You don't want to end up like Tech, Dawgs!

Certainly Georgia fans across the state and country reveled when the Air Force/Georgia Tech Independence Bowl score went final at 14-7 in favor of the Falcons. Hopefully though the Georgia football players were paying attention to what the loss meant for Georgia Tech: a sub-.500 season. Georgia enters the Liberty Bowl against UCF at 6-6, just as Georgia Tech did; however while Paul Johnson can likely survive the school’s first losing record since 1996, a losing season for Bulldog coach Mark Richt would just turn the heat up even more entering a crucial 2011 season.

Mark Richt figures to be on the hotseat after two straight disappointing seasons following a 10-3 year in 2008 that started with a No. 1 preseason ranking. If Richt and the Dawgs drop the bowl game to a team that, despite winning its conference title, should not be able to hang on the field with Georgia, the Richt detractors will have even more ammo, and the new AD might have some as well to get a new coach in following the 2011 season.

Georgia has gotten spoiled under Richt during his time in Athens. He started out so hot, winning the Sugar Bowl in his second season and claiming two SEC titles in his first five years that he possibly raised his own bar too high. Georgia fans are not used to the losing under Richt and a sub-.500 season would not sit well with a fanbase that is hoping that Richt doesn’t become the new Tommy Bowden. For years the Clemson coach underachieved only to save his job at the very end of the year with a bit of a run, then following the run by snagging one heck of a recruiting class. Richt could be treading very close to that line as he is trying to lead Georgia to its sixth win out of the team’s final eight games while hauling in one heck of a recruiting class. Though at this point, I’d rather have a winning record than not.

At the end of the day, Georgia should be taking the Liberty Bowl seriously as the team’s 2011 momentum could be sent off-track before it even starts with a loss to UCF. The SEC East looks winnable, especially with Aaron Murray. It would be a shame if Georgia had to spend all off-season hearing about a sub-.500 season like its in-state rival will do. A win Friday is one thing that might make life a bit easier for Mark Richt and could help him get off of the hotseat by this time next season.