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
Richt understands ha
September 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
We Miss AJ Green is wearin out folks we be 1-3 and if colorado beats Ga sat afternoon Richt will need more malox to!1-4 and teams we beat n be 4-1 but since we have crooks in Ga one resigned u remember A.D evans and other folks we not that much crooks only MiamiFLa leads in jail birds 24 this year! Look like it are not Lou saban tolls hard n work n gets u wins Meyer see what he done made gators win 3 natl championships….when last Ga Natl championship gee 1980…Folks we sit n let best talent go elsewhere n we get bad eggs well some bad to are good.So if we beat col. buffalos sat 2-3 and on way but the fla game is one he never win meyers will win 54-14 and we should beat Kentucky and tenn vols but we best hurry cause dooley son will have these guys back as SEC power soon.7-5 be are record i afraid and save is Job is beatin Ga Tech soundly to.
GoldenDawg
September 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
The only thing I can think to say about most of these post is you guys are idiots.
1. Learn the sport and UGA football history before making stupid comments.
2. If you a fan from another school just fanning the flames. Get a Life.
3. fire.mark.richt.net- If you are a UGA fan you wouldn’t hide behind a proxy when buying your domain.
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
I say start playing the scout team and bench players they cant do much worse
At least you might find players that want to play because except for Murry, Durham, and C. Thomas and Houston everyone else needs to be in the stands saying
“What do ya have” “What do ya have”
Gator Man
September 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
1 eye jack: We got rid of Zook after 2 seasons, by the way he beat Ga, Tnn that year so it shows we are not going to put up with subpar coaches, you people in Georgia are loyal to man that never played for a championship.
BG
September 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
Richt is the man for the job and he will turn this thing around.
Yea Right
September 28th, 2010
1:31 pm
And you have the nerve to call UGA a national program.
Quote from the Denver Post today.
“Saturday’s game will mark just the fourth time in more than 75 years that Georgia will play a regular-season game west of the Mississippi.”
http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_16190626#ixzz10qWzSHiL
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
1:34 pm
My problem with Richt is this
Year after year, game after game, the mentality is:
If we get a lead, lets hang on
If we get behind early lets manage it until the 4th qtr
FL game well if we win great if not no harm is done
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:37 pm
@ goldendawg ok letslook @ the last 10yrs of dawg history
how many national championships have we won ? 0
how many national championships have we played in? 0
10yrs !!! 2 SEC championships very good (first 5yrs)
nothing the last 5yrs. don’t you want better for our
program and aren’t you tired of being the laughing
stock and BUTT of all jokes from the Gator nation
and BAMA and LSU? WIN A MNC AND THIS ALL STOPS!!!!
HeHateGator
September 28th, 2010
1:37 pm
Doesn’t sound like Richt has any clue as to how they got to the point they are at and that’s the big concern. How can you get back on the right track when you don’t know how you got off course?
Hit A Single
September 28th, 2010
1:38 pm
Coach Richt will turn it around!
Yes We Cam!
September 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
If a UGA player commits murder how long of a suspension is that? Like 5 games maybe?
Hit A Single
September 28th, 2010
1:40 pm
Yes We Cam! At Florida it would be for a half. At most schools it is one game.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
I hate to say it but Gator man is right!!!
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
flat tire you get my point, thanks
snapshot
September 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Just keep eating them kibbles and bits mutt fans.
It's me or the Dawg
September 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Isn’t this the same OL we had last year? Looked pretty good at the end of last year.
76-DAWG
September 28th, 2010
1:48 pm
Sounds like CMR has no idea what to do . The fan base and alumni have been warning CMR that ever since Van Gorder left and Bobo was handed over the play calling duties, that ’something just ain’t right “. I have been following Georgia football since the late 60’s and when certain thing aren’t coming together I can see it along with thousands of other die hard Dawg fans. We are not delusional or over zealot.
I think McGarity will make the necessary changes in time. He has only been here for a very short period. We must give him time to assess the situation, but it is very hard to do it when most of us knew there has been a problem for 3 to 4 years.Staying with the current coaches is not the answer. All that will do is move the decision down the road just like we have done for the last 3 or 4 years.The faster UGA addresses the offensive problems the better we will be and can move on.
I’m not going anywhere and as an alumni who has spent a ton in support of UGA, feel my concerns are justified. I just want CMR to do something other than what has been done for the last 3 or 4 year , which is nothing.
HOUDAWG
September 28th, 2010
1:50 pm
Jiggy ……. couldn’t possibly agree more ……..
harold
September 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
IT IS TIME FOR RICHT TO GO!
jasont13
September 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
Since everyone on here wants Richt gone, who do you want in his place? From the sounds of it there seems to be about 315 posters that could handle the job. Was it just three years ago Alabama went 6-6 ?
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
2:05 pm
Tired of Being nice
Trust me I do
Again I like Richt as a person but he put himself in this position by allowing Martinez to run Van Gorder off
And to not see something is wrong with the OC especially when your down 31-0 at halftime against AL with 4 top NFL draft picks on offense
jasont13
September 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
Gatorman Ron Zook was not the coach Florida wanted in the first place. You should be thankful of Ron Zook since he recruited the players that won your national championship in Uraban Meyer’s second season.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
why won’t CMR admit there are alot of problems @ UGA, we pay
good money to see them play and it’s not worth it 3-4 yrs
of this?
ozzfest
September 28th, 2010
2:07 pm
WITH THE ANOUNCEMENT THAT “UGA WILL NOT SCHEDULE ANYBODY WORTH A ****” MY ASSOCIATION WITH THE UGAA ENDED TODAY. I WILL BE IN BOULDER TO SUPPORT THE DOGS, BUT McGARITY HAD BETTER NOW SHOW HIS FACE…HE WILL BE VERBALLY ABUSED FOR THIS SCHEDULING BS.
patrick
September 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
first off…………
.
1. If UGA had Fla’s schedule we would be 4-0 and leading the country in both offense and Defnse so shut up gator fans and play someone then come back (we will not see them next week)
.
2. UGA is not done by a long shot we played 4 games without AJ, the SC game Ealey fumbled going in for the tying score and held SC to 3 points in the second half (meaning good half time adjustments )
.
3. The Arky game was tied (with out AJ) with 16 seconds left in the game
.
4. The Miss St game Ealey fumbled one the one and a TD was called back on a penalty (so UGA could easily be 4-0 with 3 or 4 bounces of the ball and we played ranked opponents.
.
5. Fla will lose to ALA, LSU and UGA leaving UGA ahead of them in the SEC east race
.
6. Scar already lost to Aub and need only lose to Fla (when was the last time they beat Fla/) and 2 other SEC teams (or 1 and we go into a three way tie) and UGA will be SEC east champs. This season is NOT over. The above scenario with AJ back is totally plausible.
.
The ball didnt bounce our way twice and no AJ and two top 15 teams…..get over it UGA is not as bad as their record and Fla is not as good as theirs….they got 26 total yards on a 1-11 Miami of ohio over 3 quarters and Brantley is horrible
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
does anybodt agree with my post @ 1:37 to goldawg
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
anybody
patrick
September 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
2:05 pm
Tired of Being nice
Trust me I do
Again I like Richt as a person but he put himself in this position by allowing Martinez to run Van Gorder off
And to not see something is wrong with the OC especially when your down 31-0 at halftime against AL with 4 top NFL draft picks on offense
==============================
forgetting something….UGA outscored the same ALA (with their starters still in and throwing on third down) 31-10 in the second. Cherry pickers disgust me.
AltamahaDawg
September 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
On what planet is a complete overhaul of the defensive staff, a complete change of scheme, “doing nothing”, or “same ol thing”?
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
jason13
To use your example of AL
And look at them in the previous 2 seasons and look at them now
What is with you people who are afraid to make a change
I wish FL and AL were afraid to make a coaching change,
I wonder where they would be right now had they not have made a change
We have been sliding downhill since 06
I think Richt should be given 1 more yr if he makes staff changes, if does not want to make staff changes then let him go this yr
obviously his priorities to the fans and team are not important to him
gdawginkalamazoo
September 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
Hey look, there were a lot of fans calling for Richt to become a true HC and that he should hire an OC. Well he did that. Okay it didn’t work out so well. Demote Bobo. No need to fire him because he is an excellent QB coach and a damn good dawg. Nothing against him, same as WM. Nothing against those guys, great position coaches but not coordinators.
Ed
September 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
DawgTruth, Richt’s winning percentage is closer to 75% (you said 77%) and has been dropping fast. Dooley had to play Clemson every year instead of a directional school or I-AA team. I don’t think anyone even knew that such schools as Idaho State and La.-Monroe existed until scheduling them became all the rage.
Also, look at Dooley’s history. He got by with a bad season or a couple of bad seasons because his teams always responded with a big year. This was supposed to be Richt’s big bounce-back year, with the new hotshot defensive coordinator and entire offense coming back. It ain’t happening.
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
Where can we go to listen to this Monday nights call in show (Mark Richt). Anybody got the link, please ?
patrick
September 28th, 2010
2:15 pm
“sliding down hill since “06″….complete morons should not be allowed on this board. In “07 we finished ranked 2nd in the nation which was the highest ranking UGA has had since 1980. Please step away from the keyboard as you look moronic with each keystroke
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:16 pm
patrick the BCS will not let a 3 loss team play for their
BULL$HIT,COUNTERFIET,SENERIO title
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:16 pm
The defense played well in the SC & Miss. St. games. Its the offense that hasn’t showed up (except for Arkansas & La Tech).
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
Patrick
Um you call me a cherry picker
Ok, explain the same thing that happened in the Sugar Bowl against WV
How about Tenn the following year
Against FL that same yr I mentioned AL
What about the Chick fil a bowl against VT
There are a few
What about a 2-2 record since 06 against kentucky
I guess you like to be behind the 8ball starting out every game since you love the
“lets manage the game mentality here”
since Im a cherry picker hows about sending me over some of the cow maneur you shovel everyday at your job to fertilize my cherry trees
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:18 pm
I mean if Ealey doesn’t fumble in the SC game UGA wins it. His fumble against Miss. St. hurt just as much. It reminds me of that receiver that kept dropping wide open passes in like 2000,2001, what was his name ? I forgot.
patrick
September 28th, 2010
2:18 pm
and in 08 UGA finished ranked 10th in the coaches poll with 18 scholly players out due to season ending injuries prior togame 3. Yet still won 10 games and a bowl game. Now thats good coaching. Joe Cox and willie martinez is the reason for 2009 and….ummmm in first four games no AJ, a new freshman QB and a new D this year. For gods sake man are you nutz?
gdawginkalamazoo
September 28th, 2010
2:19 pm
Ed, I used to watch Dooley call schools like Richmond (the Spiders had this cool mascot, blue spider with flourescent orange arms) “fine, fine football teams” along with schools like VMI. Different era same old same old.
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:19 pm
Terrence something I think.
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
patrick we didn’t even win our DIVISION OR THE CONFERENCE SHIPS
patrick
September 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:16 pm
patrick the BCS will not let a 3 loss team play for their
BULL$HIT,COUNTERFIET,SENERIO title
========================
and never said they would…..the BCS is BS anyway…its the SEC title we are shooting for….where did I mention the BCS?
cadawg
September 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
@ bo (9.08am): yep, that’s where it starts. i’d love to see us run the ball out of formations other than the I (this IS a playcalling issue), but even when we’ve done that there haven’t been any creases for our kids to run it. nothing works if you aren’t getting hats on people and moving them; to say we haven’t done that is to say something very obvious.
a buddy of mine (a bama fan) watched the MSU game and said, “i would fire your OL coach tomorrow. your linemen get stood up every play, and your backs have nowhere to go.” i think he’s right.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
This winning percentage stat is irrelevant at this point. This isn’t 2002. Pollack and Greene ain’t coming back through the doors to reel off another title folks. The thing that matters the most is where this program has gone since 2008 Preseason #1 Ranking. Call it what you will, but you don’t start out #1 for the hell of it. There was a reason, and now you have to figure out why this team is losing at a rate that the Pirates look like they may have a winning record before this team does. Something needs addressed and quick.
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
Nobody got a link to Richt’s call in show ? I Googled it but it didn’t show up.
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
Anybody reading my blogs ? Hello ?
patrick
September 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
TIRED OF BEING NICE
September 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
patrick we didn’t even win our DIVISION OR THE CONFERENCE SHIPS
=======================
in 2007 we did win our division….we were co champs with Tenn. The SEC title game selection was due to the H2H with Tenn. Get ur facts str8
Flat Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
September 28th, 2010
2:23 pm
patrick
10 returners on offense and you cannot even score a touchdown against S.C
the question is are you nutz
oh and since you love the 10 win seasons, I do too,
I just love to watch FL beat the crap out of us and play for the SEC title every yr why we enjoy those 10 win seasons
your a moron
Ray Goff
September 28th, 2010
2:23 pm
Oh, so its just the guy here posting over and over to himself using 500 names and me on the blog. Understandable.