SI says Richt (UGA) has a better job than Saban (Alabama)
Does Mark Richt really have the fifth-best coaching job (two spots ahead of Nick Saban)?
Somebody at Sports Illustrated just came up with their list of the 20 best college football coaching jobs in the nation. Not surprisingly, Georgia made the list. Given its history, stature, conference, recruiting base and overflowing cash drawer, I’ve always considered it a top 10 job.
But No. 5 overall? Ahead of Alabama? As well as Penn State, USC and Notre Dame?
That’s the opinion of Andy Staples, who tackled this subject because of the current state of affairs at Ohio State (which is No. 2 on the list). I’m not going to copy-paste the entire article here, but here’s what Staples had to write about Georgia, as well as excerpts on the other SEC and ACC teams on the top 20 list of “most desirable jobs.” His reasons for having the Dogs so high are worthy, and also reaffirms why there is focus on coach Mark Richt this season.
Staples on the Dogs:
Want to know why Mark Richt is on the hot seat despite six seasons with at least 10 wins since 2001? Because Georgia has the resources to be in the national title hunt every season. The Bulldogs just finished a major football facility upgrade, and they play in one of the nation’s iconic stadiums. They have plenty of money. In terms of recruit preference, the Bulldogs rule a state that cranks out 90-100 BCS AQ-conference signees each year. Theoretically, Georgia should have its pick of those players, but Bulldogs coaches can’t always stop Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Florida State from cherry-picking some of the state’s top recruits. Unlike Florida or Alabama, which must fight off in-state rivals, Georgia recruits on a different level than Georgia Tech. The situation is more comparable to Texas and Texas A&M, which is why Georgia fans had a right to be dismayed that the Bulldogs had to win last year’s installment of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate just to pull even with the Yellow Jackets at 6-6 on the regular season. (Never mind the Liberty Bowl loss to Central Florida.) Put simply, this is a great job for Richt if he can return to his early 2000s dominance. If Richt can’t, the right choice can come in and win big in Athens.
It seems like a fair assessment. Here’s the list. We can debate the order but I think all of the right schools made the list:
1. Texas.
2. Ohio State.
3. Oklahoma.
4. Florida.
The forthcoming cavalcade of SEC schools probably should be listed as 4a-4d, but my bosses won’t let me have a four-way tie. So the SEC East’s best jobs get a slight nod over the SEC West’s best jobs only because the competition doesn’t seem so cutthroat in the East. You’re only supposed to win the national title every other year at Florida or Georgia; at LSU and Alabama, you’re supposed to win the national title every year. Sure, Florida has to compete with Florida State and Miami for recruits, but there is plenty of talent in the Sunshine State to go around. The state of Florida produces more talent than any other, and the University of Florida is the flagship university and the only SEC member within a 10-hour drive of the extremely fertile grounds on the southern end of the state.
5. Georgia.
6. LSU.
LSU edges Alabama because of only one factor. Alabama must fight Auburn for the best recruits in the state of Alabama. LSU has to fight no one for the best recruits in talent-rich Louisiana. Sure, out-of-state schools occasionally try to swoop in, but just as Ohio children grow up wanting to be Buckeyes and Georgia children grow up wanting to be Bulldogs, Louisiana children grow up wanting to be Tigers. Other than that, LSU and Alabama are about the same. Both programs rake in the cash and play in massive stadiums before deafening crowds. And in both places, if the coach can’t keep his team in the hunt for the national title every year, people will start clamoring for a coach who will.
7. Alabama.
In the 2009-10 school year, Alabama finished second to Texas in total revenue ($129.3 million), and the school opened an addition to Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2010 that raised capacity above 100,000. No fan base in America cares more about its football team, which can cut both ways for a coach. Win a national title and get a statue. Don’t win a national title and get run out of town.
8. Penn State.
9. Auburn.
Auburn falls below the dead-heat SEC quartet above for one reason. Because the Tigers historically are the Red Sox to Alabama’s Yankees, the Crimson Tide have the initial edge in most in-state recruiting fights. This edge isn’t insurmountable, though. Auburn also is only a short drive from talent-rich Atlanta, but those players have to be wrestled away from Georgia and Tennessee. Auburn doesn’t bring in quite as much money as Alabama, but the Tigers still have cash to burn. They can pay a handsome salary and have plenty left over to pay offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn $1.3 million a year to turn down the head coaching job at Vanderbilt. This is critical, and it is a common factor among all the schools listed so far. Any school willing to shell out for quality assistants is serious about winning.
10. Oregon.
11. USC.
12. Michigan.
13. Notre Dame.
14. Florida State.
Jimbo Fisher may just turn this into a destination job again. It sits this low because the fan/booster base was lulled to sleep at the end of the Bobby Bowden era. Upon his ascension to the big chair, Fisher immediately went into fundraising mode. He convinced boosters to chip in, and he quickly bulked up Florida State’s academic support, strength and nutrition programs. The recruits have flocked as well. Because of the school’s location, FSU’s coach has to work a little harder than Florida’s coach. Tallahassee is at the northern edge of the state, so players from Central and South Florida have to drive right through Gainesville on the way to FSU’s campus. The Seminoles are closer to many players in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, but they have to fight to get those players out of their home states. That said, coaches at most schools would volunteer a limb to have as many quality players within 300 miles of campus.
15. Nebraska.
16. Tennessee.
In 2009-10, nine athletic departments broke the $100 million revenue barrier. You’ve already read about eight of them. Why would an SEC program with 10-figure department revenue and a 100,000-plus stadium slip this low? Because Tennessee coach Derek Dooley has to work so much harder than his rivals to get recruits. The state of Tennessee produces some players, but its geography tends to breed mixed loyalties. Most of the best players are in Memphis, which is a six-hour drive from Knoxville. Players there grow up hearing as much or more about Ole Miss and Arkansas. Nashville is more of a Big Orange stronghold, but out-of-state schools have been known to slip in and pluck players. Tennessee is at its best when it can dip into Atlanta (three hours away) and pull players, but when good coaches sit at Georgia and Auburn, that’s a tough assignment.
17. Virginia Tech.
In terms of proximity to players, Virginia might be a better job than Virginia Tech. But Coach Frank Beamer has done such a good job convincing players from the stocked Tidewater area to come to Blacksburg that he has effectively negated any geographic disadvantage. Virginia Tech also can dip down into North Carolina, which has an underrated high school football culture that routinely produces great players. Virginia Tech would be higher on this list but for its revenue. The fan base is excellent, and Lane Stadium offers an intimidating home-field advantage, but Virginia Tech consistently ranks in the bottom half of BCS AQ-conference schools in revenue. The Hokies are quite competitive on the field, but Texas, Ohio State and the SEC powers are playing an entirely different game on the balance sheet.
18. Arizona State.
19. Arizona.
20. Oklahoma State.
So what are you thoughts on the list?
By Jeff Schultz
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268 comments Add your comment
ormewood
June 3rd, 2011
2:41 pm
The last three on the list do not belong: Arizona St, Arizona, OK St. Neither do the Jackets or the Gamecocks for that matter. Sorry.
Suckers!
June 3rd, 2011
2:42 pm
“You think Bama fans would tolerate losing 18 of 21 to their biggest or 2nd biggest rival? You better think again.”
You got that right, Tide! Only a mutt would even consider keeping a coach that loses 80% of the time to their arch rival.
SUCKERS!!!!
Gary
June 3rd, 2011
2:47 pm
SI just confirmed what Bulldog fans already knew, Georgia ia a great place for college footall. I have been a lifetime fan and though I am not proud of our 2010 record, I am proud to have Mark Richt as coach. The championships will come, we have the right guy in charge. Herschel Talker can go bother another blog, we’re all tired of him (her).
DIT
June 3rd, 2011
2:47 pm
Flip Bama & UGA, that should be about right.
ATLBadger
June 3rd, 2011
2:48 pm
18. Arizona State.
19. Arizona.
20. Oklahoma State.
Don’t understand those at all in the Top 20.
dinkdunk
June 3rd, 2011
2:49 pm
Don’t forget, Bama was a 2nd tier program (see: LA Monroe) not so long ago. Despite your recent successes, many Bama fans harbor the delusion that they rarely lose. Seems to me Bama has lost to AU for (what is it) 6 out of the last 8? 18 out of 21 is still mathematically doable…
Saban get his scholly warehouse curtailed, who knows, maybe the recent run is short lived.
tOSU Fan
June 3rd, 2011
2:49 pm
I will wear my vest proudly, we will be back with a better coach next year. You will see Mark Richt wearing that vest next year.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
June 3rd, 2011
2:51 pm
I once asked a Louisiana Tech coach about recruiting in South Arkansas and a particular recruit:
Coach asked the kid: What will it take to get you to commit to Louisiana Tech”
Recruit didn’t say nothing.
Coach said: Is it the school academics?:
Recruit said “got to have some of that.”
Coach : Is it the campus?
Recruit said: “dats nice too but that ain’t the reason.”
Coach: is it the pretty girls on campus?
Recruit: ”
Dats nice too but it ain’t the reason”
Coach: well tell me, what is it that is going to make you sign with Louisiana Tech.
Just tell me–whatever it is. What is the main reason you will sign at Tech?
Recruit: “Its da food.”
Tim Tebow Jr
June 3rd, 2011
2:51 pm
Who in the world would want to coach at Aubarn? The town itself is and eyesore and depressing to drive through.
Mean Machine
June 3rd, 2011
2:51 pm
Well Duh! That’s why CMR needs to win the SEC this year. UGA should be mentioned in the SEC and NC talk every year, and they’re not. As good a job as Richt has done, he’s still underachieved considering all the resources, support, money, and recruiting base that UGA provides. I’m glad someone else besides the so-called “delusional” Georgia fan sees this.
Dave in Buford
June 3rd, 2011
2:52 pm
its all about money and UGA consistently generates the cash … that fact alone makes this whole discussion rather sad but is also the reason why the school is so high on this list.
Suckers!
June 3rd, 2011
2:53 pm
dindunk,
Whatever makes you mutts feel better about no expectations. Hershel ain’t coming back and neither is a title. But keep paying Rev $3 mil.
SUCKERS!!!!
ugakev
June 3rd, 2011
2:54 pm
Tide Rising, Your fans are sick in the head I will give you that… Just remember you comment on all things involving Georgia on AJC. I can see why Georgia is such a popular job, every other schools fan base in the southeast that is not Georgia is upsest with us. I love coming in here and seeing all the negative comments towards us. It means we are still alive and well and you all fear the day we are on top. Make no mistake about it when Georgia wins a national championship in the near future it will be hell to pay for all of you. Greatest Stadium in College football, Greatest College town in College Football, Top notch facilities with some of the Greatest talent in the whole nation to choose from. A fan base as passionate as the best in College Football. Yeah I would say Georgia is a top 5 job in the nation in college football if not higher.
Dr. Warren
June 3rd, 2011
2:54 pm
Oregon a better job than USC. That’s laughable. This list should take a long-term perspective, both past and present. USC dominated the decade, it’s in Socal, which is as good as Florida for recruiting, and will retool quickly after the penalties. As always, the top jobs are Notre Dame, USC, Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, and Texas.
Gary
June 3rd, 2011
2:54 pm
I would sure pick Georgia over many of the other schools listed. Where else would you want to be on Saturday in the Fall other than Athens. Great school, great students, great fans, great campus. We took our lumps last year on the field but find me a team near by that hasn’t had a season like that once or twice in the last ten years? Yah, Florida seams to have our number these days but would you really want to live in Gainsville Florida, Louisianna, Auburn or Tuscaloosa. It would be nice if Athens were a little closer to Atlanta but it is a great place to live. Would not be surprised at all if Richt stays there after his retirement.
Texas Pete
June 3rd, 2011
2:54 pm
Tide Rising,
No offense to Mark Richt and the Alabama players of the past decade but if Saban were in Athens with the talent we’ve seen go through Sanford Stadium, do you think Saban would have brought at least one BCS Championship to Athens? Honest question. I mean UGA teams grew soft defensively over the years and Saban wouldn’t have allowed that…
You mentioned some great coaches in Bryant, Stallings, and Saban but you left out the DuBose-Franchione-Shula era and why they couldn’t quite get it done. Besides, this isn’t a measure of the most storied programs in history (although the list reflects them in shuffled order). Alabama is a great job and a great opportunity but those expectations suck.
Dealing with probation sucks too. That’s not a jab at Bama but with all the stuff that kept landing y’all on probation before Saban, that’s got to weigh on a coach’s mind when considering that job. One thing is for sure, Bama has to deal with Auburn and Tennessee in the game of backroom politics and backstabbing. Not even UGA-Florida has that kind of relationship and you guys have 2 programs to deal with on that level. There really aren’t many negatives to the UGA job beyond what comes with the territory for all SEC schools. As others have already pointed out, the expectations are lower in Athens than some other places. Sure, the fans demand a lot but we are a clear tier behind some of the more rabid fanbases and boosters in the country.
Suckers!
June 3rd, 2011
2:55 pm
“It means we are still alive and well and you all fear the day we are on top”
The only one that fears that is your old lady.
SUCKERS!!!!!
Name
June 3rd, 2011
2:56 pm
Of COURSE it’s one of the best jobs. You can suck worse than Jim Donnan and still keep your job in Athens!
Let's Go
June 3rd, 2011
2:58 pm
First off SI today is not the same as it was 20-25 years ago and the quality of their staff is pretty low. Guys like Peter King and Don Banks(NFL) and Jon Heyman (MLB) are still pretty good and old man Frank Deford writes a decent article when he can find the time but for the most part they have gone young and cheap and most of them like Andy Staples suck.
Jeff Schultz could write better articles about college football then the hacks they have. Remember Time Warner owns SI and they screw up everything they come in contact with.
Let NONE in
June 3rd, 2011
2:58 pm
AUBURN is a one cow town.
DUHUGA
June 3rd, 2011
2:58 pm
there anit no way bama is better then us at uga. we have a better school for learning and ball playing.
1eyedJack
June 3rd, 2011
2:59 pm
“Hard to believe someone would consider the Georgia job better than Alabama but I can see some of the reasons why.”
Me too! As yet nobody has heaved a brick through Coach Richts front window.
Let NONE in
June 3rd, 2011
2:59 pm
Tuscaloosa a two cow town.
RTR!!
June 3rd, 2011
3:00 pm
Another Dog posted:
“Athens has one thing that no other school in the SEC can boast: access to a major metropolitan area with culture and society. The school/fanbase can match anyone in the SEC, but the quality of life for your family far outpaces”
and
“Tuscaloosa is also a crime-ridden ground zero of gang turf wars.”
Per http://www.neighborhoodscout.com:
Athens Crime Date:
Violet Property Total
1,201 9,962 11,163
Tuscaloosa Crime Date:
Violet Property Total
477 5,348 5,825
So Athens has twice the crime rate of the “crime-ridden ground zero of gang turf wars.”
And you Georgia folks call Alabama fans delusional? Idiots, pure idiots!
Chi Town
June 3rd, 2011
3:00 pm
Why do all the puppy fans think Athens is such a great town?. It’s a cesspool IMO. Would prefer Starkville over that dump.
Crumpy frisky.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
June 3rd, 2011
3:01 pm
Kevin: Georgia fans = Alabama Fans ?
Get a grip. Alabama Fans are the equivalent of Texas Aggie Fans. I still have a little respect for
those who support the “G”.
DUHUGA
June 3rd, 2011
3:01 pm
we anit no stealers, we drink the moonshine and get crazy thats all
Kevin
June 3rd, 2011
3:02 pm
Athens > Tuscaloosa
Sanford Stadium> Bryant Denny
Georgia fans = Alabama Fans
Georgia high school football > Alabama High school football
I would say the Georgia Football job is def a better Job Than Bama.. I dont even know how that would be up for debate
jay
June 3rd, 2011
3:02 pm
The Georgia job has everything. Huge fan base, lots of money, great facilities and a beautiful stadium. Georgia is one of the top 5 states in the country for high school talent and Athens is
truly one of the nicest college town’s anywhere.
I like Richt and think he is a good coach. However, with all of the above going for him, the last 3 years are an absolute mystery.
tOSU Fan
June 3rd, 2011
3:04 pm
REALLY DUHUGA REALLY
Buckeye
June 3rd, 2011
3:06 pm
grangerdog,
The irony is there has not been single arrest, coach or player, is this entire sordid affair. We didn’t get a single tick for your Fulmer Cup. No arrest, felony or otherwise, and look at the aftershocks. Amazing
Chi Town
June 3rd, 2011
3:07 pm
Great job, RTR!!
Puppy fans are more delusional than any other fan base when it comes to their dump town and football team.
Kevin
June 3rd, 2011
3:07 pm
lol…i hear u joe
Buckeye
June 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
tOSU Fan,
No way. Win With may go 5-7 but we won’t be hiring Richt, Saban or Gruden for that matter.
Let NONE in
June 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
tOSU Fan…damn Liar is what you are. The whole place President, AD, fired coach even the towel boy is a damn liar. Get out of a SEC blog with your cheating ass.
GeoffDawg
June 3rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Well said Texas Pete.
RxDawg
June 3rd, 2011
3:09 pm
“Does Mark Richt really have the fifth-best coaching job (two spots ahead of Nick Saban)?”
Damn straight he does. Those Bama folks live on an island.
Paul in RDU
June 3rd, 2011
3:10 pm
Although most of the posts are OK, there seem to be a few “homer” posts on this blog. I look forward to SI having a similar column on basketball coaches and reading postings about how UGA is a better job than UNC and how Athens is the greatest town anywhere (far superior to Chapel Hill).
SSIgator
June 3rd, 2011
3:12 pm
Jeff Schultz -
“SI says Richt (UGA) has a better job than Saban (Alabama)”
Correct. In fact UGA should be the #1 job. All you have to do is praise the Lord and don’t let the KoolAid machine run dry. Piece of cake.
GoVols
June 3rd, 2011
3:13 pm
If Bama had to rely on homwgrown talent? Good grief, how stupid you dawg fans are. Ever heard of Stafford? How about Knowshon? Maybe even AJ Green? No wait, Aaron Murray, aren’t they all from Georgia?
ClinchCountyDawg
June 3rd, 2011
3:13 pm
Buckeye
Maybe Ohio State would be interested in the football coach at Homerville. Current Class A State Champs and no recruiting or player scandals. I don’t count the quarterback who got caught running moonshine, because the Sheriff owned the still and charges were dropped.
Get Real
June 3rd, 2011
3:14 pm
As usual, UGA is way overrated.
War Eagle
June 3rd, 2011
3:14 pm
Summer is here, Dawg fans start drinking more and the pre season hype begins.
Fireman
June 3rd, 2011
3:17 pm
If you can’t win at UGA, you really can’t win anywhere. Loads of recruiting talent, lot of money, brand new facility, really, unless you can’t coach, you should win 9 or 10 games a season.
My bet is Richt got lucky in 02′, 05′ & 07′ with his talent and asst coaches. I don’t think Richt will get the team back to a 9 or 10 win season. He’s getting worse every year.
Chi Town
June 3rd, 2011
3:17 pm
Well said, GoVols.
Puppy fans are so much fun during the off season. Then Boise State will come into town and beat the Necks from Winder and we wont hear from them again till the following off season. Good thing about the 2012 season is Jawja comes to Tuscaloosa. Talk about an as* beating. 2008 Blackout will pale in comparison to Bama will do them.
Atticus
June 3rd, 2011
3:17 pm
Herschel Talker, you are smoking something if you think Kirby Smart is going to be the HC at UGA next year……not a chance. Richt wins and stays or it’s Dan Mullen.
ugaclassof2004
June 3rd, 2011
3:17 pm
Staples is right. UGA should be a National Title contender every year. 8-4 should be considered a losing season at UGA. Richt got us close in the mid-2000’s, but now we’ve sunk back down to Ray Goff-like levels. Our program is a sleeping giant. With the right coach, we could blow the lid off . I think if Richt had retired after say 2007, we’d be calling him UGA’s best coach, even without a National Title. But the last 3 years have been some of the worst football I’ve seen UGA play, especially defensively. Its time to get that pride back. Richt’s done a good job for us pre-2008. But its time to move in another direction.
tOSU Fan
June 3rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Oh I know they did wrong and they do too. They all should go I agree. All I am saying if UGA don’t win this season Richt is gone. From what is being said he is on the list to talk to.
i would put the sec teams 1,2,3,4 etc
June 3rd, 2011
3:19 pm
because no conference in the nation other than the SEC…
-routinely has 4-5 teams in the fulmer cup top 10 every year
-cares so little about the academic side of football
-is so ok with over signing that they will cull 10 or more players each and every year to reach the ncaa limit
- has ncaa rules created specifically to address the chea… er ah stretching of the rules that the goes on in the sec ever single year. alabama’s saban leads this charge.
-plays such a weak oc schedule with most of those games are at their place.
-has the most powerful sports entertainment conglomerate in their hip pocket (Each Sec team is Payed more than just Nicely)
i am sure i missed some advantages that the sec has that no other conference has… beuller?
And yes as bad as tosu issues are this year they pale in comparison to what goes on in the SEC every year by 3,4,5 teams. for instance tosu doesnt routinely have 10 players arrested each and every year. the bad thing about the tosu issue is the lying of the coach. it is just a matter of time before these same issues start biting the sec teams in the a$$. tosu problems are not particular to just tosu but rather systemic to college fb. the ax is ready to fall big time for the bcs teams.
having said all that tosu and the vast majority of college teams have scruples and do not over sign like the sec does routinely.
one thing that stands out about this article is the mention of the uga stadium being ‘iconic’. i guess the word iconic means different things to different people than because when i thing of the cesspool…
i think of stale urine
i think of uga fans urinating on opposing fans
i think of tons of trash left all over campus by these same fans
i think of the students urinating in their own library
i think of the cesspool smell that permeates the air
i think of the jails being full of drunken uga fans every weekend
i think of an abc crew saying that the fans at uga are the most drunken disorderly fans they have ever encountered in over 30 years of doing broadcasts.
i think of chewing tobacco stains left on my car
if that is the meaning of iconic than yes uga’s stadium is iconic.
Loyal Dawg
June 3rd, 2011
3:19 pm
As I die hard dawg, nice to see that and agree with many arguments EXCEPT UGA has very little National recognition. most People know the Alabamas, Auburns, LSU’s, etc. but know very little about UGA, the amount of money our Athletic Dept brings in (top 5), the stadium size, enrollment, etc. When I tell others not from the SOuth they are very suprised that considering everything we have that we are not always in the National Conversation for Championships.. so hate to say it, but not #5,, No Way…