The Richt contract extension: What’s the magic number?
Checking to see how many more seasons he has in his pocket. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Georgia wants to keep Mark Richt and Richt wants to stay. What’s left are details. But details are important, contractually speaking.
Richt’s existing contract runs through 2013, so it isn’t as if he’s a free-agent-to-be. Presumably AD Greg McGarity will offer a raise and an extension, which brings us to the heart of those details. How many more years?
This is a concern not without nuance. Too short an extension sends one message; too long sends another. Here would seem the alternatives:
One more year: This wouldn’t so much be an extension as a very gentle pat on the back. It essentially would say, “We like what you did this season, but we want to see more.” Outsiders would interpret this as McGarity feeling the rise to 10-3 from 6-7 was less a function of coaching than scheduling. A one-year extension won’t happen because it would undercut Richt almost as much as no extension.
Two more years: This would push Richt’s deal through the 2015 season, which is a good ways off and, for recruiting purposes, would allow him to assure current recruits he has a measure of job security through their college careers. Unless, that is, they redshirt. And if they’re not good enough to plays as freshmen, who wants them? (Kidding!)
Three more years: This is the most-rumored extension, and it would make some sense. Five-year contracts are the industry standard. (Even Paul Hewitt had a five-year contract, the difference being that his never stopped being a five-year contract.) This would be a virtual mandate for Richt, but a virtual mandate might be overdoing it. Does one bounceback season override two lesser ones? Will a different schedule — Georgia is scheduled to play at South Carolina and Alabama next season, though speculation holds that SEC newbie Missouri will take the Tide’s place — yield a less desirable result? Is McGarity, who hasn’t negotiated with Richt before, prepared to make the statement: “This is the only coach we want or are ever going to want”?
Four more years or beyond: Too long for any coach, even one who has won his division four times in 11 seasons. Skeptics among us — and they still exist — would note that Richt hasn’t won the SEC since 2005 and has never taken his team to the BCS title game. (Got close a couple of times, though.)
Were I McGarity, I’d open with a two-year offer but count on settling for three. Richt is still a handsome commodity in an industry where big-name schools have been reduced to hiring the likes of Jim Mora (UCLA) and Charlie Weis (Kansas). There’s no reason to tick off such a bird in hand.
By opening with a two-year bid, McGarity would make the point that Georgia likes and supports this coach but wants him to consolidate the gains made in 2011 and have even bigger seasons soon. By settling for three, McGarity comes off as erring on the side of his coach, which is the side an AD needs to choose unless he’s about to fire him.
Georgia fans could and should be enthused by the developments of the past four months. A team that was losing almost every in-doubt game found ways to win 10 times running. That said, the Bulldogs did lose to the three best teams they played, and only one of those losses wound up being close. For as far as Georgia came in 2011, there’s still a ways to go.
The good news is that Georgia again has reason to believe Richt is the man to take it there. He deserves a reward. But a reward isn’t the same as a lifetime contract. The aforementioned Hewitt got one of those, and seven years later Georgia Tech had to pay dearly to make him go away.
By Mark Bradley
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561 comments Add your comment
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
12:59 pm
JMac1220 -
See there? I told you if you said realistic things to DawginLex he would leave. Hopefully he is just on his daily KoolAid break and will rejoin us after awhile.
GTBob
December 15th, 2011
12:59 pm
I think the NFL might disagree with you there, bub!!
Some talent is good enough to make the NFL regardless of how much they are coached down. How many SEC championships did Stafford and Moreno play in? How are Ealey, and King doing right now? How did Samuel work out?
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:00 pm
Yes, UF lost to ranked teams…so how is that any different than the dawgs this year!
And therein lies the problem with Muschamp and Weis (opps..forgot) on the coaching staff.
ARdawg
December 15th, 2011
1:00 pm
SSI
Florida lost to the best 6 teams it played to. Nothing earth shattering there is it?
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
Coached down yet make NFL rosters? not making much sense bubba!!
Telly Salava
December 15th, 2011
1:02 pm
Well, first, the “braintrust at GIT are idiots, just look at their body of work in athletics; so let’s don’t waste time on rolling 5 year contracts. Second and lastly, Coach Richt should receive a 3 year extension, with significant incentives tied to on and off the field performance. All coaches make too much, so I don’t see any need to compound that problem. He’s NOT a greedy person, and I don’t want to pay more for tickets. Have a nice day.
Telly Salava
December 15th, 2011
1:03 pm
“
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:05 pm
“Second and lastly, Coach Richt should receive a 3 year extension, with significant incentives tied to on and off the field performance.”
EXACTLY!! Incentives always make everyone work harder, coach and players!
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 15th, 2011
1:06 pm
Just a few comments from the real world:
1. UGA will get beat by Carolina once again.
2. Humper fans believe they are dominant again after winning the easiest schedule in the SEC.
3. They think they own UF again after coming behind to beat a 1-legged QB and the worst UF team since 1977 by a whopping 4 points.
4. They are great again after almost losing to Vandy again for the 2nd time in 5 years.
5. They had their butts handed to them by a Boise team full of 2 and 3 stars.
6. They struggled mightily against a poor Ky team.
7. They are lobbying behind the scenes to replace Bama with Mizzo.
8. They blame Bobo instead of the man (CMR) who approves every game plan and play called.
9. They think that 1 successful season by “Choke” Grantham deserves a raise.
10. And lastly, the rest of the SEC East hopes that McGarrity will give the sun tanned Helen Hunt look a like preacher a life time contract.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:06 pm
@SSIgator I woke up this morning and we are still 2011 SEC East Champs and the gators well not so much, now the question is can you even compete with OSU this year in the bowl. We have heard over and over again how we didn’t play anyone or beat anyone and as one of those teams were your very own belly sliders I think its an honest question. Can the gators beat OSU in the bowl game. Come on you know everything there is to about UGA’s program what are your programs chances against OSU?
Telly Salava
December 15th, 2011
1:07 pm
Please add a “.
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
1:08 pm
ARdawg and G-Dawg -
“And therein lies the problem with Muschamp on the coaching staff”
And if things do not improve in the next year or two he will be gone. Difference being that UF does not reward mediocrity. See Ron Zook.
GTBob
December 15th, 2011
1:08 pm
Coached down yet make NFL rosters? not making much sense bubba!!
I am not sure how to make it anymore clear. Just because a player makes an NFL roster does not mean he was coached well in college. GT has put alot of players in the NBA. Believe me, Paul Hewitt was not the reason they made it there.
Big Old Dog
December 15th, 2011
1:09 pm
GTBob….jerkoff…how come you spend more time in UGA boards than in the rat crap blogs for fairies of Tech
Auburn has beaten UGA once since 2005
December 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
Hey “2010 BCS CHAMPS” Richt and UGA have owned you over the last 6 years. You have only defeated him 4 times in 11 years. I think you should shut up and go vent where you have had a little more success. The country has had more Presidents in the last six years (2) than Auburn has had victories over UGA (1). Idiot!
GTBob……what could you possibly bring to the table in this discussion??? You have been worn out and absolutely embarrassed for the past 10 out of 11 years. You have defeated your biggest rival once in 11 years. Why would you even show up here? Idiot!
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 15th, 2011
1:11 pm
WDE they did beat them in the BCS title game a few years ago as opposed to you beating ND 31 YEARS AGO!
Bob
December 15th, 2011
1:12 pm
Four or more if we want to keep him. We must show a commitment.
GTBob
December 15th, 2011
1:13 pm
GTBob……what could you possibly bring to the table in this discussion???
A non kool aid drinking perspective. UGA fans were all giddy about giving Mark Fox a raise and an extension last year. How are you guys feeling about that now?
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 15th, 2011
1:13 pm
SSI you are correct and even the terrible ZOOKER beat UGA and the saintly one 2 out of 3.
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
1:15 pm
WDE -
Well the good news is you are on the green side of the earth today. The bad news (at least for UGA fans) is Richt and Booboo are still on the coaching staff. But to answer your question, I have no idea if UF will win their bowl game. Difference being I know UF has a bad team this year – KoolAid Club members think that UGA has a really good team this year.
DawgDad
December 15th, 2011
1:15 pm
I don’t see how UGA could have a better head coach than Richt. Great ambassador for the program, great record. Every program has ups and downs, no one finishes #1 every year. Several major Universities have sold out their integrity in pursuit of a National Championship; if that happens at UGA I will most certainly stop being a fan.
Coaches like Urban Meyer bring glory to their University and the SEC, but the glory is fleeting and it crashes like a bad hangover. I hold a lot more respect for the Richts and Spurriers of the world.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:15 pm
@Spokesman for the SEC East your smoking the good stuff today I see. Next year we beat SC by two scores.
GTBob
December 15th, 2011
1:18 pm
GTBob……what could you possibly bring to the table in this discussion???
I like to think I bring rational objective analysis to the table.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:19 pm
@Spokesman for the SEC East really what does that have to do with this year…talk about live in the past..put down the bong son !
SSIgator
December 15th, 2011
1:19 pm
Spokesman for the SEC East -
The Zooker was 2-0 against UGA. He did not coach the game in 2004. He was canned the week before the game.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:20 pm
@GTBob “I’d like to think I bring rational objective analysis to the table.” Think again Bob.
Red Stick
December 15th, 2011
1:21 pm
I keep seeing comments that Missouri may replace Alabama on Georgia’s schedule next season.
Is it possible that Missouri may replace Ole Miss Ole Miss isn’t a permanent West opponent for the Dawgs.
Just asking.
Geaux Tigers
SEC Champions
DrRed
December 15th, 2011
1:21 pm
Long term contracts arn’t bad, look at what McGarity is used to at Florida, Donovan & Meyer both had long term contracts, AND produced National Championships.
I think Richt’s the type of guy that functions best when he knows the leaders are COMMITTED to him with more than HAPPY TALK.
Less than 4 MORE years, is an insult to a coach with 20 top 10 finishes on his resume over the last 24 years.
20 top 10 finishes? Name one other coach who can say that.
14 at FSU, 6 at UGA, maybe a 7th if they win the Bowl game.
frank@frank
December 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
hopefully not too long.
Dont want to be stuck with him once we start playing tougher schedules and our opponents rebuild (auburn, florida, tennessee)
That great 10 win season will turn into a 5-6-7 win season real quick.
DrRed
December 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
The longer McGarity delays, the more he hurts recruiting and shows LACK of leadership.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
@SSIgator I like the we don’t reward mediocrity comment. Face it by the time you have another 10 win season that won’t seem mediocre at all.
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 15th, 2011
1:24 pm
SSIgator, son you are incorrect; he was told before the game but coached out the season.
1eyedJack
December 15th, 2011
1:24 pm
Red Stick, Ole Miss owes us a return game from this year. Bama was just coming on the schedule. Of course anything can happen.
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 15th, 2011
1:25 pm
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:19 pm
@Spokesman for the SEC East really what does that have to do with this year…talk about live in the past..put down the bong son !
You are the one smoking son or else you dont go to the games and see the “historical” greatness of the Humpers on the video screen.
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:26 pm
yeah..and we also know what all those so called GT NBA stars bring to the table as well…or locker rooms!! LOL
As always, Bob changes the topic! Thought we were talking football here…not academics or roundball.
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:30 pm
Zook was never a long term investment for UF..they were just waiting until someone better came along. Same thing with Muschamp!!
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:33 pm
BTW…UF fans/trolls…you’re program is on the downside to mediocrity. Better get used to it! Meyer and Tebow was a blessing, yet none of you appreciate the memories…only set your arrogant standards even higher. You had your years, and congrats. But nothing good lasts forever!! Welcome do mediocrity.
BooneDawg
December 15th, 2011
1:34 pm
No disrespect, but discussing MR’s contract extension negotiating points no matter how good a sports writer, is like a great plumber performing an organ transplant because he is good at repairing busted pipes. There are numerous issues involved in a contract extension, not simply a period of time.
ga gator
December 15th, 2011
1:37 pm
G-Dawg you are probably correct about Zook. Foley was rejected by Mike Shanahan and panicked. With Muschamp Foley believes he hired the best available for the long haul. Time will tell and a lot will depend on his OC selection. My inside sources tell me that Charlie leaving was a relief for Champ because of Weis’s preference for Brissett over Driskel. One thing you CAN count on is if Muschamp does not at least compete for the East next year, year 3 will be his hotseat year. Foley is a cold hearted CEO when it comes to winning Championships and he knows that football pays the bills.
RedandBlackDAWG
December 15th, 2011
1:37 pm
Alphare,
Did you read the comment I was responding to? I doubt it since you are too busy, trying to insult UGA and the fans here. Go home little fellow. This is big time football talk.
Rationale
December 15th, 2011
1:37 pm
3 years for Richt. Give him an incentive for beating Florida, he does not really need one for consistantly beating GA Tech.
Ohio State and Michigan coaches have incentive bonuses for beating the other team. Why not Richt, with Florida?
As some one else said, lock Grantham in for the same 3 years. Make Grantham the coach in waiting, give him an incremental (fixed percentage) annual increase over the next 3 years, with possible incentives for maintaining the defense at the same level it is this year, or better, and also a bonus for playing in the SEC CG, winning it, and for NC CG as well. Grantham is already one of the top paid college DC, and should continue to be paid in that manner. Evidently he wants to be a head coach somewhere, at some time in the future, why should we not consider him for that future position. He could not do much better than UGA, if he stays in the college arena for HC. He seems to like working with kids, and is very good at teaching a very difficult defense, and the kids seem to listen better than the Pro players did. He was good, but not great at Dallas. If it doesn’t work out, at the end of the 3 years, then he can go, just like Muschamp did, or we can let him go, and he has been paid well.
Demote Bobo, this year, with his same current pay, if and only if, there is a definitively preferred OC out there, and we know he will come to UGA, and stay for an agreed upon number of years. It does no good to have someone come here and then leave shortly thereafter.
Make Bobo the QB coach. Consider making Bobo the recruiting coordinator, I say consider, because I am not sure about Gardner, if he should stay or go, and Bobo is very good with the kids. If Bobo does not accept this offer, consider sending him packing now, or at the least, after next year, unless, there is as much improvement next year, as there appeared to be at times this year.
My personal opinion about Bobo, is that Richt took over with overriding offensive calls at times this year, because there is no other understandable explanation that Bobo definitively improved so much at times, toward the end of the year, and then reverted back to the same old hooey calling at times that he did in the 2nd half of the SEC CG.
Also, I know McGarity won’t, but do not forget the other assistant coaches either, they have helped get this team where it was, at the end of the year, versus the beginning of the year.
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 15th, 2011
1:39 pm
G-Dawg But nothing good lasts forever!! Welcome do mediocrity.
I guess you would be an expert on mediocrity.
WDE
December 15th, 2011
1:41 pm
@Spokesman for the SEC East lets review shall we I asked a question about the gators chances of beating OSU THIS year and you give me a history lesson and I’m the one smoking the wacky weed? I fear all of you trolls have lost your minds. Care to give us your take on the question troll boy?
Rationale
December 15th, 2011
1:42 pm
I do not know how Coach Richt evaluates Bobo, at the end of the year. My suggestion is this. Coach Richt needs to sit down with Coach Bobo and evaluate every game, every play, and ask him, if you had that play to do over, what would you call? Then CMR needs to show him why he (CMR) would have called a different play. EVERY OFFENSIVE PLAY, of EVERY GAME.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
December 15th, 2011
1:42 pm
Offer him market rate, and add a bonus or incentive….not for success on the field…but for making thru even one week of the season without any arrests, failed drug tests, academic problems, or other Crowell-like nonsense from the players.
mcdaviddawg
December 15th, 2011
1:45 pm
Any extension will return us to the non-coacjhing we have had for most of the lastt six years. The man doesn’t do anything and if you listen to him he tells all.
Rationale
December 15th, 2011
1:45 pm
@WDE, and others! Please? Periods at the end of a sentence or comment, and commas, at the end of a presented thought, with a continued thought. We have to take too much time to read and then figure out what you are saying. No wonder no one can understand what someone else is saying.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
December 15th, 2011
1:45 pm
“The country has had more Presidents in the last six years (2) than Auburn has had victories over UGA (1). Idiot!”
I love retards like you.
G-Dawg
December 15th, 2011
1:47 pm
Based upon your nonessential repeatative comments, i think you have defined the word mediocrity plenty. Maybe its because you’re basing that off your personal life!! So sad!!
RedandBlackDAWG
December 15th, 2011
1:48 pm
Spokesman for the SEC East,
You had better hope the NCAA doesn’t take away the only title you have ever won in the SEC in 19 years, after your administration admitted to the “Hotel Scam”. They even admitted to allowing the players involved to play and also admitted that they basically ignored the incident, in other words, hoped nobody would find out the truth. Six scholarships over a three year period, is a nice gesture but the NCAA is going to lay the hammer on S.C. for not investigating the situation and not doing anything about it, until they were forced to do something.