So far we are only losing to the top teams - 4 of the top 8 in the country actually. I bet more than 95% of all teams in the country would have lost those same five games. Only Texas A&M and LSU have beaten any of those teams, other than them losing to each other. If UT had USC's schedule they very well could be 6-3 too. USC was preseason #1 and has lost to each ranked opponent they've played. With 2 more ranked to go the preseason #1 could easily end up 7-5 (same as UT potentially) while playing a much easier schedule. Is Lane Kiffin on the hot seat? How about Beamer at VT? Gee, he's 4-5 too, but in the ACC, after preseason rank in the top 15. If UT doesn't win out, I agree there needs to be serious consideration about going forward, but I think it's cheap and easy to talk trash right now.

Realistically, which of the four BCS top 8 teams should UT have beaten this season? Their fifth loss was to MSU, ranked 21 in the BCS. The team was very competitive in 3 of the 5 losses with legit chances of upsetting each of those ranked opponents. This is all with a new defensive scheme that when implemented at UGA a few years ago nearly cost Richt his job. With your expertise of the situation, going into the season which of these games did you truly expect UT to win? If none, then why all the drama and surprise that they are basically where you expected. An improved team that is not yet back to the top tier. Personally when I look around at teams going into the year with much higher and realistic expectations - Texas, WV, Auburn, Arkansas, USC - I see coaches who are not living up.

Weeks ago you wrote a column about how awful it would be for any school to hire Petrino because it would represent a winning is everything attitude where the ends justify the means. I agreed wholeheartedly. But each column since you have torn the UT program apart based solely on wins & loses (on the field and financial). Seems to me you don't really represent your original claim about the program making decisions based on more than Ws and Ls.

Nice. Welcome back.

I agree with the two above posts and believe this is more evidence that UGA should not be considered among the SEC elites and quite frankly no East team should be. The East will be wide open again next year and could go to Vandy or UT about as easily as UGA, USC or UF. Probably whichever team has the easiest road against the West is the winner.

Kind of a narrow look at the SEC and UT in my opinion based on this year's strength of schedule. UT played basically the top three teams in the country in a 5-week span, shoulda, coulda, woulda beat USC and then basically came up one loss short of predictions. Granted the loss to UK was a big one, but I'm more concerned about effort and focus than anything else from that. UGA skated through the West against the bottom dredges and only after Saturday will it be very clear if they truly belong in the top tier. USC is only slightly less shaky than normal and Jeffrey will not be back and Florida is a long way from that last national title. I think there is room in the East for any of the teams to be on top next season and again the secret will be avoiding the beasts of the West. Dooley is doing things right given the persistent problems the program has experienced back into the Fulmer days. Hopefully it will translate into winning sooner than later.

So the leader of the splinter hair-cutting group is named Mullet? Oh the irony!!!!

Jimmy likes the insight from the first, second and third person at the 5 at 10.

As a zoo supporter and FOZ member this is disappointing. These problems seem to have arisen with recent changes and now changes need to happen quickly so the issues are resolved, not appealed and written off. Continued good coverage of this problem will force the fixes.

I vow to fight pointless, unsolicited and intrusive phone calls at my home from pinhead politicians wanting to waste my time with their irritating drivel, regurgitated rhetoric and pandering. Check your do not call lists next time Chucky.