Moments of Greatness - The Richt Era

Verron Haynes Winning Touchdown Against Tennessee 2001
A half-dozen years have passed since Verron Haynes joined the sideline huddle in Knoxville, Tenn., and heard Mark Richt give quarterback David Greene the play that would bring the new Bulldogs coach a signature victory - and a certain piece of immortality to the fullback who would catch the winning touchdown pass.

Michael Johnson Touchdown Against Auburn to Clinch the SEC East Title 2002
Nov. 16, 2002, Auburn, 24-21: Trailing 21-17 with only 1:25 on the clock, David Greene lobbed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Michael Johnson, who leaped over a defender in the left corner of the end zone. It clinched the SEC championship for Mark Richt and put the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl, where they defeated Florida State 26-13.


Dawgs Win the SEC Title 2002
With the SEC East title in hand, the Bulldogs played with a newfound confidence to end the season. They drubbed Georgia Tech 51-7 in Athens, the most lopsided win in the history of the series, and then crushed Arkansas 30-3 in the SEC Championship game, giving the school its first SEC crown since 1982. Richt would go on to defeat his mentor, Bowden and Florida State, 26-13 in the Sugar Bowl, giving Georgia a 13-1 record and No. 3 national ranking in both polls.

Bruce Thornton Interception Return Touchdown to Win Sugar Bowl 2002

LSU 2004

Georgia Ends Losing Streak against Florida in 2004
Greene threw three touchdown passes, including a big one in the fourth quarter, and No. 10 Georgia snapped a six-game losing streak against the Gators, 31-24.

Resounding Win Against LSU in 2005 SEC Title Game
Playing in their third SEC Championship game in four years, the Bulldogs ambushed 3rd-ranked LSU, jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead and from there cruising to an easy 34-14 win, giving Richt his second SEC title at Georgia.

Tony Taylor Georgia tech 2006
Georgia's Tony Taylor dives into the end zone to score after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter of a football game against Georgia Tech in Athens, Ga, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006.



Bryan McClendon Punt Block against Arkansas 2002
Then Georgia went back to the future. The Bulldogs blocked a punt deep in LSU territory to set up a touchdown just like they did in the Bulldogs' 30-3 title win over Arkansas in 2002. With Georgia ahead 14-7, Bryan McClendon shot through from the right side and blocked Chris Jackson's punt, giving the ball to Georgia at the LSU 15. McClendon's block led to a 7-yard Shockley touchdown run in which he and stepped out of a tackle by LaRon Landry at the 5 and glided into the end zone. The Bulldogs glided comfortably to the SEC title.

David Pollack's Legendary Punt Block against South Carolina in 2002
South Carolina, which finished with 371 yards but didn't score in the first three quarters, then drove the ball from its 25 to the Bulldogs' 2, where it had a fourth-and-1. But David Pollack forced South Carolina quarterback Corey Jenkins into an early option pitch, which fullback Andrew Pinnock dropped. Thomas Davis recovered for Georgia at the 4-yard line to seal the Georgia win.South Carolina did them one better late in the first half Pinnock fumbled on first-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Georgia's David Pollack recovered. The teams combined for four turnovers in the first half.