“If you coach, you are likely to experience change.”

A clear-eyed look at Richt’s departure from Loran Smith.

125 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football

125 responses to ““If you coach, you are likely to experience change.”

  1. illini84

    How does he know what religion “for the most part” the people in the truck were?

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    • It’s a given that my people control the media. 😉

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    • Derek

      I think it should be pointed out that you don’t have to be of another belief system or an atheist to cringe at giving God credit for Michael Johnson catching that ball. God had nothing more to do with that than Terrence dropping the pass 2 weeks earlier. We can thank God for a whole lot of things and should; probably more than we do. However, winning football games shouldn’t be one of them. I think CMR even acknowledged at one point that he got carried away there.

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      • Derek, a Christian gives credit to God for everything in their life. CMR did not mean that God wanted UGA to win the game rather than AU. When I say a blessing I am thanking God for my food and all the blessings in my life. I am not thanking God for literally putting food on my table.

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        • Scorpio Jones, III

          “CMR did not mean that God wanted UGA to win the game rather than AU”
          Mmmm, Gurkha, I am not so sure about that…the term Christian has a wide interpretation.

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          • Normaltown Mike

            “the term Christian has a wide interpretation”

            Yes….greetings and salutations.

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          • Jeff

            A Christian is simply a follower of Jesus Christ. Period. “the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.” Acts 11:26

            Christians are what we are, followers of Jesus. People who are not Christians are the ones who try to “interpret” what we are, and most often get it wrong.

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            • gastr1

              We get a lot of help in that regard. There are an awful lot of interpretations about what Christians are and what they must believe and do in order to be such. I wish more of your kind held such a straightforward view about this–without constant fighting over what God really thinks, expects, says, and who follows “him” (does God have a gender?) correctly, etc., the world would be a better-off place.

              (In my opinion, of course. As they say–YMMV).

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              • Dog in Fla

                Some experts think that God is a woman with a good sense of humor

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              • Scorpio Jones, III

                With all respect, Jeff, I am a baptized Christian, but I don’t tell anybody else what their definition of that term should be. Many of the Nazis started out as Christians until they thought they knew, better than anyone else, what and who should define Christianity. My observation is that too many Christians confuse Christianity and Facism. My religion and my attitudes about it are between me and God, and nobody else.

                It is, for instance, obvious to me God had not interest in Georgia’s football team this year.

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        • Dog in Fla

          We are all working hard to put food on our family

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        • Derek

          I would agree but I think it was clumsily framed at best leading the listener to believe that he was thanking God for an SEC East title. I don’t doubt at all that wasn’t his intention, but as best as I can recall that’s what he said. I do recall CMR apologizing for it and it was never repeated so no need to be so damn defensive. And I don’t believe that Christians thank God for everything. There is no thank God:

          For 9/11
          For my child’s leukemia

          My main point is the unfortunate way in which Loran expressed this as if the issue would have been fine had the entire audience been Christian. We have enough “us” vs “them” in this world. Especially right now. The way Loran framed it, the only people displeased by CMR’s statement were Jews. Not only is it not true, we shouldn’t view these things through that lens. In other words we don’t have teacher led Christian prayer in public schools because of the feelings of the “others.” It’s because of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendement which represents and protects us all from the Government no matter what our faith or lack thereof. So the question is not WHO was offended but whether it was objectively offensive. I think it crossed the line and, despite my basking in the glory of the win, thought so at the time. And I’m neither a Jew, an atheist or a Muslim.

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          • I agree with most of what you said, but come on, you know I didn’t mean Christians thank God for the evil or tragedy in the world. I simply meant that as a Christian, I humbly thank God for all the blessings in my life and give Him full credit. I can see that what CMR said could be misunderstood by some and for that reason he should have avoided it.

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            • Debby Balcer

              Political correctness at its best. He simply thanked God for his blessing and people had to tear it apart because they don’t like the message. As a Christian I do not get upset when others express their praise to their God except when it is done to glorify evil. True religious tolerance would include allowing Christian to express their faith too.

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              • Dog in Fla

                Here’s a musical that will have even the boys in the CBS control truck singing along

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              • Derek

                Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P9TvZM8WFw

                What he said was: “I do want to give praise to my Lord and Savior FOR THIS MOMENT.”

                You say it’s just PC BS to complain? Then why did he say this afterwards:

                “I was overwhelmed by the journey God had taken me on,” Richt recalled Friday. “By no means was I saying, ‘Thank God for letting us win.”‘

                “I knew we had done something special,” Richt said, standing on the field at the Superdome before a morning practice. “But I offended some people. The last thing I wanted to do was offend anyone. I apologize for that.”

                CMR didn’t say it was PC BS. He said he was sorry and he did not mean to thank God for winning which he had done due a poor choice of words.

                And again, my main issue was not to re-hash 13 year old words that CMR apologized for, it was the Loran’s suggestion that that it was only the Jews who would find offense. It not true and its not an appropriate suggestion for him to have made.

                PC is often total and complete BS. People should be free to express themselves in whatever way they want and without interference. However, free speech never means “free ride.”

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                • Dog in Fla

                  “it was the Loran’s suggestion that that it was only the Jews who would find offense”

                  To be fair to Loran, it was only the Jews in the control truck.

                  The ones not in the truck were making money and renegotiating better deals for themselves

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                • gastr1

                  You’re a motherfucker, DiF. I see what you did there. LOL
                  (Can I say that on this blog?)

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                • Dog in Fla

                  🙂

                  Yes, you can say anything PTL and pass the biscuits

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                • Derek

                  That does make it better doesn’t it. NOBODY likes the control truck Jews! Aren’t they the ones with the tails? It’s my understanding that some Jews are almost just like real people. I’m pretty sure that there ain’t no Muslims like that tho. Sure would be an easier world if we was all white and Christian. Then we could go back to just hating the Irish! Those no good potato eating Papists!!

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                • Dog in Fla

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                • Dog in Fla

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                • “I want to give praise to my Lord…” That is what a Christian does when he receives a blessing in his life, he gives credit to his Lord. There is nothing wrong with that. He apologized because some people thought he was saying “Thank God for letting us win” and that offended some people, which is something he did not mean to do. If someone was offended by CMR it was because of their own lack of knowledge about what CMR meant. So yes, it was total PC BS to criticize Richt for his statement.

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                • Derek

                  Ok fine. I think by saying “for this moment” given the nature of the moment, he brought the confusion, no doubt unintended, on himself. However, even if you don’t want to agree that it was clumsily stated can we at least agree that Loran was wrong to associate those offended as just Jews in the control truck or is it PC BS to criticize that too?

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                • Gurkha Dawg

                  Yes, we can agreethat Loran was wrong about the Jews in the control truck. I was stunned to read that. It sounded like something that would be said in 1955 or something Archy Bunker would say. Aways a pleasure, Derek.

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      • Normaltown Mike

        Agreed Derek.

        Obama was a little known state Senator at that time and probably had little interest in the outcome of that game. 😉

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    • Dog in Fla

      He knew Les Moonves wouldn’t have it any other way

      http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/jews-in-the-media-hollywood/

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  2. Athens Dog

    A heartfelt overview……and rational. CMR is happy to be at Miami. I’m happy we have new life. Let’s move on.

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  3. Chadwick

    Gotta thank Loren for so eloquently writing what so many feel.

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  4. Tronan

    Loran rambled a bit, but on balance, that was pretty good.

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  5. jntiii

    Not sure that there are more McGarity supporters than detractors, but this is a fair review of the Richt era. I hope Loran won’t be writing another farewell for a long time.

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  6. Normaltown Mike

    “Harry Mehre, Joel Hunt, Wallace Butts, Johnny Griffith, Vince Dooley, Ray Goff, Jim Donnan and Mark Richt. Only one was not fired or forced out”

    Interesting point.

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    • Jeff

      And Wally Butts won a national championship. Go figure.

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      • GaskillDawg

        I am a big Wally Butts fan. He is really the guy who created the foundation for the modern passing offense. BUT, what hurt him was the 8 game GT winning streak and his drinking. There is a story that the 1959 SEC championship could have brought him a few more years but he squandered the good will by taking his girlfriend and not his wife on the team plane to the Orange Bowl. I have no idea if the girlfriend story was true or the taking her on the tam plane story was true, but the did get canned after a winning 1960 season and a win over Tech.

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    • Bulldog Joe

      Eight coaches in 87 years. A head coaching change is not a process Georgia goes through often.

      It’s not surprising our fans are divided now.

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  7. Jared S.

    Pablum. “I love Richt as much as anyone. He was everything – and I mean everything – we wanted in a coach. Minus a national championship. The question is whether, at the end of the day, the college game is simply about winning and losing. And the answer is, ‘Yeah! Duh!'”

    What a crock of crap. Am I excited that Georgia appears to be getting Kirby Smart, and do I think he’ll do wonders with/for the program? Yes. Do I think we’ll have a better chance and winning championships? Quite possibly. Maybe even probably. Do I think Georgia did the right thing by firing Richt, and that they’re correct in justifying their decision with the “this is just business – we gave him a chance (to win a national championship) and we decided he’d had long enough” mantra? No.

    But as has been said…. it’s a moot point now.

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    • Yep, I agree with you, Jared. The justification of the decision is where I think many are being disingenuous. We made the Alabama commitment for one year. Was the staff wrong for starting the 3rd string QB in the biggest game of the year? YES, it was a terrible decision I thought was dumb from the time it leaked. Does KS give us a better chance at winning championships? I don’t know. I’m willing to give him a chance. He will be measured against the yardstick of CMR’s first 5 years regardless of whether that’s fair or not. That’s 3 appearances in Atlanta with at least one SEC title.

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      • It’s more than that. It’s about passing the eye test. Everyone who watched Georgia football the past seven or 8 years could see – Georgia was soft. Lacked the edge to hang with tough teams. Beat up on sub-par competition but struggled against anyone approaching their talent level. More than wins and losses, Kirby needs to field a team that fights in big moments instead of laying down.

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        • Jared S.

          As my mother has reminded me my whole life: “Perception is reality.” But…. I think she’s being facetious when she says it.

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        • That’s a very fair assessment, CDNV. I would take 2012 out of that, but your point is taken.

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          • Will (The Other One)

            But even that year: no depth on defense, so the most rushing yds weren’t given up to the option teams, but Alabama.
            And sadly, that SCar game was over after the first quarter.

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        • Rebar

          LSU 2013 says “What”

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          • GaskillDawg

            As does the 2013 SEC Champ Auburn team that was saved by a 4th & 18 fluke with 25 seconds left, then had to defend inside the red zone on the last play of the game. We fought that one as hard as hell. Also the SEC’s Sugar Bowl representative lost its only regular season game to UGA in 2012.

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      • Jared S.

        You’re right – the expectations are high for Smart. He’s basically been hired to put is in the SECCG consistently. If he doesn’t get there in his first three years he’ll be considered a failure. Which is ridiculous in my opinion because I think a brand-new HC should be given at least 5 years to field a “great” team. But no one will ever ask me what I think, so….. yeah.

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        • kevinsauer

          why should he get 5 years? plenty of coaches have “won with the previous coaches players” in year one or two as is often noted as an excuse when they fail in year 4 or 5… And vice versa, or, coaches that fail early haven’t gotten “their kids” on campus yet.

          kibry’s not coming into an environment where he would need to run wildly different personal than what’s on campus, and there’s talent there. recruiting has not been an issue for us under richt. quite the opposite. most ppl think we fail to ‘coach em up’.

          now, the qb position in 2016? well, that’s another story 🙂

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  8. Big Max

    The Jewish thing was odd. I assume he thinks the people in the CBS truck outside the stadium were Jewish, that Jews control CBS, and that they were offended by any public show of Christian faith.

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    • Based on many, many years of reading and listening to Loren, a more reasonable and likely assumption is that he knew the guys in the truck, or had taken the time to speak with them (because, believe me, he will talk to anybody), and they were frank about their Jewishness, so why shouldn’t he be as well? I “hear” a chuckle in Loren’s writing voice in this remark that extends to everyone concerned, including Richt; not anything remotely anti-Semitic. That’s not Loren.

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    • No One Knows You're a Dawg

      I agree. There’s a vague anti-semitism to it.

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  9. 69Dawg

    This was as close as we will get to the true inside story. He probably smoothed out some of the warts but Loran’s got it.

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  10. Russ

    Wow, great article from Loran. I haven’t listened to him in years, but he used to ramble much more than that. Good insight.

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  11. Will Trane

    Good article considering the season of the year.
    Les Miles buyout.
    A highly regarded coach with a good record. Compassionate.
    Will not tolerate any bad activities by coaching staff.
    But willing to compensate an offensive coordinator who had to rely on a field goal kicker to put points on the board.
    Never fully defended his DC who was getting the team to at least a 9-3 record.
    Compassionate? Or too passive. For me, a man conflicted.
    Richt moved on. Time the Dawg base to do the same. Turn the page. Do not blindly support the AD, he has not earned that yet.

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  12. Will Trane

    Mark Richt and Vince Dooley.
    Sun rises in the east.
    Time for the UGA shadow to fall over the west.
    UGA has spent enough time in the afternon shadow of Saban and Byrant.

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  13. Smart is the New Muschamp

    Nice job Loran.

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  14. Will Trane

    Kirby Smart
    “Mama called.”

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  15. My head can’t shake the impulse to read the article Loran’s voice. At this point I am an hour into it…

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  16. Loran tows the company line much more deftly than McGarity.

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  17. I enjoyed this piece actually. I agree with most of what he said, yet I read the comments and all we talk about is the religion part. Sigh…

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    • Athens Townie

      And that’s probably the primary flaw of the column. Could have stayed closer to the main point. But, for better or worse, Mark Richt made religion a focal point of his public identity.

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      • Dog in Fla

        Which makes his brother-in-law Chappy happy

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        • Bro Tereshinski III

          Chappy should be really happy. Richt is headed to a private institution, he can do all the preachin’ he wants without running afoul of Ronald Reagan’s weird-looking kid.

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        • Athens Townie

          So this is what a sweat pants model looks like.

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      • Good point. He did make it a focus.

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      • I’m sorry, but I personally didn’t have a problem with CMR’s faith as central to his identity. He didn’t use it to make playing time decisions or baptized any players in the middle of practice (looking at you, Dabo). I know there are a lot of people who held Richt’s faith against him or made fun of it, but a lot of these young men’s parents liked and trusted Richt because of his faith.

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        • gastr1

          You don’t have to be sorry. Because, let’s face it, you’re not sorry. Aside from that, though, my own take is that though I am not religious and really do not care for its constant appropriation by politicians and athletes, I nonetheless agree with you about Mark Richt because his true belief was represented with grace and humility without aspersion or judgement. I can get behind people of faith who care broadly about the well-being of others and show it through words and deeds. Mark Richt is one of those, so I abided, personally, because I knew he was a person I would have very much respected and liked had I known him even if we did not always see eye to eye.

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          • I got tired of the “he’s not a good coach because of his faith” rant that many here made about CMR. We can talk about in game decisions and preparation as a fault, but his problem wasn’t that he was too nice because of his faith.

            Yep, I’m not sorry. I shouldn’t have written that I was.

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            • gastr1

              His problem was perhaps that he was too nice, period. Perhaps. But being nice and being patient were what made me respect him as a human being. I’ve never felt that way about any coach in any sport, actually; the ultra-competitiveness is something exceedingly off-putting to me. Makes them great on the field, I know, but unbearable in person, IMO. I wish there were more people like CMR in sports, faith or no. But yeah…claiming has faith negatively affected his coaching is just stupid.

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            • The Bruce

              What about all the people making “he’s a good coach because of his faith” rants all over the place this week?

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    • bldial

      Exactly!!! Tis the season…

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  18. Bob

    Not sure we should be too surprised at what Loran produces at times. Remember, he did the video about Larry up in Heaven following the win over LSU two years ago. That was classic.

    Still, for all the good in the piece, it was damaged by his comments on the AD. He could and should have left McWeasel out of it.

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    • He always goes on too long. I remember Larry cutting him off mid-sentence one time to get back to the action. But the man doesn’t want to speak ill of anyone, and that’s okay with me–we need more of that kind of grace in the world.

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  19. 202dawg

    Richt just confirmed in the Miami press conf; the first contact between his party and Miami was some time shortly after Al Golden was let go. Clear and concise.

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  20. Bob

    Is that surprising? This stuff happens every week during and out of season. Did Richt ever deny he had talked to anyone? Hell, did he even get asked the question?

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  21. Richt was just on Stugatz and what’s-his-name. They asked him why he got fired and he said he didn’t love up to certain expectations. Then they red him his record against top 10 teams in the last few years. Mark was funny as hell, ” I guess you didn’t like my answer because you asked it and then read me the answer again”! I

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  22. Debby Balcer

    So why has the process of UGA getting its man stalled? If Kirby was our man and this was in the works get it done. The longer it takes the more my fears increase. Our QB position was looking good for the future and is now questionable. So my expectations are lessening by the minute. 9-3 regular season seems high the longer we take.

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    • illini84

      Because the man has a job that he will finish. Relax.

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      • Debby Balcer

        So we won’t announce our staff until after the National Championship game? Since Kirby is an assistant I do not see why we have to wait. That really hurts our recruiting class now.

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      • Mayor

        I disagree with your assessment, Red. The bowl is an excuse. Kirby’s people are having trouble with getting McGarity to agree to Kirby’s terms, one of which is total control of all football operations. At least that is my take on it.

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        • I Wanna Red Cup

          Yeah the longer this takes the more concerned I am. I hope that we are just waiting for the SEC championship game to announce, but if no word by late Sunday, I will be very worried that ADGM fucked it up by not giving Smart enough control. Frankly, I could not blame Smart if he refuses the job over that. He needs to hire his staff and they need to start recrutin their asses off ASAP. Fingers crossed.

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      • Scorpio Jones, III

        Or, if you prefer, Deb, a drill to finish. 😀

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  23. shenandoah valley dawg

    I haven’t seen more people supporting Mcgarity’s decision than opposing it. I’ve seen the opposite.

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  24. Mayor

    I don’t know what was said privately but I now feel more strongly than ever that CMR manipulated that nitwit McGarity into firing him and then took a job he already intended taking to maximize CMR’s severance. I think he finally had enough of the Georgia Way. I certainly know I have. The reality is the Georgia Way isn’t changing, though. Firing a HC after a 9-3 season, so Georgia Way. Hiring a coordinator from another program rather than a proven HC, so Georgia Way. If the reports that Kirby Smart wanted Pruitt to stay on as DC and McGarity nixed it are true, that is direct evidence that the Georgia Way is still alive and undermining the football program. So Georgia. So Georgia Way. Some things never change. When Smart falls on his face and gets fired in 3-4 years or so (the tolerance in Athens appears to be getting smaller than in years past) and we get to do it all over again, some of you who are applauding this hire will applaud the next bad hire, too. So Georgia. So Georgia Way.

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    • GaskillDawg

      Neitger agree or disagree, but interesting theory. You think that when the alumnus in charge of the athletic department, who was in Jordan-Hare Stadium, did not both to go into the locker room to celebrate a win over our oldest rival, and then when the same boss made the coach stand in security and take his shoes off to fly to see a recruit while the University plane sat idle, the coach then decided to implement the plan you described?

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    • gastr1

      I perhaps could agree with you but for CMR’s very close friend Mark Fox’s having been quiet emotional after one of the basketball games this week– and Fox’s repeated affirmation of and support for The Georgia Way.

      Hard to imagine CMR didn’t let Mark Fox in on the big swindle.

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    • The Bruce

      Can I recommend a good stool softener?

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  25. Wow, Mayor, tell us how you really feel … But I can’t differ with you.

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  26. Richt’s decision to abandon the kids he claims to love and not coach the bowl game has really had an impact on my evaluation of him as a man.

    I’ve often wondered how much of his “making good men” talk was BS pablum. I’m starting to lean more towards BS.

    He made huge promises to all these kids and while it was not his decision to get fired, it IS his decision whether he coaches them in their final bowl game. I am sure many of these kids – especially seniors – are heartbroken.

    And all so he can get a couple extra weeks at Miami? A job he will likely have for many years?

    I think that’s a pretty shitty move on his part, and tells us a lot about the real man that is Coach Mark Richt.

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    • GaskillDawg

      We have discussed this before under other threads and you have never responded to a specific theory: do you really think McGarity was going to let Richt anywhere near the team and the practice fields, getting all that “We love you, Coach” and “Fire McGarity” publicity while, at the same time, McGarity was going to have to wait until January to get HIS new coach in town to begin fostering support and good will?

      I would not let Richt anywhere near B-M if I was him, and neither would you, and you are a well meaning guy who would act in good faith.
      I do nt care what McGarity told him on Sunday. By Tuesday McGairyt saw how polarizing the move was and wisely wanted Richt out of town.

      (PLEASE, this is not a comment on whether McGarity should have fired Richt. Nor is it a criticism of McGarity. In fact, it is a defense of McGarity not letting Richt coach.)

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    • illini84

      What bullshit.

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  27. illini84

    What people can’t handle is that it over and he’s looking forward not back. All this crap about loyalty is great for fans but has little to do with the people that play and coach.

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