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Mark Richt's annual base salary is not being increased, but the head football coach will receive more in performance bonuses. . . .

McGarity pointed out that Richt's salary of $2.9 million put him in the upper ecehlon of SEC coaches, but not among the highest-paid. But the performance bonuses for winning the SEC, BCS and other things are being increased.

"We want to reward excellence," McGarity said. . . .

The board was set to vote on an upgrade to Foley Field that will cost $1.35 million. The improvements include basically everything: The press box, the main entrance, ticket booth, dugouts, locker rooms and lounge, training room and batting cages, and other aspects of the field.

In addition, the current outfield trees will be replaced due to age. . . .

Out of concern over a lack of student turnout at football games, a series of changes will be implemented. Chief among them is tickets will be based first on attendance, then on seniority, while an appeals system will be created for students who have "a legitimate, unexpected reason for missing a game, such as a family emergency."

The Board also will be asked to approve improvements to Foley Field.

"We’re not going to build a brand new facility," McGarity said. "We don’t have that necessity at this point. A few upgrades will be discussed tomorrow."

There has been talk in past board meetings about making some code corrections to the press box and improvements to the right field area known as Kudzu Hill.

The current baseball stadium was built in 1990 around the existing field. As UGA outlined in its master plan three years ago: "The stadium has become outdated over the years. The updates to the stadium have not responded to new facilities at rival institutions, therefore if is no longer near the top of the list of both national and conference baseball facilities. The press box is undersized and the stadium needs to be brought up to current codes."

Clemson and Georgia have started talks that could result in the cancellation of the football series planned between the two schools for 2013 and 2014.

UGA athletics director Greg McGarity confirmed the talks Tuesday, though there has been "no resolution or final determination yet," according to UGA.

Talks were initiated by Clemson as a result of the ACC’s move earlier this year to expand to a nine-game conference schedule to accommodate 14 members in the league.

At least at this point in time, a nine-game football schedule has little support among the membership for myriad reasons, with the ADs at Georgia and Tennessee being the lone known exceptions.

McGarity said Thursday that a new model would be used for 2013 and beyond. It’s not known what that model will be, but it will not be a nine-game schedule, Bloom said. The SEC has repeatedly asserted it is not adding another conference game since expanding to include Missouri and Texas A&M.

I love my players. I appreciate their hard work and investment in our program. I feel a responsibility and loyalty to protect and stand up for them. Also, I feel it is important to educate them on all areas of life.

While my intentions were genuine, I feel it was unfortunate that things escalated to a confrontation. These actions were not representative of what this institution stands for. However, I will use it as a learning experience for myself as well as my players so that we all become better men.

Richt spoke to acting AD Frank Crumley today, and Crumley told him there would be an announcement on new AD "soon."

I am writing to enthusiastically recommend William Gregory McGarity ("Greg") to the position of Athletic Director at the University of Georgia. I have known Greg since childhood, as he and I went to school together in Athens.

First and foremost, although he has spent the last 18 years at the University of Florida, Greg is indeed a bulldog. From 1973-1992, Greg worked his way up from a student assistant to the facilities and event management for the UGA Athletic Association. . . . Unfortunately for the Dawgs, the University of Florida recognized his talent and hard work ethic and he was off to Gainesville in the summer of 1992.

Greg has excelled at UF during his time there. As much as you and I hate to admit it, Florida is an athletic powerhouse. I believe Greg has a lot to do with the teams’ success. . . .

. . . Greg’s 37 years of work at two of the strongest athletic associations in the country make him the best candidate for the AD job. He has learned what it takes to run the entire department; whether it be managing events, searching for coaches, scheduling, or managing the budget, he knows and has executed it all. He is ready to get back to his hometown and to serve his alma mater in this distinguished position. I hope you will give him the fullest consideration possible.