An inspired UGA goes to 2-4 and ponders ‘running the table’
The Alpha Dawg: Mark Richt leads Georgia onto the field. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS — The best 1-4 team in the land was so excited to be 1-4 no more that it did a victory dance in the locker room. Chief among the celebrants was the head Bulldog.
“Coach [Mark] Richt was the main one,” said Demarcus Dobbs, the defensive end. “He loves to get crazy after games.”
The past four Saturdays had yielded only a crazy sorrow. Indeed, as tailback Caleb King noted, the Bulldogs reacted with such fervor to Saturday’s thrashing of woebegone Tennessee team because their dancing had been so long deferred.
“It’s a silly dance,” King said. “But we hadn’t been able to do it for a while.”
Dobbs again: “It’s a lot different when you win. When you lose, everybody’s hanging his head and people are asking what went wrong. Today everybody’s vibrant.”
Not since Sept. 4 had the Georgia Bulldogs won a game. Not since Nov. 21 had they taken a lead against an SEC opponent. And the worst part of being 1-4 (and 0-3 against conference brethren) was that these Bulldogs knew, just knew, they were way better than that.
Here’s the redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, who was as good Saturday as most redshirt seniors ever get: “We feel like we can definitely run the table these last six games.”
Got that? From 1-4 to 2-4 … clear to 8-4? (Which would mean beating Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech.) As presumptuous as it might sound, there’s nonetheless something tangible backstopping that belief. That something is talent.
It took a lot of (mis)doing for a team this gifted to get to 1-4, and it took some effort for Richt to keep it from going totally south after the egregious losses in Starkville and Boulder. To his credit, the coach of 10 years’ standing changed some things.
The Bulldogs practiced in full pads Monday. (Richt admitted Saturday his light-contact approach to summer camp “backfired.”) The team dressed at the Butts-Mehre complex, doing the pregame Dawg Walk in full gear. Prompted by a caller to his radio show, Richt even led his Bulldogs onto the field.
And the result? Said Richt, speaking of his men: “They played beautifully.”
He also recalled what he had told his team after the full-contact Monday session: “If you guys will play like you just did, we’re going to be all right.”
Whatever has ailed Georgia — and when you’re 1-4, you’ve ailed — can be fixed. We saw Saturday the difference between a team with a bad record and good players and one with a bad record and bad players. This game was over after a quarter. Tennessee kept handing the Bulldogs the ball, and the Bulldogs kept taking it and scoring. And the best player on the field was the player Georgia hadn’t had for four games.
“We’re not going to give up,” said A.J. Green, the great receiver. “We’re all we’ve got.”
At peak capacity, Georgia has a lot. That was the message Richt sought to send with his Monday-in-pads decree, a message seconded on Friday by the former UGA linebacker Boss Bailey, who served as honorary captain for this game. Said Richt: “He felt like he needed to tell them that they weren’t playing ball the way ball should be played here at Georgia.”
On Saturday they did. They beat Tennessee by 27 points and spent the fourth quarter coasting. It would have been unseemly to embarrass Derek Dooley, the Vols’ coach and the son of Georgia’s greatest coach. (For the record, Vince Dooley watched the game from his home on Milledge Circle. His wife, Barbara, was in attendance wearing red slacks and an orange sweater, a look even the stylish Mrs. D. couldn’t quite pull off.)
By then, Richt’s team had long since proved its point: Georgia may have a bad record, but it isn’t a bad team. And now six games remain, time enough to do some damage.
Said Richt: “I never lost hope. I never lost faith. I never thought we had a significant amount of problems.”
Except for the losing. The losing was an issue. On this Saturday, as opposed to the past four, Georgia did not lose. It won and did its silly dance. It will dance some more before this season is done.
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797 comments Add your comment
DAVIDDAWG
October 9th, 2010
7:54 pm
Guess Mrs. Dooley wishes she had kept quiet about who she was rooting for, well at least she got to see who she used to root for win!
ramguy
October 9th, 2010
7:57 pm
Good game for the Dawgs today. I like many others have been on them pretty good but I said earlier in the week that I expected them to come out and win. However I didn’t take them on my parlay card. I thought giving Tenn 11pts was too much.
Michael
October 9th, 2010
7:59 pm
Lou Saban’s Crimson Tide was overwhelmed and manhandled by a clearly inferior South Carolina team. Since I know nothing about football I will recommend that Saban be fired. he’s obviously has lost control of the team, has no discipline and no offensive creativity.
Chicken Hammer
October 9th, 2010
8:01 pm
Very good Michael!
Michael
October 9th, 2010
8:02 pm
And i am qualified to make these statements because I had on an Alabama t-shirt today because as I left the beach it was the only clean one left in the luggage.
Party school
October 9th, 2010
8:05 pm
Oh yeah, Go Gators!
DOG HATER
October 9th, 2010
8:06 pm
you guys think Ga won the super bowl.LOOK WHO THEY PLAYED.throw them under the bus last week and buying bowl tickets the next.Runing the table. Bradley you are dumber than Hullinger. Roll Tide Go Big Blue Go Gators every one but Ga.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:06 pm
@ Michael….
Finally, someone makes sense. Saban is an idiot….there is no way his team of top recruits should lose to USC…ALABAMA will not put up with mediocrity….did you know Saban is 0-1 in his last game? UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
http://WWW.FIREsabanNOW.com
Mike
October 9th, 2010
8:09 pm
Would you shut up Bradley. Your stupid article about how uga could win the sec east, which is the worst piece of journalism, is now debunked.
They aren’t running anything except a criminal asylum. They will have at least 3 more losses.
Michael
October 9th, 2010
8:10 pm
I will not send another dollar, or even two dollars, to that ‘Bama program until they fire that dumb coach. And Kirby Smart is a defensive genius/God who should coach Georgia. Or not.
techbuzzer
October 9th, 2010
8:11 pm
THUGA finally won one only because they played a fifth rate team.
Chicken Hammer
October 9th, 2010
8:11 pm
Fold Tide Fold
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:12 pm
@ DOG HATER
Finally, someone that has the balls to be a fan of Alabama, Florida, and Boise. I bet you are a Yankees fan too….GO TEAMS WITH WINNING RECORDS!!!! You are a football polygamist….oh wait…Alabama lost today….better find someone else to pull for….hahaha
680 buck says
October 9th, 2010
8:12 pm
Kirby Smart not so smart now. Where is the luntaic fringe now with there wanting to hire the great kirby smart. If CMR resigns after this year it will be because of the crazy stuipd over the top lunatic fringe. They think we should be like Alabama. Well Alabama just lost and we looked better against the Gamecocks then they did.i
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:15 pm
@ techbuzzer….
I agree…UGA should forfeit the win…good one
680 buck says
October 9th, 2010
8:15 pm
To all of you CMR haters. CMR won Saban and the great Kirby Smart lost. We played Carliona better then the tide did.
Big Dawg
October 9th, 2010
8:16 pm
Memo to Coach Richt: Great win today, congratulations. The Dawgs were running on all cylinders. Let’s enjoy this for a day and then get back to work. After seeing today’s performance, it’s obvious the players can get motivated and perform well when they have to. Please remember though that the season is long, and now that you have proven some things to yourself, the team, and the Bulldog Nation, this level of performance and effort will be expected all the time. No one expects you to win every game, but you remeber that you should be expected to be competitive on a weekly and yearly basis with the top teams in the SEC and the country. Good start on righting the ship, please don’t rest on this one game against Tennessee though.
Chicken Hammer
October 9th, 2010
8:16 pm
Enter your comments here
Chicken Hammer
October 9th, 2010
8:19 pm
techbuzzer
You think UT is as good as UVA?
Lazoo
October 9th, 2010
8:19 pm
I hate to correct all these WWII aviation hstorians, but the Langley was the US first carrier and was scuddled in 1942.
RAID
October 9th, 2010
8:19 pm
Just a funny rumor but it does make a little sence…….I keep hearing that when Rich Rodriguez is gone at Michigan…..and that part will eventually happen cause they’re still rather soft for Michigan standards, Saban will be their next head coach….you know, go back home and bring another weak program to the NCG……seems fitting and they have the $ to make it happen….
Michael
October 9th, 2010
8:22 pm
No, no, Les Miles will take Michigan to the BCS championship because he hasn’t won dick for three years and LSU will run him off. Maybe Saban can be his co-coach. Then Kirby Smart, super genius, can coach Bama back to the Shula years.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:22 pm
Seriously,
We will probably win out at this point.
All the true UGA fans will love it.
All the Richt haters will constantly mention our 0-4 streak and secretly hate that we are winning.
And all the tech fans will continue their pathetic attempts at trash talking.
SoCal Dawg
October 9th, 2010
8:26 pm
I hope Isaiah Crowell was watching today’s games. If we did indeed get things back on track today it will help recruiting.
JT
October 9th, 2010
8:28 pm
Before and after Georgia played South Carolina, there were many of you that said you should not lose/have lost, to a clearly inferior team. I placed a side bet on how long it would take you Dawg rationalizers to say, “hey, our losses were to some really good teams.” Just sayin.
layinlow
October 9th, 2010
8:29 pm
I found it curious that Richt made the statement this week that “Im coaching my tail off”. If he had been coaching his tail off since spring ball we would be in the hunt for an SEC title. It’s like the last couple years he just wanted to delegate and push the cruise control button. I want to see him roll up his sleeves and coach his a$$ off all year from now on if he’s going to stay. Time for Richt to step up and instill some toughness in this team and demand excellence.
Jughead Obama
October 9th, 2010
8:29 pm
Steve Superior is your Overlord, dawgturds.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:31 pm
You know, our losses were to some really good teams…
Sid
October 9th, 2010
8:34 pm
this whole idea is ridiculous…..no running game cause the line can’t block and a very soft defense….Tennessee’s offense is pitiful.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:35 pm
@ layinlow
Exactly!!! Richt didn’t start coaching until this week. Because if he had…we would be undefeated….it’s just that easy….why can’t everyone see it like you and me…
When a team loses….like Alabama this week…it’s because their coach took a week off from coaching…if Saban had coached a little this week, Alabama could have won.
Paul's Johnson
October 9th, 2010
8:35 pm
Richt is weak. He’s supposed to be a leader, but he’s following from the front. A real leader wouldn’t wait for a four game losing streak to “get tough” with his squad. Win or lose, I’ll take our no-nonsense leader over your Head “follower” any day of the week.
Jughead Obama
October 9th, 2010
8:35 pm
Like this one?
Colorado Buffaloes 0 – Missouri Tigers 19
Michael
October 9th, 2010
8:37 pm
I think Saban’s contract says he gets Columbus Day weekend off. My J.D. from UGA does qualify me to read contracts. Football strategy — not so much.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:39 pm
Go Dawgs!!!! Do it again, and again, etc. Hahaha to the haterz and trollz.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:40 pm
My brother plays for Missouri…..GO TIGERS!!!! Thanks for the update.
Party school
October 9th, 2010
8:41 pm
So, after going 1-4, then beating another 1-4 team you guys think you’re gonna run the table. Wow, talk about having a big head with nothing to back it up. I can’t think of any other fan base that could be so delusional.
athensdawg
October 9th, 2010
8:42 pm
11-11 vs the sec east in the last 4 years.
we have returned to .500
all the CMR lovers are saying “I told you so.” After the SC win, they are also saying…see…we played some really good teams….that’s why we lost..
..and the more SC, MSU and Arky wins the better the dawg fans feel about their inability to compete for an SEC championship.
what, are we supposed to win the SEC when the competition “isn’t good?”
Harry the Hat
October 9th, 2010
8:42 pm
We will probably win out at this point.
Dream on, dawgtard. Florida will make mincemeat of your thugs.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:43 pm
UGA will definitely run the table…I actually don’t think we will lose again until 2018. A few games may be close (withing 21 points).
Jughead Obama
October 9th, 2010
8:43 pm
‘J.D. from UGA”
The primary reason the State of GA is such a big cluster.
Ironwood
October 9th, 2010
8:46 pm
UGA the best 1-4 team in the land? When I moved to ATL I had to listen to how they crushed ULL and owned USC and how they had the best offensive line in the country. I heard the hommies on this board complaining how they were not getting their due. They bragged on how they were going to put it to Florida. When I checked the record of UGA/FL I found out UGA has won 3 times in the last 20 years. It sounded like they should have been ranked #1 based upon the posts here. Then we had to listen to how UGA owned Arkansas. Then how they owned Mississippi State. I wish UGA the best but they are about 50% as good as most posters on this site think. Other SEC teams are gaining on you. Wait for the basketball season. Maybe you will have success there.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:46 pm
UGA 38
UF 12
todd grantham
October 9th, 2010
8:47 pm
Mark, please for Heaven’s sake let us know when you’ve left the blog.
Michael
October 9th, 2010
8:47 pm
Wait, Just Saying, that would require that they start beating UF more than once every five of six years. That would require Goldberg, Galen Hall and Dooley again.
77Dawg
October 9th, 2010
8:47 pm
Let Bobo keep his half million a year, but let Richt call 70-75% every game. We can win 6-7 more games.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:48 pm
@ Ironwood…
You must not have seen out basketball team…
Roll Tide
October 9th, 2010
8:48 pm
Fire Saban. Enough is enough. First we had to put up with Shula now we got that idiot Saban. When is this nightmare go end.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
8:51 pm
I love you guys…especially you Jughead Obama….you seem like you need some love…just kidding with you all…love the Dawgs…glad they won…enjoy your evening…don’t get too wound up about football….
GO BRAVES!!
JR
October 9th, 2010
8:51 pm
UGA beat Tenn. We will run the table and play for a NC. You can bank on it.
Gino in Valdosta
October 9th, 2010
8:51 pm
Thugs win. Finally.