Mike Bobo reflects on time at UGA, thanks Richt for ‘taking a chance’ on him
By Drew Laing
Published:
Former Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo began his first official day as Colorado State’s head football coach on Tuesday, his first collegiate head coaching job.
The introduction of Bobo in Fort Collins, Colo., marked the end of a near 20-year association between Bobo and Georgia as a player and a coach. The former UGA quarterback joined Georgia’s staff in 1999 after a four-year career with the Bulldogs as the team’s starting quarterback.
At his press conference today, Bobo was quick to recognize how crucial Georgia has been in developing his career in football.
“It’s also important that I say thank you to the University of Georgia,” Bobo said at his introductory press conference. “I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to player there as a player, and then to get my foot in the door and coach there for going on 15 years. It’s been a blessing in my life. The University of Georgia is a great institution that’s going to continue to do great things. I just wanted to say thank you to the administration, the players and all the fans there.”
Obviously, a big part of Bobo’s time at Georgia was spent with Mark Richt, who’s been head coach of the Bulldogs since 2000. Bobo said Richt had an impact on him not just in regard to coaching but also on how to live life as well.
“And a special thank you to Mark Richt … he took a chance on a young guy,” Bobo said. “I might have just turned 26 years old, and he hired me to be the quarterbacks coach at the University of Georgia.”
Bobo added that with Richt, he always stressed the importance of the student athlete and trying to make sure that as people, the football players would leave Georgia with a sense of purpose. Richt’s philosophy has had a big impact on Bobo and it was evident that the brand new head coach was going to adopt that same kind of attitude with the Colorado State players.
“Yes, it’s about wins, and we’re going to get after it and we’re going to coach them hard, and we’re going to be demanding,” Bobo said. “There is no doubt about it, I hate to lose. But at the same time, we’re going to make a difference. I believe in my heart that everybody on this campus feels this way, and that’s why I’m standing here today.”
Despite his love for Georgia, Bobo has decided not to coach in the Belk Bowl when the Bulldogs take on Louisville. He said his focus his on his new team.
“We have to be ready to roll in recruiting, start to get to know these players on this Colorado State football team,” Bobo said. “I’ve got to get a staff together as full as I can before we hit the recruiting trail. There’s a lot to get done at Colorado State. Quite frankly, if I was there [at the Belk Bowl] it wouldn’t be fair to those players, because my mind would be in Fort Collins.”
Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.
