Mark Richt to meet with Maryland about head coaching job

The vacant head coaching gig at the University of Georgia is by far and away the most lucrative job available in college football at this time.

The announcement comes after the Bulldogs 13-7 defeat of in-state rival Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Saturday. Richt’s biggest fault was not winning the big game.

Now there’s a head coaching change for him and other recruits to consider. I know all UGA alumni and supporters will look forward to celebrating the successful conclusion of his coaching career at UGA in a bowl game later this year.

Now, those players will be playing for a new coach, and how Richt’s leaving affects the incoming recruiting class remains to be seen. Richt addressed his future shortly after being dismissed on Sunday. Richt won SEC Championships in 2002 and 2005 at Georgia. “I know Coach Richt real well”. Win the SEC and hopefully go beyond that, and that is the standard here. “From that point of view, we fell short of our goals”.

In late October, two days after UM coach Al Golden was sacked, Richt, who played at Miami with star quarterback Jim Kelly and was mostly a backup from 1978 through 82, was asked about the UM vacancy. “He’s so lucky and blessed, more so blessed than lucky – especially teaching at a powerhouse like Georgia”. Richt spent a very successful 15 years at the helm of Georgia.

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). For those contributions, we are sincerely appreciative. It was Richt’s inability to match Dooley in the national championship department, however, that was ultimately his undoing. “I miss coaching quarterbacks, I miss calling plays”.

One high-ranking Georgia official told ESPN that the 39-year-old Smart had to be the “only choice”.

It may sound like I’m making excuses for a guy that was making almost four million dollars a year.

“Mark has the opportunity to remain on our staff at the University of Georgia, and would be heavily involved with outreach programs for our former football lettermen via the PO Network as well as other University and Athletic Association initiatives”.

During a more than 30-minute press conference held in Athens on Monday, Richt thanked the Bulldawg Nation for “letting him sticking around for a while”. Numerous columnists have opined Richt simply didn’t win enough.

On Sunday, Campbell celebrated his 36th birthday as the new coach of the Cyclones.

London’s contract runs through 2016. Campbell will replace Paul Rhoads, who was sacked a week ago after seven seasons. Two schools looking for coaches withdrew from the market Monday.

Richt did a heck of a lot of winning in his 15 seasons running the show in Athens. Mark Richt wouldn’t even defend Todd Gurley for signing a few autographs for pay, yet Jimbo Fisher stood by his QB Jameis Winston, who shoplifted, embarrassed his school with idiotic antics, and was accused of rape.

Rutgers fires coach, AD • Rutgers fired football coach Kyle Flood and athletics director Julie Hermann on Sunday.

University President Robert Barchi announced that Patrick Hobbs, Dean Emeritus of the Seton Hall University School of Law, will take over for Hermann.

Parker Hicks, a sophomore from Gainesville, said the news made it clear that the Athletic Association has higher aspirations for the football team.

Several players declined comment following the meeting.

He’s a great coach….

Alabama coach Nick Saban reacted to the news with shock. “Upset and concerned. But as of right now we are both taking a wait-and-see approach before we do or say anything”. “That’s what it’s all about at this point”.