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
WDE
December 9th, 2011
3:43 pm
@GTBob Bob I’ve actually been around long enough to know that that was not always the case. I think Tech can recruit top level talent. However while I think CPJ is a great coach for taking 3 and 2 star players and “coaching them up” I think he is pretty bad at recruiting the 4 and 5 star guys.I
FAT GUY WITH A FLAT TIRE ON I95
December 9th, 2011
3:43 pm
=DBAG
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:44 pm
@Coach Ray Gooooof .. “How stupid are you? All you are telling me is that someone asks for a weak SOS years in advance. Who expects New Mexico State and Coastal Carolina to boast SOS ranking?”
So your point is calling out the New Mexico State and Coastal Carolina games? Are you serious? You have to be the biggest idiot on here if you think that EVERY team in FBS doesn’t schedule a couple of games waaaaaay below their level. EVERY TEAM! But as for the conference teams, you have no control over their ability to win 3 years in advance. Funny thing about your posts are this. This point has been debunked weeks ago over and over again and you jump on here and decide to play with it some more.
Preston
December 9th, 2011
3:45 pm
Who the hell is whining about UGA’s schedule? NOBODY has played a tougher schedule than UGA over the last 5 years. This year was the easiest we’ve seen in a long time. Hey, if Florida can play that schedule and get into the NC game, then so should we! The SEC schedule alone will ALWAYS be enough to impress the voters. I say play all patsies OOC. Tech included! lol
KeithB
December 9th, 2011
3:45 pm
That easy schedule sure came at a good time.
FAT GUY WITH A FLAT TIRE ON I95
December 9th, 2011
3:46 pm
ray goof: you cleary were not the right guy but god bless you looked good doing it.
JB
December 9th, 2011
3:47 pm
No stud looking to play pro ball will go to Tech and play for Johnson, especially on offense. OL need to pass block. won’t happen. WR need to catch passes. won’t happen. TE’s…where? Qb, please. RB, no, it’s a mickey mouse offense. Next.
FLA DAWG
December 9th, 2011
3:47 pm
Mr Dawg & Alta,
I’m waiting for anyone here to name ONE GOOD TEAM The Dawgs beat this season………….NAME ONE…………………
You cannot because we never did. We lost to two good teams and one decent team and beat unranked or low ranked teams.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for extending Richt’s contract – especially after LSU hung over 40 points on us.
Washon
December 9th, 2011
3:48 pm
Has everyone forgot that one of the biggest reasons CMR was on the hot seat one year ago was because of his record against “good ranked teams” What is his record this year against teams that finished in the top 25. 0-3! Richt is smart and he is pushing for this, however, it is premature big time.
SSIgator
December 9th, 2011
3:49 pm
“Richt has two seasons remaining on his existing contract, which pays him about $3 million per year.”
Wow. Nice gig. And to think, you only have to win between six and ten games a year to get that. Like PT Barnum said there is one born every minute.
Florida is a basketball school now
December 9th, 2011
3:49 pm
Our Ray Goff was a DGD and a below average coach.
The Ray Goff on this blog is a beer guzzling gator or bama boy who never got laid and is about to get kicked off the library computer.
He will then go get in his truck and go to Walmart and buy beer and cigs for tonight’s wrestling at the Episcopal church parking lot.
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:50 pm
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
3:18 pm
SSi
It is all over the papers in Florida. It has been openly discussed that Muschamp was going to fire Weis.
Keep spinning kool aid boy if it makes you feel better
Your boys are in major CYA mode
————————————
Now this is funny. I live in Tampa and spent several hours (as I do one or two days a week) in Gainesville on Wednesday and NO WHERE was anyone talking about Weiss getting fired. All anyone would talk about was “what must Muschimp have said to make Davis decommit?” or “will they start Driskell next year?” or “Gators will rule the SEC once again, just give us another 30 minutes”
Washon
December 9th, 2011
3:51 pm
I guess people think beating Tennessee Florida and Auburn represent wins against the sec powers. Has anyone checked their records. CMR’s record has worsened this year against quality oponents! Hardly deserves an extention. Makes me sick!!!
Bulldawgman49
December 9th, 2011
3:51 pm
Good to know that the Coach will be around awhile . Georgia is loaded with great talent we might not get them all but enough to make a great team GO DAWGS !!!!!
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:52 pm
SSIgator
December 9th, 2011
3:49 pm
“Richt has two seasons remaining on his existing contract, which pays him about $3 million per year.”
Wow. Nice gig. And to think, you only have to win between six and ten games a year to get that. Like PT Barnum said there is one born every minute.
———————————-
Whatever minute you were born proves that. I mean the guy did take the Dawgs from not being able to win the SEC to winning it twice and being in position to win it a couple of other times.
lawzoo
December 9th, 2011
3:52 pm
Absolutely amazing. This board (or one very similar) was full of ga. alums, grads,and ex-cons who wanted Mark Richt FIRED and replaced with _________ (Tommy West, Norm Chow, Kirby Smart,Joe Blow, etc.) and now a Group Hug!
If we just had a pair of red panties.
Florida is a basketball school now
December 9th, 2011
3:52 pm
Schedule done years in advance. losers whine about the other teams not holding up their end of the deal
Coach Ray Goff
December 9th, 2011
3:53 pm
rank not rang…fat fingers
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:53 pm
Washon — how’s Jacksonville State treating you? Sooo, if he had lost to those rival schools, would that have been better? You can only beat what’s on your schedule.
Florida is a basketball school now
December 9th, 2011
3:53 pm
LSU played western kentucky too. that’s a real powerhouse there
Coach Ray Goff
December 9th, 2011
3:53 pm
Florida is a basketball school now
December 9th, 2011
3:52 pm
Schedule done years in advance. losers whine about the other teams not holding up their end of the deal
Most intelligent statement of the day. Seriously.
ArkieAg
December 9th, 2011
3:54 pm
UGA Insider
December 9th, 2011
3:27 pm
If the Richt/A&M rumors were true then my sources inside the program would be plotting the next move… which is Chris Peterson. CP wants this UGA job badly and would leave Boise and the Big East in a second. Smart basically has the job with A & M and I think the Richt rumors have been leaked by CMR’s agent.
Peterson has been on the A&M radar, too. Smart is a contender, but lots of chatter about Sumlin.
FLA DAWG
December 9th, 2011
3:55 pm
In watching Muschamp & Weiss over the years I always thought Weiss was a better OC and Muschamp was in his element as a DC.
I think unloading Weiss is premature but Muschamp………….well, I have little faith in that guy as a HC. But in fairness I think UF fans should support the guy for at least another season or two to see if he turns that program around.
But who am I to talk – we’re extending a contract to a guy who has two years left on his current contract, hired and has kept Mike Bobo as his OC and cannot beat a good team for love nor money.
Go figure.
Washon
December 9th, 2011
3:55 pm
I suggest we DO GIVE CMR an extention. What will he do run to A&M and lose there! In 4 years he would retire from coaching! He does not deserve it!
TexasDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:56 pm
@ wait till next year “Ohhh, wait till next year, we will be really good next year. Rocht will have us i NC next year. Ten years, no titles, no title games…I’m tired of waiting, time to move on.”
Well said and Amen.
Washon
December 9th, 2011
3:57 pm
Tampa Dog:: SC, Boise and LSU were on our schedule!!! Did you notice!!
duronimo
December 9th, 2011
3:57 pm
Richt is a good man who practices what he preaches. He puts the well being of the individual ahead of the team. It’s a Christian virtue I happen to agree with. However, it is somewhat incompatible with football … a team sport. It’s precisely how Bobby Bowden operated and why so many FSU offenders served short sentences and were back playing ….. all forgiven and loved. I think it’s why you see the same thing at Georgia. Saban and Miles operate differently. Their teams won’t be loved and forgiven if they don’t play hard for 60 minutes. And no individual player is going to screw them over. I like Richt. It’s nice not to see a coach cursing on the sidelines. With the athletes we get he’ll always win 8-9 games consistently. It’s better than going the way of Tennessee and Florida.
Joey
December 9th, 2011
3:58 pm
I think we should extend Richt’s contract, but with no raise, just bonuses for winning the East, winning the SEC, etc.
He does NOT deserve a raise for beating 10 teams he was favored to beat, and losing to the 3 teams who were favored.
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:59 pm
Hey Coach Goff, you’re not going to believe this stuff but guess what I saw when I looked at LSU’s schedule? Northwestern State and Western Kentucky!! Can you believe that? What a travesty??? So you trying to brush this under the rug has to rank right up there with the dumbest arguments today.
And in all seriousness, don’t sweat the fat finger retypes. It happens to all of us.
PromizeDawg
December 9th, 2011
3:59 pm
I hope the words Bobo and fired came up in the conversation. Time to revamp that side of the ball now. Defense has done their part.
Homepage | MrSEC.com
December 9th, 2011
4:02 pm
[...] Georgia AD Greg McGarity has come out, opened up, and made it clear that the Mark Richt to Texas A&M talk is just that — talk. McGarity told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today: [...]
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
4:03 pm
Washon
December 9th, 2011
3:57 pm
Tampa Dog:: SC, Boise and LSU were on our schedule!!! Did you notice!!
———————————–
Yeah, and? So were Auburn (ranked at the time and now) and GT, ranked at the time. Now go rip off another 70 yards against Tennessee State
Preston
December 9th, 2011
4:03 pm
That “easy” schedule had Boise Sate on it. I guess UGA did something to weaken the SEC East this year so they’d have it “easy”. LMFAO at you idiots!
WDE
December 9th, 2011
4:04 pm
@Coach Ray Goff we scheduled Boise in a year the rest of the normally strong SEC east schools played at a lower level…if they were improved to the level they normally played at our SOS would have been much stronger….if they had been improved this year…doesn’t seem so dumb now does it bozo?
Preston
December 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
AND….we can’t help it if GT can’t get their s$%^ together. Every once in a while, that’s another quality OOC opponent.
MarineDog
December 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
Well I’m sure that the staff appreciate the concerns, b_ tches, moans, and complaints of the posters on this site. NEWS FLASH: They will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Richt will be extended and to what terms.
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
4:07 pm
MarineDog
December 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
Well I’m sure that the staff appreciate the concerns, b_ tches, moans, and complaints of the posters on this site. NEWS FLASH: They will have absolutely no bearing on whether or not Richt will be extended and to what terms.
——————-
NUMBER ONE POST OF THE DAY! And from a Marine too .. makes this Army guy proud the word “Dog” is at the end of your handle.
Roll Tide
December 9th, 2011
4:07 pm
How can UGA only win 9-10 games a year or worse when LSU, Bama and Arky roll onto the schedule. It is a hoot to give a big new contract. LOL, only you doggies.
Won't be fooled again
December 9th, 2011
4:08 pm
McGarity started the A&M rumors himself just to cover his a$$ for giving Mark his raise before he loses the bowl game.
SSIgator
December 9th, 2011
4:10 pm
Joey -
Well said. Are you on some kind of reality medication now or is the KoolAid machine empty at your hose?
GTBob
December 9th, 2011
4:10 pm
@GTBob Bob I’ve actually been around long enough to know that that was not always the case. I think Tech can recruit top level talent.
Maybe in the 50’s and 60’s. These days there is too much working against GT and gap is going to continue to grow the more that college football becomes a minor league for the NFL. CPJ can’t recruit. Gailey couldn’t recruit, and O’Leary wasn’t a very good recruiter either. Either GT always hires terrible recruiters or there is a recruiting problem with GT itself.
shankit
December 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
A & M needs to hire them a carpet bagging Ohio coach to
compete with Saban, Urban and Les Miles.
Bad Dawg
December 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
duronimo,
The statement right there is why I personally disagree with so many dawg fans. Why in the world would you as a fan be satisfied with winning 8-9 games a year? Do you not want to win the national championship? The standard’s are getting lower and lower among the UGA fanbase because everyone loves Mark Richt. I like the guy too and I think he is an outstanding man but as for me and my house we want to see UGA bring home the crystal ball.
Dawg48
December 9th, 2011
4:15 pm
Gt bob
Iwould say so…..
Haven’t been on the GT campus lately have you…..
BigTimeTechFan
December 9th, 2011
4:17 pm
UGA could win a national championship next year
Richt Head Coach
keep Current DC (fat guy) as DC
Move Bobo to QB Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
Hire Ralf Friedgen (sp?) as OC
TampaDawg
December 9th, 2011
4:18 pm
Bad Dawg
December 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
duronimo,
The statement right there is why I personally disagree with so many dawg fans. Why in the world would you as a fan be satisfied with winning 8-9 games a year? Do you not want to win the national championship?
—————————————————-
I hear ya and to some level I agree. But I believe in NEVER compromising your standards in life in order to live by a certain standard on a football field. Recruiting violations? No. Scandals among coaches? No. Players get disciplined? Yes. I do want us to play for the NC and I believe we will get back there. He got the Dawgs to top 5 rankings before which tells me it can be done because at that point, you’re right on the cusp.
That70sGAdawg
December 9th, 2011
4:18 pm
Unless the Dogs OC is new, we shall not renew….
GTBob
December 9th, 2011
4:22 pm
Iwould say so…..
Haven’t been on the GT campus lately have you…..
Yep. I’m on campus every month or so at least.
BigTimeTechFan
December 9th, 2011
4:24 pm
Man, I agree Bama should be in title game but…
I picked Ok St to win the Natl Championship before the season so I would like to see them in. Gotta say it was pretty good pick when most people had them ranked 10th to 12th, came close.
They still have a shot, maybe Bama beat LSU in OT and Ok St blows out Stanford
MarineDog
December 9th, 2011
4:24 pm
@TampaDawg,
Thanks! I’m having a hard time understanding the reasoning for this firing talk with no viable solution other than that “someone” is out there besides Richt. I’m disappointed that we have been so close on several occasions. The last few years saw us reaching rock bottom. It sometimes takes a season like that in order to right the ship. There was a drastic improvement from last year. Some will say that we had a weak schedule this year, but our schedule was even weaker last year and we still lost 7 games. Things are looking up. I for one prefer to let this thing play out and allow the people with the authority to make changes make those changes if they feel it’s necessary.
I think most of this negative talk stems from the fact that the SEC has won the last 5 MNC (soon to be 6) and we haven’t been among those teams. Richt will get his. There’s an urgency there that I haven’t seen in the last 4 years.