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
Athens
December 4th, 2012
12:25 pm
When Richt….sorry
Pat Way
December 4th, 2012
12:26 pm
Ga had a great season. we lose 8 starters on defense so be prepared not even the great Saban can overcome that only reason he did this year is because his offense was intact, Next year will be rebuilding but we have over 30 ,kids coming in. including some that can ball
Jimmy Crack
December 4th, 2012
12:26 pm
Man, you haters have a butt itch that can NEVER be scratched when it concerns UGA.
ITS ALL BUSHS FAULT
December 4th, 2012
12:31 pm
Chuck and Jagoff are worhless tools…
Wildgator
December 4th, 2012
12:31 pm
Great question Chuck! Richt had a chance to take uga to the NC for the first time and he blew it, not Murray. I am a Gator fan, and I kind of felt bad for Murray when he wanted to spike the ball, and Richt/Bobo called another play, instead of spiking it. Murray looked shook after they didn’t call the spike play. With the spike, uga had at least 2 more plays. Uga going to lose several players next year, and it may be a while before they play for the SEC Championship, let alone the NC. Never the less, it was still a good game.
AltamahaDawg
December 4th, 2012
12:31 pm
apples and oranges.
saying that Georgia Athletics has the right or the need to evaluate its football program, and coaches performance…..in light of the results of the SECCG………..is one thing. Great. Its sounds like some of you believe that.
But come on. Grow up and stop pretending that you actually think Chuck Oliver was correct in what he said at the presser. Stop pretending that everybody else in ther wolrd is wrong, Chuck Oliver is wrong about himself, and you see it the way it should have been seen. And that you comments on THIS particular story aren’t completely jaded, because you want to critisize Coach Richt today.
Because you don’t even believe that yourself, we all know it, and you are looking like damn fools to keep pretending.
Athens
December 4th, 2012
12:33 pm
@Gator Guy
Well I do know he has won the last two agoinst your scumbag team. STFU and get lost. You only wish you had class in your low rent program……go deal some drugs…
7576DAWG
December 4th, 2012
12:35 pm
Oliver and the other idiots that keep bring up that Richt and Murray can not win the big one just don’t have a clue what it takes to BUILD a dynasty . It take a few years starting with good coaches , Coordinators and at least two deep in recruiting at all positions. The SEC is the hardest Conference in the United State and we had 6 of the top 10 spots filled with SEC teams. Has there ever been such a dominance for one Conference ever than this year?
A few years ago Richt finally realized that his best friend, Willie Martinez , could not cut it as a big time college Coordinator. Then Richt brought in Grantham and he decided that Georgia should go to a new Defensive scheme all together because the majority of Pro football used the 3-4 Defense. The idea was it would help in recruiting if Georgia taught the kids and had them NFL ready by the time they left college. Teams that don’t have the discipline or depth of high quality players can not have a 3-4 Defense and to get it in place and working properly takes a few years. The first year did not count because it was first introduced in 2010. It takes at least 3 years to see if the coaches can BUILD A DYNASTY with the 3-4 as the cornerstone for the program.
I don’t want a one year wonder like Auburn bought . Look at that program now. It will take 3 to 5 years for them just to be relevant again let alone a dynasty. The question for me and the BullDawg Nation should be have we as a team , a complete team improved every year since the 6-7 disaster year. First, our recruiting has definitely improved which will get the depth needed to create a dynasty. Second, Bobo has gone to special play calling schools offered by great Offensive minds to help him learn how to call a game. Richt and Bobo sent Murray to the Jon Gruden Camp on how to be a better Quarterback and leader. Murray has improved 200% from last year. Because this year group of Quarterbacks in college is small Murray could leave for Pro ball and be given a chance but I hope he will decide to come back and lead this team one more year because we don’t know if Mason is ready to lead , maybe the best Offense in all of College in 2013. Georgia is loaded on Offense for at least 2 more years and if the Defense can RELOAD we are definitely a top 10 team for the next few years . That will be the time we can see if we are in Alabama’s league of reloading every year or a one or two year wonder like Auburn.
Georgia got better in 2011 and much better in 2012. The recruiting, coaching , player development , depth and attitude all got much better. Richt deserves the BullDawg Nations support after admitting things had to change and things have changed for the better. I give McGarity credit for that and look forward to 2013.
Reality Check
December 4th, 2012
12:36 pm
Not out of line at all. It was a fair question. Tough questions have to be asked. What? Want to lob him a bunch of softballs or be a real reporter?
UGA class of 71&73
December 4th, 2012
12:37 pm
chuck’s timing was off. Chuck Oliver apologized.
The question was and is fair and accurate and yes, we og fans know it MOST of all.
UGA is a wonderful school. Our football w/l record, however, since the 1940s and counting the 40s has been fair to a little better than great. mostly, UGA is respectable in football. We are not, nor have we ever been Alabama. We are a solidly Good football program. THAT is fine with me.
After all, we could be like GT, or UNC.
go Dogs
Go Dogs
The Kang Choked
December 4th, 2012
12:39 pm
The only choke of the night was the fat nerd puckering when a man who has actually played the game and now actually coaches the game aggressively replied to the passive-aggressive use of “they say”.
Next time be man enough to ask “what do you need to do to help Georgia start winning big games?” or just take another run down the media buffet table and keep your mouth shut.
Also, anybody who criticizes Richt’s press conference behavior has never played serious athletics and simply doesn’t understand the passion and emotions that are present within hours after a game. I’m not a Georgia fan but wouldn’t have wanted my coach to handle it any other way – I only regret that Richt called afterwards and apologized to such a large waste of space.
Reality Check
December 4th, 2012
12:39 pm
7576DWAG is also way off on the SEC. Have a decent track record to get conference respect, then continue to schedule a bunch of push over out-of-conference games. That’s the formula the SEC used for their “dominance”.
GDAWG!! Sup "RW" ol DC RIDER!!!
December 4th, 2012
12:41 pm
I agree with RW. Christian LeMay and Hutson Mason should have been given an opportunity to play. UGA lost out on J’Quay Williams again because of their in-ability to win the big games. It’s so funny to watch scouts from GA and GT post up at high school football games with their chests all swollen and arms folded as if they have won 10 straight games or some NC! Mean while BAMA, FL, FSU, OU, MSU and others are polite and cordial. UGA and GT needs to get a clue and fast!! Look for more de-commits from UGA!
Dum-Bass
December 4th, 2012
12:41 pm
Oliver is a “wimp” and those are the kind of questions that reporters need to be asking. He now joins the elite club of AJC writers who were afraid to ask the probing questions needed for Fredi Gonzalez. Somebody has to ask the coaches, managers, and players what the fans are asking and wanting to know because we don’t get that opportunity. The writers, sports hosts, etc. are the “mouthpieces”. He has now done more damage and given them a free pass by backing up and apologizing. The fans and news media of Atlanta and most of GA are too easily accepting of mediocrity. I once heard a coach say, “you accept mediocrity and that’s what you usually get, demand success and it normally happens.”
had enough
December 4th, 2012
12:42 pm
Mark Richt will accept his apology and for the sake of Jesus Christ I will to.But that is still the worst question I have ever herd . And I will still say it .He was a scum bag for asking it in the first place.
Dr. Irving
December 4th, 2012
12:43 pm
Here’s how you fix this.
Chuck: Coach, conrgatulations on the great effort today. You obviously have struggled in some of your bigger games, but you really seemed to hang with a powerhouse today. Do you think this is a turning point for the program with respect to the way it plays ranked opponents?
CMR: Yeah, our guys played their hearts out today, and ultimately we just ran out of time. But I do think the effort was there.
Chuck: So does that mean you think today’s perfromance vindicates Aaron Murray’s poor play against some of the higher ranked teams he has faced in the past.
CMR: Well I don’t know if it’s vindication necessarily, but it was a good performance against a great defense.
Chuck: Do you think this game will quiet those detractors who say you and Aaron seem to always fall short in big games, or do you think it’s just one more loss that adds fuel to the fire?
CMR: All I know is our guys played their tails off today and if anybody says they didn’t then they will have to answer to God and I know Jesus personally and if anyone wants to pick a fight with me then they can fight him, too, and he will conjure the four winds and rain down upon them with bloody vengeance.
Chuck: *Gulp*
CMR: Ok, if there are no more questions I will be getting in my winged charriot and heading back to Athens. There’s Kool-Aid and cookies in the basement and there will be free pizza at First Baptist Church for the first 100 reporters who show up with compliments for the guys.
Athens
December 4th, 2012
12:46 pm
@UGA Class 71 & 73
Darn right we are MORE THAN respectable. UGA is #11 in all time wins Div 1. The only two SEC programs ahead of us are Bama and UT. SCal comes in at #10. Michigan is #1. Yes, I’d say that is d-mn respectable.
james boyett
December 4th, 2012
12:49 pm
Do the UGA fans feel good about the defensive scheme you had for Alabama. I bet if all those all- stars Rambo said you had could play with their mouths you would have shut Alabama out. Why hasnt Buck Belue been called out for his remarks about UA off line being overrated? Why hasn’t Rambo been ask why their so damn bad on defens ewith all these projected first rounders? Coaching? Maybe Rambo can allude to that if any Ga. media has stones to ask.
Obama Bin Lyin
December 4th, 2012
12:49 pm
Fire Mark Richt and hire who?
Let the Big Dawg whine
December 4th, 2012
12:50 pm
Guess what UGA fans – whining won’t change the fact you lost. It was a heckuva game, but come on – who cares about timing for the tough questions? Not like anyone died or something. I haven’t heard such whining about a sports show host since…never? You lost, own it, and move on.
AltamahaDawg
December 4th, 2012
12:51 pm
I’ll guarantee you that Oliver now realize what a poor job he did in the first place, not jujst the timing. Obviously he is regretful of the incident. And apologized for that, as he should. water under the bridge.
But what a crappy waste of his question! Not only did it not really apply to this particular game, but even had it, WTH is a coach suppose to say? There was no possible answer, withing the structure of that press conference that would have been an informative answer there. At BEST he gets a say-nothing coach speak. Why even waste our time, Chuck? It’s only a “fair question” if there is any possibility of there being some way to answer it.
Ga./Fl. Stillman Dawg
December 4th, 2012
12:52 pm
CLEAN HOUSE NOW BEFORE ALL THE HALF DECENT COACHES ARE OFF MARKET
He Hate Gator
December 4th, 2012
12:53 pm
Perhaps, the question should have been “According the Alabama running back Drake, they play one of these every year, whereas Georgia every one every 30 years….Why is that?”
Tom Davis
December 4th, 2012
12:53 pm
Apology accepted. Don’t be such a jerk though.
james boyett
December 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
Georgias offense represented it self very well. the defense was underachieving all year and a person making $850,000 should be ask some questions. SC and UA hit UGA in the mouth and their defenders tucked their tails and ran. Thats pretty symbolic of the State in general after living here 13 years. Most Georgians are very jealous of Alabama anyway and like to make “Alabama” jokes . You need to look at the culture of how your young men respond to being chalenged iIthink. Looks like cowards and backturners.
Phils fan in ATL
December 4th, 2012
1:00 pm
When is the “Dawg” nation going to accept that your program is 32 years out as a champion, that the school routinely falls into the second tier of the conference, and that all the excuses here are so lame. The psyche of UGA, and the ATL sports world in general, is so fragile that any question like this starts a whining, crybaby response that just never accepts the truth. Seriously, from a perspective of winning championships, this is right up there with the losingest sports cities in America. Who cares that the Braves win the eastern division? You’re one for infinity on what counts. No Hawks or Falcon titles EVER! And UGA has some of the most obnoxious fans in college football. Yep, I know people will get mad at this. But I am RIGHT. Period. I’ve never lived anywhere that has the wounded sports psyche that ATL has. It’s pathetic. ATL, a great city, a sports team nightmare.
Tom Davis
December 4th, 2012
1:00 pm
james boyett – I am not sure many of us want to move to Alabamer. Maybe you should. That place stinks like tuna.
tom
December 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
Chuck Oliver is a jack-ass who hid behind his entitlements as a member of the media….didn’t even have the balls to ask a question like a man….had to say that is what he “hears on the radio”….
And one final note…I am proud of Richt for standing up to him like a real coach should…I hope he stays at UGA as long as he wants to….
Richt – 1
Oliver – 0
SCOTT
December 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Even an Auburn grad should be smarter than to ask that question minutes after a very painful loss. Shows he lacks any empathy and is not someone I would ever like to be friends with. I’ve been giving the new station at 92.9 a listen anyway.
Roadster
December 4th, 2012
1:07 pm
Yes. It was out of bounds for that moment. Why don’t you just run over his dog while you’re at it.
Todd - Lawrenceville
December 4th, 2012
1:07 pm
There are some real stupid fans and sports reporters. Sports competitionsare played… No one can guarantee a win, regardless of the difference between two teams.
This years SEC Chanpionship was a great game that came down to a few yards and a couple of plays. Aaron Murray and UGA played well enough to win and Alabama play ba enough to loose… The outcome could have went any way. There is only one champion and obviously no ties…
Most of you and thestupid sports reporters need to get a life; perhaps his this guy ahd payed the game, he would not make such a comment.
Spike 80DF
December 4th, 2012
1:11 pm
Oliver knew exactly what he was doing….it’s the media’s job to get coaches pissed off so they can make a headline. You think this is Chuck’s first rodeo?
Gator Guy
December 4th, 2012
1:11 pm
@Athens—The last time I checked, half of your team had to get permission from state probation to leave Georgia for away games. Also, in your little manfits after thUGA choke moments, you might want to try spell check (A-G-A-I-N-S-T) before you post. Oh wait, my apologies, your probably a thUGA grad!! lolololololol
Dr. Irving
December 4th, 2012
1:14 pm
Chuck: Coach Richt, you’re a pansy and you always have been. Your players are undisciplined, your quarterback is a midget who averages 10 tipped balls a game, and you always make excuses for him. Do you care to comment?
CMR: Well, Aaron has had a tough time of it with tipped balls. When we recruited him he was still 17 and we expected him to grow four or five inches by the time he got into regulation play.
Chuck: Coach, a lot of people say you focus too much on trying to convert your players to hokus pokus hand-holding religion instead of finishing games and avoiding penalties. Aaron Murray actually showed up for this game, which shocked a lot of people, but the defense looked out of shape in the second half. What are your thoughts.
CMR: We don’t evelauate anybody until we’ve had a chance to review their religious affiliations and we try to prepare our guys to go out there and compete in a way that’s fun and congenial – like in the ACC. I wish we could play in the ACC. We’d probably be 11-2 right now.
Chuck: Uh, Coach, you are 11-2.
CMR: Shoot, that’s great. Bring on Auburn. Do we play them in the Cotton Bowl?
bad brad
December 4th, 2012
1:19 pm
Chuck…what are “they” saying today?? Should lose your man card.
timbo2589
December 4th, 2012
1:20 pm
Chuck Oliver ‘punked out’, he had every right to ask that question. Look at the final play of the SEC championship game. Coach Richt made the call not to spike. He is used to getting his butt kissed in press conferences, a ‘challenging’ question easily upsetted him. Chuck Oliver had every right to ask that question
Mike
December 4th, 2012
1:21 pm
Anyone who thinks Chuck was out of line is wrong. I’m a journalist who has had to deal with covering Kennesaw State basketball for the past two years, so believe me, I know how ticked off coaches can get. Look, Richt has all of the right to get emotional, storm out, and shoot down Oliver.
But, nobody in the public should fault or discredit Oliver’s position because of the question. Anyone who does is so wrong I want to slap them. Georgia lost ANOTHER big game, in a different way than usual because Murray dominated, Richt made a questionable decision at the very end (even though I agreed with it) and the Dawgs lost. That question is not only relevant, but opens the door for Richt to point out that Murray didn’t lose the game for Georgia…he was outstanding. It’s then the coaches decision to take the question and make a positive out of it, or get mad. It helps with the angle of the quality of writing from the reporter.
We glorify these coaches so much that if anyone ticks them off we take their side. Stop it. I’m on Richt’s and Oliver’s side on this one. It’s the nature of the business. Oliver was simply doing his job…being a journalist instead of composing a public relations style press release.
AltamahaDawg
December 4th, 2012
1:22 pm
And what answer should Richt have given there, timmy?
Larry
December 4th, 2012
1:23 pm
Terrible timing with that question. However, the FACTS are Richt can no longer win big games.
AltamahaDawg
December 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
Uh, Chuck Oliver thinks Chuck Oliver was out of line, soooo……yea.
Dr. Irving
December 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
Chuck: Coach Richt, Chuck Oliver here with 790 The ZOne. Some of the cashiers at the Piggly Wiggly in Watkinsville said you’re the most overrated coach in the SEC and that you should have been fired after blowing the bowl game to Michigan State last year. Do you care to comment?
CMR: Anybody who thinks our guys didn’t play their tales off in that bowl game is crazy, and you can tell all those guys I said that. They also played their tales off in the South Carolina game this year and the FLorida game last year. I don’t like what you’re insinuating.
Chuck: Boohooohoo. I’m sorry, Coach. I never should have said that. My timing was so bad. I should wait until you lose another 20 games through inept coaching and prepartion, bad special teams, too many penalties and a scared quarterback.
CMR: Special teams? Did you not see that fake punt today? And we only had 11 penalties for 115 yards. What is your problem Chuck?
Chuck: Boohoohoo. I’m sorry, Coach. I’m just really emotional these days. I’m taking a hormone supplement for my voice and it’s having a weird effect on me.
CMR: Well, Bobo and I will pray for ya.
notso fast
December 4th, 2012
1:29 pm
Good question but just not the right time to ask it. Coach R deserves more respect than that. It is not a yes or no question.
Mike
December 4th, 2012
1:31 pm
The question was legit but very poor timing. I’m a UGA Alum and I can tell you that I want that question answered or at least acknowledged by Richt. The record over the past few years speaks for itself. They played a great game on Sat but its still another “L” against a top team.
David Puddy
December 4th, 2012
1:32 pm
“@dawgfan. Did you seriously just call Chuck Oliver a rookie broadcaster lmao….OIiver probably knows more about football than Richt. Anyone who calls Chuck Oliver a rookie broadcaster is a complete idiot”
Looks like we have Chuck responding to his detractors. Oliver and Turnoff are absolutely inept. Their show is so lame I can’t believe anybody would listen to them and be entertained in any way, unless you get turned on by their elementary school back and forth schtik or, perhaps, find special insight from Turnoff’s very juvenile and uncreative and unintelligent exit teases. Gosh,they are horrible. Tune in today so you can listen to Oliver sing along to the show’s intro song. It is so lame. I can’t believe somebody at the station hasn’t stepped up to keep him from sounding like an idiot.
David Puddy
December 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
“The question was legit but very poor timing. I’m a UGA Alum and I can tell you that I want that question answered or at least acknowledged by Richt. The record over the past few years speaks for itself. They played a great game on Sat but its still another “L” against a top team.”
Oh really? So you think Richt needs to acknowledge that, yes, he is incapable of winning the big one? OK, start holding your breath………………..NOW!
Timbo
December 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
Some of the folks on here need to follow CMR’s lead and get over it already. Gawd get some perspective. Whatever the problem’s may or may not be with UGA, Chuck Oliver is not one of them.
AltamahaDawg
December 4th, 2012
1:36 pm
Mike, so it’s your position that Chuck Oliver’s job to ask a question, that had ZERO chance of an infomative answer, based on “what some folks might say” about a topic that pretty much every person would agree did not really apply to THAT particular game?
And thats what a “journalist” does? I don’t expect him to be contribute to a public relation style press release, but that was nothing more than shock joke radio show commentary, not jounalism.
RunninWithTheDawgs
December 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
I guess this proves that MR doesn’t read the blogs in the AJC. How can he really afford to worry about what people think? His job is hard enough without having to worry about fans that don’t want to settle for less than perfect. For Oliver to ask that kind of question at the time he did was totally uncalled for. We all know MR was suffering from the loss and Oliver wants to rub salt in his wounds. I’m afraid I would have politely splattered his nose all over his face.
NCDawg
December 4th, 2012
1:43 pm
Was Oliver out of line in asking the question when he did or did Richt overreact to a legitimate question? HA! He was way out of line! And Coach Richt would have answered if he had asked the question straight up instead of trying to couch it in the famed “some people…” crap.
There are plenty of idiots on this blog that will say that it is all Coach Richt’s and his staff’s fault. The team lost in possibly the crappiest way you can lose. It WAS NOT because of bad coaching. It was a fluke. Think about it this way… Georgia lost because Aaron Murray completed 1 too many passes. It is just messed up.
Oh BTW… Jim Rome is an idiot. It wasn’t poor time management. If the ball was batted away harmlessly we still would have had 1 more shot… a few extra seconds would not have made a difference. UGA, even spiking the ball, would have had time for 2 plays at most. We had Bama where you want them… running ragged. Sports pundits don’t like it when they can’t blame somebody. There was no blame it was just crappy luck. PERIOD.
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
1:47 pm
7576DAWG
December 4th, 2012
12:35 pm
Oliver and the other idiots that keep bring up that Richt and Murray can not win the big one just don’t have a clue what it takes to BUILD a dynasty . It take a few years starting with good coaches , Coordinators and at least two deep in recruiting at all positions.
===============================================
How LONG does it TAKE? Richt has been at it 12 years and with 8 top 10 recruiting classes.. LMMFAO……Richt isn’t EVER going to build a dynasty.