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.
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
1,529 comments Add your comment
College Football expert
September 27th, 2010
4:37 am
Even if you don’t want Richt dismissed, do you still think he is worth the money he is being paid? Is he doing a million dollar job? Obviously not even close.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
September 27th, 2010
5:13 am
lCMlll : you have problems with Christians? Saban and Meyer speak openly about being Christians. That hasn’t effected their coaching has it? The world is full of negative, ignorant people like you and we should start with removing you from this vent – that would be an improvement that wouldn’t cost anything. What do you mean by “We” when discussing buying out Richt;’s contract? Like a good Obama supporter by “We” you mean you are going to do it with someone elses money – not yours. Saban and Meyer have both had down years and Richt is 3-3 against Saban. UGA is not going to find a better head coach than Mark Richt. Florida, S.C., Tennessee and Alabama have had as many arrests as UGA over the last 5 years but their newspapers support their school – unlike the AJC that is biased against UGA and strongly favors the home town team, the Nerds from Tech. Most of you on this vent calling for Richt’s head are closet Tech supporters or maybe reptiles from Florida. You are cowards hiding behind false names and lies. I support UGA proudly AND I support Mark Richt. If you don’t like it go ver to your own vent to complain. With our support Richt will turn the program around. We don’t want what is going on at Tennessee to happen at UGA. Keep Mark Richt. I want to hear from other supporters out there – and I know there are thousands.
College Football expert
September 27th, 2010
5:31 am
Keep supporting mediocrity FloRiDuh
Rockdale Bulldog
September 27th, 2010
5:51 am
The dawgs are not dead!!
They will finish 8-4 or 7-5 losing only to UF and/or Auburn.
Why is everyone in a panic? As I see it, the reason is most UGA
fans always expect too much. If you are a real dawg fan, calm down and
show a little patience.
Another reason for all of these negative blogs, is obvious. MB makes
an over reactive or dramatic statement only to stir the pot up and get
the most responses he can and we understand why.
Corny Hull
September 27th, 2010
6:24 am
Coach Richt seems to have tried to use the same discipline policy as Bobby Bowden. These guys are old enough to know what you say. The problem comes do they think you mean what you say. The Coach should have set the parameters years back. He finally meant business with the latest incident, even if the guy was a ree shirt. It appears President Adams had to have a meeting with the athletic dept. to get tougher for it to happen quickly. You got to treat 1st stringers like guys that never have been on the field. It gets their attention! Yeah, I know, it doesn’t resolve the issue of missed assignments playing on the field. In another era, Coach Dodd at Tech kicked an all SEC back off the team in the middle of his senior season for breaking rules. It hurts to do it, but the Coach has to mean business. When you come to GA, you then know behavior wise, what you better be doing. There’s a fine line on 2nd chances.
BFALCON
September 27th, 2010
6:32 am
It’s time for CMR to go. He can not lead UGA any further. No control of the team on or off the field.Bobo is garbage and Grantham will jump at the first opportunity to go back to the NFL.CMR looks lost and disinterested on the sidelines. My choice for the next coach at UGA is Jon Gruden.He has a great offensive mind, fiery and is intense.My second choice K.Smart. I wish C.Peterson would come but he will not.
MASSDAWG
September 27th, 2010
6:34 am
Mark,
Very well put!!!
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2010
6:53 am
good MORNING
How2Fish
OneEyeJacked
BOOGIE man from Hartwell
SugarHillDawg
DawgInLace
RedDawg77
BuLLdawg
Bill King
Tim Tucker
45ACP
I sure would like to hear form you “experts” this morning.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahha!
SEC Bottom Feeder
September 27th, 2010
6:54 am
Go dogs!
SEC Bottom Feeder
September 27th, 2010
6:54 am
woof woof sic em
SEC Bottom Feeder
September 27th, 2010
6:55 am
Shreveport wasn’t so bad afterall. hahahahahaha
TampaGator
September 27th, 2010
6:55 am
Chris…..
From 1950 to now…..Florida has won 8 more games than Georgia in the series….that is dominance. Before 1958….your team had a overall dominant record against Florida. You don’t divide up the years, dude, you add the years completely. Yes, Georgia had a run during that period under Dooley….but overall during the period, Florida has a dominant record since Jimmmy Dunn threw that PASS to beat you 7-6 in 1958. Overall, Georgia is the dominant team….but not since 1958….and that has been a long, long time. I am talking about a period of time. Georgia fans think that Florida wasn’t even competitive with Georgia before 1990…..not true. But it is true that Florida was not competitive with Georgia before 1958.
Dawgster….
Just stating facts to Chris…not putting your team down. In fact, I made several posts on here before posting to Chris criticizing Dawg fans for being so down on their team when having A.J. Green would have made a difference this year….and they should be down on him and not Richt….and that Georgia is going to be very competitive with both Florida and Auburn with Green in the lineup. It seems to me, Dawgster, that your peers are far more critical of the Dawgs than I am. Maybe go back and read some more to see for yourself.
SEC Bottom Feeder
September 27th, 2010
6:56 am
Did Yellow Fuzz have it right all along?
Looks that way
chris
September 27th, 2010
6:58 am
Mark……..I am a huge Richt fan and I appreciate all he has done with the program but we’ve lost 7 out of our last 9 SEC games. We have top rated recruiting classes every year but it isn’t showing on the field and every year its the same excuse “YOUTH”. When is the rebuilding over??? The O-Line in as veteran as they come and I’m not sure Hershel Walker could run behind this line.
You mentioned if Georgia wins 8 games and beats Auburn and Florida that the heat on Richt will go away. All I can say is, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN TO SUGGEST WE WILL BEAT ANOTHER TEAM OTHER THAN IDAHO ST?
Buckeye
September 27th, 2010
6:59 am
Well, at least he’s built “Ford tough”……..
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
7:00 am
I beginning to think it’s not only coaching but we have players who are not good enough to play in the SEC
BUZZ ME
September 27th, 2010
7:01 am
crime dawgs
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
7:03 am
Yellow fuzz I really don’t think you have ANY room to brag. GT has lost to WHO
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
7:04 am
Buzz me who was arrested at GT over the weekend and it wasn’t just for a petty misdemeanor
Dudley
September 27th, 2010
7:06 am
The biggest problem is Mike Bobo. I wouldn’t let him run my High school offense ! His play calling sucks ! And Richt unwillingness to start calling the plays again may cost him his job !
OldschoolDawg
September 27th, 2010
7:15 am
Take/the?G/off/The/Helmets/Make/them/EARN/IT
Yellow Fuzz
September 27th, 2010
7:21 am
I have plenty of room to talk. I am both a Tech fan and a dog critic. I have to go to a lot of dog games because my girlfriend is a student there. I see what you idiots don’t want to see. An SEC bottom feeder virtually every week.
Munson's Toupee
September 27th, 2010
7:23 am
What Would Damon Do?
Big Money Grip
September 27th, 2010
7:24 am
UGA missed the greatest opportunity when they didn’t elevate Richt to AD. That would have let the school save face and get the new football coaching staff they needed.
Struggling Bulldogs look to rebound – Macon Telegraph (blog) | DUI Attorney Local
September 27th, 2010
7:28 am
[...] grow after SEC record falls to 0-3Florida Times-UnionClarkson: Struggle reaches new lowOnline AthensMark Richt is in trouble.Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Savannah Morning Newsall 275 news [...]
big dawg
September 27th, 2010
7:28 am
The Dawg fans are hilarious. Blaming these losses on the coaches is so ridiculous. only redneck Georgia fans could possibly blame the coaches on these embarrassing losses. These 5 star recruits are playing passively because they all think no injuries and an NFL contract and the glitz and money and 57 virgins are all mine. These THUGS and their arm tackles and blocking hugs are the reason you are losing-not Mark Ritch. I hope you idiots do get him fired. He is too good a man to have to subject himself and his family to such idiotic rants and drivel. Go Tech!
wayne
September 27th, 2010
7:28 am
If Ive said it once, ive said it a 100 times over the last 2 years. The buck stops with Richt. The entire coaching staff including the scouts who found these players have to be fired. UGA have gone backwards the last 3 years. Even Stafford could not save the Dogs. Half the team suck but its not their fault. Bad Coaching and Recruiting. Richt has to go.
MURPHY
September 27th, 2010
7:31 am
I am shocked at the product we put on the field.This program is in trouble not just this year but more to come.I watched Florida play this week end and saw Urban find another player from his recruits that can make his team better(Burton). I have no idea why we can do the same? I remember another SEC coach losing his job after a Miss St loss( Zook).A change was made and look at them now. We must make changes to our program now! Hit the panic button and get something done!!!
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
7:33 am
Yellow fuzz you’re the idiot who doesn’t reconize the joke at grant field but spends all his time on someone else
Jim Donnan
September 27th, 2010
7:33 am
Where is Mike Adams when you need him?
papadawg
September 27th, 2010
7:35 am
We have a new AD from a winning program so let’s give him time.
Phil
September 27th, 2010
7:35 am
chris,
You are dead on, I don’t see another win except Idaho State. I don’t think we win at Colorado, another road game and they are coming off a bye week. Our program is in chaos. Everything is in their favor.
We finish 2-10, MAYBE 3-9 with some luck.
te29wr
September 27th, 2010
7:37 am
CMR is no more trouble than Furman Bisher was when he wrote the story about Wally Butts and Bear Bryant in the early sixtes and he lost the law suit and paid millions or the AJC did. Worry about job and not someone elses.
WBCIII
September 27th, 2010
7:37 am
McGarity – Get John Gruden on the phone ASAP!!!!! We need a new Dawg trainer in Athens. This is ridiculous with the talent that they have.
fair and Balanced
September 27th, 2010
7:38 am
As a CEO he has failed miserably. He hired Assistants from within rather than going out and getting proven talent. He has run his own program in the ground. MANY have seen this coming – warned of it right here. Why is anyone surprised?
He can save his own neck if he will make bold moves:
1. 0 tolerance of stupid stuff football players do. Yesterday’s dismissal was a step in the right direction.
2. Full scale warning to every coach!
3. Ultimatum to Bobo and offensive group!
4. Win a game or two VERY SOON!
Phil
September 27th, 2010
7:42 am
Murphy,
You aren’t kidding about Burton, my god, that kid is awesome. He will run wild against us. I don’t know where all our highly touted recruits go, yet we are always in the Top 10 class every year. Where the heck are they.
As anyone on here watched Stanford play? That is a tough physical team. Jim Harbaugh teaches toughness, playing physical, kind of the same philosophy that Saban teaches at Alabama.
Harbaugh is who I would love to see at Georgia. The team he builds could compete in the SEC.
big dawg
September 27th, 2010
7:43 am
The big bad Dawgs. Used to be that Red Coat Marching Band and their rude playiong into the opponents play calling and the team struck fear into their oppositions heart. Now all the SEC wannabes cannot wait to do the Bristol Stomp on their ugly heads. Suck it up and wait until next year.
Get rid of the troublemakers
September 27th, 2010
7:45 am
Get rid of the troublemakers including Richt himself
JoeFann
September 27th, 2010
7:46 am
On Saturday night, for the first time in my life, I spoke the words, “I’m ashamed to be a Georgia football fan.” This team has shown almost no heart, no fight and seems to have no clue. With the talent we have, that can’t be anything but coaching. While I don’t believe we axe people mid-season, I do believe that several changes are required. This offensive line, so highly touted and experienced, has been the biggest batch of underachievers I’ve ever seen. It took eight games last year to find a consistent running game. They were supposed to be the strength of this team while Aaron Murray found his way. Instead, he’s running for his life and the backs have no holes, only an occasional seam. This should cost Searels his job. Additionally, we’ve been manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage by every SEC team. That should cost the strength and conditioning coach his job, as well. Bobo should either be coaching quarterbacks only, or leave. He’s no coordinator, and a very predictable play caller. Clearly, character issues among recruits is a big problem. I don’t know if that’s Garner’s responsibility or not, but McGarity should address it, not Richt. I’m willing to give the defense a pass this year, and maybe next. Clearly, we don’t have the bodies required yet to play the 3 in the 3-4. 265 pound linemen won’t cut it in that defense. We’re also at least one safety and one cornerback short of a good secondary. I believe we have quality defensive coaches, but we have to give them time to get “their” players recruited. Offensively, we have no excuse. CMR, we love you, but it ain’t personal, it’s business. And right now, you’re not taking care of business.
Go Dawgs!
MURPHY
September 27th, 2010
7:48 am
Phil,
Richt should be able to do the same with his recruits? My gosh I know we dont have A.J but they lost probably one of the best college players ever(Tebow) and they are not missing a beat! Heck they are getting better every week! Watch out Bama!!!
big dawg
September 27th, 2010
7:49 am
Ga rednecks–get over it. Suck it up and get ready for another trip to Shreveport. For many years Ga was the luckiest team on the planet-winning in the last minute etc. Now the tide has turned. All the breaks goling the other way. it is called life. Get over it the sun is shining on someone else’s arse now. Get a life and just suck it up.
Danny
September 27th, 2010
7:50 am
Until Richt’s AD says Right is in trouble, Richt is definately not in one slight degree of trouble whatsoever. AJC writers have had Richt on the hotseat for 2 years been wrong every time, at least they’re consistent.
big dawg
September 27th, 2010
7:51 am
JUST SUCK IT UP!!!!!!
Redneck Vol Man
September 27th, 2010
7:52 am
The vols are going to beat Ga like a rented mule—mark it down! Dooley’s had this game circled on his calendar when he got the job and will really run it up. His dad Vince is still furious at UGA for firing him and will be pulling hard for UT!!!
JackB
September 27th, 2010
7:52 am
Zondy,
Great post. Mark Richt is a good coach and as outstanding a representative of a university as a school could hope for. Vince Dooley is widely regarded as a good coach, and he had a few .500 seasons. Even Joe Paterno has had some down years that lead people to say his magic is gone only to see him come back even stronger.
MURPHY
September 27th, 2010
7:54 am
Redneck Vol Man,
I agree. Sold my tickets yesterday-Cant bare to watch this team on t.v or in person!!
Grantham: Coach in Waiting!
September 27th, 2010
7:54 am
Grantham is the man! His 3-4 D is legendary already and the new AD will be appointing him coach in waiting soon. He’ll want big money ($3-4 mil) but he’s worth it! That NFL mind will dominate the SEC!!!!
Timbo
September 27th, 2010
7:55 am
Richt has checked out.
Phil
September 27th, 2010
7:55 am
“AJC writers have had Richt on the hotseat for 2 years”
Sorry Danny, have to disagree with you on that. Mark Bradley and Schultz have been covering for Richt, although not to the same degree that have covered for Bobby Cox the last 15 years. They won’t call for Richt’s removal. They never called for Cox’s removal either, and he’s the bigggest buffoon this state has ever seen. They will stick up for Richt no matter what.
big dawg
September 27th, 2010
7:56 am
The Dawgs next ass whipping will be in Boulder by a team that lost to Cal Bears by 52-7. Just suck it up!!