Is it Tech’s turn to lose a candidate (Groh to Dolphins)?
Former Virginia coach Al Groh suddenly has options other than Georgia Tech -- the Miami Dolphins.
Let me start this by saying that Georgia Tech is not quite in the same situation with Al Groh that Georgia was with Kirby Smart, in that even if this potential hire blows up in Paul Johnson’s face he could probably escape public humiliation.
But Techies: Don’t get too comfortable.
In timing too perfect to ignore, the Miami Dolphins have fired their defensive coordinator, Paul Pasqualoni. The Dolphins’ vice president of operations is Bill Parcells. Parcells is a long-time friend and frequent boss of Groh’s. How frequent? They worked together at Army. And Air Force. And the New York Giants. And the New England Patriots. And the New York Jets.
For all we know, they once bagged groceries at adjacent checkout lines.
There have been strong indications that Groh may be hired by Johnson, who fired defensive coordinator Dave Wommack last week. But after being fired as the head coach at Virginia, a return to the NFL seemed like the more logical career transition for the 65-year-old Groh than staying in college as a defensive coordinator. Now the NFL opportunity may be there, and it’s with Parcells.
Maybe I’m overthinking this. But it’s not like Groh is exactly shooting the possibility down.
Comments to the Palm Beach Post (double-speak award):
“Any speculation to that possibility would be very premature at this point. I have a certain criteria in place for which I’m interested. It starts with the people that are involved. I’m open to anything that would fit that criteria. … That doesn’t mean anything or everything.”
ESPN.com followed that up with this:
Former Virginia coach Al Groh told ESPN.com that he hasn’t been contacted by the Dolphins about the vacancy, but he’d welcome the opportunity to work with old boss Bill Parcells again.
Groh’s name immediately comes to mind as a replacement because of his relationship with Parcells.
(Groh on his long history with Parcells): “I’ve done it five times. Some people would say that I’m nuts. Some people would say that I’m fortunate. So, having it done it five times already, yeah, obviously, there’s a track record there.”
One thing Tech can take comfort in: This won’t be a financial decision. Groh is being paid $4.33 million over the next two more years by Virginia. This will come down to where he feels most comfortable. Maybe that is still Tech. (For the record, we’re not certain Johnson actually has offered him the job yet.)
But given the backdrop of the way things have unraveled in Athens, as well as the timing of the Dolphins’ opening, how comfortable are you right now?
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263 comments Add your comment
Tech Guy
January 12th, 2010
8:36 am
Truthfully, I’m not real fired up about Groh as the DC. He is a good defensive coach but I would like to see someone younger in that position. At his age, how much longer does and will he want to coach.
ramblingbuzz
January 12th, 2010
8:40 am
I don’t about GT’s next DC, but I predict Richt will hire Chuck Amato within the week. Richt and Amato are tight. Let’s see how the doggies like that.
Jeff Schultz
January 12th, 2010
8:42 am
Supersize that order — I hadn’t heard that at all. I kinda think all of those governor bets are pretty lame. But if it’s true that Perdue avoided the bet just because of his Georgia allegiances, that’s even more lame.
Jeff Schultz
January 12th, 2010
8:44 am
Zzzzzzz- — Yes, Johnson is keeping this quiet. And you might be right about Crennel. For the record, I’ve always thought (and wrote) Tech had a better chance getting Groh than Georgia getting Smart. Always believed in the end Bama would come up in money and Kirby would stay.
Jeff Schultz
January 12th, 2010
8:45 am
YellowJacket — This is Paul Johnson. I don’t think somebody’s alma mater being Tech will be a factor at all. It will be more people he’s familiar with than the school is familiar with.
Bella Oxmyx
January 12th, 2010
8:45 am
FWIW, I get the impression that GROH is the one pursuing a marriage with GT and Johnson. Building on that, Johnson is the kind of guy who doesn’t wait around from (the time of) a public spotting of Groh at the pre-BCS Bowl practice until this past weekend to “decide” if Groh is the man. Johnson’s also not going to run him off if it gets down to $$$ and GT just can’t afford something north of $500-600k to sign someone else when Groh will work for FREE.
Finances are certainly a consideration of DanRad, even if they really aren’t for Johnson (as in not as important as getting who he wants). I believe Chandler Gailey still gets around $100k per month from GT and he’s been gone for 2 years. The timing with the Dolphins firing isn’t just coincidence…OF COURSE Parcells wants Groh and he’s paved the way for him to end his coaching career under him.
That should say quite alot about Groh to everyone who’s been questioning his abilities/respect/knowledge/etc on these blogs. A Parcells endorsement is hard to come by and actually means something. Obviously it’s not about $$$ for Groh to go to either place, but bet the farm that he DOES end up at either GT or the Dolphins for 2010.
Perhaps it’s CPJ and GT’s superior ability to put a cloak over the hiring process, as opposed to say a CMR and UGAG, who can’t seem to keep what CMR had for breakfast out of the press…..But I just don’t see an ACTIVE pursuit of Groh by CPJ. Another thing is I don’t think Groh is the kind of man who would risk embarrassing CPJ, given his recent gushings over what CPJ has done at Tech in only 2 years. So if Parcells was in the background saying, “Be patient Al and I’ll pave the way for you to return” — NOT unreasonable — then Groh would disclose this to CPJ to avoid a duplication of “Richt’s Travelin Show”.
I just think CPJ will eventually hire someone from his past. He took a chance on Wommack, never having met him before interviewing him, and that obviosuly didn’t work out too well….This time he gets a PROVEN commodity, as in someone who has already worked on D before — either for him or with him. There’s a TON or redshirted talent on Tech’s D and a signing class of even MORE D talent coming onboard. CPJ doesn’t want a repeat of the Defensive Calamities last year.
So, Johnson hires someone he’s worked with before, unless Groh “rejects” Parcells for the GT job and heavily lobbies for the GT job in a very public way…..And I don’t see that happening. However, I DO expect a hiring announcement BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT, while Richt reloads and shoots another blank….
Jeff Schultz
January 12th, 2010
8:46 am
Poopdawg — You don’t think there’s public humiliation in being rejected by three high profile candidates?
Dolfan
January 12th, 2010
8:51 am
After the last 3-4 games of the year,Parcells had no choice but to get rid of Paul P..Even though it seemed like they were in all of these games they gave up way to many first half points before making half time adjustments.Since Groh goes way back with Parcells it would seem a logical choice.Last week when their linebacker coach Edwards took the Florida DC job it forced Parcells to make a move..There are plenty of good DC coordinators out there though so maybe Tech will land a good one.
buzz is wiser
January 12th, 2010
9:01 am
Tech should do well in its attempt to land a DC. It seems like CPJ wants to move to the 3-4. A co-worker who is a parent of one of the defensive players told me they wanted to do it last year. Initially I was concerned that we didn’t have the personnel to run a 3-4 but T.J. Barnes although he wasn’t as tough on the run as his size would say, 330ish he is young, and said to not have a mean bone in his body. Him couple with highly touted redshirt freshmen J.C. Lanier who is also 330ish should provide the much needed “space-eaters” necessary to run the 3-4 and let the LB’s run to the ball. I think Izzan Cross would make a great outside linebacker in the 3-4.
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
9:10 am
Jeff, I realize the point here is for you to create controversy and get folks all stirred up, but in the case of UGA you’re talking Bud Foster, Kirby Smart, and John Chavis. These are high dollar big dogs. UGA can go after this type of top notch coach and the schools they work for can afford to throw out the bucks to keep them. If a school just let’s a guy go he probably wasn’t that valuable to begin with. In Tech’s case they can’t even go after those guys. They have absolutely nothing to offer them. They can’t even pay them. Groh was at the top of the list because he is a decent coach that they wouldn’t have to pay much for. At the end of this process UGA will get a top notch DC. Tech will be shopping at he Thrift Store. You want to talk humiliation? You’d really see it if Tech tried to get a Foster, a Smart, or a Chavis. But you won’t see that now will you Jeff?
PMC
January 12th, 2010
9:11 am
Groh was making 4.33 a year to do THAT at VA? Really?
Yikes.
buzz is wiser
January 12th, 2010
9:14 am
PMC, no he was making that annually. That’s Mack Brown/Nick Saben money. Thats probably what was left on his contract.
Cecil34
January 12th, 2010
9:21 am
I think there is no question that if GT wants to run a 3/4 then they are going to have to get some serious “meat” on the d-line, like that Cody fella at Alabama.
And if they can do that, then they have to have for it to work, two outside linebackers like DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer of Dallas.
Does GT have these type players there now or have these type players been recruited and are coming?
What is the status of their recruits as far as bringing this “meat”?
Navigator
January 12th, 2010
9:21 am
I immediately go after Paul Pasqualani, this guy is a heck of a defensive coach. As usual Bill Parcells needs someone (other than himself) to blame for this season. Pasqualani didn’t get stupid overnight, as last year’s defense was terrific, and he would bring a pro perspective to making changes on the fly with the defense, something Womack couldn’t do. Come PJohnson, move on this one before UGA or someone else does.
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
9:22 am
If another newspaper offers you a job and the AJC promptly matches the offer and even sweetens the deal as we know happened in the case of Foster with that high dollar annuity, what do you do Jeff? Unless you hate your present employer you probably stay. Does that mean the other employer was humiliated? What say you Jeff? That other employer probably moves right along and will in the end get what they want.
Ramblin' Wreck
January 12th, 2010
9:27 am
Please do not compare or associate Tech with the sad state of affairs at the Cess Pool.
Cess pool:
Getting close to 2 months of ineptitude.
Three strikes.
Outrageous salaries being turned down because no one wants to go there.
Sinking ship
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
January 12th, 2010
9:30 am
It now sounds like Crennel will end up at KC instead of Miami which is contrary to what I stated earlier. That would open the door for Groh to Miami. I still think Johnson has a number of candidates he thinks could get the job done but Groh is for whatever reason the only one people are talking about (probably because he was sighted at the pre-Orange Bowl practice and it caught legs from there).
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
9:30 am
You don’t even have walking around sense do you Ramblin’ Wreck? You can only wish those 3 guys would even take a call from Georgia Tech. In the end see what UGA gets and what GT gets. At the end of this process GT will fall even farther behind their owners.
PMC
January 12th, 2010
9:30 am
buzz, thanks for the clairification. That’s a huge chunk of change still even if they do have a large endowment.
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
9:31 am
And because he comes cheap Zzzzzzzzzzz.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
January 12th, 2010
9:36 am
PragmaticMan: Good point.
Cherokee
January 12th, 2010
9:37 am
Ramblin’ Wreck …I would rather be a part of the so called “sinking ship” that the hell hole on North Avenue, anyone get mugged last night. UGA still owns Tech
Willie Martinez
January 12th, 2010
9:37 am
{{{{{{{{{ Bud Foster }}}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{{{ John Chavis }}}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{{{ Kirby Smart }}}}}}}}}}}
Willie Martinez
January 12th, 2010
9:39 am
{{{{{{{{{{ Bud Foster }}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{{{{ John Chavis }}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{{{{ Kirby Smart }}}}}}}}}}
collegeballfan
January 12th, 2010
9:43 am
Remember guys, Groh says he called Johnson, Johnson did not call him.
He called Johnson because he says he was intrigued by what Johnson had accomplished in two years.
Johnson is at the coaches meeting for a reason. To interview candidates
for two coaching vacancies. Do not be surprised if the new DC is a promotion from the existing staff.
————-
I can not imagine what the problem is at UGA re a coaching hire. Richt needs to replace 3 coaches. Is there no one on the existing staff that
can be promoted to DC? I realize promoting Garner would cost Richt his recruiting coordinator, but RCs are easier to find than DCs.
————
But I can guarantee one thing. Whoever UGA hires will be trashed by the braindeads at GT and whoever GT hires will be trashed by the braindeads at UGA. Folks of low intelligence are very predictable.
That is the “first law of politics”, and it applies to sports.
Cherokee
January 12th, 2010
9:45 am
collegeballfan …well said
BobinBuford
January 12th, 2010
9:55 am
As for Al Groh recruiting, the recruiting is done by Giff Smith. Which seems to be going pretty well, since 9 of the AJC Top 50 are committed to Tech.
So much for Tech not being able to get the “big” recruits.
Paul's Johnson
January 12th, 2010
10:04 am
Boy, is it ever tough times for d-coordinators all over! CPJ will find his guy. And there won’t be all this trial balloon business going on in Muttville. CPJ’s idea is to improve his program and win football games. Suntan’s has a vague idea of doing that, too, but placating his detractors with a big name is his primary goal.
js
January 12th, 2010
10:08 am
I think you Ugay fans misunderstand the public humiliation comment. The humiliation is that you think you could hire away Virginia Tech, LSU, Dallas Cowboys and Bama’s (who did I leave out?) DC for a lateral move to Ugay. The reality is that it’s not a lateral move, but a move down in the pecking order for a coach who has lost his luster (not his spray on tan though). Bama, Florida and LSU run the SEC and the rest of you (KY, SC, TN, Auburn, and Ugay) fight for the fourth place bowl. Those 3 teams have been great the last 10 years or so, but the middle of the SEC is weak. What is Ugay’s record against the big 3 the last 8-10 years? The more you offer name coach’s the brinks truck to move from a better job, the more public humiliation you receive.
DILLIGAF
January 12th, 2010
10:08 am
I, for one don’t feel that UGA and CMR have not been publicly humiiated for targeting three high profile DC’s.
CMR contacted Bud Foster, who I have wanted for awhile. Foster consistently has one of the most successful defenses in the country, looka t his record and stats for the last decade. Foster saw the opportunity to get a significant raise and took advantage of it. Foster has no plans to laeve VT and his current situation.
Chavis also was contacted and did the same thing. Chavis inherited a decent defense with some good talent at LSU and had them playing better this yaer than last. Chavis is happy there and was not looking to make a move. I am glad that Chavis turned down the offer because he would not be a good fit for UGA’s program.
Smart ultimately made a decision to stay and played his cards right by upping the ante for his services resulting in a huge payday making him the 3rd highest paid assistant coach in the country. I’m not sure that Kirby wouls have been the right guy either.
Also, with all the talk about the lenght of this search, all three of these guys were coaching their teams in Bowl games.
I just wonder if 750K would have lured Foster away.
UGA85′
dawgfan
January 12th, 2010
10:12 am
Tech fans, have you ever noticed how neither Schultz nor Bradley can write about Tech without some comparison or reference to UGA? Have you ever noticed that when they write about UGA that Tech gets nary a mention? If I were you I would be offended. Since when should the ACC. Champion be judged by an 8-5 SEC team?
Now tell me Tech fans, who wears the pants in this relationship?
30-24. If Willie can get it done ANYBODY can get it done. That’s all I know.
TommyP
January 12th, 2010
10:13 am
With what I’ve been reading in this article and Mr. Bradley’s, the only thing I can assume at this point is the AJC has made “page hits” your #1 goal.
To be turned down by Bud Foster, John Chavis and Kirby Smart is unfortunate for Georgia but in no means “humiliating.”
Richt said that he would not rush into the hire and would make sure he got the right guy. He offered 3 of the best in the business and all three felt it was in their best interests to stay where they were very happy (and also given the raise of a lifetime).
If Richt hired, say, Dave Wommack at this point, that would be humiliating.
As a Bulldog alum I’m disappointed but by no means has this been humiliating. I’m glad Richt shot for 3 of the best in college football. Now let’s go to the next tier and hire someone within the week to focus on recruiting.
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
10:16 am
If you don’t try you don’t get js. DUH!!!!
TommyP
January 12th, 2010
10:18 am
And what’s amusing is that other journalists around the South are now referencing this infatuation by Schultz and Bradley to keep bashing Richt, Georgia and the search.
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
10:19 am
Tech can’t even shoot that high. Now that’s almost as humiliating as having to beg for $1000.00 to get the Wreck to Miami and then getting humiliated on the field as well. Tech just wishes they had UGA’s problems.
Obvious
January 12th, 2010
10:22 am
PragmaticMan
If you truly believe that UGA “run this state” and as you stated “At the end of this process GT will fall even farther behind their owners [UGA],” then we have UGA to blame for what you perceive is a bad state of affairs at Tech. Using your own pathetic logic UGA is the one that has failed here since you are the “owners” and you “run this state.” Of course, everyone knows that you don’t own Tech and you don’t run anything in the state; you stupid mutts only wish that you did. Why don’t you worry about your “septic tank” as Saban put it over in Athens for a change; we don’t want or need your help. Why? Because you’re an arrogant idiot and we have nothing to learn from you or other moronic Dawg fans like you. Please remember that you are just a fan, nothing more than that. You don’t run anything in these universities and you have no say in what UGA or Tech does. Your opinion means absolutely zero in reality. No one will be contacting you for your opinion either so no need to wait by the cell phone for CMR or anyone else to call you. You’re just another dumb mutt fan!
Adam
January 12th, 2010
10:26 am
Richt aimed high and took some calculated risks. It didn’t work. He knew going in that it may not work. He’ll get someone perfectly capable to do the job (probably from the NFL) and move on.
If he hadn’t aimed high Schultz would write some smug, and not at all funny, column about how he didn’t aim high. Bradley would write a column about how Richt doesn’t want to win championships and is content with 10 win seasons. These clowns are so predictable you can almost write their columns before they do.
What has happened to the AJC? I guess they won though. My buttons have been pushed.
What a joke.
The UGALY Truth
January 12th, 2010
10:31 am
PragmaticMan
January 12th, 2010
9:10 am
“Jeff, I realize the point here is for you to create controversy and get folks all stirred up, but in the case of UGA you’re talking Bud Foster, Kirby Smart, and John Chavis. These are high dollar big dogs. UGA can go after this type of top notch coach and the schools they work for can afford to throw out the bucks to keep them. If a school just let’s a guy go he probably wasn’t that valuable to begin with. In Tech’s case they can’t even go after those guys. They have absolutely nothing to offer them. They can’t even pay them.”
Your argument (which seems to be that UGAG can go after top-tier coaching talent and get results, but GT can’t) would make sense IF UGAG would’ve actually SIGNED one of these guys, which they obviously didn’t. So WHY is it better to throw big money at 3 high profile candidates and be REJECTED 3 times instead of setting your sights a little lower and actually HIRING a decent DC and getting on with your business? And while GT does have to watch the $$$, there is no truth in saying “they can’t even pay them.” Of course GT can AFFORD to pay a DC as much as UGAG has offered ANY of the above candidates…But that opens up a huge can of worms requiring increases at every level of the coaching structure as a ripple effect ensues.
Since Bowden’s gone, CPJ is the highest paid HC in the ACC and that salary is paid by GT, not “some other school that can afford it”. The MISTAKE was publicly chasing those 3 candidates and throwing everything they could at them — And being publicly DENIED 3 times in a row…Even your “mighty” UGAG couldn’t offer those candidates ANYTHING ELSE to get them to go to Athens. I mean, you even got REJECTED by a former Player and Alum after promising him the moon and stars…..That’s ABYSMAL performance and without ANY possible positive spin…
dadgumitpaw
January 12th, 2010
10:31 am
Hey Cherokee,,,if collegeballfan said it so well concerning the trashing by the ‘braindeads’ at both GT and UGA….what does that say about you?
Cherokee
January 12th, 2010
10:35 am
js….UGA is 3-1 against Bama, 3-3 against LSU and 2-7 against Florida and remember they are 7-2 against Tech and rule the State.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 12th, 2010
10:35 am
Luther van dam has accepted the DC position at georgia and is putting his staff together . Story just Broke
Obvious
January 12th, 2010
10:40 am
Cherokee,
Using your stupid mutt logic Kentucky rules this state and so does Tennessee, who embarrassed your team two of the last three years. Oh, and you might have heard of a team called Florida: 7 of 9, 17 of the last 20 and 41-17… so I suppose they own this state too. Do they not even teach logic at UGA or did you simply not go to college? If you did, here’s a novel idea: next time go to a college where you can actually get an education. Stupid mutt. You embarrass your school.
Adam
January 12th, 2010
10:41 am
Obvious, we don’t own Tech? 8 outta the last 9 and we don’t own you? What else are we supposed to do to own you? That is not a rhetorical question. I’d like an answer.
I digress. Let’s get one thing straight right now about all this DC business Techies. Whoever you hire we could have him if we wanted him. Why you ask? Oh, I’ve got about 700,000 reasons why. Does your entire football program even make 700 Grand in a year? So let’s not go acting all high and mighty Tech fans. We don’t want anybody that you’ll be hiring. If we did they would be on our sideline next year wearing red and black.
30-24.
Asheville Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:46 am
Doesn’t anyone want to be a DC at a university in the state of Georgia? Hey, we will offer bushels of money, and a multi- year contract. Job requires passion and immediate success.
Groh, you are 65 and making $4.33 million over the next two years. Enjoy retirement.
Soon UGA will hire someone, I am sure. Later or sooner someone will take UGA job. Oh darn, I forgot to click my heels together when I say that. Or was it my toes?
4.5 years and g-o-n-e
January 12th, 2010
10:47 am
At tech, the tenure for coaches over the last 43 years is about 4.5 years. I would not count on much beyond that and CPJ is in his third season upcoming. They either QUIT for a BIB BOY JOB or GET FIRED at the flats.
He is looking to make his mark, then jump ship for bigger pastures like a Michigan job or one other
( Florida or Bama) that will open up. With Bama and Florida, sooner rather than later is the direction.
We are seeing some wild things this season and it prvoes that things change often and rapidly in the NCAA. Tech? CPJ is already looking to bolt for a Big BOY league and he knows that w.o a defense he will never be viewed as ready for a quality, big boy coaching job.
The numbers are irrefutable for Tech.
Cherokee
January 12th, 2010
10:47 am
Obvious….. One thing for sure CMR has his worst team since he has been here and he still manages to beat TECH’s best team since 1990. And yes Florida has beaten UGA 7 of the last 9 and 17 of 20 I think I mention that and that needs to be fixed.Stupid Nerd!!
Foothills football fan
January 12th, 2010
10:50 am
Pragmatic, it’s cheeper to stuff a dog in a crate than transport a car. Tech wishes it had UGAG problems? YOUR own fans peeing in the library and making YOUR campus look like a third world country on game day…sure , we want some of that!
dawgfan
January 12th, 2010
10:53 am
Okay Tech fans, we are humiliated, degraded, and dehumanized because Foster, Chavis, and Smart turned us down. Are you happy now? Where are you going with this?
I’ll tell you where I’m going. Its the same place I always go when a Techie starts running his mouth. Its called the SCOREBOARD. Maybe you’ve heard of it?
Slick Willie 30 Paul Johnson 24.
AMG
January 12th, 2010
10:53 am
I hope we get Groh, 65 is not that old these days and he is more than well qualified to coach a defense in the ACC. I think he is a perfect fit, but that may not be true to the man that matters most, CPJ.
Not Disappointed
January 12th, 2010
10:53 am
Jeff, this is too much to think about so early in the morning. Jeff you beginning to sound like the “Grim Reaper.” At this rate Ga Tech will recieve “The Great Pumkin” (Charlie Brown. You remember!) before getting a decent DC, or maybe I’m just being a schmuck. Either way, we need a decent DC!
Rambling Wreck out…….