“Richt is just fine.”

Barrett Sallee swims against the tide.

If Richt can do what he always does—lead his team into mid-November with realistic chances at the division title and dance around the 10-win mark—that constitutes a successful season, just like last year was after Georgia topped Louisville in the Belk Bowl.

Agree?  Disagree?

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111 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football, Media Punditry/Foibles

111 responses to ““Richt is just fine.”

  1. 3rdandGrantham

    Totally agree. Sure, losing to UF as a double digit favorite and letting GT and SCU upset us yet again will suck, but nothing screams pure satisfaction more than beating a basketball school in the Granddaddy of them all, The Belk Bowl. All on a cold late December week day night in the college football hotbed of Charlotte. In front of 23k raucous fans.

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    • JCDAWG83

      10 wins is the new undefeated and championship at Georgia. Wanting any more than that is just plain greedy. We’re good enough, no need to expect any more.

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    • Sparrow

      I’ve got an honest question for you and JCDAWG: with all of the issues the team has headed into this season, how many games do you think should we win this year?

      Two things to keep in mind when answering. One, the team is what it is, so pillorying Richt for not having a QB in the chamber (or any other similar faults) is beside the point. Two, we know you think Richt isn’t a good leader, so answer the question as though your perfect coach were heading up our imperfect team.

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      • JCDAWG83

        Well, first of all, it’s impossible to separate the coach from the team and the outcome of the season. I expect 8 or 9 wins this season. New qb, new OC, questions at db and wr, lingering D line questions, no punter, a questionable place kicking game, a schedule that is tougher than last season and a game or two with the patented face plant should equal 8 or 9 regular season wins in my opinion. I hope we can make it to a better bowl than the Belk bowl.

        FYI; I think Richt is a great leader, I don’t think he’s a great football coach. He’s a good football coach and can do a great job when he puts his mind to it, but he seems to take a couple of games off every season.

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        • Brandon

          What did you expect going into last year? With no experience in the defensive backfield and Hutson Mason QBing for us… I expected 8 or 9… so yeah, 10 should be considered a successful season. People who consider any season where we don’t win a national championship an utter failure I assume aren’t happy unless they’re miserable.

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          • JCDAWG83

            I certainly don’t fall into the “national championship or failure” category, but I do think 10 years between SEC championships at Georgia is pretty close to failure. Considering the talent we have had over the past decade, we certainly should have won another SEC championship.

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        • Sparrow

          That seems like a pretty reasonable response. I guess, by trying to remove Richt from your consideration I was trying to also remove the “game or two with the patented face plant” from your thoughts. I take your point about separating the coach from the team though.

          Would it be fair to say that if we got to 10 wins by avoiding the face plant games that you would be okay retaining Richt? Or do you think the past is too damning for him to stick around regardless?

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          • JCDAWG83

            I say all the time I have no issue with losing a game because the other team is better than we are. My issue with Richt, for many years now, is losing games to teams we have more talent than and should beat easily (pretty much every loss in ’14 fits that description) because of bonehead coaching or the team looking like they were surprised they had to play a football game that day or had somewhere else they needed to be.

            That Richt was able to do the coaching job he did for the Missouri, Arkansas and Auburn games shows me he is capable of being a great coach. I really think his problem is; he get’s a little lazy. I don’t know if he gets caught up in the team’s press or he takes some opponents too lightly or what, but some games it’s obvious he hasn’t done his job. The in game goofs seem to be a result of him not handling high pressure situations very well. He’s a great recruiter, a great man, a great ambassador for the university and a pretty good coach. My opinion is; he needs to win a championship in the next three years or so or he needs to move on and let’s see if someone else can.

            If we won 10 games this season and showed up and played hard in all 12, I’d be perfectly happy. I would feel the same about almost any season.

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            • Cosmic Dawg

              I don’t know why you get quite so much grief here. I think that’s a pretty rational point of view.

              The one caveat I’d make is that our players made big mistakes in most of our losses last year. Some of your frustration with Richt is misplaced – he didn’t tell Mason to throw it into the dirt at SC or fumble the football twice on the Tech goal line. I would argue his coaching put us in a position to win those two games and he coached at least as well as the team executed in both cases.

              The team was unprepared in Florida, but at least it was not SC 2012 unprepared. They were not totally flat, they just weren’t amped quite like they should have been. They were mostly hustling.

              I’d put CMR somewhere between “good” and “great”.

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              • Ok, it is grood then, LOL.

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              • JCDAWG83

                Thanks, and while I know players make mistakes too, the failure of our defensive ends to seal the outside at Florida was poor play (of course, the millionaire coaches probably should have told them to do things differently). As to SC, I still blame Richt/Bobo for putting Mason in the position to throw the ball at all. I doubt he would have put the handoff to Gurley on the ground. The tech game never should have been close. The pooch kick call was as bonehead a call as could have been made.

                I agree on the Richt being a better than “Good” but not “great”.

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  2. heyberto

    I agree. He can’t have a bad year, to be sure… He’s got enough pieces to keep us competitive, but it’s a lot to expect a national title run with a new QB that hasn’t been decided upon yet. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but I don’t expect it. I don’t expect to shit the bed. Barring an injury to Chubb, 10 wins is about right.

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    • Chi-town Dawg

      A 10 win season with a new QB/C, new OC and a tough schedule would be a successful year in my book for 2015. It would probably get us into a top bowl game for a change (assuming Mizzou doesn’t surprise everyone again). Do I want and expect a CFP bowl game – absolutely, but I think to consider this year a disappointment without it is overreaching. Next year I may not be so reasonable.

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      • JCDAWG83

        10 regular season wins and a trip to the SECCG would be a HUGE season. 10 wins and a good bowl game would be a good year too. I don’t expect a CFP appearance this season or next.

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    • It’s not too much to expect a run with a new QB, AU did it with that goofball Marshall.

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      • Chi-town Dawg

        If it were just a new QB, I’d agree because we’ve seen it down by other teams in recent years. However, I think when you throw in the other considerations, the challenge becomes much harder. For example, Alabama had a new (RS senior) QB and new OC last year with a tough schedule.

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        • JCDAWG83

          Yeah, and they only won the SEC championship.

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          • James Stephenson

            And face planted against Ohio State and their third string QB.

            The team that lost to VT at home.

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            • JCDAWG83

              I would hardly call losing in the fourth quarter to the eventual national champions a “face plant”.

              We lost to two teams that would not have been bowl eligible had they not beaten us.

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      • heyberto

        Again… it’s too much to expect it. Not saying it can’t happen.. but to expect it means anything less is failure, and I don’t agree with that this year.

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    • Mayor

      Remind me, wasn’t the QB who led Ohio State to the playoff wins and the National Championship not only a first year starter but a first game starter at the time. Unusual to be sure but……

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      • JCDAWG83

        That was pretty amazing. I guess he did have a month to prepare and for the coaches to work with him. It either says a lot about the coach’s abilities or it says a lot about Ohio State’s depth at the qb position.

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      • heyberto

        The operative word I used was ‘expect’. In no way am I saying it can’t happen. I’m just saying it’s a stretch to expect a slot, and define this season as a failure if we don’t get there.

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    • Sparrow

      I completely agree. I think we get to 10 wins with the bowl game, but there are too many question marks headed into this season to demand or expect more.

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  3. Russ

    Agree. But then, I’m told I settle for mediocrity.

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  4. Granthams replacement

    The income stream is the key measure of when Richt goes. 8+ wins and $$$ = job security

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    • JCDAWG83

      I’ve said that for years. The only way there will be a change of head coach, barring a few 5-7 seasons (which won’t happen), is if the money slows down. As long as the ticket buyers are happy with 8 wins and having a good man as the coach, Richt has a job as long as he wants.

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      • sniffer

        I’ve said it for years, Mark Richt is the finest coach in American football. No one brings more to the game than Mark Richt. I’ve said it for years. He is deserving of the recognition he receives and the accolades of his peers. I’ve said it for years. He keeps the money flowing into BM and for that, I am grateful. He has Georgia football in the hunt for championships more years than not, and for that I am grateful. Having sung the praises of Mark Richt for years, it is especially rewarding to know that there are many years ahead of his leadership, loyalty and winning football.

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        • JCDAWG83

          He does win more than he loses, I’ll give you that. I’m surprised the man you consider “the finest coach in American football” hasn’t managed to win a championship of any kind in 10 years. Maybe I don’t have the trained eye to see the things he brings to the game that no one else brings? You should certainly be happy knowing he will be here for many years based on your unabashed love and admiration of him..

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  5. Jeff Dickey

    losing to florida and the nerds again is unacceptable. Dantzler hates losing to GT

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  6. DawgPhan

    10 wins is a lot of fun. I mean if you like that sort of thing.

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  7. dudemankind

    I disagree with the theme of the article that Richt is underrated. He gets plenty of love and credit for the state of the program IMHO.

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  8. Debby Balcer

    Agree

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  9. ugafidelis

    I agree. Admit it, we (fans) typically go into every September expecting to do well. Or if the schedule is favorable, possibly even great. Come November, we’re typically upset about something but still hold out hope. After it’s all over our ulcers are flared and our livers are screaming and there’s not enough Tums left on the store shelves to help. But after the dust settles we say we had a pretty good year and start the long, arduous climb back out of the pit of despair and on to that cliff of optimism when August arrives and the countdown begins.

    We’re just cursed. Snake bit. Sort of like the Red Sox.

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  10. Senator – I think you’re just a glutton for punishment knowing full well what posting an article like this is going to entail. 🙂

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  11. Rusty

    I agree.

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  12. Are you kidding? A trip to the Belk Bowl marks a successful season? We may not be a super power program, but we can do better than that. I’m not a fire Richt guy, but I want a 3-4 year run of legit teams that sniff the CFP and win one NC. That’s the goal IMO, and it is achievable. I don’t think if we don’t win the NC every year we suck, nobody can do that. Things are looking like we could start that run soon.

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  13. Spike

    JCDAWG83.. Unleashed..

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    • PTC DAWG

      He loves this stuff…you guys play right into his hands.

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      • Haters gotta hate DMS 4 paragraph 6 last paragraph…
        “IF EVEN THE THOUGHT OF A 10-2 SEASON IS PLEASING,YOU’RE THE PROBLEM. AND IT’S THAT SORRY ATTITUDE THAT PERMEATES THE UNIVERSITY. THE HATERS NEED A TITLE BY YEAR THREE OR WE’RE JUST WASTING OUR TIME. AGAIN,YOU’RE THE PROBLEM IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT IN THOSE BLACK AND WHITE TERMS.” This is just too easy .

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  14. If the tech game doesn’t end the way that it did, we would have played TCU in the Dome in the CFA Peach Bowl in a virtual home game. If not for a pooch kick, a failure to contain the QB, an ill-timed timeout, and an interception in the overtime, would we even be having this conversation?

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    • Mayor

      Actually, TCU would have been the worst possible opponent for Georgia in a bowl last year. TCU was the REAL best team in the nation last season, not Ohio State, and got screwed (sort of like Georgia, the best team in the nation at the end of the ’07 season, got screwed) out of participating in the 4 team playoff. TCU was 3rd in the nation on the committee’s list, won its final game 63-0, then was dropped by the committee to 5th and missed out entirely on the playoff. That may be the worst screw job in the history of college football. TCU would have beaten every other team in the 4 team playoff last season, some by 20 points. Remember what Georgia did to Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl? That is what TCU would have done to a so-so Dawg team in a bowl last year. Thank goodness for the Belk Bowl and Louisville, IMHO.

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      • They also gave up 61 to Baylor in a regulation-length game. I would have taken a chance with those guys with our defense that had just shut down the Gus Bus with a similar offense. Ole Miss was the perfect opponent for TCU – terrible QB play, no power running game, best player (Treadwell) injured. No way the Rebel Black Bears could have gotten into a track meet with the Horned Frogs. We did have the offensive talent to get into a track meet with them if necessary.

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        • Mayor

          Really? I liked Mason at QB but I hold no illusions whatsoever that in 2014 Georgia’s long passing game could in any way, shape or form keep up with TCU’s long passing game. And on D, while Pruitt pieced together an pretty effective group of DBs, no way they don’t get shot to pieces by TCU. In a track meet with TCU Georgia loses big every time. Georgia’s only way to win that game is to shorten the game by grinding it out on the ground. Even then, I just don’t see the Dawgs beating the Frogs, who entered the post-season with the biggest grudge since Georgia had one in ’07. Whoever the Frogs played in the post-season last year was going to catch hell. I’m glad it wasn’t us.

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          • That’s a fair comment, but generally I don’t think we have this conversation about Richt if we were in a New Year’s 6 bowl game last year.

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          • Will (The Other One)

            I agree with you that the Dawgs probably don’t win that matchup (being somewhat bummed about no SEC shot vs. Bama, and coming off a way too close win vs. the Nerds is not the same motivation TCU would have) but beaten like Hawaii? TCU has a decent defense but they in no way were capable of manhandling us like 2007 UGA did to an overrated and undersized WAC team. The old “line the DE out wide because they can’t stop him” approach doesn’t translate.

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      • Macallanlover

        I agree with everything you said Mayor until you got to the comment about the UGA/TCU being another UGA/Hawaii type mismatch. TCU may well have been in the best team in the nation last year but their defense would have not been able to contain UGA. It would have been a shootout, and we probably would have lost, but it would not have been a huge mismatch. It was more likely we would have beaten ohio, FSU, or Bama than Oregon or TCU but then you look at the job the defense did with Auburn.

        Our three losses were the result of not stopping the power run teams, but when the year began we all felt it was the pass defense that would bring us down.

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        • Mayor

          I bow to your superior logic on this, Mac. It probably wouldn’t have been a blow-out loss, but it likely would have been a loss, none-the-less.

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        • Will (The Other One)

          Although the pass D improved, we weren’t exactly facing a murderer’s row of great QBs in the second half of the season (though clearly we were better at defending long jump balls than Bama was vs the Barn.)

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          • Macallanlover

            Fair point. I would say we were in better position in pass coverage, even earlier in the season, than we had any right to expect considering the (almost) empty cupboard Pruitt inherited. I think we might be very good at pass defense this year, especially given the pass rush we should have.

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      • PTC DAWG

        I call BS

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  15. W Cobb Dawg

    The only thing that would make this year different from all others would be getting into the playoff or loosing more than 4.

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  16. Just thinking……. You have to admit the Staff has a good handle on in state recruits ….. They miss a few 5*’s but in the end we do well…. One reason that is done is the Staff has a good handle on the State of UGA…… The staff has done a better job of out of state players and keeping a heads up on talent out of state.
    UGA has not always got great results hence the Louisville train and the Auburn bus leaving Athens with criminal charges intact not to mention the Alabama we will admit you with 2 outstanding warrants against you. Besides deflections and injuries and suspensions I am surprised at times the Staff was able to hold a group of 18-21 year old heads together.
    The loss to UF truly sucked ! The squib kick against GT was the pits, less we forget it was a great comeback to get the lead.
    So taking all things into account WHO would be a replacement that has roots of recruiting in our borders. Plus the WOW factor …….. Unless you fall back to Coach Bobo excellent recruiter but the bashing of some of his calls still lingers in the upper deck.
    What’s the cost of the Wow factor 8 Mil + and still no guarantee of CFCS Bowl. We have been unlucky and snakebit and at times unprepared…… You never know how teenagers will react and neither does the Staff. Hence the quote ” We were not mentally ready to play UF “.
    One thing sticks in my mind is quotes who say they are glad their son chose CMR to play for and I happy with 8-9-10 wins no but have you ever listened closely to the saying ” Money can not buy you happiness or CBS Bowl games “

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  17. DawgPhan

    Just keep that hater post from the other day when you read the replies and then laugh and laugh and laugh at how predictable all the replies are.

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    • I don’t know who you are referring to, but wouldn’t this blog suck if we all had the same opinion? I don’t agree with everybody here but I’m not offended by anybody either. Just so people give their honest opinion and don’t troll too much, I got no problem with them.

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  18. W Cobb Dawg

    ‘losing’

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  19. For any shot at continued and sustained success, we need to find a way to make sure Pruitt doesn’t leave the UGA campus. He’s the straw stirring the drink in Athens.

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    • Uglydawg

      That is a very important and missed fact, Sportsdawg. He’s good on the recruiting trail and seems to be a very good game coach..etc. But he also is having a positive effect on team culture..I really hope.
      UGA needs to play lights out and stomp the hell out of people instead of meekly playing to their level.
      We’ve seen it at times…Oh! the pure bliss…against Clemson last year and Aubun..but we also saw the Florida debacle. Everything is there except the attitude..that’s going to make the difference..and I believe..I really hope…that CJP is the answer.

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  20. The Quincy Carter of Accountants

    Mark Richt has loss control of interesting topics to argue about.

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  21. Red

    One National Championship and Mark Richt’s career surpasses every other head coach with one National Championship. C’mon God let that G symbol be Georgia.

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  22. charlottedawg

    Division title and no blowout losses (14+ points ) . Undefeated against the east would be a nice first for Richt to achieve.

    On paper we’re the best team in the division.

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    • Mayor

      I don’t want to be negative but Georgia was the best team in the SEC East the last 2 years, too.

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      • charlottedawg

        Hence why i would count the season a success if Richt achieved those things.

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      • Macallanlover

        True, but the best team doesn’t always win, do they. I would submit that Alabama was the best team in the West in 2013 and 2011 but didn’t make it to Atlanta either year. There are just too many examples in all of CFB to cite, but this crowd seems to only see that particular shortcoming in UGA. I think we win the East in 2013 without the injuries. Again, best team doesn’t win more often than we all think. If you play 4-6 games a year against comparable skill players, a couple of losses isn’t unusual.

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        • adam

          Nothing you said makes any nonsense. I can’t follow it, and I refuse to accept it.

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        • W Cobb Dawg

          “I would submit that Alabama was the best team in the West in 2013 and 2011 but didn’t make it to Atlanta either year.”

          I don’t see how bama’s situation relates to ours in any way, shape, or form. When a guy has a few mnc’s notched on his belt, like saban, he gets a pass on missing the big one once in a while. Not that I’d consider coming within a whisker of winning it all (again) in both ’11 and ’13 underachieving.

          I understand defending CMR’s coaching, but using recent bama teams isn’t helping your case.

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          • Weary, in 2011 Bama was clearly the best team in the West. The Tide won the National Championship. But they didn’t win the SEC West or the SEC Championship. Mac’s point is on the money. Some times the best team doesn’t win.

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  23. Meanmachineinredandblack

    I agree with the article. I think the point is that our season was successful after beating Louisville soundly. I don’t think making the Belk Bowl constitutes a successful season. And it certainly wouldn’t this year. And yes, we have gotten a couple bad breaks over the years. And yes, Mark Richt is underrated outside of Athens, and under appreciated inside of it. I can’t tell you all how many dozens of times I’ve heard from huge fans that “we’ll never win the title with Richt”. Does anyone out there think that Gene Chizik is a better coach than CMR?

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    • Not to compare Cheat-zik with Coach Dooley, but they both won a national championship with a once a generation type of player that could take over a game. Cheat-zik surrounded that one season with a body of work that never warranted consideration for an SEC job. Dooley won a bunch of SEC championships but really didn’t win the big one until he had that one piece in #34. For Richt, Gurley (and Chubb) had the potential to be that type of player and proved it in 2012. If he’s healthy in 2013 or doesn’t get suspended (and injured) in 2014, Gurley gives Richt his championship.

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      • Mayor

        Really? Gurley wasn’t injured or suspended for the 2014 Georgia-South Carolina game and Chubb ran the ball about as well as Gurley would have while Gurley was out. How can you realistically make such an assertion in the face of what actually happened? We lost 3 games, all of which should have been won, and any realistic analysis of what happened in those games demonstrates that Gurley playing in them either made or would make no difference. Would Gurley have “set the edge” on D in the FU game, or tackled FU’s ball carriers? Did Gurley make the decision to not carry the ball on first and goal from the 4 near the end of the game in Columbia or pooch-kick the kick-off with a 3 point lead and 30 seconds to play in the Tech game, then call a TO so Tech could set up for the FG that got the Jackets into OT? Nope, Gurley playing or not playing had nothing to do with the 3 losses.

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        • I agree with you about the USCe game. He was available and played his @$$ off.

          We don’t know what would have happened in the Florida game, but I tend to think his return would have jacked the team up to make a point like the Missouri game this year and the way we played in the 1st half against UF in 2013.

          In the tech game, who knows but I understand your point about the end of the game. No dig at Chubb, but Gurley doesn’t get caught from behind on the long run when Chubb fumbled 2 plays later.

          I do think 2013 is a very different year if Gurley doesn’t have his ankle rolled in the LSU game. The Tennessee game isn’t close, and Dawgs beat Missouri and Vanderbilt with Gurley.

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          • Mayor

            FWIW, I agree with you about 2013. If Gurley isn’t hurt 2013 becomes a different season for the Dawgs.

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          • Will (The Other One)

            With both Chubb and Gurley healthy we were far more likely to get some early TDs (instead of multiple fumbles inside the 5) in the first half and put the nerds away comfortably.

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            • Also, think about the FG we kicked after the successful fake. A healthy Gurley and fresh Chubb punch that in as well. Coulda, woulda, shoulda …Can September get here already?

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        • “Should” have won all 3 games? I “should” be in Hollywood, but that didn’t happen either.

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  24. UGA85

    I don’t think it has to be that complicated. UGA should win the SEC more than it has. No titles in a decade should be a concern and a cause for changes to be made. Some changes have been made, thankfully, after a Belk Bowl season, but the head coach remains. CMR now needs to win the SEC, given the wealth of resources and talent at his disposal, plus the assistant coaches now on his staff, money, etc. This level of expectation is not unrealistic and should not be cause for the “hater” label so frequently applied. “Why not us?” is a good question for UGA fans to ask of our program and coaching staff.

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  25. paul

    I don’t think we can can “do what we always do” over the next few years and expect that Richt will be okay. I love coach Richt. But, with the cash flowing and the IPF finally on the way I think he has to show significant improvement to hang around. Now, what that means to Morehead, McGarity and the Butts-Mehre cabal I’m not sure. But I don’t think they’re spending all that money to get the same old same old.

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  26. TMC dawg

    Great teams and fans are always hungry for more. Perfection is an un obtainable goal, but the teams and fans that keep striving for it are the ones usually on top.

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    • JCDAWG83

      What is the old saying “if you aim for perfection, you will hit excellence”? That is what I think is missing in many of our football program’s fans. The majority of our fan base is aiming for “very good” and hitting “good” and their fear of change will not allow them to consider that something better is possible.

      If they had our fan base, Mike Shula would still be the Bama coach, Tressell would still be the coach at Ohio State, Tommy Bowden would still be at Clemson, Zook would be at Florida and Weiss would still be at Notre Dame.

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      • Shula wouldn’t have survived at UGA. He was Ray Goff with a better genetic makeup.
        Tressel would still be at OSU if he hadn’t had that little ethical lapse with the NCAA and the university. Gordon Gee said famously that he worked for the Sweater Vest.
        Zook was Ray Goff with NFL experience. He had Spurrier ties and was a fallback candidate.
        Weis – please don’t make me laugh. He was a disaster at ND.

        Bowden is the only one where you have a point, and I wouldn’t say Dabo has been an upgrade.

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        • JCDAWG83

          My whole point was about fear of change among Georgia fans. I don’t blame any of those programs for making coaching changes. Every time anyone discusses a coaching change, people say “look what happened at Tennesee!”, they never say “look what happened at Bama or Florida or Ohio State”. I certainly wasn’t making an argument that those coaches should still be there.

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          • JC, my point was Shula, Zook, and Weis would have been fired for their performance at UGA. I’ll give you they may not have been fired as quickly in Athens. OSU didn’t run Tressel off to hire Corch. They had to get rid of him due to the lying, and Meyer happened to be available. Clemson’s situation is the closest to us, and I don’t think Clemson upgraded by keeping Dabo after naming him as interim.

            I don’t think there’s fear of change. I think there’s fear that the administration is going to screw it up like Goff and Mason/Donnan. I also think a lot of us (myself included) don’t think change is warranted right now given where the program is. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.

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            • JCDAWG83

              I agree with you about the fear of the administration, they haven’t shown much willingness over the years to make great hires. Of course, some of their failures may be due to their knowing that Georgia fans will continue to send the checks in pretty much regardless of the product on the field, unless we lose to tech. It could be a chicken and egg thing. The fans don’t demand much more than 8 wins a season, so the BM crowd doesn’t feel a need to really find a great coach, who knows?

              Richt is in no danger now, but if he can’t change the decade long disappointment very soon, I think he needs to go. I feel like he peaked around 2007. It almost seemed like he sort of gave up a little after the disappointing 2008 season and never got back to the championship ways or attitude. Of course, around here, it seems like I’m in the minority.

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              • I’ll send in my checks because I don’t want to go to the back of the line for my season tickets. If that makes me part of the problem, I’m willing to live with that. My dad tried to get season tickets for years and never could. I’ll never give them up.

                I think you hit something about CMR. That 2008 team had the potential to be truly special, and the whole team (coaches & players) seemed to believe the hype and failed. I’m sure he knew 2009 was going to be tough because of the early entries and the QB problem he was likely to have. Where I differ with your opinion is that I believe Mark got his groove back (DiF, do your thing) in 2012. If you go back and watch that post-game press conference after the SECCG, I saw a man who truly poured his heart & soul into one game. A man who has given up doesn’t do the things he has over the last 2 years to make changes in the program. I guess that’s what I see in the guy.

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        • Uglydawg

          And Fulmer would still be Tennessee’s coach.
          And Danny Ford, Clemson’s.
          Every case is unique…just pointing to another school and saying, “This worked for them so we need to do it” doesn’t cut it.
          I’m convinced that Georgia hasn’t reached the heights it could have, and some of it is on the coach. (I’ve heard or read that somewhere recently)

          I suspect CMR has a slow but very steady learning curve…He’s almost there..where UGA will be in the SEC Champiionship game most years..and will win it a fair amount. If this doesn’t happen (and not suddenly, but steadily) then I’m gonna cry “uncle” on this thing.
          But right now..to me…the glass is way over half-full and filling.

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      • Macallanlover

        That first paragraph is just so wrong, close to 100% wrong. If it were only that easy, but I suppose the tiebreakers would never work, and games would never end. How many teams/athletes don’t “aim for perfection”? Few, very few. And none of the coaches in the 2nd paragraph would be there…none.

        This comment may show how far off your assessment of other fans are. Reversing it, if all fan bases were comprised of you Disney Dawgs, and your unrealistic expectations, few coaches would last more than 3 years. Everyone has a right to determine what makes them happy, you ar ejust different from the vast majority.

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        • dudemankind

          What on earth makes you think you speak for the vast majority of fans? Get over yourself “Mac.”

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      • TMC dawg

        If you are right, what is wrong in demanding perfection. I am sorry but more times than not our fans Settle on less. NOT me I WANT MORE!!!!!!!!!

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  27. Dave

    Two things must happen for a successful season. Win the East….there is no reason not to — seriously. 2nd, beat Florida and Tech. If we do those things, it is successful.

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    • Uglydawg

      That’s the nuts and bolts, Dave..and I’ll pretty much agree…But we may have to accept a loss (maybe to Tennessee) that will be hard to stomach, but those three things that you named are the measure.
      But if there are a rash of injuries or a rash of rapings by the refs against UGA, then I can’t blame CMR for that.

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      • Will (The Other One)

        Provided Tech and UF are wins, I’d rather have a frustrating loss at UTK than a win that comes with crippling injuries to the team like that last trip up there.

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    • Sparrow

      I think there is an honest reason for not winning the east. A 10 win season including the bowl game is a 9-4 regular season. All 4 of those losses are likely to be SEC losses (my picks are Bama, UT, Mizzou, and Auburn). 4 conference losses and we aren’t winning the east. With the 5 cupcakes on our schedule (including Vandy and Kentucky), how do you get us to 10 wins without losing the east?

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      • Chi-town Dawg

        Unless my math is wrong, the regular season is 12 games, so a 10 win season equates to no worse than 9-3 in the regular season. Assuming no faceplate against Kentucky, Vandy and the 3 cupcakes, this means we have to go 3-3 against Bama, Auburn, Tech, Tenn, Florida and Mizzou. I can see that happening and possibly even 4-2 against them. Either way, I’d be pleased, not ecstatic, with a 9-3 regular season record. Ecstatic would be 10-2 or 11-1 in the regular season. Although the schedule isn’t easy, I think it lines up favorably for us in terms of timing and the bye week. I think we’ll be ready to play against Bama, but worry about a possible letdown against TN (or Mizzou if we beat both Bama and TN).

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        • Sparrow

          Nope, my math was wrong. Thanks for catching that. I think I’m a little less confident in going 3-3 through those 6 games than you are though.

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  28. DawgPhan

    some folks never disappoint. I mean this is like word for word from the hater post the other day.

    word for word, like there isnt an original thought there.

    nice work. probably even feels accomplished…

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  29. TMC dawg

    Until the fans and epecially the big donors, start bitching it will be same I am afraid. What is wrong with wanting more? SEC Championships and hopefully a national championship should be this fan base battle cry. With the donations and the coaches assembled and the talent on the roster, Richt better delivering the next 2 hours o 3 years.

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  30. B-UGA

    This whole, “We’ve got a great coach & should be happy winning 9-10 games” crap is exactly why we are where we are! As long as folks are paying money, TV is paying money, & we are making money, UGA Athletics seems to be OK with what we got. If you accept mediocrity, that’s what you’ll always get! Might as well be SC hanging banners in our stadium for 11 win seasons. I agree he’s a great recruiter, an awesome role model, & a good coach….just not a great Head Coach. With the talent we’ve had at UGA, we should have at least (1) NC and (1-2) more SEC championships in his tenure. I agree we tend to always face plant 1-2 games every year & it cost us dearly (this is a reflection on coaching). I would be happy if our guys came out & played their butts off & coaches-coached their butts off. I agree Richt seems to get a little lazy during the season for 1-2 games (and it shows in the results-38 big game losses since 03′ in games that we should have won or at least shown up to). Sometimes its seems he doesn’t have a plan B (or C, or D). We seem to have a good run every season, just not good enough to put it all together in one season. Can he pull it all together & earn his $4million/yr? It seems the Athletic Dept is finally buying into helping the football program become Elite (with support & money)…with last year’s recruiting class & next year’s coming on strong, something has to happen in the next 3 yrs or I’m sorry we’ll just be Mediocre U.

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