Front Porch FootballInsanity Personified: The Georgia Bulldogs Story
By: Ben Bramhall
Do you know what insanity is? I’ll tell you. Insanity is doing the exact same thing, over and over and over and over and over again, expecting a different result each time. This is how I would describe sports in Georgia as a whole in the 21st century. It wouldn’t matter if we were talking about the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, or the Atlanta Braves, because it’s all the same. Every single one of these teams has had promising seasons in recent years with championship aspirations…and then they choke and fail. Again and again, it’s absolutely maddening. But today, we’re focusing solely on the Bulldogs. Oh boy…strap yourselves in, kids.
2001
The Bulldogs enter the 21st century with a new head coach in Mark Richt, the offensive coordinator from Florida State who architected one of the most prolific offenses of the 90s. With Richt leading the charge, Georgia hoped to return to a national championship form; something that hasn’t been achieved since 1980. Modest strides were to be expected though, and the Bulldogs achieved these expectations by finishing with an 8-4 overall record, 5-3 in SEC play. Not a bad start to the Richt tenure, especially considering that the SEC East was absolutely stacked with good teams like Florida, Tennessee, and a Lou Holtz led South Carolina. Pat yourselves on the back, Bulldog fans. Let’s see what next year has in store.
2002
Hot damn, you’ve taken college football by storm and proved the naysayers wrong about your preseason #8 ranking being too high. They’ve got some interesting pieces on the team, as well. On offense, you have David Greene, a sophomore QB who’s showing a lot of promise and a solid RB in Musa Smith. On defense you’ve got the electrifying LB Thomas Davis and showstopper DL David Pollack. They’ve beaten solid opponents in Bama and Tennessee. They’re the envy of the SEC…unfortunately, they blow it to a rather pedestrian Florida team on gameday. They win out afterwards, but unfortunately, that one loss keeps them from playing in the title game. But that’s ok, they’re a young team in Richt’s second year. Just some bad luck, no way this happens again.
2003
Another year, another strong team with a #9 preseason ranking. QB David Greene regresses, but has the support of a strong RB tandem in Michael Cooper and Kregg Lumpkin. They also have some defensive stalwarts in LB Thomas Davis, DL David Pollack, and DB Sean Jones. They start the season with blowout victories over both Clemson and South Carolina. However, it’s followed by a tight loss to LSU. The Bulldogs would go 10-2 in the regular season, 6-2 in SEC play, putting them in the SEC championship game…where they would lose once again to LSU. Curse those Bayou Bengals and that Nick Saban guy. By the way, you might want to remember that name, Bulldog fans. Why? No reason, just a suggestion.
2004
Ok, THIS is the year to do it. The Bulldogs are preseason ranked #3. They have a now matured and seasoned QB in David Greene, another solid RB duo in Thomas Brown and Dany Ware, a developed WR in Reggie Brown, and returning defensive stalwarts in LB Thomas Davis and DL David Pollack. The start is strong once again…until they blow another tight game to Tennessee and end the season with a 10-2 record. It’s honestly a shame. This team was freakin’ stacked, why can’t Georgia win in the clutch? This isn’t becoming a trend…is it?
2005
While not as highly touted as usual and no real superstars, Georgia still boasts a strong #13 preseason ranking. They once again have a good start to the season, defeating strong teams in Boise State and Tennessee in the process. Things are really looking bright for this ragtag group as they climb all the way to #4 in the rankings. That was until they lost their next two games in close contests against Tennessee and Florida, once again falling just short. Ok, I get that this team wasn’t a strong as the others, but this was still a blown opportunity. You keep having these opportunities and choking them away. Next season, I suppose.
2006
Or maybe not. Despite the high preseason ranking at the beginning of the season, this team just doesn’t have the consistency to really compete. They just need some seasoning, that’s all. 9-4 season, not bad for a down year. Give it time.
2007
Not a championship season due to early losses to South Carolina and Tennessee, but a 11-2 record is nothing to be ashamed of. The team is looking up and a lot of players like QB Matt Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, DT Geno Atkins, LB Rennie Curran, and DB Asher Allen are really beginning to come into form. Next year’s team will be absolutely loaded with talent. Onward, Bulldogs!
2008
THIS IS THIS YEAR, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. Preseason ranked #1, a completely stacked roster with the players I mentioned above along with the extremely talented new WR prospect named A.J. Green. Nothing can stop you now, go seize your glory and achieve ultimate vict…you lose an early regular season game to Alabama. Damnit, it’s that Nick Saban guy again. Also, your division rival Florida happens to also be super loaded and is led by Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow, and proceeds to win their second championship in three years. Despite the preseason hype and people declaring them national champions from the get-go, 10-3 season. Nice Georgia. Quick question? Is there any chance that you could possibly avoid sticking to the script of choking?
2009
To answer my own question, yes you can because you don’t even get the opportunity to choke. A pedestrian 8-5 season with uninspired play from the team while that damned Nick Saban guy wins a national championship with Bama. Maybe next season will be better?
2010
Nope. 6-7 season. At least this QB named Aaron Murray is pretty good. Next.
2011
No big expectations, but the Bulldogs had a pretty strong season. They would win the SEC East, but lose to LSU and their monster defense in the SEC championship game. Things look bright though. Aaron Murray has developed quickly into a solid QB with some good pieces around him on offense and the defense has some great players in LBs Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree, and a very opportunistic secondary. Next season will be the one. I’m honestly getting tired of saying that, Georgia. Please do something.
2012
Here we go, folks. Preseason ranked #5 and a very strong start to the season. Georgia’s offense is an absolute juggernaut and the defense may bend, but doesn’t break. That is until they played the Gamecocks and got absolutely manhandled 35-7. But that’s ok, they won the rest of their regular season games and would still win the SEC East. They have a SEC championship matchup with Bama, with the winner going on to the national championship game. Predictably, they would choke another close game…again. When they needed to be clutch…again. To Bama…again. And that damn Nick Saban guy…AGAIN. Georgia fans, does it sting yet?
2013
All is not lost though. The Bulldogs come into this year as the #5 ranked team, a strong roster, and very strong expecta…oh who am I kidding. They were an absolute disappointment with a great offense but terrible defense. 8-5 season. Next.
2014
Same insanity, different year. Despite having a solid QB in Hutson Mason, a legendarily stacked RB core in Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, and Sony Michel, and some talented players on defense like LBs Leonard Floyd and Lorenzo Carter, they just can’t consistently put it together. After seeing the same thing year after year, people are wanting some change. Richt better do something next season…or else.
2015
Well, or else happened, unfortunately. The Bulldogs would have a 10-3 season with more disappointing losses to Tennessee, Florida, and that damn Nick Saban guy. With no patience left, Mark Richt would be fired…what a shame. Despite never being able to win the big one, he was still one hell of a coach.
2016
Mark Richt is gone, and the Bulldogs go in a new direction with the defensive minded Kirby Smart. Who is Kirby Smart? Well, he was the defensive coordinator at Bama under…you guessed it, that damn Nick Saban guy. That’s so adorable, Georgia. You can’t beat Saban, so why not copy Saban? Anyways, new coach, new system, so growing pains were to be expected, despite a talented roster. 8-5 season. Next.
2017
Sweet Jesus, you’re doing it, Bulldogs. I mean, you’re ACTUALLY doing it. YOU’RE GOING TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!! You’ve got one of the best college football rosters in recent memory. Leading the Bulldogs is a solid QB in Jake Fromm, supported by a juggernaut rushing attack in RBs Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’Andre Swift. The defense has some absolute studs in LB Roquan Smith, LB Lorenzo Carter, and DB Deandre Baker. You may have lost a regular season game to Auburn, but you paid them back in the SEC championship game with an absolute thrashing. Hell, you even shocked the high-octane Oklahoma offense led by Heisman winner QB Baker Mayfield in the first round of the playoffs.
You’re in the national championship game, and you’re beating that damn Nick Saban guy and his Bama squad, 20-7 in the 3rd quarter. End your misery once and fo…why is Bama coming back? No. No, no, no, no, no. Please don’t do this, Georgia. It’s 20-20, going into overtime. Ok Georgia, you got the field goal. All you need to do is hold Bama, can you PLEASE finish th…aaannnd Bama just scored a touchdown and won the game. Georgia…in the words of Billy Madison…YOU BLEW IT!!!!!
2018
Yet again, another year and another strong Georgia team. Despite losing to LSU in the regular season, they would win the SEC East and would have a chance to clinch a playoff spot by winning the SEC championship game. I’ll go ahead and stop right here because they’re playing Bama and that damn Nick Saban guy, and you already know how this one goes. Georgia has the lead…and chokes…AGAIN.
Present
Georgia fans, I have nothing against you guys, whatsoever. You may be obnoxious at times, but what fanbase isn’t? Actually, I pity you. No fanbase deserves this kind of failure to occur over and over again. I have no doubt that you’ll have another strong season this year but will the end result be any different? As Michael Scott once said, “Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice…strike three.” And I’ve been fooled one too many times. The state of Georgia is cursed. May the football gods have mercy on you. And by that, I mean that Nick Saban guy because he basically is your god.
Bramhall was born, raised, and currently lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He graduated from Wofford College. He just finished his masters in school counseling at Gardner-Webb University. However, his true home might as well be the state of Pennsylvania. He is a huge Penn State Nittany Lions football fan. He’s also the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest fan, which used to be a miserable life of “what ifs” and “oh so close” moments. But after his team won the Super Bowl, he is now a god among men and is never wrong about anything football. If you didn’t like the Philly Special, he doesn’t like you. The 76ers and Phillies are cool, too. #TrustTheProcess #RingTheBell
