Georgia Bulldogs coach Mark Richt doesn't want to call this week's game against the SEC East favorite South Carolina Gamecocks (on ESPN at 4:30 pm ET, Sept. 10) a must-win. He says it's a very important game. It's important enough for the Bulldogs to take the field in the same red helmets they wore all throughout the 1980 season instead of Nike's pant-hats.
Reading comments made by Dawgs players, you start to get the sense of just how important it is. An Athens empire could very much be at stake this Saturday. Even though the schedule lines up beautifully after these brutal opening weeks, an 0-2 start could push a fragile fan base so far that it would take an undefeated sprint from there on out to save the coach's job.
As for the game, UGA fans can't hope Steve Spurrier keeps whirling quarterbacks in and out of the Cocks huddle. Stephen Garcia may not grade well in practice, but last Saturday he showed he's the best quarterback on his team, in his state and maybe in the Southeastern Conference. The standard assortment of weapons joins him, and the Bulldogs will have to hope their run defense is better than it was last year (not to mention hope their pass defense is better than it was last week).
Bacarri Rambo's return will help, as may Cartlton Thomas', but the Dawgs will still be without starting linebacker Alec Ogletree.
For more, head to Georgia blog Dawg Sports.