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
M. Vick
October 4th, 2010
1:58 pm
These here Dawgs are real Dogs.
GeorgiaBorn
October 4th, 2010
1:58 pm
HEY bevanscds. Dooley had ONE losing season at UGA. That was in 1977. Do your research before posting something as stupid as what you posted.
GMAN
October 4th, 2010
1:59 pm
I’ll bet the Texas folks would give you CWM after the last 2 weeks. That UCLA game was just ugly. They now have a 2 game losing streak-bet they are happy too.
DieHardGator
October 4th, 2010
1:59 pm
Sorry you guys are having a hard time. Hopefully, whatever the problem is and whoever is responsible, gets corrected sometime soon before the program runs into the ground. Looking forward to the game, but honestly, even tho we looked like crap our last game,(against a really good team) we will probably win this year too. Don’t be mad at us, be mad at the leadership that is running you guys into the ground!
Skitty Fritty
October 4th, 2010
2:00 pm
It’s Bush’s fault!
Law Dawg
October 4th, 2010
2:00 pm
The worst thing is that for the second year in a row, our biggest game will be against Tech!
b-ham dawg
October 4th, 2010
2:00 pm
just because he is a nice guy doesn’t mean he is the richt guy. we need a serious shake up in athens and it starts with bringing in a hard nosed football coach not a nice guy that is friends with the players. half of the problem is not playing the best guys at each position. richt feels that some of the older guys have earned a right to play eventhough they may not be the best guy to put out there. richt is soft and he needs to go.
Gay Dawg
October 4th, 2010
2:00 pm
UGA is imploding. We all need to get together as a group and pump these our Dawgs up. Do we need more wide receivers and tightends? yes. Murry has one option right now, but we have enough talent to beat UT and others!.
DaveDawg96
October 4th, 2010
2:01 pm
Nick Saban sounded more disgusted by his team’s performance on Saturday than Richt sounded about his team’s play:
Saban: I was disappointed by our performance in the second half.
Richt: I think we played hard and came away with some positives.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
Mack
October 4th, 2010
2:01 pm
Good article, but I take exception to one thing. I get tired of hearing things about the “blackout” games. They are no guarantee of a win, they are just a tool to get the team excited, and sometimes the fan base. If a team wins or loses, it is not based on what jersey or what helmet was worn. This is a tiresome subject. I for one like it occasionally because I was a player once and I know what the experience is like. So quit using it had a sounding board for the decline, get to the real source X’s and O’s and coaching a team up and getting ready for the next opponent.
nonamedawgfan
October 4th, 2010
2:01 pm
Three reasons for the decline and the first two I know for a fact are true.
1. There are a set of rules for the team and another set of rules for AJ GREEN. Rest assured, that doesn’t build team unity.
2. BOBO DOESN’T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED FOR THE OC JOB.
3. CMR DOESN’T HAVE A HEART FOR THE JOB ANYMORE. TIME FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN.
a little jet lagged from the Boulder trip
October 4th, 2010
2:02 pm
Before the season, I said Richt would definitely be back for 2011 even if we have a bad season. Now I’m not so sure.
I’m guessing that McGarity won’t pull the trigger this quickly after getting the job…but if we keep losing, who knows?
If we do end up looking for a new coach, I want us to offer big bucks.
Willy Wonka
October 4th, 2010
2:02 pm
itle:Athletic Director
Dept.:Athletic
Phone:706-542-9037
Email:gmcgarity@sports.uga.edu
Address:
0409 Butts-Mehre
1 Selig Circle
Athens GA 3060
Thank you for that address.
I just sent the following email:
Fire Richt.
Right now.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 4th, 2010
2:03 pm
DieHardGator@
Do not feel bad for the Dawgs. It the dawgs. Good for nothing dawgs. They did not feel bad when we had Zook.
John Wang
October 4th, 2010
2:03 pm
Mojo – Go west young man…….think Oregon or Boise State……worked for UF – they went to Utah and have 2 rings…….need to bring in the spread offense and recruit the QB talent out of the great state of Texas…you’ll be ready to play for the NC in 2014
Robert
October 4th, 2010
2:03 pm
I can understand the defense having it’s struggles. New scheme with players recruited to run a 4-3, 3 new starters in the secondary, etc. But the O-Line is killing this team. Can’t run the ball and this was supposed to be a strength. BoBo’s play calling seams to get worse every year.
Think Richt should take over the play calling again and find a new OC after this year. Can keep BoBo to coach QB’s if the new OC wants him. Searles may need to go too. He is supposed to be an excellent o-line coach but they look completely over matched. That’s unacceptable considering the experience these players have.
I want to see UGA succeed and think they will eventually correct the problems on defense. Just not so sure about offense as long as BoBo is calling the plays.
Jerome
October 4th, 2010
2:04 pm
As a UGA fan and a big fan of Mark Richt, I think its a sad thing to have to admit but his time in Athens may be coming to an end. He has lost the ability to lead these players. They may love him but they no longer fear him. I think The AD needs to put a call in to Boise St. before another team has a chance to hire Chirs Peterson. When you look at our competition in the SEC, we need to have a top line coach to compete with Bama and UF. And Peterson is that guy
Fake Urban Meyer
October 4th, 2010
2:04 pm
Give Richt another chance. I like him.
Lindsey
October 4th, 2010
2:05 pm
One bad season does not equal a bad coach!! People would not be this upset about what is going on right now if CMR had not taken our expectations to a new level. He deserves time to get this right. Let all the dirty rats jump ship first!! GO DAWGS!!
He Hate Gator
October 4th, 2010
2:05 pm
Great article, Mark. Agree that Richt will probably be here for at least more mediocre season..unless Adams is told by you-know-who to make a change…
BFALCON
October 4th, 2010
2:05 pm
Jon Gruden
AngryDawg
October 4th, 2010
2:05 pm
Just curious, since many people are giving Richt a pass because he is “nice” and a christian. Would you feel the same way if Richt was gruff and irreverant like Jim Donnan? Is niceness and lack of emotion a good trait for a head coach? Has he oversaw the program well? Is it a coach or pastor we are looking at?
jack bull
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
yes, it all rests on the head coach, but the players have a little to do with it also..some guys that need to be benched…#11,18,23,60,78 to name a few.. you just can’t keep showing up with the same guys and expect a different result….and as far as that 3-4 B.S., you can shove that right up someone’s azz…if you don’t have the horses to run it, then don’t!!! sometimes a good coach needs to realize that if the players aren’t or can’t do what “we’re trying to do”, then maybe you should change what you are trying to do….
Fake Urban Meyer
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
Jon Gruden is not a good coach. That is going backwards.
He Hate Gator
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
Its not one bad season Lindsey….its the last 4 that have been a downward spiral…
Hertzel Waltzer
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
All this criticism just shows who the real fans are.
Most of you cry babies have never accomplished a fraction of
what Coach Richt has. you are also not real “DAWGS”. I am
ashamed of you fair weather fans.
UGA will be back and CMR will lead us back to glory.
Answer the Question
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
Answer the question – Yes! It’s the coach! Whether it’s because of his inability to make some other tough choices regarding coaching staff or whether it’s his inability to effectively coach the team himself, he isn’t demonstrating leadership!
In general, anyone can wing it’ and coach a great team when you have better players, but it’s a different story when leadership develops players in ways they didn’t know they could.
Coach Richt has done good things, but in this industry, games have to be won, and plenty of them. If the team’s attitude suffers on or off the field, then whether Richt wants to accept it or not, he’s has something to do with that.
Lastly, upsets happens all the time in sports, and underdogs often do the unexpected. How? Well, maybe its because they have a leader that’s taking his followers to another level. Again, as I said last week, this is a prime example of the “Law of the Lid” for Richt.
He has reached is plateau!
JCH
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
all this talk about UGA Should have Finshed #1 ????? In What Country???? They’ve never been Seriously Considered for any NAtional Championship like Univ. of Alabama, or Florida… Why Because Richt can’t even Focus enough to Compete in the SEC…. First Things First Boys!!!
papadawg
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
What names will be considered when Coach Richt is fired and I’m pretty confident he will be.
TRUEDAWG
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
Look over here! It’s me, a true dawg fan. I’m waving my banner, screaming at the top of my lungs and showing support for the players and coaches. Well, okay, some of the coaches. First…Coach Richt.. take your foot and start kicking some butt. Rule 1. You are in charge! There are no other rules. Put these teenagers in their place. We don’t give scholarships to underacheivers. Second, Send BoBo back to the booth and let him be the QB coach. You call the plays. Grantham has not impressed me at all. Blown coverages in the South Carolina and Arkansas games were just stupid and you should have your butt kicked for it. Third, Hey Dawg players…what makes you think yu don’t have to play hard for 60 minutes on Saturday? If I am in the stands with 92,745 other Dawg fans supporting you then you need to show some love. Your play has been pitiful and you have shown no respect for your coaches, fans and other team mates when you get arrested. Finally, this is not the A.J. Green show! Kris Durham proved that and Troupe you better start showing us why we gave you a scholarship. I will still be there on Saturdays showing my love for you, show it back!
Lance
October 4th, 2010
2:06 pm
Love Mark as a Christain man and also as a person but in Football, especially College Football, you must show INTENSITY and SOME kind of EMOTION. With Mark, I see none of it. What we need is a hard nose coach like Nick Saban. A coach who will chew your as* out if you make a stupid play when you’re returning to the sidelines. A coach who has a tough demeanor about him. Sure, it’s kinda like a dictatorship but if you want to win, you have to install FIRE and INTENSITY, INTENSITY and more INTENSITY in these young adults. If you don’t, they will be mediocore at best. Sorry Mark, but I see no fire in your eyes.
va12345
October 4th, 2010
2:07 pm
These posts are how you can tell UGA isn’t a top tier football program, way too many people commenting on the kind of person Mark Richt is, yall are way too happy to have your coaches back because he is a good guy who will never get you to the top. As long as UGA is content with top ten finishes and 10 win seasons you will always be 2nd tier, Mark Richt shouldn’t have 1-4 ball team right now he should not have been retained once last season ended. but hey enjoy your top quality person, I mean coach.
JASon
October 4th, 2010
2:07 pm
Wow, Mark. Took you this long to figure out that Richt is responsible? All of us knew this years ago. But thanks for calling.
Paperback writer
October 4th, 2010
2:07 pm
Hey Ray…GREAT idea about writing letters to keep Richt at the helm. Where do we send these letters?
Sincerely,
The 11 other SEC schools
Double Zero Eight
October 4th, 2010
2:07 pm
Bobo’s play calling is terrible and too predictable. Georgia can’t win without running the ball effectively. We need a big brusing back in order to run it up the middle, and we don’t have one to my knowledge. Most penalties result from a lack of discipline…….. need I say more? Discipline
starts at the top.
Concrete Pete
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
It’s amazing how a piece by the hated Mark Bradley can unite a divided fan base. You people know that everything Mark said was 100% true. If you TRULY believe that Richt is going to rebound and win a NC (or even SEC) you are crazy. Absolute BEST case scenario for the dawgs under Richt is the ‘07 season. Lose a few, win meaningless games late and go to a bowl with no chance of a NC. Thats best case. Worst case is now. 1-4 so far, loses to programs that are historically mediocre or worse. A .500 season appears impossible against what is the worst SEC east since the conference split to divisions. This team, its coaches and its head coach is way too soft and it shows. Get real people, you’re either getting better or worse. Which way is UGA going? WE NEED A NEW STRENGTH COACH AND PROGRAM!
jes
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
Seems to me that they need to tighten up the recruiting – quit bringing in these idiots that stay in trouble- all these arrests and suspensions are distracting and show a lack of discipline that then moves to the field. The philosophy of win at all costs ultimately leads to bad choices
Hot Dog
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
Two years ago I got married on Jekyll Island. The wedding planner at the Jekyll Island Club stated that people used to plan their weddings around the Georgia games (not anymore). Driving up from Florida to go the games in Athens on 441 one could not help but notice the yards that used to have red and black are no more. The store fronts and buildings that proudly displayed GA items are no more as well. The eating establishments and hotels are feeling it. Yes, it is just a game and no its not cancer but do the players and fans deserve better? One would have to say YES.
Richt trying to keep up with the Joneses by recruiting morally marginal players
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
I’ve noticed the slide in the program over the last few years seems to coincide with off-field issues that led to suspensions, legal and otherwise with players. Seems the UGA program has tried to keep up with Florida initially, and now Alabama also, and is paying the price for recruiting marginal players who don’t have the morals, but are more gifted physically.
still a dawg fan
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
dawgfacedboy,
Get Real,
We have very little football talent other then AJ.We have great athletes on our football team but what we need are FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
I’m still waiting on that load of OVERRATED talent to showup.Face it dawgfacedboy our guys are not very good.Teams with a boatload of talent don’t loss to SC,MISS ST,COL, & ARK. Are you sure we are talking about the same team? If you haven’t noticed over the last couple of years we are now on par with ky,tenn & vandy.So please quit reading what the recruiting services are telling you & starting judging their talent by their performance on the field. If you do that then I think you will finally see the light.
Stop it!
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
Please stop comparing your program to that of Alabama. You shouldn’t even compare your program to Mississippi State.
Biding Time
October 4th, 2010
2:08 pm
How many games does young Dooley have to win at UT before Georgia can hire him?
Erk Jr.
October 4th, 2010
2:09 pm
MUSCHAMP
Tuss
October 4th, 2010
2:09 pm
The Sidewalker.com for the latest UGA football news!!
Whopper Dawg
October 4th, 2010
2:10 pm
Too bad really, Richt did a lot of good, but somehow, someway, it has gotten completely out from under him. Sometimes, you just need a change and this is one of those times.
bevanscds
October 4th, 2010
2:10 pm
Georgia born…Mark Richt has had ZERO losing seasons at Georgia. Do your research before insulting someone
JAN
October 4th, 2010
2:10 pm
BRING BACK VINCE DOOLEY!!!!!! THIS JUST MIGHT BE GOTCHA BASED ON HOW THE GENTLEMAN WAS DONE…BRING HIM BACK – HE CAN HELP FIGURE THIS ALL OUT!!! bOOO ADAMS!!!
Butch Davis
October 4th, 2010
2:11 pm
Georgia: Way things are going at UNC, I’ll probably be available soon.
P.S. Note to Ga. players/recruits, have connections with agents and special tutors to “assist” with term papers.
Ray Goff
October 4th, 2010
2:11 pm
I lost the keys to my truck.
Zack
October 4th, 2010
2:11 pm
I think it is all Ford’s Fault. Doing those darn commercials are taking away his time to get a better stategy for the team. Right now he needs to trade that F150 for a Ranger and then build the team back up to earn the F150 back.