Sitting at a disappointing 4-4, the grumbling surrounding the state of the Georgia football program in general and head coach Mark Richt specifically has gotten increasingly louder since the start of the season.
It’s hard to say that a coach with an 86-26 record (49--21 in conference), two SEC conference titles, four SEC division titles and three BcS bowl appearances in eight-plus seasons is on the hot seat, but, suffice to say, Richt’s rear end isn’t exactly chilly right now.
Enter athletic director Damon Evans, who spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and gave his head coach a (dreaded?) vote of confidence.
“We are in a business that is very public,” Evans said. “When things go wrong, there are different reactions that come from people. But our head coach is very good at what he does, and I have the utmost confidence Mark Richt will continue to lead us in the right direction.
“I have confidence in our head coach to make decisions with his program, as I always have. ... I don’t think right now is the time for us to talk about staff changes or anything of that nature. What we need to focus on is the task at hand. ... I know [Richt] will evaluate his program at the end of the season, as he always does.”
Part of that evaluation will likely focus heavily on the defensive side of the ball, specifically coordinator Willie Martinez. As the prime target of fan venom, it doesn’t seem like the DC will be long for Athens after yet another disastrous performance by his unit.
Evans told the Journal-Constitution that he will help Richt in those postseason evaluations in any way he can.
“I am here to provide advice and things of that nature and to work with him in any way that is appropriate. But I have utmost confidence in [Richt].”
