER win the BCS Championship. Never.
DirtyDawg
July 30th, 2009
11:17 am
Bradley, you guys just love to ‘get the fight started’, don’t ya? Is Richt good enough to win the NC? Is Obama good enough to provide affordable healthcare to all Amercians? Is Sonny Perdue good enough to keep from falling out of his boat? And is Mark Bradley good enough to keep his job with a newspaper that’s losing money everyday and could lose just as much without you as with you? The answer to all the above is ‘maybe’…we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?
Historically, Georgia is the most successful whenever the expectations are the lowest – although the prediction of finishing second in the SEC East is hardly low, eight wins is – and particularly when we have what should be superior offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage. So check with us come next January, assuming you’re still around these parts, that is.
Regardless, we’ll take Mark Richt ability and class over the rest of the preening, narcissistic options that populate the rest of the conference.
AltamahaDawg
July 30th, 2009
11:23 am
Psst., if you wait 10 days and change the wording around to something like “Will Mark Richt Win a BCS Title at UGA”, nobody will ever suspect that you phoned it in.
JB
July 30th, 2009
11:24 am
Native Atlantan……hate to say it….lot of truth there………Fine line with being unreasonable and great results……We all love Mark, Fuzzy with 10 wins, but too nice and compassionate to excel to greatness, and you have to make tough decisions……..Meyer would have canned Willie, not for being great guy, or father or friend, but for job performance……Mark wants a long term steady situation, Meyer wants win at almost any cost….That’s with the right players and Coach’s. I wanna see them with Tebow gone…..Yes, I know they will still have a great team, but he is a once in a life time player.
PTC DAWG
July 30th, 2009
11:25 am
I’m just glad to know the UF fans think the Title is in the bank. They should check on how hard it is to repeat.
PTC DAWG
July 30th, 2009
11:26 am
Actually Richt wins 8-12 games every year…and plays for the SEC Title almost half the time…keep doing that, and the LUCK required to get into the MNC game will follow.