There’s no other way to say it: Mark Richt is in trouble at UGA
This was Mississippi State's first touchdown Saturday. It would add two more. (AP photo)
I wouldn’t have thought such a thing possible a month ago or a week ago or even 24 hours ago, but here it is:
Mark Richt is in trouble.
It was possible to write off Georgia’s first two losses as having come against superior opposition. It is not possible to write off losing in Starkville. It is not possible to square all those ballyhooed recruiting classes with being 0-3 in the conference. It is not possible to look on the Bulldogs as anything more than a middling SEC team.
Five years ago, how many other league schools would have gladly traded their coach for Richt? Nine? Ten? How many would today? Maybe three, and that’s depending on how Ole Miss feels about Houston Nutt this week. Too many SEC programs have caught and passed Georgia, and this has nothing to do with the superpowers in Tuscaloosa and Gainesville. Consider:
Last year Georgia lost to Tennessee in Year 1 of Lane Kiffin. Last week Georgia lost to Arkansas in Sanford Stadium in Year 3 of Bobby Petrino. Last night Georgia lost to Mississippi State in Year 2 under Dan Mullen.
No longer does an opponent tremble at the sight of Georgia approaching. On the contrary, this has become — three weeks running! — the team you want to play if you’re looking to establish your program.
The old Steve Spurrier critique of Ray Goff — “Georgia gets all these players … I don’t know what happens to them” — again applies. Georgia doesn’t lack talent. It simply cannot bring its talent to bear. Its new 3-4 defense mustered one sack against Arkansas and Ryan Mallett. Its touted offensive line was able to carve out 113 yards rushing against Manny Diaz’s Mississippi State defense. Its offense could not score a touchdown against South Carolina and needed 58-plus minutes to manage one in Starkville.
There has been no improvement week over week. There is only a weird stasis. The weeks and the opponents change, but Georgia looks no different. How does that happen?
Loading ...Granted, the season might look different had A.J. Green played these four games. But he didn’t because he broke a rule, and that’s the other reason Richt is in trouble. A coach can get away with having his players mess up off the field if the coach keeps winning big on it. But Richt is 10-9 dating back to Nov. 29, 2008, and guess what cheery news awaited him on his return from Mississippi?
You got it. Another player has been arrested.
When I say, “Richt is in trouble,” I don’t mean I expect him to be fired this week or even after this season. I think Greg McGarity, the new athletic director, will err on the side of patience with a coach of such distinguished pedigree. (And a strong finish to this season — winning the next eight and beating Auburn and Florida en route — would effectively get Richt out of trouble.) But the loss at State seems a tipping point. It seems the game in which the majority of Georgia fans stopped seeing Mark Richt as the answer and came to regard him as the problem.
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1,529 comments Add your comment
poopdawg
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
South ga dawg , that cut had to be backyard .
RL
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Brunswick Tech. That is funny about the Georgia Possums. Good post. Four weeks ago they were talking trash and complaining about being rated #22.
OldGolde
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
On his way out, can CMR take CPJ with him?
buckeyeboy52
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
The best team in Georgia this year is Georgia Southern.
MIKE T
September 26th, 2010
4:50 pm
Richt canceled football practice because of bad weather and went to the swimming pool instead, about three days later Jimbo Fisher canceled due too bad weather and told his team to be ready to go back to the field in an hour.One team is running
a summer camp and the other is running a football camp.
Guess which one is running a true football camp.
georgiadawgg
September 26th, 2010
4:52 pm
MARK RICHT NEEDS TO QUIT HAVING PARTIES AT HIS HOUSE. HE GETS HIS PLAYERS ARRESTED. BOOGY DOWN.
Woodstock Dawg
September 26th, 2010
4:53 pm
You guys are all still the crying babies I remeber from 2006. We lost to Vandy and Kentucky that year. “They want win another Game” you said. “Mark Richt’s had it.” We finished that season 9-4, beat AU by2touchdowns, Tech at home, and VT in the Chic-fil-a Bowl. We also got hopp’dby LSU for the BCS Championship game and had to play in the Sugar Bowl the next year.
We have the coaches. Players have to execute. What will Bradley do when COX shutsdown the AJC? As the Greaseman used to say AMF? See you in Boulder.
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
4:54 pm
46-39…..
What are going to post when the the all time record favors Florida…which is going to happen soon? At least Florida is playing in a meaningful game vs. Bama this year. Based on Georgia’s performance so far, you meaningful game was against Louisiana-Lay. Right now Florida’s program is far superior to your program and Florida has a head coach that is far superior to your head coach. And what does going undefeated have to do with anything? It is about winning championships and Florida is dominating Georgia in that category in modern day football….and yes, I know how good Georgia was in the 50’s with Wally Butts and in 1980 with Mr. Walker. Not much since then, I am afraid. Georgia has a good football program, but it has underachieved based on the quality of that program. You have fallen big time….sort of ironic since most on here were saying Florida’s program was the one that was going to fall. Well….it hasn’t. And you obviously did not watch Florida play last night against Kentucky. If they play like that the rest of the year, Florida CAN go undefeated this year and win another National Title…especially with perhaps the best defense in the country helping them. Joe Bostic and Jelani Jenkins are just as good as Spikes at MLB (maybe better in combo) and Jeremy Brown is a future NFL corner replacing Haden. And the defensive line is the deep and talented….and Lemmens, Trattou, Powell, Green, and company are playing mighty fine at DE to replace Cunningham and Dunlap. The Gator offense came together against Kentucky….and they will need to stay together and perfom at a high level to beat Bama in their house. But I fully expect my Gators to show up for that game…..a nationally important game….but you would not know what that is this year, would you?
Joe Cox
September 26th, 2010
4:54 pm
NewbombTurk has no concept of reality.
MIKE T
September 26th, 2010
4:55 pm
NewbombTurk
Just because we want change, doesn’t mean we don’t love the Dawgs.Richt has gone downhill, not just this year, but
since 2007.The handwriting is on the wall.
Jeff G
September 26th, 2010
4:55 pm
Georgia will lose at least six games this season. The dawgs are not getting better this year. They have no playmakers, and no pass rush. Cheer your Falcons instead and use your Saturdays to get outside and enjoy some exercise.
AFDawg
September 26th, 2010
4:55 pm
Think, Not if you replace him with a high powered coach who excites the players — like bringing in Grantham did for the defense.
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
46-39….you better enjoy that record while you can. It will not be standing to much longer.
chazzo
September 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
Who knows? Who cares?
There are some good guys on this team with a lot of heart, and they deserve our support. They deserve, also, to be properly prepared for games. Who knows? We’ll see. Who cares? Me. I proudly wore my G-cap to the golf course today. The only way I would quit pulling for the Dawgs is if they hired Urban Meyer to coach. LOL
gcs
September 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
But he such a nice guy. Let’s give him a lifetime contract.
.
Former UGA Fan
September 26th, 2010
4:57 pm
UGA needs to start recruiting football players with brains who can use them. Washaun Ealey – why didn’t you fall on the ball when you saw it right in front of you in the end zone? Why did you just get up and start to walk away until you saw the MSU player running and jumping on the “fumble”? You cost your team 7 points and momentum……..what a blunder. If that were the only blunder, one could be more forgiving, but the game was fraught with them….at the most inopportune times. Wake up Dawgs and smell the Alpo!
John Harbaugh
September 26th, 2010
4:57 pm
For all you Kool-Aid drinkin’, rah-rah, “lets stick behind our football team”, Richt apologists: If you went to your hometown restaurant and for the past 5 years have consistently been served bad food with terrible service, would you still go every week and blindly fork over your hard earned money just because the restaurant has “Georgia” on the sign, and people would get mad at you for registering a complaint while the owner makes $2 million a year? Just a thought…….
Where have you gone Bill Stanfill?
September 26th, 2010
4:57 pm
NewbombTurk you are what is wrong with the picture. You are accepting less than what our team is capable of. Durring the Donnan/Goff years this would just be another day at the office but these are different times and we shouldn’t be ridiculed for expecting more than what we are getting out of our players and especially coaches. These coaches have more talent and resources at their disposal than half of the SEC schools combined but we have less wins to show for it.
MIKE T
September 26th, 2010
4:58 pm
TampaGator 47-39-2
Tdawg
September 26th, 2010
4:58 pm
I like CMR. He is a good guy, but i think he needs to resign with pride instead of being run out of town. Joshua had to lead the children of Israel over into the promise land. Moses could only lead them so far. It”s time for changes in UGA ASAP!!!!
John Harbaugh
September 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
Chazzo, I beg to differ. If Urban came here and gets us 2 NC like he has at Fl, damn right I’ll still root for the Dawgs. It’s about winning NC’s baby. This is big boy football, not checkers….
Dawgman
September 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
I predict Richt will finish a little stronger. He’ll take over play calling. He’ll beat either Auburn or Florida and Ga Tech. Then he’ll resign.
He’ll coach Maryland next year. He needs a program that does not expect much, maybe .500 every other year, and he needs to be at a school where he can recruit kids who’s (two) parents raised them well enough to allow Richt to be a friend and coach, with only mild or moderate discipline required.
We, on the other hand, need a bad dude that intimidates the thugs while coaching them up. Even yo mama knows she can’t get a new house unless her baby is a star, drug free and in a winning program.
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
46-39…..
I will answer your “undefeated” question for you….with a question and an answer:
What does having an undefeated season have to do with anything…especially if you play in the SEC?
And….it is all about winning the SEC East, playing in and winning your share of SEC championships, and playing in and winning your share of national titles…..and Florida has been doing fairly well in those categories since the early 1990s. Georgia hasn’t been doing so well in those catergoies for over 30 years.
Seriosuly
September 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
I kept watching Richt mannerisum on the side lines and you can tell by his body language that he is a tired man and just doesnt care anymore. This team is just going through the motions and it is sad. It is time that he truly takes a look at his position and either find a way to care or resign effective immediately.
Joe Cox
September 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
Anyone who dosen’t want Richt gone isn’t a true Dawg fan. If I were a gator fan or Bama I would want UGA to keep Richt too. Georgia should be competing for the SEC every year and richt supporters are bringing up 9-4 seasons to back up their statements. What fools
MIKE T
September 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
Former UGA Fan
What do we care what you think? Traitor.
bid dawg
September 26th, 2010
5:01 pm
Mark, do you remember when Bear Bryant had his down years and came back strong, Joe Pa the same and Vince until shortly thereafter when he went 43-4-1. Enough is enough, quit stirring the pot like radio people!
Dogs Smell
September 26th, 2010
5:01 pm
Since when does UGA have a mens basketball team?
crabapplejoe
September 26th, 2010
5:02 pm
Why would the Stanford coach come to Athens? He actually recruits diverse talent that the alums wouldn’t let him do here…..and has his team in the top 15 and climbing…..
bid dawg
September 26th, 2010
5:02 pm
Enough of a basketball team to be TECH yearly
harold
September 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
Richt has lost 7 of his last 9 SEC games! He is 20-15 the last four years. Georgia football is as bad as Tennessee now!
historydog
September 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
Time to “look within”! Yes indeed. Time to establish who is in charge, the coaches or the players. Another player arrested. Kick him off the team along with Green. Let Green go sell sports equipment. Lack of Green is not the problem, it is much more serious, and Green does not play defense. Who does? The only two players who played Sat. were Murray and Durham. No enthusiasm, no fire, no energy on defense or the offensive line. No matter who they are, the players who want to drink, party, and steal; run them off,and leave the ones who want to be a part of the team and play football.
jumbeauxtiger
September 26th, 2010
5:03 pm
I’d say Richt should be given at least through 2011 based on his overall record and 2 SEC titles. However the lack of discipline exhibited by the player arrests shows he doesn’t have control over the program. Thus I don’t think it will get any better in Athens and he should be fired.
Bama Dawg
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Make the SMART DECISION AND CALL Kirby a.s.a.p.
BIG TECH FAN
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Who gives a Mutt mill a@@ about UGA?! That disgusting program hasn’t been relative since Hershy Highway Walker was there….Stay in the bottom feeding of the SEC why don’t you!!! Getting all of these toofless Georgians hopes all up is just wrong!!!
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
46-39….you better enjoy that record while you can. It will not be standing to much longer
What 46-39 does not understand is the record since 1950 (before most on this blog where born)
is in the Gators favor—–the series since 1949 is 34-25-1 GATORS. Let all your grandfathers talk the 46-39 trash, anybody on ths blog 60 or younger has been treated to the dominate Gators and it is only going to get worse.
big dawg
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
Mark will be there for many years to come!!
True Dawg
September 26th, 2010
5:04 pm
What a bunch of back seat drivers I have read about. Georgia has a shot at winning the Sec east and all of you have already given up on the Dawgs. We never gave up in Valdosta like you bunch of babys.
brenda
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
GUESS WHO WROTE THE FOLLOWING: “Richt is a fine coach. He has earned the benefit of every doubt, and his willingness to change his defensive staff bought back most of the good will he’d lost. But his is a business predicated on results, not good will. Unless his team goes 1-11, there’s no way he gets fired within the next year. Another middling season, however, and the heated-seat talk will become more than just talk.” http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/06/03/ugas-richt-isnt-atop-the-hot-seat-yet-but-its-getting-warmer/
Al
September 26th, 2010
5:05 pm
Mark does not want to coach anymore. He is more than content to get rich in Athens. Once fired he will leave coaching for good and remain in the Athens area….he has no passion for the role. One simply cannot blow this type of talent….the only thing that is happening now is that we are jeopardizing future recruiting. The other SEC teams and even Tech will capitalize on this from a recruiting perspective.
MIKE T
September 26th, 2010
5:06 pm
Mark, do you remember when Bear Bryant had his down years and came back strong
How many years? Check our SEC record since 2005.
This has’nt just started.I too was once in the get off
Marck Richt’s back camp. No longer, it obvious we have been passed by,not only by the elite, but by mid tier teams. It’s gonna be terrible if Dooley’s son comes in
between the hedges and hands us our head.
I fumble this state
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
I like that – we play dead at home and get killed on the road.
Charleston Jacket
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
And you mutt heads want to come on our blog and give us a hard time. What goes around comes around. Personally, I enjoy watching the weekly beat downs you are taking. Yea, I know we are not doing that great either but then again we don’t get the 4 &5 star recruits that you do. Let’s face it neither team is as good as we thought and it will be interesting to see who bounces back from a dismal start. The schedule only gets tougher from here on out.
George
September 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
Wrong. We don’t have big playmakers like we use to. And our guys are smaller than in years past. Weight conditioning a problem? Probably.
PaulieOldSchool
September 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
Sorry, Coach, time to make a change. Your schtick has worn thin, your offense capabilities are not up to the task and you have no control over your team. I don’t believe that you have an SEC win in this team this year. Time to go. Right now.
Charleston Jacket - "I'm Gay"
September 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
Enter your comments here
Garry Owen
September 26th, 2010
5:08 pm
Scholarship players who break the team rules and/or the law should be denied the scholarship and dismissed from school!
George
September 26th, 2010
5:09 pm
Good thing Larry retired. Calling this season would kill him.
brenda
September 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
everyone killed Nebraska when they dumped Solich but look at them now. Look at them online or on ESPN because UGA would never have the balls to play them in person.
MIKE T
September 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
BIG TECH FAN
60-39-5 Georgia