Damon Evans on UGA football: ‘I do have some concerns’
Damon Evans in a lighter moment at the Cobb Galleria. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said today via e-mail that he does “have some concerns” about the state of his football program. Responding to an e-mail asking for his feelings regarding the Bulldogs’ season — they’re 3-3 for the first time since 1996 — Evans offered this:
“I do have some concerns about where we are at this point of the season. I know Coach [Mark] Richt, the assistant coaches, the players and our fans have the same concerns with our current record and the way we’ve been playing.
“Coach Richt and I have talked just as we do periodically throughout the season. I think his focus right now is on the immediate future, which is the Vanderbilt game and doing everything possible to prepare our team. That’s where it needs to be.
“Beyond that, I have total confidence that Coach Richt will properly evaluate our team, address concerns and prepare the right path that will direct us back into the position we all want to be in — competing for championships.”
As statements go, Evans’ would seem both pointed and nuanced. He didn’t pretend to happy with current events, but he didn’t issue a directive for immediate “significant improvement.” (Vince Dooley, Evans’ predecessor, did that with Ray Goff back in 1995, which turned out to be Goff’s last season as coach.)
If you’re Mark Richt, Evans just said what you want to hear: That his boss has “total confidence” in him. But if you’re a Georgia fan, Evans just said what you want to hear as well: That certain “concerns” might need to be addressed and, put simply, that the University of Georgia expects more from its football team.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
593 comments Add your comment
Super Dog
October 12th, 2009
7:08 pm
As a fan I don’t expect 10 win season every year
I do expect to beat FL more and I expect the coach’s at Ga to take this game seriously. They do not
Dooley did not have great seasons I realize that, but one thing you could count on with Dooley, we could believe we had a chance against any team we faced.
I like Richt, do not want to see him go, Im hoping to see some coordinators leave or demoted
Bruce Jones
October 12th, 2009
7:09 pm
Will the fans accept waiting until the season is over to learn what changes Richt might make? If they keep losing and the coaches on the hot seat remain, even if just for the rest of this season, will that not cause more discontent with both the fans and recruits?
Bill
October 12th, 2009
7:09 pm
There has always been a concern that CMR would not be “tough enuf” to make the decisions necessary to avoid seasons like this one and a gradual decline in the program. Originally it came from Bobby Bowden (not my favorite by a long shot) but he should know, and now we are finding out he did.
Tbonebull
October 12th, 2009
7:09 pm
Damon Evans as Mark Richt’s “boss” ??? Are you kidding me? Mark Richt makes more money by Valentine’s Day than Evans makes all year. Evans is a figurehead for Adams and the athletic dept. He is NOT the decision maker. Give me a break.
Dacula Dawg
October 12th, 2009
7:12 pm
Mark,
Would you take the redshirt off Aaron Murray now to prepare him for next year? With 3 losses is seems pointless not to play him.
Super Dog
October 12th, 2009
7:12 pm
Frogger
I agree with your O line analysis a change needs to be made
We also need a Running Back to coach the Running Backs not an ex wide reciever
But Playing calling must get better though
Say What?
October 12th, 2009
7:12 pm
Lane Kiffin Show on Sports South right now…..he rubbing it in guys. uga will never beat Tennessee did he really say that?
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2009
7:14 pm
I had this conversation with colleagues in the car en route to Tallahassee, Dacula, and after much debate I’m thinking I might play Murray now.
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2009
7:14 pm
Not saying start him ahead of Joe Cox. But play him.
dawgster
October 12th, 2009
7:14 pm
I heard what Buck said also, but i do know for a fact that we do alot of strength trainning along with the agility but so do all of the other SEC progarms, not sure if that is entirely our problem, but i will say we don’t seem to be as strong up front on the lines as the top teams, but again are we just young there in certain spots or is it our schemes, our offensive line coach is regarded as one of the finest in the business, i don’t believe he has forgotten how to coach…how much have the injuries hurt us on the line these past two years, shoulder surgeries, leaving the team, players moving from one position to the other…i believe the offensive and defensive lines are the key to our team getting back on the level with the other SEC powerhouses…
Bob Brown
October 12th, 2009
7:15 pm
It’s time for all Dawg fans to rally behind the coaches and team. We have experienced tough times before and will survive this. To our coaches and team members – we trust in you to turn this season around. I believe in Coach Richt and know he will do what is necessary to make us proud again. Aloha to all Dawgs from Honolulu and have faith.
Super Dog
October 12th, 2009
7:16 pm
I hope Richt makes changes ASAP with coordinators
We don’t need Kiffin Meyer Saban and Miles telling recruits Ga is in turmoil you don’t need to go there
Bigdawg62
October 12th, 2009
7:17 pm
Free Willie!!!
GoVols
October 12th, 2009
7:17 pm
Mark, it seems like Dawg fans are rightly upset about the effort, the defensive coordinator, and the offensive coordinator. But many people forecast an 8-4 / 9-3 year and I still think they are on track for that. One year too long on Willie, question marks about Bobo, but they did lose Stafford and Moreno. I would be concerned as a Dawg fan about the lack of depth and talent on defense. We at UT went through the same thing. Chavis wasn’t a recruiter but a solid coach.
Don’t you think 8-4 is very achievable? And I don’t even like Georgia!
Super Dog
October 12th, 2009
7:18 pm
Play Murry, Mettenburger and Gray season is over give these guys playing time or we will pay for it for 2 more years
Cobb Dawg
October 12th, 2009
7:18 pm
CMR will do what he needs to do when the season is over, and my guess is that he will take back some of the offensive play calling immediately. My question is that within two years of Richt coming to UGA he won a conference championship. While Paul Johnson has done better than Gailey, why does the AJC writers put Johnson ahead of Richt before he has accomplished what Richt has? Seems to me like Johnson is kinda like Obama…..giving him props for something he hasn’t done yet.
BIG ORANGE COUNTY AKA POWER "T"
October 12th, 2009
7:18 pm
LANE KIFFIN CAUSES GEORGIA FOOTBALL PROGRAM TO CRUMBLE!!
National Title
October 12th, 2009
7:19 pm
At least you dawg fans can take comfort in your preseason bcs trophy from last year. or maybe not.
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2009
7:19 pm
I think right now Georgia would have to upset somebody — Florida or Tech — to hit 8-4. And 7-5 would be the worst record since Donnan’s first year.
CigarDawg
October 12th, 2009
7:19 pm
Evans is symptomatic of the problem at UGA as well: Refuse to look nationwide for someone who will elevate the program and hire locally or from within and perpetuate the mediocrity. Evans was Dooley’s boy and is beholden to the same folks who pulled Dooley’s strings and who eventually got rid of him. There is no way he was the very best that UGA could have found, just look at the sorry state of our other athletic programs outside gymnastics.
Richt has reached his peak at UGA. This is not just a cyclical season, it is the proverbial chickens coming home to roost. We can no longer count on those ugly wins that all you “A win is a win” chanters fail to recognize when you cite the stats. Richt’s best years were with Donnan’s players and many of his wins were a single play away from being a loss, more than the number of losses that were a single play away from being a win, which so many of you love to cling to.
It’s been 4 years since our last SEC title and in that time we watched Meyer and Miles come in and win 3 combined MNC’s with their predecessors’ players. Saban also came back and is again knocking at the door in his second year back. Richt has had 9 years to build a self-sustaining program, but we are constantly falling short and then “reloading” while he has become a multi-millionaire from fans’ hard-earned dollars. We should all expect, no, DEMAND more from him than he has produced on the field.
Bruce Jones
October 12th, 2009
7:21 pm
Thanks for the comment GoVols. You are indeed a class act.
Ginger
October 12th, 2009
7:22 pm
Agree…think that I would play Murray now…..If he turns out good as advertised in HS and I don’t think he will be around for a 5th year as SR any way..
Rabun Dawg
October 12th, 2009
7:22 pm
Mark, your column in today’s AJC was right on about the situation at UGA. I, like most loyal UGA fans like CMR, but he has to take a look at his staff and address some of these problem areas. Sad to say, but our guys looked clueless and played with no emotion against UT. That was almost a mirror image of our last trip to Knoxville, and it appears if they just “packed it in” the 2nd half. Most of us will hate to admit it, but look at the situation over at North Ave. Say what you will, but they are definitely on the rise, and we are going the other direction. Recruiting will be a major problem going forward with what is happening around us in the border states. Look at USC East, they are passing us by, or so it seems, and we have enough trouble with the likes of Bama, Auburn, and UT raiding the state for talent, not to mention GA. Tech on the upswing. CMR has to be aware of all of this, and surely changes will be coming forth at the end of this season. 2009, well this one looks to a lost cause at this juncture unless some miracle occurs! JMHO
Matt Sterbation
October 12th, 2009
7:23 pm
Mark I love the columns when everybody is fired up and wanting to run people out of town on a rail. This is good stuff.
Jeremy
October 12th, 2009
7:23 pm
Mark you can’t be serious. So you don’t think hiring a defensive coordinator has 2 more National Championships rings than Richt and I know he has one more SEC championship than Richt a good hire? Are you serious? Oh yea Tennesse just hired an half season NFL coach and assistant coach from
USC once they fired National Championship winner Phillip Fulmer and hired Lane Kiffin who just mashed Georgia this weekend. But hiring Charlie Strong (whose defense is the main reason Florida has won) is wrong, wow this amazes me but then again it doesn’t. He has the hardware but can’t get a head coaching job, I wonder why? Please explain that to me somebody. MARK…
JDH GT
October 12th, 2009
7:23 pm
As a Tech fan, I’d love for those of you asking for CMR to get the axe to get your wish.
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2009
7:25 pm
Richt has two national championship rings himself.
And I’m not ready to dub Lane Kiffin the next Urban Meyer just yet. Seems to me Tennessee is 3-3 itself.
Rankin Smith Jr
October 12th, 2009
7:25 pm
I think over the last few years the UGA program reached a plateau. Rather, than fire the coach at that point, like any self-respecting AD/GM would do, Evans has allowed the program to fall off of the plateau.
Johnny DangerDawg
October 12th, 2009
7:26 pm
I agree that Damon Evans said the perfect words for this situation. He needs to remain cool and calm until the football season is over. He said he’s concerned with “the way we’ve been playing,” so I believe he will do what needs to be done in the off-season. I feel better knowing that Damon Evans expects better things from our team, but I also believe he will not rush to rash decisions.
Top Dawg
October 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
What is the ‘ol Swamp Fox (Marion Campbell) up to these days? Maybe he could restore order to the defense.
Steve
October 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
We need to play tougher non conference games, that helps with recruiting.
Coach Richt got a vote of confidence today but it was conditional.
Damon Evans had to speak about the subject and he picked the right time and place.
Yes, we should play Aaron Murray now, he offers a bright future for our program. However, he is only one player. We need to use and coach our other top ten recruits as well.
dbc
October 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
I’d be very surprised if Richt ever got rid of Martinez or Bobo. They might get demoted, but they’ll still be coaching. Neither one has a good track record or a wealth of experience. CMR will never kick them to the curb because he knows that would spell doom for their respective careers. I guess lost in all this “fire them immediately” talk is the fact these are men with families. Can’t lose sight of that I suppose.
Mike T.
October 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
If he turns out good as advertised in HS and I don’t think he will be around for a 5th year as SR any way..
All the more reason to keep the redshirt on don’t you think? If you play him now, with half the season gone, you might then only get two years from him.
dawes
October 12th, 2009
7:27 pm
fire bozo tht clown and fare martinez
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2009
7:28 pm
The famous story about Marion Campbell and Ray Goff: The two agreed to meet at McDonald’s in Hartwell to discuss Campbell’s interest in being the UGA coordinator — but there were two McDonald’s in Hartwell. Goff went to one, Campbell to the other.
Matt Sterbation
October 12th, 2009
7:29 pm
Ok Georgia fans this may hurt but I am going to say it anyway. Everybody knows that Georgia is down. I think it is time to run Willie off for sure and probably Bobo the clown as well. While we are at it lets run MR off as well and only if we can afford to pay Bill Cower 5.5 mil a year to come coach the Dawgs and only if he is willing to sign a contract that says he will not leave for the NFL. What do you all think? If you want to win then we gotta pay to play.
Mike T.
October 12th, 2009
7:30 pm
Richt has two national championship rings himself.
I wish he would bring them out and let our guys get a good look at them.Of course it’s to late this year.
dawgster
October 12th, 2009
7:31 pm
Although it might be a good idea for Mark to take over the play calling for Bobo, i don’t think he would just based on his loyalty and the way he runs the team by letting the coache do the job they are paid to do….I agree play calling has been a mystery at times, but it still comes down to the players have to execute, they are not doing that..dropped balls, fumbles, penalties, blocking…i know the coaches take the heat for this and they should, but our players have got to give it there all out there on every play, and that is not being done, the exception being A.J. Green….no one else in our offense scares the other team…
GoVols
October 12th, 2009
7:31 pm
Total aside, but to your point, Mark, my Vols will end up with a losing record. Crompton is still, well, Crompton. So, any stalking Vol fans, don’t get cocky.
FLADAWG
October 12th, 2009
7:31 pm
Everybody needs to settle down. Can anyone honestly say that they thought this would be a banner year? Come on, we all knew it wasn’t going to be pretty. For year’s I’ve said Martinez needs to go, but let’s face it, right now the offense is the problem. Not to mention poor play calling. Has anyone else noticed that every team in the SEC runs the SLANT with great success? Cox doesn’t have a strong arm, nor does he have a quick release. These are both problems with the offense we’re trying to run. On 1st down we throw that slow developing out pass, what? For that play to work, we’ve first got to establish a passing game, in order to back the defense off the line. I still believe CMR is the right coach, I have no confidence Martinez, Bobo or Cox. As always, GO DAWGS!
Bruce Jones
October 12th, 2009
7:32 pm
If you are redshirted you can leave after your sophomore yr. just like Moreno did. We got two yrs. of on field action out of him. If you play as a freshman you can leave after your junior yr. which would equal 3 yrs. of on the field action Mike T.
Top Dawg
October 12th, 2009
7:32 pm
Mark: What is your Username and Password. I clicked on that link and tried to read your article about Campbell and Goff but could not due to the aforementioned need for your Username and Password. You would not mind sharing those with us. Would you?
bulldog in carolina
October 12th, 2009
7:33 pm
tired of every qb looking like joe montana and every running back looking like emmtt smith…these crummy players cannot complete a pass or run past 3 yards against other really weak teams…we need to check our systems…every year top 10 in recruiting and playing below capabilities…time to chin up…go dawgs!!
VA
October 12th, 2009
7:33 pm
Ga has no KILLER INSTINCT! The season is lost. Why not play the future and not continue to honor a commitment to play Cox in 2009. Ga is now the fourth or fifth best team in the SEC and falling daily. Someone better wake up.
Donnan got fired for a lot less.
Mark Bradley
October 12th, 2009
7:33 pm
That wasn’t a real link, Top Dawg. That was something that got pasted into the comment by mistake. (And since deleted.) Sorry for the confusion.
hunker down
October 12th, 2009
7:33 pm
If Kirby Smart were to come to UGA as say a DC how long would he stay? I don’t see that happening. In the near future someone will offer him a head coaching job. If an SEC coaching job came open I think that Smart would bolt and rightfully so, as he could not pass up the opportunity. I do not see UGA wanting to have him in a revolving door situation nor do I think would he want to be placed in that situation. I feel he is waiting on opportunity to present itself and has too much respect for the UGA program. Just my take on the issue.
D. Ellis
October 12th, 2009
7:33 pm
Mark B.-I disagree about Murray. Now is the time to really see if Logan Gray can play and will be in the mix for next year. You rotate Gray more into the game and see what he has. If he’s got nothing then you hitch to Murray for the long haul win lose or draw cause the kid is a player and so far you have signed no one behind him…and my hunch is he’s here for all 4
-I do have a question ( other than Bryan Evans question from yesterday Falcon Blog). Reshad Jones has been in this program for 4 years ( well 3.5) . How can someone look so lost on coverage as he does. I can’t really recall a single play that he has made in 6 games….but I have seen more than a handful of blown ones.
JD
October 12th, 2009
7:34 pm
I JUST WONDER HOW SOME OF THE FAITHFUL BULLDOG FANS HAVE SUCH A SHORT MEMORY. UGA WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT NATIONALLY BEFORE CMR PUT US ON THE MAP. HOW DO YOU GET RID OF A GUY LIKE THAT….THIS SOON? IF WE CAN ALL AGREE HE IS NOT THE PROBLEM, THEN LET FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM(s)! NEW DC, UPGRADING THE OLINE/DLINE, & IMPROVING THE SPECIAL TEAMS. THE OFFENSE HAS HAD ITS MOMEMTS THIS YEAR AND DOES NOT CONCERN ME LIKE THE OTHER ISSUES I JUST ADDRESSED. COME ON BULLDAWG NATION…LETS STAND UP AND CHEER FOR OUR TEAM!
djawjuh
October 12th, 2009
7:35 pm
Hey y’all:
I guess none of you are baseball fans. You must realize that when the GM says he has complete confidence in the manager, that the axe is coming, it is a matter of when.
The axe I refer to at UGA is one that takes with it Martinez, Fabris, Bobo and some others. A thorough, real house cleaning.
I have my doubts that Richt will agree to that and for Damon Evans, that’s where the rubber hits the road. What will he do if confronted with a Richt that says “my way of highway?” Tune in.
WTF?
October 12th, 2009
7:36 pm
When Richt first arrived at UGA with the staff he chose, Richt had his total opposite in Vangorder. Richt was calm, calling offense like no other coach is able to do. Vangorder brought the fire and aggresiveness that we so desperately needed on the defense, and to “fire the DAWGS up”.
When Richt gave up the offense to assume the “CEO” role as he referred to, we lost our edge on offense. When we lost Vangorder, we lost the nasty aggresiveness on defense the brought fear to other teams.
IF we can get Richt to assume play calling on the offense, and, IF Richt can get his equal on the defensive side of the ball, UGA will again be a consistant threat in the SEC.
This is the part that Richt struggles with. Making the Head Coach decisions where personnel are concerened. Richt, dod what you know best which is call the offense and hire the best Defensive Coordinator money will buy!