Mark Richt Georgia: Will He Be Fired, and Who'll Be the Next Bulldogs Coach?
Mark Richt, Georgia's head football coach, struggled through a fairly miserable 2010 college football season.
A year after neighbor Georgia Tech stole most of the 7-5 Bulldogs thunder with an ACC Championship and an Orange Bowl bid, Richt's team opened up 1-5, then were defeated by Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl.
Richt is the longest tenured head coach in the SEC and he has had plenty of success. But for a team that routinely has national championship aspirations (they were ranked first in the preseason polls back in 2008) Richt has not delivered.
Worse yet, the Bulldogs are 14-12 the last two years and have endured several off-the-field problems regarding player discipline.
With jobs in both the NFL and college continually opening up, could Richt be on his way out?
Inside we'll argue both cases and offer some good (and bad) fits should Richt get the ax.
The Case To Fire Richt: Production
1 of 10
Richt has done a good job recruiting during his long tenure. The list of first round players Georgia has produced is very impressive: Matthew Stafford, A.J. Green, Knowshon Moreno, David Pollack, Thomas Davis, Ben Watson, Jonathan Sullivan and George Foster.
But what exactly has Richt produced with all that talent?
In 10 years, the Bulldogs have won two SEC titles. That's good, but when the SEC routinely produces a BCS Championship Game participant (each of the last four years) the fans and alumni want Georgia to be a part of that.
They haven't.
Not only that, they've only made two BCS appearances. When the SEC usually gets two (automatic bid, at-large) per season, that's not a good ratio.
The Case Against Firing Richt: Competition
2 of 10
The SEC is the best conference in the nation right now and has been for at least four years, probably longer. And the fact that they've won the last four national championships isn't the only reason why.
For one, a better collection of coaches doesn't exist: Nick Saban, Les Miles, (formerly) Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier, Houston Nutt and Bobby Petrino. These are all top notch coaches.
For the most part, there isn't an easy week in the SEC conference schedule. And a 53-27 record in the SEC is not too shabby.
Under Richt, Georgia has finished first or second in the SEC East seven of 10 years.
The Case To Fire Richt: Off The Field
3 of 10
Although wide receiver A.J. Green's suspension early in the 2010 season (for selling his 2009 Independence Bowl jersey) was the most destructive (the team lost all three of their SEC games in his absence) he wasn't the only Bulldog to find himself in hot water away from the playing field.
Starting running back Caleb King was suspended two games for legal problems; prized local recruit, quarterback Zach Mettenberger, was arrested then later dismissed from the team.
In 2010 alone, 11 Bulldogs were arrested.
That can't all fall on the head coaches shoulders: He wasn't the one committing those crimes/violations. But it's not exactly a sign of great character and discipline within your program.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The Case Against Firing Richt: The Future
4 of 10
For an SEC school, starting over at this point would be bad timing.
Yes, the Bulldogs struggled the last two years, while Auburn, Alabama, Florida, LSU and even Mississippi State and South Carolina had nice championship runs.
But the SEC could be headed for a somewhat down turn in 2011.
The conference's best offensive player, Cam Newton, and (perhaps) defensive player, Nick Fairly, will probably be leaving Auburn.
With Will Muschamp and Charlie Weis at the helm, Florida could undergo some major changes that lead to growing pains.
Alabama is slated to lose a ton of talent, most notably stars Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Marcel Dareus.
And Tennessee is still rebuilding with Derek Dooley.
Now LSU, Mississippi State and South Carolina will also be looking to nudge their way into position. But with Richt still in place, the Bulldogs will have a better chance in 2011 than with a new man in charge.
Potential Replacement: Gus Malzahn
5 of 10
Malzahn has made quite a name for himself in just a year. Cam Newton is the major reason why, but the man who was a high school coach just a few years ago turned a player in his first season at Auburn into a Heisman Trophy winner who put his team in the national championship game.
Malzahn's name has been linked to places like Vanderbilt and Maryland, which make sense. He can probably write his own ticket to any program he wants.
And although they haven't won a national title in over three decades, the Georgia Bulldogs post is one of the most prestigious in the nation. Malzahn's next job will be as a college head coach.
If he's holding out for a top job, there aren't many better.
Potential Replacement: Kirby Smart
6 of 10
It's almost too simple to bring in Kirby Smart.
He was a Bulldog defensive back in the mid-1990s and he began his coaching career in Athens as a graduate assistant under Jim Donnan.
When it comes to recruiting, Smart is more than familiar with the region.
And in just four years at Alabama as a defensive coordinator, Smart has crafted one of the best defenses in the nation.
Most important, pulling a prized lieutenant away from Nick Saban and rival Alabama would be a major benefit to the Bulldogs.
Potential Replacement: George O'Leary
7 of 10
The old saying goes "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Well, perhaps in Georgia's case "if you can't beat 'em, have 'em join you."
O'Leary has worked wonders in Orlando. When he took over at UCF, the Golden Knights finished 0-11. He soon resurrected the program, finishing first in the Conference USA's Eastern division, winning eight games.
Twice in the last four years, O'Leary has led them to conference championships.
And last week, he won his first bowl game as the team's head coach, upsetting Mark Richt's Bulldogs, 13-6.
Having spent eight seasons as the head coach in Atlanta with Georgia Tech (prior to the Notre Dame debacle) he should be a great recruiter in the region.
Potential Replacement: Ralph Friedgen
8 of 10
Friedgen has ties to the region, spending two different terms in Atlanta as the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.
That will aid him in recruiting.
And he wasn't let go in Maryland because of a poor record: He won three bowls in his final five years and two ACC Coach of the Year awards, including 2010's edition.
Freidgen's age (63) might be a turn off to other programs, but he would bring plenty of experience and an authoritative figure that could correct some of Georgia's recent problems away from the field.
Potential Replacement: Mike Leach
9 of 10
A year after they fired defensive coordinator Willy Martinez and brought in Todd Grantham, it was the offense that was most disturbing.
They couldn't score a single touchdown against South Carolina, scored one against Mississippi State and in the Liberty Bowl, against a Conference USA team, they produced two field goals and nothing else.
And although they had a new quarterback in Aaron Murray, there was plenty of experience at the other 10 positions, so finishing 56th in the nation in total yards per game is unacceptable in the SEC.
Mike Leach is rough around the edges and left Texas Tech under poor circumstances, but he knows offense and will bring a great passing game to Georgia.
With the running back talent that just seems to naturally gravitate to Athens (Hershel Walker, Rodney Hampton, Garrison Hearst, Robert Edwards, Terrell Davis, Knowshon Moreno) they could put together a wonderfully balanced offense.
Potential Replacement: Rich Rodriguez
10 of 10
Everyday it seems more and more possible that Michigan is going to let Rich Rodriguez go.
And although he isn't exactly the ideal public relations move, Rodriguez would bring a potent offense to the Bulldogs.
With all of Georgia's recruiting excellence, great (and fast) players will continue to come to Athens. With what Rodriguez did in one season with Denard Robinson, that will entice the Georgia administration to consider him.
He'd be more appealing if he has a better strategy for the defensive side of the ball.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
