Richt plans Dream Team II
ATHENS –- Georgia coach Mark Richt was asked who first came up with the idea of pitching a “Dream Team” in recruiting.
“I really don’t remember whose idea it was,” he said.
“It was actually yours,” recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner said.
“It was my idea?” Richt said. “I didn’t want to take credit [if] someone else thought of it first.”
Georgia built its 2011 recruiting efforts, which culminated with Signing Day on Wednesday, around the high-profile notion of assembling a Dream Team of in-state talent. The Bulldogs wound up signing the state’s top three prospects, four of the top five and eight of the top 12.
The concept of a Dream Team was born almost a year ago as Georgia coaches embarked on what they knew would be a crucial recruiting season in a talent-rich state.
His memory jogged, Richt said: “As you’re looking at the guys you really want the most, you kind of dream about that as a coach, and that’s where I just came up with the idea: ‘This is my Dream Team. This is our Dream Team at the University of Georgia.’ We literally had names and pictures targeted that we could look at and shoot for, and we actually nailed it pretty good. You never get them all, but we came pretty darn close. And I would certainly say the dream came true.”
Richt said the concept resonated with recruits, who “bought in and got excited about it . . . and wanted to be on the Dream Team. I think it was effective.”
He acknowledged there was a risk of the concept backfiring if Georgia had signed a less-than-stellar class. In that case, he said, people might have “called it a nightmare class or whatever.”
“But we just said, ‘You know what? Let’s go for the best and go with reckless abandon and not care what anybody says.’”
Richt plans a Dream Team encore next year.
“Quite frankly, we’re in the process of putting together the 2012 Dream Team,” he said. “We’re formulating ideas and looking at film and deciding who’s going to be on that team.
“I hope ninth graders right now are looking at this thing and saying, ‘I want to be on that Dream Team when my time comes.’”
*********
Garner gave a lot of credit for the success of the Dream Team concept to Ray Drew, a five-star outside linebacker from Thomas County Central who not only signed with Georgia but enthusiastically lobbied other players to do so as well.
“Even though [last season] sort of tarnished us,” Garner said, “he was able to recognize that the University of Georgia is still gold. We just need to shine it up. We just need to get the glitter back.”
**********
Speaking to fans at the Butts-Mehre building, Richt offered some insight into recruiting in this state:
“One of the hardest things for us to do is to evaluate and nail down who you’re going to go after, especially in our own state. A lot of the out-of-state teams will just come in and just offer like mad. They’ll come in and just offer like candy. Quite frankly, I’m not going to name names of schools, but a lot of them will do that just to get in the fight. And if the kid commits too soon and they’re not sure they want [him], they’ll just tell them, ‘That’s not a committable offer.’ Whatever the heck that means.
“If we offer a kid in our state and he says he’s coming, we want to take him, OK? Sometimes we’re a little bit slower to offer maybe than some out-of-state schools. Sometimes that might hurt a kid’s feelings. Sometimes that might hurt a coach’s feelings. That’s not our intention. Our intention is to have integrity when we offer a kid and be able to follow through.”
– Tim Tucker, UGA Blog
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305 comments Add your comment
browndog
February 3rd, 2011
12:02 pm
Any idea who the O line coach candidates might be?
nobody
February 3rd, 2011
12:05 pm
TXDawg- You mean when we murdered Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl? Cause that was the second time we wore the black jerseys….First time against Auburn, second time in the sugar bowl.
Paul in RDU
February 3rd, 2011
12:06 pm
Richt should be commended for his approach to recruiting and not oversigning.
On the other hand you have schools that view the NCAA and SEC rules – 85 total scholarships, 25 (NCAA) or 28 (SEC) signees – as guidelines that you need to work around.
Dixiedawg
February 3rd, 2011
12:07 pm
If you want to see the dawgs play in 2011, it’s that time of year–donations and season ticket orders. I don’t believe it will be easy getting tickets in 2011 if you aren’t a season ticket holder. I have been now since my college days at UGA–34 years now. Love my DAWGS!! I’m there win or loose. Looking forward to a great 2011 season. Coach Richt is a very classy coach and will continue to do well at UGA.
bruce mac
February 3rd, 2011
12:13 pm
Saban and others, if UGA is so irrelavent why do you post everyday all day about us. Eat your hearts out A.H.
STEINER
February 3rd, 2011
12:41 pm
Vinny D
You, my son, are a loser….Get your head out of the sand or possibly somewhere else…If you ain’t a dawg lover, stay off the blog…Nobody owes you anything….Get back in the McDonald’s kitchen and supersize my fries…..After work, go home and pout….Dream Team it is….
Andy in Blairsville
February 3rd, 2011
12:43 pm
Dream Team = Another UGA gimmick
Gator Man
February 3rd, 2011
12:44 pm
You can tell when your program is in the dumps, when your coach is trying to convince fans that a bunch that have yet to play college ball is going to turn your program around.
Its been what, 30 years and the same story, Mark R. please stay at UGA, because no other school especially in Florida would hire you.
We had a signing day too !!! %$#@
February 3rd, 2011
12:54 pm
GT had a signing day. ESPN has them ranked around # 398, after Lehigh and Ohio and Bowling Green and Millsaps College.
WJH
February 3rd, 2011
1:00 pm
Please keep the dream team out of jail
tdawgs woman
February 3rd, 2011
1:05 pm
Is not caring about all you haters. You guys are just jealous you didn’t get these top recruits. Coach Richt is AWESOME! He is a good christian man. And he knows the game. We are gonna be just fine.. GOOOOO DAWGS SIC ‘EM WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!!!!!!
OldFan
February 3rd, 2011
1:11 pm
After all the well-deserved slams we put on CMR this season, he also deserves praise and credit for saying the right things about his standards for the program. We UGA fans can be a bunch of boring, carping armchair coaches who could take these players to a NC every year. It’s not fair, but it’s fun. It’s also fun on occasion to be fair.
I’m pulling for CMR to show us that his standards translate into a hardnosed, competitive, well-coached football team.
Pope UGA XXIII
February 3rd, 2011
1:15 pm
Lets see some “Dream Team” caliber coaching in the fall.
There are two great opportunities right off the bat with Boise
State and Darth Visor’s Funky Chikins coming to town.
rogeriter
February 3rd, 2011
1:21 pm
If Mark Richt is a bad coach, why is it, even with the last two years, he has the second best record in the SEC for the BCS years? And he has more integrity than any other coach.
I only wish some of these do-nothing bloggers had his class!
ugaclassof2004
February 3rd, 2011
1:30 pm
Let’s see:
5 star Matt Stafford: zero championships
4 star Knowshon Moreno: zero championships
5 star AJ Green: zero championships
4 star Aaron Murray: 6-7 record as a starter so far.
4 star Joe Cox: need I say more?
3 star David Pollack: One SEC Title,42- 10 career record at UGA,and alltime UGA sack leader.
There is no substitute for talent, but there is star ranking that can desire,dedication, determination, work ethic. I put about as much stock in these recruiting rankings as I do in the G-Day game, which is to say I don’t put much stock in it at all. Rushing for 5,000 yards and 50 TD’s vs. guys who run 5.3 40’s isn’t an accomplishment. Performing at the highest level vs. the best athletes in the nation is.
ugaclassof2004
February 3rd, 2011
1:31 pm
Let’s see:
5 star Matt Stafford: zero championships
4 star Knowshon Moreno: zero championships
5 star AJ Green: zero championships
4 star Aaron Murray: 6-7 record as a starter so far.
4 star Joe Cox: need I say more?
3 star David Pollack: One SEC Title,42- 10 career record at UGA,and alltime UGA sack leader.
There is no substitute for talent, but there is no star ranking that can measure desire,dedication, determination, and work ethic. I put about as much stock in these recruiting rankings as I do in the G-Day game, which is to say I don’t put much stock in it at all. Rushing for 5,000 yards and 50 TD’s vs. guys who run 5.3 40’s isn’t an accomplishment. Performing at the highest level vs. the best athletes in the nation is.
UGA haters!
February 3rd, 2011
1:40 pm
I am LOL! We have the fifth and maybe the fourth best class after Sat. on 6-7 season. This Dream Team things is working and will be back next year with a stellar class. UGA has hit on every weakness with this class. In years past we have not been able to do that. SEC Championship game 2011 UGA 24 LSU 21.
clam slapper
February 3rd, 2011
1:44 pm
Richt has a dream! He needs to wake up from his dream and learn how to coach. What a goofball Georgia has for a coach!
Corninmypooh
February 3rd, 2011
1:46 pm
It’s well past the time for UGA fans to unite behind our coaches and players. It’s time to stop the bickering, second guessing, whining and calls for a new regime. We’ve got a proven head coach, who’s won two SEC Championships. Let’s give him the respect and latitude to get it done.
The DAWGS!
February 3rd, 2011
1:47 pm
ROCK and ROLL BABY! FSU will make UF look like silly puddy. We have taken back this state. Good luck gators.
A sales pitch to add in
February 3rd, 2011
1:57 pm
UGA needs to layer in this recruiting pitch next year: ” come on board at UGA, where we own GT and Florida. Son, football is about tradtition and BRAND awareness and in 2011 that was why we landed a fabulous team …………..DT I. You can be on DT II and continue to own GT and Florida.”
Any challenges for accuracy?
Go Dogs.
Now for the jealousy to kick in. Let me grab a coke and I’ll come right back and enjoy it.
Hey Techers ………………..how is BB season wroking out for y’all? Hmmmmmm??
Check with Will Muschamp
February 3rd, 2011
2:03 pm
UGa still owns Florida. Don’t believe me, ask him or Steve Spurrier.
We own them like we do GT and others. UT and ALabama are UGA’s most distant rivals in term of wins. Now, when UT lands on secret triple probation …………… that might begin to change. AU is a very close leader in wins over UGA BUT when the FBI ( now living in the Holiday Inn in Opelika) gets done with Auburn, that too will change.
LSU/UGA? When ZM goes drinking, LSU will end up having to disband football.
showmedog
February 3rd, 2011
2:09 pm
This class is not ranked any higher than several other classes from the past. How did those high ranked classes work out?
Fact is, this class is being called the DREAM TEAM but we still have a NIGHTMARE head coach who should be fired today. Don’t waste another day on this inept coach!
How does any coach lose seven games at UGA?
Nick Who
February 3rd, 2011
2:14 pm
Saban – Cyrus called and said kiss his ass he is going to New Mexico. Gabe Wright called and Nick who?
Bama fans will be crushed when the SEC and NCAA come home to Tuscaloosa on their way to Auburn and Nick bolts for the Titans. Then all the other fans in the world can laugh and make fun of the little crimson elephants watching their VCRs reliving the day in Wal Mart when they got to see the crystal trophy that one time.
Setting the Record Straight
February 3rd, 2011
2:28 pm
Any poster on here who wants to slam another school without knowledge, merit of understanding is more than likely never to attended the school he is protecting. Some of these clowns on here probably never played a down of football in college much less in High School or Junior High School.
I will say it up front, I attended Alabama. I am proud of it, but I have no ill will against Georgia, Mark Richt or anyone associated with the school in Athens. Mark has won championships, has recruited well, kept UGA off probation and tries to lead his players by example. Good Job Mark Richt.
I am proud of Nick Saban on how he conducts business at Alabama, I was misfortunate enough to attend Alabama and work with the Athletic Department during an era of poor mismanagement, rogue boosters and Mike Dubose. As far as I can tell Nick Saban has not knowingly violated NCAA rules, and practices what he preaches to his assistant coaches and players, work harder than others and stay with the system and you will be champions in the game and in life.
Good luck to Georgia, I hope you guys turn it around and I hope we play you in the dome for the championship. And thanks for our defensive coordinator who we all know will be a heck of head coach, Kirby Smart.
To any so called fan of Alabama, maybe it is time to keep our mouths shut, and let our actions on the field speak for itself. If some fan from some other school wants to talk about oversigning, or anything else let the NCAA decide if we have done anything wrong, because whether it is us, Auburn, Georgia or Tennessee our opinions are about as worth as that white speck on top of chicken crap, it is still chicken crap.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 3rd, 2011
2:32 pm
Enter your comments here
Augusta DAWG
February 3rd, 2011
2:32 pm
I for one still believe in CMR. I would love to know who all of you Richt haters think UGA could hire to do a better job. All coaches and teams have bad seasons. He has not forgot how to coach. I think some of you may have forgot what it was like to be a UGA fan before CMR. Give the man some time to fix things before you turn on one of the best coaches and men in college football.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 3rd, 2011
2:34 pm
I think Coach Manboobs and Tech were able to edge out Valdosta State for the third best recruiting class in GA after UGA and GSU. Watch out Georgia State is gaining on them.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 3rd, 2011
2:40 pm
Augusta DAWG
I remember the 17 years before Richt. No SEC titles, no top 5 rankings, no major bowls, and no appearances in the SEC Title game. He had one bad year in the toughest conference in the country. In thepast 6 years,5 different teams have won SEC titles. Richt has brought UGA back into relevance nationally and in the SEC. The Dawgs will rebound big in 2012.
reebok
February 3rd, 2011
2:44 pm
tech fan here. conrats – that is an insanely great recruiting class…you UGA fans should be pleased. i hope your staff can keep them eligible and healthy and we will see you in november.
DoubleDownDawgFan
February 3rd, 2011
2:46 pm
YeeeeeeeHawwwwww! Dream Team II?? SAAAAWWWEEEEETTTTT!
Coach Rich is the most bestest coach BullDawg in the LAND! He is offered me and my homies becuz we is good at runnin the footballs!! Get r dun! Thanks for the Benjermin$$$$!!!!
dawgbuddy
February 3rd, 2011
2:59 pm
Oh Mark can I have one of your babies? That would be so cool. I love you man. You are the best. You walk on water. Did I say I want to have a baby with you?
Pacific Dawg
February 3rd, 2011
3:02 pm
dawgbuddy
I agree that Richt is a great coach, but get a grip
Editors Note
February 3rd, 2011
3:18 pm
There is no “National Championship” in college football and there never has been. There is a BCS champion or an AP champion or UPI champion or a ESPN champion……..but the NCAA has NEVER awarded the wooden plaque with the golden plate to a division 1A football team.
As that is the case, what I want out of Georgia is to consistently compete for the East, consistently compete for the SECC, consistently beat the rivals, and have a shot occasionally to win every game on the slate.
Oh and Lester Piles……….LSU has a losing record to UGA the last 10 years, fewer wins, and fewer actual championships (SECC). I was bored this afternoon so I decided to buy the whole poverty ridden craphole state of Louisiana. Choke on that.
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:21 pm
Buckeye
What in the world are you doing an SEC/UGA blog? Seriously, don’t you have Big Ten blogs to mess with?
Anyway, congrats dawgs! You guys have a really good class coming in.
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:24 pm
“Does anyone on here think Chizik got hired at Auburn for his body of work at Iowa St”
No, he got hired because he was on two undefeated teams before I State. He got hired because he is a hell of a recruiter. He got hired because he’s not a hack like most of the other SEC coaches.
Who just got the coach of the year? Chizik
Who just won the national championship? Chizik
Who just landed the number 2 class in the land? Chizik
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:26 pm
“heck, even Forrest Gump graduated from Alabama”
So did Bernie Madoff.
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:28 pm
“We have taken back this state. ”
Not much to take back when your only rival is a bottom tier ACC team.
me
February 3rd, 2011
3:29 pm
you still have to coach em up
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:29 pm
“when the FBI ( now living in the Holiday Inn in Opelika) gets done with Auburn, that too will change. ”
The stupidity never ends.
FanSince59
February 3rd, 2011
3:30 pm
If I were Richt, I wouldn’t push the “Dream Team” concept too far. Along with the “Dream Team” come visions of “Dream Wins” by the Richt faithful, which, if they don’t come sooner rather then later, is going to turn the “Richt Lovers” into what they despise most: “Richt Haters”.
me
February 3rd, 2011
3:31 pm
you can have all 5 stars but if they are not coached right it does not matter
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:31 pm
“There is a BCS champion or an AP champion or UPI champion or a ESPN champion……..but the NCAA has NEVER awarded the wooden plaque with the golden plate to a division 1A football team.’
So what’s your point?
schnellenberger
February 3rd, 2011
3:32 pm
Richt is a copy cat! I thought up the dream team concept when I went to Liberty City and talked all those boys in the hood into playing for Miami.
AltamahaDawg
February 3rd, 2011
3:40 pm
3 star Pollack would not have won any championship if he had played on the past 2 teams either. And AJ would have with the 2002 team. What’s your point.
BoiseStateFan
February 3rd, 2011
3:40 pm
UGA should just give up and join the Big East.
Megan
February 3rd, 2011
3:48 pm
One good running back can turn an entire team around! Eat up yards and clock, keep the defense off the field and open up a dangerous passing game! See Herschel Walker!
Tdawg
February 3rd, 2011
3:50 pm
Next season suscess will be determined by the players that are already on the spuad. This class I believe will help some, but not as much as the player’s already on the team. Crowell, Jenkins?, Rome and maybe Mitchell may be called on the most.
I don’t get it. Why all the haters jumping on the dawgs about panties. Don’t your women where panties? Probably not in Flordia, but for some of the other states, I would think that your women would wear panties sense they only bathe once a week. Don’t worry Tech fans, nobody trying to look up your women’s skirts.
While we’re on the black jersey thing, I kind of like em. They seem to work pretty well against the gators.
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:51 pm
“See Herschel Walker!”
That was 30 years ago. Are you saying UGA hasn’t had a good running back since then?
WAR EAGLE
February 3rd, 2011
3:52 pm
“They seem to work pretty well against the gators.”
Yeah, one time.