Richt on late fumble: ‘That’s as basic of a play as we’ve got’

BOULDER, Colo. — Comments by Georgia coach Mark Richt after the Bulldogs’ latest loss, 29-27 to Colorado on Saturday night:

On the fumble on Georgia’s final drive: “That’s as basic of a play as we’ve got. You say, ‘What’s our No. 1 running play?’, and that was it. They got penetration, obviously, but you’ve still got to be able to secure that ball for a 4- or 5-yard loss. You’ve got to hold on to it, but we didn’t. They made a play.”

On Caleb King’s night otherwise [100 yards rushing on 12 carries]: “Yeah, Caleb played real good. He broke a lot of tackles. [On the fumble] I think he was trying to make a spin move as he was getting the ball. It was his instinct to try and make somebody miss. But you’ve got to get the ball first, and we just didn’t do that. Caleb gave great effort; he gave great runs. When the ball was secured to him, he wrapped it up real well. Unfortunately on the exchange, he didn’t.”

On the team’s morale: “Am I worried about it? It’s hard. It’s not easy. But I have a lot of faith in our guys. They’ll stay together; they’ll keep working. No one’s going to give in or quit, and nobody’s going to do a negative thing within our ranks. I’m confident that everybody on this football tam is going to keep working. … Losing is not good, but there are a lot of good things that come out of it as far as effort and attitude of the group. There are a lot of things that I can point to that the coaches will be proud of these games for. But the bottom line in football is wins and losses, and right now we haven’t gotten one in a while.”

On A.J. Green’s return: “It’s nice to have A.J. You could see tonight just how talented he is and how dangerous a player he is. He’s a momentum changer, and he did [change momentum]. We reversed the momentum of the game, and … he made our offense spark. He’s definitely a special player and a special kid…. There are plays you can call that go to a guy, but we didn’t go that way because of protection or coverage, so that’s where we started with him.”

342 comments Add your comment

Glenn

October 3rd, 2010
1:47 am

I gave UGA a 50-50 shot to win the game so I flipped a coin and we lost so I didn’t go to the game. Twenty miles from the stadium and I couldn’t talk myself into it. I did state earlier in the week if Bobo made the trip I wouldn’t go. You know what is worse, Tenn will beat the dogs next week unless they get lucky and old lady luck hasn’t been on our side if it had even being outplayed in a game or two we would be 5-0 not 1-5. If CMR don’t fire Bobo, well he doesn’t have a choice if he wants to keep his job. That’s my opinion.

johnnydawg

October 3rd, 2010
1:55 am

i’m behind mark richt no matter what, its just a rebuilding year : ) but i hope we can atleast beat tennessee next week

Hunter

October 3rd, 2010
1:55 am

I wonder which player will be arrested this weekend in Athens? After that, I know I’d be getting F&@%#D up…

Bobo should be fired before Monday…if he’s not. I’m ready for Richt to call it quits…

What's going on

October 3rd, 2010
1:59 am

As the great Marvin Gaye used to sing “What’s Going On?’”. WE LOST to a team that is 90th in the country (Div 1A) in Passing Yards, 68th in Rushing, 96th in Points For, and 59th in Points Against, and LOST TO CALIFORNIA 52-7. WOW. CU has not won back-to-back games in over 2 years. But yet, I keep hearing UGA fans say “but we lost ONLY b/c of a fumble” or “we lost the first 3 games b/c we didn’t have AJ” or “we lost b/c Ealey can’t hang on to the ball”. To which I say – NO, it RUNS MUCH DEEPER than ONE FREAK’N play. You can also insert – “if the OL had blocked better”, “If the Defense would cover people or relearn how to tackle”, “if CMR can FIND A WAY to instill DISCIPLINE to his players – on and off the field”. YOU SEE – we didn’t LOSS b/c of one play, or one fumble, or one player. There are MANY opportunities throughout a ballgame that can be “game changers” – UGA USED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT – but no longer. It all goes back to coacher. Year end and year out, UGA recruiting classes are in the TOP TEN – Something that GT would salivate at (GT is usually around 30-35 in recruiting classes) – but yet, GT seems to make better at the recruits they have than UGA does. IT ALL GOES BACK TO COACHING. You can have the TOP RECRUITING CLASS EVERY YEAR – BUT IF YOU CAN”T COACH THEM, IT DOESN’T MATTER.
That is why I say – for the first time, that CMR needs to go. It seems to me his BEST CLASSES were from Jim Donnen’s recruits.

dallasdawg

October 3rd, 2010
2:06 am

Just Win Baby !!!

MtnDawg

October 3rd, 2010
2:22 am

Looks like we made a huge mistake with the defensive coordinator hire, and CMR has reigned in CTG’s emotions so he cant reprimand the kids. Too many times players standing around waiting on someone else to make the play. The defensive players and all the coaches looked dazed and confused. Dont know if it was the altitude or something they were smokin.

We may not win any more games this year. Vandy, Tenn, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky look like they will beat us. This could damage the program for a decade or more. Hate to say it but CMR seems to be in way over his head.

Wholesale change is needed. The program is the laughing stock of the SEC and is already circling the toilet.

LCDawg

October 3rd, 2010
2:28 am

We totally effing suck. I’m ashamed to be a Dawg today. I’ve been in Richt’s corner for some time but it’s obvious he’s lost the team. Fire everyone…plenty of better coaches out there who want to win. Muschamp, Peterson lots of people.

TheTaxJacket

October 3rd, 2010
2:37 am

*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***

(((( 45 – 42 ))))

DOO DOO LEE

October 3rd, 2010
4:04 am

TRAP DISH…on purpose so you would not be able to watch the game at home..thus forced to go out and get drunk at a bar after watching uga lose for the 4th straight time…state patrol and athens police waiting on you

Gary

October 3rd, 2010
4:17 am

Y’all can harp about the current state of UGA football, all you want.
Don’t forget that, until Richt came in, UGA hadn’t won the SEC Championship in years and his teams won it, his second year.
He may be in a rough spell, right now (the best thing UGA could do is sign him to a long contract, giving him peace of mind, while he rebuilds this team.

So, to all the fair weather fans, out there, I say, SHUT UP!!

JoeCool23

October 3rd, 2010
4:34 am

anytime a program the caliber of Georgia’s suffers losses to Mississippi State and Colorado in consecutive weeks, you have to think the head coach’s remaining tenure may best be measured in games, not years.

Crimson Crush

October 3rd, 2010
4:38 am

Winning isn’t everything … besides , I have it on good authority that Mark Richt is a Christian :-0

aarh

October 3rd, 2010
4:57 am

Please fire richt- I don’t know, I thought 2007 was a pretty good yr. too. UGA finishes %2 in the nation, w/ Richt’s recruits. Their record was a little bit better in his 2nd season…by about one game. They had a lot of close calls in his first time around though where the ball seemed to bounce their way. None of the balls are bouncing their way now. Sometimes that’s the difference between a win & a loss, or maybe even multiple losses. Jsut look at AU, AL & LSU already this yr. They’ve all been winning, but they’ve all had some close ones that very well could have gone the other way. In 2007, by the end of the yr., they were playing maybe better than anybody in the nation by the end of the yr. They were dominant by the end of the yr. I don’t buy teh him doing it w/ Donnan’s recruits theory, bc of 2007, & also they won the SEC w/ DJ Shockley as well, in about Richt’s 5th season…as well. I know this season has been really bad, but I would rather hope he can turn it around than to wish for him to be gone. even if it’s not this season. I would like for him to have at least one more to get things straighten out. I just don’t think the guy’s forgotten how to coach…even though it may look llike it right now.

aarh

October 3rd, 2010
4:58 am

I meant, they finished #2 in 2007.

Just wow Georgia

October 3rd, 2010
5:01 am

No worries guys – that is the last tough / big name team we’ll play OOC for years to come. The next time around it’ll be the likes of Charleston Southern in Athens and then we’ll head to Tuscaloosa to get our butts handed to us a la the Gators.

Uga will finish with 5 wins this year – perhaps 4.

JLowell

October 3rd, 2010
5:16 am

dont forget, we held 3 time heisman winner marcus lattimore and the rest of south carolina to 3 pts in the 2nd half of that game!

figures

October 3rd, 2010
5:16 am

All I have heard is Aj Green Aj Green Aj Green so Aj Green plays and still no win now what will they say the truth the defense and offence is awful be honest the team is hurting this year is it the coaching or what be honest the players can’t stay out of trouble and focus!!

Buckeye

October 3rd, 2010
5:55 am

woof woof woof…..woof ( for the fourth loss)

Jim007

October 3rd, 2010
6:09 am

I can’t believe Adams will put up with the Total Lack of Dicipline much longer

The Thug mentality & UGA being nicknamed The Athens Correctional Facilty must be driving him nuts

Hopefully, Muschamp has been contacted and is waiting to come home.

dawgfan

October 3rd, 2010
6:09 am

There are only 2 or maybe 4 wins left on the schedule. This is a total collapse of a program. Very sad.

Charles

October 3rd, 2010
6:28 am

Discipline!! focus you do not win games with out discipline and focus and Georgia is lacking in both. It seems like the offensive line can seem to hold up consistently, flashes of good play and one mental lapse after another. Defensively out of position and lack of discipline, Three personal fouls on one player and he is still in the game. After every losing game; should have, could have and other excuses seems to be the weekly game plan. You look at a program which seems to be clueless as to the direction it wants to go.

You want to play at the top level then you had better get focused and start playing like you know what you want to do. Instead of looking like you do not know what you are supposed do on given play on a Saturday.

RussDawg

October 3rd, 2010
6:33 am

Watched UT lose to LSU on a bonehead defensive substitution.
I believe they will take out a lot of frustrations on UGA

Whitwell Dawg

October 3rd, 2010
6:35 am

Is it possible that Richt really didn’t know that play was supposed to be a flea flicker? Maybe he is so clueless that he doesn’t even know what plays are being called.

Monday Murphy

October 3rd, 2010
6:36 am

I have never seen so many talented players that can’t play their individual positions…. Sorry guys but yall need good coach’s at your individual positions to show you the basic’s… Coach Boo Boo your backs are so far back by the time they get the ball the defense is in the backfield… Reminds me of the old Bully In The Pen Drill… wishing you the best guys…

Sundawg

October 3rd, 2010
6:55 am

Colorado’s midget running back was better than our midget running back.

WatsonOne

October 3rd, 2010
7:03 am

Buck up! Adversity is here. We are having a bad season and I don’t like it BUT I am still a Dawg.

Matt

October 3rd, 2010
7:12 am

Anyone catch the Co. coach saying his boys work hard, attend class, and stay out of trouble. Could that have been aimed at UGA?

tdog

October 3rd, 2010
7:20 am

I thought we said wait till next year last year, and the year before.

Wallman

October 3rd, 2010
7:21 am

I hear that Cartoon Network will televise the Georgia-Georgia Tech Game.

Critter

October 3rd, 2010
7:27 am

What can I say…. This whole season is surreal

Gatormeat

October 3rd, 2010
7:28 am

Still more arrests than wins! KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!

collegeballfan

October 3rd, 2010
7:28 am

I am a Tech fan and will not say a word except hang in there Dawgs.
You played a good game offensively. And you are installing the 3 – 4 defense which will take a couple of years to do. Just a fumble at the end of the game by a player trying to make a play when all he needed to do was kill the clock.

After watching a 4th string Wake QB shred the Jacket defense, and watching a defense that gave up 50+ points to Duke hold the GT offense for 59 minutes, we Tech people have our own problems. And for the present,how UGA plays ain’t one of them.

Gatormeat

October 3rd, 2010
7:30 am

Can’t wait for the game in Jacksonville! KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!

Gatormeat

October 3rd, 2010
7:31 am

dogs, we love the direction you are heading. KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT! Please

Gatormeat

October 3rd, 2010
7:32 am

We may hang 60 on you this year. KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!

Wallman

October 3rd, 2010
7:33 am

I threw my season tickets in the trash this morning. I can’t bear to watch anymore and I refuse to be responsible to allow anyone else watch.

Gatormeat

October 3rd, 2010
7:33 am

What an embarressment to the SEC you dogs are! KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!

GB loss

October 3rd, 2010
7:34 am

Yeah! We get to hear Richt explain the same thing again and again. Nice guys finish last! I am bored with his lack of enthusiasm for anything butt himself and the team has so much faith in him that they do no wrong. Puh…lease let’s move him along!

Gatormeat

October 3rd, 2010
7:35 am

It is easy to see why the dogs are adding the likeS of charleston southern to their schedule. At least you may have a couple teams on the schedule you can beat. Idaho state may even slap you around. KEEP MARK RICHT! KEEP MARK RICHT!

We Stink!!!

October 3rd, 2010
7:36 am

Lack of discipline. Lack of intensity. Lack of passion. Lack of heart. Lack of effort. Lack of quality coaching. Lack of intelligence. Lack of motivation. Lack of fundamentals. Lack of dedication. Lack of adjustments. Lack of deep desire to win. Lack of offensive game plan. Lack of carrying out assignments. Lack of discipline. Lack of obeying the laws of the land.
Lack of urgency. Lack of strength and conditioning. Lack of coaches that can motivate the players. Lacking, that’s what’s wrong with UGA. As Richt says, “Ah, shugs, we did the best we could”. “We’re sticking together”. “We will win another one before it’s over”. Mark Richt just can’t get the job done. Veteran offensive line, two experienced running backs, A.J. Green, a new high paid defensive coordinator and Georgia is 1-4. It all falls at the feet of the head coach but the head coach refuses to make changes. If Mark Richt can’t make changes and try something else …. he needs to be the one to be changed. With losses at Auburn, Florida and Tech (maybe Tennessee and Ky) … we will be 6-6 at best and could be 4-8. I don’t even want to think about going to the Car Quest or Pizza bowl this year.
We probably won’t even be bowl eligible. O, how the mighty have fallen.

POPS

October 3rd, 2010
7:38 am

i hear la la wants a rematch but we have to play green

Mike S

October 3rd, 2010
7:40 am

“Losing is not good, but…” I’m tired of listening to this pansy qualify ugly losses to inferior opponents.
We need a coach that says “Losing is not acceptable.”. It’s a mentality that CMR has passed onto his players. Stop trying to build men of character that go to church every Sunday (FSU had problems with players landing in jail) and focus on winning ball games. Either demote Booboo back to a position coach or can him! I don’t care, because I think the biggest problem is the big softy at the top. College coaching is a game for bulls, and CMR is like Ferdinand sniffing the flowers.

Malcolm X

October 3rd, 2010
7:41 am

Maybe all you bandwagon dogs fans should check out Georgia State, hahahaha.

historydog

October 3rd, 2010
7:49 am

Well, its easy to see whats wrong, no blocking, confused defense, and Green can’t keep himself in shape while he is suspended and where is the strength and conditioning coach, on the sofa? But the good news, they played more like a team; played with enthusiasm and with a winning attitude. Derick Dooley will have his team up and ready for his first game in Athens. Support the dogs and beat Tenn.

Mike S

October 3rd, 2010
7:49 am

What a cruel joke was played on us. We have this ‘character guy’ coach that everybody (including the media) likes and he won a lot of games in his first few seasons and now we’re stuck with him or have to pay a fat buy-out. Florida didn’t tolerate mediocrity and gave Zook the hook, Alabama didn’t either and they sacked Shula. I miss VanGorder, every year we see more and more of how brilliant a defensive mind we had and that nasty, competitive mentality. At least he’s helping the Falcons.

680 buck says

October 3rd, 2010
7:57 am

Its all C. Kings fault, we were 1 play away from beating them.

sign of the times

October 3rd, 2010
7:57 am

In a Colorado-UGA final score update during the Bama-UF game, CBS shows footage of Colorado fans swarming the field. Announces that it’s Colorado’s first victory over an SEC opponent in 20 years. The second announcer disdainfully points out that Colorado just beat a “1-4 SEC team”. The tone of his voice, as he casually dismissed this “nationally elite program” will forever ring in my ears.

RGP

October 3rd, 2010
7:59 am

Murray looked great. Dumb penalties like roughing the kicker that gave Colorado a touchdown instead of a field goal hurt. Once again a running back FUMBLES to lose the game. UGA needs to recruit running backs that know how to hold on to the football.

Just askin

October 3rd, 2010
8:01 am

But if Ealey gets benched for a game losing fumble, and King gets the same punishment for the same offense, who will be at tailback next week? Who’s third in line to fumble the game away next week?

rosezeee

October 3rd, 2010
8:05 am

This is Georgia Football – – start it at the 50 second mark!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDMEX57Lyc&feature=related