There’s too much comfort, too little accountability, at Georgia

first…probably read too slow

• Link
• Report this comment

Coach Richt sure seems like a good guy…I think his problem lies with his loyalty to assistant coaches who simply are not up to the task….It will an interesting off season….

• Link
• Report this comment

I fail to understand with the season lost CMR will not play younger players like Grey and Ealey.
Cox and King to start Sat. ? I support CMR but he needs to get his head out the sand and build towards next year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Understand he basically just does not care.

He makes a good salary and can`t be bothered with getting his hands dirty. Well that is the only way to build a house. One brick at a time and it does involve sweat and dirt.

Given the talent that makes its way to Athens. They should always be the premier team in Georgia and a major regionall power and occasionally a top national team.

Reminds me a lot of Florida State.

The young men he coaches do not make 2 million a year but they are the reason he does.

• Link
• Report this comment

Very good points without having to fight through your usual BS. I think after the Hawaii Sugar Bowl, #2 ranking and most of the players returning for 08 the coaches got raises and complacency set in. Add in the soft defensive philosophy present since 05 and injuries affecting how the team practiced it quickly spiraled downward. It will be tough to get an edge back without at least a total overhaul of the defensive staff. Coach Richt also seems very distracted. No clear thinking major college coach would have pulled the uniform switch so soon after the Alabama beatdown and against Florida to boot.

• Link
• Report this comment

Great read Jeff…great post GSU Eagle 91…I totally agree..CMR is a great guy..a father figure to his players…(that doesn’t believe in spankings..)

• Link
• Report this comment

i don’t know if i agree with all of it. Paterno, Bryant, Bowden, Dooley. all guys that stayed in one place and were great successes. did they win every year? no. will FL win every year after Teabag leaves? we’ll see.

• Link
• Report this comment

Oh Oh Oh, if anybody is interested they are showing the Florida Georgia game on channel 613 on Direct TV.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, who is the editor for these blogs? Myriad typos.

• Link
• Report this comment

GA Dawgs, get you act together. You have the barners coming up and need to beat them down. Don’t get like we were under Shula. Mark Richt is a good coach, he has proven that with two SEC championships. Shula let our players walk all over him, no discipline. Come on and get tough

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, this “you have to be a hard ass to be a successful football coach” meme is tired and is the laziest type of journalism. Yes, there are problems with the Georgia program, but they don’t stem from the fact that Richt is a nice guy. Sure, Saban and Meyer are hard asses, but how do you explain the success of Mack Brown or Pete Carroll?

Further, you base your observations on what you see at press conferences. How often are you in the locker room? At team meetings? I know coaches that scream and yell make your job easier, but give this thing a rest.

• Link
• Report this comment

Pay each of the coaches a base salary and then pay them by win next year, maybe that will do something. $3 Million for Richt to be 4-4 is a crime.

• Link
• Report this comment

Remember … It’s a bad football team you can’t drink pretty. Or, something like that.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Georgia coaches need a big hug from the bulldog fans and a big raise from the AD. They are the best and need to stay together and coaching those dogs for a long time. I love the way they change the color of the uniforms, will pink be next? It is a shade of red you know.

• Link
• Report this comment

The problem is that he has become a CEO. That’s ok if you have great assistants, how long has it been since an assistant has been hired away from UGA. It’s either loyalty to the program or no one is calling them. I think the latter. CMR had become just like his mentor and both are on the hotseat.

• Link
• Report this comment

Schultz,

I’m so tired of people saying CMR has no fire. Since when do you have to get mad to have fire. Just because you kick the dog and punch a hole in the wall when you stub your toe doesn’t mean he has to. I’ll take the calm, cool, and quiet confidence he has any day. I respect that. I think most people do. It’s time to cover something else. This is boring.

• Link
• Report this comment

Richt deserves a lifetime contract with a 7 million buyout. Come on Jawja and appreciate what you got.

• Link
• Report this comment

Why keep focusing on something so surface-level as how he appears to be handling it? Would it really be any better if he screamed and ranted constantly and got the same results?

• Link
• Report this comment

CMR is an okay guy. Many of the players however are real low lifes; are not coachable, act like thugs on and off the field, show no disclipine. That’s just not my opinion — check the arrest records, yards penalized, etc. UGA need to recruit higher quality people and many in the bulldawg nation need to shut their ignorant pieholes.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff’s analysis is spot-on. And it all starts and ends with Richt. Richt simply doesn’t have the fire or drive or whatever he had when he came to UGA, and I haven’t seen any indication that he can or will re-ignite that fire. This is a program in decline, and it’s been going down for long enough to recognize that.

Black helmets. What next, will Richt hire a fashion coordinator?

He’s through at UGA. I doubt if anyone has any confidence that Richt can turn things around.

• Link
• Report this comment

Richt assistants are mediocre! do you think Crompton will hang 45 pts on BVG??!!!!!! or Alabama score 31 on him on the 1st half!! or Florida put up 49 pts, or lose to Vandy. BVG is a solid DC he plays chess, understand the game and able to adjust within seconds. his players play physical and hard. Mark Richt must start from scratch if he want to get back on track, he needs to evaluate his assistants and make tough decisions

• Link
• Report this comment

Yeah, and we keep getting back to the kind of players that Richt recruits. You would think that he would understand that there is a connection between arrest records, lack of character, poor academics, penalties, and quitting when they’re down. Why can’t he see that and stop recruiting illiterate hooligans?

• Link
• Report this comment

Winning just enough to keep the alumni off your back is a disease that can affect any coach. Everyone would like to think they can go undefeated, but to do it takes hard work (beyond the norm), a commitment to excellence and discipline that can be communicated throughout the entire organization.

CMR has not communicated the values to the players that would inspire them to improve, on their own. Staying later, after practice is over to work on getting better, even if you are already pretty good is something that can be caught, if not taught. The growing reputation that UGA has this year of being a bunch of thugs is something that should warrant great concern from those even above CMR’s head. Thugs don’t win championships. Disciplined, well coached, focused players who have a commitment to playing as a team win championships. And, many times do it undefeated for the year.

Winning can become contagious, but it also can become dangerous if the reputation is expected to win games and not the hard work it takes to back the reputation. Smack talk is fine, as long as you keep winning. But, the level and intensity of the play on the field should be what the opposition should be concerned about, as opposed to figuring out how to overcome your reputation.

Win. Everything else takes care of itself. Gimmicks don’t win… at least consistently. It is a real sign of trouble when a coach, whoever he is, begins to draw on some new fashion statement to motivate the players to do what should come naturally… which is win.

• Link
• Report this comment

I agree with Abilene. CMR seems to be recruiting based on raw football ability rather than looking at the character of the individual.

• Link
• Report this comment

ok

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

“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”

• Link
• Report this comment

“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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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!!

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

“That photo looks posed. Is it for the new Coach of the Year trophy?

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

So what does the CEO now tell the recruiting coordinator regarding these 4 and 5 star recruits?

• Link
• Report this comment

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!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

RedMan, sorry dude been a long day. I am no tracking. Explain your last post.

• Link
• Report this comment

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?

• Link
• Report this comment

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

• Link
• Report this comment

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

• Link
• Report this comment

Spot on Jeff.. Program is in deep doo doo.

• Link
• Report this comment

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

• Link
• Report this comment

I agree. UGA VII’s air conditioned doghouse has got to go.

• Link
• Report this comment

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?

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

I know Jeff won’t dare respond to me, but why has he been on a Richt witch hunt this year? It’s one thing to have a bad season and call for changes, but geez. To call Tech the #1 program in the state is very premature. What if we beat them this year? We have the talent to do so. I just want to know what he has against Richt.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

UGA rcord 1976 10-2 SEC Champs – Lost to the Tony Dorsett led Pitt in the Sugar Bowl
1977 5-6 lost to FL, UA and GT and to KY 33-0 in Athens

I guess Dooley and Russell should have been fired then.

http://www.georgiadogs.com//pdf5/128767.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=8800

• Link
• Report this comment

Here’s what really bothers me about Richt. Coaches radio
show last night on WSB. First caller asks about Willie, points out
the defensive record, etc etc, talks for a minute or so, says coach
you have to admit the defense is worse under Martinez…richts
response: thanks for the call… Next.. No discussion, nothing, like
the caller wasn’t worthy of a response… Pretty bush league
on richts part.

• Link
• Report this comment

That said, yes, there are big problems on this year’s team, some that carry over from 2008 and those need to be fixed.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jason I see you want to hold on to the FLA and UGA are equal in talent vein as long a possible.I don’t know what articles you are reading but quick note.FLA has signed more 5 star players on DEFENSE in the last 4 years than Mark Richt has his entire tenure!There is no way around that fact…sure the difference between a 4 and 5 is only 1 pt but the difference between a Tebow and Cox or Harvin and Troupe are huge.

• Link
• Report this comment

Well said, Jeff. I am reminded of the last scene from the movie “Ordinary People” when the 18 year-old Timothy Hutton character responds to his dad yelling at him and apologizing for it by telling his dad that he should do that more often and that he needs to have his ass chewed out occasionally.

Those of us who have late-teen sons know that they DO need to be brought down to earth sometimes. And I am not sure that that is happening in Athens with a head coach who is jumping up and down with his players in the middle of the pre-game huddle.

I remember many years ago, Bear Bryant was watching a college football game on an Alabama off week with a reporter who was doing a story on the legendary coach (it may have been for SI). One of the teams went ahead very late in the game and the team’s coach was hugging his players. Bear Bryant told the reporter that the team that just scored was going to lose the game, because they were going to let down after the hugs from their coach. Sure enough, the other team marched right down the field and scored as time expired. Do you think Bear Bryant knew something about the psychology of a football team? Are you listening Coach Richt?

• Link
• Report this comment

It has always been my belief that Georgia should be the most dominate college football team in the south. UGA is located just 60-70 miles from Atlanta. It’s a much bigger school than GT and should be able to out recruit any SEC school in the south.
The resources are awesome…that given, there should be no reason why we are in the position we are in.
How can Lane Kiffen, Saban, Meyer, Nutt and Miles position their team to be, most likely, a favorite over us?
We should be reloading, not rebuilding.
And does anyone really think we are rebuilding?

• Link
• Report this comment

OrWell
In the Ford ads he doesn’t have to speak very much. They just wanted his image, apparently to get more mothers to buy F-150s.

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep on keeping track of the old numbers and keep on watching Texas, LSU, FL, OK in the Natl title games every year. Come on Dude well be on social security by the time CMR gets lucky and puts a title team for UGA, again he is a good enough coach if you like to see UGA in second place. not every team competes every year but they stay in the top 10 consistantly or mentioned for a shot. When are you going to get tired of Espn saying your team is overated every time we have a good year, respect is earned, when they start beataing the crap out the of the top teams, nothing will change.

• Link
• Report this comment

I would rather have big,tough,fast,nasty players being taught situational football,even bending the rules when the refs aren’t looking and if they have great faith, that is fine. This is big time college football and intense dedication to winning takes precedence over family,cristianity or being a swell man! That goes for players and coaches at this level. That sounds harsh but but it is a fact. Save the sermons and piety for Sunday. Saturday is about winning!

• Link
• Report this comment

UGA has relied way to much on the recruiting sites that have hyped up players that are not what we need to move our program foward (Dontavious Jackson, Caleb King, etc) and are doing it again this year. We need the blue collar player that is willing to come in and work their tails off and not walk on campus thinking they are the next Deion Sanders. CMR has obviously taken a page from the Bobby Bowden recruting guide and look what it has done to their program. There have been way to many quality players from local programs such as Peachtree Ridge, Walton, Roswell, etc that we never even recruited/offers. Until this changes we are in for many years of the same results as this year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, Speaking honestly, not a big fan of your stories most of the time. But this one is dead on and probably your best work in 75 years. You should be proud of yourself b/c you are finally becoming that writer you’ve always dreamed of becoming. There must be some uncomfort and accountability in the office this week

• Link
• Report this comment

Florida Dawg,

Come again? Georgia should be the most dominant program in the south? Are you delusional or what? Georgia has good talent but Florida has more talent than any state except possibly Texas or California. You’re nuts. And LSU has quite a bit of talent in their backyard also and they are the only big boy in the state. And then there is Bama. This is a program that is among the winningest of alltime, has something crazy like 12 national titles and 21 or 25 sec titles. You’re history compared to the Bammer’s pedigree is like a gnat on an elephant’s ass. And you think you should dominate the most tradition laden program in the south just because Georgia is probably a little deeper in high school talent than Alabama? The bammers have the name that carries weight nationwide. Not just in the sec do do head. UT has almost as much pedigree as Bama and a lot more than Georgia. You don’t know your place in the college football world do you boy?

• Link
• Report this comment

Military – Intelligence
Jumbo – Scrimp
Coach – Richt
Georgia – Football

• Link
• Report this comment

You dog fans need to wake up to the fact that it no longer matters who your coach is, or ours for that matter. Florida is the far superior program and it will stay that way for many years. You may average 1 win out of 5 at best though this current run may hit 10, you are that far behind. Sorry, but you are not even that big of a deal to us when we play anymore, Fl St, Tenn, Alabama, and Lsu are much more important and relevent. Try not to feel too bad, I hear they treat visitors well in places like Atlanta(peach), Boise(Humanitarian), and Shreveport(independence). Of course this year you won’t even make it there, but it may get better

• Link
• Report this comment

Some of you are delusional. Richt is far from a good guy. He learned to play dirty and thuggish from the masters of thuggery at FSU and Miami. No matter what he tries to portray himself as, he will always remain a thug ringleader. THE University of Georgia deserves better than him. Find somebody who doesn’t waste talent like Richt manages to do year in and year out. If Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, or (god forbid) Les Miles had been HBC at UGA, a national championship would have already been secured within the last 2 or 3 years. Instead, we’ll have to accept mediocrity. Florida never falls too far….Kiffin appears to be building Tennessee up to something that could be dominant. We have to get used to December bowl games

• Link
• Report this comment

Has anyone heard about the rumor about Charlie Strong coming to Georgia?

• Link
• Report this comment

It sucks but Richt won’t turn this around. The ‘edge’ he refers to is nowhere near that of Meyer or Saban. I just hope UGA doesn’t let him ‘Fulmer’ them.

• Link
• Report this comment

That Charlie Strong rumor is on an ESPN pay-to-view site. I didn’t think it was worth clicking on.

• Link
• Report this comment

What did the dogs expect. You abadoned your own tradition. Power running, good defense, things of the distant past, maybe never to return

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, I believe you are only one-third correct, and no more. If Mark Richt is comfy, then he has made his assistant coaches and the players comfy as well. Coach Richt is confident that he is going nowhere and he has passed this confidence to his assistance coaches who in turn have passed this to the starting players. Assistant coaches will be retained despite outcomes. Players are permitted to play regardless of performance. There are no performance demands from anyone in the football program. It’s quite amazing that starters and players return to their places after committing a succession of penalties, missed tackles, and after their sublime non-performance. Coach Richt and his assistants are more than comfortable with this nonsense. But then…..so are the players. Otherwise UGA would not lead the nation (or nearly so) in penalties. The missed tackles and dropped passes seem to be ignored or tolerated(take your pick), This is not a run of just bad luck; it is a run of the poorest coaching that money can buy. These low expectations produce precisely what you would think it would produce. Everyone, not just Coach Richt, is too comfy.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Not an elite program in the nation or the state” ???????????

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

One bad season when losing Stafford and Moreno and after finsihing #10 and #2 the PAST TWO SEASONS

If #10 and #2 along with the highest winning percentage of ANY team in the country is not Elite then I don’t know what is

This is pathetic knee-jerk pot-stirring CRAP

• Link
• Report this comment

JIMMY

You can have Richt and his great christian staff and keep being a loser; I’ll happily keep Urban Meyer and enjoy seeing the Gators beat Georgia, Tennesee and Fsu and about everyone else.
Georgia fans sure have become whiners; but, I guess you can’t expect anything different from losers.

• Link
• Report this comment

absolutely nailed Schultzie! earlier today you completely missed the boat, it’s coaching.

look at the national stats, it’s obscene. it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with the players we lost from last yr. heck they underachieved as well, were sloppy themselves.

I’m one that thinks Richt cannot and will not reach the level of Meyer and Saban.

Sorry, as a UGA grad and one who thinks alot of Richt as a person, dude it’s over in Athens, The Kitty is up in Knuckersville and he beat your ass and will go min. 3-2 in the next 5 with you, add in Florida, dude the closest you’ll get to the Ga dome is one of those revival deals that needs a huge arena.

It’s just over for the dean of the SEC, thanks for the success, on the other hand the brutal 2 losses to Ron Zuke were the worst. The Bobby Bowden lid at practice was cool too.

• Link
• Report this comment

Might as well settle in with this situation. Nothing will change until ESPN starts saying “Embattled Coach Mark Richt”. That will annoy President Adams because of the bad publicity.

• Link
• Report this comment

Turner Gill for the new UGA coach.

• Link
• Report this comment

Can’t play football with money. The dogs like to brag they have the best recruits, all the money, and how they are the best yet when they get on the field with the Gators they get beaten, most of the time badly. You will never achieve the status of Florida, you are second rate. If you can beat Tenn Tech you have a chance to win 6 games this year, congrats

• Link
• Report this comment

Might as well bring back Ray Goff, the result will be pretty much the same

• Link
• Report this comment

A Head Coach does not have to be a hard ass to win big. You are asking Richt to go against his personality. He was hard in the beginning to change the culture of Athens. If a Coach wants to be the CEO type and do the rah rah thing, he MUST have front line Managers that are driven and demand excellence. That is where butt kicking comes in for a Coach like Richt.

• Link
• Report this comment

As a fan I am somewhat concerned, but people need to chill with all this “fire Richt” talk. We are one year removed from a 10-win season (an underachieving one, but 10-win nonetheless), and two years removed from finishing #2 in the nation. People talk about us being “out of the SEC elite”, but where was this talk for LSU last year when they went 3-5 in SEC play? This is a down year because we have our worst starting QB of the decade and a piss poor defense.

The defense does need a massive shake-up, but other than that I don’t see too much reason to be worried. Our offenses the last few years have actually been BETTER than they were when David Greene was here if you look at our point totals. We have a better corps of young receivers than we ever have, and Ealey will be a star if they actually let the kid start. Things do seem a little stale, but firing Richt would be a huge mistake. Only typical morons of the “instant gratification” era would truly be in favor of that.

• Link
• Report this comment

The guy we have now would not leave the MIT of the south for that train wreck going South for any price.

• Link
• Report this comment

Gatormeat – Again, 46-….39-…2. What part of that don’t you get? You don’t like the past because the only past your jort wearing Gators knew was probation. You didn’t WIN THE SEC UNTIL 1990. LOL…..mediocrity defined was Florida football. You are in now up top. Great job. The fall will be glorious again once Meyer heads off to the NFL or another college job and when Tebow leaves.

You remember the ’spread’ with Leak running it? All you had was defense and a pathetic offense. I expect to see much of the same starting next year.

BTW – I hope Spikes tears his ACL on Saturday for being the scum he is.

• Link
• Report this comment

I know it recently was reported that all the coaches agreed unanimously that Joe Cox needs to continue being the starting quarterback and that he gives us the best opportunity to succeed. Doesn’t it make a little sense that the assistant coaches (especially our offensive and defensive coordinators) wouldn’t want to bench a mediocre quarterback that lacks results and consistency?

• Link
• Report this comment

JaxGator,

I’d rather be a loser in the game of football than in life, like you. This isn’t the NFL where everything is based solely on wins. This is college, where character counts for something. Let me repeat that for you. Character means something. I don’t mean being a character. I mean acting w/ honor and integrity, something the Florida coaches know nothing about-teaching their players to gouge out eyes and pull on jerseys to gain unfair advantages.

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t any real fan thinks CMR needs bo be fired but an idiot could see that we have some really big issues on this team. These issues go much deeper than just CWM and the defense. The biggest issue to me is the lack of discipline. I think if you kept everything else the same but could turn CMR into a strict disciplinarian UGA would be right back at the top.

• Link
• Report this comment

Does anyone know for sure, “Is Mark Richt a Democrat or a Republican? I think he is coaching like a Democrat. Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and Les Miles coach like Independents. I bet(almost certain) most college players are Democrats….and UGA’s players are willing to prove it. (soft, ineffective). Republican’s cheat and are mean. Does anyone know of any self-admitting Republicans in college football, besides (born-again Irish) Lou Holtz? I wonder if Lou Dobbs would be interested in coaching in the SEC?

• Link
• Report this comment

I think we should wear little propellers on the tops of our helmets for saturdays game. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

How do you get a dog to stop masterbating. Paint it Florida blue and orange and they won’t beat it for years

• Link
• Report this comment

Change the headline to IN Georgia, and you have the master explanation for everything that goes on here: Braves, Hawks, Falcons, Georgia, etc.
Paul Johnson at Tech doesn’t seem to suffer from it–yet, and Mike Smith is struggling mightily with it, but it will overtake them, too.
Just something in the water, I suppose. Or too many charity golf tournaments.

• Link
• Report this comment

The problem with Richt is: He needs to take over the offense and get his hands dirty……..

• Link
• Report this comment

I love it when FU fans say we beat Florida in 2007 because Tebow had a sore wib…ahhhh. Maybe it was also because Knowshon Moreno rushed for 200 yards. Give me a break. I remember the same people ridiculing UGA fans in 2005 for using the Shockley injury as our reason for losing. At least in that game Shockley actually DIDN’T PLAY, so we had a legitimate excuse.

• Link
• Report this comment

I has conjugated this sitiation fo some time. My conjugation has let me see that Buford T. Justice has gots to be the greatest conjugator on this site. He am one jeen-e-us.

• Link
• Report this comment

It’s just a game people….c’mon.

• Link
• Report this comment

FL will win when Tebow leaves. We won with Matthews, And Dean. And Johnson, And Wuerffel. And Grossman. And Leak. And you will all learn to hate Brantley, soon!

• Link
• Report this comment

Listen to your boy Ealey Dawg Fans and get over it. Move on to Tennessee Tech, Auburn, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech.

• Link
• Report this comment

Willie M is not the Dawgs’ only problem..Richt needs to run off several assistant coaches.

And Brent you may not have heard much on this blog but many Tiger fans were furious about the season we had last year. We would have not tolerated another season like that.

I do have to give Miles credit though as we have improved as we are 4-1 in the SEC compared to 3-5 a year ago. He brought in Chavis and Chavis hired 3 new position coaches on the defensive side. We gave up 103 points to Fl and UGa last season and 97 in 8 games this year. We may not win the West and we may lose to Bama but there is no doubt we are a better team than we were last season.

Richt’s staff is stale and he needs to make changes as it’s obvious the players lack discipline and focus. We’ll see to what extent after the season.

Geaux Tigers
Go SEC

• Link
• Report this comment

I wonder if Richt and Martinez are too afraid to recruit Belle Glade/Glades HS. Gardner probably gets that area.

• Link
• Report this comment

What jumps out at me the last 2 years with this team is the lack of leadership on the field. There are no Kelin Johnsons, David Pollack, Thomas Davis types that will get in another players face. I can’t count the number of times I saw words exchanged with players that were making mental mistakes, lacking effort by the 3 guys mentioned above. A team has to have leaders on the field. On the offensive side of the ball UGA hasn’t had a QB that you knew was in charge since David Green and D.J. Shockley. The last 2 teams seem to think that the game is just going out and carrying out the technical aspects of the game and expecting to win. And when these “technicians” don’t execute they seem to accept it all with an “oh well” attitude. There is no leader on the field getting in faces, kicking butts, and taking names. Yes there are problems that need to be resolved coaching wise. But until a new group of leaders on the field emerges this won’t get fixed. Believe me, the players own a hell of a lot of this.

• Link
• Report this comment

Coach Richt is going through some tough times right now, but I have no doubt he’ll have the Dogs competing for the SEC title again soon. Last year the O-Line was decimated by injuries. Had it not been we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. This year he doesn’t have enough playmakers. Give him a break. He recruits well and he can still coach.

By the way, was all that outrage at Brandon Spikes a little misplaced now that we have more information? This is what we learned today,

“That really didn’t matter to me,” Ealey said of the suspension. “That’s their decision. He shouldn’t, I think, get suspended at all. We were just out there playing football.”

Ealey said he had his eyes closed when Spikes stuck his hand in his helmet and he wasn’t hurt.

“He really didn’t gouge my eyes,” Ealey said. “He really didn’t get a chance to get close to my eyes.”

The freshman said he believes similar incidents happen all the time.

“I’m pretty sure it goes on back and forth,” he said. “We probably do it and other teams do too. It’s all football. We’re just out there trying to have fun.”

Schultz, Bradley, Barnhardt & Golic among many others look like fools again. Another case of judgement prior to investigation. Pathetic.

• Link
• Report this comment

It’s already too late. Richt needs to go now. Another year and the program will be a train wreck. Give hin several miilion to leave and it will be money well spent. He just doesn’t care.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, you nailed it on the head big time! Look, I am one of the biggest Richt fan, but something needs to change. I live in the Anderson and Clemson, SC area and have seen a change happen here with Tommy B. gone and Dabo in. Things are starting to look like FSU North in Athens. CMR needs to make changes and if not, he is going to have to go.

• Link
• Report this comment

js, you make some great points, but what about the discipline? We are making STUPID penalties! Clemson was making some of the same stupid penalties in the Bowden era, but this season we are seeing less laundry on the field against the Tigers. That is something I believe that the coaching staff can drill into the heads of these kiddies.

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t know what’s going on, but the autopilot comparison seems to fit. This happens to successful people and companies all the time – they go to sleep drunk on their accomplishments and forget to keep doing what got them there in the first place. Before they know it, they awaken, baking the cookies of discontent by the heat of the laundyMAT vent.

Apparently in Athens the law is not on Mark Richt’s side. He should hang out with me I play cards with JD Shellnut chief o PO-lice. Maybe he should tell everyone they can kiss his a..

L.L.T.Y.F.F.

• Link
• Report this comment

I agree Martinez needs to go but don’t get the ire over Bobo. IMO his play calling is better than Richt’s was, and our offense has been great during his first two full seasons as OC (’07 and 08). This year the offense is suffering due to lack of running game and an inadequate QB, plus inconsistency on the OL, but when provided with talent he has shown an ability to put some points up.

• Link
• Report this comment

Poor ole coach richt. We need to just lay off the guy…

He projects a great image for the program. He looks great in that picture, and he lets his wife be the water girl. We ought to be thankful to have such a fine man in charge of our football program.

Why, personally, I don’t care if we lose to Vandy or Kentucky every couple of years, and never beat Florida or Tennesee again, because when God looks down from heaven, he has to smile upon our
choice of coach. That’s what matters here.

He takes these poor kids that are so confused that they can’t remember to get their drivers liscences
renewed, and he helps put them on the straight and narrow. That, after all, is more important than Winning or Losing. That is building character. He helped make Matthew Stafford a multi-millionaire.
That’s what’s important here….

And you don’t have to get mad or be mean to be a great coach. Whoever says that doesn’t really understand what life is really about.

The bible says that the meek shall inherit the earth. So that means that eventually, if we keep coach richt around, we will win the national championship. You all don’t want to mess with God, do you? It’s bad enough that we have that Satan character over in Alabama.

But, eventually, he will leave, as will that mean ole urban meyer in florida. that kiffin boy is going to get what’s coming to him, too. and you know what….when that happens, the sun will shine and the dawgs will start winning again. then, the whole world will recognize Mark Richt for the great coach and leader that he is.

because…and let’s all say this together… mark richt is good enough, he is smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like him.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think there is simply too much bravado coming out of Athens. Expectations are way out of line, and they often supplant a good work ethic. UGa is much like the Dallas Cowboys – they think they are America’s team. How arrogant! And their fans are simply boorish.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think their camps should be like Marine basic. These guys should be pushed to the breaking point not only physically, but psychologically. They need mental toughness to go along with physical toughness.

• Link
• Report this comment

You want to know why Florida wins? This article was on Gator Country.com. Read.http://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/pressure_cooker/7530

• Link
• Report this comment

Two words: Phil Fulmer. Jeff, you should do some research and write an article. The parallels between Fulmer and Richt are eerily similiar. As a Tennesse fan, trust me, it will get worse and it is not a fun ride trying to get back to the top. UGA is a sinking ship for another year or two.

It starts with with the comfort you mentioned, then recruiting starts to slip, other coaches come in hungry (i.e. Saban/Meyer against TN) now Saban/Kiffin vs Georgia, then those close wins become narrow defeats and you are off the national radar….

• Link
• Report this comment

Fire him Jeff. This is a real world. College Football is a BUSINESS at this level.

• Link
• Report this comment

GREAT ARTICLE.
Richt is staying the course at UGA. The same old status quo.
Pathetic!!!
As Einstein said,” Insanity is a man who does the same thing over and over again, and expects a different result.”
Mark……are you listening??? Feeling a little crazy???

• Link
• Report this comment

Memo to Georgia Fans:

I wish all the UGA fans would quit sounding like such pansies sitting behind a keyboard. Brandon Spikes and I were going at it all day. I gave out as much as I received.

These fans who have never strapped on a jock are an embarrassment to UGA with all the whining about an injury that never took place and misconduct that never happened.

W. Ealey

• Link
• Report this comment

I honestly believe the problems on this team are three fold. (None of which are Richt), Ive met the man and he exudes strength and confidence and players also feed off of that.

I personally believe that the defense schemes used have not suited the kind of players that they have playing defense. Georgia is constantly playing soft zones and continually getting burned. These players just don’t know how to play cover2 zones. Martinez has to go because hes not sharp enough to understand that you don’t call defenses that your personel can’t execute. In particualar the secondary they are always out of position on Zone defense.

Joe Cox is simply not tall enough to play quick read and 3 step drop passes. His passes are constantly getting batted down by the opposing DLine……and the offensive line (and I do mean offensive) is not good enough to give Joe time to do a 5 step or 7 step drop.

There is a severe lack of leadership in the defense. Georgia desperately needs a Pollack or a Boss Bailey or even a Greg Blue who gets the defense focused on the field.

I don’t think Bobo has the staff to call the kind of plays that he prefers to call. It looks like everytime Georgia calls a more agressive play the offensive either gets a procedure penalty or the Oline gives up a sack. I think its Obvious that this Oline simply isn’t good enough and that more than anything should be the focus in recruiting for the next 2 years. Its obvious this class of linemen is a bust.

• Link
• Report this comment

Amen!!! I’ve been saying this for weeks…I’m just not as articulate as Mr. Shultz… the dawgs need to get that attitude back.

• Link
• Report this comment

truebluebravesfan

“Ive met the man and he exudes strength and confidence and players also feed off of that.”

That “exuding” called pheromones. He makes you want to mate with him.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark Richt: Just the ticket to excel during the vaunted Ron Zook / Phil Fulmer-twilight era in the SEC East. Now, not so much. The SEC title drought has only just begun for UGA — again.

• Link
• Report this comment

blue
Put some acetone on a dust mask next time you meet him. And leave off the rosey glasses.

• Link
• Report this comment

this is retarded. everyone needs to chill out. Richt will correct the ship, people like Schultz are just trying to create panic to get readers.

• Link
• Report this comment

How good of a coach would you think CMR would be if he had Stafford and MOreno and Allen back this year? Richt did get dumb (or unlucky) when he lost those three to the NFL. Where would Fla be without Timmy,EyeGouge and Cooper?

Richt has a winning record against everyone except fl.He has turned us from a 7-8 win team into a 10-11 win team. This year is the exception to 9years of really good football.

Mark Richt has one problem(maybe two) that he is being slow to act upon and that is the defense and Willie Martinez. He can’t fire his DC in the middle of the season. If changes are not made after the season, then you may have some small morsel of truth to your article.

• Link
• Report this comment

Right on Jeff couldn’t agree more. Urban Myer says if you sneeze you might get passed on the depth chart. Saban will get cuss you out if you don’t run fast enough out of the locker room. The loyalty to coaches and senior’s has got to go. Why is Evans still playing when Rambo is our best saftey including Reshad who has lost millions this year by his inability to adjust and read plays. Let’s not forget Richt’s number one goal is not to win the national championship it’s to mold good christian men. Our team doesn’t seem as tough or mean as Ala, Florida,Tenn and LSU. And they have to get a new strength and conditioning program and coaches and state of the art facility. And the coaches don’t matter until Richt gets tough and is somewhat feared by his players. Hate to say it but we are soft as butter and teams look forword to playing us because of this and the fact that they know are plays. Do we have a mole on the staff that sells playbooks and game plans???

• Link
• Report this comment

Wow… if you keep writing like this, you’ll ruin your reputation as a smarmy hack. Congrats, Schultz…. I never knew you had it in you.

• Link
• Report this comment

B Davis- FSU was a top 5 team for 14 straight years, won two national championships and consistently beat Florida in the 90’s. Nothing CMR has done at Georgia even comes close. As for the present, I think most FSU fans would more than settle for a CC and a top 5 ranking less than 2 seasons ago.

• Link
• Report this comment

I heard about 15 minutes (the very beginning) of Richt’s call in show and didn’t have a problem with a single response from Richt.

Richt didn’t gloss over anything, was nice to everyone who called in and was smart enough to know that engaging in a debate with some Joe Blow who already has his mind made up, set in stone, ain’t gonna change for nothing — is pointless.

Richt is a smart guy. He’s a classy guy. He’s also a guy who isn’t going to throw his coaches under the bus in mid-season just because fans want him to. And if you want someone else to be the coach because of that, you just need to get someone else to coach the team.

Things are rarely as good as they appear (example: GA Tech) and they are rarely as bad as they appear (example: UGA). I ain’t with no lynch mob types on this.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mediocre coaches + Uninspired players + No discipline = Average season.

• Link
• Report this comment

How do you spell relief for an ailing offense?

***** U-G-A-D-E-F-E-N-S-E ****************

Tenn Tech can’t wait to go against our D-II DEFENSE

• Link
• Report this comment

Until Richt TRULY feels the GAP between how he has perfomed so far as a head coach, and where he needs to BE in the FUTURE (National Championship), nothing’s gonna change.

If you’re going to be a rah-rah coach like Pete Carroll, then get emotional and go for it. If you’re going to be a coach like Sabam, get after some people every once in a while.

People need IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK to change their behavior. It’s not CRUEL to CORRECT a FAULT. That’s good coaching.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff well said, you are DEAD ON!!!
This coaching staff is so out of touch it’s scary. They can’t motivate the players because the players know they haven’t been properly prepared. This is especially true on the defensive side of the ball. Here’s a question: What do Jeff Owens, Bryan Evans, Prince Miller, Reshad Jones, Marcus Washington & Darius Dewberry have in common?
They have all REGRESSED under Martinez! Don’t believe me, go and look at each of these players and how they played in their freshman and soph years as compared to how they’ve played this year. Shouldn’t a senior be better than when he was a freshman or soph?

Willie had TWO FREAKIN WEEKS to prep for the gators, AND both Arkansas & Miss St gave him the blueprint on how to stop the gators…blitz, blitz, blitz. But oh no, he trots his same tired “one-size fits all soft zone prevent defense” out there. The one that he never makes ANY adjustments to regardless of opponents and their strengths and weaknesses. You got a strong running game but a QB that can’t throw, no problem- soft zone, you can air it out, no prob-soft zone, balanced attack- soft zone, spread option-soft zone, pure option- soft zone. Now I’m no expert, but common sense tells me that his defense CAN NOT possibly work in EVERY situation!! Now it doesn’t work at all because opposing OCs know EXACTLY what UGA will do on that side of the ball. THAT’s why we’ve given up 37pts or more on D 9 out of the last 17 games.
NOW we’re to beleive that Joe T IV with his noodle arm and 12 picks gives us the BEST chance to win?! UGA has had 21 turnovers this year and Cox is responsible for 13 of them!!! Over half the turnovers this year can be attributed to ONE player. I know Murray and Logan are unproven but c’mon they can’t possible do WORSE. Joe T IV has at least one pick in EVERY SINGLE GAME this season.
All we heard during the offseason is how penalties are a major issue and they are going to be addressed. We actually have gotten WORSE since they addressed them. Now the party line is “When I was at FSU we were the most penalized team in the ACC but we still won, so I don’t think it’s as big an issue as some may think” (not the exact word for word quote but right on the money) Are you kidding me?!
I had season tix in 1995 (Goff’s last year) and that wasn’t nearly as painful to watch as this train wreck is. Goff was a coach who was in over his head, but at least you knew he was TRYING. At least his teams lost with passion and fight. Now we just roll over, play dead and hope the mauling stops before someone gets hurt. Oh wait we can’t even say that since Joe T IV decided it was a good idea to hang our best player in AJ Green out to dry and get him a bruised lung.
I’m disgusted by what I’m seeing, and the alumni, boosters, fans AND players all deserve SO MUCH MORE than what they are getting out of these coaches!
I’m not saying Richt should go, but he HAS to grab the reins and get this program going in the right direction, and that means making some tough decisions.
1. Bench Cox
2. Fire Willie
3. Fire Janceck
4. Fire Fabris
5. Hire a PROVEN DC
6. Let the DC handle the D, and Richt focus on Bobo’s development.
Anything less than this and he will be on the hotseat next year for sure!

• Link
• Report this comment

I wonder if back in the 70’s when Coach Dooley was 5-5 or 6-6 people were calling for him to be fired? I don’t remember it. Bottom line is Coach Richt is a sharp guy and he will make the changes that need to be made to make Georgia a winner. He has been a winner the entire time he’s been in Athens. It is obvious the defense has been sliding since 2005 and changes will probably be made with the coaching staff to put the players in a position to make the plays. Special teams has been a big questions mark. At one point in the Florida game, we didn’t even run out 11 players to defend a field goal. Again, that’s coaching and someone not being focused. When will we ever rush a punt and how many more times this year will a team take advantage of the fact that we abandon the line of scrimmage in punt coverage. Coach Richt will get it together. Go Dawgs!

• Link
• Report this comment

Agree completely Jeff!

The fact that some of us are so outspoken and frustrated is that these changes should have taken place after last season instead of this one. He is just now realizing he has a problem. If he had made the appropriate changes instead of telling his constituency what idiots they are…it pisses you off.

You are darn right that there should be plenty of tension especially when things are spiraling downwards and the pilot is telling us we’ll be ok.

• Link
• Report this comment

I like our coaches, assistant coaches and our innovative game plans. I like our cheerleaders and dancing girls in the stadium we play in. You know, the one we call Sanford. I like officer ______, because he never writes me a ticket. So I don’t think anything needs to be changed. We’re all having fun, spending money, where’s the rub?

• Link
• Report this comment

Not quite spot-on, Schultzy, but very close…

Production is certainly down and layoffs are looming at the “football factory” out in Athens. However, I don’t think complacency is the issue. Somewhere along the way, it seems, CMR and his players may have lost sight of the humble confidence, the discipline, and the “lunchpale-like” work ethic that came to define UGA football under Vince Dooley and, ultimately, formed the basis of the program’s success since 1980. CMR promised (and has largely delivered) an exciting new brand of offensive football when he took the reigns at UGA nearly a decade ago. Ironically, however, he may now be learning that it was the brand that he inherited – rather than the “brand” that he brought – that was (and remains) the true strength of the program…

During the first several years of his tenure in Athens (and despite preaching a different and more contemporary style of play), CMR clearly seemed to recognize the long and storied football tradition that had been entrusted to him to preserve and protect. In many respects, he seemed humbled by the responsibility and weight that accompanied that tradition and, arguably, appeared satisfied simply to stand proudly on the shoulders of the men who built that tradition to win two SEC championships of his own, and the admiration and respect of his opponents, players, and coaches…

In recent years, however, it seems that we have witnessed a subtle shift in both behavior and style on the sidelines at UGA. At times, CMR’s behavior now suggests that he may have decided that he is bigger than the program… that his own personal philosophy and coaching style have now eclipsed the tradition and transcended the “brand” that is UGA football. That perception – regardless of whether or not is accurate or fair – should be cause for serious concern to CMR not because the fan base and alumni are confused and upset but, rather, because of the effect that it appears to be having on his players and the future of the program. Excessive celebration when it is clearly unwarranted… taunting, trash-talking, and sloppy execution on the football field… these are all symptoms of a coach who may have temporarily taken his eye off the ball, and players who have lost sight of the philosophy and core values that have formed the basis of UGA football and the success of the UGA brand. The corrosive effect of these symptoms on a football program – or, frankly, on any Fortune 500 company or professional organization – cannot be overstated…

Unlike the situation that existed at Florida when Steve Spurrier took over the Gators back in the day, UGA football is not, and never has been, a program in search of motivation or an identity. Changing the color of the football helmets (arguably the single-most identifiable marker of the UGA brand) was an unpleasant and, for many fans, inexcusable reminder of that fact. CMR can correct the current situation by simply taking a long, hard look in the mirror first, then by making the tough decisions necessary to restore the humble confidence, discipline, character, and work ethic that, collectively, have formed the basis of UGA football success over the years… in any era… and regardless of who is wearing the headset…

My .02, Jeff, offered humbly from the perspective of someone who grew up with Dooley’s “Junkyard Dawgs”, and who, as a graduate of Georgia Tech, is now very pleased to see many, if not all, of these same core values reflected in the philosophy and coaching style of CPJ…

• Link
• Report this comment

Good work. See, Mark? Stick to writing about sports because your opinions on politics are not welcome, nor justified.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’m only up because I have a cold, but I want to remind everyone that you can’t be critical of our team or program if you haven’t played the game. So unless you’re an ex-player, I only want to see POSITIVE comments from here on. Now have you panty-waists got that ?

• Link
• Report this comment

Good article. I think this is the first time that he is really facing questions about his program. He is a smart guy, I think, and should make some changes at least at the end of the year. He has a great freshman class to build on. Next year will decide. Still, IF you are a great coach, you don’t need black helmets to get your team up for a Florida-Georgia game…..do you?

• Link
• Report this comment

I didn’t realize Florida’s dominance over GA in the last 20 years had everything to do with Tim Tebow. Was there a prophecy or something? Leak smacked your around. Grossman smacked you around. Heck, two generations of humans have beaten you like drums. It’s time to change the schedule and get a REAL rivalry game and just let this game be called “The Mounting of Georgia.” I can’t wait to see the desperation in Slick Willie’s eyes when Paul Johnson runs the ball down the throat of the worst defense in the SEC. You guys should try and get in the ACC so you have a shot to get in the top three of your own division every year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jimmy….. you are mortified that coaches would teach their players to cheat! Don’t tell me, you never played “big boy” sports? If you do not know sports go to the cooking blogs.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey Jeff,
Thanks for hitting the nail on the head. Why haven’t we seen the fire with which the Bulldogs breathed when they came back to whip UT in the “hobnail boot” game? What about the way that they caught fire after being embarrassed in that UT game year-before-last and roared down the stretch? Yes, we had Stafford and Moreno, but our line should be playing better for our backs today, even if they’re not playing as well as Matthew and Knowshon did.
Here’s another point: I know it doesn’t often make much sense to compare games that common opponents have against each other, but in regard to last season, please tell me why we couldn’t handle Tech’s option? We handled LSU pretty well, and LSU throttled Tech in their bowl game. Why did we permit Tech to come back from 16 down to kick our tails at home?
You’re right, once again, to focus on what we have done since last season’s blowout loss to Bama (again, at home). Not much extraordinary, except for that fine win over LSU. Of course, Damon Evans deserves a healthy dose of the blame for his “adventurous” scheduling. The SEC + Tech schedule that we play demands that we schedule the lesser lights as breathers. We really don’t need to be giving an OK State an opportunity to “mature” at our expense!
One more time: Can CMR rehire BVG?
One more time: those black helmets and pants should be burned.

• Link
• Report this comment

Bobo – Martinez.

Would any team in America start their national championship campaign with these guys at the helm of their O and D strategies?

Nope.

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] there’s much of Jeff Schultz’ argument that resonates when he writes this: The problems at Georgia are similar to those that can afflict [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

trueblueBravesfan – what was that midget Eric Zeirs excuse for setting all of those UGA & SEC records?

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Not enough accountability at Georgia. [AJC] [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff’s best article ever.

• Link
• Report this comment

Fianlly, someone has the gonads to say what everyone has been thinking for the last two seasons.

• Link
• Report this comment

Nice guy, good coach.. sucky team.. punks need to be motivated and fearful of losing thier playing time. Only comodity with the players that works. Keep it up Dawgs — We enjoy winning about every year in Jax. Go Gators!

• Link
• Report this comment

Even if we don’t win another game, we are a better program than most, and that includes your newly adopted team GT! The economic impact of one UGA game is probably larger than all of Tech’s season put together. You know it, Bradley knows it, you just finally have a chance to “down” the GA program and create some controversy in an attempt to increase readership. I’m sorry but there will be no Pulitzer for your shoddy opinions because you are second team at best.

• Link
• Report this comment

95,000 fans watching a loss.

• Link
• Report this comment

Max capacity of Sanford Stadium ( a former landfill named after Fred G. Sanford) is 92,746.

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] along with many Bulldog fans — writes that Richt’s “methods have to change.  Everything that might affect direction and atmosphere has to change.”Yep.  A season that could still wind up 9-4 is call to blow up everything at Georgia but Sanford [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

95,000 fans every game wrote: “even if we don’t win another game, we are a better program than most, and that includes your newly adopted team GT”. Do I even need to comment on this? Dang ole stupid dogs fans!

• Link
• Report this comment

” the ship be sinking in athens” neutered dogs are jumping off the ship.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hardcore UGA fans know all of the above comments to be 100% accurate. It is time for change, as Richt has simply been too close to his PALS ( aka coaches ) to make the necessary changes. The Sugar Bowl vs WVA was an early indication of the UGA Defensive staff to interpet their ( WVA ) spread offense and make the needed game corrections. DJ Schockley almost brought UGA back but CWM could not handle them. Too little and too late.

Now? Throw the bums out ……………ALL of them, including Mark Richt. If we do not do that, then this exact same time in 2010 will reveal the same problems. It is now obvious to folks that only ocasionally watch college football that UGA has NO D> and it the result of a lack of QUALITY coaches.

Damon Evans must pull the plug now ………or Mike Adams should.

UGA, class of 71&73

• Link
• Report this comment

GT is licking their chops, UGA will score but Tech will control the clock and the game.CPJ is the new man in town so play tough or get back up on the porch.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think the Dawg fans should do Saturday what the Cleveland Browns’ fans are going to do for their upcoming Monday night game, show up late. Let all the empty seats at the beginning of the game send a message to Richt that if he doesn’t do something QUICK to shake things up & fix the woes of this underachieving, UNDISCIPLINED program, he can take the water girl & go back to Tallahassee.

• Link
• Report this comment

The problem started when Richt decided to take the “CEO” role of the team and delegate responsibilities. Great idea if you have the makeup of a CEO, but Richt doesn’t. Any CEO will tell you that you have to let people go who are slowing you down and CMR just won’t do it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sick Naban and Oscar Meyer are still on their honeymoons. In Tuscalooza Saban probably fears for his life if his team should fail. In Gainesville Meyer really is honeymooning…with Timmy. So your comparison is apples and oranges. UGA will be back, but it may take a total coaching change. I still say they should go after Saban. If anyone could steal him away from the toilet paper and washing power crowd, it’s UGA.

• Link
• Report this comment

Good job summing up the feeling in Athens. Mark Richt seems like one of those “good old boy” coaches that is always mellow, friendly, and even tempered. That often doesn’t make for a good head coach. I think Mike Smith with the Falcons is a good example of the temperament of a head coach. He laughs and celebrates with his players when appropriate but he will also lose his sh@t and get in a players face when necessary. The players and the coaches have to know that if they screw up there will be ramifications. I think that’s a big part of this problem with penalties. I think Martinez has to go this off-season and Richt needs to show a more dissatisfaction with the team and let them know that the recent performance is unacceptable.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think you’ve figured this one out, Jeff. My concern is I’m not sure CMR has figured this one out. In fact. it actually amazes me that I could possibly think he may not have figured this out. “None are so blind as those who will not see.” If he even momentarily thinks about not getting rid of CWM, he does not get it.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think Richt has made a mistake. Kept Bobo calling plays too long, kept Martinez too long. If Evans decides Richt isn’t the guy and some ask who out there is better – Gary Patterson. Look at what he has done with TCU. They have beaten Oklahama and Clemson away. You can discount their conference, but then you have to also discount the attractiveness of the school for recruiting. No national TV, recruit against Texas, OU, Ok St., Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Arkansas and LSU. They play solid defense and win games they shouldn’t while destroying teams they should. Some big school will pick him up this year – Michigan? A&M? If Georgia is going to make a move now would be the time, while there aren’t many other marquis programs that have a coach on the bubble.

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep holding your breath Techie with your fake handle. Richt will right the ship as well you know. Idiot.

• Link
• Report this comment

One more comment Eric; if Saban and Meyer are still on honeymoons, what is Richt on, a funeral procession?

• Link
• Report this comment

Meyer is coaching Thugs??? Obviously you didnt see the game, and the multiple times UGA players gouged eyes, ripped off helmets, hit players after they were out of bounds…..I could go on and on.
My point, Brandon tried to reciprocate…….and Meyer doesnt tolerate that. It would be nice to see CMR discipline his players……maybe you would have a team willing to play for their coach!

• Link
• Report this comment

JB may be overstating the situation when he says that Richt is setting the program back 10 years, but it’s clear that the program is in serious decline, and that Richt is incapable of turning things around.

Richt has got to go, the sooner the better.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, you are exactly right even though a lot of Dawg fans don’t want to accept it. For the last year or two when Richt started getting some criticism, many Richt supporters on these blogs would run to his defense and speak up about how wonderful he was and that “he averages 10 wins per season”. I sure got tired of reading and hearing that. It’s funny to me now how only a few people are sticking up for him. His former supporters are, for the most part, gone into hiding. And I haven’t heard that ‘10 wins per season’ phrase in a loooooooong time…..thank goodness!

• Link
• Report this comment

OldDawg, it’s not just “1 out of 8 years we have a hiccup.” The trend is downward, and the reason is that Richt has gone as far as he can go. Look at other schools like Tennessee and Georgia Tech. They reached the point with Fulmer and Gailey where it was obvious that those coaches were not going to take them to championships and BCS bowls, so they replaced them.

UGA needs to face the reality of the situation and replace Richt. Now.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

As a Gator fan I hope CMR stays for a long, long time (and Boby Bowden too).

• Link
• Report this comment

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!

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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!

• Link
• Report this comment

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

• Link
• Report this comment

He may not have any fire in the belly but he sure does have some shredded calves.

• Link
• Report this comment

Nice guys are a dime a dozen. $2,000,000.00 greenbacks a year should get you more than a nice guy.

• Link
• Report this comment

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

• Link
• Report this comment

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?

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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……

• Link
• Report this comment

Gator Ev,

Good post. Its all about the $$$$$$$$.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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!

• Link
• Report this comment

GREAT ARTICLE!

• Link
• Report this comment

The Red Queen’s Race.

• Link
• Report this comment

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!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Fire Mark Rectum, Fire Mark Rectum….

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey “JDawg is a Moron” – no techie here – Class of 85. What are you a Dawg wannabe? Favorite movie Titanic? You probably think we should still have Ray Goff in charge. I like Richt and defend him all the time. We are a top 25 PROGRAM – not team, at the moment. That means we should have a Top 25 head coach (check), Top 25 facilities (check), Top 25 talent (check), Top 25 fan base (check), Top 25 expectations (check), and Top 25 Offensive and Defensive coordinators (OH *&^%!!!). However, Richt owns the show. If we still have either one of those knuckleheads next year, I am off the Richt bandwagon. Our defense can’t tackle and has no intensity. Bobo is the only OC in the SEC who passes on almost every 3rd and 3. Anyway, back Richt for now… by the way I’ve got some Betamax tapes you can have.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, I was just wondering how much sports you actually played. Back when you would have been playing I might agree that fear motivates an athlete to play better. Today, I would totally disagree with ANYONE who thinks you can motivate a 6-8 32o pound 21 year old with fear. One reason why is won’t work is that they have nothing to lose. They aren’t even going to lose PT. Why do you think Reshad Jones wasn’t scared of losing his job after the way he played against Tech last year? Because there is no one remotely as good as he is to take his place. There’s no body else to put in that could do as well as him. So exactly what is it you think these guys should fear? A stern yelling at? PLEASE! Just turns kids off. Watch Saban show his butt sometimes ans see what the players do , they just tune him out until he gets finished. Why is it you think Spurrier hasn’t had a QB make it to the NFL since Danny Werful (sp) ? He yells and screams and pitched fits and throws his visor and they just tune him out until he is finished. Then pick up where they left off and use their talent to win at the college level, but it takes brains to win at the pro level and if all you’ve done is tune your coaches out for 4 years, it ain’t happening. So what exactly do you think the players would fear?

The other thing I am glad of is that CMR doesn’t answer to you or these other idiots that have never played or been in a team situation that want to see more “fire.” Ever heard of Tom Landry? He did pretty well in his career as a mild mannered man.

I will accept any blame you may want to place on the current staff for recruiting poor players. But not to be able to execute what they are taught to a high level is all on the players. As you said before, the defense that finished overall #2 in the nation was coached by the same man that coaches them today. He didn’t wake up and forget how to do it. The difference int hen and now? Players. I don’t care how many stars some recruiting service puts by their names, it just means that all that can be evaluated that way is their physical ability. Their minds and decision making ability cannot.

• Link
• Report this comment

Phil, get your facts straight; Doug Johnson, Jesse Palmer, Rex Grossman. It is on the players, but it is also on the staff to coach em up, as Spurrier would say. Look at Riley Cooper, probably a little better than average, but yet he is vastly improved this year over last. All of what you say is true, but at some point it is either on the coaches for not recruiting the right players or not developing the ones they had.

• Link
• Report this comment

all this weeping because two guys wanted millions…..

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey Jeff – way too much emotion this week on the Spikes / eye-gouging, Williams / late hitting thing. I agree that Spikes should be suspended – half game or full, either way.

Is it me, or is this the “official year of unnecessary drama?”

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff, never said YOU said fire anyone… these no brain posters are guilty of that.

GatorDawgpounder… if we’d skated by with just the 5 injuries you mentioned for your team in ‘08, we’d have won teh BCS instead of you. 18-5…. means we had 13 MORE players out than you did. Not an excuse bro, at some point excuses turn into facts.

• Link
• Report this comment

Waaaaaay too much comfort, and nooooo accountability. That’s a bad recipe for the future.

• Link
• Report this comment

F_ ck Richt!

• Link
• Report this comment

You idiots who keep asking to see more of Logan Grey are no judge of talent at all. Grey is not a quarterback at the DIV 1A level…..and never will be. He may have a place on the team but not at quarterback. Defensive back maybe. Cox is adequate to win games, but not by himself. I don’t know of a quarterback that ever played the game that could overcome the problems UGA exhibits on the field (maybe Michael Vick). CMR needs to get those freshmen QB’s some experience for next year…damn the redshirt!! If he doesn’t, he will be answering the same questions next year that he’s NOT answering this year. And it may ultimately cost him his job and UGA an excellent coach. Look what happened to the JAX JAGUARS after they fired Tom Coughlin during a period of transition in QB. Tom went on to win Championships with another team, while the JAGS wallowed in mediocrity. Same can be said for the Tony Dungy/Tampa Bay Bucs and will be said about the Auburn/Tuberville situation in the future. CMR is a good coach many would be honored to play for, be he is letting pride get in the way of common sense.

• Link
• Report this comment

I really think we need a Never Quit attitude and I just don’t see it in Richt at all.He dont show much emotion at all until it’s too late ..DEEP into the season he now decides to point to plays the refs miss and now that he did they start throwing flags on a Florida team that hasn’t been flagged all year..TOO BAD it was late at near the end of the game,but they were hit with quiet a few after that .Ive seen play after play that should have been red flagged and Richt stood Idle..he could have thrown the challenge flag on too much celebration after the AJ score on LSU that cost us the game and saw AJ did half if anything more than Tebow does every single game “BUT HE DIDN’T IN THE GEORGIA GAME HMMM Held his emotion in check with UM on his case I bet..nothing was going to ruin beating Georgia even if Tebow had to be ilenced..wonder why Richt doesn’t command that same respect????? another hmmmm Well I think the man we need for this or other job on this Georgia team is a man who NEVER QUIT And that man’s name would be DAVID POLLACK. We seriously need to put his name out there ..that Guy never quit and broke his freaking neck hitting men that were really too big for him..His heart alone got him to the NFL not his size for sure..He will butt heads with the players like ERK did,yes even with a previous broken neck,he will.If not a head coach a for sure DEFENSIVE ONE ,No doubt .TIME TO THROW SOME NAMES OUT FOR SPOTS HERE JEFF

• Link
• Report this comment