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
Richard Hunter
December 21st, 2011
11:15 am
Mark is a great man.we need to be happy with what we have.UGA does not pay 25 mil for a head coach.that being said mark needs to stay after the ast. coachs.
harold
December 21st, 2011
11:26 am
RICHT IS A VERY NICE MAN. AN ABOVE AVERAGE COACH.
Pompano
December 21st, 2011
11:27 am
If Yahoo Sports was on this case, we’d find out that the money Hypo-Richt paid is to cover ‘recruiting expenses’ incurred by the coaches. Payouts, gifts, bail-money to recruits and players.
I understand the AJC has limited resources to interview players, friends of players, etc but “follow-the-money” is Journalism 101.
Instead, they annoint Hypo-Richt as descended from the heavens. I think Mark has confused the Water-Tower in Athens with Mt. Olympus
WDE
December 21st, 2011
11:29 am
@kevin n afghanistan thanks for your service now STFU…thanks and Happy Holidays
Ken Stallings
December 21st, 2011
11:33 am
I would not even imagined before now that a college coach, taking his personal income, and deciding to suppliment the incomes of his coaching staff, would even be on the NCAA’s radar scope much less be considered a violation of NCAA bylaws!
What insanity! What crassness!
What amazes me is how a group of men who meet for days and weeks to discuss these rules, would not realize how sullied enforcement of such a rule would make them appear!
The entire basis for the NCAA bylaws is to preserve the amateur status of the athletes. The coaches and trainers are paid professionals. Overall, if the University of Georgia and the paid coaches and staff wish to file civil suit, I am very confident the judge would smack the NCAA hard. It is incomprehensible how any company would presume to tell someone they cannot suppliment their incomes by other means. So long as the action itself does not break any laws, it should be beyond the influence of any private company.
I realize the student-athletes are immediately wondering why they cannot get a summer job without the NCAA bearing its noses down on them. But, the sole sanction against the student-athlete is removal of a scholarship and eligibility. But, for these coaches and staff, who are professionals without any college eligibility, it seems well beyond the NCAA’s intent to regulate such actions.
Wow!
December 21st, 2011
11:56 am
WDE…if Richt was a 10th of the cheater Chizik is, he would have known this was a violation and given the guys money another way–you know like how Rev. Newton got paid.
Each Auburn coach is shown the Auburn Way–which is basically to not get caught. Cheating there is expected.
TJefferson
December 21st, 2011
11:59 am
He is a great man. Paying employees out of pocket can create some tricky/sticky situations with your business model though. Great intentions but caution is advised.
Naive
December 21st, 2011
12:03 pm
You people are nuts. If Georgia went 6-6, you’d all be saying he was a bum. The world’s best boss is a launching pad for his assistants – i.e. Nick Saban, Bill Bellicik. Not someone who pays guys out of his pocket….guys who weren’t worthy of the extra money but instead were overpaid to begin with.
Hoopster
December 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
And to think, the NCAA gets UGa for a coach giving money out of his pocket to some assistant coaches and gets Tech for having a football player having the gaul to accept a Christmas present from his cousin. This organization needs to be terminated and start with a clean slate.
SR CITIZEN DAWG
December 21st, 2011
1:07 pm
ONE OF A KIND (THE GREAT KIND). UGA AND THE WHOLE STATE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND THANKFUL FOR MARK RICHT AND THE EXAMPLE HE SETS FOR ALL OF US.
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[...] Mark Bradley: It’s official, Mark Richt is world’s best boss [...]
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[...] 15. Move over, Micheal Scott. Georgia’s Mark Richt is a World’s Greatest Boss. [...]
Olde Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:50 pm
Mr Lane: are you saying that because you do this, it is not worth noting?
Thomas Brown
December 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
No. It would give Mark Richt more money to give away.
Jeez Mark Bradley, didn’t you expect this is exactly what everyone would reply, sir ?
Why doesn’t the AJ-C just go on Vacation if this is all you can come up with during all these bowl games and
Pat Summitt
Say a Prayer for Pat Summitt please
Thomas Brown
December 21st, 2011
3:33 pm
No.
The NCAA got Georgia tek because they told senior officials at Georgia tek that they COULD NOT TELL Paul Johnson or the players.
Paul Johnson should have reported the violation when Georgia tek told him, instead of TRYING to tell the investigation players what to say to the NCAA.
Another violation by Paul Johnson.
ONLY HE GOT CAUGHT.
NCAA PROBATION.
Mark Richt ? Give him the EXTENSION NOW GREG MCGARITY.
Thomas Brown
December 21st, 2011
3:34 pm
There is NO COMPARISON in what Paul Johnson did telling the players about what they should say, and Mark Richt giving his coaches his money he is FREE to do with as he so wishes.
Dick
December 21st, 2011
6:31 pm
How sad, you leg humpers wanted super duper swell coach gone after losing two. But all of the sudden he is Jesus Christ on earth. The fact that the Dawgs place just above the Vols in the East and your coach can’t pull the trigger and win the big game shows what a loser program you have. “Just wait till next year”, We won for the first 30 minutes”, Just wait till we get our running game going” , are just a few loser fight songs ya’ll should have.
bsdg
December 21st, 2011
7:44 pm
I believe he gave one of his bonus checks to the assistants a couple of years ago as well. All the assistants split it evenly from what I remember. Richt consistently shows his class, I wish more coaches would follow