I have spent a lot of Saturdays since 2001 with Mark Richt. I have watched him from Sections 119, 125 and 336 in Sanford Stadium. Mark Richt has provided a lot of good times with friends far and near as well as a lot of memorable victories and celebrations. Oh, there has been heartbreak sure, but every relationship has difficult moments and times. There has been frustration as well, but that is to be expected. As of yesterday, my Saturdays with Mark Richt came to an end.

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you probably know I am a Georgia fan. While I don’t make it a practice to write about football, I feel compelled to do so today. I don’t know Mark Richt personally, but all accounts place him as a good and faithful person. He has had the task of molding 18 to 22 year old boys into men. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t imagine being on the stage that these guys are on at age 18. There is no question the impact he has had and continues to have on people’s lives. We need more people, especially people of faith, like that in the world today.

Mark Richt will be fine, perhaps even better than fine. He spoke of discerning the next call that God places upon his life. You don’t hear too many football coaches talk that way. Maybe that’s what make him so special as a coach, he viewed coaching at the University of Georgia not as a job, but as a calling. Ultimately, his faithfulness in life will not be judged on wins and losses, but on fulfilling the call God places upon him. At the end of the day, that’s all any of us can ask for. Whoever the next coach at Georgia is, they have big shoes to fill. Not necessarily in wins and losses, but in life. Thanks Coach Richt for the memories and blessings on your path.