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What Mark Richt had to say at end-of-season news conference …

10:18 am January 5, 2011, by Tim Tucker

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

CenterofMass

January 6th, 2011
2:08 pm

Put me in coach, with all due respect, you don’t have to be a coach to know that something is wrong with this program. Whether it’s football or another type of business, many of the same business principles can be applied. I’m afraid denial & the ostrich syndrome are not adequate. It’s obvious that many of our “symptoms”-arrests, lack of effort in the bowl, etc.-are just like a canary in the coal mine. I like MR as a person & like his calm demeanor but that doesn’t qualify him to be a head coach. Unfortunately, most personnel on this team (and this includes many players) have reached their level of incompetency.

buckeyedawg

January 6th, 2011
2:49 pm

you people are morons!!!!!!! when someone says it will give them more time to study the game, i think cmr is going to study his team, make those changes with the coaches that need work and help direct them on the improvements they need to make the dawgs better. he is not going to downgrade his staff to you, a smart person deals with problems behind closed doors.

what of it?

January 6th, 2011
3:00 pm

What fu@king “things” is he referring to?

Mike Bobo’s done a great job, really? I’d hate to see what a poor job looks like.

What the hell has be been doing for 11 years if not studying the game of football. I would think that’s a prerequisite to a head coaching position. I wonder how my client would react if I told him after losing his case, “well I finally have time to study the practice of law.”

huffsleeper

January 6th, 2011
3:51 pm

Richt has totally lost his way. He doesn’t have a clue what to do to right his ship. He is a decent man but McGarity and who ever is pulling his strings is delaying the inevitable and will cause all Georgia fans to suffer through additional imcompetance, lack of discipline, unorganization and mediocrity. I won’t be there next season. Its too painful.

Manson Clancy

January 6th, 2011
3:59 pm

People should take time to go online and read Erk Russell’s letter to the 1980 Georgia Football Team.The problem with Georgia Football has been lack of intensity and passion. I do not believe a more academic approach will be fruitful.

A few thoughts
:
Mark Twain
“Its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog”

Gen. Geo S. Patton
” An army is a team. It lives, sleeps and fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of BS”

” You are never beaten until you admit it”

Thomas Paine
“Lead, Follow or get out of the way”

GIVE ME A BREAK

January 6th, 2011
4:01 pm

How much more embarrassing can it get for UGA fans?

Stupid a@@ Mark Richt

January 6th, 2011
4:27 pm

If Mr underachiever was all that and a great evaluator we wouldnt be in the mess we are in. He may be the worst coach in Georgia History!

RED DOG 77

January 7th, 2011
12:29 am

Stupid…………And where did you say you coached ?

RED DOG 77

January 7th, 2011
12:41 am

Calhoundawg………..Is a damn good DOG !!!!……..I guess all the “bummers” out there have jumped on the Texas Longhorn bandwagon………oops ! The mighty Longhorns are going through a rough spot themselves………Mabe Michigan ? the winningest program in all of college football……..well it would seem they are going through a down cycle too………Something tells me all you Richt haters out there have dumped at least one wife and mabe a couple kids because things didn’t go well for a time………….This is college football you fools, and one absolute in college football [major, that is] is you can count on cycles…………….grow-up people………..RED

crossdawg

January 7th, 2011
9:56 am

CMR & Booboo must be joined at the hip or somewhere. He apparently loves him more than he did Martinez.

dawginduluth

January 7th, 2011
1:48 pm

Another $2.8 mill down the drain.

dawginduluth

January 7th, 2011
1:50 pm

Red has one of those foam hands with four fingers. You can find him in the stands yelling, “We’re number four, we’re number four!”

You are part of the problem Red.

dawginduluth

January 7th, 2011
1:55 pm

I like the we are “really close” comment. What BS!

Hawaii Dawg

January 7th, 2011
4:06 pm

Wow…I am at a loss for words…

DAWG FAN 4 EVER

January 7th, 2011
4:18 pm

All of this disfunction of holding onto a “good man” and settling for less than mediocrity (actually declining results)instead of going after “a GOOD COACH who happens to also produces WINNING RESULTS” is killing our mascots! UGA VII rip and please pray for UGA VIII, No offense to Russ, he’s also “a damn good dawg”

gtb

January 7th, 2011
10:41 pm

we need someone to win football games not souls.

ckgator

January 7th, 2011
10:53 pm

The AJC should move all UGA content to a new section on their web site and call it, “Lamintations of the Damned.”

Go Gators!

stendek

January 7th, 2011
11:12 pm

I have been screaming to all that will listen that Mark Wretch is clueless! Mike Dodo doing a wonderful job? Six points in bowl game. Is that wonderful to you? Anyone? No need for me to scream that the reverand is out of touch with Bulldog Nation. His comments sadly speak for themselves! More disaster in a few short months. Guaranteed! My donations to UGA? Checkbook lost. Sorry. Maybe when new coach who WANTS to succeed is hired it will turn up! Offensive line DID quit in bowl game. CANNOT BLAME THEM AFTER FG SERVED AS VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FROM HEAD COACH! STENDEK

thewhisperer

January 8th, 2011
2:34 am

there is always yours mine and the truth. lots of comments and feelings are free but the truth will be costly in due time.

gadawg1979

January 8th, 2011
8:13 am

here we go again if no changes are being made then Boise will put 50 on us…what a way to start the year…play calling to predictable…

gadawg1979

January 8th, 2011
8:17 am

wlle at least if Munson was still calling the games the play by play would have been interesting in this year…WOW i miss Munson…even in a bad year it was worth listening to the radio when he was there…so i guess the players hearts left when Munson did too…my heart sure did

jose

January 8th, 2011
8:35 am

what a bunch of cry baby wuss bags we have here. I seem to remember in 1979 we had a losing season and then the next year we won the national championship. Give the man a break. You cant force all the good players in the state to play in Athens. Did anybody know at 17 or 18 what or where they wanted to do(other than hang out with their buddies )? Just simmer down now, ya hear? Get a grip on reality

HerschelPug

January 8th, 2011
10:08 am

I love Fran Tarkenton because he calls it like it is. If Richt has not been studying football the past ten years, what has he been doing? Cutting Edge…yeah right.

Jborodawg

January 8th, 2011
11:34 am

Freed up? Freed up from what duties? I mean, he already has assistant coaches and grad assists and admin staff; what’s he been doing? I mean, he SHOULD be looking at classroom/grades/progress and arrest records, etc etc etc. That’s the HC’s job. Freed up? Concentrate on football? Gee whillickers.

87RxDawg

January 9th, 2011
11:31 am

I seriously think, in looking at his mannerisms and total lack of affect no matter what happens on the field, and now coupled with that repetitive nonsensical rhetoric, I’ve gone from CMR biggest fan, to maybe his time really has come, to now worry. He is looking more and more like a person with medical issues, at least some clinical depression. I think he is a great man and I swear there is no malice in this comment. Does any other medical guys see what I’m seeing or am I just searching for a reason for this madness. I hope if the team medical staff or Mrs. Richt notice anything they will approach this delicate situation. I for one will be praying for him. Anyone else see this??? Seriously!

Camden Mark

January 9th, 2011
8:42 pm

3 down seasons in a row, we should win the NC next year by Marks reasoning

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