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 > November > 15
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Soulja Boy defends ‘fun’ tactics
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just got through sitting down with Mark Richt for his regular Thursday chat with reporters. I always enjoy these sessions because they’re always very relaxed and it’s a day in which we sometimes ask questions that may be a little bit more of an offbeat nature.
Instead of a podium/audience situation, we do the Thursday deal in a conference room of the sports information office and Richt sits at a table with all reporters who cover Georgia regularly.
Earlier today I had done a radio show in Birmingham, Ala., and I was telling Richt about how the hosts had said they had heard from some Auburn fans that thought some of the antics Georgia pulled — the “blackout,” I guess, the deliberate excessive celebration and the dancing to Soulja Boy on the sidelines during home games — lacked “class.” Of course, as I told that radio audience, I just think Richt has discovered what buttons to push with this particular young team and that it seems harmless enough and certainly seems to be working.
Richt was not defensive at all about it but said that they were simply having some fun and he didn’t think either Georgia or its players was being disrespectful.
“I don’t think anybody’s trying to rub something in,” Richt said. “It’s not like that’s the first time that’s ever happened. Teams do that kind of thing all the time when they’re getting ready for a kickoff or something. I’ve seen other teams do their little things. Nobody’s trying to disrespect anybody.”
Richt said he certainly is not paying any attention to such criticism; that he is simply trying to coach up and motivate his team.
“I don’t think you can go through a season without making somebody mad,” he said. “We’re not trying to.”
The funny thing about all that is Richt talked about how his family and his players are trying to get him to learn the Soulja Boy dance so he can do it on the sideline. But it didn’t sound like that’s about to happen.
“I don’t even know how to do the Electric Slide yet, so I don’t know if you’re allowed to jump right into the Soulja Boy dance,” Richt said. “I don’t know if there’s a progression there.”
Anyway I’d like to hear everybody’s thoughts on whether Richt’s methods are grating on opponents.
Also, there’s been some complaints that we haven’t talked enough Xs and Os here lately so I’ll try to get to that just a little.
First of all, the Bulldogs had to practice at 5:30 a.m. this morning because of scheduling conflicts with some academic matters. In retrospect Richt thought it was helpful because the weather was obviously very cool that time of the day and the winds were calm unlike they were during the afternoon. It also offered Georgia the chance to have a little more recovery time before Saturday’s early kickoff (12:30 p.m.).
On that note, Richt is really pleading with fans what are coming to the game to please get there a little early and get into the stadium and to your seats in time for Senior Day, which is slated to begin about 12:15 p.m.
It looks like Georgia is as healthy as it has been all season for this game. Richt said he doesn’t think backup tailback Jason Johnson (neck) will be able to play. Other than that every player not already out with a season-ender should be set to go.
Earlier this week Richt talked about: How last year’s loss at Kentucky should serve as motivation enough for the players; that dropped passes haven’t been an issue of late and that’s a testament to both quarterback Matthew Stafford and the receiving corps; that the team hasn’t been dominant this season but has seemed to be getting hot at the right time. He also lauded Chester Adams, Fernando Velasco, Geno Atkins and Asher Allen and talked a lot about how good Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson is.
That’s about it in a nutshell. Have at it.
Permalink | Comments (370) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Services »
