Georgia does not deserve the Sugar Bowl

[HooahVol]

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there are now a baker’s dozen UGA players who have been confirmed will be sidelined for the postseason game. Of those 13, a dozen are on the two-deep depth chart. Six of them, three on each side of the ball, are starters. I think this just shows how Kirby sells his program. It is a playoff or bust mentality and has nothing to do with loyalty to the University. Maybe UGA needs to remember they have not won a National Championship since 1980 and realize the Sugar Bowl is their ceiling and they should treat it with a little more respect.

I realize this post is grumpier than most of mine, I think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. But the point is still valid.

 

[Orange931]

They’re getting the big head just like Bama. They think they automatically belong, when everybody else knows you have to earn your way in. Neither of those teams are better than anyone else and can be beaten anytime. Nothing lasts forever.

 

[LouderVol]

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there are now a baker’s dozen UGA players who have been confirmed will be sidelined for the postseason game. Of those 13, a dozen are on the two-deep depth chart. Six of them, three on each side of the ball, are starters. I think this just shows how Kirby sells his program. It is a playoff or bust mentality and has nothing to do with loyalty to the University. Maybe UGA needs to remember they have not won a National Championship since 1980 and realize the Sugar Bowl is their ceiling and they should treat it with a little more respect.

I realize this post is grumpier than most of mine, I think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. But the point is still valid.

if UT was going to playoffs no one here would complain about players not being loyal to Tennessee and sticking for their 4th year.

 

[Zues1]

if UT was going to playoffs no one here would complain about players not being loyal to Tennessee and sticking for their 4th year.

 

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

Georgia is a 2nd tier program, they have no right or reason to ever believe it's "National Championship or bust" because that's not where they are or have been in the college football hierarchy.

 

[Model12]

I hate georgia.

That is all.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Georgia is a 2nd tier program, they have no right or reason to ever believe it's "National Championship or bust" because that's not were they are or have been in the college football hierarchy.

I will actually agree with you on something. They are now acting like they are too good for the Sugar Bowl... when that is a step above where they have consistently been the last 30 years. They are the spoiled 16 year old who complains when dad buys him a Mustang instead of a Mercedes.

 

[CR-vol]

Who can blame these guys for not playing in a meaningless Sugar Bowl game? It's not worth it. This is what the playoffs did to other bowl games. If we ever work back to relevancy again we'll have lots of guys sitting out of meaningless bowl games too. It's a business decision.

 

[jason3713]

Is there a little bit of collapse going on at Georgia right now? I know they are bringing in another huge recruiting class but.

They have like 15 players sitting out of the bowl game. Some are injuries, three are sitting out to get ready for the draft and like 7 more for unknown reasons. You usually don’t sit out a game as big as the sugar bowl for the draft and what’s going on with the other 7 that they aren’t giving reasons? Is this the first chinks in the armor, well besides the fact he can’t coach in big games.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Who can blame these guys for playing in a meaningless Sugar Bowl game? It's not worth it. This is what the playoffs did to other bowl games. If we ever work back to relevancy again we'll have lots of guys sitting out of meaningless bowl games too. It's a business decision.

I don't agree with this. Georgia played West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2006. The game had no zero national championship ramifications. Texas and USC were playing for the BCS Championship in the Rose Bowl two days later. They were both undefeated and the clear cut #1 vs #2 teams in the country. No other bowl game was "meaningful" as far as the National Championship was concerned. And yet, none of Georgia's starters who were healthy, sat out the game. In most years, during the BCS era, this was the case (except for 2003 and 2004). Having a number of major bowl games with zero national championship ramifications is nothing new. Having healthy starters sitting out their team's major bowl games is. The college football playoff isn't to blame. This reflects a change in culture.

 

[Leeleesteeth]

Kirby was the shiny new toy. Georgia always thinks they are entitled to be champions without earning it first. Kirby is a better recruiter than Richt but no better at developing players or handling big games. Expect to see an uptick in off season issues and transfers. Screw them.

 

[Zues1]

No, nothing going on at Georgia. Nothing has changed they are still a 9/10 win type team that chokes. Carry on.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Who can blame these guys for not playing in a meaningless Sugar Bowl game? It's not worth it. This is what the playoffs did to other bowl games. If we ever work back to relevancy again we'll have lots of guys sitting out of meaningless bowl games too. It's a business decision.

No they didn't. Nobody has really cared that much about pre-NYD bowls for a long time. What made the bowls "meaningless" is making it so every .500 team has one to go to.

Also, maybe we should go back to the 1930s when bowl games were literally meaningless.

 

[Volanta]

Interesting

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I don't agree with this. Georgia played West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2006. The game had no zero national championship ramifications. Texas and USC were playing for the BCS Championship in the Rose Bowl two days later. They were both undefeated and the clear cut #1 vs #2 teams in the country. No other bowl game was "meaningful" as far as the National Championship was concerned. And yet, none of Georgia's starters who were healthy, sat out the game. In most years, during the BCS era, this was the case (except for 2003 and 2004). Having a number of major bowl games with zero national championship ramifications is nothing new. Having healthy starters sitting out their team's major bowl games is. The college football playoff isn't to blame. This reflects a change in culture.

It's basically capitalism/economics catching up and taking the next step. It used to be people were outraged when players didn't finish their 4 years of eligibility; now players/agents/etc. have started to take it further.

Personally instead of people complaining about it happening, they probably should be thankful it's taken this long to happen. I mean coaches have been doing this stuff for decades now and nobody really complained that much.

 

[vols 30]

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there are now a baker’s dozen UGA players who have been confirmed will be sidelined for the postseason game. Of those 13, a dozen are on the two-deep depth chart. Six of them, three on each side of the ball, are starters. I think this just shows how Kirby sells his program. It is a playoff or bust mentality and has nothing to do with loyalty to the University. Maybe UGA needs to remember they have not won a National Championship since 1980 and realize the Sugar Bowl is their ceiling and they should treat it with a little more respect.

I realize this post is grumpier than most of mine, I think I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. But the point is still valid.

Probably a NFL or bust mentality by the players more than anything

 

[CR-vol]

I don't agree with this. Georgia played West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2006. The game had no zero national championship ramifications. Texas and USC were playing for the BCS Championship in the Rose Bowl two days later. They were both undefeated and the clear cut #1 vs #2 teams in the country. No other bowl game was "meaningful" as far as the National Championship was concerned. And yet, none of Georgia's starters who were healthy, sat out the game. In most years, during the BCS era, this was the case (except for 2003 and 2004). Having a number of major bowl games with zero national championship ramifications is nothing new. Having healthy starters sitting out their team's major bowl games is. The college football playoff isn't to blame. This reflects a change in culture.

Back in the BCS era there was always the shot of a split title to be claimed if the chips fell oddly. With the playoffs that will never happen. And these guys sitting out is not limited to just Georgia although they are a little extreme on that. Alabama had guys sit out the Citrus Bowl. It's the same scenario. The Citrus Bowl is just as meaningless for Alabama as the Sugar Bowl is for Georgia. There's no point in these guys risking injury in meaningless bowl games. You can't blame them. Look from their point of view instead of a fan's.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Is there a little bit of collapse going on at Georgia right now? I know they are bringing in another huge recruiting class but.

They have like 15 players sitting out of the bowl game. Some are injuries, three are sitting out to get ready for the draft and like 7 more for unknown reasons. You usually don’t sit out a game as big as the sugar bowl for the draft and what’s going on with the other 7 that they aren’t giving reasons? Is this the first chinks in the armor, well besides the fact he can’t coach in big games.

Well, one thing is very clear. You're severely afflicted with Georgianism.

Georgia, Georgia
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
(Georgia on my mind)

Take two of these and call us in the morning.

 

[CR-vol]

No they didn't. Nobody has really cared that much about pre-NYD bowls for a long time. What made the bowls "meaningless" is making it so every .500 team has one to go to.

Also, maybe we should go back to the 1930s when bowl games were literally meaningless.

I'm not saying bowl games are meaningless for fans. I love bowl games. But for players it's different. It's stupid to risk injury in a bowl game and lose that NFL paycheck.

 

[BowlBrother85]

If there was ever a college football player who should not have played in his team's bowl game... it was Peyton Manning in the '98 Orange Bowl vs Nebraska. He was going to be the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and he was also hurt. He had suffered a torn bursa sac in the SEC Championship Game vs Auburn. Michigan had already finished undefeated the day before ... so Tennessee no longer had a shot at the National Championship at the time of the game. However, Peyton still played (not particularly well, but that is beside the point). He played. That is what a competitor who cares about his team does when he can. Did it have a negative impact on Peyton's NFL career? No, it didn't and it wouldn't to these guys sitting out tonight either.

 

[CrybabyVol]

Is there a little bit of collapse going on at Georgia right now? I know they are bringing in another huge recruiting class but.

They have like 15 players sitting out of the bowl game. Some are injuries, three are sitting out to get ready for the draft and like 7 more for unknown reasons. You usually don’t sit out a game as big as the sugar bowl for the draft and what’s going on with the other 7 that they aren’t giving reasons? Is this the first chinks in the armor, well besides the fact he can’t coach in big games.

Not just being anti-Georgia just to be anti-Georgia with this supposition (who needs a reason though), but I would guess that the players sitting out for unspecified reasons did something illegal/against teams rules/general doghouse in conjunction with each other and Smart is sitting them for a meaningless game. Sometimes those things are explained after.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Back in the BCS era there was always the shot of a split title to be claimed if the chips fell oddly. With the playoffs that will never happen. And these guys sitting out is not limited to just Georgia although they are a little extreme on that. Alabama had guys sit out the Citrus Bowl. It's the same scenario. The Citrus Bowl is just as meaningless for Alabama as the Sugar Bowl is for Georgia. There's no point in these guys risking injury in meaningless bowl games. You can't blame them. Look from their point of view instead of a fan's.

That is not true. There wasn't "always" a shot at a split title. The coaches were locked into voting for the winner of the BCS Championship Game and the writer's could vote separately, but there was only a split champion one time - in 2003 (USC and LSU). There could have been a split champion in 2004, because Auburn also went undefeated, but that didn't happen.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Back in the BCS era there was always the shot of a split title to be claimed if the chips fell oddly. With the playoffs that will never happen. And these guys sitting out is not limited to just Georgia although they are a little extreme on that. Alabama had guys sit out the Citrus Bowl. It's the same scenario. The Citrus Bowl is just as meaningless for Alabama as the Sugar Bowl is for Georgia. There's no point in these guys risking injury in meaningless bowl games. You can't blame them. Look from their point of view instead of a fan's.

Can't the AP award their NC to someone else if they want, just like the BCS?

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I'm not saying bowl games are meaningless for fans. I love bowl games. But for players it's different. It's stupid to risk injury in a bowl game and lose that NFL paycheck.

Oh I don't disagree; personally I'm surprised it took this long for them to start coming to these decisions.

 

[gule]

jmho but if the players have declined to participate in the bowl game practices and game they should be removed from football program. Stop feeding them, schooling(tutors) them and drop their scholarships.