Georgia, first and foremost, is one of (if not THE) most hated team in the SEC. Long before South Carolina and Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, the University of Georgia Bulldogs found themselves in the bulls eye of several existing conference teams. In the East, Tennessee and Florida were natural rivals due to their proximity and long standing traditional games. (UT/UGA play early in the fall…and who can forget about the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville?) Key SEC West schools Auburn and Alabama both find themselves on UGA’s schedule year in and year out. When South Carolina joined forces with the SEC, Georgia picked up another in conference rival who had already been established long before any conference was thought of. (I remember when George Rogers destroyed the Hedges in style) Every single year, before ANY down of football is played, half of the SEC already hates this team.
This leads me to ask the question:
“Why is everyone and fans of rival teams saying Georgia can win the SEC East, and contend for the National Championship?”
I don’t get it…I just don’t. We’re talking about the same Georgia team that lost in the Liberty Bowl to C-USA powerhouse CENTRAL FLORIDA 10-6 this past year…right? Is this the same Georgia that lost its best receiver A.J. Green to the NFL? Wait, wait, wait…you mean this is the same Georgia that didn’t gain any major playmakers on either side of the ball (outside of …OK…a 5* RB recruit), and went 6-7 (3-5 in SEC) last year? GOOD LORD. Has the nation lost its collective mind?
Yes.
Georgia is like that pretty girl that you see at the party that has so much potential at the beginning of the night, but you quickly write her off after you see her taking shots of Everclear and passing out within the first hour. By the time she wakes back up, the party is almost over, and is shaking the cobwebs out just to get home to nobody that cares. I can’t take a team that looks good on paper seriously. Yes, you got your 5* running back. Yes, your schedule is softer than a pancake from IHOP. BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO CONVINCE ME YOU CAN PLAY?
Mark Richt has a fire already ablaze under his chair from the SNAFU that was last year. A loss to a Conference USA opponent in any location (garbage bowl game or not) is not acceptable. The natives are already restless, and you can trim the hedges in Sanford Stadium with the tension that’s on the West Sidelines. I don’t believe for any second that this young team can overcome what’s being placed on their shoulders. Not only are they feeling the pressure from the Bulldog faithful, but knowing that if they cannot bring home 8 wins and/or an SEC East title, their coach is gone. Yes, Aaron Murray is an outstanding Junior QB who can take a team on his shoulders and win…but for how long?
If UGA gets past both Boise and SCAR, then they will likely pick up more whispers of “contenders” for the National Title. Understandably, when you don’t play LSU, Alabama, or Arkansas in your yearly SEC rotation – people will call that one hell of a break – and you will have a shot at doing something big. I, for one, see this as the Mark Richt Farewell Tour of 2011…and the season coming to a close with seven to eight wins and a nice trip to Tampa for the Outback Bowl. The pressure will be too much, too great, too early, and too often for this team to get its legs.
-Gamblin Boss
2011 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule (my picks)
9/3 Boise State (L)
9/3 SOUTH CAROLINA (L)
9/17 COASTAL CAROLINA (W)
9/24 @ Ole Miss (W)
10/1 MISSISSIPPI STATE (W)
10/8 @ Tennessee (L)
10/15 @ Vanderbilt (W)
10/29 FLORIDA (L)
11/5 NEW MEXICO STATE (W)
11/12 AUBURN (W – but could go either way)
11/19 KENTUCKY (W)
11/26 @ Ga Tech (W)
Editor’s Note: HOW THE HELL DOES UGA HAVE 7 HOME GAMES, AND POTENTIALLY 8 OR 9 WITH THOSE GAMES IN ATLANTA?
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