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.
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785 comments Add your comment
Mark Bradley
January 13th, 2010
5:25 pm
I’m sorry, Benjamin. I’ve checked the poll myself, and it seems to be working.
Happydawg
January 13th, 2010
5:26 pm
Mark have you lost your mind or is it just wishful thinking on your part. UGA is in an excellent position to challenge UF. USC no way.
Sorry Guy
January 13th, 2010
5:26 pm
1980- “Hold up, looking at the 2009 Super Bowl Trophy. Yep, our 7th Super Bowl Trophy…”.
Living in the past huh?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:26 pm
“What was the score of the UGA/Auburn football game last time they played?”
31-24
And your point?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:27 pm
“Living in the past huh?”
Yep, one year. Not like 30 years for UGAY fans.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:28 pm
“UGA is in an excellent position to challenge UF.”
Yep, and UGA was preseason number one, too……..
Mark Bradley
January 13th, 2010
5:28 pm
I would agree that if you were betting today, you’d bet on Urban Meyer being back and the Gators winning the East. But the team I see challenging the Gators hardest — even though the head-to-head game will be played in Gainesville — is South Carolina. I’d put Georgia down for third in East.
Benjamin
January 13th, 2010
5:28 pm
No worries — might just be my internet connection or something.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:28 pm
“What was the score of the UGA/Auburn football game last time they played?”
What was the UGA/TN score last time they played?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:29 pm
“I’d put Georgia down for third in East.”
I’d put Georgia down for Fifth in the East.
Sorry Guy
January 13th, 2010
5:31 pm
1980- Let me guess you were a Auburn fan up until they started losing a bunch of games and coincidentally Bama started winning games about that time so you became a fan of Bama?
I was a Dawg fan in the 1980’s and then became a Gator fan in the 90’s and then back to a Dawg fan in 2002 to 2005 and then back to a Gator fan from 2006 to present. Go Gator!
George
January 13th, 2010
5:31 pm
The Georgia fans who can’t keep themselves from responding to these blogs are clueless. Bradley and the rest of the gang have to get webhits and comment posts to justify their existence and hopefully advertising for the paper, that’s the bottom line. If you want to force these guys to write interesting, worthwhile stuff, boycott them for awhile.
In the meantime, you will get one provoking, snarky opinion blog post after another, because that’s what gets so many idiots out of the woodwork to respond!
Get Real
January 13th, 2010
5:32 pm
You should have asked the South Carolina fans exiting Legion Field on January 2nd if they thought their team would be one of the most improved teams in the east in 2010. Sometimes your columns make no sense.
Joshhh...
January 13th, 2010
5:32 pm
Mark, you need to put some money down on Terence Moore writing better articles than you because you’d be a rich man right about now…
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:32 pm
” Let me guess you were a Auburn fan up until they started losing a bunch of games and coincidentally Bama started winning games about that time so you became a fan of Bama?”
Nope, I went to U of Alabama. My parents went to Auburn. So……..your analysis doesn’t hold water.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:34 pm
“Let me guess you were a Auburn fan up until they started losing a bunch of games”
Um…..Auburn went to a better bowl than UGA. They also beat the team that beat the team that beat GT in the Orange Bowl.
Just sayin…
Auburn had one bad year in how long?
Dawgsig
January 13th, 2010
5:35 pm
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! lol Take your depression medication Mark! lol
Is Defense the Key for Georgia? No way!
January 13th, 2010
5:38 pm
Richt is 20-2 when Georgia rushes for 200 yards.
Next year, we return 10 out 11 offensive players. Lineman, WR’s TE’s, RB’s, all top rated in the country.
King & Ealey very impressive in last 5 games. Both are averaging over 5 ypc, LSU or Fla could not stop Ealey.
Georgia will be undefeated or go 13-1 if we get 200 yards rushing a game, NO MATTER WHO OUR DEFENSIVE COORDIANTOR IS, so chill out.
Without-a-clue
January 13th, 2010
5:39 pm
My truthful observation is the “1980″ has too much time and too little to say/write. And I suspect that 1980 is not his/her birth year. Rampant immaturity such as that would have run it’s course by now.
Ed
January 13th, 2010
5:40 pm
1980, thanks for pointing out that Georgia is the 11th winningest football program in the nation. Out of 120. That’s top 10%, 91st percentile, pretty good any way you look at it.
And the point you were trying to make is that Georgia sucks? I think you just proved the exact opposite.
Keep talking, boy.
UGA Alumn
January 13th, 2010
5:41 pm
1980 – Shouldn’t you be doing some homework? You may be able to get into Middle Georgia Tech if you start studying now!
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:42 pm
“thanks for pointing out that Georgia is the 11th winningest football program in the nation. Out of 120. That’s top 10%, 91st percentile, pretty good any way you look at it.
And the point you were trying to make is that Georgia sucks? I think you just proved the exact opposite.”
Yep, and out of those 11 teams, GA has…………..1 national championship. Poor puppy dawgs.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:42 pm
“Shouldn’t you be doing some homework? You may be able to get into Middle Georgia Tech if you start studying now!”
I graduated from the U of Alabama. Sorry, but if I wanted to serve up fries, I’d have gone to UGA.
UGA Alumn
January 13th, 2010
5:43 pm
1980 UGA has won four in a row against Auburn! You must be a Tech fan because you have no clue about SEC football. If Auburn has been doing so great than why did they fire their HC two years ago? Just saying
willie martinez
January 13th, 2010
5:44 pm
even if I were the dc at south carolina they wouldnt be better than georgia.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:44 pm
“And I suspect that 1980 is not his/her birth year. Rampant immaturity such as that would have run it’s course by now.”
Wow, you get the award for most obvious observation! 1980 was me mocking the last time UGA won a national title.
Oh, and speaking of obnoxious, be sure to pick up your drunk students and take them home with you the next time Bama destroys your puppy dawgs.
Thanks
Georgia Dawg 67
January 13th, 2010
5:44 pm
Kirby Smart stabbed CMR in the back and now he leaving Bama to go to UT.
Money talks.
wolfdawg777
January 13th, 2010
5:44 pm
4 in a row against Auburn.
8 or 9 against tech.
2 sec titles this decade
46-39 All time against florida
90-27 Richt’s winning as head coach
UGA Alumn
January 13th, 2010
5:45 pm
UGA is ranked higher than Alabama in every category! Pick up a USA Today 2010 College rankings! Why don’t you blog on your hillbilly news paper’s website!
E
January 13th, 2010
5:45 pm
Wow, I didn’t know a journalist (sic) could be a troll. I-75 runs straight to Lexington.
willie martinez
January 13th, 2010
5:45 pm
assuming uga gets a dc, and that is a big assumption, they will be second to florida in the east.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:45 pm
“GA has won four in a row against Auburn! You must be a Tech fan because you have no clue about SEC football. If Auburn has been doing so great than why did they fire their HC two years ago? Just saying”
1: And Auburn still went to a better bowl game, went undefeated and claimed the 2004 national title.
2: Tech? You is none too bright! Like I stated earlier, I went to U of Alabama. You know, the school that just won its 13th national title?
Scott
January 13th, 2010
5:46 pm
How many times can the sky be falling in Athens Mark? You really need some new material.
Roadrunner
January 13th, 2010
5:47 pm
Well this Bulldog fan for one isn’t in the dumps at all. I always thought it was a longshot to get Smart to move from Alabama. Not that we couldn’t make the GA position attractive enough, but rather that Alabama was unlikely to let him go without a fight. No matter how much money we could throw Kirby’s way Alabama was bound to at least match it, and as far as building street cred towards his own head coaching job, he could do alot worse than DC at #1 Alabama or any #1 team for that point. The Bulldogs will get their man, someone who wants to be there for all the right reasons. There is a lot more talent out there than people believe, unproven maybe, but talent all the same. Coach Richt you’re still number one with me!! GO DAWGS!!
Gamecock Fan
January 13th, 2010
5:47 pm
We should be good next year. I have seen several posts about South Carolina collapsing at the en of the year. Good thing we play UGA the second game! 2010 East Division: 1)Florida 2) USC 3) Georgia 4th (tie) between Kentucky and Tennessee 6) Vandy. Go COCKS!!
1980 observer
January 13th, 2010
5:47 pm
1980
Thanks for the japes. Very humorous, they never even knew.
UGA Alumn
January 13th, 2010
5:47 pm
Auburn lost to UGA, bitch! Bama has 8 national titles quit lying!
Willie Boy
January 13th, 2010
5:47 pm
What’s the deal with little Kirby Smart?
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:48 pm
“UGA is ranked higher than Alabama in every category! Pick up a USA Today 2010 College rankings! Why don’t you blog on your hillbilly news paper’s website!”
You went to UGA and you rail on me about being a hillbilly? Hate to break it to you but the entire south is hillbilly.
You want to compare jobs, SAT scores, GPA and salary?
three jack
January 13th, 2010
5:48 pm
it’s the curse of larry munson…uga record since his retirement is atrocious…come back larry!
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:49 pm
“Auburn lost to UGA, bitch! Bama has 8 national titles quit lying!”
Yep, that UGA degree gave you some tact and integrity, right?
Do you call your bosses bitch? I bet you beat up on your mom in her trailer as well.
Loser.
DCLee
January 13th, 2010
5:49 pm
If Mark Richt took Mark Bradley’s advice then he would panic and hire Lane Kiffin. Lucky for all the Dag fans out there that he is a strong enough person to ignore the criticism and not just go run out and find the first sucker off the street that would say yes. He has been patient, diligent and I know will get UGA the best possible D Coordinator there is out there.
Bradley – You could also look at this time of transition and say that Richt is about to do something big as he has in the past after down seasons. Look at his track record and write something original instead of the popular opinion of what is happening!
1980 observer
January 13th, 2010
5:50 pm
Enter your comments here
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:50 pm
UGA Alumn,
Just to add insult to injury, your home boy Vince Dooley went to Auburn. You know, the guy who brought you clowns your last national title 30 years ago.
E
January 13th, 2010
5:50 pm
“Nope, I went to U of Alabama. My parents went to Auburn. So……..your analysis doesn’t hold water.”
Why I left my birthplace of Georgia…this. If you people would just go back home, I might come back. 3 out of the last 4, Gump. I’ll take that any time. Enjoy your National Title, it sure does look fine on the end cap next to the doritos at Wal-Mart. Only in Alabama. HAHA
Ed
January 13th, 2010
5:51 pm
“Yep, and out of those 11 teams, GA has…………..1 national championship. Poor puppy dawgs.”
Actually 2, but since national titles at the 1-A level are only mythical, who cares? Georgia trails Alabama and Tennessee (one less) in the SEC title race. If we’re going to talk titles, let’s discuss real ones.
Without-a-clue
January 13th, 2010
5:51 pm
After years of hiding behind his/her mother’s skirt, 1980 now hides behind his computer. What you say can only have real validity when you say these things to a group of UGA fans and ex-players face-to-face. Until then, you are just the little mouse that roared.
Big Time City or Rural Hamlet?
January 13th, 2010
5:51 pm
Bama/Atlantan nailed it. Atlanta is a LARGE metropolitan city with 4 pro franchises. Compared to LA, Pittsburgh, Detroit(UM 40 miles away), Chicago , Dallas—The AJC has entirely too much content directed towards the exploits(??) of a college football team. I realize the rural rabble of the Southeast live anmd die by the teams representing institutions they would never academically qualify for BUT still the AJC is excessive in its pandering towards a team that has won absolutely NOTHING of import in nearly 30 years. It’s Georgia for God’s sakes They are not even relevant in football. Can’t hire a DC. Believe that 9 wins a year somehow qualifies a Botoxed Beach Bum for Hall of Fame. And if you check the schedules and look at those 9 wins a year, how many a year came against teams on average that Georgia had better talent than thanks to a fertile recruiting base and facilities.
IF the AJC had its nose any farther up Richt’s Rosey Red Rectum you would need Army Corps of Engineers to extricate it.
1980
January 13th, 2010
5:51 pm
“UGA is ranked higher than Alabama in every category! Pick up a USA Today 2010 College rankings! ”
Did you put that on your application when you applied for a job at Mcdonalds?
willie martinez
January 13th, 2010
5:51 pm
what happened between Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin is the very definition of collusion.