Mark Richt might need 9-1 finish to keep job at Georgia
Georgia coach Mark Richt is 0-2 for the first time in his career. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – Nobody is going to admit now what tight end Orson Charles acknowledged two weeks ago: “Our first two games will make or break our season.”
Because when a team is 0-2 after two perceived make-or-break games, players and coaches must nonetheless publicly cling to a series of improbabilities. Otherwise the rest of the season morphs into a three-month death march.
But reality is that it will take a miraculous finishing kick for the Bulldogs to have a successful season and possibly save coach Mark Richt’s job. What does that amount to? Try 9-1 in the next 10 games.
That may seem extreme. But Richt’s contract situation, the backdrop of the past two-plus seasons, the demands of coaching in the SEC, the divided fan base and a cryptic comment at a recent athletic-board meeting indicates if the Bulldogs do anything less than win the SEC East, which may take a 9-1 finish, Georgia may make a change.
Richt insisted Tuesday, “There’s not a cloud hanging over us” after losses to Boise State and South Carolina. Maybe he just hasn’t gone outside.
He said the attitude has been positive since Saturday’s 45-42 loss to South Carolina, adding, “If the game went the other way, then Georgia’s the front-runner in the East and everybody starts thinking about the positive possibilities.”
The problem being that Georgia didn’t win, and the SEC isn’t about “ifs.” The game actually just reaffirmed what many have suspected. The Dogs have talent. They can compete with most teams when they play hard and, for the most part, smart. But they seem to have forgotten how to win these kinds of games, either because of a turnover, a special-teams breakdown or a penalty.
Richt would prefer that the rest of the season not be about his job status. It’s not exactly a conducive atmosphere for wins and pep rallies. But it’s reality.
Consider:
• The contract: Richt will have two years left on an eight-year deal after this season. That’s basically death in recruiting unless Georgia extends the contract, probably by at least two to three years. To not extend the contract also would set up the extreme rarity, particularly in the SEC, of a coach potentially entering his third straight “hot seat” season and working on a contract that had not been amended since after the 2007 season (when Richt received a raise).
• The schedule: Every remaining game is winnable. To put it another way, there are no “good” losses left. Florida? Maybe. But how would Richt dropping to 2-9 against the Gators go over with athletic director Greg McGarity, school president Michael Adams and the fan base? Losing to Florida means losing tiebreakers to both the Gators and South Carolina in the East. Beating Florida could salvage division hopes, but only with a strong finish.
• The record: McGarity probably doesn’t have a specific number of wins and losses in mind. But let’s look at this logically. Going 9-1 the rest of the way means a 9-3 finish, while 8-2 means finishing 8-4. Two losses mean the Dogs probably will have lost to Florida again. And/or Georgia Tech (making Paul Johnson 2-2 in the series). Or Mississippi State (for the second straight year). Or Tennessee (to Derek Dooley).
• The backdrop: It’s significant that at a recent UGA Athletic Association meeting, board member Tommy Lawhorne stated, “There are many of us who are really concerned about the status of the football program. Yet we have confidence in Greg McGarity to get us where we want to be.” Note that he referred to McGarity and not Richt.
Winning this week over Coastal Carolina, an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) school, won’t change the important numbers. If you take out wins over FCS (Tennessee Tech, Idaho State) and Sun Belt (Louisiana-Lafayette) schools, Richt is 11-14 overall since 2009. He’s 6-10 in the past 16 SEC games and 2-10 against ranked teams. To go 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC the rest of the way is possible. But it would be a stark contrast to what we’ve been witnessing.
Richt said the South Carolina game “could’ve gone either way. Did we improve tremendously? There’s no doubt about that. I left the field sick about losing but encouraged about the team.”
Improvement is good. But winning saves jobs. Richt has left himself no room for error.
By Jeff Schultz
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698 comments Add your comment
dcp
September 14th, 2011
10:11 am
Funny.. the problem is that expectations are different when you bring in loads of talent and don’t win. Fans will always go to UGA games – it’s a great atmosphere. UF beating UGA repeatedly has nothing to do with it “being “their biggest game of the year” – they enjoy beating anyone they can and have thrived lately against UGA – no one that plays cares about the overall series record. Are you telling me a 20 year says to himself “you know if we win this year we will be closer to getting that series tied up”. The facts are facts – UGA’s record the last two years against their true competition has been bad, and not acceptable if you hold yourslef in high regard in the toughest conference in football.
bowl game
September 14th, 2011
10:13 am
Anyone know if that motel 6 near the freeway in memphis is still available for the liberty bowl? the dogs will probably end up there again with 4-5 losses. Hopefully, that minute market near the motel doesn’t run out of PBR like last year.
15 games, 6 W's and 9 losses
September 14th, 2011
10:13 am
Hobnail Boot
September 14th, 2011
9:47 am
Kirby is a Georgia Man. He’d make a great DC for Georgia. Hard to say what kind of HC he would be, seeing as how he’s never been one.
That is really the first stupid post you’ve made. Where do you think great head coach come from???
They come from the top assistants or coordinators who have or are working for great head coaches now-think it through-not so fast to the key board.
JR
September 14th, 2011
10:17 am
No jr. The entire program being in disarray and not competitive with peer schools in its own conference for a long time is the problem. And who is ultimately responsible for that?
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:19 am
Richt is the Dale Earnhardt Jr of the SEC. He can win some games but never get to The Championship Game.
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:21 am
Texas to the ACC? That could be interesting.
Mike
September 14th, 2011
10:23 am
Cone on man, 9-1 the rest of the way ain’t happening. It’s time for Mr. McGarity to start looking around & sooner than later. Richt & BooBoo are outa here. It’s been too long already.
secbama
September 14th, 2011
10:25 am
UGA will only lose one more game in regular season, either UT/Florida/or Mississippi State. You kill GaTech this season.
Malcolm Mitchell and Crowell are frosh studs (Saban wanted both) and both would be getting PT at Bama now too. Orson Charles best TE in college and Aaron Murray above average, not yet great (evidenced by INT vs SCarolina).
Carolina walks away with East this year. Richt and UGA win East in 2012 edging Tennessee for division title before playing for SEC Championship in 2012. The Dream Team is no hoax.
UGA goes 10-3 counting bowl game this year. Roll Tide!
Miami Dawg
September 14th, 2011
10:31 am
Be careful what you ask for…Georgia fans should rally behind Mark Richt. Has anyone looked at Richt’s first 11 years compared with Georgia God Vince Dooley? I remember the Dump Dooley rhetoric after about 11 years. Dawgs are on verge of being very good with young team. Gamble with Boise did not pay off but Georgia will do fine. These things go in cycles.
If you are a fair weather fan button it. Especialy you Schultz. That’s part of our problem today…no one wants to stick to a plan..everyone wants to jump ship when things get tough.
Go dawgs and Go Mark Richt.
dawgs smell
September 14th, 2011
10:31 am
secbama -and then you woke up!
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:32 am
secbama: UGA goes 10-3 counting bowl game this year. Roll Tide!
Care to Place a Money Wager on that? I got all the Toilet Paper and Wash Powder I need.
3/11 vs. Boise State Atlanta, Ga. L, 35-21
09/10/11 vs. South Carolina * Athens, Ga. L, 45-42
09/17/11 vs. Coastal Carolina Athens, Ga. W
09/24/11 at Ole Miss * Oxford, Miss. W
10/01/11 vs. Mississippi State * Athens, Ga. L
10/08/11 at Tennessee * Knoxville, Tenn. L
10/15/11 at Vanderbilt * Nashville, Tenn. W
10/29/11 vs. Florida * Jacksonville, Fla. L
11/05/11 vs. New Mexico State Athens, Ga. W
11/12/11 vs. Auburn * Athens, Ga. L
11/19/11 vs. Kentucky * Athens, Ga. W
11/26/11 at Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. L
DawginLex
September 14th, 2011
10:32 am
South Carolina has to play Auburn at home and go to Miss st and Arkansas
I have openly predicted Arkansas will beat them. They destroyed them a year ago and should win again this year.
Auburn and Miss State games are toss ups.
SC could finish 11-1 and face West champion in ATL or could lose all 3 and it opens it up for UF,UGA and UT.
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:34 am
Miami Dawg: how is the WAR on Drugs plan working down in your neck of the woods? Is Sticking with that PLAN working?
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:36 am
DawginLex
Very True…………the East is SO open. UGA HAD the easiest shot with their schedule. Tennessee is looking like a True contender.
collegeballfan
September 14th, 2011
10:39 am
I just do not understand why UGA fans feel so “betrayed”. UGA lost two games they were expected to lose. All they need to do is win the games they are expected to win. If they do that they will end up 10-2, 9-3 or 8-4 depending on how good Auburn and Florida are.
Look guys, UGA is not a top tier football program. Never has been. Since UGA won the national title in 1980 other SEC schools have won national titles. Florida has won 3, LSU 2, Ala 2, and Auburn and Tennessee have won one each. All since 1980.
Richt is 96-34, .738 winning percentage, highest in school history.
Who you gonna hire with a better record?
christy
September 14th, 2011
10:41 am
The facts are CMR is skating on thin ice he most def will need to win vs msu,ut,uf and gt to even be able to plead his case. Improvement was made last week vs week before but, at this point slow improvement from week to week just isn’t good enough he’s had 2 excruciating long seasons to make the changes needed with the talent UGA had the past 2 seasons they should’ve atleast had sec east titles. My personal opinion is Mike Bobo needs to go and CMR should stay one more season he has done a lot for the football program but, I think he needs fresh faces and Mike Bobo just is horrible and painfully predictable in his play calling. I also think CMR needs to be calling the plays when he did the Dawgs had success. Either way as a long time Dawg fan I’m tired of losing and its sits rotten in my stomach to listen to fans of other teams bash the Dawgs and not being able to argue actually lately some friends that normally would have the fun banter back and forth with they don’t even bother anymore because they flat out feel sorry for us Dawg Fans that’s a sad shame and Dawg fans have always been competitive and UGA has always had the reputation of being a competitor. These days its just embarrassing the last thing we want to happen is to turn into a notre dame and be completely overlooked for over 10+ years. Everyone needs to think about the reality of all these losses now before its too late.
Producer
September 14th, 2011
10:42 am
We want Richt gone now. Not at the end of the season. If McGarity won’t do it, fire his sorry a$$, too.
LogicalUS
September 14th, 2011
10:44 am
“Auburn and Miss State games are toss ups. ”
Lexi, sure but UGA plays both these schools also…have you chalked them up as wins for UGA?
Don't Hire Urban Meyer
September 14th, 2011
10:45 am
Urban Meyer would be a horrible choice. His offense sucked without Tebow. When Tebow didn’t play, they couldn’t move the ball. And when Strong left… their defense left with him.
Urban quit because he saw the writing on the wall. He left Muschamp with nobody on the roster because there wasn’t anybody on the roster. He almost quit a year earlier but stayed. He knew they’d be horrible and wanted to keep his legacy alive for a prime job later.
Urban Meyers record after the first six years is comparable to Mark Richts… the difference being that Meyer quit when things went south and Richt stayed to try and right the ship. Meyer’s a quitter.
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:45 am
collegeballfan
Take out the Kentucky, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss State, GT, and the other OCC jokes and Richt ain’t that great at winning against comparable SEC teams.
bitter--same ole stuff
September 14th, 2011
10:45 am
GLAD DEER SEASON IS UPON US
Send'em UHauls
September 14th, 2011
10:46 am
Its time for the kool aiddrinkers and the coaches to get out of Athens .UGA needs a Saban not a preacher.
15 games, 6 W's and 9 losses
September 14th, 2011
10:47 am
we will learn alot this weekend–LSU-Miss State (thurs night), Florida-Tenn (sat), Kentucky–Louisville, Arkansas–Troy
Since Vince
September 14th, 2011
10:49 am
This season is OVA
DawginLex
September 14th, 2011
10:49 am
Logical
Nah, i’m done predicting.
Only thing I have predicted is richt’s demise timetable according to what McGarity has said.
Lose to CC-he is fired sunday
Lose to Ole Miss-announcement is made he is lame duck and public coach search begins
Lose to Miss St at home-same announcement
If he wins those and loses to UT, I think he is safe assuming we don’t get embarrassed, then all bets are off.
2 more losses in any combo gets the announcement made.
My $.02
Jeff
September 14th, 2011
10:49 am
I am cancelling my subscription. What exactly is the reason for this article. It serves no purpose, except to fill a slow news day. Why not talk about the improved performance, or how they outplayed SC most of the game, how the defense held their offense to 17 offensive points, or how our offense scored 42 points against their supposed great defense (I dont count the SC towchdown from the 5 yard line). Does the glass always have to be half empty with you.
GoDawgs
September 14th, 2011
10:51 am
Jeff,
I agree with your outlook but you left out Auburn. They turned a lot of heads last week to go along with Miss. State, UT, and Florida as possible losses on this years schedule. That light schedule everyone was talking about after the first 2 games is getting heavier.
15 games, 6 W's and 9 losses
September 14th, 2011
10:53 am
You better get your facts straight before you make yourself look like a fool.
How about a bet for the Jax game, how about straight up-didn’t thinks homer
Not so quick to count the Gators oput. They will field a defense better than the dawgs and #2 or 3 in the SEC. The front four all 5 Star players. We have the #1 player in 2010 class who was also the #1 DE in the Country along with the #1 and #3 DT in 2010. The other starter is the #1 DT from 2009 class. The starting safty is the #1 safty in the 2010 class. The other six on defense are all young 4 stars—the Gators will be set for years.
All the offense has is the fastest tailback tandum in the history of college or pro football-Demps and Rainy are world class sprinters that play football. Weiis has never seen anything like this in all his years. That’s another thing, who do you like running you offense, Weiis or Bobo———-I’ve got a side I like. And lastly you have an up and coming Head coach, Muschamp, with fire in his belly going againt milk toast Mark Richt who is on his way out. Very few if any SEC coaches can’t out coach Richt
15 games, 6 W's and 9 losses
September 14th, 2011
10:54 am
copied for an earlier post
5150 UOAD
September 14th, 2011
10:55 am
I was wrong Richt is 26-20 against……….Florida, Bama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn, & LSU
JB
September 14th, 2011
10:56 am
Tell ya’ll what’s going to be interesting. If Richt beats both of the Mississippi schools and say is
like 5-2,6-2 or so heading into the Florida game and ask McGarity for a public vote of confidence…..
dawgfacedboy
September 14th, 2011
11:03 am
Well 9-1 is pretty unrealistic so I guess by your logic he’s gone. Things will have to turn around pretty quick though. With every loss the hole will be dug deeper and deeper, unfortunately. You just can’t have the downward trend that he’s had and expect not to be on the “hotseat”. He’s made numerous changes to his staff with no change in results. He’s continued to bring in top notch recruiting classes, with no change in results. He’s in a tough spot. The question alot of alumni need to ask is “how long do we let him go?”, “when is enough enough?”.
honky talkin'
September 14th, 2011
11:06 am
Dawgs lose to Miss St, Tenn, FL and Tech. The prayers don’t work Richt.
Buckeye
September 14th, 2011
11:08 am
How about Bama and LSU to the AFC South?
Then, the dogs would be relevent and competitive w/ Kentucky, Vandy in the SEC Least and perhaps play a second dome game.
7576DAWG
September 14th, 2011
11:10 am
South Carolina will lose at least 2 games this year if not three. Georgia beat them them every way possible except the final score. I knew Spurrier was going to fake the punt. If we had not called time out he would have punted and we would have won going away but we gave Spurrier time to think about it and a great coach will away’s turn that to his advantage. We simply got out coached but with even me yelling at the TV , WATCH FOR A FAKE PUNT, WATCH FOR A FAKE PUNT, WATCH FOR A FAKE PUNT, I can’t understand why CMR didn’t feel it was coming. Spurrier knew that we were out playing Garcia and he had to gamble to try to change the momentum . We need to get rid of the people in the booth that didn’t smell that fake all day. I bet if you asked Spurrier he would admit Georgia should have won that game going away. Good coaches fine a way of winning those type games. It is not the players fault, even though they have some problems. The biggest problem right now is bad coaching decisions.
Buckeye
September 14th, 2011
11:11 am
Give credit where due and the recent BCS Championshships.
That said, short of Alabama, LSU and maybe USC and Mr. Lattimore, the SEC really isn’t that strong this time around.
Keep claiming conference, dogs, when ya’ll know your team is O fer in thewin claim.
But hey, there’s always another week of
“Others Receiving Votes”
gt4ever
September 14th, 2011
11:14 am
I think it’s possible that he runs the table… Florida is weak, and so is Auburn… Miss. State is weak and GT just can’t play to this competition…(at this stage of the game) We have NO idea how good or bad GT is at this point… I like Richt’s chances of winning at least 8 or 9 games… Just my opinion, yours will probably be different…
USC GAMEC0CK
September 14th, 2011
11:16 am
Ease up on Richt, Bobo, and that Grantham dude…
They lost to USC; a lot of teams this year will be losing to USC so get used to it.
7576DAWG
September 14th, 2011
11:17 am
And Murray not providing the leadership that we need. I hope that CMR will play LeMay this week and at least get him some game experience because if Murray continues to under perform we are going to need LeMay when the schedule get harder. Murray being 2-9 against ranked opponents is as telling as our record against Florida the last 20 years. If you continue down the same path with no changes the results will probably be the same.
USC GAMEC0CK
September 14th, 2011
11:18 am
BTW, USC was majically moved from 11 spot in the AP Poll to 10th…
Now georgia folks can brag that they got beat by 2 top 10 teams.
Now that is sweet….real sweet!
KungFuMaster
September 14th, 2011
11:18 am
@Funny and Dawg4Ever – Know about college football, I played college basketball and football at Alcorn State(place where the greatest football player every played – Jerry Rice). The last time you had on a uniform is when you were in the boyscouts. Oh, did the scoutmaster touch you. I’m a NFL fan first and foremost – college football doesn’t come close. You all upset over a BCS systems that’s the biggest ponzi scheme since ENRON. A championship system that is as arbitrary as a chocolate tomato. Coaches polls, ap polls, and bcs polls, and I dream of jeanie polls.
2002 – No National Championship(UGA)
2005 – No National Championship(UGA)
2007 – No National Championship(UGA)
2008 – No National Championship(UGA)
Even Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Florida don’t consider you as a real rival – HINT(You have to win in order to be considered a Rival)
Any thing before 1990 doesn’t count
I’m a PITTSBURGH STEELERS fan sucker, the yellow towel is everywhere. Even overseas, you see military personnel waving the yellow towel. You can’t even go to downtown Chicago and see a UGA T-Shirt. All I hear from Georgia fans is Herschel Walker, hell, I wasn’t born then. Neither was the internet, .com, GPS, FACEBOOK, GOOGLE, Keyless remote, wine in a box, cell phones, and the Cosby Show. By the Way – Michael Vick got a 2nd $100M contract, shows what you know about the business of football.
15 games, 6 W's and 9 losses
September 14th, 2011
11:24 am
7576DAWG
September 14th, 2011
11:10 am
I guess you didn’t see it, but ”Spurrier said Georgia outplayed his boys—–but some how we. Sometimes it just works out that way.” You can’t fault Spurrier’s honesty—-but he did out coach Richt and that’s the only reason SC won.
Jimmy
September 14th, 2011
11:37 am
Some of you fans act like UGA is a national championship contender every year. The last time they were in contention was because of CMR. Don’t forget what UGA had b4 CMR. What high profile coach will want to come to UGA?
They will never admit it but scheduling BSU was a mistake. This team needed a cupcake win to start the season. I think UGA can go 9-1 and if they beat Miss St. they might go 10-0. Just need a big win to get the confidence going.
dawgfacedboy
September 14th, 2011
11:41 am
7576dawg- How is Murray 2-9 against ranked opponents but he has yet to beat a team with a winning record?
Why haven’t we seen Ray Drew yet? Are they planning on redshirting him? Injury from scooter? They need to decide whether or not Hutson Mason is a competent backup or not. That decideds what they do with Lemay. I don’t see Lemay sitting for 3 years till Murray is gone. I know Shockley did it but…
Cecil Newton
September 14th, 2011
11:41 am
As a man of the cloth, I recommend standing by Mark Richt. He is a good Christian man — just like me!
Now pass the plate…
Sadie
September 14th, 2011
11:42 am
Thanks to a very soft schedule, Richt will win just enough games the remainder of this year to keep his job. Which is a shame, because the Keep Richt-Dump Richt argument will still be ongoing this time next year.
Just fire the jerk and let’s move on.
dawgfacedboy
September 14th, 2011
11:42 am
Jimmy- UGA was an 8-4 team before Richt. What are they now?
Hobnail Boot
September 14th, 2011
11:52 am
15 games, 6 W’s and 9 losses
September 14th, 2011
10:13 am
Hobnail Boot
September 14th, 2011
9:47 am
Kirby is a Georgia Man. He’d make a great DC for Georgia. Hard to say what kind of HC he would be, seeing as how he’s never been one.
That is really the first stupid post you’ve made. Where do you think great head coach come from???
They come from the top assistants or coordinators who have or are working for great head coaches now-think it through-not so fast to the key board.
I don’t understand what is so stupid about stating the cold, hard facts. I don’t know if Kirby even wants a HC job. If he does, then maybe he’ll make a great coach, and maybe he won’t. If Georgia wants to take advantage of Florida and Tennessee being down, then they don’t need to hire yet another assistant coach and let him go through his learning curve in Athens. Mark Richt is a dead man walking. Only the most delusional CMR apologists don’t understand the stark reality of this situation. Georgia needs a proven winner who can hit the ground running. I can’t think of a better candidate than Rich Rod.
Anatomical Anomaly
September 14th, 2011
11:52 am
In the picture of Richt at the top of the blog, Richt is clearly growing man-boobs. Just look and see for yourself. Very strange…
Hobnail Boot
September 14th, 2011
11:54 am
@Anatomical Anomaly
It’s part of his secret plan to beat Tech and save his job.