Is it right to rip a collegian for not being as good as we’d like?
Joe Tereshinski III: A feel-good story that went bad.
To me, Joe Tereshinski III seemed a Great Story — an Athens native, a third-generation Bulldog, a quarterback who’d waited his turn and even put in time as a long snapper. How could he not be the People’s Choice?
In a career of miscalculations, that was among my most egregious. JT3 was the choice of only those people named Tereshinski. Everyone else in Bulldog Nation wanted Matthew Stafford to be the starting quarterback in 2006, and there was almost an audible cheer when Tereshinski got hurt in Georgia’s second game. And I wondered: When did amateur sports — at bottom, that’s what college football is — lose all connection to sentimentality?
I know, I know. People pay big money to sit in oversized stadiums on autumn Saturdays, and TV networks pay even bigger money to air the games. But still: These guys are amateurs, not professionals. It seemed unseemly, at least to me, how readily Bulldog Nation turned its back on one of its own, and this week the back-and-forth over another Georgia quarterback has stirred those some feelings.
Joe Cox starts at quarterback on the road against a Top 10 opponent while feeling less than his best and his team loses, and now, if AJC.com blogs are any measure, a slew of Georgia fans have seen enough. There was a clear sense of regret when the Internet report that Logan Gray would be starting against South Carolina turned out to be unfounded. It’s almost the same story all over again — a senior quarterback waits his turn and then gets turned on for the grievous sin of not being quite as good as a bunch of (presumed) adults want him to be.
Indeed, Cox’s assertion this week that he didn’t pay attention to his critics seemed to incite the critics even more. But what would you expect him to say? “Having read every word in every comment left on every post, I’ve come to the conclusion that I do indeed stink to high heaven”? And this business with Logan Gray is, not to put too fine a point on it, flat-out bizarre.
At least Matthew Stafford was the massive recruit who came heralded as a possible No. 1 draft choice. It was understandable Georgia fans would want to see him ASAP. But Logan Gray, meaning no disrespect, isn’t the prospect Stafford was. There’s no guarantee he’d be any better than Cox. There’s a chance he wouldn’t be as good.
And I wonder, not for the first time and surely not for the last, if we haven’t allowed our passion for college football to override our good sense. Sure, it’s more fun when your team wins. But is the quality of your life diminished if Joe Cox fumbles the ball? It’s one thing to criticize Mark Richt or Willie Martinez or Mike Bobo — they’re professionals. But Joe Cox is a young man who still has to go to class on Monday regardless of how he plays on Saturday.
For his sake, I hope he plays well against South Carolina. He’s a nice enough fellow, and even if he weren’t he has done nothing that warrants seeing himself characterized as — borrowing from a comment on a Friday post — “a red-headed clown.” (That would, I believe, be Bozo.)
I can’t believe I’m allying myself with the hyperventilating Mike Gundy, but there is a need for perspective. Don’t go after a kid who’s trying his best. Criticize the performance, if you must, but not the performer. As tough as it is to remember sometimes, this is only a game.
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347 comments Add your comment
MikeInValdosta
September 11th, 2009
2:34 pm
Now what would be “fan”atical about that? Nice post
RxDawg
September 11th, 2009
2:37 pm
I’m 40! I’m a man! You come after me!!!!
Hehe, sorry I had to.
RxDawg
September 11th, 2009
2:40 pm
Never forget, for every obnoxious-doom-and-gloom-the-world-is-going-to-end-unless-we-fire _______ fan on these blogs, there are 10 more realistic fans that understand. The bad just travels faster then the good.
GeoffDawg
September 11th, 2009
2:44 pm
If you trust your coaching staff, then you have to believe that they’re putting the guy on the field that’s going to give you the best chance to win. Joe Cox may be boring but if CMR thinks that our best bet is to have a game manager rather than a duel threat guy taking snaps, then let’s go with it.
co dawg
September 11th, 2009
2:46 pm
i would agree.
and the hardest part about being a fan…
all you can do is watch and cheer. go dawgs!
Cuz
September 11th, 2009
2:47 pm
I hope Joe has a great game and ends this bickering. Time to throw a few Hail Marys or throw back a few Bloody Marys. Lord for this game of football we are eternally grateful.
Now Choke dem chickens.
Robby
September 11th, 2009
2:47 pm
Mark…Thank you! Go Joe! Go Dawgs! To hell with Saint Simon…I mean Georgia Tech!
F-105 Thunderchief
September 11th, 2009
2:49 pm
It’s our God-given right to rip anyone we please … anonymously on the Internet … for free.
oleballfan
September 11th, 2009
2:54 pm
Enter your comments here
Eric
September 11th, 2009
2:54 pm
This is one game, man. Against a (now) top 5 team. Joe is OUR guy. Even if he doesn’t win the SEC, he’s OUR guy. If he doesn’t win another game, he’s OUR guy. He’s a Georgia Bulldog and Dawgs should always take care of our fellow Dawgs. So everyone needs to quit whining and our coaches will decide who plays, but please don’t disparage one of OUR own.
Deep South Dawg
September 11th, 2009
2:54 pm
BRADLEY, its called the bull dawg nation is tired of waiting for that NC….I mean we have had the talent from year to year to win it, but it always seems like their is one weak link. Whether it be coaching either on ther defensive/offensive side of the ball, or a weak armed QB lollipopping it all over the field. Yes, I think Cox has a lollipop arm, he kind of reminds me of a Casey Clausen. Even though he has a weak arm its is still the Offensive Coord. to put him in the best postion to win, and Bobo (the clown) decided to stop running the ball half way through the first quarter. Which is really what cost us to lose the game. And no, I don’t rely on a bunch of 18-22 yr olds for my weekend happiness, but it would be nice to actually contend for a national championship, or at least you know your going to have a chance to beat the Gators. Anyway, I am always going to be a homer, so….Go Dawgs, and I hope Cox and Bobo both prove me wrong this weekend.
jacketbacker
September 11th, 2009
2:59 pm
unseemly and “bulldawg nation” go hand in hand…..
THWG!!!!
F-105 Thunderchief
September 11th, 2009
3:00 pm
By way, Mark, I was being sarcastic. I think it’s way outside the lines the way “fans” on these blogs rip into players, coaches and each other.
SayItAintSoJoe
September 11th, 2009
3:01 pm
Nothing against either of the Joe’s you mentioned -Mark! They both attempted to play for us and were loyal Dawgs to wait their turn rather than rush to transfer. The Problem is many of us Dawg fans have just lost a lot (I mean a lot) of confidence in our coaching staff. From the top down the staff seems to be outgunned by the other staffs we face on a week to week basis. Having not really played a top notch out of conference opponent during the Richt years (for whatever reason), coupled with last years debacles against Bama, UF, and GT…and then to start off the year with a loss to a mid-tier Big 12 team – just is tough to swallow with the talent we have on hand.
But while extremely frustrated I still say “GO DAWGS”!
Lonesome Dove
September 11th, 2009
3:02 pm
Amen Mark, and I rather doubt Deep South Dawg is even an alumni of the flag ship University of the Great State of Georgia. If one wants to be critical of athletes, save that for the professional athletes who are getting paid to perform. Joe Cox knows he’s not going to turn pro, but he does care about the University of Georgia and his teammates. He may not be Matthew Stafford, but he will darn sure do his very best to help his team win.
Birmingham
September 11th, 2009
3:02 pm
Needed to be said Mark. The only clowns are the ones submitting such negative comments. I love the way people ( including some “journalists”) criticize these players’ ability to read a defense etc. Were they at practice all year or in the film room with the coaches? Please…
Mark Bradley
September 11th, 2009
3:04 pm
I understand, Thunderbird.
robodawg
September 11th, 2009
3:05 pm
D@mn right, lay off the kids. I love the game and couldn’t sleep after our loss, but grown men turning on and throwing personal insults at college kids is just embarrassing.
Mark Bradley
September 11th, 2009
3:06 pm
Sorry. I meant Thunderchief. Sometimes these old eyes have trouble reading the iPhone.
oleballfan
September 11th, 2009
3:08 pm
seems to me
IF Joe Cox is the team player he/we all think he is, and
IF Logan Gray, or Aaron Murray, is better than he is,
Then Joe Cox should go to Coach Richt and/or Bobo and tell them to play Gray or Murray.
Doesn’t the BullDawg Nation want the best QB to play that gives the Dawgs the Best chance to win. Simple as that.
Some one who has played the game, knows Cox is not a SEC-type QB. No arm strength, too late in making reads, not an accurate arm, not able to make the big play when needed, etc. It was obvious during the Okie State game. We don’t know if Gray or Murray is either, we need to find out, but we can’t except mediocracy. And, yes Mr. Cox the fans do have the right to be critics of your QB play, if you can’t handling it, you’re at the wrong school in the wrong conference.
Go Dawgs!!!
September 11th, 2009
3:10 pm
I want the Dawgs to win. My question is, if Cox wasn’t 110% (whether his arm and/or shoulder were injured or if he was feeling the effects of a virus) and the offense is stalling, why weren’t other players given the chance to turn things around? I truly appreciate loyalty, but there is loyalty to a fault. It wouldn’t have been disloyal to Cox to give another QB a shot at winning the game. That was a bad decison on Richt and Bobo’s part as coaches. Many people who are fed up with the coaching staff are seeing repeated mistakes.
Rep. Joe Wilson
September 11th, 2009
3:14 pm
Enter your comments here, if you can’t find a televised speech to yell them during.
How ’bout me wrestling Cynthia McKinney at halftime?!?
‘Cocks stiffen in 1st half vs. Dawgs but big turnover late decides this one — home team 17 to 13.
SilverCityDawg
September 11th, 2009
3:14 pm
Great post! Some a**holes must not have kids or they would see these players differently. I want to win as bad as the next dawg and I will be in my seats early Saturday, but not at any cost! I hope Cox throws for 400 yards and a LOT of people have to eat some ugly black bird, butt first!
Hairy Dawg
September 11th, 2009
3:18 pm
I’ve never been one to rip a new QB to shreds after one mediocre-to-bad outing. I’ll usually give him a free pass (ha, a pun…funny) on the first game and the first quarter of the second. After that, Hell shall be loosed.
Chris
September 11th, 2009
3:20 pm
Nobody should have wished for Joe T. to get hurt but he NEVER and I mean NEVER should have been playing qb at Georgia. So what if his grandad, dad, and so on went to Georgia. That doesn’t give him the right to play QB at Georiga. You’ve got to be good, and he was terrible.
There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s a good guy and loves Georgia. He just never should have been playing on a collegiate level. That was Mark Richt’s fault for once again not playing his most talented players. I will never for the life of me understand why Richt thought Joe T could play QB.
The same goes for Cox as well. If he doesn’t improve this week, he’s got to go. There’s nothing wrong with him, but if he can’t get the job done, he must be replaced.
You want to win football games, and to do that you must use the talent you have. You can’t just play a guy because he’s nice and loves Georgia.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 11th, 2009
3:21 pm
One could ask a larger question, is it right to rip any athlete for not being as good as we like? If a guy is working and hard and putting all his effort into playing that’s all he can do. If he isn’t good enough nothing can change that. All that can be asked is he do the best he can. If that isn’t good enough then the team has to make a change but that doesn’t give people the right to vilify him.
I’m no different than anyone else; it pains me to see a player on a team I like fail in a crucial situation but you’ll never hear me boo one. I’ve noticed at many sporting events I’ve attended that the person dogging players the worst is usually a person who at one glance has obviously never done anything athletic in their lives.
I see nothing wrong with saying player X isn’t getting the job done or isn’t good enough as long as it’s done in a civil manner. But the simple fact is most people should remember that the person they are ripping is a hell of a lot better on a bad day than they ever were on their best day.
Nativebird
September 11th, 2009
3:21 pm
So taking a pay check is the dividing line at which you can Rip a football player? But not a free education? and all the beer and chicks you can handle? Not a ‘future’ $72 Million pay check? MB, I hate to be a cynic, but don’t you think the “pure as the wind driven snow” Amateur just playing for the “Love of the Game” is a bit out of date? Like, oh, 1972 out of date? Big time NCAA football is big time business, Period. And these Athletes are no less in it for (future potential) of the big time money than anyone else involved.
I don’t think the issue is pro or amateur. No one is putting a gun to these guys heads and forcing them to be big-time Div I NCAA Football players. Hey, they signed up.
The issue is obviously has more to do with Fan behavior and expression. I’m sure the over-the-top criticisms happen everywhere, but aren’t really saying it’s more some places than others? So let’s stay on topic shall we…UGA football fans and their ability to maintain their composure. Hey it’s hard when the want is so desperate.
Iceman
September 11th, 2009
3:22 pm
I’m part of the crowd that the best QB should play. If that’s Joe, then cool. But don’t let the fact that he’s a senior be the only reason he plays.
Hello Vickers!
September 11th, 2009
3:24 pm
I couldn’t agree more with this MB column. As a Bulldog fan, I want a national championship as much as anyone. Let’s give this kid a chance first. Cox will give all he has then Richt and Bobo will make the evaluations on who should start.
Bama Aaron
September 11th, 2009
3:25 pm
Very nice posting Mark and I heartily agree that it’s a bit insane for people to come on here and rip a college kid for not being their savior. I’ll be the 1st to admit (as you know) that I’ll rip and sling the proverbial arrows at professionals like our Braves…they’re paid to be better. Joe Cox should be a feel good story. It’s not his fault if he’s not the next Matthew Stafford, all he should be expected to be is the 1st Joe Cox.
BugKiller
September 11th, 2009
3:27 pm
Joe Cox has a weak arm.
Joe Cox has leaden feet.
Joe Cox couldn’t start for ANY of the 11 other SEC teams.
But Joe Cox IS a good guy.
So remind me again why he’s starting for the Dawgs.
As for Logan Gray, Mark, you’re being disingenuous.
Logan Gray, not Cox, was an Elite 11 QB coming out of high school. Logan Gray was anywhere from the no. 6 to the no. 10 rated QB coming out of high school.
Logan Gray also has a FAR stronger arm. Logan Gray has FAR more mobility.
Meaning, Logan Gray gives this team a FAR better chance to win.
AND, Logan Gray, against our first team defense in the Spring Game, did FAR better than Cox did against the second team defense. You can try and pay no attention to that, but it DOES matter.
So why is Cox our starting QB?
Most of us HAVE gone after Cox’s performance, and even more, have lambasted Mark Richt for ONCE AGAIN, putting his own emotional attachments ahead of what is best for the team, for refusing to do EVERYTHING it takes to win, for ONCE AGAIN showing why he doesn’t measure up to Saban, Spurrier, Miles, or Meyer.
And I can only remember a few guys uttering things like, “read-headed clown.” You’re right. That’s out of line.
But again, that’s a few.
But as it stands right now, Joe Cox < Joe Tereshinski.
GoJoe!
September 11th, 2009
3:31 pm
You can’t throw Joe Cox under the bus for one loss. Oklahoma St. was a lot better than CMR & his staff gave them credit for. Their hiring of a new DC made a big difference. Sometimes you just have to prepare better & not count on studying old film to win the game. Go Joe!
Jake7
September 11th, 2009
3:33 pm
Give Joe another game to REDEEM himself. If the guy was NOT up to par last game or ready….BLAME the coaches ! I am getting a little “LOOSE” on our OC!!
Jackson
September 11th, 2009
3:33 pm
Mark, I am with you 200%. I do not blame Cox one bit. The game plan and play calling falls on the coaching staff. The game plan and formation shifts seemed to vanilla. Bottom line, if we can’t figure out how to run the ball more effectively, we are going to have a terrible season. The d might hold up for the first four or five games, but after that our d will be too worn down to be effective. That is my biggest concern… Running game and playcalling to support it.
uga_b
September 11th, 2009
3:38 pm
BugKiller pointed out that Logan was highly touted. Mark you are right. But there are homecoming games and cupcakes for kids who are not good enough to start to play in. I know I want the best players on my team instead of the best stories whenever I compete. I root for all our players to do well during their time at UGA and afterward. Some of the UGA fans responses to every QB after Greene and Shockley have been egregious. But to be fair, I was not happy having Shockley (a great story) in at qb when we had Greene. Still didnt want him to fail.
Loula dawg
September 11th, 2009
3:38 pm
His attitude stinks and maybe if he gets sacked a 1/2 dozen times and the team goes 0 and 2 he’ll realize the opportunity afforded him and the zillion of fans who support his scholarship and ga athletics in general
MoDawg
September 11th, 2009
3:39 pm
Joe was part of it, but a small part.
They lost as a team, beginning with the coaching staff down to the water girl.
No focus!
RxDawg
September 11th, 2009
3:39 pm
Uh…Bugkiller Joe Cox was just as much, if not more so, of a big time recruit as Logan Grey. Yes he was an elite 11 QB coming out of high school. In fact, about the only thing in that rambling agenda biased argument you posted thats correct is that Logan Grey is probably a better scrambler. Your argument holds no water.
Iceman, I agree with you completely. If the coaches really think Joe Cox is the best QB to win with then let’s move foward with him. Don’t do it just because he’s a senior though.
dawg
September 11th, 2009
3:43 pm
When does the team have to declare Redshirts??
Tom, Resident Georgia Fan
September 11th, 2009
3:45 pm
“Sure, it’s more fun when your team wins. But is the quality of your life diminished if Joe Cox fumbles the ball?” YES IT DOES.
oleballfan
September 11th, 2009
3:45 pm
Joe Cox, himself, knows Gray has a better arm, is more mobile, and is a play maker. Joe Cox, himself, should stand up and be a man and tell Richt to play Gray. Be a teammate, would Cox rather the Dawgs win, or selfish just to be known as the starting QB.
Although UGA will not be in the same class as Bama and Florida this year, there is pride in playing the best game you can. And it appears to me Cox does not give Georgia the best opportunity to play the best they can. vs the Gamecocks and Spurrier, will the Dawgs win? We shall see. I do know I most certainly will take the Gamecocks and the 7 points.
Hairy Dawg
September 11th, 2009
3:47 pm
If we want to win tomorrow, we can’t turn the ball over and we have to cut out the penalties and special teams mistakes. Let’s just play a smart football game for once, you know? I know Joe was sick, but the whole team played like it was sick. That sort of thing shouldn’t be happening. Maybe Richt is going to check out of here when Bowden retires, but dammit, the coaching was crap last year. It’s got to be better this season, especially because we don’t have first-round talent at the controls on offense. Again, let’s play a smart football game and see what happens.
PMC
September 11th, 2009
3:47 pm
I don’t really understand it to be honest. The kid played one game he had the flu and he wasn’t terrible he just wasn’t perfect. He got a day off during the week to rest. Dawg fans are simply frustrated. Benching or booing a guy that had an average first game would be stupid.
Logan Gray doesn’t give them a better option than Joe anyway he’s just a faster runner. That’s not really the way the offense is set up.
Perhaps expectations were too high due to past success for this team early.
I think they are very good but it might take them a while to get up to speed.
D&D fan
September 11th, 2009
3:52 pm
Pee drinking, pimply faced, virgin, nerd and Tech football go hand in hand, literally! With a QB that gets shown up by the punter; who has a better arm.
Yea tech will win the ACC and a MNC, when Michael Jackson releases a new album! LOL! AHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH hABVHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAa bHA HA HA
Talent
September 11th, 2009
3:53 pm
Loyalty to athletes, whether they are the sons of powerful alumni or not, is perfectly fine. But if this affects recruiting, to the point where we lose talented recruits who want to go where they can compete fairly and EARN the right to play, then this shows disloyalty to Bulldog fans and will ultimately have a negative impact on the future of Bulldog football.
BugKiller
September 11th, 2009
3:54 pm
RxDawg… you’re right, he was.
But I don’t seem to remember that he was highly recruited coming out of high school as Gray was.
But then again, I laid out some basic facts about Cox, what you call incoherent ramblings, yet you can’t discount them.
Name me ONE team in the SEC that Cox could start for, right now. Not even SoCarolina would start Cox.
Why? Because he’s NOT an SEC QB.
His arm is weak. Deny that.
His pocket presence and decision making skills are sub par. Deny that.
He did worse in the Spring Game against the second team defense than Gray did against the first team defense. Deny that.
See, you’re just another blind homer, wearing your rose-colored glasses.
You know the reason why Richt gave the job to Cox without doing as he did last time?
Because he didn’t want to have a situation where Gray would either do better or as good as Cox, as Stafford did with JoeTIII. Because THEN, he’d have to do something he never likes to do: what it takes to win when it conflicts with his personal feelings.
Well guess what? Cox is simply not talented enough. He’s not. His arm is the weakest I’ve EVER seen for a QB starting for a Div-I program.
But it’s okay, RxDawg.
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
JOE COX IS A VIABLE STARTING SEC QUARTERBACK!!!
I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL WIZARD OF OZ!!!
jacketinbadgerland
September 11th, 2009
3:56 pm
Mark,I think you hit the nail on the head. Some of us so-called fans seem to have forgotten what it’s like to be a teenager, especially one thrown into the spotlight in front of some hostile alumni. Almost
without exception , these young men play a sport that they love and give everything they are capable of for their teammates and their school. Do I hate to lose , sure I do. But that doesn’t condone a character assasination on a young man whose TEAM just lost to another TEAM. Some of us need to get our priorities straight. Don’t define your self-worth by whether your team wins or loses. Is it more fun to win, especially against those rivals ? Hell yes !!! But if you lose, go give your kid , or wife , or mom a hug and get over it !!!
Nick
September 11th, 2009
3:57 pm
I was disappointed in him (as I was with the entire team Saturday) but quite frankly I think everybody needs to lay off him a bit. It’s way too early to condemn him right now. I expect a much better game out of him tomorrow night as well as the team as a whole. Let’s face it, he’s not started a game in three years, had the flu and quite frankly, opened up on the road in a tough environment against what could turn out to be a very good team, not to mention the fact that his supporting cast consisted of quite a few greenies and some guys like Sturtivant, Owens, etc, who were coming back after a year’s absense. Let’s all take a deep breath and wait and see how tomorrow’s game and his performance specifically go, OK??? If after another game or two like last week’s then let’s flip that bench switch on the guy. But give him another shot first. Go Dawgs!
KilmerDawg
September 11th, 2009
3:57 pm
Nice article Mark. I truly do not believe that 20 or 30 Bozos on the ajc blogs are much of a representation of the Bulldawg Nation. They make us look like a bunch of bandwagon-jumping Tech fans. Sure, I care if we win, but I’ll never complain about a kid that plays his heart out for my team. We’ve enjoyed a lot of success during the CMR years and I trust him to make the decisions he thinks best for the team. I’ll be in Athens tomorrow morning and tomorrow night I will cheer for Joe Cox as loud as I can. I love my school and all things Red and Black- win or lose. Good or bad. It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!
Evil Richt 2009 S.E.C. World Tour: "Banned in Columbus"
September 11th, 2009
3:58 pm
ESPN is quoting Cox as saying he has had an ongoing injury to his rotator cuff, but that he will start on Saturday. Cox also stated he lost 9 pounds from the flu and only regained his appetite 2 days ago.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4465447
Please don’t cherry pick quotes and extrapolate them to the “Bulldog Nation.” Very Finebaum-ish.
This is not to say there has been no criticism of him. I think the criticism though is part of a larger sense of frustration with the baffling behavior and decisions of the coaching staff during and after the OSU game, with JC getting caught in the crossfire. Plus, starting QBs are always going to get more credit or blame than they deserve and the back-up QB is always the most popular player with fans when a team is struggling offensively. This is true of all football teams, not just UGA and its fans.
Chained Dawg
September 11th, 2009
3:58 pm
ok ok ok I Feel like Joe Wilson Of SC who called Obama a lie the other night even though many folks thought Joe Wilson may be correct his assertion. IM Sorry that I directed my frustration calling him a Bozo while also was kinda upset about his remarks of his critics in the media. Joe could have simply apologised for his play along with his teammates play. They should have vowed that they would work and play harder. CMR also should apologise to dawgnation for his vanilla offense and of course the overall teams play this past Saturday.It gets so frustrating to see UGA with supposedly all of this talent and has problems in moving the football. Its like Munson would say” Looks like our feet is stuck in tar”. It just seems that UGA EARNS every yard and that opposing defenses know the playbook better than UGA does. MY frustration is really directed to the Coaching Staff. So again Mr. Joe Cox and fellow Dawg fans I apologise for calling you a “red headed clown”. Now prove us dawg fans what you are made of Joe and beat the mediocre Gamecocks back to the stone age.
Nick
September 11th, 2009
4:01 pm
Also, I think we got spoiled at the QB position a bit.
Zeier, Bobo, Ward, Carter, Greene, Shockley, Stafford…Next?
Dawgdad
September 11th, 2009
4:01 pm
Joe is better than he showed last weekend. We can win with him, if the play calling takes advantage of his assets and minimizes his weakness. The blocked passes were the worst thing. He has got to find lanes to throw through by moving his feet and anticipating the pass rush. I think you will see improvement this week. He was better before he lanquished on the bench for a season or so. Richt has been criticized here before for failing to put away the other team, when he has the chance. Even when he is up by 28 with 3 minutes to play, he keeps his starting QB in the game. Makes no sense to me. I thought every play in that situation that Stafford was going to get hurt needlessly and why not give Joe Cox some reps. I guess he was trying to pad Staffords stats, I see no other reason. However the NFL does the same thing, the starting QB stays in the 35-0 games for every play, it makes no sense to me.
amelia island mike
September 11th, 2009
4:02 pm
I am not that down on Joe.. BUT… All I have heard is how well he can run this offense and how accurate he is. Ive ignored the rumors about the ” dead arm ” until the first game trusting the coaches. I listened once again to all the talk of how hard they have worked and how ready the Dogs team would be. What I witnessed was a group of coaches who dont realize what receivers are getting in the game. Whiffs and missed blocks from a suppossed strength of the team -the offensive line. An arm tackle attempt by Boykin that goes for a first down. A defensive end who doesnt turn the q.b. back inside and lets him run to the outside for about twenty. I witnessed two more blocks in the back although at least one was questionable but the touchdown was still called back. I witnessed Bryan Evans let someone get more than five yards behind him in the first game he has played since he found his “new home” at safety. I dont believe he or anybody thought the q.b could throw it from his own 47 to three yards deep in the endzone. I just witness our head coach standing stoic on the sideline . I understand this is his personality but we as fans cant help but to look for a little “fire”.
I saw another huge runback on a kick that has become almost expected. I still see Rennie Curran (and Dowtin) having to make too many tackles. Once again I didnt see anything at all spectacular from the defensive ends. Now- from what I hear our defense has put more influence on interceptions and turnovers and we dropped three or four good Chances.
Cuff dropped one. Reshad stonehandsed one. Gamble dropped one. I do believe there was one more possibility. So I think its funny how anyone can be questioning the fans for having problems with the way we played last week. If there was ever a time to try the second string q.b when the first stringer has the flu and hasnt even been to the last practices —that was the perfect time… I could give way more examples of why some true fans are disgriuntled but I will wait and see how the Dawgs respond and play at home. If the dogs dont mature fast it is gonna be a long season and you can forget abou the 9 or 10 win seasons. I see us losing at least 5 this year and that certainly is not all Joe Coxs fault. OUT-
chemdawg
September 11th, 2009
4:03 pm
Yeah, criticism should be doled out to journalists exclusively.
GradyGrad
September 11th, 2009
4:05 pm
The name of the game is winning. If Joe Cox cannot lead this team to wins, then someone needs to be placed at QB who can win. If there is no one there who can complete this job this season, put Murray in. He can take his lumps this year. The team will improve and be ready next year.
I think the better question is this: Why is it that when the offensive line is stacked, the QB isn’t; and when the QB is stacked, the offensive line is just offensive? How is it that in 9 years Richt has not yet quite figured out how to manage to have both stacked at the same time? I know I’ve seen both be offensive at the same time.
AltamahaDawg
September 11th, 2009
4:05 pm
I think its always interesting to look at the box score play-by-play section. It’s a good way to revisit the game without the emotions, and also memory lapses. There was not one series in the second half of the game by which it was crystal clear that we should have put a second string QB in, out of his element, not prepared, and asked him add-libed an improbable result.
jason
September 11th, 2009
4:05 pm
GeoffDawg, Problem is, there are not enough fans left who actually trust the coaching staff. I never criticized Cox, the person. I criticized his skills and his play. I think alot of us fans are caught up or got too caught up in Staff’s arm. And it is tough to take Cox’s pea shooter vs. Staff’s Bazooka. I think we would have been happy for something in between. From watching that game, to me it wasn’t as much his armstrenghth as much as his long, slow, deliberate delivery. Seemed like timing was good at the strart of the wind up but way late in reaching the intended WR. I also didn’t gripe about the int. That was all on King. The fumle, yes he should have protected the ball better. That is things he can work and improve on. The weakness of the arm and the slow delivery… I don’t think you can improve on those in a season, much less his coolage career if he was a Frosh. He has all the attributes that CMR and the team bragged on. The question is does he have the physical tools to make plays happen.
Jesup Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:06 pm
Damn fine story. I think it is the best I have ever read on the ajc. Go Dawgs!
BugKiller
September 11th, 2009
4:08 pm
And again, I don’t fault Joe Cox for not being talented enough to quarterback this team, just as I never faulted JoeTIII.
I fault Mark Richt. For his loyalty to seniority over talent. For his refusal to do the hard things, to make the hard decisions that he must in order to put this team into the best position to win, if it means going against his personal feelings.
He did it with JoeTIII. He did it with Knowshon and Brown. He’s doing it with Martinez. And he’s doing it with Cox.
It’s a definable PATTERN with Richt. So yes, I blame him.
RxDawg, I bet you were one of the guys who thought JoeTIII deserved to play because, “Coach Richt says he does,” weren’t you?
And then when Stafford struggled, you said, “See, Richt and I were right!”
But with no Stafford, there would have been no victory at Auburn, no victory over Tech, and no victory over VATech, STILL the only time in Georgia’s history that we’ve beaten three top-15 teams in row.
So here’s the unvarnished truth: Cox cannot lead this team to anything more than a 8-4 record, just like JoeTIII couldn’t lead Georgia to anymore than that.
But Gray, or Murray, gives the fans and EVERYONE hope for the future, as well as hope that along the way, there are some AWESOME upsets.
Why are you incapable of understanding this?
Don’t you understand that an 8-4 season with Joe Cox as a QB is a horrible waste, but an 8-4 season with Gray or Murray as the QB is a step in the right direction?
Cox isn’t going to be here next year. He’s not Shock. He CAN’T win an SEC Title. He’s simply not talented enough.
Bench him. Starting him over the two guys who WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR is a complete and total WASTE.
Why don’t you and others of your ilk understand this?
Evil Richt 2009 S.E.C. World Tour: "Banned in Columbus"
September 11th, 2009
4:10 pm
Mark-
Given what we now know about the condition of Cox’s arm and the severity of the illness he was suffering from, do you think he should have started for UGA last weekend? What does this say about UGA’s backups? Or, what does it say about UGA’s coaching decisions?
I love Richt and like Bobo as OC, but that game was the worst coached game offensively of the Richt era. All the spinning/cya that has gone on since hasn’t made me feel any better.
Denver Dog
September 11th, 2009
4:13 pm
So we are going to get down on Joe Cox? He led a good drive, hit some good passes, fought off the pressure. Who calle the plays, Joe or Mike. To believe some of this trash, you have to believe that he is stupid, blind, and a parpalegic (I’m sure that my friend whom is that is understanding). Get off of his case I say, you can all say what you want, but let’s see what happens this weekend.
If you want to blow off the steam, get on the Special Teams Coach, whoever that is. That is where that game last week was won or lost. They won and we lost. Two stupid runbacks from deep in the endzone, giving up two great returns, and then the block in the back behind the play. It wasn’t much of one, but you know, it was a block in the back, and it was right in the front of a ref.
Those plays,or lack therof were why UGA lost and OSU won. Cox did ok, not great but ok. How many times in the last 3 years have we wished for just ok sometimes. The running back did ok, the recievers dropped too many, and the O line gave up one too many sacks.
Let’s see how ole Joe does. We don’t have much choice now do we?
Blackberry Cobbler
September 11th, 2009
4:14 pm
Bulldawg Nation is not ripping Joe Cox. Bulldawg nation is ripping a program that again this season looks primed and ready to dissappoint. Joe Cox is only the unlucky target of our frustration…. loss of a good QB and RB with no one of obvious talent in line of succession, coaches who seem inept at preparing for an managing the game, special teams that suck, a defense that while playing good against Ok State seems a long way from the aggressive bunch it used to be under BVG, and embarrassing losses on national TV.
Denver Dog
September 11th, 2009
4:14 pm
How about Bacardi Rambo, he is mobile and can throw a little.
Herschel Talker
September 11th, 2009
4:15 pm
BUGKILLER AT 3:54 IS ALL YOU HAVE TO READ TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
Talent
September 11th, 2009
4:15 pm
I just read this interview with Cox:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4465447
If Cox can’t sleep, drive, or pick up a book bag without feeling pain, how can he throw the football and be 100/110%? This isn’t a knock on Joe. Seriously, UGA coaching staff…What’s going on here?
All I'm Saying Is...
September 11th, 2009
4:16 pm
Think about this Bradley:
Pete Carroll at USC has a reputation for playing the best player at every position including quarterback irrespective of what year in school that player may be. Case in point: USC is starting a true freshman this year. This is one reason why Carroll is so successful at recruiting AND in the winning percentage and BCS championships of his team.
Mark Richt at UGA has a reputation for starting the player at quarterback who has put in the most time i.e. a senior or fifth year player. The reason why Bulldawg Nation is upset with Joe Cox is because of the perception that he got the starting nod because of his tenure with the team and not because he won it due to his performance. And his performance against OKS did nothing to dispell that notion. And then his dumb comments afterwards (words to the effect that unless you’ve played college football, you can’t criticize me) did nothing to help his case either—and as a fifth year senior, he should have known better than to say anything like he did (which gave Bulldawg Nation more cause to worry about this guy’s decision making).
So, the bad-mouthing of Joe Cox has nothing to do with Joe T. or Gundy or anything or anybody else. It’s simply because Bulldawg Nation wants to believe that the best 11 at every position win the chance to start—not simply the oldest at QB—because that’s what gives you the best chance to win.
And since UGA not only did not win the national championship last year and did not even play for the national championship last year and also lost the state championship last year, and after scoring seven on their first drive, did not do much of anything else on offense last weekend, Bulldawg Nation is not happy. And guess what position gets too much credit when a team wins and too much blame when a team loses? That’s right, QB (and as my grandpappy use to say: I don’t make them but thems the rules).
JAWGAGURL
September 11th, 2009
4:17 pm
Very well said Mark. Thank you for the good article and I hope all the people who are putting Joe Cox down will have fun eating crow!!!!!
Herschel Talker
September 11th, 2009
4:17 pm
ACTUALLY, I LIED. BUGKILLER AT 4:08 IS A MUST READ ALSO.
Danga
September 11th, 2009
4:18 pm
Do you guys think this kind of attitude in college football is made worse by the current design of the college football season? In the current system all it takes is one bad game or one bad performance to lose all chance at a national championship. Every game is magnified, thus the play of each player during these games is magnified. This kind of system seems like it would lend itself to more scrutiny than say an NFL style.
Pi$$onaDawg
September 11th, 2009
4:18 pm
The personal attacks are not needed and that includes to other teams fans, players, and coaches. To point out crappy plays, or calls, or records it is fine. The threats of assult and foul name calling on these blogs is too out of line. “you would not say that to my face, meet me at the UGA acrhes and I will beat your butt, and so &so likes men are all the classy post seen on this blog. Have fun and talk crap about football keep the personal attacks of the blog.
Chained Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:19 pm
Ok Ok Ok……. I apologise to Joe Cox and to my fellow dawg fans in calling Joe a red headed clown. I feel like Joe Wilson of SC in calling Obama a LIE even though I support Mr .Wilson on that one. I do not apologise for my frustration with Joe Cox’s remarks about the fans along with my frustrations of the coaching staff. Being a 5th year senior Joe C. should have vowed that he and the rest of the team mates would work harder and play harder. I also hope CMR would man up and say that performance from him and his coaching staff is unacceptable. Seems like opposing teams knows UGA’s playbook better than UGA does and its getting frustrating with all of the supposedly talent level we have. So again my apologies to Joe C for a personal attack. I let my frustration get the best of me by being a passionate fan.
Dawgface
September 11th, 2009
4:20 pm
Most of the criticism is intended for the coaching staff, even most of the criticism directed at a player. This staff is complacent. It’s too comfortable. Richt is running a coaches country club. They never want to leave, even for professional advancement, because they can make a chunk of money in Athens without ever being afraid of being fired. The team is a reflection of the coaches – timid, soft, unprepared. If there were a draft of SEC assistant coaches, we have three – Searles, Garner and Fabris that would even get picked. The rest would be free agents in the MAC.
dkg
September 11th, 2009
4:20 pm
Check this out on ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4465447
Cox does have shoulder issues.
AltamahaDawg
September 11th, 2009
4:21 pm
Bug Killer I think the bigger question is this: How in the world can you continue to support Mark Richt at this point? You have spent the summer telling everyone over and over and over how he is ruining the program over some misguided college friend. Now you say he is only playing Cox becasue he would rather be loyal to a 5th yr player over a 3rd year player (big diffenceI guess) than actual win. He could win, but he chooses not to. Clearly to you he is NOT qualified to run the UGA football program. Either you believe your rants or you don’t! I can tell you this, if us blind homer truly felt the way you do, NONE of us would be saying anything but FIRE THE GUY. And I promise you our plan would not consist of repeating the same ol lines in a blog. IF we believe as you profess to, we would walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Do you want to fire him or not? You already said if he doesnt play your guy at least half the game this week , you are on the wagon. My question is, why on earth are you not now?
Bryan G.
September 11th, 2009
4:22 pm
Mark,
I agree with the premise of your article to an extent; however, I am paying for the lad to go to school by purchasing season tickets and donating money to UGA. In that sense, I see myself as a “shareholder” of sorts. So, if the company stinks, I think it’s my right to be disgruntled and to express that.
That said, I agree that there needs to be a tone of respect and understanding that these aren’t pros but amateurs. However (to change an old saying by Bill Parcells), I help buy the groceries, so I get to complain if the meal stinks.
Dawg4life
September 11th, 2009
4:23 pm
Stafford was the most talented QB to play at UGA for years. You all need to realize that losing a great QB and possibly the best RB in decades is going to be noticed this year. We have watched Stafford sling rockets to all of his WR’s and Moreno juke and hurdle defenders like it was just plain easy. Be realistic, NO ONE, (Cox, Logan, or Murray) will fill these shoes. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!
SOS Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:24 pm
Apology accepted Chained Dawg! I understand what you are going through!
Chamblee Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:24 pm
wow, Mark, you have an I-Phone? you’re quite the hipster
Old Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
I’ve written this before and I’m sure I’ll write it again, but here goes. No team is going to win every game, nor should they. If teams don’t struggle through the years the joy of winning isn’t as sweet. At times other teams will perform better than the one you support. Michigan, the winningest football team in DIv I had not won a national championship for several decades before its 1997 title and it hasn’t won one since. Tom Osborne struggled to get past Oklahoma for conference and national titles until Barry Switzer left in disgrace. How many times did Joe Paterno lose national championship games before winning one? The same for Bobby Bowden.
If every business performed the way we expect our teams to then we wouldn’t have the current economic meltdown we’re experiencing and we’d all be billionaires. But as we all know, that isn’t the case.
No one on the Georgia team– players or coaches — tries to lose games. They’re doing their best and will continue to perform at the highest level they can. If you follow college recruiting long enough, it’s evident that far fewer players meet expectations than those who become first round draft choices. Some times things work out, some times they don’t. When things get negative, it hurts the current team in the short team and recruiting in the long term.
I don’t like losing. But I also don’t like getting too down when Georgia loses … they’re too many other things to enjoy in life to let something like a football game ruin my week.
In other words, find some balance in your life. I’ve always tried to have balance, never actually achieving that goal. After my son died from leukemia 10 years ago, I had to find other things in life to channel my energies on other than being a father and taking care of his health needs.
Sports remained a part of my life, but I write more than in and enjoy photography. So find something else to do other than bashing a college student who’s playing the game to the best of his ability!
CHARLOTTE DAWG
September 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
Like I said, we are in the business of winning and Mark Richt is the CEO of that business. It is high time he act like a CEO and make the necessary changes needed to get us back to winning. Even if that means firing assistants and sitting a 5th year QB that has always had a great attitude and been an asset to the team. But it is all about winning! And we expect better!
I think what most of us are mad about is the coaching. I don’t for a second think Richt plays the best players to win. His track record proves I’m right. He let’s his feelings get in the way and he just doesn’t have the heart to fire an assistant or call Joe into his office and say “it is just not working out.” But Meyer and Saban care about the bottom line…winning…and it shows! I am envious of those programs b/c I want a CEO to be the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs…not a nice guy, father figured,mentor that cares about personal development, bla, bla, bla….IT IS ABOUT WINNING!
RxDawg
September 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
Nah Bug, I thought Joe T stunk as a player.
I just think your letting your emotions get the best of your posting and judgement. Joe wasn’t great against OSU, but he was far from being the sole reason we lost. RB’s need to up their game a lot, WR’s need to catch, blockers need to pick up blitzing, and the whole team just needs to be better between the ears. I thought OSU was overated. I thought wrong. But we were very close to being able to win that game.
Chris Pavlik
September 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
It’s awful the way people criticize who have never played the game or written for a living.
SOS Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:27 pm
Dawgface…….. I totaly agree except for Fabris. His Special teams play still has a lot to be desired.
MattInSTL
September 11th, 2009
4:27 pm
What troubles me the most is that with Joe C. not at his best, they apparently didn’t feel that Logan Gray would be more effective.
Go Dawgs!!!!
September 11th, 2009
4:27 pm
Joe Cox is a good guy but not a great QB talent. We may not have any on the bench either. Bobo and Richt need to come up with a creative game plan and quit being so predictable with playing calls. And defense MUST get pressure on the other team’s QB. It may be a brutal season.
AltamahaDawg
September 11th, 2009
4:32 pm
appearantly Joe Cox was good enough that you predicted we would score 40 something points last week. (and said the defense would give up 40 too, but lets just gloss over that if we can now))
GeorgiaGirl
September 11th, 2009
4:32 pm
JPW over at Alabama was not the stongest armed or flashiest QB, but he could manage a game with good play calling and led his team to being a few minutes from playing in the MNC. I think if Bobo had called a better game last week and kept moving forward with iterations of the first drive, we’d have come out of Stillwater with a W, plain and simple. It hurts to say, but the D did their job, if not exceptionally well, well enough to where if the offense hadn’t stalled out, we WOULD have won that game. Hoping to see in offense in Athens this weekend (and steps forward, not backwards, in the D). Go Dawgs!!!
BugKiller
September 11th, 2009
4:32 pm
Altamaha… okay, the YOU come up with a logical reason why:
JoeTIII started over Stafford.
Why Moreno, the MOST TALENTED tailback the school has seen since Hearst was forced to split carries with Brown, instead of Brown being the change of pace ‘back, which directly led to an offensive shortage and loss to SoCarlina.
WHY the hell Martinez STILL has a job when he has presided over a defense which has gotten worse EVERY YEAR under his watch.
And now, WHY he’s starting yet ANOTHER 5th year senior, who does not have the talent to lead the team to anything more than a 3rd place finish in the division, over two more talented QB’s who could use this year as a platform for next year.
Again, Altamaha, please write some more blind homer B.S. to confuse the issue and ignore the patterns.
PLEASE, Altamaha, tell us, as Kevin Bacon once did, that “All is well.”
Altamaha thought JoeTIII deserved to start because Richt said so.
Altamaha had no problem with Moreno splitting carries with a less-talented ‘back, because it was Richt’s plan.
Altamaha is one of Martinez’s biggest defenders, defending the indefensible.
Altamaha thinks Joe Cox’s weak arm can win us some games at the expense of getting another QB ready for next year, because Richt, who has an AWESOME track record of doing everything it takes to win, says so.
So come Altamaha, I can’t wait to here more B.S. from you. Enlighten us all.
gcs
September 11th, 2009
4:32 pm
I thought this article was going to be about Bobby Cox. I was about to be MAD to think you’d have sympathy for him.
Joe Cox nor any other collegian does not deserve to be ripped (except maybe that Oregon running back). Blame Mark Richt for not preparing him or for not recruiting someone better or for not having a better game plan. He is the one collecting the paycheck from all the money you spend on Saturdays.
.
Einsteindawg
September 11th, 2009
4:33 pm
Thanks Mark…good article. I hope Joe Cox has a great game, as he seems like a fine young man. However, in today’s overpriced, instant gratification world, fans and season ticket holders (like yours truly) expect results for their contributions. We are paying CMR $2.9M p/year for the next 8 years to produce a winner. Not for going 6-4 over the past 10 games and playing with the same lack of emotion as the Braves. What has happened to all the talent from the last 4 years’ “top 8 recruiting classes”? Why does ittake our 4 and 5 star running backs a couple of years to “learn our system” when other top RBs excell their freshman year at other schools? And, maybe our strength and conditioning guru needs to change some of his programs (we seem to get more than our share of injuries and we were definitely out of shape in the fourth quarter last week). Cox is not the problem…he is simply one of the symptons. Maybe the root cause is Richt? Anyway, just my opinion. Peace.
Gdawg
September 11th, 2009
4:33 pm
Aaron Murray must play not Logan Gray. This conversation should be about Murray not Gray.
SOS Dawg
September 11th, 2009
4:33 pm
OLDDAWG ….. Get real !This college football you know it comes with the territory. Now go drink you koolaids with some JD. Plese dont write that again…. its like you OLD.
BugKiller
September 11th, 2009
4:36 pm
Hey everyone, I just found a clip of Altamaha on YouTube!
Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro
2009 National Champs!!!
September 11th, 2009
4:38 pm
Cox will be fine throughout the remainder of this season. I believe there will be an NFL team willing to invest in some surgery to repair his arm so he can continue his career on the NFL level. He will be the next Rothlisburger, quiet in college and a terror in the NFL level.
Weak Sisters of the SEC
September 11th, 2009
4:38 pm
Joe Cox…..all eyes will be upon you for your remarks.
Herschel Talker
September 11th, 2009
4:39 pm
BUGKILLER – YOU’RE ON FIRE. WE NEED YOU ON THE BRAVES BLOG GETTING ON THE OTHER COX ALSO. BOOBY MUST BE FIRED! BUT YOU’RE DEAD ON ABOUT EVERYTHING HERE. GREAT WORK!
AltamahaDawg
September 11th, 2009
4:40 pm
Not even going to get into a Joe Cox debate sportmodel, this has absolutely nothing to do with MY opinion. I think the simple truth is that he represented the best chance to win, but what do I know. Maybe I am just the biggest blinded dumbass on the planet….who cares…. The question is: how are you NOT calling for Mark Richts firing when you clearly state that he is incapable of running the program. You have stated over and over that he is not, and yet……you do not stand behind your words. Again If I felt like you did, I would want him fired. Period. You are a bigger homer than me, you think the guy is incompetent and still support him.
shannon1776
September 11th, 2009
4:41 pm
people who rip Cox are idiots. We lost b/c we had three turnovers (the fumble was his fault but the int was tipped). We also lost b/c our coaches let him down. The first drive worked and then we went away from that. JC will look much better saturday night. If he doesn’t, then we can discuss new QB’s. If we win and he looks OK, let it rest.
Herschel Talker
September 11th, 2009
4:41 pm
2009 NATIONAL CHAMPS!!! @ 4:38:
TELL ME YOU DIDN’T JUST COMPARE JOE COX TO BEN ROETHLISBERGER. SERIOUSLY, PLEASE TELL ME THAT. OTHERWISE, YOU’RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF FODDER FOR THE GAYTORS AND TECH NERDS ON THIS BOARD, AND THEY WILL BE RIGHT. THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS COMPARISON EVER.