The Hot Button: Will UGA win a BCS title under Mark Richt?
What once seemed inevitable remains an unanswered question. In 2002 or 2004 or even 2008, Mark Richt was primed to guide his program to a national championship. But he’s about to enter his ninth season as Georgia’s coach and the Bulldogs haven’t gotten there yet, and only once in 11 years has the BCS title been taken by a coach who’d been in place that long — Bobby Bowden of Florida State in 1999.
That Richt is a good coach is beyond dispute. He has won at least 10 games in six of the past seven seasons. He has led Georgia to three SEC East titles and two conference championships. He recruits at the highest level and just saw two Bulldogs taken among the top dozen in the NFL draft. Georgia has finished in the top 10 of at least one major poll five times and in top five twice. But it hasn’t won, or even played for, the BCS title.
Last season was supposed to be the breakthrough. Georgia had finished No. 2 in the AP poll after the 2007 season and was ranked No. 1 last August. It wound up 10-3, and if ever 10-3 could be considered a rank disappointment this was the time. At season’s end the coach made much of the 10-win season in light of so many injuries — and the Bulldogs did have a bunch — but for the first time under Richt it was possible to look on UGA and think, “That team wasn’t very well coached.”
And now Richt has a new quarterback (and figures to have another new one in 2010) and his team has been given almost no chance to win the East, where Florida reigns, and the question occurs: Have we seen the best of this gifted coach? Or is Richt, who has done much already, capable of more?
To be fair, Richt hasn’t failed so much as he has been unlucky. LSU won the 2003 BCS crown with one loss a year after one loss cost Georgia a berth in the championship game. LSU won the 2007 title with two losses after emerging from a league that also housed Georgia, which likewise had two losses. Sometimes you have the right team at the wrong time.
Loading ...But last year’s glaring issues — the rash of penalties and the defensive collapses in Georgia’s three losses — have made some among us wonder if Richt is too nice to finish No. 1. He has vowed to be stricter regarding discipline this time, and it must be noted Georgia didn’t face the same problems with players being arrested this summer as last. And he has promoted John Jancek to co-defensive coordinator alongside Willie Martinez, whom Richt has never once criticized.
Still, it’s worth noting that Steve Spurrier needed six seasons at Florida to win a national championship, and it didn’t happen until he hired Bob Stoops from Kansas State to coordinate the Gator defense. And Mack Brown took Texas to the BCS title in his eighth season in Austin only after importing Gene Chizik from Auburn to lead the Longhorn D. Something similar might need to happen for Georgia and Richt to take the final step.
But would Richt, for whom family and fraternity are of massive import, ever demote or fire Martinez? Is keeping a longtime friend who’s a solid coach — solid as opposed to inspired — more important to him than taking a risk that might (or might not) lead to a greater reward?
We know Mark Richt can coach football. What we still don’t know after eight years of watching is whether he’s pragmatic enough to be a national championship coach.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
446 comments Add your comment
Chris
July 30th, 2009
1:06 pm
BIGBOY, Strong had ONE bad year in 07. Georgia has had FOUR bad defensive years with Willie…big difference.
Gatorzone
July 30th, 2009
1:11 pm
For what its worth, I think Richt is a VERY good coach who seems to be learning from his mistakes and progressing gradually in different aspects of his coaching. He had some bonehead decisions the first few years of coaching that cost games. However, until he address the lack of discipline on the field and gets a new DC he will have trouble winning it all.
The defensive stats are moving in the wrong direction and have been the last 3 years.
And for all you who claim they missed out in 07 and were unfairly left out of the game, I have news for you. Champions don’t get blown out ANY game during the season like UGA did against UT. They may lose a game, but not get embarrassed.
EW
July 30th, 2009
1:11 pm
joe34 you are right, there are stars for all of those, the point is that Tech fans know there’s no star for them. As for your question, the star would be for Cal, not the University of SOUTHERN Californial, cmon you didn’t need my help on that one right?
EW
July 30th, 2009
1:11 pm
california, can’t type my apologies lol
Gatorzone
July 30th, 2009
1:13 pm
BIGBOY, the whole defense graduated from UF after the championship year of 06. IT was clearly a rebuilding year.
JaxDawg
July 30th, 2009
1:14 pm
Dooley’s Cardiologist – Do your homework, Jimbo Fisher is already signed to take over for Bowden. Regardless of what Bowden wants to do he’s out next year as FSU has to pay Jimbo $5 million if he’s not named HC by 2011.
UGA’s time will come as far as the MNC is concerned. Goals should be in order, focus on each game one at a time, win the east, win the SEC, wait to see if it’s good enough to get to the BCS championship.
To say UGA is not NC caliber team simply because we haven’t gotten the breaks others have is silly. Does anyone with any kind of football intelligence think that there was THAT much difference between the 13-1 02 Dawgs and the 13-1 06 Gators other than one got the chance to play for the MNC? In 07, if Kent. can win a 4 ot game or Vandy can kick a 40yd FG, We probably beat LSU in the SEC championship game and play OSU in the title game. Does it suck that neither of those things happened? of course, but for people to say CMR won’t win one, can’t win one, simply because we haven’t had some of the same lucky breaks other teams have is silly. Richt is doing a fine job, and trust me our time will come.
Before gator/tiger fans try to jump on me for my comments let me make it clear, 1. not making excuses, those are just facts, and 2. I have a ton of respect for both programs and their accomplishments, just think if you look at it a little closer, UGA could just as easily have had 2 championships in the same time frame had things played out in our favor. The fact that they didn’t, doesn’t mean UF and LSU are vastly superior programs to UGA. The MNC is a beauty contest that requires the right breaks at the right time. Realistically any team that starts outside the top 15 is in an uphill fight to play for one before game one is even played. If your team loses 1 game, your team will need help/luck to get to the game. Auburn didn’t get it’s shot in 04, simply because they started too low in the preseason polls that year.
UGA is just fine with Richt.
jeff grady
July 30th, 2009
1:20 pm
UGa, or any other team with sustained top-15 recruiting success, will have the chance to compete for a NC if they have a Teabow talent-level QB and Harvin-quality players at the skill positions. They don’t appear to have the latter at present in my opinion.
Must be getting close
July 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
Why else would such a nonsensical article as this appear in the hallowed pages of this fine institute of higher journalism…kickoff must be around the corner.
SEC4Life…relax, Joe will be fine. Just look at the new media guide to reassure yourself about his bonafides (credentials)
As always HBTD
Will
July 30th, 2009
1:45 pm
I think we take this BCS Nat’l Championship stuff way too serious. We are talking about a bunch of 18-21 year old kids playing a kids game. It’s ridiiculous. Plus the fact, I don’t want our fanbase to turn into a bunch of spoiled babies like FSU or UF fans. I hate it for CUM (meyer), when he has a couple of 8 or 9 win seasons in the future, they are going to run his ass out of town like they did Spurrier. But yes, I would like to win the big game one day because that’s what ya play for. But I’m not losing any sleep over it I promise.
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
1:47 pm
BIGBOY—-The 2004 Auburn team did nothing wrong, except start the season lower in the AP and Coaches polls than USC and Oklahoma, the two teams that ultimately played for the 2004 BCS Championship. Personally, I think the 2004 Auburn team was better than Oklahoma, but I’m just a blogger; no one gave me a vote. As I recall there was a lot of discussion about the Tigers playing a weak out-of-conference schedule, and Auburn’s early season collapse in 2003 against USC and Tech didn’t help their case, either. On the other hand, I also remember that Auburn struggled to overcome a 9th-ranked Virginia Tech 16-13 in the Sugar Bowl.
In any event, sometimes you get a little bit lucky, and sometimes, life ain’t fair.
Saint Simons
July 30th, 2009
1:49 pm
We upset two teams last year (Gardner=Webb and UGA) that were better than us. I’ll brag about these games forever. Mama. could you please change me I think I just had another accident.
AltamahaDawg
July 30th, 2009
1:51 pm
Did anyone cover “it factor” yet?
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 30th, 2009
1:53 pm
MB, I’ve been hanging out over at JS’s blog because I’m still seething after last night. Just got around to this one — my apologies. Yes it will come — but not this year. And probably not next year.
P.S. No knock on Jeff (he seems like a nice guy), but I like you better. He’s taking Hohn’s side.
C. Strickland
July 30th, 2009
1:54 pm
JaxDawg, if I had just a fraction of your writing ability, I’d still be working at the AJC. Sigh.
What does UGA need to win a national championship? | The Junkyard Blawg
July 30th, 2009
2:00 pm
[...] Mark Bradley looking at the chances of Richt ever winning a BCS title today, I thought this would be a good time [...]
Mark in Woodstock
July 30th, 2009
2:06 pm
Richt can’t even win his own division now that Florida is up and running much less with a National Title.
L-Dawg
July 30th, 2009
2:12 pm
SWALLOW THIS…. Richt doesn’t win a NATIONAL TITLE in 8 years and idiots like mark Bradley want to put him on the block as a failure. ANY Georgia Teach coach beats Georgia (this rare occurence has only happened 4 times in the last 18 years btw) and the idiot is considered a hero. Seems like one is a much higher caliber program with much better expectations year in and year out to me…… GO DAWGS!!!!
jc_atl
July 30th, 2009
2:20 pm
Wow. Of course not. Richt peaked with Stafford. He’s gone after next season.
gratefuldawghead
July 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
Right on the money! Good article!!!!!!
More praise from ESPN on Georgia recruiting efforts and other links « Football on the Brain
July 30th, 2009
2:23 pm
[...] Mark Bradley gets all controversial again with Georgia fans by asking whether Mark Richt will EVER win a BCS title at Georgia? [...]
could care less
July 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
No, he is to much in love with himself
StAugDawg
July 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
Richt’s career looks like it may mirror Phil Mickelson’s a bit. I think eventually he will break through and maybe even win a few, but as long as Meyer is at UF, he will probably consistently contend in the conference, win his share of big bowl games, and have a hall of fame, great career. I don’t think Meyer is nearly as talented as Tiger, but he does seem to get it done when it counts.
gratefuldawghead
July 30th, 2009
2:34 pm
SEC4Life…Cox actually scored against Florida!
dogcrap
July 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
I wish someone would drop an atomic bomb on cesspool athens and kill every damn one over there. Now that would make my day.
Josh
July 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
Bali Smith, that is the most sensible post I have read on this blog in a long time. Thanks for the knowledge of the situation.
Josh
July 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
Oh, and Mark, you are the worst Braves jinx of all time. Don’t say anything more about the success they will have. Please.
TheItalianDawg
July 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
for every one who is saying Georgia will never win NC, I say to them PROVE IT!!
TW
July 30th, 2009
2:49 pm
Richt’s ability to win the BCS is contingeNT upon his ability to FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ. THE DAWGS WILL NOT WIN ANOTHER SEC TITLE, LET ALONE THE BCS, WITH WILLIE MARTINEZ AS DC!
WE ARE WASTING LOADS OF CHAMPIONSHIP TALENT ON OUR INSUFFICIENT DEFENSIVE COACHING!
URBAN, SABAN, SPURRIER, AND MILES WOULD NEVER TOLERATE SUCH DISMAL COACHING ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.
And that’s why they got the ring.
Chris
July 30th, 2009
3:01 pm
Mark,
278 comments. You really do know how to light a spark but unlike others who simply try to kick an ant hill, your stuff is lucid and always a pleasure to read.
Your take that the program was on the rise first five years and momentum has ’slowed’? I don’t know that that’s accurate. Mack Brown was always being criticized for being too nice until he broke through. Just because a coach rips his shirt off and busts a vein in his neck from screaming too hard at players doesn’t mean he’s effective.
As an aside, I think that ‘m’ guy is the retired Mysterio.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 30th, 2009
3:02 pm
ATL Gator, with in five years. 1) his luck that he makes will change 2) talent is still coming in 3) he will finally understand that you can’t take a half (either the first or second), a third quarter, the last minute, a drive or any second off during a game and expect to come back and win it on talent alone. UGA has had breakdown performances the past few seasons that just aren’t acceptable. You can’t get spanked by UF, get beat down by UT, or not show up at any point in the game. I think starting this season his discipline program is a lot better. No off season arrest yet, but really there haven’t been that many across the board. That discipline translate to better on field performance. Also I think if the D isn’t pulling it own weight then Willie is as good as gone. But everyone is back and healthy on that side of the ball, especially the middle of the line so I wouldn’t expect a let down on that side and Willie keeps his job.
Gordon
July 30th, 2009
3:13 pm
Question for dawg fans, and be honest. If you could go back in time to 2001, would you hire Mark Richt or Urban Meyer?
dap01
July 30th, 2009
3:23 pm
Perhaps only coaches with NC in the past 2 years should be hired by a college. Perhaps only coaches averaging 12 wins per year should even be allowed to live.
UGA has a record other schools can only dream about. The stadium is packed, the brand of football is excellent, the atmosphere is electric, and the wins come every year.
That yellow team would love to have UGA’s problems!
Gatorzone
July 30th, 2009
3:26 pm
Zoo, good to hear from you! I think you are accurate on all counts Richt seems to be learning something new each year that will make him a better coach, but if I were a Ga fan I would still want him to dump Willie. I do not believe UGA can win it all with WM.
Outsiders perspective only.
Jeff
July 30th, 2009
3:31 pm
Am a life long Dog fan, AND Tech fan. Only thing I don’t like about Richt is he has moved Georgia away from Hard Nose Football. Too much shotgun and not enough option and toss sweep. Tech has played run to set up the pass and now option at it’s BEST. Georgia passes to set up the run. Not SEC football. Who cares about Fla.
Bleedredandblack
July 30th, 2009
3:32 pm
Yes I think the dawgs will win a national title if they get rid of Martinez…He is not aggressive enough to be in the sec and the defense was not well couched last year…
gdawginkalamazoo
July 30th, 2009
3:33 pm
Gordon, I don’t know how to answer that one. Are you talking about hiring somebody based on hindsight? If I knew that Meyer would bring two NC’s to UGA would I hire him? Of course you would be a fool to say that you wouldn’t want that success. But hell let’s just say that we hired Spurrier back in 1989 instead of Ray Goff and call it a day. Now if you go back to 2001 and have no idea which coach would have 2 NC’s by 2008 then I would have picked Richt. Major programs that he has been involved with that have had major success (Miami and FSU). Well established coordinator that has played with and coached Heisman trophy winners. Obviously nothing wrong with Meyers path to champsionship status he has won consistenly everywhere he has coached and has turned into one of the best coaches in the country, if not the best. However Richt’s not too bad either. He is a proven winner and his NC time will come. He has already been close twice in his short tenure and IMO will eventually get there.
Bleedredandblack
July 30th, 2009
3:36 pm
The dawgs had talent from top to bottom to be champions and in the sec you can’t be a nice guy…You have to part religion and football…I mean I’m a strong christian man and I believe in prayer before and after games…But Richt has to seperate the two..This is a man’s game nd players are not trained to go out there to be nice…Its an aggressive sport and I think we don’t have the aggressive couches to put us over the top…
gdawginkalamazoo
July 30th, 2009
3:38 pm
Gatorzone, I have been lying low this summer waiting patiently for kickoff. I know it is a tough decision for Richt and this season I believe will tell all. If the D faulters like it has the past couple of years then Willie is gone. I believe UGA can draw a top rated D co-ordinator to the program that will show some fire FOR 60 MINUTES. Maybe even Monte if Kiffy doesn’t make it past a full year at UT.
Gordon
July 30th, 2009
3:38 pm
Ok, kalamazoo, let me ask it another way. Would you trade right now? Just yes or no.
By the way, I’m a Tech fan, and I’d trade Johnson for Richt. I hope that turns out to be something I look back on and say was a bad decision, but Richt has proven over too many years he is a very good coach. At least Johnson has put us back in the conversation.
Jay in VA
July 30th, 2009
3:43 pm
Winning the national championship is basically a political crap shoot. Who knows if Coach Richt will win one, or 3, or none? A lot of excellent coaches have never won one. Takes a good coach to get in position, but then you need a lot of luck (which the Dawgs haven’t had much of for years in my opinion) and the politics have to be right. Coach Richt had a 12-1 SEC championship team in 2002. Most years that would have been good enough to get to the big game, but that year there were 2 undefeated teams ahead of him. Heck, Tommy Tuberville did have an undefeated SEC title team in 2004 and was not picked to play for the BCS title. Like I said, a crap shoot.
shane#1
July 30th, 2009
3:44 pm
I think one of the most idiotic sports cliches is that a player or coach, “can’t win the big one.” When Roy Williams was at Kansas tv pundits were saying that he was a good coach, but he hadn’t won the big one. Did going to UNC suddenly make Williams a better coach, or did the stars simply align correctly? Dan Moreno never won the big one, yet I hear he was a pretty good qb. I never drank the #1 koolaid last year anyway. IMO, UGA’s offensive line was too young, and that was before Sturdivant and Vance went down. Can Richt win it all? Well he is recruiting good athletes and he has consistancy in his coaching staff, and he is a pretty good coach himself, stranger things have happened!
Go Gators
July 30th, 2009
3:45 pm
Some people just don’t have it. The chips fall into place for Florida and LSU because they have coaches that create positive momentum and have swagger. I have been to every Florida home game since 2005 and I have NEVER seen the Gators play not to lose, where as Georgia constantly seems to be trying to avoid losing rather than attacking and playing to win. They don’t have the swagger or the killer instinct. There is nobody on UGA’s schedule that fears them to the point they expect to lose. People are afraid to play Florida,LSU, OR USC.
big_dawg_fan
July 30th, 2009
3:47 pm
I’m tired of Tech fans bringing up 45-42 all the time. It’s just 1 win Jackets. 1 out of the last 8. Although, I suppose it’s actually 4 of the last 8. If they win the next 3 it’s 7-7. If Paul Johnson is around 3 more years that’s very likely to happen!!!!!
David
July 30th, 2009
3:48 pm
Come on Ga, you knew this article was coming. Heck you guys have been wondering the same thing. I will say this. No your not going to win any championships but I think Richt has done a hell of a job. It beats having down years by a mile. Changing defensive coaches is not going to get you championships. Mark has hit a ceiling but so what? I will take 10 wins any year. Besides, some people are still profiting from the 80 championship like Belue and Vince. You think they want another MNC?
big_dawg_fan
July 30th, 2009
3:48 pm
That’s 4 of last 11.
BIGBOY
July 30th, 2009
3:53 pm
Atlanta Gator,Gatorzone I still say the same thing.The major difference between FLA and UGA is Fla has recruited better on the defensive side of the ball..period.Now is that the Gator’s fault?Hell no that’s on our staff.Fla has seemingly always had a fair share of 4-5 star recruits on defense while UGA has more of a 4-3 mix.Rankings are not every thing but they give a pretty accurate overall assessment of talent.We have had a few great D units under Mark Richt and a lot of the games were close… but Fla always seemed to have a little better group of athletes on D.One thing though is Fla was very familiar with Richt’s scheme from playing FSU every year.I’d say the combination of the of the two was an edge..turning to the present a win this year and it’s 3-3 over the last 6.I don’t see talent as an issue any more moving forward…looking at this 2010 class with 2 out of 18 on O..Richt seems to get the message.
Mark "Spray Tan" Richt
July 30th, 2009
3:54 pm
Sadly, no. And I am currently owned by Paul Johnson.
Tide Rising
July 30th, 2009
4:01 pm
If you stay at or near the top long enough then eventually the right combination of talent (UGA will always have), chemistry, and luck (staying injury free and having other top teams topple out, lucky bounces of the ball) then you will eventually get to the top.
Just ask Tom Osborne of Nebraska, Joe Paterno, Roy Williams, Mack Brown, Vince Dooley. I could go on and on about top coaches that everybody seems to forget just how long it took for them to get there and in cases above it took a few of them over 20 yrs to win their first title.
Have some perspective folks. As long as CMR keeps the talent stockpiled eventually the pieces will all fall into place.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 30th, 2009
4:02 pm
Gordon, right now, no I would not trade Richt for Meyer. I can’t think of any coach I would trade Richt for right now. That’s why I have a tough time with all the naysayers that want Richt gone if doesn’t win an NC soon. He is doing a great job with the program. I remember the Goff and Donan years all too well so I know worst things can happen. I know you remember Chan.
Go Gators, you are correct about the killer instinct and playing not to lose. I think he will finally get that idea soon enough. He is still learning and I think that is one of the last key components to get him to that NC game. He has been close twice already in just eight season. I know Urban has two NC’s but you guys have a once in a lifetime player helping with that. Mack Brown is a hell of a coach and look how long it took him. Look at Pete Carroll with his loaded to the gills NFL team out there, only one NC so far. I believe the first thing a coach needs is to be consistently successful and Richt is.
Tide Rising
July 30th, 2009
4:04 pm
gdawginkalamazoo.
You wouldn’t trade Richt for Mike Shula? I hear he’s available!