In 1979 the University of Georgia, under the direction of longtime head coach Vince Dooley, brought in an unsightly 6-5 record. The program was yet to be established as a consistent powerhouse of southern football, and was in near need of a change.
That change came within the 1979 recruiting class. In the ’79 class was future Heisman trophy and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Herschel Walker (below, left). A native of Wrightsville Ga., Walker was the national high school scholar athlete of the year and No. 1 running back in the country.
With Walker’s help, the Georgia Bulldogs became the 1980 college football National Champions. He set a freshman record, rushing for 1,616 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading Georgia to a 12-0 record. Walker also finished third in the Heisman voting.
The change Georgia had been looking for didn’t come in reconstructing the coaching staff or firing Dooley, it came within the coaches recruiting efforts.
Fast forward 30 years to Jan. 1, 2011. Mark Richt has taken over the head coaching duties at Georgia, compiling a 96-34 record as head coach of the Dawgs. He’s had six double digit win 
seasons, including a 13-1 2002 record, but the Bulldogs are less than a day removed from an embarrassing 10-6 loss to Central Florida in the 2010 Liberty Bowl.
In today’s college football world, you’re only as good as your last game and, in Richt’s case, season. As it happens to be, that doesn’t translate into a whole lot of praise for Richt and the Bulldogs, who finished the 2010 season with a 6-7 record, the first losing season for Georgia since 1996. The Liberty Bowl loss was just salt to a bleeding wound.
The program was in need of another change. Richt had lost the state, the team and the loyal fans that supported him throughout his tenure. Many called for the firing of their head coach. Those fans wouldn’t get their wish, though. Richt’s job wasn’t in jeopardy, not yet.
Fast forward to Feb. 2, 2011, now, it’s college football National Signing Day. Richt and the Georgia coaching staff has just assembled a recruiting class that ranks within the best in the country. They’ve also pulled in the nation’s No. 1 running back and Georgia native, Isaiah Crowell (below).
The class is a mix of much needed defensive stalwart’s and explosive offensive stars. They’ve dominated within state lines, landing 20 recruits from the Peach State. Four out of the top five players from Georgia choose the Dawgs, including Crowell and five star defensive end Ray Drew.
The change Richt and the University of Georgia fan base had been in need of came from 26 signatures through a fax machine.
What happened to the mob of fans calling for the firing of Richt? What happened to football analysts dropping their faith and any hope whatsoever for the near future of the Georgia program? The power of college football recruiting, that’s what happened.
It’s the reason fans flock to national recruiting sites hourly. The reason magazines are dedicated to it and the reason ESPN delivered 10 straight hours of it on National Signing Day. What the Georgia fan base, team and coaches all experienced was the power of recruiting in its finest.
“This is my dream team,” Richt told reporters. “This is our dream team at the University of Georgia.”
With few victories throughout the 2010 season, perhaps the biggest win for Georgia came on signing day. The tireless work coaches put into a talented instate group of prospects paid off, as Crowell and Drew should contribute immediately. Other top Georgia products such as tight end Jay Rome, safety Corey Moore and corner Malcolm Mitchell look to be future stars. They also grabbed their quarterback of the future in North Carolina product, Christian LeMay.
Perhaps the biggest win for Georgia on signing day was in not losing any instate 
recruits to top rivals, Florida and Georgia Tech. They lost few to other SEC powers, who in years past have grazed the state pulling away its top recruits.
Richt solidified the trenches, singing five offensive lineman and four defensive lineman. He shored up the Bulldogs weak secondary, signing seven defensive backs. Heck, they even signed a long snapper.
Three days after signing day, Richt pulled off another major catch, inking four star junior college defensive tackle, Jonathan Jenkins. A massive 6-foot-4, 340-pound space eater, perfect for the center of the Dawgs 3-4 defensive system.
ESPN ranked the Bulldogs class No. 6 nationally. Rivals and Scout ranked the class No. 5 and No. 7, respectively. From top to bottom the class was dominant, but the biggest catch came when Crowell chose the Bulldogs in front of a National TV audience. Crowell took the commitment a step further, pulling out a Bulldog puppy resembling Georgia mascot, Uga.
Herschel Walker even gave Richt and the Bulldogs some praise through Twitter.
“How about that Dawgs ‘Dream Team’ Coach Mark Richt recruited? We finally kept our Georgia boys at home. Nice job Coach.”
A National Championship for the 2011 Georgia Bulldogs may seem like a bit much to ask for in this day and age of college football. Don’t forget that Auburn, who won the 2010 National Championship, brought in just an 8-5 record in 2009, though.
The comparisons between the impact Walker had on the 1980 Georgia team and impact Crowell can have on the 2011 team are sure to come. Why wouldn’t they? Look at the impact No. 1 running back Marcus Lattimore had on South Carolina last year in his freshman season.
Georgia ranked No. 73 in the country in rushing yards a game last season, ninth in the SEC. It’s no secret they was in need of a much needed change at running back, especially with the recent suspension of running back Washaun Ealey. Crowell adds that boast.
So, fast forward, it’s January, 2012. The Bulldogs are fresh off of their 2011 season. How is the story going to be written?
Photos:
Walker - John Iacano/SI, Crowell – Fox Sports
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