MACON, Ga. -- This time last year, the term “hot seat” was a sensitive one around Mark Richt. Now the Georgia football coach is joking about it. In fact, it apparently is part of his new stump speech for fans.
Speaking to the Macon Touchdown Club on Friday night, Richt took a light-hearted approach to what was the burning story around him and his program.
“Anybody here ever heard of the hot seat?” Richt said, drawing laughter.
Everyone knew about it in 2011, when Georgia was coming off its first losing season in 14 seasons -- and then began the season with two losses. Richt’s job status was heavily debated.
Richt confessed he knows a website that ranks college football coaches based on the warmth of their seat. He first visited the site in 2007, when the team was coming off an 11-2 season.
“I figured it was safe to go to that website then,” Richt said. “Well, then after 2010, when we went 6-7, I was a little nervous about looking on that website. So I didn’t. But I didn’t have to. All I had to do was go to church.”
Parishioners would tell Richt, “I’m praying for you, brother.” Then the Bulldogs started 0-2, and Richt said it became, “We’re fasting for you, brother!”
“So I said, ‘Wow, we better win some games or else people are going to starve around here,’” he said.
Richt can joke about it now, coming off a 10-win season, SEC East title and a contract extension that is expected to be announced soon. He also signed a highly regarded recruiting class, including two players-- nose tackle Jonathan Taylor and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins (Harris County) -- who were listening as Richt talked Friday.
Before the club’s meeting, Richt talked about other topics:
He indicated the Bulldogs are done recruiting for the 2012 class, although they would be open to a transfer. There has been talk Georgia will try to add to its 19-member class that signed Feb. 1, especially after three freshmen were dismissed the day after signing day.
“We’ve got our eyes and ears open, but we’re not actually pursuing a bunch of stuff,” Richt said. “You know Jarvis Jones (Carver High) showed up out of the blue this time of the year, wanting to transfer. We had room, and we brought him in. Do you really call it recruiting or part of your recruiting class.? So something like that could happen.”
Richt could have been alluding to Max Garcia, an offensive lineman who is transferring from Maryland. Garcia, who started every game as a sophomore for the Terps, is from Norcross. (Richt is not permitted to discuss recruits because of NCAA rules.)
Malcolm Mitchell, the team’s leading receiver as a freshman, also could play cornerback in 2012. Mitchell was recruited as a cornerback out of Valdosta, and the Bulldogs are hurting for depth in the secondary, and starter Sanders Commings is suspended for the first two games.
“I don’t think he’s going to give up playing wide receiver,” Richt said. “But if we need him over there at cornerback we’ll rev him up and see what he can do.”
As for secondary depth, Richt said “we’ll get a plan,” though he doesn’t know for sure what it will be.
“We still got kids on campus that can fill that role,” he said, then added, “Not as many, unfortunately.”
