TAMPA — The Georgia football program and today’s Outback Bowl have something in common in the opinion of Bulldogs coach Mark Richt.
Each, he believes, is in a good place.
In Sunday’s final media session before this afternoon’s clash against Michigan State, Richt said the 10 wins attained by the Bulldogs this season have been good and that an 11th would be even better. Then he discussed the potential carryover effect for the 2012 season.
“We’re going to be in good shape as far as a bunch of guys who are going to be buying in 100 percent to what we’re doing,” Richt said. “When you get experienced players coming back and guys who have a taste of playing in the SEC championship game and not being able to finish, I think that gets you hungry for some more. I think we’ll be in good shape when we begin our offseason program.”
A victory over the Spartans would cap a five-win increase from last season’s 6-7 debacle. Richt oversaw a five-win improvement his first two seasons, when the Bulldogs went 8-4 in 2001 and 13-1 in ’02, and predecessors Jim Donnan (1996-97) and Ray Goff (1990-91) had five-win increases during their tenures as well.