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
Matt
November 4th, 2009
9:51 am
Best article I have read on the problems at UGA. No bashing, no calling for anyones head. Just stating what everyone, other than those closest to program, has seen over the last 2-3 years.
Mutts R Stupid
November 4th, 2009
9:53 am
Haw haw haw, the mutts are now eating their own, following the play book of old Joe Stalin. roflol
senoiadawgs
November 4th, 2009
10:01 am
Ok, I’ll sum it up for you.
First to the 95,000 dog fans post above. Yep there were 92,000+ plus there for ASU and I bet we will be lucky to have 70+ this Saturday. If the program was in great shape rain or shine, TNTech or not there would 92+ in the seats every saturday rain or shine and TNTech or not.
Now to those who say we have the best record over the last blah many years, rankings, whatever and that is why you support coach Richt. I will keep it simple for you.
You tell your boss, employees, fans, etc… that you are going to do something(Now imgaine you are getting paid 2+Million). Here are the somethings that we have heard over the last couple of years that those of us with two eyes open have been asking that coach Richt said would be fixed prior to opening the 2009 season and some even earlier.
What happened to the junkyard dog D? Please don’t include 07 we played D for like 4 or 5 games that season. Willie is still employed
What happened to opening the playbook? It’s still half shut Maybe Bobo becomes a genius someday however he has no clue how to get the ball in the hands of playmakers in space, Ealey, Gray, Brown, Green, Wooten, T King, C King, Samuel, Moore, Charles, etc… Do you we how many options we have?
What happened to team discipline? The new Miami in Athens
What happened to cutting down on penalties? 119th out of 120
What happened to being a better turnover causing D? It’s hard to intercept a pass when the DB’s never look for the ball. Another blatant fault of Willie’s philosophy.
LSU, TN, MS State, etc… figured out how to slow down UF why couldn’t we? It was simple they didn’t let Tebow breathe in the pocket. While they didn’t win they didn’t let the pass beat them. That’s right Willie only believe in sending 4 or 5. Of course I don’t blame him almost Miller, Evans and Jones don’t have a clue but that is also his fault for not putting the better players in.
What happened to kicking the ball deep on kickoffs? You were going to go across the world to find someone when all along you had someone already kicking for you. Nice wasted scholarship there. Fabris is still employed.
The best players will play? UMMMM note, if Cox, Miller, Evans and Jones are the best we’ve got we have a huge problem. Just because a guy is a JR or SR doesn’t mean he is the best. This is 2009 not 1979 the game has changed in case you haven’t gotten the memo. Problem is we say Gray and Murray play in the spring. We have seen Smith all over receivers and out running the world. We have seen Rambo make big plays. Are those plays deleted from game tapes for the coaches.
What happened to tailback U? Let’s see in the last couple of years our coaches have redshirted a superstar because he couldn’t block. Now we find a RB in 09 and he can’t start anymore because he can’t block. Thank you for telling Auburn, GT, TNTech, and UK that when Ealey is in the game there will be no deep passes and 90% + of the plays will be running plays. In case you forgot the position is called RUNNING BACK not BLOCKING BACK.
To Jeff S, MB, Tucker and anyone who covers UGA. Why in the crap don’t you all press him when he is open to the media. I know there is courtesy and access issues involved but you all give him a complete pass when he is open to the media. I never hear anyone in the media press him about issues that are so blatant to the bulldog nation.
Dawg Fud
November 4th, 2009
10:02 am
If Richt truly belives that Martiniez should stay on as DC next season then he has forever lost me. I don’t claim to know a fraction of what Mark Richt knows about coaching and football but it seems to me that Martinez is in over his head.
If I am Richt I must look at the fact that the only Georgia assistant sought after is Rodney Gardner. Our recruiting is solid.
No other Georgia assistant has been offered a job. That should tell you something.
Cross Dawg
November 4th, 2009
10:04 am
Every year we hear what a good recruiting class we had. We must be recruiting great atheletes who are too dumb to think. It’s important to be able to remember to hold the block, lock up on the tackle, run the right route, not move till the ball is snapped. etc.
OldDawg
November 4th, 2009
10:05 am
Abilene,
If trend is now downward, what was the trend for the first 7 years?
……it’s called a hiccup! Now, if we have this kind of year back to back to back, then I would agree with you that we are spiraling downward. Personally, I think this team is going to be fine, sooner than later. We have got some awesome talent at most positions. I think Murray will be the play caller next year, and we will be a team hard to beat. It’s a free speech society, and I’m not saying shut-up, but I like the attitude of our glass is half full. Mark Richt is doing a very good job, and I don’t want him anywhere else but on Georgia’s sidelines. I don’t care who you are, you are not gonna win every game, and life throws everyone curve balls. Coach Richt will make the right decisions, and Georgia Football will prosper.
BG
November 4th, 2009
10:12 am
Jeff, Every Dawg fan knew this year would be a down year. The Dawgs lost 2 players to the 1st round of the NFL draft. The Dawgs also have one of the hardest schedules in the SEC this year.
Macon dog in the Middle East
November 4th, 2009
10:18 am
Do you remember why we were so glad to welcome CMR. I maintain that, first and foremost it was because BVG brought back the Junkyard Dog Defense. We had hope then. We need to be able to beat UT and UF and Bama regularly. We need hope again.
MattDawg
November 4th, 2009
10:22 am
Could not have said that better myself. Perfect answer to the coaching problem. It is too comfortable, not concerned, stuck in auto-pilot with no direction.
C Chandler
November 4th, 2009
10:24 am
I have several friends who think Mark Richt DID wake up dumb.
Here are some emails I got:
1. This is regarding Joe Cox, his embattled quarterback…..
“I’ll say this about Joe: He is one of the finest young men I have been around,” Richt said. “He has been taking on the leadership of this program since January. I think men in general want respect. I think women are made where they want love. I think men are made a little bit more where they want respect. Joe is a very respected man in our locker room and in our program.
Are you kidding me?
2. He will regret that statement. He may still think it but will get enuf flack to regret saying it.
3.You have to know this person to really hear the dripping sarcasm:
What a fine Christian gentleman! Reminds me of the hymn – they will
know we are Christians by our love!
4. “Joe is a very respected man in our locker room and in our program.”
BUT IS HE LOVED????
Wasn’t it Aretha that sang R-E-S-P-E-C-T???
Hummmmmmmmm
Ryan
November 4th, 2009
10:28 am
As a Gator fan I hope CMR stays for a long, long time (and Boby Bowden too).
JeffroBodeen
November 4th, 2009
10:33 am
Richt is reacting to things like someone on anti-depressants…He just doesn’t seem to be able to muster up a good tantrum. To me it boils down to his inability to make coaching changes. Bobo was a marginally good QB coach AT BEST. CMR gave him the OC position in an attempt to get stuff off his plate. Go get a proven OC and watch some things start to happen on Offense. What Defense is gonna get fired up to make a 3 and out only to watch their Offense bumble their efforts away?
Adam
November 4th, 2009
10:40 am
I agree with you about FLA, but not Alabama….they only started being good again LAST YEAR! They were 7-6 in his first year and yes they have been good since then. There has not been enough time for Saban to gt comfortable…heck he hasn’t stayed anywhere long enough to get comfortable. Let him be at Alabama for 10 years and then let’s talk about getting comfortable.
I do think changes will be made, and should have happened a year or two earlier. but let’s face it, in college, changes in mid-season just don’t happen. Before we start jumping of the Richt bandwagon, let’s remember, this is still a good coach who recruits well and still has one of the highest winning percentages the last decade. Do you know how many schools would trade places with us right this second? Damon Evans will not let the program go into the tank….I believe that!
Alex Graham
November 4th, 2009
10:46 am
He’d make a great Buddhist monk, a great boller with the guys, nice to dogs (the four legged kind), but, damn, he’s damned terrible coach!
gator dawgpounder
November 4th, 2009
10:48 am
I think everyone is missing something here. It was pretty much a given that this year was going to be down by UGA standards. The problem is it was really worse last year. How do you have 2 players in the top 10 NFL picks and anothe in the top 40 picks and not win at least the SEC east. UF, AL, LSU, S Carolina and even UT have assistant coaches hired away. Is it these assistants are too loyal to CMR and that is why he doesn’t have the heart to fire them or is it they are poor coaches and no one is interested. If you want a great hire; how about John Gruden, know that would be someone who ( I hate to say it) would bring instant attention to UGA much as Lane Kffien did at UT, plus he would be pretty familiar with their defense since Monte coached with hm for several years.
cdawg
November 4th, 2009
11:03 am
i will give you Florida, but don’t give me this crap about Alabama. they have been good for the last two years, but got beat 6 straight by Auburn before that. i am a loyal dawg fan and hate what has happened the last year and a half. Calm the f down. Richt will make the right decisions and Willie will be gone after this year. here is an extra thought though to you UGA fans out there. come support the dawgs even though they are down. we also affect what happens in recruiting and if we don’t show up and support the team when they need us most, why the hell would a kid want to play there. also, gt fans are hilarious. it would be a shame if you lost to a bad uga team at the end of the year.
Hal
November 4th, 2009
11:06 am
Jeff’s column makes perfect sense. But some of you guys are simply off your meds. Mark wins 80+ games, 2 titles, misses 3 NC games on luck (the bad kind) and you idiots want him run for one maybe 2 sub-par seasons…. stupid people who don’t know dunk about football or people.
There are definitely things missing, changes that need making and rest assured changes are coming. Mark’s a better man and coach than to let this continue.
Interestingly enough for you guys who want Bobo gone too, Bobo is actually scoring more points and gaining a lot more yards per game than when Mark was the OC. Trouble is CWM is giving up 6 points per game more and rarely ever gets a turn-over to give the OC a short field.
Folks this all starts on defense, and ends on defense. We have the talent, we just don’t have the fire and the accountability which in part if not whole does come down to Mark.
I would suggest though, that Mark doesn’t enjoy this feeling and frankly its the first time in over 20 years he’s dealt with it. Obviously it krept up on him and he has to figure out what to do with it. He has given us enough at The University of Georgia to earn your support. We wouldn’t have a team worthy of being this upset over if it were not for him. If you aren’t willing to give him the time and opportunity to fix it, then go support some other team, there are plenty of them out there who love fair weather fans… UGA doesn’t want you or need you and frankly those of us who have been lifers don’t like being associated with you babies. You sound like gator fans who got upset when spurrier went 9-3 and eventually ran him off. You keep this crap on on boards and at the least you’ve done nothing but hurt recruiting. You think prospects want to come here when they think we’re going to run the coach? Stop being so short sided and stupid.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!
cdawg
November 4th, 2009
11:08 am
AMEN Hal.
Hal
November 4th, 2009
11:09 am
gator dawgpounder :
B/C it takes 9 more people just to fill out the offense… and by the end of the 3rd game… the other 9 people were mostly back-ups and 2 were even 3rd string with 1 being a walk-on. UGA had 18 season ending injuries by game 8, the most in 1 season for any school in the last 2 decades.
that’s how. 10-3 might have been Mark’s best coaching job at UGA frankly
gator dawgpounder
November 4th, 2009
11:10 am
cdawg, you are probably correct about Bama, until Saban at least has a winning bowl record you cannot consider them elite. I hope you are correct about him making the right decisions though, because he learned about being loyal to his assistants from Saint Bobby himself. GT fans are kind of funny, I agree, but it looks like they might have the right coach but probably don’t have the fan base to keep him there. Win the rest of your games and BEAT TECH (both).
North FLA Falcon
November 4th, 2009
11:13 am
He may not have any fire in the belly but he sure does have some shredded calves.
cdawg
November 4th, 2009
11:16 am
Will do and we will.
THEdawg
November 4th, 2009
11:17 am
Nice guys are a dime a dozen. $2,000,000.00 greenbacks a year should get you more than a nice guy.
SEC Rules!
November 4th, 2009
11:21 am
One question CMR should ask himself or the A.D. should ask him at least….”Would any of the programs out there who are our rivals try to steal away our coordinators if they could?” I honestly don’t think there is a team in the SEC, including Vandy, that would hire either UGA coordinator if they could.
cdawg
November 4th, 2009
11:23 am
like 2 SEC titles and getting close to playing in 3 national title games. grow up peter pan…count chocula … In case you haven’t noticed its not Halloween anymore
95Dawg
November 4th, 2009
11:44 am
If we are lucky: Coach Richt has already informed Coach Martinez that he has one month to produce significant improvement in the defense or he will be gone (or significantly demoted at the least). I think that is more than equitable although we all know the chances of improvement this year are slim to none. I am sure that Coach Richt hasn’t ignored these issues and these assistants have been dressed down a few times. If not, then we really do have serious complacency issues.
Sure, we may lose a few recruits if Martinez goes, but so what. We get these highly ranked guys in here and many of them do nothing or underachieve. (Reshad Jones….. Ranked #1 safety in the nation… Although he will probably go to the NFL and be a Pro-Bowler) We will take a short term hit for an opportunity for long term gain.
The GA Tech game is going to be the final straw in this whole thing. They are playing and looking like a top 5 team and they can seemingly score at will. I get nauseated thinking about what they are going to do to our defense later this month…. If we are able to somehow contain them on offense and win the game, then Coach Richt can make a case that Martinez has earned the right to stay. Frankly, I don’t see if happening, but at least he is being given the opportunity. He has 4 more games to fix the issues. That is more than enough time.
If we get blown out by GT, then I simply cannot see how Coach Richt can bring Martinez back in the same capacity.
gator dawgpounder
November 4th, 2009
11:45 am
Hal,
Injury excuses is what gets coaches in trouble. UF lost 5 starters (4 on defense and 1 offense) before the season even started last year. Meyer not only recruits well, their recruiting coordinator has built depth. 3 of those starters came back this year and can’t crack the starting lineup and a 4th was drafted in the 4th round in last years draft without playing a down. But if you want to give him a pass go ahead. He has become a CEO like Bobby at FSU and that works as long as you have good assistants. When was the last assistant that left UGA for a HC job?
FROM ALL OF US BLACK PLAYERS IN THE SEC
November 4th, 2009
12:09 pm
You want incentive and discipline? Try paying us for performance like everyone else. We all know that we are just an injury away from losing our scholarships and value as a Pro football player. Look at what just happened to Sam Bradford at Oklahoma. I bet that he wishes that he had left early like Moreno and Stafford.
We cannot work or make any money while on scholarship for fear of undo influence on recruiting and performance. In addition, we have to listen to people calling us thugs, dope heads and gang bangers. Most of us come from poor backgrounds with bad education preparation so we are not going to make a big bang in business capitalism. In today’s economy, football might not be a bad career choice. Its not that our coaches do not inspire us, they do. But just like all the hypocrites on this blog, we are slaves of the dollar. Get off coach Richt’s back. He is very good at what he does as witnessed by the number of Jawja players in the NFL. They make a lot more money than most of the yahoos and alumni criticizing him. Its not his fault that there are more important things in life than winning football games for the alumni.
Gator Ev
November 4th, 2009
12:10 pm
Schultz and Bradley are disgusting. Just last week Bradley predicted Georgia upsetting Florida, now everyone is down on Richt. Monday Schultz blasted Urban Meyer and Florida defensive star Brandon Spikes, now in today’s paper Washuan Ealey said it didn’t happen and Spikes should not have been suspened. Georgia loses their superstars seldom letting backups play last year, and this year is a surprise? I guarantee Florida will not do well next year without our star quarterback, defense and more graduating or bailing for the NFL after this season. Ask Mississippi and State how sorry they feel for Georgia only winning two SEC championships recently, like Georgia has! Is anyone feeling bad about this, as well as tv cameramen and the AJC photographing a dejected Joe Cox over and over again? I would recommend AJC sports columnists to get a life and some patience, and join our St Vincent de Paul charity working real life problems.
mcdawg6
November 4th, 2009
12:14 pm
Get a hold of yourself man! ALl of you! You’re reacting as if you are on the Oprah show…whine a little, pass out pieces of emotional baggage because you can’t control your emotions, or at least choose not to. Seasons like this happen to football teams. It’s happening at UGA now. You start firing everybody and you just bought more years of poor performance.
First part of the article is right…the football coach is capable and at times exemplary. But when you fall into the trap of damning someone about being “too nice” or a “christian”…then your over the top. There are some facts in here, like 4 and 4, declining defensive stats, etc. But when you start venturing into whats wrong on the team…it’s opinion because you’re not on the team…and nobody on the team with objectivity will let you inside to see and hear. So while AJC sells “papers” with this stuff, we fans drive away future players and coaches.
Richt’s record proves success over the long term. If he has lost the ability to coach…he’ll get fired. But do you bounce him after one bad season? Not if you are a rational adult.
Fact is, Richt can’t win with the fans. No one can…gotta be perfect, all the time, every decision. A big portion of the UF fanbase is mad with being undefeated- not winning the right way. When was the last time ANYONE out there was a champion…at anything? No need to answer that…just stop your whining. You too… “experts”. Why not disect the scheming against key plays, or missed assignments? Why not wax eloquently about the importance of the kicking game and field position? The pros and cons of no-huddle/uptempo offense? Instead we get the “if I were the AD for a day…here’s what I’d do!”…with a little, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” Guess what, you are gonna take it. And so am I and the rest of the dividing “Bulldog Nation”.
95Dawg
November 4th, 2009
12:21 pm
The reality of this is that ALL (with maybe the exception of Vandy) of the fan bases in the SEC react the same way UGA’s fanbase does.
I watched the Florida-TN this year with my neighbors who both went to Florida… They were literally saying: “Typical Florida… We just cannot win the games we’re supposed to win”….. “We always lose 1 game a year we shouldn’t” ……… “Our offense sucks without Percy Hahvee”… “We couldn’t recruit the right guys to replace him” “Urban is babying Tim Tebow too much.” blah blah blah….
This is just an emotional deal this time of year… I’m sure it will all blow over around Feburary or so……
DawgByte
November 4th, 2009
12:25 pm
Here is something everyone should take into consideration when analyzing the situation at Georgia. There are basically three options following the 2009 season and they are as follows:
1. BAU – nothing happens other than a “rededication” to turning over every stone to try and improve the situation. This will be greeted with a great deal of fan base frustration and is more than likely unacceptable from the perspective of Adams and Evans.
2. Demotions & Promotions within the current staff. On defense Richt could demote Martinez and promote someone else. It’s unlikely in scenario #2 that Richt does anything with Bobo. He may bring someone in with a special title to “help” with the offense, but I don’t see significant change on that side of the ball. I would consider this the most likely path Richt would like to take, based on his personal management style. If CMR addresses the defense internally, look for Garner to make a bid for the DC role. In that case Richt will have a massive headache to deal with, because I don’t believe he wants Garner to be the DC, in which case Garner may leave the program.
3. Wholesale changes. Here Richt fires Martinez and he unloads most of the defensive staff. They hire a search committee and try and go after someone the caliber of Kirby Smart. Now for the offense: In the wholesale change mode, CMR either demotes or gets rid of Bobo and brings in a new OC.
Scenario three brings the most risk and would put Georgia through a two year rebuilding cylce, because it would dramatically impact the current recruiting class… plus it takes a season just to get the players to buy into the new systems. The Georgia fan base would go into a catatonic state of shock if we were subjected to essentially 3 rebuilding years (2009, 2010, 2011). If this massive change didn’t work (see Obama Presidency) the cries for Richt’s head would be loud and clear. I just don’t see Richt taking that type of risk with his own career.
The moral of this story. Be careful what you wish for!
FROM ALL OF US BLACK PLAYERS IN THE SEC
November 4th, 2009
12:30 pm
Gator Ev,
Good post. Its all about the $$$$$$$$.
Gator Ev
November 4th, 2009
12:40 pm
Great comment Black SEC, that was all right on.
95Dawg
November 4th, 2009
12:43 pm
DawgByte,,,, I think those are good points especially with Garner. He was upset after BVG left after 2004 and didn’t get the DC job. If it opens again he may possibly bolt if he gets spurned a 2nd time. Garner has flirted with leaving several times before, so it may be just a matter of time before he is gone anyway.
Coach Richt has some difficult decisions to make, but it comes with the territory. I do think that doing nothing and keeping everything in place is probably the riskiest thing to do.
Expectations for next year will be low anyway coming off this lousy year and having to start an inexperienced QB, so I think now is the time to make a change at least on the DC side. UGA has the resources and money to find replacements.
BDAWG
November 4th, 2009
12:48 pm
Jeff, I couldn’t agree with you more. There is no accountability at UGA. There is no fire in the football program and there is no fire in the coaching staff. Positions should not be promised to any players, all positions should be open for the best players, not because you are a senior. Prince Miller is one of the worst CB I’ve ever seen. I have never seen a defense that cannot read and react to screens, short passes and Playaction. The secondary is awful, the linebacking core is not that good, except Rennie Curran and the lines are not the best.The sad part is that we don’t have linebackers coming in next year. We recruited alot of defensive ends, but the truth is we need a whole lot on defense and a different type of player. We don’t have 11 players that get after the ball like we used to when BVG was the DC. We can blame the DC and the OC but, it all comes down to the Head Coach.I remember when people said that coaches like Saban, Meyer and Jimmy Johnson were dictators of the team, maybe that’s what kind of coach UGA needs. These kids come to UGA thinking that they are already superstars and that’s the way they are treated. You have to earn stardom and none of the players have earned it. I don’t blame Joe Cox for his failures, it is the coaches responsiblility to have the players ready and they have not been ready from the start of the season. The bottom line is the UGA coaching staff needs and overhaul and if CMR is not willing to do it then Damon Evans will have to do his job.
Rodster
November 4th, 2009
12:56 pm
Good column Jeff. I agree with your observations and conclusions. CMR hasn’t forgot how to coach. But as the head of the football conglomerate at UGA, it has gotten away from him. His senior management team (assistant coaches) need a change.
georgiavol
November 4th, 2009
1:14 pm
People before have made the comparison of Fulmer’s demise and Mark’s present situation. And the camparison is holding true. The Vol nation went through the exact same situation; overly loyal to bad assistants, the complacency, etc.
Yellow Fuzz
November 4th, 2009
1:25 pm
This just in, Georgia just accepted an invitation to play in the Poulan Weedeater Bowl in Northern Louisiana (Shreveport). As a payout, Georgia will receive $990,000 and 75 free weedwackers, one for every Parks and Recreation Major in the program.
Georgia Tech will play in THEIR conference championship game (sunny Tampa Florida) in hopes of advancing to the BCS Orange Bowl (sunnier Miami Florida). As a payout, Georgia Tech could receive $1,490,000 and 75 free deep sea fishing excursions. Georgia Tech plans to watch georgia’s bowl game on December 28th from its hotel over looking Key Largo.
Look at the Weedwackers falling from the sky!
Look at the Weedwackers falling from the sky!
Dave
November 4th, 2009
1:29 pm
Richt has to do something drastic about the personal fouls. Without the PFs, we had a chance in the Florida game. Maybe players should have to sit after committing one (two series, a quarter, possibly the rest of the game?).
Villa Rica DAWG
November 4th, 2009
1:47 pm
GREAT ARTICLE!
FroDawg77
November 4th, 2009
1:52 pm
Great piece. A CEO friend of mine has a saying that seems appropriate in this context: “You either have to be a [jerk] or you have to hire one.” CMR is a great guy and nice to know that he might have an edge in private but he needs some assistants that create tension. Comfort leads to complacency leads to boredom leads to losing. Not where the Dawgs should be…
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
2:20 pm
Jared – Yes, that’s what I do. I create panic. By the way: tornado hits at 7:14 tonight. Just saying.
The Alpha Male – Thanks, but that’s OK: You can still think of me as the lowest common denominator.
Dawg 88 – Can you tell me more about this personal vendetta I have against Mark, and also list some names among “everybody” who knows this to be true? Speaking of fiction, you seem to be the expert.
JaxDawg – Thanks. And good about the two weeks of prep time for Florida.
Paul’s J – Thanks.
Coastal – Thanks.
Doc – I’ve always liked Charlie Strong. Don’t know why he’s never had head coaching offers.
Macon – Thanks. I think BVG is comfortable right now with the Falcons. As much as he liked/likes Georgia, I don’t see him leaving.
Reporters Notebooks | Football Picks
November 4th, 2009
2:22 pm
[...] Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: There’s too much comfort, too little accountability, at [...]
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
2:30 pm
Northern – Wow, thanks.
Cobb – Honestly, the one guy I thought of was Tom Coughlin with the NY Giants.
JohnG – Outside of the fact he’s from Georgia, why would Muschamp leave Texas when he’s already coach in waiting and making a ton of money?
Dearest Mike Anthony – Thank you.
Nice Post Commie – Rush? Is that you?
Lilburn Dawg – Thanks.
Irene – I’m not sure how you can put any blame on Damon Evans or Michael Adams for this.
Matt – Thanks.
Senoiasdawgs – Nice long post. But what do you think we haven’t asked Mark about? I think he’s been pressed on every topic.
Hal – I’ve never said, “Fire Mark Richt.” So you’re contention about wanting him ‘run’ is off base.
Gator Ev – I certainly never predicted Georgia would beat Florida. That was the other guy. I predicted just the opposite.
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
2:31 pm
BDawg and Rodster — Thanks.
YellowFuzz –”Look at the Weedwackers falling from the sky!” You stole my line. I wrote that 10 years ago. I want credit!
Piccioli
November 4th, 2009
2:32 pm
The Red Queen’s Race.
DamnGoodDawg
November 4th, 2009
3:03 pm
Somehow I don’t picture Coaches Bryant, Jordan or even Urban Meyer horsing around with the team in the swimming pool, etc. Coach Richt is too much of a buddy to these guys. He’s more interested in being a surrogate dad to them than kicking their butts into a disciplined team.
Johnny Test
November 4th, 2009
3:51 pm
For those of you who have given up on the season please stop posting. We heard you loud and clear.
For the non quitters we have 4 more games and we need to prepare and believe we can win all of them. It is possible you know.
Auburn and Tech are our bowl games and wouldn’t it be sweet to beat Tech when we sux and they have the best team they have had in 20 years. They would never live that down. ACC Champions lose to lousy DAWGS. SWEET!!
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
3:56 pm
From All Of Us Black Players — First of all, if you’re African American, you don’t speak for all African Americans. You speak for you. Please change your screen. I strive to keep race out of this. Thanks.