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
Funny
November 13th, 2010
11:15 pm
dawgster & ,Ben Dukes
Now those are TOO FUNNY folks. They are the type of people that make Cam Newton & the rest of the country laugh at the Georgia rednecks.
Florida Dawg
November 13th, 2010
11:15 pm
For you UGA fans who think playing in Jax is a disadvantage…didn’t bother Spurrier in GAINESVILLE.
Ball coach brought a team that was coached to beat the Gator in their own house.
Now looks like a second year coach in the SEC is going to Atlanta and we only know at this point we have one game left with GT.
Brave New World
November 13th, 2010
11:16 pm
Please, oh please, let “The U” fire Shannon and then come after Richt with everything they’ve got in the bank. If they come after him, I’d bet the farm he’d go. OBTW, Auburn has a great offense, but a terrible defense. Bama beats them and so does South Carolina. Enjoy it AU, I hope the years of probation and scholarship reductions are worth your 10-2 season.
Tom
November 13th, 2010
11:16 pm
Been watching UGA football over 25 years, this is the worst defense I have ever seen!! This 3 man D line is terrible with 4 LB who cannot make plays consistently. We are just not tough or mean enough on D! Do not hardly ever see any more hard hits from our D! Either we do not have the athletes or the coaching and schemes they are instructed to play are poor. Auburn is a good team and Cam Newton is a good player but Alabama will wear them out!! Apparently our OL are not mean enough( like Clabo and Tyson of the Falcons), they should have pile drived #70 of Auburn or went after Newton to even the score. I’m afraid Coach Richt wants his players to be a bunch of choir boys and role models instead of fierce football players!!!!!
Big Wally Dawg
November 13th, 2010
11:16 pm
Some of you folks need to get off the Richt coolaid. We have Saban and Chizek to the West of us. Spurrier to the East, Myers to the South, who will all out recruit Richt now. Heck, next year, Dooley to the North of us, will probably out recruit him. Richt is toast, he’s done, his ship has sailed, face the facts.
Brian
November 13th, 2010
11:17 pm
Maybe you could be the next UGA coach Mark Bradley. You’re brilliant.
UGA2002
November 13th, 2010
11:17 pm
Rumor is this:
The biggest story in College football this year is about to become the biggest story EVER in college football and as far as we are concerned will branch in two directions.
1. Major big name programs will be implicated in pay for play schemes and it appears the FBI has been watching this for a while. Rogers opened the door for them. it is about to get ugly. Very ugly.
Seems to be consensus that AU will not be implicated in this scheme.
2. Auburn is going to go on the offensive. The Newtons met with the NCAA today in Auburn and I believe we will get a statement out of them/ Auburn tomorrow. A real statement, you know with some facts. Auburn is at least considering to (and may have) gone on the offensive already by retaining one of the biggest plaintiff’s attorneys in the state of AL and the nation, who just so happens to be an AU grad.
If that is true, Newton and his dad are in the clear despite Mr. Anonymous claims otherwise. And if that all is true, Mississippi St is in serious trouble as is the drive-by media that descended on Auburn.
As to the game, I was impressed by Georgia. I’ve seen Newton all year, not surprised he did what he did. Not surprised Auburn can spot a team 14 points and come back before half and tie it up as they did that with either Clemson or USC. I was surprised that Oregon only scored 15 against Cal. Nobody is a superman all of the time. Auburn won. Fairley is a beast who’s out to be in the front of your mind if you’re a QB. The fights at the end were unfortunate but both teams were fired up and probably would’ve liked to play another quarter even if it didn’t count. Chop blocks are dangerous and dirty as well, don’t forget that. There were a lot of people who should not have been playing in that final minute and some UGA players that could’ve been tossed just as well as Auburn.
It’s over. Now we’ll beat GT and keep CMR but what’s next, no idea but I can’t say it’ll be better.
Chuck Uga
November 13th, 2010
11:17 pm
McGarity will “get it” when he cannot sell out season tickets for 2011. Richt will never get it, the fact he needs to stop hiring ex-players as coaches 9with zero coaching experience) and also plugging coaching gaps with guys who NEVER won anything of consequence as a player (Bobo) and lack the required intellect to efficiently match wits with the coordinator he is facing (that again would be farmer boy Bobo who belongs on a high school sideline, not as OC of what used to be a decent SEC football program). All you naive fools who think that 2011 will be better because of Aaron Murray, need I remind you of the greatest passing QB in Georgia history (Eric Zeier) who could barely get past a .500 record? The talent is thin, uncondintioned and undercoached. It ain’t going to happen until the AD beefs up the program. Maybe 2016 we could return to the Dome. Then again, maybe not. We sure as hell won’t see an SEC East title anytime soon.
Lets See
November 13th, 2010
11:17 pm
3 years ago, Mark Richt led the pre-season #1 team to 4 losses inclusing a 45 point defensive loss to Ga. Tech. That team had 6 NFL draft picks including 3 first round rounders. That concluded a 3 year run with Matt Stafford, Knowshawn etc., that won … absolutely nothing.
Then followed that up with 5 losses last year and a Shreveport bowl.
Then 6 losses this year.
Anyone see a pattern here?
south
November 13th, 2010
11:18 pm
Mark Richt isn’t going anywhere…because the true supporters (you know…the ones who give money) have every confidence that Richt will turn this around. The proof is in the budget.
Nice try though.
War Eagle
November 13th, 2010
11:18 pm
Georgia played a good game today,took a good 1st half lead and kept it close in the second half,but guess what?They still lost,don’t matter how you play or what the final score,still a bunch of red necks from looserville.What’s that smell from Athens,Ga?Must be UGA Football,because it reaks.
wreckmaniac
November 13th, 2010
11:19 pm
What amazes me is that there is .005% of the population that actually thought UGA would win today. Our nation is in trouble.
Chuck Dowdle
November 13th, 2010
11:20 pm
gulp…. I think the dawgs are doing ok this year. mm gulp
Duke
November 13th, 2010
11:20 pm
Shut the Eff up Bradley. Anyone who thinks Richt should be let go is selfish and has no knowledge about college football. You are ridiculous. Can our defense be given a year to learn to scheme? Write about something but dont write about Richt possibly being on the hot seat. That is just ridiculous
Watching the ignorant speak
November 13th, 2010
11:20 pm
AU fan here,
Good thing you’re not a pro scout son. The Bama qb does have a shot at a pro career. You obviously haven’t seen the qb rankings for 2011. As for Scam Newton he is a helluva college qb but he aint going to be running the ball in the pros- its a whole different level there. The McElroy kid has a far better chance of succeeding in the pros than Scam because the bammer boy plays in a pro style offense. Scam plays in a run option spread offense- how many 300 yard games has he thrown for smart guy?
War Eagle
November 13th, 2010
11:21 pm
Mark Richt to Colorado?They don’t want that looser,do they?
Auburn/Delta
November 13th, 2010
11:21 pm
Ben Dukes, whoever you are, for AJC’s Mark Bradley replacement.
That’s how a major newspaper writer should write unlike that ignorant low class article Bradley posted prior to the game today. What was that?
wreckmaniac
November 13th, 2010
11:22 pm
LETS SEE: You are wasting your time presenting logic to this crowd. This is a liquored-up bunch of wishful thinkers.
Dawglasville
November 13th, 2010
11:22 pm
War Eagle – last time I checked your school can’t even crack the best 100 colleges in the nation list so I would be careful throwing around the term “red neck.” You won the game. You are not on probation yet. Go to bed happy.
AFDawg
November 13th, 2010
11:22 pm
Ralph, Chizik and Fairley have no class — this will bite Auburn in the ass. Also, even though you’re living in denial — does anyone on the planet believe Cam didn’t know what was going on with the bidding for him — he steals and cheats, of course he knew. He’s not a good person. Unfortunately for Auburn and the SEC — this will all turn out like USC and Reggie Bush. Nobody gave much thought to those early reports either.
To The Haters!
November 13th, 2010
11:22 pm
More crap the this @ssclown Bradley! Why are you and Schultz so intent on running off possibly the best coach UGA has ever had? Yeah we have had three years now that haven’t quite been up to the standard previously set by CMR but the man deserves a chance to turn things around. I don’t know how long you have been around these parts but I have lived here my entire 30 years and the man you want gone gave me what I had been craving for 20 years; an SEC Championship that I could actually remember. Before CMR the last SECC we had I couldn’t remember because I was two years old. Maybe you should be the one to leave the area move back up north to that blue state and have a mint julep, and please take Jeff with you!!!
BreakingNews
November 13th, 2010
11:22 pm
This just in – the FBI has received a tip that a large order (approx. 100,000) of blue headbands was placed in Auburn, AL at Wanda’s Hair & Weaves in June of 2010. The order was signed for by one Cameron Newton.
Looks like we have a paper trail!
wreckmaniac
November 13th, 2010
11:23 pm
South, I hope you’re right. Lord, please keep CMR at UGA
Exiled
November 13th, 2010
11:23 pm
Every great program goes threw low’s and high’s. We are going threw a few low’s now. Am sure Mark will turn this thing around. If he gets fired then who the hell gets the job? Then if that happens we will have to wait about 3-5 yes just to see if the hire worked out. Look at Texas even they are having a hard time but you dnt hear about brown getting fired now do you? But I do think the Bobo needs to go! Leave Mark along!
Auburn/Delta
November 13th, 2010
11:23 pm
McElroy will probably not be drafted.
Duke
November 13th, 2010
11:24 pm
Stupid bradley, stupid and selfish to question whether Richt should be here any longer. I hope he is our coach for the next ten years. Only person I would replace him with is Jon Gruden and that aint happening. Bad blog your part
War Eagle
November 13th, 2010
11:25 pm
All ya’ll Georgia fans finally have the team that ya’ll deserve.Ya’ll are crapy fans,you finally have a crappy team to match your attitude.
Watching the ignorant speak
November 13th, 2010
11:25 pm
Auburn/Delta,
And the ignorant speak some more.
Jon
November 13th, 2010
11:27 pm
Mark, you’re an a**hole. But, to your defense, your job is to praise em when they’re high and kick em when they’re down. I’m going to remeber these words when Georgia turns this thing around. Go back to Kentucky where in your own words, your best memories were made.
jtdawg
November 13th, 2010
11:27 pm
This, unfortunately will not change.
Richt will coach next year.
When we “improve” to only 4 or 5 losses, blind homers and lemmings will trumphet “The Turnaroud has begun”.
When we fail again in ‘12, well….. the world will end on 12/21, so who cares?
Dawglasville
November 13th, 2010
11:27 pm
wreckmaniac – The good news is we are both going to a bowl game. All you have to do is beat Duke and all we have to do is beat Tech. Pretty much the way it always plays out. Second verse same as the first.
CMR
November 13th, 2010
11:28 pm
Look…..I let you down tonight! I haven’t won a meaningful SEC game this year. You deserve better! I just can’t beat Urban; I know I have the better talent. I actually have the best talented team in the East, yet I can no longer win a big game in the SEC. I’m sorry! Look…i admit I am no longer capable of coaching in this league. I believe that I can do better in a weaker conference; Colorado is probably where I will wind up. Sorry dogs….I just can’t get it done! Take care!
Auburn/Delta
November 13th, 2010
11:29 pm
Last national championship, I watched as a true freshman nearly brought his team back to beat Alabama. What I never saw was an impressive performance by McElroy. He is not impressive. Where Cam goes in the draft I do not know, I believe Mallet will be #1.
But McElroy will probably try and go be a Rhodes Scholar and not even try the combine.
BreakingNews
November 13th, 2010
11:29 pm
“I can get all dees headbands fo’ $200,000? Awww SNAP!”
- Cam Newton
Scam speaks
November 13th, 2010
11:31 pm
Yep. Dad was selling my services without my knowledgeable whatsoever. Is that believable? Uh, no.
Doesn’t it seem unusual that my dad says he asked for money from missy state without my knowledge and yet I’m not even mad or in the least bit upset about my own dad trying to sell me? Isn’t that quite odd what a happy go lucky guy I’ve been even knowing my own dad tried to sell me? Isn’t it strange what a happy demeanor I’ve had ever since it was revealed that my dad sold me SUPPOSEDLY WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE.
SUFFER REDNECK UGA HILLBILLY FANS
November 13th, 2010
11:32 pm
keepmarkricht.com
Auburn/Delta
November 13th, 2010
11:33 pm
If you think McElroy is all that, please go watch the replay of Nick Saban cussing that kid as he walked off the field after a subpar throw. Saban was MAD. MAD.
SUFFER REDNECK UGA HILLBILLY FANS
November 13th, 2010
11:34 pm
PLEASE KEEP SAINT MARK RICHT!
SUFFER REDNECK UGA HILLBILLY FANS
November 13th, 2010
11:35 pm
COME ON TECH BEAT THE MUTTS!
AFDawg
November 13th, 2010
11:36 pm
Hey Funny, He wasn’t laughing when he was narrested for stealing a laptop. He wasn’t laughing when he was caught cheating at Florida. He won’t be laughing when all of Auburn’s wins are vacated this year and his Heisman taken away in disgrace (like Reggie). Face it — he’a criminal and it apparently runs in his family.
mr
November 13th, 2010
11:37 pm
I let you down tonight! I haven’t won a meaningful SEC game this year. You deserve better! I just can’t beat Urban; I know I have the better talent. I actually have the best talented team in the East, yet I can no longer win a big game in the SEC. I’m sorry! Look…i admit I am no longer capable of coaching in this league. I believe that I can do better in a weaker conference; Colorado is probably where I will wind up. Sorry dogs….I just can’t get it done! Take care!
lifer dawg
November 13th, 2010
11:38 pm
To the Richt supporters out there all I can is I am truly sorry. I have tried in my heart of hearts to give him a second/third/fourth/fifth chance. But he consistently fails me now year after year. We will NEVER whiff another SEC championship game AGAIN with this coaching staff. I watched the Evil genius reassume the role of SEC East champion and it breaks my heart. But he deserves it and did it with good players/good plays/calling those plays at the right time. These are things Richt and his staff have NONE of except for Murray/Green/Chapas/Butler and a couple of deep balls to Green when we really need a spark. The Defense is awful and I can’t blame Granthem entirely yet but tonight was a disappointment because the D never threw a different look one or run blitzed etc….Richt should go to Colorado because that or some sorry ACC team is where he would look cool again. In my eyes the sad record over the last 3 seasons and blown rivalries/sleepy teams are just about as bad as anything Goff/Donnan put on the field in their days. This year’s team is the most talented team I have ever seen in all of college football in my 38 years of life to be UNDER .500!!! I am afraid the talent that Richt gets is not the kind of men that used to wear the UGA silver britches and it shows. Next year is setting up as an unmitigated disaster and I am very confident it will be Mark’s last here in our beautiful state at our wonderful University. Without Green and many of the Seniors on the OL and some other “key” players that really were overrated to begin with we are gonna need lights out coaching and that is something that went away between our awesome 2005 SEC championship over a very heavily favored LSU and the next game where Richt knew he had just secured himself an additional 1.2 million per year raise and went to sleep playing WVU in the Diabetes bowl. Coach when you finally wake up next year after you lose to UF AGAIN because you kept repeating the same processes thinking the outcome will change, it will be way too late in this great state!!! Have fun coaching some mediocre ACC team where you can sleep on the sidelines all season and get that 7-5 record average W/L, so you can finally fund your house of worship on Wed night TV!! Please take your: (fake tan/butt cut/sunglasses in the shade/pathetic excuses for SEC loss after SEC loss/out of shape players/early 90’s poorly schemed offense/pathetic defensive recruiting/playing not to lose/too cool for the sideline demeanor/every assistant with you) far out of Athens. Richt I like you as a man I guess but I knew you got way to cocky for your britches after that 2005 championship and its clear to me you are ENTIRELY outgunned as a coach in the most competitive blood thirsty conference in college football.
Scam speaks
November 13th, 2010
11:39 pm
Auburn/Delta,
ma’am. Are you just stupid? That was the backup bama qb that Saban was yelling at.
Go Dawgs
November 13th, 2010
11:40 pm
Go Dawgs
Sorry UGA fans.....
November 13th, 2010
11:40 pm
I haven’t won a meaningful SEC game this year. You deserve better! I just can’t beat Urban; I know I have the better talent. I actually have the best talented team in the East, yet I can no longer win a big game in the SEC. I’m sorry! Look…i admit I am no longer capable of coaching in this league. I believe that I can do better in a weaker conference; Colorado is probably where I will wind up. Sorry dogs….I just can’t get it done! Take care!
AFDawg
November 13th, 2010
11:40 pm
War Eagle, I used to respect Auburn as a classy program. Not anymore — your team plays dirty and you know it. After seeing Chizik praise his players for taking cheap shots — I hope you guys lose out the rest of the season and I hope the NCAA gives you the death penalty you deserve.
SUFFER REDNECK UGA HILLBILLY FANS
November 13th, 2010
11:41 pm
MUSCHAMP OR KIRBY IS COMING HOME!
MikeP
November 13th, 2010
11:41 pm
Auburn only plays two teams that use the limp-wrist 3-4 defense. Thankfully those teams come back to back. 49 points! Thanks, doggies, for showing us how easy it will be to score on bammer.
dawg smashers
November 13th, 2010
11:42 pm
I hope yall keep your coach forever cause he helps us out every year. Keep up the good work. LOL.
Scam speaks
November 13th, 2010
11:43 pm
AFDAWG,
Judging from Scam’s behavior its highly doubtful that he didn’t know that his dad betrayed him by trying to sell him. The kid has been upbeat, positive, fired up ever since this thing became public. Don’t know about you guys but most young men would be distraught, upset, and feel betrayed if their dad was secretly shopping them. Judging from Scam’s obvious body behavior and his overall positive mentality I find it difficult to believe he didn’t know all along that his dad was shopping him. His behavior certainly belies what he truly knows.