McGarity expects Richt back next season (updated with Richt reaction to Colorado interest)
AUBURN, Ala. – Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Saturday that he expects Mark Richt to remain the Bulldogs’ coach next season.
“Sure I do,” he said before the game against Auburn. “Absolutely.”
Asked if he’s ready to say unequivocally that he wants to retain Richt — often rumored to be on the occupational “hot seat” – as Georgia’s coach next season, McGarity elaborated:
“I’d say, based on the first 10 games, [there's] no question about that. I know we’re 5-5 [before Saturday's loss], but you go back and you look at all the dynamics involved — how close the games were. It’s not like we’re dealing with situations here of lop-sided losses, of being non-competitive. There are some games we wish we could have won by taking care of the ball a little better or making certain tackles or interceptions. You go back and play that through your mind, and if you dwell on it too long, it’ll just eat you up. You’ve just got to focus on getting better every day and do what you can do to be the best you can be.”
McGarity made his comments on the same day the Denver Post reported that Colorado is interested in talking with Richt about its vacant coaching job. The Post cited an unnamed source “close to the Colorado search.”
When informed of that report, McGarity said: “Really? I did not know that. That’s the first I’ve heard of that.”
UPDATE: Richt chuckled when told after the game about the report. “Georgia is my home,” he said. He left it at that.
McGarity said he has not been contacted by Colorado and has gotten no indication that Richt wants to be anywhere other than Georgia. Richt, in his 10th season as the Bulldogs’ coach, has said repeatedly over the years that he wants to complete his career at UGA. McGarity said his sense “absolutely” is that Richt wants to be at Georgia.
“He and I have had great discussions all season long,” McGarity said. “We have been very frank with each other. . . . I have seen nothing but all things pointing to him wanting to stay at the University of Georgia.”
Asked if he, reciprocally, has signaled to Richt that Georgia wants to keep him, McGarity said: “I think so. I tell you what: One thing we’re going to do is spend all the time necessary with our coaches to give them all the resources they need. We’re in the hole with them. When we lose, we’re right there with them: ‘What can we do to help?’ I think you actually work harder when you have some adversity. It’s easy when things are going right to pat yourself on the back.”
McGarity said he and Richt have not talked specifically about the future because they are focused on this season.
“If we get going about the future and things of that nature, then we’re getting off track,” McGarity said. “We’ll talk about that later. I am working with Mark Richt — I think our whole staff is — to help make this thing happen. I fully expect Mark to be with us for a while.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
391 comments Add your comment
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:08 pm
I think anybody can go at UGA 3 games are givees
Peach Fuzz
November 13th, 2010
8:09 pm
Richt ain’t the problem. The problem is Saban, Miles, Petrino, Chizik, Meyer and Spurrier. No way he can run with those dogs.
ugaclassof2004
November 13th, 2010
8:10 pm
Well that’s just fantastic!It’s good to hear that our boosters are committed to keeping our completely irrelevant. I mean what is it going to take for them to get rid of Richt? Will this program have to completely bottom out??? Will we have to go 3-9 and get blown out by Tech before we make a change? At one point, the program was strong under Richt, but the last 3 years it hasn’t been. We have lost 11 games in 2 freakin years!We’re losing games to Colorado for God sakes!!! This Southern loyalty crap is idiotic. If this were Bama or Florida, Richt would be gone! Their boosters demand excellence and they get it. We settle for mediocrity and we get! For all you blind homers who still support Richt: don’t come whining on this blog next season when our team goes 5-7 because we don’t have AJ Green.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:10 pm
500
ugaclassof2004
November 13th, 2010
8:11 pm
Well that’s just fantastic! It’s good to hear that our boosters are committed to keeping our program completely irrelevant. I mean what is it going to take for them to get rid of Richt? Will this program have to completely bottom out??? Will we have to go 3-9 and get blown out by Tech before we make a change? At one point, the program was strong under Richt, but the last 3 years it hasn’t been. We have lost 11 games in 2 freakin years!We’re losing games to Colorado for God sakes!!! This Southern loyalty crap is idiotic! If this were Bama or Florida, Richt would be gone! Their boosters demand excellence and they get it. We settle for mediocrity and we get! For all you blind homers who still support Richt: don’t come whining on this blog next season when our team goes 5-7 because we don’t have AJ Green.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:11 pm
class2004 perfectly said
AFDawg
November 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
I used to think Auburn was a classy program. It is now evident under Chizek that he brings in thugs and encourages them to play dirty. He showed zero class during today’s game. He was congratulating his players after they delivered cheap shots. His program reminds me of Miami back in the day. Georgia should insist they will not play another game with those officials — they never controlled the game (the late hits on Murray) and then it got out of control late. Those refs should be suspended. It was totally apparent in the 1st quarter that Fairley was obsessed with trying to hurt Murray from the outset. Auburn has been bragging about knocking quarterbacks out of the game — they are a very dirty bunch. Normally I would pull for Auburn — not amymore. I hope they lose out the rest of the way. I’ll be laughing when what happened to USC and Reggie happens to Auburn and Cam — even if it is years later (can you spell “vacated”).
dawginduluth
November 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
Most of big Georgia donors were very disappointed with the McGarity choice. He is considered to be a real light weight. A tennis guy who ended up being Foley’s gofer at UF. UGA seems to settle for mediocrity. So, get used to it.
Time for a Change
November 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
GREAT!!! Guess that means we are stuck with him and Bobo for at least one more year or mediocre football!! I’m so excited I think I may pee my pants!!!!
dawginduluth
November 13th, 2010
8:13 pm
Auburn looks like Miami and UGA looks like FSU.
Sad but true.
daddydog
November 13th, 2010
8:14 pm
Good post Dog gone. & No you don’t fire a coach for 1 500 year out of 10 years!
railman311
November 13th, 2010
8:15 pm
who’s better????????????????
2story
November 13th, 2010
8:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Danny Ford
November 13th, 2010
8:16 pm
War Eagle!
railman311
November 13th, 2010
8:16 pm
every team has a rebuildind period some of you people are idiots
stendek
November 13th, 2010
8:16 pm
I have never actually rooted for Tech to defeat Georgia. I love Bulldogs. I bleed black and gold. Unfortunately I have reached mt limit. I see clearly. I know where my beloved Bulldogs are heading under Mark Wretch. If it takes a loss to the Yellow Jackets so be it. These losers do not deserve to be in bowl anyway. My wife was livid over fumble on TD. I made her angrier when I said good for Tigers. If heartless head coach does not care then why should I? All of Bulldog Nation should feel the same. True fans that is! STENDEK
TechRedNeck
November 13th, 2010
8:20 pm
The big Auburn defensive guy going after the UGA QB’s legs was cheap. Aaron Murray is a freshman with alot of potential. But this is the type thuggery one can expect when you go after players from the hood that have no principles nor respect for the game. “Win any way you can”. And yes I know most teams have these type players. Even UGA and Tech. All I’m saying is I wish they would throw these guys out of football all together.
uga_fan39
November 13th, 2010
8:21 pm
The only way AD’s fire coaches is when the fans stop buying tickets.. If u want Richt gone stop going to the games !!!! Until that time expect mediocrity from this program. Let’s face it, we’re on the bottom level of the SEC with Vandy, Tenn, and KY. This staff lacks the ability to coach and prepare players. We have the same talent as UF, ALA, and AUB, we just lack the quality coaching that those programs have brought in. Next’s year schedule is a cupcake, shouldnt be more than 1-2 losses with a decent coaching staff. As it stands right now unless there are significant changes made look for another underachieving 5 loss season.. Now time to put my Uga/Tech tickets on ebay, not driving 5 hours to watch us lose to a bad Tech team..
dogfish
November 13th, 2010
8:22 pm
Who cares about SEC Titles anyway?
FRED
November 13th, 2010
8:22 pm
I CAN NOT THE LOOSERS ON THIS SITE. YOU GUYS ACT LIKE DEMOCRATS/LIBERALS YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE HALF A LOAF INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE ONE. BE MEN WANT A WINNER NOT A 6-6 RECORD. IF YOU WERE FROM THE NORTH EAST I MIGHT UNDERSTAND BUT YOU ARE SOUTHERN BOYS BE MEN. IF YOU CAN’T SEE BY NOW THAT CMR WILL NEVER LEAD US TO THE PROMISE LAND THAT PLEASE GO BACK TO YOUR KNITTING.
Sammy
November 13th, 2010
8:23 pm
AMEN. FINALLY the AD speaks up for our great coach.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
railman everbody else in the SEC finds someone when has FLA. ohio state rebuilt
TechRedNeck
November 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
I’ve never been a BAMA fan but this season I hope they beat the HELL out of Auburn.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
SAMMY what has he done great
Chuck Allison
November 13th, 2010
8:24 pm
This could be Mark Richt’s opportunity to be associated with a much better class of fans. I sure wouldn’t blame him for leaving while he has the chance. He is an excellent man and a better than average coach.
2story
November 13th, 2010
8:25 pm
Enter your comments here
Rebuild? HA! You can’t rebuild without a re-builder. If Mark stays, we all can get used to more years of excuses, failures, and humiliations. Our problems are: lousy offensive line coach; lousy defensive coordinator; and lousy head coach.
Les Miles
November 13th, 2010
8:26 pm
give CMR a big raise. My contract calls for a grand a year more than any other coach in the
SEC. Plus, he is a proven puss on the sidelines. Struts around like Jagger or Bowie.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:26 pm
Chuck you dont know CMR and have no idea what kind of man he is dont be stupid
Phil Horning
November 13th, 2010
8:27 pm
LLUGA you are an idiot. The coin toss? Really
dawginduluth
November 13th, 2010
8:29 pm
I just want to remind you all that Richt came here with great expectations. A real offensive genius from a national championship program. However, he looked shakey from the start. Poor clock management, disorganization on the sideline and numerous fourth down snafus. Then somewhere along the way someone convinced him that he was a CEO and he didn’t need to coach anymore.
Let’s be honest about what Richt is and what he isn’t. He is a nice guy, a lousy football team CEO, a pretty good OC, a lousy disciplinarian, no leader of poor young men, a very good recruiter, just an OK coach (when he wants to coach), not very smart, not a strategic thinker but most of all he is no championship grade head coach…and we will never have a national championship with him. So, from time to time UGA will make it into the top ten, maybe play for the SEC once every 10 years but we will never contend for the NC with Richt. Already great state talent is migrating elsewhere. If that makes you happy, then I could see why you want to keep Richt. Personally, I expect more.
railman311
November 13th, 2010
8:29 pm
Blue ron zook uf john cooper osu
stendek
November 13th, 2010
8:31 pm
Mark Wretch said it took the Bulldogs a damn long time to reach the dungeon of SEC. He is sure not to leave dungeon without a fight! Last place is good. For folks like Wretch and Mike Dodo. Hefty checks come in regularly. No accountability. All is roses and sunshine in Wretch world! STENDEK
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:32 pm
Railman what happen to those guys? zook lasted 3 years and had a better winning percentage than CMR does you proved my point thanks
shankit
November 13th, 2010
8:32 pm
Been reading all your negative “Dawg” comments
for months about Richt, BoBo, Martinez, and the
new DC coach. BoBo called one of the best
games you could possibly call. Defense does not
not know how to stay a home on the ends. If I were
Richt, I would take Bobo and make me a new home
in Boulder and tell all you a=holes fans to kiss my
Arse.
dawginduluth
November 13th, 2010
8:34 pm
You are right, Chuck. Richt is a better than average head coach. He is a C+ head coach. I couldn’t have said it better. Thanks, Chuck. If you are happy with just a better than average coach, I see why you want to keep Richt.
3-18
November 13th, 2010
8:35 pm
CMR sucks. Bulldogs are an insane embarrassment.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:35 pm
@shankit you are right CMR needs to go some where where winning is not important
Paul
November 13th, 2010
8:35 pm
CMR needs to stay and AJ owes us another year.
3-18
November 13th, 2010
8:36 pm
We can’t continue to do this. Richt is to polarizing a figure, we should be able to disagree and I’ve never hated my fellow UGA football supporters than I do now.
shankit
November 13th, 2010
8:36 pm
Bama – I have always rooted for Auburn over you,
but after viewing the eipisode today, Chivik, or
whatever his name is, and FAIRLEY, ya’ll need
to kick his Arse. Kudos to BoBo for the effort
to kick his Arse after what he did to our quarterback
all night. He is a dirty, low life, M—F—r. Kick his
ass Bama. And if Auburn makes it to the NFC
this is one time I will not be pulling for a SEC to
win.
lakelandawg
November 13th, 2010
8:38 pm
Why don’t all of you Richt (at least I can spell it correctly) and Dawg bashers find another team to root for.
No loyalty at all! No class at all!
Les Miles
November 13th, 2010
8:41 pm
Auburn “posted” the knee of Glen Dorsey in the 2007 game. Same year we won the second national championship of this decade.
shankit
November 13th, 2010
8:41 pm
AF Dawg – You are right on. Auburn has succumbed
to the gutter with their coach, their quarterback and
Fairley. I wish I were a little younger and a little more
physical in stature, I would like to deck Fairley’s arse.
He is a dirty piece of crap.
blue
November 13th, 2010
8:44 pm
lakeland its not loyalty to continue to support a bad product. Its stupidy I have loved UGA football for 40 years I owe Richt the same thing I owed any other coach they have had nothing he is noy UGA football If you are right Ray Golf should still be the coach
dawsonvilledawg
November 13th, 2010
8:46 pm
We should hire Derek Dooley…now!!!
Xenophon
November 13th, 2010
8:49 pm
Next year will be another mediocrity and then he’s gone. You bible thumpers will have to find another missionary.
Buh Bye Boys
November 13th, 2010
8:51 pm
Buh bye, Mark Richt. Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out.
By the way, you suck.
dawginduluth
November 13th, 2010
8:51 pm
Loyalty = blind love of Richt?
First, I love the Dawgs. Been one all my life. My family name is on a UGA building. I just hate where Richt has taken this program.
My beloved Dawgs deserve better than this crap. If you really were loyal to the Dawgs you would want better for them, also.
You are just enamoured with their squeaky clean, soft spoken, nice guy head coach who has overspent his welcome in Athens. It’s time for the UGA football program to cut its losses and get the program the leadership it deserves.
I am prepared to move ahead and if it takes one, two or three changes to find the right head coach and staff, so be it. But this is Chinese water torture with Richt.
Matthews Dawg
November 13th, 2010
8:51 pm
Expect CMR back, you all better expect Bobo back too! The offense has scored over 30 pts in 6 straight games! UGA has NEVER done that before. Like Bobo or not, he has called some pretty good games. Those who don’t like him,get over it. We have to stop someone at some point. The defense will get better and so will the Dawgs. Beat Tech!
lakelandawg
November 13th, 2010
8:53 pm
blue: If all the comments that are made on this forum carried any weight, it might make a difference. nothing we say will affect McGarity’s decisions. We (the fans)should be positive and stop all of this negative crap. It accomplishes nothing, except to allow some of y’all to show your negativity. As for me, I will bleed Red & Black till I die, no matter who is the “coach”. Call it stupid if you wish. I call it being a true and loyal fan.