What Mark Richt had to say at Liberty Bowl news conference …
ATHENS –Mark Richt flew back into town from a recruiting trip, just in time for his pre-Liberty Bowl news conference today.
Here are a few of the topics he touched upon:
On former Georgia player Will Muschamp’s hiring as head coach at Florida: “I think Will is a very fine coach. I don’t know if he’ll admit [it] to everybody, but he’s still a Georgia man in a lot of ways. I think he’ll do well. He’s a very good coach and a very good person.”
On the changes in Georgia’s strength program (earlier this month Richt reassigned Dave Van Halanger and named Joe Tereshinski director of strength and conditioning): “First of all, I think Dave Van Halanger is an outstanding strength coach. He’s as good as any out there. . . . But I think there are different ways to do things, and I want to go a little bit more old school, I guess, and get after it a little bit differently. By no means am I saying it’s just the strength area we need to improve on when it comes to winning the fourth quarter and finishing, because it has to do with coaching, it has to do with a lot of things. But I’m sure that will be a big emphasis of our program — to make sure we truly finish the drill. We say ‘finish the drill,’ but are we really doing it? Did we do it this year? We did not.”
On starting offensive linemen Cordy Glenn and Trinton Sturdivant, among other underclassmen on the team, asking the NFL for a projection of their draft status: “I think every junior in America is kind of curious where they sit as far as the NFL is concerned. So there’s a lot of guys who want to turn in their papers and see where the NFL sees them. I think that’s not all that surprising.” He said the key is for players to get an accurate gauge of their NFL stock in order to make the best decisions for them. Losing players early is “just part of college football today,” said Richt, who noted it could be worse: “Basketball, they can be [in college] for one year and they’re off and running.” Still, “we certainly don’t want any of those guys to go, but we’ll just wait and see what happens here down the road.”
And from the recruiting trail, where he and his assistants have logged countless miles this month, Richt reiterated his belief that this is a special year for in-state talent: “I do think this recruiting year in the state of Georgia — even as we were mapping it out a year ago because you are looking that far down the road, this class in particular we thought was going to be extremely strong. And we still believe that. Not only strong in athleticism and ability, but very strong in character from what I’m seeing. I really like the young men we’ve been dealing with as people too. It’s been a very encouraging year in that way, too, which is kind of nice.”
– Tim Tucker
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341 comments Add your comment
Dawg
December 16th, 2010
11:17 am
patrick, Patric what I see is a 6-6 record including losses to Fla, Missy State and Colorado. Hell the Colorado coach was freakin fired and Urbie was so upset with a 7-5 record he stepped down. Stay in California, we here in Georgia are sick of the underacheiving preacher!!
shankit
December 16th, 2010
11:19 am
Attention All Potential recruits
There are more Patricks, Five Star Recruit fans
at Georgia than Murphy’s. Don’t let the Murphy’s
influence your decision not to come play for Richt.
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:19 am
Dawg,
Thank you! Finally a non-delusional Dawg poster othet than myself.
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:22 am
shankit,
Are you just plain stupid? Im sorry to dis-respect you like this but come on man you are being foolish.I would never tell a recruit not to go to UGA.Im a lifer UGA fan and supporter but I will not accept this mediocre crap any longer.If you wwant to thats ok with me.To say this blogg is the difference between UGA getting good recruits or them signing elsewhere is insane-just like you and your post today.
Dawg
December 16th, 2010
11:23 am
You are welcome Murphy, I too am sick of the underacheiving. It shamed me to have losses to Vandy and Kentucky the last few years in the SEC.
Dawg
December 16th, 2010
11:24 am
Patrick must be off his meds again Murphy.
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:28 am
Dawg,
Im all bent out of shape on this deal.I just will never understand why people accept mediocracy? I wont do it-I will be patient with situations but at some point either poop of get off the pot.Not accept excuses any longer!! Sorry man-thanks for letting me vent!
shankit
December 16th, 2010
11:28 am
NO, I am not stupid, Stupid.
Just saying what I know from inside sources,
about certain recruits wanting to come to
AThens and want to play for Richt, but
are concerned because they know there
are a lot of stupid fans wanting his head.
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:33 am
shankit,
At some point every college fan wants their coaches head.This is life when you make the money these guy’s do.Ill make a deal with you? You explain to me with no BS how you can accept the way we have played in Jax the last 20 years and show me that you are ok with this and I will never ever say one negative remark concerning our program on these blogs. MAKE ME A BELIEVER IN YOUR THERORY!
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:34 am
I will extend this offer to Patrick as well.
shankit
December 16th, 2010
11:41 am
Grew up in a local community, high school has 23
state championships, 6 national championships, starts
with the fans and their passion, trickles down to the
coaches, players. You do have to have the talent,
especially at the college level, this starts with recruiting
the right players. Sometimes a lack of passion by the
fans and their remarks about their coaches and program
influences the recruiting of talent necessary to compete.
Give Richt a chance, he has a lot of talent that has silently
commited but waiting until the right time nationally to
commit, rubbing it in on Saban, others. Ya’ll are hurting
the plan.
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:44 am
shankit,
Ok I tell you waht.I will reframe form the negative remarks only because I respect your opinion even though I dont at all agree with it. So from this point untill signing day I will do as you and Patrick have requested.We will evaulate yout therory after signing day. Fair enough? By the way-you didnt mention our overwelmed with joy you are at our past 20 years in Jax?
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:44 am
sorry for the mis-spells. Still fumming!
BobbyDawg
December 16th, 2010
11:48 am
Here’s the Dawgs record under coach Mark Richt — 2002 – 13-1 2003 — 11-3
2004 — 10 -2 2005 — 10 -3 2006 — 9 -4 2007 — 11 — 2 2008 — 10 — 3 2009 — 8 –5
2010 — 6 –6. When you look at Bear Bryant’s reord at Alabama you will find that in 1969 they went – 6 — 5 and in 1970 they went – 6 — 5 -1 and I remember it plainly. There was a group of fans that wanted The Bear gone, but most of the loyal Tide fans knew that he was a solid winner and they kept him. In the following ten years The Tide put on a display of power in the SEC (the strongest conference in the NCAA) second to none. My point is this — BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! “GO DAWGS”!
shankit
December 16th, 2010
11:49 am
Overwhelmed by the last 60-70 years in Jax.
Florida has had their run, you think you and the
Dawg are fumming? All my Gator buddies here
have dropped their Bull Gator funding, cause
Urban had one bad year. Talk about fickle fans,
the Gators are back at No. 1 in this department.
The Dawgs will own the Gators for the next six
years, (provided we get the commitments promised)
Joey
December 16th, 2010
11:54 am
Hope you’re right, shankit, because Towers is reporting that we haven’t signed a recruit in 4 months. This is a result of playing at noon, going 6-6, and meaningless bowls.
Bring on those “silent commitments, soon!”
Joey
December 16th, 2010
11:59 am
Mark Richt = Bear Bryant?
One big difference, BobbyDawg, is that Bear Bryant surrounded himself with brilliant assistants who went on and won championships themselves.
Richt surrounds himself with buddies who get no job offers, at least publicly.
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
12:00 pm
Joey,
I agree with your out-look on the recruiting situation.You hit the nail on the head!
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
12:04 pm
Wasnt it a recruit at UT(during the Fulmer era) that stated he picked UT over Uga because he didnt want to play in the Peach Bowl each year? Then we got Jasper Shanks. Just stating facts
Joey
December 16th, 2010
12:12 pm
I’m worried, MURPHY, that this losing can begin a down cycle. Kids love winning teams . . .
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
12:16 pm
Yep. Winning is everything.If it wasnt they wouldnt keep score!
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
12:17 pm
Joey,
The real question is: What occured to get us in this down cylcle you mentioned?
BobbyDawg
December 16th, 2010
12:19 pm
There are a lot of BIG differences in Richt and Bryant, one that comes to my mind is the fact that coach Bryant had his team ready to go from the very first kickoff each year. Another is — when you watched Ala. play they constantly had players running in and out. I think coach Bryant played everybody on the team in every game no matter how important it was. I don’t know what happened to the Dawgs this year but I agree that it is unacceptable, and I also agree that years like this year can’t happen if coach Richt wants to keep his job. Depth in a team doesn’t just happen . The coach has to create it by letting the second string players get some playing time. I want coach Richt to have a chance to fix it and if he doesn’t then I’m with the folks that want him gone. I hope that he realizes that he HAS to fix it, and I hope that he’s given at least the upcoming year to do so.
billyboy
December 16th, 2010
12:40 pm
The Dawgs will win the SEC Championship next year. What will you say then . . . probably . . . Isn’t it great to Coach Richt.
dawgfan
December 16th, 2010
12:45 pm
We have had a few off years, so what? CMR is the real deal and he will turn this around. Murray is awesome and will be even better next year. Combine that with our red shirts and new recruits and we will be set again. UF and UT are in transition and Visor Boy had his lucky year and won’t repeat next year. That leaves a very beatable UK and VU in the SEC East. We also have a favorable home/away schedule. I just don’t see how we miss the SECCG next year. Will we win that game? We have the potential but only time will tell. Trust me, if we get to the SECCG next year all will be well. Go Dawgs!
Joey
December 16th, 2010
12:45 pm
I want him to fix it too, but when he said he “planned no changes to his staff” after the Tech game, I was disheartened.
How can the same guys that coached this team to losses against Colorado and UF turn things around?
Murphy, it has to be the coaching (or lack of) by Richt’s staff, right?
BobbyDawg
December 16th, 2010
12:47 pm
I want to see some defense next year. I hope MR knows what he’s doing by putting Grantham in charge. Every game that we won took 40 plus points to do so. That’s scary.
Joey
December 16th, 2010
12:50 pm
dawgfan, we’ve lost 11 games in two seasons – with AJ Green and Justin Houston. So now we’re gonna win the East without them?
Murray is great, and so is Orson Charles, but how can Murray be better without AJ and Durham?
I like your optimism, and I hope you are right-on but I just can’t see much improvement. I guess my glass is half-empty . . .
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 16th, 2010
1:53 pm
Chip Towers
How about this question for Richt next time
Coach what are you doing to address your lousy record against FL?
Would you consider having your team watch last years girls softball team game against FL to watch what it takes to beat FL?
Gator Mike
December 16th, 2010
1:54 pm
Some very interesting comments by everyone today. There probably is a lot of merit in the 10 year theory. I remember when Spurrier was at UF, and he often said somehting like it was not wise to stay at any place for more than 10 years. Well, he bolted after his 12th season. I bet he will be at Carolina for no more than 3 more seasons.
I am excited about Muschamp taking over the Gators. It does not bother me that he is an UGA Grad because UGA is also a very good school. He is fiery and intense which is how Urban was his first 4 years. I’m hoping that the Gainesville Pressure Cooker does not get to CWM.
Go Gators!
GatorBait 18-3
December 16th, 2010
2:08 pm
On the changes in Georgia’s strength program (earlier this month Richt reassigned Dave Van Halanger and named Joe Tereshinski director of strength and conditioning): “First of all, I think Dave Van Halanger is an outstanding strength coach. He’s as good as any out there. . . . But I think there are different ways to do things, and I want to go a little bit more old school, I guess,
This is why Richt is losing. He just can make a decision——–if Van Halanger is “as good as any out there” why is he being replaced. Mark just can’t say, “we are not getting the results we want and needed to make a change”
He always tries to have both ways, either he is good and stays or he’s not and leaves.
Mark just isn’t tough enough to be head coach—he should call Muschamp and tried to get an interview as the new OC, something he knows.
patrick
December 16th, 2010
2:15 pm
Patrick,
You sound like one of my kids. Well since UF id down its ok for UGA to be down? Well mom he did it why cant I?
========================
this is not a “down year” for UGA. Its one of new defensive schemes without the personel to play the scheme…its one of a new QB that should have been given more reign earlier. UGA is (as demonstrated by its last 6 games) on the rise. Fla is one on the decline (as evidenced by its last game and its HC knowing how bad its going to get without Tebow….he lost 9 games in the 2 years he coached at Fla without Tebow) Get ur facts and situtations correct please. Thanks….
patrick
December 16th, 2010
2:18 pm
“by its last 6 games”
patrick
December 16th, 2010
2:22 pm
Joey
December 16th, 2010
11:59 am
Mark Richt = Bear Bryant?
One big difference, BobbyDawg, is that Bear Bryant surrounded himself with brilliant assistants who went on and won championships themselves.
==============================================
.
“won championships? The president of the NCAA said yesterday…..”there has never been a nation championship in major college football in American history”…… getting votes in a poll is not a national championship.
.
here is the link to his quote…..I will take the word of the head of the governing body of all collegiate athletics over you anyday.
.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5921518
Junior Samples
December 16th, 2010
2:24 pm
I miss my little buddy Saint Simons. I have an urgent and horrifying news message for him.
(((((((42-34))))))) Bwahahahahah
patrick
December 16th, 2010
2:27 pm
MURPHY
December 16th, 2010
11:34 am
I will extend this offer to Patrick as well.
====================
ok then.name a more successful HC in the SEC.
.
1. The head of the NCAA said yesterday that there has never been a NC so that category does not apply
.
2. No other coach or team in the SEC has more bowl wins over last 8 bowls than Richt at 7
.
3. No SEC team or SEC coach has more top ten finished than Richt over last 8 years than Richt at 6
.
4. Only LSU has more SEC titles than Richt over last 8 years.
.
consider your self convinced.
patrick
December 16th, 2010
2:31 pm
speaking of Fla. UGA does not suit up each year to beat Fla. They suit up to win SEC titles….under Richts time only LSU has more….by 1.
.
also, UGA has wa winning record under Richt against EVERY team they played EXCEPT Fla. (and the single game against West Virginia)….Fla has losing records against 4 in the same time frame
.
But against ALA Richt is 3-1
.
Against Aub he is 4 of last five
.
Against GT he is 9-1
.
SC he is 7-3
.
Tenn he is 6-4
.
Need I go on?
Dawg
December 16th, 2010
2:44 pm
Patrick you are on drugs! Go back to bed with your chihuahua. The problem with your argument is how many East Championships has Richt won since he lost Donnan’s recruits.
Spokesman for the SEC East
December 16th, 2010
2:45 pm
Please everyone, listen to Patrick, please!! We hope Richt never leaves.
Matthews Staff
December 16th, 2010
2:47 pm
When Noshon and me played we should have won the SEC but bible study kept us from studying film.
ESPN Newswire
December 16th, 2010
2:49 pm
This just in: Patrick loves Richt so much he named his beloved Chihuahua Marky Mark.
patrick
December 16th, 2010
3:01 pm
Patrick you are on drugs! Go back to bed with your chihuahua. The problem with your argument is how many East Championships has Richt won since he lost Donnan’s recruits.
=================================
2007 he won the SEC east (co champions with Tenn) but finished second in the nation. None of donnans recruits were on that team. Oh by the way…finishing top 2 in the nation…..the highest ranking for UGA since 1980. No Donnan recruits were on that team. Now you go back to bed moron
patrick
December 16th, 2010
3:03 pm
Lets talk about his ability to coach….(no donnan recruits on the 2008 team) he finished top ten….with 10 wins….and a bowl win…AFTER LOSING 18 SCHOLLY PLAYERS TO SEASON ENDING INJURIES PRIOR TO GAME 3. Now thats coaching. Name another team to have that success with that attrition …that earlier in the year. You can….now go to bed.
patrick
December 16th, 2010
3:06 pm
He had a down year last year (2009). This year is not a down year….its a rebuilding one. New defense….freshman QB and UGA still managed 6 wins and the losses were by a combined ave of 7 points. 4 fumbles (not Richts fault) made the difference between 10 or 11 wins….to 6 wins. If you knew anything about football (you dont) you would not need me to explain this to you….simpleton
patrick
December 16th, 2010
3:08 pm
** Name another team to have that success with that attrition …that earlier in the year. You cant….now go to bed.**
observer
December 16th, 2010
3:08 pm
Wow, quite the exciting and insightful comments from Coach Valium. My heart is just racing with anticipation for the upcoming campaign. The drill is finished.
Rufus
December 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
Stop it, you guys. If it weren’t for a couple of lousy calls, we woulda been undefeated this year and headed for Glendale. And, so we lose AJ and the tall white kid. Big deal….we just re-load. Murray will be the All-American at QB next year, and Washaun runs for 2,000 yards and goes to the Heisman ceremony. I can’t wait……
BobbyDawg
December 16th, 2010
3:30 pm
Rufus — You are speaking my language. GO DAWGS!
AltamahaDawg
December 16th, 2010
3:30 pm
Here’s the deal Joey. They spent the entire offseason in the “when in doubt throw it to #8″ mode. Why do you think Durham, who had not really before been much more than a good hands possession guy, did so well in the long game early this year? He was standing in AJ’s spot. He was getting AJ’s plays. The ones AJ and Murray had spend month doing over and over and over. The big difference was that AJ adjusts his speed to let the ball hit him in stride, and Durham went as fast as he could then, sold out to made damn sure he made the catch, however ugly it might have to look.
So now, they will do the same thing for month, just to somebody else. King is a fine receiver, and has AJ like speed control. Wooten’s worst problem was the same as anyone in the line behind AJ. There are others. They aren’t going to throw the ball any less are they? It’s just a different guy. And maybe less YAC. And If that is good for Charles, I’m not so sure its such a less productive trade off.
Justin Houston got it. Other did not this year. But he wasn’t some freak of nature, he was just the right body type , speed and athletic ability. Some body else will get his reps. And clearly the defense as a whole was not going at full speed earlier in the year. I will trade One Justin Houston, for everybody else knowing what to do any day. Aside from that, a couple of years from now, you are going to be asking, what are we going to do without Jarvis.
Last spring the entire defense was literally standing on the field that first day as Grantham walked them through the process. No point of reference, no game experience in the 3-4. This spring those same guy are hitting day one working on getting good, and not just lined up in the right place.
BayouBengal
December 16th, 2010
3:37 pm
Let’s look—
How many of the top 20 recruits in Georgia will Richt get?
Will he end up filling the quota with what’s left in Ga after the other SEC powers are done picking off what they want and need?
If beating the Gators isn’t the #1 priority how many SEC championships will Ga win if they lose to the Gators every yr?
It appears the best Rb in Ga and possibly the best D player are going out of state–WHY?
Did UGA miss the boat letting the Gators get a native son–Muschamp?
Tough ?s to be facing in mid Dec before another at best 8-4 season.