Georgia football coach Mark Richt has full support of Adams, McGarity, athletic board
Georgia AD Greg McGarity (L) and President Michael Adams will have the most to say about coach Mark Richt's future as the Bulldogs' football coach. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
St. Simons Island — Truth or fiction, reality or perception, the general thought on Georgia football is that this is a critical season for head coach Mark Richt. Virtually every preseason story that has been written on the Bulldogs so far, has placed Richt on the proverbial “hot seat.”
But there are only a handful of people whose opinions really matter on this subject, chiefly UGA President Michael Adams and Athletic Director Greg McGarity.
It is them, and to some degree the Georgia Athletic Association executive board gathered here at the King & Prince Resort this week, that will ultimately decide Richt’s fate. So I asked them how they felt about things.
“First of all, the guy that has the most to say about it is the AD,” said Adams, presiding over the board’s annual end-of-the-year meeting here the past two days. “Despite what sometimes gets written, I haven’t done one of these things, pro or con, without heavy consultation with the AD.
“That said, I think you look at a person’s whole body of work. And I think the whole body of work by Mark Richt the last 10 years is very strong. We have very high expectations at the University of Georgia. We didn’t meet them last year. But I’m pretty confident that we’re going to spring back, that he made the kind of adjustments in staffing that needed to be made. Now we’ll do what we always do with every coach every season; we’ll sit down at the end of the season.”
The reason for the speculation is Georgia is coming off a 6-7 campaign — its first losing season since 1996 — and a two-year stretch in which it is just two games over .500 overall (14-12) with a losing SEC record (7-9).
But when you look at Richt’s “body of work” before that, it paints a totally different picture — 82 wins over eight seasons, two SEC championships, four first-place finishes in the SEC East and two second-place finishes.
“Our first requirement is to run the program properly,” Adams said. “You will get in trouble at Georgia more for failure to do that rather than for having a bad season once a decade. But we do think with our resources, with our recruiting base, with our fan base, it’s not unreasonable to expect us to have a winning football program. And we have for 13 of the 14 years I’ve been here. I fully expect we will for 13 of the next 14.”
Richt made some significant changes after last season. He replaced his longtime strength and conditioning coordinator, Dave Van Halanger, with Joe Tereshinski Jr. Tereshinski, a former All-SEC player and strength coach under former head coach Vince Dooley, brings an old-school training approach. The strength staff was also expanded and nutritionists are now overseeing the year-round diets of all the players.
“I think we got off to a wonderful start in January,” McGarity said. “I’ve said many times, how you perform in September and October comes down to what you do in January. You set the tone, you set the expectations, you say this is the way we’re going to run our operation. There’s no question – and I think Mark would acknowledge this and I think the players would acknowledge it— that they’ve gotten off to a good start with nutrition and strength and conditioning.”
Board members who were asked about the direction of the football program all expressed support for Richt while also acknowledging that 2011 will be an important season.
“He’s not in my hot seat; he’s still in my lap,” Bob Bishop, an executive board member for 29 years, said with a laugh. “I love him. I don’t think you can find a better human being anywhere and he’s a fine football coach. He’s proven that time and time again. But we all know it goes in cycles. He had a bad cycle last year and he made a lot of changes to improve on that. If you have a real bad season again there’s going to be a lot of turmoil all over the state and on campus and behind the scenes.”
Said board member emeritus Gary Hill: “I’m firmly in Mark Richt’s corner. I want him to succeed. Everything is in place for him to succeed and I’m pulling for him to do so. Who wants to go through the turmoil of changing coaches and changing staff?”
Bishop was asked if the board would have to respond to alumni or fan dissension.
“You’ve got to listen; that’s why we serve on the board. But most of that doesn’t play into it,” he said. “You evaluate the program independently and how the program is progressing. We’ve had a couple of down years. It will be very nice if he can improve that 6-and-7, at least modestly. But I think our program is in good shape.”
McGarity agrees and expressed confidence in the prospects for this coming season.
“I think there’s tremendous leadership on this team and I think that’s one thing that gets lost in the conversation,” McGarity said. “Individuals like Orson Charles and Aaron Murray and Christian Robinson and Ben Jones, you’ve got some guys like that are taking it upon themselves. If we have problems internally, they’re going to take care of it before it ever reaches anyone anywhere.”
That has been another criticism of the program under Richt. Off-field issues, such as 10 arrests of football players last year, made it appear there was a lack of discipline on the team.
So far there have been no arrests this year.
“Are we always going to stay out of trouble? No, chances are we’ll have our bumps in the road,” McGarity said. “But I think the things that you look at from a leadership standpoint, I feel very good about that. How will that translate into wins and losses? I think sometimes winning is a byproduct of what you do, just like in any other walks of like. If you work hard, you pay attention to details, then winning is going to be a byproduct of that.”
McGarity said he was impressed with the way Richt and his staff responded to last season’s disappointment, particularly by going out and signing a Top 10-ranked recruiting class.
“There’s no question that Mark feels invigorated about the season,” McGarity said. “I think he’s excited to go. All of the sudden it’s going to be June 6 and everybody comes to campus and they’re going to be under our wing at that point.”
Bishop has presided over four football coaching changes in his time on the board, so he knows the realities of today’s high-stakes college game. But he scoffs at the criticism of Richt’s ability to coach.
“I remember back when Bear Bryant was coaching, he had a bad year and everybody was saying the game has passed him by,” Bishop said. “Biggest joke I’ve ever heard. He had a few bad years, but he had a few good years, too. All we need is one more point than Boise State and we’ll be on the road.”
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304 comments Add your comment
ugaclassof2004
May 27th, 2011
1:23 pm
This blind loyalty to Richt is really mindblowing. What matters are results, period. I’m fine with Richt being a great man as long as he is winning or at the very least putting a competitive product on the field. I realize losing AJ Green was a bad break for the team last year, but they shouldn’t totally tank it just because ONE player is out of the lineup. You Richt supporters act like last season was a fluke. How idiotic can you be??? The guy went 9-3 in 2008 with blowout losses to Florida and Bama, and a pathetic showing against a Tech team they should have beaten by at least 2 TD’s. In 2009 they go 7-5 and then 6-6 in 2010, with little or no heat being put under Richt’s butt! Well the time for excuses are over! The guy isn’t getting paid 3 million a year to be our campus minister, he’s getting paid to be out football coach!!! Why is this so hard to understand???? Why shouldn’t Richt be held accountable?? I swear our fan-base man….I just don’t understand it sometimes.
AltamahaDawg
May 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
Yaz, extending Richt contract (which isn’t about to expire) before the end of this season would do absolutely nothing to ensure the team’s success. There is no logical reason to do that and would only be a distraction, which I am sure all the parties have agreed. I doubt you really gives a rat’s behind about it to be honest, but there is your answer nevertheless.
ugaclassof2004
May 27th, 2011
1:25 pm
This blind loyalty to Richt is really mindblowing. What matters are results, period. I’m fine with Richt being a great man as long as he is winning or at the very least putting a competitive product on the field. I realize losing AJ Green was a bad break for the team last year, but they shouldn’t totally tank it just because ONE player is out of the lineup. You Richt supporters act like last season was a fluke. How idiotic can you be??? The guy went 9-3 in 2008 with blowout losses to Florida and Bama, and a pathetic showing against a Tech team they should have beaten by at least 2 TD’s. In 2009 they go 7-5 and then 6-6 in 2010, with little or no heat being put under Richt’s butt! Well the time for excuses are over! The guy isn’t getting paid 3 million a year to be our campus minister, he’s getting paid to be our football coach!!! Why is this so hard to understand???? Why shouldn’t Richt be held accountable?? I swear our fan-base man…I just don’t understand it sometimes.
AltamahaDawg
May 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Who says he is not held accountable, 2004?
JB
May 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
Maybe Adams can make him the “Life Czar” and hire us a new coach?
Georgia Peach
May 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
Coach Richt is absolutely the best! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxg1I1jA29c
Dawglasville
May 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
ugaclassof2004 – “How idiotic can you be???”
That is pretty strong. It could be that you are just in a different place in your life and career than other Dawgs. I’ve managed people for 20 years. Through my experience I can tell you that I haven’t been at the top of my game year in and year out. There have been ups and downs. I can also tell you that if blogs were around I would have been screaming for Goff’s head back in the day.
JB – you are a great blogger. It could be that we might have to agree to disagree on this one.
JB
May 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
There is one guy responsible for the team that got off the bus for that bowl game last year against UCF.
ugaclassof2004
May 27th, 2011
1:36 pm
Going 7-5 and then being allowed to go 6-6 is not being held accountable. At Florida, LSU, Auburn, or Alabama he’d be gone.
Douglas
May 27th, 2011
1:40 pm
What did we expect the AD, President, and Board to say? We don’t like Richt and we want to fire him. Really.
gdawginkalamazoo
May 27th, 2011
1:40 pm
Central Florida, kind words but we got out coached and out played in that game. UCF is full of talented kids from the state of Florida and coach O’Leary is pretty good. If Coach Richt wants to keep is job this year he cannot have anything close to a Liberty bowl game.
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
1:41 pm
Alright Dawg fans what do you want in 2011?
1. Dawgs win and Richt gets a contract extension.
2. Dawgs lose and Richt gets fired.
One of these scenarios will happen in December or January.
JB, 2004, YAZ
Also, JOEY = MASSIVE TROLL. PLEASE IGNORE!!!!
JB
May 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
I do want Richt,Bobo and Grantham to do one thing different this year. Give these guys a game plan to give them a chance to win. Quit playing “scripted” football. Quit calling the same play on 3rd and 7 at the 37 yard line. Make the other DC earn his money. Get that defense to play with their hair on fire….and last….start that energy from the coaching staff from the sideline.
JAWJeRDAWG
May 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
@ JB
I know you are a loyal Dawg fan and all of us UGA faithful are disappointed and frustrated with our past several year’s performance.
Just hope you can be more optimistic about the upcoming season, and if significant improvement is not seen, then I’m sure changes will be made. I’m just hoping for the best. Have a safe weekend. .. Go Dawgs!
ugaclassof2004
May 27th, 2011
1:45 pm
@Dawglasville
Having a down year is one thing. For instance, in 2006 we lost to Vandy and Kentucky because of youth, inexperience, and injuries on offense. But the team played hard at the end of the year to finish 9-4. That was a rebuilding year, and UGA was able to rebound to go 11-2 the next season. I’m fine with a rebuilding year as long as we rebound the next year. But when a team goes 9-3, 7-5, and 6-6–that’s not a program that is rebuilding, its a program that is getting worse. 8-4 or 9-4( like in 2006) is the WORST this program should be! Anything less than that should be unacceptable,period!
P.S. I agree about Ray Goff. Yet another example of a guy we kept around WAY too long.
dmr
May 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
Win or lose, Mark Richt will NEVER, EVER, EVER, put the University of Georgia in the predicament that OSU and Tressel find themselves in.
LIAR, LIAR, Vest on Fire! (love it)
JAWJeRDAWG
May 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
JB
May 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
That’s more like it! And, I agree. .. Go Dawgs!
Matthews Dawg
May 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
JB…I don’t think Mark and Obama should ever be compared! We don’t like Mark for any other reason than he is an outstanding football coach, leader, mentor and man! Obama….not so much!
Yaz….we hear you! No contract extension, means no confidence, blah, blah, blah!! Turn the page. Go Dawgs!
Roll Tide with Pride!!!
May 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
yep – and like I said the other day – I hope the AD at UGA increases Richt’s recruiting budget for the extra travel since all the ELITE in State talent is going to ALABAMA!!!!
UGA – the Michigan State of the SEC!
Joey
May 27th, 2011
1:50 pm
Actually, Joey = a massive UGA fan who just want the Dawgs to win, as they should, judging by their top ten recruiting classes, and by the number of former Dawgs playing on Sundays.
I’m not a troll, moron.
I just can’t stay on here every day, daylight to dark.
Joey
May 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
So Roll Tide, when are you guys gonna win a championship, when the football program is not on, or going on NCAA Probation?
ugaclassof2004
May 27th, 2011
1:54 pm
Tobias Funke
I’ll answer your question with a two of my own.
Would you rather
1. Have Mark Richt win 9 games, keep his job, have the entire fan-base have delusions of granduer about 2012, and then we go back down to 7 wins
OR….
2. Would you rather the team finish 4-8 with Richt getting fired ( yes this means a loss to Tech because that is what it would take): we continue to suck for a few years but by 2014 or 2015 we’re back in the BCS picture?
Both of these scenarios could also happen. If you don’t believe me, look at Auburn. They did well with Tuberville for a time, but fired him after a 5-7 season in 2008. The took a big risk with Gene Chizik( a VERY unpopular hire at the time) and two years later they catch lighting in a bottle with Cam Newton and win a National Title. Who’s to say the same couldn’t happen to us?
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
1:55 pm
Joey
“But I also ain’t for paying a coach $3 Million a year who doesn’t schedule some football studying every day.”
Take salary out of it. Neither me nor you pays his salary.
I’m no moron. Someone gets on here and uses “Joey” and is a massive troll. Spews the same stupid crap day after day.
So Joey, would you rather see the dawgs win or Richt get fired in 2011?
UGA Insider
May 27th, 2011
1:56 pm
How stupid does the UGA hierarchy think the informed fans are? I have a few questions….. why didn’t you ever give CMR that extension you were talking about in January??? Why did you make CMR tell his best friend that he was a washed up strength coach??
Why don’t you tell the fans the truth that CMR basically has a two game season to prove he has turned the program around? I never believe what the hierarchy says…..never!
AltamahaDawg
May 27th, 2011
1:57 pm
As wildly popular as Richt is, the fact is that if/when’ they thought it was the the best interest of the program to fire him, they would. Not sure how somebody could be any more accountable than that.
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Joey
I don’t care who is coaching in 2012. Do you really believe that team will only win 7 games? That team will be absolutely loaded. I would love 9 wins this year however. That wins the East.
McDawg
May 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
i think the fire Richt folks are delusional
mgdawg
May 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
I think they are all saying what they are supposed to, you shouldn’t throw your coach under the bus to the public. What good can come from them telling the media that their coach is on the hot seat? I also think that like me, they want to see richt succeed because he is a great man and I believe that he can be a great coach. However, the team has been going down hill the past few years with last year obviously being the worst. My own personal feeling is that richt needs a total of 10 wins to keep his job, that is including the bowl game. The schedule this year is very favorable, there are really only about 3-4 tough teams and those teams have their weaknesses also so I don’t see that as an impossible goal.
McDawg
May 27th, 2011
2:02 pm
i honsestly couldn’t care less about a BCS title
win the SEC beat UF and GT in the process-thats all
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
Agreed McDawg
I like the Bloggers handle UGA FAN BEFORE 2008.
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
class of 2004
I don’t care who is coaching in 2012. Do you really believe that team will only win 7 games? That team will be absolutely loaded. I would love 9 wins this year however. That wins the East.
And its nice to wish up a National Championship after three or four bad years. I would never pick that scenario. Crap in one hand and wish in another. See which one fills up first!
You sir are no Dawg fan because you would take losses over victories if it meant a new coach. You want UGA to lose to Florida and Tech? Really?
Joey
May 27th, 2011
2:11 pm
Talking about spewing the same crap . . .
Read my posts. I want the Dawgs to win. I don’t want to see Richt fired. I hope Richt wins big this season.
I’ll take your word for it that you are no moron. Likewise, I am no troll. I am a longtime UGA fan. And my moma named me Joey . . .
AltamahaDawg
May 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
Alabama and UF have put up with as bad or worse over the years. Don’t pretend to know thier absolutes. You have no idea what they would or wouldn’t do in a hypothetical situation.
Your disagreement over what critera should be used is fine (albiet nothing more than personal opinion, with no involvment or expereince in the matter), But that’s a completely different thing than “not accountable”. He is VERY much accountable and its silly to even suggest otherwise.
Could it be that the Admin just has a few things to consider that differ from your opinion?
damngoodawg!
May 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
I knew Michael Adams when we were undergraduates at David Lipscomb University. Little did I know that he was Jimmy Carter’s kid…think about it…
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
2004
You want UGA to be like Auburn? Really?
Do you understand what the phrase “Catch lightning in a bottle” even means?
ATL Sports Fan
May 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
ugaclassof2004, Tubberville resigned in 2008.
Reaper
May 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
@Tobias Funke, been on board since 1979 and I know what reality is. It is a business and it’s about winning. If you want to settle for losing, that is your problem. Personally I like winning and until a lot of people open their eyes and see the truth the problem will continue. Personally I hope Bobo has remedied his playcalling mishaps and we surprise everyone, but if he hasn’t Richt has to replace him with someone that has a clue. So, I hope that you will get a clue.
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
My apologies Joey. I meant it to 2004.
RxDawg
May 27th, 2011
2:21 pm
A – freakin – men
Gravy Train
May 27th, 2011
2:24 pm
I don’t trust the logic of people that would rather have a confirmed greasy used car salseman as their choice for a coach over Mark Richt. They are obviously lacking morals themselves to favor such a choice. I’ve seen CMR beat used car salesmen and he will do it again.
If your life balance is effected by the outcome of a game you have no control over, you need to seek help. People that demand championships every year either are idiots at best or poorly informed and confused as to how real life works at best.
Get behind the team or get gone, fools!
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:25 pm
Reaper
Im not blind. Look at all of Richt’s teams. The really good ones had good DEFENSES. The offense has been pretty consistent over the last 10 years. The truth is UGA is still recovering from the Willie Martinez debacle. The guy had a terrible eye for talent. And the defensive scheme was down-right offensive. His recruits are almost all gone and thankfully his scheme is too. This is a make or break year. I’m not denying that. What bothers me is the fair-weather fans that think a SEC championship is realistic EVERY SINGLE YEAR! Another thing, UGA wins with a QB that has consecutive years playing on the field in the games… Greene, Shockley, Stafford… Murray? Probably.
ER
May 27th, 2011
2:26 pm
Love the Bammer comment. CMR is only 3-1 against the bammers.
Bama will lose more games than UGA this year…… Write it down!
ER
May 27th, 2011
2:27 pm
YAZ SHUT UP ALREADY! YOU SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:30 pm
YAZ
What key players transferred? Name one!
Players leave as Juniors to go to the NFL.
ugaclassof2004
May 27th, 2011
2:31 pm
ATL Sports Fan
“Resigned” is one way to phrase it.
Tobias Funke: are you telling me you wouldn’t want to win a National Title? Are you telling me that Richt is the long term solution even though the last three years clearly say otherwise? 7-8 wins is where we will land with Richt from now on. If you’re happy with that, and the usual win over Tech( which means absolutely nothing), then more power to you. If being a lousy fan means expecting more, even if that means we take a step back for a year or two in order to move the program forward, then so be it. I think this program needs a fresh start, just like it did in 2001 when Donnan got fired and Richt got hired. Who cares if we lose to Tech in a rebuilding year?? Bama lost to La Tech Saban’s first year, and then proceeded to go 12-2 and 14-0 after that. And guess what, nobody is talking about that La Tech loss anymore!! UGA absolutely has the resources and talent to be a National player, and with a fresh start they could very easily turn it around. If you don’t think so then you’re the one who is a bad fan my friend.
ER
May 27th, 2011
2:36 pm
I look forward to the 1st week of December when UGA wins 11 games and are playing for the SEC Championship so some of you so-called fans can change your tune. You need to back CMR while he is still our coach! Couple of you on here are nothing but a bunch of whinners that know nothing about football and my guess have never put on pads before in your life.
Support the program or go on and support another team!
lADawg
May 27th, 2011
2:38 pm
Great to see! CMR is the guy for us! So many haters out there who know nothing about football. Go Dawgs!
Tobias Funke
May 27th, 2011
2:40 pm
2004
Of course I want to win a National Championship. I am just realistic.
I think its great you can admit you are a lousy fan. What guarantees a National Championship just because you hire a new Coach??? Please spill the secret. I’m sure 135 other D-1 colleges are dying to hear you secret.
There are so many crazy things that you say, that just make me disappointed you are walking around saying you are a UGA fan. Bama lost to ULM at home by the way. Such an expert should know that.
Ask any top manager and they will tell you it is more expensive and takes more time to fire someone, rather than sit down and work on the problem.
Who do you suppose we hire starting with the head coach all the way down to the strength coach?
2nd (or is it 3rd) teir
May 27th, 2011
2:41 pm
Here we go again, the never ending pre-season optimism that we will be SEC winners, nay, national champs, nay nay, we are Thors and Iron Men….chaste, pure, unstoppable forces….. veritable GODS…all is forgiven CMR, (tho’ the dogs haven’t done much but crap since the early 1980’s, and you have us mired in mediocrity with little sign of return to greatness)…stay as long as you like…….as for me, I’m dreading the drubbing and predictable excuse making coming up after our whooping from Boise in our own backyard…… whatatool……
Yaz
May 27th, 2011
2:43 pm
2 years ago, happy talk about Florida was even better:
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2009/05/22/athletics-board-buzzing-about-georgia-florida-too/