UGA’s turnaround year began with a nudge from AD McGarity
Greg McGarity: Sounding the right tone at the right time. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
A different athletic director might have done too much, or too little. Greg McGarity got it right. He met with Mark Richt at the beginning of the first workweek of 2011 and, rather than make demands, McGarity asked a question.
“It was not adversarial or confrontational,” said McGarity of the meeting. “It was heart-to-heart. I asked him, ‘What do you need to get the job done?’ ”
When McGarity gets around to writing his book on management, that deft twist surely will be Chapter 1 — how to make a salient point without pounding the table. By asking Richt what he required, McGarity assured his coach that he and his input were indeed valued, but sent the message that more was expected.
Sure enough, more has arrived. Richt has presided over 10 consecutive victories and an SEC East championship, and this Saturday his Bulldogs will play for their first SEC title since 2005. Credit the coaches and the players, and credit the AD as well. McGarity supported Richt publicly at a time when administrative waffling could have undermined the program, but in-house he delivered a push so gentle as to seem the merest nudge.
A Bulldog born and bred, McGarity apprenticed in Georgia’s athletic department under Dan Magill and Vince Dooley, but it was in his time away that he grasped the ways and means of a cutting-edge athletic department. “It really hit home at Florida,” said McGarity, who worked as Jeremy Foley’s Gator aide-de-camp for nearly two decades. “Jeremy’s attitude toward all his teams is that being mediocre is unacceptable.”
When McGarity was appointed Georgia’s AD in August 2010, some wondered how this famously nice guy would handle Richt, who’s himself a nice guy but whose record had begun to slip. On cue, Georgia went 6-7 in McGarity’s first season back in Athens, the final indignity being delivered on New Year’s Eve in a dreary Liberty Bowl loss to Central Florida.
Said McGarity: “That was not a very good day. That was not a very good night. I don’t think anybody around the program slept very well. But we used it as a positive. We said we weren’t ever going to go back to that. That wasn’t Georgia football.”
The Liberty Bowl was on a Saturday. By the time McGarity and Richt met, rumors were flying that the AD had seen enough and was prepared to fire his coach. Said McGarity: “That was not even on the radar. It would not have been fair. I’d just started the Monday of the first game of the season. It wouldn’t have been fair to him or the institution or the players.”
Over those four months on the job, McGarity said, he chose “to sit back and look and listen and learn. There would be a right time for a discussion with Mark, but it’s hard to do that during the season because you’re always focusing on the next game.”
When Georgia’s first losing season under Richt was done, McGarity shared his thoughts but let Richt talk, too. “Being accessible is so important, and it goes both ways,” McGarity said. “Me to him and him to me.”
McGarity’s key observation: Richt needed to free himself of all administrative work that could be delegated. “Mark has talked about ’studying the game,’ ” McGarity said. “I call it ‘coaching ball.’ I wanted him to get back to what made him successful, to being a creative offensive mind. And you see him back in the meeting rooms [where game plans are concocted].”
As part of his “studies,” Richt visited Falcons coach Mike Smith in Flowery Branch, and Smith suggested a book — “The Energy Bus,” by Jon Gordon. “On the bus” became Richt’s rallying cry for 2011, and two of those soon ushered off were Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, Georgia’s leading holdover rushers. Perhaps not coincidentally, a summer passed without a player arrest.
For all that, the season began with Georgia losing to Boise State and South Carolina. Here again McGarity served his coach well, offering support and counseling patience. But did he really foresee such a complete reversal after 0-2?
“I thought it was probably 50-50. It wasn’t to the point that people were jumping off the ship. Inside the building it was, ‘We can only control this week.’ ”
The AD’s verdict on this season: “What has happened since the first two games has been very satisfying. It’s what we all hoped would happen.”
Does “very satisfying” mean Greg McGarity is satisfied? Not quite. “I hope to have a Dream Team every year,” he said. “That’s what the best teams do. We’ve got to back that up with another great recruiting year.”
Another nudge, deftly delivered.
By Mark Bradley
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581 comments Add your comment
Pollster guy
November 30th, 2011
9:07 pm
Wonder where Saban will watch the game…….hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!
1eyedJack
November 30th, 2011
9:08 pm
I’d love to be on the field during pregame warm ups.
Dawg48
November 30th, 2011
9:09 pm
Check this out on tenneesse football
http://tonybasilio.com/index.php?page=tony
SEC_Fan
November 30th, 2011
9:10 pm
That’s funny, right there. It is. Really.
Tobias Funke
November 30th, 2011
9:13 pm
Damon who?
You are only as good at your job as your boss allows you to be. Freedom to do your best is essential. Doing other persons work will get you in a rut!
1eyedJack
November 30th, 2011
9:13 pm
Good night Dawgs fans. To the rest of you pukes….get a life.
45ACP
November 30th, 2011
9:14 pm
Right on DILLIGAF!!!
Your Friend on FB
November 30th, 2011
9:16 pm
GT BOB: Thanks for pointing out the schedule was easy. First time anyone here heard that. LOL. YOU ARE A FREAKING IDIOT.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
November 30th, 2011
9:16 pm
@ Just gonna say it. I know at least 10 teams that won’t UGA is weak. Spurrier said dawgs outplayed S C so that makes 11 but who is counting. I would love to see UGA and Arkansa in a bowl game but it won’t happen and if you seriously think Arkansas is a better passing team than UGA you know less about football than I give you credit for. Good luck against whoever y’all be playin this weekend.
Red Stick
November 30th, 2011
9:16 pm
DILLIGAF
November 30th, 2011
9:07 pm
“You will always remember that UGA spoiled your unbeaten season and will be the team that you lost to, the true National Champions.”
Does that mean when Florida lost to Ole Miss in 2008 for their only loss on the way to the BCS Title that the Rebels were the true National Champions?
AirDawg
November 30th, 2011
9:21 pm
Good point Tobias,
Richt had been told no by Damon when he requested more strength & conditioning staff. Remember how gassed our ‘D’ looked in the 2nd half of the Miss. St. game last year?
McGarity gave Richt what he wanted and needed there and the results are already paying off.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 30th, 2011
9:21 pm
Lot of future pros on the field sat night!Should be a great game!
SEC_Fan
November 30th, 2011
9:24 pm
Houston Nutt said Florida played a good game, so that loss counted as a win – just like Georgia and SC.
AirDawg
November 30th, 2011
9:26 pm
Nah, Carolina got us.
But we’re going to Atlanta.
Coach Chizik
November 30th, 2011
9:30 pm
Check out the video about Kristi Malone:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Headhunters-Mulling-Dan-Mullen-as-Paterno-s-suc;_ylt=Aj8cfCwFDw8K6NDbhjtcbtXynYl4?urn=ncaaf-wp10766
Coach Chizik
November 30th, 2011
9:32 pm
oops that’s Kristi Malzahn
Dawg48
November 30th, 2011
9:33 pm
Mark Bradley
Have you heard any youth to this about Tennessee football?
http://tonybasilio.com/index.php?page=tony
DILLIGAF
November 30th, 2011
9:39 pm
“Does that mean when Florida lost to Ole Miss in 2008 for their only loss on the way to the BCS Title that the Rebels were the true National Champions?”
Yes.
Just because it was a victory over an undefeated Gator team. Just kidding.
There has got to be some kind of consideration after beating a team with the momentum that this team has carried throughout this season, with their stats and strength of schedule, especially if they beat the #2 team in the country a 2nd time. Perception is everything, ask Paul Johnson.
Lakedawg
November 30th, 2011
9:44 pm
McGarity and Richt great team for years to come.
It’s great to walk into stadium and there is Greg McGarity standing by field on left and accessible, and also by phone or e-mail for fans. Never happened with Damon.
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
9:50 pm
I e-mailed McGarity one time and I was shocked to see a response in my inbox. He moved up a notch in my book.
Dawg in Macon
November 30th, 2011
9:51 pm
SSIgator, you are correct. UGA had a soft schedule. Maybe had your mighty Gators been worth a crap this year our schedule would not have been so soft. My gosh, you had a 14-0 lead against our tiny pups and you couldn’t hold that. Mabye one day you will learn that no matter how hard you try you can’t build yourself (or your team) up by tearing another one down. UGA may get their butts handed to them Saturday. If they do, then they do but I can guarantee you I can think of about 500 football players from the other Eastern Division schools that would love to have the opportunity to play LSU. The Gamecocks got their butts handed to them last year by Auburn but I bet every other player and coach in the SEC east would have loved to at least had the opportunity to play in the title game. It is much like winning the lottery……..you can’t win it if you don’t buy a ticket. You can’t win the SEC if you are not at least one of the 2 teams playing in the Dome. UGA may lose and it could be bad however THEY, not your Gators at least are playing on the first weekend in December. Seems to me that someone that lost to such a weak team would at least hope the Dawgs make a good showing because you LOST to that team with such a sorry schedule.
Let me guess………your wife just left you for another woman.
You don’t wear jealousy and envy very well. See you next Halloween sissy britches.
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
9:59 pm
McGarity didn’t do a damn thing. Richt just needed some players to buy into the program, what some Florida douche leading the AA has to do with anything is beyond me.
This is really a stupid puff piece.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(CMR fan for life)
November 30th, 2011
10:01 pm
@GT 5:47 pm: What are yawl celebrating after the annual spanking of the Bunglebees last Saturday?
St Simons - we're on Island time
November 30th, 2011
10:01 pm
trolls, what do you need from us dawgs to help you succeed…
at anything…here’s a tissue..jealousy is a terrible emotion.
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
10:09 pm
I’m not really trying to be that hard on McGarity but believe me, Georgia Football is bigger than any AA admin.
I believe in Richt and knew he could turn it around. This is the best era in Georgia Football, period, point blank. I’m not sold on Grantham, the guy acts like a douche too much but he has gotten the defense whipped into shape. Man, I wish we could have landed Foster.
Anyhow, to all these LSlers out there, we should have played in the ‘07 game and I hope we embarrass your crazy, grass-eating coach on Saturday.
LSWho is an afterthought team, it’s time to put them in their place. I don’t even respect this crap program, they were nothing before 2003 and I really don’t like them now.
DanTheDawgFan
November 30th, 2011
10:11 pm
Georgia 31 Tech 17
Georgia 24 Florida 20
Georgia 2011 SEC East Champs South Crackolina sitting at home watching the game on TV
Go Dawgs! Piss on everyone else!
realitycheck
November 30th, 2011
10:15 pm
Not yet sold on this “turnaround”! Who has UGA beaten? Win this game or next year in Tuscaloosa and then maybe so. I still believe that Richt will never play in a BCS Championship game. Saban(Ala)and Meyer(Ohio St) are a couple cuts above Richt and their teams will be there time and again before Richt ever gets there once.
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
10:24 pm
reality– It’s luck, basically. There really is no Championship in college FBS, it’s basically a popularity contest. Every SEC homer used to talk about how the SECCG was a semi-final for the “championship” game now it people are saying even in Georgia wins, it’s still LSWho and Bama. What a joke.
Georgia just hasn’t gotten the breaks.
Only thing Georgia can hope for is the piss-slap LSU out of contention by embarrassing them.
Georgia would kill Bama since we actually have a QB who can throw.
Devil Dawg
November 30th, 2011
10:25 pm
One quick question. Since when has doing nothing been considered being a leader? A leader would pledge support for Richt or man up and say he was on the hot seat. McGarity is a weak excuse for an AD. Also, thanks for canceling every meaningful out of conference game, and replacing them with D2 schools.
fishdawg
November 30th, 2011
10:28 pm
It amazes me that Bama and LSU fans say that UGA has played a “soft schedule”. I believe that these teams played five common opponents. Time to lay down that crutch…Just sayin…
west Coast Dawg
November 30th, 2011
10:30 pm
All this celebrating of the “great turnaround” is premature to say the least. Ten games straight over pitiful opposition does not a season make.
Let’s see what happens on Saturday. Even then why are we so thin at so many positions? Lazy recruiting, lazy coaches, lazy headcaoch.
tenn.DAWG
November 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
Goooooooooooo You Hairy Dawgs !!!
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
10:35 pm
That’s a good point Devil Dawg, the guy was totally neutral when all the morons were calling for CMR’s head. McGarity is like any senior administrator, he’s a walking, talking vagina. Everything that comes out of McGarity’s or Adams’ mouth are pure lies.
realitycheck
November 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
GeorgiaBoner…….Georgia would kill Bama? You must be on a bad combo of meds pal. Murray might not make it through next years game as small as he is. Bama just might have NC #14 by then. Why they might have twenty NC’s before UGA gets #2.
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
10:43 pm
reality—
Hahahaha, a Bama fan. Great. Who have you beat again? Some little girl Arkansas team? Ark is a perennial joke, no one and I mean NO ONE in the East takes those idiots seriously. Can your QB even complete a forward pass? Can your kickers even kick a FG? What a joke of a team, I don’t really even know why you’re even ranked top-10.
Georgia would MURDER Bama.
The Bear is still dead you stupid slobs.
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
10:45 pm
Nobody out here is impressed with Bama. Bama has beaten a vagina-laden Arkansas team and rape-laden PSU.
UGA would kill Bama. Can Bama’s QB even complete a forward pass? Can Bammer even kick a FG? What a joke of a team.
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
10:46 pm
The “Baher” is still dead and rotting, too. Screw him.
SEC_Fan
November 30th, 2011
10:49 pm
I don’t think these guys will get it even after they get their asses handed to them next Saturday. They’ll still be making excuses for losing and praising CMR as the second coming of Knute Rockne.
Bad Dawg
November 30th, 2011
10:51 pm
Keep up the good work realitycheck that kind of talk is exactly what this bunch needs. What in world makes this guy think that UGA can beat Alabama, UGA is still unproven even after the ten game winning streak. This season is tbd, you will know how good UGA is after LSU and the bowl game
realitycheck
November 30th, 2011
10:59 pm
GeorgiaBoner…..I knew when you referred to them as “bammers” that you are a redneck. Let me guess…..you live in a trailer somewhere in South Georgia…..you watch SEC football on Sat…….Nascar on Sun…..and spend most of the rest of your week in a tree stand. Textbook!
War Eagle
November 30th, 2011
11:21 pm
@GeorgiaBoner,
LSU won the SEC in 2001 and went on to beat Illinois in the Sugar Bowl.
How long has it been since the Dawgs won a national title? That long huh
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
11:21 pm
What is an “SEC_Fan”? Let me guess, an Ole Piss supporter?
reality– Again, nobody cares about Bammer. I live in N.Atlanta, no trailers here. Don’t care about Nascar. Don’t hunt deer, either. You got any other clichés handy?
GeorgiaBoner
November 30th, 2011
11:24 pm
Georgia hasn’t won the “MNC” since Reagan was president but it’s a rigged system. It’s not even a real championship.
Funny how there are tournaments for Baseball, Basketball and FCS but not FBS.
Old Times Sakes
December 1st, 2011
12:53 am
You know it is a good year when Auburn, Tech, UF, and UT scum are on this blog. This was a great article by Mark B, and after meeting McGarity a couple of times myself, he is a class act. He learned alot at UF, and he is right, mediocrity is not acceptable. Go Dogs
Natureboy809
December 1st, 2011
1:03 am
The turn around started the day we ran Willie Martinez out of town. Anyone watch Oklahoma’s pass defense this year?
BreakingNews
December 1st, 2011
7:10 am
SSIGator:
After the season your team has had, I would worry more about them than about how UGA will play vs. LSU. Enjoy the Weedeater Bowl this year!
SEC_Fan
December 1st, 2011
7:22 am
Georgia_Bonehead,
I’m just like you. Dropped out of HS. Never attended college. Don’t really have a life and live vicariously through professional wrestling and Tea Party politics.
Only difference is that I’m not whining about choosing the wrong team as the inspiration for the paint job on my pick-em-up truck. You should just be happy that your 5th place team backed it’s way into the SEC Corn Dawg Bowl and then get busy working on ideas for the conspiracy theory that led to the beat-down your puppies will take next Saturday.
Weather Channel Expert
December 1st, 2011
7:32 am
That [GTu] calculator also works only 12 out of 48 times and, in two of those 12, the results have been deleted.
- Even a blind squirrel doesn’t find a nut.
TampaGator
December 1st, 2011
7:53 am
Breaking News….
I have some news for you………a trip to Jacksonville and the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 this year is a lot better than trips to…….Shreveport for Independence from losing so often to the Gators in recent years…… and to Memphis for Liberty to lose to UCF….just last year. How easy the mind forgets!
P.S.
Georgia’s defense was ranked 5th in the nation this year…….with a very good offense.
Florida’s defense was ranked 10th in the nation this year…….with no offense whatsoever.
Mushamp and Weis will get the players they need in the pro style offense…..and then watch what happens………….sort of like Saban and Bama in his first year (6-6 and lost to La-Monroe)…and then went on to where they are now. I would expect Florida will take the same pathway…..
suwaneedawg
December 1st, 2011
7:58 am
tampagator, you are in the same boat as were last year. You have to keep the faith. Without it there is nothing but misery.