News and notes, with Smart and Grantham updates
(UPDATED 11:55 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.)
A few quick notes:
– So it has been a pretty good five weeks or so for UGA sports fans -– wins over Georgia Tech in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, and a bowl blowout of Texas A&M.
– The enduring sounds of rivalry: the “Just Like Football” chant late in Georgia’s basketball victory over Tech last night and the “I Run This State” play-on-words from the football victory.
– OK, here’s the latest word from Kirby Smart. Reporting from Newport Beach, Calif., where Alabama is preparing for tomorrow night’s BCS national-title game, ESPN’s Chris Low says Smart didn’t completely shut the door on the UGA defensive-coordinator job Tuesday. Here’s what Smart, Alabama’s DC and a former Georgia player, said at a BCS media session:
“I haven’t really talked to Mark [Richt] much. To say I said ‘no’ to Mark … he’s not offered me anything. So that’s not really accurate. To be honest, with this game coming up, I haven’t even thought about it.
“. . . You don’t ever know what’s going to happen, but I’m certainly excited about the opportunity to be back at Alabama. We’ve got a lot of good players coming back.”
Feel free to parse those words below.
– Assuming there must be a reason –- other than the decisions by Bud Foster and John Chavis to stay put -– that the UGA defensive-coordinator search is taking so long, the best guess is that it’s because Mark Richt is interested in someone still occupied by an important game. That could, of course, be the UGA alums occupied as defensive coordinators in the BCS national-title game, or it could be an NFL assistant in the playoffs. Which brings us to Todd Grantham, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive-line coach who has been on Richt’s radar for weeks and seemed to move up on the rumor mill yesterday. UPDATE: The Dallas Morning News’ Cowboys Blog reports today that Grantham “has been approached” by Georgia. Grantham’s resume in brief: He was an assistant at Virginia Tech and Michigan State in the 1990s and with four NFL teams (Colts, Texans, Browns and Cowboys) since 1999. His only stint as a defensive coordinator was with the Browns from 2005-07.
– A couple of items from the transactions list if you missed ‘em: The University of Louisville hired former UGA football assistant coach Jon Fabris as its defensive-line coach. Fabris was one of three defensive coaches fired by UGA on Dec. 2. He joins the staff of new Louisville coach Charlie Strong, the former Florida defensive coordinator. . . . And the Utah Jazz signed former Bulldog Sundiata Gaines to a 10-day contract, pending a physical. Gaines has been playing for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Developmental League.
– Georgia’s women’s basketball team has a chance to make some history Thursday night. A win over Kentucky at Stegeman Coliseum would give the Lady Dogs a 15-0 record, which would be the best start in the esteemed program’s history.
– Reshad Jones said Tuesday that he hears he’s one of the top five safeties in the 2010 NFL draft and that he hopes to be in the top two by draft day. The top one, of course, is Tennessee junior Eric Berry.
– Jones is the 17th UGA underclassman to enter the NFL draft since 2001. Waiting on word from the prospective 18th, junior linebacker Rennie Curran. . . .
And please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
267 comments Add your comment
GEORGIA97
January 6th, 2010
1:15 pm
a: If the hard hits were personal fouls then they weren’t smart hits and that’s the problem with a player who isn’t smart enough to play within the rules. He had a good game against Tech with a QB who wouldn’t even be third string in the SEC. Another year in college would do him wonders but he can’t resist what he THINKS will be a big pile of cash waiting on him in the NFL. Whoever the next DC is, Jones would have nowhere to go but up, period.
Big time?? Not
January 6th, 2010
1:15 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
AppalachianDawg
January 6th, 2010
1:15 pm
General Sherman…you Yankee, south-burning, blow hole…try cnbc.com or msnbc.com or foxnews.com for your political garbage. In case you missed it you illiterate f&#k, this is a sports column. At least Tech fans have something to offer to the witty banter between fans. Go away Terrance Moore!
Manny
January 6th, 2010
1:17 pm
Chief Nock A Homa – they got you to read the article! They just want you to click on the article. Advertising money lol!
gdawginkalamazoo
January 6th, 2010
1:17 pm
General Sherman, hilarious. Why don’t we just burn everything down then laugh about it? Maybe go marching down to Jekyll Island.
how2fish
January 6th, 2010
1:18 pm
GEORGIA97 watch the video and listen to the commentators.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/hd-reshad-jones-uga-rocks-justin-blackmon-ok-st/9A75FFF37996131FC7BA9A75FFF37996131FC7BA
Wait & See...
January 6th, 2010
1:18 pm
The Smart contract was finalized on the weekend of December 11. Richt has been through this before. He was announced as our head coach right before FSU was playing Oklahoma for the NC and his mind wasn’t in it and instead of scoring their average 30 points a game they scored 2. He has been trying to deflect the attention away from Smart and throw up smokescreens, i.e. Chavis, Foster and Koenning, but the deal has been made. We have our guy and soon we will see if he really is the man or if he is just a product of being in the right place at the right time-Bama
TULLY BLANCHARD-4 HORSEMAN
January 6th, 2010
1:18 pm
Richt will leave UGA for FSU in 2 more years
The word ... c-o-n-d-u-i-t
January 6th, 2010
1:19 pm
To say that you have not really spoken to Mark Richt may in fact be true. MIke BOBO is Kirby’s best pal and he is talking to Mike Bobo. SHHHHHHHHHHHH !!! Their wives are very close. My niece was a sorority gal with one of their wives and they all have been in touch ….. Let it alone and allow Smart to focus on winning the NC as yet ONE MORE SEC POWERHOUSE to do so.
ACC and the NC? 1981 with Clemson. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
“Slap em , slap em in the face”, CPJ yelled this 23o am on The Sunshine Parkway as he tossed his resumes out the window hoping ANY state of Florida school would find it. HAHAHAHAHA
His head is still swimming with sounds of wooooooooosh, as Caleb and Washuan blew by him.
If it is not KS then a NFL coach coupled with some NFL position men will be wonderful.
Manny
January 6th, 2010
1:20 pm
Nature boy… you think once Saban leaves Bama will give the keys to an asst and dcord? Smart will need to prove he can head coach somewhere first.
I love Will Muschamp but Texas is stupid for naming him coach in waiting. To many good head coaches that have proven themselves to name a guy who hasn’t your head coach in waiting. JMO.
Knuckle Sandwich
January 6th, 2010
1:21 pm
Kirby is using the UGA opening to get a fat raise from Bama. Just like Foster, just like Chavis. Bill Goldberg for DC.
NATURE BOY-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
January 6th, 2010
1:24 pm
I think that Smart is in a more marketable position by coaching under Saban rather than Richt. Whether he would get a shot Tide head coaching position would likely depend on how well his D performs & his organization & leadership skills.
Old Dawg
January 6th, 2010
1:25 pm
Whoever wrote the teaser on the Sports page obviously isn’t a Grady grad. Read the blog, dummy.
Manny
January 6th, 2010
1:25 pm
The word … c-o-n-d-u-i-t – Whatever! Another I have a niece, or my wife roomed, or my secretary was best friends with. Your so making stuff up.
NATURE BOY-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
January 6th, 2010
1:27 pm
It could be argued that Smart might have a better shot at UGA head job, but Richt would have to leave & Saban’s history of jumping ship is well documented. Richt could go, but would need 2 more poor seasons.
To: AJSKEETER
January 6th, 2010
1:28 pm
You are 100% correct in your over all assessment, sir. Sounds great to me and it quite plausible AND I would wish CMR well, if we then ONLY WIN the SEC in 12 and or 13. THAT is good enough for me and what ever follows the SEC championship is also fine with me …….winning the NC or not.
If that scenario plays out, UGA will have plenty of traction with stud recruits in 2012/13 and 14 making the successor’s job better and with Mark’s over all record by then, a wonderful coach and an even finer gent.
We shall see. 2010 is gonna be fine !!! Go Dogs!!!
Tim Tucker
January 6th, 2010
1:29 pm
georgiaman24, birddawg92, Chief, Old Dawg: The headline has been fixed. Thanks.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE
January 6th, 2010
1:29 pm
Dear Kirby,
Mama’s calling you home! Don’t you hang up on me Kirby Smart!
See you on Jan 8th!
CMR & Damon
BEEDOG
January 6th, 2010
1:31 pm
I suggest yhat UGA consider the DC at Iowa. His team made GT look like a confused high school team.
atl xmen
January 6th, 2010
1:32 pm
hey T uga forced about 4 punts but ga tech went for it on 4th down. plus uga had the ball much longer than tech so tech had less chances to be forced to punt..uga shut that high school offense down just the same with more underclassmen than iowa.
tech offense is kids play and should be left for the high schoolers to play..but what do you expect from a coach who never played football other than little league..
To: manny
January 6th, 2010
1:32 pm
ARE YOU EVEN A COLLEGE STUDENT OR HAVE YOU EVER, EVER SAT IN ON A COLLEGE CLASS AS AN AUDIT???
You are a 17 year old un employable, drop out, Obamaron with no job skill set and you love tech and to bash UGA because you are just some urban punk, with you NY Yankess hat on sideways.
Yes, conduit and sorority are words that you will never understand or a place that you wll never, ever enter.
Go Dogs!!
Johnny DangerDawg
January 6th, 2010
1:35 pm
Fabris is a good pick-up for Louisville. He brings a lot of experience, and I think a fresh start will be good for him. Good luck, Coach.
Loran's Best
January 6th, 2010
1:40 pm
Nerd Central @ North Ave – You are too stupid to insult.
Ron Mexico
January 6th, 2010
1:41 pm
“Nerd Central @ North Ave
January 6th, 2010
11:39 am
Just because you beat Tech in football and both men’s and women’s basketball this year, doesn’t take away from the fact that UGA still lost ((((((45-42))))))) last year. At least Tech won a conference championship. What did UGA win this year? Not much!
ACC Champs! Yeah, baby!!!!!
Joe Cox is a terrible quarterback. You could have had Josh Nesbitt. Too bad!”
A- I would rather have Cox anyday over Nesbitt.
B- Last year WE won the SUGAR BOWL. Oh and we won our bowl game this year dumb a$$
C- UGA beat you like little kids about a month ago.
Big Dawg 97
January 6th, 2010
1:42 pm
PLEASE, UGA does not need Kirby.
Nick Satan is calling all of the shots at Alabamastand.
UGA can do much better than Kirby.
Big Dawg 97
January 6th, 2010
1:43 pm
Oh, by the way…GT will never be able to win the big game. They’re lucky to be in the ACC (Awful Crummy Conference). If they were in the SEC, I doubt they would win 2 games.
Ron Mexico
January 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
Goldberg would be awesome!
Justin
January 6th, 2010
1:47 pm
So tired of hearing this song so I made a remix……..
Tech got all the way burnt up, all the way burnt up.
30-24 24-14 hahahahahaha
Big Dawg 97
January 6th, 2010
1:47 pm
This just in….GT has decided to forfeit all of their football games next year in order to avoid another embarrassing season ending debacle.
JMar
January 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
The idea of Reshad Jones passing Taylor Mays is laughable.
kydawg
January 6th, 2010
1:49 pm
Could it be CMR has told Rennie who is coming as DC and that is why he has not already made his decision…just a thought?
Grantham
January 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
“Why would we hire someone who’s only defensive coordinating job was for the Browns, and he got fired. You know how bad you have to be to get fired by the Browns?”
You mean like Terry Robiskie, fired from WR coach from the Browns, hired as WR for the Falcons and doing an outstanding job?
YES Grantham
January 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
“Why would we hire someone who’s only defensive coordinating job was for the Browns, and he got fired. You know how bad you have to be to get fired by the Browns?”
You mean like Terry Robiskie, fired from WR coach from the Browns, hired as WR coach for the Falcons and doing an outstanding job?
Kirby Smart
January 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
Please hire me fast before everyone figures out that Nick is calling all of the shots over here.
PWL
January 6th, 2010
1:53 pm
Kirby,
You will always be my man.
Obama
January 6th, 2010
1:55 pm
Does anyone want to hear from the smartest man in the world?
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 6th, 2010
1:57 pm
Nerd Central @ North Ave:
DISAPPOINTED IN THE JACKETS LAST NIGHT….LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE SPIT THE BIT OUT ON PUGNACIOUS PAUL….COULD DEFINITELY TELL THEY BEEN OFF FOR A MONTH…PUG’S GOTTA GET THIS BOWL DEAL FIGURED OUT, EITHER THEY PRACTICED TOO HARD OR NOT HARD ENOUGH….TECH DID NOT LOOK LIKE THE SAME TEAM THAT PLAYED DURING THE SEASON IN EITHER OF THE LAST 2 BOWL GAMES….LSU AND IOWA EMBARRASSED THEM, HOLDING THE “BEST LITTLE PLAYCALLER BARK’S EVER SEEN TO 155 YARDS TOTAL OFFENSE, LESS THAN 50 YARDS TOTAL IN THE FIRST HALF…SAY IT AIN’T SO, PAUL……
General Sherman
January 6th, 2010
2:08 pm
AAPDAWG..You and the rest are just wishful thinkers and is this really a sports blog? Sounds like a bunch of
cry babies that are losers.
General Sherman
January 6th, 2010
2:10 pm
APPDAWG..You have a dirty mouth.Shame on you!
Troof
January 6th, 2010
2:13 pm
Richt will be gone in 2 years but it will be due to being fired.
If KS leaves Bama, good luck to him. He will need it in that declining program in Athens. I’d still bet on him staying in T-town.
GFY
January 6th, 2010
2:15 pm
General Sherman,
Salaries are set by what people are willing to pay. Too bad if people are out of work. If UGA wants to pay $1M to an assistant then so be it. Go cry your socialist tears somewhere else.
Glenn
January 6th, 2010
2:17 pm
Gees . My sources tell me CMR is waiting on the Patriots season to end so he can make a formal offer to Bill Belichick . CMR is just using Kirby Smart as a smokescreen . You know it is possible that there is no ” between the lines ” to read into . It would be much easier to become a HC under Saban than it would under CMR . If being coy gets him a raise good for him . Or maybe he means what he says .
As far as the game last night goes , 4 yards passing & a couple of picks isn’t going to cut it . Joe Cox would have been an improvement . I like the triple option but without fear of a passing game its really not overly effective . Tech needs a Dee Dowis type . Yes I’m that old. Josh Nesbit reminds me of a poor mans Jamarcus Russell . Thats not a complement .
georgiadawgg
January 6th, 2010
2:21 pm
the GT pecker gnats are pukes.
Rudy Poo
January 6th, 2010
2:22 pm
General Sherman I would really like to hear your thoughts on… It doesn’t matter what you think!
REALLY!!
January 6th, 2010
2:22 pm
Nerd@N.Central;
I would take Joe T over Nebitt!!!! I really want a QB that goes 2-9,43yds, and a pick to lead my team. Cox had better numbers against FLA albeit the INTS and they have a lot better D then IOWA. I dont know why any receiver or regular QB would want to go to tech. Name an option QB that made it in the NFL…..One of the best ever was Tommy Frazier and where is he today? I guess it will take another 4-5 wins in a row over the mosquitos to get them to shut up!!! I wonder where 1.4m is????
FalconUGAFan
January 6th, 2010
2:24 pm
Good for Fabris. Glad he is back to coaching. Always hate to hear someone is fired. Coaching is a tough profession. Sometimes you fit and sometimes you don’t.
FalconUGAFan
January 6th, 2010
2:25 pm
Sure Obama..What does Bush have to say? Sorry it was a pure set up!
Techster
January 6th, 2010
2:28 pm
Kirby Smart would leave a real national contender like Alabama to come to a middle tier team like UGA where the ship is sinking??? I think not. Keep wishing dawg fans.
There are a lot of jobs in the classifieds!!
January 6th, 2010
2:30 pm
General Sherman; I love America and have been sacrificing my life and defending it for the last 10yrs. It makes me sick to see so many ppl saying there is no work and I cant find any place to work. Your a “General” and I can assure you that Uncle Sam will take willing bodies to serve alongside the rest of us! As for the salary, thats the way of the world guy! open your eyes and join us. Sorry to get off tangent a bit, lazy ppl p$%s me off!!!!
There are a lot of jobs in the classifieds!!
January 6th, 2010
2:32 pm
BTW, GO Dawgs