Spurrier should take lesson from Richt on handling criticism
For two coaches of top-ranked programs, Steve Spurrier and Mark Richt seem to reside at opposite ends in perspective and their respective dealings with the media. (Phil Skinner/AJC)
Over the past few seasons, Mark Richt has had no shortage of reasons to put his fist through a wall, terrorize secretaries and assistant coaches or erupt in a news conference, as if Athens’ own little Mt. Vesuvius.
He has suspended players for poor academics, poor driving habits and poor choice of herbal supplements (in or outside of brownies). Several prize recruits have been excommunicated for assorted acts of dumbness. His job security has come into question. He works in a conference where five other schools have won BCS titles. And, on a lesser note, his athletic director was fired for drunk driving.
But notice something about Mark Richt? He seldom seems stressed. He isn’t storming out of news conferences when he sees a columnist he doesn’t like (really?), or blathering on the radio about making progress in trying to get a guy fired (fantasy).
As Richt said Tuesday, “I don’t think I’m totally Teflon, but there’s not much anybody can say that can get me bent out of shape.”
Richt lives in one universe.
Steve Spurrier holds his breath in the other.
It’s an interesting contrast of coaches this week. Georgia plays South Carolina. Both are 5-0 and top 10 teams. But Richt clearly is enjoying the moment – and he can be seen this week in a series of humorous ESPN commercials – while Spurrier is acting like a whining, petulant second-grader, carrying on a battle with local sports columnist Ron Morris, whom he’s convinced is out to get him.
Richt chuckled Tuesday when asked about Spurrier, saying, “I heard about him leaving the news conference,” but he generally refrained from comment.
But Richt will tell you that he has changed. Few college coaches have had more reasons to be stressed, but he seldom shows it. (He and I had a minor flare up several years back that was blown out of proportion — geez, I really hate the media — but it was cleared up that same day.)
“I know that most criticism is pointed toward the coach, not necessarily the person,” he said. “If I’ve ever felt something became more of a personal attack, there have been times when I’ve talked to people privately. Or if a guy beats up on a player more than I think he should, I’ll get sensitive about that once in a while. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s still momentary light affliction, like Apostle Paul talks about. It doesn’t last.
“I know when my wife had cervical cancer, if that doesn’t put life in perspective, what does? There are just things bigger than whether I’m the head coach at Georgia, or whether anybody thinks I’m smart or not smart, or a good coach or a bad coach. I know I’ve got a job to do, and I want to know that the process I go through in that job is one I can live with when I go to sleep at night.”
Richt and Spurrier both have their moral compasses. Spurrier’s just spins a little more.
He lost supporters with his constant enabling of former quarterback Stephen Garcia, who was “suspended” five times, yet somehow never managed to miss a game (until the university finally dismissed him). Spurrier was indignant when asked about the perception that he was soft on issues pertaining to alcohol. He told The State: “There is something that they can always pick at you about. … If the president and A.D. say, ‘Man, you are too soft on that,’ then they will get another coach here,” he told The State.)
His recent radio vent lost other supporters.
Spurrier’s objective, of course, is to unify his fan base and cultivate the us-against-the-world mentality. It’s not uncommon. His power and ego ran unchecked at Florida because he was winning SEC titles and seldom was criticized.
But when somebody’s constant response to any criticism becomes, “I’ll just [retire and] and go to the beach,” it’s clear he has lost all perspective.
Richt has been through the wringer of a 6-7 season, a 7-9 record in the SEC over two years and last season’s 0-2 start.
“I’m enjoying coaching more now — but, I mean, we’re winning a lot more,” he said.
Of criticism, he said: “When somebody critiques me, I try to filter the information, regardless of whether I think the person is mean-spirited or sweet-spirited, because the guy might be right. I may not give him credit from a pride standpoint, but sometimes there’s validity to it.”
It seems like a healthier perspective than threatening to quit or get somebody fired.
By Jeff Schultz
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372 comments Add your comment
Gator Mike
October 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
As a Gator, I find Spurrier’s childish rants to be embarassing at times. He is a great coach, and he can be funny, but he needs to lighten up on Ron Morris who is an honest and objective writer.
So Car would still be very mediocre if it were not for Spurrier, but he needs to chill a bit. I agree with SicEm’s post.
I hope the DAWGS clobber SCe. Go Dawgs beat the Gammies, and Go Gators beat LSU
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
11:24 am
TB, so you admit Richt doesn’t want to lose players, so what would be his motives for losing good players? Could it possibly be that he runs his football team just like any of us would run our organizations. Hire the best, train them to be the best, and if people don’t meet the standards you give them more training and discipline if necessary. If they lie, cheat, steal, break the law, etc., you have to let them go. So, according to you, we beat terrible “Vandie” and TN teams? I disagree. I think they are both better than you credit them.
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
11:32 am
Thomas, that is a great line Spurrier came up with…because I couldn’t go for three! However, the question begs to be asked again, why were you going for two points when you were ahead 41-3 in the 4th quarter? Especially when you look at his recent statements of wanting to “hang 50″ on opponents, you have to wonder.
GT
October 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
CHDawg Crowell was arrested and taken from a car carrying two freshman recruits God knows where, that night, two in the morning. Oh ya he was great for this team, I imagine it took a little politics to keep the other two out of the jail that night too. Carrying a gun, filed off serial number, don’t think any of my friends are in that car that night how about you ChDawg, you riding with this kind of junk in your car? The freshmen are still on the roster.
Common Sense
October 3rd, 2012
11:39 am
Perhaps Richt can take some lessons on winning National Championships from Spurrier in return…
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
- hire the best, yes, great job in recruiting which is why I was the 1st AJ-C poster to call for his EXTENSION this time last year.
- train them to be the best, we could talk about that all day CHDawg. Mark Richt has said he prefers loyalty on his staff to all else, and repeatedly has said that’s why he didn’t want to hire any NFL coaches to his staff. Bottom line is Mark Richt’s coaching staff sucks.
We beat 5 unranked opponents, no matter what your own personal opinion is of any of them.
Mark Richt does not want to let his players go. Mark Richt has however had 29 transfer-out who were supposed to be playing Saturday night. Or, have you all of a sudden forgotten all this off-season conveniently ?
cb
October 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
I love how all these journalists and message board idiots love to take the moral high ground over Spurrier. As if they had his type of power and influence and some scrub from the local fish wrapper, for eight years, tried to drag you and your program through the mud, you would be above busting the chump’s arse. Oh you high and mighty! And please, go on and tell me how much more awesome you are at life that Spurrier and how he is a big crybaby. Please show me your paycheck, Heisman Trophy, National and SEC Championship rings and let’s compare their worth to Spurrier’s. The only whiner’s and crybaby’s in this situation are you buttwipes. It will get much worse Saturday night.
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
11:47 am
CHDawg, how can you explain this ?
___________________________________
NFL Drafted by each Team Mark Richt era :
___________________________________
College – Alabama – Florida – LSU – UGA
2012.…….8..…………2.…….5.…….7
2011.…….5.………….4.…….6.…….6
2010.…….7.………….9.…….6.…….5
2009.…….4.………….3.…….6.…….6
2008.…….0.………….2.…….7.…….4
2007.…….3.………….9.…….5.…….5
2006.…….5.………….3.…….7.…….7
2005.…….4.………….3.…….3.…….6
2004.…….4.………….5.…….0.…….4
2003.…….5.………….8.…….4.…….7
2002.…….4.………….8.…….5.…….8
2001.…….3.………….4.…….3.…….7
Total…….52.….……60.…….57……72
_____________________________________________
SEC against teams who made Top 10 in Mark Richt era :
_____________________________________________
11 Wins LSU # 1
11 Wins Auburn # 2
10 Wins Florida # 3
6 Wins Alabama # 4
6 Wins vols # 5
4 Wins Arkansas # 6
3 Wins Texas A & M # 7
3 Wins UGA # 8
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
GT, your arguments are incoherent and loose with the facts. Crowell wasn’t “carrying” the gun, as you misstate. It was hidden under the seat of the car. He was let go from the team for that. That is exactly what Richt should have done. Even though Crowell is a great talent, he crossed the line. Teenagers do a lot of stupid stuff, GT. I don’t know what they knew, and neither do you. I am sure Richt handled it correctly. If they were using drugs they would have been suspended. If they just made a mistake in keeping the wrong company, I’m sure they were trained and disciplined on how to avoid mistakes.
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
It is a well-known widely-accepted fact that Mark Richt has done less with more.
7576DAWG
October 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
Spurrier and Richt are the same if you are comparing who wants this win the most. Spurrier just shows his emotions on the outside where Richt keeps his inside.
The outcome of this game will be determined by which team makes the most mistakes and where on the field the mistake were made. Georgia doesn’t need to run any ball out of the end zone. Make sure you start at least on the 25 yard line. How many time have you seen teams make a mistake after they try to run the ball out of the end zone and get tackled on the 10 or 15 yard line. Play calling get’s a lot more conservative when you are playing out of your own end zone.
Everybody knows that Spurrier will do about anything if he is playing from behind. He is a gambler and is trying to change momentum. Watch for the on-side kicks and the fake punts every time there is a possibility for one. If our defense is lined up a certain way Spurrier will try it.
Ole Big Dawg
October 3rd, 2012
11:54 am
Wilson..the tiniest of facts can get you upset…like 5-0
Ole Big Dawg
October 3rd, 2012
11:54 am
Wilson..the tiniest of facts can get you upset…like 5-0
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
11:56 am
Thomas, you are making a great argument for why Richt is a great coach. He has had several SEC championships, finished 2nd in ‘07, and had many other East and ranked finishes. The fact that his players go on to be successful in life means his methods are way above average. He is undefeated and ranked 5 right now. He has a great record overall, too. I would think you would at least wait until they lose to attack him. SC has a great team and they are well coached. Hang in there, TB, maybe UGA will lose and you can get the scent of blood on these boards this weekend. I really hope not. Go Dawgs!
Rantastic
October 3rd, 2012
12:07 pm
TB 10:54 am…
You dumba$$. Read your own crap. You said JB & Kingdaddy said It Saturday night …SAMF…get your story straight you moron …
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
12:07 pm
cb, I think the world of Spurrier’s professional abilities. I thought he was going to be the greatest NFL coach in history. He has certainly done well at SC, and there is a lot of evidence that he is a good guy off the field, too. I just think he needs to get someone around him with the authority to question him before going for two when you are up 41-3 in the 4th, and for not publicly slapping an underage drinker/driver on the wrist, regardless of what you do privately. We all make plenty of mistakes, and I guess the difference is that coaches are watched and taped 24/7. I wish him well….after this weekend.
captguitarman
October 3rd, 2012
12:21 pm
Great article with lots of good insights regarding the two coaches it was about. Between the two coaching style’s, Richt’s is certainly far preferable to the seemingly alwasy “petulant” (good word) Spurrier, and that petulance is certainly apparent in how Spurrier deals with his players on the sidelines during tough games. Coaches should never display immature emotions or behavior in front of their players or direct it at their players, and Spurrier does.
Having said all of that, having the fear/respect of your players is absolutely critical, as Richt’s lack of that from time to time has shown. By the time you suspend them or kick them off the team, you have failed them. You can not and should not point to such suspensions and dismissals to show that you are a demanding task master with unbreakable rules and standards, because after the fact, it is a hollow gesture. Having true respect is having a team that fears you enough that it will not cross the line at all. That was, and perhaps still is Richt’s problem. It is okay to be a nice guy, but as a coach, you have to be a nice guy who is not reluctant to breathe fire at your players when necessary.
He just got some important suspended guys back in time for Tennessee, and he will certainly need them on Saturday. If this stuff finally stops and there are no more incidents this year, it may be evidence that Richt is finally getting his arms around this player disrespect issue — and it will keep Georgia in the hunt for SEC/BCS titles. Every coach should have a little Bobby Knight, Woody Hayes and Vince Lombardi in him (not to the point of abuse, of course), but the best coaches all have at least some of that kind toughness, and their teams win.
bobo
October 3rd, 2012
12:25 pm
What about the revolving door on the Athens Correctional Facility. How about them Jail Dawgs!!
Dawg-Gawn
October 3rd, 2012
12:38 pm
Spurrier walks after the flesh…. Richt is a man who walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit. ~Romans 8:1
For those not in the know… take the word flesh…. drop the h…. turn it around & spell it backwards… what does it spell?
“SELF”
UGA is blessed to have Mark Richt, (especially in today’s world) not only as a football coach but as an example of a Grown Christian Man shaped in His image.
“BELIEVE” in the “G”
GA Sandlapper
October 3rd, 2012
12:39 pm
As stated before, THE STATE newspaper in Columbia, needs a sunshine pumper like Schultz!! That is all that we are asking for. We need a biased reporter that is 100% SC and 0% everyone else!
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
12:49 pm
“By the time you suspend them or kick them off the team, you have failed them. You can not and should not point to such suspensions and dismissals to show that you are a demanding task master with unbreakable rules and standards”
__________________________________________________
Exactly. If the coach was a demanding task-master, discipline would not be a constant question thrown by all the reporters to the coach, which it is – this reporter on this blog for example, has taken him to task on it multiple times.
Punishing players harshly is not discipline. It is the act which you are forced to do because you had no Discipline in the 1st place.
Take all this off-season for example, and the resultant 67 scholarship recruits plus 1 transfer-in all he has left – evident at the end of every game, already – with more to come. Wait until we get to game # 13 and game # 14 this season in those 4th quarters.
I make a solid argument for Mark Richt being one of the greatest coaches showing him # 8 in The SEC in wins over teams making the Top 10 in the Mark Richt era ?
Put the pipe down.
shakazulu
October 3rd, 2012
12:54 pm
Nobody but Spurrier brings it out of Dawg Nation like this…..Spurrier is not perfect, far from it, and his assertion that Morris get the ax a little far-fetched…but accountability in the press is at an all-time low as “journalists”, bloggers, etc will do whatever it takes to get hits on their websites and say something controversial. How would any of us like to stand up on a daily basis and have to respond to some of the inane gibberish that coaches must. Both Richt and Spurrier are fine coaches but, clearly, Spurrier has done more with less. Any of you armchair coaches out there think you can do better….get a hat and get in the game.
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
12:54 pm
kingdaddy, we all know where he was Saturday night – getting drunk which is all he ever comes in here to tell us all that he’s doing everyday; that, and not going to the games.
what of it?
October 3rd, 2012
12:54 pm
Of course, this neglects to mention Spurrier has twice the SEC championships that Richt does and a national title.
I don’t think anyone disputes Spurrier is more of an a$$, but do you really want complacency as an alternative?
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
12:56 pm
“clearly, Spurrier has done more with less”
and just as
“clearly, Mark Richt has done less with more”
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
12:58 pm
hself
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
1:01 pm
Vince Lombardi is rolling-over in his grave mentioning him in the same sentence with Georgia’s coach, Mark Richt.
what of it?
October 3rd, 2012
1:07 pm
It’s also great and all that Richt is gay for Jesus, but I’d really like to see us win a game as an underdog, just once. We’ll have to in order to take the SEC this year.
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
1:07 pm
Thomas, that is exactly what you did. You pointed out rather well that Richt has had the most players drafted of any program, meaning his outstanding recruiting, leadership, and training skills have been validated by the NFL. You pointed out one stat to make your point, but there are many others that contradict that point. In 11 years he has two SEC championships, four SEC East championships, he has a fantastic winning percentage, a number of top ten finishes, and many more ranked finishes. He has been to a lot of great bowls. You could be his unwitting publicist.
CHDawg
October 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
What of it, Jesus knows where you live…I’d watch my mouth.
DawgNole
October 3rd, 2012
1:20 pm
Wet Willie…keep on smiling
October 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
Richt and Spurrier both have their moral compasses. Spurrier’s just spins a little more.
Really …who gives you the right to judge Steve? Typical media. We can see what Steve has done over the years for it’s documented for everyone. Not so much about you.
_____________________
Shultz’s job–or his “right,” as you put it–as a sports columnist is to offer his OPINION on sports-related topics. He’s done his job here, whether you like/agree with it or not.
Dawg-Gawn
October 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Galatians 6:7-8
King James Version (KJV)
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
“BELIEVE”
SEC Headlines 10/3/2012 – Arkansas – Razorbacks News
October 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
[...] 13. What Steve Spurrier can learn from Mark Richt. [...]
ARdawg
October 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
Thomas Brown
YES. I said it. I meant it word for word. Thank you for attributing my remarks to me instead of other’s remarks you wish I had said.
Richt was on the hot seat ending the year 2010 and then beginning the year 2011 going 0-2. 10 straight wins don’t mean much to you but, obviously it does to the Bulldog Nation. He was given a contract extension at the end of 2011. His 2012 team is currently 5-0 and ranked #5 in the country. How much of that ship hasn’t been “righted” Thomas?Nothing less than a NC rights that ship for you? Going from a 6-7 season to a 5-0 and #5 ranking is a correction. The ship is righted. It can go to h3ll tomorrow and that ship was still righted.
Now, there is a reason he is paid 3-4 mil a year to coach football and you aren’t paid diddly squat to sit on blogs and beeyotch about him. So, who’s the dummy here?
Go Cocks!
October 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Nothing else to write about. Sounds like you are preparing for a defeat. Oh, “but we have a great coach at UGA” What a joke. Get ready for the beatdown again.
SportsFan31313
October 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Dawgs will win by seven or more points Saturday!!!!!
ARdawg
October 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
kingdaddy
Thomas has had many monikers over the years but he is the same guy that has posted here for years. I know him well. I don’t believe him any less of a fan than I. I do believe him to be a man who let’s his hatred for Mark Richt eat him up inside to a point it isn’t about the Bulldogs any more. Only about Thomas’s ability to ramble incoherently and consistently. He has to remind himself over and over how much he hates Richt more than he needs to convince anyone here
Wilson Pickett
October 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
I would say 99% of the so called journalist never played a down. Now they might have been on the little league team and got to play two innings. Their expertise on the game means NOTHING AT ALL.
The story goes a professor at A&M complained about the money being spend on the football program. Coach Bryant told him to let him know when 58k showed for one of his lectures.
kingdaddy
October 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Tomasina
You are a treasonous douche. You are not a UGA fan. Your 10:54 am says me and JB said something Sat.night.. when I called you on it, you had to go all the way back in your creepy stalker file on me to July 2, LOL… what a loser. Even that post didn’t say I wanted CMR gone. You were gone for a couple of months and we all thought they finally put you in the nut-house. The only people that agree with any of your useless rants are trolls that hate UGA. As you know,” birds of a feather, flock
togeather.” You are a COO-COO-BIRD. They are going to come put you back in a straight-jacket boy. Go take your meds…
DawgNole
October 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
LakeDawg
October 2nd, 2012
11:18 pm
Thomas Brown
As someone who has been very critical of Richt over the years, I have to say you are becoming tiresome. I’ve been critical of Richt, because I love UGA. However, he is our coach for this year and nothing can change that. Its one thing to constantly criticize Richt when they’re having a bad season, but when the harangue continues through a 5-0 start with possibly a special season unfolding tells me that your hate of Richt is more important to you than your love of UGA. You need to get a grip.
____________________
“. . . BECOMING tiresome”???
TB and his many aliases have BEEN tiresome–for years. As sick an individual–along with “MCR”–as has ever posted on an AJC blog.
kingdaddy
October 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
ARdawg
I know bro. I also know I missed the Dawgs game and most of the Falcons because I worked all weekend. I hardly got to say boo last couple of weekends and I have to work this weekend too. Big weekend on Tybee. I usually ignore his a$$, but he lied about me and he is rideing the “short-bus” just to get to the “crazy-train”…
kingdaddy
October 3rd, 2012
2:29 pm
TB has no shame but he does have a lot of psychological problems and needs a proper study of some of his mental functions. Is there such a thing as a “brain-douche”??? He needs some Summers Eve up in there…
DawgNole
October 3rd, 2012
2:38 pm
Buzz2011
October 3rd, 2012
5:32 am
Spurrier’s teams beat the Dawgs every year don’t they? I think Richt could learn from the old ball coach.
_______________________
EVERY year? He’s lost 4 times to the Dawgs since coming to SC.
Why come on here and make it all the more obvious to the readers that you’re even more ignorant than your flimsy posts already reveal?
dick whikey
October 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
bottom line,mark richt,good man,mediocre coach
JoJo
October 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
I’ll take CMR over any other coach any day. God bless you Coach Richt and God bless the Dawgs.
DawgNole
October 3rd, 2012
2:59 pm
To Tell the Truth
October 3rd, 2012
9:05 am
Again, Spurrier is the BEST college coach out there, just look in his trophy cases where he has been. There is not a university that would not take him as their coach.
_______________________
More BS. I guaran-damn-tee ya that UGA and FSU would NEVER “take him as their coach.”
gdawginkalamzoo
October 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Spurrier USED to be a great coach until he retired to South Carolina.
DawgNole
October 3rd, 2012
3:13 pm
Thomas Brown
October 3rd, 2012
10:41 am
Oh, yeah, my Heavens ARdawg; I am so sorry; he’s really fixed it righted the utterless ship.
_________________
“. . . utterless ship”? Was it a cow, TB?
Not only demented, but pathetically ignorant.
kingdaddy
October 3rd, 2012
3:34 pm
Jeff
are you moderating me again???
kingdaddy
October 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
Are you saying I can’t make fun of TB anymore? I must have made him cry…