Richt: ‘We are going to end up turning this thing around’

A few notes from Mark Richt’s weekly radio call-in show Monday night. . . .

  • Richt said he was “very proud” of  the Georgia team’s effort against Florida, “but the bottom line is we turned it over four times to [Florida's] one and you’re not going to win many games that way. . . . There was a lot more than that to that ballgame, but as we know the turnover stat is the one that is the most devastating in those types of ballgames.”
  • The team was “crushed” by the loss, Richt said. “We all were.”
  • A caller scolded Richt for his 2-8 record vs. Florida and asked how he’s going to turn it around.

“I think that the game this Saturday was a game that could have gone either way, but it didn’t go our way,” Richt said. “People are tired of hearing that, and I’m kind of tired of it myself. I don’t like the record myself. But we are going to keep banging, and we are going to end up turning this thing around. I thought it was going to happen on Saturday, but it didn’t.

“So what are we going to do? We are going to go back and make sure everything we’re doing is the very best it can be. I am very encouraged with our new athletics director Mr. McGarity, Greg McGarity. I think he is very intent and excited about looking at every facet of our program and helping me and us make any type of changes that can help us. Of course, him being at Florida for some time certainly gives him the credibility of knowing what the national championship team looks like . . . I am excited about some of the things Mr. McGarity and I have talked about.”

  • Later, Richt added: “The bottom line is, we are going to go there again next year and we are going to get after them and we are going to turn this thing around. . . . I really do think the future is very bright. Right now, the immediate future is what I’m most worried about, which is beating Idaho State and working on down the line to the three games after that [Auburn, Georgia Tech and a bowl].”
  • Richt rejected the idea that his team has a mental barrier about the Gators, saying it had “every confidence” it would win going into the game and even when trailing 21-7 at halftime.
  • But he acknowledged that to win “a game of this magnitude” the team has to make more plays in the clutch and has to play smarter. He particularly bemoaned two Florida fumbles that Georgia failed to recover, including one inside the Gators’ 10-yard line with the game still scoreless. “Twice [Florida] had fumbles in a crowd of bodies, and twice we tried to scoop it and score. And both those times, we should have got on the ball in that crowd. Not only do we teach it by verbalizing it, but we drill it, too. And we just did not get on the ball like we should have.” He noted Florida drove 91 yards to the game’s first score after Georgia failed to recover the fumble inside the 10. “Who knows? Just one play can make the difference,” he said.
  • Although Aaron Murray “made some critical errors and knows that,” Richt said the redshirt freshman quarterback never lost his poise against the Gators. “He’s got a lot of the tools it takes to be great, and he has the intangibles to get it done, so for him to get this much experience early in his career just bodes very well for the future of Georgia football.”

300 comments Add your comment

dawghuff

November 2nd, 2010
7:25 am

bigdawg… I’m not a person who wanted to go to UGA, I’m alumni. I was defensive player of the year my senior year, so yes… I played football.

The fact you played football doesn’t make you correct on a subject. If you had gone to college you could have taken a class on logic and critical thinking, it teaches you what fallacies are.

Thank you old time dog for that comment, if bigdawg had a brain he’s see how silly a comment he made.

SickandTired

November 2nd, 2010
7:30 am

Hey Marky, did McGarity happen to mention that it might be a good idea to not get embarrassed by Auburn and Tech? Did he mention that to the Florida program that yours is a joke? Did he mention that he just fired the volleyball coach because they had a losing record in the SEC? He probably didn’t because he still thinks you are a smart guy and should know these things. He’s gonna wake up one morning and it’s going to hit him in the face like a bucket of cold water that Marky Mark Mark is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and it’s time to move on. Come on McGarity, do the heavy lift NOW and get rid of this scourge on the Dawg Nation. Dare to be great.

SuperB

November 2nd, 2010
7:32 am

Richt says “WE” are gonna turn this thing around. WE– pale face? Either start winning or get ready to move.

As for McGarity, a great guy. But I’m afraid his extremely close ties to Florida may prevent him from doing what he needs to do for GEORGIA. At the end of the current contract– MOVE this game out of Jax. Home and away. I’m betting he dosn’t have the kahunas to do it.

For Georgia– this is an AWAY game– period.

Idiots R Us

November 2nd, 2010
7:33 am

“Gator lover how does it feel to be Bama’s Bit$$’

Better question, how does it feel to be South Carolina’s b!tch?

Phil

November 2nd, 2010
7:44 am

With today being Election Day, Richt should run for office, he has the politician lines down to an art.

FLA DAWG

November 2nd, 2010
7:50 am

Yes Coach Richt,

We ARE going to turn this thing around. We are going to unload you, that inept O C Bobo and any other problem coach we have.

As it stands now, we go back to Florida next year with WORSE odds of winning.

JB

November 2nd, 2010
7:51 am

SuperB @ 7:32 say’s ” McGarity’s close ties to Florida will keep him from doing what he needs to do for Georgia”…………….Please, you didn’t say that………….It’ll be just the opposite my friend….He will do everything he can for UGA to turn this around, and because of the way recruiting has gotten with juniors committing, we’ll know nothing about what he thinking about a new coach for 2012, and believe, 5-6 defeats NEXT year, there will be a new coach in Athens.

Jaydawg

November 2nd, 2010
7:51 am

ALDAWG is exactly right.UGA is simply not commited enough to winning championships.I dont understand why but its the truth.This is the flagship university for the largest state east of the Mississippi River.This state produces MORE high school football talent than all states except Florida and Texas yet has 1 national championshjp since WWII.Where as Florida and Texas have nearly a dozen Division 1A programs in state ,we have 2. Because of its resources(in state talent),UGA has AS MUCH OR MORE potential than any program in the country but has failed and continues to fail to take advantage of its situation.Its way past due for the UGA administration to end this sickening underachieving and get the right people in here that can maximize our resources by GETTING the talent in here and DEVELOPING IT! Until the powers that be get as tired of this underachieving as the fans are NOTHING is going to change.

JB

November 2nd, 2010
7:52 am

Go VOTE today…………..Do IT !!!!!!!!!!

UGA Football Team

November 2nd, 2010
7:53 am

Hey gators will you lets us win just once so we can get our manhood back?

Chaz Henry

November 2nd, 2010
7:54 am

Your Defense CHOKED Todd Grantham

blord

November 2nd, 2010
7:54 am

Hey Big Dawg did you blow your knee out because you were “soft” your “sophmore” year

Chris Rainey

November 2nd, 2010
7:54 am

Liked the choke sign Coach Grantham. Coach Meyer said I should use that next time I gets mad at my gurl instead of sending a text

Coach Meyer

November 2nd, 2010
7:55 am

Training young men up on how to beat the system. As long as your a good football player

JB

November 2nd, 2010
7:57 am

Jaydawg…………….The powers to be is Dr. Adams, and he’s powerful, and prides himself on it. I don’t know who he answers to, and how much say or control they have. The head football coach may be something ( board of regents, i think)they don’t want any part of. How much does Dr. Adams REALLY care about winning BIG? Dr. Adams would have to “sign off ” on McGarity replacing him, and it will be money driven, not wins driven.

Coach Grantham

November 2nd, 2010
7:57 am

Your gonna choke henry I swear your gonna… Allllllllllll we lost to Florida and there punter was kicking field goals.. Well at least I dont have to be around that punk Tony Romo anymore.

Tony Romo

November 2nd, 2010
7:57 am

Hey who you calling a punk? Jessica is that you?

blord

November 2nd, 2010
7:58 am

Its hard to believe that anyone from UGA would make fun of anyone that has been in jail.

Coach Meyer

November 2nd, 2010
7:58 am

Na na na na bo bo.. I won again even though I had to play 14 different quarterbacks to score……

FLA DAWG

November 2nd, 2010
7:59 am

SuperB,

I am in complete agreement. Although our problems run much deeper than this ongoing issue, the annual homefield advantage to a highly talented and well coached SEC Team is a distinct disadvantage to The Dawgs.

The argument that S. Ga. UGA Fans and the Jax Economy wanting it to remain in Jax does NOT offset the homefield advantage and close game wins given away.

McGarity should make this a major priority as part of coaching changes in the very near future.

Coach Grantham

November 2nd, 2010
7:59 am

Choke Sign…… Hollar

Coach Bobo

November 2nd, 2010
8:00 am

Bobo gotta gogo.. This ship is sinking fast… Coach Miles you interested?

Les Miles

November 2nd, 2010
8:00 am

Bawahahaha….. I can manage the clock better than you can call plays Coach Bobo

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:01 am

Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new coach next year and money will not be an object. They sux and have a BILLION dollar Stadium to pay for, and losing ain’t getting it. 10-12 mil a year for the right coach is PEANUTS……..ANY THOUGHTS ANYONE ?

Nick Saban

November 2nd, 2010
8:01 am

Hope coach richt gets fired. I am tired of dealing with all these necks

Darth Hater

November 2nd, 2010
8:04 am

RE: “We are going to end up turning this thing around”

Yeah, that is what Charlie Sheen said to his latest call girl the other night when he wanted to switch positions.

How’d that work out for him?

FLA DAWG

November 2nd, 2010
8:05 am

JB,

Have you noted how many returning starters we will have next season? Have you noted how many returning starters UF, UT, Auburn, Bama, etc will have?

We will be slaughtered under Richt again next season. Why Wait!?
The man is a proven Loser. This is not a one year blip. You know we’ve consistently gone downhill for five years – regardless of the records – look at who we beat vs who we lost to.

No More

Larry

November 2nd, 2010
8:05 am

He gave the same “turn this thing around” speech in 2009 at an Athens Touchdown Club meeting. Sounds like a broken record.

GatorGreg

November 2nd, 2010
8:06 am

Sign Richt to a large contact extension now! And Todd Grantham too!!! You talk about the laughing stock of the SEC, you have no further to look the UGAG’d. With a 6 and 6 and a very low level bowl (if lucky) I am sure the UGA wing at your local jail will be full during the off season. Richt needs to put up 10% of his salary for each player arrested when the season is over! Oh wait that would require him to do something about the thugs he recruits!!!!!

Saint Simons

November 2nd, 2010
8:07 am

(((( 34 – 31 ))))

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:08 am

Fla Dawg…….you preaching to the Choir……….At most “football schools’ he’d be gone……….Maybe we’re not a football school anymore?…….. I really like the guy, But I like UGA winning better.

COACH MARK RICHT

November 2nd, 2010
8:10 am

HAVE WE NOT HEARD THIS BEFORE >? IM A JOKE AND SO IS MY COACHING STAFF

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:11 am

Gatorgreg…….with Tebow gone and those great coach’s, you guys are back to average yourself. With 15/5 star starters, there is no way we should have gotten ya’ll to over time.
We’re bad, but ya’ll live in the same neighborhood now……Welcome

[...] Richt himself indicated on last night’s Bulldog Hotline that McGarity has some ideas to which the coach is receptive. “So what are we going to do? We are going to go back and make sure everything we’re doing is [...]

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:13 am

Does anybody see McGarity letting Richt stand pat with his staff for 2011?

The Grinch

November 2nd, 2010
8:14 am

Most of you “fans” are truly revolting. Be careful what you wish for. Yes, there need to be some changes. We need a new OC and S&C coach. And the new OC has to be an @SS-chewer like Grantham. Richt needs agressive assistants to balance out his passive personality; it was a winning combination before and can be again.

Speaking of Grantham, that “choke” sign is the biggest non-story I’ve seen in a while. If anything at all should be written about it it should be “finally, someone who cares.” It’s quite pleasing to see someone screaming and @$$-chewing on the sidelines; when he gets the appropriate players for his scheme we’ll be in good shape.

This is part of a down cycle, and we’re a couple of plays a game from being great. Everyone quit whining. Florida had a bye week (as usual), angered its female fan base by bringing back a misogynist felon just for this game, and everything else they could think of and STILL should have lost. The plays will bounce our way next year.

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:16 am

Ok….. changes on the way……..”We’re going to work hard, practice hard and physical and work to be a better football team. We’ll leave no stone unturned and put our full efforts to being the kind of team we need to be”.

Mark Richt, Athens TD club, circa 2009

RED&BLACK

November 2nd, 2010
8:17 am

that was a very well coached game the offence executed the 2nd half, the last thing we need is to start over again next year with new coaches

Bremen Dawg

November 2nd, 2010
8:17 am

I’m not happy with the way things are going right now but Mark Richt is not going anywhere anytime soon. If we start firing coaches then just look at Tennesse and Alabama. How many did they have to go through? This is still a young team and we all knew we would lose at least 5 games with a red shirt qb and new defense scheme. I think getting a new OC for next year is a done deal and Bobo will go back to QB coach which is where he should be. If we loose 5-6 games next year then its time to look for a new HC.

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:18 am

Be careful what you wish for……………….Tell that to Auburn fans this morning……9-0 and in the hunt year two!

Sharkman

November 2nd, 2010
8:18 am

RUN LINDSAY! RUN!

FLA DAWG

November 2nd, 2010
8:19 am

JB,

Yep, I’m still angry about the game, the season and this ongoing disaster.
To KNOW that next season will be just as bad or worse is sickening.
It’s like watching someone bleed and being told it will soon heal. Yet it continues to bleed.

As far as UGA no longer being a football school I think you have a point there. I never thought we’d come to that.

Guess it’s time to start cheering for other non football schools like …………Elon.

RNB

November 2nd, 2010
8:19 am

Tony the truth is Georgia has never won the SEC without relying on help from others under Richt. Way too much talent for this record. Look at the players in the NFL. I am not saying Ric=ht needs to go but he nneds to make some hard decisions and make a few changes starting with Bobo.
Player evaluation and recruiting should be next.

lawdawg

November 2nd, 2010
8:20 am

The rest of the schools in the SEC are overjoyed Richt will be back next year.How long do you let a person make excuses?Does anybody not notice that since Ga.started losing this year not one recruit has committed for next year?

FLA DAWG

November 2nd, 2010
8:21 am

Grinch and Bremen Dawg,

You conveniently left out Auburn.
Hello! If they can do it so can we.

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:24 am

Bremen Dawg……………..Get a new OC…………..This is RICHT’S offense. What “decent” OC would come here and just be Mark’s puppet….? The good one want to come in and set the tone with their ideas and plays to get credit to be a HC themselves…..no one is cominf here and let Mark tell him what to do in the headset…..we have that NOW ! Mark must admit that he needs help , ideas, creativity to JUICE this offense up……. He need to get out the way….I don’t see that happening…….We are stuck with: First down, incomplete pass, second down, off tackle for 3 yards, third down, 40 yard over thrown pass and fourth down, punt. It’s the Richt and Bobo way. !!!!!!!!!!

key

November 2nd, 2010
8:28 am

Whateverer coach. I am one of your biggest fans, but you are beginning to sound like an old record withc a scratch on it. It keeps reapeating the same thing over and over!

key

November 2nd, 2010
8:28 am

sorry…it should say whatever

JB

November 2nd, 2010
8:31 am

Anyone besides notice that in the beginning of the game when Richt/Bobo run the offense to “script” what a failure it is, but later in the game when we are 2-4 TD’s behind and they get aggressive because of the score how often and with ease we move the ball and score,,,,,Is it Just Me ?

DamntheButcher

November 2nd, 2010
8:32 am

What did anybody expect Richt to say? Did you think he would say “we can’t turn this program around”? To all of you idiots that keep thinking he can well it is just that. It is just a thought. You are not basing that statement on any facts. Take away the cupcake schools and the guy has a losing record the last 2 years. Next year it will be with a new O line, no AJ Green and after about 4 games into the real school schedule (and don’t count the cupcakes) it will be the same ole story. Wait til next year. It is time for the schiool to make the change. Richt has no clue. FIRE MARK RICHT