Change of heart? Richt issues statement that UGA is ‘not pursuing Penn State players’
ATHENS — “Currently, Georgia is not pursuing any of Penn State’s football players. We wish Coach O’Brien and the players the best.”
That statement came from the UGA’s sports communication office to beat reporters a little after 5 p.m. on Friday. It came as a raw statement without any context or explanation.
I happened to be talking to Christopher Lakos, one of Georgia’s associate directors of sports communications, just before the email was sent out. All he could tell me was the release was simply “a message Coach Richt wants to get out about something he’s been getting a lot of calls about.”
You’ll recall that Richt on Monday told reporters covering the annual Greater Atlanta UGA Days event at Cobb Galleria that the Bulldogs would in fact be interested in recruiting some of the Nittany Lions players. The NCAA, in its historic ruling against Penn State for covering up child sex atrocities committed by a former assistant coach, announced that Penn State players would be allowed to transfer anywhere without penalty and that schools would be allowed to openly recruit them.
Here’s what Richt said Monday:
“We do have some space available and if somebody fits a need and they’re excited about coming we would look into that possibility,” he said at the Cobb Galleria Centre. “There may not be anybody. But we’re at least going to explore. … I don’t want people to think we’re trying to load up a bunch of them. It could be zero, it could be one or two.”
One of two things has had to happen since then: One, no Penn State players expressed any interest in transferring to Georgia; or, two, Richt and UGA had a change of heart.
I was skeptical from the get-go about what Penn State might have to offer Georgia. The Bulldogs were recruiting finalist for two of their players, redshirt freshman defensive end Deion Barnes and junior linebacker Khairi Fortt. As we all know, Georgia is pretty well set on the defensive side of the ball. Penn State running back Silas Redd is apparently close to transferring to Southern Cal. Otherwise, it doesn’t appear there is going to be a lot of movement.
It’s late on a Friday and I have somewhere to be this evening, so for now I can just throw it out there for you guys and see what you think about it. The Bulldogs report for camp next week and we’ll start having regular access to Coach Richt and players, so we’ll get more from then later.
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224 comments Add your comment
UGA has certain needs
July 27th, 2012
9:18 pm
UGA has certain needs by position for back up starters or more depth. We saw no opps maybe, so we withdrew. UGA was unique with about 3 or 4 or 5 openings but it did not happen because we could not attract keen interest and or, our immediate needs could not be met. This makes good sense.
Go Dogs.
Budlight Dawg
July 27th, 2012
9:19 pm
PENN STATE BUTT RANGERS …… WHEN THE TEAM HITS THE FIELD.. THEIR GONNA PLAY.. ” ITS RAINING MEN” OR MAYBE ” MR ROGERS THEME SONG”
uncledaddy
July 27th, 2012
9:21 pm
CMR misunderstood the question. He thought he was asked if he was recruiting state pen players and he thinks he has enough already.
Budlight Dawg
July 27th, 2012
9:23 pm
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
Don’t think they could stomach the smell of sweet mash that saturates Athens on game day
” THEY LIKE THE SMELL OF A FRESH CHANGED DIAPER”
Mobile Dawg
July 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Sounds like Richt and company figured out he spoke to soon, and it was an unpopular position. If I remember correctly he had already reviewed the roster a couple days ago. Now we’re not pursuing Penn St players. Just sounds like hypocrisy to me.
Just the Facts
July 27th, 2012
10:00 pm
The Penn St players had zero interest in Georgia.
Hairy Dawg
July 27th, 2012
10:18 pm
We don’t need the slow Big 10s players when we got SEC talent with speed from Dream Teams. The Big 10 is always getting spanked by the SEC. It cause we better and knows how to playing best at football. Coach Richt won more games last decade than Joe “kiddie showers” Pa. And that even with the sorry schedules in Big 10 where all the badly stinkys teams plays each others. But truth is none of them could make team for Dawgs and they used to losing to.
The one thing that Penn St players gets if they play for Coach Richt is learning to be Christian instead of Sanduksy treatment of kids. But they not getting that even though they needs it. Cause they not good enough to play for Dawgs and learn to walk in path of Lord under Coach Richt.
georgia fans are certainly he stupidest
July 27th, 2012
10:24 pm
0 for 19 according to nbcsports:
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/27/uga-targeted-19-psu-players-richt-now-says-hes-not-recruiting-them/#comments
That70sGAdawg
July 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
Nice Guys finish LAST, Nuf said…..
TampaGator
July 27th, 2012
10:33 pm
NEWS FLASH….
Mark RIcht announces that he will no longer recruit Penn State….and will start to recuit the state of Georgia.
Hairy Dawg
July 27th, 2012
10:33 pm
Exactly. If these PSU boys is any good then we get to pick best from litter. But they don’t got talents and that why we not signs em up.
TampaGator
July 27th, 2012
10:45 pm
Penn State players….mostly….have no interest in any other program. I think all but maybe one or two stay.
Dawg Whisperer
July 27th, 2012
10:47 pm
TampaGator… don’t immitate the immaturity of the 10 year old GT children that seek attention on the boards. It is a poor attempt at humor that reflects much worse on them.
Dawg Whisperer
July 27th, 2012
10:49 pm
It is the right decision and respectful to the PSU team/coaches.
Dawg Whisperer
July 27th, 2012
10:54 pm
I, for one, believe that PSU has suffered enough. It is time to applaud their actions to uncover the administrative indiscretions at a significant cost to themselves (even though they had little choice).
GT GRAD
July 27th, 2012
10:54 pm
Sooooooooo many UGA fans thought the Penn State players would flock to UGA just begging be a part of the team………………………….wow………………the truth is that very few if any even considered the idea of transferring to UGA (I imagine many are considering other schools, but UGA is simply not one of the teams which will benefit from this fiasco).
Marc Richt is trying to save face and minimize the negative vibe associated with the fact he publically stated he wants some Penn State players AND the fact that no Penn State players want to even consider the possibility of transfering to UGA.
Wow
Dawg Whisperer
July 27th, 2012
10:56 pm
Furthermore, what high profile collegiate football program is above the mistakes that were made at PSU. Not to say any would but the possibility existed.
Dawg Whisperer
July 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
GT Grad… my guess is you know nothing of the sort. Pure speculation on your part.
Dawg Whisperer
July 27th, 2012
10:59 pm
…. Wow, bow wow.
flo-ri-duh
July 27th, 2012
11:11 pm
They had a couple of OL that UGA would have been interested in but early on they all said they were staying at Penn State. Richt would not try to talk them out of leaving but would listen if the called him.
Peanut gallery
July 27th, 2012
11:26 pm
Has anyone seen the current list of NFL players from Penn State?
It’s a list of nobody’s.
Moobs Johnson
July 28th, 2012
12:15 am
Coach MediocRe just changed his mind and wanted to award 16 more walk-ons with a scholarship this year.
D Fence
July 28th, 2012
12:17 am
Please…..There might have been 1 or 2 playas that would have served the Dawgs well…
Well,…I guess not. The Dawgs will em all this year anyway so its one less ring we gotta cover. 14-0 I guaraaaaantee damn tee.
zbulldawg
July 28th, 2012
12:27 am
When did the word explore & pursue start having the same meaning ? You can’t make me believe that some other colleges aren’t going to look into a player who might be EXCITED about transfering to their school ! It’s the players choice. They have the right to if they wish to. It’s not the players fault that Penn St. is in this mess. If I had a son there I would advice them to make the best of their college experence ! Bowles Championships National exposure ETC. It’s still fresh you’ll see some players wish to transfer. BE REAL PEOPLE This is a once in a life time for these young men. What about those who opt for the NFL early. Does that make the NFL the bad guy ? These young men where recruited under a false promise SO way not let them have the full college DREAM ! The guilt is not theirs to bare nor any school that weclomes them ! GET REAL
Paul in NH
July 28th, 2012
1:13 am
BIG MIKE
July 27th, 2012
8:18 pm
Bob…Bob….Bob. They rushed for more yards against who???? I think the competition level between the SEC and “other conferences” has been well established as a mismatch
—
The comment from Bob was about rushing yards against Alabama.
PSU rushed for 107 yards aganst ALA which was more than Arkansas (17 rushing yards), Florida (15), Vandy (41), Ole Miss (28) MSU (12) combined.
These numbers certainly show a “well established mismatch” between the SEC and other conferences.
Blake
July 28th, 2012
2:23 am
I don’t think Richt was ever really “recruiting” their players to begin with. He simply said UGA was interested if they were interested in UGA. Coach O’Brien even commented on Richt calling him and letting him know his interest, and even commended Richt on doing so, saying “he did it the right way”. I still think if one of their guys really wanted to come to UGA, Richt would give him a shot, and as well he should. There is a big difference in what Richt and a few other coaches did and “poaching”.
dawgs1966
July 28th, 2012
2:47 am
Yeah, right – UGA has already shown it’s true colors. This is not the school I went to. http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/27/uga-targeted-19-psu-players-richt-now-says-hes-not-recruiting-them/
lj
July 28th, 2012
6:33 am
Getting a Penn St player is not going to help UGA. They have been put on this high pedestal this year of winning the EAST but that is not going to happen. Everytime UGA is put on a lofty pedestal they fall quickly. There OL is not experience and their running backs are mostly inexperienced. I bet they have a lot of fumbles this year and Murray when under pressure will crack and cough it up just like he has done in the past.
GFJacket
July 28th, 2012
7:28 am
“Offseason attrition and off-the-field issues have been unusually cruel to the Bulldogs ”
I disagree with that statement from the NBCSports article – - the unusually part.
Beast from the East
July 28th, 2012
7:33 am
Did Richt have a moment of pause and realize poaching another school’s players was morally wrong or did the 19 players he was interested in show no interest in coming to UGA?
I’d bet on the latter.
EG
July 28th, 2012
7:35 am
Penn State has always recruited players who were intelligent, athletically gifted, and had good character. There is absolutely no way that any of these guys would transfer to UGA and play with the low class trash that Richt recruits.
ugab
July 28th, 2012
7:47 am
CMR backed off after seeing all of the other coaches back off on TV.. This means CMR is a follower and not a leader. If Uga needs an OL or DB, CMR should of persued one of the Penn State players. Alot of the players have decided to stay and play. There is still alot of colleges looking at players at Penn State. IT IS ASHAME THAT THE YOUNG PLAYERS AT PENN STATE ARE BEING PUNISHED FOR SANDUSKY AND PATERNO’S FAULT. I BELIEVE PATERNO KNEW ALOT AND SEEN ALOT, GOD PLEASE BLESS THE VICTIMS……….
Paddy
July 28th, 2012
7:52 am
ugab…….Paterno not onyl knew alot, he participated in the cover up. The investigative report says so
Joey
July 28th, 2012
7:58 am
God is about to bless the victims, ugab – they are all about to become multi-millionaires . . .
bitter vince dooley
July 28th, 2012
7:58 am
Good call UGA———-@BOB——–SOUNDS RACIST TO ME—-YOU STAND CORRECTED
WHITE MEN CANT JUMP———-GET IT RIGHT FOOL———WE HAVE SPEED—-SOME
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
July 28th, 2012
7:59 am
Makes sense. They probably have a better chance to win a title at PSU.
collegeballfan
July 28th, 2012
7:59 am
“…running back Silas Redd is apparently close to transferring to Southern Cal.”
Why would anyone transfer from a school on probation to another school on probation?
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
July 28th, 2012
7:59 am
Plus, I still think PSU may be a little classier than UGA.
rajahdawg
July 28th, 2012
8:05 am
The sins of today or, will be paid for by the innocent of tomorrow. But no one will escape judgement.
RHall55
July 28th, 2012
8:05 am
Coach O’Brien seems to be the guy who can handle the adversity @ PSU….now let’s see if Coach Richt can handle his own adversity….an mismanaged roster…with less than 70 scholarship players…and a staff that includes Garner, Bobo, VanHalanger, Ball, and Tereshinski…read the Antonio Riles’ column….4 star DE/DT that grew up a UGA fan and UGA did not continue to contact him…would have committed to UGA but chose FL….C’mon Man!!!
LHarding Dawg
July 28th, 2012
8:05 am
EG – Well you should know, you wrote the book on low life trash.
LHarding Dawg
July 28th, 2012
8:07 am
Tide – Plus, Georgia is a lot classier than Bama.
bitter vince dooley
July 28th, 2012
8:09 am
tHE YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWED THE ENTIRE PENN ST TEAM JUMPING FOR JOY AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY COULD TRANSFER
ITS EARLY FOLKS—-OVER THE NEXT MONTH SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
UGA IS LOADED WITH TALLENT AND HAS MANY HIGH QUALITY KIDS COMMITTED FOR 2013
CLASS.—STOP WITH THE HATE-IN TROLLS———DAWGS ARE READY
NEWS FLASH——RUMOR HAS IT THERE IS A BIG STORY BREAKING TODAY THAT SABAN
IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE YAHOO SPORTS FOR CHEATING!!!—STAY TUNE LATTER
TODAY—————MURKEE TIDE——–hahahahahahah—tusk–ur–loosers
Ruff
July 28th, 2012
8:31 am
The players from Penn State needed to know if there were programs out there that would take them at this late date before renouncing their Penn State scholarships. The Penn St players would have been crazy to just walk away from PS and their scholarships and not have schools that would welcome them on campus with a scholarship.
I think the Penn State players who stay at PS should be commmended!
Don’t blame Mark Richt for saying he would be interested if there were PS players that wanted to change schools.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 28th, 2012
8:37 am
It is really pretty simple to almost all of the trolls on here, who have now shown they wouldn’t know what a football is, if they set on one and it became a permanent part of their anatomy, that in fact, a lot of the kids at PSU are going to stick it out. It has become a “We will show you”, type of situation. To take a kid with maybe one year of ball to play, in the case of seniors and juniors would not have made sense, and secondly, these kids are playing there because they like the region. Half only know what they learned about the south from a 7th grade geography class, and the other half know, they wouldn’t have a lot of chance for playing time. Up north and in the mid west, football is a diversion but in the south, it is everything.
Game Time
July 28th, 2012
8:41 am
Isn’t it clear why Richt did a 180 degree reversal? That jerk – Lane Kiffen – is actively recruiting a PSU player. He’s doing that in the face of PSU players and fans trying to hold their program together. Kiffen is getting blasted for that position. Richt wasn’t smart enough to understand the ramifications of going after PSU players in the beginning but now sees the downside.
Hairy Dawg
July 28th, 2012
8:53 am
Football is a PSU diversion but showering with kids is a PSU perversion.
The truth is that none of there players is good enough for Dawgs. We don’t needs the slow Big 10 plodders that always get beat by SEC in bowl games. And another thing is they been corrupted and around pervert Sandustky. They need to do some penants for Lord. Coach Richt could help that but they knows Dawgs not put up with child molest and not good enough players any ways.
Jim
July 28th, 2012
8:54 am
I agree with Richt about chasing players already in the school. However, I believe they should go after any commits not yet enrolled–that seems to be fair game for everybody. Penn State has a tight end commited for next year that was interested in UGA and Ga. seems to have missed on all the upper tier tight ends ( I think the kid’s name is Brenderman??)
Hairy Dawg
July 28th, 2012
9:03 am
That what we always knew is Saban is a cheating. He come into GA and try to steal recruits that Dawgs own. But that why we don’t need the Joe “kiddie showers” Pa slow poke players. We own recruiting in GA where talent is better than stinky Penn St. Why we want to waste time recruiting slows players from Penn St when we are the dawgs and gets any player we wants.
Hairy Dawg
July 28th, 2012
9:07 am
If Brenderman goes to PSU over Dawgs then he can change his names to Bend Over Man.