New coach tells Bulldogs’ linebackers: ‘Run to the ball and hit something’

ATHENS — Kirk Olivadotti’s father didn’t push him into the family business.

Quite the opposite.

“I had a suspicion when I was in high school what I wanted to do, but my father always told me he was going to punch me right in the face if I became a football coach,” Olivadotti said. “So I kind of kept it from him.”

The 37-year-old son of long-time NFL defensive coach Tom Olivadotti is Georgia’s new inside linebackers coach, hired on Feb. 18 from the defensive staff of the Washington Redskins. He spent last week settling into his new job, meeting his players and watching film of their games and practices. Late Friday afternoon, he chatted amiably about growing up as the son of a coach, following in his father’s footsteps and now making the move to Georgia:

The advice he got from his father upon revealing his career choice: “Well, first he tried to talk me out of it. And then once he realized that I was [committed to] it, the one thing he said was, ‘It’s not really a job. It’s a lifestyle.’ And that has proven true. At that point, I was a sophomore in college [at Purdue], so I didn’t really understand what he meant. But now I have a wife and two kids, and it is a lifestyle. It’s a family lifestyle that everybody has to be a part of.”

The nomadic coaching profession (his father was an assistant for five NFL teams): “I got lucky because I went to the same high school all four years [while his father was on the Miami Dolphins' staff]. My sister went to four different high schools. She kind of hit my dad in a transition period.”

First coaching job at Maine Maritime: “It’s a little Division III school . . . up in the Penobscot Bay [area of Maine]. . . . If you’ve ever seen ‘The Hunt for Red October,’ at the end when they hide the nuclear submarine, they can’t find it because they’re in Penobscot Bay. So it’s a real little town; nobody even thinks to look there.”

Keeping a job with the Redskins for the past 11 seasons through seven different head coaches (Norv Turner, Terry Robiskie, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Joe Gibbs, Jim Zorn and Mike Shanahan): “They did have me pack my office up a couple of times, and then I was asked to come back in. It was luck a little bit. When Coach Schottenheimer came in, my dad had worked with Marty, so he at least knew my name. But I had to go interview just like everybody else in that situation. I broke a sweat in that interview. And when Coach Spurrier came in . . . probably I got that [job] because I kind of knew how to work everything in the building. . . . I was out of the building for six weeks before Coach Gibbs rehired me. . . . I mean literally packed up, boxes in my house.”

His decision to move from the NFL to UGA: “I’ve had a couple different [college coaching] opportunities come up over the years, but this one felt right. The timing was right, and my wife gave it the OK. . . . And once I came down here and saw everything, there was no doubt the University of Georgia wants to win football games. This is a great opportunity.”

His connection to Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham: “He worked with my old man with the Texans [in 2004], and we got to know each other then.” [An aside: If you're wondering, Tom Olivadotti is currently the defensive coordinator of the United Football League's Omaha Nighthawks.]

First meeting with Georgia’s inside linebackers: “They’re going to run to the ball, and they’re going to hit something; that’s what I’ve told them. That was the first meeting that we did. I told them, ‘You play if you run to the ball and hit something.’ We’ll take it from there.”

The anticipated adjustment from coaching NFL players to coaching college players: “There’s going to be a difference. I remember when I was 20 years old. . . . But at the same time people are people. You’re going to have guys that are going to work their butts off; you’re going to have guys that you’re going to have to motivate, and you’re going to have guys that you have to always make it their idea in order for them to want to do it. Those are the different things that you do in life. I have to do it with my 3-year-old daughter.”

–Tim Tucker, AJC

120 comments Add your comment

goldwreck

February 26th, 2011
6:15 am

I hope he can help.He does have a good resume.

son_sir

February 26th, 2011
6:26 am

Sorry..off topic here,….but if the story at this link is true, the SEC is about to be rocked with a huge Scandalgate. Can anyone substantiate ? Perhaps it is just a rumor. Time and money will tell.

http://www.tigernet.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=946304

Yellow Dawg

February 26th, 2011
7:02 am

UGASlobberknocker

February 26th, 2011
7:22 am

“They’re going to run to the ball, and they’re going to hit something; that’s what I’ve told them. That was the first meeting that we did. I told them, ‘You play if you run to the ball and hit something.’ We’ll take it from there.”

Thats what I want to hear..that was what we did when BVG was here.

UGASlobberknocker

February 26th, 2011
7:24 am

Yellw Dawg..seemingly YOU care..you are posting on the blog at 7 am on a Sat morning..did you come here just for that epic, insightful comment or was there some other reason?

And if you really dont care, then just go away

TennesseeDawg

February 26th, 2011
7:26 am

Great hire. He’s got a proven track record. Now it’s time to replace Garner.

UGASlobberknocker

February 26th, 2011
7:26 am

And Goldwreck, I would just like to thank you for not saying “first!!”.

Dawgboy

February 26th, 2011
7:29 am

Maybe they can find a way to stop Lattimore but I doubt it.

JB

February 26th, 2011
7:46 am

Cam is riding over the hill, on his horse, looking at the sunset…..Stops a minute, turns around…looking at Auburn burn…..smiles……and rides off into the sunset……….

UGASlobberknocker

February 26th, 2011
7:54 am

JB, are you sure that wasnt the Yellow Wood dude?

Top Row Dawg

February 26th, 2011
7:54 am

Oli’s Ogle Hope Alex runs to ball every play and hits someone baby. Samual and Jones off scout team and on 1st team. OLE` Dawgs.

Child’s play | Get The Picture

February 26th, 2011
8:01 am

[...] for a succinct comment on motivating the college football player, it’ll be hard to top Kirk Olivadotti’s: “ . . .  But at the same time people are people.  You’re going to have guys that are going [...]

Dawg '94

February 26th, 2011
8:08 am

I am glad to hear “run to the ball & hit something.” Last season, it was “run around blocks.” Great hire! GO DAWGS!!

Spike

February 26th, 2011
8:12 am

We shall see in the fall.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
8:15 am

Sounds like sage advice that a pee wee team would understand.

sandman053

February 26th, 2011
8:16 am

I also hope that “running to the ball and hitting something” includes WRAPPING UP upon said hit. Go Dawgs!!!

legionaire

February 26th, 2011
8:43 am

Aggressive D is going to be the key to a good season and another bad one. Good hire . Lets hope Olivadotti and Grantham can get along. NFL coaches are by nature arrogant and know it alls.

MCG DAWG

February 26th, 2011
8:55 am

Time to put these pieces together and ROCK-N-ROLL !!!!

kydawg

February 26th, 2011
9:05 am

As long as they remember that once they “run to the ball and hit something”, they must wrap it up, and drive it to the ground!!! That will be the difference from past years to future success.

SEC1

February 26th, 2011
9:11 am

Yup, last season’s defensive motto was:

tip-toe to the ball and we all fall down…

savannadawg

February 26th, 2011
9:12 am

Buckeye, Let me remind you. It is just football. No one is going to ask these guys to build a rocket.

Destin Dawg

February 26th, 2011
9:15 am

Junkyard Dawgs will be Back THIS year !!! work on special teams which was improving under Belin .. Lakatos will have the awesome D Backs coached up too…. win the 1st 2 tough games and it coulf be a special season .. Go Dawgs !! Boo Malcome and Hutson Mason will be exciting sleepers when needed !!!

savannadawg

February 26th, 2011
9:15 am

I hope we have a Linebacking corp. that will just lay wast to everything in front of them, to include any of our own players that just get in the way. That might teach them to do the same thing.

Bigdsel

February 26th, 2011
9:37 am

They can stop Lattimore, Just like Florida st. Did, If you hit him in the mouth hard enough you can stop him.(literally)

tenn.DAWG

February 26th, 2011
9:43 am

Well I hope this guy has a mean streak a mile wide,the talent is there they just need to toughen up.Of course that could apply to the other side of the ball also.

dawgfan

February 26th, 2011
9:58 am

I stopped reading when he said we want to win. Of course we WANT to win coach. I want a million dollars too. The question is and has always been whether our coaches and players WANT to do the things that it takes to get those wins. I continue to have my doubts. I’m sick of all the talking. That’s all UGA football has done going on 3 years now is talk. If I wanted to run my mouth with nothing to back it up I’d go cheer for the Techies. I want to see some results.

Wake me up when the games start. All this offseason and preseason hoopla is such a bore. College football is the only sport in the world that officially ranks teams before a single second of competition has taken place. What a freaking joke. This game is above that.

Thanks for your time.

Ed

February 26th, 2011
10:00 am

I love this new coach`s attitude I hope it translates to the way the linebackers step up next season. I think his LBs are going to play with that chip on their shoulders kinda like when Van Gorder was at Georgia. Go Dawgs!

Greg

February 26th, 2011
10:17 am

‘Run to the ball and hit something’
That is probably the greatest advice a LB coach has ever given.

harold

February 26th, 2011
10:21 am

SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER INTELLIGENT COACH WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT IS 13-12 THE LAST TWO SEASONS. SINCE UGA CAN’T WIN ON THE FIELD WE CAN PRETEND IT ISN’T HAPPENING AND CREATE YES: ” THE DREAM TEAM!”! WE LOVE IT!

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
10:22 am

Savanna”dawg”,

I guess that’s why “Run Forest, Run” was so effective. “Run Isaiah, Run” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Better yet, “you hit the ball, you throw the ball,you catch the ball”

Then again, maybe uga should just go with “Lindsey Scott, Lindsey Scott” !

UGA

February 26th, 2011
10:25 am

Wrap up, grab high cloth, drive your hips in to the ball carrier, and drive him backwards. Not drive him to the ground, drive him backwards and make him lose yardage and plus it buys time for a gang tackle if you drive him backwards.Oh yeah and don’t let go.

carolinadawg

February 26th, 2011
10:27 am

I think we are heading in the right direction. The recruiting was outstanding, so let these kids get coached up and dominate. Talent alone will not get us were we need to be. The coaching staff has a lot to do in order to get these kids ready for next year. It will go one of two ways. First, we rise to the challenge and become the team that dominates or second, we fall on our face and underachieve. I believe we will rise to the occasion. See everyone in Atlanta for the litmus test. Hunker Down

RabidDawgFan

February 26th, 2011
10:30 am

Just wrap up when you get to the ballcarrier and we’ll be fine. I don’t want to see any broken tackles. And I don’t want that kid Lattimore running for over 100 yards. Hit him in the mouth. Hard.

RabidDawgFan

February 26th, 2011
10:34 am

After that first game vs. Lafayette last season, I never saw Grantham yelling or as intense as he was in that first game. He got so angry when Lafayette scored but didn’t get mad when South Carolina was ripping through our defense? Richt had to tell him something like “Tone it down a little with our kids ok coach?” I hope Richt didn’t say anything like that because we need that fire in our bellies, our players need that fire in them. Memo to Richt: Let Grantham coach the way he best knows how, and you coach the way you know how. Our defense needs motivation to hit everything that moves that’s not in red and black. Let them loose in 2011.

how2fish

February 26th, 2011
10:53 am

Buckeye what we don’t want is “run to the ball hit something” and then take 10 mins for a free TAT..you see we like our players to record their deeds on their helmets..not on their “sleeves” just another difference of playing Down South.

how2fish

February 26th, 2011
10:54 am

harold from the entire Bull Dog Nation…puck your self…your Nancy boy troll you.

Gravy Train

February 26th, 2011
11:01 am

Buckeye is just proving that Big 10 football sucks. That’s why he’s here, every day, checking in on our Dawgs. The excitement and anticipation is growing bigger every day. Our boys are working to get faster and stronger every day. It all will be at a fever pitch at the Dome. Maybe Buckeye thinks he wants to play Georgia again? You better go ask your boy Herbie how that works out, son.

Gravy Train

February 26th, 2011
11:04 am

Why don’t you go talk smack on a Indiana blog, Suckeye? At least there, you’ll have some traction. Not Wisconson though?

Gravy Train

February 26th, 2011
11:05 am

How many refs does it take for Blowhio State to win a BCS game?

Stockdog

February 26th, 2011
11:16 am

The guy has to be pretty good to stay with one team in the NFL for 11 years and 7 different coaches. He was the linebacker coach, not the special teams coach. That’s pretty impressive. I think he will make a difference. However, the fish rots from the head down, if Coach Richt doesn’t get the overall program moving in the right direction, then this guy maybe the linebacker coach at UGA for 2 seasons and 2 different coaches. Only time will tell.

Flat Tire on I-95 In Jacksonville

February 26th, 2011
11:18 am

If I had a dollar for everytime I heard this crap I could afford 4 seats in the skybox every year

Its the same crap every year and we still look the same

The only time I have been impressed was when Van Gorder was here

duck

February 26th, 2011
11:31 am

buckeye, you get your first win ever against an SEC team, and now you think ya’ll can play football. Ark was not in the same league as Ala, Auburn or LSU, just be thankful you got an easy SEC team . Oh I forgot, you got beat twice by a lowly South Carolina team !!!!

jack bull

February 26th, 2011
11:33 am

just a reminder, that’s exactly what Joe Kines said too…..

Tumors Porno

February 26th, 2011
11:39 am

Does anyone have some firewood to give?

AltamahaDawg

February 26th, 2011
11:46 am

Really, every year? All one of them?

GT is a 4th rate high school team

February 26th, 2011
11:50 am

Run to the ball and hit something??? As long as it is not your team mate. Just saying.

GT is a 4th rate high school team

February 26th, 2011
11:56 am

Reading fans talk of Van Gorder days is like dreaming of Hershel Walker coming back. It is not happening, so move on.

Wes

February 26th, 2011
12:01 pm

This guy must be a defensive master mind. I have never heard such wonderul advice for a defensive player. I wonder if he has filled the others on the coaching staff in on this ground breaking theory. Run to the ball and hit. WOW.

Dawg Police

February 26th, 2011
12:02 pm

I really admire Coach Olivadotti’s humility describing how he retained his job in the NFL for 11 years. I too suspect, Stockdog, that his talent had more to do with it than nepotism, etc. Welcome aboard the Bulldog Express to SEC and national prominence.

Flat Tire on I-95 In Jacksonville

February 26th, 2011
12:02 pm

The Dream Team

Hit somebody

The 3-4

Ealey, Is something

Bobo calling plays on the field instead of the booth is better for us

Caleb King, the next Herschel

The Black Out

Last yrs offensive line is going to be the best in the nation

Top 10 class after top 10 class

Finish the drill (Still waiting on that by the way)

This staff should write a book called

Tall Tales in Georgia or Famous one-liners of the Red and Black

Destin Dawg

February 26th, 2011
12:11 pm

Buckeye !! did you see the High School all star football game between Ohio and Florida last year ???? Held in Ohio with home town refs… ALL the calls went against Florida… the game ended Florida crossing the goal line on 3 plays.. the ENTIRE pile of players ball and all in the End zone.. everybody waiting for TD signal… time ran out… ESPN.. said ” WOW those Refs are all LOCAL FOR SURE “” what a disgrace !!!

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
12:14 pm

Duck and Gravy

It’s nothing more than but PE (Program Envy)…..12-1 vs.6-7 be it football or womans software…….Where would you rather hang your hat??

198O is ssoooooooo last century.

CBS tommorrow 4PM. See what a # 1seed looks like, Bubble Boys.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
12:16 pm

Destin,

No, did not. Not into High School All-Star games. Sorry.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
12:17 pm

Destin,

Curious, did you land any of them for your “dream team”?

DAWG1980

February 26th, 2011
12:21 pm

HBO IS GOING TO AIR A SHOW IN MARCH, THAT WILL SHOW MORE PROOF ABOUT CECIL NEWTON SELLING HIS SON AND ALSO SCOT MOORE HEAR TAPES THAT PROVES, THAT CAM NEWTON KNEW HIS DADDY WAS SELLING HIM . YOU COULD HEAR CAM NEWTON IN THE BACKGROUND, WHEN CECIL NEWTON WAS SELLING HIS SON ON THE PHONE . SO THERE ARE TAPES OUT THERE,THAT PROVES CAM NEWTON DID KNOW. AUBURN PROBATION IS COMING. YOU THINK IT OVER?

Delusions of grandeur

February 26th, 2011
12:21 pm

Dawg fans back to having delusions of grandeur after going 6-7 and 8-5 the last 2 years. SOS where they talk about how great the new coaches are and blah, blah, blah. As bad as the east is they could possibly win the east with a 7-5 record. Then they would probably meet Bama or LSU in the seccg and get pounded into the Georgia Dome turf.

DawgIdiot

February 26th, 2011
12:25 pm

This guy has staying power. He’ll probably work for Grantham and the next head coach after Grantham. That should be good for 3 years before he has to find another job.

Delusions of grandeur

February 26th, 2011
12:26 pm

Ohio State may have had their troubles against the SEC but I’ld much rather be a buckeye- nationally elite progam that’s in the title chase every year than be a dawg fan. The bucks have a title as recently as 2002 and in the past decade have played USC and Texas in huge home and home contests. They’ve dominated their conference and rightly or wrongly have been in the national title disussion in most years. They’ve at least played in 3 bcs title games in the last 8 years winning 1 bcs title. The dawgs haven’t even finished in the regular season top 2 to earn a chance to play for the bcs title. You guys are a mid level regional program that is ok in most years, pretty good every once in a while, and pretty bad every once in awhile. But most years you’re just an average or slightly better than average team. What’s that- 2 conference titles in 30 years. Get outta here and shut up.

DawgIdiot

February 26th, 2011
12:28 pm

I heard he spent some time as a parole officer and having him on staff might be good for some of the student athletes at UGA.

Steve Superior

February 26th, 2011
12:30 pm

I hired you and now I am going to get you fired!

DawgIdiot

February 26th, 2011
12:31 pm

The Dawgs should be like the Bobby Cox Braves and claim championships when they finish first in the division. UGA could claim a championship every time they beat somebody like Ole Miss or Arkansas. Oh, wait! They lose to them now, don’t they? This new guy may be the answer. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Pago Pago Dawg

February 26th, 2011
12:32 pm

Can we just beat UF in Something?!?!

Marcus Lattimore

February 26th, 2011
12:32 pm

“Run to the ball and hit something?” I will leave it in the endzone for you to run into each other.

Doug

February 26th, 2011
12:36 pm

Yeah, heard the same stuff last year when new defensive coaches came in, team lost 2 more gaems than the year before.

New coaches ain’t gonna solve Richt’s problem.

Richt loses more games than the year before 7 out of last 8 seasons.

Assistant coaches havn’t mattered.

AltamahaDawg

February 26th, 2011
12:41 pm

Ah, I see. Not so much years of hearing THAT specifically, (although that is what you said, the LB coach says that every year) . You meant just a random combination of stuff you heard over the years, plus some stuff that you made up. Got it. Believe me, I raised a couple of teenage daughters. I know all about over-exaggeration in an emotional hissy fit. I’m on the same page now.

Tallcarl

February 26th, 2011
12:43 pm

Hey flat tire, maybe you should buy some new tires instead of the used ones you brother-n-laws gives you from his old truck. Maybe Cecil Newton will sell you some cheep. Get a job and get off your mama’s computer.

blah blah blah

February 26th, 2011
12:46 pm

its all talk.
let’s see what happens when it all matters this fall.

AltamahaDawg

February 26th, 2011
12:47 pm

I was thinking somebody needs to call his Daddy. I’m sure he is worried about his baby girl out there on the side of the interstate.

Terry

February 26th, 2011
1:11 pm

Enter your comments here

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
1:12 pm

Delusions,

Where have you been? I’ve been on my own here for a while. Glad to see you!

And, you didn’t even mention Buckeye Basketball vs. Bubble Boy wannabes!

Flat Tire on I-95 In Jacksonville

February 26th, 2011
1:14 pm

Tallcarl

I guess your the Uga fan that sits behind me that loves to drink the Kool-aid this bunch keeps serving

You keep drinking the “Tall” glass of that kryptonite kool-aid Watergirl serves Tallcarl, and you will see once again another loss to FL and 2 losses to teams you should have beaten

(you know the same o’le crap we have seen for a decade its called I cant coach this team over the hump)

@delusions of Granduer

February 26th, 2011
1:14 pm

You are a complete idiot, go look up overall stats, yes Ohio State is ranked higher but you do play in the a very weak Big 10, since 1970 Ohio state is 2-10-1 when it has to step up and play SEC football. Over the same time period UGa is 7-0 against Big 10. All time bowl appearances UGA ranks 6th behind Alabama,Tennessee, Southern Cal, Texas, and Nebraska.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
1:14 pm

Coach says…………………………

Drive 99 yards in our first possession against UCF in the Liberty Bowl and line up for a FIELD GOAL.

That’s what Coach SAID.

Jim

February 26th, 2011
1:17 pm

Doug-

You hit it right on the head. New coaches mean old coaches like Belin & Searels thought Richt’s future didn’t look good for 2011 so they jumped ship. Florida did the same thing in 2009, you saw hopw all the new coaches turned out for Florida. Meyer’s worst year.

I was looking over Bruce Feldman’s latest chat and Richt’s name came up as a top 5 hotseat coach.

Richt just loses more games, every year. Richt isn’t capable of reversing the trend, we went from 11 wins in 2007 to 10 in 2008 to 8 in 2009 to 6 in 2010. Richt fails at every attempted fix.

The ship is going down.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
1:19 pm

@Delusions,

Who were you rooting for last years Sugar Bowl?

Who were your rooting for in the Rose Bowl the year before?

Oh, congrats on beating Hawaii. That was a true television ratings bonanza.

Are you a WDE, a Scam Newton, a Tree Poisner or a nameyourtown”dawg”?

Identify your allegiance. Don’t stand behind a conference.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
1:21 pm

@Delusions,

6th all time, huh. Does that include this past year’s Libery Bowl??

Jim

February 26th, 2011
1:22 pm

Telling the guys to ‘run to the ball’ and just arbitrarily “hit somebody’ isn’t the best coaching. You’re coaching your LB’s to be too agressive, making them vulnerable to wheel routes and screens, and play action. And just “hit somebody’ has to be the dumbest coaching I’ve ever heard. You need to know who to hit.

Buckeye

February 26th, 2011
1:24 pm

Pago,

Sorry to see the Gym “dawgs” fall to UF. I hear Ladies softball is looking up this year.

stop the UGA(y) obsession

February 26th, 2011
1:33 pm

stupid ………. oh muy God he hit a tree and fell down. Coach yelled at him and player said but you told me to hit something……..duh, huh huh huh, I guess I need to go basketweaving class

@buckeye

February 26th, 2011
1:38 pm

buckeye , yes it does include this year, Big 10 is weak, slow football. A down year playing in the toughest conference in America is to be happens its over .Mighty Bukeyes record against SEC all time 4-11-1 record since 1896> UGA is 8-2 against the Big 10 since 1896. Go to a Northwestern,Purdue or Michigan Board and talk smack with teams you can actually beat more that 20% of the time.

JR

February 26th, 2011
1:39 pm

Richt loses more games than year before 90% of last 8 seasons.

Tank

February 26th, 2011
1:41 pm

Just because a coach stuck around at a lousy program for 11 years, and never won nothing big, don’t mean much except he can’t win games.

Tank

February 26th, 2011
1:48 pm

Redskins LB’s were easily beat on cut back runs due to over-agression. NY Giant’s ran all over them with cut back run after cut back run.

Thomson

February 26th, 2011
1:51 pm

Tank-

You can stop cut back runs with a 4-3 over, or blitz packages, also dime defense works well. Grantham will be ready if teams try that on Georgia.

kb

February 26th, 2011
1:52 pm

JR , thats a pretty useless stat , 8 top 25 finishes, #10 twice, #6 twice, #3 twice, 3 SEc east Titles, 2 Sec titles, winning record over every Sec opponent except Florida. 10 consecutive bowl appearances. 3 BCS bowls. 1 bad year , get over , move on.

Tank

February 26th, 2011
1:54 pm

The 3-4 is vulnerable to cut back runs, remember the Vikes and Bengals did to Baltimore a while back, in back to back games? It was all cut back runs. Olivadotti sounds weak for this same trap.

JR

February 26th, 2011
1:56 pm

Richt better stop the lose mroe games than they year before trend or he’ll be fired in 2011.

Bus

February 26th, 2011
2:07 pm

Redskins had the #27 ranked run defense in 2010. SEC teams will run all over Olivadotti’s LB’S.

Enjoy !

February 26th, 2011
2:34 pm

Yep make that one year stint in Athens a fun one coach ! Cuz next year its adios !

Terry

February 26th, 2011
2:42 pm

Mark Richt first ten years as Head Coach
Georgia
8-4, 13-1, 11-3, 10-2, 10-3, 9-4, 11-2, 10-3, 8-5, 6-7

Nick Saban first ten years as Head Coach
Toledo – Michigan State – LSU
9–2, 9–2, 6–5–1, 6–6, 7–5, 6–6, 9–2, 8–4, 10–3, 8-5

Stephen “Steve” Orr Spurrier first ten years as Head Coach
(Tampa Bay Bandits) – Duke – Florida
(11-7, 14-4, 10-8), 5-6, 7-3-1, 8-4, 9-2, 10-2, 9-4, 11-2

Leslie Edwin “Les” Miles first ten years as Head Coach
Oklahoma State – LSU
4-7, 8-5, 9-4, 7-5, 11-2, 11-2, 12-2, 8-5, 9-4, 11-2

meltdowns galore

February 26th, 2011
2:51 pm

Fire Dave Perno !

Wes

February 26th, 2011
3:06 pm

Terry you did not mention the National Championships the other coaches have under their belt. Richt has never played for one. Good record but not enough to be one of the best. Georgia is turning into South Carolina.

UA

February 26th, 2011
3:07 pm

WOW That new coach sounds like a deep thinker.

Pago Pago Dawg

February 26th, 2011
3:15 pm

Word on the street…..Ohio State wanted to bench those 5 thugs, but…the bowl people told them no.

RabidDawgFan

February 26th, 2011
3:22 pm

That’s the only thing that worries me, over-agression and over-pursuing the play. You can’t let that happen. If you see a RB running to this side, slow down, slightly keeping your aggression and make the tackle; but the reason for the slowing down is if he tries to cut back by you. If your going too fast he can make one move and your on the ground wondering where he went. Can’t let that happen.

AltamahaDawg

February 26th, 2011
3:35 pm

This guy had no idea what he was in for. I’m sure he never realized he had moved to a town where everybody could instantly diagnose his entire coaching philosophy from a single offhanded remark.

tom

February 26th, 2011
3:48 pm

Not sure if he knew the beat writer would make an off hand remark seem so stupid.

@bus

February 26th, 2011
3:51 pm

lets look at where the redskins were ranked when he was the linebackers coach.
In 2009, Olivadotti tutored a pair of linebackers to their first Pro Bowl: 12-year veteran London Fletcher and rookie Brian Orakpo.

Fletcher led the Redskins in tackles with 172 and added two sacks, one interception, and 10 passes defended. He eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the 11th consecutive season.

Orakpo became the first Redskins defensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl since the 1970 merger. He finished with 60 tackles, 11 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended. He led all rookies in sacks and set the Redskins’ franchise rookie record, surpassing the previous mark of six by Dean Hamel (1985) and Andre Collins (1990).

In 2008, Olivadotti’s linebackers played a pivotal role in Washington ranking fourth overall in yards allowed per game (288.8), sixth overall in points allowed per game (18.5) and eighth overall in rushing yards allowed per game (95.4 yards).

The previous year, in Olivadotti’s first season as linebackers coach, the Redskins finished eighth in the NFL in overall defense (305.3 yards per game) and fourth in the league in overall rush defense (91.3 yards per game).

Throughout his NFL coaching career, Olivadotti has worked with some of the best defensive minds in the NFL, including Ray Rhodes, Marvin Lewis, Gregg Williams and Greg

tom

February 26th, 2011
3:55 pm

the linebacker can not be any worse

Reed

February 26th, 2011
6:41 pm

Odd that none of the 7 head coaches that went through Washington was impressed enough with Olivadotti to bring him with them when they moved on.

kb

February 26th, 2011
9:39 pm

Reed, Spurrier got fired (would you choose to go to Colombia?), Gibbs retired(maybe he wanted to stau in football not leave for NASCAR), Zorn got fired didn’t take anything with him , are you so retarded that you make a snide comment just assuming those coaches went on the bigger and better things?

aladawg

February 27th, 2011
1:20 am

Dawg Fan, you a– hole if you don’t like it why don’t you just go watch soccer and run your mouth with the other soccer moms.

RMikel58

February 27th, 2011
7:35 am

You know alot of you pessimists out there is gonna complain that Olivadotti is all washed up, hired because he was friends with Grantham, has no college experience and cant stop “Dive plays” and soforth. We are talking about a Line Backers Coach, not a DC or a Head Coaching job……… LB’s Coach!
Gotta be better than his predecesor right? I mean c’mon wasnt like Georgia’s LB’s kicked butt out there, I’ll take Grantham over the previous DC remember him? He has 1 year under him and wow here comes all the negatives and insults from the whiners because you wanted faster results. If the players on Defense thought the same way you did then why did they decide to come back for their senior year? Cause they believe in Granthams system. Not you nut them!
Couldve been worst………….couldve been Mike Bobo’s cousin or long time friend. If theres a weakness its in the fact that Mike Bobo is still at Georgia. Im not nearly as worried about the Defense as i am with the Offense because the entire play calling schemes lies upon the shoulders of a dimwit that has no business coaching in Div.1A football. Those are facts and not based on emotions.
There will be alot of games we lose because Bobo doesnt know the right call in the right situation to use. Not knowing how to utilize your talent that you have on Offense plus having a mediocre play book thats used in Pop Warner Football and making us so one dimensional its not even funny.
He will pass when he should run, and run when he should pass and still for the draw when its 3rd down and 20. Yes he will call the exact play that he’s used during the game that resulted in a yardage loss. Alot of it is because he has the mentality of a QB and loves the passing game as Richt does too but mostly its because “You cant fix stupid” and this guy will never improve as OC.
It will be interesting to even see Crowell get 1,000 yds at any capacity because Bobo loves to pass the ball. Crowell’s only chance is that he can get big gains of 10-20 yds because he wont get alot of attempts to do it.

AltamahaDawg

February 27th, 2011
8:11 am

Bobo calls for the run the same as the rest. There is no lack of attempts. Even last year when it seamed futile, Uga attempted the run the same percentage of the time as Alabama. Crowell knows that. I believe Moreno played under Bobo. I believe Ealey “should” have had 1000 yards and had plenty of attempt to do so. If Crowell doesn’t have the opportunity to get 1000 yrds it will be because Bobo has done a sorry job putting together the pieces to run game effectively, not because they don’t attempt to.

YardDawg

February 27th, 2011
9:21 am

Post Stafford/Knowshon, when has Bobo’s game plans beat a good (ranked) team, other than Tech in ‘09?

I win u lose

February 27th, 2011
9:37 am

Even through the “down” years GT has only beat the Dawgs once, haha….you missed your chance.

Dawg

February 27th, 2011
12:26 pm

I hope he teaches them to run to the ball and tackle something. Willie Martinez was great at get his players run and hit something. He just couldn’t teach them how to tackle.

Cubs fans and UGA fans are similar but

February 27th, 2011
3:51 pm

Cubs fans are notorious for being loyal year after year after year. JUST LIKE UGA fans.

Cubs fans are admired and praised by the smart minds of the sports world because they SUPPORT THEIR TEAM but UGA fans on this and a couple of other sites are badgered as being “dumb” or “too stupid to know better.” We know better, for sure.

I think that UGA fans are fabulous because I am one and so are most of my UGA grad family. I suspect that jealousy fuels the UGA hate. UGA dedicated new and VERY EXPENSIVE digs this week and the hatred has been loud. See? Jealousy drives 98 % of that.

Fine. Gooooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. We love you. Woof, woof.

Kramer

February 27th, 2011
6:03 pm

Twso things. Regarding college football, I read UGA BLogs only. I have the least bit of interest what other teams are doing. It amazes me the number of comments from fans of other teams that go on and on about how they have all the answers. They know best. Their team is best. They know it all.

Secondly, give the new coaches a chance. I am a firm believer that 1 man can make a huge differnece in the mentality of a team if given the chance. Yes, Mark Richt has control of the level of motivation and preparedness. But one of these new men may, just may cause Mark to stop and listen, make a few key changes and maybe intensity will increase and all involved will play lights out. All I can say is I certainly hope so.

PaleRider

February 27th, 2011
9:06 pm

Great attitude, but I would rather the players hit SOMEBODY than SomeThing. Maybe they can get that corrected in the Spring.

RED DOG 77

February 28th, 2011
1:46 am

Soundslike somebody is watching a little too many westerns !………In college football hitting something does indeed mean hitting the man carrying the football Einstein.

UGA Insider

February 28th, 2011
9:47 am

I want all SEC fans to get ready for a scandalous spring. Reports will soon come out again about the pay for play scheme hatched my Cecil Newton. My guess is that Auburn will not be able to keep that trophy for one year.

This may be the scandal that brings the SEC down. Mike Slive will be forced to resign soon as well asd everyone within the Auburn and some at UT. It would not surprise me if some within the NCAA hierarchy who new Newton was ineligible would be terminated as well. It’s about to get ugly from what I hear folks. I mean this when I say I dread that this is going to happen again.

PaleRider

February 28th, 2011
2:55 pm

Thanks Red Dog. It takes a real man to admit he has no sense of humor whatsoever. Youdaman!!

Ed (The Original)

February 28th, 2011
6:56 pm

“Run to the ball and hit something” – good instruction that’s apparently been lacking for the past 5 years or so. Preferably we’ll hit them somewhat close to the line of scrimmage rather than 4-5 yards into our defense. Occasionally, we might even hit something in its own backfield. David Pollack was good at that way back when.

how2fish, unfortunately our players have plenty of tats, they just don’t show up as well as they do on the paler skin of Ohio State players.

RED DOG 77

February 28th, 2011
10:43 pm

@PaleRider……..There is absolutely no humor in dissing “my” BULLDOGS……….Regards, RED

Bitter grassy knoll

February 28th, 2011
11:17 pm

majic bull–it, been deer hunt-in 30 years and have yet to make 7 wounds with 1 bull–it, just saying

haha!!

March 1st, 2011
7:13 am

Hitting something sounds like a strategy that might work for a change!!!

Papadawg

March 1st, 2011
10:09 am

Not only hit somebody but hit somebody HURTING HARD

ugab

March 1st, 2011
2:23 pm

Do not forget to wrap up!!! With all the misdirection these days. sometimes staying home is good to. Spread!

radly dawg

March 2nd, 2011
9:23 am

Hey Flat Tire….don’t you have a flat to fix? You’re life must be awfully boring to have to resort to going on other team’s sites to be deragatory. If you have a team… support’em…if not, leave this one alone!

Go Dawgs!!
Radly Dawg