The Mark Richt Victory Watch

by T Kyle King on Nov 11, 2006 5:03 PM EST in Football

After too long a delay, we now resume the countdown to Mark Richt's inevitable ascension to the top of the all-time Georgia victories list.

With his 59th career win at Auburn earlier today, Coach Richt moved to within 142 positive outcomes of tying Vince Dooley's school record of 201 wins.

The victory also placed Coach Richt in a two-way tie for third place on the all-time school list, alongside Harry Mehre, who posted a 59-34-6 record at Georgia from 1928 to 1937. Only Wally Butts and Vince Dooley won more games with the Red and Black than Mark Richt has won in his career in Athens.

76 games into his tenure in the Classic City, Coach Richt has achieved a 59-17 ledger, surpassing the marks of Harry Mehre (48-25-3), Wally Butts (53-21-2), Vince Dooley (49-23-4), and Ray Goff (44-31-1) at the same point in their respective careers.

As I noted this morning, there has never been anything wrong with being a Georgia Bulldog that beating Auburn couldn't fix . . . and now, suddenly, a 1973-like season seems not just realistic, but likely.

(I hear Georgia Tech clinched the championship of the weaker division of the weakest B.C.S. conference with a thrilling 7-0 victory over a one-win team that just fired its head coach. Wow, they must be really proud over at the Flats. I know I speak for the entire Bulldog Nation when I say: "Bring on the nerds!")

By avoiding his first-ever three-game losing streak and his first-ever back-to-back road losses, and by doing so in dramatic fashion against the No. 5 team in the nation in a rivalry game away from home and hedge, Mark Richt silenced the doubters and confirmed what we already knew to be true: Coach Richt is the finest head football coach in University of Georgia history, bar none, no exceptions.

Go 'Dawgs!

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c'mon dooley wins

look man, richt deserves our respect and admiration but coach dooley is the heart and soul of this program and will never be bested. some men just cant be beat. it has nothing to do with records and stats and everything to do with reverence and respect.

by butabiscut on Nov 11, 2006 5:24 PM EST reply actions

Let's have this conversation in 15 or 20 years

I take nothing away from Vince Dooley, who revived the program after a lengthy downcycle and restored the 'Dawgs to the level at which they played for much of the 1910s, '20s, '30s, and '40s.

There are, of course, cons as well as pros; in Vince Dooley's 25 years as the Bulldogs' head football coach, the Red and Black won six conference titles, but, in Vince Dooley's 25 years as the University's athletic director, the school was investigated for major violations six times.

Add the latter fact to the reality that the program slipped a bit in Coach Dooley's last several seasons on the sidelines, and it becomes at least plausible that Mark Richt could surpass him, not only in the record book but also in the hearts of Bulldog Nation.

Look at it this way: Mark Richt is as beloved in his sixth season at Georgia as Vince Dooley was in 1969. It's all uphill from here, the future is bright, and the sky is the limit.

by T Kyle King on Nov 11, 2006 5:55 PM EST reply actions

Basking in the Glory

How sweet it is! Kyle, Cohiba or Montecristo?

How 'Bout 'EM!

by DavetheDawg on Nov 11, 2006 7:11 PM EST reply actions

nothing against dooley

Dooley was a great coach, but why cant someone be better? Dooley brought just one National Championship. But wait... let's all be realsitic, Walker brought us those three great years.

Why cant we aim higher? Like OSU, Texas, or USC. Why cant we compete every year for the BCS? We have the talent. Georgia HS football is in the top 5 every year. I hope Richt laps Dooley and brings us a few Titles. No disrespect to Mr. Dooley, I bet he would want the same for the UGA program.

by ssidedawg1 on Nov 11, 2006 7:15 PM EST reply actions