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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
239 comments Add your comment
MD
July 21st, 2011
3:13 pm
Buckeye, for being fairly quick witted, is on hear just to get a rise. Does it well, but it’s nauseating. He’s banned from Chip’s blog because he contributes absolutely nothing expect “Anointed One II”, “Overrated”, etc, and it get’s old reading it. Tide Roll is somewhat entertaining, but he pours it on pretty thick sometimes, but he’ll throw in a meaningful post 1 out of every 12.
I’ve committed the cardinal rule which is; don’t comment and they may go away.
Anyway Buckeye, you’re as sorry as your 0-9 vs. the SEC circling the drain, has been TOSU.
headley lamar
July 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
That 5 year overall of 53-21 record is best in SEC east. which is good but no titles to show for it.
True. All you can keep doing is winning alot and putting yourself in position. The titles will come.
TruBlu
July 21st, 2011
3:15 pm
Richt’s 14-12 over last 2 season, good for 7th in the SEC.
ramblingbuzz
July 21st, 2011
3:15 pm
Ain’t it remarkable how Bark Madly predicts an SEC or MNC for UGAg every preseason and then admits he was wrong about halfway thru the season? He just likes those kudos and warm fuzzies from the Doggie Nation.
TruBlu
July 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
From 11 wins in 07′, to 10 in 08′, to 8 in 0′, to 6 in 10′.
What a wonderfullly amazing program. Headed in right direction. What’s coming? 4 wins in 2011? 2 wins in 2012? 0 wins in 2013? -2 wins in 2014?
Dog Island Gator
July 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
Here we go again with CMR and his theatrics in Hoover. He’s a great pal to all his players. While all the other coaches are all serious. They must look at him and wish he stays around awhile.
TruBlu
July 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
Only Buzz around Richt is the sound of Buzzards circling, overhead.
headley lamar
July 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
Richt’s 14-12 over last 2 season, good for 7th in the SEC.
82-22 the eight years prior.
Last two years were the exception. Not the rule.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 21st, 2011
3:19 pm
Yeah and Spurrier isn’t a great pal to Garcia for letting him off the hook with 5 alcohol related suspensions. Sure a backup TE would have gotten off just as easy,lmao! Surely…..
TruBlu
July 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
In 08′ UGA fans thought they’d have a better season next year. Wrong.
In 09′ UGA fans thought they’d have a better season next year. Wrong.
In 10′ UGA fans thought they’d have a better season next year. Wrong.
In 11′, UGA fans thought they’d have a better season next year???
Anyone notice a pattern?
headley lamar
July 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
What a wonderfullly amazing program.
Thanks
Headed in right direction. What’s coming? 4 wins in 2011? 2 wins in 2012? 0 wins in 2013? -2 wins in 2014?
While the last two years haven’t been great. They were the exception.
Most likely UGA goes back to 10+ wins like they have done the majority of the time under Richt.
TruBlu
July 21st, 2011
3:23 pm
In 2008, UGA fans thought things would improve the next season. Wrong.
In 2009, UGA fans thought things would improve the next season. Wrong.
In 2010, UGA fans thought things would improve the next season. Wrong.
In 2011, UGA fans thought things would improve the next season. ?????
Jordan
July 21st, 2011
3:26 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/07/21/mark-richt-speaks-at-sec-media-days/
NONO
July 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
Shhh…BAM
That’s the sound of the door closing for Mark Richt.
ramblingbuzz
July 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
Well here we go again from black jerseys to combat fatigues. Richt must really believe that the uniform makes the football player no matter how many times he is proven wrong.
poopdawg
July 21st, 2011
3:37 pm
ramblingbuzz, you have incredible wisdom . Was that in a fortune cookie?
honky talkin'
July 21st, 2011
3:40 pm
The answer is “NO”. Richt can’t coach today’s players. The Jesus stuff doesn’t work and besides, he’s a PU$$Y.
DC
July 21st, 2011
3:42 pm
exception or a starting trend…honestly I dont loathe UGA like others do..but I think SEC has passed Richt by…He is a great man and a solid christian but sometimes you need change…yeah he has a great overall record..but with the kind of recruiting he gets on an annual basis there is no excuse not to have a BCS title or at least play for one..thoughts?
JB
July 21st, 2011
3:43 pm
Boy, just read an Article on Rivals about Spurrier and Carolina . Throwing out the rah rah stuff from us to them, the article painted a picture of them that is scary. They ARE loaded and Spurrier is crowing louder than ever, no pun intended. They do look tough.
techfan
July 21st, 2011
3:46 pm
True. All you can keep doing is winning alot and putting yourself in position. The titles will come.
No, that’s not all that you can do. You could actually win the titles also. Otherwise you are just a really consistent 2nd, 3rd, or 4th best team in the conference. It all depends on expectations though. If you are ok with 9-10 win seasons and beating Tech then Richt is your guy. If you want to compete for SEC championships then you probably need to move on to someone else.
JB
July 21st, 2011
3:56 pm
techfan……….you are wise…… I love the Dawgs, but that is where we are.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
July 21st, 2011
3:58 pm
Why in the world would we take advice from “techfan?” You can’t even lose your virginity. What makes you think you know anything about football?
JB
July 21st, 2011
3:59 pm
The Above comments from DC and techfan are what the world see’s in Athens. We all think a lot of Mark and the University, but these guys just made none hating, level headed comments about the reality of our program
Tide Roll's Fantasy World
July 21st, 2011
4:07 pm
Do you actually think UGA did not try to recruit Joe Harris, Jessaman Dunker, Jujuan James, Brandon Shell and Antonio Richardson? You need to do some recruiting homework if you do.
Got two questions I have never seen you address, though you purport to be a Bama fan, and I will take your word that you are. If you are not connected enough to the Bama program to answer #1, simply say so. The second question is asking your opinion, which you never seem to mind doing about anything UGA.
1. Did Saban try to recruit Cam Newton out of JUCO? If so, was he just outrecruited by Auburn? If not, why would he pass on a chance at the “greatest college QB in history?”
2. Do you think AJ McCarron should be starting this season at Bama, or is Saban keeping a better QB on the bench in Philip Sims?
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
July 21st, 2011
4:09 pm
Nobody repeats as SEC champs. It is VERY rare. Richt is the man.
beanster
July 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
I agree with techfan’s assessment too but isn’t finding “someone else” the million dollar question? (Or perhaps $3 or $4 million dollar question). Who? Chizik aside, the last few MNC winning coaches have been hard@sses. Something Richt will never be.
@JB — the talent at USC is getting scary. They are loaded this year. I can see our defense giving them a little more trouble than we did last year but it’s tough to see our offense having any more success. Hopefully plugging the middle on D and good clock management are enough to squeak out a W.
TOates
July 21st, 2011
4:33 pm
Roll TIde… it is so sad that your world revolves around spouting off on a newspapers comment section about a team you supposedly do not follow, nor care about. You are a loser, pathetic and I obviously do not know who the hell you think you are. Don’t hide behind your post name, stand up for yourself and quit being a ____!!!
D BAG TROLLS!
July 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
@Puppy don’t get upset your handle smells of troll, sorry. Tru does have so many I can not even try to keep up. He/She has posted atleast with 5-6 different handles on this story alone. Some of them have a UGA lean and others are just silly stats. If you are a true DAWG then bless you and GATA!!!!!!!!!!!
Tyler
July 21st, 2011
5:03 pm
Steve-O. the reason why Dawg fans would be “gloating” is becuase we actually care about our football team, unlike the North Avenue Trade School. That why it costs $250 to get tickets to the 1st UGA game of the season and only $4 to go to the first Tech game of the season.
Tyler
July 21st, 2011
5:05 pm
TRUBLU, we still beat tech 9 out of 10 times…… and it turns out tech is the cheaters lol……talk about sad program. I remind you I can buy a Tech home opener ticket for $4
YellowJacket
July 21st, 2011
7:59 pm
Tyler. You’re fired and replace with one of my farts.
J. Clowney
July 21st, 2011
8:02 pm
After Boise St. spanks the Dogs, Marcus Lattimore comes to town and puts 180+ on this great Todd Grantham defense and solidifies his position in the Heisman race.
John
July 21st, 2011
9:15 pm
I punched Paul Johnson in the nose.
LogicalUS
July 21st, 2011
10:48 pm
I am interested to hear why this Bradley predicts UGA will win the SEC East?
Let’s put it on record Mark….what is it about this team which has ALL the UGA homers at the AJC drooling????
WR…….UGA doesn’t even know who is playing or starting.
RB……..Again UGA doesn’t even know who is playing besides the scout team LB
OL……..UGA has one talented SEC calibre player in Jones with a sorrowful surrounding cast, a couple who spent time last season on the other side of the line.
QB……Best spot on the team BUT for all the “optimism” about Murray, let’s be honest his talents were NOT enough to beat any teams with winning records. HADES, his “talent” was enough to make any difference against subpar teams like Colorado, Central Florida or MissState.
The defense is banking on JC transfers and unproductive players from last season along with that disastrous secondary?
I wonder if Mark would be tooting the horn of other schools like UT, FL, Ky or Vandy if that was the make up of their team for this season??
Not likely, of course like his delusional UGA fanbase, Bradley is predicting championships because, well, they are UGA.
Just Me
July 21st, 2011
11:53 pm
Guys did you hear the SEC commish wants to raise the limit to 2.5!!! Man We can be all Shi..y Drunk and not get in trouble now. Well, unless we be drivin and no license.
Just Me
July 22nd, 2011
12:11 am
headley lamar
July 21st, 2011
2:39 pm
Jawga will go 14-0, win each game by 62 points.
No but 10-4 sounds about right.
So Headly UGA will lose 4 games and play in the BCSCG? A season is 12 games +1 CG + Bowl.
So UGA will play in the SECCG wit a record of what? 10-2 and lose the rest? (-3 and win the SECCG and lose the BCS game? The Dawgs ain’t playing in the DOME for the SECCG.
Gdawg
July 22nd, 2011
8:46 am
Buckeye…..u guys cheat and still SUCK…….I am not sure how much lower you can go, heck try Auburns mantra…..cheat and win a title.
Nike soccer cleats
July 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
I like football, prefer the beautiful and stylish football shoes to introduce aNike soccer cleats.
J
July 23rd, 2011
12:33 pm
SEC East is only a start. That satisfies noone. What the heck are we doing changing uniforms AGAIN?! Didn’t we learn our lesson after the debacle w/AL. Isn’t our AD against changing our traditional Uni’s? Why do we mess with perfection? I HATE Nike.