What's the Fuss?

Georgia coach Mark Richt apologized to SEC commissioner Mike Slive on Monday, two days after instructing his Bulldogs to earn an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration after their first touchdown on Saturday against Florida.

“I do want to apologize in writing for what transpired after the first score of the Georgia/Florida game this past Saturday when our entire team left the bench area to celebrate the score,” Richt wrote.

After Bulldogs running back Knowshon Moreno scored from the 1-yard line to give thema 7-0 lead, the entire Georgia bench emptied onto the field to celebrate. Georgia received two unsportsmanlike penalties on the play and ended up kicking off from its 8.

“I told them if they didn’t get a celebration penalty after our first score, all of them would be doing early-morning runs,” Richt said after Georgia’s 42-30 win in Jacksonville. “We got a couple more celebration penalties than I thought we would, but we got all of that straightened out at halftime. I wanted to make sure we left this game with our hearts on the field.”

Florida coach Urban Meyer was worried about the possibility of a fight.

“Well first off, it’s illegal,” Meyer said. “Basically we were called out.

“We just have to keep them out of the end zone, so they can’t do that.”

Here’s a copy of the letter from Richt to Slive:

October 29, 2007

Commissioner Mike Slive
Southeastern Conference
2201 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North
Birmingham, AL 35203-1103

Dear Commissioner Slive:

As a followup to our telephone discussion earlier today, I do want to apologize in writing for what transpired after the first score of the Georgia/Florida game this past Saturday when our entire team left the bench area to celebrate the score. If you would again allow me to explain my thought process, I would appreciate it.

Two weeks ago when our preparation began for the Florida game I told the team that we have got to have more energy and enthusiasm in this ballgame or we are going to get whipped pretty good. I said, as a matter of fact, when we score our first touchdown, I expect you guys to celebrate to the point where the official will throw a flag for excessive celebration. I admit this was inappropriate. What I had envisioned was for the eleven guys on the field to celebrate the score. On the day of the game I re-emphasized to the team that this was not going to be an individual celebration, but a team celebration. Again, I was expecting the eleven players on the field to be doing the celebrating, not for the bench to clear as it did. I understand that the entire team running on the field created the potential for an altercation and that excessive celebration is not in compliance with the Southeastern Conference sportsmanship policies and expected standards. My only intention was to create enthusiasm.

I apologize that I put everyone in that situation and specifically apologize to you, the Southeastern Conference, and the University of Florida. You can be assured I will not ask our team to do this type of thing again.

Sincerely,

Mark Richt
Head Football Coach

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