UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 26
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Was Richt’s retraction warranted?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No sense in delaying. Might as well go ahead and dive head first into the pool of controversy that is the Indoor Practice Facility Debate.
First, let’s get you up to date. Georgia coach Mark Richt has let it be known over the last several years that he’d very much like to have an indoor facility for the Bulldogs to retreat to in the case of inclement weather. Up until this weekend, he has been fairly diplomatic and subtle about it, sort of nudging AD Damon Evans and the athletics board whenever the subject arose. But this past Friday, Richt delivered a relative sledgehammer after an afternoon thunder-boomer forced first a delay and then the cancellaton of a very important practice.
“It’s just a royal pain to have to deal with this kind of stuff,” Richt said on Friday. “It would be nice to have a little indoor facility nearby where you wouldn’t have to spend your whole life trying to figure out a new plan. It’s very frustrating, it gets very old and I’m about tired of it.
“Maybe one day we’ll get that done.”
Now I — as all the beat guys — have heard Richt’s complaints before on this subject. We’ve seen him scramble to come up with Plan Bs and bus the team over to Ramsey or, occasionally, all the way to the Falcons’ complex in Suwanee because of bad weather. But there was much more of a sharp edge to his comments this time. That’s why I chose it as the lead item in our Friday football report.
Perhaps playing devil’s advocate, I followed with the question, “Is this something you’d leave Georgia over?” Sarcastically — and jokingly — he replied, “No. They’d probably say, ‘good riddance.’”
Richt went on to answer all our questions about the depth chart and Oklahoma State and such things just like he always does and we all went about our business thinking little more of it. It wasn’t until after Saturday night’s practice, after we had completed interviews, that Richt sort of casually asked the beat regulars, “Any chance I can renege on that practice facility thing?” We just kind of laughed it off. I think I said something like, “You said what you meant and you meant what you said. You don’t need to.”
I don’t think any of us at that moment grasped how much this had really been weighing on Richt’s mind. Then he issued that retraction statement through the sports communication office Sunday night. For your edification, here is the statement in its entirety:
“I would like to make a public statement following up on my recent comments pertaining to our facilities at UGA.
“First I am very proud to be at the University of Georgia. I have poured a lot of my life and energy into this program and I’m thankful every day for where God has placed me. I’m also thankful for the leadership of our University, Athletic Association, and Athletic Board.
“Friday’s comments regarding the lack of an indoor practice facility were a knee-jerk reaction to a series of events that happened throughout the day ending with the cancellation of practice due to a storm in the area.
“When I actually read my comments late in the day on Saturday I was very disappointed in what I said and the way I said it. It appeared to be someone who was ungrateful for what he had and that is certainly not the case. For that, I want to apologize to President (Michael) Adams, (athletic director) Damon Evans, and the Bulldog Nation.
“I am very blessed at UGA and Damon and I have a great working relationship. In fact, we have been working together in planning a project that will provide a major facility improvement.
“I want to end by saying that this statement is heartfelt and I was not asked to make it by anyone other than my own conscience.”
Just to complete the background on this subject, the whole concept of an indoor practice facility was first initiated by former Georgia coach Jim Donnan. In fact, they had blueprints drawn and donor pledges ready to build one paralleling Rutherford Street across from the baseball stadium. But that fell through due to a confluence of circumstances, including Sept. 11th and the crash of the stock market in 2001.
OK, so with all that to frame your opinions on the subject, let’s discuss the situation. First, did Richt need to issue a retraction or should he have stuck by his comments? Secondly, do you believe him when he says he was not instructed by superiors to issue a retraction? And finally, do you believe Georgia clearly needs such a facility (only the Dogs and Florida in the SEC don’t have one)?
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