Richt isn’t commanding Georgia players’ respect or attention
Mark Richt's biggest problem? Players may be tuning him out.
Sometimes it’s not about whether somebody is a good coach or certainly a good man. Sometimes it’s just about whether players are even listening to him.
Mark Richt preaches to his players, “Finish the drill.” They don’t.
He admonishes them about missed blocks and blown coverages and stresses the importance of playing with discipline, passion and a sense of desperation. They don’t respond.
He states the obvious: Don’t get arrested. They do.
I am not calling for Mark Richt’s firing here. Not yet. There are still seven games left in the season. That’s enough time for Georgia to turn its season around, play in a respectable bowl game and most importantly send the message that this program isn’t going down like Pompeii.
But right now, I’m just not feeling it.
Needing to bounce back after a loss at South Carolina, the Bulldogs lost to Arkansas at home for the first time in 17 years.
Needing to play with a sense of urgency to avoid falling to 0-3 in the SEC, they fell behind after two minutes, 43 seconds in Starkville and lost to Mississippi State for the first time in 36 years.
Needing to regain some measure of respect just on their own campus, the Bulldogs lost at Colorado — which had lost to California, 52-7, only a few weeks earlier.
You thought Shreveport was the bottom? Shreveport was just the flashing yellow light.
They used to attack. They used to play with confidence. They used to have resolve. They used to win road games. They used to win any games.
Now the Dogs are 1-4, and there’s probably someone at Louisiana-Lafayette thinking, “How did we lose to those guys?” They’re 2-7 in their last nine SEC games, and Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky are thinking, “We can beat those guys.”
That’s where Georgia is. What does that tell you?
This is about leadership. Either players aren’t following Richt or he’s leading them in the wrong direction. It is becoming clear that he doesn’t command their attention or their respect because, if he was, Georgia wouldn’t be sliding into oblivion.
When college teams lose, certain things get over-analyzed. Here are two of them:
♦ 1.) Recruiting: Some believe Georgia isn’t getting the athletes it used to. Bunk. Watch the games. The Bulldogs are no slower or weaker or smaller than their opponents. Recruiting services have had Georgia’s classes in or near the top 10 annually. If you believed them before, don’t stop believing them now just because it’s convenient.
♦ 2.) Strategy: Football is about toughness and discipline, blocking and tackling. It’s not about the offensive coordinator not calling enough short passes. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo may not be the next Mike Shanahan on offense, and Willie Martinez certainly wasn’t Brian VanGorder’s equal on defense. But Georgia’s slide is not about X’s and O’s. It’s about focus and determination and knocking people down.
Richt’s job should be in jeopardy. Why? Because not only are the Bulldogs not very good, but there is no sign that they are getting better.
The offensive line, expected to be the strength of this team, has been less than average. Freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, the biggest question mark, has been one of their best players. A.J. Green reaffirmed in his first game back from suspension that he is a special player but his presence in Colorado also pounded home the obvious: This isn’t about one player.
Richt gets criticized for not showing enough emotion on the sideline. That might be unfair. But here’s something worth asking: Is he obsessed enough?
There’s no question Richt wants to win. But he has a lot more things important to him in his life now, like taking mission trips to Honduras. It doesn’t mean football isn’t important to him. Anybody who has seen him after losses knows otherwise. But college football coaching, particularly in the SEC, has become a 24/7/365 job.
Richt in a conference with some truly obsessed coaches: Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Bobby Petrino. Watch Derek Dooley and you can almost see sparks coming off his head. If we see that, you know Tennessee players see that.
Do you get that sense with Richt’s players? Are they ready to jump at his every command?
Georgia has players. Georgia has facilities, money and certainly fan support. But right now, there is no direction, and if Mark Richt is leading, the problem is that nobody is paying attention.
♦
Earlier posts:
♦ Now that Braves are here, how far can they go?
♦ Braves make it back to the postseason in typical dramatic style
♦♦♦
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839 comments Add your comment
Dr. Phil
October 4th, 2010
2:51 pm
Only when Adams leaves, will things get better. The buck really stops with him.
DAWG Fan undercover
October 4th, 2010
2:51 pm
Clearly this is a sad year, but it is also a defining year. I continue to be a CMR fan but it is time for him to step aside as the leader of this great football program. If CMR is allowed to remain as Head Coach then UGA has accepted mediocrity and willing to accept another loosing season in 2011.
CMR has done many great things for the University and has raised a boat load of money for UGA but now is the time for new leadership!
joe
October 4th, 2010
2:53 pm
Wrs sucks marlon brown, wooten and king.put samuel back at running back.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
2:53 pm
Dooley is too smart to go to UGA with the dawg fans. If he doesn’t make it a UT then he will go to a small school. It would be like H Walker’s son going to UGA. Just too big of shoes to fill.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
2:54 pm
Jason: 1) No polls, ESPECIALLY sports blog polls, represent a scientific sampling; 2) That poll was regarding arrests, which this column is not about but rather the entire picture; 3) Like any poll, results vary by the emotions of the people that day. I’m pretty confident that any poll these days would not have an 85-15 percent split. … As for for the reference to mission trips, asked and answered. You’re looking for a reason to be upset with the column and that’s fine. I’ll survive. But I certainly have no problems with Mark Richt as a person or his religion. To suggest anything otherwise is just stupid.
valyboy32
October 4th, 2010
2:54 pm
another thing is they know saban is bending the rules when it comes scholarships and richt know deep down with the talent in this state its no excuss for pathtic season like we’re having this 2010 class in this state is one of the best in along time from the look of things we’re gonna miss out on more in state talent its crazy to me to let these @@#$%^ coaches come into this state and rack up on players doesnt make any sense
MATHDAWG
October 4th, 2010
2:54 pm
Jeff, I think you got it just right with this article. Richt is distracted or has lost interest. I hope that he is not dealing with a family tragedy or something like that. He may have reached a plateau and is not pushing himself to be a better coach. Once a person becomes satisfied with their performance they start loseing ground because the competition is working to get better.
I sort of agree with the off-the-field trouble analysis that is being offered, but keep in mind that most of these offenses are not serious like the death threat the FL player sent his girlfriend or the domestic violence at Tech. Meyer has had 30 players arrested since he has been at FL, but he has won 2 national championships. See what I mean? I don’t condone off-the-field troubles, but I’m not so sure it means anything.
Ray
October 4th, 2010
2:55 pm
Jeff,
Would not hurt you a bit to back down from your mission trip comments or at least clarify or give some sort of reason that you brought that up. It sounds like pure speculation at best and at worst it does sound like a swipe at Coach Richt. Coach and Mrs. Richt have sure elevated the program at UGA and are bright lights in the city of Athens. They have faced the adversity of cancer with courage. They have shown great love in the adoption of children and the challenges that brings. Those sorts of challenges are greater than UGA football…point being that CMR has shown us he can face adversity with courage and get through. If given the time he will also lead us through this brief drought. Not trying to give you a hard time Jeff but the comments you made do seem out of bounds and irrelevant.
Rob
October 4th, 2010
2:56 pm
Jeff – I believe you hit the nail on the head.
I have been in the Army for over twenty years. As a leader of young men, I was responsible for those those men basically 24 hours a day. On duty and off duty. If ten of them got arrested in a year, it would certainly be attributed to a poor command climate and I would lose my job. Guess what? I wasn’t making millions of dollars a year either. That is where we are.
Mark Richt is a great man. He has strong values and principles. However, his guys aren’t getting it, and that comes down to his leadership and the climate of the atmosphere in the program. The real problem with this is that this climate will eventually erode at the culture of the program. Change isn’t bad, but this change is. There is to much “me” and not enough “team” in the program. You see it, you sense it. The penalties of the past were indicators. The off field transgressions are indicators.
I wish it weren’t the case, but I honestly feel that the only way to change is to change at the top. I know football is a game, and I know Richt is a great man. However, we are not getting the return on investment at this point in time on the millions of dollars we are payaing him and the staff. I know plenty of great Christian men who are not making millions of dollars.
My $.02.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
2:56 pm
AMS Jacket –365 would be the reference to days (not weeks) in a year. Come on, even an engineer should know that.
valyboy32
October 4th, 2010
2:58 pm
we’re gonna suck as ong as he’s the coach he know saban bends the rule when it come to recruiting he never keep an edge with state talent this is one of the best 2010 classes in this state in along time most of them are not coming to uga and thats pathetic
UGA haters ..........yes, as an alum, this is painful
October 4th, 2010
2:58 pm
This season is very painful for UGA grads and true fans. Yes sir, it sure it. Haters, enjoy it. It is probably all that you have in your lives. Enjoy!!
The only sunlight in this all is that once the UGA administrators decide to dump them all, we will bring a new coaching staff in here and within two years …………….be challenging for the SEC East. Now in this same time period, ( write it on the wall ) Urban Meyer will bolt and possibly Sabin and Miles and Spurrier ……………as then the UP CYLCE repeats.
This is the way of the world. Up and Down cycles and how you manage them in between is how good your program will be over the long haul. Here is just one example. Who knew that only 21 months ago Obama would be so loathed by voters in 2010??? He is now in his DOWN cylce. See??
UGA is a facility rich school, fan base rich school, monetarily RICH school and …and …and UGA can recruit in one of the top states in the USA ……….Georgia. A solid, and HUNGRY TO WIN IT ALL COACH can come in here and do it all. Easy, easy to do.
Write it on the wall ……………..UGA will be on a UP CYLCE within two years. Aaron Muray will only be a junior and we will be fine.
Go Dogs.
Jonathan
October 4th, 2010
2:59 pm
Simply Put. We don’t have the players and that is on CMR.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
2:59 pm
MathDawg — That’s true, we haven’t seen any Chris Rainey death-texting in Athens. … Meyer is just now starting to catch heat for the arrests. We certainly can debate whether he should’ve received more before. But yeah, obviously when you win, these things tend to get overlooked more, particularly by the fan base and administrators.
I don't get it.
October 4th, 2010
2:59 pm
Thats the problem Jaydawg too many people just want “A holy roller good guy” than a good coach.
Snoop Dawg
October 4th, 2010
3:00 pm
Ray, you’re making a great case in support of my university chaplain idea.
Anotther thing. Have you all noticed that Grantham was all animated and challenging the players the first game but he has been most mild mannered ever since? Do you think that da Preacha Man got on him and told him to be cool like Richt? If he did, that’s another good reason to fire him today.
Dissappointed Dawg Fan
October 4th, 2010
3:00 pm
So how many other,running backs are going to get benched, because they never heard of sickem. Georgia Bulldogs are the laughing stock, of all the SEC. The team is totaly a JOKE. TOO embrassed to wear my Georgia Bulldogs scrubs to work.If Georgia State Panthersc were on the schdule, Georgia Bulldogs, would lose.
Ed
October 4th, 2010
3:01 pm
“I think the ‘mission trips to Honduras’ is pretty low.”
I’ve read several comments like this and honestly can’t figure out why this offends some of you. The point was obvious; Richt appears to have other priorities that might be distracting him from devoting all of his time and energy to Georgia football. His conference peers are some of the most driven, obsessive coaches in the business. It doesn’t matter if Richt’s outside passions are mission trips or professional poker tournaments, the point – and the result – is the same.
R
October 4th, 2010
3:01 pm
Is it possible that the lack of respect is from the X and O’s Today’s high school players run a more advanced system and even they can see how flawed the defense was under former D coord and current O coord?
gdawginkalamazoo
October 4th, 2010
3:02 pm
I think our undisciplined previous AD has a lot to do with the problems we are having. It appears that he offered no support or reprimands for allowing the Fulmer Cup to appear in our trophy case. You people are correct it starts at the top and the top is the AD. Now McGarity better make sure that he 1) offers help and guidance to CMR regarding the off the field problems 2) a solution to the problems or 3) hold Richt accountable for these problems. Don’t give me the “he can’t watch them 24/7″ or “he isn’t their parents” or “kids will be kids”.
One of the reasons I have never been arrested is fear. Fear of having to face my father if I ever was. Fear of jail. Fear of the fines and record that I would have. Fear of losing things that I have worked hard for. Fear. One word, one concept, teachable too.
Snoop Dawg
October 4th, 2010
3:02 pm
Ed, you’re right. Those comments about Honduras were almost as low as the UGA football program is right now.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 4th, 2010
3:03 pm
Solve the off the field distractions and you have at least 75% better performance on the field.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
3:05 pm
OK, Ray. I’ll bite. Here’s the paragraph: “There’s no question Richt wants to win. But he has a lot more things important to him in his life now, like taking mission trips to Honduras. It doesn’t mean football isn’t important to him. Anybody who has seen him after losses knows otherwise. But college football coaching, particularly in the SEC, has become a 24/7/365 job.”
What exactly is “low” or “offensive” in that? And yes, obviously it is speculation but I can tell you that I’ve also spoken to a few people about Mark (who know him and don’t disagree). Does that help? Again, not attacking the man or his wife for going on mission trips. And with that, I’m done addressing the topic.
Bill P.
October 4th, 2010
3:05 pm
Good writers don’t put in one comment that spoils an otherwise good article. The Honduras reference was stupid.
FLA DAWG
October 4th, 2010
3:05 pm
Great article Jeff.
There has been less and less fire in the belly of Mark Richt every year.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone and will not come back.
Time for an HC Change.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
3:06 pm
Rob — Thanks, much appreciated. Insightful remarks: “Mark Richt is a great man. He has strong values and principles. However, his guys aren’t getting it, and that comes down to his leadership and the climate of the atmosphere in the program. The real problem with this is that this climate will eventually erode at the culture of the program.”
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 4th, 2010
3:06 pm
Recruiting has been overrated at UGA lately but then when you subtract all the kids who got injured or kicked off the team these recruiting classes have not been that good.
Billy
October 4th, 2010
3:06 pm
Word is out. Richt has one more year to turn it around regardless of how this year turns out. Lets all take a collective sigh and get off the fire Richt bandwagon. It is a waste of energy that could be used to support our team now that the decision to keep Richt has been made.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
3:07 pm
Ed — Because some people are looking for a reason to shoot the messenger, that’s why.
Jason
October 4th, 2010
3:07 pm
Jeff-
I don’t see how doing some good for charitable purposes, such as Richt taking a mission trip, has a negative effect on his football team? I don’t get your point. And I don’t think many people would agree with your conclusion, your assumptions, or your line of reasoning.
Charity & altruism creates more energy than it consumes for the giver. There’s a lot of research on the positive benefits of altruism, the evidence is clearly in opposition to your theory.
You’re assuming we live in a scarce world, instead of an infinite world (time spent on mission trip = less time for football). In an infinite world, you can’t subtract, every act only adds (time spent on mission trip = more time for football).
Are you saying there’s not been a coach in any sport who takes mission trips, or even just college football, who’s won a National Championship in the same season? Have you heard of Jim Tressel or Bobby Bowden?
AMS Jacket
October 4th, 2010
3:07 pm
Jeff,
Just giving you a hard time…you know…24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 weeks a…never mind. Just the inner copy editor, I guess. Seriously, I look forward to your picks columns every week. It’s great stuff. We don’t have a real newspaper here in Amsterdam (and night games are a serious pain with the time difference) so I look at AJC.Com every day to get my fix.
So to get back to the heart of the matter…do you think CMR will take the drastic measures required to wake up the team? Or is he now too “balanced” in his priorities to do the hard stuff?
richham
October 4th, 2010
3:08 pm
Schutlz,
You wouldn’t know a good man or a good coach if you had your PHD in the subject.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
3:08 pm
AMS Jacket — Amsterdam?Hah, that explains a lot. ….. Seriously, thanks.
Just a Dawg
October 4th, 2010
3:08 pm
To all you dawg fans that is questioning coach Richt’s coaching, I to want to do the same thing but, then I get to thinking about all the good years we have had under him and so I know he still knows how to coach football. I to feel like pinching his head off sometimes but I am not giving up on him or this team. I drive about 6 to 7 hrs. to get to the game,and I will be everyweek if the GOOD LORD is willing and support this team. GO DAWGS……
Tom
October 4th, 2010
3:09 pm
The leadership needs to be changed out. College football coaches are the “end game” as the fan base, the players, and then the general public rally around. UGA is losing its “franchise value” faster than Citigroup did.
AMS Jacket
October 4th, 2010
3:09 pm
…or does McGarrity have to start looking now?
Jerry
October 4th, 2010
3:11 pm
What’s the buyout on Richt? Georgia is already paying Goff and Donnan not to Coach might as well add Richt to that line up. Maybe Vince Junior is ready to come home.
Jerry
October 4th, 2010
3:14 pm
Richt and Gailey could join forces and become televangelist.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
3:14 pm
What am I going to do this weekend? I guess I will hope we can all fit in the RV to watch the UGA game. I will be at Tech by about 10 for Home coming and UGA kicks at NOON. Damn I will miss some of the 3 1/2 hour Comedy show. Well maybe walk up to the Varsity and watch on their TVs some before the Tech Kickoff.
Ed
October 4th, 2010
3:16 pm
Not naming names (or monikers), but many of you are just plain nuts.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
3:16 pm
If all you people are so mad at Jeff for the MISSION TRIP thing, then why don’t you people go on your own mission trip some time?
mdawg
October 4th, 2010
3:16 pm
The mission trip comments were on point. Everybody loves to give Richt a pass because he’s a great Christian. I’d take a coach that worshiped the devil and bit the heads off chickens every night if it meant we could win a national championship. Y’all need to keep your praying for Sundays. Saturdays are for winning…at any and all costs.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
3:17 pm
ED don’t hold back. DAMNIT Name NAMES.
CrackDaddy
October 4th, 2010
3:19 pm
just reporting, not flaming. Tom Dienhart, in his weakly live internet exchange, was asked if CMR would be a good fit for UNC if BD were let go (which will not happen). Tom replied that UNC could do better.
Jason
October 4th, 2010
3:19 pm
I dread the day when being a good man, and a good coach, is less important to some than how 18 year old kids feel. Oh, this is that day.
Ethics #1, Winning #2, How players feel #3.
Ray
October 4th, 2010
3:20 pm
Jeff,
Thanks for your comments. You are a fine writer–just thought the comments were out of line. Not trying to “shoot the messenger” as you responded to Ed–just want you to play fair and accurate. Man, I would hate to see us fire CMR. He has done so much for the program and is so much the face of UGA football. Like Vince when he was here. He had several bad seasons–but, he was Vince Dooley–can’t fire Vince. I think with Mark we have to look at the big picture, consider the ups and downs that are normal, give him the respect that he is due and he at least has earned another shot. Thats probably how this will go down. AD will ask Mark for a plan for the future, identify the issues etc and tell him he has one year to show significant progress. I can’t imagine him firing CMR–but hey–what do I know.
South Georgia
October 4th, 2010
3:20 pm
Texas lost two games in a row and fell out of the top 25. Are the players listening to Will Muschamp and Mack Brown? Are they lacking fire? Florida will probably lose more than one game this year? Is Urban Meyer lacking intensity? Plus, we have a young team and I believe you will eat some of your words within a few weeks.
JB
October 4th, 2010
3:20 pm
Nothing like a good car wreck to back up traffic
BobDawg
October 4th, 2010
3:22 pm
….. we can point fingers after the season… I’m more interested in stopping the losing streak which is like a snowball right now… I would load the players into busses and head down to Turner Field and ask Bobby Cox how the Braves weathered the long spring losing streak (9 games?) and how they turned it around and became better from it…Seems hard to believe we were giving the Braves “laste rites” during that streak and they came back stronger from it….
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
3:23 pm
CrackDaddy.
UNC can do better for sure and B Davis is all but gone at UNC already. See the ACC schools care about that lil thing called ECUCATION. Student/athletes have to do their own class work and follow NCAA rules. B. Davis is on his way out for sure.