Georgia Bulldogs: Mark Richt's Last Impression May Be His Most Important

Will Mark Richt and his Georgia Bulldog’s throw in the towel before their Dec. 5 showdown with LSU? It’s a safe bet that they won’t, but it might be something to consider.

Before the year began, all the talk in Athens centered on one topic: Should Richt be fired? Then, when the Bulldogs went on to open the season with back-to-back losses against Boise State and South Carolina, it intensified.

Now, however, the Bulldogs sit atop the SEC East with a record of 10-2 and have earned a shot at the coveted SEC Championship.

One could make the argument that Richt’s 2011 squad is a dramatic improvement over the Georgia teams of the past few years, and he did lead the team to its first SEC Championship game since 2005. But is Georgia really that much better than last years team, or is the rest of the SEC East that much worse?

Most people will overlook the fact that on their way to the SEC Championship, the Bulldogs beat a 5-7 Tennessee team, a 6-6 Florida team and lost to a 10-2 South Carolina team that couldn’t live up to its preseason hype.

Unfortunately for Richt, his last game of the season will take center stage as his Georgia Bulldogs meet the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship.

Although not a very bold prediction, I anticipate LSU will wipe the floor with the Bulldogs, and the game will very likely be over by mid-third quarter.  Is this really the last impression Mark Richt wants to leave before beginning what has the potential to be a very long offseason? Losing the last game of the season by 30 or more points could leave an unsettling taste in the mouths of the Bulldog faithful.

Sure, the Georgia football program rebounded this year, finally trumped its rival Florida and made it to the conference championship, but all people will remember is how the Bulldogs got stomped on by a bigger, faster, all around more talented LSU team.

In a, “What have you done for me lately?” type league, the most recent gift Mark Richt will have given his fanbase is a first-class ticket down the walk of shame.

Of course, who’s to say that the Bulldogs can’t pull out an upset against the No. 1 team in the land? After all, Richt was at the helm in 2005 when the Bulldogs defeated LSU 34-14 in the SEC Championship.

In fact, the Bulldog’s might catch LSU looking ahead to the BCS Championship. Is it that far fetched to think that the Tigers are already watching tape of the Nov. 5 game against Alabama in order to better prepare for the inevitable rematch? Sneaking up on Les Miles and company would be keeping an upset themed college football season intact and further adding to the disruption of the order of the BCS. But I for one do not see it happening.

Will these ‘Dawgs remain loyal to their best friend at the end of the season?   Probably, but the talk of Mark Richt being on the hot seat will not cease. He’s done enough to save his job for another year, but time is ticking away. In 2012, it’ll be win or go home for Mark Richt.