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
Big Al
January 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
Ha ha
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
kusters
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
A Clusters reappearance! The day is saved!
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
Make that Clusters
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
5:18 pm
Well, this is a big loss but “you win some, you lose some.” That’s life. Good luck to Johnson and Groh in finding a good replacement. Should be easier to recruit after last season so hopefully we’ll get a good one. GO JACKETS!
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
5:20 pm
We was robbed! Congrats to Big Al.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
January 26th, 2010
5:20 pm
What’s that? Rats deserting a sinking ship? Maybe he got fed up with the ever diminishing prospect of ever beating Ga again or winning a bowl game ever on a green field. Or maybe it was the money. I’m guessing it was the money. Because he signed at GT he wasn’t counting on the other options to begin with
gtcivil
January 26th, 2010
5:21 pm
Ah Chan…the gift that keeps on giving. Only 8 days until signing day, too. Thanks Chan and Braine.
Clay
January 26th, 2010
5:24 pm
Can’t believe Clusters didn’t have a comment on MB’s last posting ….
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
5:26 pm
Mark, too early to speculate on replacements right?
Phil
January 26th, 2010
5:26 pm
Smith was a great asset, but everyone is replaceable.
Paul Johnson did a fairly good job of finding talent without Smith’s services at Navy and Ga. Southern, and based on his ability to find talented staff (see: Al Groh), I’m confident he’ll do fine in replacing Smith.
The Girthiest Man in the World
January 26th, 2010
5:26 pm
Tech needs a new rush chair to give out all the bids
Stay girthy my friends!
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
5:28 pm
I almost used that very phrase, gtcivil — “the gift that goes on giving.”
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
5:29 pm
Kudos to Big Al, if belated kudos. I was so stunned anybody beat Sonny C. that I was rendered senseless.
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
5:30 pm
We was in important meetings at the plant today and missed the other blog but we was wondering what that is stuck on the bill of Bobby’s cap? Bobby is a nice man and we have talked with him some and he calls us “Clusters” so we don’t have a nickname from him like “Brad” or “Roachy” or “Sweet Cakes”. Everybody knows about Sweet Cakes, right? We was noticing that pitchers and catchers report in just 23 days and we are ready. Put us in, Coach, we’re ready to play . . . today. We was thinking we might help Brad some this season when he blogs about baseball. We was state championship.
bp
January 26th, 2010
5:30 pm
sonnys back?
wiley
January 26th, 2010
5:31 pm
I think Groh will be able to pick up the slack. This next year is looking more and more like a rebuilding year. Hopefully we can keep the bowl streak alive!
Foothills football fan
January 26th, 2010
5:32 pm
Good luck to Giff! That said, I agree with Phil
Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher
January 26th, 2010
5:33 pm
Good luck Giff your gonna need it because you will be looking for a new gig in two years when Gaily gets fired!!! It’s a loss but I am sure that CPJ will find a guy that has ties within the state. We keep winning on the field and everything will take care of itself…
THWG!
lucky21
January 26th, 2010
5:33 pm
Ive been noticin all this past season how wonderful Giff has been here and now he leaves this is not good at all
StraightJacket
January 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
Lesseee here: If fans, head coaches, and programs had a choice, would they want …
(A) A Peter-Principle coach on the staff who stays on WAY beyond any reasonable parting time? … or
(B) A mover, shaker, get-it-done guy who produces, but may well be shaping his career to leave for further advancement?
OK Fans, one of the above is Willie “Shaken-not stirred” Martini of Ugag and the other is Giff Smith.
See if you’re smart enough to figure out who is (A) and who is (B). Bonus points if you explain WHY you’d rather have (A) or (B) in your program.
HINT: There is a “right” answer.
-SJ
Dominique Wilkins
January 26th, 2010
5:35 pm
Chan Gailey just had a heat check.
Jerry
January 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
If Giff could Coach like he can recruit, his loss would have been a major one. Unfortunately, he did not get much performance out of some pretty talented players including 4 that are in the NFL now. The reality is Paul Johnson has a very strong relationship with a majority of the high school coaches in the State of Georgia and will not miss a beat based on the loss of Smith. Lastly, I have to question Giff’s judgement aligning his families future with an underacheiver like Chan Gailey. I appreciate what he did while at Tech but his leaving gives Coach Johnson another chance to upgrade his staff.
Go Jackets!
wiley
January 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
just to clarify by “slack”, I mean experience and appeal to recruits. Hire Bobby Bowden as our recruiting coordinator lol!
bp
January 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
has he been replaced?
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
You knew ole Chan would want some revenge for the way he was treated on the way out…Can hear him laughing all the way from Buffalo…Lost a good one in Giff…Thought he might be promoted to DC, think he might have thought the same thing…He is certainly ready for that…Pay was at 189K, which is pretty weak…There are some high school head coaches making $125K….Would have possibly doubled his salary if promoted to DC at Tech…Paul ran the gamble that Giff would not leave if not offered the DC job and the big raise, but the gamble did not pay off…Probably at 400K with the Bills, can’t really fault him for leaving…Good luck to ole Giffer, who played at Georgia Southern University and is a credit to his school…Recruiting coordinators are hard to replace, ask CMR….
daugs ruin this blog
January 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
Just curious, what pay does his pro job command? He may be better off working just two years as a pro vs $189k
The McRib - why only here for a limited time?
January 26th, 2010
5:39 pm
Hey “elviskl” – you’ve graciously blessed us all with your powerful wisdom on many a UGA board… so ease up on ol’ Kum Fang.
2HLLWGA
January 26th, 2010
5:40 pm
I am thinking this might allow Groh to get his own line coach, given the change to a 3-4. The issue will be a recruiting coordinator. That will be the more interesting development.
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
5:41 pm
We was selected for Governor’s Honors when we was a senior and we almost went but Coach said, “you need to work on your game so you’ll be ready for the show” and we told the Governor, no thanks. Still, we write pretty well and can type almost 85 words per minute while holding a Coca-Cola. That said, we would be playing baseball today if one of us hadn’t been selected by the Braves and walked out on the other during a tobacco spitting orientation at Clemson University. We just came on home and took second shift and it has worked out except for the signing bonus not being as good. We was thinking we should make a comment about Tech losing a recruiter but Paul Johnson should be the star recruiter in the state with what he’s done for the Tech program and sending 4 young guys off to the NFL this year.
Clay
January 26th, 2010
5:43 pm
Hope PJ handles this better than he handles the bowl challenges, Alabama Jack …
Benjamin
January 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
Sadly, MB, you didn’t make my day by offering kudos on my Bobby Cox “first” from earlier. But I had Arby’s for lunch, so I’m good.
wiley
January 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
I agree with Alabama Jack…wouldnt the flagship university have a higher endowment?
Tech- 1.609 Billion
UGA -618.8 Million
Not that anybody on this blog cares…
bp
January 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
we will be alright.
dawgfan
January 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Bradley, the calculus requirement is a myth and a lie. The management majors that make up the vast majority of Georgia Tech’s football team are not required to take calculus. Again, this is a bold faced Techie LIE. I guess it would be too much to ask for the AJC to ever call Tech fans out on BS like this.
NYJacket
January 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
Good ole Chan. When Tech I mean Braine hired him, he didn’t show up until after the recruiting season so we lost big time his first year on the job.
Now, he hires away Giff just before signing season.
Too bad Braine didn’t have to pay Gailey’s salary himself when Tech finally dumped him.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
5:53 pm
Not sure how familiar Giff was with the 3-4 but I bet the next guy will be. That could be a plus if he can recruit as well.
Alphare
January 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
In year 2007, Tech brought in 7 4-star recruits. Among the 7, 3 of them are potentially 1st round NFL draft picks. 3 out of 7, 43%. Can any other college in the nation make that claim.
In that same year, UGA brought in 12 4-star players. How many will be 1st round draftee this year, you may ask? Zero. I bet most of the 12 feel sorry for themselves now.
If you are eying NFL, Tech is the smartest choice!
bp
January 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
Enter your comments here
richtreignisover
January 26th, 2010
5:57 pm
The curse of dave no-braine continues……..chan and blewitt are going to haunt us forever.
saban
January 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
No problem.
You want to keep a defensive line coach that allows offenses to dominate tech`s defensive line like crap going through a goose?
As far as recruiting goes Tech will do just fine.
I will see to that.
Richt will pay for stealing my hairdresser.
Kugel
January 26th, 2010
6:00 pm
Coach Giff, you will be missed here on the Flats. All the best and God’s blessings to you Giff. I hope that you are successful in your new NFL position.
No need to freak out here folks. CPJ will find the proper replacement and, while things will be different, the new recruiting coordinator could be even better. As with all change, time will tell, and we just have to take it one day at a time.
Go Jackets!!
Percival Plante Pacheco, GIT 72
January 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
I never cared that much for calculus I just wanted math skills that would allow me to count my money, balance my checkbook, and pay my hourly employees that went to UGA.
Conyers Yellow Jacket
January 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Mark: I agree. Any loss at this time is a major problem given the situation of a no-pass offense
at GT. As you pointed out, receivers are turned off…..well maybe this does not matter since anyone
can be a receiver when a team throws 2 passes for 12 yards and one interception in a BCS
bowl game.
messin with sasquatch
January 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
I hope that the draw to Tech was playing for CPJ and GT, and the potential quality education to be had here. Buffalo holds no attraction to a southerner, so the money must have been fine.
Hope that the rest of the staff is fully involved with the recruits. If a recruit was coming to play for the recruiter, I don’t think the kid is fully using his noggin.
And can we stop with the kickin Chan – I mean this is like BO the pres blamin Bush forever like he does………
Jacket Backer
January 26th, 2010
6:04 pm
i think we’ll be just fine……did anyone see the performance of our DLine???…..CPJ will make a good hire……
GOOOOOOO JACKETS!!!!!!
SLP
January 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
Chan Gailey? Buffalo? Whoa! CPJ may want to punch us dawg fans again.
MAYOR OF PONCE
January 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
Im pretty sure Sonny Clusters would make a fine recruiting coordinator. While holding a Coca-cola.
superDawg
January 26th, 2010
6:12 pm
Thank God and greyhound for Gailey.
GT Fan
January 26th, 2010
6:16 pm
Smith is a bum. Anyone who would follow Chaney is a loser. He could have stayed at GT and played for more championships and get more score rings, but he took the easy route and went to the NFL. Loser.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
6:20 pm
You know, Benjamin, I was in high-level meetings this afternoon and wasn’t as diligent as I needed to be. So I offer really belated kudos to you.
Doyouknowshon
January 26th, 2010
6:24 pm
Tech has its best year since 1990 and they lose their recruiting coordinator to Buffalo. I love it.
Plain truth
January 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
Show your Tech ring when you go in the hospital with a heart attack! See if calculus or a Dairy Queen management degree is going to impress any Dawgs working there!
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
No. Just talking shop. Today’s topics — sports travel for the next few months and Outlook Express.
Maddog
January 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
I can’t believe I actually hear tech fans spinning this as a positive. I’m sure if Garner quit today the yellow jacket nation would be crowing long and loud about the devastation it would leave at Georgia. So either Smith is not as important to the program as Garner, or those dismissing the impact of his departure are full of it.
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
Clusters was in the House of Burgesses for a time but we was too smart for all that and we moved to another state so we could be leaders there. Not many people know about our time in colonial Georgia and how we fought in the Revolution and won some battles because of a good and accurate throwing arm. What was we throwing? Knives mostly. That evolved into throwing a ball when we helped Gen Abner Doubleday invent baseball and we invented the breaking ball that has been the undoing of many a baseball player. We won’t go into the circle change but we always thought it took a big sissy to throw that pitch.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
MORE high level meetings? is the AJC folding up shop?
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
6:27 pm
On an unrelated topic: Has anyone ever seen Sonny Clusters and Russ, the Temporary Mascot together?
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
6:29 pm
Thank the Lord. I’ve been urging my old friend CWM to launch his writing career with the AJC. Maybe begin on the night court beat and see a few former players. Great human interest potential dont you think Mark?
AMG
January 26th, 2010
6:30 pm
Goodbye Giff and farewell, you were ok as a recruiter or you would have been fired with Gailey because you are not much of a line coach, the last two years proves that. I am thankful Tech will get a new line coach, maybe he will even know how to teach them to stop the guy with the ball.
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
6:32 pm
AJC will soon be moving to Dunwoody and they say they plan to keep the current name. We was thinking that gives Dunwoody two papers and the AJC is the new guy on the block. DJC doesn’t sound right and let’s hope they don’t have to call the fire department when they get there.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
6:33 pm
I’m afraid you just outed clusters.
shreveport
January 26th, 2010
6:33 pm
it’s a good thing tech has someone to coach ‘em up….rather than never allow them to reach their projected potential
y’all dogs come back now, ya hear!
Sonny Clusters
January 26th, 2010
6:34 pm
We deny anything of that sort but that sure is a smart little dog, isn’t it? We would be on his side in this matter if we was going to take sides.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
6:34 pm
its almost beyond belief the AJC blog server seems to be on duty tonight. Bless him or her or it as the case may be.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
Sonny, maybe you should consult Herschel on this multi personality thing.
Carl
January 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
You ort not talk that way about that boy. I’d like some of them biscuits now.
Angus
January 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
Scanned the comments and didn’t see it, so I’ll say it…..
Tech’s recruiting can get worse than 44th?
Doug
January 26th, 2010
6:36 pm
Tech still has a football team?
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
6:39 pm
so we hear the paper may fold
and end its reporting so bold
Mark, you’ll land on your feet
and not on your seat
as Furman said, son you broke the mold
SuperB
January 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
Losing the recruiting coordinator, who also coached on defense; While bringing in a DC (Al Groh) who can’t recruit is all bad news for the Bugs. Groh personally ran UVa. into the ground by being so overwhelmingly outrecruited by VT. Don’t believe it: Look at The Roanoke Times top 50 List in Virginia.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
Thanks, Coach Todd.
reggie
January 26th, 2010
6:41 pm
maybe Giff was mad we don’t change colors with helmets and uniforms when we need to be inspired for big games.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
6:42 pm
The blog has been slow today. I apologize on behalf of all of us.
kirby smart
January 26th, 2010
6:44 pm
suckers!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Dawgman566
January 26th, 2010
6:44 pm
Do we need further proof that CPJ is a raging A-hole? Just wait till the losing starts.
Blue Fox
January 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
Do we
Blue Fox
January 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
Do we STILL have to pay Gomer Gailey now that he’s got a HC job??
The Grinch
January 26th, 2010
6:46 pm
reggie
January 26th, 2010
6:41 pm
Either that or Giff got tired of having to get the defense back on the field when Reggie Ball threw the ball out of bounds to stop the clock on 4th down.
Frank
January 26th, 2010
6:47 pm
Best of luck to Giff Smith, but sorry techies I can’t see this a a great loss. As someone else mentioned CPJ has many contacts in Georgia and I don’t think ya’ll will miss out on many, if any, athletes that look to tech as a college choice. I think you will still be in on the same type kids you were in on before, and as always….
THWGT!!!!
Tokyo jacket
January 26th, 2010
6:47 pm
Is this the last time Chan can screw us or is there more opportunity in the future?
reggie
January 26th, 2010
6:48 pm
hmmm….well he’ll be reunited with half of that equation again with Chan. and now he’ll have TO instead of Reggie!
but if he’s worried about his tan up there in Buffalo i’m sure the reverand can give him a recommendation.
billcanoe
January 26th, 2010
6:50 pm
Good luck, coach Smith. You are a class act and I wish you well in your future career, although you will be missed at GT. Looks like Gailey had the sense to hire the man who saved his ass at GT the last couple of years he was there with quality recruits, because Gailey himself sure couldn’t recruit.
From Giff’s perspective, it’s probably a good career move because he will have a couple of years of NFL experience on his resume when Gailey gets canned. Never hurts.
Tech is soft
January 26th, 2010
6:55 pm
But without Giff to recruit, how will Tech continue to attract players good enough to beat Georgia once every eight years?
support Coach Johnson
January 26th, 2010
6:56 pm
dawgfan, If you do not test into calculus you will not be accepted into the Institute and there are no exceptions for management majors. Calculus is the entry level math at GT
The Grinch
January 26th, 2010
6:58 pm
Tokyo jacket
January 26th, 2010
6:47 pm
Well, if Gailey decides to install the triple option he may be calling on PJ.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
6:58 pm
Everybody mentions Reggie Ball throwing the ball out of bonds on 4th down vs Georgia. That WAS bad, not knowing what down it was. But the one that really amazed me was when he dropped back to pass against VT when we were on our own 2 yard line and ran out of the end zone. How could he not the friggin goal post and realize he couldn’t go back that far? Oh well, I can finally laugh about it now.
james
January 26th, 2010
6:59 pm
Dawgfan,
They still have to take calculus. I know, I tutored some of them. Instead of taking three separate calculus courses like engineers, they take 1 condensed one. It’s still no joke.
If management was really that easy of a major, we would have higher-rated recruits. Think about it.
Tokyo jacket
January 26th, 2010
7:00 pm
This is NOT a Lane Kiffin situation. Kiffin is a crap bag that led Tennesse fans on a wild goose chase. Giff Smith has done good things at Tech and yes, left for a promotion. Kiffin left for a lateral. Tech is better for having had its relationship with Smith but Tennessee is worse for having known Kiffin.
Here’s an analogy: losing Giff Smith is like breaking up with a girl because it’s just time to move on and you do so amicably. Kiffin is more like finding out your gilrfriend has been cheating on you with a better looking guy who has no substance and she moves in with him and takes your TV and your sofa when she leaves.
whiskey bottle
January 26th, 2010
7:04 pm
thanks for your good years Giff…….tech will be fine……playing for GT is an honor…..if you want to be a criminal and not win national championships…..go to UGA
It's a Freezehole
January 26th, 2010
7:07 pm
do not see how anyone would want to live in Buffalo much less work there especially for a head coach who was fired as OC with Kansas City. I agree with previos comment, I do not see how the Chan era will go more than 2 yrs..
so Tokyo....
January 26th, 2010
7:09 pm
does this mean your available now? lol (girl asking)
Georgia Tech loses its chief recruiter, and that's a major loss … | Georgia Today
January 26th, 2010
7:10 pm
[...] Read the original here: Georgia Tech loses its chief recruiter, and that's a major loss … [...]
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
7:10 pm
I was just speaking with someone who works at Tech, and he figured the shelf life on Chan with the Bills is 18 months. I’d give it 22.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
7:11 pm
Maddog, not spinning this as a positive, just trying to be optimistic. There are other people who can recruit out there and someone with knowledge and experience with the 3-4 could be an improvement. There’s no guarantee of that but there’s no guarantee the next guy will be worse either. Good luck to Giff and GO JACKETS!
Tokyo jacket
January 26th, 2010
7:14 pm
Groh took recruiting as a primary duty at UVA. Is there a chance he could be the new recruiting coordinator and DC?
TML
January 26th, 2010
7:15 pm
I wonder what CP”Goferit”J’s recruiting classes were ranked when he was at Georgia Southern and Navy. Giff was great but I’m not overly worried. The enticement of playing for a former NFL defensive genius on defense and one of the most innovative offensive minds as head coach should be enough to get quite the players we want and need.
“Toe Meets Leather” is available at your local The Fans Wear store (Cumberland, Peachtree Center, Northlake, and Stonecrest) and at http://www.stinGTees.com.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
7:18 pm
I can’t imagine a 65-year-old would do both jobs, Tokyo jacket. Or would want to do both.
GWB
January 26th, 2010
7:23 pm
“Players who’ve committed to the Jackets aren’t going to switch because the recruiting coordinator is Buffalo-bound.”
Mark there’s probably not 5 players on Tech’s entire list that anybody of significance wants to poach anyway. That’s the saving grace here. But you got to hand it to Chan. He got his payback.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
7:25 pm
Mark, how long did Gailey last with the Chiefs? Not more than a year I think. I tend to agree with the 22-24 months though. The Bills were 6-10 last season. Gailey takes em to 8-8 next year and the year after then he’s gone. By then we’ll know if our new recruiting coordinator is any good.
SatchelBuzz
January 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
Good luck Giff,…but you’re making big mistake. Like I needed another reason to hate that SOB Gailey! Only wish I will one day get the chance to tell how I feel about him to his face.
In CPJ we trust,…..THWG!
The Dogfighter Returns
January 26th, 2010
7:29 pm
as long as magic city, the pink pony, and strokers are still in operation tech doesn’t really need a recruiter. hey now
just don’t walk by yourself around techwood son. the locals will jack you nerds in a heartbeat.
The Ole Ball Coach
January 26th, 2010
7:31 pm
According to Chip Towers UGA will sign nobody this year
all will be going to others schools ………… I guess Georgia should just quit this football sport.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
7:40 pm
Chan lasted one season and three exhibition games with Kansas City, Technophobia.
THWGT
January 26th, 2010
7:42 pm
Every program has it’s problems.was it not a former GT BB player that was just in trouble for gun possession.Your pot is just as black MR Kettle.
Buzzwax
January 26th, 2010
7:46 pm
Doubt Al Groh becomes recruiting coordinator….lets see a New Yorker trying to build relationships with rural HS Coaches…….Now Brian Jean Mary our LB coach, he is a very good recruiter and would fill the role very well…..
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
7:48 pm
UGA is battling the likes of Penn St and USC for recruiting rankings. (Ranked 8th by Rivals)
Tech is battling the likes of Baylor and Houston (Ranked 44th Rivals)
Which team would you rather be? Which one is more likely to win in the future?
Kirby Smart
January 26th, 2010
7:48 pm
Thanks again for the raise UGa. Didn’t even have to move and I’m still with a championship program. Life is good.
GT3O
January 26th, 2010
7:48 pm
If Paul Johnson could recruit at Navy without Giff Smith as well as he did, I am feel quite certain he will have no problem at GT.
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
7:50 pm
If Paul Johnson could recruit at Navy without Giff Smith as well as he did, I am feel quite certain he will have no problem at GT.
You dont recruit at Navy. You join
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
7:53 pm
Thanks again for the raise UGa. Didn’t even have to move and I’m still with a championship program. Life is good.
No problem Kirby. Have fun putting up with Saban. I heard he is real fun to work with.
GWB
January 26th, 2010
7:53 pm
Alphare you’re a blithering idiot. Want to predict how many 1st rounders GT has next year, or the year after that, or the year after that with the chum that PJ recruits.
GT3O
January 26th, 2010
7:54 pm
Elmore Spencer,
Funny you should say that coming off a 7-5 season, unranked with a top 10 recruiting class, and GT with a normal not so great class was top 10 and a BCS bowl team and a conference champion with a coach of the year in the ACC.
Did you know that today the ACC had the most players in the Pro Bowl selected? Did you know the majority of the players on the Indianapolis Colts were 2 star recruits in college based on those people who rank your top 10 recruiting class?
Tell me how credible those stars are, Elmore.
Remember, the ACC has the most players in the pro-bowl this year and the most of them were only 3 star recruits…
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
7:54 pm
I believe Coach Martinez has been the victim of identity theft, Coach Grantham.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
7:55 pm
SO many coaches are retreads from the scrap heap. how come Willie cant get a job Mark?
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 26th, 2010
7:56 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHA. AND WILL ALWAYS BE FOREVER AND EVER.
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
7:57 pm
How did Gilbert Arenas or Stephon Marbury do in Calculus?
GT3O
January 26th, 2010
7:59 pm
Elmore,
You couldn’t be more wrong about recruiting at Navy. Paul Johnson recruited Jonathon Dwyer for Navy and Jaybo Shaw for instance.
The fact that either of those two even considered going to Navy is a feat. That was more obstacles PJ had to jump over. It’s must harder to recruit guys to JOIN the Navy and play football…
Point is, PJ still had to recruit them….don’t be a moron.
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 26th, 2010
8:00 pm
JELLO JOCKITCH YOU JUST HAVE TO GO TO CALLAWAY GARDENS AND SEE WHAT IS AT END OF YOUR STREAM IN THOSE WATERLESS URINALS AND YOU WILL KNOW YOUR PROPER POSITION OF LIFE HERE IN THE UNIVERSE. SEE THE JELLO JOCKITCH IMAGE AT THE BOTTOM. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
Funny you should say that coming off a 7-5 season, unranked with a top 10 recruiting class, and GT with a normal not so great class was top 10 and a BCS bowl team and a conference champion with a coach of the year in the ACC.
Squirrel finds nut. It happens once a decade.
Remember, the ACC has the most players in the pro-bowl this year and the most of them were only 3 star recruits…
the pro bowl . lolololo
You mean the game all the best players “skip” because of “injuries”. Your actually using that as a stat?
Listen if you want to keep believing a 44th ranked class can compete year in year out with a top ten class go ahead. Its your right. But you are wrong and by a long shot. Its a numbers game and Tech doesn’t have the numbers. Its that simple. I know we went 7-5 last year with highly ranked players but ask yourself this. Will that continue to happen. Smart money say no. Most years our top ten recruiting classes have ended with a top ten ranking. Smart money says that continues with the occasional hiccup (2009)
GT IS NOW A 6TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 26th, 2010
8:02 pm
JELLO JOCKITCH IS ANATOMICALLY COMPATIBLE WITH AL GROhIN. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
8:03 pm
Remember, the ACC has the most players in the pro-bowl this year and the most of them were only 3 star recruits…
and BTW please don’t compare the SEC with the ACC. It just makes you look stupid.
Call me when the ACC wins a BCS game. Heck call me when the ACC wins anything.
Elmore Spencer
January 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
P.S.
Iowa just scored again
GT3O
January 26th, 2010
8:08 pm
Elmore,
Doesn’t matter if they play or not, fact is they were selected, whether they actually play is up to them. I don’t see what your getting at other than the fact that you put too much into Rivals and Scout “rankings”.
Further, COACHING will get you further than a star. You have to be able to coach them up, having all those stars and that high ranking class doing as bad as UGA did last year points to something else…especially when PJ was getting more out of a “lower” ranked class.
Could it be that Paul Johnson just so happen just coach these lower star players up to bigger star level? While Mark Richt is getting the so called “ready made” talent and letting them waste banking on talent to be enough, when it’s obviously not?
cantondawg
January 26th, 2010
8:08 pm
I played with Giff Smith at GSU in 1989. He was a heckuva player and great person. I wish him all the best in the world. It didn’t surprise me that he’s been so successful. He has great people skills and knowledge of the game. I don’t expect him to stay at Buffalo long. He will be a college head football coach in the very near future. Congratulations and good luck Giff
The Dogfighter Returns
January 26th, 2010
8:09 pm
How did Gilbert Arenas or Stephon Marbury do in Calculus?
—-
They taught themselves capitalism. C.R.E.A.M. son.
fan of Baton twirlers
January 26th, 2010
8:12 pm
maybe Al will Groh some nads and be able to recruit some solid majorettes for the flag boy nation ..i mean He is good friends with William and Mary…lmao
Yellow Jackets Recruiting Takes a Severe Blow | Football Picks
January 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
[...] not Tech’s recruiting coordinator anymore. Chan Gailey just hired him away [...]
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
Did you not see Willie’s blog obituary from a few blogs ago?
it was very moving.
GT3O
January 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
Elmore, P.S. I think Joker Phillips out coached Mark Richt again…and Kiffin just laughed at UGA all the way to USC while out coaching Mark Richt too.
At least GT lost to a top 10 team and not other unranked teams.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
8:14 pm
Gilbert Arenas went to Arizona, not Tech.
fan of Baton twirlers
January 26th, 2010
8:14 pm
true GT30 …Richt can’t coach a lick..till ya put the TEch team on the field!! lmao course i am sure Al Groh will stop that ….coming from mighty Virginia like he is..lmao..your right Georgia just can’t coach em…apparently you don’t even have to coach good to beat a team at Tech
gtfanfrom1951
January 26th, 2010
8:14 pm
Mark no one is irreplaceable. I’m believe that Coach Johnson will find the right man for the job.
but arent players.....
January 26th, 2010
8:17 pm
….begging to play football for coach Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech….i mean “what has Georgia done since 1980 ” coach johnson???
GWB
January 26th, 2010
8:18 pm
Ok technophobia, how about Crittendon? Think he ever saw a math class. We know Reggie Ball didn’t.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
8:19 pm
Coach Grantham, man I missed Willie’s blog obit. No offense but he’s a way better poet than you.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
8:20 pm
i hope the travel schedule included some UGA basketball games. too hot a story to ignore.
GT3O
January 26th, 2010
8:21 pm
fan of baton twirlers…
And you UGA fan’s were singing a similar song as what I said in 2008…you know it, surely you don’t have that short of a memory.
Paul Johnson in his first year a the BCS level, bringing a new system to players fit for the pro system, no less freshman and sophomores which were the youngest class in the ACC that year, and he came into Athens and beat the preseason ranked #1 team with Stafford and Moreno and many other seniors.
Talk about Mark Richt being out coached.
Paul Johnson is 1-1 against UGA. Try not to forget so soon.
todd grantham
January 26th, 2010
8:21 pm
tech, willie was an old vet at limericks. i’m just a neophyte.
GWB
January 26th, 2010
8:23 pm
GT3O get a clue you moron. Think Dwyer, Nesbitt, Burnett, and Morgan were lower star recruits? Chan handed those guys to fat Paul on a silver platter. You won’t even sniff another ACC title with Johnson’s chum.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
8:25 pm
Coach Grantham, see, there’s your problem. What the heck rhymes with neophyte? Old vet is a start though.
GWB
January 26th, 2010
8:26 pm
Hey GT30, maybe PJ can coach em up to winn a bowl game one of these days. Or score more than 10 offensive pts. Think that’s possible?
GWB
January 26th, 2010
8:29 pm
Maybe one of these days PJ can coach em up enough to win a bowl game or beat a few mediocre 5 loss ooc teams. Think so GT30. Until PJ can do that he hasn’t done $hit.
StraightJacket
January 26th, 2010
8:35 pm
What I REALLY want to know is….
How does PRE-Season National Champ (how much is THAT worth?) and a PERENNIAL Recruiting National Champion (uh,… I think this is worth EVEN LESS than a PRE-Season National Championship!) like UGag ONLY beat a 6th Rate High School team by LESS than a touchdown?
Sounds like a real problem to me.
Sounds like an entire coaching staff living on the Peter Principle.
So, Athensfolk, Enjoy. While you can. The Peter Principle isn’t designed for longevity OR excellence.
-SJ
louisville slugger
January 26th, 2010
8:40 pm
Mark, did you hear about the morning rush hour fiasco here in Louisville today? Black ice everywhere, took me 95 minutes to go from Buckner to Hurstbourne! Regarding G. Smith, sounds like a good move for him, but PJ will need to replace him with someone of similar charisma, etc., for sure.
Technophobia
January 26th, 2010
8:41 pm
Last year UGa took the week off before the Gator game. Next year they take the week off before the Tech game. Wonder how the dawg fans feel about that.
Wreckmaniac
January 26th, 2010
8:49 pm
Why didn’t Chan hire Willie Martinez ?
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
8:49 pm
Did not hear about it, Louisville Slugger. I hope everybody’s OK. I still have relatives in Louisville.
Mark Bradley
January 26th, 2010
8:51 pm
I did note the farewell done limerick-style. And I was impressed, Coach Willie/Todd.
Not Disappointed
January 26th, 2010
8:52 pm
This one hurts.
Ramblin Wreck!
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?
surfrider
January 27th, 2010
12:16 am
Good luck to Coach Smith and the job he did at Tech. There is no question recruiting has improved over the last 5 years. According one online source Tech 5 years ago had 3 recruits rated 75 and over, 4 years ago something like 11 (less the 3 going pro), 3 years ago 13 recruits, last year something like 18, and this year something like 13 as we head into close. It does’nt mean definite as Bay Bay was rated something like 73 and he’s looking high up for future. Four years ago we had though very high rated recruits that have ended up doing well. Looking foward to spring practice to see the changes coming.
A Rob
January 27th, 2010
12:20 am
PJ’s current 2010 class: average 3.2 stars Rivals
Chan’s 2007 class that supposedly PJ can’t succeed without: avg 3.3 stars
Not much difference there folks. PJ will recruit what we need.
mtraininjax
January 27th, 2010
12:38 am
Mark – When Tech was trolling for a DC, I said it here, hire Giff Smith or give him a shot. He was not even considered, which to me, has to hurt him, and bringing in Groh was just more of the same old same old from Johnson. So good for Smith to leave. He will do well wherever he goes.
blackprix
January 27th, 2010
1:29 am
Tech has had some very good recruiters under Ross, O’Leary and Gailey, no reason why we won’t get another guy who knows the state, the country and what our needs our. CPJ knows the value of a good RC and he will hire the right guy for Tech.
mark
January 27th, 2010
1:41 am
CMR`s assistant coaches leave because they get fired…CPJ `s assistants leave for a promotion
Bubba
January 27th, 2010
5:37 am
My daughter, who is a Tech student, tells me there is coming another big, big problem for Tech recruits. The administration is cracking down on “gift grades” for football players in calculus. They are going to have to take and pass the same calculus courses as anybody else. And this is a major deal.In the past it’s been wink and nod — no more.
Tokyo jacket
January 27th, 2010
6:49 am
If you look at what we’re doing for 2011, I get the feeling that CPJ is going to try to start reeling in big fish. CPJ doesn’t like finishing second in anything, including recruiting. It’s an image thing. Look for a big play at RC.
MitesBendingOver4PJ
January 27th, 2010
6:51 am
SatchelBuzz
January 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
In CPJ we trust,…..THWG!
LMAO! You techmites are like a flock of lemmings following the pied piper right over the cliff.. Or maybe you are more like those groupies that drank Jim Jones’ koolaid. All this PJ manlove is hilarious. Why don’t you save it for the day that jackazz wins a bowl game or beats even a mediocre out of conference opponent. Maybe that will happen when he figures out how to score more than 10 points total in 2 bowl attempts. He may be the biggest catfish in that ACC goldfish pond but he’s bait when he ventures out.
Sam Sessions
January 27th, 2010
6:57 am
That has something to with GT athletes taking those courses at Morehouse and GSU doesn’t it Bubba? I’ve been hearing that too. There has been some qui pro quo going on between Morehouse and GT for quit some time. But yes the rumor is that GT academics for athletes is under scrutiny again.
Tweets that mention Georgia Tech loses its chief recruiter, and that's a major loss | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 27th, 2010
7:10 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Colin Ake, BHaddad, zosterma, Clay Waterfill and others. Clay Waterfill said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC Georgia Tech loses recruiting coordinator Giff Smith, and that's a major setback. http://bit.ly/9VGr0r {not to me! [...]
GT2002
January 27th, 2010
7:15 am
Most of our footballers don’t go near Calc until their eligibility has expired. That was one of the reasons so many of those ineligible players had so little credit toward graduation after 3,4, and even 5 years on campus. They were being steered away from the trouble classes into easy electives that didn’t count toward graduation. The players I have know told me Calc was no issue because they didn’t have to take it before their eligibility expired.
Tweets that mention Georgia Tech loses its chief recruiter, and that's a major loss | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 27th, 2010
7:44 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, Justin Honaman and Gary Wilkerson, Ryan Lahm. Ryan Lahm said: Tough loss. Good Luck Giff! RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Tech loses its chief recruiter, and that’s a major loss: Giff Smith: http://bit.ly/aLEwT0 [...]
Stinger
January 27th, 2010
8:08 am
shreveport:
Dogs went down to Shreveport and “finished the drill”..We can’t seem to do that in our bowl games, see LSU and Iowa…Think that month off in December is tougher on our offense that others….Worried about our ability to recruit big time receivers who spend most of their time stalk blocking….BayBay was already here, and most of these prima donna receivers will not want to do as much blocking as is required in our offense….Giff’s deal came down to money…$189K, you gotta be kidding….Some high school coaches in our state make $125K, we gotta pay more to keep good people….
Jesse Stone
January 27th, 2010
8:18 am
stinger. you are a fraud. your uga team “finished the drill” against a 6-6 team.
Barrel of Rum
January 27th, 2010
8:36 am
Good Luck Giff!
THWG
ignition
January 27th, 2010
9:06 am
Dumb Bubba GT players do not come to Morehouse for ANY classes..Keep Morehouse out your Stupid Redneck Mouth.
ignition
January 27th, 2010
9:28 am
Dumb Bubba GT players do not come to Morehouse for ANY classes..Keep Morehouse out your Mouth.
Not Disappointed
January 27th, 2010
10:06 am
Hey Mark, can we blame Coach Smith leaving because of “God & Greyhound” on “M or Saint Simmon?”(Just kidding M) I’m sure I will get curse out for this one…..
Good luck Coach Smith.
Ramblin Wreck!
ignition
January 27th, 2010
10:13 am
Dumb Bubba GT players do not come to Morehouse for ANY classes..Keep Morehouse out your blogs.
Jaded Jacket
January 27th, 2010
10:21 am
QB coach, Brian Bohannon, has just as many GA ties as Giff did. Plus, a lot of the other coaches have coached in GA for a number of years.
Declining UGA
January 27th, 2010
10:26 am
Not upset at Chan in the least! For a coach that is not a Coordinator to get the opportunity to coach in the pro’s with a good friend as the head coach….seems like a great situation for Coach Smith. Can’t fault Chan for hiring someone he believes is both capable and a friend to boot!
GT ought to make a push to hire Rodney Garner!!!! We certainly would have a great recruiter and we could promise that we would not treat him like the “house boy” every time a better job opened up. We certainly would allow him to interview and to be a serious candidate for the job. Can anyone honestly picture a Head Football coach at Georgia that was African-American??? The only reason the fanbase in Athens has hired African-Americans as basketball coaches is because of the perception by the majority of that fanbase that basketball is an African American sport.
Tech Buzz
January 27th, 2010
10:38 am
The smartest georgia player probably couldn’t even pass the basic calc class at Tech. At georgia, they give the football players mickey mouse classes to keep them eligible, and when that is up, they get tossed out the door like old newspapers. At Tech–the degree means something.
Stinger
January 27th, 2010
11:58 am
TML:
One of the most innovative offensive minds as head coach???? You must have missed the last 3 games of the season, 2 of which were losses where the opponents (UGA and IOWA) shackled the Tech offense….QB and FB under 50 yards each rushing the football…People are on to what we are doing on offense….Hope we will have some wrinkles come spring….Paul has always liked the 50 defense, even went to it at Ga. Southern and Navy when they were having problems stopping people..Only bad thing about being the offensive coordinator and head football coach is the ego situation where you always feel compelled for the offense to win in the head to head battles with the defense in spring practice and at other times….Head coaches have too much ego to be on the losing end of the battle at practice….For that reason, you see some of Paul’s former defensive coaches switching to offense (Bohannon, who coached the secondary at Navy) cause they know that Paul’s side (offense) will eventually be the winning side, and no one likes to continue to play of the losing side in practice….Think this gives the defense a complex….At Alabama, ole Nick just wants them to get after each other, and probably favors the defense…..They say Nick’s shadow is a mile and a half long, so long that Kirby couldn’t get out of this shadow, even though he had 2 weeks to do it…..
Stinger
January 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Tokyo jacket:
yea, that 189K will really bring some great ones our way….
Stinger
January 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
Jesse Stone:
Fraud, a little disgruntled, yes….I go back to the days of Eddie Lee Ivory and Brent Cunningham…..It just seems when we get towards the end of the season against good teams, we go in the tank and can’t finish on a positive note….Lost to UGAG and Iowa corn fed hogs, and had to make a final drive to pull it out against Clempson….Disgruntled that we are relying on our offense to outscore everybody, disgruntled defensive coaches are catching on to our offense, disgruntled because we let a high energy guy get away who would have made a great DC but we didn’t offer him the job and gave it to a guy who is “intrigued” about what is going on at Ga. Tech….Giff put in his time here and was passed over….Upset we only paid him $189K, and that Chan got the last laugh….
Stinger
January 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
Jesse Stone:
Might also add that I watched that 6-6 team come within an eyelash of beating Texas, who could have been the NC except for the McCoy injury….
Not Disappointed
January 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
I’m not Mad at Chan, I’m glad he hired Coach Modkins as his Offensive Coordinator. Good luck.
The Jackets will be find. Ramlin Wreck!
Jacket 56
January 27th, 2010
12:54 pm
Mark, are you freakin’ kidding me? You basically just gave Smith all the credit for Tech’s recent success. You’re a an idiot! How good of a recruiter did you think he was when Chan was here going 7-6 every year. Point is, Johnson is the reason Tech is ACC Champs not Giff Smith. Yes, he was a good recruiter but not great. He can be replaced.
Clint Castleberry
January 27th, 2010
1:23 pm
Sounds like sour grapes, but how would you like to be Coach Smith and have to go home and tell your wife to pack up we are leaving Atlanta to move to Buffalo ? My wife would take the kid and leave me on the spot. Plus, Gailey will be fired after two or three seasons and they will have to move again. Hope Buffalo is paying him “mad money” to live in Buffalo….
JM
January 27th, 2010
2:03 pm
Just FYI, Calculus is not required. There are plenty of other majors that you can be in that don’t require it. I want to make sure no potential recruits think that is a true statement.
GT panzie
January 27th, 2010
2:05 pm
I see Buffalo going 16.0 next year and a superbowl ring. Chan is the man, best thing that ever happened to GT.
que es cal-cu-lus?
January 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
Hey dawgfan……
MATH 1501: Calculus 1 or
MATH 1712: Survey of the Calculus
4
MATH 1502: Calculus 2 or
MATH 1711: Finite Mathmatics
4
Get your facts straight. Yes I guess technically there is an elective math that is “Survey of Calculus” and then Finite Mathmatics instead of 1 year of calculus. I guarantee you will do more Calculus in those classes than an Engineering major at the Univerity of Maryland.
So you are wrong, but why so bitter? Its not a lie and the requirement is on like line 2 of the curriculum. The requirement is there, even for our easy major affectionately called the M-train. Don’t even trya nd talk smack about academics. Our “cushy” degree program for atheletes ranks as the 2nd best business school in the Souteast. Engineering top 10 nationally and 20 world wide (think we slip to 13th).
You can talk smack about beating us this year and how you think we will never win again.
BTW, why is your sorry A$S on a Tech blog anyway? Don’t you have anything better to do? I checked your blogs the other day and say maybe 1 tech fan talking smack. You guys “the obcessive dawgs” account for like 10-15% of ours (dont try and figure out the math it will apparently make your head explode) Why not stay on your own blogs? I got much better stuff to look at than UGA stuff online. I could not care what your rural hick school does. I took offense at this math thing because well you were wrong and so admant about it….
Molar Roller
January 27th, 2010
3:31 pm
Chan and Giff will both be gone from Buffalo in two years. Thank God and Greyhound Chan is gone. THWG
W. Hill
January 27th, 2010
3:41 pm
Declining UGA GT can’t afford Rodney Garner. The guy turned down 450,000.00 from UT. You mites aren’t even in the game when it comes to guys like Garner.
ARTC
January 27th, 2010
3:43 pm
que es cal-cu-lus? Too bad it’s football instead of some cipher bee huh nats.
ARTC
January 27th, 2010
3:51 pm
Why is it that the real academics oriented programs like Vandy, Stanford, Duke, et al never whine about their academic constraints? None of these schools hand out 10X the academic exception admissions to football players like GT does either. You mites just can’t man up and just have to have an excuse why you can’t. You own the biggest academic fraud scandal in ACC history. That just about says it all for GT academics of late.
mwh6767
January 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
well i see the dawg fans and making this into the end of the world for GT football. The truth is this. Yes it will hurt a little, Giff was a good recruiter. However he wasnt on CPJ navy staff and im sure there are guys on the Tech staff that where and know what the offense needs and can step into the roll. I think that we may suffer a little on the defensive side bc GS had good knowledge of the state and could find those diamonds in the rough so to speak. However winning cures everything, keep winning games and championships and the kids will come.
CalculusClarification
January 27th, 2010
6:00 pm
To all of you who think Tech football players do not have to take Calculus: DO SOME RESEARCH!
Here’s the GT College of Management’s full curriculum.
http://mgt.gatech.edu/programs/under/files/bsm_credit_sheet_side_1.pdf
You’ll note that it is Calc 2 that you do not have to take. “Survey of Calculus” is allowed in place of the engineering Calc 1, but it is STILL CALCULUS!
So, ask any student at Tech. Calculus is no lie. It is, however, difficult.
ARTC
January 27th, 2010
6:33 pm
CalculusClarification …so what? How many take it before their eligibility expires? For a school that had the biggest academic fraud probation in ACC history you guys sure do stick to that myth of the smart GT athlete. In fact GT may be the only school in the history of NCAA football to have a player drop all the way from the 1st round to the 3rd based solely on an intelligence test at the NFL Combine. Michael “wonderlick” Johnson….now that guy was a real Einstein. Dumber than a box of rocks. GT academics! LMAO!
dexter
January 27th, 2010
8:35 pm
I vote Rodney Garner too, go get him
st. simons
January 27th, 2010
8:53 pm
))))))))) 30-24 (((((((((( hhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahhhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahhaahahhahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahha
Jeckyll Island
January 27th, 2010
9:08 pm
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
30-24!!!
8 out of 9!!!
8 out of 9!!!
8 out of 9!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
73-66!!!
GA Tech could not win their own state’s championship in football or basketball!!!
GA Tech has NOT won a major bowl since the 1950s!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
GA Tech basketball players....
January 27th, 2010
9:11 pm
…do NOT do calculus!
Reality Check
January 27th, 2010
10:37 pm
Georgia Tech FOOTBALL players also do not do calculus. Very few of them do anything academically!!!!
GT FlagBoy
January 27th, 2010
10:46 pm
I want to thank all of my fellow North Avenue Trade School chums! Forbes Magazine named Atlanta the “Gayest City in America!” Couldn’t have happened without us! Thanks!
Go Jackets!!!
Academic Fraud
January 27th, 2010
10:52 pm
It was GA Tech that just recently came off NCAA probation for academic violations involving 19 scholarship athletes. 11 were starting football players. Their grades had been altered up in order to keep them eligible to play!
Waffle House exec board
January 28th, 2010
2:13 pm
Waffle House will hire any and all from tech ………as long as they played some ball.
You heard it here first.
Go Dogs.
Switch??? To what school???
January 28th, 2010
2:19 pm
Tech kids ARE committed. They have no other choice. Most are recruited by Ga Southern, or University of West Ga or N Ga and they do not even have a football team. Bill Curry at Ga. State is also in the hunt for most tech kids.
I mean even ACC schools do not go after the tech recruits. The recent group of Dwyer, etc are all from a bye gone Chan Gailey era and that is that. Giff Smith bailed out knowing that CPJ cannot attract big time kids. His departure is a major slam against CPJ and his triple option.
Now that any athletic, speedy D can easily corral the triple option ………it is over for tech, except vs Duke, NC State and MD and Wake.
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2:50 pm
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