It seemed like a simple question when asked. But it prompted the longest answer from Georgia coach Mark Richt at the start of Southeastern Conference Media Days this morning in Hoover, Ala. What were you thinking when you told the entire team to run onto the field and celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the Gators on Oct. 27 in Jacksonville?
Richt spoke for about five minutes on the subject, all the while insisting that he only originally intended the 11 players on the field to celebrate wildly. He had noted a lack of intensity and joy in his team in previous weeks and wanted his guys to get wild "until the officials threw the flag."
When he saw his entire bench clear after scoring that opening touchdown, his reaction was a simple "Oh, heck."
"I had no intention for our team to clear the bench," Richt said. "I called Urban on Monday … and I told him what I told you. I was a coach desperate to try and get some enthusiasm, and I was willing to take a 15-yard penalty."
Instead, he got a 30-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff. UF went on to lose the game, 42-30. And that, Richt said, is the real reason everyone is looking forward to this season's contest.
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