One of the jobs still open is at his alma mater, Miami, and Richt could also be of interest to the likes of Virginia and Missouri considering his track record of putting his players first.
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As for the bowl game, the school is giving Richt the chance to still coach that game, and he says he’s ‘thankful for that opportunity’.
“On behalf of the University of Georgia Athletic Association and Bulldogs everywhere, I want to thank Mark and Katharyn for 15 years of remarkable service to the UGA community, hundreds of our students and staff, and to college football”, McGarity continued. He said, however, that staying in Athens is an “attractive” option, but he’d like to continue to coach.
Clearly, Richt is expecting his phone to ring as he takes time “to prayerfully consider what is next”.
“I talked to Jacob (Sunday) night”, Richt said.
Davis, the top inside linebacker in the country, was expecting an in-home visit from UGA linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer on Sunday, but the trip was canceled after the Richt news.
The problem Mark Richt faced was two-fold, unrealistic expectations from Dawg fans and playing in the most competitive conference in the nation. A smaller sign said “Fire McGarity”. He will coach the team in its bowl game.
“My wife and I will be fine”, Richt said. I was all for that. “If it wasn’t offered to me I would’ve asked for it. I don’t have a preference, there are a lot of great bowls out there”.
“I imagine they’ve been talking to a few people, ” said Frank Hardeman. “I think decisions of this nature are hard”. “Our fans are passionate, and Mark has tremendous support and a way of connecting with people”.
Holding on to commitments through a coaching change is now the trick.
“No, he hasn’t said a thing yet”, Ragland said. Sources have indicated Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is the front-runner for the job.
“If you don’t win a championship, it’s kind of miserable around here”, he said, sitting next to Athletics Director Greg McGarity. If in fact I choose to do that I’d be really excited about coaching QBs again and getting in the middle of coaching offensive strategy. I didn’t tell him not to check out other options or be proactive or whatever, but I told him not to jump the gun and that he chose Georgia for a reason. “I don’t have any question about that at all”.
While Georgia has continued to win consistently, it has been unable to keep pace with the elite teams in the SEC.
Other possible candidates include Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and Colorado State coach Mike Bobo. He began his coaching career in 1985 as a graduate assistant at Florida State. Losses to Tennessee, Alabama and Florida ended Georgia’s hopes for a SEC championship. Since that time Georgia has seen hated rival Georgia Tech win the title, Bama has won it four times, while even BYU and Washington managed to win it all.
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Richt has a 145-51 record with UGA. Georgia was the overwhelming choice to win the SEC East and was considered a national championship contender, only to finish the regular season at 9-3 and in third place.
