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
no respect
January 1st, 2011
12:03 am
I heard ford had a recall on all their new trucks. See what happens when you have a loser like richt as the face of your product.
Delbert D.
January 1st, 2011
12:03 am
Paul – right back at’cha
The Most
January 1st, 2011
12:03 am
great loss for THE MOST OBNOXIOUS fans in college football. I hope it hurts!!!
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
12:04 am
PaulinRUD be good and keep the fun back and forth pointed posts on point and pithy. LOL
John, a true Dawgs fan
January 1st, 2011
12:04 am
Just left the Liberty Bowl and am totally disappointed. It was a pathetic game. UGA’s fans just sat there rather than cheering on their team. The UGA band just sat there rather than cheering their team. The players seemed so apathetic. Don’t know what the atmosphere was. Central Fla.’s fans and band were rocking the entire game. They were what fans should be.
Still support UGA;Still support Mark Richt. Next year will be new and different. keep being true fans, not fair weather fans who need instant gratification.
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
12:04 am
Have a good 2011 Delbert
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
12:05 am
I will POAD – I never miss an opportunity to point out “interesting posts”
Georgia Recruits always choke
January 1st, 2011
12:06 am
Tooooo bad rednecks…you still have your sister & mom who will sleep with you. buahahahaha national titles…..Gt-4 Ugay-1
we steal ruin this state
January 1st, 2011
12:07 am
POAD,
What time do we eat tomorrow?
Nurse Rachet
January 1st, 2011
12:07 am
Happy New Year all.
Bird dropping paper
January 1st, 2011
12:07 am
Well, I guess we’ll have to search the back pages of The Atlanta Urinal and Constipation to find the GA loss.
mark33
January 1st, 2011
12:08 am
Really like CMR as a person, a leader and a role model… But, not as a coach.
It’s time for Georgia to be PRO-ACTIVE and stay ahead of the curve.
If not, they are going to look like Ga Tech with Coach Paul Hewitt and the program will be so far down it will take decades to recover.
AJ Green and Houston are both going to be gone. And i don’t see this team getting better even a little next year.
It’s time to save the program and go out and get the next good young coach. Thanks coach Richt, almost all of the UGA fans like a appreciate what you did in your 10 years. But it’s time for a change before it’s too late.
Pup-muncher
January 1st, 2011
12:09 am
Hey, at least we beat the Yellow Fuzzies! It was a great year! LOL!
Ron Hyatt
January 1st, 2011
12:09 am
Richt=CPJ. Overhyped, overblown. Both programs are a suckfest.
Ruprecht
January 1st, 2011
12:09 am
This just in…Georgia Team Bus just stopped and ticketed for speeding in the KFC drivethru.
Ruprecht
January 1st, 2011
12:10 am
Dont burn the messenger
Todd the chicken choker Grantham
January 1st, 2011
12:11 am
Hey! I held them to 10….I only make 75000 times that. And I was fired by the Browns! Dumb people these GA Dawgs.
YOGI2
January 1st, 2011
12:11 am
Hire Coach O’Leary before you leave town. O’Leary would be better than
what we have now. Leave Richt and Bobo And Water girl in Memphis. They should pay their own expenses back. then pack up and leave before daylight. Good ridance
Auburn/Delta
January 1st, 2011
12:14 am
NO!!!!!! Keep Richt!!!!!
The town of Memphis
January 1st, 2011
12:16 am
“Honey, say GO dawgs!”
john blank
January 1st, 2011
12:18 am
i like richt and bobo but if you cant score on 95 yard drive even early in game) u dont deserve to win…meaningless bowl so go for it on 4 and 1 no reason not tooo
Ruprecht
January 1st, 2011
12:19 am
Memphis thought it was bringing a big time draw to town. Next year stick with a proven champion….any ACC team
Auburn/Delta
January 1st, 2011
12:19 am
I forgot they were playing today… I guess they forgot too?
Auburn/Delta
January 1st, 2011
12:19 am
Will Muschamp still available?
Alaska Dawg
January 1st, 2011
12:21 am
Does anyone else think Van Gorder would be a good fit in Athens? I like his fire and intensity.I have supported Richt all year, but I think a change is due.
UGAX
January 1st, 2011
12:21 am
I’ve supported Richt from day one. He’s a good man and has done some good things at UGA, but it’s time to move the program in a different direction. His loyalty to Bobo has cost him his job. Our players play with no emotion, no sense of urgency. We never put inferior team away- lately we can’t beat them. We’re not Kentucky- we’ve become more like Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Just an average team with zero leadership. If I’m a recruit and had UGA on my list, I’d think otherwise about coming to Athens. Crowell is gone. Drew is gone. Xzavier’s gone. Just wish we had grabbed Muschamp before he bolted for Florida. We’re just not very good and it doesn’t look any better for 2011. Boise may hang 60 points on us right out of the gate.
bubba4dawgs
January 1st, 2011
12:22 am
What can anyone say? After this game, all I wanted to do was barf! This was the most sickening performance for any Georgia team in it’s celebrated history! Offensive line, you suck! Clint Boling still thinking about going pro, forget it! BoBo, go find a JUCO you can screw around with! Dawgs, you are definitely not even mediocre, you’re sub -par with the rest of the SEC. Just think, UCF hasn’t won a bowl game before, now they can claim you as their first and only win! At least, you made history for them! Be proud of yourselves for helping them break their record! You’re right MR, there is a lot of “fixin” to do! It needs to start with some hard nose conditioning and coaching. You also need to get the scouts off there proverbial butts and get some players in there who really want to play football. These guys seemingly have a “loser” attitude! I’m sorry to see a quarterback like Murray have to play with such disgusting performers. Let’s see how many get drafted! I pity the NFL team that gets them!
Time for a Change
January 1st, 2011
12:22 am
Unfortunately we get to look forward to more of this same crap next year! Its pathetic and embarrassing! I’m truly at a loss for words. Guess another email to President Adams won’t do any good? Oh well we are now the new Kentucky and Auburn of the SEC! Awesome! I’m excited to see how ugly next season will be!! Go DAWGS!!
Auburn/Delta
January 1st, 2011
12:22 am
Hey, forget that, dawg fans if you want to feel better about yourselves which I am sure you’re already booking your tickets to the national championship next year when you go 11-1 like every year, ROFL, but seriously you’re about to be joined by UF and the two teams that will probably be leading the SEC East, UT and USC, lost their bowls so there is a slight chance at 7-5 or so you will be in the competition to win the East. Wish the West was that easy.
dano
January 1st, 2011
12:22 am
2 words…….WE SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Philip
January 1st, 2011
12:23 am
What a moron you must be. FAU to UCF is not that big of a step down. UCF is much closer to UGA than FAU is to UCF but we saw that tonight. A top 20 basketball team and no doubt a top 20 football team. I know it is hard for people like you to accept but UCF is not small time.
Oh and George says hi.
UGAX
January 1st, 2011
12:23 am
One more thing: why the hell was our QB wearing those stupid gloves?.
Russ the Interim Mascot
January 1st, 2011
12:23 am
Bruce, glad to fill in for you, but all in all, I rather have been in Savannah. I did have fun at Graceland and chasing the Ducks in the Peabody Hotel Lobby. Almost caught one but not as fast as I used to be and some lost guy from Central Florida stepped on my chain. I got him back, I gummed him on the leg.. Hope you feel better and good luck next year. You will need it.
Ben
January 1st, 2011
12:24 am
Georgia wins the SEC next year. Nuff said.
marcus
January 1st, 2011
12:24 am
you guys are worse than the u of maryland people. one lousy ass year and you go nuts. how come you jerks did not write this crap when they had stafford and was in the news everyday for dui’s, assaults, thefts? jeff schultz never played, coached, or administered any team. he’s a f-n hack!
mark33
January 1st, 2011
12:24 am
Game thoughts:
A. Murray- tough game. Thought he tucked and ran too quickly to many times.
Offense- sucked to put it mildly.
Play calling- poor.
Defense- played okay, but CF sucks too so hard to be excited about the “D”.
Drew Butler better work this off season. I thought he had a very poor, over-hyped year.
Very tough game to watch. No fire, no drive, no leadership and no performance by most of the entire team… I’d like to give CMR another year because he’s a good guy and early success…
But if you don’t think it’s going to get better,
YOU DON’T WAIT. (and waste the year)
Make the change and use next year as a building block in the right direction.
Ruprecht
January 1st, 2011
12:25 am
The cloves accent the bold colors and statement of the britches. Next year the cloves will be full length and formal.
Auburn/Delta
January 1st, 2011
12:25 am
The new Kentucky and Auburn?
Auburn is in the national championship… plays in 10 days…
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
12:25 am
We Steal Run
Eggs and Bacon at 6:15am Have to be awake for sunrise on the New Year. Brunch is at 1:30. Ham is looking damn good and the lil taste is good too.
UGAX
January 1st, 2011
12:26 am
MARK33 – couldn’t agree with you more. Well said. Time to move on.
Ruprecht
January 1st, 2011
12:26 am
The gloves accent the bold coloors of the uniform. Next year the gloves will be full length and formal. The shoe will be a mid rise pump and backless.
saban
January 1st, 2011
12:27 am
Just in.
UGA VIII`s sex change operation was a failure.
He will now be a he she with the best of both worlds.
Central Florida. You can`t make this stuff up.
astrouga
January 1st, 2011
12:27 am
I was a big Richt fan, but honestly, no matter how good of a person he is, he is no longer an elite coach. Time for him to go.
Nurse Rachet
January 1st, 2011
12:27 am
Ben you have had to much to drink .
quickquestion
January 1st, 2011
12:28 am
Enter your comments here
Stumpknocker
January 1st, 2011
12:28 am
Van Gorder? Like what he did at Ga Sou…..
Stumpknocker
January 1st, 2011
12:30 am
Van Gorder? Like what he did at Ga Sou…….a cup of coffee and a doughnut and off to a better job.
Dave from GT
January 1st, 2011
12:30 am
I live in Florida. Florida has the best HS talent in the nation. Get used to UCF, USF, FIU and FAU being legitimate teams. The myth of the SEC is over. USF beat Aubun not even a couple of years ago.
And besides…….. I told you that OLeary and Godsey know how to beat the dawgs…… and they did it. Just be glad you don’t have to play them every year !!!
That’s the way it is, Happy New Year leg humpers……….. I can’t wait till next November in Atlanta.
Nurse Rachet
January 1st, 2011
12:31 am
Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t accept the runner-up trophy, instead telling an official to get it to him later.
“We’re all disappointed,” Richt said. “We didn’t want to finish with a loss. We didn’t want to finish with a losing record. … There are reasons why we ended up the way we did. We’ve got to make change. We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future.”
UGA fans are so ...
January 1st, 2011
12:33 am
And to add insult to injury, guess who did the game on ESPN Radio? That’s right, PAM WARD. Boy, how irrelevant is uga now? Having a woman calling their games! Looks like O’Leary still owns the pups-4 of the last 5!