Some UGA coaching rumors won’t go away

John Chavis (LSU)

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. …

221 comments Add your comment

Papadawg

December 30th, 2009
2:26 pm

I say give the current GT DC the job cause everybody will do better in different surroundings

Nick

December 30th, 2009
2:27 pm

Well he’s definitely goofy looking!

how2fish

December 30th, 2009
2:28 pm

SOGADOG I couldn’t agree more the young man played hard, worked hard and should not be subjected to that.

Froggy Dawgy

December 30th, 2009
2:29 pm

Kirby Smart’s the Guy
December 30th, 2009
11:12 am
“Don’t trust ESPN anti-Georgia biased reporters, these are the same guys reporting Georgia would hire Koenning, and they have anti-journalistically minded reporter Kirk Hierbstreet, the guy who tried to steal the Natl Champ from Richt in 2007.”

OMG, there is todays Denial Dawg. Lets go down memory lane, Georgia didn’t win the East, didn’t play in the National Title Game, and had two losses………………..last time I checked Kirk wasn’t on the team nor was he on one of the other teams the Dawgs played. Now lets see who did play for the title that year : LSU(SEC Champion) vs. Ohio State(Big 10 Champion) Move on Dawgy.

King of the Ewoks

December 30th, 2009
2:30 pm

How many of you losers follow David Pollock on twitter?

His motor never stops running ya know ?????

how2fish

December 30th, 2009
2:32 pm

Nachos …look everyone one the mighty nachos is back…Nachos any coach can be replaced…hmmm then why did it take Bama 20 years to replace Gene Stallings..hmmmmm. delusional….your talking the Bama Naion from top to bottom Stallings averaged 10 wins a season and your bunch ran him off…and didn’t recovery until the coming of Saban…welcome back little guy we’ve missed you and your wit and wisdom.

Nick

December 30th, 2009
2:32 pm

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Get someone who coaches aggressive, chaotic defense.” Period.

Papadawg

December 30th, 2009
2:32 pm

I know some LSU fans who are not happy with Les so maybe his DC needs to be looking for another job before he has to

Ga Dog

December 30th, 2009
2:33 pm

Kirby Smart—I’ve heard it’s a done deal. He’s the best in the country. The Dawg D will dominate next year!!!!

Nachos

December 30th, 2009
2:37 pm

how2fish – what game will you be watching Thursday, January 7 ??? hmmmmmmmmm ?

take all your research & facts and sit them it & rotate

Bammers rule!

"Simple" logic

December 30th, 2009
2:38 pm

Same bleep, different day

Stinger

December 30th, 2009
2:44 pm

What a joke to think that a good defensive coordinator would actually consider taking this job. No one wants to coach this bunch of spoiled cry babies. A college coach needs to spend his time teaching and coaching, not changing diapers.

how2fish

December 30th, 2009
2:45 pm

Nachos now there is the wit and wisdom we all have come to love…I’ll be watching Bama play Texas for the Nationl championship and hoping for a Bama victory…and after the way UGA handled TAM you guys should destory them….but don’t think there is no way Smart won’t consider coming to UGA that really would be delusional…not saying its a done deal as I seem to be the only person on this blog with no “source” but it would not surprise me as there has been no contract extension or raise talks for Smart..so don’t get your panties in a wad , little guy it will all work out in the end.

Nachos

December 30th, 2009
2:45 pm

TYPO! too many ICB’s at lunch dudes… what I meant to say was:

take all your research & facts and sit ON them & rotate

Bammers rule! 2009 is our year mutts! bhahahahaha

59bulldawg

December 30th, 2009
2:45 pm

Just checked out Grantham’s bio at
http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/team_biosCoachExec.cfm?newName=Todd_Grantham.

He might be the sleeper in our DC search and I wouldn’t be unhappy if he got the job.

superDawg

December 30th, 2009
2:46 pm

I got to hand it to you Stinger. You are right about our defense being a bunch of babies. Our defense tried to blame all our loses on poor Joe Cox throwing all those pick sixes, but our defense just had no talent and they had a horrible attitude.

bullDAWG

December 30th, 2009
2:49 pm

SuperDawg will you get off this blog you fool?

how2fish

December 30th, 2009
2:52 pm

59bulldawg I have a question if they want this guy is there any reason they couldn’t talk to him now or do they have to wait till the end of the regular season.

Stinger's Mom

December 30th, 2009
3:00 pm

Stinger, get in here and massage my bunions. Also, bring the clippers, my back needs some manscaping.

Hey SEC...

December 30th, 2009
3:06 pm

Hey SEC……….Pollack has repeatedly said on his Twitter that he does not want to coach. He is trying to get into Broadcasting now.

Joe Lee Dunn

December 30th, 2009
3:07 pm

Why won’t CMR take my calls? Burp!!!!! Hand me another Natty Light!!

Mike Leach

December 30th, 2009
3:09 pm

How about letting me fill one of those vacant coaching positions?

The first thing I would do is tie a rope around Russ, the temporary Mascot’s testes and drag him down the street behind my scooter then I would lock him in the broom closet.

My second order of business would be to drive over to the flats and punch Paul Johnson in the mouth.

PHIL

December 30th, 2009
3:12 pm

I can’t believe ANY moron is trying to defend ANY adult who for ANY reason at ANY time as punished a kid by putting him in a closet.

F-105 Thunderchief

December 30th, 2009
3:16 pm

Rodney Garner will be the new defensive coordinator.

nick

December 30th, 2009
3:17 pm

“so sick of you morons so scared to even use a name”

Classic… from ‘how2fish’… Is that what your momma put on your birth certificate?

“Just another coward that comes on makes a BS statement and slinks back into the night..stay in the cellar”

Too funny, btw, less salt on my fries next time.

TJ VOL

December 30th, 2009
3:18 pm

Fulmer is not getting another big job so do not worry about Chavis leaving. Having said that, Chavis is a very good DC. But I do not know if very good is what you want. You have to “match staffs” in other words the reason GA lost games this year was due to poor coaching not talent. Get a staff on par with TN, AL and FL and you will be fine. I do not think Chavis can hang with Kiffin Sr, Smart/Saban etc…Just my 2 cents….

TJ VOL

December 30th, 2009
3:19 pm

If Garner did not get it by now he is not getting it….

kydawg

December 30th, 2009
3:36 pm

I don’t think you would have to worry about Urban Meyer wanting Kirby Smart…no word on who the Gators are after either..is there?

Rich Brooks

December 30th, 2009
3:38 pm

I do more with less talent than anybody in the SEC! I’m going to retire from UK and I need a warmer climate, hire me!!!

cantondawg

December 30th, 2009
3:52 pm

No matter who the coach turns out to be. We, as UGA fans, can rest assure that it will be an upgrade over what we’ve experience the last few years here.

cantondawg

December 30th, 2009
3:55 pm

Bob Sanders is a name that doesn’t generate much excitement but he should. He’s been in coaching for 33 years ( Almost as long as Kirby Smart has lived). He’s been DC at Florida and Green Bay and has alot of experience in the NFL. We won’t have to worry about him leaving in a few years for a HC job like Smart.

Hmmmmm

December 30th, 2009
3:59 pm

All of the comments aout Chavis are interesting. It seems as though Les Miles thought he could do the job. I mean they play in the SEC too right?

Levy Co Dawg

December 30th, 2009
4:05 pm

Hey all you Tech jackasses that keep saying “We are having such a great time down here in Miami” just remember you have to come back and face the reality of having lost to your number one rival 30-24 !!!! WE RUN THIS STATE !

how2fish

December 30th, 2009
4:07 pm

nick I’ll be posting under that name every time I post…your problem is?? And salt this tough guy…lmao..

BFKA Dawg Tired

December 30th, 2009
4:08 pm

It is killing me not to be able to blog at the end of the Paul Johnson fluff piece. Why don’t they talk about the riverboat gambler who chucked up 3 prayers at the end of the Georgia game. He does fill out a shirt better than most of the Tech cheerleaders though. I’ll give him that.

West TN Dawg

December 30th, 2009
4:10 pm

Herm Edwards ?? (not 3rd and Chavis)

Bama 1

December 30th, 2009
4:13 pm

Yeah, How2Fish, Bama doesn’t have the money….do you think UGA would have ever went after a coach like Saban ? No way. Richt was hired to make GA competitive in the SEC – and he has- Saban was hired to win National Titles- and he will.Two schools with different goals.

how2fish

December 30th, 2009
4:20 pm

Bama 1 if memory serves me (and it might not) CMR was the best guy available at the time. I really can’t remember a better one we could have gotten. But for the first what 4-5 years CMR pretty much was the yardstick in the SEC..with the right D.C I think he and UGA can be again..money’s not the deal breaker then or now..IMHO.

cantondawg

December 30th, 2009
4:31 pm

I can’t believe people say that Bama doesn’t have the money that UGA does. They pay their HC $4million a year whereas we pay ours 2.8 million. If they will pay their HC 1.2 MILLION more than ours. I’m sure they will match whatever we offer Smart

Froggy the Gremlin

December 30th, 2009
4:35 pm

Word from an insider is that Richt is leaving for a better position elsewhere, anyway. He’s going to a big time program.

cherokee

December 30th, 2009
4:39 pm

Froggy the Gremlin ….Who is your inside contact …$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl?. What a joke

D.C.

December 30th, 2009
4:40 pm

If Kirby was the Dawg D.C. this year everybody would be calling for him to be fired. What makes him so great? That he is absolutely loaded with talent that Willie M could have coached to a top defensive ranking. The water girl probably could have coached that talent to the National Title game. Give Kirby the 09 UGA defense and the results wouldn’t have been much better, Willie was a scapegoat, nothing more.

Vince Dooley

December 30th, 2009
4:41 pm

Hey just wondering when our Big Brother Tech is playing in the Orange Bowl, I wanna buy some of their tickets that are remaining to learn that triple option and get back into coaching

jesse james

December 30th, 2009
4:42 pm

Bama 1 – I agree anytime a teams’ goal should be the best. We all get caught up in this Naitonal Championship stuff. I think any coach is hired to put a winning product on the field and do it the right way. But I don’t believe you say have to win a NC. I believe you say give me a winner and you will always have a chance at the NC. Georgia was just there a couple of years ago and this silly thing about you had to win your conference came up. I’m glad the NCAA doesn’t require that in their basketball tournament. So don’t tell me Coach Richt hasn’t had UGA in a position to win it all. Sometimes things have to go your way and you get alittle lucky. I don’t care if we don’t win a NC, as long as I feel like when we tee it up in September we have a chance. Would I like to win one you bet, but I will not measure my program by how many we win. Even if Bama wins, I’m still not convinced they are better than TCU or Cincinnati if they win their bowl games.

Vince Dooley

December 30th, 2009
4:43 pm

Hey just wondering when our Big Brother Tech is playing in the Orange Bowl, I wanna buy some of their tickets that are remaining to learn that triple option and get back into coaching.

Big D Dawg

December 30th, 2009
4:44 pm

Instead of first, how about “NEXT”. That way you’re never wrong.

Stinger is depressed cause UGA won

December 30th, 2009
4:51 pm

Stinger, your sorry ass is on every UGA blog. You are obsessed with the Dawgs.. Get a life pimple face….

12345678- Lawsuite was dismissed… Do I have to define dismissed for you? Get a life Tech fan. 30 to 24… glad it hurts so bad

The A-She-She lost another one last night. Now they are 1 an 3 in bowl games. They won 3 vs the SEC this year. Their two best teams beat the SEC #11, #12 and #7 team and they brag about it..ROTFALMAO

Coach Paul Johnson

December 30th, 2009
4:55 pm

I really like it down here on South Beach. I picked up a couple of really cute sports bras at one of the boutiques.

I found a nice hot dog stand too.

Todd - Dacula

December 30th, 2009
4:58 pm

Enough of the DC talk. Just recruit defensive players with heart and non of those 5′8″ Defensive Backs… Theya re too short to cover the big, gifted rWR’s. Any good DC can coach great talent.

dawgster

December 30th, 2009
4:59 pm

First of all don’t for a minute think that Kirby Smart coming to the dawgs is a done deal, Bama would have something to say about that if indeed alot of money was thrown his way…CMR will be looking to add someone who wants to be a dawg and can recruit very well along with being a good DC…Coach Garner will probably stay if the right DC is hired, but wouldn’t be surprised if he left when the DC is announced…Coach Garner will probably make a very good DC, but not sure if he wants that responsibility just yet, i just hope we can hang onto him but it may mean he has to have the DC job or as i said feel real comfortable with the new DC and feel he could learn alot from them…I don’t know if Kirby Smart would fit that mold as they have worked together before…There have been alot of names thrown out there, but whoever it is had better be able to recruit the places that they need to and get the big-time players…A great DC is only as good as the players that are around him…I know alot of fine high school and college coaches who were really good when the talent was there but when it wasn’t, did they just forget how to coach, don’t believe so….Our new DC must be able to bond with the players yet have their respect in order to coach them into big time players…