Greg McGarity as AD: A win-win for Georgia and Adams
Esteemed colleague Tim Tucker is reporting that Greg McGarity will be named Georgia’s athletic director, which prompts the question: Will wonders never cease?
Because this would truly be a wonder. It would mean that Michael Adams, the president who cared nothing for what his constituency thought in regard to one AD seven years ago, is making a move that will delight those same constituents who came to hate his guts.
Greg McGarity, if you don’t know, is a Darn Good Dawg of long standing. He’s from Athens. He came to UGA to play tennis under the legendary Dan Magill. He coached tennis for a while, then turned to administration.
In his duties as assistant AD McGarity met and befriended an assistant AD from Florida, and when Jeremy Foley became the top man in Gainesville he hired his pal. The two have formed a famous partnership since 1992.
And now the tandem that has made Florida the model athletic department — Foley out front making the hires, McGarity making sure the electric bills at Reptile Central get paid — is apparently breaking up. And it would be a win-win for Georgia, which would be hiring a distinguished Bulldog and taking a considerable asset from the hated Gators.
It would also be a win-win for Adams, who has seized on an embarrassing turn of events — you might have heard about Damon Evans’ night on the town — to demonstrate a brand of leadership this correspondent wasn’t sure he had in him.
The belief here was that Adams would dismiss McGarity as a candidate simply because he came up under Vince Dooley, whom Adams brushed aside seven years ago. But if McGarity is indeed the choice, he’d be yet another indication that this president has grown in his stewardship to the extent that holding a grudge is less important than doing the right thing.
The day after accepting Evans’ resignation, Adams announced that his first look would be outside the department, that his preference was to find someone who’d worked at the highest level of collegiate athletics. On its face, those sentiments didn’t seem encouraging news to the McGarity Lobby. It sounded like Adams wanted someone who’d been an AD, not a No. 2, but if being No. 2 at Florida doesn’t stamp a man as first-class … well, what would?
As regrettable as Evans’ exit was, the advent of McGarity will essentially put that matter to rest. Evans was a rising star in the industry, but his successor is no less able. Not many schools would be able to swap out these men in the course of six weeks. It says something about Georgia. Says something about the UGA president, too.
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
171 comments Add your comment
GT Fan
August 12th, 2010
8:06 pm
Mark you got that one right. Great pick and all UGA sports will be better with his (hire) support. Great job Dawgs.
SOS Dawg
August 12th, 2010
8:08 pm
Dave Perno has also just been put on notice…..
Oompa Loompa Dawg
August 12th, 2010
8:12 pm
I bet this guy will tell Mark Richt not to recruit midgets.
Russ4Heisman
August 12th, 2010
8:12 pm
First order of business: name Russ as permanent Uga. “All white” and “bloodlines” be d–ned.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2010
8:14 pm
Thanks, defactodawg. I’m in your debt.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2010
8:15 pm
I believe Jeff Schultz is on vacation, Slick.
alabamadog
August 12th, 2010
8:16 pm
Agreed. Now if he could just get his head out of his arse on the North Campus tailgating situation. Clueless.
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:21 pm
Mark, do you recognize the line from whitaker walt?
Delbert D.
August 12th, 2010
8:21 pm
That Andy Staples and Stewart Mandel article on SI.com pointed out something shocking. None of the BCS conference replay booths had high-definition monitors. No wonder we fans could see what the officials obviously couldn’t. That has been changed for this year.
RELENTLESS
August 12th, 2010
8:22 pm
DawgDad — Obviously you are oblivious to the SPORT of college tennis. I would like to see how long you could last chasing a tennis ball, not to mention the hand eye coordination required for this very athletic SPORT. And speaking of teamwork, you evidently have never heard of DOUBLES. Sounds to me like your knowledge of tennis is “gone with the wind”.
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:26 pm
let’s see, mcgarity, charity, parity, rareaty, vulgarity, similarity, inverarry,
greg is an easier rhyme
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2010
8:26 pm
I do now, Coach Todd.
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:28 pm
said greg the new ad named mcgarity
i want to achieve with florida parity
if i make that goal
it will save my soul
and i’ll give my salary to charity
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:28 pm
that movie was early for even you, i think
Old Dawg
August 12th, 2010
8:29 pm
Perhaps Darth Adams has joined the “good” side after all. May wisdom, logic, courtesy, humility and compassion remain his persona.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2010
8:29 pm
I saw “The Russians Are Coming … ” when I was in grade school.
Nice limerick, BTW.
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:31 pm
i saw it when i was 6. could get the satire even then, if i might say so.
Pulpwood Smith
August 12th, 2010
8:33 pm
I don’t know all of the details but according to this article it’s interesting that McGarrity is the “numbers guy” at Florida while Foley is the front-man making the hires. If I’m not mistaken, UGA has a very capable “numbers guy” in Frank Crumley. I wonder if this is a duplication where Georgia will have two guys with similar strengths rather than two guys with disparate strengths which would be more effective.
LOL
August 12th, 2010
8:33 pm
Wilder just comitted to Florida State
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:34 pm
does McGarity look just the slightest bit like Alfred E. Newman?
FalconUGAFan
August 12th, 2010
8:34 pm
Serious question here..I hear alot of UGA fans complain about Adams. From what I can see, he has done a pretty decent job. Why all the complaints? I’m an out of towner, so I’m not really up on it. I would love to see a unimpassioned explanation why some people feel the way they do.
Just Like January 2013
August 12th, 2010
8:36 pm
This will be just like January of 2013 when we have to see yet another “respectable citizen” step in to clean up the mess left by a jive-talking, dishonest, hypocritical Affirmative Action plant.
Keep THAT Real, Haters, and Go, Dawgs!
POAD
August 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
LOL when Wilder looked at UGA he knew the better place to be was FSU. Urban is more nuts than a crack head and could be gone in 2 years. At fSU he winn not plau GT but once in the next 4 yeas unless both make it to the ACCCG. The Dawgs will be # 3 or #4 in the SEC for years to come.
todd grantham
August 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
kinda that “what? me worry?” look
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:45 pm
Now the hot seat it lit……………….He’ll get 2010 and 2011 and if we’re stll filling the jails and winning 8-9 games, I’m one who thinks we see a new head coach….I don’t want that….I like Mark, but the UGA football team is bigger than him and fresh eyes will see 20/20 upon arrival…..Go Mark and Make us proud…..
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:47 pm
Damn POAD, you still trolling………………….This is BAD news for TECH……………New sheriff in town indeed
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
August 12th, 2010
8:48 pm
If McGarity had a few more freckles I swear he would be Mr. Howdy Doody…http://www.monstersandcritics.com/dvd/features/article_1442463.php/Howdy_Doody_40_Complete_Episodes_a_happy_blast_from_the_past
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:48 pm
This is bad news for Tech….right POAD ?
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:49 pm
TEST……..
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
August 12th, 2010
8:50 pm
http://www.glennsasscer.com/wordpress/2009/04/09/howdy-doody/
Dawgdad (the original)
August 12th, 2010
8:50 pm
FalconUGAfan: It would take a book to detail the misdeeds of King Mike.
But hey, today for the first time in his inauspicious tenure, he did something good. I will admit that I thought this would never happen because his ego would not allow him to admit he should have hired Greg the first time. I WAS WRONG, Thankfully.
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:51 pm
OK……..Evening POAD……….Just got home, hosed off the trailer and opened a can of chili and fed the 11 kids……………….Just kidding, playing into your UGA Grad visions……………This hire is bad news for you guys……….
Doug
August 12th, 2010
8:52 pm
Earth to Bradley, Evans was a Dooley guy too.
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:53 pm
Mark……what the heck….last three comments nuked…….
Mark Bradley's Friend
August 12th, 2010
8:54 pm
Hey Mark
How about your next article be why it is important to beat FL and
Why Adams needs to go
JB at home
August 12th, 2010
8:57 pm
This is bad news for for Tech. 8 of 9 just went to maybe never,,,,,,,HBTD
Lonely Truth-teller
August 12th, 2010
9:11 pm
This is hardly a win-win for UGA. How would you like to have been hired simply because the guy before you was a disgrace? The whole scenario is a losing situation. The first AD hire was a very bad one by Adams and makes him look like a dolt…so he has lost. Adams, UGA, the alumni and fans all losers.
Barkin'Dog
August 12th, 2010
9:20 pm
Mark… I’m a little late, but -man- that was well written. Few, if any, could have said it better. Thanks for the uplifting note of confidence in the Bulldawg Nation! And thanks, big John, for reeling in this big fish! Now, let’s go win a title or two!!
POAD
August 12th, 2010
9:21 pm
So, if McGarity gets caught with Orange or Blue panties it will be because he is having withdrawals? HAHAH kidding. He is all Dawg and that is good for UGA and the State. Florida is an AAU member. McGaarity expects more for the Player Students.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2010
9:25 pm
Barkin’Dog, I’m in your debt.
DawginOH
August 12th, 2010
9:26 pm
Does anyone else out there hate Adams a little less all of a sudden? I totally agree with you, Mark. This hire is a win-win all around.
Move On
August 12th, 2010
9:31 pm
POAD, aren’t you a bit old for this? My, you spend a lot of time on Athens as opposed to North Ave….Certainly, you have grown beyond the name calling and are friends with those who have excellent careers who attended UGA….
boots
August 12th, 2010
9:34 pm
Rejoice! A great pick, and I am glad to see him coming home. By the way, I still hate Adams.
Ronnie Ronzul
August 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
I sure hope they keep Arthur Johnson in place. He was Mack Brown’s right hand man at Texas before he left for his dream job. Damn Fine Dawg.
Elmo C. Grogan
August 12th, 2010
9:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Ralph, as in I'm gonna puke
August 12th, 2010
9:37 pm
Tech sucks.
Cuz
August 12th, 2010
9:40 pm
That dastardly Mike Adams is trying to divide and conquer the Bulldawg Nation again. He picks the right guy just to throw us off. Is there any limit to the evil of this man?
JRW7
August 12th, 2010
9:42 pm
Welcome back, GREG MCGARITY! Lets play football! GO DAWGS!!!!!
Cuz
August 12th, 2010
9:43 pm
So Bark I see you made it home from Augusta. Don’t be swayed by the Evil Adams. He has hypnotized Bradley and possibly a few of the Bulldawg Nation. Oh the inhumanity of it all.
Mark Bradley
August 12th, 2010
9:46 pm
When was I in Augusta?