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
P-Man
September 6th, 2011
3:37 pm
2 points:
1) Boise also had 8 months to prepare, and they were coming off a 13-1 season.
2) I didn’t say there didn’t need to be changes. That is for the admin to decide. I only said that I support them 100% until they are no longer my coach. I can disagree all I want with what is going on, but I do that privately, not on a public forum or by tweeting players, or booing coaches, etc.
shut up...
September 6th, 2011
3:37 pm
i remember beating down tennessee last year…to all those who think we havent punished anyone lately. althought they werent that great…we still beat them down. i mean come on “fans”. of course it wouldve been great to beat boise but beating them wouldnt have just thrown us back into the 1980’s or 2002 2005 or 2007. its one game against the #5 team in the nation with a heisman QB.
Saban
September 6th, 2011
3:38 pm
South Carolina 44 Dawgs 0
TossSweep
September 6th, 2011
3:38 pm
What was Bobo trying to prove? That we can manhandle Boise’s defensive front and keep trying to stick it to ‘em down the middle? He’s calling plays as if he was still playing the position way back when.
chris fountain
September 6th, 2011
3:38 pm
well at least we know we will beat tech….we only loose to them once every 20 years…and i think we got like 10 more to go before another defeat……i enjoyed your 663 yards against a class aa high school team from north carolina by the way!
McDawg
September 6th, 2011
3:39 pm
ATLtiger its not that we lost -its the fact that we lost percisely the same way we lost going back to Stafford’s final year-we were out matched physically in the trenches-nothing has changed-that is the frustrating part and why people are angry
theevilone
September 6th, 2011
3:39 pm
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh……like clockwork every year. Big talk and chest thumping the entire offseason…then endless despair and agony halfway through game 1.
Heh heh heh heh heh heh!!!
DawginLex
September 6th, 2011
3:41 pm
If we win Saturday, Boise just got that much better.
jackson
September 6th, 2011
3:41 pm
Let’s be clear on a few things. One, for fans of the UGA program, we never blame the players for the outcomes. These are talented kids who work extremely hard to prepare for football games and for life. Most of us do not blame the kids for the outcome of the game. The ones that do should be ashamed for not being true fans. Having said that, the coaches allow the players to be in the target area by making statements like our execution was not that good or that we have to do better in certain areas. That places the targets on the kids versus saying we did not do a good enough job in preparing the players or we did not make enough in game adjustments.
2. The reason so many fans are upset with the current coaching staff has very little to do with wins and losses. It is in the way we lose games. If we had run plays that made sense with the team we had and we still lost, we would walk away saying we played our game and BSU beat us at it. They are a good football team and they earned our respect. They indeed earned the UGA nation respect but the coaching staff lost it. All of the changes that were discussed throughout the offseason did not come to fruition. Maybe that was due to the better opponent, maybe not. I think we all question why you would put a behemoth of a FB in the backfield and not utilize him. Why would you talk about an attacking blitzing defense but not blitz even when you have your missing pieces. We could have lost by 50 but if we had pounded the ball out of the I, play action passed out of the I more, or let Murray actually keep the read option, I don’t think people would be as upset. If the defense had blitzed more than the 4-5 times they did, I think people would have said, our players are still young and we got beat. Running a 3-4 bend but don’t break defensive philosophy a la Joe Kines is not what we are paying $750,000 a year for. I have been a CMR supporter and defender for years but what I saw in the dome was not something I have support for. Yes, I will be at the game this weekend. Yes I will cheer to the very end… just like this last weekend. Our players deserve that. Our players also deserve coaches that put them in position to perform well. Win or lose this weekend, I just want to see aggressive defensive play calling and consistent, power football.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 6th, 2011
3:43 pm
The front 7 of Carolina will be hard to push around if we couldn’t move Boise. Not a shot at Boise, but its a reality. Unless Friend comes out this week and these guys have a coming to Jesus meeting and the turn into the “Hogs” circo 1988 this ground game will struggle Saturday.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:43 pm
Is Mark Richt coaching this team to play “The Georgia Way”?
DawginLex
September 6th, 2011
3:43 pm
McDawg
We lost and that blew grits but our defense up until the point that alec got hurt was playing better than anything WM ever cam up with.
We lost to a very good QB who is lights out at preparing.
Let’s see if Garcia is as good.
It could be we do still suck and Grantham is an idiot.
We will know more about our team than any other team in the ountry after playing 2 top 12 teams the 1st 2 games
KOOL
September 6th, 2011
3:44 pm
treyingeorgia, I suggest you go visit your doctor, so he can adjust your meds… maybe add some valium to your regimen
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 6th, 2011
3:44 pm
DawginLex,
OMG can you imagine how fickle this base will become with a victory. Almost makes me sick to think of it.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:45 pm
Lowcountry, how long are you going to continue with the if, unless, etc, crap? Mark Richt ain’t going to get it done. If he was, it would have already happened.
Mtn Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:45 pm
Back off all you nay sayers. Bunch of Monday morning QBs, wheel chair generals. This isn’t one and done time, guys. Give the season a chance to get started. We all love football. Let’s get on with the business of loving football. Too much negative in the world as it is.
GO YOU HAIRY DAWGS!!!!!
The Ghost of Wally Butts
September 6th, 2011
3:46 pm
Perhaps we long-time UGA fans just need to come down to earth and learn to accept a sold 7-5 or 8-4 season record and a holiday trip to Nashville or Shreveport or Birmingham.
At least Richt is predictable by this point. We’re not winning championships, but we’re not on probation, either. Richt’s players show immaturity in social media; in driving around parking decks; in knowing the importance of showing up for court dates; and in how they play – whether in football uniforms or in power ranger costumes, but at least they are not getting the university in trouble with the NCAA.
Maybe we must live with the fact that we will not be Alabama under Saban or Florida under Meyer or anyteam under Spurrier.
“Change” ain’t always better. For those fellow Dawg loyalists who are calling for “change” just observe what “hope and change” has done for our country.
Nothing Could Be Finer
September 6th, 2011
3:47 pm
Let’s see if Garcia is as good.
——————————————–
Moore has more talent than Garcia, but Garcia can manage the game just as well.
He’ll put SC in a position to win on Saturday.
14 Games 6 W's, 8 LOSSES
September 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
Coaches poll just out———-Georgia still ranked. Just not in the top 25. the dawgs slide to #30.
If we lose Sat we will slide into the BLACK HOLE in space never to be relevant again until we get a new coaching staff top to bottom. I do think McGarity will hold off and not fire Richt until after he is embarrased by Miss. State.
When Richt is fired I would bet he will never be head coach of any major school. He will be lucky to land an OC job.
Looks like old Bobby Bowen was right about Richt when he said as he left FSU, “I just don’t think Mark is tough enough to be a head coach.” Truer words
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
Not you too Lex, if we win? If we win this Dawg will be asking what happened, why didn’t Richt have this team prepared for the first game. If we can beat Carolina, why couldn’t we hang with Boise? Richt is in an absolutely “no win” situation at this point. He shouldn’t have bene retained this year, we have wasted an entire year. Get over it.
NCDawgs fan
September 6th, 2011
3:49 pm
All those who are calling for CMR’s head…..be careful what you wish for! You have a man who is doing things the right way…you get someone new you may end up with someone who sees how desperate the fan base is and tries to take shortcuts to success. Good things really do come to those who wait! Be patient and wait and see!
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:49 pm
Apology to you Lex, you didn’t say that. I was reading Lowcountry’s post to you. My bad.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:51 pm
Come on NCDawgs, what I’m hearing out of Richt’s mouth and what I’m seeing are two different things entirely. Total opposites, like night and day. Get real.
bird dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:51 pm
i agree herschel talker. have thought the same thing. cmr could take some of those miilions of $$$ he has made at uga an build a mega church right here in athens. probably make more $$$ than at uga.
Lewd Grizzard
September 6th, 2011
3:51 pm
Aim low boys those scoundrels are riding sheatland ponies.
Dang Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:52 pm
Does Brandon Smith no how to tackle a ball carrier ? He gets juked out by the running back and doesn’t even touch the guy ! Embarrassed by that ! Not an SEC defensive play ! We got crappy defensive play by him. I noticed our players slipped alot. Why ? Bad shoes ?
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:52 pm
Like I said earlier this morning, we are becoming laughingstocks, as a team and as fans. The trolls are right, some of you beat your chests every year, frankly, Mark Richt is making a lot of you look stupid.
Soon 2B Idaho resident
September 6th, 2011
3:52 pm
Jackson,
On your 2nd point- maybe the coaches watched the tapes and knew they would get exploited that much worse from the quick release arm of Moore.
robodawg
September 6th, 2011
3:53 pm
C’mon fans. You never turn on the players or stop supporting the team. Show up in force in Athens, yell loud, bring the energy, and we’re going to get after S Carolina.
Mobile Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
This “dawg” says its time to switch “providers”, which cell plan does TECH use??
shut up...
September 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
watch the game again…2:02 left in the third…fans booing a false start. WFT???? then more on the play call…yes prolly bad play call but booing is for whiners. opposing team or your team booing is just annoying.
DawginLex
September 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
Teams improve the most between the 1st and second games. SC started lousy with shaw and then settled down with Garcia. Spurrier didn’t have me fooled. I knew the drunk would be the starter for our game.
I really believe our D can keep this respectable but we will have to have some help to win it.
I’m saying 28-20 SC and the replacement lists begin in earnest.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 6th, 2011
3:55 pm
Mobile,
I should say the same to you, not you for jumping on this fire Richt craze. Eleven games left anything can happen. Sorry to disappoint you there bubba,lol! I am not a blind apologist, but man its our team and they deserve our unwavering support. Let the off the field issue take care of themselves in due time. Right now they need our support.
Smokedawg
September 6th, 2011
3:55 pm
Jackson, you made my point more eloquently than I did. Couldn’t agree more.
Beast from the East
September 6th, 2011
3:55 pm
DawginLexEatenByGator……….coming soon to a blog near you!
14 Games 6 W's, 8 LOSSES
September 6th, 2011
3:56 pm
McDawg
September 6th, 2011
3:33 pm
really wanted to see ‘Tree play against Latimore -oh well–
oh but he did last year, couldn’t tackle him then either.
robodawg
September 6th, 2011
3:56 pm
Seriously, tweeting your complaints to players is lame.
DawginLex
September 6th, 2011
3:56 pm
I just threw up a little…………
1eyedJack
September 6th, 2011
3:56 pm
I just hope our fans don’t get drunk and start fights in the stands this Saturday.
Dang Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:57 pm
I agree about Miss State, if we lose to Carolina and then Miss State, then we have lost confidence in our Coaching staff. Let’s just hope CMR get’s his team fired up and win against SC. I believe Aaron Murray can come out throwing ! I just hope we have some sort of running game.
A legitimate Question for all Dawg Fans
September 6th, 2011
3:57 pm
This is not a trick question:
Why is it all of you have believed that Grantham was the answer? He looks like a coach, yells like a coach but yet all he can do is give choke signs. 95% of you bloggers have been predicting 10-2 or better. Sure technically it is still possible but with the confusion and lack of effort Saturday you will lose against, SC, MS St, Miss, Tenn, Fl and maybe Au.
P-Man
September 6th, 2011
3:57 pm
How about this for a conspiracy theory: Nike wanted Boise to win, so they made UGA’s shoes so they would slip more, and their helmets to come off more often. And they made Boise’s shoes so bright that they blinded our players!
(Just a little levity to lighten the mood!)
Smokedawg
September 6th, 2011
3:57 pm
And they wonder WHY I smoke?
DawginLex
September 6th, 2011
3:58 pm
1eyedjack
That’s reserved for UT fans.
2003 I never heard such crap after we plowed them 41-14
Of course at the end they had mostly all left.
Beautiful thang……nice memories
GET DOWN BIG MAN
September 6th, 2011
3:58 pm
OK, I’ve heard enough of the ‘Richt should retire as a coach & start preaching’ and ‘UGA has a bunch of band-wagon fans’, etc, etc. But I can tell you that while both of those things might have some truth in them, if you display this kind of rhetoric then that makes you less of a person than a band-wagon fan & certainly a preacher. Do I think Richt could’ve/should’ve made better decisions with hiring & firing assistant coaches? You bet I do. But I don’t attack him personally. Don’t be a low-life… Just state facts & let them lye with the truth. At the end of the day Richt will have this season to get things right or there’s little doubt he’ll be gone from UGA.
NWGA Dawg
September 6th, 2011
3:58 pm
At one time I was like many of you, after a big UGA loss I would play the role of arm chair quarterback and question the coaching staff and the heart of the players. Until one day, my little girl asked me Daddy; if you know so much about Georgia Football why didn’t you ever play. Truth is she was right. Most of the armchair coaches/quarterbacks did not nor ever have the talent to play for UGA, myself included. My hat goes off to these young men who go out and fight a physical war on the playing field. So much respect that I will never get on this blog or any other and belittle the players who are jeopardizing their future health for our entertainment. As far as Coach Richt, I have no doubt that he is a good Christian man and God will give him the strength and courage to turn this program around. Shame on all of you short sided BullDawg fans who booed the coaches, players and then left your team when they needed your support the most. Now I see how many what have you done for me lately fans we have.
One closing note, whether UGA is 12-0 or 0-12 I am proud to say I was Bulldawg born, Bulldawg Breed and When I dye I will be Bulldawg dead. It is my honor and privilege to be a Georgia Bulldawg Fan!
P-Man
September 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
And with Virginioa Tech losing to Boise and James Madison to start last year 0-2, that means they should lose every other game on their schedule, and that is exactly…
Oh, wait…
Nothing Could Be Finer
September 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
Hearing some news that Aaron Murray has some injured ribs.
Anyone know whats up?
ga gator
September 6th, 2011
4:00 pm
I was sitting 5 rows behind the Boise bench and was amazed at the lack of athletes on their team, but after just about every change of possession their players would come off the field smiling and laughing in unbelief. When the 2 teams came out after the half, Boise was fired up and UGA looked like they did not want to be there. It needs to change drastically or Spurrier will hang a half a hundred on the Dawgs.
P-Man
September 6th, 2011
4:01 pm
Well said, NWGA Dawg, well said…