A chilling thought: What if Richt DOESN’T beat these Gators?
Bulldogs and Gators gather to debate the issue: "Who's worse -- you or us?" (AJC file photo)
The Georgia Bulldogs head to Jacksonville, where they’ve won three times since 1989, as favorites over Florida. We couldn’t have foreseen such a thing a month ago, but here it is. Georgia, which had lost four in a row, has won three in a row. Florida hasn’t won since September.
A check of the SEC stats shows that Georgia leads Florida in every significant offensive category and in rushing defense and turnover margin. Heck, Georgia has even been flagged for fewer penalties.
Put simply, this stacks up as Georgia’s best chance to beat Florida since 2004, when Ron Zook was a lame duck. (And Georgia did prevail that year, though not without a struggle.) Put even more simply, this puts an even greater onus on the coach who’s 2-7 against the hated Gators. Because what will it say about Mark Richt if he can’t beat Urban Meyer’s worst Florida team?
I know, I know. A month ago, we were calling this Richt’s worst team. But much has changed. And you can’t have watched Florida lose to Mississippi State in Gainesville and Georgia beat Kentucky in Lexington and not think the Bulldogs are playing the better football. Georgia’s hot. Florida’s not. But how hot will Richt’s coaching seat be if his team goes to Duval County and finishes second?
I’m on record as saying I think Georgia will win. Judging by the little poll accompanying that post, 80 percent of you agree. But now I’m asking: What if Georgia doesn’t win? What then, huh?
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532 comments Add your comment
U(sic)GA
October 28th, 2010
11:45 am
Florida rolls, uga falls to 4-5.
UGA beats up on Idaho women’s college 5-5.
Auburn beats uga by 3 TDs 5-6; “Fire Mark Richt.com” is launched shortly thereafter.
UGA beats GT, the website is temporarily taken down. UGA loses to GT, Richt will be trotted out and fired at the 50 yard line immediately after the game.
Gdawg 84
October 28th, 2010
11:47 am
Ig UGA doesn’t win?
It will be just like 17 other bitter Saturdays during the past 20 years. You’d think we’d get used to it-thankfully we haven’t.
Will
October 28th, 2010
11:47 am
Florida has had an extra week to prepare for UGA and Meyer is even more desparate for a win that Richt. Florida will win the football game.
So what? UGA is not going anywhere of consequence this year. They will not beat Auburn and, therefore will not get the chance to be whacked in the Dome by Alabama.
It is just not a good year for UGA – not anything specific but a result of a number of variables (bad luck, bad coaching, bad behavior, etc).
Hopefully things will improve next year. If not, God help Coach Richt and protect him from the wolves howling at the gate.
Blackberry Cobbler
October 28th, 2010
11:48 am
No one gave UGA a chance a month ago. That has changed because Florida APPEARS to not be the team everyone thought they would be.
UGA has played better of late but so what– that doesn’t necessarily mean they are all of a sudden better that Florida.
I agree, UGA APPEARS to have a chance in this one– but it will still be a close, hard fought game that no one should be surprised by if UGA loses.
Regardless, UGA’s coaching and talent level/recruiting are still questionable and I’d like to see a house-cleaning at season’s end.
jdawg
October 28th, 2010
11:49 am
People want to be strict, and looks like Mettenberger may be playing against us very soon. Folks, things happen with young folks, and make bad decisions. This is just one of those years, I just read where Urban was saying he had all of the new coaches, I remember that also. So things do happen and hopefully we are headed in the right direction. A player told me that it is tough over there, and they know what would happen, so a course of action has been taken./ Hopefully, this surge in winning will continue.
Bubba
October 28th, 2010
11:50 am
From whats happened in the past i would never say Uga will win. UF has our number. Maybe this year will start a new trend.
bulldawgborn
October 28th, 2010
11:50 am
Did noone ever notice that the arrests started soon after UGA hired Damon Evan. Seems to me that if the AD believes he is above the law, the players will believe the same? We can only hope that Greg McGarity is righting the ship?
What to watch for!
October 28th, 2010
11:50 am
When the refs need to measure for a 1st down and call for the “chain gang”… How many players from each sideline will mistakenly come running on the field? BAHAHAHAHA
George
October 28th, 2010
11:50 am
I warming up to a more humble Bulldog team. Maybe a little humility is what’s needed as opposed to this cocky “we can beat anybody” attitude. They will remain the flagship state school regardless of the outcome. But remember, “pride cometh before a fall.”
bruce mac
October 28th, 2010
11:50 am
Why should it impact CMR’s job, we never beat the Gators? We should be used to it by now and I suspect everyone in Athens is used to it. So, nothing happens to Richt unless he has losing season and loses to Tech. Then some real bad stern warnings will be forthcoming. Pitiful state of affairs when 9 wins is great, 8 wins is okay and 7 wins is acceptable. Can you say: Average program with average goals?
been there done that
October 28th, 2010
11:51 am
You people are crazy if you think we are going to go down there and win. Where have you been for the last 20 years? I have been to jacksonville every year for the game since 1997 and i don’t care if the atlanta falcons worn Georgia jerseys, I would not bet on us. Can we win? Yes. Should we win? Yes. Will we win? NO!
Urban Meyer
October 28th, 2010
11:51 am
If i cant beat the Pups i need to quit. where is Timmy when i need him?
Bride of Chucky Knapp
October 28th, 2010
11:51 am
We WIN: Happy Drunk!
They win: sad drunk
Either way, drunk, so can’t really lose.
Smokewagon
October 28th, 2010
11:51 am
Master – you must not have seen the Ky game. Georgia players took the ball away from Ky. Ky gave nothing away except when Phillips decided to go for it needing inches late in the 1st. Dawgs will play another dominate game for you to analyze.
Jimv
October 28th, 2010
11:52 am
Dawggie: If UGA losing to Florida is the biggest fear in your life, you’ve been scared most of your life.
What to watch for! part 2
October 28th, 2010
11:53 am
What will we see more of on the sidelines for each team? Defensive coordinators or Defense Attorneys? BAHAHAHA
Pat Dye
October 28th, 2010
11:53 am
UGA is not man enough to beat UF
South Georgia
October 28th, 2010
11:53 am
Mark Richt and the team have learned to play to win rather than not to lose. Therefore, we are winning. Now, we are aggressive in the first quarter and this new mentality minimizes the possibility of losing. Aaron Murray appears to have more mental toughness than any GA qb since David Green and our defense and special teams will make it tough on Florida. The way Kentucky fought back and challenged us was good preparation for overcoming Florida.
Bride of Chucky Knapp
October 28th, 2010
11:54 am
It will be vintage Georgia for us to lose to Florida and then beat Auburn.
bruce mac
October 28th, 2010
11:54 am
Oh yea, I could care less about traffic violations and the like. CMR kicks off anyone that does anything that is half way serious. If that is not good enough for you, stick it where the sun don’t shine. You are not a Dawg anyway, so why would we possibly care what you think?
defactodawg
October 28th, 2010
11:54 am
If Georgia loses, it is a true representation of this season and in my mind, it’s time for Richt to go. This year is not an exception, it is the norm. Something has to change and change begins at the top.
HitaSingle
October 28th, 2010
11:55 am
What if Mark Bradley’s job really mattered?
Pat Dye Jr
October 28th, 2010
11:55 am
come on Dad, remember what happened last time you said that
SECWasteManagement
October 28th, 2010
11:55 am
I will be the first to tell you that Mettenberger is garbage. He went to the high school I attended and when I still lived in Athens I watched him play some games because I heard of his UGA commit. Kid has a ICBM of an arm but the accuracy was just not there. He did show improvement in the G-day game but still not anything to call Mel Kiper about. My fraternity who has a chapter at VSU has a bartender who was working the bar that Mett got into trouble in and he said that Mett mistook his hand for a credit card and the bartenders neither regions for the credit machine.
FireMarkBradley!
October 28th, 2010
11:55 am
we hate you Mark…. lets play the what if game? No thank you.
What to watch for! part 3
October 28th, 2010
11:56 am
Who will have the better coverage of the game? CBS or “Americas Most Wanted”? BAHAHAHA
Uh Oh!!!!
October 28th, 2010
11:56 am
Arkansas Starting DT arrested for Marijuana Posession.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5733687
Let’s hear how much of a thug he is Techies!!!!!!
SECWasteManagement
October 28th, 2010
11:56 am
Bride of Chucky Knapp has it down to a T! Well said haha!
Jeffrey
October 28th, 2010
11:57 am
If we don’t win I think four words will cover it, head coach Kirby Smart!
bigdave
October 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
Georgia 48 Florida 27…the DOGS are as GOOD as they WANT to be.
Real Dawg Fan
October 28th, 2010
12:00 pm
We just need to HUNKER DOWN and play the defense that has defined UGA history…..As long as we do this, the game is ours. Coach Richt should stay and turn this team around to BCS contenders again, are we forgetting that we would have won the championship if the computer polls werent F*** up (putting us against Hawaii)
Dawg37
October 28th, 2010
12:01 pm
I graduated from Georgia and consider myself to be highly intelligent. I am confident I know the answer to the proposed question: “What if Georgia doesn’t win? What then?”
I am confident, not 100%, but almost certain that, if Georgia doesn’t win…..they will lose. It’s just a guess, but an educated guess.
McDawg
October 28th, 2010
12:01 pm
we will be 4-5
chiefdawg
October 28th, 2010
12:01 pm
The same thing that has always happened. UGA WILL NOT win. They never do.
boots
October 28th, 2010
12:02 pm
All the crap the Dawgs have taken about players’ off the field troubles is justified. However, Myer letting a guy who threatened to KILL someone (and seemed intent on doing it) back on the team after a few weeks off is crazy. That is more shameful than letting a guy back on the team for not paying a speeding ticket.
David Granger
October 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
It all depends, Mark.
If we go out there and play hard, play smart, don’t make a lot of stupid mistakes, don’t get timid and play sissy down the stretch (”it’s third and long…let’s just run the draw play off-tackle and not take any chances” for example) and flat-out get BEATEN…then we just tip our hat to them damn Gators, shake their hands, and wish ‘em luck the rest of the way.
If, on the other hand, we go out there and take the whole first half to get going, make stupid penalties at critical moments, get caught flat-footed on defense (especially when their QB hits the “safety valve” receiver and picks up key first downs because we’re blitzing on third and long), and call plays like we’re scared of what the other team MIGHT do…then we hang our damn heads, tuck our tails between our legs, and cringe out of the stadium wondering how our program got so bad.
(NOTE to Coach Richt: Just because I said something about “tipping our hats”, doesn’t mean we should wear anything silly, sir. We’ve had ENOUGH of that nonsense!)
Chris Phillips
October 28th, 2010
12:03 pm
GaGator – just take a look at Georgia’s schedule next year and compare it with this year’s. I believe you might agree. Currently, Georgia has four top 25 teams on their schedule. We lost to three of those teams. And in three weeks we play the other (who is currently ranked number one). Next year, Georgia has Louisville, Coastal Carolina, and New Mexico State. Plus, our rookie QB who does not play like a rookie QB will no longer be a rookie. Murray will have greater experience under his belt. If Houston and Green do not enter the draft, I just think that Georgia’s chances of playing in the SEC championship game next year are highly probable. Both Florida and Georgia should rebound in 2011 and play better. It will either be FL or GA representing the East next year in Atlanta. Surprisingly, it could be either one of us this year as well. I believe this Saturday will be the determinative factor of that because SC in my mind will lose to AK, TN, and FL. It could go either way. May the better team prevail. Go Dawgs!
GSU Eagle 91
October 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
As a non-biased obsever here, I still am very interested in this game.
I understand why UGA supporters are hopeful, but please…curb the enthusiasm a bit..UGA has beaten NO ONE..All 3 teams they HAVE beaten in the SEC Least are awful….Kentucky is the best of them…
Florida owns the Dawgs….It is a mindset, and I will be very interested to see how UGA reacts once UF punches them in the mouth early in the 1st quarter..and it WILL happen…
Dawgs..win this game, and a 7-5 season is possible. ( You are not going to beat Auburn)..Lose this game, and the match up with GT will be for a 6-6 season…But GT is so bad I don’t recognize them as a Paul Johnson squad right now….
I will predict….UF 27 UGA 22
Dawglasville
October 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
PreyDawg I’m not usually this cordial with those who call me ignorant but maybe we can agree to disagree on the the slant of the AJC to unite for the common good of hating the Gators this week.
Katherine
October 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
Ok….what are jorts exactly? I am confused lol
Dawglasville
October 28th, 2010
12:05 pm
Dawg37 Funny stuff.
athensdawg
October 28th, 2010
12:09 pm
mark…way to cover your butt should the dawgs lose.
then you can say…well, dear reader, I warned you.
i am not optimistic. that team that beat florida in 04 struggled to win and it was LOADED with proven talent. when it comes to the dawgs and CMR….i am now going to pretend I am from Missouri….SHOW ME.
Will
October 28th, 2010
12:09 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else think Mark Bradley’s ‘articles’ are lame & written without much thought?
Ah Chi Hua Hua
October 28th, 2010
12:11 pm
“My BIGGEST FEAR IN LIFE: UGA losing to Florida…. Florida losing more games after us, and plays Georgia Tech in some POS bowl. Tech beating Florida. Having to listen to Tech fanson that topic for years to come.”
Too Funny!
Corch Meyers
October 28th, 2010
12:11 pm
Gradilations. Go Gator. 1 2 3 4 5 that them gator dont take no jive
1eyedJack
October 28th, 2010
12:14 pm
We wash our uniforms and get ready for Idaho State.
CoachDawg 2000
October 28th, 2010
12:15 pm
GSU Eagle 91-
I don’t believe you are an unbiased observer. I think you’re bitter because you couldn’t get into UGA. FYI Coach Pajamas isn’t all that. Big deal he won the college peewee league at Southern. He went from little Brother to dweeby neighbor. Tech is a joke as is the All Cupcake Conference!
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
12:17 pm
The one thing that this team has done for the last three games is take care of business. It doesn’t matter who we were playing they took care of business. They did the things they needed to do to win handily.
DROCK
October 28th, 2010
12:18 pm
Mark way to ignore the best email to you …………loser
Blackberry Cobbler
October 28th, 2010
12:19 pm
What to watch for!
October 28th, 2010
11:50 am
When the refs need to measure for a 1st down and call for the “chain gang”… How many players from each sideline will mistakenly come running on the field? BAHAHAHAHA
Now that’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are!
Larry The Cable Guy