Former Georgia coach Mark Richt joined ESPN’s Mike & Mike radio show on Tuesday morning to discuss the possibility of removing the kickoff from college football, a topic that has gained some traction over the years as serious injuries continue to pile up.
Richt, who now stands at the helm of Miami’s football program down in South Beach, said he would be OK without the kickoff factor and is all for removing it from the game:
“For the first 15 years or so of my career, I’m an offensive coordinator, up in the box, getting ready to call plays. I go down the next 15 years on the sideline,” he said. “You sit there and witness what happens on a kickoff. It’s a violent play. Guys are running full-speed and you’ve got guys that are young and strong and brave and no one’s backing down.
“I think that’s a play that I can live without. A lot of people are probably going crazy about it, but when you see it up close, it makes sense to me.”
In 2015 — Richt’s last season with Georgia — he witnessed firsthand the dangers of what the kickoff can produce. In a Week 4 matchup against Southern, Jaguars wide receiver Devon Gales left the game after a head-to-head collision during a kickoff, which resulted in a spinal injury. Gales suffered several neck fractures that were stabilized during his procedure.
With multiple rehab sessions every day, he gets closer and closer to more mobility with his arms. According to a report from this past spring, his condition continues to improve as he now has more feeling in his legs and can use his fingers “a little bit … but a little bit is better than (nothing).” He plans to continue his therapy throughout the summer before resuming classes at Southern in the fall.
These shirts are now available from #UGA. pic.twitter.com/YBdczvaZIi
— Chip Towers AJC (@ctowersajc) February 25, 2016
Still, it doesn’t seem like any real changes are forthcoming. Not for the 2016 season, at least.
“I’m not hearing a lot about it other than what you’re telling me, but it has been discussed over the years,” Richt said. “I was on the board of trustees of the American Football Coaches Association, so that subject’s come up before. I’ll be honest, I’m OK without a kickoff.”
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
