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
UGA2002
November 14th, 2010
1:14 am
Coastal D
November 14th, 2010
1:06 am
UGA 2002, Grantham’s choke sign? Give me a break. Even the kid said it was nothing. Doesn’t hurt him or ruin his career at all. Hits for which one should be suspended are an entirely different matter. No place for it and I am glad we don’t have a Fairley and if we did our coaches would not allow it. We had a player suspended for an illegal block earlier in the season when he did it in frustration; do you not remember? There is no place for such behavior in athletics. Never.
—-
I’ll let this stand on its own for its blatant hypocrisy. Coach showing choke sign, saying “you’ll f-ing choke” or whatever it was, worse than… what? What hit did Fairley do that is out of the ordinary for football? What? Hit his helmet do Murray’s legs? Why wasn’t he blocked?
By the way, did the coaches try and have him chop blocked?
Emotional game. Both sides. I’m fearful to see who gets ejected off our team if the rumors prove true the SEC is reviewing it.
The dude is going to hit your guy. Block him. Double team him.
PMC
November 14th, 2010
1:14 am
I blame the completely gutless UGA offensive line more than I would blame Fairley. That’s what he’s supposed to do kill the QB.
Those guys, haven’t amounted to much of anything and they wouldn’t even try and protect their QB with a guy obviously trying to hurt him.
gabulldog66
November 14th, 2010
1:15 am
War CAM Eagle. All that HaHa stuff is because you are gagging on my johnson.
GT2010
November 14th, 2010
1:16 am
Maybe TECH and UGA could play in the Turner Field bowl. That would be cool, play each other at Turner Field on December 18, at 10:30 in the morning. I would buy tickets…. NOT!!
Coastal D
November 14th, 2010
1:17 am
Not sure why all the negativity at UGA. We were supposed to get blown out; isn’t that what everyone predicted? We played hard and put a scare into them. BTW, the onside kick was touched before 10 yards; big game changer. The last TD was also fumbled but wouldn’t have made a difference.
Defensive breakdowns by a player here and there which cost us dearly, but not the effort. We have to replace those players if they cannot learn. Commings replacement who has been demoted but had to play once the injury occurred got burned again.
Change our play calling and our timidity when we go into “playing not to lose” mode and we are right there with the best team in the SEC. BTW, AU better improve their D before taking this show on the road.
WAR CAM EAGLE
November 14th, 2010
1:17 am
HAHAHA. ALL THE DAWGS FANS HERE TALK ABOUT A FEW OF OUR PLAYERS DEOMSTRATING POOR SPORTSMANSHIP TONIGHT. WELL, WHAT ABOUT ALL THE SORE LOSER DAWG FANS AT TWO PARTIES I HAVE BEEN TO TONIGHT? POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK TO ME. HAHAHAHAHAHA. O WELL, ITS ALL GOOD. AUBURN IS UNDEFEATED AND GEORGIA MUST BEAT TECH JUST TO GET INVITED TOP THAT SAN FRANSISCO, DROP YOUR DRAWERS, EMERALD NUT BOWL. LIFE IS VERY GOOD RIGHT NOW. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:20 am
Football IS a dirty game. Emotions are high. Testerone tested to its limits. These are men being men at their rawest! Or boys…however you want to look at them. Fairley made some really hard hits…news…he’s 300 plus pounds. Not HE or any OTHER 300+ lb DB is going to hit the opponent like Tinkerbell. That’s why is is an All-Star. He makes plays. And the NFL is awaiting and DROOLING at the the prospect….
OtisforUGA
November 14th, 2010
1:20 am
its just one of those years! Next year we win them all!
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:25 am
Meant DL….
Coastal…I’m more confident about my Tigers after the near-loss of Oregon to Cal. And it was only a 15-13. They have to score more than that if they think they’re going to beat Auburn. Oregon is NOT a shoo-in for THE national title…not after tonight’s game. Auburn has as equal a chance. And if any of you WANT Oregon to beat Auburn…that’s just sad. SEC should mean more than your hate for AU. Of course, we can always give the Title to Pac-10. Have it your way.
Coastal D
November 14th, 2010
1:25 am
UGA2002 and PMC…see you’ve never played sports. These are grown men, not kids.
If this was just football the way football is supposed to be played as you obviously feel, why would the next league fine and suspend players for such behavior. Please get a clue. The plays were dirty, period.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:27 am
Well Coastal..at least we agree on one thing…football is not for playground kiddies. Jump rope is the next field over.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:29 am
If anyone caught the Oregon/Cal game..it was a 15-13 snoozer. Oregon better be able to put more on the board against Auburn if they think they’ll take us out. Looking better for us. War Eagle!
dog alum in SC
November 14th, 2010
1:32 am
While driving back from one of the most depressing endings to any game/season in UGA recent history, Jeff Dantzler kept spinning that all is o.k. if we beat Tech. Beating Tech means nothing – until we set our sights on beating Auburn, Florida, and South Carolina – we will never get out of the dregs of the SEC. We are SEC, and it isn’t Tech that is out-recruiting us!! It is South Carolina, Auburn, ALabama, Florida, etc. Richt must go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jdawgT
November 14th, 2010
1:34 am
I will be so elated when the all the Scam Newton allegations are brought to a close. You can’t shoot that many bullets without hitting something. I just feel that Scam, Auburn and Scam Sr. are going to pay dearly.
Fig Newton is dirtier than an HIV prostitute under an I-85 passover bridge
November 14th, 2010
1:34 am
Enjoy it barners….. ALABAMA will ruin your perfect season in 2 weeks….
Name one big game your dirty, rotten, cheating QB has won on the road this year.
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:35 am
What he was doing to make it dirty was wrapping up and driving him into the ground. When you are getting to the QB as late as he was,at best, you could hope for a knock down , by that I mean a glancing blow to knock the QB down because you were in motion towards the QB and could’nt stop. Not wrapping your arms totally around him lifting and driving him into the ground with intent to injure the QB. Thats a dirty hit.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:36 am
Bottom line – Cam plays 4 quarters and he plays to win. His leadership has inspired ALL the AU players all season for all four quarters. Say and speculate what you will on this young man but he IS a leader and THAT is why AU is 11-0. Bought and paid? You cannot BUY this kind of talent. It is god-given.
Bama Dawg
November 14th, 2010
1:37 am
Coastal D@12:42, you nailed it. I have to live here an listen to the Bammers and I’ve always respected Auburn for the spirit and enthusiasm, but after watching Farley and the gutless refs not kick his a** out the game for the late hit and spearing of Murry, I hope Bama beats the snot out of Auburn. No sportsmanship at all, just a bunch of thugs – reminds me of Florida trying to gouge Knowshon’s eyes out.
Will Slive and the SEC have the guts to address this? Not
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:39 am
oh come on surfie….don’t have sour grapes over the fact that Fairley dominated. It’s not NEWS that the boy is aggressive. He had ONE dirty hit. In the back for which he was penalized. As for the other hits? He did not have flags thrown which means it was completely within parameters of legal tackles. If your boy can’t take the hit, maybe he should go to the other field and play jump rope with the rest of the tender-heads. 300 pounds. All-Star. I don’t know of ANY other player this size on ANY team that waltzes in on their tippy toes and taps the QB with their fingertips!
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:39 am
They will have to BAMA DAWG because it is plain to see, thats what he was doing
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:42 am
AU4EVER he would have dominated if he would have got to the QB before he had thrown the ball. To me it looked like he was a tad late all night
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:44 am
AU4EVER you are a smart guy you know exactly what I am talking about
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:44 am
Bama Dawg…the refs threw one flag for the bad hit in the back of Murray…all other plays were just rough. Pure and simple. If this were Bama and one of their DL’s, it would be a non-issue…just Alabama doing what they do – dominate. So here you go again…bring in Slive and the NCAA now to legislate tackling!!??? Are you serious? It just does not end. You want Auburn out SO bad. So when we win the National Title you will still ALL be making allegations against Auburn after we proved it on the field. I would hate to be you. Bitter.
stiggywiggy
November 14th, 2010
1:45 am
What a kick this is reading all the mutts whine about Cam’s character. Maybe some day he will rise to the high standards of UGA Football and he too will become a respectable jersey-selling, hit-and-run perpetrating, Miami agent-party-going athlete.
Look, mutts. Take it like a man. Your team sucks this year, your coach is more interested in tending to his wavy hair than his game plan, your defense is as porous as Uga’s turds and you’re all ugly as hell. It must really suck to be a bulldog.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:45 am
Surfie…yes I DO know what you’re talking about. Nick Fairley is a force. ESPN talks about him week in and week out. He is no pansy. If you’re not wearing your big boy pants, get outta the way. Nick don’t show mercy. Nor would any other DB trying to win a game.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:46 am
Sorry…DL…
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:48 am
AU4EVER you know as well as I do our guy belongs on the field. He is the #2 QB behind Newton and showed you what he could do
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:49 am
stiggy…everyone is a hater on AU this year. If it wasn’t us, it would be on Florida. The ONLY teams that think they are above the rest appears to be Alabama and Georgia. Yes! Perfect programs! No skeletons! The choirs in heaven sing and the angels play their harps when these two teams hit the field!
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:51 am
Not exactly AU4EVER but close
Shreveport Town Coucil
November 14th, 2010
1:52 am
We hope to see you soon, dawg fans. We’re giving out souvenir weedeaters this year, and yes we will provide in-room spitoons again, if you request.
Attention Daw Fans
November 14th, 2010
1:53 am
Enter your comments here
Tiger fan 1971
November 14th, 2010
1:53 am
GA is pathetic …. Fairley had one… 1… Only one late hit. That happens when you hustle… Work hard….try…. The hit that Murray got hurt on was clean…. He was blocked into the QB by the GA O-line. Then GA showed it’s typical lack of class and went after everyone…starting fights and being the thugs that they have become…..the ONLY sign of class remaining at GA came when Mark Richt called for downing the last few plays…. You sorry pathetic GA thugs should wise up and Hope you can hang on to Richt.
Cam Newton is a great player….he has made some mistakes as all young men do, but Auburn took a chance and gave him an opportunity to redeem himself and he has done so with grace and class. GA defenders took every opportunity to cheap shot him….the only difference is they could not get to him.
I hope Murray is OK, but football is tough game. Get over yourselves GA….any D-lineman worth having plays with bad intentions….that is how the game is played….just ask Colt McCoy…Marcel Dareous put him out in the 1st quarter of last years NC game.
It was very disappointing to see GA stop trying to play the game when their QB got hurt. That was truly pathetic. Go to your room GA, and don’t come out until you get rid of the thugs and return your program to its previously respected stature.
WAR CAM EAGLE!!!!!
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:54 am
Surfie..I was impressed with Murray. As a freshman, he was heads above some veteran QB’s of other teams. But you have to admit…he was not Cam Newton today. NO one is like Cam Newton. Before all this media garbage, he was the most popular player in College Football. He still is but there’s alot of hate going around against the AU program and so haters are grasping at every air bubble they see to suffocate our wins. Anything to see AU fail and Oregon win? Yay. go pac-10.
jdawgT
November 14th, 2010
1:56 am
Does everyone get to mow your mom again Shreveport ?
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
1:57 am
Surfie….in light of 49-31 and a 5-6 season, your arrogance seems at a loss to me….
Greg McGarity, Athletic Director UGA
November 14th, 2010
1:59 am
I need to advise all of our Georgia faithful, that when you look at our schedule and see “Bye,” next week, we are NOT playing Brighman Young East. There is no such team. Many of our fans have already bought airline tickets to Provo, so perhaps if you act quickly you can cancel the order, or at least exchange them for more useful tickets to another location, like say Shreveport.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
2:04 am
I think you Dawgs have bigger fish to fry other than replaying the horrors of your loss today against the #2 team in the nation. Tech may deal you another blow to put you at 5-7 on the season.
Supes
November 14th, 2010
2:04 am
Coastal D nailed it with the comments on the previous page, well said.
I also will be cheering for BAMA to beat the cheating dirty paper champ tigers in 2 weeks.
Lost a lot, a lot of respect for Auburn, their fans, and their players…(Cam Newton aside).
So I’ll be rooting for BAMA in 2 weeks, and South Carolina in 3 weeks and I hope Auburn ends up getting smacked around in their bowl game…SEC pride be damned. Auburn, what goes around comes around…See you in ATHENS in 2011.
Supes
November 14th, 2010
2:06 am
Tech may deal you another blow to put you at 5-7 on the season.
*************************************
Funniest thing I’ve read on the blog…
Robert Stanfield, CEO Poulan Weedeater Inc.
November 14th, 2010
2:09 am
If it doesn’t take too much time from selling carpets and adjusting your hair, would you and Katharyn consider becoming our spokespersons? I feel that we have become friends over the years, and somehow feel that our friendship will grow even more in the years to come.
Ron Mexico
November 14th, 2010
2:11 am
Im ok with the win tonight, Auburn will get found out soon…
surfdawg
November 14th, 2010
2:13 am
AU4EVER no arrogance here , and Murray is no Newton on any day.I’m actually married into an Alabama and AU family. My nephew just accepted a full ride academic scholarship to AU and he has been home schooled his whole life. So we are very proud of him. I’m not upset by the loss. AU was the better team and deserved the win. Just disappointed in the way Fairley played today
Coach Mark Richt
November 14th, 2010
2:14 am
Mr. Stanfield, I assume your remarks were directed toward me. I will be glad to accept your offer, provided you add a contractual clause in which your company is responsible for giving me that “his hair is not freshly cut, nor in need of cutting, but halfway in between” look.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
2:14 am
Supes = sour grapes
May I recommend a teaspoonful of cane sugar. It will ease that twisted pucker etched across your face.
dawg Fer liFe
November 14th, 2010
2:18 am
Which BCS bowl y’all think we’ll go to this year?
Down & Out In Loserville
November 14th, 2010
2:18 am
I don’t give a rat’s ass if we beat Tech 2 weeks from now. Big whoop. The season is in ruins and there is absolutely no hope for anything but mediocrity in the foreseeable future. Those goobers on Dawg Talk make me want to hurl as well. What a bunch of namby pamby jack wagons. I do respect the work David Green did for UGA however.
AU4EVR
November 14th, 2010
2:20 am
I can tell you this Surfie…your nephew is in a wholesome place at AU. Some will call it a “cow college” which is such a stupid playground tactic. Whatever goes on behind closed doors with those in the spotlight, college towns – wherever they may be – typically allow students to grow and educate themselves without the worry of outside influences of drugs and crime. Unless one graduates from Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, etc…what does it matter if you graduate AU, UGA or SCAR. The paycheck at the end of the day pays the same!
Vince Dooley
November 14th, 2010
2:21 am
I went to Auburn, you know. Played quarterback there. We Georgia fans consider Auburn like our cousin. Well, except we don’t have sex with them.
Mike Smith
November 14th, 2010
2:25 am
Richt’s biggest problem is bush league Coordinators. He handed the reins to two guys who are average at best (Martinez and Bobo). The only wonder is why it took this team a couple of years to start looking as average as their Coordinators. Its not his fault Van Gorder left, but he has to bring in someone good enough to replace him. Not just hand the job to his buddy. Now Grantham has to clean up the mess. It took Saban’s D a year to get good at Alabama, maybe Grantham will make better strides next year.
Good point about the play calling from Bobo. Ive been saying it all year…he mixes things up just for the sake of it. He does not stick with what works, and it is killing this offense. If you have found something that the defense hasnt stopped, you run that until they do. You dont mix it up just because they know its coming. They know its coming, and cant stop it anyway…JUST RUN WHAT IS WORKING.
It took Bobo a whole quarter to decide to throw to his star receiver he just got back…AJ Green. That cost them as much in the Colorado game as the fumble by King. Would it even have come down to that had UGA not spotted Colorado 14 pts while Bobo was playing mind games with himself? The Arkansas game was another one on Bobo. Instead of continuing the aggressive passing game that got UGA tied, Bobo returned to the same gameplan that did not work in the first half. Why? Who knows. Arkansas ate it up again and UGA punted for the loss.
Give Grantham another year, but Bobo needs to be demoted back to QB coach.
blue
November 14th, 2010
2:25 am
War eagles be happy now when the NCAA takes all the victorys away it will hurt