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
?
January 1st, 2011
1:44 pm
Is Washon’s brother named washoff??
Athens police
January 1st, 2011
1:45 pm
Now that the Thugs are 6 and 7, what will the fan base do?
a) call for the firing of Saint Mark
b) call for the firing of Bobo
c)get out the tapes of the Herschel glory year.
d)take off their red panties
e) still think the thugs should be ranked in the top 5 in preseason 2011
f) blame the refs
g) all of the above
answer: g
MistaGamer
January 1st, 2011
1:46 pm
I think “pointless” is perfect for the current state of Georgia football. All I could think about watching that game was, “What’s the point?”. Our team, if anything, is unfortunately a direct reflection of the head coach. We coach with no fire. We play with no fire.
That forth and inches decision perfectly sums it all up. The current state of our team can be described from that call from our head coach. Pointless. I mean really, a field goal?
?
January 1st, 2011
1:46 pm
Oh Lawd mis scarlett I dont know nuthin about loosing. Run for the hills, dont forget to hook up our house.
George Stein
January 1st, 2011
1:46 pm
Stupid question perhaps, but Murray was off all day. Why did he continue to wear those gloves? They say those affect your ability to feel the ball the way a QB needs to.
Dumb Dawgs
January 1st, 2011
1:47 pm
Aj Green sold Richt’s coaching ability to the devil.
?
January 1st, 2011
1:47 pm
Lawd I have cried so much my trailer carpet is peeling up. I need some malt liquor.
Rick DuBose
January 1st, 2011
1:48 pm
I’m a true Dawg fan. I know they can be better than what they have been, but I doubt Coach Richt is the person to lead them. he has the best recruiting classes, yet his teams are mediocre. It is time to look elsewhere.
?
January 1st, 2011
1:48 pm
Lawd what am I going to do with my Mark Richt naked fat head?
Athens police
January 1st, 2011
1:49 pm
A.J.’s Liberty Bowl jersey is now going for 76 cents on Ebay.
junkyarddawg
January 1st, 2011
1:49 pm
When in trouble cut the head off the snake – Fire Michael Adams!
What the hell was Murray wearing those stupid gloves for? It was not cold, it was not wet – he had NO touch.
Hope and pray the kid in Columbus knows he can come to Athens and be the MAN! Put 3 & 4 on the bench, take 4’s scholarship and give it to someone who WANTS to be a DAWG!
Mike
January 1st, 2011
1:49 pm
Hearing Richt saying he has to fix things sounds like Obama saying he’s got to fix the economy. Neither has a clue how to do it.
?
January 1st, 2011
1:49 pm
I just bought a red ford pickup and shaved my hairline back into a dracula pose. Lawd lawd what are we gonna do with this trailer.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
1:50 pm
UCF beat
South Dakota 4-7
Buffalo 2-10
UAB 4-8
Marshal 5-7
Rice 4-8
East Carolina 6-6
Houston 5-7
Tulane 4-8
Memphis 1-11
So Methodist 7-6
LOST
Southern Miss 8-4
Kansas St 7-5
North Carolina St 8-4
They beat 8 teams with losing records, 1 team with a .500 record and 1 team with a winning record.
They lost to 3 teams with winning records.
Well they are better that the Mighty UGA of the SEC because the dawgs didn’t beat a single team with a winning record.
LOOK at UCF played and please tell they should have been on the same field with the TALENT UGA has.
Well BAMA is making the SEC look good. I would love to see Bama and Auburn play again. I don’t think Auburn could win a MNC if they were to play Bama for it.
The Gators are doing that 3 QB thing again. I don’t understand how that flows by changing QBs every play.
?
January 1st, 2011
1:51 pm
Lawd and i was gonna send my siamese twin girls to give coach richt a good time. Lawd what are we gonna do.
?
January 1st, 2011
1:52 pm
LAWD I just dont think I can ever go to Athens again.
?
January 1st, 2011
1:52 pm
Lawd I cant even bring myself to lick my bulldogs scrotum today.
Harmon Wages
January 1st, 2011
1:52 pm
GALEEE, WE STINK! Jethro said about yesterdays game. Why didn’t we use two power tight ends(Figgins and Lynch),to help out offensive line? Murray was pressured and knocked around all day,who respects play action when you can’t run the ball! I’m sorry I believe our problem lies with our pathetic offensive line play! I’m not crazy about our OC play selection at times, but you can’t be too fancy or creative without consistent OF line play! The Defense looked better,We need a true Nose tackle to occupy a couple of OF linemen to make the 3-4 defense work! GO DAWGS in 2011!
Athens police
January 1st, 2011
1:52 pm
6 and 7. At least the dawgs beat that mighty Idaho State team.
Athens police
January 1st, 2011
1:54 pm
That Georgia offensive line is terrible. Ole Chop Block Jones is a red neck.
Preston
January 1st, 2011
1:56 pm
I love coach Richt as a great person and role model for those players but I love UGA more. Time for a change. Another year of this garbage and recruiting will start taking a MAJOR hit. Gotta get some fresh blood in here to re-energize the program.
Athens police
January 1st, 2011
1:57 pm
Ray Goff will be introduced as the next Georgia football coach on Monday.
Pitbull
January 1st, 2011
2:00 pm
I have been one of Richt’s biggest defenders, but now I have to admit that I was wrong.
CMR has lost control of the program both on and off the field.
The team was unprepared and it was apparent that they did not want to be in Memphis and they played like it. Perhaps CMR did lose the team when he went for 3 points when we had driven 97 yards and he didn’t have confidence they could make one more.
Something is very wrong in Athens. CMR needs to stop trying to be the players’ super cool friend and start being a football coach.
If the players were more scared of him than getting caught or hit on the field they would behave off the field and perform on it.
I’m a UGA grad and don’t want UGA to become a football factory that neglects integrity and academics like Auburn and such, but they need tp behave off the field and play like they care on the field and that takes coaching leadership.
I remember when Donnan lost the team to Quincey Carter and his boyz in the hood. It’s not like that now, but we need a coach that sets a more determined and focused tone. I have come to believe that Richt is not capable of that.
Perhaps Richt would step down to be the Dogs’ offensive coordinator and Grantham can be promoted to Head Coach as he seems to have a pair.
DanDDiver
January 1st, 2011
2:03 pm
Well, well, well….how the mighty have fallen…..and thanks to a few obnoxious UGA fans, I’m feeling rather pleased at the outcome.
At my first game in Athens, the UGA fans were pretty nice before and during the game when the outcome was still in question.
It was when the game was obviously no longer in doubt that the ugly UGA fans (those that turned me against the Bulldogs for life) reared their ugly rears.
Although we spanked you badly in Stillwater the next year, effectively beginning UGA’s long, dark slide into mediocrity, I have lost all respect and any affection for your team.
(Woof, woof!!)
J-Man
January 1st, 2011
2:03 pm
Kirby Smart Now!!!!!
Richard Dawson
January 1st, 2011
2:05 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT.
Buzzfan
January 1st, 2011
2:05 pm
ACC 2 SEC 0 in bowl games. FSU beat SEC Division Champ SC & UNC beat Tennessee, The ACC has bounced back after a dismal start of the season. The SEC has not done well so far. I am pulling for Auburn to win the National Title. I was glad to see Georgia lose. They present a terrible image of the state of Georgia. Thank goodness for quality schools like Tech and Emory.
wolfman
January 1st, 2011
2:07 pm
ACC vs SEC: FSU beats the SEC East Champ; UNC beats TN with 1/2 its team. UGA loses to UCF… If UF doesn’t win its 0 for 4! ACC not looking too bad, is it?
Pete
January 1st, 2011
2:07 pm
Look, the UGA program is and has been a joke for years. Over rated doesn’t even come close to describing this bunch of fanatical under achievers.
And the hysterical thing is………………….they don’t get it. 90% of the country laughs at this collection of mamma’s boys.
scottydawg1
January 1st, 2011
2:08 pm
Nick, What happened? Did your mom turn your computer off?.Or are you looking up big words in the dictionary to use in your blogs? Jackleg
wolfman
January 1st, 2011
2:09 pm
I think you should keep Mark “send me the runner-up trophy later” Richt..
The way I see it
January 1st, 2011
2:09 pm
Just sitting here watching real football. I’m a dawg fan but for the SEC roll Tide
FLA DAWG
January 1st, 2011
2:11 pm
34 pages of comments – perhaps the most this season and those comments are overwhelmingly for Richt to leave.
I hope he announces something very, very soon for the benefit of the recruits.
Suggestion
January 1st, 2011
2:13 pm
Demote Bobo to QB coach and hire R.Freidgen as OC.
Bring R.Shannon in and make him Recruiting coordinator
Get rid of R.Garner
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 1st, 2011
2:13 pm
5150 P.O.A.D.
Yea your right look at those teams you mentioned and yet GT lost to UGA. Your right GT is the Joke By the Coke
Big Dawg
January 1st, 2011
2:14 pm
It’s over and everyone here and in Athens knows good and well it is. And it didn’t start all of a sudden yesterday. Losing Van Gorder exposed Richt and most of the rest of his staff as unqualified. They mishandled the careers of Stafford, Moreno, and Massaquoi, hung on to inept coaches such as Martinez and Bobo, and keep setting the tone of the program with NO passion or energy, NO creative play calling, NO clock management or game situation skills, and NO discipline whatsoever. What more does anyone want or need to make the decision to move forward and right this sinking ship? We should all boycott Sanford Stadium until the right thing is done. As we all know very well, money talks and bull@@@@ walks. And as of this writing, CMR makes a little over $230,000 PER GAME! Is he worth it? Is he giving that kind of effort? We all know that answer, hopefully Mr. McGarity does also.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 1st, 2011
2:16 pm
Just think
Kirby Smart would have came last year but Richt refused to get rid of Van Halenger
oh well
Anyone wonder why we have to have uniform changes to motivate our players
scottydawg1
January 1st, 2011
2:17 pm
If Bobo is not fired.i’ll be counting the days until Kennesaw State fields its first football team.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 1st, 2011
2:18 pm
Big Dawg
Van Gorder wouldnt have left hadnt Richt not pissed him off
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
January 1st, 2011
2:18 pm
To all the Dawg fans who enjoy throwing it at Tech, talking up their SEC conference and talk dreams of a national champtionship. Remember this season for a long, long time. You’re not as good as you think you are. If Tech hadn’t handed you the game with a missed fg and fumble you weren’t even in Memphis. Maybe this will humble you….but then again, maybe not.
O'leary owns u
January 1st, 2011
2:22 pm
Hahaha 4 out of 5. Oleary owns ugag hahahahahahaha
Big Dawg
January 1st, 2011
2:22 pm
Thanks Flat Tire. Mark Richt pissing off the only assistant coach worth his weight in gold is another good reason CMR needs to go!
My Dawg Has Fleas
January 1st, 2011
2:24 pm
There are a couple of former Dogs in my home town coaching High School football that could shake up the whole UGA program if Richt had the courage to hire them. I won’t name names ,those of us in Savannah know who they are.CMR if you want to save your job make the call. Or you can 7-5 or 6-6 next year and be out on your behind. Show some faith in some lower profile former Dogs and you might be rewarded ,if not stay with your over paid DC and inept OC and keep getting the same old results.
No Van Goober
January 1st, 2011
2:24 pm
Would you people knock it off about Van Gorder, please. That clown lives out of a suitcase and if he had one good year, he’d head out of town. He never even coached a game for South Carolina before heading for the hills. He ruined Georgia Southern and they’re just now recovering. Keep him where he is, a lifetime assistant coach.
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
2:25 pm
LMAO!
The UGA puppies couldn’t even beat UCF for crying out loud! Not only did UGA lose their 1st Inept Bowl in 2010 (UF vs UGA), they managed to lose their 2nd Inept Bowl vs Central Florida Diesel and Auto Body College.
Keep telling yourselves UGA sucked the season before that fluke season 3 decades ago.and keep telling yourselves Murray is some great young QB.
No Van Goober
January 1st, 2011
2:27 pm
Anyone from the Big East certainly has nothing to crow about.
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
2:27 pm
If you haven’t had enough of Richt, he’s speaking for a fee at some church in Blairsville in February.
Hopefully he’s at least good at that.
duluthdawg
January 1st, 2011
2:27 pm
@Big Dawg. amen brother. you summed it up pretty well although most of us didnt know the truth until recently. cmr did well w/donnans recruits and bvg. after that it hasn’t been pretty. steady decline. cmr is a good man and it would be fitting for him to step down w/honor. if he doesnt then i hope that dawg nation will see him off w/class. i think hes done a lot for uga and deserves respect. but he needs to go, i guess everyone knows that. if we keep him next year other schools will be gettting to our recruits about being a lameduck program
J-Man
January 1st, 2011
2:28 pm
If we signed Butch Davis we would win a National Championship………. But we have to be too political correct.
KnightFan42
January 1st, 2011
2:29 pm
Richt has nothing to be ashamed of; his team fought hard and played well. And odds are that one touchdown in the first wouldn’t have made that big of a difference; he was right to get some points on the board. Forget conference affiliations, and look at the facts; this was a great bowl game, probably one of the best this season. Georgia and UCF made for a great matchup, and I can guarantee you that there’s no UCF fan who would say Richt did a bad job.