Todd Grantham needs to worry about coaching, not contract
Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham shouldn't be making an issue of his contract in November. (Jason Getz)
If there is one thing that we have learned this season at Georgia, it’s that Todd Grantham is a pretty good coach. The Bulldogs’ defense has improved almost every week this season, and is miles ahead of what it was a year ago.
But we’ve witnessed, courtesy of YouTube, that sometimes Grantham just does dumb things – and here he goes again.
If you missed the stories earlier this week from our Chip Towers, Grantham’s agent is publicly pushing for a raise and contract extension for Georgia’s defensive coordinator. Never mind that the contract still has 14 months to run.
Agent Michael Harrison has been rebuffed by athletic director Greg McGarity, who says he won’t address coaches’ contracts until after the season. And sorry, but Mark Richt’s contract is a slightly higher priority.
Grantham is a coach. It would be a good idea to stick to that for possibly four more games and worry about his finances in January.
I’ve covered player and coach negotiations for nearly 30 years. Let me tell you how this works. Agents generally don’t go rogue. When they talk to the media, it’s at their clients’ urging and/or approval.
Harrison told Chip that he has gotten “inquiries” from NFL teams about Grantham returning to the league as an assistant. He claims he has gotten “feelers” from college teams about being a head coach.
These soundbites are all orchestrated. I understand Harrison is just doing his job for his client. But the client – Grantham – needs to understand bringing this up now is counterproductive. Seriously. Grantham expects the Bulldogs to make a commitment to a defensive coordinator less than two full years into a three-year contract when they haven’t even finalized the head coach’s future yet?
Consider the importance of Georgia’s potential four remaining games: 1) Kentucky, the potential SEC East-clincher; 2) Georgia Tech, the local rival; 3) LSU (probably), the SEC championship; 4) Bowl game opponent, which finalizes rankings and stature.
Should this really be an issue right now?
I’m guessing somebody said something to Grantham follow Monday’s initial story because by Tuesday Grantham was trying to say the right things. Following practice Tuesday night, he maintained that his focus was on the Kentucky game and not his contract.
But when he alluded to Harrison and said, “You hire people to do a job for you and I let him handle that part of it,” it missed the point. Agents work for their clients, not the other way around. This is a public issue now because of Grantham, not his agent.
One more thing: While it wouldn’t stun me if Grantham winds up returning to the NFL, I don’t buy Harrison’s claim of legitimate head coaching offers, certainly not at a major college. Any coordinator who has a head coaching offer would jump at it rather than worrying about using it as leverage.
In other words, this is all drivel we could’ve done without.
By Jeff Schultz
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424 comments Add your comment
oldfart
November 16th, 2011
1:24 pm
Delbert – Add this one to your list too.
“I know numerous of people who does not come to the AJC site anymore becuase of all the negativity.”
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:25 pm
Checking back on some comments (I had to leave for actual work, sorry) . . .
Gbal — “I just dont thin TG or his agent called without proding or enticement and just offered up this information”
<< Now you have your answer.
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
1:25 pm
jeff if 4 years at UGA can’t educate a dawg fan, then how do you figure you and Chip can do it in one blog? LMAO
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:26 pm
Ty Webb — “Schultz won’t respond to you beacuse he knows the whole premise of his blog entry is false. TG’s agent was asked by Towers. the agent(and TG) didn’t bring it up.”
<<< Apology accepted.
Troll Power Ratings
November 16th, 2011
1:28 pm
a man of character and dignity with free advice…
and humble to boot. Thanks for gracing us with your presence.
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
1:28 pm
Jeff throwing hay-makers all over the place! Down Goes a Dawg Fan! Down Goes a Dawg fan!
go dawgs
November 16th, 2011
1:29 pm
jeff, your going back and posting other people’s comments makes you look so dumb. the point MOST fans was trying to make is that YOU are very negative towards the dawgs and its getting very old. This is the AJC atlanta is all dawg territory and we’re tired of seeing the negativity. Maybe one day you’ll actually have a positive spin
Mike
November 16th, 2011
1:30 pm
Chip, that’s fine and good, but painting this like Grantham is focused on his contract and not his agent doing some pre-marketing for his client is wrong. Grantham has stated he is focused only on Kentucky. Reporting on your conversation with an agent is one thing. Writing articles stirring up trouble like Grantham is shifting his focus to his contract is sort of bogus and out of line. Grantham himself hasn’t come to the media about it, the media went to him. Then Jeff wants to write a column telling Grantham to stick with coaching HAHA. Come on man. Thats exactly what he has been doing. Stop stirring the pot and let him get back to his business!
gbal
November 16th, 2011
1:30 pm
Jeff says he need to focus on FB
Chip says he is focusing on FB
So I guess all is straightened out and we can move along huh… other that damage is done.
gbal
November 16th, 2011
1:31 pm
and the answer is?
wes
November 16th, 2011
1:32 pm
Jeff, You have always been a quack and always will be a quack. How did you get your job??
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:32 pm
JB — “.And I don’t think you have used the word “fire’, but I do believe you have danced around certain parameters of certain outcomes if Richt would last in Athens. But, that is your job, to create a conversation of an event or outcome that may or may not happen.”
So I guess you just admitted you were wrong. OK.
My job is to write my opinion. That’s what a columnist. As a general rule, some folks agree, some disagree. If anybody commenting on this blog wrote an opinion piece, I guarantee you the same thing would happen. I welcome all dissenting views. It’s part of the job. Some Georgia fans (such as yourself) believe I’m determined to run off Mark Richt, based on the fact that I’ve criticized the Georgia program during the slide the last couple of years. But what you ignore is all the positive things I wrote about Mark and the program prior to that, and you ignore the fact that I wrote late last season — before the Georgia Tech game, I believe — that he should be brought back this year and NOT FIRED (which, by the way, got me criticized by fans who want him fired). I have not taken a position on Richt’s future beyond this year because, like Greg McGarity, I think he should be judged on the body of work that includes all of this season. Obviously, the fact the Dogs have won 8 straight is a remarkable achievement. So let’s see what happens.
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:33 pm
Mike — “… but agents are more than known for doing things without consulting their clients.”
Wrong.
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:34 pm
Paul in NH — Thanks. Ugh. Drew Rosenhaus. Please, let’s keep him out of college.
Mutt Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:35 pm
Uh oh, uh oh, the Evil Jeff is back! Looking for trouble, looking for controversy where there is none. Add “Coaching for UGA in Atlanta’s Backyard” as a stresser worth some remuneration in a UGA coach’s contract. No other SEC team has to endure such Jerry Springer Show-like scrutiny as the coaches in Athens. And this is when UGA is WINNING, for gosh sakes!
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:36 pm
Andy — Thanks. Fact is I wouldn’t even have a huge problem with it if it came up before the bowl game (as long as it wasn’t a BCS title game or something).
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:36 pm
Troll Power Ratings — “Also, it is amusing to watch the fan base go back and forth with Dawg fans going nuts over articles in the AJC last winter (justifiably) questioning the direction of the football program and Richt’s future. Then UGA starts to win this year and all the Yech whiners come out of the woodwork complaining about Shultz and Bradley being UGA homers.”
Welcome to my world.
a man of character and dignity with free advice
November 16th, 2011
1:37 pm
Jeff, I for one appreciate the job you do at the AJC…
This is a man of character and dignity with free advice…have a pleasant afternoon…
RCB
November 16th, 2011
1:37 pm
The difference bewtween the real world and commentary is that the real world is based on facts and inferences arising from facts while commentary is the equivalent of day dreaming. After completing his dream, the commentator then blasts the target. Let me suggest the “drivel” is the article and not the other way around.
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:39 pm
A man of character… Thank you sir.
North ave. faithful
November 16th, 2011
1:42 pm
Cant blame these dawg fans, i kind of like TG myself. i like any coach who has enough fire to get in another coaches face, shows he gives a #$%^. kind of wish he would have popped that arrogant vandy coach.
JSS
November 16th, 2011
1:42 pm
@ Jeff Schultz…
Remember that email that I sent you from Mexico? Ha ha, I can’t stop laughing, you can’t make this up!!!
Mike
November 16th, 2011
1:46 pm
uh, no Jeff, Im not wrong. Agents know its their money on the line too, and many get aggressive as a result. They dont all just sit there waiting for instructions.
WD
November 16th, 2011
1:51 pm
You people need to get a clue!
I love the way the defense is playing now, but Grantham is in no way loyal to UGA and is already bargaining for his next move while everyone’s patting him on the back..
Just watch, he may be at UGA next year, but I can just about guarantee he’s gone in 2013.
God help whoever gets him…A good defensive coach I cannot deny, but he’s a bigger clown.
headley lamar
November 16th, 2011
1:52 pm
He deserves a raise and an extension.
And he will get both.
Whats the big deal ?
Freeloader Loran
November 16th, 2011
1:53 pm
Jeff, why can’t you,Mark,Chip,DOB,etc. write about DIFFERENT topics ? Too many blogs about the same exact topic daily…
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
1:53 pm
@Mike I guess that Grantham’s agent is working behind the scenes to get him a head Coaching job like at Kentucky or Ole Miss without Todd’s permission right now.
Freeloader Loran
November 16th, 2011
1:54 pm
Why does he or anyone deserve a raise in a bad economy ?
headley lamar
November 16th, 2011
1:54 pm
A good defensive coach I cannot deny, but he’s a bigger clown.
Everybody has an opinion.
That comes with the territory when coaching at an elite program like UGA.
His players love him and that’s really all that matters.
headley lamar
November 16th, 2011
1:55 pm
@Mike I guess that Grantham’s agent is working behind the scenes to get him a head Coaching job like at Kentucky or Ole Miss without Todd’s permission right now.
He might. Agents get paid to put out feelers and then go back to their clients with the results.
Red-N-Black
November 16th, 2011
1:57 pm
SillyPosters
November 16th, 2011
11:27 am
What do you goobers think a sports writer does in the 24-7 age of the media? They write about topics that come up. You think they shouldn’t report on it because you don’t like it? This is the world, get used to it.
P.S. UGA still has a fan base of rednecks hillbillies. Go Jackets, we don’t win much but basketweaving is not on the diploma list.
And judging by your graduation rates you sure arent’ doing much of anything else either.
headley lamar
November 16th, 2011
1:57 pm
Asked about his agent’s comments on Tuesday, Grantham said, “What I do is you hire people to do a job for you, and I let him handle that part of it. My focus is on getting the defense to play well and getting ready for the Kentucky game, and getting ready to win the SEC East, truthfully.”
Grantham’s defense is No. 4 in the nation statistically for a Bulldogs team that has won eight straight games. A win over Kentucky on Saturday will clinch a berth in the Dec. 3 SEC Championship Game in the Georgia Dome.
Grantham, 45, acknowledged he would like to become a head coach some day, but he said playing in the title game is currently dominating his thoughts.
“I think everyone wants to become a head coach,” he said. “First of all, I have a very good job. I was excited to come here because of the vision I had about what I felt you could do with the type of players you can get at the University of Georgia. I’m very excited to be here. Truthfully, I just focus on every situation that’s coming up.”
That really should be the end of it.
headley lamar
November 16th, 2011
1:59 pm
Go Jackets, we don’t win much but basketweaving is not on the diploma list.
Yeah but “Management” ( which 98 percent of the football team majors in ) is.
Why do you think they all decide on the same major ? LOL
WDE
November 16th, 2011
1:59 pm
Good article Jeff I agree there is a time and a place and this is at least is not yet the time for money talks…oh and did I mention that so far this year UGA has beaten UT,Auburn and the gators…Jeff I can’t help it I don’t get a lot of years where I can say that and well it just never gets old when I do..have a great afternoon sir.
EZDawginCO
November 16th, 2011
1:59 pm
Jeff-
I think people need to realize it is an opinion piece more than anything. Kudos to you for firing back. I came across some interesting figures earlier today about how well Georgia has done overall compared to the power houses of the west. I think the number show that we aren’t far behind in Stats on defense. I hope we show Grantham how much he is appreciated with atleast a 3 yr deal.
I might be hopping on a “way to soon” band wagon but with returning talent and the way freshman have played all year. UGA will definitely be a SECCG contender and NC hopeful.
The SEC record of the SEC teams UGA has played = 16-32
The SEC record of the SEC teams Bama has played = 17-31
The SEC record of the SEC teams LSU has played = 15-25
after Ole Miss next week = 15-31
Maybe the overall schedule was a little harder but for the SEC it hasn’t been much differnt.
Freeloader Loran
November 16th, 2011
1:59 pm
UGA won 8 straight games against 6 weak teams (with losing records) and watered down (rebuilding) Auburn & Fla. teams. So the fact of the matter is the only way to find out if Richt has the team better is to see the results of the Ga. Tech,SEC Championship,and (whichever) Bowl games ! Beating Ole Pizz,Missy St.,Vandy,and New Mex. St. doesn’t prove ANYTHING.
a man of character and dignity with free advice
November 16th, 2011
2:00 pm
Well stated WD…coaches like Mr. Grantham are always looking for “the next job”…unless they have a family or alumni attachment to that program…and since coach Grantham is not a georgia alumni and is probably not comfortable living amongst a bunch of mouth breathing georgia fans, he’s probably going to move on…you people think he’s going to hang around and carry CMR for the next three-four years?? really??? unfortunately, most of you dawgs think he’s reached coaching nirvana in Athens…well, he hasn’t….
This is a man of character and dignity with free advice…have a pleasant afternoon…
Mike
November 16th, 2011
2:01 pm
@5150 UOAD – that’s not what I’m talking about. This whole thing started because Grantham’s agent contacted Chip Towers. He may not have run that by Grantham specifically. For all we know, he may have just told Grantham he would start working on the issue. The whole reason clients come to agents is because they are better at the negotiations. They know the tricks of the trade. Grantham has stated he is letting his agent handle it. I seriously doubt Grantham is telling his agent step by step how to go about his job. In this case, I doubt he told his agent to contact Chip Towers at AJC. We have no idea what sort of relationship they have. For all we know, Grantham just told him to do what he thinks is right, and leave him to concentrate on football.
EZDawginCO
November 16th, 2011
2:01 pm
WDE,
We should take care of GT too and that will almost be a perfect year, no matter if we win the SEC or not. GO DAWGS!!!!
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
2:03 pm
Freeloader Loren — Mark and I parachute in on topics because we get paid to write opinions. The others you listed don’t have that license. That’s why you will see Chip and I or Chip and Mark at a Georgia game. One paid to tell the story, one paid for opinion. Occasionally Mark and I will blog on same topic but we try to avoid that.
Freeloader Loran
November 16th, 2011
2:03 pm
If Grantham leaves to be a head coach next year there are an infinite number of capable replacements for him out there.
Jimbo
November 16th, 2011
2:03 pm
Soft Willie Martinez wants a second chance
a man of character and dignity with free advice
November 16th, 2011
2:04 pm
@EZDawginCO…the only hole in your like-schedule theory is that UGa is NOT LSU or ALABAMA…UGa is still the team that lost to UCF less than a year ago, and hasn’t beaten anyone of worth in the time between UCF and today…LSU and BAMA have…
This is a man of character and dignity with free advice…have a pleasant afternoon…
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
2:04 pm
EZDawginCO — Thanks. The combined SEC record of opponents for UGA’s SEC wins was much worse before the Auburn game (5-24). I think the combined conference records are better indicator than overall records.
EZDawginCO
November 16th, 2011
2:05 pm
Freeloader Loran look at my post. Records speak for themselves. I will give it to LSU for playing Oregon right of the bat and laying the wood. But for the rest in the West, not a whole lot of difference. You might Alabame at PSU but PSU is playing in a week conference right now and definitely have slid down as of late, because of the horrible crap that happened.
Freeloader Loran
November 16th, 2011
2:06 pm
Thanks for the clarification Jeff. You da man !
Brick Tamland
November 16th, 2011
2:07 pm
I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE YELLING ABOUT!
Freeloader Loran
November 16th, 2011
2:09 pm
UGA played two highly ranked opponents early (Boise St. & SC) and lost. They will play (# 20 something) Ga. Tech,highly ranked SEC West champ,and a higher ranked opponent in Bowl game. Judge Richt on those 5 tough games not the 8 almost givens…
Troy
November 16th, 2011
2:10 pm
and Chip Towers has a blog where??????????????????????????????????????????????
THE AJC….Chip stirs the pot as much as the so called “Staff Sportswriters”
Mad Marky Mark
November 16th, 2011
2:11 pm
Yeah, your amigo Mark B’s got me banned er something from blogging on his blogs. And I haven’t used racism,bogotry,knives,swords,guns,profanity,or personal insults.