Daniel Shirley: Make the coaching decision for the right reasons
As Mark Richt put it, there has been a lot of noise around the Georgia football team this week.
And most of that noise has centered on Richt's status as the Bulldogs' head coach and rumored discord on his coaching staff.
Richt has done a lot for the Georgia program, on and off the field, and he has won a lot of games. Richt, after all, has the highest winning percentage in Georgia's program history. So if you're a fan who wants Richt to remain as the team's head coach, that's understandable. But you have to acknowledge there are going to be fans who have reasons that they want a change at the top of the program, right?
Or maybe you don't. The Bulldogs' fan base seems to be split like our country's battling political parties. Either you love Richt and are always going to defend him no matter what; or you want him gone and think he can't do anything right. It's really nasty on both sides.
The pro-Richt crowd has several reasons that have been offered through the years for him to remain as the head coach.
One of those is based on the kind of man Richt is, and he certainly is a fine man. He always has been professional in my dealings with him, and he is genuine in the way he cares for his players. Those things are easy to see and admirable, and you always want to see good people succeed. If that's your main reason for Richt to stay, it makes sense. Still, that doesn't mean a good man can't build a powerhouse program. And it's not like Georgia wouldn't be able to hire another good man to take over, as well. They are out there, after all.
Richt certainly has won a lot of games through the years, but there is a clear slide in this program right now. And this week, the "noise" has been worse than at any time during Richt's tenure, even worse than after the terrible 2010 season. This week has not been a good one for Georgia fans and their program. It started with the disastrous loss to Florida (the second straight year for that result), and it continued through the week with rumors and denials about coaching staff problems.
Through all that Richt is a fine head coach, and he has been a terrific representative for the university for a long time. And if you want him to stay, that's your right, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Just don't use the following reasons (because they are silly):
Who can Georgia get who is better?: That should never be the first question when there is a possible coaching change, and it should never factor into whether a change is made. There are always coaches out there who could do better and improve a program if the athletics director does a good job in the search. See: Clemson. When Tommy Bowden couldn't even win the Atlantic Division title when Florida State was bad, there were Clemson fans who said, "Bowden is a good man. Who can we get who is better?" Well, Dabo Swinney was on Bowden's staff, and he certainly has been better. Who knows if Kirby Smart wouldn't be better or if Mike Bobo could return and do a great job? Or if one of those two doesn't want it, there will be many strong candidates for this position if it comes open. But when or if it comes open is the time to wonder about who the head coach could be, and that shouldn't be a deterrent to making a change.
Look what happened at Tennessee and Texas: Really? Well, look what happened at Clemson. Look what has happened at Florida and Michigan this year. Again, if the AD does the job the right way, this won't be an issue. Plus, while pushing Phil Fulmer out at Tennessee has caused a mess, things worked out pretty well when Fulmer pushed out Johnny Majors. At Texas, Charlie Strong is just now getting into fixing the mess he inherited, so it's way too early to judge his tenure. There even have been comparisons between Richt and Mack Brown and Richt and Fulmer, but both of those coaches, remember, won national titles.
If Richt leaves, Jacob Eason won't sign: Eason could be a fine college quarterback, but no one really knows. He could sign with Georgia, or he could sign with another program, no matter what happens the next month or two. He has said he is heading to Athens no matter what, but plenty of high school football players have changed their minds when making that all-important college decision. That said, a college program should never make a decision about a coach based on what a teenager might or might not do. That's just not the way a program should be run. Again, Eason could be a good quarterback, but will he fix all of Georgia's problems? Can he block for himself? Or catch his own passes? Can he heal Nick Chubb's knee? Or play some defense?
If Richt leaves, recruiting is going to slide: Well, again, that goes back to hiring the right replacement. Even Eason could stick with his commitment if Georgia hires the right coach to take over if Richt is gone after this season. Georgia has too much going for it to think recruiting is going to take a big step back if Richt isn't the head coach after this season. The recruiting base in this state is too strong for there to be serious problems, and there will be coaches lining up for this job because of that when it comes open -- after this season or whenever Richt is no longer the coach.
Be patient: We're continually reminded that it took Vince Dooley, Joe Paterno, Tom Osborne and Bobby Bowden awhile to win national titles. But does this Georgia program feel like it's close to even being in the conversation for a national title? Or does it feel like it's headed in the right direction to reach that goal?
If you say yes to those questions, you want Richt to stay. If your answer is no, you are ready for a change. It should be as simple as that.
Contact Daniel Shirley at 744-4227 or dshirley@macon.com
This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Daniel Shirley: Make the coaching decision for the right reasons ."