McGarity opens contract extension talks with Richt; again denies A&M rumors
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity met with football coach Mark Richt on Friday to formally open discussions about a contract extension.
McGarity said further talks will be held, perhaps next week, but that UGA and Richt are in agreement on the central point: “He wants to be our coach. We want him to be our coach.”
McGarity added: “There’s really no need to speed through anything right now because he and I are in a good place.”
Richt has two years left on his existing contract, but his job appeared in peril when the Bulldogs opened this season with back-to-back losses to Boise State and South Carolina. A 10-game winning streak and SEC East championship removed Richt from the much-discussed “hot seat” and all but ensured a contract extension.
The McGarity-Richt meeting came on the morning after rumors and reports surfaced that Texas A&M was targeting Richt for its coaching opening. McGarity said the timing of the meeting was unrelated to that speculation, in which he said he put no credence.
McGarity said Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne had not contacted him and would have done so if he were pursuing Richt.
“You don’t waste your time on [rumors] that have no legs,” said McGarity, who added that he has no doubt Richt will be the Bulldogs’ coach next season and beyond.
“We just know Mark is going to be our ‘ball coach,” McGarity said.
Friday morning’s meeting, held in McGarity’s office, was the athletic director’s first with Richt regarding a contract extension. The two had planned since last week to meet at some point late this week, McGarity said.
“This is the first time we’ve had a chance to get together and start discussing the process,” McGarity said. “You sit down when things are calm, talk through things on his list, things on your list, soak that information in.
“I need to review certain things with [UGA president Michael Adams] and review some ideas and thoughts I may have now that we have had a discussion, and at some point in time we can get back together. . . . We are moving forward on discussions on the future.”
McGarity would not disclose details such as potential contract parameters.
“We discussed several things, but I’m not ready to say what those things are,” McGarity said.
Richt’s contract, most recently amended in 2008, is a complicated document. Variables to be discussed could include how many years are added to the deal, whether Richt gets a raise from his current income of about $3 million annually and how provisions such as buyouts would be affected.
Richt didn’t publicly address the contract-extension matter or the Texas A&M speculation on Friday. He also didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Richt has said frequently over the years, including as recently as last week, that he wants to complete his coaching career at Georgia.
“It’s too hard emotionally for me to recruit guys and look them in the eye and say, ‘I’m going to be your coach,’ and knowing deep down, maybe, if something better comes along I’m leaving,” Richt said last week. “I just didn’t ever want to operate that way.
“So Georgia’s my home and my family’s home.”
McGarity noted that Richt has a busy schedule this weekend, with many recruits visiting campus.
“I’m sure we’ll meet a couple other times after he gets through this weekend and things settle down,” McGarity said.
McGarity said Texas A&M was not mentioned in his meeting with Richt on Friday or in his trip to Tampa with Richt on Thursday for an Outback Bowl contract-signing party.
“I didn’t even ask,” McGarity said.”He’d tell me [if anything were going on]. . . . Nothing came up other than Georgia.”
Richt, Georgia’s coach since 2001, has a 106-37 record with the Bulldogs. His team reached the SEC Championship game this season for the fourth time, the first time since 2005.
The Bulldogs’ 10-3 record this year followed their two worst seasons under Richt, 8-5 in 2009 and 6-7 in 2010.
McGarity said discussions about possible changes in the contracts of Richt’s assistant coaches will come later.
— Tim Tucker
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685 comments Add your comment
The only one that knows football around here
December 9th, 2011
9:38 pm
Flat tire
Stay home like you do any because?????what??? What UGA should do is come on these blogs and track you guys down and take those season tickets. I’m in Athens quite often. And know enough about football to know that coach Richt would be very hard to replace. You make UGA look bad.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
9:42 pm
The only one that knows football around here
I make UGA look bad, buy you an xm radio and listen to the college sports station sometime
UGA is the laughing stock of this conference due to the mediocrity we continue to put up with
I say wait another season before contract talks should start and Im the idiot
LOL
Where do you people work at Mcdonalds
Who did we beat this year please tell me
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:45 pm
FLAT TIRE… You are consistant with your comments and one X factor in all of this is McGarity… I like what Schultz or Bradley wrote about him “nudging” Richt last year and loved his comments that we expect a “Dream Team” signing every year… McGarity is a great leader and replaced the Little Dictator at AD…. We had to solidify the Defense which is the mark of all great football programs.. We will close strong at recruitin this year and really smoke-em with our 2013 recruits… Onward and upward my friend…
kral
December 9th, 2011
9:45 pm
Do not have season tickets any more…had them from about 1977-2000..was a family thing…owning a season ticket does not make your sh…smell good or qualify you for anything,,,your last comments were the height of arrogance and most of your stuff is condescending…having a ticket does give you one right…they get to check you as you inner the gate
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
9:49 pm
Technically your right kral, but IMO, having to contribute to the Hartman Fund, paying the price for the ticket package, and the expense of attending games, gives you the right to complain if you feel you’re not getting your moneys worth.
The only one that knows football around here
December 9th, 2011
9:49 pm
Flat tire
You should not be allowed back in Athens. And everyone else that suck their thumbs and scream to fire the coach. You guys are the ones wanting to rename the stadium after Dooley. The poster child of mediocrity. If Hershel didnt carry him for three years ….nothing. Give coach what ever he asks for and lock up the DC and return to glory. Don’t and room for smart. Which would be dumb.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
9:50 pm
kral
just like Altamaha and the rest of you kool-aid drinkers. You dont have season tickets because of the price hike donation garbage
Heck I dont blame you. Thats been my point for years. If UGA expects fans to give so much from their pockets
Then I as a fan should expect better than what I have seen the last 6 yrs
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
9:53 pm
The only one that knows football around here
Where did I say fire Richt
I just said lets wait and see another year before we sign another contract after a smoke and mirror season
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:53 pm
You know, it is amazing how fast programs can go up AND down… Looks at UF with the most recent coaching change and recruits being run off or just plain leaving… Their numbers are really thin after the Urbinator left and he is casting a huge shadow on that program now that he is at OS.. I heard Weis is taking the Offensive line coach with him that was the key to the Gators glory years with the Pouncey boys and others…. That’s why I’m excited about the Dawgs ramping things up in the next few years…
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:55 pm
Will be interesting to see who commits after this weekends banquets up in the Classic City.
The only one that knows football around here
December 9th, 2011
9:56 pm
If we lock up coach we will win a bunch of games. If not we will go the wrong way.
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:57 pm
Tucker is starting to pile it on Lovejoy…
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
9:58 pm
Anybody have the real scoop on the Gators program as far as how many coaches are left, other than rumors by more than obvious Gator Haters?
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:58 pm
Heard Belue say the extension is for 3 years to bring the total years to 5 for CMR… McGarity had to announce it today with the banquet this weekend.
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:00 pm
MOBILE …. All I’ve read form the Orland Sentinel is the S & C coach is gone to Meyer and Weis is taking the Offensive Line coach… Counting Meyer. The main 4 coaches in the Cog… Muschamp must be in the fetal position somewhere …
ADMan
December 9th, 2011
10:01 pm
Flat tire….you don’t know sh-t about Georgia football….all you do is come on this blog and spout BS thats untrue.You can’t name one xm radio program right now that is disrespecting the Dawgs….I’ll bet that you believe every thing you hear….(HEY..I got some swamp land I’d like to sell you)LOLLOL…….we laugh at your ass everyday when you come on this blog and act like you know everything…your so out of touch your comical. I’ll bet you don’t have many friends do you…who the hell would want to hang around you….a complete ass who thinks he knows it all.You’ve got to be either a Tech or Florida fan….Bama fans have too much class to spread the crap you do!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
10:05 pm
The only one that knows football around here
If we lock up the coach we will win a bunch of games
LOL
What ever happened to we will win conference championships, possibly play for a NC, beat bigtime teams, upset someone for a change.
Its not hard to win a bunch of games with UGA’s talent
Maybe you should not be allowed in Athens, thats Kentucky and Miss St thinking, they could use some more fans like you by the way
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
10:05 pm
A Dawg should have known better than to coach the “gators”.
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:06 pm
yes sir you can say what you think…excuse me I’m thirsty…hmmm..grape kool-aide..
01HAWK
December 9th, 2011
10:06 pm
INSIGNIFICANT PROGRAM that can not seem to get over the hump to win a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
31 years and counting.
It is always good to wish………………………………Isn’t it ?
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
10:08 pm
Flat Tire, you’re fighting a losing battle debating with these kool aid kronies using fact and logic. Kool aid skews and impairs the thought process, just ask ole Damon. OK, that was a poor attempt at humor.
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
10:10 pm
Breaking news, Saban takes HC job at Texas, McElwayney going to Memphis, Smart to North Carolina. Bama plays in BCS with Grad Assistants as coaches.
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:10 pm
Sports are not won with fact and logic…and both of them are in the eye of the beholder when blogging
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:11 pm
Yep, Mushchamp is now 0-5 as a player and coach at the Jax game… LOL
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
10:11 pm
ADMan
Paul Finebaum on XM 91 disrespects UGA almost everyday
Bill King on XM 91 says the Junkyard Dawg is gone and Richt lost it some time ago
Fran Tarketon even said Richt isnt getting it done on 680 the fan
There is 3 examples for you Moron
BS thats untrue
Whats untrue about my posts retard
Im not a kool-aid drinker like you bud who cant give examples but just spout off at the mouth
Keep drinking your kool-aid
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:13 pm
And to you keep working to fix that tire
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
10:14 pm
Sports, college football at least, are won with top recruiting classes, and great coaching. Which ingredient do we not have kral?
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:14 pm
It’s funny how the Tiders want to run McElwayne out of town like alot of fans want to move Mike Bobo down the road for us. There is alot of pressure on Saban and the OC for Bama to score some pts and beat LSU.. We scored 10 pts alone on LSU in the 1st half and if the receivers had caught some wide open passes.. It would have been interesting at the half…
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:16 pm
I’m fine you tell me mobile
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:18 pm
FLAT TIRE.. I hope you don’t listen to Finebaum too much??? His program is good for a few laughs and then I have to get back to reality. It was really a hoot during the Mike Shula years… I thought folks over there were going to jump off bridges some days…
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:20 pm
Hey next thing you are going to say is it is wrong that i like men!
And Gerbils!
BobDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:21 pm
… and Fran Tarkenton just jumped in and piled on when the dawgs were 0-2… He is an idiot with his drivel on radio… Name one thing he has done for UGA since his playing days were over???
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
10:21 pm
Mobile Dawg
Trust me I understand the kool-aid crowd on here
They never had a real job so they dont have a clue what turning around a company much less a program looks like
kral
would you hurry it up with my burger
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:21 pm
No, I gave up my season tickets some time back because I have been privaledged to raised 3 kids and run a business, making it a bit difficult for me to get to Athens but a couple times a year. I am pretty sure though that when I do get to town I spend as much as you do all year, piggybacking on your families tickets. But I am a aproud alum. How about you, sport?
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:22 pm
love when someone post for you …know balls or gerbils
Definition of football mediocrity is ...
December 9th, 2011
10:23 pm
A school is judged by the number of major bowl trips, as to whether it is a relevant program. NCs do not alone define that because 98% of all major colleges like Ok State or Duke or NC or VaTech or MD or many, many others like Wisconsin or Iowa have never won ANY NC.
No, ………… major bowls like Cotton, Fiesta ( only in the last 20 years) or Orange or Sugar or the ROSE and even now the Capitol One or the Outback Bowl DO determine that status.
Take GT. In 44 years they have been invited to ONLY TWO MAJOR BOWLS in that time period.
1967 Orange A LOSS
2009 Orange A LOSS
Before 1967? Oh, that would be the 1955 Sugar Bowl.
UGA for example has been in the same 44 year era been to several ( 6) Sugar Bowl games and about ( 5) Cotton Bowl games and about 4 Capitol ONe bowl games and with Jan. 12 ’s game about ( 4) Outback Bowls. MAJOR BOWLS these are not ………. the Sun Bowl or the Chic Fil A or the Gator or GT’s favorite, the Independence.
GT has attended 3 major bowls since 1955. THAT is NOT a major college program.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
10:23 pm
I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew.
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:24 pm
cooked chicken& dumplings tonight ..sorry flatter
Go Dawgs
December 9th, 2011
10:24 pm
All of you are fools. I have read every blog for the first time in my life and will never come back. Just wanted to gauge the opinion of the masses. My hatred runs deep for Tech, Auburn, Gators and especially the arrogant tools from Tuscaloosa but UGA has no real option here. There is really nobody out there that would be an immediate upgrade. Richt is a decent football coach. The coaches are all vastly overpaid and most of the difference maker players on all of the teams that matter cant even speak proper English. It is what it is. Better odds of winning with Richt than any new regime. Wish there was an easy fix but there is not. At least we dont have Muschamp or Derek leading our program and I would rather finish 2nd than have Saban as my man. What are the options?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 9th, 2011
10:25 pm
BobDawg
Fran made his comments before the season even started
oh
Yea it was funny all right during the Mike Shula years, right up until that same Finebaum crowd ran him out of AL and got a real coach that won them a NC and have them playing again for another
Next…………
Mobile Dawg
December 9th, 2011
10:26 pm
kral, just because you use lower case letters to spell your name doesn’t mean I do. It’s Mobile.
Come on, Finebaum is a nationally recognized brand. The man is smart, knows where his bread is buttered, and does a good job at what he does. Even if the truth hurts he knows what he’s talking about. He also has numerous “well respected” guests on his show. It’s entertainment, and no, I don’t care for some of it. I tune in, if I’m interested I listen, if not, I find Schnitt or some tunes.
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:27 pm
well excuseeeeeeeeeeeeee me
ADMan
December 9th, 2011
10:28 pm
Fat Tire last time I checked Fran Tarkenton was carrying a purse….and anyone who listens to Paul Finebaum and drinks up the BS he spouts everyday has got to be an inmature ass like you who can’t think for themselves ( I’ll bet you have his autograph hung on a wall in your house don’t you)As far as Bill King is concerned…he’s an idiot who changes his mind everyday depending on whose calling in to his show. Just the fact that you listen to these shows and hang on the words of these idiots shows you don’t have a thought process of your own….Like I said earlier ..’ve got some swamp land I’d like to sell you…LOLLOLLOL…I’ll bet you NEVER even went to college…what a tool you are!
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:28 pm
still did not tell me MOBILE
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
Mobile Dawg
Hello
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
Wanna compare management experience Flat Tire? Bring it on!
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
Stop that
aladawg
December 9th, 2011
10:30 pm
Shine you inbred dumb ass we don’t need you in Georgia why don’t you move to Mississippi and pull for Ole Miss
kral
December 9th, 2011
10:30 pm
The gerbil without gonads is back…1029
ADMan
December 9th, 2011
10:30 pm
Flat Tire = xm radio kool aid drinker….!