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
Stinkray
November 15th, 2010
10:25 am
If GA didn’t like Fairley (3 star recruit btw) abusing AM they should have blocked him for crying out loud! Why didn’t GA grow a pair and deal with him? What a bunch of sore losers! Next you’ll blame it on the refs. This is the SEC maybe GA should go join the WAC!
ml
November 15th, 2010
10:25 am
all this talk on whether cam newton should play or not, did see anyone have any concern on the life of the idaho state qb. i’m sure if you looked hard enough you could find ncaa violation on him too. cam’s was much bigger, but a violation is a violation.
what about that time the idaho state qb was comped a meal by the local hardee’s manager?
funny how it’s only the violations of a tough team that matter.
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:28 am
IF WE ARE RACIST, WHY DO WE HAVE MANY BLACK PLAYERS
Ralph Kramden
November 15th, 2010
10:28 am
Face it…. Georgia just plain cucks this year. So what ? Get over it….. They are a bunch of classless LOSERS this tear. Lot’s of crybabies on the team too….. Making excuses…… HEY !!! AUBURN just scored AGAIN !!!! HAHAHAHA
Ralph Kramden
November 15th, 2010
10:29 am
Not only do they cuck…. they suck….. sorry for the typo
Ralph Kramden
November 15th, 2010
10:30 am
60-41-5
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:33 am
41 SHMORTY ONE TECK STILL OWNED
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:35 am
HAVE A RUN LIKE FLORIDA AND TECK STILL WOULD BE SHORT ON WINS
Stan H
November 15th, 2010
10:35 am
What else would you expect from 2 SEC teams….Thugs Vs Thugs= Problems
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:35 am
OH SORRY MEAN TECH
Clayton McWilliams
November 15th, 2010
10:38 am
I have watched the GA/Auburn for over 50 years and Nick Fairley is the dirtiest football player ever. He tried during the entire game to take out Murray.
dawghater
November 15th, 2010
10:45 am
Mark
The answer is no it won’t get better. UGA have an unrealistic expectation of their program. Their last Nat’l title was 31 years ago. CMR isn’t the only head coach in 31 years, yet he’s to blame for all their problems. Grantham was the solution to the D, not. Start pointing the fingers where they belong, at the players!
Go ahead UGA, fire CMR. We dare you!
dawghater
November 15th, 2010
10:46 am
Hey Clayton, ever played the game. That’s the D’s job! Would you like some Cheese with that WHINE!
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:51 am
THIS IS A UGA BLOG I WILL WHINE IF I WANT TO
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:53 am
PLUS THE CHEESE MAKES IT TASTE BETTER
AU Rules
November 15th, 2010
10:54 am
Dawg fans need to stop the whining and realize that Auburn is the new horse in the SEC, for years to come. The Tigers will win the BCS title this year and start a long run of SEC titles and domination. Chizik—best coach in America!
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
10:57 am
DONT YOU AU FANS HAVE YOUR OWN NEWSPAPER SITES AND BLOGS
60-39-5
November 15th, 2010
11:01 am
Enter your comments here
droopydawg
November 15th, 2010
11:19 am
I am so sick of these columns by you and Schultz. It is a cynical ploy to drive pageviews: every time UGA does something good, say the team should be a 10-win team (this riling the fanbase into manic hysteria began before the season) and then acting like the sky is falling every time we lose to a better team (only Colorado is a game we should have won, maybe UF).
FRESHMAN QB, BRAND NEW DEFENSE, SECONDARY PLAYERS WHO WERE COACHED WRONG FOR YEARS, A LACK OF PERSONNEL WHO ARE BOTH SEASONED AND SUITED FOR THE 3-4. Can it get better? What a stupid f****** question.
Travis
November 15th, 2010
11:38 am
You guys want to talk about thugs?? I’ll give you the best example of which team as a whole has more thugs…. When the pushing and shoving started UGA’s bench started top empty and your coaches were scrambling to keep them on the sideline. Not ONE Auburn player from the sideline started to come on the field. Pretty glaring to me which coach has a better handle on his team. Is Fairley too rough and perhaps thuggish?? Sure he is…but it’s obvious to me which team is more classy.
Todd
November 15th, 2010
12:38 pm
Georgia is the team with the Thugs! War Damn Eagle! I guess you GA Fans forgot about wearing black and at the end of your first touchdown everybody jumping up and down in the endzone. Payback is a mother! To Hell With GA. Go Yellow Jackets!
DAWG03
November 15th, 2010
1:46 pm
So many idiots here!! Coach Richt will be back and the DAWGS will be fine. Just jump off the bandwagon morons, I am sure Georgia will live well without you.
godawgs678
November 15th, 2010
1:56 pm
After this article I will no longer read anything Mark Bradley writes. TRUE, UGA has been a terrible dissapointment the past two seasons. However, most of these guys have played a 4-3 defense their whole life. Second, UGA played pretty well on D in the first half and got gassed the second half. That is due to Strength and Conditioning. get a new Strength and Conditioning coordinator. Mark Bradley is terribly pessimistic in every article I ever read by him and quite frankly, the boys in Athens need people to support them. true fans stick by their team no matter what. We bleed red and black even when it hurts. Bradley does nothing but stir the pot and bring pessimism to every article relating to UGA.
Dawged
November 15th, 2010
2:03 pm
Bradley you should be more worried about your job and the survival of your newspaper.After years of mismanagement and poor selection of editors and writers(ie C.Tucker,Terrance Moore,Sgt.(i know nothing Shultz)) huge loss of readers and shrinking revenues you will be long gone before CMR.He is an outstanding coach going through a slightly down period(as Coach Dooley,Coach Bryant etc. and all coaches who are at a school for a number of years) He will bounce back and win many more games and championships.Go Dawgs!.
Jaws2
November 15th, 2010
3:16 pm
So all of you who think the coach should go, tell me, who should be the coach? Who is GA going to go after that would appease you?
Monvol90
November 15th, 2010
5:28 pm
May the meltdown begin. Welcome to the world we are trying to get out of because we let our coach stay to long. It will be good to see the Dawgs come to town next year. GO VOLS!
Conner Huffman
November 15th, 2010
5:40 pm
It’s quite obvious your for Tech, and no nothing about Georgia. First off, we are run by a freshman QB, who is one of the best in the nation for a freshman. He’s been getting better and better every week, and so have King and Ealey. Our offense is fantastic. 30+ points in every game since Colorado. And we would of had 30 if King didn’t fumble at the end. And doesn’t it take a new defensive scheme a little time to get used to? It’s not easy switching, and really, our defense is MUCH improved. Once Grantham and the players have settled in to the new system, we’ll be much better there then before. And doesn’t Auburn have one of the best offenses in the country? One word. Cam Newton. It’s obvious he will win the hiesman if he keeps playing the way he is. As well as having a great QB, they have Dyer and McCalebb who are fantastic. To be honest, I’m surprised Auburn didn’t put up more points. They scored 51 against Ole Miss, 24 against LSU’s so called fantastic defense, 65 SIXTY FIVE points against a VERY good Arkansas team, 35 against the SEC east champs and 37 against Kentucky. Oh AND they came back from a 17-3 halftime deficit. So come on. What do you expect? Auburn is the best team in the nation. So you can’t tell my Richt is a bad coach because he blew a 14 point lead in the first half. We played a great game, better then I expected. Really, were VERY close to this being a 2 or 3 loss season. I expect next year to be much different. Richt has a top 10 recruiting class going, as usual, and we have lots of talent returning. So Mark Richt is very much so capable of leading us to a championship. It’s just got to be “that kind of year.” There’s a lot of talent in the SEC. Auburn, Bama, Gaytors, Cocks, Hogs, other Bulldogs, LSU, ect, ect so it’s a very touch conference to play in, THE toughest in the nation. Richt also has one of the highest winning percentages of any active coaches and he brought us from worst to first in the SEC. He went from a four loss to a two loss season with a Sugar Bowl win. So I think next year could be the same.
Best of the Blogs | MrSEC.com
November 15th, 2010
5:56 pm
[...] Will it ever get better for Mark Richt at Georgia? asks Mark Bradley of the AJC. [...]
thomas
November 15th, 2010
7:30 pm
what about when you have 3 NFL starters on your team ie Matthew Stafford, Massaquoi, and Knowshaun Moreno and you get trampled by Alabama 3 years ago in Athens. Alabama came out and ran over Georgia because of good coaching that had the players fired up and ready to play. Georgia came out we are No. 1 in the country, flat and got run over before they knew what was coming. With the outstanding athletes that UGA has, coaching has to be the problem.
robert bearden
November 15th, 2010
10:41 pm
You do know that the geat Texas Longhorns have lost 6 games and Florida 5 and will be 6 when beaten by FLA ST. What about getting on their behinds.
Keep Him
November 15th, 2010
11:18 pm
Aubie-won-whatever the heck your gay name is
If Auburn didn’t have Cam Newton…yal would be in the tank fighting for bowl eligibility. People say yal have all those other running backs that are great which you do, but they ONLY reason they have success is because Newton sets that up for them. Contrary to what most people think..a college football team CAN be all about one player. Your defense is horrid. Your wide recievers couldn’t catch a cold. Cam Newton is ranked number 2 in the country. Not Auburn.
The force is strong with that one isn’t it?
Jborodawg
November 16th, 2010
11:12 am
I’m willing to give CMR one more season. Fire CMB? Over the last six games our O has averaged 41 pts/game! Remember Murray threw the INT in OT in JAX. All we needed was a few yards and then for Walsh to kick for a win. Even the Gators knew we were about to win. By game 10, he’s no longer a frosh. CMR nor CMB threw the INT.
Most of yall wanted CWM gone. Most of yall were foaming at the mouth about getting CTG and the 3-4. By game 11 the 3-4 isn’t a “new” D any longer. Yes, too many blown assignments and too little focus maybe. But mostly I see CTG not adjusting as the games go on.
I’m not ready to fire CMR nor CMB, but with one minute on the clock, it’s time to run the “hurryup” and try to score. And, if the wildcat to B. Smith had worked you’d all (including MB) be foaming at the mouth how great the play-calling was.
Focus on Tech. If we beat Tech, we should give CMR one more year. I’m against firing CMR, if we beat GT. BUT, if we do the same thing next year and don’t have at least 9 wins, I’ll jump right on the bandwagon.
Gooooo Dawgs! THWT!
Georgia | MrSEC.com
November 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
[...] not care about being competitive. Fans want to win. And columnists like Mark Bradley of The AJC will remind them just how much they’re team is not winning. Columns like that will only make them angrier at their coach.Wins are like haircuts… you [...]
Laughing my a$$ off
November 16th, 2010
5:20 pm
You people are ridiculous! If that were a UGA player slamming Brantley to the ground you all would be praising him. UGA fans time and time again find something to complain about after every loss. It’s getting real old. A defensive linemans job is to get to the Quarterback and get a lick on him. If you have ever played d-line you know thats true. Fairley’s late hit to the back of AM was without a doubt a cheap shot but to say he was intentionally going for his knee is crazy. Fairley was blocked below the knees and barely grazed pretty boy Murray’s leg.
Laughing my a$$ off
November 16th, 2010
5:27 pm
You People are a hoot. Quite complaining about yet another loss. Always looking for something/someone to blame and man do you guys like to put down the other teams.
Marietta Resident
November 16th, 2010
6:55 pm
MR is here to stay and personally, I’m glad. Next year we will prove that we are in a rebuilding year this year and everyone will knew it. Well let me go on record saying that Georgia will finish in the top five next season. Hopefully it will be our year.
dumbfounded
November 18th, 2010
8:51 am
I am amazed that the UGA fans are consumed with Auburn (I would be envious of Auburn if I had gone to UGA also). The comments made concerning the UGA fans are proven to be correct each time one of them writes a comment. Only uneducated, rednecks have to resort to cursing in their conversation to try and make their point. If Coach Richt leavesUGA, who will you hire. The UGA fans have the most delusional opinion of themselves and the UGA program. Aside from the Herschel Walker period (WHICH WAS OVER YEARS AGO!) what has UGA done to establish itself a traditional national power? How long since you won a National Championship? How long since you had a Heisman Trophy Winner? How long since you understood multi syllable words? If you are TRULY looking for a Thug mentality on a team, look no further than your own. What is it now 11 arrests for your players this season? An you call other programs “thugs” and “dirty”! If Fairly was a bulldog, his play would have been encouraged, Good Defense, arf, arf, Go Bid D, so who are you kidding other than yourselves. WHat goes around, comes around. The hit he took on the baby quarterback was wrong by any standard, and he got the penalty for it. But if you had been chop blocked and sucker punchedin the pile-ups what would you have done? Where is your outrage at that? I thought so. Man up and grow a pair – you got beat, and AJ Green (a great player by the way) and the Georgia National Guard couldn’t stop Newton or change the outcome of the game. It is just a game – get over it and get ready for Tech. TIGERS RULE – DAWGS DROOL (and obviously cry a great deal if things don’t turn out they way they want). Look on the bright side – if UGA misses a bowl opportunity, there is always the consolation of a remake of the Longest Yard. If the SEC is too rough for you, try the Lingerie League.
WOLLEY STEKCAJ
November 20th, 2010
8:07 pm
Mark simply tells the truth, cry baby fans cannot handle the truth!