What does Urban Meyer’s departure mean for UGA?
Mark Richt probably won't miss his annual Jacksonville meetings with Urban Meyer, but is the Florida coach quitting really good for UGA? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
As word spread Wednesday afternoon of Urban Meyer’s resignation and speculation began centering around Dan Mullen heading the list of potential replacements, I noted on Twitter and Facebook that I was unsure whether this turn of events was good for UGA or not.
The feedback I got from fellow Bulldogs fans pretty much ran along the lines of this being possibly good for Mark Richt’s program in the short-run, but not good long-term.
Here’s the thinking: No matter who takes over at Florida, there’ll be at least a year of transition, even if it’s Mullen, who has only been gone from the program a couple of years and is considered by many to have been the genius behind Meyer’s phenomenal success there as well as at Bowling Green and Utah, where he also worked was Meyer’s key assistant. Some recruits might get jittery and if FSU doesn’t scoop ’em all up, the Dogs could benefit there.
And with Richt facing what appears to be a make-or-break season in 2011, any rebooting on the part of the Gators, however shortlived, tends to look like a good thing. Pair that with Gus Malzahn’s likely promotion to the head coaching ranks somewhere and Auburn, also likely to lose Cam Newton, looks like another rival returning to beatable status.
But as Meyer noted, “Florida will always be Florida,” and this is likely to be just a hiccup for the Gator program, particularly if Mullen is the new hire. I mean, the guy managed to win in Starkville. Imagine what he can do with all the resources and recruiting advantages he’ll have at the U of F.
Under Meyer, the Gators were likely to have continued slipping slightly since after last December’s brief retirement he obviously no longer had the fire in the belly, and without Mullen and Tim Tebow he looked much less like a coaching genius. As one fan noted, now with a new coach they get new energy, new optimism and no more Steve Addazio as O-ccordinator. So, going forward, Georgia fans might end up missing Meyer more than you’d think.
As for Mullen, you’ve got to figure he’d jump at the chance to coach at Florida. Why stay in Starkville when you can have possibly the best coaching job in America? Yes, expectations are very high in Gainesville, where as Steve Spurrier has noted 10 wins are probably no longer enough to satisfy the fan base. But Mullen seems like a pretty confident guy and isn’t likely to be fazed by that.
Now, of course, Mullen might not be Jeremy Foley’s first choice. There’s been speculation he might take another run at Bob Stoops, though that would seem quite a longshot. And other names floated include another former Meyer assistant, Louisville’s Charlie Strong, along with Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino. Some lists throw Boise State’s Chris Petersen and former NFL coach Jon Gruden into the mix as well.
But you’ve got to figure Mullen tops the list because, in addition to his Florida connections and looking like a perfect fit for the job, it also would remove him from the bank of potential rival coaches. The chances of him staying for the long haul in Starkville seem pretty slim. And if the top job were to come open in Athens after next season and Mullen hadn’t yet made a move from Mississippi State, he’d likely top Greg McGarity’s search list.
Personally, I’m hoping Richt turns things around and it doesn’t come to that. I like him as a person and as a coach, and I really don’t want the program to have to go through a coaching change.
But I’ve got to agree with those who say a re-energized Florida program minus a coach who’d lost his mojo doesn’t bode well for UGA’s prospects in Jacksonville and the SEC East. What do you think?
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216 comments Add your comment
Dawg Bone
December 9th, 2010
12:30 pm
Real impact is to the SEC. The quality needs to keep high. fla has certainly helped. All programs rise when the SEC stays strong. But UGA needs to be responsible to rising to the top with our program not hoping other programs sink below us. I hate fla (and spurier) but appreciate the good they and others have done to keep the SEC untouchable in athletics. We must do our part!
Pirtdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:31 pm
I am not worried at all bout what is going on in Florida, as long as the Dawgs take care of business on the field and in recruiting then I could care less if they dig The Bear up from the grave. We could sit around all day whining bout what could happen Fla but all that really matters is Richt gets us going in the right direction.
Ron Zook
December 9th, 2010
12:36 pm
I am thinking about accepting Foley’s offer to come back and just coach in the Georgia game.
Chris
December 9th, 2010
12:37 pm
The only good that could come from this is if Florida’s AD losses his mind and hires Bobo as his new HC. Then we would own Florida again.
Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen, and Florida will hire a good quality coach that we could have went after next year when we fire Richt. Again, for the life of me I can’t understand why we are giving Richt another year. I guess everyone will continue to be happy with mediocrity.
Dean Tate
December 9th, 2010
12:37 pm
I’d like to believe this will help UGA, but we could only beat Zook once and this year we couldn’t beat Florida’s worst team in two decades. The beat goes on…
saban
December 9th, 2010
12:37 pm
ANything to keep Richt in Athens.
New daddies puppies.
All 5 star recruits. 6-6 seasons until Grantham choaks on a krispy kreme, and Richt cooks in a tanning bed.
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 9th, 2010
12:42 pm
Mixed bag for the SEC East: Bad news is Meyer steps down at UF. Good news is Richt gets another chance at THUGA.
THIRTY FOUR POINTS to your thirty one points
December 9th, 2010
12:44 pm
Doesn’t matter, even Zook beat GA
((((((((((((((((((((((((34-31))))))))))))))))))))
8 out of 10
18 out of 21
Stinger
December 9th, 2010
12:45 pm
It means another loss. Doesn’t matter who the coach is. LMFAO
Leroy
December 9th, 2010
12:49 pm
BO The DC needs the ability to know that just a nose tacle will not stop the running game of teams that run up the middle. The 3 man line used against GT had big gaps that their FB ran through and our linebackers were so far back that by the time they tuched the runner he had gained 5 to 7 yards. The FB had over 100 yards up the middle. Common sense by the DC will be more useful than a NT. He should have shifted to a 6 man line filling the gaps and stopping the free yardage up the middle and DEs crashing the line outside of the tackles and stopping the sweeps. LBs clean up and 3 dbs cover the receiver and backup the run or something simular to this. In other words don’t stay in the same defense with big gaps and give up over 400 yds rushing. Until we get 3 all americans manning the DL then don’t count on the 3-4 to stop the running game.
You Wonder
December 9th, 2010
12:50 pm
You wonder if the Cam Newton investigation was a factor in his decision?
Todd Grantham
December 9th, 2010
12:51 pm
Leroy
December 9th, 2010
12:49 pm
Yep, Leroy…couldn’t stop that “high school offense”, but still get my $750K!
WarBeagle
December 9th, 2010
12:51 pm
Don’t forget Auburn will soon be on probation.
azdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:52 pm
Bo. Even though Grantham has had only one year, his defenses, w/few exceptions against lesser opponents, have not shown any improvement from game to game. Granted he’s no Kiffin which only proves he can’t or won’t take lessons from what other DC’s have done successfully against the same opponents that GA faced and did poorly. If GA could have stopped CO, FL, MSU they could have won those games even w/the T/O’s. He’s also slow to react to offensive changes as in the tech game. His D did well stopping Tech in their 1st few series but when PJ caught on to what Grantham was doing he switched but Grantham didn’t or didn’t know how. The best D recruits coming out of HS and to a degree JC would most likely rather play for a DC with a good rep or one thats on the rise like a Diaz at MSU and not a DC that surrenders over 400 yds rushing in its final game. You’d think over 12 games there would be improvement instead of the same pattern. Richt has a tendency to hang onto under achieveing coaches until its too late. I hope I’m wrong but our D will not be any better and may be worse in 2011.
I didn’t say Richt didn’t go after the best recruits but rather he should have used a few scholarships on additional (big) D linemen or offer them to JC kids as AL did w/Mount Cody. I think he should have seen this coming.
GT Blows
December 9th, 2010
12:55 pm
Stinger
December 9th, 2010
12:45 pm
It means another loss. Doesn’t matter who the coach is. LMFAO
Thanks for agreeing that GT Bugs will lose to the Dawgs. But not sure what this has to do with UGA/FL? Are you Asian or Pakistani? ROTFLMAO.
dawglover
December 9th, 2010
12:56 pm
It makes no difference to uga who the coach at FL is….georgia will still be georgia.
What u sayin?
December 9th, 2010
12:57 pm
azdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:52 pm
Granted he’s no Kiffin which only proves he can’t or won’t take lessons from what other DC’s have done successfully against the same opponents that GA faced and did poorly.
Yeah, he should have asked Saban how to stop Auburn. Idiot.
guy
December 9th, 2010
12:57 pm
racism is fun!
azdawg
December 9th, 2010
1:01 pm
Leroy. Thanks for your follow up and input on Grantham.
Allen
December 9th, 2010
1:06 pm
I do not see how this helps UGA. Florida will hire another top-notch, hungry, young coach who will only make them better . . . and Mullen looks to be a pretty darn good coach with ties to Gainesville . . . I mean, he beat us at Mississippi State, for crying out loud. Spurrier’s masterful job of getting SC to the SEC Championship Game is going to make SC an even tougher competitor . . . and Dooley is going to get it together and have UT back in the mix sooner than later. The best possible news for UGA is that Auburn is going down . . . big time. They have been paying players over there for years and the chickens are coming home to roost. If not the death penalty, Auburn is looking at YEARS of probation (no bowls) with reduced scholarships . . . a high school player would be crazy to think about going there now. I still cannot believe we could not beat the worst Florida team in 15 years . . . but that worm is gonna turn. Go Dogs!
robodawg
December 9th, 2010
1:08 pm
Florida will always be Florida. As one recruit said last year, “They have palm trees.” We have to rise to their level, not wait for them to falter. Maybe we can at least cherry pick a couple recruits.
In fact, I’d rather Meyer stayed. Without Mullen, Strong, or Tebow, he’s much more beatable. Shameful we couldn’t stop their offense this year.
Ceasar
December 9th, 2010
1:12 pm
73st again no NC in site!!!
da' boomer
December 9th, 2010
1:15 pm
Meyer leaving is the only way the ass-clowns in Athens can ever catch up with Florida.
Evansdawg
December 9th, 2010
1:21 pm
“Tech Rules.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
nostrodamus
December 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
Florida will beat UGA again next year, and the year after and the year after and after and after….
Dawg 39
December 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
When Spurrier Took over at UF, I told my friends, All season ticket holders & life long Gator Haters, that the Dawgs would never win again as long as Spurrier was the Coach. I was wrong. We won once. A record of 1 & 10 over the next 11 years.
Under Richt we are 2 & 8 over the last 10 years. To say that Richt is the reason we don’t win in Jax. makes little sense to Me. The players have to change their mind set & get over the Jax. Jinx. I believe having players from Fla. like Murray & Charles will help the Dawgs do that.
Talk to me about UGA's Gaithers and Bean Anderson
December 9th, 2010
1:25 pm
We all know that UGA ’s d line of Abry Jones and DeAngelo Tyson and such was inferior to nearly every O line on our schedule. They ( 279 lbs ) are skinny when compared to 325 lb O linemen. Sad it was to see UGA being shoved off the line by Colorado and GT, SC and MSU and Arkansas and Florida. UGA is not equipped physically to play big boy ball anymore and the alumni are ticked off and I am one of them. This has to changeis 2011 ………………so can these two men play ball??
It is my understanding that we have Anderson and Gaithers( both hurt in 2010 ) who are both 310 lbs and can play the Nose Tackle position. If true, then DeAngelo Tyson and Abry Jones will be instant second or third teamers. We can get two big uns for sure out of JUCO and then we would be DEEP in big boy Nose Tackles.
Go Dogs.
Billo
December 9th, 2010
1:27 pm
Beating the Gators is not a UF coaching issue, its a UGA coaching issue.
Dawgman in South GA
December 9th, 2010
1:29 pm
New coach in Gainsville FL+ Mark Richt in Athens= same result in Jacksonville………OUR ANNUAL BUTT WHIPPING!
Somebody wake me up when this nightmare of a coaching staff is gone!
takedowndawg
December 9th, 2010
1:31 pm
The only thing that UGA can hope to gain is not losing( 4-5), 4 & 5 star state of Georgia players to fl every year for the last three years. The big winner I see is FSU and Jimbo Fisher gaining Florida recruits particularly in the next three months. Nothing is going to help UGA until it gets its defense fixed. You cannot play with the big boys in tight games without a first rate defense. We currently, obviously don’t have that at this time. I would like to think that we could get some defensive recruiting help resulting from the departure of meyer, but I doubt that we will.
Double Rainbow
December 9th, 2010
1:31 pm
What does it mean??? What does it mean????
Jax game in 2010
December 9th, 2010
1:34 pm
We had our chance with Florida in JAX this year. We had several KEY boys from Florida on our squad like Murray and Orson Charles and Wooten and Carlton Thomas and we CHOKED.
Murray blew that game all by himself with his fumble and his pics and then the game killer interception in OT. That last pic was not recorded as a pic, so his interceptions are worse than his actual numbers reveal. I will never forget that dumb throw into triple coverage. He panicked. He choked.
Murray cost UGA the Florida game. Period. Cumming Sanders not falling on a loose Florida ball near the Florida goal also cost UGA the game. We are not a solid team folks. We have not been for 3 – 5 years. Period.
We need new blood that is NOT BURNED OUT like Meyer is. At least he is smart enough to recognize that he is toast. Richt?? He is waiting for the word from a higher authority to tell him to resign and that might take some time, UGA fans and grads.
Go Dogs.
UGA class of 71 & 73
JB
December 9th, 2010
1:35 pm
Irrespective of Florida, UGA must:
1. Find a NT. Hopefully Anderson or Geathers can step up.
2. Find a great or even really good RB (Crowell). A great back will make the O-Line look much better than the current ‘average’ RBs.
nobie
December 9th, 2010
1:41 pm
As a long time UGA fan I can tell you that since Dooley left, UF could hire Dumbo or Goofy as caoch and they would still beat UGA in Jax.
Dawggie
December 9th, 2010
1:44 pm
Even if UF gets better because of Mullen as their head coach (which I agree is likely), I am still happy Corch Irvin Maya will no longer be darkening the pixels of TV on Saturdays.
The FBI has great tickets ..............again
December 9th, 2010
1:44 pm
The NC game will be a sell out much like the SEC Championship game in Atlanta was. The FBI already has acquired great seats. Recruiting violations?? No, no. The FBI has jurisdiction on CRIMINAL matters like under world figures offering hush money or bribes to pastors or kids that play ball.
NCAA is a college level governing and enforcement body of all schools. Recruiting issues are their jurisdiction. Just because they ruled that Scam was ok to play ……………….. at that precise moment, does not forever close the AU scandal with him. When the Bureau closes the case ………….. it is closed.
MSU is also in their scrutiny. AU signed him however and the guy at Victory Land dog racing track has deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep Auburn ties.
THIS is why the FBI will be viewing the NC game from the club level seats ……………where Lowder and McGregor sit. Both $$$ influential AU gents. McGregor gave millions for the AU basketball arena, as one example of many such examples of influence peddling.
War eagle soar with pride.
Dawgman in South GA
December 9th, 2010
1:52 pm
Dawg 39 at 1:24pm
“To say that Richt is the reason we dont win in Jax. makes little sense to me.”
Dude, you just said that UGA wouldnt win again after UF MADE A COACHING CHANGE and got Spurrier.
Its amazing how a program takes off with the right headman isnt it.
Smiling Jack
December 9th, 2010
1:59 pm
Well said Bass Stringerfish! I’m on line with you. The Bulldogs are in capable hands and I expect the future to be better. The negative harping on Bulldog bloggs is sickening. But, it’s their opinion sick as it is. Go Dawgs!
bruce mac
December 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
Wesley, wesley are all Gaytor fans stupid or just the ones that post on Bulldawg Blogs? There is not a Dawg alive that does not know the UGA/UF record under the Illinois coach. What happened did you just wake up in the hot tub time machine? You dumb a$$ Gaytors need to get some new material.
GStateBen
December 9th, 2010
2:09 pm
My friend, you couldn’t be more wrong. This scatters there 2011 recruits to higher quality programs (Alabama, Auburn and Florida State) not to a program that everyone is negatively recruiting against.
When Dan Mullen gets to Gainesville, he’ll out coach, out recruit and beat Georgia again.
Take a look at Georgia 2011 schedule. Expect 4 losses (or more) next season.
Good is the enemy of great.
South Ga Dawg
December 9th, 2010
2:10 pm
Dont care who the gaytors hire. Richt will get the ship righted and we’re bout to go on a run. Mark it down boys and girls.
Chris S
December 9th, 2010
2:11 pm
The worst possible outcome would be a UGA victory against Florida in the midst of an otherwise mediocre season. Imagine UGA goes 8-4, beating UF, but losing to Boise, USC, Auburn and another team. That would suggest Richt hasn’t turned the ship around and probably deserves to be shown the door, but it might be hard to fire him in a year he beats Florida, especially as it would likely mean a decent second half to the season. Much like Felton’s SEC title, it would postpone the inevitable without changing anything.
What we don’t want is for Richt to remain on the hot seat, but still the head coach, after the end of next season. If he can turn things around, great, but I’d rather see UGA go 5-7 than do just enough for Richt to keep his job but not secure it.
guy
December 9th, 2010
2:13 pm
south ga dawg, i’ll mark that down right next to the national titles you were going to win in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010….
Moron Gaytor Fan
December 9th, 2010
2:17 pm
Yea, yea, and 17 out of 20 and yea yea “red panties’ and yea yea “THUGA”. Go Gaytors, aren’t we just the cutest thing? We are behind in the series versus UGA and never have had an undefeated season ever but we make up for it by being the most obnoxious and juvenile aholes ever. Go Gaytors. .
moron dawg fan
December 9th, 2010
2:22 pm
we had herschel walker one time. and it was awesome…
ronald
December 9th, 2010
2:24 pm
UGA would never hire a UF guy. I don’t care if Mullen wins 9 or 10 in Starkville, he will never be a head coach in Athens.
I-DOG
December 9th, 2010
2:26 pm
At this point, all it means is that Florida has a question mark at coach.
If UGA and Richt can’t beat THAT Gator team this year, the one that was 7-5, the one that was likely the worst Gator team of the last 25 years and likely the worst one for quite some time to come… if Richt’s squad can’t beat THAT Gator team, then I don’t see how this has any real significance.
Dawghater
December 9th, 2010
2:28 pm
Urban Meyer’s departure from Florida simply means another FL head coach will get it wipe UGA year after year after year! The head coach changes but the result will be the same. See you in J’Ville!
SidArnwine
December 9th, 2010
2:31 pm
Bill don’t fool yourself into thinking that UGA will pretty much cherrypick the recruits from Florida now. I think a few other teams will have something to offer as well.Also, don’t kid yourself into thinking that Mullen would just automatically be waiting on the UGA job if it were to come open. And one other thing Urban leaving UF will only mean UGA would still have to be better than they have been lately no matter who is coaching at another school, or who is on the filed for said school.
Sammy Dawg
December 9th, 2010
2:31 pm
As long as we keep beating tech!