No more excuses — Georgia’s arrests fall on Mark Richt
Mark Richt has been buried in police reports since March.
(UPDATED at 3:30 p.m. with booking and suspension.)
Before you dismiss this as just another trivial arrest in a 24-7, TMZ flip-cam media world, ask yourself this:
What would you be thinking if this was Florida or Alabama or Tennessee? Would your first reaction be, “This is no big deal. Everybody is picking on us”?
What if this was Nick Saban or Urban Meyer or Houston “I’m Just Trying To Save The World One Quarterback At A Time” Nutt? Would you really be absolving the head coach — in this case, Mark Richt — of any responsibility?
Georgia’s football program has hit nine on the arrest chart. That’s nine since March.
Kickoff is Saturday. There’s still time to run out of fingers.
Here’s the latest: Campus police have booked freshman safety Alec Ogletree on misdemeanor charges of theft by taking and he has been suspended for the season opener. Ogletree, a prized member of their 2010 recruiting class, is charged with stealing a $35 scooter helmet from the Rankin Smith Center on June 15 (police discovering only this week that the helmet was in his possession).
Forget that we’re only talking about a $35 helmet. There’s no such thing as a minor incident any more. There’s a cumulative effect.
I realize this is difficult for some people to accept. We live for this time of year, not just because of our obsession with college football but because, as Richt said this week, “It’s good to be undefeated.” What you feel in Athens, they feel even in Starkville.
But when nine players get arrested between spring and opening kickoff, something is wrong.
Please, no more apologies.
I’ve had it with apologists. They live among the fan base (who claim police are just out to get athletes). They live among the coaching fraternity (because to blame another coach sets themselves up for higher standards). They live among the media (some of whom are too afraid of burning bridges with the program and not having the coach smile at them any more).
Bottom line: This falls on Richt. It’s his program. It’s his responsibility. It’s on his watch.
He doesn’t have to be the one drinking-and-driving. Or hitting-and-running. Or drinking-and-groping. Richt recruited these players, signed these players and ultimately determined, “They will represent the University of Georgia well.” Either he is picking too many of the wrong guys, or he’s not saying or doing enough of the right things when they get here. Regardless, don’t deny the problem.
Richt said Friday he was “disappointed” and that Ogletree is “responsible for a poor decision and will serve a minimum one-game suspension.” He was so angry when running back Washaun Ealey was arrested for a hit-and-run — which occurred while he was driving with a suspended license — that he didn’t even want to speak to Ealey. That anger is justified. The question is whether his suspension of Ealey will last beyond the Louisiana-Lafayette game — because that’s a small notch above running steps in Sanford Stadium.
Forcing Ealey to miss the South Carolina game — that would hurt. Of course, that also would hurt Georgia, and the South Carolina game is really important, right?
When asked at his news conference this week if, in so many words, there was a flaw in his discipline structure, Richt responded: “The flaw is if a guy does something that deserves to be disciplined and you don’t discipline him. That’s where the flaw is. The flaw is in us as humans. We’re flawed, we’re human, we make mistakes. When we make a mistake, then we get disciplined for it. As long as we have 18- to 22-year old guys who are human beings, they are going to make mistakes. That’s just all there is to it. If you don’t discipline it, you have a problem. If they don’t learn from it, then they have a problem.”
Actually, it goes beyond that. If players don’t learn from it, Richt has a problem. And he does.
No more excuses. This falls on him.
♦
Have you entered the “Sack Schultz” contest yet? You can win tickets to the Georgia-Georgia Tech game and an HDTV. CLICK HERE for details.
♦
Last 3 posts . . .
♦ If NCAA has any question, Dogs should sit Green to be safe
♦ Weekend Predictions: Dogs, Jackets open with wins
♦ Braves could lose Fredi Gonzalez to Cubs if they don’t hurry
♦
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
1,737 comments Add your comment
bob
September 4th, 2010
11:10 am
Richt is not responsible for the personal behavior of his players. That is rediculous. None of these guys had a high school reputation for arrests. Its very unfortuate what has happened. Gahas laws and punishments that are well known and people choose to break them all the time. Is the governor responsible for that behavior or the legislature? All you can do in the way of prevention is set a standard provide punishment for deviation and make sure you don’t recruit someone who already has a reputation. Richt and the university has done that. What has happened is more a reflection on parents than on coaches. Parents are to instill morality. By the time they get to college its a little late for that.
OldFan
September 4th, 2010
11:10 am
Getthefacts’ comments are exactly why this nonsense continues. This wasn’t poor judgment; it was lack of morality. You don’t steal! Learned it when I was four years old, taught it to my kids and grandkids. If these players’ parents didn’t teach them to be men, then it’s CMR’s job to do it. He brought them to our university, and he has the responsibility to ensure they do us proud as players and citizens. If he doesn’t want that job or doesn’t know how to do it, then he needs to get out of town and take his pack of adolescents with poor judgment with him.
GR82BAG8R
September 4th, 2010
11:11 am
“Schultz = idiot” , say what you want about Tech’s management majors, Tech’s football team has the highest SAT scores of any public university.
DawgNation
September 4th, 2010
11:11 am
No rift just a difference of opinions. We all still bleed Red and Black.
EMBARRASSEDAWG
September 4th, 2010
11:11 am
Fair enough post DawgNation but other programs do recruit all these same players and do a much better job (for whatever reason) of controlling their issues——and they win.
At some point we have to stand for something or we will fall for anything.
The other high-profile schools find a way to babysit or hide the issues. Our coach needs to do the same.
That is the accountability we deserve.
woof woof today and always
Peri
September 4th, 2010
11:12 am
Schultz is right and any of your morons that can’t admit it are just plain stupid. None of his [Richt's] players fear him. That is a problem.
That’s right. And as long as Saint Mark is in Athens, UGA will win the Fulmer/Richt Cup every year.
UGA, #1 party school, home of the now infamous moist red panties, and The Cesspool of the South.
John
September 4th, 2010
11:13 am
Had it,
If you’re serious about the “ALL WHITE TEAM…” , you’re a delusional assh-le. If you’re goofing on all the “get rid of the thugs” posts, then good parody there, dude.
And apparently, your vision is no better than my math. Mettenberger would accounted for as a blue-eyed devil in most racial inventories. His offense also, was among the most egregious of the nine by most reasonable accounts.
Who am I talking to here? If you’re serious, you’re way beyond help. If you’re kidding, then I’m, preaching to the choir.
Oh and my math deficiency? I think it’s a bit over two-and-a-half months between mid June and the date of the arrest of Ogletree for his crime against humanity and Dawg Nation.
DawgNation
September 4th, 2010
11:14 am
I agree EMBARRASSEDAWG and I hope that the administration will sit down and after wiping all the egg off their faces come up a a policy that will bring that control.
Missing the real point
September 4th, 2010
11:16 am
You all don’t get the real issue. As a parent with 12 and 15 year olds, these players with Div 1 talent are identified very early. They are told that they are special from the time they are 10. Youth coaches go so far as buying them playing eqpt and registration, taking care to pick them up for practice, etc. So many of these kids have their character distorted by the time they get to any top school they think they have made it.
How can you expect a kid to suddenly be accountable for himself when he never before has been? It is not about coaches, teachers, administrators. I wish stupid journalist would research some of this blatant abuse at the youth level rather than sit in their glass house and throw stones. Hey Schultz how many journalist have acted in an unprofessional way in their jobs????
Vance Duuley
September 4th, 2010
11:19 am
…..and to all you Tech fans who think your school is so superior academically…
Tech IS superior academically. Vastly superior, to the point there’s simply no comparison.
Now, dawgtard, get back to the topic, which is 44 arrests in three years and 9 arrests already this year, even before the first game. Why don’t you address that subject instead of flapping your gums about Georgia Tech, which, by the way, does NOT have the discipline issues that UGA has.
hj
September 4th, 2010
11:20 am
Richt the wuss is gone after this year and clueless Bobo also. Mark it down
Had it
September 4th, 2010
11:20 am
John
You have seen the light and “called me out”
Stupidity comes in all colors and at times I think it all ends up on here. :>)
Paul in RDU
September 4th, 2010
11:21 am
I don’t know what is more depressing – the arrests at UGA or the blog posts.
I like CMR as a coach and a person and I am sure that he is trying to cut down on the problems / arrests / etc. but whatever he has been doing is obviously not working.
CMR cannot babysit the players but he can provide “effective incentives” for them to exhibit good behavior – and it doesn’t need to be a zero tolerance, 1 mistake and you are off the team, approach.
A 1 game suspension for Ogletree seems reasonable but if CMR really wants to get his point over to the team, Ealey needs to sit out the SC game. On top of his traffic issues, Ealey deliberately disobeyed his coaches. If that isn’t reason for more than 1 game suspension, nothing is.
GR82BAG8R
September 4th, 2010
11:22 am
Based on the final point scores for 2010, http://www.sportsargumentwiki.com/index.php?title=Fulmer_Cup,
it looks like this incident will count for the 2011 Fulmer Cup. This means that Georgia has an early to retain the title.
GR82BAG8R
September 4th, 2010
11:22 am
Oops….make that early lead.
Schultz = Idiot
September 4th, 2010
11:23 am
GR82BAG8R — yeah in 2008 per an AJC study — but they averaged 1028…… 315 points lower than the average Tech student body…. and unless you’ve forgotten – you basically get 400 just for signing your name…. bottom — THEY WOULDN’T HAE GOTTEN INTO TECH OR UGA if they weren’t a football player.
Oh and just so your apples and oranges comparison is clear — that study included ALL football players such as walk ons, non-scholarship players, etc. So it’s safe to say at Tech the numbers get bouyed up by the non-scholarship players.
make no mistake — Tech is the best academic school in this state hands down — I am just sick and tired of all the BS about how they have such stellar student-athlete academics….
Joey
September 4th, 2010
11:23 am
85% of AJC readers disagree with Jeff Schultz:
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/07/12/blame-mark-richt-hes-not-the-one-whos-embarrassing-uga/
Russ
September 4th, 2010
11:25 am
The LONE BLOGGER, using all his fake names, continues to post, 17 pages since 11a.m. yesterday, can he reach 20 pages, 1500 posts all by himself?
Paul in RDU
September 4th, 2010
11:27 am
GT is not the best academic institute in the State of GA – it is the best public academic institute. Emory is the best.
Russ
September 4th, 2010
11:28 am
What’s more weird??
1) 18 year old kid taking a $35 scooter hat
2) Grown man Jeff Schultz writing an entire atrticle about it
Russ
September 4th, 2010
11:29 am
I predict Jeff Schultz will write 50 articles over the next 12 weeks bashing Mark Richt. Some things are predictible.
Newsflash
September 4th, 2010
11:31 am
Richt is holding A.J. Greene out. Go to AJC sports for report from Bradley.
GR82BAG8R
September 4th, 2010
11:31 am
“Schultz – idiot”, it tells me that in a state that worships high school football and produces a lot of blue chip athletes, Tech limits their pool of atheletes, leaving most five star players with less than adequate academic credentials to Georgia. No other SEC school has this advantage (certainly not Florida or Alabama). With this situation, Georgia should have a fistful of NCs by now, and based on recruiting rankings, Georgia has succeeded.
Until Tech changes this, they will never be able to compete with Georgia talent-wise. It’s no contest. The rest of the SEC can, and does.
HJF
September 4th, 2010
11:35 am
Jeff Shultz and his kindred spirit whiners have probably never done anything remotely against the law and have never heard of forgiveness, redemption and mercy. These are 18-20 year olds who come from some rough backgrounds and are still learning the way. Their coach understands their difficulties and works with them to make them better men and it seems the punishment by the coach fits the situation. It is much harder now that we do not have athletic dorms where the coaches have better supervision over the players, but that is the unfortunate fact of life. I wish we could see the resume of the Monday mornings quarterbacks and Jeff, as well. It would be interesting to note the number of SEC teams they have coached so we have a better appreciation of their credentials. No doubt, they well understand the pressure and stress of coaching at this level, and the difficult decisions to be made every day as they teach the young men who play sports.
Curious
September 4th, 2010
11:35 am
Does Green taking money from an agent count as an arrest?
lovethemdawgs
September 4th, 2010
11:40 am
“Georgia’s arrests fall on Mark Richt”——-tell me how any coach can watch their players 24/7. When do people, the writer of this article, some of you making comments, put the responsiblity where it belongs—–on the young man doing these stupid things. Regardless of how much a coach talks to these young adults it doesn’t mean they are going to do what he tells them they should do, only responsible players will do it. How many of you control what your kids do when they are out of your sight, you have to hope that you have raised them with values and the ability to be responsible. Well, the same goes for any college coach.
GO DAWGS
dawgfan0711
September 4th, 2010
11:47 am
Daegs don’t get it—I could make the same beat with about 110 other schools, like someone could find your a** if they did beat you and UGA won a NC. Just like you could find them to collect. Don’t post ignorant sh*t. Richt can’t control all the kids on the team. Nobody talks about the ones that stay out of trouble. Ask the players that have played for Richt what they think. Ask Pollack, Green, Shockley, Davis, and all the other ones that are not in school anymore. If you think the same things don’t happen else where but just don’t come to the surface, then you are truly a dumb a**. Try putting the blame where it belongs, on the kids that commit the offenses. The only person that is responable for these actions are the players that commit them.
dawgfan0711
September 4th, 2010
11:50 am
lovethemdawgs—Glad to see some one is putting the problem on the kids, great comment.
Russ
September 4th, 2010
11:50 am
WIll Jeff Schultz win a journalism award for his article about a kid stealing a $35 scooter hat? NOT!
Chill Town
September 4th, 2010
11:52 am
The APSE might croak and die after reading this article. No AP awards for this fine piece of journalism. Wait to present 1 side of the issue. Amazing work.
Mr. Fudd
September 4th, 2010
11:54 am
Jeff,
This type of high journalism story had to be your dream while studying the craft in college.
Breaking News!!!—18 year old steals a $25 scooter cap–Alert!!!
John
September 4th, 2010
12:03 pm
EMBARRASSEDAWG,
I respect your feelings. But we are talking about a collection of young men here – many a year or two shy of legal consent – who do dumb things – some criminally dumb things – some serious criminally dumb things.
I don’t have the list in front of me, but aren’t some of the nine capers no more serious than possession of a fake ID? Now “theft” of a scooter helmet has a significant segment of Dawg Nation and Jeff Schultz in a tizzy?
CMR better hope UGA cops didn’t check his suitcase the last time he bunked at a five star hotel – they might have found shampoo and bathrobe in there. That’s theft by taking g-ddammit! Hang him high!
Seems UGA cops leave no stone unturned, and no crime undetected or uncharged. Good for them I guess. But it makes you wonder if campus constabulary in Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge are as vigilant. Or are their football recruits just woven of stouter moral fiber?
I’m not usually big on conspiracy theories, but it seems somebody has made it their personal crusade to peruse police blotters for UGA football players. And there also seems to be a zero tolerance for UGA offenders and a zeal to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anybody associated with Red and Black. There’s a simple solution to any UGA football profiling going on out there: DON’T COMMIT CRIMES. I ain’t trying to engender sympathy for these guys, just a little perspective and reason. How presumptuous of me, I know. My wife rags me about it all the time. She’s right. And you’re right if you’re thinking the same thing.
Maybe an attitude like mine does enable the problem. But I look at the kid and his future first, and the image of The Program (moment of respectful silence) second.
Are these offenders incorrigible? Who knows? It’s too early to tell – they’re kids. Give ‘em time.
I sure don’t think CMR has lost control over his program based on the misdeeds that have transpired this summer.
LIVE from Tech, it's Jackets and Bulldogs! (not those Dogs) | Jeff Schultz
September 4th, 2010
12:03 pm
[...] ♦ No more excuses — Georgia’s arrests fall on Mark Richt [...]
Uga Football
September 4th, 2010
1:21 pm
[...] ESPN CBS and other. See the rest here: Uga Football. Freshman Alec Ogletree to be charged with misdUga Football – If you are a huge UGA fan join this group: http://www.youtube.com *I own none of these clips they belong [...]
Lisa
September 4th, 2010
2:46 pm
Alot of this also falls on the University who hired an Athletic Director who himself had problems with the police and left his post as a result. Character does reflect leadership, and in the past Coach Richt has done a stellar job in shaping his players. I have faith he will continue to do so. Perhaps in 10 years, like some parents do, he has begun to let some things slide. I think this slew of arrests should certainly have him sitting up and taking notice and getting back to his original plan with his players.
Joe Davis
September 4th, 2010
3:00 pm
I’ll be glad when you finally stick your neck out enough to get the crap sued out of you. Then the AJC can fire you and get a good sports writer
Southsidemike07
September 4th, 2010
3:55 pm
How can this be Coach Richt fault, when guys are doing silly stuff as, stealing helmets and driving without license? You have to put the blame where it lies and that is on the players. They are young men and should know right from wrong!!!!
Dawg Whisperer
September 4th, 2010
4:27 pm
I find it odd that so many Tech fans live to hate on UGA. That is really a sad commentary on those that live to find the negative in others. I have supported Tech for many years and still do. When I see constant negativity among UGA fans, or Gator fans, I feel the same way. Most fans that post negativity are not suggesting remedies, they simply revel in the failure of others. People of that ilk are a drag on society.
Bull Dog 2006
September 4th, 2010
5:00 pm
The Dawgs rolled again!
hind tit
September 4th, 2010
5:08 pm
it’s time to stop with the richt blame. it’s like saying the police is the cause of crime and not the criminals. look where most of these kids come from atlanta. as long as we get the majority of the kids from here live with it. what do you expect from the scumb slum of the south.
Michael
September 4th, 2010
5:26 pm
Jeff,
I have to agree with you on this one. As a Georgia fan, I have to say enough is enough. I know they are “kids,” but if your child did some of the bone-headed things like assult a police officer, wouldn’t you be taking said child behind the wood shed for a little one on one creative thinking session? Come on CMR, give us alumni and fans a break and hold these young men accountable. They will behave if you make them….
Georgia Tech sees flaws in easy win, and that's a good thing | Jeff Schultz
September 4th, 2010
6:22 pm
[...] ♦ No more excuses — Georgia’s arrests fall on Mark Richt [...]
Mr. Fudd
September 4th, 2010
7:29 pm
gEORGIA WIN 55-7. MARK RICHT WAS NOT FIRED AFTER ALL. JEFF, YOU MISSED THIS ONE, BIG TIME.
chazzo
September 4th, 2010
8:46 pm
Okay. A kid swipes a 35$ moped helmet back in June. How is this Richt’s fault? He is a football coach. Perhaps the kids in this state need a little parenting.
Ron
September 4th, 2010
10:11 pm
UGA morons.
Tim Rupert
September 4th, 2010
10:16 pm
Mark, why don’t you are somebody at the AJC, report on the real story of why UGA has so many arrest? UGA’s policy of the UGA police turning over offenders to the Clark County police is why, while 99% of other schools policy sends offenders to a dean or their coach and it is swept under the rug. Ga has more arrest due to the policy, not because more players are making mistakes.
bitter arrest warrent
September 4th, 2010
10:56 pm
what ever dont be a hypocrit yaaawww hell be a teen means chasing booboo yaaawww no what its like 36-24-36 come on who’s fooling who hahahah lets play, like elvis say girls girls girls!!!!!! got it now nuttting goinga change, yaaaww just slip me a light skin beauty hahahahaha pay the fine yyaaaaww
Mr. Fudd
September 5th, 2010
1:00 am
Let’s just say reports by certain journalists of Mark Richt’s demise were slightly exaggerrated.
What a thumpin’ by the Dogs—55-7. Rout.
Richt gave a top gun performance.
trey
September 5th, 2010
8:23 am
So Jeff I don’t recall seeing you, or any of the AJC staff, marching with placards about Robert Hall’s beating to near death of his girlfriend this summer. In fact I didn’t hear a peep out of the AJC staff. He got a ONE game suspension for his physical assault. Where is your outrage?
This tells me 1 of 2 things:
1) You support physical abuse against women (Robert Hall’s beating wasn’t so bad, eh Jeff, in fact his one game suspension must be excessive by your standards if one game against Ealey or Ogletree was insufficient)
OR
2) Someone in the food chain above your head makes sure the AJC keeps the taliban crimes quiet and out of the press
If UGA fans across this area cannot see the blatant disparity in the way this paper reports and rants against every little thing UGA does vs how it covers(up) issues with Techmite taliban, then this is a dumber crowd of dawg fans than I thought. If I were an advertiser or subscriber it wouldn’t take me long to show how I felt about that.
But carry on.
And to techmites: I can’t wait until November. Oh my you girls will be lucky to get 3 points off our D.
Dawg_Central
September 5th, 2010
9:30 am
Jeff Schultz…….Mark Richt can’t live and be around these grown a** “men” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to make decisions for them, he does hold them accountable for their actions. So when you say this falls on Mark Richt, I say you are wrong unless he doesn’t hold them accoutable. Jeff you need to understand that Mark Richt is a football coach, not a freaking baby sitter. He disciplines players and holds them accoutable for their actions, thats good enough for me. I personally could care less about the arrest….thats totally between the law enforcement agency and the accused. Mark Richt does his job on the field, I don’t expect him to be in a dang parking garage at 5:30am making sure Ealey isn’t driving. Grown men are accountable for their own actions soley.