Mark Richt wasn’t trying to stir up any controversy when he donned some Georgia Tech gear during his visit to The Flats for the ACC Network on Tuesday. But he did, among a few Georgia fans at least.
Richt was tour the Yellow Jackets’ football facilities and visiting with coach Geoff Collins and his staff Tuesday as part of his duties these days as a college football analyst for ACC television. Which is all well and good.
But what created a bit of a social-media fervor in Bulldogs country at least was Richt decking out in Tech clothing and posting pictures on his social media accounts.
In his first pic on Twitter, he playfully writes, “Don’t tell anyone.”
Richt, of course, coached against Tech for a long time at UGA, and at Miami at well. And he had quite a bit of success against them.
Coaching the Bulldogs from 2001-15, Richt was 13-2 against the Jackets. In four years as the Hurricanes’ head coach, he was 3-1.
While most UGA fans seem to take it in stride and have fun with it on social media, others blasted the former Georgia coach for wearing the colors of the Bulldogs’ biggest rival.
“Come on, CMR,” one replied.
“You went too far, Coach,” another said.
Richt, who now resides in the greater Panama Beach area of Florida, seemed to find the whole thing rather amusing. But he did take time to explain himself to the AJC via texts.
“I am doing this on behalf of the ACC Network,” Richt said. “I’m visiting every ACC school this spring and wearing their gear while I’m at their program.”
Indeed, just 24 hours earlier Richt had posted pics of himself in Clemson gear. Some Georgia fans might see that as more offensive.
Richt did make it clear that his allegiances haven’t changed, despite appearances.
“There is still a lot of Dawg in me,” he said.
