The TSD Best of 2010 Debate… To Fire or Not Fire Tops The List

December 29, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan.

Since our first FULL calendar year of running this website, I think it’s fair to say we have grown tremendously. We added another writer, Optimist Prime, who has brought some wonderful insight to blend in with the other four outspoken minds we have on the site. I think he has made our arguments and debates better. I noticed this as I was looking back over some of our debates from this calendar year. One debate sticks out to this Georgia native, however, and that’s a debate we had back in late September regarding the status of UGA football coach Mark Richt. It also ended up being one of our more popular debates of the year, judging from the hits it received and continues to receive even now!

At the time we had the debate UGA was coming off a road loss to Mississippi State, who actually went on to have a solid season and win eight games. At the time, however, it appeared to be a bad loss, and it was the absolute perfect time to have the debate. The heat had been turned up in Athens and much of that fire was directed at Richt.

Optimist Prime and Bleacher Fan both presented outstanding cases. Bleacher Fan was, and still is, of the opinion that Richt should have been fired. The program had noticeably slipped (this is true) and Bleacher Fan brought on the interesting point that guys like Urban Meyer, Les Miles, and Nick Saban had flown past Richt in terms of winning championships. Optimist Prime believed that it was too soon to panic and that Richt had earned the right to turn things around.

I ultimately sided with Optimist Prime. I felt that Richt had done enough in his tenure to keep his job. There were some circumstances, such as the whole A.J. Green fiasco, that caused the Dawgs problems early.

Looking back, do I think I made the right decision? Granted, the Dawgs finished with a 6-6 overall record, with the outcome of Friday’s Liberty Bowl matchup against Central Florida still pending. Included in those six losses was a terrible loss at Colorado. But, to answer my own question, yes I still think I made the right decision. Richt definitely goes into the 2011 campaign needing a big season out of his team. I think he needs at least eight wins.

Being a Georgia resident, this debate often went on at sports bars, dinner tables, and office break rooms around the state. The Bulldogs bring out a lot of passion in the Peach State. I’ve heard the pros and cons of keeping Richt around ad nausea. But the fact that it was such a high profile coach in a high profile conference made this debate exciting and extremely relevant at the time. I sure hope you enjoyed it!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The 2010 Disappointing College Football Team Debate… Dawgs With No Bite

December 6, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Babe Ruthless.

Back in late September we had a debate surrounding the status of UGA head coach Mark Richt. Both Optimist Prime and Bleacher Fan presented compelling cases as to what the university should ultimately do with Richt. Thanks to our loyal readers, that was one of our most popular debates in our still short history. I was the judge of that particular debate and ultimately decided that Richt deserved to keep his job. New athletic director Greg McGarity agreed with me and has said that Richt will be back in 2011. However, despite the supposed vote of confidence, that does not hide the disturbing fact that 2010 has to be categorized as a huge disappointment.

Fair or not, and realistic or not, Georgia Bulldog fans don’t expect to be 6-6 at season’s end. They don’t expect to have to win the last game of the season just to become bowl eligible, jus to go to some lower-tier bowl game. They expect to play for SEC championships. They expect to play in bowl games on New Year’s Day. That didn’t happen this season… or last season, for that matter.

The season didn’t get off to a good start at all. Perhaps the Dawgs should have seen it as an omen when then-athletic director Damon Evans got arrested over for the summer for a DUI. Then player after player kept getting read their Miranda rights read to them. When all was said and done, eleven players were arrested throughout the course of the year. All-American candidate A.J. Green, arguably the best wide receiver in the country, was suspended the first four games of the season because someone apparently thought an Independence Bowl jersey was worth $1,000… and Green was stupid enough to take it since he needed some spring break shopping money.

The season was just set up to fail from the first snap… and it did.

Starting out a season 1-4 is inexcusable. Especially devastating was the fourth loss, which came at the hands of the Dan Hawkins’ led mighty Colorado Buffalos (side note… Mr. Hawkins is no longer the coach of the Buffs). At mid-season UGA managed to rebound to 4-4 and had a chance to climb back into contention in a down SEC East with a win over a weak Florida Gator team. But once again, the Dawgs couldn’t get over the hump against their neighbors to the South, losing in overtime. Losing to Auburn, in which many UGA fans still claim three weeks later was a game ridden with dirty plays by the Tigers and shouldn’t even count due to the Cam Newton scandal, was just icing on a cake that really didn’t taste all that good.

Next season is a big year for Richt, and he knows it. He made a small change in his coaching staff yesterday, naming a new strength and conditioning coach. I’m not sure the splash from this move is going to cool off his hot seat anymore. He does have Aaron Murray, who was outstanding as a redshirt freshman quarterback this season. He’s going to need more from Murray next season with Green likely headed to the next level.

A record of 6-6? That has to be disappointing at a school like UGA, doesn’t it? Or, maybe, as Bleacher Fan has hinted off the record, UGA just isn’t what it thinks it is. The fans may just be off-base. Maybe it truly is that “seven” who comes to the party thinking it’s a “ten.” Whatever the case may be, 2010 has to be considered hugely disappointing on all fronts in Athens.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Fire Mark Richt Debate

September 28, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Optimist Prime and Bleacher Fan.

The heat has been turned up in Athens, Georgia!

For the past ten years the Georgia Bulldogs have been one of the top programs in the SEC. Ever since Mark Richt became head coach in 2001 UGA has consistently contended for conference championships, even winning a couple in 2002 and 2005. The program, after going through a lull in the 1990s, had reached the status it once had in the 1980s.

Things began to go downhill last season. An 8-5 finish last season capped off with an Independence Bowl win isn’t exactly what Bulldog Nation wants to see. The fans want bowl games in New Orleans and, at the very least, in Florida on New Years… not in Shreveport in late December. All could have been smoothed over with a solid start to the 2010 campaign.

That simply hasn’t happened

After Saturday night’s embarrassing loss to Mississippi State in Starkville, the Bulldogs are 1-3 overall and 0-3 in conference play, with games remaining against Florida and Auburn, among others. The Bulldogs lost three games in a row for the first time in twenty years. What once was one of the marquee SEC programs has now slipped into mediocrity.

That brings us to today’s debate. Should UGA cut ties with Mark Richt and fire him?

Optimist Prime believes that Richt has earned the benefit of the doubt in his tenure and deserves a chance to turn things around. Bleacher Fan, on the other hand, believes that the program has slipped far enough that Richt needs to be fired so UGA can begin the rebuilding process immediately.

This is sure to be a passionate debate so have at it!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Fire Mark Richt Debate… Expectations Outpace Mark Richt

September 28, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Optimist Prime.

Mark Richt is no longer able to compete in the SEC.

Yes, he HAS led the Georgia Bulldogs to nine consecutive bowl appearances, and boasts a bowl record of 7-2 in those nine games. He has maintained exceptionally strong recruiting classes during his tenure, and has twice been named the SEC Coach of the Year. And if he were head coach of a Big East or ACC program, that would be considered a wildly successful performance, and Richt would be at the front of the line for the next “elite” coaching job in college football.

The only problem is he already HAS that elite coaching job in the nation’s top football conference. And when you look at his performance, specifically over the past four years as the SEC has completely dominated college football, Richt has actually UNDER-performed.

BCS Shortcomings

In the nine full seasons since Richt became head coach at Georgia, he has coached his squad to a 2-1 BCS record, with no national championship game appearances.

Now, let’s compare that to some of his SEC colleagues:

Les Miles is 2-0 in BCS games since 2005, including a national championship with LSU.

Nick Saban is 3-1 in BCS games, with two national championships for two different SEC programs (LSU and Alabama).

Urban Meyer is 3-0 in BCS games, with two national championships.

Pop quiz, what is Mark Richt lacking? That’s right! A national championship, DESPITE being at the head of one of the supposed powerhouses in the SEC.

As for those two BCS wins, one came in 2002, back before the SEC had really developed into the conference powerhouse it is today, and the other came in 2007 against a Hawaii team that had no business being in the BCS, DESPITE an undefeated regular season record (don’t forget that Hawaii earned their record by playing the WAC, two different FCS teams, and the only team they played from a BCS-caliber conference was the 4-8 Washington Huskies).

While the SEC has improved, Georgia has declined

There is clearly a gap in talent between Mark Richt and the other premier coaches of the SEC. And with each passing year the irrefutable evidence indicates that the gap is widening.

Since Georgia’s last BCS win in 2007, while the SEC has improved as a conference, the Bulldogs have been on a steady and sharp decline.

Entering into the 2008 season Georgia was ranked as the top team in the country. How did Richt respond to that ranking? By losing not once, but THREE times that season.

Again, a 10-3 record (with a win in the Capital One Bowl) is not bad, but as the pre-season favorite to win the national championship, three losses equals to a HUGE disappointment.

Then in 2009, Georgia (who still managed a top-ten recruiting class) was ranked in the pre-season as the 13th best team in the nation, and they played on to a record of only 8-5… falling COMPLETELY out of the top-25 by season’s end.

Somehow, despite that slide even deeper out of SEC relevance, Georgia managed ANOTHER solid recruiting class and found itself once more ranked in the 2010 pre-season as one of the 25 best teams in the country.

And once again, Richt has failed.

So far this season he has managed to win only one game (against Louisiana-Lafayette), and his three losses (all of which have come against SEC competition) have him sitting in dead last as the worst team in the conference.

It is time for Richt to go

During his tenure, Richt’s performance at the University of Georgia has been good, but as far as the University of Georgia’s expectations are concerned, “good” in the SEC simply isn’t good enough. This is a program that has recruited some of the top talent in the country, but has failed miserably on the field.

Since 2007, Mark Richt has had top-ten caliber talent coming into each season, and has progressively dropped further and further out of contention. He has lost 11 times in the SEC during that time (compared to only four losses each by Florida and Alabama during that same period). This season, he has the Bulldogs off to their worst start in 20 years (they also started at 1-3 during the 1993 season).

The SEC has progressed to a level at which Mark Richt can no longer compete.

Three different head coaches have won national championships in the SEC over the last four years. Each one has progressively improved their program’s stature, elevating the conference in the process. All the while Georgia fans have been left on the sidelines with nothing but disappointment.

Mark Richt has had all the tools, and every opportunity, to improve his program right alongside the likes of Saban, Miles, and Meyer. But unlike those three, Richt has failed to capitalize on his opportunities.

While the SEC has gotten better, Mark Richt has gotten worse. The only way that Georgia can progress as a football program is if they leave Richt behind.

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The Best Game of THIS Weekend Debate… Dawging the Gamecocks

September 10, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer.

While there are a lot of interesting games this weekend, I’ve chosen one slightly off the beaten path. Well, as off the beaten path as an SEC game between two top-25 ranked opponents on national TV can be. Saturday at noon, Georgia rolls into Dead Cockroach Stadium (look at a picture, I’m not kidding…) to take on the newly-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. Sure, history is in the Bulldogs’ favor, but let’s dig deeper into what makes this ESPN2 game a compelling matchup.

There was a lot of off-season chatter about how this was “the year” for South Carolina to make some noise in the SEC East. Fans and pundits alike have been waiting for Spurrier’s genius to show itself in the Midlands of South Carolina. While South Carolina has many of the resources necessary for competing in the cutthroat SEC, they are perpetually trying to get over the hump in the SEC East. Part of the reason for that is that Spurrier has not had the quarterbacks at South Carolina enjoyed at Florida. Blake Mitchell was no Danny Wuerrfel, my friends. However, coach Spurrier and the Gamecock faithful have high hopes for Stephen Garcia, and Garcia’s time at the controls of the Gamecock offense this season has come. While Garcia has shown flashes of physical talent on the field and flashes of smiles in mug shots off the field, this may be the year that he puts it all together and leads the Gamecocks to the SEC championship game in Atlanta.

Beyond Garcia, the Gamecocks have a pair of freshman phenoms who will spend some time in the backfield this season. Freshman quarterback Connor Shaw and freshman running back Marcus Lattimore supplement seventeen returning starters for the Gamecocks, and make them a popular sleeper pick to win the SEC East. Despite the fact that tight end Weslye Saunders is likely to miss another game due to the NCAA investigation, the Gamecocks appear to be a formidable foe for the Bulldogs.

South Carolina’s optimism runs smack into UGA VIII and his team of angry canines led by Mark Richt.

While Georgia may not have garnered the right kind of headlines in the off-season, Mark Richt will absolutely have the Bulldogs ready to play in a very hostile environment in Columbia, South Carolina. Keep in mind that Georgia is 8-1 in its last nine games against South Carolina, and they have faced this combination of optimism and hostility from Gamecock fans and teams in the past. The Georgia offense, despite missing A.J. Green, put up 55 points last week, signaling they are ready for a conference clash.

I don’t want to turn this post into a statistical rundown of the two opponents. But there are two data points that make this game really interesting. First, UGA and South Carolina really do not like each other, and that will come through on the field and in the stands (hopefully more on the field than in the stands).

Second, and perhaps most importantly, Florida looked decidedly vulnerable against Miami of Ohio last weekend, and the Gamecocks and Bulldogs both believe they’re playing for the driver’s seat in the SEC East. We all know much of the greatness of college football is tied up in the desperation shown by teams on a week-in, week-out basis (especially in conference play).
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This game seems like an entertaining, eminently watchable week two matchup. At the very least, it’s the best excuse you have on Saturday to crack a cold one at noon Eastern!

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Posted by Optimist Prime

The Best Game To Watch THIS Weekend Debate – Key Battle Takes Place Between The Hedges

October 2, 2009

Read Sports Geek’s argument that Oklahoma-LSU is the best game and Bleacher Fan’s unique choice on what he thinks is the best game.

We are approaching the first Saturday in October. All of the non-conference cupcakes are off the schedule for the most part and it’s time to get serious. It does not get any more serious than it does in the Southeastern Conference. This weekend, a big match up takes place between the hedges in Athens as the Georgia Bulldogs welcome the LSU Tigers to town.

Despite being ranked fourth in both polls, the visiting Tigers (4-0) come in as a slight underdog to the Dawgs for some reason. The Tigers have struggled, especially on offense, and were fortunate to escape Starkville with a win over Mississippi State last week. UGA (3-1) has not exactly lit the world on fire either, as they are coming off a narrow home win over Arizona State themselves.

I stated earlier this year in a previous debate that I thought LSU could be a sleeper and sneak up on people. Did I anticipate them being at number four this quickly? No! Do I think they are the fourth best team in the land at this point? Definitely not! But they still have some playmakers on offense and I am still waiting for quarterback Jorden Jefferson to bust out.

Georgia comes in on a three game winning streak after opening the season with loss in the land of T. Boone Pickens (Oklahoma State Cowboys). The defense has been average, at best, though they appeared to play a little better last week against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The offense, which has been great against South Carolina and Arkansas, has struggled against the Cowboys and the Sun Devils. UGA comes in minus in the turnover battle, making it all the more amazing that they have three out of four games to start the season.

Both teams have a shot at making the SEC championship game (LSU more so than UGA) so that makes this is a critical game. A loss tomorrow and the loser is already under the gun with both teams still having to face Tebow and Co. The Gators come down to the Bayou next weekend while the Dawgs have their annual battle with the Gators on October 31st. LSU needs to be careful about overlooking the game this week in anticipation of next week’s battle with Florida. The Gators whipped the Tigers last year down in the swamp. Lose between the hedges, and that game loses a lot of significance. Somehow, I think LSU head coach Les Miles will not let his team lose focus. The Bulldogs put up a 52 spot on the board last year when Georgia came to Baton Rouge. How is that for motivation?

Nothing beats a fall showdown between two ranked teams from the BEST conference. This game could be one of the best of the year in the SEC. And it is most definitely the best game this weekend!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Future of the Home Field Advantage Debate – Home is Where the Heart REALLY Is

August 26, 2009

Read the debate intro and read Bleacher Fan’s argument that games should move to other venues to bring in more revenue .

If there was ever a debate that fit my persona, this is it. Don’t you agree? My name is Loyal Homer, and I want the games in my home stadium!!! Duh!

Georgia and Florida battle it out in Jacksonville, and major SEC East implications, if not national title implications, are on the table almost every year. The same goes for The Red River Shootout (excuse me, the Red River Rivalry) between Oklahoma and Texas. Increasingly each year, Georgia (possibly because they have lost 16 of the past 19 to the Gators at a “neutral” site) has suggested they would not mind having the game rotating between Athens and Gainesville, just like any other conference game. As a true “Homer” this is the best option to me.

College football is meant to be played on a college campus or at a university’s home stadium. It is not meant to be played at a neutral site. This is not the Super Bowl! Often times, these games have major implications, both nationally and within the conference.

College football is a huge revenue machine not only for the university. Each team represents the city, and often times a small community. Yes, there are some universities – like USC and UCLA – that are located in or around big cities. But, often time’s universities are located in smaller towns. Schools are the bread and butter of what makes these towns relevant. Would anyone know anything about Stillwater, Oklahoma if it weren’t for Oklahoma State? How about Athens, Georgia (University of Georgia)? Gainesville, Florida (University of Florida)? Corvallis, Oregon (Oregon State)? Lubbock, Texas (Texas Tech)? The list goes on and on. These towns somewhat shut down when their teams are playing on Saturdays in the fall in their town. If you are not at the game, you are at a local sports bar watching the game or you are grilling out at a friend’s house with the game on the big screen (just typing this makes me ready for Opening Week!!!!!!!!)

After the game many fans go out to eat with the family to celebrate the big victory. Maybe a group of buddies heads over to High Street after an Ohio State game to discuss the game and have a cold beer. It is that “hometown” feel that you do not necessarily get when playing in a foreign city at a neutral site.

A home site also gives each team a better chance to win, at least every other year. I am not convinced that Florida has a better chance to win the World’s Largest Cocktail Party just because it doesnot have to travel as far. Both teams sleep in foreign beds the night before the same game. I am similarly not convinced Texas has a better chance to defeat Oklahoma just because Austin is closer to Dallas than Norman. What playing at home does do, however, is give each team a significant advantage every other year. When Florida travels to Athens, Georgia has the advantage. Conversely, when Georgia traveled to Gainesville, the Gators have the advantage.

The point is that each team deserves to play in front of its home fans AT home for every home game. Home truly is where the heart is. And the heart of each college football team is at HOME! The hometown deserves it. The hometown needs it. And most especially, Loyal Homer wants it!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Most Devastating NFL Injury Debate – The Colts Go As Peyton Goes

August 24, 2009

Read Sports Geek’s argument that Big Ben is someone the Steelers cannot lose to injury while Bleacher Fan argues that the Ravens cannot afford to lose Ed Reed.



Most teams have played two pre-season games to this point, with two more following in the next couple of weeks. The third pre-season game traditionally showcases the starters for at least a half, while the fourth and final game is basically a showcase for the reserves and the guys trying to make the team. Excited yet? I’m sure excited! What is not exciting is the thought of a star player going down due to injury. Which NFL team can least afford to lose their superstar? After careful deliberation, I have decided that the Indianapolis Colts can ill afford to lose quarterback Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning has been a star in the league ever since he was drafted first overall by the Colts back in the 1998 NFL Draft. He is a beloved figure in the league. People in SEC country absolutely love him. You will even hear Gator fans and Bulldog fans say they have the utmost respect for Manning. Loyal Homer’s mother, who was born and raised in Georgia and is an avid Georgia Bulldog fan, will root for Peyton Manning against the Falcons and it drives me crazy!! The truth is you will not find many people who will say a negative comment about Manning.

In the NFL, Manning has been named MVP three times. Since starting as a rookie, Manning has an overall record of 124-68 (which includes a 7-8 record in the playoffs and a 3-13 record his rookie season.) The offense is built around him. Before the beginning of the 2008 season, Manning had surgery to remove an infected bursa sac in his left knee. The injury caused him to miss a good bit of training camp and all of pre-season. Did he struggle? No, not him individually. He actually won his third MVP.

This year could be one of Manning’s biggest challenges. Gone is longtime Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison. That is a big hole to fill, as Harrison has been with Manning since the beginning of the Manning Era. Also gone is former Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore. He has been Manning’s offensive coordinator for his entire career. Together, Moore and Manning developed the hurry up offense for the Colts. In this offense, the team skips the huddle and goes straight to the line. It is Manning’s responsibility to read the defense and call a play that he sees as a successful play. He audibles the play to the rest of the team through verbal and hand signals.

I am not sure any other quarterback in the NFL could do this. He is the unquestioned leader of the team. Can you honestly see Jim Sorgi running the hurry-up offense? That is exactly what would happen if Manning went down with an injury. Sorgi is to Manning what Jason Garrett was to Troy Aikman for years – nothing but a career backup. If Manning goes down, he takes the team down with him. They go from a Super Bowl contender to a mediocre team. Does another team take that much of a fall in a league built on parity. I think not!

If there is a team that cannot afford to have its star go down, it is the Indianapolis Colts.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Big East in the BCS Debate – No Guarantees for the Big East

July 14, 2009

Read the debate intro and Bleacher’s Fan’s argument that the Big East still deserves an automatic bid to a BCS bowl game.



This is sure to be a popular topic with our friends in the Northeast!

Sports Geek poses the question in today’s debate about whether or not the Big East is still deserving of its guaranteed BCS bid. I most definitely say NO!

Let’s take a look at last year (2008).

West Virginia came into the season as the team to beat, despite the fact that head coach Rich Rodriguez left for the supposedly greener pastures in Michigan. However, with the momentum from the 48-28 trouncing of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and the return of Pat White, things were still looking up in Morgantown. (On a side note, does a victory over Oklahoma in a BCS game really mean anything these days?)

But the Mountaineers struggled all season, and limped to a 9-4 record with a loss to an 8-5 North Carolina team in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

I will give Cincinnati credit. They won the Big East by going 11-3 – even with a loss to an average Virginia Tech team in the Orange Bowl – and finished the season ranked in the top 20. Head coach Brian Kelly has that team on the rise, and Sports Geek and I can stake claim to witnessing Kelly dominate Division II football earlier this decade when he was coaching Grand Valley State. But, winning the Big East in football is like Memphis winning Conference USA in basketball or like beating your two-year-old sister in a game of Madden on PlayStation 3. What have you really accomplished?

I would discuss Pittsburgh some, but year in and year out – especially since Dave Wannstedt came back to “save” the program – they have been inconsistent showing they are not yet ready for the big stage. They couldn’t even fill up Heinz Field for the season opener against Bowling Green (who they lost to, by the way). Only 45,063 showed up for the season opener. For the record, “Ketchup Field” has a capacity of 65,050.

Truth be told, I think the Big East is still living off of just one good performance this entire decade, the 2006 Sugar Bowl. West Virginia knocked off heavy favorite Georgia 38-35 in Atlanta (it wasn’t in New Orleans that year due to Hurricane Katrina) behind outstanding performances from White and running back Steve Slaton.

In 2007, West Virginia actually had a shot to play for the national championship. All the Mountaineers had to do was beat rival Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, at home in Morgantown, and it was likely they would play in the BCS Championship game. But, with all the pressure on them, West Virginia folded and lost 13-9. If WVU wins that game, and was able to win the championship that year, we would not be debating this issue.

The fact is that the Big East isn’t ready for prime time and that’s obvious from their recent history. I’m not even sure enough people in Big East country even care, outside of Morgantown. As far as attendance goes for the entire conference, the numbers don’t lie. The average attendance at a Big East game in 2008 was 42,995, with West Virginia averaging 58,085 to lead the conference. Four schools (Louisville, Connecticut, Syracuse, and Cincinnati) averaged less than 40,000 fans at each game. Folks, that’s terrible, and borderline embarrassing.

The Big East is undeserving of a BCS bid, and I think everyone outside of the Northeast agrees with me.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

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