UGA

By RICK

October 9, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Chip, right on. What has made UGA the program that it is Mark Richt’s philosophy and approach concerning continuity among players and coaches.

These so called fans that call for the heads of assistant coaches every time a team loses or does not perform up to their expectations is infantile and rediculous.

Some of these people need to be committed to “Millidgeville”.

By lakerat

October 9, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

30+ years ago I was on Pat Dye’s staff at East Carolina as a grad. assistant during his second season there. Two games into the season (both losses) he fired the defensive line coach. ECU went to end up 8-3 that year (they went 7-4 the year before) - so, evidently the other coaches got the message. So, this is not an unprecedented move (not that anybody said it was) but it is still difficult if you are the one getting fired/demoted DURING the season! So, this must be an Auburn thing!

By Bryan G

October 9, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Yes, coaches are people with families. But anyone who is hired to do a job has to actually DO their job.

Eason has been stealing a paycheck for years. I’ve defended Martinez, but the numbers don’t like.

From 2001-2004, BVG only gave up 30 points 1 time. From 2005-2008, Willie Martinez’s defense has given up 30 points 6 times. That’s embarrassing for a team with the talent of Georgia.

Am I off base, Chip?

By JB

October 9, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I think at UGA, some of Mark’s coach’s get in too much of a comfort zone. It is pretty hard to get fired from his staff, almost impossible. Again, I said some. I get a little concerned that with the recruiting we do, we are not a little more dominate, as in Auburn, Fla and Hawaii last year. We looked pretty darn good…….we have not found our way this year yet, but CMR’s teams usually get better as the year progresses. We better hope so. Vandy, LSU and Fla will be tough !!!!!!!!!! I’m sorry, TECH also.

By dawgfacedboy

October 9, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

I’m sure it does suck when you get fired. But Coach Franklin will not be without a job for long. Doesn’t Auburn still owe him the rest of his contract anyway (i’m not up on the ins-and-outs of contracts for coaches)? So the guy gets a 3 month break and still gets paid, somebody will pick him up in no time. The economy and loss of jobs does not apply to collegiate football coaches. It applies to the normal joe in the work force. He’ll be fine.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

As far as firing a couch midseason, you have to assume he had no choice. It was obviously way beyond poor performances in the first few games of a totally new approach using old style player. What would bother me more as a AU fan, was how it seems like this whole thing has the appearance that TT made a hasty hire on the front side. Thats why the comparison to Richt, well actually most situations, is not even appropriate.

This isn’t firing a coach who has slipped or isn’t getting it done over time. This is just a failed experiment. Apple, oranges. It isnt praise for Richt that he wouldn’t do it, or condemnation of TT for doing it. Its just not remotely the same situation.

By Matt

October 9, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

I’m a baseball coach. Grew up playing baseball, played in college, etc. Never played football so someone help me out. I don’t necessarily think WM is a bad coach, but why does it take him so long to make adjustments? It seems to me that most of the time when UGA loses they get blown out. I said MOST of the time. I see coaches going over stuff on white boards on the sidelines and things like that. What are they talking abouti if it’s not adjustments? It just seems like they get down sometimes by 3 and 4 scores in the first half, go into halftime, come back out a new team. I don’t get it.

Someone help me out with this. I read on another blog between altamaha and mark about WM using “7 different alignments in the Bama game.” Shouldn’t I be concerned if WM did indeed use 7 different alignments becuase they obviously didn’t work.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Bryan, the point I would counter is to look (at those time frames) and compare where these defenses ranked in terms of real results. Wins, ranking, defensive categories within the SEC. BVG did not have compelling better results.

I also would contend that in WM worst (points) game, he fought a UGA offence that was totally ineffective, a phenomenon that BVG rarely, if ever, had to deal with. BVG also lost to teams he should not have lost to.

Also if you look at the entire league, scoring is up about 10 points across the board, now-vs-then, so that “score standard” is misleading.

UGA has put up 30 plus on some of the better DC in the SEC as well.

By roswell dad

October 9, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Brian G—-We don’t need you to defend Coach Martinez, Bobo, or Eason. If you are the fair weather type which you have indicated that you are, go over and support Georgia Tech or Clemson. They (Techsters) talked so great about Tenuta (who was and is an outstanding coach), then all of a sudden when Paul Johnson didn’t decide to keep him, the Tech people decided Tenuta was not a real good DC after all and completely turned their backs on him. It is “what have you done for me lately, as in the last game, that makes stupid people come here and talk about firing coaches who are highly respected in their profession.” Who are you to assess any team’s football talent? Everybody has talent, even Vandy…You probably bet on the wrong team when BAMA played UGA. Man up, get over it…It ain’t gonna go right every week in the arena…Be a real fan, or support someone other than the DAWGS!!!!

By JAWGAGURL

October 9, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

It is sad when people lose their jobs but like the comment above said you get paid to do that job and when you don’t then oh well.. Willie is MRs friend and was his best man in his wedding now do you think he is going anywhere!? He has the wrong defense in and doesn’t want to change it. Without the right defense we can forget it!!

By Huh?

October 9, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

“It seems to me that most of the time when UGA loses they get blown out.”

Of Richt’s 20 losses as a head coach, only 6 have been by more than a touchdown. Granted there have been some blowouts in the past few years, but that statement is simply incorrect.

By Larry M

October 9, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

What to me is the most odd about the firing of Franklin is that Tuberville stated in his presser yesterday that Auburn is NOT going to abandon the spread or Franklin’s system. If that is true, then why fire him right now? People are saying, “well this is just an admission by Tuberville that trying to install the spread at Auburn was a mistake,” and Auburn fans seem to be excited that the team is going to return to “smashmouth” football. Apparently not, folks. Tuberville seems intent on running the spread himself. Pretty scary….

On UGA’s coaches, CWM has had his ups and downs, but the assistant coach to me that seems to have nine lives for no good reason is WR coach Eason. How many years do we have to deal with the dropped pass problem? Admittedly last year and this year have been better than previous years, but still not up to the level you see from programs like USC, OU, etc. If we want to play with the big boy national programs, we have got to have consistent pass catching by our WR (and TE). That consistency has really been lacking since Eason has been WR coach. To me, that is more than just coincidence. It is time to try something new.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

Bryan for the record, I think you have been a great fan in here, and I’m sure in person. I do not share the idea that asking/doubting, even complaining about coaches has anything to do with that.

By FLA DAWG

October 9, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Well, maybe non performers (not referring to Chip) are kept on at the AJC (like Terence Moore) but in the real world where most of us work, we’d have been fired mid year, at Christmas, Thanksgiving or any other damn time the company chooses to do so.

Franklin chose football coaching as a career. He knew the nomadic life of being a football coach. He accepted the Auburn offer. He was hired to win.

“And only the winner goes to dinner.” (Robert Duval in “True Confessions”)

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

FLA DAWG, I’m not sure the point was if Franklin did or did not deserve to be fired. I think it was more a question about judgement on TT part. Real world CEOs would surely come under scuntiny if they decided to abandon a profitable product line, and pursue some untested widget, abandon it before it had a chance to penetrate the market. This would be considered wreckless with the stockholders equity.

Coaching is a little different than retail or corporate world job, you have to admit.

I think the danger to a coordinator not having any job security for at least one year, is that why would any coach or HC feel like they did.

There are likely to be a bunch of sorry azz football team in the nation, if coaching reverts to nothing more than “seasonal help wanted”.

But as I pointed out, this seems extraordinary.

By CMR deserves better

October 9, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

CMR seems like a god guy and he has coached the Bulldogs well.

An earlier post compares him to the coaches of Ohio State and Southern Cal. His record isn’t quite as good, but it’s very good.

Another post mentions that his teams get blown out occasionally, again this hasn’t happened to Carroll at Southern Cal but Ohio States been Blow out more than a couple times. All in all he has produced a good program,

I think that the one thing that is obviously different about the three programs is the Low Class Fans Georgia has. They are absolutely the worst, and the coaches and team seserve better.

As long as they are so disrespectful of others, people like me will come on this blog and ridicule them.

By Gen Neyland

October 9, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

In a game where winning or losing, offense and defense, stats for and against are what people are paid to succeed or prevent, it’s business. To me, it’s Auburn’s business. The worker bees that suit up still have a game to play and games to win…I can only recognize the fact Tubs expected more out of Franklin yesterday than he was getting in return…P.S. to Tuberville : Want Clawson..?

By CMR deserves better

October 9, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

CMR seems like a good guy and he has coached the Bulldogs well.

An earlier post compares him to the coaches of Ohio State and Southern Cal. His record isn’t quite as good, but it’s very good.

Another post mentions that his teams get blown out occasionally, again this hasn’t happened to Carroll at Southern Cal but Ohio States been Blow out more than a couple times. All in all he has produced a good program,

I think that the one thing that is obviously different about the three programs is the Low Class Fans Georgia has. They are absolutely the worst, and as long as they are so disrespectful of others, people like me will come on this blog and ridicule them.

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

October 9, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

I said this over on Barnhardts blog, but I will repeat it. It makes no sense to fire Franklin for performance on the field when you are not playing with Spread O type players. CTT has said he intends to keep the Spread and the 2009 recruiting class is full of these type players apparently. Coach RR at UM is not expecting a Big Ten championship this season b/c he understood that it would be a transtional period of athletes. It speaks volumes to the pressure CTT must be under in Auburn to make what really seems to be a knee-jerk reaction in season. Auburn might have been a preseason Top 10 team, but perhaps they where overrated from the outset after the bowl game last season- heck that almost sounds familiar.

By Matt

October 9, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Huh?- I will admit, my initial statement was not true. However, since you obviously took the time to look up the numbers I thought I would too. The defense has allowed at least 30 pts. in 5 of the last 10 losses. 50% of our losses we are giving up 30 pts. or more? Is that a good number? In those 5 losses UT scored 28 1st half pts, 37 2nd half points, WVU scored 31 1st half pts. (21 in the first quarter), and Bama scored 31 first half points. This tells me that 50% of the time we lose it’s because somebody (apparently not WM) is not able to make adjustments before things get out of hand!!!

By Lowcountry Bulldawg

October 9, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Look, how do we know the coaching staff is not making adjustments? Are we on the headsets or in the lockeroom at halftime? At this point CWM can make all the adjustments in the world, but w/o discipline the players are unlikey to adhear to the changes in philosophy midgame. The players are to blame for poor execution of the gameplans the coaching staff has provided. Look at the Boise State game or the Hawaii game. The game when UGA wasn’t man enough. Or the Tra Battle game in Auburn. Was CWM a terrible coordinator then? It starts with players playing with discipline and still able to play at 100%. The coaching staff can make only so many changes, but the players continually on defense put themselves in terrible situations. CWM cannot control that. Enough with the bashing already!

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Matt, what seems to me to be the MOST obvious point to those game you mention is how totally ineffective our offence was in those games. Do you realize how many punts, fumble, Int, and just crappy ball control we are talking in those games. Can you not admit that an offense putting its defense back on the field in terrible position, time after time, is going to have some bearing on the score? Adjustments seems to be your thing, tell us what adjustments our offensive coordinator was doing in a ZERO scoreing half. Neither squad operates in a vacuum, why do you only scrutinize half the story?

NONE of those scores getting out of hand, was happening during a time when our offense pulling thier weight. Is that just purely coincidental?

Lets see, offence does nothing, and WM stubornly runs some type of ineffective scheme. When offense finally starts hanging on the the ball more than 3-5 plays, controling their end, scoring, that just happens to be the point at which, totally unrelated of cource, all of a sudden WM come up with an “adjustment”? Does that even make sense?

By La Jolla Dawg

October 9, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

John Eason has been on the job for a lot longer than six games, he has had years (this is the 7th I believe) to show that he can coach receivers. The receivers he has coached during that time, be they TE or WR, have had problems catching the ball consistently-PERIOD. As I pointed out the last time I wrote about this, everyone from T. Edwards to M. Milner to T. Chandler (I could go on) have had problems catching the ball consistently. Does that mean Eason should be fired? Maybe not, does it mean that something is amiss, yeah. Does something being amiss mean that the coach should be evaluated and possibly fired—yes, that life and sometimes life is sad.

By FLA DAWG

October 9, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

AltamahaDawg,

Tuberville is certainly the main culprit here - Franklin ran a spread offense that in the SEC was considered a failure a long time ago.

Tuberville hired Franklin wanting this particular offense, fully backed him until Wednesday then fired him.

There has been mention that Tuberville intentionally hired him knowing this offense would fail so he could get a golden parachute out of Auburn as revenge for the way he was treated a few years ago.

As much as I dislike his decision making in this area I doubt this was the case. But I can speak with confidence that unless Auburn beats Bama (and probably every remaining opponent) this season, he’s gone.

Auburn fans don’t like records broken against them - first time Vandy has gone undefeated this far into the season since 1942.

By Fort Worth Dawg

October 9, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

I agree with Lowcountry. Everyone said Urban would do better when he got his Spread QB (didn’t really work out that way but that’s what they said). Rodriguez at Michigan gets a pass because (i) first year coach and (ii) need to recruit the spread players. The real Auburn issue I have is that the new OC will be the third in three years. A reputation for churning OC’s may hurt (i) recruiting offensive players, (ii) hiring OC’s, and (iii) the Coach (because at some point the fans say it’s no longer the OC’s fault). You can also bet that Bama’s apparent resurgence will add to Auburn’s issues. Overall, I think most people would have tried to resolve Auburn’s obvious offensive problems by (i) switching back to a power running game immediately, (ii) keeping the current OC until the end of the year, and (iii) having the OC “decide” to leave at the end of the year. I haven’t heard anything about who Auburn wants as a replacement OC but I have to think that Gus Malzahn will get a call (may hate both Arkansas and Nutt — both in the SEC West).

By Marietta Ed

October 9, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Auburn is still the best team ever !

W D E

By Huh?

October 9, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Yeah Matt, you’re kind of only telling half the story. Regardless of how poorly our defense played against Alabama, the Tide simply would not have had time to score 31 points in one half if our offense could have moved the ball with any consistancy. The offense did jack squat that first half. Alabama wins the game regardless, but if the offense wasn’t so impotent it would have at least been a ball game and a much more respectable loss. There is a double standard with Georgia fans. You expect nothing short of perfection out of the defense each and every play but if the offense takes an entire game off hardly anyone panics. There is plenty of blame to go around for losses like that.

I for one am sick and tired of hearing about the Alabama game. We lost. It happened. Get over it. Here’s a newsflash for you: We’re going to lose a game again at some point in the future. I guarantee it. No matter who our defensive coordinator is, how many 5 star players we have, or how many “adjustments” the coaching staff makes it is going to happen. All the recruiting and coaching in the world will not prevent it. That is a 100% guarantee. I’ll bet the bank on it.

I’m just so sick of all the whining everytime we drop a game. Good grief stop whining my fellow Georgia fans and go scream your heads off this Saturday when we play Tennessee. You sound like Tech fans.

By Rob

October 9, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Say what you want about CWM, good or bad, but the fact is he is CMR’s best friend so he’s not going anywhere unless it’s his choice. Personally, I would love to see Muschamp come back home where he belongs. That’s just my humble opinion.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Rob, I would guess that it is just a matter of time before one of those HC job offers intrigues Martinez. I don’t think anyone would protest Muschamp interviewing.

By E Cunningham

October 9, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry to interject the wrong sentiment here, but Coach Franklin played the hand that he was dealt. The players in Auburn’s offense do not fit Coach Franklin’s offensive system. If Coach Tuberville was such a great Head Coach, he should have brought Franklin’s system as a package and keep some of the things that Auburn could do well like run the football from the I and play action pass. Why was Franklin fired and not reassigned? This means that Tuberville made a monumental blunder in hiring Coach Franklin in the first place. It seems Coach Tuberville has a history of firing assistant coaches to save his job. Maybe Auburn should consider hiring a new Head Coach at the end of the season and we can watch video of him and his family moving things out of the office.

By Really sick of Willie

October 9, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

If the day arrives that CWM either accepts a position elsewhere or is fired from UGA, I will volunteer to help him pack, clean up around the house, cut the grass, whatever I can do to help expedite the process. Don’t hate the hater, hate the DC. The offense was terrible..great execuse for poor defensive execution. Great defenses hold their ground, regardless of how daunting the task at hand! (Turnovers, bad field position, etc…) Have the defenses at Auburn and UT decided to quit busting people up, just because their offenses are ineffective? No. Instead, they give everything they’ve got, to keep hope alive for their lousy offenses!
CWM’s defense is soft and Junkyard Dog-less!!!! It’s time to hunker down. Call me, Willie. I’m willing to help.

By tom

October 9, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Trust Coach Richt!

By voice of reason

October 9, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

After reading a really great article on Muschamp this morning on ESPN’s site, I started getting fired up about the idea of him heading up the UGA defense. But if you really think about it, CWM does a great job the vast majority of the time. UGA hung a lot of points on Muschamp’s defenses while he was at LSU and Auburn so he’s not perfect either. Besides, I don’t see him making any more lateral moves as a defensive coordinator. The next change he makes will to be a HC somewhere. Wish him well.

By voice of reason

October 9, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Also, to be honest with you, I like CWM as a DC more than I like CMB as a OC. If your defense is on the field most of the time it makes them less effective and that’s exactly what happened in the first half of the Alabama game. Both units must click to win championships and so far this year it hasn’t happened. Hopefully all that changes this week against ut and we can win out and then everybody will be praising all our coaches again. Remember folks, we’ve only lost one ball game despite all the injuries. I for one am still excited about our football team. GO DAWGS!

By gman

October 9, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this

Clearly we are married to CWM. Unless he finds another job or falls down an elevator shaft he is here forever. We all focus on the blowouts but we give up way too many points in many wins as well.

To all of you CWM blind-loyalists: Be happy, your boy is here forever. Please don’t criticize the rest of us because we have reasonable expectations of CWM to maximize the talent on the roster. Sure, we will lose from time to time but getting destroyed at least once per year is uneccesary.

By Colonel Lingus

October 9, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

Franklin was fired after he got into a shouting match with some of the other coaches and a chair throwing fight ensued. Check out the huge gash and staples on the side of his head in the video. I have a friend who teaches at AUB and this is common knowledge there.

By Colonel Lingus

October 9, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

Franklin was fired after he got into a shouting match with some of the other coaches and a chair throwing fight ensued. Check out the huge gash and staples on the side of his head in the video. I have a friend who teaches at AUB and this is common knowledge there.

By T

October 9, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

CWM needs to figure out how to get pressure on the QB, if he can’t do it than find somebody that can!

Maybe he would get the benefit of the doubt if his defense would give up more FG’s than TD’s!

Bottom line is these are his players in his system and giving up 31 in the first half to AL and being embarrassed on your Home Field in front of a national television audience is unacceptable and no GA fan should make excuses for it!

By Move the Chains

October 9, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Chip although Auburn’s “offense” has looked horrible, I was shocked to hear the news on Franklin. What kind of impact, if any, will this have on the Tigers’ recruiting efforts?

On another note, I can’t wait until Saturday. Can the Dawgs have success moving the ball against UT, with a return to smashmouth football? If, that is the gameplan.

Defensively speaking, I’m still hoping to see someone step up and be a force at the DE position. Can the front 4 develop a decent pass rush? So far, the answer is a resounding NO, but I ain’t ready to give up on em. We’ve got to put some heat on Fat Phil’s QB and generate some turnovers.

By Sautee Dawg

October 9, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

Chip

As i posted yesterday at the time of Franklin’s losing his job. You hate for anyone to lose a job but, this job loss could have come from the Alumni branch of Auburn. Tubberville may not have had a choice in the matter. You know how powerful boosters can be!!

By terry

October 9, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

ga. linebackers have been victimized by OC’s for years.throwing undeneath or over the top of them .it kills me that it doesn’t seem to matter who’s coaching.

By Bryan G.

October 9, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Roswell Dad—

I wasn’t aware that questioning the assitant coaches makes you a fairweather fan? I guess you’re one of those people who thinks that questioning the President makes you unpatriotic, huh?

Altamaha Dawg…you’re a good man. I don’t agree with you about WM, but you’re a good man.

Let’s get the Vols this weekend, men.

By War Eagle

October 9, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this

It s a sad time at Auburn, Auburn was not ready for spread and it collapse into a CTT mistake. I still support CTT, if we win Bama and UGA, the spread will be history and forgotten

UTseems to have its offense problems, but they beat dawgs life will be ok, but I don`t think it will happen

The l;ast time CTT had a turmoil the following year (13-0), next year will be much better.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this

Voice of reason indeed.

gman that’s fine. Calling folks that don’t jump on your anger train, Blind Loyalist doesn’t hide the fact that your viewpoint is based more on your own hurt feeling, than any rational analysis.

By Milledgeville Dawgs

October 9, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

I am not a big Martinez fan because i do not believe he know how to coach defensive backs. I would like to see him go to another team so that the dawgs can go in another direction. He does have an uncanny knack for fixing things at halftime, but is it that hard for him to make these changes within the first half. We need a DCoor. like Muschamp.

By Mike T.

October 9, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this

I will say this, it concerns me the number of games the Dawgs have given up big points early, then try to rally and fall short: West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and couple of years ago Tennessee scored all those unanswered points in the second half and posted 51. We fell way behind to Purdue in a bowl game a few years back by twenty something points, before we rallied. I know at times all good teams will trail in a game, however it seems the Dawgs have let quite a few teams get monumental leads that just kill us. Having to climb out of a thirty one point hole is pretty stout, even if it was to happen against a lowly DIV 2 oppenent,(hey this day in age it could happen),it is a tall order.I just look back and think it happens a little too often.

By too tough44

October 9, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this

Ah hell, yall leave him alone right now (cwm), shoot, we lost one game to a team that played over their heads the first half and our team played pathetic in the first half. Lets go Dawgs! We got alot to get done!

By reality check

October 9, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this

Franklin didn’t fail. Nobody will ever know what Auburn’s offense might have become this year under Franklin. There is a lot of football to be played this season.

As far as all the fair weather fans criticizing Georgia’s coaches, there is a lot of football to be played this season for us too. The first half of the Alabama game was the worst beatdown of the Richt era. Tutnovers and key penalties will always create a lopsided score, and it didn’t help when Ellerbe went out. The second half of the game we had a very respectable 30 to 10 edge.

The most telling comment I heard out of Richt this week is the offensive line is starting to look much better in practice. That is huge, especially since we have the youngest O line in the SEC.

Teams that are poorly coached don’t get better as the year progresses. We certainly got better as the year went on last year and the same guys are coaching. I expect the same this year.

By gman

October 9, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

AltamahaDawg-

No anger train here. Simply making an observation-apparently similar to many others here. Believe it or not we don’t all agree on everything. I’m sure it is tough to be a full-time CWM apologist.

By Reality Check This

October 9, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

RC Criticizing the coaches does not make someone a fair weather fan. IMO, it takes a concerned fan, with the stones to voice disappointment in the progress of the team. At the end of the day, who is responsible for the performance of the UGA defense? Who is to blame for the stagnant offense? Is mediocrity acceptable to you? If so, then continue to never doubt or hold anyone accountable for their failure to make a difference! Football is a tough game. Quality coaches can be the differnce between “good” and “great” teams. So far, UGA has NOT resembled a well coached ball club. CMR himself admitted as much, during his press conference Tuesday morning. He took the blame for the undisciplined play that has resulted in a multitude of penalties.

Go reality check yourself!

By auburn suxs

October 9, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this

I think it is sad that CTT can blame Tony for the offense , when CTT has not been up to par for a couple of years now , he keeps firing is offensive coaches and then he wants to take the gory for himself on the defense. It won’t be long and auburn will be asking for his head. If Auburn loses to UGA and Bama that may finish CTT career at Auburn. I really don’t see Auburn making it to a bowl game this year.

By Reality Check This

October 9, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

RC, I ain’t done with you yet. As far as the O-line progression comments go, the Dawgs must PROVE IT on the field before I’ll join the “greatness of our coaching staff” campaign! I like CMR. He’s done a very good job at UGA. But so far, this year’s squad does NOT portray a well coached team! Yes, there’s a LOT of football left to be played. There is also a LOT OF IMPROVEMENT that needs to take place, if the Dawgs want to be a factor in the SEC East! Who is to blame for the lack of offensive and defensive execution? The men who have been hired to prepare them to compete! Don’t be so quick to criticize others, just because they have the guts to publicize their concerns. We don’t live in Russia! Thank the good Lord!

By goldendawg

October 9, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

Here is a quote from Coach Willie trying to explain the Bama letdown as well as others:“If we cut down our mistakes and are more consistent about penalties and mental errors, I think that we’re going to be fine,” he said.

Oh…OK, Willie so it’s the players fault. I’m sure your Kool-Aid drinkers will agree that throwing the player’s under the bus is better than admitting your scheme is flawed. Very, very classy.

By Average Au Barn Fan

October 9, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this

Tuberville would throw his wife under the bus if it meant holding onto his job.

With all of the offensive and defense coordinators that he has run off, it is no surprise that he gave up on going to the spread with a 4-2 record.

I am sure Mr. Lowder is happy.

By mountain fan

October 9, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this

love it when dogs think they came back against bama on their own…..just like WV, bama let up.

Brian, agree with you.

By voice of reason

October 9, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this

You can say that they let up all you want. I’ll agree somewhat, but when a team that has been smacked around for most of the game starts getting something going, you better get your starters’ butts off the bench and squash the momentum shift. Bama (and WV)did what they needed to do, but they still got outmatched by a long shot in the second half. I mean, they did field a team in the second half didn’t they?

By Cuz

October 9, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

RCT, Reality is only critisizing the fire, insert name here, crowd. We welcome constructive or even non-constructive critisizm. If you can talk football and make a point, we welcome the input. Many of us just get tired ot the fire, insert name, crowd. It reminds us of the French Revoloution, off with their heads!

By Reality Check This

October 9, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this

Cuz glad to know you welcome my imput. RC: “As far as all the fair weather fans critcizing Georgia’s coaches, there is a lot football left to be played for us too.” Brilliant insight. LOL!

Cuz, are we reading the same blog? You state that RC is after those calling for firings. I didn’t get that. What I deciphered from his post was a lambasting of the unsatisfied folks, who dare to voice their concerns. How does criticizing the coaches make someone a fair weather fan? In my book, a fwt is someone who rarely watches, but boasts gleefully during the good times. Thelma, how you doing? Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Anyway, that is what sparked my fire. Cuz, if my crew does not do the job I hired them to do, guess what? I am held accountable to my supervisor. Next time, I’ll just tell him to stop being a fair weather boss! From what I’ve read, RC thinks that true fans should not expect the men in charge to take care of business. Just trust them and everything will be Ok. I call that BS! Have a good night, Cuz.

By A-ville Ranger

October 9, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this

Is it true Lowder’s wife had Franklin fired ? was his ”performance” not up to Terry Bowden’s ?

By No nonsense Dawg

October 9, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this

If the Dawgs were to lose to Tennessee in the same fashion as of the past two years then Damon Evans would need to lean on Richt to fire Willie. Yeah its bad to be fired but that’s life, people get fired every day. Its not like Franklin wont continue to receive a paycheck.Yeah Im a True and Loyal Dawg Fan and I say hire Muschamp Imediately!

By Palmetto State Dawg

October 9, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this

As a GA fan, I couldn’t care less about Auburn. That being said, the video of Franklin cleaning out his office is very sad. Two questions 1. Why would someone film that? 2. Why would the folks at Auburn allow it to be be filmed? Something is seriously wrong with our society when we film a guy cleaning out his office after being fired.

By Mike T.

October 9, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this

Hey Folks don’t take it personally, we all still love the Dawgs,win or lose, thick or thin. However we all do a little Monday Morning QBing.I just imagine anyone who’s played a down of football has at one time or the other spoke up about how any team their watching could do something a little better.That includes doing a check up on how well the coaches are doing.Thats just part of it. I do agree with reality check that good teams will make adjustments and get better as the season goes on.I look for the Dawgs to do just that.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this

I see g-man, you are just making casual observations, Just offering a fair minded opinion.

But when anyone dares to point out that other factors might have to be recognized, we are Blind loyalist and apologists.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this

NND, can I ask, does he lean on Richt to fire coach Bobo if they lose in the same fashion as last year, punting seven times to start the game?

By Jimmy

October 9, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this

CTT did this to himself. He’s a defensive guy first, and conservative to boot. WHY is he trying to implement the spread at AU anyway?? He needs to do his homework, find the RIGHT OC to implement HIS style of offense, which when they’ve run so far this season it’s worked decently. Of course most people these days don’t like the old play action fakes based on the “Three yards and a cloud of dust” offensive scheme.

By voice of reason

October 9, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this

I think that all of us should ignore people that obviously don’t comprehend what the writer of the article or the posters are sying and let them fade from the blog. That’s the only way to deal with them.

By AltamahaDawg

October 9, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

Mike T. right on. Half of being a fan is second quessing and yamering. Sometimes even letting emotions over-rule facts is part of it. If we can’t gripe about our sports team, where’s the fun in that?

The problem in here, is that some folks don’t know when to let it go.

By No nonsense Dawg

October 9, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

Altamaha Dawg…. yes lean on BooBoo as well. The South Carolina games of last year and this year were very Vanilla indeed. But I remember that Tennessee game where the defense just absolutely had quit from very first play.

By voice of reason

October 9, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this

Those who can’t play… coach. Those who can’t coach… blog.

By No nonsense Dawg

October 9, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

Will someone tell me what color is the Kings new clothes? I simply cannot make it out along with a lot of other people.

By voice of reason

October 9, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

I guess the king wears green. Just a guess.

By No nonsense Dawg

October 9, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

LMAO!

By No nonsense Dawg

October 9, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this

Well The Climpson Farmers have lost to Weak Florist! 12-7 ugly game!

By No nonsense Dawg

October 9, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this

Well looks like Bobby J. is on his way to Climpson. Tommy Boys Waterloo was sad!

By Vin Stooly

October 10, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this

Um, yes, I am concerned about Auburn.With their 2-4 record they will be dangerous and are obviously the best team we have played this year. We are preparing for the worst and hope to upset them. Also,Pretty Boy Richt couldn’t carry my jockstrap.

By ............................................BuLLdawg

October 10, 2008 1:55 AM | Link to this

.

.

The vols are Number 92 in the BCS Rankings today.

Funny how you can put down Tommy Tuberville for FIRING someone, when you come running in here telling us that Dannell Ellerbe is NOT A STAR and that UGA has MORE BUSTS than Stars in recruiting Chipper Towers. REAL PEOPLE you call yourself Chipper Towers, and Willie Martinez and Tony Franklin; but, Dannell Ellerbe for example or ALL OF OUR RECRUITS, are NOT ?

Florida will lose to LSU, if LSU can cut down on its turnovers, currently Number 85 in the nation of 119 teams.

And, because Tim Tebow has won only 1 game ever as the Starting Quarterback over a team who ended the season that season in the Final AP Poll Top 25. Tebow will be 1-5 against Final AP Poll Top 25 teams after they travel to Baron Rouge tomorrow.

And, that is not only not very good at 1-5 vs. ranked teams, but in fact Tim Tebow sucks against good teams because all good teams are perfectly capable of taking out 1 player college football teams. That crap works when you play schedules like Boise State, BYU, Utah, or Ball State, but does not work in The SEC.

LSU will end up with more Losses this season than Florida, but that is because LSU plays Alabama and Auburn and Florida instead does not and replaces Alabama and Auburn on their schedule with Citadel and Hawaii.

Ole Miss even beat Tim Tebow 1-man team concept, and they did it by stopping Tim Tebow, for which after the game, Tim Tebow got down on his hands and knees and CRIED LOUDLY WAILING LIKE A BABY, and apologized to the stunned Crocodile Nation.

LSU is not Ole Miss. Don’t tell me Tim Tebow is going to beat LSU.

He is a fullback anyway, not a Quarterback. Not that LSU has a QB either. In fact, when you look at The SEC, the entire SEC doesn’t have Quarterbacks.

LSU has a BETTER Passing Offense than Tim Tebow 1-man team. Georgia also has a BETTER Passing Offense than Tim Tebow 1-man team.

By ............................................BuLLdawg

October 10, 2008 2:01 AM | Link to this

Of course, you don’t turn the ball over as much when you snap the football to a 1-man team, and he just simply keeps the ball – not giving it to anyone anytime for any reason. And, this is the area where LSU then is going to lose this battle, as I am not very impressed with any of LSU’s Quarterbacks.

LSU also has a better running game than Florida, and a better Defense, not to mention a far better football coaching staff.

I expect Spurrier is licking his chops about playing Tim Tebow and Company last game of the year, before he beats Tammy Bowden. We will know more about that tomorrow, if Spurrier’s South Carolina squad can beat Kentucky or not.

The PAC-10 (Pacific 1) is the dead last Worst Conference in Average BCS Rank today, and has been all year long. The Mountain West and Western Athletic Conference are both far better than the PAC-1. Actually, the WAC has some weak teams at the bottom that are in fact weaker than the weakest PAC-1 teams, but the WAC has good teams who have beat the crap out of the PAC-1 again this season. The Mountain West as a matter of fact, are far superior to the PAC-1 in Average BCS Rankings today.**

ACC is the next worst Conference barely better than the PAC-1. There are more teams in the ACC who are in the hunt for 2nd best in the conference than in the PAC-1 where no one wants to be 2nd at all. But, there is no good team.

Virginia Tech is not a good team because they lost to East Carolina, who for example has Lost Both of the Last Two (2) Weeks in a Row against miserable teams such as North Carolina State and Houston – BOTH of who have a LOSING RECORD. When teams such as Weak Forest, who Lost to Navy last week (who Lost to Duke for God’s Sake) and Virginia Tech are you only 2 ranked football teams in the back of the pack in the Polls as it is, you know your conference sucks.

When that is better than the PAC-10, what does that say about the PAC-10 ?

By ............................................BuLLdawg

October 10, 2008 2:12 AM | Link to this

The Big 10 has a better Average BCS Ranking than the Big XII, so the Big XII is the 3rd worst conference. The Big XII just hasn’t played anyone yet. They start that quest tomorrow. Expect to see the always every season over-hyping of the Big XII to begin to fade tomorrow.

Missouri once again this season, does not have a schedule game against a single solitary Ranked Team all season long.

Oh, excuse me, they play Texas.

1 game.

Oklahoma has its game with Texas and that’s it for them.

Texas Tech plays both Texas and Oklahoma, and that is such a rarity in the Big XII that Texas Tech will be exposed as well.

Texas has Oklahoma Texas Tech and Missouri. Trust me, this Conference has an average BCS Ranking of Worse than The SEC, and Worse than The Big 10 too, yet they have 4 teams at the Top who will play each other – like The SEC. That they don’t do so until the last week of the season, does not alter the fact that The Big XII has the single worst Bowl Record of any Conference, the Single Worst BCS National Championship Game Record of any Conference, and the Single Worst Record of any Conference in BCS Bowl Games.

Like I say, even with the 4 “top-ranked Big XII teams” the Big 10 has a better Average BCS Ranking of its teams than does the Big XII.

The Big 10 is the 2nd Best Conference, not the Big XII. And, the PAC-1 is the worst, followed closely by the ACC. The Big XII has BCS Number 93 Iowa State, Number 90 Texas A&M, Number 79 Kansas State, Number 78 Baylor, Number 52 Colorado and Number 51 Nebraska. That is half the Conference who cannot play their way out of a wet-paper-bag. How they look against such a soft schedule of 6 of the bottom feeders of college football this season, does not impress me about 4 teams at the top of that conference.

Tennessee has the worst BCS Ranking of any SEC team this morning at Number 92. Excuse me, Mississippi State is Number 100.

.

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By jerry

October 10, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this

On the UGA coaches being afraid the defense would lose its “aggressiveness” if told to cut down on their penalties. What “aggressiveness”? In 1980 Erk’s defense caused 49 turnovers. I doubdt that Willie’s had that many since he has been DC.

By Gen Neyland

October 10, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

…………………BuLLdawg

Tell me of Donnan-Goff-Kemp one more time. Tell me about the days of disarry at UGA. Tell me of circles and cycles, top to bottom and back again. Tell me of Crystal Footballs around the SEC. Tell me, DawgofBuLL…Just speak above a whisper so I can hear you. Be advised, history repeats…

By 82DAWG

October 10, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Martinez is overmatched in the SEC. His style of defense (vanilla - 4 man DL rush, soft cover by the DBs) is golden against lesser competition, but if you come up against a dominant, experienced OL, he is totally overmatched and doesn’t make sufficient adjustments until too late. This defense is really a modified prevent defense - predicated on giving up short stuff, keeping the play in front of you and denying the big play. This style minimizes takeaways, allows the opposing offense to stay on the field and ultimately wears down the defense. The only way this works is of you have truly outstanding play-makers. Last year Rennie Curran and Marcus Howard stepped up and really dominated. This year no one has stepped it up and while we have a lot of talented players on defense, we have no PLAY MAKERS.

So, in my ramble I guess I am saying that while Martinez and his philosophy are part of the problem, it has been exacerbated by a lack of playmakers to overcome its inherent flaws.

By GetOverIt

October 10, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

Something is seriously wrong with our society when we WATCH a film of a guy cleaning out his office after being fired. Answer your own questions Palmetto.

By Hey BuLLdawg

October 10, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

You love to talk about conference but you seem to avoid the fact that conferences don’t play the games, the teams do. So which TEAM has the best BCS bowl record, most appearances, wins, scoring average? NOT UGA!

O’ and bye the way, Georgia has only played 1 ranked team and they got spanked, so as you LOVE to say, play somebody (and win) than come back and talk your sh!t.

By funny

October 10, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

It’s funny how some of you will not hold WM accountable for any of the defensive woes that have been discussed in some of these forums. Instead the blame goes to the offense, i.e. playcalling, drops, penalties. First off, there has to be (i’m sure someone will look it up to prove me wrong) more personal fouls penalites on the D (PI, late hits) than offensive penalites. Also, if the offense is directly responible for the play of the defense then why is the defense not directly responsible for the play of the offense?

Going down by 7,10,14,(or more in some cases) fast and early kinda changes the way the offense does things.

By shane#1

October 10, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

I am not a fan of the spread in the SEC as I think it’s time has already passed. Most SEC teams will play one or two OOC games every year against teams that run the spread, and with UK and UF running variations of the spread last year most SEC DCs have an idea on how to stop this offense. I thought AUs RBs and Burns at QB gave the Tigers a chance to run something like the WVa offense successfully. I was wrong. Even the Mountaineers are having problems this year. I think their problems stem more from defensive schemes run against them than a problem with their coaching staff. In short, I think AUs move to the spread was a mistake and that the quicker they return to a power running game the better off they will be. With that being said, I think AU may have compounded their problems by firing Franklin at mid-season. AU can write this season off, so it may have been better to take their lumps this year and make changes in the off season.

By curious dog

October 12, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

chip,

any chance CMR could hire Franklin as a consultant in understanding and defending the spread since we face so many spread type offenses?