Saban vs. Mark Richt
In the 15 seasons Mark Richt was Georgia’s head coach he established a stellar reputation. At the end, some questioned him as a coach. No one ever questioned his character as a man. The continuity he achieved in Athens is commendable. The Georgia administration deserves recognition for embracing Richt’s long Georgia tenure.
That tenure ended after the 2015 season and the man most responsible for ending it was Nick Saban. Suspecting Saban for relishing the tarnishment of a fellow coach’s career is misguided. Nonetheless, Nick is known for it. Mark Richt is one of several.
Saban led four teams against Richt and the Bulldogs. The 2007, 26-23 overtime loss in Tuscaloosa signaled a quick Alabama football return to respectability. The following season in Athens was a shout to the college football world ‘the Tide was back.’
Georgia hyped the game with the now famous ‘blackout’ theme and used the color for the home jersey. There was a darkness to the game but not in the manner the Bulldogs intended. It was the dark cloud of a rising Tide storm. At halftime, the Tide led 31-0, en route to a 41-30 victory. It was the beginning of the end for Mark Richt in Athens.
Ironically the 2012 Georgia team may have been Richt’s best. The Bulldogs came within a few yards of knocking out the Tide in the SEC championship game, losing 32-28. Richt would have three more Georgia seasons. Nothing in those three years erased the believe that under Richt, Georgia could not win the big game.
Next: Stuff the run and stuff the Dawgs!
New Alabama football and Georgia history will be written Monday night. Has anyone considered asking Pat Dye if he thinks the Dawgs will be “man enough”?