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
And
January 1st, 2011
4:45 pm
Florida wins!
Phil
January 1st, 2011
4:46 pm
For all of you that say Richt deserves another year. My question would be, for what?? More of the same next year? If anything, it will be worse! How are we going to be any better next year without our best player, AJ Green?
Does anybody think we have a chance against Boise State with the players we have coming back? And with this coaching staff that can’t come up with a game plan? That can’t motivate this team? Can’t call plays?
0-1 after Boise State and the season unravels. Probably lose 9 games next year. And this is what you want next year by allowing Richt one mor year??
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
4:47 pm
The Gators get a pick to make the game look bigger than it was. I didn’t think the Gators would win this one. So, 1 SEC least team won a Bowl game.
DamntheButcher
January 1st, 2011
4:47 pm
Looks like Miss St are the new real Bulldogs in the SEC.
DamntheButcher
January 1st, 2011
4:49 pm
Bosie St for the 1st game and I think a loaded SC team for the 3rd game…. We I am sure UGA will beat ever who the cupcake is for game 2.
we steal ruin this state
January 1st, 2011
4:51 pm
Why would any of the successful coaches mentioned above (all of whom are already making big bucks) want to leave their current position to step into the cesspool of uga?
The honeymoon would be sweet but short and then all of the experts from thuganation would start nitpicking and telling him what he’s doing wrong.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Barack Dawg
January 1st, 2011
4:53 pm
So where is the article that says GT hit rock bottom with CPJ? They went from ACC Champion to Service Academy wanna be. As usual Jeff has nothing really to add to the situation just BS.
Phil
January 1st, 2011
4:53 pm
Looking at next years schedule, I see 2 wins, maybe 3. We should be able to beat Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State. 3rd win could be against Vandy but it’s on he road but maybe we can pull that one out.
Other than that, I don’t see much hope. All you idiots that want Richt back again next year, let’s see how you like having more losses next year than this year.
It’s time to go in a new direction, ASAP.
Snoop Dawg
January 1st, 2011
4:55 pm
TALE OF TWO COACHES
Just finished watching Florida beat Penn State. What a contrast in coaches between Meyer and Richt. Meyer knew he was no longer an asset to the program, so he did the honorable thing and moved aside for someone to take the program forward. He really enjoyed today’s bowl with a nice smile on his face that said that he was at peace with himself and with everyone else. Many players came and hugged him. Contrast that with Richt. Richt, the fellow who wears his faith on his shirt sleeve so everyone can see it, does not walk the talk like Meyer does. Richt knew two years ago that he was no longer effective. He had already reached burn out, or lost interest, or had some other personal problems that made him ineffective. He had no passion, no emotion, no motivating spirit for those around him. But instead of moving aside like Urban Meyer, this guy has stubbornly retreated to his bunker in Berlin where his intent I imagine is that the entire Bulldog Nation must go down with the ship. Now, two to three years later, we have sank to the bottom of the sea of respectability. Richt has completely lost control of all aspects of his job. He is totally ineffective. But unlike Meyer, he has not proven to be an honorable man. He is evidently driven by money, not honor or respect or compassion for the University of Georgia and his coaches and players. His actions indicate that he will continue to bilk us out of almost $3 Million a year for continuing to ruin the program. This indicates to me that Richt is not really what he professes to be.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD.
PT
January 1st, 2011
4:58 pm
Georgia did not improve as the season went along and I don’t see it happening next year. As for the field goal at the beginning of the game, Richt doesn’t have confidence in the team himself! I will not drive all the way to Athens next year to see a game coached by someone with no trust in his players abilities.
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
4:58 pm
Interesting interview with the UGA AD
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/uga-ad-greg-mcgarity-792667.html
Reading between the lines – CMR is on the clock in 2011
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
4:58 pm
Yeah, just like when UGA played UF in the 2010 Inept Bowl, Meyer acted like he wanted to win and Richt acted like he couldn’t wait to be be in Sunday School the next day.
wolfman
January 1st, 2011
4:58 pm
Does anyone think that Richt has has the guts to get rid of BOBO?
Barack Dawg
January 1st, 2011
4:59 pm
Phil – pull your bottom lip over your head and swallow. Get off the UGA wagon. You are a closet tech fan anyway.
Richt should stay for a couple of reasons:
1. The recruiting and he has finally found that he needs to focus in state. That helps UGA and kills Tech.
2. A new coach unless it is Saban is not going to just instill change or prove that he can change.
3. Richt has had 2 bad years but is making changes and albeit slower than some want he is still doing that.
4. At some point the players have to execute and the coaches can’t do that for them. The offensive line has to block in order for the RB to run and the QB to throw. That is the biggest issue if you actually watched the game yesterday.
5. He is still 9 – 1 against Ga Tech and has won 7 – 3 in bowl games.
I think you will see that the players are going to step up in the off season, the coaches will step, the S&C program is stepping up, and that will make a big deal in the next year. If not then it will be the end of CMR’s tenure at UGA next year.
The Old Ball Coach
January 1st, 2011
5:00 pm
UGA gets all of those great recruits. After watching the UGA coaches, I now know what happens to them!
jerry
January 1st, 2011
5:00 pm
Richt came out of the box on a tear
and UGA fans were sure they had the next Bear
But lately he’s flopped
their bubble he’s popped
So there.
Quit
January 1st, 2011
5:00 pm
whining about Ga Tech. After they lost last week,they got raked over the coals too. But that was last week, this week it is Ga’s turn. Neither program is where it should have been this year.
Canton Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:01 pm
Snoop, you are right on the money.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
NENE - HOA
January 1st, 2011
5:01 pm
Thank you Corch Mayas. You are the class of the SEC.You will be missed.
As you said, the future is bright for the Florida Gators.
Isnt Muschamp a Dawg?
gss
January 1st, 2011
5:01 pm
Hire Rich Rodriquez
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
5:02 pm
The only way Richt ever leaves UGA as HC is if he decides to go be a missionary somewhere.
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
5:04 pm
Pretty sad when the only highlight of 2010 UGA Football comes down to berating GT.
Michael F. Adams
January 1st, 2011
5:04 pm
If you believe your team has a shot at a national championship in 2011, you might be a bulldog fan.
Snoop Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:05 pm
New motto for the Bulldog Nation:
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
PT
January 1st, 2011
5:06 pm
I think the problem with Richt is the buyout. I was told that it is about $7 million. It would be better for him financially to be fired than to resign of course.
Dawgman 566
January 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
CMR lasts one more year and then our new AD hires a rested and ready Urban Crier. Our future looks bright.
hotdawg
January 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
At least Richt is an honorable man–more than can be said for the dishonest resume submitted by O’Leary in applying for a job at Notre Dame. If he were to resign today, Mark Richt would go down as one of the best, if not THE best, coaches in Georgia history. Moreover, he would retire as the fifth winningest active BCS-level football coach in America. If he and Georgia ever part ways, it will be a sad day for Georgia and a joyous day for SEC rivals and wretches from Tech everywhere.
Snoop Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
Good point, PT. But you can’t have it both ways. Preacha Man, WWJD? What is the honorable thing to do, Mark Richt? Please do it.
Nauti-Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
I think MR has already been assured one more year.
But I think his accumulative bad executive decisions over the past have doomed 2011.
Bad recruiting – he passed on this years Heisman winner because he thought Cam was a tight end??
Bad DC hire Granthum sux, but he has to stay with him.
Bad OC hire, when is the last time we saw imagination, new plays, or a smart call from Bobo?
Lack of fire, confidence,
Our best case scenerio – a strong new OC hire for 2011 – but I really don’t know who would take it given the cirrcumstances – unless AD gave him “coach in waiting” status.
NENE - HOA
January 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
Even if we hire a new offensive coordinator..it takes three years to implement the system. Then you need to recruit to the scheme.
Might as well start afresh today. Anything less guarantees the same results.
rfears
January 1st, 2011
5:11 pm
What can you say. No passion, no pride, certainly no confidence demonstrated by Coach Richt in his offense.( 4th and goal inside the UCF 3 and you go for a field goal in the first quarter.) Then in the middle of the 4th quarter they flat quit, quit , quit.It looked like the players just wanted to get out of there or were waiting to hear from their NFL agent. Very sad. What can you say, but NO PRIDE- NO ABILITY = EQUAL NO COACHING. Time to go Coach Richt . ( Boise State , if it wasn’t for the game payout I doubt you would even be there, shame on you.)
simplythetruth
January 1st, 2011
5:12 pm
For all the Urban Meyer bashers, who claim to be real Dawg fans, how’s ol’ Marky boy Richt lookin now? Richt couldn’t even get his players up for a bowl game, while Meyer and his team hung in there and never quit. Maybe UGA’s new coach and parole officer will make a player “earn’ the right to wear red and black or Uga’s likeness while toolin around Athens. Before anyone claiming to be a Dawg fan opens his mouth about someone else’s team, they’d better look at the program that currently exists in Athens. All UGA grads need to ask themselves this question, “Are you really satisfied with Mark Richt’s product?” Let McGarity know what you think. He’s got the juice to fire his lazy tail.
Snoop Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
If AD Howdy Doody McCavity has already assured Richt of another season he should be fired too. Nothing should be assured with Richt’s absolute incompetence obvious by hundreds of data points over the past three years.
I’m beginning to think that all these Florida moles have infiltrated UGA’s althletic department like some Soviet Union clandestine operation. Richt, McCavity? What’s up with that? Surely nobody will not seriously consider hiring the Urban Meyer. But if he could find a young Tebow to come with him…
Jerry Glanville
January 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
Thug Dawg fans….I am tan and rested and ready.
old dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:14 pm
UGA win – loss record
2007 11-2
2008 10-3
2009 8-5
2010 6-7
Bobo took over as offensive coordinator in 2007.
which of these years was the offense manned by stafford, moreno, and massaqua?
ok at some point the off season conditioning program went from finish the drill to show up for drills if you feel like it.
can someone definitively point out where it has gone bad?? all the homers need not respond. the rest of us are tired of hearing from you already.
marietta eagle
January 1st, 2011
5:14 pm
Big blow hards at georgia, george O is still beating you George once told me if a team had no character they would never be champions,
mike addington
January 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
I say hire Van Gorder and see what he can do. we were a pretty dog oops dawg gone good team when he was here.
March of time...
January 1st, 2011
5:16 pm
Mark September 3 on your calendars. It’s the day the 2011 UGA season begins and ends as Boise State takes the pathetic dawgs to the woodshed.
Snoop Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:16 pm
Fellows, as you debate when Richt might be fired, and about new systems etc. just consider that NO OPTIONS COULD BE WORSE THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. All those things will have to be done sooner or later, so why waste another year. The Liberty Bowl lost all those Georgia 5-stars hanging back till signing day. I guarantee it.
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!
KnightFan Is So Clueless
January 1st, 2011
5:16 pm
Did I actually read your comment right? The Liberty Bowl was a great game and one of the best of the bowl season? WTF are you on? A 10-6 snoozer where you can’t even score a TD against a team from C-USA? UCF only beat 3 teams with a winning record this year and UGA DID NOT BEAT ONE! I repeat not 1 victory over a team with a winning record all year!! And you are running your mouth? CLUELESS!!
kgb
January 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
I won’t profess to know the real reasons nor the best answer for the Dawgs demise. But one thing is clear. After 39 pages of venom, I think it’s safe to say that the Bulldog nation as a whole has serious doubts about Richt (myself included).
MiamiDawg
January 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
Time to finish the drill, CMR. Resign like Urban Myers and leave with some dignity.
mike addington
January 1st, 2011
5:18 pm
richt even made the dog sick
Snoop Dawg
January 1st, 2011
5:20 pm
In retrospect, Richt should have been fired immediately following the 2009 Capital One Bowl when the preseason number one ranked UGA Bulldogs with a veritable NFL lineup settled for a lousy second tier bowl. Richt miserably squandered that rare opportunity for Glory Glory. For being asleep at the wheel we should have Michael Adams fired. Demon Evans actually fired himself.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
5:22 pm
Knightfan ISC
UCF beat 1 team with a winning record and 1 team with a .500 and 1 SEC team in the Bowl game.
And now a word from our sponsor
January 1st, 2011
5:23 pm
A few comments about the game:
1. It was obvious that neither the UGAy goons or coaches were ready for the game. It was obvious that UCF was.
2. The whole team sucked.
3. How much longer will dawg fans put up with this kind of crap with Richt as coach? More importantly, how long will McGarity put up with it?
4. Some of the UGAy players, and a lot of the fans were crying after the game ended. This was heartwarming for decent, intelligent people to see.
5. When the cameras zoomed in on some of the UGAy fans, it was very clear why most states have laws against incest. It was also clear why beer companies are so profitable.
6. How much stuff has A.J. Green sold already? How much is his stuff discounted when UGAy loses and he plays like crap? :-)
7. How is Russ taking the loss? Oh, I see, he’s crapping all over everybody. Sorry about that, coach Richt. I’m sure those stains can be removed from your pants.
8. Aaron Murray demonstrated how devastating it was to lose Zach.
9. Good news for the seniors playing their last game for UGAy – you’ll never have to spend another night in the Athens jail. The lawyers and bail bondsmen of Athens salute you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
01HAWK
January 1st, 2011
5:24 pm
MS. STATE, BAMA, and FLORIDA have dug the SEC out of a hole with there wins today. TENN, UGA, and SOUTH CAROLINA laid EGGS. 3-3 so far.
Hoping AUBARN, LSU, ARK, and KENTUCKY do there jobs.
Glad to see the SEC DOG THE SO CALLED BIG TEN
APB for...
January 1st, 2011
5:24 pm
Sanford Drive
D A Double U G
dawgfan
SuperDawg
BoWeevil
atl xmen
coach smith
SuperB
Moonpie
Headley Lamar
They’ve been all over the GT blogs whenever GT has lost. Not a peep out of them.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
5:26 pm
Knightfan ISC
UCF lost to 3 teams with winning records: Southern Miss, Kansas St, and NC State
The teams CFU beat had a record of 42-78 and the teams CFU lost to had a record of 23-13.
joedawg
January 1st, 2011
5:27 pm
FIRE CMR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!