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
Steve
December 31st, 2010
10:31 pm
Dawgs got physically dominated by Miss State, Colorado and UCF. Absolutely no excuse for that to happen!! Once AGAIN, outplayed and out coached – today at the hands of the former head insect. UCF wanted it more and had a better coach. No contest. We made that #49 on their team look like freakin Dick Butkus for goodness sakes!! I hear that guy was from Georgia. We probably didn’t even try to recruit him because his vertical leap and 40 yard dash were not on our radar. Shame, he looked like a pretty FOOTBALL player to me!!!! OK, I feel better now…well not really…
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:31 pm
Jeff does not get paid per hit. The Ad dept. sells banner ads when you go on the AJC to car dealers and the like that they can say, I can get your ad in front of 200 people per hour. They run an ad, receive a fee, and Jeff gets a paycheck. More hits, more revenue from the ad. Simple.
jwritz
December 31st, 2010
10:31 pm
We suck and Bozo’s run the program!
The rest of the SEC
December 31st, 2010
10:31 pm
Please keep Richt as the coach. All of the other SEC teams are in agreement on that.
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:32 pm
On behalf of the entire SEC….please get this corrected. I understand Georgia Tech is now in discussions to rejoin the SEC.
The Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:32 pm
How many players will get arrested this week? Wayshon is driving the team bus.
rxdawg79
December 31st, 2010
10:32 pm
@yuck: Yes, it is Richt’s fault that all those things happen. He’s supposed to be in charge of a staff of coaches who are SUPPOSED to…uh….”coach” the players. Either the players are too stupid to accept stellar coaching, or the coaches aren’t very good. Take your pick. And I think it’s Richt who signed these players.
One good thing came from this season: I have now been cured of my UGA football addiction.
Robbie
December 31st, 2010
10:33 pm
SO WHERE DO WE DOG FANS GO FROM HERE ? iT,S TIME FOR A CHANGE. i HATE TO SEE MARK RICHT GO MAYBE A NEW OC. COULD FIX THE PROBLEM THE DOGS ARE HAVEING ON OFF.
Corch Myer
December 31st, 2010
10:33 pm
Karen DeLamater Smart girl you are.
FaithfulDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:33 pm
I have been one of those guys to say that “based on his past, he deserves another chance”. No longer.
Here’s the most notable problem with this team; they have no “Edge” and/or attitude. They really don’t when you look at the other teams who have embodied their coach’s identity (and that’s coaching, right?), such as Saban and Spurrier. Look at Nick Saban, and even Les Miles, who proved BIG time that gambling and risk are necessary and, with talent, pays off (playing UCF and faced with 4th and inches, on their 2 yard line; CMR; what do you think they would have done?).
Old saying I once heard “Complancency Kills”. Richt and staff have become complacent and way too comfortable financially (gee…just had my internal management review and wish I had his contract!). Problem with long term, fat contracts (see Paul Hewitt at Ga Tech), they feel entitled, safe and can take care of their own. If this is the case, then Adams will recognize it by falling applications for season tickets, THEN he will be prompted to push the AD to get rid of Richt and his fat, complacent contract.
Richt: prove us wrong and start acting like you care and you FEAR for your job. I’m self-employed and, like you, have to maintain a certain “demeanor” to keep all I work with on an even keel. However, in reality, and unlike you and your staff, my mentality is developed around “Fear of Failure”, because my survival is based on an “Eat what you Kill” mentality.
I suggest you adapt the same mentality, then MAYBE your team will regain the edge UGA teams use to have with guys like David Pollack at the helm (probably a great example to use to regain the lost energy of UGA football). You may think that your “business like approach and it’s all about the kids” is a standard for current times, but it’s not. You are a tremendous individual and we all recognize the difficulties of your job AND the great things you have done, reputation wise, for our program.
However, in your difficult times, it is apparent that you and your staff resort to becoming “Stealth” in adversity and seem to be adamant about continuing your ways; which, again, suggests that, with healthy contracts, you and your staff are feeling a little too “COMFORTABLE”. You know this will not last, considering the demands of being the steward of a rich football program like UGA; so begin fearing and coach your team, accordingly. We do appreciate all you’ve done, and the consensus wants to see you succeed, just comes with the territory and the job description that you have accepted.
falconfan58
December 31st, 2010
10:33 pm
Schultz, you are an idiot. Thank goodness schools don’t make decisions on what some pinhead writer says. Where did you get your qualifications to decide who is or who is not a good coach. You are the prime example of a fair weather fan. Praise when everything is going good damnation when things are not good. It is obvious that you only write what will get you in print. A typical writer with no regard to what is right or wrong. Just let me get it in the paper and get my check. I doubt that you would appreciate a good coaching job as you would have noting to complain about. Your writing stinks a lot more than UGA’s record this year. Before you get your butt out of joint-I am not a UGA fan. I hope Ga does not make any decision about their coach based on your bias misguided writing. I guess you can call that crap writing-really more like first grade babble.
The Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:34 pm
There is going to be a lot of property destroyed in the trailer parks in Athens tonight. But there is no sugar falling from the sky.
sprouse27
December 31st, 2010
10:34 pm
Best thing about reading these comments is that so many of them mirror my own thoughts. That was a seriously pathetic showing today, and so indicative of CMR. He’s had a mountain of talent come through UGA, and what has he done with it? Did HE seriously think THAT team showed up to play and was prepared to execute? I’m tired of all his inane comments. The man can talk for thirty minutes and say NOTHING. He needs to go. How the Richt apologists can keep on is beyond me. The AD should already have a plan for who he wants to replace Richt and it’s time to execture THAT.
The Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:34 pm
Just got a call from Memphis. Four players have already gotten arrested……
ABAC-North Doggies
December 31st, 2010
10:34 pm
Jeff – you can act like Conf-USA is high school level if you want, but send some of the BCS boys on the road to C-USA without their BCS zebras and you’ll discover they can play big boy football. UCF has talent and a good team, period.
That said – O’Leary is a better coach than Richt, but he’s a better coach than most. UCF is going to get even better.
Richt’s problem is the age old ABAC-North problem. They recruit great athletes – with no regard for anything else…. Hence a 6-7 team full of THUGS.
ryan
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
All i can say it was bad week for state of Georgia football Falcons loose on Monday night Tech loose and now UGA thank god 2010 is over Happy New Year everyone .
The Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
You can’t spell Thuga without UGA!
JDawg
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
Hey “yuck,” my kid’s teacher doesn’t make $3 Million a year with a $2.5 Million staff.
The Head Coach is ultimately responsible, and we’re not just talking about tonight.
WE’VE LOST 12 GAMES IN TWO SEASONS!
SuperB
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
To “yuck.” It was Richt– and only Richt– that eschewed the TD try and went for the field goal in the first quarter on what– 4th down and inches– when Georgia had rammed the ball down UCF’s throat. What a leader!
And, my pastor is a good man– and I look forward to hearing him preach on Sundays. But I don’t want to pay $50 to see him coach football on Saturdays!
JD
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
Follow the money – when the big contributing Alums stop dropping all that endowment money until some changes are made, then Pres. DumbAs* will pull McG’s string and wholesale changes will be made. What the Bulldog Club and Joe Fan is absolutely irrelevant.
Too much money is at stake kids, the leash is short. Mark my words, there will be a very terse conversation within the Athletic Department in the coming week. Richt’s rear-end will be on fire and when he hits the recruiting trail in the next week or so, the message will have been delivered.
if you want to know if Mark is going to be here, Bobo will be terminated and the recruiting class had better end up being THE best he’s ever had here. And it shouldn’t be too hard either, I see plenty of room for freshmen to play next year.
USMC dawg
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
Show some class,
Yeah, the Stomping at Vandy BS was a total joke as well. There is a pattern here folks.
Mark Richt has been a great coach for us, but like all leaders, there is a RISE and a FALL.
Time to go, sorry.
Bowl joke
December 31st, 2010
10:35 pm
We all knew Thuga was not deserving of a bowl game.
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:36 pm
I dont understand all these negative people trying to give their thoughts on how to Coach a top tem football team. For one, I thought the cheerleaders looked great.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
10:36 pm
Becky UGA had a weak schedule. Please! Some teams like MSU were better than USUAL but going into the season the dawgs should have won 3 OOC games (TECH should have been 4), the Vols were all screwed up 5, Vandy 6, Kentucky 7, USC (uga beats 3 of 4 in the history of the game), the Gators were all screwed up to, and Miss St. one of those 3 teams UGA should have beaten on TALENT alone for the 8th win of the season.
Chillahill43
December 31st, 2010
10:36 pm
1 4 star recruit on the line ha ha ha
the state of – ga has the talent – they rank right up there with texas and Florida. Only problem those sorry azz recruters let all the top athletes leave the state. That should not happen. Why is Ala. Aub hell even those yankee schools are taking the top kids from GA . These kids can smell crap and they know they biggest pile is on Athens Ga. CMR is probably a great mentor leader and a helluva guy. Only problem yall pay him to coach. Something that is apparent to real college football fans all over the nation. He cant coach!
Allen
December 31st, 2010
10:36 pm
The field goal call with short yardage near the goal line was astonishing — who makes a dumb call like that? What sort of confidence does that show in a team that just drove the length of the field? Fail to make the first down or TD and, at worse, you have UCF backed up to the goal line. That bonehead call was the difference in the ball game. Richt too often goes for field goals when he should be shooting for TDs. Where is the creativity with this coaching staff? These are good players who have not been coached up. UGA should never lose seven games in one season. Unacceptable . . . and embarassing.
JD
December 31st, 2010
10:36 pm
sorry – what the Bulldog Club and Joe Fan want is completely irrelevant.
TheAntiMe
December 31st, 2010
10:36 pm
The laughing stock…
December 31st, 2010
10:08 pm
..of D1 football.
go daaaaaawgs, woof, woof
In case you missed it, after the 2010 season the cheer has been officially changed to:
“go daaaaaawgs, arf, arf“
Bowl joke
December 31st, 2010
10:37 pm
Did the thuga players stomp on the logo at the Liberty Bowl? Its the Georgia tradition to stomp on the logo……
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:37 pm
Is it still Nick Fairley’s fault?
JB
December 31st, 2010
10:38 pm
Dooley and Mark Richt had two things in common when hired by UGA. Basically No name assit. Coach’s who got their break at UGA. We will have to go that route again….A big name coach is not coming to Athens and follow a well respected coach with a 700+ winning percentage. Someone, somewhere will get a big break…..WHO ?
dd
December 31st, 2010
10:38 pm
I posted this a year ago, and now I will post it again. Coach Richt is suffering from depression.
I Concede
December 31st, 2010
10:39 pm
I have disagreed with your harsh criticism of him all year. Now, I am 100% in agreement with you. It is time for him to go…it needs to be done immediately. I have no confidence in his commitment to win. He is glad to be middle of the road…has shown no passion to win…does not take charge when necessary…his assistants at time have looked good and other times they are completely lost…main issue is that he does not have the will to win..the passion..the dedication…the desire…the ambition…he had these things earlier in his career, but now it is clearly over…maybe 2-3 years off will help him re-kindle his vision for greatness…but this can not occur at the expense of the UGA program…you are right, we are doomed to a below average SEC team under Ritch…I see no reason to buy tickets, hope in the dawgs or believe things will get better…today’s loss is certainly one of the low points in UGA history.
Ruprecht
December 31st, 2010
10:39 pm
With that much money, I would be depressed too.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:39 pm
Mark Richt has nice hair. Y’all leave him alone.
Jim
December 31st, 2010
10:39 pm
I have been a major supporter of Richt–but this is too much–fire him– take the hit this year–and get on with it.
SuperB
December 31st, 2010
10:40 pm
Greg McGarity should have called Chris Peterson and said: I will be in Boise tonight. Let’s talk.
Dawg stuck in Bham
December 31st, 2010
10:40 pm
UGA…we are the new Ole Miss
Sad….
Thomp
December 31st, 2010
10:40 pm
Definitely time to clean out the crap house! If McGarity can’t do his job then fire him too! The honeymoon is over Greg, if you don’t do your job and fire richt then go be some other school’s assistant AD. We don’t have a year to waste waiting on richt. He has not “earned” another year, he has been fairly compensated AND he has failed.
red&black 4 ever
December 31st, 2010
10:40 pm
O’Leary is a good coach. If he hadn’t lied about having a master’s degree, he might still be at Notre Dame instead of UCF.
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:40 pm
6 and 7! Does that mean that the Thugs will not be rated in the preseason top 5 in 2011?
Classless but no surprise
December 31st, 2010
10:40 pm
Not accepting the runner up trophy is typical. You guys have zero class. Any wonder why you’re in the mess you’re in? You lead the way in a lot of things……mostly bad.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
10:41 pm
Phil
The only thing that has scared me about the FSU team is how much the BALL Tackle. If they don’t rip the ball out the player could get away and run, but it has worked tonight. FSU has caused fumbles and INTS. I can’t believe Spurrior didn’t pull Garcia. I said he waould get killed, but HELL both teams are HITTING DAMN HARD.
Dawg stuck in Bham
December 31st, 2010
10:41 pm
Chris Peterson will never get a job in the south…he’s a Scientologist. Just won’t happen here in the Bible belt.
Dawg Pile
December 31st, 2010
10:41 pm
Enter your comments here
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:41 pm
The FireMarkRicht.com is now up and running and has had over a million visits.
UCF
December 31st, 2010
10:41 pm
10-6 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH!
All those great recruiting classes…. Eat it Classless!
Demetre Baker
December 31st, 2010
10:42 pm
It all lies within the numbers …..
11 arrests
7 losses
6 wins
1 called timeout on defense with the clock stopped
enough said
Athens police
December 31st, 2010
10:42 pm
Why was Thuga invited to a bowl game anyway? They stink.
muddiver
December 31st, 2010
10:42 pm
dd
December 31st, 2010
10:38 pm
I posted this a year ago, and now I will post it again. Coach Richt is suffering from depression.
If I sucked that bad as a coach I’d be depressed too.