The Five Stages Of Grief For Mark Richt Fans

On November 29, headlines reading "Georgia Fires Mark Richt" left thousands of University of Georgia fans heartbroken and facing the Five Stages of Grief.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler coin the five stages of grief and loss in their work On Grief and Grieving.

1: Denial

"Denial is the first of the five stages of grief."

We first heard the news while we were eating Thanksgiving leftovers for the 10th time and someone in our family read off the headline while checking their phone at the table. Or we got a text message from our roommate already back at school. Or an article appeared on our Facebook timeline as we refreshed our newsfeed. "Yeah right," we thought. "That article is not even from a credible source." And we laughed. We rolled our eyes.

Not falling for that made-you-click prank again this time.

...But soon the articles started coming from ESPN.

So we decided that it was just something wrong with our computers. Or that our eyes had just mixed up the letters.

Then we remembered that last year a Georgia Tech computer genius hacked UGA's network as a practical joke. And we decided that this whole thing must just be another Yellow Jacket seeking revenge and hacking news outlets after Saturday's game.

Besides, we just finished a 9-3 season. UGA wouldn't. They couldn't.

2: Anger

"Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process. Be willing to feel your anger, even though it may seem endless."

But then we read the words "...UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said in the statement." Then we reread them. And read them again.

It was true.

UGA had fired Mark Richt.

And just like that, Greg McGarity became our biggest enemy.

Naturally, we did what any devastated millennial would do. We tightened our boot straps, and declared war.

Well, a war on social media, that is.

Within minutes, #FireMcGarity began trending and thousands of angry posts from heartbroken fans began to circulate.

Even though we might have looked like this on the outside:

This is how we really felt on the inside:

3: Bargaining

"After a loss, bargaining may take the form of a temporary truce."

We've begged, we've pleaded:

"I'll go to every single home game and away game next year..."

"I'll volunteer to pick up trash at St. Simon's instead of going to Frat Beach..."

"I'll never complain about the student gate lines, wristband shortages, or popcorn refills ever again...."

.... "If we can just keep Mark Richt as our coach."

If the promises of loyal fans could wager our coach back, then our nightmare would have ended before it started.

4: Depression

"This depressive stage feels as though it will last forever."

Perhaps it is his unmatched character that makes this such a difficult loss to Bulldawg Nation. We didn't just lose a coach, we lost our role model, our friend. For fifteen years Mark Richt has made Georgia's reputation-- both on and off the field-- one that we are all proud of. He is the person that has made our players, students, school, community, and the SEC a better place.

To the family of James Eunice,

To Devon Gales,

To Jamie Jones,

To Chad Gloer,

To Ms. Nita,

To Todd Gurley,

And to countless other Bulldawgs,

Being a fan of Mark Richt has always been, and will always be, about much more than football.

So as these and many other stories about Mark Richt continue to surface, our hearts break over and over again. Because each time we read a new story, we are reminded that Greg McGarity is more loyal to his dream of winning a championship than he is to a coach who has been loyal to his players, his school, and his faith.

Via wordpress.com

5: Acceptance

"Acceptance is often confused with the notion of being "all right" or "OK" with what has happened. This is not the case."

As we walked to our classes this morning, the "Glory, Glory" feeling of returning to campus was not there to welcome us back. The Chapel Bell was silent, and no one talked about how great it was to see the Dawgs win on Saturday.

Time and time again we've said the words,

"There is no tradition more worthy of envy. No institution worthy of such loyalty as the University of Georgia."

I'm sure we'll get back to feeling like that one day soon. But that day, well, it's not today.