Friedgen as UGA’s OL coach? Hmmmmm…

First thing first: I don’t know if Ralph Friedgen would take the job, if offered it. Seems improbable, at first blush.

But it certainly has become a hot conversation piece in cyber-corners of Bulldog Nation.

Friedgen, the former Georgia Tech and San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator, the recently ousted Maryland head coach, as Georgia’s offensive line coach and running game coordinator?

Friedgen’s name was floated almost as soon as Stacy Searels left for Texas, although not as frequently as the names of Mac McWhorter and Hugh Nall. The buzz intensified Thursday, when Friedgen was reached by UGASports.com’s Anthony Dasher and declined to comment on the matter, and when the website footballrumormill.com, which specializes in rumors about the coaching carousel, said Friedgen “is in good position to land the OL job at UGA. He’s one of 3 candidates.”

Mark Richt hasn’t commented on the coaching search at all, not even on Searels’ departure. Richt is pretty busy, as you might have heard, on the recruiting trail. UPDATE: And Friedgen’s agent, Jack Reale, seemed to douse the rumor in a conversation with the Athens Banner-Herald’s Marc Weiszer, telling him: “I don’t think there’s any truth to that.”

Friedgen, 63, does sound like a man who wants to keep coaching somewhere, based on this excerpt from a blog posted Monday by the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Barker:

Friedgen hasn’t taken another job yet. “I’m interested in hearing that people are interested in me. If something really excites me, I’ll get back in,” he said.

I asked him about some of the college jobs he has been linked to, and where he might end up. He stopped me to make a clarification.

“That’s in the NFL or in college,” he said, not wanting to limit his possibilities.

So what do you think about Athens as a possibility, however remote it might be, for Friedgen?

306 comments Add your comment

82Dawg

January 28th, 2011
10:56 am

To all of you that think CMB is going anywhere, get over it he is not. He is playing a very big part in getting this class…

Uga'91

January 28th, 2011
10:58 am

FYI according to his Maryland bio RF was OC and line coach under Bobby Ross at Maryland.

coloradobulldog

January 28th, 2011
10:58 am

I like the thinking by several posters of Friedgen being the OC and Bobo coaching QBs and taking title of recruiting coordinator. Bobo has shown his gift in recruiting this year. He appeared at the Drew signing even though Drew is a DE. If Garner is willing to take O line, let him. If not, perhaps its its time to go. And let Friedgen take OC and OL and bring in someone like Travis Jones (former Dawg, Saints assit D-Line coach so knows 3-4) to take over DL.

Make it so CMR!

BILLY JACK

January 28th, 2011
11:00 am

HEY BURDELL 91-I DIDNT LIKE HIM AT TECH AND DONT LIKE HIM NOW-DONT LUMP ALL UGA FOLKS IN ONE CATEGORY-THE OL COACH IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.PLUS FIRE GARNER WED NITE AFTER SIGNING DAY HE IS THE WORST COACH ON THE STAFF BY A MILE.

still@the bar

January 28th, 2011
11:00 am

Bobo is like the popular teacher that gets all the kids to be in his/her class, but if she can’t teach WTF does it matter? Bobo is not smart enough to out coach anybody in the SEC save 2-3 coaches. UGA has to win on better talent. When Bobo’s O meets a greater or equal D he will lose. BOBO can’t outsmart anybody in the SEC, but himself. He has proven that too many times.

still@the bar

January 28th, 2011
11:02 am

UGA91 that was 20 or so years ago that he was a line coach. I don’t see him going back to that. I could better see him being a paid consultant to help Richt and Bobo learn the game of football.

stool at the bar

January 28th, 2011
11:04 am

Dude you are a damn genius, love your insights…

Mayo

January 28th, 2011
11:05 am

I’m all for it. UGA’s OL has underperformed for 3 years now. R.F. made UGA look silly and greatly contributed to usher out Jim Donnan before he left the Flats. ‘Tech’s hired former UGA coaches (e.g. Bill Lewis)…so what?

Sportsrealist

January 28th, 2011
11:08 am

I think he could influence Bobo to some new ideas. Getting a coach like this can always help both players and coaches.

South GA Dawg

January 28th, 2011
11:09 am

Just think what this guy could do with the talent that UGA has . He is good with Fair talent give him great talent and look out.

PMC

January 28th, 2011
11:09 am

For his sake I was hoping he could catch on somewhere where he would get to embarass the Maryland AD every year. He’d be great at UGA though.

Macon

January 28th, 2011
11:15 am

Attention: Winston Wolfe moron

Uncle has been a personal friend of Friedgen for 27 years.

I’m quite sure YOU dont know what the Hell YOU’RE talking about.

Friedgen DESPISES UGA.

DawginLex

January 28th, 2011
11:16 am

interception dude,

You have been on bobo’s butt for years. If Richt re-assigns him, hires Friedgen and changes up the offense, you don’t view that as a good sign?

Bobo desreves a lot of credit for this recruiting class whether anyone wants to admit it or not. If he is going to stay on staff and is willing to learn and accept the changes, that says a lot about Bobo the person.

Strength and conditioning will still be the thing that keeps Richt employed past 2011.

Ralph

January 28th, 2011
11:17 am

thUGA can have him. He was never missed at GT.

DawginLex

January 28th, 2011
11:17 am

Macon

January 28th, 2011
11:15 am
Attention: Winston Wolfe moron

Uncle has been a personal friend of Friedgen for 27 years.

I’m quite sure YOU dont know what the Hell YOU’RE talking about.

Friedgen DESPISES UGA.

**************************************************************

This makes more sense than anything I have read.

Buster

January 28th, 2011
11:19 am

Great! We can make him the poster child for the new Strength and Conditioning program! :-)

Big Dawg

January 28th, 2011
11:31 am

Key hire for dawgs….HERSHEL!!! He has come out as stating he wants to be able to help!! Make up a position for him. Add to S/C program, recruiting program, or just a BS job. Let future recruits have access to a legend.

Dangerous

January 28th, 2011
11:31 am

Bobo is an f”n clown. Anyone who supports Bobo is a loser. He has no idea what the f@ck he is doing. Don’t preach to me what a great scoring average he has. He can’t score any points against any formidable defense what so ever! You say Bobo recruits…..a lot of good that does when he can’t run an offense. Let him recruit and let FREIDGEN run this offense. I’ve said as much since he was let go from Maryland……if Richt really wanted to attempt to keep his job he would hire him. If he hitches his wagon to Bobo and they don’t change their play calling, their a$$e$ will be out of here! Bobo is way too predicteble……vanilla with vanilla icing……no creativity!

hal

January 28th, 2011
11:32 am

O’Leary gonna nab him down at UCF (remember them) they are old drinking buddies. Maybe Taffe will come up here to the dogs. Richt should love that guy.

Black Mountain Bulldog

January 28th, 2011
11:33 am

This would be a great hire, But I don’t know if they will make it happen.
He could help the Offense, soooooooo very much.

Office Space

January 28th, 2011
11:38 am

I don’t think his input would stop at the O line. He could be a good mentor to Richt & Bobo. Watching game film will have to be a ‘food free’ zone though.

RiffRaff

January 28th, 2011
11:40 am

Bring in Friedgen or somebody of this caliber as OC and move Bobo to QB coach.

UGA Insider

January 28th, 2011
11:43 am

All of us on this blog need to thank and tip our hat to CMR and Mike Bobo. Bobo is taking some heat on this blog but let me tell you something….. the mane has worked tirelessly and is the main reason we are going to have a top 5 recruiting class. He has out recruited in South Ga Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp. We need to recognize and appreciate the hard work he has done. Let’s let the past go and look forward to a great future….. Great job Mike Bobo!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the hard work.

david

January 28th, 2011
11:43 am

bozo as olc frisdgen as oc

Andy in Blairsville

January 28th, 2011
11:47 am

Herschel would be a great idea because between the NFL and MMA he obviously understands the proper use of anabolic steroids. Obviously whoever is supplying and administering juice to the kids at UGA doesn’t have a clue because many are undersized by 10% when compared to any national contending team.

Then again, I guess it’s hard to get your ED and EOD shots when you’re in jail.

UGA Insider

January 28th, 2011
11:52 am

man……….

sorry, I can’t spell today. Late night downtown.

Georgia OL coaching search thread

January 28th, 2011
11:53 am

[...] Friedgen as UGA’s OL coach? Hmmmmm… | UGA sports blog Reply With Quote [...]

Gold Dawg

January 28th, 2011
11:53 am

I heard we might get some more good news today…anyone know what that might be?

South Ga. Red Raider

January 28th, 2011
11:57 am

To UGA AD….. HIRE MIKE LEACH YOU MORON! It is a no brainer. Show some balls!

Gold Dawg

January 28th, 2011
11:57 am

Turene, Richardson or Roberson maybe?

Mobile Dawg

January 28th, 2011
12:00 pm

UGA Insider, agree with you on Bobo’s hard work. He’s a good Dawg, just in over his head as OC. McGarity sees this and is “helping” Richt make the hard decisions. Like I said before, I see McGarity’s stamp on these improvements all the way.

gt

January 28th, 2011
12:14 pm

Why would anyone want to walk into that fire at Athens. Sure Richt is having another one of those recruiting years, but that just builds up the pressure and if he doesn’t win which I don’t think he will it gets everybody fired. I think a player says he is going to Georgia and he gets a star for that automatically. Then he is a bust, happens year after year up there. Instead of blowing the trumpets on this class I would be having a wait and see, but the horse is out of the barn now. What is the definition of stupid? When you expect different results using the same formular over and over. One thing about Ralph Friedgen is he may be fat but he ain’t stupid, which doesn’t seem to work well at Georgia.

WIN WITH RICHT

January 28th, 2011
12:17 pm

CRF would be asset to dawgs. But area buffets are going to be hit hard.

Duh

January 28th, 2011
12:20 pm

Can *ANYONE* realistically see the Fridge working for Bozo?

That’d be like Einstein working for the 9th grade science teacher at McEachern cleaning beakers.

Hurschell Wolka

January 28th, 2011
12:21 pm

UGA will never be great again under CMR.

food Photos galore

January 28th, 2011
12:24 pm

Ralphie would just fit in under Thomas Browns new food photo rules.

really?

January 28th, 2011
12:34 pm

Fridge has had several weeks to catch up on all the new developments in football that Richt has been too busy to notice. LOL

really?

January 28th, 2011
12:37 pm

UGA Insider, agree with you on Bobo’s hard work. He’s a good Dawg, just in over his head as OC. McGarity sees this and is “helping” Richt make the hard decisions. Like I said before, I see McGarity’s stamp on these improvements all the way.

Good post, MD

cmdawg99

January 28th, 2011
12:40 pm

Jeff Fisher?

Lindsey Snot

January 28th, 2011
12:40 pm

Not sure why you guys think that the Jackets would be upset..he quit on us, so who cares where he goes? His ‘genius’ wasn’t on display that much at UM, Gailey had more wins than Fridge during the same length of time, and Gailey is STILL a gomer. But you guys do what you think you need to do…remember he won’t be coaching against O’Leary.

Dangerous

January 28th, 2011
12:43 pm

No, Freidgen will never come to UGA as an O-line coach…..that’s just absurd, but as OC….that he might consider. We can only hope that Mark Richt will finally face his and Bobo’s short comings and right a terrible WRONG on the O side of the ball.

Jborodawg

January 28th, 2011
12:46 pm

ugab: Too old! We need a young experienced OL coach!…”

I have to agree. The Fridge might be an “offensive genius” but…his age and weight are against him. How does he motivate players to eat right and get in shape? What kinda example does he set?

I have to agree with going with someone younger.

South Ga. Red Raider

January 28th, 2011
12:55 pm

If Georgia really wants to compete with Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and the rest of the SEC, UGA needs to have a reason for athletes to go to come. Right now with Ritch, Bobo and the gang it is about as exciting as watching paint dry or watching soccer. Let’s call it like it is… UGA is a subpar program that has not done anything since the early 80’s. UGA needs to make a bold statement to athletes that when you come we will compete with anyone in the country. Leach brought a last tier team in the Big 12 into prominence. Just think of the possubilities in the SEC with the talent that is in Georgia and the Southeast.

BIG DAWG

January 28th, 2011
12:57 pm

Ralph Friedgen: come to Ga as OL coach never happen we cant have someone that know more than us coming to coach he needs to be the OC and we could win some game but that will never happen either I am like another head coach said they get a lot of good talent but where do they go, be nice to coach them when we get them.

RollDog

January 28th, 2011
12:59 pm

You have got to be kidding me! No, No, No.
This reminds me of the same desperate move Ray Goof made when he hired Marion Campbell as DC on his way out the door.

Dawg Fud

January 28th, 2011
12:59 pm

Buckeye get his first win ever over an SEC team in a bowl game and he is now the tough guy.

Dogfish

January 28th, 2011
1:02 pm

Woebegong, that makes so much sense. To have Friedgen mentor Bobo is a great plan.

Thats why Richt would never do it.

Dangerous

January 28th, 2011
1:03 pm

A young Major Applewhite didn’t work at Ala (he was sh@t canned after 1 season) and a young bobo hasn’t worked at UGA ( He should have been fired after 1 season). Freidgen is a great OC, not scared to create an O around personel. I’ll take him anyday if he’ll come here. For all the Tech people that say he wasn’t that great…..WHATEVER!!!……Tech was held down by O’leary and Ted Ruff. My football buds and I said Freidgen would go to Maryland and underachive and although he did win an ACC champ, I would say he did…….just not enough good players. UGA WOULD BE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE RALPH FREIDGEN AND ALL HE HAS TO OFFER AS A GREAT OC!

I win u lose

January 28th, 2011
1:08 pm

i’m sure this has been said a lot already but here goes:

can we get the fridge as OC and move bobo to grad assistant and then hire an OL coach? grantham will have his boys ready to play once he gets “his” guys in there, we just need to be less predictable on offense, it’s a joke…..

Tallcarl

January 28th, 2011
1:08 pm

Buckeye, when you guys start winning bowl games on a regular basis then your comments may be relevant here. You have thew best criminals money can buy and the NCAA did not punish you for their transgressions. Arkansas did not play 60 minutes so count you blessings and mail the NCAA your payoff. My advise to you is keep a low profile and start watching for your Daddy, Meechigan is back and will be spanking you annually if get my play on words. Go play in the snow or watch your overrated basketball team lose in March to a SEC team as usual.