Richt tells callers he’s staying and wants ‘Dream Team’ recruits to join him
Mark Richt was outspoken on two topics on his radio call-in show Monday night –- his intention to remain at Georgia and his aspirations for this recruiting season.
- On the recruiting front, Richt reiterated his vision of signing an in-state “Dream Team” that, he said, could make an impact as soon as Georgia’s Sept. 3 season opener against Boise State in Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
“We’re trying to recruit guys right now that can make an impact so when we play in that Georgia Dome next year and open against Boise State, we can introduce those kids to the college football world and make a difference at the University of Georgia,” Richt said.
“When you talk about in-state kids, that’s why I’ve been talking about this Georgia ‘Dream Team’, this team of guys that I think are the best players in the state of Georgia. And I believe if they will stay in the state and come together, we can prove to the United States of America that we have the best football in the country [in] the state of Georgia. We need those Georgia kids to stay at home and do that thing for the Bulldogs, and I think everybody is going to get excited about that.”
- In light of recent reports that Colorado and Miami might pursue Richt for their open coaching jobs, one caller implored Richt to “hang in with us, don’t leave us now.”
Richt replied: “I’m definitely going to do more than hang with Georgia. Georgia is going to thrive, and Georgia is going to have a tremendous future ahead of us. And I’m excited to be here.”
Another caller had two questions: Will junior linebacker Justin Houston enter the 2011 NFL draft? And will Richt stay or “jump ship” to his alma mater, Miami?
Richt said he doesn’t know what Houston will do but suggested he could be a top-five or top-10 NFL pick in 2012 if he plays another season of college ball. Houston faces a tough decision, Richt acknowledged.
As for the caller’s second question: “For me, I don’t have a tough decision,” Richt said. “Georgia is the greatest place in the United States of America for me and my family.”
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443 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
November 30th, 2010
9:06 am
CPO – Yep, well aware. Two were in the National Championship. Been there three times of late won one. How many has thUGA played in lately? Looks like Arkansas/OSU in the Sugar. We faced Mallet when he was a freshman at Michigan. Looking forward to our annual BCS game. Where do you thing you’re going? B I R M I N G H A M ??
75-76-DAWG
November 30th, 2010
9:07 am
After an 8-5 and so far 6-6 two years record I can’t believe even the most avid UGA supporter wouldn’t admit that some coaching changes are in order. If there are no changes then isn’t the AD admitting they 100% support and approve of our record and current results.
Laughing at the coolaid drinkers
November 30th, 2010
9:09 am
Reserve comment Murph until the Gators lose 5 or more two years in a row like the Humpers.
MURPHY
November 30th, 2010
9:11 am
Laughing at the coolaid drinkers,
What up Tech boy? How does it feel to be 1-9?
OkefenokeeDawg
November 30th, 2010
9:13 am
AltamahaDawg,
Richt’s ‘08 team had much more talent at skill postions than Saban’s ‘10 team, even at RB. Saban’s team (as usual) was infinitely better at blocking and tackling, more disciplined, and his D was stingy in giving up points, and special teams nearly played perfect. Richt’s team, by contrast, lead the NCAA or SEC in penalties, personal fouls, and turnovers, as well as giving up points by the boatload. And surely you remember our special teams play – atrocious.
I didn’t mean Richt needed “radical changes,” but to make no changes to this staff is pretty much insanity. How can Richt expect different results with the same bunch doing the same thing over and over?
AltamahaDawg
November 30th, 2010
9:17 am
JB, Richt has spoken time and time agin that he is very aware and cares about the fans. Obviously you would not need to point out “the fans” to a coach of a major University football program.
But there is a difference in between hearing what they “say”, (and frankly you have no idea what he hears from the other side, or from those fans who actually write big checks) and running your program and making desision predicated on that.
I rather doubt that in the wake of a 6-6 year, he really needs to listen to the grumbling of fans to understand the situation.
FsuNoleinDC
November 30th, 2010
9:19 am
looks like the Bobby Bowden syndrome hit Richt 40 yrs earlier than it hit bobby…UGA is going down the tubes and were are raking in the recruits…it’s a seminole uprising!
Georgia | MrSEC.com
November 30th, 2010
9:24 am
[...] Mark Richt made it clear — again — on his radio show last night that he’s not interested in leaving Athens.Prompted by a caller who asked Richt to “hang in with us, don’t leave us now,” the [...]
boots
November 30th, 2010
9:24 am
How soon people forget… As this season began, the Gators were a top 10 team (and lost 5 this year). Alabama was far & away the national-champ-to-be, and it was just a matter of playing the games. Oops, they lost three. The Jackets were a top 20 team, and they crashed & burn (and are happy with six losses). Meanwhile… no one saw Auburn coming. Now, they are probably playing for a national championship (that they will have to give back in a year). Who had South Carolina atop the SEC East? Now people speak of them being the team to beat for the next three years.
My point is this: things can turn around quick in college football – for the better or worse. Much of it has to do with DESIRE and some of it has to do with LUCK. CMR sounds like he is getting back on track with the DESIRE and we all know we are due for some of the fortune. I see 2011 as a turning point. Let’s hope I’m right.
Me and You and a Dawg Named Belue
November 30th, 2010
9:24 am
A little birdie tells me CROWELL WILL WEAR RED AND BLACK. Take it to the BANK!!
boots
November 30th, 2010
9:26 am
@ Buckeye – Your “annual BCS game” because your conference SUCKS.
Buckeyeisadouchebag
November 30th, 2010
9:27 am
I can’t wait to see Ohio State get humiliated in another bowl
It’s great entertainment to watch them stumble all over the field as the SEC runs it down their throat
DawginOH
November 30th, 2010
9:27 am
Not a fan of the “Dream Team” moniker, but I AM a fan of CMR getting the best in Georgia to STAY in Georgia. Sic ‘em, Coach Richt!
Buckeyeisadouchebag
November 30th, 2010
9:28 am
We’ll see if it’s a Seminiole uprising
You haven’t even been able to compete in the AC”C”
Alan
November 30th, 2010
9:31 am
With Lemay leading the way, this class will be one for the ages. Look for Crowell, Drew, and the whole gang to come along with the right, they ain’t dumb, they gonna follow Lemay, wherever he goes, like Spikes followed Tebow from Alabama to Florida.
Lemay is a Leader with a capital L. Watch how Lemay gets this thing done. He’s gonna rope em’ all in.
Buckeyeisadouchebag
November 30th, 2010
9:32 am
42-34
LACES OUT
BBBBBBBWWWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAA
BBBieUgaVIII
November 30th, 2010
9:35 am
Richt is selling the Fan base Cow Menure and calling it Rose fertalizer. It is just crap and the Dream Team could great, but who ever knows. Every school always wants all the best recruits. I would hope(but I know better) the players would pick a School for the educational opportunities knowing their chances to be an NFL player are slim to none. I know that is a dream for real and you can’t tell the flashy player he ain’t as good as he thinks. When he gets to the next level(after picking a school) he realizes he will no longer be a star and it is too late. Transfering is such a pain in the butt. We will see what Richt can and will do. Now let the “We got the best recruits and we are going to win it all this year” BS start.
DuckFan
November 30th, 2010
9:37 am
Is this different from any other year? UGA always has a top 20 recruiting class but always comes up short in the regular season. They may have the best players but they don’t have the right coaches.
AltamahaDawg
November 30th, 2010
9:39 am
I suspect that any changes to how they do business would NOT be outlined in a press conference a few days after thier last regular season game, and with a bowl game to start getting ready for. Not to mention the “staff” he is refering to, are each and every one assigned to specific recruits they are in dire need of signing. What the hell do you expect him to say on November 29 to the very ill-timed question about staff changes?
As I said before I would never expect that they are just going to “do the same thing over and over”. That obviously didn’t work out too well. Although for about half his entire staff, “over and over” is all of, a not yet finished one whole season, at this point.
As far as same bunch, I’d say there is plenty of example of various coaching staff around the nation, and the history of the game, where the exact same folks had different results year to year.
So you are saying you didn’t want Coach Bobo fired?
Georgian
November 30th, 2010
9:41 am
I suggest CMR sign WR receiver Zach Walker, Johnson County. The best WR in the state of Georgia.
Tard Dawg
November 30th, 2010
9:43 am
FIRST!!!
Tard Dawg
November 30th, 2010
9:43 am
Hunker down arf arf arf
Rev. Billy Bob
November 30th, 2010
9:43 am
I ‘M just asking.. Is it time to offer Kirby Smart the head coaching job at Ga.?
Go Dawgs!
November 30th, 2010
9:44 am
layinlow
November 30th, 2010
7:55 am
I get the whole 3-4 takes time to get the right players argument. But what alarms me is Grantham’s lack of adjustments in the GT game.
It’s also the first time Granthum has had to face a true option offense since HS. The majority of his coaching has been in the NFL.
MURPHY
November 30th, 2010
9:45 am
Kirby Smart or Will Muschamp are good coaches but they are not ready to be a head coach in the SEC.
shankit
November 30th, 2010
9:45 am
Prediction – Meyer just lost another critical
assistant coach. Look for him to hang it up
and Florida will go after Mullens as the HC>
Go Dawgs!
November 30th, 2010
9:46 am
Rev. Billy Bob
November 30th, 2010
9:43 am
I ‘M just asking.. Is it time to offer Kirby Smart the head coaching job at Ga.?
ABSOLUTELY….not. K Smart’s D got worked in the 2nd half of the Aub game with EXPERIENCED 3-4 players. All K. Smart has proved is that he’s a decent apprentice to Saban.
Evansdawg
November 30th, 2010
9:49 am
CMR is right. If he can persualde these top kids to all come together for their home state and come to the flagship university, Georgia can be dominant. Look at the roster for virtually every other SEC school. The State of Georgia is the home state of many players on every team. Richt has identified who he wants and is pitching the idea to these kids. Its hard to argue with him. If they come to Georgia, the program has a great chance to flourish. We have loads of talent for next season, and Aaron Murray’s arm and ability WILL attract some ace receivers. I can get excited about this.
75-76-DAWG
November 30th, 2010
9:49 am
Alan
I hope you are right about LeMay. As much as I like Murray at times it is very obvious with him stretching to be 6 feet tall is a problem for him seeing over the linemen and picking up open receivers down field. I hope that CMR will use both Quarterback’s . Also the biggest problem at UGA in the last 4 or 5 years has been the lack of leadership on the field and especially from the seniors.
Buckeye
November 30th, 2010
9:51 am
Douche,
Birmingham or Memphis?
Boots,
I’ve never taken a shot at the SEC. Great year with Cam, Lattimore, The Mad Hatter, Mallet, etc.
Good to see thUGA finally getting back to Atlanta – albeit next AUGUST.
BUCKEYE
STEINER
November 30th, 2010
9:53 am
ckgator:
YOU GOT ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT WITH THE SEMINOLES….THEY JUST HOBNAILED YOUR FACE….
SoCal Dawg
November 30th, 2010
9:53 am
Rev. Billy Bob
November 30th, 2010
9:43 am
I ‘M just asking.. Is it time to offer Kirby Smart the head coaching job at Ga.?
Kirby’s D struggled many times this year. Kirby minus Saban is average at best.
Georgian
November 30th, 2010
9:55 am
I say ditch LeMay. Keep Murray around 2-3 more years, mold Nick Marshall into the QB in 2-3 years and then you have a Marshall-Walker combo at UGA. Im telling you, Marshall is Cam Newton times 3, and Walker catches everything thrown at him.
UGA Insider
November 30th, 2010
9:59 am
The coaching carousel begins Sunday folks… However I don’t know if CMR is going to Miami after all. I had several conversations with alums last night and everyone I spoke to said that Tommy Tuberville is expected to get the Miami job. That surprises me somewhat because I thought they would offer CMR $3mil/year. I am all for CMR staying at UGA as long as he can close a huge recruiting class in February. Every position basically is wide open for any incoming freshman to start except qb. That should be CMR’s selling point to Crowell, Drew and every 5 star receiver in the country. UGA is so thin at every position it would not surprise me if 7 or 8 true freshman started next fall. Here are the positions needing talent immediately: RB, Wide-out, Fullback, Oline, Dline, LB, Safety and CB. This is a do or die class for CMR for sure.
Howard Dean
November 30th, 2010
9:59 am
And then Georgia is going to get an amazing recruiting class and go to the Georgia Dome vs. Boise and give them the BBBEEEEAWWWW!
ckgator
November 30th, 2010
9:59 am
Murphy – follow the bouncing ball. All teams *cycle.* But when elite programs do it, they recover ferociously to win championships. Don’t forget the recruiting classes UF has had in recent years, and the youth on the field today. Meyer is a proven leader at multiple schools and will have them over-performing. Has already happened twice since Meyer has been at UF.
hough its kind of nice not to have the stress about the game this week, to be perfectly honest!
Last National Bank
November 30th, 2010
9:59 am
Attention all recruits. We will set you up and match any
ATM account if you will not cross the line and
stay at home.
LMAO
November 30th, 2010
10:01 am
YES STAY MARK WITH THE GREAT TRADITION AT GEORGIA. LOSERVILLE ALWAYS HAS BEEN LMFAO
OkefenokeeDawg
November 30th, 2010
10:01 am
No. Bobo is a QB coach. Let him be QB coach. Teach footwork, drops, reading defenses, fundamentals, etc.
Get a true OC who can design plays and build an offense around Aaron Murray, instead of putting Aaron Murray into the same old, predictable, Power I.
“Georgia is the easiest team on our schedule to prepare for. They are running the same stuff they have for 10 years.” – Lane Kiffin, before the beatdown at UT last year.
And, by the way, Richt fired 3 coaches a “few days after their regular season, and with a bowl game to start getting ready for,” just one year ago . . .
BG
November 30th, 2010
10:03 am
GATA Coach Richt!!!
Why would they???
November 30th, 2010
10:05 am
Why would any dream recruits want to come here??? Sure they can make it to the pro’s! But that can and does happen at every school! Shoot even Lousiana Tech has had its share of big time NFL players. But there really is no reason for recruits to want to come here unless their top schools simply did not offer. Richt has been here for ten years and has really never gotten close to National title contender. The one year we were in contention he was embarrassed by Bama, the Gators and even Yech with a first year coach. Love to have the recruits but I am a realist that understands a change needs to be made before true success can happen here.
VaHiDawg
November 30th, 2010
10:06 am
so much for McGarity’s vote of confidence- go get em Mark
War Eagle
November 30th, 2010
10:10 am
Why would any recruit not want to stay in Georgia??
Amenities are lacking.
ATM accounts, dedicated slot machines, etc.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 30th, 2010
10:10 am
“Every position basically is wide open for any incoming freshman to start except qb.”
**********************************
Whew, I’m glad we had so much experience at every position this season . . .
Buckeye
November 30th, 2010
10:12 am
Douche, Boots,
Here’s a couple thoughts for you……
Blockuster Conference Match-Up: SEC vs. Conf USA……Ha!
thGUA Dream Team Bowl Game recruting trip: Memphis…..perfect!
reasonable dawg
November 30th, 2010
10:14 am
I think what we have been missing more than anything is on the field leadership! We really haven’t had team leaders since Pollack and Greene left…lots of talent but no leadership. You can’t blame coaching for that. I think Murray is a leader though, and it rubs off on all the players. That said, we gotta get some hosses on both lines!
tony
November 30th, 2010
10:14 am
You people need to open your eyes and minds if you really want the answers to Mr.Richt’s failures as a hc. If you pay attention to his previous quotes you would know the answer. Here’s an example in a 2002 link. jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090602/col_10375439.html
“It’s a concern,” Richt said. “If we allow the fans or the media to pick the starting quarterback, I think we’ve got a problem. It’s very hard not to react when somebody boos our players. Everybody’s human, and can get their feelings hurt in a hurry.
This quote is the early sign of Mr.Richt reflecting on his christian morals and his softness towards his players.
Galatians 5:22-23 22But (A)the fruit of the Spirit is (B)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, (C)self-control; against such things (D)there is no law.
You see, Mr.Richt believe that fans should be kind and gentle towards his players when they are performing poorly. His team have to apply those same priciples towards their opponents because they are under Mr.Richt’s care. I can tell you this……if the yankee fans didn’t boo their team when they were performing poorly they would not have won all those championships.
If Mr.Richt want to please God he cannot encourage his team to be violent toward each other or towards their opponents.
“But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” Matthew 5:39
Now on strenght and conditioning. As a man of God Mr.Richt cannot ask or encourage his players to over indulge to make their bodies bigger because it is a sin.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Surfeiting – Excessive eating and drinking, so as to oppress the body; indulgence in the pleasures of the table. This word does not include “intoxication,” but merely indulgence in food and drink, though the food and drink should be in themselves lawful.
Mr.Richt should teach bible principles to his players because it’s the right thing to do, but God has nothing to do with violent sports. At this point in Mr.Richt’s career he has to play one hand against the other because of his love for the game of football, but in the end I believe the outcome will be against Mr.Richt.
Georgian
November 30th, 2010
10:15 am
SIGN ZACH WALKER, WR Johnson Co.!!!!
Georgian
November 30th, 2010
10:15 am
Play Nick Marshall at QB in 2-3 years, drop LEMAY!!!!!!!!!
autiger83
November 30th, 2010
10:17 am
There is so much talent in the state of Georgia that you could put together a dream team every single year. With Scholarship limits it is inevitable that some kids (Cam Newton!) sign elsewhere.