Tech is close to a deal with Groh to coach its defense
Georgia Tech is close to an agreement with former Virginia head coach Al Groh to become the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Tech coach Paul Johnson and Groh have discussed the position and plan to meet again, possibly before the weekend is out.
Asked if he and Groh were indeed close to an agreement, Johnson said Saturday: “No. Not really. I don’t know how this [talk of Groh] got started.”
Johnson attended Tech’s basketball game Saturday — the Jackets upset No. 5 Duke at Alexander Memorial Coliseum — and responded to the question at halftime.
Final agreement would likely come only after Johnson and Groh meet face to face.
Tech announced Friday that Dave Wommack, who served as Johnson’s defensive coordinator his two seasons here, would not be retained. Rumors had already begun to swirl about Groh, who was fired after eight seasons at Virginia, being in line as a replacement. Groh has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
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279 comments Add your comment
Not a good choice
January 9th, 2010
9:00 pm
Yellow Jacket, I hate to tell you but I am a Tech alum and season ticket holder. Just like you, I love tech football. I am just not sold on the option offense and feel that we are not as good as we think but rather our opponents are worse than we are. THWG
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
9:05 pm
And I’m Santa Claus.
Right
January 9th, 2010
9:07 pm
UGAissolastyear, I can understand why you are so bitter towards UGA. UGA is to you as what Florida is to UGA. We own your arse 30-24
Right
January 9th, 2010
9:09 pm
YellowJacket… You must be Santa Claus and live in a fantasy land if you serioulsy believe CPJ is ever going to lead Tech to anything more than this years Orange Bowl (Loss)
Right
January 9th, 2010
9:10 pm
Yep, the polls said Tech lost 30-24 in a home game after a bye week. hahahaha
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
9:11 pm
Congrats to the Dawgs on their state championship, next year they might be city champs.
Hokie In Atl
January 9th, 2010
9:12 pm
YellowJacket, you can forget it… the ACC is ours again starting 2010 so quit making excuses
DuluthDawg
January 9th, 2010
9:13 pm
There appears to be more idiots on both sides blogging today than usual. The clean old fashioned hate seems to have turned into simply newly fashionable hatred and irresponsibility – on both sides. I hope Groh is the answer for the Jackets and I hope that we land Kirby and takes the Dawgs to the next level in the SEC and NC. It would be great to have two great teams representing the state of Georgia – sort of like Florida had a few years back with UF, FSU, and UM. We certainly have enough talent in state. Let’s compete on the field and enjoy some good natured ribbing, but the hatred shows a lack of class and dishonors your school – that’s for both sides. If you can’t represent your school with class then you are dishonoring that same school. Go Dawgs!
Dead Mascot
January 9th, 2010
9:15 pm
Yeah, CPJ will really make his mark when plays in the Weed Eater Bowl and beats a 6-6 team.
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
9:16 pm
Hokie,
I’m not making excuses, Va Tech is the only team that I’m worried about next year. It should be a great game.
Right
January 9th, 2010
9:19 pm
DuluthDawg, You have a point. So, with that said I will say to everyone good luck with your DC search and may the best team win November 27th.
Go Dawgs
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
9:19 pm
The Tuscaloosa Tattltale reports that “K Smart is said to be crushed at the news that Groh has been selected for the Tech job ”
What did Smart expect ?
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
9:23 pm
Alabama: You’re correct. We did beat two SEC doormats. The problem is that there are 9 doormats in the SEC.
McG
January 9th, 2010
9:24 pm
Paul Johnson knows the 3-4 is a good match for the players he has. It will give Tech the best chance to win out there. He’ll run a high school offense along with a NFL style defense. Now, he needs a coach to teach it. (CPJ has all the fire in the belly we need.) Go Tech!
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
9:26 pm
So since Tech beat Duke(ranked 5th) today and UGA beat Tech but just lost to KY (ranked 3rd) does that mean that UGA should now be ranked 4th in basketball ?
Wreckmaniac
January 9th, 2010
9:27 pm
Lord, please keep CMR at UGA.
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
9:28 pm
@We run this state,
No it means that you’ll continue to have a front seat on the short bus for the rest of your life.
Winger
January 9th, 2010
9:28 pm
Dawgs are funny. Sound like parrots. Keep writin em. We’re laughing at you.
HAHA
January 9th, 2010
9:29 pm
Wreckmaniac, why would you want that? Looking to make it 16-2?
YellowJacket
January 9th, 2010
9:32 pm
I’m out.
GO JACKETS!!!!
Scout Team
January 9th, 2010
9:34 pm
I love how the puppy fans live thru Bama, Florida, and LSU! They get there championships through others. Although, I can see where they are coming from seeing how they are the whipping boys for LSU, Bama, and Florida year in and year out. Yall are a great scout team for Bama, LSU, and Florida!
Reggie Ball for President
January 9th, 2010
9:34 pm
As a Dawg fan, I really do hope that you land a top notch DC. That is what makes this Clean old Fashioned Hate so much fun and for us all to see really good games. Games that really could go either way. With that said, I hope we get one as well!. See you guys on Nov 27th!
SanFran Jacket
January 9th, 2010
9:36 pm
DuluthDawg and Right,
Great posts and I agree with you. I rarely post anymore because the blogs have become so juvenile with the hate mongering that it is no longer a place to share ideas and information. Too bad for everyone. So, kudos to both Dawg fans… it’s good to know that there are some sane ones out there!
(That was some good natured ribbing that you referred to!)
Stinger
January 9th, 2010
9:38 pm
Kirby Smart couldn’t stop an offense with UGA talent if he had his players in tanks and Humvees. Alabama actually has talent on defense and anyone would look good coaching them. Kirby Smart will be worse than Willie if you get him. Mark my words, I will remind you next year.
Pete
January 9th, 2010
9:40 pm
Al Groh.
Let’s give him a chance.
His name might groh on ya.
Atlanta GT:
January 9th, 2010
9:42 pm
Where is UGA ranked in football? Oh, that’s right……..there not! They suck azz in football and basketball and academics. We will see your sorry azz team next year between your smelly rotten hedges with UGA VIII (If you have one) sitting his nuts on a bago ice. THWG!
HAHA
January 9th, 2010
9:42 pm
Scout Team, in case you didn’t know, UGA vs LSU 2004 UGA won 45-16, 2005 SEC Championship UGA won 34-14, 2008 UGAwon 52-LSU 38 in Tiger Stadium, UGA is 2-1 vs Alabama and both wins in Tuscaloosa since CMR arrived. Lets talk more???
TideSports.com Reports
January 9th, 2010
9:43 pm
http://www.tidesports.com/article/20100109/NEWS/100109537/1011?Title=Smart-offered-UGA-job
Following Alabama’s win over Texas, UA head coach Nick Saban made some general remarks about losing assistant coaches that would suggest he would not be thrilled if Smart were to accept a coordinator’s job elsewhere.
“I’m always happy and interested for our coaches to be able to advance professionally,” Saban said Friday, “especially if it’s a professional advancement in terms of a guy being a coordinator who can go be a head coach in a situation where he has a chance to be successful.
“I’m not pleased when guys make lateral moves because it’s a little bit human nature to think – like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank. You always think it’s better someplace else. You kind of let your ego get involved and you make moves that you shouldn’t make that really aren’t in your best interest from a career standpoint. So I’m not happy when guys do that. But anybody on our staff who can move up, we would like to help them do that.”
HAHA
January 9th, 2010
9:45 pm
Atlanta GT. You are right! Not ranked but beat your sorry Arse 30-24 73-66. Think it may be CPJ who needs the ice when he is on the hot seat. hahahaha
Hey Tech Fans....
January 9th, 2010
9:49 pm
26.4 points per game is what your new DC’s Virginia team gave up last year. Sure he may not have been the DC at Virginia but it was his “genius” 3-4 scheme that propelled them to a fantastic 3-9 season.
Morgan Burnett
January 9th, 2010
9:59 pm
Caleb King says bring him on!
son_sir
January 9th, 2010
10:00 pm
Groh would be a solid hire. If he can DC for Parcells, who defines the word demanding, not much else needs to be said. Tech had some red shirts on some really good talent this past year and Groh should have a solid core to work with.
To ‘Not a Good Choice’ if you aren’t sold on the option what is your alternative ? If Tech can develop a passing game to go with it, it’s going to be incredibly hard to stop. Admittedly, Nesbitt struggles with his passing. Poor mechanics and accuracy. It really limits things. Hopefully the future produces an accurate passer to supplement the running game (maybe JN will improve in the passing game). A clone of Tracy Ham would be nice. Many people forget he set records running AND passing in this offense.
CPJ has done a magnificent job in a short period of time. Definitely not without faults, but who is ? I thought CPJ was too slow to realize the option just wasn’t go to work to #94’s side of the Iowa defense. The guy was blowing up the dive and athletic enough to continue on to the QB when it was pulled. Tech started moving the ball when it finally figured out to run away from that beast. Too late though.
CPJ seemed hard-headed for an entire half against Iowa, as GT kept trying one of the best DL’s in the country and losing on almost every attempt.
Tech was flat as a pancake against Miami and did look leg weary. The game wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Georgia stopped the option by keeping the ball away from it. Good game plan. Not to take anything away from King or Ealey, but I believe I could have ripped off at least 100 yds. rushing with those hugh holes and I’m over 40 and overweight.
Much is made about giving a team a month to prepare negates the option. Tech absoluted imploded in every phase of the game against LSU at the Chick-Fil-A . Turnovers, failed fake punt deep in your own territory(dumb dumb dumb), stupid penalties, etc. I don’t care what offense you’re in. The offense never had a chance with that multi-phase meltdown.
I hate to focus on problems after a successful season, but the biggest problem that needs addressing is getting whipped physically on the line. Especially on the defensive side on the ball. That’s where I hope Groh’s schemes will help. Meanwhile, Tech’s DL’s and LB’s need to spend every free minute in the weight room and at the training table.
dawgfan13
January 9th, 2010
10:01 pm
Ok GTech and Florida hired their DC. What the hell is Georgia waiting for? The national championship game is over! If it was going to be Kirby, whats the hold up? I think he will stay at Bama or go to Florida State where Jimbo is courting him as well. If he dosent come to Georgia, we will be looking at the bottom of the barrel.
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
10:02 pm
What’s Georgia waiting for? An answer from Kirby Smart. That seems obvious. And if it’s not him, I keep hearing it will be Todd Grantham.
McG
January 9th, 2010
10:05 pm
Pete, Maybe some Grohmentum our way.
Reality Check (yeah Yech....that's how you spell it)
January 9th, 2010
10:07 pm
Please read Tokyo Jacket at 7:30…..oh pups you need to wake up
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
10:11 pm
My take on Groh: He knows the ACC and he can recruit. And he can’t possibly do worse than Wommack.
Again, I credit PJ. I don’t know of any other coach who would move so forcefully coming off an 11-3 season.
GT Supporter
January 9th, 2010
10:23 pm
Al would be great for Tech. UVa is tough school to recruit and does not support the football program in order for it to be competitive every year. Not renewing his contract for several years killed recruiting and various player suspensions made it worse. Next UVa coach will have same problems. The less than average running game of UGA would not look all-world against an Al Groh defense. We’re headed in right direction. Already excited about next year.
Jacket
January 9th, 2010
10:23 pm
Mark, what do you think about Tenuna or Roof? Both did a good job here I think.
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 9th, 2010
10:24 pm
JELLO TICKS FAVORITE PUNCH LINE— YOU KNOW PUNCH( PER THEIR COACH) LINE—- IF YOU CANNOT BEAT THEM CHOKE THEM. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHHA
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 9th, 2010
10:26 pm
NEWS ITEM: JELLO JOCKITCH NEW DC( DEFENSIVE CHOKER) IS AL CHOKE HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
Mark Bradley
January 9th, 2010
10:26 pm
I thought Roof did a bad job here, truth to tell. And I consider Tenuta hugely overrated.
gatech4587
January 9th, 2010
10:28 pm
Don’t know the legitimacy of the site, but according to http://www.footballcoachscoop.com/Scoop.html we have hired Al Groh.
dawgfan13
January 9th, 2010
10:29 pm
I think UGA should go with Grantham! Looking at the Dallas D line tonight, they look unblockable. He could also sell on recruits playing in the NFL. I am not sure what Kirby’s role is in Alabamas success as a defense, but I am not sold on him and if he is thinking this much on taking the job, maybe he should just stay in Alabama.
Jacket
January 9th, 2010
10:30 pm
My memory is that both did pretty good with OK talent. Looks like I have to do some homework now.
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 9th, 2010
10:32 pm
THE OLDER JELLO JOCKITCH PUNCH LINE WASSSSSSSS: IF YOU CANNOT BEAT THEM PUNCH THEM THE NEW JELLO JOCKITCH PUNCH LINE ISSSSSSSSS: IF YOU CANNOT PUNCH THEM CHOKE THEM HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA
Jacket
January 9th, 2010
10:33 pm
gatech4587,
Looks like it……..they are usually right.
GT Fan...
January 9th, 2010
10:33 pm
I see (read) that many dog fans are scared. As they should be. It’s hurting them that the baffoon (PJ) running an antiquated/high school offense possesses the “ca-jones” that they wish richt had. PJ doesn’t tolerate mediocrity or less! PJ’s a winner. Always has been, always will be!
Maybe these dog fans still think Dave Braine is still running things at GT. He’s gone folks. Been gone for a few years now.
You GA peeps better get use to the fact that PJ will be a thorn in the dogs’ side as long as he’s at GT. I saw the GT defense play 2 bad games vs. GA in PJ’s 1st 2 seasons, yet the sorry team from the ACC is 1-1 in those games. It will take GA’s best effort offensively to have a chance to beat GT. So far two great offensive efforts by the dogs has resulted in a 1-1 record vs PJ’s Jackets. Funny how GA fans assume GA will always put out great offensive efforts vs GT. Who are they going to have fired when the GA O puts up a dud vs GT (b/c they won’t stand a chance WHEN that happens, and it’s going to happen)?
I’m not saying I know a bunch about Groh, but reading some of these blogs assures me that he’s an upgrade from Wommack. And if that’s truly the case, then GA fans, you better get ready for those duds sooner than you think/wish.
Question for Mark...
January 9th, 2010
10:34 pm
I have to agree with you on giving P.J. credit. But, Groh’s teams have been awful as of late and this year’s team was absolutely massacred on defense. How much do you think his potential hiring has to do with his system affiliation (3-4 scheme)? And, it can not surely be a coincidence that these men seem to have similar dispositions…Right? I am sure that there are some really good, young defensive minds out there that would love to coach at a school like Tech right now. Is he the best choice?
Willy's back at UGA - LOL
January 9th, 2010
10:37 pm
http://www.footballcoachscoop.com/Scoop.html
Georgia:
Sources tell FootballCoachScoop that former Defensive Coordinator, Willie Martinez, has met with Head Coach Mark Richt about rejoining the staff.
According to our sources, Martinez would NOT be the Defensive Coordinator.