Editor’s Note: With the completion of spring football two weeks ago, UGA coach Mark Richt is out scouring the state for the future crop of Bulldogs. Times-Enterprise sports writer Jamie Wachter went one-on-one with the top Dawg Wednesday in Cairo, where Richt was the featured speaker at the First Baptist Church’s “Burgers with the Big Dawg.”



TTE — Obviously head coaches have so much on their plates, from overseeing an entire program to outside engagements like this one here in Cairo. But, how important is it for you — as the face of the Georgia program — to get out for events like this?

Richt — Well, I believe God has blessed me so much and He’s put me in this position that I’m in and if I can spread the good news, I’m glad to do it. I’m thankful to do it.

TTE — In addition to all that, you had also handled play-calling duties throughout your six years at Georgia before turning them over late last season to Thomasville native Mike Bobo.

Richt — I did. Let him worry about it now.

TTE — What about coach Bobo made you feel comfortable in giving him that responsibility?

Richt — I found out pretty early that I’m not very good at multi-tasking. When all I did was gameplan and call plays, I was halfway decent at it, but when you add the role of head coach to it, it’s very hard to do. And also, I learned pretty quickly that when I was up in the booth, I could see things a whole lot better. It’s a little bit tougher for me to visualize things from the sideline. So those things were important, but I also knew that the way I hired this staff, it would be the best way to go. For some time I knew Mike — Mike had been there from the beginning — and I knew Mike, in time, would mature into the position he’s in right now. The timing was very good and I’m real comfortable and confident with him in that role.

TTE — You said the timing was right. Exactly what about that time — so late in the season — made it right?

Richt — Well, I think the main thing was I had to be obedient to God. I really, in the offseason prior to last year, had prayed a lot about that very thing. When God told me, my spirit basically told me it was time to do it, I agreed.

Then, after about five minutes I started to think of reasons why it wasn’t a good idea. I began to rationalize, ‘Good gosh, we just won the SEC. We’ve won over 80 percent of our games. We’re doing something right. And what if I turn it over and things don’t go well.’ I thought of all the reasons I shouldn’t do it and I basically talked myself out of it.

But, even before the season started, I knew I wasn’t really being obedient like I should be and by the time I went to the week of the Georgia Tech game, I was trying to pray one morning and I couldn’t even pray. I had did a devotion with my kids about being obedient. About being obedient now, not delayed obedience.

So, I gave this real nice little devotion to my kids and I was feeling pretty good about life and I began to pray on my way to work and I said, ‘Lord, I really want to obey you and I just really want to obey you now.’ And my spirit just kind of said, ‘Well, why don’t you obey me?’ I knew exactly what God was talking about. So I knew if I didn’t do it now, I’m really going to find myself in a real heap of trouble.

I called Mike in on the Thursday of the game and he had to call the game on Saturday. I told him, ‘I don’t care what happens in the game, but all I know is if I don’t have you take over, I’m in direct disobedience to the Lord.

TTE — He had those two games to end the season and now this spring. How is coach Bobo coming along in that role?

Richt — I feel real good. I think the timing of Stacy Searels coming in as our offensive line coach was good for Mike, too. I think it would have been tough on Mike with Neal Calloway being the line coach and the coordinator, for him to be calling plays and gameplanning. I probably would have had him gameplan and call plays, even if Neal stayed. But, the fact that Neal was blessed with a new head job — which is great for him — it was nice to have a new line coach come in that he could work with from the beginning.