Florida Gators 41, Georgia Bulldogs 17: I Saw Her Today at the Cocktail Party, A Glass of Wine in Her Hand

by T Kyle King on Oct 31, 2009 10:39 PM EDT in Football Comment 163 comments

That, quite simply, was as bad as it possibly could have been.

All of our excuses were exposed as falsehoods and all of our hopes were reduced to dust. The open date is meaningless, as are the coincidences about defending national champions and 19-year cycles. Yes, the officiating was atrocious, as usual, but we know we’re not getting the benefit of any doubts and we keep making the same mistakes, anyway. Besides, I can’t claim with a clear conscience that blown calls by the referees have cost the Bulldogs a game since Jasper Sanks’s "fumble."

Georgia has gone 7-6 in the Bulldogs’ last thirteen games. These results keep recurring for reasons that continue to be repeated. This is where we are as a program. There is no explaining this away.

There were points at which it appeared that the Bulldogs at least would make a game of it. Coming back from fourteen points down to make it a four-point ballgame in the second quarter, then cutting the deficit to 31-17 in the third period and forcing a punt on Florida’s next series, gave cause for hope that the score would be respectable. This year, unlike last year, the Red and Black did not quit when they got behind.

Otherwise, though, it was a repeat of 2008. Last year, despite the final margins appearing on the scoreboard, Alabama outplayed Georgia to a much greater extent than Florida did. This year, the Bulldogs absorbed a much worse drubbing from the Volunteers than from the Gators. Nevertheless, the score was what it was, and its impact is what it is. "Closer than the score indicated" is not synonymous with "close."

During Steve Spurrier’s tenure in Gainesville, Georgia simply was outclassed by Florida, and the results showed up in the record book: 38-7, 45-13, 52-14, 52-17, 47-7, 38-7. Between 2002 and 2007, though, the ‘Dawgs claimed a pair of victories in Jacksonville and never lost to the Sunshine State Saurians by more than a touchdown. There was reason to believe the two programs were on more or less equal footing.

After back-to-back blowouts by 49-10 and 41-17 scores, though, no such cause for confidence exists. Every gain the Georgia program has made since 2001 has been lost. We are now where we were in the 1990s. The glory run is over and we are back to square one.

There was, though, one potential positive to getting run out of the building by the St. John’s River, but we likely will not even derive that one possible benefit. On the whole, the defense played a terrible game, giving up 374 yards (including 210 on the ground), allowing 22 first downs, and permitting the Gators to move the chains on almost 54 per cent of their third-down chances. While there were some positive signs on offense and special teams, there were few, if any, on defense.

Nevertheless, the Georgia defense was not as awful in the second half as in the first. Florida scored fewer points in the third quarter than in any other period, which provides grist for the Willie Martinez apologists to claim that our defensive coordinator is better able to make adjustments than his detractors give him credit for being. After all, they will argue, you can’t pin every bit of this on Willie. Consider:

Seven of Florida’s points were set up by a Joe Cox interception at the Bulldogs’ 19 yard line which produced a three-play touchdown drive.

Three of Florida’s points were set up by another Cox interception at the Bulldogs’ 29 yard line which produced a seven-play drive on which Georgia surrendered only a field goal.

Seven of Florida’s points came off of a Logan Gray interception returned for a touchdown.

Accordingly, if you’re in a mood to be charitable, you can claim that Willie Martinez’s defense was only really to blame for 24 of the Gators’ points. That tally is comparable to the 23 points apiece conceded to Florida by Tennessee and Arkansas, and it’s better than the 29 given up to the Evergladers by Mississippi State. If the offense hadn’t turned the ball over four times and the special teams had been able to return a punt, the defense would have had a much better day. In short, anyone who’s looking to provide cover for Coach Martinez can come up with a basis for making excuses on his behalf.

So, it was as bad as it possibly could have been. Georgia didn’t win, didn’t keep it close, and yet, despite losing a blowout, didn’t lose the type of blowout that would have assured the end of Willie Martinez’s tenure with the Bulldogs. It was bad, but not bad enough, which, paradoxically, is worse.

The saddest and most frustrating part of it is that these players have talent to burn, are playing with heart, and want to win, but their gifts are being squandered. A wealth of NFL-caliber ability is going to waste before our very eyes. We have been down this road before and, although everyone agrees we are on this road again, no one seems determined to slam on the brakes, turn the car around, or even make sure the driver has a valid license.

Edna St. Vincent Millay was quoted as saying, "It’s not true that life is one damn thing after another; it’s one damn thing over and over." Right now, Georgia football is four or five damn things over and over. Big-game collapses, personal foul penalties, multiple turnovers, letting second-rate offenses have breakout days, and player arrests for petty traffic offenses define the Bulldog football program at this moment, and the only solutions we seem to have involve seeing red articles of clothing and wanting to paint them black. As we shall see, we’re drawing our inspiration from the wrong Rolling Stones song.

In 1992, as I sat numb and dumbfounded in the passenger seat of my father’s car while we drove away from Jacksonville after seeing Ray Goff’s best team beaten by Steve Spurrier’s worst team, a realization dawned clearly and completely in my mind: No Ray Goff-coached team will ever beat a Steve Spurrier-coached team. None ever did.

Today, this realization came to me with equal clarity and certainty: The current Georgia coaching staff will never beat the current Florida coaching staff. One or the other must change before we will ever win in Jacksonville again. Given the career day Steve Addazio had today after previously doing a poor job as Dan Mullen’s successor, it probably is the case that even changes on the Gators’ staff wouldn’t do us any good, because Urban Meyer is enough of a perfectionist that he would insist upon replacing any current assistants with coaches of equal or greater ability. The brief Ron Zook interlude notwithstanding, the Gators do not trade down; Florida chooses coaches the way John Derek chose wives.

This is going to keep happening. If Gray’s performance in relief of Cox is any indication, we already are well on our way to losing every big game in 2010. As a program, we have been lapped by our coevals. Changes are needed, and, until those changes are made, we will continue falling farther behind programs that ought to be our equals and are now instead our superiors.

The systemic problems endemic to our program have reached the extreme levels they had reached in 1995, and the solutions to those problems must be as extreme now as they were then. I am no defender of Jim Donnan, but at least he did not tarry before sacking Kevin Ramsey. We are at---we are long past---that point.

At the time Coach Donnan was fired, I was the co-host of a local cable television program called "The Dawg Show." While the search for a new coach was ongoing, my co-host, Travis Rice, and I endorsed Mark Richt as the best of the available candidates, and, from literally the moment the Florida State offensive coordinator was hired, I bought in wholeheartedly to the notion that Coach Richt would retire as the winningest coach in Georgia football history. The Mark Richt Victory Watch began with his very first game on the Sanford Stadium sideline.

I do not doubt that Mark Richt can still surpass Vince Dooley to become the most successful coach in University of Georgia history, but today, for the first time, I am no longer sure he will. When my head hit the pillow on the night of December 26, 2000, I was sure Coach Richt would get to 202 victories during his tenure in Athens. When my head hit the pillow on the night of October 30, 2009, I remained sure of the inevitability of that milestone, as I had remained sure each night in between. Tonight, my head will hit the pillow clouded by doubt as to the certainty of that which I have believed without wavering for nearly nine uninterrupted years.

I do not want anyone other than Mark Richt to be our head coach, but I need someone other than Willie Martinez to be our defensive coordinator. I hope and believe Mark Richt is the head coach who will replace Willie Martinez with someone more competent to perform the vital duties which presently are so consistently being performed so poorly and so unsatisfactorily. I know, though, that the Georgia Bulldogs must be led by the head coach who will make what ought not to be a hard choice.

I am proud to call Mark Richt my head coach. I hope to be able to support him in that post for many years to come. If, however, I am forced to choose---if my head coach tells me, in effect, that he and his defensive coordinator are a package deal---then I am now prepared to give up what I personally would prefer in order to obtain that which is dictated by clear necessity.

I want Mark Richt to lead our program, in 2010 and beyond. I believe Mark Richt, like Vince Dooley in the mid-1970s, can make the necessary changes to restore the Georgia program to its proper lofty level. Much more fundamentally, though, I need days like this to quit happening with such appalling regularity, and I, like all of you, know damn good and well what it will take to make days like this stop. I also know that the Glimmer Twins were right . . . you can’t always get what you want, but, if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.

Go ‘Dawgs.

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100% agreement

Kyle, not for the first time you have taken all my thoughts and feelings and expounded upon them and expressed them better than I could. I can agree more. Early this year I argued for a wholesale coaching change, to include Bobo. I imagine Coach Bobo is staying – but I still stand by a house cleaning otherwise. The absolute lack of fundamentals and discipline are beyond a minor tweak and a massive dose of fresh blood, new ideas and extreme motivation are needed to stop this abhorent stagnation. And, God Bless him and I love him, but. In fact Coach Richt is unable to pull the trigger as lead dawg, then he is not the man needed to be he highest paid official in the state of Georgia. January will tell the tale.

by tankertoad on Oct 31, 2009 11:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Excellent and Concise Thoughts

I gave up on them after the Alabama game last year. After following Ga. football for 43 yrs. I am worn out from all the unfulfilled expectations. When I think about it being 29 yrs. since Ga. won a national championship, I can’t believe I was deluded into thinking that this is a potential title winning school. IT IS NOT. I have said it many time and I repeat. If mediocrity is the norm for a school it is policy , not chance.Given the money spent on coaching,the caliber of recruits, and the super fan base,something is very wrong with the football program, but do not expect a change!

by Chancery on Nov 1, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

kyle, having read your article about 10 times now

and having read your works for 15 years now, this is sincerely a fine one. I would recommend just leaving this one up for a while, 3 days even. . What I read over at the AJC was pathetc in comparison. You dont get on the Richt is never going to do it rant but yet you dont give him a pass either. Its really, really good. I loved you at " or even make sure the driver has a valid license".

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't want Richt anymore...

He doesn’t show understanding that schemes have to change. He hasn’t shown the ability to make changes when they are due. Don’t give him credit for what will happen after this year, the changes are overdue and are more likely forced, not willingly made. The only way Richt will win 200 games at GA is if the administration gives up on the football program. Since that is not happening, I think we need to solve this problem sooner rather than let it fester longer. In the words of Barney Fife, let’s nip it in the bud. GA is a premier program. We need a premier coach. We don’t need to be a training center for a coach as we have been with Richt. There is no reason that a school who has had as much advantages as we have had over the last 10 years should EVER be in the position we are currently. Mark Richt:UGA::John Cooper:OSU. Sometimes, despite overall success, changes still must be made.

by rxmaster on Oct 31, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Coop

The Cooper analogy is pretty close, except that Cooper just couldn’t beat Michigan. In addition to not being able to beat UF, Richt is a coin flip against UT, always a threat to lose to USC, and will probably lose his second in a row to Tech in a few weeks.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For what it's worth . . .

. . . Georgia’s record against Tennessee prior to Mark Richt’s arrival was 11-17-2. Since then, it has been 5-4. A coin flip is a marked improvement.

Likewise, the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks have met 62 times. 26 of those games, or more than 40 per cent, have been decided by seven or fewer points. We’ve always been “a threat to lose to USC” in the sense that the games almost always have gone down to the wire . . . and Mark Richt is 5-2 in nailbiters against the Palmetto State Poultry.

In his first nine years on the Georgia sideline, Vince Dooley was 7-2 against Georgia Tech, with a two-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets in 1969 and 1970. How’d Coach Dooley work out for us?

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And without Herschel Walker, does anyone even consider Dooley to be a success?

Can you run some stats on Dooley’s coaching resume without 80, 81, and 82?

My point being: Do we have a Herschel Walker about to show up on the team?

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not yet...

I am going to need a good nights sleep and a cup of coffee before I am able to properly reply to this wonderfully worded, well put post. Thanks for bringing up the Stones, it makes this bitter pill we swallow almost every year a bit more tolerable. Now, off to bed.

I think Erk Russell could have kicked Clint Eastwood and John Wayne's butts with a corn cob and one hand tied behind his back. GATA!

by AeroDawg on Oct 31, 2009 11:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WTF?

I thought CMR was supposed to know QBs? If so, what’s Logan Gray doing out there? It’s clear the coaches have no confidence in him as the majority of the time the only thing he’s allowed to do is call fair catch on punts. We have A. Murray who is supposed to be one of the best QBs out of high school. Why aren’t we putting him in the game NOW as this season is over and we need to get him ready for next year. If he’s as good as he’s supposed to be he’s only going to stay 3 years anyway.

by DallasDawg on Oct 31, 2009 11:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i thought

“there are not words” but these are there words. Thank you for saying what I can’t and for saying better than I ever would have. I’m still too hurt by the performances thus far and by today’s abomination in particular to put my thoughts into many words. I can only say this – this team, this staff, is about to make alcoholics out of a whole lot of fans. I feel like we’ve become ~~Vanderbilt~~ Directional tech. This just. hurts.

by podunkdawg on Oct 31, 2009 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Something just is not right.

It is difficult to reconcile Richt’s accomplishments overall when paired with the 2-7 record against Jorts U. It goes beyond just the accumulation of players. It’s the mentality, its the approach. It’s not keeping up with the competition. This program has been sliding since 2005, with the exception of 2007 being just part of that one crazy year in college football. There’s no driving push behind this program any more. The competition hasn’t been sitting still. Status quo won’t cut it any more.

by Farsider on Oct 31, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another thought on a house cleaning

If CMR & Daman Evans don’t clean house – it’s basically a signal that last year and this one are acceptable. Read: Come to UGA as a coach with complete job security. That is a horrible message to send. For the people arguing for “fire CMR”- please don’t. We aren’t there this year. There are other changes to try first in 2010. This is a massive business and firing and rehiring a head coach based on a bad year is not going to happen, and doesn’t make sense, unless you are Alabama. As I said, the changes, or lack thereof in 2010 will spell out the ADs and CMR’s ability to make the hard call.

by tankertoad on Oct 31, 2009 11:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

The real problem...

Is that that particular mindset runs throughout the entire program. So say that you’re Mr. 5 star recruit from South Florida who can run faster than anyone had ever imagined. You get offers from all the big schools (including UGA), the main difference being the one that comes from UGA.

You come up to Athens and you’re wined and dined like all the rest, shown our multi-million dollar facilities, taken to parties and left there, and finally taken to CMR’s basement where you play ping pong with all of the other recruits. There they explain that once you have a scholarship to UGA, you keep it.

This might not seem like a big deal to the general audience, but at the other big time D1 schools, there is never a promise even remotely close to that. But why should there be? You can run faster than anyone else. Until you start showing up to practice drunk, not working out, or not caring in general about the program. At USC, UF, UT, ect, they will yank that scholarship and give it to some walk on who is busting his tail to make himself better. So it essentially is, job security for players. It’s not really that big of a deal when you have guys like Pollack and Green, who will destroy themselves for the benefit of the team, but there is absolutely no sense of urgency in anything even closely related to UGA football.

by rbaile28 on Nov 1, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this is an interesting look

but offhand i dont know of that many “5 star recruits” having their scholarships yanked pretty much anywhere. I am not saying it hasnt happened, but I dont think it is that common at the schools you listed. I will say, however, there is probably a lot more fear / respect of the head coach at those schools than there is of CMR. As I said on a fanpost a few weeks ago – if i was in trouble and had to chose between CMR’s office to get my butt chewed and Nick Saban’s, I know which I would pick easily. Perhaps there is some truth that CMR is somewhat too much of a friend of players. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, part of being an outstanding steward of an amazing academic institution is making better people, not just rings. CMR is probably one of the best in the nation and helping young men become better citizens, perhaps his balance just needs to tip a little in the category of not accepting mediocraty.

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I'm not going to fault Mark Richt . . .

. . . for honoring his word to these kids, if only because I don’t want MGoBlog going after Mark Richt the way Brian goes after Nick Saban.

You can honor a kid’s scholarship and still take away playing time. I agree with tankertoad that there needs to be more accountability, but sterner measures can be taken without going to extremes.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Could that Rolling Stones song be "Rocks Off"?

“Heading for the overload,
Splattered on the dirty road,
Kick me like you’ve kicked before,
I can’t even feel the pain no more.”

"When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail."

by Bravely going forward on Nov 1, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No...

That song is, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

Click here for the Wiki, and <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=6&ved=0CCUQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lyricsdomain.com%2F18%2Frolling_stones%2Fyou_cant_always_get_what_you_want.html&rct=j&q=rolling+stones+can%27t+always+get+what+you+want&ei=jRDtSpbLMtWUtge4oqU7&usg=AFQjCNEI9ub2c6Jb513nD58IDH7IFS3fSA" >here for the lyrics.

"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman

by outsidethesidelines on Nov 1, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HTML formatting fail, but you get the point.

"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman

by outsidethesidelines on Nov 1, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i still like mine better ;)

"When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail."

by Bravely going forward on Nov 1, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Your post offers at least a harbor in a terrible storm

“The current Georgia coaching staff will never beat the current Florida coaching staff. " That sentence really hit home. Unfortunately, it is true and currently defines the state of the Georgia program. Even more unfortunately, I will take it a step further: “The current Georgia coaching staff will never beat the current Georgia Tech coaching staff.” It hurts to write that but I firmly believe it to be true.

I am a huge supporter of Mark Richt, but I have real problems with (a) his lack of proactivity in changing staff, making improvements, addressing shortcoming, etc. and (b) his disturbing trend of using what I consider gimmicks.

In terms of lacking proactivity, it seems that Richt is always reacting rather than creating an atmosphere of excellence that anticipates issues and/or addresses issues before they become full blown problems. For instance, penalties have been a problem for two years running. It shouldn’t still be happening but it is—however, each week we hear the same quote from Coach Richt that penalities are a problem and need to be fixed. Well then…fix them.

In terms of gimmicks, I just can’t stand them. At some point, in order to win consistently, you need to approach the sport from the aspects of fundamentals. It’s about tackling, assignments, beating your man, staying disciplined, playing smart, knowing the situation, controlling your emotions, and competitive greatness. Throwing out alternative jerseys on an ad hoc basis is the antithesis of this. It generates a sugar rush that will fade quickly after the first hit. It generates distraction for the players and coaches when we need to be focused before a game. You know what the best rush is? Winning.

What needs to be done? Coach Martinez needs to be replaced. It is a season too late, so let’s not make it 2 seasons too late. Coach Bobo is fine and should be allowed to grow into the position. We can score points under Bobo—we just need to upgrade from Cox and Grey. We need to hire a dedicated specials teams coach or make Coach Ball the special teams coach; move Coach McClendon to WRs; and hire a new RBs coach. Finally, we need to start playing Murray starting this coming week. Our entire goal should be to beat Georgia Tech this year and to prove my assertion at the start of this post wrong.

(Before closing—did others catch the scumbag Spikes trying to gouge Ealey in the eyes near the goal line after they were jawing for a while? If that doesn’t garner a suspension after a league review, then the system is broke. When someone purposely goes after a player’s safety, he should be punished—severely. Spikes is a piece of garbage.)

by Dienekes on Nov 1, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great post - very thoughtful - thank you

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 12:18 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Bobo is fine?

Grow into the position?

Uh no. You don’t GROW into the OC or DC position. You “grow” as a grad assistant or a position coach. Not as the damn offensive coordinator.

Bobo sucks too. Not as badly as Martinez, but our offensive has been uncreative crap as well for the last 3 years.

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes it is on Dr. Saturday's Post....

I cannot believe all the BS we have to put up with from the whining & crying from other teams/fans about our players personal fouls & unnecessary roughness!!!
Spikes should be suspended for the rest of the year! Playing football throughout High School & (2) years of college ball-things happen “in the pile” BUT to try and purposely poke/scratch at another players eyes-should be considered a criminal offense!!

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We can still salvage this season...

with a win in Atlanta on Nov 28. Yes, the loss was bad, but we could still own our state with a victory over our instate rival. If not, I can tell you that 2009 is a year from hell for me and probably for a lot of people. I really can’t say this year has been a good year for anyone. The Georgia flood, high unemployment, …. Can I say more?

by thefirstgenesis on Nov 1, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

While they looked almost identical,

Bo was definitely a downgrade from Linda Evans.

by CraigT on Nov 1, 2009 12:23 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Upon this point, as upon many, many others . . .

. . . we could not more completely disagree.

Linda Evans was clearly the weakest of the three.

The man did, however, have a distinct “type.”

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We don't have the iconic image of Linda

that we do with Ursula coming out of the water in Dr. No and Bo running on the beach in 10, but I’ll argue that, while none of them were great actresses, Linda had the most successful post-Derek career of the three. Sure, it was a night-time soap, not high art, but it did involve dialog, not just getting naked (with or without paint).

Bo comes out ahead in getting naked on screen, and Ursula was the hottest of the three. It’s definitely a matter of personal taste.

by CraigT on Nov 1, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They're all three completely indistinguishable to me.

I reckon it’s because I lack the specialist’s eye.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm losing faith...

Every year is the the same old song and dance. We won the SEC twice this decade and both times we lost to Florida. Until we start winning 1/2 our games against the Gators we’re just an also ran in the SEC.

We can’t claim to be an elite school when one of our rivals is 17-3 against in the past 20 years. They beat the crap out of us on a regular basis. It’s embarrassing.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 12:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Martinez, Fabris, and Bobo have to go.

Don’t get sucked into thinking Bobo is fine just because he isn’t as bad as Martinez.

Our offense is almost as bad as our defense guys.

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 12:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Muckbeast

4 games ago i said I wanted a full house cleaning. But I also have to be realistic that the OC & DC are not both getting tanked the same year. That would be an absolute mess. Bobo wasn’t briliant, and I am not a fan, but the execution was far worse than the called plays.

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 12:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Being not a complete Martinez level disaster isn’t good enough.

We need top notch quality at OC and DC. We can’t just fix one without the other.

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe we've seen this before

but it seems so appropriate:

CWM indicted on felony theft charges

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Podunkdawg

That kind of humor may get me out of wichita and down to god forsaken Tulsa yet! I just recently made the trip to Enid.

I am out and just heard the statement " the only thing about a gay bar…..". And this is the home of wyatt earp…. Dios mio.

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 1:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

LOL and why

do you say “god forsaken Tulsa”???? Just what precisely is so horrible about Tulsa?

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's in oklahoma - and I got 14 months of my life in that state

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 1:28 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

let me guess

altus. in that case i am SO sorry. I promise this side of Oklahoma doesn’t resemble altus even a little tiny bit.

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i should explain a bit

i work for a gov’t contractor that currently has a few contracts dealing with the KC135 training devices, so I know which bases they are located at (and what a tankertoad is.)

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

roger - but there isnt any place in Ok i havent been

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

then you must admit

Tulsa is no altus….i know they use the same 5 letters, just re-ordered, but that means nothing. Tulsa is a lovely metropolis. Besides, the last time I was in Wichita they had a sign up at the toll booth informing travelers that the tolls were temporarily free b/c toll takers had all sought shelter due to tornado warning…….oh and something about proceed at your own risk……

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

SEC East Pecking order

1 ) Florida
2) Vols
3) Georgia
4) USC
5) Kentucky
6) Vandy

Let’s not fool ourselves. The Vols have been crap for the past four years and have beat us 3 times. There’s no reason to believe they won’t stop us next year.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right now . . .

. . . I’m not too sure I’d put us above South Carolina.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know, but at least we beat them on a somewhat regular basis.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I won't say it was a fluke

But at this point I consider beating sc an absolute luck-a-thon

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 1:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I just figured

the Evil Genius did something to upset the Prince of Darkness and was being taught a lesson……

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I view it differently

Our poor play in that game made it close when it should have been a blowout. Stupid gaffes like fumbling a return that should have been knelt down in the end zone or snapping out the back of the end zone on a punt made that contest competitive.

That’s not to say we should be proud of that effort—-we certainly shouldn’t—-but we need to be clear on what the problems were. Georgia failed to put away a team we could and should have put away. Do that often enough against teams you should beat and you’ll end up getting throttled by teams that ought to be your equals.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am quickly losing confidence in Richt

on many fronts.

1. As someone stated earlier, Martinez has been around one year to long. Richt has to take ownership for Martinez and the terrible defense the last two seasons. It has been proven that Martinez cannot adjust his schemes during a game. The last really good defensive game I remember was when Georgia played Hawaii.

2. Bobo was a crappy quarterback and as crappy an OC. Regardless of player quality the offense has had problems with inconsistency. This year is worse because Cox makes stupid decisions during games, like he did today. Richt has to take ownership for the OC.

3. Under Richt we haven’t consistently beaten Tenn., FL or GT. Now the SEC has added Saban, Kifin and many other very good coaches. Does Richt have the were with all to coach against the current crop of SEC coaches? I’m beginning to think not.

4. Two years ago Richt publically complained about Georgia not being No.1 after smashing Hawaii. Georgia was preseason No. 1 the following season (last year) and the ended up with three looses and had their butts handed to them by GT. This year is a complete collapse. Some will blame it on losing Stafford and Moreno, big shoes to fill but there is talent on the team, talent to be better then 4 and 4. It comes down to adjustments in the offensive schemes. Didn’t happen. Bobo can’t get it done and it rests on Richt.

I’m for keeping Richt if he makes BIG changes in the offseason. If he keep the current coaching staff I’m done with him. The big problem with last year and this season is the potential of hurting recruiting.

by mwalex on Nov 1, 2009 1:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

> Under Richt we haven’t consistently beaten Tenn., FL or GT.

Wait a second.

Isn’t Richt 7-1 against GT?

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for the confusion, I meant consistently in a season Richt has not been able to beat TN, FL, or GT. Not individually but two or more of those teams in a season. You could proabably throw Auburn into the mix also.

Also, 7-1 against GT should not carry as much weight as FL, TN or Auburn, since GT isn’t in the SEC. State rival yes, a loss would drop UGA in the polls but not in the conference. I’d rather be 1-7 against GT and 7-1 against the likes of FL.

by mwalex on Nov 1, 2009 11:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As an Auburn fan, I know that you've handed us our butts several years in a row. Sadly, you can't throw us into that mix.

by aubie2 on Nov 1, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Perspective

Someone can check my numbers, but I’m pretty sure we’ve beaten Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, and Tech all in the same season exactly twice in the history of football at UGA. It’s not hard to figure out when that was.

If you take out Tennessee, whom we didn’t play on any kind of regular basis until the conference expansion, we’ve beaten the three remaining rivals all in the same season exactly 16 times out of 87 opportunities, including this year. Half of those seasons were before Dooley was hired. Dooley did it 7 times, Richt once (2007, but lost to Tennessee).

I think it’s fair to say that we’ve beaten all of our major rivals “on a consistent basis” only once in our history, during a three-year period when we had the greatest player in the history of our program and lost only one regular-season game, and that was to the fourth major rival.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I trust your numbers

but until we can beat the likes of FL, TN and Auburn on a yearly basis, at least two of the three, GA will not be a contender for the SEC-E. Especially when you look at the strides that SC, AR and some of the other programs are making.

by mwalex on Nov 1, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well its about time

Its about time that y’all came around to where I have been for years. I like Mark Richt but there are a myriad of reasons he will not be the head coach of UGA on Dec 31, 2011.

The tone of the radio shows was noticably different today – both pre-game and post-game. I knew Donnan was done when the grumbling started coming from not only the callers but also the paid talent. The whispering has started and Richt will leave – I hope he leaves before he is pushed.

It is premature for me to do my “Told You So Dance”…but I am rehearsing it.

by Blogger who came in from the cold on Nov 1, 2009 1:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I must have misunderstood you

I always thought your forecast was that Mark Richt would leave voluntarily to go to Florida State or Miami, not that he would be fired.

Please understand, I’m not in favor of firing him . . . I just recognize that changes have to be made. I hope Mark Richt is the man to make them, but, if he’s not, we’re at the point at which a change at the top is required.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No - you had it right

I did and still do. And I think that UGA won’t chase him when he starts to investigate other options – but I think he may widen his scope of schools that he is willing to consider. It may not be ONLY FSU and The U.

Rumblings from FSU have lots of folks unhappy with Bowden and it may get so that his annointed successor (Jimbo something) finds a way to not take the job if Bowden is being run out.

In any event – I think that the tide has turned and I think Richt is gone before the Opener in 2012. Sort of a Mayan Apocolypse visits Bulldog Football.

by Blogger who came in from the cold on Nov 1, 2009 9:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Popular predictions are usually wrong

Everyone is upset… everyone agrees that getting bashed by Florida and Tennessee are not only unacceptable, but require immediate reversal… and at this point in time, everyone is saying that “maybe Mark Right might not last much longer.”

Let’s at least wait until the end of the season before writing Mark Richt’s epitaph and predicting that he’ll be Fulmer’ed or Tuberville’d.

I think Richt will have heard the bell tolling, has probably already discussed personnel changes with Damon Evans, and will make significant changes in the offseason. The problem is that we have to get to the offseason first.

The worst part about college football is that everybody is always ready to jump off the cliff like a lemming at the first sign of trouble. I’ll give you the argument that this isn’t the “first sign of trouble,” but let’s not yet bury the best coach Georgia has had in at least 21 years.

I will also readily accept that fact that seemingly everyone called for Willie’s firing at the end of the 2008 season, Richt didn’t listen, and as a result we’re reaping the defensive embarrassments of 2009. Mark Richt has never been a man to make radical changes to his coaching staff quickly, though… we’ve seen that over and over through the years. Coaches have to leave before he’ll replace them. As I said, though, I don’t think we’ll have that problem this year.

If Richt doesn’t sack Martinez (at least) in the offseason… then let’s talk about how much longer he’ll be around. Until then, be patient. (I understand the word “patient” has been lost from the vocabulary of college football today, but for the love of ~~God~~ the Georgia football program, please re-learn it.)

by vineyarddawg on Nov 1, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who Else???

I agree! And by the way, who else would come to coach at UGA??? We are a mid-level team at best (let’s not kid ourselves into thinking we are an elite squad – we haven’t been since “you know who” left in his Jr. year), although the fan’s expectations are that of an elite team’s. Until the $$supporters agree to pay the BIG $$$ and hire some HUGE name, then that is what we will remain….Tied for the middle tier of the SEC- East division (with South Carolina, by the way)!

by saddawg on Nov 2, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Posts like these,

eloquent even in defeat, are why I read this blog.

A glass raised to a gritty effort by your Dawgs.

by wangalusa on Nov 1, 2009 1:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No excuses can add up

For ya’lls defense to be as bad as it is, you consistently recruit too well to be THIS bad. Willie Martinez should be shown the door, a monkey would do better.

But even if Richt does cave in, as we made Tommy Bowden cave on staff changes, it will still take 2 years to re-educate the players into a good defense no matter who you get. It takes time to overcome bad coaching.

Shakinthesouthland.com-Clemson football analysis

by DrB on Nov 1, 2009 1:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My "uh oh" moment..

It came when I (and Tebow/Addazio) realized that Bryan Evans was starting.

It is apparent that this current UGA staff needs a major shake-up. My unsolicited advice to Coach Richt would be to make some before Damon does.

by Hobnail_Boot on Nov 1, 2009 2:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it true that Rambo barely even played? WTF? Did he sleep with Martinez’ wife or something?

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh.

In the stands, we were incredulous about this. Why is Bryan Evans playing? I understand he’s a senior, but there are plenty of seniors who are walkons and aren’t playing and nobody really cares about their feelings.

Prince isn’t far off, either.

by blackertai on Nov 1, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Help me out!!

Is there ever a reason, under any circumstance, why a receiver would be so wide open that my 32" HD-LCD T.V. didn’t even show a UGA player on the screen. I never played “in the arena” so I am not sure, that’s why I’m askin’?

by saddawg on Nov 2, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not JUST Martinez...

I agree wholeheartedly with your column except for one thing…no mention of Bobo. I cannot believe people arent seeing how TOTALLY incompetant he is at calling plays at this level! This whole season he has done the same thing, if a play works once in the beginning of a game-he uses it throught the whole game! and in critical situations! Florida used the whole field and different misdirection plays to keep us guessing. Is that such a far-fetched idea?!! Why?…Why cant he figure out that he needs different plays? In talking to a fellow fan before the game I said"we better have atleast 10 to 15 new plays that they have NEVER seen before". Richt needs to fire ALL his coaches and recruit the best coaches in the country for a team and a fanbase that deserves the best.We were outcoached in every aspect of the game. FUNDAMENTALS !

by James W on Nov 1, 2009 7:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If not for incompetent play by our QB Georgia was moving the ball better than LSU and Tennessee did against the Gators. Cox missed a TD pass on our first scoring drive. I’m not sure what people want from Bobo. Had the defense kept us in the game I think we could have run the ball more.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Had the offense

not handed Florida 17 points in 3 interceptions………the score would’ve been 24-17 tops. But no, we HAD to spot ANOTHER opponent 14+ points. Kind of makes me wonder why we even bother to show up????

No doubt or argument that our D stinks like 3 day old fish, but the most consistent thing we’re doing is gifting points…T. Kyle – we all know your specialty is stats – but if I’m not mistaken, in each of our losses (and some of our wins) this season we have given our opponent at least 14 points in turnovers.

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 9:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

I looked up the stats for all of our games this season (at georgiadogs.com) and here’s where we are:
On the season we have handed the ball over 20 times – 12 interceptions & 8 fumbles for a total of 89 points given to our opponents on turnovers. The only teams we did not give points to were LSU and Vanderbilt.
OSU got 10 points, Arkansas & Arizona State got 14 each, and the remaining three opponents, South Carolina, Tennessee & Florida got 17 points each.

Call me crazy, but in my little brain it’s awfully hard to win ballgames when you spot your opponent 10 plus points.

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe send the practice squad???

I have been so bothered the last 20 years….yes, the last twenty years by the fact that we have beaten Florida only 3 times. Do you remember how badly Spurrier would put a beat down on us? They scored so many points and held us to so few that we needed three years worth of touch-downs just to match their points for one game. Seriously, why do we keep going??? It is obvious we can’t win! Save the money and the health of the players and just send the practice squad….Sure, send Bobo and Martinez….maybe a little practice wouldn’t hurt them either!

by saddawg on Nov 2, 2009 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Second that Motion!

Can’t understand the overt omission of Bobo in the “fire coaches” conversaton. Makes you go hmmmm….

by BibbCountyDawg on Nov 1, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, what do you people REALLY want?

We tailor our excuses to the way we played that day.

Oklahoma State? We abandoned the plays that work after our first drive.

Florida? We use the same plays over and over.

I’m in the camp that thinks Bobo isn’t terrible, and at least has improved this year when he has gotten the chance. Bad line play and spotty QB decisions will make any OC look like a dufus.

by Mr. Ace K on Nov 1, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Precisely

Mike Bobo is at least showing me something . . . and, in several of the losses over the last few years, the offense has scored more than enough points to win.

If we were consistently losing 17-14, I’d be pointing at the offensive side of the ball, but those aren’t the kinds of games we’re losing.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Offensive change is not nearly as imperative as defensive change is here.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 1, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

???

The one thing I have seen Bobo do consistently is in third and long situations he will choose to run a draw or some run play. He will occasionally throw in a screen. Any coach who watches film knows that UGA will shoot themselves in the foot, be 3rd and long and run it. It’s relatively easy to defend that if you have SEC caliber players!

by saddawg on Nov 2, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very well stated...

… but this is one article that actually could have been summarized into this three-sentence quote:

Every gain the Georgia program has made since 2001 has been lost. We are now where we were in the 1990s. The glory run is over and we are back to square one.

I can’t add anything that hasn’t been already said. The path we’re on must be turned around. Changes must be made.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 1, 2009 8:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

penalties & turnovers

Penalties and turnovers can be directly contributed to the lack of discipline. What ever happen to coaches running players till they puke after making mistakes. I guarentee CMR doesnt make them run for their on the field mistakes. I bet, if the players knew that they would be puking their guts out the next day they wouldnt grab a facemask or fumble/throw an interception.

by sbm10 on Nov 1, 2009 8:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts.....

-What the hell did we do during the bye week? It looked like the same old offense and same old defense out there. I know that you don’t make wholesale schematic changes in a two week period, but it didn’t look like we did anything to improve.

-Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever wear anything other than red helmets, white/red jerseys and silver britches. NEVER EVER EVER do any of this gimmick uniform bull$hit again. EVER!

-Joe Cox needs to get a ballcap and start working on his coaching career now. As far as I am concerned he had taken his last snap as the QB of UGA. When you have a 5th year senior making freshman mistakes and trying to force passes it is time to make a change. Joe didn’t single handedly cost us the game but he had a very big part in it. It is obvious Logan Gray is not the answer at QB either, that much is painfully obvious. We really should have burned Murray’s redshirt earlier this year and gotten him some playing time.

-Waushaun Ealey is the real deal. So is Caleb King. If we give these guys some blocking they are going to be really good backs. Richard Samuel is going to be a great LB one day.

-As a whole I don’t think the defense played that badly. The first drive was bad, but how many times have you seen a team with a scripted first drive go down the field and look great against a Defense and then do nothing the rest of the game (UGA V OSU anyone?), and the second TD that Jorts Cooper caught was about as good of a pass and catch as you can make. There is no defense for a 56 yd FG either, that was a hell of a kick. Take out the pick six and 3 Joe Cox INT’s that were turned into points and the score is 20-17 or 24-17 which is about where most people thought it would be. I did notice that our D looked slow whether in coverage or pursuit. Where is all this speed we have been recruiting over the years?

-I didn’t have a problem with Bobo’s playcalling either. The plays that didn’t work were more a result of poor execution or stupid penalties than poor play calling. Although I do question on 3 and 17 why we didn’t throw a screen instead of trying to force one to AJ Green. I also thought the O line blocked better (at least in the first half) than they have all year.

-I can’t help but think about the 2003 game where we had a vastly superior team talent wise but still managed to lose. That was the year that Flordia took the bye week and pretty much put in about 10 variations of the bubble screen and beat us. How come we couldn’t do something similar this year?

-I don’t think we have regressed to the Donnan/Goff years quite yet. My opinion (FWIW) is that this year was a “perfect storm” of several events.

1. A very young team-10 of 11 starters return on Offense (if you don’t count M.Moore as a starter), and 8 of 11 starters return on Defense (All 3 DT’s are Sr’s as well as B. Evans {thank God he is leaving}). Add to that that most of the starters are FR, RFR, SO and RSO (very few JR starters).

2. An insanely hard schedule. Opening the season at Okie State gave us no chance to expose our young team to game conditions at a lower level, add into that the grind that is the SEC and non conference games against ASU and GT and it takes a toll on a team.

3. Missing one some big time recruits the past few years. AJ Green is as advertised, beyond that I think it is safe to say that for all the hype our recruiting has had the past 3-4 years a majority of the guys haven’t panned out. I don’t know if that is coaching or the fact that they were not that good to begin with, but we don’t seem to have the talent that we had 2002-2005.

I am as ill as anyone over the game yesterday and I am tired of getting blown out at least once or twice a year. I do think that there need to be coaching changes in the offseason, I also think we need to do a better job of evaluating talent that we recruit. That all being said I don’t think all is lost and we are going to sink back into mediocrity for the forseeable future. The next few years look bright with all the returning players we have for 2010 and 2011. Couple that with a more manageable schedule and we should be back to winning 10 games a year very soon.

Keep the faith Dawg fans….it will get better.

(Disclaimer: I reserve the right to blow this entire post up and become a raving lunatic if Willie is retained and next year is more of the same. If that does happen then I will fully support replacing Mark Richt)

by RocketDawg on Nov 1, 2009 8:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed! Almost...

Great objectivity. Agree fully with the future being bright considering the youngsters are getting the majority of snaps of both sides of the ball (QB, however, being the glaring exception). Having said that, Bro, its time to get of Bobo as well as Martinez.

Here’s a quick litmus test for ya: Is there any program (High School, Junior College, NCAA level whatever, or Pro’s) headhunting for any of Georgia Coaches? If the answer is No-how good is he? Not very good and time to get rid of him because he is average at best. If the answer is Yes- keep him, promote him, and give him a raise. Point being, mediocrity does not sell but excellence on the other hand will be courted by others and will be hard to keep. Georgia coaches aren’t being sought after and strangely enough that’s bothersome but also very telling.

by BibbCountyDawg on Nov 1, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Alabama and Tennessee wanted Garner. That’s a plus, right?

by blackertai on Nov 1, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You are dreaming about the uniform thing. Kids like it, and every team does it. We will keep doing it.

The thing to argue for is to make sure it is only done when EARNED.

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 9:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, a storm is threatening my very life today

The current Georgia coaching staff will never beat the current Florida coaching staff. One or the other must change before we will ever win in Jacksonville again.

You’re almost there Kyle, but not quite. WE as UGA fans, have got to stop seperating Richt from the “staff”. Richt IS the staff. Bringing in a whole new staff isn’t going to change the fact that they answer to Richt, that the players answer to Richt, and the Richt’s thumbprint is all over the program. Fulmer tried it and it bought him 2 years, but you can’t shake that foundation.

Nine years ago, we bought a new, shiny car. It was nicer than all of our neighbors’ cars. Over time, all of our neighbors bought their own newer, nicer, shinier cars. Now, even though our car is fine and we have some emotional attachment to it, we have to be realistic that compared to our neighbors, our car isn’t very nice or shiny anymore.

When Oklahoma beat FSU in the 2000 Orange Bowl, I remember Bob Stoops saying that he knew FSU hadn’t changed anything they did on offense from when he was at Florida in the mid-90’s. I guarantee that coaches can say the same thing about UGA’s offense and defense now.

We need a “staff” (but I think you know what I really mean), that comes from a background of HAVING to coach players up to win, not just rely on out-athleteing everyone. I would prefer either an NFL guy, where the talent is essentially equal, or a guy from the second biggest school in a state that has to fight and claw to get recruits (Miles, Saban).

At any rate, it’s going to be a rocky, ugly couple of years. Richt has built up a lot of good will, so no change will happen until the situation is a total grease fire.

Now, if I could just get you to come around on the absurdity of playing this game in Jax. If people don’t see how much more loose, comfortable, and aggressive UF is in Jax then say, on the road at LSU, UT, or even Miss. State, then I don’t know what to do. On top of having more talent and being better coached, they play in a game that is essentially a homecoming that they know they can’t lose. It is beyond stupid and simply all about greed and golf and a fall vacation.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 9:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

And yet . . .

. . . somehow, some way, we have a winning record against the Gators in Jacksonville.

Go figure.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

at the rate we’re going, we have about 9 years left that we can make that claim. The Gator program that we built that record on is not the one we’re dealing with now. Hanging on to the past is going to continue to hamstring our program.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just saying the Jacksonville excuse is weak

Does anyone seriously think yesterday’s game would have turned out differently in Sanford Stadium?

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I maybe explained that wrong...

We have enough current problems without concerning ourselves with any macro-level, long-term issues. Sadly, I think yesterday’s game would have been different if the coaching staffs were switched.

I guess the whole point of my post was that you stated yesterday that you had your “Florida, 1992” moment with regards to Richt. The point I should have just got to earlier was that UT this year was already my “Arkansas, 1993” moment.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 9:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I certainly understand and respect that point of view

I’m not there yet, but I know the decision that will determine whether and when I arrive at that point.

Your point about switching the coaching staffs is exactly what hit me in 1992. Had Steve Spurrier been coaching that Georgia team, and had Ray Goff been coaching that Florida team, the Red and Black would have won by at least two touchdowns, and probably much, much more.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 9:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

1992

I have a special connection to that game as well. That was my first GA/FL game. I was 11. To me, that game will ALWAYS be where the dynamic of the series turned. There is no reason Florida shouldn’t have gotten rolled in that game, but it didn’t happen. Sadly, 10 years later I was 21 and watched the second worst Florida team since I started watching football beat Richt’s best team.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 10:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Waterboy wants to know:

Mark,
1. How can you let the talent at UGA decline to the level it was when Dooley left the cupboard bare and could not get an established coach to take the job, leaving it to
a UGA guy with no experience?
2. How do you explain the steady decline in Georgia talent and achievement once the despised Jim Donnan recruits left the scene?
3. Do you not understand that the ability to run is an essential in a quarterback these days?
4. Do you not understand that loyalty to your friends will get you back to Tallahassee in a heartbeat?

Waterboy has seen enough. There is not one person other than AJ Green on this year’s offense that could start for another SEC team__including Vandy. And why is Rennie Curran afraid of Tim Tebow?

by Jujdog on Nov 1, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I bet Donnan is laughing his ass off. Richt is now swimming in the waters that Donnan did, rather than making hay against a down UT, a down GT, and UF coached by Zook (not that it did Richt any good). People hated Donnan, but he recognized talent and left Richt with a hell of a good situation. Richt had it better when he came in than our next coach will.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Can't Get No Satisfaction ....

Thanks for the Stones shout out and a truly great post, Kyle.

I agree 100% and will say Bobo must go too. Tailback up the middle on third and 17? WTF was that?

Willie should have put someone (Curren?) out there exclusively to stop Tebow’s running. Miller and Evans are fine high school players – but lost as a snowman in hell in the SEC.

With roughly the same talent level, the Gators look sharp, focused, and well coached. Georgia doesn’t look like any of these.

Why the continuing 15 yard penalties? It reminds me of the Eagles’ song “Train Leaves Here This Morning” featuring this line “I lost ten points just for being in the right place at exactly the wrong time”.

Do we have a D-1 quarterback on the team? If so, let him play.

It's a gas, gas, gas.

by Keith Richards on Nov 1, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The reality of today was unfathamable about 15 months ago...

After the resurgence of the 2006 team, which truly could have gone in the tank, I never felt prouder of a Georgia Bulldog unit. Prouder than the 1980 group, prouder than the 1978 “Wonderdogs.” I really felt like this was the “hiccup” we were all waiting for under Richt’s tutelage. We survived it and glory days were just around the corner, especially considering the collective talent on either side of the ball we possessed.

Then came 2007 and the early losses which led to more rumblings. These were ultimately squelched as the Dawgs finished the year strong and finished #2 in the Nation.

Flashback to about 15 months ago. Preseason #1 ranking. Incredible talent across the board. Tough schedule to be sure…but bring ’em on. Two blow-out losses later and a total, inexcusable defensive collapse to Tech led to the worst off-season Funk I can remember…and I can remember alot.

…until this year. Call it Grand Funk. The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs have not taken any steps forward. None. In fact, we’ve regressed. The blame for this does not fall on any "one’ coordinator. It falls squarely on everyone, top to bottom. I stated this in the GameDay Thread yesterday. I can accept losing, but what I cannot accept is stupid football. We are the National Distributor of stupid football right now. That doesn’t mean we have stupid players. We are not coaching them. This is the painful crux of the matter.

At this point, I don’t ever want to see another video clip, internet link, still photograph or cave-art showing anymore black anything. What we did yesterday boggles the mind. You’ve got two weeks to prepare and a gimmick is all you could come up with? It worked once against Auburn (okay, actually twice…but c’mon: Hawaii was a high-school team). Black shirts, black helmets, black pants should be shelved forever. The only thing black should be our trim on our uniforms. If a player wants to wear black, put on a black t-shirt underneath your RED top as you strap on your RED helmet. Gimmicks are for Madison Avenue. Not the SE freakin’ C.

I’m really on the fence about coach Richt. If he wants to start Logan Gray the rest of the way, that’s fine. Murray is not ready physically, and Mettenberger’s redshirt should not be lifted at this point. I hope they develop Mettenberger because he’s got the arm and, more importantly, he’s got the height to get the ball over the top of bull-rushing defensive ends with large wingspans. I admire Cox’ leadership and grit, but his arm is simply too weak to be playing right now. And he cannot see over the top of a pile of Lego’s. Yep, he should don the baseball cap, grab and clipboard and observe the rest of the way. A fine coach he’ll make one day, but as Dirty Harry once said, “A man has got to know his limitations.”

I could not have imagined 15 months ago that our Georgia Bulldogs would be in such disarray. I could not have imagined 9 years ago that our Long DawgNational Nightmare with the Florida Gators would not have ended by now. And we should have NEVER lost to a Ron Zook coached Florida team. Never.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that 2002 and 2005 were indeed years where the conference was woefully down, we were good, but not great. I’m proud of those teams, but 2003 and 2004 are looking more and more like busts with the perspective of time.

The stakes are at their apex right now for Coach Richt. And I hope he has the cajones to make the necessary changes. He knows what they are, and he doesn’t need an army of bloggers to tell him what he probably already knows. But if there is no action taken when the smoke clears and the dust settles, I’m done supporting the current coaching regime.

Black pants and black helmets on a 90 degree day in Jacksonville. Now that’s stupid.

SEC Officials: The FEMA of College Football.

by DavetheDawg on Nov 1, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

100%

The black helmet/pants thing in the daytime was a big top in section 348. Bad Idea Jeans right there.

by blackertai on Nov 1, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Bad Idea Jeans"

100 cocktails, blackertai.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree DavetheDawg.....

“I hope they develop Mettenberger because he’s got the arm and, more importantly, he’s got the height to get the ball over the top of bull-rushing defensive ends with large wingspans.”
This is another reason that if Gray & Murray are to be in the starting mix there SHOULD be aggressive roll-out play-calling (like we should’ve done with the 6’0" Cox all year long!) to compensate for the “wingspans” of the DEs. If Bobo is to stay-then (A) we need to develop Mettenberger quick or (B) have Bobo’s father (wasn’t he head coach?) consult him on what plays worked for Charlie Ward & Bobo at Thomasville that made them successful!

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe Bobo was 1-3 against the gators (& 0-4 against the Vols)...

Furthermore (1-2-1 versus Auburn)! We were a mediocre team until ‘97 when we went
10-2. (27-18-1 overall during Bobo’s years-‘94-’97).

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll give you that '04 was a bust, especially with that D,

But I was proud as hell of that 2003 team. With that line, with that running game…11-3 and a division championship. Sucks they couldn’t turn that momentum into something more special in 2004.

As for the conference being “woefully down,” I’m sure Florida won’t mind that the same thing holds true now. Bama ain’t even all that, honestly.

by D.N. Nation on Nov 2, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Suggestion!

Ok…What about this. I say the players EARN the right to wear THE COLORS worn by our 1980 National Champions. This team has not earned the right to wear the Red and Silver! Maybe CMR should say, we will wear ALL BLACK until our team can earn the right to wear our traditional colors. Give them something to take pride in. Make ’em earn it!

by saddawg on Nov 2, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't go that far . . .

. . . but I agree with Jujdog that Georgia should start each season in white pants and switch to the silver britches only after the team has done something to earn that honor. Had we done that this year, the Bulldogs wouldn’t be in silver britches yet.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 2, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do we need as many uniform options as Oregon?

In 2002, 2003, and 2005, we wore red shirts, silver britches, and red helmets at home, and replaced the red shirts with white on the road. And in each of those seasons, we managed to make it to the SEC Championship Game without the benefit of gimmicky uni change.

I might be persuaded to support red pants when traveling, since it has historically been part of the road uniform. Other than that, however, I think we should stick with the classic uni for every game. You don’t see Texas lining up in burnt orange helmets, or Southern Cal lining up in all gold uniforms.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 2, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, Keith, but the Rennie Curran

I saw yesterday shied away from Tebow, choosing to dive at his ankles rather than take him on in the one or two shots he had at him. I’m a big Rennie fan, but his unwillingness to take Tebow on really surprised me.

by Jujdog on Nov 1, 2009 10:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Should Georgia be concerned that BoBo is a Homer and is just as bad as Martinez

Hey my point is this: Perception is a mug. Like it or not, it is a fair question to ask if Bobo is getting a pass because he is the right color, and/or because he is a GaDawg player/Alum while Martinez is easy pickens because he is a minority and is not a Ga alum. Both have done subpar jobs and both have had ample opportunity to improve. So, why is Bobo so much safer in his job than Maritnez in his job?

by BibbCountyDawg on Nov 1, 2009 10:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

"Minority" is a bit of a stretch

His last name may be “Martinez,” but Willie’s as white as Mike Bobo is.

The fact that so many of us jumped on board for the idea of hiring Sylvester Croom to replace Willie Martinez ought to end any argument about bigotry being a factor.

I’m tougher on Martinez than I am on Bobo for three reasons. First of all, the defense is by far the bigger problem. Secondly, many of our offensive woes are problems of execution. Mike Bobo didn’t call for four interceptions yesterday. Finally, I at least see Bobo making some changes. Maybe they’re not enough, but they’re something. What is Willie Martinez doing today that he wasn’t doing exactly the same way four years ago?

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too Depressing

Wow Kyle great comments. I’d comment more but am too depressed to think about it. I agree defense played somewhat better the 2nd half but thats not saying much. The first half should have been called “gash the dogs defense bash”. Thank god they the Florida receivers dropped the ball when they were wide open. I’m old, fat and slow and could cover better than that. We’ve become Florida in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Tons of NFL talent but no coaching. I keep trying to think of the bright spots and I guess it’s Butler’s punting (our best defensive weapon) and Ely’s running / line run blocking were much better. I think there still have to be more to go than all the Defensive coaches. I’d include the offensive line coach and RB coach. Bobo should be put on notice he’s got one year to improve. Anyway, I could go on and on but it’s just too depressing.

by mbuglioli on Nov 1, 2009 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would have to ask

why give Bobo another year? His offense hasn’t evolved over the past two. With last years offensive talent he couldn’t consistently set up good schemes and game plans. UGA will start a young quarterback next year, what better time to also include a new offensive coordinator? It’s going to be a “developmental” year anyway.

by mwalex on Nov 1, 2009 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

then and now from AJC - found it interesting

THEN: After touchdown, Herschel hands the ball to official, runs to sideline
NOW: After giving up 8 yards on 1st down, defense struts while beating their chests

THEN: Classic red and silver uniforms
NOW: Arena football league uniforms

THEN: Classic Georgia tradition songs over stadium loud speakers
NOW: Gangsta hip hop rap blaring over stadium loud speakers

THEN: Dooley, wore a tie
NOW: Richt, wears shades and spray on tan

THEN: ERK
NOW: willie

THEN: Special Team All-Americans
NOW: Special John Fabris

THEN: Larry Munson
NOW: Not Larry Munson

THEN: Fred Davison
NOW: Michael Adams

THEN: World’s Greatest Outdoor Cocktail Party
NOW: Annual Beatdown

THEN: Win or Lose, UGA had reputation for class and poise
NOW: Win or Lose, UGA has reputation of thugs

THEN: After loss, coaches and players blamed themselves
NOW: After loss, insult the fans, blame the refs, blame eye-poking, blame it on travel, etc

THEN: Annual Media Guide featured pics of UGA legends on the sidelines
NOW: Annual Media Guide features pics of hip hop gansta ‘stars’ on the sidelines

THEN: Long collegiate careers
NOW: Long dreadlocks

THEN: Player commits stupid personal foul? Coach tears into player!
NOW: Player commits stupid personal foul? Coach tears into referee!

THEN: Bulldog Nation.
NOW: Thug Nation.

THEN: Annual donations from me.
NOW: ZERO donations from me

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think the “:Player commits stupid personal foul? Coach tears into referee” line really hits home with me the most. Last year I exchanged threads with T Kyle about my absolute disappointment with the PFs. This year its become……its just damned pathetic. And it’s never the coaches fault it seems. I would respect the hell out of CMR if he made the entire team watch film on the PFs, went over the rule book, and said “the pain train is coming for future PFs” and make it public as well. The absolute program wide lack of discipline on and off the field is way worse to me than Ws and Ls. But I bet the Ws and Ls improve if the character of the players improves on and off the field.

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is proof that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . .

. . . is for idiots and fuddy-duddies.

It’s not 1974 any more. Cope.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh please.

Long dreadlocks and rap music are an issue? I guess Saban should cut Cody.

by D.N. Nation on Nov 2, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For what it's worth

I guess I’m in the minority on this, but I thought the black helmets looked really cool, especially with the touch of red trim around the G. I’m a traditionalist, but I understand that the kids might want and (occasionally) deserve to be indulged.

However, I agree that these wardrobe changes need to stop. The first blackout against Auburn in 2007 was appropriate. It was at the request of the senior players who were in the middle of turning around a season that had had a disappointing start and involved the entire “community”. It seemed to me to be more reward and less motivational tactic (or to the extent it was a motiviational tactic, it was as much for us fans as for the players). If we’re going to deviate from tradition, especially the silver britches, it had better be because the players want it and deserve it, not because somebody thinks it might light a fire under them after a season of sub-par play. Now that the deviations repeatedly have been used for the wrong reasons, I’m afraid the players have lost the right to get them, much like we Southerners have lost the right to use the Confederate battle flag for honorable reasons after repeated abuses went unchecked.

A costume change can’t fix stupid penalties and turnovers; it makes them look worse.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea NCT

if you read the game day thread i said the uniforms should be a reward, not a motivational tool. I meant what I wrote, when I saw those black helmets the blood just drained from my head and I was in a state of “what on God’s green earth?” I feel a uniform change should be something once every 4 years at most, better yet, never. It instantly stunk of desporation and if you get into the business side of it – it means tons of time, emails, phone calls, money, meetings, briefings, etc were held over a uniform rather than trying to figure out a better game plan. I simply cant believe one brain cell was spent on thinking about uniforms rather than maybe, oh, a damn good ass chewing, some coaching changes, film study, etc.

So, maybe the uniforms didnt necessarily look bad.. There simply wasno reason to go there. We got better things to do with our time on this football program. We have a great uniform with a good history and after CMR wins a few national championships and 150+ games maybe he can be part of creating a new look. And finally, we just really embarassed ourselves by showing up in a new uniform, but not showing up to play.

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

when we wore the black jerseys against auburn...

I was hoping we would incorporate that into a tradition in home games against the tigers. Every two years we’d don the black against our rivals from the plains. That wouldn’t be a gimmick, it wouldn’t be used for motivation, and I think it would be a nice addition to the tradition of the rivalry.

Instead it’s now a horrible reminder of another first half CWM meltdown.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you on the first impression

When I saw them running out of the tunnel, I felt like we’d already lost. When my CBS uncles immediately laughed, saying “we’ll get to that later” and proceeded to talk serious analysis about what it would take for Georgia to have a chance, I wondered whether our own coaches and players had taken the nuts-and-bolts of strategy as seriously as our announcers did.

Cheesy motivational things like the blackout and the celebration are fine (that I’ve reached a point where I can’t capitalize those events is telling), if it’s obviously secondary to actual motivation in practice and game plan. I don’t doubt that the coaches and players worked hard over the last couple of weeks, but the coaches had to see that the results from practicing and planning were not strong enough to get away with sticking a gimmick on top of them.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't care if the players

show up in new uniforms that are pink with purple polka dots – as long as they play good football for 60 solid minutes. Not good football one out of every 15 football minutes. Yesterday I was morose and sullen after the game, now i’m just plain mad. There was no excuse, there is no excuse and i’m sick and tired of seeing our team play like crap week in and week out. I want it fixed and I want it fixed now.

rant over

by podunkdawg on Nov 1, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

If the defense keeps playing this way, they should add a red mini-skirt to the uniform.

by blackertai on Nov 1, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Question...

Disaster aside I think we could be better on offense next season with a capable QB. Our RBs showed a lot more life and we could have run the ball more if our D could get stops.

What hope is there thought that a new DC can right the ship in one season? Does anyone have an example of a defense turning around in one season? We lost 4 games CBVG’s first season. Alabama struggled the first season under Saben. The Vols defense is good this season but it was coached well before the coaching change.

The only example I can think of off the top of my head is Stoops at Oklahoma. Or am I wrong as that was his second season? After years of bad coaching on defense I’m not sure it can be turned around in one season. If so, I don’t think CMR survives another season like this one.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

there is a ying and yang here

As Kyle posted and I harped on early this season, its really hard to fully evaluate the defense when the offense so regularly throws them under the bus. Now, dont get me wrong, I am not a CWM apologist, but you just cant overlook a -12 turnover margin. And, if you watched the formations, CWM wasnt doing always that wrong, it was horrendous tackling and getting blocked to hell. If I really had a bone to pick with CWM, it would be that he is the secondary coach and our secondary is absolutely god awful.

So, I think an improved QB, less TOs and a new DC can have very fast results in our situation. We dont have to rebuild the defense, just get them coached up and hopefully keep them off the field a little more.

by tankertoad on Nov 1, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

there’s no doubt some good fundamentals on defense would help us tremendously. That 3rd and 16 play yesterday when the game was 14-10 was a prime example.

by mdhenshaw on Nov 1, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great Article

Hey man, knew you were a great speaker, didn’t know you were such a good writer too. Good analysis, agree 100%.

CMR will never fire CWM. It’s not about CWM, it’s about Richt vs. the fans. He will never admit that he made a mistake that big. He is not so humble as he says. If you need extra motivation to play in GA-FLA, especially #1 FLA, then there is something very wrong with your team. That kind of lack of motivation cannot be fixed. My fear is that our program has the stench of death and losing on it now. That can only be fixed with fresh blood, like a new coach.

by OldDemosthenian on Nov 1, 2009 12:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

An additional take on the program

One of the best articles I have read on the state of the program. I have one additional perspective. We get great athletes, arguablly as good or better than any program and on par with Fla and Bama. However we don’t play as a team. Seems we have great athletes playing as individually. It goes to all the arrests and stupid penalties as well as no team spirit. Yesterday we closed the gap to 14-10 early after 5 or 6 stupid penalties. And on the very kickoff after our touchdown number 55 had the Fla player out of bounds clearly at the Fla 20 and then twirled him around and threw him to the ground. Other teams do do that. And it wasn’t the only personal foul stupid penalty we had. It is a pattern for 2 years and the coaches don’t stop it. Can you imagine Sabin or Meyer putting up with that. I love CMR and do not want him to leave but I am ready for a house cleaning at season end with this staff. Stacy Searles was hired with the reputation as the best Oline coach in the nation. Our O line is no better now than before. What gives.

by ugadrew@aol.com on Nov 1, 2009 1:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts are

that CWM will offer his resignation, thereby sparing CMR the difficult task of firing him. The only remaining question is, will CMR hire a PROVEN winner to replace him? The only way that we improve is to bring in some winners. This program is not in need of minor adjustments! It needs a complete overhaul! CMR can still captain this ship, but his crrent officers need to seek another port.

by Lakepoets on Nov 1, 2009 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well said

I hope you’re right.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cocktail Party. A fiasco.

Mr. King:

I have never in my 70+ years of following Georgia football, and I am a DAWG lover to be sure, have I ever read anything quite like your well-written, down and dirty column today.
It was just great!

Wholeheartedly do I agree with you on all but one issue. That is your advocacy of retaining Mark Richt to coach the DAWGS somewhere into the future. Why? I am dead set against that!!!!

You compare the now with the seventies under Vince Dooley. In the seventies, we had mediocre years to be sure along with one SEC Championship and two 9 win seasons.

And the ship was righted beginning with the National Championship Team in 1980. That year took three seasons to get to. Coach Richt has already had four years to get to the goal that you describe. And in 2008 (three skilled-position DAWGS go in the first two rounds) and now the disaster to date that is 2009.

Thus if you give Coach Richt the same time as the record shows was given Coach Dooley, Coach Richt has stayed beyond that time. It is time to sweep the floors clean.

We won the SEC in 1976, then the National Championship four seasons later. 2009 is Coach Richt’s fourth plus season with what I perceive to be doing irrevocable damage to our program.

Think about it. In those four seasons plus eight games this year, we have given up more than thirty points FOURTEEN TIMES. We are in the fourth season since winning the SEC Championship without even winning the East and we cannot win the east this year..

To date, those fourteen thirty or more points against averages out to nearly three per season! For the moment, forget 2009. That means we’ve had ten games with thirty or more points scored against us averaging out to 2.5 such games per season! And Willie got a raise and was retained! Why? What does that say about the leadership qualities as CEO of the football program. He’s let his personal feelings interfere with his coaching duties, interfere in the extreme, I might add.

Just look around. Despite South Carolina’s loss last night, they are an improved team. Tennessee is a vastly improved team. Then there’s Florida. So we are the third or fourth ranked team in the SEC E.

In the West you have Bama, LSU, Auburn is improved over last season as is Arkansas.

I argue that Coach Richt has demonstrated an INABILITY to get the ship righted. He brought in a relatively inexperienced DC in Willie, is bosom buddy. For OC, he brought in Mike Bobo who had no experience as an OC whatever. Those two DCs are riding this ship to the bottom.

Since Van Gorder’s leaving in 2004, we have been on the downs but not as perceptibly as in 2008 (a very disappointing year which included the 49-10 rout by the Gators) and we’ve been losing ground quickly ever since. Like it or not, our neighborhood includes Kentucky and Vanderbilt. In many statistical categories, we are unequivocally with the dregs of the east division.

You’re entitled to your opinion. But I think Mark Richt brings too many negative qualities as coach to be retained. That he is a good man does not enter into this discussion. He’s not a good coach. He is conservative in his play calling and I would bet that he still controls that function. He’s never let it all hang out in his life would be my bet after beginning his career as a coach.

When things didn’t work with a Nick Saban-coached Alabama, he got rid of his coordinators. We stand pat. Everything is hunkedorie in Athens. Didn’t you know that?

No, I don’t “believe” in Mark Richt for that is little to believe in since Coach Martinez became DC. We have lost most 30 plus point games in the span of four plus years than any other time in Georgia football history beginning with 1939.

Yet you want this pathetic assayer of coaching talent to bring in new coaches with his record of hirings? No way brother, not if I were King.

I’ll close this rant with one unassailable fact. During the Goff regime, Steve Spurrier asked rhetorically “what happens to those great recruits that go to Georgia? They don’t get coached up.”

The same question need be asked by you of Coach Richt. Why? Because we consistently have Top 10 recruiting classes and yet we have nothing to show for it in the past four plus years! What indeed happens to those recruits when they go to Georgia??

I have been involved in recruiting when that was allowed by the NCAA. You can bet your bippy that other programs will ask the guys interested in us do they think that Coach Richt will be around for the next four years. Deal with it. That’s a fact.

By staying, he will destroy what’s left of the program what he created in his first four years.

To those reading this who ask “who do we get?” Cincinnati’s, TCU’s, Stanfords, Boise State’s head coaches all of whom have done great jobs in building programs.

Don’t ever forget if you poo poo the above: Urban Meyer was head coach at Utah when the Gators made him their head coach. Won two National Championships in four years. Not bad.

We’re bad! TIME FOR AN ENTIRE CHANGE.

by djawjuh on Nov 1, 2009 2:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If I read you correctly...

You are saying that Richt is behind Dooley’s schedule because Dooley won the national championship four years after winning the SEC championship, and Richt didn’t. Is that correct?

Dooley because Georgia’s coach in 1964, and he won the SEC championship in his third year, 1966. The next two years he didn’t have winning seasons, winning five and losing five.

His next conference championship was 1976, ten years after the first. He followed that championship with a losing season.

Then he recruited Herschel and won the national championship.

If you really want to compare Richt’s record to Dooley’s, you have to give Richt until his seventeenth year, 2016, to win a national championship, and you have to allow him two .500 seasons and one losing season before he gets there.

by CraigT on Nov 1, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“Dooley became Georgia’s coach…”

Short on sleep after trip to Nashville.

by CraigT on Nov 1, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would also add that

Dooley had the same DC through those first SEC championships, the .500 seasons, the 1976 SEC championship, the losing season, and the national championship.

Events appear compressed when viewed from so many years later; shortcomings dim and accomplishments brighten as figures attain legendary status.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, CraigT

I was referring specifically to the changes that were made after 1974, when Georgia finished at .500 for the third time in six seasons.

Mark Richt’s first five years at the Georgia helm were comparable to Vince Dooley’s (two SEC championships plus a 5-0 record against Georgia Tech) and the downturn of the next several seasons has not been as bad overall, but the Bulldogs now appear unprepared and are not competitive.

I’m willing to cut the man some slack based upon past achievements, but certain specific changes have to be made. If he is unwilling to make them, we need to find someone who will.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"but the Bulldogs now appear unprepared and are not competitive."

to say the least….. I mean a BYE week to prepare for the Gators & that’s the best we could come up with??? You gotta be kidding me!!! I truly believe CWM didn’t prepare our defense for crap! Oh yeah it seemed he benched Rambo for Evans & threw in a “stay on the outside” instead of Tebow up the middle!!!

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do you really think the world of Div 1 football now is even moderately comparable to that of Dooley’s Div 1 football?

by Muckbeast on Nov 1, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do I think guys can still make staff changes that make a difference?

Yes, I do. I believe Steve Spurrier’s replacement of Ron Zook with Bob Stoops as his defensive coordinator won Florida a national championship.

Do I think coaches who win consistently but don’t deliver championships immediately can finish first later in their careers? Yes, I do. Many Texas fans who were patient with Mack Brown might agree with me.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 11:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, but I wasn't the one making the comparison

I was addressing the comparison made by djawjuh.

by CraigT on Nov 2, 2009 3:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Completely agree

I had Kyle’s “1992 Florida and 1993 Arkansas” moments after last year’s Florida game and this year’s Tennessee game respectively. I like all the names you suggested, but I’d prefer someone with Southeast ties for the recruiting. I’d ideally prefer Kirby Smart, but I think the University burned that bridge beyond all repair. Jim Harbaugh would be a great choice though. Young, smart, and used to having to coach kids up instead of relying on athletic ability.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How have we burned the bridge to Kirby Smart?

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I don’t know that Kirby Smart would give up being the defensive coordinator at Alabama to become the defensive coordinator at Georgia, but I’m confident he’d take the call.

If Damon Evans called Kirby Smart and offered him the opportunity to become the head coach at his alma mater, I think he’d be on the road to Athens within the hour.

What irreparable damage do you believe has been done that would cause him to turn down a head coaching job in the SEC?

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the call was for Head Coach and not DC.....

I believe Will “The Thrill” Muschamp would take that call!!

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wish you were right . . .

. . . but I don’t think so. Will Muschamp is the head coach in waiting at Texas. He has a similar deal in Austin (which his wife reportedly loves) to the one Jimbo Fisher has in Tallahassee. I don’t think anyone’s poaching him from Texas, one of the few programs capable of winning a bidding war with Georgia.

I fear Muschamp is off the table if we find ourselves in the market for a new head coach. I see no reason why Smart is similarly unavailable for the promotion. If we can get Auburn guys to overcome their loyalties and come to coach for rival Georgia, surely we can get a Georgia man to come home.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You're probably right as well.....

all I meant was that if the call was for “Head Coach” and not just replacing the DC… then Muschamp would most likely listen to what was being offered.
I honestly believe if Head Coach was offered to Muschamp.. all bets would be off on the “Coach-in-waiting” position! And with the amount of money out there nowadays-his wife could still have a ranch in Austin….

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough . . .

. . . and, because Mack Brown is nowhere near as close to hanging it up as Bobby Bowden, I’m pretty sure there’s not the same sort of deadline in Muschamp’s deal as there is in Fisher’s, so it’s probably not as ironclad.

I hope we don’t have to make that choice, but, if we do, I certainly want the first call Damon Evans makes to be to Muschamp. I just think we need to be prepared to have to make a second phone call. It won’t take more than two.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Kyle

could we hire Muschamp as HC and Smart as DC?
I’m just saying….

by Lakepoets on Nov 2, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

while your on.....

what’s your take on the Spikes’ eye-raking? Didn’t you pass the Florida bar?
Exam, I meant exam….. (not that I would ever suspect you of not passing a Florida bar & not stopping!!!)

by Dawgrees on Nov 1, 2009 9:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not gonna happen

Muschamp has an ironclad contract, and Mack said he’s gone in probably 3 years. National Championship title this year just might accelerate that, knowing he (or any coach in the modern era) is unlikely to repeat for a 3rd time in a decade. Besides, M is not the answer to our head coaching solution. Good, young defensive motivator, but he’s not really been tested at Texas. IF we were to replace Richt, you want someone with comprehensive experience on both sides of the ball. Like Glen Mason. Hahahahahahahahaha…..yikes! Anyone pining for him?

Run Lindsay Run!

by ausdawg85 on Nov 2, 2009 12:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember, he said Yes before he said No

Run Lindsay Run!

by ausdawg85 on Nov 2, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's still far too premature to call for Richt's head.

Nobody likes getting pasted by Florida (me least of all… I hate Florida), but overreaction is not the answer.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 2, 2009 12:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Again, I’m willing to make a change at the top if that is what is required to get the changes we need elsewhere, primarily at defensive coordinator, but my preference would be to retain Mark Richt and release Willie Martinez.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 2, 2009 6:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the clarification

I hadn’t heard that there was a timetable. I was of the understanding that they were just locking Muschamp up for the duration, not that there was a succession plan in place that included even a rough schedule. If he’s got the same sort of hefty buyout Fisher has, you’re right, it’s not going to happen . . . and, hopefully, it won’t need to happen.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 2, 2009 7:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Man, I'm not finishing any of my thoughts....

Sorry, I meant as far as a lateral move to be DC. I don’t ever see Richt and Smart on the same staff, being that his background was on defense and defensive backs and we stuck him on running backs.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know that it would hurt our chances so much

Good coaches can coach, period. Putting him on an unfamiliar position may not have been playing to his preference, but it isn’t an insult, any more than Erk Russell was maligning Paul Johnson when he decided to move the assistant coach from defense to offense.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh...

T. Kyle,

Thank you for once again expressing everything I’m thinking and feeling far more eloquently than I ever could.

Yesterday was the worst possible outcome for that game. It was a crushing defeat which can all too easily be blamed on poor performance by a player who will be graduating. I hope that Coach Richt is strong enough to make all of the necessary staffing changes that you’ve identified, but I fear next year may bring more of the same and the end of Coach Richt’s tenure as dean of the S.E.C.

by Spears on Nov 1, 2009 4:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Furthermore...

the only way Richt can save himself is by making major changes, particularly on the defense. Our schemes are obsolete, and it is obvious our coaching is not adaptable.

I wonder if Mark Richt even wants this anymore. He coaches with the passion of a Yoga Instructor. And after the inexcusable thuggery of Brandon Spikes (who should be served an arrest warrant), if Richt doesn’t file a personal protest with the league office, that would constitute evidence of apathy. Has Richt become apathetic? I really wonder.

SEC Officials: The FEMA of College Football.

by DavetheDawg on Nov 1, 2009 4:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Coach Richt, is it ignorance or apathy? I don’t know and I don’t care.

by UgaMatt on Nov 1, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is there a Pulitzer Prize for Blogs?

Because if so, you may certainly deserve one for this post Mr. King. Maybe ourJ-School will at least acknowledge the effort with a Peabody (and incidentily, who knew that smart dog, Professor Peabody, went to Georgia?) But I digress… You should keep this one up for a while, and it will be interesting to reflect upon it again at 3 key points in the future…1)end of this season; 2) beginning of Spring Practice 2010 and 3) after next years WLOCP.

Run Lindsay Run!

by ausdawg85 on Nov 1, 2009 7:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously? Professor Peabody went to Georgia? Site, please?

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

um, cite. Dang.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There is no indication that Mister Peabody, inventor of the WABAC machine, attended the University of Georgia or any institution of higher learning.

George Foster Peabody, the person for whom the Peabody Award is named, neither attended classes at nor played football for the school, although he did receive an honorary degree in 1904.

by CraigT on Nov 1, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, yes.

I’m aware of the distinction between the two Peabodys. It occurred to me that he of the WABAC machine might have had a UGA education attributed to him to tie in with the Peabody Awards, which has been in existence for several years before the cartoon came into being.

I’ll get back to you on whether Peabody and Sherman ever won the award.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wikipedia is your friend

George Foster Peabody had no formal training from any institution of higher learning.

The Peabody awards are so named because Mr. Peabody was the journalism school’s T. Boone Pickens.

Quoth the Wiki:

Peabody received honorary degrees from Harvard and Washington and Lee Universities in 1903, and the University of Georgia in 1906. This latter institution was the recipient of much of Peabody’s philanthropy, including funds to build a fireproof building to house the university’s library. He also donated land to help reorganize the State College of Agriculture, and founded the university’s School of Forestry.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 1, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Did I say journalism school?

I meant the University’s T. Boone Pickens of the early 1900’s. Darn enter button.

Trying to think and write at the same time after a looooong drive home from the ~~Heart of Darkness/Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here~~ Sunshine State… me not good think.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 1, 2009 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Although the University of Georgia received much of his largesse . . .

. . . Peabody widely supported Southern higher education. There is a Peabody Hall on the University of Mississippi campus, as well.

I’m pretty sure ausdawg85 was joking, though.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have it on direct authority...

That Mr. Peabody did in fact audit our J school in the early ’60’s. Well, the squirel seemed sure, the moose less so. Sherman went to Tech… Never liked that little smartass.

Run Lindsay Run!

by ausdawg85 on Nov 2, 2009 12:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Run Lindsay Run!

by ausdawg85 on Nov 2, 2009 12:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He'd have to record it for broadcast to get a Peabody,

since that award is for radio and television.

by CraigT on Nov 1, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's for "electronic media"

… including the World Wide Web.

by NCT on Nov 1, 2009 10:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

So you're saying . . .

. . . there’s a chance?

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 1, 2009 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oblig.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 2, 2009 12:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't find details

… but I suspect the inclusion of the World Wide Web was intended to account for Internet distribution of audio and video content, consistent with the award’s historical recognition of radio then television programming. Last year’s winners included www.nytimes.com (“aggressively and imaginatively adding sound and moving images to the news that’s fit to print”), www.theonion.com (“online send-up of 24-hour cable-TV news”), and YouTube, LLC.

Um, Pulitzer?

by NCT on Nov 2, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nail on the Head with another suggestion

I for one am all for firing WM. I also put the most fault on the leaders and right now our team doesn’t seem to have a defensive leader in the coaching staff. I do however put some owness on the players. We are a Top 10 recruiting school and our players act like this? How about this instead of playing change the colors on ,whatever uniform you want to. every other week especially, especially when we are getting our a@ses handed to us. I have one simple solution. Stick with our basic uniforms and TAKE THE (G) from their helmets, you get it when you play like a 3,4, and 5 star player playing for GEORGIA. If not, you don’t wear it. If you do perform you wear that (G) with pride because you have earned your right to wear it and it can be taken away after any game. The gimmic uniforms should be reserved for performing teams.

by BulldawgbyBirth on Nov 2, 2009 12:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

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