Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > August > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USRicht ready to just talk football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Athens — The coach of the first Georgia team ever to be voted preseason No. 1 sat before the assembled media on the first day of practice, and of the first 20 questions directed toward Mark Richt, four had to do with football. The others concerned misbehavior, at which Richt’s Bulldogs might also rank No. 1.
Eight Georgia players have been arrested this calendar year. (One charge was dismissed.) Six have been suspended. On the same weekend the USA Today coaches’ poll anointed the Bulldogs the nation’s top team, one player was arrested, two more were taken to the hospital after being injured in a barroom brawl and a fourth is said by police to have caused $2,100 in property damage at that hospital.
“I know there’s been a big buzz,” Richt said in his opening statement, and he wasn’t speaking of the upcoming season. And then: “I guess we can talk about football if anybody wants — I’d be all for that.”
You’d have thought nothing could overshadow the first on-field appearance of what should be Richt’s team of teams, but a summer’s worth of unsavory headlines have taken the focus off Knowshon and Stafford and redirected it toward police reports and court filings.
“It’s embarrassing,” Richt said. “It’s sad … It certainly has been a distraction. There’s no way you can say it hasn’t been a distraction.”
This hasn’t been the first ugly offseason under Richt. The summer of 2003 brought eight suspensions and the selling of SEC championship rings on eBay. The spring of 2005 saw tackle Darrius Swain jailed and linebacker Josh Johnson booted off the team. Each time Richt vowed to teach his players better, but here it is 2008 and we’re again reminded that teaching can go only so far.
And now Georgia arrives at an unseemly disconnect: Its football team is admired coast-to-coast, but 6.7 percent of Georgia’s star-spangled 105-man squad has been arrested in 2008. Said Richt: “The reputation of this team has been damaged, no question.”
The easy course is to suggest that Georgia, in its zeal to play for the BCS title, has come to value talent over all else and has taken too many risky recruits. Richt: “I don’t think so. I can’t tell you how many guys [of whom] we say, ‘We’re not recruiting that guy; we’re not bringing that guy in.’ … We’ve dropped many young guys off the list based on their character.”
There’s no doubt Richt is sincere in his desire to nurture and, where possible, to rehabilitate. (He gave the infamous Odell Thurman every chance.) “If a guy does step out of line, he does get disciplined,” Richt said. “But if the first time a young man has a situation and you throw him out of the house — it’s hard to help a guy when he’s gone.”
Still, Richt needs to grasp that current events have swung public perception against his brand of gentle prodding. It would be a shame if Georgia’s first national championship since 1980 gets lumped with Florida State’s 1993 triumph (remember the Foot Locker raid?) and Nebraska’s 1995 crown (remember Lawrence Phillips?) as tarnished titles. This is too sound a program, and Richt too good a man, for that to happen.
Richt said he has “already read [his players] the riot act” and is considering rendering downtown Athens off-limits. But will that be enough to halt the run of late-night distress calls to this increasingly frustrated coach?
When such a call comes, Richt said, “You feel sick that one of the guys … you love and you care for has gotten himself in trouble. You hate the fact that these guys represent this program, and this program represents this university, and this university represents this state and anybody who claims to be a Bulldog.”
Someone asked Richt if, deep down, he’s simply too nice a guy. “I don’t think you can be too nice a guy,” he said. On this point, alas, the nice guy might be wrong.
Permalink | Comments (289) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
Comments
By Joey
August 4, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
Bradley, If you’re gonna go to the trouble to count the number of players arrested this year, at least name the offenses they were charged with. Don’t want to do that do you? It would make you look a little silly. You can’t seriously compare a 20 year old walking down the street with a beer in his hand with the stealing and raping going on at Nebraska and FSU. Get a life.
By Beach Dawg
August 4, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
Mark, you did a nice job on the Skip Caray article on the Braves site but this one leaves me cold. Your not so subtle jab at CMR in the end was uncalled for
By Ben Moore
August 4, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Pretty simple actually:
Stop taking short cuts when you recruit and this type of thing doesn’t happen. If you develop quality talent and quality men, you don’t have this issue.
It’s not difficult but apparently with enough apologists, you can make any story seem meaningless.
I cannot wait until Georgia loses 3 games this year and the faithful will bury their heads in the sand.
By St. Mark
August 4, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
How about writing an investigative piece on how Clint Boling was able to get the DUI charge dismissed? He refused a breathalyzer and was booked on suspicion of DUI. And while that strategy doesn’t work for most of the free world, this guy had the charge dismissed. Sounds kind of fishy to me..
By Collin
August 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
I know that as the leader of the team Coach Richt has to take responsibility for his players’ actions, but can we really blame him for this. These are college kids who are hanging out with their friends and being dumb, like any average student. I’m sure Richt talks to them all the time about their role being different than just any student, but because they act like a lot of other dumb college kids doesn’t mean he is to blame. It’s a shame that things have gone this way this offseason, but let’s be realistic here. Some college kids are going to make stupid decisions being out on their own. And no coach can be there to hold their hand every time they leave the practice field. I’m not defending the actions of these players either. I was a college student three years ago and did not get involved in all the drinking and partying and I never got arrested, but the reality is college students are going to get in trouble, including the athletes, unfortunately this year the football team has experienced more than it’s share of stupid decisions. But I think the leadership on this team, including Coach Richt, will help them overcome the adversity and do some amazing things this year
By Bulldawg
August 4, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
I agree Mark, you should stick to journalism instead of giving your opinion. Ya know the ole phrase about opinions being like a**holes, you know everyone has one…and your’s STINKS!
By Bulldawg
August 4, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
I agree Mark, you should stick to journalism instead of giving your opinion. Ya know the ole phrase about opinions being like a**holes, you know everyone has one…and yours STINKS!
By harleydog
August 4, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
yes, you sound like you dont understand much about the game of football or life
By Dawg Fud
August 4, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
I agree with Richt that it is embarrassing and it certainly has been a distraction.
Time to focus and get serious about the task at hand Dawgs. #1 preseason ranking (football, not arrests) does not mean much to me. #1 posteason is what we are after.
GO DAWGS!
By gerry12
August 4, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
I think Mark Richt has been fair to his players as a lsu fan most fans know coach Miles had to pull the plug on our number one qb ryan p. he felt if he let it go maybe just before some big game he would get out of control so he kicked him off the team and folks this guy was the real deal instead of talking about uga number one we could be going after the bcs In closing i hope mark will do the right thing with these kids being number one is not the world no mater what happens i wish uga all the luck and maybe the sec can show the nation why we are the best
By Herschel Talker
August 4, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Ben Moore likes men
By Ben Moore
August 4, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Stealing and raping going on at Florida State? I’ve never seen a police report where a rape has been alleged. The two ex-players (meaning got kicked off, not “handled internally”) breaking into a guys appartment who they had issues with because they knew he was back home in California. Yeah, not the same. Georgia loses! Georgia loses! Georgia loses. Glory, Glory, Glory!
By Beach Dawg
August 4, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Mark, you did a nice job on the Skip Caray article on the Braves site but this one leaves me cold. Your not so subtle jab at CMR in the end was uncalled for!!! It was a statement of personal opinion as opposed to objective reporting, but what’s new!!! You did mention that something happened at the press conference besides discussion of arrests and suspensions. Would have been nice for you to report that but guess there’s no thrill in objective reporting vs. the blood, guts and gore of the rap sheet!! I guess once an ambulance chasing muckraker always one!!!!
By UGA Free Get Out Jail Card
August 4, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Thank God we have Georgia Southern, Central Mich, South Carolina,Arizona State. If any more players get into trouble when the season starts we are in deep $hit..not really coach richt won’t let a few players cost us nc title.So keep paying everone to keep quiet and out of jail. Keep the drinking, public p**, tearing up hospitals, assualts, dui in the state of Georgia. …please guys!
By Ben
August 4, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Still have time to catch Penn State yet!
By Joey
August 4, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Stealing at FSU in ‘93. Raping at Nebraska in ‘95. I was addressing the years Bradley wrote about, moron.
By CLT Dawg
August 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
St. Mark, how does one get a charge dropped? its called lack of evidence.
By Jim Rome says stay classy Georgia
August 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Keep urinating in public, tearing up hospital property you guys are classy..Playing past interviews with cmr about players getting into trouble.CMR WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS @ UGA..LOL Jim Rome shows so much love for cmr and bulldawgs too. lol
By Dawg Fud
August 4, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Jim Rome is a douche.
By Orange man
August 4, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Take a look at this and you will see what kind of players come out of GA. Just so happens this one got away from them and landed somewhere else. But I have to give it to Bob he kicked him off for it. CMR doesn’t have the nads to do it. Talk about the NC. It means NO CRIMINALS. CMR wants to win so bad he will do anything to get it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvzWhlX9TKs
By Moonlight Mile
August 4, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
The offseason has been embarrassing for anyone who loves our school. Here’s hoping Coach Richt and the staff can help these kids learn from their mistakes. Preventing these types of incidents is damn near impossible. How you deal with it afterward is what you can control.
By Jimmy
August 4, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
LOL @ people wasting valuable minutes of their lives watching Jim Rome’s show. The guy is a total hack.
By Whatever
August 4, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
The reason it is a distraction is because the media feels like it is front page news if a 20 year old kid gets caught with a beer. College boys/men sometimes drink alchohol and get into physical altercations? That really is news to me.
I feel bad for the poor kid who is the third string whatever, has no future in football, is basically just another college kid who happens to practice with the team and becomes front page news when he gets caught acting like college kids do.
By watcher16
August 4, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Ben Moore:
Short cuts on recruiting? B/c its so easy to predict 1-2 years in advance a guy can get in trouble for simply having a beer. Get a life
By The Truth
August 4, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
* Every single major college football programs has had it’s fair share of issues…. Some major, some minor, some in bunches, some here and there… My only suggestion is this: Don’t be the pot that calls the kettle black, because what goes around comes around, and chances are have been around….*
By michael
August 4, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
it was bound to happen. wasn”t richt on the fsu staff when the “free shoes” episode took place? isn’t he a pupil of “look the other way” bobby bowden? vince did the same thing according to some fomer players i know from the mid ‘80’s.
By PTC DAWG
August 4, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
Walking with BEER, now that’s a CRIME for the ages. I agree, at least say what the kids were arrest for. I saw ONE serious allegation myself.
Laws have changed through the years, KIDS have not.
By Atlanta Gator
August 4, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
We must consider the offenses. Among the latest ones are: player peeing on a building, player getting hit in the face with a bottle, and player whose DUI charge was dropped. Hardly the type of offenses that should allow us to conclude that UGA is in the same league as the early 90’s ‘Noles. Now, the kid who collapsed another kid’s eye-socket? DESPICABLE. Period. And where is that kid? He’s off the team. Let’s take a step back and put all this stuff in a little perspective. Anybody who’s up in arms about some of these events clearly never went to college…
By satchmo
August 4, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
When you are #1, you will have a target on your back, on and off the field. Sad, we live in a society, where hero worship, is IT. And they become media prey, for anything that, they can report. Young people, Will make mistakes, and learn to pay the consequences for their their actions. Being accountable for those actions, is part of the process. If their is no remorse, then the process, will repeat, itself as we have seen time and time and again. Hopefully OUR young man, will gain from the his bad experience, and be a influential role model going forward.
By dawgslickthemself
August 4, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
New course at UGA potty training 101.
By OLD DAWG
August 4, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
WELL SAID ATLANTA GATOR. YOU SUMMED IT UP VERY WELL, AND REMEMBER, ALL THESE KIDS WERE RECRUITED VERY HARD BY EVERY MAJOR PROGRAM IN THE SOUTH AND COUNTRY. COACH RICHT HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HE THINKS IS RIGHT AND FAIR, AS HAS MOST ALL OF THE SEC COACHES IN SIMILAR CASES. GO DAWGS!
By Mark Bradley
August 4, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Folks, this is a column, as opposed to a news story, which my esteemed colleague Chip Towers handled. By definition, a column is an opinion. If you check the print AJC, you’ll see those words — “My Opinion” — alongside our little pictures.
As for the “not-so-subtle dig” at Mark Richt … I yield to no one in my admiration for this coach and what he has accomplished, but when Richt concedes the reputation of his team has been “damaged,” that’s a fairly blatant admission something has gone wrong. Every big-time program has disciplinary incidents, yes, but not this many.
By AL
August 4, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
What is wrong with the thugs out there? Why is it that 99% of the time there is an arrest, fight, etc, the player is black? Even when a white person does get into trouble, it is only because of alcohol 99% of the time. The black thugs throw bottles, damage hospitals, etc. WHO DAMAGES A HOSPITAL? Sounds like a bunch of wild animals. I don’t give a darn if these thugs had a rough upbringing, lived in a bad part of town, etc. You still know what is right and wrong and should know how to act in public. What’s even more pathetic is that these NFL and NBA players are always black for the most part who get arrested. I don’t get it. Amazing how a mostly white sport like baseball RARELY has anyone arrested.
By billgt
August 4, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Corruption and poor discipline has been rampart at uga, THE university of guilty atheletes, since the days of Butts. Dooley and Harrick did their best to continue it. Richt is another Bible toting hypocrite who places trophies above developing young men’s character. You recruit scum, you get scum.
By Stephen
August 4, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Let’s see…
FLA players are committing armed robbery, TECH players are raping people in the butt, and for the most part other than Michael Lemon, UGA players are just drinking too much…
I dont agree with what the UGA players have done, but lets give them a LITTLE credit compared to what is being done in other college towns, would they have even been arrested?????
I still say based on my experiences in athens, that the cops are OUT for the players.
By country boy
August 4, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
I am a Dawg fan … an embarassed Dawg fan. No defense the these continual problems with obeying the law. What are these kids thinking ??? They have a unique opportunity - a possible great season, a very good education, and maybe playing football professionally for big $$$. I’m tired of hearing these young men referred to as kids just making youthful mistakes.
By checkitout
August 4, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
When the GT guys get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, they should be expelled, banished from the state(with the exception of one county) or hanged until dead. Uga guys get caught and they are just kids having a good time…HeHeHeHeHe
By thuga VI (also dead)
August 4, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Nice thugs UGAY nice thugs UGAY nice thugs UGAY Now you have the excuse of off field distractions for when you CHOKE this year!!!!!! You all know its coming! Start lining up those excuses! you weiner sucking thugs!
By Bubba
August 4, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
i think Stephen likes to be raped in the butt!!!!!!
By firsttimer
August 4, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
CLT Dawg-you get charges dropped or reduced by having influencial friends in high places. You should know that.
By Joe
August 4, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
I am embarassed, but I know CMR is doing everything he is allowed to do. don’t blame the coach. Bradley if your going to be a reporter then know the rules of recruiting and the sport itself. CMR cannot have total control over the players in the summer.
You are questioning the players we recruit? Dude, pay attention to what is going on….. We clearly turn down players because of this reason alone. Players left and right are wondering why other programs offer so soo and UGA doesn’t. UGA does extensive background checks.
last but not least… You compare 93’ FSU and nebraska to these arrest??? Are you just a grumpy old fart now? Break down the arrest and other than Lemon none of them are nothing bad outside of what you did in college….not that it should be ok… but don’t sit on that high horse!
By Ted
August 4, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
I admit it. I got a DUI in college. Who cared about it? Me and my family. I wasn’t suspended from school. I wasn’t fired from my job. I wasn’t branded as a thug or a cancer that needed to be eradicated. My dad wasn’t ridiculed as someone who had lost control of his kid. I made a stupid mistake and paid the legal consequences. Fortunately, I didn’t have media-instigated social consequences to cause further humiliation.
But maybe my college drinking helped my powers of perception. At least I can differentiate between a 20 year old drinking beer in public and another 20 year old nearly blinding some kid. I know it’s easier for shallow, stupid people to count incidents rather than investigate their severity. But do you stone-throwers really think that drinking in public and assault are equal contributors to a reasonable evaluation of a program? Does any transgression deserve a caning and immediate dismissal in your mind? Maybe you should think of the stupid things you’ve done in your life and where you might be now if someone had used your logic on you.
By Vision
August 4, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
Here’s the totality of all the so-called “arrest” that the media is so extended about….
FB Fred Munzenmaier: Two games for walking and drinking. LB Darius Dewberry: Two games for kicking over plants and hitting a parking lot arm. OG Clint Boling: One game for reckless driving. SN Jeff Henson: Indefinitely for double drinking incidents. DB Donavon Baldwin: Indefinitely for double drinking incidentrs. DE Michael Lemon: Dismissed from team for beating up a guy.
That’s it. That’s the total “impact” of all the embellished and overhyped allegations of “out of control” that the media loves to lay on the Dawgs.
When you read the actual punishments does it sound like out of control to you? No, it doesn’t. Or does it come across sounding more like the Athens-Clark County police chief defined it…. “the football players at UGA are not out of line with the typical college student”. And oh, the police chief used the stats to prove it, something these blind allegations do not do.
I am left with the feeling that if 15 UGA football players were arrested for robbing a bank and later all charges were dismissed because the police mistook the UGA bus for the geataway car the AJC 6 months later would be using all 15 arrests to prove some hollow point.
By AltamahaDawg
August 4, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
It really does my heart good to see so many well meaning Rivals posting in here, so concerned about how to improve our program and the well-being of our football players. And all quite factual. A lesser man would pretend to have some say in this whatsoever just to fuel a need to insult somebody. Thank goodness nobody is that pathetic in here.
By Ogeechee Dawg
August 4, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
Wow!!! Not the way to go into a season….talk about a buzz kill.
These guys represent the University and very Dawg fan out there
Very disappointed - think that Dewberry should be suspended for 5-games… minimum - if not for the season.
As far as the alcohol related crap - two game suspensions are appropriate for first offense. Second offense - 5 games. if there is a third offense - cut them loose.
By quaildawg
August 4, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
Orange Man, Remember a guy that fondled a girl against her will on his recruiting trip to FL? Remember who was all too eager to ink that guy??? Remember who had their upper classmen taking recruits earlier this year for a little toke trip? remember who has a punter that has FIVE,,,YES FIVE ALCOHOL related violations and will be suiting up for good ole’ UT, conveniently, for the UGA game this year. Live in glass houses ring familiar????
By Disgusted with Richt
August 4, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
Why wasn’t the hoodlum who did $2,100 damage to the hospital arrested? Wouldn’t that be a felony and arrest #9? When a person is locked up for suspected drunk driving and refuses the alcohol test, that is considered an admission of guilt, and they are supposed to lose their driver’s license. In the first place, sober people don’t refuse the test, and secondly, the judge who reduced the charge is probably a big UGA donor, or maybe he was just squeezed by Adams’ pal Sonny Perdue, or some expensive lawyer paid by the athletic department found a loophole. Adams and Richt have routinely thrown money at problems to make them go away. The best example was the 2002 sexual assault case in the dorm which UGA settled for six figures in return for having the charges dropped against a basketball player and football player. The frequent defense that these are college students behaving as such, is just stupid. They are supposed to be getting a valuable education at state expense, and they are representing the University and the state. They are not entitled to behave as they please. The bottom line of all of this is, Richt is not a nice guy. He is just another college coach who will do anything to win.
By Darkjuice
August 4, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
He wasn’t arrested because the player is a white boy. if he was black he be kicked off the team everybody knows that. uga is a raciest university and so are their fans. just read the replies.
By Denver dog
August 4, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this
As badly as I hate to read the words of Bradley, they ring true. So if we want to be on the top of the pile, we better be ready to take the flak when it gets reported. Some kid drinks too much, another pitches a fit in a parking lot, somebody else rubs somebodies stomach. Let it go folks!!!! Let the press have the fun it needs, what else are they going to report on,what color panties Ga Tech is wearing this year? Maybe Terrence Moore can do that, it seems more up his alley
By quaildawg
August 4, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this
Mark, Let me give you a lead on another worthwhile story that could shed some light on what’s wrong with this picture. How about a piece regarding Athens Clarke County Police Departments unwillingness to pursue charges against establishments that serve alcohol to minors??? That would require too much work!!! It’s alot easier to sit back wait till said establishments release the culprits into the streets then wait like vultures for the inebriated to expose themselves for an easy $500 for the ACC cofers. Wonder where those same lame officers were when a friend stepped onto Broad Street (for those who don’t know this is the main street through downtown Athens) from a well established restaurant and was promptly beaten so severly that he nearly lost his life from a stroke that was induced via the beating???? Probably waiting around the corner for the layups they can make every Friday and Saturday night. Mark you wanna ask hard questions ask ACC about this troubling trend.
By Orange Man
August 4, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
quaildawg, Let go back 5 years and see how many thugs uga have had arrested. I know they had 7 last year. why don’t you check and you will be suprised how many uga players have been in jail compared to the`other real schools
By Roswell Ed
August 4, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
The Go Dawgs chant has been replaced by:
Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE! Mean Machine! MEAN MACHINE!
Tell me Richt didn’t learn from the MASTER.
Awe Shucks BOYS will be BOYS.
By Denver dog
August 4, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Hey Orange Man,
Last time I checked your school had to use artificial lines because your players were hitting the ground and snorting up the lines. That is a fact, or have you forgotten that. How about that pervert that UGA, UF, FlaSt, Miami, ALabama, and Auburn all pulled the scholarship offer to because he raped a young lady. I really am more offended that an inbred hillbilly from Tenn would have the gaul to say anything about any other team after what your school has been through with felony arrests. Go love on your cousin or sister, it doesn’t much matter to you folks.
By IveyLeaguer
August 4, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
**Mark,
Can you name a coach that takes away more playing time than Richt, per capita, per offense? I don’t think so.
That is the most severe punishment, because that’s what players care about the most.**
By Roswell Ed
August 4, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
Did y’all hear the player news out of Auburn?
Insert cricket noises here.
CTT runs the cleanest program in the SEC period.
By Heyberto
August 4, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
This happens.. it happens to all teams. It’s unfortunate that this has happened at an elevated frequency this year, but Richt is handling it just fine. The needed discipline is there, and he’s not pulling an Urban Meyer where they reinstate a player that was dismissed from the team for committing felony discharge of a firearm. Lemon is gone and after being involved with this fight this past weekend, he’ll stay gone.
By Denver dog
August 4, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
Hey Ed
Pull up your panties
By GATOR#1
August 4, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
CMR IS GOING TO PUT HIS FOOT DOWN. ALERT EVERYONE. DON’T WORRY FALSE ALARM HE DOES’T HAVE IT IN HIM!!!! AND THIS TEAM IS GOING TO WIN THE NC. HA HA HA HA Richt said downtown is off-limits to players during camp, but he is considering making it a permanent ban during the season
Coach Stacy Searels, who was wearing a gray sweatshirt, made the offensive line run some extra sprints across the length of the end zone after they lagged
Secondary coach Willie Martinez, who wore a white, long-sleeved shirt, barked at linebackers Rennie Curran and Dent to get out of the shade while they were watching drills
By heyberto
August 4, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
Roswell Ed,
How can you get in trouble in Auburn, AL… there’s nothing to do down there! But seriously… I remember the Donnan years when nothing was done by the Head Coach, and the team was running over him. The public seldom heard about problems, but mayn players (Jasper Sanks, Quincy Carter) were all doing crap they shouldn’t have been without the public knowing about it. Be careful that the same isn’t happening down there. These guys are kids and they’re going to do stuff they’re not supposed to.. so they really need to get caught and learn their lesson. I’m not saying Auburn and Tuberville have problems, but I wouldn’t assume that everything is ‘clean’.
By D'Marcus Jefferson, Kappa Alpha pledge at UGA...GO ROB'T E. LEE!!
August 4, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
What’s the big about UGA fuut-baw players getting arrested? Every winning team needs felons on their team! They need more violence and where can you learn more about violence than in Prison!!!
Who needs Photo Day with the Bulldawgs??? I just go to the post office or the police station and get a picture of each player!!!
Coach Richt, you should be mighty prawd of your fuut-baw team!!! You silent leader…you!!! You have brought the Florida State tradition to UGA!
Why don’t you be a real coach and suspend your boys for the Ariz. State game or an SEC game? BE A MAN!! What a whuss coach!!!
By Gak
August 4, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
It possibly would be best to discontinue all athletic programs across the country due to this plague of athletic behavior problems. The stadium space could be used for several dorms or classroom buildings. All colleges and universities would be free from the media distractions that are caused by these high profile ‘troubled students’. Furthermore, our nation would save a great deal of fuel in not traveling to these athletic contests. And let’s not forget that students would receive far less attention from the media when they do get in trouble. Having athletic contests simply is not worth all the trouble. As it stands now, the primary benefit for being an athlete is that one gets absolute full attention and memorialized coverage for their misdeeds. The average student probably gets back page coverage at best. This simply is not fair and represents the most reprehensible form of discrimination. Just think of all the possible lawsuits that might occur if the average student paid much attention to these fantastic benefits for these citations. Yes, the best thing is to forget about athletics and rid ourselves of all the trouble.
By AltamahaDawg
August 4, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
Well, not to step on your totally objective and not at all liberal point there, disgusted, but you contradict yourself to claim how the money driving the train is all booster money and then refer to it as wasting public funds. Which is it? In fact, these are the Least of students that are getting thier college paid for by state tax money. Incidentally, the price of tuition pays for about 20% of the university’s cost to educate a student, so really from that standpoint , EVERY college kid is using public money and represent the university and the state. Somehow I don’t think the standard or the outrage would be the same for everyone. Are they dumb for flirting with a thier scholarships, sure, but how does that affect you?
It’s interesting how there is a constant cry to treat athelets the same as the kid sitting next to them, but nobody wants to treat athelets the same as the kid sitting next to them.
And is it possibly throw out any more ridiculous accusations of wrongdoing, with any less facts? I bet you can.
By Orange Man
August 4, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Denver dog, Go love on your cousin or sister, it doesn’t much matter to you folks! I guess you must live in Denver because if you lived in Ga you would see all the sister and brother, brother and mother, father and sister ugly people in Ga. Ga is the capital for in breeders. the only normal or good looking girls are from another state.
By Hunk Erdown
August 4, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
All this football team needs is some player leadership. The seniors need to start slapping some heads of these younger guys.
Anyone who blames CMR for summer incidents, or recruiting bad people just don’t know what they’re talking about, which seems to be the only requirement for posting on blogs like this.
I was dreading the summer for UGA’s football team because I knew that we would have a few guys step out of line. We always do, just like every other College in the nation… we just have “cracker jack” reporters that really know how to milk a police blotter for everything its worth.
I admire CMR for the way he handled the media, and didn’t fall into the trap of trying to use common sense or rational thought to explain things. The media would have turned that around into justifying bad behaviour and chewed him up for it.
Now its time to move on and play some football. Time for the leaders of this team to step up. Time for the media to either call this a wrap or use some integrity and tell the whole story, including the charges and the punishment on each individual case.
I too would like to thank all the fans of our competitors who have taken such an interest in the welfare of our football program, I have to admit that what goes on at your schools between seasons doesn’t interest me in the least.
Nothing has happened at UGA that will give you an excuse for the outcome of our games when we meet, win or lose.
By heyberto
August 4, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
GATOR #1:
Before you say anything, read what your own fans are saying about a problem on your team:
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/08/01/ronnie-wilson-helps-florida-reload/
http://sauriansagacity.blogspot.com/2008/08/might-as-well-read-it-here-first.html
Now that’s a fan.. one that call’s him like he see’s em.. and wants more for his program than to win at all costs. Kudos to you GATOR, #1. Way to be a hipocrite
By GATOR#1
August 4, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
heyberto(hipocrite)
Let me use a line that you and your paper team uses ALL THE TIME. They are just kids. Kids will be kids. But there is one little thing that we can say that you can’t. NC Champs twice since you had one back before you were born BOY
By heyberto
August 4, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
Ah GATOR #1, I see you’re avoiding the issue by resorting to an assinine defense. You NC is well deserved.. you guys earned it. But that fact has NOTHING to do with the fact that your school and your coach allowed someone to rejoin the team after firing an AK-47 assault rifle in public. So tell me… how can you possibly attach UGA, the coach, and the players for getting into trouble? Answer: you can’t without being a hipocrite… which you are.
By heyberto
August 4, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Ah GATOR #1, I see you’re avoiding the issue by resorting to an assinine defense. You NC is well deserved.. you guys earned it. But that fact has NOTHING to do with the fact that your school and your coach allowed someone to rejoin the team after firing an AK-47 assault rifle in public. So tell me… how can you possibly attack UGA, the coach, and the players for getting into trouble? Answer: you can’t without being a hipocrite… which you are.
By heyberto
August 4, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
Ah GATOR #1, I see you’re avoiding the issue by resorting to an assinine defense. You NC is well deserved.. you guys earned it. But that fact has NOTHING to do with the fact that your school and your coach allowed someone to rejoin the team after firing an AK-47 assault rifle in public. So tell me… how can you possibly attack UGA, the coach, and the players for getting into trouble? Answer: you can’t without being a hipocrite… which you are.
By Roswell Ed
August 4, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
I heard that on photo day at UGA.
The only photo shot the players were comfortable with
was the profile!!
By Mark Bradley
August 4, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
No program holds the patent on good behavior. And it usually works out that the fans who laugh hardest over another school’s misfortune are the ones whose beloved team gets bitten next.
By Roswell Ed
August 4, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark if you actually want to be a reporter do a story on how AU and CTT stay out of trouble and actually graduate their players.
I think that its the most under reported story in NCAA football.
A team that wins the right way.
What a concept.
Hey Mark I’m going to play Kreskin here and predict your ‘09 SEC champion.
My mind bended spoon reflection shows me that you’ll pick UGA Bulldogs.
Picking them every year saves you alot of research and thought doesn’t it Mark?
Tell me why they got rid of someone who actually contributes something to the paper ie TB,
and kept a hack like you?
By AltamahaDawg
August 4, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
Gator #1, you remind me of the old gal on the Verizon commercial, “well you’ve got crabgrass”.
By handawg
August 4, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
read:
www.bighairyblawg.com
By SEC Fan
August 4, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
I love all the UGA kool-aid drinkers making comments and defending CMR…It’s clear that the fans and the players don’t know how do deal with the pressure that comes with #1. That’s right—-this actually is your first time…
By handawg
August 4, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
As if graduating from crappy AU is an accomplishment. Auburn wants to be the story when it grows up…Ready to get blown out again, hicks?
By Paddy
August 4, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Bubba…. Sorry your GED was not accepted. You must get out of the 6th grade first. Hope you are not a UGA fan.
By SickandTired
August 4, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Dear Coach Richt, You are the best at dodging the blame for the actions of your players. You learned from a truly great one in Bobby Bowden. I think the thing that makes you so endearing to the fans is that you actually convince the Dawgnation that you’re sincerely let down by the actions of the players. But how could that be a surprise when you openly supported Soulja Boys lewd song being played and your players dancing to it. When you told your players to get a 15 yard penalty in the Fla. game last year. How is it a surprise when every off season since you’ve had the job has had a number of arrests that shock you? Keep up the good work Mark, but it’s time to win that National Championship or they will run you out of town choir robe and all.
By AltamahaDawg
August 4, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
How is defending Mark Richt a clear sign of not know how to handle a preseason ranking? And most of the offseason issue with players happened before the ranking came out. How is that not handling the pressure? Thats’s right—-this is actually is your first time trying to sound like an adult….
By Gator#1
August 4, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
heyberto Ok i was beating around the bush. I agree we all have our thugs. But the point i was trying to make was that our thugs are better than your thugs and your coach is not a saint like you try and make him out to be. He is an average coach that can’t win the big one. Do you realize that there have been 3 coaches that have come in and won the NC right away. Nick, Les and the MAN. CMR needs to go talk to one of them and find out how to do it, UGA has a few good players and with a little coaching may be able to pull it off. Is this what you wanted to hear.
By Gak,the Ultra Conservative
August 4, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
I see nothing wrong with getting all college recruits from our state penal instituions. There is outstanding athletic ability there. As long as the colleges and universities follow the NCAA guidelines, there should be no problem. There could be a few problems with academic issues; but then GED qualifiers might make very good students. Having good character would not be an issue as our penal institutions have historically been somewhat successful at reforming those who have been found guilty of poor conduct against society and a rehabilitated inmate is just as good as anyone. The obvious advantage is that he/she is far more aggressive and physical than the shy student-athlete out of high school. Why permit these institutions of higher learning to corner the market with respect to producing and managing aggressive and physically dominant athletes. Our penal institutions deserve the same opportunity and shouldn’t we be an equal opportunity society?
By heyberto
August 4, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
GATOR#1, that’s a much more thoughtful response, and I appreciate that… but Richt has nothing to do with why these kids got in trouble any more than Urban Meyer was for the Gators. And as for winning the big one, we’ve been on top of the SEC a few times without getting a chance to play for the NC… that has nothing to do with Richt. Florida has been on the wrong side of Lady Luck a few times as well and not got the same chance… to that’s not really a valid argument. If we were in a playoff system, I might agree with you. But to date, it’s not as if we got to the big game and lost it. Richt will get his shot, whether this year or another, and he will prove his worth, don’t you worry.
By Birdman
August 4, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
Who cares what Bradley thinks? You guys need to get a life and wait to the games are played…..these kids are 18-21 yrs old-I did worse in college. Every program has issues and Bradley’s got more than all of them! Have a good evening…I will be here all week.
By Hunk Erdown
August 4, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Maybe it’s just the kool aide, but in a weird way this all may turn out good for the Dawgs… They have certainly been brought down to earth with all this publicity.
The alternative would be coming into camp with that number 1 ranking and a bunch of “big heads” about it.
The way things are right now there is a big distraction that will cause the team to work on focusing on business. From here they can only get better, they can pull together and know that they will be too busy running bleachers and doing drills to think about trouble.
Akeem Dent is a good example of a man that slipped and has now worked his way back into the good graces of the team… Look for him to be a big time playmaker.
I just hope that we can avoid injuries for the next several weeks.
By rolling_in_coleslaw
August 4, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
WSBTV in Atlanta Started their 6 PM newscast about the leghumpers getting arrested.HAHA
By fred russo
August 4, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
It’s time for these children who want to play a mans game to grow up. sadly their is no way to tell if you are recruting a man or a child.
By quaildawg
August 4, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
Roswell Ed, Be careful because when the Animal Rights zealots get that Cow Tipping Felony Law passed the entire AU campus will be doing time. Not to mention Mark Bradley, Terrance and the rest of the AJC hacks will be camping on Toomers Twig.
By dog b4 doley
August 4, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
I have been a dawg fan for a long long time. Live in a far off land just checking for Dawg news on the internet and saw this blog. first time on a blog and last time. this is like talk radio. YOU GUYS NEED TO GET A LIFE!!!!
By quaildawg
August 4, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
Urange Man, Since you obviously research UGA soooo much how about you providing this rap sheet for us. Wellllllll One thing we are sure of our COach hasn’t been served a subponea and didn’t have to stab his predecessor in the back to get his job!!! I still have a soft spot for poor old Johnny!!!
By AltamahaDawg
August 4, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Can’t win the big one is such a worthless cliche’. Which “big one” is that? Look I’m not even going to debate the nature of the MNC with anyone. I’ll just say this: there are those hung up on it as the only measuring stick and some that thinks its nothing more than a beauty context. What is true, is that Nobody Doesnt want to win it, so I’ll agree its a worthwhile accomplishment, that in his first 7 years of head coaching has eluded Coach Richt. The fact that it bothers anyone is a huge compliment to the man.
I assume if he asked the “MAN” the man would say that he did exactly what Richt did his second year except that UCLA pulled an upset on USC. Had that not happened, Urban Meyers would have done the Exact same great job that year, gone to the nice BCS bowl, and you would have said he can’t win the big one, right? But YOU tell us what Myers did that Richt didn’t. Then tell us how if the “MAN” knows something special, he would have followed that up with a 4 loss season. Miles would say, “hey pal we tried our dead level best NOT to get in”. Somehow WV and Mizzou got beat while we were all sitting on the couch. Care to examine the events leading up to Saban’s, including if I recall something about a team that didnt even win its conference THEN getting in the mix (but I digress). Now consider that UGA was all but in the SECCG if Ky can kick a 34 yr FG, or Vandy hold a huge lead. Or a holding call against SC prevented the gators from losing that year. I am a big proponent of “thats the way the ball bounces” All those situations, teams, deserved whatever got them there. But to sit here and say that those coaches KNEW something about “the big one” that somebody else does not…is a total lack of football knowledge, and frankly a pretty simpleminded comment from somebody that gives the appearance that they haven’t been following college football very long.
By PMC
August 4, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
I don’t see how this can be blamed on the coaching staff. Ask any of those players on that or any team and they’ll tell you they are grown men and want to be treated like that.
Bottom line. These young men have a lot of growing up and maturing to do. They know how to do right and are choosing to act the fool. It’s easy to think the world is out to get you when you’re consistantly putting yourself in bad positions. Another thing. A lot of these guys are backups. You want to be a starter guys.. you had better get your stuff together grow up and be professional.
By AltamahaDawg
August 4, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
HD, I thought the same thing, none of this stuff is going to be a distraction, and probably is a rallying point. Once it start heating up, nobody will give a rats behind about a drinking