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
Destin Dawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:04 am
Richt is 2 for 3 against Saban and we get to play’em next year.. Dawgs win SEC 2011 champs vs LSU.. trollers will be gone !
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:06 am
I think Mathew all of that has already been addressed about 3 weeks ago. Obviously you are such a loser you monitor all of my posts. I must admit I am flattered that you think that much of my posts to save them for future reference. My insight is pretty spot on I must admit. Keep up the good fight though. I dare say my stance on the program and my wait and see approach since the 0-2 start has paid off better for me than your Anti-Coaching staff approach. You again continue to make yourself look like a tool with every passing day.
Typical Georgia Fan
December 2nd, 2011
9:11 am
I just love living in the past, when I’m not busy living in the future.
All I know is that the present has a tendency to really, really suck.
Typical Tech Fan
December 2nd, 2011
9:24 am
There’s a new sheriff in town!
Dawgs, get ready for BEATDOWNS GALORE!!!!!
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:34 am
the same guy who posts this
“Typical Georgia Fan
December 2nd, 2011
9:11 am
I just love living in the past, when I’m not busy living in the future.
All I know is that the present has a tendency to really, really suck.”
then turns around posts this ..
“Typical Tech Fan
December 2nd, 2011
9:24 am
There’s a new sheriff in town!
Dawgs, get ready for BEATDOWNS GALORE!!!!!”
So who is living in the future here hotdog??? I would bet better than even money too that you will or have already posted (there’s some in the past and in the future for ya) something about how long it has been since UGA’s last NC.
ARdawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:35 am
Destin Dawg
I believe that game has been kyboshed to fit in Mizzou
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:35 am
And yes, I do believe they are one in the same.
ARdawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:37 am
TampaDawg
That’s 4 hotdogs, 4 cokes and 4 tickets. At Bobby Dodd, if you buy 4 hotdogs and 4 cokes, they’ll give you 4 tickets?
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:37 am
LOOOOOVE the post Dawged!!! Keep em coming
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:40 am
LOL AR!!!Leave two tickets on the windshield of your car as you go in to the stadium and there will be four more there when you get back.
G-Dawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:47 am
Flat Tire talking about fanbases…you have no idea what it takes to be a fan…nothing this team or Richt will ever satisfy you!! you have become pointless in your same ole remarks. You’re attitude is disgusting…and a poor reflection of what the word “TEAM” means!!
Realdawgfan
December 2nd, 2011
9:53 am
I agree with Lou Holtz who said Richt is an excellent coach and UGA is fortunate to have him.. Most trips to SEC chanpionship game, most wins over winning teams, 75% win record, college football’s best coach ambassador–the list goes on and on. Richt is too nice a man to give Georgia the finger for the way he’s been treated this season by the “fire Richt fans” but if he left to go to Penn state or someonewhere else when the fans are really fans and appreciate a great coach, I wouldn’t blame him.
ARdawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:59 am
Thats just funny right there
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
10:12 am
If people like “Thomas Brown” (or whatever tag he uses since he uses about 30 a day now) were Penn State fans, he would have had a rock hurled through his window on a regular basis.
Joey
December 2nd, 2011
10:22 am
This has been fun to see, but truthfully, the streak has been against unusually weak teams who we were favored to beat. I would hope McGaritywould want how the game plays out Saturday, and how we compete in our bowl game before extending Coach Richt. He does have 2 more years on his contract.
The last few times we played great, unbeaten SEC teams, we got our butts handed to us. Bama, UF, AU all had an easy time. I’m not expecting a win tomorrow, but I would like a close, hard-fought game, with a good gameplan, and good adjustments, not just from Grantham, but from Bobo/Richt, also.
If the Bulldogs fight to the very end vs LSU, that would mean more to me that all of the other ten wins combined.
Rooster
December 2nd, 2011
10:33 am
The only thing that helped Richt and staff this year was that cup cake schedule and he knows it. He deserves to be fired along with his staff for the decisions he has made over the past years. LSU 52 UGA 21.
Joey
December 2nd, 2011
10:43 am
And Ga Tech was the 4th easiest “cupcake” on that schedule, Rooster.
Congrats.
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
10:47 am
Rooster
December 2nd, 2011
10:33 am
The only thing that helped Richt and staff this year was that cup cake schedule and he knows it. He deserves to be fired along with his staff for the decisions he has made over the past years. LSU 52 UGA 21.
———————————————
Hey everyone! Rooster’s back with more crap that only a tech fan who wants a UGA coach they can beat on a semi-regular basis would want. You’re an idiot dude. There is a reason CMR is coaching and you’re sitting at home choking down freeze pops when you should be in school.
mars=lifetime dawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:06 am
At best, Mark Richt has proven himself to be an underachiever. Kirby Smart will one day go to be HC at a University and provide them with multiple national championships, while Mark Richt will grow complacent after the smoke clears, and provide a passable effort at best that includes zero national championships. That ship sailed when Stafford and Moreno left town after falling victim to our coaches poor decisions. And let’s not forget our spurning of Cam Newton. Richt and Bobo determined that he would never be a capable quarterback, and passed on him.
Of course Richt rose to the occasion with his job on the line. The talent has always been here, and he is a capable coach…when the notion takes him. Don’t let the warm fuzzies this underachiever has given us prevent us from acquiring a workaholic coach intent on continued success, and an actual challenge to Nick Saban, which Richt will never be. He’s a good man and I wish him well wherever he goes, as long as he goes.
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:32 am
@mars=lifetime dawg “And let’s not forget our spurning of Cam Newton. Richt and Bobo determined that he would never be a capable quarterback, and passed on him.”
Let’s also not forget that MOST teams saw him as a tight end
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/Cam-Newton-from-high-energy-kid-to-Auburn-Heisman-winning-quarterback-010911
And as aptly pointed out in the story, sCam went to UF FIRST, not Auburn, not Miss State, UF and was kicked from the school altogether for theft and cheating academically. And that’s tough to do at UF, getting kicked out anyway.
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:34 am
“and an actual challenge to Nick Saban, ” .. do you know the record between the two head to head? Feel free to check it out.
mars=lifetime dawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:43 am
Feel free to enlighten me, my out-of-state friend.
mars=lifetime dawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:44 am
Where did my other comment go? Rats!
mars=lifetime dawg
December 2nd, 2011
11:49 am
As I typed earlier…Thank you for the information about Cam, TampaDawg…but my comment was about Richt. If you prefer to be a fan of a second rate team, then be my guest with your continued support of our high moralled, yet low achieving Coach Richt. Every team in the SEC East this year is a second rate team, and we are at the top of the heap. It just happens to be a garbage heap.
You have the luxury of sitting in Tampa on low achieving Dawg years. I was born on Milledge Avenue and have lived in Athens all my life. I happen to wish better things for my town and my team than you do.
David Pollack's gimp neck
December 2nd, 2011
11:50 am
A coach worth contract renewal would have won a NC with Matt Stafford, Mo Massaquoi, and KnowMo.
Just sayin
ahsoisee
December 2nd, 2011
11:54 am
It should be obvious that Richt is the only one who will decide if he returns next year. The school will not terminate Richt. The only reasons Richt would not coach at UGA next year: (1) If he decides to go full time into some kind of Christian ministry, (2) If he saw another coaching venue that would offen him a new challenge.
The Old GT Man
DAWGS IN TEARS
December 2nd, 2011
12:09 pm
Richt has contact penn state about the possiblity of becoming their new head coach. Penn State has intrest.
Booboola
December 2nd, 2011
12:19 pm
Looks like he has reached out to Penn State to replace Paterno.
Sal
December 2nd, 2011
12:36 pm
A bunch of openings for Head Coaches. Sure Richt’s agent is putting feelers out there. Especially with Adama & McGarity both being slow and trying to ride the fence.
Also Grantham likly gone too.
McGarity scheduling Boise cost us a National Champ this year, if we were 11-1, beat LSU, we play for it all.
Sorry, but the UGA admin is one of the worst.
Glory Glory Dawg
December 2nd, 2011
1:31 pm
We are lucky to have Richt……we should worry about if he decides to leave our “fair weather” fan base. Who in the heck is out there that is better? Come on, be realistic. Anybody this is available is a crap shoot, and we will take a hit in recruiting for at least 2-3 years. Not worth it. CMR deserves better. Its a good thing Dooley did not have to coach with the “new social media”. He would have never made it to 1980, after 2 out of 3 bad/mediocre seasons prior winning the national championship.
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
1:50 pm
I hear ya mars, but the initial address was regarding Cam regarding the fact that yes, like Urban, we could have brought him in and regardless of what position he played, he may have not made it a full two years without being kicked. As for CMR, I will always remember how things were prior to his arrival (low morals, lower winning percentage and few SEC titles) with Donnan and Goff and remember that he brought this team back from true mediocrity. This will be their fourth appearance in the SEC title game with two SEC titles already won. I still believe he can get the NC to Athens and I hope you still live there to see it shine. People like you deserve to see it.
TampaDawg
December 2nd, 2011
1:51 pm
ahsoisee
December 2nd, 2011
11:54 am
It should be obvious that Richt is the only one who will decide if he returns next year. The school will not terminate Richt. The only reasons Richt would not coach at UGA next year: (1) If he decides to go full time into some kind of Christian ministry, (2) If he saw another coaching venue that would offen him a new challenge.
The Old GT Man
—————–
Very very true on all counts. The PSU rumors are heating up. That sucks.
HOUDAWG
December 2nd, 2011
1:58 pm
Hey SSIgator ……. took time out from under your mamas’ blouse to join us today ??
DAWG08
December 2nd, 2011
2:40 pm
CMR better see to it that CTG has an extension in his hand before he signs his. CTG is the main reason CMR is going to get one. Not bashing CMR because he is a good man and thank goodness he went out, found, and got CTG here! Now go get you a OC that isn’t so predictable and we may be a NC contender again.
Rooster
December 2nd, 2011
2:45 pm
Go ahead and go to Penn State Richt. I would love to see you leave Athens.
StackedDeck
December 2nd, 2011
2:58 pm
Go you Hairy ‘GulfShoresDawg’…support those SilverBritches!!! Sec’em Dawgs!!!!
Rotie
December 2nd, 2011
3:15 pm
We need to keep CMR and Grantham. Bobo needs to be demoted to quarterback coach and we need a to hire a real good offensive coach . Oh!! Tell Barbara D. she should have kept her mouth shut. Any Dooley that wears NASTY ORANGE britches needs to have more losing seasons!
DoggyDog
December 2nd, 2011
4:10 pm
more years of a mediocre dog team on the way.. He beats a few crappy teams and everyone says oh golly gee he is such a wonderful coach.. Wait till the other teams in the East get back to where they belong and the West is still strong… I see a lot of years of non BCS bowls and beating only the teams that are rebuilding having down years or are just plain always bad… And GulfShoresDog just cause we want a real team doesn’t mean we aren’t dog fans. They have had top 2 and 3 recruiting years for the past 4 or 5 before this one and they proceeded to coach them down talent isn’t everything unless it developed and used properly people like you are thehalf-a$$ed so-called Dawg fan
AceDawg
December 2nd, 2011
4:13 pm
so how is it that
Richt doesn’t make more than he Florida First Year Coach that has not proven any great ability to bea head coach; at least do right by Richt.
Georgia_jim
December 2nd, 2011
6:28 pm
Extend Richts and Grantham contract. They work good together and make the Dawgs win!!!
Doug
December 2nd, 2011
9:08 pm
prediction: Georgia looses by 21 to Tigers. CMR keeps job. We get exited about next year and then stumble out of the blocks again. NC hopes dashed again. But we finish strong. So what.
question: Who are the last 2 SEC Champions not win a National Title.
zbulldawg
December 2nd, 2011
9:20 pm
McGarity don’t be a dumb Ass !!! Get Richt & Grantham locked in So we can start recruiting some more DAWG STARS !!! Looks like McGarity wants to be a HERO and make Richt look lucky to have his job !! You dumby He’ll load up his coaching staff Have a job with in the hour snatch recruits & come back and beat our ASS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it an’t broke DON’T FIX IT !!! PENN STATE WOULD JUMP ALL OVER MARK RICHT !! That’s all we need to start losing recruits up there !! NOT COUNTING S.C AUBURN BAMA ETC. HERE KITTY KITTY !!SICK EM !! KEEP THEM ALL WIN or LOSE
tell burke
December 2nd, 2011
9:29 pm
Shine should shine a light in his ears to let someone verify that the coast is clear (empty)
UGA grad 90
December 2nd, 2011
11:30 pm
I haven’t changed my mind. Richt still sucks. Fire him. All you stupid turds still seem to have forgotten that we still haven’t won a big game in 5 years. This season was a joke. We lost to the only two good teams we played, if you call Carolina good.
mike addington
December 3rd, 2011
9:11 am
Crowell is a girl. Fire Adams
mike addington
December 3rd, 2011
9:12 am
To Doug, UGA and LSU
S1Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
10:17 am
Heard Penn State has offered Coach Richt, and has told him they will wait until after the games end for him to decide. He’s their first choice. With a win percentage better than Saban or Miles, you can see why. Richt will probably bring Grantham with him.
reality
December 3rd, 2011
10:18 am
amazing! After the first two games of the season CMR was set to be fired. Now he has “rolled” through the 112th weakest schedule in D1 and its time to extend him 5 years at huge bucks. This is like buying one lottery ticket and winning 100M! CMR is the luckiest man in coaching.
And the UGA administrators are like crack addicts – they are so desperate for winning that they will sell body parts for a sniff. Can’t they at least wait 2 more games to talk extension? Or maybe next season when the schedule might have some meat on it?
S1Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
11:27 am
mARK rICHT TO pENN sTATE.
DONE deAL.
Coach Turkey Neck
December 3rd, 2011
3:21 pm
hey dick saban still needing Georgia boys and a Georgia man in Kirby Smart to win games in Alabama? Get out of here you dont deserve a shot at the national title you didn’t even win th west. The bcs is bs