It's hard to argue with you when you ground your opinion not in actual numbers, but instead in pure opinion. Looking at the numbers, it's clear that Richt's talent has been good, but his coaching has been about on par. How many active coaches actually have better track records than Richt? I count 3: Saban, Meyer, Miles. I can see an argument for Stoops and Fisher. So at worst that puts Richt #6.
First, for recruiting, Richt has had some great classes interspersed with some good ones. He certainly hasn't had the best class in the country every year. In 2010, uga had the 21st best recruiting class in the country, per scout. Teams above them? Pitt, Tennessee, Miami, UCLA, Washington, Penn State, USCw, Auburn, Texas, Michigan, Florida. The next year they were #4, still behind Auburn and Texas. In 2012 they were top 14, behind South Carolina, UCLA, Miami, Auburn, Stanford, Florida, Michigan, Texas. In 2013 they were 8, behind Florida, aTm, UCLA, Michigan. In 2014, they were #12, behind Miami, USCw, Auburn, aTm, Tennessee.
If Richt was doing what any other coach in the country could do, where are the Tennesee, Miami, UCLA, Auburn, Michigan, and Texases of the world?
Second, for results, Richt has also had some great years interspersed with some good ones. Since 2005 (which, by the way, is ignoring some of Richt's best years), Richt has finished in the top 10 of at least one poll five times; top 5 twice. He won 12 games once, 11 games once, 10 games three times, and 9 games twice (counting this year). And he finished first or tied for first in the division 4 times.
The only teams in a major conference with more wins the last 10 years are Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma, USC, Wisconsin, FSU, and Florida.
At Ohio State, that includes Tressel and Urban Meyer. Bama had Saban nearly the whole time. Oregon had Kelly. LSU, Miles. Oklahoma, Stoops. USC, Carroll. FSU, Bowden and Fisher. VT, Beamer. And UF, Meyer (that they could still be listed despite Muschamp shows how good Meyer really is).
What do those schools all have in common?** Long, dominant stretches by who are considered to be the elite coaches of the last decade. And guess which coaches aren't available? Tressel, Meyer, Saban, Kelly, Miles, Stoops, Carroll, Bowden, and Beamer. I didn't put Fisher there because I guess there is an outside chance he goes to uga. But if you can't sign Fisher, who is available and an actual upgrade to Richt?
Just look at a few recent examples of teams that have switched coaches. Tennessee has had just as much talent as uga, but had 7 straight years of 5-7 win football after they got rid of Fulmer. Texas, again just as much talent as uga, hired who was thought of as a lock to be a great coach, but has gone 10-14 since.
Simply put, uga got rid of the only sure thing they had. If it was so easy to win and recruit at uga, guys like Goff and Donnan would have done it. Believe it or not, Saban is only 2.2% ahead of Richt when it comes to win percentage in a career. Among active, major conference guys, the only people ahead of them with more than 5 years of experience are Meyer, Fisher, Petersen, Stoops, Saban, Patterson. Brian Kelly, Dabo, and Les are right behind that.
**Wisconsin is the only outlier, though Bielema, Anderson, and Chryst have all had good years there. I think that's more a product of a relatively weak schedule year to year.
