Georgia athletics: The to do list for the next year

PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: The Georgia Bulldogs cheerleaders (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The 2017-18 Georgia athletics season is winding down. Football is over, basketball season is about to end. Baseball and softball are the only major sports still in competition.

Georgia athletics has accomplished a lot in the last year. Georgia football won the SEC Championship, the Rose Bowl, played for a National Championship and signed a no. 1 recruiting class. And Georgia women’s basketball is returning to their former glory.

But there’s still a lot that needs to happen before we can say “it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog” for every sport. So here’s a checklist of things that Georgia athletics need to accomplish in the next year that will put the Bulldog Nation on top of the college sports world.

1. Hire a new basketball coach

Mark Fox hasn’t been fired yet, but following a 16-14 disaster of a season, Georgia basketball might as well be on the market for a new coach. But Greg McGarity shouldn’t just look to hire anyone with some degree of success. He needs to hit a home run with the next hire.

Eight SEC teams won 20 games this regular season. 11 have better records than Georgia. Georgia is getting left in the dust by the rest of the conference and that’s unacceptable. The Bulldogs need a proven winner as head coach. One that can also keep the some great basketball talent in the state from going elsewhere.

2. Develop linebackers and defensive backs in the spring

Georgia’s defense was dominant this past season, but it’s going to take some work to replicate that dominance in 2018. The Bulldogs have to replace three full-time starting linebackers, one part-time starting backer, and three starting defensive backs.

Clearly, developing linebackers and defensive backs to take over those starting roles is a priority for the spring. The only players who seem set to take over as starters in 2018 are outside linebacker DeAndre Walker, and cornerback Tyrique McGhee. Inside backer Natrez Patrick, cornerback Deandre Baker, and star J.R. Reed are the only returning starters.

After them, it’s open competition. Front runners for the final positions are probably ILB Nate McBride, OLB Walter Grant, free safety Richard LeCounte III, and strong safety Deangelo Gibbs. But I could definitely be wrong with talented players like Jaden Hunter, William Poole III, Monty Rice and others on campus.

3. Success in baseball and softball

It’s been too long since Georgia baseball had success and other SEC teams have won national titles in softball recently. This spring, Georgia baseball and softball need to build to being annual national title competitors again.

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Softball is a lot closer than baseball, so an SEC Championship should be on their minds at the very least. For baseball, they haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2011 and have not won the SEC since 2008. Four SEC teams have won the College World Series since then, five have played in the finals. Just like in basketball, it’s unacceptable that we’re letting other SEC teams pass us.

4. Win the SEC Championship in football

Back to football, and this one’s a no-brainer. Georgia football needs to continue to control the SEC if we are to be the powerhouse program we want. The Bulldogs are clear favorites to win the SEC East again and will likely play Alabama in a rematch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Revenge and a win over Alabama will prove that Georgia is not afraid of the prosperity.

5. Dominate non-conference basketball schedule

With a new men’s basketball coach, and the women coming off a great season, both need to parlay that into a dominant non-conference schedule to start the 2018-19 season off right.

6. Win National Championship in football

After winning the SEC, Georgia football will return to the College Football Playoff to play in either the Orange or the Cotton Bowl. Georgia needs to win that game to return to the National Championship Game, which takes place at Levis Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. And then it’s time to bring the National Championship back to Athens, Georgia.

7. Sign another no. 1 recruiting class

A National Championship should directly lead to another no. 1 recruiting class. Georgia currently has the no. 2 class nationally and the no. 1 in class in the SEC for 2019 according to 247 Sports. With the control that Kirby Smart has over talent in the state of Georgia, a no. 1 class is obtainable.

8. Win the SEC Championship in Woman’s basketball

After football season ends, the next championship for UGA needs to some from the women’s basketball team. The Lady Dawgs have improved a ton under head coach Joni Taylor, but they still have not won the SEC Tournament since 2001. That drought needs to end in 2019.

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9. Men’s basketball secure a first round bye in SEC Tournament

The last thing on Georgia’s to do list for the next calendar year is to show improvement in men’s basketball by securing a first round bye in the SEC Tournament. The top four teams get bye’s in the first two rounds and it’s unrealistic to ask a new coach to bring that much improvement.

But Georgia basketball absolutely needs to stay away from the bottom four of the conference. And we should probably ask for more than just a first round bye. The goal for Georgia basketball in 2018-19 should be to secure at least the no. 6 seed in the SEC Tournament.

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