A player’s post-game tweet to Bulldog Nation
Athens – As soon as his plane landed in Athens from Knoxville on Saturday night, UGA wide receiver Michael Moore made a plea to Bulldog Nation -– or at least to that part of the populace that follows him on Twitter.
He tweeted: “All I can say 2 the dawgnation is don’t turn your backs on us. That’s it. We need u to support us and times like this is when we need u the most.”
I asked him Sunday what prompted the post.
“It’s just what was on my mind. I’m always on my Twitter. I’m talking about everything,” Moore said. “And at the time I was just thinking . . . the negativity was about to start brewing and I didn’t want fans to turn their backs on us. So that’s just why I put it out there. I got a positive response from it.”
Moore said he was gratified by the supportive replies, which came in stark contrast to the frenzy of blistering comments on some message boards and talk shows in the aftermath of Saturday afternoon’s 45-19 loss at Tennessee.
“The way I feel is, we’re playing for the fans right now,” Moore said Sunday. “I know they’re getting beat up, [know] they’re torn up. And I just feel like we’ve got to put on a better performance for them.”
—————————————-
I tried to summarize Sunday’s fallout in this story, including Mark Richt’s comment about possible lineup changes and his call for improvement on offense, defense — and the coaching staff.
Here’s more from Richt’s late-Sunday conference call:
On whether freshmen quarterbacks Aaron Murray and/or Zach Mettenberger are far enough along in their development to play: “They could function with a certain percentage of what we’re doing,” Richt said. “It’s a matter of deciding whether you want to do that. And the other thing would be, how much can you do with them and how effective would a true freshman be at this point? Right now, my No. 1 goal is to put a team out there that has the very best shot at beating Vanderbilt on Saturday.”
On Joe Cox’s play vs. Tennessee: “I think Joe played better in the first half than the second half,” Richt said. “I think Joe took a couple of shots that might have shook him up a little bit, [although] he probably never would admit to that. If we’re going to be successful at quarterback, period, we’ve got to run the ball better and pass-protect better. ”
On Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin’s postgame comment that he considers Georgia the Vols’ most important game because of the impact on recruiting: “I don’t think there’s any question the . . . best thing you can do for recruiting is win games,” Richt said. “The more you win, the easier it is to recruit. Any loss hurts.”
On Moore’s comment Sunday afternoon that he wouldn’t be surprised if the coaches declare “open-competition week,” throwing every position open: Richt said they won’t go that far. “Guys are always fighting for positions,” he said. “[But] there is a reason we have got guys in certain spots; they have proved to be the best man for the job. Week to week, if a guy doesn’t get the job done, there is always the chance [someone overtakes him]. But we’re not going to have open tryouts or anything like that.”
One more thing about the defense: “When your turnover ratio is what ours is, we haven’t helped those [defensive] guys in any way,” Richt said. “But they’re still allowed to go three-and-out, too.”
Also: Richt said a decision hasn’t been made yet on whether tight end Bruce Figgins, who completed his six-game suspension on Saturday, will play this week at Vanderbilt. There’s a possibility Figgins will red-shirt. “We’ll have a whole lot better idea on Tuesday,” Richt said. . . . Richt said redshirt freshman safety Bacarri Rambo, who intercepted his second pass of the season Saturday (and returned it for a touchdown), will continue to get more playing time. He did not go so far as to say that Rambo will start. “We need to do more of a three-man rotation between Rambo and Bryan [Evans] and Reshad [Jones],” Richt said. “I think that will help all those guys.” . . . Richt said the most frustrating game of his career from an offensive standpoint was Florida State’s 13-2 loss to Oklahoma in the 2001 Orange Bowl. But he said Saturday’s game, during which Georgia did not advance beyond the Tennessee 34-yard line, “ranks up there pretty good” on the frustration meter.
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133 comments Add your comment
murfdawg
October 12th, 2009
1:14 pm
Michael Moore, why don’t you take Chad Gloer’s place on the kick-off team while he is out? Show me how tough you are, ok?
Hip Hop
October 12th, 2009
1:26 pm
Enter your comments here
Dont jerk my chain Dawg
October 12th, 2009
1:33 pm
Hey Michael Moore if you dont want to hear the crap then dont play like crap! This team needs leaders and needs to get focused and stop the dancing on the sidelines and get your arses and heads into the freakin football game. This team this past Saturday were nothing but a bunch of quitters while some of the players were laughing at the end of the game . Pathetic…..
dawg tired
October 12th, 2009
1:44 pm
The problem here is obvious and I know like most dawg fans know that the dawgs aint going to win every game but its how we are losing that’s alarming. Our team absolutely wasn’t prepared and still seemed to have a chip on its shoulder because of the celebration call last Saturday against LSU. This reality TV culture has hit home with our players and even our coaches it seems. These boys nee to grow up and become young men in a hurry or its gonna be a rude awakening not only in football but in life in general.
superDawg
October 12th, 2009
2:23 pm
There is no fire or emotion on our sideline to keep the players pumped up during the game somebody get some spirit.
ga taxpayer
October 12th, 2009
2:58 pm
Dawgs are now searching for guts to play Vandy. Good luck with running game that looked just great in homer paper but, is anemic on the field. 5th year 2nd string quarterback can’t get it done , not any year. Coach used to having athletes who perform when game played instead of AJC readers is in way over his head while he makes mistakes Defense that flashes every now and again but is porous when challenged.
Jeffery
October 12th, 2009
3:03 pm
We all know the oponents game plan. Just throw towards Bryan Evans. He gives up at least one touchdown every game by the long ball.
Supes
October 12th, 2009
3:38 pm
UGA turned their back on the UGA FANS, that performance on saturday was beyond terrible.
It starts with the coaching staff, execution on the playing field by the players was poor and were was the passion and desire to win?
Look, give Tenn some credit…you can get beat any given sat in the SEC (unless you are FLA right now), so it’s not that UGA lost to Tenn that is the issue, it’s HOW UGA lost to Tenn. Complete beat down, except in the Special Teams area by the Vols.
UGA fans, stop tolerating SUBPAR coaching.
We’ve got the Talent, but with poor coaching what else do you expect?
Carl Spackler
October 12th, 2009
4:39 pm
dawgstephen
October 12th, 2009
12:32 pm
THANK YOU SAVANNAH DAWG!!!
Of course, another way to keep the players from reading this crap would be for the AJC to have ACCOUNTABILITY and SCREEN NAMES AND REGISTRATION for posting on these message boards.
While SOME of the stupid posting is from fans who need to be careful, a LOT of it is from gators, and jackets and vols who are making it look even worse.
THE AJC is partly responsible for this….all they have to do is fix the way posts are handled and the message boards, but they want. They are a joke.
http://www.dawgstephen.blogspot.com
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Mr. King, as requested by the above person, please start the ban with dawgsteveie…why is he abusing this blog by getting free screen time to promote his own blog no less…the players don’t give a crap about what the fans say…if you want ‘feel good’ then stay on your own blog, and stay out of the line of fire
vols fan in GA
October 12th, 2009
5:30 pm
i love my vols .BUT U DAWG FANS HAVE TO STAND BEHIND YOUR TEAM WIN OR LOSE . SHOW SOME TEAM SPIRIT
vols fan in GA
October 12th, 2009
5:34 pm
HEY DON,T SEE YA,LL ON THE FIELD.
UB
October 12th, 2009
5:58 pm
Would never turn my back on players but if WM is such a good friend he should step down. Go DAWGS see you in Nashville.
Carl Spackler
October 12th, 2009
6:27 pm
Oops…Meant Mr. Tucker, not Mr. King…sorry about that..
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“On Joe Cox’s play vs. Tennessee: “I think Joe played better in the first half than the second half,” Richt said. “I think Joe took a couple of shots that might have shook him up a little bit, [although] he probably never would admit to that. If we’re going to be successful at quarterback, period, we’ve got to run the ball better and pass-protect better. ” ”
I did these quick, but I think I’m close enough on Cox’s stat’s
13-22-1-0-42 yds first half
6-14-1-0-20 yds second half
19-36-2-0-62 yds total game stats
Yep, I guess he did do better in the first half…CMR, how do you not know how abysmal his play really was…how can you have painted yourself, and this team, into such a corner that you have to play Cox…tell Cox that he hurt his shoulder and the heaviest thing he can pick up is a clip-board
HOT-DAWG fan
October 12th, 2009
6:29 pm
I`ve been a dawg fan for 45 years and never made nickle for it. mark and willie are being paid to be dawg fans. From what I saw saturday there were no adjustments being made anywhere any time. If what your doing ain`t working it just makes sense to try something else. GO-DAWGS WOOF WOOF!
TechMan
October 12th, 2009
7:12 pm
Hey Dawg Fans! Y’all need to lighten up. Y’all are lick a roller coaster! The Dawgs are world beaters and the best team in the world or are Bovine Excrement. Y’all have a great coach and a fine program, That’s what makes it so special when we kick you butt! You will be back as your arrogant obnoxious A-Holes soon, So chill out and let your coach figure it out. Beat everybody til you come to North Ave! If you get there unranked, victory won’t be near as sweet!
Dirty D
October 12th, 2009
7:48 pm
i bet that there were no players dancing during the fourth quarter of the Tenn. game like I saw when the dogs played Ariz. State. So much for the “class” richt brought to athens. I have been to every home game this year and the bottom line is that we don`t have the play makers like we did in the past to cover up for our sub-par coordinators. Richt needs to start calling the plays on saturdays instead of fixing his hair and trying to sell ford trucks.
How bout this one, “Hey water girl when you are down on the sidelines next sat against vandy, will you please take the headset away from willie and sent rennie and them on some more stunts.?”
Lorne smith is more effective on the sidelines.
Dbalcer
October 12th, 2009
8:03 pm
SavannahDAWG1 I echo your sentiments. How anyone thinks all this negative talk is good for the team is beyond me. I do think though some of it is from fans of other teams posing as DAWG fans. Go DAWGS. I will be there yelling for the DAWGS.
dawgvent.blogspot.com
October 12th, 2009
8:08 pm
As some have said, the on-field personnel isn’t the largest issue that needs to be addressed. The coaching staff are ultimately responsible for having the team ready to play, and with the caliber of talent residing in Athens, there is no doubt they should be able to play with anyone in the conference. Mark Richt has been, and always will be a great coach, he just needs to find ways of getting this team motivated without storming the field or wearing black. There is no reason for WM to still have a job, and I don’t see him remaining the DC very much longer. He probably won’t be fired mid-season, as that’s just not UGA’s policy, but on the bright side, if he struggles for the remainder of the year, it just solidifies the already overwhelming case against him. Ultimately our team will be fine. You can’t honestly expect 10+ wins every single year. At some point there will be a down year, it just happens. The program is by no means in decline, they just need a few new coaches to get the most out of the personnel. This season is an aberration, and next season we’ll be back to our winning ways. I will always remain loyal to the team, regardless of how badly I may want to quit watching from my season ticketed perch. Go Dawgs!
georgiagirl
October 12th, 2009
8:45 pm
Michael Moore I will always be a fan and will stand up for your guys, the coaches well thats a different story.
RAMBLE ON go to the middle of the bridge and jump. If you don’t want to read what the Dawg fans have to say then go away, you will not be missed.
GO DAWGS WE ARE BEHIND YOU
TAMPA FLORIDA GATOR
October 12th, 2009
9:10 pm
I tried to warn Arron and Orson not to go to uga! Now they will have to sit out a year before they can play for Urban.
jason
October 12th, 2009
9:17 pm
Nobody has given up on the players. Alot have given up on the coaching, and alot more are on the fence.
New era dawg
October 12th, 2009
9:20 pm
I tired of this crap since 2005. CMR had the opportunity last year to right the ship and gives Martinez a raise. CMR has reached his plateau at UGA. He is a Tommy Bowden at Clemson. We need a proven coach with a track record now not a Dabo Sweeney. So UGA needs to clean house!
Carl Spackler
October 12th, 2009
9:45 pm
Tmapa Florida Gator…told Aaron the same thing…thought for sure he was heading to UCLA w/ Norm Chow…my guess, if he does move, he may hook up w/ Dan Mullen
NGACAJUN
October 12th, 2009
9:59 pm
doggie gurl…is that your real name…wow…players lose games not coaches because coaches dont play the game…
PHIL
October 12th, 2009
10:07 pm
Anyone writing a negative comment ever coached a D-1 game? Ever even played in one? That’s what I thought. Why do you believe that is true? Have you just not been discovered yet? Just don’t want to coach or play? Just mad at the world and therefore with holding your incredible talent from the general populace? Or would you just rather tell others how they should do their job? If you are a welder and a maid came in claiming how terrible you were at welding, what would your reaction be? There is a reason for the stupid southern red neck stereotype. It’s most of you who post here.
Bird isthe Word
October 12th, 2009
10:28 pm
Ya’ll just don’t have enough faith, that’s all. If Jesus was playing MLB, He would be making plays left and right. If Jesus was playing QB, He’d be throwing TD’s left and right. If ya’ll were more Christlike, and trying to live as Jesus would, you’d be a great fan left and right. We all know Jesus would be a great football player. He’d play fair, but He’d be tearing the heads off opposing players. He’d suit up and kick you know what. He wouldn’t have anything to do with women, though. No sex for Him. He’d put a hobnailed boot on the throats of the enemy, you bet he would.
BigDawg
October 12th, 2009
11:06 pm
Seems like I remember a lot of this doom and gloom talk in 2006 when Joe T. was QB and then Stafford took over and struggled as a Freshman. Richt will turn it around – you don’t get this kind of record on bad coaching. 2001 8-4, 2002 11-1, 2003 11-3, 2004 10-2, 2005 10-3, 2006 9-4, 2007 11-2, 2008 10-3, and 6-2 in bowl games. Ranked in the top 10 six of those years and in the top 25 two of those years by the end of the season. Go Dawgs!
Cal
October 12th, 2009
11:35 pm
BigDawg, UGA went 13-1 in 2002. I think the only way Richt will be able to turn this around is with new coordinators. Bobo is not the answer – he is a good QBs coach, did well with Greene, Shockley and Stafford, but fails as a playcaller. Martinez is simply a fraud… he would not be tolerated as a defensive coordinator at any other program in the SEC. Richt calls the shots, and if this past weekend was not a slap in the face we will continue to get worse.
Time
October 12th, 2009
11:46 pm
PHIL – There’s also a reason for the arrogant ignorant yankee stereotype…and you’re it.
It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to see the problems with this UGA team. It all boils down to coaching. Richt is a good coach, but the people he has chosen to fill out his staff are failing him and our kids. Players are no longer coached up at UGA. They are thrown out on the field and expected to win based on their recruiting class rankings. Playcalling on offense is as predictable as carpetbagging yankees stereotypes of southerners. The scheme on defense is so easily picked apart that we make every opposing QB look 10 times better than he actually is.
Willie Martinez must be fired. If I was Richt, I would fire him now. Doing so will placate the big money boosters who are calling for Richt’s head. And as we all know, when the money starts talking, heads will roll. If Richt doesn’t act on Martinez, it will likely be his head rolling in the very near future.
Bobo is clearly not cut out to be a OC. I said it in the other blog the other day, but I’m just a fan with some youth football experience, and I can see half of his playcalls coming a mile away. If I can see them coming, what do you think guys like Monte Kiffin are seeing? Bobo should be demoted to QB coach. A position where I think he can add some value to the coaching staff.
If Richt doesn’t start making some tough decisions, the decisions will start being made for him.
Zone
October 13th, 2009
12:04 am
The problem is martinez he runs the defense and the secondary which both look quite terrible ….. FIRE MARTINEZ NOW!!!!!
Billy
October 13th, 2009
12:38 am
Moore got a positive response because he cameout like a man and a player and he knew people and fans are upset. Maybe if Coach Richt would man up to the problems and show some emotion and fire to turn things around, he would get more support. Showing emotion and making a commitment to the fans to correct the problems is the start that we fans want.
Billy
October 13th, 2009
12:42 am
to TIME. I fully agree with your comment on our play calling. When I am at the games, I call and usually am correct about 40 percent of the time when we are on offense. I played ball for 10 years, so I know other teams DC can predict and defend against our offense better than me.
Shananeeeeeee Fananeeeeeeeee
October 13th, 2009
1:05 am
How bout’ that Gator D. 5 Games = 2 Touchdowns Allowed. 32 Total Points Surrendered.
DawgFanR&R
October 13th, 2009
1:10 am
There’s always hope and I’ll always stand behind my Dawgs, win or lose, but I want to know 1 thing. Why does our defense, right before a play, stand with their hands on their hips looking to the sidelines for the call? Game after game, year after year, since Willie took over. South Carolina exploited this with their no-huddle and almost won. Our boys get the call and have like 2 seconds before the snap to get ready, we jump offsides, we’re out of position, we’re hurrying to get to the position. We have talent on the defense but this delay getting the call I think is hurting us.
wyl698
October 13th, 2009
1:13 am
Get a grip y’all. Thngs are going to get better after certain changes.
kay85
October 13th, 2009
1:19 am
Alot must change in Athens… AND I MEAN FAST!!!! Mark Richt is a very good coach, we all know that. But the Difference between him and Urban Meyer is that Meyer DELIVERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!! We need a coach that can take us to the promise land, not to second rate BCS games, or mediocre bowl games. When will we as Bulldawg nation take our rightful place at the Head of the table??? WE ARE GEORGIA, not some second rate program!!! Year in year out we produce top 10 recruiting classes, if it’s not the Jimmy’s and the Joes, then it’s clearly the X’s and O’s. It’s time for Mark Richt to deliver a national Championship THIS IS GEORGIA, THIS IS BIG TIME, if he can’t do it, we need to find a coach that can.
kay85
October 13th, 2009
1:20 am
A WHOLE LOT must change in Athens… AND I MEAN FAST!!!! Mark Richt is a very good coach, we all know that. But the Difference between him and Urban Meyer is that Meyer DELIVERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!! We need a coach that can take us to the promise land, not to second rate BCS games, or mediocre bowl games. When will we as Bulldawg nation take our rightful place at the Head of the table??? WE ARE GEORGIA, not some second rate program!!! Year in year out we produce top 10 recruiting classes, if it’s not the Jimmy’s and the Joes, then it’s clearly the X’s and O’s. It’s time for Mark Richt to deliver a national Championship THIS IS GEORGIA, THIS IS BIG TIME, if he can’t do it, we need to find a coach that can.
takedowndawg
October 13th, 2009
6:14 am
What I wanted to see was Willie Martinez chewing out Mike Bobo for the offense not making 1st downs therefore having the defense on until tired, Mike Bobo knawing on Martinez leg about not stopping anyone at anytime on defense. I wanted to see both of them ratting out Fabris for the lousey field position Fabris and company continues to deliver. I wanted Bobo to cuss out Seareles for his line not making any holes wider than a foot wide for his backs! Until these coaches hold each other accountable to the point I want to see a red faced Mark Richt have 3-4 pink slips on his desk ready to be signed if the above said do not perform in the Vanderbilt game.
JC_N_Germany
October 13th, 2009
7:54 am
I said it last year, I said it the last four weeks… Plain and simple, CMR demise will be his loyality to Willie Martinez, who will never be a average Defensive Coordinator in College Football! and notice I didn’t even differiniate Divisions in college either! He has no clue of Schemes or timing or Momentum inducing a ball game with calls!
To be soundly whipped with a clearly inferior talent Pool from Tennesse is shameful!
I have given Bobo some slack as QB’s are marginal at best and the Running Back Corp even worse… I see massive holes initially but the backs are far too timid and small to seize the crease, however how can we be out coached so easily by the elder Kiffin to hold the likes of the receiving corps down so blantly?
CRM please write a note to self and Family… “UGA will not wait for you to Fix our team the way America did with George Dub-Ya” Fire Willie or go unemployed with him!
CrawforDawg
October 13th, 2009
8:19 am
Perhaps the homer Buck Belue was right when he stated on his blog that Georgia just recruited the wrong players and now it’s showing up.
Willie Martinez
October 13th, 2009
8:27 am
I am sorry but I do NOT nuture a boil I lance it. FIRE MARTINEZ! Put BOBO under probation. Pay me $4,400,000 dollars a year and I can have that kind of season. NO EXCUSES!! That is a loser’s way!!
Willie Martinez
October 13th, 2009
8:29 am
I did not see the game because I refuse to support Richt and his losing attitude. How did the dawgs look? I see they lost again.
The Real SugarHillDawg
October 13th, 2009
8:54 am
If they redshirt Figgins, the coaching staff IS writing off the season. We MUST have more help with the run blocking!!!!!!!!!!
MtnDawg
October 13th, 2009
9:05 am
Its not just the offense losing 3 tops performers. Look at how our defense stacks up nationally.
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?year=2009&org=257
Also note that our offense is ranked 97 out of 120 FBS teams. We are lucky to be 3-3. Yea, at the end of the day it all comes down to wins and losses–but these stats tell us why the games have been so painful to watch. We are ranked 1st in punting, for what its worth. Everything else is pitiful, and not SEC or even top-50 caliber.
CigarDawg
October 13th, 2009
9:18 am
To Michael Moore and the rest of the team:
Please, please, please make no mistake about it, we appreciate our Dawgs and respect your hard work and willingness to strap on the pads and get out on the field each week. We will never desert our team of young men and we are certainly not down on you now. Take note that the majority of the criticism is not aimed at you the players.
It is exactly because we care about you and love to watch and yell for you on Saturdays that we are so vehement that you deserve the highest level of support and development from those who are paid (very handsomely) to make you better and to maximize your potential. You made commitments to UGA instead of other schools and you deserve those commitments to be honored by the most competent and competitive coaching and training staffs possible at any given time. Many of us do not believe you are receiving that, and we are not happy because you deserve better and can be so much better with it.
After all, you came here to play for a winning program and the potential for Division, Conference and National championships, didn’t you? Remember all the promises these coaches made will sitting in your living rooms while you were in high school? I doubt you were lured by the promise of 2nd place inteh SEC East and a crappy bowl game.
We are still rooting for you as hard as ever and part of that means expecting you to get the leadership you need to be all that we know you can be and being vocal when you don’t get it.
GO DAWGS!!
Mark Katnik uga fan
October 13th, 2009
9:47 am
Hire Turner Gill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willie Martinez
October 13th, 2009
10:05 am
Someone said the Dawgs will go 6&6 with a loss in the independence bowl. I am willing to believe the dawgs are not going to a bowl game. Who really believes the dawgs can go to a bowl game. Who can they beat form here? Fl is a loss, AU is a loss, GT is a loss, and possibly Ky. I do not think the dawgs are bowl bound!
Dawg Man
October 13th, 2009
10:06 am
Mark Richt is the right man for the job. You guys are missing the point!! Its about the kids not you the fans!!! He is a great role model and father figure to a lot of these boys. Bottom line, the kids are there to graduate first, become better men for society, then win football games!! These boys will be in the real world shortly they need Richts guidence and leadership qualities when they become husbands and fathers themselves. Get a grip people. There is no perfect head coach in college football ladies and gentlemen. Of course there is some things he needs to work on and switch probably. Thats obvious! But he is the right man to lead this program of young men!!!!!
Willie Martinez
October 13th, 2009
10:06 am
To all you die hard Dawg fans, I say “how bout them Falcons”?
tom
October 13th, 2009
10:07 am
Two Words Bulldog Nation: Brian Kelly