There’s too much comfort, too little accountability, at Georgia
Mark Richt needs to realize that the Georgia program can't survive on autopilot any longer. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC.com)
ATHENS — Smart coaches don’t go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning dumb. They don’t suddenly design bad plays, or create bad game plans, or recruit bad players.
They don’t suddenly forget how to prepare and motivate a group of young men (even if at times seemingly way too much energy is being spent worrying about the color of their helmets or jerseys).
Mark Richt is not dumb. He did not wake up one recent morning less of a football coach than he was when he led Georgia to two SEC titles. But by now he probably has realized something: He has to change. His methods have to change. Everything that might affect direction and atmosphere has to change.
Richt did not wake up dumb. But he did wake up to find the Bulldogs no longer rank as an elite program in the nation. Or in the SEC. Or in the state.
Things got too comfortable. The program has been on autopilot for too long. You watch the results — the Bulldogs are a shockingly pedestrian 10-7 since the Alabama debacle last season — and you see how Richt reacts, in that, “Don’t worry, it will all work out because it always does,” kind of way. Fans can’t help but wonder, “Where’s the fire? Where’s the anger?”
There’s also this question: Where’s the accountability?
The problems at Georgia are similar to those that can afflict any long-time success story. The Bulldogs have declined partly because they’ve grown stagnant. Autopilot doesn’t work in sports. It’s why coaches get fired so often, particularly in “emotion” sports like football and hockey. Old messages and old methods have a limited shelf life.
Georgia doesn’t need a new voice. It just Richt to raise his voice — or his foot. The program needs some tension.
Question: Do you think anybody in Gainesville or Tuscaloosa feels “comfortable”? Ever. Or do you believe like I do there is always some tension in the air? And do you believe like I do that the assistant coaches who work for Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, and the athletes who compete for them, always are on edge? There’s never a chance of things getting stale.
I don’t get that feeling at Georgia. Didn’t have it last year, either. There has been too much comfort. There has been too little accountability. Richt will tell you that he’s a different guy out of public view, that, “People who know me know I have an edge.”
Know what? I don’t want to have to go looking for it. If a team lacks an edge, the coach’s edge is buried too deep somewhere. Or it has been dulled like an old knife. That’s Georgia right now: no edge. The Dogs are like a dull, rusty old knife that really only works in the Vanderbilt game.
“If you’re going to be accused of something,” Richt said Tuesday, “being accused of being a nice guy is not the worst thing.”
Not really. Not if you’re losing.
Richt defended his resume at Athens, as he should. Then he took the appropriate detour: “It’s not like we’ve just been floundering around. [But] this year we have been, let’s face it. I don’t like it.”
It remains to be seen what he does about it. He can shake up his coaching staff. He can change his schemes and his approach to recruiting.
But the major changes need to be bigger picture. Coaches and players need to be worried more about playing to a standard. Fearing the head coach wouldn’t hurt. They’re sloppy. They’re undisciplined. That’s not talent. That’s coaching.
Where’s the accountability? Why don’t these problems exist at Florida or Alabama?
Mark Richt: Is anybody listening to you anymore? If not, why not?
Richt knows these issues can’t be fixed during the season. “It’s got to be more of a tweak than a wholesale change,” during the season, he said. “But [after] every season, you must reevaluate. You must.”
He’s not dumb. He should know where the problems start.
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423 comments Add your comment
Tide Rising
November 3rd, 2009
5:28 pm
Jeff,
A Georgia friend told me at the blackout game he knew UGA was in trouble before the game started. He said the dawg players were jumping around, looking and waving at the crowd, even dancing for pete’s sake as if they had already won the game. He then looked at the Bama players and they were intensely focused, listening to their coaches and paying attention. He knew at that point there was a problem. Seems that same problem is still persisting.
When I watch the dogs it seems that the team just doesn’t have focus or discipline. Some of the 15 yarders against UF were just dumb and it made you wonder what was wrong with the Georgia players. I think you hit the nail on the head. They are way too comfortable and maybe they need a kick in the pants or a no nonsense guy like Saban or Meyer to change the atmosphere.
Saban encountered that same type of “comfort” level when he came to Bama. What happened? There’s now no room for error or latitude or “comfort” either in the classroom or when you are competing for playing time. He ran off a lot of malcontents and has run off a few very highly recruited players because they didn’t have the focus he felt was necessary to be in his program. Before fall camp he ran off our starting jack linebacker Brandon Fanney because he had broken team rules. And this guy was a key returning starter and a senior.
Our quick rise back has a helluva lot more to do with the new attitude, focus, and even fear than it has to do with all the young talent freshman and sophomore talent. Yes. I did say and do mean fear. The players actually have some fear of screwing up and being asked to transfer.
A little fear can be a good thing.
SCJack
November 3rd, 2009
5:31 pm
Hey Jeff:
As any person in the business world knows, a company reflects and responds to the attitudes and actions of the organization’s management. If management is seen avoiding the unpleasantries of disciplining non-productive behavior or results by(let’s say just for kicks)promoting away the real issues(especially with raises and new,exotic titles)then the old adage of ‘flowing down hill’ kicks into gear from the VP level down to the lowest level employee. The results in business when this scenario is not adjusted are lower profits, lower stock prices, layoffs, and all the other real world niceties that come with a declining company. Did I mention that one could substitute UGA for company, UGA assistant coaches for VP and UGA football players for employees? Your article’s theme hits the real cause and the real cure if anyone will listen.
john
November 3rd, 2009
5:32 pm
“Finish the Drill” a tired motto that once stood for something…the motto going into the off season needs to be “Reinvent the drill” or take it back a step further to “Start the drill”
Tide Rising
November 3rd, 2009
5:33 pm
95dawg,
I didn’t see your post as I was writing mine. I’m a Bama fan but I do also follow the 2 local schools in UGA and Tech since I’ve lived here 20 yrs.
We both echo the same theme though along with Jeff’s theme on too much comfort. There needs to be some fear and accountability in Richt’s program for him to right the ship.
i'm swiss
November 3rd, 2009
5:34 pm
“A better comparison would to be to compare Richt to other active coaches in the 8-10-year range of their job.”
@ David Jones — Good point. I submit Phil Fulmer… Eh… Okay, now I’m depressed.
Curious
November 3rd, 2009
5:34 pm
I am Curious. I have never crossed over to the other blog however it is so interesting the changes in just two years. I am curious about Coach Right’s discussion about the differences between men and woman. He stated men wanted respect and women wanted love. Then he went on and stated Cox had respect in the locker room, as if to say he might be loved. I am just curious.
Carlton Powell
November 3rd, 2009
5:34 pm
Bob Horner stayed hurt;
Don’t mess with Mav and Goose. They definitely had the edge. And telling Ice the spot was theirs all along was just their way of proving it. Great to see you were paying attention!! You’re a good man!!
Sonny Clusters
November 3rd, 2009
5:36 pm
In baseball news, Jeff had thumb surgery today and we will be taking him some Dairy Queen treats over later. He’s taking it pretty good considering what a sore thumb did to Chipper earlier this year. As far as Mark Richt goes he reminds us of a beat writer that don’t get his facts straight and then a skinny little pitcher threatens to whip him and he just puffs up and does nothing. Doing nothing won’t fix things. Black helmets won’t change things. Richt needs to change mascots and team colors and really throw ‘em off this weekend.
Hairy Dawg
November 3rd, 2009
5:36 pm
Mack Brown is a CEO-type of coach. He has great assistants. Pete Carroll is a very energetic guy who also seems to find great assistant coaches. Mark Richt’s demeanor as head coach is just fine. Guess what, though? He doesn’t have great assistant coaches. Richt has been too loyal to Willie Martinez. An amped-up, ramped-up defensive effort would do wonders in Athens. Lest anyone forget, those good ol’ boy-led Florida State teams under Bowden won a ton of games, and they generally did it with great defenses. Georgia is a big-time football program. The defensive recruits will be there. It’s up to Richt to find the defensive coordinator who can coach ‘em up.
Boise Dawg
November 3rd, 2009
5:37 pm
Jeff good points on the program being on autopiolot and there is no excuse for it… but I am really sick of the comparisons to Alabama or Florida (”Why don’t they have these problems in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa?”) If you look at the last 10 years Alabama isn’t exactly setting the world on fire.. and Flordia certainly had serious issues after Spurrier left.
Lets evaluate and compare Urban Meyer and Nick Saban to Mark Richt when they have a 10-year body of work with 1 program and see if they can avoid getting stale.
Last time I checked Nick Saban hasn’t won an SEC title at Alabama.. and he has never had back to back 10 win seasons anywhere (I do realize that is likely to change this year), but my point is looking at his overall career, Nick Saban is not the coaching god everyone thinks he is….. so enough of the wishing Mark Richt was more like Nick Saban. Take away his 1 National Title (with LSU) and there isn’t really much difference in their resumes. Except when Saban gets bored in a few years Alabama won’t have to worry about the program running on auto piolot, they’ll be looking for a new coach becuase Nick Saban will be leaving for his next challenge.
I am not out here to defend Mark Richt…. I am very frustrated with the state of our program and frankly have little confidence that he can fix it. I think he certainly deserves the chance to fix it, but have a bad feeling he is completely lost right now.
CentralFLDawg
November 3rd, 2009
5:40 pm
Jeff…no BS, just an accurate assessment.
A sports program is just like a business.
The head coach is the CEO, he sets the tone. A productive enterprise always has an element of fear…fear of failure and what should be the consequences.
Positive motivation is great but it should support an underlying understanding by all in the company/team: we’re all here to accomplish a mission; having fun doing it is preferable but everyone knows if the mission is not accomplished people get demoted/put on the bench, fired/fired, don’t get raises.
Accomplishing the mission is why an enterprise/team exists. There must be an edge caused by rewards for success and accountability for failure.
Abilene
November 3rd, 2009
5:43 pm
A lot of people are screaming for Richt to go. A lot of people who think Richt should stay are screaming at the people who want Richt to go. Here’s the thing: The trend for the UGA football program has been steadily downward for several years. If Richt doesn’t go this year, do we really want to be having this argument again a year from now, with an even greater sense of urgency and frustration?
We need to fire Richt, cut our losses, and start rebuilding the program. And no, I don’t know who the new head coach should be, but there have to be some very qualified coaches out there who would love to move to Athens.
Fire Richt now.
BJohnDawg
November 3rd, 2009
5:46 pm
If the Dawgs played with heart like the Falcons did last night( they lost but they never quit and never gave up), have the people on this blog would not complain about losing. Me included.
Give me a team that will try to leave it all on the field any day over a team of talented yet indifferent coaches and players.
RedMan
November 3rd, 2009
5:48 pm
That photo looks posed. Is it for the new Coach of the Year trophy?
Gerald87
November 3rd, 2009
5:50 pm
“That photo looks posed. Is it for the new Coach of the Year trophy?
jason
November 3rd, 2009
5:56 pm
Same thing I had said earlier. No accountability. Also, these things don’t seem to be popping up at UF or UA. CMR has lost this team. Got to confortable in all his earlier success.
Barry Jay
November 3rd, 2009
5:57 pm
Jeff,
Great column. I think you’ve captured what is truly wrong in Athens and what most of the fans have been feeling.
Richt needs to demote Martinez. Fabris should be fired. Searles is a borderline case. The line has been devastated by injuries the past two years. I forget who the strength and conditioning coach is, but that person should be fired too.
I agree the program needs to get the edge back. That comes from people being held accountable for losses and poor play. Coaches and players should be sure that when there are dumb penalties over and over…you will not play. When you are out of position or miss an assignment too frequently…you will not play. When you miss to many tackles…you will not play. If you develop a bad attitude that is detrimental to the program…you will not play. And if you can’t control your personal life and stay in trouble with the law…you will lose your scholarship. Accountability.
Uh, nope
November 3rd, 2009
5:57 pm
Clueless in Abilene wrote: “The trend for the UGA football program has been steadily downward for several years.”
For several, you got to have three. Ending the season No. 2 in 2007 invalidates your statement and exposes you as: Clueless in Abilene.
Charlie (is) Strong
November 3rd, 2009
5:58 pm
Mark Richt better keep preaching christianity because a lot of his boys have been getting in trouble, same with Florida, the difference is the better football players are dressed in blue with a Gator on their helmet. Florida will also enjoy their National Championship from 1996 and their BCS Titles in 2006 and 2008 so thankyou.
Suches Dawg
November 3rd, 2009
5:59 pm
UGA’s problems actually began 2-3 years ago when the influence of Miles, Sabans & Meyers began to take hold and the bar was raised significantly. Our Coordinators are not SEC caliber, and except for BVG, none have ever been actively pursued by top tier teams. That shd have been a red flag but we played a pat hand , as things didn’t go bad until last year, and even then we ended up in decent fashion. CMR perfers the status quo and his loyalty may be his undoing as he appears to be a missionary operating in a den of thieves. I for one am proud to have him as our coach , but if he doesn’t make some not so hard choices (WM & JF, and possibly Bobo as well), he puts Damon Evans in a very tough spot and our program will decline even further while the rest of the SEC prospers at our expense.
RedMan
November 3rd, 2009
6:01 pm
So what does the CEO now tell the recruiting coordinator regarding these 4 and 5 star recruits?
jason
November 3rd, 2009
6:03 pm
Here we go again with the fire all the coaches, but don’t hold CMR accountable, after all he is such a grat coach. He built this staff, and promoted the coaches everyone wants fired…. Don’t understand the logic there.
The Biggest UGA Fan...IN THE WORLD!!!
November 3rd, 2009
6:04 pm
You guys are nuts! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the football program at UGA. Richt is gonna right this ship. I believe it because he SAYS so!
Coach Martinez will have this ‘D’ rockin’ and rollin’ in two years. Just you wait and see! And Mike Bobo will finally be proven that he is the greatest offensive mind ever to grace the field at Sanford Stadium. Just you wait and see!
By the way, for the record, if it weren’t for the refs we wouldn’t have so many penalties! And we’d probably be undefeated! DUH!
And all of those fumbles, hey, it’s a crazy looking ball and it bounces in funny ways…especially this year! Next year we’re gonna be +20 in the TO ratio. It’s just gotta happen. Like Karma!
Go DAWGS!!!!! Richt gets his 1st of many NCs next year…or the year after that…or, if not, DEFINITELY the year after that!
P.S. I love those new helmets!!! GO RICHT!!! Sic ‘em!!!!!
jason
November 3rd, 2009
6:05 pm
According to an article I just read, recruiting is not the problem. UGA has gone toe to toe with UF the past 5 years, and actually finished higher than UF 3 out of those 5 years. So, that tells me that the BS excuse about talent is well, BS. It is more to do about coaching than some players being busts. And even if that many players are busts, you would have to look at CMR for the type of players he is trying to recruit.
Einsteindawg
November 3rd, 2009
6:06 pm
I like Mark Richt and I think he’s a good football coach. And, he’s saying and doing the right things during the season. That being said, if he doesn’t make the changes after the season on defense and offense and special teams that are obvious, then UGA should fire him and dispute his remaining salary in court. Where is the accountability.
swimdawg68
November 3rd, 2009
6:06 pm
Jeff, Mark needs to set standards and never comprimise. That lineman that tore off Spikes helment in the 1st qtr and cost us 15 should have been benched for the rest of the game. They didn’t even pull him out at that time and scold him. That one incident personifies the lack of discipline in our program.
My best friend played for Dooley as an OL. He told me if he jumped offside on Sat. Monday’s practice was HELL. Dooley would call you out in front of the entire team and make you feel just awful. I recall watching Dooley coached teams and they would never beat themselves like we do today.
Mark needs to fix the program in the off season (Coaching changes), and take charge of his program. He will be on a very short roap next year, another year like this one and his next job will be on ESPN.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 3rd, 2009
6:08 pm
Kirby Smart is only DC in name…Saban runs the defense…just like Meyer’s OC is OC by name only.If the coordinators were so much of the equation every CO that got a HC job would be just as successful as his mentor..very few make it.they are a piece of the puzzle not the solution.
RedMan
November 3rd, 2009
6:09 pm
jason
That last sentence is the point, including both definition of busts, failures and arrests.
jason
November 3rd, 2009
6:13 pm
RedMan, sorry dude been a long day. I am no tracking. Explain your last post.
archangeladidas
November 3rd, 2009
6:16 pm
Just blame it on Spikes and call it rhe season. Theres no need to play anymore games. GO GATORS!!!
F-105 Thunderchief
November 3rd, 2009
6:16 pm
Mark Richt is not going to be a Paul Johnson, personality-wise and he doesn’t have to be. Just look at Vince Dooley and Erk Russell. Richt had his Russell in Van Gorder, but did not adequately replace him in Martinez.
I think Richt can fix things, if he’s still got the stomach and competitive fire for it. If not, I think he will realize that, take his riches and move on to the next thing. Either way, Georgia wins.
One thing that just irritates the heck out of me about the Internet age, however, and the voice it gives to crazy anonymous dumb@$$e$ with their rabid stupidity displayed here every day. Dooley and Russell didn’t tear it up every year. Urban Meyer and Nick Saban won’t either. Bear Bryant was 6-5 in 1969 and 6-5-1 in 1970. He went 11-1 the next year and lost seven games over the next six seasons. Oh, and his bowl record was 15-12-1.
So, there’s no reason for you, or Mark Richt to lose body parts over 4-4 in 2009. Get it?
UGASlobberknocker
November 3rd, 2009
6:16 pm
You nailed it Jeff,,all we want to see is Coach Richt act like he is as concerned as we are.
When Tech loses or even plays bad Coach Johnson looks like someone pissed in his Wheaties and that he might just have a meltdown. Therefore his coaches d and players have an “oh crap” moment and get down to biz. I think that is what we need.
Houstondawg
November 3rd, 2009
6:21 pm
Here is a thought, Spurrier, can not get the talent Ga gets, if he did they would be competing with FL every year. It all comes down to coaching and talent. UGA, talent comes in every year, coaching is mediocre at best. Saban comes right away to AL oh no, they are a powerhouse now. Is it luck, no, wake up guys, Mark Richt will not and can not take UGA to a title game, his coaching style will not get him there. The coaching staff gets out coached most of the time, Either get used to the 10-2, 9-3, records or get a hardcore top quality NFL type coach like saban and pete carroll to catch UGA back upto the pack. He has had all the talent in the previous years and never gotten there alway close. What superman is gonna show up and help the dawgs out next year,not gonna happen. Richt will have to cut his ties with Bobo and Martinez and get some strong coaches in here or he will eventually get the axe. I hear Terry Bowden is probably available, hmmmmm
mike addington
November 3rd, 2009
6:21 pm
The remarks CMR made about which quarterback would give UGA the best chance to win also should apply to which “COACHES” would give UGA the best chance to win. There’s no way in the world that having defenders always out of position is not on the coaches. If the player is that dumb, then get him out of there (Rashad Jones, who only tackles after someone else has grabbed the runner). Making the same mistakes means that the players haven’t been coached properly or don’t have their head in the game. Richt has proven he “can” coach or perhaps it was Van Gorder putting the fear of God into the players. At any rate, Georgia has been in steady decline for several years, except for a three-game spurt year before last. Boy, that sure seems like a lifetime ago. Richt: get it together or get gone. This ain’t gettin’ it.
Old Joker
November 3rd, 2009
6:28 pm
I keep reading about Richt being a “good” man. What the hell does that mean?? He doesn’t fart or pick his nose?? His sh** doesn’t stink?
What does being a “good” man have to do with being a good football coach? By the time these 18 yr. old players come to college, their moral compasses are already set. They don’t need a messiah, they need someone to show them how to apply their physical skills on the football field. The coach can’t and shouldn’t be their babysitter.
Richt has gotten rich and lazy—its that simple.
OJ
Buford T Justice
November 3rd, 2009
6:29 pm
How come every time the Dawgs do something good it turns out looking like an audition for the spotlight dance on Soul Train?
Desparate dawgs
November 3rd, 2009
6:30 pm
Spot on Jeff.. Program is in deep doo doo.
Houstondawg
November 3rd, 2009
6:30 pm
Another quick comment, for thunderchief, Yes you are gonna have bad years, but and a big but. you dont fall off the map the next year. You maybe lose 3 at the most but UGA will be lucky to finish .500 and getting blown out by teams you should be able to be close in these games. It will be worse next year guys, mark my words. no one has a 10 year championship title game plan. Well if everyone is content with going to the capital one bowl every year and once in a while the sugar then Richt is your man.
jack bull
November 3rd, 2009
6:31 pm
who, here, including jeff, has any idea of what CMR does behind closed doors? there’s no way possible that anyone of you can say that he’s not holding someone accountable. you simply don’t have that kind of information, you’re just guessing from what you get in public. it’s like saying “jeff, your boss has no accountability”. how in the world do we know what he says to you. he’s holding folks accountable, just not in public, which is what a great leader does.. especially when, in my opinion, it’s 18,19 and 20 year old kids are the ones that need to be the ones being held accountable. you simply don’t call them out in public. nor an assistant coach. he actually slipped up in his press conference today when talking about logan gray’s int. kinda called out his OC with that particular play call. if you want someone to call other folks out in public, maybe you should root for UF,UT, GT, or UA.. plus, i’ve asked this many times….WHO IS BETTER OUT THERE??? and not one person can give me a good answer…
GO DAWGS
RedMan
November 3rd, 2009
6:33 pm
jason
I mean the players that become busts as in not as good as advertised, and players that result in busts, as in discipline problems and arrests.
45ACP
November 3rd, 2009
6:34 pm
I agree. UGA VII’s air conditioned doghouse has got to go.
Dawgie Poo
November 3rd, 2009
6:34 pm
I’d be comfy too making 2+ million. Cmr has lost control, no
discipline, accountability.. Penalties out of control and
players getting away with acting like thugs
jdawg
November 3rd, 2009
6:34 pm
I have felt that CMR really wants to be a minister…yes, he gives a young athlete great guidance….however, we play in the SEC…maybe he has enough money to move into his own church, even his wife is going back to school to be a nurse. I have no problems with that….but, he needs to take a look and see if he really wants to do this. By the way….is there any reason a King Air that belongs to us…goes back and forth, back and forth….have they ever thought about renting a room overnight?
Win P
November 3rd, 2009
6:35 pm
To Coach Richt and his football program I would like to dedicate K. T. Oslin hit song, “Come Next Monday”
collegeballfan
November 3rd, 2009
6:36 pm
Richt seems to be just burned out – no fire in the belly. The team has no fire in the belly. He just needs to re-commit himself. Had to do it myself once upon a time.
RedMan
November 3rd, 2009
6:37 pm
If you are training for a war mission, pick a Paul Johnson as your leader. If you are training for a peace mission, choose a Mark Richt as your leader.
Big L
November 3rd, 2009
6:37 pm
I just hop CMR realizes that some things are out of his hands. Keep WM and he can pack his bags with him. It is just not good enough anymore. We have players just as good as anyone else and we consistently do less with them. Complacency with such talent is disgusting and a waste.
dogcrap
November 3rd, 2009
6:38 pm
Aw, c’mon, St. Richt is the real deal. Don’t get rid of him or his staff. They are doing a super job. You can just see the fire in Richt. I still think black panties is the answer for the next big game.
SuperB
November 3rd, 2009
6:39 pm
To SWFLJacket– who said Chan Gailey is available if UGA wants him. Hey pal, if we wanted him, the guy you’ve got now (what’s his name) would be available.
Richt just nees to find a top defensive coordinator and a new special teams coach, and a new offensive coordinator. We have the players– just need the coaches.
Tom
November 3rd, 2009
6:39 pm
Yep Jeff, you’re right. Why don’t you guys just let him go, so he can return to Florida State?