Several Bulldogs openly expressed their disappointment with McGarity’s decision, but their mood was softened when Richt found employment so soon.

“Once the team saw how Coach Richt was able to go back to his alma mater, we were happy for him and able to move on,” outside linebacker Davin Bellamy said. “We knew then that he was happy, and once we moved on from that, we knew we had to embrace the next coach that was coming in.

“We made a great hire in Coach Smart. He was the best coach available, and we’re excited.”

They sound realistic about the short term, too.

“As a quarterback, you want to know who the OC is and what we’re going to do on offense,” Greyson Lambert said, “but Coach Smart is having to be the head coach and the defensive coordinator right now for two different teams. He’s having to recruit for us right now and coach his guys, so when it comes it comes.

“I don’t think much will change as far as the offensive scheme, because every offense today has to be multiple and be able to do every little detail.”

Of course, if there’s one guy who’s got experience with a change at offensive coordinator, it’s Greyson Lambert.