A lot of news and notes coming out of the Georgia football camp on Monday, starting with Brandon Boykin being named the recipient of the 2011 Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player. I’m in the process of putting together a notebook for tomorrow’s newspaper. But, in the meantime, following is a quick summary of the information and quotes that came out of today’s season-wrapup teleconference call with Georgia coach Mark Richt. Enjoy . . .
MARK RICHT
On 5-star running back signee Keith Marshall, an early enrollee who began classes at UGA on Monday:
“He’s a very talented young man. He’s very focused. As a matter of fact, I walked into the meeting last night and he had a playbook in his hand and he was looking over assignments. It just gave me a moment to grin seeing how excited he was about being at Georgia.
“I’m sure he’s a little nervous, too, like a lot of guys. I remember my first night I spent away from home. There’s a little bit of anxiety, but it’s mixed in there with a lot of excitement.”
On what running backs have to do to play better:
“I think the biggest thing will be consistency and maturity. That’s what we have got to get. We played a lot of inexperienced running backs. Those guys have gained some experience and hopefully because of that they will become more mature players and more consistent players. I think that’s going to be the two most important things for me. And as always the fundamental things such as ball security and pass protection are important. We have to do a better job than we have in that area this year.”
On the Bulldogs’ two other early enrollees, quarterback Faton Bauta and offensive lineman Mark Beard:
“Pronounce this man’s name properly . . . it’s Fuh-TONE BOW-tuh. He’s a quarterback for us. Faton is here as well, as is Mark Beard, an offensive lineman for us. Those guys were here at the team meeting last night. They got a chance to introduce themselves to their teammates and got a round of applause from their teammates. They did a good job of welcoming them. And now they’re going to class and getting ready for the off-season program.” [Added that Bauta will definitely play quarterback)
On off-season priorities for trying to get to the next level:
On satisfaction of the 10-4 season:
"I think we came a long way this year. I'm proud of the effort. I'm proud of the progress. But we're still on a journey to do even greater things and that's going to be the goal."
On whether coaching staff will remain intact:
"I certainly hope so. I've had no indication otherwise. I guess I'll just leave it at that. I've heard nothing at all."
On whether sophomore quarterback Hutson Mason will return next season:
"I've talked to Hutson a couple of times and I'm not sure he's 100 percent settled on what he's going to do at this moment. But when that time comes we'll let everybody know."
On decisions of tight end Orson Charles and some other underclassmen to enter the NFL draft or not:
"We had a team meeting last night and all those guys were there. That doesn't guarantee everybody's going to stay, but at least they were all there. I guess it means they aren't 100 percent sure what they're going to do. When is everybody going to decide and have some finality to it? I don't know. Certainly they have to have it by the deadline. I think there's some guys who's heads are spinning still and they're not 100 percent sure what they're going to do.
"There's a bunch of them staying, but I can't sit here and say every guy has nailed it down."
On decision of sophomore cornerback Jordan Love to transfer:
"I just want to say that I really appreciate everything Jordan contributed to Georgia. He's a great kid and I really wish him well." [Knows of no one else leaving]
On whether they’ll sign full allotment of 25 scholarships in recruiting:
“That’s the hope. We’ll see. There’s a lot of things to do and there’s still a lot of great players out there. There’s a lot of decisions to be made. We’re just working our tails off trying to finish this class off as best we can. We’re going to have to wait and see if we get the full allotment or not. But we’ll be shooting for it.”
Goals for 2012 season:
“As always, we want to compete in such a way and prepare in such a way that we’ve got a chance to win every time we go out there. The goals aren’t going to change. We want to win the East. If you win the East and you win the SEC, you’ve got a shot at the next one. So, you know, that’s not going to change for us.”
ALSO:
Offensive lineman Trinton Sturdivant is not expected to return for a sixth season. . . . No changes forthcoming in Strength & conditioning. . . . Spring practice will begin the week after UGA’s spring break [around March 19). . . . Richt favors the $2,000 stipend for student-athletes.
251 comments Add your comment
Doug
January 9th, 2012
7:41 pm
I’m sitting here watching the BCS preview, trying to imagine the commentators are discussing the UGA program like they are LSU and Bama and I just can’t imagine it. We are somewhere between Arkansas and Tennessee still clinging to the glory of one season 32 years ago, and that’s where we will stay. But welcome Marshall, anyway. You’ll love the middle of the pack in the best football conference.
Dog
January 9th, 2012
7:45 pm
I think Bauta should try RB or FB. They compare him to Tim Tebow. If he runs that hard then damn put him in on goal line situations when we need a touchdown. He can be our redzone guy. Use these kids damn it. If they’re good, find ways to exploit mismatches and use them. Gotta get creative Richt and Hoho!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:51 pm
Keith Marshall’s first homework assignment at UGA will be to read the first chapter of the book Energy Vampires
Ch 1 Dont Beat Top 20 Teams, Just give them a hug
Bruce
January 9th, 2012
7:51 pm
If all scholarships are not used please do not give them to “outstanding scout team players”. Why waste them on players who will not contribute on Saturday. I hope Richt knows of some players that ight flip to UGA because from what I can see there are not 10 high quality recruits left that UGA has offered scholarships to and the player wants to be a Bulldog. Hope things go well. Go Dawgs!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:52 pm
Ch 2 If your Team needs motivation; Change your Uniform
Spike 80DF
January 9th, 2012
7:53 pm
is anyone really surprised by Richts comments? he’s never coached a game that he said was a “must win” game. why should he make changes to his staff? we’re the idiots that keep extending his contract and expecting different results…..he was basically forced to fire Willie and look what happend, a top 5 defense!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:55 pm
Ch 3 Always have a catchy phrase: Dream Team or We are knocking on the door to greatness
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
7:57 pm
Yea I remember Richt saying that the Boise game wasnt that important
Thats top tier coaching leadership
jack bull
January 9th, 2012
7:57 pm
Jenkins chose UGA…..awesome,,welcome to UGA!!
Nub
January 9th, 2012
7:57 pm
Unlikely ever to play with the big boys LsU and bam …. Only time we ever had consistent Nat Champ success was due to the greatest college football player EVER….! I hate it but that’s the way it is….. Let’s continue to hope to beat UF ever year and leave the championship’s to those other power house programs …..
ARdawg
January 9th, 2012
7:57 pm
Top 5 defense is quite a stretch there Spike but, a much improved one
Jimmy the Greek.......
January 9th, 2012
7:58 pm
JJ’s a Dawgs……..Said he felt safer at UGA than Alabama………
ARdawg
January 9th, 2012
7:58 pm
Sweet!! Welcome Jenkins!
Jimmy the Greek.......
January 9th, 2012
8:00 pm
Great pick up for the Dawgs and really seems to have an awesome family with a good head on his shoulders…….Was impressed with his interview at how he complimented all the universtities involved
SEC fans for Richt
January 9th, 2012
8:01 pm
Of course he favors the stipend. That’s $2k less they have to pay players under the table.
BiggDawgK
January 9th, 2012
8:02 pm
Flat tire is a friendless little nothing. His entire so-called life revolves around spouting nonsense about a team he hates. That is so pathetic I would feel badly for him if he were not such a hate filled bitter piece of dung. He is a textbook case of a depressed suicidal loner.
Jordan Jenkins is a Dawg !!!
January 9th, 2012
8:02 pm
YEEEEEEAHHHHHH !!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
BiggDawgK
Spouting nonsense
I didnt know facts was considered spouting nonsense
WELCOME HOME JJ !!!!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
IT’S GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG !!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
8:05 pm
At least Grantham will use Jenkins unlike our coach’s on the offensive side of the ball
uga1984
January 9th, 2012
8:09 pm
We got Jenkins!!!!
J.D.
January 9th, 2012
8:16 pm
I know the SEC Title is what every SEC team desires but just once when Mark Richt is asked “What are your goals for next seasons” that he doesn’t hot dog the old, tired line “Well, we want to win the East then we have a chance at the SEC and then we have the chance for other things”.
I want to hear him say “Our goal is to win the BCS. It’s that simple. That is our goal. Winning a BCS Title means you probably won your division and the conference so while those are all nice things to win, I am not satisfied until we win a National Title”
Tired of hearing the same crap every January.
J.D.
January 9th, 2012
8:18 pm
Guarantee when reporters ask Nick Saban and Les Miles what their goals are in 2012, they will not hesitate to say “To win the BCS Title, duh”
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T HEARD.
JORDAN JENKINS HAS COMMITTED TO UGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe that will start our recruit ball rolling.
Ho-Say Quervo
January 9th, 2012
8:29 pm
A smile this year…..and if I recall an AJC article last year, he had Mr. Crowell overlooking the field from his office describing how he would look as the running back on that team…….
Ho-Say Quervo
January 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
CMR….you’d be a great car salesman…you promise so much to everyone including DJ Shockley!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
@Lots of whiners(7:38 pm);
Well said Bro but you are wasting your time if you think the negative idiots on here will open their shallow minds,
If I’m hating on CMR or CMB like some of them appear to be I would change teams. That would make a lot of Dawgnation VERY happy. Who knows? Maybe a couple of them will get Headcoaching jobs and show us how it is done.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 9th, 2012
8:47 pm
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
That was a well coached team that play Michigan St last week wasnt it
Big Dawg
January 9th, 2012
9:39 pm
Aaron Murray needs to be Aaron Murray and stop trying to be Drew Brees. He is not Drew Brees and never will be!
Miami Dawg
January 9th, 2012
10:07 pm
Same story every year. Top end recruits. Bottom end coaching. Results will be the same too.
ugab
January 9th, 2012
10:13 pm
2 great teams playing for the NC tonight. Good luck Keith Marshall. I am still wandering why CMR did not mention a special teams coach?????
ugab
January 9th, 2012
10:15 pm
How are the dawgs gonna run the ball next season without an OL.????????????????????????????????????????????????
ugab
January 9th, 2012
10:21 pm
Special teams wins ball game…duh watch this NC
Bulldog Bob
January 9th, 2012
10:22 pm
Welcome to Athens new recruits! There is opportunity for you guys to make a big difference in 2012.
DawgGrad93
January 9th, 2012
10:48 pm
Realistic comment ugab. No OL, then not even Bama’s Richardson can run the ball… But, I will be confident that will beat Florida Atlantic 63-10! GET BAMA BACK ON THE SCHEDULE IN 2012!!!!!!!!
bubba4dawgs
January 10th, 2012
12:26 am
Welcome, Keith Marshall! We’re proud to have you and wish you the very best!!
bubba4dawgs
January 10th, 2012
12:29 am
Crowell, stay out of trouble during the off-season! Get yourself ready for Spring Training! Grow up a lot and by all means stay away from the funny cigarettes. A haircut might help keep your helmet on too! Get your candy butt in shape and maybe you can stay in a game!!
The Real Deal
January 10th, 2012
12:31 am
Yet again Georgia will be loaded with talent and refuse to coach these boys up to national standards!! I don’t like to be negative, I really don’t, but dammit year in and year out I see the same old thing!!! We get loaded at the skill positions and don’t do anything with it. I am going to have to see CMR and Bobo win on a big stage for me to believe they can get it done. I am going to have to see them beat ranked teams for a change for me to get behind them. Show me what has been promised year in and year out! Go Dawgs!!
The Real Deal
January 10th, 2012
12:32 am
Amen Bubba Dawg
4.29 GPA with 4.35 speed 40-yard dash Captain Football Team on-board.
January 10th, 2012
1:42 am
“I really like Coach Richt. He is a really nice person,” 6’ 3” 290 lbs expected to Start OT 2012 Mark Beard said, although not on campus yet as expected.
I like Mark Richt. The recruits like Mark Richt. Our players love Mark Richt. No one has ever said that he doesn’t like Mark Richt. He is a good husband and has a great wife. He has a great family. His family and his friends love the guy. I’m sorry but this is not his weakness. It is his STRENGTH. Mark Richt is a WORLD-CLASS RECRUITER.
There are only 2 Recruiting Rankings’ Services. There ever only have been 2. ESPN is weird on their rankings system and do not conform to the same exact attempts at accurately reporting their players, although their overall view is no different from Scout.com and Rivals. Is Tom Lemming still giving out 6-Stars ? What the blazes is a 6-Star recruit ? Better than a 5-Star ? Are 5-Star really 4-Star then ? What are 4-Star, really 3-Star ? Report the Nike times if you know them. Ok, sell your stupid articles to a buy on the Internet failed model of that which is readily available online free in this Free America. I’m not paying you for it. There is nothing I cannot find on the Internet. Free. It is what it is.
Take the 2 rankings’ services Scout.com and Rivals (sold out) for Mark Richt in his 12 years here. See his ranking for each service that year. Add them up. Divide by 24.
# 7 recruiting rank all 12 years averaging both Scout.com and Rivals.
# 2 compare this to all 120 schools over 12 years.
Mark Richt has UGA at # 2 nation in Recruiting over these 12 years.
IT IS HIS STRENGTH.
You just cannot come in here and say Mark Richt cannot recruit.
Or, that he needs to recruit better.
This is not an issue to discuss if you do not want Mark Richt to get his contract extension, which he is going to get through 2015 at least. Maybe 2016.
________________________________________________________________
In fact, it is the MAIN REASON WHY I WANT TO RETAIN MARK RICHT.
________________________________________________________________
Here, I differ with the Richt-0-Files. I believe that Mark Richt has MANY AREAS TO IMPROVE. Hiring decisions. Discipline. Preparing Back-up Quarterbacks. Playing Favorites. Unequal Discipline for same Offenses, or WAY WORSE. Preferential Treatment. Total Inability to Motivate and only rarely bringing in a MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER. Wardrobe changes that just must stop totally forever, with no modification of 1 uni for 1 game and another for the next game. If you are going to tweak our uni, get it approved and add a drop of blood on helmet for Erk Russell. No Clown Power Ranger suits. And, no telling us that the players WANT THE CLOWN POWER RANGER SUITS. Cease with the lies. Tell it like it is. Don’t tell us you are the # 4 best football coach in all of America. There are 10 college football coaches who have WON THREE (3) NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Nick Saban for example. Mark Richt has -0-. Mark Richt all 11 seasons, has an average NCAA Total Offense Rankings of # 52 NCAA Total Offense all 11 years. If you want to talk about WIN TOTALS, then put up the rankings of the teams you beat that season, or indeed all 12 seasons now. 10-Win Seasons means nothing
27 teams 2011 season won 10 games. We lost 4 games. I am sorry DISNEYdawgs.com, that is NOT a GOOD SEASON.
He didn’t say VERY GOOD SEASON.
He said it is a GOOD SEASON.
Let’s get some definitions around here.
27 teams did what you say is good and you LOST 4 games and BEAT NONE of the other 26.
(1) Win 10-games is NOT a measure of a GOOD SEASON.
(2) It could be. Depends on who you beat and who you lost to.
(3) Les Miles called LSU’s season a tremendous winning season after the loss.
(4) Les Miles is right. He beat 3 teams finishing top 10. He lost to # 1.
(5) Les Miles also beat the eventual # 1 (AL was the better team that time too.)
(6) Teams who lose to teams not finishing top 25 did not have a good season.
(7) Well maybe if they win 13 and lose 1 and that was to a cupcake.
(8) Okie State did that this season, and this is why AL played and NOT them.
(9) Okie State had an excellent season.
(10) LSU had a tremendous winning season.
(11) Alabama won Nick Saban his 3rd BCS NC.
(12) Definitions of good, excellent, and tremendous winning season.
(13) Those are words for those who did NOT win the BCS NC.
8-1 SEC in BCS NC Games is total unadulterated BS. The SEC has played in 8 BCS NC Games and WON ALL EIGHT (8.) We are NOT 8-1.
Ok, congratulations to Alabama – NC # 9.
We have 1, and that was 32 years ago. Alabama has 9.
Georgia tek has -0-. And, their whining about 23 years ago is hogwash. When the Coaches’ Poll has any meaning in college football, please wake me up. As for their claims of 5 NC, Georgia has 6 NC by the very same POLLS that Georgia tek claims 5. So maybe they claim 6. When I study the Official NCAA Football FBS 1-A Records Book I purchased a copy of and own, I find that the VERY SAME POLLS that Georgia tek is listed by a NC 6 times, has UGA listed 6 times as well. There is NONE OF THIS BS that Georgia tek has 6 and UGA 1, or 2. Or that Georgia tek has 4 and UGA 2. It’s not how it is AT ALL.
4.29 GPA with 4.35 speed 40-yard dash Captain Football Team on-board.
January 10th, 2012
2:08 am
ugab, He did say that he was NOT going to hire a special teams’ coach already, straight up. He said it yesterday, sir.
J.D. who won The SEC Title this season ? Who is the best team in The SEC ? Was this a DOWN SEASON for The SEC ? Has The SEC had a DOWN SEASON after 2002 ? Did The SEC have a DOWN SEASON in 2002 ?
I still say 13-1 and we will not have beat anyone to have done so.
We went 10-2 this season ? What kind of crap is that ?
You predict we will go 10-2 and lose to 2 of these : 1 cupcake Missouri whom you know nothing about, 2 Auburn who has a lot of rebuilding to do players and staff and beat only USCe whom we should have beat too and hired a DC who I said wasn’t that great here and wasn’t that great with the Falcons either and no OC yet, 3 Florida who has a lot of rebuilding to do players and staff, and 4 USCe. I doubt seriously if any of the 12 regular season games are against a single team who ends up top 25 – maybe 1.
Don’t give me this 10-2 crudola. We will play a 14-game season. We better get a DIFFERENT QB in EVERY GAME taking some MEANINGFUL STARTS. Don’t tell me we had a good season losing to all 4 teams ending in the top 25, winning 10 games like 27 teams did this season and us not beating any of the 26 other 10-win teams.
That AIN’T GOOD.
Now, to all
DISNEYdawgs.com who believe you motivate these players and coaches TELLING THEM ONLY POSITIVE STATEMENTS,
how is that working out for you ?
HOMERS.
And, by the way, YOU HAVE EVERY ONE OF YOU, posted the SAME EXACT AREAS WE NEED TO IMPROVE AT AS THOSE YOU CALL
NEGATIVE.
4.29 GPA with 4.35 speed 40-yard dash Captain Football Team on-board.
January 10th, 2012
2:11 am
meaningful snaps
KOOL AID DRINKERS
January 10th, 2012
2:50 am
well good maybe Richt will be calling him up on Valentines Day and wishing him a happy day just like the gym dog coach.
Stinger2
January 10th, 2012
5:12 am
UGA fans who have nothing to say always say: ” Fire Bobo”.
These people should remember that sometimes one is viewed as a smart person when they say nothing.
Morning Reads for Tuesday, January 10th — Peach Pundit
January 10th, 2012
6:25 am
[...] most versatile player. – Keith Marshall, Georgia’s prize commit in the 2012 class, has already started classes. – Last night’s BCS championship game was excellent. – Barry Larkin was elected to [...]
TheOlBallCoach
January 10th, 2012
6:38 am
Yes, he will be the next Crowell, King and Easley all rolled into one with all of the great coaching you have going on there.
Remember we beat you and will beat you again next year.
4.29 GPA with 4.35 speed 40-yard dash Captain Football Team on-board.
January 10th, 2012
7:27 am
Yes, you beat us. You also ended up higher ranked than us. And, you played in a better bowl game than us. And, you won your bowl game. But, I wouldn’t say that Nebraska is better than Michigan State; in fact, the opposite. And, I wouldn’t say that Steve Spurrier owns Mark Richt; in fact, the opposite. And, I wouldn’t say USCe is better than UGA all-time; in fact, the opposite. And, I would not say that I particularly like the way SOS yanks his QB around every game; in fact, the opposite. And, I would not say that I particularly like the way SOS dealt with Steven Garcia; in fact, he should have been sent packing long before he finally was. And, I would not give the impression that your fan base is more behind your program than our fan base is behind our program; in fact, the complete opposite. Why don’t you’ll go to the games, if you are doing so much better than we ?
PapaDawg
January 10th, 2012
7:40 am
I’m still wondering how that anemic LSU offense scored very many points against anybody. The Tides offense is not much better. Both offenses made the other teams better than average defense look great.
Morning Reads for Tuesday, January 10th
January 10th, 2012
8:08 am
[...] the nation’s most versatile player. – Keith Marshall, Georgia’s prize commit in the 2012 class, has already started classes. – Last night’s BCS championship game was excellent. – Barry Larkin was elected to baseball’s [...]
4.29 GPA with 4.35 speed 40-yard dash Captain Football Team on-board.
January 10th, 2012
8:18 am
Both Defenses are top-shelf, without a doubt. Both teams have a ton of talent, without a doubt. Both teams have 1st class special teams, without a doubt. An offense cannot be measured in yards, points scored, or touchdown passes. It just cannot. The quicker we ‘Dawg Nation learn that fact, the better we will be as fans, assisting our program to accomplish its actual goals of being the top-ranked team. It is the ONLY OBJECTIVE. Tim Tebow is not a great QB because 1 game he throws passes for a TD, and took the last 3 games off prior to that – by the same exact measure. If you look at the truly great quarterbacks, they do NOT fumble the ball after running for 1 yard, they do not get into game-winning situations and throw their interceptions only then, and when they are at the 15-yard line with no time-outs left and a minute to go in the game, they calmly coolly direct the team down the field as the On-Field General and score. And, they beat the truly great teams, not some cruddy win over an 8-5 team or 2 cruddy wins over 2 teams going 8-5 no one thinks is any good whatsoever – especially you yourself.
We have a sorry schedule next season. There may be 1 team who ends up in the top 25 of all the regular season games. And, then again, there might be none of the opponents of all the regular season games next season who end up in the top 25 at all.
How many yards we throw for against them, how many touchdown passes we throw against them, without discussing a college Quarterback has to be able to RUN the football and do so consistently WITHOUT 21 FUMBLES in 27 Starts, and has to be able to consistently NOT over-throw and throw behind his receivers and without discussing his 22 INTERCEPTIONS in 27 games, and without discussing he has LOST 41 PERCENT OF HIS STARTS 11 OF 27 INCLUDING EVERY GAME AGAINST EVERY TEAM WHO ENDED UP TOP 25 in his entire f’ing career – all of that means as much as a 10-Win “GOOD” season when 27 other teams also had 10-Win seasons while we beat NONE of the other 26.
You know how a team is measured.
LSU # 2
Alabama # 1
Exactly as I said.
You said Alabama DID NOT DESERVE TO BE EVEN IN THE GAME.
Quit redefining football and what is good in football to suit the stats of a player who is NO STINKING GOOD or to over-inflate a Coach’s won/lost record when he consistently loses to sorry cruddy teams at more than 1 and a half of those a season, has a 17-28 record all his 11 years against teams who finished in the top 25 and has a 3-11 record vs teams who finished in the top 10, has no concept of Discipline except to forgive, and whose lies you run in here daily to try to substantiate.
Get your nose out of his backside, and this program you and I WANT TO DO WELL, will finally have everyone saying what needs to be said to ACTUALLY DO WELL.