It’s official: UGA’s Mark Richt is the World’s Greatest Boss
Deep pockets and a big heart: Some combination, eh? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Were I Georgia, I wouldn’t just “self-report” this “secondary violation.” I’d shout it from the mountaintops. I’d make it the first sentence in Mark Richt’s official bio, which would now read:
“Mark Richt, in his 11th season of coaching the Bulldogs, stamped himself the World’s Greatest Boss by paying staffers OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET!”
Excuse the capital letters, but sometimes major emphasis is required. This is one such moment. Some football coaches pay recruits. Georgia’s football coach dips into his personal finances to reward the guys who’ve worked for him. He committed a violation, all right. He showed the rest of us what it means to put (literal) money where your mouth is.
In so doing, Richt just made Georgia — unwittingly, but even unwitting actions have consequences — the program of choice should the Bulldogs ever have another opening for an assistant coach or a office go-fer. Richt felt so bad about firing Jon Fabris, a member of the defensive staff jettisoned in December 2009, that he gave Fabris $6,000 when he couldn’t find another job. Who does such a thing in this economy? Who does such a thing in any economy?
Some coaches have the reputation of being difficult to serve under. Richt just stamped himself as the coach you want to work for. We all knew he was a good guy, but this borders on sainthood. (”St. Mark of Athens, driver of Ford trucks and benefactor to unsung associates.”)
OK, it was technically a violation — a violation in the way that jaywalking to push somebody clear of a runaway bus is a legal misdemeanor. I think everyone can agree to let this one slide without penalty. Me, I’d consider giving Richt a raise for philanthropy, but that would kind of defeat the purpose, would it not?
By Mark Bradley
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268 comments Add your comment
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
December 20th, 2011
6:42 pm
@Frank lane{ You being a bigtime CEO with all those companies you should have taken some spelling lessons. Tale does not = Tail.
Ford Truck Buyer
December 20th, 2011
6:44 pm
Gotta love these NCAA rules. I have more respect now for CMR as he was trying to take good care of his staff. It’s his money. How this has anything to do with recruiting is absurd. The NCAA is the Gestapo of greed.
sigmund freud
December 20th, 2011
6:44 pm
Actually tale does equal tail.
Pompano
December 20th, 2011
6:44 pm
At least Bradley allows dissenting opinion in his blogs. Chip Towers blocks any negative comments regarding Richt – guess he’s stumping as Richt’s PR guy.
Towers is a biased loser!
sigmund freud
December 20th, 2011
6:45 pm
I’ll break down for you. If you can spew it… you can screw it.
ozzfest
December 20th, 2011
6:46 pm
RICHT,
YOU OFFENSE COORDINATOR SUCKS, AND BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT FIRE HIM, YOU OWE A % OF THE AMOUNT I HAVE PAID TO WATCH YOUR TEAM PLAY.
PLEASE REFUND $1245.66 TO ME – A SEASON-TICKET HOLDER IN SECTION 319, ROW 19.
THANKS!
bigdon
December 20th, 2011
6:48 pm
There’s really one conclusion to come to. We got the right, we got the right place. The true mark of a man is what he does when things are bad. That said, there’s nothing more to say. I call no one my hero, but damnit if CMR ain’t closer than most. GBU Coach Richt. Good damn dawg.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
December 20th, 2011
6:48 pm
@Timmy Dog: WE ain’t payin. CMR paid it out of his OWN bank account. Pay attention. Shultzy may ask questions later.
Delbert D.
December 20th, 2011
6:49 pm
IRS problems?
bigdon
December 20th, 2011
6:50 pm
Ozzfest: That name really says it on. I’m in 321 row 3. I had no idea there were any douches in my area. Guess I missed the hose running to your seat into your Va J J. Lozer.
GoCMR!
December 20th, 2011
6:51 pm
Once again great on CMR, and it’s funny how the ajc makes another article on this matter but this time praising CMR. Earlier they were trying to bash but since everyone’s reaction was of praise they jumped on the wagon! He’s a great coach, glad he’s a Dawg!
OkieDawg
December 20th, 2011
6:56 pm
There are no IRS problems. You can give anyone $13,000 per year. Or if married, you and your spouse can give up to $26,000 if paid from an account controlled by both spouses via a split gift. Above $13,000, the giver reports the gift on IRS Form 709. I’m sure all was properly handled.
jd
December 20th, 2011
6:57 pm
AJC is not going to write about UGA winning a basketball game vs USC..They will wait and see if Mercer beats the dawgs tonight and then it will be front page news.
TTT
December 20th, 2011
6:58 pm
I’m a Tech fan and I will readily admit that Richt is a classy guy. Irrespective of his coaching record, UGA should be proud of him.
65dawg
December 20th, 2011
7:01 pm
GT Bob Mark Richt has accomplished something great already—he’s 10-1 against the Yellow Jackets. That’s about as great as it gets in my book!
Silly Bloggers
December 20th, 2011
7:05 pm
I haven’t checked in to the blogs in a while but after seeing the headline I had to see how GTBob would spin it. Sure enough his jealousy, bitterness, and vitriol showed itself. You truly must let it go. Whatever wrong was done to you, you must let it go. You will feel better about it. I always said UGA could cure cancer and GTBob would vilify it. Grow up and grow a set.
Richt`s Hammer
December 20th, 2011
7:07 pm
Need the good press now. Once Michigan State puts 50 on us everyone will howl.
So I gave a few thousand away. Chump change.
Richt`s Hammer
December 20th, 2011
7:07 pm
How about the love I gave Crowell?
Dick
December 20th, 2011
7:10 pm
It is sad when all you have to brag about is winning 10 games against lower level teams, a 30 minute moral victory against LSU, and NCAA violations by the coach. WOW! Merry Christmas Leg Humpers and hope your super duper swell guy coach remembers that a football game is 60 minutes long.
BiggdawgK
December 20th, 2011
7:19 pm
It’s hard to believe there are people so sad, depressed and hate filled they will make cruel comments about a man helping out a friend who has been fired.
Dick the holidays is rife with suicide by those like you who are friendless and pathetic so try and keep your spirits up.
Douglas
December 20th, 2011
7:19 pm
I cannot believe some of the comments some of you make about Richt. He has never — like Saban — or Miles — demanded the highest salary. He demonstrates humility which Spurrier would never be guilty of. For those of you who criticize Richt or make sarcastic remarks, I know where to find your picture in the dictionary: right beside the definition of A_ _ HOLE.
ugakev
December 20th, 2011
7:25 pm
Thats okay dick…. being 6-7 last season and losing to those same sorry teams last season is improvement no matter how you spin it. Georgia will get the running game going next season with the four horsemen and then will become complete team. Get your shots in while u can.
GTBob
December 20th, 2011
7:28 pm
He has never — like Saban — or Miles — demanded the highest salary.
So UGA made him one of the highest paid coaches in college football and you think he didn’t ask for it? He is as money hungry as anyone else. Maybe in this contract extension negotiation he will take a pay cut so that his assistants can get paid more. Good chance of that happening.
Mike
December 20th, 2011
7:33 pm
He has never — like Saban — or Miles — demanded the highest salary.
So UGA made him one of the highest paid coaches in college football and you think he didn’t ask for it? He is as money hungry as anyone else. Maybe in this contract extension negotiation he will take a pay cut so that his assistants can get paid more. Good chance of that happening.
———————————–
Mark Richt has no business “demanding” anything. He can’t even beat a quality opponent.
TNBulldog
December 20th, 2011
7:34 pm
GTBob – Here is your answer with only one person
“Very few leaders with that kind of mind set have ever accomplished anything great.”
Ever heard of a person named Jesus Christ, he just gave his life for everyone. Tell me if he accomplished anything
GTBob
December 20th, 2011
7:35 pm
I haven’t checked in to the blogs in a while but after seeing the headline I had to see how GTBob would spin it.
I don’t have to spin it. Its pretty cut and dry. Instead of donating thousands of dollars to charity, Richt decided to give it to his buddies who already make extremely good salaries and at the same time insulted his employer by saying that they are underpaying them. Frankly I think the money could have gone to a better cause.
Eeyore
December 20th, 2011
7:36 pm
How about announcing how many players Richt is paying.
catlady
December 20th, 2011
7:37 pm
Perhaps the Bobby Bowden influence? My uncle and Bobby attended the same Sunday School class for decades (First Baptist in Tallahassee) and my uncle said if there was ever a need mentioned, Bobby would pull out his checkbook and say, “How much is needed?” While not quite the same, generous behavior evident, perhaps because they both know the Lord has been generous to them?
ugakev
December 20th, 2011
7:37 pm
tnbulldog, if gtbob knows who jesus christ is then we are all in seriously trouble.
GTBob
December 20th, 2011
7:38 pm
Ever heard of a person named Jesus Christ, he just gave his life for everyone. Tell me if he accomplished anything
Sorry, I meant real leaders. Not fairy tale leaders.
murfdawg
December 20th, 2011
7:39 pm
When are the coaches and the schools going to get enough of the NCAA and secede. All you need is 24 schools to form a super conference with 4 divisions and welcome to playoff payoff. Was it Brian Bosworth who called the NCAA, the National Communist Against Athletics?
Just another miserable loss
December 20th, 2011
7:40 pm
MSU 42, UGA 10
DOG FAN
December 20th, 2011
7:40 pm
DICK go find another blog.You are pathetic. Maybe some one some day some one will touch your ardened heart.I doubt it. CMR you are a class act!!!!!! More than i can say for others.
dawg4u
December 20th, 2011
7:41 pm
There are three types of posters on these sports blogs. The first are people who actually have something to say and a point to make regarding the article. The second are people who are speaking directly to the writer in either agreement or disagreement with the article. The third are the ones who make comments to get a reaction from other bloggers. It may be a logical or illogical comment but the sole intent is to get a reaction from others (preferably an angry response or rant) that feeds their desire for intention. It takes wisdom to know the difference (not that I have it by any means) but sometimes it is best to ignore the trolls and haters.
Richt is WRONG!!!!!
December 20th, 2011
7:42 pm
RICHT is WRONG!!!!!! Wrong in doing what he did. Wrong for Georgia…..and WRONG for being a fake head coach…….RICHT IS WRONG!!!!!!
Eeyore
December 20th, 2011
7:43 pm
How much does Richt pay the players, that’s the big question.
dawg4u
December 20th, 2011
7:43 pm
I meant “attention” not “intention.”
ugakev
December 20th, 2011
7:44 pm
phew!! thank you for clearing that up bob! If you believed and acted like that there would be no hope left in society.
Dawg One
December 20th, 2011
7:44 pm
Richt is the biggest sleazebag in the SEC.
Mark Bradley
December 20th, 2011
7:45 pm
dawg4u is a discerning individual.
12/20/2011 Evening Edition | collegefootballnewswire.com
December 20th, 2011
7:48 pm
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Josh Smith for 3
December 20th, 2011
7:48 pm
“I don’t have to spin it. Its pretty cut and dry. Instead of donating thousands of dollars to charity, Richt decided to give it to his buddies who already make extremely good salaries and at the same time insulted his employer by saying that they are underpaying them. Frankly I think the money could have gone to a better cause.”
Haha alright now you’re just being ridiculous, lighten up troll
Dumbo
December 20th, 2011
7:49 pm
For all the screamers of Damon Evans admin, before blaming him or anyone esle at UGA, remember Sonny Perdue, he put out a state directive to all department of government that NO
bonuses or raises would be allowed. Therefore, since 2008, state agencies haven’t been able to give out even cost of living adjustments much less raises or bonuses. So yes what Richt did is indeed admirable, the reason these good folks couldn’t their bonuses is because of a former governor.
SEC Bama Fan
December 20th, 2011
7:54 pm
I think most of the SEC coaches would kick in to keep Richt at Georgia.
ADMan
December 20th, 2011
8:05 pm
GTBob…your an idiot…plain and simple…you just don’t get it do you…your nothing but a self rightous pompous ass who thinks he knows everything…bet you don’t have many friends.
Time
December 20th, 2011
8:09 pm
I admit, I wavered a bit this past year or two, but the more time passes the more I realize UGA has the exact right man at the helm. Just have patience and the NC will come. In the meantime, there’s not a coach in the country I’d rather have a family member play or work for.
dawg4u
December 20th, 2011
8:09 pm
Thanks Mark and also for all the thought provoking and insightful articles! The Munson one was classic.
19DAWGFAN59
December 20th, 2011
8:18 pm
and COULD WE PLEASE GET JON FABRIS BACK … SURE COULD USE HIM !!! GO DAWGS and BE ROSSVILLE !!!
ADMan
December 20th, 2011
8:30 pm
Go away GTBob….you just don’t get it do you…you’re an idiot…a self rightous, self centered, pompous azz who’d argue even if he knew he was wrong…go away little man you’re giving Tech a bad name!
Mark...
December 20th, 2011
8:34 pm
Believe it or not… Richt is not the only boss to have done that… get out and see the world a bit.. . take it from me.. this is nothing new.