Will Friend: Georgia’s O-line needs to be more physical, better on assignments

I’ve had a lot of folks asking me about how the offensive line has looked so far. I had a chance to interview line coach Will Friend this past week on just that subject. Following are some of his observations so far:

Q: Who has had the best spring?

A: [Kenarious] Gates has had a good spring so far. We’re not far in it yet, but he’s had the best spring. The rest of the guys need to elevate like he’s done so far.”

Q: What’s the main improvement you’re looking for?

A: “Number one, with this group being younger, your offensive line has to be physical. That’s where your team gets its physicality from. I think they’ve got to be able to improve that part of it. Last year’s group, when they came to the park they were physical. That was the big thing they brought and that goes a long way as games go on. This group needs to be tougher, to play more physical, to be better on assignments. . . . And, of course, we’ve got to find some people we can count on.”

Q: Looks like junior guard Dallas Lee has been getting some work at center. What’s the thought there? .

A: “He’s done it before. He’s still got a long way to go on because he really didn’t do it at all last year. He snapped for us, but he didn’t do it in live action in a practice or game. But I think he’s got to get used to exchanging the ball to the quarterback and after that it’s blocking. [David] Andrews has done some good things. We’re just moving people around.”

Q: Do you have a starting five yet?

A: “No, not a first five. Nobody’s separated themselves with the exception of Ken Gates. Right now if you were going to play a game I know he would be there. [Chris] Burnette has done some good things, too. We’re just trying to get all the pieces together.”

Q: How is JUCO transfer Mark Beard holding up and fitting in?

A: “It’s a lot going on right now. We didn’t pull back on anything we’re installing. It’s a good thing for a midyear guy to come in early. But at the same time, when you’re the only one, the show keeps on going for everybody else. So it’s kind of hit him a bit. But he’ll get better as the spring goes on. It’s kind of spinning fast. He’s just got to keep it from beating him and he’ll be all right. . . . We’re working him at left guard. And he’s worked some at tackle, but mainly left guard.”

Q: Would you say Watts Dantzler or Austin Long is ahead at right tackle?

A: “Both of them have worked with the 1s, both of them have had good practices, both of them have done some good things. We’ll just continue to hash that out.”

Q: How has Austin Long looked? . . .

A: “He’s gotten better. He’s not where we want him yet but he’s gotten better.”

Q: Do you anticipate freshmen John Theus and Greg Pyke competing for playing time later this summer?

A: “Can we wait until after spring ball? [laughs] Right now we’re just trying to see what we’ve got with these guys. We’ve got to get them going in the right direction. We’ll go from there.

“I think both freshmen we got are real talented guys. I think they’re good athletes. They’re tough guys and they’re big. They’re going to get a shot. That’s one thing these guys have to understand, that right now is their shot with those guys not being there. They’ve got to make the most of it, because those two are going to get a shot when they get in here. That’s why we signed them.”

Q: What’s your expectations for Kolton Houston?

A: “We’re expecting Kolton to be a good player for us this year. He’s a good athlete, he’s got good strength, he can run well. He’s probably the best athlete of the guards that we’ve got, to be honest with you. If he can continue to get tougher and continue to improve, he’s going to be a good player for us. He’s got a ways to go now but he’s got a chance.”

189 comments Add your comment

Jim

April 2nd, 2012
7:57 pm

sec observer—how about Trinton Studivant—2007

Rural Education

April 2nd, 2012
8:07 pm

There were four SEC schools ranked in the top ten at the years end and Ga. was not one of them. Case closed.

ole yeller

April 2nd, 2012
8:14 pm

You need to stop bashing the “O” line and coach Friend. This is his 2nd season and he will finish cleaning up mess the “O” line he received when he got here. The “O” line will be fine….Count on it.

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:17 pm

I cast my vote in favor of them being more physical.

mcdavidastro

April 2nd, 2012
8:20 pm

Gee, better O-line, that will take coaching. To bad we don’t have any.

Douglas

April 2nd, 2012
8:22 pm

I don’t get this…he wants the offensive line to be more physical and he said they were physical last year? Talk about promoting yourself — not sure which offensive line he was looking at! I think we had the talent…I just don’t think Friend is that good of a coach…or, mabye it is Bobo who wants to throw the ball instead of running it. I disagree with some of you about Searels (sp) as an offensive line coach — he took a bunch of young guys early on and they played well. The problem is he is much more of a smash mouth football player and Bobo is a finese coach — it is a lot more difficult and tiring to pass block than it is to line up and block the guy for a run. Bobo will never get it.

LogicalUS

April 2nd, 2012
8:24 pm

Look lets not shade reality…SC has been the class of the SEC East for the past two years. They have beaten every East team both home and away during that stretch.

Reality is that the SEC East will be decided in Baton Rouge on October 12th as UGA fans once again become huge SEC West fans to derail SC because SC will handle UGA in Columbia. SC appears to return another solid outfit including the Lattimore kid who has more yards rushing in just the last two 4Qs than any of the vaulted UGA Heisman winners have had in any game. He ran for about 120 last year in the 4Q. And as all college football fans know, UGA has scored what 1 TD in the last decade in Columbia. SC wins by 10.

So that leaves UGA fans with becoming huge LSU fans to get them to Atlanta. That is, if they do not go 0 for Columbia, as is most probable, with a loss at Missouri in September.

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

April 2nd, 2012
8:26 pm

Yea

I agree the O-line needs to be more physical so we can run our most successful play……….

you all know it…………

yep you guessed it…….

The 5′4 135lb RB up the middle!!!!!!!!!

slydog

April 2nd, 2012
8:26 pm

“Will Friend: Georgia’s O-line needs to be more physical, better on assignments”

He knew that last spring when he was hired. He knew that while he was still working at UAB the year before. The entire college football sports media world, which crowned Georgia’s line as the “best” 3 years running, knew that. Is there any news here? Maybe all those big road graders, along with Stacey Searls style of coaching, does not fit the “finesse” style of CMR. So maybe these young’ens, who are lighter and more athletic, fits that mold a little better, Sure hope so.

Skint

April 2nd, 2012
8:27 pm

What else is new. We just haven’ t evaluated talent over the years. Anybody remember Seth Watts, Seth Kirkland, Seth Kerr, Matt Sorrells, Bronson Sweat etc. etc. The beat goes on. Until we get someone who can evaluate OL talent, we will struggle being a physical team. As much grief as you give Tide Roll, he is dead on the money. Look at all the talent we have missed just in GA.

TROTTINGHOME

April 2nd, 2012
8:27 pm

My God!!!! Is there anyone else besides Georgia Dawgs that have a team blog????

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:30 pm

Which would not explain why Texas wanted him so bad.

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm

Sadly it was our most successful running play. In term of average at least. I suspect we have better running plays this year.

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm

Ah, who can ever forget: La Tres Seths?

kingdaddy

April 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm

Nate
Next time, tell us how you really feel…LOL…

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

April 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm

I wonder will Marky Mark and Bonehead utilize the fullback up the middle this year

I mean thats a mainstay of UGA and SEC football.

Im wondering if they forgot that play just like they forgot to sign enough ball players this year

Chili

April 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm

AltamahaDawg

What did Texas do last year? C’mon. LSU didn’t try to stop Searles from leaving.

Lakedawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm

I would have been disappointed had coach Friend said: We are where we want to be, we are as good as we are going to get>

Sounds good to me that we need to work to get more physical, complete assignments, thats what a coach should be saying.

Gates, Burnette, Lee, Houston, Andrews, Dantzler, Long, Beard, DeBell, Theus, Pyke, Long, Ward,
8 of them at least 4 star players, believe we get 5 out of that group with 3 good subs. will be better than last years group, offense will average 33 per game if defense can hold opponents less than that , then SEC champions.

Augusta dawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:45 pm

Didn’t Dabo say Carolina was in Chapel Hill?

Lakedawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:45 pm

Flat tire thought you and cousin tide roll were still hanging out at the bar together???

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

April 2nd, 2012
8:51 pm

Lakedawg

You mean the bar called “Come To Reality” with a sign on the door saying no kool-aid served here

yep that would be it

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
8:59 pm

chili, I am not sure what you are implying. I am questioning IF Searles was such a power running coach, then why would a team like Texas want him? I think they wanted him for his pass protection leanings. What are you saying?

Betty Crocker

April 2nd, 2012
9:01 pm

Coach, I know i should be better on my assignments but for some reason after I eat the brownies i just really don’t care to block anybody

kerryb

April 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm

I love that Carolina guy on here trying to talk trash earlier. Yea, Clowney is a hand full but, when he is the only real player on their defense it won’t be hard to double team him. On offense you lost your best WR, your RB is coming back from major knee surgery, and all your QB does is take off and run all the time. That will get him killed against our defense. He needs to worry about his own team before worrying about whats going on with UGA.

FLA DAWG

April 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm

NoS Sherlock!
“offensive line needs to be physical.”

How many YEARS has Dawg Nation been saying the same damn thing to you!

JesusHChrist!

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
9:30 pm

WDE

April 2nd, 2012
9:46 pm

Well any Dog fan letting the game chickies get to them need to revert to facts ..we own them we are SEC East champs and they can just go sux eggs…..but you know that’s not really what they will be suxing on. .We ARE the SEC East Champs…..

FLA DAWG

April 2nd, 2012
9:58 pm

WDE,

Face it………they beat us.

Whopper Dawg

April 2nd, 2012
10:05 pm

Sounds like we are in for a long, long year on the OLine.

kybodawg

April 2nd, 2012
10:17 pm

nothing could be finer. if clowney hadnt lit em up last year i bet ga. would have scored 45 pts. hey wait a minute.

Mobile Dawg

April 2nd, 2012
10:26 pm

Flat Tire, the “old” Lakedawg needs to adjust his line of thinking to the “new” LakeDawg.

Mobile Dawg

April 2nd, 2012
10:29 pm

chokes, we have six months to prepare for Mizzou, Richt, Bobo, and CTG will have the Dawgs ready to eat. Wait a minute, we had six months to prepare for Mountain West Boise too. I’m not feeling so confident at this point.

Mobile Dawg

April 2nd, 2012
10:31 pm

Not sure what Texas wanted with Searles, looks like he took the virus with him. Mack Brown needs a solid year or he may be gone too. Regardless of his extension.

dawgforlife

April 2nd, 2012
10:43 pm

it seems ncbf has man crush on Clowney…he is a great player no doubt…maybe ya’ll can go steady…either way…Georgia is better than last year and Sc will be worse…most of that vaunted defense (42 pts against UGA) is gone…I think Mr. Clowney is going to see lots of double teams and TE RB chips…we’ll see how he fights through it…and the good news is, experts say, TB’s come back form knee injuries just as good as before in the 2nd year…oh wait, in the second year, Latimore will be playing in the NFL…on second thought, never mind

can't wait

April 2nd, 2012
10:50 pm

Nothing could be finer…
Tell Clowney to strap his helmet on….
we’re gonna rack up another 500 yard day.
Murray is a year older, better.
We won’t lose.
Enjoy the view in the East, behind the Dogs…again.

AltamahaDawg

April 2nd, 2012
10:59 pm

I guess NCBF gave up on being Mrs. Alshon Jeffery.

Stephen A.Dogg: At UGA the ship is sinking lower and lower.

April 2nd, 2012
11:19 pm

“They love Georgia and we love them,” Richt said in comments distributed by the school. “They had a choice to make. They decided to move on. They’re great kids and we wish them well. … Their teammates understand they’ve got decisions to make and lives to live. No one likes losing a teammate, but we love them and if they think their best chance is at another school then I think (their teammates) understand.”
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With all the love going around why is there so much player apathy and attrition in Athens. Georgia’s roster has eroded to well under 60 players with just 16 coming in from the most recent recruiting class. If the injury bug hits during the season or more players are shown the door the Dogs are in danger of having the smallest active roster in the SEC. You can move players around, throw walk-ons on the field, and have players playing two ways but there is no way possible of contending for the SEC or BCS title. Look for Richt to award more walk-ons with scholarships to kill off any hopes of a championship season.

I think the realization is slowly starting to sink in at Georgia that Richt has succeeded in his quest to keep the program mediocre and a SEC also-ran. Now Georgia is imploding from within and the writing is on the wall. Unless things get better, and how can they when it’s getting worse, Richt’s days may be numbered. Richt is still in denial and thinks love will conquer all that ails his crumbling team. But a lopsided blowout loss on the road at Mizzou will surely re-ignite Richt’s hotseat. Then another loss on the road at the other Columbia vs. the Thunder Chickens will surely throw the Dogs into must win mode again for the final six games to save Richt’s skin once again. It’s getting old and nothing is changing except the players area codes. But it’s got to get worse before it gets better. Change will eventually come to UGA with or preferably without Richt. Go Dawgs !!

bubba4dawgs

April 2nd, 2012
11:21 pm

If Clowney can’t be blocked any better than last year and if Murray can’t sidestep him any better either, it’s going to be a long day in Columbia, SC.! Clowney is a wrecking crew all his own! This whole OL is scary already. Oh well, it’s early yet! The Spring will reveal a lot. Sure would be nice to have some blocking for that stable of running backs!! GO DAWGS!!

Mobile Dawg

April 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm

Largest line in America last year, two to the NFL (seemingly). Something’s wrong in Athens, everyone knows it, some won’t admit it.

Richt either gets it right this year, or he has to be gone!

Kentucky trying to hang on vs the comeback kids from Kansas.

Stephen A.Dogg: Why does UGA depend on Arkansas or LSU to beat S.Carolina?

April 2nd, 2012
11:44 pm

The $ 3 million question about this season is if Richt goes 10 and 4 again, will McGarrity offer CMR a raise and extend his contract another year ? ! WTH ?! LOL ! In the SEC only Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Vandy would offer their head coach a raise and extension as a reward for a 10-4 season. So I guess that shows you what depth of mediocrity Georgia has sunk. You get no extension for 10-4 at ‘Bama, LSU, or UF. The Real Dogfans have just got to hunkerdown until the mediocrity and those responsible for it are effectively removed. It’s a process and the mediocrity will be eliminated.

bad bob2

April 3rd, 2012
12:26 am

Nothingcouldbefiner……Are you married to this Clownwhatever or just in love?

William

April 3rd, 2012
12:34 am

Obviously offensive line is our biggest worry. I too am perplexed as to why we can’t have a decent line. Hopefully we will recruit next year with that in mind. Let’s hope CWF can really coach. I would like to at least finish 10-2. I am not on the kool-aid of a perfect season. Too many holes I’m afraid.

7576DAWG

April 3rd, 2012
12:34 am

At least we are making progress when a coach finally says openly what the fan base has been saying since 2010’s disaster. Hopefully between now and September the offensive line will be ready to play.
I think Marshall Morgan will be much more reliable than Walsh and with the new kick off rules in place , special teams won’t be such a critical part of the games because a lot more kickoffs will never be run out of the end zone when the ball is placed on the 25 yard line by taking a touch back.
That only leaves Murray. If he starts turning the ball over because of panic attacks again this year will CMR try another Quarterback?

Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:34 am

Joey April 2nd, 2012 3:01 pm

“Obviously there is no “fire Richt” option.”
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No, Joey, obviously there isn’t. He is a nice guy. He is world-class recruiter. He is not on NCAA Probation like Paul Johnson put Georgia tek, not on NCAA Probation like Southern California or Ohio State Repeatedly, I have called for Mark Richt to sign his EXTENSION, which he obviously feels is in his best interests to wait to do until he is listed as the # 6 team in the nation, pre-season.

DawginLex today, said I said fire Mark Richt to which you wrote this post, Joey. Of course, that is a BOLD-FACED LIE, as I did not say that. He acts as if he is responding to my post where I said that. I told him I didn’t; he actually keeps it up.

Mark Richt hasn’t beaten anyone. Starting Kentucky in 2007, Mark Richt has

FAILED to beat 1 single SEC winning record team. Not 1 starting KY 2007.

Daily, we have nothing but BAD PRESS.

34 players Mark Richt gave scholarships who should play vs Mizzou and now will not.

Lack of Discipline off and on the field.

An AWFULNSE coaching staff, not 1 of whom played the position he is coaching and not one of which has taught the top-notch recruits, therefore, the basics of their position. Mark Richt cannot bring himself to fire Mike Bobo – a guy he stole from JAX State mind you – and, not as their OC but as the QB coach at JAX State. For that, he gets to match wits and Offense Strategies with the likes of these 9 teams in a row who have beat Mark Richt who finished in the Top 25.

Repeatedly, we are inundated with posts extolling the virtues of Mark Richt.

“BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN THE SEC VS OVER .500 TEAMS”

That is totally untrue. Coach after coach in The SEC alone and across the nation has done far better than Mark Richt head-to-head and against other over .500 teams, when Mark Richt was over .500.

Nick Saban higher.

Ur ban Mey er higher.

Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:35 am

SEC Coaches during the same Mark Richt era.

All this crudola of there are only 6 coaches in All of America who have coached at their same school who are still there.

Look at the list. Those are not great coaches. Those are football program happy in their ignorance with mediocrity.

We, on the other hand are not Syracuse, or Clempsum Farmers, or Georgia tek : We are UGA # 11 all-time in wins with six (6) national championships by the very same polls who have awarded Georgia tek the same 6 nc.

We’re not getting the job done and we are a JOKE :

–9 losses in a row to winning record SEC teams
–9 losses in a row to teams who made it to top 25
–7 losses in a row to teams who made it to top 10

______________________________
It doesn’t matter how the opponent ended up in the polls, just game day.

8 wins 14 losses vs teams ranked at game time current streak.

Interestingly, it does matter how the teams end up over .500 and Mark Richt beat them.

So, I looked that up and found in fact he has not beat a over .500 SEC record team starting with Kentucky in 2007.

That chaffs their backsides.

_______________________________

It’s also true and inconsistent on their part that he is # 3 of SEC Coaches in the Mark Richt era vs teams who

FINISHED OVER .500
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And, number -0- at beating SEC teams with winning SEC records starting with Kentucky in 2007.

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DawginLex April 2nd, 2012 3:04 pm

“We were up 16-0 IN THE BOWL GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE”
_____________________________________
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It only matters where they were ranked at game time, 8-14 currently at that, I mean wow DawginLex, and it only matters we were ahead 16-0 vs Michigan State.

DawginLex, PARDON ME : WE LOST SON. Get over it.

Our AWFULNSE coaching staff let puny Aaron Murray throw the game away. Our deadbeats at RB all of whom FAILED DRUG TESTS could not compete. We tried to sit on the ball, anyway, if you call having puny Aaron Murray fumble the ball to start it and throw multiple interceptions to seal the loss; then the AWFULNSE coaching staff, on 2nd down ran backwards so a guy who had missed 14 field goals could try a 42-yard field goal. Then, the DEFENSE who hasn’t had, doesn’t have and will not have a SECONDARY, let Michigan State’s QB do to our Defense what puny Aaron Murray could not to their defense.

Michigan State marched the ball down the field on our defense and whooped us.

Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:40 am

Alls I am asking for is for Mark Richt to beat with these remaining 73 scholarship recruits of his 109 he over-signed before they all filled the blotters of the BAD PRESS off and on the field for their antics as if they care only about themselves – just one team mind you with a SEC winning record, just one team who ends up top 10, just one team who ends up top 25 to run his awesome record recently against top teams to

1-10 vs top teams

* beside the 1 win

He hasn’t had one in so many years, no one can remember.

So, please run in here and defend him like it is OK what’s going on, while you secretly as his minion in here the both of you minions, say exactly the same about Mark Richt on and off the field as 150 other posters on my list of unique separately identifiable IP Addresses, have all told you.

Can’t wait to be 1-10 vs top teams.

He’s got 1 chance this season; maybe 1 chance of all 12 regular seasons’ games thanks to Greg McGarity.

I see The SEC has won 3 of the current 7-years’ worth of NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in men’s basketball, the 2nd sport. ACC 2. How again is the ACC the best basketball conference ? Answer they are not.

SEC KINGS.

Mark Richt ? Not so much.

Instead of telling Mark Richt ALL IS WELL, EVERYTHING IS HUNKY DORY, HOW ABOUT ACTUALLY STAYING FOCUSED ON WHAT THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM OF OURS NEEDS TO DO TO IMPROVE ITSELF ? YOU’VE SAID IT AltamahaDawg; you’ve said it DawginLex, repeatedly – both of you. So, why run in here with a mixed agenda and tell him and the players they are great

when they are ANYTHING BUT ?

Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:40 am

_______________________________
_______________________________
WAH, WE WERE UP 16-0 IN BOWL
_______________________________
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You mean the bowl game we lost to run Mark Richt’s putrid bowl record to 7-4.

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AltamahaDawg April 2nd, 2012 3:24 pm

“But you blame Only Richt for that.”
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No. We ALL blame the players and hold the head coach RESPONSIBLE for bringing them here, providing them wishy-washy discipline and ALLOWING them to get away with everything under the sun.

AND, FOR LOSING WHILE HE HAS ALL THIS BAD PRESS

from his recruits he is credited with bringing here which you brag about every year.

Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:43 am

So, his staunchest supporter says this, mind you.

Fixed any of those issues ?

Mike Bobo and his QB he taught to be

# 72 in the nation in pass completion percentage ?

Beat any SEC team with a winning SEC record ?

Special teams coach, got one of those ?

For our # 80 Special teams ?

__________________________
No to all the points you made AltamahaDawg.
___________________________
Not fixed any of them.

Strength and Conditioning fixed ?

Not hardly.

Instead, full scale exodus of the S&C coaching staff

except the guy who ran the film camera for 40 years.

he’s still here.

Thomas Brown left for Tennessee-Chattanooga.

What does that tell you ?

Guys who filled all the open positions all

TOTALLY DISAGREE with Joe Tereshinski II’s approach.

They all, to a man, are juxtaposition against Joe T’s approach.

They all teach completely and directly the complete opposite.

Who’s in charge ?

(1) The players
(2) Mark Richt

no one else.

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Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:47 am

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Steve April 2nd, 2012 3:36 pm

“Agree with the above post. Lexdawg is pretty full of himself and seems to have no problem bash ing anyone that doesnt toe the line accrding to him…….great to be a Dawg fan- Lex, you need to get onboard man. Your they type that gives UGA fans a bad name…….just sayin…..”
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Craig April 2nd, 2012 4:27 pm

“It is just disgusting to read post after post from him talking to people like their a child or that he is so much better than someone…..oh well- guess its more in how your raised and talk to people”
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AltamahaDawg April 2nd, 2012 5:24 pm

“Richt was the coach. Some things needed to be addressed. The addressing what going to have be from the coach, therefore….Richt was going to have to fix the (number of issues that I named on several occations). Exactly what options did we have at that point but to be supporting of the man that was going to fix the problems? Support a guy who didn’t exist?”
__________________________________________________________
So, he stau nchest supporter says this, mind you.

Fixed any of those issues ?

Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.

April 3rd, 2012
2:48 am

There is nothing complicated about respect. A football member of Mark Richt’s team either has it for himself, his teammates and his current coach to whom he reports today. Or, he doesn’t. 34 Mark Richt recruits Mark Richt signed here

DON’T HAVE RESPECT

not for Mark Richt, not for themselves and not for their teammates.

That my friends is on the coach here now they report to.