What’s wrong with UGA? Sad to say, it starts with Mark Richt
"The meeting of the Mark Richt Fan Club is called to order." (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Mark Richt’s teams use to have all the answers. Whether it was P-44-Haynes in Knoxville or 70-X-Takeoff in Auburn, his Georgia Bulldogs would win the sort of breathless games that stamped Richt as college football’s next great coach. But it has been a decade, and Richt hasn’t taken Georgia to the pinnacle — got close a couple of times — and nobody sees him that way anymore.
If you’re looking for what has gone wrong with this program, there it is: Mark Richt never quite finished the drill. Georgia was No. 3 in the final polls after the 2002 season and No. 2 according to the Associated Press after 2007 and No. 1 according to everybody in preseason 2008, but the Bulldogs could never do as Florida and LSU and Alabama did — they couldn’t get to the BCS title game and win.
And now they’re 1-4 and Richt isn’t the sleek young man just in from Tallahassee; he’s a 50-year-old who has been on the job a decade and who seems at a loss to arrest the slide. This isn’t to say he’s a bad man or even a bad coach, but it is to say that in college football the blame must always fall upward: There’s a reason head coaches are multimillionaires.
It’s convenient to say that Georgia in Year 10 under Richt resembles Florida State near the end of his mentor Bobby Bowden’s reign. Convenient, and also true. Attention to detail has slipped. Players appear to be coaching themselves. Players also seem incapable of conforming to team rules and community laws.
A college coach can override almost any embarrassment so long as he wins 10 games as a matter of course, but Richt’s team is but 9-9 over the past season and a quarter. And you simply cannot play .500 ball and have 10 players arrested in one offseason.
The belief here is that Richt will not be fired this season or in its aftermath. The belief here is also that Richt stands before us a damaged coach. There was no reason for Georgia to lose to Mississippi State or Colorado, no reason other than that these Bulldogs no longer expect to win. They’ve seen themselves caught and passed in the SEC. They’ve seen their gimmicks — the blackout against Alabama in 2008, the black helmets in Jacksonville last season — fall flat. They’ve seen teams with lesser talent being coached up.
There was a time when we would have expected Richt to solve any problem, but that time is gone. The slide of 2006 — four losses in five games — was halted by three rousing victories at season’s end, but come 2009 the Bulldogs were back in the same place, needing to beat Georgia Tech and win a bowl to salvage a season.
This winter Richt steeled himself and fired three-quarters of his defensive staff, but nothing much has changed. Tackles are still being missed. Coverages are still being blown. The whole operation comes off as disjointed, distracted, dysfunctional. It’s as if the Georgia Bulldogs awoke one morning and found themselves reinvented as the Kentucky Wildcats. (Who, not incidentally, beat UGA in Sanford Stadium last season for the first time since 1977.)
The effect has been stunning. How long since we’ve seen the Bulldogs so inept? (Even Ray Goff’s otherwise lousy 1990 team managed to beat Alabama.) It would be one thing if Georgia wasn’t good enough to compete, but nobody can seriously believe that a roster including A.J. Green, Justin Houston, Branden Smith, Aaron Murray, Orson Charles and Washaun Ealey is without talent. Ask Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen if he’d trade rosters with Richt. Heck, ask Paul Johnson.
Rule of thumb: If it’s not the playing, it must be the coaching. What worked for Richt for five years and two SEC titles has stopped working. (He lost 13 games those first five seasons; he has lost 18 in the four-plus seasons since.) This team of 10 returning offensive starters and the new 3-4 defense hasn’t won a game in a calendar month.
The optimum course would be for the man making the millions — that’d be Richt — to seize the wheel and steer this program back to excellence. But if he could, wouldn’t he have done it by now? It’s the age-old question: What do you do when you’ve run out of ideas?
(Take the guys swimming? Nope. Tried that already.)
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894 comments Add your comment
84 UGA Grad
October 4th, 2010
1:06 pm
I remember when Richard Samuels fumbled the kickoff against Tech 2 years ago (his 2nd of the day). After the game when Richt was asked what to do about Samuels he said, “You just have to love him more.” For clarity he repeated that line.
I remember thinking – wow, nice guy – soft coach!
I was in Boulder Sat and had a great time up until the 4th Qtr. I was angry after Miss St, now I’m just numb. There are no quick fixes as these problems are systemic. Starting over with a new coach wipes out this recruiting year. On the other hand, bringing in a bunch of blue-chippers with this staff and you’ll still lose 3-5 games going forward. Based on those alternatives, I’d say we start over now and take whatever setbacks come with the transition. Get it over with and move on.
12% of our spring roster has been arrested in the last 6 months. In my estimation, that is as embarrassing as losing every week.
Take your time
October 4th, 2010
1:07 pm
My son is a high school junior and is probably has about a 50/50 chance of being accepted to UGA.
We need to let things slide for another couple of years. If the football team keeps losing, applications will be down, and my boy has a better chance of staying in state instead of going to Auburn or Clemson or somewhere like that. My bank account needs a couple of losing seasons!!!!
Blame The Messenger
October 4th, 2010
1:07 pm
Gordon
Don’t forget the buyout.
still a dawg fan
October 4th, 2010
1:08 pm
Hey Roy Barns,
You got it backwards–Saban is 3-2 against Ga
He beat us 2 times in 03 at LSU (reg season & sec champ game)
We beat him in 04 reg season at LSU
We beat him his 1st year at ALA
He beat us in his 2nd year at ALA
Get your fact straight next time
spider
October 4th, 2010
1:08 pm
SDSU is 6 point favorite over BYU ..GO AZTECS
Supes
October 4th, 2010
1:08 pm
Excellent piece Mark!
Finally the AJC has the stones to call it like it is…There are issues at UGA and they start FROM THE TOP with CMR.
I will support UGA no matter what, but the way this season has went is simply unacceptable at UGA! We expect and demand better from this team…at some point you have to look at Richt, Bobo and Grantham and ask if they are really doing their job?
Larry Munson
October 4th, 2010
1:08 pm
Run Lindsey. Lindsey Scott Lindsey Scott Lindsey Scott. My gawd, he slid right through the buffalo turds.
Big Dawg
October 4th, 2010
1:09 pm
Great article Mark! Well said my friend. The buck stops at the top, and it’s time for answers. And frankly, if CMR had the answers to these vital questions about what has gone terribly wrong with such a talent rich program, we wouldn’t be having all these discussions about a 1-4 record. I can guarantee you that a lot of other coaches around the country would love to have some of the players CMR does. And they would surely know what to do with them. For those wanting to talk about the good old days with CMR, just look at 2008. Stafford, Moreno, Massaquoi all on offense, preseason #1, and we are taken to the woodshed by Bama and the Gators. Time to look for the answers in a different place from a different person. The facts speak for themselves.
Nick
October 4th, 2010
1:09 pm
I will guarantee you a blog by theoretical writers who never act in the real world, is the last place Mark Richt will be turning for advice. Richt’s a doer in a world of dreamers.
Bama in Atlanta
October 4th, 2010
1:11 pm
Bama went through a similar situation with Mike Shula. Shula was brought in after the Mike Price debacle mostly to help clean up the UA image with a secondary hope that he could be a good head coach, even though he had only been an assistant to that point. I think Shula and Richt both have character beyond reproach and were very good assistant coaches but Shula seemed to lack that certain intangible that makes someone a great head coach.
A lot has been said about Richt’s demeanor on the sidelines and that if he is not breathing fire every second that he cannot be a successful head coach. Granted, Nick Saban looked like someone whizzed in his Cheerios even though Bama was up 24-3 against Florida and he has certainly brought success back to the Capstone; but I also think people like Tom Landry, Don Shula and Jim Tressel have been able to produce championship results without having to reach a certain quota of smashed headsets per game. Therefore, it’s not just sideline demeanor that is the measuring stick of a great head coach.
With that said, an excellent article was written when rumors were swirling about Mike Shula being fired. I can’t remember the author or I would be glad to give credit, but the message was that the Bama AD needed to make a decision as to whether or not Mike Shula was the guy to lead Bama football back to the winning standards and if Shula wasn’t the man then they needed to cut bait and offer up the proper lure to get the big fish that would get the job done. I’m not going to state my opinion as to whether Richt should stay or go, but UGA just hired a very good AD and I think his first major decision at the end of the season is to make the determination that either Richt is the man to do the job or not. One of the determining factors would be for Richt to explain to McGarity his detailed plan to get UGA football back on track. If McGarity is satisfied with the plan then he needs to throw his full support behind Richt so that high school recruits have a sense of security about who will be in charge the next year. Now, if Richt is not the man, then it needs to be announced immediately after season end and before a bowl game if UGA qualifies for a bowl game this year. That way, McGarity can get his list of candidates together, raid the UGA Athletic Club coffers and reel in the big fish.
Dawg Nation may be divided in their opinion of Richt and like all passionate SEC football fans the blogs will continue to light up the rest of the season. I know it’s tough to do but Bama fans were in the same position a few years ago and my advice is that you have a competent AD so let him do his job after the season is over and the pendulum will eventually swing the other way.
Carolina Dawg
October 4th, 2010
1:11 pm
go for broke Coach Richt. take the offense from Bobo.throw the dang ball all the time. Vince won’t care, he’s following the Vols anyway. Let’s win at least one or two of the remaining games 55 to 48 or something similar. got nothing to lose now. might even beat Florida or Auburn that way. just a thought. make it fun to watch the Dawgs again even if we lose.
Gordon
October 4th, 2010
1:12 pm
Blame the Messenger,
I thought about that, but the buyout is really not an issue for the second most profitable athletic department in the nation. I’m sure they don’t want to pay it, but they can if they have to. Also, next year UGA will owe Richt less money (since his contract doesn’t roll over automatically) while Tech will actually owe Hewitt a little bit more (cost of living increases).
JoeFan
October 4th, 2010
1:13 pm
UGA needs to aspire to be a great university and recruit / coach accordingly or aspire to be a college that had rather have a great football team without being acknowledged as a leading university. Its very difficult to have it both ways.
reality check
October 4th, 2010
1:13 pm
84 grad…. good word… numb.
Who would have ever thunk….. 1-4 and looking like it will get much worse before it gets better.
I can’t see but 1-2 wins possible now and I would have never thought that of my beloved DAWGS.
turkeycaller
October 4th, 2010
1:14 pm
The team is the responsiblity of the head coach and his staff. Richt has failed to constructively oversee the team as evidenced by the lack of responsibility by the players on and off the field. This has been showing for several years and finally has overridden the organization and solid footing the players really need. The gimmicks and apparent encouragement of lack of respect not only for the game but a total disregard of sportsmanship finally overtook the team. I don’t think UGA owes Richt one thing except the current state of affairs happened while on his tour and if he can’t clean his own mess up it’s time for someone else to lead and correct the direction of this program in a hurry. Facts are totally evident and the AD hopefully will be addressing this immediately. The man is no longer effective and he knows it.
Mark Bradley
October 4th, 2010
1:15 pm
I disagree that VanGorder made Richt, BugKiller. If we’re going to debit Richt for the recent losses, we can’t not credit him for the wins.
Courtney
October 4th, 2010
1:15 pm
Mark,
If you run into Damon would you tell him I would like my red panties back?
walter g
October 4th, 2010
1:16 pm
ray: 5000 letters of support with a check? good luck with that. why not work for an attainable goal like world peace.
YoungDawg
October 4th, 2010
1:17 pm
Football 101 says “don’t beat yourself!” Yet UGA continues to do that! It’s not a one year trend & has been going on for the last few seasons. I love CMR but to me the only way he can save his job is to miraculously run the table. IF he survives there will at least be some more staff changes. Things he needs to fix:
1-Win!
2-STOP the off the field problems!
3-Stength & conditioning
4-Playcalling
5-Guys not being fully prepared to play, examples: Maury not having an “internal clock”, you can DRILL that until he GETS IT. Guys committing DUMB penalties.
6-EFFORT if guys don’t want to give 110% everyday for the G then send them packing & go find new guys!
7-Recurting – How is it we don’t even offer some of the top kids in GA? Then you have situations like: Getting a kicker out of CA to fix the kickoff issue but he has kicked off like 5 times! That’s a wasted scholarship as are some of one’s given to walkon’s.
Can CMR fix all those? Not sure but if we need major changes in the program maybe we should start at the top & bring Kirby home. That move also hurts Bama, mainly in recruiting GA. If Miles doesn’t survive then LSU might go after Kirby which may force a move by UGA. The Dawg nation might not be happy if one of their own is snapped up while we continue on a downward spiral. My other top choices with UGA AD affiliations are: Will Muschamp & Dan Mullen. Top outside choices: Jim Harbaugh & Al Golden. So far no one has connected these dots but is not kind of strange that Oregon announces a new deal for Chip Kelly the week after speaking to UGA about scheduling? Hmmm the AD just came from a school that runs the spread who may also need a new coach soon due to the health of their HC. So Oregon makes a preemptive strike to ward off SEC offers.
AHS
October 4th, 2010
1:17 pm
FIRE RUSS! GET A REAL UGA ASAP! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Larry Munson
October 4th, 2010
1:22 pm
Old lady luck she just aint smiling down on us. Oh would you look at the losses falling from the sky! Loren, whatta ya got? Well, Larry I’ve got buffalo turds all over my cowboy boots. Let’s take a network time out for our sponsor, Athens Bail Bonds …. bailing out dawgs since 1970
BRAD STEVENS
October 4th, 2010
1:22 pm
Maybe UGA should hire Jim Harrick or Dennis Felton!!!??? Quit blaming it on all of the other coaches…it starts at the top and Richt is that man. No discipline from the rev. and no national championships. Sug- you’re rankings don’t match-up to their recruiting rankings. There is no reason that with all that UGA has to offer that they should ever finish out of the top 10, and there was a couple years when they had a real shot.
Richt reminds me of Chan Gailey. Chan did some good things and recruited some flat out studs and did well for Tech but could never get over that hump like Johnson seems to have gotten over. Maybe it is time for the Dawgs to get over that hump…there is no reason they can not. I would offer everything to Kirby Smart!!!
dawgfacedboy
October 4th, 2010
1:23 pm
still a dog fan- I’ve been watching a team that is loaded with talent. I’ve been watching a team that is loaded with guys who were highly sought after by other top programs. I’ve been watching a program with a TON of money and state of the art facilities fall short of expectations for the past 4 years. I’ve been watching a team not being coached up, not improving from week to week. I’ve been watching an awful lot of talent being wasted every Saturday.
I don’t know wtf you’ve been watching but that team is not lacking talented players.
TN Dawg
October 4th, 2010
1:24 pm
I agree wholeheartedly, good article. I love Richt and think he deserves one more year to get these things fixed, but he MUST adapt, adjust, conquer and overcome. He CAN’T keep doing the same old stuff. Grantham needs to learn that he is not coaching NFL players, and focus on the basics. We are embarrassing and heartbreaking to watch this year, especially having Aaron Murray in there. He is going to be really special if we can get a running game to support his passing.
Nashville Bill
October 4th, 2010
1:25 pm
I think they all just need to hold hands and sing “Kum Bah Yah” by the campfire at Richt’s youth church camp and then pray about it.
Brian
October 4th, 2010
1:25 pm
I hate to see your program on death watch. It’s bad for the SEC. But I don’t see any way that Richt turns it around. Between the fundamental breakdowns on and off the field and a fan base that seems to have [understandably] mutinied, there is no positive momentum. Fans, players and coaches will enter a game against a sucky UT “hoping” for a win. Recruting will suffer and then the slide will get worse. This program reminds me of Shula at AL, only we stopped the bleeding just in time. Notice that Shula’s name never comes up as a candidate for head coaching vacancies? I wonder what sort of program would hire Richt if he was suddenly available?
Its recruiting stupid!
October 4th, 2010
1:26 pm
Studs not Thugs!
tom
October 4th, 2010
1:26 pm
why does he still have a job? Bobo should be gone as well.
dawgfacedboy
October 4th, 2010
1:27 pm
Brad Stevens- you are a moron. Why the $&*#( would you sink a bunch of money into an unproven guy like Smart???? Or mushcamp for that matter!! You wanna hire somebody go get a Chris Peterson type. Who is the HC at TCU?? I’m not about to write a check to somebody whose never been a HC before and ask him to rebuild my program.
robert bearden
October 4th, 2010
1:27 pm
Ga. is just 2 plays in each game from being undefeated. Ga revenues are second to Texas in college football. they have more players in the NFL than anyone except Miami. the players have been and are there to be a great team. Coaching, discipline, expectations and accountabilities are all missing.
Kerry
October 4th, 2010
1:28 pm
Coach Richt is still the best thing for the DAWGS, What I believe is happening starting from Joe Cox, is that there is no leadership on either side. last year the offense just could not pull together and do what was needed, The defense would miss tackles and so on and so on.
The thing that Georgia is missing is team leadership on and off that field. That core person on both sides of the ball. no matter what was happening he would bring his team together. Georgia has lost that for sure. Now on the coaching Who would you replace Richt with Bobo? your kiddin right. I do not think their is a coach out there today. that will or would want to come to GA face the music so to speak. Not to mention Richt is a Darn great coach. The problem is the team has given up already, You can see it in their eyes and faces. Only a team leader can bring that back. Not a coach. Will a team leader please stand up!
Just my opinion.
Billy Bob
October 4th, 2010
1:28 pm
I don’t want Richt going anywhere! He’s a white protestant male and he’s a nice guy! I’m afraid of change and Richt is entitled to the job!
ApopkaDawg
October 4th, 2010
1:29 pm
No answers????
I find it hard to believe that Richt has no answers at this point and if he does’nt, then he needs to move on. I think we can all agree that first and foremost, move Bobo back to QBs and Richt needs to pick up the Offensive clipboard again.
Possible answers:
1. Dust off the old Charlie Ward, FSU Playbook
2. Run the no-huddle offense
3. Spread the field every down
4. Use Brandon Smith as the “Percy Harvin” type flanker
5. Run the bubble screen
6. Shotgun each and every play
7. Defense, switch back to 4-3, or 4-4 on occasion
These are just a few suggestions without really thinking about the underlying problems. So, don’nt tell me that Richt has run out of answers. If he has run out of answers, then it is time to start the mission full time and get out of football.
Guillermo
October 4th, 2010
1:29 pm
Using the 2007 season to defend CMR is like Tech fans using the 2004 season to defend CPH. It don’t mean much.
UGABugKiller
October 4th, 2010
1:29 pm
Mark,
You need to go back and look at the scores of the football games the Dawgs won from 2001 to 2004.
Look at the scores of the games, Mark. Look at the scores of the games the Dawgs LOST.
Look at those scores and then tell me again that BVG didn’t make Richt. Look at the SCORES!
14-9 (USC) Loss. 20-16 (BC) Loss. 20-13 (UF) Loss. 17-10 (LSU) Loss. 16-13 (UF) Loss. 19-14 (Tenn) Loss. 24-6 (AU) Loss.
These are not the losses of 35-30, like under Martinez. These are losses due to an offense (Richt) not holding up it’s end of the bargain while the defense plays is A$$ off! ESPECIALLY against Florida. How can you excuse losing to Florida 16-13? Defense did its job. Richt didn’t do his.
And you want to tell me BVG didn’t make Mark Richt? The numbers say otherwise.
The Dawgs gave 30 or more points ONCE in all of BVGs tenure in four years. With Martinez, they did so 17 times in five years. SEVENTEEN TIMES.
BVG made Mark Richt. His leaving and then being replaced by Soft Willie Martinez was the death knoll for the program. We just didn’t know it six years ago.
Georgia Tee
October 4th, 2010
1:30 pm
UGA has, without a doubt, the most red-neck fan base in the nation and they are really showing their colors today! Your hate for CMR has now exceeded your distain for Tech. A 1-11 season is what you deserve….here’s hoping you get it.
Jam Kemp
October 4th, 2010
1:31 pm
I’m willing to help if you need me.
robert bearden
October 4th, 2010
1:31 pm
Alabama fans are riding high now and bama has the best team in college football. Oregon is a real close second. I know bama has won more titles than any one. think back a few years ago and bama was not winning so much. things change. Saban will be gone
EdCocky
October 4th, 2010
1:31 pm
All of you A_ _ holes are spoiled!!!!!!!!
You have tradition, a great coach and some talented players. Ease up Dudes!!!!
When you run Richt out of Athens, we’ll take him in Columbia, SC
Buffaloes stampede Folsum Field | TheMatadorSports.com- College Football Headlines, News, and Rumors
October 4th, 2010
1:31 pm
[...] eyes of excitement were apparent by the ecstatic fans rushing Folsum Field after the Buffs upset Georgia29-27 this past Saturday. The roar of the crowd could be heard from downtown Boulder to Colorado [...]
wilson
October 4th, 2010
1:32 pm
The worst part is the poll in the Orlando paper was right. 64 sounds about right.
Horrible football.
Lifelong bulldog fan.
GA. coach
October 4th, 2010
1:33 pm
They need to drop there recruiting mistakes like BAMA with medical redshirt con game. Hire bama asst. he has learned how to get extras players.
Obama
October 4th, 2010
1:34 pm
If you can wait until 2012, I will be available to take over as coach. I can bring some realy hope and change to the program.
Dawg Fud
October 4th, 2010
1:34 pm
People keep writing “rats leave a sinking ship…blah, blah, blah”
If i see that one more time i am gonna puke. get your heads out of your rear. say that to your boss or your financial institution/lender and see what they say back to you.
JB
October 4th, 2010
1:35 pm
I wonder if the argument over at Bama to get rid of Shula revolved around him being a ‘GOOD MAN”………………I think it was over being paid $3mil a year to win football games and championships…………….I think……..I may be wrong.
SadDawg
October 4th, 2010
1:35 pm
Sug = UGA watergirl.
DawginLex
October 4th, 2010
1:38 pm
Mark,
Kudos for hanging in with the Braves. You got it right.
As far as Richt is concerned:
20 or 30 years ago, he absolutely gets to come back next year.
Now-no chance unless they run the table and go 8-4.
The money drives everything now.
It is drying up in and around Athens.
Alumni are furious.
Former players are beyond fed up
You have a new AD with an itchy trigger finger that he learned how to use down in Gainesville
Short of beating
UT
Vandy
UK
Fla
ISU
Aubie
GT
in a row, Richt is gone.
St. Clarkston
October 4th, 2010
1:40 pm
Nine losses in the last 1 1/2 seasons and this season ain’t over.
Confused Dawg
October 4th, 2010
1:40 pm
Mark, please tell me again the “5 reasons the Georgia Bulldogs are better off than you think” that you posted last Thursday. I think that I am confused, but I may not be.
GStateBen
October 4th, 2010
1:41 pm
I’ve seen this movie before:
http://prideofthepanthers.blogspot.com/2010/10/bowden-flu-in-athens-and-how-gsu-can.html
I’ve had conversations with many a Georgia fan and its downward spiral is frightenly similiar to what happend to Florida State in 2006 through 2009. Bowden was 30-22 since the loss Penn State in the Orange Bowl.
Richt is 10-10 in his last 20 games. Are there more than 3 wins left on this schedule?