Grantham: Dogs can be better than Florida, Texas, Southern Cal
Athens – I’m pretty sure Georgia fans are going to love these words from Todd Grantham, the Bulldogs’ new defensive coordinator:
“Over the last 11 years [in the NFL], I have evaluated a lot of players from this state –- not only players of the University of Georgia but players that have played everywhere else, too,” Grantham said today. “And I have always believed -– and I believe to this day – that if we took the best players in the state of Georgia and within a five-hour radius of our school, if they come to the University of Georgia, then we can win the SEC championship and compete for a national title. And I think you can be better than Florida, you can be better than Texas, and you can be better than Southern Cal – if those players came to the University of Georgia. So that’s what excited me about coming here.”
Grantham’s hiring a week ago has been well received by Georgia fans, who probably will like it even more after hearing the intense new guy in town talk about being better than Florida, Texas and USC. . . .
A few other things from today’s session with Grantham:
– Turning down Nick Saban: Yes, Grantham confirmed, he was offered a job in 2005 as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator by Saban, the noted defensive genius. But Grantham, who previously worked for Saban at Michigan State, turned down the Dolphins’ job to take the defensive-coordinator position with the Cleveland Browns instead. “Basically it got down to a geographical decision, really,” he explained, noting that Cleveland is closer than Miami to his Virginia hometown.
– Evaluating his new players: Grantham said the first step is to study film on them. “Right now what I’ve done is with the two graduate assistants, who I can tell you do a great job; these guys are unbelievable. I’ve had those guys [Todd Hartley and Mitch Doolittle, who famously filled in as coaches when the staff was short-handed for the bowl game] pull off about 25 or 30 plays of each [player]. That kind of gives you a feel for the player. So we’ll look at those and get a feel for each guy.” Soon Grantham will get to know the players in the off-season program, and then he’ll have them on the field in spring practice. “It’s a process that will be ongoing all the way up until next [season], but you got to start somewhere,” he said. “And we’re going to start with the evaluation of what they have done so far.”
– NFL vs. college: Grantham, whose first two coaching jobs were at Virginia Tech and Michigan State, spent the past 11 years in the NFL. He said he went there initially to enhance his future as a college coach. “I always had an aspiration to coach in pro football, and the reason is that it is the graduate school of coaching. It’s the best players, it’s the best systems, and it is the best coaches to a point -– not that there aren’t great coaches in college. But you do get challenged up there. So I looked forward to that challenge. But, really, I wanted to do that to enhance my career in college. I have always had aspirations of being a coordinator and a head coach one day, and I felt like, what better [than the NFL] on your resume when you to into a home [recruiting]? . . . That way when I walk into a home, my resume could speak for where I could help the kid go. And that’s really one of the reasons I went to pro football. Over the past 11 years, there have been some opportunities to come back to college, but the timing was never right and I never felt as strongly as I did about this job.”
Also: Grantham says Rodney Garner will remain the Dogs’ D-line coach.
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323 comments Add your comment
Sorry Guy
January 22nd, 2010
5:53 pm
GaGator – yes and we do. Thanks!
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
5:53 pm
Go Jackets!
Mark "Crimson Crier" Ingram
January 22nd, 2010
5:54 pm
Head defensive curdawg for less than a week and already has illusions of grandeur! HaHaHaHaHaHaHa
“UGaly” the curdawg will fly before UGA is better than Florida, Texas, and you forgot Alabama! You might have a chance with Southern Cal, now that Kiffin is coach.
techman
January 22nd, 2010
5:54 pm
Youbetcha, yours is going to get skin cancer if he doesnt stay out of the tanning beds.
pi$$onatechie
January 22nd, 2010
5:57 pm
GatorBob, do you wear Jorts? and do you shave your legs?
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
5:57 pm
techman – and yours needs to stop eating so many hamburgers before he has health issues like our coach!
Youbetcha
January 22nd, 2010
5:58 pm
techman – even the Gator fans are making fun of you!
techman
January 22nd, 2010
5:58 pm
If he did that he couldnt wear his manzier.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
6:00 pm
Seriously guys, do you think that Grantham will be better than Van Gorder?
Yes Sir
January 22nd, 2010
6:07 pm
ga gator – who really knows? We can only hope!
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
6:09 pm
Clijsters out, Henin advances at Aussie Open
Had to read that headline twice…thought they meant Sonny Clusters. Might lose the Dairy Queen endorsement.
dawgs own tech
January 22nd, 2010
6:17 pm
This is a article about UGA. Why do florida, bama, tenn. and tech fans even get on this blog. Worry about your own teams. Florida, worry about Urbans stress and hope his heart dont explode. Tennessee, worry about your coach and that great winning % he had at La Tech. Tech, need i even say anymore. Alabama, you guys can talk smack. Yall brought the N.C. to the sec this year, although I still think Saban will leave yall stranded. Anyways, this is a Uga discussion, everyone else get the hell out of here.
Dawg Man
January 22nd, 2010
6:19 pm
Preach on brother, preach on!! Glad we got the right man for the job, now lets go get the East
Denver Dog
January 22nd, 2010
6:21 pm
Maybe sometime this year, people other than ga gator, yes sir, and myself will start trying to make some rational comments. I am anxious to see this new D, but I sure don’t expect it look like Erk’s Finest in the first few games or maybe even seasons. If they show the type of improvement that they have not been able to show for the last few years, they will get to the next defensive level, but thye can’t be expected to play 35-38 minutes each game and not give up yards and points. Steady improvement and 60 minutes of hell, that is what we need to have out on the field.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
6:26 pm
dawgs own tech, the reason we are on here is because it’s a news blog and we only respond about your school when some idiot wans to talk about ours. I prefer to read and discuss the pro’s and con’s of this hire which I think sounds like a pretty good one. Who cares if it was Richt’s first, second or 20th pick. He is the one who will succeed or fail with it.
Dawg 3/20
January 22nd, 2010
6:26 pm
It is the new Lane Kiffin, big talk during press conferences but reality will set in soon enough.
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
6:27 pm
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose. I guess that is expected from desperate Dawgs. The posts at 5:53 pm and 5:57 pm are not mine. I am NOT a yellow jacket.
Really?
January 22nd, 2010
6:29 pm
Dawg 3/20 – All he said is we “can” be better. That is nothing like Lane Kiffin guaranteeing victories and talking trash about other teams but nice job trying to spin it.
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
6:30 pm
I like turtles!
Yes Sir!
January 22nd, 2010
6:32 pm
GatorBob, what kind of turtles?
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
6:35 pm
Really?, I agree, Kiffin is a punk and this guy was telling the truth. There is no reason with the high school talent in this state that if UGA could keep the top recruits in state, they could be just as good as UF, TX and USC. The same could be said about the other 3 teams also, thats why recruiting has become such a big news item. Myself, I could not stomack sitting in some kids living room and begging him to come to my school. The only school that I could coach at would be a service academy.
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
6:37 pm
17-3 mutts. Deal with it!
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
6:38 pm
41-17… wasn’t even close
Amy
January 22nd, 2010
6:39 pm
The more I read about this guy, the more I like him! I know he hasn’t done anything yet, but I like the attitude. You gotta start somewhere! GATA!! Go Dawgs!!
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
6:41 pm
2008
49-10… another blowout
McDawg
January 22nd, 2010
6:43 pm
can we beat ‘Bama?
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
6:45 pm
GatorBob, act like a champion please.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
6:49 pm
GatorBob, or St. Simons, or M, or Yellow Fuzz or whoever the hell you are I think you might be two-faced….but you
can’t be….or you wouldn’t be wearing that one.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
6:55 pm
GatorBob, we don’t care about Florida anyway. We put them down as a W every year.
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
6:56 pm
Too many posters pretending to be me. I’m outta here. Go Gators!
Skeptical Dawg
January 22nd, 2010
6:58 pm
Great Hire ! ….. NOT !!!!! http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=84764
Edman
January 22nd, 2010
7:00 pm
Do the gators have a blog and if so, don’t you gator fans have your own issues? I ask because I have no idea and have no need or desire to troll them. Now run along.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:03 pm
Thanks for that 6:55 post nerd. Have you ever wondered why you
never have long-term girlfriends?
GatorBob
January 22nd, 2010
7:06 pm
I am back! Go Dawgs!
MattDawg
January 22nd, 2010
7:06 pm
I heart Todd Grantham.
bamadawg
January 22nd, 2010
7:09 pm
Jeff the dufus from Albama…Alabama was the laughing stock of college sports with Dennis Francione left you for Texas A&M like Kiffin did TN. And then the great record of Shula (26/23) while UGA was winning SEC championships in the early 2000’s…And Bama was the laughing stock of the entire country when your head coach Mike Price was caught with a stripper in Pensacola, FL…what a dufus…don’t forget who you are or where you came from trailor park trashhole…
olddogretired
January 22nd, 2010
7:09 pm
Just look at the picture of this serious man. No words needed to describe the intensity, perserverence, will to succeed, etc. of this person. He will be the best defensive coach since Old Baldy himself, Irk Russell. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind (and his) that this Grantham is going to lead Georgia to new heights, even when Florida and Alabama recruit from all over the country. Can’t wait till next year.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:12 pm
Are those scars on his forehead? Stick your nose in there coach!!
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:17 pm
Everyone (except the Dawgs) know who got the better DC:
ESPN Sports Nation Poll:
Which team in Georgia made a better hire at defensive coordinator?
Georgia (Todd Grantham) in blue
Georgia Tech (Al Groh) in red
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=84764
Yes, there’s no denying it is there?
dawgs own tech
January 22nd, 2010
7:22 pm
ga gator, thats cool man! I dont think Grantham was trying to call anyone out, I just think he is trying to say the right things. The truth is, we have slipped in the past few years, and think Grantham is a ray of hope. Ga gator, if you are here to discuss football, WELCOME.
Sorry Guy
January 22nd, 2010
7:23 pm
1eyedJack – breaking news…..your D coordinator just died at the age of 107.
patrick
January 22nd, 2010
7:23 pm
Am I missing something?
UGA has the exact amount of SEC titles under Richt as Fla does in last nine years and more than ALA.
UGA finished more times top ten than Fla in those years.
UGA has won as many games as Fla in those same years.
UGA has won 8 or more games 13 years in a row (more than Fla).
UGA has been won 11 bowl games in last 13 years (more than Fla).
Now as far as the mythical NC…UGA had the same record in 2002 when UGA won the SEC title that Fla had when they won the SEC title but didnt get invited to the BCSNC.
Thats not an indictment on UGA thats an indictment on the BCS (we need a playoff).
patrick
January 22nd, 2010
7:25 pm
in other words (sans a mythical NC and head to head recently) UGA is as good as Fla.
dawgs own tech
January 22nd, 2010
7:26 pm
1eyed jack, poles are for strippers.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:28 pm
Ok poser nerd at 7:17 you asked for it, here it comes….
dawgs own tech
January 22nd, 2010
7:28 pm
sorry guy, only 107. He has depends older than that.
Tweets that mention Grantham: Dogs can be better than Florida, Texas, Southern Cal | UGA Sports -- Topsy.com
January 22nd, 2010
7:29 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by PetAgree Friends, Tim Tucker. Tim Tucker said: Grantham says Dogs can be better than Florida, Texas and Southern Cal — if they dominate state in recruiting. http://bit.ly/7aCELF [...]
Maretta
January 22nd, 2010
7:30 pm
We can be better than Florida, Texas and Southern Cal; is he serious! Has he met Mark Richt, the no-talent head coach. I noticed Grantham didn’t say Alabama; does he concede that that’s not attainable?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:30 pm
NEWS FLASH!!!
AP – COACH PAUL JOHNSON ARRESTED!!!
The Atlanta Police Department issued a statement this afternoon that Coach Paul Johnson of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team has been arrested for assault and battery and is awaiting bail. No further information was released.
Georgia Tech’s athletics director Dan Radakovich issued the following statement: “We are investigating the incident and we do not at this time wish to comment on the altercation that took place between Coach Johnson and Coach Groh. For those who would like to help we have started a fund to help bail Coach Johnson out.”
When asked to comment about previous encounters with the law Mr. Radakovich stated, ”I can adamantly put those rumors to rest. Coach Johnson is dealing with stressful issues right now but all those charges have been dropped, except for the neighbor who’s kid got punched in the face for walking on his lawn and a couple of Santas he allegedly roughed up after the Georgia game. We have called in Nurse Ratchit from the Grady Memorial Hospital psychiatric unit who is familiar with those cases.”
No mention was made of the supposed friction that has become evident between the two coaches or of the rumors that Coach Johnson would take a leave of absence and that Coach Groh would become interim Head Coach.
We questioned a janitor, Muhammed Chang, who claims to have witnessed the altercation. “I was mopping floor and Mr. Paul was riding Mr. Groh hoverround. He running into wall. Mr. Groh come out of bathroom and see Mr. Paul acting as fool. Mr. Grow throw dirty diaper at Mr. Paul. Mr. Paul say ‘Hey, are you that stupid?’ then Mr. Paul punch Mr. Grow in eye.”
As well as the pending charges against Coach Johnson, it has been learned that Coach Groh has taken out a restraining order.
Radakovich insists that this will present no problem as the defense can practice at the Morehouse facilities. “It will be a shorter bus ride for our athletes anyway,” he stated, “as most of them are already taking classes there.”
dawgs own tech
January 22nd, 2010
7:31 pm
wille obama martinez