Reality Check

We are going nowhere fast.
Our coaches have failed us.
We have not had any fire in us for a long time.
I respect Coach Richt. He is a fine man. But, I expect the Georgia Bulldogs to be competitive.
We haven't played to the level of our talent.
The buck stops here, Coach Richt.
Always a Dawg.

Agree averagedawg . . . .

Just a couple of observations from this person. All of us in the Dawg Nation have opinions and many of those are of the same thought process. Some might go a little deeper.

Spent a lot of time this year and some of last year wondering what is going on with our football team. What are the reasons that some such as myself would say things like, “back to the days of Erk Russell running the defense”. That is not an issue with me, those were the days when we knew that offensively we were “three yards and a cloud of dust”. Defense had to be ready not only in the first half, ready for the entire game. For most of Erk’s tenure, he held the Dawgs to that standard, and all loved him, football team and fans.

Our defensive team did not slip overnight, it has been occurring for the past 4 or 5 years. Some of the short comings of the defense have been covered over with wins, which make many folks ok with the outcome. If we look closely, there is a pattern of failure at each and every position on this defensive squad. Rennie Curran has tried his best to lead this group that is on the field now. He has participated and led by example, but there comes a time when even his shoulders begin to slump. I witnessed some of that against UT. Truly felt bad for him.

Couple of years ago I posted on this site about the embarrassment that I felt when UT rubbed our faces in the turf. Thought to myself, never want to see that repeated. How wrong I was to assume that it would never happen again. If anything, I am more embarrassed this time around and the hurt definitely runs deeper in this old body.

The effort of our coaches on the defensive side of the ball is either lacking in judgment/experience or we don’t have a clue how to teach many supposed superior athletes coming out of high school to the next level. Thoughts on the athletes coming in brings up questions also. My eyes tell me that some of these young men have not yet learned how to fall into and learn team play, versus big man on campus. The last statement leads me to say this . . . That responsibility falls into the coaching category in my mind. Again takes me back to the days of Erskine Russell, with talent or not as much talent, he made sure the young men were coached up to their talent level, and never accepted seeing them “slump” their shoulders. They played the entire game, unlike what I witnessed again against UT.

WM is the Defensive Coordinator and I say this . . . Take a long hard look at what you have shown in your position at UGA. As a betting man, will bet this is the last major college that you will ever serve in that position again. Incompetence cannot be hidden, and this group of players are not playing as if being led by competence. Maybe WM was brought along too fast, but Coach Richt made a huge mistake in this appointment. This should not be a case of review, the facts on WM are on the table for too many years and should not be overlooked and dismissed with talk of watching film, WM should have been watching film long before now. I hate seeing anyone getting fired or released when the area of doubt is questionable, but I hate it more when I see incompetence and the failure of those involved allowing one or two bad apples spoil the cider.

This win for UT over UGA is going to lift the recruiting process for Kiffin, no doubt in my mind. It will be interesting to see what athletes come off of the verbals and actually sign on the dotted line. This loss hurt, and it will effect more than one season of football in Athens. Time for some leadership in Athens Coach Richt.

I definitely have some things to say about the offensive side of the ball, that will be another post.

Thanks, Buc, for the superb articulation.
It's a sad day up here in Tennessee. The Tennessee fans are as shocked as we are.

average, I know that this cuts to the bone for you. I had wanted to post a few things earlier, however had total hip replacement (second one) little over three weeks ago and could not muster the effort to post.

Have said before that my pro team is Tampa. Many years ago Atlanta. I witnessed Monte Kiffin giving not only Bobo a lesson, but the entire offensive brain trust of our team. Monte has a lot of pull in Florida, and as I have said before, he will be pulling top defensive recruits out of this state. Folks down here love the man.

Florida will always get top players in this state and others.

Miami is on the rise again, and they are for real. Lots of good players in high school this year in their area.

Time for Coach Richt to decide whether or not loyalty to UGA is more important to the many thousands of fans or if the loyalty remains with some of his less than capable assistants.

Monte Kiffin ate Bobo's lunch.

What happened to WM . . . . neither he nor myself have a clue. Go watch the film WM, I am sure that will make everything good again. Know that I will be watching re-runs of the UT game a couple of times.

One more thing that really hit a nerve with me prior to the UT game. Coach Richt saying that many did not understand what the warriors on the field go through. While many of us did not make the next level, many of us were pretty good high school players. More than a handful on this board I would guess.

Don't remember seeing sadlerdawg being upset this badly about any loss. He like you are usually the voices of reason that pull all of us back a notch or two. sadlerdawg is po'd.

Great post Buc, have been waiting to hear your take. This digression the last 4-5 years is becoming the carbon copy of who?.............





Florida State University.

Buc, I hope you're healing well.
I'm with you. I hate excuses.
To the coaches: Man Up.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!