5+1 reasons UGA’s loss was even worse than it seemed
Here's the first of Joe Cox's several interceptions. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
1. With Georgia within 14 points and still 10 minutes to play, some 10,000 Georgia backers up and left. Think about that. You’ve paid for tickets, parking, food, hotel and gas/airfare to come watch your team, and your team still has a theoretical chance. (One tipped pass and it’s a one-score game.) And you have so little faith in your team that you walk out. And your program has won 10 or more games six times in the past seven seasons. This would seem to say, at least to me, that Mark Richt is losing his constituency.
2. When Georgia pulled within 14-10, it did its huddle-up-and-jump-around thing on the sideline, and I typed on the live chat, “I smell a late hit coming.” It came on the kickoff. Michael Gilliard, late hit. It is uncanny how this team cannot play by the rules.
3. Florida scored 41 points without doing anything extraordinary. No Gator rushed for 100 yards. No Gator had 100 yards receiving. Tim Tebow’s longest completion was for 29 yards. Not until the game’s final drive did Florida gain 30 yards on a scrimmage play. And the Gators didn’t throw a fourth-quarter pass (though Tebow was sacked once). And a merciful Urban Meyer had John Brantley take a knee with the ball on the Georgia 20. Think Spurrier would have?
Loading ...4. Joe Cox was supposed to be a game manager. Instead the fifth-year senior has been wilder than Matthew Stafford was as a freshman. Stafford had 13 interceptions in 2006 and didn’t start every game. Cox has 12 interceptions in eight games. And the second interception Saturday was just sad: Pressured, Cox tried to throw the ball out of bounds but couldn’t sling it far enough. The exact same thing had happened in Knoxville. Which brings us to …
5. Tennessee. It’s coming fast. If Georgia didn’t figure to finish ahead of Florida in 2009, neither did it seem any other SEC East school posed an imminent threat to the Bulldogs’ hold on second place. South Carolina is ensconced as a 7-5 or 8-4 team, and Kentucky and Vandy are Kentucky and Vandy. But Tennessee has now beaten Georgia and South Carolina and has played Florida and Alabama close, and that’s a scary sign. Because if Tennessee in Year 1 under Kiffin can have the same overall record as Georgia in Year 9 under Richt, what happens in 2010?
6. The black helmets. Just embarrassing.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,240 comments Add your comment
FLA DAWG
November 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
Herschel,
On the surface your comments are interesting to dwell on but you are forgetting CMR called the O Plays at Fla State when they had the best O in the country. He did the same when he came here initially – with great success I might add.
Combine that with Muschamp / Van Gorder and it was a winning brew.
Now I think he should go because he cannot administer as a head coach – look who his OC and DC choices are!
headcase
November 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
I think we really need to take this concussion thing seriously and consider some real rule changes…maybe play touch instead. What do you think? Serious comments only.
Dawg Fud
November 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
Richt is frustrated. That was obvious in his halftime interview and post-game press conference.
He believes he is doing everything to curb the penalty problem. He believes he is doing everything to coach Cox (who is not SEC caliber – why did we offer a kid Duke offered? Oh right, MoMass package deal).
Richt is doing these things and we are getting worse. He knows there is no player leadership on this team. He knows Martinex will have to go.
He knows that his days at Georgia are numbered and he knows it will be a relief when they are finished.
Bye Coach Richt. Thanks for the memories…we had some good ones along the way.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:43 pm
FLA DAWG – Thank you very much! You’re the only one who’s actually caught that. By the way, The “D.” is a middle initial. See if you can get the rest :
King Gator
November 1st, 2009
4:45 pm
Gators got that RAMMER JAMMER… OOHHHH AAAHHH!!! OWNED AGAIN!
redcaps
November 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
I agree with xdawg70. Wear whatever color pants you want, but always wear the red iconic Georgia helmets…..they strike fear in our opponents and render them weak and helpless.
SuperB
November 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
Hey mantanzas gator: Herschel is probably richer than any gator you can name. And for his age, in a helluva lot better shape. He ran a 4.28 at age 38. I bet Tebow can’t do that now. P. S. Your orange stadium sucks.
fayncdawg
November 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! CWM MUST BE FIRED NOW!! HIS DEFENSE GAVE UP 41 POINTS TO A TEAM WITH NO GAME-BREAKING DOWNFIELD THREAT ON OFFENSE!! AN OFFENSE THAT WAS HARD-PRESSED TO SCORE 30 ON MSU!! A TRAVESTY!!!
george
November 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
I don’t normally comment, particularly on college athletes, but I can’t hold my tongue (or keyboard in this case) any longer.
The NEW UGA FOOTBALL ACRONYM is easily:
Undisciplined Group of Athletes!
They looked like and played like Grambling. Eddie Robinson is laughing in his grave. Maybe the coaches are telling them to stop the late hits and stupid penalties, but even if they are it’s the coaches who are going to pay for the players inability to either listen or follow instructions….with their jobs! Good gravy does this team need an Erk Russel type in the worst way.
Jims friend
November 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
Say what you will about Jim Donnan as a coach, he’s a good man.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
Hey, Red Helmets are icons? Not when I started watching the Bulldogs, they weren’t. Silver.
ACME HANDYCAPPING CO.
November 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
The line has moved again: Tenn Tech -3 1|2 vs Georgia
One of our insiders just found out UGA will be wearing red socks, white helmets, and mauve jerseys and pants.
Get a second mortgage
We’re renaming the game once again. It’s the 100,000 Star Lock of the Millenium
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
Jim Donnan could have done a lot with this talent.
hersh
November 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
your right SuperB not only is Herschel rich and still fast, he can act too. have you seen his Zackby’s commercial!?
Clayton McWilliams
November 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
The black uniforms were ugly, the play was ugly, the coaching was ugly,
the team was ugly at this point we have a ugly football program. I have been a bulldawg for over 50 years and this is the worst.
Fishy
November 1st, 2009
4:52 pm
I always thought the “silver britches” thing was a little gay
FLA DAWG
November 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
D.
I agree Donnan was fired too quickly but Richt looked like a great pick for HC at that time.
Who Knew!?
Sonny Clusters
November 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
We was watching that game and thinking, don’t Georgia wear red helmets? We looked closer and saw it was Mark Richt over there in the Foster Grants and we realized Georgia had pulled a fast one on Florida by disguising theyselves on Halloween. Sadly, Florida was not scared enough and when a Georgia player would make a tackle and dance around we was wondering if he knew the score? It was not a good day for Georgia football but Tennessee Tech is coming up and that should be a better day. Wonder what color helmets they is going to wear?
outdoorsman
November 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
Yes Jim being the fine man he is could have done a lot with this team,…take them hunting and fishing in WVA
Rusty Russell
November 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
I’ll say it once again, Georgia is getting exactly what they deserve, after they lied about offering the job to my father. RIP Dad
BOOGER MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
WE STARTED GOING DOWN WHEN CMR LET THE DREADLOCKS GO DOWN OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE HELMETS….WE ARE UGA NOT THUGA….JUST A THOUGHT
protection
November 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
Does Foster Grant make a pair with 100% UV protection?
toole
November 1st, 2009
4:57 pm
Time to cut ties with UGA. Have some good memories to look back on. Mark Richt has ruined UGA football for me. He doesn’t even seem to care what the fans think. He got my last dime until him, Willie Martinez, or both are gone. If he doesn’t plan on coaching any harder then please step aside and let us find a real coach. Anyone want to join me over at Georgia State next year. Go Panthers!
It Just Gets Worse and Worse
November 1st, 2009
4:57 pm
We are BARELY mediocore, and the butt end of jokes on national tv. CMR needs to start praying soon, FOR A JOB!! FIRE CMR!!
Rufus
November 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
Whether the team wins or loses isn’t affected by the color of the helmets or shirts. Winning and losing are affected by team discipline, and this team has none. That lack of discipline indicates a lack of leadership which goes from top down. Neither the head coach nor any off the assistants should be seen as “one of the boys.” Real leaders make tough decisions, and this coaching staff seems to do everything it can to avoid making those choices. Being liked by “the guys” isn’t a winning option. The Dawgs probably don’t win yesterday, but it’s a closer game without the bonehead penalties and miscues.
Sonny Clusters
November 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
Those black helmets was being discussed on tv during the Tech-Vandy game. Chuckles.
just wondering
November 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Will the flags be lowered at half mast in the state of Georgia this week? I swear after reading all this, not only was there a death but it sounds like a massacre
Gary B
November 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Larry Orange, You hit it on the head. I’m a huge UGA fan, but I’ve had enough of Richt’s gimmicks and Ford commercials. And enough of the cool attitude. I know a head coach has to be focused, but it’d be nice to see him grab someone by the facemask after one of these stupid personal fouls. Two SEC titles are nice, but we can’t be satisfied with that. I’m tired of hearing every year that we’ve had another top 5 recruiting class and it doesn’t translate into anything that matters. Richt better step it up a notch or the boosters are going to sit on their money. GO DAWGS !!!!
just wondering
November 1st, 2009
5:01 pm
Loran what have you got?
KingGator
November 1st, 2009
5:01 pm
Don’t Panic!! I hear Ray Goof is available and hungry to coach again!! Sic ‘em boys!!
Sonny Clusters
November 1st, 2009
5:01 pm
“Larry, it’s a mess down here.”
dontworrybehappy
November 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
Don’t worry It Just Gets Worse and Worse…..any publicity is good publicity in the Biz. We just need to go in to rehab, gain some public sympathy. write a memoir, appear on Letterman and then plot our comeback.
Biggdawg33
November 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
td made a good point. If any of you Dawg people don’t want your tickets, this Dawg fan would be glad to take your ticket and go and scream my freaking head off for my Dawgs. And if you do give me your ticket, you need to go ahead and find another team to root for because every team is going to have hard times. Hard times is how you improve.
Everyone wants to down Coach Richt as a Christian, but I see this as a time where God is using this to test the metal of this man and the other men on this staff. Sometimes you have to do hard things, like fire a coach, but that doesn’t make you lose your Christianity. (Read Tony Dungy’s book Quiet Strength if you want more about it). This is not the 70’s and 80’s when we dominated the lizards, but let’s see what happens.
I figure there are some recruits that are reading these blogs to see what the fanatics will write about UGA. Let’s see what happens.
whiny dawgs
November 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
bunch of undisciplined thugs got what they deserved. dawgs are pathetic
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:03 pm
FLA DAWG – He sure did. Remember that B. Bowden wondered if Richt was “too nice”, though. I’m a proponent of the strict disciplinarian coach, because that’s what I had in my very humble HS career (my line coach), and later military life. That does not include the kuckoos, like Woody Hayes, though.
BCS Bound
November 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
Bowl Chump Series for the puppies. put on the red helmets and beat up on Tenn Tech.
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
FLA DAWG – The “Delbert D.” first name & middle initial (only) is drawn from that military experience. Got it yet?
73Daeg
November 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
FIRE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark Richt. Give the job to Muschamp before he takes over at Texas
golfman
November 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
last 2 times we won sec had a georgia boy at quarterback seems like tech has a pretty good one they got from 30 miles down the road why can’t we get a kid out of the state of georgia to run georgia football
Rick B
November 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
I though the D played a decent game. Florida ia a good team.
With a pathetic offence, it is hard to play good D against a good team.
Bobo is the biggest incompetent South Georgia dumba$$ in the history of college sports. Worse than Goff easily. Boboff.
I’ll take Willie over Moron Boboff anyday.
This team is going no where.
The entire coaching staff needs to go. I will never attend that game again as long as MR is the coach.
FLA DAWG
November 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
King Gator,
Yeah, you Gators like that kinda thing. That’s good because The Tide is going to Flow In and Out of your team at The SECC!
Lakewood Dawg
November 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
you can watch a better brand of football on friday nights.
ED FROM ELLIJAY
November 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
I HAVE NOT MISSED BUT ONE GA FL GAME SINCE MY FRESHMAN YEAR IN 1973. I THINK NEXT YEAR, WE SHOULD DO A NO SHOW. NO UGA FANS SHOULD GO. LET THE STADIUM BE HALF EMPTY. MAYBE WE COULD CONCENTRATE THEN!!!!!!! PITIFUL. THE WORST COACHED AND MOTIVATED UGA TEAM I’VE EVER SEEN. ALUM WHO GIVES TOO MUCH MONEY TO SEE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GATORMAN 722
November 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
I have said for a long time on this blog how Georgia needs to keep their coaches, while it is true that the dogs are nothing but a fourth of fifth place football program in the SEC they think they still are a lot better. The coaches they have today will win 8 to 10 games ever year and the fans should be happy.
Percy Prattle, High School Phenom
November 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
I don’t know about going to Goergia now I watched the game yesterday and it looked like Florida was the best team and Mama said Urban Meyer is the nicest coach because he didn’t wear his sunglasses in the house. I don’t know it seems like Bulldogs would be a good tough team and Gaotors would be lazy but thats not what was happening yesterday.
Herehere
November 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
I respectfully disagree Rufus. Our helmet selection has a big impact on our psychology and that of our opponent. I suggest a pastel color for next weeks game…maybe lull our opponent in to a case of blase’ indifference.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
Mr. Goff is doing just fine on the farm near Watkinsville.
FLA DAWG
November 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
D.
I remember when Dooley was a Player’s Buddy kinda coach. That almost got him fired. He changed to a True Head Coach who accepted nothing but the best from his players and coaches. That got him the NC – I was there.
Derrick Richards
November 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
I say keep the black pants and helmets. At least we can pretend that it’s not really the Georgia Bulldogs we no longer can bear to watch.
me
November 1st, 2009
5:09 pm
If you fire CMR who do you hire? But i agree cwm has got to go