Hines Ward: State players needn’t go anywhere but UGA
Hines Ward laughs at one of Mike Bobo's shots during Monday's Stadion Classic Celebrity Pro-Am at UGA Golf Course. (Audrey Brees, Jackson-Spalding)
ATHENS — When it comes to preparing yourself for the NFL, there’s no better place to learn the trade than at Georgia.
At least that’s the opinion of Hines Ward, a 14-year NFL veteran, former Super Bowl MVP and UGA grad. Ward was at the UGA Golf Course on Monday to participate in the Celebrity Pro-Am for the Stadion Classic at UGA Nationwide golf tournament.
It’s just one of several trips Ward has made to visit his alma mater since announcing his retirement from professional football in March.
“I always love coming back to Athens and I always want to help the University of Georgia any way I can,” said Ward, who was playing in a group with Mike Bobo and some UGA boosters. “It’s great to play golf here, especially after Bubba [Watson] won The Masters. It’s great to be able to play with guys you played with like Mike Bobo, and it’s always nice see old faces and old coaches and alumni. We’re all Bulldog family.”
Ward, who lives in Sandy Springs, spent a week in Athens this past month shadowing his old teammate Bobo during the Bulldogs’ spring practices. He wanted to see if coaching was something he might like to get into. Ward’s presence created quite a stir among the Bulldog Nation wondering if he was looking to join the staff.
But Ward said Monday he wasn’t looking to unseat any members of the current staff. He just wanted to get an idea of what the college job was like on a daily basis.
“It’s something I’m definitely thinking about,” Ward said of coaching. “I don’t know if I’d be able to make the time commitment, not right now anyway. But it’s definitely something I’d like to do and if was going to do it I’d want to do it at the University of Georgia.”
Ward said he’s recently had some detailed talks with several television networks about a career in broadcasting, which appears to be his most likely next step.
“I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” he said. “I’ve only been out of football a few months, so there’s plenty of time to figure it out. But I have a lot of options and that’s good.”
Ward credited UGA for setting him up for success. A star quarterback at Forest Park High, he chose Georgia over Nebraska and numerous other major offers, graduated in 3 1/2 years and set several UGA records, including becoming the rushing, passing and receiving for more than 1,000 yards each.
Ward said he saw that the Bulldogs had seven players selected in the NFL draft this past weekend. That’s 64 in the Mark Richt era, which actually raises Ward’s ire.
“It drives me crazy when I see some of the best players in Georgia leave the state to go to Alabama or some other place,” Ward said. “There’s just no need in it. I remember when I was in school and Jacquez Green and some other guys went to Florida and won a bunch of games down there. Georgia has been so close for so long and is going to win a championship soon if these guys just stay at home like I did.”
Ward said Georgia has a strong reputation in pro-football circles for producing NFL ready players. The Bulldogs’ 65 draft selections under Richt are the most of any other SEC program over that time period (2001-12).
“The list goes on and on of great players from Georgia who are still producing on a high level,” Ward said. “And there are a lot of up-and-coming players like A.J. Green and [Matthew] Stafford that are the future in our league. So there’s no question Georgia produces great pro football players helps prepare them to be able to go out there and do things on the next level.”
Helping communicate that message is one of the main reasons Ward said he would consider coaching with the Bulldogs. He has learned that NCAA rules prevent him being able to help them out on his own.
“I don’t really know the ins and outs of NCAA rules, but I know just being on the practice field I was a magnet for families and kids who were out there and wanted to come up and talk to me about it,” Ward said. “But I can’t really talk with them or have a conversation with them because of the rules. I’m a living example of what they want. I grew up in a single-parent home with my mom with working three jobs, came to school here and had a productive career, graduated in 3 1/2 years and played in the NFL for 14 years for one team. But I can’t talk to them because of the rules. That’s crazy.”
UGA IN NFL DRAFT
Year—Number— Highlight
2002—8—DE Charles Grant goes in 1st round with 25th pick
2003—7—DL Johnathan Sullivan and OL George Foster each go in 1st
2004—4—TE Ben Watson selected with last pick of 1st round
2005—6—FS Thomas Davis (14) and DE David Pollack (17) go in 1st
2006—7—CB Tim Jennings is first Bulldog selected in 2nd round
2007—5—Defensive ends Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson go in 3rd
2008—4—DE Marcus Howard drafted in 5th round
2009—6—QB Matthew Stafford first overall; TB Knowshon Moreno goes 12th
2010—5—LB Rennie Curran is first Bulldog selected in 3rd round
2011—6—WR A.J. Green is the No. 4 overall pick
2012—7—OL Cordy Glenn is selected early in the second round
Total—*65—Nine first-rounders
* Includes Paul Oliver, a supplemental draftee in 2007
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280 comments Add your comment
FB
April 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
Hire Hines Ward as the UGA receivers coach and make him the overall Recruiting Coordinator!!! He would bring a TON OF IN-STATE talent to Georgia.
What do you say, Mark?
LRB
April 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
And…. The AJC continues to be the propaganda arm of the University of Georgia. Good job.
LakeDawg
April 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
I have fond memories of Hines during the 97 UF game. UGA had a lack of confidence against UF then. But Hines came out laughing and smiling. After every big play he would make, he would just laugh at the UF players. It gave a boost of confidence to the Dawgs and they went on to kick some Gator tail.
bubba4dawgs
April 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
NCAA rules suck!! In fact, the whole organization is inept! I’ve never seen such bias and stupidity! You’ll have to be very careful, Hines, if you come aboard! It doesn’t take very much to break one of their silly rules!
kingdaddy
April 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
The trolls are scared of you Hines, better watch your back. That’s usually where they attack you from…
Fidlin1
April 30th, 2012
9:39 pm
Hey HINBAOTHD, You’re a bonafide Idtent. You couldn’t couldn’t cover Hines 10 years from now, much less now. He almost got the Steelers to the big one in spite of the injuries to Rothlesberger.
GTBob
April 30th, 2012
10:07 pm
The trolls are scared of you Hines, better watch your back. That’s usually where they attack you from…
I am not messing with Hines. If anybody would fight dirty its him.
Will in Roswell
April 30th, 2012
10:12 pm
If Richt is as smart as he is supposed to be, he would grab the great Hines Ward right away. Hines could be a recruiting and coaching phenom. What a guy.
kingdaddy
April 30th, 2012
10:15 pm
GTBob
I didn’t call you a troll. Hey, I basically got called a troll tonight too by cha rav. I don’t even recognise him. Nope, I called you nothing. Do you feel guilty about something???
Dawg Haus
April 30th, 2012
10:16 pm
Somebody has to make a spot for Hines Ward. This guy is a must-have in recruiting.
kingdaddy
April 30th, 2012
10:22 pm
Maybe dirty, nasty and mean could help us to a N.C. Maybe a little more attitude could help our OL???
GTBob Jr.
April 30th, 2012
10:44 pm
Dad: Go to bed..please…We both know that Hines is best WR blocker in NFL history! It’s a man’s game…if a 6′4′ 275 lb boy wasn’t ready for a Hines shoulder so be it! Need more Tech studs like him.
The Man
April 30th, 2012
10:58 pm
Gotta love the Alabama fan. A total of 10 teeth in his mouth and Mama’s in jail for meth possession, but its ALL GOOD because RTR is winning big.
globeflyer
April 30th, 2012
11:06 pm
I think the point to take away from this discussion is that UGA sends a lot of guys to the NFL, but doesn’t seem to win any significant Championships with them in Athens. Alabama has won a couple of NC’s lately and sends a significant number to the Big League too. All the “Bama oversigns”, “Bama cheats”, and “Saban’s headed to the Cowboys” is just jealous denial peeking through. I think Richt is a good man; what he has not been able to do, however, is assemble a national-caliber staff. There is a big difference in getting the best “raw material” (recruits) and the “finished product” (Championships). The current staff at UGA is lacking in that regard.
ARS
April 30th, 2012
11:07 pm
Your’e both trolls..Badgerin, luvin, glowin with ignorance!
sports
April 30th, 2012
11:07 pm
Hines Ward is a class act.
Cdpridg
April 30th, 2012
11:09 pm
Hines is right…i cant imagine anything better than donning the red and black. Putting the red helmet and black G on and playing within the hallowed grounds of Sanford Stadium!
kingdaddy
April 30th, 2012
11:25 pm
Cha-rav
you don’t deserve Dawg in your name troll-boy. Come out of hideing techie!
chavezravinedawg
April 30th, 2012
11:35 pm
No trolling sir. Just state the obvious.
PantherGrad
April 30th, 2012
11:37 pm
Hines: You were awesome as a Panther, Bulldog, and Steeler!!!! Thank you! Sure you will be a great ambassador for the Dawgs but please don’t go the Bobby Lowder route. Go Panthers/Dawgs!
whatever
April 30th, 2012
11:38 pm
That is even MORE of a damning indictment of CMR – that UGA can have such great talent – but still FAIL to win NCs. That is why CMR still must go.
kingdaddy
April 30th, 2012
11:45 pm
Cha-rav
What’s obvious is the damage fireing Bobo would do to this program right now. If he screws the pooch this year, most people in this state will agree with you including me. Give him 6 games, if he does ok,let it ride. If he can’t cut it after that, start the moving van his way. The 2013 recruiting class will be a good one if we don’t have to change the OC…
chavezravinedawg
April 30th, 2012
11:56 pm
Firing him after 6 games would be like firing lets say Paul Johnson, Techs Coach, after 6 games…needs to happen at start of year so players will have respect for the new coach. That’s my opinion.
Hairy Dawg
May 1st, 2012
12:32 am
I like Hines Ward but this he say is just to wishy washy. Players in state shouldn’t just consider coming to Dawgs. They must play for Dawgs even if they walking on. We own the state and players and even goning to talk to that no good Saban is traitoring on state. Players got to stay home for Dawgs cause we gets the talents that goes NFL paydays. And we provides them with ladies they want in Athens. Then Coach Richt and staff teach them Christians which helps to win and disciplines for NFL. But the players with SEC speed got to stay home and tell that low life Saban to shove it.
www.fireCMR.edu
May 1st, 2012
12:42 am
well said Hairy: Keep the GA talent in the state….and let Coach Richt…aaaacchhhoooo.coach them up to 3star level.
hbcuclassics
May 1st, 2012
12:56 am
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Update:
Christian Thompson, S, SC State – Baltimore
Ryan Davis, DE/OLB, Bethune – Jacksonville
Mario Louis, WR, Grambling – Houston
Marquette King, P, FVSU – Oakland
James Dekle, G, Prairie View – Arizona
Kevin Elliott, WR, FAMU – Jacksonville
Demario Pippen, RB,Tuskegee – Denver
LaMont Bryant, TE, Morgan St – Baltimore
Bryan Tymes, TE, FAMU – San Francisco
Jared Green, WR, Southern – Carolina
Donovan Robinson, DE, Jackson St – New York Jets
Adrian Hamilton, DE, Prairie View – Dallas
Antonio Dennard, CB, Langston – Jaguars
Paul Cox, WR, Mississippi Valley St – Chargers
Nicolas Cooper, RB, Winston Salem St – Packers
Jean Fanor, S, Bethune – Chiefs
David Legree, QB, Hampton – Chiefs
Dominique Ellis, CB, SC State – Chiefs
Donovan Richard, S, SC State – Jags
Calvin Middleton, RB, Jackson St – Rams
Willie Carter, WR, Howard
Rico Council, LB, Tennessee St – Falcons
http://www.hbuclassics.com/
The Truth
May 1st, 2012
6:54 am
Damon – thanks for taking the time to showcase your lack of class and intelligence. I hope you’re not late for your $28k/yr job as a result. Enjoy living your life in obscurity, and not under the ever-watchful microscope of the media. No one knows (or cares) who you are or how many times you get arrested for sister beatin’, drunk drivin’ on your lawn mower, or exposin’ yourself to children. Now get to work – there are plenty of dead animals out there on the roads that need to be scraped off.
ole yeller
May 1st, 2012
7:28 am
I know Hines must make the best decision for him and his family. I sure hope him and his agent consider football down the road and hope Coach “R” and AD “M” give it some thought. He would be great a UGA as a coach and recuite the best in Georgia, especially the “WR”.
pancake
May 1st, 2012
8:16 am
Just hire Hines to teach our receivers how to block.
1eyedJack
May 1st, 2012
8:30 am
Could there be much doubt, from a technical standpoint, that Hines Ward would be a better wide receiver coach than Tony Ball? A better recruiter? Let Tony take the open S&C position and sign Ward up.
DePort
May 1st, 2012
8:32 am
You people say the same things every week day. Give me some new stats no one has ever seen before please!
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 1st, 2012
8:46 am
Wow. You guys just keep giving the rest of the country good material.
UGA is a circus and Ward is trying to join the circus by proclaiming how great the show is.
Everyone knows, with 4 players in the first round, Bama is the place to get ready for the NFL.
Not Underachieving GA.
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 1st, 2012
8:48 am
If Ward really wanted to help Underachieving GA, he would start letting fans know that 40pts to ranked teams is not a good defense. Fix your defense if you want a championship team.
JoeFann
May 1st, 2012
8:48 am
I agree it’s absurd that a former great can’t talk to a player’s family that wants to talk without violating NCAA rules about boosters. Maybe UGA should designate him an “ambassador” at a rate of $1 per year, so that he could speak with recruits when they’re already on campus.
Hines Ward = DGD! Go Dawgs!
gdawginkalamazoo
May 1st, 2012
8:52 am
Dirtiest player? None of the defensive backs or linebackers like getting pasted by a wide receiver that actually blocks. He took the hits and disched them out. Football the way it is supposed to be played. DGD, played QB, RB and WR. Wherever the team needed him to play and did not complain. Damn good team player, I so glad that he retired instead of Favre-ing up a great career.
kingdaddy
May 1st, 2012
8:54 am
Tick Dawg
Is it the fact that I think Bobo should be replaced this year ONLY if he doesn’t do his JOB, or the fact that you were DWT (DRUNK WHILE TEXTING)? You trying to tell me what I can say country boy? I served in the military just so you could call me names because you disagree with me. Like an idiot, you think you’re the only one who deserves an opinion on whatever is on that little pea-brain of yours. One more time for nit-wits like you. If Coach Bobo shows no imagination again this year, and starts two up the middle for no gain, then a bomb on third and ten for an int. or just to punt, instead of ACTING LIKE AN OFFENSIVE CORIDINATOR!!! Then he should be replaced, but NOY UNTIL HE HAS HAD A CHANCE!!! Do you understand that you slow-witted, numb-nut. Change your name to Dog Tick you back-woods, hillbilly, and I apoligize to hillbillies everywhere. I’m ALL DAWG YOU MORON, I JUST WANT MY TEAM TO WIN! You might want to pull some of those ticks off your head so you can get a little blood-flow to your itty-bitty brain. Try reading someones blog before you comment on it and back off the booze TICK DAWG…
kingdaddy
May 1st, 2012
9:08 am
The tide is rolling…lol
If youre afraid of Hines Ward say so, if you’re scarit, say you’re scarit! BTW, show me where the defense avg. 40pts without help from turnovers and special teams play. At least we haven’t lost to Louisiana, Monroe you Dingel-berry…
DawginLex
May 1st, 2012
9:09 am
tide rolling
How come Saban has never had a Pro Bowler?
How come the UGA players stay in the NFL longer and perform better?
Alabama is not the only school sending players to the NFL dude.
Remember 2008-Bama had no one drafted
Richt alone has sent 65 players to the NFL.
Just give the high and mighty Bama talk a rest.
Lindsey
May 1st, 2012
9:19 am
Hire Hines!!!! GO DAWGS!!!
BeggingDawg
May 1st, 2012
9:20 am
Hines Ward has a very effective PR person. They have the local media effectively lobbying for him to be hired by the University of Georgia. He should have taken some financial management courses during the past fourteen years instead of partying so much.
DawginLex
May 1st, 2012
9:25 am
begging
I guarantee you Hines does not need any money
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 1st, 2012
9:32 am
Kinddaddy,
Alabama doesn’t make excuses for the defense. Grantham would be fired if he were at Alabama.
But hey, I guess we enjoy championships more than once a century…
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 1st, 2012
9:34 am
HA< Bama has won two titles since the LA Monroe loss! What has Underachieving GA done to help with the SEC embarassment of Boise, Colorado, Central Florida, Michigan State…
DawginLex
May 1st, 2012
9:35 am
tide rolling
If you had gone from 50th in total defense to 20th and changed your scheme from the 4-3 to the 3-4 and then ended up 5th in total defense, you would have not fired Grantham. going from 6-7 to 10-4, you would have not fired Grantham
give it a rest will ya’? 2012 will tell a lot about Grantham
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 1st, 2012
9:36 am
In three years, Bama has matched Underachieving GA’s entire mediocre existance.
Get a real defense and quit making excuses for them. Then maybe you can be Auburn and use your easy schedules to make a one a century run.
DawginLex
May 1st, 2012
9:38 am
OK, i see you are not capable of having a rational conversation.
The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 1st, 2012
9:39 am
High and Mighty talk?!? It’s funny when a fanbase can actually back it up, isn’t it…
Boyd Marley
May 1st, 2012
9:40 am
I’ve always been a Hines Ward fan since I was raised a Bulldog (Athens raised), even though I never cared for the Steelers. Good for him for to continue supporting the team & school. He’s right those students-athletes who go out of state could have as good (if not better) career in Athens. Ward proves he’s a class act!
DawginLex
May 1st, 2012
9:41 am
No nick Saban coached player from LSU or Alabama has ever made a Pro Bowl
Bama players get drafted but then they underachieve and don’t stay in the NFL very long. End up working at Walmart spraying fruit
Hairy Dawg
May 1st, 2012
9:48 am
Get the Rolls of Tidey Bowl Trolls off our web site that we own just like get that thief Saban out a our state.
Go Dawgs!