ATHENS, Ga. - Mark Richt has won many more games than he's lost since becoming Georgia's football coach in 2001, but he hasn't been perfect.
Except, that is, against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs will venture to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday seeking their eighth win in eight tries there under Richt. Georgia is 7-1 at Vanderbilt and 6-1 at Kentucky in Richt's 15 seasons, but those two programs haven't had the same sustained success as the Yellow Jackets, who are missing out on a bowl this year for the first time since 1996.
"I can't really pinpoint why that is," Georgia sixth-year guard Kolton Houston said. "I just know that our guys really get up for this game. It's a hate game, and I think everybody on our team really doesn't care for them. We all want to beat them pretty bad."
Richt essentially was hired to beat Georgia Tech after the Yellow Jackets won a third straight time over Jim Donnan's Bulldogs in 2000. Donnan had guided Georgia to a 35-13 record in his final four seasons but had struggled against Tech, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee.
Georgia stunned Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in 2001 - the famous "Hobnail Boot" game - and Richt ended his first regular season with the No. 19 Bulldogs defeating the No. 21 Jackets 31-17 in Atlanta. If that didn't endear himself to Bulldogs fans, then a Southeastern Conference title and a 51-7 rout of Tech at Sanford Stadium in 2002 certainly did.
The Bulldogs won 34-17 in Atlanta in 2003, prevailed 14-7 in 2005 and won 31-17 in 2007.
"I don't remember many games that weren't close," Richt said. "I think they've all been close. I don't know. We just try to line up and play ball and try to win the darn game no matter where we're at. I don't think much about whether we're at home or away."
Georgia's biggest win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta occurred in 2009, a year after the Jackets had stung the Bulldogs 45-42 in Athens. The Bulldogs entered the 2009 matchup with a 6-5 record and coming off a home loss to Kentucky, while the Jackets were ranked No. 7 and headed for the ACC title game.
Behind a combined 349 rushing yards from tailbacks Caleb King and Washaun Ealey, the Bulldogs pulled off a 30-24 upset.
The 2011 matchup was Georgia's third 31-17 win at Tech under Richt, and the Bulldogs prevailed 41-34 in double overtime two years ago. The Bulldogs trailed 20-0 in the second quarter of that game but rallied behind tailback Todd Gurley, who scored on touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, first overtime and second overtime.
"It's right down the road, and obviously it's a rivalry game," Bulldogs senior tackle John Theus said. "It's not a far trip, and everyone is familiar with the area. Coach Richt does a great job of getting us ready for this game. He stresses the importance of it, and it means a lot to him personally."
Bulldogs fans typically can comprise half the crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium, giving it a smaller but similar feel as the evenly divided Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville. Richt has not enjoyed the same success in Jacksonville, losing the last two meetings and 10 of 15 overall since his arrival.
"Florida's had good teams throughout the years," Theus said. "They're always tough to play, but for whatever reason, we've been much more successful in Atlanta."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.