I don’t usually delve into recruiting, but it’s been a pretty busy 24-48 hours on that front for Georgia.
James Wilder Jr., one of the nation’s top prospects, is set to make his announcement on Wednesday afternoon. One report out of Florida said the Tampa native is headed to Georgia. But that’s been unconfirmed, so it could be Georgia, it could be Florida State, it could even still be Florida.
Rivals.com national analyst Mike Farrell told me at noon that he doesn’t know what Wilder is going to do, nobody except Wilder knows, and agreed it might not even be final today, whoever Wilder picks.
Wilder, a running back and linebacker, is close with Orson Charles, a Georgia tight end, and also knows Aaron Murray, both products of the same Tampa high school. But Farrell said Wilder is also tight with his Florida State recruiter, and that Wilder has not visited Georgia with his family.
“Logically when you look at it, both are good fits,” Farrell said of Georgia and FSU. “You talk about a big running back going into an offense that is suited to that kind of guy, that has produced pros over the past few years, then Georgia is a better fit.”
The other factor is Isaiah Crowell, the tailback out of Columbus. Rivals has Wilder as the nation’s third-ranked overall prospect, and Crowell is No. 21.
If Wilder Jr. does commit to Georgia, does Crowell get pushed to Alabama?
“If Wilder doesn’t go to Georgia, it’s OK, because they still lead for Crowell,” Farrell said. “If they strike out on Wilder and Crowell, then they have a problem.”
One recruit definitely in the fold – as definite as it can be without a signed letter-of-intent – is quarterback Christian LeMay. The news on the North Carolina product is that LeMay – suspended from school until mid-October – will not play his senior year, and concentrate on getting ready for college.
Of course, playing your senior year is probably the best way to get ready for college. LeMay decided not to join his team late, or transfer to a private school and face weaker competition.
“I don’t think it’s going to hurt him in the long run,” Farrell said. “I think it’ll slow down his development a little bit.”
It does eliminate any opportunity for LeMay, who plans to enroll at Georgia in January, to try to play immediately. Even though he’s enrolling early, he’ll be coming in with more than a year of a layoff from live action.
LeMay figures to still try to compete with Murray once he arrives in Athens. But in Georgia’s mind it would probably allow them to bring him along slower.
Note: I originally wrote that Wilder was announcing on ESPN. Took it out, heard bad info. Sorry.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Richt speaks, therefore I blog
We’re at the halfway mark of preseason camp – the 14th practice, and midway through the third of five weeks – so Mark Richt just finished giving what amounted to a State of the Team address.
A quick summation: Everybody’s doing great.
OK, a bit of an exaggeration. But the Georgia head coach, in a pretty jovial mode in general, issued a compliment to nearly everybody as he went through the positions.
“I mentioned to our players that I thought we were (in) the second half of camp,” Richt said. “The second half of preparation. I told them from what I’ve seen we can be a pretty good team.”
Richt said the staff did talk about personnel today. He spent more than an hour with offense, about an hour with the defense.
“We didn’t so much juggle the depth chart as much as get an evaluation of how every single guy is doing,” Richt said. “Whether he deserves playing time, whether he deserves to start. We’re not gonna get too concerned with who’s gonna start until we get to the week of the game.”
Some nuts and bolts:
- On the injury front, Josh Davis (ankle) returned to practice Tuesday. ILB Richard Samuel (leg) should be out another week. Richt expects all the offensive linemen to be ready for the opener, including center Ben Jones (knee) and guard Cordy Glenn (mononucleosis).
Well, that doesn’t include Brent Benedict (knee surgery) who is practicing but will redshirt.
- Speaking of the O-Line, Trinton Sturdivant (knee surgery) continues to work at left tackle, the one position he’s been working at. Richt said Sturdivant would be ready to play if there were a game on Saturday – but probably not the entire game.
- Receiver Logan Gray continues to get a lot of praise from Richt. He still won’t start opposite A.J. Green in the opener, but could see action in the first quarter, according to the coach.
“Logan Gray has been really impressive to me,” Richt said. “He’s making really nice plays. He looks like a seasoned receiver. And he’s only been playing it really for a couple months. But I’ve been really impressed with that kid.”
- The Bulldogs will hold their third allowable scrimmage next Tuesday. Then they’ll get one more after that.
A quick summation: Everybody’s doing great.
OK, a bit of an exaggeration. But the Georgia head coach, in a pretty jovial mode in general, issued a compliment to nearly everybody as he went through the positions.
“I mentioned to our players that I thought we were (in) the second half of camp,” Richt said. “The second half of preparation. I told them from what I’ve seen we can be a pretty good team.”
Richt said the staff did talk about personnel today. He spent more than an hour with offense, about an hour with the defense.
“We didn’t so much juggle the depth chart as much as get an evaluation of how every single guy is doing,” Richt said. “Whether he deserves playing time, whether he deserves to start. We’re not gonna get too concerned with who’s gonna start until we get to the week of the game.”
Some nuts and bolts:
- On the injury front, Josh Davis (ankle) returned to practice Tuesday. ILB Richard Samuel (leg) should be out another week. Richt expects all the offensive linemen to be ready for the opener, including center Ben Jones (knee) and guard Cordy Glenn (mononucleosis).
Well, that doesn’t include Brent Benedict (knee surgery) who is practicing but will redshirt.
- Speaking of the O-Line, Trinton Sturdivant (knee surgery) continues to work at left tackle, the one position he’s been working at. Richt said Sturdivant would be ready to play if there were a game on Saturday – but probably not the entire game.
- Receiver Logan Gray continues to get a lot of praise from Richt. He still won’t start opposite A.J. Green in the opener, but could see action in the first quarter, according to the coach.
“Logan Gray has been really impressive to me,” Richt said. “He’s making really nice plays. He looks like a seasoned receiver. And he’s only been playing it really for a couple months. But I’ve been really impressed with that kid.”
- The Bulldogs will hold their third allowable scrimmage next Tuesday. Then they’ll get one more after that.
US News rankings
The new U.S. News and World Report college and university rankings are out. Generally, schools feel these are extremely overrated and an unfair barometer of the quality of overall education offered at their schools.
That is, unless their school is highly-ranked, in which case they immediately fire off press releases and re-adjust their publicity brochures.
The University of Georgia should be happy with this year's "results," as it comes in tied for 56th nationally, up from 58th. It also moved into a tie for 18th among public universities, after being 21st last year. Either way, that allows Georgia to call itself a Tier 1 school, according to the U.S. News formula.
Georgia was tied with six others schools: Ohio State, Fordham, SMU, Boston University, Purdue and Maryland. (The last one is my alma mater, so I now officially have no right to say I'm smarter than any of you. But neither do you. We're all Tier 1, people!)
Among SEC schools, Georgia came in third, as it has in recent years. The list:
17. Vanderbilt
53. Florida
56. Georgia
79. Alabama
85. Auburn
104. Tennessee
111. South Carolina
124. LSU
129. Kentucky
132. Arkansas
143. Mississippi
151. Mississippi State
That is, unless their school is highly-ranked, in which case they immediately fire off press releases and re-adjust their publicity brochures.
The University of Georgia should be happy with this year's "results," as it comes in tied for 56th nationally, up from 58th. It also moved into a tie for 18th among public universities, after being 21st last year. Either way, that allows Georgia to call itself a Tier 1 school, according to the U.S. News formula.
Georgia was tied with six others schools: Ohio State, Fordham, SMU, Boston University, Purdue and Maryland. (The last one is my alma mater, so I now officially have no right to say I'm smarter than any of you. But neither do you. We're all Tier 1, people!)
Among SEC schools, Georgia came in third, as it has in recent years. The list:
17. Vanderbilt
53. Florida
56. Georgia
79. Alabama
85. Auburn
104. Tennessee
111. South Carolina
124. LSU
129. Kentucky
132. Arkansas
143. Mississippi
151. Mississippi State
Analyzing the hoops schedule
A brief interruption to all the football talk, as I go into complete basketball nerd mode.
Georgia’s men’s hoops team has released its nonconference schedule – and not the full one because the SEC will do so on its own.
The Bulldogs are entering a potentially big year, one in which their schedule will be key. They will start the season in some people’s top 25s, which means they should be contending for the NCAA tournament – which means, to get back to this paragraph’s first sentence, the schedule will be important.
RPI, strength of schedule, quality wins, those are all key ingredients in a team’s tournament resume’. Obviously there’s no way of predicting exactly how Georgia’s nonconference opponents will fare. But previous season’s RPI ranking can be a good start. Therefore, here’s Georgia’s opponent list, and their RPI ranking last season:
Nov. 12: vs. Mississippi Valley State (325)
Nov. 16: vs. Colorado (120)
Nov. 20: at St. Louis (87)
Old Spice Classic
Nov. 25: Notre Dame (49)
Nov. 26: Temple (8) or California (20)
Nov. 28: Boston College (125), Texas A&M (13), Wisconsin (21) or Manhattan (226)
Dec. 3: vs. UAB (45)
Dec. 7: at Georgia Tech (33)
Dec. 18: vs. Arkansas State (202)
Dec. 21: vs. High Point (254)
Dec. 23: at Mercer (221)
Dec. 28: vs. Charleston Southern (285)
Dec. 31: vs. Eastern Kentucky (155)
Feb. 8: vs. Xavier (19)
A few points:
- That’s a lot of quality opponents. Georgia will have a lot of games against top 50 and top 100 RPI teams, another key stat for the NCAA committee. Teams like UAB and Notre Dame don’t jump out at you, but if you beat them and they’re in the top 50 RPI, as they were last year, that’s a huge help to the resume’.
- The only drawback may be a lack of games against huge power teams – no Kansas, Duke, etc. – or any team expected to be in that class this season. But the Bulldogs could make up for that in conference this year, with Kentucky, Florida, and possibly the Mississippi schools or Tennessee.
- One factor that gets paid too little attention is the back-end teams: If you have too many games against very weak RPI teams (like Mississippi Valley State) then that brings your own RPI and SOS down. But a few games in there doesn’t hurt, and Georgia has it in moderation.
The overall verdict: A good schedule for a team expected to contend for an NCAA spot. Like I said, it’s hard to say for sure here in August, but at first glance if Georgia gets to the double-digit mark in nonconference, it should be in solid shape.
Georgia’s men’s hoops team has released its nonconference schedule – and not the full one because the SEC will do so on its own.
The Bulldogs are entering a potentially big year, one in which their schedule will be key. They will start the season in some people’s top 25s, which means they should be contending for the NCAA tournament – which means, to get back to this paragraph’s first sentence, the schedule will be important.
RPI, strength of schedule, quality wins, those are all key ingredients in a team’s tournament resume’. Obviously there’s no way of predicting exactly how Georgia’s nonconference opponents will fare. But previous season’s RPI ranking can be a good start. Therefore, here’s Georgia’s opponent list, and their RPI ranking last season:
Nov. 12: vs. Mississippi Valley State (325)
Nov. 16: vs. Colorado (120)
Nov. 20: at St. Louis (87)
Old Spice Classic
Nov. 25: Notre Dame (49)
Nov. 26: Temple (8) or California (20)
Nov. 28: Boston College (125), Texas A&M (13), Wisconsin (21) or Manhattan (226)
Dec. 3: vs. UAB (45)
Dec. 7: at Georgia Tech (33)
Dec. 18: vs. Arkansas State (202)
Dec. 21: vs. High Point (254)
Dec. 23: at Mercer (221)
Dec. 28: vs. Charleston Southern (285)
Dec. 31: vs. Eastern Kentucky (155)
Feb. 8: vs. Xavier (19)
A few points:
- That’s a lot of quality opponents. Georgia will have a lot of games against top 50 and top 100 RPI teams, another key stat for the NCAA committee. Teams like UAB and Notre Dame don’t jump out at you, but if you beat them and they’re in the top 50 RPI, as they were last year, that’s a huge help to the resume’.
- The only drawback may be a lack of games against huge power teams – no Kansas, Duke, etc. – or any team expected to be in that class this season. But the Bulldogs could make up for that in conference this year, with Kentucky, Florida, and possibly the Mississippi schools or Tennessee.
- One factor that gets paid too little attention is the back-end teams: If you have too many games against very weak RPI teams (like Mississippi Valley State) then that brings your own RPI and SOS down. But a few games in there doesn’t hurt, and Georgia has it in moderation.
The overall verdict: A good schedule for a team expected to contend for an NCAA spot. Like I said, it’s hard to say for sure here in August, but at first glance if Georgia gets to the double-digit mark in nonconference, it should be in solid shape.
Morning links
A few links here and there as we wake up to a wet, overcast morning in Athens:
Georgia football commitment Christian LeMay, who was earlier suspended until mid-October of his senior year, will skip the season altogether, The Sporting News reports.
LeMay, ranked by some as the nation’s top quarterback prospect, was suspended by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) County school system for 30 days for an undisclosed violation.
Not sure what the Georgia coaches would think of the decision. (Obviously they can’t comment until he presumably signs in February).
- Georgia’s baseball team lost its top pitching prospect, as Drew Cisco (Charleston, S.C.) signed before Monday’s deadline. Cisco, a sixth-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds, reportedly received a signing bonus of $975,000.
- In other baseball deadline news, Clemson’s Kyle Parker signed with Colorado, but his deal allows him to play football one more year. So everybody’s happy. Not so at LSU, where quarterback Zach Lee surprisingly inked a deal with the Dodgers.
- Speaking of Clemson quarterbacks, remember Willy Korn? He transferred to Marshall after Parker cemented the starting job. Now he’s transferring again, to North Greenville, after Marshall tried to move him to safety.
All I can is … Wow. I actually covered Korn in high school – I’ve been in his home, interviewed him in his pajamas one time. I found him to be a level-headed kid who wasn’t buying much into his own hype. But his story is yet another reminder that the recruiting rankings are not to be considered sacrosanct.
- And finally, the current minor story that’s distracting people (and I don’t mean the mosque near Ground Zero):
A radio reporter in Arkansas has been fired after wearing a Florida hat to an Arkansas football news conference.
Silliness all around, if you ask me. (You didn’t, but hey.) Yeah, you shouldn’t wear apparel of another SEC school, even if you’re a graduate of said school. But it shouldn’t be a fireable offense.
This is something that sports media members are cognizant of on a daily basis. Or at least they should be. The general rule, as far as I can tell, is if you cover a college team, you better stay away from wearing a hat, shirt or whatever from another college team.
(Well, boxers are probably OK, unless there’s some risk than you’ll have to strip down at practice.)
Of course the biggest rule should be not wearing apparel of the team you’re actually covering. But with the changes in sports media lately, especially the proliferation of fan sites, that rule is sadly observed less and less these days. Sigh.
Georgia football commitment Christian LeMay, who was earlier suspended until mid-October of his senior year, will skip the season altogether, The Sporting News reports.
LeMay, ranked by some as the nation’s top quarterback prospect, was suspended by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) County school system for 30 days for an undisclosed violation.
Not sure what the Georgia coaches would think of the decision. (Obviously they can’t comment until he presumably signs in February).
- Georgia’s baseball team lost its top pitching prospect, as Drew Cisco (Charleston, S.C.) signed before Monday’s deadline. Cisco, a sixth-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds, reportedly received a signing bonus of $975,000.
- In other baseball deadline news, Clemson’s Kyle Parker signed with Colorado, but his deal allows him to play football one more year. So everybody’s happy. Not so at LSU, where quarterback Zach Lee surprisingly inked a deal with the Dodgers.
- Speaking of Clemson quarterbacks, remember Willy Korn? He transferred to Marshall after Parker cemented the starting job. Now he’s transferring again, to North Greenville, after Marshall tried to move him to safety.
All I can is … Wow. I actually covered Korn in high school – I’ve been in his home, interviewed him in his pajamas one time. I found him to be a level-headed kid who wasn’t buying much into his own hype. But his story is yet another reminder that the recruiting rankings are not to be considered sacrosanct.
- And finally, the current minor story that’s distracting people (and I don’t mean the mosque near Ground Zero):
A radio reporter in Arkansas has been fired after wearing a Florida hat to an Arkansas football news conference.
Silliness all around, if you ask me. (You didn’t, but hey.) Yeah, you shouldn’t wear apparel of another SEC school, even if you’re a graduate of said school. But it shouldn’t be a fireable offense.
This is something that sports media members are cognizant of on a daily basis. Or at least they should be. The general rule, as far as I can tell, is if you cover a college team, you better stay away from wearing a hat, shirt or whatever from another college team.
(Well, boxers are probably OK, unless there’s some risk than you’ll have to strip down at practice.)
Of course the biggest rule should be not wearing apparel of the team you’re actually covering. But with the changes in sports media lately, especially the proliferation of fan sites, that rule is sadly observed less and less these days. Sigh.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Richt dives into a media session
We just spoke to a dried-off Mark Richt, who spent a portion of his afternoon in wet clothing.
The Georgia football team took their annual trek over to the Ramsey Center for some diving practice. Because of the rain, there was a late change in plans to make Monday the day, and Richt hadn’t brought his swim trunks.
But it’s a tradition for the head coach to jump in, so he did so in his full street clothes. (But no shoes.)
“I will say this,” Richt said. “I’ve always thought the clothing from H. Stockton was great stuff. But after jumping in it and getting out, it’s quality stuff.”
No word on whether Richt has an endorsement deal with the H. Stockton apparel company.
The consensus among the players I spoke to was the best dive belonged to walk-on receiver Brandon Harton.
“Brandon tried to do like a backflip, so he landed kind of bad,” linebacker Cornelius Washington said. “Well not kinda bad. Bad.”
Still, the afternoon was deemed a success and a good time was had by all, etc.
“Nobody got hurt,” Richt said. “Well somebody might’ve got hurt, I don’t know. We had some bad landings.”
Non-swimming notes:
- Because of the afternoon at the swim center, the team will practice on Tuesday after all. No word on any scrimmages this week. None are on the schedule.
- Richt agreed that changing their turnover ratio has been an emphasis in camp.
“In some ways, it was amazing we won as many games as we did (with the turnover ratio).”
- Starting center Ben Jones had his knee scoped on Sunday. His prognosis – a return to practice the week of the opener - hasn’t changed.
- On the defensive line, Richt said Demarcus Dobbs is the only “shoo-in” to start. Otherwise, they plan to have “at least” a two-deep ready to play.
DeAngelo Tyson has been splitting snaps at tackle and end.
“I’m not sure who’s gonna start where,” Richt said. “But everybody who proves they’re ready to play will play.”
The Georgia football team took their annual trek over to the Ramsey Center for some diving practice. Because of the rain, there was a late change in plans to make Monday the day, and Richt hadn’t brought his swim trunks.
But it’s a tradition for the head coach to jump in, so he did so in his full street clothes. (But no shoes.)
“I will say this,” Richt said. “I’ve always thought the clothing from H. Stockton was great stuff. But after jumping in it and getting out, it’s quality stuff.”
No word on whether Richt has an endorsement deal with the H. Stockton apparel company.
The consensus among the players I spoke to was the best dive belonged to walk-on receiver Brandon Harton.
“Brandon tried to do like a backflip, so he landed kind of bad,” linebacker Cornelius Washington said. “Well not kinda bad. Bad.”
Still, the afternoon was deemed a success and a good time was had by all, etc.
“Nobody got hurt,” Richt said. “Well somebody might’ve got hurt, I don’t know. We had some bad landings.”
Non-swimming notes:
- Because of the afternoon at the swim center, the team will practice on Tuesday after all. No word on any scrimmages this week. None are on the schedule.
- Richt agreed that changing their turnover ratio has been an emphasis in camp.
“In some ways, it was amazing we won as many games as we did (with the turnover ratio).”
- Starting center Ben Jones had his knee scoped on Sunday. His prognosis – a return to practice the week of the opener - hasn’t changed.
- On the defensive line, Richt said Demarcus Dobbs is the only “shoo-in” to start. Otherwise, they plan to have “at least” a two-deep ready to play.
DeAngelo Tyson has been splitting snaps at tackle and end.
“I’m not sure who’s gonna start where,” Richt said. “But everybody who proves they’re ready to play will play.”
Morant speaks
We got our first chance this afternoon to speak to Dexter Morant, the true freshman who left the Georgia football team two weeks ago, then changed his mind three days later.
Morant talked in depth about his back-and-forth, and said that quitting the team was something that ultimately he had to do in order to truly appreciate football.
“I regret what I did, but it’s like I don’t at the same time,” Morant said. “Because it made me realize that this not playing football is not for me. I’ve gotta play football. As soon as I got home I was like, Why am I here right now. I was just sitting there with nothing to do.”
Initially, Morant left the team because he said he was “a little homesick.” He had been in Athens all summer, but as practice arrived the feeling of missing home got worse. It finally reached a crescendo before the second day of practice, when he finally told head coach Mark Richt he was heading home.
“My stomach just started feeling crazy and stuff. I don’t know what it was, but it just pushed me to go home, I don’t know why,” Morant said.
But when he got back to Manning, S.C., he realized there was nothing there for him. His high school coach was critical of his decision. Friends asked why he wasn’t back in Athens.
“Everybody was like, ‘Don’t tell me you quit football. We’re depending on you,’ ” Morant said.
He called players asking if they thought he could come back. They didn’t know. He prayed, then called Richt, who told him he couldn’t say yes right away, and would have to think about it. Morant waited all day, then finally got a call from Richt telling him to come back the next morning.
“But once I came back, everybody welcomed me with open arms, everybody was checking on me to ask if I was all right. So it kind of made me feel at home.”
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham did kiddingly ask him if he was back.
“He was like, ‘Are you gonna stay this time?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna stay this time,'" Morant said.
Morant talked in depth about his back-and-forth, and said that quitting the team was something that ultimately he had to do in order to truly appreciate football.
“I regret what I did, but it’s like I don’t at the same time,” Morant said. “Because it made me realize that this not playing football is not for me. I’ve gotta play football. As soon as I got home I was like, Why am I here right now. I was just sitting there with nothing to do.”
Initially, Morant left the team because he said he was “a little homesick.” He had been in Athens all summer, but as practice arrived the feeling of missing home got worse. It finally reached a crescendo before the second day of practice, when he finally told head coach Mark Richt he was heading home.
“My stomach just started feeling crazy and stuff. I don’t know what it was, but it just pushed me to go home, I don’t know why,” Morant said.
But when he got back to Manning, S.C., he realized there was nothing there for him. His high school coach was critical of his decision. Friends asked why he wasn’t back in Athens.
“Everybody was like, ‘Don’t tell me you quit football. We’re depending on you,’ ” Morant said.
He called players asking if they thought he could come back. They didn’t know. He prayed, then called Richt, who told him he couldn’t say yes right away, and would have to think about it. Morant waited all day, then finally got a call from Richt telling him to come back the next morning.
“But once I came back, everybody welcomed me with open arms, everybody was checking on me to ask if I was all right. So it kind of made me feel at home.”
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham did kiddingly ask him if he was back.
“He was like, ‘Are you gonna stay this time?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna stay this time,'" Morant said.
Afternoon stuff
Today's the first day of classes at Georgia, which begs a question that's always bothered me: How come classes start earlier in the South? Growing up in the north (well, Maryland anyway) we always started school right after Labor Day, and wrapped up mid-June.
The high school football seasons also start later up north. It always would've made sense to me to flip it, because of the heat. Now I suppose for school reasons you're sort of trading one hot time for another - start earlier in the heat in the summer, but finish up earlier in the summer.
When it comes to football, however, the southern schools are practicing in the heat earlier, and playing in the heat earlier. And the northern schools are stretching their seasons longer, to when it gets much colder up there.
I suppose there's a real good reason out there that someone will enlighten me on. It's just always sort of confounded me.
Anyway ... First day of school, Georgia's practices are starting an hour later than the previous two weeks, blah blah blah ...
- Aron White has been named to the watch list for the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end.
Coincidentally, White is also on the watch list for the starting tight end job at Georgia.
White entered the fall behind Orson Charles on the depth chart list, though it’s understandable why the Mackey people would pick him out: White started 12 games last year and caught two touchdown passes in the Independence Bowl.
But Georgia’s tight ends depth chart is so deep – Charles was a freshman All-American, Arthur Lynch played in 11 games last year, and Bruce Figgins has started three times – that the Mackey people could probably just have put “TBA, Georgia” on the list.
- Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com does not include A.J. Green in a ranking of top 20 Heisman hopefuls. He quickly got asked about it on Twitter, and replied that he was "skittish" about the quarterback situation.
I probably would've put Green somewhere in there, but Maisel's right to hold back a bit. Plus, receivers don't often start the year out as Heisman favorites.
- Another ESPN.com entry, this time from newbie Andrea Adelson (recently hired from the Orlando Sentinel). Adelson asks who would you rather be this year, Mark Richt or Les Miles.
Ah, a hot seat question. From my vantage point, you'd probably rather be Richt. But that's just me.
The high school football seasons also start later up north. It always would've made sense to me to flip it, because of the heat. Now I suppose for school reasons you're sort of trading one hot time for another - start earlier in the heat in the summer, but finish up earlier in the summer.
When it comes to football, however, the southern schools are practicing in the heat earlier, and playing in the heat earlier. And the northern schools are stretching their seasons longer, to when it gets much colder up there.
I suppose there's a real good reason out there that someone will enlighten me on. It's just always sort of confounded me.
Anyway ... First day of school, Georgia's practices are starting an hour later than the previous two weeks, blah blah blah ...
- Aron White has been named to the watch list for the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end.
Coincidentally, White is also on the watch list for the starting tight end job at Georgia.
White entered the fall behind Orson Charles on the depth chart list, though it’s understandable why the Mackey people would pick him out: White started 12 games last year and caught two touchdown passes in the Independence Bowl.
But Georgia’s tight ends depth chart is so deep – Charles was a freshman All-American, Arthur Lynch played in 11 games last year, and Bruce Figgins has started three times – that the Mackey people could probably just have put “TBA, Georgia” on the list.
- Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com does not include A.J. Green in a ranking of top 20 Heisman hopefuls. He quickly got asked about it on Twitter, and replied that he was "skittish" about the quarterback situation.
I probably would've put Green somewhere in there, but Maisel's right to hold back a bit. Plus, receivers don't often start the year out as Heisman favorites.
- Another ESPN.com entry, this time from newbie Andrea Adelson (recently hired from the Orlando Sentinel). Adelson asks who would you rather be this year, Mark Richt or Les Miles.
Ah, a hot seat question. From my vantage point, you'd probably rather be Richt. But that's just me.
Grab the pitchforks!
When reporters attack ... Well, not really.
Friend and colleague Chip Towers has an amusing post over at the AJC's recruting blog. Seems Georgia has to report a secondary violation because of a scurrilous act by Towers: A photo was published showing offensive line coach Stacy Searels supposedly posing with a prospective recruit (because they were both looking in the camera.)
Read Chip's post. Good stuff in there.
First off, this is no big deal. It's a secondary violation, the kind Lane Kiffin committed twice in his sleep.
Secondly, Chip did nothing wrong. As he pointed out, he's a reporter, not a member of the NCAA or paid by Georgia, and his job is to observe and report.
Thirdly, I know exactly how Chip feels, since I also have been the cause of a school having to turn in a secondary violation.
A few years ago, while covering South Carolina, the basketball team was hosting a center who was transferring from UNLV. During a game, I spotted the kid sitting behind the bench, and not having much free time I went over at halftime and interviewed him. Then I published a few quotes on my blog and in the paper.
The kid never went to South Carolina. But the school's compliance office determined (rightly, by the ridiculous NCAA rules) that a secondary violation had occurred: A school promoting the visit of a recruit.
Even though the school had no power over me, a member of the press. OK.
The backwardness of the NCAA rules is that the recruiting and fan sites regularly "promote" the visits of players, writing about who's visiting and when, and following up with interviews with the players in question over what a great time they had.
(Notice, by the way, that a kid never says he had a bad time, there's no way he's going there, etc.)
But the recruiting and fan sites get around technically promoting the visit by not interviewing the recruit while he's actually on campus.
I was gently told this by South Carolina after the incident in question, and now I know. But still, going back to Chip's statement, I'm a reporter and I'm going to pursue a story, NCAA bylaws or no. Maybe, if I see a kid on a visit, I could go just ask the kid for his cell phone and try to teach him later, but if he's right there, why not talk to him then. (Especially if you know you may not reach him later.)
And in Chip's case, his readers were interested, of course he was going to pursue the information.
And while you're doing all this, you're acting completely independent of the school you're covering, so it shouldn't be culpable for you doing your job.
And all this is considered on the same level, a secondary violation, as most of the stuff Lane Kiffin did. OK.
Friend and colleague Chip Towers has an amusing post over at the AJC's recruting blog. Seems Georgia has to report a secondary violation because of a scurrilous act by Towers: A photo was published showing offensive line coach Stacy Searels supposedly posing with a prospective recruit (because they were both looking in the camera.)
Read Chip's post. Good stuff in there.
First off, this is no big deal. It's a secondary violation, the kind Lane Kiffin committed twice in his sleep.
Secondly, Chip did nothing wrong. As he pointed out, he's a reporter, not a member of the NCAA or paid by Georgia, and his job is to observe and report.
Thirdly, I know exactly how Chip feels, since I also have been the cause of a school having to turn in a secondary violation.
A few years ago, while covering South Carolina, the basketball team was hosting a center who was transferring from UNLV. During a game, I spotted the kid sitting behind the bench, and not having much free time I went over at halftime and interviewed him. Then I published a few quotes on my blog and in the paper.
The kid never went to South Carolina. But the school's compliance office determined (rightly, by the ridiculous NCAA rules) that a secondary violation had occurred: A school promoting the visit of a recruit.
Even though the school had no power over me, a member of the press. OK.
The backwardness of the NCAA rules is that the recruiting and fan sites regularly "promote" the visits of players, writing about who's visiting and when, and following up with interviews with the players in question over what a great time they had.
(Notice, by the way, that a kid never says he had a bad time, there's no way he's going there, etc.)
But the recruiting and fan sites get around technically promoting the visit by not interviewing the recruit while he's actually on campus.
I was gently told this by South Carolina after the incident in question, and now I know. But still, going back to Chip's statement, I'm a reporter and I'm going to pursue a story, NCAA bylaws or no. Maybe, if I see a kid on a visit, I could go just ask the kid for his cell phone and try to teach him later, but if he's right there, why not talk to him then. (Especially if you know you may not reach him later.)
And in Chip's case, his readers were interested, of course he was going to pursue the information.
And while you're doing all this, you're acting completely independent of the school you're covering, so it shouldn't be culpable for you doing your job.
And all this is considered on the same level, a secondary violation, as most of the stuff Lane Kiffin did. OK.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Uniform note
I meant to post this earlier in the week, then all the Greg McGarity stuff overtook it. Anyway, had a question from a poster about uniforms. I quote:
The answer, bluntly, is no change. Here was the answer from the inimitable Claude Felton at Georgia:
So there you go.
Shameless plug: My story in Sunday morning's papers on the Ogletree brothers.
Blog side note: I encountered a snake this afternoon, walking the dog down at the river. Now here's my problem: I was always taught by elders that snakes were as afraid of us as we are of them. And typically they've held up their end of the bargain, slithering away when we get within, say, 10 feet of them.
But this bugger didn't jump into the river until I was right up on it, giving me a good look at its light brown skin (but not the head, so I couldn't be sure whether it was a poisonous copperhead, just a water moccasin, or what.)
Bottom line, if any of you out there know any snakes, let them know that they're supposed to run away from us before we see them and get spooked. They're supposed to be able to sense us from far away.
Blog side note 2: I forgot to start Jair Jurrjens in my fantasy baseball league today. ... Whoops.
Can you find out if the Dawgs will wear the 'real' silver britches this year instead of the flat gray ones worn last year? I know Damon Evans expected silver this year but now he is gone?
The answer, bluntly, is no change. Here was the answer from the inimitable Claude Felton at Georgia:
We will be wearing the same pants as last season. Nike has a newer lighter material called cordura that the players all wanted. They feel the new pants are lighter and more comfortable than the old pants but on these it ‘s a little more difficult to replicate the same silver “sheen.”
So there you go.
Shameless plug: My story in Sunday morning's papers on the Ogletree brothers.
Blog side note: I encountered a snake this afternoon, walking the dog down at the river. Now here's my problem: I was always taught by elders that snakes were as afraid of us as we are of them. And typically they've held up their end of the bargain, slithering away when we get within, say, 10 feet of them.
But this bugger didn't jump into the river until I was right up on it, giving me a good look at its light brown skin (but not the head, so I couldn't be sure whether it was a poisonous copperhead, just a water moccasin, or what.)
Bottom line, if any of you out there know any snakes, let them know that they're supposed to run away from us before we see them and get spooked. They're supposed to be able to sense us from far away.
Blog side note 2: I forgot to start Jair Jurrjens in my fantasy baseball league today. ... Whoops.
Next week's practice schedule
Georgia's football team has set its agenda for the next week, giving the players a weekday off.
The team will return to practice Monday, the first day of class. Then it will take Tuesday off, and come back Wednesday and go through Saturday.
All practices are full team (as opposed to some previous days that had a special teams emphasis.)
Saturday is also Fan Picture Day at Sanford Stadium. (For what it's worth, the current forecast for Saturday on weather.com is a high of 90 and isolated thunderstorms. In other words, pretty much every day this past week.
The team will return to practice Monday, the first day of class. Then it will take Tuesday off, and come back Wednesday and go through Saturday.
All practices are full team (as opposed to some previous days that had a special teams emphasis.)
Saturday is also Fan Picture Day at Sanford Stadium. (For what it's worth, the current forecast for Saturday on weather.com is a high of 90 and isolated thunderstorms. In other words, pretty much every day this past week.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
More news and notes
I have to rush off to a wedding in LaGrange this afternoon (Matt and Jennifer, we thought you'd never pull it off). Before I do, some more news and notes after talking to Mark Richt and selected players following Saturday's closed scrimmage:
- So apparently it was one of THOSE days for the Georgia offense, first and second team. The good news for the Bulldogs is the struggles weren’t being tied to quarterback Aaron Murray.
“He did a good job today of not trying to do something that would’ve caused even more problems. So that was good,” Richt said. “He made some nice plays. He made some very nice plays. We just as an offensive unit didn’t make it where a true freshman or a redshirt freshman could be real comfortable.”
And, Richt added, Murray didn’t do “foolish things” as he did in the first scrimmage, when he threw into coverage in the end zone and was picked off.
Murray himself said the offense “just didn’t get into a good rhythm.”
“There was flashes, but not overall very consistent,” he added. “We’ve got three more weeks to fix it.”
- As for the offense in general, Richt called it “sloppy at times,” but didn’t appear overly worried. Some defensive players (like cornerback Brandon Boykin) cited the weather as a factor, mentioning some fumbled snaps. The offensive line missing three starters didn’t help either.
But clearly the offense has some corrections to make.
“I’m glad we’ve got three more weeks to iron some of this stuff out,” Richt said.
- The bright spot for the offense was receiver Logan Gray, who had a 46-yard catch, and led the team with three receptions for 70 yards. It has his second straight good scrimmage.
“I love throwing to him,” Murray said, citing Gray’s background as a quarterback.
- Inside linebacker Akeem Hebron continues to take advantage of injuries at his position, leading the team in tackles for the second straight scrimmage.
- Darryl Gamble has probably had the most productive camp of any outside linebacker, according to Richt. He seems to have the edge on Cornelius Washington in the contest for the second OLB spot opposite Justin Houston.
- Branden Smith had two tackles at cornerback in his first scrimmage. The sophomore missed eight practices with academic issues.
- So apparently it was one of THOSE days for the Georgia offense, first and second team. The good news for the Bulldogs is the struggles weren’t being tied to quarterback Aaron Murray.
“He did a good job today of not trying to do something that would’ve caused even more problems. So that was good,” Richt said. “He made some nice plays. He made some very nice plays. We just as an offensive unit didn’t make it where a true freshman or a redshirt freshman could be real comfortable.”
And, Richt added, Murray didn’t do “foolish things” as he did in the first scrimmage, when he threw into coverage in the end zone and was picked off.
Murray himself said the offense “just didn’t get into a good rhythm.”
“There was flashes, but not overall very consistent,” he added. “We’ve got three more weeks to fix it.”
- As for the offense in general, Richt called it “sloppy at times,” but didn’t appear overly worried. Some defensive players (like cornerback Brandon Boykin) cited the weather as a factor, mentioning some fumbled snaps. The offensive line missing three starters didn’t help either.
But clearly the offense has some corrections to make.
“I’m glad we’ve got three more weeks to iron some of this stuff out,” Richt said.
- The bright spot for the offense was receiver Logan Gray, who had a 46-yard catch, and led the team with three receptions for 70 yards. It has his second straight good scrimmage.
“I love throwing to him,” Murray said, citing Gray’s background as a quarterback.
- Inside linebacker Akeem Hebron continues to take advantage of injuries at his position, leading the team in tackles for the second straight scrimmage.
- Darryl Gamble has probably had the most productive camp of any outside linebacker, according to Richt. He seems to have the edge on Cornelius Washington in the contest for the second OLB spot opposite Justin Houston.
- Branden Smith had two tackles at cornerback in his first scrimmage. The sophomore missed eight practices with academic issues.
OL injuries piling up
Starting center Ben Jones will have to get a knee scoped on Sunday and will be out at least a couple weeks. But head coach Mark Richt said he expects Jones to be back for a full week of practice leading up to the Sept. 4 opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Still, it's the latest injury on a unit that was supposed to be the most stable on Georgia's football team.
Starting guard Cordy Glenn is out with mononucleosis. And Josh Davis has an ankle injury, which he sustained in the first scrimmage Tuesday, then tried to fight through on Saturday but finally gave up.
The Bulldogs expect everyone back for the opener. But they scrimmaged Saturday with only two projected starters, a big reason the first-team offense struggled against the second-team defense.
The only good news was that Trinton Sturdivant, coming off consecutive knee surgeries, saw his first live action of the year on Saturday.
Still, it's the latest injury on a unit that was supposed to be the most stable on Georgia's football team.
Starting guard Cordy Glenn is out with mononucleosis. And Josh Davis has an ankle injury, which he sustained in the first scrimmage Tuesday, then tried to fight through on Saturday but finally gave up.
The Bulldogs expect everyone back for the opener. But they scrimmaged Saturday with only two projected starters, a big reason the first-team offense struggled against the second-team defense.
The only good news was that Trinton Sturdivant, coming off consecutive knee surgeries, saw his first live action of the year on Saturday.
Scrimmage stats
As provided by Georgia after its Saturday morning scrimmage (and these are not everybody, just the highlights):
PASSING
Aaron Murray: 8-20, 133 yards (a long of 46), 0 TD, 0 INT
Hutson Mason: 8-18, 48 yards, (a long of 12), 0 TD, 0 INT
RUSHING
Washaun Ealey: 7 rushes for 70 yards (Richt said without one long run, Ealey's stats would've been much more pedestrian)
Caleb King: 7 rushes for 18 yards
Fred Munzenmaier: 6 rushes for 17 yards
RECEIVING
Logan Gray: 3 catches for 70 yards
Tavares King: 1 catch for 41 yards
Aron White: 3 catches for 27 yards
(You'll notice no A.J. Green. Head coach Mark Richt said Green had one or two small catches, but they were trying to get the other receivers involved today.)
DEFENSE
Akeem Hebron: 5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
Justin Houston: 3 sacks
Kwame Geathers: 3 tackles, 0.5 sack
Brandon Boykin: 3 tackles
Alec Ogletree: 3 tackles, 1 PD
Shaun Williams: 3 tackles, 1 FF
Branden Smith: 2 tackles
Kiante Tripp: 2 tackles, 0.5 sack
PASSING
Aaron Murray: 8-20, 133 yards (a long of 46), 0 TD, 0 INT
Hutson Mason: 8-18, 48 yards, (a long of 12), 0 TD, 0 INT
RUSHING
Washaun Ealey: 7 rushes for 70 yards (Richt said without one long run, Ealey's stats would've been much more pedestrian)
Caleb King: 7 rushes for 18 yards
Fred Munzenmaier: 6 rushes for 17 yards
RECEIVING
Logan Gray: 3 catches for 70 yards
Tavares King: 1 catch for 41 yards
Aron White: 3 catches for 27 yards
(You'll notice no A.J. Green. Head coach Mark Richt said Green had one or two small catches, but they were trying to get the other receivers involved today.)
DEFENSE
Akeem Hebron: 5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
Justin Houston: 3 sacks
Kwame Geathers: 3 tackles, 0.5 sack
Brandon Boykin: 3 tackles
Alec Ogletree: 3 tackles, 1 PD
Shaun Williams: 3 tackles, 1 FF
Branden Smith: 2 tackles
Kiante Tripp: 2 tackles, 0.5 sack
Morning reading
About to head over to see how Georgia's football scrimmage went. In the meantime, here's my story from today's papers on Greg McGarity's hiring.
An excerpt:
And a few more news and notes on McGarity, including reaction from Mark Richt and Mark Fox:
An excerpt:
ATHENS — Greg McGarity was in his office at Florida on Wednesday morning on a conference call when his BlackBerry buzzed. He took a peek. The caller ID read “Private Number.”
McGarity knew what that meant. He was getting the call.
“I said, ‘Well it’s either thumbs up or thumbs down,’ ” said McGarity, who then holed himself up in a colleague’s office, locking the door to take the call.
It was up. And a lifelong dream was finally realized. McGarity was chosen as the next athletics director at Georgia, a job he was formally hired for and introduced for Friday.
“It was one of those things where you just had to say, ‘This really did happen,’ ” McGarity said Friday, a bit after a news conference on campus. “I’ve gotta pinch myself; this did happen.”
And a few more news and notes on McGarity, including reaction from Mark Richt and Mark Fox:
ATHENS — There was a receiving line for new athletics director Greg McGarity at the Georgia Center on Friday that snaked around a corner.
Near the back of the line, Mark Richt and Mark Fox were patiently waiting, carrying on a conversation.
Richt was asked why he didn’t just move up.
“I don’t want to lose my spot in line,” Richt said.
Richt, Georgia’s head football coach, and Fox, the men’s head basketball coach, had never met McGarity before Friday.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Glenn out "for awhile"
Georgia's football team cut short its practice Friday after lightning struck. Either way, Cordy Glenn was not there.
The junior guard has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and will be "out awhile," head coach Mark Richt said in a press release.
Tanner Strickland has been practicing with the first team in Glenn's absence.
The Bulldogs will obviously be hoping Glenn gets better soon. The Riverdale native has started 22 games in his career, including all 13 last year.
Another offensive linemen is also out: Reserve tackle Jonathan Owens has a knee injury, and his return date is unknown.
Georgia is scheduled to hold a scrimmage Saturday.
The junior guard has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and will be "out awhile," head coach Mark Richt said in a press release.
Tanner Strickland has been practicing with the first team in Glenn's absence.
The Bulldogs will obviously be hoping Glenn gets better soon. The Riverdale native has started 22 games in his career, including all 13 last year.
Another offensive linemen is also out: Reserve tackle Jonathan Owens has a knee injury, and his return date is unknown.
Georgia is scheduled to hold a scrimmage Saturday.
Foley, Meyer and Donovan weigh in
Jeremy Foley hired Greg McGarity nearly two decades ago at Florida. Here's what the Gator athletics director had to say, in a statement released after McGarity's hiring as Georgia's A.D.:
"Greg has been an invaluable asset to our organization over the years. He has been involved in the day to day operations of our department and has been by my side every step of the way - from hiring coaches, to budgets, facility planning and event management, he has been a key component of our success. Greg is extremely loyal and has great vision for the future.
"More than anything Greg is one of my most trusted and closest friends. He has meant much more to me than an employee. Greg is family and we wish him the very best."
Florida football coach coach Urban Meyer called McGarity a "tremendous asset" to the team:
"I remember first meeting Greg when Jeremy flew out to talk to me about the Florida job. He was involved in every discussion with Jeremy and our family and I could tell right away that Greg played a pivotal role in the athletic department. I could also see that his relationship with Jeremy and others in the athletic department went beyond the professional level. He was very well liked and respected among his co-workers. Greg always found a way to get things done, but he did it in a very personable manner."
And not to be left out, men's basketball coach Billy Donovan:
"I'm elated for Greg and his family that he is getting a chance to not only direct a first-class athletic department, but in essence, to go home. I've known Greg for 15 years, he was involved in my hiring at Florida, and has been someone I've always had great respect and admiration for.
"I echo the sentiments of everyone here in wishing he and his family the best in Athens and we will certainly all miss him. Georgia has made a fantastic hire."
"Greg has been an invaluable asset to our organization over the years. He has been involved in the day to day operations of our department and has been by my side every step of the way - from hiring coaches, to budgets, facility planning and event management, he has been a key component of our success. Greg is extremely loyal and has great vision for the future.
"More than anything Greg is one of my most trusted and closest friends. He has meant much more to me than an employee. Greg is family and we wish him the very best."
Florida football coach coach Urban Meyer called McGarity a "tremendous asset" to the team:
"I remember first meeting Greg when Jeremy flew out to talk to me about the Florida job. He was involved in every discussion with Jeremy and our family and I could tell right away that Greg played a pivotal role in the athletic department. I could also see that his relationship with Jeremy and others in the athletic department went beyond the professional level. He was very well liked and respected among his co-workers. Greg always found a way to get things done, but he did it in a very personable manner."
And not to be left out, men's basketball coach Billy Donovan:
"I'm elated for Greg and his family that he is getting a chance to not only direct a first-class athletic department, but in essence, to go home. I've known Greg for 15 years, he was involved in my hiring at Florida, and has been someone I've always had great respect and admiration for.
"I echo the sentiments of everyone here in wishing he and his family the best in Athens and we will certainly all miss him. Georgia has made a fantastic hire."
McGarity on Jacksonville
Moving back to Georgia from Florida hasn't changed Greg McGarity's mind about playing the annual game in Jacksonville.
Georgia's new athletics director said after his news conference Friday that he favors keeping the game in Jacksonville, and pointed out that the game is under contract to stay there until 2016.
"When I worked here at Georgia, earlier, it was the greatest trip of all," McGarity said. "And I think the fans, players, everybody loved it. I mean it was so good to get down to Florida because the Georgia fans would go to Sea Island, all those areas around the coast there. ...
"It's an atmosphere like none other. And when it was Alltel Stadium, when they brought it up to the (specifications) of an NFL stadium, it set a whole new dynamic there."
Georgia's new athletics director said after his news conference Friday that he favors keeping the game in Jacksonville, and pointed out that the game is under contract to stay there until 2016.
"When I worked here at Georgia, earlier, it was the greatest trip of all," McGarity said. "And I think the fans, players, everybody loved it. I mean it was so good to get down to Florida because the Georgia fans would go to Sea Island, all those areas around the coast there. ...
"It's an atmosphere like none other. And when it was Alltel Stadium, when they brought it up to the (specifications) of an NFL stadium, it set a whole new dynamic there."
The Marks on McGarity
Spoke briefly to Mark Richt and Mark Fox about their new boss. Neither coach had met Greg McGarity before today.
Richt said McGarity has "everything you could hope for" in a hire.
“I just know that everybody that’s met him and everybody associated with him is very, very excited to get him, and that he’s here. That’s a good sign,” Richt said.
Fox took note that Florida has become a national basketball power while McGarity was there.
“He obviously has been at an institution where basketball and football have co-existed at a very high level. So I think that’s important,” Fox said.
Richt said McGarity has "everything you could hope for" in a hire.
“I just know that everybody that’s met him and everybody associated with him is very, very excited to get him, and that he’s here. That’s a good sign,” Richt said.
Fox took note that Florida has become a national basketball power while McGarity was there.
“He obviously has been at an institution where basketball and football have co-existed at a very high level. So I think that’s important,” Fox said.
McGarity introduced
Whew. Kind of a whirlwind time here at the Georgia Center in Athens. Greg McGarity has been officially introduced at a news conference. Here are some quick highlights from that:
- McGarity, 55, agreed to a five-year contract with terms identical to what Damon Evans was getting before his last raise. He will get $420,000 the first year, and increasing by $20,000 each year.
Evans started his new contract, worth $550,000 per year for five years, about an hour after he was arrested in Atlanta.
But Georgia president Michael Adams added that if McGarity does well, as Adams felt Evans did, the contract would be subject to improvement.
- McGarity will start on Sept. 1. Why so soon? Adams quipped: “It was also clear to me that anyone who spent 18 years at Florida had suffered enough.”
But on a serious note, Adams said there was some “part-partem depression with the events relating to Mr. Adams.” But he wanted it to be done by the start of the academic year.
- Adams said he was looking for “somebody that had been there, at the highest levels of intercollegiate competition. You could argue that he has not sat in the chair, as an A.D. But he’s been about as close as you can get to it.”
He was also looking for “personal integrity.” He ran background checks in Florida.
“I got a little bit worried when I couldn’t find anybody to say anything bad about him,” Adams said.
- McGarity said not getting the job in 2003 was “a shot to the gut.” But now he said he was more ready.
- McGarity may have been gone 18 years, but some coaches – like swimming coach Jack Baurle (who was on the search committee) and women’s basketball coach Andy Landers – were in their positions when McGarity left for Florida.
- McGarity has not met Mark Richt, but added “But I plan to very shortly.”
-Adams said McGarity was chosen from a field of more than 70 candidates, including sitting A.D.s.
-Adams said Foley told him that McGarity was involved in every critical decision at Florida.
- An interesting Adams quote: “Given the circumstances that … there is some healing to be done.”
Adams also said this has been an “almost full-time focus for me for the past six weeks.”
Frank Crumley, the interim A.D. who was also a candidate, was the third man on the podium. He embraced McGarity before the news conference.
- McGarity pointed out that his son Alex is a senior at Florida.
“I’m not sure what he’ll do this year in Jacksonville.”
More to come.
- McGarity, 55, agreed to a five-year contract with terms identical to what Damon Evans was getting before his last raise. He will get $420,000 the first year, and increasing by $20,000 each year.
Evans started his new contract, worth $550,000 per year for five years, about an hour after he was arrested in Atlanta.
But Georgia president Michael Adams added that if McGarity does well, as Adams felt Evans did, the contract would be subject to improvement.
- McGarity will start on Sept. 1. Why so soon? Adams quipped: “It was also clear to me that anyone who spent 18 years at Florida had suffered enough.”
But on a serious note, Adams said there was some “part-partem depression with the events relating to Mr. Adams.” But he wanted it to be done by the start of the academic year.
- Adams said he was looking for “somebody that had been there, at the highest levels of intercollegiate competition. You could argue that he has not sat in the chair, as an A.D. But he’s been about as close as you can get to it.”
He was also looking for “personal integrity.” He ran background checks in Florida.
“I got a little bit worried when I couldn’t find anybody to say anything bad about him,” Adams said.
- McGarity said not getting the job in 2003 was “a shot to the gut.” But now he said he was more ready.
- McGarity may have been gone 18 years, but some coaches – like swimming coach Jack Baurle (who was on the search committee) and women’s basketball coach Andy Landers – were in their positions when McGarity left for Florida.
- McGarity has not met Mark Richt, but added “But I plan to very shortly.”
-Adams said McGarity was chosen from a field of more than 70 candidates, including sitting A.D.s.
-Adams said Foley told him that McGarity was involved in every critical decision at Florida.
- An interesting Adams quote: “Given the circumstances that … there is some healing to be done.”
Adams also said this has been an “almost full-time focus for me for the past six weeks.”
Frank Crumley, the interim A.D. who was also a candidate, was the third man on the podium. He embraced McGarity before the news conference.
- McGarity pointed out that his son Alex is a senior at Florida.
“I’m not sure what he’ll do this year in Jacksonville.”
More to come.
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