Mark Richt will be back next season — and he deserves to be
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.
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706 comments Add your comment
UGA fan
November 23rd, 2010
11:22 am
I’Z WANTZ TO SEE CMR STAY CAUSE HEZ THE BESTEST EVER. HE’Z BETTER DAN NICK SAYBIN.
Bubba Grunt
November 23rd, 2010
11:22 am
Get Herschel to teach the flea bags some MMA
1eyedJack
November 23rd, 2010
11:23 am
Dawg_Uno, I think you are a Tech fan…or should be. You’ve copied and pasted that crap on every blog that includes Georgia and under various handles. You’re a natural Techster.
SouthPawDawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:23 am
Not an advocate for a coaching change..yet. I’m anxious to see us recruit the right players to fit the 3-4 scheme on D more than anything else. Meanwhile on Saturday against the insects, her’s what
I want to see between the hedges:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGDACSvBUJg
UGA fan
November 23rd, 2010
11:25 am
IF MARK RICK GETS FARED I’M GONE WANTZ SOMEONE TA COME GIT DIS CMR TATTOO OFFT MY DOG. I BOWT ME A DAWG AND TATOOD A CMR PICCHER ON HIM.
MY LIST OF COACHES IS JIM DONNAN, BILL CURRY, RAY GOLF, VINCE DOOLEY AND MIKE PRICE.
UGA fan
November 23rd, 2010
11:26 am
BAMA FOLKS CAINT SPELL
McElroy said he expects ‘Bama to beat Auburn, Netwon is Heisman
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/137741/index.html?eref=twitter_feed#ixzz167jHFE6T
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how2fish
November 23rd, 2010
11:27 am
We were a rookie mistake away from beating the hated Gators in O.T we played everyone tough this year and frankly I’m happier with where the program is this year than this time last year after getting blown out by UF and UT. CMR has earned next year and if we don’t see any a lot of improvement then we may need to make a change, frankly I think our D will be better and indeed that have been better as the season has gone on. Murray is a gamer and will just get better…my biggest concern right now is bug zapping..Go Dawgs! .
Andrew
November 23rd, 2010
11:27 am
Little too late, McGarity’s timing, as usual, is off.
The season’s over, would have been nice to hear a certain endorsement at 1-4, might have turned morale around for program, coaches, players, and fans. His tough guy approach didn’t work.
However, even though it’s the WRONG TIME, it’s the RIGHT THING to do. This might help recruiting, but it likely came too late.
It’s Nov. 23, 2010, for the first time in 2010, McGarity finally did something positive that will effect the 2010 season.
birddawg92
November 23rd, 2010
11:28 am
This is Ray Goff all over again. Mark Richt is going to be fired, either this year or next. The poor performance of this team since 2004 has brought us to the point that Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and now even South Carolina are shipping our talent out I-20, -85, and -95. It’s telling that McGarity says our next recruiting class is “critical.” Might as well stop the bleeding now and ship Richt out too NOW, but the UGA admin won’t make the tough call. Too bad, it’ll take another decade of wallowing in mediocrity and rebuilding recruiting to recover.
http://www.saturdayinathens.com
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
11:28 am
UGA sucks no matter what happens.
59bulldawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:29 am
Bugkiller you hit the nail squarely on the head when you said “Richt puts his personal relationships over the good of the football program . . . ” From making needed coaching and staff changes in a timely manner to team discipline this is one of the biggest problems with the Georgia program. The Georgia program has become a halfway house for unruly athletes seeking direction in life and a haven for mediocre coaches seeking to retain employment by being buddies with CMR. We are the softest team in D-1.
Hankie Aron
November 23rd, 2010
11:29 am
Ouchie- It’s gonna hurt a lot more in a lot more places once Auburn gets “slapped” real hard by the NCAA. Mark my words. Fairley is a great football player but for his wrestling moves he’s going to get his.
MR. UGA
November 23rd, 2010
11:29 am
Does anyone remember what Nick Saban 1st season or Urban Meyer 3rd season records were? Im more to lean towards Saban 1st because the 3-4 Defense he uses. 7-6! Alabama went 7-6 in 2007 with a lose to UL-Monroe at home! Saban went out after the season and recruited his best class with players like Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Terrance Cody to make a difference in 2008 in which they did! Let Mark Richt goes some players to the 3-4 scheme. CMR has been on record saying “We need a big body” well if they cannot get on the recruiting trail, there is still 2 possibles on the roster in Kwame Geathers at 6-6 325 and Justin “Bean” Anderson at 6-5 325. So let this play out next season we will see espcially after 1st two games in Boise St and South Carolina both being relatively home games.
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
11:29 am
“We were a rookie mistake away from beating the hated Gators”
Gotta love dawg fans in denial.
SuperB
November 23rd, 2010
11:29 am
Aaron Murray is just a freshman. He has the tools to lead Georgia to a title– a national title. and with Christian LeMay
enrolling in January, Georgia should be great where it counts. Now, if only Richt would go back to calling the plays…..
how2fish
November 23rd, 2010
11:30 am
UGA Insider I have a question in the Ark and UF games we were down 2 TD’s and came back to tie the games where were we failing in conditioning in those games??
Just wait
November 23rd, 2010
11:31 am
All is good until Boise State scores 48 and beats UGA by 27 in the dome.
Hankie Aron
November 23rd, 2010
11:31 am
Remember Chizzy- Someone at UF unsealed protected information of Cam Newton. Don’t think the NCAA Feds don’t know that.
meh
November 23rd, 2010
11:32 am
why does everyone keep talking about the lsat 5 years? He’s had 2 bad years. last year and this year. 2006 UGA went 9-4 and won the Chick Fil A Bowl. 2007 UGA went 11-2 and won the Sugar Bowl. 2008 they went 10-3 and won the Capital One Bowl. Those seem like like good years to me. Give him a chance to right the ship before you throw him off it.
learn something everyday
November 23rd, 2010
11:32 am
@jasont13 – Oregon’s head coach.
Hankie Aron
November 23rd, 2010
11:32 am
You are right, but just wait , that has to happen first. You know? If it does after next season Richt will be looking for another job.
Mike Smith
November 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
Richt should be back, Jeff. Your completely right. People pipe dream like there is a Nick Saban waiting to replace him. Instead there is more likely a Ray Goff, then where would the program be? Give him the shot, he earned it.
I would disagree with you on the defensive front. Overall this defense has performed much better than Martinez’s units of the last two years. When you hold South Carolina under 20, Arkansas under 30 until the final minute, Miss St. to 7 pts into the 4th, you expect to win if your offense is doing anything. The D still has a lot of work to do to, but I think it is a step in the right direction. Its certainly better than having to get into shootouts to win ballgames like the last two years.
The offense is what let this team down this year. Literal no-shows against South Carolina and Miss St., bad play calling against Arkansas, and stupid mistakes and turnovers against Colorado and UF. With or without AJ Green, UGA should have been able to win 3 of those 4 early season losses. Unfortunately the offense has been poorly prepared this year, and the game plan stinks. The O-line was either way overhyped or the coach is. Either way, Bobo and his staff have a lot to answer for.
how2fish
November 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn moron did you watch the game we overcame a 14 point deficient and take the lead..we lost to a better team at Auburn we didn’t in Jax this year.
Hankie Aron
November 23rd, 2010
11:33 am
Agreed MEH. People are too fickle and more importantly forgetful
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:34 am
First — You don’t lie.
SmilingDog
November 23rd, 2010
11:34 am
Bubba Grunt, please go back to your video games, or go downstairs and eat the lunch mommy has fixed for you. Your number of posts and their content indicates that you are a juvenile, unemployed or a college student who couldn’t get into UGA and has derangement syndrome.
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
Herschel Talker — Like I wrote, I understand that viewpoint.
NoRichtFan
November 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
Unfortunately, whether anyone likes it or not, Coach Overpaid is going to hang around another year. McGarity should clue him in thusly: Yeh, your comming back. But next year you and your boy Bozo better have it together or that’s it. “It” would include off-field problems as well. You ain’t getting paid three million dollars to embarrass and make a laughing stock out of the University of Georgia. U.S. Grant, “Black Jack” Pershing and “Dugout Doug” McArthur weren’t indispensible and you ain’t either. Got it?!
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
DawgGirl32 — Hah. Thanks. We can keep that our little secret.
SouthPawDawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
Yeah we do this year but Auburn is gonna be Bama’s whippin’ boy in a few days. Stay classy Auburn!
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
11:37 am
how2fish
Keep making up excuses, loser.
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
11:38 am
“Don’t think the NCAA Feds don’t know that.”
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN. Did you say something?
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:38 am
Juvenal — Richt’s buyout after this season would be anywhere from $5 million to $7 million, depending on how you figure it (whether you include his longevity bonus) and when his exit would be official.
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:39 am
DawginLex — We agree. Hot seat NEXT season. That’s what I’ve maintained since before this season even started.
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:41 am
Brian — Thanks. Open date is key but that obviously doesn’t explain everything. I will say this — was surprised Georgia’s open date was so late this year.
Dawgdad (The Original)
November 23rd, 2010
11:41 am
Richt is a good man and might have been a great coach, but he took too long to make changes. WE have entered a death spiral, I’m afraid. Once you start losing as a coach, no outstanding assistant wants to join the team, for fear of a short stay. He took too long to let Martinez go and how many big name defensive coordinators turned him down. The same will happen, if/when Bobo goes. It is tough to turn around a team in a spiral down.
He will just have to gamble that Coach Grantham and some up and coming offensive guy can pull a rabbit out of a hat. Long odds, but I hope he succeeds.
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:42 am
Learn Something Everyday — The Count changed his cell number. But I’ll track him down. (Can’t give you a date right now.)
Jeff Schultz
November 23rd, 2010
11:44 am
Jasont13 — Since you asked the question, I’ll give you one guy who will be a very hot candidate after this season: Dan Mullen (who obviously has a connection with McGarity).
Bubba Grunt
November 23rd, 2010
11:44 am
@smilingdog — sounds like your red panties are in a wad
virginia dog
November 23rd, 2010
11:44 am
UGA HAS NO LINEMEN! RICHT AND HIS STAFF HAVE NEVER HAD A NOSE FOR LINEMEN… ALSO IT SEEMS THEY RELY MORE ON RECRUITING SERVICES THAN SOUND FOOTBALL TO MAKE THERE SELECTIONS.
RICHT WOULD HAVE NEVER OFFERED A POLLACK OR A THOMAS DAVIS. LET’S NOT FORGET THEY RED SHIRTED KNOWSHAWN AND THOUGHT CAM NEWTON WAS BEST AT TIGHT END.
TO PARAPHRASE LEWIS GRIZZARD … MARK RICHT’S STAFF COULD NOT DEVELOP A SWEET ONION IF THEY OWNED ALL OF TOOMBS COUNTY GEORGIA.”
Tweets that mention Mark Richt will be back next season -- and he deserves to be | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
November 23rd, 2010
11:45 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alex Ramati, Gregory Davis and Parrish Walton, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Mark Richt will be back next season — and he deserves to be http://bit.ly/flLWgX [...]
Class of '98
November 23rd, 2010
11:45 am
I disagree with McGarity on one point… we don’t need to FINISH games better, we need to START games better, with more intensity, passion, and concentration.
Coming out in the 1st quarter in a daze has been a major problem for this team over the last 20 games.
59bulldawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:47 am
Hmmmmm! Dan Mullen. Ya think McGarity would have the stones to pull a coup?
SmilingDog
November 23rd, 2010
11:47 am
@UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn:you are brazen, dude! Assuming you are an AU fan who couldn’t get into UGA , or just a Dog-hater in general,guess it doesn’t matter. AU is most penalized team in SEC history, 7, just behind SMU & Arizona St, with 8 each. Soon, Auburn will truly be #1 in something! How proud you must be! Just keep talkin smack. Cam Newton vs. Aaron Murray as a representative for my school? Duh…Go Dogs…AND roll tide this Friday!
59bulldawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:48 am
virginia dog . . . where do you live in Virginia? I’m in Fredericksburg.
Bubba Grunt
November 23rd, 2010
11:49 am
Thuga fans pulling for the Roll Tiders ………… hilarious. I guess you have to live through other teams vicariously since your team sux so bad.
Alphare
November 23rd, 2010
11:50 am
Like any big company’s management, you get complecent after you are in the job too long, and especially after your pockets are full. Then the next thing you know is your competitions sneak up and pass you by.
That’s what happened to CMR. That’s what happened to Vince Dooley. It’s up to the fans (share holders) to put pressure and demand results. Otherwise the ship may sink or sail slow after all others have reached shore.
Bubba Grunt
November 23rd, 2010
11:52 am
Wal Mart has Ol’ Roy dog food on sale this week. You flea bags should stock up for you Thansgiving dinner.
weatherdawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:53 am
It is a shame to see some of the comments of so called Dawg fans and, by the way, I don’t think you really are. If I were not such a big fan of UGA sports, I would like to see CMR leave and let some of you whiners get what you deserve. He does deserve better that what he is getting from UGA fan—I don’t give a flip what the other fans think. He WILL get this turned around and when he does, all of the bandwagon guys will be back on so fast it will make your head spin. Also, whoever said that this recruiting class is in “shambles” is a nut job. We are about to pull in one of our best classes ever. GO DAWGS and I am with you 100% coach Richt!!!!!!
D-Man
November 23rd, 2010
11:54 am
JEFF, I AM SORRY — WHILE I USUALLY LOVE YOUR COLUMNS, THAT IS ONE OF THE LEAST INSPIRING NARRATIVES AS TO WHY WE SHOULD KEEP CMR I HAVE EVER HEARD. HIS RESUME OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS DEMANDS A CHANGE, NOT MORE TIME. RICHT HAS SHOWN LACK OF JUDGMENT, STUBBORNESS AND AN OVERALL LACK OF ANSWERS FOR HIS TEAM’S LACK OF PERFORMANCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD. HE SHOULD HAVE RELEASED BOBO LAST YEAR LIKE HE DID CWM. THAT WAS A MAJOR MISTAKE. HE SHOULD BE GREATLY CONCERNED AS TO WHY HIS VETERAN OFFENSIVE LINE HAS NOT BEEN DOMINATE THIS YEAR. THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS AS WELL, ALL OF WHICH WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED UNTIL THIS COACH IS PUSHED OUT THE DOOR. THATS THE WAY I SEE IT.