Georgia Football Keeps it All in the Family
It is very difficult to write openly and honestly about Georgia Football sometimes. There is an unspoken rule of not being too critical of your coach or team in the public eye. This is true for former players as well. This blog has been a tight rope because if I can’t be honest, it’s not worth doing. And blind loyalty is just that…blind.
But something that has occured to me lately is this notion of “family”. In the best case scenarios it is real. I believe Coach Mark Richt has fostered that environment at Georgia. I’ve seen recruits mention it as a big reason they chose Georgia over other schools. That’s great. The team should have that feel. But what about the coaching staff?
A head coach should foster the feeling of trust, good chemistry and maybe even family, but there is a point of diminishing returns. I keep thinking of the company I worked for prior to starting Total Team Sports. It was a family run business that had been around for over 30 years. They liked to think it was a family atmosphere, but there were just a few true family members and close friends that were in the inner circle.
The problem inherent in some “family” situations is it clouds business decisions. And make no mistake, college football is a business. You know that. In any event, any response to the cries for the firings of Bobo, Martinez, Jancek and/or Fabris have been and will be slow in coming, as they should be. Continuity on a staff is sometimes just as important as year to year results.
It may take Damon Evans taking Coach Richt off the hook and imposing his will to make any significant changes. I’m not saying he should at this point. I think at the end of this season, every one should be honestly evaluated without emotion. I believe Damon is that kind of person, which again is good.
Some Georgia fans seem to be unable to stop the micromanaging game to game, forget year to year. In this his ninth year, Mark Richt has orchestrated the DawgNation to it’s best run in history. And, most of the coaches in question were in the mix from the beginning. Do they need to continue to step up? YES. Do I want see anybody fired? Not really. But I am sure you are held accountable for your job performance.
They should too.
I agree with all of you guys. Didn’t i hear someone say that insanity was doing the same thing over, and over and over, and expecting different results. That kind of sums it up. We definitely need some positive changes.
10/07/2009 at 8:43 PM
Rex why are we forcing Richard Samuel into being a RB? Do we just have no depth? Do you remember all the reps Jermaine Phillips had at WR? Was it his senior year when they finally allowed him to play DB? I believe that was his natural position…… folks in the NFL thought so too!
10/07/2009 at 10:42 AM
That should have said an intelligent response.
10/05/2009 at 11:58 PM
Another great blog. It is great to read an intelligence response to what is going on at UGA. I believe that changes will be made in due time.
10/05/2009 at 11:58 PM
Watched The Game Tonight. About As Painful To Watch As The Loss At Oklahoma State. How Can A Georgia Team With This Much Talent, Especially Along Both Sides Of The LOS Be This Crappy?!?!
10/05/2009 at 10:26 PM
Well. I probably could have said it better myself but,…..I was busy preparing another hateful diatribe that reflects the sheer frustration most of us feel when watching this team not play to their potential…..or maybe they do.
Class is making a point while maintaining your own character…others, including myself should follow the example. Good post Rex.
10/05/2009 at 7:24 PM
Rex, I very happy that someone with your experience and love of UGA can say what we, the know nothing fans, are saying about special teams. It is maddening to me when I see us contining to make the same mistakes over and over.
It is very frustrating to see the poor kick-off coverage that would seem so easy to correct. Let your better athletes play and give them sound coaching.
I could not celebrate AJ’s touchdown because I knew we were going to have to kick-off. Then, the flag came and I was really concerned. This is truly a weird state of affairs.
Rex, did your time at UGA overlap with Butch Box? He was truly the best Kamikazee player on kick-offs I have ever seen. He would often make tackles around the opponent’s ten yard line!
10/05/2009 at 5:59 PM
Drop the DE coach position and make Rodney Garner the DL Coach. Coach Fabris can coach the Special Teams (kick-off team, kick-off return team, punting team and punt return team. It mist also lead to Georgia being able to more readily identify fake punts/on sides kicks and maybe even execute a few ourselves.
The Running backs carry the football in the wrong hand when running a sweep to the left. This is 4th grade, Pop Warner football simple.
Who decided to start Richard Samuel ahead of Washaun Ealey? The same guy who decided to red-shirt Moreno?
I read on a few blogs and heard sportswriters opined that Georgia’s asst. coaches tell the players what to do at practices, but for some reason the players don’t execute. In response, one must think why the players don’t execute what’s been taught. Do they not respect their position coach and/or fear how their position coach will react upon returning to the sidelines?
There’s a problem at Georgia right now, and it’s up to CMR to fix it. If he can’t then it’s AD Evans responsibility to fix Georgia’s football program.
Just one man’s opinion.
10/05/2009 at 5:41 PM
The carrying the ball in the wrong hand thing bugs the crap out of me too. And it’s not just one of them, it’s all of them.
10/05/2009 at 6:34 PM
Maybe having the last three RB coaches as a DB coach, a WR coach, and a rookie coach that played WR leads to some of these problems. Why not get a true RB coach? I am by no means am expert,trust me, but that seems important to me, maybe not.
10/05/2009 at 10:54 PM
Just found your blog Rex. I heard CMR once say that they coach the RB not to switch hands to protect the ball because switching hands causes fumbles. The kids pick that nugget of advice to actual do.
PS – I think I saw you at OM that year, nothing like sitting on the deck with the river passing.
10/08/2009 at 4:14 PM
Well put Rex. I’m sure you read Hale’s recap of special teams for the last 18 games (broken down game by game). It really proves the point about special teams. I hope your comments, spoken very honestly, don’t strain any relationships with the athletic department.
10/05/2009 at 3:59 PM
My big problem is with Fabris. Not Fabris the DE coach, but Fabris the Kickoff team coach.
I know Richt does not have a background in Special teams, but it is becoming more and more apparent that Special Teams need more attention and practice time.
It takes all three phases of the game to be a champion. We can’t rest on special teams or our laurels.
10/05/2009 at 3:18 PM