Finally, a positive spin on Richt’s future at UGA
Do you see Mark Richt growing old at UGA? (Associated Press)
It’s a given that Mark Richt’s program lost a little momentum last season, which in the knee-jerk world of college football “analysis” prompted the “hot seat” talk that reached a crescendo during the prolonged search for a defensive coordinator. After Kirby Smart decided to stay at Alabama, MrSEC.com declared flatly that Richt was “in trouble” and “his days are running out.”
The hiring of Todd Grantham calmed the waters a bit, but there’s still a contingent of pundits who seem to think that anything less than an SEC East title this fall will leave Richt with a tenuous grip on his job.
So it’s refreshing to see ESPN.com’s Chris Low opining that if any SEC coach is in it for the long haul, it’s Richt.
Low says that “Steve Spurrier told me last summer that he doubts the SEC will ever see a head coach again who endures at one place for 16 or 17 seasons the way Phillip Fulmer did at Tennessee. The money coaches are making these days is out of control. The pressure to win (right away) is even more out of control. But if there’s going to be another guy who makes it 15-plus years in this league at the same school, my money’s on Richt.”
Not only that, but Low says that while it remains to be seen if anybody can catch Alabama or Florida in the league, “if anybody can, I would go with Richt and the Bulldogs. He’s shown a willingness to change by overhauling his defensive staff, and they’re again working on a top 4 recruiting class nationally. And even after a disappointing season in 2009, the team didn’t get away from him and actually played its best football at the end. Let’s see what the next couple of seasons hold for the Bulldogs before we start writing Richt’s demise.”
Amen to that. I see Richt at Georgia for the long haul. What about you?
THERE’S THAT WORD AGAIN
Turnovers. The problem that plagued Georgia’s football team in 2009 was also responsible for the basketball Dogs’ loss to Florida Wednesday night despite strong scoring showings from Trey Thompkins and Ricky McPhee and the Dogs shooting 59.6 from the floor, a season high. It was nip and tuck for much of the first half before Florida went on a run in the last 4 minutes. The culprit mainly was poor ball-handling. Georgia turned the ball over 19 times, which translated into 33 points for the Gators.
Best assessment of the game I’ve seen so far came from coach Mark Fox at Georgiadogs.com: “We didn’t take care of the ball well enough or rebound well enough, and [Florida’s] points-off-turnovers and second-chance points ate us up tonight. … When we didn’t turn the ball over, we were pretty good at finishing plays. We have to defend better on the road if we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win. We have to rebound better on the road. We didn’t do either of those things.”
That’s a hallmark of a young team like Fox has this year. But they’re learning. The Dogs finally managed to put a game away against Tennessee. Now it’s time to grow up some more and win one on the road this Saturday against South Carolina, which upset No. 1 Kentucky this week.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE … OR FOUR
If you missed David Hale’s report on Orson Charles in Bulldog Blog, check it out. As part of a military science class he’s taken, Charles has decided to join the early morning ROTC physical training sessions at UGA in addition to his football conditioning. Reports Charles: “It’s definitely different than football — way different. In football, the most you’ll probably run is probably 200 [yards] back and forth. They go miles and miles and miles, and my whole method is just trying to keep up with them.”
Charles found he wasn’t in as good a shape as he thought he was, but he’s relishing the challenge of the 4-mile runs. “It’s more something I wanted to see if I could do,” he said. “Hopefully it rubs off on football.”
I like what this says about that young man.
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449 comments Add your comment
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:01 pm
jellybeandawg, dont think they were referred to as the U when CMR was a backup to Kelley.
Dawg Pounder
January 28th, 2010
5:02 pm
Mark Richt Is The Man!, who are you guys trying to convince, each other? Because the Gators hope he stays forever.
GaGator
January 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
edugator,
Actually Brantley has been running the Gator offense for 3 years, not 2. He will be a red shirt junior this year, which mean he is more like a senior qb in his 4th year and will be head and shoulders above most other SEC qb’s.
DirtyDawg
January 28th, 2010
5:11 pm
You still can’t spell GaGator without G-A-G.
exNFLplayer
January 28th, 2010
5:12 pm
Orson Charles is a lock for the next level. Mark Richt is a lock to be at UGA for as long as he wants.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:14 pm
Other GaGator (with caps) you are correct; Tony Barnhart and a host of SEC commentators stated during the LSU week when it was uncertain about Tebow’s concussion that Brantley was already the 3rd or 4th best QB in the SEC.
GaGator
January 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Richt’s Season Record SEC record
2001 8 & 4 5 & 3
2002 13 & 1 7 & 1
2003 11 & 3 6 & 2
2004 10 & 2 6 & 2
42 & 10 80.70% 24 & 8 75%
2005 10 & 3 6 & 2
2006 9 & 4 4 & 4
2007 11 & 2 6 & 2
2008 10 & 3 6 & 2
2009 8 & 5 4 & 4
48 & 17 73.80% 26 & 14 65%
As you see, in Richt’s 1st 4 years he had a 80.7% winning % and 75% against SEC teams
The past 5 years, his winning % has dropped to 73.8% and 65% against SEC
teams. He better pick up his pace and reverse this trend. If he goes 4-4 in the SEC this year people will be calling for his head. There is still a firemarkricht.com still up.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
DirtyDawg, gag as in choke when UGA plays the Gators.
monty
January 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
I like Richt the man and I like Richt the coach, however, any coach worth his salt ought to be able to take top 5 recruiting classes every year and translate that into 8-9 win seasons. It takes a super motivater (ala Saban or Meyer) to produce a National Championship. It just seems to me that with our talent pool, being 2nd or third best in the eastern division since Meyer arrived isn’t quite good enough. Richts problem is he is the 2nd or 3rd best coach in his bracket.
Conyers Yellow Jacket
January 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
UGA fans should be thankful they have Richt and stop expecting a SEC title or national championship every year. His record against GT is 8-1 I believe.
Yellow Fuzz84
January 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
Richt’s recruits are dropping like flies. Gonna be long day in Athens in November for UGaG when the new sherriff returns to town. Fully expect a 51-7 style beatdown and Nesbitt to wrap up the Heisman on the spot, then chew on some hedges.
exNFLplayer
January 28th, 2010
5:22 pm
Just because a coach doesn’t berate his players and coaches publicly doesn’t mean he doesn’t have fire in the belly. Coach Richt lets em know inside the family where it belongs. Players and coaches respect and appreciate Richts leadership style. Rodney Garner turned down UT’s $450,000.00 and publicly stated money wasn’t everything when compared to working for a man like Mark Richt. That speaks volumes about Richts leadership and Garner’s character. Coaches that publicly berate players and staff wind up with mercenaries that bolt town on the 1st thing smokin.
UGA #2 in 2002 & 2007
January 28th, 2010
5:24 pm
Richt finished #2 in 2002 & 2007, after 2 bad seasons. Should have been #1–we were robbed.
Same for 2010.
If you don’t see that–you is blinder than a bat.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:25 pm
“UGA fans should be thankful they have Richt and stop expecting a SEC title or national championship every year.”
Ain’t that the truth! UGA hasn’t been close to winning a title since 1980.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:27 pm
Hey Jacket fans, not to be a jerk but you gals didn’t exactly do anything great this past season.
Iowa took you gals to the cleaners.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
UGA #2 in 2002 & 2007, explain how you were robbed.
Dennis
January 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
Catch up????? Good gosh almighty look at the running start the bulldogs had on both UF and ALA. Catch up????? Get real!!!!! You have been lapped and not by a good looking lady.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
“Richt finished #2 in 2002 & 2007, after 2 bad seasons. Should have been #1–we were robbed.”
Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooong!
UGA didn’t win the division nor the SEC in 2007.
If ANY school got robbed it’s Auburn 2004.
Only 6 SEC teams have gone undefeated since 1980.
UGA-1
Alabama-2
Tennessee-1
Auburn-2
Every single team above except for Auburn got to play for the NT.
boots
January 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
This whole thing about Richt quitting to become a missionary is just people not understanding how a Christian can be a strong Christian and feel comfortable where God has him serving. Not every Christian is called to the mission field and even fewer go. CMR is clearly gifted by God to minister to young men on the field, and is, in effect, a missionary doing that. All Christians should be open with their faith and can do so without moving to Africa. If he is happy where he is and feels that is where the Lord has him, he will stay. Just because the man walks the walk doesn’t mean he is ready to bolt for Ethiopia.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
ga gator
That is an EXCELLENT question. UGA was never robbed. They didn’t win the division, they didn’t go undefeated and in 2007 they lost 2 games against two crappy teams.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
Is anyone else surprised that the football team’s conditioning doesn’t include 4-mile runs?!
Umm no. Football is about running fast. Not far. Distance running uses different muscles that arent needed as much in football. In football you want the fast twitch sprinter type muscle. And the ability to use them over and over and over. Apples to Oranges.
UGA #2 in 2002 & 2007
January 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
wierd how Fla goes 13-1 and wins the SEC and gets invited to the National Championship. Georgia went 13-1 and won the SEC in 2002, no invite. LSU did the same thing.
wierd how Oklahoma can get invited to the Natl Champ without winning their conference, but Georgia wasn’t in 2007, despite finishing #1 after #1 & #2 lost.
Georgia has done what Oklahoma, Florida, and LSU has done, but did not get the invite to the big dance.
Doesn’t change the facts.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:34 pm
UGA #2 in 2002 & 2007, surely you are not really stupid are you? UGA came in second in the SEC EAST STUPID!!
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:35 pm
“Georgia has done what Oklahoma, Florida, and LSU has done, but did not get the invite to the big dance.”
WRONG!!!!!!!! Florida won the SEC as well as LSU.
Auburn went UNDEFEATED, beat SIX top 25 teams, beat TN twice, set an all-time NFL recruiting record and had the toughest schedule out of USC and Oklahoma……
And was left out.
jellybeandawg
January 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
Boots every night I pray to sweet baby Jesus that Richt will quit and become a missionary but so far he has not answered my prayer yet.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
“wierd how Oklahoma can get invited to the Natl Champ without winning their conference”
Uh………..please tell me you’re joking.
Oklahoma won the Big 12 when they went.
2007 Anti-Georgia Bias
January 28th, 2010
5:37 pm
2 teams BOTH got invited to the National Championship WITHOUT WINNING THEIR CONFERENCE?
Nebraska in 2001
Oklahoma in 2003
Georgia got DISSED while Nebraska and Oklahoma didn’t.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:37 pm
ga gator
He is not a smart mayun.
jellybeandawg
January 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha you are right. Give it up UGA #2 in 2002 & 2007. The dawgs were not robbed of anything.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
2007 Anti-Georgia Bias, same stupid blogger, different handle. This UGA, anti georgia bias, espn hates us , mark may, lou holtz hates, the refs cheated us is almost too funny.
cherokee
January 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha ….what were the 2 years for Auburn I know of one but cant remember the 2nd. Just curious
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
wierd how Oklahoma can get invited to the Natl Champ without winning their conference,
I found that funny too. Nobody seemed to mind back then but when UGA was the logical choice in 2007 all the talking heads kept saying you couldnt play for the title if you didnt win your conference. Funny I dont remember any complaining when it happened before.
Heck if Kentucky just makes a short FG or Vandy doesnt blow the game we would have finished ahead of Tenn and won the whole thing. Sigh.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
“Georgia got DISSED while Nebraska and Oklahoma didn’t.”
No they didn’t.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
“I found that funny too. Nobody seemed to mind back then but when UGA was the logical choice in 2007 all the talking heads kept saying you couldnt play for the title if you didnt win your conference. Funny I dont remember any complaining when it happened before.”
Again, win your division, win the SEC.
Just don’t go undefeated or you’ll get left out like AUBURN.
Perry
January 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
If he does not beat Florida in the next couple of years I think he will be gone.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
UGA was the best team in 2002 as well but Ohio St kept pulling out miracles all season. 13-1 gets you in most years but we picked a bad year to not be undefeated.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:42 pm
All the news thats fit to print, please tell me you are not Bill King?
Otto
January 28th, 2010
5:42 pm
‘02 the preseason #1 and #2 teams ran the table.
Bobo blew ‘07 in the S. Carolina game. If you don’t win you can’t control your destiny but with that said if their is a 3 way tie IMO the highest ranked team in the BCS should go to the SECCG much like the Big 12 does. In a 3 way tie an entire body of work should be taken into account over just a head to head match up. Conf championship games were created to put the conf. in a better position to play for a BCS title.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:43 pm
“Heck if Kentucky just makes a short FG or Vandy doesnt blow the game we would have finished ahead of Tenn and won the whole thing. Sigh.”
IF IF IF………………….
IF Auburn had just beaten Bowling Green instead of the Citadel in 2004…………….
ALL BS!!!!!
Bottom line: UGA has NOT been screwed out of anything. Just two seasons ago, UGA was ranked NUMBER ONE in the country………and blew it.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:43 pm
“Georgia got DISSED while Nebraska and Oklahoma didn’t.”
Yes they did
Otto
January 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
CMR bought 2 year with a new DC barring a complete melt down. The program must show improvement in 2011 with a division title or a win over UF.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:44 pm
“UGA was the best team in 2002 as well but Ohio St kept pulling out miracles all season. 13-1 gets you in most years but we picked a bad year to not be undefeated.”
Aweeeeeeeeeeee, poor whittle puppy.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:45 pm
“Yes they did”
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:45 pm
Bottom line: UGA has NOT been screwed out of anything. Just two seasons ago, UGA was ranked NUMBER ONE in the country………and blew it.
Umm wrong. And your missing the point. Without a playoff the MNC is a crap shoot. You have to have two things
1. Be very very good
2. Catch a break somewhere. Get a little lucky once or twice.
cherokee
January 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha what 2 seasons did Auburn go undefeated?
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
What’s funny about Dawg fans is that they still talk about 1980 as if anyone gives a crap. They also talk about how awesome they are 6 months before their team ends up losing 5-6 games.
Gotta love their misguided attempts at crowning themselves kings of football.
jellybeandawg
January 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
UGA got and continues to gets what they deserve. Every year Richt recruits top 10 classes, yet he can’t close. Its NOT a coincidence!
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:47 pm
“Umm wrong. And your missing the point. ”
What was I wrong about?
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:47 pm
“Smashsmeesha Bobeesha what 2 seasons did Auburn go undefeated?”
1993
2004
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
Ill give you an example but i dont you get it.
Florida lost to Ole Miss two years ago and still one the National Title
Why?
Because there werent two undefeated teams from the other BCS conferences.
If say Ohio St and Virginia Tech were undefeated in 2008. The gators would have been left out by something they could not control. Fortunate for them that wasnt the situation. But it could have been very easily. So the Gators caught a break and there werent two undefeated teams. Hurray.
They got into the game.
Do you get it now dummy?