Mark Richt back on recruiting trail following SEC Championship Game loss

Mark Richt didn't dwell on his Georgia Bulldogs' loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game last Saturday. The very next day, the coach was back on the recruiting trail, writes Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Richt and assistant coaches Will Friend and Bryan McClendon. visited the home of Buford High offensive lineman Josh Cardiello, who has already committed to the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Caridello said he was impressed how Richt was back to recruiting so soon after such a disappointing loss:

"That was crazy, that he was here the next day after a huge game like that," said Cardiello. "For Coach Richt to come to my house after that, it really meant a lot."

Cardiello is expected to play guard or center for the Bulldogs and enroll in January, one of 17 UGA commits who plan to enroll early. Richt visited with the lineman for more than two hours, watching the Dolphins-Patriots game and talking football. Cardiello said the coach talked a lot about the team's loss less than 24 hours earlier, and was proud of his team's effort despite coming up short:

"You know Coach Richt - he's kind of calm in every situation. He didn't really show it much, but you could tell he was still a little bit disappointed. I think he was happy about how they played. They had a lot of opportunities to win."