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
UGA gatorhater
October 31st, 2010
3:33 pm
Well, you can’t spot FLA 14 points in the first half and expect to win, not even against the worst FLA team Meyer has ever had. I am so tired of seeing Mark Richt so calm and collected on the sideline (while his football team is melting down) like he is just patiently waiting in line for a prostate exam. Maybe it’s not all Richt’s fault, because I’m really surprised UGA was able to field a team this year, considering all the players that managed to get themselves arrested. This team is out of control and Richt does not have the personality to get control. He is more interested in being a friend to the players instead of being a coach. We need a coach with some fire in the belly who will turn this team around. Unfortunately, I don’t know who that would be, I just know it isn’t the Sunday school teacher we have now.
JB
October 31st, 2010
3:33 pm
Changes are coming……..maybe next year……
Snoop Dawg
October 31st, 2010
3:36 pm
If Richt were half as honorable man as so many think he is, he would save the Bulldog Nation all the anguish and tender his resignation. However, I bet he does not do that. Money talks and tempts even honest people sometimes.
Redest and Blackest Zealot
October 31st, 2010
3:38 pm
The naysayers on this board are a disgrace. Richt is good coach. Florida has simply been lucky in several recent games.
Snoop Dawg
October 31st, 2010
3:38 pm
…and we need to get out of the Jacksonville contract and return the series to home and home. Not only is it not working on the scoreboard, it just isn’t fair to all the businesses in Athens.
Snoop Dawg
October 31st, 2010
3:39 pm
The Apologists are now the enemy of the Bulldogs Nation that is seeking championships, respect, discipline, and excellence.
LakeDawg
October 31st, 2010
3:39 pm
Alas, this is going to play out like the Goff fiasco. CMR will go 9-3 next year, but beat nobody of consequence and get an extension because he “righted the ship” and NEXT YEAR “UGA will make a run at an SEC championship.” After that turns into another 8-4 season he MIGHT be let go. Then UGA can begin the arduous task of building a championship team. In other words UGA fans are looking at a minimum 5 year process to right the ship when everyone knows RIGHT NOW that a change is needed. Why do we put ourselves through this. The next few years is going to be a miserable living hell. I don’t know if I can take it after 12 years of Goff/Donnan and the last five years of CMR.
Markt Wrecked
October 31st, 2010
3:41 pm
WE RUINT THIS STATE!
Steve "The King" Spurrier
October 31st, 2010
3:41 pm
A friend suggested marketing a striped convict shirt with the Georgia “G” on the front. On the back, print a list of the current dawgs who have tangled with the law. Maybe “Property of Clarke County Jail” would be good too… or a pair of red panties… or a buffalo, gator, bulldog,rooster…
.
George Patton
October 31st, 2010
3:42 pm
Hope is not a method…
Falcon 34
October 31st, 2010
3:42 pm
Not Ready — Well said. Really can’t understand how so many fans can put up with mediocrity. Not like 2005 was last year or anything. Its been half a decade.
Still waiting for some of the Richt defenders to tell me the last really big game these Bulldogs have won?
I’ll say it again, I can understand them bringing back Richt for another year, but to argue that anyone calling or simply wanting a change is a “bandwagoner” is ridiculous. We have been mediocre and poorly coached team for a good while.
Scooter
October 31st, 2010
3:43 pm
Top Excuses to keep Mark Richt:
1. He’s a good man…yet his team had more discipline problems than just about any in the conference this year…
2. Can’t blame him..it’s a young QB..of course that same QB could have played last year when the season as already shot…
3. A new Defensive coordinator and scheme…hmm…and why is that? Because his previous promotion was a failure and had to be fired after years of mediocrity…
4. Just bad luck…balls don’t ever seem to bounce UGA’s way…etc…luck is certainly a part of football or any game..but sooner or later good teams MAKE their luck or overcome “bad” luck…
5. Just look at what’s happened at UT…so because UT hired the wrong guy after they got rid of fulmer UGA should stick with mediocrity. Of course you could just as easily say look what happened at Auburn, UF, or Bama in the last few years..seems to have worked out for them huh?
6. This team is really going to improve next year and then you’ll see…this of course sounds like the reasoning of a 5 year old…there’s not really any rational reason to think that a bad team that’s losing its best offensive player, most of its offensive line, its only legit pass rusher, and its only other receiver that’s done crap besides Green..that being Durham..is going to somehow be great next year.
Basically if you look at all these excuses….they share one common fact..they all pretty much toss aside rational thought and have no basis in fact. If you were going to bet money or something important to you on it…would anyone REALLY expect this current regime/team to compete for anything other than a crappy bowl invite next year??? If you’re rational and realistic..I’d think not.
So pretty much this same conversation will be going on at this time next year most likely..and yet another year will have been wasted. I think the biggest example of “faith” that has to do with MR is not his Christian “faith”..but the number of people that think he’s magically going to change what he’s done for the last 4 or 5 years and win something of consequence again.
I wonder what MR has to do or not do to actually get some of these blind homers to want a change…I’d guess we’re gonna find out in the next year or so…
Darth Gator
October 31st, 2010
3:43 pm
“Listen up: I like UGA over the Gators. Whaddaya think of that?
Mark Bradley
Your attention, please. I’m about to recant an earlier prediction. I now believe Georgia will beat Florida.
(Let me also debit my increasingly shrinking account of credibility by noting this: I thought the Gators would win the BCS title. What the heck was I thinking?)
I know, I know. The Gators had a week off and Urban Meyer is too clever not to think of something. But the Urbanator has had a while now to get this offense going, and he hasn’t yet.
And here’s what I know: Georgia will go to Jacksonville:
• With the better quarterback.
• With the better offense.
• With the better running game.
• Having won three in a row, as opposed to losing three in a row, which is what Florida has done.
I’m aware that Georgia’s three victories have come against three mediocrities, whereas the Gators have lost to Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State — all of which are ensconced in the Top 25. I really don’t care. I like the way Georgia is playing. I don’t think anybody likes the way Florida is playing.
Here I should also note: I’ve been wrong about this game before. (Two years ago, when the Urbanator’s team won 49-10 and he called his little timeouts.) I could well be wrong again. But I’m calling it Georgia 24, Florida 17.”
Mark, next time — sit down and talk to one of us down here in Florida before going out on a limb SO EARLY in the week.
Orange10
October 31st, 2010
3:44 pm
“just a question….are you guys sure Richt is not a doppelganger for Goff?????”
It is Halloween.
brandon
October 31st, 2010
3:45 pm
there is not one level-headed person on this blog.
tex dog
October 31st, 2010
3:47 pm
Man I love all of this. What a fan base. If you support Richt-you are a worthless loser and need to be shot along with the staff and all the players. You are lower than the dog t*&* on my feet.
@ Falcon 34 There are no rational discussions on a Georgia Bulldog blog, especially when they lose. Most everyone has a simplistic fire him, kill him, and I am too wrought up in this to realize one could and should have a real life not based on what a bunch of 18–22 year old do.
Me: If they win, I go out and hike and enjoy life. If they lose, I do the same.
Saint Simons
October 31st, 2010
3:47 pm
(((((((( 34 – 31 )))))))) Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Should Have Gone To Harvard
October 31st, 2010
3:48 pm
I used to think the idea of moving the game out of Jacksonville was just loser talk. Well, we’re losers, pure and simple. It may be time to do something that radical just to shake things up. It’s in everyone’s head – Georgia can’t beat Florida, just like Tech can’t beat Georgia. I know, I know – it used to be the other way around. But it was the other way around in both cases and I don’t see either reversing itself.
Should have gone to Harvard.
Falcon 34
October 31st, 2010
3:49 pm
LakeDawg — Pretty bleak assessment I’ll say. He’ll definitely get another year, but saying we’ll definitely go 9-3 next year is a pretty big leap. We’ll lose Houston and Green this year along with several of our best LB’s. True we have an “easier” schedule next year (MSU, South Carolina, Auburn at home), but we also play at Tennessee (nightmare last 2 trips to Knoxville) and we added Louisville coached by Charlie Strong who shut down our offense with ease while at SC and Florida. If we lost to Florida this year, you can mark it down as a definite loss next year (just like every year).
If Richt does come back for another year, will Bobo return as OC?
Hairy Dawg
October 31st, 2010
3:50 pm
we goning needs talent players that CMR can develop as Christian mens to winning. No other coachs do that and that why he stays and Adams goes.
Saint Simons
October 31st, 2010
3:51 pm
UGA-You ran this state (in the 80’s)
Relentless Pursuit
October 31st, 2010
3:51 pm
Sadly, CMR will stay one more season or even two (shudder the thought). As in any business, you’re only as good as the last deal. This year is a total failure and for the first time in forty years I’m ashamed to be a Georgia football fan.
PowerDawg
October 31st, 2010
3:51 pm
As I have written on other blogs, I think that the OC, S&C, and RB coaches need to be replaced. I believe it will happen when the season is over. I think it will be beneficial to the team in the long run.
We need new blood in those areas for sure. We need to get bigger and stronger, more innovative and less predictable. We need coaches who know the position they are coaching intimately.
We need some new ideas, new techniques. More discipline. We need all these things. We surely do.
But we are also going to need more players because we are very definitely going to lose many of the recruits we have committed when these changes occurs.
That, and a total cleansing from Richt on down, like some have suggested, I don’t believe we need, however.
The team chemistry will be changed and I don’t know if it will be changed necessarily for the good, frankly. That remains to be seen.
But this seems to be the consensus around Bulldog Nation these days. That and opinions about Richt being replaced with some savior to-be-named-later. One who has already been annointed in the minds of some. I personally don’t think we are going to find a proven winner with head coaching experience at the highest level. But some of you “experts” out there seem to think it will be a simple task to replace Richt with someone on your wish list next year.
Be careful what you wish for, “fan base”.
You might just get it.
Remember this…Happiness is not getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.
UGA... You "ruin" this state
October 31st, 2010
3:51 pm
Enter your comments here
GatorBite678
October 31st, 2010
3:52 pm
Bulldogs fan you all suck and cry and complain just admitted Georgia sucks every year and will always bow down to florida, you tlak about Rainey like non of you have never said anything when mad at someone,and your’re mad cause he ran all over that ragged team so maybe Georgia pups,I mean bulldogs will play in Atari bowl or playstion bowl,HA,HA (Scrubs).GO GATORS 3x CHAMPS
Falcon 34
October 31st, 2010
3:53 pm
Scooter — Well put. Rationality doesn’t really apply to any of the loyalists.
Again I ask, when was the last time Georgia won any game of consequence?
Jock Cullen
October 31st, 2010
3:53 pm
Being a Gator and knowing we have 4 top 5 recruiting classes the past 5 year(#9 the other) it’s hard to believe we are not even ranked. The talent is there but much of it is young but not being near the top 10 is hard to believe. I believe Richt and Meyer are two of the best coaches in the country so to me I wonder if the staff on each team lacks something. With 50 or more players it’s the staff that does the best job of putting the pieces together that wins. Lesser talent can win if properly inspired and coached. Look at Boise State. Anyway both teams played their hearts out and it was a tough loss. Good luck the rest of the year.
bigstack
October 31st, 2010
3:53 pm
A website called the bleacher report has posted the top 5 potential replacements for Mark Richt. Here they are from 5 to 1:
5. Jon Gruden
4. Gary Patterson (TCU Head Coach)
3. Chris Peterson (Boise State Head Coach)
2. Will Muschamp (Texas D.C. and former Bulldog)
1. Kirby Smart (Alabama D.C. and yet another former Bulldog)
If I had my choice I would hire Gruden first before I hired someone with no head coaching experience in Muschamp and Smart. Richt was a top O.C. but it hasn’t quite panned out at Georgia. Gruden wouldn’t allow this crap with the arrests and he is a proven winner on the highest level. He did however turn down a chance to coach his alma-mater Tennessee so it might be unrealistic to think he would leave the worldwide leader in Yankees, Red Sox, Cowboys and Ohio State coverage for Georgia. I am not convinced that Patterson or Peterson could win in the SEC. The Mountain West and WAC aren’t the SEC though Urban Meyer did coach Utah which is in the Mountain West and he hasn’t done so bad in the SEC. What do you all think?
JB
October 31st, 2010
3:53 pm
I’m worried about the obvious friction between Grantham And Richt already. Losing will breed that. I’m worried about losing our play makers, with few in site, which means a lot of unprovens will have to play, and that can be good or bad, ask Derek Dooley. Richt, regardless of what you read on the blogs, which is what, 50 fans, the faithful of UGA are loaded with doubt and
apathy, and don’t even know this Georgia program THE LAST THREE YEARS. I find it had to believe McGarity would allow us to just limp along. We could lose out and he’ll be back, but 2011 will be the year. You will not hear a peep about it due to recruiting, but the clock is ticking, and those of you on here who are Richt fans regardless, 7-5 next year will mean what to you. Auburn #1 BCS year two with their new man.
Wreckmaniac
October 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
All I know is the pressure is really intense on Paul Johnson now. If he loses to this Pop Warner team this year he should be fired before Richt. How is Johnson going to find a defense in three weeks ?
Redest and Blackest Zealot
October 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
When we upset Auburn in two weeks all the critics will be cheering Richt. Good fans support the coach in adversity as well as in tough times.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
Let’s see if Bradley’s right or wrong.
Nick Saban’s record as Head Coach in years 6-9:
9-2, 8-4, 10-3, 8-5
Mark Richt’s record as Head Coach in years 6-9:
9-4, 11-2, 10-3, 8-5
Richt won 38 games, Saban won 35.
Richt beats Saban who turned to be a pretty good head coach.
UGA gatorhater
October 31st, 2010
3:55 pm
I almost vomit everytime I hear what a “good christian” MR is. WHO CARES! I want somebody that coaches these players, instead of trying to baptize them.
JB
October 31st, 2010
3:55 pm
5,4,,3 ain’t coming. 2 and 1 would, but they are gambles. Any hire outside of Saban is a gamble.
GatorBite678
October 31st, 2010
3:55 pm
Georgia will soon be the doormat of the SEC , GO MARK RICHT – lol
RWRECK77
October 31st, 2010
3:56 pm
Thanks “Dazed and Confused” at least one person on here can smell roses……Problems really do start at the top.
ryan
October 31st, 2010
3:56 pm
Here is my list if Richt was to be fired Bob Stoops , Chris Petterson, John Gruden , and a dark horse defence coach Ellis Johnson of SC .
Wreckmaniac
October 31st, 2010
3:57 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.
Roofis_Leakin
October 31st, 2010
3:57 pm
Nobody loves to see UGA lose more than I do, but Mark Bradley you’re an IDIOT! You were ALL OVER the UGA bandwagon after four victories in a row over the basement of the SEC, my Wildcats included. And, now that she ship is back on fire, you’re the first one jumping off! I thought the Dawgs played their hearts out last night, only to have their REDSHIRT FRESHMAN QB make a mistake…No wonder they ran your ass out of Lexington
.
October 31st, 2010
4:00 pm
I personally don’t think we are going to find a proven winner with head coaching experience at the highest level. But some of you “experts” out there seem to think it will be a simple task to replace Richt with someone on your wish list next year.
———————
He’s the 6th highest paid coach in college football, yet UGA has not won the SEC east in 5 years. He needs to go. The next coach may not be the “savior”, but at least he won’t be overpaid for mediocre results.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:01 pm
I guess we’d have to say Nick Saban is the new SEC standard of Championship Caliber.
And since Mark Richt won more games in years 6-9, than Saban won in years 6-9, obviously, Richt’s a BETTER Championship Calibre coach than Nick Saban was years 6-9.
Kenneth Johnson
October 31st, 2010
4:02 pm
Richt’s winning seasons at Georgia was done with many players that Jim Donnan had recruited.
Meyer has won a national championship at Florida, Nick Saban has won a championship at Alabama, and Les Miles has won a championship at LSU. Richt has been at Georgia longer than any of the 3 coaches at their schools and yet they have produced, not only SEC championships, but national championships. At Georgia, dating back to Dooley, it’s a culture of win more than you lose and you can keep your job.
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:03 pm
What if Bradley had chosen another team to serve as the benchmark, let’s say Auburn.
Meyer has a poor record against Auburn, Richt is 4-0 in his last 4, so who is the Championship calibre coach if you only judge it by head to head against 1 team? Of course, Richt over Meyer when AUburn is the head to head comparison.
Scooter
October 31st, 2010
4:06 pm
Again..to all of the apologists…if you had to bet your mortage, your retirement, or anything important to you..would you really bet on this team being anything other than a middle of the pack SEC team next year? If you would then I pray you never take a trip to Las Vegas..
I frankly fail to see how questioning the status quo makes one a disloyal fan..by that rationale we should scrap this whole democracy thing and go back to having a king in this country…those “patriots” in 1776 sure wouldn’t have been good dawg fans…lol
LakeDawg
October 31st, 2010
4:07 pm
When Bama fired Shula, everyone said they were crazy,delusional, irrational. Said they should get a life (maybe go hiking
). Nobody is saying that now. Bama just refused to be mediocre. I’m sure some good people got their feelings hurt (Shula), but that’s the price you pay when you decide to coach at a championship caliber program. UGA has always been rational. They let Goff coach 7 years. They gave Donnan an extra year to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he couldn’t coach. The time is now to ignore the apologists, who say making a change is silly, irrational “hillbilly” thought. All through history, what has separated the SEC from other conferences is their refusal to be “rational.” Teams in the SEC just had a burning desire to beat their next door rivals. It was a point of pride. Well right now, when I go to the my annual extended family reunion filled with Bama and Auburn fans, I’m not prideful, I’m embarrassed. UGA should not be in this position. TIME TO FIRE CMR!
Jayson
October 31st, 2010
4:07 pm
One would have to assume Mark Bradley would have said Saban was not a “championship calibre” coach after looking at only seasons 6-9 in his career. And he would have been wrong, of course. As Saban developed into a Championship Calibre coach late in his career at Alabama.
Dawg Tired
October 31st, 2010
4:07 pm
I’m just about in the “fire Richt” camp. I may be there after the Auburn game.
REALITY CHECK
October 31st, 2010
4:08 pm
Who can UGA expect to hire who is better than Richt? Is there a rising Head Coach out there? Gruden btw would be awesome, if I were McG I’d be at least give him a ring, but its highly unlikely.
Petersen got to be the best option-but why change for the SEC? He’s in a great spot-plays noone & can be in the title hunt for a while now that hes built a good program-kind of the Gonzaga of NCAAF.
Falcon 34
October 31st, 2010
4:08 pm
bigstack — Nice post. As I said earlier, I don’t think we’ll make a change this year and it would defnitely be risky. People always throw out the Tennessee debacle, but their plan was actually working out as they thought it would (re-energize program, get a swagger, whipped us, nearly beat Florida in Gainesville with Tebow), until he screwed them. The change wasn’t the issue, just who they replaced him with. But those two at the top of the list are my favorites as well, with Smart being the best choice. Many will say it’s Saban’s defense, yada-yada-yada, but the same could be said of Saban learning under Belichick. It’s a risk for sure, but to argue that Smart or Muschamp wouldn’t bring back a swagger is hard to believe. They sure as heck would have us prepared for Florida. Agree with you on Patterson and Peterson = no guarantees.
JB — Good point on Grantham and Richt. Still can’t get this out of my head on how Grantham was coaching the first game (raising heck on sidelines) and how he is now (standing like a statue). Richt reportedly told him to tone it down. Obviously all heresay, but actions speak louder than words.
Jayson — Saban = 2 National Championships with two different SEC teams. Richt = 0 National Championships in 10 years.
Wreckmaniac
October 31st, 2010
4:08 pm
I can’t wait until next year when we have a batch of 5-Star recruits ! Wait a minute, we always have a batch of 5-Star recruits. Humm.
Well, I know we’ll beat FL next year for sure ! But we’ve lost 18 of the last 21. Humm.
We’ll have the junk-yard dawgs back next year for sure ! But they left town 18 years ago. Humm.
We’ll be nat champs for sure next year ! But the last time that happened was 32 years ago. I-285 was not even built. Humm.