Don’t look for fake ‘outrage’ from Mark Richt
Why are some college sports observers so anxious for Mark Richt to fall? (Associated Press)
Anyone expecting the NCAA “inquiry” in Athens to prompt Mark Richt into jumping on the anti-agent “pimps” and “predators” bandwagon with Nick Saban and Urban Meyer doesn’t really know Richt.
Situational (and not very convincing) outrage trotted out for the TV cameras isn’t his style. (Does Saban think his own agent is a pimp? Just wondering.)
While Richt currently is limiting his comments regarding the NCAA to “we’ll see what they gather,” even after the investigation is concluded and he can talk, it would be a major surprise for him to come out pointing fingers and threatening to ban agents or NFL scouts — actions that are highly unlikely to really be taken by Saban and Meyer in any event. (What a recruiting tool that would be for major talent: Come to Alabama, where we can guarantee you won’t be seen at practice by pro scouts. Please.)
Yes, the current situation with agents trolling for future pro clients is getting untenable, but Saban’s approach isn’t going to solve it. SEC Commissioner Mike Slive probably comes closer with his idea that nationally the NCAA needs to rethink its limitations on contact players can have with agents.
No, colleges paying players isn’t likely to happen, and neither is the NCAA approving players taking money from agents. But bringing the agents into the tent in some officially sanctioned capacity might at least cut down on the attraction of peripheral enticements like the party in South Beach.
As for the specifics of the UGA inquiry, we don’t really know who they’re focusing on, despite the report from the celebrity gossip outfit TMZ that it’s A.J Green.
Green says he wasn’t at the party and there’s no reason not to believe him. It’s possible some other Bulldog was involved. Or the NCAA simply could be working its way through all the top NFL prospects to see what they say.
One thing I do know, though: It was kind of ridiculous the way some pundits were trying to dance on Richt’s grave practically within minutes of the announcement of the NCAA inquiry. One more reason he’s on the hot seat? What a crock.
It’s interesting just how anxious some folks are to see Richt fall, delighting in every obstacle thrown in his path, while the sports media in general genuflects in the direction of Saban and Meyer.
Maybe it’s the nice guy image. Or wearing his faith on his sleeve. Maybe they just can’t believe there’s not an inner jerk hiding beneath that calm exterior. Perhaps if he got openly angry more often and lashed out occasionally like Saban and Meyer the harpies of the sports media wouldn’t be so quick to relish in the prospect of tough times for Richt.
It won’t happen, though. Win or lose, Mark Richt is too much of a gentleman to play that game.
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161 comments Add your comment
Clevon Little
July 22nd, 2010
6:53 pm
AMEN Brother….Couldn’t have said it better Bill.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
July 22nd, 2010
6:54 pm
I would like to add the last time I saw GT apparel being bought was after last years beat down at Bubba Dump High Stadium.
I saw Tech fans buying Tech T-shirts to dry their eyes and wipe the puke after Reality had sunk in again
bimbo meadows
July 22nd, 2010
6:55 pm
cmr is a class act through & through, he will never get the credit he deserves, he has only had 3 seasons without 10 wins, i think, and none of them back to back, what about les miles @ lsu he has 8 & 9 wins the last 2 yrs, go dogs, this is the kind of seasons were cmr does his best work when know one is expecting much from the dogs, except us, go dogs
ol ' seadawg
July 22nd, 2010
7:00 pm
What is it, with you people hating CMR for proclaiming his Christianity? I mean you already have God kicked out of schools and in public in general and yet you wonder why society is like it is? The Bible says in the end the love of many hearts will wax cold, and Christ himself spoke of the world hating us because we love Him. So to me I’m going to support him and my team good or bad and it thrills me to see his calm , especially compared to Spurrier who acts like a spoiled kid and I don’t care about his record, a jerk is a jerk.
SSIgator What year did UF win it’s first SEC championship versus the age of their football program?
Mel Gibson is the man
July 22nd, 2010
7:23 pm
Why would you like Richt as a coach?????? 9 years and ZERO national championship game APPEARANCES!!!
Who cares if he’s a nice guy, I would want WINS!. You guys been losing for 30 years, guess you dont know any better.
rogeriter
July 22nd, 2010
7:39 pm
For all of the Richt critics, I researched this yesterday. During Mark Richts tenure at UGA( 2001- 2009), which SEC team has the best record?Florida? Alabama? LSU? Tenn?
The answer is UGA (91-26) 2. LSU (91-27) 3. Fla. (90-27) 4 Ala. (82-39)
Now I’m not sayinG uga is better than those other teams and they haven’t won any NC’s but to have that record in the toughest conference (SEC) ain’t too shabby. It also says Mark Richt is more than just a good man, He is one of the premier coaches in Ameica!
rogeriter
July 22nd, 2010
7:42 pm
Mel Gibson–how many coaches have won a NC in the last ten years? less than 10. Are all the other coaches bad? You are an idiot!!! or else a tech fan!!! Oh, I repeat myself!
kerryb
July 22nd, 2010
8:00 pm
Bill, your last paragraph hit the nail on the head. The big liberal northeast media, and some around here would love to tear Mark Richt down. Anytime some nationally recognized person professes to be a christian and lives by christian values they try there best to tear them down. Oh, we can’t have those dreaded christian say they are christian. They must be doing something bad somewhere. Lets find some dirt on them and if we can’t then we will just try to destroy them so we don’t have to hear from him. We have such a pathetic society.
dawg daze
July 22nd, 2010
8:00 pm
The “outrage” will be the daug fans when the opposition goes after your zero experience injury prone QB just like Carl Edwards after Brad Keszlowski and the results will be the same…dogwreck.
You guys will turn on your coach and bark about no backup….
kerryb
July 22nd, 2010
8:06 pm
dawg daze, Interjecting NASCAR into a blog on UGA football. I bet you have a wad of chew in your mouth right now.
Class Act
July 22nd, 2010
8:06 pm
@ kerryb…….your post is on the money ! Pathetic Society With More and More Liberal Atheist Media trying to destroy an Honest, Hard Working Man that lives by Biblical Principals.
God Bless Coach Richt and Loyal Georgia Bulldog Fans !
ca dawg
July 22nd, 2010
8:08 pm
i don’t think people dislike CMR because he is xian; i think they dislike him because they believe the program is in decline. and it’s true: the last two years have been very disappointing even for reasonable dawg fans (among whom i count myself).
however, i think the decline had more to do with sweet willie’s overcoached, underdisciplined defense than with CMR. the new defensive staff looks very much like an improvement over the previous bunch, and i applaud CMR for making the changes he did (that is, not just recognizing a change needed to be made, but for finding replacements who are actually better than the people they replaced). we can argue that the change was a year late or whatever else, but it wouldn’t have mattered with cox at QB; we weren’t going anywhere with that kid, no matter how good the defense was.
CMR is not a perfect coach but it would be insane to argue that he is anything less than a very good one. i look forward to GATA this year, and to seeing what kind of team we’ve got.
dawg daze
July 22nd, 2010
8:17 pm
no redman here kerry but I bet the vast majority of daug fans can relate to that example.
ps…I like CMR…and his public profession of faith. I liked Jimmy Carter also but so many crackers now do not seem to think much of him.
kerryb
July 22nd, 2010
8:20 pm
ca dawg, I agree with your post. I don’t think the slight decline is because of Mark Richt. I think it is because some of his assistants were letting him down. Fault him for being too loyal and not getting rid of them sooner. I think we finally got the right defensive coaches and will see a complete turn around over the next few years if not this year. I also thing Mike Bobo should have enough experience now to get better in his play calling. If we win the SEC over the next couple of years everyone will forget about all of this stupid talk right now and thats exactly what it is.
kerryb
July 22nd, 2010
8:23 pm
I don’t consider myself a cracker but I also don’t care much for Jimmy Carter.
Duluth Dawg
July 22nd, 2010
8:26 pm
Bill,
The media jerks that you speak of are primarily on the AJC staff: Mark Bradley and Jeff Schultz. Those guys continue to beat the drum over the same stuff. I hope they show up in Athens so we can welcome both of them to the Classic City.
cliff
July 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
Great article Bill.
Unfortunately players like the rest of us have to be accountable.
We can not fence or rope off all of the individuals and influences that would lead us astray thats not the American way. We have choices to make and sometimes we not someone else make the wrong one and suffer the consequences not the one who tempted us with money, drugs, etc.
We know the RULES.
ca dawg
July 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
@kerryb: i agree w/ you that bobo is getting better, and i would even argue that our offense is more diverse the last couple of years than it was when CMR was calling plays. i haven’t always agreed with his play calls… but then i couldn’t really say that about any play caller. the major issue imo is that he hasn’t always committed to the run.
i think we’re fine on the offensive side of the ball. CMR has a good track record of developing QB’s, and there is no reason to think murray and lemay won’t do well under his tutelage. we have good backs, searles is one of the best in the business, and our young WR’s (wooten, king, and the 2011 kinds coming in) are solid. the major questions are on defense–if we can even play adequate defense this year and past, we’ll be right back where we need to be, and where we’ve typically been under CMR.
Calhoundawg
July 22nd, 2010
9:11 pm
ca dawg, is every program that doesn’t win a conference or national championship every year in decline? What a stupid, stupid thing to say. CMR has the third best winning percentage of any coach in the country, nine consecutive (13 total for UGA) eight-win seasons, and a 7-2 bowl record. That makes 109 Divison-1 programs that are in decline. Stupid. Absolutely stupid.
Calhoundawg
July 22nd, 2010
9:13 pm
Oh, sorry — 110 Division-1 programs counting ours. Bob Stoops is #2. His Sooners recently completed a 7-5 season. Seven and five. Would you trade Richt for Stoops. Stupid. Absolutely stupid.
Calhoundawg
July 22nd, 2010
9:14 pm
7-5 in the “Big 12″ where there’s only two teams you have to beat to win the conference. Stupid. Out and out stupid.
AltamahaDawg
July 22nd, 2010
9:28 pm
It’s possible to be passionate, to have an edge, and not wear it on your sleeve.
doc
July 22nd, 2010
9:44 pm
Calhoun, have you checked your blood pressure lately?
Pitbull
July 22nd, 2010
10:03 pm
I like Coach Richt and he is certainly one of the best Coaches in the Country. But not in the very best group, I don’t believe. I’ll give you an example. Give Richt, Spurriers players and vice versa. And Spurrier wins by 17 pts.
UGA VIII
July 22nd, 2010
10:08 pm
Hey Bill, your colleague Schultz is the band leader when it comes to piling on Richt.
On behalf Bulldog Nation, please walk across the hall to Jeff Schultz’s office and slap him! Better yet, beat him over the head with his keyboard. Maybe then he will think of a new topic to write about.
Calhoundawg
July 22nd, 2010
10:14 pm
Thanks for the comic relief, doc. I get so sick of the “hot seat” and “program in decline” crap. It’s simply not based on anything rational, and these stupid AJC writers seem to be making a living doing it. Do you realize how many unemployed English teachers would love to get a paycheck for writing the same old mindless junk every other day?
Here’s real writing;
First of all, you will have had to have been somewhere to be in “decline.” In the SEC, that precludes every other team except Tennessee, Georgia, Florida in the East, and Alabama, Auburn, LSU in the West. No other SEC team has won jack in the modern era. Speaking of Tennessee……
Here is a program with a national title in recent history that is on their third head coach in three years, is on the verge of a third LOSING record in six years, and has a losing record in bowl games since their title in ‘98. That is a program in decline. Tennessee is so far behind in recruiting it’s not even funny. God only knows when that program will again see the light of day.
Examples of programs outside of the SEC that have sunk far lower than 13 consecutive eight-win seasons include Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Michigan — just to name a few. I apologize for ragging on ca dawg so bad, but even our own fans seem to be brainwashed into repeating this crap. We have one of the most succesful programs in the country — academically and on the field — period. It would some of you “fans” right if CMR just up and quit and said screw it. Then you all can start the process all over again when Derek Dooley brings a decade or two of true mediocrity to Athens. I, for one, say “We love you Coach Richt!” Go Dawgs !!!!!
Paul Has A Small Johnson
July 22nd, 2010
10:25 pm
I have an important announcement to make:
1. Tech sucks
2. Here are some reasons why
Techies take a quick look at that link and pull out your slide rule or your TI-83 calculators
http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/06/30/for-longhorns-money-grows-on-football-program-instead-of-trees/
for a program that is so smart you would think they would rank much higher than that
for a program that is sooooooo great in athletics you would think they would have more money
3. Highschool stadium that only fills up when UGA comes to town
4. UGA 60 GT 39 again for a program that supposedly is so bright with academic geniuses you would expect the record would be reversed
5. Wow how did the middle school option do against Willie Martinez oh yea 30-24
6. With that said, mommy is waiting to tuck you in and read a bedtime story called “THE LITTLE BEE THAT COULD’NT”
7. Did I mention that TECH is irrelevant and you SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So shut your mouths, you have other fish to fry
Lowcountry Dawg
July 22nd, 2010
10:30 pm
Yeah, Mark Richt is passive because he’s a Christian right??????? Any one of you secular humanist athiest idiots who thinks Christianity is for sissies ought to try hanging on a cross for a few hours!!!! No, followers of Jesus don’t have to do that literally as he did, but they do have to die to themselves-that takes a real man-something secular humanism will never get. I think Mark Richt’s won loss record speaks for itself. I also believe I read that the football grad rate is near the top of the SEC-tell me if I’m wrong.
SEXY Mark Richt
July 22nd, 2010
11:06 pm
I’m glad to be Georgia’s Coach
Bob Dylan
July 22nd, 2010
11:15 pm
Go ahead and run Mark Richt out of town, he is welcome to come back to the U.
ca dawg
July 22nd, 2010
11:24 pm
calhoundawg: relax fella, i love coach richt. i support him and think he’s got us going back in the right direction. i think he’s an outstanding coach, a credit to the program, and i get tired of the “hot seat” talk, too. notice in my previous posts that i don’t blame him for the slippage that has occurred the last couple of years. look at what i’ve said and you’ll see i’m actually defending coach richt. now, allow me a clarification: are you denying that there has been slippage in the last couple of years? if you’re not, then we’re on the same page and have no disagreement. if you are, then consider the following:
from 2002-2005: we went to three sec title games, won two of them, went to 2 BCS bowls, and finished 3 of those 4 years in the top 6 nationally (the only year we didn’t finish in the top 6 we won the conference).
from 2007-2009: 0 sec titles, 0 sec title game appearances, 1 BCS bowl game, two very ugly losses to florida, beatdowns from tennessee (and yeah, they ARE in decline) and alabama, losses to kentucky and GT, and a defense that grew increasingly porous under willie martinez. to say, as you do, that UT and other teams in the conference haven’t “won jack” during the same time period is utterly beside the point. it is also beside the point to talk about the decline of miami, fsu, etc…. none of this has anything to do with what we do at georgia.
maybe you don’t like that i use the word decline, but let me tell you what i mean when i say that so that there is no (more) confusion. it has nothing to do with “hot seats” or whether CMR is a good coach. it has to do with results: we haven’t won the east, we haven’t won the SEC, and (what is more) we have failed to even compete with the teams that have. these are facts. this is how it is. by virtually any plausible measure, we have been less successful these last couple of years. CMR would be the last to deny that; how can you deny it?
shane#1
July 23rd, 2010
1:21 am
ca dawg=BuLLdog, either get on the train or get off. Show some cajones will you!! If you have a pair, that is. I am sick and tired of the cry baby bustards. What? Two losses a year is unaceptable? Three? What is the limit before we fire CMR? You say you love CMR? Why don’t you get a little courage and act like it?
ca dawg
July 23rd, 2010
2:36 am
@shane#1: this buLLdog sounds like a sensible guy; i don’t know him but i bet he knows his stuff. anyway, i suppose that a qualified defense of CMR — noting his successes while acknowledging that we have taken a step back in the last couple of years — is not courageous enough for you? i don’t see what sort of position you would prefer me to take. just so i know, are you on the train or off? i actually think it’s pretty clear from my last few posts where i stand vis-a-vis CMR; if you disagree then tell me why (i mean, with reasons, evidence, argumentation– stuff like that), but to say i lack “courage” because i’m willing to acknowledge CMR’s virtues and limitations? this seems both incorrect and completely irrelevant to the actual issue.
i want to say that i join you in being sick of all the “cry baby bustards” but i don’t know who (or what) you mean when you say that. i’m pretty sure i’m not among them since i support and very much like CMR and the staff he has assembled (and nothing i’ve said contradicts that), but something tells me you’ll lump me in there anyway.
if it matters, i’m not here to trade insults with people i’ve never met (this is not how “courage” is shown). i read and post on this blog because i love georgia football and i love discussing it in a reasonable and respectful way with other dawg fans. if you want to do that, then by all means let’s have it out (though i think we actually agree and don’t have much to talk about). otherwise i’ll leave you to spew your bile at bama stan, SSIgator, and the tech trolls; i’m not interested.
Tired of Street Thugs on Athletic Fields
July 23rd, 2010
3:36 am
I am sick and tired of “street thugs” playing and acting like street gang members on and off the field in college athletics. I am almost done with all athletics. I haven’t watched a pro football or basketball game in five years. No longer season ticket holder of game buyer for the Falcons. The Hawks support left many years ago. What is left of college sports stinks to high heaven. Thugs, criminals (yes, 42 comitted crimes at Georgia in the last three years), low life unintelligent thugs who can run, block, pass and tackle have replaced the scholar athlete. You can just about “stick a fork” in college athletics … it’s done. No more donations to the athletic department and no more visits to Sanford Stadium for me. I am sick and tired of what colleges will do to be competitive in college sports. I just can’t stand to watch it any more. Got up early to fly to Miami to check out the party scene and who’s who in college football who party there.
Richt Must Regain Control
July 23rd, 2010
3:40 am
Anyway you look at it and you must look, Mark Richt has lost control of the football program. 42 arrests … almost half a hundred arrests …. in three years. If Coach Richt don’t tighten up we will be called “ThugU”. I am wondering what it will take for UGA to become a class act again like it was under Dooley. Respect still counts for a lot and the win at all cost mentality (per Urban Crier, Saban and Myles) seems to be the rule of the day. I agree with Tired, it’s time for a change.
12-2
July 23rd, 2010
6:44 am
“It’s like, you know [something is] gonna happen,” Coach Richt 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.”
“Arrests and losses have a cumulative effect,” Jeff Schultz replies.
Calhoundawg
July 23rd, 2010
7:19 am
True enough, ca dawg. I don’t like the “declining program” routine. And, true enough, with that talent we have year in and year out, the Matthew Stafford years were definitely underacheivements. And, I’ll grant you that Nick Saban certainly knew where to pick up wgen he came to Alabama. I’m not ready to say that we have to trade consistency for the top-tier, but you’ll have to admit Georgia is indeed a model of consistency (8-5 worst year and we still won our bowl game) at a fairly high level. I think the coaching changes on the defensive side of the ball and a renewed dedication to fundamentals will be just what Georgia needs to get back where they really should be. Go Dawgs !!!
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2010
7:39 am
If Only we had listen to BuLLdawg at the beginning of last year when he as telling everybody how Mettenberger should be the starter against Okie State.
spurrier
July 23rd, 2010
7:57 am
Are you saying Richt isn’t beyond staged emotion, see endzone dance!
hop
July 23rd, 2010
8:09 am
My question is a simple one when was the last time georgia football was placed on any probation?
i don’t think ever in mark richt tenure!
the ones who are saying he is on the hot seat are ones who have no clue. as adams just stated cmr has a long term contract with uga that pays him a huge amount that especially if he is fired.
that is not going to happen period!
HJF
July 23rd, 2010
8:51 am
Hopefully, Jeff the blogger also reads your article, as well as the numerous coach wantabes who know so well how to coach in the SEC.
edumacated
July 23rd, 2010
9:02 am
I couldn’t care if Richt worships Satan and kills a chicken before every game. Just beat Florida or get out of the way so Georgia can give somebody else a chance to.
Screw his record against the rest of the SEC.
Screw his overall record.
Screw his bowl record.
Screw his top 10 ranking finishes.
This year will be his best shot to get Florida and turn the tide. If he can’t beat them, then it’s TIME TO GO!!!!!!!!!!
Dawg Whisperer
July 23rd, 2010
9:07 am
I concur with many of the posts on this blog. Mark Richt is devout Christian who happens to be a very good coach. A devout Christian follows the tenets of Biblical scripture. When Christ taught his disciples not to worry because it adds nothing of value to your life, coach Richt and other Christians are expected to follow this teaching. You will not see Mark Richt casting aspersions and having shout fests like some coaches not because he is not capable but because he restrains himself with spiritual power. Sorry, not trying to preach, just offering an explanation.
Minnesota Dawg
July 23rd, 2010
9:40 am
Come live up here in the North and you would be grateful for what you have there in DAWG LAND! Georgia is very fortunate to have a great coach like Mark Richt! Character is more important than just winning games! Look at all the problems we have with athletes with bad character! Mark Richt is trying to not just win but instill some character with it. If that doesn’t get you a National Championship every year, so be it! Some of you need to just stop being jealous of Florida and Alabama. The grass is not greener on the other side. I like the grass just fine on the Georgia side! Bill King, thanks for a great article.
HOTDAWG
July 23rd, 2010
9:43 am
Again and again, Mark Richt demonstrates that he is the CLASS of the SEC. Who among us would trade him for Nick Satan, the Urban Cryer, or the whiner, aka Steve Spurrier. I look for continued success, i.e. a winning percentage around 80% without the egocentric gyrations of many of today’s coaches.
SKB
July 23rd, 2010
9:46 am
Here is an idea:
Given UGA’s very easy schedule this season (our only real opponetns being Florida and GaTech. If we can’t even win SEC east, with that lets just fire him. UGA have been doing very poorly for the last few year. With so many players got arrested and staffs getting DUI, UGA should just recreate the program from the start.. I see no other way…
Bow Wow
July 23rd, 2010
10:00 am
I was in the stands back in the early 1990’s when Georgia fans threw ice and bottles at their own team after a loss, I think to Vanderbilt. If Richt has another bad season, the same people who are calling him a saint, will be screaming for his head. Richt’s composure is more like, if he ignores problems, they will go away.
bamadawg
July 23rd, 2010
10:08 am
Look you bozo’s…CMR kept a Willie a few years to long…we know it, you know it, CMR knows it….but, look at the Sugar Bowl rout of Hawaii??? Duh? Plug the soft Willie defense for the past few years and we win 5-6 more games…Todd Grantham is the prescription for success…not only will the UGA defense be dominating, but will leave the ofense in a much better field position than before…Be afraid, my friends, be very afraid!!!!
Athens, Georgia
July 23rd, 2010
10:27 am
————————–
Nesbitt for Heisman
————————–
npgator
July 23rd, 2010
10:38 am
Great blog on Georgia football! Link: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_bianchi/2010/07/georgia-mark-richt-hotseat-overrated-program.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports_bianchi+%28Open+Mike%29