Posts tagged Mark Richt

In an effort to understand the situation, the author has enhanced his writing with bourbon

For the record, I am not a patron of Remerton, not on occasion, not ever. I am on the downhill side of forty and I am not a sleezeball. My next-door neighbor, however, owns a Remerton establishment, not the infamous Flip-Flops, one they actually has a full service kitchen. He doesn’t even bother inviting me anymore, he knows I will not go.

Remerton is full of college kids drinking to excess. Remerton is full of young females drinking strong, sugar-laden, concoctions. Most of these young ladies have not the sea-legs for the voyages they embark on. most of these young men drink beer while buying fruity vodka and rum libations for their targets. The operators of these establishments know their market and meet the demand.

Many of you know my wife has an interest in a local dining establishment. An establishment that hires bartenders, many of whom are part time and also have gigs in Remerton. Within days of the Mettenberger incident, the rumors were coming fast and fairly similar.

So my wife has bartenders spreading the gossip to her and my neighbor is in a similar situation.

As far as the law goes, nary a rumor disputed the police report. The police did not take it easy on Mett, nor did they want to. From the “accounts”, Mett made no friends of Remerton’s finest, nor of the employees at Flip-Flops.

Before I continue, let me say I have been guilty of the same thing these Rumors accuse Zach of. I have know many that have been guilty of the same thing. I am not saying it is right, I am just saying many of us Southern boys have been through the same thing, although most of us experienced it without the police getting involved.

I can certainly state, I made a drunken ass of myself several times when I was 19 or 20 and it always involved my heart.

Frankly, as I type this, I am somewhat dismayed at Mett’s dismissal today. Knowing Mark Richt’s self stated trials and tribulations as a high-school and college student, I am shocked that Mett is not worthy of a second chance. Is this an example of the straw that broke the camel’s back?

Before I continue, I believe it is important to place the Montez Robinson episode in your mind. If the rumors around Valdosta are true, and there is nothing more to it, as has been stated by Claude Felton’s office, then a new “zero-tolerance” policy has been enacted. Perhaps the false sausage accusations contributed to the proverbial broken back of the camel.

Back to the rumors. Folks, it is pretty average college stuff. The only thing that would raise eye-brows is the possibility that Mett drove to Valdosta looking for trouble. And it involved a girl.

My main problem, there is no accusation of violence, maybe some bravado was displayed, maybe some little frat-boy was told he was gonna get his ass kicked, but no ass-whipping occured. There has been no accusation of harm or threat of harm coming to the girl for that matter.

I am not condoning any of what happened or may have happened. The accusation alone deserves punishment, but given the record of Richt, this type of action deserves an explanation. I am not saying Richt is wrong, not by a long stretch, but given the second chances he has dolled out in the past, what is up with this?

If Zach was crazed and wanted to hurt somebody, he would have done it. He’s a big ol’ boy. I have no doubt he is capable of pounding some little spoiled rich kid. But there in lies the rub. The threat of physical harm, and Mettenberger actions, are still under investigation. That the investigation is still underway is a huge cause for concern.

If Mett threatened the girl, good riddance. But if he only threatened the new beau, come on.

Maybe, just maybe, I can relate to the story a little too much. My high-school sweetie went to Auburn. I couldn’t always make it to the Kappa Delta soirees, which were held all over the state of Alabama, and I might not have handle it well that she found another date. In fact, I attended a cotillion, or two, with another just to get even. That is how 19 year old boys in Georgia roll. At least this one.

So if Mett drove to Valdosta to win back the fancy of the girl that holds his heart, I sympathize. His excuses for not making it to Valdosta were far better than mine for not making it to Auburn.

Perhaps we live in a different time, maybe better, maybe not. But given the Montez situation, the Lemon situation, the Tony Cole situation, the Odell situation, the Quincy situation, perhaps Mark Richt has just had enough.

I am all for cleaning the program up. But let’s be consistent about it, or forthcoming, right now I don’t know which applies.

Based upon the information we have been given, and I certainly hope more information is forthcoming, the rules and punishment do not appear to be applied evenly.

Zach Mettenberger is not this first to be one and done with Richt, not when it comes to breaking team rules. Sure, there have been many who have received second chances. Some have received more than two chances. Michael Greer did not get a second chance either.

Ironically, Michael Greer’s father, like Zach Mettenberger’s mother, also worked for the football team.

There may be others that did not warrant a second chance, but I can’t think of any.

If memory serves, Michael Greer’s violation of team rules is still undisclosed. If forced to hazard a guess, I would bet his is the same one of our current coaches violated, along with several other former and current players. All of which were granted second chances. I am only talking about the Richt regime here, not Donnan.

For Richt’s sake, I hope there is more to it in the Mettenberger case, and I also hope the Greer case was more serious than many of us believe. Right now, based upon the information we have been provided, Mettenberger and Greer were held to a different standard. Please, I beg you, correct me if you have knowledge I am unaware of. Forgive my laziness. I may be wrong. I am often wrong.

I seriously can not think of any other undisclosed dismissals.

Is it that their parents were employed by the Athletic Association? Did their upbringing disqualify them from second chances? Is it talent related?

These are legitimate questions, ones I hope Mark Richt has legitimate answers to.

First, and foremost, I am a homer. Second, I am a huge Mark Richt loyalists.

I am guessing we will not get answers. I also guess Coach Rich has his reasons. This will pass.

If the rumors are true, Zach Mettenberger did not do anything worse than several others have done and been given second chances by Richt. Coach Richt has often stated he wants to be a father to these boys and help them overcome their mistakes. What is different in this situation?

I bet we will never know. Men of Mark Richt’s stature and character are afforded such passes. I am certainly not going to hold it against him.

Valdosta rumors have proved to be nothing but unreliable. Old cotton money was wrong about Kirby. Young bartenders are probably wrong about Zach.

I have backed Coach Richt in all of his second chances, suspensions, and dismissals. I will back him in this one. I would just love to know why Montez deserved another chance after his first violation and Zach did not. A little info on Michael Greer would help, as well.