Richt: ‘I understand why everybody’s bent out of shape’
Mark Richt heard the pain of Georgia football fans on his radio call-in show Monday night and, near the end of the hour, said he understands it.
“I appreciate all the fans, even the ones that are really, really hurt and upset and mad, whatever it might be,” Richt said. “Georgia football is great because of the fans, and I understand that. And I understand why everybody’s bent out of shape.
“I mean, we want our team to win. And when it’s not, everybody wants to know why and they want answers and sometimes they think they’ve got the answers and sometimes they just want to see us do a better job, period, and I understand that and I appreciate that.
“So to all the fans out there: I’m not happy. The boys aren’t happy. Our coaching staff isn’t happy right now. We’re not going to be until we start playing the kind of ball where we can win the games. . . . We’re going to keep banging away until that happens for us. I just hope everybody supports these guys through it all.”
With Georgia on a three-game losing streak for the first time in Richt’s decade as coach, several callers to the weekly show were particularly pointed in their questions and comments. One caller said: “Coach, I’ve been watching Georgia football for 50 years, and I got to tell you, this program is out of control. Out of control off the field, out of control on the field.” At that point, the caller’s line suddenly went dead. Another caller asked a two-part question, starting with Georgia’s in-state recruiting before adding, “And how about getting rid of Bobo?” Richt responded to the question about recruiting but ignored the one about offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Other callers expressed concerns about the Bulldogs’ tackling, the offensive-line play and tailback Washaun Ealey’s problem with fumbles. One caller called on the players to play harder. “We do need to play harder,” Richt replied. “I think we’re playing hard, but are we playing as hard as we possibly can?”
Several callers offered support and encouragement to Richt. One said: “I know you’re the right man for the job.” Another said: “Changing coaches is not the answer. . . . We know you and the other coaches have not forgotten how to coach.”
One caller told Richt the Bulldogs are “in some uncharted waters” and asked: “As captain of the ship, what are your plans to get this ship back on course?”
“Right now what I’m going to do,” Richt replied, “is I’m going to keep working my tail off like the rest of this staff and these players. And we’re going to stay together, because I promise you if we don’t stick together we’ve got no chance whatsoever.
“We’re going to maintain a positive outlook no matter what happens around us, because that’s the only chance we’ve got to get back on track and get people feeling better about how things are going.”
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484 comments Add your comment
Atticus
September 28th, 2010
7:28 am
He obviously doesn’t understand because when people have been telling him for years that his DC was in over his head, he ignored them until finally firing the three coaches. When people have said his offense is pedestrian and that his OC wasn’t an elite coach, he has ignored them. When people said his team plays undisciplined and without passion and poor tackling, he has ignored them. It’s plain and simple pride.
BOBBY CATHEY
September 28th, 2010
7:28 am
just thinking if dawgs can somehow win one game at home, maybe lets tear down the goalposts
FBI
September 28th, 2010
7:29 am
I was in school in Athens in the late ’60s. I remember when everybody wanted to get rid of coach Dooley after a losing season. Get over it.
Maybe Next Year
September 28th, 2010
7:33 am
UGA is a gymnastics school! Hell Suzanne Yoculan could get more out of the players and wouldn’t say “we were just blindly calling plays”. Go Gymdawgs!
Steve
September 28th, 2010
7:33 am
Get rid of Richt? Come on. The guy is one of the best. How many top coaches are available? Forget Kirby. He’s staying put. You could get Fulmer….really. Richt is the coach to keep.
CPO Dawg
September 28th, 2010
7:34 am
Hey BUCKEYE,
Do you know what the “O” stands for in Ohio State?
O-9… your football team’s reacord against SEC Football Teams.
luv yer show.
Coach Sleepy
September 28th, 2010
7:35 am
Plan? No, I don’t have a plan. Why do I need a plan? Even if I did I wouldn’t tell the fans.
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
7:35 am
An old Chinese proverb says,” I would rather be lead into battle by a Lion with 1000 sheep than by a Sheep (Richt) with 1000 lions.
An that my friends is what you have coaching the dawgs!
reality
September 28th, 2010
7:35 am
I amend my preseason prediction from 7-5 to 4-8….although I do not know where 3 wins will come from??/
CPO Dawg
September 28th, 2010
7:35 am
Hey BUCKEYE,
Do you know what the “O” stands for in Ohio State?
O-9… your football team’s record against SEC football teams.
luv yer show.
Tom
September 28th, 2010
7:36 am
I have a mental picture of the dog catcher.He is about 35, 5′ 6″ tall, weight 210, sitting in his mama’s basement drinking diet pepsi, and wearing a gt sweater that he would never wear in public.
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
7:38 am
Steve
I must disagree, I don’t believe Richt would ever coach again——-who would hire him? He will go the way of Goff and Donnan. Ride off into the sunset, never to coach again.
mason
September 28th, 2010
7:40 am
((( 45-28 ))) hahahahahahahaha
SCTexan
September 28th, 2010
7:40 am
Outsider’s observation – I posted here back in the spring an observation that I had about Ga. football. In a recent Bobby Bowden interview, he said that if he had it to do over again, he would recruit differently. I think THAT, is Ga’s problem. We watched SC do the same thing under Holtz. That is, worrying more about the stars on the stat sheet than the character of the player and their ability to perform in your system.
bdawg
September 28th, 2010
7:41 am
This team has no grit or toughness…they get pushed around every week…Maybe uga needs to have a few rough years and all these “blue chip recruits” wont come anymore…then we will get more people like Greene and Pollack that have heart! Think about it…those guys where donnan recruits….they came to uga prob cause no one else wanted them….ill take those kind of players over the staffords of the world anyday
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
7:41 am
reality
I think you are right, when you are only a 2 point favorite over Colorado, you know its going to be a long season. I think 5-7 will be the record, but I too don’t know which games would be a lock.
MURPHY
September 28th, 2010
7:42 am
Stat of the day. Uga is 20-15 in the SEC since 2005. A program in decline? Without question. The time has peaked to do something about this mess!!!
The Truth
September 28th, 2010
7:42 am
All I know is Richt aint done squat since Meyer and Saban got in the SEC!
Jacques Strap
September 28th, 2010
7:46 am
Steve,
Welcome to the discussion. Just to catch you up, your question has been answered about 1000 times. Feel free to go back and read through the posted comments on any of the older articles to find the repeated answer to your question.
Lou Holtz
September 28th, 2010
7:46 am
When is Mr. Adams going to do something about this situation, I really need a job!
Mean Machine
September 28th, 2010
7:46 am
Great coaches motivate. Great coaches have their team prepared (mentally and physically) to play every week. Great coaches look at the talent they have, and conform their “system” to accentuate what their players do well. This coaching staff does not do any of that. UGA needs to have a great coach if they hope to compete in the SEC.
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
7:47 am
bdawg
Couldn’t agree more about getting Greene and Pollack types, besides great heart, these guys brought much more football sense to the team and were coachable, not like some of these “I know it all” 4-5 stars.
FLA UGA
September 28th, 2010
7:48 am
I like the statement that Richt made ” We’re going to keep banging away until that happens for us. “… Thats a great plan coach, you might want to change the entire schedule like scrimmage1st against 1st for the whole week until you see a change.
dawgfan
September 28th, 2010
7:49 am
What kind of specific plans would I like to hear AltamahaDawg? Oh gee golly I don’t know. Maybe something along the lines of “here’s what were going to do so we don’t finish 1-11.”. He doesn’t need a chalkboard. He just needs to explain his plan beyond just empty cliched coachspeak. Like it or not, public relations is part of the job. Look arond you. People aren’t happy. His job is on the line.
Douglas
September 28th, 2010
7:50 am
Amazing: we criticize the coaching and we are called “fair weather fans”. I don’t think so: we are passionate and tired of mediocre coaching for guys who get paid a lot of money. But I do wish UGA fans would stop doing one thing: quit calling our players “thugs”. We do have some outstanding young men on the team and they do not deserve to be called names. How many of you have had a “DUI” before — does that mean you are a “thug”?
Disappointed Dawg
September 28th, 2010
7:52 am
Did anyone else sense that the calls were being screened. The gentleman that was saying the program was out of control was abruptly cut off. Later when a caller was speaking CMR said “i’ll let you know” and told the caller to continue. I got the feeling someone was there with his finger on the disconnect swtich and CMR was telling him he would let him know if he wanted the caller disconnected. Did anyone else sense that?
Disappointing
September 28th, 2010
7:53 am
The problem goes a little farther back than most are considering. Even when the program was winning a few years ago, they relied on gimmicks to help like blackouts, sending all the players on the field, etc.. Can you imagine Saban allowing or encouraging gimmicks like this?
I think this was a sign that they didn’t man up then and they certainly can’t man up now. They are weak and get beaten physically and mentally every week. A .500 season now looks is only hopeful.
A Big Dog
September 28th, 2010
7:53 am
Jim007….GaGator…….saban..Do the letters FO mean anything to you, then remember this, buttfaces….the next time your lovely little team gets it wrong I’m gonna pounce on you and yours like stink on s..t. I’ve about come to the conclusion that none of you even went to the schools you proclaim as yours.
MURPHY
September 28th, 2010
7:55 am
I would like to see Richt just come out and tell it like it is. Dont sugar coat it or be political just put it on the line. He wont be any more embarassed than he and his program is now. Show some fire-if you must call out coaches or players do so! Give the fans some kind of hope that you are fired up and ready to right the ship.
ga gator
September 28th, 2010
7:56 am
“So to all the fans out there: I’m not happy. The boys aren’t happy. Our coaching staff isn’t happy right now.
I hate to say this, but the quote above sounds like Bowden scripted it for him; especially about the “boys”.
Mtn Dawg
September 28th, 2010
7:56 am
This season is hard to take but I’m support’n the DAWGS cellar or not.
» SEC: Mark Richt says he feels for Georgia fans John Clay’s Sidelines
September 28th, 2010
7:58 am
[...] Mark Richt says he understands why people are upset, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC. [...]
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
7:58 am
Bear Bryant scrimmaged his player so hard and so long, they couldn’t wait for game day because they would have an easier opponent than they had all week.
But what does Richt do this preseason—–”we are going to stop with the two-a-days, we don’t want to get our boys hurt or tire them out,” “We want fresh legs at the start of the season.”So what has he gotten, a bunch of soft, weak players on fresh legs.
Jacques Strap
September 28th, 2010
7:58 am
A Big Dog,
Awesome!
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
7:59 am
ga gator
How you doing, just so folks know, we are two separate people, I’m the good looking one.
DAWG ONE
September 28th, 2010
8:00 am
I have tried to stay out of this, not really knowing what to say. However, it is hard and therefore I will throw a little something on the table.
Not one of the bloggers above has centered on recruiting. There are many, and I emphasize many, young men that are recruited by our opponents that we don’t even offer. I keep up with recruiting daily, and I just don’t understand. Now, if a kid is offered by say Bama, and we don’t because of off field issues, then he goes to play for Nick Saban, why doesn’t he continue with his off field issues? I would guess everyone reading this knows – Saban isn’t going to stand for it! The kid is probably told from the beginning that if you want to play for Alabama, you will follow the rules or you may never get to the NFL.
We reside in the fourth richest recruiting state in the USA, yet way too many of our best go elsewhere. We can’t get them all, but we can sure get more of them with discipline and guidance. From this comes results. I don’t think enough of these kids at UGA want to get to the league, or at least they don’t want to pay the price to get there. If they don’t bust it on the field, they get overlooked. If they get overlooked, the luxury SUV’s and homes will be merely a dream. How many NFL scouts are paying attention to those players that don’t bust it?
Discipline has got to be instilled, beginning today. Those of us that have it, are walking and working as free men. Those that don’t, are most probably in jail.
Beast from the East
September 28th, 2010
8:01 am
Hang in there, Dawgs and get it turned around starting this Saturday in Boulder! Go out there and represent the SEC with some good, old-fashioned, smash-mouth football!!!!
Best of luck!
ga gator
September 28th, 2010
8:02 am
GaGator I am doing great; you might be the good looking one, but I am the one that goes to all the UGA games with the GOOD LOOKING Georgia gall. I am also usually a little more respectful to the DAWG fans than you.
Zeb
September 28th, 2010
8:04 am
Hey Alt my south ga compadre……….always the voice of reason. I’m surprised noone asked for his plans to fix the economy while they were at it. I’m afraid this generation is so caught up in the “immediate gratification” concept that it’s difficult for for some to sit back and see what happens. It does me no good whatsoever to get bent over this. And last I checked I was not on the coaching staff at UGA. When I think I can do a better job…..I’ll submit my resume’.
reebok
September 28th, 2010
8:05 am
‘Play harder?’ That’s a strategy???? Wow, I never would have thought of that…good thing there are trained professionals running things over there in Athens!
ga gator
September 28th, 2010
8:11 am
Haven’t listened to any of his radio programs this year but has anyone asked Coach Richt about his doing away with 2-a-days during training camp and if he thinks it has had an impact?
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
8:12 am
Funny, I married one too, hence the Georgia-Gator handle
MURPHY
September 28th, 2010
8:12 am
Dawg One,
Watched the Dawg report on CSS last night. Kelin Johnson the analyst and former Uga player blamed our lack of talented recruits on the likes on Kentucky and Vandy getting our recruits.He said the top recruits dont want to come to UGA and compete with the starting talent here,they wont a chance to play now. Interesting-didnt know we had such talent at UGA-I guess the exception is AJ Green.
ga gator
September 28th, 2010
8:16 am
Murphy, did he really say Kentucky and Vandy? That is not a good sign fellas. I watched Blake Sims of Gainesville last year who signed with Bama in the state playoffs and dont understand why he was only a 3 star. He was the best High School Football player I have seen in 57 years. Someone asked him why he signed with Bama and he said, “I always grew up a Dawg but they didn’t recruit me until after I had committed to Alabama.”
GaGator
September 28th, 2010
8:17 am
ga gator
I respect the fans, I use to have season tickets and our daughter is a UGA grad, I just have a problem with Richt. When a program heads south, it start from the top. I’ve said many times for the fans to look to McGarity to right this ship——————-he helped fire the Zooker and hire Meyer. He knows how championship programs are built.
jake
September 28th, 2010
8:18 am
when georgia got rid of two a days this summer it shows (coming together as a team and tuffness ) ………………….
DawginLex
September 28th, 2010
8:18 am
The reality is that the team needs a win badly. That starts Saturday. Anything beyond that, no one knows.
You have to win games and Colorado is the next one.
If you look back at Richt’s tenure, we have beaten a couple of teams that we were not supposed to beat. Auburn 2006 comes to mind.
In my opinion, for Richt to really get a shot next year and beyond, he needs another win like that this year.
Unfortunately, they can’t beat anybody right now.
If they are able to pull off 3 in a row and maybe win in Lexington, unfortunately the candidates for beat somebody they aren’t supposed to beat begins with Florida.
Tough road.
Clean House
September 28th, 2010
8:19 am
Mark Richts call in show is a farce. His calls are sreened. Heck… Chuck Dowdle might as well ask all the questions.
Harry the Hat
September 28th, 2010
8:19 am
Dawg One
The reason Georgia doesn’t offer these people is Georgia is not on their list. It would be a waste of limited time and resources. They real question is why players with both character and athletic skills have no interest in Georgia. The obvious answer is the prevailing culture in Athens.
ga gator
September 28th, 2010
8:21 am
I agree 100% GaGator. McGarrity was the best possible hire. Don’t think for a minute he didn’t learn and have a vital role in the firing of the Zooker and also the womens basketball and men’s baseball coaches in recent years. They didn’t become a perenial Atheletic Department by accepting mediocrity and complacency.