I am going to keep this very simple before my post. You're wrong. Hiring Richt was a bad idea and we had all the info before he was hired. This doesn't mean that Richt wouldn't do a better job (perhaps) than a prior coach at Miami or some chitty coaches on an atrocious list. It just means there was no logical reason to think Richt could achieve our goals.
The reason we hired Richt was because our decision makers have consistently failed us and they continue to fail us today.
You're right. Everyone has a "flaw" but everyone didn't fail over such a long period like Richt.
UGA deemed him a failure and said goodbye. UGA had every right to send him packing as he wasn't achieving their goals.
But what is that saying about trash and treasure?
Sure there were reasons like:
1. You don't desire to win it all,
2. You want a coach who had their best years a long time ago,
3. You don't desire to win your conference, and
4. You prefer a coach who wins less than 10 per season, who consistently lost to ranked opponents and better teams.
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I have some questions for you, since "On paper there were as many reasons to hire Richt as anyone else, and more than most."
1. Over the last 25 years, how many P5 HCs, with such a large sample of coaching experience (10 years or more), are able to out perform their prior tenures?
2. Was Richt's failed experiment as OC HC known before he was hired at Miami?
3. Was Richt's record against his rivals known before he was hired at Miami (see below)?
Answer to Question 1: Mack Brown. Keep in mind he went from an inferior UNC to Texas.
Answer to Question 2: Yes
Average with Richt as the OC (2001-2006)
Total Offense (avg): 384
Scoring Offense (avg): 28.5
Average with Bobo as the OC (2007-2015)
Total Offense (avg): 421
Scoring Offense (avg): 34.1
Answer to Question 3: Yes. Also, look at the coaches he beat to get those wins.
Against UF:
2001: Spurrier 0-1
2002-04: Zook 1-2
2005-10: Meyer 1-5
2011-15: Muschump 3-1
Against LSU:
2001-04: Saban 1-1 (Doesn't play against LSU in 2001 and 2002)
2005-15: Miles 3-2 (Doesn't play against LSU in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015)
Alabama
2001-02: Franchione 1-0 (Doesn't play against Bama in 2001)
2003-06: Shula 1-0 (Doesn't play against Bama in 2004, 2005 and 2006)
2006-15: Saban 1-3 (Doesn't play against Bama in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014