UGA fans, what’s an acceptable result in Jacksonville?
Is it possible to lose to the hated Gators and still feel good? (AJC photo by Pouya Dianat)
Georgia heads to Jacksonville unranked, which it almost never is, and a two-touchdown underdog, which it never is. It will be met by a team that hasn’t lost since September 2008, a team tracking a second consecutive BCS title. (Know how many schools have won consecutive BCS titles? None.)
Put simply, Georgia is up against it in a way unaccustomed to Georgia teams under Mark Richt. It lost to Florida 49-10 a year ago in what seemed a coin-flip game going in. This one is no coin flip. This outcome seems foregone.
But hope springs eternal in the breast of every fan, and on the day before Halloween I want to ask Dawg fans this question: What would you deem an acceptable outcome Saturday?
A narrow and honorable loss? (Within a touchdown, say.) Or is actual victory the only satisfactory result? And here’s a twist: If beating Florida convinces Mark Richt he doesn’t need to make changes within his program, would you rather Georgia lose? Or would beating the Gators when they’re ranked No. 1 be worth another year of Willie Martinez?
I’d put up a poll, but I don’t think the parameters of a poll are broad enough. I’m interested in your thoughts. So rather that click on “yes” or “no,” I invite you denizens of Bulldog Nation to avail yourselves of the white comment box below. And I thank you in advance. And you’ll hear from me again Saturday afternoon from you-know-where.
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700 comments Add your comment
Dangerous
October 30th, 2009
11:14 am
Saban fired Major Applewhite when he figured out in one season that the kid was in over his head. Richt it’s about time you did the same with Bobo and while your at it do let the door hit Martinez in the a$$ when you fire him too (too stupid to realize that zone with no pressure doesn’t work).
SEC powerhouse NOT
October 30th, 2009
11:14 am
I can understand why fans could be in awe of Fl and Bama ranked number 1 and 2 because supposedly geniuses that have the inside on sports see it and vote that way..but why do you local sportswriters agree? Look at both of their schedules. Fl played Troy, Charleston Southern and will play FIU, and big deal win over Ms St. Bama played FIU, North Texas and upcoming Chattanooga. The two teams do not even play each other in regular season. Who are the sissys of these athletic departments tha sets up these opponents? At least, UGA had the guts to play Oklahoma State. I can see one Div 1A school for everyone to play as your mulligan, but 3 of them? And you expect me to crown you number one? PLAY SOMEBODY.. What a crock of manure
Mobile Dawg
October 30th, 2009
11:14 am
I’m dressing up as ERK for Halloween, Let’s hope the team decides to be the Dawgs for Halloween.
HBTD
October 30th, 2009
11:16 am
THWG. You’ll deserve all the payback in the world come November 28. It’s pretty apparent that you suffer from an inferiority complex, but you and your ilk are digging some pretty deep holes that your’re going lie in for a year. See you in November!
Mobile Dawg
October 30th, 2009
11:17 am
Reality, if that’s your post I take back what I said earlier. I think it might be a poser, hope so….
TN Jeff
October 30th, 2009
11:20 am
If winning means another year of Willie – let the Big Pup lose & lose magnificently!!!!
Dangerous
October 30th, 2009
11:21 am
Bobo’s just too predictable. How can you not have a serious slant package in your book and all you do is run out of the I-formation. A draw out of a pass formation would be nice to see. How can you possibly sit by and under utilize Orson Charles.
ratherBgambling
October 30th, 2009
11:22 am
All this sounds like UGA is joining UT in the race for the moral victory championship. Its pathetic!
Bozo and the Tan Man…………
ratherBgambling
October 30th, 2009
11:23 am
Enter your comments here
Pitbull
October 30th, 2009
11:28 am
I’m selling “Free Willie”, T shirts and they are flying off the shelves!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
October 30th, 2009
11:29 am
I found my rose colored glasses, and stumbled upon some of the General’s Solvent. In my dreams I saw Urban smiling while he was calling a time out and it really pissed me off. GATA
Kendawg
October 30th, 2009
11:31 am
As long as we don’t lose by more than 35 points, I’d call that a moral victory for the Dawgs. Frankly, I don’t mind losing to the Gators as long as Willie is gone after the season.
Villa Rica DAWG
October 30th, 2009
11:31 am
My heart says yes, my brain says no…
Something tells me my 2 year old isn’t going to be waiting until after the game tomorrow for me to take him trick-or-treating…
Stop the bleeding…
Dangerous
October 30th, 2009
11:32 am
Granny always said if you weren’t making dust you were eating it. GA at this point looks like Pig Pen from the Peanuts coming out of the tunnel and onto the field.
Dawg Day
October 30th, 2009
11:35 am
I know Georgia fans are down, but be prepared to get excited. Florida is tired and Georgia has had a bye week. Our lines are going to dominate the game and we will win. It might be close because Florida has a such a good defense, but Georgia is going to win this game.
Dangerous
October 30th, 2009
11:36 am
Dawg Day, no offense, but try sticking yourself with a pin.
Damn Good Dawg
October 30th, 2009
11:38 am
Mark,
I think Willie stays even if we lose to Florida and Tech and give up points, don’t you?
Richt has made it clear, his trust is in Willie.
I don’t think Damon Evans dare push his buttons, with what may be a job opening in Tallahassee soon.
Your thoughts?
Pitbull
October 30th, 2009
11:38 am
Hey Dawg Day, Ga going to win, sounds great! Reminds me of what we use to say during Ray Goofs years.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
October 30th, 2009
11:38 am
Don’t think the Dawgs are capable of winning a shootout with this Fla defense, and T-BAG gets well running and passing against us . If we lined up in the wishbone and COULD get three yards and a cloud of dust all day and only give the lizards 4 or 5 possessions we could possibly pull it out but no blocking leads to minus 1 yard and a puddle of mud ,
SO LETS JUST PLAY WITH PASSION LOL.
anyway
GO DAWGS !!!!!!!!!! please shock me and the football world
I want to hear Jimmy Johnson talking about the big upset on fox sunday !
GaGator
October 30th, 2009
11:42 am
The Gators certainly respect your Georgia team more than the fans on this blog. GA has a ton of good players that can over come the coaching for this game and coach Meyer has nothing but good things to say about your front four on defense, he also thinks it’s a toss up for who the best wide receivers in the country is—-your #8 or Alabama’s #8 and your offensive line is big, strong and experienced.. That being said, the Gators will still need to help out with 4-5 turnovers and your defense/special teams must score some points. The Gator defense gets back four starters and is just too strong for the Dawg’s offense, unless they start inside the Gator 20. The Dawgs should be in the game unless the Gators score early from outside the red zone. If the Gators make the Dawgs one-dimensional and are forced to catch up passing, it could get ugly. To me, it’s a game that could go either way depending on turnovers.
Pit bull
October 30th, 2009
11:42 am
Damn good dawg, Bowden isn’t going anywhere. He has a guaranteed lifetime verbal contract. He will stay until he holds the total win record!
collegeballfan
October 30th, 2009
11:43 am
I believe UGA will win this game, run the table on the remainder of the schedule. Richt & Martinez will both retire from UGA in the low to mid 60’s after long careers.
Get used to it.
DawgTired
October 30th, 2009
11:44 am
Sadly, if we beat the spread that would be a “moral” win in my book.
OldSkoolDawg
October 30th, 2009
11:48 am
You never see Urban Meyer and PapaJohn’s founder John Schnatter at the same time… Coincidence? I think not.
They are one and the same.
http://www.fastcasual.com/images/John_Schnatter_pizza_inside.jpg
Get real
October 30th, 2009
11:49 am
Anyone that thinks Richt would bolt to FSU is nuts. He clearly loves Athens, and his young family loves it as well. No way he would uproot them to start all over in another city, even if he wanted the FSU job. It’s simply a bad year, nothing to get upset over. Every program goes through good and bad seasons. Richt will right the ship so we can get off to a great start next year. Just keep your heads up and cheer hard for the team this weekend. Go Dawgs!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 30th, 2009
11:49 am
Mobile Dawg my ‘type” believes the guy running the show knows what he is doing.This season is far from over ..you can pack it in if you like ..but I’m going to have some faith that the man getting paid to coach the team…knows what adjustments he needs to make.. be they scheme,personnel or staff and will rise to the challenge.Your” type” were chirping the same noise in 07 after the Tenn game..The game is tomorrow we’ll find out shortly!
Richt Is Nice
October 30th, 2009
11:49 am
2 & 6 vs FL. Soon to be 2 & 7. What a nice guy!
Dawg Day
October 30th, 2009
11:50 am
No seriously we are going to win this game. Look Florida is still going to win the East and play Bama for the SEC title, but we are going to win this game. Its just one of those quirks on the schedule for Florida.
By the way we still need to fire Martinez.
No. Ga. bob
October 30th, 2009
11:50 am
I’m afraid that the dogs are in for a reality check. Cox will be lucky to get the ball in his hands. Just remember folks there’s more than one Willie on this team.
Gators 42 Dogs 6
Delbert D.
October 30th, 2009
11:50 am
Read Paul Newberry’s Associated Press article today. Quotes from players on the state of the team. Richt has got to be concerned.
L. Muson
October 30th, 2009
11:51 am
Dawgs shock the conference and beat fla in their own backyard 24-22. you heard it here.. Lauren, whatdoyagot?
Dawg Day
October 30th, 2009
11:51 am
Gator Fans – this one is going to hurt. Sorry. Maybe you will beat Bama for redemption.
That's why they play the game
October 30th, 2009
11:55 am
There is another view to take concerning the Georgia-Florida game. Most people have a short memory. In 2007, Georgia got clobbered by Tennessee 35-14 in Knoxville, barely beat Vandy 20-17 in Nashville, then stomped Florida 42-30.It can happen again,especially with two weeks to get ready. All the media hype about the mighty Gators is ridiculous.Georgia would be 5-2, (5-1 SEC) and Florida 6-1, (5-1 SEC) if not for the suspended refs.If Georgia and South Carolina both run the table, the Dawgs win the SEC East.The Georgia defense can play just as strong as Arkansas did against Florida. Coach Richt has only lost 4 games twice in the previous 8 seasons and will have his team ready for the upset.
Dawg Day
October 30th, 2009
11:55 am
Come on people. The bye week means everything. Look how Tenn almost upset Alabama. Alabama is a much better team then Tenn. But the vols had a bye week. Look what happened with the Falcons. The birds come off the bye and trounced the 49ers and then struggled with the bears and got ripped by the cowboys both teams coming off byes. This will not be a blow out.
Mr Reality
October 30th, 2009
11:55 am
Fla. 48 Ga. 17. This will not even be that close. The Ga. players will show that they do not have the heart required to compete and their coach is a non inspiring “con man” that learned from the master “con man”, Bobby B.
Damn Good Dawg
October 30th, 2009
11:57 am
Get Real,
Richt is going to be told what to do, make staff changes he doesn’t want to make, “love Athens”, and would pass on a $4 mil/yr deal from FSU? Gotcha!
You keep telling yourself that, if it makes you feel better!
Tom
October 30th, 2009
11:58 am
“Georgia fans are passionate, but let’s face it – they’re not the brightest fans. Passionate, but not bright.” – Eric Zeier, November 21, 2001
Dawgsville
October 30th, 2009
12:00 pm
Realistically, losing by no more than 30 points would be a moral victory of sorts by UGA. I play war games a lot, and sometimes one side is so over-matched that they’ll lose every time, so there are victory conditions where they can win if they keep the battle closer than it was in reality. That’s pretty much the situation in this year’s game with Florida.
It’s probably advantageous for UGA to get blown out, since that would result in more heat on the UGA athletic office to dump Richt or at the very least, force Martinez and Bobo out.
ugaaccountant
October 30th, 2009
12:03 pm
Hold richt accountable:
“If you are an actual accountant, then I ask:”
Yes, I’m a CPA, it’s not exactly a sexy blog name someone would fake.
“Would you recommend paying someone $3M to not do their job? Does that makes any sense from a business point of view?”
Richt’s job is to be competitive in the SEC most years and nationally sometimes. He’s done that.
“Yes, I have high standards. Richt didn’t make the tough decisions he needed to last year.”
Agreed – If I were Richt, I would have specific performance plans for the defensive and offensive coaching staffs. These would be specific to our schedule and personnel. For instance last year our defense didn’t have dominant personnel, but a 25 point per game average might have been reasonable. Martinez would have likely failed any such plan in 2008 and certainly is failing this year. Bobo would be on thin ice this year as well.
“The program is slipping.”
Disagree, the program is fine if a change is made in DC position.
“Do you honestly see major advances next year?”
Yes, with or without a new DC, our talent level next year is significantly more experienced and we’re losing few impact players,and we have an easier schedule.
“How many years before you’re satisfied that Richt can’t get it done?”
He’s earned 2 consecutive losing seasons of forgiveness from me with this kind of schedule.
That's why they play the game
October 30th, 2009
12:05 pm
IN 2007, IN A 3 GAME STRETCH, GEORGIA LOST TO THE VOLS 35-14,…………….
BEAT VANDY 20-17,……….THEN BEAT the unmighty gators 42-30
Dagny
October 30th, 2009
12:06 pm
To those who say that Mark Richt will never leave Athens for money, wake up and get real. For enough $$$, he would be in Tallahassee tomorrow. Do you really believe he enjoys coddling the players-thugs-morons he has at UGA or that Athens is a great place to live? It’s all about the $$$.
Topp Dogg
October 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
I would give up the rest of the season for a new DC and OC. UF will win big and score at will. 31-7 sounds reasonable.
Yellow Fuzz
October 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
I think georgia will beat Florida by 3 touch downs and go on to be the first BCS National Champion with 3 losses. My girlfriend made me watch a lot of harry munson tapes last night as well as You Tube clips of the dogs end zone celebration in Jax and storming the field dressed in black against Auburn. I am absolutely jacked up and from now on will be a member of the dog nation.
lol. NOT!
Mark
October 30th, 2009
12:11 pm
Gators 49-21
Its a gator world
October 30th, 2009
12:12 pm
Beatdown is coming. Just accept it and begin deliberating on whether or not you want to get rid of RIcht now or wait one or 2 years before firing him. Get the pain over with and fire him after next year when he will once again lose to us, probably Tech which is rising as Georgia drops, UT, Auburn, Georgia probably goes 3 or 4 wins in its sec schedule next year. CMR gets fired at the end of next year. Book it!
Bess in Uvalda
October 30th, 2009
12:12 pm
Only 27 hours until kickoff. I make the score Florida 42, UGA 10. If Tebow is having another so-so game, it could be closer, but UGA will not win. Sad to say, the Dawgs will have enough turnovers, penalties, and brainfarts to shoot themselves in the foot too many times to have a chance to win. And then there’s the coaching, or lack of coaching, I should say.
I want to win too, but I’m not counting on it.
Reza
October 30th, 2009
12:14 pm
Dawgs over Gators in a close defensive struggle, 17-14. Just a strong hunch.
Dawgsville
October 30th, 2009
12:18 pm
I would love to see “Its a gator world” eat his words, but he’s right about Richt.
Mother Marie
October 30th, 2009
12:20 pm
Gators 42, Dawgs 24.
Cuz
October 30th, 2009
12:23 pm
A moral victory is your Mom being grateful you married a schoolteacher instead of the cocktail waitress floozy.
Nothing is acceptable except for total annihliation of the Gators. No quarter asked, none given. Raise the black flag.
Well that is my dream anyway.
Mark looking forward to blogging with you during the St. Johns River Massacre.