Richt’s words, actions haven’t changed ugliness at Georgia
HOOVER, Ala. — Mark Richt says he has “really enjoyed this summer.”
Given that seven of his players have been arrested, three have been kicked out of the program, another transferred after being suspended for half the season, his boss was arrested for a DUI and ultimately was forced to resign and the NCAA just phoned to announce their impending arrival in Athens, we’re left to wonder: Just how low does Richt set the bar for his summers?
Mark Richt has had a tumultuous summer. (AP photo by Butch Dill)
Or has he just become used to this sort of thing?
“It’s like, you know [something is] gonna happen,” he said Thursday morning. “It’s just like a ballgame. You know there’s going to be a penalty or a turnover, even though you don’t want there to be. Now you have to decide: How are you going to react to that? You can lose your cool and start spouting things you wish you didn’t say. Or you can just take care of the issue and move forward. That’s what I try to do.”
Problem being: It’s not working.
We can go round and round about how players are individuals who make individual choices (sometimes dumb ones). We can talk about how a coach, who has given a thousand speeches and made a thousand threats, may be on a remote tropical island while his quarterback is drinking himself into oblivion and groping a woman in a small-town bar. But does it really matter?
Whether Richt is saying the right or wrong things, or recruiting the right or wrong players, or setting the right or wrong tone, this is his program. He knows that. Anything that happens, whether it’s a stirring win in Tuscaloosa or an ugly arrest in Remerton, reflects on him.
Right now, the ugliness reflects on Mark Richt.
When he met with a small group of media members Thursday, prior to his main news conference at SEC media days, Richt was typically calm and cordial, even as a storm swirled around the program. Some would say that’s one of his strengths, not seeming like he’s going to put his fist through a wall every time something goes wrong. The downside to that is it gives others the perception, whether accurate or not, that he’s either bringing in the wrong players or he’s not a strong enough disciplinarian when they get here.
Question: Do you get a sense that when Nick Saban walks into a locker room that every one of their players is just a little bit intimidated. If so, do you get that same sense with Richt?
“I’ve got a process of handling these situations and I think I do a good job of it,” Richt said, calmly.
He was asked if he has tightened restrictions on player, in light of the arrests this summer. He declined comment.
He was asked later about some media outlets having him on a “hot seat,” partly because of last season’s 4-4 conference record.
Insulted?
“Not really. I understand the business,” he said. “I don’t worry about it. My goal is to focus on the important things and the things I can control.”
Coaching at the same SEC school for 10 years will grow a man some thick skin.
“In the end, we’re still in process of educating young people: How to handle adversity and rebound from that,” Richt said. “[Former UGA linebacker] Dannell Ellerbe. He had an issue early in his career: a DUI and a car wreck. I said, ‘Look, what you did damaged your reputation and Georgia’s reputation. But it didn’t destroy it. It only destroys it if you let it destroy it. If you allow this to put you in the tank, then you’re probably not going to make it.’ He was on his last leg at Georgia. But he got his act together.”
He has had those success stories. But arrests and losses have a cumulative effect. To use Richt’s words, they can damage the reputation of a man and a school.
♦
Previous SEC/Georgia posts
♦ SEC media days: Waiting on Richt as NCAA hovers at Georgia
♦ NCAA inquiry is the last thing Georgia and Mark Richt need
♦ It’s no coincidence Saban suddenly is concerned about agents
♦ SEC media days: Hey, who let the BCS in here?
♦ We’re LIVE at SEC media days (with no shortage of storylines)
♦ NCAA reportedly investigating Florida (but temper excitement)
♦ Can Dogs end Alabama-Florida monopoly in SEC title game?
♦ Listen up, Ole Miss: I’ve got Colonel Reb’s replacement
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
713 comments Add your comment
Astro
July 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
Bob. That was funny too. You’re on a roll bro’.
DanDreacharound
July 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
Hey Dan better grab a pair and quit stealing your moms.
Tron5000
July 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
“These are college students, they all drink.” “He can’t control everyone in the program, there’s just too many players.” “He may not be intimidating, but he knows how to coach young men.”
The excuses, they are endless. And ridiculous. A) People get killed by drunk drivers every day. Drinking and driving is bad news, always. And shows a tremendous lack of judgment. B) If your players, even a few, get into trouble, it reflects on you. And UGA has had far too many players come in contact with the law on far too many occasions. C) You better either intimidate your players or have their respect. If you respect your superiors, you carry yourself in a manner and behave in a way that reflects well upon them, not brings embarrassment to them. I submit that Richt possesses neither intimidation over his players or respect from them.
Schultz for Brains
July 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
Storms, clouds, ugliness! Was wandering when you would crawl out from under your rock to type some negative hype. Bradley has beat you to it and been beating the drum for weeks now. Welcome to the party!
GWJ
July 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
Enter your comments here
A C Chambers
July 22nd, 2010
3:08 pm
What is it to you????You have never given a penny to UGA…When you put your pocketbook where you mouth is then you can have opinions…Until then KMA…You are a 2 bit journalist that wries a BLOG…You do not even have a newsparer to write for anymore…Boy that what I want to do when I grow up…Write a BLOG…
GWJ
July 22nd, 2010
3:08 pm
Jeff,
Is this the BEST you could do today? Good Lord….
Tottingham
July 22nd, 2010
3:08 pm
“Tao” is obviously illiterate. He certainly can’t spell. Another UGA thug, I guess.
1980
July 22nd, 2010
3:09 pm
The year of magnum PI, sale of the century, too close for comfort and UGA’s last NAT Championship! Wow it’s been so long! Another 30 years before the redneck mutts sniff another one.
Tao
July 22nd, 2010
3:09 pm
Despite a turbulent off-season that has included the arrests of seven players, the arrest and resignation of the athletic director and now an NCAA inquiry, Richt said it has been a good offseason from a football standpoint.
IN TECH NEWS…PAUL JOHNSON ATE 92 CAKES and attended 114 FISH FRIES.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 22nd, 2010
3:09 pm
CHOAD 3 of my best friends got in UGA back in the 80’s and trust me it was not that hard to get in. If you didn’t get in the first qtr. just wait until after football season and all the drunk party people failed out and you could walk up and take classes. ZDon’t kid yourself. the HOPE has made it more difficult to get in many schools in GA. Not that the CRCT scores prove the kids should be in college.
FUGLI-NESS
July 22nd, 2010
3:10 pm
That is the UGA
Pi$$onaDawg
July 22nd, 2010
3:12 pm
the UGA VENT says UGA RECRUITS are falling for the SKY. I guess they just had RED PANTIES for their parachute.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
July 22nd, 2010
3:15 pm
Jeff, your readers are seeing this article for what it is…Another attempt to shoot at Mark Richt…Your article today is nothing more than something to stir up the anti UGA group, and give the wannabees a chance to vent. Real Bulldog fans understand, and as Munson said, we get the picture..You just don’t like CMR or Georgia…Just write an article and state the obvious….And be done with it….You are writing now a days with a bias much like Terrance did…It is increasing easy to recognize the bias….
Paul Hornung
July 22nd, 2010
3:16 pm
What a bunch of pansies all of you are. Drink a beer, bang a broad, and grow a pair.
Football players aren’t choir boys or Marys- like apparently most of you are.
Work hard, play hard, party hard and let the little girls in skirts gossip.
pi$$drinkingtechie
July 22nd, 2010
3:17 pm
Hey Pi$$ don’t fret, Dan will lend you his mom’s panties for your….relief.
Roger
July 22nd, 2010
3:17 pm
Some times you seem like a damned idiot. This is one of those times.
ATLSTEVE
July 22nd, 2010
3:17 pm
“1 Eyed Jack”…hillarious!
We know what you want.....
July 22nd, 2010
3:18 pm
Wow, it’s the annual SEC days and I guess the only story is the NCAA “inquiry” going on at UGA. Of course that’s if you go by Jeff’’s newsworthy articles.
Furry Beaver
July 22nd, 2010
3:18 pm
Do any newspapers in GA write articles about tech, good or bad?
We know what you want.....
July 22nd, 2010
3:19 pm
Pi$$onaDawg
July 22nd, 2010
3:12 pm
At least the UGA recruits gained admittance to college. And you?
Logic
July 22nd, 2010
3:20 pm
Logically your arguments make no since:
You imply that the actions of the players reflect on Mark Richt which they do to a certain extent: but what really reflects on his character is what type of reaction he makes, and as you stated he has kicked players off the team and suspended them. This implies he is actually doing his job very well unlike many other schools across the country and in the SEC.
As for the Damon Evens comment this is another attempt at failed logic. How is Mark Richt’s reputation hindered by the actions of “his boss.” Are you implying that Richt hired his own boss or controlled his boss and thus condoned his actions. Once again this makes no since.
Lastly, by knocking the quality of recruits at UGA you are implying that the WORLD should shun all those who do not have the Jeff Schultz requisite Character traits … rather in adhering to his faith coach Richt would accept the challenge of trying to mold a boy (by actions) into a Man.
old timer
July 22nd, 2010
3:20 pm
Jeff you are the uglist thing I have ever seen.How could you call anything ugly?
1980?
July 22nd, 2010
3:20 pm
Apparently afraid to reveal your team? Why? Was it something that happened in Vietnam? Having flashbacks?
pi$$drinkingtechie
July 22nd, 2010
3:21 pm
Be nice to Pi$$. I’m convinced he’s on the verge of a mental breakdown. Arby’s needs him too much to allow that.
The bright side of life!
July 22nd, 2010
3:22 pm
Look on the bright side of life always. No dawg players have been arrested in what? at least 3 or 4 days now???
Golder Raspberry Award
July 22nd, 2010
3:23 pm
Congratulations to Jeff for the ‘Raspberry’ for worst article, and to Pi$$ for the worst blogger. I might add, you have to be pretty bad to win the worst blogger category. But, the name alone put him under the bottom!
HugoStiglitz
July 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Furry Beaver, its the off season, and Tech’s not leading the Fulmer cup, or trying to replace an AD who was too dumb to call a cab. What exactly would you like them to write about Tech?
reallybrightside
July 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Also the fact that no Tech men will have a realistic chance for reproduction….ever.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
July 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
THIS UGLINESS IS SO UNBEARABLE, GOT ME STAYING UP INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS…DAMN GUYS RIDING THE WRONG WAY ON A SCOOTER ON CAMPUS ON A ONE WAY STREET…THE NCAA WILL TELL YOU THAT NO COACH IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL RUNS A CLEANER PROGRAM FROM A RECRUITNG STAND POINT THAN MARK RICHT..YOU CAN ASK ANY HIGH SCHOOL COACH IN GEORGIA….ALL COLLEGES HAVE IDIOTS ON THEIR TEAMS WHO THINK THEY ARE 10 FEET TALL AND BULLETT PROOF..BROTHER RICHT HAS SHOWN SOME OF THEM THE DOOR AS OF LATE, MR. SCHULTZ, YOU MIGHT HAVE OBSERVED…AND I DON’T THINK HE WILL HESITATE TO SHOW THEM THE DOOR IN THE FUTURE…HE IS ABOUT HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT I THINK HE HAS FINALLY LOST HIS PATIENCE WITH THOSE WHO ARE IDIOTS…
The Difference
July 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
heard UGA will be on probation for 2010 – 2012….what will happen to their recruits? Who would want to play for a team that is on probationn for accepting money under the table?
The truth hurts
July 22nd, 2010
3:26 pm
I’m just curious. Is there anything that Jeff wrote that isn’t true in this article? Anything? It seems he’s right about all the arrests. Is he not???
I’ve yet to see a single dawg fan on here refute with substance one thing that Jeff said. All I see is a bunch of whining and moaning and name calling.
Can’t see one dawg fan on here this is answering Jeff’s article with substantive facts that Jeff is out of line with his comments and why. Not one….
Nellie
July 22nd, 2010
3:26 pm
Tell you what, if Jeff proves he can predict the quantum physics movements IN ADVANCE of those actions, then I’ll believe Mark Richt can predict the movements and actions of his players.
If we can’t even predict actions at the micro quantum level, how in the world should Mark Richt be expected to control actions at the Macro-level?
Players have a free will, it’s uncertain, it can’t be predicted or controlled at the micro or macro level.
Bobby Cox
July 22nd, 2010
3:26 pm
Is there any way we can convince Frank Wren to trade ‘Jeff Shultz’ for ‘1 Eyed Jack’?
Pi$$onaDawg
July 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
I love Arby’s curly fries and roast beef sandwiches they are like UGA girls the more sauce you goo on them the better they taste.
ugag is irrelevant
July 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
jeff, negative journalism on the cow college is like hunting in a baited field … try something more difficult next time
The Situation
July 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
I also heard that The difference was arrested (allegedly) at a gay hotspot for giving $5 BJ’s. I hope he gets probationn* (spelling!)
The truth hurts
July 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
What did Jeff write about that’s untrue? I’ve yet to see one dawg fan refute with facts or anything logical or substantive the comments Jeff has made.
old timer
July 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
Cmr would’n give you a interview so you just socket to him.Way to go loser js.
P. Perry
July 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
Awful article.
Shultz, I can honestly say that I have to question you’re integrity with this one. You’re probably different than me, but I have a 2 year old son. If you asked me 100 times who I’d rather have him emulate Richt or Saban. I’d take Richt every time. It’s not always about who intimidates the most. Look at what that’s done for Bobby Knight. There are more ways than one to be a winner. You’ll see.
Furry Beaver
July 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
Maybe their potential to win the ACC. Maybe their SHINY offseason/preseason. Maybe how their new defense is coming along. Just seems no one cares to me.
pi$$drinkingtechie
July 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
LMAO, come on Pi$$ we all know the only “goo” you get it the boogers you eat. Like you have ever seen a naked girl (non-2d of course)
This just in
July 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
AJ seen drinking bottles with marvin in club! For photos go to
http://www.1980itsbeensolongsinceourlastnatchamp.com
THisjustout
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Drinking a bottle? That takes talent. He can drink a bottle of a particular brand but to actually consume the glass? AJ has some balls!
Scooter
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
I didn’t know Georgia was so ‘ugly’ or needing “changing”, does anybody know, is Jeff a Tech grad? Who in the world would call the University of Georgia ugly as a whole because of the lame brain actions of a few and assert that Mark Richt’s actions & words, have not made Georgia better, but have made no difference in regards to improvement, NONE, nada, zip?
1980
July 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
We said goodbye to Carter. Hello to reagan! And it was the last time UGA won a Nat champ. Wow that was decades ago!! 5 presidents ago! Holy cow! How do you rednecks do it!
wiley
July 22nd, 2010
3:31 pm
Jeff you hurt the Dogs feelings…great article. Glad the AJC has some good writers to even out those UGA blowhards…Chip, Bill, and Tim Tucker. Where there is smoke…theres usually…well you guys know.
In case you forgot or missed the front sports page
July 22nd, 2010
3:31 pm
Ugliness remains at UGA
Dependsbrand
July 22nd, 2010
3:32 pm
Actually it’s Jeff that needs changing. Mrs. Schultz is cleaning his bottom as we speak.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 22nd, 2010
3:32 pm
Nelle what is that equal and opposite reation thing? If you do something equally stupid you will get an opposite reaction. The KIDS don’t think richt will do anything to a good player. They have no fear or an equally harsh reaction.