kentdaddy wrote: I would say given the events of today the SEC East is in fact back in play.
This is the first game since CTG has been here that made me say "if his defense materializes and improves as the year progresses, he may very well be our man after all. If things do come together on that side of the ball and we can consistently shut down a range of opponents and our D enables us to beat some people we should lose to on paper (I'm looking at you, North Avenue Trade School). But, yeah, first game where I've been inspired by CTG, especially since it was against an offensive minded coach who beat us last year. Only time will tell what the future holds.
That said, if the 3-4 turns out to be the real deal once the kinks get worked out, Richt MIGHT be able to earn himself another year by accomplishing the following:
A.) Win the east. If South Carolina loses another SEC game and the Dawgs don't go to Atlanta, he shouldn't come back, even if that means giving up CTG's now mature defense. I'll give him a pass if he loses the SEC championship game against Alabama or LSU, but he MUST then win whichever bowl we end up in.
B.) If South Carolina doesn't lose another SEC game, Dawgs can't win the east. If Dawgs don't play in Atlanta, Richt needs to run the table from here on out and not lose again. Win the Capital One bowl (since LSU and Bama will both likely be BCS bound and a SEC Championship game losing South Carolina will likely be in the Outback Bowl) against a high profile Big 10 team.
In either case, he must make Bobo take a hike. So basically, as I see it, the SEC championship game is the only forgivable loss by which I would support CMR keeping his job.
Win east, win bowl game, kick Bobo = reprive
Win all remaining games including bowl game and kick BoBo = reprive
Win SEC championship game = reprive, regardless of Sugar Bowl outcome. Probably can't fire in that situation even if he retains Bobo. You don't fire a coach after he wins the SEC title. It just isn't done.
South Carolina doesn't lose another SEC game and we do = gone
Lose to Georgia Tech but still win east = gone
Lost to Georgia Tech but still win SEC championship = nightmare. Give reprive but want to fire.
