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
BrownEyeBeBlue
November 23rd, 2010
12:28 pm
It is what it is.
ARdawg
November 23rd, 2010
12:30 pm
how2fish
I wished I had your confidence. We have sv<ked so bad against the run, I don't think he could stop him if the Old ball sack himself told us before every play he was getting it. I believe the count was close to 100 missed tackles on Lattimore. The guy is a Bull. I wish we had a D to stop him but, we don't
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:30 pm
It’s me, it’s me, it’s Ernest T. Bass.
Rural Education
November 23rd, 2010
12:31 pm
Bad news puppies, South Carolina brings back Lattimore, Jeffrey, and Garcia along with the number 1 defensive player in the nation Mr. Clowney.
how2fish
November 23rd, 2010
12:31 pm
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn another reminder why Auburn’s new fight song goes:
Heads in the sand!
Heads in the sand!
Auburn fans look like fools with their
Heads in the sand!
And Dude it really suxs to be you…and hurry over and give Fairley his weekly bikini waxing .
Throw the flag
November 23rd, 2010
12:32 pm
Coach Richt is to good for the dirty dawgs. But I’m glad he will be back…Go Gators!!!!!!
Mr_Ed
November 23rd, 2010
12:32 pm
I hear Bobby Bowdon is free and wants to coach again
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:32 pm
I don’t chew my cabbage twice. And you ain’t heard the last of Ernest T. Bass!
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:33 pm
I’m a little mean, but I make up for it by bein’ real healthy. Say you’ll be mine. Say you’ll be my beloved!
wildbill
November 23rd, 2010
12:33 pm
Did you see the Ole Miss/LSU game the other nite? If you did, you would see the final score by Ole Miss where the guy who scored the go ahead TD with a minute or two on the clock. You will remember that he dove across the goal line and did a controlled tumble ending on his feet and bowing to the crowd. Unsportsmanlike penalty was called. Then, Ole Miss kicked off from their 15, where the LSU guy ran it back to the 50. In 3 plays, LSU scored the go ahead TD and winning score with less than a minute remaining.
Why am I telling you this since you probably saw it? Well, to show you that UGA does not have a corner on showboat players in the SEC! It must be an epidemic. I wonder how many games were lost this year by SEC teams alone from such a SHOWBOAT LOOK AT ME attitude. Richt is staying and the ‘attitudes’ will as well.
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
12:34 pm
how2fish
11-0, loser
Fairley OWNS UGA.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 23rd, 2010
12:35 pm
Jeez. Can you Techies at least try to discuss FOOTBALL?
Is it that you know nothing about football. Did football players give you snuggies in the hall in high school? “Red panties” is funny? Have y’all ever seen a pair on a real girl?
No need to answer the above questions, Techies, we already know the answers.
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:35 pm
Tell ‘em to go back to bed! Charlene’s the one I want to talk to!
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:36 pm
If a duck stood still you could catch him by the bill.
ARdawg
November 23rd, 2010
12:36 pm
how2fish
We are awful against the run. I think the count was close to 100 missed tackles on Lattimore. He is a Bull. We couldn’t stop him if the Old Ball Sack himself told us before handing it off to him. I don’t think we stop him if we played this week. AU was running on us and we knew it and still couldn’t stop it
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:38 pm
——————————————————————————–
Barney Fife: The last big buy was my mom’s and dad’s anniversary present.
Andy Taylor: What’d ya get ‘em?
Barney Fife: A septic tank.
Andy Taylor: For their anniversary?
Barney Fife: They’re awful hard to buy for. Besides, it was something they could use. They were really thrilled. It had two tons of concrete in it. All steel reinforced.
Andy Taylor: You’re a fine son, Barn.
Barney Fife: I try.
JOHN PEAVY
November 23rd, 2010
12:38 pm
go dawgs non supporters get a life .
coach r. is awsome and so close
ThugaStinks
November 23rd, 2010
12:39 pm
Saint Mark says the Thugs are going to stomp on the Thuga logo at Samford stadium on Saturday. Soldier Boy will be cranked up and the place will be rocking. Wayshon is leading the team on the field holding his defensive driving course manual. And Pay J Green will auction his jersey off to the highest bidder after the third quarter….
bugsquasher
November 23rd, 2010
12:39 pm
Jeff, is the program moving in the right direction? Are we getting the max performance out of the recruits we obtain? Have coaching changes made a difference under Richt?
The answer to all these questions are definitely……NO!
I THINK WE HAVE OUR ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION…….. STARTS WITH AN “n” AND END WITH A “o”……… NO HE SHOULD NOT STAY…..
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:39 pm
Andy: Now, here, here is a map of the United States.
Ernest T.: United States.
Andy: That’s right. Now the United States is bounded on the north by Canada, on the south by Mexico, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by, uh, would, uh, you happen to know that?
Ernest T.: (thinks) Old Man Kelsey’s woods.
Andy: No. All the way to the edge – big body of water.
Ernest T.: Old Man Kelsey’s crick.
Andy: Ocean.
Ernest T.: Old Man Kelsey’s ocean!
Andy: Pacific Ocean.
Ernest T.: Pacific Ocean.
Andy: Very good, very good.
Ernest T.: Yeah, I sure know my boundaries good, don’t I?
Andy: You sure do.
Ernest T.: Just as long as they don’t change ‘em ‘fore I take my test.
Billyboy
November 23rd, 2010
12:40 pm
Let’s face it: 1) Richt is a great man, 2) Richt is a very good recruiter, 3) Richt is a good leader 4) Richt is an average coach, 5) Richt is below average in making players better, 6) Richt has a poor record this year.
Dawg fans decide what you want . . . your choice. If you are satisfied with 8 wins a decent bowl game, a win over Florida once every 5 years, lose to Tech only once every 7 years, then Richt is your man. If you want a SEC championship 50% of the time and a National Championship 1 in every 4 years, then, get out the big bucks and go get you a superstar that will stay with you for about 4 years then leave.
Paul in RDU
November 23rd, 2010
12:40 pm
Jeff – Excellent column – you nailed it.
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:42 pm
Ernest T. is in Helen’s class; she writes a sentence on the board)
Helen: Allright. “The possum hid under the rock.” Now, who can break this down for me and point out the preposition, the object, the subject and the verb?
Ernest T.: Why don’t we break down that rock, find out what that posstum’s doin’ in under there?
Helen: Mr. Bass, we’ll get to you in a minute. (To Sharon McCall) Sharon.
Ernest T.: Ain’t no little girl gonna tell you nothin’ ‘bout a posstum under a rock. If you wanna really find out ‘bout a posstum under a rock, you find a boy with dirt under his fingernails. You find a boy with dirt under his fingernails, you’ll find yourself a boy that’s been rootin’ under a rock for a posstum. [edit]
Throw the flag
November 23rd, 2010
12:43 pm
wildman yes that was a Bull Shi! call…even the TV crew said they should have never called it…As I remember he didn’t do a controlled tumble, it was just like dozens of plays at goal line where players dove over…only difference this one was not close.
You right about Showboat..Look at me..it sucks
bugsquasher
November 23rd, 2010
12:45 pm
THE DECLINE WILL CONTINUE UNDER RICHT AND IF GARITY DOESNT DO SOMETHING SOON, HIS JOB SHOULD BE ON THE LINE ALSO.
HAVE WE ALL DECIDED THAT MEDICORE FOOTBALL IS OK? ARE WE OK WITH GOING 8-3, 7-4 YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT……
OR DO WE EXPECT AND DEMAND MORE….. LIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS…… ALABAMA DOES, FLORIDA DOES, LSU DOES…….
BUT I GUESS GEORGIA DOESNT ANYMORE…….. SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS……
WHY DOESNT SOMEONE STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH OF THIS BS……CHAMPIONSHIPS OR LEAVE…. PERIOD
mgdawg
November 23rd, 2010
12:45 pm
I don’t think Richt should be fired, yet. One thing that he has proven is that the team hasn’t given up on him, they are competitive every week. The defense isn’t good, but they are learning a new system and have shown flashes. The offense has stepped its game up, they are once again carrying the team. If UGA does not have at least 8 wins next season, then yes, the should be let go.
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:47 pm
UGA Valedictorian:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/andy-griffith-ernest-t-bass-courts-charlene/8114bb76978b493b77a98114bb76978b493b77a9-289417725101?q=ernest%20t%20bass&FORM=VIRE3
Hit a Homer
November 23rd, 2010
12:48 pm
Okefenokee Dawg…Congrat..on the Ware Co Gators win last week in play-offs. Hope they pull it out again this week and go on the win STATE>
the real Old Gold
November 23rd, 2010
12:49 pm
If Tech loses to Georgia and then gets blown out in a bowl game…should Johnson keep his job ?
1eyedJack
November 23rd, 2010
12:50 pm
“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.”
I would imagine that the hardest decision being made in these meetings is who is buying the coffee and doughnuts.
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:51 pm
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=1061
dawg lover
November 23rd, 2010
12:52 pm
Richt will run up the score on GT and man we will be on top again. Maybe get a good Bowl game. Everyone will be happy….Till next year?
Vain Jangling
November 23rd, 2010
12:53 pm
In the past two years UGA has lost to (take a deep breath) Oklahoma State, LSU, Tennessee, Florida (twice), Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Colorado and Auburn. If you’re the coach and fan base at Vanderbilt or Mississippi, that wouldn’t be too terribly bad. Not so at UGA. Truth be told, the Dawgs are a battleship that has slowly, over time, turned in the wrong direction. And unfortunately it’s going to be a slow turnaround, if at all. Losing begets weak recruiting classes, decline in revenues, loss of prestige, and on and on and on. Richt has a favorable schedule next year, but lose to Boise State, South Carolina (or Tennessee), Florida (again), Auburn and anyone else, and big monied fans and discontented townspeople with pitchforks will force McGarity’s hand. South Carolina and their gooberheaded coach are in the SEC championship game, for goodness sake! To recap, Tech sucks!
Belcher
November 23rd, 2010
12:53 pm
Evertone be patient. The “curse of the Red Panties” will end soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
12:53 pm
“Maybe get a good Bowl game.”
LOL
Blackberry Cobbler
November 23rd, 2010
12:53 pm
Giving CMR another year is not the solution.
I believe CMR needs to have a plan for how things will be turned around. Don’t just give him another year– give him another year to bring a certain expected level of results and this is the plan for how it will be done.
If next year doesn’t live up to the expectations and the plan doesn’t work them CMR should be gone.
Ernest T. Bass
November 23rd, 2010
12:54 pm
The only “bowl” you mutts are getting will be from the Home Depot plumbing department
Phil
November 23rd, 2010
12:55 pm
Schultz,
What did you do, dig up an old column on Bobby Cox and change the name to Richt? Sounds just like the lame excuses you used to give for keeping that Moron for another 15 years after winning the WS.
Because of “past history”. How about living in the present for once??
We are at the bottom of the SEC and not going anywhere. Averaging about a dozen arrests per year. Big time recruits going elsewhere.
Wake up for crying out loud.
GT Fan
November 23rd, 2010
12:56 pm
Coach Johnson’s job is ok as of now..but if this keeps up next year..shit will hit the fan. Right Now we got to get PAUL HEWITT out!
lefty fielder
November 23rd, 2010
12:56 pm
hey ernest t . . . sing along
Old Aunt Maria, jump in the fi-ah,
Fire too hot, jump in the pot,
Pot to black, jump in the crack,
Crack to high, jump in the sky,
Sky to blue, jump in canoe,
Canoe too shallow, jump in the tallow,
Tallow too soft, jump in the loft,
Loft to rotten, jump in the cotton,
Cotton so white she stay there all night.
ThugaStinks
November 23rd, 2010
12:57 pm
Based on Saint Mark’s influence on the Thuga players as evidenced by their off the field arrests, I think y’all should sign him up for another 10 years. He has learned the parole system well.
UGA got Chizzed on by Auburn
November 23rd, 2010
12:58 pm
Something UGA fans won’t see for a LONG time.
Chizik up for Eddie Robinson Award
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/17111/chizik-up-for-eddie-robinson-award
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 23rd, 2010
12:59 pm
We all want CMR to stay, including Miles, Meyer and Saban. The entire coaching staff in D-1 football took a collection to extend his contract for the next 10 years, because they love pounding on this program year, after year.
CMR is finally getting some heat because aside from the horrendous year GT is having, PJ is going to place pressure on this program. GT is in worse shape than UGA this year, but if GT pulls off a win, then CMR should be fired on the sport, but we all know that will not happen.
joe
November 23rd, 2010
1:01 pm
Bring him back? Yes please…helps us out in recruiting and SEC wins…
VADAWG
November 23rd, 2010
1:01 pm
Coach Richt is going to get another year and it is not going to make any difference. Our football program has been in a steady downward spiral for the last several years and as long as Coach Richt runs it this decline will not only continue but accelerate. The problems come from the top and change is desperately needed. I hope I am wrong but I do not believe Coach Richt can do it.
GT Fan
November 23rd, 2010
1:03 pm
Coach Johnson has nothing to worry about this year..but next year he’s got to produce are be gone. Paul Hewitt is the one we need to put on the road.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 23rd, 2010
1:04 pm
CMR cannot win the big ones in Athens, but he will win the big ones in Miami when he returns, which will speak volumes of how broken the UGA program is. When CMR wins a few titles in Miami, Athens inbreds will be scratching their heads wondering “why couldn’t he win a title in Athens?”
Well it is simple, you Athens does not have the program like Miami, Alabama, LSU or even Texas, because Athens is happy with a few SEC titles now and then, and does not have National Title pressure, which is the reason Shannon will be fired at Miami and CMR hired.
You see it is all about timing, and CMR is setting the timing perfectly. CMR will get one more year to get it done, as well as Miami.
Rick S
November 23rd, 2010
1:04 pm
I will agree that Richt should be given one (1) more year to get things right with Georgia Football but I also believe there needs to be some clear goals that have to be achieved in 2011 for Richt to remain as Head Coach at the University of Georgia. Georgia fans should not and will not accept mediocrity or 2nd best (which is now fallen to third best in the SEC East). The 2011 season should be the defining moment in the Richt era and nothing less than an SEC Championship will be acceptable!
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm
I have said it before and I will say it again, offense wins you a few games, a great defense wins you championships all the way from Pop Warner to the NFL.
When Van Gorder left he took the success of this program with him, thus the reason the program is broken, no one could see the impact he made on the defensive side of the ball.
Go back and look at the Won/Loss records with Van Gorder…do the homework Athens.
Belcher
November 23rd, 2010
1:06 pm
Anyone know what’s happened to Damon or his “friend”????