They still miss Richt in Tally.

I’ve recently come across the FSU blog Tomahawk Nation, and a couple of posts I’ve read there puzzle me, to say the least.

The first of these was a post in response to my post about the new NCAA recruiting rule that limits multi-coach evaluation visits.  Here’s the part that caught my eye:

… This is a big deal because schools, including FSU, will send 4 or 5 coaches (UGA was sending 7, the maximum allowable under the previous rule) to see a kid at the same time to show how interested in him they are. Georgia and Auburn, however, are the prime suspects here[Emphasis added.]

Say what?  The part of Weiszer’s article I cited in my post made it pretty clear that the rule had Auburn’s Tiger Prowl as its target, and if the FSU poster had bothered to click on the link in my post to read the article in its entirety, he would have found this tidbit:

… The rationale for the rule, according to the draft of the proposal that was approved by the NCAA Legislative Council on April 13 before it became final Thursday, specifically mentioned the use of limos and “extravagant buses.”

Georgia’s never made use of those, of course.  But this is even better.

… Six Georgia assistant coaches were at Carver on Monday without the fancy ride, but coach Mark Richt got word by Thursday evening that his staff won’t be allowed to do that anymore because of the NCAA’s action.

“We knew if we were going to do it in numbers at a certain place, we better do it right now,” Richt said before speaking to the Greater Augusta Bulldog Club, “but next week was kind of a time for everyone to disperse anyway. So it worked out about how we hoped it would.”

In other words, Richt knew the rule was coming down and decided to get his licks in while he still had the chance.  I dunno – maybe the NCAA has fortune tellers on its staff now who foretold that Georgia was going to do this, which is how Richt’s staff became “prime suspects”.  Because otherwise, this sounds like it’s being pulled completely out of a certain blogger’s arse.

But that’s mild compared to the pompous bullshit contained in this post, which purports to be an analysis of why the LeMay commitment is good news for Florida State.  It’s equal parts arrogance and ignorance, as this excerpt indicates:

… But this announcement has positive implications for Florida State.

The most important of these is that it affords Mark Richt greater job security.  Mark Richt is a good coach, but good is the enemy of great and FSU fans should realize that Richt at Georgia is a very good thing for the ‘Noles.  Florida State does very well recruiting in South Georgia and routinely beats UGA for players within a 40 mile radius of Valdosta.  Richt might talk a big game and could even win a few battles against the ‘Noles given his renewed efforts in the region.  But consistently beating the state school for highly prized prospects in Georgia is an important part of the ‘Noles plan to get back on top.  And Richt is much, much better than the alternative.  What’s the alternative, you ask?  Why none other than Kirby Smart of Alabama.

Smart is considered the heir apparent to the UGA job whenever Georgia decides that Richt simply won’t do.  Granted, the Dawgs seem pretty content winning 8-9 games per season, but most consider Richt on the hot seat.  Smart is a beloved figure at Georgia…

There’s a whole bunch there that needs being taken down a notch or two, but in response to your last point, I think the Smart train done left the station, pal.  Toying with a $750K/year offer from your alma mater and then turning it down has a way of souring relations.  And who is this “most” you speak of with regard to a hot seat?

Can I offer a small piece of advice here, from one blogger to another?  If you’re going to act like you’re particularly informed about the situation in Athens, it might help to spell the name of the subject of your post correctly.

Oh, and don’t miss the comments that follow there, as the fun goes on.

38 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football, The Blogosphere

38 responses to “They still miss Richt in Tally.

  1. MESSENGER

    What “LeMay commitment” you D.A. Bluto

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  2. Brandon

    Sounds like Florida State’s version of the AJC blogs

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  3. JasonC

    I understand that Bowden was Richt’s mentor, but I don’t know if one of the lessons that Richt wanted to pick up was outstaying his welcome. Although Bobby did his best to teach it.

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  4. Marie

    Richt has NOT overstayed his welcome. He is welcome here many more years. And Smart is NOT invited to UGA anymore.

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  5. Hogbody Spradlin

    That post is sophomoric. The first comment over there hit the nail on the head: the post would make good first year law school writing. False premises and superficial conclusions.

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  6. S.E. Dawg

    Marie, I agree, K. Smart burned some bridges. In the end I think we got the right man for DC, but only time will tell.

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  7. MESSENGER

    I have no idea how much more plain the man can be. He is in Church. He cannot lie there.

    LeMay explained his philosophy of naming a “leader” rather than calling it a “verbal commitment.”

    “The word commitment has become kind of watered-down in recent years because so many people change their minds and de-commit and coaches leave like they did at Tennessee and USC,” LeMay said. “But it still holds a lot of value for me.”

    Then, I come in here and Low and Behold, you have said what he CANNOT.

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  8. MESSENGER

    D. A.

    Bluto

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    • ChicagoDawg

      More witty repartee. Clever.

      To quote the great philosopher Ron Burgundy….’compelling and rich’

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  9. LRGK

    Now now Senator:

    Concerning your Mess:

    Res Ipsa Loquitor.

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  10. thewhiteshark

    What I find interesting is the determination that Richt is a mediocre coach despite the success he has had at Georgia. Is he perfect — no– nobody is. Saban’s a great coach but go look at all the seasons he’s had where he didn’t win ten games. Time will tell, but I believe Richt has fixed the most glaring problem with the team, which was defense. A great defense makes up for a host of other issues. A head coach is only as good as his coordinators. Unfortunately, CWM was in over his head. Richt should have cut him loose much sooner but I know that was an exceedingly difficult personal decision. I’m glad for him that he’s gotten that monkey off his back. If the defense gets fixed the Dawgs will be plenty dangerous. I’m optimistic but we shall see. Coach long enough and you will have some down stretches — even Bear Bryant did. What if Alabama had fired him in after the 1970 season?

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    • Mayor of Dawgtown

      Dooley, too. What if UGA had fired Dooley after back to back 5 win seasons in ’69 and 70?

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  11. Joe

    Good Lord,
    I think we have had two 8 win seasons and one nine win season since CMR has been in Athens, the rest (7 seasons) are 10+ win seasons and a #2 finish in 07. I am willing to bet that FSU over that same period of time is VERY mediocre. All you have to do is look at what FSU has done post-Richt and that pretty much sums it up. Nothing.

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    • Macallanlover

      Amazing how an average of 10 wins a year, 4 Eastern titles, and 2 SEC titles for the past nine years (in what has to be the golden age of the SEC) can be considered “settling” for mediocrity.

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    • NCT

      FSU’s year-by-year records, a selected time period:

      1981: 6-5
      1982: 9-3
      1983: 8-4
      1984: 7-3-2*
      [Richt arrives as volunteer assistant]
      1985: 9-3
      1986: 7-4-1
      1987: 11-1
      1988: 11-1
      [Richt leaves for OC @ E Carolina]
      1989: 10-2
      [Richt returns, QB coach then OC]
      1990: 10-2
      1991: 11-2
      1992: 11-1
      1993: 12-1
      1994: 10-1-1
      1995: 10-2
      1996: 11-1
      1997: 11-1
      1998: 11-2
      1999: 12-0
      2000: 11-2
      [Richt leaves for his dream job (record)]
      2001: 8-4 (8-4)
      2002: 9-5** (13-1)
      2003: 10-3 (11-3)
      2004: 9-3 (10-2)
      2005: 8-5 (10-3)
      2006: 7-6 (9-4)
      2007: 7-6 (11-2)
      2008: 9-4 (10-3)
      2009: 7-6 (8-5)

      *Includes tie to UGA in Citrus Bowl
      **Includes loss to UGA in Sugar Bowl
      =========
      Now, I don’t mean to get all post hoc ergo propter hoc with this, but that’s some pretty stark coincidences going on. Hell yeah, they miss Richt in Tally. And when have we had the opportunity to become content with 8-9 win seasons under Richt?

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      • Mayor of Dawgtown

        +1. Well said.

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      • DSLDawg

        Not to minimize the effect of CMR leaving but FSU graduated several coaches around that time (Chuck Amato ’99 & Brad Scott ’93). I think Scott’s departure in ’93 to USC had more effect than Amato’s as he was a very effective recruiter for FSU.

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  12. DawgBiscuit

    FSU hasn’t been relevant since the Clinton administration (which coincidentally is about the time CMR left), so why, exactly, we should care what they think? They’re not even the top program in their own state, as both Miami and UF own winning records against them, so maybe they have more pressing issues than what UGA is doing.

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  13. To save Time: Read what thewhite shark, Joe, & macallanlover said: I agree.
    Also when an elite QB like Lemay says he is coming to Athens If CMR & CMB are still there, I then believe the Program is in good hands & the future does indeed look bright.

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  14. Wow, Senator. When it was just “MESSENGER” throwing smack at you, I wasn’t too worried. But when “LRGK” started doing the same, that’s when I knew your goose was cooked. TWO COMMENTERS (who could not possibly be the same person, because they have different names) exposing your ignorance? You might as well quit blogging right now. Shark, jumped.

    And we might as well fire Richt and give up trying to recruit anyone from south Georgia, because FSU’s 2010 national title is in. The. Bag.

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  15. Rum-Dawg Millionaire

    There are just so many things that are blatantly false in that FSU bloggers post…. I don’t know if it’s even worth addressing. Where would one begin? I mean, it’s so far out there, I do believe it’s past the orbit of the South Cackalacky fan blogs.

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  16. Lee

    What is the most arrogant about the whole thing is he goes on and on about “good being the enemy of great” for about 50+ comments after the post and i’m thinking, hold on…he thinks cause he’s had some better success at recruiting for one year and has a new coach that hasn’t started his first year as the top man that all of a sudden he has nothing to worry about? Like all of a sudden FSU is the class of the ACC and will challenge UF and start going to BCS games. Dude why don’t you try letting the season play out before you assume you’ve risen from the ashes of “forgotten” to not being worried about if a coach stays at a rival school?

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  17. Ricky McDurden

    The Kool Aid in the redneck riviera has to grow stale at some point, right?

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  18. Dovedawg

    all true Dawgs are happy with Coach Richt and the job he has done in Athens with our Dawgs. Great seasons every year are not realistic. So let’s just lose the comments about him being on the hot seat and support a great coach, and a great team. Enjoy quality while we have it!

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  19. Vious

    Why in god’s name would anyone at FSU say anything even remotely negative about Richt or UGA?

    FSU has become a laughingstock program since Richt left

    FSU is irrelevant nationally now…..which kills them

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  20. Good lord, that is a horrible bunch. With 2, count them 2, 8 win seasons in 9 years, there is little “complacency” towards mediocrity here at UGA. Anyone who actually followed UGA-related weblogs would know that.

    I write about other teams on my blog as well, but I never characterize my statements as having any factual basis unless I have a real source inside the program to back them up (i.e., I don’t.). How in the hell could the people at TN claim we’re getting ready to throw off Richt for Smart? Until 2 years ago, I didn’t eve know who Smart WAS. Truthfully, Richt takes so little negative impact from local media, it WOULD be nice if ever once in awhile people blamed him for things, but a quick glance at last year’s media coverage shows that Bobo and CWM got almost all the flack for the breakdowns; in Bobo’s case the complaints weren’t even warranted! Get your facts straight before you attack us, TN.

    And to assert that UGA fans root for opponents? HA. I haven’t pulled for UF in a single game they’ve played, ever. I bought a freaking flag with a meteor on it so when UF plays Tennessee or Auburn, I can root for the death of all involved. So take your “SEC homerism” claims back to where ever it is you got them from. If Florida played the Taliban, I MIGHT root for the Taliban.

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    • 81Dog

      Bite your tongue, Will. If the Gators tee it up against the Taliban, I’ll be leading cheers in Urdu and/or Pashto. It’s like most any other out of conference matchup: the enemy of my enemy is my friend, at least for the day.

      The real quandary continues to be Meyer versus Spurrier; since it usually would directly benefit UGA for Florida to use, I guess I would pull for a S Carolina win, but I always feel kind of dirty afterwards.

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  21. Sorry Guys, Every year I pull for UF to have 0 conf. wins & Tenn. to have 1 conf. win – against the Gators.
    I actually pull for the Cocks against UF & Tenn. I also pull for FSU over the Gators. That’s just me.

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  22. Cojones

    Senator- How about introducing legislation to change the last part of that country town’s name from “hassee” to “whacker”?

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  23. Mike

    They may indeed miss him in Tallahassee. But Gators everywhere are quite happy he ended up at UGA

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  24. Pingback: Are the Florida State Seminoles Better Off That Mark Richt is the Head Coach of the Georgia Bulldogs? « MrSEC.com

  25. Mike

    Mark Richt, good but not great. People are actually happy with the 2 game winning streak vs Vandy and Tenn. Sums up the expectations at UGA.

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