ATLANTA — Georgia coach Mark Richt moved quickly to replace Neil Callaway as offensive coordinator, promoting quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo to the position on Tuesday.
Callaway, also the team’s offensive line coach, was named head coach at Alabama-Birmingham on Sunday. Callaway will continue as Georgia’s offensive line coach through its Dec. 30 Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Virginia Tech, but Bobo will serve as offensive coordinator for the game.
‘‘I have enough peace in my mind right now to name Mike Bobo our offensive coordinator,’’ Richt said Tuesday. ‘‘He’s kind of taken on that role since Coach Callaway has a lot to think about. Mike will be our coordinator and I’m real excited about it. He’s definitely ready and I’m excited.’’
Bobo, only 32, continues his fast-track rise on the Georgia staff after the former Georgia quarterback was given the play-calling duties for the final regular-season game against Georgia Tech.
‘‘I’m excited and thrilled with the opportunity and thrilled that Coach Richt has the confidence in me to get the job done,’’ Bobo said Tuesday. ‘‘I’m really going to lean heavily on the rest of the offensive staff and try to keep this thing going that Coach Richt has built over the last six years.’’
The play-calling assignment, given on a trial basis, also includes the bowl game.
Bobo’s promotion comes as Georgia is preparing to face Virginia Tech’s top-ranked scoring defense.
‘‘I haven’t really thought about this (promotion) too much because we’ve got a big challenge in front of us in Virginia Tech and trying to get ready for the bowl game and a tough defense,’’ Bobo said.
‘‘Virginia Tech is very good on defense. I told Coach Richt not to judge me by this game because they’re a very good defensive football team. We’ve got to have our best effort ready to go or it won’t be a fun night.’’
Richt, who previously called the plays on offense, has not yet said if he will permanently give Bobo that responsibility. Tuesday’s promotion probably is another indicator that Bobo also will call the plays in 2007.
As quarterbacks coach, Bobo endured a challenging season as he tried three starters before sticking with freshman Matthew Stafford.
‘‘My main job is really to coordinate meetings and practices but with the players my main job is to get Matthew Stafford ready to play because that’s the position I coach,’’ Bobo said, adding his emphasis is to ‘‘make sure he can execute the game plan.’’
Bobo completed his playing career in the 1997 season as MVP of the 1998 Outback Bowl. He worked at Georgia as an administrative assistant, then a graduate assistant before his first full-time job in 2000 as quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State. He returned in 2001 on Richt’s first staff.
Callaway also joined Richt’s first staff and has been offensive coordinator the past six seasons.
Richt still must hire an assistant coach to replace Callaway.
Callaway, also the team’s offensive line coach, was named head coach at Alabama-Birmingham on Sunday. Callaway will continue as Georgia’s offensive line coach through its Dec. 30 Chick-fil-A Bowl game against Virginia Tech, but Bobo will serve as offensive coordinator for the game.
‘‘I have enough peace in my mind right now to name Mike Bobo our offensive coordinator,’’ Richt said Tuesday. ‘‘He’s kind of taken on that role since Coach Callaway has a lot to think about. Mike will be our coordinator and I’m real excited about it. He’s definitely ready and I’m excited.’’
Bobo, only 32, continues his fast-track rise on the Georgia staff after the former Georgia quarterback was given the play-calling duties for the final regular-season game against Georgia Tech.
‘‘I’m excited and thrilled with the opportunity and thrilled that Coach Richt has the confidence in me to get the job done,’’ Bobo said Tuesday. ‘‘I’m really going to lean heavily on the rest of the offensive staff and try to keep this thing going that Coach Richt has built over the last six years.’’
The play-calling assignment, given on a trial basis, also includes the bowl game.
Bobo’s promotion comes as Georgia is preparing to face Virginia Tech’s top-ranked scoring defense.
‘‘I haven’t really thought about this (promotion) too much because we’ve got a big challenge in front of us in Virginia Tech and trying to get ready for the bowl game and a tough defense,’’ Bobo said.
‘‘Virginia Tech is very good on defense. I told Coach Richt not to judge me by this game because they’re a very good defensive football team. We’ve got to have our best effort ready to go or it won’t be a fun night.’’
Richt, who previously called the plays on offense, has not yet said if he will permanently give Bobo that responsibility. Tuesday’s promotion probably is another indicator that Bobo also will call the plays in 2007.
As quarterbacks coach, Bobo endured a challenging season as he tried three starters before sticking with freshman Matthew Stafford.
‘‘My main job is really to coordinate meetings and practices but with the players my main job is to get Matthew Stafford ready to play because that’s the position I coach,’’ Bobo said, adding his emphasis is to ‘‘make sure he can execute the game plan.’’
Bobo completed his playing career in the 1997 season as MVP of the 1998 Outback Bowl. He worked at Georgia as an administrative assistant, then a graduate assistant before his first full-time job in 2000 as quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State. He returned in 2001 on Richt’s first staff.
Callaway also joined Richt’s first staff and has been offensive coordinator the past six seasons.
Richt still must hire an assistant coach to replace Callaway.
