How will Mark Richt be evaluated during the 2011 season?

It all begins on September 3 when the Bulldogs take on Bosie State at the Georgia Dome.

It not only marks the beginning of the 2011 season for Georgia, but it also marks a season long evaluation of head coach Mark Richt.

Last year, Georgia put together a 6-7 record, the first time the Bulldogs posted a losing record since 1996. In the last two years, the Bulldogs’ SEC record is 7-9 and they also did not finish in the top 25 in those two years.

It’s safe to say Richt is on the hot seat and in order for him to keep his job he is going need to do just one thing and one thing only.

Win football games.

He can’t just win the big game, such a Boise State in the opener. Georgia has to win the SEC East and the SEC title in order for Richt to keep his job. That may seem a little too much, but with the hype surrounding the recruiting class and the fact you have players such as Aaron Murray coming back, fans want this team take a huge step forward.

Now the question is: Can it be done? Can Richt lead the Bulldogs to an SEC title? They have some work to do, but it’s possible if the young players produce and the veteran players improve their play.

If they do win against the Broncos on September 3, it will be a great start for the Richt and the Bulldogs and that will give them some momentum when they play South Carolina the following week. If they win that game and go 2-0, it’s already a better start than last year and that will set the tone for the Bulldogs for the rest of the season.

If they somehow go 1-1 or 0-2, then the hot seat conversations will come again up again and Richt will have to win out in order to keep his job. The reason is 8-4 or 9-3 will not cut it for Georgia fans, especially when Richt has had six 10-win seasons in his 10 years at Georgia.

One thing to watch for this year is Richt is four wins away from winning 100 games at UGA. Only Wally Butts and Vince Dooley have more wins at Georgia so why will Richt be evaluated so closely this season when he has done so much for the program?

The one thing that Richt does not have that Dooley and Butts have is a National Championship. Richt has come close in 2002 and 2007 with a No. 2 final ranking in the polls, but fans are tired of being close, especially when Auburn, Alabama, Florida and LSU have won the last five BCS National Championships.

The last five years for Richt at Georgia has not been as good as the first five. From 2001-2005, Richt has won two SEC titles and finished in the top 10 four times. From 2006-2010, Richt has won zero SEC titles and finished the top 10 once.

As good of a job Richt has done for Georgia, the fans, students and alumni want more. And if he doesn’t deliver, and Georgia has another 6-7 season, the search for the 26th head coach for the Georgia Bulldogs will be well underway in January in 2012.