Blame Mark Richt? He’s not the one who’s embarrassing UGA
Even tougher love goes only so far. (Special to the AJC)
Mark Richt is a nice guy. Mark Richt believes in forgiveness. Mark Richt looks for the best in people. Mark Richt coddled Odell Thurman.
All of this is true. None of it explains, at least not fully, why Georgia players keep getting arrested.
Let’s stipulate that Richt was too lenient for too long. But he has toughened since the egregious offseason of 2008, when eight Bulldogs got arrested and stole a goodly part of the luster that should have descended on a team ranked No. 1 in preseason for the first time in school history. He has kicked more guys off the team. He has instituted an automatic one-game suspension for anyone arrested (for the first time) on an alcohol-related charge. Yet here Georgia sits, two summers later, having cut its offseason arrest total by …
One.
Seven Bulldogs have been arrested this calendar year. Three have been dismissed from the squad, including Montez Robinson, who figured to play at linebacker, and Zach Mettenberger, who might have challenged Aaron Murray as Georgia’s starting quarterback. Backup tailback Dontavius Jackson, arrested Saturday on DUI and five other charges, has been suspended for half the 2010 season.
This is no longer the Richt of repeated second chances, but it hasn’t much mattered. Bulldogs are still messing up — even as we note that an arrest isn’t a conviction, we must also face the reality that getting arrested generally isn’t a signal of meritorious behavior — even though they should know their actions can and will have consequences.
No, Georgia isn’t alone in having football players make the wrong kind of headlines. But it has happened so often with these Bulldogs that each incident bears a subtext: It isn’t that a Georgia player has been arrested but that another Georgia player has been arrested. And Richt, as head coach, must bear some responsibility. But responsibility isn’t the same thing as blame.
This man is a football coach, not a prison warden. In the name of discipline, he cannot put his men under dormitory lockdown. If he did, it wouldn’t be discipline. Discipline is about having the freedom to make choices and then choosing wisely. Too many Georgia players continue to be, for want of a better word, unwise. And that’s not on the head coach. That’s on them.
Maybe Richt needs to be more careful about the players he pursues — recruiting risks tend to bite the hand that signs them — but that can be said of every program everywhere. Richt is in business to win games, not to oversee the glee club. He’s going to be in a lot more trouble if Georgia goes 8-5 again than if another 19-year-old gets caught with a beer. But the 19-year-olds have to smarten up.
Loading ...If they can’t grasp that there’s increased scrutiny on this program — especially after the arrest and resignation of Damon Evans — they’re not bright enough to attend an institution of higher learning. If they can’t understand that being a Bulldog is both an honor and a responsibility, they shouldn’t be allowed to wear the red jersey.
Too many college athletes (and not just Georgia athletes) have been so pampered they believe they’re untouchable. Reality check: They’re not. Just because a bunch of folks followed their recruiting and got excited when these blue-chippers put on a certain school’s cap doesn’t mean a player can’t be arrested, can’t be disciplined, can’t be forgotten in the time it takes to say, “You’re off the team.”
Say what you will about Mark Richt, but for more than a decade he has carried himself in a way that has conferred honor on UGA. He is, alas, only one man. He cannot make choices for 85 others. He can try to lead them, teach them, punish them when necessary, but in the end everything comes down to free will.
Too many Bulldogs act as if they’ve been handed a free pass through life. (Reality check: Nobody gets one of those.) Too many Bulldogs need to grow up or go home.
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831 comments Add your comment
RinconDawg
July 13th, 2010
2:00 pm
Enter your comments here
RinconDawg
July 13th, 2010
2:06 pm
All I got to say is that I remember some teams in the 90’s that had a lot of off the field trouble, but still managed to win championships. (cough MIAMI) Hey here’s an idea either put up with these kids making mistakes and win ballgames or run a clean program and lose all the time like Vandy. It seems like our kids have that swagger off the field but cant seem to put it together on the field and win the games they shouldnt win. Which one would you chose?
DawgFan!!!!
July 13th, 2010
2:13 pm
I respect CMR for all he’s given the bulldog nation and the manner in which he leads our team. With that said, if a team is too confident and loses to a big underdog or a big rival, who’s to blame? Sounds like motivation and discipline to me. If the players are getting arrested and not taking crime and punishment seriously, who’s to blame? Again its’s motivation(lack of) and discipline. See the trend here? We lost all the big games we so desperately needed to win the last 2 years and the number of player arrests are piling up…..i bleed red and black and love CMR but if he doesnt remove this, then he himself will be removed…..
I don't think so.
July 13th, 2010
3:45 pm
I don’t think we lost all the big games the last two years. Remember Tech. That was a pretty big win.
Lets Hear It, Bradley
July 13th, 2010
4:00 pm
Bradley:
Would like to read your response to the following blog posted over on
Tony (I’m UGA’s #1 homer and apologist) Barhart’s blog today.
Seems to logically lay the blame squarely at Richt’s feet.
There is a correlation between bad behavior of scholarship athletes and admission standards. For instance, Mike Adams personally admitted Tony Cole to UGA. Cole had been kicked out of a number of schools and there was nothing in his past that indicated UGA would be any different. Even Harrick did not want him. If universities collectively held scholarship athletes to the same admission standards as regular students, most of these criminal events would disappear. I would like to see the academic records of the scholarship thugs that kicked and stomped the off-duty policeman. Richt demonstrates a great disparity in his discipline policy. Danell Ellerbe probably holds the record for separate charges in a single rampage. He was released on $20,000 bond, and Richt suspended him for two games. The better the player, the lighter the punishment. Odell Thurman also got a two-game suspension. Until Adams and Richt clean up their act, expect more of the same, if not worse.
DAWG H8R
July 13th, 2010
4:06 pm
Since this coach ain’t to blame(unlike with Jim Donnan),
let’s blame it on Obama! He’s responsible for spilling oil
in the Gulf. He’s responsible for the National Debt. Let’s
not forget,he also has some association Hitler and the
former Soviet Union!
That’s the ticket, the only coach who isn’t responsible
for the behavior of his team. Maybe, it’s not his fault that
the buttlickers are underwhelming and overhyped. Maybe
getting trounced by the gayters and barely getting by
the GAMECOCKS is acceptable. Maybe he’s a member
of the same ole boy network that will protect him until
the wheels fall off. Jawja,it’s time to pull over.
The wheel are coming off.
DAWG H8R
July 13th, 2010
4:10 pm
How the hell did bitter naacp write that racist crap,
and it wasn’t flagged? Why did my comment not make it?
RED AND BLACK
July 13th, 2010
4:41 pm
this is what I honestly think is going to happen….and again I dont have any knowledge of it. I think it is coming down the pipe. The rules are in place as they are…and if you listen to Crumley the other day…it is going to be BUSINESS as USUAL with very slight changes. Which means when a new AD arrives it will be a changing of the guard in the discipline category. COUNT ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! The reason I suspect this is that Evans made the rules not Richt when it came to athletics. Ill bet dollars to doughnuts his voice will be heard when a new AD arrives.
SecGuy
July 13th, 2010
5:38 pm
Most alcohol related offenses occur in summer and Richt’s policy is to suspend them for 1 game. Georgia, like all SEC teams usually schedules a patsy for the first game, so the suspension isn’t hurting the team. Make the policy 2 or 3 games and the message will get through because important games will be missed as well as the gimmes. The teaching point to make is that such behavior HURTS the team. Then the team will take it upon itself to have more of a self-policing role and use peer pressure to provide additional discipline.
ene th ed Peer pressure will come into play from team mates
SILLY UGA FANS
July 13th, 2010
6:17 pm
These players are pursued by coaches for two to three years and the problem ones should be easy to identify ie background and upbringing. It is not to hard when talking to somebody to see how they carry themselves. If you really want to recruit these guys then you should also make special time to sit with them and make a team captain responsible for them. Not all star athletes walk around with a holier than thou attitude but most do and they are going to expect to be treated a certain way no matter the consequences. You can complain about other schools covering thier problems up or the UGA police being nazis, but then you are just as bad as the players commiting these offenses and saying it’s not your fault it’s society which is why the act the way they do. GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!
Trey
July 13th, 2010
7:46 pm
Does anyone realize that Athens, GA is one of the handful of places in the country where an underage possession of alcohol charge automatically results in an arrest? In places like Tuscaloosa or Gainesville, if someone is issued an MIP, it is a written citation and a “Have a good night, son”. Only in extreme cases (Pubic intoxication, obstruction) will the offender be arrested. I would really like to see how many arrests are made if MIP offenders were issued a citation instead of an arrest.
Criminal Tide
July 13th, 2010
8:29 pm
Hey TL: By “no Alabama football player has been arrested in the last three years” do you mean last year? Or do you mean the year before that? Or the year before that cuz that’s 3 years cuz and I got tired of doing your homework for ya’.
http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=10961162
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080218/NEWS/633384924
http://www.wrdw.com/sports/regionalheadlines/20746434.html
http://www.tidesports.com/article/20070717/NEWS/70716015
Richt Rules
July 13th, 2010
8:40 pm
Richt’s a players coach and likes to do things to “fit in” with the players so they like him. He’s thinking of taking the players swimming more often in the summer practices—that may do it!
Old Dog Fan
July 13th, 2010
10:09 pm
If Richt had control of his players in the first place these types things are “less likely” to happen.
I have a friend of mine whose son played for Nick Saban two season’s ago in Alabama. He starts his practice season off like this-”If you are going to play for me (Saban) you will do what I say, when I say it!!! You will not be out all night, you will not fool around, you will act like you have some sense. The Citizens of the Great State of Alabama are paying your tuition I expect you act like a Champion. If you disobey me or one of my coaches you will be removed from the team-period!!!
WE DON’T GET THIS RICHT-A LOT OF PROBLEMS ARE IN ATHENS-INCLUDING THE HEAD COACH-IT IS EMBARASSING!!!! TIME FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!
chazzo
July 14th, 2010
5:30 am
Interesting point, Trey. It’s probably the only place to where a kid will get popped for “emerging from an alley.”
John
July 14th, 2010
7:34 am
“…My point is this, it seems that people on this blog use the word THUG to describe these YOUNG men as a substitute for what they really want say.”
Amen Dawgman.
THUG is the buzzword used in “polite” society to describe the other team’s black football players or your team’s black football players who don’t meet your expectations. What might those expectations be?
1. Stay out of trouble – remain eligible for games
2. Stay away from white girls
3. Acquit yourself with honor on the field (i.e score a lot of TD’s or knock the crap out of the players on the other team who are trying to score a lot of TD’s)
4. Stay away from white girls.
There are bigger hypocricies in the world then big time college football, but I’m hard-pressed to come up with one at the moment.
Dawgman in Danville
July 14th, 2010
10:33 am
Mark Bradley I agree with your article. CMR can only do so much. The problem that I have…. is where is the leadership? Players have to hold other players accountable. A good team in football is managed by the head coach and is lead by the players. As a die hard Georgia fan I feel that the players need to understand the responsibility they have to all Georgia fans across the nation. It is an honor to wear the red and black and as you mature in the program and become a junior and SENIOR (and not go pro early) it is your responsibility to manage the younger players. Leadership is what builds the success, not talent. We seem to have too many players who focus on self and not the University of Georgia and the rich tradition that runs through every dirt road, every town, and every dedicated fan who dedicates there entire Saturday to cheer on the beloved bulldawgs. It’s time to get it done UGA players. You owe it to each other and the pride of your STATE!!
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The taxman Cometh" Jones, SR
July 14th, 2010
10:57 am
Bradley’s attacks on the African-Anericans players at UGA is totally unjustified. UGA takes kids from working class and lower income classes and gives them no real spending money, fires there one roll model at UGA. Yeah, mr. bradkley you can not play football and basketball at 45. You have to get real jobs!) Then you tell them hey can not drink in a town full of white kids drinking and you call that fair. I am a teeltoler and think prohibition was a good idea. (All the cops were corrupt back then too.) But if you old enought to kill an innocent person in Kabul, Baghdad, Ramdi, and Fallujah, you are old enought oto drink.
When i was kids here in Marthasvile, Georgia (Atlanta, georgia) I saw white judges and politicians drinking and driving and nothing was said or done about it. Now all of a sudden backstabbers like Mark Cabe and others, (especially in the News Media) want of nail African-American players and an African-American players for drunk driving. Give me a break. Athens has a repution well-eanred as a alcoholic binge town and UGA has more a reputation for underage drinking. Yet it is only the African-Americans who get in trouble. BS. Whites arre doing the same thing and Bradley knows it. By the way how many alcoholics on the AJC payroll? Tell the trth and shame the devil. Let he or she without sin throw the first. By that criterea only I can stone people to death, not you Mr. Bradley. By the way did you drink as a teenagers? Have you ever drove drunk Mr. Bradley? Just answer the questions and do not try to evade. Just give us details of your sins so we print them in the newspaer. You love to talk about how the Africa-American kids are into trouble. UGA is white campus where these kids are tricked into coming to a campus where the sparseness of African-Americans students is obvious to all but the racists and bigots in the AJC. And Bradley wants more kicked off campus. BS!!!!
Shug Butts
July 14th, 2010
3:57 pm
DEATH PENALTY!!!!!!!!!!
Cracker Lacka
July 14th, 2010
4:04 pm
Thomas Anthony sound like a PhD from UGA.
garrett
July 14th, 2010
7:33 pm
have yall ever been to athens? it’s a crazy place. plenty of opportunities for trouble. I’d imagine that the temptations there are greater than at most other schools.
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July 15th, 2010
12:47 am
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Milburn Drysdale
July 15th, 2010
9:33 am
So TL tell us, what is Richt to do? Spend every Friday and Saturday night cruising through Athens walking into the bars and seeing if any of his players are in there? It all starts with the parents, Mark Richt is not their Daddy.
Yes, but . . .
July 15th, 2010
11:03 am
Statistically speaking, you don’t recruit for character, you don’t get as much.
Mr. Georgia Football Returns
July 16th, 2010
5:24 am
Mark Richt is responsible for the schedule……..
Florida has the week off again to prepare for the Georgia game. This started regularly under Spurrier and is continuing. Florida has a very high winning percentage when getting the week off before the Georgia game. At some point “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice” comes into play and it becomes Georgia fault. Bendover Dawgs it’s your own fault again!
July 14, 2010 11:45 PM
addendum
Spurrier and the gamecocks have schedule an “extra” practice day against Georgia this year too!
When this happens to Nick Saban, he gets the schedule changed. Isn’t anybody paying attention to this at Georgia? Whose in charge of this? ……Oh yeah…Mark Richt!
Montell J
July 16th, 2010
9:33 am
the athens police target african-american players for arrest—that’s no surprise. They get their names in the paper, get a nice bonus for hooking some big names, etc. It never changes—racism exists everywhere.
Wreckem
July 17th, 2010
3:23 pm
The problem, at least how I see it, is the city of Athens and the inhabitants. I am an alumnus of GT but have spent a fair amount of time in Athens bars. The moment football players walk into a bar students and fans begin buying them drinks without end. Yes the players should know they are being watched closely, but how many of us would turn down so many free drinks. Students and fans, if you really love your team help them out by not tempting them at all. And by the way… THG!
Hairy Dawg
July 17th, 2010
11:31 pm
Of course Coach Richt aint the fault. He work hard at Christainizing and developing SEC talent of players that can play on field on Saturdays. We just have to rid the bad players that stinks to get SEC talent and speed for winning. Then we dominatring SEC by removing Adams as problem.
With SEC talent for NFL Dawgs getting to dominates chumps like Gaytors and punkin head orange Vols of Dooley boy.
The Truth
July 18th, 2010
6:41 pm
I have to give Georgia credit. Their players are always disciplined. I remember a few years ago a GA Tech football player was arrested with 96 pounds of weed in his trunk. He was a major drug dealer. But he still suited up against Georgia. Ga Tech’s program is a big joke. But Everyone knows that Tech Lies & Cheats. LOL!
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