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.
MFM
November 2nd, 2009
2:38 pm
Why is Damon Evans being left out of any talk of possible fireing? Isn’t he the boss of all the coaches? He gave all the coaches a raise after our talent loaded no heart effort last season. Wouldn’t you think he had to sign off on 85 ugly a$$ black helments and pants?
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
2:40 pm
Mark Richt is an imbecile. Plain and simple. The black helmet stunt sealed that fact.
For all you idiotic Richt supporters, why do you say that Richt is a good coach? How could this possibly happen to a good coach? Are you defining a “good coach” by X’s and O’s? Even then, it is dubious the Richt is a good coach. But even if we assume that his X’s and O’s are stellar, what about the other coaching aspects? I don’t see other “good coaches” (e.g., Saban and Meyer) harping on uniform colors so often. I don’t see other “good coaches” obsessing about ways to motivate their teams when playing their biggest rivals. I don’t see other “good coaches” surrounding themselves with mediocre assistants and then putting up with their obvious mediocrity. I don’t see other “good coaches” having teams that EVERY GAME play without discipline and then go on to tell us in the halftime interview and postgame interview that they are shooting themselves in the foot.
Has it ever dawned on you that Richt’s poor coaching has been covered up in the past by having natural born leaders on his team (e.g., Greene and Pollack) and having assistants who had enough fire to make up for Richt’s lack thereof (e.g., Van Gorder) and that without those, Richt has been exposed as the emperor with no clothes?
So, please tell us, what is it that makes Richt such a good coach, other than your supposed comparison to his predecessors Goff and Donnan (and to tell you the truth, I don’t remember any Donnan team underachieving as badly as UGA has done the last two years, 2000 included).
Va Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:40 pm
Why are we all assuming that CMR will have to FIRE Willie? If they are as good of buds as everyone said they are Willie won’t drag down CMR. He will do what all good friends do and try to not hurt that friend. Willie will resign after the end of the season to prevent CMR of being in an uncomfortable position and HAVE to fire him. Now Bobo and the rest may be a different story. But I don’t think we will have to worry about Willie. Plus from a recruiting standpoint he needs to stay until CMR finds a replacement so we don’t lose recruits in the transition. CMR will announce with regret that Willie has decided to pursue other opportunities in the insurance business and announce that his replacement will be Kirby Smart (or insert your own favorite here).
Gordon
November 2nd, 2009
2:41 pm
“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.”
Do you agree with this (instant gratification) or not? If you do, Richt should go at the end of the season. If not, he should stay. Richt has definitely shown, even with Martinez, that he can be successful.
Also, isn’t something wrong when the A.D. has to get involved with personnel decisions under the head coach? If you pay a guy $2.8M a year and don’t let him decide who his coordinators should be, then why are you paying him $2.8M a year? Richt and any head coach should be judged on what he produces, now how, as long as he is not breaking any University rules. At some point Evans should say “You haven’t won enough games and I don’t see where that is going to change, so you’re fired”, not “I’d like you to get rid of this coordinator or that coach”.
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
2:42 pm
Saban has been very loyal in rehiring Smart with each new job which says something about what he sees in Smart. Can smart coach a defense as well as Muschamp, Saban, or the long list of names tossed around as a possible new UGA DC? We can’t know.
go dawgs
November 2nd, 2009
2:42 pm
another successful recruiting year, a new defensive coordinator, and a return of discipline in the program and we are right back on track. i hope that richt has it in him to make some changes.
Johnny Test
November 2nd, 2009
2:42 pm
IMO the # 1 problem is the decline of the defensive performance over the last 3 years. The fix: fire Martinez.
The #2 problem is talent evaluation. Not playing Knowshone as a freshman is the best example. Trying to make a running back (Samuel) out of a linebacker is another example. Staying with Joe Cox when it was clear he is not Division 1A material and wasting a scholarship on Vince Vance are other examples. The fix; play the best players and forget the sentamentality.
#3 is the no fire, no discipline approach that has led to way too many penalties and arrests.The fix; hire assistants that bring that quality since the HC doesn’t have it.
Number 4 is BOBO as offensive coordinator. He is simply not good enough for that job at UGA. Western Carolina maybe but not UGA. The fix; go get somebody that is top notch and hungry to be in a big program like UGA.
#5 is our specials teams are terrible. The fix: get a new special teams coach and attitude. Did you see Florida’s special teams play? It was lights out baby. We ain’t even close.
Frankly, I think CMR deserves the chance to fix the issues but if he only takes half steps and doesn’t go all the way then he needs to go too. At this point I’m not sure he has the guts to do what is right for the program. We shall see.
Tech to the BCS
November 2nd, 2009
2:43 pm
Richt won his only 2 SEC titles when florida and bama were down. He will not win another–mark it down! meanwhile, Tech may get to the BCS title game in Paul Johnson’s second year, if some of the overrated teams in the top 10 lose.
Burdell
November 2nd, 2009
2:44 pm
I used to think L-DAWG was serious but it has to be a put-on, right? I am beginning to think L-DAWG is of the Saint Simons variety…
As a Tech fan I feel bad for CMR. I have always respected him and thought he was a great coach. I was pissed when he signed with UGA because I knew it would not be good for Tech. I understand why everyone is so upset. It’s just a shame. Here’s to hoping he makes the tough decisions in December and brings the team back next season.
GO JACKETS!!! BEAT THE DEACONS!!
Still a Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:45 pm
Same problems as last year just you don’t have two 1st rounders bailing out a terrible coached/schemes team. Got to make a change on defense and change to offense scheme. Basically every offense cord and defense cord knows what the dawgs are going to do on every play. All of the other elite teams change their schemes to keep up. We have just fell behind, top ten to top 100 team in one year.
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
2:46 pm
Va Dawg @ 2:40:
CMR and WM might be good friends, but WM ain’t walking away from that paycheck. Reality check time.
George
November 2nd, 2009
2:48 pm
A time for change…
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.
Nashville Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
If Richt continue coaching like these past two years, not only will he slipped out of the door, the door probably kick his A$$ harder than his free falling.
Richt just isn’t a great coach. He is only a good coach and probably have hard time beating UF, AU, LSU, Bama, and UT going forward.
I rather get rid of him now and start building with the best available coaches such as Jon Gruden, Muschamp, the Boise St. coach, and the Oregon coach.
ddawgs1972
November 2nd, 2009
2:49 pm
I do not think Richt should be fired and he will correct the ship! I have a thought though as an immediate audition would be to demote WM now to DB coach and give Rodney Gardner a chance to be the DC through the next 4 games to see if he can put together any schemes to improve our defense. If so then maybe give him the job for 2010, but that way we give him a try before we possibly loose him as a recruiter by bringing a new DC right over him! What do ya’ll think??
RogerDawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:50 pm
There are alot of stupid, stupid fans in the UGA nation. Mark Richt is in fact the winningest coach over the last nine years in the SEC! He has two SEC championships! CMR is the best coach this conference has…AND the best coach in the state of Georgia. It’s a down year…period! Get off your damned goggles!!!! You wan’t Ray Goff back you idiots!!!!???
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
ddawgs1972 @ 2:49:
What do I think? I think you’re delusional and insane. CMR has to go. If you think a man who needs to pull out black helmets to motivate the team is a man fit to be the head coach, then you just aren’t looking at the facts. How about you read my 2:40 post and get back to me with some answers?
George
November 2nd, 2009
2:52 pm
Somebody please tell Richt he’s at Georgia and has been for alomost 10 years. He does not need to keep reminding us how good FSU was when he was there a decade ago. Does anyopne else remember some of those FSU/NFL type teams underachieving too???
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.
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
2:52 pm
RogerDawg @ 2:50:
Read my 2:40 post and get back to me with some answers.
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
Here is what I think will happen;
1.) Martinez will resign or will be demoted.
2.) Fabris will be terminated.
3.) Richt will go back to calling plays with Bobo coaching the QB’s. Kinda like 2006 pre GT and bowl game.
4.) Murray will start at QB from day one and will ad a DJ like running dimension that we haven’t had since 2005.
We will have a schedule that is not quite as bad as 2009 with a trip to Colorado and a trip to Columbia. I believe we drop LSU and pick up MSU which won’t exactly be a walk in the park but Dixon graduates and Mullen hasn’t had time yet to build what he wants. The 2011 game with them will be difficult.
We can build this thing back up starting in 2010 with 9 or 10 wins and go from there. Gotta have a new DC.
George
November 2nd, 2009
2:54 pm
RogerDawg, you are a moron! He has the most wins in the last 9 years because he’s the only one thats been in the SEC that long…
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
2:55 pm
Gordon, I will also add that media has changed the game and in doing so has change recruiting. Take UT for instance, Schlabah and others had been calling for Fulmer’s head. Recruiting falls even after a SECCG appearance.
Kids don’t want to go to a program where a staff change can ruin their chances of playing time or at best they’re in a position like Mallet where they have to sit out a year.
So do you stick with him in hopes that the program inproves or take the chance in even if he is good enough recruiting falls off making the coaching change unavoidable and a longer rebuilding process? IMO CMR needs to layout changes to Evans for a clear path. Evans needs to make the decision based on the plan outlined with the help of big money donors.
UT looks to have made the wrong decision in keeping Fulmer so long and Miami may have made the correct decision in hiring a new OC and DC.
SouthGaDawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
This downward spiral didn’t start at mid season last year. Us as fans are not reacting to an emotioanl game this past weekend as Richt said, this started when Van Gorder left. The numbers don’t lie, the stats don’t have an “emotional” factor built in. All of us in Dawg Nation as well as the entire country knows we’ve had troubles long before last season. The defense was just lucky to still have really good defensive ends that could get pressure and not let our horrible secondary get exposed until the past couple of years. Bad coaching is infectious, it started with the defensive cooridinator and has now spread throughout the entire staff. Richt needs to get his head out of his a$$ and realize that none of us are making comments based on knee jerk reactions from the last game. Rather we are pissed off and aggrevated and fed up from the facts of the last 4 years. This is not anything new, as one of my professors used to say, even a blind squirell finds a nut every now and then. That my friends is what our football program has really been the last few years, we’ve been under coached, undisciplined blind squirell who has occasionally won a few games. Absolutely pathetic, I told one of my long time friends on Saturday, that if UGA and UF were to switch players and keep the same coaches, Myer would make our boys look all world and Richt would make them look below average, just as he has done to us. We as fans have a ton of passion and want our team to win and win a lot. However, what’s not being said is that it’s also a shame that Richt and his staff are downgrading these young boys who come to UGA to be better and to learn and to win. He is ruining these young men’s chances and wasting scholarships. It sickens me to know without a doubt that these young men could be so much more playing under better coaches. If Richt doesn’t want to make changes for us, the fans, then by god please make changes to stop the abuse he’s inflicting on the players.
Elliot Garcia
November 2nd, 2009
2:56 pm
What if Richt does not want to fire his friend Martinez? What will happen then?
dostadawg
November 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
I think our(uga) teams play this year is direct reflection of our coaches personality and leadership. Our coaches are just to damn nice!! We need a@#hole coaches who dont care about what anybody thinks they just want to win football games and beat the crap out of the other team!! Example: Urban–A@#hole, Saban–a#$hole, Kiffen–a#$hole, Miles–a#$hole, RICHT–MR. NICE GUY!! 3 of the 4 a#$holes have national championships and the other one has his team on the rise! Does anyone out there agree? I dont want to fire CMR, but he has got to change things. Black helmets aint going to cut it, he needs to get the “smash their faces with a hobnail boot” mentality!! If not we will always be playing second fiddle to UF, UT, ALABAMA, ETC…….
UGAX
November 2nd, 2009
2:58 pm
Richt’s loyalty to Joe Cox and Willie Martinez will be his undoing. Willie should have been let go last year after the Georgia Tech debacle. Joe should have been benched after LSU. No reason for this team to have 4 losses at this point of the season with two more guaranteed. Hey Mark, Joe’s not going to play on Sundays, so bring in the Freshman and your friendship with Martinez doesn’t pay your mortgage. Get some fire in your coaching or become a missionary (if you feel led to do so), both of which are OK with me.
RogerDawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:00 pm
Herschel Talker
You’re an idiot…but you’re obviously a Georgia Tech idiot. So you really have no bark in this battle…It’s really none of your business. Fact is, your beloved CPJ just last year pulled the “uniform color” debacle…..it was CPJ that put his team in the black jerseys last year in the chicken bowl…remember the one where LSU spanked you guys?
So don’t tell me our coach isn’t a good game day coach. Your coach is a blow hard and couldn’t hold a candle to what CMR has FORGOT as a head coach!
You’ll find out at the end of the month nerd boy!
A.Adams
November 2nd, 2009
3:00 pm
I’m a Florida grad and Jax native. I never thought I would feel sorry for the Bulldogs, but I do. I cannot understand with all the recruiting, 4-4 is all they have right now. Honestly, 7-1 this Monday would be ok by me. To my Georiga friends, please have me over for Thanksgiving, I won’t talk all day about the Gators.
Mike
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
The defense is definitely what has been in decline. As the article points out, the offense is suffering because of the loss of Moreno and Stafford early to the NFL. Defensively? there are no excuses there. The defense under Martinez is disgraceful. Even worse, its not because of talent. They have talent at all levels, but Martinez continues to get completely owned in game planning and execution.
If UGA fixes the D Coordinator, this program is right back up there. The talent is there, it just needs to be coached properly.
JT
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
MICHAEL AND DAMON
CLEAN HOUSE NOW. WE WANT MUSCHAMP OR BRIAN KELLY.
Hal
November 2nd, 2009
3:01 pm
Otto, lets be realistic now… where do you see a star QB or running back? We had them last year sure, to go along with 18 season ending injuries culminating in a perfect storm. Few realize that last year, may have been one of Mark’s best coaching jobs to date. I agree we can’t accept “we’ll work harder”. I’ve always believed in working smarter not harder.
Bobo’s fine, he could be better. But he’d be the best OC in the country if the D ever got him the ball back. Or if they ever got him the ball on the short side of the field. I do think we’re a tad predictable at times, but I think that has a lot more to do with who’s on the field v/s the OC. Having said that, I was indeed furious when we gave up on a good drive at 3 and 12 by handing off.
The D is the entire problem. We have always had penalties but after “the dance” it’s been far worse. The officials absolutely have a target on UGA and no intelligent football fan regardless of affiliation could argue that.
BVG gave up 30 1 time… ONE TIME in 4 years. We’ve given 37 in 9 of 17 games now. We can’t win that way even if Moreno and Stafford stayed 8 years. Defense wins games guys… offense sells tickets. I’ve gone back and looked, in the last 18 games we’ve lossed… IF we’d given up BVG’s avg points against while he was at UGA, we would have lost 5 of them. CWM has lost the other 13 games!!!
RogerDawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
George
Why don’t you just shut your damned mouth! You think YOU have the right to criticize CMR or his staff????!!!!! Just who in the hel1 are you????
ryan
November 2nd, 2009
3:03 pm
Yea i agree something has to change i mean even with 5 star recruiting we still can’t beat Florida ,UT, LSU, and now GT. CMR coaching staff does not know what to do with these players.
95Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
Does anyone remember Coach Richt making a comment after we got embarrassed by Univ of Tenn in 2007: He said something like he sensed ‘the Beginning of the End’ of the GA program and he could feel the total lack of emotion before the UT game. (I don’t remember the exact quote he used, but I felt that was the most candid he had ever been in his assessments of the program). I think it is unacceptable that we carry this level of talent and are not able to get motivated for our Rival games. We are not recruiting guys that nobody wants. These are the same guys that TN, AL, FL, AU are going after as well.
The black helmets and pants were a complete joke. My 5 year old daughter (who usually watches the first quarter or so before she gets bored) said ‘Dad, why are they wearing different colors? Is that so they can look like somebody else?’ I said Wow. That is a great observation. It actually did look like some other team getting destroyed by Florida and not UGA. Maybe that was the point.
Good thing Halloween was on Saturday and I have young kids. It really saved the day….
Burdell
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
Seems like a lot of this team’s issues come back to discipline.
Many of you have argued that lack of discipline is the head coach’s fault…and I agree to an extent.
Could it be that the type of student athletes that have been recruited in the past few years are predisposed to being undisciplined? There is an obvious trend lately towards the fact that the “best” football players coming out of high school aren’t always the “best” individuals, teammates and/or people in general.
IMHO, I think it is a combination of these two problems (coaching/recruiting) that the Bulldogs face today. Any thoughts?
RealDawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
5 years of decline by Willie. Show some pride and quit before you cost your friend his job.
I have no idea what to do about the penalties. Turnovers…take away half the ints and it will not be that bad. I can’t believe he is starting Cox again…why?? If he is are best chance to win…we are screwed next year.
Herschel Talker
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
ATTENTION EVERYONE:
ROGERDAWG IS A TECH NERD POSING AS A DAWG. HENCEFORTH PLEASE IGNORE THIS IMBECILE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
HERSCHEL TALKER
Big Albany Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
I think we need to be cautious about so much criticism and calling to fire Coach Richt. I agree with some wholesale changes being made at the coordinator positions. But one down year and we are calling for his head? REALLY?
Besides, we all know the problems FSU is having. Jimbo Fischer is clearly not the answer. Don’t think for one minute that Bobby Bowden won’t go quietly in the night if Mark Richt is willing to replace him. That is a father-son relationship. The decline of the Seminoles can clearly be attributed to Coach Richt leaving them. There is no doubt that FSU President Thomas Kent “T.K.” Wetherell is making Coach Richt his number one priority this off season. With the high school athletes that come out of Florida who in the ACC could compete with him at FSU? Not Miami or GT. Why, because Shannon will be fired after this year at Miami and Johnson is bound to leave Tech in a year or two for a better gig either in the Big 12/Ten or SEC. Coach Richt needs to stay just were he is.
Valdosta Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:05 pm
There are only 2 names that should be cosidered for Georgia, both are UGA alums and both coach 2 of the best defenses in the country. And UGA has the money to steal them away from their current jobs, Will Muscham, and or Kirby Smart! Look no further.
Kinny
November 2nd, 2009
3:05 pm
Does anyone remember the details of the contract extensions the staff received when CMR contract was redone. If I am correct they all had the buy out provisions. The thinking at the time was that if another school came hunting for them they would have to pay us to get them. However if they are fired they would also get paid.
Point being, there may be no reason they would voluntarily quit!
Valdosta Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:05 pm
Thats Muschamp!
Dawg Chick
November 2nd, 2009
3:06 pm
FIRE CMR NOW!! Clean the slate. Loran Smith gotta go too.
Otto
November 2nd, 2009
3:06 pm
Nashville Dawg, Don’t forget the TCU coach. He has been loyal to TCU and built a consistant winner in the middle of Big 12 country with great defense. I would trust he would stay in UGA not jumping for the next big offer.
SouthGaDawg, “that if UGA and UF were to switch players and keep the same coaches, Myer would make our boys look all world and Richt would make them look below average, just as he has done to us”
Agreed, you and I are not the only ones to say it.
Mike
November 2nd, 2009
3:06 pm
@A.Adams – here is how it happens
1) your stars leave early for the NFL. Stafford and Moreno’s loss cannot be understated. Early entries can have big impacts because you might not have people behind them that actually want to wait their turn. Shockley was the exception to the rule.
2) instead of playing Coastal Carolina, Troy, Miami of Ohio, or other bottom feeders, you have to start the season @Oklahoma St. and put Arizona St in between an SEC stretch of South Carolina, @Arkansas, LSU, and @UT.
3) as if 1 and 2 arent bad enough, toss in a clueless D Coordinator.
One or maybe 2 of these points can be overcome. All 3? Well thats how you get to 4-4 and hoping for a bowl game.
95Dawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:07 pm
As an addendum to the ‘Beginning of the End’ comment: Coach Richt said that was the sense he got from the team and felt like he had to get that reversed and gets things back on course and light a fire. It worked that year but since then it seems we have completely run out of mojo.
Tom
November 2nd, 2009
3:08 pm
RogerDawg, you finally got something right (and EZ agrees….)…
“Georgia fans are passionate; but let’s face it – they’re not the brightest fans. Passionate, but not bright.” – Eric Zeier, November 21, 2001
Macon Dog in Middle East
November 2nd, 2009
3:09 pm
I’ve been doing a lot more Red & Black bleeding lately than I ever thought I would! At this point, I really think Mark Richt should either offer to resign or dismiss every member of his coaching staff except Rodney Garner. To keep him (and his considerable talent for recruiting our home-grown players, who Kiffin and every other coach are coming after), Richt should offer him whatever assistant coaching position he wants.
Damon Evans’ seat should also be red hot, but Michael Adams would have to turn up that flame, and he won’t. (Since he disparaged Coach Dooley, I have had no use for Adams. I will give him credit, however, for heeding the big Atlanta dogs and firing Donnan.) Evans is paid far too much. His scheduling has been reckless and unnecessarily so.
There is just no excuse for our having been beaten to a pulp, time and again, as we have been this year. We’ll be lucky to show well against Auburn, Kentucky and Tech. We may well lose all three of those games. If we lose two of the three, Richt won’t have to offer to resign.
Although I am no fan of Kiffin’s (and I despise UT), he has made a positive impact on that program. He has put some old fashion fear or respect (or whatever) into those players, who would not give their all for Fulmer. If we go after Muschamp or Smart, we should not care where they are now (ACC or wherever). Maybe we should follow the Bees’ lead; they wised up and got an Erk Russell disciple. Maybe we should too.
Oh one more thing: burn those ugly black unis.
getthepicturenow
November 2nd, 2009
3:10 pm
here’s the worst part of it all, the last 2 times we went to Knoxville, we’ve given up 90. let that sink in 90. the last 2 times we’ve been to Jax, we’ve given up 90. 90 points to the 2 big boys in our division. pathetic. & i for one am sick and tired of the explanation from CMR & CWM that we just need to “make plays”. sickening.
RogerDawg
November 2nd, 2009
3:11 pm
Herschel Talker
Bite it…and go back to the nerdy Tech threads. You f___king tool.
Mr.Thomas Anthony "The taxman Cometh" Jones, SR
November 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Settle down people! the University of Georgia Football Program is in good shape. The problem is cyclical. Florida’s quarterback Tim Tebow is a senior. Nextyear he will carrying a clipboard at a NFL Team. The Florida team will also be without their bellweather linebacker. He will be starting in the NFL next year. Once you take those two professional players away the UGA and Florida teams are equal. The Bulldogs have A. J. Green the best wide receiver in the SEC. He, Julio Jones at Alabama. Tate at Notre Dame,Dez bryant at Oklahoma State and Williams at USC are all future NFl players. Mr. Rennie Curran is an great linbacker. Mr. Washaun Ealey will only get better and better.
Besides Mr. Richt is a great recruiter. He will keep UGA afloat be recruiting great player. People come to see great players like Mr. Curran, Mr. Ealey, and Mr. green. In a couple of years the UGA program will be contanding for the SEC East just like it did in the past. Calm down people. This is the year for TCU, Cincinnati, and the University of Houston Cougars. The scholarship limits have made TCU egual with Ohio Sttae and Penn State, and Oklahoma and better than Michigan and UCLA. People should study Football and quit whining about bad UGA has been this year. Coach Richt is an outstanding football coach. Meyer will probably take the Notre Dame job by 2011 anyway.
Monty
November 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Richt needs to forget the paint brush and get some coaches who can coach. UGA is definitely a 2nd tier SEC program. The elite coaches in this league would not tolerate a defense coordinator who puts out a product such as Martinez does. We are now soft mentally. Miles, Saban, Meyer and as much as it hurts to say, Kiffin, have raised the bar. CMR seems to think everything will be fine as long as we can try another gimmick or two. Well we have about run out of colors to change. Need to start with the offensive and defensive coordinators. Go back and look at the beat down Alabama delivered last year, when we had Moreno and Stafford and Momass. We just flat out out-coached.