Question: Will it ever get better for Mark Richt at UGA?
Has Mark Richt run out of steam? (AP photo)
AUBURN, Ala. — On the weekend of Cam-demonium, the Georgia Bulldogs were rendered a footnote. But one snippet of semi-news did emerge Saturday morning, courtesy of the Denver Post: Colorado is apparently interested in Mark Richt to fill its coaching vacancy.
And that might be the best for all concerned: Richt to the Rocky Mountains and a new challenge, Georgia spared a decision no program wants to make. Namely, when and how do you say goodbye to a man who lifted your program but seems incapable of further lifting?
In Year 2 under Gene Chizik, the Auburn Tigers clinched the SEC West by winning Saturday. In Year 10 under Richt, the Georgia Bulldogs fell to 5-6.
Said Bacarri Rambo, the safety: “I never thought the University of Georgia could be 5-6.”
Said Akeem Dent, the linebacker: “That would not make sense to anybody.”
It doesn’t make sense, but it’s grim reality. Georgia was 8-5 last season, its worst under Richt, and it will be worse this time — worse with 10 of 11 offensive starters returning plus a hotshot quarterback making his debut, worse with a $750,000 defensive coordinator hired as a presumed upgrade.
Georgia took a 21-7 lead on the nation’s No. 2 team Saturday, whereupon Todd Grantham’s defense yielded touchdowns on six of the next seven possessions. Yes, Auburn has a great offense, and yes, after days of uncertainty the famous Cam Newton not only played but played beautifully. Still: Had the Bulldog defenders even practiced?
Linebacker Justin Houston on Newton: “He didn’t do anything special.”
Then, asked how Auburn could score seven touchdowns and amass 463 yards: “Blown assignments — that’s what has been going on all season.”
How could a defense still be making mistakes in its 11th game? Have players not yet learned the scheme? Houston again: “I guess not. Some guys are not as focused as they need to be.”
That indictment of Grantham is a greater indictment of Richt. The failing of Georgia this season hasn’t been skill or desire but stamina. Players appear to tire, and even the coaching seems to flag.
Georgia had it going Saturday. The Bulldogs were throwing deep off play-action — Auburn doesn’t play much D, either — and running hard, and then coordinator Mike Bobo ordered a direct snap to receiver Branden Smith that gained nothing on second-and-five and blunted a second-quarter drive. Why throw a change-up when they haven’t hit your fastball?
Soon the game was tied, and Richt lost his nerve. Georgia took the ball at its 21 with 51 seconds left in the half and one timeout remaining. It ran a draw to Caleb King and let time expire, content in the belief that it would take possession to begin the second half.
“I guess we didn’t want to make a crazy mistake,” said A.J. Green, who to that point had caught five passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns against Ted Roof’s overmatched secondary. “We took the safe way out.”
Only it wasn’t safe. Chizik called for an onside kick. Auburn retook the lead without Georgia touching the ball. Richt said he told his kickoff-return squad to be wary of such a maneuver. He also said: “I guess you could only tell them so many times.”
Make no mistake: Auburn was the better team. But Georgia had a chance here, and its coaching failed. Same as in Jacksonville. Same as in Starkville. The same thing, again and again.
Richt on this saddening season: “A few key plays, if they went the other way, we win.” Then: “Teams that win championships win close games. We haven’t won a close game yet.”
For the record, Richt spoke in the same room that housed his triumphant press briefing Nov. 16, 2002, the day Georgia beat Auburn in an excruciatingly close game to clinch the SEC East. There was a time when Richt’s teams were the aggressor throughout, when they made the requisite plays at the end. No longer.
Asked about Colorado, Richt smiled and said: “Georgia is my home.”
Asked about Richt, the newly minted Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said: “I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
And yet you wonder if it will ever get better for Mark Richt at Georgia, if we haven’t already seen his best work. His Bulldogs had a chance to grab the nation’s attention Saturday, and they led by 14 points. They lost by 18.
They got weary. Then they got beat. The same thing, again and again.
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1,438 comments Add your comment
HitaSingle
November 14th, 2010
8:37 am
Ealey is a good back, but he is no Lattimore. Lattimore is alot quicker hitting the hole and has a burst of speed that Ealey doesn’t. Look at UGA’s long runs for TD’s. Not many. UGA needs more break away speed at TB. Don’t get me wrong, Ealey is good and so is King, but they are not franchise type backs that UGA needs.
Auburn_Cheetahs
November 14th, 2010
8:38 am
We sCAMmed the dawgs !
HitaSingle
November 14th, 2010
8:39 am
Has Meyer and Mac Brown become terrible coaches over night. No! It is a tough business and when you put 3 or 4 years together of really successful seasons you are bound to slide some. You find out what kind of coach you have when you see if they can rebound.
Poor AUburn
November 14th, 2010
8:39 am
Auburn vs Oregon yeah right headlines next week roll tide cam does not even make cameo appearance kicked of team
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
8:39 am
Recardo Rambo and the defensive lineman at Auburn should get together and make a training film: “How to play college football dirty without getting caught doing it.”
Aubie-won-knobi
November 14th, 2010
8:40 am
Cam, there’s not a single right-minded person who would pass up $100 mil just to say “I have a college degree”. They simply lack the means and abilities of your talents to earn the BIG check. They have to tell themselves that diploma on the wall keeps them happy at night while they earn that measly $60K annually as a bean counter tucked away in some back accounting office.
St.Simons
November 14th, 2010
8:42 am
I dont understand, I bought tickets to the National Championship game, because with all the preseason hype and all these super recruits we have, I just knew we would be National Champs this year!!!
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
8:43 am
Poor Auburn….
What does a 20 year old kid have to do with another money-hunger, evangelistic preacher. The preacher dad did what a evangelist preacher does…loves money. I don’t think Cam knew anything about it…but…if he did…what is he going to do….turn his dad in? I don’t think Cam took any of the money. And I don’t think Auburn did anything wrong.
Aubie-won-knobi
November 14th, 2010
8:43 am
oh, kind of like telling your players to gouge the eyes of your opponents? That dirty playing?
reckingball
November 14th, 2010
8:43 am
CMR isn’t going anywhere, he will be the Bulldog Coach next year.
bradley is a moron!
November 14th, 2010
8:45 am
Mr Bradley…so, you are throwing all these rocks at UGA…(daily) what would u have done to win the game? Just as I thought…you are all MOUTH! Pea brain! Go Dawgs!
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
8:46 am
Poor Auburn…
But I agree….I think Bama will crush the War Eagle dream….especially playing at home. Then….TCU will play Oregon for the NC and nobody will watch. Then…maybe….we can get a playoff system.
Poor AUburn
November 14th, 2010
8:46 am
I did not know dad was a preacher enough said
reckingball
November 14th, 2010
8:47 am
TampaGator@8:43am……..Yeah, Auburn has historically, always gone by the NCAA rules. ha-ha.
HitaSingle
November 14th, 2010
8:47 am
TampaGator – I agree with you. Rambo gives up a 3rd and 8 pass for a 1st down and stands over the receiver after a hit like he did something. Yea he did he gave up a 1st down. What Rambo doesn’t know is that he could not have started for alot of UGA teams. Hey and I am a UGA fan. And as far as Fairley, I didn’t know you could go helmet first into the QB. He is a thug and his day will come. I have always had respect for the Auburn program, but what I saw yesterday with their cheerleading coach, thug punches, and Fairley intentionally trying to hurt Murray, I have lost all respect. Fairley better wish he had twice the heart of Murray.
Poor AUburn
November 14th, 2010
8:48 am
Hopefully will be more exciting than world series yawn
reckingball
November 14th, 2010
8:50 am
Bradley is filling in for Shultz, in the AJC’s CMR Bashing Department, this weekend.
Poor AUburn
November 14th, 2010
8:52 am
Remember when auburn was 12 or 13 and 0 and were on probation those guys aren’t perennial winners but perennial cheaters
KO
November 14th, 2010
8:53 am
Same old Mark, thinks he knows best. Just for the record, I think your opinion sucks.
HitaSingle
November 14th, 2010
8:53 am
I heard Cam’s daddy’s sermon today is Get the Best Out of Your Child!
Fan of the Game
November 14th, 2010
8:55 am
Auburn Undefeated Again and No National Championship! Just host site of the making of The Longest Yard 3!
Beast from the East
November 14th, 2010
8:58 am
Auburn just had too much offense. UGA would have had to play almost perfect to be able to win that one. The onside kick was a game changer. Well-timed call that really took the momentum.
At least UGA moved the ball all day, unlike my Gators. I was afraid the offense wouldn’t show up this week. Oh well.
Congrats to Auburn and USC for winning their respective divisions.
May the best team win!
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
8:58 am
HitaSingle….
Murray is a big time player and he is going to get even better….but he will miss A.J. a lot next year if he goes pro. But I saw the best receiver in the SEC last night…Asthon Jeffery. Janoris Jenkins shut down A.J. He shut down the WR at Bama. But he had his hands full with Jeffery. And the Florida team I saw last night….was the worst Florida team I have seen in a decade…the the worst QB to ever play at Florida…and the worst OC and OL coach to ever coach at Florida. Period. Brantley has no heart. Addazio is worthless at coaching offense and worse at coaching offensive lineman.
Hike!!!
November 14th, 2010
9:01 am
Did the Georgia D ever blitz.
Auburn played dirty. They started by holding on every play until the umps finally started calling it.
Fairly should have been ejected after several attempts to put Murray out of the game driving him into the ground. Even the commentators stated he would have been fined in the NFL for those hits.
Cameron taking a swing @ our defender before going out of bounds. These are a reflection of their coach. He will not be around long if he keeps this up.
BTW is Cam just a little tooooo silly to you? whats up with him. Another Vince Young,who was last in the NFL on the intelligence test.
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
9:01 am
Poor Auburn….
You know….Georgia and Florida were simply not very good this year. But…please….man….stop you wimpering. Your team and my team got soundly beat yesterday…and both need to go back to the drawing board for next year.
Herschel
November 14th, 2010
9:03 am
You Georgia fans are the poorest losers in college football. Calling Fairley a thug is the classic Georgia response, along with blaming the refs. Sure the onside kick didn’t go 10 yards. I guess thats why the replay officials confirmed the ruling on the fields. Georgia, the team with 11 arrests. Georgia, the team that stomps on the other team’s logo during the pre-game warm ups. Georgia, the team where 3 of the offensive linemen punch the other teams player after the play is over. Maybe you can’t spell sugar without u g a, but you sure can’t spell THUGA without UGA. If your team is lucky enough to beat a weak Tech team at home, enjoy following your 6 and 6 team to some high class town like Shreveport! Also, don’t forget to wear those red panties!
TexasDawg
November 14th, 2010
9:04 am
I hate to say it but I think it will be more of the same next year if we don’t make some changes. The coaching staff isn’t what it use to be. UGA DID NOT BEAT A TEAM WITH A WINNING RECORD THIS YEAR…TOP 10 Recruiting class 10 years running??? Where does all that talent go?
We loose AJ, Duram….Murry won’t have anyone to throw it to next year. We loose our best defensive players…..NEXT YEAR Will be no better than this year cause of the coaching…..this has been real ugly over the last three years….I hope we turn it around but I just don’t see it
Fan of the Game
November 14th, 2010
9:07 am
TampaGator – You are right. But you know what it is tough to sit there and watch Newton with all his smiling, when you know that with the cloud that hangs over him and the situation. It is kind of like he is telling you I got away with it. Well I hate to tell him it will catch up with him. Of course as slow as the NCAA is he will never suffer. He will be long gone. He is a great athlete that has dodged bullets all his career. By the way what is his major and how many credits does he have? That is what I thought.
Aubie-won-knobi
November 14th, 2010
9:07 am
@ Beast from the East
It’s been a difficult few weeks for AU. The team is frustrated and exhausted over dealing with the hate, inuendos and accusations coming at them from all angles…all because we’re 11-0 and because we’re Auburn. But I DO look to win over Bama who have not been impressive this year. Some will take Bama because they “have nothing to lose”. Obviously, neither does Auburn at this point. I’d hate to be a betting man for Bama.
Fan of the Game
November 14th, 2010
9:11 am
TexasDawg – Who ranks these classes? Guys that make a living off telling you what you want to hear. Have of them didn’t play the game and they use this as a business to get rich off of. Anybody can look and tell that UGA doesn’t have superior talent. Don’t trust these recruiting services. Get kids that can make plays. How high was David Pollock rated? Coaches do need to do a better job of evaluating. That is a weakness of Coach Richt and his staff. They will learn from it and recover.
Aubie-won-knobi
November 14th, 2010
9:11 am
Fan, he’s thinking no such thing. That’s a stupid a comment as I’ve read all week. He smiles because he’s a happy guy and is doing his best to lead his team. You go to work every day. Do you prefer to be across from your team leader when he has a scowl on his face? Or are you able to do a better job yourself when he’s happy and pleasant. It’s Cam’s job as the team leader to bring the others up, especially after all the negative crap he is enduring. As long as he shows his teammates confidence, it allows them to play their best and do their job as well.
Beast from the East
November 14th, 2010
9:12 am
Too many Dawg fans making excuses. Tampa Gator is correct that both UGA and UF just aren’t very good football teams this year. The defense has been the problem for UGA all year and the offense has been the problem for UF. If UF can manage to steal one from the Noles in the season finale then it will still be a decent year but not a memorable one. UGA just needs to focus on beating Tech so they don’t have to listen to the likes of Saint Simons all year.
Go Gators!
gawxnative
November 14th, 2010
9:14 am
D did get tired…With number of plays and long drives that will happen…GA built a lead and took advantage of mistakes the play call on 4th and 2 was great showed some of the “TAKE RISKS” decisions the CMR showed the first few years…But then we took the “don’t lose” slant rather than win…When we didn’t try to score at end of half I think that set the stage for the onside kick and that took the momentum we had right off the table and we never got it back….We reverted back to predictable play calling and that led to not sustained offense whch led to D flat running out of steam…When we go to pass incomplete, run stopped or short gain, 3 rd and long pass it’s just to easy to stop…nead to shake things up….We do need a punnishing running game and a defensive attitude that no matter what the other team will always remember playng the DAWGS..(like the comment UK made)…We just don’t maintain anymore….
Dead Mike
November 14th, 2010
9:14 am
Bring back Donnan!
Beast from the East
November 14th, 2010
9:14 am
Aubie,
I’m sure it’s been tough the past few weeks. No idea how it will all turn out, but congrats on a wonderful season so far.
Auburn Tractor Mechanic
November 14th, 2010
9:14 am
Herschel
Really you call UGA a thug program, your program is constantly on some kind of probation and your going to sit there and defend a dirty ball player
Plus you have to pay a ballplayer to come to that dump in the middle of nowhere America
Enjoy your run because its about to come to an end “0-12″
Tell your toothless trailer trash wife to cook you some spam for thanksgiving and shut your mouth
Your just a punk
Hike!!!
November 14th, 2010
9:14 am
Cameron is unusually happy….does that mean he’s “gay”.
Bobby
November 14th, 2010
9:14 am
You say you haven’t called for Richt to be fired. You lie. Your picking at it says it plain as day. So, smart guy, who are they going to hire that’s better? By the way, you are the AJC’s No. 1 columnist by attrition, so you really shouldn’t be so full of yourself.
Uncle Tom
November 14th, 2010
9:15 am
Our future———-7-5, 6-6, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 6-6, 6-6, 8-4 (the conference will be down this year), 7-5, 6-6, 7-5, 6-6, 8-4 (we’ll get all the lucky breaks this year), 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 6-6, 7-5. Of course, I could be wrong and we might throw in a couple of 5-7s. I can’t wait.
BoWeevil
November 14th, 2010
9:16 am
To answer your question, and to correct the poster yesterday as well – if Auburn is stripped, they are called Wins which are Vacated. No win for Georgia, ever in this game, no matter what. Auburn would not be 0-11. They would be 0-0.
When you get over the comments that Auburn played dirty, what you have left is that they hung 50 on us and out-scored us 10-42 once we so quickly went totally conservative in our entire game plan. It takes the energy out of a team to get the ball with 51 seconds remaining and 2 time-outs and run the clock out against the # 2 team in the nation.
5-6 is something the players are not prepared for.
After 8-5 last season, the best they can hope for is 7-6 this season.
And, it is down to 2 weeks from now ‘Tween The Hedges against a team we also can make 6-6.
The other teams are hovering around Coach Richt. Florida State is making overtures. Now, Colorado. There will be plenty more. I think the question each would have to ask Coach Richt is that after 10 years as a Head Coach, what does he know now about hiring a coaching staff, that he has not shown yet ?
I am quite certain that FSU and Colorado do not want the staff Coach Richt has assembled. And, I am just as certain that something will be written into the contract which stipulates a bonus if their team does not make the Fulmer Cup Top 10 every year. In fact, he may be a performance-based coach in his remuneration not only off-the-field but on the field the as well : For example, since there are 25 teams who average 10-wins a season each of the last 5 years nationwide, we certainly have expectations here at Colorado or here at FSU, etc. that we would be one of the Top 25 teams.
In fact, if you look at just The SEC in the Coach Richt Era to-date :
61-22 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Florida
58-24 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 LSU
54-26 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Auburn
55-28 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Coach Richt UGA
Steve Spurrier had a graphics put up about him last night : It read he had lost 27 games in 12 years at Florida; then, he lost 20 games in less than 2 years with the Washington Redskins.
Huge Difference.
27 losses in 12 years Steve Spurrier at Florida
33 losses in 10 years Coach Richt at Georgia
122-27-1 and 87-14 vs SEC in-conference 12 years Spurrier Florida
95-33 and 55-28 vs SEC in-conference 10 years Coach Richt UGA
grillinchef
November 14th, 2010
9:16 am
Will it ever get better for Bradley at the AJC? Are his best years behind him? Just asking?
Aubie-won-knobi
November 14th, 2010
9:17 am
Hike…obviously Vince Young has something you DON’T have….MILLIONS and counting! How’s that finance degree working out for ya while you sit in the accounting back office, rifling through spreadsheets for a puny $60K annually. It sounds pretty stupid to say “at least I have my degree’ when Cam is about to buy his Daddy any church he wants and his mama that new house on the hill. I’ll take the NF $Mills myself if I could.
Uncle Tom
November 14th, 2010
9:17 am
Our future———–7-5, 6-6, 6-6, 6-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-6, 8-4 (the conference will be down this year), 7-5, 6-6, 5-7 (we don’t “get the breaks”), 6-6, 7-5. I can’t wait.
Fan of the Game
November 14th, 2010
9:18 am
Aubie-won-knobi – You keep believing that. He cares about nobody but himself. Hey I hope you enjoy another undefeated season without a NC. This negative crap was brought on by nobody but himself and his family. Oh he is such a great guy, Chizik says. Yea if he wasn’t undefeated Chizik would throw him under the bus. Look at his track record, oh what a wonderful kid. He is using Auburn and Auburn is using him and both will sink.
BoWeevil
November 14th, 2010
9:18 am
They hung 50 on us and out-scored us 10-42 once we so quickly went totally conservative in our entire game plan. It takes the energy out of a team to get the ball with 51 seconds remaining and 2 time-outs and run the clock out against the # 2 team in the nation.
5-6 is something the players are not prepared for.
After 8-5 last season, the best they can hope for is 7-6 this season.
And, it is down to 2 weeks from now ‘Tween The Hedges against a team we also can make 6-6.
The other teams are hovering around Coach Richt. Florida State is making overtures. Now, Colorado. There will be plenty more. I think the question each would have to ask Coach Richt is that after 10 years as a Head Coach, what does he know now about hiring a coaching staff, that he has not shown yet ?
I am quite certain that FSU and Colorado do not want the staff Coach Richt has assembled. And, I am just as certain that something will be written into the contract which stipulates a bonus if their team does not make the Fulmer Cup Top 10 every year. In fact, he may be a performance-based coach in his remuneration not only off-the-field but on the field the as well : For example, since there are 25 teams who average 10-wins a season each of the last 5 years nationwide, we certainly have expectations here at Colorado or here at FSU, etc. that we would be one of the Top 25 teams.
In fact, if you look at just The SEC in the Coach Richt Era to-date :
61-22 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Florida
58-24 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 LSU
54-26 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Auburn
55-28 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Coach Richt UGA
Steve Spurrier had a graphics put up about him last night : It read he had lost 27 games in 12 years at Florida; then, he lost 20 games in less than 2 years with the Washington Redskins.
Huge Difference :
27 losses in 12 years Steve Spurrier at Florida
33 losses in 10 years Coach Richt at Georgia
122-27-1 and 87-14 vs SEC in-conference 12 years Spurrier Florida
95-33 and 55-28 vs SEC in-conference 10 years Coach Richt UGA
BoWeevil
November 14th, 2010
9:18 am
They hung 50 on us and out-scored us 10-42 once we so quickly went totally conservative in our entire game plan. It takes the energy out of a team to get the ball with 51 seconds remaining and 2 time-outs and run the clock out against the # 2 team in the nation.
5-6 is something the players are not prepared for.
After 8-5 last season, the best they can hope for is 7-6 this season.
And, it is down to 2 weeks from now ‘Tween The Hedges against a team we also can make 6-6.
The other teams are hovering around Coach Richt. Florida State is making overtures. Now, Colorado. There will be plenty more. I think the question each would have to ask Coach Richt is that after 10 years as a Head Coach, what does he know now about hiring a coaching staff, that he has not shown yet ?
I am quite certain that FSU and Colorado do not want the staff Coach Richt has assembled. And, I am just as certain that something will be written into the contract which stipulates a bonus if their team does not make the Fulmer Cup Top 10 every year. In fact, he may be a performance-based coach in his remuneration not only off-the-field but on the field the as well : For example, since there are 25 teams who average 10-wins a season each of the last 5 years nationwide, we certainly have expectations here at Colorado or here at FSU, etc. that we would be one of the Top 25 teams.
Beast from the East
November 14th, 2010
9:19 am
On the subject of Richt, I don’t see him at UGA more than another year or two. Other than Joe Paterno, I can’t recall another coach that has been under under this much scrutiny and has survived it. Not saying whether he should be retained or not, just stating what appears to be obvious to me at this point. Does anyone really think he’ll survive all of this? I think it’s just a matter of time at this point and UGA would be better suited to do something or it will start to hurt recruiting.
BoWeevil
November 14th, 2010
9:19 am
In fact, if you look at just The SEC in the Coach Richt Era to-date :
61-22 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Florida
58-24 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 LSU
54-26 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Auburn
55-28 Ten years SEC games 2001-2010 Coach Richt UGA
Steve Spurrier had a graphics put up about him last night : It read he had lost 27 games in 12 years at Florida; then, he lost 20 games in less than 2 years with the Washington Redskins.
Huge Difference :
27 losses in 12 years Steve Spurrier at Florida
33 losses in 10 years Coach Richt at Georgia
122-27-1 and 87-14 vs SEC in-conference 12 years Spurrier Florida
95-33 and 55-28 vs SEC in-conference 10 years Coach Richt UGA
AUBURN FAN 4 ever
November 14th, 2010
9:19 am
Georgia has the worst fans in the SEC. You almost lost one in the upper deck as I almost threw him over the wall because of his smart xxs comments and remarks.
Tried to tell me to stop cheering for my team, if your reading this again, Kiss MY A$$!!! You’re a lucky man that I did not knock you over that wall….
ozzfest
November 14th, 2010
9:19 am
AMAZINGLY, I JUST COMPLETED AN 0-5 AWAY GAME SCHEDULE. I WENT TO COLUMBIA, STARKVILLE, BOULDER, JAX, AND AUBURN.
FIRE RICHT RIGHT NOW, TODAY…DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SEASON. THE DUDE IS FINISHED. RICHT GOT OUT-COACHED BY DAN HAWKINS & GENE CHIZIC…IN HIS 10 YEAR ON THE JOB.
GOODBYE MARK RICHT, YOU ARE BORING.