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
Auburn Rules
January 5th, 2011
1:40 pm
Hey Gator fans,
Don’t cha just love running Georgia fans off of their own blog….they are so easy, just like their women.
cb
January 5th, 2011
1:40 pm
Little Mark is still getting on the job training; hopefully in another 10 years he will have a clue. If you think McGarrity is going to fire him, you are delusional. Just sit back and enjoy the potential of beating Vanderbilt and Kentucky; that will be our big games.
cmdawg99
January 5th, 2011
1:40 pm
The first step to recovery is admitting where you are. I didn’t hear any of that. Ex. the complement to booboo and company?????? Why study now? Thats like working for a company for 10 years and finding out your about to be layed-off and you tell your manager”im going to start studying about whats going on and being more efficient and up to date. I think most people would know what the result of that conversation would be. any way studying is not the answer. CMR you know what to do. Sounds like you got one more year. Do what any leader would do on any ship . CALL the Play. Right or wrong Call the Play. This is your ship to correct.
Jiggy Smaha
January 5th, 2011
1:40 pm
They have done a great job with the running game? Seriously?
2011 is a lost season before we even get started.
Auburn Rules
January 5th, 2011
1:42 pm
How good is Mark Richt, he recruited a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback as a TIGHT END…Great evaluator of talent that boy is.
Red 'n Black dawg
January 5th, 2011
1:43 pm
As a long-time Georgia supporter and as one who has stood in support of Coach Richt throughout the last two seasons when so many have serious reservations about supporting him, I understand that Coach Richt can and will not air the “dirty laundry” regarding the program current state in the media. I am glad to hear that he is going to be able to focus more on the job of coaching our football team and that he continues to be excited, or in his words “rejuvenated” reagrding his leadership of our program. As a 30+ year high school coach, I understand that there will be cycles of ups and downs in all programs from high school to college to the pros. Any educated sports enthusiast can readily verify or already knows that without any doubt. It does not make it any easier for us a die-hard Georgia fans … we very often fall into the category of the “what have you done for us lately” syndrome. Now, we should always have high expectations because that is the only way that we are going to be able to continually strive for the highest possible success; however, we must also always temper that with a good dose of reality. All that being said, I sat in Memphis and watched with shear disgust the total lack of enthusiasm and intensity displayed by our football team and our coaches. I can handle losing as long as we play with our highest intensity and desire and we get beat by a better team or a team that has a great day on the field. Such was not the case last Friday afternoon. To me, the game, beyond the lack of overall effort, just exposed some serious problems that Coach Richt must address: (1) despite the fact that we had 7 straight games when we scored 30+ points this season, (a) we are much to predictable on offense with very little imagination and diversity and that has been the case since Mike Bobo has started calling the offense; (b) our offensive line has vastly underachieved under Stacy Searels and can not consistently block any opponents in the run game nor protect the QB in the pass game; (c) our running backs are very average at best and this has further exposed our lack of ability to block up front (our running game’s success with a back like Moreno was a mirage that we were opening huge holes to run in); (d) our passing game is not diverse enough in routes and reads to take advantage of the variety of coverages and schemes we see by opposing defenses. I like Bobo as a quaterback coach but not as a play-caller; I feel that we need to find a much better offensive line coach; we need to recruit or use (i.e. Ken Malcolm) much better backs as well as better offensive linemen … like we see at other top level SEC schools. Defensively, I felt we made some very positive strides under Grantham this year, although I felt we did not really attack people as much as I had anticipated that we would outof the 3-4 scheme. Our defense was left on the field way too long in many of our games … we must do a better job of time of possession and scoring efficiency (TDs, not FGs). In a nutshell, when Richt was calling plays, we were much more diverse on offense and much more successful and that helped our defense and kept opposing defenses off balance. I am not suggesting that Richt necessarily go back to calling plays although I would not be opposed to that scenario; however, we muct drastically overhaul our offensive staff and philosophy in order to get back to the top once again. I hope that Coach Richt is willing to make the tough decisions that need to be made in order to get us back to the top of the SEC and, conversely,, the national college football world.
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
1:43 pm
I love gainesvegas! It has great diversity, you have the cheese balls from the south part of the state, then you have the jersey boys, the tractor pulls from the middle part of the state, and you have great beater and jort outlets
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
1:44 pm
matthew stafford
Auburn Rules
January 5th, 2011
1:46 pm
Why are we having an influx of former Georgia fans now wearing Blue and Orange?
They must be getting smarter.
LM
January 5th, 2011
1:48 pm
How much coaching experience do any of you whiners have?
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
1:49 pm
hs student from ga dont be said you can get into Auburn. New did, that is hope you can believe in
Jmiicey
January 5th, 2011
1:51 pm
If he is such a good Christian, he should do what is right and resign.
Go Dawgs!
January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm
Disapointing, but it is what it is.
For what it’s worth, here’s what I think he should have done:
1. I think Bobo has value as a QB coach, and if he’s worried about hurting his feelings, give him a fluff title. Asst. Head Coach/QB Coach
2. Hire Ralph Friedgen to be OC. We all know first hand he’s a great OC and our offense would definitely score points, plus he has a house at Lake Oconee so it would be easy for him to jump right in.
3. Fire R.Garner, his time has past, and I just don’t think the man does his homework on players. We have too many GOOD players that WANT to be Dawgs that don’t even get a look and wind up coming back to haunt us somewhere down the road.
4. CMR -make the right “buddy” hire and call Randy Shannon and make him your Recruiting coordinator. He’s not much of an x’s and o’s guy, but that guy can flat out recruit and he has a STRONG pipline to all that s.fl talent, and while having to recruit in a big city area like Miami he knows how to relate to and reach the Atlanta area talent.
As someone else noted the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting new results.
I’m curious what people would think if Richt made the above moves.
tww
January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm
Ralph Friedgren for OC. right time, right man!
Andy in Blairsville
January 5th, 2011
1:53 pm
Richt’s obviously a Sunday Christian or he would have resigned by now.
Georgia loses, Fl wins, AU wins, UA wins
January 5th, 2011
1:53 pm
How is it that the three schools around UGA is in title games and UGA is still lagging so far behind?
Georgia loses, Fl wins, AU wins, UA wins
January 5th, 2011
1:54 pm
Dabo is going to hire The Fridge in Clemson.
ugab
January 5th, 2011
1:54 pm
The fans think MR has been saying the same ole comments at the end of every season for the last 3 to 4 years!! It is embarrassing to be a Dawg fan these days. Even the small colleges play better football with less talent. EVERY YEAR IT IS THE SAME SH”t.
Andy in Blairsville
January 5th, 2011
1:54 pm
The SEC left UGA behind 5 years ago and it’s only getting worse.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
January 5th, 2011
1:55 pm
Mike Smith:
Mike, the defense didn’t come close to what the offense did this year….The last game was a bad one, QB played scared like he did vs. Florida, but we scored over 30 points a bunch of times…That ought to win for you….Defense, except against a freshman QB from Central Florida, was a total bust…Got to get a runningback if you’re ever gonna have a running game….One like Arkansas had last night….
lazydawg
January 5th, 2011
1:56 pm
C’mon Man!
I have had enough already and it seem’s most of the Bulldog Nation has to.
ugab
January 5th, 2011
1:57 pm
IT STARTS IN THE TRENCHES!!!!DID ANYONE SEE THE SUGAR BOWL? THEM BOYS WHERE COMING OFF THE LINE FOR OHIO AND ARKNASAS. HELL OF A GAME.PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE
Richard Dawson
January 5th, 2011
1:58 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT.
Jmiicey
January 5th, 2011
1:58 pm
Georgia recruits 5 and 4 star athletes and coaches them to be 2 star athletes.
Andy in Blairsville
January 5th, 2011
2:00 pm
Yes, I’m an Idiot too!
Dawglasville
January 5th, 2011
2:01 pm
Is it true that Damon and Richt didn’t see eye to eye? Is is possible that Damon piled a bunch of extra crap on him? I’m not taking shots, I liked Damon before he screwed the proverbial pooch. I just wanted to know what people thought.
TN Jeff
January 5th, 2011
2:01 pm
Why do I feel like I’m being offered a great deal on some marsh land in Florida? I’m not buying it – Richt hasn’t been the same since he gave up the play calling duties & his subborness is gonna cost him again.
Play calling like driving the 90 plus yards against a Conference USA team & running the ball for a short gain on 3rd down & then rather than following through on a commitment to make an effort to score, settling for a field goal & set the stage for an offensive juggernaut (very offensive to watch I might say).
Play calling like 2nd down & 23 & running off tackle. Followed by 3rd down & 20 & attempting a screen pass which for some reason neither Richt nor Bobo have figured out that Murray & this offensive line are pathetic at selling & implementing successfully (this was the case the ENTIRE year).
January has become repleat with empty promises – seems I remember assurances that the off-field problems were going to end last January.
That house & great deal are sinking in the marsh much like the hopes for things turning around at UGA under this regime.
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
2:02 pm
you want GA to be like ark and Ohio state? Heck most of the SEC could have played in a BCS game every year if it played in the Soft 10. Dont ever use ark as an example
ugab
January 5th, 2011
2:03 pm
WELL DAWG FANS, WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TOO.. BOBO IS STILL HERE. SEAREALS IS STILL HERE. GARNER DL COACH IS STILL HERE. RB COACH A FORMER WR IS STILL HERE
Brock
January 5th, 2011
2:03 pm
name 2 professions that feed you the biggest lines of BS.
A salesman and a preacher. Sound familiar?
Honey? say go dawgs. still laughing at that one.
student
January 5th, 2011
2:03 pm
blah blah blah blah blah
He’ll keep these vague answers coming as long as we’re dumb enough to pay him 3 million a year.
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
2:03 pm
what would you have run? let me guess, i would have PASSED OR RUN THE BALL,
Holy cow
January 5th, 2011
2:04 pm
Richt is great, can’t you see.
FLA DAWG
January 5th, 2011
2:04 pm
So Bobo and Searles will still be on staff next season……………Good God Could It Get Any Worse!?
Yet another wasted season awaits us Dawg Nation.
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
2:05 pm
I GUESS SABAN WAS An idiot for hiring searels, and Auburn for trying to hire him and garner away
potatodawg
January 5th, 2011
2:05 pm
Haven’t we heard this before. I seem to remember that when he stopped calling play’s and gave that job to Bobo, he would have more time to focus on the teams needs as a whole, and also he could fire everyone up because he couldn’t get emotional when calling plays. This is soon coming to a head with the fans.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
January 5th, 2011
2:07 pm
Auburn Rules:
ONLY TIME THE TIGERS ARE GOOD IS WHEN THEY HAVE CHEATED….THEY BOUGHT THE BEST PLAYER MONEY COULD BUY AND HE HAS PERFORMED WELL FOR THEM, BUT JUST LIKE BEFORE THEY WILL GET CAUGHT….HARD TO HIDE THAT KIND OF MONEY….NCAA IS BIG DISAPPOINTMENT….LETTING KIDS PLAY IN BOWL GAMES WHO HAVE BROKEN THE RULES, WHAT A JOKE….AND IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT SCAM KNEW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT OLE DAD WAS COOKING UP WITH THE MONEY, I GOT OCEANFRONT PROPERTY TO SELL YOU IN ARIZONA….NCAA IS NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THIS LIE, EITHER….THEY JUST DON’T WANT TO MESS UP THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, SAME AS THEY DIDN’T WANT TO RUIN THE SUGAR BOWL GAME FOR THE SUGAR BOWL FOLKS….THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED AT AUBURN BEFORE, SO NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED…..BUT THE OTHER SHOE WILL DROP WHENEVER THE NCAA GET AROUND TO IT…..NCAA OWES UGA AND AJ GREEN AN APOLOGY, AJ’S DAD SOLD HIS JERSEY, NOT AJ, SO NOW IT IS ALRIGHT….ALL THE ATHLETE HAS TO SAY NOW IS, “GOSH, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT MY DAD WAS DOING…DID HE REALLY DO THAT???”
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
2:07 pm
seemed to work that year, didnt it, didnt mind wearing black and beating the mess out of auburn and june jones
w s
January 5th, 2011
2:08 pm
w s
January 5th, 2011
11:49 am
How about win more games than you have players arrested, maybe no arrest. Get players that have heart to play for UGA instead of how many stars they have by there name.. Discipline would also be great for this team and teach the fundamentals of blocking, tackling, cover, 100% effort on every down instead of constant let down. Grantham, give him time to get the wright players for the scheme. Bo Bo has had his chance needs to go or (Qb coach). Coach Richt, beat Fl, win 10 games or so, go to a BCS bowl next season to save your job. The O-Line was the biggest let down for me this season. UGA football is in a state shame. 4th and inches in a Bowl game, Field Goal, Really!!! GREAT TEAMS SCORE TOUCHDOWNS! Moving personnel within the program makes it look like your doing something, but your not. What a sad year, all these so called top recruiting classes and it cant get put on the field.. Glad you NOW get to study football after all these years..
jay
January 5th, 2011
2:10 pm
He’s as upset as anybody, but he’s the only one who can do something about it.
irondawg
January 5th, 2011
2:10 pm
i guess we could be excited to be like fsu and have an “ok” record in the ACC and beat Carolina, yes, weird year we you are wishing to be fsu and excited about beating carolina
Water Girl Wants to Know....
January 5th, 2011
2:11 pm
“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.”
“Hey Coach! Water Girl wants to know…What EXACTLY are these “things” you speak of that will make the team better?”
Mike Bobo 17 INT
January 5th, 2011
2:11 pm
That’s all anyone has ever done in Athens for the past 30 years is talk, so business as usual. Other programs fire their coaches for not performing, Athens extends contracts.
Bubba Russell
January 5th, 2011
2:12 pm
Atlanta is a ghetto. hows that traffic thing coming along. too many stupid yankees and transplants. then you got that mid-town freak show. havent met one person who left that misses it. lets not forget the Joke by Coke. what a dump
BG
January 5th, 2011
2:13 pm
Richt will turn things around. McGarity is a huge upgrade from our previous AD. McGarity will help Richt get things done to have more success.
cmdawg99
January 5th, 2011
2:13 pm
maybe we should wear bright yellow shoes, then we will LOOK really fast.
Flat Tire on I-95 In Jacksonville
January 5th, 2011
2:13 pm
Thats all nice but
When you have too many arrests
Predictable play calling
Players needing uniform changing and beard growing to be motivated to play at UGA
Lack of urgency
Refusing to fire incompetent coaches
Losing games you should not
Things will remain the same you can count on it
Now I will have a little more of the kool-aid please
UGA89
January 5th, 2011
2:16 pm
I’ll say it once again:
If you honestly think the results are going to be much better next season, than keep CMR.
If you do NOT think the results are going to be much better next season, than you are only treading water and falling further behind.
cmdawg99
January 5th, 2011
2:18 pm
sounds like tommy bowden before he got chopped from clemson
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
January 5th, 2011
2:18 pm
ugab:
WE DON’T OWE YOU ANYTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO…GO WATCH GEORGIA STATE….STAY AWAY FROM GEORGIA AND TAKE ABOUT 10000 MORE WITH YOU AND MAYBE WE CAN ENJOY SATURDAYS IN ATHENS AGAIN WITHOUT ALL THE WHINERS….CRY ME A RIVER….GET A LIFE…..SEARELS, BOBO, GARNER, JUST GOT TO RECRUIT BETTER..PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO HIRE THEM, SO THEY MUST BE DOING PRETTY GOOD WORK, UGAB……OUR ATHLETES DON’T STACK UP WITH BAMA, FLORIDA, OR AUBURN, OR LSU….IF WE HAVE AJ, WE WIN 3 OF THE FIRST 4, MAYBE ALL 4….GOT TO GET A RUNNING BACK THAT CAN CARRY THE LOAD….BUT DON’T PAY $200K FOR ONE LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST DID….OTHER THAN AJ AND HOUSTON, WE DON’T HAVE THE FOLKS…..