Richt knows: It’s what have I done for you lately
Mark Richt knows winning solves all your problems. (Associated Press)
There weren’t a lot of surprises that came out of UGA’s turn in the spotlight at SEC Media Days. We heard that Mark Richt wasn’t too thrilled with his running backs last season, but we already knew that. He also indicated that some of the players who have “gotten off the bus,” as he put it, “got a little bit of help” in making that decision. But we pretty much already had that idea, too.
Richt said he isn’t looking for a freshman like Isaiah Crowell “to come and carry our program,” but that there’s no question “we will need help from our freshman class to become a championship team, I don’t have any doubt about that.”
Richt also let us know that, like everyone else who watched a Georgia game last year, he recognizes what has to happen in the second year of Todd Grantham’s defense to keep from repeating last year: “If we can get off the field when we get them in the third-and-long, we’re going to be a whole lot better team.”
We heard a very encouraging report from Aaron Murray about incoming wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and lots of the usual talk about how everyone’s committed to working hard and doing what it takes to win. But we heard that least year and the year before. And we also heard from Murray that maybe not all of the players last year were that committed, that he’d call a meeting and not everyone would show up. It remains to be seen if this year is really different.
As for all the hot seat talk, Richt handled that like he usually does. Asked about the difficulty of being the coach at an SEC school for more than a decade, he summed the situation up beautifully when he said, “It’s not difficult if you win nine, 10, 11 a year, win the Eastern Division every other year, win the SEC every three or four years. It’s not a problem at all. It’s when you get 6-7, that’s when it’s a problem.”
But, he added, “greater days are coming. The best is yet to come.”
Doesn’t sound like a guy who’s feeling the heat.
Let’s hope that a year from now we’re not remembering that with irony.
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135 comments Add your comment
slydog
July 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
Rich Rodriguez was out of place at Michigan and you know it. Also, what was wrong with the offense at Michigan? Nothing. Wasn’t Rich Rodriguez a candidate for the Alabama job and turned it down a year before he took the Michigan job? Didn’t his 2005 WVU team spank UGA? I have been patient long enough. CMR needs to beat Florida this year. CMR needs to at least play for the SEC Championship this year. Anything less is Fool’s Gold. Nothing about that makes me a moron. Only morons stay in burning buildings
dawg4life
July 22nd, 2011
10:43 pm
Wow, i was born a Ga bulldog, win lose or draw i am a dog. some of you guys are bandwagon drivers and riders. No faith, you keep talking about Kirby smart, i don’t want smart as our coach, that is Sabens defense remember that! Richt will be okay, he had his wake up call, maybe you guys should be GT fans or even worse Bama fans. Bulldogs Vs Bama in the Dome Mark that dome!
GOBIGDOGS
July 22nd, 2011
10:47 pm
Yeah, remember the last time we saw the Ga dome before Richt got there……………….He has a contract, until it is done he should stay period.
If he leaves Ga he will go to Fl State and lead them to the Nat championship, and when he does i will laugh at us!
bandwagon leaving soon……….
Georgia, Best and worst fans in the world.
Dawg 39
July 22nd, 2011
10:51 pm
Richt does know “What the hell he is Doing”. I Do Too. Some of you do not.
IlikeGA
July 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
So, since you guys have the answers why don’t you put in your resumes for the job?
I’m sure you could coach the dogs to a better season just like you coach that mob across that elementary bathroom floor.
Go Dawgs……All the Damn way this time for your coach!
if we are 2-0 then all you bandwagon people will be singing praise and eating crap,
you guys suck, go be a tech fan or a Ga state fan because you never down you team like you do.
for you it is either, WE WON, or THEY LOST……
UGADawg83
July 22nd, 2011
11:04 pm
We obviously have fans who do not deserve the coach that we have.
James K. Polk
July 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
Losers are as losers do. It’s just plain sad. We will never win a title because most of our fans do not demand it…and you say WE are not real fans? Enjoy your Outback Bowl victories, for they are disgusting to me.
James K. Polk
July 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
We just had the best running back, best QB, and best Wide Receiver we will see in 20 years all come through Georgia AT THE SAME TIME…and Richt couldn’t even win our division with them. What in the wide world could give anybody the delusion that we will win the East this year? I just hope we have a viable program left when all of you “real” fans wake up.
Mobile Dawg
July 23rd, 2011
12:02 am
I can see the need for supporting the team, but come on, some of you come off as “complete”, follow the “Pied Piper” and I won’t call you names. I don’t understand, never will, why you aren’t holding Richt accountable for the dismal job he’s done the last Four, or Five years He destroyed the very foundation of UGA football.
Dawg 39
July 23rd, 2011
4:00 am
Check ouy my earlier comment in this post. I go back to Wally Butts (SEC CHAMPS,1959) & was a fan (& season ticket holder)Of both Coach Butts & Coach Dooley.
However, The last 10 yeears (cumalative) were the best 10 year run in the history of the Dawgs.
I was an avid fan even in a lot of lean years.I do hold Richt accountable for the most enjoyable & exciting 10 year run since I became a fan. I firmly believe that Richt is the best Head Coach that the Dawgs have had in my lifetime. I am talking only coaching, the Dawgs, not anything else concerning Coach Richt or his private ? life.
Even if I did not believe that he is the best,, I would still support the players & the coaches. I always have & always will. If a change is made I will continue to support the Team & the New Coaches. Meanwhile I am more than satisfied with the entire coaching staff that the Dawgs have now.
Hit the road, Jack... I mean, Mark
July 23rd, 2011
7:20 am
Boise State 222, Hapless Mangy Mutts, 0
Buh bye, Saint Mark!
Nub
July 23rd, 2011
7:48 am
Nothing less than winning the east will be satisfactory for DawgNation…. Time to take it to the next level…. Please don’t make me start bringing up lack luster games over the last couple of years….. Stop making excuses start winning championships!
tell me again
July 23rd, 2011
7:56 am
It’s hilarious to read some of you “Dawg Fans” posts here….most of you don’t know the difference between an OG and a TB and yet you presume to tell one of the best recruiters in the country and a man who has averaged nearly 10 wins a year in the toughest conference in America how to coach and deal with his players…..you are pathetic and so amusing in your impotent analysis of all things football. I would not trade CMR for any coach in America. He IS the man I want to be the face of Georgia football. A winner and a class act. I have to believe that some of you posters are Tech fans or little boys because it hurts me to think that real UGA fans COULD BE SO STUPID!
Joey
July 23rd, 2011
8:06 am
“He got rooked out of a possible NC bid in 2002 with a one loss team…”
*****************************************
That’s a little revision of history, dmr.
The reason UGA didn’t get into the “Big Game” in ‘02 was Richt couldn’t beat an inferior UF team, coached by an inferior coach. Zook.
We were ranked ahead of OSU before the UF game and by winning out, would have easily been voted in.
Richt didn’t get rooked.
nostrodamus
July 23rd, 2011
8:19 am
I PREDICT UGA WILL LOSE TO FL. AGAIN. OOOO, I WENT OUT ON A LIMB DIDN’T I !!
oledawg
July 23rd, 2011
8:27 am
Herschel Talker = Irrelevant
East Repeat
July 23rd, 2011
8:47 am
Back to page 1 and the comment about Phil Steele’s Mag being the best in college football. They have Washuan starting and King as the back-up. running back (oops!) Also mentions Garcia is suspended at SC, (wrong again) Washaun and caleb are not enrolled at UGA and Garcia is back. Very relevant magazine, no doubt about it, har-har-har!
BirdDog
July 23rd, 2011
9:44 am
If you are truly a UGA fan, then get behind this staff and this team and support your Dawgs! Enough of the complaining about CMR already. He is the HC of this team, period. So get over it.
FastBack
July 23rd, 2011
9:53 am
Nick Saban’s doesn’t go all Joe Positive, everything’s sunny, like Coach Richt does about his backfiled. Here’s a taste of Saban from Macon.com:
“We have difficult games, like everybody in our league does. We lost four guys that were first-round draft picks at critical positions, two explosive players on offense (in Ingram and Jones), a great defensive lineman who affected and dominated the game from his position in Marcell Dareus.
“And having a new quarterback, having two very young, talented players at the position who both have not had the kind of knowledge and experience that you’d like to have at that position.”
Saban and Spurrier don’t wax all sunny like Coach Richt. Maybe that’s the difference.
FastBack
July 23rd, 2011
9:57 am
In USA Today, July 21, 2011, Spurrier on Garcia:
“We’re going to have competition,” Spurrier said. “I guess everyone assumes Stephen is going to be the quarterback if he’s there. But we’ll see.”
Coach Richt won’t have competition with his QB (even though Murray is 0-6 as a starter against winning teams). Coach Richt’s going all Joe Positive.
James K. Polk
July 23rd, 2011
9:59 am
I’m a Georgia fan, not a Mark Richt fan. You all can follow him to North Carolina or Boston College…I’m sure the malls in Atlanta sell hats and shirts with those logos on them. This is not going to end well. You all really cannot see that?
ugab
July 23rd, 2011
10:06 am
OMG! It was so hard to see a team get those 3rd and longs last season. Our defense sucked at times. Our defense played well at times. I hope they are better than last year.
ugab
July 23rd, 2011
10:11 am
Its MRs first losing season in 11 years. He is not going anywhere. Teams are going to have off years. MR has to put his foot down. Who is everyone wanting to get to replace MR? Let’s support our Coach and players. Gooo Dawgs!!!
jesus gave it all....mark richt cant give 4 quarters
July 23rd, 2011
10:16 am
Just more talk from the future missionary.
The faithful just listen, nod their heads in approval and sip the koolaide.
Dwayne
July 23rd, 2011
10:22 am
No QB competition at S. Carolina, Spurrier is full of crap. If Garcia is there, he starts.
I’m a true UGA fan, but that don’t mean I have to drink the kool-aid like most do.
I hate Fl, but the fact is, they beat us last year. Does not matter that it’s 2-8 for Richt, 3-18, the last 21 years, or that Ga. holds all time w-l record. Only last year counts, well, you can even say last year is last year if you want to.
Keep drinking the kool-aid if you want, keep praising the coaching staff and how great Samuel is at running back(who falls down at first contact) all yall want.
Some answers will be clear after the first 2 games.
FastBack
July 23rd, 2011
10:35 am
Aaron Murray won the QB position by default after Mettenberger just crushed him last Spring and then Coach Richt kicked Mettenberger off the team.
Murray’s done nothing to win the leadership yet, he just got it by default.
Until Murray beats a real team, he ain’t the leader.
DAWGMAN
July 23rd, 2011
2:15 pm
Dawg39, sir,
A mind is a terrible thing to lose.
Kool Aid drinkers, y’all,
Let’s promote coach richt to Head of recruiting,
But let’s send a priest, a rabbi, a mullah, a monk
with him.
And, oh yeah, someone who can spot
Heart, Fidelity, and a young man whose Motor Just Won’t Quit.
You cannot get by on talent alone.
These young men are not being coached up.
The coach is at peace with himself.
What’s that, reverend? Why, Yes, thank you.
Sip, sip. This Kool Aid sure is refreshing!
Now what was I writing…..
Can’t remember……snork, snork,…zzzzzzz.
Third and eight, ain’t we great, go dawgs go…zzzzz.
Last time I checked, UGA has ample opportunities outside of SEC Football
for the continued development of a necessary spiritual life.
Here’s the problem: coach ain’t coaching. Perhaps he should put the fear of the coach
into these young Men, and stop going off the reservation to put
the fear of The Lord God Almighty into his players.
Brucerugby79
July 23rd, 2011
8:26 pm
Herscel talker you are a clown—i hope we can keep Mark Richt—you ask any fan of another team-they would take him in a heartbeat
SSIgator
July 23rd, 2011
10:55 pm
Brucerugby79 -
No Thanks
FaithfulDawg86
July 24th, 2011
4:36 pm
JC, how many years have you been coaching college football? And please learn to spell and use proper grammar and punctuation. You’re an embarrassment to UGA.
NewnanDawg
July 25th, 2011
9:30 am
Are you guys all gonna be supporting Richt if he loses to Florida again this year? That will give him losing records against 4 Florida head coaches.
I’m sorry, this isn’t Ole Miss, it’s UGA….and that’s not acceptable.
Eric Tee Pee
July 26th, 2011
12:23 pm
Wow ! The links proved that Richt said he like King & Ealey. So you are wrong about that Bill. UGA loves the walk-ons. Come play at UGA even if you were only an average high school player 4 years ago… We need bodies that aren’t thugs.
Eric Tee Pee
July 26th, 2011
12:25 pm
Poll :
Will UGA have more player arrests than wins this year ?
I’ll say arrests will be 8 and wins will be 5.
UGA Got Tebowed
July 26th, 2011
12:28 pm
We don’t want Richt at UF. We just got your prodigy. Its gonna be sweet when we slaughter ya’ll pups in da swamp ! Remember what happens to dogs when they enter gator infested waters. Dead meat !
Loyal Dawg
July 28th, 2011
8:27 am
Reasons why UGA fans are proud of CMR and want to keep him:
1. Jim Tressel
2. Lane Kiffin
3. GaTech Athletic Dept.
4. Butch Davis
5. Gene Chizik? Les Miles?
Looking forward to kick off. Go Dawgs!