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
harold
October 28th, 2010
12:19 pm
IT IS TIME FOR RICHT TO GO!
do-dah do-dah
October 28th, 2010
12:20 pm
jean shorts
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
12:22 pm
What to watch for! part 3, now that ws funny.
People will be phoning in tips all game long. I suggest that the players keep their helments on.
if ands & buts
October 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
what if dawgs win
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
YOU GUYS AND GALS WILL BE BACK ON THE FIRE MARK RICHT BANDWAGON, AFTER UGA LOSE TO FLORIDA,PLEASE BRING IN KIRBY SMART,HE KNOWS HOW TO BEAT FLORIDA!
Saban's Shadow
October 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
Can’t understand if Florida gets turnovers its because they caused them but if Georgia gets them (kentucky) its because they were given the ball. Georgia couldn’t help where they started from but even when it was from Kentucky’s 20 we still scored. Maybe our defense caused the turnovers. That’s fair right? Or should we just take the ball and start from their 20 anyway. Last i saw Kentucky’s quarterback is ranked 28th in the country. Not too shabby since Florida’s is 86th.
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:26 pm
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED KIRBY SMART,HE KNOWS HOW TO BEAT THE GATORS,MARK RICHT DOES’NT!
SOONER OR LATER YOU WILL HAVE TO BRING KIRBY BACK HOME TO GEORGIA!
J RO
October 28th, 2010
12:26 pm
Georgia is 0-1 every year until they can prove they can beat Florida on a consistant basis.
GMan
October 28th, 2010
12:26 pm
Every UGA fan is giddy because you’ve beaten Vandy, KY, and UT! It’s time for a reality check! Meyer is 16-1 after a bye-week. Ooops!
SECWasteManagement
October 28th, 2010
12:27 pm
CoachDawg 2000,
There is nothing wrong with being a Georgia Southern Eagle. I’m a fan of both and damn proud of it!
Go Dawgs and Hail Southern!
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:28 pm
LATE SAT NITE AFTER THE GATORS BEAT UGA,YOU PEOPLE WILL BE ON THE KIRBY SMART BANDWAGON!
P.S. HE KNOWS HOW TO BEAT FLORIDA!
StraightJacket
October 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
“The World’s Longest Rap Sheets Roster Bowl” should be a prelude of the major contenders for the 2011 Fulmer Cup.
Advertising revenues should SOAR for this game, as Bail Bondsmen from Gainesville, Athens, and Jacksonville try to outbid each other for commercial airtime.
Georgia DMV has also bought a few PSA radio and TV spots to highlight their new campaign for people with the I.Q. of UGAg football players: “Did you know that a valid driver’s license is required to drive?”.
Prediction: Phil Fulmer announces changes to the 2011 Fulmer Cup rules to include “in season” arrests this Fall, and that they CAN be applied to NEXT year’s Fulmer Cup.
When THIS happens, Urban Meyer will concede the 2011 Fulmer Cup to Coach Ricked, and head off into the sunset of retirement.
Barack Obama
October 28th, 2010
12:29 pm
Then it will be George Bush’s Fault !!!!!!!!!!!
do-dah do-dah
October 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
Katherine
October 28th, 2010
12:04 pm
Ok….what are jorts exactly? I am confused lol
Jean shorts
Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
DawginLex
October 28th, 2010
10:45 am
“I defy you”
Hahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahaha
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
GMan, damn straight we are giddy. We haven’t done that in years. It’s all gotta start happening sometime.
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
I FEEL A BLOWOUT COMING PEOPLE,FLORIDA HAS BEEN OFF! THEY ARE MAAAAAAAD AND HUNGRY,MIKE BOZO WILL CALL STUPID PLAYS,I’M FEELING 50-17 GATOR WIN!
BRING KIRBY SMART BACK HOME TO GEORGIA!
Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
((((((((((((((((((((((((( “I defy you” )))))))))))))))))))))))))
?????
October 28th, 2010
12:33 pm
Will they still be broadcasting this game? Or will they be preempting with women’s junior college soccer preseason action?
Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2010
12:34 pm
1eyeJacked
October 28th, 2010
12:14 pm
“We wash our uniforms and get ready for Idaho State”.
With your tail tucked between your legs I might add!
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:35 pm
MARK RICHT THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SAVE YOUR JOB,BECAUSE IF UGA GET BLOWN-OUT BY THE GATORS,MCGARITY WILL FIRE YOU AT THE END OF THE SEASON!
KIRBY SMART GET READY TO COME HOME,MCGARITY SAW WHAT YOUR DEFENSE DID TO THE GATORS AND TIMMY TEBOW!
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
12:36 pm
Kirby did a fine job of stopping SC didn’t he? Didn’t do too much better at stopping Arkansas. IMO, I wouldn’t hire him now. He had a chance to come home and turned it down.
PreyDawg
October 28th, 2010
12:36 pm
I will certainly unite with you on beating the gators Dawg. But this is a left wing paper.
Football Bat
October 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
SCREW ALL YOU NAYSAYERS AND POO-POO’ERS! I’M READY FOR A WIN!!!
Unless of course we decide to wear black helmets, storm the field or try a trick play in the first series. Otherwise, IT IS WHAT IT IS and what more could you ask for after the Boulder debacle.
GO DAWGS! GATER HATER!
Rick
October 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
If the Dawgs don’t beat UF this year, then I have serious doubts they ever will again. Florida may not be as bad as they have looked the last three games, but this is by far their worst team in many years. Also, if you belive the recruiting rankings (which I don’t necessarily), UF should be very good again for the next few years.
do-dah do-dah
October 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
Don’t read it pal
SECWasteManagement
October 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
Jesus someone tell this kid to take the caps lock off.
Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2010
12:38 pm
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS FOR GREAT HYPE
Who cares?
October 28th, 2010
12:39 pm
I realized I moved here from another state 10 years ago and follow this game just a little (not a lot). Bigger question might be, who really cares who wins this game? Neither team is going anywhere this season, so might be worth a few months of talking between the teams’ fans, that’s about it.
Dawg Tell
October 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
If we lose to the Gators;nothing will happen to Richt.However, there will be a long a heated conversation between Richt,McGarity,Adams and key alumni at the end of the season. They will show full support to the end of the season for Richt,but 2011 will be his last if they do not win the East next year.It will be told and understood by all parties.As stated before Richt has gained a lot of political capital over the last 10 years in Athens town and the state.However the last two years have put a thorn in some key people connected to the program.
Bo Doodley
October 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
Mark,
Are you going to be the AJC live blogger at the UGA-FL game?
do-dah do-dah
October 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
Maybe the G stands for giddy???
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
I AM TIRED OF SEEING THESE WIMPY PLAYERS THAT MARK RICHT AND CO,PUT ON THE FIELD,NICK SABAN AND KIRBY SMART DONT LOSE TO ARK,MISS ST AND COLO!
gdawginkalamazoo
October 28th, 2010
12:41 pm
?????? It will be televised. Can’t pass up the coaches and their juvenile antics during/before/after the game.
Bo Doodley
October 28th, 2010
12:41 pm
Who cares? If you don’t care, why did you take the time to post?
Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
Who cares?:”
“so might be worth a few months of talking between the teams’ fans, that’s about it”.
That’s all the dog nation has. It’s what they live for. They NEED to win this game badly.
Bull Gator
October 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
What if the Gators don’t win? Should they fire Meyer? Yes!!
ywarofthedawg
October 28th, 2010
12:45 pm
Here’s my prediction: If we win, we’ll be 5-4. If we lose, we’ll be 4-5.
I know you need to keep the pot stirred, Mark. And I know we as fans love to think every game signals a new trend one way or the other. But this isn’t Armeggedon. Its just one game.
Everyone needs to chillax.
DawgOnIt
October 28th, 2010
12:45 pm
Much as you’re looking for page hits, Mark, you know that UGA will win. May not be pretty, but they’ll win.
THE (G) ON UGA HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 28th, 2010
12:45 pm
KIRBY SMART DEFENSE HAS A NATIONAL TITLE!
KIRBY SMART DEFENSE HELD KNOSHOW MARINO AND MATTHEW STAFFORD IN CHECK,WHEN UGA WAS NUMBER 1 IN THE NATION!
FIRE RICHT NOW! ONCE UGA GETS BLOWN-OUT BY FLORIDA,YOU-ALL WILL BE BACK ON THE FIRE MARK RICHT BANDWAGON!
Rick
October 28th, 2010
12:47 pm
If the Dawgs don’t beat UF this year, I have serious doubts that they ever will again. Florida may not be as bad as they have looked the last three games, but this is by far the worst UF team in many years. Also, if you believe the recruiting rankings (which I don’t necessarily), the gators will be good again soon. This is definitely yhe year for UGA to get them.
Russell Oliver
October 28th, 2010
12:48 pm
Once again, great job Mark. Depend on us to write your article for you. So funny how you have jumped on the Georgia bandwagon over the years. Seems like yesterday when you had your big curly hair, moustache, and pro-Tech, anti-Georgia attitude
My God a Freshman!
October 28th, 2010
12:48 pm
http://KeepMarkRicht.com/
Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
45-42
Don’t forget that we are returning to the very site next month. Don’t get to distracted with Florida, Auburn, Idaho State, Halloween, recruiting, etc. NO EXCUSES!
Gator Fan
October 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Hey Mutts…..Better bring your Vaseline…that will make your annual reaming a lot less painful.
17 out of the last 20…..Hahahahahahahah!!!!!!
jumbeauxtiger
October 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
I thought in the offseason that this would be the year the Dawgs had a good chance to win. I didn’t think though like the rest of us that Florida would go into this game with 3 straight losses.
Still this is a tough game to pick. Both are pretty even. Georgia hasn’t faced a defense with Florida’s speed and athleticism yet so that will be an interesting matchup.
If Georgia loses this game they will be 5-5 with Auburn and Tech left. Thus I think Richt has more pressure to win than Meyer.
ywarofthedawg
October 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Oh, and one more thing: Kirby Smart would have been an idiot to leave the defending national champ for an identical job for a team that just finished 8-5. That puts his next move to head coach at unnecessary risk. Anybody who holds that against him or thinks it signals disloyalty to UGA isn’t being realistic.
Ed
October 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
They need to fire all the coaches… clean house. Just like Tennessee did. Wait… nevermind. I’ll take a few more years of Richt getting things in order and still going to bowl games and listening to morons complain because they don’t know anything about football except what they read about on Sun morning. What Tenneessee is going through right now is way worse than what they were going through with Fulmer.
guy
October 28th, 2010
12:52 pm
If UGA doesn’t win against UF, who would be surprised? What else is new?
Ed
October 28th, 2010
12:55 pm
And for people who need things spelled out for them, Urban Meyer has had one FIVE loss season already in his first few years. Now he’s having another down year. He’s been at Florida half as long as Richt’s been at UGA. Richt has had teams finish in the top 5 several years. So did Meyer. Richt won the SEC 2 times. So did Meyer.
We always judge the current guy against the other top coaches while they’re at their peak. Give Meyer a few years and see how he does. He almost retired. He’s already had bad years. Sure, they got a big trophy because they fell into the championship games… but UGA had no luck the two years they came close.
We really don’t know that Saban won’t collapse after a few years of good teams. It happens to every coach.
As far as off the field stuff… That doesn’t mean no discipline. It means the kids broke rules. Many who broke those rules are no longer on the team. Why? Discipline. No discipline means they get to play with no punishment. The fact that half the teams seems to be suspended kinda rules out the “no discipline” theory.