AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia program top-tier by any measure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, I tried to resist but I just can’t anymore. CNN/SI’s Stewart Mandel came out this week with a “formula,” using Georgia as its basis, in which he ranks football programs by prestige. By his measure, he places the Bulldogs in the second tier, not top-tier. Now I’m not going to debate his determinations because, well, it’s his opinion and opinions are like, um, elbows. You know, everybody has a couple. And believe me, I’m just a beat guy. I’m not a Georgia homer by any stretch of the imagination. But I do know a LOT about Georgia and the facts just don’t back up Mandel’s findings, in my opinion.
I’ll offer just a few I know off the top of the head (and from just inside the Georgia media guide) that I believe contradict Mandel’s logic.
I: History
A: Georgia is 11th all time in victories and is one of only 11 to have recorded more than 700 victories in the program’s history.
B: There are only five teams in the nation that have been to more bowls than the Bulldogs: Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Southern Cal and Nebraska.
C: Georgia officially lists only two national championships, 1942 and 1980, it was the consensus champion. But it could claim five, as Alabama and Georgia Tech do, in which recognized polls of the day named them national champions.
D: As for all-time SEC championships, it goes, Alabama (21), Tennessee (13), then Georgia (12).
E: Granted, the Dogs haven’t won a national title in 27 years. But they have been winning big and been in the mix since Mark Richt has been the head coach. He’s one of only nine Div. I coaches in history to record 60 or more wins in his first six seasons.
II: Present
A: Richt is one of only four SEC coaches to record four consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins.
B: Richt is No. 4 on the list of winningest active D-I coaches. 1, 2 and 3 are Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer (which includes stints at Bowling Green and Utah) and Bob Stoops.
C: Georgia has, of course, been in three SEC championships in the last six years, winning two of them.
III: Recognizability
A: Two years ago, Georgia ranked No. 3 in the nation in sales of Collegiate Licensed merchandise. It’s No. 5 this year, with Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame and, for the first time in history, Florida, ahead of Georgia (the Gators have gotten a big boost from those football and basketball national titles). That means there’s a lot people buying stuff with “Georgia” on it.
B: Georgia was the most profitable athletic program in the country two years ago. It was No. 2 this past year.
C: According to marketing czar Alan Thomas, Georgia has been in the top five each of the last five years, including No. 1 and No. 2 in consecutive years, in fastest-growing licensing rights. Texas is at the top at the moment.
D: The ultimate say-so: EA Sports, which makes all those video games, categorizes Georgia football as “elite.”
So anyway, there’s some fodder I’d offer if I was arguing with Mandel about this over a beer at a bar. But I’m not going to do that. So let’s hear what you guys think about it.
Practice updates coming later.
Permalink | Comments (253) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By NC
August 10, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
dogs seem to be NC every year…just ask one!
By mdbatl
August 10, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
The weird thing was that before Mandel did this, me and my friends (in a day of sheer boredom) sat in my dorm room and attempted to rank all-time college football programs. Georgia ended up somewhere just outside the top 10.
I agree with Mandel that Georgia doesn’t have the large national fan following that ND, USC, or even Penn State have. Our fan base has always seemed to be nearby, with the majority of fans outside the South being transplanted grads or Georgians, people with some connection to the team or the school.
I agree with you Chip though, on the fact that our team has been one of the alltime best programs. All the reasons mentioned above are the reasons why Georgia is one of the elite in college football, even if if the national media fails to see that.
One more thing- Mandel claimed that 100 “average” college football fans from Montana wouldn’t be able to immediately recognized the Georgia “G.” What’s up with that? We’re on national TV 4 or 5 times even during an average season, like last year’s. Unless the fans in question don’t have basic cable, its pretty much impossible that an interested college football fan wouldn’t see Georgia at least once. I don’t know what Mandel was thinking there.
By Spike
August 10, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
Chip… Good points. I honestly don’t think most of us really care what that knucklehead thinks. Didn’tt he pick Penn State over us? With their record the last few years? That is a joke right?
By JB
August 10, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
NC, I’ll assume you are a TECHIE. At least our AD didn’t tell the world that 7 or 8 wins is damn good and Tech people really shouldn’t expect much more than that. I know , he is now gone, But Georgia has a good football program ( and a young one ) and I think in the next couple of years you’ll see how good they are, and you will find some place else to Blog.
By animaldr
August 10, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this
Chip- good job! I was thinking along the same lines:
UGA at the TOP
National Champions (1942,1980) 11th in All Time Victories (702) 13th in Winning Percentage 6th All time with 42 bowl appearances 3rd in SEC Championships SI’s #2 College Sports Town
16 10-Win seasons (10th nationally)tied with Ohio State, one more than Notre Dame, 6 more than Florida.
5th in attendance nationally (2nd in the SEC)
1 College Mascot as ranked by SIThis guy does not have a clue.
GT is getting hit with injuries- where do the dogs stand?
By Scott
August 10, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
HEY CHIP, GOOD LOOKING OUT FOR THE DAWGS. THANKS FROM THE ENTIRE DAWG NATION.
By Buck in the NW
August 10, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
CHIP, I SENT MANDELL A QUESTION AND I’LL BET HE DOESN’T ANSWER IT OR FIND A WAY TO WALK AROUND IT.
By Scott
August 10, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
GOOD J0B CHIP. THANKS FOR STANDING UP FOR THE DAWGS……..
By YANKEEAWG
August 10, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
CFN HAS POSTED UGA HAS THREE REDSHIRT FRESHMAN WHO WILL MAKE AN IMPACT THIS YEAR, KNOWSHON MORENO,CHRIS DAVIS,RESHAD JONES,
By braveswin
August 10, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
don’t know what the CNNSI(SSY) was basing his rant on but there are easily 6 SEC teams that are elite by any measure UGA,FLA,TN,LSU,Ala and AUB.There is not a team in the country that would see these teams as a win when their schedule came out.Most of the “national” media types love to suck up to the Notre Dame-Mich and penn state-ohio state types- None of which have winning records against SEC teams.
By RT
August 10, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
Mandel is wrong UGA is a top tier program and I’m a Tech fan. Can’t argue with the facts
By gator the dog catcher
August 10, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
I tell you what Chip. If you argue loud enough they might change their minds about UGAY being a top tier program. Every school could argue that their program is better than the next, but it is more about how the unbiased outsiders view your program.
Also Alabama, Georgia Tech, Miami etc. all claim split national championships, not 1/5 National Championships like some UGAY fans do. When there were 4 or 5 polls back in the old days, and one poll votes you National Champion it does not, and did not count as a National Championship. 1/4 or 1/5 does not equal 1/2. 1/2 has long been considered a national championship…….but its better when you can just outright win the BCS title game.
By Jamal
August 10, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Who cares what this guy thinks? That’s like taking to heart what Athlon Sports rankings. It doesn’t matter!! Go Dawgs
By Stephen M
August 10, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
By Mandel’s own standards I don’t see how he rates Florida as a “King” because they were irrelevant before Spurrier.
By Franklin
August 10, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this
And UGA touts the highest same sex “spooning” rates in the nation.
I’m sure that Stafford says go dogs to his backup (J. Cox) frequently…
Can’t wait until the beatdown in J’ville!!!
UF…Defending NCAA Div 1 Football & Basketball Champions!
By rdbdawg
August 10, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
you can’t tell me that if you were to hold up a UGA football helmet anywhere in this country that most people couldn’t tell you which team it belonged to….that’s BS
By Franklin
August 10, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Are you not a homer Chip? Did you not used to live in Athens?
Not that it matters. No one could possibly blame you for being a “homer”
By cw
August 10, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
As the Bear would say, “When you get into the endzone, don’t act like it is your first time.” So dog fans, as you continue to build your program around a great young coach, hopefully you don’t need an article (from a uga homer)to support your case. Support your case on the field.
By shane
August 10, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
chip,i agree with you,but good luck convincing the national media. just look at the usa today coaches poll. uf won it all last year,going 13 and 1,michigan goes ten and two,yet uf comes in at no 3 in the poll,mich at no 5. notre dame hasn’t won squat in years,plays an easy schedule,gets killed by lsu in their bowl game,yet is considered one of the “elite”. what a joke! usc is loaded,getting the best talent in the west,they don’t have to compete for recruits the way the sec teams do,so they probably deserve the no 1 ranking,but the big “11” should be called the big “2”. team per team,there is no doubt the sec is the best conference in the country.
By georgiagirl
August 10, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Gator the dog catcher, since you are always calling us UGAY on a UGA blog, I guess you are really telling us that you are GAYGATOR. There really is a GATOR BLOG out there, be our guess and go there. Because there’s nothing wrong with the DAWGS NATION AND US LOVING OUR GREAT TEAM. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WILL SEE WHO WINS WHEN THE CLOCK RUN DOWN IN OCTOBER.
By Steeledawg
August 10, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
I say this as a UGA alum, season ticket holder, and life long fan. I don’t think that if you asked the random guy on the street in Montana, Manhattan, or Alaska off the top of his head what teams immediately come to mind when he thinks of college football that UGA would come to mind. I think the knowledgeable football fan knows what’s up, but not the average joe.
I attribute this to lack of a national scheduling, lack of championships until recently, and lack of major superstars a la Reggie Bush, Vince Young, etc. However, we may have one in Stafford before it is all over. I do think that UGA’s profile is on the rise and in 10 years if this survey was revisited we may see different results.
By godawg
August 10, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Question: What does a maggot and an Alabama fan have in common?
Answer: They can both live for years off a dead bear.
By lawdawg
August 10, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
All of these statistics are good points when considering whether or not UGA is a national power, and they obviously answer that question in the affirmtive. To me, the icing on the cake is that Stewie’s own magazine, SI, chose Uga as the country’s #1 mascot a few years ago and put a huge picture of him on the front of that issue. If that’s not national prominence, I don’t know what is.
By TampaDawg
August 10, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Maybe Stewert Mandel should have had Wheaties for breakfast. They thought enough of Mark Richt to put his face on the cereal box last year. Two other schools got wheaties boxes - ND and Michigan - but neither coach (or mascot) got on the box.
By shane
August 10, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this
hey dogcatcher,why do you fla. guys come to the uga site everyday to brag about beating a “second tier” team? do you go on the kentucky or ole miss sites and talk smack to them? your attitude tells me more than the words you use. on second thought,you probably do,a guy with your lack of sportsmanship and lack of class probably goes on ucf’s site and makes fun of them.
By JD
August 10, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this
Like dude said…Who cares what this guy thinks!!
By UGA=Regional Power
August 10, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
Do you bulldog fans ever get tired of saying stuff like “WE WILL SEE WHO WINS WHEN THE CLOCK RUN DOWN IN OCTOBER.” and being wrong?
Seriously its said EVERY year. You dont even realize when you say things like that people laugh at you the same way you laugh at the nerds when they say something similar to you.
I would think you would have learned better by now. No wonder outsiders in the National Media thinks your fanbase is nuts and have a higher opinion of where you really stand on college football map.
And if you held up your helmet to some guy in Montana he would ask when the Packers chnaged their colors to red and black.
By lawdawg
August 10, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
And I forgot about the Wheaties box. The faces of your program on Wheaties boxes and Sports Illustrated = top tier.
By Carlton Powell
August 10, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
Please remember that the majority of these “national” writers come from the east and midwest, complete with all their prejudices concerning college football. A perfect season for them is a NC game with Army vs. Notre Dame. Got news for them; it ain’t gonna happen. NO ONE should pay any attention to Stewie Mandel or ESPN for that matter. Trut me, MANY teams and programs would cut off their collective right arms to have the history UGA has.
By 2N4YEARS
August 10, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
gator the dog catcher : After a NC last year one would think that UGA having MORE SEC Victories than the FLA Crocodiles and owning the WIN/LOSS record over the FLA Crocodiles wouldn’t bother a Croc so much. Guess not.
CHIP, interesting FACTS there. Truth is, WE DAWGS love our program and what it stands for. I’m with the one that says ‘who cares’ what someone else thinks??
By ConyersDawg
August 10, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this
That report got under my skin a little bit.
mdbatl there are ugaclubs and Ga fans all across the country. I have friends in Calf. and he gets with dawg fans all the time.
You can go anywhere in the country and feel like your going to see someone wearing dawg gear even if they don’t know who they are.
By ActuaryDawg
August 10, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Chip, if you ARE ever in a bar arguing this with Mandel, please don’t take any of UGA players in there with you.
By Tracy
August 10, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
I would bet good money 50% (conservative) of ND fan’s have no idea what town that college is in. I bet the % for Michigan and USC are not that far behind….
Are those really considered fans?
By TampaDawg
August 10, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
This is lifted directly from the General Mills press release (9/15/06) Tradition is defined as “the handing down of beliefs, legends, and customs from generation to generation,” and over the past century, all three celebrated schools have built a profound legacy around college football, putting their stake in the ground for generations to come. University of Georgia teams have been recognized as national champions five times (1927, 1942, 1946, 1968 and 1980) throughout history. In addition, the Bulldogs have earned the sixth-most bowl invitations in the history of college football and boasted two Heisman Trophy winners. The University of Georgia package features Head Coach Mark Richt on the front of the box and famed Bulldog mascot UGA on the back bottom right corner, while both the Wolverines and the Fighting Irish packages feature an image of the football stadium on front and the pep band on the back bottom right corner of the box.
“This is a tremendous tribute to an esteemed program that has been successfully built over generations.” said Mark Richt, the famed Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach who led Georgia to three SEC Eastern Division titles in the last five years. “We are thrilled to be featured on the Wheaties box, and I personally am proud as Head Coach to share this honor with my family, the school and program supporters.”
By JMDawg
August 10, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
Mandel’s column was bizarre to say the least. It almost seemed like he was trying to bait Georgia fans. There is no logical explanation for Georgia not being considered a top-tier program. Even Mandel didn’t have one, instead giving some long-winded, tortured drivel of how Georgia just doesn’t have “it”. I felt a lot dumber for reading the article.
By Carter Strickland
August 10, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
Quick hits from practice. Chester Adams was on one crutch and just watched the tail end of the first part of practice. Tight end Tripp Chandler, wide receiver Mikey Henderson, cornerback Bryan Evans and defensive tackle Brandon Wood were a few of the other players in green. All four were in full pads and went through limited drills at the start of practice. The players seemed slightly refreshed after having the evening off yesterday. First Richt allowed them to go swimming and then he showed them his first big screen debut, Facing the Giants.’’ Apparently Brandon Coutu found time to get a Mohawk haircut. He claimed he did it for the aerodynamics.I feel faster,’’ he joked. Most of the work on the upper field was on forming and busting the wedge on kickoff returns. John Knox was not out at practice. But he cannot be in pads anyway. Knox has a NCAA required waiting period before he puts the pads on.
By joe
August 10, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
All Stewie was saying was UGA is not among the top 13 based on history and tradition. Had he expanded to 15 or so, they’d probably be in it. No slight to UGA, the fact that they are as close as can be to that group should be viewed as a good thing, not p** ya’ll off as it has…lighten up, kickoff is only 3 weeks away and all this stupid talk will be history. Woof…
By SeattleDawg
August 10, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
Top Tier? It would be hard to get a national consensus for Georgia to be ranked as top 10 among all football college programs. But Mandel had 13 in his top, and Chip’s stats definitely put us there. Mandel’s top tier had AL, FL, TN, Miami, and Penn State—not UGA. Even worse, our “2nd tier” peers include Clemson, CO, WA, WI, and Texas A&M.
By Jeff D
August 10, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
Great points Chip, I think Stewart got what he wanted, firing up a fan base and getting on sports talk radio as well as hits on the cnnsi website. Any college football fan would recognize a Georgia helmet with so many tv games in additon to the coverage on college football gameday regarding UGA football…..he specified fan, not joe schmo in Reno or Sioux Falls. I lived in southern California from 2001-2005 and was a member of the socaldawgs, we had up to 150 plus folks meeting at a bar in the morning to watch the Dawgs, we are everywhere. Great Job again Chip, see you in St Simon’s.
By Ed
August 10, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
My favorite part about the Mandel article is when he named Florida as one of the top programs. Granted, what the Gators have done since 1990 is very impressive, but is this the same Florida program that went 58 years without even winning a CONFERENCE title? Prior to 1990, only Vandy had that in common with Florida.
It will take quite a bit little longer than 17 years to erase that history and make UF a program worthy of mention with the USC, Notre Dames and Alabamas of the college football world. Or even Georgia or Tennessee within the conference for that matter.
Mandel must be about 25 years old to have that perspective. I remember well the year Florida went 0-10-1 (1979 - they tied Tech that year).
By jecorey901
August 10, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this
Why do the florida people continue to come to our blog? Get a life. I just come to this site to read about the Dawgs and I keep seeing florida people on here. Yes, You did win 2 NC in the same year whop-de-damn-do. Get on your own damn site. GO DAWGS
By P-Dawg in Tulsa
August 10, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
No biggy about mandel…might be good for the bulletin board.
He orginally responded to some deranged(claiming to be a dawg) fan who asked him if he thought we should get rid of Richt because he/we hadn’t won a NC yet. This ? was in his previos weeks mailbag. His response to that ? was what started the whole thing. Mandel is a big ten graduate and he doesn’t feel we have the same cache as others. He might be right in that the explosion of coverage and televised games really got going in the late 80’s and 90’s when quite frankly we goff-awful stunk. I think mandel’s points are clearly subjective and off-base about the average football fan recognizing our team logo, mascot, and big-time names. However, if you did ask those 100 Montana folks to list the top programs of all time, most probably wouldn’t list UGA. Just my opinion. I’m a Homer.
Living in OU country, the natives do know about and can name famous Dawgs, UGA, and even recognize our helmet. However, my feeling in talking football with many of of the Okies is that most would agree with mandel. I’m of the opinion that this is a good year to show the Okies and others what football is about…say Sept 1.
Go Dawgs!!!
By dc dawg
August 10, 2007 5:43 PM | Link to this
i agree with a few of the previous posts. i do believe that if you look at the past 30 years you would have to rank us somewhere 8-12 top programs which would fall in that range, but i think the reason we havent is because of coach richt. its not bad though, he believes in the team and not individual accolades. its why we have running back by committee, freshman quarterbacks, we dont run up the score, etc. we just care about wins and it doesnt matter who does it. if we were to have had 1 or 2 serious heisman candidates over the past five years we would have been on that list. look at the number of dawgs in the nfl though!!! right up there with the best of the best.
By Dorsey Hill
August 10, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this
FU UF!
By sobedawg
August 10, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this
Florida better not be in the 1st tier…they didn’t do SQUAT before Spurrier got there…just decades of “average teams” and 1 glorious Emmitt Smith…SobeDawg
By Buck in the NW
August 10, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
Don’t let the Reptiles worry us. What year did the Reptiles lose to us and still win the SEC? Lett’un keep on blabbering. They can’t win with class so keep talking. The Reptiles on this blog are right about one thing and that is they have beat us on the field. They have completely missed what’s happened in Athens over the last year so keep on yapping and we’ll see Oct. 27th.
By Kevin T., Valdosta, GA
August 10, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
You are right on the money Chip. You do not put up numbers like UGA has and be considered a Second levl program. Here is one more fact, UGA has played in more diffirent bowl games than any college football team. In the last decade we have been to a bowl game every year, and have posted the best record over that span, 8-2, then any team in the country. If you were to check I believe the only teams with more wins then the DAWGS over the last 10 years are Ohio St.(97), Texas(98), and Boise St. (97)., UGA is at 96 and 30. Thats not too bad. The mighty Trojans have only won 90 in that time. SO that old boy at CNN can put that in his pipe and smoke it. Good thing I only watch FOX news! GO DAWGS, Only 22 days.
By JStett33GT
August 10, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this
Is Chip Towers implying Alabama and Georgia Tech lie about their history and the amount of Championships? Sounds to me like Chip is jealous because Georgia is lacking in the national championship department. Jealousy and Slander, yet Chip Towers still has a job with the AJC(Athens Journal Constitution)writing staff. STAY CLASSY CHIP TOWERS!
By AltamahaDawg
August 10, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
Its not a matter of insulted or bragging. Who cares. I dont even argue with most of the schools , just that its possible to even rank such things? Its just not a logical argument. The average fan in Monatana must not watch much NFL either if he wouldn’t be familar with UGA. I think they DO know what the “G” stand for. Frankly its not that big of a deal to know that. Not even really anything to brag about. The thing that caught my attention is that he claims they WOULD know rockytop and the checkered endzone? really? really? based on what? Not picking on TN, I think the average fan in anywhere should know about them, as well as most SEC teams. To say the many players and history of UGA, not to mention mascot, are not recognizable just doesnt really hold up. Then recognizing Alabama (from waaaaaaaay back) and Uf from recent years in the same explaination? But we dont get to count either past OR present?
By UGA_SEC_CHAMPS
August 10, 2007 6:30 PM | Link to this
Great non biased report. I like it when the facts speak for them self, and even better when its good news about my DAWGS!!
By Ft Worth Dawg
August 10, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget 2 Heisman trophies, and the #1 all-time best college running back in Herschel Walker. If your standard is recognition of the “G” on the helmet fo you factor in that most people outside of the South are going to say Green Bay Packers?
By Matt
August 10, 2007 6:53 PM | Link to this
Oh god who cares what pencil neck media geeks like Mandel think. Even if we win 4 national titles in a row the only way to go would be down. The haters would have plenty to jaw about if we lost 2 games. Haters will be haters. Pencil neck media geeks will be pencil neck media geeks. No amount of wins and national titles will change it. I swear college football fans are the most insecure fans in sports. Always worried about their image and prestige. I give a rat’s *. Just win the damn games.
By jrmdvm1
August 10, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this
I wish someone would ( could ) give me the authority to moderate this blog. How many days since the ” let’s keep it about football ” message from Chip? If it were up to me, any post containing references to “spooning” and “Gay”, and any with personal attacks would be deleted as soon as possible.
By Goodoledawg
August 10, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this
Hey Stewie, what conference has the most national titles since 1950?
By Georgia=Regional power
August 10, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this
2N4Years It doesnt bother UF about UGA having MORE SEC Victories than the FLA and owning the WIN/LOSS record over the FLA . In fact UGA fans are the only ones who ever bring it up to make your crybabies feel better about being owned by Florida.
Besides that series record you talk about…you have to be a Dawg over 50 to have a winning record vs. UF in your lifetime. BEsides UT owns the “series record” vs. UGA but for some reason you morons still try and talk smack to them even in the year they laid a whipping on you
Whats even funnier is the crying here by you people about UF being a National Power because by your definition you guys qualify as a “national power” the same way Army and Princeton and Yale do since they have as much “history” and “tradition as UGA does.
You people are such babies about Florida owning you its hilarious. Your post here reek of such jealousy and is one of the reasons an outsider like Mandel was driven to put you people in your place.
By TDone
August 10, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this
The reason why the Mutters are not a top tier program is that they don’t play a national schedule. Schedule home and home again Southern Cal, Michigan, Penn State, etc… like the rest of the SEC does. Until they do, no one will respect you.
By NASCARfan
August 10, 2007 8:17 PM | Link to this
Umm, retard, we WANT to play Michigan. But the big babies won’t play us Home and Home. They want to play us twice at their house. They don’t want to come down to the big, bad SEC.
By AltamahaDawg
August 10, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this
And yet, for some reason you are so facinated with us, you cant help but waste your time posting in our blog. Go figure. “morons” huh? Boy you never can get enough of that, it just so damn clever.
By hjjh
August 10, 2007 8:50 PM | Link to this
Well said Chip.
By John Bales
August 10, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this
In Montana, I bet more people think that G is for Grambling than UGAG.
By cdawg
August 10, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
Hey Georgia=Regioanl power let me explain how history works BOY!!!! 50 yrs from now no one is going to judge Florida or anyone elses run in the last 5,10,15,20,etc etc yrs.The only thing that will matter is history, and when history shows that Gerogia has a winning record against Florida or Usc has a winning record against Notre Dame or any other major match up they wil simply go on stats…THATS THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS ITS BASED ON HISTORY….So when we still own that record in 50 yrs from now just remember one thing we will always… AND I MEAN ALWAYS OWN YOU….Look up Vince Dooleys all time record against the Jean shorts and you will see his success….What gos around comes around we still own you always have and always will…Finally to qoute Vince Dooley when asked why he had graet success aginst the reptiles he said”Florida always had more talent than us,but are players wanted it more and they were better coached…So enjoy Tim Teblow this year ill be watching everygame cant wait see that little rah rah punk get his head ripped off…SIGNED DAWG NATION
By Hunk Erdown
August 10, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
It is amusing that Mandel doesn’t want to be bothered with things like facts, statistics, etc. but insists on the “Montana test”… Montana, you know, where if sheep could talk it would wreck homes all over the state, and “civil unions” would take on a whole new genre.
I also love when morons who think UGA is so insignificant just can’t help but spend so much of their time on our blog, saying things about our lack of scheduling top teams when it is a fact that we have tried over and over but the other teams decline.
Out of the top 2 tiers, there are 23 teams, 3 of them we play every year- Fla, Tenn, and Auburn. Three others we have rich history of very regular match ups- Ala, Clemson, and LSU. Six of twenty three are either now or in the past have been rivals. how many other teams in those tiers can say that?
Montana???
Ask Texas if they know us? Matt Stafford.
Ask Missouri if they know us? Logan Grey.
Ask New Jersey? Knowshon Moreno.
But those are only facts, and that doesn’t matter in Montana, where the men are men and the livestock are co-eds.
By Hunk Erdown
August 10, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Carter-
Nice report. One of the things that, imo, is going to be really important are the kick offs… both sides. With the new rule on backing up the yardage on kick offs, coverage will be crucial. I am very glad that UGA has always made sure that coverage and returns are practiced so heavily. I have a feeling that we will score on a few runbacks this year and it may be that the new rule leads to a lot of high scoring games, with the difference it could and will make in field position. We just have to cover well and keep our opponents to only one kick off per game.
By Boots
August 10, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
Other points: size of football stadiums has GA the #6 sized stadium and is almost always ranked in top 10 for atmosphere. (ESPN has Sanford Stadium 9.) UGA is the BEST mascot in college football. Everyone on this blog knows why. For number of NFL players, Wall Street Journal has UGA number 3, including three Super Bowl MVPs, the most in NFL history from same school. Finally, prettiest women - UGA hands down!!!
Hunk Erdown & animaldr - what did you guys think of my suggestion that Coach Richt thrown Carter Strickland off the dive platform next time to get the players fired up? Having worked in the Poultry business for a long time and majoring in Poultry Sciences back in the 80s, I use Carter’s articles in my chicken houses to cover up the droppings.
By Boots
August 10, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
Oh, how many people in Georgia know what the Montana football helmet looks like?
By Hunk Erdown
August 10, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this
Boots
It is my opinion that Carter Strickland is at least partially playing an antagonistic role on behalf of the AJC in some twisted scheme of trying to increase readership and internet hits. I hate it. I think there are much better ways of marketing that the AJC could employ.
What I hate about it the most is that Mr. Strickland is very talented. Do a search on something called “Season of Reflection”. Absolutely fantastic work, even won a pretty prestigious award from the Associated Press Sports Editors organization.
He was beloved at Washington State for his coverage. I certainly wish he would embrace our Dawgs and The Nation with the same fervor that he had up there, even if the coverage is “non-homeristic”. He has proven that he is capable of much better than we normally get, and sometimes we get a glimpse of how good he could be.
Besides all that, the man did me a solid and I owe him a cold beer that I hope to buy this fall.
By AltamahaDawg
August 10, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this
HunkErdown, didnt realize that deal got so serious. Water under the bridge I hope.
I agree, he is definetely the designated bad cop at times. Some of those snide remarks are so calculated, so obvious, they are unquestionable made for the purpose of drawing fire, and not so much (IMO) his personal views.
By RedDawg
August 10, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this
From Baghdad to Mr Mandel Mandel is 100% wrong, Tennessee and Florida are national powers while Georgia is not!!! how ridiculous!! Florida needs 10 more wins over Georgia to tie the series!!! take the spurrier era from Florida and they are not much different from mississippi state. The red helmet with a G on it is as famous as the statue of liberty Mandel have Georgia, Clemson, Wisconsin and Texas A&M in the same category! I wonder what type of cracks you are smoking Mr Mandel, look at history and present, look at total wins and post season games! Georgia is definitely a top program that doesn’t get the love it deserves from the media
By DawgFAN
August 10, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
how saw the clip on channel 46 news of the 2 tech players in the ice bath together it doesnt get gayer than that Go Dawgs! Woof Woof Woof!
By yellowblood
August 10, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this
What a crock ! Why don’t you move to Athens and start your own paper. These gasbags don’t need you. They manufacture their own B.S. In 23 days, reality sets in for “Bulldog Imagination”. By Sept 15 we will see the usual half-baked results.
By Hunk Erdown
August 10, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
AltamahaDawg
Definately water under the bridge. He welcomes me to be as critical as I feel like, but there are lines that we need not cross. I just had to be reminded of that.
By Mike
August 10, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
In order to be considered top-tier you should, well, win it all. Considering UGA hasn’t won it all in any of its undergrad’s lifetimes, it is not surprising they are considered second-tier.
By Gen Neyland
August 10, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
gtdc
Lawdy ol’ son, you done POed a COed…
godawg
You love Red Elephants, too..?
History (from above)
Where is UF in article B and article D..? History is a great teacher which bears no fruit on our tomorrow’s, especially in football…See Alabama. Those of us who type slants on football history are not reading it well. Just the parts that have a feel good component.
# 39
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio..?
By Boots
August 11, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this
Ok, I will lay off Carter. Whatever. Sounds to me like he is a good reporter, but I am just left wondering what he has to gain by hyping up silly college goofs by 18 year old athletes.
By shane
August 11, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
atlantagator,please excuse me,this remark is not directed at you or most uf fans. it is directed at the idiots on this blog. you gators that come on this blog and run us down have no class. you are right up there with the punks that threw trash and bottles at our tour bus leaving the gator bowl a few years ago. that was after you WON. i for one will never buy a ticket for a home and home with uf in the swamp,and as a booster i will use all the resources at hand to see that never happens. i would have my ladyfriend and or one of my daughters with me and i would NEVER subject them to the language and possible violence that would occur with the uf fans. uf fans are widely known as the rudest in the sec and judging from this blog,your reputation for boorish behavior is well earned. it’s a shame that you moms and dads were too low class to teach you how to act.
By Boots
August 11, 2007 12:07 AM | Link to this
Mike, considering you have not been with a woman in your lifetime, what does that make you? Idiot. The argument is not over who has won the most national championships in the last 20 years, it is over the top tier programs in the country. I think your reliance upon one catagory is fairly shallow and reflects a poor perspective on college football. Check out the Living Section of the paper - probably more your thing.
By Gen Neyland
August 11, 2007 12:17 AM | Link to this
shane
Hope ya’ll that got together over a draft or two rehashed some fond memories of times gone by and of your buddy…I’ll be off to beddybye now, for as Scarlett said, ” Tomorrow’s another day .”
By NASCARfan
August 11, 2007 12:21 AM | Link to this
If Carter is some little pawn in the neferious AJC’s try to pi$$ people off to get more readers, then I still have no pity on him for letting himself get used this way.
As it is, I think he likes being a pr!ck, and that’s what I don’t like.
I don’t care if his snideness and terrible attitude is calculated to make me angry. It makes me angry because it is unprofessional, and straight up unethical if it’s all an act.
The fact is, he’s a terrible beat writer for THIS team. Let him go back to Wazzoo. I’m tired of reading about him tearing down Caleb King, or him reporting incidents involving players without presenting all of the facts or inserting a little common sense into the situation.
He deserves no quarter from those of us whom he thinks so little of, Hunk. I know you and me screwed up. I know I screwed up by jumping on the him stealing thing. I was overrun by a gleeful joy in hoping for his immediate removal. My fault.
But the fact still remains that Chip respects us (maybe not me, but he respects Bulldog Nation). Chip respects the team. Chip is a professional. Carter hasn’t been while he’s been here.
I don’t care what he did at Wazzoo. I don’t care that Andruw Jones used to be a feared hitter. He’s hitting .215 and is a rally killing, automatic out today.
That’s where I’m coming from. And Hunk, I really respect you and Altamaha and the guys I know are older than me and have been apart of the Nation longer than I’ve been alive. But I have no respect for Strickland, and that’s something he brought on himself.
But it’s amazing how Chip can be real nice and ask the trolls to stop flaming on our board, yet we still get guys like joe and the like on here with nothing better to do than tell us how much we suck.
Seriously, what kind of pitiful, miserable lives these guys must live.
By A--ville Ranger
August 11, 2007 12:23 AM | Link to this
UGA has 2 of the last 6 league titles in the toughest league in college football.We have the 3rd best record in division 1A over the past 10 years.This is a top 10 program with an opportunity to move into the top 5….Kudos to Danny Ware he had a good night running the ball for the Jets.If you see this Danny you’re a Dawg for life and I think you have a real chance to make it in the pros,hang in there.
By Hunk Erdown
August 11, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
Nascarfan
Please don’t get me wrong— I absolutely hate the way Carter handles his blogging and you have every right to feel how you want to. For me, personally, I just needed to tone things down for my own health’s sake and the fact that I went too far. My point was that he is capable of doing a whole lot better, proven by his past work. If he comes on here with some crap that demeans some student athelete, undeservedly, or any of the other indiscretions I’ll state my feelings on it. I’m just so sick of the whole thing that I want to spend my time on blogs and sites that actually talk football and not the childish crap that was continually being published here. The AJC don’t care if you, me, and everybody else quits tuning in to their site or they would have changed things long ago. This thing had gotten to the point that it was not worth slugging through all the manure to try and find a pony. Then Chip comes back and we get some actual news about the football team and not some lame National Enquirer wannabe crap. I have no apologies for how I felt, just the manner in which I expressed it.
By NASCARfan
August 11, 2007 12:59 AM | Link to this
Me and you both, Hunk. For your health, don’t worry about Carter’s unprofessionalism, or don’t let it get to you.
I can do enough mucking with that lowlife for the both us.
By shane
August 11, 2007 1:24 AM | Link to this
thanks general,i was so angry when i got home that i let some of it out at the uf fans on this blog. i can’t think of a better target,can you? it was such a waste. he was one of a rare breed,an expert with a shotgun,either on a dove field or a skeet range,a quiet man,an honest man,and he will surely be missed. it is sad that some casualties of war go unreported,because they happen 40 years later. we did indeed lift a toast to our friend and all others who gave so much in our service. i am going to let all this go and will be back to talking football,for as you quoted,tomorrow IS another day.
By falcon80
August 11, 2007 2:23 AM | Link to this
Huge UGA fan, but I really don’t have a problem with the Mandel column. Can’t really understand why he has UT that much ahead of UGA or AU though. My guess is the mass media orgasmation over Peyton Manning. College football has a finite number of teams that can realistically compete for the National Championship consistently. Georgia is one of those, as are at least five other SEC teams, some would even say seven. Big Ten has four, ACC three, Big Twelve maybe four, PAC 10 one. Throw in a random Lousville or WV and there you have the pool.
By A--ville Ranger
August 11, 2007 3:00 AM | Link to this
I would be interested in testing Mandle’s lame assertions.Why doesn’t the ajc send Chip to Montana with flash cards and a list of questions, recruit 100 casual fans and test them.I love college football and girls but had never heard of the USC song girls before reading the article.It’s hard to argue with most of the so called kings,it is all subjective though.All the Florida schools have much shorter histories at the top than Ga,Tenn or Aub.So what about it chip ? why not pitch the idea ? May I recommend Bozeman, it’s beautiful this time of year.
By overblown
August 11, 2007 5:03 AM | Link to this
The proudest, loudest, rudess, unrealistic, poormouthing, disrespecting, fan base will always buy the most of the same.The dawgs are the greatest in ga., but because they have such low respect for everyone else, that is what they get in return. when you lose 4 games this year, everyone will cry, but most give up after 1 loss.
By Big Dawg
August 11, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
Shane,
As an Air Force and Vietnam Era Vieteran myself with a lot of brothers in arms who were in Nam I feel your loss. May our Almighty Father God and our Lord and Savior Jesus bless your friend and keep him in their loving arms forevermore.
Go Dawgs
By warhorse
August 11, 2007 7:42 AM | Link to this
Really surprised that UGA would claim its “championship” won by a bunch of draft dodgers in WWII when players for other schools were off fighting to free the world of despots. Sort of like the pups claiming a huge victory over a bunch of intramural guys from UF. Strange conduct indeed from a school that claims to be patriotic.
By heeldawg
August 11, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
Opinions, opinions….
Okay, here’s mine:
My major problem has to do with the fact that Mandel lumped Georgia into the second (“Barons”) tier, together with such schools as UCLA, Clemson, Colorado and Washington. While I mean no offense to the rabid Tiger fans out there, Georgia has a far better football legacy than any of these schools, both over the historical context and in recent years. I have no problem being in the same category as LSU (also in the “Barons” tier), but a little more respect is accorded the Bulldogs when comparing them to some of this bunch. I mean, when was the last time UCLA won even a conference title? Or he last time a Clemson team won the ACC, or even ten games in a season? The Tigers have only beaten Georgia 17 times EVER, out of 62 tries over 110 years. And Washington has not been as competitive in the PAC-10 as its in-state rival Washington State of late. By contrast, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Alabama and Penn State—all listed in the top (“Kings”) tier—are largely living off of past glories. They are all solid programs, and will continue to win ball games, but I would not put them in the same breath as Southern Cal, Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma or Texas right now, all of whom are programs with a solid legacy which could compete for a national title in virtually any given year.
I’d propose top tier of solid programs that are currently very successful—the schools I mentioned at the top of this post—and which also have a storied football history, and would place this group in a more-limited “Kings” category of schools who are currently a consideration for national honors year in and year out. I would then put Georgia, LSU, Miami, FSU, Penn State, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Michigan and Nebraska in the second-tier “Barons” category—schools with a solid winning tradition who are competitive for conference championships year in and year out and who intermittently compete for national honors. Schools like Washington, Colorado, Clemson, UCLA, Arkansas, and others belong in the third-tier “Knights” category of schools that are intermittently competitive but which don’t win 10 or more games or win conference championships on a fairly regular basis (Arkansas won 10 games and played in the SEC title game last year, for example, but they had a losing record the season before and have never won the SEC title). Georgia clearly is at a different level than these latter schools.
So much for opinions. That’s mine.
By Jim
August 11, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
I read this article and really glad someone came back with some facts. When they are put together it seems obvious that UGA is definitely top-tier. Where was Florida prior to Spurrier?
By jim
August 11, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this
Another factor is the relatively high number of players making it to the NFL.
By JoeDawg
August 11, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this
Look it’s simple. This is the media and the media knows which fans have the loudest voices. UGA has one if not the busiest messageboards on the intire internet(Dawgvent-one of the first messageboards period on the internet). This Mandork guy is probably a pretty smart guy. Don’t let him fool you he knows we are in the top tier.
As for anyone trying to prove that we don’t belong….give me your numbers and your reasoning.
Who really give a s**t about this anyway. Let any team play UGA and they are gonna fight for a W in any case. In the past 6 seasons UGA has been in all but 3 games. Even those games we can say the DAWGS never gave up. UF had us 21-0 last season and we fought tooth and nail to comeback. We should not have been in that game. If we were 80% of the teams out there we would have ended up losing by 40.
GOOOOO DAWGS!
By JoeDawg
August 11, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Hey WARHORSE????????????????????????
Draft dodger? Have you ever seen a picture of Frank Sinkwich Holding the Hiesman trophy in his Army fatiuges? He served as well as several others from that team. I believe in 1943 UGA sent 8 players to fight and this is one reason UGA does not count games that season.
By Matt
August 11, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
If you look at the top 10 winningest programs of the decade, Georgia is the only one with out a national title, save Boise State perhaps. That is remarkable. The 2002 season was close, but close doesn’t count. If it doesn’t happen in the next 5 years I will be disappointed.
By Uncle Dave
August 11, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
Chip: Thanks for the boost, but I think Steeledog is right on the money. If you look at the teams that are in Mandel’s elite group,( with several exceptions, but I will not go into that again)they have history and accomplishments that UGA simply does not. Oklahoma is a good example. People my age think of Barry Switzer and his championships ( 3 or was it 4?). But they had a run with Bud Wilkerson in which they lost 1 game in a stretch of 4 years ( or was it 4). That is unreal.
The fact is that the only SEC team with that kind of history is Alabama. Bear Bryant took them to the top and kept them there. He also was not afraid of the big boys. Those games with Notre Dame and USC were amazing. That is why they belong. That is why 92,000 people show up for a scrimmage when they haven’t had so much as whiff of respectability in years. Bobby Dodd did it on a smaller scale when Tech was in the SEC, but then they bolted the conference and time left the poor slide rulers behind.
The rest of the really good programs: Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, and LSU… all were regionally terrific and occasionally as good or better than the Bear. The Junkyard Dogs of 76 come to mind.
If Georgia could have kept the momentum of the 80’s…remember howling at the moon with Lewis Grizzard on Bourbon Street? If Coach Dooley’s blind spot for Ray Goff(his loyalty was admirable, but unfortunate) had somehow mysteriously disappeared, then we would have perhaps made a run that would put us in in that class. (“Barbara and I were on the road by the tree that owns itself and the scales fell from my eyes…”)
But none of that happened… we had to beg three candidates to take the job after coach Goff. Thank God Gary Barnett changed his mind! Jim Donnan turned the corner for us and I thought he was a pretty good coach… at least until Mark Richt brought a sense of honor and real pride back. We may not belong on the list, but we have a pretty good chance in the next few years of EARNING the national respect that all us in the obsessed red and black world of Dawg Nation desire. Keep the faith baby!
By shane
August 11, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
we are beating a dead horse here guys,the sec will never get the gredit it deserves,because most of our schools are in small markets. remember when ole tubby was hanged,drawn,and quartered by the media for speaking out publicly about the media,especially espn,after auburn was robbed of a chance to play for the nc? uf would not have had a chance to play for the nc last year if usc hadn’t been upset by a less talented team. all the pundits had crowned osu before the game,only to have egg on their faces after uf steamrollered osu. we sec teams continue to eat away at each other,on the field,in recruiting,even on blogs like this one,while teams from less competetive conferences waltz right to the nc game. uf fans,you could go undefeated this fall,but if usc and texas,or michigan,or osu go undefeated,you will be left out of the nc game. the sec is a powerful league,and if we work together off the field we could get all the member schools the respect they deserve,if we continue to eat away at each other we have done the media naysayers job for them. we don’t need uf fans posting on si saying that uga is not a top tier team,and we don’t need uga fans going on blogs saying uf isn’t a national power. how can we expect the media to respect us when we don’t even show respect for each other? as far as i am concerned,any team that goes through the sec with a winning record and does it consistantly is a national power.
By duingtime
August 11, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
WHO ARE YOU KIDDING. UGA plays a bunch of stiffs and is in one the weeker conferences in the country. You can’t get respect by playing Div. 2 schools or schools like Alabama A & M.
When UGA starts playing Big 10, Pac 10 Big 12 schools in their non-conference schedule and drops all the Div.2’s and week conference teams out of their schedule - THEN and only then will they be a top tier school.
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 11, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
UGA over the last deacade has been more relevant than Penn State,Alabama and Tennessee. The whole if a guy in Monatana thing is crazy. UGA has had more primetime Saturday night games on ESPN/ESPN2 this century. If that joker has ESPN he knows UGA. Why? Because on a Saturday night in November when UGA/Auburn kickoffs off at 7:30, the AVERAGE NIGHT TIME LOW IS 15 DEGREES. Common. It ain’t like he’s got a lot of other things going on!
By duingtime
August 11, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
WHO ARE YOU KIDDING. UGA plays a bunch of stiffs and is in one the weeker conferences in the country. You can’t get respect by playing Div. 2 schools or schools like Alabama A & M.
When UGA starts playing Big 10, Pac 10 Big 12 schools in their non-conference schedule and drops all the Div.2’s and week conference teams out of their schedule - THEN and only then will they be a top tier school.
By old timer
August 11, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
ALL YOU GOTTA DO TO UNDERSTAND ANYTHING C N N HAS TO SAY IS TO SAY C N N .IT ALL STARTED WITH YOU KNOW WHO. NEED I SAY MORE?
By yellowblood
August 11, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Forget ancient history. Based on last years results, Mandel should have a category labeled ” NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME” which would include Vandy, Kentucky, Georgia, and Colorado.
By shane
August 11, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this