Full disclosure here: If you haven’t been able to tell by the ~9 months of us posting on this blog, I am a Mark Richt guy. I think the talk of Coach Richt being on the hot seat, especially after adjusting the coaching staff, are hogwash. There have been many instances when I was sold on Coach Richt, but the 2005 SEC Championship Game and the 2006 Auburn game on the Plains are days when I knew our Head Coach would lead us to the Promise Land of College Football.
However, those are different stories for different days. The matter at hand for now, though, is another issue about our coach. I recently went to the Bulldog Club meeting in Macon. I did go to the Tate Student Center when he was interviewed by Colin Cowherd, but this was the first time I heard him speak to a crowd like the one in Macon.
Listening to Coach Richt speak to a crowd and reading transcripts of his interviews you notice one thing: he is not a flashy guy. Anyone who has watched a UGA game knows that Mark Richt isn’t one to get overly excited on the sidelines. He remains calm and collected (one of the things that makes him so great).
Coach doesn’t give to many quips like Steve Spurrier. That’s not his style. But when Coach Richt says something, we should take it to heart.
In 2007, when the Bulldogs were picked to finish 3rd in the East, Coach Richt made the comment, “We’re definitely under the radar.” That season, the Bulldogs started out ranked 13th, fell to as low as 24th, and finished 2nd (Phil Steele 2009 Preview, page 34).
During SEC Media Days last summer, Mark Richt spoke about the running game. Coach said that he could reach into a bag, pull a few folks out, and the running game would be good to go, and that Georgia was going to run the ball. Well, in July he didn’t account for Caleb King and Weshaun Ealy getting banged up, the injuries to the offensive line and having to reshuffle things, and the complete incompetence of Richard Samuel at the tailback position.
From the Vanderbilt game on, when King and Ealy came back from injury and the offensive line got shuffled around correctly, the running game was solid. Even against the Gators, UGA had nearly 5 YPC by its tailbacks. So Richt was true, the best of his knowledge at the time.
This year on the on Bulldog Club circuit, Coach Richt is very optimistic. Perhaps too optimistic for someone who is coming off a 5 loss season, two consecutive thumpings of the Gators, and reportedly will be in the unemployment line by the end of the week.
“I don’t do jumping jacks like some people do when they’re excited, but I can promise you, I’m as excited about this season as I have been for any one since I’ve been at Georgia,” Richt said. “I think we’ve got the right stuff.”
Bill King has recently posted about Mark Richt being the eternal optimist in Albany:
“I think a lot of the ingredients are there for a tremendous season. We’ve just got to go out and do it.”
I think us Dawg fans should take comfort in Coach Richt’s optimism. As much as we live and die by the Dawgs each fall, Coach Richt has way more at stake than any one else in Sanford Stadium.
I think that if Coach Richt is going to go out on a limb and make statements, there will be some basis there.
This year, Coach Richt is saying more than usual. It could be because he is trying to get a disgruntled fan base excited. Or maybe he is telling us the 2010 campaign could be a good one.
Closely approaching 3 months away until kickoff and the Phil Steele will be soon on the newsstands…
Corbindawg
The Grit Tree 
Being raised under Vince and Munson, I hope CMR isn’t pulling a Donnan. Donnan’s I’ve waited 50 years to get a team like this was not helpful in his retention. CMR is not JD and Lord knows he deserves some good luck for a change but talking like that will get the expectations of the UGA band wagon boys way too high.
I don’t see any sign that CMR isn’t grounded in his asessments. Our players should hear good things from our coach when they performing well and putting in a lot of effort during the off season. God knows they hear enough about their shortcomings from the loony side of our fanbase.
Richt doesn’t seem to be setting the bar too high, we have an enormous amount of talent back this season and yes, several questions that must be answered. A team that has Phil Steele’s #1 offensive line, #2 receiving corp, and a top 5 Special Teams unit should be excited about their prospects, and their coach should let them know he is with them. If they disappoint greatly, they will certainly hear from the fans. Why not celebrate the positives?
This O-line has had the same players for two years, they are experienced, yet have underperformed with mediocre running stats and results for two years. The Dawg Nation wants “Championships Plural” like Alabama, LSU and Florida. This requires an offensive line and running backs that are posting rushing stats at the top of the SEC. This Offensive line has rushed poorly against SEC opponents.
You guys are right on the money! Look at Richt’s conference record during the same time frame:
2006 4-4
2007 6-2
2008 6-2
2009 4-4
Richt averages 3 SEC conference losses per year for the last four years!
Mark Richt has been long on “Figurehead” and short of results. 10 win average seasons but no championships in the past four long years. His window for achieving the National Championship is the first ten years! I see success in Richt’s career but I also see a lot of failures. The Dawg Nation is uncertain going into the 5th straight year as to the direction of the team!
Muschamp and Smart could do no worse!
Muschamp and Smart don’t have nearly the experience as Richt. They will be good coaches…great? gee I don’t know but better now than CMR. That’s foolish talk my man!