Should Mark Richt’s job ride on winning the SEC East?
Predictions about what it will take to save Mark Richt's job are all over the place. (AJC file)
While we brace ourselves for the inevitable new round of Mark-Richt-on-the-hot-seat talk with the arrival of the SEC’s annual media days, it’s interesting to see the way expectations of what Richt needs to do to keep his job vary.
Recently we discussed here how many wins we thought Richt needed to get this season to keep his job, and the consensus appears to be that 10 wins was a sure thing, nine probably would save him and if it was eight, it would depend on whether that number included a victory over Florida.
But while South Carolina appears still to be most prognosticators’ favorite to win the SEC East, Georgia has popped up in quite a few predictions as the dark horse to take the division, and CollegeFootball News even goes so far as to posit that if the Dogs don’t win the East, Richt won’t be back.
Their all-or-nothing reasoning goes like this: “The timing couldn’t be better to come out of the blue and be a major player in the SEC. Florida probably has one more year before it becomes a monster again, Tennessee is still sleeping, and South Carolina, as good as it is, is still South Carolina; there’s going to be a gaffe or two along the way. Georgia might have a ton of flaws, and it might be relying on a slew of unknowns to carry the way, but the East is never going to get easier than it is right now, and Richt has to take advantage. … No, Georgia won’t be 2010 Auburn, but it could rise up and be good enough to win the East and play for the SEC title. And if not, next year will be all about a new era in Georgia football.”
Summing up its preview of Georgia, CFN says, “The season will be a success if … the Dawgs win the East. When you miss the three best teams from the West — Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas — and get South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Auburn at home, you have to take advantage of it. There are major holes on the offensive line, receiver, and linebacker, but the schedule is favorable, the influx of new talent should be a boost, and the desperation is there to win the East. Winning the SEC title is a stretch considering how good the West champion will be, but getting to the title game will be enough for Richt to stick around.”
At the other extreme, the Macon Telegraph asks whether Richt’s recruiting prowess and the commitments he keeps snagging might not be enough for him to keep his job even if the Dogs have another subpar year on the field, simply because a coaching change might send some of those recruits elsewhere.
I’m not buying either of those scenarios.
While winning the SEC East would surely boost Richt’s stock quite a bit, I don’t believe his job is riding on it. At the same time, if the wheels come off and Georgia has a disaster of a season, I don’t think nonbinding verbal commitments from some blue-chip recruits who may or may not pan out down the road are going to be enough to save Richt. That will still come down to wins and losses.
What do you think?
SILVER LINING
While I’m dismayed yet another Georgia running back has gotten himself in trouble, I have to admit the first thought I had when I heard Carlton Thomas likely won’t be playing against Boise State was that at least Mike Bobo won’t be tempted to run him up the middle on third-and-long.
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397 comments Add your comment
UGA Alumnus
July 20th, 2011
1:45 pm
You know, I grew up in the state of Georgia, but I was a die-hard Auburn Tiger from birth. My family is from there. Great Grandpa owned a barbershop and cut hair in Toomers Corner. My father’s house is a shrine to Auburn football. We always had season tickets at Jordan-Hare stadium and had them during more than one undefeated season in Auburn.
All that said, I attended the University of Georgia. I love my school and I love UGA athletics. ALL of UGA athletics. Baseball, Tennis, Volleyball, Soccer, Softball, etc.
I’m a Dawg. I love UGA football. I will always be a Dawg because my heart is here in Athens and at UGA. This place formed me as a person.
So when I watch UGA football, in Sanford Stadium or on the television, I’m supporting a tradition that I belong to. I’m watching with pride. Win or lose, I watch with pride! It’s my school! It’s my team!
Still@theBAR
July 20th, 2011
1:46 pm
No it shouldn’t but his Salary damn sure should. He makes to much to be tied for 8th, 9th, or 10th best with Tennessee and Kentucky.
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
1:46 pm
Win total for Dooley 75-80:
75 – 9
76 – 10
77 – 5
78 – 9
79 – 6
80 – 12
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
1:48 pm
Win totals for Bear Bryant 66-71
66 – 11
67 – 8
68 – 8
69 – 6
70 – 6
71 – 11
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
1:50 pm
Joe Paterno’s win totals 86-91:
86 -
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
1:50 pm
Joe Paterno’s win totals 86-91:
86 -
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
1:50 pm
Richt’s actually done the worst in the SEC in turnover against winning teams, 2 years in a row, finishing last place 12th in the SEC.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/offense/split09/category12/sort01.html
You think of the 4 to’s vs. Fla, 3 vs. UCF, red zone fumbles vs. South Caro/Miss St/Colorado. These turnover problems should have been corrected last off season but were not.
The defense isn’t helping with turnover margin much, 1 recovered fumble against good teams was 12th in the SEC. This should have been fixed too last off season.
schmeckdawg
July 20th, 2011
1:51 pm
Hey DawginLex, were you serious this morning when you posted that you had heard that Jenkins was talking to the NCAA about Awbarn offering him some $$$$$$$?
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
1:51 pm
jopa’s
86 – 12
87 – 8
88 – 5
89 – 8
90 – 9
91 – 11
Will not accept mediocrity
July 20th, 2011
1:53 pm
Coach K would have been canned early on at Duke by some of you posters “who will not accept mediocrity” since he did not have a winning in conference record until his 5th year at Duke.
Tom Landry would have been fired by you guys since he went several years before going above .500 at Dallas.
John Wooden didn’t come close to sniffing a NC until he had been at UCLA about 16 years.
Mark Richt is averaging an SEC title every five years. If he has another 6-7 record or does not win the SEC in the next 3-4 years, chances are good he will be out of Athens. At least let’s play out the 2011 season before giving up on him. (and I realize many of the anti-Richt posts are from rival schools who would like to see him gone.)
Vance Duly
July 20th, 2011
1:53 pm
For me, HOW we play this year is more of a key to Richt’s job security than the final won-loss record. Coach Richt will not be able to control the frequency or severity of injuries. If we lose 2 starting offensive linemen for any stretch of time, our offense may be sunk because we have VERY little depth. I believe Jenkins, Geathers, Jones and Ogletree will make a huge difference in our defense, so we should be better there. I don’t believe our defense will collapse from exhaustion again this year, thankfully.
My greatest lack of confidence is in Coach Bobo’s offensive game plan and play-calling. Even though our scoring AVERAGE was good last year, it was inconsistent. When we needed to compensate for weak defense, we failed too often. Coach Bobo is too predictable and some of his inexplicable play calls cause us to waste offensive possessions. Coach Bobo wants to run between the tackles after the vast majority of incomplete 1st down passes, leaving us with 3rd and long. Coach Bobo prefers using play-action fakes even on 3rd and 10, when everyone knows we should be throwing the ball (which limits the QB’s time to observe the field). Coach Bobo enjoys running the miniscule Carlton Thomas between the tackles at the most unusual times. When something is working consistently, Coach Bobo tends to stop it for the sake of “balance” (see Kentucky 2009 and GA Tech 2010 as specific examples). Perhaps, Bobo’s most “inspired” call of the past 2 years was Auburn 2009, when the bomb to Israel Troupe ignited a comeback victory. BUT, as he admitted the next day, Bobo didn’t even realize that Troupe was in the game, as AJ got hurt on the prior play. Even with AJ being double-teamed last year, Orson Charles averaged only 2 touches per game. Amazing!
Will Coach Bobo grow into his OC position? He seems much better suited to be QB Coach and a primary recruiter. It’s not about padding our scoring numbers against Coastal Carolina – it’s about scoring whatever number is necessary to beat Boise St, Auburn, the Evil Gators, etc. If Bobo doesn’t do a better job as OC, this could be a long season and could hurt Coach Richt’s future. Hopefully, Coach Richt will intervene in the play-calling if needed…….. GO DAWGS!!!
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
1:55 pm
South Carolina defense receovered 10 fumbles against winning teams last year for 1st in SEC, Grantham got 1 for last in SEC.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/defense/split09/category18/sort01.html
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
1:55 pm
Bowden 81-87 (pre-ACC)
81 – 6
82 – 9
83 – 8
84 – 7
85 – 9
86 – 7
87 – 11
BIG Joe
July 20th, 2011
1:56 pm
.Beach Dawg
I totally agree. I usually like BIll King’s blogs, but this is garbage.
Sign me off.
Beast from the East
July 20th, 2011
1:57 pm
“the Evil Gators”
LOL! Why do we have to be thought of as evil? Truth be told, we’re no different than all the other SEC fans.
UGA Alumnus
July 20th, 2011
1:57 pm
What if we stopped predicting SEC and National Championships every year?
What if we just enjoyed the Dawgs on the field, win or lose?
What if we could be proud of our boys because it’s our school and we know they are working hard?
What if we acknowledged that no one team can win a championship every single season.
Lets stop predicting wins, and start enjoying football.
Go Dawgs!
Good riddance to Richt
July 20th, 2011
1:58 pm
Anyone who saw Caleb King’s farewell tweet understands very well that most of Mark Richt’s 4- and 5-star recruits should never have graduated from grade school, much less be admitted to college.
UGA has become a huge embarrassment to the people of Georgia. Just one more reason for slimeball Mark Richt to leave Athens.
Truth Teller
July 20th, 2011
1:58 pm
Richt is a moron who hires morons and usually recruits morons. Richt should stick to religion.
BIG Joe
July 20th, 2011
1:59 pm
Vance Duly
I whole heartedly agree with you –YOU hit the nail of the head!!
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
2:00 pm
Grantham’s 3-4 defense gave up 15 rushing td’s against winning teams, Alabama’s 3-4 only gave up 5 rushing td’s:
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/defense/split09/category01/sort06.html
Stupid is as stupid does
July 20th, 2011
2:02 pm
Truth Teller: “Richt is a moron who hires morons and usually recruits morons. Richt should stick to religion.”
The problem is… You can’t fix stupid, and Richt is plenty stupid.
schmeckdawg
July 20th, 2011
2:03 pm
@Gruff How many rushing TD’s did Satans defense give up his first year at Bammer?
Still@theBAR
July 20th, 2011
2:03 pm
Did I hear it right? Mark Richt is going to have a Chair on the sidelines in the dome with fake fire under it. Well, whatever Gimmick works for the Dawgs I guess.
edumacated
July 20th, 2011
2:05 pm
This conversation has been had about a dozen times on here in the last 6 months. Richt was a great coach……as in past tense. Now he makes obvious stupid mistakes that we all can see, like poor personnel managment ( Martinez ), poor planning ( empty shelf on the O-line reserves again), terrible game day calls (Logan with another fair catch), etc. I mean, how stupid is this…..he replaced his old, behind the times, strength and conditioning coach with another old, behind the times coach. The list goes on and on. It’s all over but the shouting. I’m only hoping for at least a Florida win since they should be down too.
schmeckdawg
July 20th, 2011
2:05 pm
Will not accept mediocrity
July 20th, 2011
1:53 pm
Coach K would have been canned early on at Duke by some of you posters “who will not accept mediocrity” since he did not have a winning in conference record until his 5th year at Duke.
Tom Landry would have been fired by you guys since he went several years before going above .500 at Dallas.
John Wooden didn’t come close to sniffing a NC until he had been at UCLA about 16 years.
Mark Richt is averaging an SEC title every five years. If he has another 6-7 record or does not win the SEC in the next 3-4 years, chances are good he will be out of Athens. At least let’s play out the 2011 season before giving up on him. (and I realize many of the anti-Richt posts are from rival schools who would like to see him gone.)
Great points. And don’t forget, it took Dooley 16 years to win a NC!
Beast from the East
July 20th, 2011
2:07 pm
http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/SECSPORTS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL/FootballMedia.aspx
Here’s a link for anyone that wants to hear what’s being said at the SEC media days.
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
2:10 pm
Saban only gave up 11 td’s against winning teams in 07′ in his 1st year, Grantham 15 td’s in his 1st year (almost 40% more). Saban has only given up 5 rushing td’s a year in 08′, 09. 10′, against winning teams.
jesus gave it all....mark richt....not so much
July 20th, 2011
2:11 pm
mark richt claims to be a follower of the man who truly “left it all on the field.”
unfortunately, his organization does not share that mentality….and that’s why he must go.
he is a hypocrite of the first order….i for one am growing tired of all the people think that a man’s religious beliefs is justification for mediocracy.
Still@theBAR
July 20th, 2011
2:13 pm
schmeckdawg & Will not accept mediocrity
Coach K would have been canned early on at Duke by some of you posters “who will not accept mediocrity” since he did not have a winning in conference record until his 5th year at Duke.
Tom Landry would have been fired by you guys since he went several years before going above .500 at Dallas.
John Wooden didn’t come close to sniffing a NC until he had been at UCLA about 16 years.
Mark Richt is averaging an SEC title every five years. If he has another 6-7 record or does not win the SEC in the next 3-4 years, chances are good he will be out of Athens. At least let’s play out the 2011 season before giving up on him. (and I realize many of the anti-Richt posts are from rival schools who would like to see him gone.)
Great points. And don’t forget, it took Dooley 16 years to win a NC!
That all happened before the 24hr news cycle and football on the TV & Radio year round. That was a time when commercials were 1 to 2 min long and now they are 15-30 seconds. People don’t WASTE time on waiting on things to get better. People now want it All and they want it Now.
I need to think long on this
July 20th, 2011
2:14 pm
Yes. He really SHOULD compete hard for that East Championship.
UGA might end up however, around 10-2 and in the Cap One Bowl and so, that might keep him on board, w.o. the SEC East title. UGA would be ranked no worse than #10 or #12 and a win in the bowl could put them in top 8 or 9 after all the NY Day bowls. That might do it.
UGA man,
Class of 71 & 73
schmeckdawg
July 20th, 2011
2:17 pm
Still@the Bar You make a very valid point!
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
2:25 pm
Grantham’s defense was near the bottom against winning teams in:
Tackles for loss
Sacks
Interceptions
Fumbles recovered
3rd down cnv %
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
2:26 pm
Embarrassment to the people of Georgia????? LOL. Since when is this penal colony of a slave holding state state been so frickin’ pious????? My family has been here since this miserable piece of swamp was just a buffer zone. Only a pretentious, preppy d-head would make such a claim. Probably a dang frat boy wannabe Virginian…
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
2:29 pm
Murray’s td stats were padded against unranked teams.
Murray only threw 5 td’s against ranked teams, 19 came against unranked teams like Vanderbilt & Louisiana Lafayette.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/player/split13/category02/sort10.html
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
2:30 pm
Yes Gruff (your name this week). In his first year with assistants in their first year while installing an entirely new defensive scheme, he vastly improved the turnover margin and pressure on QBs. If you say otherwise, you are just a plain liar.
You have made your mind up. You are going to cook your stupid stats to back up whatever BS opinion you have and fart it repeatedly on this thread ad nauseum. I don’t know why I let my self get suckered in once again. Find someone else to stroke your ego.
dmr
July 20th, 2011
2:37 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Richt’s job should not depend on THIS season, no matter what. One thing you know about Richt is that he is a stand up guy. Georgia will never see the kind of trouble USC, UNC, OSU, Oregon, or even GT find themselves in right now with Richt at the helm.
That said, my one real criticism of Richt is that too often he has brought in young and inexperienced coaches to take the reigns in some areas of the program. Bill, you hit it when you mentioned Bobo running Thomas up the middle on third and long. “SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL” and understanding who’s got your back will be key this year.
COFFIN CORNER should be used by Butler early and often. Don’t allow teams to switch field position on you through the kicking game. Our defense should be greatly improved, so we should be able to play more of an Old School Alabama type of football.
Let’s be honest. Richt has had some character issues with some of his players. I thought not suspending Ealey last year for three games, at least, after he disobeyed a direct order was a mistake and it proved to be so. Richt cannot control injuries, or the Park and Rec scandal in Columbus that could affect Jones, or force a 20-something year old to take the lessons given and apply them.
Many of the SEC coaches we want to compare Richt to…Les Miles, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban…each winning a NC in their second season. I submit Richt was cheated out of that opportunity because of the ongoing scandal in Columbus, OH. The year Georgia goes 13 – 1, they miss the N.C. because Miami and OSU were both undefeated. That would not have been so if OSU played by the rules.
RICHT SHOULD KEEP HIS JOB NO MATTER WHAT THIS SEASON BRINGS, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT 2012 would be his make or break year.
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
2:38 pm
1 thing’s for sure at Georgia under Richt, 88% of the time, since 2002, Richt willl lose more games than the year before.
2002- 13-1
2003- 11-3
2004- 10-2
2005- 10-3
2006- 9-4
2007- 11-2
2008- 10-3
2009- 8-5
2010- 6-7
12% chance Richt goes 7-6 or better, 88% chance Richt goes 5-7.
Athens= God's Country
July 20th, 2011
2:43 pm
chazzo
These aren’t UGA fans. True UGA fans agree with what you have said. Go Dawgs!
Judge Dawg
July 20th, 2011
2:47 pm
How many games does CPJ have to win this year? How about an ACC championship to make up for the one that was forfeited? Stop trying to run the UGA athletic department.
Athens= God's Country
July 20th, 2011
2:47 pm
dmr
I agree with you. This isn’t the season Richt should be on the hot seat. Whoever coaches in 2012 will have a championship caliber team. 10 wins or see ya.
DawginLex
July 20th, 2011
2:48 pm
100% chance that Gruff will post his same inane drivel tomorrow under a different blog handle.
WHEN WILL REGISTRATION BE REQUIRED FOR A BLOG HANDLE USING 1 IP ADDRESS??????!!!!!???????
Athens= God's Country
July 20th, 2011
2:49 pm
To all the Tech fans on here: 4-8 is what you’ll get this year. Will you still love Coach Fish Fry after the season?
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
2:49 pm
Murray will hopefuly get his 1st win against a winning team in 2011.
0-6 so far.
Athens= God's Country
July 20th, 2011
2:51 pm
Who’s your team “Gruff?”
Terry
July 20th, 2011
2:53 pm
Still@theBAR, And look what it is doing to our country, no morals, and on the verge of a depression, that will make the last one look like a picnic.
JB
July 20th, 2011
3:01 pm
Amen Lex
JB
July 20th, 2011
3:03 pm
A friend of mine came up with an idea to solve our problems in this country. Let men marry men. Women marry women. All the abortions you want. In 3 generations, presto, no more democrats !
BG
July 20th, 2011
3:03 pm
Richt’s overall record speaks for itself.
Gruff
July 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
Why did Murray lose to 100% of the winning teams he played?
Auburn? Had a big lead, started good in 1st quarter, then fell apart.
Florida? Got the jitters and had a fumble and threw 3 int’s.
UCF? Another 3 turnovers from Murray.
Arkansas? 6 sacks, couldn’t make a decision.
Miss St? Couldn’t score a td until the 4th quarter.
South Carolina? Couldn’t score a td.
Better luck this year. Maybe he gets his 1st win against a winning team. Who will it be?
Boise? No. South Carolina? No. Florida? No. Miss State or Auburn? Maybe
dawginduluth
July 20th, 2011
3:06 pm
CMR has a track record of not being able to take raw talent and make it better, much less perform at a level that wins championshps. I give you all the top 5 nationally ranked recruiting classes that he has had to work with over the last 5 years in support of this fact. Further, he is just not very bright. He lived off the big play, throwing the bomb and letting a greyhound receivers running underneath them, at FSU. The SEC ain’t the ACC. FSU ain’t UGA. So, how can one expect him to do it now? Has he finished studying his football text books? Is that why?
We should not even be having this discussion. He should have been gone years ago.