Mark Richt to Macon Bulldog Club: ‘I know what the hell I’m doing, OK?’
I was in Augusta Wednesday night for the Georgia Bulldog Club tour stop there and found coach Mark Richt to be calm and typically laid back. Other than his pointed comments on Washaun Ealey, the meeting was generally warm and fuzzy and it came and went without much controversy.
That wasn’t the case in Macon last night. According to my old friend Michael Lough, who covered the meeting for the Macon Telegraph, Richt got a little feisty with one particularly whiny fan. In the question-and-answer session, one man apparently droned on and on about Georgia’s poor running game last season and his apparent dissatisfaction with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and running backs coach Bryan McClendon.
That apparently lit a fire under Richt.
“I see your frustration, I understand your frustration,” Lough quoted Richt as saying.“I wasn’t born yesterday, I’ve coached football for 25 years, so I know what the hell I’m doing, OK? . . . I appreciate your passion, I appreciate your support for this football team. Everybody can just calm down and know that we’re in good hands. . . . And Bryan McClendon is a hell of a coach, he’s a hell of a recruiter. And I’m glad we got Bryan McClendon.”
Richt’s remarks, Lough reported, elicited a strong ovation from the crowd gathered at the Walnut Creek Shooting Preserve.
Not surprisingly, the normally-chaste Richt apologized a short time later for using the word “hell.” But he also reiterated his disappointment in the tailback situation and the fact that none of the lettermen have stepped up and seized the position in anticipation of Isaiah Crowell’s arrival later this summer.
So what do you think? Glad to hear such passion come out Georgia’s sometimes staid head coach? Disappointed with his word choice?
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595 comments Add your comment
Big Dawg
April 29th, 2011
3:55 pm
The jury’s still out on whether Richt actually knows what he’s doing, but I’m damn glad to finally see he’s got a pulse!
dawginduluth
April 29th, 2011
3:55 pm
No NC with Richt. Never.
CobbDawg51
April 29th, 2011
3:56 pm
Amazing, attacking a fan for complaining to a $3 million coach about a running game that finished 10th in the SEC. UGA is not even relevant in college football any more. By the way, kicking on 4th and 3 inches from the UCF 2 yardline, I’d say the Macon fan had a good point.
rjmcg1
April 29th, 2011
3:57 pm
Hooray for CMR! I’m surprised it took his THIS long. Everybody’s an expert, even though they only see the team play a dozen or so times a year. That’s just … insane.
icedawg
April 29th, 2011
3:58 pm
The difficult part about coaching is that you have as many bosses as there are reporters and fans and they all think that they can do a better job than you. That is why coaches should be paid big bucks.
Tech82
April 29th, 2011
3:58 pm
DawginLex – You’re not the only one. The hijackers are out in force today. Evidence: the 3:50 post purporting to be from me. I’m outa here.
cadawg
April 29th, 2011
4:00 pm
richt’s a man!!! he’s 40!!!!
i like it. i don’t think CMR can coach or recruit effectively in a state where fans are lining up to take shots at him. glad he stuck up for himself and his staff; they’ve taken enough criticism the past couple of seasons, and i think we need to get out of their way, let them do their jobs, and see what the results are at the end of the year.
i can’t wait for september. GO DAWGS!!!
Justin
April 29th, 2011
4:02 pm
Thank God CMR finally showed a little emotion! It is long overdue and needs to be carried over to the playing field, but now that he has broken the ice, hopefully we will see his fire grow over the next year. I know that his demeanor transfers down to the kids that are playing for him.
joey
April 29th, 2011
4:04 pm
About damn time…..Go Dawgs!
Chip Towers
April 29th, 2011
4:08 pm
truedawg: If Georgia wins 11 or 12 games this season there will be no complaints regardless of what teams the losses might have come against.
Gator Guy
April 29th, 2011
4:14 pm
Just win and you will shut up the whiners. I agree that 90 percent of fans have never touched the ball, or played a down, but those 98 percenters are the people who paid attention in school, have real jobs, and thus can pay those escalating ticket prices. Therefore, you can’t tick them off too bad.
ted
April 29th, 2011
4:16 pm
who cares about his word choice. hes a football coach and football coaches usually say alot worse things then hell. im very excited to see him react this way!
RT
April 29th, 2011
4:27 pm
In the words of a slightly more famous coach, Vince Lombardi, “if you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be FIRED with enthusiasm.” Good to see Coach Richt fired up!!
Saban
April 29th, 2011
4:28 pm
How bad will Florida beat the dawgs this year. Let`s see Florida 35 Dawgs 8.
Chaokdawg buries the Florida field goal kicker with 4000 krispy Kreme`s.
Sven Ottke
April 29th, 2011
4:29 pm
This is the beginning of the end.
Stinger
April 29th, 2011
4:29 pm
You think he’s testy now. Wait until he has another losing season.
Notso Fast
April 29th, 2011
4:32 pm
Now, if would just talk to some of his players and coachs like that, we may have something great coming up.
p
April 29th, 2011
4:34 pm
Don’t talk. COACH.
Jackaroe
April 29th, 2011
4:35 pm
I personally believe Richt’s loyalty to his asst coaches will take him down in 2011. I am not going to sit here and rehash all the bonehead calls that Bobo has made in big games but I will put it this way – I would not give Bobo the check mark against ONE of the D-Coordinators in our league. I blieve Richt was out recruiting prior to the bowl last year and left our coordinators in Athens to game plan and prepare the team…WE GOT BEAT BY CENTRAL FLORIDA!!!! If Bobo is calling plays on Sat. next season I truly don’t expect anything different than we got the last 3 years – no signature wins. I do expect the defense to be much improved and the offense to look like well the last 3 years. I would think the money has tailed off since pre-season #1 ranking season and we all know money talks and BS walks. Tubberville said in a press cinference after beating UGA in Richt’s 1st or 2nd season that Richt would learn you have to run the ball in this league…I don’t see it. I see a coach that was riding the the success of Van Gorder and downhill since VG left for greener pastures. Willie never deserved to be a coordinator and neither does Bobo…just my opinion (oh and by the way Bobo rcvd a $30,000 retention raise after last season – WOW). We will find out early what we have next year. My expectations are based on what we all witnessed the last 3 years and beyond.
FLA DAWG
April 29th, 2011
4:36 pm
The Dawgs have become the laughing stock of The SEC. The blame rests squarely on Richt.
Next season our beloved Dawgs will lose to SC, UF and possibly UT just in the East.
And Richt knows what the h he is doing!?
South Side Steve
April 29th, 2011
4:42 pm
we broadcast in bacon….why were they not talking about me and my 400+ women….sniff
gagirl
April 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
Way to go Coach! We know you know what you know!!! You and the other coaches can only do so much and the players have to step it up and hold their own!! Go DAWGS!!!!
Kris G
April 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
Hey, I’m a drunkard fan from Macon and I’m behind Richt.
RonnieMacATL
April 29th, 2011
4:47 pm
This is why you need to pass a test or be a graduate to be a fan of UGA.
Jerry Grillo
April 29th, 2011
4:50 pm
A football coach cursed? Hell yes. I agree that he should do it more often, and more vehemently, adding a little more to his repertoire. As a multi-lingual curser, I’d be glad to assist in any way that I can.
Ed Pilcher
April 29th, 2011
4:50 pm
Well……It’s about effin time. I am reminded of the time back in 1970 when Bear Bryant critics were at their highest point, and many Bama fans were saying the game had passed Bear by. Coach responded by going on his weekly coaching show, blasting the fair-weather fans, and telling them they could all go to hell if they didn’t like the way he was coaching the team. We were astounded that he used the word ‘hell’ on TV, but it had to be done….just like it had to be done last night.
Russ Casper
April 29th, 2011
4:51 pm
HELL NO I”M NOT OFFENDED!!!!
I am glad to hear people speak out against the crybabies that have never put on a helmet. Shut the hell up and get on the Tech bandwagon since we have such a bad program in Athens.
I promise 90% of the schools out their would love to be in the position we are and have been in since Richt has been the coach.
People get real we could be alot worse off!!!
LOL....
April 29th, 2011
4:54 pm
Chaste??
Are you kidding me…?
You guys are idiots….you have NO clue…
Whatsallthefuss?
April 29th, 2011
4:54 pm
Didn’t Jesus talk about hell more than anything else in the Bible?
Tony
April 29th, 2011
4:56 pm
Fine christian man you have there. What church is that now.
About time
April 29th, 2011
4:59 pm
Its about time now carry that passion to the field and dont apologize.
About time
April 29th, 2011
5:00 pm
shut up tony you wimp
Bravoman
April 29th, 2011
5:02 pm
Hey Irish dogr or setter or whatever. You are a “hell” of an idiot. CMR is all class, still surprised he let a booster get under his skin. UGA players and even emotional fans would be better off appreciating the fact that he doesnt play politics ,i.e. Meyer, with his job. The fact he didn’t return to his alma mater showed respect for his team and UGA.
DIT
April 29th, 2011
5:02 pm
I don’t understand why people on here attack the man for being a Christian? I understand being frustrated and questioning his coaching ability after what has transpired the past couple years with the program, but to go after him and make fun because he’s a Christian just shows the type of low-life’s that come on these blogs.
What a shame!
dogforlife
April 29th, 2011
5:09 pm
Don’t blame him one bit..
Old Dawg Fan
April 29th, 2011
5:10 pm
Where in the “hell” has that “fire” been???? Glad to see and hear it!!!!!
Now “relay” that to your team along with “solid” football and we can get back on track.
As I see it you have “one more year” if you don’t take care of business.
NoMoBoBo
April 29th, 2011
5:10 pm
Good show, Coach…! But still, being that I was a UGA student back in the 90s, I think that Bobo may not be the best guy to have calling your offense…that is unless he manages to show me something against Boise State in week 1. GO DAWGS…!!!
dagnabit
April 29th, 2011
5:21 pm
Just answer the question, Mark.
Reggie Balls
April 29th, 2011
5:28 pm
Well,well,well.I see you so called fans are drinking CMRs bathewater. All season long you so called fans were calling for,well just about everyones head,even CMR. Then a fan asked a DAMN good question,and called out the other coaches.like BOBO. He said the word hell and gets Peed off and now you so called fans are crowning him the champ. Make your worthless UGAY minds up..Are you with him or against him. WIN LOSE DRAW. You cant have it both ways.No you cant.
mark twain
April 29th, 2011
5:33 pm
ONCE MY RIVERBOAT SPRANG A LEAK, AND I ALSO SAID A FEW CHOICE WORDS. IT IS JUST A WORD NOTHING MORE. NOW G.A.T.A.
Einsteindawg
April 29th, 2011
5:39 pm
From CMR’s passionate remarks, we now know that he hasn’t forgotten how to coach…maybe he’s just gotten lazy. And, he does need to apologize to that fan.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 29th, 2011
5:40 pm
The Greatest Game Ever Played,
Surely you have got to be kidding. I can’t think of any coach that would be that bothered when he loses 1 out of 10 to an inferior team. For crying out loud. You take the cake for being one of the stupidest commenters I have seen on a blog yet. You have terrific selective memory skills though, I will give you that. Put it another way, you have an extremely bad case of tunnel vision.
Steve Spurrier
April 29th, 2011
5:44 pm
Isaiah is no Lattimore. What happens to players who go to UGA?
Dawg
April 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
Well, I guess that fan feels like a real dumb as today.
Mean Machine
April 29th, 2011
5:57 pm
I love it! That’s great! I love to hear our coach fire off a few rounds. Coach, it’s okay to throw a nutty every now and then. Way to go Coach Richt!
wildbill
April 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
I have this message for CMR. There are a LOT of UGA grads out here in the real world where we have to produce or hit the road, any day and every day. CMR, how about keeping up your side of the equation and produce some REAL wins and get UGA football respectable again and not the laughing stock of the SEC. You may think you know what you are doing but you are a big question mark as far as I am concerned.
superDawg
April 29th, 2011
6:00 pm
HunkerDown!
Alabama Communist
April 29th, 2011
6:04 pm
Meanwhile as the country collapes with Obama real Birth Cert emerging and Trump cussing about it being a phony.Coach Richt when leaving the event though the backdoor of the lodge once again cross swords with wimpy fan by body slamming him into the Deer Skin Shed and stomping him in the mouth with his kicking foot shouting ” I hate losers and sissies from our school of Diversity”
Frank Wilson
April 29th, 2011
6:06 pm
I was tickled to death to see Coach Richt explode on somebody.
The word “Hell” is not profanity. It is the proper name
of the Eternal place of torment in the Bible and the first
time the name was used in scripture it was spoken by Jesus
Christ who ought to know…………. he’s God.
“Damn” is a minor expletive. It’s what people are who reject Jesus Christ as Savior. They’re “damned” in “Hell”.
Read scripture folks before you run down a great coach and
a great example to young people.
There are some people who don’t like Richt because he speaks his mind and shows his genuine faith. The term “Preacher man” used in a previous post shows the ‘
real underlying cause of the criticism.
Frankly, I love him…….. after Dooly, he’s the best
we’ve had or will have.
DawgLifer
April 29th, 2011
6:06 pm
Its about time Coach Mark Richt grew a pair. Its nice to see and hopefuly it will light a fire under the butts of the players.