A UGA question: Is Richt getting tougher or more pragmatic?
Here we see a tight-lipped Mark Richt. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Georgia enters a put-up-or-shut-up season without its best holdover tailback. Had not the Bulldogs signed Isaiah Crowell, Washaun Ealey would constitute a major loss. But they did, and now skeptics have suggested Mark Richt might have been less inclined to let Ealey leave had Crowell not been inbound.
And here’s where I take up for Richt — you’ll have to excuse me if I wheeze; I’ve gotten out of practice — and say: Don’t think so.
I also say: Remember Zach Mettenberger.
There have been times when Richt’s famous patience seemed unending. (We think of Odell Thurman, the gifted-but-erring linebacker.) There have been years where Georgia’s arrest total approached — and last year even surpassed — double figures. We add those together to reach the obvious conclusion: Richt is too easy on his players.
But we’ve seen signs that Mr. Softee is casting a colder eye. Maybe this is a response to the direction of his program, which last season achieved the double whammy of off-the-field embarrassment and an on-field losing record. Maybe it’s just the weariness of a coach in his 11th season who’s sick of hearing excuses. Whatever the cause, I don’t believe it’s a triumph of pragmatism over altruism.
Richt had every reason to have tired of Washaun Ealey, whom he’d suspended twice. And I could be naive, but I don’t think Ealey’s departure hinged on Crowell’s arrival. Does it help that Georgia has a new tailback ready to take over? Uh, yes. But sometimes even the famous Richt forbearance reaches its limit.
Let’s recall Mettenberger, who got himself arrested in South Georgia on spring break 2010. Mettenberger was allowed to play in the subsequent G-Day game and was the best of the three quarterbacks on display, but Richt wound up booting him off the team. (It has been suggested that Richt was pushed by Damon Evans, the AD who would himself be jettisoned after his midnight ride in Buckhead. Still, Richt runs the football program, does he not?)
This left Georgia with two scholarship quarterbacks, neither of whom had played a college down. Had the redshirt Aaron Murray gotten injured last season, Georgia had only the true freshman Hutson Mason as backup. (Logan Gray had been moved to receiver.) Losing Mettenberger could have hurt the Bulldogs in 2010, and there’s a chance it could hurt in the future: He’s now at LSU, which could meet Georgia for the SEC title down the road.
The hope when a program signs a player is that he’ll fit athletically and otherwise. The reality is that not every signee pans out on both fronts. It’s a bit heartless to dump a guy if he’s not quite good enough to play for you: That’s not really his fault. If he fails to conduct himself in the way expected of a student-athlete, that’s something else.
Let’s not paint Richt as some scheming puppet-master. He gave Washaun Ealey repeated chances, and apparently Ealey didn’t seize them. This wouldn’t seem a case of Georgia freeing up a position — even if Ealey hadn’t started, he’d surely have been the No. 2 tailback — but of a coach cutting his losses. Had Richt done more of this sooner, he’d have spared himself much grief.
By Mark Bradley
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272 comments Add your comment
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 10th, 2011
2:12 pm
A packaged deal is in the works…
Douche Bag Trolls
May 10th, 2011
2:13 pm
Love the spirit this sloppy outlet of a so called news media allows.
If UGA cheated like our fellow SEC crow we would have won a national title by now!
Everything about UGA rocks!
Moof,Moof---TheHairLipDog
May 10th, 2011
2:16 pm
What is the georgia way? Is it liken unto the cowboy way? Do you man up or finish the drill? Man, please what a bunch of horse —-.
1eyedJack
May 10th, 2011
2:17 pm
“It’s a bit heartless to dump a guy if he’s not quite good enough to play for you: That’s not really his fault.”
Tell that to Nick Satan over in Falseteeth land.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 10th, 2011
2:22 pm
Confirmed!!! PJ just got committments from arguably the two best Bassoonists east of the Mississippi.
“I saw they were being recruited pretty hard by Berkley, so I decided I would go hard after them before Marshall, UAB, and Louisiana Tech gets in the race.”, Paul Johnson said with a mouth full of Catfish.
Its a shame PJ didn’t know that these kids were being recruited by the Berkley School of Music.
Kerryb
May 10th, 2011
2:22 pm
It’s funny when someone starts a UGA blog and all the idiots from other schools come out of the woodwork like cock roaches. Go to a blog about your team and stay off the UGA blogs spreading your moronic trash that no one cares about. Dumb***es!
Kerryb
May 10th, 2011
2:25 pm
I guess all the little AJC censors are at work today. they don’t like what you post they cut you off.
UGA
May 10th, 2011
2:27 pm
As a UGA fan, I look forward to next year’s National Championship. The loss to UCF really provided motivation more so than the 5 other loses. As I place my 8th black and red Green Bay G on my truck and listen to the hob nailed boot call, I dream of seeing Crowell become the next Herschell Walker. My church is so confident that UGA will win they title they play their fight song every Sunday. This morning, I barked at my neighbor as he left his house until I spilled beer on my Ford tough F150. I can totally see Matt Stafford stopping his military press of his keg and coming back to lead us to another thrilling bowl victory against powerhouse Hawaii. Go Dawgs, Wuff wuff!!!
UGA
May 10th, 2011
2:28 pm
As a UGA fan, I look forward to next year’s National Championship. The loss to UCF really provided motivation more so than the 5 other loses. As I place my 8th black and red Green Bay G on my truck and listen to the hob nailed boot call, I dream of seeing Crowell become the next Herschell Walker. My church is so confident that UGA will win they title they play their fight song every Sunday. This morning, I barked at my neighbor as he left his house until I spilled beer on my Ford tough F150. I can totally see Matt Stafford stopping his military press of his keg and coming back to lead us to another thrilling bowl victory against powerhouse Hawaii. Go Dawgs, Wuff wuff!#!
Another Ealey~King~Green
May 10th, 2011
2:35 pm
Will Richt never learn that recruiting illiterate low-class goons like Ealey and King doesn’t pay off?
Apparently Richt is a very slow learner. Isaiah Crowell will give Richt just as much grief as Ealey did, probably more.
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 punks and goons like these representing the state’s flagship university.
GeoffDawg
May 10th, 2011
2:36 pm
GTBob, I’m basing all my opinions on what we know about this coaching staff, what we know about how players are recruited and evaluated and what we know about the personal history of Coach Richt in mentoring and leading young men. You’re basing your ramblings on some unsubstantiated opinion of the Georgia program and its staff and are pretending to know what constitutes value to them and how they view their responsibility to the players they bring in.
You’re the same guy that was describing Ray Drew as “whiny” because he expected more of himself at a High School track and field competition. You obviously have some kind of chip on your shoulder and axe to grind with Georgia but when you’re this blatant in your biased attacks, it undermines your credibility.
RTR
May 10th, 2011
2:37 pm
GoeffDowg…
Since you know so much about the “Saban Way” of treating players let me mention David Ross. He was a 5 year player he never started a game. He was a back up his entire time at Bama. Not only did Saban not kick him off of the team he praised Ross every chance he got. Saban told everyone what an outstanding leader and example of being a team player. He was also voted by the coaches to be a game captain for several games.
Please give me one example where Saban kicked a player from the team for not beeing good enough.
You Dawg fans have bigger fish to fry than looking for ways to bash Alabama’s program, that don’t exist. We did not have a very good team last year either but we still won 10 games.
Seths Emerson's Bulldog blog killed the anon poster
May 10th, 2011
2:38 pm
Too little too late and Richt will be toast after this season with an already weak as baby pee offensive line.
Seth Emerson's Bulldog blog killed the anon poster
May 10th, 2011
2:40 pm
Florida and SC are loaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddeeeeeed this year.
Dawgy Style
May 10th, 2011
2:45 pm
RTR,
You’re wrong, dissing the successful programs makes us Dawg fans feel better.
GeoffDawg
May 10th, 2011
2:46 pm
RTR, first off, you really butchered my name there. Secondly, on average, what’s the size of the typical Saban recruiting class? Thirdly, how about the names Chuck Kirschman and Jeramie Griffin?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703384204575509901468451306.html
Poison
May 10th, 2011
2:46 pm
Seth Emerson is a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooser!
so sick of this subject b/c it's nothing but boloney
May 10th, 2011
2:47 pm
This is such BS. Richt has ALWAYS held his players accountable for their actions off the field. In fact, he’s the ONLY SEC coach who has done so for the past 10 years (the Vandy coach doesn’t even have to).
You bring up ONE…ONE “problem” player but the details are that Odell got removed from the program when he misbehaved and was allowed back after he cleaned his act up. How many Georgia rejects have gone on to play at other SEC schools? I can come up with 6-7 without even thinking too much about it.
Oh, you also bring up the number of arrests but they have all been either minor/petty bullcrap (that the players still got disciplined for) or the player was suspended for multiple games or even kicked off the team.
Stop acting like this is some new phenomena just b/c your lazy a$$ needs to write an article.
And I’m by no means a Richt apologist. He needs to win the East this year or he’s history.
Washawn Ealey
May 10th, 2011
2:48 pm
I run from this state!
Washawn Ealey
May 10th, 2011
2:50 pm
Well, maybe I run to a different part of this state.
destin dawg
May 10th, 2011
2:54 pm
we’ll be just fine this year…. bad attitude by a few that are getting weeded out…. Bear Bryant, Dooley, Saban and most other coaches in major conferences have had a couple down seasons over a long career…. Crowell and Malcome will be a great compliment…. I think these trolls from Alabama and Florida should stay home… I think they have their own newspapers ????
GTBob
May 10th, 2011
2:56 pm
You’re the same guy that was describing Ray Drew as “whiny” because he expected more of himself at a High School track and field competition.
Nah, I said he was being a brat, which he was. He claimed that only winning the state championship was a fail and pretended that he would have broke records had he not gotten injured. That is pretty much being a brat. The good news for him though is that he has more stars then Montez Robinson had so he will be allowed more arrests.
Big Dawg Daddy
May 10th, 2011
3:00 pm
Hey Buck Blue, please become an Auburn fan, they need more like you and we need less.
anotherdawg
May 10th, 2011
3:00 pm
I agree with you Destin Dawg. All teams have some of this. AJC column today noted Arkansas receiver was released because of smoking a joint. Most of the stuff UGA players get in trouble with is minor.
GeoffDawg
May 10th, 2011
3:01 pm
That’s not exactly the way it happened there Bob. He stated that he expected more of himself which no one in their right mind could have a problem with. Especially not for a football player. He was asked what caused his off-throw and he explained about the tendon, or whatever it was, popping in his foot during his wind up. Just what the heck do you expect him to do. Distract the reporter and run away so people like you won’t disparage him online?
Either way, you’re out of your gourd. But even nutty people are entitled to their opinions.
Funny comments
May 10th, 2011
3:12 pm
He’s now at LSU, which could meet Georgia for the SEC title down the road.- Mark
That is pretty funny. LSU could get there to the seccg although they have some powerful Alabama teams to contend with in the coming years. But Georgia? Surely you jest. It will be years before they are taken seriously again by anybody.
juvenal
May 10th, 2011
3:15 pm
really, these kids as a group probably have a lot lower % in trouble than their peers…have more discipline from sports than most teens, i’d bet……..
Anything can happen
May 10th, 2011
3:18 pm
And it can happen fast. Two years ago Alabama and Florida met for SEC championship, Alabama won the NC. Auburn and South Carolina were not on the radar. Last year, the roles were reversed.
Beast from the East
May 10th, 2011
3:20 pm
Who really cares why he’s gone? The bottom line is that he is gone and the Dawg Nation should be saying good riddance. The guy was totaly undisciplined and I don’t think he is interested in being “coached up”. Next!
gdawginkalamazoo
May 10th, 2011
3:20 pm
GeoffDawg, with all due respect sir, you are out of your gourd for trying to debate GTBob. You should know by now to ignore those types or at least make comments about them and ignore their responses. Even make follow-up comments but never address them directly. Those Tech fans crack me up.
Mark Bradley`s Booster
May 10th, 2011
3:21 pm
Mark: You are probably right about CMR. getting tougher. My guess is that he had no choice because his boss gave him strict orders to do so without fail.
Funny comments
May 10th, 2011
3:25 pm
Anything can happen,
Usually anything can happen. But not at Georgia. They just don’t have it. Plain and simple. Georgia has no Cam Newton, Michael Dyer, Cam Fairley. They had AJ Green but he is gone. Bama only had a couple of star players like Ingram, Richardson, Dareus, Julio Jones, Arenas, Kareem Jackson, Terrance Cody,etc in their 09 title run. Come to think of it I guess they were pretty loaded after all. But they are loaded everywhere. Georgia has not one PROVEN impact player that I can think of. Not one. And don’t say Murray. He is a midget and looked better than he was because of AJ. I think he threw all of 6 tds against teams with winning records last year.
Bassoonists Dawg
May 10th, 2011
3:33 pm
Murray will be fun to watch without Green and Durham. He maybe scrambling for his life if the line doesn’t get better.
BjohnDawg
May 10th, 2011
3:34 pm
I say move on without Ealey…..and just win the whole damn thing!
1eyedJack
May 10th, 2011
3:34 pm
Nobody has ever won or lost anything based on “last year”.
Anything can happen
May 10th, 2011
3:35 pm
Don’t bet the house funny comments! I didn’t think the Hawks would win the series against Orlando or a single game against Chicago. Dang sure didn’t think the Falcons would ever go to the Super Bowl. A UGA player just won the Nationwide Golf tourney, I think only one amateur has done that before. I agree the odds are against UGA, or any team, for that matter, winning it all in a single year. I don’t know if you were around in 79, but I was, and if you looked at that Ga football team, no way would you have picked UGA to win it all the next year, but they did.
bigcalidawg
May 10th, 2011
3:41 pm
Enter your comments here
GeoffDawg
May 10th, 2011
3:42 pm
I see your point gdawginkalamazoo. Some people are just touched in the head.
bigcalidawg
May 10th, 2011
3:43 pm
I recall CMR feeling relieved that certain duties were removed from him and he can now focus on coaching football again. I don’t know exactly what it was that was taken off, but I just think we are seeing the benefits of a coach with the time to be more “hands-on.”
I’m noticing that nearly every kid with a disciplinary problem in the past is being run off, albeit later. No more Fulmer Cups in the near future…..
Watch out Tree……..
Paul N Destin
May 10th, 2011
3:45 pm
I think the President of UGA should give us some more words of wisdom about the evil greyshirting and oversigning! It must be true that the new AD is now running the show for Mark.
cantondawg
May 10th, 2011
3:55 pm
Can someone please call PETA…Herschel Talker is beating the same old dead horse again for the 500th straight day..
Hoops Guru
May 10th, 2011
3:57 pm
Bradley, I will just tell it like it is….I like to read you!!!
cantondawg
May 10th, 2011
3:58 pm
Here’s some simple arithmetic
Herschel Talker < Douchebag < Idiot < Schmuck
Dbalcer
May 10th, 2011
3:58 pm
I saw an interview with Ealey that made me glad he was released. He didn’t want to compete and that is an issue. I always wanted the best for him but he needed to earn it. I believe in Coach Richt and look forward to Saturdays next fall. It is great to be a DAWG!!
Ted Striker
May 10th, 2011
4:09 pm
Excellent article.
Mettenberger was a perfect example of a guy who seemed like a UGA fit, but it just didn’t pan out. Happens at every school, sooner or later. (Cam Newton — UF, Ryan Mallett — Michigan, Troy Aikman — OK Sooners, etc)
Hopefully things will work out for both Ealey and UGA.
GTBob
May 10th, 2011
4:16 pm
GeoffDawg, with all due respect sir, you are out of your gourd for trying to debate GTBob.
Now this I agree with. He should start out with easier opponents and move his way up with more experience. Right now he is a little outmatched.
Buckeye
May 10th, 2011
4:22 pm
Watched the end of a Big 10 Classic yesterday on Big 10 Network – Ohio State v Mich State – John Cooper was still the coach. Ohio State ranked #1. Late October game. Michigan State won. Guess who the Michigan State coach was?
Saban.
I wonder if that makes us 1-10 v the SEC?
SEC! SEC!
danny
May 10th, 2011
4:23 pm
Is Caleb King next on the plank?
Buckeye
May 10th, 2011
4:23 pm
bigcalodawg,
The Fulmer is still yours. Reining Champ. Be proud.
as predicted
May 10th, 2011
4:29 pm
Good riddance, Washout.
i have heard that there were going to be some departures from the team due to the increased intensity of the S&C workouts. Coach T and K weren’t going to stand for any crap…and this falls right in line with what I heard. (all Koolaide drinkers can take this, and cussing at a bulldog club meeting as a ’sign of toughness’)
For me, the jury will be out on that one until the second week in December…….