Say what you want to about Mark Richt and his coaching ability, the lack of control of his players, and the inability to win the last couple years, but the fact remains is that there isn’t a better man running a college football program in the SEC than Mark Richt.
Richt, is a man of faith, and is very open about that. For that, I commend him. However, in this piece I will show a different side of him that isn’t being and won’t be reported on or talked about in the mainstream media, which is truly a shame.
This isn’t about a player getting arrested, and Richt punishing him. It has nothing to do with X’s and O’s and winning football games. It has nothing to do with a press conference or anything else. What this story shows is a man who is a winner in the game of life, the game that truly matters.
This is the story of James Eunice.
Early in 2011, a 17-year old student, James Eunice, drowned from a duck hunting incident.
Eunice had a dream of becoming a Georgia Bulldog. He wasn’t offered a scholarship, but he was accepted to the University of Georgia. Eunice had dreams of becoming a walk-on for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell, members of the Bulldogs 2011 recruiting class, played football with Eunice at Valdosta High School and were on hand at his funeral.
Both Rome and Mitchell spoke at the funeral, and at the end they read a letter from Mark Richt.
The heartfelt letter concluded with the line “Oh yeah, James made the team.”
At that time a Georgia jersey with Eunice’s #23 was revealed and the crowd stood and applauded.
If that doesn’t make you tear-up, then I don’t know what will.
In a day and age when college football players and coaches are violating rules, lying, getting arrested, having pictures taken with recruits, it is nice to hear a story about this great action.
If you don’t think that acts like this go unnoticed by top football recruits, you are mistaken.
“I’m going to play for an incredible man,” said Rome.
Mitchell, another member of the 2011 class said, “It made me proud to be a Bulldog.”
I will add onto to those quotes and proudly say that I am glad to be a fan, student and supporter of the University of Georgia football program.
The wins have lacked in the last couple years, but Mark Richt is a winner off the field.
We may not have bragging rights against Florida, but I don’t care. We have something alot more important.
Eventually, this program will get turned around, and sooner rather than later.
But one thing is for sure is that there isn’t a better man running a college football program than Mark Richt.
There might be, but I don’t know where to start.
-Special thanks to Bill King of the AJC for bringing this story to light.
A very moving story.