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
Thomas Cunningham
July 20th, 2011
4:11 pm
Finishing 3rd in the SEC East like I expect should show him the door.
The Official Spokesman for the SEC East
July 20th, 2011
4:13 pm
I do not care how many he wins, I want him to have a lifetime contract.
captguitarman
July 20th, 2011
4:14 pm
I lived in Alabama before and during the transition from Mike Shula to Nick Saban. During that time the blogs were much different than those here. Yes, there are detractors of CMR, but also many supporters and hopeful and wishful thinkers. In Bama, the fans had had it. They wanted Shula GONE and gone yesterday. No wishing, hoping, philosophising, and gosh he’s a really nice guy, etc. By God, Bama is a winner, it has a winning heritage, had one of the greatest coaches in college football history once in charge, and they were mad as hell and not going to take it any more. $4 million. $5 million. $6 million . . . . whatever it takes. And they got a real coach . . . one passionately and emotionally and heavily involved up to his eyebrows in every game. The kinds of problems with players and recruits that have become a regular occurrence at Georgia would never happen under a Saban, Miles, Chizik, Spurrier, or Meyer, or others? All the talk about the new recruits? Who knows how many will not be arrested, or put on probation, suspended, thrown off the team, etc. before they ever play a game? Anyone see a pattern here yet? Can he get really the Dawgs ready for super-quarterbacked Boise State, who will be chomping at the bit before a national audience and a chance to embarrass a top tier team? And then a trip to SC. Some say yes, and I guess they are seeing somehow that things have changed. Maybe they are right. CMR is a good man and no one wishes him ill, but maybe he is not in the right job. But, unless huge changes have taken place, Georgia’s “Mike Shula Moment” is sure to come this year. The Puppie Nation will not tolerate another year of mediocrity.
ga gator
July 20th, 2011
4:15 pm
8-4 will keep his job and either a win or a close loss in Jax.
Lindsey
July 20th, 2011
4:16 pm
CMR is a great coach. If I had my way he would have his seat as UGA head coach for as long as he wants. I think every year GA has the opportunity to play for the SEC title. Last year stunk, but in the big picture CMR has done great things for the Dawgs. If you don’t agree with that, just remember the Donnan years. Although I agree that this schedule is favorable because you miss some of the SEC West teams, it is still going to be hard. Boise State and SC will tell us a lot. If they lose those games it won’t be good but if they win it could be great!! GO DAWGS!!!
Reed
July 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
Some of you suggesting Richt’s TRYING to lose so he can force McGarity to fire him this year and get that big $6 mill guaranteed payout check to launch his retirement or non-profit organization? Seriously? Really? Come on now. I don’t see that, I can understand it being a possibility considering Richt’s recent associations with World Vision, and yes, I know his lakehouse home recently went up for sale too, and despite how bad all that looks for trying to figure out where Richt’s at these days, I kind of doubt it. Burned out on football and having a mid life crisis, ok, good chance, but trying to lose on purpose to force a $6 million payday? Doubtful.
Blackberry Cobbler
July 20th, 2011
4:22 pm
UGA football has become a total embarrassment. Fail to score a touchdown against Central Florida!!
I don’t know what it will take. Only Greg McGarity knows that. If it were up me, this wouldn’t be an issue because CMR would have been gone a couple of years ago.
IMHO, win the East or he’s out.
Rick
July 20th, 2011
4:26 pm
If he is not on the hotseat he should be.No lest than a win against UF and winning the East should save his job. Enough is enough!
Get Real
July 20th, 2011
4:28 pm
The usual talk from UGA fans. First place here, first place there. Get real folks, You suck.
Snoop Dawg
July 20th, 2011
4:28 pm
Richt will be gone no later than second week of January. 50/50 he is gone before end of September.
We need to find a world class coach like the fellow at TCU, a proven head coach who will do what is needed to turn our program around.
Almost every statistic shows that Richts just sinks lower and lower every year. He’s so in over his head he is role playing now as long as possible for the $$$.
All you “fans” who want him to continue to destroy UGA football probably voted for Obama and how he is destroying the USA in a similar manner.
Wake up Bulldog Nation! Hope is not a method.
Buckeye
July 20th, 2011
4:30 pm
Win With will be a bust whether he wins the SEC Least or not.
Won’t be easy starting 0-1 against Steve Superior.
Richt goes down. LIke Obama, Isaiah anin’t the savior.
Athens= God's Country
July 20th, 2011
4:30 pm
Get Real
How is life as a troll?
Athens= God's Country
July 20th, 2011
4:33 pm
Snoop
You are a moron. How is he destroying UGA football when he is the one that built it up? It took Dooley 16 years to win a NC. Richt is the best coach UGA has had in 40 years.
Mr. SEC
July 20th, 2011
4:34 pm
I’m with Beach Dawg, Bill has lost it!
chazzo
July 20th, 2011
4:34 pm
captguitarman: shula did not win the SEC or produce several top ten teams including #2 and #3. As I said before, no self-respecting Dawg fan gives a rat’s arse about the state of Alabama.
hand solo
July 20th, 2011
4:35 pm
fire the christian SOB
Bill
July 20th, 2011
4:41 pm
Moe, Larry, Curly and Bill King…
grlinaug
July 20th, 2011
4:41 pm
his players need to be prepared and ready to play, and play as if someone is coaching them. if that’s the case, everything will take care of itself. i don’t have confidence it will happen. it’s not happened in 3 straight seasons.
Randall "Pink" Floyd
July 20th, 2011
4:41 pm
If you can’t win the SEC in a year when South Carolina is considered the best team, you deserve to be on the hot seat. Just sayin’…
HEDGE TIMMER
July 20th, 2011
4:43 pm
CMR IS A GOOD COACH, IF CANT WIN WITH THIS GROUP SOMETHING WRONG CMR’S DOWNFALL WILL BE MIKE BOBO’S PLAY CALLING WHEN CMR WAS CALLING THE PLAYS GEORGIA WAS PRETTY DAMN GOOD. RING,RING URBAN MEYER WERE ARE CALLING
DawginLex
July 20th, 2011
4:43 pm
Comparing Richt to Shula is not a good comparison
Comparing Richt to Fulmer is an excellent comparison
Fulmer was facing the wrath of Vol Nation heading into 2004 and won the East and almost beat auburn in the SECCG
2005, he went 5-7
2006-2008 were ok but ultimately he got fired.
Enter Layla’s husband(how did he hypnotize her and pull that off?)
Left their program in shambles.
Now DD from LaTech with a losing record was all they could churn up to take the gig.
They are years away from being where fulmer had them as recently as 2004
confusadog
July 20th, 2011
4:43 pm
Richt is a far better coach than Dooley ever was. Richt now has his “Erk”. Give it time to gel……
Adam
July 20th, 2011
4:46 pm
Absolutely NOT. Vince Dooley himself had some pretty sub-par years and would, by the society of today’s microwave mentality, never have been with UGA long enough to win a National Championship. Change just for changes sake rarely works out well. You only have to look at the current administration for proof of that.
Richt obviously brings more to the table than your average coach or he never would have been able to net a class of recruits like he just did after such an awful season. He is a good man and a good coach, with the wherewithal to get this ship turned around. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil 4:13
jerry
July 20th, 2011
4:54 pm
Wrap yourself in religion as Richt and the Republicans do and you can get away with anything, (although Richt’s religion is legit), but hell yes, fire him if he doesn’t, considering that he has his only competition in his own backyard.
job heat
July 20th, 2011
4:55 pm
because richt does a lot of missions and charitable work, he should keep his job even if he wins only 7-8 games, since he is a good representative of the university.
jerry
July 20th, 2011
4:58 pm
confusadog
Richt is a far better coach than Dooley ever was. Richt now has his “Erk”. Give it time to gel……
He has had 10 years to “gel”—-how long does it take?
dont get it
July 20th, 2011
5:00 pm
Things Richt must do to keep his job – First – GROW A SET! Second – find a time machine, go back to last year and beat the worst UF team they have had since 1989. Third – Do what ever it takes to get a DC as good as BVD who, by the way is responsible for the best years of UGA football since the early 80’s. And as always Altamaha dawg is an idiot.
Yes!
July 20th, 2011
5:03 pm
The East will have another down year so why not. It’s anybody’s for the takin’
Jack
July 20th, 2011
5:05 pm
Richt KNOWS what he has to do. They need to get off his back. He knows what is at stake
Snoop Dawg
July 20th, 2011
5:05 pm
That knucklehead who called me a moron must be a drunken koolaid buffoon. He’s also probably dyslectic. It isn’t ATHENS=GOD’S COUNTRY. It is ATHENS=DOG’S COUNTRY…
Now little fella, please go back to sleep…
Bob
July 20th, 2011
5:13 pm
Bill…this was one of your better articles. Consider this: McGarity has already set the table for 2012 with a patsy schedule to make Richt appear better should he win the SEC East. Or, he’s made next year awfully apealing for our new head coach.
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:19 pm
Jerry…….
For the record I am neither Republican or Democrat. I’m a conservative Christian with voting rights that I use at my discretion.
So I would take it from your mini-rant on religion and Republicans, and your emphatic support of firing Richt, you’ll be voting Mr Obama out of office since his job performance has been beyond atrocious.
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:20 pm
Or will you just keep drinking the kool-aid?
Mean Machine
July 20th, 2011
5:21 pm
Yes Richt has done better than any other coach at UGA. That does not mean this program is fulfilling its potential by any means. Think of it this way, if all you’ve ever had was cube steak, and someone gives you sirloin, you’re going to think that’s the best thing you’ve ever had. And factually, that is true. However, sirloin is not as good as a filet. So the fact is you’ve been dumbed down to think sirloin is the best out there. Meanwhile, your neighbors are feasting on filets. Welcome to life as a UGA fan!
Delbert D.
July 20th, 2011
5:22 pm
Georgia may or may not win the SEC East, but I think 11 wins and a bowl win would put him in pretty good shape. I’m not convinced that South Carolina will win enough games with their tougher SEC West schedule to take any tie-breaker for the East title, though.
AltamahaDawg
July 20th, 2011
5:23 pm
How many different ways can you ask this same question?
Delbert D.
July 20th, 2011
5:25 pm
On the other hand, if Georgia ends up 6-6 and a tossup on the bowl game, it will be made clear to him that much more is expected.
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:31 pm
poor jerry…..
just a little behing the curve there. when they say “Richt has his Erk” they’re talking about Grantham’s defense having time to gel. He’s only been couple of years, and has done a nice job of straightening the mess left by Martinez. This will be the first year we get to see 3-4 with the vast majority of the proper pieces in place. For one, we have some monsters in the middle with Jenkins and Geathers that are absolutely crucial to the success of a 3-4 defense. It should be fun to watch this year.
JD
July 20th, 2011
5:31 pm
Are you kidding?? He is coming off a 6-7 season and lost most of his experienced running backs and offensive line. He has a good second year QB but if he runs alot, he is one tackle from injury. Richt should have a winning record with his schedule and the strength of the other teams in the SEC east, but to say he should be fired if he doesn’t win the SEC is like saying Bill King should be fired if he doesn’t start writing better columns. A number of Georgia fans (the rabid ones) believe both premises, but who would you replace Richt with? King on the other hand is more expendable.
jerry
July 20th, 2011
5:31 pm
Adam…..you sir, are a liar. You are undoubtly a Repulican.
THE DUDE
July 20th, 2011
5:34 pm
LETS USE SOME COMMON SENSE, WHO ELSE ARE YOU GONNA GET TO REPLACE HIM? JIM TRESSEL. I THINK NOT. HE IS AS GOOD AS ALMOST ANYONE. 10-4.
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:34 pm
LOL….thats amazing and revealing that you can make such a profiound judgement on another without ever meeting them
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:35 pm
and highly prejudicial
DLR357
July 20th, 2011
5:35 pm
Better play LeMay if they want to win. The Bulldogs need him to take the team to the next level.
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
poor jerry…..gotta call people names to build himself up
murray county mystic
July 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
Charlie Strong will straighten this mess out…Im tellin’ you…he would in short order…believe the mystic…
Love Mark Richt-Hate Coach Richt
July 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
I miss Larry !
Bean Counter
July 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
NOT NO, BUT HELL NO!!!
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
Jerry……you know that Richt’s religion is legit without ever meeting him, and you know I’m a liar and a Republican without ever having spent any amount of time with me. you make rash decisions based on little facts and huge assumptions.
Better to have people wonder if you’re a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Still@theBAR
July 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
The best part of waking up is UGA Koolaid in your cup. LOL