Richt gives no reason to believe he can turn Georgia around
Mark Richt finished with his worst record at Georgia (6-7) and the Dogs had their first losing season since 1996.
MEMPHIS – Mark Richt says he is disappointed. He says he has to make changes. He says the Georgia football program is not where it needs to be, and when a once-respectable SEC program ends its season by failing to score a touchdown against a team from Conference USA, nobody is going to dispute that.
Here’s the only matter up for debate: Does anybody believe Mark Richt can still get it done?
It didn’t look like it this season, when the Bulldogs finished with a losing record (6-7) for the first time in 14 years. It didn’t look like it at Mississippi State or Colorado or in Jacksonville (again).
It didn’t look like it Friday night, because if the average Georgia fan considers it humiliating having to win in the final week of the season just to become bowl eligible — and then get stuck with the Liberty Bowl — what do you call it when the Bulldogs lose to Central Florida, 10-6?
This is what it looks like: Mark Richt has lost control of this program.
At the very least, he has lost the benefit of the doubt. The win totals in the last four seasons: 11, 10, eight, six.
Before Georgia’s game against Tech, I stated that Richt’s early success in Athens (two SEC titles in five seasons) earned him another year and the right to fix the problems. A part of me still believes that. But there’s mounting evidence that’s not going to happen.
The Dogs open next season against Boise State. Is there any part of you right now that says Georgia will win that game?
Ten days before Auburn will play in the BCS championship game, four days before Arkansas is in the Sugar Bowl and on the same afternoon a story broke that new Florida coach Will Muschamp is on the verge of hiring Charlie Weis as the Gators’ offensive coordinator, Georgia lost a bottom-tier bowl game to a team from Conference USA, which is a hiccup ahead of the Sun Belt.
If the damage from this was limited, it’s only because Uga VIII stayed home with a stomach virus.
Hopefully, the dog wasn’t watching on TV when Richt sent the worst possible message to his team on their opening possession. The offense had just driven from their own one-yard line to the UCF three. But on fourth-and-1 — and in the first quarter of the Liberty Bowl — Richt opted for the field goal. He defended the decision afterward.
Is that how Richt now defines finishing the drill?
The Dogs didn’t necessarily look emotionless. They just looked pointless.
Central Florida, coached by the familiar George O’Leary, smacked them in the mouth. Georgia didn’t look equipped to smack back. They couldn’t run the ball. They couldn’t get tough yards. They couldn’t make a big play when they needed one. They were 3 for 14 on third-down conversions.
Aaron Murray completed his first seven passes. Then he went 14 for 31 with two interceptions. A.J. Green had eight catches but they covered only 77 yards (9.6 average, well below his 15.7 season average).
Say goodbye to A.J.: He didn’t make it official afterward that his next catch will be in the NFL but logic says that Liberty Bowl humiliation won’t be enough to keep him in college.
This is worse than Starkville, even worse than Boulder. It came at the end of a season, after a month of preparation, when Georgia should have worked out some of its problems.
Also, Colorado doesn’t play in a conference made by Fisher-Price.
In his typical postgame monotone delivery, Richt said: “We’re all disappointed. We didn’t want to finish with a loss. We didn’t want to finish with a losing record. Nobody would’ve predicted that. But it is what it is. There’s reasons why we ended up the way we did. We have to make changes. We have to make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future. We have to change how we go about our business. We’re going to improve. We’re going to get Georgia where it belongs.”
Do you believe him? Because from here, it looks like Georgia just turned into Kentucky – a school looking forward to basketball season.
Georgia loses almost annually to Florida. Now it loses to Central Florida. Get ready for 2012: Florida Atlantic is on the schedule.
Don’t laugh. It’s not that big of a step down. And things are headed in that direction.
– By Jeff Schultz
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at 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
2,265 comments Add your comment
George O'Leary
December 31st, 2010
10:43 pm
I still own you
Snoop Dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:43 pm
What’s with all this “one more year” bull$hit?
Richt has had more chances than anyone in the history of NCAA coaching. He has taken one of the best programs in the nation (7th in all time wins) and driven the wheels off it and thrown it over a cliff. His players detest him. He detests them and the Bulldog Nation. And we are paying him three million dollars of year for doing this!
Wake up you idiots. He was given the year that he “deserved” two years ago when he had three first round NFL picks in skill positions and wound up playing Michigan State in a loser bowl. Last year, he blamed it on the defense and grudgingly sent his buddy Willie Martinez off to Stanford. Now, he’s setting up Bozo. Bozo is indeed a dunce, but this is just slick Richt’s method to keep the stink off of him. There are many in the Bulldog Nation who seem to have a kinky protectionist love for this pretender. He is nothing more than an snake oil salesman who lived off Jim Donnan’s players until they were gone. Donnan could run circles around him. My wife, who knows next to nothing about football, remarked about him today, “he doesn’t seem to have any passion.” Er uh, that is correct. He is more like a poser, a Buddha on the sidelines than a real coach. He thinks he’s a CEO. What a scam artist. We need to exorcise ourselves of this modern Marjoe and his entourage of inept idiots. We need to put pressure on the UGA leadership to pull the lanyard by withholding all financial assistance by not buying tickets, merchandise, or giving donations.
This is war! I will not surrentder my Glory Dogs to a bunch of wimps and losers.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:43 pm
Look for more arrests in Athens as soon as the team bus driven by Wayshon arrives.
College Football Expert
December 31st, 2010
10:43 pm
Yes, UGA has shown that they did not deserve to go to a bowl game. Next year when Boise State crushes an SEC team, will Boise get any respect??
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:43 pm
Setting the bar high is not the problem. Coach Richt should access his own record and respond accordingly.
TheAntiMe
December 31st, 2010
10:44 pm
I wonder if Tucker Carlson is going to call for Mark Richt’s execution after the death of his Georgia Bulldogs this season?
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:44 pm
THE OL played the worst tonight I’ve EVER seen. Shoulders bumps in the second half. We scare no one. We’re like the NEW COKE years ago. The brand is damaged.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:44 pm
How much did Pay J. Green sell his jersey for tonight?
SuperB
December 31st, 2010
10:44 pm
JB: I agree with you that CMR has to go. But he wasn’t a “no-name” assistant when he left FSU for Georgia. In fact, had Butch Davis not screwed Miami, then left for the Browns– CMR would have taken that job. Two things would have happened: Miami would be in the same awful situation today they are in– and Will Muschamp or Kirby Smart would already be the Dawgs’ coach– and we might be headed to a BCS title game.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:45 pm
That Jones lineman on Georgia is a redneck thug.
Corch Myer
December 31st, 2010
10:45 pm
USMC dawg Sounds like you have a quest in your life to hang Mark Richt. Maybe you need more to do in your life if this piddling football team so upsets you. And maybe you need some more maturity if these 19 and 20 year olds who do not produce to your liking upset you so. Exactly what in the hell have you accomplished in your lifetime pal???
Summit Dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:45 pm
Coach Richt has lost his “Fire” to coach……needs to move on with his “DAWGS MILLIONS$$$$$$$$
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:46 pm
I have to laugh at the game announcers who kept talking about UCF handling a big name SEC school.
didn’t look like a big deal to me. They handled us. BIG TIME NO MORE.
macrotech
December 31st, 2010
10:46 pm
6-7….we BOTH suck! NEXT YEAR!!! It was a fun game to attend and I was greatful that the rain held off until the final moments. UCF has one of the best defenses in the country so don’t freak out too much….I know your pain, just don’t spend too much time sitting in it! Happy New Year…I mean this, sincerely! EVEN you superDawg!
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:46 pm
Whose fault was it against UCF? The refs, Bobo, Richt, or all of the above?
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:47 pm
Why go to this game? Did anyone want to go to Memphis in winter to be humiliated. Stop giving bowl games to average teams. Why celebrate mediocrity?
Oh..we got paid. Ok..lets go.
7576DAWG
December 31st, 2010
10:47 pm
Does any of the real Dawg fans really think we are still in the upper tier of the SEC. This year is one of the worst performing teams I have ever seen at UGA and I went there and graduated in the middle 70’s. Unless some serious changes are made we are destined to lose 5 or more games every year. I didn’t see any dominance this year at all. I hope that CMR will give LeMay a legitimate chance to play QB next year along with Murray because as bad as Murray wan’t to be great and win he definitely has limitations.
Coach Richt
December 31st, 2010
10:47 pm
How’s the hair? Tan OK?
muddiver
December 31st, 2010
10:48 pm
I keep checking the ESPN craw and the AJC UGA page for breaking news of Richt’s resignation/firing. That’ll be my New Years celebration.
dawg4u
December 31st, 2010
10:48 pm
Mark Richt looks just like Helen Hunt with a UGA jacket on except she has a lot more fire than Coach does. I wish he would just totally get emotional – break a chair or kick over a table or something but he always says the same things and sounds like he just woke up from a nice nap. I thought that CMR would definitely get one more year – until tonight’s embarrassment. Time for a change!!
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:48 pm
My feeling is we reach for Kirby, and I don’t know how I feel about that? Muschamp is the one with the pressure. Mark is making this job so that looking better will not be that hard.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:49 pm
7576Dawg, Georgia is on par with Ole Miss and Vandy. Definitely low tier. They are an embarrassment to the SEC.
GA Redneck
December 31st, 2010
10:49 pm
What’s a redneck, you bunch of ugly Squareheads?
dawgster
December 31st, 2010
10:50 pm
I don’t think the problem is that our coaches have forgotten how to coach, they seemed to have forgotten how to recruit players that give their all on and off the field…i looked at the game tonight and saw very little, if any emotion from our team, the players have to have that motivation in their heart and the will not to lose…Recruiting is what has derailed our program, whether anyone wants to admit or not, we are not getting the players to get it done..Everyone puts way too much emphasis on the 4 and 5 star recruits…How many of them in the last few seasons have led us to any kind of championship?…Its the coaches responsibilities to bring the players in and for some reason we are not getting it done, which saddens me to say…
@Phil…you are quiet wrong about Greg Reid…the dawgs went after him very hard, but in the end he chose FSU…but it wasn’t for the lack of effort…and thats the point, too many of these guys are getting away for some reason or the other or are not even being offered…look at the Miller kid from UCF…always was a dawg fan, but we didn’t give him a second look..How foolish can we be, i know we can’t get them all, but track the recruits that we let get away the past few seasons and you have in your hand what our problem is…
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:50 pm
Wayshon just hit another car.
JRY
December 31st, 2010
10:50 pm
This is the right time to blow out the entire staff, Richt included. At the very least, Bobo must go!!!
Kirby Smart
December 31st, 2010
10:51 pm
Yikes!
Corch Myer
December 31st, 2010
10:51 pm
SEC 0-3 SECSECSEC
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:51 pm
I bet no Changes……” just gonna work harder…and smarter….and not leave a stone unturned”…..GEEZ!
Valtool
December 31st, 2010
10:51 pm
The late, great Lewis Grizzard is turning over in his grave tonight.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:51 pm
6 and 7 for Thuga. Going to be a long winter in Athens.
asa
December 31st, 2010
10:52 pm
GOT A FRIEND WHOSE SON IS GOING TO UCF NEXT YEAR COMES FROM A GREAT FAMILY OF COURSE GEORGIA DIDN’T RECRUIT HIM BUT WHAT GOT THEM AND I’M NO GEORGE OLEARY FAN , BUT HE ASK THE BOY IF HE HAD EVER BEEN ARRESTED OR IN ANY KIND OF TROUBLE AND THE ANSWER WAS NO AND HE TOLD THE BOY IF YOU EVER GET IN TROUBLE OF ANY KIND AT UCF YOU CALL YOUR MOM AND DAD AND TELL THEM YOUR ON YOUR WAY HOME WE DON’T PUT UP WITH THAT HERE MOM’S REACTION THIS IS WHERE MY BABIES GOING YOU CAN WIN WITH GOOD DISCIPLINED KIDS .
Demetre Baker
December 31st, 2010
10:52 pm
AJ told me he ain’t turning pro – can’t afford the pay cut
GT Joe
December 31st, 2010
10:52 pm
um, hutson mason is like 5′10″, barely got offered by UGA until after his killer season at Lassiter.
And forget firing Richt, he’s the best you guys will ever get. Harbaugh would NEVER leave Stanford for UGA. Thats a step DOWN, get it through your thick skullz.
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:52 pm
I agree…all the pieces to a top ten team are almost in place for next year. The following tweaks will take us over the top.
White Helmuts
Black Shirts
Silver brithches and
Candy Stripe Socks
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:52 pm
That win over Idaho State was the signature win of the season. 6 and 7!
PURPLE DRANK
December 31st, 2010
10:53 pm
CHOKE, THE OFFICIAL DRINK OF SEC FOOTBALL! SEC RUNNER UP USC GOING DOWN TO AN ACC TEAM… LOL
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:53 pm
Ruprecht, don’t forget the red panties.
Corch Myer
December 31st, 2010
10:53 pm
Tell us all about that big bad SEC folks 0-3 this year the SEC Least
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:53 pm
We are targeting 5 or 6 high profile make or break guys in this class. Lose those after this, and the heat will be hot and constant until kick off next year, and lose to Boise, and call 911.
Dawg tired
December 31st, 2010
10:53 pm
I’ve never posted before–I can’t help but do so now. Jeff, your article is the exact message that I’ve been reciting for two years. There is no reason to bring CMR back next year. He’s a great man who has lost his way. I admire him for many reasons but the program, the university and the fans have suffered because of his lack of direction. If you are not progressing in the SEC then you are backing up and we have been backing up for over three years. Losing is contagious and the more you settle for it the more it becomes habit and excusable. Excuses are for losers.
Losing in a championship game will hurt your pride but can be tolerated if the program direction is strong. Losing to Conference USA should never be tolerated. It’s ultimately indicative of what we all have felt and now known in our gut for the past three years: the program direction is in disarray and THAT should get CMR fired. This issue is systemic. CMR’s been given more than enough time to make substantive changes. No more excuses.
frankly
December 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
The worst indictment I can give Richt is that I no longer enjoy watching my alma mater play football and I haven’t since the Ark game. He had his moments but the time has come to move on.
Show me the money
December 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
Figure it out: Richt will remain in Athens as long as UGA keeps paying him millions of dollars a year with absolutely no performance requirements. Any coach with any ethics at all would resign, but Richt is there for the money, so he’s not going anywhere.
Which makes him exactly the same as Pay Day Green, except that Green is leaving for the money.
A pathetic situation, to be sure.
davids
December 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
Who would take the UGA job? They would get turned down by every big name coach they try to hire.
upsetdawg
December 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
Sickening!
I really like CMR…..just not so sure about coaching my dawgs anymore!
If he doesn’t win the SEC East & FLORIDA next year…..then PACK YOUR BAGS!
I will not Donate again next year if he doesn’t WIN against FOLRIDA & WIN THE SEC EAST!
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
Rumor in Athens has it that McGarity is using those satelite ears of his to listen to what Ray Goff has to say. Goff is the leading candidate to replace Saint Mark.
CAC
December 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
It’s gonna be a long year for CMR and UGA and that is unacceptable and embarrassing. The 5 Star recruits will not be coming due to the speculation on the job’s of the coaching staff. Never, ever should a program that has the resouces that UGA has lose to the Conference USA(no disrespect). UGA should not have to be in a position to go to the Liberty Bowl. Go Dawgs and win some games!!
stendek
December 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
At least the dog mascot had the good sense not to travel to wherever the Hell the game was played! Hope he kept television off too. If poor doggy was sick before bowl game…STENDEK
Ray Goof
December 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
How does it feel mutt fans? You fired me….now look what you got!?! I never lost to the Black Knights…though O’Leary beat my butt!
Buzz
December 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
SEC 0-3 bowl season. What a disgrace for the ‘premier’ conference.