Richt: ‘I have not talked to any other school about a job’
Georgia football coach Mark Richt expressed Saturday his gratification over UGA’s desire to extend his contract and intimated that, contrary to reports in Texas, he did not speak with Texas A&M about its coaching job.
“I’ve said many times Georgia is the place I want to be as long as Georgia will have me. That has never changed,” Richt said in a statement. “And it’s gratifying to know Georgia wants me.
“I have not talked to any other school about a job, nor do I have any interest in doing so. My interest is having a great recruiting year and start building toward next season.”
A report Friday in the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle, citing an unnamed source, said Richt was “in the mix” for the Texas A&M job. The papers reported Saturday that Richt declined A&M’s job offer.
UGA athletic director Greg McGarity met with Richt on Friday to open discussions about extending the coach’s contract, which has two years remaining. McGarity said the meeting was planned before the A&M reports, which McGarity dismissed.
McGarity said he had not been contacted by A&M athletic director Bill Byrne and would have been if the Aggies were pursuing Richt.
Late Saturday afternoon, Texas A&M announced the hiring of Houston coach Kevin Sumlin.
McGarity said he and Richt will continue to talk about a contract extension. “He wants to be our coach,” McGarity said. “We want him to be our coach.”
Richt has a 106-37 record at Georgia, but his job appeared in jeopardy when the Bulldogs followed a 6-7 record in 2010 with back-to-back losses to start this season. The Dogs then won 10 consecutive games and the SEC East title.
– Tim Tucker
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462 comments Add your comment
Furman Bishop
December 10th, 2011
3:51 pm
It’s amazing what beating 10 nobodies will do for a coach who was damn near dead on arrival after the first two games. It looks to me like the LSU game would have knocked some sense into these idiot UGA fans who think Richt walks on water, but I guess they are beyond help. At any rate, McGarity better be damn careful about giving Richt a long term contract extension because it might come back to bite him in the ass. If he’s smart he won’t go over two years, but I’m beginning to doubt he’s any smarter then poor old Damon. Four years is time enough to see if Richt thinks UGA football is more important then trapsing down to Lower Goa or whereever he went. Two years McGarity and no more. For UGA’s own good.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
3:54 pm
Joey -
You did not win any friends yesterday with your posts about Richt’s pending contract extension. Probably because the KoolAid Club members read that I agreed with you.
Hadenough
December 10th, 2011
3:55 pm
Mike + fourth =dumb !
Dawg48
December 10th, 2011
3:58 pm
Is any body watching the Georgia southern game?
28 – 17 GSU
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
3:59 pm
This morning I saw my neighbor working on the back of his car and asked if he was having troubles. He said, “Yeah, I am having trouble getting these UGA stickers off.” I asked him why he was taking them off since he has been a UGA fan all of his life. He said, “Giving Richt a contract extension is the last straw. Until UGA starts making business decisions about the football program coaches instead of making it a popularity contest, I am through with them.” Suffice to say he is not pleased. Now if his daughter would only get rid of her FSU stickers.
Joey
December 10th, 2011
4:04 pm
Dear Mr McGarity,
All I want for Christmas is for you to extend (with a fitting raise for a man who took the 40th+ best D in ‘09, to the 4th best in ‘11) Todd Grantham for at least 3 years.
Milk and cookies on the table . . .
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:05 pm
Now since charlie is gone , if I could only get the stickers off my single wide!
Charlie please come back I will make you a sandwich!
Kevin
December 10th, 2011
4:06 pm
Wow, what are us UGA fans going to do now that your neighbor has taken all of his bumper stickers off his car. Go cut another pair of jeans into shorts you clown!!
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:11 pm
Kevin -
Relax, have another PBR and load up another video game.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:12 pm
Every one at Florida is jumping ship, recruits,players,coaches,
I hope we can field a team next year!
I don’t want to cut my mullet!
Joey
December 10th, 2011
4:12 pm
SSIgator, I’ll give you this – you are always around (kinda like razor-burn). You are here irritating UGA fans when y’all beat us, and even here on the rare occasion that we beat you.
So who’s your pick for your new OC?
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:14 pm
Kevin
Can I have your empty PBR cans?
I got to get some extra money for Christmas…….
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:15 pm
I want mike Shula!
Joey
December 10th, 2011
4:16 pm
Sandwich for Charlie Weis?
If I had his girth, and money, it would be the Ruth’s Chis porterhouse for me nightly . . .
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:18 pm
Joey
Don’t talk about my hero!
RedandBlackDawg
December 10th, 2011
4:18 pm
Steve A&M is suppose to be in the west. At least that is what the conference makeup looks like the last I saw. Missouri is in the east.
Kevin
December 10th, 2011
4:19 pm
Your mom already came by to pick up my empty cans. Funny though, she had bumper stickers all over her buggy.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:20 pm
Joey -
Who can say? Depends more on what type of system they want to run. Hopefully someone that eats less than Uncle Charlie. Publix is still re-stocking and UF is repairing furniture in the coaches room.
Dawg48
December 10th, 2011
4:25 pm
GSU. & Maine is a good game!
Shaw looks good at QB……
I bet tech is missing him!
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:26 pm
Uh oh, Kevin’s video game player must be broken so now he is entertaining himself under my name. Knock yourself out Kevin, but try to stay smarmy, as Joey would say.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:30 pm
Do y’all really think Florida is going to be down next year?
I’m starting to think so, should I cut my mullet and keep my last pair of jeans and not cut them off?
I need advice!
Fulton Kuykendall
December 10th, 2011
4:31 pm
“Again, Missouri is in the WEST. A&M East.”
“Where are you getting this information? Not only does it not make sense, nowhere is it posted that Missouri is in the West. All indications are they were accepted to join the SEC East.”
________________________________________________________________________________
PK, I’m a little slow, but can somebody tell me why both Mizzou AND A&M didn’t go to the West and Auburn moved to the East? Would have made more geographic sense, although not as goofy as Boise St. being in the Big East……
Dawg48
December 10th, 2011
4:32 pm
Looks like tech gets the left overs after Georgia southern picks the players they want to run the option.
Dawg48
December 10th, 2011
4:38 pm
FK
It would have interfered with to many traditional games… For example
If auburn came to the east. Bama could not play Tennessee and auburn every year..
That is a long running rivalry game like UGA auburn or Georgia Florida game.
Ty
December 10th, 2011
4:45 pm
To junkyard dawg….
1. Along with locking down CMR long term do what is need to keep CTG there long term as well.
AGREE
2. Get rid of CRG now, recruiting the “right” people is critical, his judgment is questionable at best
DISAGREE
Rodney Garner is one of the most respected defensive line coaches in the nation. How many years in a row have we had a top ten recruiting class? That being said we have definite room for improvement in recruiting. To take it to the next level (BAMA and LSU) we must lock down the ATL. South GA will always limbo with FLA/FLA St, West GA with Auburn, and East GA with SC/Clemson. ATL has to be THE priority.
3. Have CTG call Joe D in Dallas and get him here ASAP in Garner’s slot as Special Teams Coordinator. He is a ST guru!
AGREE that we need a special teams coordinator, but at what price? How many teams actually have a specific special teams coach? At what cost do we let go of a position coach for this position? We have very intelligent coaches who need to become more involved in special teams.
4. Make CMB Recruiting Coordinator and QB coach
AGREE that BOBO would be a great recruiting coordinator, but I still think that he can get the job done on offense.
5. Find a “desk” job for Lilly and use that slot to hire an aggressive, innovative OC.
Make those moves and we’ll regularly be playing on the first Sat in Dec in the GA Dome and will soon be playing for a NC!
DISAGREE!!!! Lilly is top notch. We might as well be “TE U!”
Joey
December 10th, 2011
4:51 pm
You actually are less smarmy these days, SSI. Speaking from experience, 6-6 lowers the level of smartass-ness, right?
Can’t help it. After Myer’s reign of terror on us, it’s nice to see y’all down a notch – for now.
BiggDawgK
December 10th, 2011
4:51 pm
Yet another of many indications Georgia’s program is rising to the top after a brief stumble. CMR keeps getting named in rumors to take over at other schools.
Meanwhile fat rat charlie flees the turmoil in the swamp ahead of what everyone knows is an upcoming ncaa investigation. A lot of that gatorade money has somehow ended up in the pockets of players. I have heard from several sources that were always right in the past that gaytor nation better enjoy the toilet bowl this year because they won’t be seeing any bowl for several more years.
BiggDawgK
December 10th, 2011
4:56 pm
SSllsslgator or whatever
It’s probably best if you hold off on jorting your last good pair of jeans. You want to look classy when you give away the bride next week and marry her too of course as is the custom down there in the swamp.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
4:56 pm
BiggDawgK -
Another UGA fan whistling past the graveyard.
BullDogMike
December 10th, 2011
4:59 pm
Strictly a rumor to try and affect our tremendous recruiting. The SEC is probably the most cut throat of the college conferences,as it pertains to recruits. Now that over signing will be a thing of the past, it is important for a lot of teams to try and slow UGA down. If anybody thinks Ga recruits are not that great,take a look at current rosters in NFL.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:04 pm
BiggDawgK -
“Yet another of many indications Georgia’s program is rising to the top after a brief stumble. CMR keeps getting named in rumors to take over at other schools.”
A brief stumble? Going four out of twenty-one against UF is a brief stumble? Wow. And why would other schools truly be interested in Mark “I can win games – just not the big games” Richt unless they were another school similar to UGA that is satisfied with winning between eight and ten games a year? UGA – Home of the occasional ten win season, but no titles. Thirty-one yeras and counting.
Fulton Kuykendall
December 10th, 2011
5:05 pm
Dawg48,
Thanks, that didn’t occur to me….makes sense now.
TampaGator
December 10th, 2011
5:06 pm
I have no part in the ongoing debate between two children on here…..but I do think that people who steal someone else’s name and post in their name…..should lose their ablity to post on any AJC site. That is so irritating for everyopne.
Glad Richt is staying….never thought he was leaving. Good coach. Great recruiter.
Now….Florida……
Florida has a very young and very good defensive team, and is returning all but Jaye Howard next year. No issues there. Florida’s major problem this year was a lot of youth and no depth on the OL. First, everyone returns on the OL and they will be better and bigger next year. Second, the two injured (and talented) freshmen OL, redshirted, and got bigger and stronger…and they will be available next year. Plus…. 5 star OL, Dunker and Humprhies, are coming….and most like Avery Young from everything I am hearing….and maybe one more. Another issue was lack of experience at WR….Debose and Dunbar (Soph and Fresh)…got a lot of experience and will be much better next year. They will be most likely joined by 5-star WRs Stefon Diggs and Nelson Aglolor. Next, a big need for a big blocking TE who can also catch the ball…..he is on the way….Colin Thompson. A big TE/WR in the slot (similar to your Bennett)……on the way…..Kent Taylor…..6′5 and 220. A possession receiver who can get seperation and has great hands….on the way….Latroy Pittman out of Ocala. Big need for a power back…..on the way……Matt Jones….6′2 and 220…and very powerful….and he is going to get stronger once he is on campus in January. Put these guys with Jordan Reed, a developing star at receiving TE…..and A.C. Leonard…another gifted TE….and the Gators are going to be able to run the pro style offense they were not able to run with either very talent, Jacoby Brissett or very talent, Jeff Driskell, stepping in to play QB next year…..no one in Gainesville is going to miss John Brantley.
P.S. A reporter called every commit this year the night Weis resigned…..and everyone is ALL GATOR. And not actual football coaches are expected to exit. And Muschamp will hire an outstanding OC and and outstand S&C person to replace those that left.
For you Dawgs thinking the Gator program is in trouble…..it is just reloading for a new system and a new era of championships…..and they will be fully reloaded very soon.
Have a nice evening.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:06 pm
BullDogMike -
“it is important for a lot of teams to try and slow UGA down”
Other teams don’t need to slow down UGA. They are more than capable of slowing themselves down.
Joey
December 10th, 2011
5:10 pm
Regarding recruiting, if Richt and Co don’t get 3 or 4 more O-linemen to go with Theus, we’re gonna be playing “musical chairs” again next year with linemen . . .
TampaGator
December 10th, 2011
5:12 pm
SSIGator…..
Someone has been able to get to you……man……Georgia beat the Gators this year. They get until next November to ride that horse. Let them ride…..but the Gators aren’t going anywhere…..and intelligent Dawg fans know that.
Dawg48
December 10th, 2011
5:13 pm
Speaking of Kool – Aide drinkers….
I guess gators don’t drink kool – aide theta drink the gator aide!
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:18 pm
Joey -
UGA’s “musical chairs” occured during the LSU beatdown last Saturday night with their running backs. It was more like the Christians being thrown to the Lions. Only in this case they were Tigers. Poor old Isabel only gained, what, fifteen yards? And then wiped all of that outstanding effort out trying to fight the LSU players. Must have been the stash talking.
tenn.DAWG
December 10th, 2011
5:27 pm
With all the instability in the SEC ie uf,utk,and bammer,it’s good to see UGA is on solid ground with their coaches.
Joey
December 10th, 2011
5:29 pm
“but the Gators aren’t going anywhere…..and intelligent Dawg fans know that.”
**************************************************
TampaGator, that is true, and it’s why I only gloat just a little at SSI. UF is still the #1 destination for high school athletes – it’s a fact – and when Muschamp gets the players he needs, UF will be a force.
I think it’s a plus for UF that Weis is gone, by the way.
Joey
December 10th, 2011
5:33 pm
Come on SSI, a high-ankle sprain is hard for a veteran to handle, much less a hard-cutting RB like IC. It is the SEC, you know?
Like Rainey, Depps, and Harvin played every down?
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:36 pm
Joey -
“I think it’s a plus for UF that Weis is gone, by the way”
Maybe so, but it sure is a downer for the Gainesville area restaurants and grocery stores. Not to mention the furniture repair shops.
Joey
December 10th, 2011
5:39 pm
I don’t know, SSI.
I bet Weis’s favorite “buffet” restaurants are breathing easy now . . .
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 10th, 2011
5:45 pm
Why would Richt go somewhere else
Who is going to pay him the salary he makes with only one goal to acheive and that is win 10 games
Come on people
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:49 pm
Joey -
The Burrito Brothers restaurant in Gainesville had a twenty-one taco salute when he told them he was leaving.
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:52 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville -
Be careful starting back in with statements like that. Our resident financial wizard AltamahaDawg will be all over that like white on rice.
Dawg48
December 10th, 2011
5:54 pm
Bobo forever!
SSIgator
December 10th, 2011
5:58 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville -
Also, be careful when you answer your door. It will probably be the investigator AltamahaDwg hired to beat out of you when you went to school at UGA. You know how persistent he can be.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 10th, 2011
6:06 pm
SSIgator
The only time Altamaha scares me is when he is on the “juice” aka… kool-aid
shankit
December 10th, 2011
6:22 pm
Just got through viewing the greatest “college” football spectacle
in America, Army vs. Navy. Puts all the hype of Bama, LSU, Saban,
Miles, to the rear. Who cares? Saban could never coach a military
academy. Mark Richt could. It’s all about what America is and should
be. QB for Navy is going into the Seals. 84 of prior West Point cadets
have given their lives for their country. No drugs, no suspensions, I
recommend the Navy QB for the Heisman ????