Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > November > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRicht: Dogs have unfinished business
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Athens — Mark Richt didn’t like the questions. More precisely, he didn’t like their timing. He was in no mood this week to reflect on Georgia’s season because, as he noted a half-dozen times in a half-hour, the season isn’t done.
“I’ve been hearing a lot of talk lately, even on my call-in show, about next year, next year, next year,” Richt said. “I’m like, ‘Hold on, folks. We’ve got the most important game of the year right now. Let’s not forget.’ “
As tempting as it is for fans and media to write off 2008 as a failed mission, the Bulldogs coach sees two more games — Georgia Tech next Saturday and a bowl, probably in Florida on New Year’s Day. And that “failed mission” can turn into the sixth Top 10 finish a Richt team has managed in the past seven years. (“We’ve got a very realistic shot at that,” he said.)
So, when a visitor asked if Richt is disappointed over this season, he said: “I’m not. I was very disappointed after Alabama, very disappointed after Florida — but not disappointed at being 9-2.”
Georgia is where it was a year ago entering the Tech game, with one huge difference: The 2007 team wasn’t ranked No. 1 in preseason. Being No. 1 mattered to a lot of people. It mattered less to Richt.
“It was the first time in the history of Georgia football we’re preseason No. 1,” he said. “From that perspective, I didn’t think it was a bad thing. But you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt — it’s not like I tried to mastermind [being No. 1] in any way. As it became pretty evident it was a real possibility, all I was trying to do was say [to his players], ‘Men, this doesn’t mean anything except that it’s a compliment to what you’ve done and it’s a responsibility.’
“And I wouldn’t say they didn’t work hard. We did work hard. We did prepare.”
Did Richt ever regard his team as the best in the land? “I don’t feel like this team was any better or any worse off than some of the teams of the last six years. I felt like this team had a chance to win the East and, if you win the East, to win the SEC, and who knows at the end? But I thought that the year before and the year before that and the year before that.”
That shouldn’t be read as an indictment. “It’s not a downgrading of this group,” Richt said. “Every team’s got some things going for it and every team’s got some issues … I really believe it was just another year that we had a chance to do the things we’ve been trying to do all along, I guess.”
At issue, at least in some fans’ minds, is whether coordinator Willie Martinez will take the fall for the defense’s underperformance. Richt declined to address the issue of possible staff changes. He did, however, bristle when his visitor opined that the defense had “fallen apart.”
“Last week [at Auburn] they didn’t fall apart. In the fourth quarter of the Kentucky game they didn’t fall apart. They had three stops in a row when the offense was fumbling the game away. This last game we held [Auburn] to 13 points. We wouldn’t have beat South Carolina if the defense hadn’t played good.”
As for the egregious 49-10 loss to Florida: “I felt bad for our defensive players. They started out playing pretty stinking good. [Florida took the] ball on the 41, the 29, the 1, the 9 — it’s tough to defend any offense there, let alone the highest scoring team in the league. We had three shots in the red zone. What if we score touchdowns in the red zone?”
Nor was Richt particularly illuminating about the status of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, who could declare for the 2009 NFL draft. “They will have a lot to think about, not that they’re not thinking about it now,” Richt said. “Hopefully they’ll get some good solid unbiased information and make the decision that’s best for them.”
With the conversation near its end, the visitor posed “one last question.” Smiling thinly, Richt said: “You’ve already had three or four ‘last questions’ … You sound like a Baptist preacher.”
The question involved the rash of arrests that have dogged Georgia this year and the number of penalties the Bulldogs have incurred: Is there a correlation? Said Richt: “I’d say it’s more coincidental. If somebody did a study … I don’t think there would be a pattern.”
Moments earlier, it had been suggested that, should Stafford and Moreno return to play behind an offensive line that Richt claimed has “done a terrific job” and isn’t yet “what it’s going to be,” his Bulldogs could be preseason No. 1 again in 2009. To this, he said:
“That’s interesting. But not before [playing] Georgia Tech.”
Permalink | Comments (216) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
Comments
By birddawg92
November 21, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Until Mark Richt wakes up and recognizes the inferior defensive coaching that he has had since BVG left, and the poor specials teams and receiving corps coaching he has had his entire tenure at UGA, Top Ten and an occasional SEC championship, like we backed into in 2005, will be the most UGA fans can and reasonably should expect.
As my handle attempts to capture, I’m a lifelong UGA fan and a Georgia Southern grad, and I’ve lived in Washington, DC for the past 15 years. I’ve seen what Paul Johnson did down at the “real” GSU and at Navy. As I just posted on Towers’ blog, I predict UGA will get beat by 15 points Saturday next, due to a sorry, undisciplined excuse for a defense. Johnson will expose us mercilessly. And this is just the start, I am a die-hard Bulldawg fan, but I’m here to tell the rest of the Bulldawg Nation, until Mark Richt calls some coaches on the carpet, Johnson and GT are about to bring the winning streak to a screeching halt, and change to serious to a regular exchange of blows.
www.saturdayinathens.com
By birddawg92
November 21, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
That last line should read “…change THE SERIES to a regular exchange of blows.”
By Cremins
November 21, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
It shows how much Richt has built up the UGA program when some can consider 9-2 (with a rash of injuries) a disappointing season. Hopefully GT can make you 9-3 next week.
By BASEBALL KEN
November 21, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Hey Mark, Seems like You guys (press) is starting to put pressure on CMR for his teams disapointments.That’s good. Since we as fans have limited access to the coaches. Most other programs in the country would be happy at 9-2, but this UGA and we hold our football team to a higher standard. CMR has some tough decisions to make this offseason. Do we fire WM and Bobo? Is it time to hire a Special teams coach fulltime? What about a diffrent direction in the strength program, elimanting some of these injuries. CMR has had a nice 7-8 year run, now we as UGA fans (media included), must start holding him accountable. I’m tired of “next year”, the Gaytors and the rest of the SEC are getting better each year through new coaches and or new schemes. We at UGA better get with the program or face what Auburn and UT have gotten, home and Bowless.
By hotrod
November 21, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
I think CMR realizes he has coaching problems, how he handles them only he can decide. I love UGA and support him, although I might disagree with the decisions he makes in January reguarding coaching changes , if any. the main thing right now is to get ready for a very good, hungry, g.tech football team. hey folks this bunch in atlanta thinks they can beat us,this bunch of players in athens cant let that happen or the griping that has been going on in this blog will seem like nothing compared to what it will be. lets hope they are ready next saturday, GO YOU HAIRY DAWGS,ONE MORE TIME!
By wally
November 21, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
well said hotrod. go dawgs!!!
By Dorsey Hill
November 21, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
I hate to say it but it must be said. What Georgia team have you morons been fans of your whole life? Since 1960, excluding the Herschel years, based on what in God’s name do you think that these past eight seasons have been anything except the Golden Age of Georgia Football? Listen, I too want to win every game we play. It’s not gonna happen and CMR has out-performed the Dooley era in every possible metric, but one. He hasn’t had a Herschel Walker to lead him to an undefeated season. We were an 7-4 or 8-3 program with the occassional big year when we won 10 or more (1971, 1976, 1980-1983) and the occassional down year where we won 6 or less (1969, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1979).
And remember this is a much tougher enviroment than Dooley had. Back then we played 6 conference games in a league that was good but not clearly the premier league in the country as it is now. We played UK, Vandy, Auburn, UF, Ole Miss and one other. That’s a cake walk compared to now. Also, UF sucked back then. And you didn’t have to win a SECCG to be a champion.
I am not saying that we shouldn’t have high expectations, but some fans seem to have a really deranged perspective on where we’ve been historically as compared to now. CMR and his staff are the best most consistent staff we’ve ever had. Now stop your whining and let’s beat Tech for an 8th straight time. BTW: No UGA coach had beated Tech 7 straight times til CMR. Also we’ve never had 6 Top Ten finishes in 7 years and we will if we win out. So say thank you, you stupid ingrateful scumbags.
By Bob
November 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Mark Richt just needs to read the AJC blogs and UGA will be 14-0 every single year without breaking a sweat. These clowns just have all the answers.
By GSUEagle
November 21, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
birddawg92, why don’t you become a diehard GSU fan and not worry about uga. be proud of where you came from.
By Huh?
November 21, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
No BASEBALL KEN, you end up like Auburn and Tennessee when you’re constantly looking for the flavor the week for a quick fix and have no staff continuity. That’s how they got in to the mess they are in now. Mark Richt will never let that happen.
By Gatorman
November 21, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I’m not trying to throw water on UGA being a preseason #1, but it’s not going to happen. With Alabama, Florida, and several others in the Southwest, nobody will give UGA much consideration. UGA and FL have their own national championship, and we play it every year at the outdoor cocktail party. It doesn’t get any better than that.
By jess
November 21, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Offer Mucschamp the job???
By reebok
November 21, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
As a Tech fan, I think the Dogs should relax, unwind, not think too much about the rest of this season, and devote all their mental energy to next season. Really. Seriously, Georgia is very good and I think the 2 weeks to prepare will be the difference. I’d give anything to see my Jackets break the streak next Saturday, but I think we’re 1 or even 2 years away. GO JACKETS!
By Anti-Dawg
November 21, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Heard a good joke the other day … ready?
UGA ranked preseason #1. LOL :)
Go Jackets!
By The Grinch
November 21, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
I hate to say it, but a good many of us Dawg “fans” don’t deserve a coach like Richt. Good God, do y’all realize how many programs would love to swap places with us? There are some spoiled, whiny people in this fan base, and it’s embarrassing.
GO DAWGS!
By wp
November 21, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
Going into the season I felt the #1 ranking was a huge stretch. We have a young team on both sides of the ball but with early injuries to key players I’m happy with winning nine games, well ten with a win over the bees. The future looks great even if we lose some to the NFL
By AllDawgs
November 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Cremins, You speak the absolute truth. A potential 11-2 season with the injuries that we have is something that most programs would give a left n*t to have. Our program has been elevated to that point. With that said, thanks for the great season (2 more wins to go) and continue to improve. Work the penalties, stop the off field foolishness, come back strong next year and stomp em all!! Go DAWGS!!! Oh and stay Stafford and Moreno…good doggies….
By BamaFan
November 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
ALA-BAMA!!
By Georgia Fan
November 21, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
No argument here Gatorman. You can have that preseason #1 ranking with a cherry on top. I don’t think anyone in the Dawg nation is going to lose too much sleep over it at this point. I hope we’re never even ranked in the preseason Top 10 ever again. I hope we’re picked to finish 3rd in the East every single year. I hope ESPN never says a word about Georgia football ever again. The season is so much more enjoyable without all the preseason media hoopla. You can have it.
By Casey
November 21, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
Tech 31 Dawgs 24… Take it to the bank.
By ChattaDawg
November 21, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Well Said…Dorsey Hill!
Nothing wrong with taking a look at the position coaches at the end of the year though. Every business has to evaluate it’s talent and seeing if there is truly a better hire to get where you want to go.
By Auditdawg
November 21, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
@Huh. Tennessee is not bad because of lack of staff continuity. The ony person that’s changed in that program in 20 years is David Cutcliffe. There’s something systematically wrong with them that has nothing to do with continuity of a staff. With Auburn, I’d agree that’s the case.
By Scott
November 21, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Fire Bobo and Martinez. Bobo is the worst excuse for an offensive coordinator that I have ever seen! He was a crappy quaterback at UGA and he’s an even worse coach.
Hey, lets try another screen! That’ll help our case!
By Scott
November 21, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Fire Bobo and Martinez. Bobo is the worst excuse for an offensive coordinator that I have ever seen! He was a crappy quaterback at UGA and he’s an even worse coach.
Hey, lets try another screen! That’ll help our case!
By MoDawg
November 21, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Our defense seems to have regressed every year since WM was named as the coordinator. I think what is the most disappointing this year is how unprepared we look on defense in some games. And this is not the first year we’ve seen it. I agree that continuity is very important to a program, but WM may have been given the reigns a bit too early. I hope he redeems himself against GT and then in whatever bowl game because I do like the man. But I, too think CMR needs to have a serious face-to-face with the weak link coaches on his staff and wake them up. Willie, watch some film and let’s coach some kids up for a change. We will need our best effort against the Jackets, with regard to focus (something we seem to lack).
Complacency in D-1 football will get you fired.
By UnderDawg
November 21, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
CMR has done a great job. Dooley won 1 championship with Herschel. No H, No Championship. Period. CMR will get his. Be patient all of you great coaches out there.
By GWJ
November 21, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Possible 11-2 season (6 out of 7 years that UGA gets at least 10 wins), New Year’s day bowl, 8 in a row vs Tech and top ten finish again!! Not bad for a “awful” year. Birddawg92, please go be a good fan for GSU, we don’t need you in Athens.
By JB
November 21, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
I like to see the recruiting ratings change from STARS to Hearts. We seem to be missing SOME. Just about all our starters are 4 and 5 star players ( Everyone wanted them) but we got some 2 and 3 heart players. Note to Coach Richt. You don’t think coaching matters. Ask The Tech fans that. Paul Johnson has them in line for 9 wins. NINE ! Oh yea, mostly 2 and 3 star players ! ( 4 and 5 hearts) We need fire on that staff.We are missing EMOTION !
By AllDawgs
November 21, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Preseason # 1 No thank you.
By Huh?
November 21, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Auditdawg, they’ve had 3 offensive coordinators in the past 4 seasons. How is that not an issue with staff continuity? The second Richt starts going through assistants like this you’ll see the same pathetic results at UGA. I guarantee it. Yet, this is apparently what everyone wants. Be careful what you wish for.
By Tom Davis
November 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Leave the coaching to Richt. The biggest accomplishment these bloggers have is that they jerked off in the shower this morning.
By DawgDayz
November 21, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Casey,
You might want to let the crack pipe cool off for a while.
By Okefenokee Dawg
November 21, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
I am not upset with a 9-2 year, kinda figured it that way. Didn’t know the two losses were going to be embarrassments on national tv. Don’t wont to fire a Coach, trust CMR to handle all that. BUT I AM TIRED OF BEING OWNED BY FLORIDA!That has got to change. We talk to much about pre-season expectations, and that is not the problem. Dawg fans that I talk to are not all that upset that we won’t win the National Championship, but they are upset that we weren’t more competitive in the SEC. Why shouldn’t Dawg fans want to be able to compete with Bama and Florida? It is not that we were beat by those two teams, it is that we were not able to compete with them.
By Disgruntledeaglefan
November 21, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Hey GSU Eagle, maybe he wants to have a favorite division 1A team as well as 1-AA. Should he quit watching his favorite NFL team too? GSU gave up on it’s big plans long ago, now they are a mediocre 1-AA program instead of an up and coming 1A.
By hold em
November 21, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Where is Oledawg i need a good laugh
By Blackberry Cobbler
November 21, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
I have no problem with being 9-2 at this point and I’d sure as heck be happy to end up 11-2………….
but that misses the point entirely.
What disappoints fans are the embarassing loses to Florida and ‘Bama on national TV no less and how we barely squeak by inferior teams like SC, UK, and Aubarn…….. all the while the coaching staff blowing smoke up our arses telling us all is well.
That’s bullhockey!!!!!!
By Mark Bradley
November 21, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
If Bobo leaves, it won’t be because he has been fired. It will be because someone has offered him a head coaching job. The Georgia offense has put up massive numbers this season.
By Dorsey Hill
November 21, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Okefenokee,
Would you really feel better if we’d lost by 1 point against UA and UF? I know I wouldn’t. But I do get your point in that it is very frustrating to not play your best in the biggest games. We had a lot of bad breaks in both of those games and we’ve had a lot of bad breaks this season with the injuries. If you have a couple of things go our way in those games early who knows how the complexion of the game changes. If we don’t hit the QB late on Bama’s first drive when they fumble and if the Tebow INT isn’t called off b/c of another PF then who knows how the momentum shifts happen. It just didn’t go our way. It just happens.
If you want to measure this staff, a week from now will be a good measure. Miami was unprepared and unmotivated and got whipped. It is going to take a big effort and good coaching on both sides of the ball to get a win next week.
By DAWGSINCEBIRTH
November 21, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Let me say this about our “TRADITION!” We take a backseat to NO ONE in the country if you look at our program from beginning to end…YES, Dooley was above average, but as a program, we have been awarded 5 NATIONAL TITLES (2 Consensus), 12 SEC Titles, and are in the Top 10 of ALL-TIME winning programs…What Richt has done is what GEORGIA SHOULD do each year!!!! We finally have a coach that BELIEVES that and goes after that! God Bless the Man…are we “disappointed” this year? YES…but we do have ANOTHER chance to win 11 games, beat Tech AGAIN, and finish in the Top 10 AGAIN…(an area we should be very familiar with)…Go Dawgs!!!
By 8inarow
November 21, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
If you are looking for comic relief today, read the Tech blog on AJC. They ACTUALLY believe they are going to win next week. And they say UGA fans are unrealistic……LOL.
By hagood
November 21, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
thank you dorsey hill…ga fans are mostly morons. go dawgs!
By 8inarow
November 21, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
If you are looking for comic relief today, read the Tech blog on AJC. They ACTUALLY believe they are going to win next week. And they say UGA fans are unrealistic……LOL.
By Spence
November 21, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Anyone who wants to fire Bobo is a complete moron. Best offense in the SEC with a near total freshman line? Come on! He’s been great, has developed Stafford from a high-school gunslinger into a solid decision maker who calls plays from the line (take a seat Tebow, and go look over to the sideline some more for the play).
Willie on the other hand…
By WTF???
November 21, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
I wasn’t jerking off.. I was just washing it, really fast..
By D.Ellis
November 21, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Funny how it varies from year to year.
Last year we were better than Bama and UF.
This year we aren’t. Now people want heads AHHAHAA
Mark-I agree about Bobo. He has alot of tools to work with and he does a good job overall IMHO. But he could cool the QB run plays, as well as add more crossing routes like Mo Mass was getting against Kentucky..ie more open field to run in and not so many deep routes which seem to not favor in Staffords strength.
Those guys got speed. Crossing routes would allow MM/AJ to get more yac yards instead of possession receptions.
But then again that’s why I work where I work and Bobo works where he works.
great column.
By blackandreddwag
November 21, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
9-2 is a good record at most schools. Of course, at UGA it isn’t good enough only because of our winning tradetion. Our tradetion is built on wining and winning championships. We have 5 national championships and we need another one soon. So, no 9-2 isn’t good enough. GO DAWGS!
By hop
November 21, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
these post who are blaming coach richt shows are stupid and they know very little about football.
coach richt’s record compared with dooley and butts is much higher than neither coach and these yo yo’s want to tell him what to do. it seems some of you have not been following georgia football very long or you would have a better appreciation for the jog mark richt has done!
this guy is the best coach we have ever had so if you don’t like his winning ways go somewhere else!!!
By Laughingly Similar 2U
November 21, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
You can point to specific plays where Richt and the Bulldogs lost their season. Richt doesn’t understand the mission of football. Those plays could only have come from a mind that thinks football isn’t war. Those plays came from a lazy, no talent middle school badmitton coach who think’s he’s a college football coach…..he aint. However, he looks like a college football coach, and he can schmooze like a college football coach, and he can gain the easily earned respect a coach gleans from the team itself, and he can fundraise. So we get losing football but dont those helmets shine?
Losers. I’m a crude man. Nobody likes me. I can only promise national championships, not respect. I can only make the score so lopsided, nobody wants to play against me. I can make a college team so feared, hated and despised that even if they win every game, they wouldn’t award the #1 preseason ranking to.
I can only win football games, so I dont have a job.
Richt is a good fundraiser. Those jockstraps are state of the fart.
bwa.
By Are you kidding me?
November 21, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Seriously, have we become so much of a ‘RIGHT NOW BY GOD’ society that we are now quenching the thirst of ‘now’ with things that are to happen in the future? CMR is only 48. What an asinine question to ask, “should UGA name a successor in waiting?” Are you kidding me? The man’s got well over a decade before the thought of retirement should even enter his or anybody else’s mind.
By kauai dawg
November 21, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Expectations and injuries have done us in. 18 players lost to season ending injuries. Last year at this time we were on the way up. We have maintained it just doesn’t feel like it because of the expectations. I think the coaching staff has done an incredible job with all the odd dynamics to the year. Chill out DAWGS it is a great year. A chance to be 11-2 again. Beating Tech will be a difficult assignment but Richt seems to use the bye weeks well. It is Thanksgiving for Heaven’s sake. Have a grateful heart it will do you good! We have much to be thankful for!
By Mark Bradley
November 21, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
In the grand scheme, Georgia has only lost to maybe the two best teams in the land. Then again, three months ago a lot of us — myself included, as you know — were calling Georgia the best team in the land.
By EdateFred
November 21, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Only a fanbase as delusional as THuga’s would act like they are disappointed by a 9 or 10 win season.
They seriously believe that they have a rightful claim to some sort of automatic bid in the NC game this year.
Give the rest of the world a friggin’ break!!
You AIN’T all that THuga fans! Sorry to be the messenger of that bad news.
By Bill
November 21, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
I think its a good sign that for Georgia that Coach Richt is good and p** off about finishing the season strong against GT and whomever Georgia plays in the bowl game. This is really the first time in eight years that he has been on the defensive in a press conference.
By dd
November 21, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
To fill out an application to be either Head Coach, DC, Special Teams Coach or OC at the University of Georgia you need to come to the
University of Georgia Employment Office 215 South Jackson Street Athens, GA 30602
Make sure to take 2 copies of your resume and references.
Good luck to all of you guys and thank you for your interest.
P.S. There are immediate openings for shower cleaners.
Sincerely,
Damon Evans, Athletic Director UGA
cc: Michael Adams
By Mark Bradley
November 21, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
And about Will Muschamp: Let’s say Mack Brown decided to retire two years down the road. Wouldn’t Texas then have its pick of the best head coaches in the country? And what about Will Muschamp tells us he’ll even be a pretty good head coach?
I don’t get why Texas named him coach-in-waiting. I really don’t.
By MountainDawg
November 21, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Dorsey Hill - Well said sir! That’s a good prospective for any Dawgs fans who’re overly pessimistic.
I suspected we’d lose 1 (at least) & likely two…although I knew we had the raw talent & potential to run the table (albeit a long-shot due to the brutal schedule). I can deal with the losses (Bama more that UF), but it’s the getting blown out that is irritating. There’s NO way that the Tide & Gayturdz are that much better than UGA.
On the bright side, if Bobo make some basic adjustments in his playcalling & Martinez calls more blitzes & makes more in-game adjustments with coverages, UGA would probably be 10-1. This means the potential & opportunity are there for the taking. Right now, I just want to beat the “North Avenue Nerdz” & land in a good bowl (for another victory). We need to keep the top 10 finish & Tech victory streak going! GO DAWGS!!!
P.S. - If Tech were to luck up & squeak out a victory, it’ll only be because the Dawgs gave it to them via turnovers, dropped passes, blown assignments & missed tackles, etc.
By Johnny Danger Dawg
November 21, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Given the injuries and the opponents, I don’t find 9-2 to be a disappointing record. What is disappointing is the way the Dawgs played like garbage against Florida; it was the worst performance of the Richt era. Also disappointing was the Dawgs’ inability to dominate a couple SEC games the way other 9-2 Dawg teams would have.
By joe
November 21, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Keep recruiting non-student athletes like you did at FSU and you will keep getting the FSU ‘arrest a day” and ‘penalty every drive’ lack of discipline.
By 59bulldawg
November 21, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
I hear you birddawg92. I live in Fredericksburg and work in College Park and got to see first hand what Johnson could do with whole lot less talent at Navy. He is the real deal and will build Tech into an ACC power. Martinez better have his boys prepared or it could be another long day. I hope you’re wrong about the outcome but wouldn’t be shocked. I think it’ll be an exciting game and expect a lot of scoring. I’ll go out on limb though and predict Georgia 35 Georgia Tech 30.
By kauai dawg
November 21, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
I think Texas could see the writing on the wall and they were going to lose Muschamp after only one year. Will went there to be a spring board to bigger and better things. Texas just wanted to keep him around for a while so they made the bold move. That is a pretty big assignment for your first head coaching job???? Will might rethink it. He might ask for a recount.
I don’t really like the “coach in waiting” because so many things can change.
By houston dawg fan
November 21, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
coaching changes need to be addressed,, thats if we would like to compete for a championship. Its nuts with the money, players that UGA gets and has. We are not Ole Miss or Vandy, whoever hates FL should take a look at their programs basketball and football, both winners in my mind. Urban meyer has done terrific job in his short stay there, CMR has been average and gets outcoached by Saban,Meyer, Spurrier all the time. Just frustrated when we have some special players and can’t even get mentioned to at least have a shot at a championship. Imagine if Stafford was at LSU, they’d be talking title right about now. BOBO and MArtinez needs to be let go, there are plenty others way better out there.
By Vince
November 21, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Nothing would make recruits look elsewhere more than folding. Prepare like mad or we’ll end up like Miami.
By MoDawg
November 21, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
The offensive play-calling is generally very good. Our offense has been stellar this year, by-and-large. When we get to the red zone, though there are some real puzzling calls. I have to pay closer attention if we go with the call from the booth or if Stafford is using his audible authority to change the called play at the line. Regardless, Bobo does a decent job and he will only get better with time. Remember, this is only his 2nd full year as OC, if I’m not mistaken.
By Herschel
November 21, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
I do not believe that knee jerk coaching decisions are the answer as this has never been the UGA way. I would consider getting David Pollack involved with our defense in some capacity. He is a winner and a true Bulldawg. Bobo is not the conservative play caller that we are used to but he is learning every year and remains aggressive. Please try the short passes to the tailback more often and this will open up A.J. and Momass for the nail in the coffin plays later in the game.
By McDonoughGator
November 21, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
There is no way that GT beats the Dawgs. Injuries, a brutal schedule, and tremedous expectations factored in to UGA losing two games. Just remember, it took Tom Osborne, Bobby Bowden, and Vince Dooley a long time to win the MNC. UGA beats Tech by two touchdowns. The bye week will pay dividends like it did before the UF game last year.
By dawgsrule
November 21, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
The only thing holding the Dawgs back is the unrealistic acadeemic levels. UGA is the hardest school in the country to get to go to. The test scores and high school grades must be the best but most of the best football players don’t have those. So, we lose some of the best players to other schools that will let them get in.
It’s great that UGA is so good in school work, but the principal needs to let some football players in even if they don’t have the highest level of tests or grades. That way the Dawgs can go without a loss.
Go DAWGS.
By techman
November 21, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
hey mountainman——in other words——outplayed and out-coached—-right——-go pee on a tree—-you guys are now toast—-meet me at the varsity after the game—-i will be in all “old gold” and will be proud to sting your ARZZZ
By Scott
November 21, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Georgia will be at 9-2 and 8-3 for every year that the Mark Richt era is here. The Bulldogs most certainly will not ever win a national championship with him at the helm. He is an excellent coach, but why would recruits want to come to Georgia when there are two other very dominant teams in the SEC. The recruiting certainly will not get any better than it has before this year, so all Georgia will be left with is a good coach for many years to come. Greatness of a national championship hasn’t been in Athens since 1980, and will not return anytime soon.
By timthebrave
November 21, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Anti dog-I got a better joke. GT not ranked in preseason or now. Go dawgs!!
By birddawg92
November 21, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
GWJ, GSUEagle and Disgruntled:
I am a proud GA Southern Eagle. I was there during the Erk Glory Days, and our 4th NC with Stowers. Never missed a home game and traveled a little too.
But as Disgruntled says, I have a I-A team, the Georgia Bulldogs. Grew up 30 minutes away, my dad is a grad, so sue me for being loyal.
As far as comparisons of Richt to Dooley, “unreasonable expectations” arguments, armchair quarterbacking/coaching, etc., here’s the bottom line: if you have watched the Dawgs on a regular basis and have been paying attention, the precipitous decline in the defense has been obvious FROM THE DAY WM took over. There is no comparison in the discipline, intensity, and stinginess of the units comparing between the two coaches. Richt keeps WM at his own peril. What gets little or no attention though is that the special teams have been a problem FOR AS LONG AS RICHT HAS BEEN IN ATHENS, as well as the receivers (though there has been some improvement this year). (Aside: I promise you if the receivers had made 50% more catches over Stafford’s years, he wouldn’t be considered “overrated” as many outside the conference today generally claim.)
So you’re all free to play the fireplug and believe it when somebody tell you it’s raining, but I’ve got two eyeballs and I know undisciplined, poorly coached play when I see it. Richt either wises up, or he may find his tenure abbreviated.
By Okefenokee Dawg
November 21, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Dorsey, we did not loose at Jacksonville, we had our arse handed to us. You can keep on coming with all the excuses you want, but that won’t change what happened. And, no, I did not expect that, and should not have had to sit thru it. I’m as rabid a fan as the Dawgs have, but you have to be realistic. The truth is Florida owns us, and until that stops we have a problem. And to answer your question, yes I would rather have had a one point loss that showed that we could compete with them rather than having gotten embarrassed on national TV.
By 82DAWG
November 21, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Dorsey Hill, Thank you! I may whine about the defense and Soft Willie, but hiring Mark Richt is the greatest thing that has ever happened to UGA. These are our golden years of Football. Anyone who even hints that Richt should be fired is either a complete moron or is just trying to stir things up.
By dawgfan1911
November 21, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Things look good ofor next year. I agree with most of the bloggers, Richt has to solve the coaching issues on defense and special teams. With young talent in the fold, they need to be coached up. If Moreno and Stafford leave we should be in good shape because we have experience at the quarterback position and skill positions. The defense is puzzling to me. I am not sure what is going on on that side of the ball. We need to get some good coaching on that side of the ball. I actually hope knowshon and stafford leave because I want to see what logan gray can do. I think Aaron Murray will start his sophomore and Junior years and thats when Georgia will win it’s national championship, until then it’s 9 or 10 wins a season and maybe a major bowl game.
By Old Dog
November 21, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
While Richt’s winning percentage might be better than Butts or Dooley’s, try comparing his graduation rate and player arrests. Richt leads the country in penalties. He is an effective recruiter for non students. The Richt era ended when he sent his team on the field to dance in the end zone. Woody Hayes was fired for less.
By jarvis
November 21, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Of course Georgia will beat Tech. They always do. What is it now? 15 out of 18?
By 82DAWG
November 21, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Old Dog, there was way more #hit that went on in the “old days” than ever goes on now. Don’t even go there. If you truely are an “old dog”, then you must remember the stolen pig incident on the hallowed 1980 team.
By irritated
November 21, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Dorsey Hill….Finally someone came on here and called these people out…Everyone was starting to sound like a bunch of Clemson fans on here and I was close to being embarrassed. So quickly everyone forgets that back in the 90’s they would have paid good money to go 11-2. Rich has made that a regularity. I’m tired of hearing about fire this guy, fire that. This staff has done a great job over the last 7 years. It’s easy to coach from the stands isn’t it? If coaching was an easy thing, I’m sure these guys would’t be getting paid millions to do it. So everone, calm down. Things are better at UGA than they’ve ever been. Quit comparing us to the elite programs in the country. UGA isn’t there yet but is definitly getting closer. Let Richt keep recruiting, coaching his players up, and things will fall into place. If recruiting declines and they win 7,8,9 games a few years in a row, then start calling for heads to roll. But seriously, a year after they won 11 games and could potentially do it again and could have another top 10 year?what’s the issue here?
By timthebrave
November 21, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
82Dawg, I agree completely. I know that most of you that blog have only been college football fans for a couple of years. You also don’t realize that we have won 2 SEC championships in the last 8 years. You also don’t realize that we are almost always in the top 10. You also don’t realize that GA hasn’t smelled a conference in 20 years before Richt arrived. No way they should fire him. Get ready to beat the bugs. Go dawgs!!
By dawgsux
November 21, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Richt is NOT a great coach. He got out coached this year against Florida and Alabama. If Auburn had any coach with some sense, he would have lost that game too. No discipline, poor coaching and excuses are the dawgs problems. I laugh when the dog fans begin saying “wait till next year.” Get some discipline and some coaches and maybe you will only lose by 10 or so to Alabama and Florida.
By Dogbyte
November 21, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Even inferring that this blog represents the Ga. “fan base” is ludicrous. I think our real fan base is intelligent enough to know what CMR has done for us and appreciates it. Go Dawgs. Beat Tech!
By PTC DAWG
November 21, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
I couldn’t have said it nearly as well as “Dorsey Hill”.
GATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By MikeB
November 21, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
My son enrolled at UGA this year. I regret a prior lack of understanding of how great and exciting SEC football is. I can only attribute this defecit to being brought up North of the Mason/Dixon.
Following Georgia football has been great fun. The coaches, and a bunch of the players like Curran, Moreno and others seem like real quality guys I’m proud my son is associated with as a UGA student.
Georgia football has a wonderful program and is in good hands. Go dawgs!
By JDDOG
November 21, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Maybe RC35 will have time this off weak to teach the rest of the LB’s and DB’s how to close and wrap up. Better yet RC35 and DP47 can do a film study for the rest of the crew. I wonder if David Pollack is ready to take a defense coaching position at UGA. Billy Donavan and Will Muschamp had to start somewhere.
By Raider
November 21, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Maybe GA should start recruiting some LB’s that have good football instincts. Big and fast don’t always get it done. Rennie’s the only decent LB GA has. The rest are very slow to react to the ball and take awful angles. Just watch the LB’s next week. GT will rush for 250+ yards.
By Kendawg
November 21, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
IMHO, CMR is the best thing that could have happened to UGA. Consistently, he has 10 wins in a season and we usually wind up in the Top Ten. For those of you who don’t remember the Dooley years, we would have a good season and then have one or two mediocre seasons, six or seven wins. The only time this pattern was broken was when we had Herschel. Also, that’s the only time we won the national championship. Does anybody want to return to the Goff or Donnan years. We were pathetic. As far as firing coaches, we have one of the best offenses in the nation. Bobo must have something to do with that. He will probably be a head coach someday. Also, we have one of the worst defenses in the SEC. It’s hard to say that CWM doesn’t have something to do with that. As far as hiring a special teams coach, that sounds like a good idea. You don’t have to be a coach to see that our special teams’ play is below average in several areas. Maybe a new coach could alleviate that problem.
By timthebrave
November 21, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
dawgsux, I guess you think that if a team wins or loses that it is all the coaches doing. I guess you think that Mark Richt should have ran out there and tackled tim teboe. Good coaching puts the best players in position to make plays. It’s up to the players to execute. The reason we lost to Alabama and FL was bad special teams along with a defense that can’t pass rush without bringing the blitz. I promise we would have lost both games no matter who was coaching. We have great skill players this year but not a great line yet. Everything needs to fall into place to win a championship. If we beat FL we would be talking national championship THIS YEAR. Stop crying. We aren’t the number 1 team in the nation but we are on the right track. Mark Richt is a good coach but win or lose it’s up to the players. Go dawgs!
By No. 1 Panther
November 21, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Are you serious Birddawg92? The “real” GSU? You might as well root for Georgia because after 2010, Georgia State will replace you guys as the best I-AA team in the state anyway.
By williebkind
November 21, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley:
Yeah, againts poor teams the Pac 10 can beat. That does not impress me at all. Only a Pac 10 big 10 big 12 acc conference geek would be satisfied with big numbers against inferior opponents. It reminds me of the Rose bowl I mean the Inconsequential bowl where a 10&2 team plays a 6&6 team. Its about football and winning Mark and not about analysts.
By dawgfacedboy
November 21, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
A few things dawg fans: We can’t make it to a BCS bowl every year in this conference, just a fact. Can’t win the SEC East every year, just a fact. If you consider 10 and 11 win seasons a disappointment, then you are going to be disappointed a lot every fall. 10 and 11 win seasons will happen a lot more than 12 & 13 win seasons with SECC and BCS bowl bids, just a fact in this conference.
Also, even if Richt was contemplating getting rid of Bobo and Martinez do you really think he would tell everybody with 2 games left to go? Have some sense people.
By dawgfacedboy
November 21, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
A few things dawg fans: We can’t make it to a BCS bowl every year in this conference, just a fact. Can’t win the SEC East every year, just a fact. If you consider 10 and 11 win seasons a disappointment, then you are going to be disappointed a lot every fall. 10 and 11 win seasons will happen a lot more than 12 & 13 win seasons with SECC and BCS bowl bids, just a fact in this conference.
Also, even if Richt was contemplating getting rid of Bobo and Martinez do you really think he would tell everybody with 2 games left to go? Have some sense people.
By Darriel
November 21, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Dorsey’s comments…We wanna win every game, every year…we wanna win the SEC and the natl championship every year but sometimes i cant help but wonder if most of these UGA fans became fans after richt started to build this program..after dooley and before richt there was hardly a season that you could even consider winning every game..A SEC championship was out of the question and a natl championship was not even up for discussion…you have to endure the tough years as a diehard dawg fan to appreciate what we have now..of course we have discrepancies but we are closer now to winning a natl championship than we have been in 20+ years..how nice it is to start every season knowing you have A CHANCE to win the SEC…Majority of the readers who post on this blog are more than likely disgruntled tech fans who have to face every season knowing that they are probably going to get their butts whopped by UGA…Of course they hate CMR. He has beat them pretty consistently. There was a time prior to CMR that a Stafford, Moreno, or Green would not have even considered UGA. Those days are long gone and the future is consistently bright. Anytime you can whine about being 11-2, you must be doing alot of things correctly. Go Dawgs sicem!!!!
By Dub
November 21, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Mountain Man - I’d say those things are what wins and/or loses every game, wouldn’t you think? Just accept it…UGA is overrated and there ARE better teams (probably 15 of them) than the Dawgs. I know that’s hard to believe because you won the preseason national championship but it’s true!