Florida in Jax: Big for UGA, it’s even bigger for Mark Richt
"Did you know my darn strong football team is 6-1?" (AP photo)
The surest sign that Mark Richt is miffed: He cites numbers. He did it back in 2006, when Georgia was 5-0 but coming off shaky victories over Colorado and Ole Miss. (Those Bulldogs would lose four of their next five games, FYI.) He did it at the end of the 2008 season, which began with Georgia ranked No. 1 but wound down with Richt trying to make 10-3 sound like a major achievement. He did it again Saturday night.
Responding to a question (mine, actually) about the possibility that the halting performance against Kentucky had been a function of focusing more on the Florida-South Carolina score than the opponent at hand, he stopped in mid-answer. “Know what?” he said, his voice rising. “I’m happy with the victory. We’re 6-1. That’s not bad.”
Know what? He’s right. Georgia is 6-1, and 6-1 isn’t at all bad. (It’s good enough for 10th place in the BCS standings.) But now comes Florida, and this game will do more than define the Bulldogs’ season — it will shape the remainder of Mark Richt’s tenure at Georgia.
Richt has been in place since January 2001. He has — here we cite numbers for him — taken Georgia to two conference championships and four SEC title games. He has presided over seven 10-or-more-win seasons and seen his team finish in the Associated Press top 10 five times. Twice the Bulldogs under Richt have come close (in 2002 and 2007) to playing for the BCS title.
That said, his greatest successes came early, and not since 2007 — Richt’s seventh season — have the Bulldogs given their fans reason to believe the long-sought national championship is within reach. Thus have significant achievements come to be taken with a grain of salt. Winning the SEC East in 2011 was nice, but how nice is a season that features losses to the four best teams on the schedule? Being ranked No. 10 in the BCS is not nothing, but 17 days ago the Bulldogs were ranked No. 5 in the land, and not much good has happened since.
The question for Georgia and Richt is no longer about winning mere games; it’s about winning games of consequence, the games this program has ceased to win. South Carolina has become such a game, and the Bulldogs were embarrassed in Columbia on Oct. 6. Florida is another such game, though technically Georgia beat the Gators last season. But now the repellant reptiles are roaring again, and the Bulldogs under Richt still haven’t whipped a first-rate Florida team. (Richt’s three victories in Jacksonville have come against Gators who would finish 7-5, 9-4 and 7-6.)
If Georgia loses Saturday, it won’t repeat as SEC East champs. Given that the Bulldogs were picked to win the division in preseason, that would be a major disappointment. It would make last year’s return to prominence seem an aberration, not the new normal. Even worse, it would fuel the loaded question: If the 2012 Bulldogs, who came equipped with a bunny schedule and a seasoned quarterback and what seemed a mighty defense, couldn’t play for a conference or a national title, what Georgia team will?
Mark Richt is 52, which is considerably younger than Nick Saban or Les Miles, but a 10-2 season that doesn’t yield at least a division title would not play well among the noisier precincts of his constituency. That doesn’t mean Richt would get fired: There’s no way those in power would move to dislodge a coach who’s again winning 10 games a year. Still, the quality of life for Richt’s remaining seasons as Georgia’s coach would surely be lessened. The emphasis wouldn’t be on the many games Georgia has won but on the magnitude of the games it hasn’t. (No victory over a Top 10 team since 2009, et cetera.)
That the Bulldogs looked awful against South Carolina and awfully unimpressive against Kentucky could benefit the cause. Richt’s biggest victory over Florida — the Gator Stomp of 2007 — came when Georgia wasn’t expected to do anything except its usual Jacksonville flop. Now Florida, picked No. 3 in the SEC East, is ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings. Now this is considered Florida’s game to win.
But make no mistake: This is a game these Bulldogs and their coach need in the worst way. There have been breakthrough victories for Richt over the past 11 1/2 years — Tennessee in 2001, Auburn in 2002, Auburn again when Georgia had lost those four of five in 2006, Florida in 2007, maybe Georgia Tech in 2009 — but none lately. If Georgia wins, Mark Richt won’t need to invoke the record to remind us how good his program is. The record will again speak for itself.
Further reading: If you missed today’s Heat Check, it can be found here. (Georgia is mentioned.)
By Mark Bradley
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608 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
October 22nd, 2012
3:53 pm
Yo Joe, at least we atone for our mistakes in judgements. We cleaned house while dogs just sit, whine and drool.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 22nd, 2012
3:54 pm
King Gator, yes that really happened. Just another “big” game that we dropped. UCF or KFC or whoever we played wanted the game more and got it.
Buckeye
October 22nd, 2012
3:54 pm
Gotta go Joe. Mom says I have to practice for my piano lesson.
King Gator
October 22nd, 2012
3:54 pm
Mmmm, wine – I could use a glass or three…is it too early to start drinking? Go Gators!
Duke of Earl
October 22nd, 2012
3:54 pm
@TW
October 22nd, 2012
3:19 pm
You shouldn’t smear winning coaches simply because your coach is a loser.
Joey
October 22nd, 2012
3:55 pm
“Hopefully the Georgia coach’s aren’t to smart.”
********************************
They are smart, GN. Look at their paychecks.
Just not smart enough to beat teams of equal talent. If things aren’t going well Saturday, watch when the camera cut to the shots of Richt on the sideline.
Deer in the headlights. Clueless on how to fix it. He doesn’t even speak into the headset.
I’ve seen it for years in big games, and I’ve seen it for the last two games.
GimmeAbreak
October 22nd, 2012
3:58 pm
Dawgs? Motivated? Win a game against a ranked opponent? Yeah,right!
Realistic fans are embarrased by this “well, we won 10 in a row last year” and “we will be 10-2 at the end of the season”. ESPN’s difficulty of schedule has us at number 114! That means only 6 D-1 teams have easier schedules… and we are 6-1 so far! Will AU get its first conference win against UGA? Not too unlikely.
Why G Tech Sux
October 22nd, 2012
4:00 pm
From UGA:
Dear William C. Hartman Fund members,
Georgia Tech recently returned a limited quantity of tickets priced at $75 each. Contractual agreements stipulate that, for home events, schools may charge visiting teams the ticket price our patrons pay at the visiting team’s stadium. The visiting school may return unsold tickets to the home school. Those tickets are to be sold at the face value that is charged to the visiting team.
The returned tickets that are available will be located in the 600 level of Sanford Stadium.
KBP
October 22nd, 2012
4:02 pm
Flat Tire. . . The salaries of the coaching staff is not the problem. I think most fans would feel the same way if the salaries were less than half of what they are. Very few people would turn down an increase in salary. Enjoy reading your posts’ but don’t see the relevance of talking salaries.
Somehow Richt has got to get these kids to SHOW UP FOR 4 QUARTERS IN THE BIGGEST GAMES. Even Belichick loses SOME big games, but at least the Patriots show up.
Go Dawgs and if we don’t win, at least DON’T EMBARRASS US!
Joey
October 22nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Herschel’s dad worked at the pulp mill near Wrightsville, dummy. He made good money and bought the car for Herschel’s high school graduatio, as he did for all of his kids.
And yeah, y’all cleaned house – after the NCAA got on y’all’s butts. The Free Tatts U fired Tressell only when they couldn’t get around it – remember your president said, “I just hope Coach Tressell doesn’t fire me!”
I guess you forgot Clarett claimed he had an agent even as a freshman.
superdawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:03 pm
CONSIDERING THE QUALITY OF COACHING AT UGA THIS GAME FOR ALL PRACTICAL
PUPOSES WILL BE OVER IN TEN MINUTES. DAWGS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE
red hill
October 22nd, 2012
4:04 pm
I have zero faith in this coaching staff. There is no way that we will be prepared and Florida will be out for blood. I would be surprised if we stay within 3 touchdowns. I sincerely hope I am wrong but this is Mark Richt football.
What is wrong with GA fans
October 22nd, 2012
4:06 pm
I have diagnosed what is wrong with UGA fans. They suffer from the extreme fat-hunger known as “bunny rabbit-schedule” starvation.
Without an occasional meal of Gator meat, Gamecock stew, Bama beef or Tiger tenderlions, bunny rabbit schedule eaters, who exist only on a “Bunny Rabbit football Schedule” diet will develop diarrhea (of the mouth) in about a week after a loss to another top 10 team, with headache, lassitude, and a vague discomfort. If there are enough bunny rabbits on the schedule, the people eat till their stomachs are distended; but no matter how much they eat they feel unsatisfied.
This perfectly describes the current state of the bulldog nation, I believe.
Cobb Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:10 pm
Means we have a cupcake schedule and got embarrassed by the only decent team we played.
ss
October 22nd, 2012
4:11 pm
Sportstalk in Greenville SC was laughing at UGA today and the ranking. And if you people honestly haven’t beaten anyone ranked in the top ten except one since 2008 then I am inclined to agree. Why in the world are you people ranked 10th in BCS? What a joke.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:16 pm
Saban had 3 top 10 finishes in his frist 11 seasons.
Bear Bryant had 1.
Richt has had 6 top 10 finishes at UGA in hirst first 11 seasons.
200% MORE than Saban did.
600% MORE than Bryant did.
Richt’s a rare coach.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:17 pm
Richt’s already had two top 3 finishes at UGA, and with a .740 win % (better than Saban or Spurrier), Richt has no pressure on him and absolutely NOTHING TO PROVE.
HE DOESN’T GET PAID $2.8 MILLION FOR NOTHING, WE AIN’T DUMB.
Gator Nation, good post!
October 22nd, 2012
4:19 pm
The problem is, you can only forced a team to pass by stopping their running game….Kentucky looked
like Ala of a few years back. My Dogs can’t stop the run.
Does Mark need to change coordinators on both sides, or does Greg need to cut them all loose?
Bad Dawg, Yeck
October 22nd, 2012
4:20 pm
No, it means nothing. Dawgs continue to produce less with more. What good does Top 5 classes do when you can’t get beyond an occassional trip to Atlanta? Dawgs are most hyped team in America. Last and ONLY national champtionship was 32 years ago. Dawg fans must be so envious of LSU, Alabama, Florida and even Carolina. Heck, Auburn even has 2 national champtionships so I’ll count them in the mix. Dawgs are mid tier SEC and they can’t stand it! Woof, Woof.
SoCal Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:20 pm
The teams UGA has beat this year have a combined record of 13 wins and 31 loses. That us not even a .300 record.
LHarding Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:20 pm
Dang Mark, you sure know how to get the haters out. Keep up the great work!
JD
October 22nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Who is the idiot is sticking his tongue out at the camera in front of Richt on the sports page??
old dog
October 22nd, 2012
4:23 pm
“And now, the latest headlines!”
1. “A man attempting to walk aroud the world today drowned!”
2. “The results are in: Hillary’s thighs ARE bigger than Michael Turner’s!”
3. “The ‘Dawgs get torn up again up front….line crumbles in second half of Florida game!”
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:23 pm
aNYONE KNOW COMBINED RECORD OF TEAMS aLABAMA HAS BEATEN IN 2012?
Stinger2
October 22nd, 2012
4:24 pm
CMR is a great leader. UGA 24 UF 10.
SoCal Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:25 pm
Not a single team UGA has beat this year has a winning record.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:27 pm
dAWGS HAD 5 BAD PLAYS AGAINST sc, LOOKED PRETTY SHARP THE OTHER 59 MINUTES.
DAWGS LOOKED BAD AGAINST KENTUCKY? HOW DID FLORIDA LOOK AGAINST VANDERBILT, AND HOW DID SOUTH CAROLINA LOOK AGAINST FLORIDA?
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:28 pm
Alabama has beaten 4 teams, with a losing record.
Joey
October 22nd, 2012
4:29 pm
Patrick = Sammy = Dizzy = Fred
Man, give it up.
Richt can’t carry Saban’s jockstrap.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:29 pm
Richt had a .670 win % against top 25 teams in his first 5 years at UGA, higher than Saban’s first 5 years at Bama.
We’ll see how Saban does in his 12th year at Bama, in 2018.
Look, Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:29 pm
I don’t care how many losing teams Ala has beaten, the question is when will we start beating teams with WINNING RECORDS
Contractor
October 22nd, 2012
4:29 pm
Of course the record doesn’t mean anything. Who has Georgia beaten to deserve the 10th spot in the BCS? The only team they have played wiped the floor with them. Georgia wins against Florida, then they are deserving, but another loss to another ranked opponent discredits the entire program and some butts will be getting warm within the staff. Remember, this is the second year of having the easiest schedule in the SEC and Georgia has still put their destiny in other team’s hands instead of doing it on their own.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:30 pm
Richt has a 3-1 record against Alabama, and a 1-0 record against Muschamp.
Dizzy Needs to Be Locked Up in a Mental Institution
October 22nd, 2012
4:31 pm
Fred,
All those “top 3″s do not matter. As stated by the esteemed Ricky Bobby, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:31 pm
If you compare Richt’s 1st 11 seasons to Saban’s
Saban had 3 top 10 finishes
richt had 6.
Who’s better after their 1st 11 seasons?
Richt’s 2x better than Saban was after 11 seasons.
HPUCK
October 22nd, 2012
4:32 pm
You win SEC titles and National titles with defense ! Which Georgia has shown very little of. You can score 30 points but if you give up 40 you lose. This is not complicated.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Saban went 7-6 in his 12th seasons as a head coach.
Richt’s 6-1 so far. Looking at at least 10-2.
Stinger2
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Mark: Why are you being so hard on CMR? Do you really believe the majority of the UGA fanbase is like the anti-CMR crowd that posts negative insults on the AJC blogs?
I am first a GT fan but I like the UGA program too. Let the naysayers continue to rant and call for him to be fired. I doubt it bothers him at all. Its been going on so long that I believe he is immune to the trash talk by now.
Contractor
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Fred,
You have probably made the dumbest comment I have seen on a message board. “Richt had a .670 win % against top 25 teams in his first 5 years at UGA, higher than Saban’s first 5 years at Bama.
We’ll see how Saban does in his 12th year at Bama, in 2018.”
Nick Saban has already won two National Championships and is in line for his third. I’m still trying to figure the logic behind your post, but National Championships trump the percentages you’re throwing out there, because to win the big one you eventually beat the best and are in place to even win the title. Two titles in five years is something I will take over the statistic you threw out hoss.
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Auburn won with offense.
gabe
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
This is why you don’t fire Mark Richt. Remember how Tennessee fired Phillip Fulmer after one bad year. Auburn thought it was time to get rid of Tommy Tuberville. Now the programs are in a lot worse shape than they were with the two coaches. Firing Mark Richt doesn’t mean who you bring in will be any better. I would rather go to the national championship than the outback bowl too. But at the same time, I would rather go to the outback bowl than no bowl at all.
DarthDawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:33 pm
Remember, if UGA hasn’t beat anyone then neither has South Carolina!
please win !
October 22nd, 2012
4:34 pm
only my opinion , but to me it seems like the dawgs played with more passion etc ……. first 4 games , rambo / ogletree were missing but wow this team seemed alot more exciting , the dawgs get back these two hot guys and nothing happens , the dawgs seem like a firecracker that all of a sudden got very damp around the wick ! hold on folks , now kentucky has played a few sec schools pretty tight so give them some credit , they are down and out and looking to prove something , the dawgs are loosing ground cause everyone is down after the south carolina game – hard to believe but there is alot of power in the mental state when you have a ton of folks supporting you , cheering for you and the frenzy is there ——- the spark is missing ————- ALWAYS REMEMBER – THE MORE NEGATIVE THE TALK IS THE WORSE THEY PLAY – HAPPENS EVERYWHERE ———- GET POSITIVE , LETS GOOOOO DAWGS !!
Look, Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:34 pm
it’s not where you have been, but where you are going that counts and right now the trend line is down if the USCe game of this year is any indication of things to come.
Bobo is Not the Problem
October 22nd, 2012
4:35 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT.
BobDawg
October 22nd, 2012
4:35 pm
I finally figured out who we are… We are an ACC team playing in the SEC… just like Fla. State…Tons of skill players and yet we are not physical on either line… Tide Roll has been right all along about our O-line… and now we will know that Muschamp is building “Alabama East” right in front of our eyes after this weekend… Somebody get Kirby Smart before he is gone also….
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:35 pm
Richt might win 2 titles by his 18th season too.
Richt’s obnly in his 12th season as Head Coach
How many top 10 finishes did Saban have after 11 seasons?
3.
How many does Richt have after 11 seasons?
6.
6 = 2x more than 3.
Concerned
October 22nd, 2012
4:36 pm
Coach Richt ought to get Goldberg in to talk to the team about the importance of Saturday. He would definitely light a fire where no one else seems to be able to!
Fred
October 22nd, 2012
4:37 pm
If UGA hasn’t beaten anyone
why are they ranked #10 in the BCS?
please win !
October 22nd, 2012
4:38 pm
fire richt — why ? fire bobo — why ? FIRE UP THE TEAM FIRST ! georgia has great coaches , i admire them very much , who out there could come in and do any better , lets talk auburn situation – wow , now thats a program that needs what , not a better coach just motivation . i’d rather see georgia go to any bowl than nothing at all , look at all those programs out there with horrible records ———- 6-1 , great ! make it 11-1 even better !