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
Charles M
November 1st, 2010
10:22 am
Right on Mark! Georgia seems to lack any of the qualities of a championship caliber team. Off field activates of players last count 11 who have been suspending from one to four games. An offensive which is so predicated that every opponent has figured out Georgia’s game plan. Confusion during every game and Saturday was the most glaring example. This best receiver in the country and he is totally under utilized through out the game until the fourth quarter.
Until someone puts some discipline into this team; both players and coaches, Georgia is likely not going to be an elite member of the Southeastern Conference. It time to look at the direction of this program and if Richt can not offer a plan then move on the sooner the better.
jtdawg
November 1st, 2010
10:22 am
‘94 UGA Grad –
Calling the firing the 6th highest paid coach for *proven* program decline is “knee-jerk” then I suppose every intelligent business man that helped forge the strongest companies in the world are knee-jerk specialists.
You fear decline, yet those like you refuse to see the decline we are already in. Yes Mark Richt is an exceptional human being. He is not being paid to be an exceptional human being. He HAS to be held accountable.
Of course people like TampaGator will always make *objectionable* outside observances – he’s been on the winning side of the beatdown 18 of 21 years. Easy to be *objectionable* then….
Yes it is scary. But you HAVE to get what you pay for. The resources here are plenty enough to have something better and more stable. One year? Sure it’s understandable. 2 years? Get a little worried – 3 Years on a downturn and there is a problem.
Richt will most likely get another year, and maybe he should be given the chance. I cannot see what fundamental difference he will be able to change or make that will correct our slide.
Only time will tell for sure….
dawgster
November 1st, 2010
10:22 am
Icenupe…;i’m going to defend you here against the fair weather fan “Cobb Dawg” ..this way he can hurl insults at me…i’m pretty good size man so i can take the jabs…Cobb Dawg and others like you seem to have all the answers..most of you wouldn’t or haven’t play a down of high school or college football…if you want to put Coach Richt’s record of 2-8 against the gators, then thats fair…but he had nothing to do with the previous years that we continued to lose to the gators…the bottom line is “turnovers”…we had 4, they had 1…we had opportunities to make plays that would have resulted in turnoverrs for them…example falling on a fumble, an interception thru our hands toward the end of regulation…a db in position for an interception but there guy makes a great play and puts them in business in the red zone…the truth is our guys at some point have to step up and refuse to allow the gators to make plays…we have not been able to do that…is it the players that we recruit not being as good as expected….i mean the coaches had the players in the right spot to make plays for the most part the entire game…why didn’t they make them…i wont argue that coaching is a huge part of a team’s success…but we need players that will take leadership roles and put this team on their back…do you think that Tebow was as good as he was because of Meyers coaching..perhaps some, but he had something that no coach can instill…and that is heart and the will to not lose…how many players do the dawgs have that have that kind of attitude…but you know we can dump Coach Richt and we can start over…perhaps we get someone that comes in here and just is all world…i’d like to know at what school they are at…..do we need some new life form our OC position…perhaps, but he can’t make the plays on the field…the players have to do that..alot of you want Coach Richt to jump up and down on the sideline, scream and holler…that will make him a better coach…believe me i have had both kinds…thats not what wins games…we always won or lost because of how we played and usually when we were mistake free we won…everybody has a right to be down…i am disgusted as anyone about our loss…the overtime playcalling i thought was terrible…but had Durham caught a TD pass on that 1st play we would be saying the coaches were brilliant…but to me there is no excuse for not at least getting a FG attempt…but thats what happened…the gators made a play, and the dawgs didn’t…i will say this though if you can guarantee that the dawgs will beat the gators, bama, au, tech on a consistant basis if we get a new HC and staff, then i’m all for it…start submitting the resumes right now of the HC’s that have beaten Saben, Meyer, Miles, Brown…on a consistant basis…I’m a little worried about Mack Brown…he evidently has forgotten how to coach…no point in keeping him around…same for Coach Paterno…obvisously he doesn’t know anythng about coaching…look at the great Kiffin at USC…all that talent but look at their record…i’ll close by saying that most of you will call me a homer, perhaps, but if we are going to change something as drastic as removing our head coach who if you haven’t forgotten has one of the best winning percentages over the past 10 years…but its not enough, and i understand that…but be careful what we wish for…it could get much worse…if we ever are going to turn the tables on the gators, its going to have to be where the players get sick and tired as the fans are and refuse to lose…its goint to take some leaders stepping up as with someone with the attitude of Tebow and bring out the best in all the players…its the players believing they can and will get it done….go dawgs
SLICK RICHT
November 1st, 2010
10:22 am
I’m still STYLIN and PROFILIN! I’ll also will be the UGA coach for as long as I want to be coach. See you next Saturday suckers.
Racer X
November 1st, 2010
10:24 am
LongGator,
Beatdown? You were scared $#!&!*$$ before the game and in the 4th qtr and you know it.
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
10:24 am
So Phil, Is that supposed to change my mind? By the way, did we even have a 100 yard rusher in the game? You still don’t get it. Doesn’t matter what another blog says. You have already proven your idiocy.
meh
November 1st, 2010
10:25 am
we committed 4 turnovers and only lost by a field goal in overtime. I think Richt did a fine job.
Shankit
November 1st, 2010
10:26 am
jtdawg, I agree with you on Van Gorder….
But, the head coach does not necessarily have
to be the best coach or motivator, he just needs
to surround himself with these type of coaches,
like Dooley and Erk and Dooley and Cavan, etc…
Good example, Urban ain’t the coach without
Mullen and Strong gone, He didn’t coach that
good a game against the Dawgs Saturday, running
East and West, he just got the turnovers…
Falconian
November 1st, 2010
10:28 am
Thats because Mark Richt doesn’t do the coaching any longer. He used to be the brains and mouth talking with David Green on the sidelines, and D.J….but now he dishes this job out to Bobo. I don’t think he has any interest in actually coaching any more. We need to get a guy that want to coach the players and has the energy to do it.
jtdawg
November 1st, 2010
10:30 am
SECfan
I cannot understand for the life of me why people like you think that someone who does not expect mediocrity, expecially when the man in charge is being paid to be a top coach and leader, is not a real Dawg fan?
Under what premise?
What oath did I take when I attended Georgia that said we have to perpetually lose to Florida? Oh thats right, I didn’t.
That is the abosolute lamest thing I have ever heard a supporter say. In what was is a UGA fan not worthy of supporting it if it wants to be better, play better, achieve more?
Wow, some of you lemmings are absolutely snookered. I need to come up with some kind of website you guys have to continually pay for regardless of content, get you to sign up, then let the cash roll in….
man I missed my calling….
Icenupe
November 1st, 2010
10:30 am
Dawgster,
I can tell you are an intelligent FOOTBALL FAN and know the game. I played football too. Most of these people trashing our coach have never put on a jock strap in their life. Preciate ya homie!
Dogs Smell
November 1st, 2010
10:30 am
Georgia why do you keep calling Florida a rival? It hasnt been a rival game in 20 years. They dominate you even win when they field their worst team in years. Excuses left and right about Murray but what experiance did UF ’s QB have over Murray? Bottom line you know you have at least another loss comming and next year doesnt look any better as your competition in the East will have improved greatly.
jtdawg
November 1st, 2010
10:32 am
expecially = especially
Bill
November 1st, 2010
10:34 am
So Texas, Fl and UGA are all poorly coached I guess based on resent records. Mr Myer had just lost 3 in a row to what teams?
Phil
November 1st, 2010
10:36 am
This is from dawgster: (who is defending you Icenupe)
“but to me there is no excuse for not at least getting a FG attempt…”
That’s been my arguement all along Icenupe. You play for the FG first and touchdown 2nd, in this game that is. We have the best FG kicker in the country versus a back up. Advantage Georgia.
We can’t agree so I’m done arguing with you.
Jim Nasium
November 1st, 2010
10:36 am
Dawg Nation is blind. If Boise or TCU jobs became available and Richt was job hunting, they would not look at him once, much less twice. Keep him and UGA football will be another Tennessee. When you’re getting hammered in the 6th inning, never wait until the 9th inning to go to your reliever – it’s too late. Florida has a bad year and they’re still in the race for SEC title. Georgia has a bad year and they play Tech to determine if they’ll finish below .500 or just .500.
dbc
November 1st, 2010
10:40 am
Been saying all this and more for 2+ years. Thanks for stating the obvious. Championship teams show up week-in week-out ready to play. With UGA, the talent has always been there, the coaching has not. And the difference is clear. A winner like Meyer made changes in the off week that were significant. Said changes my not have worked to perfection, but they gave Florida a better chance to win. Richt would never do something like that. His idea of an innovative change is to have Mike Bobo on the sideline instead of the box. Whoopdy doo. Now let’s see if McGarity has the sack to do something about it. I doubt it. CMR will get another year, UGA will again be mediocre and we’ll be having this same conversation this time next year.
Nick Saban
November 1st, 2010
10:40 am
I think 10 years is about all a man can stand in the pressure cooker of the SEC. I myself am waiting for Jerry Jones to run off Wade Philips at the end of the year for me to move to Dallas.
Kirby will be available.
oldtimeGAguy
November 1st, 2010
10:42 am
Armchair quarterbacks and sports writers always make the right calls and hindsight is 20/20 ya know!!. A coach can only do what he has the talent to do with…he can’t make the blocks, run the routes, throw the passes or make the tackles. Coaches make the big bucks to coach and lead the kids, not play for them!!
Ronald McDonald
November 1st, 2010
10:42 am
Any predictions on the Georgia – Auburn game?
NFultonDawg
November 1st, 2010
10:45 am
Unfortunately, it is very true what Grantham did at the end of the game to the gator kicker. Pictures online. Just google “grantham choke sign” and see the screen shots from the telecast for yourself on the our scout forum. I hope Richt addresses this behavior immediately.
Yellow Jacket
November 1st, 2010
10:46 am
I’m so sick of the same ol’ song and dance from you whiney Georgia fans each and every year…..Every year’s a supposedly national title year….and every year reality bites you in the butt. Coach Richt has the best winning percentage of any Georgia coach in a long time – there’s no one out there better that’s willing to put up with the degenerates at UGA. If Georgia can keep their players out of the police blotter every other week, maybe they can win games – stop your whining!
T Tindall
November 1st, 2010
10:49 am
Mark – Great article and unfortunately TRUE. CMR has certainly lost his way and it might be due to his high income. I am no longer passionate nor interested in hearing his explaination of why we did not win this one AGAIN No reason to get mad, we pasted that point two years ago and yes we did have the better team. Going for two so early on, play calls in overtime, here we go again. Sorry, I am just tired and it may be time for him to go. You are exactly right whenyou say that game after game, the team is not ready to play when they come out of the tunnell. A sad day in Dawg nation.
mdawg
November 1st, 2010
10:50 am
I just read that Jerry Jones came out and apologized to the Dallas fanbase for their horrible season. I think Richt owes the UGA fanbase the same courtesy. This apology should be followed by a resignation.
Rick Murphy
November 1st, 2010
10:51 am
Mark you correct, Mark is a great person, But he will never beat the Gator as head coach, and has took UGA as far as he goinging too. no more 10 wins season but 8-4 will a great season as long as he is the head man, so sorry to have to see that happen,
lmao
November 1st, 2010
10:51 am
Another loss to the GAYTORS. Man it sucks to be you.
DawgnDallas
November 1st, 2010
10:52 am
Coaching may be some of the problem, but it boils down to players executing at their positions. Great quarterbacks are coached…but the QB is the one that makes the throws (or not). Great defensive schemes can be drawn up that work…when everyone is where they are supposed to be. Coaches AND Team Leaders….get these Dawgs’ heads on straight, they are good athletes or other top schools would not have recruited them also. The difference in teams prior to 2008, TEAM LEADERS….who will step up?
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 1st, 2010
10:55 am
Bradley you are an idiot. Meyer had less talent than Georgia? They had the top ranked recruiting class in the country last year and top 5 recruiting classes every year. Georgia lost because they had turnovers caused by their own ineptness not by Meyer’s great coaching. Georgia beat Georgia – Urban Myer got lucky. Strong was the brains behind the defense and he left… defense got worse. Mullen was the brains behind the offense and he left… offense got a lot worse. Georgia is average and Florida is average – neither are ranked and S.C. will take care of Florida in a couple of weeks. Don’t make Meyer out to be a genius – he isn’t… Meyer gave up his morals and his ethics when he let Chris Rainey play. Rich would not have done that. I guess that is why you think Meyer is a great coach?
We Suck Again
November 1st, 2010
10:56 am
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/2010/11/01/tough-loss-has-georgia-fans-questioning-a-bowl-appearance/ pretty interesting read. its a tough loss to swallow for uga fans
Shankit
November 1st, 2010
10:57 am
The difference in the game was Florida’s luck
winning the toss and
electing to see what Georgia could do in overtime.
I think Georgia might could have
won if the shoe had been on the other foot….
Oh well…………….
gadawg
November 1st, 2010
11:00 am
Richt’s reign has run it’s course just as Donnan’s had before he got canned. Program is in decline, we are not an SEC caliber school we are a hybrid ACC school. If we keep Richt we need to move to the ACC
Dean Morgan
November 1st, 2010
11:06 am
The most important thing here is to remember who Mark Bradley is…nobody. Mark Bradley is a self inflated ego like most sports reporters. He always know best but has never coached a college football team, baseball team, or basketball team so while he thinks he knows what he is talking about, he really doesn’t. It doesn’t matter what Ga team it is, he feels at his best when he is cutting down people during a tough time. Remember, these our young 18 to 22 year old kids representing our colleges and states and played a great game Saturday. Mark Bradley is just a jealous loser who feels best when he is condemning or putting down others. Mark Bradley is the real loser not Mark Richt.
dawgster
November 1st, 2010
11:07 am
Phil…not sure what you and Icenupe have been commenting back and forthr about…but my point was and you are correct…we had to have at least a FG out of that possesion…doesn’t really mean i’m that smart…but wiht that being said, i don’t think you play for a field goal…you have to go on the offense…i didn’t agree with some of the calls, the 2nd down call for sure….the 3rd down call could have been successful if the play had been executed properly, but again i was hoping for some thing that would at least get us a few yards that was a safe call…over the middle was very risky and we found out why….the correct call on 3rd and 9 i beieve could have been a screen..they were blitzing,m so if we execute right a big play right there…maybe a shuttle pass..or quick slant…there are several options…unfortunately we chose the wrong option in my opinion…but you know its real easy to make the call now after the fact..its not as easy when you are in there in the fight at the moment…thats why these coaches get the big money to make those calls..keep in mind that while the dawg coaches are making these calls and believing they will work…the other coaching staff on th other side who also gets paid big bucks to make decisions is trying to guess what we will call..sometimes we win, sometimes they win….again for me, it comes down to the players making the plays when the opportunity is there..our coaches, say what you want to about them…they had us in position to make plays, fumbles by the gators, we were right there, interception at a crucial time, we were right there, didn’t make the play…thats the bottom live…we had 4 turnovers that and they took advavantage of the opportunity…we got 1 turnover…watch the game replay…see if you see the opportunities,,,,then blame the coaches for the play not being made…go dawgs
Coach
November 1st, 2010
11:10 am
Bradley there are not enough adjectives to describe your lack of knowledge on a sport that you never played or if you did play you were one of the line counters on the team just to say you played. You work for a paper that will soon bite the dust. Why don’t you become a coach since you are such an expert- not
Dogs Smell
November 1st, 2010
11:10 am
I have a prediction on the Auburn / Ga game ! Auburn kicks the Hell out of you !
Ted M
November 1st, 2010
11:11 am
Good blog Mark. I agree and to sum Saturday’s game up…
Richt had the better team and STILL Richt lost.
With that said, I don’t think it is time to put Richt on the hot seat and he certainly shouldn’t be fired but Richt needs to go back to play calling. He wouldn’t even have to fire Bobo unless he felt like he could find a great OC.
just a fan
November 1st, 2010
11:15 am
Enter your comments here
Bdawg34
November 1st, 2010
11:15 am
Hey Dawg Nation – Two bad seasons out of so many Richt has been here does not make a bad coach. Look around and see when things started to change. I am real sorry but when Bobo took over in 07 we still had Stafford throwing the ball, Moreno running the ball. Two 1ST round NFL draft picks, Number one over all. Bobo does not have that now to fall on. His play calling is so predictable I can do it. Look at what it is and then look at Tenn. and see what it could be. A LOT WORSE. The great pumpkin got run out of town, now look what they are going through. Given, Richt has to make the right decisions about his staff, but lets get a TRUE Off. Cord. in, not a QB coach and lets see the difference. The defense will come, you HAVE to have the right players to do that. But offense held its on and will be great again, we are missing a couple of pieces and play calling must change. Dogs will be fine, Richt IS a winning coach. You can’t just base his coaching on the last 24 games. When we were kicking everybodies a$$, none of you were screaming then. Also remember, we used to OWN Florida too. I know we all hate it, but it will be back at UGA and I promise you firing Richt now is not the answer.
jtdawg
November 1st, 2010
11:15 am
oldtimeGAguy – isn’t that ridiculously paid coach also responsible for the talent he puts on the field?
Quit making excuses people.
UGAgirlFAN
November 1st, 2010
11:16 am
MARK you are a Jerk! First of all this is his FIRST losing season! Did you watch the game? The Florida game did not have CRM on the field playing in uniform it was the players, so put the blame where it belongs! The ONLY reason UF won the darn game is because of the PLAYER’S mistakes NOT because UF was a better team! OR better coached!!!!! Heck look at their schedule and then compare it to ours, they started it easy this year! Pansies! Yes, I am a Gator Hater and a CMR supporter! This article has really made me upset, it is way unfair and if you are so darn ready to fire a coach after one losing season then you need to study football more!!! And to the fans who support this article go root for another team because we do not need you! We need true Red and Black Fans who are there no matter what, even when the chips are dow , supporting the Dawgs! GOOOO DAWGS and CMR!!!!!!!!
Gator CHOMP Champ
November 1st, 2010
11:16 am
Keep Richt!
John
November 1st, 2010
11:16 am
You know I never thought I would say this … but everything Mark just said is true! And in those first five years, I believe Richt was calling the plays. Perhaps all you folks out there that said Richt needed an OC, need to rethink it. Richt needs to take the play calling back. Nuff said … goodbye!
WatchEmEveryNight_Fans
November 1st, 2010
11:17 am
Only one mistake by coaching in O/T. Walsh can hit 3 points from anywhere. Then pressure on Gators would have been increased 10 fold. Go for the sure thing. I disagree with most of the comments. Richt should STAY and complete the drill.
jtdawg
November 1st, 2010
11:18 am
Yellow Jacket – funny coming from a Trade Schooler who can’t even whine because they know they suck every year.
Go back to your own blogs and worry about that muderous ACC schedule instead of talking smack to fans of a program your team can’t beat…
UGAgirlFAN
November 1st, 2010
11:19 am
Sorry typo
Even when the Chips are down*
BTW: Great comments Bdawgs34!!!
Damon Evans: The Sequel
November 1st, 2010
11:20 am
If you think Mark Richt is a bad coach who has a problem with thuggish players running amok in criminal activity, just wait until you see the token Affirmative-Action hire Adams gets to replace him as coach.
jtdawg
November 1st, 2010
11:21 am
Shankit -
If you know anything about “luck” -> it’s statistics and probability.
18 out of 21 isn’t “luck”
Performance on the field makes your own “luck”
Gator CHOMP Champ
November 1st, 2010
11:22 am
Look forward to the same result in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Maybe you guys can trip us up in 2014, so you can stay on track w/ that once in every 7 year upset of your daddy.
HenryCountyGT
November 1st, 2010
11:23 am
DawgNation,
There sure is a lot of posting this morning. Are y’all sittin’ around y’alls trailers like me?
Come help us grieve for Uga VIII’s little white-trash cousin.
And you can see the big ol’ pool-float gator that Mama slept with last night.
I’ve got the Buck Belue to Lindsey Scott pass on DVD. We can watch it in surround-sound.
Anybody want a beer?
Go Dawgs!
Sic ‘em
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Big TD
November 1st, 2010
11:24 am
Hey- it always looks easy from the cheap seats. How many coaches are 0-6 versus Urban? Monday Mornin’ Quaterbackin’ is lousy with experts. (To define expert: EX- means former. Spert is a drip under pressure) Go UGA!