quote:
They have “elite” talent but haven’t won the respect of the nation. They have choked every time. They are quickly becoming the Norte dame of the south - nobody wants to see them play on the big stage - they know the outcome. A loss.

UGA is not elite and neither is Notre Dame. UGA is closer to becoming "elite" than any program in the nation. UGA is as consistently VERY good as any program in the nation not named Alabama. The reason the rest of the SEC is obsessed with UGAs being not among the elite and 1980 and choking is because SEC fans are very smart CFB fans and they recognize how close UGA is to being truly elite. UGA is also about as bad at underachieving as a program can get.

I think most people would agree that currently Clemson and Alabama are elite. In their first 4 years as HC Sweeney was 36-18 with a 66.67% winning %. Saban was 43-11 with a 79.63% winning %. Smart is 44-12 with a 78.75% winning %.

Saban won a national title in that period. Smart was pretty damn close to doing so.

Sweeney's best finish in his first 4 years was #11. Saban teams averaged a #4.75 final ranking in that period. Sweeney teams averaged a #14.25 final finish in that period. UGA has averaged a final ranking of 3.25 during that period.

2 of 4 of Smarts losses in his first 4 years came against an Alabama team who either won a national title or played for one and 2 were against LSU in what is arguably one of the best if not the best season ever in college football history.

Saban averaged a recruiting class during this period ranked 4.25. Sweeney was at 14.25. Smart is at 3.25.

UGA is very close to being among the elite. UGA is not there yet but they are in pretty damn good company in the first 4 years of a new coaches tenure. I doubt anyone would seriously argue that Saban is the GOAT....Smart is far closer in his first 4 years to matching what Saban did in his first 4 at Alabama than they are to what Sweeney and Clemson did in their first 4 years, and no one argue that Sweeney and Clemson have been elite for a few years now. The fact that Smart has almost paced Saban in 4 years....not quite but close....and far outpaced Sweeney in his first 4 years is why the SEC is obssessed with UGA and 1980. UGA may never get over the hump but SEC fans ain't stupid...they know what is going on in Athens could be problematic.

The problem with all of this is UGAs recruiting has actually sucked given the QB situation this year and last. Yes, UGA had Fields on campus. But he ain't there now....for whatever reason. You gotta recruit players who want to be on your campus...Smart has failed to do that with QBs and given that CFB is ALL about QBs today Smart's recruiting and roster management is most definitely concerning. This alone is proof that UGA is not currently among the elite. If it is not corrected UGA will never be among the elite. If it is UGA will be....and that idea has the rest of the SEC obsessed with UGA.