Q&A: Brent Benedict confirms dispute with Georgia’s new strength coach
Q&A WITH BRENT BENEDICT
Benedict
Brent Benedict has packed up all his things and left Athens. The big offensive lineman has taken up temporary residence at a friend’s house in Roswell. But he won’t be there long. He’ll relocate to Blacksburg, Va., the first week of August. Benedict, who was granted an unconditional release by the University of Georgia after he abruptly quit the team on June 26th, settled on the Virginia Tech Hokies as his transfer destination on Monday. He chose it over Florida, Clemson and a few others. Benedict talked with the AJC on Tuesday in his first extensive interview about the circumstances that led to his decision to leave a program to which he’d been committed since the summer of 2009. He confirmed that it stemmed mainly from a disagreement with new strength and conditioning coordinator Joe Tereshinski over training methods and philosophies. At the same time, Benedict also allowed that what the Bulldogs are doing may work. He also expressed appreciation and gratitude to Georgia for getting him past a severe knee injury and insisted he genuinely wishes for success for the Bulldogs this season and from now on. Following is my conversation with Benedict in Q&A form. . . .
Q: So it’s official then. You’re going to be a Hokie?
A: “Yep, I’m headed up to Virginia Tech. Camp will be starting in August and I’ll be up there then. I talked to Coach [Frank] Beamer and he said that this year I’ll be able to practice but I won’t be allowed to travel or to play. So it’ll be another year and then I’ll have three years after that.”
Q: Did you visit Blacksburg before you committed?
A: “I was up there for visit this past weekend. I got to walk around and check it out a little bit. I actually visited there initially the first time I was recruited.”
Q: So what are your feelings as you leave the University of Georgia?
A: “The University of Georgia was very good to me and my family, Coach [Mark] Richt was good to me and my family and, obviously, Mr. [Greg] McGarity was also. I really appreciate how they handled my release and Coach Richt sticking with me after the knee injury. I’m very grateful for that.”
Q: It seemed abrupt. It seemed like things were fine, your knee was recovering, you were moving up the depth chart. What happened?
A: “It’s just like Coach Richt said and like I said, it was personal issues. And, you know, it just seemed like it was something we weren’t able to resolve. I talked to Coach Richt about it and we both felt it was best for us to go our separate ways.”
Q: Didn’t you actually make the decision first and then wait to talk to Coach Richt when he came back from his mission trip to Honduras?
A: “Yes. I wanted to talk to Coach Richt to see if things could be resolved before I decided to leave. I really felt that was the last-case scenario. That was the last thing I wanted to do was to leave the program. So I talked to Coach Richt and we weren’t able to work things out. So, unfortunately, that’s the way it ended up. But Coach Richt was very gracious and granted me an unconditional release and I’m very grateful for that.”
Q: I understand this mainly had to do with not seeing eye-to-eye with new strength and conditioning coach Joe Tereshinki about training techniques with respect to your injury. I know he’s employing some old-school philosophies with a lot of lower-body work. Is that what this was about?
A: “Coach Tereshinski came in and he has his own philosophy and he and the coaching staff believe that it’s going to work and there’s no reason not to believe that. So, there were a few things going on and I wasn’t able to resolve that. Of course I hope Georgia does well, extremely well. I’ve told all my buddies back there I wish them the best of luck and I really believe it will be successful.”
Q: Before your knee injury you projected as an elite-level left tackle. You were a backup at right guard before you left Georgia. Is your goal to get back to playing tackle at Virginia Tech?
A: “I will do my best to contribute anywhere I can for Virginia Tech when I head up there. If that’s guard, if that’s tackle, it’s fine with me. I think I’ll definitely be in position to [play either]. I’m just hoping they’ll need me to help and allow me to contribute as much as I can.”
Q: Florida was one of the schools to court you this time around. Was it difficult for you to consider the Gators given the intensity of the rivalry between them and the Bulldogs?
A: “The University of Georgia was an awesome place for me coming out of high school. I love the school, I love the people there, I love my teammates. It was very difficult for me to leave. You know, Florida was one of the schools that offered me a scholarship the second time. They’re a big-time SEC school and they’re as strong as anybody is. But, you know, the ultimate decision came down to I felt like Virginia Tech was the best place for me and that’s why I ended up there.”
Q: I know you’re close friends with a lot of your fellow linemen at UGA. How’d they take this news?
A: “I’ll still stay in touch with them. I’ll be lifelong friends with a lot of those guys. I hope they do well this year and I’m sorry I can’t be a part of it with them.”
Q: You know Georgia’s depth situation on the offensive line. Any part of you feel like you left them in a pinch?
A: “It is a little bit thin up there right now and that’s unfortunate. But I think those guys are strong enough that they’ll be able to get through it together.”
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306 comments Add your comment
SouthGaBrave
July 13th, 2011
11:23 am
AfghanHound,
I would hope that Keith Marshall would be paying more attention the hammer the NCAA is trying to drop on the Tar Heels than their offensive line. No player should willingly go into a program getting penalized, unless they are just oblivious to the effect that has on a program.
Just like most of the other “big fish” recruits that UGA is after, the other schools recruiting them are telling them it is doom and gloom in Athens and that they wouldn’t play their career for the current coaches. The way we land these kids is to handle our business on the field starting September 3rd.
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
11:26 am
Saban is a strict Theory X style coach. It’s his way, or the highway.
how2fish
July 13th, 2011
11:33 am
@Mobile Dawg your correct about Saban and the Theory X style coach..he is also the Theory Greyshirt and Medically Unable style coach…sorry I could not stop myself!
BIG Joe
July 13th, 2011
11:34 am
What was so hard about the training? Read between the lines –it sounds like his knee wasn’t up to par & couldn’t handle the pressure of training hard. It’s good to know that these guys are training harder than they used to. If his knee couldn’t take the abuse in training, I doubt it will take it in playing the game –and if it did he would always be behind because of the lack of training. Anyway you look at it, it was no big loss.
Joey
July 13th, 2011
11:37 am
“The way we land these kids (”big fish” recruits) is to handle our business on the field starting September 3rd.”
**************************************
Well said, SouthGaBrave. Well said.
tide roll
July 13th, 2011
11:41 am
Question for all you DAWG fans: With all the attrition (that means players leaving), suffered along your offensive line (at last count, Tanner Strickland, Ben Harden, Jonathan Owens, Trinton Sturdivant, A. J. Harmon. Brent Benedict), can you guys even scrimmage ! ? The drop-off in talent and experience from your 1st team to 2nd team is incredible. And your 2nd team offensive line is physically in bad shape ( Long- missed spring, back surgery, Lee- asthma-like conditions) . You simply can’t afford risking any injuries to you starters by scrimmaging! What a program! You got SIX offensive coaches up there, including Richt, and you’re telling me no one could see this coming?
mgdawg
July 13th, 2011
11:42 am
For those of you complaining about the S&C program, do you even know really what they are doing? Maybe you do but I haven’t really heard a thing about what they are actually doing, and the things I have heard is that they have gotten away some from the olympic style lifting and are doing more conditioning style. I consider the olympic lifting more old school, so when I hear old school referring to the new S&C I think more of old school attitude which I think is a good thing.
The whole thing boils down to this, you can’t have an athlete running your team. If richt was to give into this kid what is next? Will murray start ignoring bobo and calling whatever play he wants to? Although I do wonder about the decision of hiring JoeT, until I can see that it is failed, or hear about exactly what he is doing I’m not going to judge.
Vinny D
July 13th, 2011
11:47 am
One thing that we are all failing to mention…Joe T is putting a large emphasis on nutrition. The fuel that you take in will make or break you PARTICULARLY in the 4th quarter. If you put crappy gasoline in your car, it sputters and struggles. Guess what happens when you eat garbage like fast food and sodas to put on weight….
SouthGaBrave
July 13th, 2011
11:48 am
tide roll,
I normally wouldn’t acknowledge your rants, in all there Jesse Jackson, hang wringing glory…..but this one has a clear answer.
We signed 27 kids in the last class. Mayes didn’t make it in. Would you have suggested that we sign 35 kids like Houston Nutt in his hey-day? Becuase that is simply not how we do things. Before you even respond (not that you even will) with an argument that we should have had more OL guys in the original 27, I will counter with the fact that we had needs at mulitiple positions. Georgia is simply having to cross their fingers for good health and face the problem that normal teams (that don’t oversign) have to go through with attrition.
tide roll
July 13th, 2011
11:49 am
I forgot Kevin Perez, sorry.
Charlie Hayes
July 13th, 2011
11:56 am
Chip**
With the thin OL at UGA, what is the status with the following 2012 recruits that UGA is targeting?
Joe Harris OG, 4-Star, 6′4″, 285
Vandal Alexander OG, 4-Star, 6′6″, 310
Alex Jauregui OT, 3-Star, 6′7″, 275
Avery Young OT, 5-Star, 6′5″, 270
John Theus OT, 5-Star, 6′6″, 292
Do you know when these guys will start making their decisions?
tide roll
July 13th, 2011
12:02 pm
S. Ga. Brave. I didn’t ask how many kids you signed or the staus of Mayes. I asked if dawg fans thought you could even conduct normal scrimmages due to the lack of foresight by your coaching staff that led to the incredible lack of depth on your offensive line. Since ya’ll refuse to answer (likely because it would force you to face facts about the shortcomings of your program, and dawg fans don’t like facts, ) I’ll answer. Hell No! ( I mean Heck, sorry Coach Richt) you can’t srimmage. You can’t risk it. All the talk about Joe T. and toughness and you can’t implement it on the field because you don’t have enough SEC caliber offensive lineman. What is this, Georgia State? Ya’ll are like a start-up!
noonesdawg
July 13th, 2011
12:03 pm
I knew Joe T. 30 years ago. I have always questioned his integrity and character and still do. Be careful before you judge the young man and anoint the coach. I hope I am wrong, but I do not believe integrity and character change. I am a UGA grad and hope Joe T’s program turns out to be the best in the country, I just had and have my doubts given his self focus.
1953Dawg
July 13th, 2011
12:05 pm
Charlie, UGA is in good shape with Harris and Theus. The rest will go elsewhere. If UGA can’t get Harris&Theus with the lack of depth on O.L., then there truely is something wrong in Athens. Felt good about Theus until i heard he might visit Texas. He was close to Searels, and if he had of stayed at UGA, Theus would have already committed to UGA. If he visits Texas, he might be gone also. You would think O.L. would be knocking the doors down to come to UGA with the depth issues, but that’s not the case. Don’t think this Friend guy can coach or recruit, just another terrible hire by Richt.
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
12:07 pm
Can’t speak for Chip or the kids Charlie, but if it’s me I wait until after the season if I’m considering UGA as my first choice. Wouldn’t that make sense with all the questions surrounding the program?
Gatorzone
July 13th, 2011
12:07 pm
Kid sounds soft… Glad he didn’t come to UF… No loss on UGA’s part.
I agree with BIG JOE.. Can’t handle training… can’t hold up in games.
Charlie Hayes
July 13th, 2011
12:08 pm
Derrick Lott out for six (6) weeks – http://dogbytesonline.com/backup-de-lott-injured-in-scooter-accident-46781/
Fah Realdo
July 13th, 2011
12:08 pm
Bye Quitter
Maybe we should sign 50 Offensive linemen like Saban and Bear Bryant and then screw them over like they do/did as Tide Roll suggests.
Find an Alabama site to chat on, where you can talk about the latest tree poisoning technology and how to play alerbamy sports to get free textbooks for you and your girlfriend.
Charlie Hayes
July 13th, 2011
12:13 pm
1953Dawg,
I am concerned why Kolton Houston and Austin Long are not already in the mix for a starting position. Houston was a 4-Star # 6 OG and Long was a 4-Star # 6 OT coming into UGA. Why haven’t these two guys stepped up and taken a starting position? Looking at the attriton rate and injuries, I feel that we need to sign at least five OL’s in 2012 class or we will continue this ‘thin’ trend for the next few years.
SouthGaBrave
July 13th, 2011
12:16 pm
tide roll,
They’ll be able to scrimmage. I believe there are only 5 offensive linemen on the field at a time, still. I could be confused, but that was how we lined up when I was playing in Athens a few years ago. There are enough bodies between the starters, backups, and redshirting guys to get things done in practice. The numbers that you like to whine to everyone about everyday, started being addressed with this last class. Do I think we should have a full compliment of OL guys, sure. But we can’t harp on the past. UGA signed 5 guys in the 2011 class, and will be bringing in 5 more this year. It takes time to get the numbers back to where they should be. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your slanted, trolling arguments. I choose to hope for good health and to see how things shake out on the field this year. You can wear your tin foil hat and preach doom and gloom to the bloggers all you want.
FLA DAWG
July 13th, 2011
12:17 pm
Good riddance.
Spike 80DF
July 13th, 2011
12:23 pm
we need John Theus to go ahead and commit….he’ll be starting OT from day 1 when he gets on campus. as everyone already knows if we stay healthly on the OL we’ll be ok but then next year we’ll be in the same situation with no depth on the OL……jeez.
Mr. SEC
July 13th, 2011
12:24 pm
To: NCBulldawg86
Your right! Bruce, Brent, Bobo, or Bozo, I don’t care who it is or what you call him, I call it the way I see it and the way I was coached by Joe T. Sorry! (Na, not really!)
(Got to pay more more attention to names, see, I had already forgot his, he is history”!)
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
12:26 pm
Why are we talking about some offensive lineman at Vatech anyway.
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
12:29 pm
Wow, 1953 has already figured out Coach Friend. That’s impressive.
2012 Recruiting List - Page 79
July 13th, 2011
12:34 pm
[...] not sure if this has been posted yet, but an interesting interview with Brent Benedict about why he left UGA: Q&A: Brent Benedict confirms dispute with Georgia’s new strength coach | UGA sports blog [...]
7576DAWG
July 13th, 2011
12:37 pm
Our biggest recruiting need for 2011 , recruits that are coming in now , was to provide the depth needed to run the 3-4. That will be a continuous need. This year UGA will be concentrating on O.L. You can have top 10 recruiting classes every year and not perform on the field as you should if the wrong players are signed to complement your playing philosophy. That has been one of our problems .
I am very encouraged by what I have seen happen since MCGARITY was hired. He is demanding from everybody , players and coaches, that if you don’t want to elevate UGA’s program to the highest level then we don’t want you around. Also , all the ‘ WHAT ABOUT ME ” players are leaving. McGarity wants team players that don’t have an attitude. Those that respect the coaches and the job they are hired to do.
I LIKE EVERYTHING THAT I’VE SEEN, SO FAR . Good job McGarity. Thanks for coming to Georgia.
FLA DAWG
July 13th, 2011
12:44 pm
7576,
If what you say is true regarding the needs / recruits / personnel of the team- and I do not dispute it, then Richt could have another bad season and still be back.
ugh.
Bulldawg Plenty
July 13th, 2011
12:47 pm
If you can’t stand the heat stay out of the damn kitchen! Talking about culling out the bulldogs,lets give credit to coach T.It appears that he is on to something. Give credit to CMR for not giving up his S&C program for Benedict! I am tired of the disloyalty. They should find ways to help UGA, not serve their own purposes!
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
12:49 pm
When recruits want to come to the University of Georgia, they should:
A. Know who’s in charge.
B. Know what’s expected of them.
C. Know what the consequences of their actions will be.
Pretty simple, a theory Y coach can succeed in that environment, although most are X’s. Bumps in the road can be navigated using the “3″ very simple rules. Where Mark Richt get’s in trouble is allowing to much emotion to influence his decisions (my opinion).
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
12:50 pm
And yes, that was a good decision by Coach Richt to support Joe T.
BG
July 13th, 2011
12:57 pm
Richt stood by Brent when he tore his ACL,MCl and PCL. Most SEC teams would have not done that for Brent. I guess Brent was not as loyal to Richt as Richt was to him.
Joey
July 13th, 2011
12:57 pm
“If richt was to give into this kid what is next? Will murray start ignoring bobo and calling whatever play he wants to?”
***********************************************
One can only dream, mgdawg. LOL
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
1:04 pm
More than half of the top O-linemen have not made any commitments. And of those that have, there is a disproportional few that have done so to SEC teams so far. I am positive the SEC on the whole will sign a monster class of linemen, in time (it’s July), and UGA will get thier share when it’s all said and done.
Dawg Gone
July 13th, 2011
1:16 pm
@AltamahaDawg good point at 1:04. These kids are all smart and all watching to see what happens with coaching changes at a number of schools..Saban and the Chiz have bloggers on the AJC site 24/7 talking about how hot CMR’s seat is and how the staff suxs and the players are all jumping ship..anything to make Georgia a more fertile field for them..But then again schools like UF, LSU and Bama demand championships and with Saban 4th in the west last year and LSU failing short you know ol’Les and Saban both know it this year or good bye right?
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
1:24 pm
Are you saying you don’t think the condition of our program is on the mind of the “potential signees” or recruiters from other schools? It won’t influence where a top prospect goes?
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
1:29 pm
Has anyone realized that Benedict will be coming to the Dome against Bama to open the 2013 season, or am I just slow and late?
ga gator
July 13th, 2011
1:32 pm
Mobile Dawg I would think that the chance of immediate playing time would factor in more on a kids decision rather who the coach might be. Dawg Gone I agree with you about Les maybe being gone if they have another down year but I think that Saban has bought himself several years of cushion.
PT
July 13th, 2011
1:34 pm
If Georgia is truly intent on turning things around, this may not be the only defection. As I have said before. A clean house is in good order.
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
1:36 pm
I don’t know what’s going to happen to Les or Nick or Will. I know they have signed a grand total of 3 of 0-lineman between them so far.
So appearantly a class full of em by July is not the standard.
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
1:38 pm
The lower you go in the pecking order ga gator, I would tend to agree. From the highest blue chip perspectives, I would disagree. With me, if I’m that good, I know I will play wherever I go, I know that sounds arrogant but if that’s not your mentality, then your probably not going to be a great one.
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
1:41 pm
Me, MD?
I absolutely think the condition of the program is an obviosuly factor in where kids sign, and the other schools use that.
ga gator
July 13th, 2011
1:46 pm
Mobile, 15 years ago I would have agreed with you but most of these kids today only care about ME.
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
1:51 pm
Perusing through the OT’s, OG’s, and C’s I see one out of the top 20 considering UGA. Numerous kids looking at AU, UA, and UF to a lesser degree.
ga gator, maybe I wouldn’t succeed as a coach, but those ME players can be weeded out during the recruiting process by following the three basic rules I spoke of earlier. You really don’t have to be a rocket scientest to succeed as a head coach. Gene Chizik doesn’t come across to me as particularly intelligent, but he’s surrounded himself with some excellent to good coaches.
AfghanHound
July 13th, 2011
1:51 pm
SouthGaBrave, sounds like you are the one spreading the “gloom and doom” (in this case, about UNC). I’m sure Marshall is watching the UNC situation clearly. But that will be cleared up in the Fall, far in advance of signing day. Then Marshall will look at the OL’s at the two schools.
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
1:52 pm
Well, they are in good company with most of the college football fans of today.
Daniel
July 13th, 2011
1:55 pm
Loser.
Dawg Gone
July 13th, 2011
1:57 pm
@ga gator I agree about Saban just get a little tried of the “we demand championships” bull the Tide fans have been spouting the last couple of years.
AltamahaDawg
July 13th, 2011
1:57 pm
I’m way less concerned about the rankings of specific OG, OT, C listed on the sites, than some of the other positions. That seem’s awfully hard to guage. That is truly a spot where a bunch of 2-3 star guys could easily end up being the best combined line in the league, if, if, if. Not that signing 6) top 20 guys isn’t a valid goal.
Mobile Dawg
July 13th, 2011
1:59 pm
As long as Richt is studying cutting edge football, I wonder if he’s considered sending his recruiting “coordinator” to any classes focusing on the “psychological” side of the human being vs just the atheletic qualifications. Most of these guys came from the trenches themselves.
Of course this goes back to the engineering side, the mechanic doesn’t worry about the psyche, they just want to make sure the engine runs.