Another black day in Jax reveals UGA as second-rate
One is hunting a third BCS title; the other isn't bowl-eligible. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Jacksonville — The game was a total loss, but the lesson imparted need not be. After yet another lost Saturday in Duval County, this much is beyond dispute: Georgia is no longer a major player in its division, let alone the nation.
Mark Richt began his somber media briefing by saying, “Well, here we are again.” And there they were, lopsided losers. It was 49-10 last season and 41-17 this time, and for all the good work Richt did in the early part of this decade, he and his program have been lapped by Urban Meyer. And Richt, once so clever and driven, seems to have run out of ideas.
He tried the color-scheme gimmick Saturday, presenting his players with black helmets after they’d warmed up in the usual red headgear. The upshot of this was to make Georgia look like an Arena league team and to cow the nation’s No. 1 team not one whit. After 11 1/2 minutes, the guys in the orange hats led the guys in the black hats 14-0.
“It’s not the helmet,” safety Reshad Jones said. “It’s what inside the helmet.”
Well, yes. With an extra week to prepare, Willie Martinez seemed even more witless than usual. As bad as the Gators’ first two touchdowns were, the third was an affront to everything Red and Black. Facing third-and-3 at the Georgia 23 with 1:32 left in the half, Florida ran a simple option. Tim Tebow faked a handoff and burst up the middle. He scored the touchdown that put him ahead of the hallowed Herschel Walker without being touched.
“They’re a good team,” said defensive end Justin Houston. “But it seemed like every time we made a bad play, they capitalized on it.”
In the first half Georgia had eight penalties. In the second it had four interceptions. If it was to have any chance against the Gators, it had to play a clean game. Instead it authored another in a series of messes.
If we’re to believe recruiting rankings, the gulf between Georgia and Florida shouldn’t be so pronounced. But Saturday was another installment of men against boys, and it called to mind the barb Steve Spurrier sunk into Ray Goff in this stadium 18 years ago: “Georgia gets all these players — I don’t know what happens to them.”
Players go to Florida and get, to invoke another Spurrier-ism, coached up. Players come to Georgia and are left to their own devices. Martinez is a substandard defensive coordinator, and no other position coach can be said to have done fabulous work. (Unless you count Kevin Butler, who isn’t a coach but who did sire the prodigious punter Drew Butler.)
Said Richt: “We’re 4-4 this season. I don’t think it’s an indictment of the program. I think it’s an indictment of where we are this year.”
Except Georgia has underachieved three times in the past four seasons, and as Richt himself noted Saturday: “There’s no guarantee of a bowl. The question is, will we play a game when we don’t do something that hinders us from being the best we can be?”
The Bulldogs have never lost more than four games under Richt, but they’ve never been 4-4 under this coach, either. Regarding possible changes, he said: “It’s not good to make decisions within minutes of an emotional game. You’ve got to settle your mind and settle your spirit, and then see where you are.”
As darkness fell on Halloween 2009, Georgia was again where it has been too often. The program that has all the resources was left to wonder why it has fallen so far behind Florida. And the ugly truth has never been more apparent: Florida might or might not have better players, but it absolutely has better coaches.
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1,165 comments Add your comment
RED DOG 77
November 1st, 2009
12:35 am
A total loss? Bradley, UGA has enjoyed more success through the CMR years than all but a few. Today, the Oline protected and blocked well, Ealey discovered he could run the football against the best the SEC has to offer. Receivers are among the best in the country. We have some great young players on D. Yes we are having a down year! Hell , Oregon just beat S.Cal 47to 20. No one stays up forever. I am a Georgia Bulldog and I am damned proud of it . The RED and BLACK always comes back!!!! Now how does that sit with you sniveling little crybabies. RED says GO DOGS!!!!!!!
cmac
November 1st, 2009
12:35 am
Second rate?!!! I would say UGH is in the lower third of he conference. Third rate is more accurate! This team & caoching staff is terrible. I feel bad for AJ Greene who is the only player on the roster!
Yelloe Fuzz
November 1st, 2009
12:35 am
See you in Atlanta Novemeber 28th azzholes.
Scalded dog
November 1st, 2009
12:36 am
No emotion.
No execution.
No leadership.
No coaching.
“No soup for you, come back one year”.
Sanford Drive
November 1st, 2009
12:37 am
AJ Green and Drew Butler are the only good players on the team.
Yelloe Fuzz
November 1st, 2009
12:37 am
Red Dog 77 (Dawg Nation spokesperson),
Look me up when you tailgate at our place
nate
November 1st, 2009
12:37 am
Right now, UGA would lose against TCU and probably have a competitive game against SMU due to its defense. This has nothing to do with talent but with the defensive coaching schemes by Willie Martinez. Both these schools have a much smaller budget than UGA.
If they couldn’t hire a solid DC at the end of the year, maybe they should fire the whole lot, including CMR, shell out the money for Will Muschamp for the head coach and match what Mack Brown is making now.
I would like to keep CMR as an offensive resource for the team and then get a stellar DC. But if CMR would not part with Willie then force his hand by suggesting a change in the head coaching position.
Donnan was fired for less.
Free Willie!!!!
TidePrideGA
November 1st, 2009
12:38 am
LMAO, Tech’s 8-1 and UGAG fans are busting there balls? Look in the mirror UGAG, your undisciplined group of players and coaches got there butts handed to them. You have a soft team and an even softer coach. Have fun playing in the toilet bowl.
Kevin G.
November 1st, 2009
12:38 am
FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ AND MIKE BOBO NOW WE ARE GOING BACK TOWARD RAY GOFF THE BULLDAWG NATION MUST PRESSURE COACH RICHT TO CLEAN HOUSE AND LETS LET MURRAY QUARTERBACK AND GET READY FOR NEXT SEASON.
wreckmaniac
November 1st, 2009
12:39 am
Can’t UG recruit its way out of these problems ? Don’t 4 and 5 star
recruits solve all problems ?
Joe
November 1st, 2009
12:39 am
Georgia Tech is the best college team in Georgia and I’ am happy.
Joe
November 1st, 2009
12:41 am
I hope Georgia Tech run the score up on UGA just for the heck of it. Let’s Go Yellow Jackets.
The Dawg Grad
November 1st, 2009
12:41 am
I Graduated from UGA and have been a fan for 30 years. I have felt the sting of defeat manys times and it hurt, but NONE any worse than today! Today it was absolutely horrible to be a Georgia Bulldog and I do not see hoe Mark Richt can make it better without firing SOME ( more than ONE) coaches!
GTOldSchool21
November 1st, 2009
12:42 am
Tech dropped 600 yards on another SEC school and 56 points compared to UGA 300 yds and 35 points against Vandy. Tech is 2-0 in SEC conference play this year. 6 pages of foul bullpups on the AJC blog..that in itself is a sign that the UGA Program is about to crash and burn…maybe you will get a win next week against sorry Tenn Tech…that’s the only Tech school you’ll be at this year….
Reality Train
November 1st, 2009
12:43 am
The “thug” talk always amazes me. The people who mention “thugs” wouldn’t care less if the team was 8-0. Most of the Top 25 teams have “thugs” scattered throughout their rosters, but no one is cleaning house at those schools. I can only shake my head at the UGA fans who like to climb up on the moral high horse and tsk-tsk the “thugs” once the team stumbles. On the other side of the coin, a few years back, 90% of the fabled “Bulldog Nation” (stretching all the way from just north of Jacksonville to just south of Chattanooga) was weak in the knees over CMR’s overt Christianity, what with the team chaplain and team prayer meetings and such. I guess the moral fiber of your coach means alot …… when you’re winning. Most of The Bulldog Nation would support the hiring of Beelzebub himself and stocking the roster with hard core thugs, if it resulted in a 12-0 season. Winning is everything, baby.
Hawaii Dawg
November 1st, 2009
12:44 am
It’s easy to come down on the program when things get tough. I want to go there too. But these things happen and I believe that Mark Richt will right this ship. This is not the first time we’ve been down and it won’t be the last. However, if you are a true DAWG fan then you know the best is yet to come. So vent your fustrations but dont give up on the DAWGS when they need you the most. Lastly, Mark Bradley, I hope that when good times roll again you are as positive with your articles as you are negative now.
Sanford Drive
November 1st, 2009
12:45 am
Gator Bait, We play a home-and-home against Clemson again in a few years.
bulldawg4life
November 1st, 2009
12:46 am
i’m not stupid, and cant deny the gators lashing us-out over the past decade. but in the majority of those games, the team who was more physical for 4quarters won. until we get back to, playing bulldawg football then well/we know the outcome
Denver Dog
November 1st, 2009
12:47 am
THWG, go back to DeVry. In 30 years when you catch us, then you can talk. Right now you are having a good year, enjoy what TECH does. You must not have a blog at TECH. I guess it is fun having the better team, and of course, according to all rankings we have the better school. I hope you don’t go to the O bowl, I hope you go to the Rose bowl for the BCS Championship. THat would be great for college football, and for Tech. So KMACS
ncDawgie
November 1st, 2009
12:47 am
Duke has a better record than us right now. Cutcliffe in ‘11. I live in same neighborhood, I can do the pre-interview.
cmac
November 1st, 2009
12:48 am
This team is beyond bad. Look at the losses over the last two seasons & you will see a program in free-fall. 2 of the last 3 starting QB for UGH would be lucky to start for Div II schools. We have a terrible defensive scheme & worst plyers to actually play it. There is no imagination on offense & the OL is dreadful. The team is undisciplined, poorly recruited & poorly coached.
Until the fans start making the Athletic Dept & the sponsors start feeling the “pain”, there will be no changes. How could this program have finished #2 in the country less than 2 years ago? What you have is a bunch of overpaid coaches who have no hunger to win & no desire to excel. This is passed on to the players. Maybe next week UGH can break out the white helmets w/ red pants. If that doesn’t work, how bout the silver helmets w/ white pants. If neither of those get the win, maybe the coaches & players can remove their lace panties!
justforinfo
November 1st, 2009
12:48 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDOy-RMIpF0
Joe
November 1st, 2009
12:49 am
Mark Richt may not be the right coach at Georgia he just don’t have that winning attitude that the team needs. All those top recruiting classes Georgia has had and have not yet won a national championship under Mark Richt and Urban Meyer has won 2 and Les Miles have won 1 and Mark Richt has been in the SEC longer than those two coaches it’s a shame.
Big Dawg
November 1st, 2009
12:51 am
Have faith fellow Dawgs! Look at who we lost off of last year’s team. And read my typing – UGA will be a favorite for the National Title next year. Young team but maturing – some key 5* recruits the likes of Ogletree.
ncDawgie
November 1st, 2009
12:53 am
Big Dawg, you’re high. Maybe in title contention in ‘11. That’s a big maybe.
Flatsdawg1
November 1st, 2009
12:53 am
Play the season out . Get free pizza from papajohn’s. Play logan some so he gets that deer in the headlights look out of his eyes, Fire martinez, let bobo coach up qb’s, and take over play calling and lose the freaking Grambling uni’s!
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
12:55 am
Yellow Fuzz-
when you stop sucking on that pole you will perhaps realize we have kicked your AZZ almost every year you pathetic pos. I know fans like you, suddenly Florida fans b/c they do what you CANT do, win. You suck and will always suck. And more importantly you are a a loser. Go away now. . .you probably aren’t even a Tech grad, your post clearly indicate your less than average IQ.
cmac
November 1st, 2009
12:55 am
Hey Big Dawg … keep drinking the cool-aid! This program will not compete for third place in the SEC EAST! What the hell are you watching?
TidePrideGA
November 1st, 2009
12:55 am
Have faith fellow Dawgs! Look at who we lost off of last year’s team. And read my typing – UGA will be a favorite for the National Title next year. Young team but maturing – some key 5* recruits the likes of Ogletree.
______________________________________________________________________
LMAO, what kind of crack are you smoking? You’re not even the best team in the state. Tech is. LOL
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
12:57 am
Tech is??? Since when? One decent season? You are the one smoking crack loser.
keith
November 1st, 2009
12:59 am
what about bobo? under richt’s coordinating georgia’s numbers were significantly better. I say fire bobo and let richt call the plays again
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
12:59 am
Iowa would kick the shizzit out of Florida. However, Bama will crush Florida in the SEC and play U Texas for the NC game. Iowa plays Uf and wins easily. Over-rated.
keith
November 1st, 2009
1:00 am
and we definately need a qb
TidePrideGA
November 1st, 2009
1:00 am
Tech is??? Since when? One decent season? You are the one smoking crack loser.
_________________________________________________________________
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
1:00 am
Bobo, Martinez and Richt should go. Too much talent in Athens to be wasted like this. Very sad.
bugsquacher
November 1st, 2009
1:00 am
we are now the joke of the sec. so instead of focusing on football, we are more concerned with changing the color of our uniforms… what a joke,,,, its time to make some coaching changes in Athens,,,,hell fire the whole bunch….. they can get a job in the circus as clowns,,,, they’ve proven the know how in the sec
TidePrideGA
November 1st, 2009
1:01 am
Tech is??? Since when? One decent season? You are the one smoking crack loser.
___________________________________________________________________
LOL poor baby, have fun playing in Shreveport or Memphis. you are right about one think. UGAG does suck.
mash the bug
November 1st, 2009
1:03 am
what low ranks the bulldogs have fallen. what happened, did we take our eye off the football? yes, we are too concerned with the color of our outfits…. please, this is now bordering on psycho….
mash the bug
November 1st, 2009
1:03 am
please please uga president fire all the football coaches…
mash the bug
November 1st, 2009
1:04 am
we suck
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
1:04 am
Yeah, I dog them b/c they underperform. Tech is overperforming for now. I hope Bama rips UF but can’t wait to see Iowa trounce Florida. Why are u dogging UGa? Bama better get their act together or else. You know it is the truth. I hope they can do it.
cmac
November 1st, 2009
1:05 am
Joe Cox = Joe Terashinski = Gregg Talley = BAD SEASON!!
Mark Richt = Jim Donnan = Ray Goof = TIME TO GO!
scottbravesfan
November 1st, 2009
1:06 am
You guys at Georgia just need to realize that you are not a real national champion threat. The top players are not going to go to Georgia. They are going to go to Florida, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, and even Auburn. And the way Georgia Tech is playing now they are going to start getting the good players in state.
gatorman770
November 1st, 2009
1:07 am
WE would have won if:
We didn’t have to play on the Gators home field every year.
We had wore dem silver britches.
We we hadn’t had the week off to prepare.
We had wore our red helmets.
We had danced more after each score.
We had purposely poked both of Tebows eyes out.
We had the officials on our side.
The officials weren’t just protecting the Gators so they can win the SEC.
We had taken even more unsportsmanlike shots at Gator players.
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
1:07 am
Sad to see great athletes underperform. I am a Hawkeye fan obviously, not a Dawg fan. Living in Atlanta can’t help but see what has happened to them. Pathetic. But to hear Tech fans dog Uga is a joke. One good year? You guys are losers. Why don’t you try to win more than one in a row before talking shizzit?? Losers. At least we are undefeated.
Freddy
November 1st, 2009
1:07 am
2 weeks to prepare. AND YOU GIVE UP 41 and score 17. What a joke. The whole coaching staff should be canned. Be lucky if you win any more games
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
1:09 am
Scott -
give a life and learn football. even as a non-uga fan, they get incredible talent so shut the f up. you ar just stupid. they only have the best wr in the nation. people down here are stupid about football. Go Hawkeyes.
DawgGirl24
November 1st, 2009
1:09 am
Screw u! Mark doesnt need to be fired! We just need to get our head out of our ass and figure out how to play this game without Matt and Knowshon
john
November 1st, 2009
1:10 am
A painful Amen. The 2nd half of 2007 was a fluke in an otherwise constant 4-yr slide to mediocrity since Van Gorder left.
Georgia you suck
November 1st, 2009
1:11 am
Gatorman –
STFU – you have no class. You mouth will shut when Bama shuts it for you. Get a life and crawl back in your hole. Best teams are Bama, Texas, Iowa then Uf. Hope we play you and knock you on your pathetic butt.