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
Troof
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
UGA claims to be a football power yet accepts mediocre performances like this. If you expect to play year in and year out with the big boys like Bama and Florida you need a coach who will not accept garbage play like this. Richt seems fine with it.
Does he actually show any emotions? Is he on anti-depressants? He has the same emotion at a big game like this as he does on his Ford commercial. LOL!!
Barkin'Dog
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
Somehow I get the feeling Florida may have held back a little the past three games, just to make Georgia look a little embarrassed today when they impressed the nation. Seemed to work, too. No matter how you slice it, Florida is a superior team. Not just in the SEC, but the nation… and they proved it today. This will be a springboard to an outstanding completion to the season, but throughout their title-winning national championship game in Pasadena. Then Tim Tebow will, no doubt, become an icon, an idol, perhaps the next Billy Graham… on steriods. That can’t be all bad. This country may need him someday. Heck, he might even be president within 11-12 years (in fact, as young as he was a stud in college football, I’d say he could be USpres in the next election or two… if he wants to). I’d probably vote for him, as I’ve learned to like they guy. He was first class in his closing comments about Georgia, too.
I wasn’t impressed with the Gators the last 3 games they played, no…but I was in this one. Congrats, Gator Fans. You deserve to crow! Now go win it all for the SEC.
RICHT IS WEARING BLACK PANTIES!
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
RICHT WILL BE FIRED BECAUSE HIS COACHES ARE FOLLOWING HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND THEREFORE WHAT EVER FAILURE IS TAKING PLACE RICHT IS CALLING THE SHOTS!!
Dark Days - At the Bottome
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
Over 49 points scored against us again … close to 100 yards in penalities … four interceptions in a half … D playing so far off receivers they were lonely … not bowl eligible … 4 and 4 and a coach that won’t admit he has serious, serious problems. Georgia has been left behind. Georgia is the most “outcoached” team in America. Willie’s weak D couldn’t even stop a simple option play that allowed Tebow to break HW’s record. I’m totally disgusted with Willie and BooBoo and I’m becoming disenchanted with CMR and his inability to field a competitive Georgia team. Are we suppose to be one of the top athletic teams in America? Where is Damon and Michael? How bout a conference and a review of the state of the Georgia Football program?
Why don’t someone do something significant? Let’s play all our promising freshmen and sophomores and forget about the toilet bowl we’ll end up somewhere in Mississippi or Montana. Let’s build for next year. Joe don’t have it … Joe never had it … Joe ain’t no good and why put Logan Gray into the game in a no-win situation to set him up to fail? Why don’t the AJC put CMR, Damon and Michael on the hot seat and force them to admit that Georgia has major problems in the football program. I can tell you now that CMR will not make any changes and we’ll go into next year with the same coaches and the same old same old.
Losing stinks but how we’re losing makes me sick.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
Let me be clear: I believe Mark Richt is a good coach. But I think those around him are less good.
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
Great SEC coaches always get potato chip commercials. Richt doesn’t have a potato chip commercial yet and it’s no sure thing he’ll get one.
Bride of ChuckyKnapp
October 31st, 2009
9:01 pm
Make that Tuberville.
Gordon
October 31st, 2009
9:02 pm
Superdog,
That was funny! I have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard! Candy Cane Socks!
Jim
October 31st, 2009
9:02 pm
Get rid of the whole coaching staff, My father said UGS would never contend for much when we were exiting the GA Dome after WVU laid the wood to our a$$e$ in the Sugar Bowl several years back. We’re awful and it is ALL defense-related. Joe Cox is not good but our D is pathetic, absolutley pathetic.
UGA COACHING STAFF
October 31st, 2009
9:03 pm
FANS
LOOK WE DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR WHINING
WE ARE GOING TO PLAY GOLF AT THE TPC TOMMORROW
SO WHAT WE LOST TO FL
JUST MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE DONATING IN THIS ROUGH ECONOMY
OUR LIFESTYLE NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED
WE WIN WE WIN WE LOSE WE LOSE
HEY WILLIE WILL YOU PASS THE DOM PERIGNOM VINTAGE 1990
I WOULD LIKE TO CELEBRATE THE UNVEILING OF THE GRAMBLIN UNIFORMS
WestOfAthens
October 31st, 2009
9:03 pm
Another down game in a down year. Did any realistic Dawg fan expect anything different? The brass within the athletic department seen the same game as we all, leave it to them.
The idiotic obscene comments here need to subside. Get a life
RICHT IS WEARING BLACK PANTIES!
October 31st, 2009
9:03 pm
Troof YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY. RICHT IS DONE. TIME TO REDO THE PROGRAM WITH A NEW HEAD COACH WHO WILL PICK HIS OWN COACHES.
Tom
October 31st, 2009
9:04 pm
Do you people remember where UGA’s program was before Richt came here. I know this season has been disappointing, but Richt is the best thing to happen to us since Herschel. How many SEC Championships did Goff and Donnan win? How many Sugar Bowls did they win? My point exactly.
JDW
October 31st, 2009
9:04 pm
I don’t expect to win every time against FL like we did in the 80’s. I do expect to be competitive, 2-7, 49-10 and 41-17 is not competitive. Fact is it is time to get better or continue to get beat. CMR has done a good job but over the last few years he has stepped back from day to day coaching and depended on the coordinators. Unfortunately I have to admit that our coordinators are weak. Our talent is good but we can’t get it done. Penalties, lack of big plays just flat letdowns. I think the turning point for me was the FL TD right before the half. Come on Willie what play did you expect? They did exactly what they do every time in that situation and we were caught completely with our pants done. Are we just asleep? This year we have played SEC games against SC, AR, LSU, Vandy and FL. In every case with the exception of LSU we have surrendered the most SEC points scored by our opponent. This is not new we have struggled defensively every year of Willies tenure with the exception of the last half of 2007. It is time for a change. On offense, we seem to be better but we just can’t hold on to the ball and we just seem so predictable. It is time for a change or we just have to accept second tier status.
BadDog
October 31st, 2009
9:04 pm
What a soft hitting defense. Their best hits were after the plays were over. Get a coach with a killer instinct instead of this marshmellow.
Ripped Again
October 31st, 2009
9:04 pm
Mark Richit is a wuss
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2009
9:05 pm
Putting Logan in in that situation reminds us a little of Bobby Cox ruining some fine young relief pitchers.
An Observer
October 31st, 2009
9:05 pm
Black helments & pants?????? Did Jerry Glanville sneak into the locker room?
C’mon Richt, gimmicks don’t win ball games….talent and solid coaching do.
How many miles was Georgia penalized? An unruly, undiciplined group of thugs, without guidance from the sidelines. It doesn’t matter though, all you whimpering bullpuppies can bask in the memory of what Gerogia football was in the days of Vince & Herschal.
GO GATORS!!!
Bat Masterson
October 31st, 2009
9:05 pm
You know Barkin’Dog, one has to be 35 years old to be the President of the USA.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
9:06 pm
Boone Logan. Logan Gray. Coincidence, Sonny?
JacketFanMarcus
October 31st, 2009
9:06 pm
Man, bout time…it Tech’s turn to shine in the state of Georgia.
Hopefully Atlanta media’s one-sided coverage of college football in the state will become more “fair and balanced”.
I swear, at times, it seemed like there was only one football program in Georgia….
RICHT IS WEARING BLACK PANTIES! AND FU_K JDW
October 31st, 2009
9:06 pm
JDW YOU ARE A SORRY AZZSE B!TCH TOO LIKE YOUR SORRY LOSING UNDERACHIEVING B!TCH AZZSE COACH!
No More
October 31st, 2009
9:07 pm
Isn’t it interesting that our offensive and defensive coordinators coach our biggest liabilities on the field – QB and DB’s. Former QB’s as HC and OC is a problem, DC in over his head is a problem, Special teams coach who appears to be clueless is a problem. Unfortunately we appear to be a team in total disarray – no leaders on the field and confused and clueless coaches on the field and in the boxes. Appears we are not doing a good job either assessing or recruiting talent. Maybe we should go after 1 – 3 star players instead of 4 -5 star players. At least those kids will be hungry and motivated to prove themselves. Any way you look at we’re screwed. If you fire the CMR and staff, we lose recruits and have to start over again – more down seasons. Best move is to unload DC and OC and staff, but good luck finding the guys who will turn it around. Bad schemes make good players look bad. Areas that need immediate turn around if we have any chance to salvage the season – Offensive line (don’t appear to know how to block), linebackers (do we have any linebackers on the field other than Curran), d-backs (way to much cushion), QB (play the freshman and move Gray to receiver), fundamentals – LEARN HOW TO TACKLE and coaches LEARN HOW TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
Dark Days - At the Bottome
October 31st, 2009
9:07 pm
Mark, can you get an interview with CMR, Damon and Michael Adams and ask what’s going to be done with the football program. I know CMR is he coach but isn’t the AD and President suppose to be ultimately responsible. CMR has shown the Bulldog fans he won’t get tough and make needed changes. How about a response from Richt and the Administration? Mark can you push the issue and get us some answers?
DaveDawg96
October 31st, 2009
9:07 pm
I couldn’t believe it when we came out in black helmets. Considering the black out last season, I thought to myself “Man, Richt must be confident we’re going to win, because if we play like usual crap he’s going to make UGA football look like an even bigger joke than it already is.” Well, “here we are again,” and now I’ve elevated my stance from “fire Willie” to “fire Richt.” He is officially clueless.
Ken R. Greene
October 31st, 2009
9:07 pm
No, I say go with all PINK the rest of the season!
DAWG
October 31st, 2009
9:08 pm
To Mark Bradley, you are a joke.
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2009
9:08 pm
Just sayin’ he didn’t do the kid any favors putting him in there. Let Cox clean up his own mess and let the kid start a series with decent field position. Yep, Bobby ruined quite a few young relievers doing them that way.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
9:09 pm
Those guys — Richt, Adams and Evans — aren’t going to say anything specific at this point in the season. But I’d be surprised if Georgia doesn’t have a new defensive coordinator next season.
RICHT IS WEARING BLACK PANTIES!
October 31st, 2009
9:09 pm
Ken R. Greene GOOD POINT!
Dick
October 31st, 2009
9:09 pm
Urban Myers couldn’t win with Mark Richt recruits. It is time to clean house. UF 5th string could beat Ga’s first string.
California Kid
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
1. Release Willie
2. Promote Rodney Garner to DC if he too plays the bend till you break D, then you find somebody else
3. Start Murray or Zach for the rest of the year…
RICHT IS WEARING BLACK PANTIES!
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
Those guys — Richt, Adams and Evans — aren’t going to say anything specific at this point in the season. But I’d be surprised if Georgia doesn’t have a new defensive coordinator next seasON
WTF THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO DO WHAT RICHT SAYS TO DO SO WHAT DIFFERENCE WITH THAT MAKE?
jhol
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
I am a graduate of UGA, and someone who has worked their whole lives in sports. I have never seen a more Cain’s Mutiny approach to coaching as I have at Georgia. Mark Richt has completely lost control of the program. I can see no reason to keep him now, after his blinded view of the offensive coordinator and the totally overmatched defensive coordinator, not to mention the assistants who are supposed to make these player block, tackle, pass, and catch.
I have given generously to the University over the years, not for tickets, but for pride. I now will not give another dime, not to penalize academics, but to see if Michael Adams, who so wanted to put his nose in Athletics, will now have the guts to do so again. I know the game plan of Damian Evans, and his cheap hentchmen in the non-money sports, and I can certainly see how he is unable to lead a major college university athletic program. Dr. Adams, get control of football, the head of the engine, and get rid of the penny pinching Evans…. By the way, why do we keep building everything except an indoor practice facility that multiple sports could use. baseball batting cages, tennis courts, soccer fields, and of course, a f’ing football indoor practice field….. sorry for the length, just pissssed
chazzo
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
2 years ago. The dawgs finished #2. Last year half the team was lost to injuries. This season is a rebuilding year. Every 3 or 4 years Richt will put together a contender.
BugKiller
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
Mark,
It is time for Mark Richt to be fired because he continues to put his personal relationship with his best friend and he rest of his horrible assistants ahead of what best for OUR team.
He has lost the moral authority to coach our football team.
Fire Mark Richt at the end of the season, let him go coach FSU.
And hire either Kyle Whittingham or Brian Kelly to become OUR Urban Meyer.
And if you don’t know how hard that was for me to write, you don’t know me.
Algonquin J. Calhoun
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
Well, hang a dunce cap on the former genius Richt! Georgia is a lousy team with lousy, cry baby fans, most of whom have never seen the inside of a college classroom. You little girls need to shut the hell up and recognize your team is nothing but hype and it was ever thus. Tech is going to get some more of that ass when UGA gets walked on by the Jackets!
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
I JUST CONTACTED SAN QUETIN STATE PRISON
THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL SHIP THEIR STRIPED PRISON UNIFORMS NEXT WEEK
JUST IN TIME FOR THE TENN TECH GAME
THE BLACK HELMETS WILL MATCH JUST FINE
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
You take somebody who’s been in trouble with the law and say they has to go to anger management classes, then you recruit ‘em and put ‘em on the football field and all the anger is gone and it’s just meanness and that causes penalties. Coach was always about that when some of the guys was stealing hub caps and they’d lose playing time.
RICHT IS WEARING BLACK PANTIES!
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
FIRE RICHT NOW!!
brewdawg
October 31st, 2009
9:12 pm
Mark, agreed on your 9:01. Will Richt make the necessary changes? CAN he make the necessary changes?
This feels like 2006, except that year you had a true freshman QB for most of the year, so some struggles were to be expected. This year I’m not sure what we have to build on going forward.
I think change in the off-season is needed. And if that means we lose some recruits so be it. Why ANY defensive recruit would hinge is college decision on Willie Martinez being there is perplexing. Don’t they want to improve in college?
Good work Mark, and as always, be well.
Bat Masterson
October 31st, 2009
9:13 pm
2 years later than they should have, Mark.
Ginger
October 31st, 2009
9:13 pm
No doubt this is a bad yr by Ga. standards…but do think that it is possible to fix these problems.
We need to salvage what we can of this season and built for next yr and keep recruiting hard.
Have to change our defensive philosophy and challenge every play. Coaches must coach harder than they have ever coached—better defense…
Richt and Bobo have to coach up Joe Cox or Logan Gray…At this point don’t know that I would risk playing Murray or Mettenberger when they could red-shirt….If we play Murray or Mettenberger now–we only have them for last 4 games and thus lose a whole yr of eligibility. Better QB play is a must.
Running game and O-Line looked better today….let’s continue to improve….Searles may have a better combination now at O-Line with today’s progress
Richt—you have to stop the penalties and turnovers….
Fla game is much more respectable without the dumb penalties and turnovers
Lowcountry Dawg
October 31st, 2009
9:13 pm
I have always defended coach Richt. But I have to tell you, I sense a real lack of focus, discipline,
energy, and enthusiasm from him. It really started in 2006-2007. Then he appeared to get his fire back.
But this year, it’s like his mind is somewhere else. I sense there is something that is distracting him.
It has been compounded by mediocre assistant coaches(not all) and the loss of exceptional skill talent
this year.
Jim
October 31st, 2009
9:14 pm
Richt needs to learn to coach and quit relying on gimmicks to win (and even those don’t work).
Dawg
October 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
Mark what do you think about the Brandon Spikes eye poking of washaun?
Sam Ivers
October 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
Mark Bradley’s story analyzed the situation perfectly.
Nothing is going to change for the better until we get an all-new coaching staff. How many more years will we have to put up with this mediocrity?
It’s up to Damon Evans and Michael Adams. I think the alumni and fans have spoken.
You people are idiots!
October 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
Richt is not the problem but he’s got to be firm. Forget redshirting Murray (UGA will have him for 3 yrs and 4 games)… Play mostly non-senior players… Fire Martinez and pay for the best ccrdinator money can buy… We will be good next year.
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
9:16 pm
MARK BRADLEY
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PRISON UNIFORMS NEXT WEEK
Dawg
October 31st, 2009
9:16 pm
look on youtube!!! search brandon spike you will see it