Georgia coach Mark Richt said this morning that his search for a new defensive coordinator could go beyond the first week of January, a signal that he doesn't yet have his man.

"I don't know if it will [go longer] or not, but it could," said Richt, who previously had said he hoped to have a new DC hired by the first week of January.

Richt would not comment today on his interest in LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis or any other candidates. But he did say that Rodney Garner, the only holdover on Georgia's defensive staff, is not under consideration for the DC job.

"No, Rodney is not a candidate for the job. He knows that," Richt said. "We're just still in the search."

As for all the rumors swirling throughout Bulldog Nation about the search, Richt said: "I'm not taking any pleasure at all in what people might be going through out there. All I can say is . . . when I do have that decision made and it's ready for public consumption, I'll let everybody know. My goal is to get the right man for the job."

Asked specifically about Chavis, Richt said: "I'm not going to make any comment on these things until we've got our man."

AJC