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
That's right
September 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
GTBob. Losing to Fla and Bama in 2008 wasnt an embarrassment, they were national champs that year and next. Losing to Tech the first time in a decade was. Nobody should lose to Tech.
Tobias Funke
September 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
LakeDawg
3 straight down years? I count ONE. That was last year. 09 was exactly as everyone should have predicted (Moreno and Stafford left early before this season). 08 was a damm fine season. Will someone please explain to me how a 10 win season is a down year! Did Alabama have a down year last year? Seriously!
bill arp
September 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
Richt leads the team from the sideline, QB’s lead the team ON the field. the last 4 years, we’ve had Joe T, Joe Cox, and now A Murray(6-9 as a starter). At some time, he’s got to address this issue.
Kinda like when General Lee lost Stonewall Jackson, he simply never could replace him as a QB on the field…
AJC ALERT!!!!!!!!!
September 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
UGA should cut you off from any communication about the program for allowing this type of activity.
SHAME ON YOU AJC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PT
September 15th, 2011
3:09 pm
Georgia is on a three game loosing streak. I’m trying to be positive… really! We should beat CC but it will be hard to find any satisfaction. Ole Miss too for that matter.
Beast from the East
September 15th, 2011
3:09 pm
Dooley has about as much say into UGA’s coaching decisions as Phil Fulmer does at UT. No contract extension says volumes. Richt must get it turned around this season or he’s done at UGA.
UGAFan
September 15th, 2011
3:10 pm
Good Lord, I usually just read instead of commenting, but I’ve got to say that Columbus’ sanctimonious BS is about as bad as the”TERRIBLE FANS” wanting Richt fired.
DJ Dawg
September 15th, 2011
3:11 pm
@Herschel Walker’s Many Personalities
What are you talking about other coaches getting along with the head coach??
AJC ALERT!!!!!!!!!
September 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
SHAME ON THE AJC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOUR SHIP IS SINKING BECAUSE OF THE HATRED THAT YOU ALLOW
David
September 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
Uh-Oh…….Dooley endorsing Richt…..means Adams will go against it because he cant possibly agree with Dooley
Herschel Walker's Many Personalities
September 15th, 2011
3:14 pm
@DJ Dawg
Because me and my many personalities will fill all the coaching roles:
Head Coach….me
OC……………..me(my 2nd personality)
DC……………..me(my 3rd personality)
etc.
No need to spend all kinds of money on coaches. I’ve got sooo many people living inside me I can handle all the duties!
UGA Dawg 97
September 15th, 2011
3:15 pm
I was a supporter, but am convinced it is time for a change. This team is just not prepared to play and that comes down to coaching. I know Falcon fans won’t like it but i’d love to see Booby Petrino between the hedges.
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 15th, 2011
3:15 pm
11 YEARS AND NO NATIONAL TITLES MARK RICHT!
DJ Dawg
September 15th, 2011
3:16 pm
@Herschel Walker’s Many Personalities
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 15th, 2011
3:16 pm
SUFFER WITH RICHT FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME UGA FANS!
Frank Lane
September 15th, 2011
3:17 pm
I am with Richt.
UGA Dawg 97
September 15th, 2011
3:17 pm
Aaron Murray needs to go too. He is too short and is mistake prone. He cost us 3 games last year and already one this year. Go out and find a real QB and send frat boy back to Florida where he came from!
GODAWGS75
September 15th, 2011
3:18 pm
Same people saying the same things. Give him next year, give him the rest of this season. This has been going on for several years now. How many more seasons are enough.
1. He can not correct the same errors year over year
2. Offensive playing calling: same calls over and over again that do not work
3. He can not beat Fla. and lost to UCF.
We need a change, someone who has the attitude we can win. I honestly think he goes into a game thinking we are going to lose. He has also not had a team that is a team player. He has kids who think they are superstars and only care about themselves.
If you want a player perspective, look at the articles from former players. The majority of them say the same thing. So take it from the actual players who played for him, he does not have the ability to coach a winning team anymore.
Beast from the East
September 15th, 2011
3:19 pm
Why does everyone want to compare current coaches to Paterno or the Bear? Those coaches will not come around again. If a HC wants to coach somwhere for 20+ years in today’s environment then they need to stick with FCS or high school ball. Not going to happen in big time college football this day and age.
Georgia | MrSEC.com
September 15th, 2011
3:19 pm
[...] coaching at their old schools, either.So it should come as no surprise legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley took up for Mark Richt in a short Q&A with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. But that doesn’t make his [...]
KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
September 15th, 2011
3:19 pm
THE FANS THAT WANT CMR FIRED ARE NOT FANS! WHY DO PEOPLE NOT GET THIS? THEY ARE WEIRD SMELLY TROLLS! UGA DOESN’T LIE, STEAL, AND CHEAT LIKE MOST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS DO. THIS TRAIN IS ON THE RIGHT PATH IT TAKES TIME. THIS IS NOT A MAJIC TRICK. BAMA AND FLORIDA LOST 4 A SEASON AGO AND WILL PROBABLY LOSE THE SAME THIS SEASON. THIS IS NOT AN EASY POSITION AND YES CMR WILL BE THE MAN.
you guys make me sick
September 15th, 2011
3:20 pm
@wally butts…….80? that was like…..a long, long, loooonnngggg time ago…….but hey, the bright side is it isn’t as long as auburn had to wait……..still along time though…..
DJ Dawg
September 15th, 2011
3:21 pm
@UGA Dawg 97
Are you seriuos?? Surely not!!!!!!!! You would really want that quitter between the hedges over CMR?
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 15th, 2011
3:21 pm
ITS GOING TO TAKE GENERAL SHERMAN TO COME BACK THRU UGA AND STRAIGHTEN THINGS BACK OUT,LIKE BURN IT DOWN AGAIN!
GENE
LES
NICK SAYS THANK YOU VINCE DOOLEY FOR KEEPING MARK RICHT ON!
KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
September 15th, 2011
3:25 pm
GEORGIA 75: GO BACK TO SLEEP MAN! YOU MAKE NO SENSE! WHAT PLAYER ARTICLES? THIS GUY DEVELOPS YOUNG BOYS INTO MEN DBAG! YOUR PROBABLY A YECH FAN.
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 15th, 2011
3:25 pm
GEORGIA TECH HAS 3 NATIONAL TITLES WHILE PLAYING IN THE S.E.C! LOOK IT UP MUTT FANS
O’YEAH PLUS THE 1 WE GOT BACK IN 1990 IN THE ACC!
Nick Saban
September 15th, 2011
3:25 pm
@ Kicka:
Son, my team went 10-3 last year. And with the defense I’ve put together this year there is no way on God’s green earth we will lose that many games this year.
Excuse me. I’ve got to go check on my BCS trophy over at the Bryant Museum. But then again UGA wouldn’t have any of those would they?
Later,
Nick
Tyrone Shulaces
September 15th, 2011
3:26 pm
Hotdam, that answer tells me it’s gonna be Derek, And daddy’s answer can’t look like he supports that or has any preference in that decision. Oh yes, it’s gonna be Derek. But will he leave UT?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:26 pm
Funny how the losers on here want to tell fans who want and know the program can be better to go pull for another team
No you go pull for a Rec team down the road from your house where everyone gets to play and everyone gets a trophy for losing all your ballgames
Your setting back the program
Richt is a great person I have nothing against him but your paying a man $3 million a year for lousy results come on
Whats funny is the same people on here who support years of mediocrity wouldnt support the CEO of their company if in 1 year took their company down which resulted in them being layed off
I guarantee you he would have no support
Tobias Funke
September 15th, 2011
3:27 pm
I’m beginning to think A. Murray has peaked. Just sling it, young man!!!
KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
September 15th, 2011
3:28 pm
PLEASE KEEP: IF YOU CHEAT LIKE THE PROGRAMS MENTIONED THEN YES WE WILL WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP BUT WE DON’T CHEAT. MAYBE THE NEXT GUY WILL SINCE THE NCAA DOES NOTHING ABOUT CHEATERS ANYWAY! BE COOL DBAG
Sue Henson
September 15th, 2011
3:28 pm
I think the best coach in the Dooley family is now wearing orange and singing Rocky Top at UT….Seems Vince is senile and out of touch…..
boots
September 15th, 2011
3:28 pm
Let’s see how the year goes. All of this talk is doing nothing to help the team and only hurts the program. CMR is a good guy and seems to be moving things forward. Obviously, the sooner the better.
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:29 pm
Bill, “the last 4 years, we’ve had Joe T’
Joe T was like 5 years ago. Stafford replaced him early in the season in 2006
Paul Has A Small Johnson
September 15th, 2011
3:29 pm
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
Unanimous National Championships
UGA 1
GT 0
KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
September 15th, 2011
3:30 pm
I-95 GO BACK TO YOUR HOURLY JOB AND SHUT IT
PLEASE KEEP RICHT UGA LOSERS
September 15th, 2011
3:30 pm
WHAT DOES LES,GENE AND NICK HAVE THAT 11YEAR MAN RICHT DOES’NT? A CRYSTAL BALL TROPHY! PLEASE KEEP RICHT MUTT FANS,PRETTY PLEASE!
Ron Smith
September 15th, 2011
3:31 pm
AMEN Coach Dooley!!
LakeDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:31 pm
@Tobias Funke… I see you fail to mention the 8-5 year. Nevertheless, its not about the record, its about performing up to your potential. 2008-coming off a #2 national ranking and bringing everybody back for the most part. Preseason #1 with THREE #1 NFL draft choices on offense and lost to EVERY team on their schedule that had similar talent…by a LARGE margin. They were lucky to win against some mediocre teams. Not only that, but it signaled a trend that has continued. As a matter of fact, the astute observer noticed the beginning of this trend in the Sugar Bowl against WVU. At first it came in dribs and drabs (the dam doesn’t burst overnight). WVU, then even in the great 2007, a 35-14 loss to poor Tenn. team . Richt got the first taste of pressure that season and it spurred him to finish strong. Then there was the mediocre 8-5 year, followed with a 6-7 losing season. Now 0-2. So, yes. 3+ years of a down swing. And that’s not all. My biggest fear is he will turn it around, because he’s desperate. Get his extension and then relax again as we all watch the Dawgs underachieve again and people like you point to the great 2011 season and say CMR deserves a lifetime contract.
Having said all that, my fervent wish is CMR does turn it around. I want UGA to succeed. I’m just tired of the mediocre masses castigating the Dawg fans who want UGA to live up to their potential.
GODAWGS75
September 15th, 2011
3:31 pm
Dear Tobias Funke:
Please take your medicine 2009 a good season?
We lost to Oklahoma State, LSU, Tenn., Fla as usual, Kentucky. It is not about beating some teams, it is about the same issues over and over again. And by the way, if you didn’t realize, Tenn Tech is not a team to consider as a good win. Mark Richt can not beat Fla. even in a bad season for them. It’s time to get a coach that thinks we can win, and can bring a team together. I don’t mind losing, but I hate losing to the same team over and over and over again. Fla fans think of us as we do when we play a no name college team. They probably pay us to come there to play.
BusyBee
September 15th, 2011
3:32 pm
Richt has done the unthinkable – as a many decade UGA football fan I no longer eagerly read stories about the time nor do I ask “who’s winning” anymore. Losing the rank and file is a terrible thing.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
September 15th, 2011
3:32 pm
KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
With a statement like that please do UGA a favor and go pull for Albany State
So UGA is not good enough to win championships unless we have to stoop to cheating
Go find another program you Hamburger Flipper
Nick Saban
September 15th, 2011
3:33 pm
@Please:
Actually I have 2. Give credit where credit is due.
Later,
Nick
Mark D
September 15th, 2011
3:34 pm
Thank you, Coach Dooley! The fans that want Richt booted are the same type of fans that were shown on ESPN leaving the UGA/SC game with 3:00 minutes left. A bunch of fair weather hypocrites. Support when we are up and abandon when we are down. I have no use for these type of fair weather fans. Support Coach Richt and the Dawgs or shut up! Keep all the divisive commentary to yourselves. We are going to get back on track with Coach Richt at the head of the pack. I am positive of it.
(&)
September 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
with the exception of the cheating au tigers what team in the sec really did anything last season?
Cupcake City
September 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
Like Small Johnson said go find another program your a loser who excepts mediocrity
To come on here and act like oh well we dont cheat pat us on the back but if we do cheat we would win your a simple minded retard
Tobias Funke
September 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
Do the bloggers on here have confidence in this years team?
What about the next two or three years?
In the next two years Mark Richt will at least win one NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP at UGA. Our talent is mostly sophomores and freshman. The cupboard is mighty full.
I can handle another 8 or 9 win season. I have said all along it will be at least 9 wins this year,btw. NEXT YEAR IS MAKE OR BREAK FOR RICHT.
Dean
September 15th, 2011
3:36 pm
It was unrealistic to expect greatness from this years squad. Depleted O-Line, Lose AJ, and kicked two RB;s off the team. This team is built to win next year and the year after that. Do not change direction now as great things are ahead. Of course, you can also listen to fickly fans and people who support other teams. Just turn in your UGA hat when you do.
Deb
September 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
The man (Richt) does the best he can with the “hand that is dealt” him and a darn good job at that. Go ahead and sell out a good man like that and you set a real bad taste in the college atheletic community. Are we sending the message that if the ones you delegate to aren’t perfect, you will take the hit no matter how good YOU are?