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
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
10:32 am
I do not think Richt should get a big pay raise and a contract for life. What camp does that put me in?
True Dog
January 6th, 2012
10:36 am
Dog wwith 2 bags over his head. Please keep the bags over your head. What have you done for ghe dogs lately but complain.
True Dog
January 6th, 2012
10:36 am
Dog wwith 2 bags over his head. Please keep the bags over your head. What have you done for ghe dogs lately but complain.
Dawg in Gator country
January 6th, 2012
10:37 am
When we were 0-2 I saw where some of the armchair quarterbacks were saying Richt had to go and we should bring in Dan Mullen. A quick review of records tells us a lot about second guessing our athletic department. I really don’t think we would want to lose a Mark Richt for someone with a losing record and a total of 9 SEC wins in a career or an unproven coach. The AD and Head coach know what they are doing. We should let them do it.
Joey
January 6th, 2012
10:38 am
What changes, Lakedawg? In the interview below (page 18) it seems like McGarity won’t be asking for Richt to make staff changes.
Just wondering what you’ve heard.
Bulldog59
January 6th, 2012
8:27 am
sc fan
January 6th, 2012
10:40 am
Good Morning dogs, you all missed the point. It is all about money. Period. As long as you pay to fill the stands nothing will change. The coach does make a difference. Spurrier is a genius. Look at what he has done at a below average football program. The sad thing is that you are now looking up at South Carolina!! Who woulda thunk it? Richt is doing the best he can and the outcome will not change unless there is an easy schedule year.
Mike Bobo..COME ON MAN!
January 6th, 2012
10:41 am
Most of our problems come from terrible offensive play calling, extreme conservative decisions by CMR, and a bad offensive line year after year. Todd G. has turned around what use to be a soft, weak defense, into a good aggresive defense. The defensive mentality is changing for the good. My main concern is with Bobo: some examples: 4th and 2 feet (remember we cant block mich. st much less get any push when they have the box loaded) instead of a qb sneak(which i think is our only chance) we hand the ball off 5 yards deep and get stopped behind the line of scrimmage(shocker!). Mich. st was blitzing constantly, what to do when a team is aggressive and blitzing HMMM? Maybe a screen, maybe a toss sweep. I dont remember us trying one screen or toss the entire game. During the LSU game we were having alot of success early throwing the ball then all of a sudden we go conservative, start running the ball and continue to run although its obvious that we couldnt run on LSU’s defense. Earlier in the year(dont remember which game) its 4th and 2 yards and we qb sneak it! Once again shockingly we dont convert. Why would you qb sneak on 4th and 2 yards but not 4th and 2 feet. Its bone head stuff like this that blows my mind! As for the running game our O-line is terrible and we are loosing 3 starters, No running back in the country would succeed behind our O-line. Whenever I can sit here on my couch on saturdays and guess which play ga is about to run probably 50% of the time, then I have to believe that the opposing teams d-coordinator has to know what we are calling every play. Love Ga football but I am really frustrated with this predictability every year!
DawginLex
January 6th, 2012
10:42 am
Joey
I said all of this would prove if McGarity was running athletic or Adams.
If no changes are made on the staff, I for one will be HIGHLY UPSET AND DISSAPPOINTED.
If Bobo remainis as OC, Richt must force him to be more aggressive and seek out advice from other coaches.
If things remain as is, our talent will win a lot of games but when we meet good teams, we will lose.
Joey
January 6th, 2012
10:42 am
Devil’s Advocate Camp, or Contrary Uncle Camp.
And I’m not going back to find it, but you know we’ve gone a couple of rounds on Richt’s new contract and raise, and you are for it.
Joey
January 6th, 2012
10:54 am
Richt may change the backup cook on the nutrition team, but that’s it. Love blinds Richt. He was blind about Martinez, and now Bobo.
And we really can’t blame Richt for not changing anything. His AD has just validated his entire program.
Jax Falcon/Dog Fan
January 6th, 2012
10:54 am
That’s my picture in the dictionary next to the word “homer”. Dogs, Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and yes, even Yellow Jackets when they are playing outside the SEC. There have been some tremendous highs and lows for all the above mentioned teams during my time (64 years and counting). But I must say, I have just made the decision to grin and bear the rest of Mark Richt’s tenure in Athens. No question he is a nice guy. There is also no question in my mind he does not exhibit the leadership and “fire in the belly” attitude to lead his team to the top in today’s SEC, much less to a National Championship. Who would be better? Thank goodness that’s not my call, but it is the AD & President’s shared responsibility. Please make that call soon, guys, and make it the right one.
dawginduluth
January 6th, 2012
10:59 am
Lake, glad you know more than I. Outcome is the same. More disappointment – if you are correct, at least three more years worth.
PS I worked in Athens until about 9 months ago, if that helps. Also, McGarity would replace Richt if he was in control. He isn’t.
ciucevich
January 6th, 2012
11:02 am
mark richt is a great coach. He needs to improve his staff. He will do an excellent job recruiting and we will be back next yr.
Clarksville TN Bulldogs 1 Fan
January 6th, 2012
11:04 am
AD I Love Mark Richt he is a man of GOD. Doing your evaluations of the coaching staff and raises, please look at the OC. Our OC is very predictable. Once Boykin and Smith come in the game shotgun and run around the outside I could call the play once they come in the game. I think we really need to look for an OC that can make adjustments after the first half. We need an OC that make changes as the DC make changes against us. Mike Bobo is a QB Coach not an OC. Either Richt needs to take over as play calling, hire a real proven OC or settle for what we got on 2 Jan 2012 in the second half. BoBo called some good games this year, but not against good DC that can make changes doing the game. With the talent we have returning at WR and RB and TE even if Charles leaves. I would love to see him return, but he has a major decision to make for him and his family. We have a chance to run the table and play in the SEC Champioship game and the winner goes to the NC game that’s a lock for SEC champion.
The DC pay him look at the improvement of the Defense. In the third year of this Defense we should play even faster. Now we can add more complex to the Defense, with most of the defense having a grasp of what is expected.
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
11:15 am
I am all for the extention. Correct . Either fire him , or empower him with the contract expected of SEC coaches. This is not some after school chores for allowance money lessons to be taught somebody here. I have said repeatedely that the “raise” was never an issue and would probably be more of a restructure to make everybody look good. They all make more than they should, it doesnt matter what they do on the money at this point.
Making a decision, but then immediately tell everyone that you think it’s wrong is no way to do things.
And what on earth IS the man suppose to say in a newspaper quote? Publically Comment on specific staff member’s jobs? Really? come on.
Joey
January 6th, 2012
11:16 am
I agree, Clarksville, on the DC. In fact, if I were Mark Richt (I’d be rich – just kidding) I would be falling all over myself to get Grantham extended.
Grantham, not Richt, is why Richt is here for as long as he wants to be. Without him, 7-6 this year and calling U Haul.
Joey
January 6th, 2012
11:21 am
So, the “making everybody look good,”aside, AD, do you think Mark Richt deserves a raise? Just curious.
I would be for Performance bonuses maybe.
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
11:22 am
“Devil’s Advocate Camp, or Contrary Uncle Camp.”
Ah, You have snatched the pepples from my hand.
The best indicator of BOBO is .............WKY U.
January 6th, 2012
11:24 am
A school like Western Ky University might go after a guy like Mike Bobo if they thought that he was any good. HIS PHONE WILL NO RING.
This fact and with other medium size schools looking, BOBO ’s name simply does not come up. He is not well thought of outside of Clarke County.
We are stuck with BOOBOO. He is over his head a H OC BUT HE IS apparently a very decent recruiter and QB coach.
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
11:32 am
Joey, does it really matter? the man is not working on an assembly line. We aren’t talking about his hourly raise here. Do I think ANY of them deserve millions already? NO. Nor do I think any of them are driven by it.
And I think tying money to some goal is a great idea, although that’s purely for exhibition. I think there already may be some of that in there now.
Would NOT getting a” raise” make you feel any differently one way or the other?
Joey
January 6th, 2012
11:35 am
“Ah, You have snatched the pepples from my hand.”
******************************************
I don’t get it. Are you amused or ticked off?
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
11:44 am
Did Kan explain the pebbles?
Joey
January 6th, 2012
11:50 am
Kung Fu reference! AltamahaDawg, you are something else . . .
Bet you would be a kick to have a couple beers with.
And yes, you make sense about the raise.
Ha!
January 6th, 2012
12:26 pm
Took a break for lunch for a good laugh and landed on here. I’m a Dawg fan through and through, but find it so funny how other Dawg fans and fans from other rivals are still on a blog after we played our last game.
Man, don’t you people have jobs!
Get a life people…. It’s a game… football, not a way of life! If it’s your way of life then you have no clue why you are on this earth!
DawginLex
January 6th, 2012
12:48 pm
HA
you posted the same crap on bill king’s blog.
Why are you wasting your time posting on 2 different blogs?
doug dawg
January 6th, 2012
12:55 pm
106-38. yeah, and just where have the wins come from vs. the 38? this is a worthless, no championship, mess. and more bobo? heck, he was nothing as a quarterback, now he controls the offense. it is, simply, nepotism. look that up. he’s married to a dooley, and making lots and lots of babies. guess that secures his job. awful.
dawginduluth
January 6th, 2012
12:57 pm
“Outback Bowl loss won’t impact negotiations with Richt”
Pretty much says it all. The man has never been held accountable. No cut in pay. No job loss. Just raises and contract extensions…and, even now from McGarity, more excuses.
Why should we expect any difference going forward?
Best darn job is the whole US of A.
Ronnie B.
January 6th, 2012
1:37 pm
You gotta give ‘em some credit (whomever “they” are). Or you gotta hand “it” to ‘em (whatever “it” is). My goodness, two of the most over used cliches in sports these days. Really?
Old Dog
January 6th, 2012
1:40 pm
Washon – I think you said it right. Maybe if enough of us Dawg Fans quit buying tickets for the games or watching them on TV, then McGarrity and his puppetmaster Adams would get the message and do what it takes to get a WINNING team. I, too, am tired of being on the edge of my seat HOPING we can pull out a win over VANDY, or seeing wht should have been an easy coast to victory in the Outback bowl GIVEN away to the other team. MSU outplayed us? Only in the fact that they continued to play reasonable football all four quarters while we started making errors (interceptions, missed field goals).
DawginLex
January 6th, 2012
1:50 pm
A four-year letterman for the Bulldogs from 1994-97, Bobo is coaching on the same field where he became a record-setting quarterback. A native of Thomasville, Ga., Bobo finished his Bulldog career leading the team in passing in both 1996 and ‘97. He currently ranks high in the Georgia passing record books in several categories including: season completion percentage (first, 65.0%, 1997), season passing efficiency rating (first, 155.80, 1997), career pass attempts, third, 755), career pass completions (third, 445), season passing yards (third, 2,751, 1997), career passing yards (third, 6,334), season TD passes (third, 19), career TD passes (second, 38), most passing yards by a junior (second, 2,440), most passing yards by a senior (second, 3,396), and career total offense (third, 6,054).
Bobo also set a Georgia record completing 19 consecutive passes leading Georgia to a 33-6 victory over Wisconsin in the 1998 Outback Bowl. He completed 26 of 28 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Elected team captain (1996-97) and permanent team captain of the 1997 Bulldogs, Bobo was named the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week twice following performances against South Carolina (19×33, 285 yards, two TD’s) and Georgia Tech (30×39, 415 yards, 4 TD’s).
********************
Yeah, he was lousy in 1997
CTG
January 6th, 2012
1:50 pm
Boboner blows…Gaaron swallows.
DawginLex
January 6th, 2012
1:51 pm
Todd Graham
January 6th, 2012
1:48 pm
“Look Boboner and Gaaron, if I wasn’t making a decent wad of cheese I’d beetch slap you silly for makin my defense look bad in the last two games…but I do make some nice cheese”
***************
Why is the former Pitt coach/now ciach at Arizona state discussing UGA football?
Denbo
January 6th, 2012
1:53 pm
I forgot he was a one off wonder, like Dead or Alive.
Denbo
January 6th, 2012
1:59 pm
I did say “most” of it was deserved, he finally showed up for a few games his senior year. If Ray Goof hadn’t recruited him we wouldn’t be in this mess right now.
Denbo
January 6th, 2012
2:01 pm
I’d like impact negotiations with Booboo…
short memories
January 6th, 2012
2:13 pm
McGarity is a gutless lap dog just trying to keep his position. UGA will continue to dominate junior colleges when they play them.
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2012
2:29 pm
McGarity, you said there wasn’t any urgency in completing CMR’s extension because both of you are on the same page as both wanting the same thing, and that was CMR stay’s at Georgia. That would be okay if you also didn’t state that you would look at the coaching staff next.
Maybe CMR can wait for month’s but if I was a defensive recruit I would want to know that Grantham was going to be there for the 4 year’s that I was recruited for . McGarity you need to extend and if it take’s raise Grantham now. The recruit’s know that CMR will be their but the defensive recruit’s don’t know who their defensive coordinator will be after next year.
MiamiDawg
January 6th, 2012
2:44 pm
If he kicks the field goal we’re having a different conversation??? Yeah sure. How about one that asks why we failed to show up for the second half? Or maybe, why we allowed a team who we owned in the first half to come back in the second half?? Or maybe, why are we finishing the drill???
I”m thinking some on the coaching staff finish the drill means cashing their undeserved paychecks and to heck with coaching for a full four quarters.
No I dont think he is going to say this in public but I sure hope he has it in mind and doesn’t sign CMR to an unnecessarily long contract.
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2012
3:13 pm
http://dogbytesonline.com/notebook-grantham-contract-extension-in-the-works-53954/
Facts
January 6th, 2012
4:04 pm
An Inconvenient Truth
US News Ranking
GT: 36
UGA: 62
Endowment Size
GT: $1.5 BILLION
UGA: $600 million
Avg. Starting Salary
GT: $59,000
UGA: $44,000
Football
GT: 4 National Titles (1990)
UGA: 2 National Titles (1980)
Basketball
GT: 2 Final Fours, Chris Bosh, Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Jarrett Jack
UGA: 1 Final Four.
Baseball
GT: Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Brown, Matt Weiters
UGA: Gordon Beckham.
Golf
GT: Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, David Duval, Bryce Molder
UGA: Bubba Watson.
GT is a GLOBAL brand. UGA is a regional brand.
It appears obvious that UGA is the “flagship” in name only.
Ga Grad '90
January 6th, 2012
8:34 pm
“…to point the finger at a player or a coach or offense or defense or special teams is a waste of time.” McGarity
We’re doomed. McGarity can’t call a spade a spade. Our coaching is the problem. Period. If you can’t see it, you’ve never played ball.
Kelly
January 6th, 2012
9:42 pm
I hope McGarity remembers these comments when in 2012 once again we have millions of missed opportunities and lots of Mark Richt excuses. Georgia will not win a national championship under Mark Richt. And McGarity will only have himself to blame for keeping him as the coach.
Gadsdendawg
January 6th, 2012
9:44 pm
Georgia fans u make me sick. You all sound like these dumb a$$ Alabama fans over here. I’m Uga fan and always will be. Uga will be better next year.
Ross Ga. Fan
January 6th, 2012
9:58 pm
It was gutless for McGarity to call out Blair Walsh!
Just a game
January 6th, 2012
10:25 pm
Will UGA ever win a national championship with Richt at the helm? I honestly don’t know. But he is a great man, and represents the University well, one of few positive influences on that campus. If I were an AD, I don’t know if I could sleep well after firing such a man. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see the Dawgs win all the marbles, but at the end of the day it’s just a game. My life will go on regardless of how well or poorly the Dawgs play.With all this being said, though, I do believe Richt can pull it off and that McGarity will make the right decisions. If only we could get another OC though!!!
Georgia_Jim
January 6th, 2012
11:12 pm
Coach Mark Richt will always be under pressure, until he wins a National Championship!! That is what everybody wants. When he completes that goal, he can right his on check!!
B'dawg
January 7th, 2012
9:37 am
The quality of a team reflects the leadership of a team. As long as we have these leaders, this is the quality of football youll get. Or basketball, or… you get the picture..
Jborodawg
January 7th, 2012
9:47 am
“Gadsdendawg @9:44 pm…Georgia fans u make me sick. You all sound like these dumb a$$ Alabama fans over here…”
I agree. I read similar stuff a couple years ago at govolsextra.com (actually, it continues for Vols fans today). And very similar to blogs for Awbun and Flawduh…and yep, Oklahoma and Texas. Yep, Awbun; even tho Chizik won the NC, now many bloggers are ready to fire him. Microwave society.
Stendek et al who continually spout doom and gloom, how sorry CMR is, how sorry CMB is, how idiotic McGarity is, how much better Mason is, that Murray is too short (LOL), that we haven’t won a NC…ad nausea…you really appear to have given up on the program. Posting 10-20 times per blog with your rants is…well…tiresome. In one breath you espouse that nothing’s gonna change; then continue to rant. If you think nothing is gonna change, you might as well move on to another team; or do something else on Saturday afternoons besides Bulldog football.
The vast majority of fans aren’t happy with the loss to MSU. Just because we think the program is being run properly and is headed in the right direction doesn’t mean we’re “Kook Aide drinkers” or “blind followers”. Many of us just think that the AD and CMR know as we do that there are problems; probably more so than us. We’re willing to give them a chance to make the corrections. The AD, CMR, and CMB know we didn’t have a running game last year.
I betcha EVERY “blind, Kool Aide drinker” will call for change if there’s another 6-7 season; or at least 10 wins this season. I know there’ll be replies that we’re “happy with 10 win seasons”. Well, we are; as long as we’re playing for the SEC championship. If we go undefeated and play in the Dome, some are going to complain anyway…about the weak schedule. They’re probably the same ones that boo players after games, litter the campus and insult opposing fans at the games.
Jborodawg
January 7th, 2012
9:49 am
Stendek: “…A heartless loss to an untalented Yankee team in a damn bowl game?…”
You’re showing your ignorance son.
Jborodawg
January 7th, 2012
9:49 am
BTW, AltamahaDawg; it’d help if you’d point out to whom you’re replying some times.
BTW, USC is a school in southern California.
Any word on a new UGA? Russ is a DGD but he just din get the job done against those four teams last season.