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
Kenny Powers
September 26th, 2010
9:17 am
A few more quotes from McKay…just substitute/add UGA, CMR, CMB, the o-line, whomever, whatever, or what does it matter
“It bothers me that they (the national media) have picked us to be the worst team in football. Because what they are doing now is challenging your physical and your mental capacity and my ability to coach you. Now, this hurts me. Second worst team, I could stand it. But not the worst team.”
“We didn’t tackle well today but we made up for it by not blocking.”
“Intensity is a lot of guys that run fast.”
“Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can’t play football worth a damn.”
“If you have everyone back from a team that lost ten games, experience isn’t too important.”
“I’ll probably take a little time off and go hide somewhere. We will be back. Maybe not this century, but we will be back and we will be a better football team.”
On the Buccaneers poor special-teams play, “They were absolutely horrible and that’s the best thing I can say. Besides that they were bad. These people are not poorly paid you know.”
On how badly the Bucs looked in losing to the Steelers 42-0, “There were times I felt like leaving the stadium and hitchhiking home.”
On Tampa Bay ending its 26-game losing streak: “Three or four plane crashes and we’re in the playoffs.”
GTOldSchool21
September 26th, 2010
9:17 am
Watching the Dawg Nation implode…there is more written here than a 4 year degree requires at UGAy. When looking for the panic button, also slap AJ Green and Washawyny Easily for screwing their team. UGA has no discipline. That starts with the head coach. 9 arrests, penalties, fumbles, blown assignments…I know Tech didn’t look good today but NC State is a pretty good football team. UGA had not lost on the road to Miss State since the 1950s….
Bottom Line
September 26th, 2010
9:18 am
Georgia had over 200 yards in total offense and had the football over 19 minutes in the first half. It is not BoBo’s fault Ealey fumbled, that the o’line missess assingment after assingment, and he is hamstrung by not having a healthy Chapas, King, or a suspended Greene. State kept offense off the field for most of the second half and BoBo managed to get us a score only to have that called back by one of the dumbest holds I have seen in a long time.
I don’t rememember too many negative yard plays. What I remember is missed assingments and penalties. That is on the players, not on BoBo.
Dawg 97
September 26th, 2010
9:18 am
Richt must go! And now I know why Murray didn’t end up at Florida. He will be steady, but never spectacular. That’s not good enough for Meyer. Did anyone see highlights of that Burton kid? 6 tds.
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
9:18 am
Put all your car flags, stickers, magnets, shirts, hats, etc….in the garbage because your team officially sucks.
savannadawg
September 26th, 2010
9:18 am
O.K. Mark Richts tough decisions. Sacking or demoting an Offensive co-ordinator that refuses to tell HIS offensive line coach to go stick it in his ear, YOU’RE OUTA HERE!!!!!!!!!! Mike Bobo, Stacy Sorrells, Bryan McClendon, and the wide reciever coach. ALL underachievers. On the Defensive side of the ball. Should have just stayed with Willie Martinez. There is no difference. DID THIS TEAM EVEN PRACTICE IN AUGUST? IF SO, WHAT DID YOU PRACTICE? Patty cakes!
Florida Dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:18 am
To the guy who couldn’t find the Ga vs. MS game on TV in Statesboro, that’s what happens when you don’t win…your football program is on the back burner.
Here in Jacksonville, the Dawgs are not carried on radio anymore either. Not a big deal but it might be if we can’t find them on some obscure cable channel.
Vandy has probably had the same problem for years.
Wally B.
September 26th, 2010
9:19 am
You can’t be one of the boys and expect them to respect you–particularly if they are bad boys.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:20 am
So far Gratham has made the Arkansas QB and the Carolina RB the offensive SEC players of the week. Now he is taking us a step further, he just made Dan Mullen SEC coach of the week. Mullen made Gratham’s defense look the sisters of deaf and blind. And Mullen made Bobo look like a really bad HIGH SCHOOL OC.
D King
September 26th, 2010
9:20 am
The Richting is on the wall. Beginning of the end.
BD
September 26th, 2010
9:21 am
I know the Defense doesn’t look as angry as they should , but they have cut down the points being scored on us. Grantham had to take over what was there. he has made an improvement on that. that’s coaching. What he can do later…. should be better. As far as the incoming coaches…… that’s different story. Bobo doesn’t have a clue . Searls…a joke.. Van h…..are players are some of the smallest in the SEC
Bama Stan
September 26th, 2010
9:21 am
Couldn’t happen to a nicer fan base. Enjoy the basement boys! By the way, the view from the penthouse is nice
Lane
September 26th, 2010
9:21 am
i agree that bozo bobo doesnt call great plays… he has called some good games in the past… however.. POINT BLANK FANS>>> you cant call plays for a team that doesnt have an offensive line… THEY CANT PASS BLOCK or RUN BLOCK… so it doesnt matter what plays you call.. YOU HAVE NO CHANCE….. you think BOBo doesnt realize that. Bobo- ” oh crap, we cant block to pass or to run, wtf do i call, nothing will work, hmmmm x 87/40on 2″… sack, or murray creamed…. i dont like bobo’s play calling dont get me wrong…. THE GREATEST coach in the world can call plays.. if you dont have an offensive line your going to get DESTROYED… and thats what is happening. OUR LINE IS A JOKE on both sides of the ball…….. Alabama is the shiznit.. cause they have the best lines on both sides of the ball.. HANDS DOWN… then you throw in one good running back, much less TWO AWESOME ones.. and there you go… that = national title and dominance.. they dont have to throw to even win, then they have a qb who manages the game… no mistakes, that kid sucks, i could play in place of McELJOKE. he does his job tho. Thats all that counts. Saban builds his team around the lines of scrimmage, i give it to him.. that why they are dominating…. Mark cant just seem to get that thru his head.. or the players we are getting just obviously are BUSTS… and seriously guys.. is it just me or does every #1 Georgia HS running back for example CALEB KING… are they always a complete busts.. sure seems that way… CALEB KING MAY NOT START FOR Lousiana Layfete… he SUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKS!
Tombo
September 26th, 2010
9:21 am
We did nothing to address the blitz. Waggle, screen, slant routes, extra blockers, three step drops…at least try something. It was obvious the line couldn’t block.
Richt acted surprised the defense loaded up the box to force us into passing downs and then blitzed on the passing downs. Really? Any first year coach could tell you that. Any coach making $2 million a year should have had a game plan ready for it. You knew before the season that the defenses would do that…and yet we still haven’t addressed it.
Richt…step up and take the blame like the Texas coach did for their failure. You are ultimately responsible if your assistants aren’t capable. You have the opportunity to correct the problems during the game yet only get involved when it is too late. Step on the toes of the coaches when you have to. Step up and do your job…or step down.
jeffdawgfan
September 26th, 2010
9:21 am
I used to be strong CMR supporter. That is long gone. Wonder how Boise States coach could do with all of our “talent”.
Florida Dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:21 am
Dawg 97, you are totally wrong…Meyer tried everything to get Murray to Florida…Dan Mullen has talked about that all week. Need to read.
Bama Stan
September 26th, 2010
9:22 am
Anyone notice the beginning of the end for Richt was that thugish endzone celebration against Florida. Just sayin.
Reality Stinks
September 26th, 2010
9:23 am
Ok
If the status quo remains, then Dan Mcgarity
Stop making fans have to pay excessive donations for season tickets
DC
September 26th, 2010
9:24 am
Coach Mark Richt….I just wanted to know if all of the current football players were going to be paying their own tuition this year b/c obviously we aren’t fielding a football team!
Denver Dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:24 am
We suck, period, end of story. Beyond embarrassing.
Lilburn Dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:24 am
Mark Richt may not could have predicted a 0-3 SEC record, but a heck of a lot of us fans did. We could see it a mile off. The emperor has on no clothes.
BD
September 26th, 2010
9:25 am
CMR won’t let Grantham be himself…. You can tell his wings were clipped. But in some ways Grantham needed to cut down the F-bombs….. That would hurt recruiting. A mother doesn’t want to see thier son getting the F– in the face on TV. Don’t misunderstand me… chew their A– out, but tone down the big ones in front of the camera. i think the players really wanted that tough love… it has been missing. I think that’s why their just in the motions
tide roll
September 26th, 2010
9:25 am
Bobo is your Offensive Co-ordinator because he’s married to Barbara Dooley’s neice. That’s Why! I know it’s incredible but that’s uga,and that’s one of many reasons it’s the most under acheiving program in the history of college football. Boboo ia also the guy responsible for evaluating CAN NEWTON. You DO NOT NEED, I repeat, YOU DO NOT NEED a former uga football player, and south georgia “good ole boy ” assigned to evaluate CAM NEWTON. It will not, I repeat, It WILL NOT be a ” fair and unbiased ” evaluation! Nothing ever changes up there . Get rid of this element and maybe you’ll win another national title before we’re all dead!
Dawg 97
September 26th, 2010
9:25 am
florida Dawg, not what I heard. I heard Florida backed off late. Mainly because there was another QB (Burton)coming out the next year they thought might not come if there were to many bodies at QB. Murray would have never played at UF.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:26 am
Bama Stan
September 26th, 2010
9:22 am
Anyone notice the beginning of the end for Richt was that thugish endzone celebration against Florida. Just sayin.
Yes and Meyer has been making Richt pay ever since!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DametheButcher
September 26th, 2010
9:26 am
Hire a new coach and pay him $500,000 per SEC win.
seminoledale
September 26th, 2010
9:28 am
Go ahead, push Richt out the door. You’ll be sorry if you do. The worst fanbase in America is Jawja..bunch of ignorant rednecks.
Dawg 97
September 26th, 2010
9:28 am
That’s the difference between Meyer and Richt. One has a plan! That Burton kid is a player. They will mix him and Brantley the rest of the year and their O will get better and better.
Rogue U
September 26th, 2010
9:29 am
The culture needs to be changed at UGA. These partying THUGS have now sank UGA to a new low. Run these clowns out of Athens !
Lane
September 26th, 2010
9:31 am
bama dan, i agree you are in the penthouse you went out and basically pulled a florida marlins to win the world series, you got saban.. and im sure you guys will be on probation like a mo fo in the next year or two.. however, i do give ya your due.. hes a hell of a coach, but before you go just completely dogging the program.. i believe BAMA sucked for like 8 years straight… before Saban, am i wrong? did you just somehow forget that or do you have selective memory? its easy to stomp on people when they are down. I mean your coaches were: shula, and who were the other losers???? like 4 of them? and a scandal? so its not like your program has made all the right choices… you cant say richt hasnt been a good coach, he had like 5 or 6 ten win seasons in a row… i agree hes obviously just not a GREAT coach, hes not a complete loser and neither is the GA program. however.. congratulations on winning the national title and most likely repeating this year… but just so you know nothing in life is guaranteed…. bigger favorites before have been knocked off, but im sure you werent sweatin your nuts off yesterday. right? yeah… regardless i wanna see a SEC team win it all. Show some class bro. Winners usually do.
A Football Coach
September 26th, 2010
9:32 am
Freshman qb’s allways get blitzed due to their inexperience. CMR just needs to run the plays that Murray can handle…get rid of the ball sooner..we are trying to go downfield too much resulting in too many 3rd down situations…gotta get the run game going to open up the passing. Murray is a temendous talent and will be fine…once we improve our time of possession we will see improvement in the defence as they wont be in so many situations where the opponent has such good field positions…Ealy needs to sit out a week-maybe that will cure his fumblitis and finally those that take the undisciplined steroid dumb road rage type penalties should sit for a whlie until they get it in their heads that it wont be tolerated…come on coaches…lets get back to bacis and keep it simple!
murray county mystic
September 26th, 2010
9:32 am
@ savannadawg: I do remember you touting Diaz; probably been a better short-term fix. Why hire a DC with a 3-4 philosophy when it will take 2-3 years at least to get his players in place? This UGA team is so much smaller than other SEC teams. You have become FSU-lite. You have to stop recruiting 5-star athletes and get more 3-star football players. I’m not complaining; UGA is far from my favorite program. I’d root for Ohio State before UGA. And I hate Ohio State. But, I am getting sick of hearing the excuses form my co-workers every Monday. You may not want to hear this, but in my humble opinion, the problems start and finish on the desk of CMR…
DAWG with bag over his head
September 26th, 2010
9:33 am
CMR, there’s the door. Take everyone with you.
Marv
September 26th, 2010
9:34 am
Richt is burnt out, time for him to resign. Look at him during press conferences, bewildered, confused, no energy. They say a team takes on the personality of its head coach. Nuf said.
Bama Boy
September 26th, 2010
9:36 am
There is only 1 Saban and the Kennal Club Nation will never have him or a coach as good as him. The Tide is a rollin and we still have a little room left if you losers wanna jump off the UGAY animal control truck and on to the Saban Nation Train. We wont tell anybody. T-shirts and hats can be purchased online or at the same store you buy that UGAY trash. Come to a Bama game and see what it feels like to be a Champion. Nick Saban (Game Changer)——Mark Richt(Swim Coach)
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:36 am
This is why Murray wouldn’t play QB at Florida:
Trey Burton scored a school-record six touchdowns to lead No. 9 Florida to a 48-14 rout of Kentucky before 90,547 fans in The Swamp. READ MORE
And this was a much better team than Murray faced last night——-this kid is 6′3″, 230 and is fast,
they call him little Tebow———————–yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bama Stan
September 26th, 2010
9:36 am
Lane, check and see how many SEC and National titles Bama has in the trophy case. What would give you any indication to mention probation? UGA has more seconary violations (and arrests) than Bama. Like I said, enjoy the basement with your loser coach and cheer for a real team to represent the SEC on the national stage.
Hit A Single
September 26th, 2010
9:37 am
I think alot has to do with recruiting. We are slow, weak, and dumb!. Maybe we aren’t developing players like we should. I don’t believe that when I see true freshmen playing on other teams. Look at the running back from NC State. UGA’s back falls down with nothing but an open field ahead of him. Let him go play intramurals. We have a corner that was 10 yards or more off the guy he was defending. We have a back that can’t hang on to the ball inside the 10. Our Offensive line got knocked back 5 yards at time. Our DE jumps off sides with it 3 and 4. We have a TD called back because a wideout grabs instead of blocking. What does he think the official is looking at. Just alot of frustration. We have no playmakers except for our suspended wideout and our two kickers. Get out an get football players and don’t go by combines and recruiting services. Recruit talent, work ethic, leadership and discipline and we will be back. Our talent is weak. And don’t say it isn’t.
Rogue U
September 26th, 2010
9:38 am
Well another UGA player arrested. Demetre Baker arrested Sunday Morning….Kick that thug off the team !!!!
DavidShrunk
September 26th, 2010
9:40 am
Damon Pollack seems like a nice enough guy, but a football analyst he ain’t. He boldly picked the Dawgs to win the SEC East on his show……… is it just me or has David shrunk, like several sizes, since his playing days ? Hmmmmm…
Character Matters!
September 26th, 2010
9:42 am
Wow another arrest. Fire all of these clowns immediately. 10 arrests now for 2010.
DavidShrunk
September 26th, 2010
9:42 am
David, not Damon I meant. … but I’m sure David has a nice collection of red panties,as well.
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 26th, 2010
9:42 am
Georgia freshman linebacker arrested for DUISep 26 2010 Georgia freshman linebacker Demetre Baker was arrested early this morning by Athens-Clarke County police on charges of DUI alcohol, improper driving and underage possession of alcohol, according to the Clarke County Sheriff’s jail booking report. Baker, 19, did not travel with the Bulldogs to Saturday night’s game at Mississippi State, according to the team’s official
The way the dawgs played last night drove this teenager to a drunken stuper, but he should be
outa here
mike addington
September 26th, 2010
9:43 am
I don’t get it. Richt beat Saban when S. was at LSU. We looked like a football team for several years then BAM, we look like the worst t . . . whoops almost said “team” which we are not. The GA team is absolutely—according to rating services and other teams offering scholorships–loaded with talent, and the fielded team looks like they don’t have a clue. Mississippit St didn’t look much better. that was maybe the worst football game I’;ve seen. We have progressively gotten worse for the last few years with a few spurts mixed in. It’s painfully obvious tht the current staff doesn’t know what’s wrong. I’m quite sure they would fix it if they knew how but it’s obvious they don’t, so . . . .
bad apple dawg
September 26th, 2010
9:44 am
Another DUI arrest for THUGA. Send this guy home !
not a UGA Fan
September 26th, 2010
9:44 am
From an outsiders point of view: the state of georgia is ful of talent and we all outside of uga fans know it has become a place to steal recruits.
Now we all also know that if we were smart we would keep our mouths shut and let Mark Richt and his poor staff keep coaching at UGA and therefore taking wins from a program that has the 5th best Prep talent in the country.
Uga is a second tier program and will win about once every 5 years a conference title or be truly competitive
About every 4 years.
Uga is the laughing stock of the east now. Until UT goes on probation and the heat is placed on the VOLS for Kiffins action the heat will rest squarely on Mark Richt and the University of Georgia, and it is deserved. UGA is dragging down a good conference with mediocre coaching.
gator32301
September 26th, 2010
9:44 am
can he sound any more like Zook?
Coop
September 26th, 2010
9:44 am
Total embarassment. Richt is the definition of underachievement. I want Peterson next year. I’m done sending my money to Athens. Hell, at least Mac Brown took responsibility for Texas losing. Richt is a blind idiot.
Me
September 26th, 2010
9:45 am
Just a thought, but maybe Georgia’s next coach is out west. And I don’t mean in Boise. http://dealingdominiquewilkins.blogspot.com/
beanuga
September 26th, 2010
9:45 am
Everyone knows what plays are coming from Bobo. The screen was working good. Mississippi had the pressure on the quarterback and the running game. Bobo never made adjustments. AJ is going to be rusty coming back. Lets the young qb run more. How bad is durham hurt? The dawgs do not have enough beef on the defensive line, everyteam is going to run it down their throat. The dawgs are smaller than everyone!!!!! Idk what is going on there. Special Teams wins ball games. hint hint. Discipline the players making idiot mistakes. I just do not think MR is using the time given to coach these players. There is no tight ship at Uga. Play through injuries. I support the dawgs. The dawgs could have won every game so far. Just got to play football