Tag: Mark Richt

Analysts discuss Clemson’s QB situation, one says he’s ‘still a believer’ in Uiagalelei

During The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal on ACC Network this week, when talking about Clemson, ACCN analysts Eric Mac Lain, E.J. Manuel and Mark Richt discussed the Tigers’ quarterback situation and the looming competition between rising …

During The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal on ACC Network this week, when talking about Clemson, ACCN analysts Eric Mac Lain, E.J. Manuel and Mark Richt discussed the Tigers’ quarterback situation and the looming competition between rising junior D.J. Uiagalelei and five-star freshman Cade Klubnik that all eyes will be on this spring.

Manuel voiced confidence in Uiagalelei, despite the former five-star prospect’s struggles as Clemson’s starting signal-caller last season.

After throwing for a total of 781 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 69.4 percent of his passes across two starts against Boston College and Notre Dame as a true freshman in 2020, Uiagalelei had a 55.6 completion percentage, 2,246 passing yards and nine touchdown passes with 10 interceptions in 13 starts last season.

“I’m still a believer that D.J. can get himself out of that whole,” Manuel said. “He has all the tools. You can’t play that well, going back to the 2020 season against Notre Dame, against BC, and then not get back to that. So, I still believe that he can do it.”

Uiagalelei will be pushed this spring by Klubnik, a five-star prospect from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, who enrolled at Clemson in January ranked as the top quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class by Sports Illustrated, PrepStar, Rivals and the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Klubnik, who earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Texas for 2021 and was named the All-American Bowl’s National High School Player of the Year, comes to Clemson with no shortage of accolades and hype.

But Richt expressed caution about Klubnik going into his freshman season, considering the struggles he witnessed from Matthew Stafford as a freshman at Georgia in 2006 when Richt was the head coach there.

That season, Stafford — who went on to be drafted 1st overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft — completed 52.7 percent of his passes for 1,749 yards and seven touchdowns with 13 picks.

“The thing about Cade – true freshman, right – it’s hard to be great as a true freshman,” Richt said. “I mean, Matthew Stafford, first pick of the draft, he struggled his freshman year. He did some great things, he did some not-so-great things. So, it’s hard to be a consistent winner when your quarterback is not consistent.”

Regardless of who takes the field as Clemson’s starting quarterback next season, Mac Lain acknowledged that the Tigers (10-3, 6-2 ACC in 2021) need more production at the position in order for Dabo Swinney’s program to return to the standard it is accustomed to after seeing its streak of six straight ACC titles and six consecutive College Football Playoff appearances come to an end last season.

“I think everyone can sit here and say that the quarterback position is going to have to be better. That’s not a knock, it’s not being rude, it just is what it is,” Mac Lain said. “And when you have the most important position on the field not meeting the level of expectation that has been set by others, you see a ‘down’ year. 10 wins, 11 straight seasons there.

“So, for Clemson to be able to get back to where they expect to be, where they want to be, where the fans want to be, something is going to have to happen at the quarterback position – whether it’s D.J. Uiagalalei increasing his play to the flashes that we saw in 2020, or is it a change? Is someone else going to make the most of their opportunity and be able to get Clemson back to where they need to be?”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Two analysts don’t pick Clemson to win Atlantic

During The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal on ACC Network on Monday, show host Jordan Cornette and analysts Eric Mac Lain, EJ Manuel and Mark Richt made their picks for which teams they think will represent the Atlantic and Coastal divisions …

During The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal on ACC Network on Monday, show host Jordan Cornette and analysts Eric Mac Lain, EJ Manuel and Mark Richt made their picks for which teams they think will represent the Atlantic and Coastal divisions in the 2022 ACC Championship Game, which will be played on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

Richt, Mac Lain and Cornette all picked Miami to win the Coastal, while Manuel went with Pittsburgh.

As for the Atlantic, while Manuel and Mac Lain picked Clemson to win the division, both Richt and Cornette predicted NC State to represent the Atlantic in the conference title game.

Here’s what they had to say when making their predictions:

Mark Richt: “NC State. NC State I think is the most balanced team in the league. I think they’re going to win their side of the division, without any doubt. And then I’m taking the boys at The U. Again, usually it’s year two when a coach gets his act together. But I think Coach (Manny Diaz) left a lot of really good players, and Coach (Mario) Cristobal really understands the culture of that place. I mean, let’s face it – home run hire at the AD position (Dan Radakovich), home run hire at the head coaching position. A lot of momentum just going into the season. So, I think it’s going to be Miami.”

E.J. Manuel: “Coach, I gotta disagree on the Coastal side. I’m going to say the Pitt Panthers get another chance to get back there. Kedon Slovis, he’s going to make that move to help himself, move on to the draft. It’s a good team. If they had a quarterback versus Michigan State, they win that game. And I’m going to say on the Atlantic side, I think Clemson gets back. I think Clemson picks it back up, they’re going to be back dominant.”

Eric Mac Lain: “I agree with both of y’all. I think we could see easily, all those situations. I think it’s going to be Clemson and Miami. At the end of the day, I think both those teams are going to have unbelievable years, but would not be shocked by NC State or Pitt playing in that game.”

Jordan Cornette: “TVD (Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke) I think is the best quarterback in the conference next year. Of all the great quarterbacks, I think he’s going to be the best quarterback, so I agree with you guys there. I do think Miami gets there. As for the other side … I think NC State.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Mark Richt discusses Tennessee feeling ‘like they got it going on’ under Josh Heupel

Mark Richt discusses Tennessee feeling ‘like they got it going on’ in year two under head coach Josh Heupel.

Former Georgia and Miami head coach Mark Richt discussed Tennessee under second-year head coach Josh Heupel in 2022.

Richt discussed the Vols during “The Huddle: 2022 Football Schedule Reveal” show Monday. The show announced 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference schedules on the ACC Network.

The Vols are slated to play at Pittsburgh Sept. 10 in the Johnny Majors Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I’ve got a couple of dear friends and former guys that coached for me, Coach Willie Martinez and Rodney Garner, at Tennessee,” Richt said. “I actually had the chance to visit their campus. They feel like they got it going on now, so it’s going to be a great matchup. Pitt took care of business at their house, now we’ll see if Tennessee can take care of business at Heinz Field.”

Pittsburgh defeated Tennessee, 41-34, at Neyland Stadium in the inaugural Johnny Majors Classic during the 2021 campaign.

[vertical-gallery id=42476]

[vertical-gallery id=46012]

Analysts discuss Clemson’s looming QB competition

Following the Cheez-It Bowl last Wednesday, a few ACC analysts gave their takeaways from No. 19 Clemson’s 20-13 win over Iowa State. On The Huddle on ACC Network, former Clemson All-ACC offensive lineman and current ACCN analyst Eric Mac Lain said …

Following the Cheez-It Bowl last Wednesday, a few ACC analysts gave their takeaways from No. 19 Clemson’s 20-13 win over Iowa State.

On The Huddle on ACC Network, former Clemson All-ACC offensive lineman and current ACCN analyst Eric Mac Lain said one thing that stood out to him was the “lack of offensive explosion from the quarterback position.”

Following a month of bowl prep, Mac Lain expected to see more from D.J. Uiagalelei and his receivers against the Cyclones. The sophomore quarterback went 21-of-32 passing for 187 yards with an interception, while freshman Dacari Collins was Clemson’s leading receiver in the Cheez-It Bowl with 56 yards on six catches.

“I thought that this month of practice would do Clemson really well, and especially D.J. Uiagalelei, just to get back with those receivers,” Mac Lain said. “You had a couple of young guys that really hadn’t been there all year long. So, to have a full month in the bowl season where you have the Collins guys, with Beaux Collins and Dacari Collins, thought that we would see more chemistry, thought that we would see more things down the field, and he didn’t show it.”

Mac Lain also talked about the quarterback competition the Tigers will have this spring, with five-star signee Cade Klubnik set to enroll at Clemson this month and take part in spring practice.

“It might just be to the point of where you have a young freshman coming in this spring that wants to play, and it’s going to be a quarterback competition from day one,” Mac Lain said.

Former Georgia and Miami head coach and current ACCN analyst Mark Richt, also a former quarterbacks coach at Florida State, agreed with Mac Lain about Clemson’s looming quarterback battle.

“There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “And really, for me, as a quarterbacks coach my whole career, it was a painful game to watch, and it was on both sides. Three points, three points, missing field goals. Just guys couldn’t make enough plays and couldn’t finish drives. But as the game went on, quarterback play got a little bit better. But it’s absolutely going to be a competition at Clemson.”

ACCN analyst E.J. Manuel, FSU’s starting quarterback from 2009-12 and a former first-round NFL Draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, believes this will be a big offseason for not only Uiagalelei — but also for head coach Dabo Swinney.

“Like, what decision do you make now because DJ, based off how he played in that freshman year, it’s still the biggest question mark for me is how do you go from playing that well your freshman year to now your sophomore year, you’re just not the same guy,” Manuel said. “I just feel like that’s going to be the toughest thing to try to figure out for Coach Swinney. I’m sure he’s scratching his head, too.”

After completing 78-of-117 passes (66.7 percent) for 914 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions as a freshman in 2020, Uiagalelei went 208-of-374 passing (55.6 percent) for 2,246 yards and nine touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 13 games this season.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Analysts weigh in on Clemson’s blowout win over South Carolina

Clemson blanked South Carolina, 30-0, on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium to win its seventh straight game over the Gamecocks and improve to 72-42-4 all-time against its Palmetto State rival. Clemson’s 72 all-time wins against South Carolina are …

Clemson blanked South Carolina, 30-0, on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium to win its seventh straight game over the Gamecocks and improve to 72-42-4 all-time against its Palmetto State rival.

Clemson’s 72 all-time wins against South Carolina are the program’s most against any opponent, and with Saturday’s victory, the Tigers matched the longest winning streak in the series by either team all-time (Clemson, 1934-40).

After the game, on The Huddle on ACC Network, ACCN analysts Eric Mac Lain, E.J. Manuel and Mark Richt reacted to the Tigers’ dominating win over the Gamecocks.

Mac Lain, who played at Clemson from 2011-15 and was a first-team All-ACC selection in his final season as a Tiger, talked about D.J. Uiagalelei’s 22-yard run on third-and-11 on Clemson’s opening possession that led to Will Shipley’s 29-yard touchdown run one play later.

“Using his legs, makes a little cut, gets a guy on the ground, picking up about 20 yards,” Mac Lain said. “Talk your talk on third-and-11. Big-time play.”

Richt, the former Georgia and Miami head coach, continues to be impressed by Shipley, who rushed 19 times for a career-high-tying 128 yards and the touchdown against South Carolina.

“The guy is amazing,” Richt said. “Week after week, he keeps delivering, getting better and better. I can’t imagine what he’s going to be in his senior season.”

Defensively, junior cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. shined, recording two interceptions to become the first Clemson player with multiple interceptions in a game since Mario Goodrich (two) against Pittsburgh on Nov. 28, 2020.

Booth recorded Clemson’s first takeaway of the game, picking off a Jason Brown pass in the first quarter.

“Booth ran a route for him right here,” said Manuel, FSU’s starting quarterback during the 2009-12 seasons and a former a former first-round NFL Draft pick. “He broke on that thing. It was pretty much read it and weep. Easy interception right there.”

The game was Clemson’s 23rd shutout of South Carolina all-time and its first since Danny Ford’s Tigers shut out South Carolina, 45-0, in 1989. All 23 of Clemson’s shutouts in the series have come in Columbia.

“You know what, they’ve had a couple of opportunities to have more (shutouts) than that,” Mac Lain said. “But South Carolina will get down there, there’s three seconds left, they kick a field goal. They didn’t do that this time, get the shutout.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Why was this former CFB coach so impressed by Swinney Saturday?

On Friday, less than 24 hours before kickoff of its game at South Carolina, Clemson was officially eliminated from ACC Championship Game contention when NC State defeated North Carolina in Raleigh. If former Georgia and Miami head coach Mark Richt …

On Friday, less than 24 hours before kickoff of its game at South Carolina, Clemson was officially eliminated from ACC Championship Game contention when NC State defeated North Carolina in Raleigh.

If former Georgia and Miami head coach Mark Richt was in Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s position, with his team having just been knocked out of the conference title race, Richt admits he would have struggled to be as enthusiastic about his team’s next game.

That’s why Richt was so impressed with Swinney while watching him coach on the sidelines during Clemson’s 30-0 win over South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium.

“That’s one of the big things I noticed in the game was Dabo Swinney’s body language, his excitement,” Richt said on The Huddle on ACC Network following the game. “Me, I would’ve had a hard time to be as excited about that game knowing we had just gotten knocked out for the championship. But he was the same guy.”

Richt appreciates how Swinney — who improved to 8-5 all-time against South Carolina and became the first Clemson coach with seven straight wins against South Carolina — conducted himself on the sideline throughout the course of the game.

“He was very enthusiastic, he was very happy about all the good things that happened (Saturday),” Richt said, “and I just like the way he coaches those guys and stays consistent with them.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Is this season one of Swinney’s best coaching jobs? Analysts weigh in

Even in a “down” season for Clemson – relatively speaking for a program that has won six straight ACC Championships and made six consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff – Dabo Swinney has still managed to lead his team to eight wins …

Even in a “down” season for Clemson — relatively speaking for a program that has won six straight ACC Championships and made six consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff — Dabo Swinney has still managed to lead his team to eight wins thus far in 2021 and keep the Tigers’ hopes of reaching a seventh straight ACC Championship Game alive.

On The Huddle on the ACC Network following Clemson’s 48-27 victory over No. 10 Wake Forest on Saturday, ACCN analysts Mark Richt, Eric Mac Lain and E.J. Manuel weighed in on whether this season represents one of the best coaching jobs of Swinney’s career, considering the offensive struggles, the injuries that the Tigers have endured and the fact they still have the chance to get 10 wins in spite of all that.

Richt: “He’s definitely had to coach harder. Every time you coach a game that’s a close, tight game, there’s a lot of tight decisions that they have to make. He’s had to spend time defending his coaches, he’s had to spend time defending his players. He’s stayed true to everybody on the staff, everybody on his team, stayed positive. It just takes a lot more energy to play those types of games that they’ve been playing. So, I would have to agree with that statement (that it’s one of the best coaching jobs of Swinney’s career).”

Mac Lain: “Coach, you brought that up early in the year. You said listen – this staff, these players, they’re going to be in really uncomfortable situations that they quite frankly have never been in before. So, I don’t think (the statement), when you really dive into it, I don’t think it’s too far off.”

Manuel: “I don’t think it is either. Look, sometimes you can’t be perfect, and I actually think this might be the best thing for this program to understand hey, look, we can be down but we can still fight and get wins and maybe even still squeak a way into the ACC Championship. Imagine that, guys. We talk about the start of the season, the first four or five games for this team, would they be in the ACC Championship? I don’t think anybody thought that. But there’s still a chance.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Analysts react to Clemson’s win over UConn

Clemson defeated UConn, 44-7, on Saturday at Death Valley to extend its school record for both the longest home winning streak and longest home unbeaten streak in school history (as well as extend the nation’s longest active home winning streak). On …

Clemson defeated UConn, 44-7, on Saturday at Death Valley to extend its school record for both the longest home winning streak and longest home unbeaten streak in school history (as well as extend the nation’s longest active home winning streak).

On The Huddle on the ACC Network, the network’s analysts reacted to the Tigers’ win that improved their record to 7-3 on the season.

Of course, one of the topics of conversation was Will Swinney’s 6-yard touchdown run on a fake field goal in the first quarter that gave the Tigers their first lead of the game at 10-7.

“How ’bout Will Swinney getting in there … the big man on campus, scoring a touchdown,” former Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain said.

“Probably going to be the next head coach of the Tigers when it’s all said and done,” Mac Lain added jokingly.

“He’s going to have to wait about 25 years,” former Georgia and Miami head coach Mark Richt quipped back.

Richt discussed the performance of Clemson sophomore quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, who went 21-of-44 passing for a season-high 241 passing yards and threw for a touchdown with one interception.

“Incrementally, he’s getting better and better,” Richt said. “We kind of thought at one time there’d be this Eureka moment where all of a sudden he’d look like he did last year. It hasn’t been that way, but it’s been little by little, he’s getting better and better, which is a good sign.”

With multiple members of Clemson’s receiving corps banged up with injuries, freshmen wideouts Dacari and Beaux Collins stepped up to carry the load against UConn.

Dacari posted career highs with six receptions for 97 yards, while Beaux caught a 32-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, giving him a touchdown catch in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

“It was good to see him (Uiagalelei) get involved with Beaux Collins, Dacari Collins — these young cats that he has just such a great relationship with, it seems like,” Mac Lain said. “And when you have that, when you feel good about throwing to your guy, good plays happen.”

Clemson will play its final home game of the season this Saturday when the Tigers host Wake Forest (9-1) for Senior Day. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for noon on ESPN.

“Don’t count out this Clemson squad for the Atlantic Race and possibility to get into the conference championship representing the Atlantic,” The Huddle host Jordan Cornette said. “They’re not out of this thing. Far from his best start for D.J. U today vs. UConn, but showing some life and still moments there.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Mark Richt narrates Georgia-Missouri game hype video

The Georgia Bulldogs have dropped a trailer for the Nov. 6 game against the Missouri Tigers

The Georgia Bulldogs have dropped a trailer for the Nov. 6 game against the Missouri Tigers. Former Georgia head coach Mark Richt narrates the video.

Richt, who is set to be honored during halftime of the game, emphasized the importance of finishing the drill throughout his career at UGA.

Mark Richt helped stabilize the Georgia football program and set Kirby Smart up for success. Richt won his fair share of key games, but is more importantly remembered as a father figure by many of his former players.

Georgia football enters the Missouri game at 8-0. The Bulldogs are the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff rankings. Missouri enters the game 4-4 as heavy underdogs.

Running back Tyler Badie and the Missouri offense will push the pace against the elite Georgia defense. Will Missouri be able to string together enough first downs to establish a rhythm?

Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak is out for the UGA game. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Smart and Georgia have not faced a close game since week one against the Clemson Tigers.

[vertical-gallery id=56069]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Georgia football honoring Mark Richt during Missouri game

The Georgia Bulldogs football program will honor Mark Richt during halftime of the Missouri game on Nov. 6

The Georgia Bulldogs football program will honor Mark Richt during halftime of the Missouri game on Nov. 6. The UGA football program would not be where it is today without the work of former head coach Mark Richt.

Richt has had serious health issues recently, so it is about time the football program and the University of Georgia honored Richt.

Richt’s impact goes far beyond the football field. His commitment to faith, family, friends and football helped shape the lives of many young men.

In fact, Richt helped save the life of former UGA defensive back Tra Battle. Battle was considering suicide and thankfully called Richt. Richt hadn’t spoken to Battle in years, but immediately offered to help and support Battle in his fight to improve his mental health. The Gwinnett Post wrote an article on Richt and Battle’s story.

Richt took the Georgia program to new heights. He finished with a 145-51 overall record in 15 seasons as UGA head coach.

He ranks among the all-time winningest SEC coaches and is considered, along with Vince Dooley, one of the top coaches in Georgia football program history. Richt helped Georgia win SEC Championships in 2002 and 2005.

Former Georgia head coach Mark Richt continues to work for the ACC Network. Richt recently wrote a book as well. Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Under Richt, the Georgia Bulldogs football program recovered from a disappointing decade in the 1990s. Now, the Dawgs have even more potential under Kirby Smart. A top college football program is not built overnight, and Richt provided the stability UGA needed.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]