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
Beast from the East
July 12th, 2010
2:24 pm
Are you guys kidding with the accusations about “it goes on everywhere but the other polcie departments cover it up”? Sure it goes on everywhere, just not to the extent it has in Athens the last few years. If you want to continue to deflect blame and point fingers elsewhere then do just that. The problems will just continue. Grow up, accept responsibility and fix your own house…or not and continue to face the ridicule hurled from rivals.
ac
July 12th, 2010
2:24 pm
TL…Totally Lost…Last year, around August 20th, a player was arrested. Right before the season. Right when the coaches have the most control over that players.
Roman Polanski
July 12th, 2010
2:26 pm
Mike:
I trust you!
TL
July 12th, 2010
2:26 pm
the Barntud cow tippers are the most NCAA sanctioned school in the SEC,
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
July 12th, 2010
2:26 pm
There were several other people in the car this weekend (according to the reports), but only the football players were charged? Not saying what they did isn’t serious but why were the others not charged and why were their names not smeared across the headlines? Is it not a story (or a crime) if you are not an athlete? Just wondering.
suwaneedawg
July 12th, 2010
2:27 pm
TL, you sure about that statement that there have been no arrests concerning the Alabama football program? It was stated on another blog today that there were arrests in Tuscaloosa in the past 2 weeks of football players. Is this statement false?
Damina Dawkins
July 12th, 2010
2:27 pm
Love the sin, hate the sinner!
ac
July 12th, 2010
2:27 pm
BEAST FROM THE EAST…It is a problem that we need to arrest…but we should not compare whether other programs are better AT controlling there kids.
Really?
July 12th, 2010
2:28 pm
TL – Really? Try again.
http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=10961162
Randy
July 12th, 2010
2:28 pm
Maybe it is the kids he recruits? Heres a good statistic for you: Only ONE, repeat ONE, of Nick Saban’s recruits has been arrested (Courtney Upshaw), and it was for fighting (verbally) with his girlfriend in a parking lot. Why is it Richt’s players keep getting in trouble? Maybe he doesn’t hold character in a high regard when he recruits, maybe he doesn’t teach his players how to stay out of trouble, maybe his players don’t care what he says?
You can’t possibly can Mark Richt isn’t to blame for all these troubles. Yes, kids make mistakes. But, why is it Georgia players make more mistakes than others? How can Nick Saban keep his players out of trouble, while Richt can’t?
It has to do with the kids you bring into the system, and how you develop these kids into adults, not just football players.
come on
July 12th, 2010
2:28 pm
good old richt is only doing what he learned at crimiNOLE state
CommandoDawg
July 12th, 2010
2:29 pm
The best players should realize that their college arrest record will influence how some NFL teams rate them when they are eligible for the draft, and whether they had a college arrest record or not might influence the punishment the NFL commissioner gives them if they get arrested or charged or investigated.
TL
July 12th, 2010
2:29 pm
Last year, around August 20th, a player was arrested. Right before the season. really? who was it.
How many has UGA had arrested since that time?
Andy
July 12th, 2010
2:29 pm
I think there is equal blame for CMR and the players. CMR is the head coach and any actions by his players or staff is a reflection on him. Whether you want to say he is too lenient or picks the wrong players during recruitment, it doesn’t matter. The buck stops with him. It’s the same for a CEO of a company, any actions by that CEO’s employees is a reflection on him or her. They are ultimately responsible. That’s why they get paid the big bucks.
NOTSO FAST
July 12th, 2010
2:29 pm
The article is right on.
Rickster
July 12th, 2010
2:29 pm
Mark,
Does the off season arrest total include Damon Evans’ arrest? Or is it players only?
If it includes Evans’ arrest, shouldn’t it be reduced by one since Richt had no control over his boss?
Just wondering.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
thUGA is as thUGA does
ac
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
Upshaw.
jc_atl
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
I don’t see how you can not blame CMR when other SEC programs tend to have some problem players, but with thUGA it’s perennial and predictable. It could be that while non of the SEC states can brag about their public education system, Georgia’s is atrocious, and so you get what you get.
One of the things I always liked about Tuberville at Auburn is that he didn’t put up with *any* nonsense and basically recruited not just for athletic potential but also for character. As a result, while there were a few legal issues for some players, it was always dealt with openly and swiftly.
I think that CMR is already in trouble because he basically recruits people who are a stop away from prison in their everyday lives. These sorts of kids are going to be problematic unless you ride them each and every day and hire a “handler” to make sure they stay in line, in season and off season.
Muschamp - NOT
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
I love the way Tech people chime in. Do you think for a second Atlanta PD has the time or care to spend on GT players like Athens cops do for things like shooting off fireworks or driving a scooter around campus w/o a license? Tech players drink, Georgia players drink.
tootrue
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
THANK YOU, EVEN PARENTS HAVE A HARD TIME HANDLING THEIR CHILDREN SOMETIMES
Cabo
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
TL – If players were arrested for taking money and perks from boosters Alabama would not be able to field a team. Bama be on probation again before you know it…
SEC fan
July 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
Richt is a disciple of Booby “aw shucks” Bowden. They subscribe to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” mentality. They’ll suspend a sub but not a starter for the same offense.
Richt contributes to the thug mentality with the antics – end zone dancing, blackouts, one-finger salutes, etc.
As Mark said – “Maybe Richt needs to be more careful about the players he pursues… Too many college athletes (and not just Georgia athletes) have been so pampered they believe they’re untouchable.”
Gee Mark Richt, how about setting an example, rescind Chump LeMay’s offer. Make the rest of the team run stairs til they toss when a teammate screws up. Maybe that will wake some of these thugs up.
suwaneedawg
July 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
Beast from the East, prove your contention that it does not go on any where else like Athens. You think that departments in other major schools don’t cover up this garbage? I amm not forgiving the players for what is happening at UGA but, I am not going to blame CMR for these young adults. And I would not blame the head coach of any college or pro team unless he covers up their actions.
EW
July 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
Maybe UGA should just do what certain other schools do and pay the local polce to look the other way. Makes me sick to see other school’s athletes walk on auto theft, robbery, gun charges, domestic violence, etc and our boys are crucified for having a beer. I’m not saying the players are justified in doing ANYTHING wrong..they are public figures and should be held to a higher standard. I’m just sick of the rival fans thinking there players are above reproach when in all honesty they have an entire athletic department of bottom dwellers.
VA DAWG
July 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
Richt needs to institute an mandatory 4 game suspension….then, maybe they will think twice about “should I really do this?” DUI arrests and other similar serious crimes should be either automatic suspension for the entire season or off the team effective immediately. This is getting out of hand for all universities. Kids will be kids, but they need to make mature decisions if they are given the opportunity to play on saturdays on a free ride.
george
July 12th, 2010
2:33 pm
http://www.sectalk.com/boards/sec-football-talk/84040-2010-fulmer-cup.html
The dawgs are def favorites to win this as they are every year. I will be pulling for you puppies!
Granitedawg
July 12th, 2010
2:33 pm
Let’s get an undercover report from ufla,AL,AU,etc. and see how they coddle their athletes. We all recruit the same athletes, don’t tell me Athens is any different from the other college towns. I think there’s some hanky panky going on in other college towns to keep these guys out of jail.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:33 pm
thUGA has had more than twice the arrests of any other DIV 1 school the past 3 years.
thUGA in da house!
SEC fan
July 12th, 2010
2:33 pm
By the way I am not an attorney nor am I an SEC fan.
TL
July 12th, 2010
2:34 pm
UGA’s program is an embarrassment to the SEC right now. They need to clean this mess up, before it gets worse. What needs to happen is Mike Slive step in and suspend these coaches or slap them with a hefty fine, for lack of player control. 37 arrests in 2 years. To say mark richt has problems is a understatement.
Things that make you go hmmmm....
July 12th, 2010
2:34 pm
If you want to blame Richt, then I guess you’ll also blame Dooley for what Rogers did last week.
ac
July 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
I think kids should lose the entire season and possibly their scholarship for drinking and driving. I really hope that the kid gets kicked off the team. If Evans loses his job, the player should lose his scholarship. As a member of a family that has lost someone to a drunk driver, EVERYONE loses when you drive drunk.
This kid needs time away to get his priorities straight.
GaPnt
July 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
It all starts with who you recruit. Richt needs to do a little more character checking on who he gives scholarships to rather than their football abilities. Players who are of good character aren’t going to get arrested for alcohol possession while being underage or getting into bar room fights. Richt is developing a characterless football team which needs to stop immediately. He might take a tip from the Nebraska coach who does a “bar check” to see who is where they are not suppose to be.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
thUGA has many more arrests that UMiami or FSU. Not even close Mikey in SAV.
thUGA out o control
Simple but not easy
July 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
The NCAA limits the amount of time the coaches/football program can require of the players so the players have more time to participate as students. What do students do with their free time in college? What percentage of the student body gets arrested annually for some type of drinking violation? These guys aren’t stars, or full time football players, they are students- LET THE BIG DAWG’s EAT!
Things that make you go hmmmm....
July 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
Is there some way the Obama administration and Jimmy Buffet could blame Bush for the UGA athlete arrests??
come on
July 12th, 2010
2:36 pm
o u thuga fans blame the cops like u blame sec refs. everyone is just out to get u.
TL
July 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
Oh and I was wrong when I said that Bama hasn’t had an arrest in 2 almost 3 years. Which means disregard anything I say because I am an idiot.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA
thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA
thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA
thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA
thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA
ac
July 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
There is no way to determine how a kid will act when he faces the temptations and freedom of a college campus. None. Every kid I’ve seen attend college changes when he begins to attend.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
In case you can’t tell I am 8 years old.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
I blame thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA thUGA
Dawgtards ruin this state
July 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
JB – How can you defend what’s gone on in Athens this past week? Athletic Dept is out of control!
Things that make you go hmmmm....
July 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
Proof that Tourettes syndrome can strike anyone at anytime.
TW in Kauai, Hawaii
July 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
Great article! While I think it’s absolutely the players fault once they’re on campus, I do think Richt is very responisble for the type of kids he’s recruiting. As you point out, the problem is he might lose his job if he doesn’t win, and it’s very tough to win w/o recruiting players of questionable character (Mack Brown is about the only coach who’s consistently won while recruiting ‘high character’ guys, and even he’s had several problems). It’s a catch-22. You’ve got to make the discipline even tougher, IMO. I also think 5.30am workouts every day are one of the best ways to limit the behavior.
MonticelloDawg
July 12th, 2010
2:40 pm
1. If you think there has not been underage possession of alcohol by athletes at every SEC/ACC school stay tuned for this offer: for three easy payments of $19.99, plus S and H, you too can own a genuine Rolex watch.
2. I would like to see documentation that any SEC/ACC school has imposed a one game penalty or more on an athlete for the single charge of underage possession, like Tavarres King.
3. That being said, UGA football players need to realize they are privileged to play for the most followed sports team in the state, pro or college, and act accordingly.
thUGA
July 12th, 2010
2:40 pm
And 8 years old is old enough to pick out a thUGA!
Watching Paint Dry
July 12th, 2010
2:40 pm
Mark, there was an excellent essay recently in the New York Times on another topic, but that started off with a discussion of people who are too stupid to realize that they’re stupid (unknown unknowns vs. known unknowns). Unfortunately, that appears to describe far too many college football recruits these days, and certainly not just at UGA.
ac
July 12th, 2010
2:40 pm
Not Richt’s fault for recruiting. He does not know how the kid will act in college. Richt is asked to win by recruiting the best player available. Then, develop that player. Totally, the players fault and they should be PUNISHED!