Mark Richt celebrates 50th birthday today
Happy birthday, Mark Richt.
Georgia’s football coach, born Feb. 18, 1960, in Omaha, Neb., turns 50 today.
Well, that decade flew by. Richt was 40 when named Georgia’s coach on Dec. 26, 2000.
Mark Richt (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Remember the other candidates interviewed for the job? Then-NFL assistants Chan Gailey and Ray Sherman and then-Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower. If my math is correct, Gailey has had four jobs while Richt has been at Georgia.
This will be a year of milestones of sorts for Richt. The 2010 season will be his 10th as the Bulldogs’ coach. He already is the dean of SEC coaches in terms of longest tenure at his current school. Check out this AJC photo gallery of Richt through the years.
My friend Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald celebrates Richt’s 50th birthday with a blog post this morning that offers 50 Richt facts picked up from covering him over the past seven seasons. Some of my favorites from Marc’s list:
4. The guy is meticulous. He will spot a piece of trash on the floor on his way out of a room and throw it away.
5. True story. Once a few years back, he noticed and pointed out that I missed a belt loop on a pair of pants. Much appreciated.
6. Sarah Palin has nothing on Richt, who is a walking post it-note. He regularly writes his own notes on his hand as a reminder.
14. Among his odd jobs before he got into coaching: bartender and selling insurance.
44. He needs 111 more wins to tie Vince Dooley’s 201 career victories.
—————
On a different note, click here to read about a recent Richt hire, Scott Lakatos, being ranked as the nation’s best defensive backs coach hired in this off-season.
Please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
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245 comments Add your comment
Sorry Guy!
February 18th, 2010
7:02 pm
Gator Nation – Thanks again. Now leave!
Ben
February 18th, 2010
7:04 pm
Happy Birthday Coach Richt. May the good Lord keep
you and your family in his care. A few years back
50 seemed old. At 48 I’m looking forward to it.
Life is indeed good.
pat Sully
February 18th, 2010
7:08 pm
jesus
BuLLdawg
February 18th, 2010
7:10 pm
Georgia tek fans (both of them) like to login using Florida handles because Coach Richt cannot beat Florida at 2-7.
Only problem with THAT is 1-8 Georgia tek vs Coach Richt
pat Sully
February 18th, 2010
7:14 pm
UNDER Richt
Vs. SEC foes: 43-22
.
Vs. Top 25 foes: 29-18
.
Vs. Top 25 foes away from home: 18-12
.
Vs. Top 10 foes: 8-6
.
In postseason games (bowls and championships): 9-3
.
In games decided by a touchdown or less: 34-14
.
Record at home: 47-9
.
Record on the road: 27-6
.
Losses to unranked teams: 6
.
Top 25 finishes: 8
.
Top 10 finishes: 6
.
Fact:………UGA was 12-1 in 2002 (prior to bowl selections)
.
Fact ………Fla was 12-1 in 2006 (prior to bowl selections)
.
Fact ………Not UGAs fault there were 2 unbeatens that year. “unlucky”
.
Fact……….Not Flas credit that there was only one unbeaten in 2006. “Lucky”
.
Fact:………Luck (not merit) had more to do with Fla getting an invite to the BCS not that Fla was more deserving to go to a NC than UGA with identical records.
.
Fact:………No SEC team has ever lost a BCSNC game and if UGA would have been invited nothing indicates that it would have been different
.
Fact……….UGA has 2 SEC titles..same as Fla in last 9 years and equal amount of total wins (90) over all.
.
Fact……….UGA has been ranked more times top ten in last 9 years than any SEC team at 6. Fla has only been ranked top ten 3 times in 9 years (real impressive).
.
Fact……….In 9 years under Richt no SEC team has more wins
Fact………..UGA has won 4 str8 bowls….more than any other SEC team.
.
Fact……..UGA has won 11 of last 13 bowls…Thats more than any team (tied with LSU and more than FLA)
.
Fact…… UGA has won 8 or more games in last 13 years…more than any other team in the nation including Fla.
.
Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years. Only a fool or a fan of the mythical BCSNC selection process (non playoff) would think otherwise.
.
Fact…….UGA had same record when they won the SEC title in 2002 as Fla did in 2006/8 when they won the SEC title. But UGA had the misfortune (luck) to have that record in a year that had 2 other teams with undefeated records.
Hardly an indictment on UGA but rather on the NC selection process.
6 times finished in the top 10
2 times finished in the top 3
3 SEC Championship Appearances
2 SEC Titles
3 BCS Bowls
2 Sugar Bowl wins
90-27 record over 8 seasons – 79% winning percentage (one of only 7 in the history of college ball to have ever accomplished this)
4 str8 bowl wins
7-2 in bowls (big games)
Mark Richt coached QB coach for Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke = 2 Heismans; Head Coach for David Greene = all time winningest college QB until Colt McCoy this year); and coached Matthew Stafford = very rich #1 draft pick)
No Probations
He has my respect.
Period.
2Dawgs
February 18th, 2010
7:22 pm
50 ain’t old when you are already 60.
Crimson & Clover
February 18th, 2010
7:22 pm
What a bunch of losers on here, just like their 50 year old coach. That guy isn’t in the same coaching league as Saban and Meyer. Look for another 7 win season and another trip to Shreveport doggie fans!!
DawgBone
February 18th, 2010
7:28 pm
I’m not happy losing to Fla 17 out of 20 times or to see Nick Saban and Urban Meyer reel in the top recruits while we lose ground to Tennessee, S.C and even to KY! Some Dawgs need to wake up!
Johnny Knoxville
February 18th, 2010
7:31 pm
It’ll be fun kickin their tails again this year and with a Dooley as coach!
pat Sully
February 18th, 2010
7:32 pm
BuLLdawgs is kinda a moron
Swamper
February 18th, 2010
7:34 pm
Meyer will be back ready to make it 5 out of 6 against the suntan boy and the dogs. UGA= Papa Johns Bowl.
Me
February 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
“pat Sully”, in reference to BuLLdawg…ya think???
Go DOGS
February 18th, 2010
7:36 pm
Crimson & Clover, If you knew anything about SEC Football, then you would realize that last year was the last time the SEC has a tie-in to Shreveport. If you are gonna talk smack, know your subject.
Me
February 18th, 2010
7:38 pm
BuLLdawg I.Q. under/over=50
Crimson & Clover
February 18th, 2010
7:43 pm
Go DOGS we only worry about BCS bowl tie-ins around here. Ok, I’ll go with the Swamper and say Papa Johns Bowl or at least one of the SEC bowls played well before new years.
DawginOH
February 18th, 2010
7:43 pm
Happy birthday, Coach Richt! May you enjoy many more leading the Dawgs with the integrity and character for which you so are so widely known. God bless you.
DawginOH
February 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
Crimson & Clover- congrats on the NC this past season. I was pulling for your boys all the way. Why don’t you cut the trash talk about Georgia and talk about your own team on a Bama blog? There should be plenty to talk about with regard to the Tide’s next season, no?
Johnny Knoxville
February 18th, 2010
7:47 pm
Georgia is the new Kentucky. Sorry, didn’t mean to insult Kentucky. At least they got basketball.
Dawgs88
February 18th, 2010
8:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawgs88
February 18th, 2010
8:13 pm
Happy Birthday Coach! I think to celebrate you’re going to need a SEC title lol.
3-17 HAHAHAHA!
February 18th, 2010
9:19 pm
happy birthday coach! being the the second or third best team in the East is nothing to be ashamed of.
bring those black helmets back to Jax!
Maretta
February 18th, 2010
9:26 pm
Celebrate by retiring and not negatively affecting any more young men’s lives.
G
February 18th, 2010
9:37 pm
So what?
thomas
February 18th, 2010
9:43 pm
he may be the dean of coaches in the sec but will never win a champhionship hes way behind meyers and saban and miles
ckgator
February 18th, 2010
10:03 pm
Richt: UGA’s coach for 20% of his life, and owned by Florida 71% of that time.
Stick around, Coach Cool Breeze. We Gators luv ya!
angry dawg
February 18th, 2010
10:27 pm
If he doesn’t win anything big soon, hopefully he celebrates his next birthday by announcing his retirement.
Cornelius Washington
February 18th, 2010
10:43 pm
Coach Richt is a good man. He has more class and integrity than Paul Johnson and Urban Meyer combined. Angry Dawg….you are a nimrod and doofus head.
Mike from Savannah,Ga.
February 18th, 2010
10:54 pm
Happy Birthday,Coach Richt,hope you have many more,you’re a Class Act,& proud to have a coach like you at UGA,keep up the good work.
eastcobbdawg
February 18th, 2010
11:10 pm
Coach Richt – Congratulations on turning the big 50 today. Wish you many more and hope they continue to be celebrated as Bulldawg Birthdays – so proud of your accomplishments – have met you a couple of times at Bulldawg meetings. Can’t wait for this next season – go Dawgs – sic em woof woof and GATA…:)
Gators!
February 18th, 2010
11:16 pm
Mark Richt. Gators rule ya and school ya! Even in a UGA blog in a Ga newspaper! Gator Nation is EVERYWHERE baby!!
Bulldog Bob
February 18th, 2010
11:29 pm
Coach Richt – I hope you have a blessed and fulfilling birthday. It is an honor to have you as our head coach. I appreciate the manner in which you represent the University of Georgia. I look forward to the 2010 football season and ten more with you at the helm.
BuLLdawg
February 19th, 2010
1:14 am
“Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years. Only a fool or a fan of the mythical BCSNC selection process (non playoff) would think otherwise.”
That’s complete Bull Crap.
UGA does NOT have a better won / loss record than Florida in the Coach Richt Era.
UGA does NOT have a better won / loss record than LSU in the Coach Richt Era.
Alabama too, now has passed Coach Richt.
UGA is NOT RANKED AT ALL, today.
Not in ANY poll.
UGA has NEVER been national champions in ANY POLL for OVER 3 DECADES.
Florida has won 3 national championships in the just the last decade and a half.
UGA has won only 3 games against Florida in the last 2 decades, and counting.
2-7 is Coach Richt’s record against Florida, while Urban Meyer won 2 national championships
LSU has 2 national championships in the Coach Richt Era.
Alabama has a national championship now in the Coach Richt Era too.
Coach Richt has NEVER played a Top 10 Final AP Poll team in ANY bowl game Coach Richt Era.
3-8 is Coach Richt’s record against Top 10 Final AP Poll teams in Coach Richt Era.
Coach Richt has ONLY played SEC teams ranked in Top 10 Final AP Poll & is 3-8.
You sound like a complete idiot.
“Losses to unranked teams: 6″
LIE, Coach Richt has LOST to 8 teams NOT RANKED Top 25 Final AP Poll teams.
“Vs. Top 25 foes: 29-18″
LIE, Coach Richt has won 17 and lost 19 vs Top 25 Final AP Poll teams.
“Record at home: 47-9 Record on the road: 27-6″
LIE, 90-27 is Coach Richt’s record. You’re saying he’s 74-16. What happened to other 16-11
Just tell the truth and quit with your LIES.
91-27 LSU with 2 national championships
90-27 Florida with 2 national championships
90-27 UGA Coach Richt Era, LSU better & Florida 7-2 over Coach Richt.
Now, too, Alabama has a national championship & has ALSO passed Coach Richt.
BuLLdawg
February 19th, 2010
1:19 am
2009 UGA :
.
80 NCAA Number 80 Passing Offense
75 NCAA Number 75 Total Offense
113 NCAA Number 113 Most Penalties
23 FUMBLES
17 INTERCEPTIONS
.
.
2008 UGA with Knowshon Moreno :
.
56 NCAA Number 56 Rushing Offense
116 NCAA Number 116 Most Penalties
19 FUMBLES
10 INTERCEPTIONS
.
.
2007 UGA with Matthew Stafford :
.
84 NCAA Number 84 Passing Offense
74 NCAA Number 74 Total Offense
85 NCAA Number 85 Most Penalties
18 FUMBLES
10 INTERCEPTIONS
.
.
2006 with Matthew Stafford :
.
79 NCAA Number 79 Passing Offense
90 NCAA Number 90 Total Offense
70 NCAA Number 70 Most Penalties
22 FUMBLES
16 INTERCEPTIONS
Hot damn, we’ve really been great on OFFENSE.
.
.
BuLLdawg
February 19th, 2010
1:44 am
We have had 0 years when we got a great bowl game to cap a season.
We are an afterthought on the National Stage.
We are WORSE than LSU and FLORIDA in the Coach Richt Era.
We are WORSE than Alabama now too.
We are WORSE than Texas in the Coach Richt Era.
We are WORSE than Oklahoma in the Coach Richt Era.
We are WORSE than Southern California in the Coach Richt Era.
We are WORSE than Boise State in the Coach Richt Era.
We are WORSE than Ohio State in the Coach Richt Era.
We are CONSISTENTLY WORSE in the Coach Richt Era than ALL OF THESE TEAMS, INCLUDING NOW WE ARE THE 4TH BEST TEAM IN OUR OWN DAMN CONFERENCE.
.
.
2006
14 points vs Florida in 2006, LOST.
20 points vs Kentucky in 2006, LOST.
22 points vs Vanderbilt in 2006, LOST.
15 points vs Georgia tek in 2006.
18 points vs South Carolina in 2006.
14 points vs Colorado in 2006.
14 points vs Ole Miss in 2006.
.
.
2007
12 points vs 6-Loss not even in a Bowl Game South Carolina in 2007, LOST.
14 points vs 4-Loss vols 2007. vols scored 35, LOST.
20 points vs 7-Loss Vandie 2007.
24 points vs 5-Loss Kentucky 2007.
This was with Knowshon Moreno AND Matthew Stafford.
.
.
2008
14 points vs 5-Loss South Carolina in 2008 with Knowshon Stafford & AJ Green.
10 points vs Florida in 2008 with Knowshon Stafford & AJ Green, LOST.
Applauded by FL players when Joe Cox scored finally with 1 minute to go.
17 points vs 7-Loss Auburn with Knowshon Stafford & AJ Green.
24 points vs Michigan State who beat no Top 25 Final AP Poll team.
27 points vs 7-Loss Arizona State.
26 points vs 7-Loss vols, we lack the killer instinct with Coach Richt.
24 points vs 6-Loss Vandie
This was with Knowshon Moreno, Matthew Stafford AND AJ Green.
.
.
2009
10 points vs Okie State UNRANKED Not Top 25 Final AP Poll 2009, LOST.
20 points vs 8-Loss Arizona State 2009.
13 points vs LSU who beat no Final AP Poll Top 25 team, LOST.
19 points vs 6-Loss vols. vols put up 45, LOST.
27 points vs 6-Loss UNRANKED Kentucky in 2009, LOST.
17 points vs Florida this year after 10 last year when he got applauds from the Florida players on the sidelines politely applauding for finally scoring with a minute left the only touchdown he got with Knowshon Moreno, Matthew Stafford and AJ Green, AND LOST THE GAME AGAIN – NOT EVEN CLOSE.
.
We have been getting worse and worse on Offense.
Now, ALL the all-stars on OFFENSE IN THIS STATE have turned their back on UGA.
And, the question you have to ask yourself is how does this make UGA better than Florida ?
How does this make UGA better than LSU ?
How does this now too make UGA better than Alabama ?
Realistic Dawg
February 19th, 2010
2:28 am
Losing 17 out of 20 to florida, getting blown out by tennessee—I’ve had enough of richt. When will UGA get a championship coach who can beat good teams in big games?
BuLLdawg
February 19th, 2010
2:56 am
You’d have to be a FOOL or on drugs to say :
“Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years.”
“UNDER Richt Vs. SEC foes: 43-22″
LIES, ALL LIES.
Is this because yours is SMALL that you MAKE UP THESE LIES ?
Or, in fact, is it that because Coach Richt is NOT WHAT YOU SAY HE IS, that you have to MAKE UP LIES to TRY to make him sound great ?
Alabama are the REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, and have now passed Coach Richt.
Remember the 31 to Nothing at Sanford Stadium with Knowshon Moreno, Matthew Stafford and AJ Green at HALF TIME ?
7-11 That is Coach Richt’s RECORD in his OWN DIVISION vs Florida & vols combined.
7 wins out of 18 games in 9 years vs 2 foes in our own division of our conference
Never mind the National Stage. We can’t get out of our own division.
“UNDER Richt Vs. SEC foes: 43-22″
SEC Conference Record, 2001-2009 :
56-19 Florida including 2 NC and 7-2 vs Coach Richt but you say :
“Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years.”
53-23 LSU including 2 National Championships but you say :
“Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years.”
52-23 UGA in Coach Richt Era 9 years from 2001 to 2009 vs SEC teams, but you say :
“Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years.”
And, you say :
“UNDER Richt Vs. SEC foes: 43-22″
.
.
56-19 Florida vs SEC teams 2001-2009 including 2 NC & 7-2 vs Coach Richt
53-23 LSU vs SEC teams 2001 to 2009 including 2 National Championships
52-23 UGA in Coach Richt Era 9 years from 2001 to 2009 vs SEC teams.
“UNDER Richt Vs. SEC foes: 43-22″
“Fact…….UGA is clearly as good or better than any SEC team over last 9 years.”
.
56-19 Florida vs SEC teams 2001-2009 including 2 NC & 7-2 vs Coach Richt
53-23 LSU vs SEC teams 2001 to 2009 including 2 National Championships
52-23 UGA in Coach Richt Era 9 years from 2001 to 2009 vs SEC teams.
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/conference.pl?start=2001&end=2009&team=Alabama&team=Arkansas&team=Auburn&team=Florida&team=Georgia&team=Kentucky&team=LouisianaState&team=Mississippi&team=MississippiState&team=SouthCarolina&team=Tennessee&team=Vanderbilt
BuLLdawg
February 19th, 2010
3:18 am
Here, I will show you the
DECLINE IN UGA BULLDOGS FOOTBALL for the LAST 4 YEARS
3 of the 4 years have been HUGE DISAPPOINTMENTS.
.
.
2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 vs SEC teams only :
.
29-06 Florida vs SEC teams including 3-1 vs Coach Richt last 4 years
23-11 Alabama vs SEC teams including 1-1 vs Coach Richt last 4 years
21-12 LSU vs SEC teams including 1-1 vs Coach Richt last 4 years
20-12 GA includes 3-5 vs 3 SEC teams BETTER than Coach Richt over last 4 yrs
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/conference.pl?start=2006&end=2009&team=Alabama&team=Arkansas&team=Auburn&team=Florida&team=Georgia&team=Kentucky&team=LouisianaState&team=Mississippi&team=MississippiState&team=SouthCarolina&team=Tennessee&team=Vanderbilt
We are getting worse, not better.
9-9 Coach Richt record not in Opponent’s Stadium last 4 years in SEC.
9-9.
At home and in Jacksonville the last 4 years vs ALL SEC teams Coach Richt 9-9 combined.
We are the 4th Best Team in The SEC over the LAST FOUR (4) YEARS NOW.
4th best.
NOT the BEST as you LIE with your MADE UP LIES because Coach Richt is NOT what you say he is.
NOT.
Go DOGS
February 19th, 2010
7:03 am
Crimson&Clover: you probably have never even set foot on that campus. Can you even find Tuscaloosa ona map? Yeah! That is what I thought. Go pound sand, moron!
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
7:56 am
Good morning. It’s still great to be a Gator.
S.C. DAWGS
February 19th, 2010
9:36 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK RICHT AND MANY MORE WITH GEORGIA AND YEARS TO COME. WE JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE KIDS UNDER YOU TO HAVE ENRICHED THERE LIFES AND MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS AND KEEP YOU IN HIS ARMS.
Headlinin’: Rebels rally behind a new Admiral | Florida Sports Net
February 19th, 2010
10:11 am
[...] conference expansion as game theory. … And Mark Richt, longest-tenured head coach in the SEC, turns 50. Man, where did that decade [...]
bigdawg
February 19th, 2010
12:45 pm
gaytor fans are funny….nothing better to do than post all over a UGA blog gaytor fans? Its down right sad you guys come on to the AJC to hate on UGA, try a thing called “dating girls” its way better than sitting around waiting for new UGA blog post on the net…just trust me
how2fish
February 19th, 2010
1:52 pm
Bulldawg..what CMR is..our coach and a damn fine one at that..and a better man than most of us will ever be…you don’t like him fine crawl back in your hole and sulk..
Dawg Straight
February 19th, 2010
2:05 pm
Now that richt has some good defensive coaches, they should finally be able to beat florida, which will not be that good this year with an average QB and no good RBs or WRs.
Roger
February 19th, 2010
4:47 pm
Happy Birthday Coach, We are so lucky to have a coach with your beliefs and also to continue to keep UGA competitive in the toughest conference in America, and not taking time off for pressure, because plenty has been sent your way, Thanks Coach!