Florida has an outstanding athletics program from stem to stern as evidenced by their standing in the Directors' Cup.  And it's not an accident, or statistical anomaly that we can wish away.  

The idea that Florida's performance will revert to a historical norm serves only to obscure why Florida has achieved excellence while our achievements are merely above average.  

Florida has no intrinsic advantage that predisposes them to achieve more than we. The "natural resources" for excellence are as abundant  and readily available in Georgia as they are in Florida. Our in-state high school programs, Alumni support, financial standing, facilities, weather patterns, etc..... are all on par with Florida's.    

The difference is simple: Florida has had a great athletics director for over a decade.  During that time we've had a retired and beloved football coach and his young protege serving in that capacity.  

Jeremy Foley has set a standard of excellence at Florida that our AD must match.  We will not overtake Florida by aiming low or waiting for them to stumble.  Billy Donovan was a great hire.  Ron Zook was a great fire. And Urban Meyer was a great hire.  

Damon Evans has done a good job so far, and shows great promise.  Now is the time for that promise to be fulfilled.  Will he risk excellence?  Does he have what it takes to be great?  Or will he settle for being good?

My fear is that Mark Richt is Georgia's Ron Zook.  Richt is better than Ray Goff, and so far, better than Jim Donnan though not by much.  He's certainly no Steve Spurrier. Last years losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt were inexcusable and reminiscent of Zook's losses to lessor teams. AS to basketball I've been cutting Dennis Felton a lot of slack given the program he inherited.  But the next two seasons will be definitive.  

I'll be interested to see the standards that Damon Evans sets for the athletics program in the next few years.  Does he have the confidence to demand excellence and make the changes necessary to achieve it?  Or will he settle for UGA playing second, third, or fourth fiddle in the SEC?