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)

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.

992 comments Add your comment

missouridawg

September 19th, 2010
10:57 pm

Paul Johnson? Where have you been? We have already ascertained that he wears red panties to bed at night. HAHAHAHA You say he is a damn good coach, what the hell, he can’t even carry the state of Georgia!

From 11-3 to 13-1

September 19th, 2010
11:07 pm

`
Georgia Tech kicked Mississippi State’s butt last year in Starkville.

82dawg

September 19th, 2010
11:10 pm

Problem is that this is a team of good players, but no stars. There is no one who through will alone can take this team and lead them like Pollack and David Greene recently and in years past, Woerner, Hogue, etc. They just don’t have any playmakers, just a bunch of good players.

Ed

September 19th, 2010
11:11 pm

“OK, so what happens with Richt if UGA loses in Starkville?”

Nothing, his sycophants will just pick an assistant to blame. Richt can do no wrong, haven’t you noticed? Hell, it’s probably his assistants’ fault that Georgia recruits so many outlaws.

I think Richt quits after this year. He started mailing it in years ago.

82dawg

September 19th, 2010
11:12 pm

BTW, I predicted 6-6 this year, totally hoping I was wrong. D***-it!!!

DAWGLOVER

September 19th, 2010
11:13 pm

Does anyone no if Walmart will gives me a refund on all the Dawg stuff I bot if I donts have a receit?I be a shamed to be seen around the traler park in my Georga shirt and hat now that we 1-2.At least we beat that lsu team to start the year.

jojatek

September 19th, 2010
11:13 pm

Who are we kidding here?!!! A loss in Starkville will absolutely put Richt on the hot seat, with no real prospect of running the table (this is the vaunted SEC, Mr. Bradley). After the Dawgs rack up a total of 5 losses (including one at the hands of Tech between the hedges), I think another trip to the Music City Bowl will be in the offing. Richt will resign facing the inevitable (Adams will allow him a classy exit… he’s earned it…), and Kirby Smart will be named the next UGA head coach.

Matt the Brave

September 19th, 2010
11:15 pm

Call this the first salvo in the UGA-AJC war to get rid of Mark Richt. Well, at least for this season.

TUCK FECH

September 19th, 2010
11:16 pm

Still bvetter to be a DAWG than I effing yellow yacket any day!
DAWGS 30 Tech 24
DAWGS 60 wins tech 39
We Run This State!

GtBuzz81

September 19th, 2010
11:17 pm

UGA.University of Gay A**holes.

Buck Belue wears a toupee

September 19th, 2010
11:22 pm

“Wait ’til next year”

“The refs cost us the game”

“Fire Grantham, Fire Bobo”

“Richt is a good man”

From 11-3 to 13-1

September 19th, 2010
11:22 pm

Good Game Jackets.

All those NFL caliber defensive players at UNC
have now been pushed around by GT
TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

DAWGLOVER

September 19th, 2010
11:24 pm

You think anyone would by any of my Dawg crap on Craiglist,I got a bunch of Dawg sh*t,heck most everything I own got a big G on it.Anyone got a razor blade,I need to go scrap of those uga stickers off the back of my 4×4 before I go to work at the waffle house.I love me some dawgs,but i sure am ashamed.

From 11-3 to 13-1

September 19th, 2010
11:25 pm

0-2 in the SEC is nothing to say.

Baldemar Huerta

September 19th, 2010
11:25 pm

.500 will be a miracle. Let the drunken wife beating commence.

Just Say'N

September 19th, 2010
11:25 pm

The Dawgs are a 2 & 1/2 point underdog to Miss St.

Kind of funny when you think about it.

Baldemar Huerta

September 19th, 2010
11:26 pm

Enter your comments here

From 11-3 to 13-1

September 19th, 2010
11:28 pm

Let’s talk some real football,
Like,

GEORGIA TECH !

GtBuzz81

September 19th, 2010
11:29 pm

When does Gymnastics season start,I heard the Dawgs are pretty good at that sport?

From 11-3 to 13-1

September 19th, 2010
11:35 pm

GEORGIA TECH is 15-4
in their last 19 games.

Good job Jackets !

GtBuzz81

September 19th, 2010
11:36 pm

DAWGLOVER,Look on the bright side,one more loss by your beloved Dawgs and all the UGA stuff at Walmart will be marked 50% off.Guess that is why you see so many people wearing the crap.Not really fans,just bargain shoppers.

Nashdawg

September 19th, 2010
11:37 pm

I am impressed the boys did not give up but it is obvious something was missing in the first 3 quarters of the game. The offense was terrible and the play calling was questionable at best. That said I believe the Dawgs are two players away from having a good season. I think once Caleb and A. J. are back the offense is going to crank up. As for the defense the kids are learning a new system plus they were on the field way too much in the game. I can see the Dawgs going 9-3 in the regular season…

NorthWest_Dawg

September 20th, 2010
12:09 am

Mark,

It’s poor play calling and the inability to tackle and cover that concerns me the most … and THAT’S coaching. And I don’t see that changing. 9-3 would be awesome … but i’m thinking maybe reservations for 6 at best … and I’m not talking about a touchdown.

Freddie G

September 20th, 2010
12:38 am

It is interesting to read some of the comments on this blog and to see how many of you are dissatisfied with CMR and Bobo. It surprises me that the outcry is so loud, because I have been writing in this blog for years that while CMR is a nice man, he is not the coach to have georgia competing in the SEC. I was disappointed in the hire from day one, but then in the 2nd year he won the SEC title and I thought he would grow on the job. The play calling and clock management were terrible although they were winning and it was apparent that the players were not been coached up, despite the promises they show in high school. It was apparent that there was no discipline in the program from the number of arrests, and while Willie proved not to have a clue to be DC at this level CMR persisted with his buddy, and only made the change this past year when the Bulldog Nation became vociferous. Bobo has proven just like Willie that he is out of his league, he is not ready, but CMR does not know it, and believe me CMR will not do much better if he is to call plays again. He was not very sharp when he called the plays some years ago and there is nothing to suggest he will be better. Bobby Bowden in an interview some years ago stated that the person from his coaching staff who was having succes that surprised him the most was Mark. What does that tell you. I still think he is a nice person and if he hires good coaches and instill more discipline in the program, he may succeed at Georgia. Identifying talent in recruits as well as discipline must be paramount and it will help if some of these recruits are more cerebral which will help on the field and with the indiscipline now in the program. Emotions are high in football but the behavior of some are disgusting to behold in the colors of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Dawgs > Bulldogs

September 20th, 2010
12:54 am

Relax—miss state’s team is much worse than uga. They got blown out by lsu. The Dawgs beat them easy—count on it!

Jupiter

September 20th, 2010
1:15 am

Being optimistic we’re looking at 7-5. Being pessimistic we’re looking at 5-7 so I will contest that we’ll finish 6-6. I don’t see a trips to Colorado, KY & Florida as favorable. Auburn is a Lose and if Tech’s “D” continues to improve then we’re in for a long season. Say what you want about Tech but it will be a matter of who scores the most points (low scoring defensive game) and I will give the edge to Al Groh over TG. I think those Alumni with the big checkbooks are hating they forced Richt to hire Bobo. He was a loser when he played here and is still a loser.

Dr. K

September 20th, 2010
1:25 am

Here is some sobering news. When lines for next week’s games were posted in Vegas today, Georgia opened as a 3-point favorite. Tonight, Mississippi State is minus 2. That is a five point swing!!! That never happens, particularly in a single day??? Such an abrupt adjustment can only occur as a result of one of two things…1) A preliminary line, probably set last week, is released but quickly changed by higher authorities because it is now considered badly flawed. or 2) A massive amount of money was bet on MSU causing the big move. Whatever it is, it does not bode well for the Georgia. .

Grammar

September 20th, 2010
1:31 am

It’s LOSE not LOOSE
and LOSING not LOOSING

Is this how they teach spelling at UGA?

David Holton

September 20th, 2010
1:39 am

I’m a Bonified DAWG FAN. I’ve been a fan thru the good & bad years. During this time, I’ve never once bad mouth UGA. Sometimes I didn’t always agreed with some of the decisions made. Bit I always supported them. We have a young team, and as DAWG FANS, We need to get behind and support The RED & BLACK. Coach Mark Richt is a fine Coach. He is going thru some adversary right now. We all need to stop calling for his job, and support the DAWGS. Coach Richt has my full support. I’ll be cheering them on. GO DAWGS

Johnny3Steps

September 20th, 2010
3:21 am

Richt has a very high winning percentage. Some fans are like big babies when we don’t win. Get over it.

Leather Helmet Blog: Dawg Daily 20Sep

September 20th, 2010
4:03 am

[...] faced the weakest offensive line they will see the rest of the year? The most befuddled defense? 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 [...]

TheItalianDawg

September 20th, 2010
4:47 am

fire Bobo! fire him now!!

12-2

September 20th, 2010
5:38 am

6 of the Top 17 teams in the AP Poll are SEC teams. Georgia got 0 votes, putting Georgia not only in the bottom half of its own conference, but it also throws questions on the Offensive Line at Georgia. The 9 sacks in just the 1st two SEC teams for Aaron Murray are not just the Offensive Line’s issue according to Mike Bobo and according to Coach Richt. The same can now be asked about the running backs at Georgia. Is it their fault, or the OL ? Wide Receivers is it their fault ? The Tight Ends have done very little. Is it that they are to blame ? The Fullbacks, not used by other teams, used to be prominent in Georgia football; are they to blame ? They certainly have done nothing, either. What part of the Offense, Ranked NCAA # 81 Total Offense, has been good in the earliest 2 losses in The SEC for Georgia since 1992 ? Well, clicking on all cylinders, is not how anyone would describe the Offense led by Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo whom Coach Richt stole from Jacksonville State after the 2000 season, where he was the Quarterbacks Coach for 1 year.

Georgia fans, known for their passionate pleas for leniency toward our players, are outraged that there are no excuses provided for their NOT READY QUARTERBACK. Fresh off 4 losses in 2006 without preparing a Quarterback, and 5 losses in 2009 without preparing a Quarterback, Georgia fans had attempted to line up their excuses for young Aaron Murray; but, now instead the whole “coaching staff” has come out blaming Aaron Murray for the 3rd and 4 sack, the 9th sack of the first 2 SEC games Aaron has suffered; nearly eclipsing the grand total for all 13 games by Joe Cox behind the same OL last year.

Aaron Murray has 9 sacks in his first 2 SEC games, an interception, a fumble, 1 touchdown throwing and 1 running, while making a ton of mistakes. He has thrown behind the receivers, over the receivers, and failed to deliver the ball on 9 pass attempts. Countless other plays, he has just run around back there without a semblance of a successful play call, such as 3rd at 4 staring at 67-yard field goal at HOME in tie game 1 minute 4 seconds remaining – which cost us the game.

BoWeevil

September 20th, 2010
5:40 am

Is it the play calls ?

Or, is it the players ?

Arrests / Suspensions / Injuries, long a staple for DISNEYdawgs.com EXCUSES hardly can be to blame for a woebegone offense ranked # 81 in the nation, when BEFORE the season, this same DISNEYdawgs.com pointed out in every post that we have 10 of the 11 Starters returning this season.

Is it just 2 games ? In 14-game seasons, it is easy to fluff over 2 devastating losses early before the season has really even begun, as it was in 2006, as it was in 2007, as it was in 2008, as it was in 2009 and now as it is once again for the 5th season in a row now in 2010.

We have 1 of our easiest schedules ever. Prepared to concede the Florida loss up-coming will mean nothing, DISNEYdawg.com lined up to state that Georgia would beat Florida this year. 2-7 vs Florida, that seemed as out of touch with this world, as Coach Richt is.

Alabama, we certainly do not play. Out of Conference, there is not 1 ranked Opponent all season long for us to get excited to play.

3 meaningful wins in 10 years, is what Coach Richt has offered.

1.Knocked the lid off The Georgia Program Coach Richt exclaimed in 2001 beating # 4 Final AP Poll Tennessee vols, but he lost 4 games that season – some inexplicable.

2.Beat # 6 Final AP Poll LSU in The SEC Championship Game 2005, but lost 3 games that season.

3.Beat # 9 Final AP Poll Auburn in 2006, but by that game Georgia had already lost 4 games that season too.

BoWeevil

September 20th, 2010
5:42 am

ALL 3 OF THOSE WINS, the only 3 over Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in the entire Coach Richt Era WERE WITH COACH RICHT CALLING THE PLAYS. He is BETTER than Mike Bobo.

Thousands of O.C. are better than Mike Bobo.

Tie Game. 3rd down, 4 yards to go. 67-yard field goal where we were on the field. 1 minute 4 seconds left in the game. What do you call ? How about a quick hitting pass to Orson Charles ?

We need to go outside the current staff for play calling duties.

This play call cost us the game. 8-yard sack. Time out by Arky. Did we want to have a comeback victory at HOME, did we ? That play call was doomed to failure; I don’t care what Buck Belue said and then REMOVED from his blog that we should support Mike Bobo.

If ANYONE thinks that I cannot call a better play call than that, on that play, you are out of your mind. But, that is NOT the point. The point is that Coach Richt did BETTER than Mike Bobo who took over in 2007. And, NEITHER were to my liking. I speak on the past tense because MIKE BOBO is GONE. You could SEE IT ON HIS FACE with THE BLOODY NOSE.

Coach Richt is not Bobby Bowden’s Offensive Coordinator playing cupcakes at Florida State. He is our Head Coach, a damn good one, who has surrounded himself with a COMPLETE COACHING STAFF whom he should have fired ALL OF, last year.

So, my question is why did Coach Richt not FIRE Mike Bobo last year ?

BoWeevil

September 20th, 2010
5:43 am

91 wins. But only 3 of the 91 wins, none in any bowl game, are over Top 10 Final AP Poll teams. All of the other games these 10 years against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, Coach Richt has managed to lose. 11 games in 10 years against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, and Coach Richt has LOST 8 and won only 3. And, of the only 3 wins in 10 years against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, Coach Richt managed to lose 12 combined LOSSES those 3 years.

Coach Richt has not had a great year where he beat top teams.

His recruiting is glaring on the field.

It is even more glaring off the field, with now Michael F. Adam$ issuing a proclamation to Coach Richt last night about OFF FIELD ARRESTS. This sets the stage for the only recruit and him from out of state Christian LeMay who had sex in front of his Principal in a classroom with a 14-year old child. Now, he is not even playing his senior year. This is the face of The University of Georgia for the next 4 years before he goes to the NFL ? Can we really afford to allow Coach Richt to FORGIVE Christian LeMay, his job on the line in 2011 obviously.

Can he rebound this season ?

5 of the next 6 games are against complete nobodies.

But, in the 9 previous seasons, Coach Richt has managed to lose to 8 such teams.

8 LOSSES in 9 years to teams NOT RANKED in the Top 25 Final AP Poll.

What does this season really have in store now ?

BoWeevil

September 20th, 2010
5:50 am

91 wins. But only 3 of the 91 wins, none in any bowl game, are over Top 10 Final AP Poll teams. All of the other games these 10 years against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, Coach Richt has managed to lose. 11 games in 10 years against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, and Coach Richt has LOST 8 and won only 3. And, of the only 3 wins in 10 years against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams, Coach Richt managed to lose 12 combined LOSSES those 3 years.

Coach Richt has not had a great year where he beat top teams.

His recruiting is glaring on the field.

It is even more glaring off the field, with now Michael F. Adam$ issuing a proclamation to Coach Richt last night about OFF FIELD ARRESTS. This sets the stage for the only recruit and him from out of state Christian LeMay who had sex in front of his Principal in a classroom with a 14-year old child. Now, he is not even playing his senior year. This is the face of The University of Georgia for the next 4 years before he goes to the NFL ? Can we really afford to allow Coach Richt to FORGIVE Christian LeMay, his job on the line in 2011 obviously.

Can he rebound this season ?

5 of the next 6 games are against complete nobodies.

But, in the 9 previous seasons, Coach Richt has managed to lose to 8 such teams.

Bulldawg78

September 20th, 2010
6:01 am

It’s over…

Fire Bobo

Big Tech Fan

September 20th, 2010
6:02 am

Jacket roll…
Dogs crushed…

jerry

September 20th, 2010
6:05 am

Richt will not be in any danger of losing his job until rumors start circulating that the AD is snooping around coaching yard sales, thrift stores, bargain basement sales, ex grads, e.g. Griffith, Goff, etc. You can forget Chris Pedersen. He is just too damn good.

BoWeevil

September 20th, 2010
6:07 am

Who is the CULPRIT Coach Richt asks then answers his own question with spread the blame around. Coach Richt is ACCOUNTABLE.

Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, Chris Petersen – would ANY of them have HIRED 1 single coach on Coach Richt’s “coaching staff” the entire 10-year Coach Richt Era ? How would a DREAM TEAM in the state of Georgia look with any of those 3 as our Head Coach ? Who would be their Offensive Coordinator ? Would any of them have these 4 tight ends and have 1 guy catch 1 pass all day long yesterday ? Would any of them have redshirted Knowshon Moreno so we only got to see him 2 years ? Would any of them try to motivate the players BEFORE the game 2 weeks ago or BEFORE the game yesterday, or wait until the 4th quarter to prove that you do MOTIVATE Georgia football players – as Erk Russell proved every Saturday.

I must have missed that.

Win P.

September 20th, 2010
6:09 am

Look on the bright side. At this rate it will be easier to get UGA football tickets. Admire Coach Richt’s mental toughness, I don’t like his results. To paraphase, the definition of insanity is repeating the same mistakes while expecting different results. Seriously, I think there are signs of progress and they were in position to have won both games against much better teams. Stupid stuff, like Hamilton using face guards as handle bars and Rambo not taking advantages of opportunities when they occur, drives me nuts. Murray is taking too much time,especially when the defense has 8 or 9 players in the box.

jerry

September 20th, 2010
6:13 am

In passing situations, the shotgun replaced play action about 40 years ago. Please pass this on to Mr. Bobo.

Dawg4Life

September 20th, 2010
6:24 am

What if the Dawgs lose to Miss St??? I will wake up on Sunday and watch the Falcons vs Saints… You people are nuts…

dhall

September 20th, 2010
6:46 am

What as stupid article. Eveyone knows that the dogs have lost two games and this is a young team. Wow, what insight. What writing.

Alabama Jack

September 20th, 2010
7:10 am

Wow, this is the earliest next year has come since y’all were ranked number one and blew it.

I'm with Stupid

September 20th, 2010
7:22 am

FIRE BOBO!!!!

2_dawgs

September 20th, 2010
7:35 am

bubba dog is right. bobo “got some ’splaining to do” about our last possession. what was he thinking?

FLA DAWG

September 20th, 2010
7:38 am

I no longer give a crap.
My alumni contributions ceased a few years ago.
The amount of comments on these blogs has dropped dramatically since last season indicating more and more of Dawg Nation cares. They won’t fix the problems (Richt & Co) so we no longer care.

The End

my_dawgs

September 20th, 2010
7:40 am

Richt won’t let the players go downtown until Saturday night, and they wonder why? They complain that they’re being held to a higher standard of conduct than non-athletes? Richt has some good men, and they are mad as hell about the team thugs.