Gator chomps and Bulldog barks followed Richt on spring break
ATHENS – Georgia’s football team switched gears from spring break to spring practice Tuesday — a rather jolting change.
Just back from the university’s spring break, which many players and coaches spent on the beach, the Bulldogs returned to the practice field on an unseasonably warm afternoon. They held their second session of spring practice, 12 days after the first.
“Spring break — for spring football, it really does stink,” coach Mark Richt said. “You get ‘em working; you get ‘em up to a certain point of readiness, mentally, physically. And then boom, they’re gone. . . . And we [coaches] are, too. Our minds — we’re out of here, too.
“It’s hard to just come back off spring break and just expect everybody to look great. But hopefully we’ll be locked in and ready to go from here on.”
Richt spent part of his spring break on the beach in Jamaica, and listen to what greeted him there:
“I’m not lying to you: The first time we laid down our stake at the beach — laid it down just barely, hadn’t even sat down yet, just trying to get the chair aligned with the sun — two Gators [fans] are right [next] to where my chair was, right where I was looking.”
He had other encounters with SEC fans on the trip, too.
“I’ll tell you what, man: The SEC is everywhere,” he said.
“I got a couple of these,” he added, showing the Gator chomp. “But I had a lot of great Bulldogs barking, too, so it was good.”
Anyway, a rested Richt and his team were back at work Tuesday.
“I thought we were a little sluggish,” Richt said. “I hate to make it sound like it was a bad [practice] because it really wasn’t, but I don’t think everybody did a real good job over spring break staying in shape.”
The Bulldogs will practice again on Thursday.
Bare-handed Murray
If you’re wondering, quarterback Aaron Murray practiced without gloves Tuesday.
He wore them in Georgia’s 10-6 Liberty Bowl loss to Central Florida, a choice that drew much debate after the game.
“Yeah, I definitely heard a lot of second-guessing,” Murray said Tuesday. “But when you go back and watch the film, most of the bad plays were not due to throwing. It was more mental errors. So it had nothing to do with the glove.”
In any case, Murray said he doesn’t plan to wear a glove on his throwing hand during games or practices in the future unless cold weather possibly dictates.
“I felt good with it heading into the [bowl] game, with the weather and everything,” he said. “But as of right now we’re just using the hand.”
Murray participated fully in Tuesday’s practice, and he said his ankle, which he sprained in a pickup soccer game last month, “feels 100 percent.”
“I’m still doing rehab just to make sure it stays strong,” he said. “But I felt great out there today and really haven’t had any problems in about a week or so.”
Benedict’s long road back
Offensive lineman Brent Benedict, who was redshirted as a freshman last season after suffering a severe knee injury in high school, said he is a “full-go” participant this spring.
“It was a long road coming back,” he said.
He is working at right guard.
Donations rise
Donations to the Georgia athletics program have topped last year’s level despite the Bulldogs’ first losing football season in 14 years.
Contributions to the “Hartman Fund,” the fund-raising vehicle that is tied to football season tickets, stood at $22.94 million as of Monday night with “still a few dribbling in,” according to Dave Muia, the athletics department official who oversees fund-raising and alumni relations.
That total exceeds last year’s contributions of $22.74 million.
This year’s stated deadline for contributions was Feb. 15, but the cutoff, as usual, was flexible.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
320 comments Add your comment
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:08 am
BTW, I”m wondering if Richt’s time on the beach is partly at least due to McCavity relieving him of all his admin duties so that he can concentrate more on the game of football. He was probably studying on the beach, reading up on spread offenses and the 3-4 defense. WHAT A JOKE>>>
Willie
March 23rd, 2011
10:10 am
You wide eyed gullible ones fall hook line and sinker for the “we’ll be better this season” bait.
Sure, worked out great last 3 years.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:11 am
Jamaica? Was the trip free? Every heard of St. Barts….Come on Mark.
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:11 am
BooBoo got pointers from a H.S. program????? OMG – You’ve got to be joking!
Grantham kicking arse’s??? The CEO won’t let him. He’ll tell Grantham to tone it down!
The CEO and his minions are pitiful excuses for a coaching staff!
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:11 am
Please don’t say anything bad about Georgia or Murray or I’ll lable you a troll.
It hurts my feelings.
I break down and start cracking up.
Naive Nick
March 23rd, 2011
10:13 am
True, Georgia has declined in wins in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
I see that as a positive, a signal of good things to come!!!
Georgia will go 14-0 in 2011!!
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
The stupidity of the Bulldog Nation in their love fetish with that loser Mark Richt is the only thing keeping UGA from breaking into the USN&WR’s top ten public universities. It’s got to make you wonder about the quality of education that our graduates demonstrate, not to mention sound judgement. Seems like the entire state of Georgia has gone dumb over the past few years, from being an economic juggernaut to a basket case.
JB, when the UGA leadership finally fires Richt, and they will, he will not need a job in the ACC. By that time, he will have piled away tens of millions of UGA dollars @ $3M per year plus perks to buy the city of Athens, if not the entire State of Georgia. This is how stupid the Bulldog Nation seems to be in 2011. He won’t ever have to work.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:14 am
Ready for 2012 and Dawgs to be feared again……This roster will be loaded for the next staff, with Murray a Junior and Lemay maturing.
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
10:16 am
yes, I was in fact joking about Bobo… we do have a sense of humor here in Athens. Hate to admit it but I do agree with you about Grantham, if you look back on the sidelines during the 1st game last year he was out of control (in a good way) yelling at his players, it did look like Richt told him to tone it down after that. Not this year though, he’s gonna be yelling, breaking stuff, punching lockers. It will be savage. No mercy will be shown to our opponents. I’m willing to bet a couple of teams will just give up and not come out after halftime. I can not wait. Watch what you say about Richt and Co. though, God is his Assistant coach, and they do not like little nancy boys bad mouthing them on the UGA blogs.
RxDawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:16 am
Ha, I think that’s pretty awesome Richt runs into the other fans everywhere. Just a reminder that we’re all human I guess.
So glad the headlines have been quiet lately (no arrests!). But’s the time lull between the end of spring practice and the begining of summer practice that get’s us fans tense. So come on Dawgs, let’s act like champions and we just might become champions.
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
JB, the best players in the world will lose consistently with poor coaching and poor leadership. UGA has proven that the past several years.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
Snoop, unlike you to know this, but MOST successful people WANT to work ,regardless of bank balance. Sittin around the hood waiting on a Obama check is not a concept most achievers think about.
Naive Nick
March 23rd, 2011
10:17 am
“Not this year though”
Larry, that’s my view too. Ignore 2008-2010.
“Not this year though”
What a motto.
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
Rx Dawg, a former Chief of Staff of the US Army by the name of Gordon Sullivan wrote a book entitled, “Hope is Not a Method.” The Bulldog Nation would benefit from reading this book and reflecting on Marjoe Mark Richt.
Naive Nick
March 23rd, 2011
10:19 am
The sun always shines, and it never rains!!!
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:20 am
JB, Mark Richt understands how to sit around the hood of that Ford pickup counting all that unearned income. If your on the job performance was on par with Mark Richt’s you’d get fired.
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:20 am
@ Larry Bird – If only what you say would actually happen. All would be great in Athens!
Sadly the CEO’s past history does not point to turn around by playing hard nosed, ferocious, slobber knocking football.
The CEO prides himself on being a mentalist, he wants to beat you with the soft play, the screen pass, the intellectual call that will leave you surprised in defeat.
No, the CEO is not a slobber knocker and never will be. That is his downfall!
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:21 am
Snoop, you are a troll, as are all hurtful people. If you can’t say anything nice, then yell, is that your dream? I need my therapist.
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:22 am
Snake is likely a troll too, it’s a conspiracy. I need counseling. Be sweet boys.
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:23 am
Let’s give peace a chance. Let’s hold hands and sing a nice little song.
Snoop Dawg
March 23rd, 2011
10:23 am
I want Suzanne Yoculan to coach the UGA football team. We would win the SEC every year! She is the total antithesis of Mark Loser Richt.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:24 am
Well said Snake……It’s sad…..but true……We have been pushed around the last three years by ranked teams, and our talent overcomes the weaker ones….but not by much, as you see us struggle with Kentucky, Vandy, Tech etc……
Troll Indexer Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:24 am
Play nice.
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:25 am
JB, you’re a troll too. Need mroe form you. Not a good effort. Low on power rankings.
Naive Nick
March 23rd, 2011
10:27 am
Everything points to a big year for Coach Richt!!
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:28 am
Sensitive Steve…I’m a power blogger…LOL
Naive Nick
March 23rd, 2011
10:29 am
Florida & South Carolina are overrated!!!!
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:29 am
Anybody remember the early days of the CEO’s regime?
Remember how UGA would be up 28-3 at the half, then the opponent would make the game 28-20 in the 3rd quarter, UGA would go on to win 35-23, or something like that? We all sat around saying, “Well the CEO didn’t want to run up the score on the other team.” We made excuses for the soft play at times of his teams. They would go to sleep. We’ve all seen it a million times now.
NO, the fact has been shown that the CEO is soft! He plays soft football. He won with Donnan’s hard nosed recruits. Since then its all down hill as UGA has become a soft program. Thats even proven in this article.
One Spring practice and then off to Spring Break – What a freaking joke!
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
10:29 am
Richt 96-34, not a bad record. Everybody knows 6-7 is not where we want to be. Richt is dumber than you Snake Doc if he doesn’t know he’s gotta turn it around. And I for one believe he is the guy to get the job done. What do you want us to do? Phone the NCAA and forfeit the whole season, fire Richt and hire Willie Martinez, start over. He will turn it around as sure as you’re sitting in your moms basement arguing with me. Take it to the bank!!!
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:30 am
Please say nice things about Richt and Aaron Murray. It’s hard for me to type from the fetal position.
Troll Power Index Rating
March 23rd, 2011
10:30 am
Sensitive steve,
TSK,TSK
You are scoring negative numbers.
Rating the TROLL rankers?
Pathetic effort.
Weak
Absolutely sorry.
minus 3
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:31 am
Larry Bird – How I truly wish you’re correct.
Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:32 am
For thos of you that have a difficult time hearing bad things, my therapist recommends thinking yellow happy thoughts.
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
10:33 am
OH I AM CORRECT THERE NANCY DREW, YOU WAIT AND SEE. ALL CAPS MAKES IT OFFICIAL!!!
Troll Indexer Sensitive Steve
March 23rd, 2011
10:33 am
I rate you all a ZERO!
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:34 am
He was given this year , I do Believe, because of the the quality of person that he is and the past body of work. That all great, but at 3 mil a year, 3 or 4 bad years is too much to bear. Even Miami and Maryland pulled the plug this past year, neither thought of today as football powers. I truly believe he knows whats on the line this year. I don’t know if he has the team or the staff to win 9 or 10 games.
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:35 am
Nancy Drew – Now thats a good one!
Naive Nick
March 23rd, 2011
10:35 am
Murray will win the Heisman!!!
DawginLex
March 23rd, 2011
10:35 am
snake doc,
Anyone with a brain can see that the pressure is on Richt to perform better.
How long have you been a UGA fan? Were you around for Dooley’s last years? Were you around for Goff?
Won with Donnan’s players-yes he did. More than Donnan did. Way more. Victim of his own success?
Was the 2005 team Donnan’s players? DJ doesn’t get hurt, we beat Florida and Auburn and don’t have to play WV and get a different matchup and play for the title and maybe win it like Florida lucked up in 2006? Was that team soft?
Was the 2007 team recruited by Donnan?
I understand you are angry and want Richt gone.
If he doesn’t win at least 9 this year and show lots of improvement and give us real reasons for 2012 optimism, he will be gone.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:36 am
did i say bear?
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:36 am
Question is – Are 8 wins good enough to save his job?
UGA will either be 9-3, 8 – 4 or 7-5. Outside of 9-3 are any of those records good enough to save his job?
gdawginkalamazoo
March 23rd, 2011
10:37 am
We only had 10 wins in 2008 with all those injuries? I though we lost 10. 2009 we had a new QB and weak stale defense. 2010 we had a new QB and new D. Stale OL coach and stale S & C program. 2011 we have an experienced QB who didn’t perform all that bad last season, revitalized running game, new OL coach, new LB coach. New season, new opportunity. One thing that we don’t have so far is the off the field distractions like last year. Go Dawgs!
BUCKEYE
March 23rd, 2011
10:37 am
Thank goodness we got a glove update.
Larry Bird
March 23rd, 2011
10:38 am
Hey thanks, I’ve been sitting here trying to come up with something witty for about and hour. I guess I told you huh? Man, this is fun… debating UGA football with imbeciles. Lets make up other names and go at it again. I just defeated you, we can start over..
BUCKEYE
March 23rd, 2011
10:39 am
Hey dawgs,
How many of you have Ohio State in your brackets?? You can tell me. I won’t tell anybody.
JB
March 23rd, 2011
10:40 am
I believe 7 wins saves him. Adams likes the guy, and winning Championships is not at the top of Adams to do list. Competitive, yes. Winning it all a must, no.
DawginLex
March 23rd, 2011
10:40 am
I have UK beating OSU and playing Kansas for the title with Kansas winning
Georgia’s G-Day game will be televised | UGA sports blog
March 23rd, 2011
10:40 am
[...] For a full report from Tuesday’s practice, please click here. [...]
Snake Doc
March 23rd, 2011
10:41 am
I have been a UGA fan since at least 1968 when I was 6 years old. Always have been and always will be!
What I can’t stand is watching the CEO lose games like the 10-3 debacle in the bowl games last year. I can’t stand losing to UF every year except the odd time the stars and planets align and the CEO gets lucky!
As for beating Yech????? Yech is not the game it once was. Is it nice beating their socks off? Heck yes, but in the grand scheme of things, Yech doesn’t even play H.S. football in my book! Of course UGA’s Pee Wee league offense is the only reason Yech has a chance every year!
DawginLex
March 23rd, 2011
10:41 am
JB, he won’t survive losing 5 games.
That means he lost to:
Boise
SC
Miss St
UT
Florida
No way he survives that.