Mad as Hell

The 1976 classic Network has leapt back into public consciousness 35 years after its release. The message broken-down newscaster Howard Beale preaches has particular pertinence in this age of wars, rising gas prices and television-guided political division. Compared to these matters of monumental importance, college football’s significance is but a speck. And Georgia head coach Mark Richt is no Beale, played brilliantly by Peter Finch.

Richt’s hair isn’t askewed, he doesn’t sweat profusely and emphasize rants with pulpit punches. But lately, Richt has showed the nation that he’s mad as hell.

Richt sounded off to Anthony Dasher of UGAsports.com on oversigning, calling it “an awful thing to do” in an article published Tuesday. Today, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Georgia beat reporter Seth Emerson published on his blog that Richt has had it with a “winning at all costs” mentality.

There’s undeniable truth to Richt’s words.

Perhaps speculation of his inevitable dismissal have spurred Richt. His Bulldogs finished 6-7 in 2010, which in SEC Country is roughly equivalent to contracting leprosy. Fans’ memories have a gnat-like lifespan, so his No. 2 finish just three seasons prior is apparently ancient history.

Maybe it’s the myriad violations surfacing at upper echelon programs in recent months, including three BCS bowl qualifiers — Richt does specifically call out Ohio State, played Auburn and shares competition for both wins and recruits with admitted oversigner Nick Saban.

Likely, it’s a combination, and Richt isn’t going to take it anymore. The program is showing reform in off-field matters. Two years ago, it ranked last in graduation rates among SEC partners, but as examined via the Stanford Rivals site The Bootleg has improved by 16 percent to get in the middle of the pack. Richt didn’t bend over backwards to keep his leading rusher Washaun Ealey, who transferred this week after being suspended for breaking team rules in February.

These are seemingly small gestures, but Richt appears to be putting his money where his mouth is. Should it result in a few losses that would otherwise be wins, that could prove a very literal meaning of the colloquialism. No matter how loud he yells (figuratively) nor how right he is, wins mean dollars, and dollars are what matter in big-time athletics.

Georgia returns the SEC’s best quarterback in Aaron Murray to lead a young yet talented corps. Winning will ensure the message doesn’t fall on deaf ears, and maybe, just maybe, Richt can lead a revolution that has other top programs’ coaches shouting from the windows.