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 > 29
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The new Richt: Good thing or bad?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hope most of you got a chance to read the story I did on Mark Richt’s internal struggle to give up the play-calling and game-planning duties. My writing and a short turnaround time really didn’t do it justice. I actually spent 45 minutes with Coach Richt in a one-on-one interview in his office and really didn’t get to use much of what he told me there. I also talked to Katharyn Richt, some players and coaches and Vince Dooley for the story, little or any of which made the cut.
Not complaining. That’s just how it goes sometimes in this business. But I did want some of what I was able to glean to see the light of day. So I figured I’d share it with you guys today. Also, feel free to ask me any questions you didn’t see answered in the text.
Following is some of the leftovers.
From Richt:
“It’s not necessarily that it was bad for Georgia; it wasn’t necessarily great for me. It’s a grind to be the head coach and the game-planner and the play-caller.”
On the transition to Bobo — “We made it work. Georgia wasn’t the only place the head coach was calling the games. Everybody has their own way of doing it. But as time went on, I delegated more and more things. I gave Mike more and more and more… .
“After a while I had him install things and I observed him. Them, after a while, he began to coach and I began to observe. After a while, I just got out of the room.”
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job here, even looking back. We were getting things done. It might’ve taken me a little longer to see things that needed fixing. I think I may see it a little quicker now.”
“When you’re in the middle of the forest chopping away hard like everybody else, it’s hard to see everything that’s going on around you. I’m a little bit further removed from being right in the heart of it and I see things a little bit better.”
“My perspective is different in the big picture of the whole program and how we do everything. I’m just seeing it from a little bit of a difference angle.”
“The thing that I like better is I have more time to think about the psychology of the game itself and getting to know each player. I’m planning to block out some time every day to meet with players.”
On sideline versus press box: “I knew from the very beginning it was going to be difficult. I knew being on the sideline was going to be different that being upstairs [in the pressbox]. But I also felt in time I’d get used to it. And you do, but never to the degree that it’s the same.
“I’d say that your play-caller, offensively especially, needs to be upstairs. I would never choose to call a game from the ground. There’s some people who can. I never thought through much how I processed information until I was on the ground. Then I realized I’m a very visual learner.”
On getting involved with other aspects of game: “I’ve been in almost every special teams meeting. It’s exciting to watch the defense work. I was so busy with the offense I never got to see the defense work… . It’s amazing what those guys do.
From Katharyn Richt:
“He still spends as much time at the office as he always did but he’s not so exhausted or frustrated that he’s not giving things at home his attention. Before, it was his mind was always telling him, ‘I’ve got to get back to the gameplan. He’s still expending as much time and energy, he just doesn’t seem as frustrated and exhausted.”
On how much time the family spends with him: “We still don’t get him. All the kids are in bed when he gets home. So his hours are the same. But before he was always so preoccupied. Now when he comes home he can be at home.”
From Vince Dooley:
“He was such a fantastic offensive coordinator and he was so involved in that. But I think it did distract from him being a head coach on the sideline sometimes. This will help him from that standpoint.”
“I really think it’s a good move for Mark. I think it gives him broader control of the ball game and should help him make better decisions not just on offense but on defense and in the kicking game.”
From assistant coach Jon Fabris:
“It’s obvious he does have more time to maybe concern himself with things pertaining to the entire program,” said Jon Fabris, defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator. “Certainly I could see how it could help us as a program. If you’re going to pull yourself away from something you gave so much energy to, that energy is going to go to other areas. So, yes, certainly some good can come from it.”
From senior wide receiver Sean Bailey:
“You can definitely see he is relaxed. You see it out there every day. He is confident in his coaches. He doesn’t have to do as much. He reflects the whole team. When he is relaxed the team is relaxed.”
OK, let me know your thoughts. Obviously Georgia won 61 games — over 10 per year — the old way. Even though we have a poll about this, tell me if this rather major transition makes you nervous.
Practice updates coming later.
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