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
Got Jorts
May 27th, 2011
5:12 pm
I say keep him. Nobody wants to win in Jacksonville anyway.
Mediocrity
May 27th, 2011
5:13 pm
Some on here think anything short of a national championship is mediocrity. While a NC would be great, I happen to believe winning an SEC title is quite an accomplishment. Win enough of those, and the NCs will eventually come.
I know of no UGA fan that is happy with the last two years. Richt will either turn it around in the next couple of years or we will be breaking in a new coach, but to fire him because he has not won a NC is setting the bar rather high.
Here is a partial list of coaches that could not meet that criterion, and never won a national championship until they had coached several years past Mark Richt’s ten: John Wooden, Bear Bryant, Tom Osborne, Joe Paterno, Vince Dooley, Bobby Bowden.
Good thing some of these posters were not in charge of hiring and firing, or some great careers would have been nipped in the bud.
kb
May 27th, 2011
5:35 pm
Jorts, considering Mark Richt has a winning record against every SEC opponent other than Florida and is tied with LSU same number of conference titles as Florida and Auburn with 2 SEC titles over the past 10 years shows you don’t know what you’re talking about. Every SEC program has down periods, the fact that no team since 97-98 Tenn. has won back to back title speaks volumes for the competitiveness in the SEC.
AltamahaDawg
May 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
They did Joey because that worked well with thier spread type offense, which is completely different than our traditional pro set.
Thier reason for running a hurry up is stlye, which is completely different than why we used to do it, which was to wear down the other guys who werent substituting as fast as we were.That doesn’t exist anymore because of the rule chance.
fpice
May 27th, 2011
5:49 pm
They should ALL be fired.
Worm
May 27th, 2011
5:51 pm
Yep, I remember when Bob Bishop “hired” Dick Sheridan..I still have the AJC article entitled, “The inside story on the hiring of Dick Sheridan”.
HECKLE
May 27th, 2011
5:54 pm
12-0 or go!!!!!!!!!!!
What The Heckle?
May 27th, 2011
5:56 pm
If he goes 12-0 keep him another year!
LoganvilleDAWG
May 27th, 2011
6:22 pm
Hey ugaclassof2004, you sound like a big loser yourself. I would love to have as one of my employees, you might learn the right way to do something. What do you know about college football, NOTHING. What do you know about this program,NOTHING. Coach Richt is a great coach who had a couple of down years. One problem was Willie & his staff, the other was Coach Van getting comfortable. They will be better this year, I do not know by how much. Our OL & WR are my biggest concerns. The defense will be better, LB’s will be better. So why don’t you let all the negative hot air you have & make some positive noise at our games. You want to continue whining, then whine about our so-called fans that show up at games & DO NOT make any noise to pump our coaches & players up. Our loyal fans just want to whine & whine. Get behind our coaching staff & players & see what that might do.
Again, the West Virginia game many moons ago
May 27th, 2011
6:28 pm
Again, the West Virginia game many moons ago was his defining moment. WV 28-0 before GA woke up. I said it would come to define him and his undisciplined teams.
Beast from the East
May 27th, 2011
6:28 pm
Good arguments from both sides of the fence. Best case scenario for the UGA faithful is that Richt can right the ship so all of this infighting goes away. Only time will tell.
Best of luck with the obvious excpetion of the WLOCP.
Happy Talk
May 27th, 2011
6:35 pm
Great Coach. Just a few down years. He will right the ship. Mark is invigorated now. Defense will be better. I’m runing out of Happy Talk.
david
May 27th, 2011
6:37 pm
We run the table this year and whip Oklahoma in national title game!
jerry
May 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
@LoganvilleDAWG…….just about everyone was behind Richt when things were going good and look what happened. See, the way it works is when he does good, people get behind him and when he does not, not so many are behind him. It will never be any different, anywhere.
Tech Guy
May 27th, 2011
6:50 pm
HO HUM
Destin Dawg
May 27th, 2011
6:58 pm
improved S & C will produce exciting results… out of shape last year !!! Grantham’s Junkyard Dawg DDDD !! reasonable schedule… Kicking game.. field position.. but Richt needs to play’em all and play’em early !!!! we have 3 good QB.s.. play ‘em… Go Dawgs !!!!
kb
May 27th, 2011
7:07 pm
LoganvilleDawg, Good post, some of these so called fans need to grow a pair and get over it.
and the Winner is ...
May 27th, 2011
7:11 pm
when UGA hits the field against Boise State ?
51WTGW50
May 27th, 2011
7:15 pm
I hope the UGA people at this meeting on St. Simons left the place cleaner than the UGA fans that attend the Annual Butt kicking in Jacksonville do.
Hodgson's Pharmacy
May 27th, 2011
7:19 pm
Loganville Dawg forgot to take his medication again.
Loganville Loser
May 27th, 2011
7:22 pm
I can remember when it was a winning program. See, I do know something.
trupert
May 27th, 2011
7:23 pm
82 wins over the first eight seasons.
2 SEC championships. A # 2 national ranking to finish 2007.
2 1st in the East.
2 2nd in the East. That’s finishing no worst than 2nd place in 6 out of his first eight years.
The defense showed improvement in the first year of coach Granthams 3-4 defense and that while not having several key types of players for his system. I look for Ga to have a defense that will challenge for the best in the SEC in 2011 and if that happens, the sky is the limit.
The strength and conditioning program is doing very well, with the O-line gaining 100lbs and the D-line gaining 103 lbs of muscle while while losing body fat.
There have been no arrests of players this year, who else in the SEC can say that, not Auburn as they are already leading the Fulmer cup standings by (ASTRONOMICAL PROPORTIONS) with a score that may never be matached, not Alabama, not LSU, not SC,etc
There will be very few coaches who have a better 10 year SEC record, if any, than what Richt has put together, and most will be long gone before they even make it that long.
I can’t wait till the season get’s started, because the tables are about to turn and if you’re a dawg fan, it’s gonna be a fun year.
Loganville Loser
May 27th, 2011
7:36 pm
Does that job come with fries?
51WTGW50
May 27th, 2011
7:48 pm
Loganville Loser
May 27th, 2011
7:36 pm
Does that job come with fries?
No but you do get a Clown that will stand beside you. The Clowns name is BoBo. He is BoZo’s cousin.
JRW7
May 27th, 2011
7:58 pm
CMR is a good man, CMR is a good football coach, BUT CMR is not a GREAT FOOTBALL COACH.
Drive By Dawg
May 27th, 2011
8:04 pm
The sad fact of the matter is Georgia just isn’t as serious about having a winning football program as are many of our rivals. McGarity has done little to inspire confidence. Georgia fans should settle in, because our journey in the wilderness is just beginning. Our “big three” sports have traditionally underachieved and little seems to be changing.
ToccoaDawg
May 27th, 2011
8:11 pm
Those people who would get rid of Coach Richt would have fired Coach Dooley Long before 1980. Leave the man alone and let him do his job.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 27th, 2011
8:12 pm
To all of the outstanding folks, graduates of UGA or just supposedly fans,
Who do you people want as the coach of UGA if not CMR? The definition of a loser is one that sees a problem but only complains and offers no solutions. A dreamer think every year, their team should be on top and if not, make a change.
Most of us, myself included do not have 1/10th the knowledge that CMR has about football and probably about life in general. You think that putting together a team composed of 85 individuals of vastly different backgrounds and abilities is an easy task. You try to compare your job, to his job, when his is vastly harder than your’s will ever be.
Got a better offensive game plan, pass it on, if you think he is such a failure. Apply for the job he has if you know so much about what it takes to run the program. Criticize him for his beliefs and the fact that he tries to mold a lot of these young men into successful people for the game of life, if it makes you feel better.
I don’t care if you are a graduate or just an average fan. If you can not offer solutions, then why don’t you just try supporting the coach and the team, rather than being critical of anything they do, will do or have done. If not, why don’t you just go and cheer for the other team, because UGA doesn’t need you.
ugab
May 27th, 2011
8:15 pm
Fans have seen MR and his staff collect millions for the last 4 to 5 years from UGA. MR took alot of other coaches players and won a few games. MR won a SEC title with other coaches players. These players he won with were ga fans from the time they were born. These players were not a dream team!!!!!!!!Stinchomb and Pollack are gone and we have no OL or DL. We have no coaching or discipline on the team. How long do you think fans and alumni are going to put up with the soft play in the sec of MR. The fact of the matter is for the last 4 years ga has not been ready to play snot nose sec football. We would have a NC if with Saban. It is about the trenches in football.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
May 27th, 2011
8:22 pm
“Georgia football coach Mark Richt has full support of Adams, McGarity, athletic board”
Kiss him goodbye, he’s gone now. A vote of confidence is the beginning of the end. I know. They told me how good I was doing right before they brought in Big Bad Bruce, RIP. Bruce was so inbred he was bumping into furniture and had no bladder control. Our AD has big ears and Coach Richt has a bald spot but I am the one that got his a$$ painted.
kb
May 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
Drive by dawg 11th best record all time in college football, 6th most bowl appearances and tied for 3rd most bowl wins isn’t underachieving, Finsihing in the top 10 6 out of the last 10 years isn’t underachieving. all programs have their ups and downs. its a sad fact you can’t look at a larger picture.
throwing Mcgarity under the bus and he barely been on the job for a year.
Big Dawg
May 27th, 2011
8:29 pm
Here’s the deal. Richt as Mr. Nice Guy is going to last up until the Boise kickoff. Then it’s put up or shut up. And another major point to remember, Richt has lost 8 times out of 10 to Florida. That’s something all of the homers on this blog need to know that McGarity will take heavily into account. What else is the new AD going to say at this point? Let losing to the Gators continue, and Richt will be out of town faster than you can say Muschamp. Richt either needs to start performing on a higher level or turn in his whistle. As the saying goes, winning talks and b.s. walks. Enough of these ninth and tenth chances. Being a great person does not automatically translate into wins.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
May 27th, 2011
8:29 pm
I’ve been working out at running back for the new season. I think I can run through some people and shake off tackles. When the Clarke County Sheriff heard about me trying out for running back he had me tailed. Most UGA running backs spend a little time in jail before and sometimes during the season.
Dawg Tired
May 27th, 2011
8:39 pm
The national magazines seem to all think Boise State is a top 5 team. The ones I’ve read, including Lindy’s and Athlon, are high on UGA but much higher on BSU. It appears the so-called “experts” all believe Boise State will win the opener. If that does happen, I don’t see us bouncing back unless team attitude is much better than last two years. We just have not shown any fight lately, especially when adversity hits. If this year’s team plays hard all the time and represents the University well, I will be pleased. If they don’t, a change will need to be made.
Beast from the East
May 27th, 2011
8:39 pm
Not sure how I’d feel if the same situation was going on in Gainesvile.
Richt had GREAT success ealry in his tenure and he certainly is the type of person that anyone would want to be the face of their program.
Then you have a 3 year skid that was capped off by a bowl loss to a so-called “second tier” team. That ended up being the first losing season in 15 years. In the same year you had the Fulmer Cup “victory” because of all the arrests (albeit most of them petty) that caused public embarassment to the UGA faithful.
I see both sides and I honestly don’t know where I’d stand if it was the Gators. The infighting amongst the UGA faithful seems to be reaching a fevered pitch. Something needs to give soon or this could get even worse. For ya’lls sakes, I hope Coach Richt can turn things around.
Grandma Bandit is CMR's Fault
May 27th, 2011
8:47 pm
Mark Richt will be toast come December. BTW Grandma Bandit is a man.
powerhouse?
May 27th, 2011
8:50 pm
do nice guys beat boise or good coaches? dogs start 0-2 and ? Dogs start 2-0 and ?
Love, Patsy
Coach Grohbo
May 27th, 2011
8:50 pm
Someone’s lying, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone’s lying, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone’s lying, Lord, kum bay ya;
O Lord, kum bay ya.
will-cobb
May 27th, 2011
8:54 pm
If I had any say so, and I don’t! Mark Richt will be out coach for as long as he wants to coach!!!!!!!!
I have never been prouder of having him as our coach after reading some of the things I have read the last couple of days. I want the Dawgs to win like everyone else, but I want the Dawgs to graduate and learn how to become Dawgs off the field more than anything else (I know I sound like a Tech guy don’t I)! My hope is that Mark Richt leaves UGA when ever he wants too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA Doesn't Need Me?
May 27th, 2011
8:57 pm
Say it isn’t so. With all the great advice I have? Kool Aid drinkers are no better fans than people with a head on their shoulders.
Howard Floyd
May 27th, 2011
8:58 pm
It would be helpful if we knew some more about the experts who offer their criticism every chance they get. Bobo played quarterback in the SEC and has the support of one of the best offensive coaches in the nation over the last 20 years. When you are bringing your criticism, tell us where you played and coached. It will help the rest of us evaluate your expert advice.
JB
May 27th, 2011
9:00 pm
If we start out 0-2, I better learn how to fish.
Coach Grohbo
May 27th, 2011
9:08 pm
CAPTION:
“Greg, are you going to cut him loose this fall, or am I?”
Dawged Out
May 27th, 2011
9:10 pm
As a long time fan and follower of UGA football I would hope that you’re not content paying someone nearly 3M a year to win 8 or 9 games. Fact……..Richt’s been at UGA for 10 years and still no NC despite having players the caliber of Stafford, Moreno, A.J. Green, Thomas Davis, Odell Thurman, David Pollack, etc., and we’re still the “whipping post” for the Gators, Tide, etc. Look what both Saban and Meyer accomplished in a lot less time; 3 NC’s between the two of them. Richt can recruit, but you gotta be able to coach em. Hopefully all these changes being implemented are going to bear fruit. I think his current contract runs another 3 years, and if he ain’t got it together by then…..its time to cut your losses.
JB
May 27th, 2011
9:19 pm
The men in that picture have the titles…and the authority……….They don’t have the money….and the few high profile guys writing the checks that make a difference are use to a return on investment. Sitting in their box every year in Jacksonville and seeing our stands empty before the game is over, is a site they are tired of.
JB
May 27th, 2011
9:25 pm
CAPTION:
“Hell Greg, As President I’m doing a great job, and only make 600K. What’s wrong with that picture?”
SugarHillDawg
May 27th, 2011
9:27 pm
Talk about a meaningless get together. All that was accomplished is everybody got fed. It comes down to this, don’t win the East, you’re history CMR.
JB
May 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
Sugarhill…..we’ll know after the first two weeks.
G. Tampa Bedwetter
May 27th, 2011
9:37 pm
Comparing CMR to Coach Bryant is worse than comparing Elle McPherson to Phillis Diller.
Richt may be a decent coach, not for me to say; but I can say that I remember Coach Bryant very well, and never once did I ever hear him call the Crimson Tide faithful too stupid to understand the defense they were using.
Never did I hear Coach Bryant belittle a fan at an official Tide community get together.
I could go on and on. But for me; if Mark Richt is a Christian; I don’t wanna be one. He is always so very quick to blame everyone except his chosen crew.
PS get a decent looking Watergirl and you might get better athletes
Buckhead Bulldog
May 27th, 2011
9:40 pm
Sic ‘em Dogs! Mark Richt will restore order…another SEC crown within 3 years!