Editing Mark Richt (section)

==Early years and playing career==
Richt was raised in a [[blue collar|blue-collar]] family, the second oldest of five children. He was born in [[Omaha, Nebraska]] to Lou and Helen Richt.<ref name="p217">{{cite web | last=Weiszer | first=Marc | title=CornDawgs: Richt's family balances love for Georgia, Nebraska | website=Online Athens | date=2012-12-19 | url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2012/12/19/corndawgs-richts-family-balances-love-georgia-nebraska/15587856007/ | access-date=2024-10-22}}</ref> Lou worked as a [[Tool and die maker|tool-and-die maker]] for Western Electric. In 1967, the Richt family moved to [[Boulder, Colorado]] when Lou got a new job. In 1973, Lou was transferred to South Florida where Mark would graduate from high school.

Richt became a star athlete at [[Boca Raton High School|Boca Raton High]] and was called "All Turnpike" because of the various awards he received around the state of Florida. As a [[high school football|high school]] quarterback, he was recruited by the University of Miami, [[Florida State University]], and [[Brown University]]. He chose to attend the University of Miami, an hour south from his family.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Michelle |date=December 4, 2015 |title=Tragedy played big role in evolution of UM coach Mark Richt |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article48094070.html |website=Miami Herald}}</ref>

===College and professional career===
Richt played at the [[University of Miami]] from 1978 to 1982. Under coach [[Howard Schnellenberger]], Richt was backup to future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Jim Kelly]]. In later years at Miami, he played behind [[Bernie Kosar]] and [[Heisman Trophy]] winner [[Vinny Testaverde]]. He was mentored by quarterbacks coach [[Earl Morrall]]. Despite limited playing time, Richt still amassed nearly 1,500 passing yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Richt Bio |url=http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210611507 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916124236/http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=210611507 |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |access-date=September 4, 2016}}</ref> The [[1981 Miami Hurricanes football team|1981 Miami Hurricanes team]] finished 9–2, ranked 8th in the country, while the [[1980 Miami Hurricanes football team|1980 team]] finished 9–3, ranked 18th in the country. Richt received interest from multiple NFL teams and briefly spent time with the Denver Broncos behind [[John Elway]].<ref name=":1" />