‘Be True to Your School’ cuts both ways with Dooley, Tarkenton
Is Vince Dooley a Dawg, a Tiger ... or both? (Associated Press)
I heard from a couple of fans who were bothered by the way Vince Dooley concluded a phone interview this week on Tim Brando’s nationally syndicated Sporting News Radio show. The former UGA head football coach and athletic director signed off with a low-key “War Eagle.”
On top of Dooley pulling for his son Derek when the Vols played the Dogs (albeit quietly at home, away from prying TV cameras), this latest departure from the true Red and Black path might seem like blasphemy to some. But I have no problem with Vince celebrating his alma mater’s first national championship since 1957 (back when he was on the Tigers’ coaching staff). Besides having coached there before coming to UGA, Dooley played football at Auburn and is a graduate of the former Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
OK, granted, Dooley spent more years as a Dawg than in orange and blue and it’s UGA that put up a statue of him.
But I’m more than willing to concede Dooley an occasional “War Eagle” because when it really mattered, in 1980 when Auburn tried to lure him back, he chose to remain at Georgia.
Woof!
Meanwhile, Dawgs 247 had an interesting report that current UGA athletic director Greg McGarity had reached out to former Bulldogs quarterback and NFL great Fran Tarkenton, who lambasted Mark Richt and the Georgia football program on Atlanta’s 680 The Fan.
Greg McGarity was diplomatic in responding to outspoken Fran Tarkenton (University of Georgia)
In addition to ripping the conditioning of Georgia’s players, Tarkenton seemed to be incensed by Richt’s recent comments about McGarity freeing him up from administrative duties so he could spend more time studying football. Said the legendary No. 10: “What has he been doing for nine years? I have never heard any college, high school, professional coach [ever say] that I was not able to spend enough time on football. I had other issues. … It sounds like ‘I am not taking responsibility.’”
Tarkenton added: “I think Greg McGarity has got to look at this awfully hard, I think the signs are that we have a program that is in big trouble.”
McGarity told 790 The Zone that he had a “nice conversation” with Tarkenton after he heard about the comments and seemed to be trying to gently bring the famed scrambler back into the fold.
Said McGarity: “I basically apologized to him for not reaching out earlier, which I probably should have done to a number of individuals but just did not do it. I think he got to know me a little bit better. I got to know him better, and I was able to talk to him.”
And what did the AD think of Tarkenton’s remarks? “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion,” McGarity said. “It’s disappointing that it would come from one of your own. And basically, that’s about all I care to say about that.”
Which is a heck of a lot more diplomatic way of responding to criticism from a former player than the way Urban Meyer handled it at McGarity’s former employer when critical comments from former QB Shane Matthews prompted him to issue his infamous statement: “I’m also going to talk about loyalty with our former athletes. Some are welcome, some aren’t. …We want former Gators to come back, but loyalty’s a two-way street. If you want to be critical of a player on our team or a coach on our team you can buy a ticket for seat 37F, you’re not welcome back in the football office.”
SPEAKING OF BUYING TICKETS …
Despite the declining fortunes of Richt’s Dogs on the field the past couple of seasons, UGA was one of only 18 FBS schools to sell out all their home football games this season. What do you think are the chances that string will continue in 2011 if Richt doesn’t turn it around quickly?
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355 comments Add your comment
Camden Mark
January 16th, 2011
8:14 pm
Nice to see one one of the old Dawg greats speak up.When your right your rjght and Fran was and is right on target, the game has past our coach Richt in a cloud of dust. Our proud FB program has become a joke and the buck stops with the coach,Richt, as it should (does).
Toomer's Corner
January 16th, 2011
8:29 pm
Erk Russell was also a War Eagle..
nmdawg
January 16th, 2011
8:47 pm
Who cares what Tarkenton has to say…he is looking for any publicity he can get. When Michael Irvin says stuff, I ignore him as well. He (actually, both) ae blow hards and always have been. Winninga football game does not make you smart or worthy.
1962 Dawg
January 16th, 2011
9:04 pm
For those of you who thin Fran has been absent for 30 years.
He was one of the Talking Heads at the Nokia Sugar Bowl when we played Hiawai a few years back. He was on before the game and at halftime.
Fran has a right as an alum to speak his piece. Maybe he spoke his piece as motivation, for CMR.
As far as coaching goes, we’ll get better. Every team suffers through a few bad seasons, Look at Michigan, West Virginia, Texas, This was the 1st of 9 tries for Ohio St. to win against an SEC team this season, and if Arkansas picks that blocked punt up instead of falling on it Ohio St. still goes winless against the SEC.
Miami, is another team that people hated to play, now everybody wants on their schedule.
How many seasons did Florida St. suffer after CMR left that program??
We as Bulldawg fans were spoiled during the Walker years and until we get that special player or two, we’ll be middle of the pack as Fran said in his piece.
If Fran wasn’t still a dedicated Dawg fan he wouldn’t have said what he did, it wouldn’t have mattered to him.
Since some of you on here are questioning alliegience to your school, when was the last time you heard Pat Dye yell, Go DAWGS???
junkyarddawg
January 16th, 2011
10:32 pm
VD can cheer for baby boy and his alma mater and still be a DAWG. Coach will always be a DAWG! Coach has been nothing but class even after Adams treated him like crap. On the other hand where have you been all these years, Fran? If you are “true to your school” you would have contracted McGarity directly, or better yet called CMR personally to shaore your opinion.
All you folks need to wake up and realize that all the problems at The University reside in the president’s office. Time for MA to go! Vince would make a GREAT president, if he were willing to come out of retirement.
RED DOG 77
January 17th, 2011
12:40 am
1962 Dawg……..I believe in the US Constitution, thus agree Fran Tarkenton has a right to say just about anything he pleases, however I know the man personally, have done business with him, have visited his home on Habersham rd………One thing is without a doubt to me…….He spoke-up for attention [for himself], and additionally, the man is about the biggest jackass I’ve ever met in my life. I am sure if you do your research, you will come to the same facts……….Sincerily RED
RED DOG 77
January 17th, 2011
12:43 am
BoWeevil……………Why on earth did you change your name from “BuLLdawg” to “BoWeevil” ?
7576DAWG
January 17th, 2011
3:38 am
In everything that has happened to our team this year I can forgive everything because we were actually in every game until the end and that was with the worst offensive line in many , many years.
After saying that the one thing that is unforgivable is the bowl lose to UCF. Every time I think that we didn’t even score a touchdown and only made two field goals with one of the best kickers in college ball on the team , it just about make me sick to think that our COACHES ESPECIALLY and our players didn’t have anymore pride to being a BULLDAWG than that. All of you who support Bobo after that pitiful excuse of a football game don’t have the passion and pride that I do being a DAWG and even if we win 10 games next year it will not make Bobo qualified to be a coordinator. If we win 10 or more games it will come from a great effort from the defense.
jerry
January 17th, 2011
7:00 am
Richt had so many administrative duties because his AD was only interested in wh0re hopping and getting drunk.
WBDawg
January 17th, 2011
7:51 am
BoWeevil , On the UVA-UGA thing! UGA was the 1st state chartered land grant institution in our country. I think UNC actually held classes before UGA, but UGA was chartered 1st! This thought that states need to educate their students was laid down here! Mr. Jefferson’s gets all this attention for being a leading institution, but they only admitted women first in 1972! Not a leader by any stretch of the imagination!!!!!!!!
legionaire
January 17th, 2011
8:41 am
Coach Dooley’s record stands on it’s own. I can understand him wanting the turkey buzzards to do well. I don’t understand his mind numbed son who should know better that to go to the cesspool at Knoxville. I have kept up with sports for 50 years and don’t recall Tarkenton ever being out there at a Bulldog Club meeting or giving an interview on his opinions about the UGA program. Tarkenton was a standout player but I just don’t put much stock in his opinion now.
AltamahaDawg
January 17th, 2011
9:18 am
Red, haven’t you ever heard the legend of the Boweevil? The yellowjacket who turned himself into a crawling ground dwelling pest with his own venom? It’s a fascinating tale of despair and loneliness.
Gary
January 17th, 2011
9:29 am
Tarkenton played 18 seasons in the NFL, had some of the greatest defenses in NFL history. Never won a single Super Bowl, couldn’t play well under pressure.
Never won a National Championship in college.
Tarkenton also predicted Favre would flop in Minn 2 years ago (wrong–Favre had his best year).
Tarkenton is on record going against Jay Cutler so many times it’s unreal. Wrong again.
dooley
January 17th, 2011
9:35 am
can purchase a ticket for 37F, or walk the sidelines on the plains. His choice
Dawg Fud
January 17th, 2011
9:41 am
If I worked in the Auburn Athletic Department and Georgia won the National Championship…I would definitely be screaming GO DAWGS.
That’s the beauty of college athletics. Your four year school will always be your “home.” That’s why they call it Homecoming.
GO DAWGS!
dawgfacedboy
January 17th, 2011
9:53 am
I agree with Tarkenton 100%. Next year is not going to be any better and 3 down years is not a “rebuilding year”. UGA has only been in the mix for the East 1 time in the last 6 seasons. Seriously people we owe it to Richt because we’ve been relevant 1 time in the last 6 seasons????
Gary
January 17th, 2011
9:56 am
Every time I see Jay Cutler win another game in the playoffs, it reminds me of how dumb some of Tarkenton’s comments are and how inaccurate he is, in his predictions, almost as inaccurate as he was as a QB.
FRED
January 17th, 2011
10:02 am
you people act like politicians the only way we are going to fix this mess we are in is buy former stars talking out on CMR
gomdawg
January 17th, 2011
10:06 am
Tarkenton was Great for Georgia in his days, but all of a sudden his come out of the blue and down grades our coach and program . Mr. Tark if you can’t come in and do something good for our team when is the last time you gave a talk to the team ummmmmmmmm?????. So you dont have the right do down grade our coaches and team. bye bye
Johnny Cash
January 17th, 2011
10:09 am
My momma could have named me Tom, John, Frank
but I would never name my son Francis.
ugaalumn81
January 17th, 2011
10:15 am
Vince Dooley has earned the right to say whatever he wants about UGA. Yes, his diploma says Auburn, but those who know him know his love for UGA and his dissatisfaction with the state of the football program. Plus, after the way Adams treated him, give him some slack. And for those who bash Tarkenton, he still loves UGA also- remember he grew up in Athens. And if you are a true fan, you call it like you see it and don’t be a blind homer. There are serious problems up there, and no one seems to want to make the hard choices to fix it. Next year will likely be more of the same. I hate to say that, but I hold no hope for substantive, lasting improvement. I sure hope I’m worng.
Gary
January 17th, 2011
10:21 am
Tarkenton threw 32 interceptions in 1978, most selfish QB to ever play.
uga alum 1922
January 17th, 2011
10:23 am
Hello Sunny,
Those doggies will rebound just fine. Critics based Richt in 2006, turned out fine next season, finished #2 in 2007.
Easy to pile on, easy to criticize, easy to go negative.
J Dog
January 17th, 2011
10:27 am
Richt will find out who his true friends are in the off-season. A lot of critics and negative oriented people like Fran Tarkenton, will live to eat their words.
next time Tarkenton needs to show some class, go to McGarity or Mark Richt directly instead of ripping them publicly.
Would he do this to his friends or family? Is this the way he deals with adversity–downing people in public?
barneyb
January 17th, 2011
10:27 am
I do have some degree of sympathy for Mark Richt because he didn’t have the support he needed from the previous AD. Thos of us in Athens who work for local government were well aware of some incidents involving the AD around town. It was not exactly a well-kept secret. So due to the AD’s focus on matters other than his JOB, Richt was left to do some stuff that a supportive and competent AD would have been able and willing to handle. No question the previous AD was chosen for one reason and one reason only.
That said, it does not absolve Richt of the poor staffing and play calling decisions he has made over the years. 2 successful seasons does not make for a satisfactory body of work. I keep harping on the fact that if you look beneath the overall W-L record and look at stats vs. SEC and ranked opponents, it is absolutely abismal. At no other school would the HC be given this much latitude. His stubborn refusal to make the hard choices with the friends he appointed to coaching positions, conservative play calling (or permitting Bob to do so), and deplorable clock management speaks volumes of a wonderful man who has not been a coach able to compete in the top tier SEC. Sorry, think about it. I am a grad, lifelong fan, and season ticket holder until 2008. It hurts me to say these things. I hope they get it turned around, but so far, no decisions made to date will likely do the trick. Nothing short of blowing up the program will do it at this point. It’s pretty rotten up there right now. I wish Mark richt well and hope for his turnaround. But I’m a realist. Remember what Einstein said about insanity.
J Dog
January 17th, 2011
10:32 am
Somebody like a Fran Tarkenton, who turned out a team that had been loyal to him his whole career, the Vikes, and become a NY Giant, he doesn’t understand a guy like Mark Richt who is LOYAL to his team, his coaches. He sticks by them in the worst of times until the admin practically forces him to fire somebody.
if Richt’s biggest fault is his loyalty, that’s pretty awesome.
Joey
January 17th, 2011
10:34 am
I was impressed by how Richt started out 1-4, then turned the team around and went 5-2 to finish out the regular season. His turnaround skills are amazing. Did it again in 2002. Did it again in 2007. Richt is the man.
1eyedJack
January 17th, 2011
10:34 am
Einstein never coached in the SEC.
elliemae
January 17th, 2011
10:37 am
Long Time DAWG Lover….AMEN!!!!
You hit it squarely on the head! Thank you for preaching the truth! The trian wreck will continue in 2011, sad to say. Why doesn’t Don Leeburn and his rich Regents and other buddies get together, pass the hat, and come up with the cash to buy out the present coaching staff?
Rick
January 17th, 2011
10:38 am
Hey Tarkenton, sow negavity on others, reap it. Easy to throw stones.
Bart
January 17th, 2011
10:40 am
I always believed you could read a person’s character when things don’t go their way. If that’s true for Fran Tarkenton, if this is the way he responds when his beloved football team loses 4 close games by a touchdown or less, then it says a lot about his character.
Bart
January 17th, 2011
10:42 am
Sometimes small changes make all the difference. Percy Harvin did for Florida, Mt. Cody for Bama, Lattimor for South Carolina, Newton for Auburn. Sometimes wholesales change is not the answer. Especially when your coach averages 9.6 wins a season at Georgia.
1eyedJack
January 17th, 2011
10:42 am
You can tell a lot about a man’s character from the adjectives he uses.
Barack Dawg
January 17th, 2011
10:49 am
Opinions are like ass holes – everyone has one and they all stink but yours.
Larry
January 17th, 2011
10:51 am
Georgia is a sinking ship.
Dirty Dawg
January 17th, 2011
11:07 am
Hey JB, if you’re so upset about the ‘down-turn’ in your ‘investment portfolio’ that is the University of Georgia, then why don’t you just cash in and move on? I mean if you ever wanted that investment to ‘turn around’ the last thing you should be doing is openly criticizing the company, aka, program. Criticism like that just sours the ‘market’ and limits the chances that quality employees, and/or other investors will be inclined to join up. In other words JB your continuous harping on Richt doesn’t help a damn bit.
And as for ‘who cares’…who cares what in hell you think. You do need to appreciate the fact that your guy, Francis, ain’t no Dawg – he long ago expressed disdain for the spelling, and he absolutely refuses to ever engage in a ‘wuf, wuf, wuf, wuf’. Not that that should be a measure, but the fact that he may be the biggest JERK that ever made a name for himself in the game – and I doubt if there’s ever been a bigger one that graduated from Georgia in public life – Leeburn maybe – than Tarkenton.
As for Dooley, his presence, along with guy that brought him to us – another Auburn man, Joel Eaves – saved our program and gave us a ration of ‘class’ at a time when we had squandered anything good that Georgia had ever stood for athletically…something for which I, and every ‘real’ Bulldog, shall forever be grateful…and if he wants to ‘celebrate’ his alma-mater’s Championship with a little War Eagle, then so be it. Just so long as he’s ready to denounce their BOTs and the pay-for-play program when the truth finally ‘outs’.
chazzo
January 17th, 2011
11:13 am
The Dawgs will clearly do better next year. If they get a consistent running game going, they stand a chance of winning the East. Other than that the O is fine. Receivers will step up. Murray will be a little more seasoned.
The biggest question mark overall is linebackers.
Soulja Boy
January 17th, 2011
11:23 am
Certainly Richt has spent a great deal of time getting bail money for his problem children and fretting over what to do with habitual offenders.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 17th, 2011
11:34 am
I think tickets to a UGA game will be a lot easier to get this year , I might get to go to a game with my family for the atmosphere only . it surely won’t be for the product on the field.but as always
GO DAWGS ! in the right direction please
bobby
January 17th, 2011
11:34 am
look uga is not that far away all they know is a great offseason in the weight room and they will be all right their problem was that they bhad poor strength and conditioning and they have changed that. there is talented on the footblall team and fran leave coach alone.
BullDogMike
January 17th, 2011
12:01 pm
As a season ticket holder for many years now, I feel the pain. The program looks to have hit a roadblock that it can’t detour around. But my main problem with all the written and on-air smack down of CMR and the football program itself, is hurting recruiting much more than people realize. And folks, I hope you don’t need to be reminded that recruiting is 80 % . Even the best coaches in the land need the best players. Especially in the SEC.
Dawg Tired
January 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
Chazzo – Obviously as life-long Dawg fan, I certainly hope you are right. My questions are: (1) what makes you think our OL can be any good: and, (2) who do you see among our receivers who is good enough to replace Green and Durham? It seems reasonably obvious that Marlon Brown can’t play at this level. That leaves T. King, who has shown moments of good play. Who else is there? Wooten seems an unlikely candidate – too small. O. Charles is a very good receiver for a tight end, but can’t stretch the field enough to prevent T. King from being double teamed. Finally, I’m worried that Murray can make it through two seasons in a row without getting hurt because of our inability to pass protect. We only had one TB would even tried to block in pass protection (C. King) and he’s probably off the team because of serious character flaws and grades. I have not been impressed with Searles as an OL coach at all, so improvement in the OL deems unlikely.
I still hope you’re right, but you know the saying about hoping in one hand….
Mike
January 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
Georgia returns a LOT of starters.
Don't knock Mrk Richt!
January 17th, 2011
2:38 pm
Fran (nor Ollie either) should criticize MR for wanting to have more time to study football. Getting new teeth and hair transplants, and scheduling frequent tanning sessions to get pretty for his Ford TV commercials leave little time for study. Heck, it takes a lot of time to do all the different takes to get the make-up, lighting and angles just right on those commercials! Gotta look good for those co-eds, doncha know?
Irish dawg
January 17th, 2011
2:48 pm
GEORGIA WILL HAVE A BETTER RECORD THAN AUBURN IN 2011. GEORGIA WILL BEAT AUBURN FOR THE 5TH TIME IN 6 YEARS .
AltamahaDawg
January 17th, 2011
3:04 pm
dogface, what specifically do you 100% agree with Tarkenton about?
Jackson
January 17th, 2011
3:43 pm
The margin for error and victory is ever so small in D-I football. Did we play poorly in games? You bet. Were there games there for us to win, should have won, but didn’t — yep. Colorado, Florida and Miss St come to mind. Were there games we should have lost and did… yep SC, ARK, AU … having said all that, our fortunes come down to looking at what we take from this season… Bill touched on these earlier in a blog.
1. Defensive penalties are way down.
2. Turnover margin was vastly improved.
3. We found a QB not a gun slinger… something we have not had since DJ. And for all of your Murray supporters, Mettenberg looked like the starter out of the spring game so I don’t want to hear it.
4. We can not run the ball consistently. Our per carry avg may look good, but we do not run the ball well on 1st and 2nd consistently.
5. Our short passing game is horrendous.
6. Our D strategy is designed for the pro game. The 3-4 is great if you can make stops on 1st and 2nd down.
Having said that, there are clearly some fundamentals of a consistent successful program that are not there right now. Anyone who disagrees with that is not really looking at the whole. I am a Richt supporter, but I can not disagree with Fran’s comments. I feel the same way with a lot of the statements. Having said that, I am not sure what things Richt has on his plate on a given day. Hopefully, he will have more time to spend on coaching and prepping and evaluating. Although, you have to wonder what all of that means in the end….
I believe we will have a better feeling after signing day and after spring practice. Therefore, I am not going to speculate on next year until I see a little more of what is to come.
Fran is a Fraud
January 17th, 2011
4:20 pm
Does anyone remember some of Fran’s past business dealings? Who is he to criticize anyone?
AltamahaDawg
January 17th, 2011
4:22 pm
The problem with Fran’s statement about what Richt “said” is that he didn’t dispute that a HC could get too much admin crap on thier plate. He didn’t claim that he knows all the dynamics of what Evans-VS-McGarity differences might be. He certainly didn’t conceeed that whatever it is….having less of it is a positve move. IN short he really didn’t say anything of substance about the topic.
What he said was that he didnt like the way Richt said it.
Does anybody actually believe for one second that no coach in the history of football has had more administrative duties on him than he would care to have and can always spend 100% of his time on just the football???? That seems to be what Fran was infering, because he’s never “heard” anyone say anything to the contrary.
Fran is a Fraud
January 17th, 2011
4:28 pm
AltamahaDawg, you apparently did not hear the original airing on 680 the fan. Fran blasted Richt like Richt owed him money.