Richt looking forward to putting Dogs’ season behind him
Mark Richt celebrated after beating Georgia Tech but he can't wait for this season to end.
ATHENS – The final home practice of the season had ended Tuesday, and Mark Richt acted like somebody just surgically removed a bowling ball from the top of his cranium.
He smiled. He cracked jokes. He probably hadn’t been this relaxed since word first leaked of some NCAA investigation into A.J. Green back in July.
“It’s the last day,” Richt said Tuesday, almost giddy. “It’s kind of like just before the first day of summer when the kids can’t wait to go on vacation. What they don’t realize is the teachers are even more excited than the pupils. I’ve got four days now where hopefully I don’t have to do anything. That would be awesome.”
Can you blame him?
It’s not that Richt isn’t looking forward to Georgia’s final game, the Liberty Bowl against Central Florida. But mostly he is looking forward to this season officially being over. Losses, suspensions and arrests have worn on him (it’s worth noting Richt’s qualifier: “… where hopefully I don’t have to do anything.”)
The season can’t be fixed. It can, however, be dropped into a waste basket.
Richt recognizes the problems. It’s why he churned part of his coaching staff last year and recently demoted his strength and conditioning coach. Defense is an issue. Mental and physical toughness — definitely issues. The Dogs are losing too many games late and too many games on the road, which used to be a staple under Richt.
Resolve, resilience — those are just words now.
Richt: “We played close games but close doesn’t get it done. We talk about finishing the drill, but we certainly didn’t live up to that.”
He won’t wait until the spring to talk to his players about next season, or until the day after the Liberty Bowl. The 2011 season, he said, starts when the scoreboard clock in Memphis hits 0:00.
“Here’s how I look at next year: When we play the [bowl] game, and it’s over, and we’re in the locker room, I’m going to thank those seniors for everything they did, and hopefully they’ll have a smile on their face,” he said. “Once I tell the seniors thank you, I’ll talk to the juniors and I’ll say, ‘OK, from this moment forward, it’s on your watch. This is your team. What are you going to do with it?’ We’ll immediately start talking about next year.”
And then this: “When the game’s over, we’re turning the page.”
Does this sound like a man ready to move on?
Of course, Richt recognizes that it’s really he who’s on watch next season, more than the returning players. He has been questioned in Athens like never before. A segment of the fan base wanted him out. Since winning two SEC titles in his first five seasons, he has seen other programs pass Georgia. South Carolina just won the East. Only three schools – Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Mississippi – won fewer conference games this season than the Dogs.
Georgia’s 3-5 record – the same as the recently imploded Tennessee. Nobody expected that, least of all Richt.
When athletic director Greg McGarity reaffirmed before the Georgia Tech game that he wasn’t going to make a change. I’ve stated before, that’s the right call. Richt has built up enough credits in 10 years that he deserves an opportunity to turn this around. If he can’t do it next year, then the subject is certain to be revisited.
Richt knows this. But he feels good about quarterback Aaron Murray. He feels confident the defense will improve. He thinks changes in the strength and conditioning program are “going to make us better.”
A win in the Liberty Bowl would be nice, Richt said. But it can’t wipe out the last several months — and he is so ready to move on.
♦
Earlier posts
– NFL MVP race: Vick and Brady are even (Ryan, White close behind)
– Site says Georgia No. 21, Tech unranked going into 2011
– Poll time: Are Thrashers destined for a better year than Hawks?
♦
How would you like to win an iPad? No joke! I’m told you can still enter the “Sack Schultz Bowl Contest” even though the bowl season has started. Just pick more winners than anybody else and you win! Click here for more info or go to ajc.com/go/sack-schultz to enter.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
344 comments Add your comment
Big G
December 21st, 2010
5:55 pm
I will repeat myself. uga consistently recruits top 10 -20 classes and should be challenging for the division title each and every year. Richt isn’t getting it done guys. Your program headed south the day Van Gorder left. He had fire in his belly.
ARdawg
December 21st, 2010
5:55 pm
d fence
as much as I think the AU nation has their collective heads up their azzes, I would not and can not cheer for the Ducks against the SEC. Just the way I’m built
Gratefuldawghead
December 21st, 2010
5:56 pm
Wanted 11 JUCO Defensive players that can run a 3-4 Defense.
JB
December 21st, 2010
5:58 pm
AU wins that game…and Title…….And the Cam thing dies. It’s over…..If there was obvious evidence, it would be out. Game over. AU has their title……And I much as I hate to say it, they looked damn good this year.
JB
December 21st, 2010
6:01 pm
I wish Mark would put in 8-10 plays out of the spread for this kid coming in from Wilcox County. He IS a stud, running, throwing….Snap it to him, roll him out , and get out of his way………..But I sure would miss the RB Delay draw from the shotgun on 3rd and 8 that always gets 2, 3 yards.
Dogfish
December 21st, 2010
6:02 pm
Someone said give Richt a contract extension to preserve a solid recruiting class.
That was a joke, right??
JB
December 21st, 2010
6:04 pm
Yea dogfish, Bama was going to do the same with Shula…. Just 3,4 more years, we’ll get this puppy turned around……
Kirby Smart
December 21st, 2010
6:05 pm
JB,
Me be the next head coach at UGA? You kidding? I’ld rather be an assistant at Bammer than be a head coach at UGA where you will always be florida’s beyotch. Good grief after AU wins the title UGA will be the only one of the SEC’s 6 biggest programs to have never won a national title either in the BCS era or since the inception of the 2 division format. You guys are down there with the Vandys of the world. Have fun in the prestigious Liberty Bowl.
JB
December 21st, 2010
6:06 pm
6:05 post from a “successful” Tech Alum Trolling on here…LOL
JB
December 21st, 2010
6:08 pm
Mark is 9-1 vs Tech, we got that going for us, but looking at them this year….and next, that’s nothing to brag about. They have become a “schedule filler’ for us and the ACC elite.
Mike Shula
December 21st, 2010
6:09 pm
Yep. The Bammers fired me. At least those podunks to the west know when someone just aint got what it takes to reach the mountain top. At least they ponied up and did something about it in a big sorta way. What does UGA do? Give a guy who has lost 8 of 10 to Florida and finished back to back 8-5 and 6-6 so far yet another break. This program aint gonna be winning no sec much less national titles any time soon.
UGA? You've got to be kidding
December 21st, 2010
6:09 pm
A show of hands please……all fans who’s team has won a football national championship in the last quarter century…….
Dr Morpheus
December 21st, 2010
6:12 pm
Our last chance to salvage the season died in Jacksonville. Maybe next year….
Supes
December 21st, 2010
6:14 pm
Provide proof of King’s eligibility issues?
Are you serious? Like I said…it was mentioned on 680thefan during the Chuck/Chernoff show as a part of their “sports blast”…so take it for what it is. Why would they report something that wasn’t true or they had no knowledge of…it seems like a trust worthy source and given with internet “rumors” I take it for what it is.
The bigger question is….why do we keep recruiting guys who can’t pass their classes?
JB
December 21st, 2010
6:15 pm
Five best things about being a Georgia Tech football fan. 1. plentiful, cheap seats.2 . Mostly all noon games, as to get home in time to see real football.3. Playing at noon, less chance of being robbed or mugged.4. Free coke and hot dogs.5. always on time to watch warmups due to not waiting on a woman…….bout sums it up……
Hit A Single
December 21st, 2010
6:20 pm
Breaking News – ARdawg’s son was not offered a scholarship and he was only asking $50,000 for his son’s services. Dawgs turned him away and said to go west.
Jeff Schultz
December 21st, 2010
6:21 pm
ARdawg — Don’t know how so many fans seem to think Mark and I have a problem in relationship, but it’s been a source of amusement. As for CMR, I’ve been on record saying he deserves another year. We’ll see what he does with it. Thanks and happy holidays.
Coach Johnson
December 21st, 2010
6:22 pm
I’m glad that I don’t have to put up with the crap that the AJC writers dish on Richt! I can lose as much as I can stomach and those guys don’t have the nerve to say anything about my program! I would just punch them in the mouth and they know it!
kybodawg
December 21st, 2010
6:23 pm
the biggest problem i see is players leaving early that could improve their draft next year with a decent season. you may have two kickers leave early in one year but two on one team. sounds like rats leaving a sinking ship.
MATHDAWG
December 21st, 2010
6:23 pm
I saw today where Bobo was making $336,000 per year. I puked, then I puked some more.
Jeff Schultz
December 21st, 2010
6:25 pm
Dawg ‘88 — Wow, you waited in line just to get that in? You must have a busy day ahead of you. Happy holidays.
Hud
December 21st, 2010
6:30 pm
If Coach Richt really wants to determine what’s wrong with his football program he should look in a mirror. He has settled into a comfortable “wait until next year” rut. He’ll coast from here on until the school cuts him loose. I too was a fan, but not anymore.
Jeff Schultz
December 21st, 2010
6:31 pm
To Supes (and others) asking about Caleb King: I write this only because there’s a report out there and you asked: 1) There’s been rumors for days about the possibility he won’t be eligible; 2) Richt was asked about him today and declined comment on any player’s eligibility at this time (either because there’s an appeals process or because he just didn’t want to address it until the team goes to Memphis; 3) There is a publication, the Columbus Ledger, reporting that Caleb is ineligible. I don’t know the reporter’s source. All I can tell you is that every media outlet has different sourcing policies and the AJC’s is stricter than most. At this time, the school has not made an announcement and sufficient sources haven’t confirmed/reported the story to the AJC. That’s about all I can say on that. I hope that clarifies the situation.
WAR CAM EAGLE
December 21st, 2010
6:32 pm
D A Double U G:
“remember a VERY VERY short time ago when Auburn didn;t not even qualify for a bowl”
Yeah, I remember a VERY VERY short time ago when Georgia was good!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAA
HAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHA
AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH
North Carolina Dawg Lover
December 21st, 2010
6:32 pm
Bye Bye 2010 – Full Steam Ahead 2011.
Even though the team this year had a lot of losses, you have to admit (if you are truly a Dawg Lover), You never quit pulling for them. I got excited and never lost interest even when we lost. GA has great potential for 2011 and as far as Coach Richt goes..I think he is going to turn the team back into the power house of old. Go Dawgs and don’t worry Win or Lose My friends in NC know that Georgia is the Big Dawg.
Hit A Single
December 21st, 2010
6:33 pm
Hud – If you are a true fan, you don’t turn it on and turn it off. Maybe you really weren’t a fan at one time. Not trying to be a smart butt, but a fan does not turn on his team. I have disagreed with many things with the program but I will never turn on them.
Hit A Single
December 21st, 2010
6:35 pm
Great Post NC Dawg Lover! A true Dawg fan will be there and all these other critics can sit home with their computer and complain and complain. It is great to be a UGA Dawg.
WhineWhineWhine
December 21st, 2010
6:37 pm
After Thuga loses to Central Florida, what will happen?
A) The Thuga Nation will fire up the FireMarkRicht.com site
B) The Thuga Nation will fire up the FireBobo.com site
C) The Thuga Nation will blame the refs.
D) The Thuga Nation will blame Nick Fairley
E) The Thuga Natioin will blame Cam Newton
F) The Thuga Nation will get out the tapes of the Herschel Glory year.
G) The Thuga Nation will get out the tape of the Idaho State replay of the signature win of the year.
H) The Thuga Nation will wonder why they are not ranked in the top 5 for pre-season 2011
I) All of the Above
Answer……I
Big D Nerd
December 21st, 2010
6:38 pm
Supes:
“The bigger question is….why do we keep recruiting guys who can’t pass their classes”?
a….. why don’t you be askin them ursef.
Irrelevant team
December 21st, 2010
6:40 pm
UGA has been an irrelevant team for how many years now? The last time they were on any-body’s radar was in the 2008 pre-season poll where they were ranked #1, and wound up with 3 loses. So, I guess the 2007 season was really the last time UGA had an notoriety. Oh wait, my bad; they didn’t win the SEC Championship Game; Wait another minute, they didn’t even win the SEC East, meaning no BCS game either. CMR had a team full of talent and they under achieved. They have top 5 recruiting classes year after year and yet the program continues on a downward spiral.
I truly hope UGA can turn it around and become relevant again. The DAWGS were one of the storied programs when I was growing up along with USC, Mich, Ohio State, ND, PSU, Okla U, The U, etc. All of these programs have gone through tough times, but every program made changes when winning seasons weren’t just good enough (except for PSU of course w/ JoePa).
Hit A Single
December 21st, 2010
6:41 pm
WhineWhineWhine – You are on the wrong blog! It takes a whiner to know a whiner.
6-6 and headed to Memphis
December 21st, 2010
6:42 pm
UGA has now joined the likes of Ole Miss and Vandy.
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
6:43 pm
Hey Dawgs,
remember me? I’m the one that hurt many SEC quarterbacks this year.
WOOF WOOF BOOO!
Hit A Single
December 21st, 2010
6:45 pm
Yea it paid off for ND, Mich, and the U. Okla has suffered a couple of tough seasons under Stoops, and Ohio State is the most overrated team in the country. For years they had to worry about one team and today they have to worry about only one team, Wisconsin that replaced Michigan. Come up with better proof Irrelevant team.
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
6:46 pm
“Cam Newton – Poster Child for what is wrong with college athletics!”
Gotta love idiotic UGA fans. Especially those who ignore the fact that half their team was arrested this year.
Cam’s playing, and will win, the national title while dawg fans cry in their trailer parks.
insider
December 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
C King is the ultimate “me” player ever since pound ball, junior high ball, Columbia hs ball, Parkview hs ball, Texas hs ball, Greater Atlanta Christian hs ball, uga ball. Look forward to seeing him at Ga Southern/Valdosta State soon and then on some nfl scout team for a few years and then coaching pound ball. I still remember the article at the AJC that said “Is Caleb King The Next Hershel Walker”? Hahahaha.
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
“D-U-C-K-S Ducks Ducks Ducks…..For the sake of all of us here in the South – shut these Aubies up.”
Nothing like delusional dawg fans living vicariously through other fans! First you were dawgs, then bammers, then c0cks and now ducks.
WAR EAGLE, loser.
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
6:48 pm
“We can always hire Cheez-it after Auburn goes under .500 next year and they can his a$$ for G-Malz. haha! yeah right!”
Another idiotic dawg prediction. Hey, weren’t you idiots supposed to go undefeated in 08?
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
6:49 pm
“AU wins that game…and Title…….And the Cam thing dies. It’s over…..If there was obvious evidence, it would be out. Game over. AU has their title……And I much as I hate to say it, they looked damn good this year.”
Yep, and dawg fans will call up Mulder and Sculley to open up an X-Files case to get to the bottom of this case.
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
6:51 pm
“Good grief after AU wins the title UGA will be the only one of the SEC’s 6 biggest programs to have never won a national title either in the BCS era”
Amen to that. The SEC West will have three teams with a title and the SEC East, two.
82Dawg
December 21st, 2010
7:00 pm
Hey Jeff if you are still on here hope you have a great Christmas
Jeff Schultz
December 21st, 2010
7:04 pm
82Dawg — Checking in. Thanks, back atcha.
Supes
December 21st, 2010
7:11 pm
Jeff,
thanks for clearing the C. King issue up for us, as far as what you know and what the AJC stand on the issue is at the moment.
I have to say for all the hype that he came in…King has been a disappointment..
Auburn The Dump of The South
December 21st, 2010
7:22 pm
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
Wow already won the title and havent played the game yet
I guess you toothless folks from Auburn AL have never heard of upsets or teams that should have won that did not
Auburn The Dump of The South
December 21st, 2010
7:24 pm
Yea that makes sense,
you just went from radio to black and white TV with rabbit ears
No wonder why you have such high expectations
bamaguy
December 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
RIcht can’t compete with Chizik, Miles and Saban. Looks like Muschamp, Dooley and Mullen will pass him by as well. Coach RIcht is a fine man, but he needs to go to the ACC or Big East where he can be successful.
He didn’t get worse over the last few years, the other SEC schools just hired head coaches that are much better.
Surprised
December 21st, 2010
7:41 pm
bamaguy has his chest all pumped out. He’s already forgotten the ‘Shula years’ when Bama couldn’t knock off a AA high school team.
82Dawg
December 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
@Surprised …to funny, just like all of the Auburn fans today.
insider
December 21st, 2010
7:43 pm
insider
December 21st, 2010
6:47 pm
C King is the ultimate “me” player ever since pound ball, junior high ball, Columbia hs ball, Parkview hs ball, Texas hs ball, Greater Atlanta Christian hs ball, uga ball. Look forward to seeing him at Ga Southern/Valdosta State soon and then on some nfl scout team for a few years and then coaching pound ball. I still remember the article at the AJC that said “Is Caleb King The Next Hershel Walker”? Hahahaha.
Nick Fairley scares dawg fans
December 21st, 2010
7:47 pm
“I guess you toothless folks from Auburn AL have never heard of upsets or teams that should have won that did not”
Guess you inbred pedophile dawg fans are still upset about being equal to Vandy in football.
Look on the bright side loser, at least your team lead college football in players arrested.
WOOF WOOF, 6-6er!