Mark Richt gives a doubting Bulldog Nation reason to believe
Bottom line: A lot of Georgia folks still like this guy. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Here’s one case of goodness being its own reward. The events of this offseason have reminded us that it was never this coach Georgia fans had come to dislike; it was only this coach’s diminishing record. Mark Richt has given those folks reason to believe the record is subject to sudden change, and the cloud of gloom that figured to shroud the 2011 season has all but lifted. (At least for now.)
Georgia folks are optimistic. Cynics among us will insist that Georgia folks are always optimistic until reality descends — then they’re ready to fire their coach. After the Bulldogs lost to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl to finish 6-7, there were a couple of anxious days when some who know the inner workings of the program weren’t certain Richt would keep his job. But here he is, and he’s not acting like a coach about to get canned.
He’s cheerful, almost aggressively so. “I plan on having a hell of a year,” Richt said last month.
In public appearances across the state, he has been greeted not with skepticism, but with an enthusiasm that has redoubled. It’s as if Georgia fans spent the winter contemplating life without Richt and concluded they still want this guy as their coach. They just want him to win more games.
Toward that end, Richt won big on signing day. The “Dream Team” might prove to have been overblown — recruiting classes often are — but there can be no denying that its compilation came at the exact right moment. Georgia fans were wondering if their program still mattered, and the addition of a half-dozen major prospects delivered the message that it does. But there was another component to this offseason, this having to do with Richt himself.
His constituency had come to wonder if winning meant as much to him as it does to them. His answer came in measured steps, but it was the answer Georgia folks wanted. Richt re-assigned strength coach Dave Van Halanger, often described as his best friend, and replaced him with fierce lifetime Bulldog Joe Tereshinski. The mat drills that were Van Halanger’s staple, the exercise routine that had spawned the Richtian slogan “Finish the Drill”? They were dropped.
So was Washaun Ealey, the running back of great promise who kept losing his way. Gone, too, is Caleb King, another hyped runner who failed to meet obligations. “Some of [the departing Bulldogs] left because they wanted to leave,” Richt told the Bulldog Club of Metro Atlanta. “Some we helped out the door.”
A bit later, Richt conceded: “I might not be as patient as I once was.”
This drew the loudest applause of the night, and in that moment it was possible to believe that this coach might well stay in place another 10 years. For all the criticism he has received, nobody who knows Richt wants him to fail. The personal affection Georgia fans have for this coach has been, if not a game-winner, then at least a game-changer.
As of this month, the elements that make up Georgia football have again come into alignment: The coach has been reborn, the players rededicated, the fans re-energized. “You’re either on the bus or you’re not,” Richt said that rainy night in Atlanta. (He has spoken the same words other places.) “If you’re not, you need to get off. If you are, great — now let’s go have some fun.”
Recent seasons have drained the joy from Georgia football. This figures to be the year the fun returns. Unless the Bulldogs lose to Boise State and South Carolina. But they won’t.
By Mark Bradley
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116 comments Add your comment
Teriyaki Dawg
August 28th, 2011
10:26 am
I want a sandwich from Hooters right now!! A boob sandwich.
Producer
August 28th, 2011
10:33 am
Weatherdog, take a peek at the very first post of this blog. I figured I had better say what a great man Richt was before everyone else did it for me. Now, if you like a mediocre, uninspiring football coach at what is supposedly a top tier program, that’s your problem. Richt has many of you buffaloed with this “good man” stuff. I’m familiar with many folks who do more for the poor as far as monetary donations and commitments of persona time than this guy andddd they don’t have to wear it on their sleeves or have favorable journalists practically bl**ing them in the jungle. What Dog fans want is a winning coach and a winning team. Richt should not still be employed by my university with the record he’s given us the last three seasons.
pugweezel7
August 28th, 2011
10:46 am
lets play the games…then we can talk………………go dawgs………….
dawgit
August 28th, 2011
10:53 am
I’m cautiously optimistic. After going downhill in 2008 and 2009 I thought there was no way Richt would let that continue for 3 years in a row. Then last year happened.
Joey
August 28th, 2011
10:55 am
“nobody who knows Richt wants him to fail.”
*********************************
That is so true, Mark B. I’ve vented many times on here criticizing Richt, but most of it is his stubbornness regarding unperforming assistants. A trait that wonderful as a person, but not so much when he is an executive, which is what Richt is.
The fact that Martinez or Bobo have not naturally progressed to become head coaches somewhere seems to be lost on Richt. Just as he turned a blind eye (for a couple of years too many) to Martinez’s defenses giveing up 40+ points in big games, he now seems to not notice that Bobo’s offenses get shut down for halves (or games) at a time. 3-and-outs galore!
Hopefully Richt will be more involved and has found some new schemes and formations to sprinkle into a stale offense.
Everybody that know football, knows there will be a well-coached football team in the Dome next Saturday – Boise St.
The only question is, will there be two well-coached teams?
Numberwang
August 28th, 2011
11:02 am
There’s nobody I want to succeed more than Coach Richt. I think he’s done everything he can to turn this ship around and I think the boys will respond this year. I see much more wins this year than last.
Kool aid drinkers galore
August 28th, 2011
11:03 am
Next Saturday dawg fans will witness a coach who has 2 & 3 star players out coach a guy with 4 and 5 star players. Peterson will give Richt and Mike Bozo a clinic. Sad……..
Homepage | MrSEC.com
August 28th, 2011
11:05 am
[...] Mark Bradley: “This figures to be the year the fun returns.” Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree on Mark Richt: “He’s a lot different from last [...]
Sept3rdDawgDay!!
August 28th, 2011
11:11 am
Kool aid drinkers galore, are you a dawg fan, seriously, are you?
crow eater
August 28th, 2011
11:21 am
One thing for certain is that there will be a lot of crow eaters win or lose come Saturday in dawgie land.
Richt farewell tour
August 28th, 2011
11:23 am
begins in 6 days. Be there!
Mr. Tater head
August 28th, 2011
11:32 am
UGA will get spanked in their new ghetto gear 47 – 9.
War Dang Dawg
August 28th, 2011
11:47 am
He’s such a good man. At least I think he is. I don’t really know him, and the players he recruits often turn out to be bad actors. But he does appear to be one hell of a guy.
Now, can he coach? After 10 years that’s still in doubt. This should be Richt’s last year to establish that he is the right man for this job.
H-Town Dawg
August 28th, 2011
12:32 pm
LMAO @ the stealth nerds hatin’ on the Dawgs! CMR and the Dawgs are taking care of business this season. Choke on that, energy vampires!
GO DAWGS!!!
RedandBlackDAWG
August 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
UGA should be proud to have a man like CMR as head coach. For fans that think that the world revolves around just winning the NC each year, no coach will be good enough for them.
Team performance is cylical for every team and rough stretches should be expected for any team some time or another. Do you think Saban expected to lose the games he did last year. Except for the Auburn fans, do you see a lot of the “Fire Saban” crowd on blogs? UGA blogs have a lot of Tech. fans posing under different handles trying to be negative about UGA. 1 out of 10 wins in the last 10 years and they come onto a blog and spout negative things about UGA. At least be significant in the big picture before you make yourself a target of disdain.
I think most die hard fans of UGA want CMR to succeed and believe he will. He is not without reasoning powers and he will get the ship turned around and will make changes as they are needed.
GO DAWGS and GATA
Producer
August 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
I’ll take the temperment of Vince Lombardi, Woody Hayes or The Bear any day over the saintly Richt. Winning or at least the attempt or drive to win and the achievement of athletic excellence is all that matters on the football field. Off the field, feel free to go drive nails into a Habitat for Humanity House with Jimmy Carter.
OldFan
August 28th, 2011
1:35 pm
Getting on the bus and all this other stuff are fine, but we’re a program that’s been in decline. if it’s going to be different, it has to be different on the field. I’m a CMR supporter, but he has to produce a team that plays fundamentally sound football and executes to the level of its athleticism. We have too many good athletes not to be playing at a more competitive level. So, it’s time, CMR. Prove you’re the coach we want you to be.
suwanee dawg
August 28th, 2011
2:02 pm
This off season, Richt has done what he needed to do until now. Strong recruiting, new attitude, fewer off field issues,and new S&C coach. I hope he stays for another ten years. The only thing he needs to address is the questionable play calling from Boo Boo and the general lack of creativity on offense. Hard to believe we are all excited after 6-7, but I think we sense some change. These 12-0 comments are a bit strong and silly, but I think we all look forward this fall to 4 quarters of smash mouth football with discipline and control. GATA.
WDE
August 28th, 2011
2:09 pm
@Producer how’s that win at any price working out at the U or Ohio State, North Carolina etc fans with your pompous overbearing grasping outlook are a big reasons these coaches and programs feel the need to cheat to win. I’m glad CMR is our coach I hope he can move us in the right direction, if not we will have to make a change but I would never want to replace him with a person that put winning ahead of all else..its a short term plan that has very long term ramifications.
Reese
August 28th, 2011
2:28 pm
Mark,
I’d say there’s a low level of optimism. Richt has underperformed AP Preson Poll 4 out of last 5 seasons. 20% chance top 15 or better.
http://www.pollspeak.com/data/over-underrated-2010-AP-5-Year-OtoU.htm
Richt’s #5 on Coach’s hotseat.
http://www.coacheshotseat.com/MarkRicht.htm
So you think folks feel optimistic about Richt?
SOUTHGADAWG88
August 28th, 2011
2:29 pm
We shall find out in 6 days what’s what…looking forward to it.
Reese
August 28th, 2011
2:33 pm
Go Dawgs, Sic Em, woof!
CEPH
August 28th, 2011
2:34 pm
I have just watched Stafford dismantle NE. What a tragedy, if he had played for anyone other than Saint Richt and Boo Boo he would have won the heisman!!! Whats worse is Richt even dissed him.
All those players we put in the NFL and we have nothing to show for it .
Reese
August 28th, 2011
2:46 pm
I’m optimistic. But we have beaten the preseason AP poll only once in 5 years. Maybe this is the year. Yahoo!
Bo
August 28th, 2011
2:56 pm
I’m not as optimisitic as 9-3. I’d like to see a change in the direction though, 5-7 wouldn’t work. to me, I think you have to set up reachable goals. 7-5, that’s an improvement, and a doable goal. AD McGarity said he just wants too see some improvement. 9-3 is setting too high of an expectation, we don’t wan to add pressur eon the boys or the coach. Let’s just get better boys.
I figure 4 wins against Ole Miss, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State, and Vanderbilt for sure. Other 3 wins should be against all the 6-7 teams: Tenn, Kent, G Tech.
7-5.
REAL DAWG'S N FALCONS FAN
August 28th, 2011
3:12 pm
Any person or member of BULLDAWG Nation that want’s to fire coach Richt is plainly an idiot. Do we care to revisit life before Richt ?there might come a time when the dawgs need a new coach ,I do not believe that time is in the near future.here is a coach that graduates his players,and has done a very good job as head coach.If you are a what have you done for me lately person,then maybe you should find another team to fufill your expectation’s! the dawgs will win big again with coach richt end of story.if you want coach to be fired you are entiled to your opinion,i’m proud to say the dawgs are my team win or lose,look around people auburn,lsu miami ohio state all are being investigated by ncaa,and their players don’t graduate.Richt is not just a coach ,he is a very important role model for all UGA to be proud of ,and I’m glad he’s our coach.GO DAWGS!
Snoop Dawg
August 28th, 2011
3:21 pm
We should change the name from Bulldog Nation to the Koolaid Nation. Ole Preacha Man’s making that elixir of mirage again… Wonder how many reasons he’s already thought up to explain the disappointment that comes along with the hangover…
The Energy Bus–that’s funny. I’m gonna keep my binoculars on Richt a lot this year on the sidelines to see if he’s on the energy bus this year. If he is, it’ll be a first as he has modeled himself after the Buddha with his emotionless persona on the sidelines up till now. We’ll see if he provides any emotional energy for his players on the sidelines. Then we’ll see if he’s on the energy bus, or if we are all on another bus to Abilene with da Preacha Man…
Jake
August 28th, 2011
3:21 pm
Real Dawg, no one wants Richt fired, but if he doesn’t have a big year, it’s not the end of the world to get a new coach. Look at what new coaches did at Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Miss St, Auburn.
Teriyaki Dawg
August 28th, 2011
3:29 pm
I wish Hooters delivered….food and s e x
ChemDog1
August 28th, 2011
3:33 pm
7 losses was tough last year, but it gives us a reason to believe!
Producer
August 28th, 2011
3:37 pm
WDE, where did I say anything about getting a cheating coach? Give me a coach who can motivate the players by any means including the players actually being scared of the coach. Now there’s a novel idea!!
RRXsing
August 28th, 2011
3:41 pm
#1 We have had top recruits fr years, top 5 over last decade in recruiting, yet went 6-7 last seaosn so that didn’t help.
#2 If having big guys was key, Nebraska would win the Champship each year. If endurance runnign was key, track stars owuld be recruited exclusively, and they’re not.
#3 If certain players leaving made the team better, the team should have won more games after Zach Mettenberger left. But they didn’t.
After years of watching Coach Richt try to make changes to win more games, only to fail in 2008, 2009 and again in 2010, going from 11 wins to 10 to 8 to 6, I’ve come to agree with so many others that Coach Richt really doesn’t know what changes to make, and when he gets that right, he can’t follow it through until it shows up on the field.
that said, I expect the team to finish better than last year. And I do hope I’m wrong, but history points elsewhere.
Tone
August 28th, 2011
3:43 pm
I don’t like the direction of wins over last 3 years, but hopeful, because it can’t get worse, right?
Fire Mark Richt!!!
August 28th, 2011
4:02 pm
In recognition of the start of the 2011 season I’d like to be the first to express my outrage.
UGAer
August 28th, 2011
4:35 pm
Class is having one of your players contact the opponent’s head coach and taunt him. Probably should have the whole team do that. I think Richt has used that before and it worked (sort of). All of the UGA fans should do a preemptive apology to Boise State so they know what to expect from you. Boise fans get ready for some delusional DOG fans that will be obnoxiously drunk, peeing in every corner of the dome and spouting how they are a national championship contender. When it’s over they do not say “good game” but “you stole it from us” or “the referees blew the game”. Plus “fire coach Richt”. They are what’s know as fair weather fans. GO UCF!!!
Bangler
August 28th, 2011
5:41 pm
a) ga as a state, good to recruit in, didn’t help last year, see 7 loss record, been in top 5 for decade
b) kicking mett off last year didn’t help team win more games–ask 11-1 Butler Community College
c) adding more pounds and running more miles won’t cure anything–ask Texas last year
SEC Fan
August 28th, 2011
5:56 pm
Bradey,I think I would wait until the season is over before proclaiming Richt to be the “comeback kid”. Of course, 8 wins will be good enough for Adams, McGarity and a lot of the UGA fan base, esp. if one of those wins is UF.
Georgia to Meet Its Doomsday
August 28th, 2011
6:34 pm
The Georgia Bulldogs will meet its DOOMSDAY and the Beginning of the END for CMR when they play Boise State…..We will be playing the Boise State Fight Song all over the state in celebration of the defeat of the DAWGS and especially the defeat of CMR….Good Riddance CMR!!!!!!!
I want CMR to FAIL
August 28th, 2011
6:39 pm
I want CMR to fail and to fail like the LOSER he is….he can not coach nor manage nor motivate a team to win……and it will surely show up in the major blowout loss to Boise State. We pray to God it will be the beginning of the end of the CMR era at Georgia.
LoganvilleDAWG
August 28th, 2011
6:41 pm
Why can’t most of the people that say they are TRUE DAWG fans support Coach Richt. You look at the 3 prior coaches & not a SINGLE ONE has a good a record as Coach Richt. I think alot of Coach Dooley but if he had not had Herschel Walker he would not have won a NC. So lets support our coach & players & win some football games. There has been a vast improvement this year vs. last year, it started the end of December & is still going on. But all of you dipsticks that think you know the program as well as college football are lost. Hey Snoop Dog instead of watching Coach Richt thru your binoculars why don’t you make some noise in Sanford stadium. It used to be a tough place to play, but not anymore. All of you so called fans just sit there & complain about the game.
So please support our HC, asst. coaches & our players, make some noise & let the other teams be afraid to play in Sanford stadium like it used to be.
FBFan
August 28th, 2011
6:57 pm
CMR is driving that bus right off a cliff. I got off at the last stop…..sorry for the rest of you.
Vampire Bill
August 28th, 2011
7:12 pm
I sure wish we could get some good football talk out of these AJC blogs instead of all the same ole stuff. How about a break down of Boise St’s strengths and weaknesses? Compare O and D lines and how we match up? It’s really a shame we’re still discussing the past down seasons and if Richt will get fired?
Even a injury report would be nice……
UCF ALUMNUS
August 28th, 2011
7:24 pm
I must’ve read fifty times in these blogs that Georgia lost last year to UCF in the Liberty Bowl. UCF was a top 25 team last year! Quit nipping at our heels and get over it. (I grew up in Atlanta and still follow the local sports).
ZinoDawg
August 28th, 2011
8:11 pm
I love the Dawgs. But no kool aid for me this year. The last time we played we got beat by UCF! UCF for god’s sake! Until they show me something against Boise State I’m going to shut up and chill. But man how I hope I am pleasantly surprised!
Bill Grogan
August 28th, 2011
8:15 pm
For sure, dogs will find out if the BS QB graduated last year.
huffsleeper
August 28th, 2011
8:49 pm
Richt is a good man and everyone is optimistic, until the first quarter of the first game and razzle dazzle has the dogs stunned. I hope UGA has a good year but I believe this will be the year to finish the drill and get a modern coach.
BKing42
August 28th, 2011
9:36 pm
I will be at the Dome Sept 3…tickets came in Wednesday…Absolutely can’t wait to kick off the football season…Let’s hold off on the whole, “Fire Richt” conversation….I will give $23 to anyone willing to bet me(that’s all I have left after spending my paycheck on these tickets) that Chizik, Spurrier, Saban(who is going into his 5th season at Bama) will not have whe winning percentage that Richt had in his 1st 5 seasons at UGA…Richt won 52 games in 5 years during 11 game seasons, people…!!!!! Now, I hate to sound like I’m living in the past…sometimes I wish I were, but the man can coach…I don’t want to make excuses for him, and I have never been one to do that but here I go…2008, UGA had 31 season ending injuries…and still won 10 games…that is insane…2009, Joe Cox…need I say more? I know the Ginger Ninja was a damngooddawg, but come on! Guy threw 4 pics trying to throw the ball out of bounds and couldn’t make it to the sideline…Not quite your prototypical SEC QB Canon!!! Last season was pitiful, but we got our asses handed to us by better teams…I don’t believe the whole, “we shoulda coulda woulda” thing…He is a winning coach…You idiots act like UGA was kicking ass when Goff and Donnan were here…Shut up!!! Florida, LSU, Bama have been better than us the last 3 years….so what…Maybe Richt can reverse the trend…Maybe he won’t! Hopefully you delusional fans will be eating crow at the end of the year…I am not going to blast the guy for the past, I just hope he gives us something to hang our hats on in the future….GO DAWGS!!!
Athens Dawg
August 28th, 2011
9:50 pm
I loved that post BKing42. Good one.
Athens Dawg
August 28th, 2011
9:56 pm
Also when will people realize that we aren’t Oregon State, VT, or anybody else that Boise has faced. We’re Georgia and believe it or not we’re a great, hard nosed football team regardless of our record last season. Boise is not going to roll over us and you’d be a fool to think they are. We’re from the SEC and Boise hasn’t fared too well vs. the SEC. We’ll see how it goes.
BKing42
August 28th, 2011
10:08 pm
I would not be going to the game if I thought it was a lost cause….UGA is gonna show up to play…9-10 times, that equals a hellova game….now…Are they gonna stay and play 4 quarters??? I would be drilling that into these players’ heads all week if I were Richt!!!! Nevada was down 2 scores at the half and they shocked the world…If UGA does what they have been training to do, they will do what They should do, and win it in a walk!!!!