Cowboys’ Grantham next target in DC search?
Athens – Hello from Butts-Mehre, where Kirby Smart won’t be coming to work.
All’s quiet here, by the way. No press conference or anything like that is in the works, if you’re wondering.
But on the day after Smart turned down Georgia’s defensive-coordinator job, Mark Richt presumably is about the business of pursuing the next candidate.
And let’s say — in the absence of any new credible rumors at the moment — that’s Todd Grantham, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive-line coach who is known to have been on Richt’s radar for weeks.
In a search that has been full of complications, Grantham presents another. The Cowboys are in the NFL playoffs, preparing for a game Sunday against Minnesota, and will play a couple more games after that if they keep winning. Would the Cowboys let Grantham talk about and even accept (although obviously not begin) another job during the playoffs, risking potential distraction? How would a further delay affect UGA’s recruiting, especially with the final sprint to national signing day about to commence? And would the recent success of the Cowboys’ defense put Grantham in bigger demand among NFL teams?
Questions, questions.
But all indications today are that Grantham is the next target in Georgia’s six-week-old search.
Grantham coached at Virginia Tech (under Frank Beamer and Bud Foster) and Michigan State (under Nick Saban) before a series of four NFL coaching gigs. His only experience as a coordinator was with the Cleveland Browns.
It is a crucial hire for Georgia’s football program, and Richt has reiterated his recognition of that by aiming high in his targets. Foster, John Chavis and certainly Smart were already in good, winning situations at schools that, not surprisingly, proved willing and able to compete aggressively with anything Georgia could offer financially.
Foster had 15 years invested at Virginia Tech, and Chavis, although in only his first year at LSU, does not have a history of job-hopping. And while Smart was tempted by the prospect of returning to his alma mater, the fact is he is on track to be a head coach somewhere in a year or two anyway.
So while we wait for the next chapter — let’s call it Chapter 5 after the Foster, Vic Koenning, Chavis and Smart chapters -=- to unfold in this saga, how do you see the story ending? With Todd Grantham? Or who?
And please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
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492 comments Add your comment
GT
January 12th, 2010
3:40 pm
Thank what u want to, but we beat JSU!!!! Take ha puppy nation!!!!45-42!!!!!! HAHAHA!!! We got a ACC champ!!!! TAKE THAT!!! And we also will get a GOOD DC before you guys do!!!! What you got to say bout that? BBBAAAAMMMMM!!!!!
Ray Goff
January 12th, 2010
3:41 pm
I’ll take the job–I’m tired of cleaning grease at Zaxby’s and need some money.
dap01
January 12th, 2010
3:41 pm
When did they get email in Alabama? Anyway, don’t send anymore anoying emails to Smart.
Crazylegs
January 12th, 2010
3:42 pm
What about Josh Taylor of Sewanee?
GT
January 12th, 2010
3:44 pm
Just head Mark Richtwas at the State Pen recruting plyers !!! WOW….. the traditio continues!!! OOOOUUUUCCCCHHHH!!!!
Leroy Brown (Big Bad LB, that is.)
January 12th, 2010
3:45 pm
Heck, get Cavan back on the field, he can coach
the defense, and certainly motivate and recruit.
Observor
January 12th, 2010
3:46 pm
Sad to see the way dawg fans are savaging and putting down Kirby Smart just cause he wouldn’t return to UGA. Why should he? He just won a bcs title and is an odds on favorite to do it a 2nd time in a row and then stroll out of Bama to a plum head coaching job. Why on earth would he leave a program competing for national titles to come to one that is a sinking ship. I’ve nothing against UGA but that is the cold, hard truth and everyone knows it but dawg fans.
And now all these dawg fans come on with all these putdowns of Smart because he made a business decision and ya hear all the insults that he’s not even the D coordinator. That its really Saban and Kirby didn’t have much to do with the Bama defenses success anyhow since it was all Saban. Its really just sad the way you guys turned on this man.
dawg4life
January 12th, 2010
3:46 pm
We could have gotten Smart but he wimped out because he’s afraid of Saban.We need someone with some heart, and i’m sure coach RICHT will find him.
ken
January 12th, 2010
3:46 pm
Manny Diaz—is the best case winner, young, proven, a recuiter, a man who can get the job done…He certainly is a lot better than Martinez in football
No school has ever undergone such stuff
January 12th, 2010
3:47 pm
Folks, clam down. How many of the so called top 10 teams year in and year out have a DC that was national news every hour and every day for a month??Hmmm? NO ONE ! They were unknowns, most of them. Look at Auburn’s Chizik where nearly 100% of the Auburn fans one year ago screamed about him and now? He is recruiting well, so they shut the you know what up and I am a DAWG and no Auburn man. They did win the Outback too.
Calm fricking down ……… in fact, how many grads (Not stay at home on their mom’s PC “experts”) even recall Nick Saban at Mich State??? How many even remember that his Dad was a AFL/NFL legend Lou Saban? Hmm? None, I suspect. 10 years ago it would have been Saban Who? “Oh yeah that is his Dad that did” so and so. Point made, Case Closed.
My point is that NEW, CAN’T MISS, ALL WORLD COACHES are made every year and will be always. It is up to Mark Richt ( he makes more money in one year than do most on this blog do in a career, so he cannot be that dumb ) to find ONLY a sharp DC that wants to shoot for the SEC conference and come on board. We shot high and did not hit the target with KS and Chavis,etc.
Besides …………….where will you complainers be come early November if UGA is playing well??? Hmmmmmmmmm??
Most UGA grads KNOW that we will be fine.
Go Dogs.
Top Dawg
January 12th, 2010
3:47 pm
Why not go after Mickey Andrews or Chuck Amatto?
david
January 12th, 2010
3:48 pm
go after the dc at tcu
C from Marietta
January 12th, 2010
3:48 pm
To “Tech Realist”
Your UGA friends that are sick of Coach Richt are idiots.
All the UGA friends I have and I have a lot, since I attended the university love Coach Richt and believe in him. I seriously doubt you have any UGA friends or any friends for that matter.
Techster
January 12th, 2010
3:48 pm
I thought there were dawg fans on here left and right last month saying it was a done deal. Just like your 2008 preseason national title looks like you celebrated a little too early. And now you’re reduced to trashing Kirby because he wouldn’t leave a championship program to come play for a bush league program. Can’t blame him judging by the trashing comments all these dawg fans are saying about him.
Tech Man
January 12th, 2010
3:48 pm
They turn me down at Tech for th DC job.So I am putting in my bid for the DC job at pup central.I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN CMR!!AND THE PUP NATION!!!
UGAKev
January 12th, 2010
3:49 pm
Justin Wilcox from boise state looks like am fine candidate
Out of the Blue
January 12th, 2010
3:49 pm
Bring back Bill Lewis. Retired from Notre Dame (BEFORE the last 2 seasons), and his defenses in the 80’s were pretty darn good. Knows Georgia HS for recruiting. He could come in a for a few years and help train Garner for the job over time.
dap01
January 12th, 2010
3:49 pm
GT: Who did you hear that from? Can your mother make calls?
ken
January 12th, 2010
3:49 pm
RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, BUT NOT OUTSIDE OF COLLEGE, .. WE NEED THIS YOUNG MAN NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GT
January 12th, 2010
3:50 pm
Wait people at UGA graduate!!!!AHAHAH!!!!
UGAKev
January 12th, 2010
3:50 pm
Justin Wilcox from boise state looks like a fine candidate….the guy just has to be good with georgias talent. A Good coach with great talent equals great results.
Leroy Brown (Big Bad LB, that is.)
January 12th, 2010
3:51 pm
Or if you don’t want Cavan, any of the Valdosta State stepping stone
coaches would work, ie. Muschamp; NO, Smart, NO; Cavan, YES; Chris Hatcher, YES;
Mike Leach, YES; Mumme, YES (They all are Winnersville trained.)
reddirt
January 12th, 2010
3:52 pm
I agree, we need Manny Diaz as DC, and we need hi now…
UglyOld Dog
January 12th, 2010
3:53 pm
Remember from a distance she might be the prettiest thing in town, but up close, damn, it’s a Easter Pig in clothes….Time to move UGA fans…forget Smart and find somebody else. selah
GT
January 12th, 2010
3:53 pm
2010 perdictions Tech 8-4: ACC champs,anda BCS bid!!!
Puppies= 6-6 Papajohns bowl if that!!!
Zeb
January 12th, 2010
3:54 pm
Cuz, Alt, Gen, Kali. Shane….and the rest of my veteran brothers……what is our concensus thought on this DC situation??? I just don’t know. I trust Richt and his staff and am hoping that we’ll have the DC we need very soon. I’m not going to throw out any names, cause I’m the very least qualified to hire anyone. I do wish the Bulldawg nation would settle down and rely on a proven winner to make the best choice. If any of you think you are qualified…..then please submit your name to Damon Evans as DC…………..other than that……just STFU and let the chosen powers do what they do.
chDawg
January 12th, 2010
3:54 pm
There’s a lot of good high profile candidates still out there like Grantham or Jones. And there’s definitely some little known ones that could put some bite back in our D like the Air Force guy. With the budget Richt has this should get done soon and a few months from now all will be forgotten except for KSmart giving us the shaft. He has to know he’ll never get a chance to coach at UGA again the way it was handled.
reddirt
January 12th, 2010
3:55 pm
Texas DC would not leave since he is in line for Head Coach at Texas, Think About It. Would you pass up that stepping stone..
UglyOld Dog
January 12th, 2010
3:55 pm
GT…if Tech goes 8-4 they’ll be in Boise…again!!!!!!!!
GT
January 12th, 2010
3:56 pm
Puppies your goin to be lucky if the DEtroit Lions safty coch wants the job!!!!! BBBBBBUUUUZZZZZ!!!!
chazzo
January 12th, 2010
3:56 pm
We probably should have had this discussion before firing Willie. Oh wait, I tried and was blessed out by all the haters.
I think there are probably plenty of good guys out there. Screw the name and the big pay check. Find someone who knows D. There can’t be only five guys in the world.
Leroy Brown (Big Bad LB, that is.)
January 12th, 2010
3:57 pm
Who knows more about defenses, Offensive coordinators who
have to beat them, or defensive coordinators who know nothing
about offense?
Go get Hatcher or some good offensive coordinator, they could
certainly coach defenses if they have to outsmart them.
athenian
January 12th, 2010
3:57 pm
I agree that Van Gorder should be the guy. He has done a terrible job with the Falcons,and messed up the Georgia Southern program. Sounds like the perfect guy for the dogs, and would force the Falcons to get a legit DC.
Just asking, but dog fans are suggesting almost any defensive coach from winning programs as if every one is just waiting for an opportunity to be in Athens. You would think after a half dozen turn-downs the message would soak in…this is not a prime job. Another factor is that many in the football world realize that if 2010 proves to be the third straight disappointing season for the dogs (and it easily could be)a lot of people are shyying away from joining Richt since he might only have one more year.
GT
January 12th, 2010
3:58 pm
I said we would be ACC champs!! Puppies come play in a real confrence!!!!
Tech Man
January 12th, 2010
3:58 pm
If I can’t ge DC job,can I play QB?
Leroy Brown (Big Bad LB, that is.)
January 12th, 2010
3:59 pm
Reddirt – Would you stay with a job that promised you five
or so years ago you were the Head Coach in waiting, only
five or so years later hve your employer renew the Head Coach’s job for five
more years. Long stride and wait between stepping stones.
UglyOld Dog
January 12th, 2010
4:00 pm
athenian…you sound like a stinger rubber
GT
January 12th, 2010
4:00 pm
Hire Bozzo the Clown i here he needs work!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!
Washaun Ealey
January 12th, 2010
4:02 pm
Hi, just wanted to remind the nerds that Caleb King and I run this state. 183 yards for me, 166 and two TD’s for my buddy Caleb. 30-24. Suck it.
NEWS TO ALL
January 12th, 2010
4:02 pm
Prime Time Neon Deon is in Athens whats up with that ? DB coach maybe gardner as DC ?
Doyle Rainey lives
January 12th, 2010
4:02 pm
Smart was coming until saban told him he would be dead to him if he took the UGA job. tha’ts a fact. Now Benedict Arnold is crying about some mean emails. Can’t have it both ways Kirby, so grow a pair Kirby and be a man.St. Nick can’t protect you forever. Where the hell is Joe Lee Dunn btw? And ps Lou is not Nick’s dad. Just cousins.
Drew
January 12th, 2010
4:03 pm
Dave Wommack is avaialable
The U of Texas Offensive Coach
January 12th, 2010
4:03 pm
Correct me if I am worng but the guy that calls all of the Texas Offense as OC is a former UGA coach under Jim Donnan. Correct me if I am wrong.
Now? The guy is hot. See? He was FIRED and run out of town when Donna was swept out but now? He is like KS and is a high demand guy. Such is life in the NCAA and NFL. When Mack Brown hired him who ever hear of him outside of Donnan’s UGA circle?? NO ONE but MACK BROWN. LLOK AT HIS RECORD now. See? BLah, blah, blah, blah.
All of this blah,blah blah about Kirby Smart and Mark Richt is from folks that never, ever played a down of ball ( I did not ) and NEVER set in on one legit college class even for an audit credit but think that they are fricking NCAA/SEC experts. They side with the hottest team for now like a Tech this is a laughing stock or UT that will be soon on double secret probation.
It is easy to hide behind the anominity of your PC and say things about Mark Richt and UGA. You go to the local mall with your “team’s” colors on and you think that you a e a hot shot but we know better.
If you do that, then ask one question ……..can you EVER HOPE TO EARN what he makes in a year??? Have you ever played college ball in the SEC or even in Pop Warner???
If not, your opinions matter not.
Gooooooooooooooooo Gawgs. Sic em.
Danny Forde
January 12th, 2010
4:03 pm
Heck youngstars, I’m around too! I forgotz more about fottbals than that there smartz fellew ever cood learnt
Tech Man
January 12th, 2010
4:03 pm
GT..Your waisting your time with the pups.They have blinders on.They live in LA LA LAND!! But, I will still take the DC job or starting QB job!!!in pup land
Out of the Blue
January 12th, 2010
4:04 pm
Bill Lewis
dawgfan13
January 12th, 2010
4:04 pm
This entire DC search is a complete disaster from media to fans as well as the Georgia people. I am not surer whats going on with the DC search right now, but i have to say if we wait on the Dallas guy we will lose more recruits. Just hire an up and comer!!!
Doyle Rainey lives
January 12th, 2010
4:04 pm
Actually Greg Davis was Ray Goff’s QB coach, not a Donnan guy. But a good point.
Tech Man
January 12th, 2010
4:05 pm
Drew…That’s what I’am talking about!!!Great Idea!!
Zeb
January 12th, 2010
4:07 pm
GT…….what are you……12……..a real conference???? Give us a break. I congratulate you on being the ACC champs, but you need to put down the crack pipe. Do you even follow college football??? Go back to D&D and leave college football to the guys who actually run this country. Good job at an attempt to show your knowledge of your conference and football in general. Come back when you have something to boast about.