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.”
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391 comments Add your comment
Bill
November 14th, 2010
11:09 am
Who does this sound like:
“Yes, we absolutely support Coach Richt, and we EXPECT him to be coaching with Georgia for years. It’s only game 11, and we have 2 more to go, but based on play SO FAR, I’d say yes. We don’t discuss future until the end of the season. Richt knows I have his back, althought I’ve neve publicly supported him. On the other hand, we evaluate each season at the end of the year, and we’ll sit down with each coach after the season, and THEN we’ll decide on the future.”
Tomorrow, tommrow, we’ll decide, tomorrow, there’s always a day away.
dogfish
November 14th, 2010
11:15 am
Almost anyone with a job wants to keep it. Whether they want to stay is not the issue, it’s how good are you doing your job. It’s up to the boss to keep that person on their staff if they are doing their job, give them raises, keep the person doing a good job happy. It’s also the bosses job to replace that person if their not. You don’t fire a person for having 1 bad day (or year), but if the product that person is responsibile for is constantly subpar, you need to take the steps necessary to correct the problem.
It doesn’t matter if that person wants to stay or not. The question is will the boss accept your subpar work and be satisfied with declining profit?
Laughing at you people (hahahahahahaha)
November 14th, 2010
11:37 am
If all you people are so displeased with the UGA football program and CMR, then why waste your time coming on here complaining about it, find another team, jump on the bandwagon, get a life, and use the internet for something more purposeful. All we do is watch the games, read comments and etc. There is alot more to college football than we know. Id like to see some of you people get out there and coach an actual D-1 football game, let alone a high school game. Do you really think that he doesnt want to win? Really? You ever think that there may be things that go on that doesnt get discussed with the public. There do come years of rebuilding. You can put a guy who cant run in man on man coverage, just an example not being literal. UGA footall is going to be fine. Aaron Murray WILL win an SEC championship before he leaves Maybe then all you people can come back from the bandwagon, have a little faith and stick by their sides. If you kid messes up and does several things wrong do you people disown them? Get a life grow up and respect this game and the guys who go out and make it possible for us to watch every Saturday. I never post comments this may be my 2nd-3rd ever. I will not be back to read any feedback that you people may choose to give on this so dont waste your time.
Buh Bye
November 14th, 2010
11:38 am
Serious Dawg fans need to start organizing and demanding that Richt be fired. Otherwise, sports writers will be asking the same question this time a year from now.
Richt represents mediocrity. Saban and Meyer represent excellence and championships. Richt simply isn’t in their class, nor will he ever be. Richt would have to be incredibly lucky to win the division, and the odds against him winning the SEC championship would be at least 50:1.
Those are the simple facts, and there’s no amount of enthusiasm or cheerleading or Top 5 recruiting classes that can get around it.
As they say in poker, “Read ‘em and weep.”
Richt Redux
November 14th, 2010
11:43 am
How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking two years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but Another team will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 25, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
Get your heads out of the sand and face reality. And mediocrity and irrelevance.
Dosta Dawg
November 14th, 2010
11:44 am
This may be the year to make a coaching change. No huge recruiting class is at stake if CMR is shown the door. Something has to change.
Clueless in Athens
November 14th, 2010
11:47 am
“It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama…”
And a lot of them get arrested and suspended or dismissed once they get on campus. One example: Zach Mettenberger.
Dawgfan
November 14th, 2010
11:48 am
It would be a huge mistake to let Richt go. One bad season can happen to anyone.
Dosta Dawg
November 14th, 2010
11:55 am
One bad season yes. But when your program is continuing to get worse year after year, changes must be made at the highest levels.
Laughing at you people (hahahahahahaha)
November 14th, 2010
12:01 pm
Yes let CMR go then maybe all of you guys can get together and go win an SEC title. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
cbro281
November 14th, 2010
12:12 pm
Sorry guys Richt stays, but I do think the offense needs to be updated I.E … Oregon ,Boise State style. Something to spread out the defense and also strength and conditioning and sorry Rodney Garner ya gotta go.
Red Panties Rick
November 14th, 2010
12:30 pm
If Nancy Pelosi is coming back, then it makes perfect sense that Mark Richt is too!
TheItalianDawg
November 14th, 2010
12:39 pm
great! I want CMR back! we were competitive through out the season
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 14th, 2010
12:47 pm
Fed Up and JRW7:
30 points each game in last 6 games..Only an idiot would have problem with that….You boys just looking for somebody to blame….Go support Ga. State or Ga. Tech….You are losers….
SydneyDawg
November 14th, 2010
12:55 pm
Coach Richt is a class act, and he can coach!!
bama fan
November 14th, 2010
1:14 pm
All you Richt bashers are loosers. He may be an average coach, but he’s a wonderful man and role model. Just look at his players and how they themselves have become role models. When are you UGA fans going to learn winning isn’t everything.
LOL
November 14th, 2010
1:18 pm
this is from the article.
“McGarity said he and Richt have not talked specifically about the future because they are focused on this season”.
They have shown me more focuse than I can handle.
Hit A Single
November 14th, 2010
1:35 pm
Why are all you non dawg fans worried about Coach Richt? Sounds like you better worry about your own team. I don’t know of a team in the SEC that doesn’t have problems. But everybody worries about the most popular program in the SEC, UGA.
The Rest of the SEC
November 14th, 2010
1:36 pm
Please give Richt an extension. We think he’s a great fit in Athens
needums
November 14th, 2010
1:37 pm
One more year is all he should get, he can’t beat Florida and I’m sick of it, the players are beyond his control and I’m sick of it. I say give him one more year to fix this and if we have to go through this crap again send him packing.
carolinadawg
November 14th, 2010
1:38 pm
Where do people get the things they say? Richt to Tenn. or another SEC team not going to happen…The possibilty of going to Miami or back to Florida State would be more likely. Hopefully CMR will stay. I am dissapointed with the last couple of years like everyone else, but be careful what you wish for you might just get it.
hahaha
November 14th, 2010
1:39 pm
SUSPEND NICK FAIRLEY, new group on facebook….
Bama will smoke Auburn so who cares if they win the SEC? Haha
eastcobbdawg
November 14th, 2010
1:49 pm
CMR needs to be given another year or two. let’s follow PSU model of keeping a coach that needs time rather than let the 400 win coach be fired for a couple of seasons of drifting, but reinvented the program. strong supporter off CMR. Go Dawgs!
DAWG with bag over head again
November 14th, 2010
2:06 pm
eastcobbdawg,
Your suggestion might fly if CMR would actually re-invent himself. Unfortunately we’re getting a rerun of the Bowden saga. Keep doing the same old things and expecting a different result. Insanity at best. Time for a change. From another east cobb Dawg.
ReddJonn68
November 14th, 2010
2:16 pm
@ Laughing I thought you were not coming back to post again, or are you just fooling yourself. Fire Richt like yesterday !!!
JOE DAWGS
November 14th, 2010
2:40 pm
RICHT NOT GOING ANYWHERE GUYS HE HAS SAID HE WANTS TO RETIRE AT UGA WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ALL OF YOU ARE JUST LIKE MARK BRADLEY. HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED AND I WOULD FIRE HIM AND ALL WHO TALK EVEN THINKS MARK IS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.
Fair and Balanced
November 14th, 2010
2:53 pm
One more year. That’s it! Turn it around or out ya go CMR. I would rather have a clean program than a winning program, but right now we don’t have either. Clean it up and win ball games or out ya go!
Saban>Meyer
November 14th, 2010
3:51 pm
gater fan how was that rooster sat night?I think the Roosters had some fried gater tale,didnt they?mmm good I heard.
stendek
November 14th, 2010
4:13 pm
So Mark Wretch is in bed with UGA AD huh. Wonder where his wife sleeps? Oh well. Do not like my Bulldogs in SEC cellar. Will become accustomed to it as long as Wretch is in charge of football and a brainless a$$hole is in control at UGA. Nothing to look forward to football fans. Sorry. Just a cold hard fact. So very very sad. Once proud program now laughingstock. Has been and will be for years. So terribly terribly sad. STENDEK
stendek
November 14th, 2010
4:20 pm
FIRE GREG MCGARITY! Guy not only putz a$$hole but brainless scumball to boot. Probably not even college graduate. Nothing against online correspondence degrees though. What a total gibberhead! STENDEK
NorthGaDawg
November 14th, 2010
4:24 pm
Simply put, Richt stays, Booboo needs to go. And to the poster about the police liking UGA’s “thugs”, I think you’re talking about Urban’s “boys”. The felons the SEC & Meyer look the other way for if it means a win. I guess that Rainey thing didn’t work out though did it Urban since you’re not going to Atlanta….
wins-by-a-link
November 14th, 2010
4:36 pm
Richt will have at least one more yr to turn program around, His future is tied to his OC and DC, The offence scored 31 pts which should be good enough to win, Giving up 49 pts is not going to cut it in the SEC, Grantham has a 3 yr contract, If he fails to correct problems with defence then he will take Richt down with him.
4th and Long Gone
November 14th, 2010
4:37 pm
Great move by UGA to release this … no way to make someone appreciate what they already have than to have someone else want it. If this hadn’t come out, this blog would be full of “Richt’s got to go!” after the loss. Still, this didn’t sound like a ringing endorsement from McGarity. I think UGA would be crazy to get rid of him, and I don’t believe he will leave on his own, not even for Miami. But if he were going to leave, I think it would be for Miami and not Colorado.
Hedge Trimmer
November 14th, 2010
4:42 pm
I am UGA through and through. Will be buried that way. CMR is a great, great guy and a great role model for our kids. That is true. He is also a football coach at a major school in the greatest conference in the land. His shortcomings have gotten us here: loyalty, conservative coaching, lack of discipline. Bobo has to go. Let’s spend another $750,000 and get a real OC, one with an exciting playbook, one that will take the nation by storm given the talented players in this fine state. And we have to send a greater message to players who break the law. I think Grantham will be just fine. If CMR can pull the trigger on Bobo, I’d give him another year or two. If not, it will be clear that he is more loyal to the needs of Bobo’s five kids than to the needs of the program. He doesn’t get paid to be nice. He gets paid to win games. This ain’t high school anymore.
Hedge Trimmer
November 14th, 2010
4:48 pm
Fair and Balanced: You said a mouthful. We can point to this or that all we want. Our program has become a dirty one plagued now by arrest issues and we don’t win games against good teams. Period. The last few years are evidence to this. Clean it up & win or go home.
Drudge
November 14th, 2010
5:12 pm
I finally agree with Stendek….your program is a laughing stock. For example….every fan who’s school has won a national championship in the last quarter century; please raise your hand.
Drudge
November 14th, 2010
5:15 pm
People will never admit it because they are fans and blind loyalist but……something changed in your program the day Richt order the excessive celebration penalty in Jax. Sure, you went on to win the SEC that year, but discipline on and off the field left the program that day.
Fairley is scum
November 14th, 2010
5:31 pm
Nick Fairley sucks, if you agree join the Facebook group “SUSPEND NICK FAIRLEY” just search it at the top search engine on Facebook. He has knocked out FOUR opposing qb’s for at least a while, so feel free to join (Fans of Arkansas, UGA, LSU and even Alabama already have, so everyone is welcome!)
Fairley is scum
November 14th, 2010
5:32 pm
Congrats to South Carolina for doing the whole SEC a favor beating the Gators last night. It’s not too great to be a Florida gator right now.
Fairley is scum
November 14th, 2010
5:33 pm
Nick Fairley sucks, if you agree join the Facebook group “SUSPEND NICK FAIRLEY” just search it at the top search engine on Facebook.
Jimbo
November 14th, 2010
5:44 pm
Our SEC record for the past two seasons is a miserable 7-11. I wish that was a convenience store but it tells you how competitive we are in our own conference. That is a 38% winning percentage folks. We were 4-4 last year which means we were an average SEC team at best. This year we are 3-5, a losing record, and a bottom feeder in the SEC. Is this what McGarity and Richt find acceptable? Foks this is not a one year phenomenon. We have been declining for the past two years. Without Green and Durham who will be the playmakers other than Murray next year? What do you think next year’s record will be? 5-3 in the SEC, and is that acceptable? 4-4 again like last year? Or maybe 3-5 like this year? Are any of those scenarios acceptable?
Tinkerbell Doggy
November 14th, 2010
5:55 pm
I agree..Nick is mean and hits our players too hard.
Tinkerbell Doggy
November 14th, 2010
5:59 pm
I know…let’s suspend every defensive player from all 6 teams that beat us. They hit too hard.
TheTaxJacket
November 14th, 2010
6:01 pm
You have heard the news…he is not going anywhere….so shut up about him already! If he would of won yesterday, everyone would be saying how great he is. When he losses all of you think he is garbage! Get over yourselves. You do not know SH_T
scott
November 14th, 2010
7:00 pm
Mark is a class act just like Vince. We are fortunate to have a leader like Richt. We need to make some changes. Put Bobo in the booth so he can see what we see and if that doesn’t work, make a move at Offensive Coordinator. We are competing in the SEC, so we have to operate at a different level.
LemonThrower
November 14th, 2010
7:35 pm
Glad he not leaving UGA. Not a threat to win a nc or the SEC. I know Auburn and The Gators glad he staying too.
Free A.J.
November 14th, 2010
7:36 pm
I was one who said after the Colorado loss that it was time for Richt to go.
I made a big mistake-a terrible error in judgment.
Sanity check-
Richt won us 2 SEC Championships, of which we had NONE in the previous 20 years. He is a great coach and an even better man. We gotta keep him. Would be simply INSANE to let him go.
Now I do think some staff changes may be in the offing…but this reminds me of those wanting to “Dump Dooley” in 1979 when I was 9 years old. Just think….the kid out of Johnson County probably does not come to UGA if Vince is fired, and no 1980 National Championship for sure…
Think about it my peeps….think about it!
Joe
November 14th, 2010
10:37 pm
I say you freaks should get on the Jesus bus and head out with Richt, if he has room for you, your diabeties foot and rascal scooter with all your special ed “don’t tread on me” stickers.
Get a Bulldog to coach this team and consider an IQ test at the gates for these “loosers”, it’s “loser” you f’n moran.
…or don’t I don’t care. Serve.
happy warrior
November 14th, 2010
11:11 pm
Maybe they will come after Bobo
BIG DAWG
November 15th, 2010
12:10 am
Football is supposed to be a game of sports fairness and fun, but that Auburn team this time was the worse for playing dirty I have ever seen, from the beginning Fairley tried to hurt our OB pick him up and slam him on the ground continued to try the whole game to put him out finally put his helmet into Murray’s knee,2 yrs and it still dont look good they have the talent but not the coaching they need there are a lot of good coaches and if we cant get a head coach we sure need a OC had them 21 to 7 and them comes the wild plays we have a QB dont try to copy what some other schools try taking out QB and putting running back or full back. instead of QB CMR is like Fulmer of tenn. he has lost it and may not be able to regain it for over three millions dollars I dont see why they could not get a coach, CMR is a good man but cannot change coaches until it is a must or else, other coaches can he should be able to also for the team’s sake, well we will see.