Alas, fixing UGA will require more than a few Richt ‘tweaks’
"How the heck did we win that goshdarn thing, anyway?" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Looking lousy against Boise State was one thing. Looking good but losing anyway was, in its way, worse. After the Georgia Bulldogs congratulated themselves on their Great Effort against South Carolina, the thought occurred:
Does Nick Saban congratulate himself after losses?
There are two ways to regard the bizarre doings of Saturday night. Mark Richt’s sunny-side-up stance was to speak of his team having “all the ingredients” and just needing “to tweak a couple of things.” The burnt-toast way is to reference the scoreboard and note that, once again, Richt’s team did whatever it took to lose.
You don’t go from losing half of your past 30 games to winning championships by tweaking. If anyone should know, it’s Richt. The march to the 2002 SEC championship was fueled by the desire — Richt’s words — to knock the lid off Georgia football. (The Bulldogs had gone two decades without a title.) Knocking implies force. Tweaking implies rather less. For contemporary Georgia football, less cannot yield more.
Optimists among us will point to Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Mitchell and Aaron Murray and Orson Charles and laud, as Richt did Saturday night, Georgia’s “talent base.” But the Bulldogs haven’t lacked for talent — not under Richt, not under Jim Donnan, not even under Ray Goff. At issue is whether Georgia again can learn to win, and that’s a whole ‘nother matter.
There’s a troubling label for what Georgia has become, and that label is “South Carolina.” For more than a century the Gamecocks would try very hard and stir deep passion but never quite get it right. How many times did Carolina play the Bulldogs off their feet and lose at the end? It happened in 2002, the David Pollack sack/snatch game that also featured two Gamecock fumbles on the goal line; happened in 2004, when Carolina led 16-0 but lost 20-16; happened in 2009, when it outgained Georgia by 119 yards but lost because Brandon Boykin returned a kickoff to score and because DeAngelo Tyson blocked a tying PAT.
There was no reason for Georgia to lose Saturday. Indeed, losing required real doing. More than just being fooled on a fake punt, Georgia couldn’t intercept a defensive end as he thundered 68 yards to a touchdown. It was bad enough that nobody blocked Jadeveon Clowney, far worse that Murray waved the ball and left it unsecured, thereby turning a sack into a sack, strip and score.
“We’re going to shake off the mistakes and become a very good football team,” Richt said, and maybe Georgia will. But I’m more skeptical after South Carolina than after Boise State. More and more, Richt bears the look of one of those coaches who can take his’n and lose to your’n and vice versa.
Loading ...Did the coach order Murray and Crowell to botch a handoff at a time when Georgia was poised to take a 27-14 lead? Of course not. But the worst possible play at the worst possible moment has become a Bulldog signature. Georgia should have beaten Colorado last season, but Caleb King fumbled. Georgia could have beaten Florida, but Murray threw into a throng in overtime.
Mathematically speaking, Richt was correct in saying: “We’re still in the Eastern Division race.” Having watched Richt’s team contrive to lose a game that would have been far easier to win, I can’t summon up much enthusiasm for math.
Sure, it’s possible Georgia could win the next 10 games and take the East. It’s possible Richt could not only keep his seat but cement himself in place. It’s also possible Georgia will continue to do as Georgia now does — lose most every close game — and Dan Mullen will be tapped to coach the Bulldogs in 2012.
Speaking of Boise, Richt had said: “When you play a team that’s used to winning and that knows how to win, it’s hard.” Georgia has become the kind of team that’s easy to play. An opponent needn’t do all that much — just hang around long enough for the Bulldogs to mess up.
By Mark Bradley
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639 comments Add your comment
red&black
September 11th, 2011
5:29 pm
Mr. Bradley: You are sooo right on. Georgia manufactured ways to lose Saturday. The ineptness of this team boggles the mind. I agree with you, that Saban or any other coach would not have taken the sunny side up position that Richt took. Some of those coaches may have even revoked some scholarships at halftime. I read where the nation’s #1 running back prospect (Keith Marshall) was in the house to watch the game. He’ll probably sign with Georgia, because if he can be talked into coming and watching this Keystone Cops bunch, then he can be talked into anything, including signing with Georgia. Great column. Thanks……
Uga2002
September 11th, 2011
5:32 pm
Reading some of the posts I’m going to have to agree with Stewart Mandell. But it looks as if most of you get it.
A new coach in 2012 will at best have a 8 or 9 win season. Maybe more, depends on what he unearths in the locker room as far a talent goes.
As to being a young team, so is just about everyone else in the SEC. Auburn graduated 16 of 22 starters or something but they’re 2-0. They cycled in freshman and sophmores all last year and are playing a bunch this year. Teams like Aub and UT and UF are going to be that much better and that more motivated by the time we play them with our sub 500 record. I do not honestly see us breaking 6 wins and that’s being generous.
Looks like bobo will coach the bowl game in Shreveport and we’ll have to find someone new. My bet is Mullens or Malzahn. Either one looks good to me. I doubt Peterson is looking for anything other than a PAC 10 gig.
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:33 pm
JB,
I wish you the best of luck. It’s a shame it’s gotten to this point and I hope they make the right decisions. Adams has done a great job with the academic and financial side. A successful football program won’t do any harm to either of those.
JB
September 11th, 2011
5:33 pm
What will attendance be next Saturday for Costal Carolina. 65,000?
Poopdawg
September 11th, 2011
5:33 pm
Beast , just how much of the UGA – SC game did you watch?
DAWG07
September 11th, 2011
5:33 pm
One player can make a hugh difference. Case in point Tebow at FL and Cam at AU. UGA may already have that player.
Did you see the Stafford pass to Calvin Johnson.
Johnson was the one player that could brought National Champanship to UGA.
JB
September 11th, 2011
5:34 pm
Peterson ain’t coming to the DEEP South
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:35 pm
Uga2002,
You are correct about the youth everywhere. The Gators have 70 freshmen/sophomores. UT is much the same. It will not get any easier for UGA after this season. It will only get harder.
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:37 pm
Poopdawg,
I watched all of it and then watched UF afterward (DVR’s are a wonderful thing). What’s your point, sir?
DAWG07
September 11th, 2011
5:37 pm
South Caroline always fall apart as the season progresses. Case in point, last year beat Alabama and then Auburn trounced them.
Do good first 5 games then fall apart.
Michael
September 11th, 2011
5:38 pm
During the Dawgs “good” years ‘Bama stank with Shula, Florida suffered through Zook, Fulmer was waning, Auburn endured its Bobby Lowder soap opera and Nick Saban was up and down at LSU.
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:40 pm
Michael,
You may be right but I won’t take anything away from those UGA teams. Pollack and Green are what made those teams. They were like having a coach on field for each side of the ball.
Poopdawg
September 11th, 2011
5:40 pm
JB , so your hatred of Richt blinded you of all the positives that happened in the game . It’s still a lost but your a freaking idiot if you didn’t see the difference between the Boise game and the SC game.
red&black
September 11th, 2011
5:41 pm
Evryone seems convinced that if a change is made, that it will be Mullen. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Kirby will want to come home. Or has he already been anointed as successor to King Nick. But then again, Muschamp was the anointed one to King Mac wasn’t he? Just sayin…..
Prog
September 11th, 2011
5:42 pm
Chris Low had some nice things to say about Georgia today.
Says UGA will be a tough out. Offense has playmakers, and defense is solid.
Predicting Dogs are right in SEC East hunt.
Suggested more offense from Boykins/Smith, I agree.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/27776/what-we-learned-in-the-sec-week-2-3
Uncle Tom
September 11th, 2011
5:43 pm
Mark Bradley is an optimist. Georgia has become like the French and/or the Italian army. We celebrate near-victories and don’t demand total victory. I know this because I’m a high school history teacher AND I was a Dawg fan during the 80s when things went the way they should.
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:43 pm
Poopdawg,
I don’t think it’s hatred. There was obvious improvement, but he’s still 6-9 over the last 15 games (and SC played terribly on offense). That should get Lombardi canned in this day and age!
bamaguy
September 11th, 2011
5:46 pm
JB is right about Peterson not coming to the deep south. Those west coast guys don’t come deep south. Back in the day Alabama begged Rick Neuhesiel and offered a Saban-like salary. If Peterson goes anywhere is will be to Ohio State.
Mad Mike
September 11th, 2011
5:46 pm
dan mullen? i hate that offense. don’t get me wrong: that guy is impressive. but i don’t want to watch georgia run trendy, spread, option-read crap. come to think of it, i don’t want the trendy hire, period. keep richt before you make a trendy hire.
Poopdawg
September 11th, 2011
5:47 pm
Beast , my point is what could have any of UGA’s coaches did differently yesterday ? UGA was well prepared . Turnovers killed UGA. I don’t believe any of our coaches turned it over. No way anyone with any football knowledge could be critical of UGA’s coaches yesterday.
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:48 pm
bamaguy,
Meyer came from from Utah. Anything’s possible. If he’s competetive enough, he’d come.
dawg4u
September 11th, 2011
5:49 pm
UGA and GT will have something in common next week in that both teams first victories were against Coastal Carolina. Surely we couldn’t lose to the Chanticleers could we?
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
5:51 pm
Poodawg,
Well coached teams do not lose at home when they score 42 points. Especially with top 10 recruiting classes year after year. When’s the last time anyone scored 45 points in Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa or Gainesville no matter how many tunrovers they had? It just shouldn’t happen in Athens!
JR
September 11th, 2011
5:52 pm
I figure that guy “Couldn’t Happen to a better Fan Base” could read this article about the best college coaching jobs while he repeatedly quotes that college football guru Stewart Mandel (who has never worn a jockstrap).
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/06/03/best-college-football-jobs/index.html
Joe Mama Angie Daddy
September 11th, 2011
5:52 pm
Brandon Boykin is a great player, but that poor excuse of a tackle was huge. If he just hits the guy high and knocks him out of bounds, who knows
Poopdawg
September 11th, 2011
5:53 pm
Beast , I wonder why SC’s offense played so poorly? Maybe Satan? UGA’s defense?
BigTimeUGAFan
September 11th, 2011
5:54 pm
I volunteer to give Richt a ride. I got the Pinto going and could use the gas money. Go Dawgs!
red&black
September 11th, 2011
5:54 pm
@ dawg4u
After watching that debacle Saturday, we could manufacture enough ways to lose to anyone. Including some high school’s jv team……
Bad News
September 11th, 2011
5:55 pm
I really don’t know what direction the team is going from here. We looked better on both sides of the ball, but the turnovers killed us and the defense of course, couldn’t stop the run at the end. I do believe that it is time to insert Malcolm Mitchell and Isaiah Crowell in as the starters. They bring a lot of energy to the offense. The defense will suffer without the starting ILBs. We are thing at ILB, but we don’t have any committed recruits to the positions. I understand that we have to get through this season but, there is a reason why we are thin at several positions and is called bad recruiting at those positions. It is going to take more than a little tweaking to fix the problem. Sorry to keep saying this but, the offensive staff should have been changed in the offseason. Game preparation is horrible and alson execution on both sides of the ball. If you clog up the middle of the line, the only place for the RB to go is outside. The DC didn’t seem to grasp that concept against SC. The defense played better but, still gave up too many rushing yards.
1eyedJack
September 11th, 2011
5:55 pm
The Dawgs have had their cage rattled…twice. I’m afraid for Coastal Carolina’s players. Last night we danced the Funky Chicken, next week it’s Atomic Dog.
funny...
September 11th, 2011
5:57 pm
Ok listen, Georgia is a great coaching destination. Georgia has money, a great stadium, recruiting just from name alone, a fanbase that travels well, a rich tradition (11th all time in wins, one AP and a few shared or claims to other NC’s), a beautiful city, a great conference, etc.
Those chiding the fanbase for complaining are wrong. The fans (especially boosters and alumni) have donated a lot of money and have been promised better football than 20-19 over the last 39 games. The expectation for winning was set WAY before Dooley. Donnan was run out of town for the perpetual 8-4 season.
Most of Richt’s success came with Donnan’s recruits, he has shown over the 11 years of coaching major flaws and many different occasions where his decision making was suspect. Examples are clock management against Auburn and BC in 2001. Unexplainable collapses against UT, Tech, and WVU. Dancing in the endzone isn’t talked about only because Georgia won. That was awful and a terrible decision. The SEC officials have cracked the whip against Georgia since that 2007 outburst. Under Richt Georgia has lost to Vandy and Kentucky at home, South Carolina three times since 2001.
There have been some great moments and Richt definitely moved the program forward a step from Donnan but it’s certainly time to take he next step. 45 points to South Carolina? Brian Van Gorder would have had a coronary on the sidelines. Erk Russell re-died yesterday.
I had an intersting question poised to me yesterday, name me one player that was better when he left Georgia under Richt than when he started. Stafford never won anything, now the Lions (yes, the Detroit Lions) are winning. Greene and Pollack never duplicated the 2002 season.
Aaron Murray is not a bright spot. He’s Joe Tereshinski and Joe Cox with a different name. Richt had no bones about pulling David Greene (best Georgia QB ever) for DJ. Give LeMay a shot, give Hutson Mason a shot. Aaron Murray is a loser.
Saturday was a great game but Georgia snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
It’s time for change. Kirby Smart is not the answer. I’m not 100% to who is the answer but I’m sure Greg McGarity is already 40 steps ahead of the AJC and the internet tough guys who do have all the answers.
Burma Shave
September 11th, 2011
5:57 pm
Richt has to go
We all agree
Next Bozo and Grantham
Let’s make it three
BURMA SHAVE
funny...
September 11th, 2011
5:58 pm
Spot anybody 28 points and it’s tough to win.
KEEP RICHT&BOBO PLEASE
September 11th, 2011
5:59 pm
SEE WHAT PAUL JOHNSON DOES WITH 2&3 STAR RECRUITS,WONDER WHAT HE WOULD DO WITH UGA 4&5 STAR RECRUITS? A BETTER JOB THAN RICHT&BOZO
Poopdawg
September 11th, 2011
5:59 pm
Beast, it did happen. Get over it . UGA don’t need gator fans to tell us to throw away our coach . You enjoy slamming Richt so talk about the Boise game all you want but stop slamming him over yesterday’s game.
Coastal Tarheel
September 11th, 2011
6:00 pm
Coastal Carolina 52, Georgia 49
Ugly, really ugly. Better stock up on the Kool-Aid!
1eyedJack
September 11th, 2011
6:00 pm
Last night I was forced to dance the Funky Chicken. It was fun and embarassing at the same time and left me unfulfilled. The Dawgs have had their cages rattled now, twice, and should be frothing at the mouth. I fear for Coastal Carolina’s players. Next week I’m gonna dance to Atomic Dog.
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
6:02 pm
Sorry to sound so negative, but I just do not understand the apathy for Richt. He’s paid well and should be producing wins, not excuses. I think UGA deserves better than what they’re getting. Best of luck in getting it turned around, Dawg Nation. I’m off to dinner for some Ichibans, saki and sushi!
HardTruth Soldier
September 11th, 2011
6:02 pm
All you Bitc%es Wining about what Georgia ain’t get a life. I’m willing to bet you none of you played ball beyond 10th Grade. Get a life. Some of you have made a little money and think since you donate money, or have season tickets that Georgia owe you something. If Anyone of you could do his job you would. Bottom line you cant! Georgia will win again, and believe me when they do I hope you fair weather terrorist crawl under a rock and suffocate. These kids put there heart into Georgia and football and you have some 30 to 40 year old Pi$$ ant who never has been half as good talking trash. Georgia HardTruth Love you. Mark Richt you called(and had) a great gameplan. Defense played great. Offense played above average(turnovers got ya’ll) special teams was almost excellent except the fake punt, and with the exception of the Clowney sacks I thought the line showed promise. Remember UGA Fans, remember we had the #1 Back in High school, USC HAD THE#1 OVERALL PLAYER in Clowney.
South Carolina Dog
September 11th, 2011
6:02 pm
Thanks Mark for a very accurate assertion. You are correct in saying that UGA has become South Carolina, which is sickening for any UGA alum living in SC. Being upbeat about a loss to South Carolina is inexcusable. Urban won a national championship after being at UF for 2 years; Les Miles won at LSU after 2 years. What does the Bulldog nation not get about this sinking ship??? Georgia is a much richer football state, highschool wise than Louisiana. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEIR PROGRAM IS SO MUCH SUPERIOR TO OURS! THE SAME IS TRUE OF SOUTH CAROLINA!
artoris
September 11th, 2011
6:04 pm
Richt has to go
We all agree
Next Bozo and Grantham
Let’s make it three
Burma Shave you bring back great memories
of growing up. I used to love seeing those
signs on back roads.
No comment about the Dawgs,
DoggieHowser
September 11th, 2011
6:05 pm
UGA has forgotten how to win…Auburn has forgotten how to lose. CMR has to go….
Michael
September 11th, 2011
6:05 pm
Maybe, just maybe, opposing teams want to win, too?
Keep Mark Ricth
September 11th, 2011
6:05 pm
please keep richt and bobo and give them long term contracts.
yours truly,
fans of auburn, tennessee and florida
Beast from the East
September 11th, 2011
6:05 pm
Poopdawg,
I like Richt (who wouldn’t), but he’s just not doing the job he’s paid to do. If you’re content with the losses because of his success in the past, then so be it but I believe you all deserve better. Best of luck!
DoggieHowser
September 11th, 2011
6:08 pm
UGA has forgotten how to win. Auburn has forgotten how to lose. Time for Richt to go…
Jordan
September 11th, 2011
6:10 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/11/bulldogs-fall-42-45-to-south-carolina/
TN Jeff
September 11th, 2011
6:11 pm
You NAILED it Mark
BigTimeUGAFan
September 11th, 2011
6:12 pm
I’ve been trying to keep up with all the reading. What does CMR mean? What time does the game start next week? Are we playing at home? I still have never heard of coastal university…if that’s really what their name is. Dawgs are going to hurt them seriously! I can smell it! Or maybe that’s the trash burning behind the trailer?
Poopdawg
September 11th, 2011
6:13 pm
Beast , specifically what would you have done differently against SC? Your just taking advantage of an opportunity to slam Richt.