University of Georgia Football Coach Mark Richt To Step Down

CON … Ceiling. Richt never won a national championship, and he hasn’t won an SEC title in a decade. A less than stellar 13-7 victory over a woeful Georgia Tech team yesterday was likely the final straw for Richt. Richt was the sixth-longest-tenured coach in college football, and would have been fourth in 2016 following the retirements of Frank Beamer and Gary Pinkel. 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. Most notably, Georgia has often been embarrassed in big games. For those contributions, we are sincerely appreciative. Georgia won the conference twice during his tenure (2002, 2005) which was enough for a Sugar Bowl invite, nothing more.

It appears that the major sticking point is that Richt has not been able to win a national championship. In 2012, they came up five yards short of dethroning Alabama in the SEC title game, costing them a shot at the national title and relegating them to the Capital One Bowl. A news conference was scheduled for Monday. Kirby Smart is probably the first, second and third name on McGarity’s list – sorry, SC – because he’s a young alumnus who’s been coaching under Nick Saban for years.

Beamer is retiring after 29 seasons and will now be followed by a 39-year-old coach who has spent the past four seasons at Memphis, turning a struggling program into a victor. Jimbo Fisher, head coach, Florida State Everyone just assumes Fisher wants to leave the ACC for the SEC.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach was the first to report that Georgia had fired Richt.

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

Campbell will replace Paul Rhoads, who posted a 32-55 record in seven seasons with the Cyclones. Richt is stepping down after 15 seasons in what is being called a “mutual” decision.

CON … Management. Georgia’s press release announcing its parting of ways with Richt left the door wide open for him to take another position with the school’s athletic department.

University president Robert Barchi said in a letter to the Rutgers community that former Seton Hall athletic director Patrick Hobbs would serve as interim athletic director.

Richt had a short meeting with his players Sunday night. But Bobo knows the program as a former player and as a former assistant coach.

Another senior, defensive end Josh Dawson, said “We will all miss him”. Iowa State finished with a 3-9 record this season after a 30-6 loss to West Virginia on Saturday. “Those thoughts remain between Mark and myself”.

Justin Fuente, a potential candidate, is apparently off the table after reportedly being hired by Virginia Tech.

Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said in a release that he met with London on Sunday morning and both agreed that a change was in the best interest of the program.