Tech loses its chief recruiter, and that’s a major loss
Bringing football players to Georgia Tech isn’t easy. The competition for Georgia players is wicked, and not just from the state’s flagship university. All the heavy hitters come here to poach, and Tech has to fight twice as hard just to hold its own.
Other considerations: Paul Johnson’s spread option has further siphoned the pool. (Tight ends need not apply, since Johnson doesn’t deploy any, and receivers aren’t apt to be overused.) Al Groh just arrived as defensive coordinator, and recruiting for the 3-4 is a bit different. And this being Tech, there’s always the calculus requirement.
Giff Smith was landing players at a high rate by Tech’s standards, which shouldn’t be confused with Rivals.com’s rankings. Tech is never apt to duel Florida or Texas or Georgia for space in the top 10 — the famed class of 2007 was rated only 18th nationally by Rivals and contained no 5-star signees — but that class powered the Jackets to the 2009 ACC title.
Trouble is, three of those players just left early for the NFL, and now Smith is gone. That’s not good news.
Smith is leaving to join Chan Gailey with the Buffalo Bills as linebackers coach. Smith managed to do good work under both Gailey and Johnson — somewhat different personalities, you’d have to concede — and it was a credit to the chief recruiter that the Jackets’ talent base was as imposing as it was.
The kneejerk response is to say Smith’s departure delivers an immediate blow to Tech, coming as it does eight days before Signing Day. That’s probably not true. Players who’ve committed to the Jackets aren’t going to switch because the recruiting coordinator is Buffalo-bound. (The head coach would be a different story.) Where Smith’s loss stands to hurt is in 2011, when Tech was gearing up to sign its best class since 2007.
Smith is a Georgia guy — grew up in Mableton, graduated from Pebblebrook, played and worked at Georgia Southern, even did a stint at UGA as a grad assistant. He knows the state in a way even Johnson does not. Smith was the one man on this staff Tech could least afford to lose, and Gailey just hired him away.
Yes, Tech fans. Just one more reason to raise a glass to good ol’ Chan.
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249 comments Add your comment
Wreckmaniac
January 26th, 2010
8:53 pm
Elmore SPENSER: Smart money tells me that UGA could recruit 45 McDonalds allstars (football version) and not win a nat champ because they never have. Now tell me why this is going to change ?
RULES OF THE UNIVERSE:
1. Global warming is debateable
2. UGA Will never win a nat champ
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
8:53 pm
Anybody heard when Tech will take its off week next year. I got the impression he didn’t like waiting till the next to last week to get a break.
Wreckmaniac
January 26th, 2010
8:59 pm
GWB: Chan may have gotten “payback” but Tech just had two great years
with him out of here. So whatever the “payback” is dosen’t matter.
Kirby Smart
January 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
Wreckmaniac I disagree with you slightly.
1) Clmimate models are debatable.
2) Greenhouse gasses trap heat and if you have enough (however much that is) the planet will warm.
That is all.
Kirby Smart
January 26th, 2010
9:04 pm
Um, that’s climate models. Ok, happy hour’s over for me, lol. Thanks again for the raise fellas. Life is good.
SugarHillDawg
January 26th, 2010
9:05 pm
So Tech’s recruiting will take a hit? Your kidding Bradley, how much worse could 44th be??
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
Er … 45th, maybe?
Stinger Envy
January 26th, 2010
9:17 pm
((((30-24))))
NCDawg
January 26th, 2010
9:23 pm
It’s a loss that’s for certain, but I beg to differ about the recuriting challenges. One could argue that the offense Tech runs actually simplifies recuriitng (offensively) in that you don’t need as many skill players such as wide receivers. You do need a bevy of backs, a QB who can run the option and linemen who don’t necessarily have to be as big but can run block.
And I believe Gailey will make it more than 18 months…he’s better suited in the pros. The problem he faces is that there doesn’t appear to be a lot of talent in Buffalo (like he inherited at the Cowboys).
Dawg Crazy
January 26th, 2010
9:24 pm
Johnson’s been living off gailey’s recruits for 2 years. Now, with his recruiter gone and some mediocre talent, Tech may not win 6-7 games the next few years. Look for an easy Ga blowout in Athens in 2010. Tech’s miracle 2 year run is over.
uh . . . wow
January 26th, 2010
9:24 pm
Nice column, Mark. Unpredictable. I was expecting to read how this departure is further evidence of CPJ’s brilliance.
I am a UGa guy, but I am totally with the Tech people on the fallibility (to say the least) of recruiting rankings. If you believe in these rankings, I have two words for you: Brandon Miller.
Pokey
January 26th, 2010
9:26 pm
Garner is gone next
the real OLD GOLD
January 26th, 2010
9:38 pm
Calc 1 & 2 is required by ALL degrees, not that it’s relevant here, but even for the History degree.
Johnny T.
January 26th, 2010
9:41 pm
Giff is a great coach and will be missed on North Avenue, but remember Jacket fans: the graveyards are full of indispensable men.
Paul in RDU
January 26th, 2010
9:42 pm
It’s great to see willie resurrected as todd grantham – I’ve missed his wit and limericks.
I’m with Mark on Gailey’s shelf-life at Buffalo – 22 months seems about right although he may make it through a 2nd full season. 18 months would have him gone at the beginning of his 2nd year and I can’t see the Bills firing him until he has collected most of his salary in 2011.
Good luck to Giff Smith in the NFL. He’s not the first college assistant coach to go to the League and he won’t be the last. The challenge of coaching at the highest levels, not to mention the money, is hard to beat.
As far as the money is concerned, Lake Oconee Dawg @5:39pm claims that there are high school head coaches making $125k / year. I hope this is just Dawg hyperbole as, if it were true, it would say something appalling about skewed educational priorities.
dawg do
January 26th, 2010
9:47 pm
waffles taste good
dawg do
January 26th, 2010
9:47 pm
Enter your comments here
uga '93
January 26th, 2010
9:49 pm
Treated Gailey badly? The guy walked out the door with something like $4 million. I’ve always felt the Brain-Gailey connection should have been investigated given Gailey’s last extended year contract given at a time when it was painfully obvious he was on the way out. Can you say kickback? What about collusion?
frank james
January 26th, 2010
9:49 pm
It is a big loss and I really thought he would be the Head Coach at Ga. Southern. You can’t blame him for giving the pro game a shot, but I really think he is being loyal to a coach that was loyal to him.
Preston
January 26th, 2010
9:50 pm
If he’s well known as a great recruiter, he won’t have trouble finding a better job than tech when Gailey gets fired from Buffalo.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
9:53 pm
Paul, thanks much. best, todd
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
9:55 pm
perhaps, just perhaps, if the situation is right, i might convince willie to make the occasional cameo appearance. but lets not count on it.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
10:03 pm
Better to be pleasantly surprised than unpleasantly let down, I always say.
willie martinez
January 26th, 2010
10:04 pm
Mark, you’re a fine fellow.
Gailey is Still Worthless
January 26th, 2010
10:06 pm
As a statement that Gailey isn’t a class act he just can’t wait two weeks to make this hire because he so needs to recruit in the NFL. First, he isn’t the offensive guru his so called legacy claims for the Steelers, Cowboys, Dolphins or Chiefs. We witneesed that at Tech. So he feels compelled to pull this to make a statement at Tech. He Chan, you claim to carry so intergriety. Take it to Buffalo, collect what salary you can because your last stop is in the icy tundra of Buffalo. And Giff enjoy your time there. Gailey thought he was more than he was and took Dave Braine’s sickness to get him a big contract at Tech. Another example of Chan earning more than he was worth! Giff it’s a two year gig at best, but that’s the decision you choose.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
10:17 pm
Coach Willie! You’ve come home!
tekcaj welloy
January 26th, 2010
10:24 pm
chan gailey should give Tech’s money back
willie
January 26th, 2010
10:26 pm
If GT considered him to be that important, he wouldn’t have been making only $189K per year. We’ll be fine.
woodie
January 26th, 2010
10:27 pm
Chan Gailey will be fired within 2 years at Buffalo. They must be owned by the ASG…..
Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher
January 26th, 2010
10:32 pm
Mark,
Smith has only been around for four years and the defensive line was a disaster this year sans D Morgan and gave up big chunks of yardage in 08 at times. I feel very confident that CPJ will hire or promote someone that has a good handle on the HS system here in Georgia. Plus I think Al Groh has the connections to replace him in a heart beat.
Reality
January 26th, 2010
10:48 pm
The ugag nay sayers will continue with their BS. GA Tech will continue winning. Nothing will change.
StingerSplash
January 26th, 2010
10:50 pm
Mark, it’s a little presumptuous (OK, a LOT presumptuous) to think Giff knows the state in a way PJ does not. PJ started coaching at GSU before Giff was suiting up for Pebblebrook. PJ’s coached legions of players who have since become high school coaches throughout the state and the South. You may say PJ knows the state in a way Giff does not.
Giff’s a great guy (knew him as an undergrad way, way, way back when) and a good coach. He’s left PJ’s employ before — he went to Tulane to coach with Chris Scelfo, who’s also a FoPJ (Friend of Paul Johnson’s).
Can’t blame Giff for wanting to coach in the NFL, but with Gailey? In Buffalo? This. Will. Not. End. Well.
Stingem
January 26th, 2010
10:51 pm
sorry but he was a avg recrutier..we can do alot better than this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Navigator
January 26th, 2010
10:51 pm
If anybody believes this wasn’t a move by Chan Gailey to hurt Johnson’s future, then you aren’t in tune with reality. They don’t recruit high kids for the pros, and that was his greatest asset, and you’re telling me he will coach at Buffalo (having never done this kind of coaching), and for how long, one year? That’s about how long Gailey will last, one year!
Da U!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26th, 2010
10:51 pm
Ha tech blows looking at a 7-5 season and even worse recruiting in the future. Thanks Chan
Da U!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26th, 2010
11:00 pm
Quarterback who completes under 50% of his passes loses Thomas, his best receiver, and now has no one to throw to. Any threat in the passing game is gone. D-line who couldn’t even stop UGA’s bad rushing attack loses its best d-lineman. Jonathan Dwyer, a great rb, gone. Yeah, GT will be fine lol.
2010 losses
Miami (big loss)
Va Tech (big loss)
UGA
UNC
Florida State and/or Clemson
Coach Johnson
January 26th, 2010
11:20 pm
Hey Da Eunuch, are you stupid? Your QB played worse and worse every game last season. After Ohio State breaks you into itty bitty pieces it’ll be no problem cleaning up the scraps. Go Jackets! Oh, and BTW, we don’t play FSU next year.
Ben Dover
January 26th, 2010
11:28 pm
Wiley,
what is your point? Are you still employed at Solvay?
El Gato
January 26th, 2010
11:30 pm
Coach No Johnson,
How did The U’s quarterback do against the Nerd Herd from North Avenue? I seem to recall him lighting up their arse. Don’t play FSU………well maybe you will get a quality win against Gardner Webb…….LMAO.
Da U!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26th, 2010
11:42 pm
“Your QB played worse and worse every game last season”
First year as a starter, it happens man. Still had over 3300 yards passing. He’ll be great next year. He had a bad bowl game, but the o-line and receivers didn’t help him much. Oh and Iowa just scored again.
Da U!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26th, 2010
11:44 pm
3 TD, O INT against Ga Tech in ‘09. Tech gave up a combined 54 points to Iowa and UGA hahaha.
We run this state
January 26th, 2010
11:45 pm
30-24.
Coach Johnson
January 26th, 2010
11:51 pm
El Gato, the Eunuch had 2 good wins last year, FSU and Tech, that’s it. Period. Got killed by VT (31-7), beat a “Bradford-less” OU by 1, beat Wake by 1 with Wake missing a game ending field goal, lost to Carolina and lost to Wisconsin. That’s 3 conference losses dude. Pfft, this is too easy.
Coach Johnson
January 27th, 2010
12:01 am
Da Eunuch, Harris lobs his passes. Didn’t you watch him? Hell, even Duke was beatin ya at the start of the 4th quarter. Seriously, your game with Ohio State is gonna get ugly. They’re not #2 because they got swagger. lol
Coach Johnson
January 27th, 2010
12:03 am
Da Eunuch, that’s why we got a new DC. We were down by less than a TD in both those games in the last two minutes. Yup, lookin forward to next year.
El Gato
January 27th, 2010
12:03 am
Coach No Johnson,
Conference losses……that’s the best you can do. Your boy couldn’t hit water standing in a boat. Good thing that idiot can run somewhat ’cause you know you are in trouble if he has to throw it. Funny thing you mentioned Wake…..seem to recall the Yellow Fellas had a rabbit’t foot in their pocket against them as well (at home no less). Harris will be lighting up your po arses again this year in Atlanta. Please be there with three friends to witness the beat down. Should be able to get you four hot dogs and four cokes to watch the annihilation………….
A Rob
January 27th, 2010
12:05 am
Folks who say PJ won’t recruit don’t look inside the numbers. It’s pretty simple if you do. If you think “stars” are the most important stat, which most fans do, you need to look at the avg stars per player recruited. This year’s class averages 3.2 stars per recruit at this point, and that includes a 2 star kicker, a position that is rarely recruited. Chan’s famed class of 2007 averaged 3.3 stars. Not much of a difference there. These were the players some folks say are the only reasons PJ has had success to this point. Ridiculous!! Chan’s 2007 class also had 2 of the 7 “4 star” headliner recruits that did not even play and transferred. The only reason this year’s class is ranked lower is due to the amount of scholarships available. So take heart Jacket fans, Johnson will have no trouble recruiting and has already proven he can do it.
El Gato
January 27th, 2010
12:05 am
No Johnson,
Are you an OSU guy or Tech girl? Gardner Webb was not available that day so we decided to actually play a decent opponent. Not worried about overrated OSU. Little 11 does not exactly strike fear into everyone’s heart……..
Coach Johnson
January 27th, 2010
12:07 am
Bring it. Can’t wait.
Coach Johnson
January 27th, 2010
12:11 am
Gardner Webb? For one thing that was 2008, we won and that year we beat you 41-23. So if we only beat GW by 3 but beat you by 18, what does that tell ya?