ATHENS — There have been plenty of news, nuggets and narratives coming out this week about the Georgia football program and the future of head coach Mark Richt. On Thursday came a report that pertained to last year.

USA TODAY reported that Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity “favored” firing Richt after last year but was over-ruled by president Jere Morehead.

However, McGarity forcefully denied that later to both USA Today and the AJC/DawgNation.

“Simple answer. It wasn’t true,” McGarity said in a text. He also told USA TODAY: “There isn’t one ounce of truth to that. That is not right.”

That’s backed up by the reporting at the time by this reporter and others on the beat. There were indeed some behind-the-scenes discussions between Richt and the administration over financial support, especially coaches salaries. But at no time did any sources indicate that McGarity wanted to make a change.

Georgia was 9-3 entering the Belk Bowl last year, the time frame for those discussions. After a rout of Louisville in that game Richt received a raise and extension, and so did most of his staff.