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
Eric C.
December 1st, 2012
1:31 am
@Under the Bleachers…
“They played Ole Miss at home, before Ole Miss really got going”
WTH is Danielson talking about??? Ole Miss was on a roll coming into GA. Those are the kinds of statements that make you realize the talking heads are just p****** in the wind.
Eric C.
December 1st, 2012
1:34 am
Yeah, and how about having to face two triple option teams…including the team (GA Southern) that racked up 300+ yds rushing on ALABAMA last year.
I’m tired of the stats/talk…let’s get it on! Go Dawgs!!!
Fact Check Time
December 1st, 2012
1:34 am
Illinipuppy,
The UGa players will fit right in with the drug filled criminal NFL element, they are already NFL ready in that department and you are making excuses for them.
By the way, enjoy it now because if all those players are gone next year your defense will fall from 11th to last. Add to it Clemson, LSU, USC giving you their annual beating and Florida putting a no bark collar on the puppies it is going to be a long year.
As for the players who are playing for UGa you know in the real world they would never be allowed in the school and the graduation rates over the past 5 years make my point!
Jerry Seinfeld
December 1st, 2012
1:37 am
“They played Ole Miss at home, before Ole Miss really got going”
WTH is Danielson talking about??? Ole Miss was on a roll coming into GA. Those are the kinds of statements that make you realize the talking heads are just p****** in the wind.
They had won 2 in a row, would you call that a losing streak? Never mind the fact that Georgia absolutely eliminated the Rebel running game.
Eric C.
December 1st, 2012
1:40 am
Oh and David C, here is another stat for you…the UGA offense averages more yards per play than Texas A&M, pretty cool huh?
Here we go again
December 1st, 2012
1:45 am
I have to say, I really hope the Dogs come through for us in Dog nation…BUT, either team will DESTROY Notre Dame. Were the Irish in the SEC they’d be 8-3 at best.
Philosoraptor
December 1st, 2012
1:45 am
“When people complain about Georgia schedule, do they realize Alabama didn’t play Georgia, South Carolina or Florida this season?”
“When people obsess over Alabama’s great defense only being vulnerable against a hurry-up offense, do they remember what a traditional offense with an average quarterback did against the Tide in Death Valley?”
“Do Florida fans who complain about Georgia’s schedule do so to try to cover up the fact that Georgia simply outplayed them in Jacksonville?”
Tide will Roll
December 1st, 2012
1:54 am
DoubleDawg , We will be looking for you around 2000 tonight !!!!
Tide Rolls Baby 24-10 !!!!
Crimson Pride
December 1st, 2012
2:04 am
May the best team win! I hope Bama wins and feel we have the edge because of Georgia’s offensive line, but Coach Richt has his team playing very well right now. Their defense played very well against Florida and Ole Miss. Auburn… well, everybody plays good D against that offense haha. Richt seems to have them playing with a lot of confidence. I’m not sure they will be able to put up the points against our defense though. I’ve got faith in my team but if the Dogs win, I will cheer them on for the title game because I will always pull for an SEC team over Notre Dame. say the game ends up in a 24-17 victory.
Here we go again
December 1st, 2012
2:07 am
Yada yada yap yap yap…..let ‘me play ball.. Either team is capable of whipping the other, Richt has shown, repeatedly, that he can beat Lord Saban. Either team can beat the Fartin’ Arish.
Jerry Seinfeld
December 1st, 2012
2:13 am
Georgia’s schedule may have been easier than usual, but they won most of their games comfortably. Tell me, does Georgia have to beat bad teams 50-0 in order to earn more respect? They could have run it up against Tech, but Richt is too classy and smart to not risk injury for Murray and the starters. I could understand the argument of not beating anyone if your team is winning against bad teams every week by 10 or less and hanging on to win late. But with the exception of a couple of games, Georgia has been firmly ahead throughout against the “easy” teams.
newday in GA
December 1st, 2012
2:22 am
GA will turn over a new leaf on Championships later today!
Amen corner
December 1st, 2012
2:24 am
Here we go: Is this religion or good trench football?
drbasic1
December 1st, 2012
2:48 am
did my post get eaten?
drbasic1
December 1st, 2012
2:50 am
Classy post CRIMSON PRIDE
I feel the same, just switch it around for the DAWGS!
Fact Check Time
December 1st, 2012
3:08 am
Alabama 38
Georgia 20
RedandBlackDAWG
December 1st, 2012
3:48 am
If UGA’s young OL can do a decent job, them UGA stands a good chance of winning the game. They are the key, in my estimation to making this a very good game. It is going to take a supreme effort by these young kids to win the game.
UGA has a lot to gain and lose both in this game so I hope they stay disciplined, and in control of their positions. We shouldn’t expect to score 38 points on them, and they shouldn’t expect to score 38 against the DAWGS.
It is going to be a good game, and I believe this one personifies what college football and competition is all about.
GO DAWGS AND GATA
TheDocta
December 1st, 2012
5:45 am
As Erk once said, “the underdog has half the fun, and gets to keep the puppies”.
ND Man
December 1st, 2012
6:18 am
Alabama wins in a fairly easy manner today. UGA has looked great the last few weeks, but Kentucky, Auburn, Ga Southern and Tech will make most average teams look great. UGA has played 2..TWO…DOS teams with 8 wins and they are 1-1. I would have more respect for the program if they would actually play a better OOC opponent. Dont give me the SEC schedule, LSU, TENN, ALABAMA and others try..UGA goes and gets Buffalo and directional schools…total joke that they have all of these high rated classes, great facilities but yet ALWASY choke against a team or two.
MR is a hypocrite
December 1st, 2012
6:19 am
This just shows that good things happen to bad people!
The Voice of Reason
December 1st, 2012
6:25 am
I would – and suspect the rest of the country outside Tuscaloosa – root for Communist China vs. O’Saban Bin Lyin’ and AllahBama!
Lostfan
December 1st, 2012
7:10 am
Georgia will never win a championship game under CMR and CMB. They will be outcoached at every position.
Tim Scott
December 1st, 2012
7:16 am
Alabama by 4 TDS that is. All you great Georgia fans tonight you will be on this site and others screaming for CMR to be fired. Back in the day UGA had some of the greatest fans ever now however you may be the worst I have ever seen. Roll Tide, Go Gators
Burma Shave
December 1st, 2012
7:17 am
Richt has no clue what he’s doing
His dawgs are along for the ride
At the end of the day when all is done
Triumphant will be the Crimson Tide
BURMA SHAVE
Sweet Surrender
December 1st, 2012
7:22 am
Alabama 45, Leghumpers 10
All the silly dreams turn into Richt’s biggest nightmare in the Dome today.
But wait till next year!!!
juice sourcer
December 1st, 2012
7:22 am
There are at least 10-15 teams that would have a good chance at beating this Alabama team when playing them on a “neutral” site in their home state….Standord, Kansas State, Oregon, South Carolina, etc…..hell A & M beat them in Tuscaloosa….so Georgia is just very lucky with that pathetic schedule…if they had played just one difficult team from the West….we would not even be talking about them. The best team from the East,,,,clearly its South Carolina….for the 2nd year in a row is not playing in this game…Georgia is…..whats the message…have a cupcake schedule and anything is possible.
JB
December 1st, 2012
7:24 am
Something other than what’s happened the last 3 years with Richt,Bobo and Murray has to happen. The OL is better, the defense is way better…..and pray the kicking game doesn’t decide it. The Bama kicker is 60 of 60 PAT and 10 of 10 FG………We are suspect with freshman.. Go Dawgs
silver britches
December 1st, 2012
7:26 am
Bama puts on their pants just like everyone else. A&M went thru that superman D like a dose of salts and it was 20-0 in the 1st quarter. Murray will have a field day with Bama’s suspect D backfield. Bama is in a bind right off the bat. How do you stop the passing attack without giving up big yardage to 2 backs who have 1,800. How do you stop the run if you have to drop your LBs back in coverage and keep the safties from being burned for cheap TDs. Finally Rambo, Jones, and Ogletree have to be giving Kirby Smart nightmares. Dawgs by 14.
We (did) Run The East
December 1st, 2012
7:32 am
Yep, CLEARLY the best team in East for 3 yrs now, South Carolina. Dawgs move to 3rd in East and 5th in SEC today. Dawgs don’t deserve and have not earned greatness. Gonna be a blowout! Murray failed against SC and FL and will implode today. Clowney kept him up with nightmares and I am sure AL D-line has done the same.
We (did) Run The East
December 1st, 2012
7:35 am
If you mention AM by name you get “moderated”.
Buckeye
December 1st, 2012
7:37 am
Morning dogs
GT
December 1st, 2012
7:41 am
All those years you would have thought Georgia was Alabama if you read this paper, or even FSU, but now we are told the truth as they get ready for another game at the dorm because of scheduling that strongly favors them. Florida played three top ten teams in a row, not a word of significance give by this paper. South Carolina did the same thing. I mean there is only ten teams in the entire nation and both these teams played three top ten teams in a row, Georgia played two the entire season. One that was fresh that beat them very soundly for the third time in a row and one that had two very hard games before playing Georgia and still nearly beat them if it had not been for some unexplainable luck at the end. And to add insult to injury they take Alabama off their schedule and replace them with Missouri while Alabama plays Texas A & M. Who are these guys, who do they know, how do they get away with this.
Buckeye
December 1st, 2012
7:41 am
Gonna be a long day dogs, longer night
Truth
December 1st, 2012
7:45 am
This is the best team that the University of Georgia has ever fielded.
How good are they? We will know this evening.
This is not the best team that the University of Alabama has ever fielded, but they are very good. If Georgia manages to win this game, then there is no doubt that they will go on to win the National Championship.
doc
December 1st, 2012
7:51 am
great article—Mark
Tech Sucks
December 1st, 2012
7:52 am
Yessir. That will be the right score MB.
HPDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:00 am
The Dawgs want it more and it will show,
the Tide will ebb, their fans will go,
back to their life without new bling,
for the Dawgs will this time will wear
THE RING!!!!!!!!
HPDawg
martin
December 1st, 2012
8:01 am
To hear Georgia fans talk you would think that THEY have won 2 National Championships in the last 3 years. The question for Georgia fans is which defense shows up on Saturday, the one that shut down Florida or the one that surrendered 44 points to Tennessee. Georgia has a very overrated defense and a quarterback that has not been able to win the big games. Georgia has a chance but they must play a flawless game without 10 plus penalties.
GT
December 1st, 2012
8:03 am
You don’t hear much about the coaching; it is all about the teams where Georgia is clearly the better talent. What separates these teams is Saban is a real football coach, Kirby Smart understudied and has become in one system the finest defensive coach in the country. And they don’t need Williams telling them they are soft, Alabama team don’t come soft ask Tommy Bowden who was caught asking Saban how he put such tough teams on the field. If Georgia could concentrate on the goal one quarter like Alabama does for four they would win this thing but they won’t get their heads into it until it is over.
HPDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:11 am
Nick is walking aroung this morning,
he can’t eat, his wife he’s scorning.
He’s been the king of Bama for years,
tonight his fans will leave in tears.
And Lord Saban will be left to despair,
for today the Dawgs will raise the
SEC HARDWARE!!
GO DAWGS! GATA!!
HPDawg
Brown Dog
December 1st, 2012
8:17 am
Good luck to both teams. If Alabama can run it, they win. If Georgia can run it, it will go to the wire.
Will said it .......
December 1st, 2012
8:17 am
” We had our shot” said Coach Muschmp. Florida beat SC like a rented mule and Florida whipped BOTH TX A&M and LSU.
This is the reality of the SEC.
To say that ” UGA did not play” so and so is as invalid as saying that UGA id not play Oregon or UCLA, or the real USC. UGA PLAYED THER SCHEDULE. THAT PUT THEN IN THE DOQME..
The haters are out in their old gold and white.
Go Dogs!!!
MunsonFan
December 1st, 2012
8:18 am
He can do it, I KNOW he can! Other bright spots for me this year, listening to these two guys who have (to me) shaken things up as well. These “JoJaBoys” that do this broadcast of the game, pretty dang funny and REALLY fun to listen to. http://JoJaboys.com I spreading their link b/c I want them to keep doing this
JB
December 1st, 2012
8:19 am
GT….. Was does no one bring up that Bama did not HAVE TO PLAY UGA,SC or FLA this year?
JB
December 1st, 2012
8:20 am
whoops……WHY does no one
Correction for very uneducated GT blogger
December 1st, 2012
8:22 am
SEC placed Missouri on the UGA schedule instead of Alabama.
UGA should remove GT from our schedule.
Go Dogs.
Truth
December 1st, 2012
8:22 am
@JB
Because everyone understands that the East Division is still the weak sister in the SEC.
Bamahere
December 1st, 2012
8:24 am
Get real dogs, this game will not even be close. We don’t see you every year so you are not as hated a rival as Auburn and LSU for us but you basically are a SEC B team. I would expect this game to be much like the S Carolina game for you, so just pull for us against N Dame so you at least will be able to say you are in a conference that won the NC. You sure are not going to.
What they’re saying in Georgia about Alabama’s SEC Championship Game opponent (game-day links) – Alabama – Crimson Tide News
December 1st, 2012
8:29 am
[...] AJC.com, the website of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:* For Mark Richt and Georgia the moment is finally at hand* GAME DAY: Georgia-Alabama preview* Junkyard Blawg: Dawgs need a nearly perfect game to stem the [...]
DogFaceBlues
December 1st, 2012
8:42 am
Lets Get Ready to Rumble!