UGA president predicts extended tenure for football coach Mark Richt
ATHENS – University of Georgia President Michael Adams isn’t generally known for his sense of humor. But he can provide an unexpected “zinger” on a moments notice.
Asked at his monthly cabinet meeting on Thursday about the contract status of head football Mark Richt, Adams said, “If we win Saturday he’ll be back and if we lose we’re going to fire him.”
He was joking, of course.
Richt has 2 ½ years remaining on a contract that pays him close to $3 million annually. There were questions about his long-term future as the Bulldogs’ coach when the team followed last year’s 6-7 record with an 0-2 start this season.
But Georgia has since won 10 games a row and clinched the SEC Eastern Division Championship. The 14th-ranked Bulldogs (10-2, 7-1 SEC) play No. 1-ranked LSU (12-0, 8-0) in the SEC Championship on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Now that he has led the Bulldogs to their fourth SEC Championship game and seventh season of 10 or more wins in 11 seasons as Georgia’s coach, a contract extension for Richt seems imminent and in the very near future. The contact period for recruiting began on this week and UGA administrators aren’t likely to send Richt out on the road with a contract of fewer than four or five years.
Adams said he’s now hearing from fans who want UGA to hurry up and extend Richt as soon as possible.
“I get amused at this sometimes, frankly,” Adams said. “I actually have had suggestions from some of the same people over the last four months that, after the 0-2 start, were asking the AD and me to terminate him, who are now upset that we haven’t renewed the contract.
“So you don’t respond to these things emotionally through the season. You try and get a couple or three weeks away from a season. Give us a little time to review the whole process, but I would be surprised if Mark Richt weren’t the coach here next year. We’ll just wait and see what the AD decides to do.”
Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity, who will ultimately make the call on the matter, maintained his stance Thursday that he would not address Richt’s contract status until after Saturday’s SEC Championship.
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381 comments Add your comment
CHDawg
December 1st, 2011
8:40 pm
No, Mobile. I think I have the view of reality. A football program is a lot bigger than the record for a couple of years, and I have criticized the parts of UGA’s that need improving. Read my message after yours. Trajectory is very strong right now. I’m not saying renew CMR for ten years, or even immediately. Just that change for the sake of change isn’t always an improvement. Richt has a great recruiting team, and the team is doing well. Will they beat the best LSU team in memory? We are certainly underdogs, but I am happy we are competing.
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
8:41 pm
seven 10 win seasons
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:42 pm
Smitty, he’s already under contract the next two years. To analytical people his track record the last five years has been on a downward slide. Why? He hasn’t given 100% to his job. If he’s as great as some of you say, let him prove it. Mark Richt let us down, like it or not, he’s got a way to go to earn my respect as a coach again.
That said, he’s on the right track, let’s just not reward him so quickly for one “decent”, not great year.
Bad Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:42 pm
CHDawg
It is a long time until next year. Still two pretty big games left on UGA’s schedule. The only unit that I feel will be solid is the defense. The offense will depend on if UGA can find a new offensive line. The talent appears to be there on the offense but if you can not block then it won’t matter. Not to mention the teams that were down last year are going to get better next year in the SEC. The season starts next August so ask again in the fall when UGA beats some quality opponents.
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
8:42 pm
amen to playing for best conference championship
Preston
December 1st, 2011
8:43 pm
Just being there isn’t good enough. We are Georgia! We expect to win! That is the attitude we HAVE to bring EVERY week for EVERY game.
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:45 pm
Agree 100% with your 8:40 post. So many are blindly calling for an immediate extension. I thought you were in that crowd. I totally believe Richt is on the right track, with McGarity’s help and support, but let’s make sure. That’s my point.
You are not an idiot...and Thanks
December 1st, 2011
8:45 pm
“Bama will be replaced with Mizzou more than likely, since they will be in the east…”
You may be right. However, the networks are going to want more games and the Conference will certainly want more money so as not to dilute the per team take. I bet they all have to give up the cupcake games or sacrifice the buy weeks. Can’t have all three…..easy opponents, week off, bigger TV contract.
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
8:45 pm
Mobile dog….what have you done for me lately right?
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
8:46 pm
You are an idiot,
I assert that the University of Georgia Athletic Department, when modifying their 2012 football schedule to include the University of Missouri as an Eastern Division opponent, will successfully lobby to remove the University of Alabama from their schedule. I don’t know how to say this any more clearly. I admit that I am not fluent in Dawg, and I suspect that this is contributing to a communication breakdown, of sorts.
I have no idea whether Mark Richt will still be the Head Football Coach at Georgia next year. If I were the AD at Georgia, then I would know… But I’m not.
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:47 pm
Seems like the Oline, with the depth has shown tremendous improvement throughout the year under Will Friend. I’m liking what I see there, we just need some depth.
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
8:47 pm
If we do not get behind coach…others will use that against Georgia in recruiting
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
8:49 pm
Be careful what you ask for…..
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:49 pm
That would be “Mobile Dawg” smitty, and you’re exactly right. If you think you can rest on your laurels, how does 6-7 sound, losing to UCF? Need I say more?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 1st, 2011
8:50 pm
Steve Spurrier this did something at SC that Richt has yet to do
Beat all the SEC East teams in the same year.
At SC I might remind you, SC!!!!!!!!
But hey 10 win seasons at UGA is all we shoot for but thats ok
I enjoy watching other SEC teams win National Championships and then throw it up in our face
I guess losing to 2 teams you shouldnt lose to every year gets you contract extensions. Wish I had that job
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:52 pm
Smitty, what better tool to use in recruiting than we’re back, come join us. An extension at this point isn’t necessary. Most rational fans believe things are on the right track, but that’s not a good reason to mortgage the farm. Our fan base deserves excellence, consistently.
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
8:55 pm
If you ever wonder why the enemy calls our fan base dilusional, you’re not very smart.
CHDawg
December 1st, 2011
8:57 pm
Bad Dawg, I completely agree with your assessment, but I am a little more enthusiastic about our offensive position players. If our line has two first rounders in it, we have a lot to replace. And we haven’t dominated many of the defenses we have played.
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
8:59 pm
Smitty,
There may be some truth in what you say, but I wouldn’t accept that alone as a reason for a contract extension. Coach Richt’s current contract has not run out. There is no rush to change his employment status whatsoever. Times are hard. There aren’t a lot of people getting raises lately.
Bad Dawg and Mobile Dawg both make valid points. It’s exciting to be in the midst of a win streak, but that excitement shouldn’t cloud one’s judgment. People in Alabama loved Mike Shula in 2005 when he won 10 games and ended the season in the Top 10, but they fired him at the end of the 2006 season. Coaches don’t get on “hot-seats” for no good reason.
Besides, if a kid wants to play for Coach Richt, he’s not gonna check the details of Mark’s contract with the University before he decides. I’d negotiate next year, if it was my choice.
Lakedawg
December 1st, 2011
8:59 pm
CMR record 106-36 4th best record of all active coaches today. Better than Saban, Miles anyone else in SEC. Length of contract means a lot in recruiting. Better do extension now before it costs us some top players we need to continue to compete for championships.
Coach will be here long anfter Saban, Spurrier and several others gone. Some of these so called Dawgs fans are either stupid or just trolls. (Mobile)
T-Town Dawg
December 1st, 2011
9:00 pm
I see SSIGator is back, telling us how bad we will get thumped Saturday. He is so glad that his Gators didn’t win the East because he would rather his team sit at home than have a shot at beating LSU. Win or lose, at least we get to play, while the Gators sit home and watch.
Bad Dawg
December 1st, 2011
9:01 pm
Smitty dawg fans are behind Mark Richt but I think so many of us followed him blindly just because UGA was winning but when you look at the results UGA are not winners and have become irrelevant nationally. UGA used to want to win championships every year now fans are satisfied with beating Georgia Tech, we should expect to beat Georgia Tech. Look at this season, UGA wins 10 games and dawg fans on here all hyped up. If you look at the schedule it is not that impressive and is why UGA is ranked where they are in the BCS. I do not care about winning season or statistics. Championships should be the standard here at UGA and I am not talking about the one’s in August or on National Signing Day. The question is whether or not Mark Richt is a championship coach? I am not sure but he has a few more years to prove if he is worthy to take UGA where it hasn’t been since 1981.
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
9:02 pm
… or have IQ’s exceeding 80.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 1st, 2011
9:04 pm
Where is Richt going to go
LOL
Georgia is a top 4 recruiting state
UGA is top 3 in money
The fanbase is hardly demanding as long as you win 10 games thats all that matters to UGA fans
Richt isnt going anywhere and after the last 5 seasons no program on UGA’s level is going to beg him to come
Give me a break and get a clue people
I am apparently an idiot
December 1st, 2011
9:05 pm
@ Not Impressed
Thanks for clarifying. I can’t speak for the scheduling as I really am not familiar with the process.
I am not the AD at Georgia either, so I suppose I am as much in the dark about the coaching future of Mark Richt as anyone who isn’t named Richt, McGarrity, or Adams. However, I do know that this profession, like all others, has attracted more than its share of people who seem to lack basic integrity. Richt seems to me to be different. I admire the man and am tired of seeing him trashed on these blogs and in the media while examples of loyalty like Petrino and Meyer are celebrated. Seems like a lot of what is wrong.
The networks will require quality to keep paying. Georgia and all SEC schools will have to play even more competitve schedules as a result of expansion. There are no free lunches.
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
9:07 pm
I understand your passion… but NC years come every once in a while….i am just looking for a good program that competes most games..every year. we have only had one down year out of 11 under richt
MiamiDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:08 pm
When the likes of Saban, Miles, Myers, and Spurrier leave, they leave behind National Championships. Would you rather have 7 more 10 win seasons out of the next 11 years or would you rather have a national title?
We could do worse than CMR but with the resources UGA offers and the talent level in this state a coach with a Spurrier type attitude would win more than SEC titles. No risk no reward.
@ssi gator
December 1st, 2011
9:10 pm
I am sure we will do better than Florida did…so stfu. thx.
Bad Dawg
December 1st, 2011
9:13 pm
Lake Dawg
I do not think you get it. Championships are what should matter. It is wonderful that Mark Richt has that record but last time I checked UGA won a national championship in1981. As long as I have been alive UGA has not won a national championship. The number of titles you win is what measures true success. Do you want championships or consistent 9-10 win seasons? If so you should probably be a Georgia Tech fan
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 1st, 2011
9:14 pm
Can anyone name the last time Richt upset a team
2005; 6 years ago against an LSU team that really was evenly matched with UGA that year. So I really dont define that as a true upset
Beat this LSU team Saturday and that will be the first upset in years
DawgInaTruck
December 1st, 2011
9:14 pm
I can speak for scheduling and I can assure you NO conference school will be able to “lobby” to get any opponent on or off the schedule. In fact, it is just the opposite. That decsion will be made by SEC management and all parties understand there will be shared sacrifice and some unexpected expenses relative to travel and other changing logistics.
To believe otherwise is ludicrous. If it were that simple every conference member would be trying to get Ole Miss and Miss. State, KY, UT etc. on their schedule for next year, given the state of flux those programs are in and/or may be in. No conference member is or ever has been able to dictate their schedule to the conference.
Surely to goodness the person who wrote that is not stupid enough to believe it.
DawgInaTruck
December 1st, 2011
9:17 pm
And yes, I consulted someone who would know before my last post. I didn’t simply pull that one from the atmosphere.
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
9:21 pm
@DawgInaTruck
You’re right. There are no politics involved in such decisions. What was I thinking?
Heh! But I’d still bet you a six-pack that Georgia does not play Bama next year.
Hide & Watch!
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
9:24 pm
“That decsion will be made by SEC management and all parties understand there will be shared sacrifice and some unexpected expenses relative to travel and other changing logistics.”
Every team in the East will have to schedule Missouri. There is no choice. The choice involves which game you’ll drop. Alabama will probably replace that game with A&M.
CHDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:25 pm
Flat tire, I like your high standards, but I think you are getting carried away. GT was #7 when we upset them in 09. The problem with 07 is that we ended up #2, and 08 we started at #1. It is hard to upset people when you are number one or number two.
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
9:26 pm
It’s not hard to get upset though, is it?
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
9:27 pm
Flat Tire…if you don’t like Dawgs…get off the blog…
Corn Dawg
December 1st, 2011
9:28 pm
What if you like Corn Dawgs?
I like mine with a little mustard.
DawgInaTruck
December 1st, 2011
9:29 pm
Some teams will also lose a home game because the conference is not going to require Texas A&M and Missouri to travel all over the south just to join the conference. Teams that lose a home date not only lose revenue they pick up added travel expense.
In the long run all of this is worth it but none of it will be free. Everyone knew going in that this would be a necessity. If we drop Alabama we drop them but you are beyond ignorant if you think any team can simply make a request like that. Its not even believable and I suspect you know it. If you’re going to stir the pot you at least need something feasible.
DawgInaTruck
December 1st, 2011
9:32 pm
CHDawg I thought about you during the Tech game last week. It looks like the light is starting to come on with Malcome. Like you, I believe he has tremendous potential to be a game changer.
I’ve been quickly scanning the blogs and see no mention of this and kind of hate to bring it up: Do none of you know what happened at practice today?
Buckhead Bulldog
December 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
McGarity needs to get it done. Sign CMR AND CTG to long term contracts Coach Friend’s O-line is beginning to look pretty good…another year and the O-line will be rocking.The DBs coach seems to being doing pretty darn good with the talent he inherited. Need to figure out Bobo…I like his plays sometimes but other times I just scratch my head and ask “why”?
Sic’ ‘em DOGS!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
GT is an upset when we have beat them 10of11 times
WOW
Remind me again Tech has played in 1 BCS level bowl in 45 yrs right. I didnt know that was big time football on North Ave
Smitty
I have an opinion too there moron this is not your blog you cant tell someone to give an opinion that doesnt contradict yours
Oh so I guess if we happen to get blown out Saturday and then lose the bowl game a contract extension still should be made right
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
9:34 pm
bad dawg … you don’t even know when we won national championship
DawgInaTruck
December 1st, 2011
9:37 pm
Flat Tire I hate to burst your bubble but CMR was NEVER on the hot seat with the actual decsion makers. It was common knowledge within the athletic dept. that he and Damon Evans repeatedly disagreed on S&C funding.
McGarity corrected this immediately and Richt was advised to “mean up” a little but people who make decisions without an overabundance of emotion (thankfully) didn’t react the way many on here do.
CHDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:38 pm
The schedule discussion is a red herring. Nobody in the SEC has an easy schedule. Nobody gets a free ticket to win the SECCG. You have to get by your division and several teams from the other half, and you always have to beat the other division’s champ. There is no way to sneak in to the number 1 spot in the nation’s toughest conference. Whether they play Alabama as scheduled, who knows. It doesn’t matter. If UGA is going to win the SEC, they have to beat the west champ. If Bama is great, UGA will face them if they win the East.
Bad Dawg
December 1st, 2011
9:39 pm
CHDawg, Even if GT is ranked higher than UGA its not really an upset when Mark Richt has won 10/11. Sort of like in the early 2000’s when Florida always beat UGA even though they were ranked higher and had the better team. Florida just kind of knows how to beat UGA (18/22) Even if UGA is ranked higher they still expect to win and the same can be said for GT. I really can not think of the last time UGA upset somebody, I guess because UGA is not usually an underdog but I could be wrong there. They have a shot this Saturday it could be an interesting game.
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2011
9:44 pm
Lake Dawg parades around like a condescending socialite, which is probably what he is. The epitome of the “blind homer” crowd. And no he doesn’t get it, just thinks he does, and he’s always right.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 1st, 2011
9:45 pm
DawgInaTruck
What bubble did you burst
I have already stated as long as Richt wins 10 games every year he will retire here and UGA will continue to lose to 2 teams every year
What gets me is as I stated earlier is comments like “we sure better sign him quick or else”
LOL again
Where is Richt going please tell me where is he going with no pressure on him to win big while making a top 10 salary
Smitty
December 1st, 2011
9:46 pm
bad dawg…itf you don’t like the dawgs ….get off the blog…
Not Impressed
December 1st, 2011
9:46 pm
CHDawg
December 1st, 2011
9:38 pm
“The schedule discussion is a red herring. Nobody in the SEC has an easy schedule.”
That’s not true. Auburn had the easiest schedule in the SEC last year, but they got a trophy out of it. This year they had a killer schedule. That’s why most folks picked them to only win 7 or 8 games. Everyone has known since last Spring that Georgia had a very favorable schedule this year. It’s no secret. It happens.