A ‘Friend’ as OL coach? Dogs No. 18?
A few quick notes this morning . . .
- There’s some chatter that Will Friend could become Georgia’s next offensive line coach, although no word — nor indication of imminent word — from UGA. Just in case, here’s a bit of background on Friend:
As an offensive guard at Alabama in the 1990s, he was a four-year starter and a two-time All-SEC player. He was named to Alabama’s Team of the Decade. He has been UAB’s offensive line coach for the past four years and before that was offensive line coach at Gardner-Webb for two years. UAB’s head coach is Neil Callaway, a former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Georgia. In fact, Friend helped Callaway with Georgia’s offensive line for two years as a graduate assistant.
- Georgia ranks No. 18 in the second edition of ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach’s 2011 Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25, posted today. Interesting teams on both sides of the Bulldogs in the rankings: No. 17 Auburn and No. 19 Texas. Florida is No. 20. No. 1? Oklahoma.
- Georgia has sold out of reserved seats for Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Auburn in Stegeman Coliseum. Student tickets remain available, but Georgia expects a fifth consecutive sellout by the 1:30 p.m. tipoff.
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238 comments Add your comment
WIN WITH RICHT
February 4th, 2011
1:42 pm
Steiner
I think I recognize you from your blogs. Are you dog washer at Peggy’s Pooch Parlor on Hwy #1 just outside of Swainsboro?
UGAX
February 4th, 2011
1:44 pm
Friend has a pretty impressive bio. Would probably be a good fit at UGA. Maybe he can take our underachieving O-Line and turn them into monsters, like Auburn’s O-Line this year. He made UA’s All Decade team and was a four year starter in the SEC, so he’s doing something right.
Pacific Dawg
February 4th, 2011
1:46 pm
Grim Reaper
Mark Richt is a great coach and will be at UGA for another 15 years. You and all the rest of the sacks will be eating crow big time next year.
FL Dawg
February 4th, 2011
1:49 pm
First thing, none of us have enough experience or industry knowledge to make a judgement call on coaching potential or talent. I’ll admit there are obvious things the regular joe can see, but the concepts of coaching UAB vs UGA are not that different. I say, if he has the passion, knowledge and adequate experience…then I trust what UGA’s staff decides.
They also want someone who has a proven work ethic and track record, but isn’t going to try and be a separatist in his methods. There is a player team and a coaching team and both teams have to have synergy to be successful. GO DAWGS!
WIN WITH RICHT
February 4th, 2011
1:49 pm
Steiner
I am sure that you are the assistant dog washer at Peggy’s Pooch Parlor and your name is Stuart.
Dawgfan0711
February 4th, 2011
1:52 pm
I’m sure friend can coach, I hope he is a relentless recruiter also if we hire him. Any word on John Jenkins? We need this guy to come in and be a monster in the middle of our defense. I heard he was making his annoucment tomorrow but I haven’t heard what time it was going to happen. Any word on which way he is leaning?
Rooster
February 4th, 2011
1:53 pm
Easy trivia question, but remarkable fact: Which state can lay claim to having 3 different Universities in the their state win multiple titles in a major sport (fb, bsktball, bsball) since 1970. This is pretty remarkable when you think about it.
Matthews Dawg
February 4th, 2011
1:54 pm
For those who are saying “Friend isn’t from a big school”, the O-Line coach at South Carolina came from App State. They were pretty good at blocking this year for Lattimore! True, Lattimore is a great back, but even great one’s have to get to the line of scrimmage to do anything. If it is Friend…welcome to Dawg Nation and let’s jam the ball down their throats!
LeMay will push Murray and make Murray better! Just let it play out. Go Dawgs!!
dagrapevine
February 4th, 2011
1:55 pm
grim reaper the folks at the smokin pig in valdosta had an entirely different opinion about kirby when he left there than you.
what in the world does an emerson,lake and palmer song have to do with an o-line hire at uga.
however,great band,great song but you left out the line,
its a dynamo,
welcome to the show.
Mickey Mouse
February 4th, 2011
1:56 pm
Wow …Great observation through all the rose colored glasses with comparisons of Urban and Van Gorder. Heres the thing these Gump Goobers fail to mention is that those two coaches already had impeccable track records as a head coach and coordinators. We are talking about a position coach here.
1962 Dawg
February 4th, 2011
1:57 pm
UGA didn’t give up but 15 sacks this season in the SEC!
bigcalidawg
February 4th, 2011
1:57 pm
C’mon Dawg fans.
I would MUCH rather have a well-qualified coach from a small school, than an over hyped coach, who well……can’t coach.
Searles was supposed to be the best thing since satellite tv, but look how well our “O” line turned out. We were all back slappin’ and stuff after we hired him. He sucked.
Let’s give this guy a chance to prove himself. Maybe he can coach.
UGAX
February 4th, 2011
1:58 pm
Dawgfan0711-
Jenkins is deciding tomorrow (dont know time) between Fla and UGA. Don’t know where he’s leaning but did say this past week that UGA felt like home. Doesn’t really mean anything (see Da’rick Rogers) but that is what he said. We could certainly use him in Athens. He’s a beast, that’s for sure.
JESUP
February 4th, 2011
1:59 pm
REAGTHIS>>>http://articles.courant.com/2010-04-15/sports/hc-uconn-football0416apr16_1_zach-hurd-line-coach-mike-foley-bad-coach
82Dawg
February 4th, 2011
2:00 pm
@Mickey Mouse ….where was Van Gorder a head coach before he came to UGA?
JESUP
February 4th, 2011
2:00 pm
http://articles.courant.com/2010-04-15/sports/hc-uconn-football0416apr16_1_zach-hurd-line-coach-mike-foley-bad-coach
JESUP
February 4th, 2011
2:03 pm
UAB vs Miss. st. Stats http://uabsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/uab-msu.html
Sad truth
February 4th, 2011
2:03 pm
UGA is not going to be able to land a big name positions coach because they know Mark Richts days are numbered.
Dawgfan0711
February 4th, 2011
2:04 pm
UGAX—thanks for the update, I hope he comes to Athens. GO DAWGS!!!
FLA DAWG
February 4th, 2011
2:04 pm
This guy would have something to prove.
I like the idea.
Put a collar on that guy and call him a Dawg Coach.
JESUP
February 4th, 2011
2:05 pm
UAB had 135 yards rushing against Central Florida http://uabsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/uab-ucf.html
Mickey Mouse
February 4th, 2011
2:05 pm
@ 82Dawg…… Van Gorder was a coordinator.
Mickey Mouse
February 4th, 2011
2:07 pm
sorry …. and or…..
82Dawg
February 4th, 2011
2:08 pm
Correct at a D2 school ……
Mickey Mouse
February 4th, 2011
2:10 pm
Yes but he had a loooooooooong proven track record.
FURMAN PALADIN DEATH DEALER
February 4th, 2011
2:11 pm
What happened to Ralphie ?
UGA ATHLETICS GOT NO 5X COACHING SHIRTS…
CatsFly
February 4th, 2011
2:12 pm
Rooster (1:53), what is the answer to your trivia question. Can’t come up with it.
RAID
February 4th, 2011
2:12 pm
Mickey Mouse…..Coach Van Gorder coached at Central Fla and central Michigan………CRM said when making the hire that Van Gorders defence caused FSU more problems than anyone he had ever faced as a coordinater at FSU……Big name schools have nothing to do with anything……..
Mickey Mouse
February 4th, 2011
2:14 pm
Plus he was a head coach too. Wayne State Dude. He was a proven coach.
7576DAWG
February 4th, 2011
2:14 pm
SEC Fact Finder
Thanks for the information on Friend . He seems like an up and comer.
I have a problem with the current way coaches are hired. I hate losing Belin as linebacker coach and I’m sure some of the new recruit’s that were on the fence have a problem with it to. If you find a real good coach like Belin I think you should sign him to a 3 year contract for what he is worth. If CMR can make 3 million per year then established coordinators are worth half that, or 1.5 million, with a 3 year contract. Established position coaches should also get a 3 year contract and make at least 500K per year. This would keep good coaches like Belin from going somewhere else and WOULD MAKE OUR AD THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE THEY HIRE SOMEONE.
I’m sure that Friend will be a good up and comer but if he does good next year then he will be hired away by someone else willing to pay a little more and then we will be in the same bind that we are today. Money talk’s and If we were to report that we are willing to pay 500K per year for our position coaches and give them a 3 year contract I can guarantee we will get candidates that make the current list look like Pee Wee coaches.
That’s how we know how unqualified Bobo is to be coordinator . I think even Bobo’s wife, the biggest supporter would agree he is not worth 1.5 million. But he gets a lot of that money back because I would pay him 500K as a quarterback coach and then pay him another 500 K as head recruiter. There should only be 2 coordinators: Defensive and Offensive coordinators.
Herschel Talker is a SCHMUCK
February 4th, 2011
2:14 pm
Personally, i have no problew hiring Coach Friend. The coaches are familiar with him and he’s familiar with the offense. Hopefully, we can get all the coaches on O synched together in a rhythm and score some points.
A ‘Friend’ as OL coach? Dogs No. 18? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Shop Blog
February 4th, 2011
2:14 pm
[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Derrick
February 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
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BIG BEE
February 4th, 2011
2:16 pm
Better look at Matt Moore-Texas Tech.
FURMAN PALADIN DEATH DEALER
February 4th, 2011
2:16 pm
WIN WITH RICHT:
Sir, don’t have any dogs and never washed a dog, but I know 90 wins in 9 years is pretty damn good…Not as good as you, however…You need to apply the next time a job comes open…..AT MCDONALDS….
Hector=Stupid
February 4th, 2011
2:18 pm
Hector, you want to hire GA Southerns offensive line coach? You do know they run the triple option in the Boro dont you? I dont think that will pan out up in Athens. lmao!
Mickey Mouse
February 4th, 2011
2:18 pm
Gee…….. Looks like everybodys defense is giving Mark Richts offense problems lately… wouldnt you agree?
7576DAWG
February 4th, 2011
2:19 pm
Georgia has the money and most of us DAWG fans have the money and I would be more than willing to pay an extra $10 per ticket to pay the GOOD coaches what they are worth , with a 3 year contract.
BoBo Da Baby Maker
February 4th, 2011
2:21 pm
Yes Mrs. Bobo is the biggest fan.
JB
February 4th, 2011
2:21 pm
Hire him… I was ready for the OL coach from Buford HS. Only place to go is up with our OL.
me
February 4th, 2011
2:25 pm
FRIEND is a bad choice uab stinks callaway was close to getting fired. get someone form nfl as lc.
Jon Kontract
February 4th, 2011
2:25 pm
Rooster – me thinks the answer is North Carolina with all their basketball titles. UNC, Duke and NC State have all won 2 or more basketball titles since 1970.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 4th, 2011
2:26 pm
JB
Look at all of the OL that Buford has sign scholarships to SEC schools. He could be a great hire. Also, could influence Buford’s big tackle to sign with Dawgs.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 4th, 2011
2:28 pm
Furman Paladin
Douche Dealer
Shut up and supersize my fries.
LMAO
February 4th, 2011
2:30 pm
Just shows what most of you idiots know. Most all of the great coaches all came from smaller schools at one point. You don’t say I want to start coaching and then just start at a major D1 school. LMAO!!!!!!!
Pacific Dawg
February 4th, 2011
2:30 pm
Where in the hell is Furman and what is a paladun? Aren’t they a little league team?
FURMAN PALADIN DEATH DEALER
February 4th, 2011
2:32 pm
Grim Reaper:
Your post makes no sense….Think there will be as many NC for Georgia as there will be for Alabama’s over signing A$$ or Auburn’s “Cam didn’t know what dad was doing” strategy…Surely the NCAA is smart enough to know that no one is believing that Cam knew nothing about it and that was the basis for letting him play…And they got to reign in Nick…He is gonna do what the Bear did, sign them and put them on swimming and track scholarships just so he could keep them from going elsewhere….
JE
February 4th, 2011
2:33 pm
We need to stay away from the GA Southern Coach. They took those llittle short lineman they had, changed from a passing attach back to the running game and ended up third best team in their NCAA championship division…That may effect our passing game too much by coaching the line to block for a run. It is not like the guy cannot coach pass blocking.
Their “Option” has returned. I just hope Tech never gets enough receivers and a QB that can throw out of that offense. I will have to say looks like GSU’s defense did the job this year, something VG should have done when he went there. Instead of improving the defense for a best running program in the FCS division he threw out the option, and still had a poor defense. He really stunk up the place with his “There is no Option” deal down there. Not asking the team to go to Erk’s funeral was not a good choice by VG either. He really did a job on Green Bay a few weeks ago for the Falcons
ryan
February 4th, 2011
2:34 pm
What school did Manny Diaz come from was it a small school .
Furry Camel Socks
February 4th, 2011
2:35 pm
Mark Richt needs to grow a pair and fire Boo BOO then hire a Big time OC.