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
Adam
July 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
thats just great Still@theBAR
Now I have that commercial stuck in my head….LOL
bamaguy
July 20th, 2011
5:46 pm
Let’s wait until after the Boise game to make any predictions. If UGA looses to Boise it is going to be a long fall for bulldog fans. If they beat Boise, most of us will set up and pay attention and we will see what happens next. Then comes SC, and if you beat them you will be nationally ranked. If UGA looses to both Boise and SC, RIcht better brush up his resume’ and hope an opening comes up at a top school.
SugarHillDawg
July 20th, 2011
5:49 pm
JD, you’re rationale is a LOSER rationale. It’s akin to marrying a prostitute who’s good in bed and not divorcing her because you might not find a better lay. We are UGA, we do NOT and will not stomach mediocrity!!!
JD
July 20th, 2011
5:50 pm
Why not Sugar, you have for the last few years?
ugaclassof2004
July 20th, 2011
5:50 pm
To me its not about winning the East per se as it is about the “hunger”. Does Mark Richt have it anymore? From 2001-2007, Richt had it. B from 2008-2010, the guy has been on complete autopilot, and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. If you’re hungry, you don’t keep under-performing coordinators 2-4 years too late. When your team is hungry, they don’t get blown out in rivalry games. You can’t help injuries and players leaving early for the NFL,but that 6-7 record in 2010 was the end result of bad decision after bad decision made throughout the course of the last 5-6 years. Bad decisions in coaching, talent evaluation, player accountability, over-scheduling etc. When your head coach is hungry, these things don’t happen( at least not to the degree that they have happened in Athens). And when you have competent leadership from your AD, it doesn’t happen. It all stems from the top. If Richt can rekindle the fire he had back in 2002, he can turn this thing around. But is it too little too late for Mr. McGarity ? We shall see.
Bean Counter
July 20th, 2011
5:50 pm
Jerry….You are way out of bounds in calling someone a liar. Your comments are uncalled for and unwelcomed.
JD
July 20th, 2011
5:51 pm
And Sugar, hope you aren’t talking about your wife…… Let it go, dude.
ugaclassof2004
July 20th, 2011
5:52 pm
To me its not about winning the East per se as it is about the “hunger”. Does Mark Richt have it anymore? From 2001-2007, Richt had it. But from 2008-2010, the guy has been on complete autopilot, and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. If you’re hungry, you don’t keep under-performing coordinators 2-4 years too late. When your team is hungry, they don’t get blown out in rivalry games. You can’t help injuries and players leaving early for the NFL,but that 6-7 record in 2010 was the end result of bad decision after bad decision made throughout the course of the last 5-6 years. Bad decisions in coaching, talent evaluation, player accountability, over-scheduling etc. When your head coach is hungry, these things don’t happen( at least not to the degree that they have happened in Athens). And when you have competent leadership from your AD, it doesn’t happen. It all stems from the top. If Richt can rekindle the fire he had back in 2002, he can turn this thing around. But is it too little too late for Mr. McGarity ? We shall see.
UGAKev
July 20th, 2011
5:55 pm
Well there is no “What if’ scenarios for me. I truly believe this team this year can go 11-1 and play in a BCS bowl game. The offensive line is a little thin but the starters are going to be solid and I believe one or two freshmen such as that Ward kid could come in and be ready if an injury occurs. Ken Malcome I think will be similar to what Musa Smith was for us and will be a hard running solid SEC RB. He will buy Isiah Crowell some time to become comfortable by the middle of the season. We have more weapons at WR than people realize. The defense is what we are going to be so impressed with as Georgia fans. John Jenkins is going to be a dominate. Just him on that line is going to do wonders for the defense. Now Deangelo Tyson who has been playing out of position is going to get to show the bulldawg nation that he once was a 5 star DE. I know Georgia has had great linebackers , but I dont know if I have ever been this excited about our Linebacker group. Our secondary will have an easier job stoping receivers that dont get as much time to get open. Remember Nick Saban tried to get Todd Grantham for his Defensive Coordinator. I have all the confidence in the world in Grantham. The Georgia Defense has not been the same in a long time and I am excited to see it back in Athens because I don’t care if we score 17 points a game as long as our Defense is holding teams below that. So go ahead and copy and paste, hell hang this up on the refridgerator. I have no doubt Georgia will win 10 or more games this season. DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE…That’s what winning Georgia football is all about!
tennessee tom
July 20th, 2011
5:56 pm
probley need to call the movers after the boise & South Carolina games
Damon Evans
July 20th, 2011
5:56 pm
Wish they gave me 2 or 3 chances, geeze.
bamaguy
July 20th, 2011
5:56 pm
2004: My observation (from the outside looking in) is that Richt is just as good a coach today as he was in 2001-2007. What is different is that the other SEC schools have all hired better coaches. Richt hasn’t gotten worse, his competition has just gotten better. Saban, Miles, Chizik, Spurrier, Mullen are all upgrades.
Athens is Hell
July 20th, 2011
6:00 pm
its getting hot in here.
Athens is Hell
July 20th, 2011
6:01 pm
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Bob
July 20th, 2011
6:07 pm
Mark Richt’s job should ride on one thing…winning football games; winning the SEC and competing for the MNC, as that’s what he’s being paid $3M a year to do. All the other stuff (nice guy, man of faith, etc.) is secondary; however, these are the traits that get you hired. His record is 14-12 the past two seasons and he’s lost more games than Donnan his past five seasons. I’m thinking maybe we’re due some better results?
Richt is GONE!
July 20th, 2011
6:08 pm
I can’t understand how he has kept his job the past several years. I know 680’s talking head and a former Dawg (Pollack) have a lot of clout and are Richt supporters but enough is enough. I would love to see a “Win the East” or be gone ultimatum but believe 9 wins likely brings Richt back again. It seems we have become proud of mediocrity rather than striving for excellence. With his recruiting base there is simply no excuse not to be a yearly contender to win the East and yet he has managed to allow South Carolina to surpass us largely because they have the better coach even if their recruiting base is at best half of what ours is. I guess being a bible thumper weighs more than winning football games.
jerry
July 20th, 2011
6:09 pm
Bean Counter………….but I called the liar “sir”. Doesn’t that count for something?
ugaclassof2004
July 20th, 2011
6:10 pm
Bamaguy:
That is a decent point. The competition has gotten better. But the perception that the SEC was “down” between 2002-2005 isn’t entirely accurate. Bama and Florida might have been down: but you can make the argument that Tennessee, Auburn, LSU were just as good if not better back then than they are now. In fact if anything, you can make the argument that the SEC( especially the East) has been down the last few years except Florida, Bama, and maybe LSU( Auburn is a one hit wonder to me as of now). The truth is that Richt’s teams from 2002-2005 could have lined up against any team or any coach, and would have won their fair share.
" HOT " seat
July 20th, 2011
6:12 pm
Winning just the SEC East is pretty lame,
UGA needs to win the SEC Championship.
No stretch !
murray county mystic
July 20th, 2011
6:15 pm
you can always count on UGAKEV for rational and insightful analysis concerning the situation in Athens…11-1 and a BCS game…wow…
Adam
July 20th, 2011
6:15 pm
@jerry…..that’s right. you did call me sir. You also called me a “Repulican”….whatever that is. that darned spell-checker…..
Plant
July 20th, 2011
6:16 pm
Murray faced some bad pass defenses in 2010 and lost against them all:
#110 ranked Colorado
#106 ranked Auburn
#97 ranked South Carolina
#90 ranked Miss St.
#88 ranked Arkansas
Joe Cox had the same offensive line, same receivers, and smae running backs, and won all 5 games.
Murray lost all 5.
Both faced the #97 ranked pass defense.
Cox put up 5 td’s against Ark, #97 ranked pass defense.
Murray put up 0 td’s against South Carolina, the #97 ranked pass defense.
Why Richt can’t see the only change in the 5 games on offense was at QB, returning the other 11 starters, is mystifying.
Murray’s the problem.
Joe
July 20th, 2011
6:16 pm
The BSU game will dictate the season. Win and you will see a Georgia going for broke. Get defeated and the rest is jsitory.
Adam
July 20th, 2011
6:17 pm
Hey, I’m right there with UGAKEV, I start every year believing UGA, the Falcons, the Hawks, and the Braves are going all the way. I know its not rational, but its what I call being a fan. I support my home teams.
bamaguy
July 20th, 2011
6:20 pm
Joe: The entire SEC is counting on Georgia to not just beat Boise, but to blow them out of the dome. End all that “we get overlooked by the BCS and we are as good as any team in the SEC” talk.
dawginflorida
July 20th, 2011
6:26 pm
i believe a 10-2 season is what we will see , USC,BOISE ST…worries me…good luck and goods speed!!!!
dawginflorida
July 20th, 2011
6:27 pm
gods speed…sorry….we will win east
Plant
July 20th, 2011
6:28 pm
Check out this video of Christian Champion Lemay, wow, the guy’s a winner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kzh6hGXnQ
VolsRule
July 20th, 2011
6:32 pm
Be careful what you ask for – maybe we should not have fired Fulmer and hired Kiffen!!!!!
Teams go in cycles – recruits do not always pan out – and there is turnover in the staff. If Fulmer was still HC at Tennessee – maybe, just maybe – Tennessee would have been good enough to win the SEC last year against an above average SC – an average Florida team – and a poor UGA team.
Instead – we had to flush the waste – and start all over – and now we have the NCAA to deal with to boot.
IF the VOLS can not win the SEC EAST – PLEASE UGA – do not let Spurrier or the GATORS win.
I have alway respected UGA – and loved it when Fulmer owned you. However, I have never hated UGA except of Donnan and his thugs dancing on our T at midfield before a game. Pretty stupid as we easily handled UGA that day.
Richt is a good man and a good coach – his record speaks for itself – UGA is caught in a down cycle with some bad recruits staff changes that needed to be made as the program was becoming stale.
UGA – please beat SC and the GATORS!
Go Vols!!1
RedandBlackDAWG
July 20th, 2011
6:32 pm
I don’t think CMR’s job hinges on winning the SEC east. The AD is looking for a tangible improvement both on and off the field. So far, UGA has been stellar off the field with no instances of of civil disobedience. UGA has had a very trying last 6 weeks as it appears, those not willing to work for the most part have left the team. Never discount team unity and the heart of the players on a team. Adversity has a way of pulling some teams together, and if that holds true, UGA is going to be real good, LOL. I think 8 or 9 wins with all that has happened would be a darn good year for UGA. It is going to take the best effort by the players and coaches to do this. I think it will be done at UGA. The AD knows what UGA needs and I believe right now, CMR is providing it for him. I can’t wait until the season starts and the discussions can turn to the real thing. Football played and the games enjoyed.
playmeortrademe
July 20th, 2011
6:39 pm
Win the East or the big donor $$$$$$ will speak. Who do you think runs these major athletics departments anyway?
Plant
July 20th, 2011
6:41 pm
Part 2 of Christian Lemay’s video, this one he explains how he beat a team that hadn’t lost in 31 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_W0aP0NI0&feature=related
Champions expect to win.
Plant
July 20th, 2011
6:43 pm
Don’t worry Dog fans, future’s in good hands, even if Murray loses the first 2, bring Murray’s record to 0 & 8 against winning teams, Lemay can come off the bench and finish with 9 wins. So it’s gonna be a good season, either way. But Murray knows right now, he better bring it, or Lemay will take his job, and never look back.
Loyal Dawg
July 20th, 2011
6:47 pm
Ok, its offical there are a bunch of people posting here that don’t know jack-snot about football- Plant, Aaron Murray’s the problem???? Geez.
savannadawg
July 20th, 2011
6:47 pm
NO!!!!! His job should ride on intent and perseverance. We could absolutly loose the first two games. Don’t be thinking we can’t. But what I am looking for is the intent of this team to go out each week and to actually play to the best of there abilities. EVERY WEEK!!! If that happens, the wins will come. By the end of the season, if we have lost any games early, you will have forgotten about them. Because, if the freshmen continue to get better throughout the season, we should be pretty darn good by then. I just don’t think we can beat Boise St. and South Carolina on talent alone and four short weeks of practice isn’t goining to make that big a difference vs. experience. But I truly believe that by the second half of the season this team will have jelled and become something very fascinating!!!!
mgdawg
July 20th, 2011
6:49 pm
I don’t think you can base whether or not richt keeps his job strictly on one criteria. If he wins the east he should be safe, unless something abnormal happens like no one in the east has a good record and when uga lost it was blowouts. However, if they win 10 games and don’t win the east I think he’s safe. My prediction is 8 wins or less and no sec title he’s gone, including the bowl game. But it really will depend on the quality of the wins and losses.
Loyal Dawg
July 20th, 2011
6:55 pm
CMR identified the problems: poor coaching at DC and OL, strength and conditioning needed revamping and there needs to be more full contact at practice during the week. Hired a new DC last year and change the OL and Strength coach. We’ll be young and thin on depth this year. Anyone thinking the new recruits will make huge impact is being unrealistic.
savannadawg
July 20th, 2011
6:55 pm
@VolsRule, thanks man we will be trying our best “I hope” to not let you down.
gabugman
July 20th, 2011
6:56 pm
He should have been sent packing years ago.
Now we get to lie in our bed…
Loyal Dawg
July 20th, 2011
7:05 pm
Plant, nothing against LeMay, I hope his a superstar, but Aaron Murray’s highlight videos are just as impressive.
UGAKev
July 20th, 2011
7:10 pm
But atleast I give insight on why I believe UGA can be that good murray county. I refuse to roll over and let people come in here having no clue about who we have on our football team and tell me were going 5-7 or 6-6. I remember last year people saying Auburn would go 6-6 or 7-5 and I was one of those people and learned my lesson very quick. Regardless if Auburn cheated or whatever you want to call it, they took a bad season the year before and won the BCS title the next season. Not saying Georgia will, but I def see us with atleast 10 wins.
LakeDawg
July 20th, 2011
7:17 pm
In my mind, CMR has to beat Florida AND win the east to keep his job. CFN stated the case perfectly. No excuse with the schedule and CMR being 2 years into his rebuilding program. If he can’t get it done, that means he either let the program really slide or he can’t coach. Either he would have to go. BTW I think UGA wins 10 and the east and Richt keeps his job for many years.
BobbyDawg
July 20th, 2011
7:18 pm
If the Dawgs have another losing season they might consider replacing M.R. Otherwise he is solid even if we win seven.I know for a fact that they are not looking at any other coach nor do they have any plans to replace M.R. So get over it!
Plant
July 20th, 2011
7:18 pm
Really, please share the highlight video of Murray beating a team that hadn’t lost at home in over 30 years, love to see that. I thought Lemay was the only guy to do that.
ugaclassof2004
July 20th, 2011
7:18 pm
Plant:
That is a completely flawed assessment. Joe Cox was a 5th year Senior when he took over the job, Murray started as a freshman.
Joe Cox had AJ Greene for the Arkansas & South Carolina game, Murray didn’t. Murray started his first SEC game vs. South Carolina without Green, so you have to throw that game out IMO. The team came out flat vs. MSU, and the defense completely let the team down vs. Colorado and Auburn.
I think Murray is a good player. You can filter the entire offense through him. The same could not be said for Cox. I think if Murray had AJ the entire season, the team wouldn’t have gone 6-6, and probably would have beaten Arkansas and Colorado because the offense would have had continuity. The 2010 team was probably an 8-4 team that went 6-6, while 2009 was a team that probably deserved to go 6-6, but landed at 7-5.
Plant
July 20th, 2011
7:19 pm
Nothing against Murray, he did have a good game against Louisiana Lafayette, and 5 other losing unranked teams, but he just can’t beat a team with a winning record. He’s no Christian Lemay.
savannadawg
July 20th, 2011
7:21 pm
I was talking with my father last night and he made a pretty good analogy of what it takes to be a champion. He retired from the Insurance business and has won every award his company had to offer. He got as high as District manager only because we (the kids) told him we did not want to leave the great state of Georgia so he settled for the kids sake. But to get to the top you have to start planning it even before the end of the current year your in, and that senario NEVER STOPS. If you relax on your laurels and say wait till march to get started, your done, its over. As the top man you have to be the motivator, the inspiration. Thats what puzzles me the most about Mark Richt! How can you be such a man of GOD and not be a great motivator, the two go hand ‘n’ hand. If the Lord is truly your inspiration there is really know way you can be defeated. I think Mark Richt is actually separating himself between the two (meaning HC of UGA and Spiritual Leader of Followers) instead of bringing the two together and showing how God used teamwork by the Hebrews to win their victories and such. There is no other place in the world to pick inspirational stories from. And also you must remember this! One cannot win a battle unless there is a “clear enemy to fight” and a proper strategy to do so.
savannadawg
July 20th, 2011
7:26 pm
And, yes my grammer sucks.
Plant
July 20th, 2011
7:26 pm
Actually, the AJ Green thing is not accurate. UGA went 0-3 without AJ against ranked teams, and went 0-2 with AJ. AJ couldn’t win against Auburn or Colorado, and couldn’t score on UCF.
Murray to Cox is as fair of an assessment as you can get. Both were short, 1st year starters with an impressive high school resume. Both had the same offensive line, receivers, and running backs. Both played the same 5 teams. Cox went 5-0 against them, Murray went 0-5 against them. Both went against the 97th ranked pass defense, Cox set a personal best throwing for 5 td’s, Murray couldn’t score a single td. I am certain Aaron Murray was why Georgia went 6-7 and only scored 16 a game on ranked teams. Murray only had 1 good quarter in 4 games against ranked teams of Auburn, South Carolina, Miss St, and UCF. He just chokes under pressure. He’s terrible on 3rd down, 4th quater, red zone, 0 & 6 against winning teams, and 0 & 6 when the other team scores first.
Still@theBAR
July 20th, 2011
7:28 pm
KEV
11-1 are you for real? Put down the water pipe and let you head clear.