It’s the new charming Al Groh (until Virginia week)
It turns out new Tech assistant Al Groh has a sense of humor. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Al Groh walked into his first formal meeting with the media at Georgia Tech Friday, wearing a particularly large ring on his right hand: a Super Bowl ring from his days with the New York Giants.
Was this standard accessorizing for him?
“No,” he said “Not very often. I usually just wear it for other people’s entertainment.”
Press conferences?
“No. Recruiting.”
This ring was from Groh's second Super Bowl with the New York Giants.
Full disclosure here: Groh, while long regarded as a top defensive coach, never has had a reputation of being a charmer with the media. But I figure that working for Bill Parcells all of those years is bound to make anybody miserable.
But Groh seemed at ease Friday when discussing his new role as Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator, and even cracked a few jokes. When asked about the possible difficulty of going from being a head coach at Virginia to only an assistant again, he said: “You mean, am I going to have to let go of being responsible for players going to class, coming to the Monday press conference, talking to you all after games, meeting with the administrators, justifying our GPA – am I going to miss all of that? Yeah. I don’t know how I can do without it.”
Thank you. Try the veal.
It certainly has been stated enough times in this corner before: Paul Johnson made a terrific hire in Groh. For as much as Groh fizzled as a head coach at Virginia (8-16, including 5-11 in the ACC, in the last two seasons), he long has been regarded as one of the finest defensive coaches in football. But it’s clear there is some lingering bitterness remaining from his exit in Charlottesville and he’s greatly looking forward to the Tech-Virginia game next season. Here’s a few comments that stood out to me from the news conference:
♦ On still being bothered by how things ended at Virginia: “Sure. At one time we had some real good teams, and a lot of people contributed to that. So we were disappointed that our teams weren’t as good at the end. I think I understand the reasons why. But it doesn’t make any difference now . It is what it is. It’s all in the past and we’re looking forward.”
♦ On next year’s Virginia game: “It would be disingenuous to say that it’s not a different type of game. But if I was overly sentimental coaching against teams that I was formerly associated with, then I’d be coaching with tears in my eyes every week. … I hope there’s a lot of people [in Virginia] who feel we did a pretty good job. But one of the things inside of [coaches] is the awareness that you have to prove yourself every week and every year.”
♦ On his playing days at Virginia: “I didn’t have any talent. So all I could be was tough.”
♦ On adjusting back to being a head coach (seriously): “For the last 10 years, pretty much everything that we’ve done is what I wanted ti do. That’s not my role any more. I’m not the head coach, I’m not trying to be the head coiach, I don’t want to be the head coach. Paul Johnson has one of the best records percentage wise in the history of college coaching. He doesn’t need much help from me. It’s my role to adjust to how things are done around here. It’s my job to make the transition seamless, not have other people adjust to me.”
Our Doug Roberson will be posting a story later, and he’ll get more into the aspects of the Jackets’ switch to the 3-4 defense. I just wanted to give you a feel for Groh’s public debut. Early impressions: Positive.
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201 comments Add your comment
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
3:56 pm
I guess the other 10% are arrogant dillholes.
collegeballfan
January 22nd, 2010
3:58 pm
Yeah I agree, real positive. I think this would be a really good hire anywhere, but for Johnson I think this is an absolutely great hire.
Groh will make Johnson a better coach.
Now to recruit the players needed to get to the top. That is the next, and most important, step in the building process. And the most important.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:00 pm
Talent is all you got, Dawglasville. Squandered talent. Let’s hope smoke-blowin’ Richt can keep his golden egg-laying goose Garner up there another year. Cross your fingers and hope he doesn’t find his professional ambition anytime soon.
Stuart
January 22nd, 2010
4:03 pm
Great hire by Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson. Looks like Groh is making the transition quite easily and is up to the task. Of course the footballs haven’t been inflated and there haven’t been any bad games to explain yet. Talk more Tech football at: http://www.bbuzzoff.com
UGAFan
January 22nd, 2010
4:04 pm
And, MatthewH, UF is switching also to the 3-4.
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
4:04 pm
Other than losing to Florida, almost everyone has, where has Richt really failed?
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
4:10 pm
Richt has won 2 titles in the SEC. Johnson has won one ACC title. What are we talking about?
RealityYech
January 22nd, 2010
4:10 pm
The Joke by Coke is where good coaches go to die. Fortunately enough for Gailey, he has broken that curse for the time being. Yech will never be a serious national player. And once the real programs in the ACC get back on their feet, Yech will not even be a contender in their God forsaken conference again. Your overpaid, overrated, overweight coach has been exposed as a fraud. 0-2 in bowl games, 1-2 against bowl eligible SEC teams. All he can hang his hat on is beating the SEC cellar dwellers soundly, and winning a de facto ACC championship when half the conference finished the season .500 or worse.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:12 pm
Now, you’re the smoke-blower Dawglasville. You’ve really got me convinced dawg fans don’t consider the last 2 years disappointments.
falcon71
January 22nd, 2010
4:14 pm
im sure he can elavate the D scheme wise but im hoping he has the players to make the schemes work. dont think they are there now ut we will see soon enough
Concerned Tech fan
January 22nd, 2010
4:15 pm
I don’t think we have the personnel next year to successfully run the 3-4 and we’re seriously lacking in playmakers on offense except for Nesbitt. Nesbitt is our best player by a mile and that worries me. We also have UNC, UGA, Clemson, and VT on the road. It’s going to be a long fall.
bobby dodd
January 22nd, 2010
4:18 pm
As a Hokie, I for one am thrilled with the Groh hire. If you wonder why, just look at the results of the VT – UVA series over the last 10 years.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:21 pm
RealityYech . . . it’s his 2nd season and he’s already matched Gailey’s best win total his first year, and passed O’Leary’s best in his 2nd. The only thing overpaid is a certain team’s 5th choice DC who got the job because Bud Foster and Kirby Smart didn’t want to attach their career prospects to Richt’s sinking boat. Kirby Not Dumb didn’t take the job because he figures if he’s patient in a couple of years he might be interviewing for the HC at his alma mater.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:22 pm
The players are there at LB and DB. You just couldn’t tell from the incompetency of the last coach.
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
4:28 pm
Wha? Anytime we lose to Tech it is a huge disappointment. You forget how big of a rivalry it is until Tech wins one. Tech’s ACC title puts them in the same boat as Cincy, Hawaii, Boise State. Do you think that nation really notices? PJ’s biggest win is still the Georgia game last year. How long can you hold on to that?
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:32 pm
Until we beat you next year.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:37 pm
Wow. We won 11, won the ACC, have an at least even chance of beating you guys, and now we have a DC who at least looks great on paper to go with our 35 ppg offense. You mutts are right. It’s totally hopeless at Tech. We should just drop back to FBS because we lost a couple of bowl games. Oh and our conference is on the level with the WAC according to you. Whatever. Delusional dawgfans.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
4:38 pm
Prepare for more disappointments, dawggies. They’re comin.
RealityYech
January 22nd, 2010
4:42 pm
Sad your bar for success is what O’Liary and Gailey did, or didn’t do. The ACC was heavily more competitive and formidable during their days in the conference as well. You lose all the way around.
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
4:44 pm
Watch ESPN or listen to national sports talk radio. The ACC will be looked at in a different light when they win something. With Bowden out and Florida in transition, Tech may have their hands full soon with FSU and Miami. How long can those schools suck?
Be a realist...
January 22nd, 2010
4:44 pm
Dawglasville, You ego is only exceeded by your ignorance… Biggest win in the last two years is ACC CG. Don’t get me wrong, coming back in the 2nd half and crushing the doggies in the cess pool was sweet, but winning the league this year was the best!!!
I look forward to this fall when I expect to win both in the same year.
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
4:48 pm
Be a realist…If your happy, I’m happy. You have a better chance every year to win the ACC than you do of beating UGA or winning your bowl game. Enjoy Jacksonville.
Otto
January 22nd, 2010
5:01 pm
Just a couple of asterisk for the Techie who posted as Vince Dooley
*GT has ZERO consensus National Titles
*GT has ZERO weeks at #1 in the AP ever.
GTAnchorage
January 22nd, 2010
5:05 pm
Dawglesville,
You didn’t see Tech beat Virginia Tech while they were top 5? I think that was a much bigger win than the uga one. I do agree with you about Miami and FSU though. They have the recruits to be great, just need the right coaching. Are they going to be there this year? I don’t really know but they will be better. I think Virginia Tech is going to be even better this year as well. As much as I hate to say it, I don’t believe Tech will win the ACC coastal this year. The division is just too strong. May be one of the strongest divisions in the country.
Otto
January 22nd, 2010
5:06 pm
Blackprix, UGA has heard that before but UGA has won 70% of the games over the past 4 decades. Year 2 of CPJ resulted in leaving the option with the game on the line. I can’t wait for year 3.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 22nd, 2010
5:07 pm
I have a source that says the new puppie won’t be ready to be UGA VIII by the start of the season, so I’m getting ready to dump a load all over Groh’s shoes. He can use his Super Bowl ring to scrape it off.
GTAnchorage
January 22nd, 2010
5:11 pm
I’m not sure the point of all of you uga idiots coming on this blog. Go back to your trailers
Dawglasville
January 22nd, 2010
5:14 pm
GT Anchorage- you are right about the VT win. I hope everyone, Dawgs and Jacket alike, have a great weekend.
calvin
January 22nd, 2010
5:16 pm
Does this mean that now every team that plays Tech won’t
take the ball first (win or lose the toss) and march down
the field for an easy touchdown?
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
5:20 pm
The ACC is what it is. It’s the 5th best BCS conference, above the Big East. Surprised other Tech fans think we’re going to be in so much trouble next year. According to Navy fans, the 3rd year in Paul Johnson’s system is when things really get cranking on offense.
Typo Joe
January 22nd, 2010
5:21 pm
Hey Jeff, spell check much?
Golden Rule
January 22nd, 2010
5:39 pm
SEC East = 1 hit wonders…If I am not mistaken half of the mighty SEC least got biatch slapped by the ACC and the Big East in the Bowls. LOL Like I said 1 hit wonders..go UF
DamYankee
January 22nd, 2010
5:46 pm
Every time I forget what pinheads UGA fans are I just have to tune in to a Tech blog. Why don’t you a$$holes wait until someone drops a blog on your new DC before showing us all how great you are? UGA- the most overrated program in the most overrated conference in college FB. Just sayin’.
Technophobia
January 22nd, 2010
5:47 pm
UGA fans are such morons. lol
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=84764
Tron Carter
January 22nd, 2010
5:50 pm
Coach Groh had sucess with defenses in the past, but Trek doesn’t have the caliber linebackers he is used to like Moses and Methuselah.
Tron Carter
January 22nd, 2010
5:54 pm
30-24 BBBBBBWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAA
73-66 Double BBBBBBBBBWWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHAAAAAA
See you douches on the baseball field.
Tron Carter
January 22nd, 2010
5:54 pm
60-39-5
Tron Carter
January 22nd, 2010
6:00 pm
Already talking about how you will beat Georgia next year?
Remember what that got you last year?
30-24 and a free hotdog and coke
Tron Carter
January 22nd, 2010
6:03 pm
Trek slipped again to #44 in recruiting and still #9 in the ACC.
Looks like the grumpy old men strategy is not working.
Recruits scared off when the cast of Cocoon comes knocking on their door.
DamYankee
January 22nd, 2010
6:05 pm
See, I’m not a Tech fan either, so the anti-Tech comments don’t get me foaming at the mouth, but it doesn’t change the fact that Dawg Nation is predominantly composed of delusional morons.
GTAnchorage
January 22nd, 2010
6:13 pm
Technophobia, thats hilarious. I thought that the country looked at ugay as irrelevant, but now that pretty much shows that they do. uga fans are the only ones that think they are good.
Technophobia
January 22nd, 2010
6:31 pm
Keep trying Tron and Dawglessvill, someday you’ll say something clever.
Blue Fox
January 22nd, 2010
6:33 pm
Wonder if Dave Wommack and Willy Martinez are hanging out together these days??
Illiterate Cokehead
January 22nd, 2010
6:41 pm
I heard both are now on the staff of WPSU or Wet Paper Sack University. Both still have ambitions of making it back to the big time, but it’s doubtful. You know what they say about both those guys.
ASHEVILLE DAWG
January 22nd, 2010
6:53 pm
I see advertising the 5th/3rd bank,what happened to the other four?
Alabama Jack
January 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
You can always tell a dawg, you just can’t tell them much.
Irrelevant.
Poured myself a vodka
January 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
Go JETS!!!!
Senior Citizen Discount
January 22nd, 2010
7:42 pm
Hey Jeff, Please be sure to tell Groh to shop on Wednesdays while grocery shopping to get his discount.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 22nd, 2010
7:43 pm
whoever it was who posted that CMR has 2 SEC championships and CPJ only one ACC championship needs to be reminded that CMR has 2 SEC championships IN TEN YEARS. CPJ has one ACC championship in only TWO YEARS.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 22nd, 2010
7:46 pm
Hey, Discount, do you remember Monte Kiffin? In case you don’t, he was DC at UT last year, and he is a senior citizen also. His age sure didn’t stop him from being able to stuff the mutts last year.