Live from Athens: Will the Big Orange get to party in the UGA?

There's a clash of colors beyond the hedges. (Photo by M.B.)

Athens – Earlier this week I posed the musical question, “Where did it all go wrong for Mark Richt?” Walking into Sanford Stadium this morning, I got the musical answer.

The Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana song “Party in the USA” was playing over the stadium’s PA, and nobody who has followed Georgia football can hear that song without wincing. Not because the song is awful — it isn’t, and this is coming from someone who has seen Miley/Hannah in person — but because of the unfortunate orientation video in which the Bulldogs’ coach had a cameo.

Richt has since rued his participation, describing the “Party in the UGA” video as “awful.” But I respectfully submit that nothing has been the same for this program since Richt partook of the infamous “party.”

Today Georgia plays Tennessee, which is coached by Derek Dooley, whose dad was the greatest UGA coach ever and who hired Richt. Vince Dooley has said he won’t attend today’s game but will root (for his son) from his famous home on Milledge Circle. And if Richt loses to young Dooley, the current Georgia coach might not attend next week’s game or any thereafter.

OK, I’m exaggerating. Richt isn’t getting canned no matter what happens here. But what happens here will go a ways toward determining Richt’s quality of life going forward. As bad as it has been for the Bulldogs, imagine if they lost at home to an even worse bunch of Vols coached by the offspring of Vincent and Barbara.

Enough. I can’t imagine it. And I don’t think it will happen. I think Georgia will beat Tennessee. I also think it had darn well better.

(Speaking of Barbara Dooley: She’s here. She’s wearing, if you can believe it, red slacks and an orange sweater.)

And with that, the floor is open for comments, questions and nominations for Georgia’s next coach. (Kidding! I’m a kidder!) I’ll be here all day, and I’d appreciate if you’d … er, join the party. Speaking of which: