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
maddawg
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
Didn’t we average some 30 points or more per game this year???? Sounds like someone knew what they were doing?? As for the running back’s coach, you can only work with what you have. Do you think South Carolina’s RB coach all of sudden got real good?? Heck no, it was because he had a running back that could run. Use your heads guys.
All hope is gone
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
“Richt resigns and leaves UGA to coach his son at Mars Hill College in NC.”
It’s cruel to get people’s hopes up like that.
bruce mac=catherine richt
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
I am home honey!
NORCROSS DAWG
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
NOT 2 MANY PEOPLE KNOW,,BUT THE REASON THERE IS A NEW S&C COACH IS MAINLY BECAUSE VAN HOWSER HAS HAD QUITE A FEW HEALTH PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,,AND WANTED TO PLAY A DIFFERENT ROLE IN THE UGA PROGRAM,,,I DO KONW THAT COACH T AND COACH KASAY WILL LIGHT INTO THIER ASS,,,WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE!
Marine DI
January 5th, 2011
12:06 pm
Get the incoming squad over to Parris Island for Spring Practice. Weed out the marshmallows.
Semper FI.
Big Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
Fire Bobo now and do whatever it takes to get Rich Rod. Fiery, passionate and will add some of the personality we had with VanGorder and have not hat lately.
Henry "The Manuver" Heimlich
January 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
“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.”
So, Richt has been the academic liaison and mentor? Really? His record there is worse than the 6-7 record on the field! I guess Caleb King failed to make 5 academic meetings with the HEAD FREAKING COACH!! Really? REALLY? ROFLMAO!!
at least we're better than tech.
January 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
I couldn’t help but laugh at this statement by Richt: “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.” This really gets to the heart of the matter, which is that Richt has no idea what is wrong with the program and even less of an idea of how to fix it.
bobthefirechief
January 5th, 2011
12:09 pm
Enter your comments here Let’s see. Coach Richt makes 2+ million a year but needs something to re-motivate him.
Coach Bobo and Searles have done an awesome job and I you have great confidence in them =’s 4th and inches, meaningless bowl game, not ranked in the top 40 in the country and you kick a field goal.
Coach Richt you truly do not get it (in my view you never have and never will, you should have never been hired but Dooley did not call me), you need to go and you need to go today.
Mr. Mcgarity by allowing Coach Richt to stay in my view means you are ok with being mediocre so here is what I offer you.
I can coach as bad as Richt has for the last 3 years and will do it for 10 % of his yearly salary thus freeing up money to be spent on posting bail for the THUGA players, and to make more plaques when you have premature-typealations for victories in games you were never in once the kickoff took place. FIRE RICHT NOW and hire me, at least i can act like I care on the sidelines while being out coached and out played on the field. WWJD What Would Jim Donnan do lol.
Snoop Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:09 pm
Bruce Mac, you are an enabler to this morass.
PositiveDawg, you must have come up positive on the urinalysis.
I have seen the enemy, and we are them.
Snoop Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:10 pm
The Bolsheviks are in our midsts…
mdawg
January 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
Bobo must go
the dawgs must average 500 yards offense per game
have 1 running back that rushes for 1300+ yards… sorry a 1000 yard rusher does not cut it.. he must average 100 per game.
ealey and caleb king should be 4th and 5th string running backs at the most
who is our receivers?
it is a shame that UGA has become the loveable football version of the chicago cubs. when was the last time that the cubs won a chapmionship?
its time to throw love out the window… when UGA loses i do not love anyone
UGA wins comes before love, comes before god and everything else
Snoop Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
Bruce Mac is a Gator grad…
Big Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
I would also like to add that UGA will not get any more of my money until changes occur. We have had season tickets for 12 years, but will not renew this year. I would rather take my family on vacation than sit and suffer through the pain of watching that from the stadium almost every Saturday at NOON!!!
Chevy
January 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
Mark Richt should stick to what he’s good at. Which is looking pretty on the sidelines and doing his Ford commercials. He has no heart, no fire or aggression, and does not have the respect of his players. UGA football needs a complete make over. Starting with the HC.
DOUBLE G
January 5th, 2011
12:15 pm
You people obviously don’t run a business. Chastise, ream a guy out, burn a new one on an assistant, but you don’t do it in public. You’d all love to see it, and maybe love to do it yourself, but as the boss, Richt can’t, and shouldn’t do it in public.
As unacceptable as UGA’s performance has been for the last two years, Richt’s management of his employees has been mostly exemplary.
Just continue to whine – some of you are good at it.
Paul N Destin
January 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
You guys bringing Coach Bryant in the conversation need some help! Bama was 6-5 in 69 and 6-5 in 70 due to Coach Bryant was going to take the Miami Fins job and he let recruiting slack. Once he make the call to stick with Bama then you know the rest of that story. Please don’t compare Mark with Coach Bryant if you wish to be considered as serious with an arguement.
at least we're better than tech.
January 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
I second what big dawg just said. I live in Charleston SC, but still go to 2-3 games a year. I will not be going to any UGA games in 2011. I will not be buying any UGA-themed merchandise or apparel, either.
Mark Richt had an affair with Helen Hunt
January 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
Oh wait a second that is actually just him. I am sorry Mark.
Douglas
January 5th, 2011
12:17 pm
First of all, I like Ray Goff — he did a lot for UGA as a QB — he recruited great — he was just not a great HC. So I’m not being critical of him except that Richt is starting to sound a lot like him: “We’ve got to work harder.” Instead, Richt is saying: “We are going to get better.” Not much difference and he will be terminated next year because he will fail. What do you expect McGarity to say: We are going to get rid of him. Let us have a great recruiting class this year and then fire Richt next year — we know that he nor his assistants can no longer coach players up.
PLS
January 5th, 2011
12:18 pm
I’m sure all the negativity coming from you trolls is helping our recruiting.
Jake
January 5th, 2011
12:20 pm
You guys sound like whining gator fans. Look obliviously with CMR being relieved of some of the administrative responsibilities it will give him more time to be involved in game planning strategy. It looks like this will free him up to do that. I think UGA has the athletes and coaching staff to be very competitive in 2011 with these minor tweaks. You don’t have to blow up everything just tweak it. Maybe what McGarity is putting in place is the same model that was used at UF that got them 2 National Titles in 6 years. Give it chance.
PositiveDawg
January 5th, 2011
12:20 pm
In his 10th year Vince Dooley’s record was 6-6 overall in 1974 and lost the Tangerine bowl. Was 5-6 in 1977 and didn’t go to a bowl and 6-5 in 1979 and didn’t go to a bow. We all know what happened in 1980 and he coached for 24 years at UGA. Quit moaning you arm chair coaches and try coaching yourself. You wouldn’t last 5 min. before you ran home crying for mommy.
1992 Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:21 pm
Really…. we’re that close huh? Bozo and Searles doing a wonderful job too!!! Yeah Right. Please McGarity, fire this moron. I can’t believe that after all that has transpired, he has the nerve to say “we are close”. We are close allright, close to completely bottoming out. He has NO CLUE of what the problem is, and sure has no idea how to fix something that he can’t even see. I’m done…. you can have my 2011 season tickets, i can’t support this circus anymore.
Mama is Calling
January 5th, 2011
12:22 pm
As a SEC fan I like all Teams from our conference do well, put 10 teams in bowl games, capture 2 spots in the BCS bowls and win BCS titles as we have done for the past 4 or so years. But folks this current staff at UGA has to rank right up there as one of the most inept core group of coaches ever assembled.
It is said a great coach hire good assistants, instructs them on how he wants to run his program and lets the assistants coach the players, as he coaches the coaches. Surrounding yourself with good coaches is what has to be done. The problem at UGA is the Head Coach himself has no drive, motivation, is not focused, and football is no longer his priority. Or it seems those are in place( as I personally do not know-just observations) and he has not surrounded himself with WINNERS.
UGA had a schedule that would have gotten them at least 8 wins up until Boise St. was added, now after an early early season loss it will snowball into more losses as confidence in young players will carry you to additonal wins, early losses will start finger pointing and blame among youngsters.
Hoping it gets turned around but the situation is tenable at best.
Mark Richt had an affair with Helen Hunt
January 5th, 2011
12:22 pm
Jake, keep dreaming. Foley fired the Zooker and he still owned us. He he was following the Florida Model he would have fired Richt before the Florida game and hired Muschamp!!!
GT Fan ...
January 5th, 2011
12:23 pm
Mark Richt is a great human being, and I’m just having a little fun here ….
The REAL reason Richt is delegating duties is b/c Ford has added a few more F-150 models, and needs Richt and his “GO DAAAWGs” wife to do the commercials.
Hey honey, say Go Dawgs … classic TV.
bruce mac
January 5th, 2011
12:23 pm
Go ahead and pick the pepper out of the fly sh__ and be negative for the next 12 monthes if you choose. Makes me no difference. I will hope and believe that CMR will turn it around. And by the way, this blog has no effect on any actions in Athens GA.
ICMIII
January 5th, 2011
12:23 pm
CMR = FoC (Full of Crap)
Jeff
January 5th, 2011
12:24 pm
CMR had time to reflect on the season and this is his response. This season was a train wreck and last season wasn’t much better. What will CMR have to say when this recruiting class he is touting goes elsewhere? I normally begin counting down the days once the season ends until it begins anew but this coming year brings a sense of dread.
Tired of the nonsense
January 5th, 2011
12:25 pm
GT Fan, unfortunately most of us Dawgs hyperventalate when they hear Go Dawgs on a commercial. We should be paying Ford instead of Ford paying us.
Bruce Mac unfortunately you are 100% correct.
January 5th, 2011
12:26 pm
And by the way, this blog has no effect on any actions in Athens GA.
Because they know plenty of tools like you still buy his crap.
Mama is Calling
January 5th, 2011
12:26 pm
Why does anyone think Muschamp is going to be this great Head Coach? How many GREAT assistant coaches have taken Head Coaching jobs and fell flat on their faces? A Ton. The talent alone in Florida is good for 7 wins each year, 8 wins with an average schedule and 9 plus wins with a soft schedule and games against your best opponents at home.
There are no guarantees in College Football except at some point your best players run out of eligibility, go pro, flunk out, or get into trouble.
Muschamp has not proven anything yet as a Head Coach.
If UGA had been smart, they would have kept Grantham, fired Richt and brought in a coach who slings the ball around, spreads the field and will kick players off the team immediately if arrested and charged with a felony.
keepcmr
January 5th, 2011
12:27 pm
Thanks Coach Richt. Looking forward to you proving these haters wrong. God Bless.
Bruce Mac unfortunately you are 100% correct.
January 5th, 2011
12:27 pm
WTF?
kevin
January 5th, 2011
12:28 pm
Richt says, “In some ways, I feel like a first-year head coach”…yeah and you’ve been coaching like one too–one without testicles.
Reality
January 5th, 2011
12:28 pm
Mark Richt has earned the right to get it right. At least one more year. Greg McGarity has been part of an ultrasuccessful program at FL, so he needs time to getthe right things in place. I’m a season ticket holder who has voiced my displeasure with the program. Now I’m willing to see what these guys can do. Then, we’ll see….
1992 Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:28 pm
Bruce Mac…. it’s not fly sh__ , it’s Horse sh___. The same Horse sh__ we have been watching, and having to be fed by this inept coaching staff since 2007 when the wheels fell off the wagon after the Hawaii game. He’s lifeless, clueless, emotionless, but very well paid. Can you blame him for not quitting?
bruce mac
January 5th, 2011
12:29 pm
So who is the tool? You that post ignorant venom ad nauseum or I that actually do something positive for the University?
Mama is Calling
January 5th, 2011
12:29 pm
Matter of a Fact, who knows what kind of AD McGarity is going to be? No one.
He could end up being a horrible AD. So far he has yet to impress anyone.
If he was smart he would have made his mark on the programs as soon as the scoreboard said 10-6 and 00:00 on it.
CTBULLDAWG
January 5th, 2011
12:30 pm
CMR has to go. Fire the preacher NOW!
He has no clue as to the problem…it is HIM
azdawg
January 5th, 2011
12:30 pm
Lord help us because from what I just read above CMR definitely is no longer the answer to GA’s football problems. He is the problem! IN PAST TWO YEARS GA HAS LOST 12 games. To say his OC and OL and running game coord coach have done good jobs is to say the fan base and most of the media are idiots in demanding change from non productive staff positions. How McGarity can sit there and listen to this bull tells me he’s part of the problem too. Forget about getting the best players to come to GA after hearing the same trash. Wouldn’t be surprised to see some recruits decommit.
“study the game of football and … be on the cutting edge.” means what ??? If it means ditching the current playbook and watching TV and copying the plays other successful teams run its too little too late.
Sorry, but to most of us folks and the college FB media its going to take more than an excited CMR to return GA to the SEC elite.
DIT
January 5th, 2011
12:31 pm
@mdawg – UGA wins comes before love, comes before god and everything else
You’re truly clueless if you believe that. Please tell me that you said that out of frustration. Nothing should come before God….. nothing!
keepcmr
January 5th, 2011
12:34 pm
Fortunately these guys dont make any decisions in Athens.
Glenn
January 5th, 2011
12:34 pm
Mark Richt has morphed into Mr. McGoo.
Georgia
January 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
Stop whinning dawgs fans.. how quick you forget what richt did to UGA from 2001… He absolutely deserves the chance to reload and try for 2011 with a new defense in place.. new recruits to fit that defense and Bobo has his big ups and downs.. but he is learning.. Richt/bobo both young coaches respectively show some patience. McGarity is also big for UGA and it will show dividends this year. Bad year all in all but Georgia was very close to winning several more than they did.
GADAWG000001
January 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
blah, blah, blah, same thing after every loss, same thing for the last several years, My Team, My Alma Mater, the under performing, underachieving UGA football program. God forbid we get someone to Turn out team into a team that people fear to play–Remember those days?
I do, at least I used to.
ol' balls coach
January 5th, 2011
12:35 pm
McGarrity – do you really stand by those comments by CMR?
Every other SEC School fan
January 5th, 2011
12:36 pm
keepcmr..you are right…google “the most powerful boosters in college sports” and see who names come up. UGA has two representatives in the group.
MONEY, Money, mONEY MONEY MONEY….iTS A CRIME…
BufordKing
January 5th, 2011
12:39 pm
Only agree with one statement that Richt made – Recruiting is key!!!
Other than that ……. Like I said earlier, We had more arrests this year than wins or points scored against UCF.
Enough Said!