AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > February > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRicht’s ultimate goal not far away
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Athens — Mark Richt has done almost everything he set out to do. He has won the SEC (twice). He has taken Georgia to BCS bowls (two of them). He has owned Tech and beaten Tennessee (four times) and Auburn (twice) and even Florida (just once, but hey). He has won 10 or more games in each of the past four seasons, and he has made the Bulldogs a top-10 fixture and he has aced every signing day, and now there’s but one thing left to do.
“You’re talking about winning the national championship,� Richt said Wednesday, taking the hint. Or just playing for one. How far is Georgia from doing that?
Not far at all.
“I believe any given year it can happen,� Richt said. “In 2002, even if we had won every game, it might not have happened. [Georgia finished 13-1, while unbeatens Ohio State and Miami met for the BCS title.] But Ohio State was like us, winning every game close, so we might have made it. And even last year, we’re close — a four-point loss [to Florida], a one-point loss [to Auburn], a three-point loss [to West Virginia]. How many points is that?�
Eleven points from being unbeaten, and still Georgia wouldn’t have made the Rose Bowl ahead of Texas or Southern Cal. Often a national championship is a function of timing. A year after Georgia finished ranked No. 3 with its one loss, once-beaten LSU played for (and won) the BCS crown. The year after that, unbeaten Auburn didn’t get a sniff of the title game.
The point being: You can’t target your exact date of arrival. You can only keep putting yourself in position. Toward that end, Georgia rounded up its most heralded class of recruits under Richt on Wednesday, and the biggest name among them — quarterback Matthew Stafford of Dallas — made it clear he hadn’t signed with Georgia and enrolled in school early with the aim of playing for third place in the SEC East.
“We’re not far [from a national championship] at all,â€? Stafford said. “We’re beating on the door… We’ve got as good a chance as anybody.â€?
All coaches hype their recruiting classes. (When last did you hear any school proclaim, “Frankly, none of these guys can play deadâ€??) True to his low-key nature, Richt hypes less than most. But this latest bunch inspired him to come near gushing: “This class right here could really do some special things. … We ought to be special three or four years down the road.â€?
It might not take that long. Stafford could start as a true freshman, and a handful of these guys — Asher Allen, Reshad Jones, Knowshon Moreno, NaDerris Ward, Tony Wilson — shouldn’t be far behind. Having cherry-picked in-state talent the past few years, Georgia went wide this time. And that’s another sign of growth.
“It excites us that national blue-chip players are interested in us,� Richt said. “There were certain guys we signed or got visits from that we wouldn’t have five years ago.�
Mark Richt arrived here in January 2001 with the intention of modeling his new home after his old one, and he has. Georgia in the new millennium has come to resemble the Florida State of the late ’80s and early ’90s. But it took Bobby Bowden a run of Wide Right near-misses finally to break through in 1993, and that year the Seminoles needed a bit of providence — a week after FSU lost to Notre Dame, the Irish were upset by Boston College — to finish the drill.
“We thought we could do it a lot of those years,â€? Richt said. “We think that here. … I don’t think we’re too far away.â€?
With a new quarterback, next season might not be that season, but 2007 could be, or 2008 or 2009. It took the master recruiter Mack Brown eight years to claim a title for Texas, and Mark Richt seems on a similarly slow-burning fast track. There’s only one thing left for him to do, and he’ll do it soon.
Permalink | Comments (55) | Categories: Mark Bradley, UGA / SEC
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By Bill McNeal
February 1, 2006 06:34 PM | Link to this
Fantastic! I can’t wait. And as they say, “the journey is its own reward.” It’s been a blast to be a dawg for the last few years, and national championship or not, I’m having a great time rooting on the dogs. Winning, winning, and winning. What a joyride!! Go Dawgs!!!
By op
February 1, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this
Alrighty doggy fans, you people who (falsely) accuse Bradley of having a Tech bias, hope you’re happy with this article. The stage is set…anything less than a national title within 4 years is a failure for the mutts.
By Ray
February 1, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a DAWG FAN SINCE 1943.I don’t think i’ve ever been this excited.GO DAWGS
By geechee
February 1, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this
Mark, those are some really nice words coming from a Wildcat. I think Coach Richt was being a little too modest however with the “we ought to be special three or four years down the road” unless by special he meant “back to back” national titles.
By WAKEUPCALL
February 1, 2006 08:34 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark Richt and Bradley,
I love both of you
From Seoul, Korea
By merrelldawg
February 1, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this
I can’t wait until August not to mention September these next few years will be very special times for all us long time DAWG fans ITS GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDAWG GOOOOOOO DAWGS Thanks Mark Richt for another fine job
By Matthew
February 1, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this
Mark Richt is an awesome coach. As their biggest fan and a future student of UGA, I am thrilled to have him. It is a shame I’ll never have a chance to play for him due to my knee injury. I sure could use the scholarship I would get also. A national title under Richt is not a matter if, just when.
By LarryDawg
February 1, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this
By BirdDawg
February 1, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this
Can’t believe you didn’t sneak in an Offensive Coordinator dig in there, Bradley, but well done, especially so.
The biggest thing Coach Richt can do next year is one thing: Don’t let JTIII get anywhere near the line of scrimage on offense. Keep that kid on the punt team, please! Joe Cox, Blake Barnes, and Matthew Stafford three are better than Joe T.
I have a feeling that Cox will be transfering, and that Barnes will be the careholder until Stafford is truly ready next year as a redshirt freshman.
I’d hate to lose Cox, but while he’s better than Barnes, Barnes is better right now for the system, and if Cox does break through and starts, where does that leave Stafford?
With running backs, you can have two or three and be okay. You can’t when you have two or three QBs.
Spring Practice is going to be interesting. I just hope to heck that JTIII is 2nd or 3rd on the depth charts after the practices.
By northwestDAWG
February 1, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this
I feel like this is MRs break through class. I’ll wager that next year we’ll have even more out of state 4 & 5* recruits. If what I’ve read about Dewberry is true I think he’s one who’ll be playing early on. If Ware isn’t going to GSU, maybe MR can figure out how to use more than one tailback at a time. I read earlier that the kid from So.Car. was having trouble, does anyone know what’s going on? Now coach hire someone to manage the sidelinesso you can do your thing coaching the offense and we’ll be flying high. Title game here we come again
By McDonoughDawg
February 1, 2006 09:36 PM | Link to this
Op above is obviously jealous. I guess he thinks Bradley should write such an article about GT. But hey Bradley doesn’t have that much imagination.
GATA DAWGS!!!
By AbacusMan
February 1, 2006 09:51 PM | Link to this
Eleven points?? By my count we were 8 points away from undefeated!!! Nonehtheless, gone are the days when 3 losses are anticipated. Richt has made us into the program we always thought we had.
By BirdDawg
February 1, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
Have a good night, fellow Dawg fans! Dream sweet dreams of Stafford throwing bombs to Mass, or of Jones becoming the next Davis and Blue!
Dream those sweet dreams colored in red, black, silver, and white!
By War Eagle
February 1, 2006 10:06 PM | Link to this
SEC had four teams Florida, UGA, LSU and Auburn in the top 10 recruting class this year.This should provide for interesting rival and SEC contests. Florida got it all…off chart class. UGA could used a couple of WR, but still at the top. LSU have several qualifying questions, great defensive lineman and CB`s.Auburn got a future QB, several strong OL, great WR with Hawthrone and Slaughter at the top.
By honest abe
February 1, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this
BirdDawg the cheap shot at Joe T was not very classy. The only thing he has done since he’s been at UGA is do everything that’s been asked of him. If you remember he didn’t lose us that UF game in fact he played well enough to win. I’m not saying that he should be handed the job, but he definitely deserves a shot at quarterback when spring rolls around.
As far as the recruiting class, I have to say I’m pretty stoked! Great class!!! Hopefully some of our other heralded recievers from the past will step it up this year.
Go DAWGS!!!!!
By Larry
February 1, 2006 10:22 PM | Link to this
Matthew, I mean “BirdDawg”, guess that half a hundred them mountaineers hung up on that scoreboard finally caused you to go crazy, huh? Don’t worry, West Virginia is gonna be back next year to take it to the hizouse. Sugar is sweet ain’t it? Wait, you wouldn’t know! HAHAHA, gotta love it my friends, gotta love it!
By Matt
February 1, 2006 10:51 PM | Link to this
Since when does 38 equal a half of a hundred?
By Adel Purvis
February 1, 2006 11:08 PM | Link to this
Great class Coach Richt. You do not have to win it all to be a class act at UGA. Cannot wait for spring practice. You don’t have to worry about who is the starting qb, the best dawg will win this competition and the DAWG nation will support the winner.
Do not be surprised if it ends in Joe T’s hands. 10 wins is likely for the next two years and then the sky is the limit.
By Don Gill
February 1, 2006 11:36 PM | Link to this
4 points + 1 point + 3 points = 8 points, not 11. Did somebody from Auburn do the addition?
By Jason
February 1, 2006 11:55 PM | Link to this
Larry, they don’t have hizouses in West Virgina, they trizailers. You won 1 game and had 1 good year. Come back and make the same comments when you have won 10 games a year for 4 years straight and have finished in the Top 10 4 years in a row.
By riley
February 1, 2006 11:56 PM | Link to this
8 total points to end w/ 3 ties; thus technically undefeated. however, when is the last time a college game ended in a tie? so, 11 points to end undefeated / win out…. i reckon bradley is a genius.
georgia southern grad here. it ain’t rocket science folks.
By MathDawg
February 2, 2006 12:46 AM | Link to this
Don, Abacusman, and other math challenged folks, we needed to score 11 more points this year to be undefeated.
-We lossed to UF by 4, thus we needed 5 more points to win that game. -We lossed to Auburn by 1, thus we needed 2 more points to win that game. -We lossed to WV by 3 points, thus we needed 4 more points to beat them.
I know this is difficult, but 5 + 4 + 2 equals…..you guessed it..11.
By DAWGMAN
February 2, 2006 12:47 AM | Link to this
I AM CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO SEE THESE NEW DAWGS IN ACTION!LET’S FILL UP SANFORD STADIUM FOR THE SPRING GAME!I AM EVEN MORE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A GREAT LEADER IN MARK RICHT WHO ALWAYS HANDLES THINGS WITH DIGNITY AND IS AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL.WHAT’S THAT COMING DOWN THE TRACK? A HUGE MACHINE THAT’S RED AND BLACK!!!! HUNKER DOWN FOR ANOTHER CROWN!
By Timmy
February 2, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this
Don Gill, WTF man, you must be a Georgia grad! Its not that complex bro. The magic number is 11, not 8, just think about it my friend. It’ll come to you.
By MathDawg
February 2, 2006 01:01 AM | Link to this
Hey Timmy (I hope you aren’t any older then 10 BTW) don’t lump all of us into the same category.
I’m a UGA alum and I had no problem doing that simple equation. However, I will admit that there are some challenged folks out there like them that give plenty of ammunition to Tech nerds and other rivals to further perpetuate old and irrelevant stereotypes.
By GrammarDawg
February 2, 2006 06:05 AM | Link to this
MathDawg, lossed? Are you kidding? Fax me a copy of that degree.
By twidget61
February 2, 2006 06:31 AM | Link to this
Before you get all excited about UGA playing for the national championship, you should remember that every year under Mark Richt, the Bulldogs have lost at least one game because of poor coaching. They’ve lost at least one game every year because the coaching staff did not have the team ready to play. No matter how much talent they recruit, the coaching staff is going to have to consistently do a better job before this team can seriously contend for the national championship.
By Tom
February 2, 2006 07:59 AM | Link to this
What a time to be a Bulldog. What a recruiting class. This is my first time on this blog. I really enjoyed the comments about 8 versus 11 points. Some of you DAWG fans have a real sense of humor. The Red and Black have some great years ahead. Go Dogs and accolades to Mark Richt and his Coaching Staff.
Monroe Dawg
By GW
February 2, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
If Coach Richt and his staff play talent ahead of seniority Georgia fans have a lot to look forward too. Notice I said seniority, not experience. We have to trust that since they are the ones on the practice field the staff will recognize this. This goes for more than just the QB position.
By austindog
February 2, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this
Don’t mind Larry, he’s Georgia Tech living vicariously through WV. Been waiting to say “half a hundred” since 2002. This is as close as he’s come.
By DirkDawggler
February 2, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this
I’m as optimistic as the next Dawg…but until we consistently start beating Florida, my enthusiasm is tempered. I’m not trying to poop in anyone’s Wheaties…but we’ve got to get that monkey off our back. Also, I agree that BirdDawg’s criticism of Joe T is a bit harsh. I doubt he’ll be the starting QB by the homecoming game…but he’s done everything he’s been asked to do and is the consummate team player.
By Kyle
February 2, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this
1 game/yr lost due to poor coaching? The same was said of Mack Brown. I’ll take my chances with CMR. For one, he admits his mistakes and takes action to correct it. Mark my words, a man of his ability and character will coach the Dawgs to the NC.
By Kyle
February 2, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this
1 game/yr lost due to poor coaching? The same was said of Mack Brown. I’ll take my chances with CMR. For one, he admits his mistakes and takes action to correct them. Mark my words, a man of his ability and character will coach the Dawgs to the NC.
By sj
February 2, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
Auburn is getting some good hs talent but losing their DC, Gibbs to the NFL. Just like Auburn, too. Keep him around until signing day to project a theme of coaching consistency….riight..4 OCs since 2001, third DC, etc.. Houdini Tuberville is not only obnoxious but can also maintain a sociopathic poker face while telling recruits what they want to hear.
By ConyersDawg
February 2, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this
Hey Tom or MonroeDawg, welcome to the blogs my friend. This is where people are either passionate, have no life, want to vent about the dawgs when they know nothing about football or coaching, love to just talk Dawgs with other fans, and last but not least put up and shut up fans of other teams that get on our blogs.
Has anyone noticed that all those gators yapping about their 20 all american wide receivers haven’t been on here since they lost most of them?
By SP
February 2, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this
It took a GSU grad to do the math on what it would have taken to be undefeated. I too am a GSU grad. So much for UGA being the more intelligent school.
By godawg
February 2, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this
JoeT3 may not be the most talented QB on the roster but he’s 100% Dawg. I suspect he will end up a good football coach one day. His dad’s a coach and remember CMR was a pretty good backup to a QB named Jim Kelly.
By GatorBait
February 2, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this
You mean learn to beat the Mighty Gators? I am assuming that is really what you are refrring to, not the NC. That will come after Richt gets over the Gator hump. Until he consistently can beat us Mighty Gators, he’s just dreaming of playing for an NC!!
See ya in Jax.!!
By MathDawg
February 2, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this
Hey GrammarDawg, I said I was good at Math, not grammar or spelling. Have you ever looked at a math based curiculum? Probably not since you were probably a liberal arts major and never went any further then calc I. When you are good at Math, you don’t need good grammar or spelling — it’s a waste of time. Strong Math skills will get you a much better paying job then grammar skills ever will.
By David
February 2, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this
What’s all this talk about Coach Richt not being able to beat the Gators? It took him three years, but we beat them in 2004, and lost by a narrow margin this year without DJ. It’s never easy to win without the starting QB/most valuable player. With DJ at the helm, aint no way we would’ve lost that game. It’s far too early to label Richt as a coach that can’t beat Florida.
Matt, Knowshon and the rest of you, welcome to UGA. We can’t wait to see you between the hedges!
By BirdDawg
February 2, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
I wasn’t meaning to be harsh, you guys, but I can see how that might have come across that way. For that I apologize. Joe T has been the consumate teammate, but he is not as talented as Barnes and Cox, and not even as much as our incomming freshman, Stafford. I think we all can agree on that. Look, Joe T has done all he can, but after 4 years in this offense, as a redshirt junior, and he looked as bad as he did, and Coach couldn’t trust him with the playbook, well, that says a lot to me. That’s four years of learning, and still, he’s not up to snuff. He’s a good kid, and will do well in life, but he’s not talented enough to be the starting QB over Barnes or Cox. That’s what I was trying to get across.
Be honest with yourselves, you guys. Do you disagree with what I say in principle? Good kid, but just not talented enough to be the starter of a team that wants to win the SEC again.
By austindog
February 2, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this
When was the last time the “Mighty Gators” were in the SEC title game? Sure the Gators have beaten some rivals (Georgia included) every year, but they haven’t won anything since Spurrier left. Never won anything before he arrived either. (And the “Mighty Gators” couldn’t beat him to take the East). In the history of Florida football, only one coach was able to win, and he’s never coming back.
Florida is the new Ole Miss.
And the Georgia Bulldogs are the 2005 SEC champs!
Hate it!
By AD
February 2, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this
Thank you Mark Bradley. Coach Richt’s success is undisputable. And to all of you alledged fans that wanted to hang him from the yardarm for not having won the NC in these 5 short years I say, get a grip. How many years did it take some of the greatest names in college coaching to do it? I much prefer the program in its present state. All of the ignoramus morons that were bashing coach Richt can just go on back to the Goff/Donnan days. Or better yet…become tech fans. Then you can justifiably complain.
By Realistic Ricky
February 2, 2006 01:54 PM | Link to this
David…all this “talk” about MR not being able to beat the Gators is FACT, my man. Even though MB conveniently overlooked it, MR is not doing so well against Auburn, either. My point is this: MR is a good man and a very good coach, but you can not seriously start talking about winning a NC until you are CONSISTENTLY beating your toughest competition. MR is not doing that at this point.
By Ron Roberts
February 2, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Frankly, Realistic, there’s no coach in the S.E.C. consistently dominating conference rivals, anymore.
With LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee consistently stockpiling talent the past few years, it’s hard to beat everybody on your slate. It just is.
Even that visor-wearing antichrist lost a game in his one national championship season.
If you want to look ahead at UGA’s schedules in ‘06 and ‘07, I think you can look at 2007 as the first legitimate year of opportunity for national title talk. I see next year, realistically, as a minimum 8 win season, and a maximum 10 win slate; Maybe more, if we go into a late-season rivalry game and they’re suffering a key loss with us going in on a roll. Outside of QB, we have a veteran group coming back, folks, and that can mask the inexperience at QB.
By the way, 2007 has “open date” before Florida. Finally that snafu’s been fixed.
By austindog
February 2, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this
Ricky, look no further than this year’s Rose Bowl to refute that point. Mack Brown lost the last 5 to Oklahoma before this year. Tenn couldn’t beat Florida for years before their NC. As dominant as the 90’s were at UF, there was only one NC.
Georgia beat GT 9 of 12 before 1990, the year Colorado won the NC.
By godawg
February 2, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this
“Georgia beat GT 9 of 12 before 1990, the year Colorado won the NC.” Nice!
By toemeetsleather
February 2, 2006 05:14 PM | Link to this
think u might be jumping the gun…chan almost got u this year and most certainly will start a streak of our own next year…GOOOOOOOOOO JACKETS!!!!dawgs going down
By wild thing
February 2, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this
don gill…8 points would have only tied all those games…did you go to awbarn?
By BirdDawg
February 2, 2006 05:20 PM | Link to this
Ron, you are right on. The SEC is a prime example of parity… yet it’s a decieving kind of parity. There are still the haves and have nots, but it’s the middle which has grown. In the last 5 years, the haves have been 3 teams: LSU, Georgia, and Auburn. Could Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, or Florida be ready to jump back from the middle into the “haves”? Yes, they can. No team will ever dominate again. Not like Alabama in the 70’s. Not like Georgia and Auburn in the 80’s. Nor like Florida and Tennessee in the 90’s. As it is right now, Auburn, LSU, and Georgia have programs which can reload every year and contend every year. Tennessee isn’t there anymore, nor will they be under Fulmer. He’s on his way out. Florida and Alabama and South Carolina and Arkansas are question marks. They could go either way. I don’t believe that Alabama has the right coach, and I don’t think the Floridiots do either. Urban Blight has proven nothing, excepting that he loves excess wideouts the way Dan Reeves loves excess tightends. Every few years, Carolina and Arkansas make some noise, but will they ever break through? So in the SEC, there is some semblance of parity, but only really amongst the middle teams. I don’t see the current Big 3 of the SEC changing anytime soon. Not with the base that their coaches have layed down. Tubby-ville and Richt doing it all themselves, and Miles getting it from Saban. Yeah, every couple of years, Florida and Alabama might rear their ugly heads, but Urban Blight and the daddy’s boy won’t be doing a whole lot but anger their fanbases with their inability to cash in on all of the talent of their teams. Kind of like Donnan.
By War Eagle
February 2, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
sj, We had 3 OC not 4, they moved on to better jobs except Nall and he is the best offensive line coach in the SEC. Our DC has opportunity in the NFL as UGA DC did last year which ALSO WAITED FOR RECRUITING to end. Be kind to us sj…BirdDawg, I with you on your statements, you are right on it….I have my doubts about Urban Myers..Zook recruited very well remember and was off to Ill. A blind coach can recruit in Florida, so much talent.
By vince dooley
February 2, 2006 06:25 PM | Link to this
mr…when you beat florida auburn and tech in same year talk to me
By SEC
February 2, 2006 07:44 PM | Link to this
Richt has had the best talent (Thank you Jim) and recruiting base in the SEC and can’t get past Auburn and Florida. More talent less results.
By Dawgstyle
February 2, 2006 07:46 PM | Link to this
Whew! I had to rub off the goose bumps after reading that one! Just keep on keepin’on Dawgs,our day will come again but this time,I’ll be there! GO DAWGS!!!!! War Eagle,I’ve been away for a while & just want to say hey & hope you & your family are doin’o.k. I always enjoy your posts.
By BirdDawg
February 2, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this
SEC, umm, Richt’s done well against Auburn. Against a rival like UGA - AU, .500 football is to be expected. As for Florida, how about this, SEC? How about every other year, you guys come to Atlanta to play a game in the Georgia Dome, 90 minutes away from our campus the way Jacksonville is 90 minutes away from your campus. I think, bye week or no, that the results will be more even-keeled in our favor. The fans who claim that Jacksonville is great because there is just as many Georgia fans down there as Gators are missing the point. The team still has to travel. The team has it’s week upended just like any other road game. It is a road game for the Dawgs. It isn’t for Florida. They practice in their facilities. They sleep in their beds. It’s about the teams, not the fans. Yeah. there are a lot of Georgia fans in Jacksonville. So what? They can drive up to Atlanta, and they should. This series has benefited the Gators for far too long. I don’t want it to be a home and home series, because that takes away from the Cocktail Party atmosphere. But having it alternate between Atlanta and Jacksonville makes sense. Besides, all of you mullet-heads would have fun up here with our high-class strippers anyway. Much better than watching your sister change clothes through the crack in the trailer wall. So what would be so bad with an Atlanta Cocktail Party every other year? I see no downsides, well, of course, except for the influx of Gator-trash (a much worse subdivision of white trash) into Atlanta. But I understand that there must be some give and take, and if that is what it takes to make this series truly neutral, or at least fair, than I am willing to sacrifice that much.
WarEagle, guessing you’re an Auburn fan (hehehe), I’m just quick like that. Thanks for the kind word or two. And man, I can’t wait until we hit cowtown this year. I might be coming, so make sure you save me some lemonade!