MrSEC.com » Georgia

Richt Waiting To Punish Arrested QB

John — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:08:34 +0000

It’s been 10 days since sophomore Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger was arrested for underage consumption/possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction, and two counts of possession of false identification.

Still, no punishment has been announced by Mark Richt.

“I’m disappointed, first off,” Richt said yesterday. “I did spend some time talking to him. There’s a little bit more information that I want to gather before I make a final decision. I would certainly think by the end of the week I’ll have a final decision on what we’re going to do.”

Richt also said the Mettenberger — who was in a 3-man competition for the Bulldogs’ starting job — “knows that he’s dug himself a hole and he wants to climb out. He knows that what has happened this last week is not going to define who he is and define his career. What he does from this point forward will define that.”

Georgia policy dictates that any alcohol-related arrest requires an automatic suspension of 10 percent of the season, which (rounding down) equals one game in football. Richt, however, could make the suspension longer.

The coach pointed out that Mettenberger’s reps in practice have not been cut due to his arrest. While that may be so, it’s hard to imagine his chances for winning the starting job — as the team’s most important leader — haven’t been negatively impacted by his arrest.

Fox sees first year at UGA as building block

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:50:41 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With Georgia’s loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament, the book closed on Mark Fox’ first season in Athens.
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Leslie scores 34, but Georgia falls in SEC tourney

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:28:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Georgia-Vanderbilt III turned out to be an unsatisfying sequel for the Bulldogs.
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Tourney Game Four – Georgia 77, Arkansas 64

John — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:23:18 +0000

It took about two minutes for Georgia to grab the lead in Game Four of the SEC Tournament. And they never gave it up over the final 38.

Behind 23 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists from Trey Thompkins, Georgia sent Arkansas to its sixth straight defeat, 77-64 in Nashville tonight.

Analysts agreed that the Razorbacks would need to hit threes if they were going to survive tonight. Turns out they hit only 1-of-12 for a chill-inducing 8%.

Georgia dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Hogs 41-25. In addition, four Dawgs finished in double digits (Thompkins, Travis Leslie with 21, and Ricky McPhee and Dustin Ware with 10 each).

For Arkansas, Michael Washington led the way with 20 points, followed by Courtney Fortson’s 16 and Marshawn Powell’s 10. Powell, who said earlier this week that UA was his team and that he would lead them, managed only three buckets from the field.

The Razorbacks finished the season 14-18 while Georgia improved to 14-16 and will now face Vanderbilt in tomorrow’s nightcap.

Several Commodore players made it clear on Wednesday that they would have preferred to play Arkansas… saying that they don’t match up well with the Bulldogs. We’ll see if Vandy looks the least bit timid tomorrow.

On a sidenote, we here at MrSEC.com went 4-for-4 in our Round One tourney picks. So what do you want to bet we pull a doughnut tomorrow?

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UGA QB Candidate Arrested

John — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:06:09 +0000

I’ve been 18. And I did some stupid things at that age (and a few since, too).

So I can fairly say that Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger did a really stupid thing in getting arrested early yesterday morning.

Mettenberger was arrested near Valdosta and charged with underage possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction, and two counts of having a fake ID.

He received the five citations from police in Remerton, Georgia at 1:30am ET Sunday morning.

What makes matters worse is the fact that Mettenberger is (or was) in a three-man competition to land Georgia’s starting quarterback job. My guess is that Aaron Murray and Logan Gray are now well ahead of Mr. Mettenberger in Mark Richt’s eyes.

The University of Georgia requires an automatic one-game suspension for any alcohol-related charge made against a Bulldog athlete. So it’s possible that Mettenberger could miss the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Again I say… stupid.

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Georgia football: From question marks to strength

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:52:05 +0000

UGA running backs find their footing
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Bulldogs fail to close out LSU

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:51:10 +0000

BATON ROUGE, La. – Tasmin Mitchell has been LSU’s best player all year long and did what he could to ensure he’d go out a winner in his final home game.
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No. 6 seed not all bad for Dogs

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:50:37 +0000

Georgia will head to the Southeastern Conference men’s basketball tournament in Nashville as the No. 6 seed from the East division.
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Fox wants Georgia to finish strong

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:23:10 +0000

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia has made plenty of strides in rebuilding a beleaguered program this season, but much like previous years, the regular season will come to an end without much on the line for the Bulldogs.
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Richt Says He Got The Right Man For DC Job

John — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:31:30 +0000

After a surprisingly long search for a new defensive coordinator, Georgia’s Mark Richt is saying all the right things about the man he finally landed — Todd Grantham.

Matter of fact, Richt’s words sound like those of every coach after he makes a hire:

“My only goal was to get the right man. My prayer was regardless of what path I took that in the end I’d get the very best man for the job, and we got that in Todd. I’m 100% convinced of that.”

Perhaps Georgia did land the right guy in Grantham. He is of the Nick Saban coaching tree and that seems to be the top fruit-producer in the country when it comes to hiring football coaches.

Not to pick on Richt, but these kinds of comments are all about selling a hire to fans — and in some cases — to the hire himself. After all, I’m guessing Grantham doesn’t like hearing that he was UGA’s fourth choice at best.

So Richt says he’s got the right guy. Derek Dooley will say the same about Justin Wilcox. And Urban Meyer will say the same about Teryl Austin.

Yet Richt first offered the job to John Chavis, Kirby Smart and Bud Foster.

Dooley first offered his coordinator gig to Kevin Steele and a handful of others.

And Meyer chased Tyrone Nix and actually hired George Edwards — who left just weeks later — before settling on Austin.

That doesn’t mean any of three new defensive coordinators in the East will be anything less than stellar. It just means fans should probably take it with a grain of salt when their head coaches say those fellas were the right men for the job all along.

They may well turn out to be… but something led those coaches toward several other candidates first.

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Georgia’s Fox As SEC Coach Of The Year?

John — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:19:58 +0000

His team is 5-9 in conference play. It’s 13-14 overall. And it hasn’t won a road game all year.

Yet Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes that Georgia’s Mark Fox should be named the SEC’s Coach of the Year for his first-year efforts.

Seriously.

I can name three coaches in Fox’s division that are more deserving of the honor:

John Calipari — Brought in a freshman class second to none and then somehow kept the egos in check and coaxed such youth (albeit talented youth) to a 12-2 record in the SEC.

Kevin Stallings — Has quietly put together the SEC’s clear-cut second best team. The Commodores are physical, smart and they refuse to go away.

Bruce Pearl — Made a stand on discipline by dismissing his best player yet still led UT to a top 15 RPI and wins over Kansas and Kentucky while dealing with numerous injuries and suspensions.

Fox has done a solid job in his debut season in Athens. The Dawgs have been better than expected and have become downright dangerous at Stegeman Coliseum.

The coach whose hire led to much head-scratching last year has given Bulldog fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future.

But Fox’s team does have two players — Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie — who are projected as future NBA lottery picks. So the cupboard isn’t completely bare.

And it’s hard to forget about that 13-14 record overall.

Credit Fox for a better-than-expected first year. But save the awards, trophies and honors for somebody else.

Grantham’s new scheme energizes Georgia’s defense

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:15:45 +0000

ATHENS — Not everything has changed, but Georgia’s defense could be excused for feeling like it has.
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Much-maligned bench helps tired Bulldogs hold off rival Gators

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:14:06 +0000

The Trey and Travis show got help from unlikely places on Saturday to help Georgia knock off Florida for just the second time in the last 14 meetings.
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Bulldogs have to bounce back quickly

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:04:12 +0000

ATHENS — Georgia doesn’t have time to dwell on its missed opportunity Thursday at Vanderbilt.
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UGA’s Bobo Says 5-Loss Season “Lit A Fire In Everybody”

John — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:26:52 +0000

Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo didn’t take a five-loss season lightly. According to him, no one in Athens did.

“Anytime you struggle as a football team and lose five games — which is not acceptable, we know it’s not acceptable — you’re going to soul-search for what we can do better. The first thing we can do better is block better, take care of the ball better and not turn it over, and (by doing those things) we’re going to be better immensely as an offense.

“You’re always searching for answers, and anytime you lose it’s, you know, ‘the sky is falling.’ But you just go to go back to taking care of the little things and getting better at each aspect and coaching your position better…

“We’ve had change. We’ve had turnover. We struggled last year. Eight and five. But sometimes that’s good: You need to be on the fire. And I think it’s lit a fire in everybody.”

We pause for positive Georgia fans to say that their team will be sooooo much better in 2010 because of 2009. And for negative Georgia fans to say, “We’ll believe it when we see it.”

The most-pressing issue facing Bobo personally is the Georgia quarterback position. Aaron Murrany, Zach Mettenberger and Logan Gray will all have a shot at the starting job when spring practice opens next week.

“There is not a clear-cut #1 going into the spring. Logan Gray will take the first reps with the (first-team) offense, but we are planning on rotating all three and giving all three an equal amount of looks with the first group.”

Splitting reps between three candidates will be a challenge, but it could be worse. Auburn will try to divy up snaps between four quarterback candidates.

Thompkins Hasn’t Thought About NBA Draft… Yet

John — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:05:05 +0000

Georgia star Trey Thompkins says he hasn’t “really thought about” leaving Athens after his sophomore season to enter the NBA draft.

Thompkins says that the progress Georgia makes will play into his decision. “… I want to be known as a guy who helped the program go from where it was to where it will be.”

Good quote.

Thompkins is projected by NBADraft.com as a lottery pick in 2011 if he returns to the Dawgs next season.

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McCoy Praises Georgia QB Murray

John — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:53:14 +0000

It really doesn’t mean anything, but it’s still nice for Georgia fans to hear: former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy recently bragged about UGA QB Aaron Murray.

According to Joe Schad of ESPN.com, McCoy told him that “Aaron Murray was one of the most impressive players he’s ever seen.”

Big words.

Murray will battle fellow sophomore Zach Mettenberger and junior Logan Gray this spring for the Dawgs’ starting quarterback position.

Dawgs Primed For National Title?

John — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:22:14 +0000

It was just a couple of years ago that Georgia fans were muy desilusionado over a preseason #1 team that tumbled to a 10-3 finish.

It was just a couple of months ago that Mark Richt and Damon Evans were having to answer questions about the state of the UGA program.

And it was just a couple of weeks ago that many Georgia faithful were disheartened by the “worst” signing class of the Richt era.

So much for all that negative talk, it’s time to look forward to 2011 — not 2010, but 2011 — and start thinking about a national title. Really?

Bill King, who runs the Junkyard Blawg for The AJC, posted a story on Friday asking fans to give their thoughts on a Rivals.com writer who thinks the Dawgs might be primed for a national title the year after next.

The fans response to Mr. King’s poll? Well, 51% of the 2,500-plus voters believe UGA will win “the SEC and national championships again” within two or three years.

Another 18% believe 2011 will be that year for Georgia.

But 31% say the Bulldogs won’t win an SEC or NCAA title “until Mark Richt is gone.”

Now that’s just 1/3rd of a 2,500-person online poll, but if the results are taken seriously, it does show that a solid chunk of the UGA fanbase is down on Richt at the moment.

Make of it what you will. Are the Dawgs headed back to the top in 2011? Or will Richt have to go before UGA climbs the mountain again?

Personally, I don’t know about 2011 — maybe, maybe not — but I also don’t believe jettisoning Richt would bring the Dawgs closer to a title. In fact, I think getting rid of a good coach would set them back further. But that’s just me.

Richt Talks Up Dooley

John — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:07:49 +0000

The current Georgia coach has nice things to say about the son of a legendary Georgia coach… who happens to now be coaching one of Georgia’s biggest rivals, Tennessee.

Marc Weiszer of The Athens Banner-Herald asked Mark Richt about coaching against Derek Dooley, the son of Vince Dooley.

“I’ll just say this — I’m a big fan of Derek. He’s a very sharp guy. He’s a very straightforward, honest guy. He’s a guy that I think we’re going to enjoy having him in the league.”

Not quite the same response that the name Lane Kiffin used to elicit, eh? Matter of fact, some of those kind statements about Dooley could probably be taken as references (at least on some level) to his brash predecessor.

Just last week, Boise State’s Chris Peterson also praised Dooley at length. In their days in the WAC, Peterson was 3-0 versus Tennessee’s new coach and averaged a 42-23 victory against him.

Tennessee fans will no doubt see all the praise for Dooley as honest love. Last year, they liked having the guy no one liked. Now they like having a guy that’s popular.

But folks around the league might be seeing this praise and thinking, “yeah, everyone’s glad to have add a guy to the SEC who went 4-8 at Louisiana Tech last year.”

Either way, it’s certainly a new dynamic in Knoxville.

A coach who isn’t detested by his rivals? Whoda thunk it?

(For the record, I’ve never been a guy who thought a coach had to be hated to be good. And the man commenting on Dooley in this piece comes to mind.)

Georgia basketball downs Alabama with dramatic comeback win

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:44:03 +0000

ATHENS, Ga. — Trey Thompkins admits, he was getting frustrated.

The free throws wouldn’t fall. The scoring chances weren’t there. His team, which had held a one-point lead at the half, had seen Alabama sink one bucket after another to go up by double digits.
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Consistency still eludes Georgia men’s basketball team

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:53:33 +0000

Overachieving and underachieving
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Good News For Richt At Georgia

John — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:11:40 +0000

Writers can talk about a coach being on the hot seat. Talkshow callers can scream, moan, whine and complain. Messageboards can melt. And athletic directors can give votes of confidence.

But in today’s sports world, it’s money that matters. (Cue Randy Newman.) And according to UGA officials, the amount of money coming in for Bulldog season tickets in 2010 is “very, very similar to 2007 and 2009.” (In ‘08, the Dawgs were preseason #1s and that led to higher than normal ticket sales.)

That, of course, is very good news for Mark Richt. Despite concerns over the direction of Georgia’s program and it’s recent recruiting class, UGA fans are still buying tickets. That shows support for Richt, his staff, and his ability to steer the Bulldogs’ boat.

As the “dean of SEC coaches,” Richt is in danger of fans growing tired of him. There are more complaints now on the internet and on talk radio than at any previous point in his tenure. More columnists and media personalities in and around Georgia have openly questioned the future of UGA’s football program.

But as long as fans continue to donate money and buy tickets, Richt will be Georgia’s coach. And that’s a good thing for the Bulldogs.

Georgia knocks off South Carolina

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 02:55:10 +0000

Georgia center Jeremy Price was asked to do something he hadn’t done all season: go the distance and be the inside presence for his team.
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Georgia’s McPhee more than just a scorer

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:06:52 +0000

ATHENS, Ga. — Finding a niche on the basketball court can lead to more playing time, greater contributions and more recognition.
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Georgia B’Baller Jackson Arrested

John — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:00:18 +0000

Georgia basketball player Albert Jackson was arrested overnight on a misdemeanor charge of hit and run of a parked vehicle.

Jackson was booked at about 2:30am ET this morning and was released two hours later on a $380 bond.

Jackson is a senior and the starting center on UGA’s basketball team.

UGA LB Coach To Make $190,000

John — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:45:35 +0000

New Georgia linebackers coach Warren Belin will receive a one-year contract worth $190,000 according to UGA officials.

Belin was hired from Vanderbilt last week. While his salary seems small compared to coordinator salaries in the SEC these days, it’s right in line with most position coaches. Fellow first-year Dawg coach Scott Lakatos, for example, will make $180,000 this year coaching Georgia’s secondary.

Belin will coach either the inside or outside linebackers in Athens… with new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham handling the other.

Ching: Fox ranks among SEC’s best

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:20:29 +0000

Can the coach of a last-place team win Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year honors?
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Bulldogs break out for big win

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:19:02 +0000

ATHENS — Georgia’s Saturday night 72-58 beating of No. 18 Vanderbilt wasn’t contradicted by a feeling of what could have been this season. The emotion trended to what could continue to be.
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Frustrated Georgia plays host to Vanderbilt tonight

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:04:18 +0000

ATHENS, Ga. — The scene had unfolded too many times.
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10 Things To Watch In The SEC

John — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:22:26 +0000

As I gear up for the drive home from Atlanta — thanks to Bob Neal and the “SportsNite” crew at CSS for hosting me last night, by the way — I thought I’d give you some things to think about.

Below are 10 SEC-related issues that I will be keeping a close eye on over the next three seasons.

Here’s goes:

1. South Carolina in 2010 — It appears to be a now or never season for Steve Spurrier and the Cocks. The big dogs in the East don’t look to be quite so big next year and the Gamecocks will have an edge with an experienced quarterback.

2. Arkansas in 2010 — Folks here in Atlanta keep waiting for Bobby Petrino to skip town again. If the Razorbacks can’t make progress with their defense this year, Petrino might start getting the itch to find an easier gig somewhere else.

3. Tennessee vs Georgia — In the 1990s, two teams from the East won SEC titles (Florida and Tennessee). In the 2000s, two teams from the East won SEC titles (Florida and Georgia). History shows that the East usually has two dominant programs at a time. There’s some uneasiness in both Athens and Knoxville these days. Over the next three years we should get a clearer picture of which program will best compete with Florida over the long haul.

4. Ole Miss vs Mississippi State — Houston Nutt and Dan Mullen are already firing small barbs at one another. Both schools are trying to win the battle for in-state recruits. Whichever school best takes control of the Magnolia State will be primed to potentially climb into the upper half of the SEC West on a regular basis.

5. Kentucky vs Vanderbilt — Someone has to be at the bottom of the East. The Vandy-UK rivalry is a lot closer historically than most folks realize. And Bobby Johnson just put together his best recruiting class. Can Vandy climb over the Wildcats long term? They’ll have to start beating them on the field again to do so.

6. LSU vs Auburn — Auburn appears to be on the rise while LSU has dropped nine games in the last two seasons. One of these teams will be Alabama’s stiffest competition in the years ahead. Which will it be?

7. Florida vs Alabama — Florida was the SEC’s best in 2008. Alabama was tops in 2009. Let’s see which team does what in the next three seasons. That’ll make it a “best-out-of-five” to claim “flagship program” status in the SEC.

8. Les Miles vs Mark Richt — Richt is the dean of SEC coaches and that’s never a good place to be. Miles is the guy who will always be compared to Nick Saban… and that’s not a good situation, either. Which man will be the last standing?

9. Which school will be the next first-timer to reach Atlanta — Ole Miss, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt have never made it to an SEC Championship Game. Which program will be the first to make it?

10. Nick Saban vs Urban Meyer — Like Richt and Miles, there’s a battle here to see who survives the longest. Will Meyer give in to stress and health concerns and walk away at some point in the next three years? Will Saban pull a Pete Carroll and head back to the NFL to prove himself at that level? Which great coach will outlast the other in the SEC?

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Georgia Talking Stadium Expansion

John — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:11:03 +0000

The board of directors of the University of Georgia Athletic Association will meet today to discuss possible facility upgrades at Sanford Stadium and Stegeman Coliseum.

Design work to revamp the face of the basketball arena and to build a large plaza behind the north stands of the football stadium has already been approved to the tune of $1.9 million.

Downey helps South Carolina rally past Georgia

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:47:06 +0000

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Devan Downey had 33 points including the driving basket with 50 seconds left that gave South Carolina a 78-77 victory over Georgia on Saturday night.
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Georgia basketball faces another road test

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:47:33 +0000

ATHENS, Ga. — Coach Mark Fox knew when he took the job at Georgia the culture had to change. He wanted to secure a home-court advantage, win big games against good competition and compete in the SEC.
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I Do Believe I’ve Been Called Out Over Richt

John — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:12:07 +0000

Bill King — the fine Georgia fan behind The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Junkyard Blawg — apparently isn’t a real big fan of MrSEC.com.

Yesterday he wrote the following:

“It’s a given that Mark Richt’s program lost a little momentum last season, which in the knee-jerk world of college football ‘analysis’ prompted the ‘hot seat’ talk that reached a crescendo during the prolonged search for a defensive coordinator. After Kirby Smart decided to stay at Alabama, MrSEC.com declared flatly that Richt was ‘in trouble’ and ‘his days are running out.’”

Mr. King then went on to say how “refreshing” it was that ESPN’s Chris Low wrote that Richt might be at Georgia for “the long haul.”

The suggestion seems to be that I am anti-Richt while Low is pro-Richt.

Here’s the problem with that… the quotes Mr. King used make it appear as though I was attacking Richt in fact came from a piece in which I was DEFENDING Richt, as you’ll see below.

I find it interesting that Mr. King took on MrSEC.com when this site (in the piece he quoted) was taking on the negativity of The AJC’s own Mark Bradley.

(For the record, I’m a fan of Mr. Bradley, but I believe he and Jeff Schultz both have overplayed Georgia’s perceived decline. Difference of opinion.)

So why would Mr. King take MrSEC.com to task rather than his fellow AJC writer? Hmmm.

Let’s provide you with a little history on this site’s many battles over Richt:

June 22, 2009 — I wrote that Richt (and Les Miles) would be sitting on the SEC’s hottest seats if they had bad seasons in 2009.

June 23, 2009 — A day later, after being hammered with “Why do you hate Richt?” emails, I explained that my ranking of Richt was based solely on his long tenure and the growing grumbles that were coming out of Georgia last spring. (I also referenced Mr. King’s first discussion of MrSEC in which he said of my “hot seat” prediction, Georgia fans are “disappointed, but we’re not deluded.”)

October 13, 2009 — I responded to two Southeastern writers who compared Richt to former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. I made it pretty clear that I believed any comparisons between those men’s tenures to be ridiculous. I also pointed out that on that same day, Paul Finebaum had written a column welcoming Richt “to the hot seat.” And later that same day, Richt himself wound up having to defend the state of his program during his weekly media conference.

October 13, 2009 — Later that evening I posted a by-the-numbers comparison of Fulmer and Richt in the 2000s… to further prove the point that Richt has NOT overseen a decline at UGA.

October 16, 2009 — Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News (whose writings I also enjoy) compared Richt to Tommy Tuberville. As I posted in my story, I agreed with his take in that both Tuberville and Richt had gotten in trouble over one bad year. Mr. Scarbinsky — apparently part of that “knee-jerk” crowd Mr. King wrote of — made the comparison for a different reason. He didn’t care about Richt’s resume, he only cared that he wasn’t getting the job done against Urban Meyer, just as Tuberville would have failed to do so against Nick Saban.

November 6, 2009 — By this time, our old buddy, Mr. King had grown tired of everyone in the South claiming that Richt had landed on the proverbial “hot seat.” I referenced his post and wrote that it was basically wishful thinking on his part.

January 4, 2010 — Fast forward to Georgia’s long search for a defensive coordinator. Mr. Bradley of The AJC had written that Richt needed to hire Kirby Smart from Alabama or else he would “have some explaining to do.” I wrote that getting the right man was more important than beating the clock. Again, I was defending Richt against something in The AJC.

January 12, 2010 — Finally, we come back to the post that Mr. King wrote of yesterday. Following Smart’s decision to stay at Alabama, I wrote that Richt IS in trouble at Georgia, though in my opinion his only mistake in his coordinator search was going after the biggest names in the business.

In the time between June of 2009 and now, I have gone from receiving emails from Richt-backers (for saying he was on the hot seat) to receiving emails from Richt-attackers (for being an “apologist” for the coach).

Read my writings and you’ll see that my take on the man has never changed.

I think he is the third best coach in the SEC behind only Saban and Meyer — as I wrote on January 18th.

But I also believe coaches have short shelf-lives in the SEC. And there have been more complaints about Richt in the past year — for “whining” about his schedule, to not hiring the right coaches, to not fielding a top-flight program — than in any previous year of his tenure.

There will be even more complaints if Richt finishes behind Tennessee in terms of recruiting this year. And God help the man if Derek Dooley lures away Da’Rick Rogers’ from the Bulldogs’ camp.

Next fall will come an extremely important campaign for UGA’s coach… one in which Richt will once again have to break in a new quarterback.

If he has a bad year, yes, there will be howls for his job. Mark that down. If Richt loses four or more games next year, you will hear cries for his head.

That doesn’t mean I believe that’s what SHOULD happen. That’s what I believe WILL happen.

There’s a big difference there.

So keep that in mind when you see other sites try to spin our position on Georgia’s head coach.

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Tuberville To… Georgia? LSU?

John — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:22:07 +0000

Two years ago, Tommy Tuberville and Mark Richt became big buds during a coaches goodwill tour of American military bases in the Middle East. But at least one website is suggesting that Tuberville might be planning a sneak attack on Richt’s job. Or Les Miles’ gig.

ESPN.com’s Insiders’ Rumor Central page (registration and cash required) pushes the idea that Tuberville view Texas Tech as a stepping stone job:

“Will Tommy Tuberville retire at Texas Tech? Kirk Bohls of The Austin American-Statesman sure doesn’t think so. Tuberville has yet to sign his contract, and the buyout he has to pay if he were to break this contract isn’t high enough — in Bohl’s opinion anyway.

“(Writes Bohls:) ‘Personally, I would have had Tuberville agree to a larger buyout. After all, he probably would be the Tennessee coach if he had waited a week instead of saying yes to Texas Tech.’

“Tuberville seems very happy to be at Tech and to be coaching again. But you do have to wonder, if he has success in Lubbock and a lucrative SEC job were to open up in the next couple of seasons, whether he’d be able to turn that offer down. Disgruntled LSU and Georgia fans might have to start paying the Red Raiders a little more attention.”

Mark Bradley of The AJC responds by saying, “I don’t see any way Georgia is looking for a coach next December. LSU, maybe. Not UGA.”

Ah, but a year ago would Bradley have predicted the fan discord witnessed in the Peach State last fall?

Richt’s Tenure And Winning Percentage Among The Nation’s Best. But…

John — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:56:40 +0000

Earlier today we linked you to a piece by Mark Weiszer of The Athens Banner-Herald. In it, Mr. Weiszer points out that Mark Richt will be entering his 10th season at Georgia next year… a longer tenure than all but nine current FBS football coaches.

Below, we show you all of those coaches who will be entering their 10th season (or more) next fall.

We also include their records with their current schools and their winning percentages. Coaches are listed by tenure.

Coach	School	Entering Season #	Record At School	Win Pct.
J. Paterno	Penn State	45	394-129-3	.749
C. Ault	Nevada	26	206-95-1	.682
F. Beamer	Virginia Tech	24	187-92-2	.665
L. Blakeney	Troy	20	153-76-1	.665
P. Hill	Fresno State	14	100-66	.602
M. Brown	Texas	13	128-27	.825
B. Stoops	Oklahoma	12	117-29	.801
R. Edsall	UConn	12	66-65	.503
K. Ferentz	Iowa	12	81-55	.595
R. Friedgen	Maryland	10	66-46	.589
J. Grobe	Wake Forest	10	59-51	.536
G. Patterson	TCU	10	85-28	.752
G. Pinkel	Missouri	10	67-46	.592
M. Richt	Georgia	10	90-27	.769
G. Schiano	Rutgers	10	55-55	.500
J. Tressel	Ohio State	10	94-21	.817

Just going by winning percentage, Georgia’s Richt ranks fourth overall out of the 16 coaches who will be entering at least their 10th season this fall:

1. Mack Brown, Texas, .825

2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State, .817

3. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma, .801

4. Mark Richt, Georgia, .769

5. Gary Patterson, TCU, .752

6. Joe Paterno, Penn State, .749

7. Chris Ault, Nevada, .682

8t. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech, .665

8t. Larry Blakeney, Troy, .665

10. Pat Hill, Fresno State, .602

The three coaches with as much longevity and a tad better winning percentage than Richt all have one thing in common: Each has a national championship ring.

Winning seasons and bowl trips are nice. Conference titles are great for bragging rights. But in the end, fans want national titles.

If you’re looking for a reason that Richt caught as much grief last year as he did, you’ve found it. He’s been at Georgia long enough that the “freshness” and “excitement” that once existed has worn off. And more importantly — fair or not — he hasn’t won “the big one.”

I could point out that a national championship season requires all manner of lucky breaks and bounces, but what’s the point? Until Richt wins a BCS title, he’ll still have his detractors. Especially among those who are getting a 10-year-itch down in the Peach State.

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The Peanut Butter Kid

John — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:46:39 +0000

Not sure what I can add to this story on Deadspin.com of a Georgia fan who covered himself in peanut butter for Saturday’s upset win over Tennessee.

What is it about Georgia fans?

Richt’s Trick Shot Burning Up The Internet

John — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:06:51 +0000

Georgia coach Mark Richt is an internet hit. After being broadcast during Georgia’s win over Tennessee in basketball on Saturday, video of Mark Richt’s trick shot from a Georgia roundball practice is becoming a YouTube hit.

For those who haven’t seen it, here’s Richt — complete with his Fonz jacket — nailing a no-look bucket.

Admit it, the guy just seems likable.

Hamilton hits the ground running

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:30:10 +0000

ATHENS — They call him “the Hit Man.” It’s a moniker new Georgia safety Jakar Hamilton earned, and it’s one he takes seriously.
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Bulldogs find resolve, secure breakthough in win over No. 8 Tennessee

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:25:17 +0000

First victory over Vols since 2004
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Georgia basketball: Bulldogs hang tough against top opponents

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:45:14 +0000

Fox proud of effort, direction of team
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Georgia football: Grantham takes charge of defense

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:44:09 +0000

Points to recruiting, teaching as big keys
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Grantham Talking, Garner Staying At UGA

John — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:14:55 +0000

Georgia’s new defensive coordinator says he like the passion of the Bulldog fanbase. In fact, Todd Grantham says that’s why he “wanted to take this job.”

“I understand the passion. I understand who Georgia fans want to beat and where they want to be. And I feel like we can achieve that.”

Grantham also believes that his experience in the NFL will give him an advantage in the college game.

“The last 11 years I’ve been dealing with matchups, and that’s what you have to do in the NFL. You don’t get guys running free to the quarterback very often; the best you can hope for is getting one-on-one. We’re going to find ways to make (opponents) in pass protection make blocks, whether it’s a back kept in or an offensive lineman.”

As for his goals on defense: “We want to be physical and aggressive and relentless. … We want the other team, when they get done playing you, not to want to play you again.”

If you’re quiet, you can hear Dawg fans eating that up like Alpo.

On another front, all those rumors of defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner leaving Athens (for, say, Knoxville) can apparently be put to rest.

“I think Rodney is a very passionate guy,” Grantham said. “He’s been here at the University of Georgia and they’ve had success, and I think it you look at where he has been before, they’ve had success there. I think Rodney has value, and I look forward to working with him and letting him help our defense.”

It’s expected that Grantham will hire another linebackers coach and the two of them will split outside and inside duties. Moving to a 3-4, Garner will be called upon to coach the nose tackles and the ends.

Scott Lakatos was recently hired from UConn to be Georgia’s secondary coach.

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Grantham’s Buyout At UGA Could Be Huge, Could Be Nil

John — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:27:38 +0000

A year after UGA athletic director Damon Evans hinted that schools like LSU and Tennessee might have spent irresponsibly on their assistant coaches… Georgia’s top dawg has now thrown $750,000 a year at new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

That much we knew. But here’s the shakeout on the buyout:

If Grantham leaves Georgia to become a head coach in the NFL or in the college ranks, he would owe UGA nothing.

If Grantham leaves Georgia for any other reason or any other lateral move during the first year of his deal, he would owe at least $1.125 million. That buyout drops to $112,500 by the final, third year of the contract.

On the other hand, if UGA lets Grantham go without cause, the coach will receive all of his remaining base pay for the years left on his contract. Of Grantham’s $750,000 per year deal, $300,000 per year is considered base pay.

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Grantham Wishes Vikes Were On Georgia’s Schedule

John — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:33:12 +0000

Georgia’s new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham had been an assistant on one of the NFL’s best defenses this season. Sadly for Dawg fans, as soon as they start watching the Cowboys, the Cowboys fall down and go boom.

Now, I’m sure many wise UGA fans were hoping to Dallas to take a dive so Grantham could land in Athens and start recruiting ASAP, but still you don’t want to see your new coach on the short end of a 34-3 loss.

Lest Mark Bradley of The AJC start making fun of him already.

Grantham wasn’t pleased with Minnesota’s decision to toss a touchdown pass up 27-7 with less than two minutes to play. When told by reporters that he could open up about the Vikings since they weren’t on Georgia’s schedule, the Cowboys ex-defensive line coach said, “No, they’re not. I wish they were, though.”

Speaking of Georgia, there are also rumors that UConn secondary coach Scott Lakatos could wind up on Grantham’s new staff.

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Five key questions concerning Georgia football

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:16:40 +0000

Georgia is just three weeks into its offseason, but it already has been a wild run. With players leaving early for the NFL and a new defensive coordinator arriving from the pros, there are plenty of questions facing the 2010 Bulldogs. Here are five that might define how far Georgia can go in the coming season.
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Mississippi State beats Georgia 72-69

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:16:13 +0000

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Dee Bost and Phil Turner each scored 15 points to lead Mississippi State to a 72-69 victory over Georgia on Saturday.
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Georgia men travel to Mississippi State

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:46:43 +0000

Georgia unable to build on strong starts in losses
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Georgia players ready for Grantham to start

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:45:13 +0000

ATHENS, Ga. — Brandon Boykin didn’t know much about his new defensive coordinator, but a quick phone call to his cousin — Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice — earned Todd Grantham a ringing endorsement.
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Grantham’s The Guy At Georgia

John — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:42:48 +0000

It took awhile, but Mark Richt finally, really, truly, absolutely does have his new defensive coordinator.

Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach Todd Grantham has been named the Dawgs’ new coach.

Richt said in a statement: “I’m excited the search is over, we have our man, and look forward to what Todd will bring to our defense, our team and our University.”

So far all the fan panicking, the worrying, the media jokes and the like… Georgia still landed a man who is a Nick Saban protege. In fact, Saban actually tried to hire Grantham to run his defense with the Miami Dolphins.

Richt aimed for the best in the college ranks, struck out, but still kept plugging til he got someone with a good reputation. Perhaps Richt should give Tennessee’s Mike Hamilton tips on how NOT to panic.

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