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
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
2:30 pm
I watched Meyer on his show this morning. He was noticeablely shaken by the results last night…..but was still singing the praises of Brantley….and none should be….he is a terrible fit for Meyer’s offense….and has little leadership skill and is a wimp in the pocket. The Gators need a new QB if they want to win at FSU this year….and they certainly need a “system QB” if they want to win next year….either Jordan Reed or Jeff Driskell. If the Gators open with Brantley next year….it will be a 6 to 7 win season again. And…please…Urban…go recruit a power back and stop recruiting these 170 lbs scant backs and 5′6 inch receiver who run like the wind but can’t run a route of catch the damn ball.
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:31 pm
Micheal
Well done! Perfectly said!
TampaGator
November 14th, 2010
2:33 pm
You guys are fed up with Richt….and we are fed up with Meyer trying to fit a square into a hole with Brantley. It will never fit…Urban. Move on to a QB that might….his name is Jordan Reed. Play him the entire game against App. State and then start him against FSU. That is out only chance of beating FSU this year.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 14th, 2010
2:34 pm
How much longer does Derek Dooley have on his contract at Tennessee?
Glenn
November 14th, 2010
2:34 pm
After reading the posts on here, Im starting to think that the 18- 22 year old football players on the field for Auburn and UGA have more maturity than half of the people posting on this thread. As adults, most of us should be able to think a little bit more before posting garbage.
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:35 pm
One would think so Glenn
suwaneedawg
November 14th, 2010
2:35 pm
DAMN Mark, if I didn’t know better I would say you have a hard on for Richt. But I know that can’t be possible, can it?
2-8 vs FLA
November 14th, 2010
2:35 pm
Colorado !!!!!!!! C’mon why are we even discussing Mark Richt. We should be discussing our next head coach !
To Sum Up
November 14th, 2010
2:36 pm
Question: “Will It Ever Get Better For Mark Richt At UGA?”
Answer: NO
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:37 pm
2-8 vs FLA – Who is the next coach there Eistein?
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:37 pm
sorry that’s “Einstein”
suwaneedawg
November 14th, 2010
2:37 pm
Yo Hillbilly, you are joking right? Please tell me you are joking. It will help gain back my respect for some of the so called Bulldog fans on here.
GT
November 14th, 2010
2:39 pm
What did happen to the FSU, Miami and how Georgia recipe for football? I always thought it was the ACC that made FSU, and Miami go soft. But now Georgia is in the same mix. It use to be if you had enough talent you could act like jerks on the field, be undisciplined and still have enough left in the tank plus mind gaming the opponent by acting like thugs to win. All this gang banging attracted the “in crowd” of ghetto football and celebrity, feeding off itself to get more outrageous and less respectful for the NCAA or the institution they played for. Jimmy Johnson did a whole editorial film about the “U” and in it talked about how he was the boss at Miami, and he didn’t want to hear or see the president of this university while he was there. Georgia played it down by showcasing Richt, much like FSU tried to do with their head coach. FSU did have Spurrier at Florida, ever ready to ask the questions the press kept away from. Spurrier complained of cheap shot artist from FSU when he played them in the Sugar Bowl, talked about Free Shoe U, the man was honest and right on the money. Spurrier also talked about talent going and disappearing at Georgia. For this honesty he got labeled a jerk by our local press which like sheep the rest of the press followed. Imagine living in a world where dumb was good and smart was a jerk. Georgia got the press behind them, with Richt, ignoring the real personalities playing for Georgia and their character. But then parity came. Not as fun to watch, but America had seen enough of the “Longest Yard”, and wanted something resembling civilization. When the paying customers start backing away changes are made. The result is Georgia starts looking like the under conditioned, under disciple, manipulating the press, the referees and yesterday actually whining about the thugs on the Auburn team tackling too hard, team they have been since Richt got here. The jig is up as they say, for Georgia, FSU and Miami. The bullies are now complaining about being bullied. The only coach still standing out of that bunch is the one pointing them out for the imposers the were, Spurrier.
atltiger15
November 14th, 2010
2:41 pm
Maybe if the DAWGS defense played with an edge and played thru the whistle they’d get the label of being soft off their back…I guess its back to “wait till next year”. At least you have a chance to get a coup[le extra practices for 2011 if you can beat the techies. You should, and then enjoy the return trip to swamp land in louisiana
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:41 pm
GT
I thik you have enough issues to worry about. We don’t need your 2 cents worth!
suwaneedawg
November 14th, 2010
2:41 pm
GT, Spurrier has been at SC for 6 years and finally gets to the SEC championship and you make him sound like he is the god he was at Florida? You wrote a book to prove you are a slapnut. Nice job.
Dirty Dawg
November 14th, 2010
2:41 pm
I said it earlier and I say it again…I believe that the Newtons took the money and that Auburn knows it…and when the NCAA finds out the truth I hope that they throw ‘em the hell out of football for a couple of years. The choice they made at playing this thug – and given the stuff we already know for sure, that’s what he is – means that they don’t care what happens to them down the line.
For the, so-called, Dog fans that buy into the crap that Bradley seems intent on offering up every day or so, we don’t need you, your money, or whatever passes for loyalty. Georgia – WITH – Mark Richt will do just fine without you from now on.
By they way Bradley, when you gonna start ‘crawfishin’ on Paul Johnson? Or don’t you think his time as the ‘God’ of all football coaches is quite up yet. You front-runnin’ you know what.
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:41 pm
“think”
Dawg Whisperer
November 14th, 2010
2:43 pm
Richt isn’t going anywhere because he has proven he can win at UGA. I know Florida fans love to deride him and then talk smack about how UGA should keep him for anothet 10 years. This will be the only time you will ever find me agreeing with the gator faithful. I love Richt’s values and I believe he does garner the support/respect of his players.
Admittedly, the last two years have been poor but that doesn’t erase the first 8 years. Bradley is speaking to the fringe element that want to fire Richt. There is a reason Colorado is interested in Richt. He is a proven commodity with his integrity and coaching prowess. If I’m McGarity, I give Richt a strong sign of support even if it takes a couple of more years to return to the level of success he achieved earlier in his career at UGA.
suwaneedawg
November 14th, 2010
2:44 pm
Good points dirty dog, I don’t see any negative comments on Johnson and I am pretty sure the GT fans are starting to wonder why they have him. It comes down to Mark and his bias against Richt. Don’t know why he has it but, his articles are proof that it exists.
59bulldawg
November 14th, 2010
2:46 pm
Blow it out your A$$ Dirty Dawg! Your opinion, except for exposing you as a complete idiot, is no better than anyone else.
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:46 pm
I’m still waiting to hear from all of these “so called” Georgia fans on here. Who should be our coach next year? It’s easy to say “Fire Him”, but of course the non thinkers have no clue on the next coach. I hate being at 5-6 this year, don’t get me wrong, but CMR is the coach we need to turn this thing around next year. If it’s the same results next year as this year, then yes it might be time.
Dirty Dawg
November 14th, 2010
2:46 pm
…and furthermore, the Auburn kicker actually hit that on-side kick with his foot a second time, before he touched it with his hand before the ten yards….that, plus the last TD that they gave Flim-Cam when the ball was also out before he broke the goal-line and we’ll see how this game would have turned out. Auburn will have to pay a heavy price for the choice of illegally signing this kid and an even worse price for playing him in this and other games.
Dawg in gatorville
November 14th, 2010
2:46 pm
Bradley, Shut the hell up! Coach Richt is the right man for UGA and will get things fixed.
Grantham is playing with the wussy players like Rambo because he had no time to recruit his own players. Give that man time and you will get real defensive backs and corners that can flat play.. But you writing articles like this is stupid and it hurts recruiting.
You are not a fan of UGA and never will be.. Maybe that is why you write this mess.
Fire Mark's Rectum
November 14th, 2010
2:46 pm
My name says it all!
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
2:47 pm
Murray has a torn ACL from what I have heard and is done this season
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:49 pm
techwrech
What’s your source?
Once a Dawg, Always a Dawg
November 14th, 2010
2:49 pm
To be fair, Yes Georgia has had it ups and downs this year and maybe the last couple of years but we know our kids are getting kicked off the team and disciplined before the NCAA has a chance to consider other options. Consider Richt’s record, better yet consider the amount of class that has been brought to the University of Georgia with having a good christian man to teach our men right from wrong. The reality is that we might be in a different situation had AJ Green not made the mistake he did but it is more important for our kids to understand what is right versus what is wrong. I am proud of our University. Vince Dooley had a record 79-38-5 (2 SEC Championships) his first ten years and Mark Richt has a record 95-33 (3 SEC Championships) HELLO WAKE-UP PEOPLE!!!!
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
2:50 pm
Radio station I was listening to not sure which one
Rex D
November 14th, 2010
2:50 pm
Mark: The problem when you do not win the whole thing (national title or at least play for it a couple of times) is that it leaves less room to take a step back . . . We are unquestionably two notches less of a team than Richt’s glory days of DGreene-DPollack-DJShockley . . . And I think your point is that we don’t even know if Richt is capable of returning his team to this former non-championship “glory”, much less whether he’s capable of taking his team BEYOND that point, i.e. which should be the standard for UGA glory . . . Easy call.
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:51 pm
Alright.
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
2:52 pm
UGA has no class,they only bring in unclassy and troubled atheletes.
Get a life and quit embarrassing the state of GA
Ty
November 14th, 2010
2:55 pm
techwrech
Yea and you have a lot of class. Too bad it’s all low. Why are you on here anyway. Your team has enough to worry about when it’s about to lose it’s next 2 games and NOT be bowl eligible.
Knew your story about Murray was bogus. You wish he was out because you know he will light that fluff “D” of techs up like a Christmas tree! UGA 51 tech 7! Now there is a familar ring to it!
The Grinch
November 14th, 2010
2:56 pm
Okay, a quick show of hands. At the beginning of the season, who out there thought that on November 14th it would take Georgia AND Georgia Tech’s wins to equal 10?
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
2:58 pm
The truth hurts and you cannot stand it, prove to me that UGA
recruits quality atheletes,thats what I thougth.LMAO
sammiamm
November 14th, 2010
3:00 pm
techwrech — what radio station?
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:00 pm
5-7 no bowl no Richt and ??????????????????????????????????????
sammiamm
November 14th, 2010
3:01 pm
techwrech – get back to your D&D
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/14/injury-to-uga-qb-murrays-doesnt-appear-to-be-serious/
The Grinch
November 14th, 2010
3:01 pm
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
2:58 pm
If you would like to continue LMAO then please consider that before the season began most tech fans were claiming they would soon be going head to head for the best “affaleets” in Georgia. It was there faith in Paul Johnson that led them to this conclusion. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
The Grinch
November 14th, 2010
3:02 pm
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:00 pm
How many wins does tech – who is coached by the great paul johnson – have right now?
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:03 pm
Funny a hell to see the war eagles light up the little white boy. What a poor excuse
for a QB
The Grinch
November 14th, 2010
3:04 pm
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:03 pm
Then you were probably laughing your arse off when Josh Bisquick got his arm broken.
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:04 pm
Prove to me trailor trash????
Julia
November 14th, 2010
3:04 pm
Mark, Please tell us who you think UGA could actually get to replace Mark Richt who would be a better coach? It is easy to criticize but hard to come up with actual suggestions. Look at how hard it was just to get a defensive coordinator to come to Athens. We are having a rough year. So Auburn beats us once out of five years. I love UGA football also. But alot of you fans are losing your perspective. Get a life and leave our coach alone!
The Grinch
November 14th, 2010
3:05 pm
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:04 pm
Hey genius, what’s a “trailor”? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:06 pm
Hey Grinch see you on here 11/28,not. LMFAO
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:07 pm
Hey you know how to spell check guess you are a UGA graduate after all.
One Nation Under educated
November 14th, 2010
3:08 pm
put this alumnus down as one vote for Mark. I’m proud he’s a Georgia Bulldog.
oh lord, I couldn’t send my kids to or support a school that behaved as trashy as what I saw last night. And when they finally get Cecil’s bank statements, and they will, the SCam will be over, and it’ll be over for Auburn’s program, which they deserve. We are Georgia = and georgia tech, for that matter – something no one from those states will ever be. If the Alumni Assoc asks for my, opinion, that’s what I will say. I’m sorry if you don’t agree.
2-8 vs FLA
November 14th, 2010
3:09 pm
@ Well since you asked how about Gary Patterson for starters or maybe even Dirk Koetter. Hell the way Richt is coaching this year Wade Phillips could do a better job ” Einstein”
techwrech
November 14th, 2010
3:10 pm
Heard Richt is looking into the Cowboys open position??