Unless it beats the Gators, UGA will be a 10-2 underachiever
"Wait just a doggone minute! Isn't that the signal for the infield fly?" (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
At the absolute worst, Georgia figures to finish its regular season 10-2. Just last year, a 10-2 regular season yielded an SEC East title and bought Mark Richt a contract extension and was taken as a sign that Georgia football was on the ascent. To go 10-2 again, assuming this 10-2 includes a loss to Florida and the absence of another division title, would be taken as an abject reversal.
Here’s where the Bulldogs’ bunny schedule serves as both boon and burden. Georgia still must play Kentucky, Ole Miss, Auburn and Georgia Tech; the aggregate record of those teams is 7-16. The Bulldogs also will face Georgia Southern, which plays at a lesser level. If Georgia beats those five but loses to Florida, it will be described, oddly but accurately, as a 10-2 underachiever.
When the Bulldogs were going 8-5 in 2009 and 6-7 the next season, the question became: Would they ever win big again? They’ve since gone 15-5, which would seem to offer an answer, but in light of the drubbing administered by South Carolina we note there can be a difference between Winning Big and Winning Big Games. Georgia has come to occupy the space between.
Its last victory over a Top 10 team came when it defeated No. 7 Georgia Tech on Nov. 28, 2009. The Bulldogs last beat an SEC team ranked in the Top 10 on Oct. 27, 2007 (No. 9 Florida in the Gator Stomp game). Their last victory over anybody in the top five came against No. 5 Auburn on Nov. 11, 2006. Since Oct. 30, 2008, Georgia is 4-13 against ranked opposition, and three of those times the Bulldogs were the higher-ranked team.
Coming off their 2011 turnaround, these Bulldogs figured to have much working for them: A fourth-year junior at quarterback, nine defensive starters who are either seniors or juniors and, above all, the softest of schedules. But when you play so few games against opponents of comparable worth and you lose them all, that schedule turns against you. It makes you seem a team that is, as Lou Holtz once said, living a lie.
It would one be one thing if the Bulldogs were capable of no more, if the only thing enabling them to be ranked at all was the canny maximization of modest resources. But you cannot recruit at such an exalted level and then claim personnel bankruptcy. There aren’t 10 more talented teams in the land. So why, when it comes time to step up in class, does Georgia invariably flunk?
We cannot help but look to the coach. It’s his program. He hired these high-salaried assistants, recruited these star-spangled players. And isn’t as if Richt has never won a Big Game: From 2002 through Jan. 1, 2008, Georgia was 22-10 against ranked opponents. It is 6-14 since. It has become the classic bully: It terrorizes the small fry but turns tail when the big boys show up.
After winning the East last year, the Bulldogs faced No. 1 LSU and lost 42-10. After rising to No. 5 in the land this season, they played South Carolina in Columbia and lost 35-7. That’s a 60-point spread in prove-it games, and the latter loss was truly alarming. Georgia wasn’t ready to handle a team like LSU last season, but 1o months later it was even less prepared for what the Gamecocks unleashed. Isn’t experience supposed to be a teaching tool?
Maybe it can still be one. This year isn’t over. If Georgia can beat Florida, there’s a chance the Bulldogs can again win the East. South Carolina would have to lose twice, but its next two games are against LSU and Florida on the road. Even so, the sight of the Gators again on the rise is surely disquieting: Of the four times Georgia has won the SEC East, three came in Year 1 after a Florida coaching change, and the fourth was in Ron Zook’s final season. This is Year 2 for Will Muschamp, and Florida just climbed to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll.
Having lost three in a row to South Carolina, Georgia has already fallen behind the Gamecocks in both standings and hierarchy. If Florida jumps back ahead of the Bulldogs, the Richt renaissance will have been the briefest of moments. His program will be in danger of falling into the hole from which he once rescued it: That time in the ’90s when Florida and Tennessee owned the division and Georgia, under Ray Goff and Jim Donnan, was relegated to third place.
This looked to be the season Richt and his Bulldogs consolidated their hold on the division, and they might yet. But anything less than an East title would rekindle all those questions about Richt. There’s no way Georgia would move to fire a coach who wins 10 games two years running; there’s also no way the second 10-2 would feel half as good as the first.
At some point Georgia has to answer the question, “Yeah, but who did you beat?” And that answer cannot continue to be, “Well, there was that Tech game back in ‘09 …”
By Mark Bradley
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987 comments Add your comment
Dawg Gone IT!
October 8th, 2012
3:30 pm
I’m as big a Dawg fan as anybody here. Georgia cannot stop the run and we cannot stop the pass. Aaron Murray has not played one quality game yet against a top 10 team. There is not a chance we are going to beat Florida – who manhandled LSU in 2nd half. Florida has a good defense and good blocking Offensive Line – Georgia will lose this game – there is nothing to indicate otherwise.
Mark Richt just seems incapable of having a “big boy” SEC team – we will always be the 2nd tier with Richt – it pains me to say.
Chuck
October 8th, 2012
3:30 pm
Here’s what happened on Saturday night in Columbia. South Carolina wanted it more. You could tell from the beginning of the game. Rambo has an interception, but SC’s Damiere Byrd pulled the ball away from him for a big reception. Then, after the TD, Malcolm Mitchell has a big return, but Byrd catches him and tackles him. So, SC’s Byrd makes two effort plays to start the game that are huge. Then, a tipped pass by a SC DL, and SC’s Holloman comes diving in out of no where to get the INT. Effort plays UGA didn’t make. Then, the punt return. Georgia made a terrible effort at trying to tackle Ace Sanders. Before you could blink, it’s 21-0 and the game is over. Finally, right before half-time, SC would not let UGA score on 4th and goal when two defenders make the tackle at the one yard line. The Gamecocks made more effort to win the game.
Rob in Chapel Hill
October 8th, 2012
3:31 pm
I remain pro-Mark Richt and hopeful that the Dawgs will recover and win out. South Carolina could easily take two conference losses (of course, they also could win out!). But I would have liked to see him actually pissed off in the post-game media conference. I mean, you can show Dawg Nation that you are angry and disappointed about what just happened, while also keeping things in perspective, e.g. lots still to play for, it was a team loss, etc. I hate to admit it, because I don’t agree with all the hating on Richt, but he really does need to show us that he’s got the fire. And I do wonder, why did we at least SEEM so unprepared for adversity in that game? I know that part of the answer is that the Dawgs need an early dose of confidence in games to really get rolling. But can’t Richt and Co. and the captains do more to instill that confidence BEFORE the game starts? They need to not be so dependent on having good things happen early in the game.
Still, for the true anti-Richt contingent, whom would you hire to replace him? Seriously, I have NEVER seen a suggestion that strikes me as wise and appealing.
And how exactly do people think Spurrier outcoached him on Saturday? I ask this seriously. That’s a statement that seems to be be true, but I haven’t seen anything specific.
dockta
October 8th, 2012
3:33 pm
i predict uga will drop at least 3 games this year—Auburn or Tech , and Florida will beat them—-so they will lose at least 2 more—–they were exposed sat night for what they really are—which of course spurrier already knew that—–he has Richts number—that stupid offensive scheme that UGA uses needs some change—and they need a qb that can run. Better watch out—-UGA has played terrible the last 2 games —————–BUT wait!!!!! I have an idea that will save the day——if youare on the 1 yard line and you have 2 downs to score——————–PASS the ball!!!!!!!!! yes sir eeeee—————-we done figured out this here collegeeee fattballll!!!!
RGB
October 8th, 2012
3:34 pm
Is there any way we can schedule Presbyterian to replace Florida?
The Monger
October 8th, 2012
3:34 pm
Where do we go from here? We fire Richt immediately, and clear out his worthless staff….Bozo, Grantham, everyone…. and start over. Face it Mark Richt does not have the cojones to win big games anymore like he did his first couple years. He is 0-12 vs. ranked teams at the end of the year since 2008. Every big game he chokes horrifically, and combined with the worst Big Game QB in the league who chokes as well (murray is 0-10 vs. ranked teams at seasons end) and you have a perfect storm of embarrassing chokes. Bring on the list…. 2007 UT….slaughtered. 2008 Bama….annihilated. 2011 Boise State….run out of the building…. 2011 LSU….spanked… and now the embarrassing 2012 choke at SC. This is EVERY BIG GAME the last 4 years. When is enough Bulldog fans? Who cares about beating 10 lesser opponents and then dropping the ball terribly against the 3 or 4 worthy opponents you play every year. This is exactly what happened last year 10-0 against mediocre and worse teams and 0-4 vs. top 20 teams. This is exactly what is happening this year, 5-0 vs. mediocre and bad teams and 0-1 vs. top 20 teams. This is not what a 3 million dollar a year coach is paid to do. Fire Richt, and the underperforming Grantham and Bobo and start over with a coach who cares about winning on the level of Nick Saban or Steve Spurrier and then we will finally be headed in the right direction. THIS IS THE HARD TRUTH and 99 percent of Bulldog nation FINALLY understands this after this weekend.
PTC DAWG
October 8th, 2012
3:36 pm
No chit cherlock
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:37 pm
Georgia is overated, but think they are perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
will franklin
October 8th, 2012
3:37 pm
If you don’t like the way things are going, find another team to bash and shut up!!!
DDPO
October 8th, 2012
3:37 pm
It’s early October and as usual, UGA no longer controls their own destiny.
Business As Usual
Stinger 2
October 8th, 2012
3:37 pm
UGA fans and Mark Bradley in this post are loosing your cool. Its typical of many UGA fans who think their team should win every game. Calm down people and get a life other than football. All these people who are wanting to get rid of CMR and Bobo should be thankful for having these coaches. GT fans like myself would love to have a 10-2 season regardless of who we beat or did not beat.
HPUCK
October 8th, 2012
3:39 pm
Too much talent to keep not winning the big games. Richt is a nice guy but with no emotion. Time to move on. And please take BOBO with you.
RNB
October 8th, 2012
3:39 pm
Great article Mark and you are dead on. I am a huge lifelong Dawgs fan but at some point you need to ask yourself are you happy with 10 wins or do you want to win a NC. If it’s the later, you need to make a change now. Oh by the way mark it down, if Dooley is fired, Petrino will be hired and Richt will be fourth best in the East.
dawgfan
October 8th, 2012
3:39 pm
10-2? I don’t think we’re above dropping a game that we shouldn’t. I know Auburn and Tech are a mess right now but by late November who knows what could happen. We could be a complete mess too.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 8th, 2012
3:40 pm
Is anybody surprised
I mean when Richt last year acted like losing to Boise St would be no big deal cause they werent an SEC opponent does anyone really believe someone acting like that wants to win a championship
But hey Mcgarity is a smart AD he just extends a contract with no results to show for his reasoning to do so
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:40 pm
But UGA is perfect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All 5 star players!!!!! Looks good on paper, but not on the field!!!!!!!
Rob in Chapel Hill
October 8th, 2012
3:40 pm
But The Monger and others, who is this mythical coach-in-waiting, who is so well-proven and skilled and just out there waiting for a phone call from UGA?
The Fake Steve
October 8th, 2012
3:41 pm
I love the Dawg Fans that pray for better teams to lose for your team to win.
SC will lose two more games and all we have to do is play out and win the east.
How pathetic UGA has become….. We can not beat you…we just hope someone else can.
Ala, LSU or Auburn does not backdoor their way to Atlanta but it looks to be the only way UGA can.
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:41 pm
” how bout’ them dawgs”
Dawgbreath
October 8th, 2012
3:42 pm
No one is going to beat USCe. Not with that defense. Then you throw in Shaw, Lattimore and those speedy receivers. Goodness! Why don’t us Dawgs show some class and give credit where it’s due?
DeezNutz
October 8th, 2012
3:42 pm
UGA IX taught the team a new trick … “Roll Over.”
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
October 8th, 2012
3:43 pm
Any road game in the SEC is tough. If JawGA isn’t careful and rapidly gets past what happened Saturday night in Columbia, KinTucEE could eek out a win in Lexington. I hear a lot of talk about Florida but KintucEE in Lexington isn’t a gimmie. Joker Phillips is usually good for one upset at home every year.
a voice in the wilderness
October 8th, 2012
3:43 pm
the collegefootballnews website has an interesting article about UGA and CMR…you should check it out Billy Ryckman…you might learn something.
Dawg Fud
October 8th, 2012
3:43 pm
McGarity is going to have a new President in the saddle next summer. If that person cannot raise money because every big donor s/he engages is complaining about Richt, there is going to be trouble.
I can see a new president making a change, and if McGarity is not willing to make it, then the president may send him packing also.
Ed
October 8th, 2012
3:43 pm
“But when you play so few games against opponents of comparable worth and you lose them all, that schedule turns against you.”
Thank you. I’ve been railing against these cupcake games for years. It used to be one a year, then two, now three – 25% of the total schedule. It’s not unique to UGA, but apparently playing glorified scrimmages (as opposed to former traditional rival Clemson and other big-time opposition) hurts UGA more than it does other teams.
But putting all of that aside, we’re just not a tough football team. Talented, but not that tough. Anyone who watched the Florida – LSU game saw two teams that were just physically tougher and more aggressive than UGA. And I don’t have confidence that will change with Mark Richt in charge.
Judge Dawg
October 8th, 2012
3:43 pm
When are we going to have a column about the coaching problems at Tech? Talk about under achieving.
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:44 pm
UGA quit getting players from prison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lanner Ball
October 8th, 2012
3:44 pm
WHY IS IT? For some reason we can’t beat Steve Spurrier. He could go coach at Wofford and they would beat us!
Bill Arp
October 8th, 2012
3:46 pm
QB play is why. He hasn’t forgot how to coach. We’ll be in the Dome on 12/1. USC loses maybe it’s next 3 or 4 games.
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:46 pm
Because UGA is full of BS!!!!!
Yawn
October 8th, 2012
3:46 pm
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
All you ignorant, inbred hillbillies can get your small brains around that fact the UGA is a second rate program. Your only defense is your coach is a “good christian” (which sounds like the oxymoron of all time). Your local preacher may be a good christian but he probably doesn’t know diddly about football.
UGA inflates its record playing Marshmallow Junior College and Butt Plug A&M, then everybody acts surprised when they get steamrolled by a real team with a real coach. Then everybody will go back to crying in their Pabst Blue Ribbons because this was supposed to be “The Year” but “Just Wait Until Next Year”.
UGA fans are so predictable, they’re boring. Maybe UGA should join the Sun Belt Conference if they want to actually have a chance to win.
DunwoodyDawg
October 8th, 2012
3:46 pm
Billy Ryckman. I am going with you must be joking.
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
UGA might be in the dome watching a game.
dawgfan
October 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
I didn’t hear Richt’s post-game comments but from the reports I’m getting it sounds like the same old usual crap. “If Rambo gets that interception we’ve got a whole different ball game…” and “If we had just hit a couple of those pass plays early you take the crowd out of it and….”
What planet is this guy on?
Ed
October 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
When it comes to playing teams of similar talent and pedigree, Richt is the anti-Bear Bryant: he can take his and lose to yours, and take yours and lose to his.
In fact, no one is better at coming out of the locker room looking completely flat and unprepared for a big football game. If only the Floridas, South Carolinas, LSUs and Alabamas of the world could come out dressed in Ga Tech uniforms, maybe we’d have a chance.
JB
October 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
The polls. Think about it. Georgia’s ranking is always lately based on potential or teturning team, very little in climbing the polls by beating people. Good people. We were way over ranked this year….But if Richt is around awhile, I think the pollsters have learned their lesson, This team should of started out as 15-18th or so….. In Richt’s first 5-6 years, I thought we could beat ANYONE we stepped on the field with…….I’m not so sure about the Vandy’s and Kentucy’s now. Don’t know what has happened, but my thoughts are we would make a damn fine ACC team
DeezNutz
October 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
He ain’t called the Evil Genius for nothin’. The guy can coach. He makes good players a great team, and makes very good players a great team.
cajdawg
October 8th, 2012
3:47 pm
It comes down to expectations and desire.
UGA will always be better than mediocre but less than great unless the fan base and administration demand more.
Look at Alabama. Bless their red-neck souls, they believe it is their manifest destiny to win at least one national championship per decade. They may live in mud huts and there is no redeeming value to the state outside of football, but by God, at least once every 10 years they are bound and determined to win a championship. They will fire 10 coaches in 10 years if they have to and before Saban they did.
Florida, Zook was better than mediocre but not great. Fired. If Muschamp went 8-4 this year he probably would be fired, maybe give one more year. Florida isn’t wallowing around in their past championships, they want another- and soon. We can’t put Hershel Walker and Lindsay Scott behind us, that was over thirty years ago.
Miles was on the hot seat before last year’s team went to the championship game.
We can’t possibly be on the level with Bama, UF and LSU unless we expect and demand to be.
Lanner Ball
October 8th, 2012
3:48 pm
If you are a D.C. at Tech or UGA and your name starts with “G”, Leave Doyle, leave, leave! Had to throw in that line from Swing Blade.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 8th, 2012
3:48 pm
Mcgarity is a joke
He acts big and bad by firing the gymnastics coach that wasnt even there no time at all and then states he wants more out of the entire UGA athletics program and that the coaches are on notice
LOL
Mcgarity
When is the last time you watched UGA football. In case you didnt notice it was embarrassed again on national TV
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:49 pm
Just face the facts! UGA is just overated!!!!!
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 8th, 2012
3:49 pm
@ Rob in Chapel Hill. Who would we replace CMR with? Thats not our decision to make but I can assure you that Mcgarrity like every other AD has a short list of candidates. There are assistants and head coaches all over this country who would jump at the chance to coach this states tallent up!. I would give Smart a chance seeing as he has had the Saban influence for a long time. I remember when we hired an OC from FSU one time and that worked out pretty good for a while up until recently.. Good coaches are out there and I trust McGarrity know’s who they are
DeezNutz
October 8th, 2012
3:49 pm
oops. good to very good. very good to great.
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 8th, 2012
3:49 pm
@ Rob in Chapel Hill. Who would we replace CMR with? Thats not our decision to make but I can assure you that Mcgarrity like every other AD has a short list of candidates. There are assistants and head coaches all over this country who would jump at the chance to coach this states tallent up!. I would give Smart a chance seeing as he has had the Saban influence for a long time. I remember when we hired an OC from FSU one time and that worked out pretty good for a while up until recently.. Good coaches are out there and I trust McGarrity know’s who they are
Fred in dunwoody
October 8th, 2012
3:49 pm
Enough of all this talk about 10-2. We better be preparing for KY.
JB
October 8th, 2012
3:50 pm
ED….Fla, Bama LSU…. They all play wuss OOC games. THEY ALL DO…..
eddy
October 8th, 2012
3:50 pm
The offensive line was just beaten on each play and dominated for the entire game. No hope against UF’s defense. Just a bunch of big fat boys who cannot do what they are supposed to do…can’t run block or pass protect. Other than that, they are really nice boys.
The UGA defense was supposed to be something this year. Well they are. Terrible is how I would describe them. The current DC has had time to implement his program. Cue the music…”it’s not working, Todd”.
If these two were fixed, the play calling would not be so bad. With a bad offensive line, the play calling is highlighted..nothing is working against good teams. Buckle your helmets on, it is going to be a bumpy ride for the rest of the season.
Dawg Turd
October 8th, 2012
3:51 pm
Fire CMR and promote BOZO to head coach.
Ed
October 8th, 2012
3:51 pm
“WHY IS IT? For some reason we can’t beat Steve Spurrier. He could go coach at Wofford and they would beat us!”
Because he is a much better head coach than Richt and every other coach we’ve had since Dooley’s retirement.
Michael
October 8th, 2012
3:51 pm
Preacher does not equal Head Football Coach and vice versa.