🏈 Mark Richt Fired...

For what it's worth Lane is gone as well as some high profile players transferring.


Awww, man, that sux. Lane seemed to be working out pretty well. On top of that, many/some of the best players on the team are walking out. Wow. Alabama may not win but two or three games next season if many of the key players abandon the team.

Kirby is gone, Lane is gone, players abandoning ship. BamaFan334, is Saban staying on as head coach or is this his last season also? This is all pretty much a disaster isn't it? Do you think Alabama will survive or will this finally be the death knell?

Also, seeing as how the program is basically falling apart, have any of your sources told you if Bill Battle is going to be fired or not? I mean, this is all happening on his watch and someone has to be accountable, right?

Could you maybe tell us which players are transferring/quitting the team so that it won't all come as such a shock to us? They are grown men and there is no reason that anything has to be kept a secret.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Transfer rules still apply. Drop down to FCS or JC and they're okay. Go to another FBS school and sit on the bench another year. Sometimes it just requires a sit down with CNS to understand their status in the program.

I agree with you. And the number was higher than 2-3 before they sat down with Coach and had the discussion. Once again, this is from a friend of mine that got it directly from a guy that is leaving. Anything, anything, anything can happen, but as of a couple of weeks agof that's what I was told.
 
Let's be honest, Spurrier and Holtz were not that motivated to consistently be on the road and recruit.
Think about this for a minute.

In January's of the past few years how many times have you seen threads and articles talking about the Alabama staff, or Auburn, or say LSU getting that last home visit in pursuit of a recruit? A lot, right? Now, change the name to Georgia and answer the same question.

Richt, like Tubs and Mack Brown, has gotten lazy on the recruiting trails as of late. It's easy to do when you get comfortable and even more so when recruits are literally living right at your front door.

We're what ... a year removed from Richt offering a basketball player a scholly on the football team (hadn't played football in two or three years) just to sign his brother.


I remember Danny Ford coming on Finebaum, right after Spurrier was hired and he echoed those sentiments to a T!! (pun intended) Said that the state of SC has about 15 athletes annually that could play in the SEC.

15 sounds about right; with a caveat or two.

There may be five each year that are ready to compete by their RS Sophomore year. If you recall, we signed the #1 player in the state of SC a few years ago (Christian Miller) and he's yet to be ready for SEC play.
 
Awww, man, that sux. Lane seemed to be working out pretty well. On top of that, many/some of the best players on the team are walking out. Wow. Alabama may not win but two or three games next season if many of the key players abandon the team.

Kirby is gone, Lane is gone, players abandoning ship. BamaFan334, is Saban staying on as head coach or is this his last season also? This is all pretty much a disaster isn't it? Do you think Alabama will survive or will this finally be the death knell?

Also, seeing as how the program is basically falling apart, have any of your sources told you if Bill Battle is going to be fired or not? I mean, this is all happening on his watch and someone has to be accountable, right?

Could you maybe tell us which players are transferring/quitting the team so that it won't all come as such a shock to us? They are grown men and there is no reason that anything has to be kept a secret.

Thanks.

I don't want to throw anyone under the bus until it is 100% done. Anything can obviously change, but I'meant just sharing what I was told from a friend that heard directly from the mouth of one of these players. I don't think anyone believes the ship is sinking, but we'll just have a little more coaching turnover than normal, which happens to guys like Saban all the time due to their success.
 
Awww, man, that sux. Lane seemed to be working out pretty well. On top of that, many/some of the best players on the team are walking out. Wow. Alabama may not win but two or three games next season if many of the key players abandon the team.

Kirby is gone, Lane is gone, players abandoning ship. BamaFan334, is Saban staying on as head coach or is this his last season also? This is all pretty much a disaster isn't it? Do you think Alabama will survive or will this finally be the death knell?

Also, seeing as how the program is basically falling apart, have any of your sources told you if Bill Battle is going to be fired or not? I mean, this is all happening on his watch and someone has to be accountable, right?

Could you maybe tell us which players are transferring/quitting the team so that it won't all come as such a shock to us? They are grown men and there is no reason that anything has to be kept a secret.

Thanks.

.....and away we go....

8f8c1a00075c936fb453514493b37da5.jpg
 
Recap:

A friend talked to a player who is transferring because he isn't getting the playing time he thinks he deserves? Why isn't he getting that playing time?

There's a unity in this team we've not seen in awhile and when I hear of a guy upset about playing time it leads me to think he's not doing all he can or should.

Am I supposed to consider that a unbiased and honest opinion on what others are doing?
 
I don't want to throw anyone under the bus until it is 100% done. Anything can obviously change, but I'meant just sharing what I was told from a friend that heard directly from the mouth of one of these players. I don't think anyone believes the ship is sinking, but we'll just have a little more coaching turnover than normal, which happens to guys like Saban all the time due to their success.


Thanks, BamaFan334.
 
I agree with you. And the number was higher than 2-3 before they sat down with Coach and had the discussion. Once again, this is from a friend of mine that got it directly from a guy that is leaving. Anything, anything, anything can happen, but as of a couple of weeks agof that's what I was told.

BamaFan334, perhaps in the interest of clarity, you can issue a summary post. Like some of the others in this thread, I too, had the impression that you were suggesting that Kirby is gone to UGA and that he has already told his family. He will be taking coach Cochran with him - it's all a done deal. Kiffin is also gone and several high-profile players are departing as well because of the departure of Smart/Kiffin, though playing time may also be playing a role. Then, the post above suggests that you were told about players leaving 2-3 weeks ago - long before any HC firings and certainly before any Smart to UGA rumors.

Players considering leaving due to playing time happens every year as a matter of course. Likewise, assistants the stature of Smart and Kiffin, are linked to new job opportunities every year as well. So, my question is this: Can you please clarify precisely what you have been told and whether the circumstances this year are different from other years?
 
BamaFan334, perhaps in the interest of clarity, you can issue a summary post. Like some of the others in this thread, I too, had the impression that you were suggesting that Kirby is gone to UGA and that he has already told his family. He will be taking coach Cochran with him - it's all a done deal. Kiffin is also gone and several high-profile players are departing as well because of the departure of Smart/Kiffin, though playing time may also be playing a role. Then, the post above suggests that you were told about players leaving 2-3 weeks ago - long before any HC firings and certainly before any Smart to UGA rumors.

Players considering leaving due to playing time happens every year as a matter of course. Likewise, assistants the stature of Smart and Kiffin, are linked to new job opportunities every year as well. So, my question is this: Can you please clarify precisely what you have been told and whether the circumstances this year are different from other years?


My apologies for any confusion. A friend told me about a month ago that we had about 5-6 players go to Coach Saban requesting a transfer due to lack of playing time. He sat and spoke with each of them. As of a couple of weeks ago, I believe only 2-3 were still planning on leaving, but it could obviously be more after the season depending how these guys feel. High profile names meant that these guys were names we expected to contribute, have played some, but not as much as pre-season chatter would have warranted, and were all big recruits. These words came directly from one of the player's mouth's.

As far as coaches, I was told Kiffin and Smart have made the decision they were going to leave if offered a head coaching job. I was told Scott Cochran was more than likely going with Kirby. At the time I had no clue if they meant Georgia or where. The discussion was had with Coach Saban and their respective family's about a change. I do not have any knowledge of player's planning to go with any of the coaches, so that is not something I can comment on other than saying I never intended for that message to come across. This is what I was told, so take it for what it's worth. I don't claim to be an insider or someone that wants to feel special by saying things, as I'm just sharing information I have been given by a buddy that has close ties to some players and boosters. Once again, nail me to the cross if I'm wrong, but it won't bother me, because I'm not attempting to be a know it all or an insider, just an Alabama fan sharing information I've heard with other Alabama fans.
 
Last edited:
As far as coaches, I was told Kiffin and Smart have made the decision they were going to leave if offered a head coaching job. I was told Scott Cochran was more than likely going with Kirby. At the time I had no clue if they meant Georgia or where. The discussion was had with Coach Saban and their respective family's about a change

This fits with what I was told several months ago. The "family discussions" were husband and wife's (in Kirby's case.) It was suggested earlier Kirby has talked with his kids about moving and told them they were. His twins are seven years old and they've got a three year old. They have had conversations about this business and coaches moving but he's not told his kids "we're moving."

In Kirby's case the conversations weren't about leaving for a HC position following 2015 but 2016 due to being vested in the retirement system. Kirby and Mary Beth let it be known they'd be interested in South Carolina. That position was anticipated to open following next season. No one expected Spurrier to quit. And then ... UGA's situation pops up.

The conversations with Saban started last July (as in 2014.) Kirby had publicly stated he'd rather stay as a coordinator than move to a bad HC job. Saban, in his annual meetings with his coaches brought this up and Kirby said he'd love a HC job and would love one at UA. Saban told him if that's the case, and he wants the UA job he needs to go somewhere and build. (Saban also told him NOT to do it in the SECW.)

After that conversation ... Sexton begins letting people know Kirby is looking and let UofSC know Kirby and Mary Beth liked the idea of Columbia.

Outside of the developments with UofSC and UGA, as of last Thursday Kirby and Mary Beth said "no decision has been made."
 
This fits with what I was told several months ago. The "family discussions" were husband and wife's (in Kirby's case.) It was suggested earlier Kirby has talked with his kids about moving and told them they were. His twins are seven years old and they've got a three year old. They have had conversations about this business and coaches moving but he's not told his kids "we're moving."

In Kirby's case the conversations weren't about leaving for a HC position following 2015 but 2016 due to being vested in the retirement system. Kirby and Mary Beth let it be known they'd be interested in South Carolina. That position was anticipated to open following next season. No one expected Spurrier to quit. And then ... UGA's situation pops up.

The conversations with Saban started last July (as in 2014.) Kirby had publicly stated he'd rather stay as a coordinator than move to a bad HC job. Saban, in his annual meetings with his coaches brought this up and Kirby said he'd love a HC job and would love one at UA. Saban told him if that's the case, and he wants the UA job he needs to go somewhere and build. (Saban also told him NOT to do it in the SECW.)

After that conversation ... Sexton begins letting people know Kirby is looking and let UofSC know Kirby and Mary Beth liked the idea of Columbia.

Outside of the developments with UofSC and UGA, as of last Thursday Kirby and Mary Beth said "no decision has been made."


Yep, the "go somewhere and build" is right along the lines of what I heard as well, like McElwain and Mike Bobo. Go somewhere and learn to run a program, put a staff together, and then take a higher profile job as it becomes available, amid success that is. Yep, pretty much what I heard as well.
 
Which is why I said it Richt would be a perfect hire for them to get them to win 9 games on a consistent basis. No one is going to expect them to make a run to the final four, but they can become a respectable program with a solid hire like this and compete against Clemson every year, which is their main goal.
I don't think he could win at USCe. Holtz was able to recruit well at ND and won. Spurrier recruited well at Florida and won. Both did decent at USCe.

Richt has recruited well at UGA and has not won.... why would he suddenly be able to win with less talent and more difficult recruiting parameters?

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk
 
My apologies for any confusion. A friend told me about a month ago that we had about 5-6 players go to Coach Saban requesting a transfer due to lack of playing time. He sat and spoke with each of them. As of a couple of weeks ago, I believe only 2-3 were still planning on leaving, but it could obviously be more after the season depending how these guys feel. High profile names meant that these guys were names we expected to contribute, have played some, but not as much as pre-season chatter would have warranted, and were all big recruits. These words came directly from one of the player's mouth's.

As far as coaches, I was told Kiffin and Smart have made the decision they were going to leave if offered a head coaching job. I was told Scott Cochran was more than likely going with Kirby. At the time I had no clue if they meant Georgia or where. The discussion was had with Coach Saban and their respective family's about a change. I do not have any knowledge of player's planning to go with any of the coaches, so that is not something I can comment on other than saying I never intended for that message to come across. This is what I was told, so take it for what it's worth. I don't claim to be an insider or someone that wants to feel special by saying things, as I'm just sharing information I have been given by a buddy that has close ties to some players and boosters. Once again, nail me to the cross if I'm wrong, but it won't bother me, because I'm not attempting to be a know it all or an insider, just an Alabama fan sharing information I've heard with other Alabama fans.

Thank you, BamaFan334! Very well written and completely understood now. I appreciate your insights and that you share with the Board here - no crucifixions either way!
 
Normally, wouldn't think a program as established as UGA would hire a first time HC. I think they make a few inquires about some big name, proven coaches (maybe NFL?), but ultimately hire KS which will be very popular/approval hire as he is an alum and CNS right hand man.
 
Normally, wouldn't think a program as established as UGA would hire a first time HC. I think they make a few inquires about some big name, proven coaches (maybe NFL?), but ultimately hire KS which will be very popular/approval hire as he is an alum and CNS right hand man.

Richt was a first time HC when UGA signed him.

Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1985–1988
Florida State (GA)
1989 East Carolina (OC)
1990–1993 Florida State (QB)
1994–2000 Florida State (OC/QB)
2001–2015 Georgia
 
I would rather have a staff of coaches everyone else wanted than the alternative. As far as players leaving goes, I dont recall Nick ever losing a player who ended up being a big time player at another school. If a player wants to transfer, he is only thinking its the best decision for him. Same thing with coaches. You cant fault anyone for wanting to try and better theirselves.
 

Similar threads

    • Like
Replies
6
Views
1K
S
Replies
33
Views
2K
  • Article Article
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
    • Like
Replies
0
Views
203
Back
Top Bottom