Hot seat, huh? Says Richt: ‘I plan on having a hell of a year’
An action figure of Vince Dooley (middle) was on sale at the Galleria. (Photo by M. Bradley)
On the final day of 2010, Georgia lost to Central Florida to finish 6-7. If you’d asked then, or even a month later, what the mood of Bulldog Nation would be come July, I’d have said, “As grim as Nick Saban with an impacted wisdom tooth.”
Which shows, not for the first time, how wrong I can be.
The Bulldog Club of Metro Atlanta held its kickoff meeting Monday night at the Cobb Galleria, and I’ve attended this annual event — I saw Vince Dooley address these folks, or perhaps their parents, in his final season as coach — often enough to be attuned to nuance in the Red & Black. I’ve seen some tepid Bulldog Club gatherings. This wasn’t one.
Even Georgia’s coach conceded that things could have been different. “This room could have been empty,” Mark Richt told the throng. “Everyone could have said, ‘Georgia’s in the tank.’ ”
Last week Richt sat in Hoover, Ala., and said, “There’s no sense of gloom and doom.” To the assembled SEC media not based in this state, that sounded strange. Wasn’t this guy perched on the hottest seat in the college game? Who was he kidding?
Well, I’m here to attest: Richt’s not kidding. The outside world might look on Georgia and see a program poised to dump its coach, but that’s not the reality. At least not yet, and maybe anytime soon. Indeed, the first question from Monday’s gathering began: “Coach, we love you.”
“There are a lot of good vibes,” said Greg McGarity, the Bulldog grad who’s now the Georgia athletic director. And how, someone asked, do you go from not scoring a touchdown against Central Florida to believing you can take the SEC East?
The Dream Team happened. “That was a salve,” McGarity said, speaking of the ballyhooed recruiting class. “We needed something to calm the waters.”
But it wasn’t just one signing class. (Although Richt did tell the gathering that three incoming freshmen have “Dream Team” tattooed on their arms.) Said McGarity: “People also responded to the [staff and personnel] moves Coach Richt made. That sent the message that it was not just business as usual. They sensed a renewed sense of passion.”
And then? “We had a quiet summer,” McGarity said.
Here he knocked on a wooden tabletop. His obvious point of reference: No Bulldog has lately made the sort of summer headlines — meaning: gotten arrested — too many had made in summers past. Said McGarity: “We’ve had good news on top of good news on top of good news.”
Moments earlier, Richt had sought to explain how this fire has been rekindled. “I think, ‘We’re Georgia, ‘ ” he said. “We’ve got good players. We stumbled last year, but we weren’t far off. Greg has done a good job supporting us. The fans have done a great job supporting us.”
Then this, indirectly addressing his job status: “No one’s pushing the panic button. We believe in what we’re doing.”
Yeah, you’re doubtless asking, but will anyone still believe if Georgia is 0-2? The Bulldogs open against Boise State and then face South Carolina, the reigning SEC East champ. Two victories would thrust UGA into the top 10. One would be considered acceptable. None would prove problematic.
“That’s the thing,” Richt said. “If [0-2] happens, can we withstand all the stuff that will come? But just looking at it on paper, those might be the two best teams we play all year.”
For all the emphasis on Boise and Carolina, we forget this part: Even at 0-2, Georgia wouldn’t necessarily be sunk. There’s a chance it could still be favored in every remaining game, a chance — at least on the proverbial paper — 0-2 could become 10-2. And 10-2, in the grand scheme, would be viewed as a Bulldog resurgence.
And Richt, whom the watching world expects to be as restless as a Dawg on a hot tin roof, looks serene even by his own famous standards. He acts as if he knows something something others don’t. “I plan on having a hell of a year,” he said.
(And yes, Mark Richt really did say “hell” — but he meant it in a heavenly way.)
By Mark Bradley
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408 comments Add your comment
LJ
July 26th, 2011
8:43 am
No sense of gloom & doom? How about this? 7 out of last 8 seasons, 88% of the time, Richt LOSES more games than the season before. Looking at 5-7 or worse. 12% chance Richt goes 7-5 or better. How’s that for gloom & doom? You simply have here the case of a coach who has failed so often in his attempts to improve win totals from season to season, that he has lost sight of how to fix it. Less turnovers & penalties was his last failed attempt to turn around an 8 win season. Richt failed, yet again, and won less games, ended up with 6 wins. Everything Richt tries, fails to turn the season around 7 out of 8 times. Richt’s not good at figuring out what’s wrong, and fixing it.
trupert
July 26th, 2011
8:45 am
The emotions that Mark Richt brings out in people is intersting too say the least.
90% of Ga fan’s believe in him and have faith that he will bring them SEC and National Championships.
90% of his rivals fans believe that if he survives this season he will bring Ga SEC and National Championships so, they try to tear him down at every turn.
This Ga fan’s glad that we have a coach of character who’s a winner and who brings out such fear from rival fan’s that they are more movitated to get rid of him than to have him stay at UGA. Go dawgs, sic em!!!
WDE
July 26th, 2011
8:45 am
@Mark Richt is Gay …looks like you woke up on the wrong side of probation troll.Hey anyone know when practice starts?
WDE
July 26th, 2011
8:48 am
@Douglas think just maybe you could wait and see if that small college guy can coach before we hit the panic button…our old OL coach was all about the hype coming in and hype was all we got.
Joey
July 26th, 2011
8:50 am
“I’d have said, “As grim as Nick Saban with an impacted wisdom tooth.”
******************************************
Classic MB.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
July 26th, 2011
8:53 am
Troll Central!
Tech goes 4- 8
UGA goes 9-3
Mark Richt is the coach this year so I will support him ALL YEAR LONG.
What's Richt's record against other SEC teams?
July 26th, 2011
8:54 am
Sure we are disappointed in the last couple of years, standards at UGA are high. Outside of Florida, how many SEC teams have a winning record against Mark Richt?
From some of your posts, you would think at least half the SEC would qualify.
For those who are ignorant, the answer is ZERO teams with winning records, with the exception of the Gators.
Dawg Gone
July 26th, 2011
8:55 am
@jeff exactly what are you basing your predictions of grandeur on…not your record vs the SEC are you? Bring you Smurf selves to the Dome and let’s light this candle….who in the Hello do you guys think you are Bama, UF ? There is always a chance any well coached team can win on any Saturday but we have heard the Boise hype machine before and if I remember correctly we crushed you into so much purple goo…
WDE
July 26th, 2011
8:57 am
Does anyone know when practice starts? I’m thinking it should be next week??
Joey
July 26th, 2011
8:57 am
“I know what the hell I’m doing.” “I plan on having a hell of a year.”
***********************************************
If Richt keeps this up, his pastor’s gonna wash his mouth out with soap!
But I like it.
Go Dawgs!
Whiskey Breath
July 26th, 2011
8:58 am
While you are chaulking up potential wins, is Florida on that list? The problem for all of us is, Ga will under perform relative to their talent level. I would love to see Richt strut around after a game, bow to the crowd, but it is not going to happen. You would think that easy schedule would get him thru, but they will lose to the lower members of the SEC east. Man he is one cocky dude. I guess you can if you have a fully body tan.
gt4ever
July 26th, 2011
9:01 am
Mark Richt has a Dream Team recruiting class EVERY year….
Notso Fast
July 26th, 2011
9:01 am
The Bulldogs are always numnber 1 in July. It when the season starts that they start to slide. MAYBE this year will be different.
Whiskey Breath
July 26th, 2011
9:02 am
Hey Mark, what would it take for you not to agree with Richt? You use to question authority, I guess there is no job security in doing that.
I want the old Mark back, the new one is a lousy homer!
Joey
July 26th, 2011
9:02 am
But you would say that Richt’s record is both unexplainable and unforgivable, right?
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
9:03 am
WDE practice starts on the 4th I believe.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
9:10 am
@uga2002 thank you Sir!
Rooster
July 26th, 2011
9:10 am
I will have a hell of a year when I see Richt fired.
j
July 26th, 2011
9:11 am
Ha! I think the fans would be happy if he can just get a winning record this year. I am not sure how many teams in the sec are better than Central Florida! My guess is a few though…
WDE
July 26th, 2011
9:12 am
@gt4ever yes and 9 of the last 10 years he has used them to beat that Bug Azz…bitter much little Bug? Now run on outside and enjoy your probation !
D
July 26th, 2011
9:14 am
@Rooster sorry but if we show solid improvement I hope that doesn’t happen for years.
joe
July 26th, 2011
9:14 am
And I plan on hitting the next mega lottery jackpot…LOL.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:15 am
Some of you people are amazing.
Central florida
Central Florida
Central florida
Wasn’t that last year?
Didn’t the coach say he got outcoached and took responsibility?
Isn’t it obvious by the changes that have been made that Richt saw there were problems?
The definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing and expect different results.
Richt has addressed several of the things we have all complained about.
Just let the season play out. For those of you pulling for us to lose so we will get a new coach, I truly feel sorry for you.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:16 am
where are the comments????
Wake up
July 26th, 2011
9:17 am
No Greg, they flunk out of school, sell items on Ebay, recruit kids that steal from current poodle players while on their recruiting trip to Athens and I’m not sure what rock you live under, but plenty of poodles have gottem DUI’s during CMR’s era. Wake up dude.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:17 am
wake up
I provided you a list. Reference a number
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
9:21 am
@What’s Richt’s record against other SEC teams?
If we want to play this game, what’s Richt’s record against Alabama with Saban? 50%. What does Saban have? A National Championship.
Chizik? 50%. What does Chizik have? Well they spotted us points and then rattled off 7 touchdowns to win 49-31. They had 10 drives, 7 of them were touchdowns. And what does Chizik have now?: A National Championship.
Bobby Petrino? 50%.And his team has a better chance of winning the SEC West than I think Alabama does. Alabama gets a lot of hype for going 9-3, losing 28-27 like they did to Auburn and having a new QB.
Derek Dooley? 100%. We’ve beaten every time. Once. But good enough! ugh.
How about Florida? Let’s look at that again. 2-10. Show me a national championship team that can’t win more than 20% against it’s biggest rival… a rival who doesn’t consider us their biggest btw.
This was a very painful exercise. Thanks @What’s Richt’s record against other SEC teams?
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
9:22 am
@j, don’t forget, it’d be nice to beat a team with a winning record. Haven’t done that since 09.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:24 am
uga2002
Did you paint your 1973 pinto boise blue?
Tc
July 26th, 2011
9:26 am
Nothing has changed! Every year bulldog fans come out forgetting about how sorry last season was. This is not different. All of the problems that existed last year, exist this year. He says “the first two teams may be the best teams we play all year” he is right, but that is only because we have an easy schedule. Next years schedule will be harder. I am a bulldog fan, but I am sick of the love CMR mentality no matter what. The guy has major weaknesses as a head coach period! We need change and he is incapable of it.
bamaguy
July 26th, 2011
9:29 am
uga2002: In the end it is all about winning championships. Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee all fired adequate coaches to pursue excellent ones (OK, Kiffin deserted Tennessee, but it was the right plan). Living here in Atlanta among UGA fans, this almost cult-like devotion to Richt is hard to understand. And the most amazing part is that he is paid like he is one of the top coaches in the country. I’d be having a helluva year too if I was being paid to not produce. He has worked that “good christian man” routine for millions.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:31 am
Good Tc, we will take your advice and tell McGarity to fire Richt now, 5 weeks before the season starts and 8 days before practice starts.
Thanks for your input.
Joey
July 26th, 2011
9:35 am
Whew! What I meant to write @ 9:02 was this:
But you would say that Richt’s record vs UF is both unexplainable and unforgivable, right?
Obviously Richt’s overall record is one of the best in the NCAA.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
9:39 am
@bamaguy all about the championships I read that right? How about 4th in the West? Can you say SLIDE??
Tc
July 26th, 2011
9:40 am
dawginLex, the problem is that once everybody starts drinking the kook aid, the next thing you know is we will lose 4 games and most of you will sugar coat it and say he is turning things around and did better than last season. We will be stuck another year and playing a much harder schedule being we can begin to make any real progress. The fans that think he is doing a poor job simply have higher standards than the ones that love him no matter what.
Dawg Trainer
July 26th, 2011
9:45 am
Because I’m a nice guy, I checked out the UT ‘arrest’. Seems as if Mr Johnson had a disagreement with a young lass and was urged to leave the drinking establishment. He did, along with a couple of friends. Walking, not driving. Apparently, the lady didn’t want to leave the situation alone. (ANY married guy can vouch for the previous sentence) Sooooo, she DRIVES up besides him to continue berating him. He slaps the side of the car (not her, the car). This gives one of Knoxville’s finest the opportunity to ‘arrest’ Mr. Johnson for PI and DC. Strangely enough, he only gets a ticket…not an overnight session in the drunk tank. And also strangely enough, this has been the ONLY blemish by actual UT players in the past 5 months.
So, there’s no news here.
Tc
July 26th, 2011
9:45 am
CMC is a master of getting sympathy for under performing. When he is finally fired he should go into politics on the democratic ticket.
Dallas,Tx Dawg
July 26th, 2011
9:46 am
You know, It kills me just how many armchair coaches come here to vent their ignorance. Half these clowns never made it past junior high football, much less high school, but they seem to have all the answers for a Division 1 football team. Why don’t you shut your mouth and stick to what you know the best, fantansy football and xbox 360 college football. I live for the Dawgs, and every year i ride the ups and downs with this team. I stick by them good or bad. We could be Auburn, enjoying a National Championship for the next year before the NCAA comes and snatches it back(See USC). Coach Richt doesn’t cheat, and while some of our players have turned out to be duds and some don’t get it, it could be worse. How short some of your memories are. We could still have Jim Donnan,who never won the SEC, or Ray Goff, who couldn’t make it to a bowl game. Be careful of what you wish for, you just might get it. We could end up with the next Jim Tressel. I’ll take my chances with Mark Richt. So why don’t you get on board with the program, or seriously, go find someone who wants to hear your garbage. GO DAWGS !!!!!!
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
9:47 am
I forgot, 50% against Les Miles. Who also has a National Championship since he got to LSU. Chizik took 2 years after inheriting a mess. MIles took 4 years. Saban was also 4 at LSU and then 3 at Alabama. Meyer won like Chizik in year 2 after inheriting a solid team and then year 4.
Gosh look at this:
BCS National Championships
2011- Auburn, Chizik had 2 years
2010 – Alabama, Saban had 3 years at Bama
2009 – Florida, Meyer at 4 years at UF
2008 – LSU, Miles at 4 years.
2007 – Florida, Meyer at 2 years.
2006 – Texas, Brown at 8 years
2005 – USC, Carroll at 4 years
2004 – LSU, Saban at 4 years
2003 – Ohio State, Tressel at 2 years
2002- Miami, Coker at 1 year
2001- Oklahoma, Stoops at 2 years
2000- FSU, Bowden at 24 years
1999- Tennessee, Fulmer at 4 years
So I guess our hope should be in Bowden? 24 years to win.
But seriously, the average is 5 years if you include Bowden, throw out the two outliers in Bowden and Coker and you’re right at 3 years. Which has been the average since Mack Brown won which is misleading considering UT will never fire him. They’re not fanatics out there in Austin. They don’t have to put up with watching everyone around them win national titles like we do. Just to review, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Florida and go back to LSU and UT.
So Richt is starting year 11. Sure there was a good run there of 10 plus wins but even then, we couldn’t break the ceiling and then when they ordained us #1 preseason, like so many here believe every year, we just came apart. Now 4 years of a record worse than the one before and now we’ve got to play Boise who many believe may make the National Title game to face off against Alabama (yawn, ain’t happening) and then South Carolina who is loaded.
Get out your snickers bar, we’re not going anywhere any time soon.
WDE
July 26th, 2011
9:47 am
@Tc who is CMC ? and real progress you do remember the 20 yr SEC championship drought don’t you?
Joey
July 26th, 2011
9:49 am
Nice, bamaguy.
I wouldn’t expect anything less from somebody with “guy” in his name.
But, speaking of cult-like worship, I don’t think UGA has any plans yet for the 10′ brass statue of our coach yet like you “guys”.
And yes, Bama is about championships, oh, and one other thing – NCAA Probation. Yes, with every Championship won since Bear Byrant retired, Bama has either been on, or was getting on NCAA Probation.
Congrats.
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
9:51 am
@bamaguy. I agree but I don’t think it’s about CMR per se. I think people just assume UGA = USC, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Miami, Texas and OU.It just should happen. We are elite. Always have been. Except, we’re not and have not been. You have to win games to be elite. You have to win championships. < plural.
This is nothing different then you should go support your baseball team when they suck. Why? Why reward them with money? Why reward them with shelter. Be discontent and let the market play out.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:51 am
i’ve not sugar coated anything. I was mad as he!! last year, especially after the bowl.
But all I’m saying is the man can’t be fired now so we might as well support him and the team. He at least hasn’t turned his nose up and said “nothing is worng”. He has made some changes. He fired his best friend and college roommate and probably lost a friend. He has reassigned a long time coaching co-worker in DVH from S&C to basically being a male secretary.
He also has eliminated the headlines of “UGA players arrested”.
give him a chance is all I’m saying. We could end up like UT.
EDawg71
July 26th, 2011
9:51 am
Will someone PLEASE teach the masses the difference between “loose” and “lose”???
1eyedJack
July 26th, 2011
9:51 am
Maybe that’s what’s wrong with this society. Too many people “simply have higher standards.” Plus the fact that you may never meet those lofty standards and die miserable.
Me? I’m just happy I’m not a GnaT fan.
NewnanDawg
July 26th, 2011
9:52 am
Sounds like Richt’s already making excuses for 0-2….
JB
July 26th, 2011
9:52 am
These kind of stories/blogs will do Richt nor Georgia any good at this point. We are damaged goods. It will have to be proven on the field and the field only. College football is a real in the moment kind of thing, and to the rest of the SEC, we are in a hangover funk. I am personally glad Mark is optimistic.
Sadly, for the world…and most of the fan base, he’ll have to show us. I’m pulling for him.
Tech Engineer
July 26th, 2011
9:53 am
I have been predicting that UGA will win the SEC. Still do!
SEC FAN
July 26th, 2011
9:54 am
Bradley must be hallucinating if thinks there is a remote chance for UGA to win ten remaining games if they lose the first two. The team will fall apart and Richt won’t be able to stop it. There are three more teams they’d best look out for: MS. State(better coached), UT in Knoxville and Auburn. If they lose the first two, 8-4 will be about the best Richt can hope for. Of course McGarity will dream up some flimsy excuse to keep him around. Mediocrity rules at UGA.
Tc
July 26th, 2011
9:54 am
Dallas, you mention Goff and Donnan as if they were horrible coaches. I agree that clearly Goff was not a good coach and Donnan was not the best either, but I challenge you to get their winning percentages while they we here. You will probably find that they were close to CMR,s. They may even be better. And for some reason they were fired and run off in the drop of a hat. Oh but CMR is different! Why because he one something big once, five years ago. Give me a break! Tell me something positive that has happened to our team in terms of winning big in the last three seasons. What? We beat Tech? Wow!