UGA’s Richt volleys ‘must-win’ questions, players defend their coach
Georgia coach Mark Richt found himself on the defensive for a brief time in Tuesday's press conference. (Photo provided by DawgTime.com)
ATHENS – Just three days after Georgia’s season-opening loss to Boise State, Georgia’s Mark Richt is already getting the type of questions reserved for November of a horrific season.
Twice Richt was asked during his weekly press conference Tuesday if he felt Saturday’s game was critically important to him as the Bulldogs’ head coach.
Phrased a different way by two different reporters three minutes apart, Richt gave the same terse answer.
In the first case, Richt was asked if he viewed the South Carolina game as “pivotal for you and your program.”
“I view it as a very important game,” he said, without further elaboration.
A short time later, a reporter from a South Carolina newspaper asked if Richt felt like it was “a must-win game.”
“Didn’t I just say it was a really important game?” Richt snapped back.
“But is it a must win?,” the reporter repeated.
“I think it’s a really important game,” Richt said, now glaring. “You want to ask me again? Because you can, and I’ll answer it the same way.”
And so the tone was set for this week’s SEC opener against No. 12 South Carolina (1-0) at Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
It could be argued that the game was already markedly more important than the opener against Boise State. But after the Bulldogs (0-1) fell 35-21 to the No. 4-ranked Broncos, the perception is that Richt’s job is on the line against the Gamecocks.
That’s certainly the message that Georgia’s players are getting. And they left little doubt Tuesday as to where they stand on the issue.
“We always try to play for Coach Richt, seeing how much he’s done for us,” said junior defensive end Abry Jones.
Said senior tight end Aron White: “I feel like we’re defending Coach Richt just like he defends us. We’re playing for him just like he’s coaching for us. We’re behind him 100 percent. I have complete confidence that all the players on this team are playing for Coach Richt, regardless of what we might agree with or not agree with. He’s still our coach, we’re still his players and we’re in this together. We have full support for him, We’re pulling for him, we’re playing for him, we’re doing everything we can.”
The fan reaction to the Bulldogs’ loss on social media platforms and blogs has been prolific and vitriolic. Likewise, it has been nearly impossible for players and coaches to avoid the negative feedback.
“I didn’t even check my Twitter account,” tight end Orson Charles said. “We know everybody we have in that team meeting room is all we have. If things are going right everybody’s going to jump on board. If they’re going wrong then that’s when things start breaking down. I just pray that the fans stay behind us. Yeah, we let them down in that first game. But I don’t see us letting them down the rest of the season. We just have to come out there and bounce back from this loss.”
Said White: “We catch a good bit of it, now more than ever. I remember coming in in ‘07 and they were coming off disappointing season and there were a lot of people saying a lot of crazy stuff back then. It just comes along with the territory. You have a bad season, you lose games and people are going to talk. You’ve just got to rise above it. You’ve got to tune it out and realize you’re playing for the guys in that locker room.”
Regardless, the players insist fan sentiment and negativity won’t have an effect on how they play against the Gamecocks. As always, it will come down to blocking, tackling and execution.
“We’re not trying to worry about that,” quarterback Aaron Murray said of the hot-seat talk. “We’re just taking it one game at a time. We just know it’s a big game just for ourselves, to get back rolling in the right direction, to get a win under our belts and to get a big win against a great opponent in an SEC game. It’s a huge game. We definitely don’t want to start 0-2 an you don’t want to start 0-1 in SEC play, especially against a team like South Carolina that’s predicted to win the East. We just want to get the ball rolling and get a big win this weekend.”
– Chip Towers
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813 comments Add your comment
Enough is Enough
September 6th, 2011
9:34 pm
Boy, I sure am glad Richt knows what the hell he is doing. It’s a good thing the AD took all the extra responsibility from him so he could become a cutting edge expert again. If we still ran things like we did last year we would really suck with our 10th consecutive top 10 ranked recruiting class and third highest paid coaching staff. What a relief we don’t have that to worry about another mediocre, or worse, season.
Its All George Bush's Fault
September 6th, 2011
9:37 pm
KerryB
I thought you were too busy watching Maxine Waters videos on YouTube to spend any time here on the blog. Face it, if UF just played better teams,then………UGA would still stink. Richt needs to get a Chick-Fil-A franchise, and get the heck out of coaching. The players are defending him because they know if he can make it to Saturday, then certainly this will be his last game. Chickens are coming, hope you got a good place to hide. Happy Labor Day (your a big Jimmy Hoffa fan, right?)
al.comwritier
September 6th, 2011
9:37 pm
Before there is to much Smart talk make sure you know all the facts that are coming out about Suitgate. The bam a coached will not look so golden when all the facts come out . The NCAA smells some smoke and pictures speak louder than words.
GATORHATER!
September 6th, 2011
9:37 pm
I spend a lot of money every year for this program to not get the wins that UGA football should be getting. However, Boise did have a more talented and veteran squad. I agree about the play calling….”Draw, Draw, Draw!!!!! Every team in the country knows what we are going to do! Hell, my wife was in the stands calling out what we are gonna do! Now, the team that should have beat us has done so…..Let’s show our dawgs that we can do our part and show up this weekend and help them win this game and each one after that. If we are not any better by the end of this year, then I agree changes should be made.
One Sad Puppy
September 6th, 2011
9:37 pm
Has anyone notice that since Bobo has been in charge of calling the plays our offense has sucked? I can take a loss, but when your offense looks confused on the first play of the game something is wrong. I’m a huge Richt supporter, but I was embrassed on how ill prepared we were. This can be fixed, Richt just has to stand up and take charge. Let’s go dawgs!!!!!!!!
One Sad Puppy
September 6th, 2011
9:42 pm
sorry *** Embarrassed****
Stratocaster
September 6th, 2011
9:44 pm
CMR is a good man, but he has lost the fire. You can see it in his eyes on the field and in interviews. He doesn’t fully believe what he is saying. He really wants to just go do something church-related but can’t bring himself to admit it. He enjoys building character in his players but doesn’t have the fire to rip into them or his staff. He’s not demanding excellence. It’s time for a new approach.
Its All George Bush's Fault
September 6th, 2011
9:45 pm
Any chance CMR will be the guest of honor at the speech Pres. Obama is giving on Thurs night? I can see it now. “My fellow Americans, you need to stick with me, I have a plan, I know it hasn’t worked, in fact it has failed miserably, but just keep believing and stick with me, because I am a great guy. I want to introduce another great guy, whose results have been equally as modest as mine, but they are stickin with him down in Athens GA. Members of Congress please give a round of applause to the man from Athens, CMR, who Bulldogs got blasted this past Saturday by those Tea Party racists Boise State. Hope and change here we come”
Thomas Brown
September 6th, 2011
9:46 pm
CHDawg September 6th, 2011 8:41 pm
“The only thing we didn’t do well on was underneath routes–I’m not sure we had more than a couple of those covered, and of course, pressure on Moore. On O, our blocking had such big problems, I’m not sure you got to see the play develop to distinguish it–they all kind of look the same when the back is fighting to get to the line. The D linemen were unbuckling Crowell’s chin strap as soon as he was handed the ball. I don’t have an excuse for J. Jones’ chin strap”
CHDawg, why is it that YOU can CRITICIZE the team, but you will not let anyone else ? 28 of 34 underneath isn’t not doing well; it is called a blitzkrieg. How is it again, CHDawg, that only YOU can say we did not block ? Explain that ? Only YOU can say anything about Jarvis Jones losing his helmet on 23 plays ? Just want to make sure we all get this straight. Who can and who cannot say anything negative, sir ?
typical dawg fan
September 6th, 2011
9:46 pm
i’m a huntin a starter for my 81 camaro. i ain’t workin so we gotta trade fer it. i got a nice dale jr t shirt an a box of 30-30 shells for a starter. get with shelly at the qwik mart an she’ll get with me
Good night Fat As* Tire
September 6th, 2011
9:48 pm
Unlike Fat As* Tire, I have to get up in the morning and go to work. I can’t spend all day on the porch of my tin sided trailer making out with my sister while my Father/Uncle works on my mini-van. You sir have no clue about football but I’m guessing you can play the heck out of a 2 stringed banjo with all your in breeding. The best thing you can do for the Dawg nation is simply quit being or at least quit claiming to be a fan. GO BRONCOS-GO DAWGS!!!
Hit A Single
September 6th, 2011
9:49 pm
Way to go Jeff Gordon. At least one of my teams won!
Thomas Brown
September 6th, 2011
9:49 pm
Gainesville Dawg September 6th, 2011 7:45 pm
“After reading this page of comments, I am sick of you so-called fans. You are the most negative people that jump on this blog and rant and rave negative comments and insults to the football program. With fans like you, who needs another game to play. Talk about kicking them when they are down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are nauseating!!!!!”
CHDawg September 6th, 2011 7:40 pm
“I think we would have won it easily, but Georgia just has a bunch of drunk losers for fans. Booing the coaches, booing the team, leaving while the team still had a chance to come back (see the Auburn game). As soon as the team starts winning, a new fan base will show up, and we can win the NC!”
Hit A Single
September 6th, 2011
9:50 pm
Hey Thomas, how about getting Jones to cut his hair or get a XXXXXXXXXL Helmet.
Thomas Brown
September 6th, 2011
9:52 pm
Funny how each of the self-appointed real Bulldogs’ fans, each of them, come running in here with their NEGATIVISM.
But, only THEY can say NEGATIVE criticizm – no one else is allowed to do so. Just they can.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 6th, 2011
9:52 pm
Thomas Brown
Help there are several people who walked into to cheech and chongs dorm room tonight and the sidestream smoke from there bong is effecting their thinking
Linda
September 6th, 2011
9:52 pm
Mobile Dawg..you give up way too easy.
Hit A Single
September 6th, 2011
9:52 pm
Also has anyone heard if Garcia has been suspended for Saturday yet?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 6th, 2011
9:55 pm
Good night Fat As* Tire
I just love how the self righteous on here want to call me out as so called trashing people
Yet the same bunch can call me all kinds of trashy names but yet cannot come up with any reasons as to why the program is heading in the right direction when asked
LOL
Morons
typical dawg fan
September 6th, 2011
9:59 pm
i tell yall who i don’t won’t coachin my dawgs an thats the fella at lsu what eats the grass on tha field. thats jest crazy, ain’t it? i bet ole coach dooley seen that on his tv an was thinkin that is just crazy. what yall think?
typical dawg fan
September 6th, 2011
10:00 pm
i’m hopin somebody stops an helps you with that tire mister.
Muddiver
September 6th, 2011
10:01 pm
It’s probably not too surprising that the players are supporting Coach Richt. Playing for a coach that won’t accept and even defend their below average performance would really be a bummer. By the way I wonder if the players who believe that they only have to play for the other guys in the locker room realize that it’s the fans, of whom they and the coaches are so dismissive of, that pay for their educations and the football program for which they seem to take for granted. The same mentality took hold a few years ago in Tallahassee. Now FSU season tickets are $99 and they still can’t sell them all. Can you say Bobby who?
typical dawg fan
September 6th, 2011
10:03 pm
i’m bettin that muddiver fella is talkin bout coach bowden what yall think
Catdawg
September 6th, 2011
10:07 pm
Mark Richt is a man who is certain of his heavenly salvation. He has no fear of anything on this earth. Including the wrath of his fan nation. And his employer. For what does it profit a man if he gain the whole of the earth and loses his soul? Well, it makes for a lot of 8-3 seasons…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 6th, 2011
10:08 pm
typical dawg fan
I sure hope so too. Been waiting 21 years for someone to fix my flat
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
10:10 pm
Nah Linda, actually I’m to stupid to quit. I will however be selling kool aid shots for $6 on the bridge before the game Saturday. Stop by my stand if you get a chance.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 6th, 2011
10:12 pm
Mobile Dawg
How much is a refill, Im sure Im going to need it
Muddiver
September 6th, 2011
10:12 pm
Catdawg: Right now it’s profitting him about 4 mil a year. He’d have to become a televangelist to make that kinda money. Them shiny suits they wear are kinda cool though. I think 8-3 is overoptimistic.
Orlando Dawg.
September 6th, 2011
10:13 pm
I was at the game Saturday night i sat in section 325 row 10.Everybody around me was talking about how awful we looked.As bad as we looked we can not fire Mark Richt after 1 game.Maybe he should have been let go after last year but since he was not we are stuck with him until the season end.There is no coach on this staff that I would want to see be head coach if Mark Richt was fired toninght.Richt should take over the play calling from Mike Bobo and give Bobo the option to stay on as qb coach until season end.
Say What!
September 6th, 2011
10:13 pm
I saw some reference to Vince Dooley. I have watched 100’s of games and have never heard Vince Dooley and great mentioned in the same breath, let alone broadcast. What he was a 8-3 (a WAG) most of his career. 8-3 will never be consider great.
Tom
September 6th, 2011
10:14 pm
Just play some gawddamned football guys.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
10:14 pm
The security guys down at the Federal Courthouse in Mobile were overheard talking about the hideous uni’s our beloved Dawgs were clad in Saturday night. Now that’s the truth. We are becoming the laughingstock of college football. I get madder every time I hear CMR mention “The Georgia Way”. He’s selling our tradition right down the river.
typical dawg fan
September 6th, 2011
10:14 pm
somebody will help ya with that tire you jest hide an watch. ifn you was close to blue ridge i’d come out there and change it fer ya. you always been rite friendly to me on this here computer. yes sir ya sure have an i do apprecate it to
Tom
September 6th, 2011
10:15 pm
Play football players and shut you mouths.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
10:15 pm
I’m thinking $8 a shot after the game.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 6th, 2011
10:22 pm
Mobile Dawg
Thats kind of steep seeing that I spent all my welfare money on donations for season tickets this year
Is there a government subsidy that I can sign up for. I really could use some of that refreshing kool-aid you sale.
Muddiver
September 6th, 2011
10:22 pm
Mobile Dawg: You may want to go up at half time. After the game even the most hard core kool aid drinkers may be trying to kick the habit.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
10:23 pm
Why you think the price is so high. I’m trying to get my investment back. 3 to 4 million a year is a lot of kool aid.
Tally HO
September 6th, 2011
10:24 pm
You really don’t have to worry, Richt is resigning.
T2go
September 6th, 2011
10:27 pm
The University, the fans, and the players deserve better. Im not mad at the players…they were not prepared and that is the coaches fault…..and all of yall still talking about getting back to the Dome ought to stop. This team needs serious help! And YES Boise is a good team….that shouldnt have come as a surprise. WAKE UP PEOPLE! It wasnt that we lost to the now 4th ranked team in the country…it was that we looked completely without a clue doing it! This staff is running this program into the ground!
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
10:28 pm
Good point diver, I think based on your tip I’m selling my kool aid stock. I predict a nose dive after Saturday. But what if we win? Decisions, decisions.
Tally HO
September 6th, 2011
10:30 pm
Man a lot of wasted words here, Richt has resigned.
atowngiant
September 6th, 2011
10:32 pm
To all fans that jumped on Twitter like that shame on you. True fans don’t leave until the end of a game. If you have doubts that this teams will lose sat and you are going to the game stay at home.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 6th, 2011
10:33 pm
Mobile Dawg
Ok I’ll try and see if I can muster the fortitude this week and instead of sitting on the porch all day I’ll try to pick up all the beer cans thrown all over my yard and take them down to the recycling place and earn some extra income to pay for that refreshing kool-aid
Sick'em
September 6th, 2011
10:34 pm
I don’t see any fight or fire in the players or coaches on this team. In the 1st half of the Boise’s game, I see lots of barks. In the 2nd half, I see no bites.
Good-bye Coach Richt. I hopes you and your coaches go far, far, and away.
typical dawg fan
September 6th, 2011
10:36 pm
there ya go mister flat tire. my income has been based on the spot price of aluminum fer a couple years now. its a lifestyle choice that works for me.
Night Train Layne
September 6th, 2011
10:41 pm
BigDawg
September 6th, 2011
2:58 pm
“Demote or Fire Mike Bozo and let Richt earn his money calling plays like Petrino and Spurrier!”
Don’t forget that CMR needs all his spare time to study the game, the X’s and O’s, and stay up with all the cutting edge developments. He can’t take time away from that to prepare for calling plays.
Studying is Ford-Tuff, doncha’know? Woof woof!
UGA
September 6th, 2011
10:46 pm
Only worthless and ignorant UGA fans would blame dreadlocks and uniforms as a reason for losing.. I feel sorry for some of you. This may come as a shock for some but there is more than one way to wear hair. Not everyone wants to drive a pickup truck, chew tobacco and wear John Deer t-shirts.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
10:48 pm
Guess we could take some of that aluminum siding off our double wides too. Lee blew some off if I could just find it.
James K Polk
September 6th, 2011
10:50 pm
Sounds like Richt got a little peeved at the reporters. That’s more emotion in one early week press conference than he’s shown in the previous 40 games.
…and stop all of the “fair weathered” and “bandwagon” talk. Any and all of our “fair weathered” fans were gone two years ago. None of them are left. Instead, we have two sets of hardcore fans–hardcore Dawg fans, and hardcore Richt fans. One set wants to win championships, while the other set doesn’t care what the results are, they just want Richt on the sidelines. Simple truth.