What Would Mark Richt Do?

Don’t get all riled up at the title. It’s just a bit. But be honest, out of all the sports personalities in Georgia, nay in the country, do you know of anyone better to emulate? Two people issued apologies earlier this week. Michael Vick stood in front of a Virginia Federal Courthouse and apologized for his role in the whole dogfighting thing. I listened to his speech and while I do think he was sincere, what I wanted to hear was these two words, “I lied”. Basically, that’s what I’m upset about. Don’t get me wrong, the dogfighting is grotesque, but he then lied about it. So his apology was given because he simply HAD to.

Contrast that to our fearless head coach Mark Richt. Friday afternoon, after having practice rained out, Richt went on a tirade about UGA’s lack of an indoor practice facility for the football team. “I’m about tired of it” he said. And for those of us who follow every crumb of UGA football, it set off another debate. Georgia and Florida are the only SEC schools that do not have indoor practice facilities, so the proponents for it say ‘Everybody else has one, why shouldn’t we?’ Those who don’t care say ‘It’s obviously not hurting Florida (where it seems to rain every afternoon), so what’s the big deal. I don’t care one way or another, but it’s obviously a big deal to Coach Richt.

Fast forward to Sunday. Coach Richt issued this apology:

“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.”

Huh?

I’ll admit, off the football field, his Friday statements are the closest thing to a tirade you’ll ever get from Richt. Most of us would turn into Howard Dean on crack if we were asked the kinds of questions that head coaches were asked. But if you ask me, he didn’t have to apologize for anything. I’ll bet you $200 that Athletic Director Damon Evans (if he in fact DID even read the story) said, “Ah, bitching about the indoor facility again. Whatever.” President Michael Adams is still figuring out how to attract more people at the fan friendly tailgaiting locations (memo to President Adams – people drink at football games. Get over it.) Neither of these guys gave a whiff about what he said, not because they don’t care, but because IT WAS A NON STORY.

You know, come to think of it, Richt did issue an apology once before. AJC columnist Jeff Schultz asked a question during the 2005 season about the lack of offense and was Coach Richt frustrated by it. Let’s preface this by saying that Coach had been addressing this issue at EACH press conference. Never the less, Schultz felt the need to drag it up again. “Can you talk a little bit about the stagnation of this offense?” Richt’s response was fantastic. “Well, I’ve talked about it before, but I’ll explain it again to YOU, if you’d like……” He then went on to discuss, very calmly, the offensive shortcomings. Before Richt ever apologized, Schultz made a reference to it in his column – noting that Richt’s reaction was as close to a public lashing that you’ll see from him. The very next press conference, Coach Richt started off by apologizing to Schultz and the AJC. I would have loved to have seen the looks on the faces of the reporters who were thinking, “what the hell?” You know even Schultz was thinking, “Who IS this boy scout?”

In both of these instances, Mark Richt did something we all do, he got extremely irritated. And then he lashed out – by his standards. However, he went back and apologized, leaving most of us scratching our heads. For all you UGA haters who complain about all the ‘thugs’ this program brings in, you certainly can’t complain about the man in charge. If he didn’t show any emotion on the football field, I would have the CIA investigate him for being a pod person. But he expects more of himself than he does of you. And he does it for the whole world to see.

What’d I Miss?

You just can’t take off any time during fall camp. I was busy celebrating Karl Rove’s departure yesterday, but I missed out on all the changes at the Dawgs’ practice.

Remember that scene in Space Jam? Jordan’s team (the cartoon characters) are all in the locker room and they’re all bandaged up and ailing? It seems that paints a clear picture of the offensive line. In fact, it’s so bad that RFr Kiante Tripp has been moved from defensive end to offensive tackle. Really? We’re that stocked at the end position we can afford to move 2006’s 14^th rated defensive end to the offensive side of the ball? Well, I guess when the same guy was also rated the 9^th best OT then the answer is OH HELL YEAH. Hey, I can appreciate that Coach Richt doesn’t want to move guys around. But it sounds like this guy is extremely athletic and would punt if you asked him to ( You reckon he punts? We still need a punter….)

In case you’re keeping tabs on the injured:

OL – Chris Davis, Chester Adams, Scott Havercamp, Chris Little, Tanner Strickland

Skill positions – Mikey Henderson, Tripp Chandler, Jason Johnson, TJ Gartrell, Kris Durham

DL – Tripp Taylor, Ricardo Crawford

DB’s – Rashad Jones, Bryan Evans, Thomas Flowers

LB – Chris Gaunder

Don’t worry if you’ve not heard of Chris Gaunder. He was just awarded a scholarship after he and fellow walk on Drew Williams showed they got what it takes. I distinctly remember Gaunder making a tackle in the Chick Fil A Bowl last year right after Milner scored our first touchdown. I’m guessing Gaunder has become a special teams guy, because at 6’0” and 216 lbs, he’s not vying for Brandon Miller’s job (of course former MLB Jarvis Jackson was around 220 lbs, so what do I know). I love to hear the walk-on stories because they are essentially making space for someone who has proven themselves on the field.

In the “I love Mark Richt, however” department we have this blurb about the linebackers yesterday:

“Brandon (Miller) of late has played more Sam and (Dannell) Ellerbe has played more Mike,” Richt indicated when asked about Miller’s play on Tuesday. “If it happened today we would probably play Ellerbe at Mike. It doesn’t diminish Miller’s ability. Even though he isn’t playing a lot of Mike right now, he is the guy who is physically dominating. He’s quite frankly throwing our tight ends around.”

This despite the previous declaration that, in moving him to the MLB, Miller was the “key” to the defense. He sounds like a White House press secretary who’s backpedaling. Look, I know he says whatever he has to just to protect his players, but this sounds worrisome. In the spring he said, and I quote, “We’re in good shape at linebacker”. Is this the equivalent of “no new taxes”?

Speaking of politicians, Georgia Congressman Paul Braun visited practice on Tuesday. You reckon HE can punt?

CB Remarcus Brown was suspended for the first two games for the dreaded "violation of unspecified team rules". At Miami, that means they've been smoking weed. Could mean anything here. At South Carolina, you can key a car and not get suspended any games. Unfortunately, at Georgia, they'll suspend you for skipping class, so I hope everybody's got the mischief out of their system.

We're getting down to two weeks before the first game. I hope we're done playing musical chairs and let these guys just play. Bring on the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State: Boise State v2.o or West Virginia v2.0?

As fall practice begins and the arrest season winds down, we keep the following date posted on our list of “to do’s”. September 1^st. That’s the date that the Oklahoma State Cowboys come to town (cue Clint Eastwod western music). Instead of starting the season with the usual patsy like Western Kentucky or Winona Park Elementary School, Athletic Director Damon Evans has scheduled a season opener with a team very capable of beating the Dawgs – depending on who you ask. Two years ago, media darling and mid-major Boise State came to town for the opener. All summer long many ‘knowledgeable’ media types predicted that Boise State would upset the Dawgs. Using their new-fangled, pass happy spread offense, they were supposed to confuse and confound Georgia. Bronco coach Dan Hawkins (now at Colorado) proclaimed that his team would not be bothered by the heat and had just as much speed as the SEC teams. He was wrong and the Dawgs squashed Boise State 48-13. Even worse, those poor guys had to fly back to Idaho. I couldn’t tell if we were that much better or Bronco QB Jared Zabransky threw the game. Fast forward to January 2^nd, 2006 – when SEC champion Georgia played West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl. That turned out to be the upset. The Mountaineers ran and ran and ran and beat us 38-35, making household names of QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton in the process. Many Dawg fans offer up excuses – it was a meaningless game, we weren’t prepared and took the game lightly, Coach Richt’s press conference bored our guys to sleep, but regardless, they won and excuses don’t matter.

So now enter Oklahoma State. I submit that they are not Boise State, but they ain’t West Virginia either. Hardcore Georgia fans should recall the name of QB Bobby Reid as he was somewhat recruited by Georgia out of high school. He’s a very capable dual threat. They have a very versatile backfield and a serious WR threat in Adarius Bowman. But by most accounts they have a shaky defense (which means Georgia Tech could even score on them), so it could be a high scoring affair. The only person who seems bullish on our defense is Coach Richt, so I feel good about all those new guys if HE does. For that reason, and that reason alone, I imagine we should win that game. Ultimately, I just don’t want to lose the first game of the year. That’s the equivalent of throwing a party and having the “marginal” guest show up first. You know – the one who is really obnoxious but you only invited him so his feelings wouldn’t be hurt? It just makes for an awful long wait until the next guest arrives (in this case the next game - against Steve Spurrier, possibly the worst dinner guest EVER)

A Look at the best Georgia football players…….to interview

I listen to the players talk with great interest. I’m curious to know who’s got a future in broadcasting after their NFL playing days are over. Or who’s going to be a White House press secretary and offer up the kind of fluff that we expect. Today we look at just a few. We’ll check them out as the season wears on.

Sean Bailey – should be the team spokesman. Not only does he avoid the maddening “you know” and “uh”, he genuinely has something to say. I could listen to him all day long.

Matthew Stafford – I know that he’s the new sheriff in town, but he sounds like Butthead in interviews. Somebody taught him the usual lines; “we just gotta execute and play as a team”, “we faced a lot of adversity” and “blah blah blah, learning curve blah blah blah”. Of course, he’s been very guarded since his keg tossing days.

Fernando Velasco – He’s trying WAY too hard. I know he’s the senior leader, but he’s working too hard to spit it out. Slow down Fernando, we’ll wait.

Thomas Brown – he’s very good, actually. Here lately, he’s been answering a lot of questions about whether or not he would take a medical redshirt in 2007 and he’s handled them sincerely. No canned answers, he just wants you to understand that he’s getting back out there and his knee is fine. I get why Coach Richt adores him.

Asher Allen – See Fernando Velasco.

Mikey Henderson – Mikey is just EXCITED about the receiving corp. He seems like the type of guy who has a lot to say and he’s glad you asked. Something new in each sentence.

Kris Durham – Has apparently been to the “How to talk humble” classes that Georgia offers. But hey, he’s young.

Kelin Johnson – He may not have a lot to say to fans or a press corps, but I bet he can fire up the defense. And in the end, do we really care what they say to us as long as they get it done on the field?

The Email Brigade - the Real Enemy

I consider myself a liberal for two reasons. One, that’s what conservatives call anyone that doesn’t think exactly like them, and two, it’s the only label that Democrats seem to have. Fine, whatever. I’m a liberal. It has taken me quite sometime to realize that right wing conservatives are not the enemy. Oh sure, I like to argue with right-wingers all the time, pointing out their narrow-minded views and their spread of hatred. But to be honest, the loud-mouths don’t bother me as much as what I like to call the Email Brigade. You know EXACTLY who I’m talking about. They forward emails to you about three times a week with long stories that have “lessons”. The conservatives send stories about how our country has gone downhill since we took God out of schools. Or why it is mandatory that we blindly support George Bush and the war because “if you ain’t fer us yer agin' us!” and thus not a patriot. Or how we say the words “immigration reform” but really mean, “keep ‘em Mexicans out!” But conservatives aren’t the only guilty party here. Liberals are the ones who send the prayer chains around, with a veiled threat if you don’t forward the email. They also send the “little Johnny is in the hospital and will have his bills paid if you sign the petition and pass it on” emails that are just plain evil. Not to mention the “you will get $500 as soon as you forward this to ten people” chain emails, and it always has the note “I tried it my damn self and it worked!”. If you believe liberal chain emails, you believe that Bill Gates will give you a free computer, the Post office will start charging you 5 cents for email, and The American Cancer Society will donate money for sending around your email.

I guess you could make a case for which is worse. Both are bad in that they give out your email to spammers (who are usually behind all these anyway). The moment you get these, you should immediately email the person back and tell them that you are NOT part of the brigade and PLEASE remove your address from all the future crap they plan to send. Also, send them a link to snopes.com to show just how foolish they are (you really thought Oliver North was smart enough forecast Osama Bin Laden and then call out Al Gore in a Senate hearing?)

Stop these people. Stop them now.