Gwinnett Daily Post

Graysonteach 5 months, 3 weeks ago on JENKINS: Richt's character and record should silence the haters

JENKINS: Richt's character and record should silence the haters

My brother and I were just saying this very thing --- Mark Richt is a rarity. Most of the winningest coaches in college sports are tyrants and SOB's, definitely not VNP's.

Sometimes I think that people don't understand that there is a trade-off (better, a readjusting of priorities) when you treat all your athletes decently and with positive reinforcement. Yes, the bad eggs (Isaiah Crowell, etc) may indeed take advantage and detract from team performance. But what about all the benefits to years of athletes who learn about being better men. I'm a fan of college athletics, because these are still kids playing sports. They really aren't a bunch of hired guns playing for money. We can still have an influence on the kind of person they'll be --- if the coaches are setting examples of decent human beings.

However, more often I think that the majority of fans are just concerned with wins and losses. How else do you explain a guy like Petrino, that people are still talking about hiring to some of the SEC openings. I don't think it'll happen this year, but give it a little time and he'll get picked up. People have a lot shorter memories for lack of moral subsance than they do for losing games.

But really, Mark Richt is a very good football coach, and he has won lots of games. I cannot say there haven't been times that I've been frustrated with mental mistakes and penalties, but perhaps that's part of the tradeoff of not brow-beating your players and instilling outright terror in them. And the mistakes have been better this year (okay, I've completely suppressed the Carolina game).

One last point: Mark Richt has staying power. The Sabans and Meyers and Petrinos will move on after a few years, seeking some bigger accomplishment --- for themselves --- or because they wear out their welcome. Mark Richt seems to love his job, because he's in it for the kids. Leave him alone and he'll retire at Georgia. Even better, give him some love. He's the best Georgia will ever get.

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