It’s not easy to restart a program, but UGA’s Richt just might
How 'bout these young Dawgs? Isaiah Crowell on Signing Day. (AP photo by Mike Haskey)
Hoover, Ala. — His program, figuratively if not literally, was headed south. “Georgia had declined in record and in how people nationally perceived our program,” Mark Richt said. “I realized that.”
That was important. Realization that you’re going wrong is the first move toward making things go right again. But such knowledge isn’t always the precursor to change. Fact is, it’s harder to recapture momentum than to build it in the first place.
“You can get it back,” said Richt, speaking before his appearance before the full body of the SEC media here Thursday. (These glitzy Media Days are like the Oscars in that there’s a pre-show for selected local and national scribes.) “There’s positive momentum around our program right now. There’s a sense of excitement. Anticipation is very high.”
He’s right. There is. Over the winter, Georgia went from being the team that couldn’t score a touchdown against Central Florida to the program that assembled a recruiting Dream Team. And here’s quarterback Aaron Murray after seeing the heralded freshmen in summer workouts: “I wasn’t sure if they were going to be that good, but they’re definitely as good as advertised. Seven or eight of them could start right now.”
For all the speculation that Richt must win big or be gone, there’s no sense, as Richt himself said, “of gloom and doom.” This team thinks it can win the SEC East. (More than a few observers, this one included, would agree.) This program has overridden the grim reality of an 8-5 season followed by 6-7 … at least for now.
Here we pause to assess reality. Tennessee won consecutive SEC championships and the 1998 BCS title; a decade later, Phillip Fulmer was pushed aside to make room for, ahem, Lane Kiffin. Florida State finished in the top five 14 seasons running but not once after 2000, which is why Bobby Bowden was jostled into retirement. Having suffered four losing seasons in five years, Penn State has since had three 11-win seasons — but that was in the Big Ten, not the SEC.
In the SEC, everything is accelerated. Terry Bowden won his first 20 games at Auburn and resigned after coaching 45 more. Tommy Tuberville, who succeeded Bowden, went undefeated in 2004 and was gone in 2008. David Cutcliffe went 10-3 at Ole Miss in 2003; the next year he got fired.
The exceptions: Bear Bryant had six-win seasons at Alabama in 1969 and 1970 but won eight of the next nine SEC titles; Vince Dooley went 5-6 in 1977 and 6-5 in 1979 but was 43-4-1 over the next four seasons. Bryant’s turnaround came when he began to recruit black players; Dooley’s came when he signed Herschel Walker.
If there’s a surge coming at Georgia, it will likewise be tied to recruiting. The Dream Team, center Ben Jones said, “was the turning point we needed. The juice is back.”
Said Richt: “The recruiting class did give us momentum, and [there was momentum] even in the class itself. So-and-so would jump on, and then so-and-so, and there was a climax at the end with Isaiah [Crowell, the Columbus tailback] and [JUCO nose tackle Jonathan] Jenkins.”
There’s another component to G-Buzz 2011, and it’s a function of Richt being bold. Opening against Boise State is a considered risk — the Bulldogs might well lose, and there’d go your buzz — that had to be taken. “That game would jolt you back into the consciousness of the college football world,” he said, and the coach is milking it as feverishly as an ambidextrous dairy farmer. (Five seconds into his opening statement to the main media body, Richt spoke the words “Boise State.”)
In Athens on Wednesday, Richt stage-managed the unveiling of the Nike-styled Pro Combat uniforms the team will sport against Boise. He pretended to throw a fit when Murray and cornerback Brandon Boykin didn’t show up — the coach even threw his notepad — only to have the two players walk into the room in full (top-secret) regalia. “There’s excitement over our uniforms,” Richt said.
If Georgia loses to Boise and then to South Carolina the next week, excitement will yield to raging speculation over how Kirby Smart will fare as the Bulldogs’ head coach in 2012. In his pre-briefing briefing, Richt was reminded by Ivan Maisel of ESPN that Sports Illustrated writer Dan Jenkins once said, “No matter how pretty a woman is, there’s somebody somewhere who’s tired of her.”
Richt laughed out loud. Then he said, “I know where you’re going with this. We’ll see how pretty we look at the end of the season.”
The guess here that they’ll look pretty darn good. The guess is that Richt will do what demonstrably great coaches have failed to do: He’ll execute a mid-course correction and take Georgia back to the top of the SEC East.
By Mark Bradley
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239 comments Add your comment
Jose
July 21st, 2011
12:18 pm
Hey dawglex. Every year someone on every team says the same thing about their teammates. This isn’t something that hasn’t been said a million times over by other players on other teams.
The General Feeling
July 21st, 2011
12:18 pm
Mutt fans are goingto be so disappointed.
big john 360 lbs
July 21st, 2011
12:19 pm
M. Mitchell will be SEC Freshman of the Year!
The Tide wanted him and Crowell sooooo bad, but they didn’t get’em.
techfan
July 21st, 2011
12:20 pm
Can someone explain to me why this years recruiting class is so much better then the other top 10 recruiting classes UGA gets every year? Is Crowell the best high school running back that ever lived or something?
?
July 21st, 2011
12:20 pm
you lost 7 games last year
you have lost your top 2 receivers and the best one in the game
you lost your top 2 rushers. another one is out the first game.
sc returns their studs and you think you will beat them. miss st is a good team too
easy schedule? Haha.
6 losses again. It’s still bozo running the offense.
Les W. Moore
July 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
Mark Richt’s head is somewhere else. Not on football.
ATLBadger
July 21st, 2011
12:23 pm
Stop it with the Dream Team crap already…Every year UGA brings in boatloads of talent that most other programs can only dream of. Haven’t all of Richt’s classes been Top 10 according to Rivals? The problem at UGA recently hasn’t been lack of talent or recruits, it’s been finding the right kind of high school players and then properly developing them, along with instilling the right kind of work ethic.
The UGA downward spiral gets worse this year
July 21st, 2011
12:24 pm
They can’t explain it techfan. It’s like someone who pumps a stock and ignores the history of managements mistakes and just pretends things will be different while the stock continues on a downward spiral.
By far and by a huge margin, uga has the dumbest fan base on the planet. Boise and Kellen Moore is going to throw all over this team. And their anemic offense will look worse than a high school one.
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:24 pm
Les
did you watch the Media Days interview?
his head is clearly into his team and he showed it
Joey
July 21st, 2011
12:24 pm
Lots of experts here today.
ClemsonBrad
July 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
Seems silly to me to get so excited about UGA Football this year. I just don’t see how this team is not going to be .500 team in the SEC. I think this is Richt’s last season. How can we all put so much faith in freshman who have never stepped foot on a football field? What if Crowell specifically is a dud or gets hurt? Its already panic time for UGA….
Also, is their defense going to be THAT much better then the previous two disastrous seasons?
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
Downward spiral dude
If you are right, we will have a new coach.
If I’m right about turning it around in 2011, you will go into hiding or post under another name on the blog.
Either way, I will be back under the same name discussing college football.
David
July 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
Sure, Richt brought in another great recruiting class. Isn’t that the case every season? Why is this class so different?
Any for those who believe the statement that 7 or 8 of the frosh could start… well, let’s just say someone needs to keep an eye on Murray because he’s definitely been drinkin’.
Crystal Clear it is now ........
July 21st, 2011
12:27 pm
We have what? 12 games? At the end of the 12th game, we will fully know. It will be crystal clear to us all, the direction of the UGA program.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
UGA man, class of 71 & 73
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:28 pm
Clemson there are lots of reasons to expect better results in year 2 of our defense since we actually have 2 nose guards who will demand a double team unlike 2010 where we got gashed up the middle.
Joey
July 21st, 2011
12:28 pm
Hey Techies, I’d rather have a year or two of “spiraling down” than close to a decade on NCAA probation.
We do get to play the games this season to try to turn things around.
Y’all can’t do a damn thing about PROBATION!
THWGT
The UGA downward spiral gets worse this year
July 21st, 2011
12:28 pm
Amen badger. It’s retarded and illogical to boot.
Troll Power Ratings
July 21st, 2011
12:28 pm
Panic city in Trollville. Their worst nightmare just may come to pass. Keep those clicks and posts coming trolls, and especially you TECHIES. It is very supportive of additional articles about Georgia. Thanks for caring.
Busted
July 21st, 2011
12:29 pm
Gotta love all the haters on here saying the SAME thing over and over…..Every year it’s the same pump uga kool aid drinking morons…..”Why do so many of the ‘Hoodratz and fast-running gangsterz Mark Richt recruits wind up WORSE OFF and STILL-ILLITERATE when they leave UGA in contrast to when they began there?”…”wow are you and mr secret lovers? lost your top 2 wide receivers, one the best in the game. lost your top 2 rushers and the 3rd best sits out against a top 10 team. Also lost a couple of OL and 2 key defenders. Any other rational thinking person looks at that and says yikes. Not uga homers. As stewart mandel said, the most delusional fan base in the country.”
Can’t you idiots think of anything original to say? Didn’t UGA finish in the Top 10 6 out of the last 10 years with a final #2 & #3 ranking? And then there is TIDE ROLL….the most racist, delusional, back seat UGA fan in the nation! TIDE ROLL- you are unwanted on these blogs!!
Tech fans talking smack? Now that IS funny.
Tide Roll
July 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
It’s tide roll, not roll tide ya big dummies! Nice job on Lithonia’s Joe Harris. South Carolina bound. No worries, you guys are set at tackle for years to come with the Double D’s (Dabell and Dantzler), And big “T”, the big red head. The Bolles Acadamy mauler. Geez what a program
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
downward spiral
If you are right, we will have a new coach.
If I am right about the turnaround, you will disappear or change your blog handle.
Either way, I will be here to discuss college football.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
Daboo Swinney. Now all Clempsun fans go back into hiring. Not much longer till you get th echance to screw up another coaching hire. That is one thing Clempusn has done well since running off Ford.
On probation with that record????
July 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
In CPJ’s era, with no conference titles ( in a very easy conference) and no bowl wins, GT is on probation for cheating? With that record of NO ACHIEVEMENT???
CPJ is 1-2 vs sad, poor ole UGA who has been way off of its historical 8,9,10 wins and major bowls like 3 Cap One Bowls, 3 SUGAR bowls and one Outback ??? Only 1-2 vs poor old, sad, CMR?????
AAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHA
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
tide roll
what about 6′5″ 331 pounds chester Brown?
He is not quite the shade of skin you want but he is close……….
RNG
July 21st, 2011
12:33 pm
I can’t wait for sept 3 and watching all the ugag losers getting beat by boise. And it’s funny how beating boise is a statement when a year ago it would be the opposite. Lattimore is going to run all over your crap defense. Yeah i said crap. anything run by that nimrod grandma choker is crap. That guy is as dumb as a brick. We have a nosegaurd this year! Yippee. We’ll be great. Morons
UAB
July 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
You mean the guy that Ga State and South Bama wanted doginlex? Great pickup.
dawgwalker
July 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
they better do something this year cause next year the schedule is insane…………really tough .
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
Alabama 5-3 In the SEC West last year with all that talent of the defensive side of the ball, returning the Heisman Trophy winner, Julio Jones, Trent Richardson. The best OL line in Carpenter since John Hannah. I am wondering what happened to Bama last year? O and dont forget the QB who had not lost a game since he was in 2nd grade I believe. At least that what CBS would have us believe. Saban really did wonders with all that talent last year….
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
Thank you RNG for that awe inspiring commentary.
NOT
We are all dumber for having read it.
You receive no points
May God have mercy on your soul
Busted
July 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
Bring it RNG…my bet is you won’t be running that fat mouth after Sept 10th.
Greg
July 21st, 2011
12:36 pm
Focus on your own probation problems losers
http://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1241987
A fair question is this:
July 21st, 2011
12:37 pm
Your school runs up on my school, say 450 yds rushing AND 500 yds passing BUT LOSES. My school got two first downs but kicked 8 FGS and we won the game 24-23.
What is the coin toss about? Penetration or the FINAL score? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?? Which team in this scenario do you want?? Hmmmm??
CPJ has a clunky, gimmicky Offense that at times, grinds and grinds out useless yards but his record vs UGA is 1-2 and he has no record of major achievements.
Busted
July 21st, 2011
12:37 pm
UAB…that is the one. The one Turd Roll says would be a savior because of his skin color.
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:38 pm
UAB
The kid only started playing football 3 years ago
He was at Dawg night and dominated every drill he was in
If richt didn’t get him now, someone else would have got him(alabama.auburn,florida,msu) and Richt would have been bashed for whiffing on another top in state prospect.
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:40 pm
Brown started playing football 3 years ago and was dominant in drills at Dawg night and would be snatched up later by a big school and richt would be bashed for letting another top flight instate recruit get away
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
12:41 pm
mark where are my comments?
StevoDeg
July 21st, 2011
12:41 pm
I’m excited about this season. The majority of my friends have already written us off because of last year, so I think we’ll sneak up and bite a few of them on the rear end.
Is there a picture of our new uniforms?
And Mr. Bradley, if you’re in Hoover, you are a mere 20 minutes away from me. I feel like I could see you, which I could’ve. I thought about going to see UGA today but slept late.
RNG
July 21st, 2011
12:43 pm
I have facts to support my beliefs. You rely on praying and hope.
GT gang ...........um, ah, do some math
July 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
Since 1967 and counting Bobby Dodd, GT has had about 9 or 10 football coaches.
Dodd, Fulmer, Carson, Rodgers, Curry, Ross, Lewis, O’Leary, CPJ and possible one or two others that I cannot recall. Is this a +/- 5 year tenure per coach?
With this irrefutable history of football coaches coming and going and coming and going at GT, is CPJ not entering his 4th season??
Does history not suggest that they leave about every 5 years??? GT had better win 5 or 6 this year ( GT’s average) or he is in deep T.
CPJ wants that soon to be open TARHEEL HC job anyway in his home state of North Carolina.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA
captguitarman
July 21st, 2011
12:46 pm
Hate to be the wet blanket again, but that Hype Disease is highly contagious at these annual gatherings (I could hardly believe what came out of the Ol’ Ball Coach’s mouth – he must have caught a bad case of it). Clearly de Nile isn’t just a river in Egypt is it? Most SEC coaches would be very worried if they had a team where 7 or 8 freshmen could start, and even more if they had to depend on them once the typical SEC season really gets cranking. Imagine a highly regarded recruit, now a starting freshman (let’s say a lineman just for fun) lining up against the likes of an experienced, senior Nick Farley type in a very important game, or championship. Farley’s gone, but lots more like him still lurking out there – on all teams in all positions. It’s the SEC, stupid – every player you see was a highly touted recruit once, before two or three years playing in the SEC transformed them into killers. And the uniform thing again? Should we laugh or cry at that? The black jerseys and helmets thing worked all of one time didn’t it? What actually works every day is coaches who take not once ounce of sh*t from newly minted high school prima donnas or seasoned vets, and who are breathing fire at practice, and setting the performance bar higher every day and setting rock hard rules and standards and demanding self-discipline and focus on the prize 24/7. CMR is a good man, and maybe he has changed things and will turn it all around. Dooley did. Richt could too — but not the dispassionate aloof Richt on the sidelines the last several years. And maybe Bradley and others are right that things are different with the coaches and the entire program. We’ll see. Lot’s of wishin’ and a hopin’ and a pickin’ and a prayin’ out there. This will be the last year for that if de Nile is a river that runs through Athens too.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
July 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
I’m really sick of 1953Dawg. Please, please, please quit calling yourself a Dawg fan. YOU’RE NOT!!!
Crimson Tide
July 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
Low dummy
Let’s see. We lost on the road to LSU and SC. Both top 10 teams and at home in the 4th qtr to the nat champions.
You on the other hand lost 7 games and have equal or very close recruiting classes as we do with a much easier schedule. So you really need to shup up.
cattledawg
July 21st, 2011
12:50 pm
Mark, would you stop with the Kirby smart band wagon. If the dogs hire Smart as hc then Im dropping my season tix. Smart will wet his pants if he ever leaves Saban.
Tracy
July 21st, 2011
12:53 pm
Tide Roll…the team is already about 80% black at a school that is 95% white. Richt recruits only black players now so we will soon be another Florida A&M. Be patient.
@rng
July 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
what facts? carolina is a miserable never finished in the top ten or won anything program, that loses 5-6 games a year. 4 all time bowl wins, never even snoiffed a major bowl or BCS 14-42-2 all time vs Ga., tradition-less bunch of cluck, cluck, cluck.
McDawg
July 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
D will be real fast real and tough-O-Line is the only question mark-not real worried about the backfield or the WRs
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
July 21st, 2011
1:00 pm
Who is Nick Farley?
McDawg
July 21st, 2011
1:00 pm
really
Neal
July 21st, 2011
1:00 pm
Think about this….just when they say “you cant be beat” ……UGA 24 Bama or LSU:21
jtdawgfan
July 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
Stewart Mandell is a TOOL – just like you Chuck