It’s gotten to the point now where everyone is having fun with Georgia’s crowded quarterback situation, including the school’s president.
Jere Morehead was asked about it Monday night at the UGA Day event in Atlanta and UGA’s president was ready.
“I can say I did my part: We’ve admitted a young man from the University of Virginia as a transfer,” Morehead said, alluding to Greyson Lambert. “Now it’s in coach (Mark) Richt’s hands. He’s got some options.”
Next, it was Mark Fox’s turn and the men’s basketball coach repeated his line of the summer: Keith Marshall, UGA’s standout tailback, in a Wildcat formation. Fox did get serious just a moment:
“We’ve got the best football coach in America. He’ll figure it out,” he said.
That brought a rousing cheer from the crowd of about 400 people, none of whom came to the event realistically expecting Richt to spell out his quarterback plans. When it was his turn to speak, Richt did use it as a chance to say that the official depth chart, released two weeks ago, should have listed Brice Ramsey or Faton Bauta as starters. He didn’t elaborate on why Ramsey was listed as the first-teamer.
Lambert, who wasn’t officially on the team at that point, didn’t have to be included on the depth chart. Speaking earlier in the evening with beat writers, Richt indicated he has a good handle on Lambert, even though he’s only watched him on film.
“In the recruiting process you could talk ball. What’d you do at Virginia? How’d you handle this (protection scheme)? How’d you progress in your routes?” Richt said. “Because a lot of people run four verticals, or different schemes.
“When you watched their film, you could see different things that they do than we do, and just ask him what’s your thought process here and there.”
The overall mood was light on Monday, as it usually is at such events. Fans gave Richt, Fox and Morehead standing ovations, and emcee Chuck Dowdle pointed out that Richt had lost weight.
Aside from quarterback, there will be at least one noticeable change on offense: New offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will most likely call plays from the sideline, as he did the past nine seasons in the NFL.
“I think most NFL guys stay down (on the field). So right now I think he’ll be down,” Richt said.
Mike Bobo called plays from the press box the past four seasons as Georgia’s offensive coordinator. But Bobo also called plays from the field prior to that.
Otherwise, Richt and Schottenheimer have promised not much will change with Georgia’s offense, which was prolific enough to lead Colorado State to hire Bobo as its head coach. Then again, it’s impossible to tell for sure until the season starts.
It’s clear that Richt is anxious for that to happen. Or at least for the offseason to end.
He put on a polite and patient face again on Monday, but Richt is clearly ready to resume coaching his players and be done with answering media questions. He was greeting beat writers on Monday when he was asked if there was anything new since SEC media days two weeks back.
“We went to the (ESPN) Bristol car wash,” Richt said, adding, “Answered most of the same questions again.”
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