What's not to likeBy Ken Burger (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, July 25, 2008
 HOOVER, Ala. — Some people don't like Georgia, but nobody doesn't like Mark Richt. Since Richt took the UGA head coaching job in 2001, many people have had a chance to observe this man up close and all have come to the same conclusion — he's a genuinely nice guy. Even those whose loyalties lie with other Southeastern Conference schools, usually admit that even if they don't like the Bulldogs, they like Georgia's coach. That's because Richt is what he is. "If I could create a head coach to work with on a daily basis, it would be Mark Richt," Georgia's longtime sports information director Claude Felton said here this week at the SEC Kickoff meetings. "The only problem is that sometimes he spends too much time talking to people and we get off schedule." Richt, in his eighth season in Athens, is known to sit and sign autographs and chat with fans for as long as it takes after booster club meetings, something some high-profile coaches are too busy to do. And when fans watch Georgia play on television, what they consistently see on the sidelines is a cool, calm and collected coach who never seems to get flustered, mad or exasperated. So, how, and why, does he do that? Love your neighbor "The bottom line is that the core of my decision making is my belief system," Richt said here Thursday when asked about his image. "That usually determines how you make your decisions. 
Butch Dill Georgia football coach Mark Richt speaks to the media at the SEC football media days in Hoover, Ala., on Thursday. Related story"I believe there is a God and I'm under His authority and my goal is to live a life that would please Him." So God wants him to stand around signing little UGA football helmets until the last person is satisfied? Richt smiles at the notion and says, "When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment he said, 'love the Lord God above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself.' "So if you're loving your neighbor as yourself, then you can see where these people came and spent time and spent money to bring an item or their son or their daughter or somebody who's sick to be with you. "Well, you want to try and bless them the best way you can, if all it takes is a little something extra, then I'll do it. "And, usually when I go home from an event all my family's asleep anyway. So if I go home an hour later, so what?" No panic button It doesn't hurt that Richt is a handsome guy who handles himself with a practiced poise, on and off the field. In seven seasons at Georgia, he's compiled a record of 72-19, won two SEC championships and finished second in BCS rankings last year. This season his Bulldogs arrive with even higher expectations, picked by many as the team to beat for the national championship. But the unflappable 48-year-old coach never shows the stress of such a big-time job, even when things aren't going well "Between The Hedges." "When I started head coaching and I was calling plays, my goal was to stay very calm," he said. "My thinking was better when I was calm. "Now that I'm not calling plays, people are seeing a little bit more of my personality, because I've got a little more freedom to do that. But for the most part, my goal on game day is to try and figure out a way to win. "When negative situations arise — and you know they're going to happen because the other team's good too — instead of getting mad or trying to figure out who to blame, my goal is to figure out where we are and what are we going to do now to win. "That's always been my focus and perhaps that's what keeps me from looking like I'm pushing some kind of panic button." Cool, calm, collected Playing in the rugged SEC East has given Richt a perspective that serves him well, whether he's at home in Sanford Stadium or coaching in Jacksonville against Florida or Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. If this year is anything like last year, every conference game has the potential to be a gut-wrenching, nail-biter that takes players, coaches and fans to the emotional limit. That, Richt says, is what you have to prepare for every time you take the field. "I always expect a 60-minute fight and that it could go to overtime," Richt said. "Before the game, I'm thinking about what I'm going to call in overtime, so when it happens I'm not running around wondering what happened." That cool, calm and collected demeanor, along with Richt's religious beliefs, have made him a very popular figure among Bulldogs fans. And, with football fans everywhere. Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598. |
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Comments
This article has 25 comment(s)
Posted by theronce on July 25, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, he does seem to be a good man and a pretty good coach. He shares some of the good qualities that Tommy Bowden does. However, over the years I have been to many Clemson-Georgia gaves, home and away. Their team, however, seems to have the highest proportion of poor fans...rude and crude, simply full of vile language and disrespect for other people, male or female, young or old...and will instigate a fight at the drop of a hat. Actually, most of the fans of our biggest rival, Carolina, are for the most part a lot of fun to banter with and have some fun. I can usually get nastier responses from some fans here than at a game. But, Georgia, they have a good program and a good coach, and they need to police some of their fans' acts. I'll temper this by adding that I know that I have fellow supporters that embarass me from time to time, and I have called a few down myself. A large number of those Georgia fans need to examine their coaches example and emulate it.
Posted by RW on July 25, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
theronce,
Right about Richt and Georgia's fan.The fans are merciless..not the students..the adults!
Posted by sbs920 on July 25, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow theronce,
comparing little tammy to Richt ? how so?
Posted by coachken on July 25, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been to most of the ACC stadiums and several in the SEC. I have never been more concerned for my safety than I was at Georgia. I will never subject me or mine to that vulgar invironment again. I agree, it was far more the adults more than the students.
Posted by saltersf1 on July 25, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UGA fans may be a little more rougth around the edges than most. I can admit that as a GaTech/Dawg fan. Every team has piss pore fans, its the nature of the game. But Im sorry I've been to Carolina vs Clemson games at the fair grounds and that is just as bad. Its the only place I've been where the fans throw beer bottles at the opposing fans after a loss or even a win. It gets pretty interesting. Some of you might have trouble believing this but I have the hospital bills to prove it. Don't get me wrong I like both teams but you won't find me at another USC Clemson game anytime soon. Rival games are always the games that bring out that sort of fan, and if I am not mistaken the Clemson Georgia game has always been a good rivalry game. So if you just cant handle the ******* fans then watch the game on TV, I do.
Posted by tigerfan07 on July 25, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What side of the rivalry harmed you? No. 1 you were in Columbia at the upside down "cock"roach. Sorry that happened though.
Posted by saltersf1 on July 25, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I was at the game with some friends who went to Clemson so I was obviously wearing orange. After the game we left our tailgate to head home and as my date and I were walking around the fairgrounds a truck load of USC fans drove by heckling at us and before I knew it I ended up taking a bottle to head and was layed out in the gutter. I guess there is a bright side to the story, Carolina lost.
Posted by JAMJOH on July 25, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of you people need to get a life. This is a nice article about a good coach, and you have to turn it into something about clemson carolina. Seriously, don't you have anything better to do than think about how horrible carolina is. Don't go to games if you can't handle the crowd.
Posted by g4driver on July 25, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everybody, come on jump on the bandwagon to badmouth Georgia fans. Please!
You've obviously never been to an LSU or Florida game.
Georgia fans are highly respectable IMO compared to these two schools. Ask Auburn or Tenn fans what they think of UGA fans in general? Bet you get a different answer.
It seems the SEC has three categories of fans and two classes.
Category:
Student, Alumnus, and General Fan (who never went to the said school.)
Class: Disrespectful jack!&& or Respectful loyal follower.
Nothing worst than a loud-mouthed, vulgar & obnoxious drunk college football fan. Well maybe not. NASCAR fans quickly come to mind. ;)
Posted by saltersf1 on July 25, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
JAMJOH you know your right about this being a good article, Im going to go ahead and predict that Mark Richt gets coach of the year. He was what runner up the past 2-3 years. And speaking of great fans, go try out HOME TEAM BBQ during a UGA football game. Its a blast, and Im more a GA Tech than UGA fan so thats saying something. Supposidly there opening another HOME TEAM BBQ on Sullvians Island as well.
Posted by yeayea on July 25, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
go aj!
Posted by lowcountrydawg on July 25, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a UGA fan. Mark Richt is a super guy and the best coach we've had since Vince Dooley...he accompanied 4 other coaches earlier this year to the "sandbox" to visit our fighting men and women. He doesn't get the pub like some SEC or other coaches around the NCAA because he doesn't seek it out. He doesn't talk down about other school like some coaches do...ie ("Darth Visor" or "Urban Cryer")
He's not bigger than the team, the school, etc...
UGA is blessed to have a coach like Mark Richt.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by sbs920 on July 25, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lowcountrydawg, I agree. Richt is a great individual.
Unlike some other coach who does promos for on anti female abuse
yet allows his player, accused of just that, on the team until his court date of 6 to 8 months down the road. . .
after football season of course. . .
Posted by Gamecockfan1214 on July 25, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Richt a great coach. You wanna talk about carolina clemson game. Last year my best friend got attacked by a bunch of taters and they stabbed him 3 times. He did absolutley nothing to them. Well i guess thats ok when players are allowed to beat their g/f and still play our players drink underage big deal.
Posted by UrGatorbait on July 25, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Richt is telling porkies on who really orchestrated the on field celebration and claimed ignorance of it's origins. He's a good coach though but not to the level of Dooley IMO. Dooley was evil....
That being said, all schools have their fans that are better left home and sober on saturdays than attending a game.
It's funny listening to UGaly fans think their school won the MNC after beating UF last year. It's great to be the yardstick that UGaly measures their success by. Ahh 15-3 :) Let them enjoy the pre-season number 1. They look great on paper, return a good defense and the RB tandem is scary. If the WR could hold onto the ball they might be downright dangerous IMO. If our front 7 show up this time, it'll be a fun game.
It'll be all the more sweeter come Nov 2.(16-3) ;-)
Salters you should know the chikins and UGaly hate teams in Orange, it gives them the vapors.
That being said the National champs will come from the SEC or PAC 10 this year.
Is it football season yet?
Posted by tigerfan07 on July 25, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't wait for the season to get here!
Posted by OldSalt on July 25, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sometimes all the trash talk makes me wonder if I should have gone to a much smaller school where "fans" who never went there and students/alums with nothing better to do than to get drunk don't show up at games. I wonder if PC and Newberry have this problem?
Like theronce, I enjoy the banter between CU and USC folks - especially if it's with people I know and it's good natured. Unfortunately, more and more "fans" are using nominal school allegiances to compensate for something else that a football game can never fix.
Posted by rebel1 on July 25, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who is stupid enough to try to compare tiggers with the bulldogs and tammy with RICHT. tammy couldnt wear his jock and puttykats couldnt play in the SEC. Give me a break. you puttykats need to wake up and live in the real world. BTW you notice the puttykats pick 2 of the weakeast teams in the sec to play,ALA and USC. Hey, why not fla, ga, lsu, or even tenn. I think we all know why tammy sch the games he sch. I have to say again, tammy/ Richt and puttykats/ ga, GIVE ME A BREAK. You guys keep dreaming!!!!!
Posted by fantasy5 on July 25, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sbs/rebel, take your heads outta your arse. It just so happens Richt and Tommy are close friends. I don't think Richt, being the man that he is, would allow his son to play for someone like you portray Bowden to be if he thought Bowden was a bad person. He also wouldn't be close with Bowden if he thought poorly of him. At least we didn't have to lure our coach to a hell hole like Columbia by offering him a membership at Augusta Nat'l. Thats good character right there. SOS is an A&&hole and you probably thought so too until he became your "savior" in Cola. And about whomwe pick to play, unfortunately these schedules weren't decided on yesterday smartguy. These games were planned years ago w/ no idea where any of the programs would be. We have UGA and Auburn on our schedules in a few years, but we can't do anything about that right this minute, and hell, its a possibility that either of those two programs could be rebuilding when we play them too. Also, we've played USC for 100+ years, why would we stop now, especially when 65% of the time we can bank on a W.
Posted by Rebel_Yell on July 25, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
> 65%. THE TIGS GET 6 OUT OF TEN USSUALLY. NOT ALL THAT DOMINANT IMO. IF WE TOOK OUT THE CHEATING YEARS, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 50/50. AND I VOTE FOR THE THUGGER FANS BEING THE WORSE--THEY ARE JUST SO OBNOXIOUS TOWARDS S.CAR FANS. BERGER SUCKS--WHAT A STUPID ARTICLE ABOUT HIS FAVORITE TEAM.
Posted by fjms on July 25, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If we took out the cheating years we would be 50/50. Give me a break redneck! Why don't we take out the cheating years of the shamecocks. You guys are delusional.
Posted by FF40212 on July 25, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On a personal note, the day after the SSS fire, I called the UGA Football office to inform Coach Richt that Louis Mulkey was one of the FFs. His office said that he was on a mission trip in Honduras and that they would try to get him the message.
Around midnight that night, he called my cell phone from Honduras and wanted more information on what had happened. A couple of days later, he was at the memorial service in Summerville along with another UGA coach.
I am not a UGA fan (I am 100% Clemson), but I AM a Mark Richt fan.
He is a Christian and a top notch man in my book....
Posted by deputy216 on July 25, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was able to meet Mark Richt at a Macon touchdown club meeting,and he was kind enough to sign a few things.As you can tell,i am fan of the Georgia Bulldogs,and yes i feel bleesed to have a fine coach who is the real deal.GO DAWGS.
Posted by PNWDawg on July 25, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It’s refreshing to hear a positive story about Richt given the controversy around the GA/FL game seems to be rearing its ugly head again. I find it interesting that he makes ONE questionable move, which he later apologized for, and suddenly there’s a witch hunt. Meyer needs to move on. If it bothered him so much maybe he shouldn’t have let Knowshon run the ball down his throat. And I can’t tell you how tired I am, UrGatorbait, of hearing about only a portion of the GA/FL series record that suits your interest. What’s funny is even with the recent string of FL victories GA still has the better record. How about this record: 1-0. We’re undefeated against FL. Wahoo! As for the fan comments, well I think several of you pointed out every school has its fair share of poor fans. To lump an entire schools fans together to characterize them is just beyond asinine.
Posted by youmanyo on July 25, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
65% and improving every decade . I went to the Clemson usc game last year and had a great time and I though fans of both schools were great overall , a few idiots here and there ( I am sure redneck 1 was one of them ) but overall a great time . As far as Mark Richt cant help but love the guy he seems to be a first class guy .