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
NuclearDawg
November 1st, 2009
10:31 am
Thank you, Captain Obvious, for this article….I wish I had your job..it should be so easy to watch a couple of games, and then state the obvious observation that Georgia is terrible this year to get the bloggers going.
It is apparent to any moron that UGA needs some coaching changes..but what UGA needs more than that is some fans with some balls…as a 45 year dawg fan..I get so tired of these know-it-alls on this blog who seem to think they can change the course of the program by starting a fire Richt website, etc,etc…your just a fan..no more, no less.
G8TR
November 1st, 2009
10:31 am
Did anyone notice Brandon James getting his helmet/facemask violently twisted by a Dawg on the opening Gator drive? Geez, Dawgs. Get over yourselves. This is football. Stop with the ref call whining, the costume changes, the open-date excuses, etc., and try to develop a program that’s competitive beyond 1980.
Dawg Fud
November 1st, 2009
10:32 am
Bye, bye Richt. It was nice knowing you. 2-7 against Florida ain’t going to cut it.
You have lost the program. You have lost the alumni. We have become gimmicks and no substance.
I hate it for both os uf because you are good man but you have gotten lazy and allowed lazy, undisciplined football to creep into the program.
Too bad you will leave without a national title. However, had you beat South Carolina at home in 2007 you would have likely gotten your shot.
This stinks but it seems Richt just does not have nor does he care to have.
These days “hunker down” means bend over and take it in the rear.
Thanks for the memories. There were definitely some good ones.
BullDawgMike
November 1st, 2009
10:33 am
I said in this blog yesterday, we have become as a team, a non-issue. By this I mean the Fla, Ala, and LSU teams have completly passed us by. Possibly TN. also. And Tn. has done this in only one season. We have been welcomed into the lower tier of the mighty SEC. Unless wholesale changes are made, and I mean ASAP , we will always be linked with Miss. St, Ole Miss, Vandy and Ken. When a new season starts and everyone is picking who they believe will end up playing for the SEC champ. at the dome, UGA will not be mentioned. This has already happened at once mighty Auburn. So it is happening in Athens now. Coaches are like Zebras in that they will never change their stripes. They are what they are. You either live with it, or clean house. We will find out very soon, if those at the top, are willing to do what we all know is necessary. I for one, do not think they will. It is a sad time in the dawg nation…….
Scott
November 1st, 2009
10:33 am
I’ve never seen and D that gives up more 3rd and long first downs and an O that converts on less. The O should be better at 3rd and long since every series has them.
michael
November 1st, 2009
10:34 am
From a Gator fan: UGA had an SEC caliber QB last year and got pasted 49-10. In 2007, UF had 10 5-star recruits, and they are still playing with most of them. UGA is “rebuilding” this year, and it won’t happen overnight. There are a lot of good players and coaches in the SEC, and UGA isn’t “entitled” to win every year, so get over the unrealistic expectations. Changing coaches after every loss, as seems to be the desire of some, is hardly the answer…
Summit Dawg..
November 1st, 2009
10:34 am
I think the “Old Ball” coaches comment to Ray Goff about recruits should apply more to Richt and his staff than to Goff’s!!!!
andrew horne
November 1st, 2009
10:34 am
The coaches at UGA all have to go, Richt is taking this program in the wrong direction! They had two weeks to prepare for FL and that is the best they could do? Almost 100 yards in penalties and 17 pts? Along with 3 or 4 turnovers, it is almost like they don’t practice at all. Their defense is a joke and their offensive play calls are worse. If they do not fire all of the assistant coaches or all of the coaches including Richt I will not buy any more UGA products, no shirts etc. etc. I will not donate to the program as well. I am calling for an all out boycott of UGA if they do not make serious changes next year! Mark Richt quit making commercials and taking up for your assistant coaches, and start coaching your team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 25 turnovers in 8 games? They are the worst team in college football.
Ishmael
November 1st, 2009
10:34 am
The more I read Mark Bradley and Jeff Shultz, the more I miss Furman Bisher.
Brock
November 1st, 2009
10:35 am
and yes, the helMutts were embarrassing. NOW, can you stop it with the gimmicks? I mean really. Did you not learn anything?
Big Jon
November 1st, 2009
10:35 am
They should call us Jax Black
Super Dog
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
Hey Everyone
I just bought one of those black helmets
And you know what?
I just won $500 on one my scratch off tickets!!!!!!!!!
These helmets are lucky, I just don’t understand why they didn’t work yesterday?
#3 Hater
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
#3 Evans got burned 3 times again. Am I the only one that watches #3 get burned every week. He needs to be benched and Bobo and Willie need to be fired. Not after the season, NOW! We are down 14-0 vs UF and it is 3 and 15. Bobo call for a running play. The play calls are so stupid. Cox also needs to be a man and take himself out. We have so much talent and no one to direct them. #3 if you are reading this article, I still remember the USC game where you had been burned for the 3rd time and someone in the crowd said something to you. You acted like you were going to come into the stands and fight someone. You have no class and you should not be playing. You stink and need to cut your hair. This isn’t a fashion show, it is a job! We pay for your school and should be accountable. Richt, if you don’t make chances, you might be the change.
Ed
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
As for you Gator fans – up yours. 59 YEARS without even a conference championship should bar your program from trash-talking at least until this century is about half over. Prior to Spurrier, your tradition was probation, heartbreaking losses, a lack of class, and a stripped conference crown. Since Spurrier, your tradition is excellence on the field but still the same old lack of class (chomping at opponents, player arrests, trash-talking coaches, running up the score, cupcake scheduling).
Once we get the right staff in place, we’ll go back to kicking your rear ends and you’ll go the way of FSU and Miami, schools that were your in-state superiors even during the era of your savior.
Peter
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
Well I guess the Dawg Fans have been put on a leash……..They have had a great run, and now one off year and the fleas are making head way.
The Tech game should be huge for both teams………
I wonder how many GA Football players will graduate…….or just become Thugs ?
whats up with that?
November 1st, 2009
10:39 am
you UGA fans have bigger issues …GA may not go to a bowl game this year while Duke will be
Bob
November 1st, 2009
10:39 am
“Bean may not have played, I’m not sure.” What kind of crap is that Richt? You’d have to be an idiot to not see the superior athletes Florida has on their offensive front. And we counter with pudgy ben jones and his buddies Clint “Boling Over Me”‘ and Chris ” Dive At Their Feet”. Davis. Bobo needs to end his mancrush on jones! Does Velasco have any eligibility left ? The dog coaches need to take a color blind pill.
Bibble
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
It’s time to ask the question: Does Bryan Evans have compromising pictures of the coaches?
What exactly would he have to do to get benched? Suit up for the other team?
jdawg
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
It’s time for a change Richt, Bobo and Martinez need to GO !
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
Florida is not as good this year as they have been, no NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP this year Gators…Tebow carries this team, by running and passing…Dogs playing a freshman at RB, does that tell you about our situation at RB…TOO MANY RECRUITING MISTAKES…Cox is not great but the best we have now who gives us our best chance to win…PREDITICTION: Mark Bradley gets out of the newspaper business and starts a new job roving the nation to get coaches fired whose alumni are dissatisfied with them…He is particularly passionate about defensive coordinators getting the ax..Guess he knows more about defense than offense, huh, being a former stalwart as a linebacker???….HIS NEW JOB DESCRIPTION AT THE AJC: STIR UP THE MASSES OF THE STATE TEAM WHO IS LOSING!!!! AND TO ALL THESE OTHER “BULLDOG FANS” WHO COME ON HERE AND HIDE BEHIND THEIR LITTLE PEN NAMES AND SPEW THE VENOM:::WHAT IF COACH RICHT HIRES ALL NEW COACHES AND THEY STILL DON’T WIN, WHAT’S THE ANSWER THEN…AGAIN, ITS THE PLAYERS, AND NOT THE COACHES WHO PLAY THE GAME….recruiting, recruiting, recruiting…..
GaGator
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
Georgia should take those Black helmets and pants from the Florida game and those Black jerseys from the Alabama game and use them to start the bond fire for homecoming. But the effectiveness of those items may only be enough to start a camp fire for the boy scouts.
Swamp Chomper
November 1st, 2009
10:42 am
I just wanted to congratulate Georgia fans for actually having the guts to show up and watch your team take another embarassing loss from the Gators.
Ed
November 1st, 2009
10:44 am
I have an idea – let’s dress in head-to-toe pink for the next game (no worse than any other desperate motivational ploy). We can support Breast Cancer Awareness while at the same time dressing in a manner that befits our style of play. Maybe our SEC opponents – most of whom have actual men on their team – will let their guards down and take it easy on us.
eastofA1A
November 1st, 2009
10:45 am
geno, why are you asking uga fans to remove their Green Bay “G” plates from their cars? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one on a car. Only pickup trucks.
exNFLplayer
November 1st, 2009
10:45 am
I think we all know that Coach Richt will make the necessary changes at season’s end. UGA will return to being a solid team under Coach Richt. Of that I have no doubt. At least MR is not one of these guys that will immediately throw an employee under the bus. Decisions like that affect the lives of an entire family, and I for one appreciate the fact that coach takes that seriously. He will in the end do the right thing for the program.
As for the game and this season it is what it is. I for one didn’t foresee the extent to which UGA would miss Matthew Stafford. In spite of UGA’s defensive woes, this was a Florida team that could have been had. There was enough of a running game to make the passing game work. I am not in any way blaming Joe Cox for this season or this game. But being a game manager is just not enough as many of us thought it would be. Joe has some size issues and when the line let’s people get in his face there are going to be blocked passes,and interceptions. Stafford played behind worse lines and still made plays. He also had more ability to move around in the pocket and avoid pressure. All season long I have seen plays that Stafford would have made downfield that Joe just can’t make. I hope some of you former Stafford bashers here realize how good he was now. With Stafford at the helm this was a game that could have been won. Yes Moreno was a huge loss but now I for one am seeing just how huge a loss Matthew Stafford was.
Obviously next year we will see our QB for the next 3 or 4 years emerge. This in combination with coming defensive changes gives me some optimism. Please appreciate Joe Cox’s effort guys. Understand that he is not Matt Stafford and doesn’t have the talent of D.J. Shockley. Things will get well in Athens. It’s not time to abandon the ship and it’s captain yet.
Flatsdawg1
November 1st, 2009
10:50 am
Ok Florida is #1. I get that. Master of the obvious. They have done an unbelievable job recruiting speed and then coaching them up. Coaching. Hmmmm……….Interesting concept. I sincerely hope Adams and evans make CMR fire martinez because if you don’t have a defense in the SEC you got nothing and right now and the rest of the year we got nothing. I think the offense will be ok with young talent and a mediocre college qb Oh yea …… and lose the grambling look!!
crazy dawg
November 1st, 2009
10:51 am
Dear Mr Bradley every team in the SEC has gone through what UGA is going through this year. One bad season does not make you a second rate program. Just a few years ago the Gators lost to a bad Mich. team in a bowl game and finished the year 8 and 6 did this make Fla. a second tier program they only came back to win 2 National Championships and possibly a third this year. Before Saban arrived at BAMA they were a run of the mill team in the west.Auburn and Tenn. are also in the same boat that UGA is in this year but all you here is how great they are. Then that brings us to this years media darlings Ole Miss who had one good season last year not great by any means and ranked as high number 4 in the country this season and how is that top flight program doing this year.At least UGA has been to and won the SEC Championship and finished number 2 in the country and was most likely the best team in the country that year but because of people like yourself we had to play a second tier program a one year media wonder in our bowl game.As for the black helmets and pants the same people who are bashing them would be the first to say keep wearing them had we upset the gators.What you and the rest of these morons need to understand is the importance this types of things can have on your recruting each year. Kids want to come to programs that do little things to boost the spirit and fire up the team and fan base. Every body seems to forget the black out against Auburn and also at the Sugar Bowl but it helps to have Stafford and Knowshon in those black Jerseys. As for this year call me crazy but I still think that the Dawgs can still win thethe last 4 games and go to a bowl game and win there also that makes the 9 and 4 not bad for a team that is in transition like the Dawgs are this season. I am sure you and the band wagon jumpers will have a different song if that happens. I only wish that we had played Aaron Murray once the season turned south on us then the team might have done better this year and make a run at the SEC next year however all will be righted once we ruin the cry baby yellowjackets season this year at Bobby Dodd GATA start building for 2010
Adnil
November 1st, 2009
10:54 am
Get rid of that High School QB, and let’s have some real play calling
JeJe
November 1st, 2009
10:55 am
” If there’s anytime I can get these guys more excited about playing ball I’ll do it.”
Thanks Coach Richt. Why don’t you resign? I’m sure our players will like that
For Excellence
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
Some obvious things:
In football, at any level, continual excessive penalties can lose games. Continual excessive penalties are a result of poor coaching.
A team’s character can be coached, to an extent. But continual recruiting of players with thug-like reputations will result in a thug-like mentality on the team, regardless of coaching, and one of the results will be continual excessive penalties.
Continual failure is an indication of systemic internal problems. Failure to correct those problems leads to more failure.
Money plus poor judgment equals failure. Money plus good judgment will lead to continual improvement and success.
Coach Richt: Have you ever read “The Emperor’s New Clothes”? If you have, read it again. If you haven’t, read it.
Nothing lasts forever.
Here
Here
Adnil
November 1st, 2009
10:58 am
Mark, being a nice guy doesn’t win football games
bugman
November 1st, 2009
11:07 am
MB,
Thanks for finally writing the column that should have been written last year.
Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out MR.
Mickey Rich
November 1st, 2009
11:08 am
What’s with CMR and black uniform apparel? The black uniform for motivation is not working at all. So CMR let’s stop worrying about what your team is wearing. How about spending some time thinking about overhauling and upgrading your coaching staff. I like CMR but I hope he doesn’t hire new coaches with his temperament. That black uniform combination was very ugly – the regular UGA red looks much better. So leave the black uniforms alone for a while as you have been totally embarrassed the last few time you’ve worn it.
Cautiously Optimistic
November 1st, 2009
11:12 am
I’m not a fairweather fan but I cant take much more of this. This year is shot for the most part, yeah we can go to some sorry bowl, possibly, big deal. If no changes are made in the off season it will really test my fanhood. We need a coach that will have some a**es for undisiplined play! I didn’t expect to win, but I expected to be competitive! That was horrible! Same old story………penalties, turn overs, etc…………I never thought I would see it this bad out of a CMR team.
And I must say as far as the complaining about penalties in the past, I actually felt like the refs were trying to help us with calls is what makes this so much worse.
Eric C.
November 1st, 2009
11:14 am
STOP PUTTING THIS ENTIRELY ON THE COACHES
At the end of 2007…this team was #2 in the nation, and if not for a few lucky plays for UT against UK and Vandy, I really believe the Dawgs would have won the SEC Championship and won it all that year. How can they have fallen from that high point to this low point so fast???
The coaching staff is still the same…the players must be held accountable…the talent is just not there. When you don’t generate a rush with your DL…bad things happen folks!!! When you don’t have a running game and when you start a guy like Joe Cox at QB who can’t check down to open receivers…you are going to be inconsistent on offense, are going to have a lot of turnovers, and that puts a LOT of pressure on the defense.
Sure, the coaching could be and should be better, but they have proven in the recent past, that with the right talent, they can coach a team to be in the thick of the SEC/National title races.
Nat Harwell
November 1st, 2009
11:21 am
I disagree with the assessment.
Flatsdawg1
November 1st, 2009
11:21 am
Black uni’s do nothing but give the opposition something to jaw about on the field. Guess what , The black out against auburn we had a solid team. This team has holes on both sides of the ball. Don’t get me wrong, i applaud the effort to rile up the team,but the bottom line is their players are much better than our players. Better coaching would help us be better, but florida is a special team. When tebo goes they will be less special. Yea we will be much better next year, but I can’t see us winning an SEC championship with Willie and Bobo .
Derrick Vaughn
November 1st, 2009
11:27 am
Is it just me,but for those of you who went to high school in DeKalb County in the 80s didn’t Georgia look (and played like) old Gordon High School before they were merged with old Walker High School to become McNair Junior and Senior High School.
BITE ME
November 1st, 2009
11:31 am
GEORGIA FANS ARE STARTING TO SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS ABOUT PLAYERS WITH THE STEREOTYPE COMMENTS. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHEN YOU USE THE WORDS THUGS AND DREADLOCKS YOU ARE REFERRING TO OUR YOUNG BLACK MEN. IF THE BOOSTER CLUB AND FANS HAVE A PROBLEM THEN GEORGIA NEED TO ONLY RECRUIT THEIR OWN RACE, BECAUSE IN TODAYS SOCEITY WE DON’T NEED THESE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR YOUNG BLACK MEN.
73Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:33 am
Super Dog -You must be CMR’s top assistant coach. Trying to make the Gator’s think they are playing Grambling. It didn’t work.
It’s time to clean house.
THUGA
November 1st, 2009
11:45 am
THUGA IS THE MOST PENALIZED TEAM AND IT SHOWS.
Chris82Atl
November 1st, 2009
11:53 am
its really getting warmer for CMR after that dismanlting fla put on the dawgs. looks like the rest of the season is really looking like 2-3 more L’s. an after the season the entire staff needs to be changed. bring in charlie strong as HC, he would sure know how to beat the gata’s offense!
Same Sh*t Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:54 am
Here’s the Problem boys.
School: Coach: Staff: Talent: Result:
UF Meyer (****) (****) (****) NC
LSU Miles (***) (****) (****) NC
Alabama Saban (****) (****) (****) Soon
UT Kiffen(**) (****) (***) ????
UGA Richt (***) (*) (****) 9yrs
USC east Spurrier(****) (**) (***) ( )
GT Johnson (*****) (**) (*) ????
UGA wins only because they have top tier talent, when they meet teams with the same talent the Coaching Staff is exposed. We typically beat UK, USC, UV, and lose to Bama , Gators , LSU , UT in big games. Keep CMR, get a proven DC. Get Murray game experience asap. Hey we’re 4 -4 start rebuilding for 2010.
Dave from GT
November 1st, 2009
11:54 am
Can you hear that noise? GA is coming to Atlanta right after Thanksgiving!!! Can you hear that noise. I think I hear a freight train named GT heading right at them ! Bring those black helmets.
I hope UGA wins a couple of games betw then and now, just so they can get their hopes up before they get run over (again).
But seriously DAWGs, I hope you get bowl eligible. Maybe you will have the privilege of playing USF in the bowl game. Then you will get run over again.
Woof Woof Woof…… What are you going to do betw the end of this season and the beginning of the next.??
Maybe UGA should become a B Ball school…… well, maybe not.
You could always dominate in Womens Volleball, especially if you dress em up in Black !
richard cranium
November 1st, 2009
11:55 am
The good news is…
When the UGA players get thrown in jail now, they don’t have to change uniforms.
HairyDawg
November 1st, 2009
12:06 pm
Its is now time for changing at UGA. We need to start a fast exit of the stinkyest players. Get them the heck out of Athens so we can be signing recruits that is SEC and BSC championship speed quality. Get them in by showing them ladies in Athens to service them for winning football games. Then makes them practice more to be good football playing. We needs more prepping for football and less waster of time in schooling classes.
We got to get the recruiting by showing players a party with lots of girls and exposures for pros. With high drafting for NFLs we should be getting the top talent with SEC speeds.
We just have to be more focusing on getting players that can win before exposing for NFL. If admin of Adams and Evans aint commited to winning for all costs by reorganizing school to get recruits like Bama then we needs to can there buts alsos.
Fans needs to raize money dollars enough to buy out Adams and Evans to get leadership at tops that really want to win come hell or highwater. The players aint apreciates the lovely lady perks in Athens and need to win or be kicked out of schools to trade for NFL talent players. Adams and Evans need meeting to figure out how to run off the stinky players and bring in SEC speeds recruits with going to NFL. Then we winning BCS champs again.
Richard
November 1st, 2009
12:25 pm
Hey UGA fans … Ron Zook will probably be available. That is a step up from Richt at least.
HairyDawg
November 1st, 2009
12:27 pm
Time to can the stinky players and gets them off the Dawg team to bring in more SEC qualties talents.
lane
November 1st, 2009
12:32 pm
As bad as the defense is, the O is just as bad. Penalty, after penalty.
In the 1st qtr. Charles was called twice, Josh Davis once, there was one other. You cannot have penalities against teams like Fla. and expect to win.
ZERO DISCIPLINE!!!
Dawg-On_IT
November 1st, 2009
12:38 pm
FICKLE People. The Hats did get the team siked up and that was the point. They have no bearing on the game at all. And they were sharp. I hope we have a True Blackout Soon.