Friday March 29th, 2024 3:45AM

SPECIAL: Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Mark Richt/Georgia Tech

I have to admit I felt mixed emotions when my wife and I got home from church Sunday morning and heard the news that Mark Richt had been fired.

On the one hand, the prospect of a new coach is exciting. Can a new guy bring Georgia to the promised land?

On the other hand, it's sad to see a great man like Richt let go. I wish it could be him who turned everything around.

So for this week's Tuesday Morning Quarterback, we're going to look at the entire weekend in context, and look ahead to the coaching future.

1) The defense: Say what you will about Jeremy Pruitt and his apparently brash attitude and demanding personality, but the man knows how to coach a defense.

The Bulldogs were absolutely dominant on Saturday, holding Paul Johnson's pesky option offense (which churned out 399 yards the year before) to 276 total yards, and only 7 points (which can be attributed to a controversial personal foul).

Tech ran for 194 yards, and with Pruitt's unit totally committed to stopping the B-backs, the option was severely limited.

Whoever Georgia hires (more on that in a moment) would be wise to consider keeping Pruitt around.

2) The play-calling: Maybe a silver-lining of all the coaching news is that a new offensive coordinator can come to Athens.

What struck me as odd was the obvious play-conservative-and-lean-on-the-defense strategy ... but also going for it on several fourth downs.

The first one made sense, and turned into a Sony Michel TD.

The other one (a failed dive with FB Quayvon Hicks), was puzzling. The score was still 7-0, and with the way the defense was dominating, a 3-pointer would have been huge. Having a two possession lead and making the Yellow Jackets play from behind would pay dividends.

Still, the play-calling wasn't all bad, though. Schottenheimer's unit accounted for 402 yards, but the lack of production on the scoreboard nearly cost them the game.

3) The look ahead (part 1): Coach Richt has said that he's going to stick around and coach the bowl game, wherever that is.

Since it's his last game, there's a glimmer of hope that a better bowl will snap up the Bulldogs to feature Richt's finale.

At best, it's looking like the Outback Bowl (Tampa), though that would be a pretty big leap.

Realistically, it'll probably be the Liberty (Memphis) or Music City (Nashville). We shall see.

4) The look ahead (part 2): The million dollar question (actually, multi-million, if we're speaking literally) is: Who replaces Richt?

The hottest rumor—unsubstantiated, like the rest of them—is that Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart is the leader for the job, and that if he accepts, he'll bring Auburn Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp with him. Both played DB at Georgia back in the '90s.

The other potential leader (again, unsubstantiated) is Mississippi State Head Coach Dan Mullen, though his name is also being thrown around in connection with South Carolina's opening.

Personally, of that bunch, I think Mullen would be the best option, so long as he keeps Pruitt around. Mullen brings offensive prowess that we've been lacking this year, and he's a proven talent developer. (See: Prescott, Dak)

My gut tells me Smart will be the one hired, which would, ironically, probably send Pruitt to Alabama to fill his void in Tuscaloosa.

As for Richt, he said in his press conference Monday morning that he hasn't ruled out coaching again, whether as the head man or a coordinator. I'm sure his alma mater, The U, will give him a call. I'm not sure he'll coach again, though. He seems like he's ready to hang up the headset and go into the mission field with his wife.

Wherever he goes, though, I'm sure it will be the with class that he always exuded while wearing the Red and Black.

I wish him the best of luck.

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