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
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
Hey flat tire: GT accepts mediocrity? Gailey’s worst season was 7-5 and he got fired.
You guys keep Richt at 6-9 in his last 15 games… THATS accepting mediocrity.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:38 pm
LOL
Hey the workers at ENRON should have sucked it up and supported the leadership there right
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:38 pm
Dawg 97 has got no clue. Wants to kick Aaron Murray out. Hysterical. Go freaking learn the game before you call people out. Go learn about the QB position first too. Which brings up Petrino. He had a team last year with a BIG TIME QB and very very good RB and didn’t do much with that either. In fact, he barely beats UGA in their worst year in over 30 years, loses to Auburn and Bama, then goes to a BCS bowl and LOSES TO A LOUSY BIG TEN OHIO STATE TEAM. Yeah, let’s bring him in here. That’s much better.
eyeswideopen
September 15th, 2011
3:39 pm
Yeah,Yeah,Yeah,that is what about his self too,better check with Adams
Nick Saban
September 15th, 2011
3:39 pm
@ Tobias:
Richt a National Title? LOL! Son, that’s not happening. He’s guaranteed at least 1 loss in the next 2 years since he plays my team. It’s always “wait til next year” with you Dawg fans.
He had his shot when the league didn’t have the coaches it does now. His window to win one has closed.
Cheer up though. Maybe once he’s fired it won’t take another 31 years to win one!
Later,
Nick
UGAmutt
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
I think we go 9-1 with a loss to either Tennessee or Florida. If the loss is close to Tenn, Richt stays. If the loss is to FL, and it keeps us from winning the division, Richt will be gone.
That said, there are some REALLY good football players on this team: Tyson, J. Jones, ‘Tree, Robinson, Rambo, Commings and Smith (even though he tackles like a p*$$y). Murray, Mitchell, Bennett, Figgins, IC, OC, Aron White, B. Jones, Dallas Lee.
I’m behind you, Mark. Show me you’ve still got balls to go with that Bible, brother.
LakeDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
Hey, if CMR wins 9 games, great! But as someone mentioned, I have lost faith in him. I see 7-5 or 6-6. I truly hope I’m wrong.
Music City Dawg
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
Those in the media need to stop trying to MAKE the news and only report. They are the ones really trying to “stir this pot” with Coach Richt so they can make more news and make more money. They’re not helping UGA, the players or the fans.
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
Tampa: Petrino would do WAY more with UGA talent than Richt. Look at what he did at Louisville, then Arkansas (way less talented teams).
SMALL PAUL!
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
Paul Small: I will show how to flip burgers big boy!
Sick and Tired
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
“Coach Richt does deserve the opportunity to turn this team around.” “Give the man the season and see where we are then.” Are you people serious? You were saying the same thing last year! This coaching staff has proven over the last three years that they don’t have the ability to keep up anymore. How long are you going to continue to support them? How bad does it have to get before you finally open your eyes and stop making excuses for them? Losing but “playing hard” is still LOSING!
Easily Amused
September 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
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.
Shucks Columbus. How do you expect us to be good fans when you say such terrible things about us?
Dork!
GODAWGS75
September 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
DEAR: KICKA MAN WHEN DOWN
I did not do all caps, like you did to get a point across. Go to hotseat.com and you can link to some of the players articles about him, if you need more let me know, so read before you open your medicore loving mouth. You have to cheat to win a Na. Championship, man you sure are digging pretty hard. Have you ever played sports before? Are you Mark Richt? I bet you are. Did you go to UGA? Do you donate to the program? Probably all no. What men did he develop, can you give me some names of players he developed? I can give you numerous names of players kicked off the team and suspended. I can also let you watch the games and see the same mistakes over and over again. Like Spurrier said, “Georgia recruits the best talent, but I have no idea what happens to it when it goes there.”
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
GT Joe, you accept that same typical 3-5 loss year EVERY YEAR
LakeDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
BTW Murray is the man. He is going to be a great QB if the coaching doesn’t let him down.
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
No tampa, we don’t accept it. Thats why gailey was fired.
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
And Gailey actually finished (yes, the post season bowl counts in the record, even if it is a loss) 2007 at 7-6
trouble
September 15th, 2011
3:43 pm
DawginLex,
Another gem of a comparison. Now comparing UGA football with UGA football! If you would have used UK Basketball with UGA football you might have been a little closer to the importance of each sport at their respective schools.
Rich Brooks had not been at UK for 9,10 or 11 years when he started to regress or progress. You are allowed to have one or two underperforming seasons, but being pre season ranked no.1 and falling flat on your face while losing to your conference rival year after year is more to the point.
The fact that Rich Brooks was rebuilding was the most valid point while Mark Richt should never have to rebuild, he should be reloading with all the talent in this state. One other point. How many first, second and third round NFL draft picks did Rich Brooks have during that time? Now how many has CMR had?
Poor argument, but at least you are trying to defend the dawgs, no matter how flawed.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:43 pm
Tobias Funke
Please tell me you dont believe that statement you posted about a NC in 2 yrs
If 10-3 with Stafford Moreno Greene and MO Mass is the best he can do with no SEC East title he isnt ever going to do it
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:44 pm
YOU DON”T!?!?!? How long did he continue 4-6 losses a year? Enlighten us on that one.
sneakuponum
September 15th, 2011
3:45 pm
We’ll fire him, no we want, we’ll fire him, no we want, we’ll fire him, no we want, she loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not. Leave the man alone and let him coach or not coach, or coach, or not coach.
75 DBAG FTIRE
September 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
YOU MY FRIEND SHOULD BE FIRED TOO! CMR PUT US BACK ON THE MAP DBAG! YOU HAVE NO CLUE IF YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN WIN EVERY YEAR IN THIS LEAGUE. HE HAD ONE LOSING SEASON. THIS IS NOT MAJIC LITTLE BOY!
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
Tampa says:GT Joe, you accept that same typical 3-5 loss year EVERY YEAR
Umm, Richt is averaging 4 losses per year the past SIX years, and you accept that…mediocrity is at home in Athens.
Joey
September 15th, 2011
3:47 pm
What year did it become a statute in the State of Georgia that in order to be a UGA fan, one must also be a Richt fan?
Dang, I like the man. He’s a good man.
But you guys are over the top with your fanatical love of Richt.
He got to Athens and led the Dawgs very close to the top of the mountain. Twice. But, he also has let the program fall completely off the mountain.
Proof? You Richt fan-atics are giddy about a LOSS. One of you said he has already turned the program around!
Last time I looked, Richt has lost 3 in a row. After losing 4 in a row last season. He may turn it around – I’ll sing his praises if it happens. But he ain’t done it yet.
75 DBAG FTIRE
September 15th, 2011
3:48 pm
YOU WIN THE DBAG OF THE DAY AWARD! HATER!!!!
trouble
September 15th, 2011
3:48 pm
You know why people, fans, and media are beating down on Mark Richt? Because all of our blowhard fans spouting off at the mouth all winter long about “Dream Team” and the changes CMR were making was going to make us an automatic leader for the SEC East. When in reality our fans should have been keeping their mouths shut while privately hoping and praying we could come out an stay competitive with Boise and USC. But we have too many fans who know little about collegiate sports to make a rational decisions while losing good or great players to the NFL, players being kicked off the team and others giving up football all together. Sometimes it is just better and watch than have your bragging mouth overload what can really happen.
Easily Amused
September 15th, 2011
3:49 pm
What has Mark Richt done to deserve all of this controversy?
Hmm… Maybe it’s what he hasn’t done?
I-DOG
September 15th, 2011
3:50 pm
As I have posted many times, I think waiting until the end of the season to “evaluate things” is a mistake. Just like I said scheduling Boise State was a mistake.
There were RARE instances MANY MANY years ago when coaches had 3-4 down years and come back and went on to have legendary careers (like Paterno and Bear Bryant). Most of the time putting off the tough but correct decision just delays the healing.
In my humble opinion all waiting does is hurt recruiting and hurt our chances of getting the best possible coaching staff. If we do something now/soon and name an interim coach from the current staff, we tell every potential coach in the country that the job is open and the hiring will be in Dec/Jan. There might be a a couple of big names that might seek Georgia out, knowing that the job is open. The interim staff will also be able to play the younger players a little more because they will be DIRECTED to and because they will understand that winning one extra game and going 7-4 instead of 6-5 isn’t the primary goal this season…
The primary goal should be to play some of the young players so that we aren’t so thin at OL and ILB next season when we lose some folks to graduation/NFL, to get the best possible coaching staff to Athens, and to minimize the impact that the poor play the coaching change have on this recruiting season.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:50 pm
GT Joe
When Tech can play in a stadium that at least has 75,000 people stop worrying about UGA or being relevant
Tech rarely has 40,000 fans show up to a game and begs people to buy tickets
No Tech doesnt care; stay in the library or go outside and clean the graffiti off the campus walls and streets
Joey
September 15th, 2011
3:51 pm
“The man (Richt) does the best he can with the “hand that is dealt” him”
***********************************************
What are you talking about? Richt is the DEALER. This is the coaching staff that he wanted. These are the players that he recruited. this is HIS system.
dogbone
September 15th, 2011
3:51 pm
I am thankful that coach Dooley got out of coaching when he did……… CMR and Bobo are burnt toast!!!!!!!
MountainDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:52 pm
CMR knows there’s plenty of things to improve, so we’ll see what he does to address them. I’m not happy about the downturn the last few seasons either, but he’s earned the right to play out this season. The Dawgs have the (raw) talent to (still) win 8 games, but with poor execution &/or coaching &/or key injuries…it could slide into a .500 season. I hope it doesn’t happen, but we’ll soon find out.
Big Dirty Dawg
September 15th, 2011
3:52 pm
Dooley wouldnt be remembered if it werent for Hershel. Thats a fact jack!! Go Dawgs!!
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
3:53 pm
Flat Tire: how’s that big stadium in Athens helping your football team? Especially when there’s only 30k left in the 4th quarter.
Dogs should downsize if the fans keep leaving like that.
GODAWGS75
September 15th, 2011
3:53 pm
ONE LOSING SEASON?????? You must add Ga Southern, and West Georgia as actual wins. Sorry the rest of us consider the real teams, like the SEC in the number. No one said win every year moron, did someone say that. We said we are sick of the same issues every year, we recruit the best, pay him a top salary, and get medicore results. Get off your knees and want better results like the rest of us.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:53 pm
75 DBAG FTIRE
Read Joey’s 3:47 comment 3000 times
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:53 pm
GT Joe, you can’t go off averages you goofball. You have to look at it from year to year. 2009 and 2010 are down years. UGA went 10-3 in 2008 and 11-2 in 2007. GT has had ONE year with less than 4 losses this decade. Nice try though but it doesn’t work out that way.
Easily Amused
September 15th, 2011
3:54 pm
trouble
September 15th, 2011
3:48 pm
“You know why people, fans, and media are beating down on Mark Richt?”
I assume that it has something to do with his losing record in the past few years. Now that I think about it, maybe it’s the lack of character and discipline displayed by his football teams recently.
I dunno… There are more reasons than I have fingers and toes to count with.
!
September 15th, 2011
3:54 pm
dawgs75: you are just a hater! go jump on different team UGA does not need you!
Please hire an elite coach
September 15th, 2011
3:54 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.
—————————–
Are some UGA fans on drugs? What has CMR shown in the last 4 years that would make you think UGA has any chance of winning the rest of their games?
Jim Donnan
September 15th, 2011
3:54 pm
Hire me back I need the money!!
Blackberry Cobbler
September 15th, 2011
3:54 pm
The last paragraph from Dooley says it all. Read between the lines– at the end of the season if CMR has turned things around, he’ll stay. If not, he’s gone.
John Smith
September 15th, 2011
3:56 pm
Footbal insider. Name your team and If they have not played Georgia yet – let’s see who wins or is your football team in some sissy leauge. Keep up your stupid comments they are laughable!
Nick Saban
September 15th, 2011
3:56 pm
Easily Amused wrote:
“What has Mark Richt done to deserve all of this controversy?
Hmm… Maybe it’s what he hasn’t done?”
Exactly. Wining national titles helps. Heck, they may even build a statue for him like mine…..if he were ever to win a NC! Don’t hold your breath Dawg fans!
Later,
Nick
trouble
September 15th, 2011
3:57 pm
Easily Amused
Winning cures alot of ills. Playing likes Hinds JC in the SEC will get you roasted.
Amen!
Summit Dawg
September 15th, 2011
3:57 pm
@ Ben, “There’s more to football than winning?”…………..Why tha h— play the game then?????????
!
September 15th, 2011
3:57 pm
PLEASE GO PICK ANOTHER TEAM!!!!! UGA SERIOUSLY DOESN’T NEED ANY OF YOU NOR DO YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE! BE COOL DBAGS!
GT Joe
September 15th, 2011
3:59 pm
Hey Tampa: you say 09 and 10 were “down” years. Maybe they were NORMAL years, and 06 and 07 were the outliers. Did you ever think of that?
The past 2 years and this year are “normal” for UGA.
TampaDawg
September 15th, 2011
3:59 pm
GT Joe can spin it all you want dude but the only season since 2002 that GT has had with less than 4 losses was their 11-3 ACC championship year, which, oh, by the way, had to be vacated. Chan Gailey NEVER lost less than 5 times in a season from 2002-2007. YES, your boys put up with mediocrity regularly
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 15th, 2011
3:59 pm
75 DBAG FTIRE
Who said anything about winning every year
How about beating a ranked opponent for a change
How about a better record than 3-10 vs top 10 teams
Heres a thought, how about earning your $3million a year salary and learn to stop losing to FL every year
Oh and not lose to sorry Tenn teams most of the time
Since 2006
13-13 in SEC east
23-18 in the SEC
1-4 vs FL
2-3 vs Tenn all while Tenn being down and having two coaches
#29 in total wins since
30+ arrests
lost to UCF a conference USA team
Richt owes a lot of credit to Van Gorder