As Georgia appeared on the verge of hiring a new defensive coordinator, the Bulldogs’ best defensive player, Rennie Curran, announced on a teleconference late Sunday afternoon that he is leaving school early for the NFL. Which provided an opportunity, of course, to ask Mark Richt about Kirby Smart.
“I’ll tell you what I’ve been saying all along: that I’m not going to make any comments on the [DC] search until I get my guy,” Richt said.
And is getting his guy imminent?
“I’ll let you know when it happens, I promise,” Richt said.
Earlier Sunday, ESPN.com reported that Smart — the Alabama defensive coordinator — had not decided whether to accept a UGA offer of a multi-year contract at $700,000-plus per year and that Alabama had told him it would “do everything necessary to keep him.”
While basically silent on Smart, Richt had a lot to say about Curran, the junior linebacker who announced the end of his UGA career.
“Rennie has been nothing but awesome for Georgia since the day he got on campus,” Richt said. “He’s been a great teammate; he’s been a great student of the game; he’s really done everything you ask him to do. He’s . . . been a blessing to me personally.
“I wish Rennie well. I think Rennie will do well. He’s a tackling machine. He always has been. I don’t care what level of ball he plays at, he’s going to be that torpedo that can hit.
“I just want to tell him thanks for everything he did for us.”
And please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
338 comments Add your comment
Bartkowski had a great arm!
January 10th, 2010
7:27 pm
Have any of you guys EVER seen a bowl game where a team had ZERO passing yards in an entire half? If you watched the orange bowl you did! LMAO! Tech sucks! I hope Johnson coaches for you guys FOREVER!
Louie
January 10th, 2010
7:28 pm
Like I said yesterday, doggies need not get their hopes up to be deflated like you always are.
Hope he decides to stick with a WINNER. He will only lose personal stock going home to a bunch going NOWHERE.
DAWGS Suck
January 10th, 2010
7:28 pm
Looks like a NC for UGA in 2010…on maybe just Preseason…
sandman053
January 10th, 2010
7:29 pm
OK a friend just sent me a message and the story is there will be a press conference sometime tomorrow that will bring great joy to the BullDawg Nation! Go Dawgs!
Oh yeah 30-24!
Bo Williams
January 10th, 2010
7:30 pm
I want Withers from UNC and I want him to bring those 6 future pros he has on the defense.
DAWGS Suck
January 10th, 2010
7:30 pm
Alright!!! I can feel that PRESEASON NC!!
DawgFan24
January 10th, 2010
7:30 pm
SickandTired:
Smart hasn’t proven that he can win anything on his own? I think the bling on his fingers from the LSU AND Bama NC’s is enough to give any DC resume in the entire country a run for their money. Not to mention that Media outlets are already referring to the Smart hire by GA as the biggest move of the College football season. Great post you moron!
kydawg
January 10th, 2010
7:31 pm
Sources say that Kirby is IN at IGA and Saban has already spoken with Grantham about the “soon to be open” DC possition at Alabama. Also, Willie has spoken with CMR about re-joining the staff…ugh!!!
check it out…footballcoachscoop.com
kydawg
January 10th, 2010
7:31 pm
Oops UGA not IGA…lol
writing on the wall
January 10th, 2010
7:31 pm
Rennie Curans see’s that UGA’s hiring fiasco is gonna linger and has figured out its going to be more of the same at UGA. He understands that UGA will still endure the embarrassing beatdowns from Florida and now even from Tenn in the SEC east . He understands that UGA aint gonna bring in the Big prize while CMR is at the helm. Good choice Rennie ! Get the hell out of Athens…..
DAWGS Suck
January 10th, 2010
7:32 pm
You gotta get willie back….hope CMR can work it out..
Uga bar and grill
January 10th, 2010
7:34 pm
Kirby smart is bringIng 2 coachs and 2 4star recruits
BAMA man in GA
January 10th, 2010
7:35 pm
DAWG fan 24 –
Tech fans and Bama fans are having a hard time hearing you!! speak up!
The Bling Bling is SOOOOOO LOUD b/c of ACC and SEC champ RINGS and that BIG AZZ
Crystal Football Trophy that the TIDE have!! ROLL TIDE!!
Louie
January 10th, 2010
7:36 pm
Kirby is too SMART to step backwards in doggie-dung and coach on staff of people who do NOT know how to coach UP marginal tallent. CNS will break your FAT doggie hearts soon.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Barbie Doolies
January 10th, 2010
7:36 pm
My Gawd a freshman !
The Truth
January 10th, 2010
7:36 pm
Top 5 reasons why Smart takes the job at UGA
5. Less pressure> Georgia’s defensive is so bad, not very hard to show improvement.
4. Georgia may let him pick out the uniform/helment colors this year. I heard that UGA has tried all the uniform gimmicks they know so far. Kirby will be the DC (Dress Coordinator)
3. Money> All the money UGA is saving by having a second rate coach like CMR allows them to blow a ton of money on a DC.
2. Fear of facing UGA’s offense> He would rather join UGA instead of facing its high power offense.
1. He won a ring> He now doesn’t having worry about getting another one.
Hey guys....
January 10th, 2010
7:36 pm
Louie is back…the kid who goes to SPSU and cheers for Tech. Welcome back to the board, little fella….
DAWGS Suck
January 10th, 2010
7:38 pm
Kirby will help the Dawgs settle into 4th in the SEC East.
Quincy
January 10th, 2010
7:38 pm
BAMA man in GA, got some good stuff cookin’ here and you’ll like it. Going to dry it out, cut it up and sell it to ‘Bama fans in $10 bags. You ‘Bama fans think you’re going to control the SEC but it ain’t gonna happen. Nicky boy sure was pi$$ed when he got doused with the red Kool Aid you boys have been drinking. Couldn’t hardly force a smile as he was handed the BCS CT. That’s one real prick of a coach you have there.
raymond
January 10th, 2010
7:39 pm
I hope this is not a ploy by Smart so he can show Bama what the Dawgs are willing to do for him so he can have leverage to make them give him the same deal. If all things are equal, we don’t get him.
Larry Munson
January 10th, 2010
7:40 pm
Kirby Smart has just broke our hearts ! Reports in Bama is that he is staying with Saban. Look at the money fallin out of the sky !
UGA TODAY
January 10th, 2010
7:40 pm
To writing on the wall,take your yellow Crayola’s and go to tek site known as “rambling on”.
And, while you are on your way take Louie,too.
He was a pain in everyone’s a$$ last night.
Redundant little prick.
Clint
January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
DAWGS Suck,,,, a question if I may. Life is short, time is money and short. Why are you on this Georgia Bulldog site ?? Who is your team and why are you not there ,, and if you hate Georgia so much , why are you wasting so much of your time and ours on this site ?
kurula
January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
i find it funny that alabama wins a national championship and the first thing they can think of is ‘let’s take this trophy to wal mart!’ talk about knowing your fan base….
DawgFan24
January 10th, 2010
7:42 pm
Bama Man: Sorry I didnt understand your post. Unfortunately that GED education you have isnt helping you a bit! Also, when did the trailer park get an internet connection?
Quincy
January 10th, 2010
7:44 pm
NEWS!!!!! This just in !!!! Kirby has agreed to coach at UGA! Salary has been agreed to – just have a few details to work out. Things are looking up in Athens, GEORGIA. Yes!!!! Watch out, UF & NATS.
Damaged goods??
January 10th, 2010
7:45 pm
If KS takes the job ………..and the Bama LB coach bolts for Tommy T & TX Tech, it only confirms that the “damaged goods” are the Alabama family and the Crimson Tide team. Now when Saban BOLTS FOR USC and I do not mean in Columbia they will once again be a national laughing stock. HAHAHAHAHAHA
The coordinators at BAMA ALL are jumping ship with Weds upcoming announcement that Nick the Trick has bolted for USC. he will then be only the 8th? coach at Bama in what? 8 years. HAHAHAHAHAHA Yes, absolutely he won a NC and congrats to the Bama family. Now? Act like Champions, please. Alabama is known to be a place of stock cars, bass boats, bleached blondes and the Bear Bryant VW store. Hwy 82 across from Shoneys and near the Holiday Inn at I-20 and that is it.
Remember Bama HC Francione? He made Bama a national laughing stock AGAIN when he left w.o saying good by. He wanted out of Tuscaloosa FAST and ALSO away from Dreamland Bar B Q. HAHAHHA
Bama will be interviewing CPJ in three weeks. HAHAHA sort of like Curry II.
Bama ………..a national disgrace for a state. Always has been and always will be.
By the way, the um ,Tide bleached blondes that I have met in Destin over the many years ain’t so bad.
Go Dogs.
DAWGS Suck
January 10th, 2010
7:45 pm
DawgFan24…you have no room to speak of academics. We trump your school academically…
What do we do now?????
January 10th, 2010
7:47 pm
The Bama blogs are going crazy sayin KS is staying put. Damon Evans is a goofball and UGA once again has missed the boat. CMR should have nailed Kirby down before the bowl game ! what a complete blunder by CMR !!!
BAMA man in GA
January 10th, 2010
7:47 pm
Quincy – Bama would rather have a prick of a coach and win, than have a nice guy that holds on to staff b/c their wives have a supper club and summer afternoon cookouts.
Saban is DA MAN!!
Louie
January 10th, 2010
7:48 pm
Harry Munston new also when to get lost.Didn’t he leave the week before Alabama punked your filthy doggie-a$$ last year. He knew the “Big Blackem Out” was going to be a joke. He also hated EVERYTIME you played GA. TECH. Pull out your 8 tracks, have a PBR Beer and enjoy nostalgia.
Mr. A
January 10th, 2010
7:49 pm
DAWGS Suck…. get a life! Quit being a arrogant troublemaker! go to your teams site if there is one! Or crawl back in your unheated trailor and put the straightjacket back on!
DawgFan24
January 10th, 2010
7:50 pm
Did I speak of acidemics? I was talking about the GED. That’s a HIGH SCHOOL equivalency. I wouldn’t expect morons like you to understand…
i'm telling u
January 10th, 2010
7:51 pm
This is not a done deal! kirby met with mal moore and boosters in tuscaloosa today around 2:00….Saban is really pressuring him to stay…saban does not have a true replacement for kirby except for himself…they pretty much told him to name his price….BUT, IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY ANYMORE….the decision for kirby is what is his next move career wise to be a head coach….it is back to 50/50….last night it was a 90/10 coming home…kirbys heart is telling him to come home and his gut is telling him to stay
Quincy
January 10th, 2010
7:51 pm
BAMA man in GA, no. Saban is DA PRICK!! We’ll see how long you NASCAR fans & late night racoon/fox hunters are able to keep him. There’s a job opening up out at the Left Coast since the USC coach is saying good-bye. Will the prick bolt for that?
UGA TODAY
January 10th, 2010
7:53 pm
Me thinks the ”bama man” smells like a tek man. They need to take the tekkies to their single wide and play sit and spin watching ‘Forrest Gump’.
BAMA man in GA
January 10th, 2010
7:54 pm
Dawg fan 24 – We gots it put in last week. You should know that, you where the cable man diggin that darn trench from the street to the trailer. You sure do know how to dig a trench. Did you get that degree from UGA?? you did, didn’t you!! how long did it take?
Dawgs Run This State!
January 10th, 2010
7:54 pm
UGA Today,
There is no such thing as a tech “man”.
Bartkowski had a great arm!
January 10th, 2010
7:55 pm
I would love to see Kirby come home and head up our defense. I would also love to see CWM head up our secondary again like he did under CBVG. Defense is coming back to Athens…FINALLY!
What do we do now?????
January 10th, 2010
7:55 pm
@ im telling you…… The Bama blogs and Bama sources say KS is staying and that Bama really sweetened the dea for Kirby. CMR shouldnt have waited after the NC game. Just goes to show that nice Guys like CMR finish last !
DawgFan24
January 10th, 2010
7:55 pm
DawgsSuck: a quick google search shows Bama is a B- to UGA’s B school rating academically. Nice try moron. http://collegeprowler.com/rankings/academics/
Saint YellowUrine
January 10th, 2010
7:56 pm
Sources tell FootballCoachScoop that Head Coach Nick Saban has interviewed Todd Grantham (Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line coach) for the soon to be
vacant Defensive Coordinator position.
Quincy
January 10th, 2010
7:57 pm
UGA TODAY, you’re likely correct. There’s a lot of nerds invading our blogs these days. Does it have something to do with getting spanked 30 to 24 in their own miniscule stadium and then getting waxed by a sorry little 10 team in their sparsely populated bowl game? Yeah. Ha! Yeah.
Truth
January 10th, 2010
7:57 pm
A friend just told me KS staying at Bama. They matched UGA’s offer and will name him Head Coach in Waiting, like Muschamp at Tx.
Dawgs Run This State!
January 10th, 2010
7:58 pm
What do we do now???? I think we need to let this play out. UGA blogs are saying Smart will come home and Bama blogs are saying he will stay in Bama. Not surprising though.
30 Year Drought
January 10th, 2010
7:58 pm
“The Florida Gators have what is already the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class. Apparently, that’s not good enough. After landing three more of the nation’s top players during the Army All-American Bowl, the Gators are assembling one of the best recruiting classes of all time.
The Gators are still in the running for the nation’s top prospect, Jackson Jeffcoat (Plano, Texas/West), who will visit Jan. 15 along with the No. 2 prospect and top linebacker Jordan Hicks (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West). Jeffcoat is considering Florida, USC, Arizona State, Houston, Texas and Oklahoma, while Hicks is nearing a decision with Florida holding the edge over Texas and Ohio State. ” – Gerry Hamilton, Scouts Recruiting
Louie
January 10th, 2010
7:58 pm
LOVINGGGGGGGGGGGGG EVERY minute of this perplexing doggie mistery.
‘As the doggie turns’. Oh well, the scenery never changes.
Like my father ALWAYS said”Your name has changed , but your breath is the same’.
Dawgs Run This State!
January 10th, 2010
8:00 pm
Louie,
Your father must have really loved you.
Truth
January 10th, 2010
8:00 pm
Dam….apparently a personality conflict btween CMR and KS. This just sucks.
Pawl Jawnsun
January 10th, 2010
8:00 pm
Oh yeah? Well for all you UGA Bulldog fans out there, I have a size 44C bra size. Let’s see any of you best that!!! I am Mr. Man Boobs to you!