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
icedawg
October 31st, 2010
11:48 pm
31 points should be enough to win. The offense gave up points as well, but not enough to lose the game. The defense performed well at times, especially in the first couple of UF possessions but then began to give up big chunks of yardage, had a difficult time getting off the field, had turnover opportunities but let them slip away. Instead of scooping up the ball to be the hero it was ours had the defensive player simply fallen on it. Mental errors like this on the player’s part did us in.
dawgster
October 31st, 2010
11:49 pm
Icenupe…great post…i agree…no way does Coach Richt go..but what do you feel in the way of our OC…do you think a change there may be needed just to change up some things with the offense…i know we looked pretty good, except in OT, on Sat…but if you look at the last couple of seasons the inconsistancy is there…but will agree that if we could have a stout defense that can get off the field when we have some in 3rd and long yardage, our chances will be much better…that has been a problem all year along with the us not knowing how to cover the wheel route…
icedawg
October 31st, 2010
11:50 pm
DW you’re right. The simple minded think a coaching change is all that is needed.
icedawg
October 31st, 2010
11:52 pm
Enter your comments here
He Hate Gator
October 31st, 2010
11:56 pm
“Problem is that UGA’s fans never show any improvement” …its the fans fault?
Icenupe
October 31st, 2010
11:58 pm
Dawgster, I think Coach Richt needs to take back the playcalling, but I really only have one issue with Coach Bobo’s playcalling on Saturday – 1)Find a way to get the ball in AJ Green’s hands early. 2) When Murray was off, throw some short passes (screens, slants, outs) to settle our QB down. Sometimes it only takes one completion to settle the nerves.
JSS
November 1st, 2010
12:01 am
If Auburn and Tech fans had any imagination, they wouldn’t show up with Red Panties. They’d show up with Papa John’s Pizza boxes or direction signs to Birmingham!
T. Earl
November 1st, 2010
12:03 am
Doctor Death (aka Ms Bobo),
When the offense fails to control the ball and hands it over to Florida 5 times (on a short field at that) I suspect the defense will have a problem. But what do I know, I’m just sitting here in my deer stand!
Go bake some cookies and tell Mike it will be alright to make a little booboo on Saturdays…..
NFultonDawg
November 1st, 2010
12:03 am
Our defensive coordinator taunted Florida’s place kicker repeatedly with the choke sign before the winning kick. All this while yelling at the kid? That may be the most embarrassing moment in a year of many embarrassing moments surrounding our program. Grantham should be disciplined.
Superdawg1
November 1st, 2010
12:04 am
You hit it right Just another in a long line of games that the coaches looked downright stupid
Better get use to it because it will not get better. Dawgs have lost all credibillty in recruiting
look at all the players leaving the state Richt can”t out recruit Fla, Auburn and Ala in his home state
Dawgs are doomed for at least next five years
MM
November 1st, 2010
12:10 am
As much as all of you hate Meyer you have to admit he is far superior in his coaching ability than CMR. He does the little things that win games and is not blind to what is going on around him ( Martinez & Bobo). AS long as Meyer is at UF and as long as CMR is at UGA victories will be far and few between.
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
12:13 am
@Georgia needs to get serious, Mack Brown started off 3-6 versus Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. Texas has won 2 of the last 3 (lost this year). Should Texas have fired Brown after going 3-6 versus Stoops? And don’t give me John Cooper- Ohio State vs Michigan argument. Traditionally, that game decided the Big Ten every year. No comparison of the Big Ten versus the SEC.
rincon dawg
November 1st, 2010
12:13 am
All you supporters are happy paying a man 700,000 for a single win. Please give me a break.
rincon dawg
November 1st, 2010
12:16 am
Hey Ice why are you satified losing to UF constantly. That is our rival yeah GT is big but losing to Uf is not acceptable. 2-8 is not acceptable record against a rival. Get off the JESUS Juice
rincon dawg
November 1st, 2010
12:20 am
Oh yeah and traditionaly this game decides the SEC EAST. Please this game is huge.
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
12:23 am
For all of the idiots who don’t understand recruiting, let me break down simple math. The state of Georgia produces over 100 D-1 prospects every year! There are only 85 scholarships in D-1 football. That means if every player on UGA’s roster left at the same time, you will STILL lose recruits out of state. Not to mention, some kids will go to Ga. Tech, some just want to play out of state. In one recruiting class, you may average 15-25 open scholarships. Where are the other 75-80 kids going to go? TO ANOTHER D-1 SCHOOL AND PLAY IN THE SEC!!! Why do you think so many schools want to recruit this state?! It’s a testament to how talent rich the state of Georgia is. You always want to recruit in-state talent first, but you can’t ignore top talent from other states also – These names sound familiar? M.Stafford (Texas), K.Moreno (New Jersey), AJ Green (So. Carolina), A. Murray (Florida), etc. that want to play at UGA so they have to be selective in who they choose and they will not offer a kid a scholarship only to take it back because the numbers are full. Ask South Carolina about Tucker High.
dawgster
November 1st, 2010
12:25 am
if our DC did the choke sign and was yelling at the fla placekicker, then i am sad that he would do this…i think someone should address this with Coach Richt if it is true..not saying it is but would be a shame if he did that…don’t mind ther yelling so much as everyone probablay was doing that, but the choke sign is unexcusable..again until i know that it happened i will reserve judgement, but it it did..then this is not the type person to lead young people…maybe making it more than it is, but just my opinion…
JaxDawg
November 1st, 2010
12:25 am
Check out this quote from Richt!
“–Richt didn’t sound thrilled with the first offensive play call when Murray was picked off by Janoris Jenkins on a hitch route to Green. “If anything, we should have challenged him deep before we just threw a hitch out there in my opinion,” Richt said”….OH YEAH, WHY DON’T YOU GO BACK TO MAKING THE OFFENSIVE PLAY CALLS AND LET BOZO SHAG PUNTS DURING PRACTICE!
Lifelong Dawg
November 1st, 2010
12:32 am
With all the talk about the new AD and the decision he has before him,let’s not forget that the largest alumni contributors (of which I’m not, although I am an alumni contributor) will make the final decision on Richt’s tenure at UGA. If they withdraw their financial support for the program until a change is made, a change will be made. McGarity may have the power of persuasion, but the purse ultimately will decide if Richt coaches beyond this season at UGA. My bet is that UGA will be looking for a new coach and Richt will be looking for a new program.
Castle Pines Canine
November 1st, 2010
12:33 am
Charley Pell, Galen Hall, Spurrier, Zook, Meyer. All did one thing well. Tampa boy, you need to get off the white train that you sucked up your nose. Your players aren’t young. 12 Seniors. 8 Juniors. AJ had several big plays, so did Murray, so did Charles. I think that the difference here was that Coaches on our side, asked the freshman QB to make plays that he didn’t need to make. Like I said before, UF won. I do believe that Rainey episode is going to cost Meyer in the long run, and so are the others that have sprung up from time to time. Your Gators won’t beat the Gamecocks, and you will not be going to a BCS bowl. I hope you go to good bowl and win this year. I hope that we don’t go to a bowl, and that we sit at home,watch, and figure out how to play at the caliber that we should be playing. If you think that losing to UF this year is the most disappointing part of our season, think again. Start with the Marcus Lattimore show, through Ryan Mallet, then the sleeper in Starkville, then Hawkins last stand in Boulder. UF is the best team we have lost to this year. I think that we open next year with Charlie’s Cardinals. That will give you another reason to pull against UGA. NFulton Dawg, he was telling the line a signal. It is the pinch play up the middle rush for a block.
Tampa boy, enjoy your victory. Just remember that great D of yours let a freshman quarteback score 3 touchdowns on you in the second half. What do you think Darth Visor will do with that???? Hmm
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
12:33 am
Rincon Dawg, yeah I didn’t realize how important the Florida game was. I just loooove losing to Florida. I went to UGA. I HATE FLORIDA! Check the turnover margin versus Florida and you will see why we keep losing. Think Coach Richt doesn’t emphasize protecting the football to his QB’s? What’s the magic wand solution? We lost by a field goal on Saturday. We left plays all on the field. We keep turning the damn ball over. See Joe Cox last year. See Stafford the year before. 2002 13-1, I still see Gus Scott returning a interception for a TD. Even in 2007 when we won, remember the pick Stafford threw for a TD to Wondy Pierre-Louis? Its about turning the damn ball over. Coach Richt doesn’t play on the field. Meyer is the only coach Richt has trouble against for the most part. Check his record vs Saban too. Les Miles won for the FIRST time last year.
Castle Pines Canine
November 1st, 2010
12:34 am
Is it basketball season yet?
Georgia Tech Fan
November 1st, 2010
12:35 am
To Hell With Georgia. Go Jackets!
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
12:38 am
I’ll repeat what I said earlier, if you fire Mark Richt, Tennessee is your mirror image. 6 or 7 win Ray Goof. 8 win Jim Donnan. 10 win Mark Richt. Delirious if you think 11-13 win Coach is just waiting to be plucked from a tree. Coach Richt would be hired before we could find another coach. Don’t let stupidity get in the way of frustration. And by the way, no way I believe we lost 3 straight SEC games with AJ Green in the lineup.
Gen Neyland
November 1st, 2010
12:39 am
First of all, Icedawg is right, to a point. 31 points is enough to win…in the NFL. In college, those bets are off. UGA, I picked you to win this one. Figured if there was an opening to beat UF, 2010 would be it. From this point, here’s the deal : New AD’s like to leave their mark. Fox gets a few years to set the tone in BB. Richt, not so sure. CMR was put in place due to yearly waxings from UF and/or UT. Y’all think it’ll be any different nowadays..? Like it or not, 10 win seasons of old w/o SECCG’s are not acceptable in the SEC. Your new AD was hired to replace a shamed AD. In his heart of hearts, your new AD wants results and results mean championship runs, not good faith efforts. The clock IS ticking…
Gen Neyland
November 1st, 2010
12:41 am
…that’s the way it is….
gcs
November 1st, 2010
12:44 am
But Richt is such a nice guy. Let’s buy him a puppy.
.
DZ
November 1st, 2010
12:46 am
Aren’t you glad UGA plays this away game every year in Jacksonville?
I am just saying
November 1st, 2010
12:47 am
This is what happens when you stop the two-a-days…your team becomes filled with sissy girly men. Let us know when your coach finally grows a pair.
Bucky Belue hand it to Herschel
November 1st, 2010
12:48 am
Alas, MB ur an idiot, CMR isnt the one throwing into double coverage, guess when Murray fumbles & throws picks its his fault??? Hes the same coach, so when they were winning the SEC titles he was a genius then right huh??? Easy to criticize after the fact, but the Dawgs will be backwinning again under CMR with or without your opinion! Sic Em
redandblack80
November 1st, 2010
12:50 am
One more year tops and Richt should be fired.Ive been a GA fan since 1979.I own redandblack tools.Im tired on CMR lackluster finishes the last 3 yrsVanGorder put GA on the map.This year and next year should be CMR probation period.No Improvement-no job.period.NUFF SAID.
Gen Neyland
November 1st, 2010
12:51 am
Icenupe : AJ is gone after this year. In college, a 5 year run without positive results of Georgia Domeville is a killer. Sometimes, a fresh start is what propels a program. It’s not my place for UGA to consider but y’all have in place right now what UT does not. That’s a solid base of good players. Funny, but I think CDD will take UGA to the woodshed by 2012 and beyond. A poor comparison, my man. Poor….
JaxDawg
November 1st, 2010
12:55 am
The only saving grace about this season is that I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT WE WILL BEAT TECH! If there is one player that won’t allow us to lose it’s Ben Jones. He plays with intensity!
I HATE THE GATORS!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
I am just saying
November 1st, 2010
1:02 am
Jax if that is the case, then someone needs to keep an eye on him to make sure he won’t get busted by the Athens PO PO.
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
1:03 am
Gen Neyland, keep dreaming about your program in 2012. I am realistic about AJ Green, but we should be able to reload at WR. I don’t want our program to be yours right now. I said from day one, firing Fulmer was a mistake. Given the state of your program, wish Fulmer was still there instead of the Kiffin fiasco? Georgia will be fine as long as we don’t do something as stupid as fire Mark Richt. No matter what some of these fairweather fans say.
Georgia Tech Fan
November 1st, 2010
1:11 am
Tech will beat Georgia. Book It!
Needs Fear
November 1st, 2010
1:32 am
Not saying CRM needs fired but he sure does need to be given an ultimatum. And it needs to be a public one to show the fans that the school means it.
He needs to fear for his job just like any other under performing employee.
Needs Fear
November 1st, 2010
1:36 am
and to the GT fans. I wouldn’t be to proud if you do get a win this year. We are not that good. Also once in a blue moon don’t cut it. GT is to UGA as UGA is to UF. We are both somebodies BITCHE$$$$.
KennesawDAWG
November 1st, 2010
2:15 am
Bradley, you are full of it. Do you think it is CMR that is out there throwing the ball around? No, no its not. Is it the coaches fault that Murray threw 3 ints and lost a fumble?? Yes the playing calling could have been better,but if i remember right that is Bobos responsibility. Yes UGA has a couple of good offensive threats, but that dosnt mean everything. You need to open your freaking eyes and see how good UF’s defense is and how mediocre at best UGA’s is. The lack of defense and the turnovers is what lost UGA the game. Mark Richt may be having his toughest year but thats just it. Everyone has a bad year and Richt deserves one or two of them. Your just stupid for trying to say Meyer is a great coach, putting felons in to win games to me is not good coaching, its called no character. Without tebow, Meyer is jack crap. Yes Fla won the game, but you sir are a moron for blaming this on Richt. Go report for some crap town, we don’t want or need you.
John
November 1st, 2010
2:33 am
KIRBY SMART FOR THE JOB
John
November 1st, 2010
2:35 am
As bad as we may seem still better than Yech
KimZ'spackage
November 1st, 2010
2:44 am
John and what have you seen that says UGA is BETTER than TECH?
Jedi Falcon
November 1st, 2010
2:49 am
UGA blows. If I was a highschool player I wouldnt go anywhere near Athens.
Jedi Falcon
November 1st, 2010
2:52 am
Im on the Twitter: @jedifalcon1
dagnabit
November 1st, 2010
3:01 am
It really is the coaching and you’re not better than Tech. Dawgs give up against Tech this year.
dagnabit
November 1st, 2010
3:03 am
Football players read all of these anti cmr posts.
Hairy Dawg
November 1st, 2010
3:06 am
we have to recruiting without no Adams’ calling shots. Once we get rid of stinkys players and bring in reall mens that can play then return to dominants. Coach Richt is a great Christain and top coach but he can’t convert chicken dung to chicken salads. We got to controls on Adams to stop him from choking recruiting pipesline.
DawginTX
November 1st, 2010
3:13 am
Then Alabama didn’t have a championship caliber coach in 1970 either. The Bear went 8-3 in ‘68, followed by a pair of 6-win seasons. Thankfully for Alabama the Bear had a good track record before that. Richt’s record 2001-2007 should indicates that he is a championship-caliber coach.
The DC killed us the last 2 years and now we have a brand new scheme that the D is getting used to. And the O has been playing very well the last 4 games. It’s not Richt’s fault that the RBs fumbled at critical times early in the season and that the QB equaled his interception total for the year on Saturday.
tired
November 1st, 2010
4:36 am
ok from now on—one or two sentences. Where is the running game bozos?
Notso Fast
November 1st, 2010
4:42 am
WOW. What an article and what an responce. The Dawgs are a loyal bunch and if they ever change then Coach R is really in trouble. I don’t ever remember the Coach as a great game coach. I remember him having the problems with time management early on.I remember changin the color of equipment to surprise the opponent. If you were looking to form a Allstar team to play Auburn, who would you pick to coach? Saban, Meyers or Coach R. Be honest, which one?