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.”
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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
cj
October 13th, 2009
10:09 am
You people need to get a grip! Yea, we are having a down year thus far but who as a coach or program has not???!!! Give Richt a chance to right his wrongs!! Oh you people forget so quickly!! He is a great representative for our school and our football program! Go Dawgs!!
Willie Martinez
October 13th, 2009
10:09 am
Dawg Man
October 13th, 2009
10:06 am
He makes over $4mil. I do not want to hear the kids theme! It is about money. Get you head out of your *&^! I can get a baby sitter a whole lot less than what Richt is making.
Dawg Man
October 13th, 2009
10:14 am
I understand what he makes!! My head is far from my @#$. Sounds like yours may be. Nobody needs a babysitter or asked for one. There are not any coaches out there that play for NC every year ya know. Correct me if wrong but didn’t Fla loose like 5 games three years ago? Maybe four before they went on this streak? I agree he needs to make changes amongst the staff. Thats obvious. What he is makin has nothin to do with you or his success or failure rate. He has won more games over last nine years then others who make more than him. You can cry all you want but he’s not goin anywhere.
coach smith
October 13th, 2009
10:21 am
Anyone who says the DAWGS have “no heart” obviously missed the SCAR, ARK, AZST, and LSU games
Scar- UGA battled back from an 11 point deficit and a bevy of mistakes and held strong at the end to win
ARK- again UGA is down 21-10 on the road at night after 2 rough games and came abck to win by 11 points
AZST- after UGA dominated a game 14-3 midway through the 3rd quarter they found themselves down 17-14 in a couple minutes after a couple of turnovers, UGA manned up stopped a late drive, blocked a field goal, went downfield and scored to win
LSU- fought tough all day, lost the lead with 2:53 to go, immediately drove downfield and scored what should have been the winning TD with a minute to go
This team has heart! They are young and inexperienced at KEY SPOTS (QB, RB, Secondary, WR, TE) they need a better DEFENSIVE approach, they need to go with Murray at QB (to play some and get ready) they need to have some on-field leaders step up, they need to progress
BUT….nobody can argue about the “heart” or the “character”
clueless
October 13th, 2009
10:21 am
I agree with Dawg Man. Sorry to hear you peoples lives are crashing down because a bunch of 18-21 years olds have lost three games so far. UGAs program will be okay as long as Richt stays in control. Relax people!!!
Dawg Dude
October 13th, 2009
11:10 am
Post at 9:46 am from Well, we did learn Saturday…
“I am still really glad I had the foresight to sell my season tickets this year – and UGA will be EXTREMELY lucky to go 7-5″
What an idiot. Season tickets are extremely hard to come by and last year the donation to get your hands on one of the 700 available was $10,000. Some foresight.
lowcountrydawg
October 13th, 2009
12:20 pm
Richt, entering this year is 88-22 during his time at UGA. He has 4 SEC east titles and 2 SEC outright titles.(Vince Dooley won 6 in 25 years) He is 6-2 in bowl games. In his 8 years he has gotten us to 3 BCS bowl games and has won 2 of them. He is consistantly in the top 10 in recruiting, nationally! He brings class to our program. While there are many things i would love for him to change, i think we need to be very careful for what we wish for. Even Dooley had a few 5-5 seasons and even a 5-6 season. We lost 2 first round draft picks, including the #1 overall draft pick, the best running back in the SEC, and a WR that is already producing on sundays! I dont think we accept mediocrity, but i think we need to be realistic! Look for changes to happen at the end of the season. No one is getting fired mid year. That is unrealistic and would be dumb of Richt to announce such changes. That would certainly tear the team apart more than it already is. No one gets more frustrated than i do watching them loose. it ruins my week! But i want to stand behind them and i honestly feel that Richt will get this thing turned around!
coach smith
October 13th, 2009
12:24 pm
lowcountrydawg
AMEN Brother! AMEN!
I’ve been shouting the same thing and being insulted for it
crs
October 13th, 2009
12:59 pm
Richt is in a tough spot, first five years we went to three SEC championships and won two. The Stafford era and the first era with all Richt guys brought 30 wins and a number two finish.
When Richt started, he was excited, had a hand picked staff of guys he wanted in the positions he wanted them in, fans were excited with 8 winds because we beat Tech and a good/very good TN team on the road that first year.
We then a spectactular four year run that was deserving of a national championship in one of those years.
What killed the Stafford era was all the injuries particuarly in the oline. People forget that now. What else hurt? In the year of a junior Stafford, you had to play everyone in the east and what is usually the top 3 in the west in ALA, LSU and AU. Thats a tough schedule and you lost two and two losses was too many with a great year by FL, UGA didn’t catch a break.
I have said since preseason this was a 7-5 team while guys like Pollack called for 10 wins, it was not realistic. You have a first year QB in reality, a rb in King who is a bust, a suspect oline and a defense with very poor saftey play who can generate little pass rush from its front 4. LB’s outside of Rennie are not SEC caliber.
The honeymoon is over, I respect Richt for being a program guy because a guy like Saban who many are enamored with would have booted for another job after the Shockley season. What else is there to accomplish? Three sec championship games in four years, certainly the 14-1 year was NC worthy. Many coaches would say and rightly so “what else can I accomplish”?
I think its funny that many moaned by CMR’s play calling and screamed for Bobo to be promoted to OC. Now those same people are screaming CMR to take back playcalling.
UGA made some recruiting mistakes, Brandon Miller was a bust. Reshard Jones in my opinion is at best highly overrated. We have no depth at DE or saftey. We have simply not recruited well on defense the last few seasons.
Mark needs to realize he gives coaches opportunity not tenure. Willie has not worked out, Mark can asks a million what ifs but he originally picked BVG as DC over WM for a reason. I believe because of an intensity and a gift BVG had for making in game adjustments. The reality is WM can not make in game adjustments. TN burned UGA in the first half with roll outs play after play after play. Playing a rollout is not hard. Half the field is taken away, when a QB rolls out it is a gift to the defense particularly when that QB is not a great runner. That was embarrassing to me.
Complacency will kill any program or any business. Mark must find his passion again, if that means taking back playcalling so he is more engaged in the game and game planning I am all for it.
Mark must also reinvigorate the staff. Guys have gotten complacent. Speeches have gotten redundant. Willie has lost the defense at this point and he simply will not be able to get it back. I don’t know if Rodney Garner can handle the DC job or not but I don’t think its a bad idea to name him interim and give him a shot the rest of the way. If it works out great we have a DC. If not, we are going to lose RG anyway when we bring in a new DC. RG is at a point in his career he wants a DC job.
Bottom line, year nine is a lot tougher than year one in any program. Coaches move on and rarely do you find a guy as capable as the last guy, atleast not immediatly. The new motivating schtick like mat drills and “finish the drill” become tired and old. In an era of ADD, reinvention has to happen even more.
Richt is at a point where reinvention is necessary. Kids want to play in wide open offenses and aggressive defenses.
I hope Mark rids the program of complacency and dead weight and finds his passion again. If he won’t or can’t, I say Thank You Coach Richt for a fabulous run.
savannahdawg82
October 13th, 2009
1:30 pm
we cannot turn on our dawgs, those of us true fans. we need our coaches to show a little more effort though. mark is a great coach but show some fire on the sideline. i hate when the camera turns to him after a bad play and he is just starring in space. i would be on that field with a foot somewhere or shouting some pick me up at the boys. or when we do something good be all in their faces congratulating them and firing them up to keep the pace. focus is a great weapon but show them you care with some emotion. half the time mark’s pulse is untraceable. but he is the coach and i am just a fan, but that’s what i would want as a player, and go for a little more blood on the field.
knoxboy
October 13th, 2009
2:12 pm
Wow, how you guys want to kick Richt in the nuts. Give him time to rebuild and train some of the younger guys. I am a Vol fan and graduate and I am not here to bash you guys. I remember TN. having some bad years and you just have to stick it out, that seperates the true fans from the fakes. Mark Richt is one of the best coaches in college football, bar none. He has done a lot for Georgia Football and will continue to do so, but you as fans have to stand behind him, his coaches and the team. You have to remember that they lost Stafford and Moreno, a large part of their offense. But guess what, another Stafford and Moreno will come to play for Georgia. You guys have some of the most storied history in college football and it will continue with guys like these – just hang in there.
bugsquacher
October 13th, 2009
3:33 pm
tweet this…. 4-8 is coming….unless we GATA….
RxDawg
October 13th, 2009
3:52 pm
In response to
PHIL
October 12th, 2009
10:07 pm
I get what your trying to say PHIL. However, if I’ve been watching wielding on national TV with replays and commentary for years and years, I’d be able to comment a little bit more then your maid. This argument really doesn’t hold a lot of water.
By the way, I’m one of the blogging minorities that doesn’t want our coaches burned at the stake. I accept that it is their responsibility. But I’m blaming the players for their performence. We haven’t stunk for years. Our coaching staff has won before, they will win again.
RxDawg
October 13th, 2009
4:00 pm
crs, that is by far the best post I’ve read to date that critisizes the coaching staff.
Steve GO GATORS!!!
October 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
MR please leave that #3 on the field all yr and we will hang 70 on you. UGA defense is sadly horrible and it starts w/ the leadership. Tenn was much more prepared and it showed big time… but look Tenn also had the best georgia player on the field EBerry… This goes to show Uga has good players but r thry really getting the best. I think not and it shows on the field…
GT45
October 13th, 2009
4:22 pm
You’ve got a PROVEN winner. He’ll make the decisions that need to be made-period. With that said, I hope ya’ll run him out of town. Go Jackets-
derrick
October 13th, 2009
6:24 pm
Dont worry Moore the DawgNation will support and back yall 100% not matter how down the team gets. Well I will. I would love to think that I am speaking for the entire DawgNation but people have there own opinion
shannon
October 13th, 2009
6:48 pm
willie martinez deserves to be a defensive cordinator as much as obama deserves a noble peace prize what is this country coming to
PMDawg
October 13th, 2009
7:00 pm
We will support this team and Richt b/c we are (for the most part) as faithful as a bulldog! Changes need to be made and the man at the top will make them when the time comes. Right now the biggest issue which everybody can agree on is D. -11 in turnover diff. falls on them, when receivers have a 5 yard cushion its pretty easy to make throws without any prob. and I dont see any kind of tackling that would get somebody on the ground let alone a fumble. I’ve tried to stand behind Martinez but enough is enough, I believe he’s the secondary coach as well?
Georgia Girl 4ever
October 13th, 2009
7:56 pm
I feel sorry for our players. Top 5 or top 10 recruiting teams every year Richt has been here, and yet just one SEC Championship to our name. Not acceptable. It’s sad that the talent on the field outclasses, by a LOT, the coaching staff. Bobo is not the man for the job. Nice guy, but should go back to where he came from as QB coach. He was good there. CMR cannot wait another year to change the coordinators, and most of the other staff. If nothing else, BRING KIRBY SMART HOME FROM ALABAMA TO COACH OUR DEFENSE!!! PLEASE! He knows how to coach SEC defense and I can’t help but believe he’d love to come home to Athens. Have Pollock work with the defense. Smash mouth, all out, drive them into the turf defense wins games. Erk Russell, I miss you!! One last note: Coach Richt, I think you are a wonderful man, but the “Ice Man” routine on the sideline HAS TO GO!!! GO DAWGS!! LOVE YOU ALWAYS!!
meansonny
October 13th, 2009
8:03 pm
To those who wear the red and black on Saturdays…
Here’s a few inspirational words from Sly Stallone (the ultimate underdog).
[I'd hold you up to say to your mother, "this kid's gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid's gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew." And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilige.
Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good.
And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.
Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!
Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!
I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life. Don't forget to visit your mother. ]
Dawgs… keep pushing forward. Keep fighting for the full 60 minutes. From start to finish.
We’re here in this with you. GATA in Nashville.
Suwanee Dawg
October 13th, 2009
8:25 pm
I do not need to be told or asked or directed to continue to support UGA. I always have and always will. But in my nearly 50 years of support I have never, ever left a game early (20 year season ticket holder and many trips to Jacksonville, Auburn, GT, Columbia, etc), switched the channel, or cut off the radio before it was over. Until this past Saturday…
CMR please stop whining about what fans want and do your job better.
bugsquacher
October 13th, 2009
8:51 pm
whatever happened to making high school quarterbacks defensive backs? I little field sense would help (along with some good tackling skills)
bugsquacher
October 13th, 2009
9:08 pm
hey Georgia… its winning not whinning that counts….stop it and GATA!
Michael G.
October 13th, 2009
9:08 pm
Interesting fact I read courtesy of Athens Banner-Herald. Georgia has had 10 win seasons in 6 of the last 7 years, and is the only team in the country to have 12 straight years of at least 8 wins.Pretty heady stuff.
Look, this year is a down year and no one (coaches, players, or fans) are happy about it, but I believe in this head coach to ensure this is in fact a down year, and he will bring the program back up to the standards that he created for us.
Enough
October 13th, 2009
11:26 pm
Michael G, I have an interesting fact for you and I didn’t need the Athens Banner Whatever. The University of Georgia has not won a National Championship since before the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, the break up of the Soviet Union and 2!!!!!! Two Term Presidencies by guys nobody knew about the last time Georgia won anything of SIGNIFICANCE. AND, NO!!!!!!! The SEC is something you are SUPPOSE to win once in awhile without it being viewed as SIGNIFICANT. At least IF you are an ELITE program.
Michael G.
October 13th, 2009
11:39 pm
Enough…if the SEC is something you are “supposed” to win once in a while, then why did it take 20 before Richt showed up before we last won 1? 2 Championships and a #2 nat’l ranking in the last 8 years lead me to believe this year is just an aberrition.
dumb dawg fan
October 13th, 2009
11:49 pm
I thank we will finish #1 in kuntry and play for nationel championship.
GO DOGS … hahahahahahaha
Reform Dawg
October 14th, 2009
12:25 am
Redcoats say it best “Once a Dawg, always a Dawg! HOW SWEET IT IS!!!” Every last one of them continue to play their absolute best no matter what the score. They truly are the best band in the land bar none because they will not accept second best ever. When every team member, every coach, EVERY FAN start acting like the awesome UGA Redcoat Marching Band we will have winners and will be #1 like we know we are, it will show when we really do want it so bad there is no doubt in our opponents mind there was no way we could lose. G O D A W G S ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
JenniferGO Dawgs
October 15th, 2009
10:57 am
Michael Moore I have been a Loyal Fan since the 70’s and I have been loyal to the point of it becoming a religion! I am behind you guys 110% win or lose because I love you Dawgs! What makes me sick are the Band Wagon fans and you know who you are! “OH GO DAWGS!” when they are winning and “They suck or Fire Richt, Bobo, Martinez, They are losers” when they are down! If you can do it better the get your stupid remarks and get down there and do it better until then shut up and support your team! I challenge you to be a real Fan and what that entails is supporting them during the highs and lows without ugly criticism! Can you do it?! Or are you still gonna be a Band wagon Fan?! They do not need them! GOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS! THIS Fan has your back!
Dan
October 16th, 2009
2:07 pm
What is this bulldog nation stuff? This is exactly why UGA can’t ever win the big one, because their fans think they are bigger than they are. Bulldog nation? Please…no one outside the South cares about the Bulldogs. This might be because most of their fans didn’t attend the school so therefore, don’t have good jobs to migrate to different cities. Yep, all the DAAWWWGGG fans are right here in great cities like Winder. So, when you say Bulldog Nation, just please refer to it as Bulldog Southern.
Al
October 16th, 2009
3:26 pm
“Please…no one outside the South cares about the Bulldogs. This might be because most of their fans didn’t attend the school so therefore, don’t have good jobs to migrate to different cities”
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That makes no sense….all large universities gain a large percentage of their fans from people who are not alumni. Don’t try to act like UGA is the only one like that.
DP
October 17th, 2009
12:06 pm
I could not agree more with Savannah Dawg. The players and the fans are frustrated with our current play. NOW is the time when the team needs us most. It is easy to be a fan when your team is undefeated. It is difficult to be a true fan when times are tough. All the trash talkers on the blogs are not TRUE fans. These players work hard. Yes, there may be some coaching issues because I do believe we have as much talent on the field as Florida, Texas, Alabama, etc. Those adjustments will need to be made after the season is over. But come on people, lets get behind our dawgs when they need it the most!!