That's why, instead of saying, "Mark Richt has more wins after six seasons than any coach in Georgia history" (which, while quite true, is quite misleading, for the reason you stated), I always use the number of games coached as the benchmark, so that we are making direct one-to-one comparisons: 78 games in, Coach X had this many wins, losses, and ties, while Coaches Y and Z had that many.

Coach Richt is way out in front in wins and losses, and his victories have not been hollow ones (like most of the Jim Donnan-era bowl wins, when Bulldog squads that underachieved in the regular season wound up in bowl games beneath their talent level), as he has two S.E.C. championships, three Eastern Division crowns, and four bowl wins in his first six years.

These numbers compare favorably to those of the only two Georgia coaches to have won more games than Coach Richt in their respective careers. Six seasons into his tenure, Wally Butts had won one S.E.C. championship and two bowl games. Six seasons into his tenure, Vince Dooley had won two S.E.C. championships and two bowl games.

Granted, direct comparisons are difficult, even there, as Coach Butts would have attended more bowl games had there been as many as there are today (and his 1943 and 1944 squads were depleted by World War II), but an S.E.C. championship is an S.E.C. championship and Coach Richt's won-lost record against every significant rival except Florida ranks alongside Coach Butts's and Coach Dooley's numbers six seasons into their service.

I take nothing away from either Coach Butts or Coach Dooley, and I have as much regard for Georgia tradition as anyone, but we need not be shy about stating the truth: Mark Richt is as good a coach as we have ever had and he is getting better. A seven-week downcycle during which the 'Dawgs went 3-4 is as bad as it is ever going to get under Coach Richt.

Just as Kentucky's bowl win took some of the tarnish off of Georgia's loss in Lexington, a Big Orange win on New Year's Day would cement the certitude that Tennessee is back, taking some of the sting out of the Bulldogs' loss to the Volunteers.

While I cannot bring myself to root for Auburn, Florida, or Georgia Tech in their bowl games, wins by some of all of those teams would be beneficial for the 'Dawgs, as well, validating the Red and Black's wins over the Plainsmen and the Yellow Jackets while demonstrating that, even in a rebuilding year, Georgia can play with the national championship team.

Go 'Dawgs! . . . and, if only for one day, go Vols!