Q&A: Vince Dooley says Mark Richt will be at Georgia ‘for a long time’
Vince Dooley
Q&A WITH VINCE DOOLEY
With an 0-2 start on the heels of 6-7 season, UGA President Michael Adams and Athletic Director Greg McGarity have found themselves having to answer questions lately about Mark Richt’s long-term security as the Bulldogs’ football coach. Of course, they’re both very non-committal on the issue, considering there are 10 games remaining in the regular season. President Adams was asked about it again on Thursday at UGA’s cabinet meeting. “I think this is the time for all of us to come together and get behind this group of guys who played a heck of a game last Saturday and deserve our support,” he said. “I’ve never folded on anything 15 or 20 percent into it. That’s what we would be doing. . . . It’s time for us as a community to get behind this team.” Earlier this week, McGarity told me, “I’m not going to do a weekly scorecard on our football coach. We’ve got 10 more games to play.”
Vince Dooley is uniquely qualified to talk about the situation since he’s a former AD and head football coach at Georgia and actually was the man responsible for hiring Richt. Dooley was at both of the Bulldogs’ games this season and will be there Saturday as his 1971 team is honored on the 40th anniversary of its 11-1 season. So here’s what he had to say when I asked him Thursday to share his thoughts on Richt’s situation:
Q: Coach Richt has endured a lot of criticism lately in the wake of the Bulldogs’ 0-2 start and declining win totals the last three seasons. What are your thoughts on the job he’s doing?
A: “If you stay in this business long enough, you’re going to go through some down times. Joe Paterno had about four losing seasons in five years before he went on his run. Bear Bryant, in 1969 and ‘70, had some struggling times. He got beat by Vanderbilt up in Nashville. I remember his athletic director saying he was going to look for a new coach. At the end of the season he said, ‘I looked all over the country and can’t find one better than the one I got right now.’ I’ve been through it myself. In fact, we’re celebrating the ‘71 team reunion this week. That was an 11-1 team that finished sixth or seventh in the county. But the two years before that were down years. We won the SEC championship in ‘66 and ‘68 prior to that. So you have to be able to weather those down years and go forward. Every coach has to go through it. And usually you come out a better coach by having gone through it. So I’m confident Coach Richt is going to address it.”
Q: What were your impressions of the first two games this season and what do you think about the 2011 team?
A: “That first team we played this year, Boise State, is really good. They’re great, in fact. They’re great because of that defensive line and that quarterback. They can play with anybody. We played good enough to win that ballgame against South Carolina. They out-played them. But you have these turnovers – and they’re all bad – but these were disastrous because they resulted in touchdowns. They were touchdown turnovers. They weren’t turnovers that just gave them an opportunity to score touchdowns; they were touchdowns. So this team probably should have won that game and is very capable of ending up with a very strong year. You can look to the example of Virginia Tech last year. That was a lot worse than this. After they got beat by Boise they lost to James Madison. I think South Carolina is a little better than James Madison. So, anyway, it’s just what you have to go through.
“Coach Richt is a proven coach. He’s the type of guy you want at Georgia, the way he conducts himself, his character and the way he represents the university. I think he has the support of the greatest majority of people because they believe in him. I believe in him, too. So I think he’ll come out of it as other coaches have gone through it and have come out of it. He’ll be fine. He’ll be here a long time.”
Q: So what happened? How do you explain the downturn of late?
A: “I don’t think we’ve gotten quite the production from our players. Maybe we haven’t recruited quite as well. We haven’t been fortunate with some of these athletes. You can go back to that as well. And other teams have come on strong. It’s hard to think that other teams may have caused this but other teams are good. They’re trying to win, too. You’ve got new blood coming in every year and competitors each and every year that are all striving to make it. So everybody can’t be on top all the time.”
Q: Do you think giving up total control of the offense was a mistake for Richt?
A: “I don’t think so. The offensive production has actually been better. And I did the same thing after five years. As you take on more and more responsibilities as the head coach, the quarterbacks and offensive still demand more and more time and you’re not able to give it to them. I did the same thing and I think he made the right decision. He’s certainly still involved. You have to remain involved, but you can’t be totally involved. Even Steve Spurrier, as much as he’s involved, he’s got a guy who is coordinating and working with the quarterbacks. He still runs it from the sideline. So, no, I don’t think that’s the reason things haven’t gone as well. But people feel like they have to point to something when we’re not doing as well and that’s just one variant they point to based on the fact that it’s a change from what we’d been doing.”
Q: Let me ask you to put on your AD’s hat for a minute. Coach Richt will have only two years remaining on his contract heading into next season. So the decision is not just whether to keep him, but whether to extend his contract as well. So what has to happen for Richt for that to happen?
A: “My thoughts are we just started the season. People are talking about things we ought to be thinking about after the season. You just started. Yeah, there are some concerns. Coach Richt is concerned; we’re all concerned. But he’s got to be able to address the issues and he’s just getting started. At the end of the season, we’ll see where we are. The assumption is it’s going to be bad. Let’s wait and see. I think we’ve got a chance to have a good football season. I really do.”
– Chip Towers
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455 comments Add your comment
The Bottom Line
September 15th, 2011
2:33 pm
Still stuck with Bobo and Grantham.
Kerryb
September 15th, 2011
2:34 pm
GTBOB, couldn’t win with Stafford, Moreno, and A.J. Green? I believe that team in 2008 went 10-3 and won the Capital One bowl. I guess you also forget that in 2007 that team that Stafford and Moreno was on WAS the best team in the country that didn’t get the opportunity to play for a NC. That team would have killed LSU that year if they would have played in the SEC title game. You also forget that the defense on the 2008 team was totally decimated by injuries. We could score points on teams but couldn’t stop anyone. All of that wasn’t coach Richt’s fault. It just happens.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
DawginLex, I don’t think McGarity has to go that far right now. Those kids responded extremely well last Saturday and I don’t think there will be any let downs the remainder of the year. We didn’t get the opportunity to play and tune up against FCS schools. So be it, it is what it is. Tune up this week. Run better all year long.
Saban, which face are you talking out of this week?
jr
September 15th, 2011
2:36 pm
Nate, Dooley doesn’t have to worry about that…until we have the Second Coming of Herschel Walker, Dooley will remembered as the greatest coach to ever set foot in Sanford Stadium.
Con Kellerhals
September 15th, 2011
2:36 pm
I love the comments like, “fire him and get the Boise coach”. Does anyone really believe he would leave a school where they play 1-2 games a year to come to a conference where you better be ready every week? Fire CMR and go back to the merry-go-round before he came with one poor excuse of a coach after another. CMR has proven he is a very good coach, and like coach Dooley said once he gets through this he will be better for it.
Wallace Butts was the last UGA coach with integrity and ethics
September 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
Dooley: “We haven’t been fortunate with some of these athletes.”
That’s the understatement of the year, especially coming from the man who invented “remedial studies,” the scam whereby athletes could stay in college for four years and complete their playing eligibility without even being close to graduating. Fortunately, Jan Kemp exposed Dooley as a cheating fraud. Dooley was going to run for Congress, but the shocking revelations in Kemp’s lawsuit against Dooley and UGA derailed his political aspirations, for which we’re all eternally grateful.
Dooley would like to maintain an image of this wise old sage who put UGA on the map, but the truth is a bit different, isn’t it.
Mark Richt is just following the same trail that Dooley blazed years ago, but with much less success on the playing field.
Biff Pocoraba Fan club
September 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
Dooley’s son is at Tennessee and UGA plays Tenn. every year. Of course Dooley wants to have Richt at UGA as long as possible to increase the job security of his son at Tenn.
Sick of this BS from Dooley: “Richt is doing just fine. He will be at UGA a long, long time.”
Glad the Michael Adams fired you Dooley with your love of mediocrity.
jj
September 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
Don’t kid yourself. Vince Dooley wants Richt to stay around a long time. That can only help Derek Dooley!
Georgie Fans
September 15th, 2011
2:39 pm
You all listen to old Vince. He’ll keep in the middle of the pack for another 5 or 6 years. Bottom line. UGA can’t compete with FLA, BAMA, LSU and now Auburn. Georgie fans fess up to it, you have not been and never will be a legitimate top level football program. You can sell all of “G” shirts and hats you will buy, but that don’t make you anymore than what you are,,,,a 2nd tier program.
James
September 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
@DawginLex Thanks for your sensable insight.Hopefully there will be no changes but if so please not Kirby Smart.What has he done as a “head” coach?
tony
September 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
Did the SEC have four different teams to win national titles back to back when coach Dooley coach? Did coach Dooley have the #2 recriuting program10 straight seasons? My guess is no. The landscape has changed since coach Dooley coached. I will always support our young men and I also believe Mr.Richt is a better coach than what he displays on the sideline…….I just don’t believe the man likes Ga fans and UGA tradition.
production from our players
September 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
now might be who’s fault that is?
SEC Voice of Reason
September 15th, 2011
2:42 pm
Vince is correct; the rest of the conference wants McGarity to give him a life time contract. The SEC East schools will even chip in 100k per year to subsidize it.
Maybe we haven’t recruited quite as well
September 15th, 2011
2:43 pm
now might be who’s fault that is?
SEC Voice of Reason
September 15th, 2011
2:44 pm
James, what had Ron Zook done as a HC? Even that bumbling fool went 2-1 against the Richtster.
Always a Jacket
September 15th, 2011
2:44 pm
Coach Richt is a great person and good coach (not quite as bad as Chan Gailey, but looking more and more like Chan). Something is missing. Great teams win these close games. UGA has been losing them for last several years. Some of the fans say lack of discipline or play calling or conditioning. Whatever, ultimately, it is Richt’s responsibility and I dont see how the AD can keep him. Especially as top recruits pick other programs because they believe Richt is gone. Even Papa Joe would be fired in today’s college football world if he had 4 straight losing seasons and losing recruits. If not for Hershel, Dooley would have been gone sooner too.
The Kool-Aid Company thanks you
September 15th, 2011
2:45 pm
Look at the gushing fountains of Kool-Aid. Swill it down, folks, you’ll need it this year.
17 of 20
September 15th, 2011
2:45 pm
The Georgia coach will be just fine in his new job with The Arthur Murray Dance Studio.
Kerryb
September 15th, 2011
2:46 pm
All of you complete idiots that are calling for change, who is out there with experience as a head coach that would be proven enough to coach in the SEC would you pick? Don’t say the guy at TCU or Boise because you may win one game against an SEC team but it doesn’t mean you can do it on a continuous basis. You may win against teams in the MWC conference but that doesn’t mean you can in the SEC every week. Who else? Michigan had to get a guy from a lower conference and Miami had to settle for the Temple coach. Don’t say some coordinator like Smart because obviously you want to win now and that’s not going to happen. With a new coach and new system we will lose 4-5 games for the next two years. Every coach that is at a program long enough is going to go through some tough times. Coach Richt’s fault is that he won too many games and 2 SEC titles in a short period of time and you got spoiled and expect that every year. Well, that’s just not reality. From what I saw on Saturday the ship is about to turn around and then all of you fleas will be jumping right back on the dog acting like you never doubted coach Richt.
LakeDawg
September 15th, 2011
2:46 pm
I love coach Dooley and I agree with what he said. Give CMR the rest of the season and then evaluate. Its possible UGA will run the table. If so, hallelujah! Give CMR an extension. But I’m afraid UGA is going go about 7-5. More disappointment to come. If that’s the case then we get another coach.
Soy Un Perdedor
September 15th, 2011
2:46 pm
Dooley sounds just like a man who was directly responsible for hiring this loser coach.
That was CYA coach speak if ever I heard it.
Whatever… It’s only Georgia Football, after all. It’s not like it means anything.
DawginLex
September 15th, 2011
2:48 pm
If Georgia football doesn’t mean anything, why are you on this blog?
Why are there literally thousands of comments every week about UGA football?
Columbus
September 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
See, someone in the know, instead of young and negative internet trolls, thells all of them and AJC, like it is. The media and AJC are making something small into something that is not reality based on the YOUNG, IGNORANT VOCAL MINORITY AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
Recruits: UGA is fine. Richt is not going anywhere. The microwave generation will jsut have to not get what they want IMMEDIATELY or you knwo what, maybe not at all. because if they want Richt gone, TOUGH. ITS NTO GOING TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUBLISHING A FAIR ARTICLE AND OFFERING THE FLIPSIDE INSTEAD OF LISTENIGN TO ALL THE LITTLE CRYING BABIES, THE MINORITY, AS BEING THE VOICE ANDSENTIMENT OF THE BULLDOG NATION.
THESE YOUNGUNS HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW S#!Y BUT THEY SURE ARE USING THE POWER OF THE INTERNET TO MISLEAD THE MASSES AND MEDIA.
LOL YOU THINK THEY KNOW MORE THAN DOOLEY? THE SAME ONES WILL BE ON HERE STILL TEARING DOWN PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY CANT HANDLE SOME LOSSES!
MAN THEY BETTER NEVER, EVER GET MARRIED! KIDS WAGGING THE DAWGS!
1eyedJack
September 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
“So everybody can’t be on top all the time.”
That’s what I keep telling my ol’ lady.
Joey
September 15th, 2011
2:50 pm
“Coach Richt does deserve the opportunity to turn this team around. IMO I think he already has after watching how well those kids responded against SC.”
*********************************************
Huh?
We haven’t won a game since November, actually have lost 3 in a row, and he’s already “turned the team around?”
I think I’ll wait until we start winning more than we lose before I write something like that.
shanahan
September 15th, 2011
2:50 pm
Take the turnovers away and we win 42-17…this team has what it takes, they just need to get it together and I believe we’ll have a top 10 team when the season is done.
gt4ever
September 15th, 2011
2:50 pm
Vince Dooley, The worst ambassador of college football that has ever coached….. The worst cheating skumbag ever to coach…. I guess he does have a unique perspective… lol…
Soy Un Perdedor
September 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
Kerryb
September 15th, 2011
2:46 pm
“All of you complete idiots that are calling for change, who is out there with experience as a head coach that would be proven enough to coach in the SEC would you pick?”
I’d go for Rich Rod.
1eyedJack
September 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
And thank you Chip for actually going out and getting an interview, something your colleagues should learn how to do.
Valid Points
September 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
Dooley made valid points, I don’t think we’ve gotten quite the production from our players. Maybe we haven’t recruited quite as well. We haven’t been fortunate with some of these athletes. I do believe all of you know the answers to this. COACHES!!!
ga gator
September 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
Good points LakeDawg, but if UGA can beat MS St at home I believe they will go at worst 9-3 and maybe even 10-2. The talent is there except maybe the DC.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
September 15th, 2011
2:52 pm
Vince oughta know what he’s talking about. Remember that National Championship season in 80?
Know what his team’s record was the year prior to that championship, in 79? Here’s a hint – there were bumper stickers that read “Dump Dooley”.
Yeah…we went from “Dump Dooley” bumper stickers in 79 to a National Championship in 80.
Vince knows the drill.
Soy Un Perdedor
September 15th, 2011
2:53 pm
@shanahan
If only we hadn’t done all of those things that caused us to lose, then we would have won!
MOST.DELUSIONAL.FANBASE.IN.THE.WORLD…
GATA!!!
Joey
September 15th, 2011
2:53 pm
I’m pulling for Richt to turn things around, but he hasn’t done it yet. And I’m not gonna get giddy over a LOSS to SC . . .
GTBob
September 15th, 2011
2:55 pm
Kerryb, I didn’t say he couldn’t win, I said that he couldn’t make it to the SEC championship with first round NFL draft picks at the key skill positions. Going 10-3 with the amount of talent he had in 2008 was embarrassing. It has only spiraled downward since then. Open your eyes man.
UGA 94
September 15th, 2011
2:55 pm
what do you expect Vince to say? of course he’ll back up Richt, it would be in poor taste if he didn’t and he hired guy after all.
All goes back to the fact that folks are rationalizing a loss to USCe; that tells us all we need to know. I certainly hope we go on a run and Richt proves me wrong but I am afraid that is not going to be the case.
Columbus
September 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
These are just really terrible fans and they are leading the media around like nothing I ahve ever seen. How many of these fans calling for Richts head will listen to wisdom and experience and will actually come together and get behind this team? Be a good fan? None. They are probably posting more of the same garbage they have been because thats what they do because they are ignorant and immature for the most part and are TERRIBLE FANS.
Milburn Drysdale
September 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
@GtBob…….Cent Fla and Boise St are both light years ahead of GaReck
That's right
September 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
Vince’s teams rarely beat themselves with penalties, special teams or turnovers. Richt would be wise to lean on Vince for some advice in those areas.
PT
September 15th, 2011
2:58 pm
If Adams and McGarity are happy with the direction of Georgia football after the latest finanical investments into the program, so am I. Go Dawgs
38 Yardline Dawg
September 15th, 2011
2:59 pm
Will someone tell me WHEN the turn around for Richt’s Dawgs will start? I mean, I thought after loosing to UCF would be the start. I also thought loosing to the Gators last year may be a good time for a turn around. Of course, I say that after just about every Gator game I can remember.
shanahan
September 15th, 2011
3:00 pm
@ Soy Un Perdedor
Not delusional..hopeful plus we had SC’s number all game except for Lattimore. Boise state was just a beat down but if SC is supposedly a top 15 team…and they need 3 points win a game then what does that say about UGA??Like I said we win 42-17 without the turnovers…our defense played great, and our offense was killing SC secondary. But hey if your a loser…might as well think like one
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
Biff Pocoraba Fan club .. first off, its Biff PocorOba, not raba, but anyway. Nice to see someone happy to have a NC winning coach fired. Guess you’re not a real UGA fan. Real Miami fans weren’t excited to see Don Shula fired either regardless of him not winning a Super Bowl in a while.
@GTBob, you didn’t say he couldn’t win, but you did say he couldn’t MAKE IT in the SEC and to be honest, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? It’s splitting hairs. If he were winning in the SEC would you say he couldn’t make it in the SEC. Probably not. You got called out correctly so own up to it.
Herschel Walker's Many Personalities
September 15th, 2011
3:04 pm
I would suggest firing Coach Rocht at the end of the year and replacing the entire staff with…………me! No need to spend money on additional coaches and I’ve got plenty of ‘people’ to fill the roles! Wait until S&C Coach Herschel gets ahold of these out of shape Dawg players! Nothing but 100s of pushup and situp to get their sorry behinds in shape!
Plus no concerns about the coaches trying to get along with the head coach!
LakeDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:04 pm
@Columbus…I’ve been a rabid Dawg fan since 1971 and that magical ‘71 team. I’m not a kid. Yes, every coach goes through a down time. Richt’s is going on 3+ years. Time for him to turn it around. He’s got until the end of this year. If he can’t turn it around this year, then he will be going on 4+ years next year. At that time, it will be obvious that this stretch is more than a little rough patch and is systemic. Most of the coaches mentioned in the article had their down period at the start of their career at that particular school. The ones that were in the middle of their stint didn’t have a 4 year down turn (Bryant-2 yrs; Dooley-3 yrs.) and didn’t have a losing record during their down turn. They also turned it around…with a lot of pressure (remember “Dump Dooley”?). Richt has had his down period. Its time for him to turn it around.
Tobias Funke
September 15th, 2011
3:04 pm
Many “fans” know nothing about football. People love to discuss the 5 straight bcs champs coming from the SEC. During that five year stretch, go back and look at auburns and lsu’s records, usc’s records…etc. “When one team is up, another has to be down.”
Relax, people. 12 games left to play. Yes, 12.
Go Dawgs!
Herschel Walker's Many Personalities
September 15th, 2011
3:04 pm
Whoops I meant Coach Richt! Thanks for catching that one English major Herschel!
AJC ALERT!!!!!!!!!
September 15th, 2011
3:05 pm
Again you have allowed the spewing to continue on this well below average site you call news media! As you can see the trolls are the same old trolls under different handle. You have lost interest in 99% of true DAWG fans and will continue to based on the way you conduct business.
SHAME ON THE AJC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 15th, 2011
3:06 pm
THANK GOD UGA IS GOING TO KEEP MARK RICHT FOR A LONGTIME! THIS IS WHAT SUFFERING IS ALL ABOUT UGA FANS!
dawgfacedboy
September 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
The question I have then is when is enough enough for some of you? Do you give him another year? 2? Like the article said, his contract is up in 2 years and if it’s not extended that will kill recruiting. He either has to be gone or extended. Are you prepared to add 3 years on? Are you prepared to give him another 5 years? Just asking here.
Some just don’t seem to be ready to give up on him and I was just wondering how much more you would be willing to take.