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
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
7:18 pm
Junk Yard – The big money donors are a tiny portion of the attending fans. When the stadium is 60-70% capacity a message will finally be sent.
Look no further than FSU and Bobby Bowden….we probably can argue all day about his accomplishments vs. when he should have retired, but in the end it was when the fans spoke and stopped attending games (2009) FSU got the message.
Now look at FSU 2010…not only did they have a really good season under a new HC, they beat the living p*** out of UF and whipped SC last night.
Until UGA fans stop spending money as a whole, the mediocrity will continue.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
7:18 pm
He is an Offensive guy moron. He is a PIRITE too.
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
7:20 pm
Anyone who knows anything about college football knows that Mike Leach is an offensive guy.
Leach will be the next coach at MD – he is close to Kevin Plank
Letterman85
January 1st, 2011
7:21 pm
Thanks all knowing
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
7:22 pm
Sorry “Pirate” and Miami Should have hired him, but they are trying to cheng the THUG U image. The Bulldogs don’t care about the THUG image of UGA if the DAWGS win. Still don’t know if UGA will go for LEACH. His Game plans are fast and fun to watch with the balls flying all over the field.
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
7:22 pm
Letterman85 – Try learning how to use Google – it’s not that difficult.
Bosshog
January 1st, 2011
7:23 pm
Paging Willie Martinez, Paging Willie Martinez, clean up in aisle 5.
Letterman85
January 1st, 2011
7:27 pm
Why google when I can Paul.
Seriously if Leach not an option do you go after Smart or spend bigger $, but who would be interested?
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
7:27 pm
Mike Leach coaching experience
1987 Cal Poly (assistant)
1988 COD (assistant)
1989 Pori Bears[1]
1989–1991 Iowa Wesleyan (OC)
1992–1996 Valdosta State (OC)
1997–1998 Kentucky (OC)
1999 Oklahoma (OC)
2000–2009 Texas Tech
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Leach_(coach)
Paul in RDU
January 1st, 2011
7:30 pm
Letterman85 – On a serious note – I would be surprised if CMR is not the coach of UGA when Spring practice starts.
Time to go – pork, cabbage, black eyed peas and mashed potatoes are almost ready.
Happy New Year no matter what team you support. Remember, it is only a game.
Letterman85
January 1st, 2011
7:31 pm
Enjoy and agree
Chillahill43
January 1st, 2011
7:33 pm
Where are all thoze dumbazz big ten fans talking smack about SEC football . Right thats what i thought. So sit down and shut up. SEC still has more smack down for ya’ll.
The best whine to come ( from The OSU). -0 fer ever against THE SEC.
even that worm PETRINO gonna slap yalls fst azzes back North. Wantta see the real SEC. Watch the best from the west not the least of the East!!
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
7:37 pm
Enjoy Paul
I cooked our last night and we all got together for brunch and the games.
Happy New Year in RUD
NENE - HOA
January 1st, 2011
7:46 pm
UGA next coach
http://www.google.com/search?q=outback+bowl+post+game&hl=en&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS226US226&prmd=ivnsu&source=univ&tbs=nws:1&tbo=u&ei=EsofTbDxMYWClAf_2rGrDA&sa=X&oi=news_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB8QqAIwAA
longtimedawgfan
January 1st, 2011
7:49 pm
a college football player playing for a school he loves needs no motivation to play hard….nothing is wrong with our program that recruiting the “right” players want resolve…we don’t need any kid who needs to be watched 24-7 or who needs to be begged to come play for us….all we need are kids who love UGA and would give anything to play for the dawgs….it’s our recruiting philosphy that needs overhauling….ask a recruit but one time…if the kid does not jump at his good fortune to play for a team he loves, move on to the next…..
Richt Stinks
January 1st, 2011
7:54 pm
Richt is in a world of hurt… however, its too costly to get rid of this bum. Sure, he won well enough when he was using another coaches players, when he was running the offense, when he was actually involved with this team…. Since then? What has he done? Let his old college roommate run the defense into the ground, spends more time on missionary trips than running the program, recruits player personalities that we don’t want or at least doesn’t have a way to keep them out of trouble (let’s face it, football players – especially defensive players – aren’t the smartest people any of us would know and I don’t care what school they play for), seems to have none of the answers other than – I can turn this around or its not what we’re about – or maybe a different color will help – etc…
Richt is a nice enough guy, but he hasn’t done crap except allow the program to be run into the ground. Where has he been the last 4 to 5 years? Personally, I think he owes UGA money back cuz near as I can tell he hasn’t been on post doing his job.
Another year like this might be too much, he should resign (if he’s the kind of MAN he reports himself to be) and allow this program to get started with an individual who WANTS to be here, who WANTS to win and is willing to put in the time and effort to get it done… not spend time away building homes for people who have never seen a toilet.
Resign Richt, just Resign.
stw
January 1st, 2011
7:58 pm
Season ticket holder for 40 years and now they want how much money to renew??? As long as Richt shows no faith in his team why should I send them a check?? He’ll have to do something drastic before I even think about sending them a check.. I will consider contributing to a buy out and calling Jon Gruden, etc,
Yellow Fuzz
January 1st, 2011
7:58 pm
SOOOOOOOOO glad I’m not a dog fan. Almost feel sorry for the following AH’s who have not only been forced to swallow more than their pride but also seem to have taken their little sacks and disappeared. Hahahahaha.
1eyejacked
DawgInLace
WTF?!?!
How2Fish
SugarHillDawg
Dublin Dawg
Altahama Dawg
jb
Supes
ryan
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL
coach smith
kral
Red Dawg77
The Dawg Nation
EX GEORGIA FAN
Hershal talker
Dawg82
captguitarman
January 1st, 2011
8:09 pm
C’mon now. Who really thought that the puppies would beat Central Florida? Honestly, now? C’mon. There was no way they would perform and sustain the whole game with so much on the line (just their dignity). They were not ready, and they have rarely been ready. Getting a team ready is the head coach’s biggest responsibility, and a few times a year doesn’t cut it for an SEC team. Like Alabama, Georgia’s “Mike Shula moment” has arrived. It doesn’t matter what CMR accomplished in the past. It is what lies ahead that matters. That is what comes with the territory for SEC head coaching jobs. CMR knows way deep down now that it’s way time to go, and if the AD doesn’t pull the trigger, I think that he will. One month to prepare for the CF game? Two months? It wouldn’t matter. They have reached the bottom — and they did it, embarrassingly so, just before other SEC teams made big time statements about the SEC in a big way today. Alabama was more than ready. What a performance! The No. 1 Alabama team that started the year returned for one last hurrah in huge ass-kicking win over delusional Big Ten team, Michigan State (who thought they were Rose Bowl material). Right at the moment, the the lower-tier Horned Frogs are whipping one of the other delusional Big Ten teams – Wisconsin. Had Alabama performed at today’s level in every game, they would be playing Oregon next week. And way to go Mississippi State. Who would have thunk it a few short years ago? Mississippi State completely running the University of Michigan off the field. And then Florida beat delusional Penn State, and Urban Meyer, a great coach, got a much-deserved career ending game as his guys stepped up in big way to beat Penn State. I realize they all were only playing Big Ten teams (the most overrated league in the country), but let’s not quibble. Arkansas will administer the coup de grace to the most delusional of them all, “The” Ohio State Univeristy next week. The message: You cannnot play two or three tough teams a year and then expect to compete with SEC teams, who have to walk through fire, playing each other week after week, in order to just get into the Show at year end. And then Auburn, who suprised everyone and beat all comers in the toughest league now or ever, will win the 5th straight BCS championship for the SEC on January 9 when they meet another delusional team and prepare roasted Peking Duck as the entire nation watches. South Carolina at least put up a respectable fight against a very strong Florida State performance (a peer team). Meanwhile, the puppies lose to the Little Sisters, aka Central Florida in the perhaps the biggest half-assed effort in the entire Bowl season. It is beyond humiliating. Time to clean the slate and start over, or suffer another year of humiliation — beginning with Boise State — another lower tier team that will kick their ass up and down the the Georgia Dome to start next season. What a way that would be to start the season.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 1st, 2011
8:09 pm
Fuzz you forgot
Sanford drive
buLLdog
Vain Jangling
Slobberknocker
BugSquasher
duluthdawg
January 1st, 2011
8:12 pm
Yellow Fuzz,
Don’t forget the leg humper that goes under many handles:
Sanford Drive
42-31
dawgfan
superDawg
JDBurdell
Spike
Wrecks-N-Effects
Ole Wrex
Logan Booker
FirePaulJohnson
duluthdawg
January 1st, 2011
8:12 pm
Yellow Fuzz,
Don’t forget the leg humper that goes under many handles:
Sanford Drive
42-31
dawgfan
superDawg
JDBurdell
Spike
Wrecks-N-Effects
Ole Wrex
Logan Booker
FirePaulJohnson
Steve is a tranny
January 1st, 2011
8:16 pm
Big Ten is 0-3 today. SEC whooped up on them and TCU beat the best Big Ten team.
Next up…….O State. Go Pigs!
aladawg
January 1st, 2011
8:17 pm
Richt has stated for the last 3 years that things would change and he would get Georgia back the way it use to be. The man is full of sh– he has lost it. He has absolutly lost control of the team, no disiciplian, half assed assistance coaches, and idiot for his OC and a fat stupid dumb ass no body as his DC. Dawg nation we will have to put up with this until Riclht is gone. And I hate to say this I have always supported Richt but I can’t support him anymore.
Bulldykes
January 1st, 2011
8:21 pm
So which bull dyke fans are gonna work the third shift at taco bell to donate money to buy out st. Marks contract?
We are the bull dyke nation.
Truth is
January 1st, 2011
8:26 pm
Georgia’s coaches have been out worked by their peers over the last 4 years and it’s just now surfacing. While their counterparts at Alabama and Auburn were burning the candle at both ends the Georgia coaches are now reaping what they have sewn.
Big East > SEC East
January 1st, 2011
8:30 pm
If UGA fans really want Richt to go, the first thing they need to lose is this beat down wife syndrome of “even if UGA sucks, X-SEC team just won so I won too” mentality.
Stop justifying your crappy team and your crappy coach at the end of the season because some team in your conference you hate through November is successful.
Russa
January 1st, 2011
8:39 pm
“(McGarity ) expects Richt to be the Bulldogs’ coach when the 2011 season opens”
UGA: Mediocrity Lives Here!
Hope they bring back Bobo too! I love that offensive scheme he employs!!!! An example of his great play calling from last night: 1st and 25 – short/no gain run, short/no gain run, incomplete pass – punt
SEC Hater
January 1st, 2011
8:46 pm
Quit crying about Bobo, heck Richt promoted him to the OC. The scheme he emplots is Richts you d a.
SEC Hater
January 1st, 2011
8:50 pm
whoops employs
lizard boy
January 1st, 2011
9:04 pm
Running game(what is that)?——Wow——unreal man—Georgia looked like they had no plan at all—–
UCF
January 1st, 2011
9:04 pm
10-6 – it never gets old….
lizard boy
January 1st, 2011
9:05 pm
Maybe Georgia will get Kirby Smart from Alabama——–its now or never guys!!!!
UCF
January 1st, 2011
9:06 pm
Both Jim Donnan and Ray Goff still live in Athens
Jennifer07
January 1st, 2011
9:10 pm
RIcht doesn’t deserve that job. And we don’t want to see him on t.v. doing any commercials — actually, we’d rather not see him at all. We much prefer to see the Auburn coach — who seems like more of a stud than Richt, has a swagger about him, and definitely is a winner — on those Ford commercials than Richt. By his personality, Richt seems like he should be driving a girly car rather than a pick-up anyway.
hangman
January 1st, 2011
9:10 pm
we steal ruin this state If you just have to post, at least learn how to spell.
Damon Evans
January 1st, 2011
9:12 pm
Keep the loser, and bring me back too so we can have a fraternity.
we steal ruin this state
January 1st, 2011
9:16 pm
Okay hangman,
Which post and what word are you talking about.
You could use a little remedial care with punctuation yourself.
NorthGADawg
January 1st, 2011
9:22 pm
Liberty Bowl ended over 24 hours ago and no one has been fired. Time for a new AD.
Hey Big East> UConn being served their a$$.
six and seven
January 1st, 2011
9:28 pm
wow, 24 hours later and it is still funny as heII, this was by far the best New Years ever..to run your mouths all over the AJC blogs, mocking GT and beating your chest days before your bowl game, just PRICELESS to see you lose this game. What happened to all your 5 stars? At the library studying? Oleary may be the downfall of not one but two head coaches at the almight UGA. If it were not for the 8 million you would have to pay off Richt and the assistants, changes would be made but your AD is way too conservative to throw the money at the problem, so just wait til next year will be your motto once again like the last 30 years. bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha GOD YOU ARE THE SOUTHEASTERN CHUMPS
PhillyDawg
January 1st, 2011
9:28 pm
Since being pre-season #1 in 2008, the team has fell on its face…
six and seven
January 1st, 2011
9:29 pm
say one thing for Damon Evans, ugas might not have had the money to fire Richt but Evans would have fired the bunch and then told the staff to sue him if they don’t like it…..,
macrotech
January 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
For all the true Dawg fans out there…you have my sympathy. Here’s to a Happy New Year…I, believe, I speak for both Tech and UGA when I say, “Thank God, THAT season is over!”. To the uga fans that barked ALL over our blogs after our loss to AFA… Karma just ran ALL over your dogma! Happy New Year….sincerely!
Yellow Fuzz
January 1st, 2011
9:35 pm
I sure would like to hear from any of my top 25 dog loudmouths. Never known you AH’s to be at a loss for words. Hahahahahahahahahaha
OneEyeJacked
DawgInLace
WTF?!?!
How2Fish
SugarHillDawg
Dublin Dawg
70 TONS OF TRASH
Altahama Dawg
jb
Supes
ryan
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL
septic tank
coach smith
kral
Red Dawg77
The Dawg Nation
EX GEORGIA FAN
4 tickets 4 hot dogs 4 cokes
Hershal talker
Dawg82
Sanford drive
buLLdawg
IBleedR&B
BugSquasher
VRTech
January 1st, 2011
9:36 pm
Well, this just made my new year a little bit better!!! Thanks Georgia for choking!! I’ve read a bunch of your Georgia blogs on Tech’s side and gave your opinions and remarks about Tech’s disappointing season. Well, like the old saying goes…”Payback is a b!&ch!!” HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! You guys need to start preparing for Boise State right now because if you can only score 6 points against UCF, then you will just get embarrased by the Broncos!!! I actually can’t wait to see how bad you guys will get trampled by. It’s hilarious that your mascot didn’t show up to the game b/c he didn’t even think that there was a chance for you guys to win!! “UGA ???(I’ve lost track) will not show up because he came down with an illness”, yeah right!! He was too embarassed to be in the same sideline as your 4-5 star NFL players!!! What a joke!!! Don’t you guys feel dumb?? You guys are in the record books as UCF’s first bowl victory!!! So…everytime someone looks to see UCF’s first ever bowl victory, it will list the University of Georgia!! How embarrasing is that!!! If I were all you dawg fans, I would go ahead and take all your dawg gear and bury it somewhere. Better yet just burn it all since your chances of being an elite football program just went up in smoke!!! Boy I can’t wait to see all those UGA fans’ faces tomorrow!! Glory, glory!!!! THWG!!!!!!!!
Big East = SEC East
January 1st, 2011
9:37 pm
How’s that name change working for you now NorthGADawg?
one more thing
January 1st, 2011
9:39 pm
just think when all the Coaches who have their teams ranked in the top ten and preranked number one like you were in 08 give their teams a pep talk, they will say one thing: DON’T LET UP AND DON’T GET FULL OF YOURSELVES, we don’t want to turn in GEORGIA
one more thing
January 1st, 2011
9:41 pm
trust me don’t worry, McGarity will get you out of the Boise game citing he forgot there was an iron clad contract previously with little sisters of South West Rhode Island State of the Mentally Challenged.
NorthGaDawg
January 1st, 2011
9:41 pm
six and seven,
That high school O run by that fat, dumb a$$ at GT was no match for Richt and his clueless bunch two years in a row. Dawgs may not be able to find the end zone against UCF but we still own your sorry a$$.
ONE MORE YEAR (behind)
January 1st, 2011
9:44 pm
What? is improvement winning 7 games? FTS!!!! new battle cry, one more year, one more year, etc.