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.
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267 comments Add your comment
Josh Shaw
January 6th, 2010
2:35 pm
If Kirbster was the D.C. at UGA the last two years their fans would be calling for him to be fired just like Martinez. What makes Kirby so special? The water girl could have coached that Bama defense and she would have looked like a genius. Give Kirby the UGA defense and see how special he really is.
Smart Move
January 6th, 2010
2:36 pm
Smart is in the bag for UGA–mark it down. He’s putting out this BS to throw off the media until after the title game. Ga will pay him huge money to rebuild the D. Look for $1-1.2 mil plus a ton of benefits, perqs and incentives.
Roll Tide
January 6th, 2010
2:37 pm
Just curious…but why in the world would Smart leave Bama for UGA? You’re such a NC contender every year, SEC contender(hell even Tech has as many SECs as you do), or class program. UGA fans make it easy for me to pull for anyone BUT you. Keep up the wishes…Smart or anything else football except in your own minds!
Dawg stuck in Bham
January 6th, 2010
2:41 pm
News out of Athens…the DC job was finalized 2 nights ago and will be announced next week. In the words of my source, an “unnamed coach”, “It will exceed all expectations.”
Just thought I’d pass this along…
Denver Dog
January 6th, 2010
2:53 pm
Unidentified sources, my friends, etc. It is apparent that whomever is coming will be someone from the last games, or from the NFL. Just my hunch though. I really think we should just be at ease, and know that we are UGA.
LJ of UGA
January 6th, 2010
2:55 pm
Hey, Roll, compare Georgia and Alabama during the Mark Richt Era:
Georgia 90-27, 2 SEC titles
Alabama 75-40, 1 SEC title
Richt is 3-1 against your Tide.
Denver Dog
January 6th, 2010
2:56 pm
Roll Tide, then why are you reading and posting on this blog if it is only going to be read by such a bunch of fools! Sounds like you have been hanging with that Price guy, or maybe Dubose!
TampaDawg86
January 6th, 2010
2:56 pm
Whoever CMR i’m sure its the best for the program.. Also congrats to You Reshad and Rennie! yal were a damn good Dawg and always will be.. Goodluck in the NFL!
Paul Hewitt
January 6th, 2010
3:00 pm
UGA needs to hire Rodney Garner as DC with a fat contract. He is a Bro !
F Bama
January 6th, 2010
3:01 pm
Hey Roll Tide, YOU guys make everyone around sick. What with your dusty 10 year old flags hanging out of every window on the road and people bringing out their moth ball infested BAMA sweatshirts. Granted, your team is bada** this year and I usually pull for every SEC team but just to shut up all the trailor trash, I hope Texas wipes the field with you Thursday night. Enjoy it while it last because Nick “GOD ” Saban will be gone in just a matter of time and you guys can go back to being normal again
Leroy Brown (Big Bad LB, that is.)
January 6th, 2010
3:03 pm
I’MMMM BAAAAACK !!!!!!
Big Bad Leroy Brown, and I’m meaner than a Junk Yard Dawg, baddest thang in
the whole DAWG gone nation.
Been gone a while, but I’m glad to be back in the junk yard where I belong.
Why is UGA a losing or even mid tier school?
January 6th, 2010
3:10 pm
Over last 13 years, UGA has won 8 OR MORE games and that is with two different coaches? Name any school beyond UGA in this. HAHAHAHAHA
Southern Cal-Nope
Bama-Nope
Florida-Nope
LSU-Nope
UT-Nope
Boise State-Nope
TCU-Nope
Tech-NEVER
Michigan-Nope
Ohio State-Nope
NC-NEVER
VATECH- NEVER
MIAMI-NOPE
Oregon-Nope
Cal-Nope
UCLA-Nope
This fact says it all and proves the UGA detractors are nothing more than un educated, and un employable, stay at home on Mom’s PC losers. Gold chains and gold teeth they have. OBamarons waiting on their free medical care. HAHAHAHAHA sorry chumps, it is gonna cost you or you go to jail. HAHAHAHAHAHA
Use facts when you dicusss UGA and no, we have not won the NC in 30 years ( 1980 ) but we do not care. We sometimes win the SEC and our UGA brand is one of the top # 3 in all of college sports. THAT SAYS IT ALL> We love UGA, go tailgate, sip chilled chardonay before the games, watch all the comely tan babes ( sorority sisters of our daughters) ease by our imported cars and we win at least 8 per year. We enoy life win the NC or not. Lake Lanier sailing and golf at L Oconee are wonderful endeavors, due to our diplomas.
The ones that are set on winning the NCAA NC are NFL Superbowl at all cost punks anyway, then on to the NBA playoffs and that trashy ilk. See ga tech’s Crittendon the G un T oter. Get it? GT?
Gooooooooooo dogs. Woof, woof, woof and sic em.
When Our D coach arrives, even if it is Vince Lombardi, or George Halas or Dick Butkus or some current NFL loser like Ray Lewis ( thug murderer) or even the current TOP NFL D. coach, the UGA detractors would still bad mouth UGA. Who cares? They are HS drop outs anyway. Am i wrong?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA 30-24, 1-8 and 4-15 and last night Dwyer had 0 in the first half. HAHAHA
UGA B Ball pistol whipped Tech.
Why is UGA a losing or even mid tier school?
January 6th, 2010
3:17 pm
Um, ah, I um, left out TEXAS as another school to NOT WIN AT LEAST 8 or more over 13 years in a row.
HAHAHHA ……….LOL
CPJ hollered in his sleep today …………SMACK EM IN THE MOUTH. Yeah right, Man boobs.
The Turd Burglar
January 6th, 2010
3:17 pm
UGA will get Kirby Smart while Tech will get Kirby Dumb.
Roll Tide
January 6th, 2010
3:28 pm
HAHA Once again you all prove my point…Legends in your own minds. LJ actually made an OK point with the Richt era, but the rest of you give me a good chuckle.
DP
January 6th, 2010
3:30 pm
Bud Foster wouldn’t rule out Georgia until he got a raise to stay at Virginia Tech. John Chavis wouldn’t rule out Georgia until he got a raise to stay at LSU.
See a trend here?
AltamahaDawg
January 6th, 2010
3:33 pm
As I have said before: The chances that you are misinterpreting somebodies soundbyte by guessing or interjecting is vastly greater than simple going with the easiest explaination. He meant exactly what he said.
He is a defensive coach and we are obviously looking to hire one, so its silly for him to act shocked about the question. He knows Mark Richt and of cource they both can form words, so they have “spoken”. But it’s a waste of time to get him to talk about an offer that has not been made, or at least not officially. But you never say never.
Kirby's Smarter than that
January 6th, 2010
3:35 pm
Get over it Dawg fans, Kirby is not gonna leave ALA for UGA. Why would he? He about to play in a national championship on a team that’s alot better UGA. We all know that he played for them, but why would he want to come back. UGA hasn’t been a serious national title contender since they won it in 1980, which for all you math geniuses out there, is 30 years. That’s a real long time. Plus if he leaves, then he might not get to coach in a NC again as well as using up his “Athens is my home” card. If it doesn’t work out in Athens, then he’s got nowhere to go but down. Why leave one DC job for another unless your job security is in jeopardy. Normally DC leave a good situation to be a head coach. All I’m saying is Kirby would be Smart to stay where he’s at.
Richt has Natl Champ Year 7 Times
January 6th, 2010
3:44 pm
5 times at FSU Richt helped get them into the Natl Champ as OC.
2002 & 2007 Richt had Natl Champ caliber year at UGA.
7 times–Natl Champ type year, plus 90 SEC wins in 9 seasons, nobody does it better.
General Sherman
January 6th, 2010
3:52 pm
Lots of jobs..FYI I served 25 years,two in Viet Nam,so much for the 10 years you served.I am proud of you.I still it is stupid to get carriede away on a football that gives nothing back. ALSO i HAVE RETIRED TWICE.
jack bull
January 6th, 2010
3:53 pm
good luck to R.Jones. but to mention him with Eric Berry or the guy from USC, Taylor Mayes(i think is his name), is just crazy. those two guys are head and shoulders above Reshad. I think R.Samuel and B.Rambo will make up for what we’re losing. Yes, R. Samuel will be playing D next year. i’m hoping he can be kinda like Boss Bailey was at LB.
great day to be a BULLDAWG, baby!!!
oh yeah, one other thing, we’re not the only team in the SEC that’s going to have a new QB next year,,,can u say, UF,UT,AU,UA…the one team i’m most worried about next year is U of Arkansas. and for the Florida folks that think Brantley will not be a letdown, do you really think he’s gonna run the ball up the middle 18 times a game for 7 yds every time? or on that crucial third and short?? not..
DrDawg
January 6th, 2010
3:58 pm
Let me get this straight. UGA doesn’t have the personnel to run a certain type of defense. So…the personnel we have today is the personnel we are always gonna have? Have I missed something here?
Would we not want the new DC to go out and get the horses he needs to fit his system? Hello?
jaxdawg
January 6th, 2010
3:59 pm
Of course he hasn’t completely shut the door on the dawgs yet. He will when he gets a raise from Bama though. This is the exact same thing Chavis did and it worked for him. YAWN…find something new to write about…
Wild Dawg
January 6th, 2010
3:59 pm
HOPE DWEYER DOES NOT RUN BACKWARDS LIKE HE DID LAST NIGHT. WHAT A DUMMY!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jack bull
January 6th, 2010
4:02 pm
just something i heard today…U of Alabama folks are calling in to the local ABC affiliate begging them not to interrupt the game tomorrow night with “severe weather updates”…too funny.. not saying we wouldn’t do the same…
and how about Iowa’s coach referring to their “tough opponent, Wake Forest” after the game…talk about no respect..
HEAD NFL SCOUT
January 6th, 2010
4:02 pm
I SPEND ALL MY TIME IN ATHENS B/C TECH FOOTBALL IS A JOKE!!!! I CAN WATCH THAT OFFENSE OF FRIDAY NIGHTS AT MY LOCAL HIGHSCHOOL. I KNOW OUR OFFENSE HAS A Q.B. THAT CAN ACTUALLY COMPLETE A PASS OR TWO. WHAT A BUNCH OF CLOWNS!!!!!
CLEVON LITTLE
January 6th, 2010
4:04 pm
General Sherman, It’s supply & demand. UGA makes millions of dollars every year, and that increases the better they do in football. It’s an investment; spend 1-mil now, get 5+ mil on returns.
ps-Maybe you should be a coach????
KS
January 6th, 2010
4:07 pm
Kirby Smart is going to thank the media and UGA tremendously when he stays at UA with his Chavis type raise. You guys are really sucked in…
crest
January 6th, 2010
4:08 pm
Kirby, we need to talk.
We have a great product to help you with those chiclets…we can make them white and it really doesnt cost all that much.
Rembrandt
January 6th, 2010
4:09 pm
Hey crest, back off….we r the best
Ultra brite
January 6th, 2010
4:10 pm
what ? no love for me?
Mikey
January 6th, 2010
4:11 pm
I noticed that too, crest. I figured he chews or dips…..
DaddyDawg
January 6th, 2010
4:11 pm
DrDawg:
The point about switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is that you can’t always switch defenses like that overnight in the college game if you don’t currently have the personnel because you don’t have the flexibility to change your personnel in college as quickly as you can in the pros with free agent signings and the ability to cut players. Even if you could sign players in a recruiting class for a 3-4 (probably too late to do that for this recruiting class), it’ll take you a couple of years just for players that are signed to gain some experience before you can reasonably expect them to play in a conference like the SEC, especially on the DL. On the other hand, you’ll see that many defenses are multiple in that they interchangeably play 4 or 3 man lines, depending on the situation, but usually 3 man lines for teams that don’t primarily play a 3-4 are used for passing downs where you can drop 8 into pass coverage. Not having the personnel to run a 3-4 as a base defense is a legitimate concern for any team deciding what defensive scheme(s) to use……
Mikey
January 6th, 2010
4:14 pm
But…at least he HAS teeth, which is good…
Alabama Dental plan- ignore your teeth…they will go away!
gdawginkalamazoo
January 6th, 2010
4:16 pm
The guy is not going to say he is staying at Bama for sure. How the hell do you get a raise by saying that? On the other hand he did say that all he ever wanted to be was a DC. Not really interested in an HC job at this time. He if did get the jack to come to Athens he would be in an ideal position to 1) be a DC for as long as wants, provided that the success was there 2) make the money and 3) learn everything he needs to be an HC if he ever aspired to become one. Not a far fetched senario. On the flip side he is in a good position right now. I guess we’ll have an answer next week.
Good for Richt on the way he is handling this search. Quiet. And we all hope a very productive result.
Charles Hanes
January 6th, 2010
4:16 pm
Hey Tim-
Does anyone know the status of Toby Jackson that went to Navarro Junior College last year? I read some PR’s this year and he is now 275 pounds. With his height of 6′5″ this would be a good DT to fill in for the guys we will lose this year in the middle. What is Jackson’s status and do you feel he will come to UGA this year?
OZZFEST
January 6th, 2010
4:16 pm
Dear Lord Evans,
Please just jack up the prices on the Skysuites and Skyboxes (us rich folks do not care) and get on your Learjet with a blank check and hand it to Kirby as he exits the Rose Bowl Stadium tomorrow.
KS
January 6th, 2010
4:17 pm
Wasn’t the tooth brush invented at UGA? Yeah, you know the rest…
Bri-man
January 6th, 2010
4:17 pm
Richt is not going to hire Grantham! He got fired from the freaking Browns! I don’t think Smart is coming to UGA, but maybe they should go after Norm Parker, or the Air Force dc. Bringing in the Air Force guy would bring more discipline to our football program and that’s a big plus, not to mention Air Force shut down Case Keenum.
Optimistic Dawg!!
January 6th, 2010
4:18 pm
Whoever the DC is next year, he will have a stud S in Rambo and Commings isnt bad either. Boykin with the right coaching is going to be a good corner and B Smith didnt do horrible this year. With Houston and C.Washingto on the ends I think the D.cord. will be setup to be better. Meanwhile, Gamble and Dent arent too bad at LB! We just gotta keep Cuff off the field. Go Dawgs
CLEVON LITTLE
January 6th, 2010
4:19 pm
Kirby’s Smarter than that : I’m not sold on Kirby coming to Athens, but he has definitely left the door open –either for more money after this season from ALA -or- because he wants to wear the Red & Black again. You could go over a list of pros & cons, such as: 1) Stay at ALA vs. coaching for Alma Mtr 2) Live in Athens vs. Tuscaloosa 3) Work for Saban vs. work for Richt 4) Richts’ beat Saban head-to-head more than Sabans’ beaten Richt.
Gage
January 6th, 2010
4:21 pm
Nerd Central @ North Ave,
I think you are giving Dwyer too much credit. I doubt he could even spell half of that
Optimistic Dawg!!
January 6th, 2010
4:25 pm
I agree with you Jack Bull! For FLA, Brantley may be a better passer, but FLA won alot of games on Tebow running which translates to WRs not getting open. W/O the running threat at QB, defenses can scheme differently with blitzes and what not. As far as our QB is concerned, be it Murray or Mettenberger, he will have an established running game, two stud TEs, AJ, King, Gray(maybe),Marlon, and possibly DaRick. Also we get a warm up game this year before the SC game.
'Bama 1
January 6th, 2010
4:25 pm
All you Ga. clowns are joke! What a bunch of idiots! If Smart does go to Ga. at least he can show you clowns what National Championship ring looks like! But just remember what school he got it at, and sure as hell was’nt Ga.!
DawgBuzz
January 6th, 2010
4:26 pm
Dear Mark Richt,
Please go after the entire Iowa Defensive team.
NC Dawg
January 6th, 2010
4:30 pm
Maybe if the media would stop speculating on whether or not we might have a shot at Kirby Smart, then we might actually have a shot at Kirby Smart. Keep writing about it and Alabama is sure to offer him the moon to keep him there, just like Foster and Chavis. Leave it alone and see how it plays out. All this speculation is just that, speculation.
Kirby Rules
January 6th, 2010
4:30 pm
Kirby Smart will be wearing the red and black next year—take it to the bank! Georgia will throw a lot more money his way than bama can afford, and he can get out of that redneck state filled with trailers and come home to Athens!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
January 6th, 2010
4:32 pm
NC Dawg, too late for that.
Kirby Smart's the Guy
January 6th, 2010
4:33 pm
Smart wants to be a long term DC, he’s said that’s his career goal. He can stay and keep moving his family around following Saban every 1-5 years, or he can put his roots down at his and his wife’s alma mater with Richt who wins MORE games than Saban, without the moving around, and without the drama. No brainer.
CLEVON LITTLE
January 6th, 2010
4:35 pm
‘Bama 1 , are you really an ALA fan? I would like the SEC to win another NC –don’t make me change my mind.