Mark Richt, dropping d-bombs all over Memphis

Mark Richt has said before that he didn’t push his team hard enough in preseason practice. But the Georgia head football coach went a bit further on Thursday, including what for him is some colorful language.

During a press conference in Memphis to promote the Liberty Bowl, Richt was asked about his team’s turnaround after a 1-4 start. After saying wryly that “getting A.J. Green back may have helped,” Richt spoke again about the decision not to be as physical in preseason practice.

“I definitely take the blame for the start, because I didn’t get us ready,” he said. “But we played pretty damn good after that.”

A second later, Richt corrected himself.

“Excuse me, pretty darn good,” he said.

OK, that’s not exactly a Sam Kinison routine. But for the Ned Flanders-like Richt, that might as well have been an f-bomb.

I guess it’s been that kind of season.

A few other quick notes from the presser, which was available over teleconference:

- Richt once again emphasized that the emphasis is on winning the bowl game, and not looking down the road. He said he stood firm when several assistants, after seeing the practice schedule, asked for more days to be on the road recruiting.

“The best recruiting we can do is winning the bowl game,” Richt said. “We’ve gotta recruit, but we’ve gotta make sure –“

At that point Central Florida head coach George O’Leary interrupted:

“You guys go recruit,” O’Leary said, to laughter.

- Richt was also asked about his team’s defense, which finished the season ranked fourth in the SEC in yards allowed, but seventh in points allowed.

“We’ve still got a ways to go,” Richt said. “I think we got better. I think our coaches learned a little bit more about our personnel and who goes where … But we’re still not playing championship-level defense right now. But I think with the experience these guys have gained, and some of the recuiritng we’re doing right now, and some of the training these guys are doing now … I do believe we’re going to get better.”

- The subject of A.J. Green's upcoming NFL decision also came up. Richt said his star receiver has "a lot of things to think about."

“He definitely wants to play in the NFL one day, but he also knows there’s some collective bargaining agreement issues going on and there’s some uncertainty," Richt said. "I know he doesn’t feel like he’s accomplished everything he wanted to accomplish coming into Georgia. Will that be enough to keep him in town? I don’t know.”