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
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
9:36 pm
“The fish stinks from the head down”
We need a NEW Head Coach and coaching staff.
Lt. Frank Drebin
December 31st, 2010
9:36 pm
The funny thing is that I was getting emails from the UGA Athletic Association this week “reminding” me of the upcoming donation that is due to secure season tix next year…..nice way to get me pumped up to spend my hard earned money for this garbage….
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
9:36 pm
“Mark Richt is the Sarah Palin of college football coaches – no brain, no heart, no guts, a quitter and cashing in on celebrity while the constituents want the real deal.”
Come on Schultz – use it!
Dirk
December 31st, 2010
9:36 pm
Randy-
Right on. Urban Meyer & Richt both had a bad year with lousy QB’s. Both will be benched or transfer.
With Lemay, or Hutson Mason, UGA’s 2011 looks superb.
Ealey will be back too.
RT
December 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
Randy,what are you smoking?
Chuck Uga
December 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
I am a 39-year Dawg fan that has seen probably twice as many games and witnessed twice as many seasons than most on this blog. Mark Richt will not turn the program around. He got complacent and part of that complacency has resulted in hiring people who are unqualified to be assistant coaches in the SEC (Mike Bobo, Bryan McClendon, etc.) Note I said SEC. He has lost out on many, many players in-State and cannot identify the ones he needs to improve. Obviously the coaching sucks or the wrong players are being signed (has Garner become lazy too?) 50% of the UGA fan base is delusional and incompetent in recognizing the situation for what it is. Mark Richt does not have the material to turn Georgia around in 2011. I am amazed by the collossal ignorance of so many who think he does. There is NO WAY Georgia beats South Carolina, Tennessee, Miss State, Florida and possibly even Ga Tech in 2011. Never mind a certain loss to Boise State with their returning Heisman candidate at QB. What a shame that Greg McGarity cannot make a change (to hell with recruiting). He just doesn’t want to pull the trigger less than a year on the job…but he will be forced to one year (or less) from now. Georgia football is back at rock bottom where it was prior to Jim Donnan. It shouldn’t be there, but it is because of too many fools, hayseeds and rednecks involved politically. Sit back and watch Auburn win a national title. This after watching Alabama, Florida and LSU win one or two themselves this decade. None of us will ever witness that in Athens in our lifetime.
The Curse of Loran
December 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
I guess it’s time to stop making fun of ‘directional schools’.
Typical Georgia Fan
December 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
WAAAHH!! Its all Nick Fairley’s fault! He’s such a dirty player!! I hate ALL my Auburn friends now because of Nick Fairley!! I’m gonna keep hoping Auburn gets put on probation, that way I can feel better about my team going 6-6 every year!! Thats all! I’m gonna go home and keep pretending the dawgs are still relevant in football!!! Bye Everyone!!!
Gen Neyland
December 31st, 2010
9:37 pm
New AD’s have a habit of leaving their mark when they take over a program. Fox looks tight but if things don’t go north between the hedges real soon, I think you folks looking for change will get it…
The Blair Miss Project
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
<—– Wide Left <——-
Where is Saint Simons?????
The Red Panty Pirate
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
So you jump all over the GT blogs thumpin’ your skinny chests about how WE lost our bowl game and WE have a losing record……ad nauseum.
So tell me, HOW WAS YOUR FRICKIN’ KARMA BOWL THUGA???????????
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
THUGA SUCKS….ALWAYS HAS, ALWAYS WILL. What more can you expect from The Cesspool of the South????
You had 11 players ARRESTED this year….You LOST to UCF in your Bowl Game…..Your coach, Fake Bake Richt, doesn’t even have the nads to go for it on 4th and inches or you losers probably would have at least tied the game and forced OT. What a LOSER of a Head Coach and his entire staff of Cowboys isn’t any better……MugShot Grantham is a FRAUD and you’re paying him $750k/yr because nobody else wanted the job in that Wet Fart Town you call Athens!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH……Thank you SO MUCH for a wonderful New Year’s Present you Butt-Sniffers!!!!!!
sandyspringsjacket
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
USMC,
NEW MATH:
THUGA 5 stars = 6-7
GT 3 stars = 6-7
If your biggest win this year was GT that says it all!
Buzz ME
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
Where are you you loud mouthed mutts now. You are as pathetic as we are. If we didn’t give you the game you would have nothing to brag about. Your boy Murray couldn’t even get across a TD. You are legends in your own minds and are no national program. rank on TECh all you want but with all your 5 star recruits you are an embarasment. HA HA
jod
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
REALITY HAS LEFT THE BUILDING, LEAVING THE DOG FANS BEHIND.
Letterman85
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
Pretty sure the future was pegged by Olddawg. Going to have to sit back and see what changes MR is planning. Tough situation either way for the coach
Tired of Losing at UGA
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
Let me put it straight to you guys. “They (UGA) are who we thought they were”!!
JSS
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
“Get Jim Harbaugh before somebody else does!”
What are you folks drinking or injecting or snorting?
Anyone care to revise all of that trash talk that followed the announcement of the Kickoff Classic?
Dirk
December 31st, 2010
9:38 pm
4th game UGA lost by 7 points or less.
Just a tough year.
A.J. Green paid me to hold this sign
December 31st, 2010
9:39 pm
The funniest thing in an otherwise grim game was when the TV cameras showed a fan holding a sign that said “A.J. Green paid me to hold this sign.”
Thuggo Green probably already has his stuff on eBay. Including the photos of him boozing it up in South Beach.
Denver Dog
December 31st, 2010
9:39 pm
Using it for six years, and man enough to admit WE SUCK!
Humuliated in Athens
December 31st, 2010
9:39 pm
I knew when Richt kicked a field goal on the 1st drive with 4th and inches he was trying to squeak out a win. Richt has never had the eye of the tiger and never will. Not one great college team out there today would have kicked a field goal. It’s sad to see a team with so much talent be outcoached.
monkey on Richts back
December 31st, 2010
9:39 pm
The Sourtheastern Conference East is a mess, UGA is just flat horrible, UF is guessing and hoping a madman with no headcoaching experience will save them,
Tennessee is still confusing themselves, USC. Is ging to lose Spurrier in a few years, Kentucky is getting better but is still years away, vandy can’t keep a coach.
The East just sucks.
Big L
December 31st, 2010
9:40 pm
One more year for what? Who here really believes it gets better next year?
Dirk
December 31st, 2010
9:40 pm
Richt finally had a losing season after 25 years at FSU & UGA.
What a run.
Now, switch the QB, run the ball 40 times a game, and dominate in 2011.
Beeeeg Boy
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
Remember 1979 led to 1980!!
Disappointed Dawg
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
For those of you that say you believe in Mark Richt, I have to ask if you believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny too? How about the male G-spot?
It is time to face the facts that UGA is a mid-tier program again. That is solely Mark Richt’s fault. I have been a huge supporter of Mark Richt and the program. I am an alumni of the University and donate upwards of 10k a year to the school; I know that is not a lot compared to some/many, but it should entitle me to be able to voice my opinion without some apologetic Mark Richt sympathizer telling me that I am not “true UGA man” if I want a change at the top of the program, because based on the results of the last 2 years we need one now.
I cannot phantom how much worse this gets for us if we do not make a change sooner than later… If I were a recruit I would not come here right now; if i were an assistant I would not come here right now… Why? Mark Richt is still here and everyone knows that he will be gone within 2 years unless he wins a National Title… That will not happen… McGarity needs to fire him now.
Phil
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
Randy,
Christian LeMay is not the answer next year. Richt will redshirt him, you can bank on that. Just like he redshirted Moreno and Aaron Murray. Richt went with Joe Cox over Murray. Another idiotic decison by Richt.
Dirk
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
richt’s the 4th winningest coach.
Made famous by herschel
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
Gotta admit it, CMR has lost it.
RT
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
Dirk,look at the games we lost! you must be high!
stw
December 31st, 2010
9:41 pm
Mark: Maybe you should consider a quick kick on third down (regardless of yards to go) and make it easier on Bobo. Then he wouldn’t be put in a position that far exceeds his payscale. And while you’re at it maybe you should call U-Haul and see if they will give you a good deal…I’m sure the dawg nation will pay whatever the cost…
monkey on Richts back
December 31st, 2010
9:42 pm
No Mark Richt is the Obama of college football, used others to get the job and zero credibility.
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
9:42 pm
Nice point SandySpringsJacket,
But nothing stings more than head to head competition though.
I actually like your coach MUCH better than ours.
Kane337
December 31st, 2010
9:42 pm
Next year is Richt’s defining year. If no improvement is shown next year then I think it will be a foregone conclusion. He deserves the chance to turn it around.
George O'leary
December 31st, 2010
9:42 pm
2011 mutts- signing day champs with the #1 recruiting class and preseason ranked in the top 5 in their delusional fans minds but when you play the games on the field expect another 7 + loss season. Ugag is the only team in the country that looks like Tarzan on paper but plays like Jane on the field. Just remember…………………wait for it……………………………………………………………….I OWN YOU!
Go Dawgs
December 31st, 2010
9:42 pm
Woof, Woof, the embarrassment of the SEC
Randy
December 31st, 2010
9:43 pm
Aaron Murray is DEFINATELY not the answer.
As long as it’s anybody else, Georgia will win 8 games or more. Richt always does.
Murray’s a 6-7 starter, he has a losing record as a starter.
Murray threw 2 interceptions, o td’s, what game were you watching?
RT
December 31st, 2010
9:43 pm
Dirk, you must be coach Richt!
ryan
December 31st, 2010
9:43 pm
We need to repair the bridge with Kirby Smart also Harbaugh would good Mark Stoops of FSU should be on the short list Noles defense is crushing the Gamecocks and took out Lattimore .
Georgiadawg70
December 31st, 2010
9:43 pm
It is time for Richt to go. He needs to become an evangelist. He can use Bobo to draw a crowd outside the tent be singing, “Shall We Gather at the Liberty Bowl.” The whole thing makes me want to puke.
Carlos Gone
December 31st, 2010
9:43 pm
First off, I agree that Mark Richt should have been fired long ago. Not because of the teams record but because there is no discipline in the Georgia athletic program. He lost control of the team and its brand and mission long ago. I fault the University for not stepping in and making the right decisions. They are obviously complicit and incompetent in this whole matter. As for the game, they were outplayed by a better team. UCF has an outstanding program so those of you who think that Ga. should win by default because they are in the SEC, you are dead wrong. The world has changed. There are great teams all over this country, regardless of conference. So, get over it. UCF is as quality a team and program as Georgia. There is nothing special at Georgia anymore. That special quality has to be earned again in the future. It starts with getting rid of Richt and starting over and the whole athletic (and perhaps administrative) infrastructure.
Damon
December 31st, 2010
9:44 pm
Red panties puppy fans, better than crying in your beer. Lol
browndog
December 31st, 2010
9:44 pm
Look on the bright side, UGA will not be favored in any football game for a long, long time so team will have the ability to over achieve.
SC has turned the ball over 5 times tonight. SEC looks really weak so far this bowl season.
Dirk
December 31st, 2010
9:44 pm
RT, you must be Aaron Murray’s brother.
sandyspringsjacket
December 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
LeMay better then Murray, really. Be careful what you ask for Dawgtards.
LeMay didn’t even play this year after getting booted out of HIGH school and then was INELIGIBLE for a post season all star game.
Hope he brings his helmet when he rides his scooter the wrong way down Lumpkin with an expired license.
LeMay = another Caleb King, mark it down!
TheAntiMe
December 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
Glory, Glory my a_ss.
ryan
December 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
Hey how about Mark Stoops of the Noles FSU’s defense is crushing Gamecocks right now Kirby Smart and Mike Petterson on my wish list .
Dirk
December 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
Richt? fired? Hilarious.
Sure, averages 9.6 wins a year.
Georgia Saturdays
December 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
CMR gives more of an effort on his damn ford truck commercials than preparing his team, jOKE
Snake Doc
December 31st, 2010
9:45 pm
@Dirk – you are just plain delusional! If you had the brains God gave a gnat you might score a 1 on the IQ test!
And it ain’t CMR – You have to leave the C off – Its just plain MR – He isn’t a coach of anything excpet how to fake and bake at hollywood tan in downtown Athens!