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
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
10:05 pm
2-10 next year I fear.
If Richt prays a lot I see 2-10 also.
George
December 31st, 2010
10:06 pm
Big Head Todd aint worth 750K. The defense pretty much sucks as bad as the offense. What a lousy pick for D-Coordinator. Bobo is a joke. The running game is a joke. The O-line blocking is a joke.
Now, I wonder what the big change will be. Maybe next year, he will go for it on 4th and inches if they make it to a bowl.
TheAntiMe
December 31st, 2010
10:06 pm
It should really come as no surprise that this season was well below mediocre for the Bulldogs. They have all the potential in the world and should most definitely perform much better than they actually do but they play with no fire and no intensity. They are pretty much a mirror image of their head coach.
Could UGA beat Brookwood?
December 31st, 2010
10:06 pm
At 6-7, with one win against a marginal DI-AA team, this is not even a middle of the road team. While UGA doesn’t have the right to say they deserve to be a championship team, they should be competitive.
As someone who think GHSA football is better than Georgia Collegiate football, this has been wonderful bowl week.
GSU Eagle 91
December 31st, 2010
10:06 pm
Jeff:
The problem as I see it…and I am a neutral observer…
UGA does not have a lot of toughness on the field…I see only 3 or 4 players they field out of 22 ( add the 2 kickers, they are great!) that are worthy of mention…Two of them, Houston and Green, will certainly leave for the NFL…..
The talent pool at UGA right now is a fair indicator of their record…Which is to say not very good!
Big Dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
Willie Nelson and Don Meredith are singing just for you Mark Richt…..”Turn out the lights, the party’s over. They say that all good things must end….”
And breaking news……if Mark Richt keeps his job, he’s making Dirk the new OC. We’re saved!
dawg2
December 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
McGarity has already said Richt would be back next year…so now we wait?
Fire BOBO…….
Breaking News
December 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
CMR mans up and resigns, citing he wants to spend more time w his family.
‘dawg fans can dream right?’
eaglenationrising
December 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
Mark Richt refuses to run the football. When he had cerebral guys (from Georgia) at quarterback like David Greene and DJ Shockley they would check to running plays. Georgia has become a program that only passes. Think about the top players in the Red & Black over the past few years. They are a passing team in the SEC and the results speak for themselves. Looking at what Richt has made our program makes it obvious that he has to go.
Premiere program my A$$
December 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
Sorry O-me…….Hewitt is much worse. Can’t wait to hear Kevin Butler choking tomorrow. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
elvis
December 31st, 2010
10:07 pm
ya’ll come back, hear? And thankyou for the red underwear!
Brian
December 31st, 2010
10:08 pm
My friend works for the team. Just spoke to him. Mark Richt will be fired very soon, maybe even tonight. Kirby Smart will be offered. I’m happy about this, honestly.
RT
December 31st, 2010
10:08 pm
Great article Jeff, but beating tech is not enough for true Dawg fan, we must improve.
ADL
December 31st, 2010
10:08 pm
It’s too bad Georgia State didn’t go to a bowl this year. They could have made up for the humiliation of the efforts (or lack thereof) from UGA and Tech!!!!!
The laughing stock...
December 31st, 2010
10:08 pm
..of D1 football.
go daaaaaawgs, woof, woof
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:09 pm
Deep down I think McGarity might surprise us and get rid of CMR before next season…. or maybe that’s just indigestion.
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
10:09 pm
Richt won’t resign – just like Bushy-boy wouldn’t admit Iraq was a lost cause.
RT
December 31st, 2010
10:09 pm
Brian your friend is full of sh##!
TheItalianDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:10 pm
Richt should be fired this weekend. Georgia has no chance next season. not at all. Michigan will fire their coach this weekend why cant we do it as well?
John Pruitt
December 31st, 2010
10:10 pm
Richt is out, look for Monday announcement in Athens.
Brian
December 31st, 2010
10:11 pm
RT — I know a lot of people say this, but he is very reliable. He honestly just told me it’s going to happen VERY soon. I’m one who wants this but I am pretty surprised.
Gator Man
December 31st, 2010
10:11 pm
The Georgia mascot knew what he was doing when he stayed home. He didn’t want to witness what happened today. At least Tech scored a touchdown.
Hellooooo
December 31st, 2010
10:11 pm
Getting the ball on the two yard line and driving 96 yards to the UCF two line line to kick a field goal told me two things, Mark Richt was still the coach and we were going to lose this game. Go figure! I was never one to jump on the bandwagon to fire Richt but look at the tallent that has regressed after coming to UGA. It’s a wonder we can even get a kid to sign anymore. Three and four star players don’t get better at UGA the get worse. Joe Cox and Logan Gray are prime examples and Nick Williams who was a four star player is looking asking about transferring. Our O line is a joke and our defense could not stop the Bad News Bears. CMR is a nice guy but maybe he should look at some of the openings and be pro-active before the hatchet comes down.
we steal ruin this state
December 31st, 2010
10:11 pm
Happy new year to the thuga nation. The more you try to forget this, the more it will stick with you.
Maybe it will put an end to the imbecile(s) who like to post scores and 14 zillion hahas.
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:13 pm
“Richt is out, look for Monday announcement in Athens.”
I believe it. Mcgarity is MUCH sharper than Damon “stinky finger” Evans. (I know that was mean)
BobDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:13 pm
…. I have always supported the program and CMR until now…. Here is what I hope happens…. We have a great recruiting class; close it out well and if there is another lackluster year next year, at least the new regime will have players to ramp up quickly with…. I can’t believe the team was not prepared or UP for the game today… What an absolute joke… Richt has to be miserable also and all the staff changes coming will hurt momentum again.
RedandBlack
December 31st, 2010
10:13 pm
This is sad. The University of Georgia football team did not score a touchdown against UCF. Hello, President Adams, we have a problem. Is this how we want The University of Georgia to be represented? I see no improvement with the present situation. We need a cleaner. Go Dogs!!
Hunker Down Dawgs
December 31st, 2010
10:13 pm
Rumors swirling richt is in fact out, mutual decision to resign, announcement Monday.
Doc Big Dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:14 pm
The good news is if we can endure one more year of Richt, AD McGarirty can coax Urban Meyer out of retirement and back to the sideline in Athens in 2012!
bill
December 31st, 2010
10:14 pm
We scored less points today than the Jackets scored against AF…the CMR era is over for me. The delusional fanbase can’t defend today’s result…oh, I forgot, next year’s schedule has us going 12-0 and playing in BCS game….yeah, that’s the ticket!
Chillahill43
December 31st, 2010
10:14 pm
You cant spell sorry ass underperforming bunch of cry baby grunters without UGA.
Conference USA. Georgia just showed everything tbey have turned into. A bunch of no guts,
no glory wantabees . Drive 93 yards then kick a field goal. You pathetic leg humpers will be hapoy
with that. Good luck in next years opener with that BS team. Way to go out there and represent the SEC east , like the middle of the road has beens yall are. O’leary just keeps on rubbing yalls nose in it. How do you get to athens ? Leave Atlanta go north till you smell it then go east till you step in it …, Woof woof! Yea the bark is way worse than the bite. Be ashamed? Be very ashamed!
More like here kitty kitty!
Winger
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
Unfortunately, even if UGA fires Richt and has to rebuild, they’ll probably still beat us next year.
GR82BAG8R
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
Coffee Bluff Dog, you are fighting an in-state rival who has one hand tied behind their back. Alabama/Auburn, FSU/Florida, USC/Clemson all have similar recruiting pools to compete over. Remember when it was FSU then Miami then Florida playing for NCs. Last year Alabama, this year Auburn. With the talent Georgia is able to stockpile every year, there is simply no excuse. All I’m saying is the Tech game should be a distraction to Georgia’s march to a BCS title, not the main focus of your season (i.e. the last game to save another disappointing season). Georgia has simply too much talent for Tech – - every year. Bragging and gloating about beating them is like the high school bully bragging about beating up the nerd at recess.
Oh, and by the way, Florida will beat Georgia again next year.
GA WILDCAT
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
stop referring KENTUCKY to the SORRY DAWGS, at least UK has improved.but it was a great year because,THE DAWGS SUCK. Central Florida? I bet Buford could beat the Little Puppies Central Florida? Ga should drop to a Division 2 school.Its been a great year.
Still wondering
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
I’m wondering why none of you AJC know-it-all’s didn’t say the same thing about TECH??? You just love to hate UGA>
bardawg
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
To BC , I wish I could honestly share your sentiments , as I know Marrk Richt to be an exceptional man . I can’t put my finger on what’s happened to him , but it’s as though he’s just not capable of handeling his position any longer I wish him the very best in his future endeavors .
distant dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
Shultz, my biggest problem with your points are …. I NEVER agree with you. That is why I am having trouble now but will eat crow and agree.
ESPN?
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
Going w the story of CMR gone?
Phil
December 31st, 2010
10:15 pm
NYCDawg,
Great post. I was waiting all year for an end around play to Logan Gray(former QB) and then let him pull up at the last second and throw a deep pass to AJ down the field. Never happened.
We don’t have a trick play in the playbook. No, you can’t win every game with a trick play, but you might win one! Like you pointed out, that onside kick by Auburn really turned that game around.
And here is the funny part about that onside kick. My brother called me at halftime and predicted Auburn would do that to start the 2nd half. If we sitting at home can see that coming, why can’t Richt and his bunch of clowns see that coming??
The entire staff is a bunch of bumbling clowns.
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:16 pm
Dr. Phil NAILED it!
I remember when our players stormed then field in Jville the last time we beat UF.
I CRINGED! What the FFFFF! What a total lack of discipline.
What about the BLACK helmets?
That was a total embarassment!
Get rid of the gimicks and get a NEW COACH!
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:16 pm
Why cant we beat Florida?……I mean Central Florida!
Good Knight….the parties over. What conference are they in?
ABoyd
December 31st, 2010
10:16 pm
I am seriously fed up with CMR and his empty promises to get better. We barely salvaged a horrible season last year and this year was a joke. We have plenty of talent, but get nothing out of our guys! Ridiculous. What are we going to finish next year without A.J. 4-8?
muddiver
December 31st, 2010
10:17 pm
Richt had his chance to turn things around, this year and last. We have gone from 10 wins to 8 to 6. Anybody on here want to take bets on more than 4 next year (Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and New Mexico State maybe). UGA has done less with more than any team I can think of. Spurrier was right, we get the players I just don’t know what happens when they get to Athens. Richt has to go.
Mark Richt
December 31st, 2010
10:17 pm
“I like the way Bobo calls plays.” (After UGA lost to UT 45-19, where Bobo’s offense scored 2 FGs)
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
10:17 pm
Well Guys the HAM is doing great. The Collards are done. The creamcorn & kracklin cornbread is done. The Blackeyed peas will get cooked tomorrow. The table is set. Desserts are ready. I do really hope all fans of all teams have a Blessed and safe New Year. Don’t hate on the players and coaches so much.
Richt should get a chance, but he has to send BOBO to the High School coaching ranks. Richt has to open all positions to all players. No playing FAVORITES any more. Murray won games against teams that had losing records. He looked great at times but not when it was time to finish the drill. The O-line coach needs to be replaced. The O-line was supposed to be a strength and Well did you see the game tonight? Enough said on that.
Urban
December 31st, 2010
10:17 pm
Wouldn’t coach the UGA thugs if they paid 5 mill a year! Losers
Humiliated in Athens
December 31st, 2010
10:17 pm
Question for CMR.
What do you have to lose by going for it on 4th and inches after driving the ball 96 yards? It’s not like the season is blown if you don’t make it.
Which is worse, not getting the 1st down and losing OR playing it safe and losing?
laserbuddy
December 31st, 2010
10:17 pm
They embarrassed the university, the state of Georgia and the Southeastern Conference. They even embarrassed their own mamas. Time for a change.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
10:18 pm
Are any of you watching the FSU USC game DAMN they are Hitting HARD.
LakeDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:18 pm
Brian, that would be great news. I would feel very bad for Richt, because I believe he a genuinely good man and this will hurt him badly. However, it is the only possible move to make. McGarrity strikes me as a man who is competent and has a plan to succeed. If he doesn’t make this move now, I will start to doubt him.