GATArchives - greatest upset at WLOCP

Sure, there have been plenty of upset faces for Dawg fans leaving Jacksonville the last couple decades. But the biggest upset in Georgia history was one handed to the hated Gators. 


The year was 1985 and Galen Hall not only had his fightin' reptiles #1 in the nation, he also had inherited the team on probation. Charley Pell had left the program steeped in controversy in the middle of the 1984 season. Strapped with over 100 major NCAA infractions, Hall would rally his players the rest of the season to a 9-1-1 record. That catapulted them into the '85 season where they were undefeated coming into the WLOCP.


The problem for the Gators was, the Dawgs never blinked. Behind the powerful legs of freshman Keith Henderson Dooley's offense rushed for over 300 yards. And even though Kerwin Bell threw for over 400 yards, Florida never found the endzone. A 6-1-1 Georgia team ranked #17 in the nation proved to their rivals that the Gator Bowl was still their turf with a 24-3 upset win.


Because the game wasn't televised, very little footage has ever been seen. Luckily Dawg19 has us covered with this recap by Larry Munson. Enjoy.

Never gets old seeing a Florida quarterback struggle to get off the turf. Hope you enjoyed that one too. And if you were there we'd love to hear what the experience was like...taking down the hated Gators in the biggest upset in Georgia football history.

*for more on the game, check out Garbin's post from a couple years ago.

FASTFORWARD....and press PLAYOFF

**This is a future post, based solely on my skepticism and cynicism in the leadership and current mindset surrounding major college football. Read now or save until 2024.**

Hey Sexton! I want lots a chicken!

Ok, so yesterday as reported by Sr. Lead College Football Analyst Joe Schad on ESPNU3, commissioners from all four conferences met to discuss expanding the playoff format from its current 16 team seeding to 32 or possibly 48 teams. This has long been rumored to be in the works as dwindling funds have many athletic admins scraping by. Just last week South Carolina offered Houston Nutt the head coaching position for just $5.75 million a year. 


What's more is that the University of Texas' operating budget is now dipping below $300 million for the first time in nearly a decade. Longhorn officials cite dwindling football season ticket sales as the #1 culprit as fans save nickels and dimes during the fall so that they can possibly spend the cash on the post-season hotel rooms, seats on Greyhounds and "We're #1!!" foam fingers.


Locally the impact has had similar unsavory results. Just last November attendance at the Georgia-Georgia Tech game was at its lowest since 2018; only 18,000 Georgia fans showed up to cheer the third-stringers and walk-ons at Bobby Dodd after both teams had clinched spots in their all important conference championships.

"Why would I play my best fish fryers on a Dragon Con weekend," responded Tech head coach Paul Johnson. "Lil Timmy can chop block. Just last week he took out Coach Groh's starting DE in drills. I know what it takes to win games next month. I don't care that we haven't won a game against UGA since 2009. This game with the pups means nothing. We're getting ready for Wake Forest and the Super Duper Atlantic Mega Game in Spartanburg SC next week. We want better than the national 13 seed we got last year in Poughkeepsie."

Heh, so long bitches!

And fans continue to clamor for a return to the glory days of the long defunct Bowl Championship Series. Not long after Iowa had beaten California for the Target Stores National Championship Game featuring 2 for the price of 1 Tide cleaning detergent, many pointed to the fact that the Cyclones freshman quarterback Vince Young Jr. had not even played a meaningful snap all season until December. Texas Longhorn DSISTC (Damn Straight I'm Still The Coach!) Mack Brown only chuckled, "I knew they's saving that kid. Nothing wrong with that! Heh, heh!"


But signs still point to a dead BCS. Mike Slive has long left the country on his yacht MONEY BAG$$. He hasn't even been seen since the Summer of 2017 somewhere off the coast of southern France sipping courvoisier from a vintage Ole Miss stadium cup. And he's the only person who has a map to where Sagarin's formula is buried.


So...it appears we're heading towards a larger post-season. Despite the fact that no team ranked higher than 9th all season has won the championship in over eight years. Despite the fact that the champion hasn't won its own conference since Boise State got in as a 7 seed out of the Pac-Mountain-Semi-Western WEED IS FINALLY LEGAL!!! Athletical Conference in 2019. And despite the fact that EDSBS' long running CFB fan poll shows a whopping 99% dissatisfaction rating with the current system.


If there's a silver lining to those long lost years being in the rearview mirror, at least the coaches are still no longer voting. Southern Badass Country Boys Can Survive Athletic Superiority Conference commissioner Mumme has at least been able to keep that off the table. Even the 2021 champion Hawaii Rainbow Obama non-Birthers approve.


Stay tuned as next week we look back at how major television networks used to actually broadcast sporting events, as well as the related article by Sr. ESPN the iMagazine Sportswriter Craig James.

One night, two new seasons

Tonight's a great night for television. No, So You Think You Can Fart isn't on and Dirty Dancing with Washed up NFL Stars isn't premiering (I don't think). The new seasons of Wilfred and Louie come on tonight at 10:00 and 10:30 respectively. Beyond Justified and Breaking Bad there are few shows on television these days I will wholeheartedly endorse. These are two comedies that break the mold.


There aren't two videos on the internet that do the shows justice. But if you're still not sold, tune in or set your DVR. You can come back and thank me later.

Bonus, Louie CK is coming to Athens November 30th. Celebrate the SECCG eve in style at the Classic Center...you fat idiot.

Now back to your regularly scheduled Swamp People, hosted by Gene Chizik.


h/t BassinDawg

"Dr. Murray, paging Dr. Murray"

While pursuing a return trip to the SECCG Aaron Murray also begins work towards his masters degree, and in turn his doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology this fall. He'll likely take nine credit hours during the season.

“In the springtime, I’ll probably bump it up,” said Murray, who received his undergraduate degree in May and made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in the spring.

Murray, entering his redshirt junior season, got a projection from the NFL underclassmen advisory committee last winter.

Asked if he was happy with where he was told he would go, Murray said: “There is improvement to be made. That’s all I’ve got to say."

Murray had a good laugh at that.

Humpday Hilarity: Campaign endorsement

Based on my hat being tossed into the ring the other day, I wasn't expecting an endorsement so soon. Just like my bourbon I promise to run my campaign neat.



Also, FU Prez Adams.

h/t Maker's Mark

Knives vs Guns in the trenches

If Tyler will allow me to pile on for a moment.

I agree, the offensive line should be improved in 2012. As much as I'll miss the guys we lost, Coach Friend's unit will be better equipped to succeed this season. As TD pointed out, the protection was slim and the running lanes were next to nil last season. And not all of that is the offensive line's fault. We had a fullback position that was under-utilized and a tight end position that wasn't able to contribute much blocking wise.

Bruce Figgins is one of my favorites to wear the red and black. I was thrilled to learn last year that he would be moving to fullback because it would allow him to be on the field with Orson, Aron or both and would put a good set of hands out of the backfield. However the result, was Figgins only caught 7 passes for 96 yards and 1 touchdown. What's more is he never carried the ball. Never. His counterpart Zander only carried it twice.

I listened to Richt's reasoning on this (previously unforeseen) development numerous times via the call-in show. Historically, Figgins had never taken a handoff. They weren't planning to (ever) allow him to carry the football. This narrows your offensive weapons and minimizes your choices. Even if it's only somewhat minimized, it still allows the defense to eliminate an option out of the backfield with zero risk of getting burned.

The tight end position did the same thing, albeit from a different direction. Aron White and Orson Charles were terrific targets for Murray. They combined for 54 catches, 675 yards and 9 touchdowns. Of course, Orson did most of the heavy lifting with those stats, but White was a frequent target in the red zone with nearly half of those touchdowns.

The problem is blocking. With all the speed and elusiveness we had at the TE position last season, we didn't have a competent blocker at the position. This, combined with the stripped down version of the fullback position, severely handicapped our protection and blocking schemes.

Enter Artie Lynch and Quayvon Hicks. Lynch has the size of a bonus offensive tackle (6-5, 270+). Hicks dwarfs our current options at fullback (let's face it, Samuel is not a fullback) and has experience taking handoffs. If he can catch up quick this summer he should be starting sooner rather than later. And Lynch, if he can sit in a zone and catch seam route in addition to his blocking duties, we're two steps ahead of where we were last season. Both in terms of protection and options within the playbook.

Of course there are things to iron out along the offensive line, much that only experience and starts can bring along. But I'll be watching Hicks' development closely this August. And come September 1st, I'll be watching the number of times Bobo and Murray call Lynch's number on passing downs as closely as anything else. If those two offensive components can come together, we'll no longer be bringing switchblades to gunfights.

statistics taken from cfbstats.com

Monday's Meatloaf - it's time to close the door on Prez Adams

2013...less cognac, more bourbon

(approach podium, clear throat, smile) One score and many moons ago, when I was 17, I failed in an attempt to become mayor of the city of Athens. My whole platform was based on the need for two pizza lines in each school and cheaper gasoline. After all it was $.89/gallon and I was trying to make ends meet while working concessions at The Classic Triple. Goobers and Mike n Ikes stock was down and times were tough. But I was young and a dreamer full of ideals. When I had already lost with 1% of the precincts reporting, I promptly retired from the arena of politics. Convinced it just wasn't for me.


But dear Reader...and mom...I am typing in front of you today as a new man. I lay my 39 years of experience before you as a matter of public record. Debate it, pore over it, let it simmer over the summer. Because a year from now I want to be your president! (pause for applause...)


Thank you, but let me explain. My aim is not for the Oval Office. My aspirations are grander. My vision has laid a course for a loftier perch. You see fair Reader, my skills are needed in Athens GA even more than they are needed in DC; they are needed from the Arch on North Campus all the way across College Station where my intramural softball glory still resonates today; my skills are needed to address concerns over tailgating, concerns over the current lack of pencil sharpeners in classrooms, the need for a week off before and after the WLOCP, seating arrangements in Sanford on Saturdays in the Fall, and lastly...to repair the image that was been shit all the hell over tarnished over the last several years. (another pause, probably longer this time)


You're probably asking how you can help. No, please...put your wallets and checkbooks away. I appreciate the gesture, but I'd rather you save your hard earned money for a basketball recruit ticket or a trip to the Tate Center Plaza. I don't need signs in yards or volunteers interrupting peoples' suppers every night. I don't need expensive airplane trips across oceans and my wife and I won't need a private residence to hide from our esteemed students. We're Georgia red, the Chapel Bell rings within our hearts and even though this could be considered another Reconstruction Era, our luggage isn't made from carpets. And when we win, you're all invited to my suite in Sanford. Every Saturday - winter, spring summer and fall.


GATA y'all, here's some hope, keep your change and rock the vote! IT"S TIME!! (wave exuberantly, light cigar, point to jumbotron, press play and plug in your air guitar)


Today's Ingredients
- And while you're in the mood to vote, Kyle King would like your ballot placed ASAP for a 5th nominee in the HoF voting.

Hoage doing some Tiger hunting, via DawgBone

- Former Dawg diver Chris Colwill is going back to the Olympics after a dramatic win at the trials yesterday.
- David Ching has compiled a bucket list for UGA fans. How's your list coming so far?
- The Minnesota Vikings believe Blair Walsh is the answer at placekicker. As Blutarsky points out, if so Richt may have some serious 'splaining to do. 
- You remember last week's chapter on How much Tech fans are obsessed with us where wedding nuptials were taken over a dead Uga cake? Cute, demented little dorks. In this week's chapter ecdawg finds more hilarity from the internet's funniest location, StingTalk.
- CCRider's "review" of Abraham Lincoln Southern Murderer is brief, then takes on a life of its own.
- Donnan has reached a settlement agreement in his Ponzi scheme case.
- Intellivision over Atari...so says George Plimpton.
- Lastly, Ben Dukes played Down in Flames on national television last week. It's the least Craig Ferguson could do for the guy who "coordinates" the audience so well.


With all due respect to one of the leading scientific minds in history, I would like to take this opportunity to share my own personal findings as it relates to one of Newton's laws of motion.

Sir Isaac, meet Bernie's Law of Energy
Efficiency - SHUT THE DOOR!

You see, it's hot y'all. No amount of lemonade and no number of oscillating/rotating fans is gonna change that now. Each summer I vow to protect my house from two enemies: super-heated, humid air and nasty pests (ants, cockroaches, the flying buzzing kind). My house has three main points of entry, all secured by a door that both shuts and locks. These doors shut out the enemies and lock in the cool, clean air. Amazing!


But here's where it gets troublesome for Sir Isaac, and subsequently myself as well. Opening the door is an action. Now when I open them there is an opposite and equal REaction...the door REcloses, securing everything I hold dear inside (again, most notably cold, clean air). However the same law of motion doesn't hold true for the other occupants of the household. My sturdy, lockable doors are like balls that bounce up, then never return to Earth. It's as if they exist inside vacuums and no amount of times that I say "CLOSE THE DOOR!!!!" does it rectify on its own.


Now, I'm not saying Newton was an idiot. It's just clear he didn't live with my beautiful young ladies...whom I adore and wouldn't trade for anyone else in the world. I just may have to start using that locking mechanism a little more often. And speaking of closing, shut the oven door Reader. Meatloaf's ready. Dig in!


Bernie

Almost time..

...huge announcement coming soon that I hope you're ready to endorse. Meanwhile, enjoy this video of Bulldogs doing some boogieing. 

h/t callingthedawgs

Coach Richt's Love Connection

So we re-spilled the bucket yesterday. It didn't make a complete mess. Still there's some tidying up to do I think. As I said, Mark Richt is as polarizing a figure as you'll find. He may not have the abrasiveness of other love em or hate em personalities, but he divides the Dawg Nation like few have before him have. Therefore, I'm not surprised by any of the opinions we heard from in that post about his legacy thus far. However, let me at least attempt to summarize my viewpoint in an effort to get us all on the same page again.


Opening argument
Coach Richt's blood runs red and black. I love Coach Richt, as much as my heterosexual identity allows. He's been kind to me and my family on a number of occasions. I'm never embarrassed by his actions or personality. He's taken the program to higher levels, as well as the expectations of the fanbase. Instead of going on the road in the SEC expecting to lose we have a competitive chance if not a distinct advantage. We've won division and conference banners that eluded the coaches that preceded him. He's sloppy kissed his wife on the field in Jacksonville, and that's always something I've wanted to do (with Mrs. Bernie, not Kathryn). He has the best interests of each of his players in his heart, from the 5 star phenom to each and every walkon that contributes to the program.


Coach Richt is a rock star. He's as cool as he is calm. My wife and my mom and my kids will probably tell you that it wouldn't hurt for me to emulate him in day to day operations a little more than I do. Around the dinner table my little girls understand that his name is one that suggests attention. His name is one of importance, even moreso than Carrie Underwood. I'm sure it's the same or at least similar in a lot of homes across the southland. So looking forward, as we take just a sample of evidence we'll see that despite the faults, the successes and the issues at hand, we all have the same goal.


Win.


The Evidence
Richt's road record is nothing to just glance over. It's a barometer by which I think all head coaches at UGA should be measured going forward. Richt's 38-9 overall true road record is impressive and is a hallmark for getting players and fans energized. It has helped give the program a new identity, one in which the expectation each and every game (regardless of location) is to win. We didn't have that under either of the previous two coaches. Donnan flirted with it; Goff...well, we were just happy the bus driver got the team to the right place on the map.

The date's going pretty well Chuck, but what'd
the audience say?

The neutral site record (including bowls, SECCGs, Boise State and...) however is abysmal, bolstered by a deep hole in Jacksonville. The WLOCP has been just as distasteful under Richt as it has under his predecessors. Three wins versus eight losses doesn't cut it down there. And while it's true that things have changed dramatically down at the University of Florida, they've changed there before and it seems to have made no difference in our luck at AllTel. (read: Zook'd)


The reality is that were it not for a puppet with red panties in the office of AD at Butts-Mehre, Richt would likely not still be in Athens. Even the most ardent Richt supporter has to remember that he completely lost control of the program. He both refused to acknowledge the defensive ineptitude and the institutional flustercluck that was our strength and conditioning program. Friendships got in the way of better judgment. And while that's something most of us can relate to at some time or other, I think this is where many fans began to separate their love for the man in charge from the love for the program as a whole.


Closing Statement
I've cried like a little school girl during the wins in Jacksonville and as the red and black confetti has trickled from the rafters of the Georgia Dome. Mark Richt has held my hand and told me it's okay that Tennessee just scored pretty late in the game, we've got a steady hand at quarterback, Damien Gary, Randy McMichael and Verron Haynes. In short, I've been more than pleasantly surprised by where Richt has taken the program from where it was 12 seasons ago.


But...program before coach y'all. Just because he's undefeated in Tuscaloosa and seems to have turned things around against the gators, that doesn't mean I'm giving the guy carte blanche and freedom to take the tackle football program at UGA just any damn where. That's a leash I'll always have a grasp of as tightly as I please. While Richt eventually addressed the problems on the defensive side of the ball, the insanity that was Coach Fabris and the kickoff teams and the utter shambles the S&C program were in, the jury's still out as to whether he waited too long to do so.


Like Richt, my blood runs Georgia red too. Although our investment has come from different directions, our end goal is the same. Some see it differently. They put their love and admiration for the man ahead of the institution. In the end I guess I understand the infatuation. Again, he's a cool guy and drives a big red truck. However, I can look up to him without putting him on a pedestal.


It's certainly true that we're lucky to have Coach Richt on the sidelines in Sanford Stadium. However, if you don't believe that he's even luckier to have us you need to get your eyesight checked. Regardless of how much we adore Coach Richt or how much room we see for his improvements, 69 days from now we'll all be there. Right behind him. United in the same goal.


Athens. Atlanta. Miami.

Around the Tailgate: the state of the Richt era

Last installment for the week. So first and foremost, thanks to the guys for being brave enough to share their opinions on the week's topics: 2012's biggest game, Aaron Murray's career, tailback depth and post-season perfection. We'll see if they'll stop by again before the season starts, maybe once camp opens in August.


For today I asked the guys to give us their assessment of how things are looking today in Coach Richt's tenure - Last year this time Mark Richt was squarely on the hotseat. Today, that headline isn't making the front page. Taking into account the entire 2011 season from start to finish, the changes in staff the last couple years and the recent recruiting hauls...how do you feel about Richt as the head coach at Georgia today?


Take it away gentlemen!


Joe Waterloo - I hate to say it, but I think it's time for Mark Richt to move on.  I think he's a great person and would be a great neighbor, but I don't think he's the guy for a major program with aspirations of winning a national championship.  Georgia is undoubtedly in a better place now then it was when he took over, but I still feel it was all a bit of smoke and mirrors.  His early success in the SEC was at a low point for the league - Tenn and Florida were sliding and Bama and LSU were unacceptably mediocre for what those programs should be.  I'll give credit where credit is due - Richt brought a sense of calm to the team and taught them how to win the kind of games we always blew under Goff and Donnan.  But as the SEC has risen up UGA has done nothing to keep pace.  Can anyone honestly say that other teams fear playing us - even at Sanford stadium?

 

Richt gets a lot of credit for all the top 10 recruiting classes - but Georgia should be there by default just due to the talent that comes out of the state.  We send a lot of players to the pros, but I'm not sure why that's considered impressive when they don't do anything remarkable while they are in school. Richt gets a lot of credit for being a great guy and a good Christian. Those are both amiable qualities, but when I'm sitting in Church on Sunday I don't care how much my priest knows about football. On Saturday I don't care how close my coach is to God. I care that he represents my school well and has players that do too. At the end of the day my religious beliefs are my own and I'm firm in my faith - that won't change if my team goes 0-11 or 14-0. But this seems to be an issue that is brought up time and time again from the national media and Richt's supporters on why he's good for UGA. It won't keep me or you from getting fired if we aren't living up to expectations.

 

I went to UGA and bleed the colors, but my honest opinion is UGA is the most under performing program in the country over the last 35 years.  We've had some really good moments, but Georgia should be a top 20 program year in and year out and should be top 10 more often than not. And it's not unrealistic to think that once every 5 years or so we'd be a legitimate National Championship contender. I'm not saying we should win it or even make it to the game that often, but top programs are at least in the mix  - USC, Bama, LSU, Ohio St, Okla, Texas.  Those are programs that UGA should lumped in with, but we are in reality 2 or 3 steps behind.

AthensHomerDawg - Following that disaster of a 6-7 season, if you would have told me CMR was going to follow that season by losing both the first two and the last two  games of 2011 in a row...I would have wondered just who the next head coach was going to be. That did happen, yet the Dawgs won another SEC East title in spite of it. That's five SEC East titles and two SEC Championships with a winning percentage greater than Coach Dooley. "Not too bad..... not too bad at all." But here is the rub: Yes I give the coach his due for Auburn and UT and of course the gnats but.......Coach Richt's record against Florida and no national championship. There is still time to turn that around . His contract was extended to 2016!  If he does, then his place as one of the best coaches to coach the red and black is secure. Imho.

Smoke Wagon - I have always liked CMR.  I think he is good face of the franchise.  I think kids, parents, HS coaches, assistant coaches, and administration like him......that is not easy to do.  I think loyalty is huge and it is a 2way street.  I think he made a bad decision with coach Willie M and it took too long to recognize and correct.  I think CMR learned a lot through that with Van Halanger and Willie.  I am happy with where we are with CMR.  I like cool, calm, and collected head coach, but I like intense coordinators.  Love TG.  Not crazy about Bobo, but his numbers (scoring and yardage) have been good.  My biggest complaint with CMR is he is content with patsy non-conference games.  McGarity too.  I want big games.  We wait all year for 12 Saturdays.  The older I get, the more I despise cupcake games on schedule.  I wanted 9 game sec slate, but CMR values the cupcake games.  My game strategy related complaint is too conservative before half time ...... Rarely tries to use timeouts and aggressive plays to put points on board before halftime.  Also think he is content with and sits on small leads.  As you can see, I have my complaints, but overall I would not trade him.  I am proud to have him as UGA coach.

Da Mighty Fred - Oh hell, I was afraid you'd ask this.  I like Richt a lot.  He's won a lot of games and the SEC championship.  I LOVE the sadness in the eyes of the Techies.  He's a fine representative of UGA.  Recruits (and more importantly, their families) LOVE the way he's concerned with building character in the young men under his charge.  He's made some great coaching changes lately.

THAT SAID, this isn't good enough.  As much as I hate to say it, despite putting out a damn good football team almost every year, Richt has not brought the National Championship home to the faithful.  It ain't money, facilities, lack of a recruiting base, lack of tradition or not enough tenure.  Richt is well paid, our facilities rock, the state of Georgia is one of the best states to recruit in, we all bleed red and black, and Richt is one of the old men of the SEC now. We've had tons of talent come through here, but not a lot of hardware and ZERO crystal footballs.  So, what's the issue? Well, kids, it's one of two things:  coaching or fan base.

On the coaching side, look at Alabama and LSU. Less fertile fields for recruiting, especially for Alabama, whose instate rival has won the MNC recently.  (Side note:  that crazy offense in Atlanta is manna from heaven for in state recruiting).  Yet, Saban and the Hatter consisitlently recruit and win big.  Coaching has even turned the Chickens of Columbia into some semblance of a real team.  On the other side of the spectrum, look how coaching issues have wreaked havoc with UT and UF. Coaching matters.  Want to avoid hot seat talk? Win championships.  Got a hot RB recruit wavering on a commit to another school?  Show him some crystal footballs.  Want money for new coaches, facilities, or a new boat?  Yeah, bring up that undefeated season you just had.  Winning fixes everything.  To quote MacArthur "there is no substitute for victory".

 

Or, good readers, it could be the Fan Base...  Ok, done spitting out your bourbon and talkin about my sainted Mama?  Good, let me explain: I'll bet if you asked Mark Richt what question he's been asked most by the fans, he doesn't hesitate: "Hey coach, when are we gonna beat Florida?"

W T F?????

Is that the sum of our ambition?  To beat the Lizards???  Are you kidding me??? No, that's not good enough.  We all talk about "winning the east".  When the hell has that been a goal?  It's a stepping stone at best.  We have set our goals too small.  This ain't Vandy. Coach Richt need to hear things like "Hey Coach, when are we going to win the SEC Championship?"
"Hey Coach, when are we gonna win the national championship?" "Hey Coach, what kind of a world do we live in when people like Saban, the Hatter, the Visor and some guy named "Gene" are outclassing the Fairest of the Southland?"

You gotta tell folks what you expect of them.  We, the Dawg Nation, haven't told Coach Richt what we expect, at least not loudly enough.  I think McGarity may be upping that volume soon. Coach Richt isn't on the hot seat.  Won't be on it this year. Maybe he doesn't deserve to be.  Maybe ten win seasons should be enough for those of us who bleed red and black.

Or maybe 30 years is too damn long.

The Wrangler - I have never been on the hotseat bandwagon for Coach Richt.  I think he has brought integrity and for the most part, consistency to our program.  Most teams would kill to have as many 10 win seasons as we have had under Richt.  I was as frustrated as anyone during the Martinez era when we were so very soft on defense.  Richt’s loyalty to his friend almost cost him his job.  I think going through that ordeal taught him that his loyalty is to the players, the program, and the fan base.  He made some difficult decisions, and we are poised to reap the benefits.  Coach Todd Damn Grantham is the single most important hire Richt has made to date.  This staff has brought the Junkyard “D” back to Athens, GA, and I am pumped up about it!  Tough D and a great ground attack is what UGA football is all about. 

The end of the 2011 season was disappointing, but I never really expected us to beat LSU.  They were a deeper team that seemed destined to win the SEC title, but I must admit that our 1^st half performance was as impressive as any defensive performance I can remember.  Had we not left 2 touchdowns on the field in the first half, we would have blown the roof off the dome en route to another SEC Title.

Coach Richt’s stellar recruiting the last couple of years has us stacked at all of the skill positions.  I do wish we put forth as much effort recruiting the O-Line as we do the skill positions, but I think we are pretty solid.  I am as excited about the upcoming season as I have ever been, and my excitement is fueled by the job Coach Richt has done the last few years.  GO DAWGS!

Namaman - I am a Mark Richt fan.  I still love him as our coach even though some times I question his decisions.  But that is what fans do.  I am just happy that hasn't gotten him run out of town like so many seem to have wanted over the past few years.  Our strong run last year coupled with a great recruiting class is keeping everyone at bay for now.  My greatest wish is for him to take back over more of the play calling.  I hate being around 80-90% right on guessing the "next" play game after game.  Hell, if I can figure it out, I know others can...

Parting shot: I won't echo any of the great points made, but I'll add two thoughts. 1) For all of his charm and grace, Coach Richt is as polarizing a figure as you'll find. This post encapsulates that about perfectly. 2) Richt just inked a nice extension and I think it's safe to say this will be his last contract at UGA. That's just my feeling on it, no inside scoop or anything. Just me and the red and black tea leaves. Although Grantham isn't a HCIW I think UGA wants him to succeed Richt one day (which in and of itself is about a 50/50 shot of happening). Whether that day comes once the head guy's current contract is up or sometime before then...we'll have to wait and see. Like my excellent tailgate guests, I hope he goes out on top. 

Thanks to y'all for reading this week. As with the posts before, it's now your turn. How does Richt's tenure sit with you today?