Buck Stops Here

kentdaddy wrote:

Swampdog wrote:

the problem is ...

there is more to life than football. The kids who play for UGA are real people who will be real fathers with real families and real jobs. Personally, I would rather lose games than be one of those schools who uses kids to win games without teaching them any character or responsibility (aka Urban Myer). Richt, like Tony Dungy, is an almost perfect role model to help turn these kids into men. We should do anything we can to keep him. However, he isn't the only role model and it is possible to find a role model who can win.

I agree it is only football, but coaches are paid to win games. Everything else in the SEC is secondary. Perhaps Richt should be at a division II school where the focus is less on execution and winning?

You present a false choice. It is not either win games and have a Switzer program or lose games and turn out fine upstanding men. There are plenty of leaders who can turn out fine young men while winning. We need to find one soon before it is too late and recruiting is killed.

Kentdaddy could not agree more. Seem to remember a player with the last name . . . . White. Went on to play in the pros for Philly and Green Bay. Reggie would eat you alive on the field, would also pull money out of his pocket to feed you in his \"civilian\" life.

Picked this up in another thread that you posted . . . statement says it all.

Success needs rewards. Failure needs consequences.

Buc wrote:

kentdaddy wrote:

Swampdog wrote:

the problem is ...

there is more to life than football. The kids who play for UGA are real people who will be real fathers with real families and real jobs. Personally, I would rather lose games than be one of those schools who uses kids to win games without teaching them any character or responsibility (aka Urban Myer). Richt, like Tony Dungy, is an almost perfect role model to help turn these kids into men. We should do anything we can to keep him. However, he isn't the only role model and it is possible to find a role model who can win.

I agree it is only football, but coaches are paid to win games. Everything else in the SEC is secondary. Perhaps Richt should be at a division II school where the focus is less on execution and winning?

You present a false choice. It is not either win games and have a Switzer program or lose games and turn out fine upstanding men. There are plenty of leaders who can turn out fine young men while winning. We need to find one soon before it is too late and recruiting is killed.

Kentdaddy could not agree more. Seem to remember a player with the last name . . . . White. Went on to play in the pros for Philly and Green Bay. Reggie would eat you alive on the field, would also pull money out of his pocket to feed you in his \"civilian\" life.

Picked this up in another thread that you posted . . . statement says it all.

Success needs rewards. Failure needs consequences.

I seem to remember that White fellow. Big tall lad....always smiling........gave a memorable speech to the Wisconsin legislature.

You are both correct. There are those out there who can execute a football plan and also create an atmosphere where family and respect is important. BUT...I want my head coach to FIRST, do his job! Teach these young men to block, catch, run, BE DISCIPLINED, etc...I love Richt for the man that he is BUT he needs to be a coach FIRST.

savannahdawg wrote:

You are both correct. There are those out there who can execute a football plan and also create an atmosphere where family and respect is important. BUT...I want my head coach to FIRST, do his job! Teach these young men to block, catch, run, BE DISCIPLINED, etc...I love Richt for the man that he is BUT he needs to be a coach FIRST.

Yep.

I can forgive a lack of talent. I cannot forgive a lack of effort or preparedness.

I am older and slower than probably 85% (I'm lookin' at you Gino!) of the defense, but I have discipline so sign me up!

Actually I should go to OSU where they are pros at marketing slow, white, fundamentally sound linebackers.

kentdaddy wrote:

I agree it is only football, but coaches are paid to win games. Everything else in the SEC is secondary. Perhaps Richt should be at a division II school where the focus is less on execution and winning?

You present a false choice. It is not either win games and have a Switzer program or lose games and turn out fine upstanding men. There are plenty of leaders who can turn out fine young men while winning. We need to find one soon before it is too late and recruiting is killed.

Atlanta is THE city in THE heart of football country. No other school has recruiting potential equal to UGA. There is no excuse for UGA not to be a top5 program every single year. ... Well, no excuse other than bad coaching.

A great program not only wins football games but it prepares kids for their future. It builds character and teaches kids like Mike Vick the difference between right and wrong. A great program also graduates a lot of players into the NFL. Preparing those kids for their future in the NFL is part of the job.

When it comes to the right/wrong & character side of things I would give Richt lots of A's. When it comes to football coach preparation, practice, and commitment then I would give him a lot a C's and D's. maybe an F or two. If Richt will man-up to his responsibility as a coach then I would love to see him stay. If not, then he is teaching these kids that mediocrity is good enough ... and he has to go.

Did that explain it better?

Swampdog, do you think Richt gets a big fat bonus at the end of the year because he is a moral man. No. He does get one if he wins an SEC Championship. And CMR has some Jonathan Sullivans and Odell Thurmans on his record. So just because he is a great man doesnt mean the kids care about the message he is giving them. There are bad eggs in every program. Heck Tebow is prolly one of the most morally sound college football players in the nation, and he plays for an SOB like UM. Does that make UM a morally good guy. Not for a second.

I agree that a great program SHOULD prepare kids for the NFL and future careers whatever they may be. But thats not what the coaches are paid to do. Weis has several NFLers on that roster, and many of his players will go on to do good things, but does Notre Dame care. No. They want to be in a BCS game. And at the end of teh day, thats what it comes down to. Winnning games. Thats what the University wants, the fans want, the alumni, and down the list. If you cant do that consistently, you wont have a job very long.