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
Fool alert!
October 28th, 2010
10:27 pm
I guess MAL MOORE at Alabama the AD should have allowed the president of the school hire someone other than Nick Saban?
With every statement, you confirm how big an idiot you are. Do you think the state of AL pays the football coach’s full salary? They probably pay 15% of it. The boosters pay the rest.
Somehow you think the university is about athletics. Obviously you never attended.
Fool alert!
October 28th, 2010
10:29 pm
Yeah, it was a shame how Dr. Kemp turned in Dooley’s approach of giving athletes preferential treatment.
You idiot.
Georgia is an SEC stepchild
October 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Fool and when the Athletics Department , ie the football program does not meet expectations and gate receipts drop, Alumni do not give as much and your FFA program and Dairy Cow study goes unfunded, what would you do then. Look at other schools who did not show a profit for the past 3 years and note the staff layoffs on campus and unfunded programs that get cut. That is why football and tailgating is so important and the decisions should be left to those who know athletics and football.
Are you hard headed? In the Band? Chess club? or just a nerd?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 28th, 2010
10:44 pm
MAN JOE COX is the MAN Look at him. He is the real leader. He is hyping up his mates as he HIDES in the Background. You Go COX You the MAN for sure.
Whopper Dawg
October 28th, 2010
11:04 pm
Stats like UGA’s 3 game win streak and FLA 3 game loss streak can be extremely misleading. It is akin to if team A beats team B and team B beats team C, then team A should beat team C. If FLA played Vandy, TN and KY in the last three weeks, what do yo think there record would be? If UGA played FLA’s schedule over the last three weeks, what do you think their record would be? We already know the result of UGA playing MS ST, UGA got beat by 21 if you discount the last minute UGA garbage points, FLA got beat by three and probably would have won if their field goal kicker could have played.
FLA beats UGA handily. Again.
gcs
October 28th, 2010
11:13 pm
If Richt DOESN’T beat these Gators? Don’t you mean “when” Richt DOESN’T beat these Gators?
.
gcs
October 28th, 2010
11:28 pm
Reality check:
Florida has lost three straight games to ranked Bowl eligible teams – #7 Alabama, #12 LSU, #21 Miss State.
Georgia has won three straight games unranked Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky who are 2-11 in SEC play.
Set your phasers to disappointment.
.
CHUCK UGA
October 28th, 2010
11:30 pm
Bet few on here realize UGA has not defeated Tennessee and Florida in the same season since…wait for it….1988!
CHUCK UGA
October 28th, 2010
11:32 pm
Whopper Dawg clearly did not watch the UGA-Miss State game. What a tool to make a comment that reaks of ignorance.
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October 28th, 2010
11:36 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Clowns
October 28th, 2010
11:47 pm
All of these clowns thinking that UGA has a chance against Florida…. Comical I say. Mark Richt aint a big game day coach and Urban will pile it on ole Markie boy. Mark Richt should have never pulled that stupid end zone ploy 3 years ago. Urban has vowed to never forget that and it has cost UGA two embarrassing beatdowns. I’m afraid it will happen again and I say its time to fire these nut jobs we have as coaches.
Monkey Says:
October 28th, 2010
11:47 pm
Step Child…..
I agree with about 90% of what you said. Especially about the Dooley and Adams deal. Those of us who were on campus during this period and were around the Athletic Department saw first hand how poorly Dr. Adams treated the staff on duty during this time. Adams was learning the campus and spent way to much time in the Athletic Facility. It was a joke down stairs that we though he had moved the Presidents office to the Press Box because he was always milling around.
As for the comment by another poster about the Coach’s salary: You are wrong. Every cent a coach is paid is budgeted and is part of the athletic budget. The budget is approved and any outside income generated by the Coach must be approved by the Athletic Board.
One question for the guys with Fool in his name?
Who is paid more? The President of the University or the Head Football or Basketball Coach?
That salary alone reflects the importance of both positions. If you polled the State Boards they would tell you that in most cases the President of an University is a job that actually could be eliminated and no one would notice if the school is under a board of governors.
hey mexdawg
October 28th, 2010
11:48 pm
instead of picking games shouldnt you be out picking cabbage or tomatoes or what ever you illegals pick?
considering your a dawg fan i would say you pick your nose. that would fit right in with the rest of the slobbering tabaca chewing teethless fan base…. and those are the alumni.
This just in....
October 29th, 2010
12:07 am
Mark Richt has planned another” walk through” tomorrow in hopes of getting prepared for the Gators. Urban Meyer will have another 3 hour grueling practice tomorrow to tune up the Gators in administering another beatdown on Mark Richt and his puppies.
col foot
October 29th, 2010
12:08 am
Even if Georgia loses the Florida game i still think they will knock off Auburn.
10 SEConds
October 29th, 2010
12:39 am
I agree with others here that Gators are not as bad a team as their 3 losses indicate. Not were the Dawgs ever really as bad as their 4 losses indicated or suddenly great due to 3 wins over losing teams. UGA will win this game not because of those records, not because of the 3-17, and not because of Meyer’s open week success rate, but because UGA will win the turnover battle (it’s absurd to think the UK turnovers somehow de-legitimize the UGA win) and because Murray and his receivers have a better match-up v the UF D than Brantley and co do v the UGA D (running and kicking games roughly even). But if Dawgs do lose, it means SEC title dreams this year are over, and one more straw is added to the back of the Richt camel, which is already showing some strain.
Dawgs Roll in Jax!
October 29th, 2010
12:42 am
These dawgs are on fire—after these 3 blowout wins, the Dawgs will take care of a bad uf team and win easy by 20 plus points. The real game is Auburn—that’s the game UGA should be preparing for—not florida.
Whopper Dawg
October 29th, 2010
12:46 am
To Chuck UGA
UGA was dominated in the MS ST game.Both sides of the ball. I watched it. It was a physical beat down. If you can’t see that, you are an idiot.
And if we played them again, they would beat us again.
Sports Review
October 29th, 2010
3:25 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Jen
October 29th, 2010
4:39 am
How bout this????………….Forget about anytjing else and just root got the Dawgs!!
The past is the past………………….and Every Dawg has his day!!!!
Joe,
October 29th, 2010
6:32 am
Here we go again…. getting ready for 2 more losses…. then the toliet bowl bid…..
» SEC: Masoli-Newton to be a quarterback showcase John Clay’s Sidelines
October 29th, 2010
7:20 am
[...] What if Mark Richt doesn’t beat Florida? asks Mark Bradley of the AJC. [...]
Cracker Jacket
October 29th, 2010
7:20 am
Sonny – very easy to see that you are a fleabag by the way you spelled “does”. But the lack of following grammatical rules is what really gave you away.
Rex
October 29th, 2010
7:22 am
Whle the Gators did get their tails whooped by BAMA, I would submit the controversial fake punt lateral/pass and the blatantly Miss St FG that was actually wide right make the Gators 3 game losing streak the flimsiest 3 game losing streak in SEC history. DAWGS will get smacked upside the head pretty good in this one. Gators 29 Dawgs 13
Cracker Jacket
October 29th, 2010
7:23 am
SEC – Seeking Every Criminal.
From Where I Sit
October 29th, 2010
7:34 am
Easy, GA sucks!
Enough Said!
chris
October 29th, 2010
7:53 am
At the end of September I wasn’t sure this team could win 4 games all year. Even a win tomorrow does not erase loses to Miss St & Colorado. Sure it will help the Bulldog nation cope better but we’ll all look back and wonder where this team could have been if they didn’t get off to that horrible start.
I think Richt has already saved his job because he’s shown he could rally the troops and the team has improved. I want Georgia to win tomorrow more because Urban sold his morals to play Rainey and make a desperate decision.
Buckeye
October 29th, 2010
8:03 am
3 wins since 1989. Now that’s consistent performance.
Yellow Fuzz
October 29th, 2010
8:29 am
DawginLex
October 28th, 2010
2:00 pm
Yellow fuzz,
No one including me understands your humor. You copy something I wrote and laugh at it. So you are laughing at yourself.
That fits since that allows you to join the rest of us who laugh at you all the time.
Welcome aboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawgInLace:
No humor intended sweet pants. Just funny how you boldly talk down to folks behind your wizard of oz, Internet screen. I guess it makes up for your shortcomings in real life. Typical dog fan.
Furman Bishop
October 29th, 2010
8:31 am
My guess is, if Meyer beats Richt again, as usual, Adams will want to give Richt a 10 year contract extention with a raise to 4 million and Bobo a ten yeat extention with a raise to 750 thousand. The Richt lovers will think it is a great idea.
Hypocritical Hump Nation
October 29th, 2010
8:35 am
We hate Rainey and he should not play saturday, yet most of us didn’t want Richt to boot Mettenberger. We also hope Rainey has a great game against South Carolina. It’s only when a “bad boy” plays agains UGA do we care.
Monster Mash
October 29th, 2010
8:37 am
I hear there is a job opening for a sportswriter at the Odessa Sentinel…
JD Dawg
October 29th, 2010
8:49 am
hey yellow jizz… why dont you feel the need to rag on dawginlex like you to!
N.GA.DAWG
October 29th, 2010
9:00 am
I know this and said it before the season started. Tebow is gone. No more easy 3rd or 4th and short easy 1st downs. That is enough of a glitch in a otherwise good offense to make a difference. On the other hand I have seen fla. play this year and is by far the worst offense I have seen them have before spurrier. They cant kick field goals and that will be the nail in the gators coffin. DAWGS 24-21
Winston Wolfe
October 29th, 2010
9:01 am
Yellow Fuzz……did I really just see a tech fan scolding someone for talking down to people? Are you serious? By listening to most of your fanbase on here, football is just a trivial annoyance which takes a back seat to your devotion of “changing the world”. You must be taking a break from designing a new space shuttle and decided to join the little people in life.
The REAL Mr. Obvious
October 29th, 2010
9:15 am
RE:
Mr. Obvious (The Fake)
October 28th, 2010
12:59 pm
“If Yellow fuzz wasn’t gay, he would like girls.”
———
Get your own screen name, Loser.
Stop plagiarizing mine.
Contrary to popular belief, your imitation via homophobic rant is NOT flattering.
danny
October 29th, 2010
9:32 am
Accept the fact; Georgia is just a bad football team, CMR is complacent and there is absolutely no discipline.
Mr. Red
October 29th, 2010
9:33 am
AJC = Al Jazeera Constitution
Dreamin in GA
October 29th, 2010
9:45 am
I had a dream last night that Florida won 30-6…
johngaltjkt
October 29th, 2010
9:46 am
The beauty of Richt’s recent winning streak is that he keeps his job at least for another season which is good for the rest of the SEC. He’ll eventually revert back to being mediocre and the premiere SEC teams will continue to cherry pick the best talent in Atlanta and coach them up will he gets his share of talent and coaches them down. There’s never been a fire in Richt that inspires his team to do great things on the field consistently and achieve great results like winning a National Championship. Sure, he says the right things when his job is on the line but this Coach stopped being in the conversation for National Championship years ago. Georgia should be dominate with all the talent that resides in Atlanta just to the West of Athens. The top talent want to play in the BEST conference (SEC) and be in the conversation about winning the National Championship. The best kids do not want to play in the ACC or even less for Georgia Wreck (Tech). They want to play close to home and more importantly for a winner that’s a serious contender for the National Championship every year and not always talking about what could have been and maybe next year.
Dreamin in GA
October 29th, 2010
9:48 am
I had a nightmare last night…Florida won 30-6….
calvin
October 29th, 2010
9:53 am
Bradley: “What if Georgia doesn’t win? What then, huh?”
You will make excuses for them.
Fred in PC
October 29th, 2010
10:03 am
What if UGA don’t win?
Its just another day in UGA history…Fla by 9
The four losses created an irrevocable stench around the program
October 29th, 2010
10:09 am
These bleachers do have eyes. AD Greg McGarity will be comparing the two programs and frankly, has been because Florida is THE STANDARD for SEC schools that seek the very upper echelon of play. I am a UGA grad through and through, by the way. Florida is THE standard. Yes, my Dad and his side family are Gators ………….I am the lucky one …………a UGA Dog.
Here is the book on Mark Richt: We all know about the several summer ( s ) of fun and we are disgusted by that. We also know that we have not played at the level that we are paying him for since about 06 or 007. Last year was our obligatory transitional year. We thought.
The four losess fueled by Ealey’ and Caleb’s and Tavaress’ and AJ’s activities created this stench. That disgusting, confused Waushaun Ealey looking so dumb after his fumble in the end zone vs MSU will forever taint our recollections of 2010.
So. MCR must win them all, take UGA to a modest bowl and WIN and then, we hold on for year 2011. THAT YEAR is his make or break year. Lose to Auburn and Florida in 2010 ……………. then he should be fired with his already dismal, dismal 2010 SEC record.
That is how about 75% of the UGA alums feel.
Go Dogs. It starts on Saturday ……………the Watch. Coach ………it is in your hands. Make it happen.
UGA class of 71 & 73
godoggo
October 29th, 2010
10:21 am
The one week im not a “closet Dawg fan”….
*Urban will come out slingin the ball downfield in the first 90 seconds for a TD. If Dawgs can pick themselves up and not Whine away it may be close:
Gators win 48-35
If they fail to react, and whine away:
Gators 45-17
Either way, the Dawgs won’t win….if Demps gets outside….just fold up the tent and come home Dawg fans….there is a reason the Olympic team chose him to practice with the sprint team for pre-trials.
ps: Word on the street is, there are some GREAT, HOT looking “red panty hats” selling in JAX for the game
GO Gators…take it easy on them.
Gatorhater
October 29th, 2010
10:54 am
It will be fun to watch these two teams Saturday. Not so much fun that they should be on at 3:30, but fun anyway. Maybe, after the real game, those two great leaders of young men can step onto the field for a giant pep talk on how to run a program. (Guest speaker Lane Kiffin)
This year the SEC should just cancel the championship game and let the iron-bowl winner be the SEC champ!
bill
October 29th, 2010
10:56 am
If we can’t beat the Reptiles this year, we never will and it will be CMR legacy that he could never beat the hated Gators…and the winds of change will start blowing again in Athens.
ARdawg
October 29th, 2010
10:59 am
Georgia wins this one. Meyer is a homer and has been exposed. His assistants are gone and the talent is gone. The Gators will have to rely on the coaching acumen of Meyer. Not a good scenario for the Jorts
SecGuy
October 29th, 2010
11:13 am
Mark, if Georgia doesn’t win, you will have to delay your periodic Georgia NC prediction for at least another year.
WONDER
October 29th, 2010
11:14 am
Will the trashy UGA students please stay away from St. Simons. We love our lisland, Keep ypur trash in Athens where it is appartently tolerated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!