Mark Richt talks ACC and Florida Coaches and competition at ACC Kickoff

Mark Richt discussed a variety of things relative to the Miami Hurricanes at the ACC Kickoff. Some of the topics include Richt’s tenure in the ACC and Florida, competition among players on Miami and anticipation of the ACC Network in 2019.

Canes Warning previously discussed the thoughts Mark Richt had on the potentially expanded role that Miami wide receivers coach Ron Dugans is expected to have this season and the outlook for the Hurricanes running game.

Mark Richt was one of four Head Coaches that began their ACC tenure in 2016. Coaches that also began stints in 2016 are Syracuse’s Dino Babers, Virginia’s Bronco Mendenhall and Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente. Florida State’s Willie Taggart who will begin his first season this fall is the only Coach that has been hired in the ACC since 2016.

Mark Richt previously spent nine seasons in the ACC when he was the Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Coordinator under Bobby Bowden at Florida State. He was asked about the differences in the league and the rise in performance on the field of ACC Football.

During Richt’s first tenure in Tallahassee, Florida State dominated the league in Football. They won seven outright football championships and shared the other two during Richt’s stint with the Seminoles.

After he left for Georgia for the 2001 season, Florida State continued to be successful through 2005. The Seminoles won ACC titles in 2002, ’03 and 2005. Parity somewhat set in after that until Clemson and Florida State have combined to win the last seven titles.

Richt was asked: How much have you seen since you’ve been back in the ACC the level of talent and competition raised?”

"“There’s no question in my mind. (When) I was at Florida State…the first seven or eight years, and the league — even two years ago when I got here compared to then was night and day. There’s no question. Florida State at that time, we just — we out-classed a lot of people in just the athletic ability and all that type of thing.And then now I come back, there’s a lot of teams that are very talented.There’s a lot of teams that got good coaches…in order to be great in football, we’ve got to pour resources into all the things that it takes to develop a player, whether it’s facilities or strength and conditioning or how you feed them…You’ve also got to hire certain coaches and give them the ability to have a salary pool that will allow you to get a good staff that will stick with you without getting out-bidded every time you turn around.And I see that happening throughout the league, and I think we’re seeing a lot of really good teams that can beat anybody across America on any given day”."

Entering his third season, Mark Richt is already the longest-tenured FBS Head Coach in Florida. Richt was asked if the preeminent program in Florida is “up for grabs,” if being more established than Taggart and new Florida Head Coach Dan Mullen works in his favor and to assess recruiting against Taggart.

"“The programs are bigger than the coaches…Leadership is a big deal…when you have an established program like Florida, Florida State, even Miami, at any given time, those teams could be the best in the state and the best in the country…What has happened at Central Florida and what’s continuing to happen there, and South Florida, and even Florida international, Florida Atlantic. These teams are just continuing to grow and get better, mostly because you’ve got the talent base in the state, and there are limitations to how many people everybody can take out of there.Kids are starting to say I’d rather stay home than go play at this other school and stay in my home state. All those teams are going to continue to rise and get better, and I think any given year, any one of those top four or five teams right now could be the best team in the state.”"

Mark Richt was essentially given a two-part question next. He was asked about the importance of returning starters competition in practice and chemistry. That was followed up with what are the factors that differentiate between a 3-9 season and 9-3 season.

Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson brought up that some luck is involved. Miami’s fourth and 16 conversion against the Yellow Jackets was mentioned. Richt acknowledged that it was lucky.

"“I agree with whatever coach (Paul Johnson) said competition…When you have enough great players at any given position or all your positions across the board and they’re battling for that job of right tackle, for example, every day they know another guy is just as good as they are, and I’d better bring my “A” game every single day or I’m not going to win the job, or I’m going to lose my job.Then the other type of competition is that defensive end who’s rushing the passer every day. When that guy is a great player and that right tackle has got to try to block him day after day after day, he’s going to get better, and when he is able to block him, he’s going to make that pass rusher better.”"

Richt went on to discuss the importance of the alumni at Miami. ESPN College Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said last season when College Gameday was on Miami’s Coral Gable Campus that “This brotherhood with Miami is stronger than anywhere I’ve ever seen when it comes to their past through their current players.”

"When we get the Ray Lewises and the Michael Irvin and the (Jonathan) Vilmas and the (Vince) Wilforks and all these great players of the past coming back and speaking to our team, that’s what they talk about. Back when we were here, the toughest day of the week was the week of practice, and the hardest games we played were in Greentree Practice Field…When we got to the real games, they weren’t as tough because of the competition level that we had. So it’s about bringing in great players and having coaches that will guide and direct them properly.If you do things right and don’t shoot yourself in the foot, if you’re not your own worst enemy, so to speak, sometimes when it comes to rules and regs and all that, that helps a lot, too.”"

The ACC Network will debut with the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. The ACC will become the fourth of the five power conferences to launch a network devoted solely to them. The Big XII will be the only Power Five conference remaining without a network.

Richt was asked to discuss the importance of the network and what it means for revenue and competing with the other Power Five conferences.

"“It’s very big. And you can have a network and not necessarily generate the same revenue as other networks. Not only do we need the network, but we need to get the people to want to watch it and do what it takes to get the viewership and all that up to get the revenue up.The revenue is going to go up, but how much? And it’s certainly going to go up enough to continue the trend of the advances that people are making, and I think some of the AD’s — I’m not in their business, but I would think, knowing that the network is coming and there’s more revenue coming, they’re having more confidence to step out and do the things that it takes to be great.”"

The final order of business Richt was asked to discuss was how much social media has changed recruiting.

"“You just communicate with the guys the way they communicate. If it used to be Facebook, you use Facebook, you use Twitter, Snapchat. Whatever it is within the rules, that’s how you communicate with these kids, and that’s what they’re used to.Recruiting hasn’t changed much. It’s about relationships and it’s about trust, and it’s about proving to the kid — where does he fit into your program and how can he become the best he can possibly be in life.”"

Mark Richt has a better handle on what it takes to recruit than his Miami predecessors. Under Richt, Miami has gone from the 22nd ranked recruiting class in 2016 to 12th in 2017 and eighth this year. He has produced four True Freshmen All-Americans in his two seasons with the Hurricanes.

Next: Mark Richt discusses Miami Hurricanes running game at ACC Kickoff

There is no reason to believe that trend won’t continue in 2018. Running back Lorenzo Lingard, defensive end Greg Rousseau and any number of players at wide receiver and in the secondary are all candidates to earn True Freshmen All-American in 2018.