Win or lose Saturday, can Richt ever again feel safe at UGA?
"Let's try that play where we jump offside. That's working!" (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The label “must-win” has affixed itself to the South Carolina game, but a more precise description is “darn-well-better-win.” There’s a chance an 0-2 Georgia could still make something of its season. Say the Bulldogs win nine of their next 10: Wouldn’t 9-3 with a strong finish coming after 6-7 be construed as, ahem, significant improvement? That said …
Beyond simply saving himself for next week or next season, can Mark Richt ever again be truly safe in this job?
When the second game of any season is deemed, however inexactly, a “must-win,” matters have already deteriorated. When something is so far gone, is there any going back? The Georgia-Tennessee game of Oct. 6, 2007, was considered a “must-win” for Philip Fulmer, and he won it 35-14 and rose from 2-2 to 9-3 and led the Vols to the SEC East title (shading Georgia on a tiebreaker). Great recovery, huh?
Reality check: Philip Fulmer was fired in November 2008.
The Fulmer parallel is often invoked regarding Richt, and it’s apt. Both men won big for a good long while. Both took two SEC championships. (Fulmer even won a BCS title, a prize for which Georgia under Richt has never played.) Then they stopped winning so much. Fans noticed. Fans began asking: “Is he still the right guy?”
When enough fans ask that loaded question enough times, games stop being games and become referendums on the coach. This week a man who has a finger on the pulse of Bulldog Nation estimated Richt’s job-approval rating at five percent. Should Georgia lose to South Carolina, what might the approval rating be? Two-point-five percent? Zero percent?
We need to ask this, too: Even if Georgia wins this game, will Richt’s doubters again become believers? Or will they just doubt a bit less until he loses again?
A coach cannot serve for long at the displeasure of his constituency: This has always been true, but it’s truer than ever in a world where the athletic director has an e-mail address and anyone with Internet access can post on Twitter and Facebook and AJC.com. With so much money in play and so many seats to fill, can any AD wage a protracted fight against the wishes of his fans?
Loading ...When C.M. Newton was in charge at Kentucky and folks were upset that Bill Curry wasn’t winning, the AD advised the dissidents to go find another school to support. Even with such administrative backing, Curry wound up resigning. When you lose so often that the roar of discontent drowns out the huzzahs raised in any victory, you’re a goner even before you actually go.
Richt is treading perilously close to that tipping point. Losing to Boise State mightn’t have been so bad on its face — the Broncos arrived ranked No. 5 in the land and were favored by Vegas — but the manner of the loss was devastating. This disjointed performance didn’t augur a new beginning; this was merely more of the same, which made it worse than ever. You sign the Dream Team and can’t stay onside? To borrow from Steve Spurrier’s famous 1991 dismissal: “Georgia gets all these recruits, but I don’t know what happens to them.”
Should Georgia lose to South Carolina, as coached by the dastardly Spurrier, Richt won’t resign on the spot or be fired on Sunday. He might still win enough to keep his job. (For another year, anyway.) But here’s the bigger issue: Even a win over the Gamecocks won’t convince many folks that the 51-year-old Richt remains the daring young man who Finished The Drill way back when.
It might take another SEC championship to do that. It might take a BCS title. And if, after Boise, you espy such glory on the horizon … well, count yourself among that five percent.
By Mark Bradley
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594 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
September 9th, 2011
1:34 pm
Red panties idiot
I have predicted a SC win tomorrow 28-20
Probably need to change your blog handle. The AD got fired. Might want to read the paper every now and then and catch up
01HAWK
September 9th, 2011
1:35 pm
Anger Management Classes for DawginLex ……………………………..It is not that serious.
Red Panties
September 9th, 2011
1:36 pm
There you go again LEX, you really let the Gators get under you skin. Richt had the better team
last year and still couldn’t the worst team the Gators have had in years. Getting beat by the punter
must have really sent you bouncing off the walls.
Funny
September 9th, 2011
1:36 pm
I’m not gonna comment on whether Mark should stay or go, but I do like the Fulmer comparison. UT hasn’t done much without him. I think Mark has definitely suffered from the Van Gorder effect. People hate on Bobo yet his offensive schemes have let to more points per game than under the Richt playcalling era that won 2 SEC Championships. What has changed is the defense. Regardless, what kills me are people throw Richt under the bus and want to bring in a Muschamp or a Smart. Really?? Those guys are unproven have shown nothing outside of the leadership of coaches such as Saban and Brown. As a matter of fact, Muschamp’s defense didnt rank last season, remember?
So, if we get a new coach, let’s get a proven HEAD COACH.
DawginLex
September 9th, 2011
1:36 pm
I have zero tolerance for idiots.
List is very long
01HAWK
Red Panties
SSIGator
Others qualify, just don’t come to mind right now.
dawgbeenaround
September 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
Richt’s main problem is he refuses to fire the problem=BOBO. He is putting his job on the line for the” baby maker ” a stupid a@@ coach named Bobo..what a name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick
September 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
Good article, Mark. Maybe the finest I’ve read this season and definitely on the mark with regards to the cold hard truth.
I’m pulling for CMR and my beloved Dawgs.
But I’m losing hope…
Antoine Carr
September 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
It will be how we play not whether we win or lose. Actually I could get back on the BW if CMR actually coached a great game and we looked prepared and we lost a hard fought game by a field goal. (Oh yea did I mention including running the football consistantly) But I have not seen one of those in years and I do not have confidence that CMR is conpetent enough to do it.
DT
September 9th, 2011
1:38 pm
There are some of the Dumbest Fans I ever seen. CMR has sent you to 3 sec titles games in 10 years. None for the last 5 and your whinning. did we get any before he got here. Oh yes 20yrs. before that in 1982 I was 8 yrs. old then. So you better just remember where we were before. You all act like we won Sec Titles every other year. CMR is the reason we have been put back on map. And few bad years you want to hire New Coach. Be careful what you wish for Ray Goff and Jim Donnan need jobs!! CMR Please don’t listen to the dumb ignorant fans called UGA Fans don”t remember what happen before you came to Athens. So tell them to kiss your A$$ and keep coaching. I hope you beat Gamecocks and win the rest. Then all these people will be emailing and posting how great you are. Go Dawgs
DawginLex
September 9th, 2011
1:38 pm
I don’t live and die with wins and losses by UGA football.
i enjoy college football
I went to Georgia
I want them to win
If it is not a big deal to all of you idiots, why are you on this blog??????????????????????????????????
SSIgator
September 9th, 2011
1:40 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville -
You are correct about the bandwagon fans. If UGA somehow wins tomorrow they will need 18 wheelers with heavy duty suspension to carry all of them.
Antoine Carr
September 9th, 2011
1:40 pm
FUNNY: IT IS NOT THE DEFENSE IT IS THE HORRIBLE OFFENSE THAT IS THE WORST PART. I am not saying our defewnse is great, but how can anyone watch the offensive sequences w/o vomitting
Brave Hokie
September 9th, 2011
1:40 pm
“Georgia gets all these recruits, but I don’t know what happens to them.”
U gota luv Spurrier
DawginLex
September 9th, 2011
1:41 pm
Later boys
I win again in every way possible regardless of the outcome tomorrow
Losers
Mobile Dawg
September 9th, 2011
1:41 pm
See you guys Monday, heading to the beach, hope everyone has a great weekend, regardless of what happens in Athens tomorrow. We have much worse problems up there in Washington to worry about. That ought to make you all feel better.
Red Panties
September 9th, 2011
1:42 pm
DawginLex
September 9th, 2011
1:34 pm
Red panties idiot
I have predicted a SC win tomorrow 28-20
Sorry, it will be alot worse than that. Spurrier would rather beat Georgia than anyone in the SEC, if he gets you down he will just pour it on. He ask the about most points put on the dawgs in AthenS (48-49) when he brought the Gators to Athens in 1995. He promptly put 50+ on ya’ll. Times they are achagin.
B'dawg
September 9th, 2011
1:42 pm
Can someone tell me why Bobo is still around? No, really. What has he done to merit such consideration from Richt, or from an AD who supposedly wants the best from and for for his school ? Does beating Fla. 1 time in 1997 really give cause to keeping him around year after year? What the hell guys? Someone please inlighten me, cause I cant fathom why? Didnt McGarity ask Richt what does he need to be successful at Georgia?
lil dawg
September 9th, 2011
1:42 pm
SSlgator…yes, I have.
Funny
September 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
Here’s what I love about UGA and will always be proud to be a DAWG: Our fans are so freaking passionate. We are unranked yet Saturday will be out 60+ straight home sellout. Our UGA merchandise sales rank in the top ten annually. Love it!!!
Richt stays, Richt goes…bottom line is everyone on this site is here because they either love Georgia or they deep down want to be Georgia.
Go DAWGS!!!! PS…for those of you that may disagree on the last part, go see if we actually care about reading Tech articles and leaving comments. Boom!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
Lets just fire everyone now, cancel the season, 100% effort into hiring a new staff so he can focus on recruiting. Why worry about the games as most have already written the team off.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 9th, 2011
1:44 pm
…. I know why b/c some of you guys would be on here pi$ing and moaning about how long its taking the Universtiy to find the coach. Thats right some of you just cant be made to be happy.
So sit back and relax and let the season unfold and then let McGarity make a move if needed.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:44 pm
Funny
The Fulmer effect;
Tenn hasnt done much since Fulmer left LOL
What people dont realize Fulmer wasnt the same when his offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left
Thats a fact
Just like when Van Gorder left us
Red Panties
September 9th, 2011
1:45 pm
Lex, just remember when you start calling people names, you have already lost the arguement.
Sad Dawg formally known as Socal Dawg
September 9th, 2011
1:45 pm
The D struggles because our O want give them a rest by keeping them off the field. When we do score it’s on a 1 or 2 play drive. I don’t care what shape you’re in with no rest you do get tired.
Joey
September 9th, 2011
1:46 pm
“Everyone whines about the coaching, but I don’t believe that the coaches are inadequate. It’s the talent that has fallen off.”
****************************************************
Apparently the NFL didn’t get that memo, PMC. There are 36 current NFL players that played at UGA – compared to 24 from Bama, 28 from Auburn, 31 from UF.
The talent has been there all along . . .
chizik
September 9th, 2011
1:46 pm
Penn state 56
alabama 7
just remember bammers i still own you———————-
24 point lead blew it at home————————
bitter tractor drivers tossing 8 track players——————–
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:47 pm
Funny
Concerning Fulmer
Havent done much since Fulmer left LOL
People dont realize Fulmer was not the same when his offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left
Just like when Van Gorder left us
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:48 pm
Concerning Fulmer
Havent done much since Fulmer left
People dont realize Fulmer was not the same when his offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left
Just like when Van Gorder left us
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:48 pm
Funny
Concerning Fulmer
Havent done much since Fulmer left
Big Dawg
September 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
@DawginLex No lie, no joke.
dawg2
September 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
Hate to say it but:
SC 35 and dawgs 24
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
People dont realize Fulmer was not the same when his offensive coordinator David C left
Just like when Van Gorder left us
jerry
September 9th, 2011
1:50 pm
I have checked out the track record of UGA head football coaches hired. Keep Richt. The percentages are loaded in favor of them hiring either an incompetent, (Griffith), an idiot (Goff), a lucky pick (Dooley), or another average coach, e.g., Butts, Donnan, Richt. If anyone thinks UGA is going to give Gruden, Johnson, or Cowher the millions it would take, even they were interested, you are delusional. It also won’t be Petersen or Mullen. Best to keep Mild Mannered Mark.
Heath
September 9th, 2011
1:50 pm
UGA will never again win the “big” games under Richt. It doesn’t make me happy, but it is what it is. They have no discipline, they don’t take the coaching seriously, and the certainly do not ‘finish the drill.’ Good luck at Utah or wherever you end up CMR, and thanks for the momory of destroying Hawaii when Corso was saying they were going to win.
red hill
September 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
The scales fell from my eyes 3 years ago. It is time for Richt to go. This ship is rudderless and listing.
bd
Spokesman for the SEC East
September 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
Give him a lifetime contract!! PLEASE!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
People dont realize Fulmer was not the same when his OC left
dawg2
September 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
Penn will be luck to score 2 TD’s …
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
People Fulmer was not the same when his OC left
Just like when Van Gorder left us
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:53 pm
People dont realize Phil F was not the same when his OC left Just like when Van Gorder left us
Burdell 90
September 9th, 2011
1:53 pm
DawginLex…if you cant stand idiots, how do you stand yourself??
Still laughing…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:53 pm
Mark Bradley
Fix the stupid filter on here
Jay
September 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Mark Bradley,
Please stop calling the last Uga recruiting class the “Dream Team”
1. They haven’t done ANYTHING
2. It is insulting to the REAL Dream Team, the ‘92 Olympic basketball team
Rise above the hype that consumes you all too often when you write about Uga. They arent that great, havent been that great in years.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Fulmer lost his OC thats when Tenn spiraled out of control
14 Games, 6 W's, 8 LOSSES
September 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Let’s see, go 0-2 and then run the table—NOT
Richt loses to Miss State and he always loses to one team he should beat (Tenn, KY),
then the Gators tatoo him again. Let’s we have Bobo going head with Charlie Wies-I’ve got a side I
like in that one. So now Richt would be 1-4 in the SEC, the Auburn game is 50-50.
But I really don’t expect Richt will get to the Auburn game———-we need a whole new coaching staff.
war eagle
September 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Please keep Richt forever.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 9th, 2011
1:56 pm
Any of the Dream Team talking trash on Twitter yet
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 9th, 2011
1:56 pm
Joey,
True the NFL is littered with former UGA guys but what is the breakdown of those 36 w/ less than 5 years in the NFL and longer than 5 years? I know we still have John Kasay,Seymour,Stroud,Bailey,Ward,Daniels,Watson and others that Richt had no relationship in bringing to Athens. So while the number is outstanding it is not a direct correlation into how much talent this program has had the past 3 years.
Jim
September 9th, 2011
1:56 pm
Yeah sure Mark. Sure if they will lose this one and then only lose one more. riiiight.
Burdell 90
September 9th, 2011
1:56 pm
I-95, why do you want to filter the truth??