Radio host apologizes for question to Richt
Sports radio talk show host Chuck Oliver said Monday he was guilty of “horrible timing” in asking UGA Coach Mark Richt a question about losing big games after Saturday night’s SEC Championship Game.
Oliver, part of the “Chuck and Chernoff Show” on 680 the Fan, said he used “awful, terrible, wretched, horrid judgment” in posing such a question after Georgia’s emotional 32-28 loss to Alabama, a game many are calling the greatest SEC championship game ever.
In the exchange at a post-game press conference, Oliver asked Richt: “There are some people, whether its fans, media or whomever else, that may want to make further conclusions about you or your quarterback specifically in big games. Would you have any response to those people?”
Richt: “I don’t know what you’re saying. Why don’t you just say it straight up what you’re trying to say.”
Oliver: “There will be people who say that you and Aaron Murray specifically come up short on the biggest stage against the biggest opponents. Do you have any response to that?”
Richt bluntly asked if it was Oliver who was saying that, and Oliver responded that’s what he hears on the radio every day. Richt then says, “That’s for you to worry about then — if that’s what you say then I’ll answer the question; if you think other people are saying that, I’m not worried about that.”
After leaving the press conference, Richt returned briefly and said, “If anybody thinks our guys didn’t play their tail off, and Aaron Murray didn’t play his tail off, they’re crazy. That’s unbelievable that anybody would even bring that up.”
Oliver said his first reaction after the exchange was, “I really wish I could undo the last 90 seconds of my life.”
Was Oliver out of line in asking the question when he did or did Richt overreact to a legitimate question?
View the Oliver-Richt confrontation.
Listen to Oliver’s explanation.
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587 comments Add your comment
Alphare
December 4th, 2012
10:39 am
Chuck, I won’t kill you. You are just a messenger.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
10:39 am
G’Vegas Dawg……………….First this is NOT A UGA BLOG you fool.
Second I do have the same passion for my team.
JB
December 4th, 2012
10:40 am
At the end of the day, there has been only ONE MAN who could of cut Richt’s career at UGA short, and that was/is President Adams and likes Mark. So, everything thing else said is wasted matter in space.
Buckeye
December 4th, 2012
10:40 am
g vegas is tom brown
festus
December 4th, 2012
10:40 am
Always serve up softball questions and you’ll never be in trouble. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Super Coach Mark Richt show emotion. Well if you can’t beat Alabama you can always take it out on reporters.
Shug
December 4th, 2012
10:41 am
Oliver asked a legitimate question about a subject that’s been ongoing for a number of seasons. Why the apology?
old guy
December 4th, 2012
10:42 am
It is hard to understand how UGA lost this game after all their players were so sure (before the game, of course) that they were superior to Alabama at every position.
a country boy can survive
December 4th, 2012
10:43 am
where is the UGA “YEAH, WE LOST THE BOWL GAME…AGAIN” party being held? Sanford and Son Stadium would be the perfect venue…you can smell big game failure in the hedges!!!!!!
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
10:44 am
Does anybody see the speech between Tom Cruz and Jack Nicholson in a “Few Good Men”?
Coach couldn’t Handle the Truth………….
Gene Chizik
December 4th, 2012
10:45 am
Some coaches are just not meant to join the pantheon of elite BCS title winning coaches.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
10:46 am
Wow Hinds Ward on Dan Patrick……Players have helmets and they Use their helmets. if you don’t want players to use their helmets then take the helmets away…….See I was right.
dwill
December 4th, 2012
10:47 am
Has Chuck Oliver ever played the game?
The1TrueDawg
December 4th, 2012
10:49 am
You don’t get to back-to-back SEC Championship games without winning lots of big games along the way. The SEC is a tough league, obviously! The entire premise of the question is preposterous, and the way it was framed by King Jackass was so unprofessional it warrants termination.
Anybody who says “people have asked that question on the internet before”: A bunch of little boys living in mama’s basement like “Put in timeout” asking an ignorant question does not make that question rise to the level of legitimacy! Richt has won the SEC East 6 times and has two SEC titles but he can’t win the big game?! He’s won 10+ games eight times in twelve years at UGA but he can’t win big games?! Anybody who thinks that is, by definition, a complete idiot!!
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
December 4th, 2012
10:49 am
I did not have a problem with the question nor the timing. It was an appropriate question that needed to be asked. Asking it a week later would not have changed a thing. Kudos to Chuck Oliver for having the guts to ask it.
I get sick and tired of the Atlanta sports journalist routinely asking the “FLUFF” questions of all the coaches so that they don’t upset them or they are afraid they’ll be banned from the interview sessions if they ask the tough questions…..this includes Mike Smith (Falcons) too. Smith gives the same canned responses each week because none of the journalists will ask a question that does not have a scripted response.
The Masked Superstar
December 4th, 2012
10:50 am
It was an inappropriate question with bad timing. Murray never folded in this game – the proof is in the pudding – drove his team to the 5 yard line in the 50 or so seconds – had a pass tipped and it went right to another reciever who caught it out of instinct. A more seasoned receiver may have swatted it down but it is what it is. As far as I’m concerned we’re the 2nd best team in America at least this season. If Murray returns we have EVERYONE except Brown and TK back on offense. If by some miracle Jarvis and Alec return the defense will be younger but have exceptional leaders. Next year we play LSU, South Carolina and Florida and I think we can beat any of them and go back to Atlanta. ‘Bama loses that great OL so they will be vulnerable. Land a few key recruits and we’re right back here next year.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
10:53 am
dwill
December 4th, 2012
10:47 am
Has Chuck Oliver ever played the game?
=========================
Yes he was also a High School Teacher and Coach.
a country boy can survive
December 4th, 2012
10:53 am
2013 season marks the 5 year anniversary of Georgia’s greatest season since 1980…started the season ranked #1…immediately sought its level by falling in the rankings even though they were winning games against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan…remember all the fans joy after “The Blackout” game (we played hard)…happiness was multiplied after Tebow and the boys plastered the dawgs in Jax (remember the joy!), followed by the delerium of a loss to GT (happy hugs by the Georgia faithful led to numerous rotator cuff surgeries, due to the sheer volume of hugs…we lost and I’m so proud)…surely there will be a helmet sticker or uniform patch celebrating the magical 2008 season…if big game losing is appreciated, 2008 was nirvana to the Georgia faithful…
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
10:55 am
The1TrueDawg
December 4th, 2012
10:49 am
You don’t get to back-to-back SEC Championship games without winning lots of big games along the way.
========================================
Please tell us the Big Games UGa won to get to the back-2-back trips to the Dome.
Tide washed away the stain of Georgia
December 4th, 2012
10:56 am
I’m sure Oliver was told by the higher ups at his station to apologize as to calm down the sulking UGA fans who were probably on the verge of organizing a boycott. It was a valid question. Period. No apology should have been given. And Mark Richt’s rant that followed was just embarrassing and pathetic. Richt was either too stupid to understand the question, or he deliberately tried to frame Oliver’s question as a jab against his players’ effort to rally the dumb country boy members of the fanbase behind him. The question was about Richt’s (and Murray’s) inability to win games. UGA players weren’t wrong about having more talent than Alabama. Aside from offensive line, Georgia pretty much had more talent at almost every position. So why did The Tide still win? Because Nick Saban is just a better coach. This year was Georgia’s shot. There’s no cupcake schedule next year where they don’t play anyone besides S.C. and Florida. And the year after that, the playoffs start. Anyone really think Richt can beat MULTIPLE quality teams in a season to win a national championship? He can’t. As long as Mark Richt is at Georgia, all Bulldog fans will ever be able to celebrate is a top-rated draft class. Meanwhile, other SEC schools will celebrate, you know, championships.
dawg33
December 4th, 2012
10:59 am
All of you people who are ripping Chuck have probably never met the man in person. I have had the pleasure to meet him at a promo site and spoke with him for about 30 min. He is very down to earth and very knowlegeble about not only football but all sports. The man made a mistake and owned up to it. So come on people let it go as the old saying goes those that live in glass houses!!!!!!
H
December 4th, 2012
10:59 am
Chuck Oliver is one of a long list of liberal sports hacks. Jim Gray used to be the Poster Boy for asking the most stupid question club. Wanna bet that Chuck Oliver wants to ban guns in the United States now. Bob Costas is also on that list.
Truth Be Told............
December 4th, 2012
11:00 am
Been listening to Chuck for years now, and he’s good at his craft, but with that said, he made a serious bone headed mistake with that question and the timing after a very draining and tough game. The thing is if your gonna ask that question, have the guts to say it’s me coach that’s asking this. Still will listen to him, but Men need to Man up when faced with adversity in there face. Neither he nor Richt did. Richt lost and sometime you have to assume the responsibility for that.Between your Head Coach and his OC(Dumb Dumb) Bobo, you guys should’ve known the situation and had the ball spiked. Now this is where Aaron Murray comes in. As a fourth year junior, you have to take command, know the situation and take the butt chewing like a man, but spike that ball. In the middle of chaos you should’ve commanded your offense. and definately went for the end zone and not and out and up with know time. Just throwing to the end zone alone woud’ve bought you 5 extra seconds. This one is on GEORGIA. Now the blessing ya’ll have is a great offense coming back with two great backs and a excellent back from Fla(A.J. Turman) coming in. The DEFENSE will be solid again and LSU will be your opponent.
Fan
December 4th, 2012
11:00 am
Chuckie the coward. Said it, caused a problem and then bactracked like “Hell”.
Hmmm
December 4th, 2012
11:00 am
Chuck Oliver is .. and always has been an idiot… I had forgotten about Chuck Oliver, in fact, I had forgotten about sports radio in Atlanta. I began using XM in 2004 (now Sirius) and have not listened to 680 or 790 since.. and not this isnt an ad for satellite radio..not sure why people still listen to the morons on those stations. If they had any talent at all they would be working a real job anyway.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
11:01 am
The1TrueDawg
December 4th, 2012
10:49 am
MANY MANY MANY people have been saying the same thing and they are UGa season ticket holders.
In ALL of Richt’s 10 game winning seasons how many UPSET games has he won? How many Times has UGa been the underdWag? How many times has Richt had less talent than the team he is facing? How many times has he played teams with losing records?
Richt and UGa has a Bowl eligible schedule almost every year.
You go back and see how many times in Richt’s 12 years he beat teams with winning records.
clem
December 4th, 2012
11:01 am
uga needs to hire a clock/time manager as apparently current staff is not top drawer there.
Tide washed away the stain of Georgia
December 4th, 2012
11:01 am
And for every idiot who asks, “Has (insert critic here) ever played the game?” What difference does that make? Do you sometimes complain about your elected officials? Yes? And have you ever held political office? No? Then I guess that means you don’t have a right to criticize them, huh? Commentators don’t need to have played the game to understand when someone is a fantastic recruiter but a mediocre coach, i.e. Mark Richt.
over8ed richt
December 4th, 2012
11:02 am
Richt, cant win the big games. very simple. Answer the question!! If i was there i would have told richt “Yes i am the one saying you can’t win the big games” Why????
gdawginkalamazoo
December 4th, 2012
11:02 am
A lot of Bama fans still on here worried about UGA. Let it go already. Shouldn’t you be up on the ND blogs running smack? For some reason you clowns just can’t let UGA go can you? If we had won Bama would have been in the rearview mirror 5 minutes after the celebration.
DawgNole
December 4th, 2012
11:02 am
Karen
December 4th, 2012
8:38 am
It’s a fact! They always (with 1 exception) lose to ranked teams. That’s pathetic.
_______________________
ALWAYS? So they’ve only beaten one ranked team EVER?
With that lamebrained statement, you’re pathetic.
Bill
December 4th, 2012
11:05 am
What a pathetic Auburn homer. What bowl is Auburn going to???? Long live 790 the zone.
harold
December 4th, 2012
11:05 am
Richt has a “deplorable” record against ranked teams 1-12. This is horrible. And while it is true that “Aaron Murray” gave it all he got he can’t win the big game!
This question was not asked at the right time! What should have been asked was “Why in the name of God didn’t Murray “SPIKE” the ball or throw into the end zone? If not that why not pass it into the end zone? This would have given UGA two shots for The National Championship? Stupidity!
I agree with Saban and disagree with Spurrier. Spurrrier says UGA had the weakest schedule in the SEC and did not play anybody. Only two ranked teams in the top 25. It was a weak schedule. Very weak. However, Saban stated he can’t believe a Northern Illinios got in and UGA did not. HOW DISAPPOINTING!
UGA will crush Nebraska and no one will care!
a country boy can survive
December 4th, 2012
11:05 am
Anyone really think Richt can beat MULTIPLE quality teams in a season to win a national championship?
++++++++++++++++
he can’t beat South Carolina anymore…what would his record be if he had played LSU’s schedule this year?…Florida, SCarolina, TAMU, Bama, Miss State, Ole Miss and Arky in that order? sure as heck wouldn’t have been 11-1…
Rick James
December 4th, 2012
11:07 am
Chuck admitted to bad timing and that he wishes he had not asked the question. I’m convinced that there was no ill intent and he’s sincere..Let’s move on.
Roll Turd Roll
December 4th, 2012
11:07 am
This is precisely why I do not listen to “sports call-in radio”…. If I were Coach Richt, I would never participate in another one.
Devil's Advocate
December 4th, 2012
11:08 am
It is a fact that UGA did not play the easiest schedule in the country this year. It is a fact that UGA did not play the easiest schedule in SEC history. It is a fact that UGA’s 2012 schedule was easier than many in recent seasons. It’s also a fact that UGA came off a touch scheduling period from 2007-2009. Why do people even bothering talking about the SEC East, Tech, and Auburn? Those teams are firm on UGA’s schedule. Looking at the West, it rotates, get over it! Here’s some notable games in recent years from the West and OOC. Keep in mind that Florida had Tebow and Auburn was decent most of these years but did UGA get any credit for playing tough schedules? No. So shut it about having a softer schedule now!
2007: Oklahoma State, Alabama
2008: Cent Mich, Arizona State, Bama, LSU
2009: Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Arizona State, LSU
Guess who returns to the schedule in 2013? Clemson! UGA is going to play who they are going to play just like every other team in the country. Get over it people.
As far as never winning the big game goes, Florida was a pretty big game this year considering their only loss was to UGA and it decided the East. I doubt they would have played Bama that close in the SEC Championship Game and neither would a healthy South Carolina. It’s not like UGA lost 42-10 again.
If you want to whine and cry saying that Richt can’t win a BCS Championship, go ahead. Murray not beating a lot of top ranked teams is unfortunate but did UGA lose any games because of Murray this season? No! Murray improved to become the top rated passer in all of FBS for 2012. It was Murray’s fault that UGA lost to South Carolina in 2011 but it wasn’t his fault in 2012 and darn sure wasn’t his fault for losing to Bama Saturday.
Chuck Oliver and the rest of you haters already have the meaningful answers as to why UGA isn’t in position to win the BCS Championship today. They lost to who will likely be the eventual national champion, that’s why.
The1TrueDawg
December 4th, 2012
11:08 am
Put in timeout: Did you and the idiots like you who ask completely stupid questions from mama’s basement happen to watch Richt and Murray completely destroy #2 Florida a few weeks ago? Its morons like you who put Obama in the White House. Every win in the SEC is a big win.
DawginLex
December 4th, 2012
11:09 am
Let’s get Mr Auburn man Chuck to arrange a panel discussion live on the air with questions from callers and all panel members hooked up to a lie detector
Panel:
Gene Chizik
Trooper Taylor
Cam Newton
Cecil Newton
Bobby Lowder
Jovon Robinson
The Memphis School Counselor
That would be reality radio at is finest
Tide washed away the stain of Georgia
December 4th, 2012
11:09 am
“If we had won Bama would have been in the rearview mirror 5 minutes after the celebration.”
Bwahahahaha! What you just said is an absolute lie. UGA fans would have held onto this game forever, just like a win over Tech. Because when all else fails (and it always does under Mark Richt), Bullpuppy fans can say “WE RUN THIS STATE!” … Yeah, congratulations, your program is better than an engineering school. You must be so proud of that as you watch the rest of the SEC do what Georgia cannot and will not: win national championships.
Rick James
December 4th, 2012
11:10 am
I wish Chuck had asked thin skinned Paul Johnson a question like that..Then wouldnt like Matt or Chuck..
gator Jim Bob
December 4th, 2012
11:10 am
at the end of the day, the final rankings represent the natural order of the football world. Gators 3rd, Pups 7th, or somewhere WAY south of the Gators!!!!
Chuck Sucks!
December 4th, 2012
11:11 am
Chuck is the biggest D-Bag on the radio.
DawginLex
December 4th, 2012
11:11 am
17-9 and 2nd in the East is all the facts I need gatortard
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
11:12 am
gdawginkalamazoo
December 4th, 2012
11:02 am
A lot of Bama fans still on here worried about UGA. Let it go already. Shouldn’t you be up on the ND blogs running smack? For some reason you clowns just can’t let UGA go can you? If we had won Bama would have been in the rearview mirror 5 minutes after the celebration.
===========================================
Shouldn’t you be on a HUSKER BLOG already Crying and making Excuses to why UGa will WIN and Doesn’t?
Alphare
December 4th, 2012
11:12 am
Coach Richt’s rant against a report is deplorable. The guy simply asked a question. You can choose to answer it or not. Why shooting the messenger?
Chuck may hurt your feeling a bit, but what’s the rant about?
Tide washed away the stain of Georgia
December 4th, 2012
11:13 am
The1TrueDawg
You might be the single biggest idiot in a village (or fanbase) full of them. Richt and Murray “destroyed” Florida??? Bwhahaahaha! Murray threw 3 INT! Georgia only won because of the awesomeness of Jarvis Jones combined with the ineptitude of Jeff Driskell. Richt and Murray might as well have been sitting in the stands for the game.
DawginLex
December 4th, 2012
11:13 am
Because it was a stupid question
Gator Mike
December 4th, 2012
11:14 am
The DAWGS played a great game which they could have won with a little more time. Coach Richt had his team ready, and he was spent after the game. Oliver was a total jerk to pose such a question at Richt. The press clowns need to learn when to baqck off.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 4th, 2012
11:16 am
So did CHUCK put AUBURN back as the team UGa fans hate?
It was Auburn the year after playing Fairley….then
It was VANDY the year after the Franklin v Grantham yelling match….now
It is BAMA for the hit on MURRAY….but Auburn man Chuck Oliver is getting Auburn back up the UGa whiners list.
The Greatest Coach UGa has is an AUBURN MAN…..Vince Dooley.
No
December 4th, 2012
11:18 am
All due respect for Richt but you get paid an enormous amount to take that kind of question.
Certainly no Bama fan but face it,their game plan worked. Put a block or two on Jarvis Jones and run right at him and he’s not much of a factor. I watched him star Ina couple of your games by just running around- no one tried to block him or double team him. Bama did – it worked. Pat Dye once said “GA wasn’t man enought to beat Bama.” Several years later he’s finally right.