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
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:39 pm
SSI,
I’m not yet sold on Urban – too much of a “me” guy.
Mike Shula
November 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
I had 10 wins in 2005.
Of course, I also got canned in 2006.
RTR!!!
MG
November 30th, 2011
3:40 pm
I’m not really sure why you Dawgs keep saying UGA ‘dominated’ SC. When it comes down to it, UGA only had 41 more yards than SC and there was only a 2 minute differential in time of possession. UGA didn’t give the game away, SC simply took it by executing better when it counted in UGA’s backyard. What UGA did to GT and what SC did to Clemson this past week was domination. Either way, congrats to the Dawgs for doing what they had to do to get to the Dome this year. Good luck against LSU this weekend.
Murphy
November 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
@coloradobulldog,
Good stuff my friend!!!
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
dilligaf
Nice name, by the way.
Ask Mr. “I failed a drug test and I’m no longer annointed”. He’ll know who’s holdin’.
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
Bama Mike,
Balaama definitely has a good team but it looks like rough waters may be ahead for the tide. Rumors that Saban will go to Texas or even to the (NFL) Jaguars will set you program back a bit. And even if he doesn’t leave the promise of the NCAA to ‘tighten up’ on oversigning will hurt a little. It’s rumored that Kirby Smart might be taking a head coach job, but some say that will not effect your program. What do U think?
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
GTBob: You have so little respect for your own team that you think a team that beat you stinks? Weren’t you the one guaranteeing a win last week?
I don’t think UGA stinks. I just think they haven’t done anything special and should have won the games that they won. People like to talk about some miraculous comeback when really they just didn’t lose to any bad teams. And no, I never guaranteed a victory for GT nor did I think we would win that game.
SSIgator
November 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Buckeye -
He is certainly a “me” guy. Actually, more like a control freak, much like Saban. But on the other hand, he will give it 110% while he is there.
old dog
November 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
Buckeyes vs. SEC teams again? Oh yeah; they finally won one! Hopefully UGA will get another stud back. I know I’ve “dawged” Crowell, but he was taking him self out BEFORE injuries and BEFORE he was gassed……he was taking himself out once he go popped, which is something our “little” guys did not do. A lineman or two and a back woh doesn’t bail to the sidelines upon contact with a light breeze and we will be a force next year…..go Dogs!!
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
Murphy,
Let’s hope we see the match up in the Gator bowl. I want to see Muschamp’s head explode on National TV and watch Ol’ Chubbo Weiss swoop in like a vulture to lap up the road kill.
In the meatime, be proud of your new SEC. The Big 2, and the rest.
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
WnE, are you still pretending to be a Tech fan or have you finally accepted that everyone knows that you are a UGA fan? Have you harassed any of our recruits lately?
BMDPD
November 30th, 2011
3:45 pm
Don’t forget LSU did not face Brantley at UF (Brisset who sucked) or Bray at UT….If you want to compare defensive stats that is!
brad
November 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
buckeye….who is Ohio State playing this weekend???
GTBob….who is Ga Tech playing this weekend???
SSIgator…who is Florida playing this weekend???
BMDPD
November 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Doubters, please read….
http://www.dawgsports.com/2011/11/29/2599517/lsu-vs-uga-the-tell-of-the-tape
Mr. Originality
November 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
Buckeye is such unique and well thought-out name. I was going to go with Dawg so everyone would know I’m a big fan!!!!
Before you talk about our players being suspended for 1 game, know that we have the strictest policy on drug related issues. It’s not like we let players trade signatures for tats or drive free cars during their 3 year college careers.
PurpleNGold
November 30th, 2011
3:46 pm
UGA’s turnaround year began with a weak ass schedule and is going to end in burning pile of rubble.
JB
November 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Good chance to maybe catch them sleeping…maybe not..Go to the LSU free message board and 95% of the current post are about Bama, not us. don’t think we are on their mind. McGarity handled this right, but I don’t think everyone is sold yet. Give LSU fits, that will help. Get run out of there and doubts will linger. In the SEC, gotta beat the best.
SEC Fact Finder
November 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
BMDPD
November 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
SEC Fact Finder, did you read the link above…
Nice Link. I guess we will find out how good they both are under pressure this Saturday.
Dawg48
November 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
Buckeye
It’s funny how you show back up all of a sudden !
I guess you were to embarrassed by your football program to get on here!
JB
November 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
2013, Muschamp.Dooley,Spurrier,Mullen will all be gone.
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
SEC Fact Finder please tell your employee, Buckeye, that I’m still waiting on my fries!
RedNBlack
November 30th, 2011
3:49 pm
We don’t care how it ends. This is the best season Georgia’s had in 31 years. We’ll take it.
BDK
November 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
I am tired of hearing about UGA’s soft schedule. It wasn’t soft before the year started. Most haters were predicting losses to Tenn, Florida, Miss St., Auburn, and Ga. Tech. When that didn’t happen, it was because of the soft schedule. It’s time to recognize what UGA has accomplished. Only 2 other shools boast a current 10 game winning streak. I wonder what excuse the haters will have should the dogs upset LSU.
Silly Bloggers
November 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
I really thought that if UGA beat up the competition, weaker as it may be this year, the trolls would go away. I was mistaken. I take a strange amount of joy from hearing from six-win Buckeye fans whose program just got taken to the toilet and risked everything to beat Arkansas last year so they could be 1 – 9 against the SEC. While Urban may be the answer, I’m not so sure without Mullin and Strong in the mix to make him look good. Ohio State is notorious for playing Western Ohio, Eastern Ohio, Youngstown State, Northern Ohio, etc. before even getting ot a FBS school in November. While UGA was young and inexperienced, we go up against Boise State and South Carolina. Not to mention that the penalties for that school may not yet be over. I swear every week there are three more Buckeyes suspended.
Then there is GTBob…my favorite all-time blogger. Simply the saddest individual I have ever encountered over the Internet. His team just got waxed by UGA without a running back and lost to us for the 10th time the last 11 years. And they are on probation.
I get UF fans talking smack. They have owned us for the last two decades and one game does not change that. They have been brutalized by injuries, dealing with new coaches and offensive gameplans. UF fans, talk your smack, you have earned it. GTBob and Buckeye, your jealousy, envy, and overall desire to take the good feelings away from a program that just had a two-year roller coaster is sad and juvenile. Try to throw some props our way for a change. Even if we beat LSU, I am sure there will be an explanation from both of you.
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
dog48,
Missed me, eh? I posted my mea culpa and eating crow’s in a recent post but glad we’ve turned the corner with the hire.
SSIgator
November 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
JB -
“In the SEC, gotta beat the best”
No you don’t. UGA fans are thrilled with ten win seasons and no titles. It is either in their DNA or the KoolAid that they drink.
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
3:52 pm
BDK, I predict the haters will be using the excuse that they were busy putting out a burning pile of purplengold rubble! Go dawgs
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
The SEC LEAST had a combined record of 42 wins and 30 losses. Take away the dogs 10 and the ‘Cocks 10 and you’ve got one sorry conference.
JB
November 30th, 2011
3:53 pm
BDK…………you are so right……I read all these guys on here BEFORE we played those teams. The best one I read was before the Auburn Game, someone posted, ” Georgia will now get to play a team with some SEC caliber players”……………AFTER the game, Auburn ain’t got crap they said.
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:55 pm
Murphy,
Every dog has his day. We’ve played in three NC’s in the 2000’s. Won one. Remind me again, was it 1981? Was it good for you back then?
Idiot Dawg
November 30th, 2011
3:55 pm
JB please link me to the LSU board. Thanks in advance
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
WnE, are you still pretending to be a GT fan or did you give up on that? Tweeted any of our recruits today?
NoAxeToGrind
November 30th, 2011
3:56 pm
Perhaps a turnaround this year, albeit aided by by the weakest schedule in the SEC if not of any major conference. But will it last? Next year Richt will be reintroduced to Saban and the next he gets to play Bama and LSU both. We’ll see about the “turnaround”. McGarity best not get too carried away and bet the farm on a new, rejuvinated Richt. Extend him only two years and wait to see if the “turnaround” is for real. I think a few people, maybe even a few UGA fans, remain to be convinced.
JB
November 30th, 2011
3:57 pm
Want to hear something crazy….Grantham returns next year for his final year of his 3 year deal. Dawgs do well, say 11-1, and most likely they will. Grantham is hot and gets hired back to the NFL……………In steps our NEW DC…..Welcome home Will Muschamp, fresh from being let go at Florida………
phil
November 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
Fire FG…
bill
November 30th, 2011
3:58 pm
I was one who wanted a coaching change after last season, and I’ve already eaten my crow…regardless of Saturday’s result, I realize the Richt era will now continue as long as he wants it too…I just hope that UGA anties up to pay both Richt & Grantham, and that SOME team will offer Bobo a head coaching job…but he’s starting to look like a career OC. I can live with that, and I’m taking bets that our first offensive play against LSU will be running Thomas between the tackles (as usual)…
doc
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
good article man—
JB
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Idiot Dawg….just google LSU message boards….go to the free one..They’re only 3. Just read the mess. All post are about playing Bama again.
Murphy
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Buckeye,
But when you play a real conference how do you fair? 2 loses in National Championship games sice 2000. To what teams? SEC teams maybe?
Wally My Butts
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
This is a BS article not worthy of publication as is most of Bradley’s work. I don’t know how you have kept your job all of these years. Didn’t like you then, don’t like you now.
First of all, Caleb King couldn’t make the grades. He wasn’t run off. Although I agree that Ealey was.
Next, UGA sports programs have been universally good accross the board. They may have slipped a bit under Evans but you cannot tell me that the Gym Dogs and the tennis teams weren’t first rate, having won national championships annually. Others were world class too. Frankly, Florida universally sucked until about the last decade or so.
While McGarity may have provided a supportive environment, it was the players on the field that provided the W’s. UGA had a couple of bad recruiting years and had gotten some rotten apples that were weeded out of the program with successful recruiting, which became a priority. I don’t know how you can make such a leap as your story line of “McGarity makes the difference”.
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
@buckeye……hahahahahahahha, just remembering your previous 2 NC games, hahahahahahah.
Buckeye
November 30th, 2011
3:59 pm
Silly,
Let’s see. Let’s reseach the comparitive early season out of conference home and home seried we’ve played over the past 20 years, look at the rankings at the time we’ve played them and then we’ll talk.
Ya ya, I’ll save you the trouble. We’re 0-10
It used to be 1-9 but we vacated the win so last year’s Sugar Bowl was but a dream.
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
Then there is GTBob…my favorite all-time blogger.
Awe. Thanks!
SSIgator
November 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
JB -
Please, try a new angle on the same old post.
SSIgatorless
November 30th, 2011
4:00 pm
The less gator, the better, for all mankind. That’s why this year was so satisfying. More gator tail anyone? Chomp, chomp…
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
November 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
How about McGarity said, “lose this year and you better call Remax bro” to Richt and staff.
Dawglasville
November 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
Bob is my favorite. “Oh, I’m really scared of a UGA offense that gave up x amount of yards to Vandy.” I think that Vandy was 3-5 in conference and Wake was 5-3 in theirs. How many points did Vandy put on Wake? More importantly, how many yards and points did your team put on UGA?
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
Don’t forget LSU did not face Brantley at UF (Brisset who sucked)
Was that and advantage or disadvantage for LSU? Brantley is easily the worst QB in the SEC.
BobDawg
November 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
BUCKEYE, u are gonna pull for us pitiful, underdog mutts this weekend , right?
jerry
November 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
According to Rivals.com, Richt has signed a total of 11 five star athletes in 11 years. Compare that to Southern Cal-37, Florida-26, Florida State-21, LSU-20, Tennessee-18, and Alabama-14. Of the major players in the SEC, only Auburn-9, has signed fewer 5 star athletes than UGA. One year Southern Cal signed 8, only three less that what it took Richt eleven years to accomplish. That must change if UGA is to ever become one of the elite.