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
SavDawg
November 14th, 2010
9:42 am
Scam Newton had nothing to do with our fat, sloppy offensive line being out of shape all year. That Auburn scumbag who hit Murry in the back should be suspended for the Alabama game.
Fan of the Game
November 14th, 2010
9:42 am
Bow Hunter – Your daddy said to put your bow up and come to breakfast.
LHardingDawg
November 14th, 2010
9:43 am
Its amazing that in every year that AU has gone undefeated, the record books include an asterick. What’s that tell you!!
granger08
November 14th, 2010
9:44 am
Wow!!! Ga fans whinning about thugs, late hits, etc. When 18-20 players on your team have been arrested. The helmet to the back was inexcusable. The Ga linemen that continued to chop block Fairley because they couldn’t block him, double-teams and late hits, laying on him after the play was over.. Take your beatin and move-on. CMR didn’t forget how to coach but sure looks like he’s lost control of his team…
KEEP RICHT
November 14th, 2010
9:44 am
all the games we loos have been close ones a fumble here a fumble there and we win and this was the first loss to auburn in the last 4 games get real people todd dosent have his defence people in there yet coach richt needs to go back to calling plays like when david greene was there murray will be just as good as david was get off his back back coach richt or get hell off bandwagon dont need traitors in the camp
Aubie-won-knobi
November 14th, 2010
9:44 am
@ Delusions….Dawgs didn’t earn “biggest party school in the nation” for nil. When your school’s academic prowess is as bad as theirs, I’d probably drink away as well.
Flatsdawg1
November 14th, 2010
9:45 am
Auburn fan, you’re right, The game plan I was thinking was try to contol the clock, keep Newton off the field. They were running the ball well, if you eliminate two auburn drives , you have a chance, and in the SEC its about giving your team a chance.
Dawgfan13
November 14th, 2010
9:46 am
POOR coaching is poor coaching. We made zero adjustments playing defense. And Boykin trying to run out kick offs when he should have taken a knee and how many penalties did he have…coaching again. And then there was the on side kick. I did not see a UGA player around the ball until the kicker had recovered the ball. We have athletic ability but poor technique and execution. The Auburn offense looked like they were scrimmaging against the practice squad. Something has got to give…I don’t know if getting rid of CMR is the answer but it is something that will merit evaluation.
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
9:46 am
Cam Newton is an “one year and done rent-a-championship talent” for sure. I am sure the DT transfer from JC will be too. Cam is not a good student and will take the money the NFL will throw at him (which I am sure his dad will mostly take) this year.
Without Cam….Auburn would be a 5 or 6 win team this year. But that tells you how good Cam Newton is….and with him…both Georgia and Florida would be playing for the SEC championship in Atlanta….and that tells you something too….that both are not very good this year either…..no defense for Georgia and no offense for Florida.
jim pierce
November 14th, 2010
9:49 am
Mark: You are running out of people to throw under the bus. First Newton, now Richt. Who’s next?
Hike!!!
November 14th, 2010
9:49 am
Cameron’s got Shrek Ears. Wow, he could be in the movies.
“Auburn fans are furious…. Coach KNEW all along that Cam was paid to play….yet did nothing… the crowd is screaming Fire his sorry a** . Coach apologizes to the student body as the NCAA takes away the NC trophy…. I just wanted to see what it is like to ….finally win one of these things….that I just couldn’t help myself.
Auburn is the 1st College football program to ever to forfeit 2 full seasons of wins plus a NC trophy..
You know Vern…it could be decades before this program gets back to normal… it’s sad really…one coach can cause so much damage…..I know what you mean…really sad.
Jan Kemp
November 14th, 2010
9:49 am
This is Jan Kemp. I find it very ironic that all these Georgia fans are calling out Auburn for being cheaters.
“Jan Kemp (1949 – December 4, 2008) was an American academic and English tutor who exposed the bias in passing college football players and filed a lawsuit against the University of Georgia.
Born in Griffin, Georgia, Kemp earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a doctorate in English education. She began teaching at the University of Georgia in 1978. In 1981 Kemp was one of the teachers who complained claiming that Georgia officials had intervened allowing nine college football players to pass a remedial English course, allowing them to play against Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl.
Kemp was demoted in 1982 and dismissed one year later”
enough already
November 14th, 2010
9:50 am
Enter your comments here
Willy Wonka
November 14th, 2010
9:50 am
Richtus plateaued years ago. I saw saw it, called it and predicted exactly what has happened now: a substantial portion of the fan base has turned on him. A lovely thing to see. Richtus and his wife should ride their pimped Ford trucks out of Athens, in post and in haste. He’ll need that spray-on tan in Colorado.
A-town
November 14th, 2010
9:51 am
Boulder is a very nice place to live…
LHardingDawg
November 14th, 2010
9:52 am
Aubie – I don’t think you want to compare Georgia academics to Auburn’s. I believe you will end up really being embarrassed, but on the other hand, it’s impossible to embarrass someone from Auburn.
Richard Cranium
November 14th, 2010
9:54 am
6 LOSSES.. ?? Wow, you guys really suck.
LostDawgInAr
November 14th, 2010
9:54 am
Of course Cam Newton was the difference in the game yesterday, but why? It takes great coaching and schemes to take advantage of great players.
Gus Malzahn at AU is simply the greatest offensive mind in the game! There is a reason college coaches came to NW Arkansas for his coaching clinics when he was a HIGH SCHOOL COACH here in Springdale, AR! He knows how to make the best use of his talent!
We have 2 tailbacks who were both 5 star recruits coming out of high school who seem to have gotten worse in Bobo’s offense! Richt took a chance on developing Bobo as his OC …. chance didn’t pay off.
I’m not saying fire the guy cause he’s a pretty good QB coach, but demote from coordinator!
enough already
November 14th, 2010
9:54 am
This has to be about your 20th column on getting rid of Mark Richt. After every loss it starts again. Can you not find something new to write about? Enough already. The more you keep throwing the coach under the bus, the more it hurts recruiting, and it’s a vicious cycle. We have an excellent coach. The team is going through a tough time right now, but will come back. EVERY program goes through down turns. Look at Texas this year. Georgia was #2 as recently as 2007.
SEC: Auburn-South Carolina to meet in title game : Woods Recruiting
November 14th, 2010
9:54 am
[...] Will it ever get better for Mark Richt at Georgia? asks Mark Bradley of the AJC. [...]
jumbeauxtiger
November 14th, 2010
9:55 am
Congrats to Auburn on winning the West and for a big season.
Congrats to the Gamecocks as well. I did not think they would win and certainly so convincingly.
A few observations:
Cam Newton is an awesome player. We all know that and if anyone can slow him down it will be Saban. I even have my doubts about that.
I thought Chizik’s cheerleading on the sideline was out of line. The SEC coaches have a pact of respect for one another and I think his antics were disrespectful to Richt and Georgia. He previously had no success as a head coach and I believe he has been under huge stress with the Cam controversy this week. He still should control himself though. That said with the way he was treated after he was hired by Auburn, I am glad he is enjoying success. I wonder what Charles Barkley is saying now?
To give up 6 TDs over 7 possessions is terrible. I just don’t buy it that Georgia doesn’t have the players for Grantham’s scheme. The Dawgs have talent. I’m just not sold on Grantham.
Murray is going to be a really good QB. He already is.
With the talent that Georgia has there is no excuse to be 5-6. If Miles was 5-6, there would be no question that he would be gone. Georgia needs a change at the top.
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
9:56 am
Simply put….
It looks like Richt made a big mistake in hiring Grantham to be his DC.
It looks like Meyer made a big mistake when he put Addazio in charge of the offense.
But will either do anything to fix “their” problem…I doubt it.
Jan Kemp
November 14th, 2010
9:56 am
georgia fans still crying?
The jury found the University guilty for the illegal dismissal of Dr. Kemp and she was awarded $2.5 Million, which was later reduced to $1.08 Million. Kemp was reinstated and University President Dr. Fred C. Davison resigned. After the trial Kemp spoke to The New York Times, saying, “All over the country, athletes are used to produce revenue. I’ve seen what happens when the lights dim and the crowd fades. They’re left with nothing. I want that stopped.”
Ken
November 14th, 2010
9:57 am
Bradley, to bad you could not convince Cam to sit.
weagle
November 14th, 2010
9:57 am
Georgia’s lack of class..ie mauling a defensive lineman by three punching, eye gouging thugs is an example of the lack of discipline under Mark Richt’s regime. The Dog’s haven’t shown class in many a year.
bye bye Mark.
Abnerish
November 14th, 2010
9:58 am
I am more convinced now than ever that Mark Richt should NOT be fired! We played toe-to-toe with the #2 ranked team in the nation at their house. Sure we lost the game, but Georgia showed heart and skill throughout the game. The stark difference between Chizik and Richt is amazing. You have one coach, Chizik, that will risk the University’s reputation and eligibility status in order to win a football game. Richt, on the other hand, bends over backwards to make sure that we handle things in the correct way, suspending players for the slightest transgressions (and, yes, failure to show up in court for a speeding ticket is a minor transgression). I am proud of the way Richt handles himself on and off the field and I am proud that he is the coach of my alma mater. Plus, I am 100% convinced that Auburn’s game plan was to knock Murray out of the game. There were too many late hits (most of which that weren’t called) and shots to Murray’s legs to make me think otherwise. I mean, if you are willing to play someone is ineligible to play, then what else would you be willing to do? The whole game was filled with cheap cut blocks, rolling blocks (like the one that took Commings out of the game). That’s why after Murray was hurt after Fairley planted his helmet on his knee, the players decided they had had enough! Especially since the refs didn’t call any of it! I wanted Richt to come out firing in his press conf, but Richt is just a better man than to get in that sort of pissing match. Go Dawgs! This alum is proud of you and can’t wait to beat Tech and go to a bowl game.
Clemson Mike
November 14th, 2010
9:58 am
Did anyone else notice that Greg McElroy ( Alabama QB ) in his post game interview first words out were to thank all of our veterans for their service. Not a Bama fan but here is a student athelete that your University should be proud of. Did not see it from any of the players or coaches from either Auburn or Georgia. Perhaps a well represented comment from either team could have put our comments back to reality that it is just a game
mtdawggie
November 14th, 2010
9:58 am
Memo to McGarity:
Either Richt goes – or our donations dollars do. I suppose most every team has “down” years – but our years keep spiraling further and further down. And what’s much worse is that Richt and his staff inspire absolutely ZERO confidence that things will ever get better. The only thing that seems certain is that we’ll keep sinking further into the abyss.
Last year we were mediocre. This year we’re downright terrible. We have not one quality victory this year. NOT ONE. How is that going in the right direction?? How does that justify to keep doing what we’re doing?? The rest of the league has passed us by.
Under Richt there is no hope, only despair. In short, what Richt and his “coaches” have brought upon us is a college football version of The Great Depression.
And that is not something Bulldog Nation can continue to pour money into.
Goodbye Richt, or goodbye dollars. Your choice, Mr. McGarity.
Coach Jim Harrick
November 14th, 2010
9:59 am
Hey, DAWG fans….”A three point shot is worth how many points?”
big bad BRUCIE (Uga VIII)
November 14th, 2010
9:59 am
would some one please pass me a hanky because I want to join with my fellow dog fans with some whining, crying, blubbering tears while I make all kinds of excuses for our loss instead of accepting that we got beat by a superior Auburn team. BOO HOO!! BOO HOO!! BOO HOO!! SNIFF!! SNIFF!! SNIFF!! HONK!! HONK!! HONK!! thanks for the tissue.
Jeff B.
November 14th, 2010
10:00 am
Enter your comments here Well, I hope the officials are happy, they managed to get 2 Ga. players hurt by not calling chop blocks, and personal fouls. They the officials should be fired and Nick Farley should not be able to play again. Nick Farley is the lowest form of a college football player around, where was he when the fight broke out, Oh yeah that’s right he was too busy being the team clown dancing with the ball boy. Farley should have been ejected also.
I don’t like to see anyone get hurt, but I hope that I will get see the day when Nick Farly gets carted off the field and his football career over. By the way Gene Chizik, you are not much of a football coach to stoop to that level to allow your players to play the way they did .
Go Alabama, and South Carolina, Kick Auburn”s and (Baby Huey) Nick Farly’s A##.
Ken
November 14th, 2010
10:00 am
UGA has no class! They want to start a fight after AU beat them down.
dawginduluth
November 14th, 2010
10:01 am
Richt won early in his tenure with Donnan and van Gorder-coached recruits. Those recruits and van Gorder left the house long ago.
Richt gets $2.8 million and Grantham gets $750K whether they win or lose. So, where is the incentive? Richt, Mr. Nice Guy, is respected but not feared in a league where if you aren’t feared, you just aren’t a factor. We are FSU redux. The comparison is strikingly similar – a fading star with more action off the field than on. Frankly, we can do better than Richt AND McGarity.
chazzo
November 14th, 2010
10:01 am
Georgia has to run more. The scoring was great. Bob’s play calling was great. But, it keeps the D on the field. That one much needed extended drive in the third quarter ended with a field goal. If it had ended with a TD, the Dawgs may have pulled it off. It ended with a field goal because Bobo tends to lose his mind whenever he gets to the red zone. They were moving the ball well, chucking short and medium passes and running it well. Then all of the sudden on 2nd down, it’s lets take a thirty yard shot at the end zone? 3rd an 4. Now, we have to do something tricky. You really don’t.
Bottom line. Auburn has a great team that puts up 500 yards of O on everybody they play. Cam Newton is an idiot man child, blowing kisses like a five year old in a parade. He would definitely make a great cross-dresser. The guy is also undeniably one of the greatest athletes I have ever seen in college football. It is really sad that he is such a douchebag, and had to steal a fricking computer. That one is proven. Guilty as charged. And, the stink continues to rise.
2011 Predictions: Prima Donna Cam goes pro where he will become the next Dennis Rodman. Urban continues to flounder with UF fans calling for his firing. That bench clearing will be the best thing that happened in 2010, finally forged a team out of these Dawgs. Richt comes to grips with the fact that you don’t reward a player with making him work less. You reward them by making them work harder. Sometimes they even may hate you, but in the end, their reward is holding that big crystal football over their heads.
Dawg Bites
November 14th, 2010
10:02 am
A few observation from an ole dawg….Cam Newton is a very talented football player. However, his big smiles…the showboating in front of fans prior to the kickoff and after the game…is nothing but “all about me” arrogance. #90, Nick Fairley, is a very talented football player. He is also a very nasty, dirty player. In the pros, he would have been thrown out of the game and be facing tremendous fines from the league office. Mark Richt is a talented football coach, with class. There has been much derision of Richt on this board. Some may be deserved. Next season, if their is no Marked (no pun intended) improvement, I suggest his dismissal. I am definitely no fan of “D” Coach Grantham. I have seen no improvement of his 3-4 defense…in fact the breakdown in the second half was the same I have witnessed all season. It may be he just does not have the talented players to execute the pro style D. I suggest a return to the 4-4 D. All said….BEAT TECH!
Herschel Walker
November 14th, 2010
10:03 am
Mark Richt has “got to take control” of the issue and the players “have to take responsibility.”“The losses, that is going to concern me as well, but when you got kids that got off-field problems, we need to g et into and see what’s going on. Because when you got off-the-field problems, there’s something going on with that program.“And I think Coach Richt has got to get a hand on it…. We got to find out what is going on within that program when you got 11 guys since March that have been off-the-field problems.”
Poor AUburn
November 14th, 2010
10:05 am
Aubi won knobi or whatever with the fox news statements I would rather my team lose every game if it means throwing out all the dumbass democrat Libs that watch msnbc yeah that is a real station and in two years the idiot socialist will be thumped out of office just like dawgs got thumped
Saint Richt
November 14th, 2010
10:07 am
“Auburn was soooo mean to us tonight……I hate them, I hate them, I hate them”, said Richt as he jumped up and down throwing a temper tantrum reminiscent of a 3 year. Ironically, it was the same jumping, crying motion made by the majority of the bulldog nation.
Vince D
November 14th, 2010
10:08 am
The dawgs lost to the #2 team in the country. A school we had beaten for 4 straight years. True dawgs fans don’t bash their coaches. It’s like Larry said “we did this and we did that”. “We” that’s what true dawg fans are. We changed Def Cord last year, were did it get us? Don’t demand changes, get behind your team at least the players are giving their all. These are young men giving their all for UGA, while most of the poster and writers and all want-a-bees, have never steped on a college football field.
David Pollack
November 14th, 2010
10:08 am
I might be dumber than a box of rocks, but this Georgia D is SOFT!
John
November 14th, 2010
10:09 am
Jeez. My first post got swallowed up by Al Gore’s information highway. I’ll try again.
Nail on the head Bradley. If the rumor about Colorado’s interest in Richt is true, then they’re doing UGA a HUGE favor by offering him their job. Now CMR just has to complete the chain of events and accept the offer. C’mon Mark, don’t blow this one!
The UGA football program can’t take any more of CMR’s somnambulant coaching. But I don’t think the new AD Greg “I left my heart in Gainesville” McGarity has the cojones to be perceived as the man who fired the Great Man.
Here’s hoping the Buffs offer and CMR takes them up on it quick, fast and in a hurry.
That’s the easy part. Next the Dawgs gotta find somebody better to replace him. It can be done; it has to be done. Mr New AD, just go and do it.
Andy in Blairsville
November 14th, 2010
10:09 am
Georgia was ass rogered by Auburn.
big bad BRUCIE (Uga VIII)
November 14th, 2010
10:11 am
yes Ga’s Defense is soft and girlie, that’s why Brucie likes being the mascot for Ga.
Smoke
November 14th, 2010
10:11 am
UGA is the best 6 loss team in the country.
MAKO
November 14th, 2010
10:12 am
OK Bradley…since yo are so smug and knowing, please, pray tell whom would get to replace Richt if you were AD. Kirby Smart you say, don’t think so, Saban would never allow it, he expects total loyality forever. Petersen, don’t think he could handle the week-in week-out grind of the schedule or the demands on his time as a coach of a major college program. So we get back to having to hire the 3rd or 4th choice again…does the name Donnan ring any bells, eh?
So now Bradley…lets hear your brilliant ideas on a new coach and coaching philosophy. Remember, it will take a average of 3 years to tell any difference from the prior regime. So is it better to try 1 more year with Richt or go ahead and fall even further behind the SC & Auburns, by going out and starting anew…so which is BRADLEY?
Pete
November 14th, 2010
10:12 am
The debate rages on…………………who is “softer”, Mark Richt or UGA’s perennial schedule ??? LOL
auburnson
November 14th, 2010
10:13 am
I didnt see a lot of cheap shots on Murray people keep talking about. Fairy was blocked into him I thought. Hope he’s OK.I dont understand Georgia, the playcalling, the dumb penalties. I just hope Tech isnt entering a period of mediocrity with Gaileys players gone. You are who you recruit.
Mony
November 14th, 2010
10:13 am
Mark Bradley is an idiot!!!! He tries to get coaches fired.
John
November 14th, 2010
10:14 am
Smoke says “UGA is the best 6 loss team in the country.”
That’s like complimenting your prom date by saying “For a fat girl, you sure don’t sweat much.”
MM
November 14th, 2010
10:14 am
This downhill sprial began when Richt refused to fire Martinez. His reasoning for not making hard decisions has now cost him his job. Players see when a coach is willing to accept less than 100% and play to that level. Richt by showing with CWM that he was willing to accept poor performance has now affected the entire team and it is a problem Richt cannot overcome.