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Kirby Smart shares high praise for Mark Richt ahead of Saturday’s ceremony
By SDS Staff
Published:
Mark Richt is returning to Athens on Saturday to be honored by Georgia football during halftime of the Mizzou game. On Wednesday’s SEC media teleconference, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart shared high praise for his predecessor.
“The cohesiveness is about just having class. Both the University of Georgia and Coach Richt have that and a tremendous respect for each other. … The history and tradition he helped build here is tremendous,” Smart said about Richt.
Richt coached at UGA for 15 seasons, posting a 145-51 overall record, which ranks No. 10 all-time among SEC coaches. Under Richt, Georgia went 85-40 in SEC play and appeared in 5 SEC Championship Games, winning conference titles in 2002 and 2005. Richt was named SEC Coach of the Year twice. He led the Bulldogs to 9 bowl game wins, including Sugar Bowl victories in 2002 and 2007.
Under Richt, UGA teams produced 84 NFL Draft picks (2002-16), including 13 taken in the First Round, had 17 All-Americans and finished with 106 All-SEC selections.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
