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
jellybeandawg
January 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
I hope they take all of the coffee pots out of Butts-Mehre because Coffee is for closers and its obvious that Richt cant close anything!
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
All the news thats fit to print
1. Be very very good
2. Catch a break somewhere. Get a little lucky once or twice.
AND WIN THE SEC EAST!
GaGator
January 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
Funny thing about Georgia’s last 2 SEC championships in 2002 & 2005. In both years,
they lost to the Gators in Jacksonville——-talk about being in someone head. Georgia need more than just a good DC, the whole team needs a Psychiatrist.
Otto
January 28th, 2010
5:49 pm
UGA was not screwed and this is from a UGA fan. A playoff would only damage the fun of the regular season. Miami destroyed UF on their way to BCS CG in ‘02, if UGA wanted anyone room to gripe UF was a must win.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
They also talk about how awesome they are 6 months before their team ends up losing 5-6 games.
Umm we have lost 5 games or more once in the past 10-15 years. What planet are you living on?
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:50 pm
“Florida lost to Ole Miss two years ago and still one the National Title
Why?”
Because there were no undefeated teams that year.
“Do you get it now dummy?”
You are some piece of work, ma’am.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:51 pm
All the news thats fit to print are you afraid to admit that you are Bill King?
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:52 pm
GaGator
Not to rub it in or anything, but Tebow and Meyer have never beaten Auburn.
Just sayin.
Otto
January 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
GaGator, The QB rotation hurt CMR in ‘02 which has grown into more of debate that the staff has remained far to loyal to the players especially seniors.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
“Umm we have lost 5 games or more once in the past 10-15 years. What planet are you living on?”
LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, I’m from Earth, nice to meet you.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
5:54 pm
No because im not. Are you afraid to admit your fascination with all things UGA football. Ill be you cant go a day without reading up on UGA and posting on a UGA blog.
We are flattered really.
Otto
January 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
A 1 loss UF may have gone over an undefeated Va Tech in ‘08
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:55 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha, you are absolutely correct. Auburn fans will probably always talk about that kind of like UF fans talk about Peyton Manning never beating UF. College Football can be strange at times, like the fact that until this season UF hadn’t won in the state of Mississippi since the mid 80’s.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
5:57 pm
All the news thats fit to print, you should be flattered or could it be that your blog is on the AJC and I live here.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
“Umm we have lost 5 games or more once in the past 10-15 years.”
1995 – 6-6
1996 – 6-5
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
All the news thats fit to print, one more comment about your logic. Using your logic, an undefeated Boise team really got screwed.
GaGator
January 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
All the news thats fit to print said
“Umm we have lost 5 games or more once in the past 10-15 years. What planet are you living on?
Check this out. Let’s start with Georgia’s record in 1993, 5-6, 1995 6-6, 1996 5-6, and 2009 8-5. There were 4 or 5 four-loss seasons in there, but I didn’t want to beat a dead horse (err..dawg).
Even I did not realize that Georgia had been so bad recently.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
“Auburn fans will probably always talk about that kind of like UF fans talk about Peyton Manning never beating UF.”
No, we’re too busy being angry over the 2004 season. I still claim Auburn as co-champions.
Also, USC is going to go on probation soon. When that happens, Auburn may have their national title.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:02 pm
“No because im not. Are you afraid to admit your fascination with all things UGA football. Ill be you cant go a day without reading up on UGA and posting on a UGA blog.”
LOL
I’ve already debunked your falsehoods.
Care to continue to name call, ma’am?
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
6:03 pm
“Umm we have lost 5 games or more once in the past 10-15 years. What planet are you living on?”
LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, I’m from Earth, nice to meet you.
Are you drunk or something dude? Its a little earlier no
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:03 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha, I think the 2004 season is why it is now acknowledged that the winner of the SEC will be invited to the NC game. Thanks War Eagles!!
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:04 pm
ga gator
Yep, you’re quite welcome. WAR DAMN EAGLE! 2004 Co-National Champions. LOL
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
6:05 pm
I’ve already debunked your falsehoods.
No you havent
Youve only proved my point. Its ok. You dont have to get it. It would be boring if everyone was smart. We need special people like you too to make the world go round.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:06 pm
“Are you drunk or something dude? Its a little earlier no”
Nope, but you’re obviously a complete retard.
Jacket Fan
January 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
I hope Richt stays for 15+ years at UGA. That will be good news for Tech fans.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
“Youve only proved my point. Its ok. You dont have to get it. It would be boring if everyone was smart. We need special people like you too to make the world go round.”
Ma’am, I know it must be hard living in a trailer park, but please, let the ones who know fact from fiction, blog.
THANKS!!!!!
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:09 pm
“That will be good news for Tech fans.”
How so? You gals can’t even beat Iowa.
To add insult to injury, my team beat the team that beat the team that beat your team in the Orange Bowl.
Ponder that for a while.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:10 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha , My cousin played Basketball and made the all SEC Freshman team in 67. Not sure why Tech Fans would be happy for anyone to be a coach unless it was Cutcliff and even he might be Tech.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
6:10 pm
Check this out. Let’s start with Georgia’s record in 1993, 5-6, 1995 6-6, 1996 5-6, and 2009 8-5.
Right just like i said. 10-15 years ago. How many time has UGA lost 5 or more games in the last ten years.
Once
Case closed.
All the news thats fit to print
January 28th, 2010
6:11 pm
I hope Richt stays for 15+ years at UGA. That will be good news for Tech fans.
Why is that. So he can whip them 15 more times?
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:16 pm
All the news thats fit to print Why is that. So he can whip them 15 more times. FINALLY WE AGREE!
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:17 pm
“Right just like i said. 10-15 years ago. How many time has UGA lost 5 or more games in the last ten years.”
Next time you should actually word your sentences like a grown up instead of a kindergartner.
“So he can whip them 15 more times?”
Uh…….you do realize Tech beat your team 2 years in a row don’t you?
Big D Dawg
January 28th, 2010
6:17 pm
Edugator?? who is this matthes you speak of?? I thought your qb coming in for 2010 is Brantley?
DirtyDawg
January 28th, 2010
6:21 pm
No, the ‘gag’ I’m referring to is the reflex that any reasonable person feels when they have to witness University of Florida fan arrogance on the heels of what was embarrassing defeat….like the humiliation at the hands of Nebraska in that NC game – you know the one where Tom Osborne said ‘It’s not schemes, it’s athletes’…or the more recent beat-down by Alabama in this past SEC Championship.
As for Georgia, we’ve beaten you before and we’ll beat you again. And don’t be surprised if it comes this October. Of course you’ll still just be a bunch of arrogant a-holes, but you’ll also be beaten arrogant a-holes.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:22 pm
Big D Dawg, you are correct; I was embarrassed for him.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:23 pm
“Richt is a good coach and someone I’m proud to be leading our football team.”
Which you should be but still………..zero national titles.
Brian
January 28th, 2010
6:24 pm
Richt is a good coach and someone I’m proud to be leading our football team. And Even though I would have preferred to have Bud Foster or Kirby Smart as a DC, I think Grantham will be really good. We also brought in a GREAT secondary coach. As for Orson Charles, he was really good as freshman and I think he’s going to be All-SEC this year, and Aaron Murray’s #2 target after AJ. Go Dawgs!
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:26 pm
DirtyDawg that was a reach. I was thinking more about when UGA lost 2 out of 3 to Zook.
Dawgs 2010
January 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
“I hope Richt stays for 15+ years at UGA. That will be good news for Tech fans.”
I do too, considering he’s 8-1 against Tech, and beat them even with Cox and Martinez. Both those guys are gone. We’ll be much better, and will have a great running game, Ealey was only a freshman.
30-24 WE RUN THIS STATE.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:33 pm
“I do too, considering he’s 8-1 against Tech”
Um, Richt has lost two Tech games in a row…………………….
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:34 pm
“30-24 WE RUN THIS STATE.”
WOW!!!!!!! That’s saying so much considering each school has won 1 national title each in the past 30+ years.
ga gator
January 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha, ok we bite, when did he loose 2 in a row to Tech?
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:37 pm
“Smashsmeesha Bobeesha, ok we bite, when did he loose 2 in a row to Tech?”
My bad, it was 2008 only. Whoops. My bad.
Dawgs 2010
January 28th, 2010
6:37 pm
Um, Richt has lost two Tech games in a row…………………….
No just one, in 2008.
Dawg Pounder
January 28th, 2010
6:39 pm
Dawgs 2010, you mean the year when you had 2 top ten draft picks in the same backfield?
Dawgs 2010
January 28th, 2010
6:41 pm
WOW!!!!!!! That’s saying so much considering each school has won 1 national title each in the past 30+ years.
We own the series, and recent years, and usually get the better recruits. We beat Tech even with our worst qb and dc of the 2000’s.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:42 pm
“We own the series, and recent years, and usually get the better recruits. We beat Tech even with our worst qb and dc of the 2000’s.”
And zero national championships to show for it.
Looks Like Hosehead Is Posting To Himself Again
January 28th, 2010
6:42 pm
He’s back. Faking 2 different handles.
Smashsmeesha + all the news fit= Same hosehead unemployed person
Posting to himself.
Dude, get a job, leave your trailer, didn’t you hear the Obama speech–there’s HOPE for EVEN hoseheads LIKE YOU.
Smashsmeesha Bobeesha
January 28th, 2010
6:43 pm
“He’s back. Faking 2 different handles.
Smashsmeesha + all the news fit= Same hosehead unemployed person
Posting to himself.”
Prove it. Please show some proof, dumba$$.
“Dude, get a job, leave your trailer, didn’t you hear the Obama speech–there’s HOPE for EVEN hoseheads LIKE YOU.”
Well, I did leave one a moment ago. Went to get my money from your welfare recipient mom.
ugaaccountant
January 28th, 2010
6:47 pm
I actually wish Auburn had been given the title in some poll in 2004 because honestly, they were screwed over. They deserved a half-title way moreso than say GA Tech in 1990.