The 10 Best Georgia Football Games in the Mark Richt Era

I'm no Bulldog pro. Wish I could say I was, but hey, I was born in '87. You can't blame me for missing what I wasn't born for.

But since my acceptance to the University of Georgia (which I currently attend), Bulldog football has rocketed to the top of my list of priorities—in the sporting world, at least.

Since I wasn't more than a twinkle in my father's eye in the Butts and Dooley Eras, I'll stick with what I know here: the 10 best games in UGA football since Mark Richt took the helm in 2001.

10. Georgia 31, Virginia Tech 24: Dec. 30, 2006 (Chick-Fil-A Bowl)

It wasn't an SEC Championship Game, nor a BCS Bowl. But the 2006 Chick-Fil-A Bowl wasn't a bad way to end the campaign.

The Dawgs fell behind quickly in the first half; they went into the locker room down 21-3. But the second half-hour was a different story.

Yes, Matthew Stafford had played well in prior games. But never had he looked so cool under pressure as he did in the Dome this night.

He set the Bulldogs up for 28 second-half points and had one TD pass to Martrez Milner.

9. Georgia 30, Arkansas 3: Dec. 7, 2002 (SEC Championship)

For the first time since 1982, Georgia became the SEC Champions. They crushed the Razorbacks both on the ground and through the air.

Musa Smith rushed for 106 yards, and David Greene passed for 237 on his way to the game's MVP award. A block punt, Billy Bennet's ridiculous kicking accuracy, and a sack by Boss Bailey further added to the excitement.

8. Georgia 20, South Carolina 16: Sept. 11, 2004

This come-from-behind road win gave the Bulldog nation high hopes for the rest of the season; it seemed further confirmation of their preseason No. 4 ranking.

Alas, the season was not meant to be all that outstanding by Georgia standards, but that doesn't take away from Greene's 213 passing yards and two second-half TD.

7. Georgia 34, LSU 14: Dec. 3, 2005 (SEC Championship)

So this one wasn't exactly a nail-biter. I for one can take pleasure in the occasional good old one-sided trampling.

By jumping out to a two-touchdown first-half lead, the Bulldogs were able to surprise the third-ranked Tigers.

Dual-threat quarterback D.J. Shockley both passed and ran it in, and Brandon Coutu used his titanium leg to boot in two field goals, including a 51-yarder.

6. Georgia 26, Alabama 23: Sept. 22, 2007

I remember distinctly the feeling I had in my gut during the overtime period of this critical regular-season matchup. It was less a nausea and more just a remarkable tightness.

After 'Bama tied the game up in regulation and kicked a field goal in OT to give them a three-point lead, it was clear what UGA had to do: score a touchdown to win the game.

And so Stafford aired it out to Mikey Henderson in the back left corner of the end zone, and I could again breathe.

5. Georgia 31, Florida 24: Oct. 30, 2004

Always a relief to break a streak, and that's exactly what happened here, as Georgia took down Florida for the first time in six years.

David Greene was his usual self, passing for 255. Defensive end David Pollack had two sacks, and tailback Danny Ware topped 100 yards, though the Dawgs continued to develop their "multi-headed" running attack.

4. Georgia 42, Florida 30: Oct. 27, 2007

Say what you will about the first-quarter touchdown celebration. You can call it a "big deal," like Urban Meyer, or you can win the game, as the Dawgs did.

UGA already had two SEC losses on the season and couldn't afford to drop another one as they headed into Jacksonville to face the prior year's national champs. Teams were starting to figure out Knowshon, though...

Oh well, he ran for 188 yards anyway. And Staff had three touchdown passes, and Tim Tebow ate plenty of turf.

3. Georgia 26, Tennessee 24: Oct. 6, 2001

For Bulldog fans, this one begins and ends with long-time broadcaster Larry Munson's call.

In his words, when Greene connected with Vernon Hayes for a touchdown with five seconds left in the fourth quarter to claim a comeback victory:

"We just stomped on their face with a hobnail boot."

The win was the highlight of Richt's first year in Athens.

2. Georgia 24, Auburn 21: Nov. 16, 2002

An eight-game win streak to start the season came to an abrupt end when Florida handled the Dawgs in '02, but UGA still had hopes to obtain the SEC East's ticket to the league championship game.

Those hopes gradually shrank as the Tigers led for the majority of the game and all but collapsed when Georgia screeched to a halt at fourth-and-14 in the fourth quarter, down 21-17.

But you know what? Greene found a way to get the ball in the endzone, popping the pigskin to Michael Johnson and booking the Dawgs a trip to the SEC Championship.

1. Georgia 45, Auburn 20: Nov. 10, 2007

The final score doesn't say what needs to be said about this game. You won't find what really needs expressing in the box score, either.

It was all about the emotion, the chill down the collective spine of Sanford Stadium when the Bulldogs stormed the field in brand-new black jerseys.

These death-dealers were there to keep SEC and national title dreams alive in the "Blackout" game.

Knowshon ran for over 100 on the ground and found the endzone twice, but Thomas Brown managed 81 and a TD of his own. Staff passed for 237, Sean Bailey caught for 96, and Mohammed Massaquoi reeled in a 58-yarder.

On the other side of the ball, linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Rennie Curran combined for 11 tackles.

In general, the entire school came together to win the team to the win, one crucial for a rampage of a season.