Some UGA coaching rumors won’t go away
John Chavis (LSU)
Will John Chavis turn out to be Georgia’s next defensive coordinator after all? What about Kirby Smart, still any chance of that? Is Mark Richt really planning on getting his next DC from the NFL ranks?
Depends on which rumor you’re hearing, as the talk about who’ll replace Willie Martinez continues to generate conflicting stories. Are any of them based on real leaks of information out of Butts-Mehre in Athens? Or are they generated by agents looking to get their clients better deals from their current employers, or just sheer speculation? Only Mark Richt and Co. know for sure at this point.
It seemed a couple of days ago as if Chavis, the former Tennessee DC now running the defense for LSU, was off the board, after a Baton Rouge TV station quoted an LSU player as saying Chavis assured him at practice that he wasn’t going anywhere.
But ESPN.com’s Chris Low reports today: “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.”
Low adds: ” LSU coach Les Miles has acknowledged that he’s aware that Georgia may have an interest in Chavis, whose salary was $450,000 this season. … The word out of Georgia, though, is that the Bulldogs may go to $600,000-plus annually and offer a three-year contract.”
Also, Gannett’s Bayou Bengals Blog reports that as of late Tuesday night, Chavis “had not completely ruled out a lucrative offer to be Georgia’s defensive coordinator after just one season with the Tigers.”
We may find out more later today when Chavis is scheduled to meet the media in Orlando as part of the Capital One Bowl coordinator’s news conference.
Low also notes that Richt has made a pitch to Alabama’s Kirby Smart (everything’s been very quiet on that front lately) and also mentions Todd Grantham of the Dallas Cowboys and Bob Sanders of the Buffalo Bills as “two NFL assistants to keep an eye on.”
The Bayou Bengals Blog noted that while Chavis may well have told LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard that he was staying at LSU, things could have changed since then. Richt may have upped his offer.
That is, of course, assuming there’s even been an offer. There’s been no confirmation either way.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach said on local radio and in an ESPN online chat: “I think Richt makes one more run at Kirby Smart. If Smart doesn’t take it, I think Dallas Cowboys DL coach Todd Grantham might be the front runner.”
Whether Chavis or Smart would consider a move to UGA is very much the subject of debate among college football observers. An NFL assistant might be more inclined to look on a coordinator’s job in the SEC as a step up.
What do you think? Feel free to offer your own speculation and rumors to the mix. …
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221 comments Add your comment
how2fish
December 30th, 2009
11:23 am
Opinion funny how our unranked football team stomped a mudhole in your No9 ranked team…30-24
gdawginkalamazoo
December 30th, 2009
11:23 am
MODAWG, that’s about all that needs to be said on this subject. Well put and probably 100% correct. I like the way Richt is handling this. I wish people would chill and let the process happen instead of throwing the names out there to banter around. The only thing that does is get the guys a raise where they are at.
ToccoaDawg
December 30th, 2009
11:26 am
The grad assistants were a step above Martinez
SEC East Headlines – 12/30/09 | MrSEC.com
December 30th, 2009
11:31 am
[...] Uh, well…13. John Chavis? Kirby Smart? Todd Grantham? Bob Sanders? Folks continue to try to guess who’ll be the Dawgs’ next defensive coordinator.14. Could Chavis decide to leave Baton Rouge because “he witnessed a very shaky sideline [...]
know it all
December 30th, 2009
11:31 am
I see the dominate ACC owned the SEC yet again in a bowl game. Just more of the same
Cobb Dawg
December 30th, 2009
11:33 am
We need coordinators who can step into the HC job when Richt leaves. Smart’s the guy. There’s lots more money at UGA than there is at Bama. Bama will sacrifice education for football any day, but UGA can pay Smart more than Bama and not sacrifice education. I think he’ll be the guy, otherwise I think someone would already be named. Chavis, a good coach, is not the right fit in my opinion.
senoiadawgs
December 30th, 2009
11:33 am
CMR is sure keeping this close to the vest as are the people he has contacted.
Now my two cents, I don’t like Smart or Chavis as a hire. Here’s why!! Smart is an unknown. Yes he has learned from Saban which is good but how much has he really been given game planning and running the show. Two, with Smart if he comes to UGA and is successful another big time program will pick him up as a head coach. On to Chavis, if Chavis leaves LSU after 1 season why would any of us think he wouldn’t do the same to UGA.
Me, I would prefer one of the up and coming NFL guys or another promising young guy from the college ranks that isn’t on fire like Smart. Of course there are also a lot of college DC’s that are proven who might be willing to remain with a program for a long period of time and have a track record of doing so.
Brunswick Marsh Dawg
December 30th, 2009
11:36 am
No, no, no to Chavis!!! Yes, he’s had a stellar career as an SEC DC, but we need a young, dynamic, energetic up and comer to head up our defense. Doesn’t necessarily need to be a big name,just someone who believes in disciplined, aggressive, hard nosed defense. No disrespect to Chavis, but he’s just not what we need. Go Dawgs!!! GATA
sam
December 30th, 2009
11:43 am
Cobb Dawg,
Are you sure UGA has more money than Bama? I don’t think that’s the case. Bama has one of the largest fan bases in the nation. I’m a diehard Dawg fan, but I believe you are wrong there.
Alphare
December 30th, 2009
11:47 am
I said it before and I will say it again: College football world has the dumbest people. How hard is it to be a defensive coach? There is only so many options to stop the run or cover. Once in a while you see some creative coaches, you treat them like genius. They are no genius, it’s simply those coaches are mostly dumb. Believe me, if we have an IQ survey, I guarantee you those football people are among the dumbest.
It re-confirmed my view last night when I watch the Miami game. Miami has tons of talents, but the coaches are too dumb to be a little creative or make adjustment. They lost the game.
I know this is holiday time and I am not supposed to be a bad mouth. Sorry.
BullDawgMike
December 30th, 2009
11:48 am
It really won’t matter who the DC turns out to be. If somebody …anybody ..can’t get it thru the heads of our defensive players that you HAVE to actually lock up to make a tackle..well you know what i mean…we have only one player who knows how to make a textbook tackle.(Curran) The bowl game was a perfect example of what i’m talking about. Missed tackles all nite long…..and all season long.
BullDawgMike
December 30th, 2009
11:54 am
Sam, Forbes magazine just put out list of richest college programs. Texas was number one. Ga. was either six or seven. Ala. may have as much as Ga. does, I don’t know, but they don’t have more that’s for sure.
Sam
December 30th, 2009
11:54 am
It is not a bad thing to have your DC (or OC) get hired to be a head coach in a few years. That means that during that time your team was successful. Also, there is no guarantee that a DC/OC gets promoted when a HC leaves.
I say hire the best person for the job in the HC’s estimation and let him coach. If he gets a HC job, then you find a person to replace him. If you have a good program you can absorb losing a couple of coaches every few years in this manner. Other coaches will want to come to get a chance to promote himself into a HC job.
BVG was a great coach, but I bet no one here had heard of him before.
Brunswick Marsh Dawg
December 30th, 2009
11:55 am
Hey “Opinion”, your a freakin’ idiot!!! Your athletic program at Tech in no way, shape or form compares to UGA’s…..not even close. Hell, the only sport your school has ever won a National Championship in other than football was women’s tennis a few years ago. Now that’s pathetic!!! Care to guess how many UGA’s won? Go Google that and let me know your “Opinion”. BTW, here’s a fact and not an opinion ((((((((((30-24))))))))))HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! We Run This State!!!
Minnesota Dawg
December 30th, 2009
11:58 am
How about Tony Dungy. Great defensive guy. Maybe Richt can talk him into coming down and straightening us out! I know that’s a long shot though. How about bring David Pollach on?
Saint. Dawg.
December 30th, 2009
11:58 am
Ok dawg fans,just think about this most NFL teams saesons are over after this upcoming weekend..A source of mine who is very close to CMR family told me,that if Georgia makes a annoucement monday or tuesday it will be a NFL coach as our new DC..but if they dont by tuesday…!It will be K. Smart..My source says CMR has had a private convo. on the phone with K. Smart…I know who it will be,but can’t say it out loud..just read between the lines!!!!! OH and TO ST. Simmons [30-24} HAHAHA!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL and GL to all SEC teams in there bowl games…
Chan Gailey
December 30th, 2009
12:04 pm
I think I know someone good for the job….
jesse james
December 30th, 2009
12:04 pm
Craig James is a dad. So he should have known how to raise his kid. It sounds like the kid is a punk. I agree Leach should not have given them any reason to get him. I keep hearing that you can’t touch these kids and do old time discipline anymore, this is a new era. Who says the new era is right other than these lawyers wanting to get rich. This new era has helped get this world in the shape it is in. Home invasions , drugs, car jackings, DUI’s everywhere, on the field demonstrations, me attitudes instead of team, shoplifting, robberies, and lord knows whatelse. I’m sick of it. Now the kid should not have been forced into any room, but I don’t think this something should cause Leach to lose his job. He should be reprimanded and next time just kick the kid off the team.
Bailey
December 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
I’m with “Fair and Balanced”. The world is full of idiots.
RockyTop2
December 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
Dawg Fans, Overall Chavis would be a big upgrade from Willy Martinez, but he still had his setbacks at UT. “3rd and Chavis” became a common theme at times. UT had a bad habit while Chavis was there of giving up 3rd and longs. Also if UT had the lead he had a habit of going very soft on coverage (this problem boiled over during last year’s UCLA loss when after throwing 4 int’s in the first half, UT continually let UCLA’s QB dink and dunk the entire 2nd half and UT ended up losing). But overall he would be a big upgrade over Willy M.
jesse james
December 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
I forgot, but the Wisconsin team looked well coached last night. Just another example that there are alot of good assistant coaches out there. I thought their defense played well against Miami’s speed. Don’t put all your stock into just certain coaches.
StockDog
December 30th, 2009
12:11 pm
We need to get Chavis, for his Ron Jeremy moustache.
Paul's Johnson
December 30th, 2009
12:14 pm
jesse james that was an excellent post, but over the head of most Dawg fans.
There seems to be this mindset of “winning the press conference” with a splashy big-name hire. But the odds of that happening are not good, unless they can get Smart to come home. Coach Boom is staying at Tejas. The best hire would probably somebody the average fan has never heard of.
Dave Womack
December 30th, 2009
12:26 pm
This just in…Dave Womack has been rumored to have been offered the UGA Defensive Coordinators job.
Please forward this to Coach Paul Johnson!!!
Billboy
December 30th, 2009
12:28 pm
Seen this a couple of times now…just how did ESPN steak the 2007 NC Game from teh puppies?? Xplain it to me please….
Billboy
December 30th, 2009
12:28 pm
Sorry….steal….I should slow down…or maybe I was hungry….
how2fish
December 30th, 2009
12:30 pm
Stock Dog “Ron Jeremy moustache” LMAO!!!
hunker down
December 30th, 2009
12:31 pm
http:// http://www.collegelunchboxes.com Go Dawgs !!
Gatorman
December 30th, 2009
12:31 pm
As a Gator, I would only slightly like Chavis more at LSU than UGA since we play both and UGA is in the East. But I will say this; he is an excellent DC and I wouldn’t mind having him at UF.
Mike A.
December 30th, 2009
12:32 pm
Speculate all you want, but I am the Decider.
PJ JOHNSON
December 30th, 2009
12:44 pm
My next job…I won’t bring any of those Tech defensive players with me! Gosh! It’s not my fault if we lose to Iowa! I called genius offensive plays..it’s that other coach and those other boys fault!
Ignorance is Bliss
December 30th, 2009
12:53 pm
JAMES T. KIRK—–You are an idiot! You just came on a Georgia blog to write something about your precious yellow jackets and you dont even know your quarterback’s name. It’s JOSH NESBITT, not jason! Do yourself a favor and stay off the blog until you realize that your wise enough to have BIG BOY comments!
Papadawg
December 30th, 2009
12:57 pm
Rumor is Irk is coming back from the dead and bringing his Bulldog Mascot with him. Just as good as any other rumor I’ve heard
Spike
December 30th, 2009
1:03 pm
Papadawg.. It is “ERK”, not Irk. Are you a Techie?
Why did Meyer Quit?
December 30th, 2009
1:05 pm
Look, some guys just are not loyal. It’s not in their makeup.
Meyer quits a team every 1-5 years over his 24 year career.
Saban quits every 1-5 years.
These guys are just not made up the same way Richt is with his 90 SEC wins in 9 seasons. Nobody does it better than Richt.
SD Dawg
December 30th, 2009
1:18 pm
I agree with the Jesse and Paul’s Johnson (did I really just write that!) that the obsession with a big name is stupid. I think Chavis would be a good DC, but not sure how good. Smart seems like the hip hire, but I am in the crowd of “Saban runs that defense”. Smart could very well turn out to be a great coach, but I think it’s a crap shoot.
As for coaches leaving in a few years…it is hard to find a great coach and retain him for a long time. That is the nature of the game. The Bud Fosters and Mickey Andrews of the coaching world are few and far between.
Cycling in new coaches is the norm and Richt needs to be prepared to do this more often.
Papadawg
December 30th, 2009
1:25 pm
Spike PLEASE don’t damn me with being a Teckie (yes I meant to spell it with a K, it ticks them off) cause it was a TYPO. Forgive me ERK
bigstack19
December 30th, 2009
1:27 pm
I am not a Vol fan but I live in East Tennessee. While all the fans were blasting Fulmer and the offensive coaches Chavis wasn’t hardly mentioned. The perception was all Tennessee had going right was the defense. Plus he produced NFL talent like Jerod Mayo and Robert Ayers recently. I still would like to see Kirby Smart first, but if Chavis is the fall back option then that is a pretty good option. My only concern about Chavis is if Fulmer gets another job he will no doubt like to bring Chavis with him.
SOGADOG
December 30th, 2009
1:30 pm
This blog should not be used to criticize individual players and any entries that do should be wiped off. Bryan Evans is a young man who worked hard as a student athlete at UGA. I thank him for his effort and wish him well in the future. As for “To Bryan Evans” the person who criticized him, did you even go to college? How many SEC collegiate footballs games did you start in? How many tackles did you make for a division 1 football team? How fast do you run the forty? How many interceptions did you make for the bulldogs? Did you earn a diploma while playing varsity football at an SEC school? Did you even graduate from high school? Before you criticize another UGA football player, take a long look in the mirror.
jesse james
December 30th, 2009
1:32 pm
I really believe Willie Martinez was a better defensive coach when Coach Richt was more of the hands on coach. Alot of coordinators are a result of the Head Coach. They are a reflection of him. I think UGA got away from discipline and it hurt the total program. I agree and I guarantee you Coach Saban has his hands on the defense. Of course now with the firing of Coach Leach maybe we need to turn all this over to the mommies and daddies.
Reality Check
December 30th, 2009
1:34 pm
It is nice to throw out names for the DC, but we have no choice but to wait. Other schools in the conference need coordinators but the nature of the beast is that most good candidates are coaching in bowls or NFL regular seasons. It is not common practice to raid these other teams until after the season is over. Lots of names will come out but probably will not in the end be a big time college coordinator from a school where the schools can match UGA salary (Al, LSU, Texas, etc.). I am starting to believe it will be an NFL assistant or smaller name from Middle Tenn type of coordinator.
The majority of Dawg fans wanted a change but this is the downside of firing coaches right after the regular season.
Spike
December 30th, 2009
1:35 pm
Papadawg.. You are forgiven. Go and sin no more.
The Truth
December 30th, 2009
1:48 pm
Attention Recruits! Everyone knows that GA Tech Lies & Cheats. Any other school would be a better choice over going to GA Tech. If you sign with GA Tech, it will be one of the biggest mistakes of your life. Trust me. I always tell the truth.
SEC
December 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
Rumor out of UGA is if its money and the alum status that will draw Kirby from Alabama then we got him. There is not a dollar limit for Kirby apparently. Thats choice number one. If that happens i am really hoping that Pollack will join the team as DE or LB coach. Just a waiting game now to see who we get.
Heidi Davison
December 30th, 2009
2:18 pm
Mayor Heidi Davison
235 Wells Drive
Athens, GA 30606
I Heidi Davison, Mayor of Athens, Georgia, hereby announce that starting on January 1, 2010 Broad Street in Athens will be renamed Gator Street. Thank you and happy New Year!
King of the Ewoks
December 30th, 2009
2:18 pm
David Pollock is a dork! Shouldnt he be playing for the Bengals right now???
SEC
December 30th, 2009
2:19 pm
Well he would but he kinda had a minor injury and BROKE HIS NECK.
Nachos
December 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
how2fish – Get a clue you delusional doggie fan. If Kirby leaves, Sal will step in and they wont miss a beat. Alabama will be fine as long as King Saban is there. Any other coach can be replaced ( see Major Applewhite, Kevin Steele, Ron Middleton, Lance Thompson etc etc etc)
Kendawg
December 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
I think it would be a mistake to hire Chavis at UGA. That said, why don’t we just wait and let this play out. Is it because a journalist has to write a column every day and sometimes there is nothing to write except speculation?
Chuck Amato
December 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
Why is it my name is never mentioned for this job ?