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
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
581 comments Add your comment
GTBob
November 30th, 2011
5:19 pm
GTBob, you forgot 31-17
I didn’t forget. That was a miraculous victory that impressed the entire nation. That showed everyone you are in the same league as UVA, and Miami.
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:19 pm
For all of that attempted discussion pointing to the blog where “common opponents” stats were compared, a look at non-common opponents that are currently ranked is also useful.
Georgia : Boise St.(7), S. Carolina (12)
LSU: Alabama (2), Oregon (9), WVU (23)
Elliot Garcia
November 30th, 2011
5:23 pm
If Georgia keeps it within 7 points, I will come on Mark Bradley’s blog and admit that Georgia is a good team….I am just not impressed that you are 0-2 against teams that are currently ranked and LSU is 4-0….
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:24 pm
Well said Say What, but no, they won’t. The refrain is always the same:
Pre Game-UGA is gonna get killed.
Post Gane-UGA got lucky.
This has gone on for years.
Nonsense
November 30th, 2011
5:24 pm
Everybody knew that Georgia had a cupcake SEC schedule this year. Even Paul Finebaum predicted last Summer that Georgia would win the East because of their schedule. The only surprise was that MSU and Florida would turn out to be as bad as they have.
Elliot Garcia
November 30th, 2011
5:24 pm
your forgot Arkansas!
Nonsense
November 30th, 2011
5:26 pm
Georgia fans know that Arkansas is overrated. They don’t even have to play them to figure that much out – they’re just that football savvy. Seriously!
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
Ah, I forgot Arkansas. Blew it big time. That’s exemplifies that allowing humans to do things is always risky.
Georgia : Boise St.(7), S. Carolina (12)
LSU: Alabama (2), Arkansas (8), Oregon (9), WVU (23)
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
5:28 pm
Georgia wins in a shocker 29-20
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:28 pm
Elliot Garcia – Thanks; I was slapping myself in the head and typing the correction at the same time when you were posting that.
Elliot Garcia
November 30th, 2011
5:29 pm
What if Georgia is blown out by LSU? Georgia will finish 0-3 vs. currently ranked opponents for the year….is that really an improvement for Richt? He has just bought himself another couple of years…and for what?
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:30 pm
Elliott, LSU has an incredibly talented team; no one disputes that. We just believe we are pretty good too. If you have watched this team closely from year to year, the improvement and promise is obvious.
I’ll say this for LSU: Arkansas did not play all that bad last week but could not keep up. The game did not look like a blow out but the score sure did. Few teams can methodically do what LSU did. It was an impressive perfomance and the kind they are capable of each week. I’m not sure Alabama deserves to play in the BCS championship but LSU, win or lose this Saturday, has proven they deserve to be there.
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
ARDawg – Bold prediction, figuring in the 2 FGs and a safety; I like that kind of thinking.
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
After the game Aaron Murray is crowned Air Murray
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
5:33 pm
Delbert the vaunted Georgia D is deemed Steel Georgia.
All kidding aside. I expect some points. I’m not sure why
Big Dawg
November 30th, 2011
5:34 pm
Fellow Dawgs whether the Dawgs win Saturday or not is not the most important thing. What is that Mr. McGarity and Coach Richt have restored a sense of pride back into the program. That losing, bad attitudes and sense of entitlement is not going to be tolerated. I say thank you Greg McGarity and Coach Mark Richt. Now go out and beat LSU.
Go Dawgs
1eyedJack
November 30th, 2011
5:34 pm
SSIgator, yes, I love Betty White. She’s got to be the coolest and “hotest” 100 year-old woman around.
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:34 pm
Miles didn’t put his starting QB into the game until after the FG that ticked off Petrino big time.
Elliot Garcia
November 30th, 2011
5:35 pm
I have seen tremendous improvement from the QB position and Jarvis Jones has had a great year. The O-line has played better than anybody expected…Overall, Georgia has steered away from stupid mistakes and has played decent football against below average competition. I still think Orson Charles should block better….
1962 DAWG
November 30th, 2011
5:35 pm
SSIGator
We traded you Muschamp for McGarity, and got the win over you. Not a bad trade at all!!
RiffRaff
November 30th, 2011
5:36 pm
Here we go again, now Sanders Commings is jabbing. Here’s an idea, don’t worry about if you think your defense is better that the other guys D, you need to be better than the other guys offense.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45495464/ns/sports-college_football/
mid town
November 30th, 2011
5:37 pm
Mr. Bradley,
Ease up. The schedule saved Coach Richt and I am happy for him.
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:38 pm
“What if Georgia is blown out by LSU? Georgia will finish 0-3 vs. currently ranked opponents for the year….is that really an improvement for Richt? He has just bought himself another couple of years…and for what?”
You can “what if” anything to death. We need to play the game first. It will be a good indication of where we are. Since we are playing so many freshmen and sophomores, we have more than just of a “couple of years” to be scary good but it is our repsonsibility to perform. Everyone connected to the program has take this to heart. Stick around, it is gonna be a blast!
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:38 pm
ARdawg – LSU scores a TD late, and Miles goes for 2 to get it within a TD. Attempt failed. Onside kick fails, Georgia runs out the clock. 29-20. Seriously, we need to consult with 48dawg, or Dawg48 or whovever; he predicted the opening play of the Tech-Georgia game correctly.
duronimo
November 30th, 2011
5:39 pm
UGA was showing definite signs of not being prepared for games and not being well coached. Sometimes it’s good to be on the hot seat. The team looks a lot different. No one wants to change a coach out in the SEC. Look what’s resulted at Tennessee and Florida. So while Richt may have deserved to be canned, McGarity’s patience seems to be the right call. That great recruiting class didn’t hurt.
B'dawg
November 30th, 2011
5:40 pm
anbody heard anything about LSU qb declared accademically uneligible?
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:41 pm
B’dawg, the LSU AD issued a press release denying it.
B'dawg
November 30th, 2011
5:41 pm
speeling sucks, typo
B'dawg
November 30th, 2011
5:41 pm
spelling sucks, typo
B'dawg
November 30th, 2011
5:42 pm
Thanks
Dooley Jr.
November 30th, 2011
5:42 pm
I agree duronimo. It’s never a good idea to fire the HC. The grass is always greener on next year’s gridiron. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
dawg4u
November 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
As former Falcon coach Jim Mora used to say “we’re playing with house money!” UGA has everything to gain and nothing to lose. The pressure is all on LSU. Now, having said that it will still be a tough one to win but is a very real possibility especially getting our running backs back. LSU will be thinking about the NC and Alabama or OK St so beware of the junkyard dog foaming at the mouth to take you down!
1eyedJack
November 30th, 2011
5:44 pm
I predict….17-16.
ARdawg
November 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
Delbert I would expect something different or odd in this game. Strong defenses against each other don’t always result in a 9-6 score. If it gets into an often scoring game, I like our chances
Diggitydawg
November 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
Mcgarrity had nothing to do with any of this just like d. Evans didn’t
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
“What if Georgia is blown out by LSU? Georgia will finish 0-3 vs. currently ranked opponents for the year”
That apparently figures in Georgia beating a currently-ranked Big Ten team in the bowl, who will then be dropped from the final ranking.
GT
November 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
The emperor has no clothes. Georgia has played only two competive teams and lost to both of them. South Carolina might as well played a NFL team as play Ark and Georgia is like the guy that never graduated from elementary school celebrating victory at 23 years old.
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
Heck guys, we could play good and lose by 14, LSU is that good. The heck of it is, the challenge of facing that is something I am excited about.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
November 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
Buckeye. Truth be told, is just another nut. 6 and 6, hiring a quitter and a liar as a coach and is so giddy he wet himself. Predictable and pathetic. Dogs by 4 after a late and meaningless LSU score. And if I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But I’m on a ten game win steak as of now.
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:50 pm
ARdawg, speaking of something odd, I expect Miles to pull a few rabbits out of his “mad hat”. He hasn’t used the fake field goal where the holder flips the ball over his shoulder to the kicker like a pitch-out in a while…
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2011
5:51 pm
Wasn’t there a 5-2 game last year?
Bengal Tiger
November 30th, 2011
5:52 pm
Ain’t skeered of no puppy dawgs.
Brang It !!!
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 30th, 2011
5:54 pm
Lsu didn’t look that great the last time they faced a 3-4 defense
Hoopster
November 30th, 2011
5:55 pm
Uh, no Mark. Their turnaround began after they lost their second game and began playing a cupcake schedule. I see you’ve freshened your love affair with Richt again.
DawgInaTruck
November 30th, 2011
5:57 pm
Bengal, its gonna be a great game! Looking forward to a well played contest with no injuries. We both still have to represent the best conference in America afterwards.
Bengal Tiger
November 30th, 2011
5:59 pm
I’ll let you in on a secret. We are looking past you guys. We’ve got a real game to play after we get this SEC crowning ceremony out of the way. Get all excited about that if it makes you happy. We don’t care. Doggies ain’t nothin’ but Tiger meat.
Burp!
1eyedJack
November 30th, 2011
5:59 pm
Anybody have any info on the rumor that the Dawgs are gonna wear those hideous Boise game unis? The Ga. Dome didn’t like ‘em last time.
Mule breath
November 30th, 2011
6:00 pm
McGarity next order of business is to hire a competent OC and fire Bobo the Clown which will become evident this Saturday…..
RiffRaff
November 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
LSU in white. UGA in traditional red.
1eyedJack
November 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
But at least they’ll be better than the yeller and purple of the Swampers.