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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
992 comments Add your comment
DIT
September 19th, 2010
11:47 am
Thanks Hog Fan –
We do have many whinners in our fan base. We ae getting ready to string together several wins. I will watch in amazement how the ones that are whinning now will be the same ones that start punding their chests the loudest.
I hate the 0-2 start like any Dawg, but I will never live on blogs and bad mouth my team when the lose and then turn around and do a 180 when they win. If your going to conplain, fine, do it all year through the good and bad. For me, I will be backing the players & coaches no matter what.
GO DAWGS!
Da'Quan MindGap
September 19th, 2010
11:47 am
Typical -
Yeah, everyone in the South is a racist, but Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson aren’t! LMAO. Have you checked out the make-up of our defense for the last four years… there’s not a white guy to be found. Tell us there isn’t a single white player in the Southeast that can’t play on defense? Your hypocrisy knows no bounds. You social engineering libtards live in some fantasy world that isn’t remotely based on reality.
While you’re at it… with your intellectual prowess, tell us how the first affirmative action President is doing? Take your liberal clap trap and shove it.
suwaneedawg
September 19th, 2010
11:47 am
Oh great, we have Richt basing libtards on here. Nothing like mixing politics and football with stupidity. And taxpayer, you are correct about Franks.
It was Willie Willie bad
September 19th, 2010
11:47 am
google bama football practice and watch saban get after his team. cmr is a patsy.
George
September 19th, 2010
11:48 am
Nobody at Georgia with authority to do anything is reading what you non-contributing sidewalk fans have to say.
Dawgtards ruin this state
September 19th, 2010
11:49 am
Dawgtard gets fired!
Cherokee County
September 19th, 2010
11:51 am
Until they get a president in Athens who is willing to spend the resource$ for a top 10 coach and facilities, then we won’t have a top 10 football team. He’s already said he’s not willing to fire Richt after this season because it would cost too much money. Look at our basketball arena. Worst in the league. It’s a dump. How can Bama have a 100k stadium and we don’t? We have ten times more people in this state and a lot larger alumni base.
And if we had the right mindset (president) we wouldn’t be taking chances on a coordinator for our next head coach. Pony up the big bucks and hire a proven winner from a lesser program. No use in rolling the dice. Look at UF and Bama. Meyer and Saban. It’s not rocket science.
HitaSingle
September 19th, 2010
11:52 am
Most UGA fans want Coach Richt to be successful. He is a good guy and he is a loyal guy. His loyalty has hurt him and the program. It is easy to bash coaches, especially with today’s spoiled society. Let’s hope we improve the rest of the year. Alot of football and opportuities left.
Joe BAker
September 19th, 2010
11:54 am
“But what this fan base demands are championships”
lol…yall must not be too demanding. ‘Cause Georgia ain’t had a championship in over 30 years! Hate to break it to ya, but you ain’t likely to get one in the next 30 either. Your star players are stealing little girls bicycle helmets and spend more time in jail than on the practice field. Wake up. Go back and look at your one championship 30 years ago. It took THREE completely unlikely, lightning strikes twice, freakish one-in-a-million miracle wins for that to happen. Georgia has been, is, and always will be a mediocre football program.
Da'Quan MindGap
September 19th, 2010
11:56 am
Back to football. Can anyone explain why Kwame Geathers and Bean Anderson aren’t getting more PT. The one time I saw Geathers in the game he blew up the middle and tackled the Hog RB for a two yard lose. Every time Geathers has been in the game he’s more than held his own. Bean was the projected starter 1.5 weeks before the start of the season and has rarely played. There’s got to be something going on that is preventing these guys from playing, because right now it doesn’t make sense. Tyson is a heck of player, but he’s undersized by 25 lbs. to be a nose tackle and yet he gets the vast majority of snaps. Another personnel mystery is Kiante Tripp… I haven’t seen him make a play on D in two years.
Doug the Jacket
September 19th, 2010
11:57 am
It’s going to get ugly, very ugly.
FLA DAWG
September 19th, 2010
11:58 am
Mark,
I am surprised at you! There were so many problems in the last two games I hardly know where to begin. For you to think we will finish 9-3 is beyong belief. Almost all of the remaining teams on the schedule could beat us this season.
The problem is the same as the one last year and the year before that. Mark Richt is way out of his league. Saban, Myer, Spurrier, Miles (even Kiffin) have made Richt out to be a clown.
He should have been gone a year ago. Regrettably, he will be kept on for another year before he’s non renewed. He’ll have taken his millions and left UGA with a bankrupt team.
Da'Quan MindGap
September 19th, 2010
11:59 am
Doug the Jacket -
As bad as Georgia is… we’re still going to beat GT and get to watch you guys have another nuclear meltdown!
Westpointdawg
September 19th, 2010
11:59 am
This program has gotten worse with time, even with great recruiting classes. Our team reflects the coaches’ fire and enthusiasm, and this present coaching staff not only have no enthusiasm, but cannot control the team on and off the field. Also, needlesss to say, the offense is the same one we’ve run for the past few years. Very sad.
Hawg Fan
September 19th, 2010
12:03 pm
Bobby Petrino went back to GA and crapped on you guys AGAIN. How you like Petrino and the Hawgs ending your season before it even started? Falcons suck, and Hawgs are winning. Not many men have outsmarted Arthur Blank, but Bobby Petrino took him to school! Got the old man’s money, got a better job. Put ole Blank and Georgia in their place…LAST PLACE!
SEC Fan
September 19th, 2010
12:03 pm
As a Carolina graduate with a daughter that graduated from Bama, I love and follow SEC football. For the life of me, I do not understand how the UGa problems continue without correction. Carolina ran over you all with the best ‘09 HS player out of SC and Bama will start first year players in their defensive backfield, but UGa will not play the best ‘09 HS player, Ogletree, that I saw in the state of GA last year. No wonder you’ve become a second tier SEC team. Bad coaching, poor evaluation of coaches and talent, and bringing in players that are bad apples. Finally, with all the problems that UGa has experience with law breakers, how can they still bring in the HS qb from Charlotte next year that was suspended from HS this year? What kind of message does that send if you what to clean up your act?? Look for more of the same. Go Gamecocks and Tide!!
SadPuppyDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:04 pm
I have not stopped crying since that 6′6 freak of a QB threw that pass…….Mark Richt and Todd Grantham are not the answer to our problems. We need some players that can run and hit….not these sissies we have now. We need some coaches to come into Athens and kick some butt, not coddle these hoodlums. We are going to have more arrests than points this year and I don’t even want to think of the riots that may break out if Tennessee and Georgia Tech kick our butts tween the hedges. Florida might put 50 on us this year and Auburn will probably get 40. Please beat Mississippi State for goodness sakes. If you cant beat them, then we should forfeit the rest of the season and start over next year. I bet McGarrity wishes he was still in Gainesville.
Patrick
September 19th, 2010
12:04 pm
Even nice, Christian men should be fired sometimes.
Patrick
September 19th, 2010
12:06 pm
Bulldog-
If nice and Christian could get you wins, that would be a different story. Too bad, it’s not the case.
SadPuppyDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:06 pm
you stink hawg fan……Petrino is a traitor…just wait and see what he does to you stinkin pigs in a couple of years when a better job comes along
dog daze
September 19th, 2010
12:06 pm
are you guys fearing Colorado now too?
Ray Goof
September 19th, 2010
12:08 pm
I am avialablee to cooch the bulldoggs. I hav expereince. I luv the bulldoggs. I can doo beeter then CMR.
FLA DAWG
September 19th, 2010
12:08 pm
dog daze,
uhmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,……………YES!
Dawg Tired
September 19th, 2010
12:09 pm
Well, you have a point. Look at what Petrino has accomplished in short order in Arkansas with few resources. Look at what Saban did at Alabama – practically worst to first. In Alabama of all places! Now look at all the Georgia players who have gone on to become not just NFL players, but elite, superstar, pro-bowl NFL players. Richt has had better players than anyone, but never got the job done even with the best talent. When you’ve got NFL ProBowl championship talent, but you aren’t getting the championship, your problem lies in one place: the coach.
Definition of stupid: Keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. That sentence should be engraved on Sanford Stadium in big, bold letters because it is the mantra of Georgia.
General Sherman
September 19th, 2010
12:09 pm
Where did IF come into play,the non tackling under coached team will lose!
uga grad?
September 19th, 2010
12:10 pm
please say that some of you fans on this blog that cheer for UGA did not actually graduate. The grammar is so horrendous I could not read the comments. Bubba Dog on here spelling WIN with W H E N, he spells LOSE as L O O S E and RIDICULOUS AS R E D I C U L O U S, please say you are not a graduate of UGA please….and WHEW, he spells it W E W
UsmcDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:11 pm
I think Mark Richt is a fine person, BUT I can’t stand his style of coaching. NO DISCIPLINE!
There is a systematic lack of DISCIPLINE in our organization from top to bottom.
And what is Mike Bobo doing “headbutting” players before the game, only to cut his face and coach an important game with a massive headache and blood all over his face?
We need a coach like… ok, don’t kill me here… Brian Kelly who has an intense sense of tactics and discipline. He gets pissed off at his players and let’s them know when they come off of the field.
He has a system. Just like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Paul Johnson, etc. Mark Richt let’s the inmates run the asylum.
Just my 2 cents…
GDAWG65
September 19th, 2010
12:12 pm
I think we have the talent and ability on the team – what we don’t have is a head coach that can fire inefficient assistants and demand disipline. Maybe Richt is burned out or has just lost interest in UGA.
Razorbacks Owned
September 19th, 2010
12:13 pm
Mark Richt likes to think the dawgs “Finish The Drill.” Did you see that hog hit on that wimpy GA quarterback? Then that superhog pass and catch for the (imagine larry munson voice here) “Touchdooown!” with only seconds on the clock?!?
Dawgs can’t “finish the drill” but the HOGS do “DRILL ‘EM AT THE FINISH!”
sd
September 19th, 2010
12:14 pm
I am loyal Bulldog fan as anyone. When the Bulldogs are not winning everyone is quick to blame the coaches and want him to be replaced. When they are winning they are treated as heros. We need to remember several things One thing has to be remember,several key players have let down their team by either getting in trouble with the law or breaking NCAA rules. These are things that the coaches tried to control but it is up to the players to be responsible for their own actions and not let their teammates and fans down.
The other thing that we should also remember that the SEC is one of the toughest conferences in the country. All the teams in the conferences contains some of the greatest players and coaches in football that this country has to offer. This makes it extreme hard for any one team from year to next to have winning seasons especially when they have to play other SEC teams and complete for the same players to recuit.
The coaches biggest job is to built character among the players for teamwork and later for life. Richt in his program over the years has done this and we should remember this. Also we should remember unlike the NFL, players are not pay to play and are not professionals. They must studied every night on their school subjects and keep up their grades.
My question for all these Saturday so called coaches is ” If you know so much about what plays to call, why are you not a Coach for some SEC team?”
Lets show support our team and coaches this year. Let them know that we back them win or lose so they can fully take care of business of winning the next game and one thing less to worry about each week! Once the season is over then we can gave our opinions about what should have been done. GO BULLDOGS
DAWG DRUNK
September 19th, 2010
12:16 pm
I thought Willie Martinez had been fired yet in the first 3 games 3 touchdowns have been scored uncontested by a secondary that seemingly doesn’t know there assignments. Yesterday, on the last drive by Arkansas, was pathetic. The soft zone allowed them to almost be in field goal position even before the blown assinment and touchdown.
Andy
September 19th, 2010
12:16 pm
Yo Mike Bear Bryant won the National Championship in 1961, 1964 and 1965 AFTER GOING TO ALA IN 1957.where are you getting your stat?
Andy in Blairsville
September 19th, 2010
12:17 pm
If UGA finishes outside of the top 25 again, goes to the Tampax Bowl again and keeps Mark Richt at the end of the season, I wouldn’t expect a great recruiting class.
Doug the Jacket
September 19th, 2010
12:18 pm
It is ugly, very ugly already.
UsmcDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:19 pm
Our OFFENSIVE LINE is a BIG WEAKNESS.
The defense is much better than last year.
CMR is a great guy, but I cannot stand his style of coaching.
We need a Brian Kelly type coach that has some intensity and a SYSTEM.
Is CMR just running Bobby Bowden’s old system year in and year out?
Our Head Coach is our main problem. He lacks discipline and a system.
Look at all of the off field incidents that our players are getting involved in.
He is a good man though, but this is a highly paid job.
I vote for a new coach next year.
moronica
September 19th, 2010
12:20 pm
i think he’ll resign at the end of the year to save face and souls…..
5150 P.O.A.D
September 19th, 2010
12:22 pm
I bet there a lot of high school players that have verbally commited to UGA are glad they haven’t signed any papers yet. “The Dream Team” with a Nightmare Coaching Staff doesn’t sound too good for the Dawgs.
SatillaDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:24 pm
I’m very proud of our young Bulldogs.
They’ve had some struggles, but they’re going to be OK.
But shame on A.J. Green, who has brought dishonor to his teammates…and for what?
A few pieces of silver. Pitiful.
I think the Dawgs could have won the Arkansas game with A.J., and possibly the S.C. game.
I hope he feels like crap for letting his teammates down. He should.
Still, the season’s young. Dawgs will rebound.
Go DAWGS! Sic ‘em! Woof, Woof, Woof!
We love you Dawgs, win or lose!
T Dawg
September 19th, 2010
12:25 pm
tell if I’m wrong….
Stafford (no SEC Champ.) cost us depth at the QB position…Dawgs/Bobo were not able to recruit another QB while he was here…Joe Cox and Logan Gray couldn’t get it done (coaching??) and now we have a RS Freshman to learn on the job.
mdr
September 19th, 2010
12:27 pm
Personally I am tired of hearing about the new defense and the freshman QB. This team is unfocused, undisciplined, and unprepared. The freshman QB is our best offensive player right now. The OL that is supposed to be one of the best in the country, is TERRIBLE. The secondary, which was supposed to be the strength of this defense, is a JOKE. The problems with this team will not be fixed with experience at the QB spot or the defense becoming more comfortable with the new system.
Here is the bottom line:
Donnan’s last 4 years as UGA coach: 22-10 in conference.
Richt’s last 4 years in conference: 20-12, including a pathetic 8-6 at home.
Now we are 0-2 in conference which hasn’t happened since Goff.
This is not a one year problem. It is an ongoing issue that will only be fixed with wholesale changes from the top down. We will never improve again under this staff. The program is stale and stagnant and shows no signs at all of coming back.
The time for change is now. Buy out the contracts, wipe the slate clean, and say good riddance to the inevitable transfers.
bob
September 19th, 2010
12:27 pm
A J Green, why aren’t you in pads helping your teammates?
Dick
September 19th, 2010
12:28 pm
Georgia keeping Mike Bobo as office coordinator makes about as much sense as the Breaves retaining Terry Pendleton as either coach or manager. Bobo needs to go-go
Observer
September 19th, 2010
12:29 pm
Nice job Mark, I knew it wouldn’t take you long to reassure the base. Good Job!
Devildog
September 19th, 2010
12:32 pm
Bobo better get to work with his backs on pass blocking. He blames Murray for that last sack. Well, SOMEONE taught Ealey the “lookout block.” That’s the one where you miss your assignment at scream “LOOK OUT” at the QB. Murray was well-protected until that DE got by Ealey. He can’t drive and he can’t block. What good is he?
Bobo has a couple of issues, himself.
say what
September 19th, 2010
12:34 pm
could someone please explain to me what is so great about Derek Dooley? He had a losing record at La Tech when TN hired him.
PowerDawg
September 19th, 2010
12:39 pm
Murray’s numbers are gradually improving. If the d@mn O-line will start opening some holes for the backs, he’ll have the time he needs to make things happen. But the truth is, the receivers have got to get off their coverage better and the play calling is just atrocious.
Attention Searles!!! Sturdivant is healthy and ready to go full speed ahead. Put him back at LT, Boling at RT and start running the toss sweep more. This will make the linebackers have to adjust, loosen up the middle lanes a little and the running game will improve exponentially. Right now, they are stacking the box to stop the run but since we are not mixing in enough sweeps and bootlegs by the QB, they are overwhelming the front and getting to Murray too easily. He can’t make his living staying in the pocket, that isn’t his forte. Murray doesn’t have to run from the bootleg, by the way. He is very comfortable rolling out and throwing downfield on the run. Neither Chris nor Josh Davis give him or the offense that flexibility.
Just an observation.
On the last drive yesterday, where were the underneath routes? Where were the backs and tight ends? Murray had no where to throw it to keep the chains moving. Why? Because the receivers were all 20-30 yds downfield, that’s why.
Yeah, Murray could have avoided getting sacked by throwing the ball away a couple times yesterday. But in the those particular situations, that wasn’t the issue. He was trying to make something, anything, happen…especially on the that final drive. The blocking was poor, but the play-calling let him and the rest of the team down.
Richt needs to take back the reins right now. Not two weeks from now when AJ comes back…..now! Let Bobo coach the QB’s the rest of the year. Then, if need be, go out and find a quality OC to take his place for next season. Stacey Searles needs to figure out what the problem is with the line and fix it or he needs to go, too. And Tony Ball definitely needs to be replaced. He has too much talent at receiver and it is being pi$$ed away under his tuteledge. Why are we running so much in the red zone? Why are we not taking advantage of our height and skill in the passing situations? Because Ball has the wrong receivers in the game and Bobo is incompetent.
Yeah, AJ is sitting but Durham and Brown have both proven they have reliable hands. Have we completely abandoned use of the fade route? Rantavious Wooten has shown he can’t make the catch in crunch time and Troupe is marginal at best. But TK and even Logan Gray have shown the ability to hang on to balls in heavy traffic. The tight ends are not being used enough, either.
Murray is definitely for real and we need to utilize his skill sets better, that’s a given. But until our O-line can figure out what’s wrong with their run blocking, we have other options. We need to start taking advantage of them.
It is officially getting late in the game. Need to light this baby up right now.
Ed
September 19th, 2010
12:40 pm
Georgia returned the entire offensive line plus a very talented former starter who has been injured in recent years. We have veterans at all the skill positions except one, quarterback. That’s because Richt inexplicably sat Murray all of last year even after it became apparent that the starter wasn’t getting the job done and that Georgia would have no experience whatsoever in ‘10 at the most important position. Otherwise, Georgia would be loaded AND experienced in every position going into this season. We have two talented guys handling the kicking duties and enough returning starters and blue-chip talent on defense to cause some teams serious problems. Yet…Georgia looks like crap.
If Richt hasn’t felt any heat yet, it’s high time that he did.
1-3 to start the season?
September 19th, 2010
12:41 pm
Fire his arz! Bring back coach Dooley—anything but the swamp fox
harold
September 19th, 2010
12:42 pm
IF RICHT LOSES TO A WEAK TEAM LIKE STATE HE WILL BE GONE!
JOB POSTING
September 19th, 2010
12:44 pm
Offensive Coordinator, University of Georgia football program. Some experience at the Division 1-A level preferred. Must have extremely thick skin, as the head coach is made of Teflon and the coordinators and position coaches at UGA get all the blame for the teams failures but little credit for its successes.