Read all about it: UCF 10, UGA 6
A roundup of the AJC’s coverage of Georgia’s loss to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl:
My game story on another sobering loss in a lost season:
MEMPHIS — Georgia’s football season ended as it began. Badly. Very badly.
The Bulldogs, who started the season by losing four of their first five games, lost their finale here Friday, falling to Central Florida 10-6 in the Liberty Bowl.
The loss — to a Conference USA team that had never before won a bowl game — dropped Georgia’s record to 6-7, giving the Bulldogs their first losing season in 14 years and punctuating a dismal year on and off the field for the UGA program.
“It’s embarrassing to be part of a losing season. It absolutely is,” said kicker Blair Walsh, whose two field goals accounted for all the points the Bulldogs could muster against Central Florida.
Jeff Schultz’s column, which asks if Georgia’s coach can fix his broken program:
MEMPHIS – Mark Richt says he is disappointed. He says he has to make changes. He says the Georgia football program is not where it needs to be, and when a once-respectable SEC program ends its season by failing to score a touchdown against a team from Conference USA, nobody is going to dispute that.
Here’s the only matter up for debate: Does anybody believe Mark Richt can still get it done?
My notebook, including items on Aaron Murray’s gloves, Richt’s decision to settle for a field goal on 4th-and-1 from the UCF 3-yard line and this:
Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, widely expected to enter the 2011 NFL draft, wasn’t ready to declare his intentions after the Liberty Bowl.
“Not right now because I’m not clear-minded,” he said. “I’m just going to give it a couple of days, let it pass through, and go from there.”
And a photo gallery from the game, including this shot of the post-game handshake between Richt and UCF coach (and former Georgia Tech coach) George O’Leary:
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490 comments Add your comment
Clueless
January 2nd, 2011
8:56 am
Why does a good coach like Meyer retire?
Why does a bad coach like Richt stick around?
takedowndawg
January 2nd, 2011
9:01 am
Gary Patterson is looking REALLY good right now as a great prospect HC for UGA. . Obviously, has a high caliber integrity football program. Would he be willing to take on the challenge of turning our UGA program around? Not sure, but certainly from what I have seen from TCU over the last three years, I would greatly appreciate his consideration. But, he must have the OPPORTUNITY. UGA AD, are you listening? Time to start thinking outside of the box. Our program is in a free fall. Do we have to tolerate another year?
TheAntiMe
January 2nd, 2011
9:08 am
Why does a good coach like Meyer retire?
Why does a bad coach like Richt stick around?
For the same reason that people drive on a parkway and park on a driveway. That’s just the way it is.
jarvis
January 2nd, 2011
9:09 am
I am so sick of this. I could find much better ways to spend my money than on this crap every year. There are lots of ways I could use two grand that would cause me less misery including piling it up and setting it on fire.
InsectInside
January 2nd, 2011
9:09 am
icallbs
January 1st, 2011
9:37 pm
I’m guessing 50% of the posters on this thread are TECHsters under 30-years old. We’re (UGA) happy to add something to your miserable lives. When schadenfreude is the only joy in your life, well, you have no life. Thanks for caring. Richt/no Richt, next year or the next – UGA will be back, and you know it.
Go take a look at a Tech blog then wallow in your self-pity some more. “Schadenfreude”….laughable…I can see the quizical expressions now. Use words your Dog friends recognize/understand like…..oh,….woof!, yard-sale and bail bond.
Stinger
January 2nd, 2011
9:11 am
Why would Patterson consider leaving TCU for UGA? I mean really, think about it. Why go to a school that allowed UCF it’s first ever bowl win??????? UGA is now the bottom feeder of the SEC.
jarvis
January 2nd, 2011
9:13 am
Yet we beat Tech every year.
Pago Pago Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
9:14 am
You should be very thankful that Vandy is in your Division…sad.
Pago Pago Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
9:20 am
Actually, there are several MAC teams that could give the DAWGS a pretty good game.
Paddy
January 2nd, 2011
9:20 am
Pago Pago, good point. Without Vandy on our schedule this year we don’t get to a bowl game. Wait a minute! Is that a good thing for us or a bad thing for us? Sort of puts this terrible season in perspective!
jarvis
January 2nd, 2011
9:20 am
Why should we be thankful for Vandy? 3rd in the division is really no better than sixth when you look at our division.
JDawg
January 2nd, 2011
9:24 am
Blair Walsh: “It’s embarrassing to be part of a losing season.”
*************************************
Well you’d better transfer or head to the NFL, cause if nothing else, the bowl game proved (again) that Richt can no longer compete with other coaches with equal or even less that equal talent, much less coaches with more talent (Auburn).
Even worse, all of this losing is gonna ruin recruiting, hence, no commitments in 4.5 months.
jarvis
January 2nd, 2011
9:25 am
Both teams in this state finished with losing records and bowl losses to perceived inferior competition. Which one sucked worse?
With all other criteria being equal…guess we’ll have to look at the head to head.
Lowest point in twenty years for the Dawgs…still ahead of the Jackets.
gt4ever
January 2nd, 2011
9:36 am
jarvis,
Unfortunately your right….. I guess that makes your day…..
Producer
January 2nd, 2011
9:40 am
I know there are fans out there that STILL want to give Richt another chance but WHY? He’s a loser. He clearly cannot inspire the team any longer. Clearly if he were an honorable man,he’d resign, money be damned. I don’t see the boosters putting up with this crap any longer.
jarvis
January 2nd, 2011
9:41 am
Yes Forever…my day is made. That’s why I’m contemplating burning 2 grand rather than renewing my season tix….cause I’m f’ing overjoyed.
TheAntiMe
January 2nd, 2011
9:45 am
I know there are fans out there that STILL want to give Richt another chance but WHY? He’s a loser. He clearly cannot inspire the team any longer. Clearly if he were an honorable man,he’d resign, money be damned. I don’t see the boosters putting up with this crap any longer.
Well, there’s honorable and then there’s stupid. Would you walk away from that kind of money if you were fulfilling your legal obligations under contract? I hope not.
Producer
January 2nd, 2011
9:50 am
Antime, why don’t you send this same message to the family of Pat Tillman. Was he stupid? Hardly.
It ain’t just about the money. Besides, Richt has been making millions for years now and I hope he doesn’t need it. This is about doing what’s right. And his staying with no one believing in him any longer isn’t the right thing to do.
gt
January 2nd, 2011
9:54 am
Two irrelevant football teams in this state. One just got there and the jury is still out the other has been there for a while. Tech will make changes, it is its nature, Georgia looks like it really is not going to make any changes. Georgia would be the most served by making changes they have the talent on campus to make a dramatic turnaround, Tech does not have the talent. Prediction, Tech will be the most improved next year and there is no way on paper you will be able to see what they will do to get there, but I am betting they will get there. The same way you couldn’t see Mississippi State coming or Auburn or South Carolina. If Georgia doesn’t make some swiping changes they could be worse next year. The panic I saw in their eyes during the UCF game in the last 2 minutes spoke a thousand words. Tech may have lost to Georgia in the last few minutes but they also played their best football in the fourth quarter. No panic, letting the Georgia back score showed what I am talking about. This same staff won’t panic in the off season, at Georgia they will be totally freaked out by kick off against Boise State.
Producer
January 2nd, 2011
9:54 am
But, I am sure you’re correct, Antime. He won’t resign. He’ll feed us the same “I swear I’ll do better” bullcrap and cling to his precious contract. But I’d bet you a beer that the powers that be will show him the door sooner than we think.
Scott
January 2nd, 2011
10:03 am
Greg McGarity and Riech should immediately be fired . I have never seen a UGA team in my life time that is worst than the 2010 program . The power that be at UGA shouldn’t stop with the excuse because the program start at the top and these two men should be held accountable .
Hit A Single
January 2nd, 2011
10:09 am
From what I hear some of the boosters can take blame. I heard from a good source that after Grantham chewed out Rambo in the opener that some of the wives of some big boosters got upset. Tough, that is part of coaching no matter what sport especially football. And he was told to tune it down. Truth or not I don’t know, but you didn’t see that kind of coaching anymore other thatn Joe T. on the sidelines.
TheAntiMe
January 2nd, 2011
10:09 am
Producer
January 2nd, 2011
9:50 am
Antime, why don’t you send this same message to the family of Pat Tillman. Was he stupid? Hardly.
It ain’t just about the money. Besides, Richt has been making millions for years now and I hope he doesn’t need it. This is about doing what’s right. And his staying with no one believing in him any longer isn’t the right thing to do.
First of all, it is really an insult to all of those brave folks who have fought and died defending our country to compare their sacrifice to a sports game.
Secondly, I too would like to see someone else besides Mark Richt as coach of UGA, but to question his honor for not resigning when he has done nothing dishonorable to violate the statutes of his contract is extremely judgmental. I have a very hard time believing that you would do what you are trashing his character for not doing.
To say Mark Richt is a bad coach is one thing, but to call him a dishonorable person because he is not winning enough football games to your liking, is something else entirely. And I seriously doubt, were you in his position, that you would resign.
Hit A Single
January 2nd, 2011
10:11 am
Joe T. will make a difference and maybe the biggest difference. The whole program needs to apologize to Kris Durham, and no I am not from Calhoun, but that kid busted his butt for that team.
takedowndawg
January 2nd, 2011
10:13 am
IF and that is a big IF, UGA could get Patterson from TCU, it would have a profound effect on recruiting. Thugs, and others who have no self control, need not apply to UGA. Did you notice the professionalism of all the players on the TCU team. No self glorification and crude behavior from its players whether scoring or struggling, the behavior was the same. Under control. What a refreshing sight for a change from a college team. My HS son also commented that if given the chance he would like to play for a team that conducted themselves so well on the field.
icallbs
January 2nd, 2011
10:15 am
InsectInside
Why would anyone other than a TECHster visit a GT blog?
UGA has its own problems and in case you have not noticed, it is overwhelmingly acknowledged by UGA fans. The problems with the UGA football team are solvable. That is not the case with GT. I don’t care one whit about GT or what they do or don’t do.
Alabama, MS State, SC, Auburn, Florida fans all have the well earned right to look down their noses at UGA this year. Fact: Florida has absolutely owned UGA for years. UGA’s recent record against the others is more than respectable.
I’ve seen this cycle a few times. The good new is UGA has probably bottomed out. Richt is on notice. He gets it done starting immediately or he is gone. As to the dimwits that ask who would want to coach UGA? By asking the question you prove you are too stupid to understand the answer, which is obvious. Hint: who would want to coach MS State, and why?
Charles
January 2nd, 2011
10:17 am
The problem` is there is a lack of discipline year in and year out same story. Richt continues to show no interest in any desire to make hard changes unless forced. Both offensively and defensively there seem a lack of commitment from coaches and players. Either get with the program or get ride of this bunch who seem to think if you schedule 2-AA schools and win you are a success. The Georgia fans deserve better!!!
Hit A Single
January 2nd, 2011
10:22 am
Charles – you are right! It all starts with discipline. I would take the G’s off their helmets and they would earn them back. Kind of like when Coach Landers made the girls turn their practice uniforms inside out where the G wouldn’t show. They didn’t deserve to wear the G. This football team other than a couple (Kris Durham) sure don’t deserve to wear them.
Hit A Single
January 2nd, 2011
10:23 am
We need a bunch of like #49 from C. Florida. Man he made me think of the last great defensive player we had, David Pollock.
powhownd
January 2nd, 2011
10:35 am
How is it that it is 8:30MST, two days after the ugliest loss since Boulder, and I have yet to hear that Boo Boo has been removed as OC. I guess Saint Richt won’t whack a guy on Sunday. If he’s not gone by this time tomorrow, I’m just gonna lose all hope.
MJ
January 2nd, 2011
10:35 am
As a transplant, with no SEC heritage, I’ve been watching the conference football teams since I moved to ATL 16 years ago. I’m a Tarheel, who understands that the ACC plays basketball, and the SEC plays football. I’ve read so much about the Georgia players gettting in trouble, etc, and feel sorry for Richt. I think every school with appx 90 football players on scholarship is going to have issues from time to time. However, I think you can minimize the issues by bringing in the right kinds of kids to start with. If you have the resources that Georgia has, and can offer a kid a great education and the chance to get the kind of national exposure that will allow you to play at the next level if you have the goods, you should never have to take kids with borderline ethics and morals. You only take those kinds of players when you become desperate to win, and the pressure from alumni and students becomes too great. Years ago, one of my favorite ACC basketball coaches, Jim Valvano, took a chance on a kid that had a consistent history of being in trouble. After this kid got in trouble his freshman year, the reports started coming out about his character, and past troubles. He never should have been recruited in the first place. His SAT’s were reported to be below 500. The NC State team under Jimmy V was never the same, and it had everything to do with bringing in kids to win right away, just to appease alumni and fans. Desperate people do desperate things. Right now, Georgia should be winning most recruiting battles in Georgia and to a certain extent, South Carolina. Florida is in turmoil, as is Tenn. South Carolina is as good as it will ever be, and Clemson is far from being that dominant ACC team. There is no excuse for Georgia missing on the best players in Georgia, South Carolina, and the Southeast. The turnaround starts with bringing in better players, and then coaching with the intelligence of LSU & Alabama. (sorry Auburn – win big a few more years & you can get in that cagtegory) I’m sure a few Georgia coaches with be fired as sacrificial lambs, but the real focus needs to be on better players, with better character, and a coach who is in control. Richt needs a zero tolerance policy. One screw up and you are gone. I know college kids are going to be college kids and make the occasional dumb mistake, but he needs to instill some real fear into his players. As an outsider, I don’t get a sense of discipline or game planning when I watch the Dawgs. It seemed to be in place when Richt got the team initially, but I don’t see it anymore. He can get it back, but he has to be willing to make some tough decisions, and quite frankly, cut whatever is cancerous on his team out, no matter how unpopular or unpleasant it might be. I’d say give him one more year to make drastic improvement, or the AD needs to make changes. Richt needs to lock down every high profile recruit with good morals that he can, and he needs to put some fear in his players. The good players will repsond. Good kids always play better when head cases are removed from the team. Good luck Coach Richt – you can do it. Chart the right path, communicate it to your AD and head of the alumni association, and then stay the course. Make 2011 a great year. You seem to be a realy solid family man and person. Guys with your character need to influence and lead young men. You are at a great univeristy with great resources. Be a hard ass in 2011, and your team will take on that character.
dawgfan
January 2nd, 2011
10:36 am
I don’t know why we went 6-7 and suck so bad, but I do know one thing: TECH FANS NEED TO STFU. We don’t give a flying crap what you have to say. You come on here lecturing us about our football program like you are some authority on college football. Your “on the rise” defending ACC Chump program with its genius coach couldn’t beat the worst UGA team in 14 effing years. No matter how much we suck, YOU SUCK WORSE. Your football program is a big stinking pile of dog crap. We have no respect for it whatsoever. Can you give me one single reason why we should? I have been following Atlanta local sports my entire lifetime and you idiots never change. We have owned you for as long as anyone can remember, but everytime UGA fails at something you run your mouths like you have room to talk. Florida beats us and you run your mouths. We lose an SECCG and you run your mouths. We lose to Central Florida and you run your mouths. See a pattern here Techies? You never run your mouths after we play your piece of effing crap sports programs. How could that be? STFU.
Thanks
Doc Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
10:41 am
Richt’s teams are and have been for at least five seasons: soft, weak, undisciplined on and off the field, predictable, unprepared, uncoached or uncoachable, and unaccountable. This is all head coaching. I’ve been calling for major changes for 3 years now and have gotten some, but not enough. He must win at least his side of the SEC, and not get blown out in the championship game next year. That is the bare minimum acceptable standard of performance. I don’t care about a horrid, woeful Tech team. I don’t even really care about Boise State. I want to see dramatic progress in the SEC. Period.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
10:46 am
UGA Needs to Empower the Fan Base!
It just occured to me why we are in such a miserable hole. It’s because the UGA administration has fixed it where the market does not have an opportunity to work. Normally, if a lousy coach lost consistently or showed a multi-year downward trend, the fans would not buy tickets or merchandise. Then the management would be compelled to make changes. Well, at UGA this doesn’t happen. In order for alumni to get their season tickets, they have to go through the Hartmann Fund shakedown. If they don’t, they lose the privilege of buying tickets the next year. While this might sound like a good way to keep the revenues flowing to improve UGA football, in reality it only serves to let wimpy administrators maintain the status quo. You see, there is no penalty for Adams or McCavity for leaving a lose like Richt in place indefinitely if the revenues don’t fall. The forces of the market that ensure that teams do everything to win are shut down at UGA Athletics. I’m surprised the economists at the Terry School of Business don’t raise a stink on this. But then those professors would be on shaky ground, wouldn’t they? Adams is a little bit like the old Soviet Union boss man. He runs the show as a tyrant. He has so much power he can squelch all dissent and public discourse. The problem with that is that just like the Soviet Union, UGA football suffers from such insulation from the market forces.
UGA alumni pay for UGA football. It’s time to throw off the shackles and demand change to this sleazy Hartmann Fund system.
I urge alumni to do what Nancy Reagan did: JUST SAY NO. At least until we get a PROVEN HEAD COACH AND WORLD CLASS COACHING STAFF.
dawgfan
January 2nd, 2011
10:48 am
Oh that’s rich MJ coming from a freaking Tarheel fan. How many football players of yours were ineligible before this season started again? I think it was like half your effing team. But thanks for the lecture on character and ethics pal. I enjoyed the laugh.
tenndawg
January 2nd, 2011
10:50 am
Read here where UGA has a top 10 recruting class over the last 10 years… UCF, is not in the top 25… UGA was out coached Friday, we have to make a change.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/recruiting/
Kennesaw Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
10:56 am
Long time Georgia fan and long time Richt fan. This game is the final straw. Richt has lost this team and is done. Time to take the hit and replace him with somebody that has some passion. This team is sleepwalking.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
11:07 am
Here’s an angle to ponder…
We all talk about hiring the Boise State coach, the TCU coach, Van Gorder. In other words, QUALITY PROVEN COACHES. However, how in the world would such a coach, who can pick from several respectable programs or simply remain where he is, going to want to coach at UGA under the strings of such a sleazy slimeball as Michael Adams. Adams has his slimy fingerprints on everything, and Richt is just the type of yes man he wants. McCavity is another little puppy dog that will do whatever Adams says. Qualty world class coaches will not put up with incompetent meddling from above. Unfortunately, it looks bleak. In reality, the best we can hope for is another Jawja Bubba junior coordinator like Kirby Smart. This would be disastrous but is likely anyway. Kirby is not proven, he’s just a flash in the pan. His resume is weaker than Richt’s was. But since he’s a dues paying UGA football mafia man, he or someone like him will be hired. The mafia boys are tight, incompetent, but understand that they work for the president, Michael Sleazebag Adams.
So, Bulldog Nation, we are screwed.
Ralph
January 2nd, 2011
11:07 am
thUGA has certainly not bottomed out. The only thugs who left are going to the NFL, leaving the less athletic thugs behind to teach their trade and swagger to the new incoming thugs.
KSDawg
January 2nd, 2011
11:17 am
The 2010 Dawgs just sucked. Bottom line. Im a Georgia fan and came to grips with this about mid-season. Richt fired the defensive coordinator after last year and it was still their problem this year….AND the offense was unimpressive again. This is squarely on Mike Bobo for his play calling and Mark Richt for not taking care of it last year or at any point this year.
I wasn’t upset with them losing to UCF necessarily. I was upset with the 6 damn points they scored against them. 2 field goals. Someone has to take the fall for this.
In addition, and as a symptom of the problem, one of the news outlets interviewed one of the players after the game and this dude said that they were beaten by a very good team and that they had won the Conference USA title for a reason. I would rather someone say that we beat ourselves and there is no reason why that team should have been on the same field, much less won the damn game. They have a lot of crap to clean up after this one.
Eaassyy
January 2nd, 2011
11:21 am
The man who shot and killed the state trooper is a thug. The kids who are responsible for the Va Highlands crimes are thugs. Let it go Ralph.
I am beginning to think Mark Richt is not a very smart man. He talks about changes that need to be made and righting the ship. I bet if anyone asked him to expand on this and what exactly he plans to change, he would look at you with an expressionless “10″ mile gaze and say nothing.
I firmly believe he has no plan to change the lack of chemistry, leadership, physical style of play, and discipline.
takedowndawg
January 2nd, 2011
11:29 am
1ST QTR, FOURTH DOWN, TWO YARD LINE, FOUR INCHES TO GO FOR THE 1ST DOWN, PLAYING A USA CONFERENCE OPPONENT AND COACH RICHT AND COACH BOBO DO WHAT??????????ALUMNI AND DONORS, REMEMBER THIS THOUGHT PROCESS!!!!! MAKES ME ILL…….
ylojkt
January 2nd, 2011
11:54 am
LMAO@you puppies! Read it and weep – http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-bianchi-ucf-georgia-liberty-bowl-020101231,0,5937044.column
Talking a bunch of crap on Tech boards about how we only scored one TD in our game. Yeah, we did, one more TD than you puppies did! LMAO
Best quote of the year from the above linked article – Let’s face it, not many of the naysayers thought UCF had what it took to beat Georgia – even if it was a mediocre version of the once-feared Dawgs. But perhaps it was an omen of good things to come when Georgia mascot – Uga VIII – didn’t show up for the game because of gastrointestinal issues. Or at least that was the official story. Considering what is going on at big-time BCS schools this year, I believe Uga VIII was probably suspended for selling his commemorative Liberty Bowl pooper scooper to a Georgia booster for $1,000.
Spinoza
January 2nd, 2011
11:55 am
It is time for Richt to give some of that absurd salary to the university system itself so it can do what it is supposed to do: teaching and research.
We have a recession, budget cuts every year, and this glorified PE teacher still pulls down over $3 million a year. Follow Joe Paterno’s action of giving back to the university which made him rich.
Producer
January 2nd, 2011
12:03 pm
Great comeback, Antime! I was talking of honorably leaving when no one has confidence in your abilities. You stated that it would be stupid to walk away from the cash. Is it about the money? So, actually it’s you who insult the Tillman legacy because you’re implying it would be stupid to leave the money on the table. Pat left all of the money on the table. All 3+ million of it. Instead he honorably served on the pay of an enlisted man. Principals and honor can occur in any occupation. Tillman actually gave his life for it. And I am agreeing with you that Richt will not. Hang on to those dollars, Mark.
NoFKGdog
January 2nd, 2011
12:14 pm
The dogs could bring Christ and the 12 Disciples to coach and it would not matter. You dog fans know what you do……………SUCK!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
Marcus Nabors
January 2nd, 2011
12:15 pm
No Dawg needs to be ashamed to be a Dawg. We have shown excellence through out our existence of a team. Vince Dooley era was an time of winning and expecting championships. He won with a great supporting cast. Richt no longer has a great supporting cast and that’s his problem. We need to be ashamed of his choices and our AD’s choices for a supporting cast. When Richt moves things around and get a cast to help him like he had in his early years as a Dawg head coach, he will be fine. We also need a new offense. The I-formation can’t win Championships without the having the best back in the country. Spread the field.
takedowndawg
January 2nd, 2011
12:16 pm
j savannah, sorry, I missed your blog comment. Didos.
takedowndawg
January 2nd, 2011
12:27 pm
nofk, your urban background is shining through your comments.
NoFKGdog
January 2nd, 2011
12:58 pm
So?