New contract for Mark Richt expected within 2 weeks (UPDATED)
UPDATED WITH COMMENTS FROM COACH MARK RICHT . . .
ATHENS — I’ve been fielding a lot of questions lately about Georgia coach Mark Richt and his contract extension. Or, more specifically, why isn’t it done yet?
There are a lot of conspiracy theorists out there who are convinced the negotiations have become contentious and/or there might be some sort of hangup. I talked to Athletic Director Greg McGarity Thursday morning and he assures me there’s nothing amiss.
“No,” he said emphatically. “I was gone for 10 days. I was out of the country. So it’s just been a timing thing. Mark was gone for a while, too. He’s had some stuff going on. It’s just been a matter of us not being here. It’ll speed up here over the next 10 or 14 days. But there’s nothing to be concerned about.”
Richt reiterated that sentiment during a conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon.
“It’s going to happen in due time,” Richt said. “I don’t have any anxiety about it at all. There’s some different language in there. When you re-write a contract there’s just things in there that everybody’s got to feel comfortable with. So we’re just ironing out all those things. It’s more just crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s type of stuff. Greg and I are together on our discussions and everything’s going extremely well.”
McGarity confirmed that he and Richt have already agreed in principle on a new deal, which is expected to add at least three years on his current contract. That would extend his agreement with the Bulldogs through the 2016 season.
“I’ve always said that he’d be able to tell this freshman class that he’d be here for their time in the program,” McGarity hinted.
McGarity said he and UGA President Michael Adams briefed the athletic board on the negotiations during executive session of the last meeting on Feb. 5.
“There’s nothing new since then,” he said. “We just haven’t had the time to sit down and go over everything point by point. We’ll do that the next seven to 10 days.”
McGarity would not say if the new contract would include a raise. Including longevity bonuses, Richt earns about $3 million annually from Georgia.
“We’re going to be fair to everybody, but I’m not ready to talk about that,” McGarity said.
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING UPDATE
It has been widely reported on fan websites that Georgia has settled on Sherman Armstrong as one of its strength and conditioning hires. While those reports are premature, McGarity confirmed that the speed specialist from Tampa is a strong candidate.
“Sherman is a candidate; we’ve got a lot of people who are candidates for it,” McGarity said of Armstrong, who currently runs V.A.S.T. Training in Tampa. “I can confirm that he was here last week interviewing. He had a great, great visit here. Everybody was very impressed. So, absolutely, he’s in the hunt. But we have not formally offered a job to anybody right now.”
Georgia has lost three members of its strength and conditioning staff since the end of last season. John Kasay retired, Keith Gray took a job with the Philadelphia Eagles and Thomas Brown accepted a job as a running backs coach at UT-Chattanooga. That leaves the Bulldogs with three full-time staffers — director Joe Tereshiniski and assistants Rex Bradberry and Tony Gilbert.
NCAA rules that go into effect this fall have capped the limit at five for strength and conditioning staffs. So Georgia’s in the market for two full-time hires. It appears now that one of those will used on a speed specialist.
“The bottom line is we brought Sherman in for that purpose, for us to go into that direction,” McGarity said.
Asked what the timeline is on completing the strength and conditioning staff, McGarity said, “A-S-A-P.”
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264 comments Add your comment
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:11 pm
UGA held LSU to negative yards the first half just like bama did. we are not that far behind Bama.
2nd half? Unfortunately for you, there are two halves in football…Glad to see that you are happy with just being competitive in 1…That is why you are Georgia and We are Alabama
stevedez
February 23rd, 2012
2:12 pm
spokesman–a win is a win, u must not be an athlete!
Nothing Could Be Finer
February 23rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:09 pm
UGA held LSU to negative yards the first half just like bama did. we are not that far behind Bama.
————————————————–
POST OF THE DAY
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Geez Brian….you are pathetic.
Yes, we held LSU to negative yards in the first half……then got absolutely SMOKED in the second half. Last I heard, games are won or lost after FOUR quarters….not two!!!
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:13 pm
Bob you know more about UGA or GT? Not very many articles when you run a high school offense and your coach looks like the blob is there?
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:14 pm
I said learn to finish you dumb***
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:15 pm
“UGA held LSU to negative yards the first half just like bama did. we are not that far behind Bama.”
…..the reason Richt is still the coach of my beloved Dawgs is that too many lame-brained UGA fans think like the statement above
….it just plain depressing
Ghost
February 23rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Spokesman, Bama lost to Spurrier last time they played, and didn’t see bama blowing Miss. state away last year either. Bama had a great year last year ,and Saban is doing a great job.Maybe this year they will the west division and not back into playing for the BCS title. Richt is 3-1 vs Bama, You should know they played football at Bama before 07, but with the winless seasons of 2005, 2006 and 2 wins in 2007 , the loss to UL Monroe didn’t have to be vacated.
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:18 pm
lol yea how could I forget about UL-Monroe. That was great.
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:19 pm
3-12
I am being honest here…I would hate to see you guys get a great coach…No doubt, your state is loaded with talent and you guys would be a beast with a top tier coach just like Bama did with Saban…My hope is that it doesn’t occur and everyone settles for 9 or 10 win seasons with a bowl game…Seriously
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:20 pm
Saban never had wins vacated at Alabama. He was the coach the whole year they lost to UL-Monroe. His second season there I believe
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:21 pm
Brian, Ghost
Bama/Saban has won TWO Crystal trophies since the UL-Monroe loss….
…..hell, I would take 5 losses to New Mexico State if Richt could have won ONE national championship during his tenure here
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:21 pm
The prob is Bobo the clown not richt
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Bama Guy, I don’t like you guys, but I do respect your teams achievements
unfortunately for us….. you’re gonna get your wish!!!
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Ghost…Cry all you want to but you can’t take away 1992, 2009, 2012 among our others….You haven’t won since 80 so please spare us all about our wins and losses…At least until you actually WIN a big game or even get into one…
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:23 pm
and special teams killed us all year along with the 2 dropped passes in the SEC title game
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:23 pm
@Brian, “The prob is Bobo the clown not richt”
you know what Brian, IF that were true, Richt can EASILY solve that problem. Who do you think is keeping him around???
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
*2 dropped touchdown passes
Ghost
February 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
3-12, Every program has it ups and downs, the only thing not on Richts resume are MNC, but it takes a good team and lots of luck to get one. Bama last year a prime example.
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
Same reason he kept Martinez way too long. His loyalty.
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
OK….I’m of the belief that Brian is actually a Bama fan just yanking my chain. He can’t be serious, could he, I mean, really???
GTBob
February 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
The prob is Bobo the clown not richt
It’s always one of the coordinators, never the coach.
Chip Towers
February 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
3-12 against . . . Well, you’re still wrong. Georgia is 11-15 against ranked teams since the beginning of the ‘06 season. Granted, it has had a poor record in those games in the last three seasons (4-10). But the Bulldogs have had a winning record over the other eight seasons.
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:26 pm
Our D proves that point. Bob. Go back to your afternoon nap
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:27 pm
3-12 against . . . Well, you’re still wrong. Georgia is 11-15 against ranked teams since the beginning of the ‘06 season. Granted, it has had a poor record in those games in the last three seasons (4-10). But the Bulldogs have had a winning record over the other eight seasons.
Chip, those are both pathetic whichever way you want to look at it….
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Agreed Ghost, but Richt has been here since ‘01, he’s had PLENTY of talent, plenty of opportunity, plenty of everything, including excuses
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:29 pm
Saban would never stay somewhere long enough to go 6-7. He would see the team declining and jump ship
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:31 pm
Brian…Saban would never stay somewhere long enough to go 6-7. He would see the team declining and jump ship
I guess we will never know will we…
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:33 pm
We will see. Who would have predicted this after Richt’s first 5 seasons. Umm waiting??
Ghost
February 23rd, 2012
2:33 pm
Bama guy , I am not shedding any tears , Bamas past is sordid as hell,(7 vacated wins 3 years probation and a bowl ban for every MNC) not wanting to take anything away or not give credit where its due, Bama is resurgent , Bama being good is good for the conference just like it is when Florida is good and Georgia is good. Saban is doing a great job .Don’t understand why you think dissing others in your conference makes you better.If you think being successful is winning Nat. Championship every year , then you are on disappointed individual.
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:34 pm
Ghost…
a bowl ban from EVERY National Championship? I don’t think so…Please enlighten me
1eyedJack
February 23rd, 2012
2:35 pm
Chip, trying to set these doofeys straight is like tilting at windmills.
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:36 pm
Brian…We will see. Who would have predicted this after Richt’s first 5 seasons. Umm waiting??
Not me, I actually predicted that would have fired him after the first five years ///
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:38 pm
Not possible BamaGuy. you sound stupid now
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:39 pm
lol those were the Pollack years
BamaGuy
February 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
Ghost…
We have had 14 MNC’s…Please show me the 14 Bowl bans that you referenced…
Ghost
February 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
opps only 2 post season bans. Why would Georgia have fired Richt after 1st 5years ?why would they fire him now? He has the program poised to go on another 2002-2005 type run.We’ll see if he can pull it off.
GTBob
February 23rd, 2012
2:45 pm
He has the program poised to go on another 2002-2005 type run.We’ll see if he can pull it off.
Do you truly believe that?
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:48 pm
Bob would you rather have Richt or Johnson running your team? lol seriously
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:49 pm
You recruit like Boise State but your located in Ga. lol
Ghost
February 23rd, 2012
2:51 pm
Nope I stand corrected 3 years post season bans , 1995 , 2002, 2003
GTBob
February 23rd, 2012
2:52 pm
Bob would you rather have Richt or Johnson running your team? lol seriously
Johnson by a long shot. I am not convinced that Richt would have any idea what to do without top shelf talent. I’m guessing we would be worse then the Gailey years.
3-12 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:53 pm
OK Chip, just went thru the entire UGA records against ranked teams as measured by the final end of season BCS rankings, and the results are…..
UGA 6-18 against ranked teams!!!!
I’ll be happy to provide the year by year breakdown if you want
I guess I’ll change my name to “6-18 Against Ranked Teams”!!!!
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Gailey recruited prob one of the best players that tech prob EVER had. He plays in Detroit now
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
2:55 pm
he just had the retard Ball throwing to him
6-18 Against Ranked Teams
February 23rd, 2012
2:59 pm
what the heck, here it is Chip
‘06: losses to FL, TN beat Va Tech
‘07: lost to TN beat FL, Aub, Hawaii
‘08: losses to AL, FL, GTech no wins against ranked teams
‘09: losses to OSU, LSU, FL beat Gtech
‘10: losses to SC, ARK, Miss St, Aub, UCF
‘11: losses to BSU, SC, Aub, Mich St, LSU beat Aub
Grand Total 6-18
you’re welcome, Chip……..
Still want Richt around next year????
Krystal Burger Association
February 23rd, 2012
2:59 pm
. The “Krystal Balls” award this year goes to….Alabama and Alabama alum Brian Dowling.
Harvey Updyke, Alabama fan and State Patrolman won the award last year.
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
3:00 pm
Im not a tech fan but so what 3-12 is pretty much saying is tech did not beat number 5 Clemson last year
GTBob
February 23rd, 2012
3:01 pm
Gailey recruited prob one of the best players that tech prob EVER had. He plays in Detroit now
In that same recruiting class he also recruited 20 two star players. Calvin is the only reason Chan could even win 7 games but he couldn’t do it all himself.
Brian
February 23rd, 2012
3:01 pm
my bad 6-18. It should cost money to change your name in here too Chip