What should UGA fans make of the Stacy Searels situation?
Stacy Searels has drawn a lot of flak for his underperforming lines at UGA. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
l’m not seeing too many tears shed among Bulldog fans over the apparent impending departure of offensive line coach Stacy Searels for the same job at Texas.
Oh, sure, the timing could be better, coming just a couple of weeks before national signing day. And there’s the concern expressed by a few that Searels jumping ship is just one more sign that Mark Richt’s program is sinking fast.
But that latter view ignores the obvious fact that even if the Richt program wasn’t facing a likely do-or-die turning point next season, the Texas job would be somewhat better than a lateral move for Searels. Despite the Longhorns having suffered a losing season in 2010, that program mints money and is a choice spot for any coach. Of course, the chance of Searels being out of a job in Athens next year if Richt is fired adds to the attractiveness of a move to Austin at this point in his career.
It’s a little tougher to figure out why Mack Brown wants Searels. While his four years coaching the OL at LSU produced stellar results, his work at UGA has left most Dogs fans decidedly unimpressed. With injuries a major problem, Searels did get credit his first two seasons in Athens for cobbling together lines with three freshman starters as the Dogs finished with 11-2 and 10-3 records and Top 10 final rankings.
But the reportedly prickly Searels never seemed all that comfortable in Athens amid rumors he didn’t get along with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and others, and Georgia folks never really warmed up to him, at least in part because of his refusal most of the time to talk to the media.
And as the Dogs’ fortunes began to sink over the 2009 and 2010 seasons, with OL play an obvious deficiency, the suspicion grew in the Bulldog Nation that having offensive stars like Matt Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and Mohamed Massaquoi made Searels’ 2007 and 2008 lines look better than they really were. The past two years Searels’ lines badly underperformed most of the time, despite having veteran players, and the running game that Searels had been named coordinator of in 2009 foundered.
Perhaps Texas has concluded the problem with the Dogs’ linemen getting pushed around by opponents really was Georgia’s infamous strength and conditioning program and that the LSU years more accurately reflect what Searels can do. Time will tell.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see where Richt turns for a new OL coach. While an up-and-coming coach might jump at the chance to take over the OL job at Georgia, the tenuous nature of Richt’s own status in Athens might work against drawing an established heavy hitter. Let’s face it, anyone who takes the job is gambling.
Mac McWhorter recently announced his retirement at Texas. (University of Texas)
The natural speculation has centered on a couple of former Georgia players with established credentials as offensive line coaches: Mac McWhorter and Hugh Nall.
McWhorter, ironically, is responsible for the opening at Texas, having just retired as the Longhorns’ OL coach amid a general staff house-cleaning that Brown has undertaken following a disappointing season just a year after playing in the national championship game. But since McWhorter’s “retirement” is only a little over a month old, he might be inclined to basically swap places with Searels.
If that’s the case, you could argue UGA would be getting the better end of the deal. While McWhorter was at UT, the offense ranked among the top 10 in total offense three times and in the top 30 seven times. It was also in the top six in scoring offense on five occasions and in the top 16 eight times. McWhorter also was named the 2008 Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
If he were to take the job at Georgia, it would be his second go-round as the Dogs’ OL coach. He held that position, along with special teams coordinator and director of football operations, under Ray Goff. Interestingly, he also put in time at Georgia Tech under George O’Leary and ended up as the Jackets’ acting head coach for their bowl game after O’Leary left for his short-lived stint at Notre Dame.
As for Nall, he had a good run coaching the OL at Auburn under Tommy Tuberville but left coaching for an executive position in the trucking business after Tuberville was fired and reportedly is quite happy out of football. Giving up that gig for a potentially one-season stint in Athens might not seem like such a smart move.
Other names not associated with UGA are starting to surface, including former Vanderbilt head coach Robbie Caldwell, a veteran of offensive line work.
What do you think? Would you be happy with a Searels-for-McWhorter swap? Who else would you like to see Richt consider for the OL job?
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245 comments Add your comment
Sandman053
January 20th, 2011
12:32 pm
Very true WDE. I think the evaluation period is still going on, but McGarity is going to do what’s best for the University.
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:36 pm
Worst thing that could have happened to yalls long-term health was squeaking out that win against GT. He would have been so incredibly fire-able at the time, and you might have gotten a young hungry coach (not a blockbuster, they know to stay away from Athens).
Meanwhile, while the rest of the south east is leaving yall in the dust, you can keep beating up on GT and bragging about it.
WE RUN THIS STATE…
Actually, Bama, Florida and Auburn do. HAHAHA. NSD will prove that!
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:38 pm
Heck, Georgia’s decline couldn’t be any better timed for turnarounds by FSU and Clemson either. This state is ripe for the picking right now, and the recruits know that big time college football is played across the borders.
jdawg
January 20th, 2011
12:39 pm
As a contributor, I feel that someone that I pay can at least talk to the media more than once a year. To make his lineman off limits and so on. No, I do not expect him to be like a head coach, but his arrogance seems to show through. Delta is ready when you are…
chiefdawg
January 20th, 2011
12:39 pm
the move to let Coach Richt go should have been made this year.
Gary
January 20th, 2011
12:40 pm
McGarity has made YET ANOTHER FATAL ERROR ALREADY.
He forgot to give the Georgia football coaches raises that compete. Everybody on staff, except Richt, is gross underpaid and ripe for an offer form the competition.
McGarity is completely CLUELESS, no wonder no other school ever hired him to be AD.
Gary
January 20th, 2011
12:42 pm
Richt:
24 years without McGarity as his AD:
Never had a losing season
1 year with Greg McGarity as his AD:
6-7, 1st losing season for Richt since 1985. 1st time in 25 years.
EDawg
January 20th, 2011
12:42 pm
I love Coach Mac and would welcome him home! The problem at UGA is Adams. He has been responsible for most of the issues starting with forcing Dooley out early.
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:43 pm
Can’t wait to see yall next year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjTuemF1Rd4
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:47 pm
I was a HUGE Tommy Tuberville fan… Loved that guy- people praise Richt for his “cool” demeanor, but no one blended that with a little fire like Tommy Tuberville did. I was sad to see him ago, but I trusted Auburn to make a solid hire. I wasn’t blown away by the Chizik hire, but there’s no denying that he’s built something at Auburn that is very good. The staff is exceptional and will be held together for the 3rd straight year… That’s how you build success.
Auburn did in 2008 what Georgia doesn’t have the guts or leadership to do now. Go out, get your guy, and invest faith and support in him. Georgia’s too scared, because they know once they fire Richt, they are admitting that their program is exactly what it is- mid-tier in the SEC East, which is down in itself.
Out west, we just take things a little more seriously and go out and earn our stripes. Florida does too, it’s a shame they’re lumped in the the UGA’s and Vanderbilts of the SEC.
Coachdawg 2000
January 20th, 2011
12:48 pm
WDE-
Yall are a one hit wonder. Book it. You’ll be back to your role as the 2nd best team in Bammer. You’re prognotications are ludicrous. You were probably one the losers heckling Chizik at the airport when he was hired. Yall are soooo 2010!
86 Dawg
January 20th, 2011
12:49 pm
McGarity can’t do anything without Michael “puppetmaster” Adams making the decision for him. As for filling the OL coaches job, Richt will probably select an ex-cornerback since he has an ex-receiver coaching running backs and an ex-running back coaching receivers. Is it really that hard to find a proper position coach Richt???
JaxDawg05
January 20th, 2011
12:51 pm
I’ll pay for Coach Searles AND Gary’s airfare to leave the Bulldog Nation.
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:51 pm
Coachdawg-
Short memory huh? I guess you forget the 6 in a row we had on Bama, and that until the last 4 years we ruined your seasons as well as anyone else.
One-hit-wonder doesn’t offend me, it just embarasses your fanbase with your lack of historical perspective.
We lead the seried dude, and its about to swing a few more games in our favor before it balances out again.
Dawg Tired
January 20th, 2011
12:52 pm
Personally I would go for a young, enthusiastic, energectic up and comer. The program needs energy. Richt appears worn out every time I hear him speaking. Young coaches usually add a spark and players react weel to their coaching. This is obvioulsy a great opportunity for Richt. hopefully he makes the right hire.
how2fish
January 20th, 2011
12:52 pm
WDE you went undefeated and won a NC this year congrats…now go away.
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:52 pm
Three undefeated seasons in the past 20 years… How many does Georgia have? In fact, what HAS Georgia done since Herschel Walker?
Gary
January 20th, 2011
12:53 pm
McGarity’s doing everything he can to help Richt in 2011.
1- Schedule top 10 non-conference games
2- Keep the Florida game in Florida (although contract was up, could have moved it to Athens)
3- Not offering a contract extension to ease asst coaches fears
4- Not increasing anyone’s salary on staff, paying assistants as little as possible
5- Not helping recruiting by not extended Richt’s contract
WDE
January 20th, 2011
12:54 pm
how2fish, if I was a bigger d-bag, I would love to have copied and pasted all the trash you were talking to Auburn this summer. Do you remember? Or are you just going to not reply and pretend you didn’t see me pose this question.
how2fish
January 20th, 2011
12:58 pm
WDE your school is a pit the only thing going for Auburn is that you can never get lost…as all dirt roads lead there…things like that little fella?? When are you guys going to get together and buy your own blog…bama has one…that’s right you only spend money on players…hmmmm and WDE it would really be tough for you to be a bigger D-bag.
Kevin
January 20th, 2011
12:59 pm
How about Phil Fulmer? He can coach the heck out of OL. And he could wear black to make himself look thinner.
JaxDawg05
January 20th, 2011
1:00 pm
Will you post an apology next year when Auburn is stripped of it’s trophy and wins from this season, WDE?
RGP
January 20th, 2011
1:04 pm
Too bad Texas didnt get Bobo as well as Searels as a package deal.
patrocket
January 20th, 2011
1:08 pm
Dave Johnson, was Richt’s TE coach during the “glory days”. Wanted the OL job but lost out to Searels. Just lost his job due to the shuffle at WVU.
WDE
January 20th, 2011
1:11 pm
Haha yall keep clinging on to your pay-for-play fantasy. The facts were shoved in everyone’s face and the NCAA made a ruling.
Your problem as a fanbase is that you spent more time this season moaning and complaining about Auburn, Florida and Bama to realize you’ve got an entire buffet of BS piling up in Athens that is quickly (AND I MEAN QUICKLY) making you non-contenders.
I used to hate UGA fans because they were obnoxiously arrogant. Now I just hate you all because you’ve become the whiniest little babies that would rather talk about games-within-the-games intstead of actual wins and losses.
Great job blocking Nick Fairley in November. From the sounds of you guys, if yall had just done that, there’d be nothing else to talk about.
WDE
January 20th, 2011
1:13 pm
We have our blogs, all over the internet. This is my hometown paper and quite frankly I’m surrounded by you and your gas-station fans, so of course I’d like to get on here and talk a little football.
You are more like Techies than you want to realize.
Spivedog
January 20th, 2011
1:15 pm
WDE, why are you spending so much time on a UGA blog? Let me guess, you were born in Ga., couldn’t get into UGA (like every AU grad), and then went to AU? Sounds about right.
88-dawg
January 20th, 2011
1:20 pm
WDE – make all the noise you want NOW … do you think there is any chance you AREN’T getting the Death Penalty in 2013? The NCAA isn’t quick and no way they wanted to suspend Newton before the national championship game, but once all the advertising money is in the bank … the NCAA is going to hit Auburn so hard they will call that cow town the Flats … (hmmm, how appropriate).
Dawg 1
January 20th, 2011
1:20 pm
He was brillant when winning and an idiot when losing – shocking…
how2fish
January 20th, 2011
1:31 pm
WDE when is the last time you talked football? You are only good for two things bashing UGA and for now..thumping your chest over the NC..which by the way I did congratulate you and the Auburn fans on…you haven’t hit a lick about football since last summer..you had you head so far up Fairley’s butt of course you couldn’t see of hear the games so I guess its understandable
Dawg 2
January 20th, 2011
1:32 pm
WDE.. I’m sorry you graduated from a school that couldn’t get you a job. Maybe you should spend more time brushing up on your hamburger flipping skills then trolling the Georgia Blog.
robodawg
January 20th, 2011
1:35 pm
Find an OL coach from a school with a great running game. This shouldn’t be a difficult position to fill.
IRISH DAWG
January 20th, 2011
1:36 pm
AUBURN WILL GO BACK TO LOSING 4 OR 5 GAMES THIS YEAR.GEORGIA WILL HAVE A BETTER RECORD THAN AUBURN THIS YEAR ALSO GEORGIA WILL BEAT AUBURN 5 OUT OF 6 YEARS. AUBURN FANS,WHEN YOU WIN 12 SEC TITLES,LET ME KNOW. GEORGIA HAS WON 5 NATIOAL TITLES IN 1927,1942,1946,1968 AND 1980. GO DAWGS!!!
dawgfan
January 20th, 2011
1:41 pm
WDE=sore loser crybaby wet the bed TECHIE that is too much of a coward to identify himself as such among UGA fans. I have exposed this clown before and I guess its time to do it again. Look at his comments. Doesn’t he seem to take an unusual interest in Georgia and Georgia Tech for an Auburn fan? We Run This State? Why would an Auburn fan give a rat’s azz if a UGA fan thinks we run this state? Auburn is in the state of Alabama. Auburn is of course the most popular team for these Techie cowards to hide behind these days. They’ve jumped off the Florida bandwagon for the time being.
Dawg in Malta
January 20th, 2011
1:49 pm
Definitely don’t need a swap of coaches…that would be like swapping your current girlfriend for your ex-girlfriend. Nothing new…opponents would know what formations you like to run and what can score TD!!!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
January 20th, 2011
1:54 pm
WDE, Auburn used to be my second favorite team in the SEC. Now however, after reading your inane ramblings for the last several weeks, I can honestly say that I like Fla and it’s fans a lot more that I like AU and the clueless bunch that follows them. When your OC leaves and all you have left is Chizik, I will revel in your return to mediocrity or worse.
AltamahaDawg
January 20th, 2011
1:57 pm
There is of cource the fact that the style of football in that league would actually be a good fit for the types of lines that Searels seems to favor.
Rudy
January 20th, 2011
1:58 pm
Our line SUCKED under him. Glad he’s gone!!!!!!!!!!!!
gomdawg
January 20th, 2011
1:59 pm
Gary , 1st. I’m not afraid of Boise State and you are then maybe you on the wrong team . My Dawgs will be good next year, maybe 12 -2 , 11-3 we have alot of talent coming back and look at our recruiting class for 2011 . GO DAWGS 2011
AltamahaDawg
January 20th, 2011
2:01 pm
It’s the internet WDE. Proximity to the webhost really has nothing to do with what sites you visit.
No bother to me, I just can’t imagine that if my team just won a NC, I would ever waste my time blgoging about another teams OL coach.
JB
January 20th, 2011
2:03 pm
WDE…………Maybe we could hire the Iowa St. coach who went 2-10 this year to replace Richt. worked out OK for you guys.
Skitty Fritty
January 20th, 2011
2:04 pm
Did Crowell give a verbal “Yes” to UGA this AM?
JB
January 20th, 2011
2:07 pm
Auburn loses their QB, their stud linebacker,4 starters on the OL and a whole lot of games next year. A murder schedule. 7 potential losses.
gomdawg
January 20th, 2011
2:08 pm
Offense line coach what happen to the old Miss.St. coach Broom
gomdawg
January 20th, 2011
2:10 pm
no he has not committ that is a azz hole taking
JB
January 20th, 2011
2:11 pm
McGarity has backed off because Richt has told him he’ll go into 2011 with the staff he’s got, which is a good call, because what top coach is going to come in and hitch on to this wagon at this stage of the game? no one.
JB
January 20th, 2011
2:12 pm
2011 will be a strange year in Athens. Don’t think for a minute our players aren’t in tune with all this drama.
daveinbuford
January 20th, 2011
2:13 pm
Let me first say that I consider myself a longtime Bulldog fan. However, after watching them (or trying to) for the last two years, a couple of things seem obvious to me. 1) With all the hype about the stud running backs that have been signed the last few years, can you really tell me that they belong anywhere beyond the 1-AA level. 2) After saying that, you would think that the OL you expected to be so good could open a few holes for them. Maybe they belong a step down as well and we’ve all been duped in reading too many recruiting sites. By the way, isn’t it getting pretty close to signing day? I guess the new coach will have to “coach-up” the leftovers since we’re all delusional if we think the commits so far will stick. Wish it wasn’t so, but maybe it wasn’t all coaching.
gomdawg
January 20th, 2011
2:13 pm
JB YA’LL LEAVE THE COACH THING ALONE. CMR IS OUR COACH AND WILL BE OUR COACH A LONG TIME.
needums
January 20th, 2011
2:14 pm
I’ll bet that Texas’ line will have an awesome year under Searels coaching and we’ll be be stuck with the same ol’ results.