Alas, Georgia’s coaching is no longer championship-caliber
It was another hair-raising loss for UGA and Mark Richt. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
On Oct. 27, 2007, Knowshon Moreno scored to give Georgia a 7-0 lead against Florida, prompting the Bulldogs’ semi-planned and twice-penalized on-field celebration. What you knew: Georgia won that day 42-30, marking the only time Mark Richt’s team has beaten Urban Meyer’s.
What you didn’t know: The day of the Gator Stomp marked the first and last time — in six tries, mind you — a Richt team has taken a lead on Meyer’s.
As disheartening as Richt being 1-5 against Meyer is, the repeated failure to nose ahead even 3-0 is more alarming. It’s a direct reflection of coaching, or the lack thereof. Rule 1 in the Coaching Manual: Get your team ready to play. Sad to say, the Bulldogs under Richt are rarely ready.
Say what you will about Meyer, but the man can coach. His work against Ohio State in Glendale, Ariz., in January 2007 was the greatest coaching performance the BCS title game has ever seen, and his work against Georgia on Saturday was no less inspired. In Jacksonville he took the demonstrably lesser team — anybody see an A.J. Green or a Justin Houston or even an Aaron Murray or an Orson Charles among Gators? — and wrung 450 yards and 34 points from it. Meyer tried everything. Richt’s team tried running the ball on second-and-10 in overtime.
The best you can say about Richt’s coaching is that his players didn’t quit when they fell behind. That’s surely because they’ve had so much practice: Georgia hasn’t led in any of its four SEC losses. South Carolina and Arkansas took the ball first and drove to touchdowns. Georgia took the ball against Mississippi State and went three-and0ut; on Saturday Murray threw an interception on the first snap.
We once considered Richt a splendid gameday coach, but that time is gone. Georgia was 52-13 in Richt’s first five season, reaching the SEC title game three times and winning it twice. It’s 42-19 since. Not coincidentally, Richt’s decline dovetails with Meyer’s rise. (Although it must be noted that Richt has a losing record against three Florida coaches: He was 0-1 against Steve Spurrier, 1-2 against Ron Zook.)
There’s still great talent at Georgia — the old Spurrier knock on Ray Goff now attaches itself to this coach: “Georgia gets all these players; I don’t know what happens to them” — but the coaching has fallen below SEC standards. If we’re looking for the sea-change game, we need underscore Sept. 27, 2008, the night Nick Saban and Alabama came to Athens and not only jumped ahead but led by 31 points after 30 minutes.
Back to Saturday: The Bulldogs got the ball to start overtime, which means the worst they should have done was gain no yards and let Blair Walsh try a 42-yard field goal to put them ahead. Instead Murray threw the ball into stacked coverage and saw the Gators nearly end the game without having to play offense. Murray has had a terrific freshman season and had a fabulous second half, but in the season’s biggest moment he made the one play a quarterback cannot make.
That’s what Georgia under Richt has come to do: It makes the one play to lose a game, as opposed to David Greene throwing to Verron Haynes in Knoxville or to Michael Johnson in Auburn. (Or even Matthew Stafford throwing to Mikey Henderson in Tuscaloosa.) Georgia under Richt has become the toothless tiger — the team everyone respects but nobody fears.
Richt’s 10-year body of work stands as a mighty argument for administrative patience. More current events suggest the Richt of 2010 isn’t the Richt of yesteryear. It took four full seasons under this coach and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder for Georgia to lose 10 games. The Bulldogs lost five times last year, changed defensive coordinators and have already lost five times this.
And now Richt’s gifted Bulldogs have fallen to the worst Florida team Meyer has fielded. In a year where the SEC East was ripe for a young team to rise up and march to the Georgia Dome, that team will not be Mark Richt’s. He’s no longer a championship coach. Dating back to Nov. 29, 2008, his Bulldogs are 13-11, which means he’s barely even a winning coach.
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1,352 comments Add your comment
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:37 pm
Was John Wooden a Championship Calibre coach? He didn’t win a National Championship until his 18th season as a Coach. But he ended up with what, 11?
Good thing Mark Bradley wasn’t his AD after year 10.
Fla Dawg
October 31st, 2010
4:38 pm
I am glad Bradley and Shultz are not AD either. Shame on both of them. Go Dawgs. Go Ritch.
Cynthia M
October 31st, 2010
4:38 pm
You Dawg fans are so fickle and so vicious! If most of you knew half of what you think you do about football, you would be coaching somewhere – besides the sofa.
JB
October 31st, 2010
4:38 pm
Ginger……. I watched our Defense ( other than a couple of guys) Stand around and watch the entire second quarter. Would give up way too early when Gators went wide. DB’s not flying to were the ball was passed to ( What if he fumbled, and you’re 20 yards away watching, basic stuff)……… This team does not play with it’s hair on fire. That starts at the top.
r
October 31st, 2010
4:39 pm
The Idaho state game needs to show an empty stadium. This protest would show the AD et al that all is not well in Fantasy Island (aka Athens, GA). Maybe the AD can go around and pretend that we are 9-0. The problem is that Neal Callaway and BVG are not there, AND CMR is not really capable of beating ALA, FLA or AU, ever. UGA will never win another SEC championship with CMR, either change him or be satisfied.
Also, why does he have to fly in some former player to motivate HIS team each week?????
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:40 pm
If Florida wins the rest of their games this season, this will not be anywhere NEAR the worst team Meyer has coached, this early in the season, Mark Bradley has no ability to foresee into the future Florida’s outcomes. If they win out, win the SEC East, win the SEC, win a BCS Bowl game, it will be his 3rd best team ever.
Redest and Blackest Zealot
October 31st, 2010
4:41 pm
ALABAMA SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1966, BUT MICH. STATE DID NOT LOSE ANY GAMES THAT YEAR. THEY FINISHED 9-0-1.
Cornelius Washington
October 31st, 2010
4:41 pm
Meyer’s coaching had nothing to do with this game. Georgia’s freshman QB finally played like a freshman and had turnovers. Urban Meyer is a chinless weasel.
Headley Lamar
October 31st, 2010
4:41 pm
Yes. Bear won mythical national titles in 61.64,65
Mythical being the key word here. As far as Im concerned none of em count until there is a playoff.
Like every other sport on earth.
thomas
October 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
Bradley, you are a bigger moron than I thought. Journalism my a@#.
JB
October 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
A lot of you on here have asked lately why Donnan got Axed so quick and Richt Hasn’t. Easy, losing to Tech and he was a prick……..Lots and lots of Dawg fans love Mark. Less, but still pretty strong.
DWAYNE CALHOUN GA
October 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
If you read this article by mark bradley an agree with it then look for UGA to be another Tennessee Vols! Had a great coach lose a few game then fire him! Well look at Tennessee now 2-6 no SEC wins! And they b*tch about the coaching staff here at UGA!! I hope the dumb fans who call for the firing of the coaching staff get their wish and when UGA goes 2-10 or 3-9 I WILL laugh at those stupid post that them will say fire that coaching staff! I bet the Vol nation would love to have fat phil back!!
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:43 pm
Mark Bradley’s whole argument is Richt vs. Meyer. First, Richt outcoached Meyer & Saban, when BOTH were in the SEC, in 2007, so that’s an invalid point.
heyberto
October 31st, 2010
4:43 pm
I couldn’t disagree more. This team was ready and played with more fire from start to finish than I’ve seen in GA/FL game in a long time.. but more importantly they remained pretty focused. If OT works out, you press guys all praise Richt for brining the team back. Yes, the goal is to get the W, but you guys hinge on that. What this team accomplished in 4+ quarters is still a lot more indicative of successful gameday coaching vs. not.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:44 pm
If Mark Bradley’s right, Richt will be fired today.
If I’m right, Richt will NOT be fired today.
thomas
October 31st, 2010
4:44 pm
Bradley, you are a bigger moron than I thought. Journalism my a!@.
Delbert D.
October 31st, 2010
4:44 pm
JB – Thanks for the info. The reason I asked is Grantham seems to be having some difficulty working with CMR. That’s what it appears like from watching the games all season. But with his 3 year deal, he won’t be leaving early, I guess.
Bama Guy
October 31st, 2010
4:45 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Pathetic Losers! Auburn AND Tech will beat you overrated Losers, and you won’t even BE bowling!!! Richt couldn’t hold Saban OR Meyer’s jock straps!
Top Recruit
October 31st, 2010
4:46 pm
It is good to see some professional blogs say what I said earlier in the day. The key to the came was Burton. You get a win when you have a player like that, two weeks to retool your offense, and get some players back before you are down to your last game of the season.
Unfortunately at UGA they live in the past. Change this schedule where we do not go to JAX, play UF with them having an open date. UGA needs an open date prior to playing UF and Auburn.
Dawgs need a running QB. When you watch Murray run you can see he never goes thru any running drills or perhaps any LSAs. If UGA does not get a rushing offense they will continue to struggle with this kind of record. Get a true RB coach and not a receiver coach for the RBs.
Also who are the coaches in the booths and what do they filter down to the field. Apparently nothing in the first quarter. Dawgs could not stop Burton in the fourth quarter. That was kept the Dawgs from winning. If we do not change our offense this year end, the record will continue.
3-18 is inexcusab le. Even UV & UK has had better success against us in that period of time than us against the gators.
Bobo in OT…2 unproductive pass plays and a run of 1 yard. What did he see in Murray’s eyes on the sidelines…at least Green saw someting. What did the booth see. Notice how we never change up once a D more or less sets. At least TG tried not to show much against the fast pace set of UF prior to the snap. But it cost him a few times when he could not subsitute.
Like the Arkansas game, the MSU game, the SC game, the offense squanders their opportunities.
Maybe from here out the dawgs will have their RBs back and will get some production from King. Also Green. You can not build an offense around one player.
Ginger
October 31st, 2010
4:46 pm
JB—Standing around & watching should not be tolerated…I was not at game..but I agree if I had a player just watching—I would pull him to the bench very, very quickly and give him an earful.
JB
October 31st, 2010
4:47 pm
I have access to Pat Dye. He still has a special place in his heart for Dawgs. Tells me that losing Brain Van Gorder and Promoting Bobo are the two things that have cost this program to decline……………….And to those on here who think we’ve just hit a “rough patch”, you don’t follow this program except on Game day.
Jesus is the answer
October 31st, 2010
4:47 pm
Time to forget about damn Jesus and play some friggin football
bigstack
October 31st, 2010
4:48 pm
BigStack: You could raise $ 50 million and not get any of those names you mentioned to UGA.
Why should anyone take step down ? This recession does not apply to doctors and successfull football coaches. You yourself may be the best coach that UGA can get or maybe your wife or your next door neighbor.
Not my list. It came from a website that I mentioned in my post. Secondly, I would take the job in a second if offered and I already have an O.C. picked out to replace BooBoo.
Still Smiling
October 31st, 2010
4:48 pm
Glad I love my school, UGA, for more than just football. I will continue to donate pay for my seats tickets, gladly.
JB
October 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
Ginger, I think they did…..We played better D in the second half, but watch the second Quarter if you have it taped………Not a lot of hustle, except for two guys.
Scooter
October 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
Hey Jayson..the whole “Bear Bryant and John Wooden got to stick around for years” argument doesn’t hold water anymore…Bryant and Wooden probably didn’t make as much in 20 years as Richt does in 1…and their programs weren’t fighting for millions of dollars in TV and bowl revenue every single year.
I could just as easily say that if Ray Goff had been given 20 years he might have won a national championship…if’s and 30 year old comparisons are for losers..in today’s world of bigtime college sports it’s put up or shut up or find a new job…sorry if you don’t like that but maybe you should find a new sport to follow…I’d bet there’s not much pressure to perform in collegiate swimming and you could probably find you a good christian swimcoach to idolize…
Adam
October 31st, 2010
4:50 pm
Mark you and the rest of the so called bulldog nation that wants Mark Richt fired are moronic and idiotic. Like someone posted earlier is anyone going to come to Athens that is better than Mark Richt? UGA will be a top ten team next year. Jacksonville was a learning and a growing experience for the young guys that played. Unfortunately most of the seniors didn’t sieze their time in Athens until their sr year. Next year this team will be a VERY VERY good football team with a top ten team for sure and if they can have the ball bounce their way more than it has this season we’ll be up for a national championship. Marlon Brown will have a good year. Rontavious Wooten will be solid and Tavaris King will continue to step it up. The wild car will be Christian Conley who is the next Mohammad Massaquoi.
georgiavol
October 31st, 2010
4:51 pm
Nice hit piece, Bradley. You turd.
We will gladly trade coaches.
Signed,
A Vol Fan
bigcalidawg
October 31st, 2010
4:51 pm
What stood out to me is how the refs just let the teams play.
If they called all the extra cheap shots we threw at Fla, it would not have been as close as it was. Fla appeared to be more disciplined than us. We could have been flagged at least 3 times, just from what I saw on T.V, for late, cheap stuff.
Also…….I can’t wait for Cuff and Rambo to move on. I didn’t notice Vance at all yesterday, but Bacarri acts like an absolute idiot. I hate watching him just stare at running backs as they go into the end zone. He only wants to hit when recievers go over the middle. Is this from his injury? If so, we need to yank him inside the 20, cuz he is a major liability.
I wonder what Ogletree is thinkin when he watches that dude play?
We need more depth at DB to allow us to discipline those guys. Right now, it appears as if the inmates are running the asylum.
Krogunner
October 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
Mark Bradley you are a piss poor excuse for a journalist. “anybody see an A.J. Green or a Justin Houston or even an Aaron Murray or an Orson Charles among Gators?” What a dumb comment! The Gators are young, but plenty talented. I saw a Trey Burton, a Will Hill, an Ahmad Black, a Chris Rainey, and an Omarius Hines. That wasn’t Georgia St that beat the dawgs!
Not just a rough patch
October 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
“And to those on here who think we’ve just hit a “rough patch”, you don’t follow this program except on Game day.”
Absolutely correct.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
Hey Bradley:
Name 1 team that ever put up 21 points in the 4th Quarter on Urban Meyer at Florida besides Mark Richt yesterday?
Can’t coach? Please.
Dawg until Death
October 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
Top Recruit: We do have an open date before playing Auburn this year. It’s listed on the schedule as Idaho State.
Scooter
October 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
Hey Dwayne..if you would laugh if MR was fired and whoever took over went 2-9 next year then what are you going to do if MR and his bunch go 4-7 next year? Come back on here and spout the same garbage after another mediocre season?
Ginger
October 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
JB—thanks for the intel—will do….Lack of hustle is just plain sorry…makes me angry….Every player owes it to their team, coaches, university, fans and themselves to get up off their a___ and hustle…..tell you something else…in Practice those that took plays off –will be running a bunch of wind sprints….My defense would have 11 guys that went all out 100% of the time. Meyer quick counts on offense was smart move.
JB
October 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
Ok, we beat I da hoe and lose to Auburn, say 51-21 and clip Tech 21-17, what then. What are guys thinking for 2011 losing Durham,AJ,Houston and 15 seniors…..Any thoughts. Anyone going to the spring Bulldog club meetings? Any passion for 2011?…….
How much longer?
October 31st, 2010
4:54 pm
Fire Richt now. Today, in fact.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:54 pm
Scooter:
You don’t like comparing Richt to Saban or Wooden huh?
Want to boil it down to dollars?
No, you don’t want to go there either.
Mark Richt’s team was the most profitable in the SEC last season and is in the top 10 over the last decade for profits.
Ginger
October 31st, 2010
4:55 pm
Meyer did get some penalties on offense with the quick counts–but though that they were effective over all because of our substitution patterns…We need new S & C coach.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
Georgia was coming on like a Hurricane in the 4th quarter, scored on last 4 possessions, put up 21 on Urban Meyer, for the 1st time in his career at Florida. Georgia just ran out of time.
Scooter
October 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
Lol, according to Adam and some of the other blind homers this team is going to massively improve next year with a great coach and minus Green, Durham, Houston, most of the Offensive line..etc.
What is it they say about insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?
JB
October 31st, 2010
4:58 pm
Scooter, that would happen, not maybe…..If Richt is fired next year, we will be this years Tennessee…..winning 2-4 games…..But, get the right guy and get these blue blood, blue chip guys in this State to stay home, he turns that around pretty quick. A lot of folks bashing Murray, but I’m sold on him….. He’ll be an All American by his Junior year….He’ll end up with 2300 yards passing this year and close to 20 TD’s……He;ll be fine…….
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:58 pm
The NFL disagrees with Bradley too.
Georgia has more guys in the NFL right now than Florida, Alabama, or Texas.
SICK and TIRED oF this CRAP
October 31st, 2010
4:59 pm
Mark Richt and his clowns should have been fired immediately after the loss. The guy is a 2 million dollar a year joke. I will not set foot in Sanford Stadium till this clown is gone…..
Scooter
October 31st, 2010
4:59 pm
Jayson…I never said that there weren’t plenty of blind homers like you that are willing to pay over and over again for mediocrity…though I’d venture to say that another year like this one will cut into that largesse pretty quickly. And I was talking about how much Wooden and Bryant got PAID…not how much their entire athletic programs made….and you DO realize that we’re talking about whole programs..not just football right?
I really DO think that finding yourself a nice christian collegiate swimming coach to follow for 20 years…wins or losses..might be great for you
.
October 31st, 2010
4:59 pm
“Jacksonville was a learning and a growing experience for the young guys that played. Unfortunately most of the seniors didn’t sieze their time in Athens until their sr year. Next year this team will be a VERY VERY good football team with a top ten team for sure and if they can have the ball bounce their way more than it has this season we’ll be up for a national championship. Marlon Brown will have a good year. Rontavious Wooten will be solid and Tavaris King will continue to step it up. The wild car will be Christian Conley who is the next Mohammad Massaquoi.
————
Excuses…excuses…next year will be the year…always next year.
Ed
October 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
Lets hire the guy from Boise St. If he can do that well on blue grass with that ragtag bunch of retards, he can probably do ok with SEC talent. Richt just doesnt have it. I like him fine, but he’s simply not good enough.
wildbill
October 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
I talked to 3 UGA grads/fans today. I asked them what they thought about the game. NONE watched it on tv, 2 checked the score on the radio, and 1 paid no attention. I asked them, “why not?” Their answer was pretty much the same, ” we knew we were gonna lose”.
Rest of the SEC
October 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
Jayson,
The rest of the sec is glad there are homers like you who think enough of Richt to want to keep him around. I hope he keeps his job.
Your kool aid tells you that Georgia lost because “they just ran out of time”? There is no time clock in overtime. You play till someone wins.
BTW, what’s the excuse for the other 4 losses- let me guess- Georgia just ran out of time in each of those games too?
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
5:01 pm
It is odd, how Meyer could lose 3 SEC games, IN A ROW, with the #1 most talented football team in the history of college football?