Mark Richt's unusual TD celebration

[Bamaball2001]

I haven't seen a discussion on this yet. For anyone in a cave today, Richt told his boys that after they score the first touchdown...if they didn't get an excessive celebration penalty he would "run them off". So, my question is good idea or bad? The ensuing penalty and kickoff resulted in a Florida TD.

I say it was a mistake, if you have to go to those means to fire your team up for a rival game, you haven't done your job during the week. He gave away a seven point lead early and made a few people think he was "dissin" Florida in the process. I don't believe that's true, I think it was a purely in house motivational decision, but I also think it was misplaced. How 'bout ya'll?

It was a good idea. I am no UGA fan but I live close to Athens so I hear it all. UF fans and players trash talk this game all year and CMR is under a lot of pressure to win it. For whatever reason some fans are getting restless with him and voicing that opinion and this game is as big as it gets for the Bulldog nation.

Also, regardless of the "neutral site" designation UF has a definite home field advantage. UGA needed to get their fans in the game and CMR thought that "excessive celebration" was the way to do it...It worked. It was very out of character for him but I will tell you that the people here are going crazy over it.

CMR's teams are always ready to play every game especially this game. This act was meant to fire up the fans, not the players. But, in the process, I think it did fire up his players. Players are a reflection of their coach and CMA is truly a nice guy. Fans around here respect that but, at the same time, some, if not many, feel that it sometimes hurts the team on the football field. CMA showed the fans and the team that nice isn't what this game or any football game is about. And, his team responded by beating UF.

Also, he didn't give away a seven point lead. The refs got their egos hurt and gave them a 30 yard penalty then Tebow did his thing. Speaking of the refs ego. I can't remember the last time I saw one 30 yard penalty much less two.

The bottom line is that coach Richt showed that he was willing to put aside his nice Christian coach persona (which he is) and pull out all the stops. He didn't tell his players to take cheap shots or continue the "excessive celebration" stuff. His players played the rest of the game the way they usually do...within the rules and classy.

To paraphrase Coach Bryant "I realized that I had to be careful not to get too caught up being "The Bear" and instead just be a coach". CMR believed that he had to put aside his persona and just be a coach. He did it on national TV to begin a huge game. I give him a lot of credit for that.

:BigA:

 

[BamaJama17]

I expect the barn to do the same either against us or UGA.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I wouldn't necessarily want to see CNS pull something like that, but I liked it. I know that rules are rules and I don't know what he REALLY had in mind for them to do, but what took place was really cool, outside of the individual displays of whatever-the-hell-you-call-it. That team obviously needed one last "something" to pull them together as a team, CMR recognized that, and put a plan in place. No harm, no foul, no one was hurt.

As long as you can get your guys to separate sports and real life when necessary, I'm all for it. They broke the law, paid their penalty for it, but came together as a team and destroyed florida.

 

[Big tide fan forever]

I luved itDT_ura1:

 

[JH-ATL]

Great reaction..........you could feel the team ratcheting upwards from then on!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BamaNation]

Didn't like it at all. Bush league is an accurate description.

Richt should have been ejected - whether or not he specifically encouraged it.

That kind of thing could have caused a riot in this highly charged emotional game.

As I stated last night, I would be highly perturbed (livid would be a more accurate description) if Bama ever pulled a stupid stunt like that.

Sure, it 'worked' but it was incredibly stupid and bush league. Let the WAC, MEAC, and any number of other lesser conferences do that crap. The SEC should be above such stunts.

Here's hoping the SEC adopts a new rule this week that would eject any coach and players who come onto the field like that again.

 

[TiderMan]

I'm sorry, I can't respect anyone who thinks what happened was appropriate in any way. Call me an old fart if you like...

You are an old fart. Too many are making this out to be more than it should be. It is just a game, I am sure if CNS would have done this and we would have won the game everyone would be singing his praises. Heck, I will run out on the field after a TD against the Barn if that means we are going to win.

 

[BocaLance]

They'd lost 15 of the previous 17 matchups, so ... why not?
I could see where it could have maybe turned ugly - you've got the whole UGA team on the field and one punch or shove thrown by a Florida player and the soup is suddenly cookin.' Interesting way to get 'em pumped, and it worked this time.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I think conventional "traditions" and courtesies are becoming a thing of the past. What Richt did was questionable (in my mind). He wanted a team effort celebration and not an individual celebration. But I think the motive behind it is what makes me kind of like it. When I first saw it I was against it all the way but the more I think about and how it was carried out I liked it.

It took the game to another intensity level and sent a message to the gayterds that we're here for the duration and we're not rolling over. I think it gave his team the mental boost they needed and it worked. Tebow was sacked six times. He was sacked more in that game than he had been all year. Georgia became more physical.

Now many will say "If you've got to do things like that to pump your team up then..." and you're right. It's not something you want to have to do very often but sometimes when you're team is in a funk and coming off a beat down by Tennessee something out of the ordinary can be just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Salty Dog @ Work]

Coaches tell players to break rules all the time:

If a DB is beaten, take the PI penalty instead of giving up a TD.
If an OL is beaten, hold the DL/LB to save a big hit on the QB.

Richt instructed them to get an excessive celebration penalty, not to specifically do what they did. I like the tactic by Richt. It kept his team loose in a game that could easily have gotten them tight. It also told UF that they weren't in awe of the Gators' "greatness." It was a huge shot across UF's bow in a gave that ended up with Tebow in tears in his postgame interview.

 

[Nick4Bama]

I just saw a TEAM celebrating. I didn't see any taunting. I don't think it's that big a deal. Ritch got his team pumped and the fans also. Took the penalty and moved on.

I can't remember tha last time I saw two, 30 yard penalties in a game. I'm guessing Penn Wagner's crew will be doing lsu/Bama next week.

 

[Crimson Hawk]

I think it tells a lot about Richt, as a coach. The intent was to fire up his guys, but it was an irresponsible way to do it, that could have had disastrous consequences. The SEC will probably be in his ear this week.........loud.

 

[bamanut_aj]

The SEC will probably be in his ear this week.........loud.

oh, yeah!

 

[G-VilleTider]

It was a great idea...

they took the flag -- case closed

They have that penalty for a reason and the flag as well

CMR is cool in my book -- he didn't refuse to accept the penalty,

UGA paid the price for the celebration, again, case closed!

It was a great decision that got the crowd into the game and helped them beat UF, something they haven't done much these last 20 years or so,

I tend to agree with you. I HATE individual celebrations, but this was a TEAM celebration without any obvious taunting (that I saw anyway). Because they did it as a TEAM and were not disrespectful, I liked the move; still wouldn't want us to do it though.

 

[bamaga]

I think conventional "traditions" and courtesies are becoming a thing of the past. What Richt did was questionable (in my mind). He wanted a team effort celebration and not an individual celebration. But I think the motive behind it is what makes me kind of like it. When I first saw it I was against it all the way but the more I think about and how it was carried out I liked it.

I agree to some extent. Richt is a meek, mild mannered coach, he doesn't preach fire and brimstone. He wanted to fire up his team, and apparently after a 1-5 record against florida, past methods didn't work! He was just giving the green light for the offense to show emotion, and didn't intend for the whole team to run on the field, but thats what he got. Did you see UM's reaction? he couldnn't believe it, it had a definite affect on fl as well, as urban gathered the gators and they started jumping up and down. I don't like jawja, but I think Richt shows alot of class( an over used word in sports) in most every game.

 

[CrimsonChampion]

Completely classless.

They won, so it might have worked, but it was classless. I lost respect for Richt.

I wouldn't mind Ole Nick doing it.
We are playing a program that has beatin us I believe 5 times in a row?:conf2:
But yes,Mark Richt GAINED respect from me because I despise Florida.

 

[tru2thaduce]

IF the players and coaches had fun with it,im all for it.Could of backfired but it didnt.I liked it.

 

[TideFan in AU]

I liked it too.....because URBAN MEYER DIDN"T INVENT "WHOLE TEAM ON THE FIELD CELEBRATIONS".......but i'm sure he'll still try to claim it

ROFLMAO!!!!

 

[rizolltizide]

I'm typically a pretty traditional guy. But I liked it. As someone else said, it wasn't taunting, well except for the one guy and I would be willing to bet he pays for it. It almost seemed very subdued. I won't call the move "classy" or "classless". Those words mean nothing any more as they are just thrown around by and at fanbases to meet whatever the agenda happens to be at the time.

The look on Meyer's face was priceless. He was beat at his own game. That's what made it a good move.

 

[StoneMtnDew]

I wouldn't mind Ole Nick doing it.
We are playing a program that has beatin us I believe 5 times in a row?:conf2:
But yes,Mark Richt GAINED respect from me because I despise Florida.

If Coach Saban encouraged his players to do something like that I'd jump off the bandwagon quickly. That sort of thing is classless and if Bama wants to play the class card then that sort of thing can't be condoned, much less encouraged.