Richt was right: UGA is ‘knocking on the door’ of greatness
Noted critic Mark Richt gave Georgia's clinching of the SEC East two thumbs up. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Mark Richt called this shot. Speaking in Tampa on the first day of 2012, he said of his Georgia Bulldogs: ““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.”
Some folks tittered, noting that Georgia had just lost the SEC championship game by 32 points. A day later, when the Bulldogs (and Richt, too) messed up every which way in blowing the Outback Bowl to Michigan State, the tee-hees became hardy-har-hars. A team that had gone 0-4 against ranked opponents would go on to achieve “the greatest success you can have in college football”? Dream on, brother.
Eleven months later, the dreamer awakes and smells a heady blend of coffee. If the Bulldogs beat Georgia Tech on Saturday, they will stand on the cusp of the BCS title game. Granted, they’ll face a massive impediment in Alabama (presuming it beats Auburn, which it will), but still: For the first time since Richt took up residence in Athens, his team has a clear path to the national championship. Which only lends greater resonance to the second half of that January pronouncement: “If you knock long enough, you’ll eventually break through.”
In 2002, when the Bulldogs went 13-1 and took the school’s first SEC title in two decades in Year 2 under Richt, a BCS title seemed this reborn program’s manifest destiny. But LSU beat Georgia twice in 2003, and Tennessee upset the Bulldogs in Athens the next year, and Georgia’s 2005 SEC champs had two losses in a year when being undefeated wouldn’t have been enough, what with USC and Texas, the preseason Nos. 1 and 2, staying unbeaten until they met in the Rose Bowl.
Manifest destiny hadn’t yet manifested itself, and after a decade on the job it wasn’t clear that Richt would take a team beyond an SEC championship. Which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself, but when five different SEC schools were taking BCS titles while Georgia was stuck on 1980, it was possible to ask if Richt’s moment had passed without ever arriving.
Twice his teams had come close. The once-beaten 2002 Bulldogs finished third in the BCS standings, behind unbeatens Miami and Ohio State. In 2007 Georgia stood fourth in the penultimate BCS rankings and saw No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia lose … but somehow the Bulldogs dropped to fifth. The voters’ apparent rationale: A team that didn’t win its conference shouldn’t be allowed to play for the national title. (Not that it stopped Alabama last season.)
The 2008 Bulldogs of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno and A.J. Green were ranked No. 1 in preseason but got little right. A slew of summer arrests left Georgia reeling before the team held its first practice, and the bubble burst on an awful night in Sanford Stadium that saw Alabama lead 31-0 at the half. That team would lose only three games, but they were epic failures: The drubbing by Alabama, the 49-10 flop against national-champ-to-be Florida and Richt’s only loss to Georgia Tech, a 45-42 game the Bulldogs led 28-12 at halftime.
The next two years were a clear retreat. Georgia went 8-5 , then 6-7. The program that once could beat anyone anywhere closed 2010 by losing to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl on a day the Bulldogs couldn’t manage a touchdown. The 2011 season began with losses to Boise State and South Carolina, and there was no guarantee Richt would be coaching this team in 2012. But Georgia started winning and, benefiting from a soft schedule, claimed the SEC East. Then it lost emphatically to LSU and egregiously to Michigan State, and it was hard to know what to think. Were the Bulldogs back? Or had they just gotten lucky?
Even this season, there were times we wondered. The 35-7 loss at South Carolina was one of the worst performances by any Richt team, and the halting victory at Kentucky wasn’t much better. But then Georgia went to Jacksonville and upset its nemesis, and everything changed. For the first time since 2007, this coach and this program had won a game against an opponent of consequence, and today the Bulldogs are 10-1, ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings with a date against No. 2 surely upcoming.
Twelve years on the job, Richt finally has Georgia in position to play for a national championship. All it has to do is win these next two games. Asked Wednesday on the SEC conference call how it felt not to need any outside assistance, Richt ducked the question: “I’m not going to make a comment on it. I’m focused on trying to beat Georgia Tech.”
It’s possible Georgia could lose to Tech, and the Bulldogs will be an underdog against Alabama. But even if this season doesn’t end with the Bulldogs hoisting the crystal trophy, the dreamer has already been proved a prophet. His team is indeed knocking on a door that has been closed to Georgia for three decades. His team is three games from glory.
By Mark Bradley
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441 comments Add your comment
Oldawg
November 21st, 2012
3:56 pm
Greatness???? After the beatdown by the Spurriers and the near debacle at KY????? As they say on ESPN C’mon Man!!!!
gt4ever
November 21st, 2012
3:57 pm
Hey JB, I think you just got beat out by joe jenkins… He shouldn’t start drinking so early….
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
November 21st, 2012
3:57 pm
Great teams don’t lose by 28 to divisional foes they are more talented than.
WDE
November 21st, 2012
3:57 pm
Beat Bug U and then we can talk about the next step in this 3 step program…Go Dogs !
Little Richard
November 21st, 2012
3:57 pm
You keep a knockin’ but you can’t come in,
Come back next season and try it again…
Jsonic
November 21st, 2012
3:58 pm
Under The Bleachers
Don’t believe the overated talk about ND. Never said they were great but they are easily just as good as UGA. The Irish defensive front WILL contain UGA’s running game and force them to pass. They will contain the deep threat and force UGA to throw medium/short passes all night to nowhere like they did against Oklahoma. UGA will blitz and nail Golson alot. ND will switch to short passing routes and then open up the run game.
Like I said it will be close. UGA will probably have the better passing game but ND will run all over them. It will come down to a field goal.
Under The Bleachers
November 21st, 2012
3:58 pm
Red Stick,
Pat Forde may be reporting it today, but practically everyone in and around Auburn including the media have known about it for quite some time. The coaches pulled off recruiting has even given some major fodder that Chizik has already determined that early this summer that Trooper and others would not be returning to Auburn after the current season. It just looks now that Chizik will not be returning either.
Yahoo Sports
November 21st, 2012
4:00 pm
Pat Forde is reporting today Auburn is under investigation, Taylor And Luper at the center.
Uh-oh, hasta la vista Chiz!
gdawginkalamazoo
November 21st, 2012
4:00 pm
I don’t think that I would trade our coach for a Gene Chizik/Cam Newton one NC and wreck of a program like Auburn has become. Nor would I trade our coach for a Joe Paterno type legacy either. Coach Richt will get there one day and I hope is as coach of the Bulldogs.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 21st, 2012
4:01 pm
Greatness …really…talk is cheap and UGA is good at that no doubt.
Under The Bleachers
November 21st, 2012
4:02 pm
gdawginkalamazoo
November 21st, 2012
4:00 pm
I don’t think that I would trade our coach for a Gene Chizik/Cam Newton one NC and wreck of a program like Auburn has become. Nor would I trade our coach for a Joe Paterno type legacy either. Coach Richt will get there one day and I hope is as coach of the Bulldogs.
Just better not hope that he is old as Joe was when he wins his Title.
Old Dog Class of 80
November 21st, 2012
4:06 pm
“MURRAY WILL HAVE ANOTHER CAREER HIGH BABY”
Of course he will – because CMR is gonna leave him in there to pad his stats. There is NO need to get a secondary QB trained up. Murray ain’t gonna get injured … or leave for the NFL. No backup needed. (Can you say Joe Cox?)
Joey
November 21st, 2012
4:09 pm
“Yahoo Sports is reporting that Auburn is being investigated by the NCAA.”
*************************************
Say it ain’t so, Red Stick!
Boy, if it is so, Auburn sure ain’t gettin the bang for the buck they did a couple years ago . . .
Jsonic
November 21st, 2012
4:22 pm
Under The Bleachers
Don’t buy into that the Irish are overated. I never said that they were great but they are easily as good as UGA.
Nobody has had a crazy difficult schedule this year so everybody has question marks. Currently though according to info at ncaa.org ND SOS is ranked 22nd where UGA is 69th.
Keep thinking that about the Irish though please! Can’t wait for the Irish and UGA to play in the NC!
We (did) Run The East
November 21st, 2012
4:37 pm
Oldawg has it right above- UGA best team in nation? C’mon Man, get real. UGA not even best team in SEC East!
Kenny
November 21st, 2012
4:44 pm
David C- What a idot you are! I guess your one of those blow hard Bammer Fans!!!! You guys got lucky last year ….Ok-State should have played LSU and you no it!!
Kenny
November 21st, 2012
4:45 pm
David C- your Stupid!
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
4:54 pm
Patched Tire- in response to your 3:05 post. I never said I did not want to raise the crystal ball but only that I am realistic and happy with the state of our program. I never said, we can’t improve or that we should become overly complacent. I think we all know things could easily be much worse in Athens (remember Gofff, Donnan?)… Take a look at UT right now. The fact is we have a really good program and I think that is a good thing. The complainers just don’t seem to have much perspective.
I’m proud to be a Dawg, proud of Richt, and proud of the boys who trot out on the field every Saturday. Yes, we can improve, I get that… I would just prefer to be a realistic optimist rather than an idealistic pessimist.. Go Dawgs!
Joey
November 21st, 2012
4:59 pm
“UGA not even best team in SEC East!”
*********************************
Ok genius, tell us who is?
Henry
November 21st, 2012
5:09 pm
The nerds keep bring up our loss to SC, yes it was bad. But it was no worse than the beatdown you suffered at the hands of Middle Tennessee State or BYU. So don’t give us that crap.
crawdad
November 21st, 2012
5:12 pm
n.d. should have some kinda confernce game to play befor they play in the n.c.
Woofy One
November 21st, 2012
5:13 pm
Dawgs are indeed hungry. The question on the field will be can they eat all four quarters.
Ghost
November 21st, 2012
5:17 pm
Old Dog, Do you watch the games, Murray hasn’t played in the 4th quarter in 4 games (Vandy, Fl. Atl,Auburn, ga. Southern ) and only played 1 series of 4th quarter in 2 other games. imagine what his stats would look like if Richt tried to pad his stats in those games.
Stinger 2
November 21st, 2012
5:25 pm
Hatr to say this but based on the advantages the UGA football program has over GT, there should be no reason for UGA fans to worry about Sat. However, the SECCG
is a totally different matter. UGA must play their best game possible to beat Alabama.
If they do, I will pull for them to win the NC.
BravesFan79
November 21st, 2012
5:29 pm
Any sport were your team can go undefeated and still have NO chance at a national title, ISNT a sport, its a dog and pony show!! Thank God im from a area with a NFL team… Go Falcons!
Paco del Chupacabras
November 21st, 2012
5:35 pm
Georgia is the fourth-fifth best team in the conference right now.
Tampa Gator
November 21st, 2012
5:42 pm
Georgia beats Tech and then upsets Bama in SEC title game. Florida upsets FSU. USC upsets Notre Dame. UCLA beats Oregon in Pac 10 championship game.
Georgia plays Florida for the National Title………Florida wins. Greatness continues.
Just dreaming like you Dawg fans…..do.
BDK
November 21st, 2012
5:44 pm
UGA IS knocking on the door. If they win out, they deserve recognition as the best team in the nation. Beating two #2’s and a #1 should leave no doubt. Go Dawgs!
We (did) Run The East
November 21st, 2012
5:48 pm
Joey- 35-7, remeber that. Absolutely no fight, no heart. A team that lays down like that when challenged is not the best in East and definitely not NC material
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
5:52 pm
Tampa- nothing wrong with that. Any time you are playing ball in late November and still have a shot it is a good season.
BDK
November 21st, 2012
5:52 pm
@ Tampa Gator
I can see all of those scenarios except for UCLA beating Oregon. But stranger things have happened such as last weekend. I do think Florida could contain the FSU offense with their SEC defense and win that battle.
claytondawg
November 21st, 2012
5:53 pm
I like Tampa Gator’s comment just above in that we ‘Dog fans do get rather delusional. Ok, big-ass delusional sometimes. ha. But, let’s hope the team–not us, the fans–plays one game at a time with a mission, a goal. That goal is winning. Some of you stated it correctly: if the ‘Dogs are hungry, they will win.
excited but uncertain
November 21st, 2012
5:55 pm
I’m as excited as anybody (I already have my SEC tickets) but I still want to see how we play in a big game. We got waxed by SC and I’m still not sure how much of the win over Florida is a result of their play (specifically their turnovers). I guess I’m just not certain that we’re a top 5 team. The next toughest games on our schedule have been Vanderbilt and Ole Miss (although, we did hammer both of them).
The game against Alabama should tell us where we’re at as a program.
crawdad
November 21st, 2012
5:55 pm
didnt th gators give s.c. a good beat down ?
Jsonic
November 21st, 2012
5:56 pm
BravesFan79
What are you talking about?
Mike
November 21st, 2012
5:56 pm
I’m guessing his prediction was put forth once he saw the schedule gods smile on him for the umpteenth year.
Henry
November 21st, 2012
5:58 pm
If Georgia wins out and wins the national title game over ND they would have beaten two #2 teams at the time, and a #1 team in the country. Even the nerds would have to give props off that. What excuse would it be then? You say Murray can’t win the big games? He already has a win over a #2 team under his belt..if he beats Bama then goes on to beat ND in the title game, end of discussion. Georgia would be the best team in the land having beat Bama, Florida, and #1 Notre Dame all in the same year.
Henry
November 21st, 2012
6:01 pm
Tech fans are so jealous of Georgia it’s a shame really. If anything I think Tech is going to be looking ahead to Fla St next week because of their ACC “title” game when they’ve already proven they aren’t even the best team Middle Tennessee State or BYU has faced.
Uga team
November 21st, 2012
6:01 pm
Just asking the fans If UGA did loses to tech, bama and bowl game, is CMR back on the Hot seat?
Peter
November 21st, 2012
6:02 pm
I don’t see greatness to lose to SC 35-7. Beating Tech is not a gimme. And who thinks UGA can beat Bama who has the best coach in college football? The UGA coaching staff has not proved they can win the BIG GAME. Granted, they beat the Gators, but let’s wait and see what happens against Saban. Probaby a double digit loss. The Dawgs will never win a national championship with this coaching staff. As a Dawg fan for for almost 50 years, I hope I’m wrong.
Tampa Gator
November 21st, 2012
6:04 pm
Henry…
I believe…..if Georgia plays and beats Notre Dame…..that automatically makes them the BCS champ….no discussion needed…..since they would have already won the SEC title as well….unlike a certain team from last year.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
6:06 pm
Uga team- he probably would be but I would disagree that he should be… Actually, I take that back. If we lose to this Tech team our coach should be under scrutiny (not fired, but there should be action to improve the team). If we beat Tech and lose the next 2, no he should not be on the hot seat.
Lets be real about the Bama game. Yes, I think we can win but bama will be favored for a reason.
Noley Noley Noley
November 21st, 2012
6:06 pm
FSU will beat the day lights out of the Gators, and I am hoping somehow we would play UGA in a bowl game and hand UGA another Bowl Loss. UGA is overrated, have tons of players who are selfish and a coach who at his best when he was calling plays for Bobby with a boatload of talent in Tallahassee.
Pussy Galore
November 21st, 2012
6:07 pm
Dawgs are by far the bet team in the nation at this time. We whip Tech 41-10 and we whip Bama 38-17. then we win national title 42-7.
Tampa Gator
November 21st, 2012
6:07 pm
Peter….
I think Georgia is playing better than Bama right now…..and I think they will win in Atlanta. Just one man’s opinion. Murray is the best QB in the SEC as well. Again…..it largely depends on the play of the Georgia OL in Atlanta….as it did in Jacksonville….and all season long. The Georgia OL did not play well in Columbia……and we all know what result that caused.
Kevin
November 21st, 2012
6:11 pm
The only reason UGA is in this position is because of the kindness by the SEC in scheduling. 1-1 all year against ranked teams? And I believe only 2 wins all year over teams with a winning record. But even with that its doubtful UGA will be able to take advantage of the situation and raise any type of championship trophy conference or national. And at the end of the day knocking on the door is all they will be doing because come next year while UGA will be losing a ton of key players many others in their own division will be returning a ton of talent with Florida and S.Carolina.
mike addington
November 21st, 2012
6:12 pm
Until Murray doesn’t fall apart in big games, I’m a nonbeliever, although I’m convinced we have more talent than any team in the country and if Murray does play well, we can demolish any team in the country.
Noley Noley Noley
November 21st, 2012
6:16 pm
Tampa Gator
November 21st, 2012
6:07 pm
Peter….
I think Georgia is playing better than Bama right now…..and I think they will win in Atlanta. Just one man’s opinion. Murray is the best QB in the SEC as well. Again…..it largely depends on the play of the Georgia OL in Atlanta….as it did in Jacksonville….and all season long. The Georgia OL did not play well in Columbia……and we all know what result that caused
We all see where you get your logic from, after UGA beat UF you are attempting to hitch your wagon to UGA in hopes they win and your bogus scenario works it way out for a rematch. Well you can dream and wish but after a spanking in The Doak your Gators will fall faster than a fat man in a row boat. Your logic of UGA playing better than Alabama in the past few weeks is laughable. Who has UGA played in the past several weeks? Auburn, Ga. Southern, and now Techie Poo Poo. Not much when compared to who Alabama has seen in MSU, LSU, A&M, and a drubbing of W Carolina.
Winning on the road against a team like LSU is one thing, losing at home to a good football team like A&M is much much more difficult. You need to worry about who you have on saturday and how you plan to put your gator spin on it to satisfy your own issues.
Good luck to your Gators because you are going to need a great deal of it and maybe you and your gators will be able to find the endzone more than you have in the past several weeks.
Henry
November 21st, 2012
6:17 pm
Bama is not good against the pass which happens to be Georgia’s strong suit. We can also run the ball but it’s obvious UGA is more of a passing team with Murray and Bobo loving to get the ball downfield as much as possible. I just don’t think Bama would be able to slow Murray’s weapons down because like I said their secondary almost sucks. Florida has the best pass defense we’ve seen all year and will see. But we managed to beat those guys.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
6:17 pm
Tide rules is the sam tech troll who keeps posting the same boring lies… no bama fan could post this with a straight face…