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
Joseph
May 18th, 2010
6:58 pm
To put Richt on the hotseat is just stupid. The man is not only an excellent coach, but a heck of a person. You want to kill recruiting? Keep up the stupid talk and really watch em flee.
Al
May 18th, 2010
7:03 pm
Is this a joke? Richt is not on any hot seat. Posting an article like this is foolish!!!! Look at Adams and Evans. Do you really see them getting rid of Richt even in the case of a horrible season? NO!!!! This is a puff story and bad journalism. When some bozo rights a stupid piece with misspellings and all, the AJC does not have to post a blog or article about it. Richt is here to stay. Last year’s team was young and had terrible luck with turnovers and still went 8-5, which by the way is the worst season Richt has put up. 8-5 is not terribly exciting, but I will take 8-5 as a bad season considering 3 SEC championship games and many 10 wins seasons that come along with it. If the only accusation is a National Championship, then so be it. A National Championship is more luck than anything, as Richt has had several teams better than the LSU championship team and the first Florida championship team that finished second in the nation due to two crappy conferences putting up undefeated teams. Saying Richt is on the hot seat is either garbage or ignorance if not both.
ncbulldawg86
May 18th, 2010
7:05 pm
Gatorbait 17-3, my point was addressing a FLorida fan or two talking smack about UGA’s OOC games. I retorted about UGA’s OOC games.
And the day Florida plays three BCS schools OOC in one year, is the day I will listen to a Florida fan talk smack about OOC games.
Now, about that WLOCP…???? That is another story. (sigh….)
But hopefully that series takes a turn, and soon. Cheers!
r u crazy
May 18th, 2010
7:06 pm
On the hot seat??? His record? In the SEC? On the road record against opponents? His recruiting classes? You guys who think he is on the hot seat must be the human fire hydrants we tinkle on every year from Tech! And using his record against Florida – OK, everyone that has had a winning record against Florida the past three years raise your hand! Uh huh, thought so. He will be at UGA a LONG TIME! GO DAWGS!
dawginDC
May 18th, 2010
7:07 pm
It was Paul Finebaum that said CMR doesn’t have it to win in the SEC..He better start beating florida more than once a decade and stop getting destroyed by bad Tenn teams or he will be on his way out
Red&Black
May 18th, 2010
7:08 pm
Ipersonally think he is on the hottest of seats (especially where my donation dollars are concerned). Two subpar years in a row and as some blogger has stated many times…This REALLY should be UGA’s year if our team had been managed correctly! UF is replacing 10 starters on Defense and the starting QB…yet they are unanimous picks to win the EAST? Why not UGA??? How is South Carolina getting as much love as us??? Are we really that downtrodden? UT is in disarray, new coach, lost most of their talent, etc. Surely we can’t lose to UK or UT agains this year? Surely Richt has OL talent and depth and can’t use that ol’handy excuse again! We do not play Bama or LSU! We have a very soft out of conference schedule and as someone posted above…There is simply no way GT rolls out of Sanford with a win this year. Anything less than 10 wins should end his contract! Period! Or are we content with middle of the pack status? Are we content with mediocrity???
Reality Check
May 18th, 2010
7:09 pm
Anyone care to guess which SEC coach after 8 years at the helm was dead last in the SEC in football graduation rates, bueller, bueller!
robdawg08
May 18th, 2010
7:09 pm
The reason Richt is on the hot seat is because the Dawgs always have top 5 recruiting classes that never translate into top 5 teams.
lou
May 18th, 2010
7:11 pm
Bulldogs dont care about winning national championship as long as the win the sec and beat fla every ten years they will be alright. Mark Richt should have been fired long time ago
Lou
May 18th, 2010
7:15 pm
I believe the problems started after Van Gorder left as defensive coordinator. Giving up an average close to 40 pts. per game over the last four seasons to Tennessee and the blowouts against Florida are embarassing. With the type of talent we have in state for recruiting, UGA should be more competitive. There is no excuse.
jameson
May 18th, 2010
7:17 pm
I love it that Tech fans troll UGA topics. Question for the Tech fans, whats up with the UGA obsession? It’s flattering but creepy.
PT
May 18th, 2010
7:23 pm
If you don’t like Mark Richt as the head coach of UGA, then who would you replace him with. You are not allowed to disagree unless you have a better idea for a head coach. That is the rule!
Big L
May 18th, 2010
7:28 pm
Dawgindc, Richt has beaten UF more than once in a decade………sssoooooo, whatcha talkin bout?
Patrick Sulley
May 18th, 2010
7:30 pm
for those wishing for Donnan or for that matter thinking Donnan was better than Richt
.
Total:………………Jim Donnan 1996-2000…………………….Mark Richt 2001-2005Win/Loss Record (Away/Neutral)…..40-19 (18-11)…………………………………52-13 (25-9)
Top 25 Finishes*……….4…………………………………………5
Top 10 Finishes*……….1…………………………………………4
Bowl Appearances…….4…………………………………………5
SEC Championships….0…………………………………………2
Record vs Tennessee…..1-4…………………………………….4-1
Record vs South Carolina…….3-2……………………………..4-1
Record vs Florida……………….1-4…………………………….1-4
Record vs Auburn……………….2-3…………………………….2-3
Record vs Georgia Tech……….2-3…………………………….5-0
Record vs Top 25……………….7-13…………………………..16-12
Big L
May 18th, 2010
7:31 pm
I agree with ya on the Tennessee thing tho. It’s just wierd. We get a big head when we play em then bang. Tennessee is always there to slap us and make us remember that u gotta play the game to win it.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
May 18th, 2010
7:32 pm
Who knows JS- agree that this is the SEC and the fans will not accept a par or even a sub par season ever. While Richt has improved the program and recruiting is better than ever, a NC in the future is absolutely needed. If CMR cannot achieve that, then yes, he’ll be ran out of town soon.
dick
May 18th, 2010
7:33 pm
You can’t stand on sidelines with attitude of being a cool, player friendly coach. You have to jerk players by the collars sometimes. Show some excitement and yell. Ga will always be beat by Flordia 4 out of 5 times.
beatdowns galore
May 18th, 2010
7:33 pm
You betcha CMR is on the hot seat. Should have fired BooBoo for losing to SC in 2007 without scoring a TD with Moreno and Stafford. UGA is the most underachieving team in the SEC. Big time recruits with little league coaching. BTW UGA needs to fire Perno too for resting on his laurels and blowing the national champoinship a few years ago. What a bunch of clowns in Athens.
PT
May 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
ok beatsdowns galore, who would you replace Perno with?
PT
May 18th, 2010
7:37 pm
next, your choice for OC at Georgia?
college is forever
May 18th, 2010
7:39 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. Just ask the folks at Tenn. I bet they would like a do over with the Fulmer/Kiffin/Dooley mess. Don’t forget Dad get him a UGA classic tin lunchbox for Fathers Day. Go Dawgs!!!
Yellow Fuzz
May 18th, 2010
7:42 pm
Yellow Fuzz is gonna try and become a kinder, gentler, fan next season. I still don’t like dog fans but promised my girlfriend I would use better manners when bitch slapping them on these boards from now on.
beatdowns galore
May 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
PT…. get Ray Tanner at USC… OC ? heck anyone would be better than Boo Boo. Ok dude whats your excuse???
PT
May 18th, 2010
7:48 pm
gosh, I thought beatsdowns would have all the answers.
Bill
May 18th, 2010
7:50 pm
I just loved being a Georgia fan in the room of Techies last week when Paul Johnson called the University of Georgia “that little school over in Athens.” Even though Paul Johnson says Georgia is just another game, he gets fired up in friendly quarters bashing the Bulldogs!
PT
May 18th, 2010
7:52 pm
The PAC 10 is a joke, I put them with the WAC, ACC and the Big East. Your next choice please.
Buckhead Bulldog
May 18th, 2010
7:59 pm
Mark Richt is the best choice for UGA all the way around. I can’t think of one coach out there who could represent UGA as well as CMR. His big mistake was going into business with one of his best friends..bad move for his coaching, but it did show me his character. My only complaint on CMR is his blind loyalty…he needs to get over that and start cracking some heads. I think he is safe, but guess what? It does not matter what you, the AJC, Paul Finebaum, or I think, because when you get down to it the ONLY vote that matters is that Sanford Stadium is sold out of her 93k tickets EVERY SINGLE GAME . Personally, I have not hesitated once with contributing in February while CMR has been at the helm. I did begin to question giving money when Goff was around…ain’t no comparison.
Go Georgia Bulldogs, and go Coach Mark Richt! Sic ‘ ‘em!
PT
May 18th, 2010
8:05 pm
Buckhead Bulldog, you are correct my friend!
Krogunner
May 18th, 2010
8:12 pm
Tim Rupert must have just returned from a 4-5 year trip to another planet. Wake up Tim! And yes Richt is on the hot seat!
FL Dawg
May 18th, 2010
8:14 pm
Richt is not on the hot seat and barring an absolute failure (losing record in the SEC and an overall losing record) he will not be on the hot seat until at the earliest 2012. The reasons for this are: 1) His overall record, 2) He returned UGA to SEC titles, 3) The good will he has offered University of Georgia and its fans, 4) He has learned from previous mistakes (Keeping Willie to long). This is Richts first stop as a head coach, all of the head coaches in the SEC had at least one prior stop before going to the schools where they won their first NC. How many of us, as fans, realize this point. It was inevitable that it would take Richt a little longer than Saban, Meyer, Spurrier or Miles to win the NC. Patience is the key for UGA faithful.
WalkerMuhDawg
May 18th, 2010
8:16 pm
Slow news day, eh Jeff?
PT
May 18th, 2010
8:16 pm
Jeff, heard where Starr Jackson may transfere to GA State after having a meeting with Saban. Alabama will always have 25 scholarships each year. For some unknown reason those kids at the bottom of the depth chart just keep transfering?
94 Bull Dawg
May 18th, 2010
8:16 pm
Richt is DEFINITELY on the hot seat! That aw shucks Bobbby Bowden attitude has worn out its welcome. Let’s get a coach in here who can get them to play hard and with a little discipline. By the end of this season, Chris Peterson will be on speed dial.
Dawg 3/20
May 18th, 2010
8:17 pm
“The reason Richt is on the hot seat is because the Dawgs always have top 5 recruiting classes that never translate into top 5 teams.”
No top 5 class enrolling at UGA in the summer, not even a top 10 class.
16 All Americans in the upcoming freshman class for the Florida Gators
4 All Americans in the upcoming freshman class for the Georgia Bulldogs
(Benedict, Ogletree, Houston, Smith)
ARdawg
May 18th, 2010
8:18 pm
The answer is NO. Richt is not on the hot seat. He easily could have been by now but, he made adjustments and the Bulldog nation will allow him time to implement those adjustments. Richt is a great coach and will be at UGA as long as he wants. Good seasons/bad seasons are ebb and flow. Dooley only won 1 NC in the years he was at UGA. Richt has plenty of time. Richt puts a competitive team on the field this year, the outcome of the FL doesn’t matter, he buys plenty of time. A poor shwing this year will stir the pot of dissent next year. Just as it would anywhere
icedawg
May 18th, 2010
8:19 pm
Hot? Nah, nah, nah. The program is in good shape overall. He’s made changes when necessary. His record speaks for itself. Hopefully he’ll add a NC at some point along the way. Recruiting is the greater challenge. So many schools are foraging in Georgia. We are picking up a few more now from Florida and other parts of the country. 2011 is off to a good start.
Krogunner
May 18th, 2010
8:21 pm
The hot seat will be on fire come December!
PKS
May 18th, 2010
8:21 pm
he’s not in trouble. end of story
Don in DC
May 18th, 2010
8:26 pm
Absurd
ugaby7
May 18th, 2010
8:31 pm
Any person who thinks CMR is on the hot seat is someone who knows absolutely nothing about UGA football. This article is just an attempt to stir the pot.
Knock Out Punch
May 18th, 2010
8:36 pm
Richt gonna knock out Spurrier, Saban & Meyer over the next 2 seasons by running away with SEC domination. Spurrier 65, wants to retire anyway. Saban & Meyer have never stayed in 1 place more than 6 years. Richt’s schedule does not include LSU or Alabama in 2010 or 2011. Richt’s 2 year run will knock out the competition and allow 5 years of dominance.
raymond
May 18th, 2010
8:37 pm
Yes it is hot. He has had plenty of years to change things and has not. To stay the UGA head coach you have to beat Fla period and he has not. 8-4 and out the door in 2010.
Steve
May 18th, 2010
8:37 pm
Richt is not on the hot seat. Damon Evans should look at the UF/UA model – 3 cupcake games a year. Evans wants GT, a major Conference team, and a mid major every year. These games wear you out physically.
Richt’s biggest mistake – recruiting OL like he was at FSU – I think it took him until 2006 to recruit big, bad, ugly and deep on the OL in the SEC. This year, we have maybe the best OL in the country, barring injury. It could cover some weak areas on defense for us, we’ll see.
jesse james
May 18th, 2010
8:38 pm
Hey Jeff why don’t you be a man and ask him face to face and don’t hide behind your keyboard?
FLA DAWG
May 18th, 2010
8:38 pm
If Richt has a bad season this year he’ll be given one more year. If no dramatic improvement (like an SEC Championship) then he’ll be fired.
Steve
May 18th, 2010
8:39 pm
I know the OL was supposed to be good the past 2 years, i kept trying to tell everybody that this was the year – to young previously – we saw glimpses the last 4 games of last year however.
Top Dawg
May 18th, 2010
8:40 pm
Agreed.
The Real SugarHillDawg
May 18th, 2010
8:41 pm
His record ain’t bad BUT third banana in the SEC ain’t gonna cut it.He HAS to bring his game up to Meyer and Saban and if he doesn’t he’s gone. Simple as that!!
Greg
May 18th, 2010
8:42 pm
Yeah…the coach with the 3rd highest winning percentage of all active D1 coaches who’ve coached a minimum of 100 games is on the hot seat. Averaging 10 wins a season for NINE seasons in the SEC…hot seat. 3 BCS bowl games in 9 seasons…on the hot seat. 3 SEC championship games (2-1) in 9 seasons…hot seat. 7-2 in bowl games…hot seat.
It’s Richt’s fault that KY had that field goal in OT blocked against TN that would have sent UGA to the SEC championship game in 2007 (which would have been a play-in game to the MNC game). It’s Richt’s fault that both Ohio St. and Miami finished with 0 losses in 2002, essentially eliminating UGA from the MNC picture that season.
And for all the Stafford/Moreno underachieve talk…they did underachieve…but it had NOTHING to do with the offense. And Richt’s teams more often than not end up ranked higher in the post season rankings than they were in the preseason, but everyone wants to point to the exception in 2008.
This is so ridiculous that it’s maddening. In case you haven’t noticed.
Dot Dot Dash
May 18th, 2010
8:43 pm
Knock Out Punch…I think you’ve been drinking too much “knock out” punch!