Dawgs in the Polls
Pre - 2010

AVERAGE:
19.00
BCS: TBD
A&H: TBD
AP: 23
Billingsley: TBD
CFN: 3
CFP: 27
Colley: TBD
ESPN Power: 24
Harris: TBD
Legends: TBD
Massey: 21
Sagarin: 13
SI Power: 20
USA Today: 21
Wolfe: TBD


Last game: Game Central
Louisiana Lafayette Rajun Cajuns
Georgia 55
LA-Lafayette 7
Athens, GA
9/4/2010
Next game: Game Central
South Carolina Gamecocks
Georgia
South Carolina
Columbia, SC
12:00 PM EST - 9/11/2010
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Posted by Foltz at 12:00:06 PM
DOES ONE GAME VALIDATE OUR SEASON?
2009: the Year of the Opinion. It seems everyone has a comment about Georgia football. I’ve heard a lot of them over the past few months and everyone knows I’ve given my useless perspective before and after every game this season, too. Some supporters say a season like this is expected at times. Many say a program like Georgia should never expect a 6-win season. A few will say that Mark Richt and his coaching staff are just going through an uncharacteristic season of miscues and bad luck, while most opine about the lack of discipline in player development and play-calling. Whatever the reasoning, Mark Richt must make some coaching changes and/or find ways to stir up the program or his tenure in Athens may come to a very abrupt end.

I’m not a Mark Richt detractor and this isn’t an indictment on the program as I think CMR is undoubtedly the right coach for the Bulldog program. However, I cannot sit here and write another sentence without explaining the small amount of worry that I’m starting to experience in that statement now. Since beating Arizona State last year, Georgia has gone 12-8 and the expectations of losing are becoming more of a reality than the possibility of winning. This is the first time in the Richt Era that I’ve actually started praying to the Football Gods for a Bulldog victory. It used to be expected but I guess this devil is now getting his due.

A .500 season seems deplorable right now but I wonder how much of a stain this season will leave if Georgia pulls off the unthinkable against 10-1 Georgia Tech this weekend. Someone asked me, “Will a victory over Tech complete your season?” That’s a good question. I mean, I know everyone has said in passing conversation, “if Georgia goes 1-11 but beats Tech, then the season was a success.” Sure, we never thought we would ever have to test this theory after going 82-22 with two SEC Titles, two Sugar Bowl victories, and a final season top 3 ranking on two occasions since CMR took the helm in Athens. But in a lot of ways, we Georgia fans have to revisit that alcohol-induced comment in a few days and find whether or not this season puts an exclamation mark on our season or an extra question mark behind it. It’s time to put our money where our mouth is and find out how memorable 2009 will be if we pull off the upset in Bobby Dodd Stadium. I may crack a smile similar to something out of Slingblade but I’m still going to have a lot of questions about next year and one big question about this year: “if we beat 10-1 Georgia Tech, why couldn’t we beat a few other teams this season, too?”

I’m not sure I buy into the “win now” attitude that sports has now undertaken but I do know that no job is safe, even after one year of disappointment. If you don’t believe me, check the LSU blogs about National Championship Coach Les Miles after an end-of-the-game blunder against Ole Miss last Saturday. Everyone has an opinion on a coaching job and now the phrase “the power of the pen is mightier than the sword” seems sharper than ever before. I’m wondering how many critics give Richt a pass after an upset win over Tech and/or how many ask him to trade in his SkyMiles on Saturday night after another defeat. I don’t have the answers because for the first time in the Mark Richt Era we are having to be honest about our past statements and transgressions.

It used to be a rivalry win kept your job in the eyes of the fans but after hearing the strife on Tigerbait.com, I’m thinking a BCS National Title is no longer safe, either. Does a win over Georgia Tech somehow make this digestible? That’s for you to decide but in this day and age, be careful what you say on the way back up. You may to answer it again on the way back down.


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COMMENTS:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Posted by Joe at 1:34:38 PM
My answer to your question is an emphatic "NO". A win over Tech will not validate this season. I`ve always been the guy saying "if we go 1-11 and beat Tech i`ll be SATISFIED"....i never said the the season would be a success.

Don`t get me wrong, I want this game more than any other game, its personal and a family fued, but i`ll never be happy with a 7-5 or 6-6 season. Would a win over a 10-1 Geek Squad make me happy? Of course, and it would give me a much better offseason to jab at my Tech family and friends....but it doesnt Validate this crap we`ve called a football team this year.

Really, the only thing that will validate this season for me is seeing Willie`s resignation letter posted all over the internet. Although i`m sure we are going to hear the argument that Georgia`s defense has inched it`s way to the 32nd overall ranked defense this year (if we`re not a top 15 defense, i`m not satisfied).

I`m still blown away by the fact that after 11 games we have recovered one - YES ONE - fumble by the other team. I didn`t think that was physically possible. I`m hoping the luck turns our way and we get on top of a few fumbled football balls Saturday night.

I love the Dawgs and bleed red and black, but the last season and a half has REALLY been bubble bursting.

I`m still a Richt fan and do believe he is the best coach for Georgia, but, admittedly, some doubt about those beliefs has started to drip into my head.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Posted by nate at 1:57:20 PM
I agree joe. Beating tech would be a real nice early Xmas gift, but unfortunately that`s exactly what we`re hoping for at this point...a gift. It seems that we will need Tech to play down to beat them, and that is a very sad commentary on a team stacked with former blue chippers. Regardless of the outcome of this weekend, changes need to be made...do I think that will happen? I`d rather not answer that question right now.

As far as the 1-11 but beating tech comment goes...I`ve been guilty of making that statement before as well, but I think Foltz is right about the alcohol impact on that statement. Plus, I`ve always been more a fan of the cliche...if UGA can only win 1 game, i`d want it to be tech.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Posted by Foltz at 1:58:40 PM
One fumble is mind-boggling just like the lack of interceptions we had for the last few years until this year. A lack of more fumbles just illustrates Georgia`s inability to have a difference maker on defense. Many will argue Rennie Curran is that guy, and his 100+ tackles make a strong case to some. But I venture to say a difference maker is more than just solo and assist tackles. It`s about getting to the quarterback, disrupting offensive plays, deflecting passes, seeing a play before it starts, and most of all creating turnovers. Rennie hasn`t done many of those things consistently this year. Maybe it`s because a lack of other defensive playmakers allows opponents to focus on Rennie...I don`t know. But I do know that many times he`s been nowhere to be found on big plays and opportunities we`ve needed him to step up, it hasn`t been consistently there.

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