Strike three for Mark Richt as the third candidate says no to him within the last month. Alabama coach Nick Saban announced today Smart would be remaining with the Tide despite reports stating otherwise yesterday. This makes the third candidate now that Richt has helped to boost their current contract – Bud Foster, John Chavis, and Smart – while getting publicly rejected in the process. We are now three weeks out from National Signing Day, and Georgia still has not signed a defensive coordinator. Recruits are getting anxious, and it’s getting closer and closer to the point where anyone they hire isn’t going to be able to have the time to make the appropriate connections – especially since it appears they will likely head towards the NFL route now, targeting the Cowboys’ Todd Grantham.

Who Richt will turn to next remains to be seen, but it for sure won’t be his first choice. Or even his second or third.