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
Ryan Leaf
September 10th, 2011
9:44 pm
Built Ford Tough
Jimmy
September 10th, 2011
9:44 pm
I think MR is too into player character development.
That may be his strength…but also his major weakness.
These guys have to be taught to make plays on a football field.
Maybe MR relies too much on talent because he can’t coach them up.
DamntheButcher
September 10th, 2011
9:44 pm
What does the Water Girl think about all of this??
First Coast Dog
September 10th, 2011
9:44 pm
Like the comment about SC Garcia being a drunk. I remember hearing the announcers saying he had been suspended 5 times by Spurrier. Really? Also, am I the only one that thinks that Lattimore is on steriods or HGH? Holy Crap.
BeerDawg
September 10th, 2011
9:45 pm
I agree with all those who says Richt is a great recruiter and great with players…..I’ve come to the conclusion that despite these good characteristics…..he is not very smart…..always seem to be surprised and outfoxed with a gimmick play, too predictable in play calling….
dawg tired
September 10th, 2011
9:45 pm
http://www.mayflower.com
Someone call them, please?!!
Andy in Blairsville
September 10th, 2011
9:45 pm
Stop patting yourselves on the back for having a close game because this game and its end result wasn’t any better than the 2010 Inept Bowl in Jacksonville.
academicallyineligible
September 10th, 2011
9:45 pm
I am a TA for yall’s sorry rear-ends. I am going to flunk yall’s rear ends so that you are all academically ineligible. Maybe the walk-ons will have better luck.
Urban
September 10th, 2011
9:45 pm
Your team stinks
Rooster Roost
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
I told you mutts, didn’t I? Once again you were out coached!
Ginger
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
Why did we schedule Boise—we were just not ready…0-1….then everybody’s in pressing mode
for SC–now 0-2…..what ever happened to schedule the easy team for the opener and get the 1st W under your belt……..just got to relax and play ball….good things can happen if we keep fighting.
My high school team—Colquitt Co last yr started 0-3, but played in state championship game in Ga. Dome last yr……We just got to get it going…got to correct our mistakes and keep playing hard…Really want to see some new plays on offense…
Good note—Bennett # 82 made a heck of a catch on 3rd down at the end of the game that led to a score…Crowell looked good running..Mitchell was catching ball….A lot of good things can still happen….just got to play the end out and then evaluate—we will know a lot more in Nov.
DamntheButcher
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
The Germans and the Japs fought hard in WWII but they got their asses beat.
Bob
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
Anybody want to buy a slightly used, Mark Richt edition, red, Ford F150?
KBP
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
BeerDawg. . . Are you suggesting we will not beat another ranked team?
ATLG8TR
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
Don’t know why some Dawg fans think 2011 presents an easy schedule after USC. MSU and AU, for example, are both loseable. UF is an annual L. UT a toss-up at best. But being a Dawg is all about being delusional. In any event, please keep CMR. It’s our pleasure to watch you people suffer season after season after season.
Fitten
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
The Bulldogs had great effort. Georgia still lost.
The Bulldogs D gave Garcia fits all game long. Georgia still lost.
The Bulldog offensive line opened holes for RBs. Georgia still lost.
The Bulldog coaches had smart wrinkles on play-calling and blitzing. Georgia still lost.
Georgia lost again.
Georgia loses when it looks like they’re outcoached and outclassed.
Georgia loses when it looks like they’re the better team.
Georgia loses again and again.
Where, oh, where is our Vince Dooley?
We know where Mark Richt is: In the soon-to-be unemployed line.
James
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
I put 21 on Murray, and 7 on punt return defense. This one wasn’t close. SC didn’t win, UGA beat itself.
I’d like to see Hutson Mason, can’t imagine Richt staying with Murray, who has now extended his record against winning teams to 0-8.
DamntheButcher
September 10th, 2011
9:46 pm
Fire Mark Richt
bravefan
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
CMR, BooBoo and Grantham are GONE
JB
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
Carolina will lose 3 games this year. Their D is real suspect. They are lucky to get out of Athens against a snake bit program.
Greg
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
I’ll bet they fire him! “Them dawgs” don’t like a “no count foot bawl team!”
Blake
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
To Brenda: When you refer to the creator of the universe in writing it is spelled with a capital G. I went to the game and noticed the score board showing all the former players that are now in the NFL. We have had the talent to win every year. We spend as much money as Fla, LSU, and the other teams that win. We pay our coaches just as much, but it seems we have regressed. Before we say Richt has to go, lets fire Bobo and hire a real OC and see what happens. After that, well coaches are paid to deliver wins and that is why they are paid so much.
Memories, nothing but memories
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
The game was entertaining to watch until the last 2 -3 minutes…Aaron Murray has to take the sack and live for 2nd down…can’t try and pull away without protecting the ball. The on-side kick after the last touchdown was a ridiculous call with over 2 minutes left in the game…set SC up in FG range even if you hold them, which would force UGA to score a touchdown. And did anybody actually think UGA woudl stop Lattimore on the last drive…ran him up the middle to suck everbody in and then next down bust him outside for the first down…could have 6 timeouts then and UGA would have never stopped him until he scored again…it was also nice to see Orson Charles a non-factor after the game he had last week…did Bobo forgot to put him in the playbook this week? Through rambling…to quote the phrase I hate the most…”it is what it is” but mark it down…a winning record with a victory over either Florida or GT and the job will be safe another year…
Reality
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
First Coast Dog
Nope, Lattimore is just on a good case of “kickin’ dawgs’ a$$”
James
September 10th, 2011
9:47 pm
So, we go 11-2, beat Florida, win the SEC, big deal, awesome year, feel better than ever.
This team got a whole lot better.
Murray got worse, but everybody else got better.
Scooter
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
All I really want to know is how you get burned by a fake punt after you call a timeout…playing against Spurrier????
wins-by-a-link
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
Please Mark, No more excuses.
Kirby Smart
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
Why does my phone keep ringing??? Tough loss for the Dawgs especially Crowell. When you give a ranked team 21 points gift wrapped in the last part of the game it’s hard to overcome.
1-10 Against ranked teams (formerly BeerDawg)
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
Virginia Dog……completely agree with you that you don’t fire Richt unless you have a well researched, well vetted replacement in mind….
But that process has to start NOW!!!! ….before other head coaching positions become available toward the end of the season. That is a job for McGarrity
James
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
All these Florida fans on our website hoping Richt gets fired.
Funny, we’re flattered.
meandog
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
Eight absolute truths to consider:
1. God isn’t fair.
2. Talented players doesn’t always equal talented play
3. Georgia is thin in the O line.
4. CMR is a mediocre coach.
5. The dogs will lose four more games this year (Miss State, Fla., Auburn and probably to either Tennessee or the insects from Atlanta)
6. Grantham isn’t the defensive genius we thought him to be.
7. Mike Bobo will be gone after this year.
8. UGA boosters will buy out CMR’s remaining contract after this year.
stendek
September 10th, 2011
9:48 pm
Look for Mark Wretch to ballyhoo wins over inferior opponents to compile a smoke and mirrors mark. The two tests true Dawgs fans were interested in have already passed. Both were dismal failures! One was lost shot at return to prominence. Other was SEC killer! True Dawg fans know rest of season is just playing out string. That is the truth!
sldkfjslk
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
I don’t like Mark Richt and want a new coach but this team will win some big games this year.
Jim Donnan
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
I had a better record than CMR and they fired me!! Can’t anyone see I was clearly a better coach. This team is just not gonna win the big games with this coaching staff.
Curley Hollman
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
I’m available
DamntheButcher
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
UGA is 0-2 within the state of GA this year.
AlphaDawg
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
I am one of those Dawg fans calling for Richts job and I still believe we should go ahead with the divorce. The bar has been raised in the SEC with much better coaches since Richt first came to UGA (Hince the high winning % early in his career).. It is obvious Richt and co cannot compete with the likes of Saban, Meyer (when at UF), and others.. However, I must give the coaches credit for tonights effort. The play calling was much improved on the offensive side and the defense got after them especially in the first half. This one was on the players. Too many costly turnovers.
KDOG316
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
Before we ll forget GA is 15 and 15 in there last 30 games and has not beaten a ranked team since in over 2 years, No true Ga fan can live with that.!!!!!
Reality
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
“We have had the talent to win every year”
Blah, blah, blah….YEAH…we hear it every freakin year—-and YOU DON’T!
Phillip Fulmer
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
I’m available and won a national championship
James
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
I smell some negative UF Gator fans, calling for Richt to be let go.
Nick Fairley's Mama
September 10th, 2011
9:49 pm
Well us won today even if Georgia lost. Us plays dirty! Us plays mean! Us done whopped yo football team!
Jim Donnan
September 10th, 2011
9:50 pm
I’m available as long as I don’t get sent to prison
Troup Dawg
September 10th, 2011
9:50 pm
Our dawgs fought hard, showed heart, never quit. Can’t ask anymore. You can’t give up 21 pts on turnovers and expect to win in any league, much less the SEC.
Ron Burgandy
September 10th, 2011
9:50 pm
God Blake STFU.
Flying Tigers
September 10th, 2011
9:50 pm
Just another over rated and over hyped ugag team and quarterback…o & 2 LMAO. How is the 750 thoudand dollar 4th choice dc doing for ya? LMFAO. Dream Team, yeah right…hahahahahahaha
Fire Mark Richt
September 10th, 2011
9:50 pm
Hate the message not the messenger, Jimmy. 4 out of last 13 against teams other than La.-La. and Idaho State. Stay in denial if you want. My loyalty is to Georgia, not Mark Richt.
James
September 10th, 2011
9:50 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, Richt could go 8-5, and he’s not going anywhere. that’s a 30% improvement, so dream on, Richt’s here to stay Gator fans.
Hairy Dawg
September 10th, 2011
9:51 pm
Somebodies that trying get of Coach Richt is been eating to many dungs from the cat pan and it a filling up in your heads.
Coach Richt does a great job recruiting and bringing in talents. Then we gets stuck with some stinkys and can’t cuts them loose from team cause Adams restrictoins.
Buck up Dawgs! We still can go on a table running to win East. We got an easy schedules now that makes us straight shot to win East and play Bammer in Dome.
We just had some bad lucks today and a few bad calls by refs.
No doubt we get it rolling for rest of year now.
Go Dawgs!
Mark Richt
September 10th, 2011
9:51 pm
Note to self; On next coaching job be sure to recruit offensive lineman!