Notebook: UGA players believe vandalism an isolated incident by ’small group’
ATHENS – Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson said he had to go back and delete the tweet he sent out early Sunday morning claiming a “Good Samaritan” had cleaned up his egged and toilet-papered house and yard as he slept.
As it turns out, it was teammate Arthur Lynch, one of his four roommates, who took it upon himself to clean up the mess in the middle of the night.
“I wanted it to be a Good Samaritan,” Robinson said Tuesday after Georgia’s practice. “But I found out later it was Arthur. He said couldn’t leave it out there.”
Joked Lynch: “I needed eggs in the fridge so I was hoping they’d left some for me.”
Robinson and Lynch share an off-campus house on the outskirts of town with teammates Aaron Murray, Ty Frix and Dustin Royston. They returned to Athens in the wee hours of Sunday morning from their 35-7 defeat at the hands of South Carolina in Columbia to find trees covered with toilet papers and eggs splattered on the front door and all over the front of the house.
Lynch was able to remove the bulk of it sometime between 3-4 a.m. The property’s landlord sent out a cleaning crew later that cleaned up the rest.
“I didn’t want anyone to see it,” Lynch said. “It’s just one of those things. I didn’t take it personal. It was probably just a couple of guys who felt that way. After it got out, I got hundreds of text and messages from people saying they didn’t feel that way.”
“They sent out a pressure washer and got it cleaned up,” Robinson said. “They thought they were going to have to repaint but they don’t think so now.”
The players filed a report with the Athens-Clarke County police department, which told the Athens Banner-Herald that they were going to step up patrols around players’ residences on game days.
Lynch and Robinson said the act of vandalism has not tainted their perception of fans.
“It’s a small group,” Robinson said. “That’s what I;’ve been hearing and that’s what people have been talking about. It’s a small group of people. Right when I sent out that tweet, I had probably 700 people tweeting me reminding me of that.”
Said Lynch: “I’m learning more every year how much people invest emotionally into Georgia [football]. So I can see why. This is the state school and I can see why people feel like they do about it.”
But no matter how much fans want Georgia to win, it pales in comparison to the players.
“It was an unfortunate situation,” said flanker Tavarres King said. “But if there is anything I can get out there it’s that we want to win just as bad as everybody else wants us to win. We practice 365 days a year for 12 opportunities that are precious to us. So all that added stuff could be done without.”
SE Michael Bennett hospitalized
Sophomore split end Michael Bennett underwent reconstructive surgery Tuesday at St. Mary’s Hospital to repair the torn ACL in his right knee. Bennett was to remain hospitalized overnight.
Bennett tweeted from his hospital bed Tuesday afternoon. “Surgery went great! I feel like a million bucks on these pain meds.”
Bennett also tweeted a message to his teammates over the weekend: “Shout out to my boys. We are gonna be just fine! We know how to overcome adversity, especially with the leaders we have.”
Aaron Murray returns to campus
Murray made it back in time to practice with the Bulldogs. But he barely made it, despite breaking some speed laws on his drive back from Tampa.
In fact, Georgia’s junior quarterback was pulled over for speeding in Gainesville, Fla., home of the Florida Gators. Said Murray in a tweet at about 10 a.m. Tuesday: “I would get pulled over in Gainesville. Don’t think I am gonna be able to get out of this one.”
Murray, his brother Josh and sister Stephanie went to Tampa Sunday night to be with their father, Denny Murray, who underwent cancer surgery on Monday morning at the Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa. The family reports that it went well and he is recovering.
Rambo speaks up
Free safety Bacarri Rambo spoke with reporters Tuesday for the first time since he tested positive for marijuana in March.
“It happened and it’s over with,” Rambo said. “I’ve just dealt with my consequences and I’ve done moved on and I’m back on the team.”
Rambo admitted to feeling “a little” rusty and just a half-beat slow on his reads and reactions. He pointed to the first-quarter pass play in the South Carolina game in which Damiere Byrd ripped a would-be interception out of his hands for a 42-yard gain. The Gamecocks went on to score their first touchdown in a 21-point first quarter.
“That’s the one I beat myself up about,” Rambo said. “I wonder if I’d made that interception would it have changed the momentum of the game. That’s where I’ve just got to correct the small things and read the quarterback and offensive line better and put myself in better position.”
Rambo said he didn’t have second thoughts about returning for his senior season, even though he missed four games due to suspension.
“I don’t regret coming back to school,” Rambo said. “I love my guys and I’m glad I’m here helping achieve team goals. Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for me. I’m just going to keep working hard and try to be the best player I can be for my teammates.”
Harvey-Clemons among captains
Georgia coach Mark Richt announced captains for the Oct. 20 Kentucky game and the group included a true freshman. Guard Chris Burnette is offensive captain, John Jenkins and Abry Jones are defensive captains and freshman Josh Harvey-Clemons was tabbed as special teams captain.
“It’s rare that a true freshman becomes a captain, but the staff and I felt he did the best,” Richt said. “Every special team he was on, he excelled and had a winning grade. All of the coaches were saying how excellent he played. It is really hard to become a captain as a freshman, especially true freshman, but he earned this and I’m proud of him.”
Etc. . . .
Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who has been struggling with knee and groin injuries this season, sat out practice on Monday due to a sprained ankle. It’s unknown when he might return. . . . The Bulldogs’ two-hour practice was visited by members of Extra Special People, or ESP, an Oconee County organization that assists individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
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235 comments Add your comment
ARdawg
October 10th, 2012
4:22 pm
“But you’d better have a good idea of who is coming in next before you part ways with Richt”
Dawggone, thats a pretty lame statement right there. Changing coaches is always a gambling risk. No coach expresses an interest in a position that isn’t yet available, much less a quality coach
Michael Dyer
October 10th, 2012
4:24 pm
“Despite what some believe, canning Richt does not automatically mean that the program will improve.”
You’re right. The only thing for certain is that keeping Mark Richt means that UGA will never be anything more than mediocre. Mediocre, by definition, is not “worst”.
Two to the shoe
October 10th, 2012
4:31 pm
3MM a year for what? All of you homers need to wake up and get a dose of reality. Mark Richt is not a great coach. He is a good man, we’ve all said it. So what, so is my pastor and there is no way in hell he should be a football coach. Richt has a Ferrari sitting here and has no idea how to drive a stick. But wait some say, he’s a good man an represents the school well. What? Give me a freaking break. What are we getting for the money? Thats the real question. Kirby Smart, Dan Mullen, Joker Phillips, etc could all give us the exact same wins that Richt has given us since 2005 (LSU). He hasnt done anything that any other coach couldnt do. Get rid of him and lets right the ship. Spend the money and put an end to this low-level bush league bs. Go waive 6MM a year in front of some hungry OC in the NFL and see how much interest you get.
Dawggone
October 10th, 2012
4:36 pm
AR, not many coaches who win 75% of their games get a pink slip. You usually toss them because they’re not winning, so what do you have to lose. I share the frustration with Richt’s inability to beat ranked teams, but look at this way: he’s done better overall than the three guys before him (Donnan 68%, Goff 57% and Dooley 72%) and Richt’s won considerably more than Georgia’s historical 64.5% winning percentage.
Doesn’t mean he shouldn’t go. There are good arguments for making a change. But we could (and historically, we have!) done worse. That’s not spin, it’s just reality.
Michael Dyer
October 10th, 2012
4:36 pm
Meh. A “good” man would properly discipline his staff and team. Claiming Christianity doesn’t automatically make someone a good man.
Observer
October 10th, 2012
4:38 pm
111-39 coaching in the SEC is “mediocre”? I wonder how many actual college coaches (as opposed to armchair quarterbacks) would agree with that statement?
Michael Dyer
October 10th, 2012
4:43 pm
@Dawggone
Q: What do all of the coaches that you mentioned have in common?
A: All were assistant coaches when Georgia hired them to take their first Head Coaching job.
Maybe you should try to hire someone who is a proven Head Coach next time?
Michael Dyer
October 10th, 2012
4:45 pm
Mark Richt has done okay when the major powers in the conference have been down for one reason or another. He’s been lucky. Lucky is good, but Mark Richt isn’t an elite CFB HC.
Dawggone
October 10th, 2012
4:49 pm
@ Michael Dyer – I agree with looking for a proven head coach, although I recall that Donnan had been a very successful head coach at Marshall before coming to Athens.
Observer
October 10th, 2012
4:52 pm
Honest question for the folks wanting Richt gone. Who do you think UGA could get to replace him (who realistically might take the job, not guys like Chis Petersen who clearly isn’t leaving Boise). I’m not sure who I’d want UGA to target.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
October 10th, 2012
4:54 pm
What did UGA do inbetween Dooley and Richt?
Be careful what you wish for pups.
castle pines canine
October 10th, 2012
5:29 pm
What kind of rednecks do we have as fans now. How on earth do you do that to your team (or any team players for that matter). I would hope that someone knows something, and the will report it. I read where Carvell had his car trashed at Clemson, 31 years ago, that happened to me. Those are some classless fans for sure. Having said that, the best fans which I have ever seen were in Missouri, I’ve been to games at every SEC venue except for Arkansas, and A&M now, and none could hold a light to class those Mizzou fans displayed. I hope that we can learn a lesson here and not let our team be treated in the manner in which some rednecks chose to do after the SC game. WOW
castle pines canine
October 10th, 2012
5:31 pm
AR Dawg, no coach except Urban Meyer, and Nick Saban
castle pines canine
October 10th, 2012
5:32 pm
Tide is rolling, probabally similar to between Bryant and Saban, except for the cheating year that were Stallings
Jorge O'leary
October 10th, 2012
5:35 pm
Finesse football doesn’t work in the SEC. It does in the ACC. P.S. Oklahoma shut Richt’s mighty offense down in the last bowl game he coached Free Shoes U!
Jorge O'leary
October 10th, 2012
5:38 pm
Observer
October 10th, 2012
4:38 pm
111-39 coaching in the SEC is “mediocre”? I wonder how many actual college coaches (as opposed to armchair quarterbacks) would agree with that statement?
Wait it out, it will reveal itself…by the way, you sucked a big turd against UCF in a meaningless bowl game where Richt admitted being out coached. All any team has to do is look at UCF’s game film that day….
Game Changer
October 10th, 2012
6:18 pm
John Jenkins plays like a FAT SLUG ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, HAS NOT DONE ONE THING TO HELP THE TEAM. HOW DOES HE GET APPOINTED CAPTAIN????
Game Changer
October 10th, 2012
6:28 pm
2007 to 2011 Mark Richt is 26 and 15 SEC record .634% winning record
2012 Currently 3 and 1, loss a big game we had to win
I would not use the word mediocre / I CALL IT TOTAL FAILURE AND UNACCEPTABLE
Vince Dooley
October 10th, 2012
6:33 pm
Y’all may have forgotten, but I went 20-13-1 from 1977-79, you know, right before 1980.
Fred
October 10th, 2012
7:08 pm
Very classy Dwags..
Billy Joe Bobby
October 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
At least you get Kentucky in a couple of weeks. Maybe you can beat them. That’ll have you all back to talking about winning the NC again!
Blake
October 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
I’ve been silent for a while now, but I still can’t get past the lack of game planning for that game. We continuously tried to block Clowney one on one and with a tailback. I’m not a coach, but I could tell you that wasn’t going to work. Maybe we just got too full of ourselves. I’m still just dumbfounded. Either way, our coaches and players are gonna have to step up and put this one behind them. The nation thinks we’re overrated and until we do something to disprove that, it will never change.
Jojoba
October 10th, 2012
9:13 pm
In 2013 uga gets bama in Athens – gets Lsu and Clemson on the road. Next year will be richts time to sink or swim
Game Changer
October 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
@Blake
Aaron Murray is to short to play against quality defensive teams in the SEC. The good defensive teams load the box with 7 to 8 men across the front. This total stops our offensive running backs from having any lanes to run in or to break runs to the outside. This also allows the defense to block the few passing lanes that Aaron Murray needs to see and have any opportunity to complete passes. The only passes Aaron Murray is able to attempt and complete are sideways to recvrs and 25 yard passes down each sideline, throw it long and hope we catch it, problem is we dont have AJ or the Durham any longer. Aaron Murray is the weakness in the UGA offense, has been and will continue to be until Mason or a future recruit with height and throwing accuracy is playing QB
Mike
October 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
Coach Richt you’re not going to win the big game if you don’t change your,attitude against South Carolina you showed no emotion at all,which I know your player see this & really don’t worry if they screw up,need to get angry at times,be like Saban,Dooly,& Miles,& Meyer when at Florida,really getting tired of us getting embarrassed.I’ve always backed you,now time is running out.
Fats G
October 10th, 2012
11:20 pm
Love to see UGA win out and take the SEC East again from Spurrier like last year. It is very possible
Blake
October 11th, 2012
12:06 am
@Game Changer,
You couldn’t be more wrong. There are plenty of 6′1″ QBs in the country who do just fine. For the record, Connor Shaw is the same size as Murray, we loaded the box on him and he did just fine. The problem has been, and continues to be our coaching staff’s (especially on offense) inability to make key adjustments or their flat out inability to go into a game with a solid plan. You can’t block a guy like Clowney one on one and you sure as heck can’t assign a freshman RB to block him on pass plays. You are hands down setting yourself up for failure. We should have went more hurry up, and ran more screens and stop and go routes. We actually moved the ball pretty decent in hurry up. At least that way, we could’ve worn their defense down a little. Our gameplan, set us up for failure, and when we fell behind late, we just became to dejected to fight back. It was like watching the second half of the SEC championship game all over again. We made a couple of good stops in the second quarter and had a chance to make it a game or at least go into the half down 21-7, but didn’t take advantage. Then we come out at halftime with a chance to go down and score and slow their momentum and didn’t look as if we changed a single thing. Went three and out and the route continued. It’s series like that, that have been the difference in this team being able to take the next step or not. 90% of the teams in America would die to have Arron Murray behind center. It’s not his fault! He doesn’t block, he doesn’t tackle, and he doesn’t come up with the game plan. Given that and he just found out HIS DAD HAD CANCER, I would say he did the best he could. It’s obvious whta the real problem is and I’ve been a Richt supporter forever, but 0-10 or 11 against top ten teams is pathetic when you have the talent of this team and some of the teams he’s had in the past.
Fats G
October 11th, 2012
6:01 am
Small group? Lets get busy finding these bums. Alumni needs to organize a reward for someone to sing like a bird and spill the beans on who these bums are. Get busy Dawg fans. Lets find em and embarrass em.
GatorBait 18-4
October 11th, 2012
7:20 am
Same old same old, dream team becomes a nightmare
Bulldawgman49
October 11th, 2012
7:48 am
There always seems to be a bad apple in any group . Was a tough loss Saturday night . I am sure the Dogs willl bounce back and take care of Kentucky . GO DAWGS !!!!
Joe College
October 11th, 2012
7:51 am
Everyone keeps referring to the “fans” who vandalized Murray’s house. I think the odds are about ten to one that it was students who did it. Most fans wouldn’t have a clue where any of the players live, but the students know.
Bob Lovell
October 11th, 2012
8:23 am
UGA fans are classy, especially when compared to Crimson Tide followers who poison trees on opponents campus, T Bag opposing fans and count championships awarded by Golden Flake potato chip salesmen to achieve 14 National Championships they discuss at the top of their lungs relentlessly.
JvilleDawg
October 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
Would people who keep calling for Jon Gruden, PLEASE give it a rest!!! Gruden has the BEST gig in all of football, analyst for Monday Night Football. He’s making millions doing that, plus a little extra cake on the side with ESPN (although he gets one check from the Disney corp.), but he isn’t leaving that gig to come coach UGA, Bama, the GB Packers or anyone else. Why would he possibly want to come and coach UGA and deal with our fans!!!
WoofWoof
October 11th, 2012
5:15 pm
As a UGA grad,fans should be grateful that at least Georgia wins games. I live in Vegas and UNLV is a terrible terrible team. So glad my daughter wants to attend either UGA, Alabama, TCU, or Oregon next year.
That is teaching values...
October 15th, 2012
12:53 pm
Woof Woof…. why don’t you teach your kid some values…. Are you serious, her college education and future life are dependent upon the football team wins and losses….
If so, I would suggest a school who can at least beat a top 25 team more than once every 4 years…..
We got lucky last year in avoiding BAMA, LSU, and Arkansas…. somehow we got lucky this year and did not have to play any of the good teams in the west again!
The problem is we are only winning against the cellar dwellers of the SEC and are like 0-9 against the better ranked teams in the SEC over the past few years….
Here are our wins over the Losers of the SEC.. and their Conference Records
Missouri = 0-4
Vandy = 1-3
Tenn = 0-3
UK = 0-4 (Assuming we win this weekend and then they will be 0-5).
That is a collective 1-15!!!!! Why should we be surprised at the USC beatdown when we don’t ever face good competition?
But you say I am forgetting the other wins…. that’s right we beat
Buffalo = 1-5
Florida Atlantic = 1-5
BTW, we beat Buffalo 45-23 and yet this past weekend Northern Illinois beat them 45-3!! Shows you how we have been drinking our own kool-aid.