Georgia will continue its late-season tour of facing interim head football coaches this Saturday afternoon when the No. 11 Bulldogs host Vanderbilt.
The Commodores announced Sunday afternoon a parting of ways with seventh-year coach Derek Mason, who registered one of the biggest victories of his Nashville tenure with the 17-16 stunning of Georgia inside Sanford Stadium in 2016. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch has replaced Mason, just as South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Bobo did after Will Muschamp was dismissed Nov. 15.
Georgia routed the Gamecocks 45-16 this past Saturday night, which was Bobo's second game in the interim role.
"There is only so much that you can do in a week, but the one thing you sometimes see in these situations is a jump in energy or enthusiasm with a new voice," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Monday. "You've got somebody new, or maybe you reach a kid who wasn't being reached before, and he plays harder or better because maybe he has a better relationship with that coach. You're not going to see a lot of change in scheme.
"You may possibly see more enthusiasm, but I don't know that."
Mason used the upset of Smart's first Georgia team to reach the Independence Bowl, while his 2018 Commodores played in the Texas Bowl. The two bowl trips and the three consecutive wins over Tennessee from 2016-18 were obvious highlights for Mason, who was 27-55 overall with the Commodores, including a 10-46 Southeastern Conference mark.
A 41-0 loss at Missouri this past weekend marked Vanderbilt's 12th consecutive conference setback.
"He's become a good friend, and he's a guy I have a lot of respect for in this profession," Smart said. "He did a great job with his defenses at Stanford, and they've always played so hard at Vandy. I know the future will be bright for him and that he will have a lot of opportunities moving forward, because he is a really good football coach."
When asked if he was surprised that two SEC coaches have been fired in these difficult financial times amid the coronavirus pandemic, Smart said, "I don't have an opinion on that. It's not my field."
Mathis leaving
Smart on Saturday night wouldn't confirm a report that redshirt freshman quarterback D'Wan Mathis was leaving, but Mathis officially entered the NCAA transfer portal Monday. Mathis started Georgia's opening 37-10 win at Arkansas but struggled and was replaced early in the second quarter by Stetson Bennett, who started the next five games before losing the role to current starter JT Daniels.
Mathis enrolled early in 2019 but underwent surgery shortly after last year's G-Day spring game to have a cyst removed from his brain.
"He's handled everything first-class, and every conversation he's had with me has been done in the right way," Smart said. "He's going to be a really good football player, and we wanted him to stay here. We encouraged him to stay here, but we also respected that it was his decision and that we're going to help him every way we can with the transition."
A special start
Jake Camarda is averaging 47.8 yards per punt. Jack Podlesny is making 83.3% of his field-goal attempts, and Kearis Jackson had a 52-yard punt return in South Carolina.
Georgia's special teams are flourishing under first-year coordinator Scott Cochran, who spent more than a decade heading Alabama's strength and conditioning program.
"The job he's done has been tremendous, and I think the greatest impact he has on our organization is not through special teams," Smart said. "I knew that when I wanted to hire him. The greatest impact he has is on the young men who are in the organization in terms of daily impact, life skills and support. During this COVID time, which has been very different, I think it's been an exponentially better hire.
"He is tremendous at his relationship with the players."
McGarity retiring
Georgia announced through a released statement that athletic director Greg McGarity will retire on Dec. 31, 2020, after more than 10 years in the role.
"While I had hoped Greg would continue to serve as our athletic director for a few more years, I understand and appreciate his and Sheryl's decision to begin a new chapter in their lives," Georgia president Jere Morehead said. "Greg will leave behind a strong legacy of leadership and devotion to his alma mater, having further elevated our athletic program on the national stage. I have particularly appreciated the extraordinary leadership Greg has provided during the pandemic.
"His calm and steady voice will be missed here and in SEC meetings."
McGarity is scheduled to discuss his decision Tuesday morning on a Zoom call.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.