Historically, close games between Georgia and Auburn have been the norm, so the nature of this afternoon’s contest should not have surprised us. Nevertheless, as nerve-wracking as the whole thing was, it was a win, so it is my happy task this evening to update the Mark Richt Victory Watch.

The Mark Richt Victory Watch now stands at 81. Coach Richt needs 120 more wins to tie Vince Dooley for the all-time school record.

Mark Richt’s 81-21 record remains the best ever by a Georgia football coach after 102 games. Only two of his predecessors coached more than 99 games with the Red and Black, and both Wally Butts (73-26-3) and Vince Dooley (68-29-5) had worse records than Mark Richt at the same point in their respective careers.

Between 1983 and 2001, the Plainsmen dominated the Deep South’s oldest football rivalry, posting a 13-5-1 record against the Bulldogs during that span. After losing to Auburn in his first season in Athens, Coach Richt has guided his teams to a 5-2 record against the Tigers from 2002 through 2008, including a 3-1 record in the Loveliest Village.

Go ‘Dawgs!