McGarity: Outback Bowl loss won’t impact negotiations with Richt
Georgia’s loss to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl will have no impact on contract negotiations between UGA and football coach Mark Richt, which remain at least “three to four weeks” away from completion, according to Athletic Director Greg McGarity.
Georgia AD Greg McGarity said the Bulldogs' overtime loss to Michigan State did nothing to change his opinion on the direction of the football program under coach Mark Richt. (UGA photo)
“We plan to meet as soon as we can get together,” McGarity said Wednesday. “But I don’t see anything, certainly not a signed document, anytime soon. We’ll start the process of digging into the details of our extension and it will be determined in the near future.”
McGarity also urged fans upset over the Bulldogs’ 33-30, triple-overtime loss to the Spartans to keep the defeat in perspective.
“Blair Walsh kicks a 42-yard field goal and we’re sitting here feeling great about ourselves,” McGarity said. “But would we have solved our running game problem? No. Would that have solved them being able to go on an 85-yard drive with no timeouts? No. So, I mean, the dynamics haven’t changed. It’s not going to matter diddly-squat when we start lifting weights in three weeks. If anything it’ll add more incentive for next year.”
Georgia lost back-to-back games — including a loss to LSU in the SEC Championship game — to finish the 2011 season 10-4. Richt, 51, is 106-38 heading into his 12th year as the Bulldogs’ coach.
McGarity said there is no rush to complete a new deal with Richt, who has two years remaining on an employment agreement that pays him $2.81 million annually. Including bonuses and outside income from endorsements, Richt earns more than $3 million a year.
Richt is expected to receive an extension of at least three years, which would keep him as the Bulldogs’ coach through December of 2016. McGarity said he and Richt already agreed in principle when they met last month.
“This is an important recruiting time and I told Mark after the SEC Championship game that he could go to these high school kids and tell them he’s going to be their head coach,” McGarity said. “We felt it was very important to send out the message that we haven’t worked everything out but Mark’s going to be our coach. That was the immediate need, to go ahead and address the future of our program. But we didn’t get into any details or anything like that that’s kind of where we left it. He wants to be here and we want him to be here.”
Any renegotiation is unlikely to include a significant pay raise for Richt, however. Richt is sixth among SEC coaches in compensation but that ranks No. 11 nationally. Alabama’s Nick Saban ($4.8 million), LSU’s Les Miles ($3.75), Auburn’s Gene Chizik ($3.5), Arkansas’s Bobby Petrino ($3.1) and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier ($2.88) currently make more than Richt.
“Longevity is the first priority and then compensation would follow,” McGarity said.
McGarity said he has received about 50 emails in the wake of Georgia’s loss this past Monday. He said “about half” of those fans complained about coaching decisions made as the Bulldogs let a 16-0 at halftime lead slip away. Michigan State scored a touchdown with 14 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 27-all and send it into overtime.
Walsh missed a 42-yard field goal attempt that would have won the game in the first overtime, then had a 47-yard attempt blocked in the third OT.
“Any time you lose a game, especially one as gut-wrenching as that one was, people get frustrated and they vent in various ways,” McGarity said. “If the game was lopsided, if we had lost 42-0 or something, then there would be some concerns. But to point the finger at a player or a coach or offense or defense or special teams is a waste of time. That was a true team loss. There are plenty of second guessers out there, but there are so many what-ifs on either side it could have gone either way.”
What McGarity hasn’t heard is enough credit being given to the Spartans, who recorded back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time in school history.
“What I have not seen in one email is anyone giving any credit to the Michigan State team, and that’s very unfortunate because they made the plays they needed to win the game,” McGarity said. “The first thing you should do when you get beat is give the other team credit, because they’re working just as hard as you are. Kirk Cousins, look what he did in the last two minutes of the game with no timeouts. That was pretty impressive, as was the way they defended us in the second half. Unfortunately people never give the opponent any credit.”
McGarity said it’s important that Georgia fans rally behind the team, which he thinks has a chance to do some great things next season.
“We go from 6-7 to 10-4 and we’re looking forward to 2012,” McGarity said. “We’ve got a lot of kids coming back, a great nucleus and a great group of leaders. There’s a segment of our fans that want to play the blame game. But when you have a loss like that, everybody shares in it. I’m sure everybody on that field felt like they if they could have done something differently, coaches and players, we might not have lost the game. But that’s just part of the deal.
“What is important is for people to know that Mark Richt is our football coach, and he and his staff and these players spend so much time in an effort to bring championship football to Georgia. . . . The more negative people become, the more it distracts you from being successful.”
NOTES: Georgia’s annual G-Day spring football game has been set for April 14. No other spring practice dates have been set. . . . Junior noseguard John Jenkins sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder late in the Outback Bowl. However, the injury is not expected to require surgery and he will be available for spring practice. . . . Freshman wide receiver Chris Conley will undergo wrist surgery this month. . . .Redshirt freshman tailback Ken Malcome suffered a concussion early in the fourth quarter against Michigan State and did not play the rest of the game.
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962 comments Add your comment
ed from polk county
January 5th, 2012
1:20 pm
Benton, Tennessee.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:21 pm
thanks for the support guys…i’m honored…
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:21 pm
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
1:19 pm
I love how people though call CMR overpaid yet Bobby Petrino makes easily more money and hasn’t accomplished JACK!!!!
its bc ppl dont research or in this case dont read bc the stats are right there.
A person SMART enough to know......
January 5th, 2012
1:22 pm
True TOOL Fan is this your statement?………FYI UGA puts more in the pros than almost every other team so your statement about that being more liekly at bama is stupid (Maybe you could tell me how mnay former Bama players made the pro bowl this year in the NFL)….Well if UGa has all that NFL talent smart guy then WHY no BCS Titles for Richt? you call everybody and IDIOT but please explain to this Idiot WHY? Ir RICHT is the great coach you seem to think he is WHY SUCH CRAPPY RESULTS? Preseason Champs and 10 Win Champs WaaFreakingHoo.
True TOOL Fan Not everybody uses a bunch of different blog names. You seem paranoid.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:22 pm
ed from polk county
January 5th, 2012
1:20 pm
Benton, Tennessee.
So this is another Evil empire handle.
tape worm
January 5th, 2012
1:22 pm
SEC / National Championships
LSU – Won two, playing for a third
Florida – Won two
Alabama – Won one, playing for a second
Auburn – Won one
This will be Richt’s 12th season with Georgia, all the above were accomplished in less than half the time Richt has led the Georgia program by the other SEC staffs. Remember Georgia ranks 2nd nationally with recruiting the last 10 years. Georgia has a very financially sound athletic program with some of the top facilities in the nation. Is Richt a championship coach or does he just win some games. Does Richt deserve a contract extension based on the results of his piers? Fans from other programs in the SEC are starting to roll their eyes when you mention Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs.
alpharetta alice
January 5th, 2012
1:23 pm
Evil empire makes these blogs worth reading. At least he’s honest. I love him.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:23 pm
thanks again…love you too alice…
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:24 pm
A person SMART enough to know……
January 5th, 2012
1:22 pm
True TOOL Fan is this your statement?………FYI UGA puts more in the pros than almost every other team so your statement about that being more liekly at bama is stupid (Maybe you could tell me how mnay former Bama players made the pro bowl this year in the NFL)….Well if UGa has all that NFL talent smart guy then WHY no BCS Titles for Richt? you call everybody and IDIOT but please explain to this Idiot WHY? Ir RICHT is the great coach you seem to think he is WHY SUCH CRAPPY RESULTS? Preseason Champs and 10 Win Champs WaaFreakingHoo.
True TOOL Fan Not everybody uses a bunch of different blog names. You seem paranoid.
Are you that dumb??? Thats what I have been talking about all day you clown. do some reading and catch up if you actually want to be in the conversation.
And FYI you are Evil empire and all those other handles. Its not being paranoid, its caleld not being dumb and seeing that its you. Stop embarrassing yourself!
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:25 pm
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:23 pm
thanks again…love you too alice…
ahahhaha is that all you can do know is create more names and congradulate yourself???? ahahahaha thats pathetic
what of it?
January 5th, 2012
1:26 pm
How does CMR being overpaid imply that Petrino isn’t?
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:26 pm
what of it?
January 5th, 2012
1:26 pm
How does CMR being overpaid imply that Petrino isn’t?
not overpaid run along
mableton's finest
January 5th, 2012
1:27 pm
EVIL EMPIRE IS THE MAN. AJC SHOULD HIRE HIM RIGHT NOW. I BET TRUE DAWG FAN IS ACTUALY A WOMAN.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:28 pm
mableton’s finest
January 5th, 2012
1:27 pm
EVIL EMPIRE IS THE MAN. AJC SHOULD HIRE HIM RIGHT NOW. I BET TRUE DAWG FAN IS ACTUALY A WOMAN.
Everyone point and laugh at the clown.
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
1:29 pm
alpharetta alice
January 5th, 2012
1:23 pm
Evil empire makes these blogs worth reading. At least he’s honest. I love him.
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evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:23 pm
thanks again…love you too alice…
—————————
That is pretty pathetic dude. Like you can’t see that both of these came with seconds of each other and realize that it’s the same person. You mention “legions of fans” and suddenly there are 4 or 5 handles we have never seen on here before singing your praises. Self glossing is pretty lame.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:29 pm
in all honesty, smart and i are not the same person…we agree on alot of things, but not the same person…lighten up tdf; you are gonna have a stroke my man…
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:30 pm
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
1:29 pm
He thinks he is serena williams giving himself compliments!
ARdawg
January 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
TampaDawg
Actually, Petrino has accomplished something at Arkansas and the Hog fans are tickled pink with him. Championships? No. But he is likely headed in that direction. Thats something Hog fans haven’t had in a very long time
A person SMART enough to know......
January 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
MableTON’s Sexiest be nice True Tool Fan is getting married in MAY. His boyfriend is so happy because he loves New Hampshire in the Spring
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:29 pm
in all honesty, smart and i are not the same person…we agree on alot of things, but not the same person…lighten up tdf; you are gonna have a stroke my man…
Lighten up??? Bc I called you out and was correct I need to lighten up?? Who said I was ever worked up?? I have been laughing at you all day
LariotRider
January 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
McGarity comes off as a complete buffoon. Why does it take 8 weeks for him to get a deal done?
No one is primarily to blame? Sorry, in this case, Aaron Murray committed 3 turnovers in the game, as Murray did against LSU (3 turnovers) and South Carolina (3 turnovers).
You’d have to be naiive to miss that.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:32 pm
Petrino would win a nat champ within 3 seasons at uga…richt wouldn’t go .500 in two of 3 seasons in fayetteville…and be fired after the third…
what of it?
January 5th, 2012
1:32 pm
tampa,
then what do you love about people calling him overpaid? It still has nothing to do with the fact Petrino is overpaid.
They’re both charlatan’s
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:33 pm
A person SMART enough to know……
January 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
MableTON’s Sexiest be nice True Tool Fan is getting married in MAY. His boyfriend is so happy because he loves New Hampshire in the Spring
def same person as evil empire! thanks for outing urself!
(FYI I live in GA where same sex marriage is illegal so….. once again you look like an idiot! If you are going to try and spread a rumor or insult me at least do one that is believable and cant be disproved in 5 secs without moving.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:33 pm
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:32 pm
Petrino would win a nat champ within 3 seasons at uga…richt wouldn’t go .500 in two of 3 seasons in fayetteville…and be fired after the third…
ahahaha wow show that football knowledge hahahahahha
propeller smeller
January 5th, 2012
1:33 pm
Keep doing what you are doing empire. The readers love you.
Ol' SoGa Dog
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
Bobo cost us the game with over three minutes to play in 4th Qt. Surely after three qts. he say that we couldn’t run the ball up the middle on Mich St. Please don’t grant him any extensions. I would love to hear that he is unemployed.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
what of it?
January 5th, 2012
1:32 pm
tampa,
then what do you love about people calling him overpaid? It still has nothing to do with the fact Petrino is overpaid.
They’re both charlatan’s
it was a reference to the fact that someone who has accomplished way less is making more and if anyone should be labeled as over paid its Petrino.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
most followers of football would agree with me on petrino>richt…cmr’s best days are past him…the pilot light has been blown out…
ARdawg
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
The cupboards weren’t just bare when Patrino arrived at AR, they were empty, the women ra.ped and the house burned
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
thanks prop smeller…
A person SMART enough to know......
January 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
True Tool Fan I guess that is why you are going to New Hampshire to get married in May then.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
Ol’ SoGa Dog
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
Bobo cost us the game with over three minutes to play in 4th Qt. Surely after three qts. he say that we couldn’t run the ball up the middle on Mich St. Please don’t grant him any extensions. I would love to hear that he is unemployed.
he has around 10 kids. Richt will never let him be unemployed. He goes and some recruits might go as well as most of them love Bobo.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
swap squads for one game…petrino’s dawgs would roll crm’s hawgs…
daggone
January 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
Make sure you keep Bobo too..he’s my favorite!
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
most followers of football would agree with me on petrino>richt…cmr’s best days are past him…the pilot light has been blown out…
actually dont think that anyone outside of Fayetville would agree with you.
tape worm
January 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
The reason Georgia can’t run the football is because they haven’t had an offensive line since 2002.
A person SMART enough to know......
January 5th, 2012
1:38 pm
True Tool and guess what Dope, DUI, Rape, and many more things are illegal in Georgia but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
tony
January 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
I’m at the point where I could careless who will replace Fraud Richt just as long as I won’t have to see him walking the sidelines next season.
DawgInaTruck
January 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
evil empire, do you know what a pen is?
daggone
January 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
If Bobo turns those dawgs loose next year on those babies we play..it will be murder!
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
A person SMART enough to know……
January 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
True Tool Fan I guess that is why you are going to New Hampshire to get married in May then.
ahahah seriously how much time a day to you waste thinking of dumb things to say about me??? I hope its not much bc they are pretty pathetic. but then again you are pretty pathetic so I wouldnt put it past you to spend multiple hours a day at it!
Dont worry little fella, maybe someday you will grasp the game of football.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:40 pm
good point tape worm…how many former uga o-linemen are in the nfl right now?…besides mj gilles (philly?), who else…
daggone
January 5th, 2012
1:41 pm
Make Bobo the HC!!fire Richt and give Bobo the F150…
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
1:42 pm
A person SMART enough to know……
January 5th, 2012
1:38 pm
True Tool and guess what Dope, DUI, Rape, and many more things are illegal in Georgia but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
ahahaha yea but you dont have to have a govt issued licsense for anything you mentioned….. so once again your dumb.
daggone
January 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
McGarity got new F150 from richt too!
A person SMART enough to know......
January 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
DawgInaTruck how has your day gone? What is your Take on the should the tax payers Keep BOBO employed and his children educated? No really nice to have fresh meat for True Dawg Fan to copy & paste comments about.
tape worm
January 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
True Dawg Fan – What has Bobo done with talent or anyone else at Georgia? Grantham is another matter all together. Georgia plays for a Title next year or they can get the heck out! They have the talent to at least play for one.
Payup
January 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
McGarity needs to pay Richt Saban / Miles type money—he’s earned it after that 10 win season. Next year, the Dawgs will be loaded and may win the SEC!!!!
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
most followers of football would agree with me on petrino>richt…cmr’s best days are past him…the pilot light has been blown out…
————————————
BASED ON WHAT!!!!!??????? He has accomplished NOTHING! Unless you call getting lit up by one of those aforementioned mediocre UGA teams and Ole Miss back in 2009 an accomplishment. You’re losing credibility by the second. Who’s your team of choice again? Oh yeah, not enough guts to say .. nevermind.