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.”
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
443 comments Add your comment
Robert
November 30th, 2010
9:59 pm
Can’t he come up with a new name for his recruiting, he used Dream Team for 2010 too. I can’t understand why anyone would want to play on a team with so many thugs and jailbirds. Richt is a total hippocrit with his so called high values and recruiting trash.
Hunker Down
November 30th, 2010
10:01 pm
Athens GA is a special to place to live for all in great part to CMR presence.
DOGGIE IN NC
November 30th, 2010
10:19 pm
Give the recruits some credit – they understand how anyone can present themselves as a “fan” and slam “their” team, or praise them. The site visits count the most. They get a feel for the campus, get to know future team members and the coaches, and the one that feels “most right” is usually the one they pick. Most have always had a favorite all their life, and unless something goes wrong in the recruiting process, that is where they will go. My DOGGIES will get their share of the top talent. GO DOGGIES!
CaliDawg
November 30th, 2010
10:26 pm
Kudos to CMR for flat out stating that he wants to be here and expects brighter things in the future. No vague answers, no wavering, a true professional.
We also look forward to a tremendous future…with you at the helm! CMR, we’re lucky to have you!
Bug Spray
November 30th, 2010
10:27 pm
So, who is this dream team???
christophorm
November 30th, 2010
10:47 pm
UGA could’nt afford him i guess, but cam newton is from college park Ga…..I really like the kid from wilcox co. nick marshall as a QB..reminds me of charlie ward at FSU with a huge arm.
sean729
November 30th, 2010
11:02 pm
@Buckeye-
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Top_25_most_winningest_college_football_teams
Yea the Bulldogs aren’t a top tier program. Check the facts bro
Parking Dawg
November 30th, 2010
11:12 pm
Coach Richt has made his intentions clear to the Georgia faithful, if you have a problem with that can you really be counted amongst the faithful or would fair weather be more your style? Growing comes with it’s pains, and I have struggled just as the next watching both flashes of brillance, and haplessness on back to back downs but the time to double down as Georgia fans has come. Either get on the wagon, or get out of the way.
Richie_Rich86
November 30th, 2010
11:52 pm
CMR isn’t going anywhere. He is the man we need in charge of the young men of Georgia. I think he realizes what he needs to do. With CTG having a whole offseason to view tape of what he needs to fix he will do what he needs and more to make the money he is making. Go Dawgs Georgia boys always remember DSGBs stick together!!!! Go Dawgs Hunkerdown baby!
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
December 1st, 2010
12:07 am
Keep Van Hallinger and purchase Jack LaLane Juicers for the whole team and we will be fine.
Dawgtards ruin this state
December 1st, 2010
12:11 am
Why would talented kids want to lose to Florida EVERY year by 15 points and also lose to Auburn, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tenn, Bama and LSU. Go to any other school in the nation and don’t collect garbage for a living, like most 4-5 star recruits that regress at thUGA. Play for a real coach and fans that understand football, not just shop at wal-mart in Bogart, GA and buy groceries at piggly wiggly.
GTF Out of here
December 1st, 2010
1:12 am
He had the dream team with Stafford, Moreno, and Green all on one offense. Pre-seaon ranked number 1 and you can’t even make a BCS bowl. Nevermind the fact that if he hadn’t blown the game to Tennessee in 07, the Dogs would have been playing for the BCS title instead of LSU.
Get out of town and get a great job while someone still wants you!
AltamahaDawg
December 1st, 2010
5:39 am
The exact words of Lane Kiffin isn’t even really the point. The point is that it’s odd that any UGA fan that has watched the team for the last decade would actually agree with his statement. That he knew UGA was going to be this one dementional, can’t run the ball team, from seeing the 10 yrs worth of proof. That day yes, this year, sort of.
10 years of doing the same thing was the problem? The problem so clearly is they are NOT, not able to do what they do for the past 10 years.
Odd How Muschamp, Chaivis, Foster, Ellis, Strong, all are not smart enough to know what Kiffin did.
BigDawgSpeaks
December 1st, 2010
6:59 am
TOP ROW DAWG, wowwee! I’m lovin it…Dawgs win SEC in 2011! Book it! Haters, go to class at north ave. trade school today and don’t forget your glasses and pocket protector…
SEC TOO MUCH
December 1st, 2010
8:00 am
Hey Buckeye!
If OSU was in the SEC you’d be looking at an average 8-4 season or worse every year for your buckeyes. I think Your Bucks have already proven that they cannot beat SEC caliber teams….How many years has it been since beating your last SEC team? Lets see?….Oh year South Carolina in 2000…nope that was USC first ever bowl win….oh how bout 2001 nope that was USC’s second ever bowl win…..still searching…hmmm?….94′ Citrus bowl vs. Bama…nope lost that one too…to a less than steller Bama team. 95?…nope lost to Tennessee in Citrus….Jeez! ok ok I got one…92″ vs UGA in citrus? nope got drilled! 89? Nope Auburn killed ya!….How bout regular season vs. Bama? Nope got beat! How bout in 1977 vs. Bama? nope…..your 0-11 record the past 25 years vs the SEC should have you on lock down from any SEC message board now shouldn’t t? …………….
FINALLY FOUND ONE! You beat Kentucky in 1936 – 19-6….there so your 1-12 vs the SEC since 1935…..So how do you think your Blackeyes would do in the SEC?
Justin
December 1st, 2010
9:40 am
If Richt gets the guys he’s targetting, a bruiser at NT, TE from Valdosta, DE, a big rb, a big WR, will be the best recruiting class in Richt’s career.
Add that to the talent from this year’s recruiting class and last year’s, the 2 lb’s in waiting, Lemay, and you can see why if Richt gets maybe 4 big time recruits at DE, NT, RB, WR, he will win it all in 2-4 years.
1baddawg1
December 1st, 2010
9:43 am
You say Ga is not a top team because we are not headed to a bigger bowl, How about texas who has been great for the last few years, they’re not even going to a bowl. we had trouble the past two years but all good teams go through it. Auburn hasn’t been good year end and year out, but they are good this year, Nebraska was awesome several years ago and then they droped but this year they are much better, so please don’t say Ga is not a top program. we have one of the best programs year in and year out, but all teams have their day. we will be much improved next year and you will be eating your words.
Mathew Watts
December 1st, 2010
10:15 am
Daniel Hays(6′2″/200) at Westwood Academy and Rhett Cooper (6′2″/200+) at Deerfield-Windsor are two of the best defensive players in the state of Georgia and they lead their teams to state championships this year! Go get’em CMR!
Texas Dawg
December 1st, 2010
10:47 am
I wish all of you haters would look at history. Coach Dooley had several bad years. If you don’t believe me check it yourself. I can’t believe a person mentioned Chizik. Without Cam Auburn would be 6-4 at best. Heck UGA would of beat them. We need to keep Coach Richt because he is great for UGA, our players and program. He has proved himself, and he has also proved his loyalty to UGA; which is hard to find today.
Reality
December 1st, 2010
11:05 am
You guys are all idiots. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Skyhook
December 1st, 2010
12:30 pm
Just Facts>>>> Don’t know if you will see this as so far down blog.
My background is former high school coach and official. Believe me I was not giving props to Davie. As I said any good high school coach would have seen those adjustments that needed to be made. Davie just happen to be the only one talking.
Tried & True Dawg Fan
December 1st, 2010
12:36 pm
Who in the world is “buckeye”. This person must be totally stupid!! Some of the teams in the big 10 have decent records due to having some of the easiest schedules in College Football. How many times has osu played in BCS bowls in the past 10 years and how man have they won?? Any 7 & 4 SEC team could pound them if on their schedule. Go back north and play notre dame, leave real college football to the south!
An Executive
December 1st, 2010
5:09 pm
How many on this site have really seen executive leadership? Whether in business or the military or in sports, their qualities are the same. I use Nick Sabin as one example. I am no Alabama fan either.
It starts with the CEO’s persona lcarriage or his manner of speaking and eye contact and his overall aura of self confidence. Richt has that sleepy, droopy eye thing always going on in interviews. If it is with Chuck Dowdle on the Richt TV Show where CMR ought to be very, very comfortable, or the post game ESPN microphone in your face interview ……………. he is too soft spoken and droopy, sleepy eyed and this is NOT what a leader is all about. THIS is the CORE issue.
His kids do not get a Sense of Urgency from him. NEITHER DO his coaches. From this stems the summer time fun stuff with drunk driving and Athens PD charges and helmet stealing and flea market sales with articles of clothing. He has a lazy weight training coach for this same reason. He has had more than one coach get arrested for drunk driving ( now gone ) and unsportsmanlike conduct.
It ALL stems from the Guy At The Top ……………too easy it is in A town. NO fear. No reason to worry. Heck. living in Athens as a big time coach for around $500,000+ to $750,000 per year as a low level 35 year old assistant ain’t half bad gang. Why worry??
UGA class of 71 & 73
The answer ......EUREKA !!! I HAVE IT !!!
December 1st, 2010
5:22 pm
For C Mark Richt to win it all next year or even to end up at 9-2 or 10- 1, he needs to sign two great running backs and big, beefy D linemen and get a TOUGH MINDED weight training coach; so that by 2011 they will be ready. Yeah, that will work.
Uh oh ………………….. shoulda done that back in 2007, 08, 09. 2011 will be a copy of this one gang. We are not professional coaches and we know that UGA is lacking in big, strong, beefy linemen and a high quality running back and a weight training coach that will ENFORCE HIS RULES when the kids SKIP his sessions. Shhhhhh ….. don’t let anynone know that half of them NEVER GO to weight training sessions.
Go Dogs.
FLA DAWG
December 1st, 2010
6:24 pm
Alot of bluster………if Boise State sticks it to us on Sept. 3rd we will be The UGA Goats again.
Jborodawg
December 1st, 2010
6:51 pm
Fulltime dawgfan @ 636 am….gawd, that was spot on! The Negative Nellies just jumped right in. I hope recruits don’t read these blogs; we’d be lucky to get a top 20 recruiting class if they read how negative and unsupportive many “fans” are.
I have every confidence that Coach Richt will right the ship.
Goooo Dawgs!
wildbill
December 1st, 2010
8:42 pm
6-6 speaks for itself.
AltamahaDawg
December 1st, 2010
9:52 pm
Whining speaks for itself.
Mike Buglioli
December 1st, 2010
10:24 pm
I hope Isaiah, Gabe, Jay and others across this state heard his remarks. There’s no doubt that a dream team could easily be put together from the talent across this state. Let’s hope to goodness it happens. To say I’ve been critical of my Alma Mater’s football results the past few years is an understatement but if we get the dream team recruits makes this Dawg alum very hopeful and I’ll be the first one to muzzle this outspoken Dawg.
dawginduluth
December 2nd, 2010
10:14 am
That’s what happens when your employer pays you $2.8 million and doesn’t expect excelence for the investment. No reason to leave.
You Richt suck-ups are killing the program.
AltamahaDawg
December 2nd, 2010
10:40 am
“Richt suck-up”, as opposed to whom? that are doing what?
harold
December 2nd, 2010
1:25 pm
LAUGHING OUT LOUD. GEORGIA IS NOT A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM NOR IS RICHT A CHAMPIONSHIP COACH.
SUPERDAWG
December 2nd, 2010
11:03 pm
Last four years Richt has been worst coach in NCAA, one more year is all he gets
SUPERDAWG
December 2nd, 2010
11:13 pm
DEGEE FROM UGA IS WORTHLESS.
Gdawg
December 3rd, 2010
7:55 am
Auburn would be crap without their thug QB; take him out of the mix and the Tigers are lucky to finish 6 and 6.
Boseefus
December 3rd, 2010
8:37 am
I’am 62 years old and have been a avid Georgia fan my entire life. For the last six years the Dawgs have been in the top 10 in recruiting but the program continues to deteriorate??? Alot of you support CMR and say the same things he says year after year – we need a player here or a player there and when we recruit those players the next year produces the same old results!!!! Poor play calling, poor defense (even with new defensive coach – Salary – $800,000.00), poor special teams, lack of discipline, off the field problems, too many personal fouls, too many players on the field, illegal formations, too many offsides, to many motion penealties and most of all too many thugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. When does it stop and when does the “Bulldog Nation” come to reality??? If fans are satisfied with winning 7 games each year continue to support CMR, if you want an SEC championship and/or a National championship let CMR move on to Miami and he can take his”Richard Petty” subglasses with him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
big dawhg
December 3rd, 2010
10:57 am
man we seem to recruit and get some big name guys….but only a couple of them turn out to be anything….i follow recruiting and watched these guys play high school ball and they were all stars…dominationg left and right. soon as they get to UGA, they ride the bench. You realize they just dont have the actual athletic talent to excel in D-1. In high school….you can be 6′3 200 and really rock some folks…your size alone beat most average players. in college, you gotta be someone special….and have that extra piece of juice to take it to the house…..
our RBs have disappointed me….caleb king was a stud in high school…and i expected the same when he got here….but i have only seen descent play from him. Nothing big at all……
what about OL……get a lot of big guys but they can dominate the line….we dont have a Jake Long on the O line….or a nick Fairley on the DL..
WE NEED STARS….STRUTTING THERE STUFF….DEON SANDERS STYLE…SOME SWAG….
like my high school football coach said….”Only quit when the guy in front of you is 6′7 250 with 4.4 speed and D-1 schloarships on the table…” the dogs need that mentality
schmeckdawg
December 3rd, 2010
11:12 am
With that brilliant strength & conditioning move basically swapping out interchangeable pieces Tereshinski for Van Halanger (except for the fact that Tereshinski doesn’t know a quarter of what Coach Van knows) what young stud is going to want to come play here when one of the coaches who you spend the most time with is a video tape, glorified cheerleading hack. CMR is on the verge of signing his own death warrant. What a moronic move!!!!!!! Go get a guy like they have at Bama! Tereshinski…REALLY!!!!!!!!!
Boseefus
December 3rd, 2010
6:20 pm
schmeckdawg – You are all over another excuse. What’s the next excuse???? Why can’t all Dawg fans come to grip with the real issues driving this program. Its CMR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many more years before we win an SEC championship or better yet a National Championship. Its excuse after excuse year after year. When does it stop??? Clean house even at the cost of subpar recruiting for a year or two. SOMETHING MUST CHANGE or CMR will continue to ride the money train while providing more reasons to the DAWG NATION as to why they can’t win more games……..
ZAR
December 4th, 2010
7:09 am
He will not be able to recruit the players he is talking about in Ga with the record he currently has!!!! Dog fans get ready for another disappointing year,,,
gadawg312
December 4th, 2010
5:13 pm
okay first off…. if you are a true dawg fan… you stand behind the good and the bad years… i dont think you will not find a better coach than CMR
Boseefus
December 4th, 2010
7:25 pm
gadawg312 – Did you just come out of a 5 year coma?????? Why can’t you and other Dawg fans realize reality. Its time for a change UNLESS you want the same results and maybe 6-7 wins next year and a continued deterioration in recruiting……………………
Headlinin’: Denard Robinson is the Big Ten’s best player ? but only the the third-best quarterback | kazukilund
December 6th, 2010
7:01 am
[...] Miss is likely landing in the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl. … Mark Richt is looking to sign a "Dream Team" of Georgia prep stars. … Bobby Bowden and Gene Stallings will lead their own dream teams of [...]