ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia's record-setting scoring average of 41.7 points per game this football season could come with a price.
Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is being considered for the head-coaching vacancy at Colorado State. Georgia head coach Mark Richt learned Monday about the opportunity for Bobo, who is the lone assistant remaining from Richt's inaugural staff in 2001.
"It's obviously a very good job and a very good opportunity for a guy to become head coach," Richt said Wednesday. "Mike is taking advantage of the opportunity to go visit, and right this minute he's our offensive coordinator. We're planning on him being here at practices, and we'll see where everything goes.
"Obviously if there's an opportunity for a staff member to do big things, you want to give him that opportunity."
Bobo was working with Georgia's offense Wednesday night as the Bulldogs began preparations for their Dec. 30 matchup with Louisville in the Belk Bowl. Colorado State went 10-2 during the regular season and is preparing for Saturday afternoon's Las Vegas Bowl against Utah.
Colorado State is seeking a successor to Jim McElwain, who was hired earlier this month at Florida. Bobo, believed to be among several candidates at CSU, has spent 16 of the last 17 seasons on Georgia's staff, with the exception occurring in 2000 when he was quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State.
Bobo became Richt's offensive coordinator and took over play-calling responsibilities late in the 2006 season and has guided the Bulldogs to program records each of the past three seasons. Georgia set a record for yards (6,547) and touchdowns (72) in 2012 before last year's team set a new standard in yards per game (484.2).
"Coach Bobo is one of the most underappreciated coaches in the SEC," Bulldogs senior quarterback Hutson Mason said. "What he has accomplished here and is doing again this year without Todd (Gurley) -- we just seem to keep the ball rolling in points per game and those statistical categories. He's a heck of a recruiter, and I think he has those goals and aspirations to be a head coach.
"It's probably just a matter of time before he finds the right fit."
Bobo was linked to the Southern Miss vacancy after the 2012 season and the Georgia Southern vacancy after last season. He also was courted by Virginia Tech after the 2012 season to be its offensive coordinator.
In March 2013, Bobo received a $240,000 raise and now makes $578,700 annually. His salary ranked 40th among all assistant coaches nationally this season, according to USA Today figures, as well as 16th among SEC assistants and fifth among SEC offensive coordinators.
"Mike is a great coach," Richt said. "He understands the game extremely well. He's an old-school ball coach as far as getting after it and has a good edge about him as far as being demanding and things of that nature. He's got all the ingredients, and I'm not shocked that this is happening."
Georgia players do not believe Bobo interviewing for the Colorado State job will be a distraction, and they certainly have a preference for what he should do.
"I want him to stay," senior center David Andrews said. "I've enjoyed playing for him, and I think he's the best offensive coordinator in the SEC. Our numbers have been great in the four years I've been here, but I know it's a business and that he has to do what's best for him."
Said sophomore guard Greg Pyke: "When I heard the news, I knew it was an opportunity for him. If he takes it, great, and if he stays, that's even better."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.