Mark Bradley

By Bob

September 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

The Georgia skepticism by the media has simply reached absurd proportions. It all comes down to one simple thing folks: They flat out don’t think we can get it done because we’re Georgia and not OSU, USC, Florida or LSU. That is all there is to it. All this crap about the tough schedule is nothing more than a proxy for this prejudice. I don’t think it is any different now than it was in the preseason. How many times did we hear “Georgia may be the best team in the nation, BUT…” But, but, but. But what? Let me translate for you: But we’re not Ohio State. But we’re not USC. But we’re not Oklahoma. The media doesn’t trust Georgia to make them look smart.

Maybe they will be right. Maybe Georgia doesn’t have what it takes to get it done. But it seems a little premature to me to be making that determination in the middle of September, just like its premature to annoint USC the champions of the universe right now too.

The college football media needs to be put in its place. These clowns simply have too much power. We need a playoff.

By Ben

September 17, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

It’s not nitpicking. If you’re wondering why Georgia has fallen from #1 to #3, it’s simple. Before the season, the voters thought Georgia is good enough to thoroughly take care of business. They haven’t done so as thoroughly as USC and Oklahoma. The voters have simply stated that they don’t think Georgia is as good as they thought they’d be.

By bigeasy830

September 17, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

As long as we win our games we will play for the title. The BCS sucks because it is basically a poll of popular opinion. The NY Giants would not have played for in the Super Bowl if the NFL did the same thing and there is no doubt they were the best team at the end of last season. Championships are won and lost on the field not in the poll of popular opinion. The Heisman has lost its appeal because of the atletes that did not go on to great NFL careers in recent years. As long as Knowshon stay healthy, keep a good attitude and produce on the field and at the combine his NFL stock will get better and better and that is what is important, money, C.R.E.A.M. The BCS and those pols have taken good sportsmanship and developing young players out of college football. Georgia could have beaten GSU and Central Michigan by larger margins. But,CMR did the right things by letting his young players get some real game experience. USC is peaking now but they will not be able to continue to play at that high level all year. As long as UGA peaks at the right time we will win it all. The season is a marathon not a sprint. I love those quotes you added from the players it shows that they are all on the same page and playing for one another, for the team and not even trying to appease us fans. Thats what championship teams are made of. GOOO DAWGS SICK’EM WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

Also Mark you were right, CPJ is doing a great job at GT. I am very impressed and they scare me towards the end of the season.

By James

September 17, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

This year (just like the last two)the media will see that there is already a playoff system in place. It is held at the Georgia Dome every year, we call it the SEC Championship game.

By Clip

September 17, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

It’s not nitpicking. If you’re wondering why Georgia has fallen from #1 to #3, it’s simple. Before the season, the voters thought Georgia is good enough to thoroughly take care of business. They haven’t done so as thoroughly as USC and Oklahoma. The voters have simply stated that they don’t think Georgia is as good as they thought they’d be.

Well who in the world couldn’t have beat the teams that OK and USC have beaten?? I do believe that if USC or OSU had been ranked #1 at beginning of year they wouldn’t have dropped any spots with performances similar to UGA’s. This type of thing is gonna take us back to the way it used to be years ago - teams running up the score like crazy for fear of losing ground in the rankings.

By Heyberto

September 17, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

My issue with it all has been that it doesn’t seem fair.. but nothing ever is. I’m more concerned what will happen if we have one loss and how that will affect our status. Winning out is a tall order, but unless we do, I’m not sure we can get the respect we should. The way the pollsters are treating us, we could be a one loss team that’s on the outside looking in.. and a one loss SEC team is a heckuva lot better than a multitude of unbeaten teams in the league.

By WildBill

September 17, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

I have a friend who is an Oregon Duck. His perspective is that UGA is overrated even at #3. He thinks that too many sportswriters are swayed by the UGA finish of last year, and that this years’ performance thus far simply doesn’t measure up to a #3 rating, and might even should be out of the top 10. I guess we will see what we see.

By Dawg4Life

September 17, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

After watching the first few weeks of this season, I would have to say that USC is the best team in the country. Do I agree that UGA should’ve moved down in the polls? Absolutely not. The people voting for the polls half the time just look at the final score to make their votes if the games aren’t regionally or nationally televised. They don’t see that UGA had their 4th stringrers in the majority of the 2nd half against GSU, they see the 21 points. If you are winning, you hold your spot, that is how it should be. Bob is right. If it had been OSU, USC, OKLA, UF, LSU, ND, or Michigan they wouldn’t have moved. The year will play itself out though. IF UGA wins out, they are in the NC game. There is still a lot of football to be played though.

By Elmo

September 17, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Interesting point about Auburn. They beat MSU 3-2 and either don’t drop or drop 1 spot. Alabama who beat a bad Clemson team, and two nobodies since went from being unranked to a top 10 team? Oklahoma who’s played 3 nobodies is #2? Going in to the SC game all the analysts were saying ‘SC is no where near as bad as they’ve played, they have one of the best defenses in the country’, yet Georgia gets dropped for not beating the 50-3? Ridiculous.

By AltamahaDawg

September 17, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

I think its more a matter of other teams being better than they wondered if they would be. USC and Oklahoma have answered some earlier questions that kept them from entering the season ranked above Georgia. The Dawgs season so far has gone exactly as everyone would have suggested 6 months ago.

By OH MY GOD

September 17, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Will the AJC PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop giving the mutt fans more ammunition to whine, complain, and cry about!!!! STFU you whiney babies. Jesus F’ing Christ. You got jumped in the polls b/c you look like a top 5 team, but not #1 or #2.

I do love to hear all of the idiot conspiracy theories though.

By Ryder

September 17, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

As painful as it is to say, the fact that UGA hasn’t been placed in National Title game is because they simply don’t have the same pedigree as USC, LSU, and even FLA despite beating them last year.

Face it, the national perception of UGA is that they are always the bridesmaid and never the bride. They always get tripped up by either South Carolina, Tenn, or Florida. Until they run the gauntlet, however hard that may be, they will always have this stigma.

By Joshg

September 17, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

All you truly have to ask yourself is does UGA look as good as USC and OKLAHOMA through the first few weeks of the season. I believe everyone will say no to USC and Oklahoma would be a toss up, so why is everyone so mad?

By You got to be kidding me

September 17, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Gee, is it not funny how a Hawaii, Boise State, or Fresno State team can beat inferior opponents and keep moving up the rankings and land themselves in a BCS bowl yet an undefeated SEC team keeps dropping in the polls each week? Why don’t they just go ahead and put Margin of Victory in the equation and get it over with!

By Trojan Man

September 17, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

That is a great point made in the last comment of this editorial.

Should the University of Auburn really be ranked #9 after that horrifying win against a team that lost to a Sun Belt punching bag?

I do think the best conference in America is the SEC, no doubt, however, I only believe there are 3 legit teams in that conference…

Georgia, LSU, and possibly Florida.

Guess we will find out!

By Honest Mark calls for a blackout

September 17, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

georgia will end up 11-1 and get the prize of the east….East Carolina!

How low can you go?

By marie

September 17, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Please STOP with the language and do Not take my Lord’s name in vain!!!!! CMR is a God-loving and God-fearing man and will be rewarded for it. I know, there are other christian coaches, but he does not hesitate to publically make it known. Let tne love affair continue with all those media darlings, remember- Every Dawg had his day!!!!!!

By Old Guy

September 17, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

I think that Steve Spurrier would give Oklahoma or USC all they could handle and probably Vandy too. Whatever.

By DAP01

September 17, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

What does pedigree have to do with a football team?

By SlickWillie

September 17, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

You mention people spent eight months building up the dogs. You are correct on that point, but it was the dog fans and all of the State of Georgia media that hyped the dogs. Granted they peaked from mid season until the end of the season last year, but it appears the hype ended with the first two games. Carolina played the dogs tough, but garnered the dogs no respect outside of Georgia. There is great potential with the dogs. They control their own destiny.

By Elvis

September 17, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

There SHOULD be lots of fluidity to the polls in the first month. ALL teams should have to reprove themselves. UGA (my team) has NOT done anything that screams We ARE #1. In fact, I think it is a real stretch to place them in the top 3.

With that said, it is way too early to really sweat it. All this protesting will look pretty foolish if the Dawgs lose 3. In short: Quit worrying about the polls until at the earliest end of October.

Go Dawgs

By Mikey in the SAV

September 17, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

” it’s not like they were some power house team or something- they lost to vandy “

By B.A. Barracus

September 17, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

What’s the big deal? The pollsters have every right to change their opinions based on each week’s performance. This is actually a good thing, as long as they treat all schools the same. Those of you who think that voters should vote the team they currently think is the best No.1, vs. who they think will end up No. 1, should be happy. This benefits the Dawgs, since we should be rewarded for how good we are rather than be penalized for the odds of us navigating our brutal schedule unscathed. The fallacy of the preseason poll is how could anyone really know who is best before a single game is played? Why should they be tied to that initial evaluation, which was based on insufficient evidence? Do you guys really, honestly think we have looked like No. 1 so far? We have not had a single game that we have looked like a well oiled, dominant machine they way USC and OK have.

That said, invariably OK and USC will have weeks they struggle. If that happens the same week UGA smokes another team and they don’t drop USC/OK and move UGA up, then you have a beef. As of this moment, we have not looked like No.1, No.2, or for that matter, even No.3 in my opinion. As long as the polls remain fluid and fairly evaluate teams from week to week, we should be fine. Point being, let’s not complain until we have something worthy of complaining about.

Lastly, as a Dawg fan and alum, if you don’t think USC is a pretty clear No. 1 at this point of the season, I don’t know what you’ve been watching. That doesn’t mean I don’t think they can be beaten, but they have looked utterly dominant in every aspect so far. You really can’t complain about who they’ve played, they have destroyed all comers. Let’s give them some credit to this point. If both teams win out, we’ll get our shot to settle it on the field. I expect us to improve markedly, especially on O line and at DE, in the next few weeks. When the boys in the trenches grow up a bit more, I think we will be able to line up with anyone. As we improve, I hope the voters look at us objectively, which to this point I think most have.

By Spike

September 17, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Let’s star running up the score. I thought we had the toughest schedule in the country? Any of you other Dawg haters who think your schedule is tougher than ours I’d like to hear from you. Any takers???

By Ken

September 17, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

After we beat the gators and LSU, the universe will unfold as it should. GO DAWGS

By Mark Bradley

September 17, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

I’ve never voted in the college football poll, but I was an AP basketball voter for many years, and I had one guideline: I didn’t drop a team unless it lost.

Herm Edwards: “The idea is to WIN THE GAME!”

By George

September 17, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

I thought I had seen/heard it all last year with all the b***/moaning/crying from the PATHETIC bulldawg nation after the pups did not make the bcs game after not winning their own division consiting of 6 teams. But this b*** and moaning is almost worse. You talk about Virgina being an awful team mr Bradley what do you consider South Carolina. When was the last SEC game they won sir?????? To put it bluntly south carolina is a terrible football team and all you pathetic UGA people can use all the excuses you want but a true number two or even three team in the country should have preformed better. Fact is the dawgs were blind a* lucky to even win that game. USC gave that game away to the pups. Fact is the pups are the most overrated team not only this year but in recent memory. Fact is as you said if you keep winning it wont even matter so why the f*** even waste your breath and b*** about it. WHY WHY WHY??? I will tell you why. Because once again the pathetic dawg nation is once again proving that it is the biggest group of whining b*** babies in the entire country. But all of this will come to an abrupt stop when the pups lose the next two games. Grow up dawg fans and at least pick your battles and b*** when you have something b*** over. Take care of your business and the polls will take care of themselves. I can only think what would happen if what happened to Auburn happened to the pups. God help all the rest of us poor souls considering last year again when the pups failed to make it to the bcs game with two losses the ajc was quoted as saying” UGA got screwed worse this year than Auburn did in 2004.” To this day that is my favorite quote of all time.

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

September 17, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

The polls at this point are farely accurate. Thus far we truly haven’t put together a full game. It could be blamed on the competition the first two weeks and the usual scrapping game against Carolina.

The concern I see is us slugging it out w/ ASU and UF beating UT or LSU beating AU and possibly passing us. This isn’t over.

Also did anyone catch Kirk Herbstriet on ESPN yesterday? When asked who he thought the best team playing this weekend was? The Florida Gators (USC and Oklahoma have byes).

Again nationally this team has lost the respect it was thought to have earned. Alot to prove beginning this weekend!

GOOO DAWGS!!!

By B.A. Barracus

September 17, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

One more thing, this website, i.e. the way it functions and the layout, are a joke. It’s far and away the worst I’ve ever seen. By the time your comments actually appear, there have been 10 posts saying exactly the same thing.

And the front page, wow, what a disaster. Three different links, all with different headlines, going to the same story, all the time. Does your web guy get paid by the number of clicks to an article? He must, since he feels the need to basically trick people into clicking to the same story multiple times. Oh well, this is the same paper that has Terrence Moore on the payroll, so I guess it’s really not much of a surprise. Way to go AJC!

By Stewie

September 17, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

There goes Bradley fanning the flames…just ridiculous.

Simply put, Georgia hasn’t played as well as either USC or OU. No conspiracy, just the obviously widely-held belief that the Dawgs haven’t yet played up to their potential.

The drop is deserved for now. If the team starts to gel and play as they can (and Richt teams always seem to build momentum after the first few weeks), then you’ll see them challenging for the top spot again.

But for now, put a sock in it and face the fact that UGA has not yet looked impressive in its wins.

By Gary

September 17, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

I can understand Georgia dropping in the polls and I’m not concerned. Just as most others have said, as long as Georgia keeps winning, the polls will take care of themselves. But this is the first I’ve heard that Moreno has dropped of the Heisman watch list. That’s just absurd. Have any of these voters actually watched Knowshon run? I know pro scouts are and they can’t wait for him to declare for the draft. He’s the best back in America, regardless of whether Georgia winds or loses or how close their games are. Give him a hole (not always required) and he’ll get the yards. The best part is he is not Georgia’s only weapon. These dawgs are good! ASU should have been focusing on last week’s game. Now they’ll have to lose 2 in a row at home.

By Dan

September 17, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

To B.A.,

I have no problem with USC being ranked ahead of the Dawgs and probably would have preferred them to be the preseason 1#. And I’m not saying they aren’t a good team; they have a proven track record for producing NFL talent as well as beating SEC foes in the past. But everyone is crowining the Champs already and that’s asinine. I remember in 2003 when Oklahoma was beating the pants off everything that moved, then got destroyed in their championship game 35-7, and STILL got to play for the National Championship. If UGA got killed in the SEC championship, I could gurantee you that they wouldn’t be in that game. There’s a LOT of football to be played, and contrary to what people may think, USC is beatable especially in their secondary. Would USC beat UGA if they played right now? Probably, but I gurantee you it wouldn’t be a 35-3 or 52-7 blowout. I’m still bummed that UGA didn’t get to play USC last year in the Rose Bowl. Even if the Trojans won that game( which I don’t think they would have by the way the Dawgs played at the end of last season), it would have been a fantastic game to watch!

By GaDawg

September 17, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

It’s official George is an Idiot. Guess Georges’ Team is not doing as well as the DAWGS, but it sounds like we’ll be taking care of that soon! probubly change his Blog name by then an Whine some more.George if your not a DAWG Fan an part of the discussion your a bigger Idiot for you complaints, So Shut Up and Log Off. Keep the “W”s comming DAWGS and to Hell with the Rest, GO DAWGS!

By OKCBULLDOG

September 17, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Do you also thank maybe they see the problems we had trying to stop the gamecock’s passing late in the game, the lack of defensive pressure from our line, and some problems on our offensive line as well. I think we are going to get better though as the season move on. By the way I live out here in OKC and the Sooners weak secondary has not been tested yet along with that big massive but slow offensive line which were the reasons they have been exposed late in the season and in bowl games. Trust me those issues have not been addressed this either. But you are not going to get the national media to bring it up because they like those guys but when another team goes out and expose then they know that they can no longer ignore it. The bulldogs just needs to win out, in which no one thinks they can do, but if we do we will be in Miami.

By voice of reason

September 17, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

You can somewhat understand USC’s leap to no. 1 after beating UV badly the first week because UV was good last year. Now that UV has been exposed as a horrible team this year, UGA should climb back up there so long as they win. USC will not play another decent team this year nor will OSU. OU will only play a couple. If these guys don’t win by HUGE margins and UGA wins, if only by one, the rest of the season then UGA hands down should get all the respect they deserve and play for the MNC.

Kind of wondering if OSU kept Beanie Wells out so they would have an excuse for losing to USC later in the year. Remember, it’s a pretty long season and if OSU wins out (real tough) they’ll be given all the repect they want. They always do. Wouldn’t it be awful to see a 1 loss UGA lose out to a 1 loss OSU? Chills just went up my spine thinking about it.

By YUP

September 17, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

George, loosen up my man. You might want to take your medications now.

By Will

September 17, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

Guys and Gals,

The season is sooo long. We have 2 more full months of football. It’s too early to moan about where we are ranked or who is stepping on our toes. Just win as many games as you can, and that’s all you can do. So let’s stop writing a reading artices about how disrespected or crappy sportswriters in New York think we are.

By BullDawg Rick

September 17, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

I have had an opinion that trumps all others:

“Just Win, Baby”…

The SEC champion (with 1 or 0 losses) WILL be in the BCS Championship game…

I believe when we beat ASU in the desert & Bummer in the Classic City, we’ll be # 2, atleast..

The remainder if the sked will take care of itself!!

Go Dawgs!!!

By Roll Tide

September 17, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Nah, USC and OU shouldn’t be ranked ahead of Georgia! They blew out terrible teams in UVA and Ohio St.! You people act like a 1-AA team played UGA tougher than those two played OU and USC! Oh, wait…

Do you people even understand that SCar outgained Georgia? That the game is tied if the RB just runs to the pylon rather that trying to win a spot on the Olympic long jump team? That USC just pounded a legit Top 15 team giving up less points than UGA gave to the Gamecocks while scoring more than double? Clemson is as good as SCar and we smacked them around like three cent ho’s. BAMA will expose your nutlicking, buttsniffing, fleabag team for what it is… OVERRATED!!!

Oh yeah, Matt Stafford is Mike Vick without the speed. Rocket arm, inaccurate as hell and very little touch. Doesn’t read defenses too well either, leads to some ill-advised throws. Plus your OL doesn’t block. RAMMERJAMMER YELLOWHAMMER, GIVE ‘EM HELL ALABAMA!!!

By Long-of-tooth

September 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this

Polls - smolls. What counts is what happens between the white lines. Don’t sweat what you can’t control. Take care of business. Al Davis - Just win, baby.

By KW

September 17, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

I think the Dawgs are about right at this time. Hopefuly they will improve and move up. I am not as worried about Oklahoma because at the end of last year I thought they were the best team and look at what happend to them in their bowl game.

By Floyd

September 17, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

Well kiss my butt good morning!! UGA was lucky to win at SC. What do you think the rest of the nation thought? Not impressive. Someone mentioned running up the score. I do not think you can run up the score except on Div II teams. All hype and no bite. This team does not look mean enough nor in shape enough to do it.

By Crimedog

September 17, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

One thing that has characterized Richt teams is a sense of entitlement and lack of discipline. The absurd number of arrests of players plus the national display of bad sportsmanship against UF, stomping on Vandy’s logo, and the sideline dancing against Auburn solidified Georgia’s reputation as the national bad boys of football. All of those things, plus mediocre play in the first three games certainly affected Georgia’s standing and will continue to do so.

By the12thman

September 17, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

Rankings, smankings, who cares about em? Lets just settle things on the field, not in the sports pages. The dawgs are gonna do it, just wait. Soon as the offensive line stiffens up, the defensive line finds a rush, the defensive backs finds coverage, Bobo finds an offensive game plan, Willie finds a D that is not zone, and finally UGA finds his bark, we are gonna be just fine. Just wait and see!!!!

By voice of reason

September 17, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Roll Tide, I’ve never had a bad thing to say about UA but you make me want to change my ways. OSU is, as always, badly overrated and didn’t even have Beanie playing. OU has yet to play anybody either. How in the hell can you say that it’s justified that UGA gets enough respect to be no.1 and then get jumped so quickly by teams that haven’t beaten anyone good either. Hell, South Carolina would have given either of them a better game than their opponents did! They sure as hell have a MUCH better D. Get real. It’s alright though. Can’t wait to have you guys come on over to Athens this year for another whoopin’. See ya there.

By GT_JJ

September 17, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Come on, Bark Madly. There’s no way you’re really this dense! Admit it, you’re just throwing red meat out to some ornery dawgs just to boost your homer credentials, right?

Posted below are some guidelines directly from the AP on voting:

*- Base your vote on performance, not reputation or preseason speculation.

• Don’t hesitate to make significant changes in your ballot from week to week.*

Please reread (several times, if necessary to get it through your thick skull) the part about not basing your vote on preseason speculation. Do you REALLY think it’s unreasonable for voters to have come to the conclusion, in the first few weeks, that USC and OU have looked a bit better that UGA? It’s nice that you, Bark Madly, had your OWN guidelines as a voter, but those guidelines don’t seem to to agree with the official guidelines, so maybe it’s best that you’re NOT an AP CFB voter.

These whining columns have become a pointless waste of time.

By Spike

September 17, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Crimedog… “The national bad boys of football”?? You are kidding right? Do not drink anymore of the Kool-AId.

By MountainDawg

September 17, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Dawgs got shafted by the drop to #3, but I saw it coming. UGA needs to send a message by obliterating ASU this weekend, but I think it may be close. On paper, the Dawgs have the talent & potential to run the table, but that schedule is brutal & I forsee 1-2 losses. The BCS needs to factor in strength of schedule alot more as well. I still like the Dawgs chances of winning the East & SEC crown. GO DAWGS!!!

By GaDawg

September 17, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

Can’t wait to lower the HAMMER on the BAMMER like we did last YEAR!and as for Crimedog, our guys aren’t selling Cocaine and shooting off AK47’s like say Bummer an deFlate. We are 3 and 0 with a SEC win, just keep it up DAWGS, Foes hate it when we win. GO DAWGS1

By Floyd

September 17, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

Hasn’t all this speculation been covered previously? It has been done for eight months with no end in sight. Even my ex-wife gave up some before this length of time. Whip some legit team by more than seven, then the nation will take some notice. All of the fans and pundits will not have to lobby and kiss butt so much to get your “highlights” on ESPN

By Tom Trojan

September 17, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

Being ranked #3 ain’t all that bad is it? I enjoyed the South Carolina/UGA game, thought it was a good college game! UGA has one very large problem, in my opinion: They only have one QB! USC played 3 in the OSU game, and each did as he was instructed to do, namely ‘Cool it!’ USC played at least 5 RB’s, and the DL and OL played a lot of men! Wells was injured, that is the reason he didn’t play! I don’t think USC has a Heisman contender this year and I hope that Georgia does, don’t know. USC played Virginia, and OSU, they both were supposed to have very good teams! USC is not responsible for the caliber of other teams. Actually, it makes little difference in the long run, ask Auburn and Bama and Arkansas and yes, ask the 1960 UGA Bulldogs about playing USC! Incidentally, that was a marvelous game with Tarkenton playing a great game! The season is long, don’t get down on The Dawgs, I haven’t and perhaps they will get to play USC in the Championship game, heck, I just hope WE get there! GO DAWGS!!!!

By Andy in Ohio

September 17, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Part of it is just skepticism about Georgia and how we’re not a household name around the country like USC, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, etc. We’re a team that has been good in flashes over the years but has never built dynasties like those schools have. Part of the way that those teams got to the point where the media respects them is from their coaches campaigning for it and by dominating other teams. Unfortunately, Richt doesn’t like to do either. That’s just his style. It’s going to take us longer to get respect that way, until the national media (not just the in-state and regional guys) figures that out.

That being said, yes, USC is the best team in the country right now. They are playing with a swagger that we don’t have. The coaches, the players, everyone has that confident swagger that we don’t have. It carries over into every single play that they make. I think Moreno has that swagger, maybe Rennie Curran, but the rest of the team just seems to be going through the motion and hoping they don’t mess up. USC has the best defense outside of the SEC, and an offense to match it. They did deserve to be #1 in the beginning of the year, but they weren’t. With us being #1, we really shouldn’t have fallen with not having lost any games. But it comes down to perception and whether the poll analysts think we can get it done the rest of the year based on how we’re performing now, and how we’re winning. Style points matter in poll voters eyes, whether Richt only wants to run up the score in the 12th game of the season or not. Winning with class doesn’t matter to them, winning big does. Winning with class would matter when/if we have a playoff, not when there is a voter system in place that is based off highlights and scores on Sportscenter.

By too tough44

September 17, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

heck, auburn should not have won (3-2) period, obvious pass interference, face guarding, could not believe that was NOT called. Every Dawg Has His Day! Just win Dawgs!

Dont we all know, media bias, West Coast teams and New York teams……

The Dawgs will be OK, dont under estimate UGA!

By Andy in Ohio

September 17, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

Part of it is just skepticism about Georgia and how we’re not a household name around the country like USC, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, etc. We’re a team that has been good in flashes over the years but has never built dynasties like those schools have. Part of the way that those teams got to the point where the media respects them is from their coaches campaigning for it and by dominating other teams. Unfortunately, Richt doesn’t like to do either. That’s just his style. It’s going to take us longer to get respect that way, until the national media (not just the in-state and regional guys) figures that out.

That being said, yes, USC is the best team in the country right now. They are playing with a swagger that we don’t have. The coaches, the players, everyone has that confident swagger that we don’t have. It carries over into every single play that they make. I think Moreno has that swagger, maybe Rennie Curran, but the rest of the team just seems to be going through the motion and hoping they don’t mess up. USC has the best defense outside of the SEC, and an offense to match it. They did deserve to be #1 in the beginning of the year, but they weren’t. With us being #1, we really shouldn’t have fallen with not having lost any games. But it comes down to perception and whether the poll analysts think we can get it done the rest of the year based on how we’re performing now, and how we’re winning. Style points matter in poll voters eyes, whether Richt only wants to run up the score in the 12th game of the season or not. Winning with class doesn’t matter to them, winning big does. Winning with class would matter when/if we have a playoff, not when there is a voter system in place that is based off highlights and scores on Sportscenter.

By tony

September 17, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

mark richt poor game management and how he utilize his players is the real reason why we keep falling.

moreno is the best rb in college but clueless richt keep taking him out the game to play his 2 freshmans to keep them happy.

aj green is by far the best reciever on this team but clueless richt rather have the ball thrown to his senior recievers.

if moreno don’t get 30 + carries and aj green don’t become the go to guy the rest of the way we will lose 3 games this season.

By Pete

September 17, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Georgia is a great football team. It’s easy to see that, but I have very little respect for teams that start their season’s first TWO games, always at home, against teams that Parkview or Brookwood H.S. could compete with. Are we supposed to be impressed with this ?? Please !!

By FLA DAWG

September 17, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

If The Dawgs win in Tempe then come home and beat Bama they will deserve a #1 Ranking again.

By Brad

September 17, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

I think that we have performed just fine to date. I’ll take a 14-7 victory in Williams Brice in that kind heat any day. That is as hot as I can remember a game being.

By fansince66

September 17, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

When has Kirk Herbstreit ever given UGA any respect? Just watch, regardless what happens at Arizona, if Florida wins this weekend, they jump UGA in the polls. Let’s play ball and may the best team win.

By The Truth

September 17, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this

What I find most disturbing is that when Florida needed to block a field goal to beat SC two years ago nobody threw up any red flags about the quaility of their team. In fact, quite the contrary, they were celebrated for their grit and “finding a way to win”. LSU didn’t exactly blow them away last year either, passing for only 70 yards, needing a trick play to score a touchdown, and collapsing defensively in the 4th quarter. Yet again, nobody in the media freaked out and started talking about how bad LSU sucked. They won and that was all that mattered.

Yet when Georgia beats this same team by a touchdown this year we are completely ripped an entirely new bunghole for it by the media and drop in the polls. Call me a whiner. I don’t care. Maybe I am whining. But this is a total joke. There is no legitimate rational basis for this disparity in how these three games are percieved. None. It is pure 100% unsubstantiated BIAS. Nobody in a million years will ever be able to convince me otherwise. There is no other explanation for it that isn’t complete bull**. End of story.

By chicagodawg

September 17, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

Hey roll tide,

How was Staffords touch and accuracy on the pass to Mikey Henderson against bama last year?

At least he has a first and last name.

By 7Straight

September 17, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

At the end of last season Georgia was on an incredible roll; they were dancing on the sidelines to Souja Boy and bowing teams like Florida and Auburn and the media-darling, Hawaii, out. A lot of fickle voters are disappointed that we haven’t hit that kind of stride yet—-but no team can maintain that emotional crest for a twelve game season—and Geoegia is being punished by the voters for it an they are not being held to the same expectations that have historically governed the rankings…..but I think they will beat Arizona State by three touchdowns and if they can do that, and then come home and take care of business against St. Nick and the Crimson Tide, the voters will fall back in love with them.

By Ted Striker

September 17, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

Maybe if Coach Richt does the mature thing and calls pollsters out as morons — like Coach Johnson of Tech did with announcers — UGA will get more respect.

By NotaAtlantafan

September 17, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Come on UGA fans. You are lucky to be 3-0. The cocks gave you that game. If I were voting you would not be in the top ten. You have one player and his postion is not QB. In the end you will have 3 to 4 loses. Could not happen to be better bunch of….what ever you are.

By MiamiDawg

September 17, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

You all need to stop complaining. It’s very simple: if the Dawgs take care of business and win all of their games, they WILL get the respect they deserve and end up in the BCS championship. These early season polls are merely a guessing game—the Dawgs did absolutely nothing on the field to deserve a preseason number one, and the writers don’t “owe” them anything. UGA won this year’s bikini portion of the college football beauty pageant. Over the course of the next three months, we’ll find out if she has a personality to match.

By Beach Dawg

September 17, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

Forget the f’n polls and play ball. Win and the result will be wonderful — lose and pay the price. I don’t give a rats a** where we are rated today — Dec is what counts.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

September 17, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

UGA isn’t getting any respect and doesn’t deserve any! There’s never been a more over-hyped bag of stink than this team.

By The Big Bug

September 17, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

FLA DAWG,you summed up all this BS in one sentence.

By Tater

September 17, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this

Just keep winning….The rest will take care of itself. www.thedawgsden.com

By thisyearwillbe8straight

September 17, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

Consider this…Richt’s teams are always slow starters, every year. This year is no different. A good team gets better every week, we’ve done it virtually every year of the Richt era, no reason to think this will be different. 3-0 and still not having hit our stride???I’ll take it.

By The New Voice of Reason

September 17, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this

Far be it for me to point what should be obvious, but could it possibly be that maybe the reason that GA did not play for the NC last year had something to do with LOSING to SC and getting your backside royally kicked all over the field by the Vols!!!! two years in a row ???

Is it just possible that GA was not being disrespected by being dropped in the polls, but perhaps incorrectly rated higher than SoCal to begin with???

You want to be the undisputed champions??? Then the answer is simple…knock every opponent down each Saturday, not bytch about being disrespected. It is not rocket science…win it on the field, not in some blog.

By Matt

September 17, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

Mark, your quote of Herm Edwards kind of undervalues your point. His team isn’t very good in case you hadn’t heard. If UGA crossed the Mississippi more than twice a century,they’d get more respect.

By DawgBone

September 17, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this

USC is over rated! They play in that joke of a conference that went 0-4 against the MWC. Their 1st game against Virginia that the pollsters made such a big deal over was a joke. UConn slammed the Cav’s almost as bad! The clash in the colliseum against a team that trailed Miami (of Ohio) in the third quarter is nothing to warrant such hype either.

These pollsters are worse than a two faced politician. They change their opinions like the weather. The ESPN talking heads are so biased I sometimers wonder if their not catching a few dollars under the table to hype OSU - a periennial disappointment.

Oh, Ryder….LSU got tripped up not once, but twice last year and still made it to the MNC Game. Florida lost a game the year they won the MNC and almost lost to SC at home!

What I’m really upset about is if Georgia does make it to the MNC Game we won’t be playing OSU…the doormat of the SEC.

DAWGBONE

By 44Dawg

September 17, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

We are already witnessing the West coast bias!! Just you watch. If the dogs continue to progress, and somehow get through this year as the SEC champs while winning close ballgames, we will be hearing all the talk about USC and OKLAHOMA and get the “Auburn” treatment. That is why traveling West is becoming increasingly important, and a victory over ASU big for the SEC. Tennessee didn’t do us any favors. Let’s claim the desert for the DAWGS!!

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

At this point in the season, USC and OKL have not played a tough enough team to judge them better or worse than they were. We all know that OSU’s schedule has been soft. USC played a Virginia team who got demolished by Conneticut 45 - 10. Conneticut!!! Virginia is not as good as the pundits said they were and being in the ACC should not give them any more credit than Conneticut gets for being a “BCS” team.

The change in ranking is nothing but bias and a beauty contest. USC got voted up because the looked good beating a lousy Virginia team. UGA got voted down because when they handily beat teams that could beat Virginia, they didn’t look as good. It was not about atheletes, it was not about schedule…it was style. A beauty contest.

No questions have been answwered about USC or Oklahoma because they haven’t had a quality opponent. The closet thing to “quality” is Washington, but they would be beaten by ANY SEC team. Oklahoma looked “good” in beating them though, so they jump a couple of spots into the number two slot.

Georgia, on the other hand, played teams that could beat Virginia, Washington, Ohio, Chattanooga…teams that media darlings USC, OK, and Ohio State beat in the first three weeks. UGA played in SC against a tough SC team that ALWAYS plays us tough. It is a RIVALRY that we played. They never look like a regular game. WHY? Because you play these teams every year…their players know your players. Teams know each other’s coaches tendencies. There are always axes to grind in these games. Two good defenses meeting early in the season will usually result in an ugly game. Why the voters can’t see that is…welll…they they are biased.

By voice of reason

September 17, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this

The best football played in the USA is right here in the South! Why in the heck should we be required to go out West to prove anything to anybody. The SEC champ is the national champ every year, as far as I’m concerned, because if the SEC teams didn’t beat each other up, nobody would!!! Bowl season proves it year after year. That’s ok though. We’ll pasify you dreamers and go to Tempe and kick a$$ Saturday night and (hopefully) shut some of you up. UGA and the SEC rule!

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this

I see more people are feeling what so many of us are about the media and the whole polling process. I was enraged when Auburn got shut out in favor of the media darlings that year. Those teams went undefeated playing the same sorry schedules they play now. We need a new system that holds poll voters accountable.

This is not just a UGA thing for me. Our current system cheapens the sport by making it more about money than sportsmanship. ESPuke’s agenda is market share and ad dollars, the conferences want TV contracts, the college presidents want money, the bowls want money and guess whose money they are getting…OURS. We subsidize the crappy beauty contest that exists today to determine NC’s. We perpetuate the unfairness and inconsistency of the current system because we keep tuning in to the pregame, ingame, post game and countless scoreboard shows on ESPuke.

If you care about competition on the field as most fans say they do…then start complaining. Let the networks know you’re tired of the bias. Watch the games, but tune out of everything else. Write emails to the college presidents, the SEC Commish Slive, and especially to ESPuke. Tell them you are sick of the biased reporting that influences voters in the crappy system we have.

College Presidents—give us a playoff or reform the system.

By voice of reason

September 17, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this

Mark Richt for President! He’d sure as hell be better than anything we’ve got to choose from this election!

By voice of reason

September 17, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

What am I saying? Vince Dooley for President! We need Coach Richt to stay right where he is!

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

DawgBone,

On LSU losing two games last year…

I remember how the media justified them jumping up several spots in the polls.

The media said LSU won the SEC championship game. Bear in mind Ohio State didn’t play in a conference championship game and they stayed in the first spot. Georgia looked “good” winning their games down the stretch, yet did the poll voters give them a nod over a weak Ohio team? No.

The media said that LSU lost two games, but they lost in overtime. WHAT?? Now they give style points for LOSING??

Oh well, if UGA loses one of their games this year, lets all hold our breath to see if they get style points for losing.

By Robert Eleigh

September 17, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this

UGA is overrated! No ifs ands or butts. They handled Cocks last weekend. I’m sure they’ll be handling Cocks this weekend, too! Trust me, I was in Athens last weekend!!

By Mark Bradley

September 17, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this

And that’s the point: In college basketball, it doesn’t matter where you’re ranked three weeks into a season because you know you’ll have a chance to prove your worth in March. In college football, it actually does matter what people think of you.

That said, I can’t imagine the strength of schedule will let Georgia finish anywhere but No. 1 or 2 if the Bulldogs stay undefeated. Should Georgia lose … well, the Dawgs will need to root for some other teams to lose.

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this

I’ve got to say…

I’m watching ESPuke’s broadcast of Louisville and KState. It is the most boring broadcast I think I’ve seen. The game is fine, but the announcers are talking about the Ryder’s Cup and they are acting goofy. They are talking over the game. Yawn.

I just wish they would call the game and shut up on everything else. But then, they are promoting their Ryder Cup coverage. Yawn.

By ghost dawgI

September 17, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this

I would not worry about the dawgs too much. They came out tight at USC and played like it and stil won. They probably will start playing at their potential at about their 6th game and everybody had best beware. What you bet that the SEC doormat Ohio U. will be back in the top five in few weeks. Dawgs should not worry about rankings cause they are not popular enough but keep on winning then everyone will worry about the dawgs. How much do you think little stevie s. would have paid for an ugly win over the dawgs. Tough luck steve. FEAR THE DAWGS BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING FOR YOU!

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this

Mark,

Don’t you think SOS will carry us only so far? What if Oklahoma and USC go undefeated? Will UGA leapfrog one of those teams? I find that hard to believe, given that Auburn didn’t in their undefeated year.

By sd

September 17, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this

dont sell the trailer yet.go trash woof woof! tough teams like central michigan, ga southern and usc east. ha ha ha ha. what has either of those teasm done compared to USC west, Oklahoma, OSU, UF, or any other team in the top 400??? playh real teams leg humpin trailer trash sister f’in toilet plungers

By hghg

September 17, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this

in case any of the people that think the world revolves around the “south,” please remember that the PAC-10 has owned the SEC for this decade. Look it up if you have that ability. Tennessee is a great rep for the SEC especially since their coach can’t even go to alabama. Use facts not media feeding you what you want in order to sell you Budweiser!

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

sd,

Oklahoma played Chattanooga, Cinncinati, and Washington. Central Michigan could beat those teams.

USC has played Virginia (Central Michigan could beat them). Virginia was whomped by Conneticut. USC played The Annually Overrated Ohio State. O. State is an average team without Wells.

Ohio State nearly lost their first two games against who? Youngstown State and Ohio (who they nearly lost to).

UF played who? Patsies. Miami is rebuilding, and are just barely average. UF has not looked good in their wins either.

So, who have Ok, OSU, UF, and USC played? Their SOS is so low they don’t register on the radar with UGA’s.

So, sd, take that sad smack somewhere else.

By JUMPA

September 17, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this

world champions and noshawn is hizman!!!! he jumped a div 3 playa dog! and doz media folkz didnt give him luv dog. it aint likes somebody else like PJ Daniels did the same thing but got more than 3 more yards? but noshawn didnt make sportscenter cause it be a spiracy dog! we shuld have all rushed da field for noshawn for doz 3 yards! we aint repin dog

By senoiadawgs

September 17, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this

Here’s my take being a die-hard UGA fan. USC is clearly number 1 at this point in the season. Granted they beat a nothing Virginia team that is probably equal to or a little less talented this year than CMU. Ohio State well we know all there is to know about them. One thing I will say for USC they actually didn’t run up the score on OSU and I couldn’t believe it. They actually shut it down. I bet they don’t do that again this year.

For everyone else in the Top 10 nobody has beaten anyone that can be considered a quality win. As a matter of fact UGA’s win over CMU is probably the best win of anyone else in the top 10 considering they are a conf. champ. OK has beaten 3 nobodies and I have run up the score and the QB’s numbers for his heisman run. Quite honestly I think the fight for number 2 right now should be between UF, UGA and Mizz. OK based on who they have played should be #5 at this point.

As some others have said one main point with this whole subjective polling is this. Until UGA wins the national title again, UGA will not be regarded in the same breath as UF, USC, OK and LSU. I would be willing to bet that if any of those three were number 1 preseason they would not have been dropped with wins like UGA have.

Keep playing hard UGA and sic em!!!! We are behind you as long as you leave it all on the field.

By sd

September 17, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

pulease BCS, surprised you could spell your name. USC beat a top team and beat the hell out of them. You barely beat the Cocks who suck @ss. Oklahoma beat Washington who, if you didnt just read the AJC, is a good team. Please quit drinking the Kool-aid of the SEC and realize when ASU shows you that there are better teams on the other side of the River that are better than the trailer park teams of the SEC

By senoiasux

September 17, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this

seriously, every team deserves a national chamionship every 30 years. even if half the team has been arrested during the offseason. even if they were only suspended for the first 2 warm up games. they still deserve it and a heaisman for a second stringer.

Basically, UGA will choke as always and leave the MNC for a deseerving team like Central Michigan or Ga Southern.

By fdeajc.com

September 17, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

The AJC will continue to lick UGAs balls and make the uGA fans think they are good and that the SEC is too tough to run the table on. Why..they want to sell papers to you fools. Keep listening to the BS and think it is a conspiracy that you fall when you fail to impress! Look to fall again when a real SEC team (UF) beats UT on the road. I can hear the crying already from the trailers near Allatoona!!!

By BCS Slave

September 17, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this

USC beat OS? Ohio State is only a top team in the biased media’s eyes. Look at THEIR record against real teams. They are not a top team. Pay attention now little boy.

Oklahoma beat Washington, who is no better than South Carolina. And CM is a good team too who could beat Washington. Again, Oklahoma’s wins were against marginal teams at best. UGA’s wins were no less noteworthy. Yet OK gets voted to number 2?

Little boy sd, you failed to address those points in my earlier blog and so try to now.

By Top Dawg

September 17, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

to GT_JJ:

Thanks for posting those guidelines. Now tell me if they were applied in Auburn’s ranking? Why are we held to a different standard than other top 10 teams?

to everyone else: It doesn’t matter who is 1 or 2 right now. Wait til January. I have no doubt, come January 8th, the Dawgs are the BEST team in the nation. I just hope we do well enough to get to the nc game so we can prove it and so it matters. CMR and his staff do a great job preparing and our teams always progress throughout the year.

By foxdog

September 17, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

It will be sweet to see what the BCS will do and say IF… USC, Oklahoma, and UGA all go undefeated.

By nohistory

September 17, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this

what have we done without Hershel? Nothing!!! Let’s replace Rick with him.. he be da man doq. He took us to whare wes be belonging you heard, you know wut i be meaning! go daowgz. f dem realz teamzz likes dem pac-10 teams. look we cant be playin doz teams dat beat tennessee who be makin us der biotches every year! lets just beat up each other and play doz other losers like central michigan ok doawogs

By LifelongDawg

September 17, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this

Everything that could possibly be said about the polls and their bias against the SEC in general and UGA in particular has been said, so this will be my last post on this subject.

The fact of the matter is that USC, barring an upset, will be in the BCS title game even if they win every game remaining on their schedule by one point. The same applies to Oklahoma. My opinion on that derives from the polls’ traditional love of those schools. The Dawgs have no opportunity to overtake them if those teams are undefeated going into the bowls. Period. The reason is because Mark Richt has stated up front and unequivocally that, with the exception of GT in the final game, he won’t go for “style points” (i.e. run up the score) against other teams, a must for the teams that are not poll or BCS pets. If such a team doesn’t meet the criteria, unwritten or otherwise, required for consideration then that team can expect to be overlooked. All of the talk about running the table and letting the situation take care of itself is honorable, but not realistic. And while it’s true that four of the teams that UGA will meet this season are ranked in the top 10 this week, offering current schedule strength unmatched in the nation, those teams almost certainly will not be ranked thusly by the time the Dawgs face them. This will reduce the impact of any potential victories against them a little bit, although not entirely. A perfect example of this is Arizona State; what was once a semi-blockbuster intersectional game is now on the level of the Georgia-Oklahoma State match-up last year. The only true positive features of that game now is that it is on national network television and can broaden Georgia’s recruiting appeal.

I’ll obviously be quite happy with an undefeated season and winning the SEC title, but I no longer expect UGA to play for the NC given Richt’s reluctance to meet the standards that the BCS has tacitly established.

By sd

September 17, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this

Poll bias against the SEC? wow, step away from the Kool Aid. The SEC has 5 of the top 10 in the polls. Seriously, quit just looking at the athens community college when making dumb comments. The polls drink the same Kool aid but with much more sanity than a trailer park. If you had beaten a team on the road handidly maybe you wouldn’t keep falling. A low class Pac-10 team laid a whooping on a top-teir SEC team and yet Washington can’t beat CM? Kool-aid, keep drinkin it and the AJS will keep maling it for you. And for Life Long, Richt wont meat the standards because he has to inspire his team by running them all on the field for having the first lead against UF in about 30 years. hahahahahaha

By S.E. Dawg

September 17, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

BCS Slave, I’m with you all the way brother.

By LifelongDawg

September 17, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this

BCS Slave,

I’ve given up trying to have a logical or factual dialogue with the vast majority of people who post here. They conveniently forget team records, schedule strength, conference strength, etc. You might as well try convincing a 5 year old that spinach and broccoli tastes better than chocolate candy.

By Who Cares

September 17, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this

Let’s go take care of ASU.

By LifelongDawg

September 17, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this

sd,

That 10:30 post of mine was directed toward the likes of you. Ignoramus.

By LifelongDawg

September 17, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this

sd,

BTW, use spell-check next time you post. “handidly”? “teir”? “maling”? You might want to have someone with an education higher than your 3rd grade schooling proof-read it, too. “Meat” instead of “meet”? And get your facts straight instead of throwing out ludicrous hyperbole. That last word means extreme exageration; I figure I’ll keep you from having to look that one up in a dictionary- I want you to understand what I wrote before 2009 rolls around.

By SOUTHGADAWG88

September 17, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

LifelongDawg …I hear you but I tend to disagree.There are a couple of factors that are a bit different than the last few years at play this season.1The SEC has won the last two NC games by wide margins… that will factor big time in the polls after the conference championship games.USC is exempt from this qualifier simply because the program went on a 50-3 run from 03-06 that’s still fresh in a lot of sports writers minds.It’s not like they have exactly fell off lately so an undefeated USC will be there.OKL on the other hand is quickly approaching OSU status… the only bowl game they have won in the last 5 years is in 04 a year they finished 8-4.The press hypes who they like during the season for various reason. demographics…traditional powers…recent success ie NC’S etc note-you must win ballgames of course!But considering the performance of OSU the last two NC games.. the BCS is gonna do all they can to see a SEC vsUSC match up this year..The other games may suck but the big game will be the best game this year.The other thing is this …ESPN has signed a huge contract with the SEC… all the disrespect we feel has been shown to the league esp UGA will soon be replaced with all kinds of fawning and gushing over league teams soon..watch the tone shift by the bowl season!!All we have to do is win …actually that applies to Whoever is crowned SEC champs this year great time to be a DAWG ..our moment has come…now we have to deliver on the field!

By Bobby D

September 18, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this

For crying out loud, just shut up and quit whining!!! There are lots of 3-0 teams out there and many of them have looked better than Georgia against better teams. It is as simple as that. Georgia hasn’t earned a #1, or a #2, or for that matter a #3 ranking yet. Just shut up and if you keep winning and get your act together you will be ok. There is no conspiracy and you do not deserve a #1, or #2, or #3 ranking just because you started out #1, or because you are the Bulldogs, or because you are in the SEC. You haven’t earned even what you have yet, so just shut up and let the results on the field govern. For crying out loud, quit the whining!!! And that goes for you too AJC, quit the home town stirring of the pot and produce some legitimate sports journalism. Jees!

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this

SOUTHGADAWG88,

I know what you’re saying, but this love for USC precedes the last few years. I’ll repost this link from earlier that goes back to the 1989 rankings and runs to the present. I hope you can get to it- I might be doing something wrong. It is interesting stuff.

preaseason.stassen.com/over-under/teams.html.

If you work at it you should finally get to view this page. I wish I could make sure it gets you there.

By BadDawg

September 18, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this

Bobby D., I hate to admit it but you are exactly right. The AJC writers are using the emotions of all of us to get us to react to their articles. We should just settle down, support the team, and let the results on the field determine the polls. We really haven’t produced yet- the coaches statement that he won’t run up the score may be covering up an inability to “run up the score” so far this season. I don’t think we intentionally held the score down last weekend. If we earn a NC spot we will get it. Come on Dawg fans, lets get our emotions under control.

By Reality Check

September 18, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this

Bobby D

You are dumb. Georgia is getting screwed. We started out #1 and we should still be #1 regardless of our performance on the field since we are still 3-0. Lots of teams are 3-0 and haven’t beat a good team. So what?

I have degrees from good Northern schools and still like the Dawgs. Who do you support. I think everyone should be required to state their allegiance so we can understand their perspective. I bet you are a supporter of a West Coast team.

By fred russo

September 18, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this

IT’S VERY SIMPLE USC OKLAHOMA FLORIDA OHIO STATE ALL HAVE TRACK RECORDS WE ON THE OTHER HAND HAVE NONE. AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT DESERVE TO BE IN A CLASS WITH THEM.WE MUST WIN A FEW BIG GAMES THAN A NATIONAL TITLE. FRIENDS IT WILL COME BUT ONLY AFTER WE EARN IT. M RICHT MUST SHOW EVERYONE HE CAN WIN THE BIG ONES. ALSO THE SCHOOLS I MENTION ABOVE RECRUITE THE VERY BEST FROM THEIR STATES WE DO NOT DO THAT YET WE CAN NOT LET THE BERRYS (TENN) OF GEORGIA GET AWAY THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO THE SCHOOLS MENTION ABOVE.NOT ONLY THE BEST IN THEIR STATE BUT THEY CHERRY PICK THE BEST FRON ALL THE OTHER STATES.

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this

Bobby D,

You’re post isn’t worth debating. USC’s opponents are underwhelming despite their conference affiliation and/or their reputation. UGA’s FBS opponents could match up with USC’s. In fact, Cent. Michigan handled Ohio better than OSU did, and UConn took a little luster off the Condoms’ win over UVA by duplicating USC’s rout of them. In other words, regarding your assertion of Trojsn dominance: that dog just won’t hunt.

By BCS Slave

September 18, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this

Lifelong Dawg,

I will be happy with an SEC title. Anything else would be gravy for recruiting. I think UGA should get NC rings after winning the SEC because everything after that is a sham anyway.

I won’t stop talking about this because I love college football and hate seeing it slowly destroyed by the greed and bias. I hope that others will join in…that fans from the entire SEC and ACC might join in putting pressure on the powers that be to GIVE US A PLAYOFF or a reformed system.

By Bobby D

September 18, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this

LifelongDawg, Please reread my earlier post. I didn’t mention USC or the Trojsn (you probably meant to say the Trojans) in my post. I simply said, please shut up and quit the whining. If you earn a spot in the NC on the field you will get it. In other words, keep winning, probably even as underwhelming as UGA has done so far, and you will be ok. But please, quit the whining!!!! There is no conspiracy!!!!

By Eternal Dawg

September 18, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this

BCS Slave,

You da man. We should get championship rings just because we are the Dawgs and we are the best of the best conference. We had the best recruting class and were rated #1 before the polls started cheating us. As you said, everything else is gravy. No matter what we do the rest of the year, we are the best and should remain #1.

By BCS Slave

September 18, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

BobbyD,

We are not whining for UGA’s tough luck. We are clamoring for reform in the polls and especially for a PLAYOFF. That is the only way we’ll ever prove if USC is better than UGA, or any SEC team.

In football, on any given day, the Applalachian States can beat the Michigans. One game proves NOTHING except that on that day, one team was better than the other. A playoff allows the powers the chance to play each other year after year. When that day comes, and USC continues their so called “dominance”, then I will say they are truly the best team in the country.

When that day comes…I believe we’ll find that USC is not all that.

By DawgsDawgsDawgs

September 18, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this

Go Dawgs!

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this

These track records everyone everybody keeps talking about are a result of being given an opportunity. That comes from getting a ranking and keeping it instead of arbitrarily having it taken away because of a close win. OSU almost went wire to wire last year but should have lost their rank after a lackluster 20-2 win over Akron early in the season. These things don’t happen to the poll pets. The double standard has been around for a very long time- far longer than the BCS (prior to winning in 2003, the last NC for OSU was in the late 60’s, yet they were perennial top 5 teams almost every season of each decade since. When the Dawgs won their title in ‘80, our preseadon ‘81 rank was 10th).

By Brian

September 18, 2008 1:03 AM | Link to this

we have not seen the full potential of this georgia team, i assure you!!!! lets look at the way we handle arizona state, a pretty good pac-10 team, then we can start judging. but still, in my opinion, the SEC is the best in the country and georgia and florida are the best of the SEC. i am a diehard georgia fan but florida looks awesome. as much as i hate to say it. i DO NOT LIKE florida at all, but they have talent that is amazing and you cant put that down. nov. 1st will be a season changing game for whoever wins! GOOOOO DAWGS!

By BCS Slave

September 18, 2008 1:08 AM | Link to this

LIfelongDawg,

Amen brother.

Simple minds can’t comprehend the reality of the situation. All of this is about bias and money. Poll pets get breaks. So called voter “rules” are inconsistently applied to benefit the traditional media favorites and subverted to know other teams down.

We need a playoff. I would rather UGA lose in a playoff than lose in a BC$ beauty contest. At least I wouldn’t feel cheated by a system built to worship the dollar instead of the pagentry and excitement that is college football.

By Chris

September 18, 2008 2:34 AM | Link to this

Regardless of who runs the polls, i bet you can put any other best conference team against one of the SEC’s worst and still see one hell of a game! Now a best conference team vs. SEC’s best…just ask OSU about there last 2 embarrassing National Champ. losses to LSU and Florida!They say we are overrated but other conference fear a real challenge to play against the toughest conference! If you cant run with the BIG DAWGS…then stay on the portch! GO DAWGS!

By SC SEC

September 18, 2008 2:36 AM | Link to this

I normally don’t leave post on the AJC, but, I felt like I should respond to the BS people who post on here. It amazes me that everybody calls us (S. Car) this crap team when most of you outsiders (non-SEC), play in pansy azz conferences that have no idea what a tough schedule is.

If you ask the REAL Georgia fans if they think they’re going to run all over us the week before our game, they’ll tell you no. The game is always close and most of the time comes down to the wire. BTW, congrats Dawgs on your win. Close as always.

Now, for the rest of you (Non-SEC folk). The Dawgs are loaded this year. If they make it through thier schedule with one, possibly even two close losses, they deserve to go to the MNC. Southern Cal (yes, S. Car is the real USC. We were a college before you were a state, son), plays a pansy Virginia and boast about their there OOC schedule? I sure y’all are saying “What about OSU?”. Not a argument with any SEC team (hell, even the real USC is undefeated all-time against them).

Anyways, I think it’s unfair to drop the Dawgs in the rankings. They have a hell of a team, and we have a hell of a defense. Say all you want about Vandy, but I’d love to see them play Southern Cal. Good luck Dawgs and we’ll see y’all between the hedges next year.

By marie

September 18, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this

thank you SC sec. that was some nice compliments. much as it sickens me to say this, but no matter what southeastern team(hopefully UGA) wins SEC, I will cheer for them(even florida or alabama- who also are media darlings themselves, but not quite as much) against USC or any of the media darlings.

By GatorFan

September 18, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this

It is simple..USC has played UVA on the road and won big….USC has played Ohio State (over rated but a big name) and won big..UGA played 2 games against much weaker teams and then looked very very average playing South Carolina…that math is pretty easy. You want national love PLAY A REAL SCHEDULE EARLY!!!!! FLA has played the ‘canes and hawaii…tough sked..not a bit..BCS schools yes. UGA has taken the Ohio State patch and played an easy schedule..so they drop GET OVER IT!!!

By Vince

September 18, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this

When are you going to realize that in order to stay at the top, you have to SCORE POINTS! USC is averaging 1 touchdown better than UGA and giving up 10 points less on defense. Oklahoma is averaging 17 more points than UGA on offense and is allowing about the same as UGA on defense. These AD’s and people in the media like to see BIG numbers, especially a big spread as far as points scored to points allowed. It doesn’t matter that you might have played weaker opponents. UGA - 23 pt. difference, USC 39 pt. difference, OKLA 41 pt. difference. The polls are all about glamour and awe.

By chazz

September 18, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this

UGA is a young team. Thay will only get better as the season progresses. They have guys just coming back from suspension and injury. They also have guys who missed a lot of conditioning in camp due to injuries. They are just pulling it together and they are 3-0. Redemption is sweet, bulldogs. Put is to the PAC Saturday!

By GATADawgs!

September 18, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

Put OSU and USC in the SEC and have them play a full slate year in and year out. See how many times they are undefeated, or how many times they get by with only two losses.

By Mike

September 18, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

As we have said before- as long as the college football media shares the same bedroom with Pete Carroll, Bob Stoops, Les Myles and Urban Cryer- UGA will get no respect from them but who cares really- lets not forget, we are dealing with a bunch of idiots who think they know something about college football

By Loyal to the Dawgs

September 18, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

I think that at this point in the season, the rankings are not that important. I will have to agree with previous comments, that UGA is not OSU or USC…but are they really as good as they are made out to be? If you compare OSU or USC’s schedule to anyones schedule in the SEC they don’t even compare. OSU and USC each have a few (meaning 2, and at most 3) difficult games.

For the past several years, OSU has made it to the BCS game and have been beat by an SEC school.

I also agree with previous comments that as long as we are winning, our ranking should not change. It doesn’t matter how much we win by…a win is a win! But we should have known that if we didn’t beat every team 50 to 3 that our rankings were going to drop. Take Hawaii from last year…they didn’t play anyone granted, but they NEVER lost a game, but could NEVER be number 1! Now when they play UGA they got it handed to them, but USC and OSU have about the same kind of schdule as Hawaii with the exception of a few games.

I personally think that USC, OSU, Michigan, and now Oklahoma are just way overrated! I’m not saying that UGA should be #1 all though they should be because they have yet to lose a game, but that is not the point. I think no matter how well UGA does this season…even if they go undefeated, they will not be #1 again!

Dawg fans, just hang in there, don’t look at the polls, and remember…GO DAWGS!!!

By Jeff Patton

September 18, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

Just Find a way to win! GO DAWGS!

By Meatcleaver

September 18, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

I am a lifelong Dawg, but if you take off your red and black glasses, we are pretty lucky to still be at #3.

When the pre-season pollsters ranked us #1, it was based on the way we finished the second half of the season last year, and the fact that we had many players returning from that team. The cold hard fact is this team is not last year’s team.

On defense, we are feeling the pain of losing both defensive ends (Howard is gone and Battle is injured). Our starting MLB is out. Plus, our most experinced DL is out.

Offense took even more of a blow. Take a look at the current offensive line. How many returning starters do we have? Maybe 2 (Boling and Davis). How many linemen are playing new positions? Think about how productive Southerland was, not only as a blocker and short yardage back, but as a receiver out of the backfield.

The point is… we have weaknesses that need to be addressed on this team. These weaknesses are apparent to even the most ardent Dawg. Don’t you think the sportswriters noticed them too? Take heart though. At this point last year we had flaws in our team as well and they cost us the SC game ( which cost us the SEC, which cost us a shot at the NC).

This year we have survived the SC game and will have things clicking before Bama and UT come to town. And here’s a little bonus for you… USC is ripe for an upset somewhere along the way. When you’re the mighty #1 team in the land, it’s hard to get motivated every week to play San Diego polytechnic State college at Berkely. However, to the other school, it’s like natioinal championship week and they are psyched! Don’t think it will happen? See Stanford game last year.

By Jeff Patton

September 18, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley…Why do we have to put up with a friggin yellow jacket poping up on this screen on the GEORGIA BLOG?

Meatclever (reminds me of Meatcleaver Weaver from the 80’s) Great write up!

HUNKER DOWN YOU HAIRY DAWGS!

By 1953dawg

September 18, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

UGA is being dropped because their weaknesses have been exposed in the first 3 games. Their pass defense is terrible(11th in the SEC), and Martinez is coaching like he did 2 years ago when he allowed Vandy&Kentucky to drive 80 yards in the last 5 minutes to beat us.He will get UGA beat several times again this year, probably Sat. Also,this team ranks last in the SEC in yards allowed per kickoff return.This kickoff coverage has been pathetic for 3 years now, and Richt continues to defend it. Richt also continues to defend this bend but don’t break B.S. defensive package that Martinez is running. This coaching staff doesn’t learn from it’s past mistakes, and they are very arrogant and stubborn if they think that there isn’t a problem on defense and special teams. Those 2 areas are critical in winning games, and UGA looks pathetic in both areas. That is why they are droppingin the polls. Look at the other teams defenses against inferior competition, and see if they allow 236 yards per game against the pass. To make Smelley look like a heisman trophy candidate speaks volumes of where this team is, and don’t worry UGA fans, because after Sat. a real heisman trophy candidate will make Martinez’s bend but don’t break defense BREAK. Then you will see UGA fall in the polls, and then you will hear Richt praise Carpenter and defend yet again his boy Martinez.

By GamecockSEChamps

September 18, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Loyal to the Dawgs: I think everyone needs to shed the whole USC is overrated thing man. To most other conferences in the country (perception), South Carolina is a powderpuff and UGA was just downright lucky in that game (both teams got breaks, but if you were a UGA fan you spent the whole 4th quarter praying Spurrier didn’t beat you) That’s not characteristic of a Top 5 team to almost lose to a 1-2 team that has a loss to Vandy. Also, UGA only has a few tough games on the schedule this year themselves Bama (who has no offense), Auburn (3-2 vs. Mississippi st), LSU, and Florida. That’s it, so before you go saying other teams have soft schedules, take a long look at your own. Back to Southern Cal though, they are the Alabama of today’s football (Yes,Pete Carroll is the new age Bear). They’ve got guys on the scout team that could start for 90% of schools in the country (see Matt Cassel). They’re 4-0 vs. the SEC in the modern era (dominating Auburn and Ark who went to the SEC championship). It’s not that their schedule is soft, they destroy everyone in their path. We need to put down our SEC biases and appreciate what’s going on out there in LA, because dynasties like that only come around once in a while.

By GamecockSEChamps

September 18, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

1953dawg hit it right on the head. Stafford and Moreno are great, but they don’t cover on kickoffs or defend the pass.

By Jeff Patton

September 18, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

1953dawg ..A win is a win and we are going for 11 in a row! How about bashing Richt when we LOSE and Pull for the DAWGS! You forget how for Richt has taken our program since the Goff and Donnan years! GOD Jesus Mark Richt!

By bamaguy

September 18, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

I have always believed that the number one team from the previous season remains number one until someone beats them. LSU is the reigning national champion and remains so until they are beaten.

Bear Bryant used to say that three things make it hard to be VOTED the National Champion: losing on television, losing late in the season, and being from the South.

By GamecockSEChamps

September 18, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Bamaguy, the Bear was correct. Do you really want UGA to win it all though? I would rather USC or OU or LSU or Mizzou or (Fill in the blank other than Clemson) win it all because I can’t stand their fans (no offense guys, I’m referring to the fans that are “that guy” at the games) I mean the old guy in the student section that was never a student at any university and has had more to drink than the students. UGA seems to attract a lot of those, so for that reason alone, there is no way I will ever root for UGA to win a NC, SEC or not.

By Jeff Patton

September 18, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

Gamecocksecchamps…you lost get over it and that doesn’t mean you got to join the USC Trojan bandwagon and start kissing thier @ss after one Ohio State win! Bamaguy..I am so using your Bear Bryant quote today!

By GamecockSEChamps

September 18, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

Patton, I’ve been on the Trojan bandwagon since 04 when they demolished OU buddy. Not a fan of the Trojans, just as a fan of the game, not of one team or one conference exclusively you have to respect them man. All the Heisman trophies, Championships, Will Ferrell giving the teams pep talks, Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen on the sideline, Pete Carroll with his Halloween pranks. You’ve got to respect it. At least when he motivates his team, he does it with class and doesn’t run out and stomp on Vandy’s logo or in the endzone vs. UF. Classy, not woof woof woof woof.

By 1eyedJack

September 18, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

We are currently in much better shape than the 1980 DAWGS, and if I remember correctly in my old age that edition won some games close and some ugly, but they won, and in the end they got a shot at another teacher’s pet, the revered Notre Dame. We won that one ugly too. I don’t remeber if there were any other undefeated or untied teams that year. If not then the DAWGS were rated, even then, behind a team with a blemish on their record (I beleive they had a 3-3 tie with GT).

The bottom line is the DAWGS will have to earn the respect of the media and the coaches and that unfortunately will require us to win every game. Our schedule will help, but we must take care of business against the ranked teams and win convincingly against teams like Vandy, Kentucky and Ga. Tech.

Go DAWGS!! Woof!

By DJ

September 18, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

SPEAKING OF RANKINGS …. IF MARK MAY, LOU HOLTZ and LEE CORSO are the BEST THAT ESPN have to offer in “BROADCASTING” – MAYBE ESPN MANAGEMENT should go in the stands at the games they have been at recently and pull a few random Journalism Majors into the BOOTH – I am sure they could do better. Hire Tee Martin who is an unbiased announcer to replace MARK MAY – Hey and I went to UGA, but Tee is at least FAIR in his reporting of all SEC TEAMS.

By All Hogwash

September 18, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

Georgia hasn’t played or defeated any team, yet, that is of a caliber to earn a rank higher than #3. That would be the proof. Crying and whining won’t move the Dawgs any higher on the Top 10 list. Winning over highly ranked teams will.

My Alma Mater, Arkansas, is predicted to finish last in the SEC West. That is most likely an accurate prediction. I’m not crying foul! If they can beat Texas this weekend (not likely) and remain a bottom-dweller prediction, then I’ll protest, but NOT until then

By srcdawgrome

September 18, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Roll Tide you need to your facts straight on statistics. You guys haven’t had a steady program since the Bear died. I try to understand where your thoughts are coming from and then i remember it is not your fault. It is just part of Alabama’s incest.

By GamecockSEChamps

September 18, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

All Hogwash, you are so correct, but let me comment that as an Atlanta Falcon fan I hope Petrino never wins another game. He’s not the local favorite.

By bamaguy

September 18, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

GamecockSEChamps: Unfortunately, every SEC team (with the possible exception of Vandy) has their fair share of “that guy”. The “fans” who have no association with the University itself and love to make fools of themselves on television. I will freely admit that Alabama has many of them and they embarass me at every game (season tick holder since 1974). But hey, this is the Deep South and we are all going to have to endure our drunk bubbas.

By NC Maddawg

September 18, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Who cares where we are at this point. All we should want is W’s no L’s. It will all washout at the end of the season. GO DAWGS.

By NYJacket

September 18, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

I’m impressed. Undefeated. Two cupcakes and South Carolina. Wow!

Why don’t you guys just skip the rest of the season and go ahead and play for the National Championship?

Better not look past the team you are going to play in Arizona. And, I’m quite sure that Florida, Alabama, and Tenn. are going to show up for their games.

And, then there is that little school in Atlanta that will come to Athens in late November with a year of experience with their new offense and defense.

So, if you run the table and win your division and the SEC championship game and no one from the Big 12 does the same, you may get a chance to play for the big one this year.

By foreuga

September 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

There is only one champonship that can be won on the field and that is the SEC! The BCS Championship is a popularity contest, and UGA never has been very popular with the national media even in 1942 and 1948! 1980 they had not other choice and even then some of the west coast and mid west media did not think we were as good as others. Lets hope for and pull for the only real championship we can win the SEC.

By Fat Dawg

September 18, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Hey Yanke boy NY Jacket,

We’re gonna beat you by 30 this year. You’ve go nowhere to talk. We’re just the best team in the country. Our lineman would dominate USCs line.

We’re gonna end up with the the Staff passing all over the place & you Knowshon is gonna run at will.

We’re just not liked by the media. That’s why we’re falling all of the way to 3. After we win this week, we’ll probably drop to 4. But we keep winning & we’ll be there in the end.

We keep dropping be cause Coach Richt is a vlassy guy. He’s got to much class to run up the score like USC and Oklahoma. And I’d rather win with class like Coach Richt does than to have a coach who grabs his players and yells at them in front of everybody like you have at Ga Tech

By SD

September 18, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Why can’t the UGA fans just be happy? They cried about the #1 ranking and are now crying that they aren’t #1. Now the polls are biased? I don’t get it. Go to Wal-mart and buy another shirt and be happy because it isn’t going to last two more weeks. Then, it wil be, why aren’t we the highest ranked 1 or 2 loss teams?

By GATA

September 18, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Say what you want, but the two best teams in college football right now are UGA and UF, and the true national championship will be before the SEC champ. game, it will be Nov 1st in JAX!! The winner of the WLOCP should be in the national championship game, provided us SEC teams don’t beat each other up during the season, which commonly happens. I would love to see USC trojans play the USC cocks, guarantee you that score is within 10 points. It is absolutely ridiculous to compare a trojan win over Virginia to a UGA win over USC, like comparing apples and oranges. People these polls are objective and full of error because they are ‘human’ polls, and most of these national champions in the past are bogus b/c they are nothing but beauty pageant winners who were prettiest to the public. UNTIL we have a playoff system, we must play the beauty contest, if that means run up 95 points on cent MICH, then lets do it, however you are flirting with disaster by playing starters who could be injured. I believe CMR is doing the right thing, but often times, doing the right thing doesn’t mean you get what you deserve. GO DAWGS!!

By SD

September 18, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Class? Like, running the entire team onto the field, like running the score up on Tech, like having half his team arrested each summer? What class do you speak of?

By Artie

September 18, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

After ASU beats the ‘Dogs this weekend, this whole discussion will be MOOT!!!

By GATA

September 18, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

Hogwash,

Who has Oklahome beat?? any ‘highly ranked teams’?? How about USC?? does Ohio ST really count?? yes, they were highly rated, but why?? b/c they are media darlings, I wish other teams outside the SEC and ACC played in real schedules, USC and Ohio ST play cupcakes all year, minus a game or two. We just happened to play our cupcakes at the beginning of the year

By SD

September 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Why make the WLOCP the national championshio game??? Only one of those two teams has proven that they can win a national championship in the last 28 years. Wow, most UGA fans can’t even count that high.

By SD

September 18, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Allow me to finish GATA’s last comment

…while half of our team is suspended!

By G8R

September 18, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

I sure hope your Dawgs are ready to play Saturday night. ASU’s a former #15 team that got embarrassed last weekend, so your game is no longer the marquis game of the weekend. Add to that, the Sun Devils will no doubt be looking for redemption and UGA may now be looking forward to #9 next week - a deadly combination. Hard to get excited about traveling that far for a game that’s not nearly as important as it once was. If UGA loses and Alabama beats Arkansas convincingly, you could see a #5 Alabama and a #10 Georgia!

By G8R

September 18, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

I sure hope your Dawgs are ready to play Saturday night. ASU’s a former #15 team that got embarrassed last weekend, so your game is no longer the marquis game of the weekend. Add to that, the Sun Devils will no doubt be looking for redemption and UGA may now be looking forward to #9 next week - a deadly combination. Hard to get excited about traveling that far for a game that’s not nearly as important as it once was. If UGA loses and Alabama beats Arkansas convincingly, you could see a #6 Alabama and a #10 Georgia!

By SAV'H DAWG

September 18, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

After week 1 in college football, all the sports talk shows and writers were praising USC for going “all the way across country” and beating Virginia. Did they travel by horseback? Virginia is awful. UGA was criticized for opening with Ga. Southern and Central Michigan. After watching those games, I believe each of those teams could handle Virginia. Let’s travel “all the way across country” and take care of business. Next Monday morning, listen to these same writers and sports talk shows. I bet ya that they don’t praise the Dawgs.

By DawgsDawgsDawgs

September 18, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

I sure hope CMR has the team ready to play in Tempe. If so, we win. GO DAWGS!

By SAV'H DAWG

September 18, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Hey GamecockSEChamps, I attended the Carolina vs Ga. game last Saturday. Guess what? You have a whole bunch of drunks hangin out in Columbia on game day. I had the pleasure of telling some of them the following: You know your football has under acheived when the only banner hanging in the stadium reads: 1969 ACC Champions, OUCH!

By GT_JJ

September 18, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

to Top Dawg:

I’d say no, the AP voting guidelines do not appear to have been applied to Auburn. They’re top 10 ranking after a 3-2 victory is absurd! Had Bradley written a column criticizing the AP voters for Auburn’s unfairly high ranking, I would not have commented at all :) I don’t know the reason, but I suspect Auburn’s ranking merely reflects laziness on the part of voters, in that the teams at the very top get more scrutiny than the rest of the pool. One thing I’m certain ISN’T the reason is that there’s some big conspiracy against UGA.

As for your other point, I agree completely. 1 or 2 ranking doesn’t matter right now. Just win, and it will take care of itself.

There! It seems we agree more than we disagree, right?

By NCDAWG

September 18, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

Chew on this Dawgs fans.

This is clearly the best team UGA has fielded in at least 25 years and the schedule may the toughest its ever been. So shut up about the polls and enjoy the ride. It’s going to be an awesome season and based on our poor luck in recent years (Shockley’s injury before UF game in ‘05 and LSU’s questionable nod as # 2 last year) luck may be on our side this year (see 4th quarter against USC). We’ll probably have a few more like last weekend and a couple of high scoring affairs as well, but expect the Dawgs to finish this year like they did the last.

Mark my words, if both OU and UGA have 1 or 0 losses come bowl season, the pollsters won’t make the same mistake they did with Auburn. GO GAWGS!

By gsu2583

September 18, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Hype, hype, hype.

UGA always fields a GOOD team. There’s no evidence currently to support the idea that UGA has a GREAT team this year. It’s all about HYPE.

Hell, the AJC is already calling the ‘09 UGA team as better than this year’s team. Since their crystal ball is so clear, I need to ask them who will be president in 2032.

The more you hype UGA up, the more whining and moaning there will be when they don’t live up to expectations (or get slighted in the polls by teams with more exposure and bigger numbers).

Rabid and mindless UGA fans, and certain AJC reporters are guilty for perpetuating this cycle.

The amazing sense of B-S ENTITLEMENT that UGA fans demonstrate is no different that the students that think “I paid my money, give me my degree.” Paying only gives you the opportunity to EARN it.

UGA has not EARNED much this season, even though they have a GOOD team.

ROLL TIDE!!! See you in Athens on the 28th. (no I’m not sore about the GSU game, in case you were wanting to take the easy way of calling me out for these statements)

By SneakyDawg

September 18, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

That’s why there should be NO POLLS until October when there is a body of knowledge to evaluate everybody more fully. Virginia is horrible.. yet is conceivable that an entire season could be affected by that game. Probably not, but possible. Holy %^$#.

By Joe

September 18, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Georgia lost a key offensive lineman at left tackle. Georgia then lost the #1 defensive lineman. Poll voters know that the team has been wounded and weakened by these season-ending injuries. If USC’s quarterback goes down, their ranking will follow. Any team that conquers AL, TN, FL, and AUB (and Vandy this year?) need not worry about the final standings. The challenge is to get through the absolute toughest schedule in the SEC. Sending GT to their well-deserved “toilet bowl” invitation will just be icing on the cake - let them eat it.

By KJ

September 18, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Rabid and mindless

amazing sense of B-S ENTITLEMENT

*ROLL TIDE!!! *

irony

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

SD,

If UGA players are arrested (and it’s not half the team, not even one eigth of the team) at least they get suspended for their misdemeanor offenses. If it’s a felony charge they get dismissed. Not like Southern Cal, where their starting defensive back not only wasn’t suspended, but started the next game while Pete Carrol claimed ignorance- “I thought this was over. I thought it was a done deal.” Yeah, right. Felony charges are adjudicated in a week and a half.

UGA may not be able to control the athletes’ behavior but Mark Richt makes sure they are punished. Whether or not you agree with his action (and I’m sure you don’t) it’s more than Pete Carrol did. You dislike UGA- that much is clear. So why insist on posting on this blog. Don’t you have a team to support, or is it more fun acting like a jerk on this one?

Bobby D,

I never said there was a conspiracy. I said there was a bias. That can be individuals who happen to think along the same lines. A conspiracy implies that these people planned their bias as a group. And neither I nor some others who are posting about this are whining- we are stating an opinion that you disagree with. I don’t trash your opinion. Can’t you show a little repect for those who don’t share yours?

By D

September 18, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

I believe the coaches and AP preseason polls were done before the Sturdivant injury, not to mention Owens in the first game. UGA may not have even been preseason #1 had the polls been taken a few days later than they were.

By Big Bad Dawg

September 18, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Hey Roll Tide, Come back & talk to us on 9/28 after your so called top 10 team leaves Athens with a ton of dog bites in your arce!! Alabama hasn’t played anybody yet, Clemson, give me a break, South Carolina will beat them this year. Every year Bama wins early & all their fans start running their lolly pop suckers about how good they are!! Come get you azz whooping and then go home and try to figure out how to beat Auburn you dumb azz. Go Dawgs Sickem, woof woof woof

By D

September 18, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Lowcountry Bulldawg,

I think herbstreit has had UF at #1 the whole time, including preseason.

By WinderDawg

September 18, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

I am not so sure about your confidence in things working out if UGA goes undefeated. If USC and OU both go undefeated through their relatively easy schedules (includeing an OU conference championship), which one do you think UGA would jump over?

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Bobby D,

I meant “respect”, not “repect”. And I only mentioned the Trojans earlier because you said that there were a lot of undefeated teams more deserving than UGA and I took that as an implication that you were speaking of USC. I’m sorry if you meant other teams besides them. I don’t mean to put words in your mouth.

By JR

September 18, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

I’m a huge UGA fan, but the polls are right, right now. USC, Oklahoma, a few others are playing better than UGA, right now. UGA is giveing their 3rd and 4th strings playing time, instead of running up the score. So they pay a rankings price when compared against USC or Oklahoma, who don’t even let their 3rd strings on the field. By mid-season, those schools will have to play a tough team, and when their 1st strings are gassed, a mistake will be made, a couple of big playes given up, and that’s when the UCLAs beat the USCs, and then USCs will drop to #5.

Georgia, if they run the table, will be in the NC game. The players, focused on the next week v/s the polls or a January bowl, have their heads in the right place. The coaches, who are getting the backups playing time and not showing everybody all of their big plays right now, have their heads in the right place. The preseason poll doesn’t matter. The current poll doesn’t matter. Only winning the next game matters. The SEC, given their NC game performances the last two years, won’t be shut out of the NC game if the SEC champ is undefeated.

By Oledawg

September 18, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

My passion for the college football game is waning. I have blogged hard and to the point on bias against UGA by ESPN. The reason to do it earlier is to try and avoid contamination of the media when they read ESPN hypocrisy with not a discerning eye. They don’t have time to research the negative opinions that are unfairly applied.

Warnings were posted here in the presence of boisterous trashing bloggers receiving the trash from the most powerful sports network ever and spewing it back on these blogs. That’s why I posted frequently. Each week you could see the obvious unfairness increase which resulted in a drop in the polls until the Dawgs get to an untenable position: They have to beat the most powerful teams in the country to be considered while other teams can practically coast to a NC berth. It is now too late. Through no fault of theirs, my hard-working team of no defeats have been placed under a rock. A defeat now in the hardest schedule in the country will result in I-Told-You-SOs from the media and the naysayers and the team will be plunged to a position of oblivion for the year. All of our NCs will have been played through the competition in the SEC and we will enjoy each game for what it means to the fans vs our rivalries. If Texas beats OK, why wouldn’t they take the place of OK in the polls? The same goes for Mizzou. The worst part of all this mess is that college football as we have known it for years has been changed by those unfair and unbalanced reporters who are cynics of the game and play our emotions for their profit. It is wrong to politicize college football, the coaches and the players. It cheapens the game when “style” points are mentioned. While the bias continues, it is no longer a factor in the change because the prejudices espoused in the beginning have found their mark in the fans’s and medias’s minds. New theorem: As punisment for putdowns of ESPN’s favorite team(OSU) and player (Beanie) not becoming what we have tried to make them in the writer’s minds, we will work to see that other teams jump you. Same goes for your player in competition with our network player. A great player,Knowshon Moreno, through no fault of his own has been a full casualty. Our team has suffered a putdown in the minds of many and the time to reverse that has blown by. Now is just the wait to see the full resultant of how far this nefarious conspiracy of silence will go. One big reason for stopping those prejudiced hacks early was to stop the degradation of the college football competitiveness for which we all have a passion. Each week I heard “Don’t worry, if the Georgia Bulldogs keep winning,nothing will happen in the polls”. Folks the reason for the earlier cautions was to avoid what we are now into: NO ONE WILL TRUST THE REPORTING OR THE POLLS AGAIN NO MATTER HOW THEY TWIST OR SPIN THEIR REASONING. Because we won’t care. Don’t you see, the spin to change this method of choosing the top teams is already in place when pundits and writers talk about a national playoff. You have read the early inputs that it might be ok to have the top two bowl winners play. Who will decide the top two bowl games and how much of a beauty contest will they both become before we become depressed from the charges and countercharges of fans, schools and media? Irregardless, the deciding factors have been removed from the field of play. Then there are those that say you have to go at this gradually and select the top 4 teams, then the top 8 teams before we can ever get to the top 16 teams to compete in a playoff years from now. The media will protect the inroads that they have made to influence who those teams are and will not relinquish their interloper powers on the college football scene. I am as serious as I can be: Media bias has changed the college football scene from good rivalry between colleges to a game the media can manipulate and get away with time and time again. You take the joy of good competition and good individual play away from the fans.

I have warned on previous blogs that this will happen to any team as long as the NCAA and College Presidents fail to retake control of college football. As long as you appease these usurpers on the national media scene, this will continue. I have seen rivals to UGA come on this blog and others and agree with this premise even though their team has not been attacked. Good Sportsmanship! That’s why there is a great deal of respect among colleges and their alums. They are educated to a plane that allows their reasoning to connect when it comes to opposing appeasing usurpers on OUR GAME. The media simply wants to continue the smack so that others who are uneducated to appeasement history will continue to act as their surrogate minions and mimic callous and classless remarks. These hacks don’t want to miss the opportunity of national arguments being their baserock to build their twisted icons to “Sports”. The progressive approach to increased teams participating in playoffs each year for the next(would you believe 12yrs by more than one writer’s estimate) several years only increases the media’s grip on biased stories they can continue to get away with until at least a 16-team playoff is in place.

There were many good blogs here and on CBS Sports of the same article. If you Dawgs want to read other mannered opinions, let me suggest the moving Gator head blog on CBS.

To all you Dawg bloggers : A suggestion for a neutral site to organize and fight together in a common college effort would be appreciated. By the way, thanks to BCS Slave, Eric the Dawg Fan,Montgomery Barker, Seagrove Beach Polecat and others too numerous to acknowledge in pursuing these injustices that others have no recognition of or want to acknowledge. This includes the focused paradigm of political tainting by egos in Conn. who have created perceptions in other writer’s minds.

Their paradigm is: 1. Toady up and we won’t assualt your team. 2. Play ball and we will promote your team and take your enemies to us. 3. We can help turn America against your team and coach if you don’t appease us.

The paradigm is that of a gang. The Gang of Silent Conspiracy.

By Dub

September 18, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Hey Oledawg,

Stop wasting space with your illiterate diatribes (BTW irregardless is not a recognized word) and go hide under that rock you think UGA is under, but you’ll be the only one there. Yes the media stinks, but i think you’ve mistaken it for Stalin’s.

Can we please just use this space for informed opinions and bona fide Bulldog fan support?!

By Pitbull

September 18, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

Just win the next play, baby.

Just win the next game. Don’t stop.

The others will drop.

By Joel in ATL

September 18, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

I’m a UGA fan but I watch EVERY conference from Saturday to Saturday because I’m a FOOTBALL MAN. When the preseason polls came out I was disgusted I could see the Media/Pollster “setup” coming a long from the moment it went public. Personally Ilike to fly nder the radar but not like this. Mark my words, 1 UGA loss and there done, period point blank end of dicussion.

Has UGA Looked like a No.1 team? Well first what does a No. 1 team look like? Now we can’t answer the first question until we have an answer for the second question becasue the second question is where the Media/Pollster Politics begin. I haven’t seen USC win a game with their defense and special teams. I haven’t heard the Media harp on how, despit having a very good front 7, the corners are not strong. The Safties have always been solid to “hide the corners”. Expose the corners, get phyiscal with them between the tackles and you can beat them, problem is everybody in the Pac 10 can’t do that because they can’t get phyiscal and expose the corners at the same time.

Georgia will be fine, I like to “talk” about like I’m worried about but I’m not. Run the score up, they talk about how your not a good sport, win close and they say you didn’t handle your biz, in other words…politics, sad but true. Another thing I love is “USC is an NFL team”. I love that because NFL teams LOSE so that’s all it takes…As the New England boys. Another thing, OSU has lost and ALL I hear now is about how they will regroup and win the Big Ten blah blah blah more OSU and they say Herbstriet doesn’t have an influence…please spare me.

Just focus on the SEC East because I’m not sure too many other people outside of it could win it.BUt it’s a sad day when you can win with Defense and that gets disrespected!!

By joe_h

September 18, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

As painful as it is to say, the fact that UGA hasn’t been placed in National Title game is because they simply don’t have the same pedigree as USC, LSU, and even FLA despite beating them last year.

LOL! What kind of pedigree does Florida have? I’ll tell you. Their pedigree is that they were an absolutely nobody througout their entire history until the 90s. They won 1 paltry SEC title before 1991, and they were stripped of that due to cheating. They only have a measley 7 SEC titles in history. Far fewer than UGA, Tennessee, LSU, or Alabama. They never won a national title before 1997. That ought to tell you something right there. Florida has no pedigree, except they won their two titles recently, but lucking into both games.

Florida’s pedigree is far worse than UGA’s. At least UGA has a history and a tradition that Florida can’t match.

By Caninie lb.

September 18, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

ineffible? found wanting? is this an article about football or a greek tragedy?

By ed

September 18, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

this is all stupid. does anyone ever remember who was 1, 2, or 3 after week 3. who cares. it will work itself out as the season goes on.

By Football Guy

September 18, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahhahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahaahahha hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahhahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

By BLACKEDOUT

September 18, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Stafford, Knowshon, and AJ are going to light up the scoreboard in Tempe the same way the Army Rangers lit up Pat Tillman’s humvee.

By Oledawg

September 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

Dub-I now wonder what school you are from. Irregardless is a word (same as regardless) in my dictionary. Bona fide is defined as: Made in good faith without fraud or deceit. My diatribe was in good faith without fraud and deceit. I’m not too sure your statement is bona fide. Are you a writer for the media?

By BullDawg

September 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

BlackedOut-

What the hell is wrong with you man? I want the dawgs to win just as much as the next guy but your analogy using the Honorable Pat Tillman is vile, disgusting and down right liberal-like. Don’t act like a class-less democrat. Respect our armed forces, especially those like Honorable Tillman, whom have paid the ultimate price.

By NoHussein.org

September 18, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

BlackedOut-

What the hell is wrong with you man? I want the dawgs to win just as much as the next guy but your analogy using the Honorable Pat Tillman is vile, disgusting and down right liberal-like. Don’t act like a class-less democrat. Respect our armed forces, especially those like Honorable Tillman, whom have paid the ultimate price.

By OchreBugMan

September 18, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

I think it is marvelous for Georgia is be ranked #3. UGA deserves to be ranked #8, but because of favorable media bias, they get the big #3 ranking. After their probable loss tis weekend to ASU, it is likely that they could be ranked # 14. The Dawgs have a faily ok team, but personally I would save my stationery and stamp and write home about something a good bit more interesting. I suppose they could wind up winning a few games this year; heck they already have won a few games. I really like Georgia and because of my deep affection for them I am really glad they don’t have to play USC, Oklahoma, or Missouri. It’s best to stick to their SEC schedule and keep their losses to a minimum. I suppose its likey that a lot of hopelessly devoted Bulldogs will still believe they are number #1 even after GA Tech thrashes them in their own back yard. Some of those poor things (Dawg fans) just can’t help themselves.

By R-MAC

September 18, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

BlackedOut, you are one sick JERK

By OchreBugMan

September 18, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

BYU is 83 points better than UGA on the football field. How did UGA get a better ranking than BYU? Shameless media bias!!

By JudgeRoyBean

September 18, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

All bloggers should know that it is against the rules in this blog to disagree, complain, or offer reliable facts. All bull, all bias, all the time!

By Harsh Reality

September 18, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

For those of you complaining about not being considered for the top spot based on your “not being USC, LSU, or Florida”, you’ve got that right - Those teams have played for national titles in the years since their players were born! The fact is that credentials matter and those casting the ballots know a perennial flopper when they see it.

By jas

September 18, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

Who cares about our ranking right now. At the end of the year these USA Today and Coach’s Poll mean nothing. The BCS comes out in a few weeks and being rank 3rd and having the strength of our schedule we will probably jump both UCS an OS. If we go undefeated or even 1 loss the BCS formula will carry us into the championship game.

By T

September 18, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

Said Matthew Stafford, the quarterback: “I think so. We’re winning games and playing tough teams.”

LMAO… Central Michigan is really tough there Matt.. so is Georgia Southern… hey, while we are at it… I saw a “touch” pee wee team the other day… wanna add them to the schedule too.. Georgia was overrated… is overrated… thats why they are dropping.. AND.. they will drop even farther…

That was a good one Matthew, “check out the big brain on Matt….” LOL

By OchreBugMan

September 18, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Some of the UGA fans are much to critical of this poor little Bulldog team. Why, UGA played an outstanding game against South Carolina and actually won the game. Even Coach Richt indicated that he was happy. So, you see there, you do have a lot to complain about. I feel a good bit of sympathy towards the Gameocks. They really don’t have much of a team and their offense is about as competent as Congress. And as incompetent as they are, they still were able to score a touchdown on the Bulldogs. This is about as good as these Dawgs are going to play. Some of you Georgia fans are entirely to cruel to this team with your mean, vicious remarks about their play. They played over their heads to get this wins. These mean-spirited remarks are not helpful. They beat a team that was more talented, but whose offense was quite unremarkable. Don’t criticize this team for not trying. They can’t play any better!!!

By fishtales

September 18, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Some of you Dawg fans are really true douchebags. Most of you were telling Bama fans how overrated we were and that Clemson and their two stud running backs were going to have a field day against us. After that beatdown…now all of a sudden Clemson is no good, blah, blah, blah. You know, maybe people would take ya’ll more seriously if you were consistent and didn’t change your story every five minutes.

Now, lets hear some of those priceless Bear is dead jokes…you guys are usually good for one of those per blog.

By Mark Bradley

September 18, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Actually, the USA Today coaches’ poll does mean something at the end of the regular season. It’s one-third of the criteria used to formulate the BCS rankings. The Harris Poll and the computer rankings are the other components.

By smartazz

September 18, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

actually, remember preseason, SEC coaches were predicting FL would win the SEC this year…. so I think UGA has to get used to it….. they won’t win their own division let alone the conference…. and they shouldn’t complain about last year either…… UGA wasn’t snubbed out of the BCS championship game….. in order to play for a national championship, you must first win your conference championship…. simple…..

By BCS Slave

September 18, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this

SC SEC,

That was a classy post regarding people calling SC a “powderpuff”. I don’t think a real UGA fan would ever call your team that and actually mean it. I agree, it is only the uninformed and biased media and the brainless bandwagon fans who say such things.

By Dub

September 18, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

Oledawg,

I am a proud and loyal alum from ‘06, not a member of the media.

My point was to focus on the Dawgs, not the conspiracies surrounding the media. I mean no disrespect, but put your bona fide support to better use.

Irregardless is a double negative.

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

smartazz,

“….. in order to play for a national championship, you must first win your conference championship…. simple…..”

That would be news to Oklahoma, who played for the 2003 title depite getting blown out by Kansas State in the Big 12 CG. Or Nebraska, wha was blown out of the Big 12 title game in 2001 yet played for the BCS championship. The BCS may (again) have arbitrarily decided something along these lines, but there’s no written rule that I’m aware of. Otherwise the BCS would lose out on an opportunity to make sure their pets were taken care of.

I guess your reasoning that UGA “won’t win their own division let alone the conference” is because the SEC media said so. Since they’re so prescient, why do the get their picks wrong more often than not?

It’s okay to dislike Georgia (like you obviously do), but don’t hide behind half-truths and prognistications that are no more accurate than yours, mine, or anyone else’s. Just say “I hate UGA” and be done with it.

By rick glover

September 18, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

face the facts the media has a love affair with USC, and the BCS committee already has USC penciled in for the championship game because that is what media and the committee want and they don’t care who they play. because USC is the darling of the media and the committee. no matter what UGA does the they are going to nitpick every game they play. it’s just politics in college football, it’s no longer did you win it’s style points how much did you win by did your defense look good, did your offense look good, you now have to win by 50 to look good, i think it was just a few years ago the powers that be said it’s terrible to beat some team so badly, not now, now they turn the other way and act like it did’nt happen. talk about talking out both side of your mouth. what a joke.

By LifelongDawg

September 18, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

Dub,

Irregardless is redundant. Much like inflammable. But they both are considered legitimate words.

By Top Dawg

September 18, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

First, let me say thanks to Lifelong for correcting smartazz. Thank you!

To Joe H.: I would like to know who exactly you pull for. Florida is one of the greatest teams of the past two decades. But because they didn’t run off a string of split national titles in the depression era, they have no pedigree? And even though they “lucked” into those games, they turned out pretty well for them wouldn’t you say?

Fishtales, Shouldn’t you be on Opelika-Auburn News website bashing the Tigers? You want consistency? The Auburn Tigers consistently beat you. And just to be clear, the jokes made about Bear being dead by UGA fans thru the years is no where near as disrespectful as hiring Nick Saban to fill his shoes. Can’t wait for him to promise his recruits next year that he will be there for the entire four years ( like he did at LSU ) and bolt soon after ( LSU, Miami). As a coach, he knows his x’s and o’s. As a man, let’s just say he’s lacking in that department.

To them Dawgs: Keep it up! Play with pride and leave it all out on the field. The W’s will come. As will the rankings. Go Dawgs!!!

By BCS Slave

September 18, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this

To Dub and Lifelong:

Let me deal with Dub first. You say we fans could use our energy better by not complaining about media conspiracies? That we should just focus on the Dawgs?

This is exactly what we are doing. We are focusing on the Dawgs. And on the Vols, and the GameCocks, the Tigers and so on. Actually, our complaints are for all of college football. Being UGA fans, we’ve seen the bias we’re talking about. The poll voters have been inconsistent too. Auburn fans have seen it by being passed over for the NC game after going undefeated. We have figured out that the NC is really a pretend championship. Who plays in it is based on bias, rivalry’s between coaches, and uninformed media voters. It is a beauty contest.

We are sick and tired of hearing college presidents and conference commissioners telling us that everything is good like it is then we see that the system is corrupted by money. The South Eastern Conference (SEC) has become the Seriously Enriching Conference because of the money it’s teams make from football.

That’s the reason we don’t have a playoff. As long as the fans support this trainwreck of a championship system…as long as we support the mass media who contribute to the problems, then we will never get to see our teams prove it on the field during a real playoff.

So DUB…take that condescending and short sighted crap somewhere else.

LifelongDawg:

You are the man. Most of the idiots on here wouldn’t know a fact if it rung their bells like a cheap, helmet to helmet hit. Oklahoma…media darling…gets their butts handed to them in their conference championship game. I remember that too…and I didn’t understand it then. Now I know why it happened…bias. That is the ONLY reason it could have happened. Last year the media kept harping on how UGA had to win their conference championship to play in the NC. They talked as if that has always been the standard. Yet Okl was not held to it. Ohio State didn’t win a conference championship game (they had the best record}, a patsy schedule, no reason to be there above UGA outside won loss record. Yet we see this season that won loss record has little bearing on poll positioning.