On a tepid Signing Day, there’s still reason for UGA to believe
Rodney Garner and Mark Richt meet the press on Signing Day 2010. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Athens – Just as it would be wrong to make too much of one lost recruit or one tepid signing class, it would likewise be wrong to ignore current events. And those are: Coming off its worst season on the field under Mark Richt, the Bulldogs have assembled their lowest-ranked recruiting class, according to Rivals.com, since Richt was so new to the job he hadn’t yet coached a game.
“I don’t expect Bulldog fans to be excited over an 8-5 season,” Richt said Wednesday, briefing the media on a subdued-by-Georgia-standards Signing Day, but that season is done and this recruiting class is essentially complete and the Bulldogs move on. And the question becomes: Is Georgia better suited today to win big than it was 12 months ago?
And the answer is: Yes.
We cannot know how good Da’Rick Rogers will (or will not) be at Tennessee, but we can know this: Georgia was never going to play for another SEC title with Willie Martinez coaching its defense. If firing Martinez and two assistants made for what recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner called “some difficulties,” that’s a trade-off worth making if in fact Todd Grantham, Martinez’s successor, is as clever as advertised.
“That’s why I did what I did,” said Richt, responding to a question about Georgia’s positioning for the future. “That’s the only reason I did what I did.”
As much as Signing Day matters, coaching matters more. Richt’s program had become the place where big-time defensive players came and were left to their own devices. Were recruiting alone the secret to success, Georgia and Richt — eight consecutive Top 10 classes, according to Rivals — would have taken a BCS title by now.
As disappointing as Rogers’ defection was, Georgia fans should nonetheless find reason to believe this February. Because the head coach bears a lean and hungry look. “[Last season] has given me more resolve to get this program where it belongs,” Richt said. And then: “We have everything we need to get that done.”
Last season wasn’t good. (No good seasons lead to Shreveport.) The coaching search took six weeks and included three high-profile turndowns. The recruiting class of 2010 numbered 18 commitments last fall and wound up with 19 signed letters-of-intent. But all that is past now, and what remains is a better defensive staff — couldn’t be worse, could it? — and a rejuvenated Richt. And also this:
“We’ve got some darn good football players,” Richt said. “That’s got me excited about what the future holds.”
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429 comments Add your comment
jitterbugdog
February 3rd, 2010
4:30 pm
i can’t believe how quick society turns on people. i would hate to think about what it would be like if we still had goff or donnan. richt has done a good job. vince dooley won one national championship in twenty something years we gonna start talking about him. i don’t see where the problem is saying a man can’t be a good coach and a christian at the same time. i don’t believe you have to cuss a kid out to get him to play better. richt has one of the highest winning percentages of any coach in college football over the past 8 or 9 seasons and now the loyal georgia nation is ready to send him off because of a 8-5 record (that could have been worse). coach richt is doing a good job and i hope he stays at georgia until his retirement. i really don’t see the problem with a man teaching kids football and values at the same time.
michael
February 3rd, 2010
4:30 pm
Losing good players cannot help. Yakking about the coaches on NSD cannot be good. Getting fewer, and less skilled, players than the Gators cannot be good (for UGA). No wonder all of the happy-talk.
roswell dawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:30 pm
Bremen Dawg, you are sooo right. Plus you got idiot dawg fan saying they signed 0 in-state guys when in fact they 14 or 15. Ten of them in the AJC top 50. We only got 11 of the top 50. Four or five of these guys chose the skeeters over our dawgs. All you guys hide your head in the sand if you want but, we got a problem of imminent decline in Athens town.
jellybeandawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:31 pm
Bremen Dawg you are right if you have a head coach that can coach lesser talent up then its not important. Unfortunately we are not so fortunate at UGA and in many instances some players have regressed (gotten worse) from High school. I do however have high hopes that Grantham can change some of that, at least on the defensive side of the ball.
toga
February 3rd, 2010
4:31 pm
GaGator – you are spot on. Deep down inside, all dog fans know Richt is a joke and fear the coming season.
Roll Tide
Eat and Tweet
February 3rd, 2010
4:31 pm
Owensjeff @ 4:29 pm Almost forgot that its 10 cent wing nite at Loco’s. Kinda boring at the Butts Mehre. Later dreggs !!
GaGator
February 3rd, 2010
4:32 pm
kerryb
Just don’t think quality doesn’t count. Florida has 16 of the ESPN 150, Georgia has
just 6.
Dawgs 2010
February 3rd, 2010
4:32 pm
Rocky top, you will always be,
stupid white trash to me,
good ole Rocky Top,
I jus lost three more teeth!
Mr Me
February 3rd, 2010
4:33 pm
Yellow Fuzz
February 3rd, 2010
4:28 pm
I guess your team is the staple of that website. Oh wait you actually have to be on top to actually decline, and everyone knows the gnats are never on top of their tickle piles.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
February 3rd, 2010
4:34 pm
I’ve been disappointed only in the negative slant of the coverage of Ga’s recruiting class. Not really much to say about the ones that signed just the one that went elsewhere. How about some stories on the kids that did sign? I guess they don’t get as many hits on the board. I think this class addressed the defensive needs (could’ve used another LB or 2). Ga is frickkin LOADED on offense for 2010 (need the QB to step up). The sky isn’t falling and it ’s not the beginning of the end for CMR. Look for improvement in 2010 and in the mix for it all in 2011. It’s a great day to be a Bulldawg. I know some haters and some who live vicariously thru a football team may not agree, but that’s the way it is
xtenshun
February 3rd, 2010
4:34 pm
Everyone simply needs to relax. The Dawgs are fine and in good hands. A 17 or 18 year old kid does not make or break a program like Georgia’s. Kids like this come out every single year and the next one will seem bigger and better. Changing the defensive staff will add much more than a few five star recruits. That unto itself can be factored into our “recruiting ranking.” Additionally, you might want to consider Richard Samuel, a five star MATURE talent coming into linebacker as boosting this year’s class. That alone puts this class in the top 10 ( as if it matters whether you are 5, 10 15 or 20 in mythical recruiting rankings……BTW, I doubt the Dawgs lose more than 2 games next year!(Hopefully less!!)
jitterbugdog
February 3rd, 2010
4:35 pm
i love these gator fans. they have won 15 of the last 17 or something like that and they still trail in the all time series. that should let them know things change. we use to kick that tail very frequently. don’t worry it will come back around for the georgia faithful.
Mike
February 3rd, 2010
4:35 pm
JB
February 3rd, 2010
3:51 pm
“If Georgia signed Tech’s class, They would be plowing up our field in Athens and putting a ‘for lease’ sign on it.”
…well those prior Top 10 recruiting classes netted Shreveport last year and an unranked team to boot. Keep in mind that last year’s UGA recruits were ranked higher than this years’ recruits!
GrantP Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:36 pm
Yellow Fuzz- you, too, can use the “wait til next year phrases”. In fact, you should be quite good at it having used it 8 out of the last 9 years.
Bummer of a year compared to previous classes, but I do like the positions we filled. There will be a lot of defensive guys that don’t have to have Willie coached out of them before they get coached up. It will be interesting to see how they take to the new system.
Honestly, I would be concerned about the defensive class is we were still in a 4-3. Not enough big bodies to replace Owen, Atkins, and Weston. Most of the guys signed seemed like they could play multiple positions on defense. I am sure it wasn’t intended that way, but could work out well.
kerryb
February 3rd, 2010
4:36 pm
toga,
Deep down all you Bama fans know that you will be the next one doing a coaching search when Satan goes to scratch that NFL itch again soon. You need to quit worrying about UGA and start worrying about auburn. They came close to beating you last year with little talent and now they loaded up. That should be your focus right now.
bruce mac
February 3rd, 2010
4:36 pm
All of you bumble bees do realize that FSU is going to kick your brains out every year from now on. What are you gloating about, you should be realizing the end is near for sniffing Orange Bowl. The ACC will have at least one good team in the future and that is all it takes to knock you to the curb. You, Duke and Clemson will be grappling for Shreveport every year and all will be right with the world again.
GatorBob
February 3rd, 2010
4:37 pm
jitterbugdog,
Get off the drugs dude, you need to preserve the few hundred brain cells that are left!
Bama Stan
February 3rd, 2010
4:37 pm
I love Bama, (National Champs!!!! )but I graduated from UGA, and I have to say they have way too many haters. Personally, I think UGA is not a “sinking ship” and is in store for a really good season next year, though I still think Florida beats them. I hear that Murray kid is really good though. We’ll see. Good luck dawgs, and ROLLLLL TIDE!!! Another SEC championship coming right up!!
king gator
February 3rd, 2010
4:37 pm
It’s Great to be a Florida Gator!
Mike
February 3rd, 2010
4:38 pm
bruce mac – is that the same Shreveport that your lowly Dawgs visited this year?
Mr Me
February 3rd, 2010
4:38 pm
Which recruiting site do you put the most trust in ESPN, Scout or Rivals? They are all over the board with their rankings for every player. Either way all you haters can keep dreaming about the Dawgs while we Dawg fans do the same rather than worrying about other programs. Haters always lose.
jitterbugdog
February 3rd, 2010
4:39 pm
gatorbob you probably one of those folks that jump ship when your team isn’t winning. what you gone be next year a tcu fan.
charlotte dawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:39 pm
oh well, so one WR had a change of heart. fortunately the dawgs still have kris durham, r. wooten, t. king, marlon brown, and maybe even branden smith. oh yeah, and a guy named AJ. still plenty of talent to work with
todd grantham
February 3rd, 2010
4:40 pm
Mark, thanks for the kind words. Best, Todd
Yabba Dabba Dabo
February 3rd, 2010
4:40 pm
Hey Bruce Mac….. Clemson will beat you in all the big three sports right now but will give you gymnastics cause the dawgies do have a dynasty there !
With the first pick, the Rams take Joe Cox
February 3rd, 2010
4:40 pm
So, MB, how’d the Cats do today? Don’t get much UK news in these here parts.
michael
February 3rd, 2010
4:40 pm
jitterbugdog – the Gators only got serious about football 17 years ago. Before that it was the Bear, et al. So, since we began giving a hoot, we own you. More importantly, we will continue to own you.
On your knees and pay homage!
With the first pick, the Rams take Joe Cox
February 3rd, 2010
4:41 pm
Charlotte Dawg, good points. see you in section 122 next year.
UGA Rocks The House
February 3rd, 2010
4:41 pm
UGA finished in top 5 in DE’s, DB’s on rivals.com, #11 on DL’s
Scout UGA finished:
1- top 5 in number of top 100 recruits
2- #7 in average quality of recruit
ESPN UGA finished ranked #9
Dawgs 2010
February 3rd, 2010
4:42 pm
Rivals is the most reliable recruiting site. ESPN had CARLTON THOMAS rated higher than Jeff Demps. Looks really bad now, Carlton is #3 or 4 on the depth chart.
McDawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:42 pm
i think this was a fine class-whitaker is the only guy that smarts as far as i am concerned
Da’rick-was sick and tired of hearing about the guy -wish he and his girl friend Nancy the best
jitterbugdog
February 3rd, 2010
4:43 pm
michael – so when your team starts to suck again it want matter because you want give a hoot no more right. that is what i like about georgia fans we stick with our team through the good and the bad. i go to church with some gator fans and they wouldn’t even show up when alabama spanked that tail.
Mark Bradley
February 3rd, 2010
4:43 pm
Yes, I’m a Tech homer, Va Beach. That’s why Tech fans nicknamed me Bark Madly — because they consider me a Georgia homer.
jellybeandawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho get you head out of Coach Fake Juice Richts sphincter and get a grip with reality. Its obvious from your post that you are serious dope fiend/ drug addict and suffer from serious delusions. I am begging you, please for the sake of you and your family enter a drug rehab facility and get the treatment you need. Get help and get your life back.. You’ll be a much better person for it.
michael
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Mr Me –
Please note that all of the recruiting services have, once again, anointed the Gators #1.
kerryb
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Bama Stan, Not going to happen. UF will be in a rebuilding year next year and will lose about 3-4 games. If Murray comes along by then I don’t see them beating us next year. They will also have a QB with little experience and not much around him on offense. We will have an established OL with 3 years playing together teo RB’s and a slew of WR’s, and an All SEC Freshman TE to help Murray. They will be in total rebuilding mode on their defense with a DC that no one has heard of and was an assistant position coach in the NFL not even a position coach. He was the guy getting coffee for the position coach. Going to be a tough year for them next year and all those spoiled Gator fans will be doing a lot of crying.
bruce mac
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Mike, yes that would be the one. Next year the SEC will gets the Gator Bowl as they fired ACC and you end up with Shreveport if lucky, good decision Gator Bowl. One difference will be that you will lose as usual, where we won to make CMR 7 and 2 in bowls. How does that compare to CPJ bowl record anyway?.
tell it like it is
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
JB–If georgia signed tech’s class would that make you a teck fan?
With the first pick, the Rams take Joe Cox
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Rocky top, you will always be,
stupid white trash to me,
good ole Rocky Top,
I jus lost three more teeth!
Now THAT is funny!
GatorBob
February 3rd, 2010
4:46 pm
jitterbugdog,
Flordia alum here dude. And it’s 17 of the last 19 years! National Champions in 1996, 2006, and 2008 during that time. And you mutts??? Thought so. Shut your pie hole
GatorBob
February 3rd, 2010
4:46 pm
Florida alum BTW
GrantP Dawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:46 pm
Mark- (even though I don’t think you read past the first page)
For the record, I think you and Schultz do a pretty good job. I laugh at all the calls of bias on any side. You guys are just saying what you feel and by and large I think you are fairly on point.
I do have to say that I lost almost all respect for Chip this past week. Just seemed like he was writing from antagonistic position. His word choices just didn’t seem professional at all. He wasn’t reporting, he was almost, well, gloating at the misfortunes.
I consider myself a pretty level headed Dawg. Yet, I cannot help but believe he enjoyed our misfortunes this week. I will choose to skip reading his material from here on out and I would suggest fellow Dawgs, who didn’t like what he wrote, do the same. If his blogs don’t get any hits, he’ll won’t be writing them for long. Don’t waste your time calling him names. It only helps his cause.
Just my $.02.
TrueDawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:46 pm
I will take one step back ( a recruiting class not ranked in the top 10) for a chance to take two-three steps forward (a better, more agressive defense that produces more wins)
willie martinez
February 3rd, 2010
4:47 pm
Mark, a parting shot, huh?
kauai dawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:47 pm
FSU website reporting that Christian Green has signed with them. Great class but lost a little steam at the end. I for one am glad that Da’dramamess went to rocky top.
Go DAWGS! 30-24
Carty
February 3rd, 2010
4:47 pm
I feel like that articel was written by “Baghdad Bob”. To a state that has been buzzing for the last 8 weeks about “signing day” Bradley comes out with a well “it’s really all about coaching” article. Very nice Mark,may I add there are no American troops in Iraq. Listen up Dawg fans, the talent gap between the Gators and Dawgs got a whole lot bigger in 2010 and that ain’t “Baghdad Bob” writing it.
Mr Me
February 3rd, 2010
4:48 pm
michael
February 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Read the post a little closer and you will see I said players and not team rankings. How can you really compare team rankings when some like UGA only sign 18-19 players and others sign 30, and they only signed 19 because thats how many slots they had available.
Also how did that top class do this year against Bama? Shows once again that recruiting rankings really dont matter, its more about getting guys that fit in the system and that are passionate about playing.
kcg76dawg
February 3rd, 2010
4:49 pm
1st and foremost, this particular signing class is solid from top to bottom. Getting mike thornton is a tremendous coup because he can play rush end or nose tackle in the new 3-4 with ctg. Lastly, losing darick rogers is really not big of a deal with green,king, wooten, charles, figgins and white all coming back. Plus if Marlon Brown is able to improve over his 1st season, it will really have positives to the offense. And as a dawg fan, karma can be cold because Marlon Brown did the same thing last spurning the hometown vols to come to athens. And in closing, don’t let uf’s class deter our hope for our program. Uga still has more guys on active rosters than florida does. Currently after texas and florida, georgia has as many espnu top150 players as california! So there is still hope when our home state is considered one of the top producers of elite talent.
jitterbugdog
February 3rd, 2010
4:49 pm
urban meyer will probably resign again after signing day. scared of what might happen without zooks recruiting class
NoGaGator
February 3rd, 2010
4:49 pm
True Dawg Fans:
Not a good day for GATA’s…Trading down to sign lower level recruits because your hoped-for ones didn’t sign with you.
No matter what spin you try to put on things with a new DC, it just doesn’t fly. After all, you’re the ones that have had such great recruiting classes in the past 3 years. Now you have what? – a 15th or 20th-rated class based on the various rating services? I feel bad for the unrealistic expectations y’all are putting on Grantham.
The sad truth is that Coach Richt’s time has come and gone. The SEC is just too tough a conference for his cojones. As a Gator fan I’d like him to be your coach for a long time however, I don’t think that’s going to be the case. Tennessee with Dooley is our better rival than UGA, sorry to say.