AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > November > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRicht’s growth as coach keeps Dogs among elite
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Athens — Mark Richt proved he could win fast and win big, and the question you ask of someone who wins fast and big is: Can he keep winning with the next bunch of players? Richt did, winning the 2005 SEC title without most of the key guys from 2002. That done, there’s only question left for the firmly established coach: What happens when the roll becomes a slog?
Bad things inevitably happen even to the best programs, but what makes a program special is the capacity to absorb a blow and hit back harder. Florida had to fire Ron Zook for that to happen. Tennessee is still trying to regain the ground lost since 2001. And Georgia, which had little go wrong over four blissful years, has run into a series of ruts these last two seasons.
A year ago the Bulldogs were 6-4 and no cinch to win again. They’d lost four of five games. They had Auburn and Georgia Tech remaining. And then Richt won one of the two or three biggest games he’ll ever win, toppling the No. 5 Tigers on the road by 22 points.
Because those Bulldogs didn’t lose another, it was convenient to believe that Georgia was Georgia again. It wasn’t quite. The 2007 edition was overvalued early. Too many people focused on last season’s finish and not the rampant youth of this roster. Lo and behold, the Bulldogs lost two of their first four conference games and were pronounced dead in the SEC East.
The division was all but conceded to Florida, last year’s champ, or the upstarts South Carolina and Kentucky. But here it is November and the Bulldogs sit ahead of all three, not fully in control of their destiny but still with a shot to play in the Georgia Dome come Dec. 1. And the reason they are where they are is their coach.
It wouldn’t be enough in 2007 for Richt to coach the way he did in 2001. “The bar [in the SEC] has been raised,” he said, and he had to get even better or see his team slip. He has gotten even better. He ceded play-calling duties to Mike Bobo, and the effect is that the head coach now sees the bigger picture, not just down and distance.
The much-discussed celebration in Jacksonville probably wouldn’t have been ordered up a year ago. “He would have been more focused on the game plan,” said receiver Sean Bailey. “This way, he can be creative and think of something that will fire the team up.”
Whatever you thought of the method, you cannot deny that Richt’s penalized ploy had the desired effect. It changed the dynamics of a series that, from a Bulldog perspective, sorely needed changing. And that game changed a season, same as the Auburn game changed the last one.
“We’re coming to Game 10,” Richt said Saturday after his team fought through the inevitable post-Gators letdown to dispatch a pretty good Troy team. “And to still have almost all your goals in front of you, that’s a great thing.”
It is. It’s also the mark of an elite program to be in championship contention with a team not nearly its best. These Bulldogs don’t do anything particularly well — they don’t rank among the SEC’s top three in any significant offensive or defensive category — but they’ve been coached to something approximating capacity.
Yes, that’s testimony to Richt’s assistants, but mainly it’s another validation of Richt. He flouted personal tendencies with the orchestrated celebration, and that’s a sign of a coach working at his job. He took a risk. He accepted the consequences. He won another huge game.
And now he has more huge games to play. Sure, the Bulldogs could lose to Auburn next Saturday, but the important thing is that Georgia is, after a one-year hiatus, again playing games of importance in the nation’s best conference. “If we take care of business at home,” Richt said, “we’re going to end up having a tremendous year.”
If there were any remaining questions about Richt, they’ve all been answered. He stamped himself as a great coach five years ago, and he’s even greater now.
Permalink | Comments (118) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, UGA / SEC
Comments
By VirginiaTechFan
November 3, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
UGA barely beat a team where the majority of their students are MUSIC MAJORS?! I love music. But if the DAWGS think they ‘won’ today, we are all laughing. Troy won today. Against the powerhouse UGA and their fans. Oh yeah, UGA is young and won against the Gators. Laughing so hard I cannot continue. GO HOKIES!
By PreyDawg
November 3, 2007 8:36 PM | Link to this
GREAT Article. Nice to see CMR get some props from this paper. And in fairness this is not the only time Bradley has given the man some respect. Thats good. He deserves it.
By Get the Picture
November 3, 2007 8:37 PM | Link to this
Gees Mark,
Kiss of death just before the Auburn game.
I still remember you calling the ‘96 Braves the greatest team in baseball history after taking a 2-0 WS lead on the Yankees.
Oh God’s of Football, do not let this man’s words kindle your wrath!
Thanks, and Go Dogs!
By Scott in Dosta
November 3, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this
Coach Richt has done an outstanding job with the Dawgs!! Letting Coach Bobo take care of the play-calling will ultimately help Coach Richt and this team win a national championship. Stafford will end up being one of the great QB’s Georgia has ever had. And let’s not forget “New Jersey” Moreno. His name will be mentioned in the Heisman race next year. What do you guys think? I say next year will be the year of the Dawgs!! National championship in 2008!!
By Scott in Dosta
November 3, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this
VT fan, all that I will say is Peach Bowl 2006!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!
By Harry
November 3, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
Dear Virginia Tech Fan: Do I detect a little bitterness hangover from last year’s bowl game? At least no one’s beaten UGA 48-7 lately. Go DAWGS!!
By walter
November 3, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
Hey vt fan, who beat ya last yr in the bowl game? and I know you play in the mighty acc, now you have got me laughing.
By dobearsbare
November 3, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this
VTF, get back to us when your team doesn’t blow a lead in the fourth quarter, OK? Get back to us when you have anything approximating the gauntlet that is the SEC schedule. Or, when you win your conference. Or, when you win your division of your conference.
At least Troy brought a band today, which is more than we could say for VT Thursday …
By dawggirl
November 3, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
This coming from a team that struggled against East Carolina was lucky to get by UNC. Oh, and I believe we beat you too, so I wouldn’t be too quick to crow if I were you, Hokie.
By Firebrand
November 3, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
What the heck is a dang gobbler doing on a UGA board? Y’all still trying to figure out the “Peach Clobber?”
Always nice to have teams we’ve whipped come by to visit. Maybe you should print this up and mail it to Beamer so he can suffer some more, too.
Bradley, nice job of writing there, son. Stonewall Richt is a special man, and a special coach, and UGA is flat blessed to have him.
By vickismyman
November 3, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
MV7 got railroaded! He is still the man and Blank screwed him!! Oh sorry, wrong blog…….
By NASCARfan
November 3, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
Hey VaTechFan, wanna rematch in the sUGAr Bowl this year? We’ll prove once again that a “good” defense in the AwfulCoastConference is simply sub-par in any decent conference and a complete sieve to a SEC team.
Dude… seriously, a VaTech Jokie trying to talk trash on our board? Since when did you morons get all Buggish?
Anyway, the Drill certainly isn’t finished yet. I just wish this team for once in it’s life could have a killer instinct that’s been sorely missing for I don’t know, about 20 years.
I loved the celebration last week, but why was it needed? Why doesn’t this team have a killer instinct? Is it the calmness of the coach? Is it the refusal to keep scoring when the game is no longer in doubt, unlike Spurrier in his Florida years?
If I could have any complaint about Mark Richt (other than his hiring of Willie Martinez, who is far too inconsistant of a DC to be allowed to hold onto his job no matter what happened against Florida) it would be that this team has no killer instinct and at times looks like it doesn’t even want to play football.
Other than that, I wouldn’t want any other coach in college football. No slimy Pete Carroll. No insincere, phony Urban Myth. No Fat Phil. No Ossama bin Saban. No Dr. Evil in a Sweater Vest. No one. He’s the guy. He really is the guy I want here. I just wish he would have made a better choice at DC and had the ability to instil a killer instinct in this team.
By Doug
November 3, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
Just let it go, everybody … my guess is “VirginiaTechFan” is just a Techie who, as usual, is hiding behind the mantle of a decent team because his own team sucks. You’d kinda think he’d pick a team that hadn’t gotten donkeypunched by Georgia as recently as last year’s bowl game, though …
By VTFAN2
November 3, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this
Puppy Lovers,
NCAA VIOLATIONS. TIME FOR PROBATION. WOOF WOOF WOOF. WAH WAH WAH
Wait til we leapfrog you in the polls this week. You struggled against a ???? team. And after this week will have lost to 2 unranked teams (SC will lose to Arkansas). Our 2 losses came from the #2 and #3 ranked teams in the nation.
Also, interesting article here in Virginia this week about your pending football probation (guess what self reporting violations doesn’t get you off the hook!!!) - looks like you will loose scholarships, wins from the record book and not be able to be on TV. Way to go UGA - nice to know you cheated when you beat us. Good luck with those NCAA VIOLATIONS and have fun on PROBATION DAWGS. It is about to all come out in the open…..
By GrayDawg
November 3, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Had enough of this F* stuff and went the the VA paper to rag on their blog, and none one was home. Know I understand. They have to watch SEC football to get inspired.\
See the OLD BALL SACK is on visor #4 right now. But what did you expect, they lost to Vandy… HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
By TampaDawg
November 3, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
I have never such a bunch of sore losers as VT fans are.
By TampaDawg
November 3, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
I have never seen such a bunch of sore losers as VT fans are.
By GrayDawg
November 3, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
SC is losing… But no big deal, they lost to VANDY HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAA
By NASCARfan
November 3, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
Hey VTFan, how about a link to said football violations?
Wait, no link? These “violations” don’t exist and are only a figment of your nerd imagination.
And no, you won’t leapfrog us in the BCS standings. You don’t know anything about how it works, do you? Not only do you have to win, but you have to actually beat ranked teams you effing moron!
Who has VaTech beaten? Nobody? Why that’s right.
Once again, you’re talking trash after we spent New Year’s Eve whopping your @$$?
Sounds like someone needs to explain to you how trash talk is supposed to work, idiot.
By rdbdawg
November 3, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
wanna provide a link to this so-called article?
By RxDawg
November 3, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
gently wipes a tear away Great write-up, go dawgs!
By GrayDawg
November 3, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
Hey VA Tech where is the link to the article. Right click, then copy, the back to the blog and right click then paste… Oh sorry, I will type slower.. G o
to the article the….
By greg
November 3, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
Hey moron, Troy was receiving votes in the polls. GT is barely a .500 team…and that’s playing in the lowly ACC. How much did LSU beat you by again? 50?
By NewJerseyMoreno
November 3, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
VT Fan….what a douche. OH YOU KNOWSHON MORENO! OH MY GOD! HE’S ONLY A FRESHMAN!!!!
By southgadawg
November 3, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
What the f&*$ is a “hoakie”? Other than a person full of bovine scategory! You morons can’t even keep up with your jerseys. At least we haven’t loss to a team outside of the SEC can you say that?
By southgadawg
November 3, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
dumb@@@ vt tech fan has us confused with USC and the bush fiasco. Booger eating moron!
By Jack
November 3, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this
Georgia has won more bowl games than Vt has played in. Your out of your league here, Get Lost Hokie!
By Jack
November 3, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Georgia has won more bowl games than VT has even played in. They are not in our class and don’t deserve our time. Tell me Hokie, how was William and Mary’s band? or Dukes? Or UNC? or Ohio? Please…you guys live in a fantasy land.
By Jack
November 3, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Georgia has won more bowl games than VT has even played in. They are not in our class and don’t deserve our time. Tell me Hokie, how was William and Mary’s band? or Dukes? Or UNC? or Ohio? Please…you guys live in a fantasy land.
By Classless
November 3, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this
I think that chineze guy should have shot one more VT fan.
By LEGHIKER
November 3, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
HOKIES: SEE LAST PEACH BOWL FINAL SCORE, SEE A GOOD SHRINK
By liferdawgfan
November 3, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
that was totally classless
Jeez this is just stupid football talk and that crap was AWEFULL!!!
I hope that chineze guy is rotting in hell!!!
Go Dawgs we must finish the drill mext week with Auburn or …. those fu**ing gators will be back in the dome in December!!! The horror!!
By VirginiaTechFan
November 3, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
Laughing. And the Dawgs won today. WHEWWW thank God it wasn’t Vanderbilt. When will the Dawgs play LSU or have the guts to play USC, LSU or even Boston College?
By CrazyAsian
November 3, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
Bang Bang
By Virginia who?
November 3, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
Last time I checked, VT sucks, the ACC sucks and the only good player to come out of VT was a pot head animal abuser who is heading to prison.
Maybe this is how this blog should work…
“Virginia Tech is under NCAA investigation for losing three of its jerseys, gambling, smoking crack, pretending to play in a football conference, and taking post-game showers much longer than should be expected. Montana newspapers are reporting they have lost all scholarships for the next 20 years and their players have to stop growing all the dope they normally are smoking. Nevada newspapers are commenting that half the team is under arrest and the coach is in rehab.”
By boots
November 3, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this
Hey, VTsucksFan: Georgia has played LSU three times in four years and has won two of three. Our ‘08 schedule includes two teams in the top 5, the defending NCAA football champ, Auburn, Alabama, two other teams who have been in the top 10 this year and a poor, pathetic ACC team that we consistently destroy. Go &#@)@(^ yourself and come back and talk smack when your team and conference do something worthwhile.
By NASCARfan
November 3, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
VaTechFan, I only have two words for you:
Michael. Vick.
Now SHUT THE F@CK UP!!!
By LEGHIKER
November 3, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
HOKIE: SEE UGA last two meetings vs LSU: SEE HOKIE last two meetings vs SEC, SEE a good drug addiction doctor
By GTech fan posing as VTech fan
November 3, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
Jackets er uh Hokies kick a*!
By Buck in the NW
November 3, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this
Why pay any attention to these losers? Like CMR said, we can still reach all og our preseason goals so lets just focus on AU this week. If we just take care of our own “Bitness” we’ll do just fine, thank you.
By Dawgykong
November 3, 2007 11:38 PM | Link to this
isnt a hokie a castrated turkey? hmmm now thats a cute name for a football team
By LEGHIKER
November 3, 2007 11:45 PM | Link to this
CMR at UGA vs ACC ACC 0 wins 10 losses CMR 10 wins 0 losses
wanna talk about what he did to the ACC while at FSU?
Its time to give up the hard drugs Hokie
By ACC is a JOKE
November 3, 2007 11:57 PM | Link to this
Hey VT looooser. Let’s see, which VT high profile players are in the NFL?? Hmmmmm? Oh yea, 1) Mike Vick, soon to be in jail; 2) Deangelo (aka Me-angelo)Hall. Total nut job that is unable ot keep his mouth shut and will soon be cut from the Falcons because they cant get anything for him in a trade. My guess is that you are in the same category. Over rated, full of yourself and too stupid to realize you are a total moron.
By mad dawg
November 4, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this
Hey VT, the best thing to come out of VT was Vick. Enough said.
By steve
November 4, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this
The dawgs gave up 34 points to Troy. Can we get VanGorder back yet??
By Don
November 4, 2007 12:32 AM | Link to this
Dear Mark
Can you invite T. Moore over for some Pizza and give him writing lessons. Good Column! I figured Georgia would have 4 losses this year with 8 new starters on defense and a new and young offensive line plus a Bobo calling the plays. They may be ahead of schedule. The offense has certainly come together and the defense is talented enough to be great but still lacks discipline. Georgia just needs to finish the drill this season and the next couple of seasons could be very special one for this young group of Dawgs.
By ACC is a Joke
November 4, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this
Just for the record, coming into the Georgia game, Troy averaged 34.50 points per game. Including 26 points against Arkansas and 31 against Florida. Personally, I am not worrying about UGA giving up 34 today. The first two scores were the result of ridiculous turnovers and the last TD was against our second string team. Just keep in mind, this is the craziest year of college football ever and everyone should be happy with a W, regardless of how ugly the victory was. I would rather WIN ugly than to lose “pretty”. GOOOOOO DAWGS !
By mexdawg
November 4, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this
It’s great to have Mark Richt as our coach.We are probally gonna need one of his better effords this week vs Aubarn.The turkey buzzards are playing some of the best ball in the sec right now.If we can get up like we did vs the lizzards i think we have a good chance.by the way it’s great to see stevie and the chickens loose again.maybe next year stevie.LET THE BIG DAWG EAT.
By Darnie Glover
November 4, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
What is the VT fan doing here? Hey, ain’t you missing a dogfight somewhere?
By boots
November 4, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this
As other posters have said, the GT fans posting as VT fans are REALLY PATHETIC. You get smacked around in your crappy conference and then have to adopt a competitor to make fun of a team that beats you 90% of the time? If I ever posted as a Florida fan making fun of tech and the ACC, I would ask you to please put a bullet in my head.
GT fan posting as a man / VT castrated turkey / heterosexual / football fan / bright & clever poster: time for you to get a grip on something else than what you normally hold in your right hand and get a life. I guess when your sports programs and teams S*UCK, this is where you find fun on a Saturday night. L-O-S-E-R
By 6NAROW
November 4, 2007 12:54 AM | Link to this
It’s great to be a GA Bulldog! When we get Will Muschamp from AU we’ll move to the next level but until then we’ll keep giving up 34 to Troy.
By SamoanDawg
November 4, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this
Richt is doing a superb job! I predicted 41-17, but I’ll take the W.
AU will be a hard fight game. Hopefully we’ll have the ball bounce our way. Probably the only way we can beat AU is to get some turnovers, like we did last season.
go Dawgs!
By Ted Knewgent
November 4, 2007 1:59 AM | Link to this
That whole shooting thing up in VTech would have never happened down in SEC Country, baby. SEC, whoop-whoop-whoop. Who let the wusses out? V-Tech, V-tech,baby!
By innocent bystander
November 4, 2007 3:45 AM | Link to this
This column is noteworthy for its intelligence, sobriety and accuracy.Few people on the planet are able to rewire their personality though politicians attempt it regularly. There is certainly no reason why Mark Rict should ever attempt to change his personality just because the louder part of our fan base thinks something’s wrong with the coach if we don’t win ten and play in the SECC every year. Those people have a short memory and a poor understanding of what makes a coach great. I’m sure the championship teams coached by Wooden Landry and Dungy are grateful teir coaches were cerebral not emotional.
By heeldawg
November 4, 2007 5:58 AM | Link to this
Two observations:
Agree with Bradley—Richt has become a better coach. He will get even better tactically as he evolves further (something that Spurrier has not done, which is why his teams at USC are a pale shadow of what they were at UF. Everyone’s figured out his offense, and he scares no one anymore). More importantly, he remain a good person, a role model for young men who won’t tolerate aberrations in character. Michael Vick would not have had the prima donna attitude that allowed him to think he could flout societal rules of behavior had he come to Georgia and played under Mark Richt, because he would have either adapted to Caoch Richt’s rules of conduct or been kicked off the team. Coach Richt is a good coach. He is also a fine representation of how his young charges should live their lives, the kind of coach I would want my son to play for. Character doesn’t get enough credit nowadays. It should. Hats off to Mark Bradley for recognizing professional growth in the man, but I’d add that it has not come at the expense of CMR’s value system.
VT fan—you have no data to back up any of the things you are saying. Whatever fantasy you harbor as a result of playing in the weakest BCS conference in the country should have been dashed last season in the Peach Bowl, when a mediocre Georgia team (by our standards) overcame a 21-3 deficit to defeat your beloved Hokies. If not then, humility should have at least showed up when LSU shredded your team in Baton Rouge. Want more proof? An overrated BC team scores two TDs in the final two minutes to defeat VT last week, and an offensively-challenged FSU team comes into Boston the next week and shows just how a truly well-coached squad finishes the proverbial drill.
Mark Richt is 10-0 versus the ACC. He is 1-0 versus Virginia Tech. He has beaten LSU two out of the three times he has played them. And he’s never, ever even come close to having his team on probation. The statement about probation is, in fact, absolute fabrication (that means you made it all up). Your team would be a 0.500 SEC team at best. So come on, play us again. Or join our league, so that you actually have to show up for more than one or two games a year. But don’t run your mouth with made-up stories and blustery indictments of a school whose tradition dwarfs even your highest aspirations. You guys aren’t even on the map. As far as the SEC goes, you’re an irrelevant afterthought, another wannabe team in a wannabe league. Your inferiority complex is so large that you feel compelled to make things up to make yourself feel better. If you want to do that in the privacy of your own home, that’s fine. Have at it. But to come onto a U.Ga. blog and spew out the B.S. you’ve been spewing just leaves you open to verbal evisceration. We’ll call you out on everything you say. As the saying goes, it ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up, but you can’t back up any of the crap you’re saying.
No wonder your mascot’s a turkey.
By hop
November 4, 2007 6:19 AM | Link to this
great article mark, it was one of your best. dawgs very lucky to have a coach who can win and still maintian great values. anything is possible with this team. one that has struggled early, but has really picked it up for the stretch run with a great won over the gators and did what one had to do to win over a VERY GOOD TROY TEAM. THE DAWGS ARE A BETTER TEAM THAM AUBURN AND WILL PROVE IT NEXT SATURDAY. GO DAWGS!
By Kyle
November 4, 2007 7:07 AM | Link to this
VA Tech Fan
That is a strange post. Please go away and play on your own boards (or VA Tech lite (aka ATL Falcons)).
By Larry
November 4, 2007 7:08 AM | Link to this
Richt is a good coach; Martinez is not a good coach and needs to be replaced.
By fred
November 4, 2007 7:30 AM | Link to this
Isn’t a Hoakie a type of sandwich?
By athensdawg
November 4, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this
Hey VTfan2
I was going to read that article you mentioned about UGA in your newspaper and a funny thing happened. I COULD NOT FIND YOUR PAPER!!! You don’t have a daily newspaper in Blacksburg!! No wonder you are hanging around a Georgia newspaper reading about the BULLDOGS!!!!
By the ritz blitz
November 4, 2007 7:52 AM | Link to this
Mark, You hit it right on the head…..Richt is one of the best coaches in the SEC.
By Exley DAWG
November 4, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the article Mark. At least you ate up newspaper space which prevented that idiot Terrance Moore from writing something stupid again.
Next week will be awesome. Auburn will play its 11th game in a row and has to be banged up. Get em ready coach! Go DAWGS!
By bullwinkel
November 4, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
Come on Dog Fans. This article was about a tremendous coach. We’ve let this so-called VT fan ruffle our feathers. Let’s don’t get side-tracked. Go Dogs.
By Haywood Jablowme
November 4, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
VTech Fan, Learn to win against a so-called inferior opponent (what your fan base calld UGA last season) before you blow your own horn. What are y’all now against the SEC since last season? 0-2 sounds about right. What hapened to your “Best Defense in the Nation” against UGA and LSU?
Bradley, you are a bandwagon-jumping moron. Tech fan this week until the game on Thurs night, UGA fan next week, or until we lose again, then back to Tech. You and Terence need to set up housekeeping together.
By samjam
November 4, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
I haven’t read TM since last week. I don’t care what he thinks about the Hawks, and I won’t know. Ever. Go Bradley!! Go Dawgs!!
By gdawg
November 4, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
LARRY M. NEEDS TO STEP DOWN. I love the guy, but listening to the game yesterday was nearly impossible. It was sad and frustrating. I know he as more than earned the right to stay as long as he likes, but he is really starting to do damage to his legendary reputation… Go Dawgs
By Haywood Jablowme
November 4, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this
If you want to really see some interesting reading, go to the Tech message boards and read the venom being spewed there by the unhappy nerds. Please, oh PLEASE, Tech, DON’T FIRE CHAN !! He is the best coach UGA ever had, and Reggie Ball was the best QB UGA ever had, Word-Daniels was the best DB we ever had, and is still good for a couple of pass interference penalties or getting burned 2-3 times a game. In fact, the whole Tech secondary gets burned more than a crack ho with a book of matches.
By DirkDawggler
November 4, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
I don’t think for a moment the first poster is a VT fan. More like a Gator still trying to figure out what planet #24 came from.
As for the points of the article: I wouldn’t trade Mark Richt for any coach anywhere. And, like his youthful players, he’s still learning and getting better. Character is a rare and valuable commodity in this profession as well. This is why the “Celebration” in Jacksonville has already become mythical in it’s utter brilliance.
By GADAWGFAN
November 4, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
To the VT Fan - I would love to see VT play Troy. Troy would indeed kick their @@s. This season Troy has scored over 30 points per game. Their QB is a great player with excellent recievers. VT fan does not have a clue.
By GADAWGFAN
November 4, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
To the VT Fan - I would love to see VT play Troy. Troy would indeed kick their @@s. This season Troy has scored over 30 points per game. Their QB is a great player with excellent recievers. VT fan does not have a clue.
By GADAWGFAN
November 4, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
To the VT Fan I would love to see VT play Troy. Troy would indeed kick their XXs. This season Troy has scored over 30 points per game. Their QB is a great player with excellent recievers. VT fan does not have a clue.
By RMcConnell
November 4, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
I began to doubt after the SC game. How could we lose to such a poor program. I suspect Richt really needs an indoor practice facility when playing some teams more than others. He surprised me at Fla but in a good way. The man really knows what he is doing and has time to act since he is not play calling. A sign of a good leader is to be able to develop the people under him such as players and Mike Bobo.
By 1eyedJack
November 4, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
Forget that VT fan, if he is a VT fan. He’s the lowest thing in the ocean. Whale dookie. Go DAWGS!!!
By I Heart VT Fan
November 4, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
VATECHFAN,
Don’t forget about that tough East Carolina team you were barely able to beat. I think the majority of that school’s majors are tampon designers…so what say you? Oh, and congrats on that amazing win against that Atlanta High School team…go back to your coal mines, dog fights, and your moonshine.
By JBird
November 4, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Bradley says the team is average in most offensive and defensive categories, but they’ve been coached to capacity. What does this mean? The players are coached to perform in a mediocre manner on the field, but the coaches make the most of this mediocrity? I don’t understand Bradley’s logic. Mark Richt is an excellent coach. Whether he achieves greatness in a very competitive SEC will be determined over the next few seasons, not the last few games.
By The Alpha Male
November 4, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
I may pee my pants I’m laughing so hard…. a Virginia Tech fan talking trash about UGA?? I guess he/she/it doesn’t remember how Georgia spotted them 3 touchdowns last year and then proceded to kick their Hokie butts….LOL.
I don’t blame you for feeling frisky, pal…. a boring win over a left-for-dead Ga. Tech program would make any fanbase proud.
By southgadawg
November 4, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
Virginia Tech’s first mascot/nickname was the “Gobblers”. The origin of the “Gobblers” moniker is found in the early history of Virginia Tech when it was a military college known as the Virginia Agricultural & Mechanical College (VAMC). As future military officers and gentlemen, cadets were not allowed to look at their plates as they ate. To do so was termed “gobbling” your food and was a cause for punishment. Athletes were given increased portions of food and in consideration of the limited meal time, were allowed to “gobble” their meals. Because of this, the sports teams for VAMC became reknowned as “The Fighting Gobblers”.
The name was popular when Floyd “Hard Times” Meade, a local resident, had a large turkey pull a decorated cart before football games. Meade paraded the mascot around the stadium during the game, and even trained it to gobble on command. This tradition continued after another “turkey trainer” took over in 1924.
Fans and sports writers adopted the “Gobbler” nickname and began to use it to describe the team. In 1936, a costumed Gobbler joined the live gobbler for at least one game. The use of a live turkey mascot continued well into the 1950s, and the first permanent costumed Gobbler took the field in the fall of 1962.
No wonder VA Tech fan is “gobbling” It’s getting close to turkey day.
By Geez
November 4, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
All you have to do is look a UGA’s schedule to see that aren’t ALL THAT. They’ve played 9 games. FIVE of their wins were against ‘gimme’ teams and two of the gimme games were very close (Vanderbilt and Troy) and Vanderbilt almost beat them. They’ve played only FOUR top 25 teams and two of them beat them. So when only two games in their win column are top 25 teams, what does that say about them? As far as Mark Richt goes, I think he’s a class act with a lot of heart and character. UGA is fortunate to have him leading the team.
By Auburnfan3
November 4, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
The only thing Richt has truly accomplished is a fall from class. There was a time when the only thing I could stomach about UGA was their coach; now I don’t even respect him anymore. The classless Dawgs have managed to bring their coach down to their level…surprise, surprise.
By DowntownDawg
November 4, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
VTechFan,
What the hell does their major have to do with their playing ability? Virginia Tech has a bunch of friggin’ computer and accounting nerds, just like tech.. Does that make them a worse team than someone who has buisness admin, and public health majors?
Get a life. You play in the ACC, which sucks. Go finger your a$$ and celebrate beating GT.
By benadawg
November 4, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
I think CMR is a great coach, however, placing play calling on Bobo with all the freshmen we have has been frustrating to say the least. 1st down on the 11 yard line then throwing into the end zone for an int was insane. run the ball. kill some clock keep it away from a team that was flying down the field. If we are gonna grow up on the field lets at least lets be smarter when raising our puppies.
By JD
November 4, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this
How can the SEC be as good as everyone says it is if you don’t have to be good at anything to win it? UT is leading the division and they got smoked by a 3 loss PAC-10 team! Bama got beat by FSU! Gimme a break.
By toby
November 4, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
I don’t think the Fla celebration was classless, but how can you justify one of your fans saying that the student shootings at Va Tech might have missed some people? I can understand how a bulldog would mispell “Chineze” (sic), but come on! To referrence one of our country’s greatest on-campus tragedies just because one of their fans got under your skin is below classless
By VTDawg
November 4, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
I just wanna apologize for that jackass VirginiaTechFan’s comments. I seriously doubt that he is a true VT fan. The bowl game was tough for me last year, because it was my two favorite teams playing each other, and my school choked like we always seem to do in big games (not that I’m taking any credit away from how Georgia played). Georgia has looked great the last few weeks. I think that they have a very real chance of winning out and playing for the SEC title (let face it, rocky flop will lose at least one more game). Anyway, good luck on the rest of the season. Oh and Classless, I don’t care if you talk smack, but leave what happened on April 16 out of it.
You obviously don’t know what it feels like to have 5 of your friends and teachers killed by a madman. Go f*&k yourself.
By Jacket Fan
November 4, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this
Dawg fans, I ain’t here to talk trash, just air a grievance with Mr. Mark Bradley. I never really understood arguing with someone through web postings, anyway.
Put simply, Mark, I find it interesting that within a span of two days, you write one column claiming that because of Mark Richt and his coaching abilities, the Dawgs are a great team. However, on Thursday, after one of the more embarrassing Tech games in recent history, a game in which we had to call a timeout before the first snap, you say the blame is not to be laid at Chan Gailey’s feet.
Well, which is it? Is the head coach what makes a good team great, or isn’t he? You can’t have it either way. Personally, I think Richt is a fantastic coach. I don’t think Gailey could coach a driver’s ed student to turn the car on. I didn’t like the excessive celebration penalty against Florida, thought it was a little classless, but after watching another GT game on Thursday in which Gailey looked like a corpse and our players looked just as lifeless, I couldn’t help but think “Hell, I could deal with a little less stoicism and a little more fire.”
While watching the LSU game, last night, I heard the legendary quote about Bear Bryant, roughly paraphrased: “He could beat you with his guys, then turn around, take your team, coach them up, and beat his own team.” That’s what you want in a coach, someone who knows how to get the most out of his players. You are correct, Mark, in saying that Richt is a great coach because he is getting the most out of his players, and usually does, it seems. You are incorrect, when saying that Gailey does not deserve blame after a horrible, post-bye week, Thursday night in the national spotlight, intra-divisional conference game loss on our home field. Gailey is not getting the most out a truly special group of players, and that makes him a poor, poor coach. What’s even more frustrating to a Tech fan than seeing the promise of such potential flusded down the drain because of such awful coaching, is to see a columnist with as wide a readership as you defending such awful coaching.
Thanks for listening, Mark. Good luck with the rest of your season, Georiga fans, see you a couple days after Thanksgiving.
By Ole Dawg
November 4, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this
Several observations to share:
Knowledgeable football fans knew Troy would be a challenge, especially after the high from the Florida win. No explanation necessary, just another W.
CMR is a class guy, I don’t buy into Bradley’s opinion that he’s a great coach yet, he makes to many mistakes but he’s getting better. He’s still learning, I believe he can or will be a great one someday if he can grow through some nagging weaknesses. One of his weaknesses is his “total” allegience to his assistants. At this level you have to be able to respectfully cut your ties when people aren’t getting the job done, or at least think out of the box. “We need a Top Notch Defensive Coordinator”. The trend is “younger and fiery”. It’s been said here before, if Pollack’s interested bring him back and polish him a little. His character certainly fits with Richt’s beliefs. That lets Willie know the winds of change are blowing and gives Richt the continued look of solidarity with his coaches for the short term. Develop Pollack a couple of years and Willie could go away or be a Co-Defensive Coord, doesn’t UF have two? Our defense is direly in need of improvement and inspiration. If not Pollack then another direction, we can’t stay with the status quo.
Recruiting is going pretty well, all said we get more than our share of great atheletes. The Mark of a great coach is consistency and at UGA there’s really no excuse for the inconsistency the past couple of years other than coaching. Someone let me know if I’m wrong.
I read AU played 70 players Saturday, they will be well rested and ready for revenge Saturday. We will have to bring our best game. Worst thing about being a Dawg supporter is that we don’t know which team will show up, Knoxville or Jacksonville, worse yet something in between.
Finally, why give these classless bloggers attention. No response is the best response. They will just dry up and go away without an audience.
It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog. Consider the alternatives.
By Ole Dawg
November 4, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Hey Jacket Fan, my Grandmother was one of Georgia Tech’s greatest supporters. When I was growing up she used to tell me about the old “days of glory”.
Wasn’t it Bear Bryant who made that famous statement about Bobby Dodd and his coaching ability?
You sir have some class, have a great day. Some of us feel your pain, we don’t all hate you.
By College Football Fan
November 4, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
I think CMR is the best coach in the SEC and UGA is blessed to have him. I hope he stays forever. The only reason people from other programs cut at him or pose as UGA people to cut at him is because he issuch a good coach and they are jealous. Their nide comments say more about their own lack of character than anything else.
By SecGuy
November 4, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
I’m sick of hearing about the celebration. It had no impact whatsoever on the Florida game: First, Florida scored immediately after the celebration. Second, Florida had a very real chance to win with about three or four minutes to go in the game. All it did was show Richt to be the lightweight that he is.
As for South Carolina being a lousy program (from one of the posts), wake up and smell the coffee. SOuth Carolina and Kentucky have both raised the bar. Admit it and get used to it.
By SeeThru
November 4, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
I’m a UGA fan with poo vision and I’ve been reading these ajc.com blogs for a couple years. I use a screen reader that reads the text to me.
It would be nice if some of you posters could please not make your entire post bold. When you do, it makes the screen reader read the post in a very loud voice.
Thank you.
By Georgia Fan
November 4, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
SecGuy, Do you go to Chinese restaurants every night a claim to be sick of eating chinese food? If you are sick of hearing about the celebration or anything else that us Georgia fans say, quit trolling our blogs.
By P Dawg
November 4, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry bulldog nation, the dawgs will win out, kick LSU’s @$$ again and actually get to play a top 5 team in whatever BCS bowl we happen to get. GO DAWGS!!!!
By RedAndBlack
November 4, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
To VirginiaTechFan: Why are you even in this forum talking trash about Georgia. What exactly happened last year at the Georgia Dome? Wow, how quick do we forget? Oh, and you’s so happy to beat a lame Georgia Tech team this past Thursday and you’re on cloud 9? Your team wouldn’t last in the SEC.
By RedAndBlack
November 4, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
I think VirginiaTechFan is either WhiteAndGold or Jack@$$24. He already forgot that Georgia beat theam at the dome and yes, we do play LSU and Florida next year back-to-back. Oh my, look at VTs schedule for 2008! Talk about easy!!! Any of these teams ranked this year VirginiaTechFan?
2008 Aug. 30 vs. East Carolina Charlotte, N.C. Sept. 6 Furman Blacksburg, Va. Sept. 20 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Duke Blacksburg, Va. Georgia Tech Blacksburg, Va. at Miami Miami, Fla. at North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. Virginia Blacksburg, Va. at Boston College Chestnut Hill, Mass. Maryland Blacksburg, Va. at Florida State Tallahassee, Fla
By Phillip Sturgis
November 4, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
The game this coming Saturday should be a very intense battle. Coach Tommy T. and DC Will Muschamp will have the Tigers ready to prove that they will be able to notch another victory Between the Hedge’s. I feel confident that the Auburn Tigers will come away with the Victory in a hard fought spirited game. RB Moreno is an excellent player for the Dawgs but can carry Uga only so far. The QB Stafford is a good QB but not great and has only good receivers to compliment him as well. The offensive line seems to be improving but still lacks cohesiveness. QB and Receiver play just hasn’t lived up to its expectations but is good at times. The Tigers should be able to keep Uga in check in those two areas. Uga’s defense is an area in which has been plagued with problems of inconsistency. The defensive schemes Uga employs is suspect by players not being disciplined and not being well coached. Auburn exposed these problems two years ago in Athens and was able to win that game in the wainning moments. Teams were able to follow suit as did WVU, Vandy, Kentucky,Tenn, and SC. Even in some of UGA’s win’s , teams were able to take advantage of uga’s inconsistency during the past three years. Granted the dawgs are a well coached but are a little overrated. Uga will have problems with their up coming game with Kentucky as well, because the Wildcats match up very well with the dawgs simply because of the defensive issues. IMO Uga isn’t a top 10 team but a good team. Coach Tommy T simply prepares for away games better than CMR who BTW does an excellent job himself. This game should be another competitive classic with the Tigers prevailing. I know Dawg nation is very excited as all of us in War Eagle nation. WAR EAGLE TODAY, WAR EAGLE TOMORROW, WAR EALGE FOREVER!!! Phillip Sturgis 71 grad
By DawgTime
November 4, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Mark Richt is a good coach and over time he will become a very good coach.
One thing you have to remember about the celebration is the law of unintended consequences. Coach Richt simply assumed the offense would celebrate in the endzone and that would be it. Any other person would have assumed exactly the same thing and no reasonable person could have anticipated that the entire team would run onto the field.
As for this season, Vanderbilt pretty much showed yesterday that we caught the Gators hurt (honestly). Troy is good but not a major program (honestly) talent and strength-wise.
That said, we have a talented offense and it’s starting to gel. I expect us to make it to the Dome. We’re still young but the offense has played well and Moreno is on fire.
If we can just split the next two, I expect Tennessee to drop one more and we’re in.
Go Dawgs!
By Win out
November 4, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
Dawg Time… Dawgs cant split unless Tenn Loses twice, Tenn must lose once and dawgs must beat Auburn and Kentucky to reach the Dome.
By DawgTime
November 4, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
WinOut, You are correct. Tracking all the scenarios has made me crazy.
By AL
November 4, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
Is a HOkie really a Castrated Turkey? I live outside Georgia and I can assure you UGA is known around the nation as being well coached, at least here in the North West. Talk radio and Seattle Newspapers have covered Richt several times. Georgia continues to hang around the top year in and year out. When they do reach the top it won’t be an accident or a one year lucky shot. Sonner or later the bulldogs and the coaching staff will figure out a way to dial in every team on the schedule and a national championship will happen. For me the chase is fun as hell.
By Auburnfan3
November 4, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
Next week should be a great game. Both teams have come into their own and should be ready to play hard. I’m looking forward to it. May the best team win (but I really hope it’s Auburn!).
By underdawg
November 4, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
Sick and tired of seeing others try to sit in judgement of UGA when they have been the same at one time or another. UF always taunts fans and players, There was an AU player doing the gator chomp the other week when they beat Florida, and I dont even wanna start about the Tech student section whenever we play them there. Fact is, you all loved it whenever we were down during the Goff and Donnan years, and now you are getting it back in spades from the UGA fans and you dont like it. I don’t want to hear sh1t about how one program out classes another….you all act like stupid a$$ ignorant rednecks at one time or another….especially you AU and Bammer fans.
By Benadawg
November 4, 2007 2:10 PM | Link to this
Tommy Tubberville is a proven idiot. Al Borgis saved his A$$ as did David Cutcliff in Tennessee saved Phillip Fulmer. So Phillip Sturgis bring those fearsome (sic) tigers or plainsmen, whatever they are on over to Athens and take your whipping, for we believe we also will be prepared to watch you help brandon cox up off the turf. go dogs!
By Mike
November 4, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
hey Hokie fan, remember the Peach Bowl? Keep thinking about us when you’re playing there again and we are on to bigger and better things. Your team couldn’t even stop an overrated BC squad from scoring twice in 4 minutes. Sad. btw, anymore Vick’s coming through there a