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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Richt: 'We're not looking to blow anything up'

My initial impression of Mark Richt’s press conference on Wednesday: He wanted to convey that change was happening at the Georgia football program, but without actual personnel changes.

The key quote:

“If you just change for the sake of changing, then all of a sudden you’ve gotta learn something all over again. Do I wanna confuse Aaron Murray? … We’re not looking to blow anything up. In my opinion we’re very close.”

Richt’s postseason wrap-up is usually held via a teleconference, from what I’m told. But after a 6-7 season and a bowl loss that has fans up in arms, Richt spoke Wednesday in the team meeting room. Athletics director Greg McGarity, associate athletics director Frank Crumley and a bunch of other Georgia officials were present.

Here’s what stood out to me:

- During his opening statement, which lasted close to 15 minutes, Richt said he didn’t want to spend much time re-hashing the just-completed season.

“Last year was certainly not anywhere close to what we expected or what we expect here," he said at one point. "I understand that as much as anybody.”

MY TAKE: Richt seemed to know he had to say something to fans who were disillusioned. He wasn't reading from a script or anything, but throughout the press conference (which lasted about a half-hour) I did get the sense that Richt was aware of what was being said about the program.

- Richt ticked off the reasons there would be no staff changes: The defensive staff was already overhauled last year, and went through a transition in 2010; The offense did well, and Richt has no plans to get more involved in play-calling.

“Mike Bobo’s the coordinator, Mike Bobo’s the quarterbacks coach. Stacey Searels is the running game coordinator,” Richt said. “And they’ve done a great job.”

MY TAKE: I’m sure fans will have a field day with that last quote. But Richt has confidence in his coordinators, and as long as they’re going to stay in those jobs, that’s what he has to say.

All that said, Richt mentioned the term “cutting edge” about a half-dozen times. He never quite explained what that meant: That the offense has gone a bit stale and needs more flare? Or some off-field stuff? Honestly, I can’t say.

- The addition of McGarity makes Richt feel like he’s a first-year coach all over again, Richt said.

“I’m just spending less time messing around with some things that Greg wants to be able to help take off my plate from an administrative point of view,” Richt said.

MY TAKE: Again, this point seemed kind of vague too. We’re due to speak to McGarity sometime today or Thursday. McGarity did speak a bit with Richt after the presser ,then got on the elevator with him. It does seem obvious that Richt has a better relationship with him than with Damon Evans.

- Based on Blair Walsh’s post-Liberty Bowl comments, I asked Richt if he thought the program itself had felt a sense of entitlement lately.

“I don’t think anybody feels that way now,” he answered. “If there was an issue with that, I don’t think there’s anybody that feels … I don’t think anybody’s taking anything for granted. I’m sure that’s a healthy thing for us too.”

MY TAKE: That’s about the answer you’d expect. Richt was also asked later if he felt more of a sense of urgency this January than any previous times in his tenure, and answered by saying he just had “a greater sense of excitement.”

- There were no updates on the juniors considering the NFL jump. Richt did basically admit that A.J. Green should go, at least if his decision is all about draft status and money, while saying everyone else could help themselves by returning.

“I don’t know who’s gonna come back, who’s not gonna come back,” Richt said. “All I know is that whoever comes back is going to be 100 motivated to help us get back on top of the Eastern Division.”

MY TAKE: I think the staff knows Green is gone, barring personal reasons the receiver would want to spend one more year in college. But they’re hoping guys like Justin Houston, Cordy Glenn and Brandon Boykin will be swayed by the desire to improve their pro stock by having good senior seasons.

- The team has already announced a change in the strength and conditioning program. (Joe Tereshinski II was among those present at the press conference.) It will also be bringing in a nutritionist to see what improvements could be made in that area.

He also spent a few minutes talking about some things they’re doing to help the leadership aspect of the team. He never mentioned all the off-field stuff. (Incidentally, asked about any discipline for Marcus Dowtin, Richt said they would discuss that “in a couple days.”)

MY TAKE: Richt’s eyes appeared to well up when he was discussing Dave Van Halanger, who has been with him for years, and is officially being moved into a mentoring role. That may have been because he hated relieving Van Halanger of his strength duties, or because Richt is still really passionate about helping players off the field. Or he was just faking it. But I doubt it.

“I have a heart for these kids," Richt said. "I can’t help it."

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Richt should just come out and tell the truth - its difficult to compete when the SEC West is oversigning and Georgia refuses to play that game. Its sad that doing the right thing might cost Richt his job next year.

Matt said...

So, uh, what is he going to change? If he believes Searels did a great job this year, then he is in denial. Our O-line and running game is what destroyed our chances for any wins. To say they did a great job is pathetic. A good coach would recognize the issues and fix them immediately.

Also, I would be close friends with McGarity too if I knew my job was on the lines.

That wasn't good enough Mark Richt. Try again.

Doug said...

Richt can't afford a rebuilding year on offense. Bobo will either learn to call plays better this offseason or both will be out of a job.

Paul said...

From what I can tell we got the same old, same old. Vague declarations backed by no specifics whatsoever. Denial and/or wishful thinking about where the program is now. No clear plan for how to get where we want to go. I think the Bulldog nation is looking for a least two things, minimum: a plan and some passion. It does not appear that we got either of those this morning. It's going to be a LONG winter of discontent. Sucks for you Mr. Blog Man. My guess is you won't be fielding a whole lot of positive comments over the the next six months. I can't comp you any meals but I can feed you if you stop by the tailgate next season. I have a feeling it won't be too crowded.

Anonymous said...

OMG........Mike Bobo’s the coordinator, Mike Bobo’s the quarterbacks coach. Stacey Searels is the running game coordinator,” Richt said. “And they’ve done a great job.”

Unbelievable......I'll go ahead and purchase the red and black choir robes and we will all sing Kunbaya at the tailgate.

hannah said...

I agree with Doug -- I think Richt knows 2011 is his last chance, and he saw the "transition" year with CTG. He doesn't have enough stock left for a "grace period" of readjustment with a new OC in 2011. We'll see what happens.

BicDawg said...

The only way our situation could get worse is to fire Richt as an emotional reaction only to find ourselves looking for a coach. A search like what happened for our DC would look even worse if we find ourselves begging for a head coach. I would imagine McGarity wouldnt pull the trigger unless he had 2-3 good names lined up. In my mind who wouldnt want to come coach at UGA? but the reality could be seen from the outside as the UGA head coach position is a disaster area. I dont know which is true. Thats why I keep harping on getting players and Coaches who want to be Bulldogs. I think Coach Richt does. He is in a tough spot and he knows it. McGarity wants to do the right thing also begging for a Rockstar coach isnt a position he wants to see UGA in. My opinion.

OZAM said...

While I understand the nature of press conferences, the reality of the situation is that UGA football has systemic issues (on and off the field). 2010 was not a one year anomaly.....the problems have been brewing for nearly half a decade and we have been hearing the same chatter for years.

If Richt thinks all he needs to do is internally switch his S&C coaches and hire a nutritionist then (a) he is in a state of denial and (b) McGarity needs to start his coaching search now.

As much as Richt is a likable guy he is turning into the Athens version of Baghdad Bob.

If UGA football was a stock it would be real hard to find a compelling reason to buy.

BicDawg said...

one other point. I am pretty sure Damon Evans would have fired Richt after the Liberty Bowl performance and we would have found ourselves in a head coach hunt just like our DC search. Mcgarity certainly has got to be smarter than Evans was and wants a quick, solid hire for UGA. McGarity may be willing to sacrifice 2011 season to get the right man. Most fans (me included) arent willing to have sacrificial seasons. If this was McGaritys second season I think Richt would have been gone too. McGarity just isnt quite settled in enough to get a Big Gun coach. Again just my opinion about something I know very little. Bottom line we got Coach Richt for one more year and I think he knows it and his knowing that will hopefully be what makes a difference in his decisions as head coach. GO DAWGS!

Anonymous said...

Wow I feel worse about the future of UGA football then I did going into this press conference. Coach I have stood by you till today but I can't anymore.

GreenDawg said...

Why are we just now bringing in a nutritionist? We had a nutritionist on my high school coaching staff. I guess we'll be hiring a sports psychologist in about three years. Any student can tell you that these athletes have some uh... questionable eating choices in the dining hall. That goes for basketball players too. I can recall seeing one basketball starter with an absolutely massive bowl of wings and a personal pizza just about a week before break started.

Paul said...

I've been a Richt supporter from day one and I continue to love the man. But it's hard to deny that the program has been listless and seriously underachieving for at least a couple of years now. This mornings press conference seems to reinforce the perception (reality?) that CMR has little to no idea why or what to do next. I hope I'm wrong. Our record the last couple of years would seem to indicate I'm not. I'm willing to give him another year, I think he's earned that. But I'm a lot more worried than I am optimistic.

Joeski said...

I think BicDawg pretty much covered my take on the situation.

As to the fools (yes, fools) who seem to think that Richt was or should explicitly lay out his plans for the program, I have a challenge for you:

Find me one high-caliber coach who does that in his pressers. Just one.

I think you'll run out of coaches before you find even a single example. Saban doesn't do it. Meyer didn't do it. Stoops doesn't do it. Brown doesn't do it. Tressel doesn't do it. Harbaugh doesn't do it... shall I continue?

Finally, if he's sticking with offensive staff, of course he has to praises them and be supportive, else the irrational fans will just start screaming about why isn't he going to fire them if he didn't like their performance?

SERIOUSLY, people, stop thinking like fans and start thinking like a coach before you fire off irrational criticisms: Press conferences are Public Relations events and not strategic planning meetings!

Anonymous said...

One day you will all realize that you have no idea what you're talking about. But you will all probably keep talking and talking and talking and talking. SO ridiculous. Yes we have problems but to think that any of you have the answers is down right hilarious. Grow up and quit begging a grown ass man to spoon feed you the answers you want to hear.

BicDawg said...

yes good point anon 1128. The funny thing is Meyer would be saying and acting the same way as Richt in his end of year Presser if he didnt quit. HE IS QUITTING BECAUSE HE IS IN A SITUATION THAT HE CANNOT TURN AROUND. So lets quit with the Meyer comparisons because he is in the exact same boat despite his more recent success. which to me is even more confusing than our situation. All that success and still playing terribly in Gainesville. So any UGA fan who has a man crush over what FLa has is crazy.

Ginny said...

+1 Joeski. Comment of the day. It's laughable to think that Richt would come out and throw his assistant coaches under the bus. That's the LAST thing he should do. Everyone is feeling down about the season right now, including the coaches. It's Richt's job to inspire confidence in his coaches. As for inspiring confidence in the fans- that will come with winning. Richt said exactly what he needed to say without saying too much.

PTC DAWG said...

+2 Joeski gets the picture.

Russ for UGA IX in '011 said...

Sound's like he'll have more free time to think up new uniform combinations!

OZAM said...

Perception is reality and what people think about the program does matter (read: donations and recruiting).

This is not Richt's first rodeo and I do expect him to try and placate Bulldog fans. He is payed nearly $3mm a year to produce a quality product. Nothing over the past several years demonstrates he has control over the direction of the team either on or off the field.

Unfortunately, Richt's decision to kick a field goal in the first quarter against UCF in the Liberty Bowl after a 6-6 season destroyed any fleeting hopes I had that Richt has the necessary skills to be the head coach of UGA in the future.

Anonymous said...

Richt lost 4 games by a touchdown or less. Should have beat Colorado (lost by 2 on late fumble), Ark (lost by 7 on last second td), Fla (lost by 3 on OT int), UCF (lost by 4). Also, Richt was right with Auburn, South Carolina, and Miss State in the 4th quarter. Team should have been 9-4 or 10-3.

No need to make a major change.

Anonymous said...

+ 1 for Russ for UGA IX, too.

Left to Right said...

Richt has a better relationship with McGarity because Damon was getting tired of the underachieving. Evans forced Richt to fire Martinez and Richt resented it. After this past season, Richt would be unemployed now if Evans was still AD.

I recall Richt saying before the 2010 season that the team would play with more passion. How did that work out?

Today's press conference confirmed to me that Richt will be gone by Hanukkah. It's a shame McScarity doesn't follow the advice of his old boss and do now what must be done eventually.

OZAM said...

I don't even want to think how screwed up 2011 will be if Boise State puts a whupping on us in front of a national TV audience in the Georgia Dome! It will become a circus.

I too think we are simply delaying the inevitable. Coach Richt is not the type of person who can reinvent himself. Can anyone really picture Richt being here 3 or 4 years from now?

Paul said...

Joeski, we're all adults. We understand the nature of press conferences. Do you really believe that what transpired this morning can be considered a successful public relations event? I don't expect Richt to lay out the specific details of his plan. I do expect him to convince me he has a plan and that his plan has a high probability of success. That would be, I don't know, good public relations. I don't think we heard that this morning. And judging from what I've read so far, neither did anyone else in that room. That's disappointing. It's not like Richt didn't know how much was riding on what he said. I don't want another coach. I want Richt to succeed. I love the man but both he and his program seem to be in a serious funk. My wife, myself and our son are all alumni. We will continue to support the program no matter what. We're dawgs. Period. We'll be in our seats until the clock hits 0:00 even if we field an 0-12 team. However, I expected more this morning and found myself disappointed. That's my opinion and I don't think I am alone.

Anonymous said...

I'm as frustrated as anyone by the direction the program has taken the last couple of years, but I think it's ridiculous for some to pretend that Damon Evans -- the man who showed such an astounding lack of judgment last summer -- would have handled things differently (or better) than McGarity.

Bryan said...

I think when he used the term "cutting edge", he was referring to the conservative offense that we became notorious for this season. I feel that Bobo knew Green would be gone next season, so he took this year to try to transition the offense into a gameplan that wouldn't entirely rely on AJ. But that's just my untrained opinion.

Anonymous said...

To even suggest Evans infidelity makes him incapable of proper business decisions is nonsensical. Under that logic every man who commits adultery should be relegated to clerical jobs!

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but the decisions Damon Evans made (driving drunk, with a female companion who was not his wife, with her panties in his lap), speak volumes about his judgment and leadership abilities.

For a couple of years now, I've seen other UGA fans slam Evans for his scheduling philosophy. Now he's being portrayed as the genius who would have led UGA to greatness. Talk about nonsensical.

As was the case with Donnan, the decision to fire Richt, if and when it happens, will come from Michael Adams. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

Middle Georgia Dawg said...

I certainly don't feel all warm and fuzzy, but I guess that it will have to do since we all know that nothing else will be forthcoming...now I'll just wait for the G-Day game to see what kind of progress is made over the Spring. In the meantime, here's hoping that Crowell and a few other game changers all sign in February...that's about the only way I see a major turn around happening.

Love Richt, have supported him longer than most, but there's less and less to hang my hat on these days. Still, I'm hopelessly optimistic, and will be in place for opening kickoff no matter what (not that that makes me special...I know that most of you will still be there too). If we drop the opener, it will be a major uphill battle. If we drop Boise St and South Carolina, the season may well be a wash before we even get through September.

I never did expect specifics from the press conference, just hoped for a little bit more of a feeling that he does have a specific plan. I'm sure that he does, just not sure if it will be enough. Still, the most football I've ever played is on the intramural field, so I'm no expert...

That being said, IF Bobo did as Bryan postulated (and it's possible that he was) and was trying to get in as much game experience as possible for the offense without AJ, then that would have to top the list of boneheaded moves by our OC. Of course AJ is gone next year, so you use him AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE while he is here! Exploit every advantage that his presence on the field allows. There will be an entire offseason, Spring practice, and Fall practice to scheme and implement your offense sans AJ.

Here's hoping for a productive offseason S & C program, since it seems that will be the focus of the changes in the program.

As always, Go Dawgs!!

Anonymous said...

Right there with you, Middle Georgia Dawg. Hoping Crowell and the rest of these guys sign as well, though -- I must admit -- I'm a little uncomfortable with all that's being made of the Dream Team. If, as Blair Walsh indicated, a false sense of entitlement was a major problem this year, what kind of attitude do with think these guys are going to have?

Mike said...

While I hate to speculate about what "cutting edge" is, I hope it includes everything that has to do with the football program! Because the edge we are on now ain't cutting at all!

BicDawg said...

I was the person who brought Damon Evans name into the conversation and was simply stating he would have fired Richt this season. I didnt say that firing him would be smart. I also tried to make it known that I feel McGarity is smarter than Evans is/was and for that reason we have Richt as our coach still today. My belief is the choice to not move on Richt is more due to AD issues more than anything else. Im a Richt loyalist who is sour for now. If and when he is replaced I want it to be by a Big Gun who can coach these youngsters and make' em behave. Thats all. I also agree you cant divorce private behavior from public performance. If your wife cant trust you then neither can I.

Anonymous said...

BicDawg, I was actually responding to another poster when I made my remarks about Damon Evans and his lack of judgment. Like you, I've been a loyalist slow to come around to the idea that a change might be required. I hope, for all our sakes, that CMR and the staff can turn this thing around. Otherwise, I'm afraid it's going to be 3-4 years, at least, until we get back to where we want to be.

Anonymous said...

The AD (nor would have the prior AD) will not fire anyone without the blessing of the large donnors and Adams. It would be a career limiting decision without their support. The AD is not George Steinbrenner but a figure head with limited powers.

Anonymous said...

5 - 7 here we come in 2011. Home for the holidays in 2011 ! Pathetic !

Anonymous said...

This reminds me of George Bush telling Brownie that he did a great job at FEMA during Katrina. What a Damn mess and a joke.

Anonymous said...

Wow Seth.... you Richt almost pulled a Dick Vermeil? what a joke.

Anonymous said...

[dawgofdasouth] maybe crowell is the knight in shining armor that saves us all.depends on how well he blocks,richt will not play a back that can't block.he will field an entire ol that can't block but not a running back.

ReservoirDawg said...

GM is the man. Lets face it folks- if we were to fire Richt this year there aren't any alternatives. GM understood early in the year that Richt would be on the hot seat next year and schedule Boise. Which not only improves our bottom line, but allows him to judge Richt's improvement in the first 2 weeks of the season after those chump gamecocks. If Richt has a rough start I think GM will start making calls. On the other hand.... I think this is just what Richt needs. He has lost some of the fire he showed as a new HC. I think that all of the Fulmer cup talk had him distracted and focusing on things he should never have to deal with in a top notch athletic program. He should have the time to focus on football. Richt and GM have talked about this and developed a plan that will give Richt the best chance to succeed. I think next year Bobo's calls will be largely dependent on Richt with him being more prepared for his opponents. Richt knows he can't afford to change OCs now so he'll be very involved and if he turns things around I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a change next year or soon after. I could be wrong about this, but I believe Georgia football will be back where it belongs next year. If we sign the dream team, the next few years could be something very special.

Anonymous said...

By McGarity “freeing up” CMR to be the football expert we all thought he was paid to be anyway, he’s also essentially saying, “ok, I’ve addressed all of your excuses”. In other words, here is all the rope you need, now rope yourself a winning season or hang yourself.