yankeedawg1, have thought about the 2015 Season maybe more than I have some recent years.
Read and watched in a couple of places where Mark Richt seemed to be going through a huge change. Believe that Richt knew soon after the grantham hiring that "things" were not right in Athens.
After a face off in Nashville with their head coach and our defensive coordinator, appeared that many were happy (including myself) that we finally had found some coaching backbone defensively.
We had that backbone when Richt first came to Athens, BVG. Tough guy, quick to let everyone know that he believed in being tough and making sure his players understood that.
To me it was a welcome relief to see Willie Martinez leave and grantham come on board. Thought we had finally realized our mistake in hiring friends.
Not too long after grantham's arrival it became noticeable that there was an under current. It could be seen, but it was not talked about, openly.
Takes me to this. We hired a young tough coach that was straight up, pulled no punches and had enough of a background in the SEC to "teach" these young pups both toughness, reliability to team play, leave the "self stuff" at the door. Period.
I say the above for this reason . . . . Mark Richt is as loose as I have seen him since the turmoil that surrounded our program through the various coaches that he had hired to be on his staff. I know that he was led in the right direction by coaches that understood the "missing gap" in our program. Never too old to gain new and improved experience.
Often it has been mentioned on this board that Mark Richt needed to step aside and do what he does best. I believe that Mark Richt has done that. If not, soon we will be able to judge for ourselves, it will not come from the talking heads.
I believe that Gus Malzahn has found himself in a situation that Mark Richt was in for a long period. Difference between the two head coaches is . . . . Mark Richt does not like releasing players or coaches. Gus Malzahn will step on anyone that gets in his way. Richt will come down on himself, Malzahn will not.
Auburn is in a larger mess than their fans really understand. Not a doubt in my mind that Gus Malzahn is a hot head, that applies times 2 when referring to Will Muschamp. Neither of the two appreciate what has been given or offered to them.
Stop with this. I like seeing Richt loose and smiling. I also stick to what I have said about Mark Richt as a head coach. Do what you do best, leave the coaching up to those that are better coaches on the field than you are. That is said because I believe it to be the absolute truth, backed by FACT.
Go Dawgs, Coach'em Up!