Former LB Tony Gilbert the latest Bulldog to join UGA’s strength staff
Georgia continues to turn to its past for the future of its strength and conditioning program.
Gilbert
The Bulldogs on Tuesday made official the hiring of former player Tony Gilbert as assistant director of strength and conditioning. Gilbert, an NFL veteran who lettered for Georgia from 2000-02, has been working with the team for the past couple of weeks while awaiting the clearance of a background check.
“I’m thrilled to have Tony as part of our strength staff and program,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt, who is currently on a mission trip to Honduras. “His experience as a member of a UGA SEC championship team and an NFL player is a perfect combination for us. Our players will benefit greatly from his knowledge.”
Gilbert becomes the fourth new member of the ever-expanding strength staff. He joins director Joe Tereshinski, John Kasay Sr., Keith Gray, Thomas Brown and Rex Bradberry. Also assisting in the weight room as they attend classes at UGA are NFL veterans Kendrell Bell and Verron Haynes. All but Gray and Bradberry are Georgia football lettermen.
“I’m very excited and thankful for the opportunity to come back and be a member of the staff here at Georgia,” said Gilbert, who This is where I played, went to school and graduated, so I consider it an honor to contribute once again to the program and to have an impact on young men’s lives. I’m really looking forward to it.”
A native of Macon, Gilbert was defensive captain on the Bulldogs’ 2002
SEC championship team. He had 114 tackles that season, including 2.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for lost yardage, and earned 2nd team All-SEC honors that season. Gilbert currently ranks 10th on Georgia’s all-time list of career tacklers with 328.
Gilbert was drafted in 2003 by the Arizona Cardinals and eventually played for two NFL teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons.
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111 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
8:53 am
Plus tide troll, the only reason you said what you did about Joe T not being able to relate to the players is because he is white and Tony Gilbert is black
Your agenda is always clear.
just STFU
Big Johnson Dawg
June 22nd, 2011
8:58 am
Message for “From where I sit” : Be sure to use enough of “Tide Roll” before you get up, and don’t forget to flush!
tom
June 22nd, 2011
9:07 am
I am sure the guys with master’s degrees do not scream and yell in the weight room. I think that is S & C 101. How to get guys stronger and mentally tough by talking like Stuart Smalley. “Your good enough, your smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like you.” I am sure that is how they do it at Bama. Push em Joe T. If they can’t hang, find the ones that will.
newnancoach
June 22nd, 2011
9:18 am
I am still waiting for my answers about the sources boys??? Also if either of you have ever played a competitive sport, which i doubt you would know that you are NOT going to like every coach, but often the ones that work you the hardest you respect the most when you time is over. on a related topic, I have personally seen the benefits of the new program. I can tell you that from the players I have seen the tremendous amount of muscle put on by the new program is impressive.
jbdawg
June 22nd, 2011
9:30 am
I agree with the Lex. It’s not JT’s job to relate to the kids. It’s his job to scream, yell, and put together a solid S&C program. All of the athletes I’ve been around, who have a big heart and winning attitude, respond well to the screaming and yelling because of the desire to be better. I’m a fan of JT, and I hope we see results on the field this season. I will say, however, that we do hear the same stuff year after year regarding the kids’ weight, strength, etc. I think the increases in size, strength, etc. comes naturally as the 18-22 year old bodies mature.
My Dad can whoop your dad
June 22nd, 2011
9:59 am
You have got to be a loser if you only post First and nothing else….
Hamco
June 22nd, 2011
10:02 am
Anyone that has ever gone through basic training in the military knows that mental toughness is paramount. Mental toughness has to be embraced just as much as physical toughness. Once that mental toughness is attained they will have no trouble relating to a coach.
Today's young men ............
June 22nd, 2011
10:11 am
About 90% of the today’s young men ( football players) come from impoverished backgrounds with absentee older men serving as role models. This is why pastors seem to be the only men to fill that role.
These former UGA men, now with solid NFL pedigrees can MENTOR these young man and help them with issues and guide them along. All programs have these guys around. It is the way that it is.
It does not gurantee wins or a title, it will provide some needed direction for these young guys.
Go Dogs.
J-Dawg
June 22nd, 2011
10:14 am
Tony Gilbert was one of the best defensive players ever at GA. He was not a loud mouth, but just went out every game and got the job done. Watched him in high school too, and his work ethic was the same there. He is a solid individual and will be a huge positive influence to the Dawgs. Great move!
Falcondawg
June 22nd, 2011
10:14 am
Newnancoach I agree with you! If we loose players because they dont want to work hard, GOOD! We dont want those players around dragging everyone else down. To be able to push yourself to the limits on the field it is a must to do it off as well! Also, being that your from newnan I assume you are speaking about the ogletrees looking impressive. Is that true because it would be scary to see Alec add 10-15 more of solid middle lb jackhammer!!
Hit A Single
June 22nd, 2011
10:21 am
Great to have Coach Gilbert. He played with that Coach Erk Russell mentality. Welcome home!
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
We HAD a guy with big degrees and published reports, and was one of the few S&C coaches to earn the distinction of Master Trainer (whatever it was called). But thanks for the advice, I’m sure they never really considered that or thought it through.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
Did anybody consider that these former players will also mentor and probably help keep these kids head on straight and out of trouble? Never under estimate the power and influence a big time former player can have over these young minds. They will look up to these former DAWG players and they will be shown how to be successful in this football program. A good coach, just like any good leader knows that the men you appoint under you to lead, go a long way towards making you successful. It is the same in the military, as you are usually taught mental toughness and are broken down to be built up into a team player. Great move by the S and C staff and CMR.
GO DAWGS
rt
June 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
Can UGA hire someone with actual strength & conditionign experience?
Then again, program is run by the former Video editor Joe T Sr.
newnancoach
June 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
both boys look great. they are working hard and ready to go, honestly that 10-15 pounds for each is about right and pure muscle, no loss in speed from what i can tell. now some of that weight gain will be worked off when practice starts just by the addition of heat and pads, but i would say that they play 10 pounds bigger. But they are not the only ones, you will most definatley see a difference just in the thickness and arms of all of these kids this year
Bigboy
June 22nd, 2011
10:41 am
Chip can we get a pic of Jenkins and Kwame together here soon?A picture is worth a thousand words.
BG
June 22nd, 2011
10:42 am
Great news! GO DAWGS!!!!!
NICK
June 22nd, 2011
10:53 am
Welcome aboard!
Mostly positives this off-season, which I like alot.
Serenity now!!
Go Dawgs!!
piermontdawgny
June 22nd, 2011
10:55 am
i love this hire…i love that coach t is yelling, pushing these guys to their max limit…i love that guys feel like giving up…this means we are actually working hard…we win the first 2 games…roll big…lose to tenn…beat the heck out of florida…win the sec east…beat lsu for sec championship…and then whip somebody like nebraska or texas for the bcs championship.
CHIP – DOES THIS SOUND ABOUT RIGHT TO YOU?
gdawginkalamazoo
June 22nd, 2011
10:58 am
LMOA! Gilbert only played in the NFL for a few years. You people talking about “hiring somebody with S & C experience” are just plain dumb. Gilbert has been living S&C most of his life. At UGA and in the NFL. I would think he knows how to do it properly and can teach all the methods, etc. that he learned in the NFL to the young kids. What more experience do you need than to live it everyday for 15+ years.
Shar
June 22nd, 2011
11:08 am
Why is this newsworthy? Shutting down the whole football program – now THAT would be newsworthy.
##1
June 22nd, 2011
11:21 am
Vote for UGA v. Notre Dame in college tradition poll!
http://sports.espn.go.com/sportsnation/story?page=ncaatraditionsvote
The General Feeling
June 22nd, 2011
11:27 am
Will the new strength staff be coaching offense and calling plays?
You mutt fans can get excited over ANYTHING in June. But wait until, oh October, when the fleabags are wondering what happend… again.
From Where I Sit
June 22nd, 2011
11:29 am
Hey Morons!
GO GATORS!!!!
LogicalUS
June 22nd, 2011
11:30 am
After following the sunshine pumping AJC “journalist” for a while it is becoming clearer why every September we have UGA fans cursing at their players and coaches on the sidelines in Athens.
They are lead astray by idiotic UGA homers at the AJC who spin ever occurrence at UGA as the leading indicator that in fact this year UGA is indeed the greatest collection of football talent to ever take the field.
Then when the average UGA players do not live up to this delusional promotion, the fans turn on the kids.
Just in this week we have one UGA homer spinning that the next Hershel and savior of UGA football, Isiah Crowell, was so out of shape that he was hurling and could not complete the introductory training session in summer workouts? Of course this was represented to the gullible UGA fans as proof positive that the S&C at UGA was now so incredible that not even superman could compete???
Here is a little dose of reality for those with unrealistic expectation for this kid, when that Lattimore kid arrived at SC last summer and went thru similar test, he was ranked in the top 5 players in both strength and endurance.
So tamper down the delusional expectations for the next Hershel, he will be an average contributor this season but if he has the work habits of a Moreno or a Trent Richardson, he may develop into a solid back.
Les W. Moore
June 22nd, 2011
11:31 am
Well good for Saint Richt for hiring unemployed ex-players. Speaking of the unemployed, where’s David Greene these days?
Bigboy
June 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
I care more about on field production than weight room workout numbers.It was said that Moreno didn’t care for much other than scrimmaging while he was in Athens..worked out pretty good for him.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:37 am
yes rt, he was the film guy. He was ALSO the assistant S&C director. Long time member of that staff, well known weightroom junkie, and in charge of getting the scout team guy up to speed. Perhaps you have heard of a guy named Knowshon Moreno?
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
it was said? By whom? My understanding is that Moreno worked VERY hard under JoeT his RS year so that he could be ready to go the next year (and was not ready when he got there). I’m sure he didnt “care much for it”, so what, he did it.
UGA Insider
June 22nd, 2011
11:44 am
Crowell is struggling and is the only dream team member not able to complete workouts. He has puked every day according to my sources. Same can be said of Boo working out with the veterans however he had an injury in the spring so give him some credit.
John Jenkins has come into Athens in great shape and look for him to dominate this fall. He is currently working out with the new enrollees but will soon start lifting with the veterans. Also look for Ray Drew to be starting by Sept 10. He will be the top freshman in the SEC this year.
TheItalianDawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:47 am
Tony is one of my favorite LBs, great hire
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
11:52 am
LogicalUS
No one with a brain is touting Crowell as the next Herschel.
Each kid is different. Regarding Lattimore, he was a weight room junkie before he arrived at Sc and that is part of why he did so well in 2010.
Crowell will have to work hard to catch up. No one is saying the S&C program is so tough that Superman couldn’t do it. We have all been upset with the S&C program and the early reports about the changes made are encouraging.
It remains to be seen if the improvements translate to on the field results.
Take some friendly advice and stop speaking in generalizations about the UGA fanbase. You make it sound like everyone is saying all the crazy crap you wrote when that is the farthest thing from the truth.
MarineDog
June 22nd, 2011
11:55 am
All of those that are under the impression that S&C does not make a difference are sadly mistaken. In fact, a player that’s not properly conditioned is more likely to be injured. Perhaps, that’s a reason why so many players have been injured in the past few years. When I went through Parris Island, the out of shape blobs were always injured. In fact they were placed in a seperate platoon that we called the “porkchop platoon”., where they were broken down and built back up in the hopes that they would rejoin the platoon and only remain at Parris Island for 3 months. Those who failed to rejoin their platoon would start over. That was your incentive to work hard; spend 3 months at Parris Island or spend 6 months there. Later on while at TBS in Quantico, if you were injured, there was no sympathy; you were considered as being out of shape; otherwise you wouldn’t have been injured in the first place.
This same concept translates to conditioning or lack thereof on the football field. I’m not saying that it will translate to wins, but I can tell you that it will make them meaner and it will help them to bond as a team. Those 2 things alone can make a huge difference as to the success of a football team or any other team. If quitting is sometimes flashing across their brains, then I suspect that they’re being worked hard and that hard work will better prepare them for the heat of battle. As we always say, “sweat now, so that we don’t die later”.
Knewshon
June 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
24, Rennie and several others used to workout at Ramsey to supplement Coach Van’s workouts….doubt anyone has time or energy for that now.
Tripp DOG
June 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm
None of you Guys have mentioned the other addition to our Strength and Conditioning Program Kendrell Bell who is a Total BEAST PERIOD.
Big Albany Dawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm
vote for Uga NOW: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/6681916/1-notre-dame-vs-8-georgia
RedPantsDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:29 pm
When is Dan Inman coming back to show the OL how to block?
tide roll
June 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm
Hey Dawg fans, When you get a chance, take a look at the credentials for Florida’s Strength and Conditioning director, Mike Marotti. 23 years experience, Certified through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association and National Strength and Conditioning Association. Serves on Board of Directors of Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association. Certified by the National Academy of Speed and Explosion. One of only 70 individuals in the World to hold the Masters of Strength and Conditioning Certification. Gators have won TWO National titles during his tenure and have defeated UGA an incredible 18 times in 21 years!! Does Richt even consider the caliber of UGA’s competition’s support staff before he makes decisions like bringing in Joe T. and Kasay?! Stop trying to re-invent the wheel. Just emulate Florida. They’ve had a little success against you over the past 20 years or so .Wouldn’t you say?
that's impressive tide what else u got?
June 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm
we have x players yelling
azdawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
TG was a sure tackler and helped save win at TN w/a great tackle that left him dazed yet came off the field on his own. Think it was the 2000 game but not sure.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
One of the other 70 guys to hold that distinction was our last guy.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:44 pm
Is “your sources” every article already written on this, Insider?
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:45 pm
tide troll
another amazingly stupid comment
Our last S&C guy was one of those 70 specialists. He got booted for something that actually works.
I guess all the coaches at Bama are black since according to you, a white coach like Joe T can’t relate to the black athletes.
I guess Saban’s mother was black.
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:46 pm
Maybe Bama should hire Auburn’s S&C guy since they have owned you over the last 10 years including you blowing a 24 point lead at home with the greatest defense in America.
HECKLE
June 22nd, 2011
12:47 pm
Is Crowell still puking?????????
schmeckdawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:51 pm
@tide roll: I freaking hate the gaytors, but, your point is spot on. I’d have liked to the guy that you guys have @ Bama too. Outside of Coach Grey who was a stud LB @ Virginia Tech and won the Super Iron Hokie award for his work in the weightroom, he has been doing this for a long time. But no, we bring in a guy who has only walked around the weitroom spottin people (Joe T., Jr) and we bring back a guy that was a strength coach back in the 70’s and early 80’s Kasay Sr. Now what in the hell do they know. We need someone with some experience that cant eat lightning and crap thunder that will kick thses kids in the a** as needed! Just my HO!
schmeckdawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:53 pm
Make that weightroom and spotting. Sorry, I slept through spelling class!
schmeckdawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm
DAMMITT! Meant can not cant. What a moron! Left off the apostrophe anyway! Jeez!
theevilone
June 22nd, 2011
1:00 pm
LMAO!!!! This continues to have EPIC FAIL written all over it!!! Richt is lunging at every possible “feel good” move he can before the disaster that will be the 2011 season hits. Too rich!!!
Coach Must-be-a-Chump
June 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
TIDE ROLL…GET BACK IN THE TOLIET!