Richt says Georgia will be ‘knocking on the door’ of greatness
"Hot seat, huh? A little cold water will take care of that!" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Tampa – Back in July he was being asked if he could turn it around. On the first day of 2012, Mark Richt was asked if Georgia had turned it around. And he said …
“I think so. I don’t think there’s any doubt we’re in a good place. We won 10 games, and when you win 10 games you’ve done well.”
Here he smiled. “Though 11 is better.”
Richt’s team can win its 11th game of a rebounding season by defeating Michigan State in the Outback Bowl on Monday. It won’t be easy — the Spartans rank fifth nationally in total defense, two spots behind Georgia — but being paired against a ranked opponent here beats the heck out of spending the holidays in Memphis readying to lose to Central Florida, which is where Georgia was 366 days ago.
A year ago we wondered — and by “we,” I mean “me” — if Richt was still the man for Georgia. Calendar 2012 begins with Richt negotiating a contract extension, which tells us Georgia believes he is. (About which Richt said: “We haven’t said anything [publicly regarding his contract] since we said we love each other.”)
The Bulldogs have been saying that the Outback is really the first game of 2012 on more than just the calendar, that it could propel them to a Top 10 preseason ranking, that the season ahead could be bigger and brighter than the one about to conclude. And it just might. Seventeen starters are scheduled to return, and some key figures among the Dream Team recruiting class haven’t made their collegiate presence felt.
Said Richt, speaking at a Sunday news briefing: “Some people believe in momentum. We have good positive momentum. In the future, we’re going to be in good shape. We had a taste of playing in the SEC championship game. We need to be able to finish, but we got the taste.”
A bit later, Richt was asked how he handled the criticism that stemmed from Georgia finishing 8-5 in 2009 and 6-7 last season. “As the leader of the program, I can’t act like I’m fretting or I’m mad about something,” he said. Then this:
“We’re going to be knocking on the door of the greatest success you can have in college football, and if you knock long enough you’ll eventually break through.”
There was a time when a national championship seemed Richt’s manifest destiny. He came close in 2002, when his 12-1 Bulldogs missed the BCS title game only because Miami and Ohio State finished unbeaten, close again in 2007, when Georgia was excluded from the championship tilt but finished No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. The Bulldogs entered the next season ranked No. 1 but lasted only one week there, and the thrashing they were dealt by Alabama on Sept. 27, 2008, marked a watershed moment for both programs.
Alabama started playing for SEC and national championships again. Georgia went from the Sugar Bowl to the Capital One to the Independence to the Liberty, and Richt, once a hot young coach, was suddenly neither. He was on the far side of 50 and hadn’t won the SEC since 2005 and hadn’t taken his team to the BCS title game ever. The SEC is about to annex its sixth consecutive national championship, and Georgia has had no hand in any part of the run.
But that, too, could be changing. It’s true that Georgia didn’t play the most testing schedule — it won’t next year, either; is Richt living right or what? — but it’s also true that the Bulldogs began to win the sort of games they’d come to lose. They even gave LSU a go for a half. They weren’t quite ready to win such a game, but next year they might be. All things considered, you’d rather be Georgia than Florida or Tennessee or even South Carolina today.
“We’re in good shape going into the offseason,” Richt said, and Georgia undeniably is. But it wouldn’t hurt to beat a Top 25 team to round off this turnaround. (Though Georgia is favored by a field goal, Michigan State is ranked higher in the AP and USA Today polls.) Winning 10 games in a row was nice. Winning an 11th would be better still.
By Mark Bradley
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351 comments Add your comment
old coach
January 1st, 2012
7:07 pm
@ todd grantham
Your rants about Coach Bobo is way out of line. You are starting to sound like turd roll! Bobo is a very good oc and the players ALL respect him and they know that he is a very good coach. You may think you know exactly what is happening with the O but you have no clue. I love the experts that claim to be able to call 70% of Bobo’s plays, stone cold jerks!
todd grantham
January 1st, 2012
7:15 pm
old coach, I appreciate your thoughts. Please tell Mrs. Bobo I wish you and her a happy new year.
todd grantham
January 1st, 2012
7:18 pm
Let’s see how many times Coach Bobo suddenly veers away from what is working to something totally off the wall in tomorrow’s game.
Pago Pago DAWG
January 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Chances are that you won’t see hip-hop/slap dancing on Sparty sideline.
old coach
January 1st, 2012
7:34 pm
@ Todd grantham
If I even thought you knew one thing about football I would let your stupid remarks go but, defensive coaches do not sit in the same look all the time when the run is causing problems you might get 8 in the box to stop what is hurting you and the offensive coach would change to play action or whatever pass had been practiced for this situation. I know this should be understood by REC coaches so I hope the scenario is not too far over your head. Bobo is a very good O.C. Have you ever pulled a strap up, or did you learn all of your football on blogs?
Gamecockrock
January 1st, 2012
7:35 pm
Greatness? Or favorable scheduling? SC ain’t chopped liver next year either. Shaw is just as good a weapon as Murray
JJ
January 1st, 2012
7:46 pm
I’d love to believe that. I really would
duronimo
January 1st, 2012
7:48 pm
I wish every thing Coach Richt said comes true, but I fail to see how the future is brighter when the trend of not being competitive with good teams remains. The variable determining the won-loss record is the strength of schedule. This year’s schedule had fewer good teams so reeling off 10 wins after losing to two good teams is just an illusion of progress. Since we play them one at a time, how about showing some real improvement and beat Michigan State. Then maybe Richt’s rosy words may have some basis.
bamaguy
January 1st, 2012
7:52 pm
The Crimson Tide absolutely destroyed MSU last year. Show me what you got.
george
January 1st, 2012
7:53 pm
not a signature win in 5 years and talking about winning a national championship????? How dumb can you people be. Just because the puppies had a cupcake schedule this year does not mean they are actually any good. An average football team with a very weak schedule.
Preston
January 1st, 2012
8:00 pm
george, you go a little too far saying that UGA is average. Even in a down year for the East, you don’t win it being “average”.
duronimo, I agree 100%. Love my Dawgs but the reality is that we haven’t beaten a great team in years and it’s ridiculous. UGA has every resource it needs to compete at the very highest level and mediocrity should NOT be tolerated.
Russ in Tampa
January 1st, 2012
8:03 pm
Coach and I are both “almost great”, but both of us are flawed. Coach can’s win the big ones, and I have a brown spot on my buttocks.
wally
January 1st, 2012
8:23 pm
I am pulling for Aaron Murray and the Dogs in a great and mighty way,but did any one notice who LSU is predicting great things dfrom at quarterback next year, UGA transfer Zech Mettengburger { name may be mispelled} That will hurt if he leads LSU to a National Championship. The Dogs have had so many opportunities to be great and have not reached that plateu yet. I am really hoping next year is the year. It just seems that something goes wrong every year. You can put it all on paper that you want to, but doing it is another thing. I trust that a win tommorrow will plummet the Dogs into great things next year.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
I hope the players show up tomorrow with the same enthusiasm and confidence that their head coach is showing in the media. Michigan State is the 2nd or 3rd best team the Dawgs will play this year,of course LSU was the best team and Boise St. was the next best team.A win by the Dawgs tomorrow will help their standing in the pre -season polls next year. This is imperative with the weak out of conference schedule in 2012.So take care of business and play a complete game on both sides of the ball and show the Big 10 that the SEC is still the dominant conference.
AugustaDawg
January 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
Gamecock rock worry about your own little chickens. You are on the verge of your first 11 win season. You will never reach the amount of 11 wins as a school that Richt has. You have improved, I give you that but do something first. Two wins in a row doesnt give you dominance. Football has been played since before 2009 you know. Spurier will retire soon leaving you with???
Bad Dawg
January 1st, 2012
8:48 pm
I would be happy just to see Richt and company compete hard for four quarters and leave everything out on the field. A loss would be bad but I am hoping not to get embarrassed on the national stage a la the first and last games of the 2011 season. McGarity needs to bring respect back to UGA on the national level first. Then Richt needs to learn how to coach and prepare for the big games as well as the other staff members. Then build up some solid depth. A reporter should ask Richt when was the last time he beat a quality opponent and if he actually believes that 10 game winning streak was the result of a soft schedule.
Come On Man
January 1st, 2012
8:51 pm
Every year UGA fans always say the will win a national championship. UGA is not LSU, Bama, etc. They have not been even been in contention to play for a national championship since 1980. UGA is just a good team. No different from Arkansas, Texas A&M, Kansas State, etc. UGA played 2 good teams this year and lost them both just like they do every year
LogicalUS
January 1st, 2012
8:53 pm
“Georgia gets stronger as the year goes and Carolina tends to fold”
What? This of course was the pleading that UGA made to the SEC office to get the game moved. But reality is that SC for the past two season has gotten stronger as the year progressed…didn’t they beat UF in the Swamp in Novembertwo years ago to win the East and this year again ran thru and over every team in the SEC East, usually by much larger scores than the mighty dawgs.
Funny thing is that the game was moved but looking at the schedule…it is the week after UGA plays UT and SC in reality plays five cupcakes then plays UK the week before…but as we all have learned UGA fans are the most gullible dupes around and will buy any meme thrown out so they will run with the we “always” get stronger so we are guaranteed to win spin.
Here is a solid predictioin…UGA fans will grow to HATE, HATE the cities of Columbia next year.
Jacket99
January 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
Let’s put America back to work this year.
http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_04vzdsr5/uiconf_id/5590821
I’m hoping all Jackets and Dawgs involved in construction will watch this video.
Made in America.
Happy New Year to All
South Carolina DAWGS
January 1st, 2012
9:13 pm
Nice piece Mark
I like the preparations for this game a lot. Some good feelings and reports coming out of Tampa and yes Michigan State IS A GOOD TEAM and up there with SC and Boise but not LSU
Getting this one would make August 2012 get here a lot faster. I will WORRY all nite!!!! My heart is with you tomorrow my DAWGS!!!!!!
Dawg Man
January 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
I agree !!!!!! Georgia will be the ” GREATEST ” football team ever !!!!!!! National Champs the next 10 years !!!!!! We will break Oklahoma’s alltime 47 straight game winning streak. I am willing to bet that over the next 5 years at least 8 teams will forfeit, rather than be run off the field by the DAWGS. We will beat Michigan State 45-0, Grantham is the greatest defensive coach in college football. Next year Heismann–Murray, 2nd place-Crowell, 3rd place–Marshall, Bulldawgs will riegn as All- Americans, at least 15 next year on offense and defense !!!!!
GT Man
January 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
At least Richt wont sit on a 14 point lead and blow the game by running up middle every play or watch your defensive coordinator scratch his head every time other team scores.
GTT
January 1st, 2012
9:30 pm
Um, again, for the 2,657th time. An 11-point loss is not a thrashing, not a rout, etc. Geez Bradley, they lost by 11 points, not 31. Thanks for your attention to this matter.
SEC Fact Finder
January 1st, 2012
9:30 pm
There is no doubt that the defense was the key to UGA winning this year. The hiring of Coach Grantham was a good hire. I am not so sold on Coach T yet, but any improvement has to be lauded.
I want to note one major item on the schedule for 2012. Replacing the road game at Alabama for Missouri is much better for UGA, however, playing in Columbia Missouri is not going to be easy. Missouri is going to be a pretty good team with a heck of a young quarterback who can run, throw and escape a pass rush. Playing in Columbia South Carolina is going to be a tough game as it is USC and those games are always tough each year for both teams. The verdict is still out on Florida but one can expect Muschamp to pick it up a few notches in the off season to install his brand of smash mouth football. Those three games and the pressue on Derek Dooley at Tennessee will offer some very good football games that UGA will have to make it through next season.
We should all pat CMR on the back for winning 10 games, but he does need to get one of those wins against a good opponent when it counts so the full UGA nation will support that program as it did his first few years at UGA.
Good Luck to all my SEC Brothers, We need to finish out strong this week and show the nation how real college football is played.
Robards
January 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
Mark, if this team doesn’t win at least 11 games against that awful schedule next year, then CMR should be summarily discharged precisely 1 year from today or sooner
Rilo
January 1st, 2012
9:34 pm
Please…..for the love…can we please get a real Offensive Coordinator and special teams coach. I’d like to win a few games on great game plans and not sheer athletic ability.
Need to beat Michigan State to PROVE this really is a team heading in the right direction.
Robards
January 1st, 2012
9:39 pm
Mark, did you watch the Saints last year in Seattle against that 7-9 team when it was 40 or 50 degrees? Better question, did you watch them a month ago in Nashville? I think it was about 50 degrees–Saints won when the Jake Locker-led Titans failed to score on the last play of the game. You know that it probably won’t be 75 degrees if they play the Packers, right? Also, are you aware that Saints have never won a road playoff game? Just asking.
Special K
January 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
Richt you’re knocking on the wrong door.
Big Cat
January 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
Stop all the talk about potential greatness. CMR has a short memory and must have forgotten he was on the “hot seat” early this season but will be returned if the Dawgs don’t win their bowl game. Just shut up and play football! “The proof is in the puddin” as the old saying goes.
Davis
January 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
Yeah that last game sure showed greatness. Uga is a once every ten years contender in the sec with richt. He underachieves more than any coach in the game. They had a very soft schedule this season and people thought and still think they are a great team. Who has murray beaten? No one. Dude chokes in big games.
BG
January 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
I love them DAWGS!!
Special K
January 1st, 2012
9:50 pm
Can anyone guess why I am called SPECIAL??????
wde
January 1st, 2012
9:54 pm
@Robards when did you flunk out of Tech?
Steve
January 1st, 2012
10:11 pm
1) Yes, we had a good year, but did we really beat anyone we weren’t supposed to? We still stink against top-15 teams under CMR.
2) Murray was not to blame against good teams nearly as much as our line. They folded like wet TP against top-tier defenses and Murray was all too frequently ended up with happy feet. Most QB’s would. Yes, Murray has to improve, but our line was a much bigger issue.
3) We still need an identity. Our we a running team, or a passing team. Our we a defense first team? What our we? Those kind of mentalities can win recruits. If you dont think the better defensive players aren’t hyped to play for a team like LSU or ‘Bama because of their identity you are missing it. That is why those teams are dominant on the field right now.
wreckmaniac
January 1st, 2012
10:37 pm
The last time I looked UGA got beat so whats this “10 in a row” baloney about ?
wreckmaniac
January 1st, 2012
10:37 pm
Every team in the country has won 10 in row if you take out the losses.
Preston
January 1st, 2012
10:39 pm
Can someone please give me the date of national signing day. Thanks in advance!
wreckmaniac
January 1st, 2012
10:40 pm
What is 10 in a row is the number of years that UGA hasn’t sniffed a nat champ but its actually 32 in a row. Meanwhile the Koolaid Express says to its fans that you don’t have to win a nat champ to be the greatest and the fans believe it.
Sid
January 1st, 2012
10:49 pm
sell that snake oil Preacher Richt!!!
whatever
January 1st, 2012
11:02 pm
Yea – right – UGA’s only “knocking on door of greatness” because of their powder-puff schedule they play. And to prove it – they DROPPED Alamaba for next year. We all know what happens when Georgia playes a true top 20 team – they lose.
bitter QB
January 1st, 2012
11:04 pm
@jacket99—thanks for the tip on made in america—-god bless, and together tech and dawg fans
———————-lets rebuild using our own labor and materials——-yes protectionism
—-something murry needs tomorrow—-hahahah
————-like me, fight for your country, and fight for making america strong—
——I no, this blog is about sports—-maybe they will use a football made in america—-fat chance
bitter QB
January 1st, 2012
11:09 pm
feb 2 preston—-same every year,
coach grantham rumor has it is leaving for dallas—-new “D” coord
——————————–bummer
okfornow
January 1st, 2012
11:15 pm
I sick and tired of people (including BG) who makes comments like “They even gave LSU a go for a half” – or “we stood toe to toe with the best for a half” – Well – so what – you still lost – look how many teams (who were pathetic this year) stood “toe to toe” (including hated GT) with UGA for 3/4 of the game. Also – even whimpy Missery State was “toe to toe” with LSU in the first half – it was 6-3. The ONLY reason UGA had the “10 game” winning streak was a simple fact of their panzi schedule. Too bad we can’t see what your doggies are really made of next year – you dropped Alabama – we would torn you guys up. But I guess we will NEVER know – you dropped us.
SEC Observer
January 1st, 2012
11:20 pm
Amazing how the Dawg fans were ready to fire Richt after the first 2 games and now want to give him an extension.
Who has Georgia beaten? Noone of substance.
And next season the schedule is even easier.
gcs
January 1st, 2012
11:20 pm
My favorite comedians:
George Carlin
Chris Rock
Mark Richt
Richard Pryor
Steve Martin
Louis CK
Artie
January 1st, 2012
11:28 pm
Dawgs fans sniffing the glue once again!!! LMAO
tybeedawg
January 1st, 2012
11:30 pm
too late for 11 in a row…..
GTBob
January 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
Knocking on the door of greatness? You have to love the delusional UGA mindset.
CHARLES
January 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
LSU 42 GEORGIA 10
3d
January 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
I love my Dawgs and I love what CMR represents, but when we played a good team, we lost.
This staff doesn’t have the necessary crunch time on the field savvy to get us over that hump.
I’m afraid he’s taken us as far as he can. Hope I’m wrong.