Emotional Mark Richt tells players he won't coach Georgia in bowl

Miami is set to announce Mark Richt as the school’s new head coach tomorrow morning.

As such, Richt will not be able to coach 9-3 Georgia in its bowl game as planned. He met with the Bulldogs players Thursday to relay the news and, according to reports, it was an emotional time for Richt.

He has spent the last 15 years coaching at Georgia, so it makes sense that he’d feel nostalgic. His loyalty to players also has been well-documented.

Also in these reports is confirmation that Richt gave strong consideration to sitting out the 2015 season altogether.

Mark Richt apparently became very emotional in the meeting with his players in which he told them he would not be coaching them at the bowl.

— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) December 3, 2015

Per source, Richt became very emotional and told players he had all intentions of coaching them in bowl game and then take a year off. #UGA

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) December 3, 2015

#UGA source says Bryan McClendon will be head coach for bowl game – all other coaches resume normal Shotty offense and Pruitt Defense

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) December 3, 2015

Bryan McClendon, named interim coach at Georgia, has been the passing game coordinator overseeing receivers in 2015. McClendon played receiver at UGA (2002-05). He also served as a graduate assistant (2007-08), running backs coach (2009-14) and recruiting coordinator (’14) before becoming the assistant head coach and receivers coach in 2015.

Some bowl projections are pitting Miami and Georgia in the same game, which would make for compelling television. Both schools would feature an interim head coach and a staff that will be headed elsewhere after the game.