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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
962 comments Add your comment
Any way you spin it...
January 5th, 2012
10:08 am
…we have been blitzed in the second half of the last two games, and are, thus, 0-2 in the last two games THAT MATTERED – hence, we need to head in a new direction, and the only way to do that is with a new football staff from head coach all the way down (of course, it could be worse, we could be Clemson)…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:09 am
True Dawg—-
You are not even playing the hypothetical game logically then. Just blind homerism. Look at the data analytically and take your emotion out. UGA has proven they could not beat either.
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
10:09 am
Thanks Tampa Dawg….perhaps you can enlighten me on what would have happened in the Carolina games given the fact that our dude Murray was responsible for 21 points…..and while you enlighten me, can you also walk me through a few other notable games that Murray’s fumbles/interceptions whatever you want to call is changed the complection of the game….LSU, UF… to name a couple…..bottom line…..WHO Really has Murray beat??? Give me JUST 1 team with 9 or more wins in his time at UGA? ok….ok…..8 or more wins
LSU fan in hiding
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
I am trolling out of here and getting ready for Monday night. You “Dawg” fans can keep discussing why you cannot win. I won’t change for you and I am glad of that. ( Ritch, Bobo, McGarity )
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
true dawg fan…is there any team that could beat uga today??? the list can’t be very long…NO Saints on a neutral field? 86 Bears only if game is in Chicago? no way they beat the 1980 bulldawgs. could they?
ozzfest
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
REM & MARK RICHT
BOTH GOT WORSE AS TIME WORE ON.
SEE YOU IN COULMBIA. SIC THEM MIZZOU TIGERS!
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
Hey, at least you don’t have to be like Clemson this morning.
70 points in a bowl game!?!?!
The ACC sure can play some ferocious defense, can’t they?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
Mcgarity what a punk
First he blames Blair Walsh then he blames then he says “But to point the finger at a player or a coach or offense or defense or special teams is a waste of time”
Fire Mcgarity
JB
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
How many Homecoming games where we guest of this year?
Alphare
January 5th, 2012
10:11 am
True Dawg Fan,
since “We have a much better passing attack than LSU”, and according to some other dawg fans, “dawg defense is as good as as LSU’s if not better”.
Why didn’t you win that game then? instead you lost 41-10?
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:12 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:09 am
True Dawg—-
You are not even playing the hypothetical game logically then. Just blind homerism. Look at the data analytically and take your emotion out. UGA has proven they could not beat either.
that was complete logic there. No def vs our offense that can put up 30-40 points on crap def. And an offense for Ark that has proven it struggles against good Def. How hard is that for you to understand???
Pretty hard when all you can say back is it just being a UGA homer.
ChompChomp
January 5th, 2012
10:12 am
Gotta go. C U Dawgs next time. Loosers.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 5th, 2012
10:13 am
Which is it McGarity
Is it Walsh’s fault, or the team; or how about the coach that cant beat a top 20 team in 3 years
I choose the last choice
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 5th, 2012
10:13 am
True Dawg Fan = Richt’s wife
TampaDawg
January 5th, 2012
10:13 am
Gene, “Richt will continue to win eight or so games a year, aided by selective scheduling of teams like Coastal Carolina and TN Tech. He will continue his infatuation with “divas” like Crowell at the expense of good, solid students and athletes, who learn and grow and stick around for four years.”
——————————
I gave up reading the rest of your post since the first line started with “Richt” and continued on to describe EVERY COACH AND PROGRAM IN THE SEC.
Case in point, Bama scheduled Kent State and North Texas and recruited Crowell big time
Florida scheduled Florida Atlantic, Furman and UAB and certainly recruited Crowell
Auburn scheduled Utah State, Florida Atlantic and Samford and they were all over Crowell
Tennessee scheduled .. nevermind, it’s still Tennessee.
Lastly, there was LSU who was also really after Crowell and in the midst of all the great teams they beat snuck in Northwestern State and Western Kentucky.
Say What??
January 5th, 2012
10:14 am
Enter your comments here
JB
January 5th, 2012
10:15 am
Here’s what I think( yes, I know you don’t care, save your time telling me)….I think McGarity is putting lipstick on a pig. Doc Adams loves Richt and the money is still coming in and tickets bought. The known is better for Adams than the unknown….so McGarity is dealing with what he has.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:15 am
No you make it easy—-
Your words…..
If the Special teams does not give up a TD and Murray doesnt fumble the game away…..
Well in the 4 loses that is what happened.
So you tell me how it would be any different other than a hope and a prayer on your part?
I have 4 games worth of disproving your “hope”. What do you have?
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
10:15 am
richt and murray are 16-11 last two seasons…with wins over la-lafayette, idaho state, nm state, and coastal carolina, who lost to stoney brook 42-0 this season…throw out those 4 titans, richt is 12-11 in the sec Least….thats performance you can build on…hahahahahahahahahahaha….
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:15 am
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
10:10 am
true dawg fan…is there any team that could beat uga today??? the list can’t be very long…NO Saints on a neutral field? 86 Bears only if game is in Chicago? no way they beat the 1980 bulldawgs. could they?
I dont believe there is a team out there that UGA couldnt compete with bc we have just as much talent as the top teams.
Now are there teams that would beat us??? Of course there are. The diff here is we are talking about paper matchups. On paper UGA matches up extremely well with Ark. Its not that hard all you have to do is look at how they did against top defenses (Struggled) and how their defense has performed (Awful) and then compare to how your team plays in those areas against this type of team.
Jeff
January 5th, 2012
10:16 am
Tampa DOG…..maybe we can send Diva BOY Crowell to bama or LSU….DO YOU THINK FOR A SECOND LES OR NICK WOULD PUT UP WITH HIS CRAP????
all day dawg
January 5th, 2012
10:17 am
bad performance affects my job-pay, why shouldnt it affect his? Greg will find himself on the hot seat in a couple years if he puts himself to close with Bobo and/or CMR way of coaching.
I love coach- the man, but last couple years not as a FB guy. We got so lucky this year it was scary. Boise, LSU and MIch St were the only teams we played. All 3 whipped us….had Spartans shown up in first half (snubbed from Sugar Bowl) they would have won by 20. Then would Greg worry?
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
10:17 am
Well I see my troll buddies LSU in Hiding and ChompChomp have packed it up. I reckon they must have been sickened by all the whining on here. It is so nice to have a great team that plays for the NC almost every year. Ya’ll have fun watching us Monday night. Asta La Vista baby.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 5th, 2012
10:17 am
Adams+McGarity+Richt= 10 win seasons; high ticket prices; and cant beat a good team
Any questions class?
UGA Insider
January 5th, 2012
10:18 am
The next time you call someone a loser atleast know how to spell it. You are probably an idiot Bama fan.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:18 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:15 am
No you make it easy—-
Your words…..
If the Special teams does not give up a TD and Murray doesnt fumble the game away…..
Well in the 4 loses that is what happened.
So you tell me how it would be any different other than a hope and a prayer on your part?
I have 4 games worth of disproving your “hope”. What do you have?
I have logic stupid. Its not that hard. I told Evil how to use logic in terms of football. Give it a try and see what you come up with!
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
January 5th, 2012
10:18 am
“Now are there teams that would beat us???”
I can name 4. Heck, I can name 25. Anyone ranked!
Sorry, just couldn’t resist.
all day dawg
January 5th, 2012
10:18 am
Bama Wama.
you have played fo rthe Naty twice in 20+ years, how is that alomst EVERY yr. You moron!
Honey Do!! Alice W.
January 5th, 2012
10:19 am
I wonder why the NCAA does not do the way the pros do for this year, that is check out the injuries; in case i get blasted for that remark, i think its a darn good idea that is if they not only check it out but also do something about it. There are getting to be a lot of them; hint!! Where was our new prime (RB) for the last several games?
I only saw him but once in the ‘OBB’, so where was he at? not saying that there are not some ligitimate injuries, but seems as if an awful lot of them lately especially if some high class polayer is strugeling in a game. I think MS played a very good game the other night and supposed they “Just Wanted It More” than we did for they not only won but handed a very good team (US) their 2nd. loss after winning 10 in a row; that speaks well for the whole team, i just really hope we do better next year (or this yr. now); anyway next season.
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:19 am
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
10:17 am
Well I see my troll buddies LSU in Hiding and ChompChomp have packed it up. I reckon they must have been sickened by all the whining on here. It is so nice to have a great team that plays for the NC almost every year. Ya’ll have fun watching us Monday night. Asta La Vista baby.
ahahahahaha what a clown. Enjoy getting beat AGAIN in a game you dont deserve to be in!
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:19 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 5th, 2012
10:17 am
Adams+McGarity+Richt= 10 win seasons; high ticket prices; and cant beat a good team
Any questions class?
back to cry some more I see.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:20 am
True Dawg fan—-
“I have logic stupid.”
Yes, yes you certainly do.
monty
January 5th, 2012
10:20 am
In the 2nd half of the last 2 games, we have been outscored like(approx.) 65 to like what? 13? No cause for concern here, just look the other way please. Don’t look at coaches who can’t fire their guys up at half-time or make adjustments. Everything is OK, really, just move along people.
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
10:20 am
True Dawg Fan – We be playing u b watching. Need I say more. Roll Tide!!
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:20 am
UGA Insider
January 5th, 2012
10:18 am
The next time you call someone a loser atleast know how to spell it. You are probably an idiot Bama fan.
watch out spell check police, he may give you a bad typing ticket!!
Actually if either one is a poser, its u. You come on here with garbage info every day and every day its just as dumb as the last.
Frank Lane
January 5th, 2012
10:22 am
Spot on perspective from a potentially great AD.
Joey
January 5th, 2012
10:23 am
What I don’t like Lex, is all damn season, McGarity said he wouldn’t make decisions until after the season was OVER.
Richt (or his agent) floated that A&M crap, and McGarity wet his pants and they “told each other they loved each other,” to quote Richt.
If Richt were smart, he would suspend his contract talks, and insist that Grantham get an extension first.
Without Grantham, Richt and Co would have been 7-6, and on his way out of Athens.
Richt should thank Grantham, then the Lord, for the 10 pathetic teams on the schedule last season.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 5th, 2012
10:23 am
Laughable
I can see my boss after the performance against ranked teams aka (my job performance); saying guess what your still getting an added 3 more years to your current contract
Good job on not making your numbers bud!!!!!!
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:23 am
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:20 am
True Dawg fan—-
“I have logic stupid.”
Yes, yes you certainly do.
yes and all you have is crying. wahh wahh wahh wahh wahh wahh we lost to the good teams again this year wahh wahh wahh. Now I think we cant beat anyone thats any good wahh wahh wahh wahh. You want to be a winenr act liek one. Show some pride in your fricken team. Stop sititng there crying about the past. McGarity is going to fix things at UGA you can count on that. So there is no since crying.
They are simple fixes and I trust that McGarity already has things in motion to do so.
DAWG with two bags over head
January 5th, 2012
10:23 am
I’d encourage everyone to contact McGarity to give your own opinion, negative or positive. His e-mail address is gmcgarity@sports.uga.edu. I gave him my two-cents this morning. Based on past experience, if you send a negative opinion, he won’t reply. If you send a positive one, he might respond. It probably doesn’t sway him one way or the other, but its a nice way to vent.
Tom In ATL
January 5th, 2012
10:24 am
Perspective –
A team coming off a 6-7 season, with a soph QB, All freshman receivers, No discernable RB’s except a highly recruited freshman, and in the 2nd year of a new defensive scheme and coach – goes out – wins 10 games. They beat their nemeisis FL – which they had lost to with far better teams, 18 out of 21 times. They beat GT on the road convincingly, they destroy Auburn 45-7, they beat TN on the road. They win the SEC East for the first time in 6 years. They lose to the #1 team in America, they lose to #7 by 2 TD’s. They lose to #9, when they had their stud RB and starting QB, by 3 in a game they mostly dominated. They lose to a senior domianted #12 in 3 OT”s by a FG in a game they mostly dominated.
What – exactly – were your expectations coming into this season? A run at a national title? Did you think UGA was on par with Alabama and LSU this year?
Yes its frustrating to watch Aaron Murray tournover the ball in big games. Yes it’s frustrating to watch us hold LSU to no first downs in the whole first half, but wind up being blown out. Yes it’s frustrating to lead Mich State 16-0, and have numerous opportunities to put the game away, but lose by a FG. But please – what the hell did you expect from this team? They have no running game. They have freshman and Sophmores handling the ball 95 percent of the time. They do have a ton of young talent and a nasty defense getting better. They have another group of good players coming into the program.
Who would you rather have running the UGA football program? Dabo – who just gave up 70 pts to a big East team? Little Dooley? Chuky Gruden? You’re not getting Saban, or Spurrier, or Miles, or Peterson. Remember Bobby Bowden – the guy with 389 wins – won his first national titile in year 17!
Chill people – UGA has never been a pereniial National title contender. But in the 10 years of Mark RIcht – he’s gotten 10 wins 7 times, finished #2, Finished #3. Richt’s teams won two Southeastern Conference Championships (2002 and 2005), and as of 2011, has won five SEC Eastern Division titles (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2011). His team represented the SEC in three BCS bowl appearances with a record of 2–1, and finished in the top ten of the final AP Poll five times (2002–2005, 2007).
Be thankful for what you have -
True Dawg Fan
January 5th, 2012
10:24 am
BamaWama
January 5th, 2012
10:20 am
True Dawg Fan – We be playing u b watching. Need I say more. Roll Tide!!
LSU already beat you and are already the real NC no matter the outcome! Need I say more?????
all day dawg
January 5th, 2012
10:24 am
and you didnt even play for sec champ but twice last 5-6 years. EVERY YEAR….hahaha….loser!
JDawg1785
January 5th, 2012
10:24 am
BamaWama, I hate to break it to you, but Bama already has finished fourth in the SEC West with Saban as coach. It was last year: http://eitsfan.com/bama/10sec.html
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 5th, 2012
10:25 am
True Dawg Fan
Back to pour more kool-aid for a fanbase thats finally woke up and isnt drinking it no more
evil empire
January 5th, 2012
10:26 am
again…
richt and murray are 16-11 last two seasons…with wins over la-lafayette, idaho state, nm state, and coastal carolina, who lost to stoney brook 42-0 this season…throw out those 4 titans, richt is 12-11 in the sec Least….thats performance you can build on…
PMC
January 5th, 2012
10:26 am
Mcgarity did not blame Blair Walsh for anything. He said it was a team loss.
He simply said which is an accurate statement, that most people would feel a lot differently if the kick had gone through.
The best players on the team this year were almost all juniors and underclassmen. He’s got a point really.
joe
January 5th, 2012
10:27 am
So of you are making comments that are based on some logic and not emotion. This is not allowed on a sec fan base blog. For those of you with some logic, please, please, continue to maintain some perpective on life. For the rest, remember-kill, burn, loot, and send e-mails to the AD. I am sure he pays more attention to those than his experience dictates.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 5th, 2012
10:27 am
True Dawg—-
Look you are embarassing yourself here. Then you wanna name call on on top of it and act like a 10 year old.
ARdawg
January 5th, 2012
10:28 am
Well, there we have it straight from the a.ss’s mouth. # year extension with a salary bump. He didn’t say that exactly but, that is what you can look for. He’ll not let Chizik be paid more than Richt. It’s a “stature” thing