There’s a lot to like about Mark Richt. Yet the calls for his firing increase with each season. This season, some of his former players have joined the chorus.

RELATED: Champ Bailey said Richt can’t fix problems.

At Georgia, Richt has a job in which 10 victories per season for 14-plus seasons just isn’t enough. And he’s created that situation — by winning consistently.

What’s Richt done to draw this season’s increased criticism from fans?

Georgia is 6-3 this season and depending on Saturday’s outcome against Auburn, likely to finish 8-4 or 9-3 and head to a 15th straight bowl game.

But the Bulldogs still aren’t Alabama or LSU. Not even old rivals Auburn and Florida.

Right handles himself with grace and class — he’s a great representative of the University of Georgia. No one denies that. When have you read or heard anything negative about the coach’s ethics or behavior? You haven’t.

More important, Richt wins. He’s won 142 games and lost only 51, a 73.2 winning percentage.

Richt has guided Georgia to two SEC titles, three Sugar Bowls and six Florida bowl appearances. The Bulldogs have finished in the AP top 10 seven times — 50 percent of the his previous 14 seasons. He’s 82-38 in SEC games, winning or sharing six SEC East Division titles.

Richt continues to recruit top-level talent, much of it home-grown, which should be a source of pride. He has 87 in-state players on his current roster.

But the coach has one major shortcoming in the eyes of Bulldog Nation — Alabama, LSU, Florida and Auburn have won national championships during his tenure. Georgia hasn’t won a single one.

Plus, the Bulldogs haven’t won the SEC title since 2005.

Georgia boosters and fans want another national championship — Dooley won one in 1980 with Herschel Walker. They don’t understand how the flagship program in a talent-rich state can’t win national titles while other SEC schools have done it.

They have gotten spoiled, and perhaps forgotten about the Bulldogs’ struggles under Richt predecessors Jim Donnan and Ray Goff.

Vince Dooley, Georgia’s most successful coach, went 201-77-10 (71.5 winning percentage). Dooley was 104-42-4 in SEC play, winning or sharing six SEC titles 25 seasons. Richt is 9-5 in bowl games. Dooley was 8-10-2. So the records are comparable — except Dooley won a national title.

Richt critics can argue that Georgia seems to be headed in the wrong direction the past few seasons. They’re upset the Bulldogs finished behind upstart Missouri in the SEC East race the past two seasons, especially after the Bulldogs crushed Mizzou 34-0 in Columbia last season.

Yes, Georgia has had some disappointing losses the past few years. They didn’t have a quarterback ready this season.

But the Bulldogs will be back if Richt stays. He continues to bring in recruiting classes ranked among the best in the nation.

Firing Richt would be a huge gamble for Georgia. Not many coaches average 10 wins a season. None are a better representative of their university.

Could Georgia find another coach who could guide them to a national championship?

Maybe so. But the odds are, Georgia won’t find another who can match Richt’s success on and off the field.

The guess here is that the growing displeasure among Georgia supporters will lead to a new coach next season in Athens.

Richt’s critics may be right. Maybe Georgia will never dominate like Alabama in the SEC or win a national title with him as coach.

Regardless, firing or forcing him out would be a big risk.

But it’s become clear that it’s a risk many Georgia supporters are willing to take.