Georgia Football: Bulldogs Fans Can Plan on 5 Years of SEC East Dominance

Since 2005, UGA fans had been waiting for an SEC East Championship game until last year's run that led them to a showdown with LSU. 

In 2006, UGA had a rookie quarterback named Matthew Stafford that led them to a Chick-Fil-A Bowl win against Virginia Tech.  In 2007, UGA was one win or favorable votes from playing for the National Championship. 

In 2008, UGA defeated Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl to finish the season.  In 2009, UGA beat future SEC team Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl.  In 2010, UGA lost to Central Florida and ended with a losing record of 6-7. 

Last year, UGA won the SEC East but lost to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl in triple overtime.  Last year was a sign of very good things to come, and UGA fans will not be disappointed in the next five years. 

There are several reasons that UGA will dominate the SEC East through the next half of this decade.

Coaching

This year, according to DogBytes Online, UGA is one of only 16 FCS teams that brings back all nine assistant coaches for the first time since 2004.  Coaching stability leads to better coaching, and everyone knows their role without having to be re-taught. 

For the first time in a long time, it appears UGA has the right coaches that really know what they are doing.  No other SEC East team can say the same thing as far as coaching stability.

Recruiting

When you're able to recruit some of the best rated running back recruits two years in a row, you're doing something right.  In the 2011 recruiting class, UGA was able to pull in Isaiah Crowell (No. 1 according to ESPN), and in 2012, they landed Keith Marshall (No. 2 according to ESPN).  

According to ESPN, UGA has 28 commitments this year already and only signed a total of 19 last year. The UGA staff has projected that they will sign up to 34 recruits this year, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and they are building a very stout recruiting class.  To win the SEC East, it is essential to have a top-tier recruiting class.

SEC Rivals are Down and Going Down

Florida had very dominating years during the Tim Tebow era, and UGA had a difficult time beating their rivals in Jacksonville during that time.  Florida's offense is trying to find an identity, and it doesn't look like it will be found anytime soon. 

Tennessee is still trying to fill the void Lane Kiffin left when he bolted to now current No. 1 AP poll USC of the west coast.  In fact, this may be Dooley's last year to turn Tennessee's program around or he may find himself on a very hot seat. 

South Carolina will be a good team this year again, but that is mostly due to a very good running back in Marcus Lattimore.  If Marcus Lattimore leaves this year for the NFL, South Carolina will go back to being mediocre, and the Ol' Ball Coach will run out of patience. 

Florida's, Tennessee's and South Carolina's futures look suspect at best.

Momentum

Winning leads to more winning.  Winning leads to more confidence and makes the good players want to stay one more year to do something special. 

Jarvis Jones was projected as a first-round draft pick last year for the NFL draft.  However, he felt there was something special in Athens and this team has a chance to win it all.  To win it all, you have to win the SEC East and the SEC, and then you have a great chance to get to the National Championship.

Expectations

This year, UGA is ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP and coaches' polls for a reason.  The Bulldogs are expected to have a very successful season, and anything less than an SEC East championship would be a disappointing season. 

The coaches, the players, the fans and even the incoming recruits can see what this UGA football program has right now.  A reign of success in winning the SEC East this year and the next four are very likely.