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
valyboy32
September 28th, 2010
11:16 am
I DONT WANT A NEW HEAD COACH ALL I WANT IS MAYBE A NEW RECRUITING CORDINATOR A NEW STRENGTH AND TRAINING COACH AND TO STOP LETTING OUR TOP TALENT GO TO MEYER AND SABAN!!!! OVER 9 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS STATE NO EXCUSE NOT TO HAVE BACK UP DEPTH AT EVERY POSITION MAN PLEASE USE YALL COMMON SENSE!!!ITS A SHAME BEING FROM GA AND SEEING OUR TALENT GOING TO THE ENEMY SCHOOLS TIERED OF THIS CRAP BUT ATLEAST MY HIGHSCHOOL FT.BALL TEAM IS THE @#$% GO PEACH COUNTY TROJANS
jtdawg
September 28th, 2010
11:17 am
All,
We could go back and forth for years on this. Some who think Richt is fine and needs time, and some who see trends and are disturbed this staff gets paid to underperform.
I have one simple pondering question for everyone. Should this, or any coaching staff be competent enough to know, by looking at this team in practice and during spring/summer drills, how it would perform on Saturdays
Didn’t they see this coming? With all the wonderfull experience they have watching this “winning” talent Richt has coached since ‘01, shouldn’t the glaring weaknesses we see now on Saturdays show in summer camp? How come these problem areas weren’t addressed prior to us going 0 for 3 in conference?
Competency people. How come we all aren’t objectively looking at the competency of this staff intelligently? Are smart, informed fans supposed to believe that this performance has come as a big shock to the staff that, by some accounts from fans, should know how to build top 5 championship contending teams? Or maybe some people just overestimate their abilities..
Answers?
r2chs
September 28th, 2010
11:17 am
For the third time, “You can’t solve problems with the same thinking that created them!” Albert Einstein.
Nothing will change until the thinking changes, period. It’s so obvious that every fan on every UGA Football blog sees it, yet CMR is apparently blind to it.
GaTruth
September 28th, 2010
11:21 am
Richt is still the guy – and should be, for now. His winning percentage is 77%. Dooley’s was 72% and Walley Butts a mere 63%. If Dooley hadn’t had Hershel, he’d have never won a Nat Champ. However, he ought to be putting the hard sell on AJ to come back next year and make it up to the team he screwed. He also ought to dock Granthem’s pay $1000 for every missed tackle. Heck, Granthem would owe UGA money by now.
AltamahaDawg
September 28th, 2010
11:25 am
Mobile, I guess he could say a lot of things, but do you actually think it would make a bit of differnce? Would you change your mind based on any comments on a call-in show.
The problem is that you want him to say this, somebody else wants him to say that, everybody is going to interprete anything he says the way they want to anyway, so he does the correct thing and says as little as possible. Working to get better, nobody likes losing.
Personally, I could give a rats behind what he “says”. For my money its what he does behind closed doors at the meeting this week, and what they are doing to play better football, and I do NOT want his staff to discuss any of that openly. Either they can improve, or they cannot, and what he says has no bearing on that.
BTW, whoever made that point about the caller…..I consider the guy saying “this program is out of control” to have had no logical point to that comment. (what is that even suppose to mean) It’s quite fine to think that, but the idea of a call in show is not simply a “vent”. That added absolutely no substance to the conversation, and don’t tell me that is the type of comment that a producer would never fear could easily be followed by something innappropriate. “ok next” is what that deserved. They cut him off because Coach Richt just doesnt want to hear anything critical….really? I mean, really? Because thats why he spent his time doing a fan call in show after losing 3 games, he doesnt allow any critisism.
Dawgs73
September 28th, 2010
11:26 am
It’s time for a change at UGA. We all know what a GREAT person Mark Richt is and a definitely a “role model” for kids. The problem lies more in the business apsect of college athletics and the overall direction of this program. Mark was successfull when the competition was less challenging and not the calibur of National Championship success.
With the introduction of Saban, Meyer, Spurrier, and so and so on, Richt has failed to improve this program and implement a system that maximizes UGA’s talent/players. It’s not an indictment of Richt as a man/peron, it’s more of not adapting and incrementally increasing your team’s overall success. The idea that changing a coordinator would do the trick, is to miss the point all together. When a team has lost all the fundamental principles that lead to success (tackling, blocking, penalties, special teams, off field transgressions) then it’s evident that the direction/message has been lost in translation.
I’m not proud of every imposing or calling for the firing of anyone’s job, but the overall state of UGA’s football team has been & is heading in a direction that no owner/GM/Athletic director can overlook…it’s time for change.
GaTruth
September 28th, 2010
11:29 am
Dawgs73 – one of the better comments I’ve ever read on the AJC site. Well thought out.
Radly Dawg
September 28th, 2010
11:31 am
Hang in there Dawgs….we still love you all….the fairweathered fans don’t matter anyway…they’re a bunch of loud mouth idiots! They’re spoiled and want their way. Keep your heads up…practice hard, play harder, and good things will happen. It’s always darkest before the dawn. We love you guys… hold your heads up and be BULLDAWGS!!!
RADLY DAWG
Jeffro Bodeen
September 28th, 2010
11:31 am
Just say nothing!! It matters not what you, I or anyone else thinks or has say about the situation in Athens. If you want to make a statement, say nothing. Stay off the blogs, don’t call in to the radio shows, don’t start websites, just say nothing. Let’s see what they (the coaching staff) have to say about losing when noone is raising a ruckus!!
AltamahaDawg
September 28th, 2010
11:32 am
But I am glad we figured out the entire problem. He called them “boys” during a radio show, and they are actually “young men.” Ah. Great! No wonder that blocking scheme isn’t working now.
Wanda
September 28th, 2010
11:43 am
M.R. needs to coach. He is not getting involved enough in the game. I can remember him getting in the players face when they did something wrong. He hardly shows any emotions during the game. He is the one that is gonna have to fire this team up.
Mobile Dawg
September 28th, 2010
11:54 am
Altamaha, as far as results go what Richt says won’t change anything. It’s results we’re all looking for.
I think if he came out and outlined what he thinks the problems are, as generally as possible, yet being somewhat specific, as I mentioned in my comments, it could serve to calm some of the fever pitch Bulldog Nation is working themselves into. I for one would like to know he recognizes strength and conditioning is a problem, and he’s going to fix it. I would like to know that he’s going to take the discipline issues to the laundry and clean them up, or not field a football team, kick everyone off if necessary. I for one would like to know that he’s looking for the best coaches in the land for our problems; a simple statement saying “I know there are people that think certain coaches aren’t performing. It’’s my job to evaluate their performance, everyone, everything in the program is being looked at for possible solutions.” I would like to know why our guys aren’t motivated to play 100%, and if guys aren’t giving 100% sit them down. Tough love may lead us to a few more losses short term but at least I would know he’s trying. Why would these things be so hard to say? Unless I see something concrete, I’m going to keep pushing for change, anyway I can. I’m tired of seeing the definition of insanity, but it seems to fit here right now.
Unfortuately, I’m of the belief he’s let the infection fester to long to be healed. I’m to the point I just want to feel better as a patient. I would give CMR my support for another year if he sold me that he was going to fix things. His lack of talking about the problems, his track record of not addressing the problems in a timely manner, and not giving me conclusive evidence that he’s capable, lean me in the direction that a change is necessary.
There are enough people like me in Bulldog Nation to cause a change in Athens. It really is up to CMR to convince us that “CHANGE” isn’t the answer and isn’t necessary
Welcome back “ole dawg”. If that’s the real you….
Joemac
September 28th, 2010
11:54 am
I tried to tell you, but…I said that Missy St. had a good chance top win, and guess what, they won. I will again repeat (for at least the 50th time since spring) consider 8-4 a GREAT SEASON. Frankly, I see at least 2 more losses(Florida and Auburn), and 2 questionable games(Kentucky and GT). I also said several months ago that you can count 3 games as sure wins LaLa, Idaho St. and Vandy. Now I am not so sure about Vandy.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
11:57 am
yall said the same thing last year and the same problems are
still here @ UGA, when will we stop putting up with this, i
will support the dawgs @ home in front of the TV, I will not
spent another dime for tickets on a product like this, the
economy is terrible and so is this years version of the DAWGS,
Stop buying CMR’s crack that he’s selling, our program is in
shambles and we are the worst team in the sec, how does CMR
go from being the BEST OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR in the country
to where we are now? answer, the offense is outdated, why
do we appear soft? answer, our head coach is a christian(i
have nothing against that)he doesn’t curse these guys out
when they need to be and won’t let anyone else do it, he
doesn’t get in their grill when they need it and the players
do not fear him, all of us that have played football know
that the head coach was the most feared man on the field,
he opened his mouth and you feared him, does anybody see
this @ UGA? NO! Grantham has the right idea but CMR told
to tone it down, how do you think the players felt about
that? Where is the nastiness in this team? We should not
settle for this, this is the U OF GA! We were once known
as the JUNKYARD DAWGS now we are the PUNKYARD DAWGS so
please help me find our once PROUD FOOTBALL PROGRAM
CDAWG
September 28th, 2010
11:59 am
Dawg Catcher, get off our blog. We are well aware of our problems and don’t need your juvenile posts. Now, you are about to burn those fries and then you will get fired so pay attention.
CDAWG
September 28th, 2010
12:02 pm
Tired of being nice, you said that Richt told Grantham to tone it down. How do you know this? IF Richt told him that, that is not good. We need some fire out there.
CDAWG
September 28th, 2010
12:06 pm
Wanda, I agree with you that Richt has to fire this team up. Did you see Coach Paul Johnson on TV a couple of weeks ago where he said that it is not his job to motivate these kids? What a load of crap, if he had maybe Tech would have won Saturday. If I am getting paid the money these guys are making, I would do WHATEVER I had to, to fire them up. Heck look how much passion the Falcons coach displays on the sideline and he is a coach of a pro team.
Ace
September 28th, 2010
12:08 pm
If I made (not earned) his money I would kiss fans butts too, I guess you donors don’t mind spending all that money for 1 win and 3 LOSSES.
Mobile Dawg
September 28th, 2010
12:08 pm
One more thing, this is hard to say as a fan and supporter because I know what will be coming afterward. I’ve got a life, two families, one older, and one younger now, a four year old. She’s half Dawg, half AU Tiger. I own a business, have employees, family, enjoy the outdoors, fishing, golf, etc. so I do have a life. Just a little perspective because like I said I know what will be coming my way after I make my last comment for today.
“I don’t enjoy watching these Dawgs anymore, with the exception of a few, they have no heart. We used to schedule our busy lives around Saturday’s to watch UGA football. Share it with friends and family, it was sacred. Like I’ve said before, football isn’t life, but it was a fun part of it. We can’t talk smack to Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky, Vandy, Miss St, Arkansas, probably Auburn after this year, that one really hits home and hurts. We aren’t competetive anymore. I hold CMR 100% accountable for losing this exciting, enjoyable, part of our life. We want it back.”
Mobile Dawg
ugadad
September 28th, 2010
12:11 pm
I think some of the players not playing the right position or the best players not playing…I been to some of the dawgs practices and on game day the players that started at practices don’t start in game…I seen starter have fits at practice don’t practice hard and still start on game day..If I know I’m going to start no matter how little I practice or how I play in the game …what the point in playing hard..no one is expecting me to….Coaches show favor to some players and put other players down…Richt say they are a family but that is not what I see when I attend their practice
icedawg
September 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
Relax folks, it’s just a game, it’s just a game. One man said that he was not going to let this go to his head, that he was going to spend more time with his kids and wife. Maybe a great idea, huh? Eventually it’ll all get sorted out in spite of the collective “wisdom” spouted on this blog. Good times will return, eventually. Just look at Bama.
HOUDAWG
September 28th, 2010
12:27 pm
HEY DAWG CATCHER ……
You’re a real tough guy ……. behind the keyboard. The Dawgs WILL be back again ……. & the most positive thing about this …. or any other season :
We’re NOT TECH , thank God …..
Fred
September 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
@Dawg Catcher – Your fingers outnumber your teeth…and your team SUCKS!!!!!
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
September 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
Jim007:
THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR A$$ FROM SECOND BASE….WHAT HAVE YOU EVER DONE, JIM, WHICH WOULD MAKE US LISTEN TO YOU…..A MAN NAMED BRYANT(BEAR) ONCE HAD 2 CONSECUTIVE 6-5 SEASONS AT THE CAPSTONE…ALL THE JIM 007 FANS AT ALABAMA SAID HE WAS TOO OLD AND THEY SHOULD PUT HIM OUT TO PASTURE….THESE WERE THE SAME ALABAMA FANS THAT COACH BRYANT HAD WON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR….BEAR WAS THE BEST THATS EVER BEEN…AFTER THAT BEAR CAME BACK TO WIN A COUPLE MORE NC….IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE JIM 007 BABIES WHO CAN’T GET THEIR SUGAR TEAT ARE OUT THERE…SOME OF THE BULLDOG BACKERS ARE THE BIGGEST CRYBABIES IN THE WORLD WHEN THINGS GO WRONG….SO GET OFF THE COACHES, LET THEM COACH(THE MAN AND HIS STAFF ARE ONLY AVERAGING 10 WINS PER YEAR…TEE TEE ON THE CRYBABIES….BUT THEY WILL BE THE JUMPING BACK ON THE BANDWAGON WHEN THE SHIP GETS RIGHTED….
Gator Man
September 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
You people in this state are a joke, If this man was at any school in Florida he would be fired, and you wonder why you people never play for championships.
The media are in love with Richt, for all you bull dog Richt lover go to the Florida web site when team lose games, you guys settle for sub par coach and you expect championship teams.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
Does Richt know how to play the fiddle? Nero played Rome burned. Now Richt can fiddle while Athens sinks in the cesspool.
Devil's Advocate
September 28th, 2010
12:44 pm
I have done my best work in Athens: arrests, clueless coaches, a mad fan base, even a pitiful substitute mascot that can’t bark, my boss has sent me a bonus and the rest of the year off.
Gator Man
September 28th, 2010
12:46 pm
Georgia people, still living in the past of Ronald Reagan and Georgia 1980 football championship.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
September 28th, 2010
12:47 pm
ALL YOU WHO TALK ABOUT FIRING COACHES, THIS IS FOR YOU: IT IS CALLED “THE MAN IN THE ARENA”…THATS A PLACE FOR SURE THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN…..
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
cdawg it has been told to me by a friend in the program
at practice that CMR does not like the curse words that
grantham uses, so where does the fire come from if there
is none in practice?
jack bull
September 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
i can’t figure out which i’m more disappointed in, the defense not near as aggressive as i thought it would be(i think Miss St had the more aggressive D), or the offense, which is giving us about 6 pts per half. I’m not smart enough to know if it’s the OC, or the QB. if you look around, teams with good QB’s score touchdowns..
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
September 28th, 2010
12:54 pm
CDAWG:
SADLY, THE MOTIVATION MUST COME FROM WITHIN EACH PLAYER ON THE SQUAD…IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD DO MAGIC TRICKS AND MOTIVATE, BUT THAT TYPE OF MOTIVATION LASTS ABOUT 2 PLAYS…..YOU CAN’T HIDE TALENT, AND FOR WHAT I’VE SEEN SO FAR, I THINK MANY OF THESE UGA GUYS MAY BE OVERRATED BY THE RECRUITING GURUS….I’VE SEEN BETTER RUNNING BACKS IN HIGH SCHOOL….AS FOR THE COACHES AND THE SCHEME, IT IS THE SAME SCHEME THAT CMR HAS USED TO WIN 10 A YEAR….THE COACHES HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN HOW TO COACH….THIS LOOKS LIKE A SENIOR CLASS WITHOUT ANY LEADERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BALL…..
01HAWK
September 28th, 2010
12:55 pm
You can get Bill Curry…………………….OH, I forgot…………………..BAMA fans threw a brick at his window. Might be a good hire for he has more talent than you do.
jtdawg
September 28th, 2010
12:57 pm
Mobile Dawg, well stated…
Mean Machine
September 28th, 2010
1:03 pm
REALITY CHECK people! UGA is not going to fire Richt after this year. He will have another year to turn things around. Unfortunately, I have lost faith in him and his staff to stop the runaway train. So basically what we are looking at is an abysmal year this year, mediocre at best next year, and a new coach the following year. McGarity’s legacy will depend on that hire. He must find the next great coach in college football. Anything less than winning the SEC should be unacceptable at UGA. Let’s hope he gets it right. In the meantime, we’re going to have to suffer through another 2-3 years of ineptitude and mediocrity, while Alabama and Florida continue to play in Atlanta every December.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:04 pm
lake oc dawg i for one do not believe that CMR forgot how
to coach, but maybe he forgot when to change with the times
98% of college football has gone to the spread and therefore
practice against the spread get where i’m going? i also
agree that these recruits are overrated gy these gurus the
boise state coach said give him 2 or 3 star recruits that
are hungry football players not premadonnas, because in
order for these types of players to be successful they work
their A$$es off it’s not given to them, therefore they
become complete TEAM players, i for one totally agree
Chili Dog
September 28th, 2010
1:05 pm
Oh dillusional ones:
It’s not just the last two years.
How many championships of any description did the Dawgs win the great Mathew Stafford, Knoshow, and cast of NFL1st rounders?
ZERO.
The signature win for the program in the last 5 years was beating the hapless Hawaii Rainbows
1eyedJack
September 28th, 2010
1:06 pm
Gator Man (boy), I seem to remember ya’ll putting up with Zook for a couple of subpar years. Idiot.
tony
September 28th, 2010
1:08 pm
ugadad, you nailed it sir. I’ve been waiting to hear this from some1. I honestly believe that what you are saying is the biggest contributing factor as to why this football team is in disarray. Mr.Richt has always shown favoritism towards his players. These athletes knows this. I believe some of these athletes act out against Richt’s inept decisions by getting in trouble just to make him look bad in the public eye. Some of these kids are not going to sit back like DJ Shockley or K. Moreno to prove to Mr.Richt that they belong on the football field. We all know that Moreno was better than Thomas Brown but Mr.Richt believe that loyalty is more important than winning. Sad but true.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:10 pm
anyone watch boise state? they look pretty fast and look
like a complete TEAM. Just 2 and 3 star recruits.
Wally Butts' Designated Stumbler
September 28th, 2010
1:11 pm
So, is Ben Jones going to be benched for a game or two after this stunt?…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reVnna38sPI
What a sorry POS.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:14 pm
i agree with tony and ugadad, postions on the field are earned
not given, start making them earn it. i also lay some of the
on pay j green unless he says he is coming back to help right
things he messed up this season too, but it won’t happen
just sayin
BW
September 28th, 2010
1:14 pm
Team problem…character! We do not have a David Pollock, David Greene or a Matt Stinchcomb type player that has leadership skills on and off the field. As a former coach, some of the best teams i had, we were not that good athletically but the team chemistry/morale was awesome and we had good senior leadership. The players were coachable and did the things we asked them to do on and off the field. We won alot of games with the TEAM concept.
This TEAM concept is missing at this point
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:15 pm
positions…sorry
Phil
September 28th, 2010
1:17 pm
“He also ought to dock Granthem’s pay $1000 for every missed tackle. Heck, Granthem would owe UGA money by now.”
Did you hear what Richt said on the radio show last night? This is a quote: “We don’t have a problem with tackling”.
What games has he been watching?????
Roy Wood
September 28th, 2010
1:17 pm
I guess all of you with Phoney names must be Tech Fans because they seem worse than UGA Johnson is not such a genius now is He.The Thugs at UGA just get a lot more publicity than those 30 at FLA of course I guess merer and SABAN have a better relationship with University COPS.If Iwere Tech fans I would want them to get rid of RICHT he beats them regular enough.Dooley had a lot of Bad yrs .I think he war 6-5 the yr before he won Nat Champ.Pardon mispelled words I was not educated at Tech. Texas Dawg
SEC lunch links | SportsTalk South
September 28th, 2010
1:18 pm
[...] Georgia coach Mark Richt understands why “everybody’s bent out of shape.” [...]
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
1:20 pm
Ben Jones is White and he is a UGA THUG.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 28th, 2010
1:21 pm
Well some great points being made! It just hit me in reading some that are we really seeing the end of CMR in Athens? Could this be his last season? What does it take to get him fired this year? Do we really want whatever that may be to really happen?
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:23 pm
what’s up flat tire on I-95 in jax what’s up!!!