Where is Richt without A.J.?

David Hale compared AJ Green to Herschel Walker.  A friend called me Saturday night and made this statement: “Is A.J. Green the Hershel Walker of our generation?” 

I think yes, he is. 

First and foremost, there has not been, nor will there ever be, another player that is greater than Herschel Walker.  There is whole idea in sports that there is going to be the “next” something.  Is: Sidney Crosby the next Wayne Gretsky, Kobe the next Michael Jordan.  Lebron James the next Magic Johnson, Tom Brady the next Joe Montana, etc…? 

There is never going to be another Michael Jordan.  There is never going to be another Hershel Walker.  But for the generation who was not even born when Herschel was stalking the goal lines, is A.J. this generation’s version of Hershel Walker?  We know about the exploits and the on the field talent and what they mean for their teams.  Whenever both of them get on the field, they are the best player.  They can’t be stopped.  They are/were men among boys.   Here is another comparision between the two: what about their contributions to their head coaches’ careers? 

and…

Coach Dooley had 6 SEC titles, 3 of which came when Herschel was lined up in the I. There are many games in the 1980 season we don’t win if it were not for him.  Period.  Also, Coach Dooley wouldn’t be enshrined in bronze on Lumpkin Street if it were not for Herschel Walker.  That is not a controversial statement I don’t think, it is a fact.  Coach Dooley needed #34 to save his job.  If we were in today’s world, Coach Dooley would not have made it out of the 1970s.  1976 was the lone SEC Title in that decade.  We went 5-6 in 1977 and 6-5 in 1979.  We go on to have unlimited success in the early 1980s, followed by years of marginal success in the mid to late 1980s. 

I think AJ is as equally important to Mark Richt’s tenure here at UGA.  Our fan base is spoiled and Richt is a victim of his own success.  At this juncture in his career, Mark Richt is more successful than any other coach in UGA history.   Paul Finebuam wrote this summer that if Coach Richt can’t beat Tech this year, he will be on the hot seat.  I find that line of thinking absurd. 

But unfortunately, we live in an era where Tommy Tuberville gets fired four seasons after going undefeated.  Blogs, muckraking journalist and “The World Wide Leader”, combined with the exorbitant salaries coaches receive, make fans and administrators’ patience very short.  Coaches aren’t given enough time to recruit a young man and see him graduate.  We are a “win now” society.  That is another post for another day.  But I would venture to say that if it were not for A.J. Green, we probably would have lost to Kentucky and Auburn last year.  In those games, he not only made game winning catches, but the catches were so impressive I am not sure that any one of our receivers could have made them.  A.J. turned a 7-5 year to a 10-3 year.  This season, I honestly believe that without A.J. Green, the Bulldogs would be 0-4.  With all fans complaining of a 10-3 campaign, could you imagine if we started 0-4?  “For Sale” billboards would be popping up, and no amount of SEC Titles, Sugar Bowl appearences, adopted children, or good Christian messages would save Mark Richt’s job.  Is that right?  No.  Is it the truth?  Yes. 

Go Dawgs!

Corbindawg