What if We Had to Replace Mark Richt?

by T Kyle King on Jul 19, 2006 8:03 AM EDT in Football

Although I try to write about college football fairly comprehensively, we must never forget that Dawg Sports is, first, last, and always, a Georgia Bulldogs weblog.

If you're not in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would make Uga eligible to serve in the U.S. Senate, Dawg Sports is not the blog for you!

Accordingly, before any more Georgia Tech bloggers characterize me as "[e]veryone's favorite bulldog" (not that I don't appreciate the compliment, but still . . .), I need to call your attention to matters of a Georgia-specific nature, starting with the fact that there's yet another Bulldog blog out there.

I am speaking, of course, of Dawgs of the World Unite. The author, E.A.L., is a fellow Drive-By Truckers fan in addition to being a Georgia man, so I know he's good people.

Elsewhere in the Dawgosphere, Paul Westerdawg has reported that yet another Elite 11 Q.B. has committed to the 'Dawgs and Kit Kitchens has raised an intriguing question:

"If Mark Richt did leave UGA, who would be his replacement?" Now, before there are conspiracy theories thrown about, it was just a hypothetical question, and even though I think the list I put together blew, it was still fun nonetheless. Here is who I came up with:

Rodney Garner
Mike Bobo
Pat Hill
Jeff Tedford (REALLY on the fence with that one)
Brian Van Gorder
Butch Davis

Kit's list isn't as bad as he seems to think it is. Let's examine them one by one . . . or, in the case of the pair of coaches currently on the Georgia staff, two by two:

Rodney Garner and Mike Bobo

(Photographs from Georgia Sports Information.)

My reaction to each of the first two names on the list is identical: "Someday, absolutely . . . but not today."

Both coaches are outstanding assistants and I suspect both will be coordinators---Coach Garner on the defensive side of the ball, Coach Bobo on the offensive side of the ball---somewhere sometime soon. While both men have compiled impressive resumes, the leap directly from position coach to head coach is too large to risk.

Brian VanGorder

(Photograph from Online Athens.)

I take a similar view regarding Coach VanGorder, which is why I am taking him out of order. (I really didn't mean for that to rhyme.)

There is nothing inherently wrong with the progression from Georgia defensive coordinator to Georgia Southern head coach to Georgia head coach---it is, in fact, the career path I wish Erk Russell had trod---but Coach VanGorder has yet to coach a game for the Eagles and, after the Jim Donnan debacle, I will need to see how he fares before I am ready to take a chance on hiring another head coach from Division I-AA.

If Coach VanGorder displays the same acumen in Statesboro that he demonstrated in the Classic City, though, he will skyrocket to the top of my list of would-be successors to Coach Richt.

Pat Hill

I am quite fond of Coach Hill, whose teams are unafraid of playing in big games and conditioned to be tough, as evidenced by his defense's motto: "Shut up and hit somebody!" Plus, he already has a penchant for coaching Bulldogs.

However, I doubt seriously whether he is interested in leaving Fresno State for an East Coast team and, even if he were, I am troubled by the fact that, while the West Coast F.S.U. has acquitted itself well against the big boys, Coach Hill's Bulldogs have not finished higher than second place in the W.A.C. since 1999.

A fellow has to be able to take care of business in conference play and there is scant evidence to suggest that Coach Hill is that man.

Jeff Tedford

I am not at all on the fence where Coach Tedford is concerned. His Cal teams have been on the losing end of such scores as 30-28 (against Southern California in 2002), 42-28 (against Kansas State in 2003), 45-31 (against Texas Tech in the 2004 Holiday Bowl), 48-38 (against Washington State in 2002), 47-40 (against U.C.L.A. in 2005), and 52-41 (against Arizona in 2002).

I lived through the Ray Goff era once already, thank you very much; I have neither the need nor the desire to repeat that experience. Next, please!

Butch Davis

I have to admit, this possibility is intriguing. Coach Davis took over the Miami program at its lowest point, cleaned up the 'Canes, and restored them to their status as a national championship-caliber team.

Frankly, though, I'm leery of guys who veer between college football and the N.F.L. It has worked well at times---Pete Carroll is a clear example; Charlie Weis showed promise in his first season at Notre Dame; Dennis Erickson has always fared better on campus than in the professional ranks---but I want a coach who knows for sure that he prefers college football.

Those are my thoughts on Kit's list. What do you think? Whose name doesn't appear on that list but should? Let me know in the comments below.

Go 'Dawgs!

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Comments

I agree with all of that

Nick Saban would be a good choice, as would (much to my chagrin) Tommy Tuberville . . . whose Auburn association would not disqualify him, given the longstanding "coach exchange program" between the two schools.

I quite agree that several of the younger coaches on the staff, including Mike Bobo and Rodney Garner, are being groomed for coordinator posts and (eventually) head coaching jobs, but they are still a few years away. I would be perfectly pleased to have Mark Richt spend 20 or 25 years on the Georgia sideline, then be succeeded by his O.C., Mike Bobo.

Another Georgia alum who warrants consideration is Will Muschamp, who was successful at L.S.U. and doubtless will be successful at Auburn. If the Plainsmen's defense is as good in 2006 as I expect it to be, Coach Muschamp would be a strong candidate for the Georgia job.

He has ties to the program in Athens, a strong S.E.C. pedigree, coordinator experience, and a resume that includes stints with Coaches Saban and Tuberville. A guy could have worse tutors.

by T Kyle King on Jul 19, 2006 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

I never promised a daily dose

Let me be clear upon this point:

I am absolutely confident that Mark Richt will retire as the winningest coach in Georgia football history. I have said so since, quite literally, the day he was hired and I have never wavered in this conviction.

Another weblogger proposed this question, which was framed explicitly as a hypothetical and which arose in a casual conversation.

It is July, which is the most stressful part of the college football offseason and the period during which topics of discussion are most difficult to come by, so I picked up on the conversation because I thought it might be fun.

If Ray Goff were Georgia's head coach, we would still be having this selfsame conversation. No lack of confidence concerning Coach Richt is implied and, in fact, it has been expressly disclaimed.

As for Coach Goff's fitness as a caretaker, I, for one, take issue with that contention. Coach Goff, while a nice enough guy, divided the fan base, presided over the Bulldogs' descent into mediocrity, badly misused star players from Terrell Davis to Hines Ward to Robert Edwards, and presided over the Georgia football program's last run-in with the N.C.A.A. in the mid-1990s.

Finally, I agree with you about Rodney Garner's picture, but that's the photo of him appearing with his official bio on the Georgia Athletic Association webpage. The only solace I take from it is that, obviously, Coach Garner is so focused on football that he doesn't have time to worry about such things as how he looks in photographs.

by T Kyle King on Jul 19, 2006 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Another suggestion

First of all let me say there is no other coach in the country that I would rather have as head coach at Georgia than Mark Richt. This type of discussion is not indicative of a lack of confidence "that he is a Coach for Life" but is just a way to pass the time in mid-July. Coach Goff is a re-diculous suggestion since he is making plenty of money in development and the type of headaches in his current field could never compare to what he got after losing to Vandy in '94.
However, one name I haven't seen in this discussion is Gene Chizik. Assuming the remainder of the staff stays in place, he could provide an emphasis on the defensive side of the ball, while bringing his experience (including two undefeated seasons) to Athens. A promising assistant coach with great potential....like I said, just a suggestion.

by dawgengineer on Jul 19, 2006 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

Goff?

Ray Goff? Don't get me wrong he is a Georgia man and as i have said many times responsible for getting me my great season ticket seats as tons of alleged fans did not renew their tickets, but care taker? School Bobo? I am pretty sure the next to last thing i want is a Goff trained coach. So what is the last you ask? Tuberville! I want to win as much as the next guy, but i would prefer not to sell my soul in order to do so. The man oozes sleaze. He has as much loyalty as a rattle snake (that may actually be an insult to snakes and come to think of it sleaze). The best man in my wedding was an Auburn grad and even he says i have a queasy feeling about that guy. I agree barring personal/family tragedy Richt will be around for a long long time, but for the fun of it (and the fact that the start of Sept will take about 3 years to get here) i will throw out a couple names: 1) Glen Mason (ok just kidding) seriously: 1) Jeff Bower. I have always admired his work at So Miss. Seems pretty consistent without a great deal of talent (look at the recruiting base). 2) Mike Leach. He kind of scares me with that Texas Tech offense, but has good results and once again seems to do it with other schools leftover recruits. 3) Tom O'Brien. I like that tough offensive line at BC, but prefer my coach's to be from the South. 4) Al Groh. This year we will definitely find out how good he is as i think he lost both his coordinators at Virginia this off season. Obviously i have no idea if these coaches would/coul dmove, but as Richt is not going anywhere it is a moot point.

by reipar on Jul 20, 2006 12:28 AM EDT reply actions

Carroll

The only problem with not taking a guy like Carroll is that if he's available and the school is not interested in that type of coach, who goes between the pros and NCAA, and you get a coach that has less than optimal results the boosters will scream bloddy murder.

In the era of win NOW those types of coaches, if available, will always rise to the top.

Just my .02 cents

Fight On!

by Paragon SC on Jul 20, 2006 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

The King

Thanks for the link and the mention. I'm still not fond of my list, but at 11:00 PM while waiting for "Pirates" it was the best I could do at the time.

One thing it did make me notice, though is how it seems the era of the "head coach that bounces around" is kind of gone. Colleges tend to be looking towards younger minds with new ideas and not so much the coach that is employable with a better than decent record.

I think we'll see a few coaches drop out at the end of this year only to be replaced with younger coordinators and assistants...except for Miami, who I believe will bring in Butch Davis in early January. I have said since day one that Larry Coker was a decent coach that inherited a great team...much like Les Miles.

Again, thanks for the add, TKK and I wanted to send you an e-mail about a week ago asking your permission to add you to my site, but I couldn't find your e-mail address...so I did it anyway.

Take it easy.

"60% of the time, it works every time."

by Ludakit on Jul 20, 2006 6:19 PM EDT reply actions