UGA coach Mark Richt prays for the right recruits
Georgia coach Mark Richt revealed his secret on handling the rigors and stresses of recruiting: He prays.
“I put a lot of things to prayer, and this is one thing I put to prayer. I ask the Lord to ‘Give us the guys that belong at Georgia. The ones that don’t belong, work it out.’ I don’t get too bent out of shape with [recruiting], one way or the other. We’re going to get what we need. We’re going to get the right guys here.”
More than a month after signing day, UGA is still trying to put the finishing touches on its 2009 recruiting class. On Friday, tight end Orson Charles of Tampa will decide between the Bulldogs, Tennessee and Southern Cal. On signing day, Richt displayed a calm and cool demeanor in front of Georgia supporters eager for some last-minute drama. The Bulldogs missed on several high-profile prospects, including Carver-Columbus linebacker Jarvis Jones (signed with Southern Cal) and safety Jawanza Starling (Southern Cal) of Tallahassee, Fla., before watching wide receiver Marlon Brown of Memphis select Georgia in the late afternoon.
When Brown made his on national TV, there were screams heard outside of Georgia’s football offices. Richt was doing a radio interview at the time, and said some of his assistants were very excited about Brown near the end of the pressure-packed day.
Click here and bookmark this page to follow the AJC’s recruiting coverage
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
186 comments Add your comment
LESD
March 4th, 2009
9:58 am
Sure, Tech nerd,
Except that according to Scout.com, Georgia’s 2009 recruiting class is ranked higher than USC’s or Oklahoma’s…and waaaaaaayyy higher than Tech’s. Richt’s excellent recruiting has been a key ingredient in winning 82 games in eight years while coaching in the toughest division within the toughest conference in America.
BTW, belated congrats on Tech’s three-point win over UGA this year, the Jackets’ first victory over Georgia (without using ineligible players) since 1990. Enjoy the win as long as you can. It might be many years before you get another one.
Reason
March 4th, 2009
9:58 am
Do you honestly believe god cares about Georgia football? Or any football for that matter? Nothing fails like prayer.
Sam Clemmons
March 4th, 2009
10:03 am
What if his recruit is a Muslim??? Does he think his god (Yaweh) is the only god?? Pray for something that matters, not 18 year old recruits. Tell Richt to flip a coin next time, it works just as well. Go Dawgs!!
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. — George Bernard Shaw
dap01
March 4th, 2009
10:15 am
Tech Nerd: What an insightful comment. Thanks.
Perhaps you should spend as much time comparing what players committed to UGA. UGA is fine without your contributions.
UGA has CMR that is great. Tech has CPJ, that too is good. I am more comfortable with CMR. You and the other 45,000 other fans should worry about your program and your coach. You should worry about whether ESPN is going to pick Tech or South Boise State for the Thursday night game. You should worry about if you will have to buy 2 tanks of gas or 1 tank of gas in order to get your free Tech tickets. Worry about Tech. Blog on a Tech blog. Besides, your break time is very limited at the factory, use it wisely.
Fred
March 4th, 2009
10:16 am
To start with, you spell God with a capital. Don’t ever believe prayer is a waste. If you live your life trying to do God’s will God will answer your prayers. It happens to people over and over. God may not care about football but he sure cares about Mark Richt. Maybe he wants a certain boy to be in a situation like Georgia. It will happen. Remember, God is unchangable and unstopable.
bank walker
March 4th, 2009
10:18 am
I personally like GMR’s approach. I think prayer is a great thing and should be done more often. He prays about everything he needs help with and that’s what the big man is for. God might not care about “Georgia Fooball”, but he cares about the players and coaches. To answer your question, reason! GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
zdawg8
March 4th, 2009
10:21 am
CMR prays that the right people come to UGA. Not that he prays for the 5-star guy to come to UGA. Ya”ll are missing the point. Also, drunken men are rarely happy.
DOGZILLA
March 4th, 2009
10:24 am
Anybody wonder why it bothers atheists/agnostics so much when religious people pray? Is it somehow an infringement on non-believers’ rights? Or are they just that wrapped up in themselves? Whether Richt’s prayers help or not, it definitely doesn’t hurt.
Lance Sumner
March 4th, 2009
10:25 am
Do you honestly believe God cares about Georgia football? Without a doubt because he cares about us. I believe Mark Richt to be an honorable Faithful Christian. I believe in the power of prayer and what Coach Richt is doing. I am sure their are other Christian coaches out there that pray over their recruits but you will never hear them make that statement because of how far our society has left their roots.
What if his recruit is a Muslim??? Does he think his god (Yaweh) is the only god?? Maybe God wants to see that Muslim recuit told the truth. And by the way just so you know, There is only one God!
So, Coach Richt you will always have my complete support as you continue to step out in Faith and spread God’s word. I personally thank God for you and the man he has developed within you. As a Youth Pastor, I appreciate men like you who continue to lead boys into Men and give them the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you again, and may God continue to Bless you and keep you safe! Amen.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 4th, 2009
10:25 am
Hey coach, pray for the stock market instead, and we won’t run the score up on you in Atlanta this year.
Mary
March 4th, 2009
10:26 am
Absolutely Coach !!! People sometimes don’t realize PRAYER is the answer to everything , no matter how large or small. The Lord always answer prayers and I am so glad to know this !!
Hey “Reason” a message to you…. You WILL call upon his name, make no mistake about it. You need to ask for forgiveness for that statement you made “nothing fails like prayer”.
God bless and keep us all!
Wally
March 4th, 2009
10:27 am
Uhhh…Sam Clemmons, “Yaweh” is actually from Judiasm. “Allah” is the Islamic term for God.
The Truth
March 4th, 2009
10:30 am
This is cracking me up….the key to this whole article is that they put one letter in the word ‘prays’ too many. They should have said that he ‘pays’ not prays. After all, he learned from the master himself, Bobby Bowden. I mean please…..recruiting is so overrated anyway. And by the way, I am not a Tech fan and I have no dog in this fight.
Wally
March 4th, 2009
10:33 am
i guess you could argue that Yaweh could also be a Christian term, but whatever…i like coach richt, but i think God couldn’t care less about football.
DawginLex
March 4th, 2009
10:34 am
Hey Rambler,
Pray that your coach can lose with class this year. He sure doesn’t win with class(turns and points to the fans).
GetOverIt
March 4th, 2009
10:36 am
Where was God when 45-42 happened? Oh yeah, he just scored again.
Wally
March 4th, 2009
10:40 am
Hey Ramble On: 51-7…yeah i know: 45-42 i don’t think prayer is required for the whole tech “running the score” on GA. that ain’t gonna happen and i think you know it.
Lance Sumner
March 4th, 2009
10:40 am
Wally – like coach richt, but i think God couldn’t care less about football. I disagree. I think God does care about football because we care about football and God cares about us.
Prayer does work when we set our sights on things above and not things of this earth.
spotts
March 4th, 2009
10:41 am
Richt’s not praying for the top 50 players to suddenly decide to drop everything and play for Georgia. Richt is praying for the “right recruits” to come. The people who physically, emotionally, and spiritually belong in Athens. Richt knows there’s a lot more to life than football, and that’s what he’s praying for.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:41 am
I just prayed for a Mountain Dew. I am really thirsty.
Nothing so far, but I will keep you all posted.
Brandon
March 4th, 2009
10:42 am
Tech fans enjoy your 15 minutes of fan. You may not win again for another 7 or 8 years.
Bill W.
March 4th, 2009
10:44 am
Fred, Lance Sumner, and Mary- Great posts and I agree with you on prayer. When I hear the comment “All we can do is pray” as a last resort, I have learned that that’s the best thing we can do. To the Bernard Shaw quote on a drunken man vs. a sober man, I used to be drunk for many years and now I have been sober for several years. From my experience being sober is infinitely better. To “Wally”, Yahweh is Jesus in Hebrew.
I think CMR using prayer in his life keeps a connection with God regardless of what he is praying about. UGA is fortunate to have a man of strong faith leading the football program and setting an example to others.
Go Dawgs!! GATA!
JenniferGO Dawgs
March 4th, 2009
10:44 am
“I put a lot of things to prayer, and this is one thing I put to prayer. I ask the Lord to ‘Give us the guys that belong at Georgia. The ones that don’t belong, work it out.’ I don’t get too bent out of shape with [recruiting], one way or the other. We’re going to get what we need. We’re going to get the right guys here.” God Bless you Coach Richt for your Faith and Christianity. NOW to the unbeliever who wrote:
“Do you honestly believe god cares about Georgia football? Or any football for that matter? Nothing fails like prayer.” – REASON
You must not have experienced the love of God in your life, because Prayer can be stronger than medicine, I know for a fact, it has happened to me in my life on something personal. I am just shocked at your response! Coach Richtis a believer and so am I, nobody knows the entire prayer he said, only what he commented on. He was praying not for football, but for the Right players that belong there and BTW how do know God does not care about football?
Lance Sumner
March 4th, 2009
10:48 am
BTW Just so everyone knows. I do believe that all will go to Heaven and realize HOW PRAYER HAS ALWAYS WORKED but only few get to stay!
jacketbacker
March 4th, 2009
10:50 am
these prayers must not be going too far if he is praying for the “right” recruits…..how many arrests was it last year?? 9-10…..i lost count…..he can pray all he wants but we have the better coach who just outcoached saint richt…..
45-42!!!!!!!!!!!!
THWG
Cameron
March 4th, 2009
10:51 am
Y’all are missing the point on this altogether. Richt isn’t praying that God send him the best football players possible. He isn’t asking for UGA to have the best team. He is asking God to put the right players, out of the ones we are recruiting, into his life. That way, God can use Richt, and the coaching staff (who are all good Christians to my knowledge) to help mold these kids into young men. Richt isn’t praying, “Please let this kid commit here.” He is praying, “Let the right ones choose us, the ones that I can reach and teach, and develop. Sure, we want them to be great players and we want the best team possible. But, ultimately we want the right kids according to your will.”
Crewsin
March 4th, 2009
10:51 am
Najeh Davenpoop, Mountain Dew will not cure you being thirsty. Water will! God is not going to give you a Mountain Dew. Go look for some water.
GeoffDawg
March 4th, 2009
10:53 am
GOI – your last post made less than no sense.
DawginLex
March 4th, 2009
10:53 am
Jacketbacker,
We have a coach that prays about everything. You are part of a fan base obsessed with everything to do with UGA and close your comments with THWG.
Pretty obvious which group I would rather belong to……………..
Cameron
March 4th, 2009
10:54 am
Just because a kid gets lead to UGA, through prayer or not, does not mean he is going to be perfect. This is a common misconception. Just because someone asks God to come in their life doesn’t mean their life is going to be perfect. Far from it, actually. Just about every significant person in the Bible storied is told THROUGH suffering. Get educated before you reply.
JenniferGO Dawgs
March 4th, 2009
10:54 am
CAMERON THAT WAS AWESOME!
Lance Sumner
March 4th, 2009
10:54 am
Nobody has said the right recruits are going to be perfect. The fact of the matter is Coach Richt is praying for the right recruits. Sometimes the right recruit is going to make mistakes. And jacketbacker – I would guarantee you have made your fair share of mistakes as well. But the measure of a man is how you get up when you fall.
David Fraser
March 4th, 2009
10:56 am
Prayer does matter in all thing,as for 45-42 I guess you Techies have to have something to brag about with your once a decade win against the mighty DOGS.
Herschworld
March 4th, 2009
10:58 am
Who cares about 45-42 when you got such a great tan…Coach what oils do you use?
scappy doo
March 4th, 2009
10:59 am
CMR is an outstanding man of character. He is a man of integrity and a man of faith. I strongly support coach Richt and I am thankful he is humble enough to admit he needs the Lord’s help, guidance and wisdom. He cares about each member of the team as much as he does winning.
We have had Muslims (Musa Smith for one) on the team and he is just as concerned for them and treats them the same. He is an outstanding coach. As far as the wise cracks of praying in loses, the loses teach you many lessons and your try to fail forward. Learn from wins and loses. By the way, I am unashamed to say that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. He paid the price for our foolishness (much on this blog) on the cross and Jesus took our place that we have the opportunity for forgiveness. His unmerited favor on our behalf. God Bless and Go DAWGS!
LSU fan
March 4th, 2009
11:02 am
Jacketbacker, beating UGA by 3 points is not much to brag about. Losing on national TV 38-3 should stop any thoughts you have of bragging. Your team disgraced the ACC and your state. You should keep a very low profile about the luck you had with UGA. If GT makes it to the Chicken Bowl again next year, you better hope you don’t play another SEC team. P.S. being critical of prayer doesn’t make you look any smarter
PN
March 4th, 2009
11:02 am
He prays for football? What a joke. Mark Richt is a joke. The south is a joke.
PN
March 4th, 2009
11:03 am
For some reason, I don’t think any higher powers gives a crap about football, and most certainly not UGA football.
jacketbacker
March 4th, 2009
11:04 am
I’m sure retard nation doesn’t understand that most of those 7 wins were against gailey and ball…..don’t know if you idiots have noticed, but they are GONE!!!!…CPJ has coached one game as Tech coach against ugag and guess what his record is, 1-0!!!!!!…and that was with our lowly recruits who were not even recruited for his system…..it will get worse for the fleabags….keep prayin’…..you’re going to need it!!
45-42!!!!!!
THWG!!!!!!!!
Doc54
March 4th, 2009
11:05 am
I am a Tech fan, but this is one of the things I admire about Mark Richt. I have a Ph.D. in theology, and I too am so amused when agnostics and atheists get in a wad over someone praying. I am sure Mark prays about many other things in addition to football recruiting. If you do not like prayers, do not listen or participate. However, Mark is exercising his freedom of religion, so deal with it and worship a tree or your bank account.
Herschworld
March 4th, 2009
11:05 am
Is this what they mean by the dumbing down of america?
Brad
March 4th, 2009
11:08 am
Most of you people are missing the point. The first half of the article is about the STRESSES and RIGOR of recruiting… Richt responds that he prays about it and then doesn’t worry. His point is that he trusts that it will all work out and that he doesn’t freak out about it.
His point was not that he prays and God gives him recruits.
Bill
March 4th, 2009
11:11 am
All I can say about him is he played at Miami on of the biggest thug schools in the country.He was the OC at one of the biggest cheater schools (FSU) in the country.He said nothing during Dillardgate,Free shoes at Foot Locker,and his All-American placekicker (Janikowski)suddenly forgetting how to speak English when the cops pulled him over.When that didn’t work Jano tried to bribe the cop.
Like it or not these are documented facts.Now Richt may have changed and if he did that fine.Just pointing out what his history.
After all his mentor St. Bobby Bowden is famous for his quote after star reciever Peter Warrick was arrested for theft at Dillards.”I’m praying for a misdemeanor”.
OZZFEST
March 4th, 2009
11:13 am
He should have prayed more with Stafford and Knowshon.
murfdawg
March 4th, 2009
11:14 am
Not much has changed in 2000 years. Christians are still being ridiculed and criticized for their faith. I can understand why Tech fans do not have much faith. When a prayer is answered once in eight years, it is hard to keep the faith.
BR
March 4th, 2009
11:16 am
We’ll take Coach Richt over Dork Johnson any day. And yes, our recruiting class is always better than the Nerds’. Ours was ranked 9th; theirs 49th. I think that says it all. Still talking about your measley three point win over a very average GA team? Poor nerds, you really have nothing else to hold onto, do you? LOVE IT!
BR
March 4th, 2009
11:18 am
Another funny thing is how Tech “fans” are ALWAYS on our blog. You are so obsessed with UGA!
I also loved the article about Tech’s football attendance being DOWN this year. How in the world can you not fill up a 50,000 seat stadium!?!?! Especially when you had such a “GREAT” year!!! Poor geeks. They talk a big game, but don’t show up for it.
Bamafan
March 4th, 2009
11:19 am
Want is more importment beating tech or leading young people in that right direction of life???
Lance Sumner
March 4th, 2009
11:19 am
I know that he prayed for Stafford and Knowshon OZZFEST but not in the way that you are thinking. CMR prayed that God would direct them where he wanted them to go not where Coach Richt wanted them to go but where God wanted them and needed them. Thanks for playing!
Hart co.
March 4th, 2009
11:22 am
Ramble on, rest assured coach does pray for things like the stock market [economy] and lots of other problems of the world. He also prays for you, me, and everyone else.
Bamafan
March 4th, 2009
11:23 am
Sorry for the misspelling, is it better to beat tech or lead young people in the right direction of life!!
ExecutiveStinger
March 4th, 2009
11:26 am
As a Tech fan, I think it’s fine that Richt prays during recruiting. He can pray as much as he wants. All I know is, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE in dawgie nation was saying that last year would be the biggest blowout in GT-UGA series history because of the beloved “Stafford the Leg Humper” and “Knows*** Moron-o”. 45-42 ladies. And now those beloved hounds have let for greener pastures. But the dawgies will win next year anyway right??? So keep praying coach, and all you dawgies keeping praying too……maybe God will hear you after He listens to Paul Johnson.
And as for you Dap01……get back in the kitchen because Louise is about to call out an order at the Waffle House. She’ll fire your butt again if you ain’t in there. C’mon. You know how it works. Techies own companies, dawgies clean the company’s floors. Don’t kid yourself.
foxdog
March 4th, 2009
11:31 am
It is sad that lots of folks on here don’t realize that what Coach Richt is praying for is that these kids will be in God’s will. That they will go to the place that the Lord wants them, some to Georgia, but others to other places. It also goes way beyond football. It is about their life and their future.
jwh
March 4th, 2009
11:31 am
I love Tech and wouldn’t trade my education or heritage with anyone. I am also a Follower of Jesus who prays about everything. Therefore the one thing I dislike the most about CMR is that he is such a class act that it makes it more difficult for me to dislike UGA to the extent I would desire. By the way, we also have a class act in Paul Johnson and had one in Chan Gailey.
POS Mutts
March 4th, 2009
11:32 am
Thank you Jacket Backer! Well said. They will never get it or stop looking for leverage to argue. They are already pointing to the overall record to thump their chest at. It will never end. The state university has tremendous advantages over other schools in the state, especially a school specializing in engineering and a very limited curriculum. The fact we’ve won 40% over the 100 year history of this rival is pretty darn good.
Lets look at just a few of the challenges CPJ overcame to upset the great pre-season #1 mutts this year:
New QB
New blocking scheme with recruits not selected for said blocking scheme
New Offense
New Defensive Coordinator
Youth – 16 of 22 starters frosh or So
Wow, georgie is in trouble!! Good luck, mutts. Maybe prayer will work for you.
GT Wrecker
March 4th, 2009
11:37 am
Maybe CMR should pray his players stay out of jail this off season…
DawginLex
March 4th, 2009
11:38 am
Tech nerds,
Checklist:
1.) Continued obsession with all things UGA
2.) Must call UGA fans “leghumpers”
3.) Must pretend that they have a better job than all UGA grads just because they went to Tech
4.) Wish they could get a date with something other than a blow up doll
5.) Wish the Tech baseball team could actually win a meaningful game
dap01
March 4th, 2009
11:41 am
PN: You are right God probably does not care about UGA football but He does care about the lives of young people.
He cares about smart people and He also cares for narrow minded people who thinks that CMR is only praying for UGA, he prays that recruits go to the right place.
Think before you type.
RenaeL
March 4th, 2009
11:42 am
Hey Coach;
Thanks for sharing your faith and belief in Prayer.
LSU fan
March 4th, 2009
11:43 am
Jacketbacker, you need to quit knocking prayer. In the Chicken Bowl, I suspect your coach was praying that we put the 4th string players in. We did. I also suspect he prayed the game would end. It did.
FLDAWG
March 4th, 2009
11:44 am
It is a shame when such bitterness is exuded over the act of one man raying for young men as they make a huge decision in their lives. There are two people in the SEC that have taken their position that God has granted them and been loud voices in wilderness (SEC) over the last few years. Coach Richt and Tim Tebow. Thanks guys keep up the good work.
MinnesotaJacket
March 4th, 2009
11:47 am
No offense but this is a dumb story because it just provokes tech fans to make the obvious statements and then other people to sit here and say how christians are being persecuted when that is not AT ALL what anyone is trying to do. I don’t know I feel like this shouldn’t have been a blog its a touching story…but anyone who thinks God sais you should go to Georgia because you can grow a lot by being completely retarded is high
DawginLex
March 4th, 2009
11:48 am
Agreed FLDAWG, it is hard to hate Tebow because of what he stands for.
Tech people are still jealous, that’s why they blog on UGA blogs. As Mr. Nicholson said, “Deep down in places that they don’t talk about at parties” They know that Richt will always have UGA at a high level and they can’t stand it.
DawginLex
March 4th, 2009
11:49 am
minnesotajacket,
Guess it is still pretty easy to provoke Tech fans?
ben barton
March 4th, 2009
11:49 am
Hey wise men JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY!!!!!!! OH! by the way Jesus loves Coach Mark Richt and has promised to give him the desires of his heart!Psalm 37 v3-5! Dont get mad because CMR gets his prayers answered just fall in LOVE with JESUS and he will do the same for you! I invite you today to make JESUS the LORD of your life! i will be glad to pray for you!!!! OH 1 more thing GOD cares about everything that concerns you! GOD cares about an axe head!!!!!!!!read your BIBLE in 2 kings v5-7!! talk to you guys real soon until GO DAWGS!!! Biggest dog fan around DESTIN FLA!!!!!
LSU fan
March 4th, 2009
11:53 am
If we bragged in the SEC about kicking your tails in the Chicken Bowl by 35 points we would get laughed at. We were embarrassed you got 3 points. Your goal in life was to beat UGA. They let ya get lucky. The GT the country knows about showed up against LSU.
1eyedJack
March 4th, 2009
11:53 am
It sure is going to be fun next year when Tech reverts to form and crashes and burns. Then maybe we can have a blog without their asinine comments.
Capstone Report » Richt uses prayer in recruiting
March 4th, 2009
11:56 am
[...] put a lot of things to prayer, and this is one thing I put to prayer,” Richt told the AJC. “I ask the Lord to ‘Give us the guys that belong at Georgia. The ones that don’t belong, [...]
ben barton
March 4th, 2009
11:56 am
my bad its 2 kings chapter 6 v5-7! sorry have a blessed day
renegade
March 4th, 2009
12:02 pm
PN pray I don’t find you and beat the crap out of you. Go hide under the bed and shut up.
GATORZONE
March 4th, 2009
12:04 pm
Good for Mark Richt. He is a class act. People finding fault in this have their own issues. Live and let live!
GO GATORS!!!!
soapbox
March 4th, 2009
12:05 pm
ahhh, so i get it… lets criticize the coach for praying…lets see..i bet all you critics out there would call for the coach in a heartbeat ,if say, you were on your deathbed riddled with cancer…ha. you would search for ANY and ALL possibilities for a cure…wouldnt you. and you would pray to GOD (yes Yahweh) that he would heal your disease stricken body…so leave coach alone…PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!!!!
Right On Time
March 4th, 2009
12:05 pm
Doc54 and jwh:
Nice to see the objective fan post on one of these blogs. It would be nice to see more like your posts from all fan bases.
ExecutiveStinger:
When you use words like: always, never and EVERYONE, you paint yourself into a corner and appear ignorant. MOST of the UGA fans I know were prepared for a tough game and with the possibility of losing.
jacketbacker and the like:
Following your logic that CPJ is a better coach because of the win over UGA would mean that Dabo Sweeny is a better coach than CPJ. Do you concur?
rambles on and on:
Have you ever gone a day without reading about UGA?
Tech Fan
March 4th, 2009
12:14 pm
Wow! You only have to read this blog to see what is wrong with our society. CMR is a wonderful man and a great leader. His faith has changed his life and helped him to become one of the most respected coaches in college football. I can assure you that CMR does not pray to get a certain recruit. He probably prays that God will calm his mind in order to make clear and worry free decisions. Maybe if more people prayed and stopped depending on temporary “things”, we would all life better lives.
He seems to live his life with the 5 f’s (In order) FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, FITNESS, and FINANCES!
CMR…I am you biggest fan, EXCEPT for one day per year! GO Jackets!
Old Dawg
March 4th, 2009
12:17 pm
Prayer is simply the discipline of being a Christian, or whatever faith a person might practice. While CMR includes prayers about football among his many interests, he obviously includes other aspects of his life and faith. I know many folks ridicule him for his faith, and introduction of faith to his players, but I truly admire that aspect of his coaching. Many of the players come from broken or single parent families. By instilling a sense of values, ethics and community service, he is performing one of the duties of a coach … not just for the game, but for life.
When I played high school athletics our coaches mentored to us, and many of the more successful programs in high school and college do the same thing. Many years after I graduated I asked my high school football coach why they worked on those skills? His answer was perfect: “we wanted to build a brotherhood of players from all points of life and family structure, so that when things broke down in a game you would respond like it was the most important thing in your family.”
And our “family” always posted winning seasons!
Iceman
March 4th, 2009
12:20 pm
Q: What do Georgia fans and Tech fans have in common?
A: They’re both obsessed with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Mark Richt is a great coach, and a solid man of God, wouldn’t want anyone else!
ew
March 4th, 2009
12:24 pm
Cameron- Thank you for writing my thoughts exactly. CMR never said he prayed for the BEST recruits or the most talented, just the RIGHT people to be a part of the Georgia program. Let’s face it, there are a lot of kids that have a chance to go to college because of football. Many of these young men would not get a chance to be a part of a university otherwise. To that end, their true education happens with the football team. It’s where they become men and learn life lessons, something these guys can not get out of a classroom. CMR is praying for the kids that can be a part of that program and that he and his staff can reach. If they make it to the NFL like Stafford and Moreno, GREAT, but most won’t and will have only their experiences with the team to guide them after football. And yes, sometimes we do have kids that get in trouble, even arrested. They are KIDS. I am just glad that the troubled kids are lucky enough to have CMR and staff to mentor them and try to help them grow up.
Cuz
March 4th, 2009
12:31 pm
One of CMR’s past comments, and I paraphrase, is that he considers his mission at UGA to make better men. He said if he accomplishes that goal, the wins will take care of themselves. Hard not to admire a man with that faith. Okay sure he spends time on schemes and plays. But he has been consistent in his trying to look out for the best interests of his players.
stew
March 4th, 2009
12:32 pm
To Reasoner: God loves you! Make no mistake about it! I will pray that he helps you come to know him! Have a great day!
DBCOOP
March 4th, 2009
12:32 pm
Proverbs 3:6 ” In all ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” and yes football is important function in these young men’s lives.
Keep it up CMR.
WestPalmDawg
March 4th, 2009
12:35 pm
Tech fans are pathetic. Who are you to bash a man’s spiritual belief? And compare that to Stephen Hill (who UGA didn’t even want until a scholarship opened up for him) and a 3 point win that happened 1 time in 8 years, then to get stomped 38-3 on national TV? and THEN to have a recruiting class that’s nowhere near the top 10 much less the top 25?
Tech fans need to quit wasting their time trying to talk about their football program.
WestPalmDawg
March 4th, 2009
12:38 pm
Not only that lets name teams who had better recruiting classes than Ga Tech:
Stanford, South Florida, Miss. St., AND UNC? Are you kidding? Have fun trying to get the ball to Stephen Hill
CMR
March 4th, 2009
12:50 pm
“Richt, and the coaching staff (who are all good Christians to my knowledge) to help mold these kids into young men.”
Yup he’s done a real good job of this having 11 players arrested in the off-season. Yup he is molding these guys into criminals. BTW God doesn’t care about football.
footballking
March 4th, 2009
12:51 pm
Did you nuts even read the article? The dude is basically saying that he prays that he can get the players that he can have the most impact on. Why is there something wrong with that?
Einstein
March 4th, 2009
12:52 pm
Probably also rubs a rabbits foot while chanting witchcraftery slogans. Hocus Pocus give me the TE from Tampa!
Get a life AJC and Richt and quit swaying the youth of tomorrow with superstition based on Medieval traditions.
JenniferGO Dawgs
March 4th, 2009
1:01 pm
PN “He prays for football? What a joke. Mark Richt is a joke. The south is a joke.”
I feel sorry for you. I am with SCAPPY DO on this. One day you will find yourself in need of him if not right now. I am a Christian also and in reply to your comments. The south is not a joke nor is Mark Richt. You need a life lesson.
Big EC
March 4th, 2009
1:02 pm
BR I agree that Coach Richt is our coach and I want him to stay at Georgia for a very long time, but be careful about your appraisal of Coach Paul Johnson. He is a good man. He wants the same thing for Georgia Tech that Coach Richt wants for Georgia. Having been around Coach Johnson when he was the Offensive Coordinator at Georgia Southern back in the ’80s, I can tell you that he is Godly man and takes his position as head coach at Georgia Tech as a purposeful position that God has placed him. I love the Dawgs and to heck with Georgia Tech, but Coach Johnson is not a dork. Don’t bring our comments down to the level of the fans of other teams.
Richt Prays That God Will Bring The Dawgs The Right Players | MrSEC.com
March 4th, 2009
1:15 pm
[...] I’m about to write will tick off a number of you, but hey, it’s my blog.That said…Why is Richt praying for God to bring him the right players?“I put a lot of things to prayer,” Richt recently said to the Atlanta [...]
Greg Pruitt
March 4th, 2009
1:15 pm
God must surely be black since all the recruits he sends to Athens these days are African Americans
Jeremy
March 4th, 2009
1:17 pm
Maybe it’s just me but I personally took this article as a sort of follow-up to all the reports of late that detail the differences between Coach Richt’s views on recruiting and Coach Johnson’s. Mainly how they differ in “commitment.” Johnson is widely known now as the coach who yanked a commitment from a player who was having last minute second thoughts. Richt, on the other hand, has said since that he is very careful to offer young men and that once he extends an offer, he couldn’t envision pulling that commitment later. Now, we see that it’s a litle deeper than that in that he places the ultimate outcomes of his recruiting offers in God’s hands. This is just a simple difference of opinion and belief from Johnson. It’s not a knock against Johnson or Richt. One of them offers carefully and then prays and trusts God, the other offers a bit more quickly and takes control of the situation himself if problems come up in the recruiting process after a young man verbally “commits.”
Calm down folks. Last I checked, the article nor Coach Richt have said anything against people who aren’t Christians or people who don’t pray. That’s the common misconception perpetuated by non-Christians…that people like Richt place themselves on a pedestal or think they are better than those who disagree with their beliefs. Anyone who is a Christian and is truly following the faith as it is laid out by God and Jesus (believed to be one in the same) in the Bible will glady tell you they are called to love all people, not just the ones who share their religious beliefs.
Mark Richt
March 4th, 2009
1:31 pm
Maybe I we should pray that someone can tackle Dwyer and Jones this year (expletive deleted).
Baba O'Riley
March 4th, 2009
1:32 pm
I wanted to read about college recruiting and a revival broke out.
Damon Evans
March 4th, 2009
1:36 pm
Michael,
Thanks for reprinting our daily press release. Between you and me, these bozo fans just eat this up. You don’t have to do any work, and those knuckle draggers keep sending money.
CPJ for Pres
March 4th, 2009
1:46 pm
I pray that CPJ does not get snatched up by the NFL, who will be hot on his trail after what he will do in year 2 of what is shaping up to be a magical run on The Flats….MNC in ‘09!!
Smyrna Man
March 4th, 2009
1:47 pm
Second coming of Phil Fulmer blossoming right in front of our eyes
Too Easy
March 4th, 2009
1:53 pm
45-42 just means your defense was a little less crappy than ours. Nobody outcoached anybody. Merely an anomaly – one legit win in 18 years.
YankeeJacket
March 4th, 2009
2:03 pm
See one of the things that GT students & alum acquire on the road to receiving a degree is the ability to think, reason and apply logic. I trust that I speak for CPJ and the Jacket Nation in recognizing that silly superstitions will not generate Ws on Saturday. So, enjoy your one on one time with Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or any other fanciful figures and we will focus on our studies, careers and gridiron success. 45-42 & THWG!!!
THWG
March 4th, 2009
2:08 pm
TooEasy, what constitutes a “legit” win?
Sanity
March 4th, 2009
2:10 pm
Remember, if the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. -Jesus
DawginLex
March 4th, 2009
2:14 pm
YankeeJacket=Another typical obnoxious Techie telling me how great he is. Kinda’ like bragging about your sexual escapades and we all know about people that do that.
Blow up dolls don’t count……………………….