Is it ‘hot seat’ time already for Mark Richt at Georgia?
Mark Richt is coming off a 4-4 SEC season at Georgia. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Sometime last season — probably between the 45-19 loss at Tennessee and the 41-17 loss to Florida — I lost track of the number of times I was asked on blogs, emails and radio shows if Georgia coach Mark Richt was in trouble.
My response now is the same as it was then: He’ll be in trouble if he has one more bad season. I’m not sure if that qualifies me as being among the “handful of anonymous Internet trolls,” that Bill “Junkyard Blawg” King referred to this morning.
Fact is, even most fans who wake up every morning in their Bulldog boxer shorts must understand that life in the SEC is different than any other conference in America.
This is a topic now because a few publications are compiling their coaches-under-the-gun lists. The latest came today: The Orlando Sentinel is running a five-part series on coaches on the hot seat.
Part I focused on Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez, and you can hear the laughter all over West Virginia from here.
Part II focuses on Richt.
An excerpt:
Two words: National Championship. It’s been 30 years since the Bulldogs won their last title and Georgia fans are getting restless. Watching Florida, LSU, and Alabama win the past four BCS titles hasn’t probably helped either. Or the fact that Georgia has gone 2-6 against the Gators during Richt’s tenure.
But problems have dogged the Bulldogs program in recent years.
In the offseason, Richt decided to shake up his staff, firing defensive coordinator Willie Martinez and two other assistants. The Bulldogs went after several big-name coordinators eventually settling on Todd Grantham, an NFL coordinator [sic] with the Dallas Cowboys.
Then the program was hit with a string of arrests culminating with starting [sic] quarterback Zach Mettenberger’s arrest outside of a bar in Valdosta, Georgia.
In many ways, Richt is under more pressure now than ever before. While expectations certainly aren’t meteoric like two years ago, when the offense included Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, Richt knows going 4-4 in the SEC again won’t cut it in 2010.
Because if that happens, folks, the seat would be very hot in 2011.
Agree? Or do you think Richt is on the hot seat already?
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Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law
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736 comments Add your comment
Paddy O
May 19th, 2010
3:26 pm
Personally, I like Richt. He just does not seem to get the most out of his players. He also lets the Gators win most years, don’t he?
Whiskeydawg
May 19th, 2010
3:41 pm
Col. Mustard in the dining room with a lead balloon.
Coon,dog
May 19th, 2010
3:56 pm
Who the he@@ else would the Dawgs get if they was to let him go that would be as good.
NOBODY !!!
They would be stupid to let him go . Georgia just needs to hang on to there recruits . I think thats there biggest issue .
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
May 19th, 2010
4:09 pm
2 and 6…..08—49-10 09—41-17 numbers.
Clark County Correctional
May 19th, 2010
4:10 pm
Jus’ keep em coming Mark.
Andrew Boston
May 19th, 2010
4:10 pm
Baldy,On what data do you make your assertations? Do you personally know any player at Uga? Those of us who do don’t share your broadcast accusations.
Michael
May 19th, 2010
4:11 pm
Just fire him so he can go coach Maryland to glory. Go Terps.
Andrew Boston
May 19th, 2010
4:11 pm
Enter your comments here
dawgs1859
May 19th, 2010
4:16 pm
He needs to win the sec east
Ron D
May 19th, 2010
4:19 pm
No. He is not on the hot seat. Coach Perno is but not Coach Richt
The Realist
May 19th, 2010
5:16 pm
I don’t understand why people keep saying that UGA doesn’t matter. If UGA doesn’t matter, then why do the very people that say UGA doesn’t matter keep talking about UGA? If you want to talk about a School that doesn’t matter. Talk about Tech. Just Saying.
And to all the people saying recruiting matters. That’s a load of crap and you guys know it. Winning a National Championship may help recruiting, but that’s arbitrary. Kids out of High school go to schools (nowadays) where they can get immediate playing time. For example, why would a QB go to a school where the starting QB has at least 3 more years of school left? To play 1 year and leave? Or do you think he wants to go to that same school because he grew up loving that school or whatever? Nowadays it’s about depth charts not National Championships. Did Alabama sign a QB this year? I didn’t get to see their recruiting sheets this year so please correct me if I’m wrong.
Richt is not in the hot seat and probably never will be. This was just another topic to blow up the AJC blogs and it looks like it did not disappoint.
And That’s Real.
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[...] Is it ‘hot seat’ time already for Mark Richt at Georgia? [...]
pcsjax1
May 19th, 2010
6:31 pm
You Spin Monkeys are a joke!
1. Your right life in the SEC is different than any other, let me explain it to YOU! Wake up people, it’s the 21st Century! Nobody seems to get it! It’s a high stakes poker game called “Championships Plural”(The National Championship and The SEC Championship) It started at the beginning of the 21st Century. Mark Richt and Georgia were playing at the table with two SEC Championships! Over the past four years “Middle of the Pack Mark” has posted no Championships and is no longer at the table with LSU, Florida and Alabama.
It’s not about 10 wins (or averaging 10 wins), It’s about winning championships!
Let me see if I have it straight? 1. Mettenberg was dismissed. 2. A. Murray was given the number one spot after a dismal G-Day performance. 3. Logan Gray is all but “alienated”. 4. Three star recruit Hutson “I’m a Dawg Baby” Mason is the backup QB behind injury prone Murray. WOW! Another great situation to be in courtesy of “Middle of the Pack” Mark Richt.
2.The only person that can put Mark Richt on the Hot Seat is MARK RICHT! Not me , not you, not the spin monkeys! Duh! Mark Richt got himself into this situation.
3. Mark Richt makes $2.8 million plus endorsements and bonuses. He said he was on the floor in the motel room in tears praying. I beleive he was feeling alot better when he got up and was even laughing on the way to the bank to deposit that big check. Who is “Middle of the Pack” Mark kidding?
4.Opportunity Cost is Opportunity Lost! Richt has had 10 years to win the National Championship. Will Muschamp and Kirby Smart, Georgia players and grads, are going to accept Head Coaching positions within the next year to two years. Could Smart or Muschamp do any worse?
5. Under Richt the salaries paid out to coaches has risen almost $500,000 dollars. He must accept responsibility for that increase! He was the reason . Cost going up and the direction of the team is going down.
tim scott
May 19th, 2010
7:23 pm
Hey Bulldog nation y’all take a deep breath come down off the roof and relaxe. The dance instructor is doing just fine got UGA right where they belong at a nice level of mediocre. 7- 8 wins a year a trip an all expense paid trip to Shreveport for bowl season. Have fun be nice to CMR and see you in Jacksonville for you annual ass whippin
jesse james
May 19th, 2010
7:27 pm
LONG LIVE COACH MARK RICHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urban Meyer
May 19th, 2010
8:34 pm
I like Mark Richt
SamoanDawg
May 19th, 2010
9:04 pm
I’m so sick of seeing these stupid headline “Richt on the seat” The man has done great things at UGA. It was an off year last season. IMHO, he will not be on the seat and he should not be. Quit writing about it for crying outloud! Don’t you writers have some’ else to write about? Geesh! Let it rest!
I think he’s got the right pieces to the puzzle now. I’m looking forward to the season. I expect 10+ W’s…. there, I said it.
Sic’em!
Creegah
May 19th, 2010
9:21 pm
CMR will be head coach at FSU in two years. You can take that to the bank.
Big Albany Dawg
May 19th, 2010
9:47 pm
Where’s Terrence Moore when you need him?
SECFAN
May 19th, 2010
10:30 pm
This season will tell the tale. I really hate to see so much negative press about GA’s players. QB problems and arrests are not good. One more bad year and I don’t know. I hope they can turn it around this year!
SEXY Mark Richt
May 19th, 2010
10:47 pm
I think i’ll retire when im ready which will probably be 2040
SEXY Mark Richt
May 19th, 2010
10:56 pm
I like Urban Meyer
BuLLdawg
May 20th, 2010
6:37 am
It is junk that UGA fans, alumni, recruits, players and supporters would answer the question that Coach Richt is on the hot seat with a yes.
No.
It is so very far from true that we would vote that he is.
It is clear that we are not at all satisfied.
So much promise the first 5 years.
Now, this second 5 years of the Coach Richt Era has not shaped up well at all.
The biggest stubbornness on Coach Richt’s part is not that he waited to make necessary changes, but that he is giving up being head coach, CEO, to take over for the offensive coaching staff.
That and that we have prepared only DJ Shockley as a back-up QB in the entire 10-Year now this season Coach Richt Era. There are those who say that that was only because of a promise Coach Shockley made Coach Richt promise DJ when Coach Richt redshirted DJ 2001.
I applaud your decision to delve into this. Really the issue boils down to 3 wins 8 losses vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams AND 8 losses vs not ranked in the Top 25 Final AP Poll teams in the Coach Richt Era. That, and like you say the off-field issues demonstrated on field by 4 years in a row averaging # 96 in NCAA Penalties along with 4 years in a row of 21 fumbles a year all last 4 years and 14 interceptions a year all last 4 years too. # 9 in SEC Football graduation rates in the latest NCAA study released for us 2010. 39 arrests / suspensions the last 3 years according to David Hale macon.com you refer to above for UGA leads the nation.
BuLLdawg
May 20th, 2010
6:38 am
38-14 the last 4 years is good for only # 19 in the nation.
No one can deny what you write here.
14-game seasons nowadays and we average 10 wins.
Orson Charles should not have with 23 catches his freshman year not be made starter until the game number 12 because Aron White had 3 catches his freshman year. Knowshon Moreno should not have been redshirted so we only got the best RB here in 30 seasons for only 2 years. Washaun Ealey whom we ripped the redshirt off in the 3rd quarter of the 5th game was the # 11 best Running Back in the Nation. He led the team in rushing and should have had more than 2 starts, and they not even the last 2 games. Branden Smith we threw 2 passes to all season, just as we threw only 2 passes to Marlon Brown. Zach Mettenberger should have played against Okie State, not just Joe Cox with the flu and with his chronic shoulder both. # 1 in the nation and we averaged 14 carries by Knowshon Moreno in the 3 losses of 31 to nothing at half at home to Bama, 42 unanswered at JAX, and 29 unanswered to a lousy Georgia tek team who obviously would not have been ranked had they not beaten us.
9-4 in 2006 no qb prepared
8-5 in 2009 no qb prepared
?-? in 2010 no qb prepared what ? 9-4 ? 10-3 ?
I have as much hope and optimism for my alma mater as anyone, and I am truthful as you here and thank you again for this 1 truthful article on the entire Internet sir.
28 games we scored no more than 2 touchdowns in the Coach Richt Era and we lost 23 of those 28. We only lost 4 games the entire Coach Richt Era when we scored more than 2 touchdowns. It is the offense that is the problem, and Coach Richt has to address that, or he absolutely will be on the hot seat.
Today, no. When the offense continues as it has, or the 1 lone QB is injured, obviously he will be and it will be for him to fire the offensive staff. Not for him to leave. No one wants that.
GA Dawg More
May 20th, 2010
9:36 pm
Georgia’s loaded this year and should finally put up the big numbers to win the East. With Ga’s new 3-4 and Grantham, the best D coordinator in the sEC, florida will have trouble even moving the ball on that D. Look for an easy win over florida, 10-2 record and an SEC east title—mark it down–these dawgs are back!
Doyle Hargraves
May 21st, 2010
12:23 am
Michael Adams is not as good as Arthur Blank at training ATTACK DEERS. Blank can get them to do his bidding and get rid of the riff raff, but Adams isn’t good with them and he makes them angry and they turn and attack him by making these college kids drink and go to bars and beat up people. Just ask Jimmy Williams and Rod Coldman about the deers. And Stafford, he will tell you those Adams deers drank all that beer in that keg before they forced him and his sister to raise it up in that picture. So what we have here is people that can handle their deers and those that cannot. Hope that was clear L L Y F F
Hairy Dawg
May 23rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Richt aint hot sitting now that he replacing Martinarez. Richt getting Gaytors where we wants them with Urban Liar nervousness breakdowns. The guys that needs to be hot seating is Adams-Evans. They’s got to be getting on board in running stinkys out. When we get stuck with stinky players we got to get rid and free schollys. Adams-Evans goning to need to come up with trumping up charges to release stinkys and get the real players. We goning start keeping it real by bringing the players that play and have the SEC talents and speeds. Then we unload whooping can on east and start running tables to win SEC and Sugar bowl to be nations champs.
Hairy Dawg
May 23rd, 2010
3:15 pm
Rest of east is blowing up with Jokers at Kens Tuck and Dooley boy taking Lame Kitten messes at Tenn despite being loser from la LA chump Tech. With Gaytors nervous breaking Dawgs is beast of east with best team to goning on table running and win SEC.
Brenda
May 24th, 2010
3:47 pm
I can’t believe you’re already speculating on whether Coach Richt will lose his job and the season hasn’t even begun. Maybe just once all you naysayers could shut your mouth, leave him alone, and let him do his job.
We must get rid of all the thugs who are supposed to be STUDENT-athletes and get quality young men who realize it’s an honor to wear the red and black.
marty
May 25th, 2010
6:15 pm
Georgia will never win a BCS Champsionship with Mark Richt as head coach. My older brother could out coach Richt when he was in the 6th grade.
eastcobbdawg
May 25th, 2010
11:36 pm
this is stupid talk. CMR is heads above everyone else in the SEC. The program would regress too far if we were stupid enough to let CMR go. How long was it before VDooley got his NC? UGA will ge there again with CMR leading the charge.
Bob
May 27th, 2010
9:21 am
I think he’ll be safe for the next several years. He fits the mold that the UGA alumni likes. It’s not about winning anymore, just straight up image and money.
Mike
May 29th, 2010
12:26 pm
Yea,we struggled last year,but no team,Imean no team is going to win every game every week,Mark Richt is the best coach Georgia has had since Dooley,probably the best record of any Ga. coach in the 10 years he’s been there,& yea he had trouble w/ Florida,but I believe the tide is about to turn,I believe in Coach Richt.
bulldog curtis
May 31st, 2010
1:09 am
Enter your comments here
bulldog curtis
May 31st, 2010
1:16 am
I think coach richt needs this season to change, in order to keep himself from being in the hotseat. Because Georgia have had too many good recruits not to have won a national title by now!
Three and out: Dooley's doom, Richt's seat, Tech's rebuttal | Jeff Schultz
May 31st, 2010
11:34 am
[...] weeks ago, we went down this road of whether Georgia coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat in the 2010 season. It was clear (and not surprising) that fans are firmly entrenched on both sides [...]