Miami Hurricanes Super fan, Atlanta Sports talk host discusses Richt
Earlier this week Miami Hurricanes super fan, season ticket holder and Atlanta Sports talk radio host John Michaels appeared on Hochman and Crowder on UM’s flagship station WQAM to compare Mark Richt’s tenures at Miami and Georgia.
Like FanSided’s Dawn of the Dawg Georgia expert Alistair Penny, Michaels could not praise Richt enough as a person. He also echoed Penny’s thoughts (pun not initially intended) that doubted if Richt was the right coach to lead the Miami Hurricanes to a National Championship.
Michaels has also been the Atlanta Falcons sideline reporter for nine years. He felt that Richt is a tremendous program builder. That he has done a great job digging the Miami Hurricanes out from under the mess that was the not so Al Golden era in the previous five seasons of Miami Hurricanes football.
Michaels was concerned that the Hurricanes were so quick to hire a coach that had been fired a mere few days earlier from the University of Georgia. WQAM Host Marc Hochman stated to Michaels that Richt was the right hire at the time and used FIU and former Miami Coach Butch Davis as an example, Michaels disagreed.
Michaels was able to see and discuss Richt every day when he was at Georgia. He gave Hochman and his radio partner former Miami Dolphins linebacker
an assessment of Richt’s tenure at Georgia and why he’s not the right coach to lead the Hurricanes.
"“I think Mark RIcht is in over his head…As soon as someone needs to start changing his own staff it is him to shart not being part of his own staff…His game-day acumen is just not there…last time he lost less than two games in a season was 2002…Miami is going in the wrong direction right now and unfortunately, it’s the guy (Richt) at the helm. I want to see Mark Richt go 15-0 and win the National Championship. He just ain’t the dude to do it.”"
In 15 seasons at Georgia Richt won SEC Championships in 2002 and ’05 and additional SEC Eastern Division titles in 2003, ’11 and ’12. He added the ACC Coastal Division title with the Miami Hurricanes in 2017.
Michaels also discussed his frustration with the way Richt has handled quarterback this season with the shuffling between Senior Malik Rosier and Freshman N’Kosi Perry.
"“You go with the future…When you named N’Kosi the starter after the FIU game…you had to stay the course…If it’s (the starting quarterback position) not N’Kosi you have a four-star kid named Jarren Williams.”"
Hochman and Crowder closed with Michaels by discussing the differences between the Miami Hurricanes offense and defense. All three agreed that the defense under Golden and previous Defensive Coordinator Mark D’Onofrio was in a much worse position than the offense at the end of their tenure. Michaels elaborated.
"“The defense which had way further go (is far better than the offense). It’s Mark Richt’s offense with his dudes."
Michaels is an extremely passionate Miami Hurricanes fan who clearly cares about the state of their program. He also had good insight into Richt after observing him during his tenure at Georgia.
We have now heard from two sports analysts that know the Georgia football program well and followed Richt during his tenure with the Bulldogs. They have both given us Richt’s strengths and weaknesses.
Next. Is Mark Richt making same mistakes with Miami as at UGA?. dark
Michaels, Hochman and Crowder concluded their interview by stating the Richt might be the Head Coach to take Miami from point A to Point B, but not beyond. Who the Coach could be to lead Miami back to the elite of College Football if it is not Richt is to be determined as we recently posted about, it could be Manny Diaz.