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
LHarding Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:00 am
Dang Tampa, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Remember the last time you went to Jacksonville.
Dawg in Milton
December 1st, 2011
8:00 am
Could things be better set up for us right now? UF and UT are as down as we could hope for, we are not in the West where they will probably have the last 3 National Titles with 3 different teams. Also it is looking like next year we will road trip to Missou and get the Bammer game cancled. IF you look at our schedule for next year we could win every game…NC 2012….
Hopelessly Devoted
December 1st, 2011
8:02 am
I just know that Mark Richt will take us to the Promised Land in year 12.
He’s been studying up on football this year. That, and Energy Vampires.
Just wait ’till next year!
Just wait ’till next year!
You’ll see!!!
Reality Check
December 1st, 2011
8:03 am
As a life long Dawg I’m still skeptical about Mike Bobo. I’m still of the opinion that Coach Bobo should be relagated to coaching the QB’s and recruiting. IMHO I think we need to get a proven, dynamic OC in house and let him work. Bobo is an excellent QB coach and an exceptional recruiter but I still think we are somewhat being short changed as long as he’s the OC. He has flashes of brilliance an then throws up a brick. Time has seemingly proven CMR made a good hire in Todd Grantham as DC so perhaps a new, proven OC could get us over the hump and make the team complete. I think it something that ought to be at least looked at.
Beachdawg
December 1st, 2011
8:07 am
Jax doesn’t want Florida for the Gator Bowl. They’re cheap, won’t stay, and Jax would lose money!!! CBS suggests that it’s Tattoo State and Awbarn….They’ll travel, stay, and spend!!!!!
Hopelessly Devoted
December 1st, 2011
8:09 am
If Bobo is good enough for Coach Richt, then he’s good enough for me.
Coach Richt is the best Coach in all of CFB. Why do you think we’re undefeated?
Email Profiling Is Wrong
December 1st, 2011
8:11 am
It’s encouraging to see the right buttons being pushed by the UGA Athletic brain trust. McGarity is the straw that stirs the drink. He seems to know what he’s doing (i.e. he built a big enough fire under CMR’s keester to get his attention).
McGarity certainly learned the right way to manage an athletic department during his time under Foley at UF. So kudos to the person/committee responsible for hiring him.
Regardless to what happens Saturday night at the Georgia Dome, the UGA football family should be proud of the 2011 season. Ten wins in a row is impressive, regardless to the quality of the schedule.
Having said that, lets see if 2011 was a sign of things to come or a product of a weak schedule.
The Dawgs still have not beaten a top-ranked team since 2007. The cream of the SEC East came back to UGA this year. UGA didn’t rise to their level.
The proof of the program’s redemption will come with quality performances in 2012 and 2013 and 2014. I doubt UF and Tennessee will tolerate their current mediocrity. Lets see where the Dawgs find themselves on December 1 the next three years.
They don’t have to be playing for an SEC championship, but they gotta start winning some of the games against the conference big boys again.
Billyboy
December 1st, 2011
8:19 am
Let’s face it, the Dawgs don’t live up to their recruiting. They had “the” schedule this year. With the high school players in Georgia, there is no reason to not win 10 games every year. When we have the good schedule is when we should win 12.
SawThat1nce
December 1st, 2011
8:22 am
Those wide reciever screens, or whatever you call them, where the QB throws the ball to the reciever standing by the sideline and behind the line of scrimage, I don’t get it, they never work, but seems like they are called two to four times every game.
SawThat1nce
December 1st, 2011
8:26 am
They should have played one of the weak teams the first game, for a tuneup, and played Boise later,
They pushed SC all over the field but gave the gcocks the game(might have been outcoached).
tardawg
December 1st, 2011
8:28 am
Let’s see Hunker down hairy dawgs, junkyard dawgs, my God he ran over two men scoring, Traditions, and Larry other memorial calls come together to help UGA win the SEC.
SawThat1nce
December 1st, 2011
8:32 am
Should have played one of the weaker teams on the schedule first for a tuneup, and played Boise later.
The Bulldogs pushed the gamecocks all over the field, but gave them the game. Looked like Ga. might have been outcoached also.
RedandBlackDawg
December 1st, 2011
8:33 am
Good article Mark. McGarity seems like the man to get the job done, and I am sure he will be generous with the extension of the HC and DC contracts at the conclusion of the season. I think it might help recruiting a little more, if he could release a public statement via press conference on his intention to keep the staff in tact. This would be a nice way of insuring the kids, who want to come, but only if CMR is going to be here next year.
Most of what the average Joe on the street, only gets news like that through you guys and other print. Of course, we also get a fair amount of rumors from the UGA haters on blogs, but I for one have just decided to ignore them. Don’t need the time spent, responding to hate mail.
GO DAWGS and GATA, the DAWG nation is proud of you
SawThat1nce
December 1st, 2011
8:34 am
This blog filters out the name of the South Carolina’s team?
Hopelessly Devoted
December 1st, 2011
8:35 am
I didn’t think about that tardawg. You’re right, Larry Munson might be even more powerful than fancy uniforms when it comes to making those LSU players quiver in fear at the prospect of facing the Mighty Dawgs.
I don’t see any possible way that we could lose this one now!
UGA 100 – LSU 0
GATA!!!
Buckeye
December 1st, 2011
8:35 am
Could somneone check w/ Chippy and see if the dogs are willing to donate the Pro Combats to Little Sisters of the Poor for the dogs next homecoming opponant. You could bill it as intra-squad scimmage and get as many fans as you had for New Mexico State.
Hopelessly Devoted
December 1st, 2011
8:41 am
Man, we rocked NMSU, didn’t we? Aaron Murray became the best quarterback in the SEC when we played that game.
Good thing too – we’ll need a star quarterback now that we’re playing LSU for the National Championship.
DawgGrad04
December 1st, 2011
8:49 am
SSI Gator – Get off of my island!!! Go back to your peninsula of shame! Go DAWGS!!!
loki
December 1st, 2011
8:50 am
Ya’ll back into the east crown. You didn’t beat SOUTH CAROLINA and you’ll lose again nex tyear when you come to
OUR house.
LSU will win on Saturday….
LHarding Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:57 am
Look loki (whatever the hell that is), you lost to the worst Auburn team in 25 years. A team we beat 45-7. You also let the East down last year when Auburn scored over 50 on you. Get over it!
1eyedJack
December 1st, 2011
9:14 am
Isn’t loki some kind of malicious idol? Or is that malicious idiot?
Bulldog59
December 1st, 2011
9:33 am
Good read. Nice job MB.
Ron Swanson
December 1st, 2011
9:34 am
South Carolina has 4 bowl wins.
Bulldog59
December 1st, 2011
9:36 am
@loki,
LOKI here, we won the SEC East!
GulfShoresDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:46 am
Mark, enjoyed the article…yes, I was highly embarrassed after Damon Evans actions, but like some of the other UGA fans stated, we should thank the GA. St. Patrol who stopped Evans that night…what that incident has done for UGA…McGarity will guide UGA very well and keep the Ath. Dept. moving in the right direction toward championships…what a mess with Tressel and Paterno, I thank the high heavens we have CMR…thank goodness it was our AD that had a brain fart and not our HC…like the other institutions…could you ever imagine CMR running around with a Pensacola stripper aka strippergate Mike Price the Bama HC…OMG! Feel lucky Dawg Fans, feel very lucky! and Go Dawgs!
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
9:48 am
Idiot Dawg
Ironic, I emailed McGarity once too and received a very articulate, thought out response. I don’t know if it was his, but it appeared to be
Boom-Boom
December 1st, 2011
9:49 am
I for one am very proud to have CMR on the UGA sidelines. LET’S GO DAWGS!!
GulfShoresDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:49 am
Mark, good article…yes let’s thank that Trooper who pulled over Damon Evans…what a step up to bring Greg back home!
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
9:50 am
Ya’ll backed into the title WAHHHH your schedule was soft WAHHHHH WAHHHHH You didn’t play LSU, Bama or Arkansas WAHHHH WAHHHHH WAHHHH
Cry babies
GulfShoresDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:53 am
And Dawg Fans as embarrassed as we were with Damon Evans, imagine how we would feel if it were our HC, Tressell and Paterno were legends and look where they are now…the cheating at Ohio St. is probably much deeper than will ever be uncovered…could you ever envision CMR chasing strippers in Pensacola, AKA, Mike Price the Bama strippergate fiasco…Be thankful Dawg fans be very Thankful we have CMR!! Go Dawgs
62-39-5
December 1st, 2011
9:54 am
Loki – BBUUHHUUUWWAAHHHAAAHHHAA
You SC (can’t say USC, because the real USC took that from your pathetic team in court) fans are hilarious. Why don’t you try winning the conference once, just once, before talking trash.
You also need to work on that .502 all time football record. Seriously .502 – BBUUHHUUWWAAHHAAHHAA.
15-46-2 Against UGA – BBBBUUUHHUUUWWWAAHHHAAAHHHAA
At least the SEC East has representation next year. We don’t need South Vandy @ Columbia humiliating the East again at the championship game.
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
9:56 am
Gulfshores
Of course you are right. But, who thought those guys specifically Tressel and Paterno would ever see that end? I didn’t. I had a lot of admiration for both those guys. Didn’t like they’re teams but admired their accomplishments.
It “could” happen to Richt in some form or fashion. It can literally happen to anyone
Hard Truth Black Soldier
December 1st, 2011
9:58 am
Only Big Mike, and Phil Steel Sw this Season as Georgia winnig the East, and Sec, and part one is done, part two coming up. Georgia 21- LSU 17.
62-39-5
December 1st, 2011
9:59 am
Vandy all time football record – .496
Basically the same as South Carolina BBUUHHHUUUHHUUWWAAAHHAAAHHHAA
62-39-5
December 1st, 2011
10:00 am
UK All time football record – .504
They’re a basketball school, yet better than South Carolina.
BBUUHHHUUUUHHUUWWWAAHHHAAHHHAA
SawThat1nce
December 1st, 2011
10:03 am
Ga. pretty well did kick SC’s gamec–ks all over the playing field, but gave the game away.
SC got lucky.
SawThat1nce
December 1st, 2011
10:05 am
kicked
tell me again
December 1st, 2011
10:14 am
SSI gator – you need to stay on your pitiful Gator board and reminesce over the past, glorious season your great Gators just had to stomach. How’s Urban doing by the way? Oh that’s right – HE’S COACHING THE BUCKEYES NOW! Boy, those health issues and family time concerns just VANISHED after he left your butts hanging, didn’t they? By the way, we LIKE Muschamp!
Snake Doc
December 1st, 2011
10:16 am
Turn around???? The CEO and his team have still not beaten a team ranked higher than them this season. They have only beaten two teams with a winning record at the time they played them. One of those teams is now 6-6, 3-5 in SEC East. The other is 7-5, 4-4 in SEC West.
Hardly a ringing endorsement for the CEO or this team. Only the boneheads and the richt-aid drinkers think this team will beat LSU and than should play for a NC. What load of garbage!
UGA irrelevant any way you say it!
ARdawg
December 1st, 2011
10:23 am
Snake Doc
What a bitter, miserable existence you must live. Look, Everyone recognizes the soft schedule Georgia has played. It wasn’t soft before the year started. It is, what it is. I don’t remember you spewing off on the blogs during the last few years when Georgia was playing the toughest schedule in the SEC and/or the nation. You sir are a crybaby of the worst order.
Evansdawg
December 1st, 2011
10:25 am
Go Dawgs. Nuff said.
I APOLOGIZE COACH RICHT!
December 1st, 2011
10:26 am
TODD IS THE MAN,HIM NOT RICHT BROUGHT THE KILLER INSTINCT BACK TO UGA!
football guy
December 1st, 2011
10:30 am
B.S. IT began with the easiest schedule EVER in NCAA history.
1eyedJack
December 1st, 2011
10:32 am
Muschamp has turned out to be a DGD after all.
billdawg
December 1st, 2011
10:38 am
SSIgator “don’t know Jack” about strength of schedule. Win or lose Saturday, UGA has won the respect of seven SEC schools directly and, based on their comments, at least two of the ones UGA did not play. Does he not remember those years when the almighty swamp lizards won by not playing the strength of the west and loaded up on patsies for their non-conference games?
athdog
December 1st, 2011
10:39 am
bye yoo kitties may indeed win, but there is no way they score 38 on Granthams D. I think that if we don’t turn the ball over, ala the Carolina game, it will be a redo of the lsu/bama (lower case intentional) game. If we keep Grantham and have the offense find a running back, the Dogs are back!
TU87
December 1st, 2011
10:44 am
This game will measure how good Georgia really is. Except for Georgia and S Carolina the east was awful this year. Georgia has not beaten an SEC team with an SEC winning record this year, Auburn was close at 4-4. If LSU doesn’t turn the ball over this game won’t be close.
Disoriented Dawg
December 1st, 2011
10:56 am
Gee whiz… If South Carolina is really as bad as you guys say they are, then how did they whup up on my Dawgs at home in Athens?
Something just don’t add up…
Mayo
December 1st, 2011
11:20 am
@ SSI Gator: yep part of the ‘Dawgs schedule this year was soft. Now it appears that the date in Jacksonville was one of the softest spots. Next year will be worse for Coach Muschump.
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 1st, 2011
11:24 am
Someone mentioned dropping games with FCS schools. It would be better if the top 50 colleges stopped playing FCS schools in order to strengthen their schedules. If you want to be considered a top 25 team then play better opponents. I don’t like buying season tickets and having to watch what should be a preseason game.