DISQUS

TampaGator · 1 year ago

Reminds me of....

....Michigan, last year!

So, if history is any indication, we should expect UGA to get matched up with some young rebuilding program, beat them in a shoot out, and brag all year long about how bad-ass they are for beating that young rebuilding team.....

Jest aside...many of on here saw through the hype. They were over rated going into the season, and if you gauge their performance against realistic expectations, mitigated by severe injuries, and a brutal schedule....I'd say UGA has done pretty well.

My expectations for UGA next year, will actually be much higher than they were this year....and fortunately for UGA--since they'r generally better from the U-dog position--my expectations well likely be in the minority (i.e.--they won't get near as much pre-season love as this year--yet they'll be much better--unlike Michigan....).


GO GATORS!!

FSU_fan · 1 year ago

I think we were nudging gator fans over that loss to michigan (michigan was poop!). I was at least. We have a rebuilding year every year at FSU. For all the wins we get we might as well recruit like wake forest (and red shirt everyone). Talk about lack of motivation BC and WAKE games for us. It would be one thing to lose to teams that recruit like us (miami) or at least teams that recruit like Clemson and VT but we won all those games.... Georgia lost to the best teams on thier schedule. FSU lost to the fourth and fifth worst teams after the southern conference opponents and NC state (ok maybe colorado but they might have beaten the big east champs!).

Ramblin' Gator · 1 year ago

I think there are two problems for UGA this season - one that I predicted and one that I didn't.

They've had substantial injuries along the offensive line. Given Stafford's proclivity for throwing picks when under pressure and Moreno's curious habit of taking himself out of the game, frequently in the red zone, they have challenges that couldn't have been imagined in the pre-season.

Before the season, I predicted that Georgia would be playing in the national title game if they could maintain the same focus, intensity, emotion, and trajectory they rode to the end of last season. We saw some examples of this behavior this season (e.g. vs. LSU) though it hasn't been consistent.

UGA fans are not the first to enter a season with a #1 ranking, only to be disappointed. To me, the odd thing is that there are a number of schools (e.g. UGA, tOSU, USC, etc.) that expect to win the national title every year and obviously they don't. I suspect the real problem here is just that fans' expectations are a bit too high.

Faithfully submitted by a long suffering Georgia Tech fan.

TRIPPA06 · 1 year ago

I hope y'all finally man up and kill UGA, I'd say it's about time....

Ramblin' Gator · 1 year ago

I'm hoping too, but I'm not holding my breath!

Zac · 1 year ago

"UGA fans are not the first to enter a season with a #1 ranking, only to be disappointed."

All too true, RG. My Mountaineers started in the middle of the Top-10, and now they're not even ranked.

pete · 1 year ago

WV got bet by colroado. not florida or bama. thats why we are still in th top 10. and oh yeah SEC football rules.

deathvalley56 · 1 year ago

I agree. Being pre-season # 1 isn't usually a good thing. They hardly ever finish # 1.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

A few writers in the AJC picked Georgia apart yesterday for the Auburn game. I guess the frustration is finally starting to come out. It's a testament to the security of Richt that few fans if any are calling for his head, but folks have to vent somewhere.

Their schedule was killer and the competition in the conference was stiff. What else can you say? A 10-2 regular season finish ain't half bad, although if they continue to drag their tails, GA Tech may ambush them.

Besides, Orlando isn't that bad in January...

Ramblin' Gator · 1 year ago

Richt seems to be escaping the bulk of the criticism. Coordinators Martinez and Bobo better watch their backs, judging by the comments on AJC.

Bulldog Nation · 1 year ago

Well, there are no excuses for the Alabama game; we were blindsided. The Florida game started out with some bad officiating and coaching. Yeah, an onside kick that early in the game deflated the whole team. Momentum shifted, and the game was over. As a fan, I don't expect GA to go undefeated. Every year they have trouble with Tennesse, Florida, and Auburn. We spit in Fla face last year, and they made us pay for it.

Dashlok · 1 year ago

I think he is a good quarterback, but I don't see the fire from Matt Stafford that qualifies him as great. Maybe it is because he was so heralded and made "the man" right off the bat. David Greene was not expected to be the college player he turned out to be. He had to fight and earn the respect/playing time, and even after entrenching himself, he had to split time (relatively) with Shockley because of what D.J. brought to the table athletically. D.J. himself probably was humbled a bit by not being able to overtake D.Greene. So when he came in as starter in '05, he knew it was his one shot. Stafford, since he led us in a 3 game season ending sweep of rivals has not had to deal with pressure behind him or the pressure of his last season/improving himself. Because of his arm and potential it doesnt really matter if he wins any championships, he knows he will be playing on Sundays. We have seen flashes of how great he COULD be this season, but it hasn't been on a regular basis, and the acceptance of the bad losses is what makes me question him. To some degree, moving on from mistakes is a good thing. When does it become a bad thing to a degree that you should dwell on it? I'm not qualified to answer that myself, but at some point he needs to realize that he is probably the biggest QB recruit to come to UGA under Richt and he could leave with no hardware to show for it. Winners win, they dont accept losses easily. To be clear, im not trying to rag on him because he has played pretty exceptionally since the UF game. But at that point it was too late, in regards to the expectations of this season.

TigerEducated · 1 year ago

When the NFL backs a Brinks Truck up to this backdoor and dumps a 25-35 million on him, and you're dealing with his replacement, you'll sing a different tune...

I wonder, was he "the man" when he threw 10 touchdown passes & 13 picks his first year at quarterback? The year ya'll went 6-6 under Richt?

Hmmm...Methinks we have a Revisionist History Major in our midst...

GA_Boy · 1 year ago

TE, I never know since you have such a penchant for hyperbole but that was a 9-4 year in Staffords first go at it just to clarify.

GO DAWGS!!

blackdawg · 1 year ago

TE: I'm afraid you're the revisionist my man. Mark Richts worst year at UGA was year one, when we went 8-4. When Stafford was a true freshman,(2006) we went 9-4. Staffords record as a starter that year was 8-2 , Joe T's record as the starting QB was 1-2. Joe's only victory came against South Carolina, when he was injured in the first quarter and only threw three passes so you could really give that victory to Stafford as well.

Hobnail_Boot · 1 year ago

For those of us who had realistic expectations before the season, this has been a frustrating but also pretty fun season.

There was no way with our OL youth and pre-season injuries we were going to lose fewer than 2 games with such a brutal schedule.

Life is good when you're complaining about 2-loss seasons in the SEC.

Ramblin' Gator · 1 year ago

Life is good when you're complaining about 2-loss seasons in the SEC.

You got that right.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

We call it Auburnitis--two measley conference losses or less and NO ticket to Atlanta. Been there, done that--1 conf. loss in 2005, 2 in 2006. The Doggies appear to have taken the torch, having done it the last two years running...

jake · 1 year ago

Kevin, you're dead on in this article. It'd be a shame if UGA continued in the direction you are speculating. Too bad you didn't write a similar article about Clemson earlier in the season. Changing the players' attitudes could have saved a potentially great season and a great coach's job.

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

Actually Clemson did accomplish changing the players' attitudes. The players ended up with a coach that shows emotion and teaches unity and by watching the games since the transition, it's obvious that both are present now when they weren't at the beginning. Harper and Spiller have both made multiple comments about having more fun, and playing with more unity now.

Columbus Day, 2008 was the best decision the Clemson administration has made since hiring Oliver Purnell. Now let's see if December 10th-ish will be another great one.

jake · 1 year ago

Thanks for the clarification. I'm glad to know Clemson football is moving in a positive direction.

dawgfan · 1 year ago

Everyone is still comparing UGA to the preseason #1 ranking. The problem with that is the team that has been on the field is not even close to the personnel that got them that ranking. I'm not making excuses, I'm not even saying that if they had stayed healthy that they would be 10-1 or 11-0. I'm just saying that people are comparing them to a "ceiling" that is unacheivable w/ the personnel that has played this season. What is UGA (w/ the personnel they have played with), exactly what their record indicates. A 9-2 team that is probably somewhere b/t #6 and #15 in the country. Have I been disappointed...Mightily. I even got aggrivated w/ the coaching for the first time in Richt's tenure against AU this past Saturday. But the fact of the matter is the team that is on the field is good team, but not one of the 2 or 3 best in the country and I'm not mad about it b/c they're I shouldn't be. I do think that this teams ceiling is a little higher than what they've showed, but not top 4 in the country high. I said b/f the season that 09 and 10 would be the years UGA would make the most noise.

deathvalley56 · 1 year ago

# 1 is just what the pre-season ranking for Georgia was, that's all. I"m sorry about their injuries, and just maybe, if they were healthy, you feel they still may not be there. But, who knows? They might be there; and like I have been disappointed in L.S.U., I surely feel ya when you say you're mightily disappointed in Georgia's performance. That's understandable. By gosh, yawl beat us by 14 ..... and scored 52 on us. That was good. Yawl scored one more than Florida did; and that is saying alot. Everyone knows how hot Florida has been too. Have a great night! Geaux Tigers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zac · 1 year ago

I basically said 2 things about GA at season's beginning: 1) I didn't think they'd get through that brutal schedule, even if their original starting personnel remained healthy. 2) If they did go undefeated, they rightly deserved to be in the NC game.

That said, had they gone undefeated, it might have done a disservice to the Big-12. The way the Top-4 teams in that conference are playing, not to mention, the way they've bounced back from losses, ya gotta give em props. The Big-12 has 5 teams with 9 wins or more each. The SEC only has 3. The SEC has 5 teams which can finish the regular season no better than 7-5. If one speculates, arguably the SEC will wind up with 6. The Big-12 currently has 6 teams which can wind up no better than 7-5. Arguably, that's the way it should turn out.

Now, we've all agreed at one time or another that conferences, as well as teams wax & wane. Currently, and admittedly on the surface, this seems to be the Big-12's year. Does this all go out the window, should an SEC team take home the NC for the 3rd straight year? Not really; there's still the Commissioner's cup to consider. The Big-12 could be represented in the NC game, lose it, but the rest of the Big-12 win their bowls. Conversely, the SEC could be the other team represented in the NC game, win it, but the rest of the SEC on fair so well in their bowls. That's the beauty of speculative theory, otherwise known as opinion, such as mine. It can be proven right, proven wrong, or not proven either way. The best part: There's still lots of football to play. Enjoy!!!

GA_Boy · 1 year ago

Dawgfan--I hear you. I feel the same way. I knew when the injuries started rolling in that this would be a extremely tough year for the DAWGS. I knew at the preseason that the # 1 ranking was based off a finish last year that was a pleasure to be a part of as a Dawgfan. Again, am I dissappointed, sure I am. Am I discouraged with this team, no way. I am extremely happy to have Mark Richt and his entire staff as our coaches this year. The last two games have shown some real moxie in the last quarters. Stafford, Moreno, Green, MoMass and that young O and D lines have given me much to cheer about. I hope we finish strong and finish 11-2. What a great year with the adversity that we have had to deal with. These boys are young I tell you. If you have watched a true freshmen in AJ Green with those 2 game winning catches, you have seen a talent that will be a force to be reckoned with.
Ramlin G and WEA. I have been reading all that trash in the AJC over the past few weeks. Quite frankly I am not suprised. One thing about the DAWG nation that I have never tried to defend, because I know it to be true, is that we are a bunch of pre-madonnas. You sort of can't help it. It has always been one of the best things about being a DAWG fan. Blind adoration and aspiration!
But the fans are going too far this time. I am sure once we get these last 2 games under our belt that they will settle down a little. Bobo has called some good games with what he has to work with. Has he made some bonehead calls, of course but who doesn't? Martinez had a good scheme this past Saturday. Are you telling me that screen pass to Fannin where every bulldog in the secondary missed a tackle on him was something Martinez did? Hell no. The defense has failed to execute. It does not matter how many different looks you give or blitzes you call. If you have players who just can't get pressure on the QB, you WON'T get pressure on the QB.
Let's put this year and the last seven in perspective for the DAWG Nation before you go calling for Bobo and Martinez's heads. By the way, these are the same two that put on a clinic to end the season last year. They sacked and pressured the hell out of Tebow and Cox last year and nearly killed Colt Brennan in the Sugar Bowl with Martinez's same schemes. Bobo averaged 38 points per game over the last 6 games.
In the past 8 years (including this year) since Richt showed up:
The Dawgs are 48-19 in SEC play. Compare to others:
LSU 48-18
FLA 47-17
AU 46-17
TN 40-25
BAMA 35-29 (I see why all the excitement this year--This sucks)
The DAWGS are 81-21 overall.
The DAWGS are 11-0 vs. ACC, including wins over GA Tech, Clemson, FSU, VA Tech.
The DAWGS are 4-2 against the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East.
The DAWGS are 11-0 against CUSA, MAC, Sunbelt, WAC, including that joke Boise St and 11-0 Hawaii.
The DAWGS are 6-2 agains S Carolina, 3-1 against Bama, 5-3 against TN, 5-3 against AU, 3-2 against LSU, and 2-6 against FLA (gators suck-although you have a hell of a team this year!)
The previous 8 years with partial Jim Donnan and Ray Goff:
57-35 overall record
33-30 in the SEC. The DAWGS were 5-3 against S Carolina, 0-2 against Bama, 1-7 (yeah that's right) against TN, 1-7 against FLA, 2-6 against AU, and 2-0 against LSU. Let me say that again 4-22 against Bama, TN, FLA, AU. Good god, no wonder I was on suicide watch these years!
There was no David Greene in the corner of the endzone to Micheal Johnson against AU, there was no David Greene to Vernon Hayes and the "hobnailed boot" against TN, there was no Blackout, there was no David Pollack "stripping" the ball for an interception from Corey Jenkins in the endzone while it is 3-0 in the 4th quarter against S Carolina and Dr Lou, there was no Greene to Gibson over the middle against the "all everything" cornerback Justin Miller in front of a stunned Death Valley crowd in Clemson, there was no Stafford to MoMass in Jacksonville, there was no "Celebration." I could go on but I think you get the picture.
So to all you Dawg fans out there being a bunch of whiney asses, chill out, enjoy the next few games and say what we always say, "Next year the DAWGS are going to win it all."
As for me, I have had the time of my life the last 8 years with Richt and his coaching crew-whomever they may be. 2 SEC championships and 3 appearances, 3 trips to the Sugar Bowl, a New Years day bowl every year since 2002. I wake up every Sunday in the fall now and say, "Six more days til Saturday. WTF am I going to do for 6 more days. How bout them DAWGS!

GO DAWGS!--And come on Tigers, beat BAMA for us.

blackdawg · 1 year ago

There is no comparison between Goff to Donnan years and then the Goff/Donnan years to Richt. I believe that Richt is still learning, Bobo and Martinez are both young as well and with that said Richt has had tremendous early success. We have finished in the top ten, 5 out of the last 7 years. 2004 we finished 3rd and 4th in the country, last year 2nd and 3rd. People tend to forget that luck has a hand in the invite to the NC. We went 13-1, (like FLA) but there were two undefeated teams ahead of us, (Ohio State, Miami). We went 10-2 with an SEC Championship, look at what all happened to give LSU the opportunity. I believe in the saying, "Luck is when opportunity meets preparation" we've been prepared just haven't had the opportunity.

deathvalley56 · 1 year ago

You've done your homework, I see; and I 2nd that, "Auburn Tigers, beat Bama for us, too' In this case, I mean beat them for L.S.U., of course. When I say that you've done your homework, I'm serioius and I'm definitely not being sarcastic. ............ Geaux Tigers!!!!!!!!!

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Good gut check post, GA Boy...

Yea, maybe one becomes a primma donna when you're the toast of the town that you're not even in--but your in-state rival IS--Atlanta! The AJC definitely favors UGA, but that's where the money is. I'd say that currently, loyalties in the state run 75-25, Georgia...

Richt may eventually become a victim of his own success. It becomes a game of 'what have you done for us lately'. It used to be that we thought that only post-Bear Alabama did these kind of things. Now it's the whole country...

Tommy_Trojan · 1 year ago

There isn't even a story here. Georgia is gonna end up at 10-2, with no less than five OL's knocked out, off of a very young OL to begin with. It's actually a pretty remarkable feat. Real bad luck is what happened to Georgia this year. They've done a great job with the young guys they've had to work with up front. I think this might have been Richt's best job of coaching in this year. Heck, what do I know? Maybe they ought to fire him for losing two games. It's all been coming to that anyway. Maybe we should just fire all coaching staffs after one loss. It's wouldn't be quite as bad as the "gladiator games" - you would at least get to live.

Regan · 1 year ago

UGA is suffering from many of the same maladies that Clemson did, especially:

1) Weak O-Line
2) Thrashing at the hands of Alabama

I have said many times that the O-Line is the most important position 'group' on the field. Here's the logic:

OFF Units: 1) O-Line 2) Skill Players 3) QB
DEF Units: 1) D-Line 2) Linebackers 3) Secondary
ST Units: 1) Punt Squad 2) FG Squad 3) Coverage

These are overly simplified since I came up with them and am purely a spectator to the game of Football (I was All-Region Cross Country and Track...)

On DEFENSE, you can get by with a sub-par D-Line with great LB's to reinforce them and great DB's to pick up the mid-level slack. Sub-par LB's can be overcome by superior D-Linemen keeping runners from getting too far and superior DB's being able to move up and help them with mid-level defense. Sub-par DB's can be gotten by with with great LB's to back them up and a strong D-Line to pressure the opposing QB to keep him from targeting the WR's deep.

On OFFENSE, you can get by with a sub-par QB, so long as you have a good O-Line to give him time to find receivers and good RB's to carry the load. You can also get by with sub-par 'Skill' Players if the O-Line can give them holes anyone can get through and a good QB to give them easy catches.

If you have a sub-par O-Line, though? YOU ARE SCREWED. I don't care if your QB is Joe Montana and skill players are Jerry Rice, Santana Moss, Walter Payton, Kellen Winslow, and Red Grange - they are paralyzed if there is no O-Line to let them maneuver!

This leads to 3-and-outs, and soon a very tired Defense. The result is never pretty...

I thimk this is what has happened to UGA (and Clemson to a greater extent).

TigerEducated · 1 year ago

While I'm not sure it will happen, both UGA & LSU have the opportunity to win 10 games, and were separated from a date in the Conference Championship by unbelievable (and unexpectedly) great seasons from competitors in their respective divisions (Florida in the Dawg's East, the Crimson Tide in the West)...

With the injury attrition on UGA's offensive front, and our greenhorn quarterbacking, double digit wins in retrospect is a wonderful season...

blackdawg · 1 year ago

Well said, TE.

deathvalley56 · 1 year ago

You're right on on all points here, TigerEducated. Geaux Tigers!!!!!

pete · 1 year ago

DON'T COMPARE gEORGIA TO CLEMSON. Clemson couldn't carry staffords jock strap.

blackdawg · 1 year ago

Clemson is an SEC type school in the ACC. Scary what they could do with the right coach. It's not like they've not got the players.

deathvalley56 · 1 year ago

Agreed. Geaux Tigers!!!!!!!! The L.S.U. Tigers, I mean. But, good luck to your Tigers, also.

SC Bulldog · 1 year ago

I graduated from GA and am a GA fan. I am totally surprised the best analysis we have is from Tommy Trojan, not because he is a "left coaster", but because down south we get so involved in our own football we feel the rest of the country does not have a clue as to what real football is. Tommy is totally on the mark, do what GA did this year with the schedule they played and with the injuries to key starters is a testament to the fact GA has a great team, great coaching staff and a great future. Nobody was calling for anybody's head last year were they? If there is one thing I am disappointed in it is the number of times we have knocked ourself out of the game with PENALTIES!! The blame there goes to everybody! Lack of discipline among the players and lack of focus among the coaching staff. GA historically is a very disciplined team. GO DOGS!!!!