For Mark Richt and Georgia, the moment is finally at hand
Twelve years a Bulldog, Mark Richt's breakthrough chance comes Saturday. (AP photo by David Goldman)
Mark Richt apprenticed at Florida State when the Seminoles played for five national championships in eight seasons, and he came to Athens expecting more of the same. “That was the plan coming in,” he said Friday, “but it hasn’t happened yet.”
It could well happen Saturday. If Richt’s team wins the SEC championship game, the plan will have come to fruition. Twelve years Georgia’s coach, Richt has never been so close to playing for the BCS title. Twelve years Georgia’s coach, the path finally is clear.
A coach can never know when, or if, his moment will arrive. Richt had great early success – three division titles and two SEC championships in his first five years – and then he had rather less. We began to wonder if a fine career could ever bring the ultimate validation. Well, it’s there to be seized under the off-white roof of the Georgia Dome, there to be seized in the kind of game Richt has waited all his life to coach.
Beat Alabama, and Georgia will play Notre Dame for the national championship. “I don’t want to minimize the importance of the SEC (title),” said Richt, speaking at a media briefing, “but that (the BCS) does add a lot more juice.”
A program that went years without defeating an opponent of true consequence now gets its shot at the opponent of greatest consequence. Alabama is the gold standard of college football, and Bama is favored by a touchdown. But the feeling of those close to the Tide is that this is Nick Saban’s least imposing team of the past four – two of which have won national championships – and that Georgia is at least a match in talent.
There’s also this: A mighty wind has stationed itself at Georgia’s back. On Oct. 6, the Bulldogs lost at South Carolina 35-7, and no national-champion-to-be has ever lost by 28 points. But every week since has brought nothing but glad tidings to Georgia hearts. Consider:
- Oct. 13: The Bulldogs don’t play, but are buoyed by South Carolina’s loss at LSU.
- Oct. 20: The Bulldogs barely beat Kentucky, but the bigger news is that South Carolina has lost again, this time at Florida. Georgia has the opening it needs to win the Eastern Division.
- Oct. 27: The Bulldogs beat the hated Gators to move to the top of the SEC East.
- Nov. 3: The Bulldogs beat Ole Miss and then see Alabama, which some were suggesting was good enough to handle an NFL team, barely escape at LSU.
- Nov. 10: The Bulldogs beat Auburn to clinch the East in game that begins an hour after Texas A&M upsets Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
- Nov. 17: The Bulldogs beat Georgia Southern, and much later they watch as Kansas State, ranked No. 1 in the BCS standings, and Oregon, ranked No. 2, both lose. Georgia ascends to No. 3 the next day, rendering the SEC championship against No. 2 Alabama a BCS play-in.
- Nov. 24: The Bulldogs pound Georgia Tech like a kettledrum.
Over seven giddy weeks, Georgia grew from a puzzling aggregation into a powerful one. Said Richt: “We have a lot of momentum.”
A month ago, the Bulldogs didn’t figure to stand a chance against mighty Bama. Today they’re seen by most neutral observers as a live underdog with a real chance, and even those picking the Tide are doing it largely because of the Tide’s experience in games of such magnitude. But this is a younger Bama team, and true eminence could be a year away.
For Georgia, both gifted and seasoned, a grand opportunity is at hand – an opportunity denied this program since the Bulldogs faced Penn State on Jan. 1, 1983. It was Herschel Walker’s last night as an amateur, and for 30 years Bulldog Nation has waited, not entirely patiently, for another chance at another national title.
For those long-suffering fans, for a coach who once seemed to have run out of ideas, for a team that was routed in its first real test of 2012 … for everyone involved with Georgia football, the moment has arrived. One massive game against one formidable opponent, one Dawg day of deliverance. Georgia 27, Alabama 20.
By Mark Bradley
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381 comments Add your comment
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 30th, 2012
8:13 pm
Mark,
Good article and nice comment “UGA pounds Georgia Tech like a kettledrum”.
CPJ called it a thumping but what I saw in Athens was more like GT getting crushed or destroyed.
Tomorrow won’t be like playing GT so DAWGS will have to play maybe better than 2nd half against FL.
Should be great and close deep into the 4th.
The Nature Boy
November 30th, 2012
8:22 pm
Danny Ford started cheating in nursery school…….
kingdaddy
November 30th, 2012
8:26 pm
Damn, I opened the door, and nobody walked in, lol…me and Jose are going to the Dew Drop Inn. Bring your happy a$$…
JB
November 30th, 2012
8:27 pm
Interesting IMO that the outcome will depend on how Dawgs play, Not Bama. A Saban coached team ( And I’m ALL DAWG) Is pretty predictable. Dawgs, not so much.Bama throws the ball 5 to 10 yards better than anyone I’ve ever watched to move the chains. If you don’t defend it, they will do it all night. They do it out of 3rd and 3 or 4. Bama is so good because you rarely get them in 3rd and long. Go Dawgs
ARdawg
November 30th, 2012
8:27 pm
Under the Bleachers
Good luck to your boys and may the best team win *cough* GEORGIA*cough*
Please don’t turn into a Tech fans on us. Georgia’s schedule is what it is. Bama’s schedule is no more impressive unless you wish to hang your hat on Meesheegan. Really? Meesheegan?
Georgia beat 11 of the teams that showed up on gameday, just like Bama. Georgia’s lone loss was at the same place Bama lost a couple of years ago and for much the same reason. The winner of this game will continue on and dismantle ND and if it’s not my Dawgs I will be a Bama fan
WestOfAthens
November 30th, 2012
8:27 pm
I have read enough of this, watched enough, and listened to enough of the breakdown of this MONSTER game on Saturday.
Ready for kickoff, the BEST team will win.
Stars align HBTD
ARdawg
November 30th, 2012
8:30 pm
Let the Big Dawg eat!!!!
indianaDawgfan
November 30th, 2012
8:31 pm
Great things can be accomplished by winning tomorrow. Winning these games are what change recruiting wars for America’s best college prospects, the high school players who live in Georgia.
lifelongUGAfan
November 30th, 2012
8:34 pm
All of the “what if’s”, “easy schedule”, and “UGA’s past” is over at 4:00 PM Saturday. It doesn’t matter how you get there or who you beat, the bottom line is Notre Dame earned the right to play for the National Title and the winner of Ala and Uga will join them. Sounds to me like a bunch of sour grapes out there. Every fan EXCEPT those of Notre Dame, Ala., and Uga. wish their team was still in the grand hunt. Therefore, they get on here and bash the Dawgs. I have been a Uga fan since I was old enough to decide. Every year I wish the Dawgs could make the NC game. When those hopes fade, I cheer for the SEC. Why not because in college football, NO other conference is as strong and relevant every year. GO DAWGS and the SEC!
william cranman
November 30th, 2012
8:35 pm
Mark, great column as usual. I really enjoy your work. Go Dawgs!
indianaDawgfan
November 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Georgia seems to be home to the two sorriest 11-1 teams in the history of football, Georgia and the Atlanta Falcons. Being a Georgia native, I understand. Go Dawgs, and go Falcons.
Bitter dawg fan
November 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
This will be like——- ali vs frazier—-cant wait
———————–GO DAWGS———PS—TUSK–UR–LOOSERS
WestOfAthens
November 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
As a Dawg Fan, and most apparent, a Mark Richt fan, simply thankful to even be in this position. After ‘02 and ‘07 (without question Richt’s best teams, comparable to this years) fate rests in UGA’s control. Plenty of teams out there that wish to be in other’s shoes at the moment.
HBTD
jb
November 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
Alabama by 13 or more
Dewnsav
November 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
@Wet Willie…agree with your 7:29 post 100%…not only do you need great players and coaching, you need breaks/bounces going your way to win it all…and if you’re in the SEC, it is war almost weekly…Mt. Cody, blocked field goal(s) against Tennessee…LSU needing a bunch of teams to lose in the last week, and it happened…this year’s storyline will be Oregon and K-State, both prohibitive favorites, going down in the same night opening the door for the SEC champ to slide in the driver’s seat…who ‘da thunk it…don’t know who will win, but hope it is a barn burner with the dogs coming out on top…go dogs
ARdawg
November 30th, 2012
8:42 pm
Makes me nervous as a hooker in church when Holtz picks Georgia to win anything. Has that ever happened?
indianaDawgfan
November 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
“God doesn’t care who wins football games, but His Mother does.”– Lou Holtz. Yes he said that. He wants Georgia to win because he thinks they are easier for the Virgin Mary’s team to beat.
dawgette
November 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
Good luck Coach Richt & you hairy DAWGS!
WestOfAthens
November 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
ARdawg: Holtz wants the rematch as well, albeit he is the homer of all homers the 4 letter network employs.
Pollack picked Florida!
Predictor
November 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
UA 42 – UGA 14
Great Falconi
November 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
I think we all knew Mark would pick the Dawgs to win this one. Let’s hope he’s right.
The Nature Boy
November 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
@ARdawg…I’m as nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory….
blamegame
November 30th, 2012
8:50 pm
Bammy has the fear fever
WestOfAthens
November 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
Had a surge of curiousity. I asked “what was that?”
There was a sense, compelling tone, telling me “Georgia will win tomorrow”
I asked “how?” It replied “Georgia will win tomorrow”
HBTD
This one is personal
November 30th, 2012
8:52 pm
For Richt. . . win here and he leaves a legacy. Quiets the doubters. Lose here and the nay-sayers will continue to criticize. For Saban, its just another game, another chance, it does not rise to the same level.
Dogs win by 3.
Mobile Dawg
November 30th, 2012
9:03 pm
This is going to be a high pressure game the first few minutes, I hope the coaches give the (offense) players (Murray) a chance to settle in before opening the floodgates.
ARdawg
November 30th, 2012
9:07 pm
WestOF
Yes he is. The 4 letter network (I like that) attempts to try and appear “objective” while snicker all the time. No matter the game May and Holtz will disagree. The problem with that is the personalities egos are too big. When they are right we never hear the end of it and when they are wrong we never hear it again. Nothing but ego and marketing
GATA
November 30th, 2012
9:12 pm
I just hope we don’t gotta beat the tide and officials too
no dawg
November 30th, 2012
9:13 pm
No more waiting
no dawg
November 30th, 2012
9:14 pm
Beat down on the way ROLL TIDE
Discount DoubleDawg
November 30th, 2012
9:16 pm
This is what it’s all about boys… playing football in December with a chance to play for a National Championship. I was young when Herschel ran wild and the Dawgs were THE team in the early 80’s. In some ways it was those games from 80 through 82 that made me such a football fan.
My years in Athens were not as fruitful as I sat and watched the Goff era end and the Donnan era begin. I love UGA, Athens, and of course Georgia football but those were some tough years. Those years are why I am such a supporter of Richt today (that and watching UT fire Fulmer and suffer).
Anyway, here we are today with a chance… and I just love it. If we lose I will be disappointed and a little frustrated but I will still bleed red and black and will support Richt and team no matter what. However, I just have a hunch… just a small hunch that this just might be the year. This might be our time when things go our way.
–Gurley rips off a 61 yard TD run… Murray dials in a sweet fade pass to TK for a score. Sack-Man Jones blindsides AJM and causes a fumble. Ogletree makes a drive stopping tackle in the 4th.– Maybe I am just dreaming, but maybe not… I probably am because I can almost hear Munson as I type this.
If we win, here is how- the O line plays well, Gurley/Marshall go for 150+, win the turnover battle, and above all else Murray has a good game.
I will be there tomorrow at 4pm and I am looking forward to seeing what happens. Win or lose I am a DAWG… but tomorrow I say we win. I don’t predict scores but I do predict a W.
Go DAWSG!
GATA
November 30th, 2012
9:17 pm
@ no dawg I got 2 Benjamin’s in my pocket that says your full of sh.t
Deep Down Inside
November 30th, 2012
9:17 pm
The best team doesn’t always win. They usually do, but not always.
UGA is hoping that the best team doesn’t win tomorrow. It could happen. I’d give the Dawgs about 20% odds of pulling off the upset.
no dawg
November 30th, 2012
9:19 pm
Do you guys really think you can win.
Roy
November 30th, 2012
9:20 pm
For A lot of players on Bama’s team this will be their first experience on a big stage so don’t make it seem like UGA has never been on this stage. They were just here last year..Bama hasn’t been in the SEC title game since 2009. UGA has that advantage. Alabama is a good team yes, but are they unbeatable? Hell no. Let’s do it Dawgs! If the O-line blocks, UGA wins.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
Go DAWGS!
sorry… got a little too fired up there at the end of the last post
jlmdra
November 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Bet on Saban and the triumph of evil.
Big Game
November 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
Sure, Georgia has played in some big games lately. They just haven’t won any of them.
Roy
November 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
If our defense can consistently get Bama’s offense in 3rd and long, I just don’t think McCarron can drop back and pass the ball 30 times to win this game. Shutting down Lacy and Yeldon is going to be crucial. It won’t be easy, but I think we have the linebackers to do it. Jones, Ogletree, Hererra, Gilliard, Jordan Jenkins, etc…and we have the biggest D-line in college football playing with their hair on fire….we’ll be fine on defense.
GATA
November 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
NO DAWG you act like the tide are the 84 bears. Trust me GA will give your boys hell watch and see
Under The Bleachers
November 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
ARDawg,
Hope all is well sir.
I was not trying to downgrade UGA’s Schedule, I was marking the way UGA played earlier in the year against teams they should have blown out early but allowed to hang around, ie Tennessee.
I cannot say anything about schedule unless it involves outer conference stuff and Alabama’s outside of Michigan in Dallas was not much to be desired( by the way if UGA loses they play Michigan in the Capitol One Bowl).
Good luck to you and your dawgs but not too much luck, You guys have a great team.
Roy
November 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
I also expect Gurley to get the ball a lot in this one. Sort of the way he carried the ball vs. Florida (another great defense)…Gurley ran 27 times for 118 yards and a touchdown vs. Florida. This isn’t Keith Marshall’s kinda game. He’s just not the pounder Gurley is. This is the game that Gurley belongs in. He’s big, powerful, physical, and he also has great speed. Give Gurley 30 carries in this one. He’ll be a tired young man, and probably beat up, but we’ll be raising the trophy if we do.
Big Game
November 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
Roy,
Why do you believe that AJ will suddenly lose his ability to play quarterback?
I guess hoping the other team doesn’t show up is a strategy… Sort of.
Under The Bleachers
November 30th, 2012
9:28 pm
UGA will have to load the box to stop the run, and then your OLB’s will have to cover TE’s leaving big gaps behind them for crossing routes, typical NFL offense as Saban likes to run.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
The x’s and o’s and certainly important tomorrow. In fact, very important. I just think momemtum is critical tomorrow. Not just in the 1st quarter but especially in the second half. I think the team that comes out in the second half with the best game-plan and intensity will win. A few big plays in the second half will probably win the game.
no dawg
November 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
GATA I will enjoy watching your mutts lose another big game.They always do.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 30th, 2012
9:37 pm
no dawg- what year did you drop out of tech?
Big Game
November 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
At some point in the game tomorrow, Georgia will quit. I just hope that, when they do, their undisciplined defensive players won’t spend the rest of the game attempting to injure players out of frustration. Georgia is a very dirty football team. Thug U was definitely a characteristic that Mark Richt brought with him from Free Shoes University.
valinor
November 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
National Championship? Really? This is it! Everyone here should be an SEC fan… If not than you need to get a life… tomorrow is our game… win or lose… this is the SEC baby… screw the game in January… that’s for everybody else…
Roy
November 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
McCarron isn’t on Murray’s level as far as slinging the ball around. McCarron is more of a game manager, short pass, high percentage type QB (which is not an insult)…Murray is your typical drop back passer…he’s #1 in the nation in passing efficiency…he’s the only QB in SEC history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in 3 consecutive seasons and he’s going to break the SEC’s All-Time record for touchdowns if he comes back next year.