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
Eric
November 1st, 2009
11:22 am
It could’ve been worse. Without those black helmets I bet the score would’ve been 65-zip. UGA really should go after Saban. You have the money to spend plus his lake house is just up the road. It just makes so much sense. And I know he’d jump at the chance to trade up.
poopdawg
November 1st, 2009
11:22 am
Good lord , the amount of goobers on computers is scary this morning . Florida will be Tebowless soon . He is a stud and always good for 3 yds, thanks to martinez don’t get beat attitude. I’m still a dawg fan and always will be . ENJOY YOUR DAY GOOBERS!
Jack Daniels Jr.
November 1st, 2009
11:22 am
Buzzed outdoor cocktail parties are DRUNK outdoor cocktail parties.
ckgator
November 1st, 2009
11:22 am
The BIG EAST is accepting applications.
Alabama Jack
November 1st, 2009
11:23 am
TN Tech comes into Athens with a better record than the dawgs. Are the Godlen Eagles favored/ What color helmets will dawgs wear? Inquiring minds need to know.
Richtmanlike Conduct
November 1st, 2009
11:23 am
The haltime interview where CMR was saying that we were beating ourselves with penalties was hilarious. CMR-you started it and you can stop it. The next time a 15 yarder comes, just send the player and whatever color helmet he is wearing to the locker room.Please add up all of the penalty yards in your career, and you will have enough yardage to win 10 games.
Will
November 1st, 2009
11:25 am
Two Reasons Why UGA’s Loss Yesterday Was Better Than It Seemed:
1. They played better (as reflected in the final score) than last year’s pre-season consensus national champions.
2. Without those “motivational” hats and britches, Florida may have scored 100 points!
Bama fan in Winder
November 1st, 2009
11:25 am
Eric,
How would going to Athens from Tuscaloosa be trading up? Bama has 20 straight regular season wins under Saban and has one of the best recruiting classes yet again (of course HE knows how to make them better which is one of CMR’s faults) Saban would NEVER leave Bama for a downtrodden program like UGA’s.
THUGA
November 1st, 2009
11:26 am
Larry Orange UGA is the penalized team… again. UGA= THUGA!
Taco
November 1st, 2009
11:26 am
Hey Super Dawg, your BOY won’t even get his $200 this year. You just keep changing that oil down at the Jiffy Lube and enjoying the Dawgs right back where the belong. Average at best! The Sadness and Anger of this blog make me the happiest man in Gerogia! I love it when you suck and you suck enough now to make me plum giddy!I see no hope for the immediate future, the ship is drifting aimless and it is a thing of beauty! Now all you losers go wallow in your misery!
AllVol
November 1st, 2009
11:28 am
Congrats UGA you had a few good years against a lazy Fulmer and an inept Zook. You are back to your usual position, a distant, very distant 3rd place in the SEC_E
Houndstooth Heart
November 1st, 2009
11:28 am
Gimmicks like the black helmets, pants will get UGA nowhere and resorting to them is a sign of desparation. I know Bama fans who still still complain about the players names now being on the back of their jerseys.
On the way Down
November 1st, 2009
11:30 am
With Tenn turning their program around,Ga will be lucky to finish 4th
in their side of the conf!!!!!! What a pitiful coached team!!!!! This soap opera is only going to get better!!!!!!! Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
okieDawg
November 1st, 2009
11:31 am
No discipline, period…… CMR should have benched Gamble after his dumb as* play ( personal foul ) on Florida’s first series. Also should have sat J.Anderson for his personal foul on our first series. WHERE IS THE DISCIPLINE MARK RICHT. THIS IS JUST PATHETIC…
uga89
November 1st, 2009
11:32 am
Everybody talks about changes on the coaching staff. But the buck should stop and start with Richt. Is it Martinez’s or Bobo’s fault that our players have no respect for the rules and are undisciplined? If it is, what a coincidence that both the offense and defense play this disorganized, chaotic game.
And everyone rails about Richt using the black helmets or black jersies as a motivational tool. I don’t think that’s what it is at all. I think it’s worse. The guys want to do it and Richt wants to be their buddy. Let them pick out the bowling shirts for bowling night.
The inmates are running the asylum!
archangeladidas
November 1st, 2009
11:33 am
the univ. of ga, 100% pure garbage. plesae, don’t want to hear any excuses whats so ever. when your coach pulled that dunb stunt in 2007 he was the best thing ever. now you want to fire the man. garbage! GO GATORS!!!
bill
November 1st, 2009
11:33 am
BUG Killer is right>>>>>I fully agree >REverend RICHT made a big mistake when he hired his LOSER friend roomate from his days at Miami….martinez >>>>>>>Richt is lacking in the strenght of character /backbone to do what is right and release martinez >>>>well now we see that mr nice guy is not so concerned with UGA football …its more about keeping things as they are …dont upset anyone ….one thing is important WIN GAMES>>>>>>RICHT is doing nothing to make the changes to work on improving the program ….I am beginning to find him repulsive !HE needs to go too.
MVP
November 1st, 2009
11:33 am
CHOKE ! THE OFFICAL DRINK OF THE GEORGIA BULLDAWGS !
Nate
November 1st, 2009
11:33 am
I’m a Tech fan, but I am an honest March Richt fan. I think he’s a great man with excellent morals. The problem with Richt is that he has to compete against coaches like Kiffin, Meyer, Miles, and Saban who all seem to care less about a man’s character but more about his football potential. UGA just needs to get some coordinators that can discipline and teach these young men, and limit the freaking penalties. Georgia will be back next year, probably with some new coordinators of course. Good luck dawgs.
Thogwummpy
November 1st, 2009
11:34 am
2008’s team was slaughtered with injuries…19 starting players lost to season ending injuries over the course of that year. HOWEVER, we’ve got most of them back, were supposed to have the dominant line in the SEC on both sides of the ball…Dawgs have had far fewer injuries than last year—AND ARE PLAYING VASTLY WORSE.
If CMR wants to be a minister, have a talk with God and go do that. If he wants to be a football coach in this league, he’s going to have to focus on that instead. It’s just the math. And sorry, Georgia’s “in-da-jails-in-da-clubs-playin’-dirty-gangsta-style-yo” atheletes indicate there’s no Christian influence in the program. Where’s Richt’s ethics reflecting on this team? Absent! Dishonorable.
I figure Richt’s overall record buys him just one more season in Athens. If he doesn’t get his “poop in a group”, it’s over for him. So his first question should be, will he let these hip-hop kids remain in control of the program, or will he stop being their homey and shove some discipline down their throats like a real coach would? The second, is he going to let his mis-hitched star be dragged down by timid, cowardly assistant coaching…simply out of a sense of loyalty to them season after season?
This is a program in crisis, and CMR has to first look in the mirror and have an honest appraisal of his priorities.
Walker My Dawg Still the Best
November 1st, 2009
11:35 am
Coaching is the main issue and the ship is sinking fast.
Black helmet are going to beat the Mullets?
Logan Gray, finally getting “real” snaps for the first time this season from inside our 10 yard line, against Brandon “Thug” Spikes and the # 1 ranked defense in the country?
Washaun Ealey, relegated to the sideline even though he clearly had the “”hot” hand?
Third and 3 with Tebow in our red-zone, and yet we don’t have anyone there to touch, let alone hit him as he waltzes into the end zone?
Why are we not playing one of the young QBs to get them ready for next season?
The list of egregious coaching decisions goes on and on and on…………….
UGA athletes are not the problem, just look at Tech! Our talent is certainly as good if not more athletic than GT, but their coach has a plan and they execute their scheme, while we continue to look clueless in terms of a sound strategy that utilizes the talents of our athletes. Heck, they even make changes on the fly based upon good coaching decisions during the game.
Georgia must make some tough decisions regarding coaching because recruiting is going to be impacted one way or another. Without athletes, we will never play meaningful games.
UGA administrators need to ask themselves one question: If you were a high school football player with an open mind but no strong ties to UGA, would you sign an LOI for UGA given the state of the program today?
If the answer is yes, you are kidding yourself!
Go DAWGs, Hershel will always be the best college football player to ever play the game!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 1st, 2009
11:35 am
1) Tired of the gimmicks ( Black helmets? Really?)
2) Loved the comment about CWM calling the defensze blind since Harvin is gone. That was spot on.
3) The staff is out matched on a weekly basis. Top to bottom this staff seems to have lost the team.
4) Verne on air mentioned how in August CMR was going to address the penalty issue. Verne quickly pointed out how he has not.
5) Were is the talent? Outside of AJ Green maybe a D-Tackle (which I can’t understand why) is there a 1st round pick on the team?
6) The Pro Style offense is completely outdated. Look at what Brian Kelley with the Bearcats is doing with his backup QB. Sometimes its more about the system than the players. UGA. Seems to lack in voth departments.
7) The fan base is tire of the apparent thug attitude this team seems to carry. To many personal fouls, to much chirpping going on. What did the dawg players have anything to run there mouths about? Embarrassing.
9) No doubht Florida was the better team, but UGA could not make a tackle and allowed Tebow to dictate the tempo of the game. Tebow and Meyer are to damn good to let that happen.
10) Defense seems to lineup in the same formations and run same coverage way to much. Almost felt like I was watching Joe Kines all over again.
Ok, sorry long post, but Mark you were right….UGA is a second rate program right now.
Gawgiaboy
November 1st, 2009
11:35 am
This year is completely over. What about next year? Who will be our quarterback? Why don’t we put out Aaron Murray to let him get some experience? Does Richt plan on breaking him in next year? Another year of losing as we break in a new quarterback. Joe Cox is the worst quarterback I’ve ever seen. He couldn’t win if he played for the Gators. He is a turnover machine. Interception after interception. He underthrows; he overthrows; he can’t even throw the ball away. He takes sacks by holding on to the ball. I see a lot of talented receivers on the Georgia roster. They have more talented receivers than Florida. Penalties are out of control. Why is that? Why would you tackle someone five yards out of bounds? Why would you rip the helmet off an opposing player? No displine is the answer. Nick Saban or Urban Meyer would never tolerate this type of behavior. Will Muschamp or Kirby Smart would take the Georgia job if offered! Let’s offer!
Whooper Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:37 am
I have posted many times about the self evident disaster that is Willie Martinez and I haven’t been that kind to Mike “The Fade” Bobo either. Although, I think Richt is a good man, I recently have begun to think that it is time for a change there too.
But the black helmets and pants seals the deal. That was the lamest ploy given where this program is and throughly demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of same.
Very, very embarrassing.
douglasville doughs
November 1st, 2009
11:38 am
*****look at the pizza, no, weedeaters falling out the the sky, hello Shreveport
Florida Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:39 am
To the fans who want to move the game?
Who would have won in Athens?
Who would have won in Gainesville?
Who would have won in Atlanta?
If the game was played in Athens…the Gators and their fans could have brokeen off a piece of the Hedges as a souvenir.
We just need to field a winning team…talk to Dooley. The man who’s name should be on Sanford Stadium.
DANA
November 1st, 2009
11:39 am
Two weeks to prepare and the only change I saw was to paint the helmets ! Must take a long time for black paint to dry!
whatever
November 1st, 2009
11:39 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed
November 1st, 2009
11:39 am
While Grambling State’s players were getting blown out by Florida yesterday, Georgia’s players (also dressed in Grambling uniforms) were blowing out Miss. Valley State 50-7! The switch fooled no one.
Imagine the returning Florida players surprise next year when the REAL Georgia team shows up. You know, the one that looks and plays like something other than a homecoming opponent.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 1st, 2009
11:40 am
Also, how many times did something happen in the game that we just simply laughed out loud because we weren’t surprised that:
A) Weren’t surprised they called the play, b/c they are pretty bland offensively.
B) Got a boneheaded penalty
C) Or couldn’t make a tackle on 3rd down to get off the field.
The way the game played out was laughable. I wasn’t expecting to win, but I honestly got what I expected. Another typical underwhelming performance.
Super Dog
November 1st, 2009
11:41 am
Boosters
have the guts to walk into Damon Evans office and tell him enough is enough with losing to FL
or tell him to hire Bill Clinton to come do speaking engagments if the athletic program wants money
Ed
November 1st, 2009
11:41 am
It took Richt 9 years to lose to Florida as many times as Dooley did in 25 years.
Richtmanlike Conduct
November 1st, 2009
11:41 am
Sorry, we are actually improved in penalties. Didnt mean to exaggerate. In Turnovers, we are ranked 119th, out of 120.
In Penalties, we are tied for 118th.
Gawgiaboy
November 1st, 2009
11:42 am
Did Martinez know that Tebow would run the ball up the middle besides everyone in America? He has been doing it for four years. Tebow up the middle. Nobody paid any attention to Tebow running the ball? During his touchdown run, there was nobody in the middle? I could bust the screen out of my television on that play. This the worst defensive preparation I have ever witnessed. I could prepare a defense better than slick Willie. Can you imagine a Nick Saban or Urban Meyer team defense playing this way. Nick Saban would fire the entire team if this happened. What did Georgia do for the past two weeks? I read an article where the second week they were going to start game planning for Florida. Hmmmm….they must have forgot to gameplan. It was 14 – 0 before I could drink my first beer. It was 3rd and 15 when Bobo decided to run the ball in the first quarter. Punted back to Florida and they scored again. Game was over!
THWG
November 1st, 2009
11:42 am
DAWGPOUND, make sure you report to work on time. Don’t do anything stupid….its just a game!
Corey
November 1st, 2009
11:44 am
Hey Bama fan (in Winder, no less)…Have been to MANY Bama games in the 90s where the fans left disgusted before the game was over. You’ve got to be kidding not to lump any team in that same category. It happens EVERYWHERE. The FL half of the stadium was empty in the 4th quarter of every GA loss there too. Your fans disappear when Bama isn’t in the top 10. I’ve lived in Alabama, don’t pretend your fans are any different.
Midwest Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:44 am
I just know that we are losing more recruits by the day. Kiffin is in a helicopter flying around ATL getting our people, and Paul Johnson is beating everyone by 30.
Fix this now or we’re gonna suck for years to come.
drsoul
November 1st, 2009
11:45 am
Nate…you are talking out of your ass if you think that other coaches are not concerned about a player’s character as well as his football potential, particularly in those mentioned.. get the facts, first, cupcake..!!!!
John
November 1st, 2009
11:45 am
poopdawg,
You stay a Dawg fan buddy. Whatever youre concept of a Dawg fan is.
So the proposition you grace us goobers with this morning is that UGA’s apparent ills are really just a logical by-product of the greatness of Tim Tebow?
Open your pompous, condescending eyes, dude. Last I checked, Tebow never strapped on a jock for Alabama last year and Tennessee last three years has he? What explains the Dawgs complete ineptitude in those games? Ah don’t waste your time. I’m sure I don’t possess the perspicacity to fathom your erudition anyway.
Condemn we goobers for jumping on and off the Bulldog Bandwagon, but you guys who refuse to find fault where fault is all there is to find are absolutely delusional. Not to mention arrogant and irritating as hell.
And you enjoy your day too, D–CHEBAG.
RomeJacket
November 1st, 2009
11:46 am
I remember in the preseason, some Dawg fans posted that GT is not your rival, that FL is.
News flash….FL is not your rival. Three victories in 20 years means they own you. Consistently. Especially when they beat you by two touchdowns or more EVERY year.
Randy
November 1st, 2009
11:46 am
I’m just trying to still figure out how Georgia fans hasnt’ realized that the city of Jacksonville is not a neutral site for this game. The game is bought ever year by the city of Jacksonville aka Gainesville to give the Gators another home game. Georgia wake up and play your home game in the Georgia dome. If not, it will be another 20 years before you win another 2 games in this series.
Florida Dawg
November 1st, 2009
11:47 am
I have no problem with the colors that we wear…we ARE “Red and Black”…Right?
If we want to wear red helmets, black or white it doesn’t matter. What matters is the performance of your team with the assets you have.
Do we have the assets in terms of coaching AND players that other SEC teams have at the highest level?
Tennessee wore black jersey’s last night in honor of Halloween…they also BEAT South Carolina.
Houndstooth Heart
November 1st, 2009
11:47 am
Was the crowd really 50/50? Early in the game, every time UF was successful, the crowd erupted and when it was still close and UGA was moving the ball, it was really quiet. If UGA fans think this is a neutral site, they need to check the state sign on the drive to Jacksonville.
Super Dog
November 1st, 2009
11:48 am
If this team has to get motivated by changing Ga uniforms
Then put in the scout team
Id rather watch a bunch of players who want to play than watch those who need extra motivation to play at Ga
I will be booing Saturday to every player and coach when a mistake is made
You deserve it
Your a disgrace to Ga Football
Neutral Site
November 1st, 2009
11:49 am
Dude, you would have lost that game anywhere in the free world. The fact that it was in Jacksonville just meant that you pumped more economy into the state of FL so that more of it could, in turn, end up in UF’s hands.
Jackson
November 1st, 2009
11:50 am
Mark,
Again dead on observations… kinda of obvious this week. The team played with no emotion… they were sleep walking through the game. I so no intensity or things to get absolutely fired up about. How did we play… all in all the D played very well and the offensive line actually showed up to play…. The problem is that we were not doing those things all year long. Simple math folks… if you don’t have a Pro QB you can’t run simple pro offense. Shame on the entire staff for not jumping up and down and saying that we need to run the ball. I could care less if we were thumped by a better team if we were committed to consistency… Having said that, outside of Cox making some miserable decisions… we played with good consistency. The running game was effective though not explosive… (again, we weren’t running a zillion revereses and gimicky plays). The defense was tough though not stout…
QB Play yesterday was horrendous… we would have been better putting Thomas, King, Ealey, and Samuel in a hybrid wishbone wildcat formation the whole game. Cox was rarely accurate and all I can say is thank you AJ Green for being a man among boys…. Cox hung that poor boy out to dry on at least 4 balls…
and you wonder why dawg fans up and left… they have seen that movie before
Keith B
November 1st, 2009
11:50 am
Coach Richt, coaches and UGA Football Team: It would be my guess that are least some of you are reading the comments left by your fans across the country this morning on AJC.com.
Don’t feel like the fans have abandoned you. Your lack of discipline, preparation, game plan, and coaching have all betrayed your fans.
To the players: You guys react like you’re in the 6th grade when something happens. When you were playing Arizona State and the score was tied 17-17 late in the game, many of you were dancing behind Coach Richt on the bench like you were up 45 points. I was at that game; in my opinion, it showed how far out mentally you were to the tasks at hand.
I agree with others on this site. You could easily be 1 and 7 right now. But your ignorance and arrogance will continue. Its amazing that UGA always seems to have one of the better recruiting classes, but somehow you come out with little apparent talent on the field.
Absolutely pathetic. MARK RICHT, you need to GET RIGHT. Fire BooBoo, Willie and whoever is guiding your special teams. There is about to be widespread mutiny in Dawg nation.
This ISN’T about lack of fan loyalty . . . . this is about LACK OF LEADERSHIP at YOUR position !
cmac
November 1st, 2009
11:50 am
Excellent points Mark. Unfortunatly, this program has farther to fall under the current leadership (or lack of it!). I left the game when cox lofted that horrific ball towards the sideline that was intercepted. It was the exact same play against tennessee. He might have been a great high school qb, but alot of us were great at something in high school.
The bulldog nation has to do something to force a change. Donations to the athletic department should go way down after this lousy effort this season. Also, I wish there would be a big push by the fans to start boycotting the sponsors. otherwise, richt & his boys will just keep collecting their undeserved paychecks.
One last thing, & I have been saying it since ok state:
joe cox = joe terashinski = greg talley
Now I can say:
mark richt = jim donnan = ray goof (beat the weaklings – most of the time – but can’t compete w/ the big boys!)
PS it was nice of the team to recognize Halloween & come dressed up as football players! My 8 year old did the same thing!
ncdawg95
November 1st, 2009
11:51 am
Charlie Strong for UGA’s head ball coach. Think about it!
brewdawg
November 1st, 2009
11:51 am
Mark,
You were a big fan of the 2007 “celebration”. You even went so far as to say that Richt “had turned the tide of the UGA/Fla series” with it. Now you criticize the team for celebrating on the sideline (which, ironically, didn’t draw 15 flags like the endzone thing did). I try to keep pointing out that we are one year removed from a disappointing season that had us win 10 games. Am I happy with how things are going? Hell no. Changes need to be made for sure. But this is honestly the first really bad stretch in Richt’s tenure ( 2006 doesn’t count. We were starting a true freshman at QB and finished the year strongly after a start much like this one ). I’m not ready to give up on Richt, and I’m certainly not ready to make the “has Kiffin and UT already surpassed” UGA argument. (Nor am I ready to make the same argument about Tech, which is a convo for another day). One season does not a legacy make , as “Cuz” pointed out last night. Richt should be given the benefit of the doubt that he can turn it around before the entire AJC starts a smear campaign against him. UGA under Richt has had the best run in the school’s history, national title or no national title. Just because UGA fans think we are on par with USC, Oklahoma, Texas, etc on a national scale doesn’t make it fact. Having said that, I will be very upset if CMR doesn’t make changes this offseason. I believe he will.
Even when I disagree, I enjoy your articles MB. Be well.