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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736 comments Add your comment
Col. Mustard
May 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
3 years in a row:
massive penalities
brand new qb
massive turnover problems
massive arrests
LOSIGN TO fLORIDA 4 OUT 5 YEARS!!!!!!!!
WHy can’t RICHT FIX any of these issues???????????
the TRUTH
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
FIRE CMR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
When is being a football coach NOT a hot seat?
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
tt44 does retire mean get fired and not get hired by another team as a head coach?
Col. Mustard
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
What’s it gonna take for you guys to fire this guy, a 6 win season!!!!!!
AceDawg
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
Richt is DEFINITELY on the hot seat. Let’s face it – his lack of action in replacing Martinez sooner was a significant mistake to most people who followed the Dawgs struggles.
The difference is that unlike LSU fans with Miles, who are trying to turn up the heat and want Miles to flare into a ball of flames, the Dawgs fans want to be able to reach out and pull Richt off. He’s a guy that is on a professional, rather than personal, hotseat. That’s the difference. One great season out of Richt buys him time while a great season followed by a mediocre one for somebody like Miles would be all she wrote for him.
At least that’s how it goes for me. We fans are thinking about Richt the way Richt was thinking about Martinez – he’s a great guy and I’m going to give him a shot, but I know our standards are higher than the results we’ve recently seen.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
3:36 pm
and yet in those tree years
.
He finished 2nd in the nation
.
Had 18 scholly players injured and out with season ending injuries by game three and won 10 games…garnered a top ten finish…and won a bowl game
Duck a Fawg
May 18th, 2010
3:36 pm
>Valdostan surrounded by nothingness …and you have what?? a tired, old, irrelevant VHS program and as your name says it all….”surrounded by nothingness”
Yoda
May 18th, 2010
3:36 pm
I imagine Richt knows that the majority of fans want UGA to excel, but what they don’t want to see are the same stupid mistakes (penalties, arm tackling, turnovers and lack of personel responsibliity on and off the field). Maybe when the fan base starts to see major improvements in these areas, they’ll also see better results on the scoreboard.
Col. Mustard
May 18th, 2010
3:37 pm
a down year, sure, 3 years in a row with so many of the same problems!!!!!!!!!
dawgingatorville
May 18th, 2010
3:37 pm
Coach Richt is a great football coach. He may be too loyal to his staff at times.. but he has and will get the job done. The lunitic fringe are nuts.. Just who do they think UGA could get that would do better? Nobody!
georgedawg
May 18th, 2010
3:38 pm
Richt is the best thing we’ve had in some time. Are you guys serious! I hate that Florida has kicked our butts – but they’re beat everybody. They are in a state that produces 3 to 4 times the number of premier quality recruits. So even if you don’t like it you have to sort of understand. Plus they spend dramatically more on coaches!!
It definately was time to see some of the assistants coaches go. Our kids have been under coached for a few years. Damon stepped up got the approval to be competive contract and $ wise. Grantham was a great hire. He plays off Richt. Cool, calm and collected to fiery, motivator. Perfect. Now Richt can help Bobo. This all works together nicely in my view.
Still going to be a real challenge to beat Florida in Jacksonville. We’ll have a team to be proud of and enjoy as long as Richt there and we keep top level assistants to help him.
Go Dawgs!
gdawginkalamazoo
May 18th, 2010
3:38 pm
Jeff, not Ford directly. However, in Michigan 110% of the economy is tied to the automotive industry. And really even though the Fords cannot run and NFL franchise they do quite well in their original calling.
Ferndolin
May 18th, 2010
3:38 pm
Totally disagree with this assessment of Richt. We throw the baby out with the bath water now and we are in deep sh#t. We will rank the highest in recruiting in a decade in 2011, and alot of the nations most talented kids are coming here because of Richt as a coach and as a person. It’s ablsolute bullsh#t to think CMR is on the hot seat.
GO DAWGS!!!
McDawg
May 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
if we lose to UT w/ the Dooley’s wearing Orange, CMR will be in the hot seat–like most years we are going to have to gut some tough ones early USC & Arkansas
RxDawg
May 18th, 2010
3:39 pm
Simply put, no.
Realist
May 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
It’s past time. Time to get him out of Athens on a one way bus trip. Being an aw shucks good guy isn’t cutting it.
SOME uga fans are just delusional
May 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Patrick Sulley
Yeah, but Saban has a national championship and two undefeated SEC seasons to show for it. What does Richt have that is remotely close?
Pat
May 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
If he follows this season with a 9 win or less record in 2011 he could be packing his bags. I’m not sure if I agree with that, but I’ll cross that bridge if and when it comes.
Mark Richt is solid.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Alleydog…did you say he only had one great season?
.
in 2002 he was 12-1 and a OSU loss away from that all mighty BCSNC game.
.
Ironically in 2006 Meyer was 12-1 and a USC loss away from a BCSNC invatation to the BCSNC.
.
Meyer didnt make USC lose (Fla won its SEC title game on Dec 2nd and WAITED until #2 USC lost to unranked UCLA later that day to get the invite). Unless you say Meyer knew how to use the Jedi mind trick and Richt didnt….because thats teh only difference.
Col. Mustard
May 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
I’m tired of the excuses. Fix these problems that have been going on for 3 years or get Boise St’s Chris Petersen, Muschamp, Smart in here, they won’t put up with this GARBAGE!!!!!!!
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
SOME uga fans are just delusional
May 18th, 2010
3:40 pm
Patrick Sulley
Yeah, but Saban has a national championship and two undefeated SEC seasons to show for it. What does Richt have that is remotely close?
================================
ummm remotely close?
easy
n 2002 he was 12-1 and a OSU loss away from that all mighty BCSNC game.
.
Ironically in 2006 Meyer was 12-1 and a USC loss away from a BCSNC invatation to the BCSNC.
.
Meyer didnt make USC lose (Fla won its SEC title game on Dec 2nd and WAITED until #2 USC lost to unranked UCLA later that day to get the invite). Unless you say Meyer knew how to use the Jedi mind trick and Richt didnt….because thats the only difference.
Blackberry Cobbler
May 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
CMR gets the benefit of the doubt this year because of new QB and new defensive scheme. Next year will be THE year. Win the SEC East next year or he’s toast.
Valdostan surrounded by nothingness
May 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Thanks Jeff, I thought I would get your attention.
Cute name, Duck a Fawg.
And thanks for the “surrounded by nothingness” handle
in your recent article.
AltamahaDawg
May 18th, 2010
3:42 pm
Col., the reason that you are puzzled about why can’t he fix any of these issues for “3 yrs in a row” is because you can’t even figure out what issues, and what years, you are talking about.
TOOTRUE
May 18th, 2010
3:43 pm
Ya’ll have to have something to write about to get your paycheck. Georgia would make a mistake getting rid of Richt, just look what they are lining up for 2011
Chris Petersen
May 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
Thanks, but not interested in coming to a
program with reincarnated 70’s Gator fans.
Kit Cursin
May 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
slow news day huh?
BoomerShine
May 18th, 2010
3:44 pm
How come Georgia is the only team that does’nt need a full time back-up QB?
The quarterback situation is scary.
Last year was bad enough.
athdog
May 18th, 2010
3:45 pm
What would the record be the last two years, or five for that matter, if our D hadn’t given up 30 plus per game? CMR fixed it, Grantham should be an upgrade and the best move of all was grabbing the new linebacker coach. He should be a tremendous upgrade over the last one. Non-issue, and as always 30-24, 8 of 9
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 18th, 2010
3:45 pm
I coached 2 Heisman winning QBs. I made C. Ward a great NBA point guard. I tought him how to run around until our fast WRs could get past the DBs and then Heave the ball deep. I coached C. Weinke to have a Baseball players arm. I raised him from a 26 year old pup to be a MAN. HAHAHAHAHAHHAH. I am the Dale Earnhardt Jr of SEC coaches. I can sell some crap, look good for the cameras, and still win things that don’t matter that much in the Big Picture. Damn, I look good in my Shades. They almost make me forget I am losing my hair. Hey, my skills and hair are fading, but my TAN is ALL GOOD. You UGA fans know your wives want me.
RxDawg
May 18th, 2010
3:45 pm
Now the little bit longer answer. Everyone keeps crowing about how Richt hasn’t won a national championship. Hogwash. He has had national championship type years, two of them to be precise. The luck just didn’t bounce our way and instead of being #1 we were #2 in 2002 and #3 in 2007. Florida and LSU both won a national championship with the exact same record as us in their years. I’m not concerned with the BCS championship. There is just too much stuff out of your control as a coach to be considered. SEC championships are how I like to grade our coach, and we haven’t been too bad. Is it about time to start competing for another? You bet it is and I’d wouldn’t want any other coach to be leading us to it.
Will Muschamp
May 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
Thanks, but not interested in coming to UGA.
Fans are too delusional, and I couldn’t put up with
the Atlanta sports writers.
The only job I would be interested in would be
where I left from, Valdosta State, “surrounded
by nothingness”. Loved it down there.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
Schultzy,
Let’s start with Richt being 2-7 against the Gators not 2-6
Tweets that mention Is it 'hot seat' time already for Mark Richt at Georgia? | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
May 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
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coachx
May 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
CMR is no where close to the hot seat.
Dawg 3/20
May 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
Chris Peterson – Your schedule is an absolute joke……wouldn’t it be nice to play 1 very good team, 1 good team, and 10 cupcakes every year.
greg
May 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
Jeff, you should be on the hot seat just for putting out this lazy article, but then again I suspect you (and your entire paper) already are. That’s why the sports section has become the “Dawg bashing section”. That’s the only way you can get enought hits to keep the paper afloat…
Tim Rupert
May 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
For those who want CMR to be on a Hot Seat. If he should be then your Coach should be to, if his name is not Sabin. I could give many reasons for Meyer of Fla, Fla is in decline, can’t even keep Ga from stealing the best players in their own State etc and just name your school. Mark Richt has produced the 7th best winning percentage in college football and two SEC titles.
Keep wishing because the Dawgs are on their way to the top.
HugoStiglitz
May 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
Of course he is on the hot seat. He is a decent recruiter but has consistently underachieved as a coach. He is actually the football equivalent to Paul Hewitt in basketball at GT. You can only take great players and have ok to good seasons for so long. If he has another 7-8 win season this year he is probably gone.
SOME uga fans are just delusional
May 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
Patrick Sulley
Sulley that’s great, but still not on the same level
2 back to back 8-0 SEC regular season, losing to UF and then making adjustments to beat them (something you can’t say Richt has done) and then beat Texas in the BCSCG is light-years away from ANYTHING Richt has ever done
Period
1eyedJack
May 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
Why not ask if Johnson is safe at Vanderbilt or Spurrier at SC?
Doyle Albea
May 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
Has the entire world gone MAD? Mark has given us the longest stretch of success in my life(I’m 52). True, we have not won a national title, but would any Dawg fan take any other coach since Vince?
Get the heck real!!!!!!!!!!!
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 18th, 2010
3:50 pm
Blackberry why do you not have a QB with ANY SEC Game Experience? That is Richt and Bobo’s fault. Even if Stafford stayed a new QB needed to be playing in some games to get the GAME Speed and Atmosphere. Richt and Bobo CHOKED on your QB this year. Bad COACHING.
Doyle Albea
May 18th, 2010
3:51 pm
HUGO…another 7 & 8??? WHAT records are YOU looking at?
SOME uga fans are just delusional
May 18th, 2010
3:51 pm
Pi$$onaDAWG
These clowns will understand what it means to start a young QB with zero game experience soon enough…..they are staring at 4 to 5 loses minimum
Col. Mustard
May 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
mARK rICHT IS #1 AT SOMETHING:
THE ALL TIME GREATEST SQUANDERER OF TALENT IN THE ENTIRE GLOBE!!!!
Jerrell
May 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Well, the fact Mettenberger is referred to as the starting quarterback and that Grantham is referred to as a coordinator at Dallas shows that accuracy is not the writer’s strongsuit. So, I dismiss the piece out of hand. If the Dogs flop, maybe he’s under the gun in 2011. But, if they win at least nine and don’t have any major embarrassments, he’s got the ship righted and all is well. I think all is going to be well.
Dawg 3/20
May 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
I’m not concerned with the BCS championship.”
Sure you aren’t.
Chris Petersen
May 18th, 2010
3:52 pm
Dawg 3/20
Yea, it would be nice to come to the SEC and
play 1 very good team (Florida) and 1 good team
(Tennessee??) and the rest of the 10 Cupcakes
in the SEC, but I guess I will just be content up
here in Boise playing a tuffer conference.