Richt says he hasn’t been approached by Miami, ‘absolutely’ plans to stay at UGA

(Updated 6 p.m.)

Georgia coach Mark Richt said late this afternoon that he has not been approached about the coaching job at Miami, his alma mater, and that he “absolutely” expects to remain the Bulldogs’ coach next season.

South Florida newspapers today mentioned Richt among possible candidates for the Miami opening that was created with Saturday night’s firing of coach Randy Shannon. Earlier this month, the Denver Post reported that Colorado would like to speak with Richt about its coaching vacancy.

“I’ve got the same answer for [the Miami speculation] as I had for the other one: Georgia is my home, and it’s where I want to finish my career,” Richt said.

Pressed on whether he would entertain the possibility of the Miami job if approached, Richt replied: “Just like I’ve been saying, man, Georgia’s my home, and that’s where I want to be. I don’t think you’ve got to go any farther than that.”

The Miami Herald today listed Richt among “potential candidates” to replace Shannon. The Palm Beach Post listed Richt among “possible replacements.”

The speculation was not surprising. Richt is a graduate of Miami, where he played quarterback under coach Howard Schnellenberger. Richt is 96-33 in 10 seasons as Georgia’s coach.

When the Miami job last was open after the 2006 season, Richt was mentioned as a possible candidate before immediately saying he was not interested.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity has said Richt will return as the Bulldogs’ coach next season.

Richt, who fired three assistant coaches in the week following last year’s victory over Georgia Tech, was asked today if he is considering staff changes now. He said he is not.

He expressed support for offensive coordinator and play caller Mike Bobo.

“If I’m not mistaken, we broke some kind of school record with [seven] consecutive games of over 30 points, and a lot of really good things happened offensively,” Richt said. “The bottom line is whoever calls plays is going to get critiqued, going to get criticized. It’s just the nature of the beast.”

Other posts since last night’s game:

Georgia to the Liberty Bowl?

So was that Green and Houston’s way of saying goodbye?

Murray closing in on Stafford’s record for TD passes in a season.

667 comments Add your comment

Andy in Blairsville

November 29th, 2010
9:12 am

UGA Football for decades has historically been built around mediocrity, so I don’t know why so many want to get rid of Richt. Plan on 6-9 wins per season and going to a chitty bowl game and call it a season.

Jim

November 29th, 2010
9:12 am

Gruden Was hired yesterday by miami for 3.5 mil

Andy in Blairsville

November 29th, 2010
9:14 am

Gators might own GA, but they had their asses handed to them in FL Sunday.

Andy in Blairsville

November 29th, 2010
9:14 am

Gators might own GA, but they had their asses handed to them in FL Saturday.

Big Dog 98

November 29th, 2010
9:14 am

Miami would be wise to go after Mark Richt.
It is a lot easier to win in the ACC than in the SEC. Plus…recruiting in Miami is a big plus. Because of the warm weather, the girls wear less…another big plus for recruiting.

Ted

November 29th, 2010
9:15 am

Why do you guys continue to write about CMR and the possibility that he won’t be the coach next year. He is firmly rooted in Athens, his entire family lives there and he is heavily involved in his church and the community. He would not willingly leave to coach at any other school. The UGA athletic director has repeatedly stated that he will be the coach in 2011.

jeff

November 29th, 2010
9:16 am

Please ..GO! Bring us someone that can coach us to a …CHAMPIONSHIP!

Gay Blade 5

November 29th, 2010
9:18 am

Is this blog still reserved for jock sniffing gay men looking for a thrill?

Richt can't coach?

November 29th, 2010
9:18 am

How many SECCs did UGA have in the 20 years prior to Richt’s arrival in Athens? How many times in the 90s did they even sniff a chance to go to the Dome and play for an SECC? ((Crickets chirping)).
Naysayers point to the other SEC schools who’ve won MNCs. Agreed. However even in the best year, it’s still a crap shoot. Remember 2007 with LSU who squeaked into the BCSCG? That’s not atypical.
UGA has a wealth of H.S. talent much like Florida; however the borders get raided fairly regularly by other schools–especially those with weaker H.S. talent (e.g. Tennessee). Then there’s the “face-it” factors: such as some kids simply cannot get into UGA and wind up at other SEC schools or sign an LOI with UGA only not to make it into school after the recruiting dust settles (facts, not B.S.). Lastly, it seems like UGA always gets the “best game” from a wealth of it’s rivals (Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Auburn, Tech, etc…) no matter WHO their coach happens to be.
Makes for a tough recipe. Richt has done MUCH better than his two predecessors–and even better than Dooley in his last seasons.

Yo Long Gator

November 29th, 2010
9:22 am

Enjoy that UGA prodding $hit: FSU is on the rise again–already owning UF this year with that wood-laying performance. Once the ‘Noles get firmly back on track, the Gators will continue their decline. The Chinless Squirrel Head won’t last much longer: he’ll implode. Flah-duh will be back to their so-so days soon–regardless of UGA.

Andy in Blairsville

November 29th, 2010
9:23 am

fatboyslim

November 29th, 2010
9:26 am

Van Halanger is the problem at UGA and needs to go!

reality

November 29th, 2010
9:26 am

Hey, “just facts.”
How does it feel to hate on a school so much and not be able to see your’s compete with them so you are left hanging onto SEC schools doing it? Jeez that’s sad. In the words of the late Lewis Grizzard: “don’t believe I’da told THAT!”

BBBieUgaVIII

November 29th, 2010
9:28 am

Tommy
Miami doesn’t play Florida.
FSU plays the State and won the STATE this year finally.
Miami plays FSU
Florida plays FSU
FSU plays Miami anf Florida.
Richt at Miami would have to beat FSU, VT, and GT.

CEPH

November 29th, 2010
9:28 am

Why in the hell would Colorado or Miami hire Richt? Maybe if they needed the Atlantic Ocean or the Colorado River parted so they could get to the other side he might be able to help them out, but if they need someone to lead them out of the wilderness to a winning football program they would have the wrong descipile. I hope McGarity doesn’t let Richt’s agent use this ploy as an excuse to give him an extension. Actually Miami would be better off keeping Shannon because his record is no worse than Richt’s for the last two years!!!

Andy in Blairsville

November 29th, 2010
9:30 am

UGA should keep Richt, join the Big East and run the table each season.

reality

November 29th, 2010
9:30 am

Typical AJC: pot-stirrer. Richt’s not going anywhere. He has now said so very emphatically on 2 separate occasions this year when other universities have been reportedly interested in his talents. Conversely, his boss is saying in no uncertain terms that Richt will return.
Ah these modern days of the media having too much time on their hands though with too little substance…

Les

November 29th, 2010
9:33 am

BBBieUgaVIII

November 29th, 2010
9:34 am

reality
No coach has ever been fired just shortly after the Powers that Be “STATED HE is OUR COACH” or “WE are FULLY BEHIND OUR COACH.” Next press conference The coach is gone and the new coach is being named.
Now That is REALITY.

Jared

November 29th, 2010
9:36 am

Get rid of Richt and his phony Christianity now. He give both Christians and coaches a bad name.

Run him out of town on a rail.

reality

November 29th, 2010
9:39 am

BBBieUgaVIII, Stay tuned, neighbor: we’ll see. I know where my money is.

BBBieUgaVIII

November 29th, 2010
9:40 am

Richt and Gruden Ain’t going to Miami.
Leach is a done deal as Miami’s #1 choice. Leach is already shopping for Pirate Ships to put in his slip on the intercoastal. Nobody with a real good head coaching job ever takes an ex-UGA Head Coach. Can you name an ex-UGA head coach that ever got a good head coaching job after his time at Talent Rich UGA and lost?

Richt ain’t going nowhere but unemployed looking at Kennesaw State to get that job.

Miamiu

November 29th, 2010
9:42 am

No thanks….Please stay at GA!!!!

STEINER

November 29th, 2010
9:43 am

Vance Duly:
YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER OF THE FAIR WEATHER FANS WHO WANT TO GO 13-0 EVERY YEAR AND WIN THE NC….ALL OF US DO TOO, ITS JUST THAT WE ARE NOT AS STUPID AS YOU AND SOME OF THE OTHERS ON HERE WHO THINKS JUST BECAUSE OUR NAME IN GEORGIA AND WE WEAR RED JERSEYS AND RED HELMETS THAT ITS GONNA HAPPEN….OFFENSE AVERAGING 30 PLUS POINTS PER GAME AND YOU WANT THE OC GONE…..HOW STUPID ARE YOU????

Harry

November 29th, 2010
9:43 am

Richt needs to learn from Kirby Smart how to answer the coaching question about are you interested in______school? Are rumors true?

Try this one out:
My focus is in the Bowl game and helping Georgia win this game.

jasont13

November 29th, 2010
9:45 am

It was reported on University of Miami’s wikipedia page that John Gruden is their next football coach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Hurricanes_football

jasont13

November 29th, 2010
9:47 am

From most peoples logic the Alabama team that was preseason #1 that went 9-3 is on a downward slide. If your not with the current coach then jump off the damn ship.

STEINER

November 29th, 2010
9:48 am

CEPH:
ONE BAD YEAR AND YOU GO STUPID ON US….RED SHIRT QB, NO RUNNINGBACKS TO SPEAK OF, FIRST YEAR OF FITTING 4-3 PERSONNEL INTO 3-4 DEFENSE….TO YOU WHO ARE UNEDUCATED ABOUT FOOTBALL, THAT IS A LOT FOR ONE YEAR…..STILL STATE CHAMPS AGAINST THE THE GREATEST COACH THAT BARK MADDLEY EVER SAW….HIGH SCHOOL COACHES HAVE DONE WHAT COACH JOHNSON DID THE OTHER NIGHT MANY TIMES….DID THAT MAKE THEM ALL GENIUSES….PAUL DIDN’T REINVENT THE WHEEL, BARK…THANKS FOR PUMPING HIM UP, THOUGH….

BBBieUgaVIII

November 29th, 2010
9:49 am

wikipedia is just another BLOG. Wikipedia is not made to be FACTS.

Perspective

November 29th, 2010
9:56 am

Enter your comments here

Buckeye

November 29th, 2010
10:02 am

Coach will be able to ride the “Mo” from his B I R M I N G H A M B O W L win.

joebarr

November 29th, 2010
10:04 am

Miami probably does not want him! Why would they fire a losing coach only to hire another one?

jtmdawg

November 29th, 2010
10:05 am

LIfetime bulldog misplaced in Birmingham for 2 years watching and listening to UA and AU win and win big. It hurts, but UGA football has been left behind. FL and TN will rebound next year, SC will fade, and UGA will fall comfortably into their traditional 3rd place in the east. CMR has lost his fire in his belly for winning at UGA. TIme for a change.

DeputyDawg

November 29th, 2010
10:05 am

We live in an unappreciative society!!! CMR is a great man and coach. He has done a great job at UGA… Over 90 wins and 30 something loses. You can only hope you do that well at your job! Stay Coach.

Rainbow Dawg

November 29th, 2010
10:12 am

Richt isn’t going to Meeami! Publix offered 4 tickets for $47 for the UM-USF game and all the vaunted “U” could get to come was 27,000 fans! They’re the 5th best team in that state right now, but Miami is NATIONWIDE, right? Well, at least their bandwagon fans are! When they are down, they are USC Trojan fans, now that both are down, instead of typing all day like pimple faced teenagers bally-hooing the team, they’re over on some other website dowloading gangsta rap, checking out gold prices and 22″ rims for their bycycles!
Speaking of BANDWAGONS, nice to see the Criminole Nation coming out of the woodwork beating their chest like they beat the second coming Tim Tebow or Danny what’s his name. Yeah, Gators 7-5, first win over them in seven years, now go do that chop in a closet, or is that directing traffic kind of thing?

BBBieUgaVIII

November 29th, 2010
10:14 am

Dawg Fans we need to back our True Coach.
Dooley, Derek
UGA with all our Talent had to win to be 6-6
UT with all their Trouble had to win to be 6-6.
Richt must go when he can do no better Dooley in his first season with all the crap that happened to the VOLS since last January.

All the good assistant coaches are in play right now

November 29th, 2010
10:15 am

Take AU with their O co ordinator, Malzon. His name is all over the place as the next Head coach at the U of so and SO. See?

Bobo? or Todd Granthom or Brain Mc Clendon or Latakatos? Nothing beyond that they are” getting ready” for the Bar B Q Rib Bowl ( I WILL eat at the Rendevouz and Corky’s) in Memphis.

Folks here is jut the latest list of HC vacancies: U of WVa soon, as will be the Michigan job and the Ole Miss job soon, and Vandy and Furman and Miami and N Texas State and on and on and on …………….no interest in ANY UGA assistantsd and that says it all.

As for Richt saying ” this is where I want to be when I quit coaching” When he decides to do his missionary work full time in Honduras. His mind is elsewhere, gang. Elsewhere he is.

2011 is coming up fast and it will be exactly like 2009 and 2010. Wath the ugly recruiting class upcoming if you doubt me. THAT will tell us what we are gonna be like in 2013 and 2014.

Go Dogs

UGA, class of 71 & 73

BBBieUgaVIII

November 29th, 2010
10:17 am

PS
Dooley and the Vols should have won against LSU.
Richt and UGS should have lost against TECH.
People keep cheering for Richt all you want. Nobody else with a good job wants him. Nobody has ever called about their interest in BOBO. What more do you Richt lovers need to know.

Perspective

November 29th, 2010
10:17 am

For all those calling for Richt’s head and Bobo’s for that matter before you’re so sure that the grass is definitely greener on the other side consider the following:

1979 UGA goes 6-5, many call for Dooley’s head citing a mediorce record and lack of consistency in that he couldn’t seem to string to good seasons together.
1980 – UGA goes 12-0 under Dooley wins National Championship and first of 3 consecutive SEC championships. 1981’s sole loss comes to eventual National champion Clemson, 1982 UGA plays Penn St for national title.

The following is FSU’s record the 6 seasons prior to their historic run of consecutive top 5 finishes:
81: 6-5
82: 9-3
83: 8-4
84: 7-3-2
85: 9-3
86: 7-4-1
Bobby Bowden would have been fired by UGA fans before 88.

Finally: Granthum IS a good DC. The first year of switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is always rough. Add to the fact that Granthum and staff had to un-coach bad habits while installing new schemes and terminology.
When Bama hired Nick Saban his first year 3-4 defense yielded an avg of 22pts per game and they suffered back to back losses to Miss St and LA-Monroe LATE in the season.
The following year their defense yielded 14.2 pts per game, the next year (their national championship run) they gave up only 11.7 per game.

Also realize that had K.Smart taken the UGA DC job, Granthum was on Saban’s speed dial and would have been Bama’s DC this year.

Last year all Dawg fans did was whine and cry about W.Martinez. Fire Willie, Willie has to go. Richt got rid of him and brought in a quality coach in Granthum and now everyone wants him gone because he’s not a miracle worker and hasn’t INSTANTLY turned UGA’s defense into a top 5 one.

Last thing: while Bobo has deserved his fair share of blame for losses and lack of scoring in the past, you can’t overlook the fact that this year’s team has AVERAGED over 30 pts a game! Now people are still p*ssing and moaning, WHY?! Because he didn’t average 40 or 50 pts a game?! Don’t get me wrong he has his head scratching moments, but guess what they ALL do!!

Be careful what you wish for, you may get it and in the end may regret giving up what you had!

Les Grossman

November 29th, 2010
10:20 am

Mark is not on my list of candidates for the Miami job. This is all you need to know and all that needs to be said on this. Remove this article and all comments IMMEDIATELY.

Phil

November 29th, 2010
10:21 am

All this Miami interest in Richt is just some rumor that somebody made up. They fired Randy Shannon for having Richt-like years. They want to get back in the National Title picture, not sink further down. Hiring Richt is not the answer at Miami. Nobody wants Richt or anybody on his staff. That should tell you something about the state of our program. It sucks.

ocmom

November 29th, 2010
10:29 am

I saw this on ugasports.com I so agree with this…LILLY is awful
Lilly – This guy was considered the worst coach on the FSU staff and our TEs have continually under-achieved despite having the deepest and arguably the most talented groups in the country. Also, on fourth-and-1, why the hell do we not sub in Bruce Figgins for Aaron White for run blocking? You coach TEs. It should not be hard to do.

RichtIsOurHewitt

November 29th, 2010
10:33 am

Richt will never be picked to coach Miami. They will not want him! They just fired their “Nice” Guy coach and will want a serious football coach over “nice” this time. Face it…we are stuck with the man just like Georgia Tech is stuck with Hewitt.We’ll never be a serious national contender until he’s gone but we can’t get rid of him!!!

Phil

November 29th, 2010
10:36 am

ocmom,

My question is why were we going for it on 4th down? We were in field goal range, a FG would have put us up by 4 points, meaning Tech would need a touchdown on their last drive. We didn’t make the 1st so Tech could have won with a FG. Luckily Tech didn’t move the ball down the field. Bad decision I thought.

great pastor

November 29th, 2010
10:43 am

dont let the door hit you!

Hunker Down

November 29th, 2010
10:44 am

CUM of the Gators has reported after a dismal season at 7-5 that he plans to “recruit his butt off” and coaches will be hitting the recruiting trail today. That it is a rebuilding process at UF and the right personnal needs to be aquired. Well, I hope the Dawgs take the same approach as something is amist this season and last. Hope the Dawgs can improve on defense and find help on offense if aj goes pro as many suspect he will.

Rainbow Dawg

November 29th, 2010
10:45 am

Perspective:
1980 – UGA goes 12-0 under Dooley wins National Championship and first of 3 consecutive SEC championships. 1981’s sole loss comes to eventual National champion Clemson, 1982 UGA plays Penn St for national title.

We paid Hushel Walker a million plus, which makes Cam Newton a bargain, and we’ve paid the Devil his due ever since. Oh, and for those of you who don’t believe we paid H Walker, Cam Newton is clean too!

great pastor

November 29th, 2010
10:45 am

trust me: no serious national contenders would want Richt…. he is an incompetent coach. seriously….

great pastor

November 29th, 2010
10:49 am

shut up about 80’s championship! that was 3 decades ago. Look at your records past 3 seasons.

Phil

November 29th, 2010
10:50 am

RichtIsOurHewitt,

Richt is our Bobby Cox actually. Cox won in 1995 but never did anything after that, but the Braves kept him around forever and couldn’t get rid of the guy! They had to wait it out until he retired.

I see the same thing happening at UGA. Richt has already accomplised as much as he’s going to. Now we are stuck with him. Get ready for many more years of mediocrity and .500 seasons. Nobody at UGA has the guts to get rid of him, just like nobody within the Braves organization had the guts to get rid of Cox.

We are going to have to wait it out until Richt decides he wants to do something other than coaching. It’s going to be a long and painful wait, just like it was for Bobby Cox.