Letter to Bulldog Nation

This is a letter a friend of mine wrote a few days ago. It is a little long, but keep reading. He makes some interesting points. Enjoy.

I know everybody thinks I'm a Richt apologist, so I'll wear that hat and say this this way.

Mark is a good man, and probably a better coach. Are there better coaches out there? Maybe so. Better people? No. Would you rather your son or mine go play for Nick Saban who evidenced by over-signing and cutting guys after scholly deadlines doesn't give a damn about your son? Or how about Urban Myer, who once Herschel's second coming went 8-4 and quit. How about Tressel, who cheated, lied, hid and quit amidst the scandal. Jim Harbaugh, who convinced Andrew Luck to skip the money and so no to the NFL only to leave for the 49's three weeks later? Pete Carol...cheat, Les Miles... not a bad guy, but wierd and on and off the hot seat himself.

Let's look back at the gone generation. Bowden, yea I'd certainly take him. His winning run lasted 14 years, albeit with Mark at his side (who's own run lasted 8 so far in a much tougher conference) who's departure caused FSU's collapse. Dooley, well now there's UGA royalty. Wally Butts, again more UGA royalty. The Bear, would I send my boy to the bear, not so sure. Maybe but I've heard some horror stories. Joe Pa, yea I'm sure I'd send him to play for Joe. Woody Hayes, Bo Schembeckler, Pat Dye, Johnny Majors, Lou Holtz, Jonny Vaught, even Steve Spurrier... they're all great coaches but they aren't without their warts either.

Dooley, Joe Pa, The Bear, Bo, Woody, Butts and even Bowden would have all been fired under the same "requirements" everyone wants to lay at Mark's feet now. Even now, after the 10 year mark, Richt is 23 victories ahead of both Dooley and Butts at their respective 10 year marks, they have bronze statues, we want to fire Mark. We tend to think these think occur in a vacuum and have no real human elements to them. We see these guys for 4 hours a week and spend a ton of money following them, and since UF has seen instant results we want them too... in truth it's just jealousy, not reality.

Do I want some changes? You bet I do. But I understand and appreciate a boss who tries everything he can to help his employee get better. Even if that means he hangs onto a job longer than I want him to ala Willie Martinez and now Bobo. After all, I'm an employee, who doesn't always hit my target. And my team isn't made up of horny 19 year olds.

I want improvement, an intelligent looking gameplan. A team that gets after that ass as much as anybody does. But I would say be careful what we wish for. There is no better person in this nation to represent EVERYTHING that the University of Georgia stands for than Mark Richt. And given the time and support, he will right whats wrong up there. But he'll do it the way he does everything else, with patience, kindness and a temperament that pays tribute to who he actually answers to, God. And when it's all said and done, the next time we raise that wooden SEC Championship trophy we'll all say with a tear in our eyes... "we knew he'd fix it."

I've heard many say they won't watch as long as Mark's coaching.... I'd reverse that statement... I won't watch if he's not.

Very good post, great points and couldn't agree more.

Just please go get a high profile OC to complete the staff.

TN Dawg, with what I have been witnessing over the last 10-20 years, this world is going to H_ll in a handbasket. No morals, no integrity, no ethics......just about money, immorality and me, me, me. I think we all love CMR and what he stands for and one thing for sure.......as a fan of the University of Georgia, I can certainly say that I am proud to have a real man of faith, morals and integrity representing our school......and btw, I still think he can probably coach a little too.

Just excuse Bobo out the door (or back to QB coach is fine) and get that proven, high profile OC.

My watching is not predicated on the coach.

I watch to see the University of Georgia play football, not Mark Richt or anyone else who is coaching.

I understand what is being said, as I too have often said that Richt is a good guy and I would prefer
it if we could succeed with such a man at the helm as opposed to some of lesser moral character. I
don't think however that being a good man gives you a free pass to not do what obviously needs to
be done to give the team the best chance of success. I might be wrong, but I would venture a guess
that WM would still be our DC had there been no pressure put on Richt to make a change. I have little
doubt that Bobo will remain the OC unless Richt is pressured into making a change there.

There is a balance that must be struck between being a good man, and doing what needs to be done to do the job you were hired to do.

This letter states that given time Richt will fix what's wrong, but what's the time table? Another
year? two? three? It can't be open ended.

Wartdawg, I am in agreement with your post. Appreciate the feelings of others, this is however not a new point or points that have been made on this board. Each one of us usually have a reason for most things that we put out for others to see.

Richt dropped the football, the same football that he is being paid to hold, not drop. Anytime I hear the "wait until next year" things will get better talk, I look at some of the elected and appointed officials in and out of life's happenings. Most of the time, "next year" never arrives with the promise of last year, or the year before, or . . . .

The last statement made above, and posted below does not impress me at all.

I've heard many say they won't watch as long as Mark's coaching.... I'd reverse that statement... I won't watch if he's not.

I am not going to question the man's integrity.
I am questioning his performance.
Like it or not, the buck stops with Coach Richt.
The Dooley, Butts comparisons are rather meaningless in the modern era of college football. Failing to succeed is not an option any more.
I will play the devil's advocate and say I will take Coach Saban over Coach Richt any day.