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
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2,265 comments Add your comment
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
McGarity’s ears are almost as big as Dumbos.
Steve "The King" Spurrier
December 31st, 2010
10:56 pm
Mike Bobo is the Head Coach in Waiting for UGA.
alvin edwards
December 31st, 2010
10:56 pm
mike bobo and willie martinez are not the answer!
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:56 pm
We will go pantyless with the remaining savings dedicated to staff raises. This is going blow out the rest of the SEC
PURPLE DRANK
December 31st, 2010
10:56 pm
Sissy Easy Confrence….
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:57 pm
Ray Goff is meeting with McGarity and Adams tonight. An announcement will be made in the morning. Happy New Year Bulldog Nation!
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
10:57 pm
A SHE SHE
Where are you?
the A she she is WEAK, but head to head against the SEC the ACC is 2-0. HAHAHAHA
the SEC least is just not what it used to be for sure.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:57 pm
Red Panties are now on sale at Walmart.
MttPF
December 31st, 2010
10:58 pm
Noles put it to the SEC east champions ==== ACC is 2 – 0 against your overrated conference. LMAO
Steve "The King" Spurrier
December 31st, 2010
10:58 pm
Big Bad Bruce was a smart mutt to skip that trip.
upsetdawg
December 31st, 2010
10:58 pm
Bobo ….I have ALWAYS caleed him Booboo (as in a mistake), Only QB to ever play at Georgia that I wasn’t crazy about!
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:58 pm
THE DIFFERENCE: In 2008, I bought 2 season tickets to Arizona St. for 120 each just to see the Dawgs play. 6 games, 120 bucks. At UGA, if available, it would cost 2400 dollars. Folks, paying big bucks to pay Richt 3 Mil to see winning football, not $10 per game…..If this keeps up, $10 will get you a seat to see the Dawgs. No demand= $ 10 tickets.
Still in Jail
December 31st, 2010
10:59 pm
Hey Bulldog Nation. I am still in the Auburn jail for setting fire to Toomer’s corner. Can someone tell me how my beloved Dawgs did in the Liberty Bowl? Surely we could beat UCF High School! Also, my red panties are starting to smell.
Corch Myer
December 31st, 2010
10:59 pm
SECSECSEC
Pearly
December 31st, 2010
10:59 pm
Everyone seems to be blaming the COACHES for the loss today. The COACHES are not on the field tackeling, executing plays etc-THE PLAYERS ARE! As for the field goal call-3 points is 3 points and pretty much a sure thing-what would you have said if THE COACHES had gone for the touchdown and failed? WHY DIDN’T HE KICK A FIELD GOAL. The players have to execute the plays-not miss tackles-not catch balls etc. Your FRESHMAN Quarterbck did good for never having played in a Bowl atomshpere before. You can only COACH so much and the PLAYERS have to do the rest. I know-I am a GATOR fan and I do feel your disappointment with this SEASON. Our players failed to tackle etc and we have a QUARTERBACK who would rather SLIDE than take a hit-yet expect the OFFENSIVE LINE to protect him -give their all for the play etc.-he slides down. I would personally have a hard time with protecting someone who is not willing to do what it takes to make the play. BEST OF LUCK NEXT YEAR-SEE YOU IN JACKSONVILLE!
davids
December 31st, 2010
11:00 pm
Buzz, How many National championships has the SEC won in the past 5 years? and who is playing in the National championship game this year?
Atehns Police
December 31st, 2010
11:00 pm
The team bus just arrived home. The crime rate is fixing to skyrocket in Athens.
Atehns Police
December 31st, 2010
11:01 pm
Was that Aaron Murray or Bill Murray playing QB today?
Snoop Dawg
December 31st, 2010
11:01 pm
Folks, you can analyze why UGA is atrocious in all aspects of the game until the cows come home. Bottom line is that Richt has pulled a giant scam on the Bulldog Nation. You see, he has never been what he appeared to be. And those in the Bulldog Nation who accepted his lame stories year after year and defend him today and apologize for him need to go to a sex counselor for latent homosexual tendancies. If you defend Richt, you are a loser and you are an enabler to the sorry state of football that we find ourselves in today. For those of you who fret about who could possibly replace Richt, I say almost anyone could do a better job than the status quo and current downward trends in every single aspect of the program. We need to do a nationwide seach for a PROVEN head coach, preferably with absolutlely NO TIES TO THE UGA FOOTALL MAFIA which has treaded on the plentiful quality of recruits since the days of Wally Butts. We need to get our wallets our like Alabama and Florida and PAY FOR THE BEST. If we do this, we will win championships within three years and get a handsome return on our investment. The UGA football program is a veritable gold mine but ONLY IF IT WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
We don’t need a nice Christian man, we need a demanding head coach. Go to church and talk to the preacher if you’re looking for the nice Christian man. The coach has to have ENERGY on the field. He has to have PASSION. He needs to DEMAND EXCELLENCE. Richt does none of these things and never has. The only excellence he enjoys is on his THREE MILLION DOLLAR PER YEAR CHECKBOOK. This is unearned income and the GBI should confiscate it when he is fired.
kris
December 31st, 2010
11:01 pm
guess we will just have to wait and see what he changes and how that affects the teams success on the field next year. good luck to those involved.
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
11:01 pm
The SEC East Coaches conference call unanimously voiced support for the tremendous job Coach Richt has done.
GatorNGeorgia
December 31st, 2010
11:01 pm
While I love to see UGA lose, this was a better than average smaller conference team. They were ranked for a reason.
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
11:02 pm
ESPN now nationally ridiculing Dawgs…………..
Snoop Dawg
December 31st, 2010
11:02 pm
Pearly, you don’t have a clue…
EPIC FAIL!!
December 31st, 2010
11:02 pm
A team is a direct reflection of its’ coach…I was in Columbia, SC watching the Dogs get manhandled by Carolina…no emotion…no sense of urgency…no pride…
….and watching the “Mayhem in Memphis”, I see our team didn’t learn a damn thing…
There’s a saying…”If you permit it, you promote it!”
Obviously, Richt allows certain things to happen both on and off the field with limited consequences to the offender…
If you strive for mediocrity, that’s exactly just what you’ll get….
Dubious
December 31st, 2010
11:02 pm
Will there be a Blackout for the Boise State game? Perhaps that could unify the Dawg Nation like it did for the Bama game in ‘08?
Delbert D.
December 31st, 2010
11:02 pm
The “experts” said Donna Shalala wouldn’t fire Randy Shannon.
Atehns Police
December 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
Wayshon just hit another parked car.
Valtool
December 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
Athens Police, based on seeing the tears rolling post-game, I thought it was Tebow.
stendek
December 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
If Boise State puts 100 points on Dawgs no one will blink an eyelash. That, sadly, is the present state of football in Athens under Mr Don’t Mess My Hair Cause I Make Zillions! STENDEK
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
Sick of UGA – now ready to throw in the towel unless they dump mini-Jesus.
Robert
December 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
He better play Nick Marshall as the Quarterback. He is better than any QB he got. Trust me.
EPIC FAIL!!
December 31st, 2010
11:03 pm
BTW…SEC is now 0-3 in bowl games…
Atehns Police
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
6 and 7 and a win over mighty Idaho State. Go Dawgs…..Woof Woof…….
First Blood
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
Everyone associated with this team should be kicked in the butt, but just for starters, someone please beat the crap out of Rambo for impersonating a football player. Send this jerk home today.
Followed by Green, Ealey, King, Sturdivant, and all the other jerks.
And Richt, holy cow, don’t forget Richt, the Head Jerk.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
davids
how many does UGA have? the Dawgs live on how great they are based on the fact they play in the SEC. The SEC least was weak and UGA couldn’t even get to the DOME. FSU didn’t even play for the ACC title this year and USC did for the SEC.
Dawg4Life
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
hey jeffy what was your first clue. the double digit arrests off the feild or lousy play on the feild tis year.
SEC Watch
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
USA – USA – USA – USA!
THuga please leave the proud SEC. Observing the THuga sideline, nothing but losers, quitters, and self entitled thugs.
England Dawg
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
I was pushing for Richt to return next year but after the 4th and 1 inside the 5 yr line field goal call… He just doesn’t have that killer instinct we need at the helm. Time to GO!!!
Athens Police
December 31st, 2010
11:04 pm
Will Thuga still be ranked with that 6 and 7 record?
Dawg4Life
December 31st, 2010
11:05 pm
Enter your comments here
Athens Police
December 31st, 2010
11:05 pm
A.J. Green has his jersey for sale on Ebay. Let the bidding begin…..
PURPLE DRANK
December 31st, 2010
11:06 pm
PUT RUDY IN THERE AT QB COACH RICHT!
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
11:06 pm
Actually, With this team Richt should win Coach of the year.
PURPLE DRANK
December 31st, 2010
11:06 pm
SO MUCH FOR SEC SPEED. FAIL
Zinodawg
December 31st, 2010
11:06 pm
Fire Richt tomorrow morning.
bart
December 31st, 2010
11:07 pm
I have been a huge Richt supporter, but now I just cannot fathom how ANYBODY can think he deserves another season. Just look at how the program has been steadily going downhill the last few seasons. I wish he would “man up” and resign. If not, come on McGarity, do your job, fire Richt, and get us a coach who can get the program back on the right track.
Brad
December 31st, 2010
11:07 pm
I have played and watched football for many years, and if there is anything I have learned from all of that time is that to win most games you must run the freaking football! Do not my fellow bulldog fans agree? I love the bulldogs, but I just don’t understand why Bobo thinks pass before run. He has been this way from day one! Maybe its because he was a QB? IDK! I also don’t understand why GA loses so many in state talent to other teams? What do these other teams offer that GA cannot. I am sure it is the chance to win with some of them, but is it something else too, like maybe the coaching? I just get really tired of watching the other teams of the leage and their best player is from Georgia! With the Flordia schools in an upset right now it would appear to me that now is the time to recruit heavy from Flordia as well as keep our own talent. But that can’t be done with no hope of winning! If anyone can shed light on this it would be greaty appreciated. I am an opptemistic (sorry for the spelling) and I do believe GA can turn it around!
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
11:07 pm
Can’t Richt find a top-notch God to beg for wins?
SEC Watch
December 31st, 2010
11:08 pm
It’s clear that front running programs like UF, get national names for coordinators. THuga has to settle for Boo-boo for OC.
Losers, quitters, and oversized future welfare collectors. Thugs