Driving home yesterday, I was listening to Pollack and Bell on the radio. Bell was applying his usual clown car shtick to the “Coach Richt is too nice/spiritual to be a good head coach anymore” meme that’s all the rage these days while Pollack was pointing out that the Mark Richt he knows is a very competitive guy.
Then Pollack went on to talk about Brian VanGorder. BVG at Georgia was as intense inside at work as he was on the field, doing the whole cot in the office thing. One story Pollack told is pretty revealing. BVG prepared for a game against Kentucky by reviewing the game film of every match Kentucky had played, with one left to go, against Louisville. For that late night film session, VanGorder invited defensive players to join him to watch the tape.
Kentucky ran 74 plays from scrimmage in that game they watched. According to Pollack, VanGorder correctly called 70 of the 74 plays, based on down, distance and formation. Not too shabby.
I wonder if Martinez ever did that.
Get The Picture 
If Mark Richt really is too nice to be a tough guy when it’s warranted (for the record, I don’t buy into that meme), then I’m of the mind as long as he has those to fill that role on his staff, then it’s probably ok. He’s got Coach T who has turned out to be as tough as nails. Grantham seems to have a bit of BVG’s kind of intensity. I’m not sure Martinez lacked intensity, he just couldn’t quite get to where they needed to be. But back to my primary point, I just don’t buy into the meme that Richt even has to be the ‘intensity guy’ on the team to be a good head coach.
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Also, Mark Richt’s not too nice of a guy to be a tough guy when it’s warranted. This is a myth imagined by message boards and perpetuated by bloggers and writers who have never had a one-on-one conversation with the man.
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Agreed. Didn’t mean to imply I buy into him as a passive kind of coach.
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I believe Coach Martinez employed the “view but don’t watch” style of film-study.
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Also known as the “four slides on a View-Master” approach…
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I know no one will believe me, and they shouldn’t really, but I know an student assistant at another SEC school who’s coaches figured out Martinez’s signals. He was in the booth with them. Talked about it for two years. He was being played. They even shared what they learned with a least one other school.
Not as game changing as figuring out what the offense is going to do…but a nice advantage to have.
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Willie did not have to call the play right as long as the players executed.
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Willie just spun his “Price is right” style defensive call wheel and whatever it landed on was the call.
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Martinez was overmatched in many games after some of the superstar-level talent left town. However, I will say that his two game plans against Paul Johnson were excellent. He knew what was coming and kept it more or less in check save for that 3rd quarter in the 2008 game. Even then, you can chalk it up to player execution, because our players were in the right spots to make a play.
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How tough is it to know what Paul Johnson is going to run? And they scored 45 against us. 45!!!
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Bad tackling and poor angles.
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Execution, sir.
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Also, spending 90% of the season playing one NT, and an undersized one at that, for the entire game didn’t help.
Tech didn’t have a great Oline, but double-teaming a 290-lb. NT isn’t asking for too much.
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Bullshit. It was a scheme problem in 08 too against Tech.
http://thebirddog.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/other-peoples-rivalries-and-the-futility-of-defending-against-the-wishbone/
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After seeing this and reading the explanation I agree that we got out-schemed.
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Sure there were execution problems, but there were many, many plays with BVG at the helm where we had a bunch of players swarming whoever ended up with the ball. I don’t disagree that when BVG was still here guys that were in one on one situations made the play more often (coaching obviously) but there were also fewer one on one situations like those in 08 vs tech.
Maybe willie’s problem was he was also so scared of getting burned that he had people spying and in soft zones and rarely pressed receivers. Because of that we ended up with people being effectively out of the play standing around defending nothing or waiting to react to the offense. Hard to play 8 vs 11. Especially when you then have all those one on one situations paired with poor coaching.
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Maybe also Slick Willie couldn’t judge talent for shiznit, or coach them up for shiznit, like BVG. But on the other hand, damn him for leaving. BVG could have given us a few more years, while solidifying his credentials to be a HC. Who knows where we go with him. But, to me he is the arch villian in all this for jumping ship at the first sniff of a HC position. He was probably making at UGA nearly what he got at GSU, the Southern one, to be their HC. HE SHOULD HAVE STAYED.
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Thought he left to join the Jaguars staff as a LB coach.
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I thought he went to GSU then but I could have my sequence wrong, EITHER way.
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Jags firs (only stayed 1 year), then GSU (also stayed only 1 year) as I recall.
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This implies that there was more than a few plays he had at his disposal. I thought he was more likely guessing from a few options like in Tecmo Bowl, but really just calling the deep pass just to make sure he didn’t get burned deep. You have to play either the reverse or the fake reverse and cover the other side of the field with a stud linebacker. Everyone knows that.
#tecmobowlknowledgedropped
But, seriously, that’s pretty amazing by BVG. He truly belongs in the NFL. I hope Grantham can channel his inner-BVG and be as successful while at UGA.
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right–it’s not intensity that makes a good coach, even in a sport like football. bvg was intense, but his football iq was also off the damn charts. wille was intense. period. and that intensity without success (and, after a while, his players’ trust and respect) was just petulance.
damn, i’m still pissed off at willie for squandering that 2008 team!
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Nice Guy Richt causes problems by keeping friends on staff when they should be cut loose.
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Can’t deny some truth to this, but Richt is going to consider his entire staff ‘friends’. His relationship to Willie was certainly a little beyond that, but my point is I think Richt is going to give anyone on staff the same shot he gave Willie, and the same latitude and time to get the job done. His primary failure relating to Willie was in his initial evaluation of CWM’s ability to be a DC. I’ve always thought Richt was a pretty good evaluator of coaching talent, but he really missed on Martinez (as a DC) and that was the real problem.
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Always heard it was gonna be Martinez or Jancek. And I always heard really, really bad things about Jancek. Maybe it was the lesser of two evils. Though maybe Garner deserved a shot or maybe we shouldve hired a new LB coach/DC.
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Martinez just couldn’t get it done versus the top tier in the SEC.
he is a good guy, good coach – but not a good DC. Still get the Willies thinking about Cutcliffe putting the Ginsu on Martinez.
Grin…
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Let’s hope that Grantham is doing that. Also, it’s been my experience that men of religion are usually the toughest people. I know a few of them right now. So IMO you can kick that right out the window.
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My kids’ elementary school had a fall festival the day of the last Florida game we won. Fortunately, the wife of a good friend of mine knew what day it was and set aside a classroom as the “Georgia Tailgate Room” (sadly, no booze.)
I was sitting in the back watching during the fourth quarter and the guy next to me was quietly calling the plays as the teams lined up. He was remarkable!
One of kids wanted me to take her to the pony ride, and I was walking out, I commented to a buddy about the guy and his gift. My buddy said, “Yeah, van Gorder really knows his stuff.”
I would love to see what he would have done with that ’08 team …
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Wow…so that was VG?
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You were sitting next to BVG? Seriously?
You didn’t recognize him?!?!?!
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CWM believed in “making adjustments” and “going back to fundamentals” and “just better execution” AFTER the game was OVER. No need to watch film with that mentality.
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“Also, it’s been my experience that men of religion are usually the toughest people.”
The Knights Templar were pretty devout, as I recall.
Seriously, the idea that men of committed Christian faith are somehow soft is pretty stupid, and I say that as a mediocre Catholic, at best. Sergeant Dan Busch, one of the Delta Force members killed in Somalia, was known as a deeply religious man. He was also a stone badass who killed dozens of Somalis before he got shot himself.
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I think its CMR’s calm demeanor that brings up issues of faith. Had BVG displayed his devotion openly through charity work etc, I doubt people would question the influence of his faith on his coaching toughness.
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Richt is not a “nice guy”. Richt only gets this reputation because of his religion. People claiming that his holding on to staff for too long is evidence of him being a “nice guy” fail to see that maybe he is just stubborn as a mule. Look back to some of his press conference after losses. You can see an anger at the fans being held in check. An example of this is the “arena” comment after UT. Personally, I used to work in service industry in Athens and I have been told by several caterers that Richt is certainly not “nice”. They had nothing but good things to say about Kathryn and the Dooleys.
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“I have been told by several caterers that Richt is certainly not ‘nice’.”
Mr. Bendix, “How Dare You, Sir! How Dare You!”
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/countdown-with-keith-olbermann/805561/
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I love that bit!
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I have to quote Lewis here….. “I don‘t believe I would have told that“
I.”. Richt only gets this reputation because of his religion” — you think its easy being CMR with a religious conviction?
II.”People claiming that his holding on to staff for too long is evidence of him being a “nice guy” fail to see that maybe he is just stubborn as a mule. Look back to some of his press conference after losses. You can see an anger at the fans being held in check. “ Anger at the fans or anger at the loss? I’ve held on to people I’ve promoted too long. I just didn’t cut ‘em loose soon enough , but I promoted them outside their potential with every intention of them being successful. People excel at different rates. If your going to grow a company you have got to give people you believe in room. I believe this applies to a coaching staff as well?
III.“ Personally, I used to work in service industry in Athens and I have been told by several caterers that Richt is certainly not “nice”. They had nothing but good things to say about Kathryn and the Dooleys.”
Well I am in the construction and development industry. I have to say I slipped in and out of my carhartts into khaki more than once in a day. I’ve been in contractors trucks, vendors offices at the bank or with my attorney all in the same day. I have built in five GA counties, four states and three countries. That’s a lot of hats to wear but I’m sure it pales in comparison to what CMR wears. Yeah, I am not a patient person at times. My attorney has actually kicked me under the table during contract negotiations. I’m sure someone, somewhere thinks I am an ass. But to state that CMR ,based on your interface with him or hearsay, is not a nice man is just plain silly sir. And why make that comment?
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I. You think its easy being CMR with a religious conviction? No, it must be very difficult to publicize those convictions in a religious and deeply conservative state.
II. Anger at the fans or anger at the loss? Read the whole “arena” comments. Who is he calling out with that statement?
III. Why make that comment? Everyone is complaining about the soft nice-guy public image of Richt, and yet when I propose a different point of view I get ganged up on. What do you want? make up your mind.
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Your response was fair and I confess your early post struck a nerve. I am so tired of the hot seat meme and anything that parallels it. I understood the “arena” comment . There are armchair qb’s everywhere. I’m sure someone has told the Senator how to lawyer. I’ve been guilty of it. My attorney told me until I passed the bar he really didn’t require my help. I am sure he meant in that “arena”.
I don’t know that you were ganged up on. There were some with a different view. Should let you know something there.
I like this blog because of the people that post and because the Senator is pretty savy about football. Don’t feel ganged up on. I don’t think it’s meant that way. I hate a bully! I don’t believe there are any bullies here.
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No problems. There is nothing wrong with an exchange of views that is a little picante.
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Maybe your “service” just SUCKED. I call BULLSHIT.
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Maybe your “service” just SUCKED. I call BS.
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Sorry for the double coverage here, I thought I got non-Willied.
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Reilly, come on. You’re basing this on the opinion of random caterers? What about the countless good deeds that Richt has done, and made no personal mention of? What about adding that poor kid from Valdosta to the Georgia roster and getting a jersey made for him? What about visiting troops overseas?
Yeah, he’s a real prick.
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These people are not random. One of them is my wife. Richt does a lot of charitable things but that doesn’t mean that he is a pleasure to be around. Have you never met a person who does charity work but is a real prick to be around? There is a separation between personality and acts. Richt does nice, charitable acts but also has a shitty personality. So what does “nice guy” mean? Just acts, just personality, or both?
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“Richt does nice, charitable acts but also has a shitty personality.”
General Quarters! General Quarters! All Hands man your battlestations! This is not a drill. This is not a drill.
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So actually it’s your wife who is not pleased with the tenor of the CMR personality and you… being supportive of Mrs. TLOR concur? I can understand that. When my bride is unhappy with someone… it does make me wonder about them as well. Now rest assured that Coach Richt is a nice guy and gets to wear the white cowboy hat. Now we can all sleep better.
sigh……………
just sayin’
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I don’t care if Richt is nice, mean or wears a pink tutu. I just care about production. What I find interesting is that the fan base gets all in a tizzy about people claiming that Richt is soft due to his nice guy image yet when people attempt to sully that pristine white cowboy hat a tad they get in a tizzy about that as well. So, don’t say our coach is too nice but also don’t say that he isn’t nothing but nice.
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I’m with you — I don’t care about Richt’s faith any more than I care about whether he is nice or not. At the end of the day, I want a winner that runs a clean program. End of story.
Your original post caught my attention because I have waited on Richt myself when I was an undergrad. I worked in a nice place downtown and he came to the restaurant periodically to do dinners with boosters, players, etc. I wouldn’t say Richt is particularly unpleasant, but he certainly isn’t the friendly guy you see on camera when you’re waiting on him at a restaurant.
Do I care? No. Do I want to see him succeed? Yes.
I agree with Rielly — we seem to want to have it both ways as a fanbase. Nicest guy ever yet not so nice that he’s soft. Unless he’s a total P.O.S., I really don’t give a damn.
All I know is he better start winning football games again.
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Does he tip well?
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As a former server that is the ONLY point. What, he is supposed to ignore his guests, or family and kick it with you. I appreciated a table that was all business with me, as long as they tipped. I think your restaurant should have redshirted you.
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You should be talking to the Garcon, not me. I’ve never worked as a waiter but do wonder if Mark tipped or had his people take care of it which is why I asked the Garcon.
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Sorry, partner, that really wasn’t aimed at you.
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I was saying I don’t care if he spoke to them or not. Your question was the only one that mattered.
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That’s good. As a completely innocent bystander, I was afraid I was going to have go all good Samaritan and put a call into the football cops to keep you guys from tearing each other a new one
http://www.banditref.com/2011/06/eli-manning-and-peyton-manning-are.html
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Finally found an excuse to plug this, huh?
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Reference it, rather.
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Yeah. The site wasn’t familiar and I only found it this a.m. when looking for Mark being a nice guy stuff and stumbled across something on the site from Jan. 2011 hammering Mark and then saw the video. Peyton’s got a United Way career waiting whenever he hangs it up
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1603/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-united-way
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The Mannings are by far my favorite football personalities. Peyton especially brings the funny.
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He’s even got his own impersonator
like Elvis
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As I’ve said before, it would be worth every penny of $2 million per year to bring BVG back as DC. Heck, give him $3 mil if that’s what it takes.
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Would’ve totally supported this back when we were in the market for a DC. I’d be sad for the falcons to lose their DC, but I care more about UGA’s success. Hopefully we got a good one though. I think we’ll get a good idea of what Grantham’s made of this season. I know that the word on the street is he’s a great recruiter. Always heard BVG wasn’t – though he had a crazy eye for talent.
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UGa has never had a better head coach than Mark Richt….think about that.
Martinez was fired but nobody that knows him, especially BVG, would say he wasn’t a hard worker. When we were defeated by Tech in Athens, Martinez had a great scheme, it was poorly executed and helped led to his removal.
Grantham is also a great coach and will put together some great defenses very soon, but watch how we question his talents the first few seasons our D struggles, just like we have done to Goff, Bell, Donnan, – heck even Martinez and Van Halanger.
If Richt can get through these few tough years of bad records that are likely to be more prevalent with every other SEC program, given the SEC’s reign, he will help our program move into a dynasty that UGa has never seen by any previous coaching staff.
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If UGA could have just beaten Florida consistently the past 10 seasons UGA already would have been “a dynasty that UGa has never seen by any previous coaching staff.” Reverse the wins and losses in Jacksonville and UGA wins the BCSNC in 2002 and several more SEC East titles and probably more SEC Championships. basically UGA would have been FLA and FLA would have been UGA the past 10 years.
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That right there is the absolute truth.
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Adding to that, basically 2 choke games are what separate us from where we are today and having 2 MNCs.
2002 vs Florida
2007 vs Tenn
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Or alternatively in 2007 vs USCe.
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And a dynasty will also have some good seasons that come up short, you make my point. Keep barking for our dawgs.
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