Richt: Class of the game

by bandit461 on Nov 18, 2008 3:33 PM EST Comment 3 comments

In this day and age of bling and pot use, Mark richt and the team he fields year after year follow the lead of a truly classy man. Not only is Coach Richt a strong man of faith and family, he truly cares about his players.

No one would say Georgia is perfect but after the length of his tenure thus far, he has nipped problem players in the bud and the players like Moreno that he chooses are a great example of his brilliance. Moreno came from a family where an education wasn't a blessing, it was expected. His siblings have advanced degrees and his work ethic makes up for his size. He may not be the crushing 240 lb ideal tailback but I have seen him leave many a player looking up as he has run them over.

Georgia should get credit when it's due and this year, they may have lost to 2 teams, 1 which will be the BCS champ but Georgia is not the most experienced team in the country and the schedule was not a free one either. Georgia just looked to their coach and the team he is surrounded with and went to work. Mostly working a full 4 quarters until the whistle blows and has a respectable record to show for it.

Good job Georgia, and although I like my Dawgs, the class of the SEC is showing up in Vandy- high academic standards but a strong team; Kentucky- little behind on recruiting but plays from the heart of another classy coach.

It's good to see the SEC be great without the best teams money can buy and do it with the best teams hard work and ethics can achieve. Although many across the country say many things, no team can honestly say that they want an SEC team on their schedule at years end when they are undefeated because the SEC is special- they can line any team up on any Saturday and beat a team from another conference on any Saturday -each week in the SEC is a bowl week- no other conference plays to this level. Period.

Once again, the Dawgs have my heart but the SEC keeps my attention and although they won't admit it, they keep the attention of every team in the country each week and makes the Texas Techs and the Oklahomas pray they don't have to play a healthy Florida or Alabama for the "BCS Title." They know it won't come easy and in big games, class and hard work will beat a big name any day. Hunker Down Dawgs and go SEC

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Class of the game

I agree. Mark Richt is a role model for his young players. However, he lacks something in leadership to win the big games. He has been at Ga. for how many years now? Great we beat some SEC schools. He has to be devastated with the way his team has played this year !!! When that happens it’s time to reevaluate the people he has around him. I’ll always be a Richt fan. I think he has to make some changes in his staff to get him the credit he deserves.

by toothdoctor on Nov 19, 2008 7:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't buy the "can't win the big one" argument

At the same point in their respective careers, Vince Dooley, Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno, Mack Brown, and Tom Osborne hadn’t won national titles, either. What those coaches’ careers proved is that, when you win ten or eleven games consistently, you eventually get the bounce that turns 11-2 into 13-0.

Mark Richt is now in his eighth season at Georgia. By the end of his eighth season in Athens, Wally Butts had guided Georgia to two S.E.C. championships, four seasons of two or fewer losses, an Orange Bowl, a Rose Bowl, and a Sugar Bowl. By the end of his eighth season in Athens, Vince Dooley had guided Georgia to two S.E.C. championships, three seasons of two or fewer losses, a Cotton Bowl, a Sugar Bowl, and a Gator Bowl.

Mark Richt already has guided Georgia to two S.E.C. championships, three seasons of two or fewer losses, and three Sugar Bowls. A record-setting eighth straight win over Georgia Tech likely would add a second Capital One Bowl to that list and a win in Orlando would mark his fourth season of two or fewer losses.

Do changes need to be made? Yes . . . but the Mark Richt who surrendered the play-calling duties, brought in Stacy Searels, and became more of an emotional leader and motivator has demonstrated more than most successful coaches the ability to make changes.

His loyalty to his staff may be too great to allow him to fire a friend who also is an employee, and this is a legitimate concern which you reasonably raise, but saying “we beat some SEC schools” is selling him substantially short. He’s 48-19 in conference games. Winning in the S.E.C. at almost a 72 per cent clip is indicative of something positive, including the selection of some capable assistants.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 19, 2008 7:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Can't win the big one"

Has become just another tired cliche in the sports world.
Richt is 2-1 in Championship Games and 5-2 in Bowl Games. That’s a pretty good record if you ask me.

After the SEC Championship Game next month, people can claim that either Urban Meyer or Nick Saban “can’t win the big one…..”

by skigator93 on Nov 20, 2008 10:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs