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
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
11:33 pm
With all due respect, Naval Academy Grad, the numbers don’t support your opinion. After CPJ’s first year at Navy, which was obviously a rebuilding year, his teams averaged 30.5, 27.8, 34.2, 28.2, and 38.5. The lowest year, 27.8, was actually the team’s best year under him with a 10-2 record. Coach Niumatololo’s teams have averaged 27.2 and 28.0 his first two years, neither of which are as good as CPJ’s offense averaged in year two when he was still building the program. I’m glad you like your current coach, and I think he’s pretty good myself, but CPJ built that program and Coach N just took it over. Without CPJ, you’re a doormat getting crushed by Air Force and splitting with your archenemy Army, whom you now own.
Wha?
January 22nd, 2010
11:46 pm
FWIW, CPJ has already stated that one of the main goals between now and next year is to work on the passing game. I guess a guy who won 2 FCS championships and made a winner out of a Naval Academy team with impossible restrictions is just a stubborn ole idiot who never adapts. I think the stubborn one is Richt, who hangs on to crappy assistant coaches too long and squanders preseason #1 talent because he refuses to make a change when there’s an obvious problem. Richt is another Gailey, continuing to play a 5th-year senior QB who sat the bench for 4 years after it became obvious he just didn’t have it. That’s all I heard dawg fans gripe about all season.
Not Disappointed!
January 22nd, 2010
11:57 pm
I really look forward to seeing Coach Al Groh at work!
Jeff, this is two really good articles in a row. First Coach Fox at Georgia and now Coach Al Groh on the Flats. Forget Scotch……….Lets pop a bottle of VSOP. You decide.
Ramblin Wreck Out!
PragmaticMan
January 23rd, 2010
6:59 am
If your offense isn’t a problem Wha explain 10 pts in 2 bowl games. Paul Johnson turned down a lot of money at Auburn because he knows he can’t run that offense against SEC teams game after game.
PragmaticMan
January 23rd, 2010
6:59 am
Wha Cox was playing behind the NFL’s #1 draft pick. You’re not real bright are you?
PragmaticMan
January 23rd, 2010
7:13 am
10 best college football programs of the decade. UGA ranks 8th. Where does GT rank. Paul Johnson won’t be at Tech long enough to accomplish what Mark Richt has. And until he can win bowl games and out of conference games against bowl eligible teams he’s just another good coach in a bad conference living off beating a bunch of pansies.
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 23rd, 2010
8:30 am
JELLO JOCKITCH AND AL GROhIN IS A REALLY GOOD ANATOMICAL MATCH. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 23rd, 2010
8:31 am
JELLO JOCKITCH AND AL GROhIN THE BEST ANATOMICAL MARRIAGE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Senior Citizen Discount
January 23rd, 2010
8:31 am
That old guy from Iowa was the perfect choice to go against Tech’s so called perfect option. He was in the prime of his life when the option was in vogue and had years of experience with it.
Half Star Kicker
January 23rd, 2010
8:34 am
I’m glad I had a change of heart and switched my pledge from Miami of Ohio to Tech. I’m now the highest rated Tech commit.
Osama Ali Bing Bang Boom
January 23rd, 2010
8:37 am
The perfect option is the best thing in this country since the invention of the mixed slurpee.
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 23rd, 2010
8:38 am
AL GROhIN IS WHERE THE DISEASE CALLED JELLO JOCKITCH IS. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA FOREVER AND EVER.
Buford Wolves
January 23rd, 2010
8:39 am
Can we open next season in the Corky Kell against Tech?
Meadowcreek Mustangs
January 23rd, 2010
8:44 am
Where do we sign up to play Tech in the Corky Kell?
Shortbus Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
8:46 am
How dense are you, pragmatic? It’s 2 games. Why can’t you do anything with UF for like 20 years? What’s wrong with your coach and program? Did they give you extra time when taking standardized tests in school? It doesn’t matter who Cox sat behind. It was obvious to most dawg fans he had no business on the field this year. Crompton of UT, who can’t get out of his own way most Saturdays, was better by the end of the year. And as far as top teams, you better worry about the next decade.
Joe's Vienna Sausage
January 23rd, 2010
8:49 am
I’m sure glad we didn’t have to play Iowa. Those guys hit really hard, and they might have made me tinkle my silver britches or even eat my chinstrap. Then again, the thought of those big strong arms wrapped around me makes me shiver. I can’t wait to graduate and leave Athens so I can go live in Midtown Atlanta.
Hayseed Dixie
January 23rd, 2010
9:26 am
RealityYech
“where good coaches go to die.”
Are you really THAT stupid?
Chan (our worst coach in awhile) is the head coach of an NFL team.
O’Leary got called up by Notre Dame (before he messed it up on his own).
Bobby Ross went to the NFL and hit the Super Bowl in year two.
Bill Curry went to Alabama. If you went to the *blackout* in 2008, you might know who they are.
What’s Goof, Dooley and Donnan been doing, besides wasting the time of everyone around them?
Hearing Donnan comment on UGA football on the radio is farking hilarious. He’s like the UGA program’s herpes. He just won’t go away.
Former UGA coaches are the joke that writes itself.
Senior Citizen Discount
January 23rd, 2010
9:26 am
Tech fans are quick to jump on the Gator bandwagon since their Tech is 4-14 against Georgia since 1992. Must be nice to hang your hat on another’s schools success against your main rival since your team fails against them.
Seminole Sam
January 23rd, 2010
9:28 am
Don’t forget Tech is only 2-12 against Florida State since 1992.
Wahoo
January 23rd, 2010
9:30 am
… and Tech is only 6-12 against powerhouse Virginia since 1992.
Wha?
January 23rd, 2010
9:54 am
LOL. Seminole Sam, we barely ever play you since the conference got divided. All those wins were in your glory days. Which are now LONG gone. 2-0 is the record the last 2 years and with our current coach BTW. Oh, and Wahoo . . . 1990 is the one that really matters now isn’t it. Ouch, bet that still hurts.
Doug Edwards
January 23rd, 2010
10:52 am
Yeah Shortbus Dawg it’s just 2 games. 63-17 is all. Offense scored 10 points in 2 games. But yeah it’s just 2 games dimwit.
Not Disappointed!
January 23rd, 2010
10:52 am
I believe this years Jackets can be better than the year before.
Lets go Jackets!
Doug Edwards
January 23rd, 2010
10:55 am
Keep believing Not Disappointed. You sound just like the Dawg fans did last year. You’re no better than 3rd in your division in 2010.
Delbert D.
January 23rd, 2010
11:24 am
Tech is 2-0 against FSU in the “common era” (Bowden-Johnson.) A new common era begins with the 2010 season, which is the Fisher-Johnson common era. I think that FSU will reach heights under Coach Fisher that have not been realized in recent years. I’m pretty sure that other schools used the “you know Coach Bowden won’t be there” line for several years on prospective Seminole recruits.
The ‘Noles will help the ACC on the journey back to national recognition.
Urine colored jerseys
January 23rd, 2010
1:02 pm
Wow, Tech wins the worst conference in the BCS and all of a sudden is a powerhouse. They sign a coach as DC who just was fired and the fans rejoice because he wears a Super Bowl ring. Show that and the ring they wear for beating Georgia and I’m sure all of the one and two star recruits will be tearing down the walls to play in a high school offense or a defense run by a man the age of Moses.
Unoriginal G
January 23rd, 2010
4:08 pm
Doug Edwards, 38+24=62, not 63. Not all us Tech fans are math geniuses, but we can handle 3rd grade arithmetic problems. I’ve got another 2 game total for you: 86-36. Let me remind you. The SEC East goes Florida, Tennessee, THEN Georgia. Kind of cuts down your chances of getting into a BCS game, doesn’t it?
Alabama Jack
January 23rd, 2010
6:32 pm
irrelevant dawgs.
HooGotRidOfAL?!
January 23rd, 2010
6:57 pm
good luck with this man, fellas. he alienated every high school coach in the state, and posted defensive stats in the past 9 years that are basically middle of the pack. not to mention he could never ever ever gameplan for VaTech.
Unoriginal G
January 23rd, 2010
7:33 pm
Doesn’t matter Hoo. Frankenstein Beamer can’t gameplan for cut blocks.
HoosinRich
January 23rd, 2010
7:51 pm
Here’s the deal. AG is a lovely guy, and anyone who gets to know him will like him. He’s a great teacher, and the kids will love him. Given a little time, he can game plan without parallel. The bad news is that his version of the 3-4 is not what you think it is. If you are thinking Steelers, aggression, blitzing, combos – you’ve got the wrong scheme. He basically runs a 5-2 with the three inside guys playing 2 gaps. From looking at the GT depth chart, other than a huge NT (which will be great for this D), none of the front seven meet AG’s version. He really needs 3 DTs (hard to recruit) and then convince big DEs to stand up and play both run and pass. His vision of a DE is 6′5″ and 250+lbs. It’s not that a 3-4 isn’t legit in college, it’s that AG’s version of it is a pro model that doesn’t correlate very well with the college game. That said, the Hoos did have some pretty good defensive efforts, but considering that you are going to have to commit to his model (you will hear that a lot), you’re looking at 3 years minimum.
Filament
January 23rd, 2010
8:10 pm
Lots of dique-wagging. So entertaining to read.
Tokyo jacket
January 24th, 2010
3:08 am
Have people even looked at our depth chart when they say that the 3-4 won’t work at Tech? Wow! Obviously Barnes is the DT. Peters is 6′4″ 278 which is the PERFECT DE in this scheme (played DT last year, but recruited as DE). Logan Walls is at 6′2″ 280 on the other end. Again, this is the perfect size for the 3-4. In the waiting is Cross at DE, who could be another Derrick Morgan.
For the LBs, look for Hall to convert to OLB, which will give us some size on the ends. Jefferson and Sylvester up the middle will be a scary combo. If they can put on 5-10 lbs of muscle each, they’ll be lighting up defenses.
For people who question our talent, don’t forget that GT lost a starting safety, LB, and DE (followed by the backup DE) for the season early in the year. We get that talent back this year and it should make a significant impact. As good as last year’s team was, we’re going to be better this year on D. CPJ has a tendency to do what’s necessary with the O to win. The combination of CPJ and Al Groh will have this team in the NC picture before long, if not this year.
snapshot
January 24th, 2010
7:46 am
Very good DC about to hit the flats. Just cause there is snow on the roof, does not mean the fire is out in the kitchen!
#1 GT FAN
January 24th, 2010
9:17 am
He did not look like he had good years at Virginia because………………..he did not have any talent on D.
And from the looks of things right know recruituing wise……………… he will finally have some talent to work with!!!!!!!
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!
Dawghater
January 24th, 2010
10:26 am
Hey whining puppy dawg fans. There are no facts and there is no way you can compare Al Groh’s NFL accomplishments vs. Grantham’s! NONE. So make your age jokes and ridiculouse comments. Need I remind you both Parcells and Belichik wanted Groh for their D Coordinator in the NFL. Grantham was fired from his last D Coordinator job in the NFL. And Groh wasn’t our 4th choice to be the D Coordinator either!
pete
January 24th, 2010
10:29 am
I have one rule and one rule only when dealing with uga fans: kick em in the balls and punch em in the face, repeat till they are dead, dead, dead.
Homer L Ferguson
January 24th, 2010
12:12 pm
Don’t be fooled the way UVA fans were initially fooled by Al Groh. He is a spotty talent evaluator and will always go for an NFL body, with or with BCS athleticism. He makes decisions at the last minute and cannot adjust to his plans not working. He’s made his rep on having coached LT, but come on… how hard was that? Look at the way he handled Ahmad Brooks at UVA, and you’ll see why he is overrated. He couldn’t get along with the UVA media, which is a bunch of boot licking creme puffs. He’s only in this to get even with UVA and make sure his idiot son Mike can ride his connections when, inevitable, Mike doesn’t cut it at Louisville. He left UVA with so little talent that it will take years for the program to overcome. You didn’t get a winner in Al Groh!!
messin with sasquatch
January 24th, 2010
2:57 pm
last??
ooh the dogg posts are not even funny here. no reference to crime, not selling out bobby dodd, cokes and tickets…
I am soooo disappointed in you pathetic losers.
and no allcaps posts.
and where is the doofus in toccoa, boogieman?
uga graduate
January 24th, 2010
3:46 pm
Would you like fries with that, mam?
short bus dawg
January 24th, 2010
4:03 pm
I doodied in my pants.
Urine colored jerseys
January 24th, 2010
8:54 pm
match the piss hole stadium they play in.
mash a bug
January 25th, 2010
12:09 am
hey Al, 30-24 baby, 30-24…….
FSU
January 25th, 2010
9:48 am
JUST LIKE FOOTBALL!!!! JUST LIKE FOOTBALL!!!! JUST LIKE FOOTBALL!!!!
Almost Competitive Conference
January 25th, 2010
10:05 am
Winning the Acc this year is akin to winning the Sunbelt , Gimmicky offense doesn’t work against better teams, what quality talent Tech had was recruited by Gailey, and the best of those are gone.
Acc had a pathetic out of conference records against bcs schools, and managed to lose to 2 games 1-aa schools, yes that’s one tough conference.Techs obsession with UGA is hilarious.Win over UGA in 2008 was a fluke, Get pounded by Uga in 2009, get totally dominated by Iowa in Bowl game, and lets not forget the Ass whipping LSU , when CPJ teams play against good out of conference teams they get thrashed.
Spike
January 25th, 2010
12:14 pm
Boy, the nerd nation has a serious man crush on their old as dirt DC. Nice record he had at UVA.
Suspiciously Eligible Conference
January 25th, 2010
2:05 pm
Yeah 30-24 was a real pounding. That’s why we were driving for the go ahead TD at the end when our WR dropped a first down pass. Boy, if UGAg was only as good as their Camo-wearin’, Skoal-dippin’ fans thought they were, then they might actually be a Top 5 National program instead of not even a Top 5 team in their crooked, probation-prone conference.
NFL messaging for Ga Tech
January 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
Groh’s secret, double secret card to play with recruits will be personal testimonials of his NFL days. He will talk about seeing Francis Trakenton and Gayle Sayers and the tech recruits will wonder when they allowed girls to play in the league. Groh will really have a contemporary message from the NFL for today’s recruits. HAHAHAHAHAHAH
He can talk about Unitas and Slinging Sammy Baugh and Norm van Brocklin, George Halas and Paul Brown and they will be REALLY IMPRESSED with him. He will be REAL relevant. HAHAHA
CPJ? He will scream “slap me in the face for hiring that guy” come signing day. HAHAHAHHA
Tuesday Countdown: Fans, enemies, Peanut Dog and Tebow | Jeff Schultz
January 26th, 2010
9:51 am
[...] last week, I wrote with some amusement about how jovial new Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh seemed at his introductory press conference, even cracking jokes. And I kinda speculated that his decision [...]
bayers
January 26th, 2010
12:20 pm
Recruits are rejecting St. Johnson and Groh left and right this week!!! LOL!!!