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.
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1,240 comments Add your comment
Hammerin' Hank
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
Funny how the Dawgs and Richt are getting so much hate and ridicule for wearing the black. Tennessee players are saying their black jerseys were a great idea and a real motivational tool. Guess it all depends on the final score.
Saint Simons
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
Duke 5-3 Uga 4-4 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
whiny dawgs
November 1st, 2009
10:58 am
First the Dawgs were gloating about how they were going to smack down Okie State, then it was Tennessee, then Florida, now its the trade school. Puppies you ain’t winning any of the games you’d like to, DELUSIONAL in Denver as usual, go blow some snow.
GaGator
November 1st, 2009
11:00 am
ANOTHER TIDBIT FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
.
You know the rivalry is dead when Georgia has to resort to changing its color scheme in a futile attempt to change its mojo. The Gators, of course, paid as much attention to Georgia’s headgear as they would to Charleston Southern’s footwear.
When Tebow was told about Georgia wearing black helmets for the first time, he replied in a dismissive tone, “Oh, who cares.”
Florida’s disregard for everything that Georgia once stood for was summed up in a hotel lobby in Jacksonville Friday night. That’s when Robin Fisher, a former UF defensive tackle who played in the famous Lindsay Scott loss to Georgia in 1980, shook his head and said, “You know, I don’t even hate Georgia anymore.”
How can you hate a program you’ve beaten 17 of the last 20 times? How can you hate a team you’ve beaten 90-27 the last two seasons?
On his eye black Saturday, Tebow wore Philippians 4:6-7, a Bible verse that begins, “Do not be anxious about anything.”
Modern translation: “Nothing to worry about, fellas, it’s only Georgia.”
jojatek
November 1st, 2009
11:01 am
Right on the Mark, as usual. As I mentioned earlier on Schultz’s blog…
Let’s talk a little bit more about those black helmets in Jacksonville: What the hell was that all about?!!! I think Jerry Glanville was the guy who invented that concept… dress an underachieving, poorly coached football team in black in a desperate ’slight-of-hand’ attempt to keep the fans (and the critics) at bay. Unfortunately, the black helmets are here to stay with the Falcons (Glanville’s only tangible legacy in Atlanta if you set aside his decision to send Brett Favre packing…). Let’s hope Richt gets back to red helmets on Thanksgiving weekend… if we wanted to play Grambling, we would have put them on the schedule!!
… and for God’s sake, CMR, please stop talking about men wanting respect and women wanting love in your post-game press conference… we’re really starting to worry about you…
The Apologist Guy
November 1st, 2009
11:01 am
Top 15 post game comments….
15. CMR looks cool in those shades
14. black helmets distracted Joe Cox
13. thank heaven we beat ARK and SC
12. our D did better than Tech did vs Vandy
11. at least we can count on beating Tech every year (?)
10. our great disciplinarian “saves” penalties from occuring – really
9. the pressure of being #2 in the SEC east is just too tough
8. lost by 39 last year and only 24 this year – see improvement
7. Jax is really a UF home game
6. at least our recruiting classes are in the top 5 every year
5. Tebow can’t play against us again
4. Hershel still has 1 more year of eligibility
3. the referees always want UF to win
2. 1980 wasn’t that long ago – we’re still a perennial power
1. wait till next year – or the one after that – or the one after that
drsoul
November 1st, 2009
11:01 am
You guys have a scoutmaster trying to coach what should be a major college football program… scoutmasters are good, but you need a real coach… you have taken ‘blue chip’ players and only good coaching elevates them; which, if you look down the roster, that just ain’t happening here.. again, COACHING, LEADERSHIP, DISCIPLINE..????
Houndstooth Heart
November 1st, 2009
11:02 am
Good thing UGA had that extra week to prepare. Imagine how ugly it could have been.
The Other St. Simons
November 1st, 2009
11:02 am
We may have lost, but my island is beautiful today.
ckgator
November 1st, 2009
11:03 am
Good thing the Dogs had a bye week. But not so much…
Country Boy
November 1st, 2009
11:03 am
Hello Marky boy. Would appreciate any response you would care to give. Does CMR get it? Does he REALLY understand how poorly coached, unmotivated and underprepared our team is? Does he “get it” that we continue to make the same penalties and mistakes game after game? Does he see that seldom do our players have much progress in his program? Does he know how frustrated the fan base is to see our team be on level with Miss. St. or Kentucky football? What are his true feelings concerning getting blown away by Bama, Tenn. and Fl twice in a row? What do you think a fan should do to help in getting the attention of this complacent coach. Thanks for any response as you have a better pulse of this than us average supporters.
dogcrap
November 1st, 2009
11:03 am
Hey, there one good thing about the black helmets. You can probably get at least half of what y’all paid for them on ebay. I bet about every Florida fan out there would love to have one. C’mon man, if they can sell their sec (sick) champ (chump) rings, surely those famous (first time in the school’s history) rare black idiotic lookin helmets would sell like hotcakes. I bet Wal-Mart is sad they carry so much ugag mutt items. Even they will figure out sooner or later that that crap is just sitting there and not moving. Maybe they will pile all of it up out back of each store, burn it and then piss on the fire to put it out.
CatsFly
November 1st, 2009
11:04 am
The “fans” on this board are truly irrelevant. They don’t have a clue. Those who do have a clue don’t pay any attention to such morons. Explain to me how football so impacts a person’s ego. Well it doesn’t impact a healthy one.
Gator Fan
November 1st, 2009
11:04 am
Super Dog… Stop with the deduct the coac salary comments, UGA football talent is very overrate! Plus the assistant coaching sucks!
UGA offense on 3rd and long still running a pump fake to the RB when the defense is playing the pass, that does not work. How about the split Tee formation to form better pass protection or pass to the RB drifting to the outside.
Anyway this team’s talent is vastly overrate, the only reason UGA was ranked is because you are in the SEC. How in the world can you rate High School seniors state this is a top ten class?
I watched Georgia Tech last night and they are going to cream UGA this year!
ckgator
November 1st, 2009
11:04 am
Grambling called. They want their helmets back.
UGA72
November 1st, 2009
11:04 am
Even if UGA goes 6-6 and is bowl elibible, I would hope we would turn down any invitation we might receive. A bowl loss would be one more embarrasment to an embarrassing season. There are good defensive and offensive coordinators in division 1 who would jump at the opportunity to coach in the SEC. Look at TCU, Boise State …
McDawg
November 1st, 2009
11:05 am
Grambling State
Houndstooth Heart
November 1st, 2009
11:06 am
If you lose practically every year, can you still consider it a rivalry? If Georgia really took this game seriously, they would have done everything possible to get it played in the state every other year. Apparently, now the game is just the excuse to get hammered in St. Simons all week, the drilled in Jacksonville on Saturday.
Gator Fan
November 1st, 2009
11:06 am
UGA football talent is overrate!
Georgia Tech is going to put a beatdown on UGA this year!
drsoul
November 1st, 2009
11:07 am
CatsFly…you need to sober up before posting…!!!!
McDawg
November 1st, 2009
11:07 am
we have an opportunity in front of us for a big win next week-RALLY AROUND YOUR FAMILY
Jacket3
November 1st, 2009
11:07 am
MB – What was your take on replacing Cox with Gray on that last awful series from the end zone? I mean the Gray kid was not warmed up, placed in an un-surmountable position and then scorned by the Dog Nation for an errant interception. Did Bozo, I mean BoBo make that challenging decision?
And you were right about the “un-sportsman like conduct” penalties, for that matter all of the penalties. The Dogs were completely IN THE GAME and moving the ball at the heart of the #1 defense in the country then out of no where or collective brain cramping they kept making stupid motion penalties….then finally broke down and started ripping helmets off. I did not see any sideline shot of any coach chewing any player out about anything all game long. Did that happen?
I wonder now who on the team this week is caught for breaking the law……
What tha
November 1st, 2009
11:07 am
Next we’ll see how many UGA fans are mad about CMR. 92,000 of you morons will fill that stadium to support him. What a joke! If you go to a restaurant and have a bad meal, do you keep going back? Good Lord, talk about blind loyalty. Every Monday, water girl takes that big check and laughs all the way to the bank. No matter how bad your program becomes, you’ll always fill up the stadium and give Damon Evans the only thing he cares about-mo money! You want change. Let Damon Evans, CMR and this team see empty seats at Tenn. Tech and see what happens.
Bo Williams
November 1st, 2009
11:07 am
I liked the black faces. It made the red faces stand out so vividly. I’m sure the fans won’t be wearing black hats for this reason in future games.
Johnny Test
November 1st, 2009
11:08 am
Oh boy, what a mess. Now I know what it must feel like to be in a plane going down with no hope to keep it from crashing. This demise of an otherwise respectable program should be a textbook case in how not to coach.
All of our issues go back to coaching decisions that at the time didn’t look so bad but have added up, over time, to the mess we have today. Either every recruit we have is 1. over ratred, 2. played out of position or 3. severely under coached or a combination of all three.
As someone pointed out earlier this team has not only not improved over time they have gotten worse. That is pure coaching. At this point we really need to forget this season and work towards the future. We will be taunted unmercifully and we earned it.
Jax Black
November 1st, 2009
11:08 am
UGA is the School of HIP HOP Thugs.
McDawg
November 1st, 2009
11:08 am
why isn’t michael moore getting more touches tough guy-we neeed tough guys
but when you turn the ball over 4 times i guess it doesn’t really matter
armchairQB
November 1st, 2009
11:09 am
It is, without question, time to fire CMR. Urban Meyer and Nick Saban would both be winning with the talent that the dawgs have. I despise CMR so much that I actually hope that the dawgs have a losing record this year, lose to tech, and don’t make a bowl just so CMR can get fired. The humiliation is the price that the UGA athletic department needs to be willing to pay in order to get a real coach at the helm.
Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:09 am
I agree the worst loss was against Bama last year in Athens. I will say though, it wasn’t quite as bad because the Alabama fans aren’t the classless holes that the Florida fans continue to prove to be.
Bo Williams
November 1st, 2009
11:10 am
Drsoul: “COACHING, LEADERSHIP, DISCIPLINE”. You go Dr. StrangeLove!
browndog
November 1st, 2009
11:10 am
With Georgia’s performance this year, and the POSSIBILITY of some coaching changes, why would top recruits want to come to UGA right now? What can CMR say to excite a player about the program? Come to UGA and hope to beat UF once every five years? You’ll play right away and will not get any better? Think about how you would dress the team. A long way to go before things get better.
Firemarkricht.net
November 1st, 2009
11:12 am
THEN AND NOW’s post was awesome. Best ever. Well done, sir.
Musa
November 1st, 2009
11:13 am
There is something within the program that we just dont know. How does a well respected o-line turn into a horrible o-line. Why is Cox still the QB. The coaching staff must know that we really arent that good. Something has happened that Richt just isnt going to tell us. He is not gonna blast the players and say they aren’t any good. But they aren’t. I dont blame the coaching staff. I just think we are bad in key areas like the o-line, qb, and every defensive position.
ckgator
November 1st, 2009
11:13 am
As you can see GEORGIA FANS, your false bravado over the last 24 months has gotten you nowhere. With Tennessee on the alleged rise, where does this leave YOU in the SEC East?
The BIG EAST is accepting applications.
DO NOT SHOW UP!!!!
November 1st, 2009
11:13 am
I say to all in the Bulldawg nation do not show up to the remaining dawg games .Let CMR, Soft zone Willie,and Dameon Evans play grab as* with each other playing in front of a empty stadium.
FLA DAWG
November 1st, 2009
11:13 am
Your comments are On The Mark, er………….Mark.
Richt has become a players buddy, hired two inept Coordinators and a below average Special Teams Coach. He refuses to make any changes – they should have been made already.
Richt And His Crew Must Go.
Richt, Martinez, Bobo & Fabris have embarrased The Players, The University, The Students, Alumni & All Fans. They are getting worse – not better.
Why would any highly rated high school player want to play for UGA after this miserable season – so they can be embarrased weekly on National Television!?
My contributions ceased last season. I hope Dawg Nation will boycott the games and all Dawg Souvenier Purchases until these jokers are gone and we have coaches that are as talented as our players.
dbc
November 1st, 2009
11:14 am
“Well, here we are again.”
-Mark Richt’s first words in his postgame press conference.
“We went down 14-0, so not a whole lot came of it. I think this was a situation where we were trying to find a way to find some more juice, you know. I have no regrets. These guys like that kind of thing and when there’s any time I can get these guys more excited about playing ball, I’ll do it.”
-Mark Richt on Georgia wearing black pants and black helmets.
These are the words of a man who has lost control of his program and his players. Losing to Florida 17 of the last 20 years should be motivation enough for anyone on the team. If the players have a hard time getting “excited” to play, get rid of them. Same for the coaching staff. UGA football is a total mess, and Mark Richt needs to start earning his fat paycheck. Grow a pair and make some changes CMR!
John
November 1st, 2009
11:14 am
THEN AND NOW – good stuff. But enough with the “thug” crap.
By and large, all SEC teams recruit the same pool of kids. Are some a little rough around the edges? Hell yes. But remember, they’re kids, and a coach (i.e. authority figure) ESPECIALLY one who’s as moral as CMR, should be a mentor to them and impart good values and discipline beyond football.
CMR’s no different than any other big-time D1 coach. He’s in a pressure-filled job where on-field results get you your next contract. He doesn’t have time to help his charges grow into solid young men. And lets face it, we fans could give a crap what happens to these kids once their eligibility is used up.
Does UGA have some bad apples? Beats me. Expired drivers licenses and fake ID’s don’t seem like Ten Most Wanted offenses. Hell, if a FAKE ID makes you Public Enemy #1, you might as well assign the “thug” label 99% of the student bodies this side of Brigham Young.
Georgia is bad because their coaching is ineffective. If the kids are undisciplined, who’s fault is that? When your kid or my kid fouls up, who’s fault is it? You and I know the answer to both questions.
CMR needs to move on. Good luck to him. He’s got nothing left to offer Georgia. Worse, he’s hurting the program.
Bo Williams
November 1st, 2009
11:14 am
Browndog, come on, you aren’t paying attention. UGa has been getting top recruits if you believe UGa leg humpers.
Gator Fan
November 1st, 2009
11:14 am
Georgia Tech i about to go on a 10 game winning streak against the Nationally overrate Georgia Bull Dawgs!
UGA needs everything the football talent is vastly overrated and under coached! The football I.Q. is lacking both with the players and coaches!
UGA will have a 6-6 record this year!
Buddman
November 1st, 2009
11:15 am
Dog fans you WILL get to see your team show up in Atlanta this year just not in the dome
hahaha (show up not play , good football teams PLAY not just show up
dogcrap
November 1st, 2009
11:16 am
Hey ugag, I think Chan Gailey is available. Make him your offensive coordinator at least, if not head coach! My oh my, this is such fun. Wallow in your misery muttland.
jks
November 1st, 2009
11:16 am
Black helmets are needed to pump up the team for the Florida game? Seriously?
Pathetic.
HH
November 1st, 2009
11:18 am
1) Well, to all the Wits out there who said before the season began that they wouldn’t miss Matthew Stafford this year, I bet they miss him now.
2) One of these days UGA fans may begin to recognize the truth in the old saying that goes: “The rot starts at the head of the fish.” If they don’t, the next few years are going to be extremely disappointing for them.
Mitch
November 1st, 2009
11:18 am
Tebow rcord breaking t.d.run is prime Wille M. defense at it’s best.NO ONE ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL IS NOT EVEN THERE TO LAY A HAND ON saint Timmy!!!
DAVID
November 1st, 2009
11:18 am
LOOK TO the 2010 season for reBuilding
okieDawg
November 1st, 2009
11:19 am
We looked like freakin Grambling……………….
Tech Fan
November 1st, 2009
11:19 am
Quote from SD Dog “All good points Mark. Something has to give. Yesterday was just embarrassing. I have a uniform idea. Why don’t we strip the “G” and the stripe off the helmet put’em in white pants and make them earn them back.”
SD Dog, that is the best solution to the problem and the smartest thing I’ve seen written here. It seems as if no single player on the team is willing to sacrifice for the team. I say if you want to return to glory, get rid of the players ego’s and make them play as a team. There is enough talent on both sides of the ball. They are lacking in leadership, discipline, and humility. If they make the small change that you suggest and start teaching self sacrifice for the greater good, UGA plays like they should.
Jesus, I sound like a democrat with all that greater good crap.
No name fan
November 1st, 2009
11:20 am
They look stupid in black. Its obvious now that this team is average at best. But the frustrating thing that bugs me the most, is the lack of discipline in the game. Penalties are rampant. What the hell do they do at practice? I’ve got to be honest and to the point, Never mind this season, its shot. But I just don’t see much for next season. They have some talent comming up but is it enough to compete in the SEC?
Eric C.
November 1st, 2009
11:21 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.