Richt: ‘We’ve got to look within, starting with me, as to the things that have kept us’ from success
For a complete roundup of the AJC’s coverage of Georgia’s loss to Mississippi State, please click here.
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Partial transcript of Mark Richt’s news conference following Saturday night’s 24-12 loss to Mississippi State:
Opening comments: “We’re definitely in a position that I’ve never been in as a player or a coach. . . . It’s certainly not a good place to be, but we are where we are. We’ve got to stay together, and I’ve seen no signs of change in my mindset that we’re a close-knit family. But we’ve also got to look within, starting with me, as to the things that have kept us from having the success that we want. That’s what we’re going to do.” (Later, asked for specifics, Richt said: “I’m not going to say anything right now, because I’m not sure. I need time to watch and reflect.”)
“I want to congratulate Coach Mullen and Mississippi State on the great job they did. They came out ready to play. They played hard, and they did what they had to do to win the game. Their fans did a wonderful job of supporting them.”
On Georgia’s lack of scoring: “We had a turnover inside the red zone and a penalty on a touchdown that got called back, so that’s at least one touchdown and possibly two touchdowns right there that got taken away.”
On where the team is: “If you go by watching film down by down, you’d say we’re not as far off as some people might think, but if you look at the record, then we are pretty far off of where we want to be.”
On Mississippi State’s defense: “They were blitzing a lot and out-numbering the running game and trying to pressure the quarterback. They were blitzing the quarterback a lot because he was a freshman, but they blitz a lot anyway, period. My guess is that there were a higher percentage than most of their games. At times we just called running plays blindly. We were going to run the play no matter what, and there were times where we had success and times where we got hit in the mouth.”
On being 0-3 in the SEC: “I never would’ve predicted it, but that’s where we’re at.”
On Mississippi State’s opening touchdown: “You’d like to get a stop and get points on the board yourself. It’s a 60-minute football game, though, so it wasn’t the difference in the ballgame. It was good for Mississippi State to build momentum, but we didn’t feel like that had a tremendous effect on the football game.”
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727 comments Add your comment
BobbyDawg
September 26th, 2010
8:44 am
The whole team looks sluggish on both sides of the ball. There are only about three players that are really hustling. I’ve said it before and here it is again. YOU’VE GOT TO BE READY AND STAY READY FROM THE VERY FIRST SNAP OF THE SEASON! Somebody needs to read up on the old “Bear Bryant” method of coaching. Ya’ll might not agree but the Bear ALWAYS had his teams ready!
Dean
September 26th, 2010
8:45 am
And now it resorts to attacking a man’s faith. The worst fan base in the country. And just so you guys know, Richt would not fire Bobo in the middle of the season for much bigger purposes that football games. The man has a family and has given the better part of his life to the UGA program. Much, much more than any of you have.
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
8:45 am
Dean
Go drink so more kool-aid and go back to bed
You must be someone who just picked up watching football for the first time in your life
FBI
September 26th, 2010
8:45 am
I don’t know if anybody reads this stuff, but the problems at UGA right now come down to pure and simple lack of discipline. Lack of team discipline, and lack of self discipline by the players. Players that want to win are in the weight room NOT the bar room in the off season. At this level you have to want to win, and not be focused on just having a good time. People are critical of a lot of our coaches. To me one of the main problems is a lack of strength and conditioning. We get good players, but everyone we play seems to be bigger, faster, stronger and more aggressive.
Spurrier hit it right on the head when he said, ” Recruiting Georgia gets the best players, but when we play we have the best players”.
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
8:45 am
You guys looked like a bunch of chumps out there. Just like a dog to sniff another dogs butt, I dont know how many time i seen UGAY players sniffing the rear end of Mississippi St players when you guys would tackle them. Thats not what your coach means when he says you got to wrap them up. Bad dog!
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
8:47 am
I’d be very surprised if Dan Mullen had any interest in the Georgia job.—just saying
Dean
September 26th, 2010
8:47 am
Kris Peterson huh. Dan Hawkins built that program at Boise. How’s he doing in Colorado? You better be real carefull what you wish for.
jr
September 26th, 2010
8:49 am
can we get brian vangorder from our falcons to be the dawgs head coach. this is really sickning to watch week after week this coachless team play. i would have never believed in my life time that georgia would be at the bottom of the sec. if i was aj green i would leave school now. why risk getting hurt for this horrible coaching staff. all the players that georgia have playing on sunday no title since 1980. it has to be the coaching hello can anybody hear me
Michael
September 26th, 2010
8:50 am
Georgia is now Vanderbilt without the academic credibility.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
8:50 am
BobbyDawg
You are not going to have your team “ready” to play when you stop having 2-a-days, because you don’t want to make the team tired before the season. That philosopy equals a fouth quarter let down.
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
8:50 am
Michael Vick for Coach of UGAY. He can teach u dogs how to fight. You mutts will be lucky to go to the Purina Bowl hosted by deez nutz
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
8:51 am
Dean
I agree with you that people on here should not attack a mans faith
But cut the crap about the man has a family, all of us have families
these coaches make more than me or you will make in several years of working
Im in sales, If my sales stay below a certain number for more than 4 months Im fired period
Not 10 years making more money than 95% of the population
Big Harry
September 26th, 2010
8:51 am
Personally, I’m a Dawg fan… thick or thin, up or down, so the rest of you can up and quit if you like we’ll see you on here again win things turn around. I’m going to give Richt a chance to turn things around… he’ll either make the right change or he won’t.
I’m going to support him. Yeah, it sucks being where we are but that’s what a fan does, right? It sounds like he’s got it about figured out that something inside the program is wrong.
But hey, if you don’t like it then keep your money, don’t buy tickets, don’t send your donations – it would probably add up to only a thousand or so anyway.
Thank you, that is all.
Mike S
September 26th, 2010
8:53 am
” At times we just called running plays blindly. We were going to run the play no matter what”
Well, Coach Richt – you have identified the problem, now are you man enough to apply the solution and REPLACE the BOBO BOZO who was blindly calling these plays?
The clock is ticking Coach – a change must be made, make it now or you will be the one being changed at the end of the year.
Your choice.
Frankly, I am so disgusted I don;t care which you choose.
Big Dawg
September 26th, 2010
8:55 am
Whether it’s Petersen or Mullen or someone else, the point is that there are several coaches out there doing much more with what they have than Mark Richt. CMR has one of the best jobs in the country and one of the biggest recruiting bases around. This program should not be regressing on so many different fronts. And if Dan Mullen gets the chance to springboard out of Starkville for a much bigger stage in Athens and doesn’t want to, that would be amazing in itself.
realistic dog fan
September 26th, 2010
8:55 am
To anyone who knows or knows little about football, it is obious our offensive line is the main problem. Blocking is a joke; Washon Ealey obviously has not been coached. How many games will the coaches allow him to lose for us??? He turned and saw the ball in the end zone and could have easily fell on it. I admire Coach Richt as a Christian, but I also admired Jimmy Carter as a man. As a head coachh and president, both are sorely lacking!! Hire Chris Peterson
Shane
September 26th, 2010
8:56 am
I’m so glad we don’t let fans make decisions about head coaches and who should play QB. Some people have a very short term memory of where are program was heading in the Jim Donnan and Ray Goff era and what Mark Richt has been able to do. Here is a news flash for you so called Mark Richt bashers you can’t win every game you play and you can’t win an SEC title every year and you can’t play in the BCS championship every year. Some of us coah Richt are beheind you 100%. Keep fighting the good fight.
mrkdawg
September 26th, 2010
8:57 am
Maybe Richt shouldn’t have made that high-dive trick
superDawg
September 26th, 2010
8:57 am
Lord have mercy.
WonderDawg
September 26th, 2010
8:57 am
” His defense has been chewed up totally this year.”
******************************
That is just totally not factual at all. Grantham’s D allowed 30 fewer points vs SC and ARK than in ‘09. Does anybody remember that even the great Saban’s first year’s 3-4 D at Bama was bad – they even lost to Louisiana-Monroe. It was a full year before his players got familiar withthe new D and started dominating.
If your offense can only score 6 and 12 points, you aren’t gonna win many games.
You must have a short memory if you want Willie M back. His defenses in ‘08 and ‘09 combined to give up:
34+ points TEN TIMES, including
40+ points SIX TIMES
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
8:59 am
Maybe the Sunbelt will let you losers join there conference next year when they do there realignment. Matter of fact I would forfeit the rest of the games this year, call it a rebuilding year like you always say it is and save face.
Lane
September 26th, 2010
9:01 am
WELL UGA fans… the time has come to make the call.. and you all know what that is…. EVERYONE MEET UP at the richt home in athens.. and lets pitch in and lend a hand… start loading up the truck… its a long drive back to avg-ville in Tallahassee… to join jimbo… lets be nice and pat him on the back and ill throw the yard sale sign in the back… PEACE CMR…. get out of town.. cause CHRIS PETERSON is on his way on the UGA lear jet….. and if he doesnt work out.. im sure we can lure Muschamp with enough money. PETERSON is a head coach…. and he coached at GA Southern, so he is familar with the state of GA, Muschamp is a cooridnator.. who by the way.. just got destroyed by UCLA…. that neither here nor there…. bring CHRIS PETERSON to Athens.. he would leave in a mili-sec… hottest coach in all of football. and………..IMMMM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phil Fulmer
September 26th, 2010
9:01 am
Watch your back Mark. They will turn on you in an instant no matter what you have done for them.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:02 am
Uh oh, the Colorado Buff;oes are 2-1, having beat Hawaii, that power house that propelled the dawgs to a # 1 preseason ranking by a score of 31-13.
Now comes the bad part:
there is no air for the dawgs to breath at over a mile high—-don’t forget the oxygen tanks.
they had a bye week this week to prepare for the lame dawgs
and now the worst part, they will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their 1990 National Championship and will be jacked. All the former player will be there and Colorado will give the dawgs it’s best shot————-this could be really bad.
eddie long
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
These men need a coach to take them on a masculine journey.
savannadawg
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
Well. I believe myself and maybe one other person on this blog wanted Manny Diaz as our DC. But, I too fell for the Grantham hoopla and fell in place. Boy, do I regret that. These Georgia Bulldogs are boys going up against men. What in the wide wide world of sports is going on????? Some one earlier in the blog talk about CMR being a Christian man. What may I ask does that have to do with football and the way it is supposed to be executed on the field?
tide roll
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
Enough generalities. Why can’t you all LOOK AT SPECIFICS!? Specifically, JAMES CARPENTER, and CHANCE WARMACK, two offensive lineman from the state of Georgia make up the ENTIRE LEFT SIDE of Alabama’ offensive front. Specifically, JUJUAN JAMES, is a 6′ 7″ 325 lb. freshman who is starting at left tackle for Tennessee. He’s from N. Gwinnett High for gosh sakes. BYRON ISOM at Auburn, MAURICE HURT at Florida, RAY DOMINGUEZ at Arkansas, ROKEVIOUS WATKINS and TERRANCE CAMPBELL at South Carolina, And it doesn’t stop there. The young talent that Searles continuously ignores will come back to haunt you just like these guys have. A. J. HAWKINS at Ole Miss. ED CHRISTIAN at Auburn . DUVON MILSAP at S. Carolina. JAMES ALEXANDER and TREVINO WOODS, (from athens) at Kentucky. And I can promise you ,XZAVIER WARD, the stud OT from Moultrie, will end at Bama and be groomed to replace JAMES CARPENTER. By the way, who are the so-called experts who voted your boy Boling ahead of Carpenter on the All-SEC team . We know what that BIAS WAS ALL ABOUT, DON’T WE UGA FANS. It never has nor will it ever change up there. EVERY DAY IS “GROUNDDAWG” DAY at UGA.
klazz
September 26th, 2010
9:03 am
it time for change starting at the top and muschamp and jon gruden and kirby smart should be at the top of the list
Fools Gold
September 26th, 2010
9:05 am
Well Well ….. Havent been here in a while and unfornutately I must say I told ya so. I pointed out this programs problems 4 years ago and was dismissed as a fair weather or a bandwagon fan. Guess what ….it will continue to get worse.
exley dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:05 am
Your a dummy if you post on here wanting to hire Chris Peterson, check that……………..your an idiot.
Offense – Ealey is bad, cant break tackles or pass block. OL is missing assignments, some defenders are crossing the line UNTOUCHED. Play calling is a joke, please return to calling the plays coach. We used to run a lot more no huddle. AJ has been a huge distraction.
Defense – Grantham does not the players for this scheme. A 325+ pound nose guard is needed and ours is Tyson at 275. Give the man time and this will improve.
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
9:05 am
Chris Peterson doesnt wanna come to UGAY give me a break. There will be plenty of better jobs open at the end of this season then the one at UGAY.
Tombo
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
My friend had a great idea to raise money for charity. Let’s have a raffle…sell tickets for a drawing. There would be four winners. Each winner would get to call offensive plays for one quarter of the UGA game. At least we wouldn’t be predictable.
Krogunner
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
Hey Shane you LOSER, Ray Goff or Jim Donnan never started 0-3 in the SEC. It’s time for Richt to go! That aw shucks, Bobby Bowden coaching style is done. Go get Chris Peterson now! If not him, then the guy on the other sidelines last night.
DawginOH
September 26th, 2010
9:06 am
I’ve always supported CMR, but if he can’t see that Bobo is the worst playcaller in the history of Georgia football, then maybe it’s time for him to go as well. Bobo should be fired on Monday morning, CMR should go back to calling plays. If that doesn’t work, then maybe we need a fresh start.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:08 am
Mike S
September 26th, 2010
8:53 am
” At times we just called running plays blindly. We were going to run the play no matter what”
Well, Coach Richt – you have identified the problem, now are you man enough to apply the solution and REPLACE the BOBO BOZO who was blindly calling these plays?
You are absolutely RIGHT, I second, third and fourth this MOTION.
klazz
September 26th, 2010
9:08 am
I am tired of excuses. quit blaming the players and refs calling penalties. Where UGA is at (which is the bottom half of the SEC) is on your back coach Ricth and while you have been very good for the program it is time for a change this year! Best of luck to coach Ricth in his future endevors.
Don Gill
September 26th, 2010
9:09 am
Everybody is right about not scrimmaging during practice. You can’t get game tough without it. We have talent that goes to the NFL yet we don’t have a good defense. We need a few bloody heads like Irk. We’ve had a couple of good linebackers but they all seem to tackle 3 yds. deep at their best.
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
9:09 am
We need John Gruden if Richt refuses to make changes
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
9:09 am
BOW DOWN to the SABAN NATION.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:09 am
Krogunner
Sorry ole pal, Goff did start 0-3 in the SEC in 1993.
Bdawgfans
September 26th, 2010
9:10 am
Unless BOBO the the clown is gone we will only win one more game Idaho State, maybe. The entire offensive line needs to be benched and play the young pups for next year.
Bottom Line
September 26th, 2010
9:11 am
Enter your comments here
swampjacket
September 26th, 2010
9:13 am
one mistake is not playing murry last year!
Lane
September 26th, 2010
9:13 am
jim harbaugh.. from stanford is a great coach, he brought them back from the cellar also.. i wouldnt mind him being interviewed at all. The guy is a no nonsense winner.
Jim Harbaugh
Chris Peterson
Will Muschamp
and bring good ole boy Kirby ‘DickHead’ in for an interview make him think hes getting the job and then hold a press conference to tell him were selecting someone else.. because hiring him would basically be no move up the ladder.. cause hes probably as much of a joke as CMR. That would be funny.. Kirby will be SABAN’s nut hugger for the rest of his life, Riding his coat tails, we all know who runs that defense in Alabama and it aint kirby smart, all he does is call in Sabans plays… dont fall for that one.
Weak Sisters of the SEC
September 26th, 2010
9:13 am
Congrats to UGA the progam has reached the bottom ! You are there and in the Hunt !!!
Krogunner
September 26th, 2010
9:14 am
Sorry, so richt sucks as bad as Goff.
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
9:14 am
Damon Evans for Head Coach, no he can teach them boys how to be playa’s. Jock straps will be replaced with red panties and tampax pads will be put in the place where cups would normally go. Team rule #1.
cwm
September 26th, 2010
9:14 am
NOBODY IS SAYING THEY DON’T LOVE THE DAWGS (PLAYERS) WE JUST DON’T HAVE NO LUV FOR THE COACH ……….. SO GREG ANYBODY BUT RICHT
Tombo
September 26th, 2010
9:15 am
Entire coaching staff was lost last night. You could see it on their faces. Richt just wanted to rub his head rather than addressing the problems on the field when it would have a chance to make a difference in the game.
We are so predictable on offense. We did nothing to address the blitz…and the continual third and long situations didn’t help. Try a screen pass, a waggle, three step drop passes, slant routes, keep in tight ends or a fullback to block.
Richt acted surprised they would blitz an inexperienced qb on passing downs and load up the box to stop the run to force into passing situations. Wow! Any first year coach could figure that out..and a coach making $2 million a year should have a gameplan ready for it. Step up and do your job or step down. Oversee the gameplan of your assistants. Provide guidance and direction when they need it. Step on their toes when you need to do it.
Then McGarrity said to Richt
September 26th, 2010
9:16 am
I still have some of Ron Zooks “For Sale” signs in my closet.