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Richt on DC hire: ‘I’ll let you know when it happens, I promise.’

4:59 pm January 10, 2010, by Tim Tucker

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.

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338 comments Add your comment

OZZFEST

January 11th, 2010
11:39 am

I can not picture Nick Saban SAYING ONE WORD TO ANYBODY about a “potential” hire. If Saban were asked he would ignore the person asking the question.

RICHT IS SOFT.

dap01

January 11th, 2010
11:43 am

Ozzfest: Why is ignoring a reporter a good trait? Are you saying that CMR is less of a coach if he acts like a human? Are you saying that CMR is less of a coach because he is soft. Are you saying that you like Saban because he is hard. Is being hard a good attribute for you? Do you like hard people?

UGA FAN IN ALANAMA

January 11th, 2010
11:49 am

Listen guys i just want this to be OVER!!! We are lookin like a bad University!!! I will ALWAYS be a UGA fan come heck or high water!!! If Kirby comes then fine!!! For the guy who posted that WJOX in BHAM said isa done deal, they have yet to say that!! All they have said is that it wouldnt suprise them if Kirby does come!!! I am so ready for G-DAY!! Lets just get this DONE!!! DAWG for life!!! GO DAWGS!!! Shreeport + beating GT, is ALWAYS better then ACC champ and a BCS lose!!! GO DAWGS!!!

Dawg4Life

January 11th, 2010
11:53 am

If he is really Smart, he will turn the Dawgs down and wait for a head coaching position. His name is already starting to pop up on those lists. Maybe he could land the USF job. They have great recruits in that area

UGA FAN IN ALANAMA

January 11th, 2010
12:17 pm

Ok… WJOX in Birmingham just had ESPN writer and fomer AJC writter Mark Slaubaugh on there show. I will try my best to quote wat he just said. ” Kirby told Mark Richt that he wasnt wanting to be rushed into any descsion”. Mark did talk to Kirby in person!!! I swear to this on my dads grave!!! Mark alsofeels UGA has got to move soon either way and feel Kirby will let it be known by Wendsday!!! So dawgs fans, we just goin toave to wait and see!! Either way lets do something soon… Also if you guys dont belive what i posted, go to http://www.joxfm.com and look under the podcast. Its a interesting intervies. He feels its a 60-40 he goes to UGA!!!

tampadawg86

January 11th, 2010
12:46 pm

Thanks Rennie for all you did for the Dawgs!! Hope we get more Dawgs that play with heart like you do!! Goodluck in the NFL!

DawgBuzz

January 11th, 2010
12:50 pm

http://footballcoachscoop.com posted that Kirby Smart has been hired as Georgia’s new DC. We have talked to some coaches in Orlando, that tell us the offer is just over $750,000 for Kirby Smart to join the staff as the new Defensive Coordinator. This number is consistent with FootballCoachScoop numbers that we reported yesterday. 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.

fair and Balanced

January 11th, 2010
1:10 pm

Who are the sources for all this stuff written about here? I have never heard hardly ANY of this in any media report. Where do you guys get this information? I mean, do you guys have jobs or do you hang out in the Alabama locker room lapping up rumors?

Mass Exodus Hit Gators....

January 11th, 2010
1:23 pm

More trouble in GatorLand….more underclassmen leaving, 4 BIG losses so far, what a hit, Coach Addazio really tried to persuade them to no avail:

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/1419348.html

dap01

January 11th, 2010
2:11 pm

With Coach Meyers unstable situation, can you blame UF players for deciding to leave.

BulldawgBelle

January 11th, 2010
2:26 pm

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N998JB

There was a private flight this morning around 8 from Athens to Tuscaloosa, and now there is a return flight from Tuscaloosa to Athens scheduled for 3 p.m. today. Hope they’re returning with good news!!

Brookhaven Bulldawg

January 11th, 2010
2:33 pm

Inside connection with the UGA Athletic Department tells me that Kirby Smart HAS accepted the offer. This same inside connection let me know of CWM firing long before it was announced to the press.

Salty Dawg

January 11th, 2010
2:34 pm

This whole Kirby Smart thing has been blown way out of proportion. Fans have been salivating for so long now that they are treating Smart like the second coming. Anything less than the top defense in the SEC next year will be a let down after all of the anticipation. Personally, I’d just as soon have Grantham. Or some hungry, hard-nosed coordinator from a smaller program. Anybody that will coach some ferocity back into the defense. I think we have enough talent that the right motivation and coaching will escalate their play immediately. Any DC that brings that fire with them is welcome in my book, but I fear that if we get Smart there will be too much pressure to make an immediate and significant impact. Anybody remember “The Program” from the early ’90s?

Coach Winters: Alright, this is Mississippi State’s offensive set. Second and two on our own 24, what defensive set might we call?
Alvin Mack: Eagle Zipper Hero, unless the setback shifts into the I.
Coach Winters: Good
[clicks to next slide]
Coach Winters: , third and seven?
Alvin Mack: Oakie Thunder Lion.
Coach Winters: What’s your assignment?
Alvin Mack: Kill the quarterback.
Coach Winters: [clicks to next slide]
Alvin Mack: Hit the tight end so hard his girlfriend dies.
Coach Winters: [clicks to next slide]
Alvin Mack: Kill everybody.

Kevin Strickland

January 11th, 2010
2:56 pm

Smart is not coming

traderclaude

January 11th, 2010
2:58 pm

Kirby Smart has decided to stay at Alabama per Nick Saban 10 minutes ago.

tdog

January 11th, 2010
2:58 pm

Good ridance to Curran. He is a bum for leaving, and only halfway worked in Richt’s gimmicks. I say let Richt transfer to the NFL, and lets get someone who can coach players rather than put pink shirts on them and try to get something going.

zombiewoof

January 11th, 2010
2:58 pm

A Bama beat writer, Gentry Estes, just tweeted that Saban says Smart is staying at Bama. Don’t know if there’s any truth to it, just passing along. I hope it is, but if not, wish CKS the best at UGA.

http://twitter.com/BamaBeat

Bamabelle in ATL

January 11th, 2010
2:59 pm

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/nick_saban_says_kirby_smart_ha.html

Greg

January 11th, 2010
3:00 pm

The Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register just reported that Nick Saban announced that Kirby Smart will be staying at Alabama at a press conference.

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2010/01/nick_saban_says_kirby_smart_ha.html

Just the Facts

January 11th, 2010
3:05 pm

Well Well…..Let all the BULLDAWG Nation be all up and arms and call Kirby Smart all kind of names now…….he decided to stay with a winner and groom himself to be a head coach under a REAL Head Coach.

Let the Whining Begin.

Dawg stuck in Bham

January 11th, 2010
3:05 pm

Well bummer….another person falling for Saban’s selfish lies….Smart needs to sit down and talk with the older coaches that coached with him. Why do they leave for lateral moves or not returned when asked? They want a life that’s not like his…driven and miserable. Just ask Searles. Coached with him at LSU. Had a choice tween UGA and AL. Wanted to see his wife, kids and have a life.

Just the Facts

January 11th, 2010
3:07 pm

Kirby chose to be a WINNER stuck in BHAM….

Searles is a loser……..

Dawg stuck in Bham

January 11th, 2010
3:08 pm

Just the Facts…ur and a%%h&%e…

Just the Facts

January 11th, 2010
3:09 pm

Yeah! But I speak the TRUTH….

DAWGS

January 11th, 2010
3:09 pm

Man we are in trouble!!!!!

Dawg stuck in Bham

January 11th, 2010
3:10 pm

I’d rather be a winner husband, dad and person…unlike Saban…a loser person off the field. Go ahead and give us the “he gives lots of $ to kids comment” now. He’s a pathetic person…

UGAFan

January 11th, 2010
3:10 pm

Well if that is true it is very disappointing, but Smart has to do what is best for him and his family. The search continues….

Just the Facts

January 11th, 2010
3:10 pm

Hire Grantham and get it over with…he will make one heck of a coordinator in the SEC and is a Winner….

Dawg stuck in Bham

January 11th, 2010
3:12 pm

Somehow Facts, I’m guessing you and Saban have alot in common….off the field that is…and probably nothing in common on it. You’ve probably never played a down in ur life. Well, you’ve probably gone down, but that’s another story.

Bill King

January 11th, 2010
3:14 pm

My name is Bill King. I bought this goofy looking UGA shirt at Wal-Mart. It wasn’t even on sale!

Well fellow Dawg fans, one of our own has turned on us. Kirby decided to stay with Satan. You know what I say? SCREW THE SOB! I can say that, you know? See, I didn’t go to UGA. I am the epitome of a dumb sidewalk fan. I can cuss Kirby because, quite honestly, I really have no connection to UGA…except for LOVIN’ THEM DAWGS! So, it’s your loss Kirby, but I don’t care.

I’m inbred.

Yours,

Bill

But SHE said...

January 11th, 2010
3:14 pm

Dawg stuck in Bham, watch Glengarry Glen Ross. This is business, son.

“Nice guy, I don’t give a sh*t. Good father? F*ck you, go home and play with your kids! You want to work here, WIN!” (in the movie they say close because it’s sales, but still applies).

Just the Facts

January 11th, 2010
3:20 pm

I EARNED 3 Championship Rings in two sports and worked in MLB for 6 years and in the NCAA for 4 years…..got out of the business and have worked in Multiple Big Games in multiple sports as an official….I Earned mine. I have a successful business and work 80 hours a week so my wife and kids will have it better than I did. So before you go running your pie hole you need to go back to the trailer park, use the dipstick in your beat up Camaro to slick down your hair, and sit on the front porch and wait till the first of the month for your favorite person (OBAMA) to send your monthly check. Real people know what work is like and know that hard work and dedication get you places.
I wear my Hardware Proudly..even if it is 25 years old.

Gatorland

January 11th, 2010
3:42 pm

Hey Just the Facts!

Very nice Post! Looks like Stuck in BHAM is at a loss of words.

Troof

January 11th, 2010
10:23 pm

So what did I miss? Is Kirby on the way? LOL!!!

RTR! 29 years and counting Dawg fans!!

Troof

January 11th, 2010
10:29 pm

Facts, these Dawg fans can’t face facts. Bama is the new juggernaut in the SEC. UGA’s continued irrelevance is assured. And they are butt hurt an alumnus rejected them.

It started in September 2008 with the Bama Beatdown!

GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

January 11th, 2010
11:40 pm

I GUESS IT CAN BE SAID THAT RICHT IS SUCH A SMART ASS BY STAYING QUIET THE WHOLE TIME. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHHA

GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

January 11th, 2010
11:43 pm

IS SMART A SMART ASS FOR STAYING PUT HAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Dawgie Bowser

January 15th, 2010
12:37 pm

Has Markie kept his promise?

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