I guess you could say, some 30 years later, both Kelly and Mark Richt had a pretty good career in football.
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Maryland has spoken with recently-fired Georgia coach Mark Richt about its opening and could host Richt for in-person discussions Tuesday or Wednesday, a source with knowledge of the Terps’ coaching search told InsideMDSports.
Athletic director Greg McGarity and University of Georgia President Jere Morehead said Sunday Richt had been offered another position at the school that would include helping former players and fundraising for the university.
“I appreciate the opportunity of serving the University as well as considering any other options that may present themselves in the future”, Richt said Sunday in the school statement. “I think he’s still committed as of right now, but if he doesn’t know what’s going to happen, he’s got to pursue other options”. I now hope that Georgia has someone in mind for Coach Richt’s job, because as former Alabama star Forest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates”. “I think decisions of this nature are hard”. “Our fans are passionate, and Mark has tremendous support and a way of connecting with people”.
“The expectations have been built to the point where, if you don’t win a championship, it’s kind of miserable around here”, Richt said. Fulmer was sacked after his team suffered through a 5-7 season, while Georgia was able to finish 9-3 before the carpet was pulled out from under Coach Richt’s feet. I would love for our seniors to win that 40th game. “There ain’t no Georgia football without coach Richt”.
Richt left the program on Sunday – whether he was sacked or mutually agreed to resign is still up in the air, depending on who you talk to and whose column you read.
Richt had only a short statement in an announcement released by the university. Georgia’s last SEC championship was in 2005. Richt helped the Seminoles win two national titles (1993, 1999) and coached two Heisman trophy quarterbacks (Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke).
Richt was 145-51 with two SEC championships. “I’m going to listen to anybody that has interest in me, coaching or not”, said Richt.
Maryland would be an attractive program for Richt because of the recruiting footprint on the eastern seaboard, facilities and the Big Ten East could be the toughest division in college football with Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. “I enjoyed my four years here with him….”
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Many considered this a make-or-break year for Richt and the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs lost in the 2011 and 2012 SEC championship games. The Bulldogs needed new blood and looked south to find their next head coach. “We enjoy family”, Richt said. The jobs we do, everybody seems to have an opinion on. He’s one of the first head coaches whose houses I’ve been to.
