Staff Photo by Dan Henry
UGA's head coach Mark Richt fist bumps Demarcus Dobbs (58) after making a good play against UT during the first half of play Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs won over the Volunteers during a sold out game at Sanford Stadium with a final score of 26-14 Saturday October 11, 2008.
COACH SCHOOL YRS RECORD
Mark Richt Georgia 8 81-22
Bobby Johnson Vanderbilt 7 26-56
Rich Brooks Kentucky 6 31-41
Les Miles LSU 4 41-11
Urban Meyer Florida 4 42-9
Steve Spurrier S. Carolina 4 28-21
Nick Saban Alabama 2 19-6
Houston Nutt Ole Miss 1 8-4
Bobby Petrino Arkansas 1 5-7
Note: Lane Kiffin is in his first week as Tennessee’s coach, while Auburn and Mississippi State have vacancies.
The Georgia Bulldogs practiced Thursday afternoon for the first time since Saturday’s 45-42 loss to Georgia Tech, and they did so with the new dean of Southeastern Conference football coaches.
Mark Richt became the longest-tenured coach at his respective league school Wednesday when Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville resigned after compiling an 85-40 record in 10 seasons and a 7-3 record against rival Alabama. Tuberville had been the SEC dean for four days, replacing Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer, who in 1992 took over for Johnny Majors and coached his final game Saturday against Kentucky.
“I don’t feel any different today,” Richt said. “I think (Steve) Spurrier has more years in the league, and Houston Nutt does, too. Nick (Saban) is pretty close.”
When asked what message can be taken by the recent frenzy of SEC coaching changes, Richt said, “Win.”
Richt, 48, becomes the youngest SEC dean in age and years coached since former Georgia coach Ray Goff, who was 39 during his sixth season in 1994. Goff assumed the dean role after the departures of Auburn’s Pat Dye and Majors after the ’92 season and Ole Miss’s Billy Brewer after ’93.
The Bulldogs worked out in the rain Thursday under the tutelage of Richt and coordinators Mike Bobo and Willie Martinez, as the rest of the assistant coaches were on the road recruiting. One player absent from practice was backup middle linebacker Darryl Gamble, who broke his leg in the first half against Tech.
Gamble will not need surgery, but he will miss the bowl game.
Sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno was named Thursday to the American Football Coaches Association’s All-America Team, becoming the first Georgia player to attain that honor since safety Greg Blue and guard Max Jean-Gilles in 2005. The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and is the only one chosen by the coaches themselves.
Moreno has rushed for 1,338 yards this season and leads the SEC in yards per game (111.5) and scoring (102).
Valuable transfers
Richt said having Georgia Military College transfers Jarius Wynn, Corvey Irvin and Vince Vance the past two seasons has been a positive experience. Wynn and Irvin will be playing on the defensive line for a final time in the bowl, while Vance still has one more year on the offensive front.
“They are quality players and quality people,” Richt said. “We’re not going to make wholesale changes in our recruiting, but if there’s a special player at a position where we’re concerned with our depth and maturity, we’ll take a look.”
