If nobody kept score, UGA did well. Someone did, and it lost
His teams used to win these games. What happened? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Athens – It was there for Georgia, the second-biggest game of Mark Richt’s stewardship, same as the biggest game this coach has worked had been there that cold day at Auburn nine years ago. His Bulldogs needed one drive to win. On Nov. 16, 2002, the prize had been Georgia’s first SEC East title. On this warm and frenzied Saturday, the prize was ….
A sliver of job security? Yes. A hushing, even if only a temporary one, of a roiled Bulldog Nation? Sure. A leg up on another SEC East title? Absolutely.
One drive to win. At Auburn, it had come down to fourth-and-14, to 70-X-Takeoff, to David Greene throwing and Michael Johnson leaping over Horace Willis. That was the victory that made us believe Richt’s Bulldogs could win any game, degree of difficulty be hanged.
But that was then, and this, sorry to say, is now. And now we can say of the same coach — the same but different — that his team can manage to lose almost any game, the excellence of its effort notwithstanding.
With one drive to win, Georgia couldn’t even make one play. This on a day when it would outgain South Carolina and amass 23 first downs to the Gamecocks’ 15. This on a day when the Bulldogs seemed the more gifted team. One drive to win, and here’s what happened.
Nobody blocked Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 recruit of 2011. Clowney burst up the middle, grabbed Aaron Murray and shook the ball loose and watched as Melvin Ingram gathered it up for the touchdown that made this a 10-point game with 3:12 remaining.
More would happen — Georgia would score a quick touchdown and Richt would botch the calling of his next-to-last timeout and the Gamecocks would run out the clock — but that sack-and-fumble-and-touchdown was the moment. These Bulldogs and their coach had the chance to grab a game they weren’t expected to win, and they wasted it.
There might well be better days — great days, even — ahead for these Bulldogs and their coach, but what we saw Saturday was what we’d seen all last season. Given the chance to Step Up, Georgia takes a seat. It hasn’t lost the capacity to make inspired plays, but it no longer makes winning plays.
So much had gone right. The defense had played far better than it had in the deflating loss to Boise State. Murray had steadied himself. The offensive line had blocked, finally, and Isaiah Crowell had rushed for 118 yards in his second collegiate game. If nobody had bothered to keep score, you’d have scored this a Bulldog victory. That said …
This is big-time football, and a score is kept. And Georgia lost.
We can look at this game and say, as Richt said afterward, that this is “going to be a fine football team.” But there was a time when Georgia didn’t need to traffic in moral victories. There was a time when Georgia went out and won these games.
A strange sequence in an exceedingly strange first half was telling. Richt ordered an onside kick after Georgia had taken a 13-7 lead, and it worked — almost. Bacarri Rambo, who recovered the ball, had been a hair offside. Undaunted, the Bulldogs forced Carolina to punt — almost. The Evil Genius in the trademark visor called for a fake punt, and Ingram took it the distance. Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks were back in front.
As Ingram was fleeing up the sideline, Richt flung his play cards and his headset 10 yards onto the field. All week he’d had to parry the question of whether this was a must-win, but here he gave us the answer. The famous stoic was throwing things in exasperation.
“Georgia outplayed us,” Spurrier said, “but we won the game. Sometimes it happens like that.”
Sometimes it does, but it no longer happens that way for Georgia. This has a program that has the requisite talent and resources but has lost half of its past 30 games. There’s still an opportunity for these Bulldogs to make hay of this season, but at this moment it’s hard to see beyond 0-2.
As for Richt: The end is not yet at hand for this coach, but we’ve reached the point where every loss nudges him a bit closer toward the door. He now presides over a program that could and should win big. It has, alas, forgotten how.
By Mark Bradley
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1,658 comments Add your comment
Dream Team
September 10th, 2011
10:35 pm
It will take at least a year for all this dream team talent to get experience. In 2012–the Dawgs will win the SEC East! Mark it down!!!
headley lamar
September 10th, 2011
10:35 pm
kerryb – all of the teams you named have actually won national championships since UGA did last. Is that the best you’ve got left – we suck but you do too? Pathetic – just like we have become.
kerryb
September 10th, 2011
10:35 pm
Bobby Dodd, If Tech played these 2 teams to start the season they would have lost by at least 21 points. your team has ALWAYS blown and will again. Do you know that they would have to win every game against UGA for the next 60 years to be .500 against Georgia? That is blowing.
GT Fan
September 10th, 2011
10:35 pm
UGA has been a joke for years I don’t know why people think they should be better than they are.
brenda
September 10th, 2011
10:35 pm
I thought Richt was a “REAL” OC. why would he need to hire one? he has been given the keys to the franchise and taken it several steps back.
PS make sure you put a capital B on Brenda.
Call It Like I See It
September 10th, 2011
10:36 pm
Stan
typical delusional dawg fan…..you’re 3 – 18 against the gators since 1990….and i hate the gators…you have no room to even bring them in the conversation!!!!
Edvis
September 10th, 2011
10:36 pm
Good column, and I’d say Richt can maybe afford one more loss this year, maybe. I don’t know who out there is so great, we’ll probably see a couple of duds before another good one comes through. That’s how it is, there are not that many great ones out there.
SE GA Fan
September 10th, 2011
10:36 pm
Keep Richt…I don’t think I would be a fan if someone like Spurrier were coach. Why in the world does UGA have to play the two most difficult opponents the first two weeks? I loved the looks of the young guys, and the older ones weren’t too bad, either!!!
BobbyDodd
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
Call it like I see it: Thats FUNNY; “Curbstomped” Hey Kerryb: your team blows!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
TX Bee
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
Guess who has the worst record in the SEC… Even Vandy has a win – Brave or Stupid, MR agreed to the schedule…
Aaron Murray
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
Coach told us we learned a very valuable lesson today. I do not know what it was, but it was a very valuable lesson.
North ave. faithful
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
Your team looked pretty darn good today,but your fans were a little embarrasing.Its only the second game.
shaun
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
We will rue the day we let Coach Richt out of athens. Sad to see the ajc and some hater fans run this man out of town.
kerryb
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
Boise State Dawg, have you been drinking today because I have no idea what the point of your rant is.
Fire Mark Richt
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
“Your loyalty is not to UGA Techie.”
Up yours, Jimmy. I’m not slamming UGA or its football program, just our sorry Miami-grad coach who’s been washed-up since 2006. If you want the status quo to continue, maybe your loyalty is the one that should be questioned.
Get over yourself.
who is this author
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
wrong this team we saw tonight would have beat Boise St. This team we saw tonight played 100% better than last week. This team we saw tonight tackled, blocked, except for that one but a running game was established, caught, and faught to the end. Even the 4th quarter.
If any of you UGA fans think that Richt has lost his edge you’re wrong. The offensive line has a new coach, and they are doing one hell of a job with how thin they are at depth. I would like to see every nay-sayer go out there and prove that they can do a better job. Give it a break, SUPPORT THE WHOLE TEAM and be patient. GOOD JOB BULLDOGS SEE YOU ON SATURDAY.
GO DAWGS!
DeProf
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
Improvement overall. Even mistakes were overcome until the missed block. QB can be talented but needs to be disciplined – have to tuck ball away and minimize your loss. Toss-up game until then. Hard to blame CMR in this one. All are feeling the pressure – which creates mistakes. Win one and they may roll – possibly to 8 wins. Disagree that Tech is a sure win, though.
1-10 Against ranked teams (formerly BeerDawg)
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
BobbyDodd…..it must suck to find that the only pleasure you get in life is to wallow in the failures of your opponent than rejoice in the successes of your team……pathetic
Dr. Phil
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
Georgia is a good team that played well against SC. They can still have a winning season, but the good old days are over for the Dogs.
Dawgturd
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
If CMR wins 9 of 10 he saves his job. But that ain’t gonna happen. He will slip up against an underdog and I don’t think he can win a big game anymore ala AU , UF.
jezzydawg
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
Can’t blame Richt for this one. He coached a good game and the team played up for it. If Murray had pulled the ball in instead of waving it like a pom-pom we would have won
punkasscountryboy
September 10th, 2011
10:38 pm
Mark it down btiches,
Dawgs run the table the rest of the year.
Read em and weep.
Wrecker
September 10th, 2011
10:39 pm
I thought Georgia fought hard and played a great game, but there appeared to be quite a few UGA fans vacating the premises with over 2 minutes left in the game. What was that about?
Dawg Tired
September 10th, 2011
10:39 pm
Whats that I hear in the stands?? Petersen, Petersen PEtersen, PETersen, PETERsen, PETERSen, PETERSEn, PETERSEN !!!!!!!!!
He has roots in Ga and I guarandamtee you he like SEC Big Time Ga Dome over the smurf turf…
He brings brains, work ethic and a blue collar culture that UGA needs…
Fault
September 10th, 2011
10:39 pm
I just watched the last fumble 10 times in a row, and I just can’t lay all the blame on Murray. He wasn’t at his greatest today, but that happened SO quick and he should be protected much better. It almost looked like CMB called a play that allowed for dline penetration…OR the Olineman completely failed. Either way, Murray should be able to protect the ball, but Clowney’s play was excellent.
kerryb
September 10th, 2011
10:39 pm
BobbyDodd, Georgia is 0-2 against 2 top 15 teams. Until you play someone shut the heck up. We will still kick the crap out of Tech this year. Mark it down.
Dawgturd
September 10th, 2011
10:39 pm
North ave. faithful
September 10th, 2011
10:37 pm
Your team looked pretty darn good today,but your fans were a little embarrasing.Its only the second game.
————————————————————————————————————————————-
Said like someone who is used to losing.
Steve "The King" Spurrier
September 10th, 2011
10:40 pm
Top scientists at the UGA Animal Husbandry Center have finally created their killer cyborg goat herd. As soon as UGAAHC acquires the necessary time travel machine, plans have been made to send the killer goats back to 1945 Miami Beach to prevent my birth.
punkasscountryboy
September 10th, 2011
10:40 pm
Man, GT beat dat ass last week, right??
Busch leaguer
September 10th, 2011
10:40 pm
@GT Fan and Booby Dodd ,
Did I miss something ,when did the Bed Bugs join the Southern Conference . Week 1:Western Carolina Week 2 Middle TN State. Tech might as well get a early start in their new conference ,when FSU and Clemmons Join the new and improved SEC.
Chuck Dawdle
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
I nominate CMR for national coach of the year!!!!
kerryb
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
The fumble was absolutely NOT Murrays fault. Glenn and Lee let Clowney run free right between them. Murray didn’t even have time to tuck the ball away. Glenn and Lee’s fault.
Jason
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
“It will take at least a year for all this dream team talent to get experience. In 2012–the Dawgs will win the SEC East! Mark it down!!!”
I actually have it marked on my calendar this year for when someone said the same thing last year. I guess its one of those things you keep saying it enough hopefully eventually it will come true uh? lol
Dawgs > florida
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
The Dawgs will beat florida this year–bank on it. Florida looked average against two creampuffs. Ga will beat fl by 10 in jacksonville—I already have my reservations at the omni. Fla’s run is over.
brenda
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
uga wont pay his buyout. richt has the soft SEC schedule this year so they will let him stay next year when he will get prisonstyled and then he will get canned.
vuduchld
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
UGA 0-2…PRICELESS! Now I don’t have to hear anymore crap from these useless UGA fans. The team is not that good and your coach sucks, get over it!!
Mel
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
‘Bout time the Bulldogs ate some humble pie.
1-10 Against ranked teams (formerly BeerDawg)
September 10th, 2011
10:41 pm
shaun, really? As if we are not “rue”-ing our current 1-10 slide agains ranked opponents??
I’ll take my chances……just so long as McGarrity earns his keep and finds us a smart, intense, energetic coach
Dawg Tired
September 10th, 2011
10:42 pm
All the UGA coaches wives must have gotten home and started in on the fans… give me a break 1-10 against ranked opponents says your man will be nursemaids to 3-A high school jocklets next year…
Steve Spurrier
September 10th, 2011
10:42 pm
I am the man
Pete
September 10th, 2011
10:42 pm
The fumble was Murray’s fault moron. The sack was Glenn and Lee’s fault.
Pete
September 10th, 2011
10:42 pm
The fumble was Murray’s fault moron. The sack was Glenn and Lee’s fault.
punkasscountryboy
September 10th, 2011
10:43 pm
everyone loves bedbugs.
short
September 10th, 2011
10:43 pm
aaron murray needs to wear some special shoes with lifts to make him taller—he’s having trouble seeing over the defensive line. He doesn’t even look 5′11. what gives?
RTR
September 10th, 2011
10:43 pm
You Georgia people are born losers. All of the talent in the world and, “Well, it wasn’t his fault. He’s a good guy.” Have fun looking up at the rest of us. Roll mfn’ Tide!!! About to add another to the case. You lucky SC saved you from winning the East because we would just expose you for what you are: a finesse team and not a very good one. Our D would eat your pansy line to pieces. Happy Feet Murray would have to have several pairs of silver britches. Can we go ahead and move y’all to the ACC?
Call It Like I See It
September 10th, 2011
10:44 pm
Busch leaguer
that’s exactly what you are….i love how you guys are now playing the schedule card……i commend you for the boise game……at home by the way…….usc is in conference, you’d play them anyway…….who do you have next week? what about on 11/5? every team does it….you lost the games you needed to win, period.
1-10 Against ranked teams (formerly BeerDawg)
September 10th, 2011
10:44 pm
DawgTired….for the upteenth time, Petersen will NEVER be hired by Dr. Adams……Petersen is a Christian Scientist……not “blue-blooded” enough for that A-hole….
MOST UGA FANS ARE PATHETIC
September 10th, 2011
10:44 pm
Get over your selves. Fire Richt and hire who…?anybody think of that… ?no cause they can only see threw the toilet paper roll glued to their eye socket. Why is it that everybody forgets 2008 and the Sugar Bowl, the nation doubted UGA against Hawaii and it was a 31 point devouring. Yall live on the victory over auburn in 02 so much that you can only think of firing CMR. let the man do his job and you worry keeping youre job so you can pay off your share of the national debt. The Department of Defense fights for youre right to practice and praise what ever it is you praise so mind your own business and let CMR praise his.
GO DAWGS!
Jimmy
September 10th, 2011
10:45 pm
FMR:
You didn’t address the points I made.
You said you want MR fired now.
How is that in UGA’s best interest?
You want to upset this team further by firing a coach this early in the season.
How is that in UGA’s best interest?
You are rooting against the school and our players when you call for firing a coach this early.
Slamming a coach they care about does nothing but hurt the players and the program.
Can’t you see that?
Of course you can Techie.
Rooster Roost
September 10th, 2011
10:45 pm
Bwa bwa bwa bwa. I love it so when you flea bags cry.