The sideline hasn't been as enjoyable a place for Mark Richt the last two seasons as during his first eight. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – It’s probably best that we start with the latest indication of Mark Richt’s future employment.
“Mark’s going to be our coach in 2011,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said. “I haven’t seen anything in 11 games that would lead me to any other decision. I’d be stunned.”
The thinking is, it’s always best to end such declarations with even the smallest of escape routes. Because if for some reason Georgia were to lose to Tech 42-10 Saturday, finish the season 5-7, not go to a bowl game and later that evening 17 players find themselves in handcuffs for whatever reason – well, let’s just say you want the escape route.
But Richt will be back. And he should be back.
Let’s be clear about something. There are significant problems at Georgia. There are problems that may not go away under Richt.
The team has disappointed and underachieved. The Bulldogs are 7-9 in SEC games in the last two seasons. That nearly equals their conference loss total in the previous four years (22-10).
Celebrated recruiting classes haven’t turned into celebrated teams, an indictment of the coaching. Changes in Richt’s staff have not significantly improved the defense. Physically and emotionally, the team too often still seems overmatched by good teams.
But we should judge coaches like we judge athletes – in fact, like we judge all people. Life is a series of credits and debits. Mark Richt has built up a lot of credits. He deserves a chance to fix this.
He won two SEC titles in his first five seasons. I know. That’s so yesterday. As even McGarity joked when alluding to the fact the program’s off-field issues have quieted somewhat: “You’re only as good as the last few minutes.”
It’s the same on the field, especially in the SEC. When Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Les Miles are combining to win four straight BCS titles, and Gene Chizik is undefeated at Auburn and – cover your eyes – even Mississippi State seems to have passed you by with Dan Mullen, nobody in the fan base is talking about that great 2005 season.
Greg McGarity said he and Richt are "brutally honest" with each other in their meetings. (AP photo)
The more likely response is: Fire the coach.
But dial it back for a moment. Richt was 82-22 overall and 44-15 through his first eight seasons in Athens. There were some bad performances in 2006, hiccups in 2007 and the smack downs by Alabama and Florida in 2008 that quickly extinguished any national title hopes. But the bottom line numbers are too overwhelming to ignore so quickly.
McGarity hasn’t been in his job for long. He said he understands “that everyone is frustrated.” He added, “The bottom line is we’re 5-6 and nobody is happy with that. Nobody is pleased, and nobody should be.”
But he has spent the past several weeks analyzing various aspects of the program, particularly since the Colorado game – “That’s when things began to slow down for me,” he said — and doesn’t believe a change is warranted.
“We’re dealing with a team that’s competitive every week,” he said. “I know people don’t like to hear phrases like, ‘We’re competitive’ and, ‘We’re giving it everything we’ve got.’ Trust me, I get that. We all want different results. But I also see a program that is not in disarray.
“The bottom line is we need to close games better and I also believe this is a critical recruiting class for us. I feel like there are a lot more positive signs than negative signs, even though it hasn’t shown up in the win category.”
McGarity and Richt have a standing meeting every Friday. McGarity said the two have a great and open relationship. “We’re brutally honest with each other,” he said.
He declined to discuss specifics of their discussions but said: “We both want the same thing. The question is how we get there.”
It’s justified for anybody who follows the Georgia program to be upset about the record, about the loss in Colorado, about the fact the team hasn’t been a player in the SEC East for two years. It’s justified to wonder about direction. But Richt deserves another season to figure it out. His resume has earned him that.
706 comments Add your comment
HC is like any other exec job
November 24th, 2010
11:03 am
HC is just like any other TOP position at any firm. CMR is judged AND PAID on what he is doing lately and anyone to say that” um, ah, he was fabulous back in so and so” is not being real.
CMR has not done the job in the last 4 yearsseince the Sugar Bow. UGA grads do not expect UGA to be in the NC or even the SEC Champ hunt every year BUT we do expect to hunt the SEC East every year. Why?
The answer is that Georgia is a hot bed of HS talent. UGA is rich $$$ and has $$ alums. The facilities and the education are world class ……………I do not care what stay at home teen bloggers say or the UGA hate crowd. The program is historically good to very good and the bowl record proves it. The educational opportunities are boundless and with the new engineering curriculum, it will only be better.
Fnrakly, the hires of Ray Goof and Jim Harrick and Ron Jersa were Dr Adams’ failures. Donnan simply angered the small town alumni with is terse, dry manner of chatting. THAT and his failed GT record for 3 years in a row cost him his job. Richt?
CMR signed his $$$ contract after the Sugar Bowl vs Hawaii and he became complacent and he had family health issues and he lost his desire and fire. Look at his eyes in interviews and his way of speaking. He is half way asleep and that is no way to inspire y our troops.
UGA must get a new football regime or this time next year we will be sitting on a proud 4-7 or 5-6 season.
UGA class of 71 & 73
Columbus Dawg
November 24th, 2010
11:08 am
If you read Richt’s comments on how he handles underclassmen jumping to the NFL, it will tell you all you need to know about why he has not been successful in accomplishing what he was hired to do. I know a lot of you will start harping on his record and his two lame SEC titles, but at three million a year he just ain’t getting it done. His comments are about talking to the players and their folks about the pros and cons of going pro, and in the end to decide what is best for the “player”. Coach’s hired to coach what is thought to be upper tier SEC teams ared hired to do what is best for their University and their team, not individuals. The same is true about the lame coach’s he employs. This ain’t about BoBo and Searels, or any of the other so called coach’s on UGA’s payroll, it’s about the University of Georgia Football program. Richt has not ever seen this revelation, and is a big part of why he is sucking hind tit.
FLA DAWG
November 24th, 2010
11:08 am
Richt’s ability as a Head Coach can be summed up by one play called during The Florida Game.
When he called for a Field Goal instead of going for the First Down he revealed his lack of confidence in his players ability.
It was a lousy coaching call in a close game.
This is not what a quality SEC Coach does.
Look at CMR this way
November 24th, 2010
11:15 am
Julius Ceasar and Hannibal and Ghingis Kan and Robert E Lee and Eisenhower were fabulous war time generals. Their records prove it. CMR was a fine football coach in his early UGA years.
What do they all have in commom ?? Ancient history. CMR has not done the job lately ( 4 or 5 yrs) in fielding a high octane D and O team. He mustt be relieved of his duties. He is only cashing cehcks now and really wants to be in his faith based endeavors far more than at UGA> He is biding time and does not have the guts to admit it.
Who to replace him? TCU and Boise and Stanford all have fine football coaches. Give them a call. Folks ……………………the SEC IS THE PLACE for a ball coach to prove his worth. If a man leaves UGA after 3 or 5 years for the NFL? GREAT ……………….that probably means that while at UGA ,we won our games and a title.
The era of 25 year long HC careers is over like Sub Prime mortgages.
GO Dogs.
St. Clarkston
November 24th, 2010
11:19 am
I say give Dan Mullen his chance at Georgia and have him bring that young D-coordinator Manny Diaz with him. Hiring Grantham was a huge mistake. Giving him $750000 was idiocy.
how2fish
November 24th, 2010
11:21 am
Anyone that condones losing to the Bugs for ANY reasons..is no Dawg fan. period there is no discussion, if you want to lose to the Bugs for any reason…please leave.. the Bull Dog Nation doesn’t want you, the Bull Dog Nation doesn’t need you…you are a disgrace to the Bull Dog Nation . Sorry that’s just the way it is..the bandwagon has left the stadium and you need to be on it!
DawgByte
November 24th, 2010
11:46 am
Richt is going to make some coaching moves. There is no question about it. We are going to see a change in our S&C program and on the offensive side of the ball.
One thing Jeff Schultz and the rest of the followers need to understand is that these so called “celebrated classes” have never ranked #1 within the SEC. That’s a fact. So if you’re going to correlate recruiting to on-field results UGA is right in line with the athelestes we’ve brought in.
Bottom line: Richt will turn it around. The problem for Mark is that he’s not going to get a lot of time to show results. Next year is make or break.
producewiz
November 24th, 2010
11:46 am
Georgia has Mcgarity. Look where he learned his profession.Under the best,Jeremy Foley.Wish he had gone to Oaklahoma,or Southern Cal., or Texas etc. Good man.By the way, Kirby and Will don’t look as hot as they were last year. Great players,great coaches.Fact.Charlie Strong lot better defensive coach undr Uwbun then Zooker.
DawgByte
November 24th, 2010
11:49 am
St. Clarkston -
You must be related to St. Simons, because you’re a moron. Grantham is working with a inferior defensive talent. He’s had to erase a lot of bad habits instilled by Willie Martinez. He’s a heck of a defensive coach and is worth every penny. Once he has an opportunity to recruit his type of players we’ll have one of the best defenses in the SEC. Bank it.
harold
November 24th, 2010
11:49 am
WE LOVE 13-11 COACHES LIKE RICHT IN THE SEC. GEORGIA HAS SETTLED FOR A MEDICORE FOOTBALL PROGRAM——–YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how2fish
November 24th, 2010
12:01 pm
harold turn off the caps lock and sit down and be quite till mommy gets done watching her soaps and can make you a sandwich and you can take your nap.
Phil
November 24th, 2010
12:41 pm
DawgByte
Grantham is a disgrace to UGA. Any coach that would stoop to the juvenile antics he showed in the Florida game does not belong at UGA. He is a punk, plain and simple. There are some lines you don’t cross as a coach he did it. Needs to be fired.
Also rememeber that Grantham was like Richt’s 4th or 5th choice. Everybody else he wanted turned him down. Richt was desparate and thus we ended up with classless punk.
splendid splinter
November 24th, 2010
12:54 pm
Mike and gatorhater got it right – 2-8 vs Florida. It’s all about Florida. Richt needs to go in to next season with the mantra – we are going to beat Florida. Because if you can beat Florida, you can probably beat most other teams too, and you’ll probably go 10-2 or 11-1. Spurrier’s goal in his first year at Florida was to beat Georgia and look where that got him – SEC champs and two national titles. I’m sick of losing to Florida.
Denny
November 24th, 2010
1:02 pm
Looks like Jeff’s 1 fan has been bust today posting under all his fake names about how bad Richt is.
If you’re so right, long blogger, why isn’t Richt fired?
How idiotic.
John
November 24th, 2010
1:06 pm
“HC is like any other exec job” has hit it right on the head as far as I’m concerned. He makes great points about CMR’s diminished desire and intensity, and how quite rightly, family issues contributed to it.
He also makes the point about CRM’s likeability factor and it’s impact on the willingess of the UGA movers-and-shakers (not to mention many in Dawg Nation) to grant CMR chance after chance after chance to right his ship.
Seems the inability of Donnan to schmooze many influential alumni contributed as much to his downfall as anything else.
Bottom line is, CMR’s Head Coach parking place will be reserved for him as long those with the power to decide his fate (or influence that decision) continue to make excuses for the football program’s underachieving the last three years.
John
November 24th, 2010
1:18 pm
Please see Phil’s post for an example of the “it’s not CMR’s fault” mindset.
So Grantham’s a punk and not worthy of the lofty title of UGA DC? He was also CMR’s fouth or fifth choice, so I guess that pretty much absolves Richt of any blame any other head honcho might normally be expected to shoulder when he makes a bad hire? The good candidates all turned him down for some reason – must be a conspiracy – certainly not CMR’s fault.
God Bless you die-hard CMR supporters. You’re faithful to the point delusion. The man can truly do no wrong in your eyes – or at least no sin committed has been cardinal to date.
What is it exactly? What’s the enduring appeal? The suntan? The goofy haircut? The Ford commercials? The ever-fading memories of the glory days – three years in the rear view mirror and counting?
Whatever is the charm CMR’s got, he ought to bottle it and sell it, because maybe it works on good looking women – which means there’s hope for me yet.
SB
November 24th, 2010
1:19 pm
Mark Richt took a physical-styled team, added finesse/passing wrinkles and had some quick success early on. Now the former is gone. In ten years he has completely transitioned Georgia from a physical style team to a finess team.And the former isn’t coming back any time soon. Our defense doesn’t face the tough, physical approach day in and day out when playing against our finesse offense. So we don’t know it anymore. They’re lost on that side of the ball. On offense we pummeled florida for years by lining up and kicking them in the teeth with a conservative, physical run style. Now we finesee with them, and play right into their pin-the-ears-back blitzing and turnover-hungry style. It’s exactly what they want. Is it any wonder our biggest win against them in the last twenty years was when Robert Edwards simply ran over and around them. Is it any wonder that the Lattimore approach of 40 carries by a physical back knocked UFs teeth out recently? The approach to beating UF is simple: conservative, physical running style offense.. pund it down their throats. They hate that and have no patience for that style. They wither under it. Richt plays right into their hands… every year. Game was only close this year becuase UF is putrid right now (and of course our hapless defense couldn’t stop the QBs that any physical defense has shut down all year). Hell, it’s no different than when our defense made Jonathan crumpton look like Montana. If you have no good practice on defense, then coaching or nothing matters. defensively we are just lost because of the style team we have become. Talent alone allows us to hang with any medicore team, regardless of style. But against the elite, finesse rarely wins. And too much complacency. If Auburn or Alabama’s coach was 2-8 against the other school, would they still be around? Not a chance.
Rhall55
November 24th, 2010
1:33 pm
Success for the UGA FB Program is five-fold:
1) Change the S&C Coach: It is apparent are team is not as strong and conditioned as other teams in the confence; this problem has been apparent for many years (even GT has better S&C Program than UGA).
2) Corral the top notch recruits that are considering UGA: we need Crowell, Rome, Drew, Dickson, Swann, Mitchell, etc. (we have already lost out on Tuiitt, Vaughters, Brown of Cook County and Johnson of Gainesville)
3) Get after these JUCO Players we have finally targeted: NG, WR, LB, and DE are areas where these could have an immediate impact (in the future, we cannot wait till the end of the season to start recruiting these players)
4) Ban the FB Players from downtown Athens: curb and cease the arrests!!
5) Sign the recruits that can enroll early: this gives these Freshman an early taste of college, working out, getting bigger, faster and stronger (last year, I think we only had one early enrollee: Kolton Houston) .
King's Queen
November 24th, 2010
1:35 pm
It is obvious as Jeff said that McGarity is protecting Richt from fans “Fire Richt” wrath in the event that he loses to Ga Tech this Saturday. The next outcry will then be ‘Fire McGarity” if he continues to support Richt as he loses game after game…
Phil
November 24th, 2010
2:00 pm
John,
I wasn’t defending Richt, I was pointing out to another blogger who claimed Grantham is the answer for the defense, and his “just give him time to recruits his players” crap.
I agree with you that Richt is the one should be held responsible for hiring that dirt bag. And then Richt pretty much condoned Grantham’s antics in the Florida game. I was actually more disappointed in Richt than Granhtam with that whole sorry episode.
If you have ever read any of my posts, I’m at the forefront of getting rid of Richt and bringing in Jim Harbaugh or somebody like that. Richt is another Bobby Cox and let’s just keep forever because of what he did in the past. Doesn’t matter that our program is at the bottom of the SEC and looking up.
The trend has been going on for the last 3 years, and I don’t see Richt doing anything to change it. Time for a new coach and a new direction for this program.
DOCTOR DEATH
November 24th, 2010
2:01 pm
Mike=Stupid
Phil
November 24th, 2010
2:11 pm
Rhall55,
I couldn’t agree with you more. But these are the same idiots who recruited Cam Newton as a tight end, let Eric Berry go to Tennessee, settled on Brandon Smith and let Greg Reid go to Florida State, and the list goes on and on.
Richt won’t swallow his pride and admit that the recruiting has gone south. If he had any sense, he would bring in Jim Donnan to head the recruiting department. Donnan still lives in Athens and I bet he would enjoy getting back into it. Just look at all the studs he recruited and left for Richt. Richt won’t do it because in his eyes he would admitting he can’t get the job done.
DOCTOR DEATH
November 24th, 2010
2:14 pm
PHIL:
BOBBY COX IS GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME AND COACH RICHT IS AS GOOD AS WE’VE HAD AT UGA….AND GRANTHAM HAS ASKED THAT WHEN HE DIES TO BE BURIED UP SIDE DOWN SO YOU CAN KISS HIS A$$….COME ON PHILLY, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JIM HARBAUGH…JUST ANOTHER STUPID UGA FAN WITH ALL THE ANSWERS TO FIX THINGS…PHIL, YOU DON’T KNOW JACK ABOUT FOOTBALL, PRETTY EASY TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT WHEN YOU POST, WHICH YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO, WE GONNA HAVE TO CALL YOU OUT….
Phil
November 24th, 2010
2:18 pm
Doctor Death,
What do you know about posting on a blog, nothing apparently. Turn your CAPS off, you Moron. Maybe then we can discuss things, I can’t even read your stupid a$$ looking post.
DOCTOR DEATH
November 24th, 2010
2:23 pm
Columbus Dawg:
NOTHING LAME ABOUT 30 PLUS POINTS PER GAME….WITH A RED SHIRT FRESHMAN QB AND THE LACK OF A GREAT RUNNINGBACK, WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING, 50 POINTS A GAME….
John
November 24th, 2010
2:26 pm
Hey Phil.
My bad. I definitely mis-read your post.
DOCTOR DEATH
November 24th, 2010
2:28 pm
Phil:
JUST WONDERING WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO COME ON HERE DISSING BOBBY COX. PHIL, WIHEN THINGS GO BAD, YOU ARE NOT A VERY LOYAL FELLOW….GLAD I’M NOT IN A FOXHOLE WITH YOU WATCHING MY BACK….AND TELL US ABOUT JIM HARBAUGH, YOUR CHOICE TO BE HEAD COACH….I LIKE THE CAPS ON, PHIL, SO GUYS WHO HAVE A HARD TIME READING LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO CAN READ THE TEXT….WITH IDEAS LIKE YOU HAVE, I WILL LET THE READERS DECIDE WHO THE MORON IS…..
Mike
November 24th, 2010
2:45 pm
DOCTOR DEATH = MORON
independent
November 24th, 2010
2:56 pm
I hear the flea market burned down last night, I guess the dogs will not have anywhere to shop for Christmas this year
Snake Doc
November 24th, 2010
3:50 pm
I concur with Mike! DOCTOR DEATH is a moron!
Damon Evans
November 24th, 2010
4:17 pm
Of course he will be back. It would not be the same without player arrests, highly ranked recruits not playing to potential, and overrated team.
Brendan
November 24th, 2010
5:00 pm
Maybe, someday, UGA will win another national title.
dogfish
November 24th, 2010
5:20 pm
Where do the recruiting classes of Miss State line up compaired to UGA’s?
Check Rivals or Scout, it’s not even close. How could Miss State be better than us? Could the difference be coaching??
Nah, couldn’t be. Richt must be better than Mullen.
Right??
$750,000!
November 24th, 2010
5:46 pm
Grantham—-makes more than any other asst coach in the SEC, but the Ga D was terrible this year. What gives?? Why did they pay him all that money?
Shreveport Shorty!
November 24th, 2010
5:52 pm
UGA fans–the city of Shreveport welcomes you back for another bowl game!! We’ve got the coldest PBR this side of the mississsippi and the prettiest women in louisiana! Make sure to book that motel 6 by the freeway quick–it fills up fast!!!! Come on over!!
Robert Lehane
November 24th, 2010
7:06 pm
Does anyone think that we took the Boise game so that we could try and sway coach Peterson to ome coach at UGA? I wonder if this was part of the reason why wee took that game.
UGA Alum 95
November 24th, 2010
8:31 pm
Mike Leach!
dawginduluth
November 25th, 2010
7:13 am
There will always be a group of “give him on e more chance” fans. All with their early career credits offsetting late year debits rationale. Too much mo in the wrong direction here for some time. Richt is just not smart enough to play with the new level of play in the SEC that Meyer and Saban have brought to the game. We will continue to muddle in the middle as long as Richt stays. Richt has to go and the sooner the better. Please.
Sam I am
November 25th, 2010
7:30 am
It all boils down to winning the big games and Richt isn’t getting the job done. He has serious discipline problems with his players. The man shows little or no enthusiasm on the field. Sanford stadium should not be an experiment or a test field where we see if Richt can one day get fired up about laying waste to other football programs. It should be a slaughter house for other teams. No one was trying to acquire Richt when he was at FSU but we did and it was a mistake. You put them behind you and move forward. If other bulldogs fans and myself can see this, why cant Jeff Schultz? Jeff I see lines himself up with the Gator fans in wanting to keep Richt at Georgia .
Yellow Fuzz
November 25th, 2010
9:46 am
REMEMBER THE 2008 “WEDGES BETWEEN THE HEDGES”
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ 45-42 }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
YOU WERE HEAVILY FAVORED THEN TOO, AH’S.
THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME. ALL YOUR SMACK CAN’T SAVE YOUR PLAYERS BETWEEN THE HEDGES AND YOU AH’S BEHIND YOUR COMPUTER SCREENS!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
O-Town Dawgj
November 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
I have been hoping for several weeks that UGA officials would either got ahead and deselect CMR or give a public vote of confidence. The heat of the recruiting season is underway and the last thing is more ammunition to go along with a horrible season. The next thing that would be a plus is for AJ Green to make a decision known (which I know isn’t happening until January). With a Murray as a second year starter and the defense having a year under a new coach and new scheme 2011 should be the pivotal year for CMR.
Brance from Macon(GO DAWGS)
November 26th, 2010
3:18 am
Look I have been on this site since last year just to get up to date UGA talk……let me say this. Who cares if AU beat us this year….they have been nobodies for the past four years really let them have their time in the sun with their SEC title shot shot coming in Atlanta. AU will be hyped up next year on ESPN just like two other certain teams from the SEC ( FU/ALABAM) and will be smaked down. As for the GA/FL GAME……SO what we did better than ever this year than the last two we have an Red-Shirt Freshmen vs pretty much 3 QB and we did a great job in that game…..well I take that back they had one true QB but he sucks by himself so you know whatever….As for CMR if there was somebody that the University really wanted do you think they would of found this man by now and let CMR go by now……..Just wondering. GO DAWS. Wreck Tech
Anthony Cowan
November 26th, 2010
3:57 pm
I truly am happy to hear that Mark Richt will be returning to UGA.Mark Richt is very well respected by Fans and by coaches of the other college teams.Mark Richt is a keeper.
Time for a Change!!
November 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
He’s used his one more chance with this year’s pathetic display of UGA football. What he is putting on the field is NOT UGA football!! 2-8 vs, UF ain’t getting it done! Its time for him to go bye-bye and he can take Bobo with him!!!
Nauti-boy
November 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
Urban Meyers
- I hear he hates sand & palm trees. Bring him to Athens.
When Saban was at LSU ever think he’d end up at Bama?
briman4031
November 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
Who are you gonna replace him with? It amazes me how many people are on the fire Richt bandwagon. Saban and Meyer each have 3 losses this year and if you read the comments on their articles… same redneck comments about firing the coach. Get a life people. 120+ Div. I teams, 12 SEC Teams, and you want to win the NC and the SEC every year. 2 / 10 years isn’t so bad in the SEC! Go CMR.. Go Dawgs… beat the nerds!
buzzkill
November 27th, 2010
1:16 am
Look at CMR’s record after van gorder(and players he helped recruit) left…not too impressive…give him a chance? what were the last 2 years… CMR learned under Bowden… notice the similarities…no heart… players in jail… no discipline… last year should have been murray’s first year… joe cox never should have played…. what’s going to happen next year…what excuses will you use?
Allmenarekings
November 27th, 2010
11:18 am
I don’t care Georgia dosen’t old it’s loyalty to a man that have lost control of his football program and his players . Richt should be fired immediately if he lose to Ga Tech.
LIVE BLOG: Georgia seeks bowl bid (and revenge vs. Tech) | Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2010
11:22 am
[...] that’s it for now. If you missed it, here’s a link to my interview with athletic director Greg McGarity earlier in the week. He’s standing behind Richt and says the coach will be back next season, [...]
BIG DAWG
November 27th, 2010
11:51 am
how soon we forget how we were taken back to the top of collage football by coach RICHT…
give him next year and let him have a chance with all the changes we had to go through this
year….GO DAWGS …and finish the drill in 2011