Is Richt on the slippery slope?
Is this more than just a bad season for Mark Richt? (Associated Press)
Mark Richt says there’s no “chaos” in the Georgia locker room or staff room, and that while he’s “concerned” about his team’s 4-4 record, he’s “not concerned about the stability of the program or the direction of the program.”
But ESPN.com’s Chris Low says what a lot of college football observers are thinking: Georgia’s in decline.
Says Low: “Nobody’s claiming that Georgia’s program is in the tank, because the Bulldogs aren’t. But they’re also not what they once were under Mark Richt, who has some decisions to make at the end of the season there are becoming less and less difficult as the losses mount.”
Low says the Bulldogs are now “on the outside looking in at the elite programs in this conference, which only a few years ago would sounded preposterous if somebody would have alleged as much. Let’s face it. The defense is in shambles. When’s the last time the Bulldogs have stopped anybody in a game that counts? They’ve given up 37 or more points nine times in their last 17 games dating back to last season. And the penalties are just as disturbing. Richt deserves every chance to fix this, but he’ll probably only get one chance to get it right.”
Now, that’s a view from outside. But even within the Bulldog Nation, there’s a feeling that the past couple of years have seen the Georgia program slipping from the conference elite where Richt had elevated it in his first five seasons in Athens … that we’ve fallen out of the company of Florida, Alabama and LSU, and not just in terms of this season.
That’s one reason Richt’s decision to resort to another motivational ploy with the black helmets and pants has drawn such fan ire. The fact that he thinks the Bulldogs need such gimmicks, especially when facing Florida, rankles. As Dogs kicking legend Rex Robinson put it: “What used to be a meat and potatoes program has regressed in to a cake and icing program and I’m sick at my stomach.”
And T Kyle King of DawgSports summed up the state of the program like this: “Every gain the Georgia program has made since 2001 has been lost. We are now where we were in the 1990s. The glory run is over and we are back to square one.”
Increasingly, I’m hearing from longtime, devoted UGA fans that while they don’t think Richt should be fired, we might be witnessing the waning of the Richt era. And the feeling is that if he doesn’t make changes in his staff and show some decided progress toward turning things around next season, his own tenure could be in jeopardy, as ridiculous as that might have sounded at the beginning of last season when Georgia sat atop the national polls.
Others, like MrSEC.com’s John Pennington, who still ranks Georgia as the fifth healthiest SEC football program, point out that Georgia suffered a severe personnel hit in the loss of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, that the Dogs are on the verge of another Top 10 recruiting class and that “this is literally the first bad year for UGA under Mark Richt.”
Ah, but it’s a different landscape now from Vince Dooley’s day, when a longstanding, successful coach could have the occasional off season or two without folks getting suicidal. Coaches who had shown they could be successful were given the benefit of the doubt that they could right the ship and get back on course. In college football now, though, as in just about everything, we have no patience for the long haul. We want instant gratification. And if we don’t get it, we want change.
I agree that Richt, the dean of SEC coaches, should not be fired. I think Auburn was stupid to run off Tommy Tuberville. At least UT could point to several disappointing seasons with Phil Fulmer, though I’m not sure they’re better off in the long run having unloaded him. Football is cyclical. Look at what happened Saturday to Southern Cal. Did Pete Carroll suddenly become a bad coach or forget how to scheme or recruit?
But one thing is clear: Georgia’s defense has become an embarrassment, and Willie Martinez shows no signs of being able to fix what he has wrought. The problem is that because of Richt’s loyalty to his staff it probably will take some bigfooting by Damon Evans or Michael Adams in order for him to finally cut loose his longtime pal.
I frankly don’t think Richt is in any danger until the fan dissatisfaction starts showing up in the finances. When contributions begin to drop and games start to not sell out, then he’ll be on thin ice. But I think Evans recognizes that the perception that the program is slipping can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy if something’s not done.
What do you think? Is the decline that started midseason last year an aberration, or has Richt begun an irreversible downward trend?
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319 comments Add your comment
frank
November 2nd, 2009
1:57 pm
first!
Phillip
November 2nd, 2009
1:58 pm
First. When a coach has to resort to gimmicks to try to gain an edge, you know that you are gasping for straws.
top 5 recruiting year NOT
November 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
good call coach to start Cox again ..look out for Tn Tech, could be your App State
Willie M
November 2nd, 2009
2:01 pm
Defense has got to be the number 1 priority. Discipline has got to be reinstalled into this program. CMR can not longer tolerated these penalties. Sitting players during the game must happen or the penalties will not slow down!
Me
November 2nd, 2009
2:02 pm
Let’s have him autograph all those black helmets from our beloved Dawgs and we’ll auction them to Gators fans……We’ll make a FORTUNE!!!!!!! All from our worst enemies….!!!!!
Hawk n the Ham
November 2nd, 2009
2:03 pm
Bye Bye Willie.
ricardo
November 2nd, 2009
2:03 pm
UGA is mediocre at best and has been for several years. Meyer, Saban and Miles are just as good as Richt at recruiting. The difference is the coaching and winning attitudes at the elite SEC programs.
Windale
November 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
I’ve heard that Martinez has said (privately) that he is done at the end of the season. He may be making it easy on Richt not having to fire him. We need discipline and an aggressive defense and we will be fine. Hang in there dawg fans we will be ok.
ct
November 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
The gimmicks are pathetic, hiring a solid d-coordinator in the offseason to bring a new discpliined attitude would fix a lot.
AthensSG
November 2nd, 2009
2:06 pm
Richt can only turn things around by cleaning house. Keep Gardner for recruiting and send the rest packing.
Justin Scott
November 2nd, 2009
2:07 pm
“They’ve given up 37 or more points nine times in their last 17 games”
I just wanted to reiterate that point.
And agree with those who say either Willie gets the boot, or Willie and Richt BOTH get the boot.
Disgraceful.
Hawk n the Ham
November 2nd, 2009
2:08 pm
Bud Foster
birddawg92
November 2nd, 2009
2:09 pm
Bill-Pretty well on the mark except your underlying presumption, that the decline only dates back a couple of years. The decline dates back to the day BVG left this staff. The defense’s woes are well-documented, but there’s no accountability in this program. Or whatever passes for it isn’t getting any results—my theory is that BVG was the only “enforcer” on the staff, and in his absence, fundamentals and discipline have vanished. The fact that there’s been 5 years (not 2 as many, including you assert) of obvious decline in ALL facets of UGA’s play, and it has gone on that long with no corrective action from Richt (e. g., staff changes), tells me Mark Richt is in over his head.
Anyone who is inclined to read more of one fan’s disgust, pretty much in line with your quote from Rex Robinson, I invite to visit this link: http://saturdayinathens.com/2009/11/02/never-thought-id-see-the-day/
HIRE KIRBY SMART!!
http://www.saturdayinathens.com
dap01
November 2nd, 2009
2:12 pm
UGA Football is not about being loyal to assistants. Season Ticket holders don’t buy tickets to be loyal to assistants. Recruits don’t come here to be loyal to assistants.
CMR is on a slippery slop, but he can be safe for a few years if he would get rid of two assistants who have PROVEN themselves not able to get the job done.
hammerhead
November 2nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Speaking of declining programs and fans not showing up, did anyone bother to watch any of the FSU vs NC State game? The entire endzone of Doak Campbell was EMPTY. Richt need look no further than his previous employer to see what happens to a program gone stale. Richt has this off-season to clean house and get some new ideas in Athens. If he doesn’t, then my problem will be with him, not Willie.
L-Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:13 pm
GLORY GLORY TO OLE’ GEORGIA!!!!
WHAT DO GEORGIA TECH “FANS” AND UGA FANS HAVE IN COMMON?? THEY ARE BOTH OBSESSED WITH THEM DAWGS AND WHAT GOES ON IN THE GREAT TOWN OF ATHENS, GA!!!!
4-4 IS AVERAGE!! WE DO NOT HAVE A LOSING RECORD!!!
ALL IS WELL IN ATHENS!!! JUST A TRANSITION YEAR!!!
LEAVE WILLIE MARTINEZ ALONE!!!
LEAVE MIKE BOBO ALONE!!!
HIRE DAVID POLLACK!!!!
HIRE JIM MORA JR.!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!! (IS THAT BEING A BLIND HOMER??)
toga
November 2nd, 2009
2:14 pm
Georgia is going to find it difficult to find a great coach willing to replace Richt. The way I see it, Georgia will be very lucky to hire one of the following coaches, all of which are better than Richt.
1) Sly Croom
2) Mike Dubose
3) Tommy Tubberville (long shot probably going to Tx. AM)
4) Petrino
5) Terry or Tommy Bowden
ROLL TIDE
HH
November 2nd, 2009
2:15 pm
I suggest everybody go to the website “dawg bone” and read Hale’s column. He has a couple of links to other columns, one of which states that Richt will be intractable about firing Martinez or Bobo at the end of the season, no matter what.
If that is true, then Evans needs to fire Richt then and there and start looking toward the future good of the program.
F-105 Thunderchief
November 2nd, 2009
2:15 pm
I think Mark Richt is going to quit at the end of this season. I think he’s had success, earned riches and has tired of the pressures of being head coach at a football factory. That said, Willie Martinez should help Richt out and resign.
Ramblin Wrecker
November 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
I think looking at FSU is like looking in a crystal ball of what UGA could become if Richt’s untouchable status is not challenged a little bit. Richt has the same personality as Bobby Bowden and ascribes to the same philosophy that having a lot of penalties is not something that should be dealt with sternly. I’ve heard Richt say that when he was at FSU, they were among the leaders every year in penalties and they still won. To me that sounds like a man who can live with penalties, but we see that it can doom your team in the SEC. UGA just isn’t talented enough to be minus 100 yards every game on penalties.
Hal
November 2nd, 2009
2:17 pm
Irreversible… not at all. Not with all that talent that Rivals.com says is in Athens.
Listen, we don’t want to hear it but Bob Stoops, Pete Carrol, Bill Cowher have all had bad seasons here and there. The immortal Vince Dooley was nearly run more than once. Johnny come lately fans forget that.
Now, will Mark make the changes without administration forcing him to? I’m not sure. We know he’s a loyal man and at one time it’s one of the things we appreciated most about him. I do think he’ll make the move after the season though. He’s a smart man, he knows the reason he came was because UGA is not a tier 2 program and it’ll be his butt if we go back there again. We have seen a gradual decline in the 4+ yrs CWM has been the DC and it’s gotten more than obvious at this point. We are just one Kirby Smart or Bud Foster from being right back in the thick of it again.
If Murray is as advertised, and we can start holding folks under 20 again… we are loaded everywhere else!
werodeintrucks
November 2nd, 2009
2:18 pm
CMR needs to be more loyal to his players, fans, an his family. It is time to clean house on both sides of the ball and time for CMR to start coaching and quit CEOing. What gave UGA the turnaround was CMR coached the offense and called the plays. He needs to take those responsibilities back. Hire a Dc. If Joe Cox gives us the best chance of winning this season, then the future looks bleak. I would transfer if I was Logan Gray. If I am so sorry that a QB can through 2 to 3 ints a game and I still can’t get on the field, it is time to go to GSU.
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
2:19 pm
Auburn certainly made the correct decision in running of Tubberville.
Tubby was a CEO style coach who did not interact with his players and whose staff had coaching changes more less forced on to him leading to a deeply fragmented staff. Read what Franklin has said about Auburn as a beginning. It was no secret around Auburn. Tuberville maybe a solid coach at another program but the situation at Auburn was past saving.
UGA needs to be careful to avoid this remember CWM is very close to CMR. Posters have said CWM was in CMR’s wedding I do not know if this is true but needless to say they are long time friends. Demoting Bobo may also lead to a disgruntled coaching staff.
Most UGA fans agree that some changes need to be made (to what extent and who is up to debate). CMR needs to make the changes on his own with Evans agreement to open up the budget for new coaches. If CMR does not, Adams and Evans need to replace everyone.
Hal
November 2nd, 2009
2:19 pm
Toga… simply put, you are an ignorant sum bytch saying stupid crap for shock factor. Go clean the rest of the stall please!
werodeintrucks
November 2nd, 2009
2:19 pm
Throw…
OriginulDawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:19 pm
Call the Falcons and get Van Gorder back!! Whatever he costs it would still be a bargain!!!
sic'em? sic-of-it
November 2nd, 2009
2:20 pm
I like Mark, he is a nice guy/good coach, but the obvious decline is due to poor D and O coordinators. For the love of God, get rid of/demote them both. Oh ya, kick Cox’s arse out too and put in Gray or one of the redshirted freshmen, Cox is a lost cause and it was known before the season even started.
knoxdawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:21 pm
Coach Richt deserves the opportunity to turn things around. I think he knows what must be done. The only question is will he do it. I hate to see anyone lose their job but it has become painfully obvious that the defense cannot get the job done. A new DC is a must and let him bring in his staff. I would also like to see a new OC. Put Bobo back coaching the QB’s. As far a Cox being the best bet for UGA to have a chance to win I just don’t see it. He has not performed well against superior defenses like UT and UF. Give someone else a shot at it. Open up the game plan and use everything you have. You are minus your best playmaker for this week so what have you got to loose. Find some more playmakers and find a way to get them the ball.
spurrier
November 2nd, 2009
2:22 pm
i’ll straighten it out for 20 mil.
werodeintrucks
November 2nd, 2009
2:23 pm
Hey…one of the big booster could go and buy out Willie like FSU did with Jeff Bowden since, FSU is the model for UGA program.
mcdaviddawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:23 pm
We have problems with defense, offense, special teams, motivation,quarterbacks, running game. Are we out of athletes? I don’t think so. One thread connects them all. Richt. I’m not sure what you guys think he does since no one wants to count him responsible. Get rid of him before he totally wrecks the program. There is no sign that he has any motivation at all. He’s not a winner and in the SEC it won’t get it. No coaching no success. The boys and fans deserve more.
nelson
November 2nd, 2009
2:23 pm
UGA’s penalties , especially the personal fouls, show that there is no discipline in the program. That is a coaching issue. If Richt can’t change this he should go. UGA reminds me of FSU .
m
November 2nd, 2009
2:25 pm
The thing that will get Richt fired is the same thing that got Donn_n fired…losing to TECH.
Richt will be fired when TECH beats ugag for the 3rd time in a row in November 2010.
But first we need to enjoy the 2nd installment of the annual stomping of the dawgs the last week of November 2009.
DublDawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
What kind of mindless hyperbole is this?
” I agree that Richt, the dean of SEC coaches, should not be fired. ”
The “dean of SEC coaches,” really?
Richt has never been a guy with a killer instict. I have never believed he’d win a NC. UF, AL, and LSU are all in better positions to win a national championship than UGA. It’s a fact.
The last truly important win UGA had was the SEC CG against LSU in December 2005. It took a down year and 8-4 record for Richt’s team to beat Florida in the intervening period since. The defense has been absolutely abysmal on the whole since Witless Willie took over.
The win loss record and the stats tell the tale. The program is in trouble irrespective of whether anyone at UGA wants to admit it.
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Hal, the loyal old Dawg fans also remember sticking with another “we’ll just have to play harder and make fewer mistakes coach” in Goff.
Florida has a coach that is winning while everyone in the SEC despises him and UGA has a nice guy coach with stars at QB, RB, and WR, no defense, and makes excuses. Is this the 90s or now?
A DC alone will not get UGA in the SECCG, a fresh OC or CMR returning to play calling duty will also be needed.
Raleigh Dog
November 2nd, 2009
2:27 pm
I think Thunderchief may be right. Richt doesn’t seem to have the “fire in the belly” anymore. Been too casual about too many losses. Never seems fired up about anything. It doesn’t seem to hurt when they lose or worse get embarassed. I think his priorities are elsewhere. Maybe he’s headed for a career change. I don’t think he should rant and rave and I admire his principles but he needs to communicate his competitiveness more. It seems to many that he’s not competitive and that he is complacent. Thunderchief may be right.
Dawg2121
November 2nd, 2009
2:28 pm
This circus started in over 4 years ago in 2006 when we lost to KY and Vandy in the same year. Sure we played a 5th year Senior at qb, a true freshman (Stafford) and a redshirt Fresh (Cox) but you already started seeing cranks in the armor. Defensive laps, displince issues, issues on the offense line for the seems like 50th year and huge misses in recruiting (Hayward and company…).
Little things since then have turned into pieces of the dam actually falling off folks. 2007 TN and SC, 2008 again FL and know 2009 a disaterious year to put it bluttly.
Folks we are outmanned, outcoached and outplayed by most teams we face these days no one can deny this, it’s a fact. we could easliy be sitting hear talking about a 2-6 Georgia team with close wins with SC and ASU.
Coach religous needs to be putting feelers out to the best possible coaching replacements ASAP in behind closed doors so when the season is over (my prediction is we go 5-7 at this point) at the end of the month he can name replacements a week or two after the season is over so we wont’ take much of hit with recruits.
Willie is gone, Fabrias is gone and I would not be surprised if the running backs coach is not replaced. Bobo gets one more year along with the chosen one, if we are this bad next year Richt as no chance of surving.
HC
November 2nd, 2009
2:29 pm
‘Toga, are you serious?
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
2:30 pm
m, Check out Donnan’s record against UT, Auburn, and UF before claiming GT had Donnan fired.
He was gone before ever entering that last game against GT. GT just removed all doubt from those sitting on the fence.
Also how did that work out for GT? Maybe you should hope CMR beats Auburn in a blowout.
Dave
November 2nd, 2009
2:30 pm
What do ya’ll think about Kirby Smart for DC?
George
November 2nd, 2009
2:30 pm
L-Dawg You make me wanna puke.
Richt will make at least $2.8 Million this year. WE have a right to voice our disgust for the state of the Georgia Football program.
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
‘Toga I would take Shula over any of the coaches you listed.
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
Sorry to break it to you, but “m” is correct. Richt will get one more year, unfortunately, and by losing to Tech next year, 3 in a row, his tenure will be done.
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Which GT fan is really L Dawg?
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
L-Dawg needs to be punched. Hard.
Tom
November 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
The comment that Verne Lundquist relayed on penalties still blows my mind.
Something to the effect of, “when I was at Florida State, we led the ACC in penalties, and it didn’t seem to matter.”
Huge, huge, HUGE difference between FSU in the early / mid-90s ACC vs. Georgia in the 2009 SEC and it’s stunning that a guy making seven figures can’t see that. Stunning.
Biff Pocaroba
November 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
I knew Richt was in trouble when he said there wasn’t enough practice time to work more with the special teams.
Kinny
November 2nd, 2009
2:35 pm
Charlie Strong? How about giving a black man the job? Plenty of great DC around the country who are young and hungry!
ChewDawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Defense is a train wreck…and getting worse. Martinez has got to go. We’ve know this for two years now, maybe three. Richt built this program on a lights out defense that allowed a good-enough offense to carry the day. Now, we’re still stuck with a good-enough offense but a have bad-enough defense and it’s showing in the record. Actually, the offense isn’t even good-enough. And for some reason, Richt thinks this is okay…or not serious enough to do something about it. Our zone is soft and weak underneath. We can’t seem to recognize a play-fake to save our life. We’ve forgotten what it means to wrap-up on a tackle and take a player to the ground. The D is just horrible. And all of it points back to the coach. Willie needs to go.
Now, on offense, well I’ll just say that firing Willie won’t be enough. Bobo has to go as well. He wasn’t experienced enough when he got the job and he hasn’t grown into it. When you run it on 3rd and long, which Bobo has done countless times, it means two things: 1) you don’t have confidence in your QB to protect the ball and find his receiver; or 2) you actually think you might catch the D asleep and pick up the first down. In either case, it’s clear the coaches don’t have it together. If you can’t trust a fifth-year senior to make the pass after 8 games, then you’d bench him and move on. And if it’s not that, then I have to question the play calling all together. Bobo has been brilliant at times, and a total flop at others. It’s clear he either needs a mentor (HUGE HINT FOR RICHT) to take him under his wing and show him how to strategize a game, or he needs to go back to be a position coach and learn some more. I’m not giving up on Bobo just yet, but he better step up his game pretty fast.
Whatever the outcome this year, if Martinez is still coaching at UGA next fall, I’m officially on the bandwagon to fire Richt. If that be the case, Willie had better FINALLY earn his paycheck or Richt can take all his friends to another school. If Willie proves me wrong, I’ll gladly eat crow…a double helping. I love Richt…think he’s one of the best. But he’s not paid to be a nice guy who looks out for his coaches. I love that he is that…but he’s paid to win football games and compete year in and year out. If he can’t do that, we’ll find someone who can.
Dave
November 2nd, 2009
2:37 pm
Kinny – not a bad idea. Love what he does on the defensive side.