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
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
11:57 am
…..and Truth…..
They were lucky to play SC when they did…..and FSU when they did……….and….if Florida played A&M today…..they would win again because Florida’s defense is even better now….and the offense is a lot better now. I am not sure any team in the SEC would beat Florida right now….or anyone in the country for that matter. But the TRUTH is….Truth…..A&M does not get to play Florida right now…..and Florida does not get to play Georgia or Alabama right now.
danny
December 1st, 2012
12:10 pm
David Pollack is absolutely GUTLESS! Has turned into nothing but another ESPN pawn
Joey
December 1st, 2012
12:18 pm
“The only thing that Georgia could do against them was hit long passes.”
************************************************
Truth, UGA had 533 total yards, 384 passing (21 completions) and 149 yards rushing.
Keep trying, but you are looking ridiculous.
Joey
December 1st, 2012
12:20 pm
“The only thing that Georgia could do against them was hit long passes.”
************************************************
Truth, you musta fell asleep. Against Ole Miss, UGA has 533 total yards, 384 passing (21 completions) and 149 yards rushing.
Keep trying, but you are looking petty, and not very informed.
Dewnsav
December 1st, 2012
12:26 pm
personally I’m glad all the ESPN boys are picking Bama…means nothing to me…Bama favored by a touchdown so I can’t blame ‘em…they are like the weather man, 50/50 chance…the game will be played and hopefully the dogs will be the one left standing…we’ll see soon enough…go dogs
SSIgator
December 1st, 2012
12:28 pm
Joey -
Like reading your posts of late. Sounding much more rational and clear headed in your thoughts. If Alabama beats UGA like they are projected to then the focus will once more swing back to what has been wrong with this UGA picture for several years now – coaching. Another UGA meltdown today and maybe, finally, the UGA fans will recognize the limited skill set that the staff utilizes. If somehow UGA wins St. Markus Rectumus will be crowned a genius by the UGA Kool-Aid Club. Either way, it will be interesting.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
12:33 pm
Danny,
David Pollack was asked his honest opinion and he gave it. His heart says Georgia. His head says Bama. A lot of Georgia fans seem to be of the same opinion.
Bottom line is that Georgia can win this game. But the only way they can win is if they use the same formula as LSU and Tam. 1- Aaron Murray is going to have to have the game of his life 2- UGA cannot turn the ball over at all against Bama 3- You’ve got to hope and pray Bama turns the ball over several times as we did against LSU and Tam. In other words your qb has to produce the best game of his life, your team has to play perfect, and you have to hope Bama makes uncharachteristic mistakes. Otherwise you have no chance.
SSIgator
December 1st, 2012
12:35 pm
Tide Rising -
Good luck to you guys today. Hopefully we will get to me in Atlanta a year from now.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
12:38 pm
“Keep trying, but you are looking petty, and not very informed.”
Georgia played very well against Ole Miss. Much better than Bama or most other teams did. But so what? They had 5 common opponents if I remember correctly and Bama played better against 3 of the 5 than Georgia did.
And in the Ole Miss game Georgia just matched up very well with them. Ole Miss is very poor at pass defense(just ask Tejas) and Georgia is great passing against weak defenses.
UGA’s problem is when they have to pass against a great D like Florida or S. Carolina.
collegeballfan
December 1st, 2012
12:40 pm
If the UGA OL blocks Bama, UGA wins.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
12:43 pm
SSIGator,
Thanks man. Gators are young. In the wayyy to early preseason projections for 2013 I would put UF at no 1 or in the top 3. I would even put them ahead of my guys. I gave up the faith when I picked FSU to beat UF but was damn happy when the gators came back and put it on them in the 4th in their own house.
BTW that’s a great point. Whether UGA wins or loses today it will be damn interesting to see the reaction of the dawg fanbase. In October they were ready to fire Richt’s ass and now they think he’s the 2nd coming. Will they be calling for his dismissal or annointing him as the greatest coach in UGA history or the world for that matter. Either way its going to be comical to watch the dawg fanbase reaction.
Florida Fans are Foolish-
December 1st, 2012
12:45 pm
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
11:17 am
Why is Georgia better…….
Florida beat Texas A&M……..Georgia beat Florida……..Texas A&M beat Bama. That is one REASON. ( Probably the Dumbest of your Reasons)
Another one…….Georgia has better players on defense……see above. (Players are on thing, execution is primary and who do you think executes better?)
Another one…….Georgia has a more talented QB.( Being smart and a Proven Winner is more important)
Another one…….Georgia’s RBs are just as good as Bama’s RBs….maybe better.( Even-not better)
Another one…….Georgia WRs are as good as Bama’s…..maybe better.( Wrong and You are just spitting into the wind on that dumb reason.)
Another one…….Georgia is a better pass rushing team than Bama.( You dummy, Alabama has not “pass rushed” all season except on blitzes, Pay Attention Old Timer- they Pressure Rush by Zones, and that keeps running quarterbacks and dump offs)
Another one…….Georgia has better safeties….both to play in the NFL next year.( Those two safeties are also players who have issues with staying out of trouble, smoke dope, beat women, and commit common penalties)
Another one…….Georgia….I believe….will be more motivated to win.( Another really stupid reason)
Bama has one major edge on the field……the OL….and that is the only edge.( Linebackers,Tight Ends, OL, RB, WR, Coaching, Schemes, Experience, Strenght, Conditioning, Adjustments made during game,…..and on and on……what a toilet bowl statement from a guy who is absolutely clueless)
But Georgia has the edge on the DL…….and that is a big edge. ( You are retarded, Alabama is 8 deep on the DL, while UGA has 4 who are average)
Only negative……..Saban vs. Richt…..will Richt finally step up and coach well in a big game????….
Tampa Gator, you need to get new material, your logic is being flawed by your desire to make your precious gators look better if UGA wins, but wanting something and it being the truth is miles apart, just ask those sending letters to Santa Claus.
SSIgator
December 1st, 2012
12:50 pm
Such is the conundrum wrapped in an enigma that is the UGA fan base. It is like after they beat the Gators and liked to say how UF was so bad – until they realized that it was their only quality win and they better shut-up about it since they needed quality wins on their resume’.
00mpa L00mpa dawg
December 1st, 2012
12:56 pm
Murray will show up as a dwarf again in big time games. Bama will clean our clocks today. Mark Richt has always choked in the big ones.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 1st, 2012
1:01 pm
Tampon Gator…if Bama needs anything out of you Gators we will beat it out of you! UGA just might win this game and win big if Bama makes some mistakes that we don’t normally make. Lot of good things have happened to the Dawgs this year and that just might be a story on how they finish. If Bama were to lose then we will just say congrats to UGA, get back on the bus and head back to T-town to start the process all over again for 2013. Play with class and let the other teams act the part of the azz! Roll Tide
Joey
December 1st, 2012
1:26 pm
Tide Rising, I wan’t bragging bout beating Ole Miss, I was responding to the “Truth” post that was, well, petty.
I suffer no illusions about today’s game – I know who SHOULD win – and all that “common opponent” stuff doesn’t matter a bit. All that matters today is, when Bama smacks UGA in the mouth, will UGA smack em back?
Individual matchups of players, as well as coaching adjustments will rule the day.
I am an admirer of Saban and Smart, but I hope today, Richt can find the right stuff to beat them.
Roy
December 1st, 2012
1:42 pm
Nobody CARES about GT football. LMAO….
Joey
December 1st, 2012
1:43 pm
“Either way its going to be comical to watch the dawg fanbase reaction.”
*************************************************
Nice, Tide Rising. Yuk it up. So Bama has the best staff money can buy. Y’all do. Congrats. Congrats, etc, etc, etc. But I bet your coach is not underestimating our coach. Know why?
Ole, laid-back Mark Richt has beaten a Nick Saban defending BCS Champ before – by the tune of 45-16 – look it up – LSU vs UGA (2004).
It ain’t like Richt hasn’t won some big games – he just hasn’t won many lately.
MAJOR DAWG
December 1st, 2012
1:46 pm
Live from Bagram, Afghanistan…HOW BOUT’ THEM DAWGS!!!! As I said prior to the FLA game on one of the AJC blogs…BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE
Let’s go DAWG NATION…let’s show Bama and the Aggies what ‘The Home of the 12th DAWG” is all about!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LASH LAROO
December 1st, 2012
1:47 pm
The outcome of today’s game will be determined by the Dog’s DEFENSE and how well Coach Grantham and his assistants have prepared them. If they play “lights out”, vicious gang tackling, bad azz football like they are capable of, UGA wins going away.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
1:59 pm
Here will be the two possible reactions from some of those irrational Dawg fans if Georgia wins or loses today….no matter the score.
1. If they win.
“Georgia is now on the top of of top tier teams and will dominate the SEC and the national picture for years to come. No other team has a chance. We only hope we can keep all the coaches on the greatest coaching staff in the history of college football.”
2. If they lose.
“This team just can’t win the big game with Richt as the head coach and Murray as the QB. We need to fire the entire coaching staff and hire Kirby Smart right now. So much talent and coaches so poorly. I am sick of it. Georgia will never win as long as Richt and his group of loser are coaching Georgia. Fire Richt now.”
Of course, the rational Dawg fans will realize what a great season they have had…..beating Florida, Georgia Tech, and playing in the SEC title game…..and having the opportunity to play for the right to play in the national title game. And they will also realize that they were in that position because of Richt and his coaching staff.
Outback Bowl
December 1st, 2012
2:01 pm
Come on down, Alabama! Happy to have you!
chase
December 1st, 2012
2:02 pm
Here is a video I cut for all the Dawg fans out there GATA
http://youtu.be/tMWjvDNSuZkur comments here
chase
December 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
Let me try this again and GOOOO DAWGS….the video is to Al Pacino’s Any Given Sunday speech! enjoy
Here is a video I cut for all the Dawg fans out there GATA
http://youtu.be/tMWjvDNSuZk
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
2:06 pm
Wet Willie……
Alabama is 5 and 8 vs. Florida since Florida decided to start playing real college football by first hiring Spurrier in 1990. Again…..5 wins and 8 loses since 1990. Keep “beating it out of the Gators like that” like that. Too bad Florida does not play Bama in the regular season next year…..and I doubt Bama will have the opportunity to play Florida next year in Atlanta with A&M around to “beat it out of” you Tide.
ATLien
December 1st, 2012
2:09 pm
This is the biggest UGA game in my lifetime, my wife is an Alum and I’ve never seen her so giddy. I’ve been following UGA and supporting the team while being objective about their deficiencies both recently and in the past. However, Richt coach smart, coach aggressive. Leave it all out on the field.
Aaron Murray, rise above your history. Make the plays make the right reads and DON’T Turn it over.
Defense, play discipline, no stupid PF penalties, no missed assignments in gap protection
GO DAWGS!!!! FORWARD to MIAMI!!!
Rolando McClain
December 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
Hey! I got nothing to do this weekend! Can I play in this game? Heck, I might not have nothing to do for quite a few weekends, cuz in my mind I’m done with the Raiders and the NFL! Hey I need something to do on the wekeends.Guess I’ll find someone to fight and fire my gun!
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
Truth…..Wet Willie……here are the top 6 teams in the country right now….and either one could beat the other on even given Saturday…in no particular order:
LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia.
Did you notice how many of those top 5 teams Florida beat this year……and that would be two more than Bama did…..and the loses are the same.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
2:14 pm
Time for a “hog” cruise along the beach…..but will be back in time for the game. Go Dawgs….today.
CMo
December 2nd, 2012
12:35 pm
Congrats to both teams for an amazing SEC championship game…There should be a rematch in Miami.
Roll Tide
Honey boy
December 2nd, 2012
10:35 pm
THOMAS BROWN WTFRU???
YOU HAVE ZERO ZERO ZERO CREDIBIILITY HERE!! YOU LOUD MOUTH SELF RIGHTEOUS POS!!!
YOU MAKE ME PUKE… ALL THAT BLUSTER AND WHEN BAMA BEAT US YOU DON’T EVEN
SHOW UP WITH YOUR GARBAGE STATS AND CONDESCENDING SHEEEITE ‘!!!
POSERS LIKE YOU ARE WORTHLESS SACKS OF HUMAN EXCREMENT!!
PISS OFF THIS BLOG FOREVER…