OK, so what happens with Richt if UGA loses in Starkville?
Quality-of-life-wise, it would behoove this man to win next week. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Not to say I’m smart or anything, but the Georgia season has played out the way I figured: Win, loss, loss. (No, I wasn’t so all-seeing as to know A.J. Green wouldn’t have played a down.) I also had the Bulldogs winning eight of the next nine games and finishing 9-3, which I do believe will occur. That said …
The Mississippi State game has long seemed to me the pivot point of Georgia’s season. It’s a game UGA should win, but it’s on the road in a different time zone, and strange things can happen in the realm of the cowbell. And today I pose the musical question: What happens if Georgia doesn’t win in Starkville?
Nothing much, I submit, but I’m willing to concede I might be in the distinct minority. Opening the SEC season 0-3 hasn’t happened under Mark Richt — to be accurate, the Bulldogs have never before been 0-2 in league play under Richt — and would loose all manner of outcry from the masses. Greg McGarity, the new AD, wouldn’t join the chorus, but even a new AD couldn’t help but note the furor.
I say again: I think Georgia is going to be fine. This is a young team with a new quarterback and a new defense that faced two very difficult early games without its best player. I find no dishonor in either defeat. And I expect these Bulldogs will tame the maroon Bulldogs on Saturday in Starkville. But I’m pragmatist enough to grant that this could get ugly if UGA doesn’t.
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992 comments Add your comment
dawgster
September 19th, 2010
4:00 pm
Enter your comments here
Bling and blang
September 19th, 2010
4:00 pm
It was good to see AJ still sportin his ear bling at the game yesterday !
Not Disappointed!
September 19th, 2010
4:03 pm
MISS ST scares me and I’m a Tech Fan. I think Miss st should’ve beat Auburn but didn’t so, we will see what team shows up. Good luck dawgs.
I remain, Ramblin Wreck!
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:04 pm
Colorado is off this week. They will have 2 weeks to prepare for Thuga. Could get ugly.
CDAWG
September 19th, 2010
4:05 pm
I have been watching Miss. State and I am worried. Their QB reminds one of Mike Vick.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:07 pm
CDAWG. The Miss State Defense will eat up Mr. Murray and the Miss State head coach came from Florida so their offense will have something for Georgia. Don’t forget the cowbells.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:09 pm
Looks like the next Thuga win might come against Idaho State. Will Saint Richt still be coaching them in that game?
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:12 pm
When does the Georgia highlights show come on, or was it canceled due to lack of interest?
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:13 pm
How many parked cars did Wayshun hit yesterday after the game?
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:15 pm
Is it Bobo or Booboo?
Realist
September 19th, 2010
4:17 pm
The problem is UGA fans make too many excuses. You guys have become ok with being average. Every year you talk about your team is young. Give me a break. Mark Richt and the bulldogs are not the only team that has to replace players every year. Maybe you guys will learn to stop putting so much stock into the geeks working for recruiting services who never played football, but looks at a kid and gives him 5 stars and so forth. That crap means nothing. Your team is far from young. The only player that you can say that about is the quarterback, and if you want to give him a pass for screwing up sometimes because hes young, then he is not good enough to play D1 football then. You guys young argument is over rated. Nebraska has a freshmen quarterback and their kicking butt. Washington has a senior, “the savior” qb and they suck, the freshmen whooped him. Just face it, your coaches are average, therefore your team is average. Its not any ONE COACH, its all of THEM. Stop waiting to next year UGA FANS. Its only gonna past you by. Great coaches coach kids with 1 star or 5 stars. Saban didnt say give me a couple of years to recruit 5 star players, he won with what he already had, a team that looked horrible only a year before he came. And UGA is not recruiting thugs, their recruiting the same players as every other coach in the nation. Its just that MARK RICHT is soft as baby s#%t and they dont respect him, nor fear him. STOP MAKING EXCUSES GUYS, AND MAKE CHANGES!!! They wont get any better than they are right now under Richt.
Dawgs Now
September 19th, 2010
4:17 pm
Fortunately, miss state is worse than georgia! The dawgs should win this game by 10.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:18 pm
When is the next Black out? Or has the whole season been blacked out?
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:19 pm
Go ahead and take the Miss State team lightly because they have lost to Auburn and LSU…..Next Saturday night you will find out otherwise.
Tony B ROCKS!
September 19th, 2010
4:20 pm
http://thegeorgiasportsreport.blogspot.com/
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:21 pm
Go ahead and take Miss State lightly. After the cowbells next week, you will think otherwise.
2CentsWorth
September 19th, 2010
4:21 pm
Dawgs Now, I don’t think so. What team is worse than UGA in the SEC? Name one.
Andy in Blairsville
September 19th, 2010
4:22 pm
At this rate, many UGA games this season will be on Comcast PPV unless they play a ranked team.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:23 pm
Which seat is hotter, Richt’s or Nutt’s?
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:23 pm
I think Richt is done if he loses next Saturday. How much losing can a proud program like UGA take before someone is held accountable ? Richt got the glory for the wins so he deserves the blame for the losses.
wildbill
September 19th, 2010
4:23 pm
UGA has had one top recruiting class after another, several years in a row. At least, that is what the public was told, time after time after time. So, with all these star atheletes, what has happened? Did they all flunk out? Are they all in jail? Were these star atheletes flukes instead of stars. Sounds like some folks in the athletics dept. has been telling tall tales.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:25 pm
What will be Richt’s next motivational ploy? The Blackout is out, the stomping on the opponents logo at the middle of the field wasn’t smart, and the end zone celebration is old. I’d go with the red panties.
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:26 pm
Richt needs to grow a beard and say a few expletives on camera. His pretty boy clean cut image sticks out like a sore thumb on losing streaks. He appears to be soft and feminine to me.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:26 pm
Since when is Georgia a proud program? What have they lead the S.E.C in lately other than arrests and red panties?
danieldawg
September 19th, 2010
4:28 pm
We simply should not be this reliant on AJ Green. It’s like Bobo has no idea what he’s doing? The play calling is so bad and predictable, and it’s time for Richt to take the reins back. The fact that Murray didn’t have a TE or Running Back check down on some of those big plays is just ridiculous. Seriously, send everyone deep, WTF is that? Did my 7 year old call that play? I certainly hope Richt is intelligent enough to realize Bobo is either over his head, or simply not smart enough to compete as an Offensive Coordinator in the SEC. Maybe Richt should have everyone over to the aquatic center so he can do his stupid back flip off the high dive again to motivate the players…yea right! I’m over that too!
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:29 pm
The New Georgia A.D. just announced that the Bulldog season ticket holders can get a refund for the rest of the games. Call 1-800-BYE-MARK
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:29 pm
Others mentioned John Gruden and Bill Cowher. Although they are NFL type coaches by trade I’d love for either to coach at Georgia. Recruiting would be even better.
roldawg70
September 19th, 2010
4:29 pm
i keep remembering the dooley years
he had his down years
every coach does
and some fans
think you’re supposed
to win them all
and all the up roar
richt is a winner
keep him
dawgster
September 19th, 2010
4:31 pm
We need a big time RB with some speed that can get to the corner…watching the Au/Clemson game last night may me aware of just how much that we lack in speed, especially on offense…There is a RB that has those qualities in South Ga that could make our offense something special as you can see what has happened at SC…we have some good quality backs, but they are not for the most part homerun hitters..the kid out of Columbus his…now one person is not the answer but we have a very, very good group of committments so far..i think our season and how it ends will go along way in securing these guys…A lot of you are calling for coaching changes again, and perhaps that may be needed, but our recruiting will suffer and we will be starting over again..is the dawg nation willing to be that patient and are we sure that we could find the savior everyone wants that can beat Bama and the Gators…As good as our recruiting has been the last few years where we have been in the top ten or just outside of the top ten(of course who can project what these kids can really do when they get to Div 1 ball), remember Bama, Gators, LSU, Au, have been rated above us and Bama and Gators have battled it out for the top recruiting class…So when i hear that the dawgs are getting all these great recruiting classes, well just look at the SEC powers then you can see what we are up against…of course none of that means that we can’t coach them up…I truly think the reason we have not been where the dawg nation thinks we should be is more on the offensive side of the ball and has been…yes we had some defensive problems, and that has been addressed, but the offensive problems have not been…We are not using effectively the talent that we do have…I have harped on this over and over, but where are the use of our “tight ends”, Coach Bobo’s excuse or lack of it, on why they are getting involved is absurd…Coach get the tight ends involved, you have O. Charles with so much talent and yet he gets “0″, passes thrown his way…I realize that the QB makes reads and there is progression as far as who may or may not get the ball depending on the defensive alignment, but i played and coached the game too long to know that you can you can get the tight ends involved if the right plays are installed and everyone executes as they should…maybe thats what it is, lack of execution…but this is not just one game where this has occurred..with the talent we have at tight end, and especiallly with AJ sidelined lets use some of the weapons we have and keep the defense guessing…I’ll leave with one comment that my son made to me when he asked how i was able to know what play the dawgs would run about 95% of the time..am i that smart..no, but we have been very predictable for a long time and if i am able to call the plays, then i would think that a decent DC could also see the same thing…
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:31 pm
My son and I were debating on buying tickets to a UGA game or a Falcons game. We went with the Falcons (vs. 49ers). I doubt I’d drive to Athens for free to watch the UGA mess.
Pat
September 19th, 2010
4:32 pm
Wow, Mark. That was actually enjoyable to read.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:33 pm
I think the Bulldog Nation should all wear black to work tomorrow in support of Saint Richt.
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:33 pm
Richt is too laid back. He manages the clock poorly. he never gets onto players during games. He has gotten the penalties under control this year (discipline) but the offense is stagnant and the db’s can’t cover receivers.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:34 pm
robdawg08, way to be a loyal Georgia fan. That shows real support for your proud program.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:35 pm
I think Richt needs to comb his hair differently to shake things up. He needs to pull out all the stops against Miss State. Maybe give all the thugs ear rings like A.J. was wearing yesterday.
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:36 pm
I asked my son did he want to go to a UGA game and he said ‘No daddy, it would be a long angry ride back home.” Copeche…
wildbill
September 19th, 2010
4:36 pm
I guess AJ spent his $1,000 on jewelery. Ain’t he purty?!? He probably spent the rest on a dress or two. I just wonder, even if it could be measured, what his ill conceived jersey sale really cost the UGA by his absence. We will never know. Frankly, Frank, I could care less what he does from here on out. I am a bit weary of seeing him move about the sideline acting like he is some kind of cool dude. Good riddance.
Jim from BH
September 19th, 2010
4:37 pm
Either UGA doesn’t have a stats class or you grads didn’t attend that class.
Doesn’t matter. If you rank UGA in the SEC by any meaningful measure – SEC Titles, Win/Loss, etc – you will see UGA is slightly above the middle – and that is the definition of average to above average. There is NOTHING on the history books except 1 NC that suggest otherwise.
Oops – I forgot – you consistently have a top 10 recruiting class. Awesome. Where is the trophy room for that?
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:38 pm
Rumor has it that in Starkville on Saturday, the State fans will be ringing cowbells and waving red panties.
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:39 pm
Herschel, you deal with losing your way (don’t care) and i’ll deal with it my way (getting angry and demanding change). I’ve got a pair of rose colored glasses name on them… Then you can get on the sidelines and be cool like Richt while UGA gets their rear ends kicked.
CDAWG
September 19th, 2010
4:39 pm
Herschel, what team are you a fan of?
2CentsWorth
September 19th, 2010
4:39 pm
You Dawg fans are hilarious. I know you must be hurting now after the Hawgs handed you that beat-down in your own house. But take heart, UGA; Bama will show you puppies how to take down Mallet and crew. Just watch the Crimson Tide this Saturday and wish you had a team & coaching staff like that. Alabama is as real this year as last and no team is standing in its way. Hey! I have an idea…..why not try the black helmets against mighty Missy State? Yeah…that should do the trick. Ha!!!!
DawgFan
September 19th, 2010
4:39 pm
Are you kidding me? Coach Richt is 91-29!!!! Have you people forgotten Ray Goff, a fine man but a horrible head coach? Coach Richt restored the Dawgs to the national picture and he and his family are great people… Who do you idiots want as a coach? Bobby Petrino, Lane Kiffin or some other person without any loyalty…. GET REAL!!!
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:40 pm
All of the arrests in the offseason and only 1 resulted in more than a 1 game suspension. Thats some discipline plan that Richt has.
Herschel
September 19th, 2010
4:41 pm
CDAWG. Any team that plays Thuga.
SteveW
September 19th, 2010
4:42 pm
When you fire 3 coaches, install a totally new defense, lose 2 of your most needed recruits, bad things are going to happen. Throw in a Fr. QB, an injured TB, and lose arguably the best player in the country, worse things are going to happen. We all knew firing Willie was short term pain, long term gain. At least I thought we knew that. Give’um time guys, give’um time. At least TO’s and penalties seem better. If we stay calm, keep the right recruits coming, we compete for a NC in ‘012. Don’t panic, and don’t overreact. This is not the end of the world. We got beat by 2 Jr. QB’s that are very good.
CDAWG
September 19th, 2010
4:42 pm
I just don’t get how we had those blown coverages Saturday. One would think running a 3-4 would make it harder for the opposing team to complete a lot of passes. Maybe we should go back to the 4-3 until we get the right personnel in place.
robdawg08
September 19th, 2010
4:43 pm
I’ll take a down and dirty coach that shows fire and heart. Someone who played defense in college that has a killer instinct. We got a choir boy with the pretty boy GQ look who seems to not care if we win or lose.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 19th, 2010
4:44 pm
Dawg Fan Richt is 52-15 against the SEC 29-7 v the east and 23-8 v west, but Richt is 20-14 the last 4 years and just 10-11 v east the last 4 years. Richt is below .500 against the SEC east after the USC loss. The Ship is sinking.
dawgster
September 19th, 2010
4:44 pm
We need a big time RB with some speed and there is one down in South Ga that could be a difference maker next year just as the Latimore kid at SC has…watching the Au/Clemson game just confirmed what i already knew..we don’t have a RB that scares anyone..that may explain some of the offensive problems along with our OC not realizing we have some very good tight ends…”0″ passes to O. Charles..I would think with AJ sidelined he would be an asset…Its quiet obvious that on offense the speed is not there…I think our defense in time will be good so we need to be patient..Everyone calling for Coach Richt to be fired must remember that we will lose alot of already committed prospects and will basically set the program back even more…are the dawg fans willing to accept that…i think we overlook just how good of record Coach Richt has had because we compare it to Caoch Saban and Coach Meyer..Well why the dawgs have been getting some very good recruiting classes, there classes have been number 1 or 2 for the past few seasons..Could that be why they are so successful..