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
Raleigh
September 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
A lot of people say Richt should take over the play calling. Here’s why he won’t do it. He doesn’t have the energy to do it. He’s become a figurehead. Lazy figurehead. And if he told Grantham to calm down, then that’s it. Grantham will quit. It ain’t Sunday School. These guys need to toughen up. What? They can’t handle an angry passionate coach? What are they? Little babies. Oh yeah. They are. Richt has somehow equated character with dullness. And boy does he have character. Truckloads of dull dull character. Whoopee!
Doggone Tired
September 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
Well, cheer up everybody! If we stay on the same track, we might actually beat Florida…in the number of arrests for the season. Richt is licked. Time for him to go!
Herschel
September 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
I think Tony Barnhardt has been drinking the red and black koolaid.
Paul's Johnson
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
Yesterday was gutwrenching having to watch them shoot themselves in the foot time after time. I’m sorry but it’s not CMR’s fault that Ealey can’t hold the damn ball. CMR needs to go back to calling the offense himself, and get rid of the piece of crap we currently have as OC.
aarh
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
People, stop making the church jokes. You didn’t hear those when he was winning. I am shocked by this one more so than a lot of the other ones. I admit, the season looks like it could be a major disaster. I expected UGA to get better, & you would think they should at some point…like they normally do. I hope they san turn things around, but it’s hard to have a lot of faith right now. It’s easy for people t ostand back & say to fire them all. I know most teams struggle in their first yr. w/ a new coach. So, I don’t know if defensively if it’ll take a little while to adjust to the new defensive scheme, & maybe even to get teh right players for it. I think it would be a shame though if they did end up firing Richt, which would most likely be the end of Grantham too, without him having a chance for them to adjust to the new scheme, bc this is only his first system there. It seemes to me like the offense is more of the issue, but I’m not trying to say that’s the only one either too. Don’t know what to expect at this point, but jsut hoping things turn around at some point.
crabapplejoe
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
Richt just needs to recruit better athletes….there is no diversity on the defensive side of the ball. Jake Scott and Scott Woerner would never be recruited by Richt…
Chris Peterson
September 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
I would for 3 mill a year,, I can turn this team around, just look what I do with 1 and 2 star players…….
Herschel
September 26th, 2010
1:59 pm
All of the teams in the SEC West are stronger than Thuga.
sunny purdue
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
Told ya last summer
http://blogs.ajc.com/junkyard-blawg/2010/07/23/florida-paper-slams-dogs-again-most-overrated-ever/
Bucjk Belue wears a toupee AND has a beer belly
September 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
I PREDICT A COMFORTABLE WIN FOR THE DAWGS NEXT WEEK IN BOULDER.
time to go was Herschel’s jock, see ya later
Brunswick Tech
September 26th, 2010
2:03 pm
don’t start Mark…you gave this team a A+ after game one….you no nothing but kiss butt.
tony
September 26th, 2010
2:04 pm
This last arrest is a clear indication that these players have zero respect for Mr.Richt. They are trying to tell you people something.
Ed
September 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
Chris Peterson would be nuts to leave Boise St. for UGA. He was a well-oiled 12 or 13 win per season machine there. He could probably stay for 20 more years with job security if he wanted. He seems more like a Western USA kind of guy than a Deep South kind of guy. He’s a media darling and America’s favorite underdog. Why ruin all that for an extra million or so more a year when you might be looking for work again in about 5 years?
AtlDawg
September 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
We are what Tennessee was 5 years ago. Richt is the new Phil Fulmer only without the championship ring. Arrests, coach too loyal to staff, lots of wasted talent etc… I’m afraid this is the beginning of a down cycle for UGA. Tennessee is in one now. Florida went through one in the Zook years. Bama went through one during Shula/Price. It happens to everyone eventually and this is our turn.
I hope we clean house and can start a rebuilding process this year instead of continuing to struggle through mediocre seasons and stretch this misery out. We need a coach that stresses discipline first. It’s embarrassing! Most schools trend downward once the discipline issues start to multiply. Florida seems to be the exception, as they keep winning despite all the arrests. For me though, I’d rather have a team that I’m proud of on and off the field.
Kirby Smart would be my first choice. He comes from the Saban tree and I admire Saban for cleaning up Bama once he arrived there. Bama had armed robberies, Drug dealers, dog fighting etc… and Saban has really cleaned all that up. Smart could do the same for us!
Beast from the East
September 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
Serious question. How does Richt turn it around at this point? Once the downward spiral begins, it’s very hard to stop it. Any suggestions from the Dawg Nation?
tide roll
September 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
It’s uga’s philosophy. They move Kiante Tripp and Bean Anderson from potential offensive starters to backup defensive lineman. Tripp is literally lost out there. He should sue Richt for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Other SEC teams are thriving on offensive lineman from the state that the “good ole boy” Searles refuses to recruit. Next, Richt was almost child like in his selection of Grantham; relying on t his brothe in law’s referral. Next, and keeping it all in the family, Bobo’s position is not based on acheivement but the fact that he’s married to Barbara Dooley’s neice. Richt’s created this “Welfare State ” to take care of friends and relatives. And lastly, the Absolute failure on behalf of Richt and Bobo to perform a fair and impartial evaluation of CAM NEWTON has incredibly resulted in arming Auburn with a Heisman candiddate. It’s inexcusable and should be the leading factor in replacing Richt. The place is rotten to the core.
Chris Peterson
September 26th, 2010
2:07 pm
I want to win A NC, THATS WHY I will come to UGA….
Helmet Head
September 26th, 2010
2:07 pm
Each player on the University of Georgia Football team will be issued the following upon completion of their physical and drug test
1 helmet
1 pair of shoulder pads
1 pair of hip pads
1 pair of thigh pads
1 pair of knee pads
1 butt pad
1 pair of practice pants
1 pair of socks
2 pair of practice shoes
1 jock strap
1 athletic cup
1 mouth piece
1 ankle mounted monitoring GPS tracking device
trey
September 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
It’s very rare for assistant coaches in college to get fired during season. The last I can recall was Tony Franklin. At the time that he was fired Auburn was 4-2 and 2-2 in the SEC.
Krakow
September 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
Mark,
Would you say that Georgia fans “deserve” the current state of the program the same way that Tennessee fans “deserved” what Kiffin did to them?
Thanks in advance!
The Krakow!
PS Uga Died
PPS Inevitable!
jim
September 26th, 2010
2:08 pm
I have always supported CMR and his approach at UGA – until now. We are watching a team that does not appear to be well coached. Last night we had penalties for 12 men on the field ( coaching ), we had a player let the punt hit him and msu recovers ( they should be coached to find the ball and stay out of the way ), and play calling that is not exactly Kreskin like in predicting. Then we come home to yet another 4:00 a.m. arrest of a Ga. player. For those counting that makes 10 arrests since January.
At what point does the university say “enough is enough”? I think CMR is a decent man and a really good coach who may very well have lost the desire or whatever to continue cause we sure do look and play like a bad team. And I am truly sorry that it has come to this in Athens.
HAHAHA
September 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
How many G stickers will be taken off of redneck trucks this weekend?
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 26th, 2010
2:10 pm
Bobo and Searles have 8 games to save their jobs.These two Georgia boys are on the cusp of being let go and unless there is some miraculous rebound… they are probably done. I don’t see all the hype about Grantham.Attack.Attack.Attack?
trey
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
I seriously doubt Petersen would leave Boise St for UGA. Other colleges have tried to lure him away and he said no. There is probably some HC job he covets that only he knows of but it ain’t UGA.
Harbaugh would never come to UGA imo. Even if he did, one day MI is going to call him and he’s gone when they do.
Muschamp’s name is about the only one I’ve heard that I would give reasonable chance of coming. Even that’s not a gimme.
But first there has to be a HC vacancy at UGA.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 26th, 2010
2:12 pm
Kirby Smart as HC would be like Martinez at DC.
Captain Allen Waters
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
As a long time UGA fan, I know the players, coaches and all people associated with the program do not like losing! If we could have gotten the first down to possibly win the UA game with a field goal or at least held them and got to OT that would have helped. After watching them give the game to AL it shows just how close W or L is and depends on several key plays. #3WE hates it worse than anyone to fumble but has to protect the ball, especially near the goal line. Both times it took Mo away from us when we needed the TD so bad. Last year when back in USA for a month, I took 10 members of our family to the UK game (neice’s, nephew and brother in law first game). It was a shame to give that game away with 4 second half turnovers. They were good enough to win only because we gave it to them. #8 and all others need to know how much it hurt the team to do foolish things a not be able to play. Grow up and remember the high school players that could not earn the right to play for any university. Hold your heads up and learn from your mistakes. I am disappointed like all UGA people, especially since the pregame started at 1230am and the game 430am here in India. Remember when we lost 4/5 but went to #5 ranked Auburn and beat them? I watched that game in Boston, MA with other pilots that were FL fans. Everyone knew we would get beat but I was not going to miss it. My father and brother went fishing on purpose and were surprised to hear the score at halftime. Turn it around! I sure would hate to be VT or TX getting beat.
Fred
September 26th, 2010
2:13 pm
Would be one of the worst mistakes in uga history because Richt is the best coach we have ever had. Please do not fire CMR. Bradley, you are wrong.
For Truth
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
To the people calling for Richt to take over the play calling I want to remind you that when Richt was calling the plays he finally turned the play calling over to Bobo because he was not getting the job done himself. Richt did this because so many people was clamering for him to do this so he could be an overall field general.
\
Artie
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Love to see the UGA “fans” officially calling the season “over.” LMMFAO
hotdawgs
September 26th, 2010
2:14 pm
Bozo needs to clean out his office monday morning his services are no longer needed.CMR needs to take over the play calling monday morning The new ad needs to get on the phone monday morning to Cach Kelly of Oregon and ask how much would it would take to get him at GA for next year and can bring his whole staff with him and anything else he needs to get him here. This program is in shambles both on the field and off the field. It has gotten to the point that these players have lost respect for CMR and will guit playing for him for the rest of the season. I belive if we did have mister me AJ GREEN we would be at the best 2-2 last time i checked greed AJ does not play on the defense side of the ball. I predict GA finishes 5 and 7 for the year. I for one drank the kool-aid during the off season about how everthing was going to pan out for the season. For as long CMR is at GA i will never drink the kool-aid again. This team is a big nightmare and a joke.
Helmet Head
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
UGA still putting bone decals on helmets for good plays, so bush league, so high school. With the way UGA has played the last 3 weeks CMR should be taking away their helmets and issuing leather straps.
MikeW
September 26th, 2010
2:15 pm
This is the most undiscipline team. They have been this for several years. Turnovers, penalties, off the field issues, head coaches (who can’t seem to understand that the same play just doesn’t work), no adjustments during the game, questionable recruiting, etc. With 3 losses in the SEC, with the fans beating down the door, with the fact that many teams would love to play Georgia for homecoming, it is time to let out all stops. No more excuses. Coach how about you finish the drill.
wildbill
September 26th, 2010
2:16 pm
Every player who has been arrested needs a shock from a cattle prod.
die hard fan
September 26th, 2010
2:17 pm
It amazes me at what fickle fans we have. I realize that we are spending a lot of money on our football program and things are bad right now but these guys need our support more than ever. All of these bad mouthers will be the first to fill the stands when UGA starts winning again. If you can’t be stand by the team during the bad times….don’t go back when we win. Are we just “feel good” fans during the good times?
Artie
September 26th, 2010
2:17 pm
…and, no, I am NOT a Techie.
Artie
September 26th, 2010
2:18 pm
Typical UGA “fans”!!!!!
DamntheButcher
September 26th, 2010
2:19 pm
The player that was arrested lastnight should already be on his way back to FL and off his free ride at GA.
DawginOH
September 26th, 2010
2:19 pm
What has really bothered me since the beginning of the 2008 season is that it seems like the team is playing with less and less heart with every passing game and that is showing on the scoreboard. The Dawgs looked fine on the last offensive drives of the past two games, so why can’t they come out of the gates playing like that? It’s not like there is a lack of talent on this team. They just don’t play with any sense of desperation or desire like they used to.
The problem isn’t 100% Richt’s, but he is the man in charge of this team and it all falls on him. I’d love for him to stay, but if things keep going like this, there’s just no other option than to begin the search for a new head coach.
cs
September 26th, 2010
2:20 pm
He’s a quitter and advises quitters. When you tell team players with more talent to quit school and abandon the team for the NFL, you dont have much character and no concern for the University of Georgia or Georgia fans period. Throw the bum out. I have zero respect for him. He’s way overpaid anyway.
David Granger
September 26th, 2010
2:22 pm
I am ready for Richt to go.
He does two things very well. He’s a clean-cut, nice looking guy…represents the university very well. And he’s a good recruiter, which is probably the single most important asset a coach can have. (Especially in a state like Georgia, which produces so much athletic talent.)
And after that, the positives are over. He’s a horrible game coach, and I’m not sure why. Even in our best years under him, look at how many games we’ve had to really struggle to win against an obviously less-talented opponent. And when was the last time we have just demolished a lesser team, and had the game clearly in hand by the end of the third quarter? It has hurt us in years past that we weren’t able to let our second string QB…Shockley, Tereshinski, Joe Cox, Logan Gray…run the offense for the entire fourth quarter, without worrying about being jerked over a mistake.
And there is a very bad lack of discipline on the team, both on and off the field. We’ve had players make stupid penalties at stupid times of the game, we’ve had players shown on TV dancing away even though we were getting hammered, we’ve had players running off the sidelines to the locker room BEFORE the clock had ticked down to end the half…and that’s not even counting all the legal problems our players have been having lately. Frankly, I think that Coach Richt is…more or less…the second coming of Bobby Bowden in maintaining VERY loose discipline. And that’s a steady slide downhill, which can’t be corrected once it’s picked up momentum.
I don’t know if we could find a coach better than Coach Richt….but at the end of this season, I’d sure call Will Muschamp and ask if he’s ready to be a head coach. And if he declines, I’d get on the phone to Kirby Smart.
Waiting to See
September 26th, 2010
2:24 pm
I don’t buy that BS about an athletic department that raked in 64 Million last year not having the money to get rid of an inept coach and his pathetic staff. If Adams and McGarity—mostly Adams—don’t get rid of Richt, the athletic department sure as Hell won’t be raking in that kind of money, and it won’t be long.
the real Old Gold
September 26th, 2010
2:25 pm
His players don’t fear/respect him on an appropriate level needed to lead a large group of young men. The football program is out of control. He’ll be back next year though, but Bobo will be the fall guy.
I hate mediocrity, but who will you replace him with?
last in east--vandy or ga?
September 26th, 2010
2:25 pm
when the arrest number is about the same number as your offense can put on the score board, you know you are in trouble–in more ways than one
Bishop Long Has Great Toupee
September 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
CMR has lost all control of this program. AD McGarity better have a good team of lawyers on retainer because Clarke County Detention Center is overcrowded and can’t handle anymore UGA players.
Boise Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
First let me say I hope Mark Richt can turn it around…. however I’ll admit as the losses and arrests continue to mount my patience and confidence is running thin.
Second I’ll say from my perspective Chris Petersen is not an option. I really don’t see him leaving the comforts of Boise to go to Georgia. He is very devoted to his family and isn’t driven by money and success like Meyer and Saban. Culturally I don’t see him as a fit at any SEC school and if you believe the rumor mill he has already turned down opportunities at Washington and Mississippi State.
Third… I don’t know what the solution is for Richt at Georgia, but I don’t think him taking over as Offensive Coordinator is the answer. Bobo is running Richt’s offense and the reason Bobo was promoted to OC was because the offense was underachieving with Richt working as his own OC. Georgia was successful under Richt because of our defense under VanGorder… in the entire tenure of Mark Richt our offense has never ranked higher than 20th in total offense and it has only been as high as 20th twice.
Orange10
September 26th, 2010
2:28 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if Coach Spurrier decided to give Mettenberger a look. And you know the rest of the story.
Harold Bare
September 26th, 2010
2:30 pm
Mark, when did anyone ever tremble at the sight of playing Georgia. You have no credibility making a statement like that.
Harold
Orange Sky Vol Fan
September 26th, 2010
2:32 pm
It’s a shame how many fair weather UGA fans are giving up on CMR! I expected dawg fans to stand together during tough times!!!
Pearl Bodeen
September 26th, 2010
2:33 pm
Mark Richt is not in trouble. A down year is not enough reason to fire a very good coach! The haters on here are not real georgia fans! Mark.. you have a better chance of being fired!! Yeah..you do look like Mr.Drysdale!!!
Boise Dawg
September 26th, 2010
2:34 pm
Just like the Tennessee faithful all stood behind Fulmer?