Mark Richt -- Miami

BulldogShannon wrote: Wartdawg, I believe in that statement lies the problem with our team. I don't mean in terms of it being a bad message, but in terms of subconciously letting our team know they don't really need to "get it done".

Agreed 100%, and that's why I though it was fair game to comment about it.

Keeping in line with my promise to be done with the CMR-at-UGA-rant comments, I want to comment positively on Richt and pose a couple of questions about this hire.

So I watched the CMR press conference yesterday, and it was vintage Richt. All smiles, saying all the right things, gracious, classy, etc. That was expected and a given. But I have to wonder a couple of things about his acceptance of this job:

1. Mark has looked so exhausted, so worn down, so fatigued, and so empty the last couple of seasons. He has noticeably aged from 2010 to now. His press conferences post-game sounded like the overtures of a funeral director. I have wonder if his acceptance of this job was one of true desire, or one of true opportunity? I truly wish the best for Mark, but I do have to wonder whether this was the right move for him or if it was simply the right time and place.

2. What are the expectations, realistically, for him at UM? My guess is that he'll have them bowl eligible next year or the year after. He'll bring in, of course, great recruits. But my thoughts are the expectations for Richt, realistically: (A) that he turns the image program around and brings it national recognition and respectability again, (B ) by nature of that, he raises the recruiting desirability of UM, (C) that he amasses a solid winning record and makes bowl games and maybe even an ACC Championship [he will do this], and (D) that he puts the program in a position to turn it over to a very coveted name in the coaching world when his time comes to leave. In short, I think they expect a repeat of Mark's impact at Georgia and nothing more. Thoughts?

3. I have to admit that there's a big part of me that would love to see Mark get one ring before he hangs up the coach's headset. It would be a nice crowning achievement for a well-deserved man. But does anyone realistically think he's going to do it? I don't think he will. I think he'll get close, but I frankly just don't think the desire is there. I think that he's the type of phlegmatic personality that will be just fine if he winds up in a national championship game, but will never be disappointed if it doesn't come to him in his remaining years.

4. How many years do we realistically see him remaining in a head coaching position? At 55, he could coach for another 15-20 years, but if I had to place bets, I'd say he has 5-7 in him tops. My guess is that he'll have a huge positive impact on UM both athletically and academically, he'll reach the minimum required milestones, but will reach that point of stagnation once again in 5-6 years. I suspect at that point, he'll start drafting an exit plan for his retirement.

I listened to DawgNation on Thursday and it was reported that Katharyn and the family were very much against this move and was begging Mark to take some time off. I think just about everyone with an outsider's perspective would have thought this is what the doctor would have ordered for him. I hope this was a well-thought out move for him, because I would hate to see him crash & burn. There's no doubt that in a season or two, he would have had just as much opportunity awaiting him as he did now, maybe even more.

One thing that I can guarantee will happen at the "U". There are a lot of ex-players and coaches that want to see the program resurrected. One big name that will aid Mark Richt will be Jimmy Johnson.

Jimmy Johnson is without a doubt one of the best college/pro coaches ever. Like him or not, he is a "stand up guy". He loves living in South Florida, big time offshore fisherman (as I once was, offshore fisherman) and he is still a "U" guy. I fully expect Richt to reach out to Johnson, best move he could make in Miami. Richt knows that. Mark Richt has already had conversation with ex-players from the "U" and he is asking the right question. What do I need to do?

I had said in another thread right after the coach firing that players from South Florida are bit different. Won't go deeply into that, just believe me when I say South Florida is a different world.

If Mark Richt surrounds himself with the right staff, the "U" will return quickly and the press will be all over Georgia about making a huge mistake. What the press will be missing, as they too often do, we have Kirby Smart returning to Athens and he has studied under a head coach and friend that is an equal or better than Jimmy Johnson, at the college level.

One's head should never get so large that it prevents the gray matter from working "properly". An example . . . . Jones, owner of the Cowboys. Enough.

www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurric...-20151008-story.html

EDIT: One point that Jimmy Johnson makes in the video . . . . Any of the top 10 or 12 college football teams should be able to win 9 football games every year. JJ calls it just like it is.

Just looking at Miami's history, the have won five national titles in the last 35 years under four coaches. Jimmy Johnson is the exception, but the other three did a lot better at the u than anywhere else. Just a lot easier to recruit talented players down there I guess.

I think they made a good hire football wise and for other reasons. They have always had the reputation of being a thug school.

Richt could have got the South Carolina job if he had wanted it. Don't think it will be hard to win 10 games a year at Miami. Who knows, maybe win it all. That would make the irony meter spin pretty fast.

What evidence do you have that Richt could have gotten the SC job? Did they call him in for an interview and then he turned them down? As much as you want to believe that every other school in the nation would love to have gotten Mark Richt, I think there are several that preferred to pursue a different direction.

Southern... I don't wish anything bad for Richt, but to be honest I couldn't give a rats arse if he ever gets a ring. He made it perfectly clear when he was here that he didn't care about such things, with his words and actions.

He might go on and do something making non UGA fans like scooby laugh and say I told you so, but it wasn't going to happen here so it doesn't matter to me what he does in the future or what he does somewhere else. I don't really care either way and it wont change my opinion of the decision we made to go a different direction.

SouthernDawg wrote: Keeping in line with my promise to be done with the CMR-at-UGA-rant comments, I want to comment positively on Richt and pose a couple of questions about this hire.

So I watched the CMR press conference yesterday, and it was vintage Richt. All smiles, saying all the right things, gracious, classy, etc. That was expected and a given. But I have to wonder a couple of things about his acceptance of this job:

1. Mark has looked so exhausted, so worn down, so fatigued, and so empty the last couple of seasons. He has noticeably aged from 2010 to now. His press conferences post-game sounded like the overtures of a funeral director. I have wonder if his acceptance of this job was one of true desire, or one of true opportunity? I truly wish the best for Mark, but I do have to wonder whether this was the right move for him or if it was simply the right time and place.

2. What are the expectations, realistically, for him at UM? My guess is that he'll have them bowl eligible next year or the year after. He'll bring in, of course, great recruits. But my thoughts are the expectations for Richt, realistically: (A) that he turns the image program around and brings it national recognition and respectability again, (B ) by nature of that, he raises the recruiting desirability of UM, (C) that he amasses a solid winning record and makes bowl games and maybe even an ACC Championship [he will do this], and (D) that he puts the program in a position to turn it over to a very coveted name in the coaching world when his time comes to leave. In short, I think they expect a repeat of Mark's impact at Georgia and nothing more. Thoughts?

3. I have to admit that there's a big part of me that would love to see Mark get one ring before he hangs up the coach's headset. It would be a nice crowning achievement for a well-deserved man. But does anyone realistically think he's going to do it? I don't think he will. I think he'll get close, but I frankly just don't think the desire is there. I think that he's the type of phlegmatic personality that will be just fine if he winds up in a national championship game, but will never be disappointed if it doesn't come to him in his remaining years.

4. How many years do we realistically see him remaining in a head coaching position? At 55, he could coach for another 15-20 years, but if I had to place bets, I'd say he has 5-7 in him tops. My guess is that he'll have a huge positive impact on UM both athletically and academically, he'll reach the minimum required milestones, but will reach that point of stagnation once again in 5-6 years. I suspect at that point, he'll start drafting an exit plan for his retirement.

I listened to DawgNation on Thursday and it was reported that Katharyn and the family were very much against this move and was begging Mark to take some time off. I think just about everyone with an outsider's perspective would have thought this is what the doctor would have ordered for him. I hope this was a well-thought out move for him, because I would hate to see him crash & burn. There's no doubt that in a season or two, he would have had just as much opportunity awaiting him as he did now, maybe even more.

1. I heard the same. Heck even read one report where his mother told him he looked 10 years younger after the "mutual agreement". I can't say I wasn't surprised that he went out and got another job, especially since the Miami job was open. I honestly don't think he would have taken any other job this year, but I could be wrong.

2. I don't know if this is realistic or not, but I think Miami wants immediate success. They want 9/10 win seasons and to compete in the ACC. South Florida is a recruiting hot bed, and Richt is a great recruiter. I hope he has more success against Florida State than he did Florida. I've talked to a few Miami fans since this went down and they said that game does a lot to swing recruits interest. I'll admit though, I don't follow Miami recruiting nor do I live down there so I don't know how reliable that info is.

3. There is a part of me too that wants to see him get one. But I also think he will retire without ever getting there. Regardless or not is he does get one, I think history will look fondly upon him. I really do think he will go down as one of Georgia's best coaches.

4. I think he will coach for as long as he's at Miami. Could be 5 years, could be 10. I think if Miami ever "mutually agrees" with him, it will be his last stop as a coach. Well a major college head coach anyways.

I really do wish Richt the best. He's the type of guy you want to root for. I'll never forget his first 5 years in Athens. I also won't forget the past 7, it was time for a change, but I hope it works out for him.