What Mark Richt had to say at end-of-season news conference …
ATHENS — Mark Richt officially turned the page to 2011 at his end-of-season news conference Wednesday morning.
“Just want to start out by saying I’m glad 2011 is here,” Richt said. “I’m excited about that. Last season certainly was not anywhere close to what we expected or what we expect here, and it was certainly well below the standard of what Georgia football is all about. I understand that as much as anybody. I’m not happy with the way things went, but I do think in the process of going through what we went through, we’ll be better for it in 2011.”
Despite the team’s 6-7 record this past season, Richt said he has “a greater sense of excitement than I’ve had in a long time,” partly because of changes implemented in conjunction with new athletic director Greg McGarity that Richt said will free him from some administrative duties to spend more time focusing on football in 2011.
“In some ways, I feel like a first-year head coach,” Richt said. “Usually when you come in as the first-year head coach, the administration is coming to you and saying, ‘Coach, what do you need? What do you need to win?’ You wouldn’t think going into your 11th year you’d have that kind of feeling, but that’s what’s going on.
“Instead of me being the new guy, Mr. McGarity is the new guy. And as he has come in, we have had many conversations about what we need to get done to make this program the very best in the United States of America. That revives me; that rejuvenates me; that excites me in a big way.
“We’ve got some things that have been put in place and are being put in place that are going to make us better. And quite frankly things are being put in place that are going to help free me up to [spend] more time doing the things I love the most, which is study the game of football and … be on the cutting edge.”
Richt said director of player development John Eason, a former wide receivers coach, and administrative assistant Dave Van Halanger, a former director of strength and conditioning, will handle certain duties that previously fell on the head coach. Eason serves as the football program’s academic liaison, and Van Halanger heads a new mentoring program for the players.
Also, Richt said, “there are a lot of little things that crop up along the way that sometimes don’t get solved [or] sometimes take too long to solve in my opinion, but now the relationship that I have with Mr. McGarity is helping us expedite some of those things. . . . I am just spending less time messing around with things that Greg will be able to take off my plate from an administrative point of view.”
Richt, though, did not express any intention to take over as the Bulldogs’ play-caller.
“I’m not saying I’m taking over as the [offensive] coordinator or anything like that,” Richt said. “Mike Bobo is the coordinator; Mike Bobo is the quarterback coach, and Coach [Stacy] Searels is the running game coordinator. And they have done a great job . . . so I have confidence in those guys.
“The point I’m making is, I’m going to have the ability to have the time it takes to truly study the game of football, the trends and what’s going on, so a higher percentage of my time is going to be able to be used for that, which is exciting to me.”
Overall, Richt spoke with a confident tone as McGarity and several of Georgia’s associate athletic directors watched and listened.
“We’re not looking to blow anything up,” Richt said. “In my opinion, we are very close. I mean, how many teams have what would be considered a down season one year and the next year they are right there?”
He also stressed the importance of the recruiting class Georgia will sign on Feb. 2.
“You’ve got to get a boost from your recruiting class, your freshman class,” Richt said. “I’ve never been on a championship team that didn’t have guys step up and make a difference.”
– Tim Tucker
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727 comments Add your comment
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:51 pm
Bray will commit to UGA as a wideout, and Crowell as a running back, but the beef is going elsewhere. We just are not going to get any of the hosses and folks without he hosses means more losses.
Gatormeat
January 5th, 2011
7:52 pm
Only a fool would think the dogs will be in the NC game next year, or ever for that matter. You may not even make a bowl next year. Blowout loses to Boise, Florida, and Auburn are certain. Tenn and S Car are definite loses and you already have five. The chances are pretty good you will lose at least two of the remaining games so 5-7 is likely
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:54 pm
The best two players on the field is obvious, Clowney and the DB committed to Florida St. The Sunserni kid is going to be a good one too, but he will become a safety.
This game is geared toward the defense as both teams are loaded on that side of the ball.
Flat Tire on I-95 In Jacksonville
January 5th, 2011
7:55 pm
Getting those 5 stars recruits to come to UGA to sit the bench to learn the complicated play book that every oposing coach knows how to beat
Priceless
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:55 pm
Crowell returning kickoffs
NORRIS
January 5th, 2011
7:56 pm
Gatormeat?? you listed auburn in that line of losses for UGA.
without newton Auburn goes back to a 5-7 season theirself.
not so certain they will have anything at all next year.
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:56 pm
Florida won the Recruiting war last year, Alabama is stealing it from Texas this year, and where are our dogs? 16-20 depending on which service you pay attention to. Says alot about the staff.
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:57 pm
Norris, I agree, without Newton this past season Auburn would have been 8-4 at best.
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:58 pm
But then again we have not a very good job of winning the easy games or the tough games or the rivalry games.
Recruiting Hard
January 5th, 2011
7:58 pm
should have said “not done a very good job….”
SnoopDawg
January 5th, 2011
7:59 pm
DawgNation:
You will pay dearly for being so meek and demanding change. If Richt isn’t replaced now, the UGA football team will be lucky to win three games. That’s right, THREE GAMES. I don’t believe many actually understand the depth of ineptitude across the board at UGA football right now. It starts at the top and includes the entire staff and team. The the culture is totally zeroed out. Even if Richt is replaced in the next week, the program will take years to rebuild and with the inroad all our rivals have made into the state we may never be able to reclaim our historic position in the SEC.
So enjoy that koolaid….
squat
January 5th, 2011
8:00 pm
that dummy richt can’t land a 3 star …
khill
January 5th, 2011
8:02 pm
i went to the UCF game and from the get go i knew we where in trouble they ran out on the field there was no excitement then the coaching staff wouldnt let them go for it on the goal line that sucked the wind out of those players no trust we recruit in the top ten every year and they do nothing mike bobo should have went last year and after that last game he should have went this year for sure coach richt is way to loyal to his staff sure they scored alot of points this season but they did it too fast which meant that the defense had no time to rest we have no running game what so ever they recruit small runnin backs we need another big runnin back to get in the there and get physical and coach richt needs to show some emotion he needs to run out on the field with his hands up waving them up and down for the crowd theres no emotion at all in that football team and something has to change and it needs to start with the coaching staff
Gatormeat
January 5th, 2011
8:03 pm
There is a reason the dog players show no emotion, they realize how much they suck.
NORRIS
January 5th, 2011
8:05 pm
khill? do you know how to use periods to distinguish when and where you start a new thought? lol
sonny
January 5th, 2011
8:06 pm
I live near Orlando and UCF. As an avid Dog fan it is sickning to be beat by a commuter college and taking the heat from all their teacher grads!
NVDawg
January 5th, 2011
8:09 pm
Dickson certainly sounded like he has the IQ of a rock but I bet even he would have been able to grasp our oh so complicated “put zero pressure on the QB” defensive line scheme.
NORRIS
January 5th, 2011
8:10 pm
do we have any recruits on the radar at all?
NORRIS
January 5th, 2011
8:11 pm
we might not get anyone else. how scary is that?
mike
January 5th, 2011
8:13 pm
take a look , he said same bs last year but fired asst. coaches and hired another batch of bad ones…mike bobo yuck
NORRIS
January 5th, 2011
8:13 pm
another recruit another one that goes somewhere else…geez
NVDawg
January 5th, 2011
8:13 pm
I saw some WR in the game that gave a verbal to UGA. Too bad we won’t ever get the ball to him though, we’ll run it on 1st or 2nd and 15+ yards.
crabapplejoe
January 5th, 2011
8:19 pm
And then you have Stanford…..their team looks like the fans cheering for them….their athletes actually got accepted and compete academically….they will end up being third in the nation….their QB will be the No.1 overall pick in the draft….their RB was runner up in the Heisman last year (should have won it)…..their ‘H’ back (a “three star”) caught 6 passes for 175 yards (Orange Bowl record) and three TDs against the 4/5 star VT defense….and their coach is sought after by almost every NFL and college team with a vacancy. There are two different ways to build a program….Stanford shows you one model….UGA another….but the UGA fans would never allow Georgia to build on the Stanford model….pathetic.
NVDawg
January 5th, 2011
8:24 pm
Nah, we’ll just keep recruiting lazy entitled thugs while having a coaching staff that lacks the disciplinary skills to reign them in and get max effort out of them. It’s a formula that is clearly working very well.
squat
January 5th, 2011
8:37 pm
how can searels be in charge of something thats not there till it’s 2nd and 25 booboo and that idiot is 1 reason the O SUX..RICHT is the other reason..
Dawg
January 5th, 2011
8:40 pm
What a joke of a news conference. Georgia might win 4 or 5 games in 2011. I would have to pay someone to take my Georgia stuff. What a joke of a team and coaches.
squat
January 5th, 2011
8:42 pm
wish richt would leave now…how many other recruits could we loose.i know a half star punter that they could get…
Big Ugly
January 5th, 2011
8:47 pm
I’m inspired.
My ticket renewal form just went into the shredder.
CHUCK UGA
January 5th, 2011
8:54 pm
Mindless, meaningless drivel. Nothing will change in 2011 with Mikey Bobo, Bryan McClendon, Stacy Searels, Tony Ball, etc.
Whatever.
CHUCK UGA
January 5th, 2011
8:58 pm
Mikey Bobo doing a great job? So is Larry, Moe and Curly. Please. 3rd and 20…run a sprint draw with 165-pound Carlton Thomas. Nice call.
Big Ugly
January 5th, 2011
9:04 pm
Richt just hired “Peggy” from the credit card commercials to handle all press conferences.
In 2012 “Peggy” moves up to OC.
George O'Leary
January 5th, 2011
9:11 pm
Ya’ll want to play us again? Don’t go away mad, just ’cause we kicked your tails.
Really???
January 5th, 2011
9:16 pm
Just lost another recruit. At least Richt’s plate has less on it.
Fastdawg
January 5th, 2011
9:25 pm
“Big Ugly” that was a teriffic joke, just like the news conference, only yours was funny.
Letterman85
January 5th, 2011
9:26 pm
Thanks for the laugh big ugly. Definitely needed it.
One sad dawg
Letterman85
January 5th, 2011
9:28 pm
Anyone have a definition of great?
Nick
January 5th, 2011
9:31 pm
Once again, I say emphatically, FIRE STACY SEARELS!
HE SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS.
THE O-LINE AND RUNNING GAME HAS DONE SQUAT SINCE HIS ARRIVAL.
Letterman85
January 5th, 2011
9:33 pm
He’s done great
Letterman85
January 5th, 2011
9:39 pm
Despite, Go Dawgs
Q Bray
January 5th, 2011
9:40 pm
Wa Eaga Baby
dawg from a distance
January 5th, 2011
9:41 pm
Dream team was killed with nigthmare season!
Pathetic… no pick ups!
Now we desperately need Drew and Crowell. Seem to be fading fast!
Really???
January 5th, 2011
9:41 pm
gmcgarity@sports.uga.edu
If you havent expressed your concerns you need to.
dawg from a distance
January 5th, 2011
9:43 pm
Big Ugly that’s great on a not so great night. We couldn’t even recruit Peggy with the way things are lining up however…. one sad dawg night
Razor Ramone
January 5th, 2011
9:44 pm
Dawgs lost out on a defensive end to Alabama. If they lose out on Crowell then who exactly is these high school recruits that will make the difference next year Mr. Richt. Maybe you need to start recruiting better and have a less conservative game plan (like kicking field goals from the 3 yard line) and get tds in the red zone.
SUPERDAWG
January 5th, 2011
9:45 pm
Richt should sell fertilizer because he is knows how to spread s—
Razor Ramone
January 5th, 2011
9:46 pm
Did i just read that Bobo and Searels do a good job ? That’s the biggest lie I’ve read in years.
Razor Ramone
January 5th, 2011
9:49 pm
Hey yo, I was telling Nash that UGA footbal really sucks arse now. I got off the wagon and moved to Athens,Ga. and became a big UGA fan. You know me as Scott Hall.
SUPERDAWG
January 5th, 2011
9:56 pm
THANKS VANDY YOU ARE ONLY ONE THAT BELIEVES RICHT S—
NORRIS
January 5th, 2011
10:08 pm
now what? looks like we will sign a bunch of 2 star players. amazing…
Letterman85
January 5th, 2011
10:11 pm
Not so sure it’s a big loss with the two expected recruits. Got to hope our current Dawgs while backed in a corner will show some fight. GATA