UPDATED: UGA gymnastics coach Jay Clark resigns after third year
Following is the (uncut) news story I filed for the newspaper on the resignation of gymnastics coach Jay Clark. You should note the comments from Gym Dogs coaching legend Suzanne Yoculan, who said “anything could happen” when asked if she’d consider coming back from retirement. You should also note that McGarity said “I don’t think so” when asked if they’d consider her a candidate. Below the story is the actual news release cirulated by UGA at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and then the comments I got from Clark and McGarity. . . .
ATHENS – Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity has often said that he judges the Bulldogs’ coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances. Georgia gymnastics coach Jay Clark on Friday felt the wrath of that philosophy as he resigned just three years after succeeding legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan.
Clark met with Athletic Director Greg McGarity Friday afternoon and tendered his resignation in person at some point during that meeting. Clark, who was Yoculan’s top assistant for 17 years before she retired, has two years remaining on his contract.
Asked if he had an opportunity to return for another season, Clark said: “I resigned. At this point I don’t have a lot to say beyond that.”
McGarity was equally mum when reached by telephone shortly after the news release was sent out at
“I can’t really say anything else,” said McGarity, who has been on the job for 18 months. “I’ll let the release stand for itself.
McGarity did say the search for Clark’s successor “begins immediately. We’re going over names and things of that nature as we speak.”
Clark was working for Yoculan while the Bulldogs won most of their 10 national championships, including five straight before Yoculan retired following the 2009 season. Under Clark, the Gym Dogs had three third-place finishes in the SEC, missed the NCAA Championships one year and finished ninth and 11th in the other two.
“We’re expected to win championships and we wanted to,” Clark said. “I’m sure the program will do well. I want every recruit that’s on board now to come here and I think every elite prospect in the country should want to come here.”
Yoculan was not happy to hear the news. “Nothing in athletics surprises me,” she said via text message.
Asked if she’d consider coming out of retirement, she replied: “Anything can happen.”
Unless, Yoculan comes back, Georgia will have to completely retool its gymnastics staff. Clark’s assistants include his wife, Julie Ballard Clark, and longtime Yoculan aide Doug McAvinn.
Nevertheless, Clark said he harbors no ill will toward his alma mater.
“I’ve been here a long time and I love the University with all my heart,” Clark said. “Since I graduated it’s the only place I’ve worked. We’ve been part of some great things since we’ve been here and I’m honored to be a part of it. I’ll always be a Dawg, I’ve always loved this place and I always will.”
UGA’S OFFICIAL RELEASE:
University of Georgia head gymnastics coach Jay Clark has resigned his position effective immediately according to an announcement Friday by UGA Director of Athletics Greg McGarity.
Clark took over the program three years ago after serving 17 years as an assistant on the Gym Dogs’ staff including five as associate head coach.
“I have accepted Jay’s resignation and want to express our appreciation to him for his many significant contributions to our program over a long period of time,” said McGarity. “Our gymnastics program has always been a source of pride for the Athletic Association and Jay has conducted the program in an admirable manner during his years of service to UGA. We certainly wish him the very best in his future endeavors. We’ll move as quickly as possible to begin the process of finding the best possible head coach to lead our program.”
“It’s been an honor and privilege to be at the University of Georgia,” said Clark, who first joined the staff in 1990. “I love the University of Georgia and treasure my time here.”
Clark’s teams finished third at the SEC Championships in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and posted national finishes of tied for 2nd at the 2010 NCAA Regional, tied for 9th at the 2011 NCAA Championships, and 11th at the recent 2012 NCAA Championships.
JAY CLARK:
On whether he was surprised . . .
“I think a lot of people may be.”
On his reaction . . .
“Right now my general comment is I’ve been here a long time and I love the University with all my heart. Since I graduated it’s the only place I’ve worked. We’ve [he and wife/assistant coach Julie Ballard Clark] have been part of some great things since we’ve been here. I’m honored to be a part of it and I’ll always be a Dawg. I’ve always loved this place and I always will.”
On reasons for resignation . . .
“We’re expected to win championships and we wanted to. I’m sure the program will do well. I want every recruit that’s on board now to come here and I think every elite prospect in the country should want to come here.”
On the expectations of UGA leadership . . .
“I have the utmost respect for Greg McGarity and the leadership over there.”
GREG McGARITY:
On reasons for Clark’s resignation . . .
“I cant’ say anything. I’ll the the release stand.”
On search for successor . . .
“It begins immediately. We’re going over names and things of that nature as we speak.”
On threshold of success for UGA’s coaches . . .
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to talk about that right now, but you can refer some of my old quotes about that.” [McGarity has always said he judges coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances]
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121 comments Add your comment
Vance Duly
May 4th, 2012
6:02 pm
He’s been a loyal Dawg…. best wishes to him.
LakeDawg
May 4th, 2012
6:02 pm
An assistant following a legend rarely works out. Good luck to Jay Clark in his future endeavors and his time at UGA is greatly appreciated.
Vince
May 4th, 2012
6:04 pm
Its always impossible to follow a legend. I’m sure coach Clark gave it the best he could–and its certainly appreciated. Where can we find another treasure like Youcalan?
Never follow a legend
May 4th, 2012
6:19 pm
True. Never do it. Now…Jay reapply for the job and you’ll start winning.
Ol' Timer
May 4th, 2012
6:19 pm
He’ll land on his feet.
KDawg
May 4th, 2012
6:26 pm
I’m not sure there is anyone who could fill Suzanne Yoculan’s shoes. Best of luck to Jay for everything he has given to UGA.
mvdawg
May 4th, 2012
6:26 pm
Thank you Jay for all the hard work over the years. Wish you and your family the best in the future.
God bless
Allen
May 4th, 2012
6:28 pm
Good luck and best wishes to Jay Clark. Happy to see McGarity not satisfied with anything less than the best . . . wish we could find another Yoculan. On another front, I appreciate what Andy Landers has done historically, but we need a new women’s basketball coach to bring us championships, too. Andy has rested on his laurels for too long now.
The Masked Superstar
May 4th, 2012
6:28 pm
Goff found out the same thing when he followed Vince. Jay you did the best you could and we cannot argue that. Following Suzanne was a tough, tough act to follow. Thanks for being a loyal DAWG.
Andrew
May 4th, 2012
6:29 pm
He had huge shoes to fill. I wish Suzanne Yoculan would consider coming out of retirement. Thanks for giving it a shot Jay and good luck!
Boca Baby
May 4th, 2012
6:31 pm
Even though it is a non-revenue sport, he took over a program which had won six straight national championships. He had been competitive but he is no Suzanne Yoculan. I have been wondering how long this would go before they cut him loose.
Boca Baby
May 4th, 2012
6:33 pm
Oops. Only five straight NC’s. But what is one when you are counting that high.
Andy M.
May 4th, 2012
6:36 pm
Manny Diaz has done more than ok following Dan Magill with Men’s Tennis
Hurt Kurbstreit
May 4th, 2012
6:36 pm
Maybe Suzanne Yoculan misses the action and would be willing to come back. She’s the best coach that UGA has ever had.
Lexi
May 4th, 2012
6:42 pm
Last I heard GA Gymnastics was a revenue sport (along with football and men’s basketball). Perhaps things changed there too when Coach Yoculan retired.
Sad.
Paddy
May 4th, 2012
6:50 pm
Since I have never attended a gymnastic event at UGA, how much do they charge for admission to the events? Does it provide enough $ to cover the cost of the sport? is it a high profit sport? Just curious!
Dawg Alum
May 4th, 2012
6:52 pm
Lexi,
When Suzanne was at UGa……you could not get tickets for many meets. Only football filled more seats. P.S. Hopefully it was a revenue sport!!!
Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
6:54 pm
Who has any confidence that UGA’s women’s gymnastics program isn’t in a freefall to the bottom of the sea? After running off Suzanne Yoculan becuase of her boyfriend. Sick.
Dawglasville
May 4th, 2012
6:56 pm
He had huge shoes to fill. Thanks for your hard work and good luck.
Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
6:57 pm
Please bring back Suzanne Yoculan. I am not interested in her personal life. Most of these Bible Belt types are the biggest hypocrites walking on Planet Earth.
george
May 4th, 2012
6:58 pm
how about a female coach for a female sport? If women are unqualified to coach men because they “haven’t played the game” (although gino auriemma never played womens basketball) then let’s find a coach who actually competed on the balance beam, uneven bars, etc. go dawgs, but they better hire someone who can recruit because competition in the sec is fierce!
Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
6:59 pm
When is McCavity going to replace Richt, Fox, Landers, Perno, and the other losers getting overpaid with has-been mediocre programs? Maybe the new university president will fire McGarrity too.
Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
6:59 pm
McGarrity is making Damon Evans look pretty good these days…
Bama boy
May 4th, 2012
7:00 pm
Maybe Richt will go back to Miami And Fox wherever
Old guy
May 4th, 2012
7:01 pm
First look should go to one of our All-Americans in gymnastics. A protege of Yoculan might be another Manny Diaz of tennis.
Many thanks to Coach Clark for his many contributions to UGA.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
May 4th, 2012
7:09 pm
Todd Grantham could take over for him. He can do anything… except stop ranked offenses.
Beast from the East
May 4th, 2012
7:13 pm
It will be interesting to hear what actually happened. Was he run off or did he land another gig? Maybe he was caught TRYING to land another job? I know he did not have the success that Suzanne did, but let’s b honest…who else in the country has? No one!
uga_alum_93
May 4th, 2012
7:16 pm
Needed to happen…I hope Landers is close behind.
SKB
May 4th, 2012
7:17 pm
+1 McGARITY
Setting standards
Mr. GymnasticsFan
May 4th, 2012
7:17 pm
Um… I suppose two National individual titles (on beam and floor) mean nothing; granted, the team faltered on beam during preliminaries; it’s four inches wide.
And, ps, about men coaching this sport; I think that is a testament to these women athletes knowing that their coach’s gender doesn’t matter. I’d applaud a qualified woman to coach a men’s basketball team, but we’ll never see it.
sheepdawg
May 4th, 2012
7:17 pm
lets all hope cmr is next for the sake of the university and state
drew
May 4th, 2012
7:20 pm
Does anyone hate the new design of the AJC online as much as I DO !
Kinda hard to read anything with all these moving parts….
Oh yeah…Go Dawgs : )
Eddie
May 4th, 2012
7:25 pm
Sheepdawg, 1953dawg and Snoop Dawg—you are morons and that is being kind. What can you say about the bammer fans lurking as usual–sad really.
gt4ever
May 4th, 2012
7:30 pm
UGA is a complete JOKE…. I guess coach richt is next…… I mean the AD measures success by SEC championships and NCAA championships…
Dawg89
May 4th, 2012
7:34 pm
drew, yes I hate the new ajc “toolbar”. I have cut back on how much I visit the ajc site because of it. I wish all users would complain in hopes that it will be removed.
Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
7:44 pm
Eddie, you are the odd man out here– and a blind homer embecile!
Concerned
May 4th, 2012
7:50 pm
Women’s Gymnastics has never been close to making money. The reason Men’s basketball makes money and Women’s Gymnastics doesn’t (even though the attendance is usually higher) is because of the enormous TV contracts for SEC basketball and the money received from the SEC office for the NCAA tournament.
duronimo
May 4th, 2012
7:59 pm
Apparently there is a higher standard for gymnastics than for football. It’s not like his teams are not competitive. He and his wife are good, loyal people and should be given a bit more time.
Who Me?
May 4th, 2012
8:12 pm
GM has been here since Aug. 2010, not quite 2 years. I don’t think we’re going to throw the baby out with the bathwater and make wholesale changes inside of the first 2 years he’s been on staff. He’s just now starting to understand all the programs in his domain, expect to see more of this later in the year – like after baseball season is done for example….
Big time?? Not
May 4th, 2012
8:22 pm
1953 dawg …….bitter party of one. Your table is ready.
jsmooth
May 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
1953 dawg- Man, you are really hard up. Are your shorts to tight? Man, your anger and bitterness is going to put you in a early grave. Chill out and enjoy life.
Lakedawg
May 4th, 2012
8:42 pm
1953 dawgs–You sir are the complete idiot in this conversation.
Not sure how many gymnastics contests you have attended, but believe as a 15 year season ticket holder I have a better perspective than you.
Jay and Julie gave their all to this pprgram and are both DGD. However with outstanding talent the Dawgs choked consistently under any pressure, most evident by this year. I wish them both the best in the future, but change was due.
Landers has a top 5 class coming in and if no improvement over 2nd round eliminations in SEC and National tournament then change is dur there.
Perno should go after this year period.
53 where you are completely wrong is Mens BB and football. Will acceot your apologies for both after this season.
The Masked Superstar
May 4th, 2012
8:48 pm
Courtney Kupets, arguably the best NCAA Gymnast ever, is cooling her heels as a Volunteer Coach on the Gymnastics team. Why not give this young lady a shot as she is to Georgia Gymnastics what Herschel Walker is to Georgia Football. Don’t let her youth fool you, as I recall Suzanne wasn’t much older when she took over and we know what she did.
GuessWhoGoesNext
May 4th, 2012
8:48 pm
Andy Landers will be shown the door soon. His time has come.
NCDawg
May 4th, 2012
8:49 pm
God what sad sacks of s%&t populate these boards! A guy just decided to walk away from his job or was going to lose it and was given the grace of being able to resign and you come on here ragging him and the AD about it. Our society has a deficit of decency for sure. Those of you with nothing better to do than come on these boards and complain and run people into the ground need a spiritual enema. It takes a special kind of bum to use such an occasion to vent their vitriol about freaking athletics. If you are one of the aforementioned and do not feel any shame then God help you.
Jay Clark had the unfortunate job of following a legend. That is a heck of first head coaching job. Yoculan was the Pat Summit of gymnastics. What she accomplished is outrageous. Asking a first time head coach to follow up on that is really not fair. It will be interesting to see who is pegged for the job. Maybe there is an up and comer out there that we don’t know about. Good luck Jay! You are DGD.
Don
May 4th, 2012
8:53 pm
Perno next?
GymnasticsFan
May 4th, 2012
9:54 pm
I believe you are mistaken about Kupets working as a volunteer coach with the Gymdogs.
ga gator
May 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
He probably felt like Ron Zook felt from Day 1 and the way Muschamp will feel if he has another year like 2011. McGarrity learned from Foley; Championships are the goal, end of story.
King Gator
May 4th, 2012
10:36 pm
Next strength coach for the FB Dawgs!
Loyal Supporter
May 4th, 2012
10:51 pm
For all of those who have so much to say, is it asking too much that one speaks from a position of fact rather than fiction? Jay and Julie Clark have been an inspiration to so many in their endeavors to build the Georgia gymnastics program into a positive, moral establishment. College athletics is a rollar coaster. Anyone experienced in elite athletics would know that between successful programs, there are rebuilding years involved. Jay and Julie were not given enough time to prove their ability to make the program a success once again. Jay’s recruiting history and experience helped provide the tools and success for the ten national championships under Suzanne Yoculan. He was put under a lot of pressure coming from such a successful program, and certainly deserved to be given more time. Their absence from UGA, after all they have given to the school, coaching, and the community will be greatly missed. Bad move McGarity, I think there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Jeff
May 4th, 2012
10:59 pm
Dear 1953dawg at 7:04 p.m. — you are the EXACT reason that some fan bases around the country think Georgia is a joke. Unrealistic expectations, quick triggers, and irrational rants are the trademarks of LOSING universities, not WINNING ones… and last I checked, Georgia is winning.
In the last 10 years, our football team has won 100 games, been to some BCS bowls, dominated our in-state rival, and won three SEC championships. Our baseball team has been to the College World Series several times, played in several NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals, and — a couple of times — knocked Tech OUT of the NCAAs with some big wins. Our golf and tennis teams have won multiple SEC and national titles. Our gymnastics team won five straight NCAA crowns. Our women’s basketball team wins 20-plus games a year, has been in a couple of SEC tournament championships (winning one), and been to the NCAA tourney every year. Our soccer team has had only one losing season in a decade. Our track and cross country programs have produced tons of All-SEC runners and NCAA qualifiers. And our only program that’s really struggled to find footing is the men’s basketball program, but a LOT of Southeastern Conference schools have issues with that (LSU, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, etc.)
Let’s be realistic — overall, UGA is one of the top 10-to-15 athletic programs in AMERICA. When you consider fan support, endowments, ticket and merchandise sales, facilities, donations, winning percentages, all-conference athletes, and All-Americans, Georgia is one of the top universities in the nation — how can you ARGUE with that? Why do you b**ch and moan because some coaches haven’t won SEC titles in 5 or 6 years? God FORBID we acknowledge that the SEC is the toughest conference in America in just about every sport, and that in such a highly-competitive league, Georgia’s success is pretty admirable!!! Whatever happened to appreciating the WHOLE athletic program — wins, integrity, facilities, character, graduation rates, academic success, and competitiveness???
Maybe you would prefer 1953, with 8 SEC schools, all white teams, no girls playing, and gray cinder-block facilities. Maybe you’d like a dirt track and a 30,000-seat football stadium and single-bar facemasks and greased-back hair and white tee-shirts and everybody smoking Marlboros in non-air-conditioned rooms on campus. But for ME, I am very proud of UGA and it’s athletic and academic repuatation (Note: UGA is one of the toughest academic institutions in the BCS conferences, and it also has one of the toughest discipline and drug policies of any athletic department). Yet Georgia remains competitive for SEC and national titles and is routinely one of the top schools in most sports. You know what? I’m proud of that and happy with that, and if you’re not, go crawl back under a rock and go root for some not-as-classy program like Texas or USC or Ohio State or Florida. As for me, I’ll proudly support my Dawgs — the players AND coaches AND athletic director, unless there’s a major reason not to (like your last A.D. and his red panties incident).
So get off McGarity’s back, let him do his job, and we’ll find out more about this gymnastics coaching change in the future. Good luck to Jay Clark, and GO DAWGS!!!
joe taxpayer
May 4th, 2012
11:12 pm
We have higher standards for the gymnastics team than the football team.
Moobs Johnson
May 4th, 2012
11:19 pm
Landers, Perno, and Richt all need to be shown the door. Mediocrity runs rampant through the halls of the Buttsmear building
10isbum
May 4th, 2012
11:20 pm
I’ve had season Gymdog tickets for over 25 years… and was a former gymnast. I’m in shock over this news – but sadly not surprised! I’d like to thank both Jay and Julie for all they’ve given the UGA program. Pls remember Jay was one of the best recruiters that Suzanne had – so her talent pool was partly his doing. I’m sorry to see him go and wished he’d been given another year but coming in 11th at the NCAAs was hard for everyone and especially for Jay. FWIW – I don’t know how that the NCAA beam fiasco happened and neither do the gymnasts. It was so surreal because beam was one of their strongest event all year until that meet. As for going forward – I hope that Doug McGavin will stay on. If you want an alumni from the program (and keep in mind Julie was one) – Courtney McCool is who I’d recommend to be considered . She was wonderful as a volunteer coach (last year – not this year!) – very highly respected from her roles as an Olympian, and an NCAA champion. She seems to have a way of building confidence as a coach which is a gift is rarely learned. I’m not sure she’d be ready to be a head coach – but I’d bet she’d be wonderful if the right support was in place for the administrative aspects & recruiting support as well. I have a feeling she’s the Manny Diaz a few would love seeing and are referring to. As for looking outside – I’d love to see Kathy Johnson Clark – but she’s not coached that I am aware of at the NCAA level. Kathy was an olympian and a world champion the year we boycotted the Olympics otherwise you’d know her name. She was also a wonderful coach. Good luck to Jay and Julie – I wish you the best!
Chip Towers
May 4th, 2012
11:21 pm
I’ve deleted the comments of 1953dawg on this post for name-calling and vulgar language and for generally being a jerk. He hasn’t been banned but he should consider himself warned. Your opinions are all welcomed no matter what they are, but they need to be shared and debated with civility. Thank you.
so, let me get this straight...
May 4th, 2012
11:22 pm
1953 Dawg, Snoop Dawg…you guys are morons. When I say morons, I mean idiots, buffoons, imbeciles and any other derogatory adjective that comes to mind…
Landers, multiple final fours, multiple conference titles,
Perno, multiple appearances in CWS
Richt, multiple appearances in SECCG.
Clark…good guy, no success.
dog from athens
May 4th, 2012
11:27 pm
Try the Alabama coach, then the Utah coach…if they won’t come, then raid Florida…if that doesn’t work, rehire Yoculan. If she wants the job, offer her before the others…
greatest promoter of gymnastics the conference has ever seen, and 10 Nat’l Titles…..need I say more?
antonio romero
May 4th, 2012
11:58 pm
way to go mcgarity. be a tough guy with the gymnastics program. how about your football coach?
Who Me?
May 5th, 2012
12:48 am
You’d have to think Landers days are numbered – too much potential squandered in too many NCAA tournaments….yeah, I can see both he and Perno looking for work later this spring….
A-Ville Ranger
May 5th, 2012
12:49 am
It’d be nuts not to consider Yoculan. There isn’t another candidate that would be remotely on her level. We have the greatest in history who has indicated she might be interested, how can McGarlty shrug that off.
Johnny DangerDawg
May 5th, 2012
1:52 am
As an assistant coach, Jay Clark was a big part of some national championships. Thanks for all your hard work, Jay!
Buzz 2011
May 5th, 2012
4:45 am
Check his pockets for red panties and hash browns prior to leaving Dog campus!!
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
7:10 am
Success in winning championships in gymnastics this year goes to Alabama and Florida…..with Florida winning the SEC championship title and Bama winning the national championship title….hey…..that kind of sounds familar, doesn’t it?
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
7:20 am
@at GaGator…..
As many predicted on here, last year for the Gators football team was a transition year from spread offense to pro offense and players. This year will be a building year….and maybe even more if the young QBs play well.
Does anyone else find the “Latest News” pop up too big and bothersome? If the AJC keeps adding these pop ups, there will be no more room for reading articles or posting.
Rick
May 5th, 2012
8:07 am
Unfortunately, not all assistant coaches should be head coaches. Bottom line is his did not win enough. Tough act to follow. Move forward not back.
RHall55
May 5th, 2012
8:21 am
Hoepefully the Football Staff takes notice: UGA, great college town, great educational programs, great sports tradition, great area to recruit, and great enthusiastic fans!! Win Conference and National Championships and you win the fans with 10X the enthusiasm!! Coach Mike Bobo (more innovative offense), Coach Rodney Garner (better in-state recruiting), Coach Joe T (more up-to-date strength programs) and Will Friend (has yet to earn to be called Coach: poor, poor recruiting and we have to see how he develops his players!!), please take notice!! CMR, you are the CEO of football, make the right decisions!!
Dawg-ma
May 5th, 2012
8:58 am
Name one sport UGA is not the Ole Miss of the Sec-East…and in the middle of the richest athlete base in the nation. And it’s frigging free. I don’t get it.
Joey
May 5th, 2012
9:20 am
“In the last 10 years, our football team has won 100 games, been to some BCS bowls, dominated our in-state rival, and won three SEC championships.”
**************************************************
Jeff, if you’re gonna be such a Richt-fan-boy, get your facts correct – when was that 3rd SEC Championship?
And it’s 98 wins in the past 10 seasons – a decent accomplishment – but in an era of 13 or 14 games per season, Richt’s average of a little under 10 wins per season is just not that great.
kreedham
May 5th, 2012
9:21 am
The bar has been raised for Andy Landers now that Pat Summitt has retired. I think he’s got twoyears to take advantage of that opportunity . How old is he…he might be thinking of retiring anyway!
kreedham
May 5th, 2012
9:24 am
Hines Ward was right….why don’t these kids stay home. Why parents let their kids play for some of these coaches (Saban and Petrino, e.g.). Be cause they’re all thinking my son will some day be a pro and he’ll take care of mommy and daddy!
Jesus christ
May 5th, 2012
9:28 am
Most gymnasts are gay.
DawgNole
May 5th, 2012
10:00 am
Snoop Dawg
May 4th, 2012
7:44 pm
Eddie, you are the odd man out here– and a blind homer embecile!
_________________________
It’s imbecile, you imbecile!
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
10:27 am
@Dawg”Nole”
No well-educated English language person would use a single word to describe two consecutive nouns that follow it in a sentence. You can either be a blind homer, or you can be a blind imbecile…..but you can’t be a blind homer imbecile. That would be “embilcilic” sentence structure.
,,,,,,,and no “right in the head” Dawg would share a Dawg posting name with a “Nole”……as that would create a term that sound like thinking from an imbecile. I know you aren’t one, since only imbeciles root for the Seminoles from Free Shoes University,
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
10:28 am
“sounds like” in that last post.
It has begun
May 5th, 2012
10:30 am
The stars are aligning at UGA with Dr. Adams eventual walk from UGA and now this Lady Dogs Gym coach. he was a complete disaster like Ron Jirsa and several others.
Landers needs to go. I am in my mid 60s and do recall when Lnaders had great squads in the mid 80s but has been a HUGE non facto since and now, even his recruiting is a disaster. he will be gone at the end of 2012-13 …………I hope.
Perno also needs to be gone. This year if we do not advance to post season CWS play ……..he needs to be fired.
CMR absolutely needs to take UGA to the SEC title and a major major bowl in 2012 and another SEC title in 2013 and another huge bowl.
Folks ………….UGA is a major school with tons and tons and tons of money AND facilities in a state chock full of HS talent in all major sports.
I suspect McGarity and Clark had that heart to to heart sit down talk and the fact that we looked dreadful in our TOP program ( as far as titles) he knew that he had to take a hike.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
10:47 am
@Joey…….
You are correct. Richt’s Dawgs have only won 2 SEC titles under his leadership (the same as Florida and Auburn…..and one more SEC title than the great one, Satan (I mean Saban) has won at Bama during his tenure. But, when you consider Georgia did not win a single SEC title during the previous 10 years, Richt has taken Georgia to a much higher level…..and they are now a top 10 program nationally, no doubt. And Georgia has one of the nation’s best athletic programs as well….and the Florida trained AD at Georgia understands that winning championships is the single goal of every funded athletic sport on campus. He learned a lot from Mr. Foley in Gainesville.
Hugh Jass
May 5th, 2012
10:54 am
I went to UGA when Julie Ballard was on the team. Student tickets were $1 to any sporting event, including gymnastics. They were awesome and exciting to watch. It is funny how people become interested in any sport when you are watching a winner. Hopefully they will find the fight fit.
David
May 5th, 2012
10:59 am
This hit me like a ton of bricks falling on my head. He did not have enough time to coach this team to get over the success of the past and rebuild a great successful program toward the future. This year I say good to great performances than great to good performances that why they did not win the national championship.
I have my list of coaches, let bring the UF coach here, I know that may not happen, however, it is no harm in asking. I love the way she coaches her girls!!!!. I will miss Jay and Julie who will always be my friends
TheTruth
May 5th, 2012
11:13 am
Ron Jirsa redo…..
Gulf Shores Dawg
May 5th, 2012
11:16 am
@Drew…agree, the AJC new format is a mess…popups like I’m playing a video game, geez! Bring back YOCULAN!!!
BobbyDawg
May 5th, 2012
11:29 am
I’ll second Loyal Supporter’s comments (5/4 @10:51PM). Jay has been loyal and committed to the GymDog Program for over 17 years….that’s more than most people give to anything or anyone. Also, great assistants make good coaches great coaches…this is true in most any sport. Jay’s excellence as an assistant and his dominance in recruiting through all of those championship years should not go unnoticed. Yoculan is a legend and deserves the credit for those championships but it takes a staff and team to win. She was a great coach but had amazing talent to work with. As we know, past performance is no guarantee of future success. One Team; not One Person.
It is true that it is almost impossible to be successful following a legend in most any sport, usually because the one following can never duplicate the past and rarely gets time to make it his/her own. I solute Jay and his staff for their dedication. With his current underclassman talent, upperclassmen leaders, and star recruits, he has done the GymDogs a great service by setting up the next coaching staff for certain success. It’s what great coaches and great people do. Go Dawgs!
Bobby Bulldog
May 5th, 2012
11:42 am
We can only wish the Clarks the best. Jay’s problem was that he didn’t have a Jay on the staff to take over many of the things that he did for Suzanne. Typically it doesn’t work out too well with husband-wife teams working together for a number of reasons It would have been better for them to have foregone the additional salary so that Julie could have done a good job as mother and helpmeet to Jay instead of a poor job as beam coach.
Flying Tigers
May 5th, 2012
11:55 am
Shows just what ugag really is, no loyalty, no class, and a joke of a university…just show me the money is all ugag is about and nothing more…of course most of the SEC is this way so why should anyone be surprised. Good luck to the young man and his wife that gave so much to the cess pool only to be dumped on.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
12:29 pm
@David…..
Seriously….the gymnastics coach at Florida leaves to come to Georgia……never gonna happen!
That would be like Jesus leaving God and his coaching job in heaven to take the the coaching job in heaven with Saban….I mean Satan.
Just joshing….fundamental Christians and Dawg lovers everywhere……and, of course, Roll Tide and all loyal Satan…..I mean….Saban worshippers.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
12:31 pm
@Flying Tigers…….
I guess your wife was not frisky with you last night and you are in a bad mood today.
GT
May 5th, 2012
12:37 pm
And Richt is still there?
Fan of the Game
May 5th, 2012
1:34 pm
It is tuff for an assistant to take over the reigns, no matter what sport. He was probably in a no win situation. It is a tough business. I have always said that the two things that everybody can do is coach and teach school. The critics always have the answers but most have never been in the trenches or the fire. Like most of these sports show host.
Fan of the Game
May 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
GT – you better hope he leaves so you will have a chance to win again.
Joey
May 5th, 2012
3:15 pm
“Jay has been loyal and committed to the GymDog Program for over 17 years….”
**************************************************
Bobby Bulldog, I agree that it’s a shame that it didn’t work out for the Clarks, who gave it their best. I hope they land on their feet, and have success soon.
Here at UGA, we have our share of coaches who no doubt were loyal Dawgs, but just couldn’t get the job done, and Ray Goff leads that pack.
With Adams retirement announcement, there has been some negative talk of Vince Dooley’s coaching, mostly by the techies (with tiny stingers), but maybe a few by UGA fans. I won’t get into a peeing contest over this, but I will say that whenever and wherever Vince Dooley took his Bulldogs onto a playing field, at Tuscaloossa, Auburn, Knoxville, Jax, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, hell, even Ann Arbor, MI, he and his team had a shot to win. Dog Fans could seriously believe that Vince Dooley could (and did many times) win a coach against a favored team with more talent.
Does anybody seriously, honestly believe that these days?
Billdawg
May 5th, 2012
3:20 pm
Don’t look for Suzanne Yoculan to return..McGarity is not one of her fans. He will be looking for his on people to fill the job. Which could be a good thing are ? .
GT
May 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
Fan of the game for your info–GT stands for my name George Turner.Get a life!
David
May 5th, 2012
3:24 pm
Tampa Gator, no disrespect to the Gator program, coaches change jobs to get better pay and to work for elite sport programs. Because of the great success of all Florida athletic programs, the
gymnastics program does not get the respect that the other sports get at UF. I been down there about five meets and the best crowd was 6,000.
The Gym Dogs program is an elite program, they sell out their gym, they have raise this sport where other SEC programs had to get better to compete with them. Alabama, always have a great program won the last two NCAA Championship gives credit to the Gym dogs want they have done to this sport. In this sport, the Gym Dogs coaching job in gymnastics world is simplier to Kentucky coaching job for Basketball. I know you would disagree with that statement, but 10 NCAA National Championship teams classified an elite program. All you have to do is visit the Gym Dogs Practice Facility see all those pictures and awards on the wall there is greatness there. This job is a coaches dream job for anyone who get it!!!!
Billdawg
May 5th, 2012
3:37 pm
I agree David..should have alot to pick from.
Whopper Dawg
May 5th, 2012
4:11 pm
Obviously, there is a completely different standard applied to gymnastics than the football program. This guy finishes third three times and is gone. richie should have been gone long, long ago.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:15 pm
@David……
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit just don’t switch jobs. If you don’t believe me, ask Sara Palin.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:27 pm
“the gymnastics program (Florida) does not get the respect that the other sports get at UF. I been down there about five meets and the best crowd was 6,000.”
@David……
“A record crowd of 10,855 viewed the Jan. 18, 2008 gymnastics meet featuring No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Georgia at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center……. Florida gymnastics turned in the program’s third-highest attendance average of more than 6,100 per meet in 2011, which ranked fourth in the nation.”
-GatorZone.com
Also…..check out the photo of a Florida meet vs. Georgia at:
http://www.gatorzone.com/facilities/?venue=oconn&sport=gymna
Sorry, but you are wrong about the enthusiasm and respect the Florida gymnatics program gets in Gainesville. 4th hightest gymnastics attendance in the nation is plenty of respect…..and the volleyball team gets the same kind of respect.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:32 pm
also….David…..
Florida won the SEC gym title this year…..not Georgia. And…..again…somehow….an Alabama team….that did not win the SEC title…..won the national title….not Georgia. That has to be embarrassing to the glory of the Georgia program…..and that probably got the coach fired.
And….Florida has the #1 gymnist in the country…..and she is only a freshman. The coach ain’t gonna go anywhere…..not even Georgia.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:35 pm
……..and the Florida swim coach is not gonna go to Georgia either.
Ditto for the golf coach. Ditto for the baseball coach. Ditto for the basketball coaches. Ditto for the field hockey coach. Ditto for the tennis coach. Ditto…in fact….for the waterboys for all those teams. NOT GONNA HAPPEN……ask Newt Gingrich……you just don’t SWITCH unless the wife has a serious illness.
David
May 5th, 2012
4:37 pm
Another comment to Tampa Gator, I know Coach Rhonda at Florida. She loves Florida, I seen her preform as an gymnastic star at UCLA and at the Seoul Olympics. She has became a great coach there and has raise the program there to win SEC Championships; however, it puts tears to my eyes that gym is never sold out. Now, again you may say this may never happen because it a Georgia Florida thing, you might be right, however, if Coach Rhonda decides to leave Florida for the UGA job, that would be an excellent move for her to go to a program where gymnastics is worship and the support is great. If I was the Georgia AD, Rhonda would be my first choice, and I would contact her immediately and not wait. I would even give her a buy out contract, so Florida could find a new coach quickly.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:38 pm
The Florida women’s lacrosse team just won the national title today…..and the coach is not gonna to go to Georgia either.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:45 pm
@David…..
Well…you better hope the Bama coach does not retire……because Bama averages 2,500 more in attendance per game than Georgia……let the tears flow. And….again…..being ranked 4th in the nation in attendance is nothing to shed a tear about. I would expect…after the showing this year…that the average attendance will increase significantly next year at Florida for women’s gymnastics. It is a big time program with a big time coach….who ain’t gonna go to Georgia.
David
May 5th, 2012
4:46 pm
One more thing, TampaGator, your comments are so far in left field, I just do not understand you. You add stuff to your statements that has no meaning to the top story here. Why am I having this writing conversation with you, I have better things to read than your _ _ _ _!!!! You can fill in those blacks yourself!!!
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:50 pm
@David….
It is called being sick in bed on a beautiful day living by the beach…..and having nothing better to do…..and just having some fun.
P.S……those add ons are called “puns”……look up what a “pun” is…….has something to do with adding something to make light of a topic….. like gymnastics. I did not mean to frustrate you with my “puns.”
David
May 5th, 2012
4:54 pm
Sorry type O blanks
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:55 pm
……and what comments are out in left field?…..most of my comment are based on “facts”……not opinion or emotion…..
you know…..the swelling up inside your chest that brings forth tears or joy or sadness.
TampaGator
May 5th, 2012
4:57 pm
Gotta go now…..please don’t shed any tears…….(that is another pun). See ya.
David
May 5th, 2012
5:00 pm
I am staying in the beach front suite in Monte Carlo. No where near Florida or Georgia!
David
May 5th, 2012
5:01 pm
No tears here believe just making money loads of money
SugarHillDawg
May 5th, 2012
5:04 pm
I respect the man for realizing he wasn’t getting the job done. Now if Perno would only do the same.
KOOL
May 5th, 2012
7:03 pm
I betcha Suzanne Yoculan accelerated this termination. She is an evil, evil shrew. My hope is that McGarity will not consider bringing her trashiness back to the university.
Athens fan
May 5th, 2012
8:43 pm
TampaGator…I don’t think we’ve TRIED to hire a UF coach in the past 15 years. Let’s see…Bauerle opted to stay in Athens…Diaz opted to stay in Athens. Those are FACTS. When ONE coach from Gainesville DECIDES to stay there instead of come to Athens, please let us konw. You should just be glad Richt wanted Stafford more than Tebow. Do you really think Richt couldn’t have had him if he wanted? You won’t understand and aren’t expected to understand it. I’m glad you love the Gators, but Athens and UGA is a very special place. A great college town. And does the Tampa Trib have message boards? Why don’t you try those?
Athens fan
May 5th, 2012
8:46 pm
And just so you’ll know, the women’s lacrosse team, which is ranked No. 3…CONGRATS on that, it really is a great accomplishment for such a young program…won a CONFERENCE title, not a national title. They beat Northwestern to do so. Honest question. How in the world do you get in the a conference with Northwestern?
George
May 5th, 2012
9:28 pm
Different expectations for all coaches? This coach has done much better than football coach but gets the Ax. Amazing.
Athens (and now an OSU) fan
May 5th, 2012
9:58 pm
Come to think of it. Who WAS the last head coach to leave UGA for another school. TampaGator, I sure can think of Florida’s. You better hope OSU doesn’t want your basketball coaches or your swimming goach or your golf coaches or your tennis coaches or your track coaches or your gymnastic coach. You probably can sleep well that your baseball and softball coaches wouldn’t leave. Everyone else…they’re fair game.
Frustrated Dawg
May 5th, 2012
11:55 pm
Reading commenters makes you want to throw up. Jay Clark was rated one of the best recruiters in the nation by anyone that knows anything. Yoculan didn’t recruit all her star power over the years – he did. Clark was the engine behind her national championship teams and worked his butt off. This is a dumb reactionary move. Clark had killer talent this year and a phenomenal team that could’ve won a national title. They just happened to have the worst luck imaginable at the worst possible time.
You call people a legend because of their titles, I call them a legend when they live a life of integrity. These comments disgust me. Ignorance in bliss.
If you don’t really know anything about the situation or Yoculan and Clark’s tenuous relationship over the years – why make a public comment at all?
DAWGFAN
May 6th, 2012
12:02 am
I hate to see this guy go. Now on to something no one ever ask…….. WHy is Andy Landers still coaching the Womens basketball team? The players he recruits are good players but thjey never get any better under his coaching. I was just reading on ESPN that two of the top players in Georgia will sign with North Carolina! He cant recruit the elite players out of Georgia, he cant coach in game situations, his players dont improve! FIRE LANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
TJ
May 6th, 2012
9:00 am
Hmmm…so this is the quote from McGarity with supporting comments:
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to talk about that right now, but you can refer some of my old quotes about that.” [McGarity has always said he judges coaches on SEC championships and NCAA postseason performances]. 3 years in and he’s gone. Yet we’re giving Richt an extension. Where’s the judgment there? Granted, he’s won 2 SEC’s…in 11 years. His stubbornness with coaching decisions has cost us a few others, including a possible NC.
RHall55
May 6th, 2012
3:30 pm
Hopefully, Will Friend will resign if this year he doesn’t improve on recruiting top notch OL (John Theus was a given); not recruiting one single OL from the state of GA last year, plus missing out on many great out-of-state, and then missing a give-me transfer in Max Garcia!! Digging himself a hole plus UGA; many of SEC competitiors are getting some of the OL that UGA should be getting!! C’mon Man, do your job!!
Bama=home of the T-bag special
May 7th, 2012
6:07 pm
Jay best of luck in the future you are and always will be a DGD! And Tampa Gator hope you get feeling well soon..
joe taxpayer
May 7th, 2012
9:01 pm
Hines Ward even said we let our best kids get away.
Jborodawg
May 11th, 2012
12:29 pm
Yes, we thank Jay for his loyalty and years of service. But ninth and eleventh seem to show a downward trend. If the Gym Dogs had stayed in the top five, I’m sure Jay would still be coaching.
I’m a little concerned that McGarity indicated that Yoculan would not even be considered.