Mark Richt is losing his patience … and that’s a good thing
Mark Richt gets a little thin-skinned sometimes when his strategy is questioned. (Associated Press)
In general, Georgia Bulldogs fans like it when “Evil” Richt, the guy who sent the team onto the field to draw a celebration penalty in Jacksonville in 2007, rears his head.
So when Mark Richt clashed verbally Thursday night at the Macon Bulldog club gathering with a fan upset about the Dogs’ lack of offensive success, several observers were quick to declare “Evil” Richt is back.
Actually, I’d say this was closer to “Prickly” Richt, the thin-skinned guy who has gotten his back up a few times in the past when a reporter or fan has questioned his strategy (usually something to do with offense, Richt’s longtime domain). You know, the guy who essentially said that unless you have been “in the arena” you don’t have any business questioning those who are “brave enough” because you’ve “never been in there.”
What happened Thursday was a fan pressed Richt during the question-and-answer session in Macon about Georgia’s running game (or the lack thereof), play-calling and, in particular, running backs coach Bryan McClendon.
“Prickly” Richt immediately stepped to the fore, dishing up a sarcastic response that the fan was “certainly close to an expert in football, I’m sure you are.”
He went on to note that championships have been won by running teams and passing teams alike. Then, as reported by the Macon Telegraph, came the money quote that has been racing about the Internet: “I see your frustration, I understand your frustration,” Richt said. “I wasn’t born yesterday, I’ve coached football for 25 years, so I know what the hell I’m doing, OK?”
The head coach also defended McClendon, saying he’s “a hell of a coach, he’s a hell of a recruiter. And I’m glad we got Bryan McClendon.”
Later, after “Prickly” Richt had ceded the spotlight to the usually calm, collected Richt, the coach apologized for not saying “heck.”
So much for Richt’s declaration early on this Bulldog Club tour that “I don’t feel any pressure. None at all.”
Besides the fact that his trek on the booster club circuit does seem to be getting to Richt a bit, what else should we take of the reappearance of “Prickly” Richt?
Hopefully, it means he hasn’t just lost patience with obstreperous fans who question his strategy, but also with the mediocre efforts he’s gotten from his players much of the past couple of seasons.
There have definitely been signs that’s the case, mainly in his recent comments about Washaun Ealey and the tailback position.
Richt touched on that talking with the Telegraph and once again indicated the job of starting tailback is Isaiah Crowell’s for the taking. Of the backs already at UGA, Richt said: “All those guys have had ample time in my opinion to take a hold of it. No one has. That’s been the most disappointing [thing for] me probably the last couple seasons is that, that position didn’t get solidified by somebody there who was capable.”
The coach couldn’t be any clearer than this: “The bottom line is we don’t have a tailback right now who deserves to start, in my opinion. We don’t have a guy that’s proven that he can do all the things we’re going to ask that guy to do. There’s nobody that will stand up and say, ‘This is my job, I’m taking it and I’m keeping it.’”
You know, I could really get to like this “Prickly” Richt guy.
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150 comments Add your comment
Me
April 29th, 2011
12:58 pm
Caleb Queen is a cancer.
GOLDNWHITEFORLIFE
April 29th, 2011
12:59 pm
Never knew he had it in him. Never been a UGA fan or ever will, but always respected Mark Richt.
Dawg 39
April 29th, 2011
1:00 pm
I still believe Coach Richt knows what he is doing & He knows that McClendon & Bobo are extremely good coaches who know what the hell they are doing (Unike a lot of the commentors who haunt these Blogs).
Buckeye
April 29th, 2011
1:06 pm
Can’t wait til he jumps in the stands and pulls an Artest. That’s be really good the dawgs.
Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
1:07 pm
I agree Coach Richt knows what he is doing. But making fun of a fan asking a question is uncalled for and unproductive.
Richt owes this guy a public apology.
dawgdmd
April 29th, 2011
1:10 pm
I was there sitting right behind the person with the question. It was tense but in a humorous way. After Coach was done, he and the questioner embraced and chatted for a while all smiles. Coach reminded us that Knowshon was “pretty good right” and repeatedly expressed his frustration with the running game. One person asked him what he thought the position of most concern is and after thinking, Coach responded tailback.
How bout them dawgs
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
1:11 pm
Agreed, Devil’s Advocate.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
1:12 pm
If it were a reporter, I’d be all for it.
But to treat a paying fan like that is completely out of line.
Rooster
April 29th, 2011
1:14 pm
Richt will be gone after the loss to South Carolina this year. If our leading rusher leaves, our whole year will stink. All fault lies with Richt.
59bulldawg
April 29th, 2011
1:19 pm
I think it’s good for Richt to feel some pressure. Kudos to the fan for asking the question. I can only hope that Richt hears more before his tour is finished. Even though I have criticized coach in the past I would much prefer that he continue in his position than hire a new one. But he’s gonna have to get it done this season if he wants to coach in Athens in 2012. For what it’s worth I do feel optimistic about this season. With our talent I think 8 wins are there for the taking . . . possibly 9. Solid coaching could get us 1-2 more. Whether that will be enough for McGarity, I don’t know. But I do know too much comfort and/or familiarity can be dangerous. So I don’t have problem with fans asking uncomfortable questions or making uncomfortable comments . . . as long as they are fair and relevant If it ticks Richt off, he should know winning will quickly cure it.
Mark (another one)
April 29th, 2011
1:21 pm
I am tired of reading Ealey’s great stats. If Ealey wants to play he has to do the entire job. That’s leadership at practice, attending all required classes and functions, and going full speed on all plays. I don’t know if its lack of focus or skill (I believe focus) but there have been too many times when he misses the block on a blitz pickup or isn’t ready on a hot read, and the play is blown. He is a heck of a runner, but the maturity is not there. His dream is the NFL, but everyone in the NFL has to read defenses and block.
Richt has expressed his disappointment and says the tailback position is wide open. Ealey has just a good a chance as anyone to step up and take it. It isn’t a skills issue. Its a commitment issue. I hope he takes it, and Richt would like nothing better. At the end of the day it is up to Ealey to get the job done.
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
1:22 pm
Rooster
What did I tell you yesterday?
Alabama Jack
April 29th, 2011
1:26 pm
Still the least of the east…..
DawginLex
April 29th, 2011
1:27 pm
Alabama 4th place in the SEC West with all that talent?
What is the problem over there?
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
1:28 pm
timbo
Devils Advocate
HE DID APOLOGIZE TO THE FAN.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
1:33 pm
Not going to post everything I put on Tucker’s post, but basically Richt needs to make it public.
DawginLex (whom I trust) informed me the fan in question was being a real jackass and Richt’s frustration was warranted.
I am not perfect, so I understand Richt losing his cool.
BUT, he still needs to issue a public apology. This looks bad to fans and recruits.
Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
1:34 pm
DawgMD
I hope you’re right about everyone being smiles and chatting aftewards. To my reading of the article, though, Richt came across petty and shrill.
News folks do sometimes make things look different than they really are, without meaning to I’m sure.
To me, a state university football coach being publically sarcastic to a supporter is pointless and unproductive.
His building a fire under the rear end of a talented but underperforming player is something else altogether.
No more of the former, please, but more of the latter.
Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
1:38 pm
Athens=God’s Country.
First, your name is truth! I love Athens!
I’m glad to hear Richt’s apologized to the fan, although I didn’t pick-up on it in the news.
Jumping on fans just isn’t the same as jumping on players.
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
1:41 pm
Richt doesn’t need to apologize. Its the jackasses that love your coach when they’re up and hate em when they’re down that should apologize. Should Richt also apologize for two SEC Championships? Or maybe the 96 wins the past decade? This redneck in Macon got exactly what he deserved.
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
1:44 pm
Of course the AJC won’t print that! They love the hits a negatively slanted story will bring. Just wait til Schultz does his take.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
1:46 pm
“Athens= God’s Country,”
Have some class. Treating someone like dirt is not acceptable, no matter what you have accomplished. Sarcastically responding to someone’s legitimate concerns in an effort to humiliate them is NOT acceptable, no matter who you are. Especially when that person essentially pays your salary.
trupert
April 29th, 2011
1:48 pm
Timbodog, which team do you really support, is it the one that is on probation or is it the one that’s about to be on probation?
Saban
April 29th, 2011
1:50 pm
Richt losing his patience? Say it ain`t so Joe.
What color is his purse. Bulldawg pink?
DawginLex
April 29th, 2011
1:51 pm
trupert,
Y’all layoff timbo. he is all DAWG. Just a young’n
dawgdmd
April 29th, 2011
1:52 pm
Enter your comments here
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
1:53 pm
I respectfully disagree Timbo. Multiple people that were there admitted the “fan” was being a complete jerk. Richt has been to 5 other cities on this tour and nothing like this has happened. Do you really think this was the first time our running game was brought to Richt’s attention? Bottom line is this guy was a jerk, and if you ask me, Richt was alot cooler than me or you would have been. Richt even talked to the guy afterwards and they were shaking hands.
Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
1:54 pm
Again, I say, jumpiing on a fan is pointless and unproductive. Even if the fan is an obnoxious redneck spewing idiocy.
As Timbodog (I think) pointed out, you’re expected to be politie, even to obnoxious rednecks, when you’re a teenager paid minimum wage working at a grocery store (in my case, it was a department store).
Even more is expected of you when you represent a great state’s flagship university more universally than does its president.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
1:54 pm
Thank you, DawginLex.
trupert,
Exactly what have I done to call my loyalty into question? I’ve made it no secret I’m not happy with what Richt has done (or not done) as head coach, but that’s because I think we can accomplish so much more here.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
1:56 pm
Again, if Richt did apologize, then I wish it would have been printed. As it is, they did not print it.
Richt’s PR people need to make sure they PRINT IT. Get it out there somehow.
I’m just saying it looks bad, that’s all. My thoughts on this have nothing to do with how I feel about Richt.
Like I have said time and time again, I feel very strongly about Richt as a man.
It is Richt the coach that I do not support.
DawginLex
April 29th, 2011
2:00 pm
timbo, for the apology to get printed, the fan would have to agree to an interview since the apology was not part of the speech
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
2:04 pm
Its the AJC. They thrive on negative Richt stories. Just remember that there are three sides to every story and AJC will not tell you anything positive from that Bulldog Club meeting. Did they? No.
So who do you support Timbo? I thought you were a Dawg.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
2:11 pm
Of course I’m a Bulldog fan…pretty silly and counter-productive to suggest otherwise.
I would hope that, even if nowhere else, the UGA BLOG PAGE would report the whole story if the apology did in fact occur.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
2:12 pm
But I guess that’s too much to ask.
How bout it, Bill?
Are you holding out on us?
NoDawginLex
April 29th, 2011
2:16 pm
The biggest change that Saint Mark needs to make is to stop recruiting the low-class illiterates and thugs who he seems to think will win for him and keep his oversized paychecks coming in. People like Marcus Dowtin, A.J. Green, Washaun Ealey, Caleb King, and others too numerous to mention are not team players, they’re thug wannabes who are much closer to a gang than a team.
It’s sickening to see felons and goons like these representing the state’s flagship university.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
2:17 pm
Because people keep questioning my loyalty, let me state it very clearly:
I am a UGA fan. I did not attend UGA, but instead another state school.
I think Richt is a good and decent man (which, sadly, is rare in college football), but I don’t think he is a great football coach. My biggest problem with him is he has no single strength which separates him from the pack.
I would be fine with keeping Richt if he would be willing to hire high-quality assistants, but he has been either unwilling or unable to do so for much of his career, particularly on offense.
Grantham might be a good hire, and I don’t think all of the top guys turning us down was Richt’s fault.
But we HAVE to get a better OC than Bobo…yesterday.
If not, Richt’s gotta go.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
2:17 pm
“NoDawginLex,”
Shut up.
DawginLex
April 29th, 2011
2:17 pm
LOOK EVERYONE, I HAVE A STALKER!!!!
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
2:18 pm
It is my understanding that Mark Richt will be coaching the Bulldogs in 2011. Its counter-productive to not support him. Did you support him in 2002, 2005, and 2007? Think about it. Bad seasons happen. Good coaches, however, don’t grow on trees. If you really want to look at the past two seasons, look who was running the ball. The two cancers (3 and 4). Now is the time to give 100% support. Good things are happening in Athens.
Timbodog
April 29th, 2011
2:23 pm
You’ve finally hit it big, DawginLex!
The Reaper
April 29th, 2011
2:24 pm
That’s his damn problem. He always wants to defend his inept coaching staff instead of making them do their jobs. Hell, it shows on the field. Prove us wrong and win a NC and all the doubters will shut up until then, expect a lot of criticism.
Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
2:25 pm
No Dawg,
Thug U was UM when it was winning NC’s. Georgia cannot now hold a candle to UM and has never held a candle to UM in its heyday when it comes to enrolling felons and goons.
Athens= God's Country
April 29th, 2011
2:26 pm
Have a good weekend everyone. Goooo Dawgs!
Blogger Formerly Known As Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
2:43 pm
Whoever this other Devil’s Advocate is, it ain’t me! I’ve taken up a new name (until someone takes this one too).
Anywho, Richt doesn’t owe that fan an apology. The fan stepped up and asked a know it all question and got served! Seriously, do people think that Richt wants the RBs to fail? Stuff happens. This isn’t the first time we’ve had highly touted RBs not get it done (Sanks anyone?). Hopefully we’ve hit on Crowell.
Blogger Formerly Known As Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
2:45 pm
NoDawginLex,
Is AJ Green a thug because he left early or because he missed 4 games for selling his jersey? Or is it because of obvious undertones and you just don’t like him?
Dawg Gone
April 29th, 2011
2:49 pm
The Reaper if CMR won 3 back to back NC’s he would still have “experts” 2nd guessing him and his staff…Oh yeah and loudly proclaiming their loyalty as Dogs…it’s called the lunatic fringe. Frankly I hope he calls those folks out…they have no right to be a jackazz just because they are fans.
.
Cynical Dawg
April 29th, 2011
2:52 pm
I’m not convinced that CMR get’s it. He keeps going around in circles. Getting beat by West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl is one example. Our passive team had to wake up after quickly falling behind by 28 points. Everyone in the dome knew WVU was going to fake the punt accept our coach’s who for years have been committed to fall back and not put pressure on the kicker. After this loss CMR said he would let Bobo take over the offensive play calling so he could be free to manage the team with a clear head. He also said he would be able to get more emotionally involed. He said he could not that and call plays. Now he’s telling us he’s going back to studing game film.
Dawg Gone
April 29th, 2011
2:54 pm
Cynical Dawg = Troll…..new name same trollish message..
Devil's Advocate
April 29th, 2011
3:02 pm
BFKADA
Sorry for stealing your former name.
I hereby relinquish it back to you.
savannadawg
April 29th, 2011
3:10 pm
It’s good to get out of your comfort zone every once in a while. I’ve been going over our opponents’ rosters the past few weeks. I can assure everyone that this year is not going to be easy. It’s great that we’ve got these studs coming in BUT we’ve needed studs like these guys from day one. I sure hope CMR knows there is no tomorrow. And the meaning behind that is, Everyone does realize we cannot lose another O Lineman period.
Dirty Dawg
April 29th, 2011
3:11 pm
Come on Keith Marshal!! Backfield looks great for ya in 2012.