The news coming just a day after Georgia’s 13-7 win at rival-Georgia Tech (3-9) to finish their season at 9-3. Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has been recruiting the state of Georgia pretty hard over the last few years and has gotten guys like Darqueze Dennard and Keith Mumphery to commit from the Peach State.
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“I will have an opportunity to look at a lot of options”, he said on Monday. Georgia closed the regular season with four straight wins, but that was not enough to make up for failing to land a spot in the title game. While you are serving us, we are banging away this summer trying to get about 130 guys ready to play for the Georgia Bulldogs this fall.
Richt finished his career at Georgia with a 145-51 record and the Bulldogs participated in a bowl game in each of his 15 seasons. “If you attended this press conference, it just restates what Mark Richt is all about, which is a person I’m exceptionally proud of, who I hired, who performed on the field and also performed off the field”.
Unlike Les Miles, Richt was unable to keep his job despite two SEC-Championships in 2002 and 2005, five total trips to the SEC-Title game, and three BCS bowl appearances (two wins).
Georgia players and fans have been vocal in their support of Richt, with at least one player, linebacker Leonard Floyd, tweeting “I’m gone” (to the National Football League draft). This leads me to believe he hopes to make an impact at another university rather than have an administrative role.
Smart, a native of Bainbridge, Georgia, isn’t expected to talk to the Bulldogs until after the No. 2 Crimson Tide plays Florida in Saturday’s SEC championship game in Atlanta.
McGarity said the $4.1 buyout in Richt’s contract will be honored, even though the new version of the deal recently approved by the athletic board has not been signed. Before taking the Georgia job, Richt was the offensive coordinator at Florida State under Bobby Bowden.
Campbell, formerly Toledo’s coach, began the arduous task Monday of turning around a program whose challenges have vexed coaches much more experienced than he is. DeRuyter said he is still evaluating the rest of the staff and other changes could be made.
Reports came from ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach Sunday afternoon that Mark Richt had been fired, but a news release from the University of Georgia said Richt stepped down based on a mutual agreement. He’s not uber-rich by elite coaching standards, but he was earning more than $3 million per season at Georgia.
First-year Colorado State Coach Mike Bobo is another with a strong Georgia connection.
“We will retain the services of a search firm at some capacity and I think the job is wide open”, McGarity said.
“I have been given an opportunity to stick around”, Richt said. Afterward he reflected on the pressures that college football coaches face today, expectations that likely worked against against Richt in the end.
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With all that Richt has accomplished in his time as the leader of the Bulldog nation, what wants everyone to remember him for more than football.
