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
Referee
September 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
HitaSingle,
Ingram gets away with it for the same reason Tebow got away with it. Because they are champions.
Bobby Houseman
September 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
It takes discipline for a football team to be effective. There is a notable lack of it at UGA. A team is as good as its leaders and there’s a definite lack of leadership with the Dawgs. It is so obvious. Discipline and leadership come from the top. Who’s at the top? It probably won’t get any better until Richt leaves. If he’s the honorable person I think he is, he’ll resign at the end of the season. If he doesn’t, then it will be necessary to force him out.
Cut our losses....
September 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
would’a, could’a, should’a,….Bottom line is it’s time for a change…CMR has lost control of the team, is behind the times, and UGA needs a fresh start. Many coaches go stale, it’s a fact of the game. No hard feelings, but time for a brash new coach with fresh ideas…Recruits jumping ship if Richt leaves? I think not….losing and mediocre play make the blue chips head to Gator and Tide’ villle….
Gubner Perdue
September 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
Dumbo, Jacksonville State would drive a mudhole in their arses!!!
AlphaDog
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Not a good day to be a Ga Bulldog – at least Tech lost, but that does not even make it better. And I am sure the Tech fans feel the same way about their team, but at least they have a coach is gonna kick butt and take names this week. I really like Mark Richt and respect him as a coach and a man, but sometimes it’s just time to move on to a different situation and maybe this is the time for Coach Richt. But its still September, so let’s see how this plays out and I am sure AD Garrity will make a good decision in December
JB
September 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
SEC Statistician. I was quoting what fans on this site were saying four weeks ago. How they were going to manhandle UF. How they owned USC. Then the next week how they owned Ark. Then last week how they owned Mississippi State.
Rock The House
September 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
Can’t wait for B-Ball season to start!! Go Coach Fox and Go Dawgs!!
HitaSingle
September 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
Referee – You know why they get away with it. Because some of you refs don’t have a back bone. Admit the truth! No you don’t want to hear the truth.
Danny G
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
Coach R would be a great Coach in Pee Wee League. Good guy with integrity and scruples. Unfortunately, he is in the big time and winning is the only thing that matters. Take care Coach. It was great knowing you.
Truth-Serum
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
@Gawdfather: “Richt will never be at the level of Meyer and Saban”
Richt will never be at level of Ron Zook, let alone Meyer and Saban. More like a moderately improved Goff 2.0.
HELL, MARK RICHT WILL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS DONNON!!!!
Charleston Jacket
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
That’s does it. Everyone is invited to my house for dress up. BIG TECH FAN keep your little sister away because I’m tired of her kicking not only mine, but all of our friends butts. Go Dress up!
Hunker down
September 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
Run the table??? Really??? There’s a point where optimism becomes delusion, we passed that point a while back.
Tide Rising
September 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
JB,
Count me in as one of those fans. I thought that uga, anchored by a powerful O-line, would win 10 games. I didn’t say they would manhandle UF. Just that UGA would have a great O-line that would largely pave the way for a successful season. Things can change in a hurry I guess.
FLA DAWG
September 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
This is a complete disaster. The UGA Football Program is in absolute disarray. Richt created this problem with his replacement hires of Martinez and Bobo. Richt is responsible for this entire mess.
Coach Richt, do the right thing for all of the players, students, alumni, fans and especially for The University of Georgia and resign.
FLA DAWG,
Class of ‘79
Truth-Serum
September 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
“There’s no other way to say it: Mark Richt is in trouble at UGA”
DUH?!
Gatorbait 17-3
September 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
Chris
September 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
TampaGator, Georgia won most of the games against Florida prior to 1950?????
What year were you born? Granted yaw have dominated us the last 20 years, but Georgia dominated and won most of its games against Florida prior to 1990…..not 1950.
Read up on your history dude.
I have dude and you know jack sh*^%$. You go look it up the Gators lead the series since 1950:
GA FLA
1
1960 Lost 14 22….Jacksonville 1
1961 Lost 14 21….Jacksonville 1
1962 Lost 15 23….Jacksonville 1
1963 Lost 14 21….Jacksonville 1
1964 Won 14 7…..Jacksonville 1
1965 Lost 10 14….Jacksonville 1
1966 Won 27 10….Jacksonville 1
1967 Lost 16 17….Jacksonville 1
1968 Won 51 0…..Jacksonville 1
1969 Tie 13 13….Jacksonville tie
1970 Lost 17 24….Jacksonville 1
1971 Won 49 7…..Jacksonville 1
1972 Won 10 7…..Jacksonville 1
1973 Lost 10 11…..Jacksonville 1
1974 Won 17 16….Jacksonville 1
1975 Won 10 7…..Jacksonville 1
1976 Won 41 27….Jacksonville 1
1977 Lost 17 22….Jacksonville 1
1978 Won 24 22….Jacksonville 1
1979 Won 33 10….Jacksonville 1
1980 Won 26 21….Jacksonville 1
1981 Won 26 21….Jacksonville 1
1982 Won 44 0…..Jacksonville 1
1983 Won 10 9…..Jacksonville 1
1984 Lost 0 27….Jacksonville 1
1985 Won 24 3…..Jacksonville 1
1986 Lost 19 31….Jacksonville 1
1987 Won 23 10….Jacksonville 1
1988 Won 26 3…..Jacksonville 1
1989 Won 17 10….Jacksonville 1 12
18 12–1
1990 Lost 7 38….Jacksonville
1991 Lost 13 45….Jacksonville
1992 Lost 24 26….Jacksonville
1993 Lost 26 33….Jacksonville
1994 Lost 14 52…..Gainesville
1995 Lost 17 52…………Athens
1996 Lost 7 47….Jacksonville
1997 Won 37 17….Jacksonville 1
1998 Lost 7 38….Jacksonville 3–17
1999 Lost 14 30….Jacksonville
2000 Lost 23 34….Jacksonville
2001 Lost 10 24….Jacksonville
2002 Lost 13 20….Jacksonville
2003 Lost 13 16….Jacksonville
2004 Won 31 24….Jacksonville 1
2005 Lost 10 14….Jacksonville
2006 Lost 14 21….Jacksonville
2007 Won 42 30….Jacksonville 1
8
9
21 28–1
1950-59 4 6
25 Georgia 34-1 Florida
Colonel Jessup
September 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
HitaSingle,
The truth? You can’t handle the truth.
Mickey Mantle
September 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
A lot of teams would die for Mr. R. It could be much worse. It could be a Tiffen
HitaSingle
September 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
colonel jessup – I can handle it. I am just not blind to justice and you are.
Gubner Perdue
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
Who said run the table? LOL!!! 1980 is more like year 891! lol
Bobby Houseman
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
Who the heck is Tiffen?
Truth-Serum
September 26th, 2010
5:55 pm
BOBO, MARTINEZ, THE GA FANS, UGA IV UGA V HELL, MARK BRADLEY, ARENT THE PROBLEM WITH THE DAWGS. THESES DAWGS AND COACHES TAKE THERE INSTRUCTIONS FROM MARK RICHT
THE BUCK STOPS RIGHT THERE!
Gatorbait 17-3
September 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
BTW those stats were from the Bulldog web site:
http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/geo-football-history.html
Agree
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
Mike Bobo is a damn good Dawg, but the wheels started coming off the bus right around the time CMR handed over the play calling duties so that he could be ‘more of an executive that manages the game…”
Let Bobo go back to coaching up the QBs. let him keep the title; but if Richt wants to right the ship, he needs to get back to what made him successful in the first place.
Second this.
Rock The House
September 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
- O line nowhere near as good or talented aswhat everyone said it would be.
- No discipline as usual. Penalties at the worst possible times.
- Turnovers at the goal line! Especially by one Waushaun Ealey!!
- No real playmakers or gamechangers on either side of the ball.
- Our only big-time play maker let his team down by selling his bowl jersey when he knew better!
- R Freshman QB who may be good some day, but he has no help now.
- No one is scared to play UGA. Hell, they are looking FORWARD to playing UGA!
- This team has no identity and no heart! It comes down to coaching and it’s time for a change.
siskel_god
September 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
If freakin JoePa can still win at Penn State than it should be obvious that Richt can still win. JoePa just had to hire better assistants, which is what CMR will have to do. Bye bye Bobo and sorry @ss Searels. The defense looks better, they just have to get the right personnel in there. Bobo has and continues to look overmatched against everybody.
Colonel Nathan Jessup
September 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
HitaSingle,
I reckon you’ll just have to understand that there has always been a national referee conspiracy to screw Georgia. One bad call in the LSU game proves it conclusively! The refs also helped push Trindon Holliday on his 40 yd punt return. They also gave charles scott a push on the fanny on his 34 yard touchdown jaunt. Or did you not see that also?
Bobby Houseman
September 26th, 2010
5:59 pm
Entirely new coaching staff needed. Mike Bobo is a dodo.
ATL Dawg
September 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Coach may be a nice person, but that doesn’t get the job done in the SEC. The bottom line is the Bulldawgs are not going to win a National Championship under Richt. Everyone has to admit that to themselves. Because of that one simple fact, he has to go.
AtlGator
September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
TacklingFuel…..”Erk Russell”?
You know the program’s in the crap house when you wish you were now being coached by a ghost.
Poor Execution
September 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
29 four or five star recruits that have never developed between 2002 and 2008 once they stepped foot on campus. That is a reflection of the strength and conditioning department. Van Halanger along with his idiot training staff, the arrogant coach BoZo, time to go…
TheZooker
September 26th, 2010
6:08 pm
Zook > Richt
jacketbrave
September 26th, 2010
6:08 pm
dont get me wrong, I HATE UGA. BUT, aj green coming back can make a big difference…. dogs will make a bowl
Mike Buglioli
September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
I think Coach Richt is a fine man and person but he’s obviously lost organizational control of his program. Too many arrests, pitiful coaching of too many talented players and a general lack of team motivation and discipline. Last time we had this, it was Donnan who lost his job. This year’s season will seal Richt’s fate. Barring a miracle, that means he’ll be gone.
Epaminondas
September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
There is one thing that could be a huge factor in all this. As I recall, Richt’s wife was diagnosed with cancer back in ‘05 or ‘06. She may still have it for all I know. If this is a distraction that is affecting Richt, it could very well be the problem. If so, he needs to admit it and resign. Is this a factor, Coach? It’s an understandable tragedy if it is, but IF it is you need step away for the good of the team. I hope I’m wrong. I pray I am.
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
Chris….
The Florida-Georgia series turned in 1958, dude, when Jimmy Dunn threw that long TD pass to beat you….introducing to the Bulldogs the forward pass and modern day football….and since then…the Gators have dominated the series….since the 1950’s….and Jimmy’s introduction to the pass…then Spurrier…and now Meyer. Study your history before posting a lack of knowledge of it.
Paul
September 26th, 2010
6:11 pm
What I notice reading this blog is the class of the Tech fans that are not trashing UGA here, like I know would happen to GA Tech if the tables were reversed.
Dawghater
September 26th, 2010
6:12 pm
UGA’s learning about Karma. Ealey gets arrested for a hit and run, driving with a suspended license and underage drinking in his car. CMR suspends him for just the ULL game. Then Ealey fumbles away the SC game and fumbles again last night in the end zone. Then today they kick a Freshman off the team for underage drinking to make them look tough on this kid. Yet, Ealey still is on the team ready to fumble another game away. Enjoy the rest of your schedule. Woof, Woof, Wimper, Wimper
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
6:12 pm
It is kind of ironic…..don’t you think….that the Gators got totally fed up with Ron Zook when he took a talented Gator team to Starkville and got beat…..now Richt does the same. Same ending to the coach???
Mtn Dawg
September 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
Bring back Jim Donnan. I think he still lives in Athens
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
6:16 pm
And Chris….
I was born in 1950 (and will turn 60 soon and I am retired now)….therefore for which I know a little bit of history or the times (the 50’s)…..and when were you born….after 1980? And therefore never study history….or read for that matter?????
MadDawg
September 26th, 2010
6:18 pm
Fire him today! Richt has got to go!
nomoUGA
September 26th, 2010
6:18 pm
Richt will stay on-board until the end of the season unless he resigns now, you will not find a replacement this early in the season. Lets bring the Boise St coach in here and start recruiting players with integrity; do your home work coaches!
RememberWhen???
September 26th, 2010
6:19 pm
Can you Dawg fans remember this guy and the creative play calls? Do you remember the no-huddle offense and how much success it yielded? It’s sad to see a team sink to such depths when they were once fun to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b-TxkrEWAg
Just A Observer
September 26th, 2010
6:20 pm
Attitude is most important to any person doing whatever. However, if you ever notice the Aggressive attitude from some of the UGA players, you can just see the arrogance in a negative way. What I have observed for many years especially with the Dawgs players are they can do anything they want and get away with it because they are so Freaking pampered.Being a former Law Enforcement Officer for many years I have had contact with individuals such as the Out Of Control Players. If they break a Law Kick Them Off The Team. This stuff has to stop. Amen
Farnsworth
September 26th, 2010
6:21 pm
He needs to be let go partly for the losses but more so for all the low character players that Ga. keeps recruiting. This has soiled the University’s reputation and is terrible for the bad messages it send to kids. I keep hearing about how he is a high character person himself (as he seems to be)—but why then does he recruit, year after year, so many ethically challenged players?
Farnsworth
September 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
Great! Another post sucked into the ajc blackhole.
Jack Goff
September 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
My brother never should have been fired. All he needed was a little more time.
TampaGator
September 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
For all the Dawg “fans”??? giving up on your team…..you should be ashamed of yourselves. Green is going to improve your team by 25% when he returns and you will compete with every team you play for the rest of the year. Georgia still has a lot of talent….and your best player is returning (though you should boo him with all your effort when he walks onto the field) next week. I think Georiga will win a lot of its remaining games and have a good year….I even think you will battle the Gators hard in Jacksonville. You just need Green back and a few breaks.
And is Demetre Baker completely stupid or what??? What a moron to go drink and drive with the climate that exists in Athens. The same can be said for any Gator that does something stupid in Gainesville. I don’t think the head coaches and ADs at Georgia or Florida are much up for second chances right now.
Hairy Dawg
September 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
Unless we go 3-9 or something, Richt is going to get at least one more season as coach. I don’t think Bobo will, though.