UGA in Shreveport: A low point, but also a needed jolt
Here's proof Willie Martinez realized pass-rushing was allowed. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Winning doesn’t educate. Winning endorses. Human nature holds that a winner doesn’t ask, “What can I do better?” but says instead, “Why change what works?”
Mark Richt is human. Even in the disappointment of 2008 — Georgia started as preseason No. 1 and landed in the Capital One Bowl — he had his talking points down. And when the Bulldogs beat Michigan State on Jan. 1, 2009, to finish 10-3, he trotted out TP No. 1: Six 10-win seasons out of the past seven was “pretty stinkin’ good.”
In his self-defense, Richt missed the obvious: That something was rotten in the House of Bulldog. All you had to do was screen a video of Richt’s 2002 team followed by one of the 2008 aggregation to see the difference. In 2008 Georgia had more talent but wasn’t as good.
The 2009 season will go down as the worst under Richt, but it many ways it was the best thing that could have happened. As the losses mounted — blown out in Knoxville by a Tennessee team working under a new coach; blown out again in Jacksonville; beaten at home by Kentucky for the first time since Herschel Walker was a sophomore at Johnson County High — it was clear the rot had spread. It took an upset of Georgia Tech for the Bulldogs just to finish above .500, and by then there could be no more pretense.
We’ve known all along Richt is smart. We weren’t sure how demanding he is. Firing three of his four defensive coaches provided the answer. As much as Mark Richt enjoys fellowship among his coaching staff, he enjoys winning more.
We don’t yet know the names of the replacements. We know the Bulldogs head into the Independence Bowl with a defense coordinated by Rodney Garner, the lone holdover, and some grad assistants. (Now watch Georgia shut down Texas A&M. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?) But no matter what happens in the game, there’s cause to believe there’ll be no more Shreveport jaunts in the Bulldogs’ immediate future.
It’s possible Richt could hire someone less adept than Willie Martinez as coordinator. It’s also possible — theoretically, anything’s possible — the sun could rise in the West tomorrow. What’s more apt to happen is an upgrade at the position that can galvanize a program more than the arrival of any five-star recruit.
Steve Spurrier had won four SEC titles and reached a national championship game, but it was only after he hired Bob Stoops to coordinate his defense — a defense that had just yielded 62 points to Nebraska in said championship game — that the Evil Genius took his national title. Mack Brown had posted five consecutive 10-win seasons at Texas, but it was only after he hired Gene Chizik from Auburn (which had just gone 13-0) that the Longhorns were able to win a BCS title. Yes, defensive coordinators matter.
Loading ...Defensive coordinators matter even more than offensive coordinators. A team that scores on every possession but can’t stop anybody feels vulnerable. (Yes, Georgia Tech, I’m thinking of you.) A team that knows it can stop somebody feels invincible. Offensive success is a function of skill and technique. Defensive success involves physical domination. Georgia used to play that brand of ball — ever heard of Erk Russell? — but had come to dominate nothing under Martinez.
That could well have changed by the time Georgia plays its first post-Shreveport game — Sept. 4, 2010, against Louisiana Lafayette. Even though Bud Foster chose to stay at Virginia Tech and Vic Koenning wound up at Illinois, there are good men out there who will see Georgia as the place to make a name by making a difference. There’s no reason to believe Richt won’t find one.
The tough part is behind him. It took some doing for this coach to convince himself that change wasn’t an option but a necessity, but finally he did it. When you’re accustomed to 10 wins and nice big bowls, nothing slaps you harder than a trip to Shreveport. This wasn’t the destination anyone associated with Georgia wanted, but it was, in the grand scheme, the destination Mark Richt’s program needed.
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526 comments Add your comment
BuLLdawg
December 25th, 2009
6:31 pm
What’s the obsession with Florida by tek fans (both of you) ?
UGA has beat Florida 2 of the last 6 games.
tek has beat UGA 1 of the last 9.
It could be worse...
December 25th, 2009
6:36 pm
We could be stuck with a REALLY bad QB like Tebow, Cox is much better than Tebow. And we could have a team like Florida, who didn’t beat a single top 10 ranked team in 2009. Wow, Florida stinks all around.
Georgia top 10 team of the Decade
December 25th, 2009
6:38 pm
Congrats to Richt and the gang on being named by CBS Sports one of the top 10 college football teams of the decade:
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12007461
Forbes Rank's Georgia's $90 Million Football Program #3
December 25th, 2009
6:41 pm
Forbes says Richt’s Georgia football college program cleared $90 mill in one year, over $43 mill profit, good for #3 most valuable teram out of 120 teams. #1 in SEC.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/20/notre-dame-fooball-biz-sports-cx_ps_1120collegeball.html
Tebow Predictions...
December 25th, 2009
6:47 pm
Tebow is such a fun guy to pick on, he’s just SOOO bad at what he does.
1- What kind of job will Tebow end up with in 2010? Pizza delivery–in 30 minutes or less? Superman cape costume clerk? Trophy or award plaque engraver desk guy? Grad assistant for Florida making $14k a year?
2- Will Tebow hand the ball to a teammate in the 2nd half of their Bowl game, remember, he forgot to hand off to a teammate in the SEC Champ against Bama?
Get your Gee Tee Yet?
December 25th, 2009
6:51 pm
Merry Christmas! You Bugs can take your $14M Orange Bowl…according to Forbes Magazine, the UGA Football Program is 9th most valuable in the country. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that UGA was third behind Texas and Flor-i-duh in merchandise sales last year!
Richt chosen top 10 college football coach of the decade
December 25th, 2009
7:04 pm
Congrats to Coach Richt on being chosen a top 10 college football coach of the decade by CBS Sports.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12031579
Forbes ranks Georgia #3 in U.S. in Apparel Sales
December 25th, 2009
7:17 pm
The fan base is growing. Georgia Bulldog football has the 3rd largest national following. Forbes ranked Georgia football #3 in apparel sales out of 120 teams. Nice job Evans and Richt!
http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/22/most-vaulable-college-football-teams-business-sports-college-football_slide_10.html
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
8:35 pm
godawgs
December 24th, 2009
2:30 pm
Ealey for the season is the best at not giving up fumbles–sure the 1 on the goal-line pitch toss in the Kent game–might have been Cox’s fault–we’ll never know—but regardless, that’s it for Ealey.
Just for the record. . . that fumble was all Ealey. That one cannot be blamed on Cox.
71 DAWG
December 25th, 2009
8:37 pm
WE DON’T WANT YOU RIDING OUR BAND WAGON BRADLEY – IT’S OKAY IF YOU KEEP YOUR NOSE ATTACHED TO PAUL JOHNSON’S ANATOMY THOUGH. BY THE WAY, EVERY DAWG FAN KNOWS THAT BEATING TECH IS EXPECTED AND IS NEVER CONSIDERED TO BE AN UPSET.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
8:41 pm
THWG
December 25th, 2009
12:14 pm——
Not gonna happen. The dawgs got lucky when they intentionally injured nesbitt.
So was it luck, or was it intentional? Perhaps since it worked so well for UGA, maybe other teams will do it as well. I, personally, think Nesbitt is a beast, but you tech people seem to have far less faith in him, since he was injured so easily. Heck, UGA even made it seem like nothing happened.
I wish Nesbitt played for us. I don’t think I would question his toughness, but you tech people sure don’t give him much credit. Which is a shame, because next year, it will ALL BE ON HIS SHOULDERS.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
8:42 pm
THWG
December 25th, 2009
12:14 pm
Nothing is more funnier than watching defenders looking around expecting to be blocked by an out of sight tech player, to spring one of the backs.
____________________
depends on your outlook maybe. I can think of one thing this year that I thought was much funnier.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
8:45 pm
GT Fan…
December 25th, 2009
And to assume GT won’t win vs GA for a LONG time from here forward is about a ignorant as saying Josh Nesbitt will be the #1 overall pick when leaves GT.
_______________________________
In all seriousness, I enjoy watching Nesbitt play. Best player on tech’s team by far. . . but your last comment is idiotic at best.
joe jenkins
December 25th, 2009
8:47 pm
I just wnted to say that these bloggers that post first to start a blog are damn idiots. Cmr will find the right man for dc. But it will still take a few years to repair the damage done by cwm.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
8:48 pm
GT Fan…
December 25th, 2009
1:02 pm
GT’s D was worse in 2009 than 2008, but has to this point won 11 vs 9. GT doesn’t have to have great D effort to win, but when it gets one (UNC, VT, VA, Duke) there’s virtually no chance for the opponent.
______________________________
Your last two teams there in the parentheses are what most people point to when you admit to having a bad defense but still won 11 games. . .
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
8:50 pm
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
3:06 pm
you can’t play high school teams unless you are one. So welcome to our world you big bad high school dogs.
____________________________
Seriously? tech people, please pull this guy back to your blog. . . that’s embarrassing.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
8:56 pm
I think the point was that Ga fans call Tech a 4th rate high school team, and Ga fans are all pumped up because they beat a 4th rate high school team, so from that you get this:
Max Preps Xcellent 10
Final high school 2009 top ten footbal rankings:
1. GEORGIA BULLDOGS: After finally beating their arch rival, a 4th rate high school team the Dogs have been crowned NATIONAL CHAMPS for the first time since 1980, although they did have to drop down a couple of classifications.
2. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 12-0. Last Week: 2. Season complete. Non-Public Group IV state champions.
3. Abilene (Texas), 16-0. Last Week: 2. Ronnell Sims rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns to lead Abilene to a 5A-II state title over Katy, 28-17. Cousin Hershel Sims added a 60-yard TD run as the Eagles captured their first state title since 1956.
4. Butler (Matthews, N.C.), 15-0. Last Week: 3. Season complete. 4A state champions.
5. Servite (Anaheim, Calif.), 14-1. Last Week: 6. With a 33-30 win over Rocklin, Servite captured the CIF Division II title. Nicholas Echeverry kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to clinch the victory for the Friars.
6. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), 14-1. Last Week: NR. Dwyer captured Florida’s 4A crown, dominating previously-unbeaten Niceville 42-14. Since a season-opening loss to Glades Central, the Panthers have blown out each opponent they have faced.
7. Memphis University (Memphis, Tenn.), 13-0. Last Week: 4. Season complete. Division II-AA state champions.
8. Davidson (Hilliard, Ohio), 13-1. Last Week: 5. Season complete. Division I state champions.
9. Hoover (Ala.), 14-1. Last Week: 7. Season complete. 6A state champions.
10. Plant (Tampa, Fla.), 13-1. Last Week: 10. Plant followed a 20-0 blanking of Lakeland to beat Manatee 21-14, winning a 5A state title. Junior James Wilder Jr. ran for 137 yards and a touchdown to give Plant its second straight championship.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:05 pm
That may have been the point, but the point was still stupid.
Thanks for joining his team.
Florida Gators Have 251 tickets...
December 25th, 2009
9:05 pm
Wow, what’s up in Gainesville, Meyer’s program is spiraling out of control. 251 tickets from his football players? Are you kidding me?
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-uf-traffic-tickets-1223-20091222,0,1493465.story
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:08 pm
We don’t have too much room to talk with our moped stuff. .granted, i don’t think it’s 251. .
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:13 pm
Flagboy? after watching how Ga fans treated their team this year even calling their QB Joe Co*ksucker, I would rather be on his team than yours
Florida Gators...the New 'U"?
December 25th, 2009
9:15 pm
Is Urban Meyer turining the Gator football program into the Miami U program? Looks like, 251 tickets strong from his players. WOW!
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-uf-traffic-tickets-1223-20091222,0,1493465.story
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:19 pm
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:13 pm
Flagboy? after watching how Ga fans treated their team this year even calling their QB Joe Co*ksucker, I would rather be on his team than yours
________________________
You’re right. Last year, after a few fumbles, tech fans were calling for JAYBO SHAW over Nesbitt because he was fumbling and “couldn’t handle the offense”. Tech had a good year, but don’t start thinking your fans are above lunacy.
Gerogia Football #1 in NFL Players
December 25th, 2009
9:21 pm
congrats to Georgia Bulldog football ranking #1 in players in the NFL at 54 players.
http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/alumni-tracker#A
FartsALotDawg
December 25th, 2009
9:23 pm
We’re going to Shreveport based on the body of our work this year. It’s really not a bad town.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:24 pm
Flagboy? you are right but wanting a change in players is a legitimate position to have where as calling players such names is uncalled for. But there are fans of all teams in college sports including Tech (see reggie ball) that take the GAME way too seriously.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:26 pm
then, Waitaminute, pick one and go with it? are Dawg fans idiots because some people said pathetic things about a kid trying his best, Joe Cox, or is that the case with all teams?
I’m figuring you’re siding with the former since you used it as a dig at UGA.
bugsquacher
December 25th, 2009
9:28 pm
30-24 Merry Christmas Nerds!
Gonzales and Meyer have a Falling Out?
December 25th, 2009
9:31 pm
A long time friend and coach and recruiter suddenly quits, and heads laterally to one of your biggest rivals?
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/2009/12/urban-meyer-has-no-bad-blood-with-lsu-bound-billy-gonzales.html
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:35 pm
Nope the latter
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:36 pm
There just seems to be more of them at Ga
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:39 pm
Merry Christmas bugsquacher 7-5 unranked going to where????????
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:41 pm
We have a much larger fan base. ajc blogs are evidence enough of that.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:47 pm
No question about that. Once again for the record all teams have fans who take the GAME way too personally. Wanting to replace players based on perceived performance issues is OK. Firing PAID coaches because of a lack of overall achievement is OK.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:48 pm
and having that large of a program does help in recruiting
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:53 pm
I’m failing to see your point now, but ok. The average fan, for any team, is an idiot. We/they see things how they are perceived rather than how they are.
I’m still not getting your point when you said UGA fans were worse than others because some of them said derogatory things about a player, but then say all schools do that.
But whatever. I generally prefer to have normal, coherent conversations about football rather than the usual “lunch break is over!” or trailer park comments that are the norm.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
10:12 pm
That’s why I tried to clarify my original post, although re reading my prior posts I don’t think I said that Ga fans were worse than others,only that many of them were very negative in a more personal way this year and if that was how they were acting towards their team I would rather be on the original Wait a minute’s team,
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
9:05 pm
That may have been the point, but the point was still stupid.
Thanks for joining his team.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
9:13 pm
Flagboy? after watching how Ga fans treated their team this year even calling their QB Joe Co*ksucker, I would rather be on his team than yours
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
10:25 pm
we’re in circles now. i’ll just repost what i said earlier.
let’s stop.
frank james
December 25th, 2009
10:25 pm
Usually the fans that criticize the players on a public forum are bandwagon jumpers. You see it at all levels and in all sports. They will not stick with their school during the bad times other than bashing them. Plus they know very little about what it is like to compete as many of them wouldn’t know how to put a jock strap on, unless mommy put it on. Give me the knowlegeable fan that may get frustrated but makes sound judgments or acts like he has won and been there before. Go Dawgs!
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
10:28 pm
deal
boog
December 25th, 2009
10:41 pm
Great article. You just cannot argue with any or your points.
flagboy?
December 25th, 2009
10:55 pm
looking at the ajc.com vote thing about with the right DC, what can UGA do next year. . . most say win the SEC East. Understandable maybe, with Florida losing everything and Tenn still not great. But, when is the last time Florida hasn’t been good? And Tenn handled us pretty good this year, even when down (that game sucked the most). Also, S. Carolina started clicking (finally) this past year. I think the SEC east will be the most up for grabs it has been in a long time.
With that said, how is a DC going to come in and turn everything around automatically? First, one of the biggest problems for the Def this year were the turnovers on our own side of the field. A defense just isn’t going to consistently stop a team from scoring with that field position. Second, what players on the defensive side of the ball are game changers? I don’t think we had one. not ONE. R Jones had a great game against tech. The soph DE Houston seemed to have a pretty good year, and is one to watch next year. Rennie C was dependable, but doesn’t change games. I think the talent level on that side of the ball is down. If you can’t get pressure with your front four, without blitzing, you’re in trouble, and we normally couldn’t.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
11:10 pm
Had my family over for Christmas, 26 of us all together, and since many of them, well actually most of them are Ga fans, you can imagine how my day went. They did admire my Ga sweatshirt that I will have to wear at all family events this year as I did the many jacket shirts that they wore last year.
However the discussions about the state of the Ga program next year seems to mirror your concerns. The majority of them think that next year can be a good year, but it will be one more year before they think both sides of the ball will be able to contend for an SEC title.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
11:20 pm
I did tell them however that at least when tech beats them between the hedges in 2010 it would not stop them from winning the SEC title just as the lost to Ga this year did not stop us from winning ours.
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009
11:25 pm
Had to throw that last one in and with that I wish Ga Good Luck Monday and good night
RED DOG 77
December 26th, 2009
12:40 am
I came from a generation where, UGA vs TECH was just good old fashion hate, and that was just fine with me.Yes ,I have heard some pretty brash bravado from UGA folks,but this lame nasty crap being spewed from Tech people given the fact that we have crushed the bees 8 out of the last 9 games defies all logc, My fine fuzzy friends: logic is based on fact not some strange pipe dream.What in tarnation are they teaching you poor fools downtown…? GO DOGS !!!!!
RED DOG 77
December 26th, 2009
12:51 am
I do think im starting to get it though, sort of like arguing with a girl, no logic just emotion, and especially during that special time of the month, YEP, BY GOLLY, I do believe I figured it out. Thanks for listening Techsters, hope you had a merry christmas, and Santa brought you all those cute little stuffed bumble bees you wanted
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
1:18 am
QUOTE BY :
Wait a minute
December 25th, 2009 11:20 pm
“I did tell them however that at least when tech beats them between the hedges in 2010 it would not stop them from winning the SEC title just as the lost to Ga this year did not stop us from winning ours.”
END QUOTE
What a load of hogwash. tek played 6 games against teams NOT EVEN IN A BOWL GAME. The ACC had to give away your bowl games because you did not even have enough teams to even play in a bowl game. ACC is 83-84-2 in bowl games, all-time; this is a horrible bowl record. None of the BCS conferences lost a single game to any 1-AA team, except the ACC who LOST to TWO (2) 1-A teams. The ACC is 9-11 against the other conferences in the BCS; that sucks. The SEC was not 2 games under but 6 games over against all the other BCS Conferences, and this includes Georgia Tech scheduling the ONLY TWO SEC TEAMS not in a Bowl Game. ACC is 18-16 against all 1-A teams, while The SEC is 31-6. The only 2 games the ACC won against The SEC this year were the 2 games played by the top ACC team against the ONLY TWO SEC TEAMS not in a bowl game at all. How pitiful is that ? The average ranking in the BCS by the ACC is 51, while the Average BCS Ranking of all 12 SEC teams is 35. Clearly, attempting to compare the ACC with The SEC is folly beyond all reason. tek has beat UGA 1 time in the last 9 games, and it a total fluke; and LOST 8 times being DOMINATED overall 8 of the last 9 games. And, you come running in here bragging how you will BEAT UGA next year. Excuse me, you said that before this year’s game too. And, then, after the game refused to log in with the same handle and take your medicine. tek fans are the world worst poor sports and always have been. Don’t sit there and think you can compare the ACC with The SEC and get away with it. I swear to God.
GT WILL ALWAYS BE A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 26th, 2009
1:37 am
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
GT WILL ALWAYS BE A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 26th, 2009
1:39 am
EVEN SANTA SAYS HOHOHHOHOHOHOHOHOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO FOREVER AND EVER