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
Go DOGS
January 22nd, 2010
7:31 pm
took you a lot of time, one eyed jack, to vote in all 50 state, huh?
Go home little boy…
ryan
January 22nd, 2010
7:35 pm
You people need shut up i like what Grantham said it will help in recruiting in the future. I mean come on people Urban Meyer quit then cried me river and came back and Florida is 1# in recruiting. So don’t dis this guy yet!
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
Go DOGS
January 22nd, 2010
7:31 pm
“took you a lot of time, one eyed jack, to vote in all 50 state, huh?”
28,293 votes moron…yeah, I voted that many times. You’re in denial. That’s a national poll you tool. You just can’t handle the truth!
dawgs own tech
January 22nd, 2010
7:38 pm
ALERT::::: MISSING::::Coach Groh’s false teeth. Last seen just before his afternoon nap. Please Help. They are yellow, with bacon stuck between the two front teeth and they are believed to be wooden.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:39 pm
Anything posted here that is anti Dawgs is from a snotty little tech nerd with no social skills.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:41 pm
1eyedJack nerd poser, I don’t mean to be harsh, but let’s face it, you are one pathetic loser. No offense.
reality check
January 22nd, 2010
7:41 pm
Final Ap top ten finishes since 2000
UGA-5
Gaytors-5
Bama-3
Yech-who cares, doesn’t matter
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:41 pm
ESPN Sports Nation National Poll:
Which team in Georgia made a better hire at defensive coordinator?
Georgia (Todd Grantham) in blue
Georgia Tech (Al Groh) in red
28,293 votes, 58% agree that Groh was the better hire!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=84764
And now you know why EVERYONE says that Dawg fans are delusional!
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:45 pm
1eyedJack Nerd Poser….m1n…sit on it and spin.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:45 pm
49 states agree… Groh the better DC versus Grantham. Only Dawg Nation disagrees… they wouldn’t be biased though, would they?
reality check
January 22nd, 2010
7:47 pm
1eyedjack- it doesn’t matter, Yech will still be Yech
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:47 pm
Since Groh was the better hire, who do you think got the better bargain? Not even close.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:49 pm
1eyedJack Nerd Poser, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:51 pm
Yeller Fuzz, it’s you ain’t it?….or M… or …um…Saint Simons? Are you off restriction?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:52 pm
Richt took how many more weeks (wasn’t quite months but almost) did it take and how much more money did it require to hire a less respected DC? Who did the better search?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:54 pm
Tech got their first choice, UGA got their 4th (or perhaps 5th) choice. Who did a better search? Who got their man? Who paid the best bang for the buck? Who is more NATIONALLY respected? Who was considered the better hire in a national poll?
How is Dawg nation goin to spin this?
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
Love how the ‘Bama folks talk smack. Sure ya’ll got your NC in 92 and 2010. But you mortally sucked for alot of years in between because your fannies got caught cheating. Ya’ll are right about one thing though: Georgia has to catch up with Florida before we can worry about SEC or NC. However, Dawgs did finish #2 as recently as 2008. We have a good nucleus of players to build on. Offense will be good in 2010 ,defense will have a learning curve but just the style change alone will be an improvement.
To the victors go the spoils, Bama fans. So flap your untoothed mouths while you can, you’ve earned it. But Georgia isn’t near as far away from being “relevent” as you might think.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:56 pm
Richt of course, Johnson just went and picked a retread off the unemployment line.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
7:59 pm
“Richt of course, Johnson just went and picked a retread off the unemployment line.”
…only Dawgs feel that way. 49 other states not named Georgia agree that Groh was the better hire. 28,293 voters in a NATIONAL poll. Wonder why UGA wasn’t ranked at the end of the season. The truth hurts doesn’t it? Deal with it Dawgs – you heard it from the 1eyedJack!
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:00 pm
I saw every UGA home game + the UF game the last 2 years and the talent is there, the only thing that is missing is mental toughness and to take back your own stadium.
DAWG
January 22nd, 2010
8:00 pm
This is to Jeff roll tide; the Tide was lucky with Tennessee, Auburn and real fortunate with Texas. If colt had not been hurt it may have been a different outcome.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:01 pm
I only know of one thing that has one eye and it’s not a gator or a dawg.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:04 pm
1eyedJack Nerd Poser, Yeller Fuzz, M, etc., you ever get the feeling you’re arguing with yourself?
Next time I see you, remind me not to talk to you.
I wish you were still working for me, so I could ask you to
resign.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:04 pm
The only reason tech got their first choice was Johnson went after the only coach that he could afford pay.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:05 pm
nope
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:06 pm
1eyedJack,
Georgia fans who know football will admit Groh is a good hire for Tech. He’s a good coach. CTG is a good coach without Groh’s long resume’. But who cares what folks in the other 49 states think. Over 50% of American’s thought Obama was a better choice for POTUS in 2008.
How’s that working out?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:06 pm
ga gator:
ESPN Sports Nation National Poll:
Which team in Georgia made a better hire at defensive coordinator?
Georgia (Todd Grantham) in blue
Georgia Tech (Al Groh) in red
28,293 votes, 58% agree that Groh was the better hire!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=84764
And, now you know!
Previous Smoltz Fan
January 22nd, 2010
8:07 pm
The heading reminds me of an old song, “To Dream the Impossible Dream” Better than Florida and Texas, you’re full of it. Reminds me of going to the Gold Kist back then. That’s where we got our fertilizer.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:09 pm
1eyedJack, I’m sure they all researched it; it is a popularity poll idiot.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:09 pm
Jaybird from Blakely,
How does it feel to be in the minority in a national perception of your school? How does it feel to be irrelevant on the national scene? How does it feel to be nationally unranked at the end of the season with all those 4 and 5 star recruits on the side lines?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:09 pm
Dawg fans have come to recognize that any idiot who would post the same nonsense over and over has to be an anti-social Acorn Tek nerd with no social skills…or class.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:10 pm
What does anyone know about George Edwards, I read where he coached for UGA under Jim Donnan?
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:11 pm
Not good. I am not used to it. First time it has happened in quite awhile. Probably feel like those Gator fans did in ‘07 when they went 9-4 and got spanked by Michegan in the Bowl game. But not as bad as Bama fans when they lost to LA-Monroe a couple of years ago.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:11 pm
1eyedJack, how does it feel for the top 2 ACC teams to lose to 2 teams from the SEC east?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:15 pm
ga gator poser,
“1eyedJack, I’m sure they all researched it; it is a popularity poll idiot.”
The AP and Coaches Polls are also POPULARITY polls, but I guess they don’t matter either? The majority of national sports writers and pundits project Tech ahead of UGA next season, and they all ranked Tech ahead of UGA last season. And, 28,293 fans is a statistically significant number. I guess you don’t want to deal with national statistics – stick your head in a hole if you want but the facts speak for themselves.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:15 pm
If you can’t debate ‘em with real facts…just steal their identity and attempt to make ‘em look like a stupid immature little Tek nerd dweebazoids with meaningless drivel.
Isn’t it bedtime yet? Sydney, Clayton, Muhammed and Jugdish sleeping over? Gonna play World of Warcraft?
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:17 pm
ga gator poser,
“1eyedJack, how does it feel for the top 2 ACC teams to lose to 2 teams from the SEC east?”
Didn’t seem to matter at all, since both ACC schools ended up ranked higher than their SEC foes. Those are the facts. Deal with it.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:18 pm
Same drivel over and over? Stealing identities? Ahhhh….Russ, the Stupid O-ring A$$hat.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:19 pm
“just steal their identity and attempt to make ‘em look stupid”
…it’s the FACTS that make you look stupid. I’ve been posting facts. Check it out for yourself. Of course you won’t because you know I’m right. You just don’t want to deal with the facts, or the truth.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:20 pm
Ignore me guys, my doppleganger is an idiot Tekkie.
ESPN Hates Georgia
January 22nd, 2010
8:20 pm
Thanks for the link proving that ESPN has a bias twards Georgia.
Dude, according to ESPN, going 13-1 and winning the SEC does NOT qualify Georgia for a Natl Champ invite. But it worked for Florida and LSU.
ESPN’s a joke.
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:21 pm
1eyedJack,
Sure Tech finished ahead of Georgia. Better record. But on the scoreboard, which has nothing to do with popularity, Dawgs were a better team. Again. for the 8th time in the last 9 years. Just like Florida has been the better team 17 of the last 20 years against us.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:21 pm
ESPN Hates Georgia…
So now you Dawg fans are saying that ESPN orchestrated 28,293 votes? Really? So it was rigged, is that the excuse from Dawg fans? The rest of the nation is picking on poor UGA? LMAO
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:23 pm
ESPN also employs Lou Holtz. Who picked Texas to beat Alabama. Holtz was succesful everywhere he coached but South Carolina. Think he does not hate the SEC?
GHOST OF ERK RUSSELL
January 22nd, 2010
8:23 pm
THIS GUY IS THE REAL DEAL FOLKS!!!!!!!
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:26 pm
Jaybird from Blakely,
So are you saying that the 28,293 fans all work for ESPN? Or is it just the employees at ESPN? What does any bias of ESPN have to do with a national fan poll??? If you say it’s rigged then fine it would have something to do with it. Are you saying that ESPN rigged the poll? Seriously?
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:26 pm
ESPN Hates Georgia, ESPN doesn’t hate UGA and if you would have won the SEC east that year you could have played for the SEC title and then maybe had played in the BCS championship game.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:26 pm
I’ve got my own little midget mini-me. Don’t I look like some Johnny Come Lately..
There ought to be one day – just one – when there is open season on NERDS!!!
Oh well, when ignorance gets started it knows no bounds.
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:28 pm
It would not matter if 60,000 voted for Tech. Groh is a great hire for Tech. P.J. is a heck of a good coach too! Bottom line is both schools got good coaches. But Georgia plays in the league that produces NC winners year end and year out. Tech does not. This was the best Tech team in a decade. Georgia’s worst. Dawgs still won. Those are facts, 1eyedJack.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:28 pm
ESPN Hates Georgia, Jaybird from Blakely, they also have Jesse Palmer who QB’d for UF, so they dont hate UGA. Probably the only person at ESPN that hates UGA is Mark May because you beat his behind in the Sugar Bowl.