Richt’s plan should be based on Georgia’s start, not finish
Georgia coach Mark Richt is intent on trying to keep everybody focused on the season's last few games, not what may happen next. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC.com)
ATHENS — In Mark Richt’s let’s-salvage-what-we-can-out-of-this-season nirvana, Georgia closes the year with five straight wins, the coach adds a 9-4 season to his resume and the panicking masses calm down just enough to stop waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, screaming something about the triple-option.
Maybe 9-4 wasn’t the dream in September. But it became the dream in November.
There’s only one potential pitfall to that scenario. Wins over Tennessee Tech, Auburn and even Georgia Tech (rivalry game) can send out false signals. A strong finish says something about the character of young players who didn’t quit on a season that unraveled early. But it doesn’t explain a year and a half of disappointment in the program.
Loading ...Players know this. The assumption is Richt knows it, too.
With the Dogs preparing for their season’s final home game against Kentucky, Richt will tell you he can’t see past Saturday. He obviously can. And he probably does — every day. He is doing everything possible to douse speculation about the future of his coaching staff and what changes he might make in the program. The latest evidence came Tuesday.
When asked if he would factor in how the team finishes the season into his off-season plans, it was as if Richt pushed a button and interview autopilot kicked in.
“I’ll say this: It’s definitely good policy for me not to answer you,” Richt said. “My main focus again is Kentucky. That’s where I have to keep my mind. That’s what I have to focus on. Focusing on anything too far down the road is not healthy for me or the team. So my goal is really to make sure we’re ready to play against Kentucky.”
This week’s game is against Kentucky. Both teams are 6-4. Both teams beat Auburn by a touchdown. That’s really the only reality check Georgia needs.
If the Bulldogs win Saturday, it will be a nice memory for the seniors.
If they beat Georgia Tech in two weeks, it will return bragging rights to Athens.
If they win whatever bowl game they ultimately land in, it will create a talking point for spring football.
But that’s it. When a season loses its meaning, decisions can’t be based on the games that follow.
The hard questions haven’t changed. What happened in Stillwater after an entire off-season of preparation? What happened in Knoxville? What happened in Gainesville? Again. Why does it seem like so many of the nation’s top recruits are not being coached up? Why does Georgia too often lose physical battles? What happened to the mental toughness? Whatever became of the impact of the vaunted mat drills?
Any changes Richt makes need to be based on why the air went out of the season so soon, not where they may be in a few weeks.
Players are aware there may be changes. Flanker Israel Troupe said, “You never want to see anything dramatic happen. We want to play hard every day for all of us, players and coaches. We’re a tight knit family. You hear the talk. You read things in the media. But you can’t worry about that. You have to worry about what goes on in house and on the field.”
Finishing the season strong, Rennie Curran said, “would show we can still do great things and we’re a program that’s still on the rise, despite what happened early. It’s still about how you respond to adversity. But I do think the whole season should be taken into account.”
Three more wins would make the record nicer to look at. But it wouldn’t erase two months.
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641 comments Add your comment
Heath
November 17th, 2009
4:09 pm
If Richt shows a little fire like he did against Auburn, we could win out. Will Richt have a pulse the rest of the season?
Mr C.
November 17th, 2009
4:10 pm
second
cajdawg
November 17th, 2009
4:12 pm
2008
Alabama 41 pts
LSU 38 pts
Kentucky 38 pts
GT 45 pts
2009
South Carolina 37 pts
Arkansas 41 pts
Tennessee 45 pts
Florida 41 pts
Heath
November 17th, 2009
4:14 pm
That’s one giant leap for mankind. And against idiots who post “first.”
E
November 17th, 2009
4:14 pm
9-4 = more Willie!!!
gratefuldawghead
November 17th, 2009
4:15 pm
While Richt works too save Martinez FSU is talking to Smart! We need some coaching changes and its time Richt grew a pair a put The University of Georgia Over his friendship with Martinez!
bali smith
November 17th, 2009
4:16 pm
very good article. I totally agree with what I just read. Georgia needs to fix alot of problems before next season. Mental toughness , better preparation, better focus are just a few. things that i believe need to be looked at.I believe in family and teams being close, but maybe a wakeup call is needed at UGA
jaxdawg
November 17th, 2009
4:19 pm
What happened in Gainesville? Huh?? I must have missed that one.
BugKiller
November 17th, 2009
4:22 pm
Jeff,
Richt has shown again and again and again that he will refuses to do the right thing.
He will continue to put his personal relationship with Willie Martinez and Martinez’s best interets ahead of the best interests of our program.
Mark Richt is therefore unfit to lead this program.
It is time to FIRE MARK RICHT.
And it time to hire Brian Kelly, before Notre Lame does.
collegeballfan
November 17th, 2009
4:22 pm
To all you Richt doubters, maybe Notre Dame will hire him off your hands.
Football Ken
November 17th, 2009
4:24 pm
Jeff,
If Richt drops the ball this off-season ,he is setting his self to take WHATEVER comes next year. You are right on brotha!! Two months of this crap is enuff. Bye-bye Willie, Fabris and make sure you dont forget strength coach, too!!
20 wins in a row
November 17th, 2009
4:28 pm
Cajdawg – you forgot Florida’s 49 point total in 2008. How about those Florida Gators? 20 wins in a row, send them a card or a gift basket to show your appreciation.
Norton
November 17th, 2009
4:30 pm
Jaxsonville not Gaisville. But what ever and where ever. Same old story with the pups every year. Did you notice Richt beaming and interacting with the crowd after the SC game? He acted like they just won the the SEC championship. Sad. I think Kentucy with beat them and know GT will bury them. Hey how about that ol song, “next year”. Jeezzz
Bob
November 17th, 2009
4:31 pm
BugKiller,
You are certifiably insane. Jeff, things really that slow that you have to come up with these type stories two and three times a week?
B Davis
November 17th, 2009
4:36 pm
Hopefully the dawgs will keep Willie and Richt for many years to come.
Chan Gailey here we come.
lefty fielder
November 17th, 2009
4:40 pm
Firing Richt is certainly not the answer, but giving up 30-40 points a game . . . in the SEC . . . makes 6 wins a miracle.
Touchdown Georgia, Baby!!!
November 17th, 2009
4:40 pm
I hear ya Patton!!!! You tell’em!!
cajdawg
November 17th, 2009
4:42 pm
I forgot about Florida’s 48 points in 2008. I just threw up in my mouth.
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
November 17th, 2009
4:43 pm
I agree that we should evaluate our staff (mainly Martinez) based on the season as a whole instead of in pieces. And I think it’s time for Martinez to move on. There are sparks of him doing a good job, but when he blows it, he blows it BIG TIME. Van Gorder’s defenses rarely give up the kinda points that Martinez’s have. Yeah, the offensive game has changed in the five or so years since VG left, but good coaches adapt. No offense is undefendable.
However, what happened in Gainesville? Nothing related to us because we played Florida in Jacksonville and have been for decades (a couple years in the 90’s excepted).
BDAWG
November 17th, 2009
4:45 pm
I don’t think Richt will be mandated to make any changes this off-season but I do think that if he does not make any changes and we have the same results next season the big change everyone is wanting will be the HC instead of the DC. With that being said though, I believe Richt sees the writing on the wall and he will fire/demote Willie at the end of the season. I would love to see Smart as the next DC but I don’t see that happening and it sure as heck doesn’t need to be Garner.
LHardingDawg
November 17th, 2009
4:46 pm
Bugkiller is an idiot.
George P
November 17th, 2009
4:47 pm
I think the UGA nation is getting a little too confident after a lackluster season. The Jackets are strong, much better coached, are actually playing for a leader, and are producing on offense week in and week out. It’s probably best for the dawg fans to be worried for what’s after Kentucky
ncdawg
November 17th, 2009
4:48 pm
Make that 49.
SoCal Dawg
November 17th, 2009
4:48 pm
WE WANT SMART!
lefty fielder
November 17th, 2009
4:48 pm
LHardingDawg
Diazinon?
Joe
November 17th, 2009
4:56 pm
There is one thing for certain…whatever Richt does it SHOULD NOT be based on what any of the so called sportswriters from the AJC think- thats for sure!
MoDawg
November 17th, 2009
4:57 pm
Willie was the def. backs coach during the VG era and did a nice job. He’s obviously overwhelmed handling the entire defense. Let’s let him go back to that and bring in one of “our own” in Muschamp or Smart. Both are DGD, but I’m not sure they’d take the lateral move.
Joe
November 17th, 2009
4:57 pm
Smart??? You have to be kidding me. Give Bama a few years- they will be in trouble with the NCAA again. Kirby spends to much time in the “gray” area and it will come back to bite bama. No thanks!
Brad
November 17th, 2009
4:58 pm
Jeff,
I’ve been pretty hard on you at times. But lately I find myself agreeing with you more often than not. I still think that you like to antagonize a fanbase that you look at with a mixture of bemusement and condescension. But my opinion of you has improved. You still like to get your digs in (see the tripple option comment) but I guess you have to do something to make this a bit more fun for you.
Anyway, good job on this one. I think you are spot on. I, like a lot of other UGA fans, am concerned about how costly that win against Auburn might have been for our program. It’s a shame to have to qualify a win like that. Especially one against a rival. But there was something in Richt and Martinez’s deameanors at the end of that game that makes me think they believe they can justify Willie returning next season. There was a look of triumph about the whole thing that seemed to be about much more than a victory over Auburn.
In Richt’s post game comments and the comments that he has made this week, he seems to view that game as a referendum on Martinez rather than what you rightly described as two seasons’ worth of dissapointing football. Would winning out be nice in and of itsself? Yes. But why does it always come down to this? Why do we have to always suffer through losses in which the team just seemed uninterested or unprepared? Meltdown In Knoxville I and II, the loss to OK State, the blackout gaffe, the folding of the tent against LSU by our D, we all remember these games and those are just a few. We always seem to have to either lose our season or go right to the brink before we start playing with any fire or sense of purpose. And in the end, it always seems as if it’s good enough for Richt. The attitude seems to be, “Sure we have nothing left to play for but gee, look how we responded to adversity.” Call me delusional but this will never be good enough for me. We didn’t hire Mark Richt to get beaten by mediocre and just plain bad teams. We didn’t hire him to continue to be dominated by Florida. We didn’t hire him to struggle with perrinial middle of the pack conference foes such as South Carolina. And we sure as heck didn’t hire him for moral victories. Coach Richt seems oblivious or indifferent to all of this. Changes are in order and Martinez is just the beginning. The strength and conditioning program (spare me any nonsense about how well respected Van Halenger is) needs an overhaul. But I doubt CMR will do anything. I think we’ll see the same cast of characters and similar results next season.
Jeff's brain
November 17th, 2009
4:59 pm
Folks, I believe Jeff means Jacksonville, not Gainesville.
A suggestion
November 17th, 2009
4:59 pm
Hey, I hear Chan Gailey is available.
UGA Fan
November 17th, 2009
5:00 pm
BugKiller – really? I mean, … really? That may be the first time the sentence “Richt has shown again and again and again that he will refuses to do the right thing.” has ever been written.
What color is the sky in your world? Surely you must live in some sort of alternate universe and found a way to hack into ours. Do you actually follow UGA football? The most redeeming quality Richt has (and there are many) is that he clearly strives to “do the right thing” with every decision he makes.
Joe
November 17th, 2009
5:04 pm
BUGKiller….Please become a BUGLover- with your logic, we dont need you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denver Dawg
November 17th, 2009
5:06 pm
yeah yeah yeah, but what does L-DAWG think????
Jeff
November 17th, 2009
5:07 pm
BugKiller- you’re a complete loser. Go kiss up on the Jackettes- they are in needof stupid fans like you to fill their stadium
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 17th, 2009
5:10 pm
So your point is lay it down for the rest of the season?You lose two of the best offensive players ever to play at UGA and 9-4 is a huge letdown?To who?Why is OK state so bad…they have not had Dez Bryant since their 3rd game and are still ranked(imagine us without AJ since our 3rd game)maybe FLA and Lsu are simply better this year.What rational person expected a great season after seeing Joe Cox play?Sure the senior class was ranked highly when they signed but the best players are already gone.
Tom
November 17th, 2009
5:11 pm
A spot-on piece, if you’re able to see the two inches past the Jacksonville-Gainesville slip.
Really, a 9-4 finish could conceivably do more long-term harm than good. It could very easily lead to another year of stagnation while Tennessee gets stronger in the East and, over in the West, Alabama cements its return to national powerhouse status. Florida will have big turnover but they have such a psychological edge over UGa at this point that even with wholesale replacement on both sides, they’ve got a really good shot at winning again next year.
While there are plenty of teams out there that would love to finish 9-4 in any year, Georgia isn’t one of ‘em. Vandy, SC, Arkansas, probably a lot of ACC teams…not Georgia.
stu-meister
November 17th, 2009
5:11 pm
i think they’ll end up 9-4 with a decent bowl game.outback win against penn state or iowa.with that said.thet need to take care of the severe problems they have with their coaching.these are way too talented not to dominate a ton of games and win a lot more games than they have since van gorder left.it shouldn’t be that hard to get a stud defensive coach with some fire in his gut and some guts to be aggressive.when you’re bigger;faster;stronger;more skilled and deeper than your opponent every single week and you don’t whip some arse.there’s a major problem here somewhere.i love coach richt but he needs to show that georgia winning is more important than friendship.you can atill have both but if one isn’t working then fix it.
One tin soldier rides away
November 17th, 2009
5:13 pm
Ok guys here is the ticket. If you look at the season, you should want to know this:
What happened with between 3 minutes left in the first quarter of the Ok State game, and the start of the 2nd quarter of the Auburn game? You see though it is not that simple. We are not playing flag football. This is SEC football on the highest level. I don’t doubt that Willie, Bobo,Searles and Fabris are fine coaches. The fact is this, they are not getting the job done.
The defensive stat that sticks out is that they have improved to #39 in the nation. IMPROVED to an unaccpetable level. The offense is in the bottom 10% in the country, and the line, up until last weekend, and the first half of the Ok State game have not blocked anyone. We gave up a TD on a kickoff against Auburn. We could not stop UF, LSU, ASU, or UT.
I’d say this change the DC, change the OC or line coach, and change the special teams coach. That will get it done. Notice, I didn’t say fire anybody. Bobo is a good QB coach, Willie is a good DB coach, Searles is a good line coach, and Fabris is a good moral leader. Without some change because we need it not just to change, we will be writing the same stuff next year. The good news is that Tech has an inferior defense to UGA, and Kentucky can’t stop the run. My suggestion for us against Ky is run 4 yards and fall down, take all 45 seconds on each play and keep our defense off the field. Rather simplistic, but it might work for us. Against Tech, pray for rain. It works to the recievers benefit.
Joe that is the best comment I’ve read all year.
GO DOGS
bob horner stayed hurt
November 17th, 2009
5:13 pm
If the Dawgs win out I think no changes are made in the coaching staff…that’s a HUGE if….we are not good enough to over look Kentucky…take it easy on BugKiller…he bleeds red and black…he’s just opionated and has a quick trigger finger….time will change that…
Dominick
November 17th, 2009
5:14 pm
Mr. Schultz I know this is not the right blog, but I wanted to give some credit to Glanville. You called the man a clown. Now If I remember correctly “the clown” took over a powerhouse 89 3/13 falcons team that was playing infront of 8,000 fans to a 10/6 record with a road playoff win in New Orleans in just 2 seasons! If Glanville was a clown what does that make Patrino?
MikeJones
November 17th, 2009
5:15 pm
That was exceptionally obnoxious. Terence Moore is smiling. Go write about Paul Johnson dipsh*t.
Brad
November 17th, 2009
5:16 pm
I agree Tom. While winning out would be nice if examined simply on the merits of whatr it would mean right now, I wonder about the long term affects. I had a fan of another team ask me recently, do you ever wonder how different things might be for UGA right now, or by next year, if Gamble hadn’t forced that fumble and yall hadn’t gone on to beat Vandy in ‘07. I never like to think that way but it really is something to consider. Willie would be long gone.
Country Boy
November 17th, 2009
5:17 pm
Good read Jeffy Boy. Sadly the best thing for our program would be to lose to Ky., Tech and Rice in the Shreveport Bowl. Probably only then would Richt make needed coaching changes. I think our season is already lost. Dawg fans, players and coaches should never consider a season anything but a bad season if losing to Fla. Tenn. and LSU.
chiefdawg
November 17th, 2009
5:18 pm
If Martinez is really a friend of M. Richt hw will resign at the ennd of the season.
outkasted
November 17th, 2009
5:18 pm
yeah it was willie’s fault that the defense dropped 5 picks againt oklahoma st… yeah it was willie fault that his players missed tackles against Ga tech….the thing that has hurt the dawgs the most r crucial penalties on 3rd down and short and turnovers on their side of the field… Last yr 2 prime examples of penalties that hurt were an opening drive by alabama that they fumbled and we recovered but a bogus penalty kept the drive going and aginst florida we got an int on Teebow but was called for a penalty of something like a hand to the face on an offensive linemen…..all this talk about getting rid of willie is crazy… everyday fire wille fire willie… none of u know football its funny b4 the season all u hear is 7-6 or 8-5 and now that the season may end just like that its get rid of willie…. its not his fault the o line had false starts in mostly all the crucial plays or holding after picing up the first down…. i just know that things will be on the up for years to come with sooooo many red shirt freshmen true freshmen and sophmores contributing alot….plus the schedule sets up nicely next yr….wonder no talk of ga tch d coordinator and they give up 40 a night lol…………
One tin soldier rides away
November 17th, 2009
5:19 pm
Country boy, you are right about UF UT and LSU. However, you are not much of a fan if you think that losing 3 games would be the best for the program. We need to retool, not recreate.
Get Along Little Dawgies
November 17th, 2009
5:22 pm
Well, you Thugdawg….uh, I mean, Bulldawg fans….are stuck with Willie and “Special John” Fabris and penalties and directional kicks and coaches checking expiration dates on driving licenses and checking diapers while sideline dancing is the norm.
Richt won’t change a thing until he has to – and Evans won’t force it until probaly next season, when Richt becomes only THE 2ND UGA COACH TO LOSE TO TENN, FLA, AUB and TECH IN THE SAME YEAR.
P.S. – The first and only coach to do that? Jim Donnan.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 17th, 2009
5:22 pm
Tom when you combine the last 5 of Dooley,all of Goff and Donnan’s tenures you can’t find 2 back to back 10 win seasons period.so your comment about… Not UGA …is ridiculous
Tom
November 17th, 2009
5:22 pm
If scrambling to win out over minor-league teams, inferior conference foes, and middle-tier bowl opponents and thereby finishing with nine wins is good work to you, by all means, feel free to be pleased if that does happen. Like I said, 9-4 is darn good in a lot of places. They’ll name the stadium after you if you go 9-4 at some schools.
Is Georgia one of those schools? It’s in danger of becoming one of them if this goes on much longer…it doesn’t take as long as you think for a program to find itself in a deep, dark hole, particularly in a conference as cutthroat as the SEC…
Bob
November 17th, 2009
5:23 pm
So Jeff, you expected the Dawgs to do better than 9-4 this year? If not, this really isn’t a fair column. Given your zeal for bashing all things UGA latety (Schultz even hated on Uga recently. Next up: The cheerleaders), I find it very hard to believe that you expected 10 wins or more out of this bunch. Therefore, the entire premise of this column is complete garbage. If Georgia goes 9-4 they will have met or exceeded your expectations. Yet here you sit in condemnation of them. Talk about damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Your just looking for crap to gripe about to push buttons. Its as clear as glass.
That said, I agree that a 9-4 season (which probably won’t happen anyway) won’t erase concerns about the defense and why we get blown out in big games. We should never get blown out by anybody.
The Last Believer
November 17th, 2009
5:24 pm
I agree with the above post. Richt won’t change, and he’ll become the 2nd UGA Coach to lose to UT, UF, Auburn and Tech all in the same year. Then, it will be a total house cleaning.
dd
November 17th, 2009
5:27 pm
Lots of rumours in South Bend about Paul Johnson.
Carlton Powell
November 17th, 2009
5:28 pm
Well said, Jeff. The program has been in decline since the Sugar Bowl game at the end of the 2005 season. To be sure, the ‘Dogs SHOULD be focused upon the KY ‘Cats. They are no joke. They will play hard, and if UGA insists upon making it’s usual quota of dumb penalties, etc., they will surely lose. But, I like many others, feel that a good November will erase the issues that existed in Sept. and October. This season became irrelevant on October 10th, when the ‘Dogs failed to show up for work in Knoxville. IF, by chance–and it’s a big IF–UGA were to win it’s last two games, Richt cannot fall victim to a “false November,” much like a “false spring.” Rather, he needs to say publically that ALL scholarships and coaching contracts are on the table for review. By the way, I personally have no problem with Tech or any team putting as many points on the scoreboard as they can. That’s their job. UGA’s job is to stop them. There is simply no aura of wanting to take the UGA program to an elite status. I blame the AA for that. It’s the AA’s job to lead and create an aura that says we’re going to get better and get to the top. What I see at UGA is a mindset that says we want to win, but don’t want anyone to see us sweat doing it. CMR needs to realize that this year he probably gets to make the changes, but that next year someone else may making them instead. And, that he just might be one of them. Sad, but true.
Tom
November 17th, 2009
5:28 pm
I think the whole point is that it’s not just the wins and losses.
Again, 9-4 is a terrific record in the right circumstances.
But 9-4 can also mask the reality, which is the concern – the utter lack of competitiveness against a mediocre UT squad…the penalties and general undisciplined play throughout the season…the continual inability for the defense to adjust to what an opponent is doing…the ugly no-show against Florida (again).
9-4 at the end of the year could seem to hide a lot of these things. People could look back and say, hey, they were 9-4 with five straight wins to close the season. What’s the problem?
WSU-Dawg Fan
November 17th, 2009
5:29 pm
UGA has and always will be a mediocre football program. How many National Championships? The problem lies far beneath just the football program. One needs to look at the entire University and the influences there within to determine the major reason/reasons UGA is mediocre. Honestly Dawg fans it is more than just the coaching!
willie martinez
November 17th, 2009
5:29 pm
Jeff, i really dont remember playing in gainesville. did i miss that one? best, willie
dooley
November 17th, 2009
5:29 pm
I think the TWO coaches that need to absolutely be gone are Willie M. and Rodney G. They are responsible for all of the mistakes in RECRUITING. Most of these guys are as good as they are cracked up to be. These Recruiters are basically just going off of the national rankings. We need to get players that fit OUR scheme and not just highly ranked. GO DAWGS
quaildawg
November 17th, 2009
5:30 pm
I guess Richt owes you an apology for not giving you the fodder you needed for your article…shame on him!!!
Gives you all the more reason to bash him and UGA.
Gainesville??? Put down the Vodka Jeff! Boozer!!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 17th, 2009
5:31 pm
The truth…when you combine Dooley’s last 5 years and all of Goff and Donnan’s tenure there is NOT ONE run of back to back 10 win seasons.Not a single one.So I am a bit confused with the UGA is used to excellence prior to Richt’s arrival …the record says otherwise.Now all a sudden CMR has lost it?RIDICULOUS
willie martinez
November 17th, 2009
5:31 pm
i MIGHT resign after the season. 8-4 keeps me here though.
willie martinez
November 17th, 2009
5:32 pm
vince, you PROMISED not to say that in public. your former friend, willie
mark louis
November 17th, 2009
5:33 pm
They played Florida in Jacksonville, not Gainesville. But hey, you’re the expert.
Tom
November 17th, 2009
5:34 pm
Of course there are rumors in South Bend about Paul Johnson. Pear Bryant is toast there…he’s probably already cleaned out his office and quietly put his house up for sale…there will be rumors about any successful coach, particular one with a bit of a history of traveling like Johnson, because hey, it’s NOTRE DAME after all. Who wouldn’t want to coach there?
If they throw enough money at him, he could go. His offense could be successful there…it was successful at Navy, for God’s sake. But something tells me Johnson is a little too country for the Domers…and I think Johnson prefers the lower-profile gig at GT, where you can feel free to screw up a season here and there and not be burned in effigy…plus ND has a bad history with Georgia Tech coaches…just sayin’.
More of the Same
November 17th, 2009
5:35 pm
The type of year that was going to be was evident way back in the spring game on national TV. If you remember then it wasnt all that impressive. We need to recruit TOP TOP recruits in the trenches where championships are always won. UGA simply hasnt been doing this in that particular area and it shows when teams like Vandy continues to push our lines of scrimmage around. Thats how Florida and Alabama are doing it. When Tommy Bowdens Clemson football team lost to Bama last he called Saban for advice. Guess what Saban told him ? That the lines of scrimmage has to be Big , Fast and Physical. Dabo took that advice and ran with it and Clemson is destroying people.If big changes dont happen in the off season then next year will have more blow out games with UGA on the losing end. Its a trend folks, take of the blinders!
willie martinez
November 17th, 2009
5:36 pm
Jeff, i have to admit. you stated your position very well. look at the overall picture for the past 2 years. i might resign after all.
best, willie
All I'm Saying Is...
November 17th, 2009
5:36 pm
We all know you meant to type Jacksonville and not Gainesville, Jeff, but it still is funny to type
“Dear Jeff:
My defense is stout every year in Gainesville. In fact, my squads have yet to give up any yards or any points.
Fondly,
Willie Martinez”
Meanwhile, in serious news, UGA finishes 8-5 this year with a win over Kentucky (barely), getting steamrolled by Tech on national TV, and a (minor) bowl win to salve their wounds.
Brian in Athens
November 17th, 2009
5:38 pm
For those that say we need to lose so that maybe Richt will use it to justify firing Martinez et al. That makes no sense. Losing is NEVER a good thing. Especially to if we were to lose to Kentucky and Tech. Imagine how that would affect recruiting. Yes, yes, I know. You are saying that we have top 10 recruiting classes and we still aren’t championship caliber. Well imagine this, less talented recruits with the SAME coaching next year. We need to cheer for our team, we are fans, not administration. Go Dawgs.
HELP!!! I'M LOCKED IN THE FRAT HOUSE BASEMENT!
November 17th, 2009
5:39 pm
THEY MADE ME EAT A SOGGY BISCUIT!
HELP!!! I'M LOCKED IN THE FRAT HOUSE BASEMENT!
November 17th, 2009
5:40 pm
CAN YOU CHECK THEIR ID’S?
Dawg Fan 74
November 17th, 2009
5:40 pm
Georgia will roll over Kentucky, Georgia Tech and then win their bowl game.
GEORGIA 38 – KENTUCKY 17
GEORGIA 52 – GEORGIA TECH 10
GEORGIA 35 – PENN STATE 14 – OUTBACK BOWL
Jerry Glanville will become the next DC at UGA.
GO DAWGS!
Big L
November 17th, 2009
5:43 pm
Mark Richt HAS to change the culture of losing to Florida. We are usually competetive with UT and UF and bama and the rest. He has dominated the state of Ga, eat it techies, one win does not start a streak. But he has changed nothing with UF. Fire WM and figure it out . CMR dd not just get stupid.
Yellow Jacket 84
November 17th, 2009
5:43 pm
Jerry Glanville?
You’ve got to be kidding.
Yellow Jacket 84
November 17th, 2009
5:45 pm
Enter your comments here
OldDawg72
November 17th, 2009
5:45 pm
Has anyone asked CMR who he thinks a good successor for him would be and has he talked to Will Muschamp about being head coach at UGA as the highest paid coach in the nation??????
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
November 17th, 2009
5:46 pm
Jeff, I think the most prudent thing to do is to look at the whole season. If that is done changes will be made, but you cannot disregard a strong finish (if indeed a strong finish happens) and maybe wholesale changes are in order, but maybe a few subtle staff adjustments would be more prudent, ie CWM to defensive backs coach and CMR having more input in game day adjustments on offense. I would pursue John Chavis for Def Coordinator and look around for a new special teams philosophy if not a new coach. And lastly, when asking the “what happened” questions, ask what happened to quality journalism? Constant bashing gets pretty stale. Just a suggestion
td
November 17th, 2009
5:46 pm
I have written this several times in the last few days and no one cares to answer the question. I come from the school of thought that states you can not complain unless you have a solution, so if you can not answer my question then stop complaining.
Who do we hire as DC or OC or any other coach? President Adams is NOT going to allow us to hire a coach that makes more money than he does. That means we have to hire a coach that will come for around $600,000 per year. LSU, Bama, Tenn and Fl. pay their DC’s around 1 million per year. Name me a NFL caliber DC or a BCS conference DC that is going to come to the SEC and make 40 to 50% less than their peers? This leaves us an unproven pool to choice from. Who will be able to come in and do a better job?
Also, under the Adams regime we are the only school that has a special committee that has to approve our signing classes to get into school. We have lost a good number of recruits just because they are a little marginal and no telling how many the staff just would not even offer because they knew they would not pass this special committee. CBV left the same year this committee was established. We use to send the marginal players to Hargrave to GMC for a year (to get their act together) and then they come in and were studs on the defensive side of the ball.
I personally think CMR and CWM have done as good a job as possible with the restrictions on them. My Jeff should do some journalistic research into this and stop putting out easy pieces to write? Maybe Adams is the real problem? Remember the way he got rid of Dooley to take over the Athletics department. He now has total control.
cantondawg
November 17th, 2009
5:49 pm
Bugkiller= Dumb and Dumber and Dumbest
OldDawg72
November 17th, 2009
5:53 pm
td is correct. The hogs share of the money is not going back into athletics and if UGA is going to have an elite national team, then the alumni must speak out, protest, get people fired and then hire the best coaches in football, regardless of the salary. td is correct and no one even the AJC will investigate or shown where the money is going. It certainly is not going back into the athletic programs. A little investative reporting please.
bob horner stayed hurt
November 17th, 2009
5:53 pm
All I’m Saying Is… I wouldn’t bet against that scenerio….we agree
sad dawg
November 17th, 2009
5:54 pm
Measure CMR against this – Demand excellence in everything you do.
Dawg Fan 74
November 17th, 2009
5:54 pm
Jerry Glanville would be a great addition.
He is available.
He would be willing to work for the same salary as Willie since he still has a home here in Georgia and he is recently unemployed.
He know DEFENSES better than anyone. Remember the GRITS BLITZ !
Go Dawgs !
Changes
November 17th, 2009
5:55 pm
The way Richt and Martinez were hugging and doing their best Urban-Tebow impersonation, I’m guessing Martinez will be sticking around.
If so, this program is destined for more failure.
Mellow Mark
November 17th, 2009
5:58 pm
Someone please set up a long meeting between CMR and Suzanne Yoculan!! Our football program desperately needs her energy, determination, and most importantly…the mental and physical toughness that she DEMANDED from her teams! She knows how to motivate the best out of her squads and proved it with numerous national championships! No whining, no excuses.
45ACP
November 17th, 2009
5:59 pm
Willie is toast at seasons end.
Just waiting to apply the butter and jelly.
I like Muscadine or Mayhaw.
Bill
November 17th, 2009
5:59 pm
Congatulations on writing an article without inserting your leftist opinions. I bet you really wanted to make some stupid remark about Palin.
Scooter dawgs
November 17th, 2009
5:59 pm
There has to be a huge culture change at UGA before it can compete for championships. These players who are dancing when the game that is still in doubt, players that are diaper changing, players who drive with no drivers license, players who touch pregnant women’s belly, players brandish guns in their cars , players who needs to cut their nappy hair and the list goes on and on. This reality TV and Hip hop culture mentality needs to be changed and recruiting these thugs that want the limelight on signing day with their jersey swapping and hat tricks must be ceased as well . The Donnan recruits are gone and the Richts recruits aren’t getting it done while dragging down the program.
Bill Lewis
November 17th, 2009
6:00 pm
I’ll take the job. I did okay before I lost my mind and became a head coach.
45ACP
November 17th, 2009
6:04 pm
You can do all the reasearch you want on a new DC or OC or both.
Check the resumes and records.
At the end of the day it’s still a crap shoot.
“Are we hiring someone better than what we have”?
Only time will tell.
Red Clay Hound
November 17th, 2009
6:05 pm
Why should he address any of this during the season ? And every game is important. Without a doubt [MR] will make the necessary evaluations and corrections based on the entire season. If he chooses to bring back [WM] he will certainly do so understanding the ramifications if the current defensive problems persist and another season does not meet expectations. I would not be shocked if [WM] understanding the price [MR] is paying for his loyalty asked to be reassigned. If the AD or other powers start to dictate changes to the staff what kind of message would that send ? Name me one school where that type of meddling has been successful. The only change the AD should ever make would be to fire the head coach. When the next coordinator is hired why should it have be be a former dawg ? Who knew [BVG] before he arrived at UGA ? And if you do decide to fire [MR] what sane individual would want this job ? Maybe a ego like [LK] I agree we need to make defensive changes. Let the man responsible for that do his job. And for all of the [bugkillers] out there – no way you are dawg fans – you are stirring the pot what for the benefit of whatever team you actually support. It’s ok to be critical, it’s ok to want change, but it’s not ok to speak with such uninformed, asinine vitriol and senseless rhetoric.
Jerry Glanville
November 17th, 2009
6:06 pm
Have no fear.
I have heard your cry for help and I am on the way to Athens.
Jerry
godawgs
November 17th, 2009
6:06 pm
Richt has not installed the right ‘resilient’ mindset in his guys yet.
If Richt’s AHEAD after 1 qrt, 65-9 record, if behind after 1 qrtrt, 21-17–his guys quit on him–they do not “finish the drill”.
If he’s at halftime–67 wins-6 losses, behind after 1st, 16 wins-19 losses. Why woud players give up after 1/2 of a game?
His guys QUIT on him. They do not “finish the drill” if they get behind and face some advesity.
Scooter Dawg is an idiot
November 17th, 2009
6:07 pm
‘cut their nappy hair’??? Do you think the hair affects their performance? By the way, how are things in your obviously lilly white world? I’m white myself, and I’m embarrassed by your blatant small minded stupidity. Two years ago we finished #2 in the country, won two SEC’s and played for a third, since ‘02, this after not having sniffed one since ‘82, and we can’t compete for championships? Change the hip hop mentality? Perhaps you’d rather they rob citizens with weapons, as in Knoxville. As a matter of fact, it’s time to take your orange out of the closet and start wearing it again, as I am sure that you are a bandwagoneer and have everyone’s colors in your closet so as to be a ‘fan’ of the frontrunners. Just go away!
godawgs
November 17th, 2009
6:08 pm
Bobo’s Offensive Philosophy is the Cause of Our Losses. Proof Below!
See link for details and OVERWHELMING STATS AND PROOF:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/11/15/is-a-big-game-for-willie-martinez-a-net-loss-for-uga/comment-page-12/
cantondawg
November 17th, 2009
6:08 pm
TD,
Great post. I totally agree…It’s one thing to be disappointed in how our season has turned out. However, i don’t understand some of the morons on this board that go to a personal level with CMR, CWM AND CMB. These coaches work their butts off for UGA. You might not like the results but at least show some respect.
AthDog
November 17th, 2009
6:09 pm
RedClay Hound, well said, my friend.
Big L
November 17th, 2009
6:09 pm
You know what, damn this . I pay to watch good games, competetive games. I am not the a.d. If Damon cant figure it out , then fire his ass too. He is payed to keep his coaches straight.
UGADAWG
November 17th, 2009
6:10 pm
People that basically want us to lose so Willie will be gone need to move on. You never sacrifice a season to get rid of a coach. It is obvious that Willie is terrible and I think he is gone right after the bowl game. We need to go after TCU’s D Coord.
willie martinez
November 17th, 2009
6:10 pm
jerry, who called you??
Scooter dawgs
November 17th, 2009
6:11 pm
Yeah maybe if Bryan Evans would cut his nappy hair he could see the field of play!