ATHENS — Jordan Jenkins is leaving Georgia at the same time as Mark Richt, as it turns out. That doesn’t make it easier for the senior linebacker to take.
Jenkins made clear his feelings on Richt’s firing Sunday night as he left the Georgia athletic building, where Richt held a team meeting and discussed his departure.
“It ain’t right. Ain’t no Georgia football without coach Richt,” Jenkins said. “Just the way he dealt with everybody up here. And the way it went down just don’t sit right. Just from what we’ve been hearing. We’re meeting with (athletics director Greg) McGarity tomorrow. But it’s just messed up.”
Richt will coach in Georgia’s bowl game, which will mark the end of his 15-year tenure as head coach. The seniors, including Jenkins, will be going for their 40th victory.
Richt could be seen through the glass doors of the Butts-Mehre building walking alone through the lobby and back to his office. He was wearing a black Georgia warm-up jacket and pants.
After the meeting a security team brought in by UGA for the night prevented the media from talking to most players. They got between media members and players, and at one point told the media to move across the street, which the media refused as the area is public property.
Jenkins left the building with fellow outside linebackers and was willing to talk to the media. He said Sunday night’s meeting included Richt, players, and most of the coaches and staff members.
“It just was jacked up. Not everybody on the team is sitting right with this,” Jenkins said. “But we’ll find out more stuff tomorrow.”
At that point a security member came up to Jenkins and ordered him to get in his car. Jenkins did get into his seat but kept talking.
“All I’ve gotta say is they lost a great man,” Jenkins said.
There’s also evident angst among team members — at least on defense — about losing one coach: defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
Freshman safety Jarvis Wilson was walking by the media after Sunday night’s meeting when, unsolicited, he yelled out: “If the media wants to know anything tell them keep Pruitt.”