Jon is correct in writing this blog. Mark Richt, if you take all 11 recruiting classes 2001 through 2011, and average every Scout.com ranking and every Rivals.com ranking for all 11 years worth of recruiting rankings, Mark Richt then averages the # 7 recruiting ranking all 11 years .

Averaging then, 3.4 Losses per season.

For the record, the powers to be at UGA have shown nothing but support for the Bulldogs’ 11th-year coach — “He’s not in my hot seat; he’s still in my lap,” longtime executive board member Bob Bishop said in May. But it’s unlikely Richt will encounter such compassion from the grizzled SEC press, who are doggedly determined to identify those those best suited for their “Coaches on Hotseat” lists in tomorrow’s column.

And the ever-thirsty media will be primed to lap up Spurrier’s quip bombs on hot topics such as over-signing, paying student-athletes out of his own pocket and how to suspend players without them actually having to miss games (see quarterback Stephen Garcia).

But it’s never clearer than when the media assembles in the cavernous ballrooms of the Wynfrey Hotel that coaches are the ruling party of this kingdom. Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Bobby Petrino (WON NOTHING) and Les Miles are ushered about like movies stars complete with trailing paparazzi, fawning fans and curious, clamoring reporters.

The question should be, How will Georgia play? If it’s more of the sloppy football we’ve seen the last 5 years, then it’s time for a change. But if this team is well-prepared for every game, doesn’t beat itself, and plays to its potential, then it will be clear Richt has turned it around.

Put another way, if Richt gets the most out of what he has, we can be sure the program is on the right track. Under that scenario, anywhere from 8 to 14 wins seems possible.
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And beyond that, the positives are about over. He’s not good at getting the team ready for a game, and is one of the worst game coaches I’ve ever seen. Plus, he seems to be more of a “finesse” coach…which is not a good fit for the SEC, I don’t think. And at times, it seems like the team plays “not to lose” instead of playing to win. (A draw play off-tackle on third and long, for example, is not a bad call once in a while…but not four straight third down and long situations in a row.) And worst of all, he seems to have just completely let the team discipline get away from him. And when that happens, a coach can rarely recover it.

Somehow, I just can’t see a quote like that coming from Mark Richt. Maybe I’m wrong, but he just doesn’t seem to have that fire in his belly for winning.