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
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
9:55 pm
USMC
O’Leary’s resume has a 1st Bowl Win and Defeated UGA. Richt doesn’t have that to add to his resume now does he?
I still think if Nesbitt was not hurt TECH would have beat the snot out of UGA. Well he was hurt and it didn’t happen, but it was not like UGA could do anything to stop TECH either. Tech put the ball on the ground to help UGA.
Billy
December 31st, 2010
9:56 pm
brantley blew his season for Meyer too, Meyer and Richt are great coaches, just both had super lousy QB’s in 2010.
Aubrey
December 31st, 2010
9:56 pm
What an embarrassment!
BC
December 31st, 2010
9:57 pm
Mark Richt can’t be blamed for the entire program failure this year. What about some young men taking responsibility for their actions. What about some of the things that happened during the year being traced to the way certain players were raised. I know M. Richt to be a strong dedicated individual with his players best interest at heart. Add to that he is Moral and Christian. All programs have their ups and downs. Given the chance with just a little fan support things will get better. All this negative talk is hurting recruiting and the program in general. Let it go and support your coach and the program. Our coach will let you know when he can no longer be successful. His strong character will cause him to resign when he knows he can no longer get it done. He and coach Bobo deserve to stay.
t. slay
December 31st, 2010
9:57 pm
I didn’t think I ever would come to say this but it is past time to get a new coach. As long as Richt is head coach, Georgia will never win a national championship or even an SEC or SEC East title. South Carolina is ascending and Jeff Garcia and Marcus Lattimore will be returning next year. Dooley should have Tennessee improving next year. Of course there is always Florida. They don’t rebuild, they reload. As for the Richt defenders (if there are any left) I hope you are happy with the 6-7 record and potentially a 4-8 record next year. I don’t see it getting better anytime soon with the coaching staff we have. UCF wanted this game more than UGA did. Until McGarity decides to demand immediate changes, I will devote my time to following Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and high school teams who show more passion and desire than Georgia did this season.
Tiago do Brasil
December 31st, 2010
9:57 pm
Mark Richt. He’s gotta to go.
poopdawg
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Randy , Murray did not help us tonight but has been steady this year. This was an offense handicapped by Bobo looking at statistics to determine what play to call. Maybe Murray had been hearing too much from the press all week about the QB records he could have broken today but didn’t.
QB is the Problem
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Murray laid another egg, switch QB’s, and this team is 11-3.
Murray lost 4 games, by 7 points or less.
Public Service Announcement
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
I OWN THIS STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year,
George O’leary
Dave
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Get Cam to transfer and play tight end.
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
I would hire Hal Mumme by Jan 20th for sure.
Offensive/scoring genius.
sandyspringsjacket
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Dawgtards, 6 hours ago, Murray was all world frosh, about to break all the QB records, now you wanty to trash him. Typical losers. Face it UCF was a better team.
james
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
I believe in Coach Richt, the ones that need to leave town is the newsmedia and paper personal. U think that u can do better then step up and run the program if not shut up and leave the head coach alone.He had only one loosing season and u the newsmedia blow everything out of wack.
Letterman85
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Given the uncertainty that will be published or stated we better hope the recruits really love the dawgs to want to come to a struggling program. Wait, isn’t that the type of recruit we want? We need players with a heart that is playing for their chosen institution not for themselves. These are the players that produce championships minus the the stars
gt4ever
December 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Georgia’s two finest institutions,,,,, What a JOKE we both are in football! Well, at least you guys don’t run the triple floption…….
JoeFan
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
GA State Univ. is the rising program in Georgia. Give them 10 years and the Panters will feast on UGA and GT.
Phil
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
Disappointed Dawg,
Exactly. I have been saying that about the coaching staff. No schools have been coming after our assistants(or even Richt himself). That shoud tell you something, we have a bunch of clowns that nobody wants. Time to blow the whole sorry staff up.
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
I say we go after Dan Mullin, but I think MSU just dropped a load of ca$h on him and locked him up.
He definitely coaches his team up and thinks outside of the box. He is young and energetic as well.
Marcel Ledbetter
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
Hopefully McGarity has CMR phone number to his bluetooth in his Ford truck, he can call him up and say “hey Mark, you;re fired”
RT
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
These people that think changing Q.B. is going to change anything you are crazy! Murray played good most of the year! ITS THE COACH DONT YOU SEE THAT?
Don't Fear The Xman
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
“TheXman
December 31st, 2010
8:10 am
“ucf? conf usa champs? haha..no way the bulldogs lose this game and the only way its close if uga gives the ball up 5 times on there own 15.
“the UCF hasnt really played anyone like the dogs all year and when they see how much bigger and stronger these guys really are look for ucf to lay down.
GT Dad
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
Tough loss for the Dawgs – I know how they feel after Tech’s loss this week. I’m not going to make any snide comments. We both have lots to work on for next season.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
GR82BAG8R,
I don’t know if it’s ever a hollow win over your in-state rival but a hollow season – for sure.
Jacket Boy
December 31st, 2010
9:59 pm
Looks like they got beat by a one legged QB. Tech 7 Georgia 6
Crow about that leghumpers..LOL LOL! !!!!
Ugggga
December 31st, 2010
10:00 pm
Where are the Bulldog fans that were gloating over Tech’s bowl loss?
bearcatjacket
December 31st, 2010
10:00 pm
Like a late Christmas present. Sorry for the players, but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO love it for the fing bulldog fans. Eat this all year, you hairy dogs!!!!
Tiago do Brasil
December 31st, 2010
10:00 pm
Yarddog declines comment. But, he knows that Richt must go!
mike
December 31st, 2010
10:00 pm
45 year die hard Ga fan. Still support my Coach and my Team. Tough loss and rough season. We’ve been here before even with Coach Dooley. Coach Dooley turned it around and so will Coach Richt. We’ve got lot’s of opportunity for improvement going forward. Season starts tomorrow!
JJ Peters
December 31st, 2010
10:00 pm
Appreciate all that coach Mark Richts has done; but:
Les MIles at LSU = BSC Championship
Nivck Saban = BSC Championship
Urban Meyer: BCS Championship
Gene Chizik: BCS Championship game.
Georgia has to step up in to be a national program. Sorry coach, no hard feelings, time for UGA to get new inspiration.
To all from Europe: All the best for 2011.
LakeDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
I knew UGA might lose this game when CMR said their last three practices had been really good. Whenever Richt says the team is practicing well, count on a miserable game from the Dawgs. He also said they had a great spring and preseason camp. Leads me to believe he doesn’t have a clue. He doesn’t know what to fix, because he thinks he’s doing everything right. Three years ago he said he didn’t scrimmage because of injuries and after going 10-3 with 3 future top ten NFL draft picks on offense, he said he wouldn’t make that mistake again. What did he do this year? He didn’t scrimmage, because he wanted to work on “scheme” and have the team “fresh” at the beginning of the year. He always says he is going to make changes, but never does. He only got rid of CWM because of pressure. During bowl preparation he worked on recruiting and not on preparing the team, because he thinks the problem is lack of talent, not coaching. This 3 year downward slide has caught him completely by surprise, because he thought that he was doing everything right. He doesn’t know what to do now. He’s grasping at straws. There will be no significant improvement next year. BTW This is not fun. I wish CMR would succeed, but its not in him to turn it around.
HAHAHA
December 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
George Oleary Runs this state. I know true dog fan remember those days. Its how you ended up with CMR. George Oleary may have cost 2 UGAY coaches their jobs. HA HA HA!!!!
bardawg
December 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
Reminds me of that dufus that coached at Auburn ,Doug Barfield ,when he said ” My Mama told me that I’d have days lke this” ,I can’t help but to equate Mark Richt to being in the same class as that slack-ass. Richt , do everyone that loves the program at UGA a favor ,and resign your position as head coach .
The General Feeling
December 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
Wow. Just wow.
Tweets that mention Richt gives no reason to believe he can turn Georgia around | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
December 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
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I love it
December 31st, 2010
10:01 pm
that the dawgs suck.
JDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
” Add to that he is Moral and Christian.”
*******************************
BC, I don’t give a damn if he worships Mohammed, if he has the balls to go for 4th and inches!
Richt gives no reason to believe he can turn Georgia around – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) by July 4th Fireworks
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
You're Right
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
RomeDwg,,,
You are not fully realizing the pathetic state of the UGA football program.
something bothers me about murray
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
He looks good, looks like he’s in charge, appears to be a leader… but he doesn’t win. Reminds me of Jay Cutler or Jeff George. I’m not sure he’s got a feel for the game, just purely execution and progressions
as for Richt and Bobo – this team sucks. they have 5 star recruits across the board and cannot score.
The defense gives up 25 + per game it seems.
for those enablers who continue to support this clearly mediocre, Top 50 effort, you have terribly low expectations
Cylon
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
Personally, I think everyone is overreacting. All Richt needs to do is stop playing GT, somehow schedule an in-state DII team instead, beat them by the skin of his teeth, pull out another win somewhere during the season, finish 2-10 and let the redneck fanbase scream “We run this state!” and “Wait till next year!” … while being oblivious to the fact that they’re the laughingstock of the SEC. =)
Scared Mutts
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
Stay classy mutts.
“Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t accept the runner’s up trophy, instead telling an official to get it to him later. ”
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/408672…lege_football/
eaglenationrising
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
What we have to examine is why does Mark Richt continuously miss on getting top talent here in Georgia. Whether it is Cam Newton (Atlanta Westlake HS) at Auburn, who Richt openly admitted that he and his staff projected as a “good tight end” or Greg Reid (Valdosta Lowndes County), Richt does not identify and keep the top talent in the state. This is a sign of a guy that has lost his grip.
RT
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
GO FALCONS,HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
10:02 pm
Praying does Nothing!
Richt wastes time on foolishness!
NYCDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:03 pm
There is one man to blame, and that is Coach Richt. Either is schemes or the players he has recruited are not up to SEC championship caliber.
He is 2-8 vs. Florida. That should be enough for dismissal. You MUST beat Florida to win the SEC East, history tells us that much, and this man simply has no clue.
Coach Richt has no passion, no fire, no leadership qualities. He is regularly outsmarted by coaches that are his junior in the SEC. When’s the last time Georgia faked a punt? When’s the last time Georgia caught an opponent off guard with a reverse or an on-side kick?
Coach Richt couldn’t see that his team could not stop the offenses of Auburn and GT? If I were him I would have on side kicked every time after a UGA touchdown. Heck, you only need to get one of them to keep the other team at bay. Dropping the pooch against GT to kick off the game? Really? You couldn’t see that coming after Auburn suckered you on an onside kick to start the 2nd half? You really thought GT was going to kick it deep to #2?
Tonight’s game was an absolute disgrace and has rendered UGA irrelevant on the college football landscape. To not go for it on 4th and inches after moving the ball 96 yards….you just told your offense you don’t believe in them. You should be coaching as if this game means something, call out all the stops, because you are coaching for your job. Tonight was a must win game for Richt. Every game he coaches from here on out is a must win. He just doesn’t coach that way. He coaches like he’s coaching 10 year old girl soccer on Sunday afternoons. No sense of urgency.
If McGarrity allows this to continue he will also become irrelevant. After awhile, players and fan bases just simply tune you out.
Richt couldn’t beat year 1 coach Mullen at MSU and his year one DC Diaz. How the heck do you think Richt will fare against Muschamp and Charlie Weis next fall?
The only way anyone can make a difference with regard to getting a coaching change….don’t cry, don’t moan, don’t whine. Just stop going to games. Stop spending money in downtown Athens on gamedays. Stop buying UGA merchandise. Can you imagine if the first home game next year only had 45,000 people in the stands? The University Bookstore and merchants in town will chase Richt out of town themselves. This is how we can make a difference. Don’t drop any $$$$ on UGA football.
As far as the Dream Team, are you kidding me? Why would any of these kids want to come play for Richt? You mean I can choose between Saban, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Spurrier, etc. etc. and you want me to sign with the wet blanket in Athens? Yeah, don’t think so.
What’s McGarrity waiting for? 3-9? 2-10? If that happens, he’s gone too. If he’s smart, and most tennis players are, he will move Coach Richt out of Athens tonight.
I’m in sales. And what I know is this…if I am giving 13 clients to sell to, and I only sell to 6 and miss out on 7, I’m not getting paid 3 million. I will be getting $405 a week because that’s about what unemployment pays when you work for a boss who will hold you accountable.
This just in!
December 31st, 2010
10:03 pm
Dawgs are pathetic!
O-me
December 31st, 2010
10:03 pm
Richts is to UGA what Paul Hewitt is to GT= Loser!
simplythetruth
December 31st, 2010
10:03 pm
How do you know that Georgia has hit the bottom? If Richt returns next year, well, the bottom might just get even deeper. Richt has absolutely no clue about how to find solutions for all of his problems. They are his problems, he created them, he condoned them by his inaction, and if anyone thinks that he has the ability to correct them, enjoy next year, rational people won’t. See any improvement from last season? If waiting on other teams to rebuild is your idea of improving UGA’s program then by all means, keep Richt. Grantham is a joke, Van Gorder was a real defensive coordinator. Bobo would be better off under a better HC, one who acts like he gives a crap. Richt just appears as though he’s going through the motions. Now let’s hear it from all of the “He’s a good man”… whiners.
Ugggga
December 31st, 2010
10:04 pm
GSU will never own this state in football. I would imagine football factory is not in the school’s long term plan. And I also predict that Georgia will dominate Tech over the next 20+ years for the same reason.
Lakewood Dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:05 pm
Absolutely disgraceful!