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Georgia

Mark Richt elected to College Football Hall of Fame

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe01/09/23JakeMRowe
On3 image
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head Coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after the game against the LSU Tigers at Sanford Stadium on September 28, 2013 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mark Richt

Former Georgia head coach Mark Richt will be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 according to a Monday announcement. He’s the 21st Bulldog to earn the honor. He’s part of a class that includes 18 players and four coaches.

PLAYERS…

  • Eric Berry – DB, Tennessee (2007-09)
  • Michael Bishop – QB, Kansas State (1997-98)
  • Reggie Bush – RB, Southern California (2003-05)
  • Dwight Freeney – DE, Syracuse (1998-2001)
  • Robert Gallery – OT, Iowa (2000-03)
  • LaMichael James – RB, Oregon (2009-11)
  • Derrick Johnson – LB, Texas (2001-04)
  • Bill Kollar – DT, Montana State (1971-73)
  • Luke Kuechly – LB, Boston College (2009-11)
  • Jeremy Maclin – WR/KR, Missouri (2007-08)
  • Terance Mathis – WR, New Mexico (1985-87, 1989)
  • Bryant McKinnie – OT, Miami [FL] (2000-01)
  • Corey Moore – DL, Virginia Tech (1997-99)
  • Michael Stonebreaker – LB, Notre Dame (1986, 1988, 1990)
  • Tim Tebow – QB, Florida (2006-09)
  • Troy Vincent – DB, Wisconsin (1988-91)
  • Brian Westbrook – RB, Villanova (1997-98, 2000-01)
  • DeAngelo Williams – RB, Memphis (2002-05)

COACHES…

  • Monte Cater – 275-117-2 (70.1%); Lakeland [WI] (1981-86), Shepherd [WV] (1987-2017)
  • Paul Johnson – 189-99-0 (65.6%); Georgia Southern (1997-2001), Navy (2002-07), Georgia Tech (2008-18)
  • Roy Kramer – 83-32-2 (71.8%); Central Michigan (1967-77)
  • Mark Richt – 171-64-0 (72.8%); Georgia (2001-15), Miami [FL] (2016-18)

Richt was Georgia’s head coach for 15 years. The accomplishments listed in the statement UGA sports info released on Monday show a coach that, despite not winning a championship, had a lot of success in addition to a major impact on the sport.

“Richt was one of only four men in NCAA Division I-A history to record 135 or more wins in his first 14 seasons.  Twenty-four of his players went on to play in the Super Bowl.  One of them, Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers, received the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award by the NFL.

“Former Georgia players and coaches previously inducted into the College Hall of Fame:  Coach Glenn “Pop” Warner, 1951; Bob McWhorter, 1954; Frank Sinkwich, 1954; Charley Trippi, 1959; Vernon “Catfish” Smith, 1979; Bill Hartman, 1984; Fran Tarkenton, 1987; Coach Vince Dooley, 1994; Coach Wally Butts, 1997; Bill Stanfill, 1998; Herschel Walker, 1999; Terry Hoage, 2000; Kevin Butler, 2001; John Rauch, 2003; Coach Jim Donnan, 2009; Jake Scott, 2011; Scott Woerner, 2016; Matt Stinchcomb, 2018; David Pollack, 2020; and Champ Bailey, 2022.” — UGA Sports Information

Richt was let go at Georgia in December of 2015. He led the program to SEC Championships in 2002 and 2005. The one in 2002 was UGA’s first ever appearance in the SEC Championship game. It was also the Bulldogs’ first league title since 1982.

Overall, Richt took the Bulldogs to five SEC title games in 15 years. The Bulldogs won a pair of Sugar Bowls under his watch and won 10 or more games in nine seasons.

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