Go to the homepage of CNN or the AJC and see today’s headlines. Wars in the Middle East. Bad weather across the Southeast. Europe and the rest of the world on the brink of financial meltdown. Nancy Grace on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Michelle. Bachman.
The world is a scary, confusing place right now.
With all the problems in the world, nothing scares me more than the Bulldogs somehow losing 5 games.
Now, I don’t necessarily think that will happen. It is a foregone conclusion to everyone-including Steve Spurrier-that Georgia will beat Kentucky. What if-WHAT IF-Georgia screws around against Tech, loses to LSU and whatever Big 10 team we would play in a Bowl?
Sure, Mark Richt wouldn’t be fired, and nor should he be. But that will mean 5-count them-5 losses. The Dawgs would be South Carolina 2010 Part II.
There is a big difference between a 9 win season and a 10 win season.
Now, do I think that would happen? No. I think we have a better shot at going 12-2 or 11-3 than going 9-5.
But we’ve come so far now. Anyway we slice it, 2011 will be a “good” season and a stark, drastic improvement from 2010. Going 10-2 and beating Auburn, Tech and Florida for the first time in my lifetime would make it a great season. Winning the SEC Championship and playing in the 4th Sugar Bowl since 2002 would be, well, I can’t even describe how awesome it would be.
It is my fear that we are so close to the finish line, so close to glory again, and somehow, the Dawgs stump their toe.
Corbindawg
The Grit Tree 
I hate blogs like this. This is what infuriates me about our fanbase.
Yeah, I hate blogs like this too — nothing grinds my gears worse than posts that are based off of statistics and analytical thought. Then when they post something entertaining like BBQ Thursday or Lewis Wednesday, man, how dare they!
Please, Ben be more specific. Does finishing weak not concern you? Simply stating a concern about losing to our instate rival who has nothing left to play for except beating UGA, losing to the #1 team in the country and then the outside shot of losing in a bowl game? How was that overly negative or knee jerk?
Further, have you ever read anything else I have ever written? If you have, you’ll see how usually optimisic I am. And, I don’t even think it will happen, as I clearly stated here:
Now, do I think that would happen? No. I think we have a better shot at going 12-2 or 11-3 than going 9-5.
Being a Georgia fan has made me a little jaded, especially being one who always thinks “Well, maybe we are just a year away”, and that year hasn’t gotten here yet.
I was waiting until the week of the SECCG to post this, but I think UGA WILL beat LSU…I’ll get into why I think that in two weeks.
Is it because our OL, as well as Big Bad Jon and Kwame the Killer will spend all game devouring the Bayou Bengals lines as they keep thinking they’ll bust open each like a pinata with tasty corn dogs inside?
It has more to do with our defense stopping their running game and our ability to make big plays with our speedy receivers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Coach Grantham feeds the Geathers and Jenkins mini corndogs all week, and tell the guys if they want the real thing, they are going to have to go through the LSU linemen. Wouldn’t put it past him-that is why he makes the big bucks.
We beat the NATS, Florida and Auburn in route to 10-2 in ’07. So second time in your lifetime.
I am just a really smart 3 year old…
Meant to include Tennessee in that list.
I read your blog daily, and contrary to Tuxedo’s insightful summation, I do not have a problem with statistics and analytical thought. In fact, I’d say i do a hefty amount of it on my own pages. However, that is not what i see here. What I see is…
“I want to believe, but I’ve been let down in the past…so…so…PLEASE don’t let me get let down again.”
I don’t get that. I don’t understand your own line, “Being a Georgia fan has made me somewhat jaded?” For what purpose? The team is there to entertain you, and bring home wins. For the VAST MAJORITY of its existence, the University of Georgia football team has done just that. Do they win ’em all? No, they don’t. But, for the past decade and a half, UGA has fielded good, competitive teams.
AND YES – I’M INCLUDING 2009 and 2010 in that.
Those were ugly seasons. But the teams involved were pretty good teams. Georgia made too many mistakes from which it couldn’t recover last season, and the defense was one in transition. The mistakes became coaching points and the defense has solidified. This is what has resulted in higher wins this season.
Either way, what bothers me about this post, and about Georgia fans in general, is the overwhelming NEED to be negative so that you don’t get your hopes up. It’s like the entire mass of you was brainwashed by Vince Dooley and Larry Munson, and you can’t enjoy success when you have it. Even in 2005, the most common thread I heard in talking to UGA fans was that it was a “good” year, but not a “great” one because we lost to Florida and missed out on a National Championship berth.
I’m glad I didn’t grow up a Georgia Fan, because I’d have to wallow in that same mysery, apparently. No, I became a Georgia fan the first time I stepped on campus as a student, and I’ve never looked back. In that time, I’ve seen us go bowling every single year. I was a part of some great games, including a win over tennessee that ended an 8-year drought against the Vols, I’ve seen my own friends hoist SEC Championship trophies, I’ve seen the team climb to the peaks, suffer through the valleys, and now begin a climb again.
Is that anything to be scared of? Hell no. It’s something to look forward to.
(and now I’m going to go post this on my own page. Thanks for the inspiration.)
Ben,
First, I think 2005 was a great season. We lost 3 games by a combined 8 points total. You will hear no such talk from me.
Second, on to your point. I have one question:
Seriously?
I agree our fans are overly negative, but I seriously don’t see where you could get that from my post. The post I presented is a “worst case” situation, not what I what think will happen. The way I drive the golf cart, worst case I could die every time I hit the links. Doesn’t deter me from playing.
But let’s be honest, and as a couple of dude’s talking here I hope I don’t offend you: UGA football could F up a wet dream. As a former player, I didn’t mean to piss in you or your friend’s cornflakes or be critical, but come on. That is the truth.
I am sorry if you think it is not right to feel jaded by the Bulldogs, but 2008-2010 taught me that just when you think something could be great, you lose. So did the 2004 and 2007 seasons. The majority of games vs Florida has too. The Richt era has been great, and better than any other decade stretch excluding the three years #34 was here.
I am very optimistic about this season; like Coach Richt, I had a ton of optimism following the South Carolina loss. And, for the record, I said on this blog back in August I thought UGA was on the cusp of another great run like from 2002-2007. Looks like I might be right.
I feel like I made my point very clear that I don’t think what I outlined will happen, but rather that is the worst case scenario and I laid it out. I fear nuclear war, doesn’t mean I think it will happen. I think (I would hope, anyway) you get my point and I don’t have to belabor it much further.
Ben, you might have spent too much time on the Vent or reading AJC comments, and saw this and decided you had enough. But again, I think if you consistently read this blog, which I know you do because you comment from time to time, that I am not a negative person in regards to the Bulldogs OR Coach Richt. You are free to feel however you’d like, but I think this time you are 100% dead wrong.
Thanks for reading and the discussion.
Never said you’re a negative person, and my comments do not reflect your postings in general, but this one in particular.
And, while people are “pissing in cornflakes”, I just wish for a moment they’d take a big step back and think about what those coaches and kids had to do in order to even get the 8, 9, or 10 wins they did. And then realize that all the fans had to do….was watch.
In the week preceding the Bama-LSU tilt, a bama fan friend of mine was going over how nervous he was and how he was worried about LSU’s tough defense and all. I replied, “Hey man, thank God all you have to do is drink a beer and watch the damn game, right? I mean…what must the PLAYERS be feeling in all this?!”
I know you said you don ‘t see us losing 5 games, but I still think the sentiment is one that is far too prevalent. In the end, if we’re 14-0, or if we’re 6-7, your life really doesn’t change that much. But, the lives of those kids are drastically different.
I understand the tongue-in-cheek nature. But, I also know there are those out there who are seeking just this kind of fear post that will allow them to cast doubt on what this team has accomplished. And that’s what sticks in my craw.
Still a fan of yours.
Beating the Vols, Gators, & Tigers in the same year is DadGum Wonderful. Beating the Gnats would be icing on the cake. Go Dawgs. GATA.
A remote miracle where UGA can still be part of a NC game this season will really make the rest of the college football fans think Armageddon is near. LOL
Ol’ Ben Dukes, never misses an opportunity to slide in the fact that he was on the scout team for a couple years.
Finishing second ALL the time sucks. If you don’t understand that, I don’t know what to tell you, brother.
I’m not defending people being negative when things are good, but if you can tell me you didn’t want to see better things after last season, you’re a bigger man than me.
And when and where did you play? Dukes may have not been a frontline star player, but the guy suited up and wore the G on the field.
Ben, always been a fan of your site. One thing that you need to understand as a Georgia fan- we are eternally pessimistic. Period. End of discussion. When Herschel was playing, the Georgia faithful were pessimistic. Same for the rest of the great UGA teams. It’s just our nature. It’s why Munson is the greatest voice of all time. It’s why VD never let us look past the great long snapper Vandy has. Corbin’s fears are legitimate simply due to the fact that he’s a born and bred Dawg, and that’s how Dawgs are. Talk to any old-timer and they’re nervous as heck about Kentucky this weekend. And they’ll be nervous as heck about the Wreck next week. Just part of being a Dawg. I ain’t sayin’ it’s right, I ain’t sayin’ it’s wrong, I’m just sayin…….