Based on the UGA folks I interact with, I'd say the Fire Ricth crowd is very vocal but doesn't represent the majority. Most are frustrated with his inability to win "the big one", but they also realize that the downside risk to firing Richt is significant. The worry is that UGA will end up like Michigan - fire a coach who has been a consistent winner and slip into mediocrity for an extended period. Most that I've spoken too would rather take the known (Richt and the 10 wins with occasional title hopes) than suffer through 5-10 years of bad football. Perhaps 92Tide or one of the other Atlanta guys can chime in with their thoughts as well. They may have a differnt view point.
I'll add that for the amount of money they make, UGA has spent very little on football until recently. Unless it become financially untenable (meaning the dollars stop flowing in because the football team is performing poorly), they aren't going to fire Richt. He's only recently surpassed the $4MM mark in pay and hasn't really pushed for significant facilities upgrades (Pruitt is the one behind the indoor practice facility). I think they are very happy with the 9-10 wins a season and the financial benefit that brings. Unlikely that they fire him.
I think Richt has the support from the administration, so I think he is less concerned with public opinion. To me, that makes him less likely to feel the need to get out of Athens (especially for a pay cut, if we believe that Miami is only going to pay $2.5MM). I think he and UGA are both happy with the current arrangement.
There is also the Miami side of the equation. They haven't approached him the two previous times the position has come open. To me that says a lot. There is something about Richt that makes the Miami administration believe that he is either the wrong candidate or he is unlikely to leave. I just don't see them making him a serious candidate this go round either.
I still think that the chances of him leaving (especially voluntarily) are close to 0%. But I also thought Kirby Smart would be a head coach by now too, so who knows.
A week later and embarrassing lost to Florida... The feeling among these fans still the same?That's exactly my take with all the Dawg fans around here, most of them are super frustrated by the lack of championship's but can't imagine a scenario where Richt isn't their coach.
The biggest problem I see facing the folks at UGA is that there's only so much room at the top. That is, unless they can hire a coach who can help them to surpass the present (and perennial) playoff contenders then they're better off staying with Richt. At least they know that even if they never reach the peak, for now they have a coach who can get them close.A week later and embarrassing lost to Florida... The feeling among these fans still the same?
I'm serious, too. Are they fine with it or do are they starting to jump ship?
That want be good enough for some of the fans. They see the success that Coach Saban has had at Alabama, and they think they deserve better than what they have. Might get interesting after tomorrow if Auburn slips by the Dogs.The biggest problem I see facing the folks at UGA is that there's only so much room at the top. That is, unless they can hire a coach who can help them to surpass the present (and perennial) playoff contenders then they're better off staying with Richt. At least they know that even if they never reach the peak, for now they have a coach who can get them close.
I'm guessing he was the unofficial coach-in-waiting given Kill's health problems over the recent years.Updated the OP because Minnesota named Tracy Claeys the permanent head coach yesterday.
I'm sure they will. I don't see any coaches walking away at this point in the season. As it pertains to UA, who in their right mind would leave while the run for a NC title is at hand and leave such a "feather in the cap" sitting on the table?I just read on SEC Country on Facebook that Lane Kiffin has officially interviewed for the Maryland job. I know we're bound to lose a lot of assistants this year but I just hope everybody stays through the remainder of the season.
https://www.seccountry.com/alabama/...-kiffin-interviewed-for-maryland-coaching-job
I seriously doubt it, unless they have a Herschel Walker clone somewhere.Well, I live in the Gainesville, GA area and work in Duluth and the UGA fans I know wouldn't cry if Richt walked out the door (or was shown the way out). A lot of the UGA fans I know are tired of what they see as mediocrity/stagnation. While they agree that finding a coach who will consistently win 10 games a year won't be easy they feel like if they had the right coach they could do more with the talent in this state.
we still owe him some flowers.Not that anyone will notice, but ISU canned their coach. Whoever he was.................