Georgia coach Mark Richt sidesteps questions on player suspensions
ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t shed much light on the Bulldogs’ suspension situation when he addressed an unusually large media contingent at the end of Thursday’s practice. In fact, he didn’t as much as flick on a flashlight.
Richt would not even confirm that there are new suspensions despite numerous report Thursday that at least two of Georgia’s defensive stars have run afoul of the athletic association’s drug policy.
“I can’t confirm anything,” Richt told more than a dozen reporters and two Atlanta television news crews. “I’m just going to be waiting for us to go through our process. When there’s something to report, I’ll report it to everybody.”
Earlier Thursday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was able to confirm that All-America safety Bacarri Rambo is facing a four-game suspension for failing a UGA-administered drug test this week. Rambo’s high school coach, Alan Ingram of Seminole County, said it was Rambo’s second violation of Georgia’s drug policy regarding marijuana, which according to the student-athlete handbook calls for a 30 percent suspension from the total number of competition dates. Rambo plans to appeal the suspension through UGA’s appeals process.
Ingram said he understands from his conversations with Rambo that junior linebacker Alec Ogletree also failed a similar drug test and is facing a similar length of suspension. In fact, Ingram said he believes as many as five UGA players failed drug screenings that were administered shortly after spring break.
But Richt refused to confirm or deny any of it. Before he entered the interview room on the second floor of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, UGA sports communication personnel passed out a brief written statement from him.
It read: “There is a process we follow regarding team guidelines and policies. I cannot make many comment until that process has run its course.”
Afterward, when Richt was asked questions regarding suspensions or player behavior in general, he referred to the statement.
“Don’t know if you’ve seen our handout but you might want to read it because you’ll hear it repeated again,” he said, smiling.
Asked exactly what process to which he was referring, Richt said: “Just, we’ve got our guidelines, we’ve got our policies. There are certain things we’ve got to do when we’re taking care of business and that’s what we’re talking about.”
Asked how he felt about handling player behavior issues, he said, “I don’t like distractions, that’s for sure.”
More details to come. . . .
Chip Towers, The UGA Blog
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417 comments Add your comment
Dawg Fan
March 30th, 2012
8:20 am
For all the IDIOTS out there what Mark Richt Fired, who you HIRING? I have to tell you if you dont have kids you can not watch them 24-7!! No matter where they go it can happen, do you get fired if your kid gets caught doing it NO! Also I guess we need to remember who was hear before Coach Richt, no a good season until he showed up so careful what you wish for!! We have the toughest drug policy in SEC every school as the same problems but you dont hear about them cause there are not suspension. So dont start the no one else has this problem Bull Crap!! Coach Richt your a GOOD Man and Coach dont listen to the idiots please tell mcgarity to give you 10 yrs. I would be thankful if my son got chance to play for you! Remember IDIOTS he is teahing alot of kids that do right how to become men and to believe in GOD which is more important than this!
valley boy32
March 30th, 2012
8:21 am
this is crazy im tired of this crap, everytime i think this program is heading in the right direction something always happen. i just dont get it how can someone belive in GOD but yet his players go off and continue to do dumb things. i dont know IF GOD LIKE THIS PROGRAM i mean everytime we feel good about it here come something. i just dont know anymore i dont think i’ll see a championship team here in my life time all this talent here i just dont get it why GOD bless al these other fans but not uga’s dont get it
Gulf Shores Dawg
March 30th, 2012
8:22 am
In California it would simply be medical marijuana…big deal, stealing and bar fights are worse and LSU lets players play, duh….never hear anything from bama, police have orders to turn the other cheek…
Move along, nothing to see here
March 30th, 2012
8:25 am
No discipline problem here, remain calm, all is well.
Herschel Talker
March 30th, 2012
8:27 am
Dawg Fan:
You are a clown and a disgrace to our fan base.
HT
valley boy32
March 30th, 2012
8:27 am
i know coaches gotta prepare kids for life and other things but i see if this was duke or northwestern i wouldnt complain about rings but this great state of football here in ga. all this talent and we cant get to the big game. i bet if you start giving $10,000 fines for kids getting into trouble i bet you he wont let it happen. so i hope greg m atleast throw it out there because i would
CEPH
March 30th, 2012
8:29 am
“Sidestepping Richt” that should be his nickname, ” just give me the facts before I hug then and tell then how much I love them . The players neither fear or respect him and why should they. All he is worried about is his “god fearing image”
don edmunds
March 30th, 2012
8:31 am
Let’s see…85 scholarship players…4 or 5 involved in legal issues, some involving drugs…hmmm…is this acceptable? No, but, it is better than any sampling of the general population. Do they deserve to get the punishment meted out? Def. Is it Richt’s fault? How about it’s the players’ fault for making poor choices. Accountability is a bear, but a necessary one if you want kids to become adults. Blame Richt for the problems on the field, but he can hardly be held accountable for what kids do while on spring break. Discipline at UGA Athletic Dept. isn’t the problem…Discipline before they get there likely is.
Bulldawg78
March 30th, 2012
8:34 am
Merely a reflection of the decline of our civilization.
Coach Vince "Coke Head" Dooley
March 30th, 2012
8:35 am
Marijuana?
Stick with coke.
CRO-MAGNON MAN
March 30th, 2012
8:36 am
tim:
THAT’S A GREAT IDEA…LETS STOP GIVING THESE SORRY JOKERS CHANCE AFTER CHANCE…THE OPTION TO GO TO A SMALLER SCHOOL AND PLAY BALL FOR THESE GUYS SHOULD NOT EXIST…MAKE THE PROS SIGN THEM AND TAKE THEIR CHANCES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO AUDITION AT ANOTHER SCHOOL….AS LONG AS THESE LOWER LEVEL COLLEGE PROGRAMS WANT TO WIN, THEY WILL KEEP SIGNING THESE LOSERS, AND THESE LOSERS WILL KEEP MESSING UP…
maddawg
March 30th, 2012
8:37 am
Richt is bringing in Cheech and Chong to give motivational speech to the team.
johnny cash
March 30th, 2012
8:40 am
i smoked with them at folsom
zinoDawg
March 30th, 2012
8:40 am
Drug Dawgs!
aprilglaspie
March 30th, 2012
8:41 am
The fact that pot is illegal is another sign of what a backward country the USA is, along with benighted ideas about health care and guns.
Game Time
March 30th, 2012
8:44 am
When does Richt come under the spotlight? Isn’t it about time? This isn’t just a blip, its a pattern of not recruiting players with positive values and character. Sure with todays kids you expect an incident or two. But look at the record over Richt’s tenure. Its terrible and downright embarrassing. President Adams is a joke for letting it continue. McGarrity is new but he doesn’t seem to care either. A real black eye for the University.
CRO-MAGNON MAN
March 30th, 2012
8:45 am
These guys all grow up doing this in high school…It is a culture thing that is completely out of hand…They should start this drug testing for athletes in High School, cause time most get to college they been puffing for 5-6 years…Needs to be addressed at the High School level…
RCB
March 30th, 2012
8:49 am
1. Can you say “zero tolerance?” 2. Can you say “Playing at UGA on tax payer dollars is a privilege so that it is morally right to enforce a zero tolerance policy, and morally wrong not to ?” 3. Can you say ” UGA is never going to have a truly successful program when everybody that experiences a little success behaves like they are already in the NFL and you can never put all your starters on the field at the same time?”
DIT
March 30th, 2012
8:56 am
It would be scary to see what some of you on here do for a living. You have such perfect lives to feel so good about judging 18-22 year old kids.
I hate this just as much as the next Alumnus. However, why do some of you on here every time something goes wrong has to start knocking CMR’s faith? That’s clueless. It’s like you’re saying, “hey, if you’re a Christian everything should be perfect and you can’t do no wrong.” Please, some of you judgemental people need to go out and buy a life.
We all fall short of the glory of God. Stop judging others and get the plank out of your own eye.
What to do in this situation? It’s a tough position to be under. However, I have to agree with some of you on here. If you are a1st time offender of team violation, a suspension is correct actions. A 2nd time offender, in my opinion, is telling the team I don’t care about the team just my own well being and that person should be kicked off the team IF there is no doubt about his actions. Just an opinion, not a judgement. I hope these kids can learn from this and get it together.
bubba4dawgs
March 30th, 2012
8:56 am
I’m reminded (sadly) of a comment made by Chuck Cavalares on The Sports Animal radio show the year the infamous Lane Kiffin was coaching. UFA was favored to win the game in Knoxville but Kiffin had the Vols ready to play. Chuck Cavalares commented about the Dawgs. He said he would never worry about the Dawgs because they are just plain “DUMB”! Well, ain’t that the truth!! CMR is handling it the right way! The engaging players should have to run until they throw up! I love the Dawgs, I just wish the players did! This is sickening! The coaches are trying to put everything in place to make a run for the national championship and then the idiots surface! Send’em home to their Mommas!
82Dawg
March 30th, 2012
8:57 am
I see the KING of the band wagon is out and running his mouth. H.T. when the 10 game streak was going you were a happy little boy in his moma’s basement. Once something happens out of the coach’s control happens you want him fired. Have you ever thought maybe the parents need to be fired? You are the one that is a disgrace to the real UGA fans.
garydawg
March 30th, 2012
8:58 am
RCB, Can you say pollyanna? Can you say hypocrite?
Mark Richt gladly shakes hands with the coaches who beat him
March 30th, 2012
8:59 am
Mark Richt for years now has felt that he can control BAD PRESS by not commenting.
Mark Richt gladly shakes hands with the coaches who beat him
March 30th, 2012
9:03 am
Looks like I was right about Bacarri Rambo declaring for the Supplemental Draft.
Coach
March 30th, 2012
9:05 am
CMR is not playing dumb, he IS! His players don’t respect him or the football team. If these (four starters) players were walkons they’d be gone. CMR is a PHONEY! UGA football rules are just PAPER rules. He has fooled UGA football fans with his dog & poney act for years. Will see how long his new AD will put up with this crap. “How bout them DAWGS”!
JImmy T
March 30th, 2012
9:05 am
Stupid, stupid, stupid! But for those who think it’s just a problem at UGA wake up! Every school has their problem with immature boys who think their men. Have you forgotten what happened at LSU just last year? Bar fights, failed drug tests? You can find these problems at every school b/c they’re boys filled with testoterone and aggression and think they can do anything they want.
Taylor Wooten
March 30th, 2012
9:08 am
How can any rational person support this program with their attendance, money, etc?
Enough is enough.
Dream Team
March 30th, 2012
9:08 am
6 returning starters on defense, now.
funny...
March 30th, 2012
9:11 am
Bunch of Rhodes Scholars posting here.
funny...
March 30th, 2012
9:12 am
I’d also like to point out that 18-22 year olds aren’t kids.
They’re adults.
Stop making excuses
Tallydawg
March 30th, 2012
9:12 am
This is the last straw. I’m an alumni of UGA, Class of 73, and have been a die-hard fan of the Bulldogs since I was 12. I’ve only missed one GA/FL game in over 40 yrs. I just can’t take this same ole crap every year. We start every season with multiple players on suspension. Richt apparently commands no respect whatsoever from his players. He is a straw leader. His players are there for themselves only. There is no team spirit at all. Richt uses his position to promote his religion and his friends (i.e., Willie and Booboo). So long as we win 7 or 8 games every year and beat up on the patsies and the mediocre SEC teams, he is set for life and knows it. He has no heart for winning football, just winning souls to Jesus. Any coach worth a dime could win 7 or 8 games a year with the talent that falls into Richt’s lap every year. Face it folks, UGA is and will continue to be a middle of the pack SEC team until Richt is gone. There is absolutely no hope that we can win consistently at a championship level with this leadership. Oh, he will luck up and win the SEC East on occasion, like last year, and maybe even an SEC Championship once in a blue moon as a result of the natural talent that permeates the program year in and year out but forget about Richt actually coaching up a team and making a serious run of championship seasons. He had some fire in his belly for his first few years and it showed but since then he has done nothing with the abundant talent and weath of resources he has been blessed with every year. Face it folks, the preacher man is basking in the ever overflowing collection plate that is UGA athletics and could care less if we ever win big so long as the contract extensions keep coming. I’m done with the Dawgs.
Joey
March 30th, 2012
9:14 am
Dang, the Richt-fan-boys-club is out in force, defending yet again their hero, blaming the players, blaming the AD, blaming anybody but the one who is in charge – your IDOLl – Mark Richt.
Richt is the one who, over 11 years, has created this culture at UGA. This is on him, or WTH are we paying him $ Millions for? To stand on the sideline and fix his hair?
Our players have no concept of accountability, or leadership. Richt treats them like boys – a “signature hug” when they committ – and damn if they don’t behave like boys. On and on it goes. Year after year.
You think Paul Johnson hugs his signees? Saban? Spurrier? I bet they shake hands like men.
Whatever. Your IDOL is here for 5 more years, so we can count on 5 more years of embarrassment on and off the field.
What is it the fan-boys always say about Richt? Oh, right – “he’s classy…”
Congrats, Coach Richt, on your “classy football program.” Yeah right . . .
funny...
March 30th, 2012
9:14 am
You don’t like this?
Send McGarity an email…
ad@sports.uga.edu
Dream Team
March 30th, 2012
9:18 am
Offense has not looked good at all this Spring Practice.
Remember, this is supposed to be us talking about Spring Practice
Preparing for G-Day Game 2 weeks from tomorrow ?
Tom
March 30th, 2012
9:20 am
Ok, so somebody staying in a house with other kids on spring break wakes up before everyone else, finds brownies on the counter and eats some. They’re pot brownies.
This means…….
These spring breakers baked some pot brownies the night before…..and then left them sitting on the counter and went to bed without eating them.
Yeah, that happens all the time.
Tallydawg
March 30th, 2012
9:21 am
If there was a way to lose the G-Day Game, I’m sure Richt and Booboo would figure it out.
Matthew McConaughey
March 30th, 2012
9:25 am
Alright, Alright, Alllriighhhttttt
Duncan Hines Ward
March 30th, 2012
9:28 am
I make the best brownies.
Reality Dawg
March 30th, 2012
9:28 am
“Angry…fed up…embarrassed…disappointed…did I mention ANGRY?! That’s how I feel about the Georgia Bulldogs right now. It appears to me that Mark Richt is conflicted. If he wants a program grounded by kids with good character, then he should recruit only those players and win as many games as he can, but be proud in doing so in what’s left of his tenure at Georgia. If, as seems to be the case, he decides to recruit based upon talent more than character in order to compete on a higher level, then he should not administer drug tests the day the players get back from spring break. You see, you can’t have it both ways. You are only inviting trouble when you try. You let these guys on your team…no, you let these guys become team leaders…then you suffer the consequences of self-policing when you KNOW you are going to find violations. I’d like to know how many SEC powerhouses decided it would be a good idea to randomly drug test their “student athletes” the day after spring break. Coach Richt’s seat should be getting warm again. I don’t want to hear any more excuses. We aren’t winning and we are also a laughing stock…the worst of both worlds. It is utterly indefensible. If Richt wants to get the team’s attention and prove that he has the courage of his convictions, he should kick Rambo and Ogletree off the team because they have both been suspended previously, regardless of how great each is as a playmaker. Yeah, right! I’ve got a better chance of winning the $500,000,000 Mega Millions lottery tonight. The players that we have remaining will have to work very hard to avoid yet another season of missed opportunity. Nick Saban knows that unrelenting discipline is the key to success in SEC football. When will UGA learn that lesson? Now, you kids get off my lawn”
Vince
March 30th, 2012
9:29 am
Tallydawg—You are no UGA Alumna!! Who are you kidding?
sickdog
March 30th, 2012
9:31 am
I dont understand where some of you yahoo’s get off by blaming Richt for what these idiots are doing. He has his faults but this isnt his fault. They know its against the rules and the law to smoke weed….Plus he is one of the toughest coaches in sec on players violating team rules..how many kids does he have to suspend before they get it…Bottom line is they know better!!!
sickdog
March 30th, 2012
9:33 am
They shouldnt have conducted drug screening test right after spring break…Sad but true!!
Stephen A.Dogg: Dawgfan: your handle should be CMRfan.
March 30th, 2012
9:34 am
@ Dawgfan: Please be quiet. You love Mark Richt the man. You could care less about what’s best for Georgia as a whole. Delusional fans like you are also crippling UGA. Your son is probably a walk-on that you want Richt to put on full scholarship. Won’t happen because Richt will be long gone soon because of that practice of putting scrub players on full scholarship to fill in for talented players that get kicked off the team for rules violations. Go Dogs !
Silver Lining
March 30th, 2012
9:34 am
Think of it this way…How may kids did LSU have suspended last year and they won the SEC and played for the National Title! Good sign…GO DAWGS!!!!!
LEAGUE-GA-LIES
March 30th, 2012
9:35 am
Look these guys are in college! What did all of you do in college? Get over it!!!
The Real UGA
March 30th, 2012
9:35 am
Enter your comments here
Just wondering
March 30th, 2012
9:35 am
Why does UGA administer excessive drug and substance testing outside of what is mandated by the NCAA & the SEC?
What benefit does this excessive testing provide? Please discuss:
College is about expanding boundaries and learning new ways to think and the exploration of the known and unknown, it is an environment that most students experiment in many creative ways, recreational drug use being one of these.
What possible benefit could a prison style drug testing policy and snitch program provide the university with I ask yet again?
I can only come up with derogatory reasons it holds…
It didn’t used to be that way at UGA 30 years ago, and people didn’t climb up to the top o Sanford Stadium and jump off everyday either.
Crimedog
March 30th, 2012
9:35 am
Richt has been taking a cue from those congressional hearings on organized crime when mobsters refused to answer questions.
The Real UGA
March 30th, 2012
9:37 am
Richt is growing weary of these kids not following the rules.
Look for a kid’s character to be of more importance in upcoming recruiting classes than his 40 yard dash time
The Man
March 30th, 2012
9:39 am
Why do we: (a) undersign year after year; (b) have a much stricter drug policy that every other football competitive SEC team; and (c) test our players right after spring break. Does Richt and the administration just want to be second-tier every year. What’s next, a self-imposed requirement that all players must have a B+ average to play? I am all for integrity, but we should be lobbying the SEC for tougher standards for all SEC teams, not imposing higher standards on ourselves which make the team less competitive.