Notebook: Richt laughs at label of ‘Hot Seat Bowl’ vs. Ole Miss
ATHENS – Georgia coach Mark Richt laughed Tuesday when he heard some media members were referring to Saturday’s game against Ole Miss as the “Hot Seat Bowl.”
“I knew that would happen,” Richt said, chuckling as he shook his head. “That was pretty easy to predict. You’d think they could have thought of something better than that. I think a couple of kindergartners could have figured out that one.”
But Richt wasn’t laughing when the subject turned to his colleague, Houston Nutt. What Richt has endured is nothing compared to the slings and arrows being aimed at the Rebels’ head coach this week.
In the wake of last Saturday’s 30-7 loss to Vanderbilt, Nutt was subjected to a Sunday morning meeting with Athletic Director Pete Boone. Boone followed that up by appearing before Nutt at his weekly press conference to discuss the state of the football program. Advertisements calling for his ouster were placed in five Mississippi newspapers as well as the Memphis Commercial Appeal. And nearly every question Nutt has fielded since Saturday has to do with his job security.
“I hate that for anybody,” Richt said. “. . . I don’t think anybody enjoys another guy going through something like that. We all know that we are pretty darn good coaches, and there’s 12 of us in the league and somebody is going to have a good year and somebody is going to have a bad year.”
Nutt, 53, left Arkansas to take over at Ole Miss four years ago. He won nine games each of his first two seasons but is 5-10 since. But it was the meek manner in which the Rebels went down at Vanderbilt that so incensed the Ole Miss masses.
“Anyone who was disappointed on Saturday, you can multiply it 99 times for me,” Nutt said. “It all starts with me. I appreciate Pete Boone meeting with the staff and myself and I appreciate what he did the last 24 hours. But now the bottom line is it’s up to us as coaches and players to do our job.”
Aron White gets national award
Tight end Aron White knew he was coming to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall to have lunch with a bunch of children who were being rewarded for doing the right things. But he didn’t know the kids were there to honor him for his good deeds.
“I was really shocked,” said White, who was named one of 11 FBS players nationwide named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team on Tuesday. “They tricked me into coming over here to eat lunch with some kids who were doing really well and being kind. They had made a banner for me and knew the whole time. Then Coach Richt came in and announced it. Nobody told me. I was definitely caught off-guard.”
The fifth-year senior from Columbia, Mo., already received on undergraduate degree and has a lengthy resume of community service contributions, including volunteering at Camp Sunshine, Kudzu, the Boys and Girls Club and Habit for Humanity; visiting patients at Egleston Children’s and St. Mary’s hospitals and classes at local elementary schools; and leading an MLK Day Service.
“It’s something I’m very, very proud of,” he said of the Good Works award. “It’s probably the most prestigious award I’ve ever received.”
More opps for Mason?
Richt stopped short of saying it had reached a point of critical mass where the Bulldogs had to find a way to play both Hutson Mason and Aaron Murray a la David Greene-D.J. Shockley. But the coaches clearly like what the sophomore quarterback is doing and have no reservations about putting him in games.
“Right this second that’s not something I would want to comment on,” Richt said. “We haven’t really gone further with that discussion, . . . talking about Mike Bobo and myself. But Hutson is practicing well and he’s playing well and he really runs the system well and he’s earned playing time in my mind. How we’ll manage that, I’m not ready to make any promises I can’t keep.”
Mason, a sophomore from Marietta, had created a buzz well before making his first appearance of the season against Coastal Carolina last week. Coaches and players raved about his play in preseason camp. Mason was 6-of-9 for 68 yards and a touchdown in less than a quarter of play.
But Aaron Murray is the unquestioned leader of the team. He has completed 63 percent of his passes for 672 yards and 9 TDs and 2 interceptions in three games.
Tyson back from ‘non-injury’
Why DeAngelo Tyson missed last Saturday’s game is unclear but, whatever it was, it wasn’t for an injury. At least that’s what Tyson said on Tuesday.
“I didn’t have an injury,” said Tyson, who Richt said missed the game with a back injury. “I was just told I wasn’t able to play because of what was going. Buit I’m doing whatever I need to get back on the field.”
Asked if it was a disciplinary situation, Tyson said: “Unh-uh, ” as in the negative.
Asked if he’d be good to go this week, he said: “Um-hmm,” as in the affirmative.
In any case, Tyson said he will play Saturday versus Ole Miss. The senior from Statesboro started the first two games of the season at the defensive end opposite Abry Jones and is second among defensive linemen with 7 tackles.
Injury report: Rambo hurt
Starting free safety Bacarri Rambo had to leave practice with an injury Tuesday and came back wearing a green, non-contact jersey. Rambo, who knocked himself unconscious with a game-saving hit against Auburn in 2009, was having his head area examined by a trainer. Defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos didn’t know what the nature or extent of the injury was but expects Rambo to play Saturday. Also, three-way threat Brandon Boykin left the practice briefly to have his right ankle wrapped but returned.
Meanwhile, junior split end Marlon Brown is “questionable to doubtful” to play Saturday due to a sprained right ankle that sidelined his last weekend. As a result, true freshman Malcolm Mitchell is slated to get his third start of the season. Richt was hopeful that offensive lineman Kenarious Gates (ankle) will be back to face the Rebels. He was able to practice with the second-string line on Tuesday.
They said it
“They’re going to be wounded and mad. But we’re wounded and mad, too.”
– Richt
Etc. . . .
Center David Andrews played the best of the three true freshmen offensive linemen on Saturday, Richt said. Tackle Watts Dantzler and guard Hunter Long were the others. . . . Coaching great Jack Harbaugh attended Georgia’s practices and spoke to the Touchdown Club of Athens on Tuesday night.
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345 comments Add your comment
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:01 am
@DC
Auburn doesn’t really rotate QB’s. They just have some designed running plays in which they sub the QB in a “wildcat” formation.
DawginLex
September 21st, 2011
9:05 am
Good article in macon paper about our defense
sogadog
September 21st, 2011
9:07 am
Murray blew the USC game and possibly the SEC East championship by not taking care of the ball. Mason deserves the start and if he plays well leave him in, if he falters, stick Murray back in. Murray will learn how to protect the ball.
GT
September 21st, 2011
9:07 am
When MSU got good that was not good for Nutt. Losing to Vandy is never good. A win over Georgia is exactly what the doctor ordered. An immature Georgia goes into this game thinking they have got it won and a desparate Nutt may wake up and beat them. Nutt has been good at the big win Saturdays in his career the same way he can lose to a Vandy he can beat some teams he shouldn’t too. Georgia needs to be discipled and play four quarters. Not always a sure bet with these guys.
DC
September 21st, 2011
9:08 am
Frazier has only run the ball 1 time in that scheme the rest have been dump passes and handoffs…they are going to use him more and more as the season progresses and it will be more of a dual situation since Frazier will be taking over next year..you have to prep these kids for future and frazier is going to do damage in the SEC..
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:12 am
@DC
Could be, but I’ll be surprised if they do. Auburn’s schedule steps up a few notches after this week. I would think that the upcoming games will allow less opportunity to work the backup QB.
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:13 am
@GT
You make a valid point. Nutt can be a helluva motivator when his back is against the wall. The Dawgs shouldn’t take this game too lightly.
@Colonel Rebel
September 21st, 2011
9:14 am
Sir, you have identified the most positive thing to happen to Georgia football since 1980. I have my questions about this year, but the new AD is a HUGE upgrade and will get Georgia football back to competing for championships. Only Evans was capable of getting rid of Evans. Thankfully, he was able to pull it off. Best of luck in your situation.
DC
September 21st, 2011
9:16 am
I would agree with you if he has never ran the offense before but he did it in HS and its same offense GM runs…and the fact Trotter is a semi-slow white boy..those running plays dont work as well..frustrates me when they do those running plays with trotter..they all crash down on Dyer.
But for UGA, I mean whats the worst that can happen with putting that kid in couple plays here and there and test him out in situations..b/c lets be real…Miss is not going to win..I watched the vandy miss game…it was horrible..let the kid run a series and go from there.
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:18 am
@Colonel Rebel
There is a time and a place to fire your HC. In retrospect, I think that Ole Miss made the wrong decision when firing David Cutcliffe. What do you think?
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:20 am
@DC
White guys can’t quarterback, huh? Tell that to Tim Tebow.
Ole Miss can’t win… Unless they score more points than Georgia. You’re young and inexperienced, aren’t you?
Mike Bobo 17 INT
September 21st, 2011
9:21 am
Doggies will be 2-2 after this week….Ole Miss should be an automatic, unfortunately, this will be enough for Dog fans to forget Boise and USC. Business as usual…
1953dawg
September 21st, 2011
9:29 am
Richt is a total joke, and for him to laugh when a reporter points out the fact that he should be on the “Hotseat”, proves how arrogant he actually is. The reporter should have also pointed out that this game is between the 2 worst teams in the SEC also. For UGA to be in this position and for this guy to still be the head coach is a disgrace. Yet UGA fans still listen to what this guy has to say. This coach and his coaching staff have proven over and over again that they don’t have the talent to coach up players and to prepare a game plan that will win against quality competition. If UGA keeps this clown after this season after he wins 7 or 8 games, then UGA and it’s fans get what they deserve. UGA fans have accepted mediocrity for the past 30 years, so i don’t have alot of faith that they will change and demand more. Maybe a loss Saturday, and a loss against Miss.St will finally convince Adams and Mcgarity that this guy is nothing but talk and excuses. God we can only hope so. For any UGA fans to think that Richt and Bobo will give Mason a fair chance, forget it. That would mean the 2 clowns made a bad judgement in talent,OOPS, forgot Richt and his coaches know what the hell they are doing. Right. Imagine what UGA’s record would be if they didn’t know what they were doing. LOL!!
DC
September 21st, 2011
9:29 am
Trotter isn’t fast enough and he doesnt bench 600 lbs like Tebro
As for Ole miss….they aren’t good. period. they are horrible. Show me some video on Ole miss that you can tell me that can exploit UGA…maybe a trick play?..Don’t give me this any given Saturday talk…
Agent T
September 21st, 2011
9:31 am
To the idiots comparing Richt to Saban, Spurrier, Miles, Myer….you are clueless.
When you hear people talk about the best coaches in college football, you hear all the names above except for Richt. The common theme of every expert show is that Richt is soft and does not have the drive or hunger to be the best. I am surprised that the UGA fan base has tolerated this soft attitude so easily for the past 5 years. Playing with another coaches recruits does not reflect what kind of coach you are. But playing with the guys you recruited, signed and coached from the beginning is more of true reflection of your coaching ability.
Get real and stop defending a guy who does not want the job, but wants the money.
As for the morons comparing an unproven backup to the a sophomore who has in truth been told kept UGA in games against Florida, Auburn, USC twice and Tech that the defense of UGA could not stop or get a score against. Even the coaches at UGA realize that Mason is just a back up and in time the high school drop out from N.C will be the quarterback of the future if he can learn the playbook.
Furman Bishop
September 21st, 2011
9:36 am
We’ll see how much Coach Overpaid will be lauhing if he loses it.
Agent T
September 21st, 2011
9:36 am
Got to love the Auburn fans throwing the DC under the bus, the quarterback out with the old hotdogs and wanting a true freshmen to rescue them and be the second coming of Cameron Newton.
All of this while the NCAA is turning the Athletic Department on its head and shaking every sport to find out all the “little secrets” that is permiating the entire program. “Institutional Control’ should be your main focus now. The program is under the gun and just a little FYI, the law team with the investigators working Auburn are out of Tampa Florida and it is not pretty.
PMC
September 21st, 2011
9:38 am
Houston, GET THE BALL TO ROBERT BOLDEN on offense!!!!!! and fix the bleeding middle of your offensive line.
can’t really help all that was lost on defense.
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 21st, 2011
9:38 am
GEORGIA TECH IS RANKED #25 IN THE NATION WITH 2&3 STAR RECRUITS!
UGA WITH ITS 4&5 STAR RECRUITS ARE NOT RANKED!
PLEASE KEEP RICHT AND BOZO,SAYS THE S.E.C THANK YOU VERY MUCH! 1980 IS A LONG TIME AGO
HOW IS GENE,LES AND NICK DOING? VERY FINE WITH THEIR NATIONAL TITLE TROPHY!
MARK RICHT IS 0-12 FOR NATIONAL TITLES!
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:38 am
@DC
Speaking of Tebow, you should ask him if he respects an underdog team coached by Nutt.
I remember Ole Miss coming into the Swamp and achieving the impossible. Never say never.
WDE
September 21st, 2011
9:39 am
@1953dawg I have a question…what SEC coach would bench one of the best proven SEC QB’s to play “potential” ?? Are you insane or just bitter?
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 21st, 2011
9:40 am
WHILE MARK RICHT IS LAUGHING,TENN AND FLORIDA IS LAUGHING AT UGA,BECAUSE THE VOLS AND THE GATORS WILL STUMP A MUD HOLE IN THE MUTTS!
PMC
September 21st, 2011
9:43 am
*Brandon Bolden I should say.
For some reason they love some Scott.
DC
September 21st, 2011
9:48 am
Who is throwing trotter under the bus?..But I do know you have to give your QB for the future snaps…no one is throwing the Defensive Coord. under the bus either…they have tons of soph. starting with lack of experience…As for the rest Agent T i will not respond b/c thats just trolling..you act like you know more than 99% of people out there..keep reading blogs of what “billy 1 tooth” has to say…
Piglron, I understand things happen…I just think UGA is the better team against ole miss..you can bet against UGA but I’ll take the points. The only way i see UGA losing is if they aren’t up for the 12:30 start time.
the indiana of the sec
September 21st, 2011
9:48 am
chew on this dawg dummies…in the last 21 years, vandy has beaten uga more often than uga has beaten florida…and you complain that you get no respect nationally…maybe the next coach will turn that trend around because the coach you have now can’t…
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 21st, 2011
9:50 am
THANK GOD FOR THE MUTTS SUFFERING,AND THE HICKS DEFENDING A MAN THAT HAS NOT WON A NATIONAL TITLE IN 12 YEARS 0-12!
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR PREACHERMAN TO WIN? NEVER
WHY CANT PREACHERMAN PRAYERS BE ANSWERED FOR A TITLE? FAKE CHRISTIAN
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE NICK? 2YEARS
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE URBAN? 2YEARS
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE LES? 2YEARS
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE STEVE? 3YEARS
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE GENE? 2YEARS
NOW WHY IS IT TAKING MARK RICHT SO LONG? BECAUSE HE CANT GET IT DONE,BECAUSE HE IS TOOOOOOOO SOFT!
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
9:51 am
@DC
I’d also pick UGA to win this game handily. I was only warning against looking past this game. That’s always dangerous.
Georgia Fans
September 21st, 2011
9:53 am
Fair Weather! We have one of the best qb’s in the SEC and we’re ready to move him aside for a flash quarter of play. That’s just the latest. Here’s what I remember.
Fire the Defensive Coord. – Done.
Fire the Strength Coach – Done.
Fire Bobo – Pending.
Fire Richt – Pending.
Why don’t we fire the entire team and start over. Will that make the rest of you happy?
David
September 21st, 2011
9:53 am
It does not matter who the QB is. The game plan is to control the ball, no turnover, make the plays on offensive work and defensive stop the plays on scoring drive. Oh, yes score more points than the other team! You should win the game.
headley lamar
September 21st, 2011
9:53 am
To the idiots comparing Richt to Saban, Spurrier, Miles, Myer….you are clueless.
Richt has a winning record against those coaches.
If you add them all up.
Holla' gurlllll
September 21st, 2011
9:56 am
Take Murray out and see what that does to the team chemistry if he’s the team’s leader. I have a feeling all these posts calling for Mason to start are from the same guy. Hey Jake is your last name Mason too?
St Simons - we're on Island time
September 21st, 2011
9:58 am
as a formerly proud alumnus, I think it is the last, ultimate embarassment that an Ol Miss coach is going to get fired if he doesn’t beat Georgia.
If you’re asking how low can it go, hey we’re there.
headley lamar
September 21st, 2011
9:59 am
chew on this dawg dummies…in the last 21 years, vandy has beaten uga more often than uga has beaten florida…and you complain that you get no respect nationally…
We get tons of respect nationally. Always have. Always will.
We are the 11th in wins all time in NCAA history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_win-loss_records
An elite program. Always will be.
All time SEC Titles
Alabama 22
Tennesse 13
UGA 12
How many big ten titles does Indiana have. Ill bet it isnt 12.
One thing is for sure though. All the trolls on here just prove that we are still elite.
Nobody is on the UAB boards trolling around.
When the Trolls leave that’s when Ill get worried. As long as they are here it means they are very worried about Georgia and that’s good.
1eyedJack
September 21st, 2011
9:59 am
“I don’t think anybody enjoys another guy going through something like that.”
Well, it’s quite obvious that CMR don’t read these blogs. Some of the folks on here are absolutely gleeful about his struggles.
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 21st, 2011
10:00 am
STUPID UGA FANS THAT SUPPORT MARK RICHT,HE’S BEEN IN THE LEAGUE FOR 12 YEARS AND NO NATIONAL TITLES
GENE CHIZIK BEEN IN THE 3YEARS AND HAS WON 1 NATIONAL TITLE!
NICK SABAN WON AT LSU THEN WENT TO COACH MIAMI DOLPHINS THEN CAME BACK AND WON A NATIONAL TITLE AT ALABAMA!
SO WHY HAS UGA KEPT PREACHERMAN SO LONG?
KB
September 21st, 2011
10:00 am
Jake, 25 sacks last year was 4 best in conference, Bama had over 30, South Carolina had 24 , Murray doesn’t lose games by himself.
headley lamar
September 21st, 2011
10:01 am
as a formerly proud alumnus, I think it is the last, ultimate embarassment that an Ol Miss coach is going to get fired if he doesn’t beat Georgia.
He wont get fired. They dont expect to beat Georgia.
Not by a long shot.
WDE
September 21st, 2011
10:03 am
@St Simons – we’re on Island time wrong he will get fired for losing to Vandy they are just a mite slow in Oxford.
PigIron
September 21st, 2011
10:04 am
@headley lamar
I suspect that Nutt is already a goner. The outcome of this game doesn’t really matter.
the indiana of the sec
September 21st, 2011
10:20 am
hey headley…break’s over, back on the forklift…
doctor
September 21st, 2011
10:32 am
For starters:—-How come Saban wins a national championship in his first 3 years at Alabama? And Richt hasn’t done it in 10 years? Huh, well, you dont have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Richt is a softy. All of his players know it—–and his coaching staff knows it too.
JB
September 21st, 2011
10:34 am
Interesting reading Richt’s comments this AM in the Athens paper about big DT John Jenkins, who by the way, is not like Cody who played at Bama who was dominate in the middle. Richt said. ” He’s lost some weight and learning to play lower and figure things out”…….WHAT???? Who is coaching our line.
sounds like he is just a big body. Wonder how he would be doing being coached by Bama. Now, I know some of you won’t like that, but it’s fair based on their results with Cody and just overall their defense success.
Joey
September 21st, 2011
10:36 am
I think there’s no downside to playing Mason some. Get him some experience in case Murray goes down. And what if Murray is ineffective for a quarter and Mason comes in and leads us to scores? Play him more.
Murray is tough, and seems to be a leader, but unfortunately, and for various reasons that all aren’t his doing, he hasn’t yet lead this team to a meaningful win. Some of his miscues like missing open WRs, interceptions, and fumbles have led to losses in at least 2 or 3 games.
Maybe using both QBs can get us over the hump.
JB
September 21st, 2011
10:37 am
Doctor….At Bama, they really want it, and have the support to do it from the Regents, to President, on down. At UGA, we like to talk about it a lot, and come up with slogans ( Vampire mess) and model new uniforms a lot.
headley lamar
September 21st, 2011
10:39 am
SO WHY HAS UGA KEPT PREACHERMAN SO LONG?
Because he wins.
http://www.coacheshotseat.com/WinningestActiveCoachesIA.htm
Look at that list. Notice Richts name ahead of Saban, Spurrier, and Miles.
doctor
September 21st, 2011
10:43 am
ditto JB–yea, my brother is not a UGA fan but noted that Murray is not really that good also—and that is from a Gator fan–looking in from the outside.
headley lamar
September 21st, 2011
10:43 am
And the next thing someone will say is about national championships.
I say bullsh*t
Winning a national title is as much luck as anything else without a playoff.
UGA could have 2 under Richt 2002 and 2007. Both years we were the best team at the end of the year. With a playoff we win.
RiffRaff
September 21st, 2011
10:45 am
It doesn’t seem to make sense to call Murray out after a 3 touchdown performance, but remember, this was Coastal Carolina we’re talking about here. Aaron Murray has the tools to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but he consistently makes incredibly poor decisions and shows poor form. He stared down his receivers on at least 40% of his passes Saturday, and a good defense would certainly take advantage of that mistake. In addition, he also regularly throws the ball into double and triple coverage, and threw at least one ball that would have been a pick-6 against Alabama or LSU.
You know who else looked really good, and certainly better than Murray? Hutson Mason. His numbers were also impressive, especially since he was doing mop-up duty, which doesn’t typically involve much passing. He also didn’t make a single questionable throw that I saw. If I were the QB coach and offensive coordinator (who is that, anyway?), I would seriously consider starting Mason if Murray falters again in a big game.
headley lamar
September 21st, 2011
10:46 am
my brother is not a UGA fan but noted that Murray is not really that good also—and that is from a Gator fan–looking in from the outside.
Yeah. Murray was just voted All SEC 1st team for no reason.
Obviously all those football people don’t know what your brother knows.
Maybe we should just listen to him. LOL
A Gator fan saying a Georgia player isn’t all that good. Now that’s original.
Restore UGA
September 21st, 2011
10:48 am
@Colonel Rebel, lol, in regard to Bryan Evans, “thankfully, he was able to pull it off”
Was that an intentional or unintentional funny? Yeah, when he pulled those red undies off, he did pull off his firing. I unfortunately agree, Evans was part of the protected class. Like Barack Obama.
I am thinking a lot of black unemployment is now because people are afraid to hire blacks because once you do, you can’t fire them if they don’t work out. It is a sad situation and one that needs to be remedied, if we are to have racial harmony.