Who gains from the SEC’s turmoil? Alas, not UGA
The SEC East is in flux in a way nobody could have envisioned on Christmas Eve. Urban Meyer resigned and recanted and is said to be relaxing. Tennessee has no coach. Kentucky has a new coach. Vanderbilt … OK, there’s the one constant.
With so much in motion, the moment seems ripe for a stable program to make a bold move upward in 2010. That program would not seem to be Georgia.
Having searched for six weeks, the Bulldogs don’t have a defensive coordinator or a defensive staff. They’ll enter next season with a new quarterback, the result of having left Aaron Murray to redshirt. (A wise choice in most years, but not necessarily in the worst season under this head coach.) Worse still, there’s a growing feeling across the South that Mark Richt is a year away from feeling the big heat.
From MrSEC.com, usually a clearinghouse of conference links, came this post-Kirby-Smart post from John Pennington, its headline reading: “Smart Stays; Richt In Trouble.” Pennington’s argument isn’t that Richt should be in trouble but that, having been spurned three times now by coordinating candidates, he’s being perceived as “inept.”
Short of landing Bill Belichick, it will be nigh-impossible for Georgia to emerge from this protracted search with a coordinator who will satisfy the majority of Dog-lovers. And it does seem troubling that three men who worked in the South and have coached against Georgia — Bud Foster of Virginia Tech, John Chavis of LSU and Alabama’s Kirby Smart, who’s a Bulldog born and bred — saw greater opportunity in the current positions than anything awaiting them in Athens.
Is Georgia now radioactive? Is Richt viewed in the industry as damaged goods? Is there a way for the coach who once moved from strength to strength to overcome this onset of weakness?
Sure. There’s a way. Just win, baby. (That’s Al Davis’ signature quote. The second-most famous Al Davis utterance: “Lane Kiffin is a flat-out liar.”) But I don’t see Georgia as poised to win big even in an SEC East that’s without Tebow, without Kiffin and perhaps without Meyer. Indeed, if you’re looking for the program harboring realistic expectations of a 2010 breakthrough, look first to the one that has never won anything of consequence.
South Carolina.
It has a head coach, which puts it ahead of Tennessee and perhaps Florida, and he has a national championship in his portfolio. It has a defensive coordinator, which puts it ahead of Georgia, and Ellis Johnson is a fine one. Its quarterback is returning, along with 15 other starters on offense and defense. And it plays Georgia in Columbia on Sept. 11.
No, the Gamecocks weren’t much good in 2009: They finished 7-6 and looked awful in losing the Papajohns.com Bowl to Connecticut. But the new season is another day, and long-suffering Gamecock fans get geeked up for every next season as a matter of course. This time they might actually have cause.
Not many Georgia fans seem similarly enthused, at least not at the moment. The coordinator search won’t go on forever, but it has left a mark on the Bulldog psyche. Georgia fans are like most: They can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to come coach their team. But they’ve just seen three men choose to remain in place despite the lure of big money at UGA.
Loading ...We learned in 2005, when he won the SEC in his first season without David Greene and David Pollack and Brian VanGorder, not to dismiss Mark Richt. We saw it again this season when he took his worst team and beat Georgia Tech’s best aggregation in a decade. That said, the prevailing wind now seems to be blowing against him.
He’s 14-8 over the past 22 games. (And that’s with victories in the final two of 2009.) He can wind up making a good hire and it won’t be seen as such. Some of the UGA fans who once swore by Richt have taken up a different brand of swearing. As Pennington suggested, Richt is no longer the fresh prince of the SEC but an elder and somewhat diminished statesman.
Five years ago I wouldn’t have thought Richt and Georgia incapable of anything. Now, heaven help me, I see South Carolina as the program on the rise. South Carolina, of all teams.
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
785 comments Add your comment
Really?
January 13th, 2010
5:06 pm
1980- “Oh yeah, I forgot about the one they won back in 1845. They went 3-0 that year, right?”
Ok so you discount UGA’s title in 1942 because it was so long ago. So using your logic, 2 of Tech’s titles were before 1930 so those wouldn’t count either. So that would mean UGA has a better football program then TECH based on more recent history. I see!
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:06 pm
“Tech. Dumbazz. Unless you’re a newbie sidewalk ‘Bama fan. And if you are, your team hadn’t done anything in almost a decade before Nicky “I’m the original Lane Kiffin” Saban came slithering i”
Yep, and we still have 12 more national titles than you gals.
Oh, and UGA has not won one in over 30 years.
1980 = Bandwagon
January 13th, 2010
5:07 pm
Bet you are from Steeler town…yea right… Um Mom called and said get off the computer and get to your homework.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:07 pm
“Ok so you discount UGA’s title in 1942 because it was so long ago. So using your logic, 2 of Tech’s titles were before 1930 so those wouldn’t count either. So that would mean UGA has a better football program then TECH based on more recent history. I see!”
And your point being what?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:08 pm
“Well, since we’re talking NC’s here, that’s almost 20 years between for Bama, too.”
Yeah, but guess what, we now have another one.
So, I guess you can shove the $hit you just shoveled back up your arse!
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:09 pm
“Bet you are from Steeler town…yea right… Um Mom called and said get off the computer and get to your homework.”
Nope, I am from Georgia.
Yes, I know your mom called. Please tell her to stop calling me. She’s embarrassing herself and you for that matter.
Really?
January 13th, 2010
5:10 pm
1980- Steelers? well I feel like an idiot arguing college football with you. No wonder you sound like you have no clue about college football. It is because you are NFL guy. I was beginning to wonder but know it makes sense.
Erk
January 13th, 2010
5:11 pm
What shots will Mark & Schultz throw at UGA & CMR in tomorrow’s blog? Many more like this and Mark won’t be writing for the AJC much longer. At least Schultz is funny.
The South Carolina Inept Common Sense
January 13th, 2010
5:11 pm
Ok, let’s see if there’s a RATIONAL basis for Bradley’s South Carolina will finish better than Geogia in the SEC.
2009- No
2008- No
2007- No
2006- No
2005- No
2004- No
2003- No
2002- No
Any student of the SEC would have to go with Georgia over South Carolina in the SEC any year over the last several, and for 2010. to say otherwise, is inept common sense.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:11 pm
“well I feel like an idiot arguing college football with you. No wonder you sound like you have no clue about college football. It is because you are NFL guy. I was beginning to wonder but know it makes sense.”
Yeah, you know, with the Steelers having just won the all-time Super Bowl win record, what would I know about football?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:12 pm
“No wonder you sound like you have no clue about college football.”
Yeah, I guess having grown up under Bear Bryant…………….
Gator For Life
January 13th, 2010
5:12 pm
Florida will be dominant again – Meyer is not leaving, Brantley will fill in Tebow’s shoes well, and Rivals, Scout, and ESPN all rank our class at No. 1.
Lanier Dawg
January 13th, 2010
5:12 pm
1980 – UGAs two “Consensus” (meaning after 1930) championships are 1942 and 1980. Tech only has two “consensus” championships (after 1930) 1952 and 1990. That is also the same threshold that so many are using to say Alabama has 8 “consensus” championships to the claimed 13. National Championships in Football are only recognized by the NCAA after 1930. Claimed championships are at all institutions because writers that are not recognized did give out championships to schools. If everyone went by claimed instead of consensus, UGA would have 5 NCs to Techs 4.
Anyway, enough of you because you seem to be nothing but a troll.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:13 pm
“Any student of the SEC would have to go with Georgia over South Carolina in the SEC any year over the last several, and for 2010. to say otherwise, is inept common sense.”
Yeah, since Georgia lost to Kentucky…..sheesh, yeah, they WILL beat South Carolina.
Really?
January 13th, 2010
5:14 pm
1980 – let me slow down for you, earlier you said TECH had a better football program then UGA but then discounted UGA’s 1942 Tile because it was so many years ago. Two of Tech’s titles are from before 1930. So using your logic UGA has a better football program then Tech does. Do you agree? It isn’t a question of course you agree but you are going to respond no because you are like a 10 year old kid and want to be ignorant.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:15 pm
“National Championships in Football are only recognized by the NCAA after 1930. Claimed championships are at all institutions because writers that are not recognized did give out championships to schools. If everyone went by claimed instead of consensus, UGA would have 5 NCs to Techs 4.”
And Auburn would have 13. But sadly, they only have 3.
charliedawg
January 13th, 2010
5:15 pm
This must be why coaches don’t read the newspaper. Come to think of it, that’s why a lot of people don’t read the newspaper anymore. It’s not news, it’s speculation and uninformed opinion. Seems like the ajc should rename itself the Atlanta Enquirer and only sell in grocery stores…….and yet I still read this drivel…it’s entertaining in that “watching a car crash” kind of way.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:15 pm
“let me slow down for you, earlier you said TECH had a better football program then UGA but then discounted UGA’s 1942 Tile because it was so many years ago. Two of Tech’s titles are from before 1930. So using your logic UGA has a better football program then Tech does.”
You really aren’t good with sarcasm, are you?
Really?
January 13th, 2010
5:16 pm
1980 – I didn’t see that you didn’t know anything about the NFL and the Steelers. I am sure you do.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:16 pm
“It isn’t a question of course you agree but you are going to respond no because you are like a 10 year old kid and want to be ignorant.”
Well, considering you’ve called me how many names? I figured you were the 10 year old.
Gatorland
January 13th, 2010
5:17 pm
Mark,
You are dead on!
South Carolina
Florida
Kentucky
UGA
VANDY
Tennessee.
Coaching, talent, program reliablity, stability.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:17 pm
“I didn’t see that you didn’t know anything about the NFL and the Steelers. I am sure you do.”
You didn’t see? Huh, you really are bad with grammar ain’t cha!
Really?
January 13th, 2010
5:17 pm
say
1980 = the condition of the AJC
January 13th, 2010
5:18 pm
Haha so is 1980 a Bama fan that just got a computer?? Or a UT fan that is obviously in shock after that loser bailed on them??
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:18 pm
South Carolina
Florida
Kentucky
UGA
VANDY
Tennessee.
No, more like: FL, Kentucky, SC, Vandy, TN, UGA
1980 = Bandwagon
January 13th, 2010
5:18 pm
Yes, I know your mom called. Please tell her to stop calling me. She’s embarrassing herself and you for that matter.
LOL My 88 year old mother is chasing the young girls again. Bet she just wants to wipe your snotty nose…. She would be proud that she is the subject of a blog..not that she would know what one is….
RGB
January 13th, 2010
5:18 pm
Some people wouldn’t know “facts” if they slapped them upside the head.
Here are some Facts regarding Alabama QB McElroy:
Current Season:
Attempts: 325
Completions: 198
Percentage completions: 60.9%
Total Yards: 2,508
Yards/reception: 7.7
17 TDs
4 interceptions
QB Rating: 140.5
Games Won This Season: 14
Games Lost This Season: 0
National Championships: 1
How many National Championships did your team win this season, sport?
Nadless moron. Can’t win anything on his own and tries to tear down people who do.
Really?
January 13th, 2010
5:18 pm
1980- I do apoligize for typing see instead of say. Will you forgive me?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:19 pm
“is 1980 a Bama fan that just got a computer?? Or a UT fan that is obviously in shock after that loser bailed on them??”
Bama and Auburn fan. Yeah, I know, weird, huh?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:19 pm
“My 88 year old mother is chasing the young girls again. Bet she just wants to wipe your snotty nose…. She would be proud that she is the subject of a blog..not that she would know what one is….”
Sounds like your family should be on Springer.
Joshhh...
January 13th, 2010
5:20 pm
Mark, you’ve never been for UGA before so why would I expect anything more out of you now?…
Every year all I hear from you is that Georgia Tech will have a stand-out year & Georgia will be mediocre at best…
Please stop writing about our Dawgs if all you’re going to say is negative things about them, there obviously needs to be an SEC-only tab on ajc.com so that you can write for that rather than for UGA…
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:20 pm
“I do apoligize for typing see instead of say. Will you forgive me?”
I was never mad at you.
erb
January 13th, 2010
5:20 pm
I know it is tough coming up with something to write everyday!
Dzerzhinsky
January 13th, 2010
5:20 pm
Ah, Bradley. Shame on you for for daring to say what you think. You know by now that criticism, even though it be unintended, riles the faithful up. As my old 5th grade teacher used to say, “Hit dog hollers.” No pun intended. You know there are a lot of “crazies” out there, especially in Atlanta, and I bet some hold a grudge. Perhaps you should couch your observations and conclusions in a more discrete and less irritating manner in the future.
1980 is a NFL fan not College
January 13th, 2010
5:20 pm
1980- Who do the Steelers play this weekend?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:20 pm
“Every year all I hear from you is that Georgia Tech will have a stand-out year & Georgia will be mediocre at best…”
GT did have a stand out year…..and UGA had a crappy year……as usual.
gtfanfrom1951
January 13th, 2010
5:21 pm
UGA fans can’t stand the truth…..That they are not the class of east……just trying to stay out of cellar…….Nobody (DC) wants to work in Athens. No QB, no Defense line, no linebacker, no safeties, and no DC = 7-6 dawg fans.
Joshhh...
January 13th, 2010
5:21 pm
Whoa, since when did Bama fans get on ajc?…
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:21 pm
“1980 is a NFL fan not College”
I blame teachers for this persons grammar. Wow.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:22 pm
“Whoa, since when did Bama fans get on ajc?…”
Since we learned what a computer be! Yee haw!
Benjamin
January 13th, 2010
5:22 pm
Haven’t read through the comments yet — 470 already?! — but I wanted to report a minor glitch. When clicking on the poll choice of mine for 2010’s better year, it tells me I’ve “already voted.” (I can assure you I had not.)
Joshhh...
January 13th, 2010
5:23 pm
1980 – we rolled over Tech you moron! Did you even watch that game?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:23 pm
“That they are not the class of east”
They have not been the class of the East since Walker ran over Notre Dame.
Sorry Guy
January 13th, 2010
5:24 pm
1980- so who do the Steelers play this weekend?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:24 pm
“we rolled over Tech you moron! Did you even watch that game?”
And we rolled over UGA.
Moron
Joshhh...
January 13th, 2010
5:25 pm
who’s “we”? I don’t even know who you’re for.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:25 pm
“so who do the Steelers play this weekend?”
Hold up, looking at the 2009 Super Bowl Trophy. Yep, our 7th Super Bowl Trophy….
What were you saying?
GoJackets
January 13th, 2010
5:25 pm
Lanier Dawg
Actually the NCAA does not recognize any FBS college football champions because there is no NCAA sanctioned championship or tournament event for FBS football. Thats why BCS champions get a crystal football and not a real NCAA championship trophy like other sports.
Sorry Guy
January 13th, 2010
5:25 pm
1980- What was the score of the UGA/Auburn football game last time they played?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:25 pm
“who’s “we”? I don’t even know who you’re for.”
Roll Tide, Roll!!!!!
War Damn Eagle!!!………