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
Mobile Dawg
September 13th, 2011
6:29 pm
No Zino, I didn’t see any balls that bounced against UGA and Mark Richt on Saturday. I saw balls we dropped, interceptions we threw, and punt returns that were faked. Those aren’t balls that bounced the wrong way, those are mistakes due to a lack of focus by players and coaches.
JB
September 13th, 2011
6:29 pm
Richt would be great at North Carolina, were about 7 of the games a year could be won with a pretty good team and maybe 9 with a real good team and go to a good bowl and be loved to death for those results and get away from the shadow of Bama,AU,LSU,Fla………..Perfect fit for Richt. He loves skill players and finesse.
JB
September 13th, 2011
6:30 pm
Correct Mobile. I saw the same things.
rward
September 13th, 2011
6:33 pm
Hey TampaGator..Doesn’t Florida have a blog? If your goal is to rant and rave about Georgia I say you have way too much time on your hands. If all you care to do is FLAME and be a keyboard commando then I for one don’t care to read your crap….I think I hear your momma calling you for supper …..
kybodawg
September 13th, 2011
6:33 pm
dan mullen will be on the hot seat after he looses to lsu.
Bob
September 13th, 2011
6:33 pm
@Columbus…I want him out! I’m a grad of UGA and a 42 year GEEF/Hartmann contributor and season ticket holder. Richt lost his passion for winning four years ago and has been stealing the money. With a $90M football budget, 91,000 stadium filled, finest facilities, and winning tradition, I know we can do much better. What can’t you understand?
Dawged
September 13th, 2011
6:34 pm
I chuckle everytime I read a prediction of disaster for UGA or CMR in the pages of the AJC and I am reminded that this is the tradition of the AJC as the mouthpiece of the “North Avenue Trade School”and the futle attempt to undermine the states flagship school that long ago passed them in importance in levels of all competition.This apparent attempt to create a crisis at UGA and divide the Fans and Alumni in the hopes that the Techies could then sweep in to fill the vacum.They fail to understand that dream died in 1964 when one Vince Dooley showed up at Athens and the “great Bobby Dodd” sensed after two straight defeats by UGA his and Tech’s time in the state was over forever.He retired and the rest is history.Despite the dire warnings of the AJC and it’s minions UGA and CMR will bounce back and the 2012 recruiting class that CMR is gathering will be as good as the 2011 and we will regain our proper spot as an elite program in the nation and we will all chuckle at the continued demise of the AJC and it silly sportswriters.That is the group that is actually on the “hot seat” due to shrinking revenues -not CMR.Selah
UGA What What
September 13th, 2011
6:34 pm
Everyone is pissed about CMR getting reamed. Here is a something to think about.. How about win some F’ing games and the media will get off his A$$. He has put himself in this hole, and he will never get out. UGA will win 5 games this year. Time to start looking for a coach that cares about winning.
14-14 in the last 2 years does not cut it. Bobo the clown can roll out with him at the end of the year.
GaAlum79
September 13th, 2011
6:34 pm
Columbus, did you read the article?: 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.”
mcdaviddawg
September 13th, 2011
6:34 pm
Richt needs to confirm what he did 4 years ago which is quit. We can’t fire Richt mid season because none of the staff is competent enough to finish the season. Richt must go and for all you Rciht lovers, don’t be surprised when no one else wants him.
JB
September 13th, 2011
6:35 pm
Bob……………Tenn and Fla? I think every game decides his future. Let ole miss or Kentucky slip up and take us, which either could………………..Bad news
Mobile Dawg
September 13th, 2011
6:35 pm
Columbus, I meet your criteria as one of the old tried and true, but I dispute what you say. I’ve personally watched, logged what I’ve seen on these blogs, the very foundation of this program disintegrating since 2006 with the blow out losses, the losses in 2007 that cost us a position in the title game. Not just the losses, how we lost. I’ve watched the “culture” of the Georgia Bulldogs change. I respect your opinion but I see things differently.
Ghosts of Loserville
September 13th, 2011
6:36 pm
And the really brutal thing is, even assuming the miraculous happened and he did get the 9-1 finish, what would you have to think then?
Was it a fluke?
In other words, he’s probably toast no matter what.
trouble
September 13th, 2011
6:36 pm
If you or anyone Supports Richt, you are supporting failure and mediocrity. You may support your school, which is what any good alumnus or fan should do, but to support out and out failure is just not good business.
Ghosts of Loserville
September 13th, 2011
6:37 pm
And the really brutal thing is, what if the miraculous happens and he does win 9 games, what then?
Wouldn’t the psychology be: was it a fluke?
In other words, I think he’s toast, no matter what.
Ghosts of Loserville
September 13th, 2011
6:37 pm
Some reason we’re not posting here …
test …
Delbert D.
September 13th, 2011
6:38 pm
Portions of Richt’s press conference were rebroadcast this afternoon on 680thefan. Someone had asked (apparently) about Georgia’s chances to win the division, having lost to South Carolina. He said something about having a good chance and then said, “…when’s the last time anybody went undefeated in the SEC East?”
Well….
one who barks loud in tn
September 13th, 2011
6:38 pm
BROOKSDAWG: got your tickets yet?
JDawg1785
September 13th, 2011
6:38 pm
Great post, Jeff! I agree, but can almost guarantee that CMR gets canned with another loss in Jacksonville, even if the team goes 9-1 the rest of the way.
trouble
September 13th, 2011
6:39 pm
I dare anyone who support Mark Richt to go back, game by game for the past 3 years and give him a grade for HIS teams performance. Anyone will see that he is in the D level on average for that period of time.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 13th, 2011
6:39 pm
Columbus
Evidently you didnt sober up from your kool-aid drunk
Mr. Lawhorn and another athletic board member last week spoke about their displeasure about where the program is heading
Those guys are big time contributors
You need to sober up
oldguy
September 13th, 2011
6:40 pm
come on the season is young I believe from what I saw Saturday we’re on our way. You were negative from before the season started and continue the Atlanta papers tradition that started with Bisher of running folks down. Am I dissapointed you bet but lets be positive right now. All I can say for a devout christian Coach has the worse luck of course you could say the same about Jesus.
Bob
September 13th, 2011
6:40 pm
JB, you are correct. I was just focusing on the games we had better win.
DAWG alum09
September 13th, 2011
6:40 pm
come on down Gary Patterson!!! Richt’s finished. Should of happened after Tennessee 2007
GaAlum79
September 13th, 2011
6:40 pm
Oldguy, Jesus was paid $3 million a year…
TXDawg3
September 13th, 2011
6:41 pm
So many speak about Gruden as UGA’s obvious choice to replace Richt. WOW!! Should that decision be made & acted upon by Adams to appease the critics, all anyone would have to do is go to Tampa to see just how far the UGA program will slide toward debauchery. UGA decision makers should think long & hard before going down that path.
Wins & conference championships are wonderful aspirations, but not at the expense of leadership that would not develop our young men into the responsible leaders, husbands & dads of tomorrow. Football is a game, but developing responsible young men into the leaders of tomorrow through that game is vastly more important than a hyped up attitude that holds to winning at any cost.
BUZZ 2011
September 13th, 2011
6:41 pm
Where is Richt going? That will never happen Jeff. UGA is not very good as you know..
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 13th, 2011
6:41 pm
Please stop bringing up Charlie Strong
He hasnt done nothing and he lost to FIU; give me a break
and Dan Mullen
What really has he done. He is 2-9 in the SEC West, beating Ole Miss 2 times. WOW. and beat a Michigan team with a fired coaching staff
JB
September 13th, 2011
6:42 pm
The conversation should never be about Richt as a great man,husband, father,citizen,Christian,mentor, and representative of Our University. It’s not.
It’s about putting a Championship team on the field and in the SEC title hunt every year.
There are no resources lacking to achieve that, including one of the top 5 fertile
States for Div 1 football prospects in the Country. That’s the beef!
Alabama Communist
September 13th, 2011
6:43 pm
More Breaking News On Coach Needing 9-1 record to Win job……….A unknown Georgia Sports Tea Party source said today. ” If the coach beats any Yankee Democrat Liberal Communist College team this year, he has got my vote like Rich Perry and his amazing sissy College Male Cheerleader career”
Augusta Dawg
September 13th, 2011
6:44 pm
I admire derek’s comments and his optimism/positive view towards CMR and the program. Every true fan on this forum should be pulling for CMR to put together a strong season. I imagine the tone around here was exactly the same in October ‘07 after the humiliating loss to Tennessee and an ‘escape’ at Vanderbilt. The Dawgs had a week off and returned with a new-found energy to best Florida. Miraculous things happened after that and the Dawgs finished the season as arguably the best team in the country.
I understand and share the frustration, but let the season unfold. We could still win the East, which would be better-on-paper than in 2007. Right now I’d settle for the same tone after the second game that we had after the seventh game [2007] if it meant a #2 finish. Give youth a chance to mature, the coaching staff a chance to adapt, and hope for a strong finish.
Go Dawgs!
DawgGone
September 13th, 2011
6:44 pm
Great article, Schultz. This is truth. I read another blog Sunday morning that echoes some things you mentioned here on the Phil Steele team blog.
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/Individual_Team_blogs/Georgia_Blog.html
Richt needs a miracle.
trouble
September 13th, 2011
6:45 pm
Who ever they decide to bring in had better have the “anti Mark Richt” attitude and aura that surrounds him. What does that mean. Someone who cares about his players, but demands they be part of the toughness, dedication and desire to be a Bulldog 365 24 7.
Someone with some fire in belly and burning desire to win that he wears on his sleeve. The rest will take care of itsself.
JB
September 13th, 2011
6:46 pm
McGarity will not hire a wacko( Leach type) or take a chance type( Gruden) or a hit or miss( Malizan from Auburn)…. He will hire someone solid like Patterson from TCU.
no dog
September 13th, 2011
6:46 pm
the $$$ from the chick/fillet game caused this mess. Start 1-0=no problem
BG
September 13th, 2011
6:47 pm
I bet Richt wishes he could play Tech’s schedule. LOL!
Scooter McFadden
September 13th, 2011
6:48 pm
Real Dawg fans compose yourselves. Not sure if you want to fire or keep your coach! How conflicted! The AJC wordsmiths are obviously slanted. This crap does not mean anything. It’s what happens this Saturday and the following games this year! Go best team!
Runnin With The Dawgs
September 13th, 2011
6:48 pm
MR was a great offensive coordinator for Bobby Bowden, but he didn’t run the whole show. He inherited Jim Donnan’s recruits and coached up players and pretty good with them. I think Mark Richt is a fine person and a great family man, but he can’t run the whole show, and obviously can’t or won’t hire the right coaches to get the job done. I for one am tired of losing with all the talent we have, so I say “let him go on down the road”! GET US A PROVEN HEAD COACH!!!
trouble
September 13th, 2011
6:48 pm
Look at every successful program, you have players who are leaders on and off the field, in the classroom and in the meeting rooms. The teams that walk and act like champions have already done the hard part. The game and practice is the easy part.
NeitherAProphetNorSon
September 13th, 2011
6:50 pm
I’m not a UGA fan per se, but I do think CMR is a good coach. That said, I’m going out on a long, skinny limb, and predict the Dawgs – yes, THESE Dawgs! – will not lose again this season. The Ol’ Ball Coach will lose twice, and the Dawgs – yes, THESE Dawgs! – will play for the SEC Championship in December.
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
6:50 pm
Hey Commie, little bit afraid of Rick Perry, huh?
Poopdawg
September 13th, 2011
6:50 pm
Stinger2, good Post . I was thinking the same thing.
trouble
September 13th, 2011
6:50 pm
Scooter McFadden
September 13th, 2011
6:48 pm
Real Dawg fans compose yourselves. Not sure if you want to fire or keep your coach! How conflicted! The AJC wordsmiths are obviously slanted. This crap does not mean anything. It’s what happens this Saturday and the following games this year! Go best team!
No matter how you spin it, or excuses you make……it is just to hard to argue with the facts and a losing record against FBS teams is a solid start.
Bill Stanfill
September 13th, 2011
6:51 pm
Isn’t McGarrity the one responsible swapping Louisville for Boise State as UGA’s opponent in this season’s first game?
UGA, after a losing season, desperately needed a win in its first game. Yes, there were beneifits, such as a nationally televised game and $–but they were hardly worth the cost. This team needed a win, a little confidence building far more. Not alot of wisdom in McGarrity’s decision.
JB
September 13th, 2011
6:51 pm
Bad news for Tech if he goes into that game lame duck. Martinez did and that pretty lame team beat Tech’s best team in 20 years, Ex ACC Champs and all, At Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Bob
September 13th, 2011
6:52 pm
NeitherAProphetNorSon…but I think you’re delusional. But I hope you’re right.
4th and Long Gone
September 13th, 2011
6:53 pm
Everyone is throwing out names of great coaches as UGA’s next coach. UGA is a great place for a coach to land, maybe one of the top 5 in the nation. However, FL would be above them on that short list and all of the coaches people are suggesting for UGA turned down Florida last year. Why do you think they would come to UGA? Yes, UGA can pay A LOT, but so can Florida. Yes, recruiting is great in Ga, but it may even be better in Florida. Weather is good in Ga, but it is even better in Fla. I think you get the point. Are you really going to be able to get anyone better (or at least proven) than Mark Richt. Is Kirby Smart better than Mark Richt?
trouble
September 13th, 2011
6:54 pm
Championship teams want to play the best teams on neutral sites and show the world how good they are. Swapping teams for a better team is all the motivation a championship caliber team should ever need. Against Boise UGA looked outclassed and outcoached. Against USC they looked up to the task and just did not know how to win. Folks that is coaching.
Bob
September 13th, 2011
6:54 pm
@4th and Long…yes and no. And neither is Muschamp.
Athdog
September 13th, 2011
6:56 pm
First, I realize that yourself, Bradley, Tucker, etc..will say that you don’t want to see MR fired, but the reality is that if he is fired, your columns become much easier for awhile during the coaching search. Stories of who the frontrunner is, etc…will write themselves. I also realize that Coach probably let the defense get into too bad of a condition before replacing the coordinator, and in retrospect, probably made poor choices replacing assistants over the years, on defense. And finally, I realize that the last time we were this bad this early was ‘79, we know what happened the next year. My point is, unless we can get Urban Meyer, who was an everyday mortal coach without Dan Mullen and with Tebow during the qb’s last year, we really aren’t looking at an upgrade.
I think Lawhorne and the rest of the board should keep what happens within the walls private, as it does absolutely no good to have the airing of dirty laundry done in public. Let the season play out, with our FULL support, and then see what happens.
Let the rebuttals begin.