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.
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
526 comments Add your comment
GT WILL ALWAYS BE A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 26th, 2009
1:42 am
HEY YELLOW TUCKS WHEN YOU HEAR THE BELLS TOLL FOR THE NEW YEARS. DO NOT FORGET THE BELL TOLLS FOR UGA DAWG’S WINS OVER YOU. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA FOREVE AND EVER
where's HERSCHELL
December 26th, 2009
1:43 am
HEY BuLLdawg your shortbus to shreveport is here.
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
1:50 am
Shreveport LA is a LOT BETTER place to go on vacation than Miami.
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
1:53 am
Why do tek fans want to talk about 1 of several Heisman Trophy Winners we have at UGA, when tek has NEVER ever won even 1 Heisman Trophy ?
I loved it this year with the tek fans (both of them) hyping Josh Nesbitt for Heisman Trophy. The guy has thrown 12 td passes and 11 interceptions total in his 38 games as your “qb.”
This is punctuated by his LAST 4 PLAYS OF THE GAME against UGA, which is why we BEAT Tech 30-24.
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
1:55 am
Where is 1 Paul Johnson top recruit, ever ?
Go ahead.
I will wait while you try to come up with 1 recruit ever Paul Johnson has ever recruited.
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
2:04 am
Conference Rankings 2010 Recruiting Class a few weeks before signing date :
1. SEC
2. Big 12
3. Pac-10
4. Big Ten
5. ACC
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
2:29 am
The ACC is a group of itty bitty teeny weenie small colleges spread out way too far from Boston to Miami, who NONE OF THEM are any good. It takes over 24 hours to get from Boston to Miami. It’s over 1,500 miles. I said this here when the conference was created. That it is spread out too far, that the colleges are small insignificant football schools who will do NOTHING in football, with NO ONE WATCHING.
In the previous 5 years, the Average HIGHEST RANKED ACC Team is Number 12 in the Final AP Poll.
There is NOT an ACC team considered ANY GOOD AT ALL.
No one attends any of the games, and on TV, they are the worst rated games in all of America.
The ACC LOSES its bowl games.
The ACC LOSES to 1-AA teams.
The ACC LOSES head-to-head against EVERY CONFERENCE.
The ACC averages the WORST Average BCS Ranking of all Conferences.
The ACC recruits the worst of all conferences.
The ACC has the worst attendance of all conferences.
There is NOT an ACC team considered ANY GOOD AT ALL.
BuLLdawg
December 26th, 2009
6:32 am
QUOTE BY :
Matt
December 25th, 2009 9:14 pm
BuLLdawg,
“Did you really just compare GT and UGA’s academics?? Tech is a HARDER school, so it would make sense that we would have a higher chance of having academically ineligible players? WOW!”
END QUOTE
My God, son.
Georgia tek is ON PROBATION by the NCAA in men’s basketball with an Academic Progress Rate APR of 914, the LOWEST APR IN THE COUNTRY, limited to only 11 scholarships in men’s basketball.
Go tell your B.S. to the NCAA. They aren’t buying into your B.S. either, obviously.
Dawg Crazy
December 26th, 2009
6:59 am
Pay Kirby Smart whatever he wants—even if it takes $1.5 mil per year plus a boatload of benefits, perqs, and incentives. He’s worth it. Ga has millions in the bank to pay coaches the big money. Winning is the only thing that matters—spend the money!!!
Indicted
December 26th, 2009
7:29 am
1. SEC
5-year bowl record: 25-13 overall, 6-2 BCS
Projected 2009 bowl record: 8-2
* ALABAMA over Texas (BCS championship)
* FLORIDA over Cincinnati (Sugar)
* LSU over Penn State (Capital One)
* Northwestern over AUBURN (Outback)
* OLE MISS over Oklahoma State (Cotton)
* Virginia Tech over TENNESSEE (Chick-fil-A)
* GEORGIA over Texas A&M (Independence)
* ARKANSAS over East Carolina (Liberty)
* KENTUCKY over Clemson (Music City)
* SOUTH CAROLINA over Connecticut (Papajohns.com)
Spotlight game: Kentucky has its best defense under coach Rich Brooks and will control the Clemson running game (see: C.J. Spiller) to force erratic QB Kyle Parker to win the game.
Here comes trouble: How about Auburn facing this combination? Northwestern’s defense forced 26 turnovers, and its offense has a fifth-year senior quarterback (Mike Kafka) who runs the spread better than anyone in the Big Ten.
The last word: The nation’s best conference could win all 10 bowls and will only get better next season. Deep, young rosters are the norm for the league’s 10 bowl teams, and the conference could return nine starting quarterbacks.
5. ACC
5-year bowl record: 18-22 overall, 1-4 BCS
Projected 2009 bowl record: 3-4
* Iowa over GEORGIA TECH (Orange)
* West Virginia over FLORIDA STATE (Gator)
* Pitt over NORTH CAROLINA (Meineke Car Care)
* VIRGINIA TECH over Tennessee (Chick-fil-A)
* MIAMI over Wisconsin (Champs Sports)
* Kentucky over CLEMSON (Music City)
* BOSTON COLLEGE over USC (Emerald)
Spotlight game: From Heisman Trophy candidate in the first month of the season to struggling to find a groove, Miami QB Jacory Harris has three weeks to prepare for a shaky Wisconsin pass defense.
Here comes trouble: Georgia Tech’s triple option offense has taken over the ACC. One problem: Iowa’s strong interior line, led by DTs Karl Klug and Christian Ballard, can blow up the option dive play.
The last word: No matter the strides of other programs, the ACC is desperate for Miami and FSU to return to the elite. Another disappointing bowl season won’t make another year of transition any easier to take
Mad Max
December 26th, 2009
7:36 am
…and to think the UGA Dawgs are ACC Champions. WOW.
PDawg
December 26th, 2009
7:54 am
Last?
If the SEC is the best why do many of us on here have to write so much about how sorry the ACC is? Something isn’t right.
yellowjacket82
December 26th, 2009
8:22 am
BuLLdawg…you really are obsessed with the GT football team.
Broke Dawg
December 26th, 2009
8:29 am
The shreveport motel 6 was all booked up, so I’m thinking of pulling my trailer instead. Does anyone know where I can park it for a few days? Someone mentioned the walmart parking lot, but is that close to the stadium so I can walk to the game?
flagboy?
December 26th, 2009
8:38 am
Indicted, i think 3 of those games go differently.
Auburn should beat Northwestern.
I think OSU has a shot to beat Ole Miss. . . Ole miss should just give it to that back 25 times.
I think Tenn/Va tech will be a close one.
I think Clemson beats Kentucky.
Of course, i hope the SEC wins every one of them.
I think the ACC could have a better bowl season than usual. I don’t see USC losing to Boston College, but then again, USC doesn’t want to be there at all. And if Tech loses to Iowa, I will be shocked. But it does happen, it will prove one thing. There might not be another team in the entire nation that would benefit more from a college football playoff.
Vol Man
December 26th, 2009
9:12 am
It’s a bad year when the best player on your team is a punter! Congrats dawgs!! Great punting game!!! Look for another UT beatdown of UGA in 2010, followed by an SEC East title. Kiffin’s got the machine in place, well oiled and on track for big things in the 2010 season!!!! It’s hard to be humble when you’re a Vol!!!!
Indicted
December 26th, 2009
11:02 am
flagboy, those weren’t my picks. They were Sporting News predictions. Sorry I didn’t make that clear.
Indicted
December 26th, 2009
11:05 am
Vol Man you show your ignorance when you don’t understand that being an All American at a position, especially a kicker, doesn’t make him the “best” player on his team. Get a clue Jethro.
flagboy?
December 26th, 2009
3:44 pm
GT4EVER
December 24th, 2009
4:51 pm
“WonderingWHy” – December 24th, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
“I believe Ga. Tech has over 7K tickets still remaining for the Orange Bowl out of their 17,500 allotment. How could this be?”
I wish I knew. In my own case, its lack of $$ with this great economy. That’s not an excuse, just a fact. I might also ponder that Tuesday Jan. 6th is a tough day for many to get away from work (especially being after the holidays and most companies wanting to get back to business as usual). And there’s also the unfortunate reality that GT’s fan base is just not that big in comparison to the typical state school (Iowa for example).
I really miss the days when you could sit on your A$$ on New Year’s day and watch the “Big 4″ bowl games all in one day
_____________________________________________________
For what it’s worth, a lot of schools have trouble selling out their tickets. But that doesn’t mean fans from the schools aren’t buying them. It is cheaper to buy tickets through other sources than directly from a school’s athletic department most of the time. It would see those tickets would be the LAST to be sold since there is no way of discounting them at all.
Billy Bob Dawg
December 26th, 2009
7:38 pm
Rumor has it that Urban Meyer resigned to take the defensive coordinator position at Georgia.
Don't matter
December 27th, 2009
9:48 am
Hey Georgia posters,
Do the following names mean anything to you?
Meyer
Spurrier
Saban
Kiffen
Miles
Johnson
Brooks
EVERYONE but Auburn and Tennessee Tech thoroughly enjoys bitch slapping the Chihuahuas from Northeast Georgia. Especially when you come to Northeast FLORIDA.
STFU until you hire a reputable DC.
bamadawg
December 27th, 2009
12:02 pm
Mark, a very good article! Happy New Year everyone!
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
4:47 am
Shreveport by the numbers
2 Wal-Mart’s,
4 Waffle Houses
1 Motel 6
11,693 deer stands
48,545 seat Stadium (no kidding)
6,230 of 12,000 georgia ticket allotment sold
5:00PM start time
Peachtree TV # 2
#5 offense nationally facing #70 defense with 2 grad assts at the helm
7 recruits likely switching
Unlike Georgia, Texas A & M does not think the Herschal Walker and Lindale Scott led, 42-0 win in Athens on Sept. 13, 1980 will play a role in this game.
Dandy Don
December 28th, 2009
10:38 pm
C’mon, Bradley. The Bulldogs were lucky to get into ANY bowl. You make it sound
like Shreveport is the dregs.
MARTHA J KERNODLE
December 31st, 2009
12:08 am
HOW DID auburn get a better bowl game than georgia after losing to gerorgia. i think the bcs bowl pick sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MARTHA J KERNODLE
December 31st, 2009
12:13 am
to Bulldawg you do know that uga was the first college to be founded in the us