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
CEPH
January 5th, 2012
9:14 am
The more I look at McGarity the more I see Alfred E. Neuman, now I know for a fact that’s who he is because he even thinks like him.. You would have to be an idiot to give a coach an extension who you know you are eventually going to have to fire!!! There is every indication that Richt will have to go, I wish it were now but unfortunately it is going to have to be later. McGarity is talking about recruiting, is he nuts Richt can’t even get the top players in the state when you have the
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
9:14 am
does mcgarity wear his outback bowl participation ribbon to interviews?…
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
9:14 am
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.
This statement seems to apply to us year in and year out……..How many top 20 teams have we beat in the last 3 years????????? the best record of the 10 wins this year is the 8-5…..How many top 20 teams has murray beat??????? even better…HOW MANY GAMES HAS MURRAY AND POOR PLAYCALLING COST US
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:15 am
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:12 am
Thanks True Dawg fan- I just get sick of it. Even my best friend has been calling for Richt’s head for 3 years and his basement is a UGA shrine. What the hell?
anyone like that to me isnt a True Dawg Fan, but there are some hard core fans that will just never be pleassed unless we win every game every year. richt brings in the recruits. All that is missing is an OC that will get in their face like CTG does to the defense.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:16 am
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
9:13 am
jim, how funny is it that the ugatard nation doesn’t see the truth…
how funny is it that you are a techie nerd that refuses to admit it or say another team in which you cheer for. What a pathetic loser.
Whiskey Breath
January 5th, 2012
9:16 am
The man deserves a 25 million buyout and 10 year contract. Needs a raise to 7 million a year.
He is so good.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:16 am
CEPH
January 5th, 2012
9:14 am
The more I look at McGarity the more I see Alfred E. Neuman, now I know for a fact that’s who he is because he even thinks like him.. You would have to be an idiot to give a coach an extension who you know you are eventually going to have to fire!!! There is every indication that Richt will have to go, I wish it were now but unfortunately it is going to have to be later. McGarity is talking about recruiting, is he nuts Richt can’t even get the top players in the state when you have the
Run along dont need fans like you
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:17 am
I’m not happy either with Bobo, special teams play, and at times even Murray but I have to accept that I am just a fan. I can still be a fan of UGA but constant spewing of garbage on here won’t change anything
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
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.”
Thank You Greg! Blame the fans and supporters who give their hard earned money……this statement is CRAP coming from the AD! MY MONEY IS DONE!
sogadog
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
McGarity is right, fans need to stop complaining and support the team. (Yours truly included.) The toxic environment created by so called supporters hurts recruiting. Let McGarity and Richt do their jobs. They know the root cause of our last two losses was a lack of a running game and I am confident they will address that issue in the off season. I am also confident McGarity knows there were issues with play calling and he will address those as well.
I dont want to see UGA’s program turn into another Tennessee which made a huge mistake firing Philip Fulmer. Fulmer could have turned it around given time, support and an opportunity to find an offensive coordinator. Tenn. is another Kentucky and Vanderbilt now because they hauled off and fired their head coach instead of supporting him. I agree with McGarity’s approach, let the man do his job.
CEPH
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
Continue— GREAT coaches cherry picking the state and Richt has to pick through the leftovers> There are numerous problems (too many to list) that is inherent with the program which McGarity is apparently ignoring. Please Alfred E. open those eyes and listen (you definitely have the ears for it!!!!
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
True Dawg Fan you better be the one drinking so you can tolerate your miserable football team and coaches that I hope get extensions. Please face the facts you cannot compete in football with us or LSU we are the premier college football teams in the nation. Want to compare coaching staffs or records? Get McGarity to move you to the FCS so you may have a top 10 team.
VADAWG
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
AD does not see the full picture !!! What a shame!!!!!!! I guess I will again have to be satisfied with second place……… I feel sorry for the players as they will not be coached up properly….
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:19 am
I would like Bobo demoted to QB’s coach and head of recruiting. I think he’s best suited for that and Richt should go back to calling plays.
5 Fake Bamatard National Championships
January 5th, 2012
9:19 am
To the Gaytor fans on here. You don’t love our coaches, as much as we love Muschump being at UF. Your program is done, and man was that quick. Good run, but it’s going to be like the good old days from now on. Meyer knew when to get out, just like Kiffin did at UT.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:19 am
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:17 am
I’m not happy either with Bobo, special teams play, and at times even Murray but I have to accept that I am just a fan. I can still be a fan of UGA but constant spewing of garbage on here won’t change anything
exactly. The other blog from yesterday was like a cemetary everyone crying like little babies. Come on ppl all we need is an OC and for Richt to either be the head of special teams or appoint an actual HC for it, bc having 9 co HC isnt working for ST.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:20 am
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
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.”
Thank You Greg! Blame the fans and supporters who give their hard earned money……this statement is CRAP coming from the AD! MY MONEY IS DONE!
Good we dont want any fans like you.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:20 am
CEPH
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
Continue— GREAT coaches cherry picking the state and Richt has to pick through the leftovers> There are numerous problems (too many to list) that is inherent with the program which McGarity is apparently ignoring. Please Alfred E. open those eyes and listen (you definitely have the ears for it!!!!
You clearly dont know what you are talking about. There are at least 5-6 top GA HS players left and UGA is in the mix or leading for all of them.
5 Fake Bamatard National Championships
January 5th, 2012
9:21 am
You count at least 5 that aren’t real, but we can’t expect Bama trash to know how to count.
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:21 am
sogadawg- Well spoken at 9:18
DawginLex
January 5th, 2012
9:21 am
I will be shocked if Mike bobo is the OC in 2012 at UGA.
NFL caliber Defensive Coordinator-We saw improvement
Did anyone watch West Virginia and Clemson last night?
WV has an offensive mind running the show and Clemson’s guy isn’t far behind.
We could have that in Athens.
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
9:22 am
LSU fan in hiding
January 5th, 2012
9:09 am
I also work here in Athens. The dogs gave us the game 2 years ago when we were there with a stupid penalty on A.J. Green for celebrating a meaningless TD. We also drove and scored on the last possession. Please keep the coaches!
——————————–
I remember that play and no one has been able to show the rest of the fans watching what the celebration was exactly. He didn’t run around dancing, jeering in the other teams faces or spike the ball next to a defender. That was just a horrendous call and LSU did what they needed to do to take advantage of it. I would hardly say the Dawgs gave LSU the game, but more like the officials tried to become part of the game right at the end. I believe that crew got reprimanded for it also.
5 Fake Bamatard National Championships
January 5th, 2012
9:22 am
Stick to tree poisoning and illiteracy – your specialties.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:23 am
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
9:18 am
True Dawg Fan you better be the one drinking so you can tolerate your miserable football team and coaches that I hope get extensions. Please face the facts you cannot compete in football with us or LSU we are the premier college football teams in the nation. Want to compare coaching staffs or records? Get McGarity to move you to the FCS so you may have a top 10 team.
ahahahahahahhaha coming from a bama fan that has watched UGA dominate you this past decade. 3-1 isnt it?????
LSU is hands down the better team and should blow you out of the water.
You have no passing game, and that wont change under Satan. Your RB is done after this year. You lose too many players. Enjoy battling AU for 4th place next year ahahahahahahahaha.
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
9:23 am
True DOG Fan……HA! yeah right moron……be content with mid SEC….do you honestly think if EVEN ONE of Bama, LSU or ARK had been on our schedule we would have won the SEC east????????? take the blinders off dude…
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
9:24 am
I enjoy smelling my own farts!!
DawginLex
January 5th, 2012
9:24 am
Using bama logic, even if bama wins monday night, LSU is the better team and deserves a rematch because of:
List the excuses below…………..
Wallace Butts
January 5th, 2012
9:25 am
Wow. Lots of trolls on here from other programs.
First, the observation that McGarity made about making the 42 yard field goal would have shut almost all of you (or maybe not) up. I feel sorry for Blair Walsh on his last college game. Would have been a nice way to go out and I think that Richt gave him that opportunity.
So, what would the rest of you geniuses done? You have a O line that got beat all night. A QB that was throwing interceptions. No running game (also recognized by McGarity) and finally, a kicker who was having a bad year. Not too may pleasant choices, are there?
As was said, if Walsh makes a routine kick, Georgia wins. Didn’t happen and that is called football, morons.
bitter QB
January 5th, 2012
9:25 am
people, DR ADAMS see;s no need to change because recruiting is up, ticket sales are up
remember DR ADAMS is a bean counter—its all about the #;s for bounus money
try not to think to hard trolls—–its all about money to the man in charge
——the rich bible club would be upset with DR PEPPER ADAMS is he fires richt
—————————-adams doesnt care about wins, last year UGA made plenty of money
———————————————at 6-7———–same money at 10-4——–adams loves this system
LSU fan in hiding
January 5th, 2012
9:26 am
Tampa Dawg a penalty is a penalty. If you Dawg fans would just quit making excuses for losing and make sure you congratulate the winning team like your AD McGarity said you should do you would be a better person but still losers on the football field.
5 Fake Bamatard National Championships
January 5th, 2012
9:26 am
According to Bama logic, they will claim another NC when they lose on Monday, becauise Nick Saban will still vote them #1 in the coaches poll.
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:27 am
Some fans are just never happy even if we won a Nat’l Champ every season. They would say that we should have won by more points and the games should not been so close. The sad thing is all the hate says more about the person spraying it than who they are talking about. Very unhappy people with their own lives
bitter QB
January 5th, 2012
9:28 am
yes trolls —-the powers to be , no that we could do better with a coach who is a much better
——————-new ford truck salesman——–butt why change
——————————-same money with or without richt
PMC
January 5th, 2012
9:29 am
Yeah the thing is that it’s not the Michigan State game, it’s every single opportunity against the best teams they played last year.
they were 0-4 in 4 chances an extention of several years worth of failures.
If it were ONLY one game, that would be one thing. People are frustrated, because this group DOES NOT win games against good teams anymore.
You want people to be fired up about an extention of what they’ve seen?
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
9:29 am
Jeff “.How many top 20 teams has murray beat??????? even better…HOW MANY GAMES HAS MURRAY AND POOR PLAYCALLING COST US”
Common dude, really? Play calling is one thing, but I get tired of the calling out one player for losing games stuff. Without Murray in the Outback Bowl, UGA would have lost by 3 TDs because there was no running game, the blocking was a little better than average, and Blair Walsh was being the 2011 Blair Walsh. The first pic wasn’t Murray’s fault it was Tavarres King’s fault for breaking the wrong way with his QB scrambling and the second one was tipped off the side of the DL’s arm. Does he have to take some blame for that one? Sure he does but let’s be real here, there is a lot more blame to go around than just one guy.
1eyedJack
January 5th, 2012
9:29 am
Coach Friend absolutely has his work cut out for him. He needs to stay on them boys like a hounddawg. He needs to be a drill sgt. in the weight room. When they’re brushing their teeth they need to see him staring over their shoulder in the mirror. When they go to class and turn around to look at the dollys they need to see him waving back. He needs to pick out the clothes they wear.
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
9:30 am
The only loser I see on here is you POS trolls. But I’m glad you’re so enamoured with our program. Pretty much shows your crush on UGA athletics. And for that..i thank you!!
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
9:30 am
True Dawg Fan how many NC’s Ritch led you to? You will have a chance to see a real football team with real coaches on Monday night. Come to think of it you can see 2 teams. It will be a great game. To bad you Dawg walkers only get to watch. Maybe you can learn something, nah!
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:31 am
I presented that last comment to Herschel Talker and he never responds. Probably like some other people in here.
PMC
January 5th, 2012
9:31 am
Basically, they should be recruiting every good offensive lineman they’ve ever even heard of this next 3 or 4 years.
bitter QB
January 5th, 2012
9:31 am
dont appoint a president who is not a grad of UGA—–he does not bleed red and black
—-problem is at the top———————-trolls
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
9:32 am
cause i have to admit…i love UGA football.
cableguy438
January 5th, 2012
9:32 am
Much love for CMR! However, if he does not dispose of the BOBO play calling UGA will struggle to make it to the next level. Look around the nation at the offensive production from sub-par teams! Now look in the SEC even which is know for defense! All the offensive play calling is improving except at UGA. If I can sit during a game and predict the upcoming play based on formation then I am sure a College Def-Coor can also. Get another Grantham for the offense and then you will see a true SEC powerhouse emerge.
bitter QB
January 5th, 2012
9:34 am
at least we are not——clemson——giving up 70 points in the orange bowl—–daboo su==x
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
9:34 am
Richt gets an extension fine, but Bobo has to go. Get rid of this suedo “Pro Style” offense. This isn’t the ’90’s any longer.
Look at what WVU did last night to Clemson. Up 63-27 they where still going for a TD late, Passing on 2nd and Goal. That is boardline coaching, but that aggressive in your face offense is what UGA has to have.
Also of course everyone is excited the way UGA came back from a 6-7 season, but finishing 10-4 but what was the signature victory? Plenty of signature loses.
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
9:35 am
LSU fan in hiding
January 5th, 2012
9:26 am
Tampa Dawg a penalty is a penalty. If you Dawg fans would just quit making excuses for losing and make sure you congratulate the winning team like your AD McGarity said you should do you would be a better person but still losers on the football field.
————————————–
I just got through saying that LSU did what they needed to do to take advantage of it, but don’t kid yourself into thinking the penalty was legitimate. If you saw it, you know it just like the LSU fans I was deployed with at the time in 2009 who knew it was a gift from the officials. Game is over and I didn’t bring it up, you did. But don’t sit there and say that Georgia gave the game away because that’s not even close to what really happened.
From the head of SEC officials:
The excessive celebration penalty against Georgia’s A.J. Green late in Saturday’s game with LSU should not have been called, the SEC supervisor of officials has told CBSSports.com.
Rogers Redding, the SEC supervisor of officials, said Monday that after reviewing video of the play, “I’ve concluded that it was one that we probably should have let go.”
“We tell our guys not to go looking for this stuff but if it’s right in your face, you have to call it,” Redding said. “He (the SEC official) is beating himself up pretty bad over this one.”
DAWG with two bags over head
January 5th, 2012
9:36 am
Gainesville Dawg,
I have two degrees from UGA. My wife, father-in-law, sister-in-law, her husband and my daughter all went to UGA. I WAS a season ticket holder for 17 years. I care about the program, that’s why I’m not happy with it being mediocre. It’s going to take someone else with a killer instinct to get us to the next level.
LSU fan in hiding
January 5th, 2012
9:37 am
Tampa Dawg I stand corrected. Apparently, it was not a penalty. Regardless, how about the last drive? You have to admit this our team is better than yours.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
9:38 am
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
9:23 am
True DOG Fan……HA! yeah right moron……be content with mid SEC….do you honestly think if EVEN ONE of Bama, LSU or ARK had been on our schedule we would have won the SEC east????????? take the blinders off dude…
ahahahahah Go Away we dont need whinny baby fans like you.
We could have hung with Bama all day they have no offense.
Ark was the most overrated team all year long, and we would have beat them easily.
dawgman
January 5th, 2012
9:38 am
BamaWama- No doubt LSU and AL are better than we are. Saban and Miles are probably better coaches too than Richt. There are only so many of those type coaches out there. You guys are lucky enough to have one. One thing though,UGA would be TN if they fired Richt. And UGA is not that far off from winning the SEC. The first half against LSU proved that.