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
Santa Claus Tryon
September 27th, 2010
7:31 pm
Agree. I’m from Al. Roll Tide! I remember a few weak teams there. Lets face it UGA has not won very many SEC or nat’l titles. I don’t know what the answer is. I believe Richt is a good man, but has lost control of his players. Maybe he can get more strict and regain control. Maybe he should move into the football dorm and become a Daddy to his boys like Bishop Long.
YOU EVIL REDNECKS MAKE THE TOP TALENT LEAVE GA
September 27th, 2010
7:34 pm
TO STUPID BOODOG,HOW MANY NATIONAL TITLES MARK RICHT HAS? NONE IN 10 YEARS,HOW MANY DOES URBAN MEYER AND NICK SABAN HAS TOGETHER 4 JACK@$$,YOU STUPID REDNECK FANS ARE BLIND WHO ARE STILL DEFENDING MARK RICHT,HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED YESTERDAY!
Tech fan
September 27th, 2010
7:46 pm
HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED YESTERDAY!
an understatement……..
AugustaDawg
September 27th, 2010
7:54 pm
What has happened to Tailback U.????? Ealey sucks. Bench him. Better yet…how can you have 10 of 11 starters back on offense and only score one touch down in almost 12 quarters??????? Ohhh… and the one player who isn’t a returning starter is the best offensive player on the team!!
JW
September 27th, 2010
7:57 pm
does anyone know what radio station carries Mark Richt’s weekly show?
ATLXMEN
September 27th, 2010
8:01 pm
Richt can stay as long as he wants. UGA is no where near pre mark richt. no other coach out there will do better. he has more wins than any other coach in the sec since he has been there. saben and myer will go through the same things if they stay 10 years or longer. just how college fottball is.
ATLXMEN
September 27th, 2010
8:07 pm
ealy is fine and king is too. once the line starts opening some holes they will be even better. the fumbles are happening when he is trying to reach for extra yardage. you guys worry too much
ATLXMEN
September 27th, 2010
8:13 pm
who has one national championships less than 10 years coaching? you can tell who has played football and who hasnt on this blog. its all about excuting most of the time with the Georgia team. the coaches cant run the play for them. the players have to take accountablity which they are, its just people have never played football before that blame the coaches. these are the same coaches that went 13-1 and 11-2 just 5 or 6 years ago. you guys just have to have patience. these guys are capable of winning 6 in a row..easy..
dxhrfhfhy
September 27th, 2010
8:14 pm
Bobo has got to go go!!
Scott from covington, Ga.
September 27th, 2010
8:17 pm
Richt is the problem! He is too nice and does not have the fire and passion that is needed to coach. You must have intensity and be aggressive. When the coach does n ot have these quailities, most of the time his players will take on his personality as well. Richt looked lost Saturday night on the sidelines and at the end of the game he was hiding behind players to avoid the camera being on him. Coach Richt then had the audacity to act like a arrogant butt at the post game press conference! Georgia players are also getting pushed around on the field! Ga players are getting hit first of the line of scrimmage and our backs can’t break tackles. They need to fire all of the coachesexcept for the new defensive coaches. Also fire the strength and conditiponing coach(he is old and a joke for a coach)
ATLXMEN
September 27th, 2010
8:24 pm
sorry..should read won..not one
ATLXMEN
September 27th, 2010
8:27 pm
scott is a prime example of guys on this blog that has never played football higher than pee wee league. the man played qb in the pros that for one tell you he has fire and is intense. just because he doesnt show it on tv doesnt mean he isnt intense or doesnt care. you have no clue what your talking about.
wildbill
September 27th, 2010
8:54 pm
I expect things will be nasty when Tennessee comes to town. And I am talking about the dawg fans. CMR did act like a but during his interview. That is no way to win friends and influence people. I imagine he is really disappointed in the performance of HIS coaches as well as HIS players. When the dawg fans group up in Athens, there will be a lot of barking for sure, some of it will be at Tennessee but I wager much of it will be at the athletic program in general. I would like to see Ealey on the bench for the whole game. The out of shape guy takes himself out after every run he makes. The back coach should be flat ashamed for playing such an out of shape player. What a sorry, sorry, sorry, state UGA football is in and will be for a while to come. It is SAD.
Antwon
September 27th, 2010
9:42 pm
From the inside, decision makers have started to pay attention.
Thogwummpy
September 27th, 2010
9:48 pm
Geez…get realistic! Georgia has a first year QB. They haven’t had their marquee player A.J. Green. And it’s a totally new scheme on defense. And you guys actually think that a brand new A.D. is going to pull the trigger to fire one of the most successful coaches in NCAA? ESPN WOULD TOAST HIM FOR FIRING RICHT. Moreover, when the next coach at UGA came in and didn’t produce right off the bat, Dawg fans would be calling for the Athletic Director’s head on a platter. Likewise, what magic coach is waiting in the wings…available? NOBODY. Additionally, Richt would end up somewhere and start beating us like a drum! My gosh, I’m a devoted Dawg fan…but I’m not a spoiled brat either. This is a legitimate rebuilding year—and you don’t fire a coach of Richt’s calibur in a season with lower expectations to begin with. GROW-UP! All the rantings are irrelevant anyway…because again, no first year AD is going to put his neck on the chopping block by dumping Richt. So, it’s a moot column.
steveinga
September 27th, 2010
9:54 pm
I surely do not claim to be one of the elite and knowledgeable experts on here. However as an old supporter of UGA I have a few opinions I would like to share with ya’ll.
1.) College football ain’t no sport. It’s big business. As in so many big businesses some folks will lie, cheat and do whatever to protect their valuable assest. Seems in GA we got us coach with some ethics that doesn’t mind calling out a bad player. Rest assured friends that GA doesn’t have the monopoly on players with a criminal record, we just don’t cover it up as much. Seems CMR gave D Baker his walkin papers. I expect to see that fella in 2 years as an All American at UF.
2.) I read some comments on here about Ga needin a Jim Tressel. Ain’t he the same fella that lost the last 8 or 9 to an SEC team. A few he lost down right embarassing. Unless we get a couple of Youngstown State U, Ohio U, etc teams down here in the SEC I suggest we keep his kind up above the Mason Dixon Line.
3.) Some more of ya’ll suggested we go after Boise State’s or TCU’s coaches. Makes no sense to me how you can in one breath talk about the cake schedule they have and in another suggest they can coach in the SEC. What is the next great idea? Tell your local High Schools to recruit their next coach from Pop Warner Football?
4.) The SEC East is weak this year. The West is better but overall not by much. UF may surprise me this week against Alabama but gut tells me no way possible. Keep the emergency rooms open this weekend and be prepared for UM sightings. UF welcome to reality. You may be the best of the worst but the Old Ball Coach is on the horizon.
5.) Tebow in my opinion is the best quarterback to ever take a snap on or off the field. Fact is he carried UF for 4 years and in some cases won on shear will. Fact is he is Gone. Good luck, ya’ll will need it.
6.) My daddy backed Bama as did his Dad. My uncle was a Bama backer and married an Auburn backer. Didn’t last. Bama is my 2nd favorite team behind UGA. My Bama friends it is nice to see that swagger in your walk again instead of hearing about all those death threat ya’ll made to everyone since the Bear.
7.) UT…Fulmer got the last laugh. I hope CMR doesn’t. Up to the 2009 season – 90-27-.0 (769) with a post season record of 7-2. Oh you what have you done for me lately crowd how soon doust thou forget.
8.) A bit of history. Ga overall has been given credit for 6 National Championships, being the fair minded crowd what we are we only claim 3. We count them the same way as ND and Ala. 12 Sec Championships, 5 Division Titles, 2 Heisman Trophy winners, 26-16-3 in bowl series, an overall all record of 731-389-54 up to 2009. One of only four teams to win the 4 major bowls (ND, Ala, Ga Tech, and UGA), one of only two teams to win in the 7 oldest Rose, Orange, Cotton, Sun, Libery, Gator, and Sugar, (Ga Tech being the other). Not to shabby.
9.) You good folks bash UGA. Jealousy is a terrible thing. Year in and Year out you use Ga as your water or bench mark to judge how good you are. USC was on the road to the National Championship after beating Ga this year, Auburn changed that. You good folks down in Fla seem more times than not to have your off week just before playing Ga. I don’t have to spend much time debating the reasoning behind that one.
10.) When in public I back my President whether I voted for him or not, something called Unity. May be a new word for some. I have my opinions about what is going on at UGA but in public I support my team. I figure them folks up in Athens got a lot more football smarts than me. An old fella told me once it’s a heap might easier to throw bricks than lay bricks. Some of ya’ll got that one figured out, some of ya’ll ain’t got a clue and never will.
AJ Returns!
September 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
When AJ comes back, the dawg offense will explode. Look for easy wins over colorado and tennessee who are both terrible..
Tim
September 27th, 2010
10:04 pm
Yes, by all means fire a legendary coach and take a chance at a young upstart.
P.S. Ask UT how that worked out for them.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2010
10:05 pm
Tie.
Mark Bradley
September 27th, 2010
10:06 pm
Single. Steal. Bloop double.
Dawg Gone It
September 27th, 2010
10:19 pm
Thank you Jesus for answering prayer.
A miracle in our mist.
Last week I prayed to Jesus to defeat the inbred dawgs with the strength of their enemy.
The miracle is self evident. Praise Jesus.
Let the miracle continue a mile high!
Praise the Lord Jesus and give CCMR tenure for eternity.
Hallelujah
Technophobia
September 27th, 2010
10:48 pm
I bet Gailey will be available next year.
steveinga
September 27th, 2010
11:07 pm
The SEC is a rough house to play in. More often you will stand in the shadow of another team than you will in sunshine. This is a conference where no one rules forever. Did anyone expect us to never lose to MSU ever again? This is the SEC! There is fact in the saying that on any given Saturday any team can win. I respect MSU, Vandy, and KY, in any other conference any of those teams could and would be considered a year in and year out powerhouse. There is no such thing as a gimme game in the SEC.
I used to attend games. No More. It used to be we showed common courtsey towards our visitors. We welcomed them to our stadiums as they did to us. We respected each other as SEC teams. Today the seats are filled by upstart brash “fans” who have this overwhelming need to prove their loyality by hurling insults instead of watching the purest form of football called the SEC. Their only tie to football or UGA is a ticket and a dollar store hat.
I have seen fights in the name of defending our team’s honor. To date I have never seen or heard of one SEC player or coach rushing to the defense or raising bail money for one of these so called ‘fans”.
You will not find harder hitting or harder playing players in any conference. But no matter how hard or rough it gets, after the gamem the players shake hands, pat backs, congradulate each other on a well played game, and even pray together. That is called respect. The “fans” on the other hand file out of the stadium still hurling insults and cussing at each other. They have no respect for families who attend these game in an attempt to pass on the tradition of SEC Football on to their children. These insult hurling no class “fans” are the all about me people who never stepped onto a field and have no respect for the game or the people involved in it.
SEC Football and in my book UGA Football is about the school, the program, all the past, present, and future players, coaches, and people involved in the program. It deserves the respect is seems to have lost. SEC Football whether you like it or not is not all about YOU.
These players and coaches leave it on the field. Win or lose they are out there in front giving it what they got. They hate the taste of defeat more so than any bleacher dweller. To critize is easy, you have nothing to lose, to play the game is hard you risk loss and being critized by those to gutless to play the game or those not good enough to take the field with you.
Damn ya’ll -think you can do better, walk on, suit up, or shut up.
StraightJacket
September 27th, 2010
11:08 pm
Mark, the Fulmer Cup rules ONLY allocate points for OFF-SEASON arrests. Ricked got so mad that his player got an IN-SEASON arrest that he kicked him off the team.
Georgia fans need to chill.
Washedup Early is a better back than KnowLess Moron was, and all Coach BooBoo has to do is give him the ball more. The fumbles will stop; I’m sure of it.
Give Coach Mike BooBoo an early Christmas present: The Paul Hewitt EverGREEN Contract – with the perpetual 7 year roll-over clause.
Shoot,… give Coach Ricked one while you’re at it.
This will ensure that Georgia is (1) Number 1 in recruiting every year (2) Number 1 … or close to it … it PRE-SEASON rankings, and (3) Number 1 in Fulmer Cup.
Sure, it won’t help with BCS rankings, but at least Georgia can get “notoriety” for SOMETHING football related!
Ross
September 27th, 2010
11:19 pm
How can you have top 10 recruiting classes every year and not be able to develop these players? Richt and Bobo have lost their mojo.
Reggie Williams
September 27th, 2010
11:22 pm
I Loved it when the AD said he deleted the negative and Profane emails. Now please give me a break, I bet if the person emailing was kissing up he/she would have been a guess on Mark Richt show. I’ve noticed over the years everytime we get beat the team beating us is stacked with (you guessed it) Georgia High School Football Stars, we spend too much time around Orlando recruiting, too many ATH players and too many Studs from GA playing else where and coming back to hunt us. But back to the initial matter. Yes, HELL YES, Richt and Bobo, hold on the entire Defense Coaching Staff here comes the Mayflower Vans. Everyone has to go, don’t keep any trash from the previous staff. Lets start all over again. We’ ve given away 3 National Titles since Richt has been in GA. Don’t believe me look back and tell me I’m lying. Good Guy maybe, UGA Head Coach! HELL NAW, NOW LETS HUNKER DOWN!!!!!!!!
Richard Dawson
September 27th, 2010
11:55 pm
You nailed it. As I have been saying since 2006, FIRE MARK RICHT.
Just me
September 28th, 2010
12:15 am
Who came up with the subtitle to Andy Johnston’s article that just posted that you cannot comment on? Who exactly is Bulldog Nation. When did they (we) decide that we wanted to dump Coach Richt?
I thought I was part of Bulldog Nation. I’ve always prided myself on being financially part, attending all games, and there through thick and thin. Did I miss the vote or was it a clandestine operation or coup? Please inform.
I, as much as anyone, am upset of the state of our team and total attitude. But I think the AJC has gone beyond the pale with this subtitle!
BYE BYE MARK
September 28th, 2010
12:24 am
http://www.firemarkricht.net
visit the site! We need members!
William mitchell
September 28th, 2010
5:51 am
We need to go get call away to come back as ol coach. Thing went down after he left. Don,t blame cmr
UGA notebook: No department-wide protocol on penalizing athletes – Savannah Morning News | DUI Attorney Local
September 28th, 2010
7:17 am
[...] does not necessarily mean …Georgia freshman kicked off team after DUI arrestKansas City StarMark Richt is in trouble.Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Georgia Bulldogs release Demetre Bakerbettor.com (blog)Online [...]
Danny
September 28th, 2010
8:14 am
Hi Mark-
If Mark Richt gets fired, the AJC writers should all be very proud. And the next decade of medicrity with a new coach will be blamed on the sports media for not being a football town.
wxdawg
September 28th, 2010
8:46 am
The answer is to let M.R. be our team chaplain and hire a new head coach and staff.
Tuesday’s links and schedule « Josh and Will
September 28th, 2010
8:47 am
[...] join the show at 1:05 to discuss Mark Richt’s job security at Georgia. Bradley wrote that Richt is in trouble after Saturday’s loss to Mississippi State, which dropped Georgia to 0-3 in the SEC and 1-3 [...]
boodog
September 28th, 2010
8:55 am
To ” YOU EVIL REDNECKS” You made my point. Is your life really that miserable? When I woke up Sunday my kids were healthy & happy and I still had a job. As I said, if it upsets you so much, support another school. If Ga. ever wins a national title will your life really be so much better? If you answer yes I hope they do so people like you will shut up.
Richt's Plan
September 28th, 2010
9:05 am
If uga loses to colorado, richt can stay in boulder, join promisekeepers and minister to the flock out west.
dep
September 28th, 2010
10:18 am
Fire all the coaches go 1-11 and call it a day…AJ to the rescue he has not played a game since last year
Georgia Sucks Tuesday – Sept. 28 « Jean Shorts Torture
September 28th, 2010
10:22 am
[...] Bradley: There’s no other way to say it: Mark Richt is in trouble at UGA [...]
Oh AJ
September 28th, 2010
10:45 am
Fire Richt? And replace him with who exactly? We have a Freshman QB (who looks like he’s going to be a good one), our best player suspended for 4 games, transitioning to a 3-4 DEF and a tough beginning schedule so give me a break – the man certainly is allowed 1 bad season under the conditions.
If we have AJ for the SC game and/or Ealy doesn’t fumble we probably win. 3rd and 4 against the Razorbacks and our RB misses a block and our CB misses a tackle but we were in that game. The Ole Miss game is tough but we just don’t have playmakers out there right now, point blank – but all that can change in 1 year.
BULLDAWG BILL
September 28th, 2010
11:26 am
GA football under Richt has done very well with 2 SEC championships and has done poorly as of late. Richt and his coaches know what to do to win, but the question is why aren’t they doing it? He has either lost interest in the job or is being distracted by something. It could be anything, but it is now McGarity’s job to get him back on track or to show him the door. I hope he can turn it around.
Jeff
September 28th, 2010
3:04 pm
No other way to say it? Bogus.
How about saying it like this Mark:
“Mark Richt has won 90 games in 9 seasons and is not in any kind of trouble this season”
“Mark Richt’s 6 top10 finishes in 9 seaons, 6x more than Bear Bryant did in his 1st 9 seasons, makes sure he’s not in trouble this season”
“Mark Richt’s 77% top 5 winning % expemts him form any so-called “hot-seat”
“Mark Richt has more Captains on teams right now in the NFL than any other college coach–the man can lead”
Illinois Bulldog
September 28th, 2010
3:13 pm
The lack of disipline off the field is one of the reasons there is a lack of disipline on the field,
tdawg
September 28th, 2010
3:45 pm
Enter your comments here
tdawg
September 28th, 2010
3:48 pm
Nothing has changed in the past. They have continued on a downhill spiral. We are looking at 4-8 this year if we are lucky. Could be even worse if we continue to get out coached.
trow01
September 28th, 2010
4:11 pm
I believe Richt still has a chance, but it the chance is slimming quickly. First of all, how can some of you say that UGA doesn’t have their players under control after what has happened with Reggie Bush this year? After all the UF players got in trouble this year… again?? Florida has had 30 players arrested since Meyer has been head coach. The only difference between UGA and UF is that Richt actually punishes his players for their crimes, so I would say that they have it more well controlled than others. I agree that Bobo is not getting the job done. Georgia’s offense has looked best this year in the 4th quarter of Arkansas game. There was motivation from Richt, who people say is too nice, that sparked the UGA offense to come from 14 down and tie it up in one quarter. Their defense stopped the “heisman hopeful” Ryan Mallet on two major drives in the fourth. UGA spread out their offense and threw it from the shotgun. Despite AJ being gone, the receivers still managed to get open. We know this is not Bobo’s typical play action, full back in the flats, quick screen offense, but this apparently worked. UGA does not know their role as an offense yet and needs to do it quickly. Defense will come in time with a great defensive coordinator. I believe that Richt should let Grantham coach his players. Let him yell at his defensive players and see the results. It’s better than watching what’s happening now. My main problem with UGA football, and I am a die hard fan, is the conservative game approach. I believe in some conservative football, but the teams who are winning day are typically the less conservative team. I mean we have our back up quarterback catching fair catches on every punt for gosh sakes. I am aware that UGA is the most conservative football team in the nation right now. So can we please change this!
trow01
September 28th, 2010
4:22 pm
also we can’t be so soon to give up on our coach. great programs are developed by great coaches. Great players come and go and, now-a-days, coaches do also. did joe paterno, bobby bowden, or “bear” bryant never have a bad season? It is true that new coaches can bring in more excitement and possibly win more games. But if you “actually” want to set up a good football program, you must set up a center for it all and that is a head coach who knows how to win football games. KEEPING RICHT IS THE BEST DECISION IF YOU WANT TO DEVELOP A GREAT PROGRAM AT GEORGIA AND NOT HAVE A TEMPORARY FIX. Would you fire Boise State head coach, Chris Petersen, after two bad years? After what he has done for the Boise State name and its program? Mark Richt was a huge step up from Jim Donnan and will continue to be a better option over incoming coaches. Unless the next coaches name is Saban.
deandog
September 28th, 2010
5:42 pm
“the winds of change are always blowing
and everytime I try to stay
the winds of change continue blowing
and they just carry me away….
The answer My Friend is blowing in the wind!!
deandog
September 28th, 2010
5:47 pm
I think CMR’s success was mostly due to Jim Donnan and what he had in place. He stayed with Q. Carter too long and could not meet the media well so he was a short termer.
Look at the pro-level talent this coach has squandered. What’ya think?
Win P.
September 28th, 2010
8:23 pm
I believe Richt’s heart and mind are no longer in UGA football. Players know this and are playing accordingly. Whatever was responsible for earlier success seems to have disappeared. Players are being out played by opposition and coaches are out coached by opponents, routinely. I no longer believe Richt can turn things around. If what I believe is true, then Richt will resign, rather than be fired.
steveinga
September 28th, 2010
8:27 pm
2008 and 2009 saw USC fans stating Spurrier had lost it, was washed up, over the hill, the game had passed him by, and had them wanting to ship him back to Florida to live his remaining life as a used watermelon salesman. What a difference a year makes. Up to last weekend he was healing the sick, raising the dead, and walking on water. Some folks change their minds like I change underwear and I do like a fresh set of boxers. A win or two will slowly bring back the healing powers and miracle working abilities of CMR.