Maybe

With no game for Georgia this week, it would seem like a good time to take a look back over the first half of the 2014 season. Without rehashing each and every game, let’s try to remember just how we felt as this season has progressed.

Before the season, I think the general mood among Bulldog fans was one of optimism. There was hope for the defense with a new coordinator, there was excitement about having the best running back stable in the country, and we had been told that Hutson Mason was ready to lead Georgia to a title. All and all, things looked up after a disappointing, injury filled 2013 season.

Then the expectations went through the roof.

Georgia destroyed Clemson with a second half performance that was as good as any in the Richt era. All of a sudden, we were the team to beat in college football. South Carolina had an equally bad loss to Texas A&M, so there would be no doubt we would steam-roll the Gamecocks. It seems so obvious looking back, but Georgia was always going to get South Carolina’s best game, because their season was literally on the line.

After losing in Columbia, by an inch, Georgia was awful and would probably end up missing a bowl game. I don’t think there is a more fickle fan base in all of sports than Georgia’s. Over the next few games, Georgia would play well, but there were signs that when the season really got going, in October, Georgia would fall out of contention.

I will be honest and say that I thought this was going to be a 9-3 season after the mediocre performance against Tennessee.

Then our world fell apart. Gurley-Gate broke twitter along with the hearts of all Georgia fans. We were going to lose to Missouri and Arkansas, Gurley was never going to play again, and Georgia was doomed. Oh yeah, and fire Mark Richt, Mike Bobo, and even Greg McGarity.

The past two weeks have shown that this program is bigger than one player, and that this coaching staff isn’t all talk.

For years, Mark Richt has been labeled “Too nice to win.” Even this week I heard Georgia fans complaining that we were playing by a different set of rules than every other school in the nation. We bemoan our tough drug program that suspends players on their first failed drug test, because other schools wait until the second failed test.

Do you remember what Mark Richt said before the season? When asked why Georgia’s drug policy is so tough, Richt said that he loves each and every one of his players like they were his sons, and he doesn’t want his son doing drugs.

And that one comment shows you everything you need to know about Mark Richt and Georgia. Mark Richt isn’t going to cut corners to win. Mark Richt believes that if you follow the rules, hold players to a high standard, and do things the right way, then you will be successful. He should know about success, he is the longest tenured coach in America’s best conference.

No, he hasn’t won a national title, but he isn’t done yet.

Todd Gurley will most likely be reinstated before Georgia plays Florida next week. If Georgia can continue playing as well on defense as they have for the vast majority of this season, the Dawgs will be in position to do something very special this year.

All you could ask for when you enter November is a shot, and that is what Georgia has. The entire season is in front of them. If Georgia wins the rest of their games, they will be SEC Champions, and they will have a spot in the inaugural college football playoff.

There are plenty of obstacles on the way. Florida will be playing for nothing but pride in Jacksonville next week. Their coach is going to be fired, but Georgia managed to lose to Ron Zook a few times in Jacksonville, so anything is possible.

Kentucky is a much improved team who actually still controls its destiny in the SEC East. Georgia was lucky to win the last time they played in Lexington, and I witnessed Kentucky beat Georgia in that very stadium in 2006. Georgia will have to play well to win.

The Auburn game could shape up to be the biggest home game in Athens since the Blackout against Alabama in 2008. If Georgia and Auburn both come into the game with only one loss, then Athens, Georgia will be the center of the football universe on November 15^th. Beat Auburn, you clinch the SEC East, and then you have Charleston Southern and Tech before playing the SEC title game. A one loss Georgia team that wins the SEC title will make the playoff.

It is all right there. It won’t be easy, but it can happen. At this point, it should happen. Georgia was so close in 2012, maybe it is time.

Maybe, in a season where all seemed lost, Georgia will finally find the promise land.

Maybe doing the right thing in the Gurley situation will ultimately be a positive for this team, because it brought them together at just the right time.

Maybe, after 13 seasons, the best man coaching college football in America will finally get what he so richly deserves.

Maybe, in 2014, the nice guy will finish first.

Maybe.