Herschel Walker weighs in on UGA’s off-field problems
Herschel Walker expressed concern about the number of Georgia football players arrested this year, saying coach Mark Richt has “got to take control” of the issue and the players “have to take responsibility.”
The former Georgia football great, who led the Bulldogs to the national championship as a freshman 30 years ago, was asked about the issue during an appearance Wednesday on ESPN’s “College Football Live” program.
“That’d concern me a great deal,” Walker said. “The losses, that is going to concern me as well, but when you got kids that got off-field problems, we need to get into and see what’s going on. Because when you got off-the-field problems, there’s something going on with that program.
“And I think Coach Richt has got to get a hand on it. I love Coach Richt. He’s a great coach, and there’s no doubt: I do not think Coach Richt should be fired. We got to find out what is going on within that program when you got 11 guys since March that have been off-the-field problems.”
Of the 11 players arrested this year, four were kicked off the team by Richt, one left the program after getting a six-game suspension, one got a two-game suspension and three received one-game suspensions.
“He’s got to fix it,” Walker said of Richt. “He’s the leader there on that team, so he’s got to take control.
“Athletes got to have responsibility,” Walker added. “That’s one of the problems I think athletes have today. They don’t want to take responsibilities, but they have to take responsibility. You’re in college; you’re not out in high school anymore; you’re in college. . . . If you got a problem, you got to be penalized. Now, Coach Richt does that, but I think you got to be a little bit more harsher.”
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410 comments Add your comment
jacket22
October 21st, 2010
3:07 pm
and in case you didn’t understand winston it proves my point
Vince Dooley, III
October 21st, 2010
3:09 pm
When a guy with multiple personality disorder tells you to get control, that’s a bad sign.
GwinnettDad
October 21st, 2010
3:09 pm
@jerkit22, please, please, ask your dealer or doctor to double your hit or prescription medicine, OK? You’re about to pop a blood vessel, and I’d rather not get any of your crap on my shoes.
tmz
October 21st, 2010
3:11 pm
Who cares anyway.
Bruce
October 21st, 2010
3:16 pm
You no life, sit on you ass, and show your ignorance fups just love to bitch about anybody who is more active, intelligent, and successful than your scum sucking smart ass.
tmz
October 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
Hershel is going to be on Dancing With The Stars soon. I just hope he does not bend over while dancing and everyone sees that he is wearing red panties with a big black G on them. UGA has enough already to be ashamed of without something like that.
Ace
October 21st, 2010
3:26 pm
Walker’s UGA entrance test:
Fill in the blank – Old McDonald had a _________?
“FARM” he replies.
Correct, now spell it — “E I E I O” Walker replies.
Sand
October 21st, 2010
3:28 pm
Who is Hershel to tell Coach Richt what to do? This idiot just took posed nude, so he should get himself under control!
AltamahaDawg
October 21st, 2010
3:30 pm
DIT, the problem with: “My guess would be until CMR can get the respect that Saban, Myer etc… can achieve, the arrests will continue.” is this.: Meyer’s players do get arrested, ALL the time. (how they can manage to squash the report of the 2 DUI for 4 months, is another debate). So that theory doesnt work.
CourtneyF
October 21st, 2010
3:35 pm
Dear Herschell, get ‘yo fly bad ass self on ova hear an let a Wonda Woman get you ‘n a cage…….red panties waiting…..xxxxoooo’s
RockyMTNFalcons
October 21st, 2010
3:40 pm
UGA needs to hire Walker.
buck nasty
October 21st, 2010
3:48 pm
Key word in the story is OFF THE FEILD PROBLEMS. Why is the coach held responsible for these kids behavior. These kids are students first and athletes second. So why not hold the professors responsible, why not the dean of the school. These athletes of today are under a microscope, everything they do is watched, unlike the athletes in Herschels day. Believe me athletes were doing dumb stuff in Herschels day too.
PHIL
October 21st, 2010
3:51 pm
I went to school with Herschell, dated his ex wife before he did, he’s been to my house, so I know him, like him and respect him. But let me be clear on this, he is no better than anyone else that posts here as far as knowing whats going on or what is really the problem or even about playing football. He is just a guy blessed with amazing talent. But that’s where it ends. Just because Hershell says it, it doesn’t need to be written in stone. I promise. Like someone said previously, which one of the personalities did this interview?
The main problem with the arrests are as another previous poster put it, to paraphrase, the police are tougher in Athens on everyone, athletes get no preference, as it should be. But although Myer’s players do get arrested from time to time, IF you hear about it, it’s not for driving a scooter the wrong way. AltamahaDawg if you think all things are equal in SEC cities as far as preferential treatment for athletes goes, you just stay down there in your sleepy little town and keep dreaming.
Bucky Belue hand it to Herschel
October 21st, 2010
3:52 pm
Herschel couldnt have won a ring without me, check my stats in the Sugar Bowl title game, 1 for 11 for 7 yards, no thats not my 1st qtr. stats, thats for the whole game!!! Damn I suck. Good thing I know how to hand it off & get the heck out of the way!!! Woof Woof!!!!!!!! Love U Hersch let the Big Dawg Run!!!!!!!!!!!
The Bear said it all
October 21st, 2010
4:01 pm
“The biggest mistake coaches make is taking borderline cases and trying to save them. I’m not talking about grades now, I’m talking about character. I want to know before a boy enrolls about his home life, and what his parents want him to be.”
steve
October 21st, 2010
4:02 pm
If UGA spent more time educating those kids, we would not have those problems. UGA is just like all the other Southern Universities. They only want the players (Africian Americans) to run the ball up and down the field and when they can’t do that they have no more use for them. The universities makes millions of dollars each year off these kids and the students have nothing to show for it (hope to get into the NFL). One player sold his jersey so he could go on spring break while 95% of the other affluent students go on a week spring break in cancun. What a shame!!! The teachers/coaches/president, etc just advance them from one grade to the next so they can play. SHAME ON UGA!!! This is also a bigger reflection that we have as a society when in comes to a certain group of people.
The Bear said it all
October 21st, 2010
4:05 pm
“Find your own picture, your own self in anything that goes bad. It’s awfully easy to mouth off at your staff or chew out players, but if it’s bad, and you’re the head coach, you’re responsible. If we have an intercepted pass, I threw it. I’m the head coach. If we get a punt blocked, I caused it. A bad practice, a bad game, it’s up to the head coach to assume his responsibility.”
dawgbuddy
October 21st, 2010
4:16 pm
Hey Hersh, dat’s the problim. Hes takin as much kuntrol as he noes how.
Ga_Sou_Is_Back
October 21st, 2010
4:45 pm
These comments of “getting it under control,” are coming from Mr. “I pose naked for ESPN the magazine?” I wonder which Herschel was saying this…
John Radney
October 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
Shur up the bum Walker. What has he done that’s so wonderful. Just another big has been.
Bob
October 21st, 2010
5:02 pm
We “got to do this” we “got to do that”? Really, what an obvious Georgia grad. Speak English Hershel!
AltamahaDawg
October 21st, 2010
5:07 pm
Sorry Phil, but you lost me. My obvious point just now and the dozens of times that I have said it in here before is that everything is NOT equal in all SEC towns. Treatment and exposure for that matter.
Sit in my sleepy town and dream??? what does that even mean? Although I do like the imagery.
sandiegodawg
October 21st, 2010
5:14 pm
Richt to Walker: Put some clothes on son
dd
October 21st, 2010
5:14 pm
I’d like to see Herschel run over a tech and florida player just one more time.
gdotty
October 21st, 2010
5:15 pm
The truth hurts, grammer be damned…….I think everyone should remember how he conducted himself as a player. He is a good example.
Thats my penalty for being arrested HA HA
October 21st, 2010
5:20 pm
Well here’s a clue for Richt, instead of suspending players for games like Louisiana Lafayette, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt where the suspended players wouldn’t have played much anyhow, why not grow a set and suspend them vs. Florida, Auburn or Ga Tech?
Thats my penalty for being arrested HA HA
October 21st, 2010
5:25 pm
@ steve OH PLEASE yes the big bad University taken advantage of the poor minority kids —who won’t get their lazy a@@ out of bed ,go to class, do any homework, and try to make something of themselves. All this despite mandatory study halls, free tutors for every subject, and faculty poised to give them every break in the book. Yes the same ones that get arrested even though they know the penalties involved if they are caught –ever consider that perhaps they didn’t belong in college in the first place? Or that they are taking the spot of a more qualified student?
RC
October 21st, 2010
5:32 pm
Herschel Walker needs to keep his black ass out of it
MR>SEC
October 21st, 2010
6:10 pm
Everybody just lighten up. They seem to be getting back on track. Herschel is a legand at UGA and he should be. His opinion is welcome. I just want the dogs to get back to their winning ways and they are headed that way.
icedawg
October 21st, 2010
6:11 pm
Extensive interviews and background checks.
Lock’em down until game day. 
Off the team for any monkey business.
Terry Forshee
October 21st, 2010
6:44 pm
Screw Hershel! If he has something to say then say it to CMR. I’m tired of these former athletes acting like they actually know something.
Big Kahuna
October 21st, 2010
7:20 pm
huckhound
October 21st, 2010
9:55 am
A reminder to the retards and non-Bulldogs (one and the same, really) that our “history” does not begin and end with the 1980 team. In the final 2007 polls, we finished Number TWO in the country. Thats’ not so long ago, dudes. What are non-Bulldogs doing on this board anyway. Don’t you have a team to follow?
What kind of trophy did you get for being “number 2″ ($h1t) ? Was it a replica of an outhouse, and where is it displayed? Better save some room in the same trophy case for your runner-up toilet bowl trophy this year! Ignorant mangy mutt!
geez
October 21st, 2010
7:27 pm
HAHA, oh man, don’t worry dawg fans, Richt is going to take control, haha!!! what a joke
Kristi
October 21st, 2010
7:34 pm
Herschel is a nice guy, but he is way too imperfect to be taking on the mentor role, at least publicly.
Richt needs to start making sure a dozen or more tickets are given to the UGAPD for every home game. Invite cops to practice and let them interact with players before or after. Let them see each other in a more personal way. Invite a couple to AD or Prez’s luxury suites every now and then. Just use some common sense street smarts. Pay the cops for extra security around games, practice, special events, etc. Come on UGA, let’s act like we’re not a bunch of dumb hillbillies.
Big Dawg
October 21st, 2010
8:38 pm
Herschel should put on a clinic this summer about responsibility,health and fitness,and simply bustin chops!!!!
smitty
October 21st, 2010
8:53 pm
i know we hold coaches responsible but alot of these kids would be doing the same thing if they were home with their parents
GOODOLDDAWG
October 21st, 2010
10:54 pm
There is no doubt the program at UGA has some issues. That is incredibly obvious. But I would like to ask everyone just one question. I am not sure how things were at everybody else’s home, but if I had gotten a ticket and not paid it, or hit a car and left the scene, my parents would have simply taken my car away from me. These kids are being given a free education, should they choose to properly use it. I am a UGA alumni, and was at UGA in 1980. I saw Herschel play in high school, and while we were certainly not best of friends, I did know him to be a caring, honorable. I even, to a very small degree, knew his parents, and I assure you they would have taken his car away from him.
Discipline starts at home. Yes, the coaches are responsible for the kids, and yes, they assure the parents they will take care of their child, but the children should take care of themselves. I am an adamant believer in a playoff for the BCS, and I am also an adamant believer that the kids should be paid some sort of small stipend to try and be normal college students. UGA’s football program and really, all the SEC’s programs bring in untold millions of dollars every year. The kids should at least be given a little pocket money, and the amount should be the same across the board for all the student athletes.
Again, discipline starts at home, but I have another strong concern. It is my understanding that one of the kids was stopped for a bad TAG LIGHT. It is my understanding that thekid was not weaving around, and when he opened the door beer poured out like in the commercials. Is the Athens Clarke County Police becoming too hard. Is a bad tag light against the law, yes it is. Does a bad tag light threaten the life of other drivers, the chances are very, very slim that the answer to that is yes. Is the police getting too ticket happy? Are they purposely targeting athletes, and then making sure the press is immediately notified. I just think something stinks within the police department.
The kids should abide by the law, but if the person driving the car had been 40 years in a business suit, driving a Lexus wvwn pulled over. I don’t think so. I just think something stinks to high heaven inside our police department.
Glenn
October 22nd, 2010
12:46 am
Thanks Herschel
Bulldog Joe
October 22nd, 2010
3:48 am
Tim Tucker came in here with this DIRECTLY AFTER I posted it to his blog about the previous day Herschel Walker saying that CMR has NOT RECRUITED WELL IN-STATE and that CMR has NO DISCIPLINE.
For the record, YOU SAID that Herschel did NOT say that.
Nightmare for you to go to work and click on the new blog and find that THIS is what Tim Tucker, then, put on the AJ-C WebPages – not that it is NOT all over the country.
Herschel Walker didn’t say that at all.
That is what you said.
You also say that I keep repeating myself when the facts are that we are firmly in the news for 11 arrests since March 7 and now 2 NCAA probes into illegal benefits to Georgia Bulldogs players at both wide receiver and at running back. Both are our Starters. Both have missed numerous games and chunks of games in their time here, and largely those have been our games we LOST.
Losing at 12-11 over the years 2006 2007 2008 2009 and now 2010 to SEC East teams has grown worrisome as it has marched on. Yet, YOU POSTERS repeatedly make up your LIST OF EXCUSES that our players do not care about the team and that 12-11 vs a SERIOUSLY DOWN SEC EAST 2006 2007 2008 2009 and 2010 is really really great. Best coaching at UGA ever, you repeat yourself. Best Quarterback in the history of football, you repeatedly state.
TOUGH YEAR you reiterate, amid your CRIES into the darkness that our team needs our SUPPORT this ONE YEAR.
It’s NOT BEEN 1 YEAR, not been 2 years either; but, it has been instead FIVE (5) YEARS now this season.
Bulldog Joe
October 22nd, 2010
3:49 am
Vandie opening kick-off and CMR this morning at 7:15 am on AM750 said that Sailors # 5 is great. Lifts him up to The Bulldog Nation by name for his play. And, what was his play ? He TAUNTED the Vandie kick-off returner after his teammate tackled him. He got into his face, he jarred at him, he walked completely around him, taunting him repeatedly but got no penalty for reasons only the Officials can explain.
Cam Newton, we have no room for on our Roster ? Are you out of your mind ? Cam Newton like so many other recruits in this great state of Georgia, we whiffed on getting. Don’t bring your LAME EXCUSES in here for our lack of star power on Offense, Defense and Special Teams when the recruits themselves make it plain as day to everyone that our coaching staff is weak, that we don’t recognize talent, that we play FAVORITES instead, that we bury on the Depth Chart better players who are younger, that we totally lack any discipline on the field off the field or in the locker-room – and that this has killed our recruiting.
No room for Cam Newton but plenty of room for Zach Mettenberger and his 2 sexual battery GUILTY attacks of a coed. And, plenty of room for us to have a THIEF on our own team this year. And, plenty of room for us to KEEP Montez Robinson on our roster AFTER he beat up a girl. Plenty of room for Michael Lemon whom CMR told us all to mail in our money to for him and his brother; yet, Michael Lemon beat up a student to a pulp. Yes, it is the 1980 in 2010. NONE of these 3 happened in 1980; I know; I was there. YOU were NOT. Jake Scott was and is a character; I like him. I talk to him. Do YOU ? No. He drives a Mercedes. What do you drive ? Herschel Walker doesn’t read as he speaks. He was nervous. He was asked on the spot about all the B.S. here in our program and he spoke the DAMN TRUTH. I listened to it 1st hand. You read Tim Tucker AFTER I TOLD HIM WHAT HE SAID and EVEN THEN Tim Tucker left out ALL THE COMMENTS BY HERSCHEL WALKER ABOUT THE SORRY BUTT RECRUITING IN THIS GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA. And, yes, Hershel Walker said that we WHIFFED on Cam Newton. Cam Newton for Heisman Trophy was Herschel Walker’s vote, he said.
Bulldog Joe
October 22nd, 2010
3:51 am
3 times Montez Robinson beat up a girl as a Georgia Bulldog football player. CMR and Bobo went to meet with him in prison. And, PRAY for him, with him. B.S.
You think if I am not allowed to come in here and say that, that the recruits we do get are so stupid that they don’t or would not see it on their own.
That I should support this crappy excuse of a “coaching staff” because it is a TOUGH YEAR you tell me. Yeah 11 arrests and 2 NCAA suspensions for multiple games each with possible sanctions of VACATED win over the vols and over La Lafayette in a season which then probably will read 1-6 to-date after 5 losses last year and 4 losses the 2006 season and 3 losses against the only 3 teams we played in 2008 with NO SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME appearances even after 2005 is a TOUGH YEAR to endure this season.
Even tougher when you honestly look at our recruiting and discipline through the eyes of
HERSCHEL WALKER.
Bulldog Joe
October 22nd, 2010
6:20 am
Altamahawdawg,
No big deal that we lose the 14 seniors and 4-5 juniors off a team that in fact has LOST already 9 games last year and this year so far.
You’re the 1 who said we would win the national championship in 2011; you’re the 1 who said that Joe Cox threw the football as well as anyone especially the long ball with our 17 interceptions last year; and you’re the 1 who said that Christian LeMay would not be an issue at all getting past UGA Admissions with your list of excuses for a guy having sex with a 14-year old in a classroom in front of the Principal not even playing and now CMR has ANOTHER who also is not playing his senior year both assured by CMR that their scholarships are waiting just like he did to Michael Grant.
You’re also the 1 Altamahawdawg, who said here that we did not recruit well 2009 and before; and, I presume you are less than satisfied with the recruiting 2010 and what it looks like for 2011, right ?
But, with their lack of effort – let’s tell them how great they are going to be – ALL IN JAIL.
I take Herschel Walker’s approach – sorry to disagree with your approach Altamahawdawg.
We are a football program OUT OF CONTROL on the field with poor coaching staff and off the field with the poor coaching staff poorly recruiting in this great state.
So, no sir; I like Herschel Walker do not see this football program heading up next year losing these players. We haven’t recruited well and you cannot name me the recruits you think are going to step in, not get arrested, so effort, be in shape, and win.
You’re satisfied Altamahawdawg, and Herschel Walker and I are NOT.
Bulldog Joe
October 22nd, 2010
6:33 am
You try to miss all the comments that I
MAKE GOOD POINTS
AltamahaDawg
October 22nd, 2010
7:17 am
It’s always fascinating to me to log on here and get the 3:30 update as to what I think. It’s usually a pretty big surprise too.
I have to admit, I am getting pretty disappointed lately though. I used to think that despite the obsession with flattering yourself to believe your hyper-inflated negativity makes you look smart and edgy, you at least said thing that sounded like an adult. Lately your post get more and more sophomoric. It’s like you have just completely run out of material and now just are relegated to copying whatever juvenile BS you can find from somebody else. Then of course repeating yourself over and over. Not to mention the complete flip flops that you refuse to admit or explain.
AltamahaDawg
October 22nd, 2010
10:15 am
If you are asking me about why I say our graduation will not spell a worse season, I would say:
Offense:
Center, losing back up C. Davis.
Jr B. Jones is the starter now, C. Burnette is the future.
Guards, Starters and backupss return, including Frosh K. Gates who seems to be a pretty good answer in his very first game.
Tackles,Losing the 1 starter C. Boling, returning the other starter Sturvdivant, backed up by several, including the future starter B. Benidict.
QB. Returning starter. 99.9% of us believe he will improved next year.
RB: returning all depth.
FB: We’ll need to replace.
WR generic. Losing Durham. Let’s assume we lose AJ, although I have heard some comments that put that at less than certain.
Returning T. King, Troup, Wooten, Brown, Gray. some other less known.
Special teams we lose nobody of concequence at any aspect.
Defense:
Line, we lose the one starter Dobbs. Everybody else is back. Tyson, Gaithers are the keys to next year. Jones, Morant come to mind as depth. Need to recruit better, but CERTAINLY not taking a step back due to graduation here.
LB geneeric. Losing Gamble and Dent. Returning back up Washington, Gilliard. Houston Probably back too. Robibnson, Dowtin. Waiting on for Samuel, and Stripling to arrive in shape. And somebody named Jarvis.
DB: Losing Cuff who is has already relenquished his starting spot to Commings.
So to review, basically no net losses except, We need a FB, And one of many WRs to step up.
The defense as a WHOLE will be in the second year which is pretty much accepted as fact the big inprovement year. Returing one of the future SEC stars at QB. RB, kickers, DB, all back.
Now, tell me where I am wrong. You said THIS team woud win the SEC east (somehow ignoring that fact that you said it would do so with a horrible offense) and the defense would be the “best in 3 decades”. And then tank next year becasue of the HUGE losses in both seniors and juniors. I said they would lose a few games this year and be better next year. Who seems to be able to back thier point of view up a bit more.
AltamahaDawg
October 22nd, 2010
10:41 am
Here is a some good points that I did not miss.
“No room for Cam Newton but plenty of room for Zach Mettenberger and his 2 sexual battery GUILTY attacks of a coed. ”
See now, you need to talk to thsi guy who used to call himself BuLLdawg, because he said Mett was all about having Mett on the team.
“There is nothing fluid about the QB debate. Zach Mettenberger out-performed Aaron Murray in all 3 scrimmages in a row. If you cannot see that he is going to be drafted in the NFL Draft, that is your problem Tim. You have gushed about little average speed poor arm poor decision-making no experience lining up under Center Aaron Murray and now that he clearly is not # 1, you hang on to it’s still fluid.”
“Quit making your excuses for David Greene and Aaron Murray. Those are NOT NFL Quarterbacks. Zach Mettenberger is.”
“So, while you all sit there and jump on the Zach Mettenberger bandwagon, I point out that I said all along that he should have been the QB last year.”
Of cource he also said that we completely wasted a scholarship on Mettenberger, a player who coulnd’t throw a comeplte pass unless it was to a defended.
Maybe Bulldog Joe and BuLLdawg need to get together and figure out which way it is. Ask the Messenger, see if he can decide.
Bulldog Joe #2
October 22nd, 2010
10:45 am
Interesting thoughts Bulldog Joe.
Bulldog Joe #3
October 22nd, 2010
10:46 am
I’m not sure I agree with Bulldog Joe.
srcdawg1
October 23rd, 2010
12:09 am
too you tech fan’s, the great HERSH may not have the proper grammar. but how much gramma do you need to spank your ass 38-20, 44-7, 38-18 = 126-45. dat gramma i will take every year. you guy’s really support your bee’s. down size your stadium again, get it to 25,000 and u may have a sellout.
srcdawg1
October 23rd, 2010
12:22 am
adawg, your point is mute. who’s is the starting Qb? mettenberger will never play in the nfl. he can probably get a job cleaning vick’s dog kennel’s with the rest of those thug’s.