McGarity’s route from Florida to Georgia ran through NYC, Chicago
RELATED: UGA sees tough side in nice-guy AD McGarity
(Updated 8 p.m. Friday)
ATHENS — A 2 1/2-hour lunch in New York and a two-hour interview in Chicago brought Greg McGarity home to Athens.
The University of Georgia on Friday named McGarity, the University of Florida’s No. 2 athletics official and an Athens native, as its new athletic director — the culmination of a speedy process that McGarity acknowledged left him pinching himself.
McGarity, 55, was formally introduced at a Friday afternoon news conference as the successor to Damon Evans, who resigned as Georgia’s AD in the aftermath of a June 30 DUI arrest. Moments before the news conference, the UGA Athletic Board approved a five-year contract that will start McGarity at $420,000 per year with $20,000 raises each subsequent year. He’ll also get a $125,000 longevity bonus if he completes the contract.
McGarity said he was offered the job in a Wednesday morning phone call from UGA President Michael Adams, whom he had met for the first time over a long lunch in New York about 2 1/2 weeks earlier.
“It was just great,” McGarity said of that first meeting. “I left there thinking, ‘I feel like I’m speaking with someone I’ve known a long time.’”
The process continued last Saturday, when McGarity was interviewed for two hours by Georgia’s six-person search committee at a Chicago airport hotel, the O’Hare Hilton. The committee interviewed a number of candidates — it’s unclear how many — over two days at the hotel.
McGarity said he was “really nervous” in the days leading to the high-stakes interview. “I was having a hard time sleeping,” he said. But he left the interview feeling, “You know what, I’ve done the best I could. Let the best person win.”
Search-committee chairman David Shipley, a UGA law professor, was reluctant to discuss details of the interviews in Chicago, which he referred to only as a “neutral site.” He said “more than” four candidates from around the country — he wouldn’t name them — were interviewed for two hours each, with the committee taking one-hour breaks between interviews. Adams was present for the interviews as a “fly on the wall,” Shipley said.
At the end of the interviews, the committee voted by secret ballot, each member ranking the candidates. Once back in Athens, the committee reconvened.
“And there was full agreement on this,” Shipley said, meaning the hire of McGarity. The ultimate call was Adams’.
Early Wednesday morning, Adams made the call — literally.
Around 8:30 a.m., McGarity’s cellphone rang, interrupting a conference call he was having on another line.
“I saw the call [from Adams] coming through as ‘private number’ on my BlackBerry,” McGarity said, “and I thought, ‘Well, it’s either thumbs-up or thumbs-down.’ Dr. Adams offered the job and spoke about the reasons, and … it was just a dream come true.
“It was one of those things where you just say, ‘You know, this really did happen. I’ve got to pinch myself.’”
McGarity grew up in Athens, where his first childhood job was chasing tennis balls for legendary UGA coach Dan Magill. McGarity earned a journalism degree from Georgia in 1976 and started his career at UGA, working in a variety of roles in the athletics department before leaving for Florida in 1992.
“It is indeed great to be home,” said McGarity, whose parents, brother and sister live in Athens.
He will start his new job Sept. 1.
“Given the circumstances that surrounded this opening,” Adams said, “there is some healing here yet to be done, and I believe Greg is the type of person who can facilitate that healing.
“Greg has told me this job is his lifelong dream. … I am convinced that he is the right person at the right time at the right institution.”
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12-2
August 15th, 2010
4:16 am
QUOTE
by
AltamahaDawg
June 24th, 2010 4:51 pm
“The attitude was bad, and the execution was worse.”
“Pretty much 2009 in a nutshell.”
“2009 just seemed like the shadow of 2008 to me. Bad vibes all around.”
“And if you think about it, why should we have been excited coming into the season last year? Lost your big star players, the talent level not where it should have been, an unpopular staff, and a Head Coach having to spend his energy defending everybody from top to bottom, and some serious legitamate [SIC] problem areas on the field that would have been a drag despite none of the above.”
“2010 … this season … even if the record isn’t much different.”
END Miss-debbie-downer-AltamahaDawg
.
.
God Almighty Above, Miss-debbie-downer-AltamahaDawg
1. Attitude bad on the team
2. Execution worse on the team
3. The whole season 2009 the whole team
4. 2009 SHADOW of 2008, when we played 3 good teams lost all 3
5. That covers 2008 season
6. 2007 beat 1 team, a 4-loss team, that’s it
7. 2006 lost 4 games no QB prepared
8. 2009 lost 5 games no QB prepared
9. 2010 now you say is going to be same 8-5 record
10. Playing soft easy schedule with only # 5 Florida
11. Coach Richt has to defend whole staff all players
12. Talent level not there on whole team
13. Serious problem areas with players on the field
little-Miss-debbie-downer-AltamahaDawg hiding behind his keyboard drunk like he is great
Jborodawg
August 15th, 2010
9:00 am
anybody but gt (and anybody ready to fire CMR)…Your ignorance about CMR is pathetic. I would imagine every D1 coach and team aspires to a NC. Therefore, about 110 programs should be firing coaches every year. Let’s just start with the “perennial top 25″ teams (Neb, LSU, OK, OSU, Penn St, MI, TX, et al) that haven’t won a NC lately. That’s a lot of good coaches that you’d fire. CMR’s record speaks for itself; not to mention his character.
As for moving the Flawduh game, it IS a neutral site; albeit FLA has an easier trip. But, it’s one of the greatest traditions in FB. We could tear down The Hedges to make more seating room too. We could move The Arch because it’s just a silly tradition. We could stop playing Awbun every year.
Knight Dawg
August 15th, 2010
9:08 am
The 3 “must win” games on our schedule are TN, UF, and AU. Why is it that haven’t defeated these teams in the same year since the early 80’s? Coaches? Players? What?
AltamahaDawg
August 15th, 2010
10:20 am
Thanks pal. Proving my point that I have been realistic and honest about what has been some of the issues. As I have said many times the Blind Homer is simply a strawman argument set up to make folk feel less guilty about never having one good thing to say.
Do you disagree with any of those? I’m talking about the points I actually made, of course. About half of those. I assume that you agree with the points that you completely made up and lied that I said. As you tend to do for some reason. Such as that I predict 8-5 for this year, which never happened. What I actually said what that “even if the record isn’t much better” this year, the fans should still feel better if the effort appears to be there. Actual context is a small detail to you I know.
By the way BuLLdawg when are you going to give up this charade of predicting a 12-2 season. Aside from the fact that you have blasted anybody else that dared to talk of a 14 game season, everybody knows this is just your idea of a back handed compliment, Or a veiled insult would be more accurate.
We have all the seen the “better win 12 games” or “no reason they don’t”. As if we don’t see that is just your premeditated way of setting up your entire year of material, hoping they don’t. Would be nice to see them win the East, but nobody in this room believes that is you actual prediction. Nothing would upset you more. Just like your assessment that this is “the best defense in 3 decades” is a pathetic attempt of going ahead and dumping any future loss on Coach Bobo. Best defense in 30 years huh, that’s what you think? Sure it is, Lair.
One ranked team on the schedule huh. really. I find it interesting too, how you are assuming UF will lose twice based on what you say is the accepted predictions, But if Georgia doesn’t completely defy most prognostication in the country by a mile, you consider that completely a failure.
AltamahaDawg
August 15th, 2010
10:24 am
“hiding behind his keyboard drunk like he is great”
You said that? You? You of all people? at 4:16 am.
That’s rich.
SOS Dawg
August 15th, 2010
11:04 am
Well AltamahaDawg lets do away with the Magic Man approach because there is really no need in hero worship . Lets see…. Vandy doesnt have an AD and that program is very competitive with the dawgs in the big three sports which is very odd. Yeah coaches and ADs really doesnt matter one bit in terms of wins ,losses and direction.. Its really all about the “kids” and let them have their fun in college. Lets let the student athlete get all liquored up, no drivers license or what have you then get arrested while we turn our heads because they are enrolled at UGA and they need our support for being a fellow dawg. Yes I think I’ve been enlightened by both AltamahaDawg and his wannabee sidekick Dawgstephen who has the utmost man crush on CMR.
SOS UGA = JOKE
August 15th, 2010
11:12 am
Sep. 4 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette = JOKE (Real powerhouse opener)
Sep. 11 at South Carolina = LOSS
Sep. 18 vs. Arkansas = Decent, but still a joke.
Sep. 25 at Mississippi State = JOKE
Oct. 2 at Colorado = PATHETIC
Oct. 9 vs. Tennessee = JOKE
Oct. 16 vs. Vanderbilt = Really a Joke
Oct. 23 at Kentucky = Get out the Jelly. = JOKE
Oct. 30 at 3 Florida = LOSS
Nov. 6 vs. Idaho State = Emabarrassing and a JOKE
Nov. 13 at Auburn = LOSS
Nov. 27 vs. 13 Georgia Tech = LOSS
Welcome to an 8-4 season and another trip to the Louisianna Terd Bowl. What a joke of a schedule. You UGA fans talk about the almighty SEC, but you are a lower tier team and play absolutely nobody in conf that is worth a crap besides UF and SC. Maybe, you should consider playing Liberty College next year. LMAO!
Idaho State Alum
August 15th, 2010
11:16 am
Hey SOS,
Don’t call my alma mater a joke. We are very, very, very good at peeling potatoes and we will give your Georgia Team all they can handle. You just wait to see our 5′2″ WR. Man, he is awesome.
Act like you've been there before
August 15th, 2010
11:54 am
Dont worry fellow dag fans, Greg McGarity will get the job done. He has the high expectations that will bring UGA Championships. This man will see that UGA gets competitive with the big boys on the football and baseball field.
AltamahaDawg
August 15th, 2010
12:12 pm
Great SOS, because all of that is exactly what I was saying. Good job.
12-2
August 15th, 2010
11:00 pm
No
I actually believe there is NO EXCUSE for not going 12-2 this season.
NONE.
It is year 10 of this regime. It is a very soft schedule with 1 ranked team we play all season long, Florida.
We have not even been to The SEC Championship Game since 2005
This is 2010
We have the 2 greatest kickers on 1 team in America
We return 10 of 11 starters on Offense
We have the best defense we have fielded in 30 years
And, damn it AltamahawDawg, you did too say that we are going to be 8-5 this season.
YOU ADMIT you said just exactly that.
“The attitude was bad, and the execution was worse. Pretty much 2009 in a nutshell. 2009 just seemed like the shadow of 2008 to me. Bad vibes all around. 2010 … this season … even if the record isn’t much different”
You say that 2009 was bad at 8-5 and “EVEN IF THE RECORD ISN’T MUCH DIFFERENT for 2010.”
12-2
August 15th, 2010
11:06 pm
Why don’t you change your prediction for 2010 by stating what our record will be compared to 8-5 last season ?
10-3 again ? That your prediction now that I have said we will be 12-2
Go ahead be the SECOND PERSON to predict the season
Venture out
Have a say BEFORE I do for once
(1) No SEC Championship game for the 5th year in a row
(2) # 52 NCAA Total Offense avg for the 10th year in a row
(3) # 96 in Penalties avg for the 5th year in a row
(4) 21 fumbles avg for the 5th year in a row
(5) 14 interceptions avg for the 5th year in a row
(6) 10-3 avg for the 10th year in a row
(7) 18 teams avg NOT more wins than for the 5th year in a row
(8) 10-10 vs SEC East last 4 so what ? 3-2 ?
(9) Then we lose 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors AFTER 2010
(10) Predict 2011
12-2
August 15th, 2010
11:10 pm
Who is supposed to win the East ?
Vanderbilt ?
Kentucky ?
Tennessee ?
South Carolina ?
Florida ?
No, I say we do despite losing to Florida whom everyone says is going to lose 2 at least. Then, we lose to Alabama to run our record to 3-10 vs Top 10 Final AP Poll teams.
12-2
August 15th, 2010
11:34 pm
4 sacks
2 pass break-ups
2 fumble recoveries
0 Touchdown Passes
“The offense couldn’t get the ball off, getting sacks. We were making plays, tackles for loss. Locking down passes. Doing what the defense is supposed to do. Causing turnovers. All the right things,” Houston said.
Wide receiver Logan Gray on the offense stalling out in the redzone: “Obviously, when you have an opportunity and you get down there, you wanna stick it in. I think we were thinking about that after practice — we gotta convert.”
Aaron Murray 8 of 20, no Touchdown Passes
Caleb King 7 carries same as Washaun but 18 yards Caleb King to 78 yds Ealey.
Justin Houston 3 sacks and scored TD after recovering 1 of several fumbles
AltamahaDawg
August 16th, 2010
8:27 am
Try, try as you may you will never be able to convince grown men that they believe or said something that they didn’t BuLLdawg. No amount of carefully editing out selected words is going to make me not know what I said. Interesting that you go to the trouble of posting an …. when obviously it would have been much easier to post the entire line verbatim. Went to the trouble of crafting the line instead of simply copying, classic BuLLdawg dishonesty. I realize that just works better for your purposes but it never works. Folk can read what I (actually) said and figure out if that was a prediction that we lose 5 games or not.
AltamahaDawg
August 16th, 2010
8:34 am
“Florida whom everyone says is going to lose 2 at least.” So “everyone” say UF loses 2 if not more.
Who is everyone, specifically? And how many games do they say Georgia will lose?
Are these the same everyone that has zero all-sec defenders on the best defense UGA has had in 3 decade?
BTW we are all still waiting on the explanation of how you reconcile the firing of coach Bobo after just winning the East , as this was also your prediction.
billdawg
August 16th, 2010
10:36 am
I thought this was about Greg McGarity. Apparently some knuckleheads and
GT fans think it is an opportunity to vomit their bile.
As for me – I join the loyal Dawg fans in saying,
WELCOME BACK HOME, GREG MCGARITY!!
PRODUCE WIZ
August 16th, 2010
1:12 pm
u think that was really dereck Dooley?
AltamahaDawg
August 16th, 2010
1:31 pm
Well maybe that was Dooley. Stranger things have happend. I mean tech fans have conducted a door to door national surveys, compiling data on what the rest of the entire country thinks of Georgia Football, so who knows.
UGA is Just Fine...
August 16th, 2010
1:43 pm
“I mean tech fans have conducted a door to door national surveys, compiling data on what the rest of the entire country thinks of Georgia Football, so who knows.”
Thanks AltamahaDawg!! I needed a good laugh-classic!
AltamahaDawg
August 16th, 2010
2:46 pm
BTW, they had to exclude all the respondant that simply answered: “Georgia? Oh yea, That’s the team that beats Gtech all the time, right”.
Tainted by reality, I believe was listed as the official reason. Rasheem figured out an equation to handle the sampling error.