Greg McGarity Returning Home to Athens

The saga for a new UGA Athletics Director turned out to be relatively quick and painless. The sentimental choice has prevailed. News out of Athens is that Greg McGarity, former Bulldog great and current Assistant AD at the University of Florida, will be named as the new UGA Athletics Director on Friday, August 13 (not sure if this a good omen or not based on date).

                                                     (Picture Courtesy of Gatorzone.com, Official Website of UF Athletics)

For those that have no idea who McGarity is, here is a little background on the new Georgia AD. McGarity was raised in Athens and played tennis for UGA under the famed Dan Magill. He has worked in Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall in the past and certainly knows his way around UGA. He moved down to Gainesville, FL in 1992. In his capacity at the University of Florida, McGarity served as the Executive Senior Associate Director of Internal Affairs. His responsibilities included: Overseeing the swimming & diving and women's tennis programs, event operations, facilities, video services, risk management, information technology and communications, purchasing, auxiliary services, aviation operations and strength and conditioning programs. He also assisted the Athletics Director in supervision of football and men's basketball programs (courtesy of Gatorzone.com).

Now, whether you like Florida or not, we cannot deny the success in athletics the Gators have experienced since 1992. Three football and two basketball national championships speak for themselves. The Gators are constantly at the top of the SEC each year in terms of total revenue generated and success on the field. Bringing McGarity home to Athens is a very wise decision on the part of UGA President Michael Adams. 

McGarity was one person who many thought should have had the job in 2004 over Damon Evans. However, Damon Evans proved to be a very successful athletic director. While he will always be remembered for his stupid stunt and DUI arrest, Damon did some great things for UGA. Word out of the UGA ticket office is that UGA Men's Basketball Tickets are at their highest demand in a long time. Why? Damon Evans decided he would make basketball relevant again at UGA. A new practice facility, Coach Mark Fox being hired, and Stegman Coliseum's renovation all took place on his watch. I hope he has a chance to rebuild his career elsewhere.

While this is truly a great day for the UGA faithful, the question must be asked about the impact this will have on the UF Athletic Department. There is no question that AD Jeremy Foley is losing a major part of his team. It has to sting double that McGarity is headed for one of the Florida's chief rivals. 

Greg McGarity certainly enters Butts-Mehre with plenty of hype surrounding him. Georgia is sitting in a great place in terms of athletics. He is clearly the choice the Bulldawg nation clamored for when it was announced that President Adams would look outside the current UGA Athletic Department for Evans' successor. He needs to leave Mark Richt alone and just enjoy the ride of being the AD. I honestly hope he seizes the ground Damon Evans was building on and continues to add great things to UGA. Personally, I think 100,000+ at Sanford Stadium is an ideal place to start!