UPDATED: Hines Ward says he wants to help Bulldogs win a national championship
Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward (R) talks to Georgia coach Mark Richt during Tuesday's spring practice in Athens. A recent NFL retiree, Ward is trying to decide if college coaching is a career he wants to pursue. (UGA photo by Steven Colquitt)
FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
ATHENS – Hines Ward was a visitor at Georgia’s spring football practice on Tuesday, but you had to look hard to find him.
Dressed head-to-toe in Bulldogs’ coaching garb, unless you looked very closely it was impossible to distinguish him from any number of assistant coaches, grad assistants, managers or trainers. But Ward wasn’t trying to be incognito. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star and recent NFL retiree came to his alma mater to try to get an idea whether college coaching would be a vocation he cared to pursuit.
“He just wanted to come over and spend the day with me and kind of see what coaching was like,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who played all four years at Georgia with Ward (1994-97). “He’s trying to see if that’s something he wants to go into.”
Asked what his advice was to Ward, Bobo laughed. “My wife told to me to tell him no.”
Nevertheless, Ward is expected to shadow Bobo for at least a couple more days. The Bulldogs are actually conducting a coaches’ clinic this week, which begins on Thursday.
“I hate that he couldn’t come out there and help us coach,” Bobo said. “All he could do was stand over there and watch.”
NCAA rules prevent Ward or any outside experts from actually coaching on the field. However, he did address the team in the locker room before practice.
“Bobo wanted to bring me out here to see the guys and stuff like that,” Ward told georgiadogs.com. “It’s encouraging. I’m excited about the upcoming year. And who knows? I always said if I ever wanted to coach this would probably be the first place I’d like to do that. I’m still lobbying Coach Richt to give me a job.”
Ward muffled a “no” as he laughed after that last statement. To bring him onto the staff at this juncture, Richt would have to reassign one of this current assistants or let them go altogether.
Ward, who was featured on the television show “Dancing with the Stars and actually won the competition, has also expressed an interest in television and acting. He indicated coaching wasn’t something he was likely to do right away. But in any case he is looking for some way to assist UGA.
“No time soon but one day,” Ward said of coaching. “Coaching is easy for me. I think I have a lot to give back to my alma mater and I want to see the Georgia Bulldogs win a national championship. So any experience or knowledge I can give to the football team to help them to get to that goal, so be it.”
You can see the full video of Ward’s interview on the school’s website by CLICKING HERE.
Ward, a wide receiver who won a Super Bowl MVP with Pittsburgh in 2006, was released by the Steelers on February 29. He retired from football just last week, saying he wanted to be “a Steeler for life.”
Missing Mitchell
Bobo was measured in his comments, but you can tell he’s not thrilled about losing Malcolm Mitchell to the defensive side of the ball for spring practice.
“No comment,” he said tersely. “I don’t even want to talk about it.”
After letting loose a laugh, Bobo said he hates to lose Mitchell but understands why he had to move. He also said he hasn’t given up on having the explosive receiver back on his side of the ball next fall.
It is what it is right now,” Bobo said. “He has to do what’s best for the team and help the defense. But it’s kind of back to recruiting in my mind. I’m recruiting the crap out of him daily.”
Meanwhile, secondary coach Scott Lakatos said he likes what he has seen of Mitchell at cornerback.
“He’s doing great. He’s such a good athlete he could be anything he wants to be,” Lakatos said.
Etc. . . .
It’s official: Tailback Richard Samuel is being cross-trained at fullback. . . . Noseguard John Jenkins missed practice Tuesday to attend to some academic responsibilities, according to defensive line coach Rodney Garner. . . . Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham does not expect outside linebacker Sterling Bailey (foot) to play this spring. . . . Wide receiver Rantavious Wooten remained sidelined with a pulled leg muscle. . . . Junior Dallas Lee appears to be getting increasingly more work at center. Lee started seven games at guard before suffering a broken leg this past season.
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SEC Football Daily: March 28th | Saturday Down South
March 28th, 2012
5:15 am
[...] Hines Ward visits UGA practice to test the coaching waters. The former Bulldog and recently retired Pittsburgh Steeler visited practice on Tuesday to spend the day with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to get a feel for collegiate coaching and to see if its something he may want to pursue. I think he would be a great asset to any team, given his years of experience in the NFL – what player wouldn’t want to play for someone with that experience and insight? [AJC] [...]
trueUGAfan
March 28th, 2012
5:42 am
I hate beggars, uninformed, and unrealistic people…
Thomas Brown
March 28th, 2012
5:47 am
Could you elaborate ?
tenn.DAWG
March 28th, 2012
6:01 am
Even without coaching experience,he would make that whole coaching staff better.Lets hope CMR and Bobo are smart enough to take advantage.
Ramad Ashad
March 28th, 2012
6:03 am
DAWGS BABY!!!!!
Year of the DAWG
March 28th, 2012
6:10 am
I’ve got a friend who is close to the program.Who said last year Hines was texting Bobo in the middle of the game asking him what was going on . Hire Hines now!!!
atltiger15
March 28th, 2012
6:17 am
The Dawgs are always in the top 10 in recruiting or at least the last 10 or 11 years, a feat no other team in America can claim. Unfortunately, the ultimate prize doesnt comes with that, its done on the field….Hines would definitely help in recruiting, but I dont think crutin’ has been the problem boyz…
sammiamm
March 28th, 2012
6:17 am
I hear Tech is looking for a tennis coach…
Nah, take the job in Athens Hines.
Welcome back to Tradition.
gomdawg
March 28th, 2012
6:34 am
I like the move Samuels to fullback and Hines Ward Speical Teams Coach
Thomas Brown
March 28th, 2012
6:55 am
Jerk around Richard Samuel again. Tailback to Linebacker, to Tailback, to Fullback.
FLA DAWG
March 28th, 2012
7:34 am
Great Dawg Hines Ward!
I hope he seals a deal. This guy has the hard hitting, winning attitude this team needs.
Bring him onboard!
ole yeller
March 28th, 2012
7:48 am
Coach “R” isn’t stupit nor is the “:AD”. If Ward is avilable He will be hired into the coaching staff, count on it. He would bring so much to the “O” which need all the help they can get. UGA would get every top “WR” in south with Ward pulling the strings. TOO much to pass up…
Taylor Wooten
March 28th, 2012
8:07 am
Bobo is the one they should have “moved”….not Mitchell.
Surely special teams could use Bobo. LOL
Dr. Adams
March 28th, 2012
8:14 am
HInes, I hope you brought enough beer for everybody?
Dap01
March 28th, 2012
8:19 am
Hines Ward was a great Georgia Dawg. He will do well with anything. Hopefully with UGA.
Joey
March 28th, 2012
8:38 am
Richt ever sign that new contract? If not, see if Hines will sign it . . .
Lowcountry Bulldawg
March 28th, 2012
8:40 am
Hines Ward better have a job in Athens and no other college. Richt needs to find a way to make it happen and now.
DawgNole
March 28th, 2012
9:06 am
Thomas Brown: “Get facts straight, as usual I have to be the one who knows.”
___________________________
The definition of arrogance.
AltamahaDawg
March 28th, 2012
9:10 am
Yes let’s hire a guy with ZERO experience coaching anything, anywhere, and name him offensive co-ordinator of a SEC football team right after we conclude spring practice. Brilliant, BuLLdawg.
Bazooka Joe
March 28th, 2012
9:13 am
I agree that Hines could be an asset to our program – in recruiting (and yes I agree, recruiting hasnt really been our problem) and working with the WR. Obviously not ready for OC (you’d be setting him up to fail – really kind of like we did with Bobo – he is a very good QB coach but in my opinion wasnt ready to be an OC). Plus, and to me this is the biggest thing – he is an extremely hard worker, does the fundamentals well, and I think could improve our team dramtaically in that department
btull
March 28th, 2012
9:20 am
Forget OC, just bring him in to coach the WRs. He is one of the toughest to play the position and what other SEC team has a future hall-of-fame WR coaching their wide receivers? What WR, who had UGA in their list of schools, wouldn’t want to come here? Our offense needs that boot to the throat mentality he could bring.
beanster
March 28th, 2012
9:21 am
There are 65 Georgia Bulldogs’ Football Program fans to this 1 blog who have told you this.”
65 anonymous posters to a blog. Oh really? That is a quite a campaign you’ve got going.
RxDawg
March 28th, 2012
9:34 am
Love it that Hines is hanging around the program. For those that think we should hire him on the spot, don’t be so hasty. Hines was a great player, there is no doubt about it. But great players do not equate to great coaches. In fact, it’s a rarity to see someone accomplished at both. I would support giving Hines a chance with the S&C staff or something along those lines. Or maybe even a “grad posistion” just to have around on the sidelines. Of course any help with the WR coaching would probably be nice too.
G-Dawg
March 28th, 2012
9:37 am
Hines as a receivers coach is a no brainer…even for you terds on here that use the excuse of no prior coaching experience. But since we’re already filled with coaching positions, it wont happen. Someone will scoop him up and utilize him though. Again, another Dawg loss.
G-Dawg
March 28th, 2012
9:40 am
Hines’ enthusiasm is exactly what this coaching staff needs more of!!
AltamahaDawg
March 28th, 2012
9:44 am
Excactly right RX. If Ward is sincere, then sure, lets find a grad assistant post for him.But In his own words, he was simply trying to see what coaches even do.
The complete inconsistancies of some of you folks is comical. You howl when we don’t go out and hire the top names out there all the time, (including some of you that still can’t see why we don’t go hire Nick Saban), But let a popular player stop by, and you are ready to make him one of our very few allowed position coach on the spot. And fire the guy who is highly qualified, and has done a great job for us, I suppose.
Troup Co. Dawg
March 28th, 2012
10:03 am
A no-brainer! Make him the receivers coach, for the past few years the great Dawg receivers have been terrible blockers which limit us to a short yardage running game! Who knew?
Dawg Haus
March 28th, 2012
10:20 am
Come on over to Athens, Hines!
dERWOOD
March 28th, 2012
10:36 am
THERE WASN’T ANYONE ELSE HE COULD HAVE SHADOWED? I MEAN LISTENING TO BOBO IS LIKE TAKING THE EXECUTINER OUT FOR SUPPER, YOU MAY ENJOY NOW BUT IT WILL COST YOU LATER. IF HE DOES LISTEN TO BOBO, I SUGGEST HE DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT MIKE SAYS DO.
AltamahaDawg
March 28th, 2012
10:40 am
Yea, why would a former player wanting to explore the posibility of getting into coaching want to ask Mike Bobo about that?
GDAWG65
March 28th, 2012
11:04 am
Fire Bobo and hire Ward now
Dawg Haus
March 28th, 2012
11:20 am
I think you make a good point, Troup Co. Dawg. There’s so much talent in the receiving corps, but all too often, Murray ends up throwing long bombs, of which only about 34-40% result in completions. A guy like Hines Ward, who has “been there before,” might just know how to teach proper blocking techniques and encourage a shorter, and more effective, passing game. The idea of him as receivers coach is certainly an intriguing one.
Douglas
March 28th, 2012
11:33 am
Surely they don’t plan on not playing Mitchell on the offensive side?
Mamadawg
March 28th, 2012
11:50 am
Hines needs to come on back home to UGA..where he definitely belongs!!
Bobo can go back to wherever he came from!! We need HINES WARD !!!
UGA Insider
March 28th, 2012
11:54 am
Hines is teaching Bobo the Pittsburgh offense my friends. Don’t be fooled by this article. UGA is going to run and play defense this year. You heard it here first. IC is going to have a monster year…. I predict 1600 yards.
AltamahaDawg
March 28th, 2012
11:57 am
The theory being that because he was a good blocker, he would certainly know how to put together a high level college training program to teach that?
ugastuffings99
March 28th, 2012
11:59 am
Recruiting!!!!! A super bowl ring and mvp says it all in the young man’s living room
News | MrSEC
March 28th, 2012
12:03 pm
[...] eye on coaching.Ward’s former teammate and current UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said “he’s trying to see if that’s something he wants to go into.” Ward is expected to spend “a couple of days” checking out practice, recruiting, and all [...]
Win With Richt
March 28th, 2012
12:24 pm
Thomas Brown
Hines ward was also switched among positions. WR, TB, & QB. He went on to a HOF NFL career.
Win With Richt
March 28th, 2012
12:27 pm
UGA Insider
I agree with you. Crowell gained 850 yds as a true freshman and missed 4 or 5 games. This year he will be bigger and stronger and pushed by Marshall and Gurley to produce.
Gary
March 28th, 2012
12:55 pm
Gifted athletes do not always make the best coaches. (see Michael Jordan and Isaiah Thomas) Often its the guy who had to bust his rear and practice all the time just to make the team that makes the best coach (ala Larry Bird, an overachieving player who was a fantastic head coach)
ItchyZ
March 28th, 2012
1:03 pm
Sorry, I don’t think there’s spot for Dirty Football Assistant Coach at UGA.
JRHD
March 28th, 2012
1:10 pm
Why would you hate on HW for saying anything about Forest Park? You hear guys all the time mention their high schools in those intros. He is a GA boy through and through. We should all be proud of him and what he has accomplished on the football field. He has been, up until his recent brush w/ the law for DUI, a role model off the field as well. I am not ready to throw stones at the man for one lapse in judgement. Hines is proud to be a Panther and a Bulldog. As an alumnus of UGA I would be proud to have him associated w/ the program in any capacity.
True Winner
March 28th, 2012
1:36 pm
Hines is a winner at any level of the competition. That is something you cannot teach because it comes from within. What a boost to the program if Hines is hired, all the future GA recruits would respect him, easily sell for UGA.
Go DAWGS
March 28th, 2012
1:38 pm
HIRE WARD THEN FIRE BOBO, OR FIRE BOBO THEN HIRE SOMEONE ELSE,EITHER WAY FIRE BOBO
jeffrey d
March 28th, 2012
1:48 pm
thank God the AJC is on the story…
Apparently every single article has to be comparable to the Pope being arrested murder or else it’s not worthy of anybody’s time.
te29wr
March 28th, 2012
1:50 pm
HIRE HIM NOW
slydog
March 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
Richt should fire Tony Ball right now. RIGHT NOW. Georgia Alumni, if you give money, please get Tony Ball out of here NOW and hire Hines Ward. Richt needs as many coaches with fire in the belly to counter act or balance out his “oh, whatever” passe attitude. Ward has 100X the credibility of Coach Ball, who I don’t intend to offend, but he knows how this game is played. Now watch and see what happens. Ward, if he decides to coach, will be on somebody else’s staff. Watch.
slydog
March 28th, 2012
2:03 pm
Furthermore, he would be an instant upgrade over Rodney Garner as far as recruiting goes. Just show him the ropes for two years and put him in charge of the whole thing. The kids will relate to this guy more than anybody else on Georgia’s staff. Book it.
Abe Lincoln
March 28th, 2012
2:03 pm
Ball to RB’s Ward to Rec’s and McClendon to recruiting. We would be better instantly !