Chavis-to-Georgia rumors still alive — and why not Garner? (UPDATE II)
Rodney Garner has been getting raises. But he never has been given a shot at the defensive coordinator's job. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC.com)
(UPDATED BELOW WITH CHAVIS COMMENT)
(SECOND UPDATE WITH RICHT SAYING GARNER IS NOT A CANDIDATE)
When I posted a blog Tuesday morning about LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis telling one of his players that he was not interested in the Georgia job, contrary to rumors, the last thing I expected was that it would unravel into some inane and profane race debate. After becoming aware of it last night from a reader (while I was covering the Hawks’ dreadful performance), I had to close commenting and eventually deleted about 60 comments.
It’s with that, and some trepidation, that I inform you of one thing and ask another this morning:
♦ Chris Low, the respected SEC football writer at ESPN.com, posted a blog this morning with the headline, “Chavis on Richt’s radar at Georgia.”
♦ If Bulldogs coach Mark Richt doesn’t get the coordinator he wants to replace Willie Martinez, would it be so awful if he promoted Rodney Garner?
First on the Chavis thing. I wouldn’t have brought it up a second day in a row if somebody like Low didn’t report it. (Notice I wrote Low, not ESPN in general). An excerpt from the blog:
In talking to several people close to the situation, Richt has serious interest in Chavis and is prepared to throw some serious money at the veteran defensive coordinator, who headed up Tennessee’s defense for 14 seasons prior to joining Les Miles’ staff at LSU for this past season.
Chavis makes a lot of sense. He’s a proven commodity and knows the SEC well. The Tigers were 12th nationally this season in scoring defense, allowing 16 points per game. They gave up just 18 touchdowns in 12 games. Only five teams nationally yielded fewer touchdowns this season.
Low also pointed out this interesting stat:
Since his promotion to defensive coordinator at Tennessee in 1995, he’s 7-3 against the Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium. That includes LSU’s 20-13 win over Georgia this season.
If Richt has some super secret candidate on his radar that nobody has mentioned, he deserves kudos for being so stealth. There has been nothing to indicate that, however. Chavis obviously would be a strong hire. But the likelihood of him leaving LSU after only one season — when he stayed at his previous school for 20 — would be surprising. If nothing else, Chavis — like so many others — might just get a raise out of this.
Now, about Garner. He is not a coordinator. But the case can be made he is the second most important football coach at Georgia after Richt. Why? Because he’s the recruiting coordinator. He keeps getting raises because other schools keep coming after him because he keeps landing all of those 37-star recruits we obsess about.
After Martinez’s firing, there were a flurry of unsubstantiated rumors, mostly on Twitter, that Garner resigned after learning he was not a serious candidate for the defensive coordinator’s position. Garner shot down those rumors, obviously. He stayed for the Independence Bowl game and, with the aid of only two grad assistants, he directed a strong defensive performance in Georgia’s win over Texas A&M.
The fact Garner has never been the defensive coordinator — or presumably has received a strong offer to call plays for another school — has led to this perception that he is not worthy of that position. If that’s true, here’s my question: Why not? Doesn’t he deserve the chance? It’s a topic that I don’t know has been given the attention it deserves.
(UPDATE: Chavis says nothing to quell speculation)
Our Tim Tucker has blogged about Chavis’s non-denial/denial at a Capital One Bowl press conference when asked about the Georgia job. You can click the link above, but here’s an excerpt:
Asked at a Capital One Bowl news conference in Orlando about his possible interest in the Georgia defensive coordinator job, Chavis said: “Well, we’re excited about what we’re doing at LSU, and my focus has been on LSU and will continue to be on LSU. We have an opportunity to win 10 ballgames, and certainly that is what we want to do. We’ve got an opportunity to be the third team in the SEC to win 100 ballgames in a decade, and certainly that is what we want to do.
“So that is where our focus is going to be. I’ll talk as long as you want to about LSU and about our players. I’ll be happy to do that.”
In other words: no comment about the Georgia job.
Didn’t exactly put that rumor to rest, did he?
(SECOND UPDATE)
Richt told Tucker this morning that Garner is not a candidate for the coaching job. That confirms what most of us thought — that if he was going to get the job, it would’ve happened by now. Richt also said the job search could take longer than expected.
Richt sidestepped a question on Chavis. An excerpt:
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.”
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492 comments Add your comment
how2fish
December 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl WTF?? When have you been right about UGA football…you picked UGA to stomp a mudhole in the Bugs? You picked UGA to pound the Aggies?? You knew CMR was going to replace CWM??
Go DOGS
December 30th, 2009
2:06 pm
Tech guy….that would be called South Beach. Where men are men and the women are men. A very transy area…kind of like Paul”I need a sports bra” Johnson.
Cherokee
December 30th, 2009
2:06 pm
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl ANSWER the question. If you play for Tech why aren’t you on the way to Miami with the team?
Jekyll Island
December 30th, 2009
2:06 pm
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
8 out of 9!!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
December 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
With 5 kids in school in Athens, a well paying Asst. HC position and title of recruiting coordinator, a position he does very well at, I don’t know why he would want to screw that up and become DC.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
DawggonecoldinBoston & DawginLex,
Hahahaha. Hold on there! I’m not trying to win any kind of argument and have the idiotic dog nation side with me. Hahahaha. I’m just telling you idiots who your next DC will be (and have been since the day Martinez was fired) and also that I think he will do a bang up job for you (which I hate).
Vince Dooley
December 30th, 2009
2:09 pm
If the pay is right, I am willing to consider the job. Afterall, I have to pay for this house restoration.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
December 30th, 2009
2:10 pm
If Chavis comes in as DC Garner may stay on for one more year but not long term.. Does Chavis want his own people or will he ask Garner to stay?
Dawg'88
December 30th, 2009
2:10 pm
It might be this guy…it might be that guy…no wait its this other guy…JS at his best stirring things up. Glad CMR saw through that fake reporter/sportswriter persona.
LSU.com
December 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
“I will be staying at LSU and not going to a second-tier SEC school who hasn’t sniffed the BCS Title Game since its debut.” – John Chavis
Flo-Ri-Duh!
December 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
Wave a big pay raise in front of Garner and he will hang around one more year before leaving for the Tick Hounds.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:12 pm
I can post all day because I have no job and live hear in my mother’s basement. She feeds me, washes my clothes, gives me a weekly allowance, bathes me and she fusses at me because I always have skid marks in my underwear!
Mike Bobo
December 30th, 2009
2:13 pm
I think it is time for UGA to lock me into a long, long term contract.
They had better hurry…I have other teams talking with me!
DawggonecoldinBoston
December 30th, 2009
2:15 pm
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl…ok, you might not want to win an argument, but at least explain why you think he will do a bang up job if given the chance. With all of your references to education, I assume you must have a lot of it. So, just like all your past teachers have asked you to do, substantiate your position, please.
Dawg 94
December 30th, 2009
2:15 pm
Note to Bobo…
Please go!
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:17 pm
Cherokee,
ANSWER: I don’t travel with the team because I don’t play for Tech anymore. I’m flying down later.
Questions:
1. WHO will play in a BCS Bowl and who won’t?
2. WHO won THEIR conference Championship and who didn’t come remotely close to even playing in theirs?
3. WHO is currently ranked in the top 10 and who had to receive a charity vote from Bobby Bowden to avoid being tied with 85 other teams for dead last!
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:18 pm
I have never kissed a girl. I once kissed flagboy aftur a Georgia Tech futbol game. There weren’t very many people there, but the there never is.
mgdawg
December 30th, 2009
2:18 pm
Keep in mind all Garner has coached to this point is interior Dline, not the entire Dline. So the guy that mentioned that he coached pollack, that is not true. Off the top of my head I can’t think of a big named guy in the interior Dline other than jonathan sullivan who was a bust in the nfl. In my opinion there are three parts to a defense: Dline, LB, and DB, and garner as only coached half of one of those parts, to me that just doesn’t show alot of faith in his coaching ability.
If garner gets mad and wants to leave if UGA hires someone else as DC then so be it. I think winning championships is a much better recruiting tool.
Billy Bad Boy
December 30th, 2009
2:20 pm
1. GT
2. GT
3. GT
Am I right?
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
More questions….
Who whipped GA Tech on Grant Field a few weeks ago?
Who has beat Tech 8 out of the last 9 years?
Who leads the all-time UGA vs GA Tech series?
Who has been to the most bowl games. UGA or GA Tech?
Who has been to the most major bowl games, UGA or GA Tech?
Who has won the most bowl games, UGA or GA Tech?
Who has won the most games all-time, UGA or GA Tech?
Which team has won the most conference championships?
Who consistently sells out their games UGA or GA Tech?
And using the sources that GA Tech uses to claim 4 national championships how many has UGA won?
Dawg Fan 74
December 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
The DAWGS are the best…period.
Just let MR coach the team and pick his assistants.
Harold
December 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
We at Tennessee hope it isn’t Chavis!
The Answer Man
December 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
More questions….READ ANSWERS BELOW:
Who whipped GA Tech on Grant Field a few weeks ago? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who has beat Tech 8 out of the last 9 years? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who leads the all-time UGA vs GA Tech series? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who has been to the most bowl games. UGA or GA Tech? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who has been to the most major bowl games, UGA or GA Tech? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who has won the most bowl games, UGA or GA Tech? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who has won the most games all-time, UGA or GA Tech? The Georgia Bulldogs
Which team has won the most conference championships? The Georgia Bulldogs
Who consistently sells out their games UGA or GA Tech? The Georgia Bulldogs
And using the sources that GA Tech uses to claim 4 national championships how many has UGA won? FIVE (5)
michael
December 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
I think it would be stupid to have rodeny garner i think we should go after somebody in the nfl the dallas dfense of coach or the bills d fense of coach we are trying to be cheap but if we want a good d fense curby smart is in the choices STOP BEING CHEAP we need a good d fense we are in the best confference sec so we cant be CHEAP
dd
December 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
I think I’ll wait until CMR announces the hire.
30-24
happydawg
December 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
Florida twice has hired game changers as coaches. First, there was Spurrier with his verticle passing game, when all the other teams loaded up for the run. Second, came Meyer with the spread from Utah, in which the “experts” predicted would not work in the SEC. Both men came in with offenses which radically changed the way DC’s approached the game.
How about a game changer as DC? Find the DC that can shut down these mulitple option offenses we are seeing now.
I look for Richt to get someone that will likely shock all of us. When he hired VanGorder, most of were like WHO? Find the shutdown man for the spread.
The Question....
December 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
…who beat Tech’s butt in football this year?
ANSWER: THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
30-24!!!!
Who is the second best team in Georgia? The GA Tech Yeller Jackettes
MikeHunt
December 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
$1.4 million Shreveport
vs. our $14 million BCS
Orange bowl:
“ANSWER: I don’t travel with the team because I don’t play for Tech anymore. I’m flying down later.”
Let me guess…you’re flying down in your private jet.
Being on the debate team doesn’t actually constitute “playing for Tech”
Can you say…LOSER!
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
DawggonecoldinBoston
“Please explain why you think he will do a bang up job if given the chance”.
Call it football instinct. Something very few (if any) of the dogs that post here have. In my opinion, Georgia doesn’t know what they have in Garner. Just because he’s a fabulous recruiter doesn’t mean he would not also be a fabulous DC. Bet Florida, Florida State and Alabama are eyeing him! Wish Tech would.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
“michael
December 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
I think it would be stupid to have rodeny garner i think we should go after somebody in the nfl the dallas dfense of coach or the bills d fense of coach we are trying to be cheap but if we want a good d fense curby smart is in the choices STOP BEING CHEAP we need a good d fense we are in the best confference sec so we cant be CHEAP”
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
Flag boy I still love you! I miss you! Why did you dump me?
59bulldawg
December 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
I think it’s been so long since we played great defense at Georgia, I don’t think some of you know great defense when you see it. Our defense was not great in Shreveport! Was it an adequate job cobbled together by Garner and two grad assistants? Yes. But it wasn’t what I would hope we’d get in a new DC. I’m tired of hearing the term “bend but don’t break” defense. I want a mean, tough, give up very few yards and even fewer points brick wall of a defense that will be virtually unmoveable. As part of the defensive staff responsible for probably some of the worst defensive efforts in Georgia history, I’m not sure he’s up to the task. This has nothing to do with race and, rightly or wrongly, everything to do with guilt by association. If Garner were not so valuable as a our recruiting coordinator, he might have been fired also. So I’d prefer to have a clean break and bring in someone totally new. The Independence Bowl announcers on ESPN mentioned the fact that Richt was considering NFL coaches. I don’t know how true that might be but I wonder if BVG might still be in the mix despite his denial. If not him or Smart, Sylvester Croom would be a good fit if he can coordinate a defense. I know the man has linebacker coaching experience and as a man with character, he would certainly be able to work well with Richt. I suppose it wouldn’t be the end of the world if Garner is promoted. I guess it would, for me at least, depend upon who the other two hires turn out to be. But I really would prefer a clean break. Those who are pushing for David Pollack for DC must surely be kidding. He was a great player but that alone doesn’t guarantee he’ll be a good coach. Plus he has no experience as a coach. The DC position is too important to take such a risk.
Dawg Master
December 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
Pay Kirby Smart whatever he wants—he’s the best D coordinator in the US. It will take at least $1.5 mil per year, but that’s chump change for UGA—they have millions in the bank to pay whatever it takes. Don’t hire overrated coaches like garner and chavis.
Flagboy
December 30th, 2009
2:31 pm
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
“Flag boy I still love you! I miss you! Why did you dump me?”
I dumped you because you have a “micro” stinger!
Kendawg
December 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
As good a recruiter as Garner is, if he were good enough to be a defensive coordinator, he would be by now, somewhere. I agree that the only reason we’re looking for a new coordinator is because of the outrage of the fan base. It took two years of pathetic defense for Richt to recognize that Willie is not an SEC coordinator.
Dr. Phil
December 30th, 2009
2:35 pm
It looks like “$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl” sure got his panties in a wad over “Flag Boy.” True love gone bad.
Kirk H.
December 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
Kirby Smart’s the guy
“Don’t trust ESPN anti-Georgia biased reporters, these are the same guys reporting Georgia would hire Koenning, and they have anti-journalistically minded reporter Kirk Hierbstreet, the guy who tried to steal the Natl Champ from Richt in 2007.”
What is wrong with some of the Dawg Nation? This is the most ridiculous statement of today and we have seen it before. Move on……………….
Tennessee finished the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 record in the SEC Eastern division. They tied with Georgia as champions of the SEC East, however, by virtue of a head-to-head victory over Georgia, the Volunteers were the SEC East representatives in the championship game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_SEC_Championship_Game
Dawgs!!
December 30th, 2009
2:38 pm
I think Garner has been considered for the job but has watched WM for 3 or 4 years and i think that would play into some of his coaching style.You only need to look at the Shreveport game, alot of similarties there and it was not against a SEC team were in my opinion would be exploited by offenses.We need an outside new look defense SEC proven coach for sure or we as fans will be by hiring Garner to DC position with WM traits tatooed all over it and CMR understands this he knows he needs an outside the circle hire but believe if he knew for certain he would’nt catch a lot of heat he would have hired him,I think timing has alot to do with it and this is not the best time and a new coach with new schemes would benfiet Garner in the long run too just my opinion.
J Dog
December 30th, 2009
2:40 pm
Come on Schultz, you know Richt can’t afford to take a chance on Garner. Garner could turn out to be the best DC in the world, but he COULD be another Willie. If Garner did’nt work out, it could end Richt’s tenure with UGA. This hire needs to succeed, no questions ask.
MD Dawg
December 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
I’m sure it’s been covered here before, but I’m concerned about the “3rd and Chavis” phenomenon. Unless that gets corrected, I’d have a hard time imagining our defense being significantly better under Chavis. That being said, his defenses tend to look pretty good in the “points allowed” category.
DawginLex
December 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
AltamahaDawg,
Do you think we could be looking at another Goff/Robinson combo with Murray and Zach Met? They both fit the mold and Richt likes to play 2 qb’s.
Could happen
Wreckmaniac
December 30th, 2009
2:42 pm
How can you convert 50 QB’s into a defensive squad ?
Low class GA Tech fans
December 30th, 2009
2:44 pm
Nothing is more low class than the racists comments and racial name calling posted by Tech fans on here. Grow up!
Wreckmaniac
December 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
What CMR is facing is that it was Micky Andrews who was the star while he was at FSU. Richt was just the pretty face. You didn’t need offense when you had Andrews recruiting and coaching defense. Now he can’t fine an Andrews.
Joe
December 30th, 2009
2:51 pm
Garner yes…be the first to show greatness MR
Maxx
December 30th, 2009
2:52 pm
Seems clear to me that Garner is not an innovative defensive mind but rather an elite recruiter and therefore should focus on recruiting. Maybe he would be a servicable DC, like Schultz says we don’t know, but I believe the truth lies in the fact that CMR believes that our recruiting would suffer if Garner was made DC, and I don’t think anyone wants that. Richt should bring in an experienced elite DC or an innovative defensive mind and let Garner focus on getting UGA the best players out there.
Dawgs!!
December 30th, 2009
2:54 pm
CMR is being very deliberate in his search it doesnt just have to make sense to the program but has to have” a wow good hire” affect to the dawg nation or better than 65% of the fan base the other 35% will be swayed in time with good play and big time rivalry victories.I tired of speculating on who it will be,just ready for a solid hire.
Duecy D
December 30th, 2009
2:59 pm
A lot of bloggers are saying that Coach Garner should stay put at his current position as a recruiting coordinator. I disagree, Coach Garner should be given the opportunity to be the defensive coordinator. He did a great job agains Texas A&M, the mistakes that were caused against Texas A&M was a result of a good defense causing them to make those mistakes. Coach Bobo was promoted to offensive coordinator and has done a good job. Coach Garner should have the same opportunity.
PLEASE!
December 30th, 2009
2:59 pm
Attention: GA Tech fans,
Leave your racist comments out of these postings. You just make yourself look trashy, ignorant and low class.
Ole Yeller Dawg
December 30th, 2009
3:04 pm
Coach Garners glass is FULL! He does not want the DC job!!!!!!!