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
hal
January 2nd, 2011
1:05 pm
Georgia did not take UCF seriously. when you see Georgia players partying on Beale street at 3 am the night before the game it shows a lack of commentment of the players and a lack of discipline on the coaches part. oh by the way UCF players had a 11 pm curfew. Their victory will be cherished much more than a few more beers!!!!!
William
January 2nd, 2011
1:31 pm
Jeff you have a vendetta against uga and coach Richt, what a bias sports writer you are, What about tech only winning one or so of there last six ball games, your not calling out coach Johnson and there lack of ability
77DAWG
January 2nd, 2011
2:01 pm
I love CMR. But that’s about it. First Willy, next Bobo, now himself. We did not have a full use of our resources. Please find the one that know how. Watching the teams like So Carolina, Miss State plays with 2, 3, or no stars, make me wondering why do we need those 4, 5 star players if we could coach them? Again, love CMR for his personality and cares for fellow human/ God Bless Us All.
Joe
January 2nd, 2011
2:01 pm
Pay whatever it takes for another head coach at UGA and I promise I will give my support through thick and thin.
Joe
January 2nd, 2011
2:01 pm
Right now please.
Greg
January 2nd, 2011
2:04 pm
I’ve never thought Mark Richt was a great coach. I think much of Georgia’s success is more attributable to the talent of it’s players than the coaching. Of course I have also always thought Jeff Schultz was a hack at best when it comes to being a writer.
Big Ugly
January 2nd, 2011
2:40 pm
Roooooolllllllll U-haul!!!!!!! Time to clean house in Athens. Like the old TV show says, “Get Smart”…
Kirby Smart
Kirby Fart
January 2nd, 2011
2:43 pm
When are you guys in Athens going to ask my daddy(Nick Saban) if I can become your head coach?
real falcon dawg fan
January 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
dawgs need a real DEFENSIVE CORDINATOR ! RICTH IS A GREAT COACH !
jumbeauxtiger
January 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
Even Maryland has enough sense to make a change. Apparently they are hiring Randy Edsall.
Sanford Drive
January 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
BWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fanbase. Enjoy mediocrity pink poodles!
Big East = SEC East
January 2nd, 2011
2:59 pm
Lets see, Richt has replaced about every on his staff short of the hedge trimmers, yet he still can’t beat Central Florida Culinary Arts and Diesel College.
Maybe the problem is Richt? Duh?
Sanford Drive
January 2nd, 2011
3:02 pm
UGA can’t beat any school from Florida. They were lucky this year that they didn’t face Miami or FSU too!
Florida colleges OWN UGA!!
BWWAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Loser Leg Humpers
Big East = SEC East
January 2nd, 2011
3:03 pm
UGA would have beat UCF had it been a UGA Blackout.
Big East = SEC East
January 2nd, 2011
3:05 pm
Yup, FSU would have butt raped UGA this year.
Look how fast that program turned around after a HC change. Not to mention they will have Top-3 recruiting class with plenty of GA players.
Cobb Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
3:12 pm
This is what ‘11 looks like under the CMR admin:
Boise State L
South Carolina L
C. Carolina W
@ Ole Miss L
Miss State L
@ Tennessee L
@ Vandy W
Florida L
New Mexico State W
Auburn L
Kentucky L
@ Georgia Tech L
Then he’ll be fired but another season will be wasted. Look at the line graph of the CMR reign McGarity and fire him now!
/ \
/ \
\
\
Colin Baxter
January 2nd, 2011
4:04 pm
Jeff, you are right on target about Richt. Calling for a field goal at that point on the field and in the game tells you volumes about Richt’s decline and fall as a football coach. He might regain his spark but we cannot take that chance. What in the world has happened to Georgia football? We can return to the place where we belong but it will take a new coach to do it, and they must not let so many top Georgia players leave the state and play in other states.
A Moment of Sanity
January 2nd, 2011
4:06 pm
Amidst all this carnage, Richt is still 9-1 against Teck. So how pitiful are they? Well, we already knew that. Now back to the hemorraging…………..
Leadership
January 2nd, 2011
4:15 pm
Then: Van Gorder, Greene, Pollack, Bailey, Stinchcomb, Thomas Davis, D.J. Shockley, et al. Talent with character.
Now: $750k choke sign, Stafford (great arm, not a winner, a stop on the way to the League), Moreno (2 years and out, cover boy), Caleb King (Modern Day Jasper Sanks), best OL in college football…not even the best line in Athens; A.J. Greene (another Stafford + one gigantic stupid mistake), talent w/o character.
Answer
January 2nd, 2011
4:18 pm
Not here to assess the character of Mark Richt. He is a wonderful human being. Praied God for him and his family. We need a dynamic football coach. End of story.
rincon dawg
January 2nd, 2011
4:23 pm
Howdy doody aka Greg Mcgarity already said cmr will be back so here’s to 3 more wasted years.
turnaround
January 2nd, 2011
4:28 pm
mcgarity better get the football program turned around fast or he will not last long at UGa. Big boosters will cut back donations if he doesn’t make big improvements.
Pool Science
January 2nd, 2011
4:35 pm
To get the team really fired up next season and to act like a “players coach,” richt should take the players swimming, bowling and to get ice cream instead of practicing in the fall.
3-4 D!
January 2nd, 2011
4:37 pm
Grantham should get a huge raise from the $750,000 he makes now! That D held UCF to 10 points baby!!!! Give him what he wants or he’ll go back to the NFL.
George Roberts
January 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm
CMR, nice guy no clue. Why did AJ return punts in the Liberty? Was this a better idea than the black jerseys?
jack bull
January 2nd, 2011
5:01 pm
why did AJ return punts in the Liberty? LOL.. you really don’t know the answer to that question? too funny…
jack bull
January 2nd, 2011
5:02 pm
who on here is a “Big Booster”? just wondering? not many, i’m guessing…
E. Everett
January 2nd, 2011
5:17 pm
The BIG SCREW UP CAME with naming ray goff and just went down hill from there. UGA has sucked for a long time and unless the Adams makes a real commintment to a STRONG AND WINNING program we will still suck.
I bet if Coach Russell weren’t in his grave he would be by now.
A Disgusted OLLD DAWG
t. slay
January 2nd, 2011
5:24 pm
This afternoon I had the pleasure of watching a team – the Atlanta Falcons – come to play with determination, swagger, and a winning attitude, things that were sorely missing from Georgia last Friday. It is obvious by now that Richt won’t fire Bozo and he will only make a few minor cosmetic changes here and there. This team does not deserve to wear the “G” on their helmets. I absolutely have no hope of Richt turning things around in 2011. Yes, we went 11-2 in 2007 but lost to Tennessee and South Carolina, games we should have won. Win those two we probably would have won the SEC championship and make it to the NC.
Did any of you read the Richt’s interview in the AJC last week? He seemed to be actually happy that Georgia had their last practice. And this was almost a week before the game. How did Georgia prepare for the game? By partying on Beale Street or at Graceland? I can accept Georgia losing if they played hard and did the best they could (and they did put forth some good effort at times this season). But Georgia looked very unprepared last Friday. $3 million a year is too much to pay a coach for this kind of performance and a 6-7 record after last year’s 7-5 record. I hope next fall, after Georgia is blown out on national TV by Boise State, that there will be a lot of empty seats in the stands. $10,000+ contribution for tickets is too much money in this economy to put up with this kind of c**p.
obviously
January 2nd, 2011
5:35 pm
changes= richt needs to be a “coach.” how many times in a game do you see him talking to the team during a time out or any thing else. never! he is more like an owner than a head “coach.” mark needs to get into the game and actually show some care and emotion for whats going on. just like the year we beat florida and won the sugar bowl against hawaii. totally different mark richt back then. thats all we need
obviously
January 2nd, 2011
5:36 pm
and also tackling during practice. that could help
DAWG with two bags over head
January 2nd, 2011
5:55 pm
As many have said, the only way for us common folk to make a statement about the lack of leadership/coaching is to not contribute to the Hartman Fund and not attend the games. Sadly that’s the only way to get Howdy Doody’s or anyone else’s attention in Athens. I can’t believe I drove 800 miles to see us kick two field goals. I won’t do it again with CMR as coach.
Big Dawg
January 2nd, 2011
6:13 pm
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/559537-dog-gone-why-mark-richt-needs-his-walking-papers-at-georgia
jack bull
January 2nd, 2011
6:18 pm
Jeff, when you say, Richt gives no reason…. what exactly do you mean by reason? should he have some kind of list to give to the media guys saying…okay, reason number 1 is…..reason number 2 is…..
How to turn it around quickly
January 2nd, 2011
6:45 pm
Fire Bobo and his team of position guys like McClendon,etc. Do like U of F and hire a solid NFL coordinator.
Kick W Ealey and Caleb King back to their home towns. SET the new example. Any mouth from the residue still looking to steal helmets and paw girls and wreck cars (TWICE at 4AM), kick them off too.
Recruit like crazy by signing two great running backs, two HUGE 300 pounder Nose Tackles and a couple of linebackers that like to hit and that can run.
Bring in two really good wide outs ( like Chris Conely ) and get two or three STRONG O linemen.
Then get a soild back up QB that will play when Murray’s gloves lose their magic touch.
CMR has one more year to do whatever he wants to do. It is his job to keep or to lose.
Goi Dogs.
King Gator
January 2nd, 2011
6:47 pm
UCF?? Even UGA VIII couldn’t watch such a terrible game and faked an illness. Lucky for the Dawgs it’s about to be their favorite season, offseason..where the Pups are undefeated and preseason #1 and likey SEC East, SEC and BCS Champions (just read these boards from Jan -Aug)…then Sept roles around and reality sets in and finally the season ends in Memphis with a loss to another team with Florida in thier name…UCF, wow.. I still can’t believe it, just kidding … this was a train that was going off the cliff all season long and then some… and this is “last stop” ..losing to UCF in the Liberty Bowl! Good luck recruiting with this cold hard reality..”Come to Georgia where our PD can’t wait to arrest you and we lose to UCF in a meaningless bowl in Memphis on NYE. Good Luck! Go Gators and Happy New Year!
The Schedule is the Answer
January 2nd, 2011
6:56 pm
I’m pleased to announce that we have cancelled Boys State and will open with Georgia Tech in Athens, followed by Georgia Tech in Atlanta, then Georgia Tech in Athens, leading up to the Varsity Classic against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, returning to Athens for Homecoming against Georgia Tech. Will provide the last half of the schedule tomorrow. Look for some surprises.
The Assessor
January 2nd, 2011
7:01 pm
We can still salvage this season……REFUNDS to all Hartman Contributors and Season Ticket Holders. And next season, please send all your contributions to me and I’ll dispense an appropriate amount to the coaches following each game. Pay for Performance. Are you in?
Sanford Drive
January 2nd, 2011
7:19 pm
The Schedule,
Looks like you’re trying to schedule a start similar to the 2010 season. That WAS an impressive start and it will just about guarantee Richt is gone next year. Go for it!
dtanner
January 2nd, 2011
7:49 pm
let’ s see next year, 6 home games among them the powerful coastel carolina and new mexico state plus mark richt and greg mcgarity you expect me to pay big bucks to come to athens to watch this,you are crazyier en hell
Jmac
January 2nd, 2011
7:58 pm
A few observations; The second most profitable NCAA football program plays like the second least profitable. McGarrity says wanting to beat Florida so bad is “unhealthy.” Dawgs have become complacent with mediocre performance and accepted a second tier spot in the SEC East. Players play like they are entitiled to wins. It is obvious that change is necessary but no one wants to hurt anyone’s feelings. This may not be life but it the farthest thing from success I’ve seen. Too many Pre-Madonnas on the coaching staff and on the fiels!!!!!!!!!!!
dodgecountydawg
January 2nd, 2011
7:59 pm
ok Jeff , and the rest !! ,, I agree it’s time for Richt to go. but who do we replace him with ?? You think Kirby Smart would leave ‘Bama for UGA headcoaching job ?? I was disappointed that we let Muschamp get away to Florida !! Also we need to Recruit some “COLLEGE” football players like Bruce Miller of CFU !! ,.,.and not NFL wana be primadonnas!!! anyone agree with that ??
Tommy Rogers
January 2nd, 2011
8:00 pm
What an idiotic statement Shulz. Kentucky is thriving in both sports so don’t compare us to UGA’s prison teams. At least UK has one good sport to look forward to, can you honestly say that half of UGA’s fans even know who the basketball coach is?
dawgfacedboy
January 2nd, 2011
8:11 pm
It won’t be any better in 2011. Why would it? We just lost our only offensive threat to the NFL draft. We once again wasted another 1st round draft pick at an offensive skill position. Nothing accomplished while he was here. Not even close to contending for the SEC. Have only been relevant in the National picture 1 time in the last 6 seasons. No running game. Somebody convince me how next year is going to be any better.
schedule redo
January 2nd, 2011
8:26 pm
Ga needs to schedule more creampuffs like florida and alabama to get a better record. Ga can’t compete with good teams yet out of conference playing boise state is foolish.
record coach!
January 2nd, 2011
8:29 pm
Richt’s the 4th best coach in the country—he said so himself!
NotADawgFan
January 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
I’m far from a GA fan, but this program is a mirror image of the Richt way. ZERO discipline on or off the field. Caleb King is just the latest example of how Richt runs a team. When you look at the number of players arrested during his tenure and the lack of discipline on the field, it’s obvious this guy doesn’t understand how to mold young men in to a team. Is there a more penalized team in the SEC than UGA?? The level of talent that has been squandered over the years Richt has been in Athens is inexcusable. When you take a step back and look at his history, you see the pattern. Same issue at FSU when Richt was there. Georgia needs to clean house.
King Gator
January 2nd, 2011
9:05 pm
Ga needs to schedule more creampuffs like florida and alabama to get a better record. Ga can’t compete with good teams yet out of conference playing boise state is foolish.
***
UCF is a creampuff, now GA is the creampuff… Does CMR get fired before or after Boise State hammers the Pups?
lol
January 2nd, 2011
9:33 pm
he is softer than my tissues paper.
war scam eagle
January 2nd, 2011
10:44 pm
first offf..for all you auburn douches who keep commenting on here:
1. only reason you are undefeated is cam newton
2. your coach does NOT deserce coach of the year or whatever award he won
3. next year will be like last year for yal (8-5)
so shut up because auburn is nothing special…CAM NEWTON is something special
i love how nobody focuses on the positives, yes i know its hard in a game like this and i was as negative as can be but our defense was GREAT. Murray put them in horrible positions twice and they stood up and stopped them. Justin Houston didnt have any effect whatsover though which was very disappointing. defense was great.
first drive was great playcalling by bobo and richt. good mix of run and pass. problem was not the field goal on 4th down it was bobo taking his foot off the gas after that drive. orson charles did not touch the ball after that first drive if I’m correct. durham and tavarres king were on FIRE and we gave them like 5 touches combined. shoulda stuck with the hard nosed running game with ealey cuz he was running hard for us. probably trying to earn his starting spot next year.
Finally, aaron murray should not have worn gloves. you could tell by the way the ball was flying through the air it was not his typical pass. i think that had a huge impact on our offense and richt should have made him take them off at halftime.
next year will be better so shut up you auburn douche bag who has to read georgia articles to put us down. retard. schedule is really favorable. all the big time sec games are in athens. i think we have to go to ole miss, vandy, and tennessee for our away sec games. those were the only teams in the sec worse than us this year other than kentucky!! also, dogs were 5-1 at home this year. if we do that again next year we have a ticket to atlanta in december.
i will NEVER be ashamed to be a dawg.