Richt says no timetable for Gray decision but position switch possible if he stays
Georgia coach Mark Richt said Thursday afternoon that if quarterback Logan Gray “wants to stay at Georgia, I’ll work with him on what position he plays.”
Gray, the No. 2 quarterback on Georgia’s post-spring depth chart, met Monday with Richt to discuss his status on the team and the possibility of transferring to another school. Richt said Thursday there is no timetable for Gray to make a decision.
Richt reiterated that Gray still has a shot to be Georgia’s starting quarterback but said he also would have the option of playing another position. Gray previously expressed interest in playing wide receiver if things did not work out at quarterback. He was listed behind redshirt freshman Aaron Murray at quarterback on the depth chart released last week.
Gray “wants to play, and right now he’s not sure that he can,” Richt said. “I made it real clear, as clear as a bell, that we just had a post-spring depth chart that did not name anybody a starter at any position, including quarterback. But when he ended up No. 2 behind Murray, I’m sure that’s what triggered it.
“So he’s trying to decide what he wants to do – whether he wants to stay here and, if he stays, what position he wants to play and all that kind of stuff. If he wants to be at Georgia, then I’ll work with him on what position he plays and all.”
Richt said it’s not unusual for a player in Gray’s situation to consider his options.
“This type of thing actually happens a whole lot more than anybody ever knows,” Richt said. “It usually doesn’t become a public issue. But I guess nowadays, with the way word travels, somebody caught wind that he had come to see me discussing what to do. Usually those things are done in private, and those kids have a chance to think about it without everybody hammering them on it and wondering what everybody’s opinion of it is.
“But the bottom line is, if he wants to be at Georgia, we’re glad to have him. And we are certainly a better team with him than without him.”
Part of the reason the Gray issue has caused such a ruckus is that if he were to transfer, Georgia’s only scholarship quarterbacks would be Murray, who has never played in a college game, and incoming freshman Hutson Mason, who arrives this summer from Marietta’s Lassiter High School. Gray is a junior but has thrown only 12 passes in college games himself.
“Whether he’s here or whether he’s not here,” Richt said, “we have a tremendous amount of inexperience at the quarterback position.”
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197 comments Add your comment
BobDawg
April 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
I like CMR’s handling of Logan Gray…other coaches Spurrier,Saban,Jowlson…err Johnson to name a few would act like children who had their candy stolen. CMR’s comments about these matters normally staying quiet are true and I hope that Logan will make the right decision for himself. As for miss Angela and dixieclear pay no attention…I would bet they are Ramble on and yellow fuzz’s drag alter egos.
Dawg Logic
April 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
Come on everybody, this goes on at EVERY campus in the country. Football players can be young and foolish just like any other college student. I’ll bet that if you kicked out every student that underage drank a time or two or a hundred or went to bars or smoked a little weed, all you’d have left is professors, administrators and groundskeepers. So folks, lets be understanding and please keep this in mind when we are judging programs EXCEPT at the University of Florida where every player should be suspended for life, the coaching staff fired and Urban Meyer tarred and feathered. I think that’s only fair…
Shreveport Sam
April 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
Whatever the case, it’s the coach’s responsibility to staff the team properly and have contingency plans in place when the unexpected happens. Re Logan Gray, no one should fault him for any decision he makes after being forced to sit on a bench and watch Joe Cox play for a full season, talk about demoralizing!
Big B CH 99
April 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Anyone that thinks Richt needs to go has lost their mind, there is almost no chance of getting anyone better than him.
He’s hands down the best coach UGA’s had since Dooley, remember folks the period between Dooley & Richt was mediocre at best.
You could make the argument Richt is the best coach they’ve ever had, b/c Richt hasn’t had the luxury of having a Herschel to run the ball & Erk Russell as DC. Vince was about to get fired before Herschel came, & never would’ve won anything w/o Herschel & Erk.
But as a Tech fan (student) please go ahead and can Richt.
TRC
April 29th, 2010
4:42 pm
Why is it that people on these blogs think that having inexperience at the QB position is uncommon. Every four years or so there is going to be a freshman or 5th year first time starter at QB (such as David Greene, D.J. Shockley, Matt
Stafford- were you upset with the inexperience of these guys). Usually those 5th year guys don’t have enough relevant experience to call them “experienced.” To have young QBs is not a coaching failure. It just means the good experienced guys have moved on, sometimes early (i.e. Stafford). UGA is not even remotely close to being the only school with inexperience at QB (see Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn, for example). That’s why it is good to have a good team around them. Everybody needs to stop worrying and have faith in the abilities of Aaron Murray and his backup, whether it be Gray or Mason. Every freshman must have his day, it’s part of the game.
Ace
April 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
So how did the program lose direction so bad and quick? Will they ever break back into the top 25 with the current leadership? I would think they would want to win championships. Fans must be content.
italian_29
April 29th, 2010
4:59 pm
Coach Dawg 2000, I think the concern is, what happens if Murray gets hurt? We all know he is the guy, but he is coming off an injury and we need to have a back up, just in case. I agree that Murray is the guy and I think the Dawgs are going to suprise some teams this year. As far as “Angela” that is a techie dude that is pretending and that will probably be as close as he get to having a “girl”. There are several other, “girls” that post on the Dawg sites that are the same dude using a different “girl” name, “Dixie” is another. If you ignore them, they eventually go away. GATA DAWGS!!!!!
TRC
April 29th, 2010
5:00 pm
Ace, UGA has only been out of the top 25 for a year, don’t get ahead of yourself. That and UGA finished the year running all over the in state rival, a bowl win (unlike tech) and a fourth straight over Auburn for good measure. That is not losing direction as badly as you are suggesting.
Delusional Dawg
April 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
CMR’s statements smack of desperation. NOW he wants to open things up and present alternatives. First of all, what was the need to declare a #1 QB if the competition is truly wide open in the fall??? Especially when there was not any real seperation between the two of them (based on the scrimmages). #1) that does NOT promote competition or give any extra incentive to get better over the next few months. #2) Somebody is bound to get discouraged or even unhappy and want to go elsewhere. And that’s exactly what happened! DUMB DUMB move by the H.C.
258DAWG
April 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
To all those haters out there that believe UGA is a bunch of THUGS/ALCOHOLICS, I wonder if they go on UF blogs and call them a bunch of DRUG ADDICTS/POT HEADS.
I suppose you can’t win everyone over, and I hope they make it back to their own teams blog to clean out their own closets. Every team has it own vices.
GO DAWGS 2010 SEC CHAMPS, I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon LeMay
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
5:07 pm
Shreveport Sam
April 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
Whatever the case, it’s the coach’s responsibility to staff the team properly and have contingency plans in place when the unexpected happens. Re Logan Gray, no one should fault him for any decision he makes after being forced to sit on a bench and watch Joe Cox play for a full season, talk about demoralizing!
Please explain to me how we don’t have a “contingency plan” at qb?
1st – Our starter is here and healthy and ready
2nd – we have a backup that passed for 5000 yards last year in high school. he’s not even rusty yet.
3rd – we have several high school qb’s walking on
and
4th – there’s a dang good chance we’re getting a committment tommrow from the best high school QB in the country.
ugaaccountant
April 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Delusional Dawg
April 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
CMR’s statements smack of desperation. NOW he wants to open things up and present alternatives. First of all, what was the need to declare a #1 QB if the competition is truly wide open in the fall??? Especially when there was not any real seperation between the two of them (based on the scrimmages). #1) that does NOT promote competition or give any extra incentive to get better over the next few months. #2) Somebody is bound to get discouraged or even unhappy and want to go elsewhere. And that’s exactly what happened! DUMB DUMB move by the H.C.
I agree with your name. You are delusional. You would rather have rampant media speculation all year and conspiracy theories about who is #1 on our depth chart? That’s really what you want? If so, you’re not only not a dawg fan, you’re not even a college football fan because no coach worth a dime would run his team that way.
angela=st.simons
April 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
I hope Gray stays even though I think Aaron Murray will be a great quarterback. I’d like to see CMR and Bobo try to find some ways to get Gray the ball. I would love to see him run in space. As far the CMR haters go — coach long enough and you will have some down stretches. Bear Bryant had a rough three year stretch himself. By todays standards Bama fans would have been calling for his head. He the proceeded to field some great teams. Saban’s a heck of a coach but go see how many mediocre seasons (at least by the standards of the some of the doofuses who post here) that he has gone through. The margin is razor thin. Richt has been saddled with a DC who was out of his depth. If Grantham fixes the defensive problems Georgia will be plenty tough.
Mike
April 29th, 2010
5:17 pm
I agree with Kip. Something doesn’t add up because Gray CLEARLY outdueled Murray over the 3 spring scrimmages. Coach Richt is picking the depth chart by where they were ranked coming out of high school, versus how they did over the 3 srpring scrimmages. And, as Joe Cox proved, that’s a risky way to do it because you can be undefeated in high school and have mind blowing high school stats, and flop in the college game at QB and go 8-5. Logan got ripped off based on his perfromances over the spring scrimmages, Murray was given the top slot, UNEARNED. Coach Richt might get burned for not being fair. If Murray wass #2 based on th spring scrimmages, Murray wouldn’t have left, because Murray would have deserved it. But Logan? Not fair, and Richt might have to pay for it.
Richt could easily lose the whole team here after shafting Mett and Logan, top 2 QB’s in spring scrimmages, unless Murray convinces his teammates he’s ‘the man for the job’, although he finished LAST in the 3 Spring scrimmages out of the 3 QB’s, somehow, based on something he did back in high school, but can’t seem to duplicate in college, he should be followed?????
dawg85
April 29th, 2010
5:23 pm
Brilliant analysis. Mark Richt is going to play the worst quarterback. That makes a lot of sense. Three scrimmages does not equal a whole spring and I don’t think the stats show that Gray clearly outplayed Murray.
RJ DAWG
April 29th, 2010
5:25 pm
kip know ur facts before you show how stupid you are.the first scrimage Murray threw 2 td’s and one 1 int the second scrimage Murray threw for 1 td and a int.yes Murray had a bad Gday.but kip you were not at every practice and I’m a sason ticket holder for the last 15 years and have inside connections and Murray out performed logan grey 95 percent of the time in practice.so thats why logan is not a head of murray after spring.logan grey can blame himself for where he is on the second unit!!!
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2010
5:25 pm
Kip, why do fans insist on frustrating themselves needlessly about things that they do not understand? Why do fans insist on getting answers to questions that do not exist?
Here is the problem: You can never expect somebody else to take the action that you expect if they do not see things the way that you see them. You have an opinion on which of those guy would represent a better chance at being sucessful as a starting QB at UGA. That’s great. Absolutely great to have an opinion. BUT you just can’t quite bring yourself to just come out and say in public that you think you know QB’s better than Mark Richt. I assume it’s because you realize how that sounds, but whatever the reason. Instead you go down this path where he must thinkand see what you do (thus you avoid admitting the above) But he just acts inappropriately on that, which you can easily get away with critisising.
But your opinion (that Gray would be a better QB) is not a fact. And if that is not a fact, than any conclusions drawn from that are pure speculation too. And if the conclusions are shaky, then how on earth do you expect Richt’s responce to that to be defined in your way?
I can think of 3 or 4 things right now that you have absolutely no point of reference in, in regards to picking a #1 QB. I’d be glad to discuss those, But lets just start with the premise that the head coach is not trying to lose football games shall we?
no,no,no
April 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
No Mike, Murray wasn’t outdueled by Gray in the 3 scrimmages, only the G-day game.
Scrimmage #1: Aaron Murray 10-15, 125 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Logan Gray 6-14, 37 yards, 3 sacks
#2: Aaron Murray: 13 of 19, 1 interception, 159 yards, 1 TD
Logan Gray: 7 of 11, 111 yards, 1 TD
Do some research
RJ DAWG
April 29th, 2010
5:34 pm
kip and mike u are wrong.logan grey’s first scrimage was awfull he was like 7 or 9 completions for like 40 yards.murray in his first scrimage completed like 14 passes for 150 yards and 2 td’s and rushed for over 40 yards.so logan clearly was not the best and i have inside info murray was better 95 percent of the time.
Delusional Dawg
April 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
ugaaccountant…Plenty of coaches, in abscence of a clear leader in the spring, would NOT feel compelled to name a #1 and then on top of all that essentially declare that it really means nothing because even high schooler Mason could come in the fall and snatch the starting job. I mean, what’s the logic?? Now what has happened as a result is that Gray feels like he CAN’T win the job, even with an equal or superior performance. Mr accountant, what that all adds up to is a player who feels like he’s really not gonna get a legitimate shot so it’s time to go. How would you feel if you were right there or maybe even a little bit more productive that somebody at work, yet they were getting the opportunities or a promotion. Probably underappreciated, I’ll bet And actually, Logan DID outperform Murray in the spring game.And numbers wise, in the overall scrimmages. And that Mr. accountant DOES NOT add up! So who is delusional here?? Certainly not Logan Gray if he decides to transfer.
UGAgrad71
April 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
I wish you had to have a (proven) football IQ to post here. Most of what I read here smacks of the lack of any real knowledge or understanding how a football team is built and coached. Every year there is an area – OL DL RB DB etc that presents the coaching staff with challenges and issues to solve. Maybe if UGA could offer 100 scholarships a season and not 85 total, then we might have the depth that everyone wants UGA to have. This is not just UGA, every school out there and it’s players and coaches have personnel and depth issues. Coaches, like cream will rise to the top.
Logan Gray
April 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
How about I stay and CMR and CMB transfer?
Dawggrl
April 29th, 2010
5:45 pm
What about this scenario – UGA is obviously doing some things different with their recruiting this year after what was considered a lackluster class on signing day. Perhaps the Logan Gray rumor was put out there so LeMay will commit to UGA tomorrow? Think of how all of this is progressing, Mett gets dismissed and LeMay says UGA is hot on his list. Then all the sudden Logan is thinking about transferring and LeMay is going to commit on the 30th. Now Richt pledges to find Logan a position because we want him to be a Dawg. I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow LeMay commits to UGA and then all the sudden we here that Gray is at WR and still taking some reps as QB until Mason arrives.
Deputy Dawg
April 29th, 2010
5:47 pm
This season is already in the toilet boys…….lets look forward to next year with CMR gone! I cannot stand another bowl game in Shreveport.
Adam
April 29th, 2010
5:49 pm
Sure, Richt is ranking the QB’s on their high school hype, but that’s his perogative. I agreee that’s unfair to guys that were told otherwise, but it is what it is, that’s what Richt chose to do after Murray finished last in the spring scrimmages. I anticipated Richt would do that after the whole Joe Cox selection process. I fear Mett and Logan anticipated the 3 spring scrimmages really didn’t matter in the end, if so, sad.
Delusional Dawg
April 29th, 2010
5:50 pm
If LeMay commits tomorrow I will make this prediction…within 2 years Murray will be enrolled at USF as a transfer.
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
Any number of things are more are more plausible than Richt simply wanting the worst choice.
1. The most obvious. Maybe Murray had a really bad G-day game. Maybe tomorrow Gray would. So all we KNOW for sure from this is that Gray had a better G-day game, and we know nothing else from this. We don’t play 12 G-day game this season.
2. Maybe the other 2 scrimmages didn’t look like the G-day game. maybe because they were private the defense actually did show something. How many quotes did we read from the linemen about the defender coming from all directions? Did they do that in the G-day game? No. Possibly that was a more realistic look. Better be more to it for real than WE saw. I would hope the offensive plays were more creative and than the G-day game, or we are in trouble on both sides.
3. Passing stats are a PART of the game, but reading defences and knowing when not to pass is at least as big IF NOT bigger. Who reads the defence better? do you know? Who actually had better running behind him in scrimmages and simulation as a result? do you know? who calls the right play more often?
4. Drills, test (written and video), physical evaluations. They do it all the time. Who scores higher? do you know? Gray has been in the program several years, and Murray into his second. Somebody probably know who does better by now.
5. Some folks coach football game for a for a living, some folks watch football games for recreation.
Adam
April 29th, 2010
5:53 pm
What other coach runs a non-merit based selection process? This is bizarre.
dawg85
April 29th, 2010
5:53 pm
The logic, delusional dawg, is that Richt said that competition was still open in Summer and that Gray would still have a shot to win the job. Also — the thought that Richt is going to start the lesser quarterback is a little delusional in and of itself. I’m sure glad coach Richt didn’t drop David Greene because he had a bad G-Day game. You have not seen every practice and every scrimmage You see one little piece of the puzzle and think that Richt is giving Gray the shaft? Personally I like what I saw in Murray at the G-day game. Not based on stats but on knowing a little something about football. The kid has a strong arm, quick release and good legs. Barring injury he will be a great quarterback. And besides that, plenty of players don’t win the starting job and don’t transfer. I like Gray but there’s a bit of an issue there.
dawg85
April 29th, 2010
5:55 pm
Adam — your post is bizarre. Explain to me how you know what criteria Richt used to put Murray at 1?
Delusional Dawg
April 29th, 2010
6:02 pm
dawg85…. you say “Richt said that competition was still open in Summer and that Gray would still have a shot to win the job”. Well, it’s obvious that Logan Gray didn’t get the memo…
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2010
6:02 pm
In reality Gray was better one time, out of three scrimmages. Go ahead and add up the combined stats if you really truly think, in real football game terms thats how it works. Cox should have been undefeated if that was the case.
Some of Stafford best games he had very meager numbers.
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2010
6:04 pm
Adam????
Lisa
April 29th, 2010
6:10 pm
Mike in the SAV
Aligning Georgia arrests with the least common denominator of other teams with crimes isn’t exactly a way to make Georgia look better. 105 arrests is pathetic for Athens football team.
Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
April 29th, 2010
6:26 pm
UGA Fans……..book your travel plans now for the Independence Bowl in December. Motel 6 has added some trailers outback to handle the expected overflow UGA crowd. Waffle House is now taking advance reservations. Don’t delay….Book Today! Nothing says UGA football like Shreveport in December!! Go Dawgs!
IkeW in Sav
April 29th, 2010
6:31 pm
Am I the only one that is wondering what is going on in the athletic dept. in Athens. I’ve followed UGA football,basketball and baseball for over 30 years and have never seen the program in this shape. Our recruiting at all levels have fallen off drastically.
SOOHSO
April 29th, 2010
6:41 pm
Ninety-oneth or close. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Gen Neyland
April 29th, 2010
6:47 pm
The situation began when two top rated QB’s signed with UGA so close in eligibility status. Can’t blame CMR for that as he was just loading up. Gray knew he’d be in a fight for the QB position at some point at this level so to feel dissed shows me a lack of character on his part. Going forward, what’s the next step..? Slot receiver, DB..? Punt and KO return specialist..? When one signs a recruit, one signs an ego to boot. It’s CMR’s problem and in the end, it may not be a problem at all…
Shane
April 29th, 2010
6:59 pm
UGA Fans……..book your travel plans now for the Independence Bowl in December. Motel 6 has added some trailers outback to handle the expected overflow UGA crowd. Waffle House is now taking advance reservations. Don’t delay….Book Today! Nothing says UGA football like Shreveport in December!! Go Dawgs!
90 wins in 9 years will make em jealous of our program doesnt it boys. I love the haters on here . I say the more the merrier. The more other fans come to this blog just means we are doing something right.
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2010
7:00 pm
I thought our basketball recruiting is going up. Kind of difficut to judge being the coach has been here one year. My guess is it certainly going to BE better. Not really much of a baseball recruiting guru, but I dont know if anyone is really attributing this one year to a downhill trend, are they? Down year last year in football , but that’s one year. And rare. Sounds likes we are lined up for a very good year this year.
Kinda painting with a pretty broad brush arent you IKE?
allen
April 29th, 2010
7:02 pm
angela- CMR makes about 3 million $ for being stupid- how much do you make for being stupid?
PT
April 29th, 2010
7:20 pm
I think Mark Richt became a little complacent with the football program. There are many areas that need to be addressed. He has started with the coaching staff and now this spring with recruiting. It will take time to repair the damage. The bad thing is this is a better league this year and it will continue to improve. We’ll see what happens.
Adam
April 29th, 2010
7:22 pm
If Richt thinks a guy who averages 1 int for every 19 passes (Murray over 3 spring sacrimmages), is better than a guy who averages 1 int for every 36 passes (gray over 3 spring scrimmages), and Richt prefers a guy who averags 1 td for every 28 passes (Murray), over a guy who averages 1 td for every 21 passes (Gray), then, yeah, looks crazy to most people.
Yeah, td to int ratio is where it’s at. Joe Cox’s was abut 1.6 last year, compered to Bama’s guy around 4.25. Tebow was 5 td to int ratio. td to int ratio is BIG, and Logan’s was 3x better than Murray’s.
You won’t win more than 6 games with Murray’s .67 int ratio, that’s 2x worse than Joe Cox’s. You can win 10 games with Logan’s 2.0 td to int ratio, UGA got 8 wins with a 1.6 td to int ratio last year, so Logan’s is about 25% better = 25% more wins = 10 win season. I can’t possibly overstate just how truly pathetic a .67 td to int ratio is—the best way of explaining it is to say it’s 2x worse than Joe Cox. Hard to fathom.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
April 29th, 2010
7:24 pm
angela
No one in Dawg Nation is pleased with the dismissals this year but unless you’ve lived a sheltered life it should be obvious that dismissals happen at virtully all D1 schools.
“He’s a complete disgrace and should be fired…” What? Looks like you don’t know much about coaches either.
What??
April 29th, 2010
7:25 pm
Enough already!!
Does everyone have to respond to Angela??!!
How about Richt and Logan having this disconnect?? Why didn’t Logan mention his desire to leave before he got beat by AM?? Richt has gotten the short end of the stick by a student ath. that thinks he is all of that, when in fact he is not.
Logan, the skinny white boy that can not take a hit, is fast and looks good as long as he doesn’t get slammed. Then again, he can not throw the ball, only run. How about his skill to read the D??
The boy is not at the caliber that AM is and never will be.
Richt is too loyal to players that just do not have “IT”! (see COX!)
how2fish
April 29th, 2010
7:29 pm
Lisa uhhh that 105 was for all those schools listed…you must be in the MBA program on North Ave.
What??
April 29th, 2010
7:32 pm
Lisa uhhh??!!
What??
April 29th, 2010
7:33 pm
You all are idiots for taking the bait!
Gratefuldawghead
April 29th, 2010
7:38 pm
Stay and Play Gray!
sad state
April 29th, 2010
7:50 pm
sigh! When will things get any better for my sports teams???????????
Hmmm…maybe UGA should play the Braves in baseball> somebody
is bound to win….right?