The Mark Richt Victory Watch

by T Kyle King on Nov 11, 2007 12:22 AM EST in Football

I only just got home from Athens a short while ago, but, as spent as I am after a long drive following an emotionally charged game, I don't want to waste any time before updating the Mark Richt Victory Watch.

The Mark Richt Victory Watch now stands at 69, placing him just 132 victories shy of tying Vince Dooley as the winningest coach in Bulldog football history.

With an overall record of 69-19, Coach Richt has the best ledger of any Georgia coach after 88 games on the job. At the same point in their respective careers, Harry Mehre (53-31-4), Wally Butts (64-22-2), and Vince Dooley (60-24-4) all were in Mark Richt's wake.

This one was big. I was 14 years old the last time Georgia beat Florida and Auburn in the same season. On the way home, I heard on the radio that the 45 points scored by the Bulldogs were the most tallied by the Red and Black against Auburn in regulation play since the 1951 game (which, by coincidence, I mentioned in Saturday morning's game day open comment thread) and that the Classic City Canines have now scored 40 points in three consecutive games for the first time since 1942.

As Dawgb1 noted, the "blackout" atmosphere was electric. The crowd was energized. The players executed effectively, made big plays, did not panic in the face of adversity, and had fun. My brother-in-law, Travis, went with me to the game and he pointed out that, if any recruits were on hand on Saturday, every last one of them will commit to play for this program after that experience.

This win was more than just another victory on the countdown to 201. After a down year last year and a couple of early losses this autumn, this win cemented the permanence of the resurgence under Coach Richt. It really is starting to look like Georgia's four-year run from 2002 to 2005 was merely a prelude, not unlike the start of Florida State's period of dominance in the late '80s before the Seminoles became fixtures and frontrunners in the national title chase.

After the Tennessee game, the Bulldogs looked like they were dead. With this victory, they put an exclamation point on the Florida win to announce that the Red and Black are back:

Go 'Dawgs!

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Comments

Thanks for the video...

That was a nice way to kickstart the morning as I was enjoying my scrambled War Eagle eggs over toast.

I could really get used to beating Auburn every year.

by DavetheDawg on Nov 11, 2007 9:42 AM EST reply actions

Great game!

Indeed a good year when we beat both the hated Gators and Auburn. I'm definitely looking forward to the coming years.

Go Dawgs!! Paige

by ugajovifan on Nov 11, 2007 10:01 AM EST reply actions

2nd quarter officiating?

Normally, I don't say much about the refs, as I feel that calls balance out. But, yesterday's 2nd quartet was the damnest thing I've ever seen.

Almost every positive play was penalized. A couple of times, the zebras gave Auburn a 5 yard penalty on the next play as a make up for the "phantom" penalties on UGA. Unreal.

"Got to roll me and call me the Tumbling Dice."

by Elmo Lewis on Nov 11, 2007 11:46 AM EST reply actions

Can't spell .....

too early on Sunday morning. Should be "quarter" in the previous post. Oops!

"Got to roll me and call me the Tumbling Dice."

by Elmo Lewis on Nov 11, 2007 11:47 AM EST reply actions

Trivia?

I'm a Georgia Dawg living in MS State Bulldog country, so there were many celebrations for Bulldogs yesterday in my neck of the woods. But while celebrating post-game in my favorite bar last night, a local Bulldog posed an interesting question that I don't know if there's an answer to....Has there ever been a season that the Georgia Bulldogs and MS State Bulldogs both beat Auburn and Alabama?

I'm still a little hungover and trying to prep for Monday's workday, but maybe there's a stat-master out there who can find this one, or if it's even happened??

by MSLawDawg on Nov 11, 2007 12:09 PM EST reply actions

Great question!

I did a cursory search and I don't think it has ever happened before.

Georgia has beaten Alabama and Auburn in the same season 13 times before, but a quick glance at the ESPN College Football Encyclopedia indicates that Mississippi State did not beat both Yellowhammer State schools in any of those 13 seasons.

It appears that there were several such seasons in which M.S.U. beat the Plainsmen but fell to the Crimson Tide, missing out on the sweep.

Again, I just thumbed through the Georgia media guide and the aforementioned encyclopedia and that was the conclusion at which I arrived, but I took five minutes to do it, so someone may want to double-check my math.

by T Kyle King on Nov 11, 2007 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

Will UGA and MSU play for the Alabama state champi

... or will they share the title?

"Got to roll me and call me the Tumbling Dice."

by Elmo Lewis on Nov 11, 2007 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Paint It Black

.. I love the Redcoats playing this song - as a big fan of both the Dawgs and The Rolling Stones. Has anybody got a copy of this? I'd sure like to have a copy.

Thanks!

"Got to roll me and call me the Tumbling Dice."

by Elmo Lewis on Nov 11, 2007 2:19 PM EST reply actions