Mark Richt gets new 5-year contract, Grantham extended 2 years
ATHENS — So much for a nice, slow Monday.
Last week, Georgia scheduled a press conference for football coach Mark Richt for today to discuss the relatively mundane details surrounding next week’s start to spring football practice. As it turned out, news came pouring in from multiple directions.
- The day started with news breaking of starting cornerback Branden Smith’s arrest in South Alabama for marijuana possession. Richt confirmed that was the case and that he had spoken briefly with Smith. Later, AD Greg McGarity confirmed that the arrest would mean a mandatory suspension of up to two games at the discretion of the head coach.
- UGA also released the news that it had reached agreements on new contracts for Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Richt received a new five-year deal that will extend him through the 2016 season. Financial details are “still being tweaked,” according to McGarity, but Richt is expected to receive a slight raise from the $2.81 million salary he currently receives. That does not include annual longevity bonuses that boost his earnings to more than $3 million annually. Grantham received a two-year contract extension that will guarantee his salary of at least $750,000 through the 2014 season.
- As for on-the-field football business, Richt confirmed his decision to move wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell to cornerback for spring practice. Mitchell had said he was going to try to play both positions next fall. But because of position meeting conflicts and the challenge of learning the Bulldogs’ defensive system, Richt said he made the decision to have Mitchell work with the secondary full time when spring practice begins March 20. A decision for where Mitchell will line up in the fall has not been made.
- Richt also confirmed the completion of the Bulldogs’ strength and conditioning staff. UGA hired Penn State’s head strength coach John Thomas as senior associate director under Joe Tereshinski and “speed specialist” Sherman Armstrong of Tampa as associate director.
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303 comments Add your comment
Tim
March 12th, 2012
12:58 pm
my name is GTBob…… I open mouth and insert foot
jgwiggins
March 12th, 2012
12:59 pm
Wow. yet another arrester dawg. Carvtell needs to write an article on the number of dawgs constantly in trouble with the law. Roll Tide!
gt4ever
March 12th, 2012
1:00 pm
Yes PJ made 2.3 million last year, and we are down in football… I still don’t understand what that has to do with giving a classless loser like Grantham more money… It’s pathetic how you bulldawg fans have succumbed to this win no matter what attitude… What makes it all so pathetic is that you are NOT winning against good teams… Yeah you own us, but hey, that’s really nothing to write home about… The state of college football in Georgia is embarrassing if not totally pathetic!
Stinger
March 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
Some things never change. Need I say more??????? LOL
Tim
March 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
Someone please get these tek people on here a tissue. Bunch of whinny little girls!
GTBob
March 12th, 2012
1:03 pm
my name is GTBob…… I open mouth and insert foot
Was what I said false? GT has been struggling against UGA for a long time now. Much longer then Richt’s tenure. The fact that the games are even close is a testament to his coaching ability.
bgness
March 12th, 2012
1:06 pm
You say classless, I say competitor. He fights to back up his guys, and he is one of the best DCs in the nation in only his third year. He had a top 5 D for much of the year, and would of had more than 10 wins if not other side off the ball giving up TO. Now use that techie brain and tell me how tht doesn’t deserve an extension
Ex-Contributor
March 12th, 2012
1:07 pm
A raise for Richt? For what? Backing into the SEC East? A three year extension? For merit, I suppose. I guess Adams, McGarity and a lot of UGA fans don’t give a damn if they can ever compete with the best the SEC has to offer. Rich better start sweating Mizzou. A loss there ain’t going to look too good.
Funny Bunny
March 12th, 2012
1:08 pm
A little Mary Jane, Hash Browns, and Brownies, what isn’t to like about that ? Don’t drive Moron, stay on your scooter and wear your helmet.
Dawg Haus
March 12th, 2012
1:08 pm
Does this mean that Smith gets one game like Crowell, Boo and Thomas got last year? Or does Coach Richt make more of a statement with a longer suspension? The secondary will suffer a bit without Smith but CMR has to take a serious stand on this kind of nonsense.
Preacher Dawg
March 12th, 2012
1:08 pm
Cmon Man!! UGA is usually ranked as the #1 party school in the NATION! Is anyone really surprised that 17-22 yr olds have trouble keeping themselves tween the ditches?? Give’em a break..they are the few with the work ethic to even try to make something of themselves at this age. Let’s not be quick to judge, rather be quick to check for low hanging beams. However, it would be prudent to teach/study on Trapsnares for a while.
OkieDawg
March 12th, 2012
1:08 pm
Smith can just stay in Alabama as far as I am concerned. There are plenty of schools in Alabama that will take him. North Alabama took Janoris Jenkins after Muschamp stepped up and kicked him off the team. What did Jenkins do to get kicked off the team? Weed consumption.
Rainbow Tide Pride
March 12th, 2012
1:09 pm
YOU JOHNSON LOVERS have 0 (ZERO) commitments for next season. What is JOHNSON doing with his spare time?
gt4ever
March 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
@bgness
Quite frankly, his antics on the field would have gotten him fired not to long ago… I guess you can blame it on the times… I have played college football and I have watched college football for a long time, and I have never seen such from a coach on the field… It’s pathetic, no way you slice it, but UGA has become synonymous with this kind of behavior.. Competitive my arse. You wouldn’t know competitive if it hit you in the face…
bgness
March 12th, 2012
1:11 pm
Gtbob the man has done everything but win a title here. the true uga fans love richt. He’s gonna bring us a title soon. he was one of the fastest coaches to get to 70 wins, and has done it with class. The man is gonna bring us a title, just you wait.
DAwg in Sewer
March 12th, 2012
1:12 pm
theses wundersfulss newew. Mightsde bes wee wilss be fedds nows.
Yes, GTBbb...
March 12th, 2012
1:13 pm
…you wrote”With those expectations it is pretty much impossible for him to lose his job” – yep, just like Paul Hewitt and the UGA atty who structured Hewitt’s “lifetime” contract that you guys are still paying – makes no sense at all, but al least a GT atty did not structure this one…
DawgNole
March 12th, 2012
1:13 pm
gt4ever: “Yeah you own us, but hey, that’s really nothing to write home about . . . .”
___________________
Somehow I’m pretty sure you’d be writing home about it if you owned us.
maharajiean shorts
March 12th, 2012
1:15 pm
Yeah, let’s raise Richt and just extend Grantham….that way he will get his HC position next year and further expose Richt.
Good job on moving our best WR to DB. Now, people can pass on us and we will have no one for Midget to throw too. His buddy already left for the NFL and DUI’s.
I am fully supportive of the program, but dam.
Tim
March 12th, 2012
1:15 pm
If you call 14 points close….. Knock yourself out! GTBob, you are one of the worst offenders on this UGA BLOG! Why do you spend so much time on a UGA blog. You know more about UGA than tek.
I never go on the tek blog. Also, f.y.i. 51-7 was not a close game.
AltamahaDawg
March 12th, 2012
1:15 pm
What do you want to bet that this “oh well we just stink” attitude that these tech fans pretend to pass off in our blogs is NOT the type of stuff they talk to thier ACC rivals. Can you imagine them telling Florida State or VT fans that its no big deal to beat GT?
Mark (another one)
March 12th, 2012
1:16 pm
Branden needs to get back to campus and start running stairs. Kids mess up and he will pay a price, but so will his teammates, and that raises the price for athletes that break the law.
Blaming this on a coach is idiotic. No school can supervise its students 100%, and even if they could, the NCAA wouldn’t allow it. These kids need to grow up, and the vast majority do it while staying out of trouble. The plus is that it wasn’t a violent crime and no one was hurt.
As for Mitchell learning CB, it is probably his long term position. Having DBs with ball skills is great. I’d like to see him get a chance to take one to the house and also score on offense. He has great talent, and helping him to maximize his talent is what coaching is about.
Britt
March 12th, 2012
1:16 pm
And the race for the Fulmer-Richt Cup continues.
There’s a reason why UGA is known far and wide as The Cesspool of the South.
CornDawg
March 12th, 2012
1:17 pm
At least Smith didn’t get caught with Crack. It was just a little weed. Let him play. Congrats CMR and CTG.
You are somewhat correct, OkieDawg...
March 12th, 2012
1:17 pm
…about Janoris Jenkins getting booted at UF for weed – but he had about 3 or 4 other run-ins while at UF, including additional weed problems, and this is Smith’s first dalience(sp) – so, lighten up…
Nothing Could Be Finer
March 12th, 2012
1:17 pm
That Mizzou game is looking more and more like a loss for the dogs.
drweb
March 12th, 2012
1:18 pm
Yes, another five years of mediocre coaching and arrests that prevent the UGA program from becoming a legitimate threat in the SEC.
Rainbow Tide Pride
March 12th, 2012
1:18 pm
YECH fans did you know that UGA hired JOHNSON to be you coach just like we did at UF and UT. You have been got!
I bet 1 trillion dollars that all you CMR haters would be lined for millions if he were available.
And, do we actually KNOW...
March 12th, 2012
1:19 pm
…that the weed was Smith’s, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the cop got lucky…
Lakedawg
March 12th, 2012
1:20 pm
@Beanster–Since you seem somewhat ignorant regarding Weed policy in SEC, Dawgs have the most strict po;icy along with Fla and Vandy. Suspension on first offense whereas some schools go up to 3 failed before suspending/ Second offense warrants one year and 3rd good bye.
Great news on the contract extensions, will be a great 5 year run and longer Recruiting will get an additional boost. Believe with a couple of these non-contributors can up my tickets fron 6 to 8.
German Shepherd Dawg
March 12th, 2012
1:21 pm
GT Bob,
Shut up.
Rainbow Tide Pride
March 12th, 2012
1:22 pm
If Mizzou beats UGA I will buy everyone some egg salad. Not going to happen. They will get beat by 17 and dominated in the 4th. You can wish but this one will not come true.
German Shepherd Dawg
March 12th, 2012
1:22 pm
Britt,
See comment to GT Bob.
GTBob
March 12th, 2012
1:23 pm
If you call 14 points close….. Knock yourself out!
In the last 6 years UGA has won by an average of 7 points. Think about that. A team that routinely gets top 10 recruiting classes is only beating a team with barely top 50 recruiting classes by only one touchdown. You really think that is great coaching by Richt?
Tim
March 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
GTBob…. I guess you are part of the many of tekies that enjoy those “moral” victories. Be proud Bobbie, Be proud!
NYCDAWGFAN
March 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
Tech fans go to your own bored or just admit it… You wish that you were dawgs too!! There is no reason for you guys to even be here. Stew in your miserable existance. You have no athletic department AT ALL!! Your football program is a joke and should be sent down to D2. Your baseketball program… well, do I need to go there? and your baseball team enjoys watching Coach Perno’s continued success. Go study nerds and get off our board.
Red and Black til Death
Where to begin? Dawson Dave, Captain Crunch, Moobs Johnson
March 12th, 2012
1:26 pm
Talk about a target rich environment.
Dawson Dave: “with the people Richt recruits, there will always be character issues.” Are you aware that all the SEC powers are fishing off the same pier when it comes to recruits? Bama, UT, Auburn, Florida usually offer the players UGA winds up signing. If you don’t think these things go on at other schools, either reported or not, you are probably in the market for a lovely Arizona beach timeshare.
Captian Crunch: Let’s talk Fulmer Cup. Are you aware that UGA has only one Fulmer Cup title? Are you aware that Bama won it in 2008 with a higher score than UGA’s title year? Are you aware that Auburn 2011 set a record number of points that will be hard to top ever? Are you aware that Florida is far ahead of UGA in total Fulmer Cup points?
Moobs Johnson: about Andy Landers. Name one coach in the SEC not named Pat Summitt that comes close to Landers’ record at UGA. Lifetime you can count on one hand the number of women’s programs with better numbers across the board than UGA Lady Dog basketball. The only downside is the lack of NCs. Had two good shots in 1985 and 1996, but did not produce. Other than that his success has spoiled UGA fans.
bgness
March 12th, 2012
1:26 pm
Gt 4ever, you mad bro? Grantham issued an apology, and said he got fired up in both cases. Stop whining about our DC you need to worry about your old man DC.
GTBob
March 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
Blaming this on a coach is idiotic. No school can supervise its students 100%, and even if they could, the NCAA wouldn’t allow it.
If he recruited kids with higher character then UGA probably wouldn’t have such a big problem with arrests.
Tim
March 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
Remind me of teks 1st 2013 committment again?
collegeballfan
March 12th, 2012
1:27 pm
“…but the off the field crap has got to stop.”
Agreed. But we have been saying this for a number of years. The number of incidents have dropped off but are still way to high.
It is a mystery.
GTBob
March 12th, 2012
1:29 pm
GTBob…. I guess you are part of the many of tekies that enjoy those “moral” victories. Be proud Bobbie, Be proud!
I’m not proud of losing, but what do you really expect? GT will never be competitive with UGA. Ill just enjoy the rare victories.
DawgNole
March 12th, 2012
1:29 pm
GTBob: “In the last 6 years UGA has won by an average of 7 points. Think about that. A team that routinely gets top 10 recruiting classes is only beating a team with barely top 50 recruiting classes by only one touchdown . . . .”
______________________
Isn’t it supposed to be about wins and losses? How many wins does GT have against UGA the past 6 years? One. The past 11 years? One. So what if the UGA’s avg margin of victory over GT is 7 points? It’s WINS vs losses. That’s what matters.
Annie
March 12th, 2012
1:30 pm
We’ll continue to see these kinds of headlines as long as Sleazebag Richt keeps recruiting the worst kind of scum for his team.
Tim
March 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
GTBob – remind me again about why you are on ever UGA blog? Do you not have a life? UGA envy? No Job? do not have a life? No girlfriend(scratch that, we already know the answer to that) Need a new blow up doll?
Please clue us in. You are on here more than any UGA fan. It’s pretty pathetic if you look at it.
AltamahaDawg
March 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
Muschamp” stepped in”? Say what? Yea, after the kid’s THIRD arrest in 23 months. I suspect him likely getting suspended from attending the actual school house weighed heavy on that gut wrenching decision. The first maryjane arrest was handled “in house”. Appearantly with only 2 arrest, he was good to go.
Rationale
March 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
You people can criticize Richt all you want about the off the field stupidity, but if the players themselves do not care enough to protect their own image, much less that of the University, then what can any coach do? CMR penalizes the players 2 games. Other coaches do not do that. He is tougher on these type of ignorant moments that others.
Rainbow Tide Pride
March 12th, 2012
1:33 pm
GT should go independent.
beanster
March 12th, 2012
1:33 pm
This isn’t Branden Smith’s first foray into the world of suspensions, if I am not mistaken. It may not have been pot before, however, this won’t be the 1st time he will be called to CMR’s office to be disciplined.
UGA may very well have a tough policy. Unfortunately that means more publicity and embarrassment for the University which I think is a shame.
DawgNole
March 12th, 2012
1:33 pm
Where to begin? Dawson Dave, Captain Crunch, Moobs Johnson: “Lifetime you can count on one hand the number of women’s programs with better numbers across the board than UGA Lady Dog basketball. The only downside is the lack of NCs. Had two good shots in 1985 and 1996, but did not produce. Other than that his success has spoiled UGA fans.
___________________
If you call success not winning championships, fine. Twenty-four years coaching high-level talent and not one championship? Not my definition of success.