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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Georgia Tech, ACC content to watch expansion for now
Bud Selig, Phil Jackson get it right on immigration law
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736 comments Add your comment
Gatorbait 17-3
May 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
Hey Patrick you genius, since you are so in love with records, try this
one on pal. How many 13-1 seasons has Richt had in his last 9 years————ONE
1 OUT 9. How many has Meyer had in his 5 years? THREE, that’s 3 out of 5 years pal
How about 2004, his last year at Utah:
Overall
12-0 record
12 wins is the most in school history
First unbeaten, untied season at Utah since 1930
16-game win streak ties the school record
One last thing to keep you quite, he is the only coach in history to win 13 games,
in back to back seasons and win 13 games in 3 of 4 years.. Think about that
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
South Ga Dawgs
May 18th, 2010
4:07 pm
Since Richt came to Ga. LSU has won 2 NC. Fla has won 2 NC. Bama has won a NC. Richt won his litle sec title before all the strong coaches showed up. His record is pathetic against great competion. When AZ St is your toughest outa conference opponent since arriving in Athens it tells me about your intentions nationally. Zilch, It’s been a lacking. Much rather have Jim Donnan at the helm.
=======================================
tuffest OOC is Ar St? (by the way Ar St tied USC for Pac Ten championship the year before UGA played them in Tempe)
.
Ere anyone attempts to argue that Coach Richt’s superb out-of-conference ledger is the product of schedules stacked with the likes of
Northwestern State,
Western Kentucky,
Tennessee Tech, and
Hawaii in the 2008 Sugar Bowl,
I should hasten to point out that he is 21-4 against
Arizona State,
Boise State,
Boston College,
Clemson,
Colorado,
Florida State,
Georgia Tech,
Michigan State,
Oklahoma State,
Purdue,
Texas A&M,
Virginia Tech,
West Virginia, and
Wisconsin.
Even if we factor out Division I-AA teams, Sun Belt squads, and similar schedule fodder, Coach Richt is .840 against teams from automatic BCS-qualifying conferences other than the SEC. (Yes, I’m going ahead and counting the Broncos in that category because the Mountain West will get a guaranteed bid as soon as Boise State is invited to join.)
The rest of the SEC
May 18th, 2010
4:14 pm
Please Jeff, tell Evans never to fire him. He is a good man and looks strikingly like Helen Hunt when all tanned up.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
Sooooo you think winning 10.66 games a year playing half that time against Akron and Northern Ill is better than 10 wins a year playing againt the SEC for ten years? Really?
explain
Dawgs biggest Problem
May 18th, 2010
4:15 pm
According to the AJC Georgia gets the same level of talent as the superpowers in the SEC–Fla, LSU and Bama. But once they get on campus in Athens they morph into jail bait, penalty ridden, turnover laten fools. Look back and you find half of Richt’s teams underachived. If winning a random SEC title is your goal dawg fans hang onto your savior and hope Saban and Meyer leave.
FDawg
May 18th, 2010
4:16 pm
I don’t buy the hot seat deal…but I am wondering what we can do defensively to turn this program around because most great teams have a stout defense. Can Stripling, Thornton, Burrows, Fields, Ogletree or any other recruit expect to see playing time on the defensice side of the ball this year?
jawja fanbase
May 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
Even if we factor out Division I-AA teams, Sun Belt squads, and similar schedule fodder, Coach Richt is .840 against teams from automatic BCS-qualifying conferences other than the SEC. (Yes, I’m going ahead and counting the Broncos in that category because the Mountain West will get a guaranteed bid as soon as Boise State is invited to join.)
It does not matter, he is only 69% in the SEC and when you get paid over 3mil per year, it won’t cut it anymore without another championship within the next 2 years.
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
Mom’s dinner after a loss.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
Gatorbait 17-3
he is the only coach in history to win 13 games,
in back to back seasons and win 13 games in 3 of 4 years.. Think about that
=================================================
Richt has won ten or more games a year FOUR years str8…Meyer…not so much.
memphisdawg
May 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
The only people who think Richt are on the “Hot Seat” are fans from other schools and casual UGA fans. Those who follow Georgia football understand that Richt is definitely not on the Hot seat. The more knowledge you have of the situation, the more understanding you have of Georgia’s 8-5 season last year and the possible growing pains UGA could be faced with this year. Articles like this are the only reason people would even think CMR is in jeopardy of losing his job. It is simply not true, or even close to the truth.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
Sooooo you think winning 10.66 games a year playing half that time against Akron and Northern Ill is better than 10 wins a year playing againt the SEC for ten years? Really?
explain
.
Valdostan (surrounded by nothingness)
May 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
Jeff, it’s slowing down.
80 minutes and 151 blogs,
down from 2 per minute to
1.88 per minute.
Got to go, go to compute Richt’s
record against Meyer’s.
Sulley is Richt's yard man and butler
May 18th, 2010
4:18 pm
Dude the more you post the dumber you look. The rest of the SEC hopes your Saint Richt stays at the helm. Slim chance you will see the Ga Dome again unless it’s a preseason game. Have you noticed the Chick-fil-A preseason game has ignored Georgia since it started. No coincidence dunce.
gdawginkalamazoo
May 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
Anybody ever notice in war movies that Sulley is the only guy that doesn’t make it back to the helicopter? Captain to the unit: “Where’s Sulley?”, private “he didn’t make it captain.” How many times do we see that one in the old war movies?
PMC
May 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
No, he simply held on to a few coaches who were over thier heads a bit too long.
Sometimes you simply pick the wrong guys. I think the new coaches will make a big difference for them on the defensive side of the ball. That’s the part of the team that really fell off the wagon the last few seasons.
Richt is an excellent coach and an excellent person to lead a program. He’ll get the ship righted. I have confidence.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
in nine years Richt has finished top ten 6 times.
.
Meyer 3 times
Dr. Phil
May 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
Patrick what part of 80%>69% dont you get?
74Dawg
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
Colonel Mustard,you sound almost as ignorant as the writer for the Orlando Sentinel regarding UGA football. Get your facts straight. Where is Valdostan anyway? Is that near Afghanistan or Kirghistan ? Chiquita, I think I found your banana. Wow Jeff,you really stirred them up with this one. I think the really telling thing is how many Dawg haters are so emphatic that Mark Richt be fired. That speaks volumes about why he should not be. If you folks hate him,he must be doing something right. I know personally,I was willing to make a small donation(or bribe) to keep Chan at the flats. Getting Reggie Ball an extra year of eligibility,priceless.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
in nine years Richt has been to a bowl game 9 times
.
Meyer in nine years 8 times
jzdawg
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
I love CMR but I believe he will definitely be on the hot seat if they get blown out by teams they are supposed to beat or at least play close. Also, if they lose by committing stupid penalties and mistakes.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
meyer 7 times…I gave him too much credit
byDawg
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
Absolutely NOT!
Richt’s tenure has been the most successful in UGA history – less the one MNC we have. No hot seat as long as we stay at or near the top of the SEC. One down year won’t matter, neither will two. Look at what Oklahoma and USC have done recently with their down seasons.
82Dawg
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
Jeff, You really know how to stir the pot…….
Dr. Phil
May 18th, 2010
4:21 pm
Since Meyer has been in SEC he has never finished out of top 25, Richt has. Plus the real sign of intelligence, Meyer has never had an entire team on Dancing with the stars.
Will
May 18th, 2010
4:21 pm
His seat has a bunch of “nothingness” on it.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:21 pm
what part of finishing top ten 6 times to 3 do you not understand?
Gatorbait 17-3
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
Richt has won ten or more games a year FOUR years str8…Meyer…not so much.
I get it, you would rather win 10 games for four year in a row with ZERO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, THAN TO WIN TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THREE 13-1 RECORDS——Get back on those pills boy, the doctor is coming for you.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Richt in nine years has won 7 bowl games and four in a row.
.
Meyer in nine years has won 6 bowl games and only 2 in a row
Valdostan (surrounded by nothingness)
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Jeff’s 172 blogs in 83 minutes
far surpasses Barnhart or King’s
record. I think AJC need to get
rid of Barnhart and King and hire
the Boise sports writer.
Hot Seat
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
If Richt were coaching at UF, Bama, Tenn or LSU he would be on the hot seat or gone. But in Athens they are happy to get an occaisional SEC title. They have always been a mid-pack SEC team that will sometimes have the stars align and win in Atlanta. Similar to Big Ten team named Michigan St. So if you check the pulse of big time Dawg supporters they are satisfied.
82Dawg
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Jeff, do you get a bonus for each comment that is posted on your articles?
gdawginkalamazoo
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Tide Rising, I will definitely give you the UT games. There is no excuse for those let downs. We didn’t even get off the bus for those games. And in 2007 it cost us a chance at playing in the title game.
Florida is a different beast. There aren’t many teams that have beaten Florida. They have been that good.
Dr. Phil
May 18th, 2010
4:23 pm
Pat since you want to compare records since they both were head coaches and not since they have been together in SEC, Richt has never been undefeated, has Meyer?
cajdawg
May 18th, 2010
4:24 pm
I think it depends on the perceived direction of the program. If Murray progresses and Grantham gets things rolling on D, then Richt is fine.
SULLEY cleans toilet bowls
May 18th, 2010
4:24 pm
LOL–when your playing bowl games at the WEED EATER YOUR BOWL RECORD SHOULD BE NICE.
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 18th, 2010
4:24 pm
UGA should win on talent alone 7 games a year. If richt had to play Bama, UF, AU, UT,and LSU every year Richt would have been gone years ago. Vandy, USC, and Kentucky sound damn good if you win and it is basketball. Football not so much.
Old Dawg
May 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
74Dawg: If you’re going to bust a writer’s chops for not knowing his subject, you need to do a little research yourself. Todd Grantham was the defensive line coach with the Cowboys, not the linebackers coach.
Fact checking, a truly lost art.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
Gatorbait 17-3
May 18th, 2010
4:22 pm
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:17 pm
Richt has won ten or more games a year FOUR years str8…Meyer…not so much.
I get it, you would rather win 10 games for four year in a row with ZERO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, THAN TO WIN TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THREE 13-1 RECORDS——Get back on those pills boy, the doctor is coming for you.
============================================
not national championships…BCS championships
.
and what EXACTLY did Meyer do that Richt didnt to get one?
.
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.
gdawginkalamazoo
May 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
57 War movies where Sulley doesn’t make it back to the helicopter/jeep/ plane/rubber raft.
Russ the Temporary Mascot
May 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
No-More-Paint! No-More-Paint! No-More-Paint!
Let the blackness shine, shine, shine!
Obama
May 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
Patrick, you are one of my chillin dude.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:26 pm
Dr. Phil
May 18th, 2010
4:23 pm
Pat since you want to compare records since they both were head coaches and not since they have been together in SEC, Richt has never been undefeated, has Meyer?
========================================
Richt has not played a schedule against all Akrons
Valdostan (surrounded by nothingness)
May 18th, 2010
4:27 pm
Typo error, should have been Bradley and King
not Barnhart.
Glenn
May 18th, 2010
4:27 pm
Hey Jeff you are hard up for something to write about or are you just a Tech fan and can’t help yourself.
Get a life.
My teacher taught me how to cut & paste today--Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Dude–your a great troll for that Athens institution.
Dawgfan
May 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
He needs to be on the hot seat. He needs to step his game up recruit better people and bring Georgia back into its glory days.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Richt does not cry after losing a game…Meyer does.
.
Richt does not go off on reporters for doing their job…Meyer does
.
Richt does not complain of chest pains after losing a game….Meyer does.
Dr. Phil
May 18th, 2010
4:28 pm
Now he is into Richt is unlucky. I disagree, he is so lucky that he has an entire fanbase not caring if he 69% in the SEC. Patrick, when was the last time any florida coach has lost to Vandy or Kentucky at home or on the road? To the rest of UGA fans, does that make you happy?
Gatorbait 17-3
May 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
Hot Seat
Has it exactly right. Simple and concise-good job.
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
Richt does not lie to Bowling G and say I am your coach I amj not leaving…Meyer does