So does UGA always fall flat when much is expected? Well …
Sept. 27, 2008: Alabama sneers at Georgia's black jerseys. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
One guy I know — actually, I’m the guy — has picked Georgia to play Southern Cal for the BCS title. That prompted the usual round of carping from those who don’t care for the Bulldogs: “Georgia thinks it’s going to win the national championship every year, and it never does.”
Neither point is technically true — Georgia claims five national titles (two consensus, three iffy), and I don’t recall anyone seriously believing Ray Goff’s last team and Jim Donnan’s first team were bound for glory — but recent history does suggest that the Bulldogs do better when less is expected.
In the three Herschel Walker seasons (1980-82), UGA finished higher in the final Associated Press poll than in the preseason edition. The same was true for the first post-Herschel year, which yielded a giddy run to the Cotton Bowl. But Georgia has been ranked in the top 12 of the AP preseason poll six times since 1983, and only twice has it finished higher than it began.
Since early rankings have slotted the Bulldogs at No. 5 or thereabouts for the coming season, I thought it’d be fun — OK, maybe not fun — to analyze what happened the past half-dozen times much was anticipated. (A word regarding methodology: I used No.-12-in-the-preseason-AP-poll as my cutoff because I wanted to include the 1988 and 2003 seasons. I stopped at 12 because the Bulldogs have been ranked between 13th and 15th so often — eight times since 1983 — with no discernible trend. Four times they finished better than they started; four times they didn’t.)
1988: 12th in preseason, 15th in the final AP poll after going 9-3. Vince Dooley’s final team was picked by one guy — yep, same one — to go undefeated. Those Bulldogs didn’t make it through September unscathed. Early indicators: Troubling. A difficult opening victory against a Tennessee team that would finish 5-6; a 42-35 road win at Mississippi State that foretold issues on defense. First loss: At South Carolina on Sept. 24 as Todd Ellis picked Bill Lewis’ D to pieces. Subsequent losses: At Kentucky (yikes), at Auburn.
2000: 10th in preseason, 20th in the final poll after going 8-4. The team Donnan said he had “waited 55 years to coach” remains the last team he ever coached. He was fired by president Michael Adams after the regular season. Early indicator: Ominous. Linebacker Boss Bailey tore up his knee covering the season-opening kickoff against Georgia Southern. First loss: At South Carolina on Sept. 9. Quincy Carter threw five interceptions. Subsequent losses: Against Florida in Jacksonville, at Auburn in overtime, at home against Georgia Tech on the day George Godsey ran untouched through a host of NFL-caliber Bulldogs defenders.
2002: Ranked No. 8 in preseason, finished No. 3 after going 13-1. In Year 2 under Mark Richt, Georgia won the SEC for the first time in two decades. The division-clinching victory came at Auburn when Greene found Michael Johnson on fourth-and-14. Early indicators: All positive. A come-from-behind opening victory against Clemson; the Pollack snatch-and-grab victory at South Carolina; a last-gasp win at Alabama on Billy Bennett’s field goal. Blemish: A strangely uninspired loss to the Florida Gators of Ron Zook on Nov. 2.
2003: Ranked No. 11 in preseason, finished No. 7 after going 11-3. A second SEC East title was undercut by two losses to LSU, which in hindsight weren’t so awful — the Tigers wound up winning the BCS title. Early indicators: Again, all good. Georgia won 30-0 at Clemson in the opener and hammered South Carolina two weeks later. First loss: At LSU on Sept. 20. Tyson Browning took a screen pass 93 yards to tie matters inside the final two minutes, but a long kickoff return by Devery Henderson triggered the winning touchdown pass to Skyler Green. Subsequent losses: Another inexplicable defeat at the hands of the Zooker, a second loss to a by-then-clearly-superior LSU in the SEC title game.
2004: Ranked No. 3 in preseason; finished No. 7 after going 10-2. Still the biggest missed opportunity of Richt’s career. A senior-laden team didn’t even win its division. Early indicators: Mixed. Georgia rallied from 16 points down to win at South Carolina, but beat reigning champ LSU by 29 points in Athens. First loss: Against Tennessee at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 9, one week after the thrashing of LSU. That victory essentially gave the Vols the SEC East title. “We lost the wrong game,” Richt would say. Subsequent loss: At Auburn on a day when the Tigers — who would finish 13-0 — were dominant.
2008: Ranked No. 1 in preseason, finished No. 13 after going 10-3. Georgia was a hot item after the 2007 team finished No. 2 after a surprising 11-2 season. Early indicators: Awful. The offseason was marked by a flurry of Bulldogs arrests, and Georgia barely survived its first road test against middling South Carolina. First loss: Against Alabama on Sept. 27. The Tide led 31-0 at the half. It was Nick Saban’s first signature win as Bama’s coach. Subsequent losses: By 39 points to a Florida team that would take the BCS title, to Georgia Tech in Athens after leading by 16 at the half.
Conclusion: If you’re going to outperform high expectations, don’t lose early. Five of the past nine BCS champs have carried a loss, but only one of the five — Florida in 2008 — lost in September. Only twice in the six cases cited above did Georgia exit September undefeated. By way of contrast, Richt’s breakthrough season of 2002 featured an 8-0 start. All the more reason to underscore that Sept. 8 date in Columbia, Mo.
By Mark Bradley
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532 comments Add your comment
Firefly One
June 25th, 2012
8:57 am
2012 will be just another overhyped, disappointing year for UGa. Stock up now on Kool-Aid.
Wreckmaniac
June 25th, 2012
9:56 am
Hairy Dawg: I’m afraid that most of your hair has grown inside your ears.
Bob Sacamano
June 25th, 2012
11:24 am
Georgia beating either Bama or LSU will never happen, You heard it here first
Bill
June 25th, 2012
11:35 am
Mark, what about Hawks new GM…?
ARdawg
June 25th, 2012
11:43 am
One win UGA can count on however is the North Avenue Trade School
gt4ever
June 25th, 2012
11:48 am
@Bill
NOBODY cares about NBA basketball….. It’s a bigger joke than UGA football….
Chris Mike
June 25th, 2012
12:36 pm
Georgia need to get off the butts and hire a gritty get in your players face coach. Hmmm let me think , we got one he just the defensive cord. Gratham! Mark is just a good guy, like your favorite uncle. We need a coach to praise them when they do good, but also put a foot in their butt when they do bad: on and off the field. Yes in the past we have let people down but every year they are several teams that do so Fl State, Clemson, Mich, Texas
LHarding Dawg
June 25th, 2012
1:52 pm
Bob – That is about the stupidest comment I have read all day. And you heard that here first!
wolfman
June 25th, 2012
3:52 pm
Expectations, what a word. Nobody can know what’s going to happen in the mind and body of a 17 year old over the next 4-5 years. Or if a graduate’s good performance can ever be duplicated again. Enjoy every victory. Be generous when the other team has a good day. Looking forward to seeing all the good Georgia folks in Columbia MO. This year’s Missouri v Georgia game will decide some of the most important questions of NCAA football 2012/13. It could easily be the biggest game in the nation that day and might even be the most important game of the year. Even if you can make it up here, you will enjoy seeing it Missouri home field as the venue.
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 25th, 2012
4:50 pm
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life) June 24th, 2012 4:28 pm
“@ Thomas brown: CMR may not be the best coach in the SEC”
___________________________________________________
You think ?
Mark Richt MAY NOT BE the best coach in The SEC ?
Really ?
He MAY NOT BE ?
So, he may be ?
Let’s see 3-13 vs teams who made the AP Poll Top 10 all 11 years.
After 2005 when all the Jim Donnan recruits were all gone, only Vandie and Missy State have fewer wins over teams who made the AP Poll Top 10 than Mark Richt, and you think “Mark Richt MAY NOT BE THE BEST COACH IN THE SEC”
?????????????????????????????
7 SEC teams coached by 7 SEC coaches have won the BCS National Championship in Mark Richt’s 11 years, and you think Mark Richt may NOT be the best coach in The SEC ?
- lost 9 in a row to SEC teams who made winning SEC record that season
-lost 9 in a row to teams who made any top 25 poll
-lost 7 games in a row to teams who made AP Poll Top 10
Mark Richt MAY NOT BE the BEST COACH in The SEC.
Can I quote you that ?
Profound
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 25th, 2012
9:20 pm
@ Old 69:
CMR …….has………. the best winning percentage of ANY current SEC HC. Even you can’t misconstrue that statement. In case you are wondering the word “misconstrue” has NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX and the Best Winning Percentage is just like Best Batting Average. You divide the number of games won by the number of games played(Are you with me so far???) and that will give you the winning percentage. CMR is in the TOP 10 best winning percentage among active coaches in the NATION.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 25th, 2012
9:24 pm
@ Old 69:
Who was ranked No.2 in the Nation in the 2007 Final Rankings????????
Oh stupid me. I guess a bunch of Donnan’s recruits got medical or hardship red shirts!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, my bad!!!!!!!!
Must Love Dawgs
June 25th, 2012
9:26 pm
I love checking AJC UGA articles to see “I dropped my fried twinkie” grace us with his delightful presence. Judging by the amount of time he devotes solely to bashing UGA in a local newspaper comment section, I’m sure he must be doing big things in his life. So nice of him to still devote this time to us little guys.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 25th, 2012
9:29 pm
@ GT4ever:
Somebody is using your handle. I refuse to believe you would make comments trashing UGA Football as a big joke because the past 11 years on the Saturday AFTER Thanksgiving…………………………well you know the rest!!!!!!
Have a nice summer and check out that imposter!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 25th, 2012
9:41 pm
@ Old 69:
Wake up dammit. Salley Lea(8:09am post) has said that Mark Richt MAY be a nice guy!!!!!!!!
Are you going to let her get away with that????????????????????
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 25th, 2012
9:46 pm
@ Salley Lea:
Mark Richt has won two SEC Championships and 6 SEC East Division Championships in his 11 years as UGA HC. He reached 100 career wins quicker than any of those currently coaching in the SEC. I’m beginning to see the Single Digit IQ oozing out of you or maybe you are just copying someone else’s notes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, another COLD Bud Light please!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 25th, 2012
10:20 pm
@ Easy Breezey:(12:17pm post)
Thanks dude for adding a little sanity on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
1:19 am
I see you cannot find a scholarship football player, not on my list. Or, you would tell me.
So, we are left with 2007 season, when the 2007 season was SIX (6) seasons ago now when we beat not 1 team who actually made it into the AP Poll Top 10 while LSU beat 2. And, what Mark Richt’s win percentage is of 12 current SEC coaches but don’t talk about the ones who won national championships and left, and don’t talk about those who haven’t coached 11 years at the school they are at now. There are only 4 coaches in all of America who have done that.
In the meantime, your discussion is
WIN PERCENTAGE
When Mark Richt’s Win Percentage after the 2005 season is # 23 in the nation and # 6 of just 2012 SEC teams.
When you catch yourself saying Mark Richt is the BEST COACH IN THE SEC, just stop yourself there.
Of the 107 signed by Mark Richt to play 2012, here are the only remaining standing 69 :
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
1:21 am
Anyway, Brainiac Richt Fan for Life, you said that Mark Richt may not be the best coach in The SEC
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
1:22 am
2008 Signed Scholarship Recruits who with Redshirt would play 2012 :
___________________________
# 22 in the nation WR Tavarres King
# 29 in the nation S Bacarri Rambo
#4 in the nation RB Richard Samuel
# 13 in the nation DE Cornelius Washington
# 46 in the nation WLB Christian Robinson
# 39 in the nation CB Sanders Commings
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=8&toinid=740&yr=2008
2008 Signed Scholarship Recruits 23
______________________________
2009 Signed Scholarship Recruits
___________________________
# 10 in the nation DT Abry Jones
# 3 in the nation QB Aaron Murray
# 18 in the nation WLB Mike Gilliard
# 2 in the nation CB Branden Smith
# 2 in the nation WR Marlon Brown
# 18 in the nation DT Kwame Geathers
# 34 in the nation S Shawn Williams
# 20 in the nation WR Rantavious Wooten
# 5 in the nation TE Arthur Lynch
# 9 in the nation SLB Chase Vasser
2009 Signed Scholarship Recruits 20
_____________________________
2010 Signed Scholarship Recruits
___________________________
# 84 in the nation WR Michael Bennett
# 3 in the nation OLB Alec Ogletree
# 25 in the nation RB Ken Malcome
# 12 in the nation DE T.J. Stripling
# 6 in the nation DT Garrison Smith
# 74 in the nation MLB Alexander Ogletree
# 53 in the nation QB Hutson Mason
# 90 in the nation OT Kenarious Gates
# 16 in the nation DT Michael Thornton
# 31 in the nation OG Chris Burnette
# 20 in the nation OG Dallas Lee
# 6 in the nation OT Austin Long
# 6 in the nation OG Kolton Houston
# 45 in the nation DE Dexter Morant
# 52 in the nation DE Brandon Burrows
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
1:26 am
2010 Signed Scholarship Recruits 19
_____________________________
2011 Signed Scholarship Recruits dream team # 6 Scout ranked team
_______________________________________________________
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
1:29 am
# 6 in the nation S Co rey Mo ore
# 11 in the nation MLB Ama rlo Herr era
# 6 in the nation C David And rews
# 34 in the nation WR Chris Con ley
# 38 in the nation CB Dev in Bow man
# 8 in the nation QB Chri stian Le May
# 37 in the nation DE Ster ling Ba iley
# 51 in the nation WR Jus tin Sco tt-Wes ley
# 23 in the nation OT Wat ts Dan tzler
# 41 in the nation OG Hunt er Lo ng
Not ran ked 2 -s tar lo ng snap per Nat han Th eus
# 28 in the nation OT Za ch De Bell
# 9 in the nation CB Dam ian Sw ann
# 27 OLB Ra mik Wi lson
# 136 in the nation S Quinta vious Har row
# 7 in the nation CB Malc olm Mitc hell
# 4 in the nation TE Ja y Ro me
# 40 in the nation OT X zav ier Wa rd
# 6 in the nation DE Ray Dr ew
# 1 in the nation RB Isa iah Cro well
junior college tran sfer DT Jo hn Jen kins
2011 Signed Scholarship Recruits 26
_____________________________
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
1:30 am
2012 Signed Scholarship Recruits
___________________________
K 7 Marshall Morgan
TE 18 Ty Smith
FB 2 Quayvon Hicks
P NR Collin Barber
DE 74 James Deloach
DT 9 Jonathan Taylor
OT 2 John Theus
OG 41 Greg Pyke
WR 52 Blake Tibbs
QB 24 Faton Bauta
RB 1 Keith Marshall
junior college transfer OT JC sophomore Mark Beard
DE 5 Jordan Jenkins
RB 13 Todd Gurley
CB 11 Sheldon Dawson
OLB 2 Josh Harvey-Clemons
DE 27 Josh Dawson
2012 Signed Scholarship Recruits 19
_____________________________
2008 Signed Scholarship Recruits 23
2009 Signed Scholarship Recruits 20
2010 Signed Scholarship Recruits 19
2011 Signed Scholarship Recruits 26
2012 Signed Scholarship Recruits 19
69 of these 107 signed scholarship recruits of Mark Richt are on campus.
1 transfer-in Jarvis Jones and 4 walk-ons :
Frix
Horton
Faloughi
Sailors
69 plus 1 plus 4 equals 74 on scholarship with a self-imposed NCAA Probation of 14 scholarship recruits we cannot give a scholarship to to play here 2012 and 10 after the 4 walk-ons who play special teams on our # 80 in the nation special teams.
SEC Football Daily: June 26th | Saturday Down South
June 26th, 2012
5:39 am
[...] Georgia seems to always have better seasons when less is expected of them. This author took the times when Georgia was ranked as No. 5 or better when much was anticipated for the upcoming season. The conclusion was made that if Georgia wants to outperform their high expectations, don’t lose early. Even with the easy schedule, Georgia has to be ready to play Missouri September 8th. [AJC] [...]
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 26th, 2012
7:37 am
@ Old 69:
Go to my original statement before you provided us with your analysis!!!
I said “CMR may not be the best coach in the SEC”. You chose to make mountains of that small mole hill!!!!
69 signed scholarship recruits plus 4-walk-ons plus 1 transfer-in = 74 on scholarship 25 June 2012
June 26th, 2012
8:14 am
What does that mean that Mark Richt may not be the best coach in The SEC ?
7 teams SEC coaches on Mark Richt’s watch now have have won national championships.
After 2005, Mark Richt has been especially poor at # 21 in won/loss record and # 6 of just 2012 SEC teams in won/loss record after 2005.
2007 season was now this up-coming 2012 season, 6 seasons ago.
Do you really think it may be possible that Mark Richt is not the best coach in The SEC ?
MuleBrother
June 26th, 2012
8:16 am
For all the Richt detractors, ( I myself am straddling the fence ) would like to see what Georgia can accomplish with TWO competent coordinators. Does anyone here think Georgia can play a twelve game schedule (easy or not) without Bobo laying an egg? Bobo= albatross.
J. Cole
June 26th, 2012
9:59 am
Well, Richt can hand pick any coordinator of his choice. If failure is due to the lack of coaching, Richt is the man responsible.
Georgia just needs to accept who they are as a team and be content living with healthy expectations.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
June 26th, 2012
11:13 am
@ Old 69:
What will it take to please you???
You took offense when my original statement was “CMR may not be the best coach in the SEC” so now you have a problem with my saying “CMR may be the best coach in the SEC”.
If winning games is the mark of a great coach CMR IS the best in the SEC because his winning percentage is higher THAN ANY other current SEC coach.
Even if you throw out Saban’s ugly stent in the NFL CMR still has a better winning percentage than Saban or Miles!!!!!!!!!
Was there some other coach you had in mind?????
Jonkdawg
June 26th, 2012
2:30 pm
I hope that GT beat Uga this year, dont you think so GT fans/
MARK RICHT CANNOT BEAT THE TOP TEAMS
June 27th, 2012
5:31 am
Mark Richt’s winning percentage is NOT the highest of the all The SEC coaches comparing only the time Mark Richt has been in The SEC with the time the other coaches were also in The SEC competing head-to-head with him.
How many times do I have to explain it ?
Nick Saban for example has coached in The SEC the same timeframe Mark Richt has and has a far better winning percentage because he has beat just after 2005 six teams who actually made it into the AP Poll Top 10.
Ur ban Mey er as well. Mark Richt and Ur ban Mey er both coached in The SEC in the same timeframe. You can easily compare their over-all winning percentage as you can with Nick Saban.
Mark Richt is # 6 on the list.
HERE IS THE ACTUAL LIST winning percentage head-to-head SEC coaches during Mark Richt era :
92.41 win % Chris Petersen Boise State 2001 to present winning record vs Mark Richt
85.00 win % Chip Kelly Oregon 2001 to present
80.65 win % Les Miles SEC 1 national championship winning record vs Mark Richt
84.62 win % David Shaw Stanford 2001 to present
81.25 win % Ur ban Mey er SEC 2 national championships winning record vs Mark Richt
80.41 win % Bob Stoops Oklahoma 2001 to present 1 previous national championship
80.28 win % Mack Brown Texas 2001 to present 1 national championship
80.00 win % Larry Coker 2 schools 1 national championship on Mark Richt’s watch
79.83 win % Nick Saban SEC 3 national championships winning record vs Mark Richt
78.99 win % Gary Patterson TCU 2001 to present
78.57 win % Dave Doeren Northern Illinois 2001 to present
76.92 win % Dana Holgorsen West Virginia 2001 to present
76.92 win % Hugh Freeze Ole Miss 2001 to present
75.95 win % Bret Bielema Wisconsin 2001 to present
75.00 win % Gene Chizik SEC one national championship on Mark Richt’s watch
74.83 win % Frank Beamer Virginia Tech 2001 to present
73.61 win % Mark Richt 0 national championships beat 1 AP Poll Top 10 after 2005
Any numbskull could step back from the statement that Mark Richt has the best winning percentage in The SEC 2001 to present and see that that is totally WRONG.
Try explaining how Gene Chizik, for example, is 75 % win percentage in The SEC competing head-to-head with Mark Richt, and Mark Richt is WORSE ?
Or, Ur ban Mey er.
Or, Nick Saban.
Or, Les Miles in his time in The SEC head-to-head with Mark Richt.
You cannot be that dim-witted that you really think Mark Richt has a better winning percentage in his time here in The SEC than the coaches, 7 of them in The SEC alone who have won national championships.
Mark Richt cannot beat his way out of a wet-paper bag against teams who made the AP Poll Top 10 at 3-13 all 11 years, and the reason is his offense averages the # 51 NCAA Total Offense all 11 years.
Then, there is you who say, throw out Ur ban Meyer, his 2 NC and winning record against Mark Richt DO NOT COUNT.
active
Ur ban Mey er is an active coach.
SEC.
Only count active SEC coaches.
Excuse me, that includes then Hugh Freeze. Oh, he doesn’t count either.
Look, if you want to remove every coach who has done better than Mark Richt, again, why not just say they have to have been at their current school for 11 years. That narrows it down to 5 there. Does anyone really believe Mark Richt is one of the top 5 best college coaches today ?
Heck fire no.
He can’t beat the top teams.
He has no offense and never has had here at UGA after being hired specifically for that.
He has no idea whom to hire and whom to fire on his coaching staff.
He sucks at Motivation and brings in people to do his motivation speeches.
He has no discipline. Don’t confuse punishment with discipline. Punishment is what you have to resort to sometimes to maintain discipline.
Maintaining Discipline off the field or on it, has been his # 1 Major Problem all 12 years now, to-date.
Oh, yeah, his special teams suck big-time, too, but it’s not his only issue.
Now, is it ?
If you want to count winning percentage compared to Mark Richt, why in the name of heaven would you not LOOK AT THE COACHES IN THE SEC during HIS TIMEFRAME HERE ?
Because you are a RICHT-0-PHILE
Richt Apologist.
Excuse-maker for why he of all 12 SEC teams after 2005 finds only Vandie and Missy State have fewer wins over teams who made the AP Poll Top 10 than he.
CANNOT BEAT THE TOP TEAMS.
Wednesday’s F. C. King Links « Loser with Socks
June 27th, 2012
10:30 am
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