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
Nofightinthesedawgs
September 20th, 2010
9:21 am
Yea, Bear Bryant was “a pretty fair coach”, Richt might have been able to tote water bottles on his staff. Please tell me you were joking.
Big Tech Fan
September 20th, 2010
9:22 am
Look at the tears falling out of the sky….
Good-bye Sugar Bowl
Dan Mullen
September 20th, 2010
9:22 am
Steve Spurrier is my hero
Big Tech Fan
September 20th, 2010
9:23 am
I’m surprised to see so many UGA fans on this blog, since very few can read.
Keyser Söze
September 20th, 2010
9:23 am
WSB750 just reported that the Arkansas defense just sacked Arron Murray on the way to class this morning. Just kidding, no UGA player ever goes to class.
CMR
September 20th, 2010
9:24 am
we liked shreveport so much last year that we decided we would be just as bad and do it all over again
D. Huckaby
September 20th, 2010
9:25 am
The dawgs will finish 9-2.
CMR
September 20th, 2010
9:26 am
we play a 12 game season are u dumb huckaby
Keyser Söze
September 20th, 2010
9:26 am
Why do all the trees along Highway 78 lean to the northeast? Because UGA sucks.
Nofightinthesedawgs
September 20th, 2010
9:27 am
Not if Shreveport has a say in it, CMR. Even the Independence Bowl has some standards.
Nofightinthesedawgs
September 20th, 2010
9:28 am
CMR, you could play a 30 game season, and you still won’t even sniff 9 wins.
CMR
September 20th, 2010
9:28 am
Well we do have our eye on the papajohns.com bowl, big payout in that bowl you know
Bobo
September 20th, 2010
9:30 am
I’ve learned by lesson dawg fans.
We will not try anything new.
I will never try to surprise the defense.
From now on it will be two yards and a cloud of dust.
That way, none of you whiners, pretenders and what-to-be will have anything to complain about…
CMR
September 20th, 2010
9:32 am
when did you tell me about this bobo, our offense needs to stay the way it is, have a underachieving quaterback, a couple of thugs that have talent and get suspended, and a constantly bad o-line, sounds like a contendor to me
CJDawg
September 20th, 2010
9:33 am
I am about to raise a controversial issue and I hope real fans will give it a little thought before jumping down my throat.
Maybe some of our problems lay in team chemistry…not the athletic bonding type, but physical makeup. Let’s just take 40 times against football IQ. Say you have a kid that ranks as 5 star simply because of his physical ability. There is not an extra star added for mental ability. It’s all physical. Now, look at the kid who is only a 2 star or 3 star that runs a 4.6 4o instead of the 4.38 40 but who can make the plays because of positioning, timing and abilty to be coached. He may NOT make the one in a million play, but he will be there consistently to make all the plays. Look at our high school championship games. The teams that win…how many of the championship team players make it to UGA? Very few. We end up with the kid that was a standout on decent teams. That kid was counted on to make every play and that is what he thinks has to be done for his team to win. Ends up taking too many chances and gets burned….sound familiar?? Not to be racist, but back when UGA had their BEST teams, we had the run stuffing, all guts white LB’s that were maybe half a step slower but were always in place…same for our safeties. Not always, but when was the last time we have seen a white defensive starter? Our high school champs are littered with them. Call it what you will, but they are disciplined, smart and seem to be easily coached. All I am saying is that while it’s great to get the high profile athlete, sometimes you need the ‘glue’ athletes as well.
Let the bashing begin.
Chris
September 20th, 2010
9:34 am
If you have not seen the decline in the program over the last couple of years you are not paying attention. The fact that Richt decided to not have 2 a day practices could be a reason for the lack of tackling?? I would like to see aother person get an opportunity to show what they can do. Richt has done all he can for UGA. Great guy, but they pay him to win Football games.
CMR
September 20th, 2010
9:36 am
maybe if half my team wasn’t suspended then we would win some football games
Rob
September 20th, 2010
9:39 am
WE HIT AND RUN THIS STATE!
Dawg E Dawg
September 20th, 2010
9:41 am
CJDawg…..that makes the most sense of anything I have heard on here in a VERYYYY long time. We do seem to have a lot of players, on defense, that seem to want to make the huge play instead of keeping the play in front of them and having those 3 and outs.
As a long time follower of football player and a former player the old adage always bears true, to win games in the SEC, you still have to be able to run the ball when you have to and be able to STOP the run when you need to. UGA won games last year by smashing the ball down other defenses throats. Let’s get back to that. Hit em in the mouth, make em doozy, then throw it over the top. GO DAWGS
tampabigDAWG
September 20th, 2010
9:41 am
What makes UGA young besides the quaterback? Please explain to me how much more experience does Giblert with texas have or the qb in OK. Maclroy at Alabama didnt have much experience and they went to the SEC championship his first year. The coaching staff doesn’t prepare our players. Bobo is horrindous on play calling. Running up the gut on 3rd and 4 with an o-line that has yet to open up a whole and a running back that won’t shift to break loose. Has any one else noticed that Ealey gets clogged up behind the line, trying to run up the butts of the o-line instead of using their blocks to break around.
And I can’t believe Bobo called out murray. Way to support a young QB!!! His play calling put Murray in the positions to get beat up. I think Murray played with alot of heart. I did notice once or twice he would drop and try to run little quickly instead of making his reads. Bobo never has a hot read reciever or a check back. If i was murray I would change the play at the line and give myself one receiver on a quick out route, on the flats, or a quick slant to stop route. something to help myself out. I think the kid is smart enough that he could call better plays than bobo. I would get with the players and let them know that I was going to change the plays when they don’t make sense.
There is just too much to list and worry with, but I am severly dissappointed in the coaching staff. I will give Grantham another year, but the OC and CMR should know how to run the program by now.
CMR
September 20th, 2010
9:42 am
washaun Ealey would rather hit and run cars, instead of doing hit and run on people
Cabo
September 20th, 2010
9:44 am
The team is going 6 & 6 this year. See you later CMR, McGarity needs to go ahead and call Gruden’s agent and get the contract discussions started.
82Dawg
September 20th, 2010
9:46 am
Chris ….the number of practices are set by the NCAA not UGA, Coach Richt still got the same amount of practices in as anyone else. He did by having more single daily practices instead of two a days.
CJDawg
September 20th, 2010
9:47 am
DawgEDawg- Thanks, but I think you might be the only one that stops to read it. Seems like this place has become a non stop punching bag for people to throw down an insult and run.
I agree with the defensive minded theme you mentioned. I would love to see the Dawgs come out and run it 15 times in a row in S’ville. That would really open up the middle for Charles, Durham, and the rest of the fellas. I think Murray is going to figure things out, King will get healthy and AJ will return with blood in his eyes. I say this now…UGA will beat UF and Tech this year. Call me crazy, but UGA gets stronger every week. We will be that team nobody wants to play at the end of the year. Look for CMR to take on a role in the play calling. Just my opinion. I don’t claim to be an AD, head Coach or an internet guru. Lol.
tampabigDAWG
September 20th, 2010
9:49 am
CJ Dawg……. Completely Agree, maybe not on racial side, because other teams are set up the same way and have success. The cohesion is the problem. Every one wants to be a one man show instead of working as a team. That is why our safeties keep getting beat because they suck up so fast on the play action pass because the LB can’t stop the run well enough.
tampabigDAWG
September 20th, 2010
9:55 am
CJ…….. I could only hope that CMR will start calling plays. He is definitely more specialized at it than be a HC. The guy is an amazing OC but can’t manage a whole team. I think that we will start to turn around this year, but I think UF will be on their game by then and it will be another lose to UF for us until our boys start playing like they want to win. They dont have fire. Missed tackles are still a major issue. And play calling. Why didn’t we pressure Mallett on the last drive like we did on the 4 he went three and out on?
Team Probation Officer
September 20th, 2010
10:12 am
I do not believe the problem lies with Richt, I believe the problem is most of the team is spending more time dealing with GA’s criminal court system then they do practicing football. If they keep this up they may be able to make the sequel to “The Longest Yard”
RED PANTY LOVER
September 20th, 2010
10:16 am
Whats the record for comments?
Andy in Blairsville
September 20th, 2010
10:35 am
Maybe UGA should join the Big East?
David Pearson
September 20th, 2010
10:36 am
Fire Mike BoBo and the Watergirl
SGaDawg
September 20th, 2010
10:36 am
Let’s stop for a minute and consider a few things.
I, for one, think Mark Richt is a great representative for the university and, therefore, the state of Georgia. Nice looking, articulate, genuine family man, seemingly honest and forthright. Personally, I hope he is the head coach at the University of Georgia for a long, long time.
Having said that, Mark now finds himself in the position of exhibiting that he WANTS to be at the University of Georgia for a long, long time – before this snowball that has been rolling down this snow covered hill turns into an avalanche and buries him. Simply said, Mark needs to MANAGE the football program better, and I could give a rat’s ass whether he does it with passion or not.
I think winning will take care of itself if Mark can turn the page and begin to trust himself to make decisions that he already knows in his heart need to be made. It is unseemly to watch this man of great character yield to the bullying of alumni, which would be unnecessary if there was an understanding of the accountability carried by each person on the football team – from the coaches to each individual player to the water boys and girls.
It’s not necessarily the won – loss column that drives me crazy, but the style:
The ongoing perception that we have superior athletes who are underperforming.
A penalty epidemic that continues to be out of control. In the Arkansas game multiple face masks in the 1st quarter (and at least one that was blatant and was not called) in desperation after poor tackling technique; Comming’s retaliatory swing; movement in the O Line on the 5 yard line; etc. etc., and in the 4th quarter we were incredibly lucky that the refs called a 15 yard penalty on the Arkansas guy after HE was mobbed on our sidelines by our players and our COACHES trying to congratulate our defender; then the no-call when we cold-cocked the out of bounds receiver on Mallet’s 3rd pass a little later.
This is a situation that is more revelatory than the even the “yards steppeds off” indicate and are reflective of much deeper problems – this level of “non-discipline,” which should be a one-game aberration, has been going on now every game FOR THREE PLUS YEARS!
Is there a football fan anywhere who believes that if Vince Dooley (as a psuedonym for a coach who somehow finds the way to WIN) would have ever lost the game Saturday with all the momentum, field position, exactly the right amount of time on the clock, a supposedly great offensive line and the best field goal kicker in America standing on the sidelines? I don’t think so, but it goes without saying that these are the moments that separate a good / great program from an also-ran prorgam.
We are losing games over some pretty fundametal – and very controllable – issues.
Mark, we love you, we want you and (I beleive) we need you. But you need to look in the mirror and decide what you want YOUR message – and your legacy – to be. And then you need to deliver it. For whatever reason, it is apparent that you are struggling with taking the next step towards becoming a truly legendary Football CEO.
Despite the talk shows and the bloggers, there are many more people pulling for you than you can imagine. But we cannot do it for you.
Where you – and we – go from here is up to you.
Ga > Tech
September 20th, 2010
10:37 am
Tech lost to one of the worst teams in the country—lowly kansas! ’nuff said! Dawgs beat tech easy in athens—mark it down.
jack bull
September 20th, 2010
10:53 am
i know that being a reporter the glass has to always be half empty to sell, but for those of us real Dawg fans, the question is ‘What happens when the Dawgs go 10-2?’… all i know is that a very inaccurate, 5-10, happy feet QB will make any OC look bad, along with an over-rated OL. now, i will say this, going into the 4th game of the year, and it looks pretty obvious that some guys aren’t getting the job done, it is up to the coach to find someone that will get the job done. if what we’re putting out there is the best we got, then maybe we are in a little trouble..
Bimbo's play calling...
September 20th, 2010
11:10 am
“It’s third and short, everybody go long!!!!……”
John
September 20th, 2010
11:21 am
All those top recruting classes; wait till next year? Guess what we will have Soph. QB–Freshman lineman—OK the next year
OldFan
September 20th, 2010
11:22 am
There’s still enough uncertainty here to reserve judgment until after the MS game. Yeah, all the complaints are legitimate, but the what-ifs are in play, too. Would we still be clamoring for the slash and burn solution if UGA had pulled ugly and lucky wins instead of just ugly loses? I doubt it. That would be good karma. I may be the only one, but I’ll give this team another chance to prove what CMR’s been saying, “We’re getting better”. If they show nothing but more of the same after this game, then even the forgiving type like me will have to start setting the fires. Here’s to hoping that doesn’t happen.
justforthefunofit
September 20th, 2010
11:42 am
If you want to see a well coached team Watch Bama vs Arkansas this Saturday. Saban’s team will roll!!!
JoeFan
September 20th, 2010
12:08 pm
A breakeven season for the Dogs is a very real possibility. Right now they are a very average team with a difficult schedule facing them. 9-3 will happen only if everything falls perfectly into place.
Nesbitt for Heisman
September 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
Where are the supporters at now?
BBBUUUHHUUUUWWWAAAHHHHAAA
30-24
BBUUHHUUUWWWAAAHHHHHAAAA
dawgfan13
September 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
You local media people love making excuses for Mark Richt. If fans think that anything is going to change about this program you are sadly mistaken. Just look at the competition! Its bad enough that you are being out recruited by Florida Alabama Auburn Kentucky and S Carolina and Fl Sate for the s Georgia kids, but the coaches at Georgia SUCK big time. they lived off super star NFL caliber talent for years and now they cant coach these kids up. Prime example, somebody tell me what happened to this veteran offensive line that cant run block or protect the young QB? Tell me why the TE are not apart of the offense. Tell me why the defense cant tackle or stay disciplined! Tell me why we average 12 arrest a off season! Open your freaking eyes Georgia fans. We are irrelevant in college football and we will continue to be because we are loyal to the weakness of the program and thats our coaches. They are good MEN, but horrible football coaches and for that we hope and pray that they will miraculously turn it around. Its not going to happen under Richt! that running back from Carver will go to Auburn or Alabama because they have a winners mentality to the game. Other recruits will see this and wont nuthing to do with Georgia.
Deez Nutz
September 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
It would appear that Bo Bo is the problem here, but people are a little quick to rush to judgement on these kinds of things, we don’t know all that goes on behind the scenes so it’s likely not entirely his fault though that 3rd and 4 playcall was seriously bonehead on many levels. 1. there was a good minute + when they ran that play so even if you do throw for a touchdown on that play you leave alot of time on the clock for Mallet to bring them back and do exactly what he did which is score a touchdown. What you want to happen in that situation is grind out a few first downs on the ground and call a timeout with 1 second left on the clock and send in your ALL WORLD kicker and let him do what he does best. So even if that play had of gone exactly as Bo Bo wanted we still very well may have lost the game. What I am saying is that it was a terrible play call even if it did work. hopefully he will learn from that bonehead move.
suwanee dawg
September 20th, 2010
12:11 pm
UGA will win out and tie SC and FL for SEC east. Kidding of course. Agree with all OC comments. As we consider option for HC, I would not include Muschamp as he is very overrated.
dagnabit
September 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
And if the Miss. State team all fall down into place.
suwanee dawg
September 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
johnny boy – just read your comment. I can honestly say I have never read a Tech blog and I am sorry for your bitterness. Sleep well tonight.
Herschel's second personality
September 20th, 2010
12:23 pm
I think we should hire Paul Johnson. He’s such a better coach and Tech is such a better team than our dawgs. Laugh all you want, we’ll all learn different not too far down the road. Geez, even State’s coach Bill Curry would be an upgrade for our mutts.
Deez Nutz
September 20th, 2010
12:23 pm
I would rather be a DAMN BULLDOG fan if they loose every game every year than pull for any other team ever. Now is the time for the real DAWG fans to stand up and get behind the ol ball coach, sure we had a few tough losses, but we have been in both of those games and showed signs of promise. As long as our boys get out there and knock some heads and make that other team leave it all on the field to win, we are just around the corner from going on a big win streak. I really saw a lot of resolve on Saturday the way the DAWGZ drove the length of the field to tie the game in the last few minutes. We fell short but they are showing heart and that is what you want. CMR and Grantham will get it going this next week in Starkville. Now run and tell that homeboy!
JACKETS DOMINATE
September 20th, 2010
12:26 pm
Forget the Little Least, UGA should be in the corrections league. It’s where they recruit from and where the players end up. Just look at LeMay.
Dawgluver35
September 20th, 2010
12:27 pm
Please take the play calling away from Bobo. Regardless of how bad parts of the game were the Dawgs were within picking up a 3rd and 4 from winning and all the routes were way to deep. This is a constant problem with Bobo’s play calling.
Tech Sucks
September 20th, 2010
12:27 pm
UGA will have 2 losses going into the UF game. Period.
georgiadawg70
September 20th, 2010
12:30 pm
Ramguy, I have been saying it since the S.C. game. Call Boise Idaho. I wore a Boise State cap to the game.