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
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:55 am
uga2002
Your stats look a little different when you take out the coaches who cheated to get the title
Tressel
Carroll
Chizik
Saban-????
Also, Meyer had Herschel II in Tebow. Florida will never win another one with Tebow. That’s why Meyer got sick and left. He knew it.And don’t spew Utah at me. They played a weak schedule and beat Pitt in a bowl game. Whooppeedeefrickingdoo.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:56 am
I meant without Tebow
JB
July 26th, 2011
9:56 am
DawginLex………..I agree, but if it was MY 3 mil dollar job on the line, I would put Bobo back to QB coach and I would take over the play calling…….Although some people will jump on this quick and say scoring has not been a problem. True, but not beating a team with a winning record last year was also a problem.
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
9:57 am
Worse part, does everyone realize the dream team is made up of freshman? High schoolers. Teenagers.
And the SEC is filled with NFL players. Many of whom when they go to the NFL will start. That’s not a dream team. A dream team is Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown in the backfield. A dream team is the Nebraska team that demolished Florida in the mid 90s. Probably the greatest team in history. A dream team is Cam Newton with Julio and AJ. A dream team is Tebow with Mark Ingram.
A dream team is not made up of teens. Unless, their hot girls and not playing football. Then that’s kind of a dream team.
Otherwise, no. This ain’t a dream, this is scary we’ve sunk to this level.
rock steady freddy
July 26th, 2011
9:57 am
Richt is getting READY to ROCK STEADY, just like OL’ FREDDY! AaROOF!
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
9:58 am
JB
I totally agree. But as I have said, if the defense can get us back to 14 or 15 PPG allowed, Bobo won’t be viewed as a problem anymore though.
bamaguy
July 26th, 2011
9:59 am
All those crystal footballs surrounding the state of Georgia has made some UGA fans touchy (Alabama (2) AU and UA, Florida (3) UF(2) FSU(1), Louisiana, LSU (2), Tennessee, UT (1). You can tell the touchy ones, they go to great lengths to point out issues at other schools while ignoring their own.
DP
July 26th, 2011
9:59 am
I thought Richt had lost it, but giving a name to his recruiting class and unveiling those new Nike combat uniforms are the kind of motivational tactics that lead to championships.
slydog
July 26th, 2011
10:00 am
BREAKING NEWS!!!! Julio Jones and Trent Richardson.
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=145&f=3154&t=7691039
No more troll tides..hahahhahahaha
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
10:01 am
uga2002
nobody with a brain should expect all of the Dream Teamers to play and shouldn’t expect many of them to make a difference at all in 2011
My guess is Marshall at CB, Swann at safety, Mitchell at WR, Drew at LB and Crowell at Rb will see playing time. Marshall may start.
The point being made about the Dream Team is after the 6-7 season, a lot of folks, including our opponent’s coaches were using the dropoff against us on the recruiting trail yet Richt still pulled off a top class.
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
10:01 am
Tressel didn’t have time to cheat by the time he won. Nothing on Chizik after over a year of review on Newton and that’s with lots of investigators that came up with nothing but they’re hanging out hoping something will come up i.e. “not over till we say it’s over.” But it’s over. Alabama’s issues are not Sabans. Carroll yes.
So no, it looks worse for us. Without Carroll and the two outliers you’re down to 2.7 years.
How about not trying to add anything. And regardless, they won. They went undefeated and won. Sure Carroll’s was vacated but they won it on the field. We’re not winning on the field. And don’t give me because we run a clean program, he have secondary violations all of the time and I’m kind of concerned that something is going to come out of Columbus we don’t like. Boosters are going to start getting desperate and doing stupid stuff. Tressel was a great man of faith too you know, he looked the other way.
JB
July 26th, 2011
10:03 am
I would like to see the Dawgs win a close game against a ranked team where Richt’s coaching obviously made the difference.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
10:04 am
I’m just ready for the season to start
uga2002
July 26th, 2011
10:05 am
@sly, what event were they at that also had Saban there as well taking pictures? Dude’s no idiot. Got a feeling it might not amount to anything. Don’t get your hopes up.
Tc
July 26th, 2011
10:05 am
JB, try to think of some past examples, it is very hard to do.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
10:05 am
Tressel cheated. And you can make the argument that we should have played for the title
Swami Sez
July 26th, 2011
10:07 am
Buh Bye Mark Richt!
Jimbo Donnan
July 26th, 2011
10:10 am
For years now Mark Richt has hooked UGA fans into a Ponzi scheme. You urchins keep paying him millions is so laughable.
SSIgator
July 26th, 2011
10:11 am
“There’s no sense of gloom and doom.”
Translation:
Man, this is the tastiest batch of Kool-Aid I have ever made. Pour me another glass honey. Go Dawgs!
Tuscaloosa Sporting Goods STore
July 26th, 2011
10:13 am
JUST IN
SPECIAL – Trent Richardson autographed jerseys for sale.
Other memorabilia autographed by Tide players on sale.
Here comes the NCAA to Tuscaloosa sporting goods store.
Saban has gone beserk.
Jimmy D.
July 26th, 2011
10:13 am
You UGA fans have been hooked into a ponzi scheme by paying Richt millions every year. So laughable
MountainDawg
July 26th, 2011
10:14 am
I’m not certain how it’ll play out. The defense has potential to do well, but it’s not a given. The OL & RBs are questionable. However, we’ve got a solid QB, great TE & decent WRs. Right now, I’d say between 7-5 & 9-3.
Tc
July 26th, 2011
10:18 am
Mark my words when we go 7-4 these same kook aid drinkers will be talking about how 7-4 is better than last years 6-7 and that we are making progress and need to give CMR another year. They will then next year will be our year. Keep that Koop aid coming and hand me my crack pipe as well.
slydog
July 26th, 2011
10:18 am
@uga 2002.. probably won’t amount to a major shutdown like what will happen at Ohio St., but it is a major violation. Almost along the same lines as selling a jersey (AJ Green). Just read the NCAA rule at the top.
If Richt has another winning season (no worse than 8-4), at a bare minimum, he will get another year simply because of Grantham’s contract.
techfan
July 26th, 2011
10:19 am
This just makes me wonder what he was planning to do the last three seasons.
Tc
July 26th, 2011
10:20 am
When we go 7-4 you egg heads will be saying it is better than last years 6-7 so we need to keep CMR.
LJ
July 26th, 2011
10:22 am
What’s Richt’s record since 2008 against ranked teams?
2-9
What’s Richt’s record against ranked team in 2010?
0-5
What’s Richt’s record against winning teams in 2010?
0-6
Sorry to interupt the kool aide club.
How much patience will the Bulldog Nation show this season? | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg
July 26th, 2011
10:24 am
[...] not close), but I don’t believe it would be cause for writing off the season. After all, as Richt pointed out Monday night at the Bulldog Club gathering at the Cobb Galleria, Georgia opens with what appears likely to be “the two best teams we play all [...]
bamaguy
July 26th, 2011
10:27 am
I ask my UGA buddies at work this question and I get a variety of interesting answers. “If I could guarantee that UGA would go 9-2 for the next ten seasons, but those two losses would mean no SEC or National Championships, would you take that deal”?
TOates
July 26th, 2011
10:29 am
uga2002…. I laugh at you. You are a pathetic moron who thinks he knows something. You don’t know ____! I would love for you to put your money where your mouth is, but you hide behind some psuedo-name and know when you had to pay up, you would turn tail and hide. If only you would remove the UGA association in your name, as the type of “fan” you are certainly seems that of an uneducated person, or that of one who needed some assistance to get through school. Are you a special needs person? It is okay if you are, don’t be shy about such. You still are a beautiful person, no matter what others say. Hang in there, and always remember, in the immortal words of Stuart Smalley, “I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And doggone it, people like me.” Good luck, fool….!!!
WDE
July 26th, 2011
10:31 am
@SSIgator glad to know that the Musky Aid your drinking prevents you from even questioning the state of Gator Nation…MAN that must be 90 proof juice. Questions at QB, OL, new HC with no experience new OC with proven program killing experience and still no questions…? Yep the East is yours at the very least..
Jason
July 26th, 2011
10:31 am
Richt reminds me of Obama. Both are going down in a sinking ship and both are trying to act all tough and it’s easy to see through their facade.
LJ
July 26th, 2011
10:32 am
Mark Richt with all his phony over the top happy talk reminds one of the Michael Scott character on “The Office”. I can easily hear Michael Scott giving the speech Richt gave to the Bulldog club, aka kool aide drinkers.
Richt., the King of Platitudes. aka Mark “Michael Scott” Richt:
“No gloom & doom on this team”
“We were close last year”
“We just had a down year”
“Wait until the team takes the field in those new jerseys with that new digital scoreboard. Everything will be different then”
“I plan on having a hell of a year, are you with me?”
LHarding Dawg
July 26th, 2011
10:33 am
While most of you people are looking back in time. I’m looking forward to the 2011 season. Right now every team in America is undefeated. Talking smack is about the only thing going on right now.
This week we are planning our 35th. trip to the GA-FL game and I can honestly say we have always had a good time, win or lose. Granted we had a better time in the winning years. We are also planning on being at Boise, Auburn, Miss State, and Kentucky games. We normally watch the Tech game in Las Vegas (so I can legally help pay for my trip by betting on the GA/Tech game). But even if Tech won, I can assure you, we would not let that put a damper on the trip.
So, while you guys look back to the past, I’m looking forward to a great season of football, travel, and fun with the Bulldogs.
TOates
July 26th, 2011
10:33 am
Okay, folks, we play a 12 game season, let’s get that straight. And love the 2-10 quote of Richt’s record against Florida when he has only coached 10 years at UGA. This place is chalk full of some smart ones, I see.
Alan
July 26th, 2011
10:33 am
bamaguy
9-2 when there are 12 games plus a bowl each season?
TOates
July 26th, 2011
10:35 am
LJ, who are you again?
The General Feeling
July 26th, 2011
10:39 am
Every optimistic UGA fan should spend some time with a Tennessee fan and compare/contrast the first 10 years of Phil Fulmer and Mark Richt.
Mutt fans, the comparison will scare the crap out of you. And you don’t have a BCS title to hang-on.
The General Feeling
July 26th, 2011
10:43 am
JB @ 10:03 am posted: I would like to see the Dawgs win a close game against a ranked team where Richt’s coaching obviously made the difference.
You’d have to go back to 2001. Is that okay, JB?
slydog
July 26th, 2011
10:43 am
The question remains: Do we want to have a dominant football program or just be good enough to compete? We are not Alabama, Ohio St., or Nebraska. I get that. Neither are we South Carolina, Ole Miss, or Wisconsin, teams who catch lightning in a bottle every now and then. We are somewhere in the middle. In recent years, the program has regressed past even that marker. There is more optimism on The Flats with a triple option offense than in Athens with a pro-style offense, pro-style defense, and twice as many NFL players. CMR can win it all running a (relatively) clean program. There is dirt lying around every program. It’s mostly outsiders who get these institutions caught holding the bag. 10-2, 9-3, and 8-4 is acceptable 5 x times in ten years with this type of talent. However, that record should not include a sub .500 record against your biggest rival, depending on two freshman qb’s, DB’s leaving WR’s wide open down the middle or the sideline, dumb penalties after great plays, dancing on Vanderbilt’s logo, fumbling at the goal line every week, too many simple traffic charges to name, etc. When you have a nice coach, where football is obviously not his passion (no problem there), then character mistakes by players, missed recruiting opportunites, and, bone headed play-calling, undisciplined play is not acceptable. If UF, Alabama, Ohio St., USC, and LSU can win NC with hacks for quarterbacks, then why can’t we? I can’t include Auburn, because Cam Newton was the best in the SEC since Herschel.
Tide Roll
July 26th, 2011
10:46 am
Have you people seen the Offensive Line depth chart from the Rivals preview of the Dawgs? Some kid named Hugh Williams is backing up Cordy Glenn. Ben Reynolds, 6′2″ 265, is your back up center. And Austin Long (missed spring, back injury), and Dallas Lee (missed spring, asthma like condition), are backing up Burnette and Anderson. Only school in America who’s 2nd team offensive line is in worse shape physically than their starters, and they haven’t played a down of college football! How can you scrimmage? One injury to a starter, and your looking at elevating some walkon with no experience, an injured backup with no experience, or a true freshman with no experience. In the toughest defensive conference in America. Something is seriously wrong with your program when in the face of these challenges, the Richt/Bobo braintrust bring in the 9th rated offensive line class in the CONFERENCE (per rivals), Why don’t you Georgia fans address these specifics and demand answers from Richt/Booboo rather than continuously speaking in general terms, like how much you love the Dawgs, and how fired up you are, and how you can’t wait, and all that other crap. This is why your program loses to Colorado and Central Florida. Ya’ll enable it to.
Hook is Set!
July 26th, 2011
10:49 am
Just to show autographed items from everyone is found if you look close enough…the point being made is that if a player DID not sell his autograph or the item, the NCAA has no jurisdiction.
http://redandblack.com/2011/06/30/signs-of-trouble-autograph-sales-violate-ncaa-regulations/
WDE
July 26th, 2011
10:50 am
@LJ got a great idea stick with whoever is your HC and we will keep ours..troll.
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
10:51 am
DawginLex
July 26th, 2011
8:21 am
Here are some more for the TROLL VILLAGE
11.) 2-8 versus florida
12.) No National titles since 1980
13.) Richt looks like Helen Hunt
14.) Summer national champs
15.) Kool aid drinkers
Just reference a number and save time
*************************************************
SSI
Just list #15 you moron
Field Goal Jesus is the answer
July 26th, 2011
10:53 am
You people forget that Boo Boo is still around. Face it, Richt has now allowed mediocre South Carolina to surpass the UGA football program. Tums anyone?
WDE
July 26th, 2011
10:54 am
@Tide Roll why don’t Bama fans address the 4th place finish in the West not the SEC in the West..
WDE
July 26th, 2011
10:59 am
@Field Goal Jesus is the answer I think USCe will have to beat us more than once to admit they have surpassed anyone..nice try troll…back to the bridge!
Uga2002
July 26th, 2011
11:05 am
@oates?
I graduated from UGA in 02, great job, at Emory for my MBA. You graduated from UGA when?
CMR is 2-10 against UF, you want me to say they won 2 and lost 8, I say they played 10 but only won 2. 2-10. Personal preference. Kind of like I mentioned Auburn scored on 7 drives out of their 10 against us… cough… grantham choked. 7-10. Or should I say 7-3? I’ll stick with 7-10. I’d hate for you to add.
slydog
July 26th, 2011
11:07 am
the fact remains: CMR has done less with more. Bottom line. Here is a nice analogy: John Cooper. Remember him? What did Ohio St. do while he was there? NFL talent and All-Americans all over the place. What about after that? They are not in trouble over some tattoos and sports gear, it was the cover-up. We all know CMR would not have covered that simple matter up (unless it was Aaron Murray or Stafford).
Richt's Island
July 26th, 2011
11:18 am
” Come on little buddy!”
Richt and his merry gang of misfits seem to think that the entire SEC East has collapsed. The folks who think that USC is going to fold up shop, pack their bags, and go on a bender are just looking through rose colored glasses. To think that Garcia is not embarrassed and has much to prove after his public thrashing by the USC adminisration and Spurrier need to think again. The first game USC has is against East Carolina, and EC is not bad, not too good either. Spurrier will do just enough to get by EC, but will focus his efforts on the SEC East and that second game against UGA.
Just to share, here is the 2011 SEC Helmet schedule.
http://www.sectalk.com/boards/sec-football-talk/101874-2011-sec-helmet-schedule.html