Progress pleases McGarity, but he’s still not ‘comfortable’
Greg McGarity is pleased but not content with Georgia's turnaround under Mark Richt. (Curtis Compton)
Greg McGarity is avoiding amusement parks and costumed cartoon characters this week. He found his own “Happiest Place on Earth” in Orlando – roaming the aisles of a Barnes and Noble while clutching a gift card.
“I’m going to spend all of this,” he said by phone.
McGarity loves books, particularly anything on leadership. His favorite is, “Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck — Why Some Thrive Despite Them All,” by Jim Collins.
“There’s a section in there on productive paranoia,” Georgia’s athletic director said. “I think all ADs have a level of that.”
It is why, despite the generally positive feelings that surround the Georgia football program these days, McGarity isn’t nearly satisfied. In fact, when asked if he felt comfortable about the program’s turnaround and direction, he all but chewed up the word and spit it out.
“I don’t think you ever get comfortable,” he said. “There’s always something that needs improvement. You always have to find ways to get better. Comfortable? No. I don’t think that’s the word I would use at all. I don’t think anybody should feel real comfortable with any part of our football program, or any program.”
Step on the gas.
McGarity walked into a mess in August 2010. He replaced Damon Evans, who was fired following a DUI arrest. He started work a week before the first game of what turned into a 6-7 football season. He watched as the Bulldogs started the following year 0-2, as speculation grew about Mark Richt’s future. So much for easing in.
As Georgia prepares for the Capital One Bowl against Nebraska, the view has changed significantly. The Bulldogs fell five yards short of going to the BCS title game, losing the SEC championship to Alabama 32-28. Since going 6-9 to begin McGarity’s tenure, Georgia is 21-4. The four losses: two in SEC Championship games (LSU, Alabama), one in a bowl (Michigan State), one in the regular season (South Carolina).
What does Richt get for this? A pat on the back, mostly. He didn’t receive a raise in June. His new five-year contract kept the salary about the same ($2.8 million) but doubled incentive bonuses ($200,000 for an SEC title; $800,000 for the BCS). Richt also was allowed to walk away at any time. No buyout. In other words: You want to go? Go.
“There were some things important to Mark and some things important to me,” McGarity said. “Performance incentives are important. They sort of make all of us work a little harder. I’m not saying that’s the end all, but if you have the opportunity to maximize your potential, any competitive person will justify that.”
Step on the gas.
There’s little sense of satisfaction with McGarity. Don’t misunderstand. He’s pleased with the program’s turnaround. “Gratified,” was the word he used.
He is holding off giving a final grade on this season because, “We still have a final exam against Nebraska. I would just say thus far I’m extremely proud of the way our team and coaches have approached the season. I see tremendous potential for the program continuing to develop, if we have that same commitment and that same drive.”
He understands there’s still an unhappy segment of the fan base. But he refers to them as, “the society of the miserable. They’re going to vent when things are going really well and when they’re not.”
McGarity could have listened to “the noise,” as he calls it, but he didn’t fire Richt after that 6-7 season. He took notes. He asked Richt what he needed and provided support. The nutrition and strength-and-conditioning programs were revamped. When there was a subject that bothered McGarity in the middle of the night, he would wake up the next morning, go to work and ask Richt about it.
College and professional sports aren’t any different in this regard: It’s still about leadership, laying out a blueprint and problem solving.
The 2010 season “wasn’t acceptable,” McGarity said. “Not to Mark, not to anyone. What you saw from that point was perhaps a refocus, a lot of hard work. Mark has said this before, but when the team was 0-2 there wasn’t a lot of finger pointing. Credit goes to the staff and everybody in the program for not disintegrating. The proof is in the record.”
The loss to Alabama still stings. McGarity called it one of the three most difficult defeats he ever has been associated with. The other two: Georgia’s 27-23 loss to Penn State in the Sugar Bowl (1982 season). The Florida women’s tennis team’s NCAA championship loss to Stanford (after leading 5-3 in the deciding set).
“What made the Sugar Bowl loss even worse was the winning touchdown was scored by a player named Gregg Garrity,” he said. “No relation.”
That game was for a national championship. The defeat four weeks ago wasn’t, but the stakes were almost as big.
“You’re fortunate in this business when the great wins in this business outnumber the tough days,” he said. “It just seems the tough losses stay with you the longest.”
The losses mean there’s room for improvement. The losses, and even fear of losses, keeps you a little comfortable. Maybe even paranoid. Nobody should expect that to change.
By Jeff Schultz
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364 comments Add your comment
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
2:47 pm
Steve, I hear ya buddy. I sense the jealous from GTBob. Maybe he’s also jealous of the beautiful “scenery” on our campus too.
Sorry, but im not the slightest bit jealous of UGA. I would much rather laugh and ridicule your poor excuse for a college then be associated with you in any way.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
2:47 pm
joey,
Pryor never had and likely never will have Cam’s arm.
34 the Greatest
December 28th, 2012
2:49 pm
Fearthewagon is right – the Dawgs haven’t proven anything over the past 2 seasons other than that they can back into the SECCG and lose. They still haven’t beaten anyone of consequence in years. Until they play and beat top competition and start winning championships,I will continue to be in favor of a coaching change. This team has underachieved since 2005. It’s time to put up or shut up.
And Buckeye, you have zero voice in this conversation – 0 for the SEC! Besides, no one cares about Big 10 football except people in the obese belt.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
2:49 pm
Top 3 wins: Florida, Ole Miss, Vandy and will add Nebraska to that list.
So one of your top 3 wins was against a 6-6 ole miss team that was slaughtered by an unranked Texas team?
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
2:50 pm
stevo,
How many “big” games has Murray being Murray in big games Murray won?
Steve
December 28th, 2012
2:51 pm
34 the Greatest, beating #2 Florida this year was not something of consequence? Wow.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
2:51 pm
34 the greatest,
I see you were frozen in 1981.
34 the Greatest
December 28th, 2012
2:51 pm
Buckeye – when was the last time in the past 10 years that Blowhio State was relevant to anyone outside of Columbus, OH?
Steve
December 28th, 2012
2:51 pm
Not many at all. Your point?
34 the Greatest
December 28th, 2012
2:52 pm
Steve – Ufag was grossly overrated.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
2:53 pm
34,
And I agree. The dogs are blow hard underachievers who talk a big game and, more often than not, do not deliver.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
2:53 pm
Gotta go,
The Young and the Restless starts soon then Mom gets home.
34 the Greatest
December 28th, 2012
2:53 pm
Point is, this is about Georgia football…no one cares about what a fan of a 2nd tier school in a 3rd tier conference has to say! Go find a Suckeyes board…
Birdhair
December 28th, 2012
2:56 pm
Sorry, but im not the slightest bit jealous of UGA. I would much rather laugh and ridicule your poor excuse for a college then be associated with you in any way. – GTBob
You sure do spend a lot effort attempting to belittle UGA. We are on the up-swing. GT is a pitiful excuse of a football program. I take much comfort with my UGA degree and upbringing. Enjoyed the beautiful “scenery” on campus, was able to get a great job like many other uga graduates. I spend zero time on the tek blogs. Georgia tek is far below our standards and not worth a second of our time.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:01 pm
Enjoyed the beautiful “scenery” on campus, was able to get a great job like many other uga graduates.
Will you just say hot chicks instead of trying to be cute and saying scenery? Every college has them. You aren’t special. Unfortunately you had to get a substandard degree to see the ones in Athens. I applaud you though if you are being truthful and actually managed to land a respectable job with a UGA degree. That is a tall task.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:03 pm
Point is, this is about Georgia football…no one cares about what a fan of a 2nd tier school in a 3rd tier conference has to say!
Do we really have UGA fans trying to pretend that UGA is anywhere close to Ohio St in National relevance? Oh my.
Buckeye
December 28th, 2012
3:04 pm
34,
Check the overall BCS record. Yo shall find your answer there, grasshopper.
Big Crimson 75
December 28th, 2012
3:04 pm
Sorry about the kick-off miscue.
So it’s a regular home & home with the fighting Dabo’s.
Y’all better beat the Farm Boys!!
If Murray bounces, 0 & 2 is pretty much a guarantee next Year(thanks for the reminder red stick).
Dawggirl — based on the D that showed in Atlanta, I expect UGA to be vastly improved in that department next year once the over-hyped ones leave Athens.
If Murray stays, UGA remains a top 10 Team.
Bama, A&M & UGA will have easily the superior offenses in the SEC next year.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:06 pm
If Murray stays, UGA remains a top 10 Team.
You are giving Murray way too much credit. There is actually a good possibility that UGA’s backup is better than Murray.
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2012
3:07 pm
JSS — Happy New Year. Come on — turn that frown upside down!
Birdhair
December 28th, 2012
3:07 pm
Georgia Tek doesn’t have near the quality and quantity of beautiful women talent that UGA has. So, I wouldn’t just say that every college campus has that to offer. Georgia tek sure does not. Have you walked through campus lately? I bet you don’t at night. You’d get robbed.
Geriatric football fan
December 28th, 2012
3:09 pm
You people naming coaches are clueless. Saban, Petrino, Meyer, Tubberville, etc are all the same. Good win/loss results yes, but when the going gets tough or they get “caught”, or a better or a better offer comes along, they bolt. They always have, and the stripes won’t change. And you know nothing about Smart except he gets great results with the best talent in CFB. Anybody could coach that bunch. That said, you members of the “society of the miserable”, whatever institution you are a fan of had best be careful about what you wish for (ie Jimbo Fisher), you may get what you ask for instead of what you need, and you will have no one to blame but your loud obnoxious selves.
Steve
December 28th, 2012
3:10 pm
According to U.S. News, UGA is a better public University than Purdue, Texas A&M, Clemson, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Auburn, FSU, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee……
I guess all of those schools are substandard also right little GTBob? I love how your posts keep making you look worse and worse.
Geriatric football fan
December 28th, 2012
3:10 pm
GTBob. There is indeed always a “possibility”. There just isn’t a probability.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:13 pm
Georgia Tek doesn’t have near the quality and quantity of beautiful women talent that UGA has. So, I wouldn’t just say that every college campus has that to offer. Georgia tek sure does not.
UGA has more, but Tech has its fair share. Have you ever actually tried to talk to a woman at UGA though? Its like talking to a 5 year old. It immediately kills any level of attractiveness they previously had. And no, of the thousands of times I have walked through Tech’s campus I have yet to get robbed. I feel like I am missing out.
Steve
December 28th, 2012
3:15 pm
Right again GTBob! I guess the media is just making up the crime stories on and around the Tech campus.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:16 pm
I guess all of those schools are substandard also right little GTBob? I love how your posts keep making you look worse and worse.
Yes, most of the ones you listed are pretty substandard overall. A couple have really good individual programs though that make them not completely useless.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:18 pm
Right again GTBob! I guess the media is just making up the crime stories on and around the Tech campus.
Maybe it happens all the time and im just lucky. If you need to walk through campus some time I will be glad to escort you. You will have to wear a dress though to show how much of a coward you are.
Dawg1996
December 28th, 2012
3:21 pm
Here’s a question for Richt and staff:
In the SECCG, it was pretty well known that Alabama’s lines were dominant (even if not as dominate in 2011). On offense, the key was to run them around a little bit, like A&M and LSU did. However, we kept running Gurley up the middle, straight at them. He’s a great back and it worked to some degree, but why not bounce Marshall outside as well to tire out those big fellas. If this happened, maybe Bama doesn’t have the gas to deflect that last pass. On defense, in the second half, we continued to overcommit at the line after it became clear that we were overmatched and tired (missing tackles) to compete at the line. At that point, ADJUST. Play a bit futher back. Contain. Prevent the big plays. Giving up 350 yards on the ground is what ultimately cost us the game, not what happened on the final play. At halftime, Saban said the team that can run the ball in the second half would win the game – he was likely holding back on the run until the second half because he knew we’re not great at making in-game adjustments.
I guess this makes me a member of McGarity’s “SOTM.” But he’s a very smart man and I bet has the same doubts/questions because it goes along with never being comfortable. AMEN for that management approach!
Birdhair
December 28th, 2012
3:22 pm
Buying out Paul Hewitt, buying out CPJ…wow, the nerds pockets will be hit hard again. Their AD bolts to a rival A.C.C school. Lol. I almost feel bad for the nerds.
Steve
December 28th, 2012
3:26 pm
Ha ha. Yes I am a total coward. It’s actually called being smart.
ATLANTA — Georgia Tech students, worried about their safety, wonder when — not if — armed robbers will strike again and hold-up another one of them, on campus or off campus.
It is because of the recent string of armed robberies that many students want to carry their own guns on campus.
In the past month, the crimes against Tech students have renewed interest in groups like Georgia Tech Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:28 pm
Buying out Paul Hewitt, buying out CPJ…wow, the nerds pockets will be hit hard again.
Yeah, we just built a 45 million dollar basketball arena, received a 50 million dollar donation just for our business school, and our endowment is about three times UGA’s now. We are really suffering.
NCDAWG
December 28th, 2012
3:28 pm
God, there are some genuine A-holes on these blogs. How do you people work up the energy to get out of bed in the morning? You spend it all on moaning and groaning about Mark Richt and UGA football. Take heart Richt haters! McGarity says he isn’t comfortable! That means that if Richt screws up as much as you people think he has, and will, then he will likely get fired. Then will come the complaining about who gets hired to replace him ( it doesn’t matter who it is BTW ) and then after whoever that poor sucker is loses his first game you’ll declare he is worse than Richt and on and on and on it will go. Face it : you are miserable people that have nothing better to do than COMPLAIN. Nothing will ever satisfy you. You live in a personal hell and want everyone else to suffer as much as you do. Really sad.
Birdhair
December 28th, 2012
3:29 pm
Steve,
We also read about tek students getting caught trying to concoct weapons. So not only do they have crime on the campus they also have a number of students in the news who are also attempting to create crime. A sad state of affairs at georgia tek.
Geriatric football fan
December 28th, 2012
3:29 pm
GTBob. You are correct about the fair share, since all you need is one, and I saw one when I was there last. And, if you would ask a UGA coed something that didn’t start with “why did you choose to show your ignorance by coming to such an academically inferior university that doesn’t come close to Tech’s great (translated mythical) standards?”, you may get a welcome reception and conversation. The truth is that UGA coeds read people like you so easily. And, if you haven’t been robbed yet, just hang around, you will be. Have a Happy New Year, and you are invited to the Superiority Myth party at the Beta house tonight.
Birdhair
December 28th, 2012
3:31 pm
We are really suffering – GTBob.
You sure do act like you are suffering and jealous. How about spending your time on the tek blogs?
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:31 pm
Ha ha. Yes I am a total coward. It’s actually called being smart.
Good. Keep being smart. If it keeps UGA fans away, I am fine with Techs campus being the most dangerous place on earth. Personally I would rather be shot/killed then have to be within 5 feet of most UGA fans.
Dawglasville
December 28th, 2012
3:32 pm
GTBob – “Have you ever actually tried to talk to a woman at UGA though? Its like talking to a 5 year old. It immediately kills any level of attractiveness they previously had.”
This has got to be a copy cat GTBob. This statement even takes your typical trolling to a new level. How vile and obnoxious. I hope in 2013 you take a look at all of the time you wasted on the UGA blog over the last year and decide to you use that great big Tech brain of yours to do something productive with your life.
Joey
December 28th, 2012
3:34 pm
Not only “Geriatric (3:09),” but you are the crazy uncle, for lumping Saban and Myer in with the rest of those.
I can’t stand cheaters either, but neither Saban nor Myer have ever had whispers about their various programs. They both got loads of talent to Bama and UF, no doubt. But answer this: which head coach had Matthew Stafford, AJ Green, Knowshon Mareno, Mohamed Massaquoi, Asher Allen, Justin Houston, Geno Atkins, Rashad Jones, Brandon Boykin, and a half-dozen O-linemen that currently draw salaries in the NFL, all one one team, and didn’t even win his DIVISION?
Mark Richt has been good for UGA and deserves to leave on his own terms.
But you are bat-crazy if you think he is as good a coach as those two guys, or hasn’t underachieved, with the talent he has gotten to Athens.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:34 pm
You sure do act like you are suffering and jealous. How about spending your time on the tek blogs?
My presence tends to cause heated negative discussion. I usually refrain from ruining the Tech blogs out of respect for my Tech brethren.
FLA DAWG
December 28th, 2012
3:34 pm
GTBob,
In my opinion you and some of your fans are the most pathetic of losers in college football.
Your team is a disaster. You are still unable to fill your stadium despite its location in downtown Atlanta and you have no prospects for improvement.
Yet you come onto this site and attempt to ridicule UGA – a team that has beaten The Bugs 10 of the last 11 seasons I believe.
I’m a UGA alumn. I see the weakness in our program and comment on them with hope of improvement.
I never go to GT sites and pile on your miserable team weaknesses. Besides, it would take too long to write them and since your team has absolutely no impact in college football it wouldn’t matter anyway.
Get a life GTB
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:36 pm
This has got to be a copy cat GTBob. This statement even takes your typical trolling to a new level.
Next time you talk to a sorority girl at UGA count how many times she says ‘like’ in a brief conversation. I will set the over/under at 100 if anyone wants to place bets.
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:40 pm
Besides, it would take too long to write them and since your team has absolutely no impact in college football it wouldn’t matter anyway.
Which would make our impact about equal to UGA’s huh? Do you guys really think anyone in the college football world cares about UGA? You are seen as a mid level SEC team that the Alabama’s and LSU’s of the world use as a tune up game before the National Championship. Congrats!
Big Crimson 75
December 28th, 2012
3:44 pm
GTBob
December 28th, 2012
3:06 pm
If Murray stays, UGA remains a top 10 Team.
You are giving Murray way too much credit. There is actually a good possibility that UGA’s backup is better than Murray.
————
You might be right Bobby.
Those turnovers do have a tendacy to wash all those padded passing yards & TD’s.
Veteran Fan
December 28th, 2012
3:46 pm
McGarity and Evans with their scheduling expertise have improved the record with some good players to get uga into back to back SEC championship games. Uga played way over their heads and Bama took them lightly in the first half to come close! It was a very good showing by the fifth best team in the conference(Bama, Texas AM, LSU, and USC)! The problem is coming next year when the schedule gets a little tougher, uga loses a ton of talent, and USC, Florida, and Tennessee are much better! The last two years was uga’s opportunity to join the big boys and become an elite program and they didn’t make it! Richt knows it and that is why there is no buyout and he was so upset and rationalizing after the Bama game!
Steve
December 28th, 2012
3:46 pm
According to Forbes, UGA is the 7th most valuable college football team in the country. Looks like someone cares. I guess #7 is amazing for a “mid-level” team, ha ha.
Big Crimson 75
December 28th, 2012
3:46 pm
*also known as tendency!!
GA DAWG
December 28th, 2012
3:47 pm
NC DAWG:
Your ability to accept mediocrity is what plagues our program. If Alabama and Auburn can win National Championships with talent plucked from the state of Georgia, why shouldn’t Georgia? So what’s the difference? It’s not the talent – Coach Richt pointed that out several times before the SECCG – we have great players.
You were probably satisfied with Donnan too, and Goff before that.
Dawglasville
December 28th, 2012
3:49 pm
GTBob – It’s enough for us to know that you care so much about the University of Georgia to be on every blog, every day, talking about how little you care about the University of Georgia.
5 yards short
December 28th, 2012
3:50 pm
Losing to South Carolina for 3 straight years is unacceptable. Dave Perno needs to step up and so does our Tax Accountant basketball coach the floundering Fox!