College football is pretty straight forward. Most of the time, the better team wins. Players + Coaches = Team.
There are obvious exceptions in a one game scenario where turnovers, injuries or other miscues can impact a single game. But as the time line of evaluating a single rivalry or the entire scope of all college football grows longer, the better team wins most of the time.
So why do I post this? Because I'm excited to see Georgia renew it's contract in Jacksonville. There are only two reasons to leave Jacksonville:
- 1. If we thought we'd make more money playing somewhere else.
2. If we thought it would help us beat the Gators.
That only question left is...would it help us win more games? Which brings us back to the original question. Why do teams typically win games. Because they have better players and coaches.
I think it was Blutarsky who pointed this out first. Since 1990:
- UGA vs. UF: 3-14 on a neutral field
LSU vs. UF: 5-14 home and home
UT vs. UF: 6-14 home and home
If we were to leave Jacksonville, it would be a way of saying that the current state of affairs is not Coach Richt's responsibility. That it's not his responsibility that we don't have better players and coaches than the Gators. That somehow the physical location of the stadium is the root cause of our issues.
The absolute worst thing that could've happened to Richt yesterday would've been to move that game without fixing the real, systemic issues with losing down there. If he thinks he gets pressure from Dawg fans for losing in Jacksonville, today. That's nothing compared to what he'd hear if he lost to them in Athens or Atlanta. And we will continue to lose more than our fair share regardless of the location until we close the coaching and talent gaps.
Yesterday was a good day for our program. It was a day where excuses for failure were ignored in favor of good business sense and yes....tradition.
We can beat them down there, and return the rivalry to balance. But it'll take raising our game to Meyer's level. Not trying to rearrange the deck chairs.
PWD
56 comments:
I have to think the bigger issue is the off weekend that UF usually has and we don't usually have the week before the game. I wish someone would hold Damon's feet to the fire on this and make him a little more accountable for his scheduling. We have 3 teams this year with an off weekend before they play us. Makes for a huge advantage for them and gives us an unlevel playing field.
Congratulations to Damon and the Athletic Board.
Way to show some backbone.
Congrats also to PWD for sticking to your guns and not wavering in your opinion.
And remember, in this world in which we live, there are few things worse than a Bulldog fan who lacks the will to punch, claw, and fight like hell.
Did we need another post about this? PWD we already know where your outdated, selfish, narrow-minded, and idiotic view on this issue is. Congrats, greedy and selfish people win again!
Enjoy your little parties for the next few years. Just don't look at the scoreboard often, maybe just once every 5 years or so.
I understand the decision and support it. But, I do feel like I am getting screwed. Being a relatively new season ticket holder, I paid big bucks just for the priviledge of spending more money for those tickets. And with that, I still have no chance to see our biggest SEC rival live. That sucks, unless I want to put out lots more big bucks for tickets.
Last time I checked, this was and IS PWD's blog, so I guess it's his prerogative to post what he wants. Furthermore, Paul always gives a reasonable argument instead of "ur stopid!"
Hey JasonC, you've got a little brown stuff on your nose. Might wanna take care of that...
I know everyone loves the tradition, but let's keep an eye on what happens.
Already, a ton of long time ticket holders have seen their ticket location DRASTICALLY changed this year.
Are more tickets going to corporate sponsors? To raise more money, will the city of Jacksonville need this to happen going forward?
I am for moving it to home and home, but am fine with the decision to leave it in Jacksonville for now.
Just keep your eyes open, because the variables are always changing.
" good business sense and yes....tradition." = Loses.
It really is amazing......
I concur about the week off issue.
Hey anon,
You've got some brown stuff in your head.
Guys, the game has always been in Jax and I don't know if you all have looked at the record in this series or not, but we have the lead even with going 4-16 in the last 20 years. We used to dominate Florida because we had better coaches and players. The week off before the game has played a big part, I believe that every year we have beaten Florida we had the week off before and they didn't. So I like keeping it in Jax. Losing has nothing to do with where the game is played.
Oh and if you are going to attack someone on here, have the balls to not be anonymous.
Are the segment of fans that think that UGA is at a competitive disadvantage playing in JAX cutting Richt a break more than those that don't? I don't see this at all. As far as I can see, everyone expects Richt to be at or above the level of Meyer in regards to recruiting/coaching and to win his fair share of games in JAX or elsewhere. Which leads me to ask: Why construe the anti-JAX argument as excuse-making or absolving of responsibility? Why perpetuate the notion that fans would come down much harder on Richt if he moves the location of his annual failure to Atlanta/Athens? I'm of the opinion that there are decent (but not great) arguments for there being a competitive disadvantage for UGA playing in JAX every year, but I in no way expect Richt to win any less than I do when he's in Knoxville, or Auburn, or Athens. The anti-JAX argument is about analyzing perceived advantages/disadvantages and addressing those in an attempt to give the team the best chance to win. The pro-JAX argument should be about discrediting those perceptions (and bringing up the good points about money, tradition, throwing a bone to the S. Georgians, etc.), and not about construing the argument as excuse making, absolving of responsibility, or wussing out (as others endlessly state). Saying as much is simply inaccurate, imo.
Re: the bye week
I bought into that theory, too, until I actually looked at it. Since Spurrier showed up in Gainesville, UGA has had a bye week in 1990, 1991 and 2007. Florida had a bye week in 1993-2003 and 2005-2006. UGA is 1-2 following a bye week and Florida is 4-2 in weeks in which they have a game before Georgia. Better than the overall series over that time, I guess, but it isn't a cut and dry thing. Over the 1993-2003 stretch in which Florida had the bye every week, Georgia has one win. Georgia probably had the better team in only three of those seasons (1992, 2002 and 2003). We actually stole one in 1997. Point being, I'm not sure having a week off would have kept Spurrier from hanging 50 in Sanford.
I'm glad we have the bye week before the game this season (and I think it comes at a great time for THIS young team), but the reason we've lost most of those games is a combination of being less talented and having a mental block against them even when we are more talented.
Anon 9:45...
If you havent figured it out yet, you are the reason one must pony up certain dollar amouts for tickets, you want to enjoy georgia football along with alot of other mercer grads, GA southern grads, Ga state grads, and the list goes on (its called free market). Yes the system has its flaws but its about $$$ not alumni. BTW tickets to the game last year (#2 vs #5) were going for around < $100 per ticket, you pay more than that for Tennessee Tech at home. Vist the scene, enjoy a win and you will understand why the games location needs to be neutral.
Have we really had that much less talent than Florida over the past 20 years?
No, its all been about coaching. As Fisheries Dawg suggests, Georgia has only had the better 3 times since Spurrier arrived in Gainesville. Like it or not, most years the Gators have great coaching in all phases-and when they don't have great coaching in all phases, changes are made. Whereas the UGA athletic department still suffers under a bit too much Dooley-think ("Let's give 'em one more year) when it comes to the revenue generating sports.
Believe me. I was in Athens the last time we played Florida there. It was not pretty.
Less talent over the last 20, for sure. Over the last 5, not so much, and see out 2-3 record in those game. I cannot understand why folks continue to dwell on the Goff/Donnan years.
Are the Florida fans continuing to dwell on the Pell years?
The board made a good decision here. Playing in Jax is not about the party, it's about the tradition. The game has always been a way for the athletic department to reach out to the Bulldog fans who live in South Georgia. It's hard to get to Athens for a lot of these people, so the athletic dept. decided long ago to bring a game to them (if you will. And with all the support (not to mention players) we get from the Southeast Georgia area, it makes sense to keep this game in Jacksonville. I just hope that Damon made it clear that the state of Florida is not to have its damn fair the weekend of the game. That was a cluster last year.
Ball-U-Dawg Triangle:
I didn't suggest that Georgia has only been better for three years since Spurrier showed up.
We were better in 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. We lost four of those games.
Blame some of that on coaching (1992), some of it on injuries (2005), and the rest on just flat-out strange circumstances because in 2002 and 2003 we were better-coached and more talented.
On top of that, Jim Donnan flat out-coached Spurrier in 1997 and Richt took Meyer to school in 2007.
It's just a weird series. It was the same way when UGA was dominating in the 70s and 80s.
Texas Dawg - Can you email me.
My addy is in my profile.
I'm really tired of hearing the arguments to stay in Jacksonville. Fine, we're staying in Jacksonville PWD. It's already set. It will probably never move.
But you always point out mainly that you don't think the "neutral site" has anything to do with Georgia's recent string of losses to Florida. Ok, fine, you may be right.
But a lot of people have many other reasons why they would want the game out of Jacksonville. For instance, people can't afford to travel that far, they may dislike the city/stadium, etc. Or they simply just want to see a change. So please, just respect others' opinions. You know the game isn't moving anyway, so why keep this up?
Fisherdawg,
Your bye theory is interesting. But, there are other points as well. First of all, in MOST years it would not have mattered at all.
Since 1993 Florida has had the bye week every year except 2004, 2007 and 2008. Two of those ring a bell? Georgia on the other hand since 1991 had a bye in 2007.
In 2005, what happened when Florida was enjoying the bye? D.J. Shockley was getting hurt against Arkansas. In 2007, when did Superman hurt his shoulder? Playing Kentucky while Georgia was finally idle.
The winning percentage of SEC teams this decade following a bye week is around 70%. It makes a difference. Not huge and not in years when there is great disparity between the teams. But when it is close....yup. And it was as obvious as the sun rising in the east that in 2007 Georgia was a much fresher football team.
I agree that a bye week can help. I also agree with you that in most years since 1990, it wouldn't have mattered. Flip the bye week in the 90s and maybe Georgia gets one extra win.
I think it really helped us in 2007. I think it probably helped Florida in 2002 and 2003. I get what you're saying about Shock in 2005, but had Florida played the week it wouldn't have really mattered...the problem was that JTIII just wasn't any good and our offense was completely handcuffed.
My main point is that you can't try to claim that UGA's ineptitude against Florida in the last two decades is much more due to bye weeks than it is to weather patterns or moon phases. It probably changed the outcome of 2-3 games over that span. That doesn't explain away a 3-16 record.
Why do you guys keep intentionally ignoring the obvious? You keep going back to this whole debunking of the "if it helps us win" argument, when that is probably the least most popular reason for moving it. How many people have to say "Jacksonville the city sucks" for you guys to acknowledge it? I'm not alone, I hear the same comments from many people and read the same comments a lot online. I really don't care what the gayturds say if we were to move it, I'd rather have the game at a more enjoyable location, and I'd wager to guess that over 50% of the fans who are for moving it feel the same way. And yet... we keep seeing articles like this one, ignoring that particular reason. Most likely because no one can disagree with the complaints.
My first visit to Jacksonville was very underwhelming. I went during the spring a few years back and I was surprised at how dirty it was. Not to mention the amount of homeless people I saw in the downtown area. Tall office buildings, with nice lobbies, and a bum sleeping 10 feet from the entrance. What a disgrace. I've been back there a few times for various reasons and it remains the same. What a disgusting place to hold this "traditional" game.
I went to Jax once for the UF/UGA game and I'll never go back. I probably didn't have a good time because I'm not really into the whole rowdy, fall on your ass drinking scene.
Just my $2 worth.....
Maybe Evans will be successful in moving the Tech game to the Georgia Dome as has been rumored. That way we can play our two biggest rivals at neutral sites and earn more money for the university.
What Evan's decision tells me is that there is no such thing as home field advantage. So I don't want to hear any coach or player say the crowds aren't loud enough or the fans don't support the team because apparently those things aren't important. It also tells me that money disguised as tradition is more important than winning. I'm also learning that every decision made at UGA is about sustaining the status quo instead of improvement. This is a systematic problem inside the football program. That's why the game will stay in Jacksonville and both Willie Martinez and Fabris will be back next year no matter what. Maybe Evans will find a way to spin bad defense and special teams play as tradition as well.
Amen PWD! Perfect post. Jax is fun times for all. It helps recruiting and give our S Georgia brethren something to look forward to every year. CMR will even think it's fun down there when we start winning like we did under Dooley. GATA
PWD, you're so bang on on this. This is also why I don't care to hear CMR whine about all that travel killing them for the Alabama game last year--USC does this EVERY YEAR. Every year they have to go to Washington, Washington State, Ohio State, or Notre Dame--not to mention one of the Oregons.
Also, the lame claims that they would rather not be #1 going into a season--ya know, that is a loser's attitude: We can't handle the pressure so we'd rather sneak up on people than be the target.
This crap about Jax is more of the same. I love CMR like everyone else, but I could really do without these pathetic excuses.
WatchDawg,
Jax the City does suck. There's no arguing that. But does going to Gainesville every other year improve the situation? Not hardly.
Besides...stay at Fernandina. It's much more laid back and clean.
PWD
Gainesville is a really nice and clean town. Believe it or not,it's not as big of "Gator Country" there as it is in Jacksonville. From my experience, the people are friendly and you don't get as much trash talk as you do in Jacksonville. I think Jax has that big city mentality which makes a lot of the residents jerks when it comes to competition. So don't knock Gainesville until you've been there. It's not that bad.
Bottom line:
(1) Pro-Jax and Pro-set of balls crowd = winner
(2) Anti-Jax and vagina crybaby p*ssyboys = loser
The game stays and those crying about the disadvantages can go F themselves once GA wins several of the next games.
Btw - who the hell hangs out in downtown Jax aside from the landing? It's like any urban downtown USA. There are plenty of terrific bars and restaurants in Jax. Get off your stupid asses and find them.
DuvalCtyDawg just perpetuated the stereotype of these stubborn, stupid, wannabe macho Georgia fans.
Bottom line:
You've got a beer belly and you're stupid.
Btw- f**k yourself
Fisheries-
My misinterpretation. Let me then be the one to suggest that Florida has had the better coaching staff for the past 20 years, except for the 2002-2004 seasons.
I agree, though, that this doesn't mean UF hasn't been outcoached in some games (1997 and 2007). But even in those games, prior and subsequent performances by Georgia and Florida have shown that Florida had the better staff.
Over the past 20 years, there have been years in which Florida had better talent, but not nearly as many as the years in which Florida has had better coaching.
PWD and the rest of the uninformed fellow GA fans....
questions:
(1) where is the GA dome?
(2) where do you hang out before you go to a Dome game?
answers
(1) atlanta urban hell
(2) buckhead or midtown
now people, apply the same logic to Jacksonville. Do yourself a favor next time and party somewhere other than where the obligatory bums hang out.
Paul,
I may be in the minority of people who would actually like for us to play in Gainesville. It's probably the only time I would ever go to see a game at the swamp. Would losing in the swamp be any worse than losing in Jacksonville? No, but winning in the swamp would be a hell of a lot more rewarding. Would losing at home suck? Yes, but we've lost at home to Georgia Tech and Auburn, and those don't suck any less.
I'm more of a fan of alternating locations between Jacksonville and Atlanta, just to keep the "neutral site" thing going... but I wouldn't be opposed to simply going back to a home and home, either.
Jax Dawg,
Are you done yet? People have eyes. It's pretty obvious to anyone that has been to both cities which is a better place to hang out. In terms of night life and atmosphere, Jacksonville is in a fight in which it is unarmed.
The Georgia Dome sits across from the CNN Center, the World Congress Center, and the Georgia Aquarium. All within walking distance. Anyone who has ever been to a chick-fil-a bowl or kickoff classic, knows exactly how good the pre-game activities can be.
We're not dogging out your city. We've been to both, and we like Atlanta better.
You're all crazy as hell if you can't see the difference between 3 wins and 6 wins. I'll take those 3 extra wins anytime. It's the difference between National Champion, BCS and Outback (See UT vs UF 1998).
Can anybody tell me the name of the song that the Georgia band plays before every 3rd down?
Dies Irea, nevermind
I get that some people just want to move it out of Jacksonville because they don't like the place. That's fine. Personally, I don't like the new stadium. I preferred the old Gator Bowl and the atmosphere there. Anyway, I have never felt it was a competitive advantage either way with the tickets split 50/50.
The bigger issue is definitely the scheduling. Spurrier made it a priority to schedule an off week before the Georgia game, while we went away from that for some reason. While we've had a tough early stretch, I'm really glad that we have Tenn Tech and then an off week before FL this year. I think that will be very helpful for us. Fix the schedule, and we'll get this series leveled back out in a hurry. We're 2-3 over the past five games, and if we win this year, Tebow goes away with a losing starting record against the Dawgs.
When Tebow leaves the field will be level. Wait and see.
So our win percentage would have increased 60-100% had we played home and home?
Not sure that aids your argument as much as you seem to think. I don't think the comparison holds up much because there are so many other variables (as you yourself point out, you can take 10 games out of commission altogether because of the talent disparity). Home field should only matter in a close game (the Vegas 3 points), so a better analysis would ask how many close games we've lost.
Or...just keep the game where it is...not lose Shockley and avoid a bogus timeout call in '93 and the winning percentage is actually better than LSU's.
PWD
All right guys. Knock off the personal attacks. I don't need to deal with it today.
Russ, we play Tennessee Tech AFTER Florida, not before. But we do have the week off, for the second time since 1991.
I'm sure LSU had some marginal games where things could have happened differently (like 2003). You can't play "but for" with only one team when you're doing that type of comparison.
Arguing that Jax is nicer than the ATL is just plain dumb. We get a good shot every year to play in the ATL....SECCG....we also play in the ATL every other year at Grant Field. Throw in the occasional Peach Bowl and to me, that's enough games in Atlanta. I like it, the GA Aquarium and the area is nice..if you haven't seen that area lately, it's not like it used to be.
That said, I like the decision on Jax, and I get to the game every other year or so. Staying in St Simons or Fernandina is much better than in Jax.
This debate is so tiring, and yet it still continues on, and on ... and on.
__________________
I really dislike the rationale that people who want to move the game are tucking their tails between their legs and running like cowards. If you change the location, you aren't necessarily saying, "we are your bitch." Like previously stated, we still have a better record... so if anything, we could have the bragging rights.
__________________
If you are going to try and compare Atlanta to Jacksonville, then you are wasting your time. Atlanta may have its' blemishes, but it certainly outclasses and outmatches Jax in almost every way. With the resurgence of the Falcons, we are already seeing how ATL likes to tailgate/watch football/etc.
__________________
If you think home field advantage doesn't matter, then I think you are kidding yourself. Although we have taken our fair share of beatings at home, I would say they are less frequent than those on the road. (And don't point to one game and say, "SEE LOOK WHAT HAPPENED when we played here before!!!111oneone!") If UGA vs UF were a night game in Athens, you cannot tell me that the crowd would not be a factor in helping our team. Period.
__________________
Recruiting? Are you serious? How have the last 10 years helped us with recruiting? We were absolutely humiliated on national television. Our fans (who apparently love it so much) left streaming out of the stadium damn near the 3rd, and the UF fans came strolling into our sections berating us. Really fun, and great for recruiting..
__________________
My final little piece comes down to the cost. One of the main things people are forgetting is for the average UGA fan, going down to Jax is quite expensive. For some (seemingly PWD, no offense) it doesn't seem to hit the wallet the same as others. Driving down, hotel, food, tickets, etc is something you can't just push to the side. Being able to make a day trip to Athens is much cheaper.
Anyway, good debate though.
Don't you realize that before the Spurrier era, Georgia dominated the series. In fact, even with the domination over the last 20 years, Georgia still has has a 46-38-2 record against Florida!
While it is no fun to lose--and I was in the Redcoats in 1980 and saw Belue-to-Scott live while Larry Munson was breaking his metal steel chair with a 5-inch cushion--the current team needs to get its collective heads out of its butts when it comes to Florida and just win.
Unlike the writers of this blog, I do not mind calling for coaching changes. I am all for replacing the DB coach and Defensive coordinator! Yes, I know that's not going to happen during the season. So, I hope that the coach of the DBs and Defensive Coordinator gets his sh*t together because of the DBs cover the Florida receivers the same way they did at Arkansas, the Cocktail Party will be a very long day!
Anon 9:24..........
you hit the nail on the head....couldn't agree more.
oops.....I meant Anon 5:18.
Anon 5:18,
PSSSTTTTTTT -- We have a better record in SEC play on the Road than at home under Richt.
Well, for "true" road games we do. Neutral sites, not so much.
But I still think that a game at home against Florida would bring an entirely different mindset to UGA, and the fans would be berserk.
We wouldn't need some blackout, it would simply be bedlam.
"If playing home and home is such a cure all, why haven't LSU and UT performed noticeably better?"
Ah, Paul, what am I missing?
UGA has won 3/17, or 17.6 % of the time. In comparison, LSU has won 5/17, or 29.5 % of the time (66.6% more often than us). UT has won 6/17, or 35.29 % of the time (100% more often than us).
Both have done significantly better than us.
We can argue the reasons, but those are the facts
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