Bigger fish to fry

In case you were wondering…

Gonna be a fun couple of weeks of bowl practice, that’s for sure.

***********************************************************************

UPDATE:  Somebody’s in charge.

***********************************************************************

UPDATE #2:  More details from Seth Emerson.

UGA said in a statement that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt – as well as “all other assistant coaches” – will “remain in their present roles with current responsibilities.”

McClendon was described by several people close to Georgia’s staff as a good choice for the role.

“I’ve asked Bryan to assume all administrative duties of the head coach,” athletics director Greg McGarity said in a statement. “This will be the least disruptive option for our players and staff as they begin preparations for our bowl game.”

WSB reporter Zach Klein first reported the news, and a source later told Klein that Richt became “very emotional” at the meeting, telling players he had “all intentions” of coaching the bowl game, but the Miami job was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

 

167 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football

167 responses to “Bigger fish to fry

  1. Chickamona

    I’d like to nominate the Coke Bottle to serve as interim coach.

    Like

  2. If I were Miami, I would have insisted on that. The result of our mid-tier bowl is pretty inconsequential compared to the impact he can make getting things going down there quickly.

    On the flip side, I understand Kirby’s decision as well. Their postseason IS of consequence. Now if UF pulls the massive upset, knocking Bama out of the playoffs, I’ll be highly disappointed if Kirby doesn’t go ahead and come at that point.

    Like

  3. So he’s not going to…. finish the drill?

    Like

  4. Castleberry

    NIce. So I was at his last game. No need to buy Birmingham Bowl tickets. Thanks Coach!

    Like

  5. Hahahahahahahahaha.

    Man, this offseason has been one hilarious development after another.

    The only way this could get better if its UGA v. Miami in a bowl game.

    How funny that they choose Bryan McClendon as interim coach. That’s a glaring insult to both Pruitt and Schotty. Might as well just fire them now if it weren’t for the hope someone hires them and saves us the buyout.

    Like

    • 3rdandGrantham

      In fairness, they actually attempted to make Pruitt the interim coach. But when CJP heard the name ‘interim’ in front of his name from one of the AD underlings used to deliver the news, he threw the poor guy threw a plate glass window.

      Like

      • Scorpio Jones, III

        But the plate glass window was overlooking the faked up phony IPF, so he did not fall very far, and is ok…in good condition at St. Mary’s. It was not the interim title that bothered Pruitt, have you ever seen the junker truck he drives?

        Like

    • After they rip Richt from the facade of the program, the blaring Benny Hill music comes blasting through the hole and we get a glimpse into the inner working clown show of Butts Mehre.

      Like

    • Will (The Other One)

      After this disaster of an offense, I have no problem with glaring insults towards Schotty.

      Like

      • Athens Townie

        Who hired Schotty again? Who was responsible for supervising Schotty?

        Oh yeah, the guy who just finished a season with ZERO wins over quality opponents and took a job at Miami.

        Like

  6. AO

    McClendon is the “Assistant Head Coach.”…whatever that means. I guess it means your the HC when the real HC gets sent packing.

    Like

    • Bulldog Joe

      …or before the real HC arrives.

      If there is a coach who will most likely be here when the bowl game is played, it will be the recruiting coordinator.

      Like

  7. “I’m really looking forward to coaching these boys one more time.” – Richt at Monday’s Press Conference
    “Life is about people, not rings. Rings collect dust.” – CMR (from current UGA player Nathan Theus’ twitter feed minutes ago)

    Like

  8. I Wanna Red Cup

    I think UGA should play Miami in our bowl game and let CMR coach both teams.

    Like

  9. paul

    According to the quote from McGarity, this was his call not Richt’s.

    Like

  10. In all seriousness, this makes us very undesirable for any of the bowls (I know the bowls don’t have as much control over selections anymore). There was a lot of chatter about people saying they were gonna go just to be there for Richt’s last game. That’s now out the window. Will be curious to see how small our attendance is at whichever bowl.

    Like

    • Rick

      Doesn’t make us undesirable for a Miami matchup, that’s for goddamned sure.

      Like

    • Will (The Other One)

      Also, per the report, Schotty will still be calling the plays.
      Only now with no HC to help him.

      We may make the UCF bowl game offense look like Baylor in comparison.

      Like

      • Scorpio Jones, III

        Folks, folks, folks…unless you are going to be in the last bowl game of the season, the only thing that matters about a bowl game is the extra spring practice you get because of the bowl game.

        I suspect our attitude toward that practice period is about to change…significantly.

        Like

  11. Daniel Simpson Day

    We can probably argue this decision ten ways from Thursday but I for one am rather surprised by CMR’s decision to go recruit over coaching the bowl. I thought he asked to coach the game…

    Like

  12. Coweta Dawg

    Over/under on the number of bowl tix we sell?
    This week has made my stomach hurt. And my head.
    And my heart.

    Like

  13. Bright Idea

    Of course he wanted to coach the team in the bowl until circumstances changed. Was he supposed to turn down Miami so that he could? We sound like the Lamecock fans who criticized Brad Scott for taking an assistant job at Clemson when he was fired at USCe. UGA moved on from Richt, he is at peace and moving on so we should be pleased but we’re a hard bunch to please.

    Like

    • CMR had a role in the circumstances changing by taking the UM job in less than a week. Hey, I’m all in favor of the man doing what he wants career-wise just don’t expect me to not call him out on his own hypocrisy.

      Like

      • Gaskilldawg

        Is it hypocrisy when neither his current employer or former employer want him to do it? Be glad he is not coaching us in it. It would keep the firestorm going.

        Like

        • He put himself in this position with his new employer by taking the job and/or not using his superior bargaining position to allow himself to coach the UGA bowl game. Now, as to what the UGA AD wants; McG on Monday said Richt was asked to coach the bowl, but then Richt took the UM job and changed everything. So it appears that the person that put themselves in this pickle of neither wanting his current employer or past employer coaching that game is Richt. And to assume that he didn’t see this as a possibility is ludicrous.

          Like

          • Charles

            “He put himself in this position with his new employer by taking the job and/or not using his superior bargaining position to allow himself to coach the UGA bowl game.”

            So let me get this straight:
            Jerking your former employer (and team) around = BAD
            Jerking your prospective employer (and team) via a superior bargaining position (which is another vagary altogether) = GOOD

            That’s a strange set of priorities. Especially for an attorney.

            Like

            • I’m not arguing this from a business standpoint. I’m just pointing out that Richt, the man that said that people are more important than “rings”, has jerked around his Seniors and players that he has been with for 4-5 years instead of demanding his future employer(for a job he doesn’t need) let him coach the bowl game. If this was any other coach, I would’t care. But this is the saintly Mark Richt who talks about caring for these young men and how there are things more important than football.

              Like

              • Charles

                “for a job he doesn’t need”

                Oh for Pete’s sake. I give up.

                Like

              • Gene Simmons

                How about this? He met with the team and explained his decision. HE told them he wanted to coach them but the opportunity at UM was too good to pass up. He told them face to face as a man would be expected. At the press conference Monday he did not know that UM would be on the table- Unlike McG, who knew FOR WEEKS that he would fire CMR. I guess you can choose to be judgmental to a point of exhaustion when it’s fun for you to try and impugn a man of integrity but I am quite sure Mark Richt can live with his decision.

                Like

          • infantrydawg

            Do not argue with wildcatlaw, for he is of superior intellect. His voice or reason is ………………aw hell…..he’s an asshat!!!

            Like

            • geez dude. I didn’t make it personal with anybody. Why do you have to resort to that?

              Like

              • Infantry dawg never posts unless it’s to get personal. Don’t mind him.

                Like

              • garageflowers

                I read your above emails and swear I said to myself “what an asshat”. So infantry is just stating the obvious. Also, I think Ausdawg85 nailed it above with his link. You people are horrible. Half of the charm of this blog is the commentary. No one cares if your opinion is different, but you don’t have to be a narcissist douche to voice it. If you truly get joy out of that, you must lead a sad, sad life.

                Like

                • JarvisCrowell

                  What the living hell is wrong with yall?! Nothing wildcat did was narcissistic, he never once implied that he was perfectly right or insulted those that disagreed. I’ve seen a lot of drama here, but for some reason this random act of totally uncalled for hate hits me the hardest.

                  Like

                • How was I narcissistic?

                  Like

          • Gaskilldawg

            Dude, McGarity told him he could coach the bowl game when he was trying to soften the blow Sunday. Subsequently McGarity has received a LOT of flak for firing the popular coach (and I am sure he has received “attaboys” to.) The press conference backfired on McGarity from a PR standpoint (I understand you, and many, think the presser did not hurt McGarity at all. That is fine, but among the pro-Richt segment the presser increased the outrage about the firing.) Although McGarity will introduce Smart soon Smart will not be in Athens much until January. The UGA fans will have limited contact with him and Smart will have less opportunity to generate good will and ex itement because he will be putting kn so much work for Alabama. Now McGarity sees thzt the former coach will be in the Butts-Mehre Building and on the Georgia practice field, meeting the press every day, while McGarity’s hire is 200 miles away. Then, who knows, Georgia may play it’s best game of the year in winning the bowl game. The “Why the hell did we fire Richt” crescendo gets louder while McGarity has to wait until January for his hire to be our full fledged, full time, in town guy.

            McGarity did the smart thing. He guarded against the potential negative PR of having Richt still coaching in Athens and used the Miami hire as the “change of circumstances ” to decide that Richt could not coach ghd bowl game.
            If I was in McGarity’s shoes I would not let the former coach near the practice field. If you were in McGarity’s shoes you would not let Richt coach Georgia any more and McGarity, living through the PR fallout from the press conference, rightly decided to not allow Richt to coach it. I have been critical of McGarity but not letting Richt coach the bowl game is the smartest message control move he has made yet.

            Like

          • lakedawg

            Chili squirts using a new name tonight.

            Like

          • Dude, your beyond stupid

            Like

    • Sides

      I think SC fans were glad to send him to a rival.

      Like

  14. Dog in Fla

    What follows is a loosely based ahistorical reenactment of today’s “who’s on first” meeting at the Butts-Mehre Defense and Grenade Launching Complex

    Like

  15. Jared S.

    So Richt is coaching Miami in their bowl game? I guess that’s assumed now?

    Like

    • PatinDC

      I would be surprised to see that. I assume Miami has been using an interim coach since Golden was fired. It seems like he would get the bowl game duties.

      Like

    • Given how these things usually work, I’d guess no. But he will be able to focus on recruiting (at least until the dead period) and getting his staff in place which is much easier to do in person.

      I know there are other examples but I’m just thinking of when Sarkisian was hired at USC, it was well before the bowl game but Orgeron still coached the bowl game. I remember reading from an article about Ekeler where he talked about how it was kind of odd having 2 staffs working side by side for a while there, as Sarkisian was already bringing on his staff even before the bowl game.

      So if I had to guess I’d say their interim coach will continue through the bowl game. I just can’t think of any situations where a new coach came in and actually coached the bowl game – not saying it’s never happened, I just think it’s kinda rare.

      Like

      • hassan

        I think Rick Neuheisel did the same thing at UCLA. I think I remember they were interviewing him in the stands at the bowl game after he was announced as head coach, but hadn’t taken over play calling duties.

        Like

        • Rick Neuheisel!! The messenger of all that was golden and pure about Lambert. Good Lord, why did he ever utter those statements about GL during preseason practice?

          Could be those were the types of QB evaluations that saw him canned at CU & UCLA.

          Like

      • Sh3rl0ck

        I am pretty sure that Clay Helton coached that game as Orgeron was ticked that he wasn’t named HC.

        Like

  16. Derek

    I’d be willing to bet that CMR tells us on Friday that this was Greg’s call not his. We’ll see.

    Like

  17. HVL Dawg

    CMR needed a couple days to get the recruits’ phone numbers transferred over to his new The U iphone.

    Like

  18. Biggus Rickus

    Eh, who cares? An interim coach will win or lose a mid-tier bowl game instead of a lame duck coach. I guess if Georgia won the players could have carried him off the field while the music swelled before the fade to black, but I don’t know why some of you are mad at Richt. Especially since you wanted him gone.

    Like

    • Debby Balcer

      I think that is why McGarity does not want Richt to coach the game. He does not want a scene like LSU’s.

      Like

    • Chuck

      Here’s why: I wasn’t one that wanted him gone. I believed what he said at the presser and hoped he would follow up on that. I feel like a total sucker.
      I have to think some of this is dawning on the players no matter what he said in the meeting. Actions speak louder than words. I feel like the dude who felt bad about the divorce, agreed to a bunch of alimony and two days later after the Judge signed the order my ex is shacking up with a sailor that has tattoos all over him. And talking to my kids like they are his.

      IMO, he’s sold his integrity for several million pieces of silver.

      Like

  19. PatinDC

    I remember when Donnan was fired and he coached the team in the Hawaii Bowl. It was a dumb idea then and I am glad for BMac to get the opportunity.
    Coach Bmac for the win!

    Like

  20. John Denver is full of shit...

    So much for 10-3.

    Like

  21. HVL Dawg

    Leonard Floyd thinks he’ll be having the flu about bowl time.

    Like

  22. Bourbon Dawgwalker

    Richt always said it was a mistake for him to coach FSU in the NC after accepting the UGA job. This move does not surprise me.

    I hope he gives Kirby Smart some advice on this subject.

    Like

    • Derek

      Kirby won’t listen to CMR. He’ll listen to Nick who will tell Kirby that staying with Alabama is the right thing to do. The reality is that Nick cares about Nick. Nick could give a rat’s ass about the “right thing.” What’s good for Nick is having Kirby around, so that’s what will happen.

      Like

  23. It’s a lot bigger deal to me that Kirby will be in Alabama so long than it is that Mark won’t be here for our bowl game.

    Like

  24. bad byron

    I think the world of the man and wanted him back for another year. Howevuh, I don’t want Miami Evil Richt around our program while we’re trying to hold our recruiting class together. What’s done is done, so let’s get moving.

    Like

  25. SouthGaDawg

    This is the right call, whoever made it. Just like Kirby’s last game at Bama should be Saturday. We’ll see if that happens.

    Like

  26. Will Trane

    Is it possible for the president of the University to temporarily set aside the present AD for 60 days?
    During that time the AD can arrange his own transportation to any bowl.
    It is rumored that CMR sent GM a case of Coke bottles to use at his next press conference.

    Like

    • Will Trane

      The person sweating unemployment during the next few days and weeks is Greg McGarity.
      Highly likely he attended his last presser with a sitting head coach.
      Little did we know that the Tech game was CMR’s last one.

      Like

  27. Chuck

    Saves me a bunch of money, Miami just put Georgia on their Christmas list!

    Like

  28. I’m bummed about the whole thing. But, I see the wisdom in how it’s played out.

    Still think Kirby should start being his own man already.

    Like

  29. Chuck

    The more stuff like this happens, the less I am going to miss Mark. You’re supposed to wait a week or two after the divorce before you start shacking up with whatever is available.

    I mean, honestly, everything he said at the presser about loving UGA, and his players, and doing things the right way. Well, that apparently was just PR.

    Miami? Are they even bowl eligible? This is the job of a lifetime? And all that stuff about going to school there is just a convenient excuse, iyam.

    It would be nice if he did WM to come with him. That would just about put the kiss of death on football at da U.

    Like

    • It’s easy to be a “good man” when you are employed with a $4 million salary. And the minute that job is gone it is funny how quickly your actions stop backing up your words about love, it being about the young men and doing it the right way.

      Like

      • Dawgwalker07

        God you guys are such assholes. The man can take a job and it doesn’t mean he’s some hypocrite. He got fired. What’s he supposed to? Hang around town and be depressed for a month?

        Like

        • When you say your occupation is about turning high schoolers into good fine young men and then ditching them for an extra $4 million. That’s a hypocrite to me.

          Like

          • Charles

            For another job that also entails… “turning high schoolers into good fine young men,” or however you want to put it.

            Sounds to me like it’s the next chapter in the guy’s life.

            Like

          • Dawgfan Will

            MDWM

            Like

          • Did I miss something? I thought Richt was fired.

            First, you guys can’t wait ’til he’s run out of town. Now you’re pissed he’s not staying. Go figure.

            Like

            • I’m not pissed that he’s not staying. I just like pointing out the hypocrisy between Richt’s words and his recent actions.

              Like

            • That’s the hypocrisy of all these criticism on Richt.

              Those criticizing Richt likely have never been fired in their whole life. The emotional toll to an individual after being fired is not affected whether he or she is doing menial job on minimal salary or a millions like Richt. It challenges the very essence of who you are. Have we not heard in the news of fired individuals going back to their previous workplace and creating chaos, or even fired CEO’s of corporations committing suicide?

              After being fired your brain goes to self preservation or despair. Obviously Richt took the self preservation way and Miami is just so willing to throw him the life jacket (add a true beach). Right just chose not to wallow on this emotional quagmire any longer. Let’s put a period on this and there will be tomorrow and more head coaches to criticize in the future.

              Like

              • People here criticizing a person rich or poor who found a new job big or small after being fired and chose to put a final stop to any relationship from that previous job exhibit pure meanness to their very bones.

                Like

            • Yep go figure. Got to get in those last parting shots. Wait until next year when they start leaving you comments on how awful Miami is. Richt is gone folks, let it go.

              Like

          • Gaskilldawg

            He cannot turn high schoolers into fine young men unless he gets a new job. He got a new job and can start turning the next set of high schoolers into men really soon. Was he supposed to be on house arrest or something?

            Like

        • Chuck

          Dawgwalker it’s not taking the job that’s the hypocrisy; it’s saying on Monday he really loves UGA, wants to coach these guys one more time, do things the right way, etc, etc. TWO DAYS later his actions said he didn’t really mean all that.

          Like

      • infantrydawg

        dear wildcatlaw….I am totally impressed by your higher moral standards. Please keep contributing and continue to raise the moral and intellectual level of this site! I eagerly await your next words of wisdom!

        Like

        • infantrydawg, here are my next words of wisdom: spending your entire time in a comments section only to single one person out for personal attacks indicates you should probably find something better to do with your time. I promise that you will probably feel better about yourself and generally happier about your life. Cheers!

          Like

  30. Doggoned

    Look, CMR landed a job less than a week after being fired, and before the school that fired him sealed the deal on a new one. He ought to move on to his new job and evaluate the talent on hand at bowl practice. Just common sense. I wish Smart were in the position to do the same..

    Like

    • Scorpio Jones, III

      I spec Da Kirbster has a pretty good idea about the talent available at what is purported to be his new job. He had some input into the defensive game planning for that unmentionable thing in Athens a while back, in the rain, there. Ya know?

      Like

  31. illini84

    Don’t mean nuthin, FIDO Dawgs!

    Like

  32. Glenn Radford

    I’d like to minister and lay on hands in South Beach. Miami is such a class program with such high moral and scholastic standards. Poor Paul Johnson just can’t get a break

    Like