Mark Bradley

By D.Ellis

January 29, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this

Thanks to Coach Felton for putting stability..off the court….back into UGA basketball which had become a national joke. We can’t imagine how hard that must have been. I mean the guy held “Open” try outs for anyone on campus a few years ago. Results are what matters and they were not there. Thanks to coach Felton for hard work and dedication. It’s time for UGA basketball to get the “next level” coach in here. Hopefully it will happen.

By Big MIKE

January 29, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this

It just proves that walking the straight and narrow isn’t always great, this basketball program, and Ncaa basket ball needs a shot in the arm.You’re asking a coach to compete, when year end,and year out more emphasis is on getting big time players to the NBA.Coach Felton will get back on his feet, and UGA basketball will recover, but will it win big again? And if so, will it win consistently.As long as the NBA continues to take these young men before it’s there time, and not let them develop into good ball players,not only will UGA hurt, but all of college basketball, and you’ll see good coaches like Felton go to the next level to get away from what was once, one of the sweetest games college had to offer!

By HDB

January 29, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this

Coach Felton was the right man for UGA….a good coach in a bad situation!! Here’s hoping that he lands on his feet…and the next coach is able to build on Felton’s foundation…

By DawgGirl32

January 29, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this

I’m going to miss the great man he was but I am definitely ready for a change.

By BugKiller

January 29, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this

Mark, this is a sad day for me and for any Georgia fan, student, or alumni with a modicum of perspective.

Dennis Felton isn’t just a good man, he’s a great man.

I’ve met the man. I’ve looked into his eyes. I’ve shaken his hand.

He’s an outstanding person.

Mark, I believe he was dead man walking the moment he took this job just because Harrick had left it so radioactive.

And Mark, the thing is, the man who’s really to blame for all of the misfortune with the basketball program has never taken responsibility for his mess.

You know who I’m talking about, Mark:

Our infamous President, Michael Adams who forced Vince Dooley to hire his slimey, used-car salesman friend Jim Harrick over Dooley’s objections.

Adams should have been fired for the Harrick debacle alone, forget all of the other reasons such as giving his wife a six-figure “job” and such.

I want to take this last bit of space to personally thank Dennis Felton for always being the bigger man and always putting character first.

As much as I appreciate Mark Richt, I hope everyone notices how he’s been allowed to keep all the discipline of his problem children relatively in-house, while Felton took the hard line with Mercer, Brown, and Humphries in very public suspensions and dismissals.

Coach Felton, thank you for shepherding our program in UGA Sport’s darkest period since Jan Kemp.

Thank you for staying true to your impeccable character.

Thank you for the wonderful feeling of last year’s SEC Tournament. I’ll never forget watching 4 games in 3 days with 2 overtimes for 1 title.

Thank you for representing my university with class and dignity, and know that many of us rooted for you because of how good a person you are.

Thank you.

By Tired B-ball fan

January 29, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this

I really do thank Coach Felton for all the work he has done here at UGA. He was a man to take the mess no one else wanted. But for whatever reason, his coaching style just wasn’t getting the results or recruits.

Best of luck and success to a great man.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 10:50 AM | Link to this

I don’t think we can blame the NBA for Felton’s lack of success. He lost one recruit to the pros over six seasons. Georgia Tech lost Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young to the same draft.

By TW

January 29, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this

Felton will go elsewhere and do very well, as he is an outstanding coach.

Until UGA decides to makes the changes necessary for bringing in top talent (nobody wants to play in a barn), UGA will continue to scapegoat coaches for it’s basketball failures.

Durham got some good talent back in the day when nobody else in the SEC, except for Ky, cared about basketball.

Harrick brought in talent – but look what came with it, look at the kind of talent he scraped together.

Can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh!t. NOBODY is going to choose our crappy facility over the others they’re offered.

By The Truth

January 29, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this

NO MORE EXCUSES!!! FINALLY!!! WE WILL GET A BETTER COACH!!!

By baloney

January 29, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this

Louis Williams made a mistake going to the NBA. He could be about to get his degree from UGA right now, plus he could have helped them win a few more games.At least that was what some people have said.

By jmcguffey

January 29, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

coach thanks for a tremendous personal effort.

By **Frederick (Bailey) Douglass**

January 29, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

I have been amazed at how this guy keeps it going. He has been a very POOR recruiter and runs off all of the talent that he DOES trick into going to Athens. This was a no-brainer in my book. Yes, ethical standards should be high, but this guy was a walking regulation. Suspensions, dismissals, etc., etc. THESE ARE KIDS for crying out loud!!!

They are apt to make mistakes.

Maybe the new guy will know how to cultivate troubled talent in the way that all good coaches do. Is being a Boy Scout a prerequisite for averaging 20 and 10 in the SEC? I think not…

FBD

By Chris

January 29, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

How about a new gym to play in? Stageman is a dump!

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this

I know conventional wisdom holds that Adams forced Dooley to hire Harrick. I can only tell you that, while Adams admits suggesting Dooley consider Harrick, Dooley has told me repeatedly that the final decision to hire Harrick was his (meaning Dooley’s).

Do I think Harrick was Dooley’s absolute first choice? No. I believe that was Delaware’s Mike Brey, but Brey put Georgia on hold because he wanted to see if he could get the Notre Dame job. He didn’t that year — Matt Doherty did — but Brey got it the next season when Doherty left to replace Bill Guthridge at North Carolina.

By Gordon

January 29, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this

So you have to cheat, but just a little bit, to win? There is no “happy medium” between Felton and Harrick as far as integrity. Maybe Felton needed to soften his personality a little bit, but UGA’s next coach should not be any less uncompromising about team and school rules. He just needs to be a better coach.

Now about Hewitt….

By Martin Pyrz

January 29, 2009 11:02 AM | Link to this

I wanted to add my two cents worth in this as well. I had an opportunity to meet Coach Felton as well and I personally liked him. He’s a good man who runs a clean program. It’s a shame he didn’t have the success his integrity deserved. I hope he lands somewhere and is able to win. I don’t know what happened here but I hate to say this but he did need to go. It is a shame our basketball team looks lost most nights. I can see us struggling against florida from time to time but we have struggled against small schools too. We shouldn’t lose to Texas AM- corpus christi or loyola-chicago ever. This had to be done but I also hope Felton lands somewhere and succeeds as well. Go Dawgs!

By Mac

January 29, 2009 11:02 AM | Link to this

Good riddance. You can’t blame Felton for taking a job he was not qualified to do. That falls to Dooley. Felton was the basketball version of Ray Goff, though not as successful. Yikes!

By AceDawg

January 29, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this

Felton seems like a good guy that didn’t recruit well. UGA fans not packing the stands hurts too, but that also has to do with a program that hasn’t built enthusiasm. Felton will probably do well at a smaller school were recruiting big names is less critical.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 29, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

Thanks Coach Felton for trying your damnest to straighten out one screwed up program. You handled yourself and the program with class. Good luck in the future.

By reality check

January 29, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

Wtih all this talk of the success of Dennis Felton, I think he is available maybe we can hire him?

All joking aside, I do wish him well and hope he lands on his feet and has great success whereever he goes. Go DAWGS!

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this

“There are too many gifted players growing up in this state for the flagship university to be a basketball embarrassment.”

In football, UGA is the flagship univ. But in Bball, their isn’t a flagship univ in GA. UGA will NEVER get all the major recruits in GA. Not as long as GA Tech is in the ACC, where the Bball history is as rich as it comes. The recruits want to play against consistent national powers and be on national TV. That would happen much more in the ACC. GA Tech will always slightly win the Bball battle. And nothing UGA can do about it except move to the ACC, the BETTER Bball conference BY FAR!

By AceDawg

January 29, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this

Felton seems like a good guy that didn’t recruit well. UGA fans not packing the stands hurts too, but that also has to do with a program that hasn’t built enthusiasm. Felton will probably do well at a smaller school were recruiting big names is less critical.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this

“There are too many gifted players growing up in this state for the flagship university to be a basketball embarrassment.”

In football, UGA is the flagship univ. But in Bball, their isn’t a flagship univ in GA. UGA will NEVER get all the major recruits in GA. Not as long as GA Tech is in the ACC, where the Bball history is as rich as it comes. The recruits want to play against consistent national powers and be on national TV. That would happen much more in the ACC. GA Tech will always slightly win the Bball battle. And nothing UGA can do about it except move to the ACC, the BETTER Bball conference BY FAR!

By cb

January 29, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this

Hey Mark , Wht are the chacnes of UGA talking with Sam Mitchell . I heard that he is very interested in the job!

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

“There are too many gifted players growing up in this state for the flagship university to be a basketball embarrassment.”

In football, UGA is the flagship univ. But in Bball, their isn’t a flagship univ in GA. UGA will NEVER get all the major recruits in GA. Not as long as GA Tech is in the ACC, where the Bball history is as rich as it comes. The recruits want to play against consistent national powers and be on national TV. That would happen much more in the ACC. GA Tech will always slightly win the Bball battle. And nothing UGA can do about it except move to the ACC, the BETTER Bball conference BY FAR!

By AceDawg

January 29, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this

To joefly,

Yes Ga Tech has a better bball history, and the ACC has earned higher regards, but there are times in the 90’s and 2000’s where the SEC had lots of high quality teams beyond just Kentucky and Florida’s nat championship runs. Right now, the SEC fans are at fault for not packing the stands more and giving recruits enthusiasm about going to an SEC school. Clearly, the facilities and talent in SEC schools and states is not the problem.

By TheItalianDawg

January 29, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this

enough with this crap already, Felton is not an outstanding coach, he is not a good coach. HE IS A MEDIOCRE COACH BUT A GREAT PERSON. good coaching translate into winning!! very simple equation. Georgia should have never been a joke in any sport because it is the major school in a state that is ranked 4th in producing athletes in the whole country.I still cant understand how and WHY schools like Memphis, Louisville, connecticut, xavier….can have better BB program than georgia, it buzzles me!!! it really does.

By Bryan G

January 29, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this

If Felton is such a great man, why did he run off players at the rate of 2-3 a year? Toney, Idrissi, T. Brown, Mercer, Humphrey, and I know there’s more.

Georgia basketball is a poorly coached embarrassment right now. Let’s stop blowing Felton and start bringing up the facts: UGA is 9-49 on the road since he got the job. That’s not just bad, that’s AWFUL.

We turn the ball over and lose on the road. That’s called poor coaching. Time to go, Coach.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this

Alabama will hire Dennis Felton. He is a great coach. He was unfortunately in a program that is, and will never be, a great Bball program. H would be a great fit at Alabama. And he has a better shot of winning at Alabama. He would be UGA’s pimp for the next decade.

By GW

January 29, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this

Maybe now an article about UGA basketball can be written without the name Harrick in it. The $64,000 question on Felton will always be why did he have to kick more of his own recruits off the team than Harrick’s.

By Jeff

January 29, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this

Hopefully, Paul Hewitt will be next on the chopping block. Let’s bring competitive college basketball back to the State of Georgia!! Enough with the 2nd and 3rd tiered teams.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 29, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this

gdawginkalamazoo, He also won a Championship something our coach will NEVER EVER do.

By dawg1

January 29, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

Thank you Coach Felton.

You cleaned up an absolute mess at Georgia. Your standards of excellance in the classroom may not have held up on the court, but the last time I looked, UGA was an ACADEMIC institution.

I’m not sure another coach in the country could have performed any better. Wishing you and your family great happiness and success in, what I am sure, is a very bright future.

I hope and pray that who ever replaces you will keep to the standards that you have put into place.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this

Why in the world would Alabama hire someone who’d just been fired?

By Football Ken

January 29, 2009 11:20 AM | Link to this

Hey Mark,

It was time. Yes Felton brought us out of the Harrick embarrasment,but as you put it well, no way the states’s namesake university b-ball program should be this bad. Too much talent here. here’s so names I’d like to see with Grant. Few (Gonzaga), Miller (Xavier) and why not throw dollars at Dixon (Pitt), I think UGA can afford it.

By Football Ken

January 29, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Hey Mark,

It was time. Yes Felton brought us out of the Harrick embarrasment,but as you put it well, no way the states’s namesake university b-ball program should be this bad. Too much talent here. here’s some names I’d like to see with Grant. Few (Gonzaga), Miller (Xavier) and why not throw dollars at Dixon (Pitt), I think UGA can afford it.

By TheVoice

January 29, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Let us all sing the hallelujah chorus.

By brewdawg

January 29, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this

Mark

Agree with this article completely. The Felton hire was a great one that just didn’t work out. There is no reason this program can’t compete for an NCAA berth most years. I thought Felton deserved at least four years to turn the program around after the Harrick mess, and he got that and then some. However, it became abundantly clear that UGA was never going to get out of constant “rebuilding and retooling” mode. It’s time for new blood in the program. I have nothing but the best wishes for Felton in his future.

By 2 old 2.

January 29, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this

If you get your wish of a “hot shot coach” he, as Tubby did, will only use the UGA gig as a stepping stone to his “dream” job. Totally new facilities might change that but in today’s financial situation, is that possible? But, as Charlie says, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging”.

Good luck, Coach Felton. Your integrity will be missed.

By Chapple Belle

January 29, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this

Please - for the sake of all humanity - the Harrick thing is over - LET IT GO!

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this

If you want to know where UGA is in their basketball program, look at North Carolina State. UGA is following exactly in NC State’s footsteps. Except GA is more than a decade behind NC State in the progression. If you know the history of NC State, their NCAA probation, and their attempt to cleanup the program, you will see a mirror image of UGA Basketball. And the future isn’t very bright in UGA Bball.

By Brian

January 29, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

I like Anthony Grant. He would be a great fit. Up and coming young coach to build what we would like to see as a up and coming program.
I would certainly pick up the phone and call Sean Miller at Xavier. Don’t know if he would give us the time of day, but I would at least give hime the chance to say no. Mike Davis???…NO, Please.

By joefly is a dolt

January 29, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

Wow, how can you be so stupid? I would laugh my butt if Alabama hired Felton. If he couldn’t recruit at UGA when GA has way more talent then Alabama, how is he going to recruit there? Not to mention UGA has been a completely fundamentally unsound team in all aspects of the game, and has never show any purpose or philosophy ever on offense. They just kind of run around aimlessly.

I say hire him Alabama. You will be guranteed to be one of the worst teams in the SEC year in and year out.

By Larry M

January 29, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

I think Dawg fans are unrealistic if they think UGA basketball can ever be an “elite” program or regularly compete for NCAA/SEC titles. But there is no excuse for a school this big to not regularly be IN the NCAA tournament. If Tennessee and Florida can do it, there is no reason UGA can’t.

It seems like UGA had the highest turnover among players as anyone in the country under Felton. This leads to one of two possible conclusions: Felton was too strict in applying/interpreting the rules, or he was recruiting too many kids who simply were unable to follow the rules. Either way, it falls on Felton as the problem.

Good luck to you, CDF. He was what we needed following Harrick, but it is time for both parties to move on.

By coondawg69

January 29, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

I’m sick and tired of hearing that Felton was the right guy for the in a bad situation. That is pure and simple hog wash. A great coach makes his mark immediately. One is not wondering four or five years into his or her career wondering if this was a good hire. You want to talk about a coach that took over a bad situation… please, just take a look at Baylor. Baylor was in MUCH worse shape than Georgia just six short years ago. Which program is better? Felton’s or Scott Drew at Baylor?? Exactly.

By Drago

January 29, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this

I never felt that Felton ever wanted to be in Athens. Part of his job was to sell the program, not just to recruits, but to the public. I see no evidence that he really tried to improve the image of the program other than running players off. But he did look marvelous, nice suits and shoes. Hopefully he will land in a place where looking marvelous is that important. Looking at his record at WKY and UGA, has there ever been a coach who lost so consistently on the road?

By Blue Fox

January 29, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this

Wonder if Radakovich is paying attendtion to Damon Evan’s guts?? Can Paul Hewitt be far behing Eelton??

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this

Its hard for UGA fans to realize, maybe its not the coach. Maybe its the situation at UGA. GA Tech would be a better job in GA because they’re in the ACC.

I don’t care how much money UGA throws at coaches, you have NO SHOT at a big name coach. Its a lose/lose situation at UGA. Not a basketball conference and not even the most storied Bball program in the state. GA Tech is in the ACC. UGA can never overcome the Bball greatness of the ACC. So why would a good Bball coach want to go to a school that’s not a Bball school, playing in a football conference? Won’t happen! Be happy with the second-rate small school coaches. That’s all you’re gonna get.

By Blue Fox

January 29, 2009 11:40 AM | Link to this

Wonder if Radakovich is paying attendtion to Damon Evan’s guts?? Can Paul Hewitt be far behing Eelton??

By Blue Fox

January 29, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this

Wonder if Radakovich is paying attendtion to Damon Evan’s guts?? Can Paul Hewitt be far behing Eelton??

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 11:42 AM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt is not about to be fired. Tune in tomorrow and you’ll know why.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this

Think what you want. If you’re an SEC fan, you can’t possibly be knowledgeable about college Bball. D Felton would definitely do better at Alabama. Its the best Bball program in the state. That’s not true for UGA. Bama is also not spending the next two decades trying to overcome NCAA Sanctions in Bball, such as UGA will be doing. You don’t recover overnight. It takes a decade or more to rebuild the talent and reputation. Felton would own UGA if he was at Bama.

By Devildog

January 29, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this

Hey guys,

It’s ONLY basketball.

By Chuck Uga

January 29, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this

Derrick Favors hasn’t signed anything. If UGA gets the right man, he can always switch his commitment. The new coach will realize this, so Derrick, think again! You will have a better surrounding cast in Athens!! UGA is primed to move ahead of Ga Tech in hoops with the right man! Anthony Grant?! Let’s do this thing!

By Left to Right

January 29, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this

Fan interest will return. And I say “return” because fans were filling Steg. when Smith and Harrick were winning.

UGA hasn’t been able to win with any consistency because there hasn’t been a strong will to win by prior ADs. That has changed under Damon Evans. As is pointed out in this [http://georgiasports.blogspot.com/2009/01/sanford-stadium-and-stegeman-coliseum.html] excellent blog post, Evans has put more money into improving the facilities for the basketball program in the last 5 years than UGA had put into basketball in the previous 100 hundred years. And yes, that’s even adjusting for inflation.

Evans is serious about bringing a consistent, winning basketball program to Athens, and he will do what it takes to make it happen. That doesn’t mean Coach K is going to be walking through the door, but Evans will find the right fit.

Like UF in football prior to Spurrier, there is so much potential for UGA basketball, and it is just waiting to be tapped.

By Stan the Panther Fan

January 29, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this

Felton did beat Georgia State. A feat that Harrick could not accomplish.

Georgia does not care about basketball. At both of those games vs. GSU (Athens and the Dome), all that Georgia fans could say was “Get a football team, then you can call yourself a real school.”

By UGA fan

January 29, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this

2-3 for Felton vs. GA Tech is not bad for a team in a constant turmoil.

By Chuck Uga

January 29, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this

Joefly = village idiot.

By Jeff

January 29, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

Mark—In all honesty, I can’t think of anything that is happening tomorrow that would negate the fact that Hewitt should be fired. He may not be fired, but he should be. He is not elevating the GT Basketball program. It is a mediocre program at best. He’s had plenty of time to perform, but has not.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

Derrick Favors isn’t going to switch his commitment.

By Chuck Uga

January 29, 2009 11:57 AM | Link to this

Stan the panther fan, If UGA played Ga State every year in hoops, what would have happened? ‘Nuff said.

Lefty was the reason you ever won anything. My guess is you must think Ga State football is going to surpass UGA football. And no, Ga Tech isn’t either. UGA will win the SEC East and beat Tech in 2009. Book it.

By Judge Dawg

January 29, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this

I liked Felton and fhought he was a good coach. But he could not build a team. We do not have a good big man nor a point guard. We can not run a half court offense. He could not sell UGA basketball and that will be important for the new coach. Brown suits and orange ties look out of place to me. I think this is a good opportunity. The young talent is going to be good.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this

Nothing’s going to happen tomorrow, Hewitt-wise. But I am planning to write about Hewitt for Saturday’s paper, and I hope I’ll be able to explain why he won’t be fired.

By coondawg69

January 29, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this

FOLKS: to set the record straight…. please refer to your packet that the UGA athletic department sends out to all those who donate to the Athletic program. This pamphlet is entitled “Investing in Champions”. In this packet it gives the cumulative GPA for each varsity sport. Look at men’s basketball. A team that has what, 12 players, including Dave Bliss, Steve Newman, and Corey Butler didn’t even break a team GPA of 2.2. It’s true, please look it up. Discipline?? Integrity?? Given the results both on and off the court, not as far as I am concerned.

By ugamanager

January 29, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

As a former uga manager for some 3 seasons, I would just like to correct this “Felton was a great man” I keep hearing. Felton’s selfishness and lack of real concern for his players and staff was a huge reason for his downfall. Guys didn’t want to play for him and coaches didn’t want to coach for him. Felton’s pride came before his fall.

By Johnny DangerDawg

January 29, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Coach Felton, for restoring integrity at Georgia. I wish you the best, and I know that a fresh start will allow you do great things at your next job.

By 74Dawg

January 29, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is a good guy. Ga basketball has other problems,starting with facilities.If they want a winning program,they need to get off some of that money they are sitting on. That said, the record is what it is,and losing will always get you fired,unless you own the team.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

I saw Jamie Dixon’s name dropped above. Let’s think about that: A guy’s got a better program — Pitt was No. 1 in the land not so long ago — in a better league … and he’s going to chuck all that to come coach a program that has won one NCAA tournament game since 1996? Why do I think that’s not going to happen?

By Michael Scharff

January 29, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this

Yes, Stegman is a BAD facility in terms of creature comforts. However, since they added the new scoreboard and the big screen t.v., the inside of the gym is actually an exciting place to be when there is actually something exciting to watch. Don’t tell me Dawg fans can’t pack the Steg out. I know better. When I was in school and we had ‘Nique, we used to go crazy. One of the most amazing things I ever saw at Georgia was an afternoon game against LSU at the Steg that was on CBS. We packed the place literally to the rafters, and we were rocking and rolling. And yes, I know that was almost thirty years ago, but still, if the Gym Dawgs can pack the Steg, I think it shows there are still plenty of people who will show up if given a quality product to show up for.

By Cynic

January 29, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this

87 - 53

Once again, UGA gets smoked by the Gators!

AND get your coach fired!

So why didn’t y’all fire Coach Richt after the debacle in Jacksonville last fall?

Oh well, there’s always next year!

By Ben

January 29, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this

I’d love to get Anthony Grant in here. UGA is in a tough spot. I don’t think a marquee name is going to come here without a Nick Saban type deal and I think people are a little tentative with another mid-major-esque hire. If people say they didn’t think Felton could get it done when we hired him they’re lying. That said, I do like Grant. His experience with Donovan alone makes him stand above the rest. Hopefully Damon Evans will open the checkbook up. No reason the unversity can’t bring in fan dollars year round with football and basketball. Tell Adams how much money we’re LOSING by not having a good bball team. That should light a fire under him.

By GT

January 29, 2009 12:18 PM | Link to this

It is a sad day when we have to discuss a coach’s character as a plus or minus in the makeup of hiring him, it seems it use to be a given or we didn’t look that hard. I can remember the Wally Butts thing with Bear hit the news but not much was made of it and Bear is considered in most unbias circles as the greatest college coach of all times. Then we started a cottage industry of Bill Curry types that were not much at coaching but would scare you into hiring them or you will go straight to hell and make the check out to Bill Curry please. There is one reason you pay a man a million dollars or more and that is not to educate or preach, it is to win. The law is suppose to cover the rest though I fully expect someday there will be an Auburn coach or one from Tenn. going to jail for having a losing season. Maybe that is not a bad thing, it might make them think before they reach their hands out for the big check and give nothing in return but some jibberist about a clean program. College football is a little like this country, it started with one set of values and ended up with another. A man gets votes waving the flag and sounding good, but have you seen how much they are charging for those flags now days, more than football tickets.

By BBMan

January 29, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

Thanks to Coach Felton?? For what? He got millions for a bunch of losing seasons and a fluke SEC title. He got paid much more than he delivered. He should return some of those millions to uga.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

That’s the point, Ben. Georgia isn’t about to offer anyone a Saban-like deal to coach basketball. How could it? It’s got a small arena that goes unfilled.

By Ms. McBride

January 29, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

I haven’t gone through all the posts, but has anyone suggested that the best hire for UGA would be Coach Bobby Cremins?

By BS-on-BCS

January 29, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

Coach Felton is a winner and while the score sheet only shows Wins and Losses, it scarely says anything about the man.

Just one wild and crazy thought … Offer one single four year contract to Coach Bob Knight. His assignment; build and rebuild this team into a top-25 house and then “retire” again at conclusion of the fourth season. Coach Knight’s assistant coach would be groomed as his successor.

LoveGABasketballer.

By brewdawg

January 29, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

I’ve asked it before and I’ll ask it again: Why does UGA spend 30 million dollars on a PRACTICE facility but refuse to build a new arena?

By bbdawg

January 29, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

While Felton seemed to be a great pick, it became obvious that he did not have the personality to make his players and supporters want to “give their all”. I for one am glad that Evans will take his time and look for the right coach. I hope “a pleasing personality and abiltiy to relate to players and fans” will be at the top of the job description. It might be even more important that x’x and O’s.
Thanks to Felton. I never thought that his players weren’t playing hard.

By Adam

January 29, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this

How about Sam Mitchell or Lon Krugger? I have heard those two names thrown around

By Pitbull

January 29, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this

Coach Felton cleaned up the Harricks’ mess and instilled stability when he got to UGA. He did not cut corners and dismissed established players that did not do the academic work. He was above reproach, requiring his players to tend to their academics as well as their basketball.

He has a young team this year. It is sad that the AJC kept his teams losses in the public eye on a daily basis and it is sad UGA fired him. He is a good coach.

I am reminded of Knobler’s article on the front page of the AJC Sunday edition a couple of weeks ago, the gist of which was that athletics were taking precidence over academics in college sports and how wrong it that is. Here was a man working to do it the right way and the AJC dumps on him for a poor won loss record. It is hypocrisy.

I think he would have righted the ship both athletically and academically with a few more seasons and the development of his currently young and inexperienced players.

However as usual, the people who are incapable of delaying gratification have driven the process again. As Scott Peck wrote, the inability to delay gratification is the most prevalent form of personality disorder in the United States.

By Duluthtiger

January 29, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this

Mike Davis is at Missouri now not UAB

By Butts-Mehre Insider

January 29, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

Enough of all this talk about how great of a guy Felton was and how much integrity he displayed.

The fact of the matter is, he was easily the most universally disliked coach at all of UGA amongst people that worked in the AD. He was a complete a$$ that couldn’t care less about anyone but himself. On top of this, he never really seemed to embrace UGA, and refused to promote and sell the program to the students, HS coaches and players, and the public at large.

The reason he couldn’t recruit, is because the HS and AAU coaches in the state knew this as well, and hated him, and told all their players to not attend UGA. Felton was never going to ever bring in any talent of UGA because of his repuation around here in the business.

On top of this, his teams were extremely poorly coached. They were very poor fundamentally, there was no offensive personality at all, and they could never shoot, wether from the floor or the line.

Also, as was stated earlier, most people couldn’t stand working for him, and the players for the most part, didn’t like playing for him. This is one reason why there was so much ridiculous turn over in the program when it came to players. They didn’t like his demeanor or philosophy, and never bought into what he was trying to sell.

Fact is, there are a lot of people that are very pleased with this development in Butts-Mehre. The general feeling is ‘what took so long’, and good riddance. The fact that nobody liked him there made firing him that much of an easier decision.

By Bill Gullion

January 29, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

As long as Georgia plays in a second class facility, it’s going to have a second class basketball program. My father was a college basketball coach for thirty years. Using this background, I am of the opinion that UGA is making a major mistake letting their coach go. They aren’t going to find anyone better!

By GT08

January 29, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this

Felton should be applauded for the way he came in and ran the UGA bball program during his tenure. Uga will never be a top notch basketball team because of the horrible environment for bball at UGA. Stegeman is the worst place to play and the students don’t really rally around the team either. Recruits see that and thats why Favors or any HS student with the right mind wouldn’t go there. The only kids your going to get will be the ones that want to go out to the bars every other day to be seen and heard by everyone. Thos are the only kids Felton could recruit and it was seen by the players off the court problems. Evans is unrealistic…

By gagal04

January 29, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

Evans should go for Brad Brownell at Wright State. He is a young, energetic coach who recruits well. Parents and fans love him. He took UNCW to the NCAA’s twice, and led WSU to the tournament as well.
No, he doesn’t have big school experience, but he is the kind of guy that will take a team from mediocrity (or worse) to winning conference championships. A small fan base won’t faze him. Go for BROWNELL!!!!

By D.Ellis

January 29, 2009 12:42 PM | Link to this

If I was Damon Evans my first phone call would go to:

STEVE LAVIN….at least to gage his intrest

By Jesse

January 29, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

Felton to Bama…LOL at the dumb Dawg fans on this board. Mike Davis to georgia…LOL with that one too.

By GT08

January 29, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this

Felton should be applauded for the way he came in and ran the UGA bball program during his tenure. Uga will never be a top notch basketball team because of the horrible environment for bball at UGA. Stegeman is the worst place to play and the students don’t really rally around the team either. Recruits see that and thats why Favors or any HS student with the right mind wouldn’t go there. The only kids your going to get will be the ones that want to go out to the bars every other day to be seen and heard by everyone. Thos are the only kids Felton could recruit and it was seen by the players off the court problems. Evans is unrealistic…

By Cole D

January 29, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

I have been thinking for a while on who we could get to be our next coach. There are three guys who stick out to me. One is VCU Head Coach Anthony Grant. He is doing a great job at VCU and could be a good recruiter of the great African American talent that we have in Georgia seeing that he is black as well. Also he coached under Billy Donavan for many years.

My 2nd guy is Butler’s Head Coach Brad Stevens. He was 30-4 last year and I think they are something like 20-1 this season so he looks pretty good also and could be the next big up and coming young coach.

The 3rd guy is UNLV coach Lon Kruger. He has over 400 career wins and has taken multiple teams to the NCAAA Tourney i.e. UNLV, Illinois, Florida. In his first 2 years at Illinois they were as bad as we are and he took them to the tourney both years with a team that was thought to finish in the bottom of the Big 10. Also what he did with UNLV and getting them to the Sweet 16 is just amazing. Not to mention he made Florida great before Billy even got there. Those are 3 guys I think we should take a look at.

By Cole D

January 29, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

I have been thinking for a while on who we could get to be our next coach. There are three guys who stick out to me. One is VCU Head Coach Anthony Grant. He is doing a great job at VCU and could be a good recruiter of the great African American talent that we have in Georgia seeing that he is black as well. Also he coached under Billy Donavan for many years.

My 2nd guy is Butler’s Head Coach Brad Stevens. He was 30-4 last year and I think they are something like 20-1 this season so he looks pretty good also and could be the next big up and coming young coach.

The 3rd guy is UNLV coach Lon Kruger. He has over 400 career wins and has taken multiple teams to the NCAAA Tourney i.e. UNLV, Illinois, Florida. In his first 2 years at Illinois they were as bad as we are and he took them to the tourney both years with a team that was thought to finish in the bottom of the Big 10. Also what he did with UNLV and getting them to the Sweet 16 is just amazing. Not to mention he made Florida great before Billy even got there. Those are 3 guys I think we should take a look at.

By Enough of the arean excuse

January 29, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

Enough of these ridiculous excuses about the building not being nice enough. Have you ever been to or seen Cameron Indoor Arena? That place is a complete delapidated dump, yet Duke is one of the best programs year in and year out and always gets the top notch players out of HS. This just proves that the building itself doesn’t matter when it comes to winning. BTW, Duke was a doormat program before hiring Coach K.

By Kevin

January 29, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

alot of you guys make as many excuses as Felton did.We need a guy like Tubby who looks at why you can win big at UGA, and not someone like Felton who moaned and cried all the time about everything.(and yes, Stegman is awful, but it’s our dump)All i have to say Felton is “Don’t let the door hit you in the a* on the way out Dennis”. thanks for setting UGa basketball back in a way Jim Harrick never could, and making all UGA people suffer for 5 yrs. The only place I hope he lands is in jail: in my opinion he’s been stealing his salary for at least 3 years now.And he’s about as popular as AIDS in the community, so I don’t buy the “he’s a good man bull*”

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 29, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this

Mark so Saturday you are going to give us GT fans a lesson in Economics?

By 2BT

January 29, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this

Did I hear right, the mutts named Pee-Wee Herman as interim coach??

By OZZFEST

January 29, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this

The thing is, we still have one too many basketball coaches. Andy, please do us all a favor and retire already. Give a REAL woman a chance.

By Snoopdog

January 29, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this

Anyone who has been around Adams knows that his suggestions carry the authority of Henry VIII. Look what happened to Jim Donnan and Dooley. Adams said that he didn’t like the way some athletes were behaving, then he gave us Tony Cole and Dannel Ellerbee. Some fans tend to bash Donnan. He recruited David Green and turned some pretty good players over to Richt.

By GT08

January 29, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this

Hey Enough of the arean excuse: News Flash- Any HS player dreams about playing in Cameron Indoor - its the best place to play…great, enthusiastic fans right on the floor packed in every night along with the tradition that Cameron Indoor brings - it will give you goosebumps if you ever watch a game there.

That was the most ridiculous comment comparing Stegeman to Cameron Indoor.
Next time you try to make an argument use a little more sense when choosing an example. You are right though in that Coach K has contributed to the success of Duke as well as the atmosphere for basketball on campus.

By don

January 29, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

UGA needs a big name hire or needs to go after Brad Stevens. For all the hype, Grant hasn’t recruited that well at VCU or coached that well. His best player by far is Eric Maynor, who he inherited from Jeff Capel. His VCU team isn’t going to make the tournament this year. He is a complete role of the dice with a lighter resume than Felton brought to UGA. On the other hand, Stevens wins at better than a .900 clip and is doing so this year with a team made up primarily with freshman and sophomores, all guys he recruited.

Grant is fools gold,imo.

By JEWELL ROLLEN

January 29, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this

BALONEY….LOU WILLIAMS JUST SIGNED A 5 YEAR, $25 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL. I DON’T THINK HE MISSES UGA AT ALL. I DO AGREE THAT FELTON LET A LOT OF GREAT TALENT GET AWAY TO OTHER QUALITY PROGRAMS. AS FOR HEWITT, HE HAS A TOP 5 RECRUITING CLASS COMING IN, BUT IF HE DOESN’T WIN WITH IT, HE’S GONE AS WELL. GA TECH HAS MORE TURNOVERS THAN UGA, AND SHOOTS EVEN WORSE!

By John

January 29, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this

I don’t UGA should waste their time going after Anthony Grant. Being from Atlanta and now living in Richmond, I can assure you that Grant is very happy here in Richmond. After all when the LSU job came open last year he didn’t jump and with the BAMA job open as well he certainly has more options now, but he and his family love it here and don’t think he wants to give that up. Look elsewhere and leave Anthony Grant here !!

By WellWell

January 29, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

Might as well get a Florida coach—UF owns UGA in every catagory and will for a long time. Get use to it dogs.

By Voice of Reason

January 29, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

in the past 6 years an SEC school has won the NCAA title 2 times while an ACC school has won it once. Why all this talk of how much greater the ACC is in basketball. Without North Carolina and Duke the ACC is garbage.

By Voice of Reason

January 29, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

in the past 6 years an SEC school has won the NCAA title 2 times while an ACC school has won it once. Why all this talk of how much greater the ACC is in basketball. Without North Carolina Duke and recently Wake the ACC is garbage.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is the best coach going for any school looking for a new coach. He is a great person and a great coach. And when he gets a job at a true basketball school, he will rise quick. He had no shot at GA. Western KY is a basketball school. GA is not. ANY basketball school looking for a quality coach, D Felton IS the best thing going right now.

By downeastgator

January 29, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this

Was at the game last night and Dennis did not smile before, during or after the game. Perhaps he and the UGA AD had already talked and he knew his fate.

The Florida staff and Billy D was very warm to Dennis and his staff both pre-game and in post game comments. My read is that Billy thinks Felton is an excellent coach who just got himself into a tough situation.

Here’s hoping Dennis lands on his feet. He’s a good coach who trys to teach his players the right philosophies. He got sucked down by the negative momentum from Harrick and son.

By Matt

January 29, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this

For some to say that UGA does not have a good basketball facility is a crock. They sent over $30 million on the new basketball practice facilty and it is spectacular. It blows away anything Alabama has. Please, please, please…..NO MIKE DAVIS.

By James

January 29, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this

Andy Landers should be next! 800 wins, and not one national Championship! Are you kidding me! His idea of coaching is to scream at the girls all game. He has had way to much talent not to have won more important games

By Bo

January 29, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this

Mark:

I enjoyed reading your analysis. As well, your feedback in response to readers’ comments and questions. Your colleagues at AJC could and should learn a lot from you.

By Learn to comprehend

January 29, 2009 1:17 PM | Link to this

GT08, get a clue man. The comment about Cameron was in regards to the physical building itself, not the atmosphere. There is a big differnece between a physical structure, and atmosphere. Atmosphere is the direct result of the people inside of it, i.e. the fans. The reason the fans are so excited and rabid, and therefor atmosphere is electric, is because Duke wins big every single year. Before Coach K, they still had Cameron, and had not atmosphere there. If you look at the building itself, Cameron is an old run down dump. It’s a piece of crap. I’ve been there and seen it. The point is, the state of the physical building is way overrated. If your hypothesis that good buildings affects a programs ability to win, then Duke would of never become a top notch program since Cameron is a third rate dump of a building. Duke didn’t use it as an excuse, and UGA shouldn’t either. That’s just a losers attitude. It should also be noted that Alexander Coliseum is an old run down dump of a building from a physical and size standpoint. When tech isn’t really good, or playing a top notch team, the atmosphere there is pretty subdued as well.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

Mike Davis is indeed at UAB. He succeeded Mike Anderson, who left Birmingham to coach Missouri. Mike Davis and Mike Anderson are different individuals.

By chris

January 29, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

Maybe UGA will hire Paul Hewitt.

By renegade

January 29, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

What Bugkiller said

By My Ears Hurt

January 29, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

Please hire Dominique Wilkins so I wont have to listen to him on the Hawks broadcasts.

GL CDF.

By renegade

January 29, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

What Bugkiller said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

By George

January 29, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this

Though I don’t necessarily disagree with the decision, it is sad when a good man loses his job, especially when the man has helped his employer through a very difficult situation. I hope that all Dawg fans are wishing for better days both for the team and for Coach Felton.

By HSE

January 29, 2009 1:22 PM | Link to this

If Martinez’ defense doesn’t improve in 2009, dare we hope they fire him in the middle of the season? Dare we hope they fire him at the end of the season? After all, a precedent has been set.

By Voice of Practicality

January 29, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this

joefly,

UGa is the flagship university in Georgia. It was established in 1785 and has been the first school most people think of when they hear “Georgia.” The comment did not say the flagship basketball school or even flagship sports school.

By Gray Dawg

January 29, 2009 1:24 PM | Link to this

I would go straight to that Duke bench and get one of their assistants.

By Chris

January 29, 2009 1:24 PM | Link to this

In the cold light of hindsight, winning the 2008 SEC tournament was an unfortunate event. It kept the Bulldogs from moving on when they seemed primed to move on

It was you and the other AJC sports editors that implored UGA to keep Felton, Mark, so I hope your next column is a mea culpa. Every fan could see that the SEC ‘championship’ (how dumb is it to award a ‘championship’ based on a tournament instead of the season, anyway?) was not indicative of the program turning the corner.

“Right Hire, Wrong Results” probably sums up your typically lamestream thinking best. The right hire will get results, not just be a pendulum reaction to the last guy.

By Cole D

January 29, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this

You people that think Felton is a good coach are just plain dumb. I gave him a break the first 3 years he was our coach but his inability to give players second chances and his inability to recruit good players in a state where we have a top 5 player in the nation just about every year and about 10 in state players that are 4-5 stars. Part of being a good coach is getting good players and making mediocre players better. He did neither at UGA and I am glad he is gone. And he is not a good man he is an athiest and I don’t want that in my program. Thank the Lord he is gone!

By TeeTee

January 29, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this

CDF should be applauded for the way he came in and ran the UGA bball program during his tenure. Into the ground!!!

By ugamanager

January 29, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this

Thank you Butts-Mehre Insider. What you said was soooo true. You could not get any help from anyone in athletics at UGA b/c of Felton’s awful reputation. He was so selfish and over and over screwed the other departments. If you needed something and they knew you were with men’s basketball the answer was an emphatic no. Arthur Johnson and Damon both disliked Felton, and, unless you’re Bobby Knight, it’s hard to stay viable like that for long.

By MessedUpAtl

January 29, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this

Thank God both these gentlemen are black — if the AD were white, all the race pimps would have been up in arms. Phew. Political correctness has spared UGA some race-related headache.

By Matthew At The SLC

January 29, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

Please come back to UGA Tubby. I’ll take you camping any time you want on Brokeknees Mountain.

Sincerely, Matti At The SLC

By joefly

January 29, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this

Enough of the arean excuse said: “Have you ever been to or seen Cameron Indoor Arena? That place is a complete delapidated dump, yet Duke is one of the best programs year in and year out and always gets the top notch players out of HS…. BTW, Duke was a doormat program before hiring Coach K.”

I have attended multiple Bball games in both Cameron Indoor and Stegeman. You sir, or mam, DO NOT know what you are talking about. Before you enter Cameron Indoor, you get the sense of a Holy Place. And when you enter the arena seating area, you can almost hear the angels singing when you see the beautiful, stained woodwork and brass rails that encircle the arena seats. When you walk into Stegeman, you aren’t sure if you’re on UGA’s main campus or the Agriculture campus. And when you enter the seating area, you can almost smell the aroma of dung. When you walk around Cameron Indoor’s inside perimeter, you feel like you are in a Bball Hall of Fame, with all the photos, memorabilia, trophies, etc. You sir, are talking about two TOTALLY different atmospheres.

And Coach K didn’t build Duke overnight. It took him one to two decades. UGA will NEVER see that greatness.

By Meidzo

January 29, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this

Mike Davis is a Horrible coach, he is an incredible recruiter!

Please don’t do this to Georgia fans!

We need to find a young upcoming coach who has a style:

Press?, Run?, Gun?, Princeton?, Rebound?, Gimmick Defense?

The talent base is here!

By Hoosier Fan at UGA

January 29, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this

PLEASE do not hire Mike Davis - he didn’t do well at IU and hasn’t done well at UAB - He can recruit but he can’t coach.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is an easy man to respect but a difficult man to like. I won’t dispute that point.

By race pimp

January 29, 2009 1:34 PM | Link to this

Sounds like you’re in a lot of pain “MessedUpAtl “. You need to seek professional help. Don’t be ashamed. This thing will eat you alive. You will see racial issues at every turn. Best of luck with your problem. Remember, the first step is admitting that you have one.

By Hoosier Fan at UGA

January 29, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this

PLEASE do not hire Mike Davis - he didn’t do well at IU and hasn’t done well at UAB - He can recruit but he can’t coach.

By jacksondawg

January 29, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this

Sorry John Grant is on borrowed time.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

It didn’t take Mike Krzyzewski “one to two decades” at Duke. He had that program in the NCAA tournament in his fourth season in Durham and had it in the Final Four in his sixth. And that was when the ACC was truly a cutthroat league, the time of Dean Smith and Jordan and Perkins and Worthy and Sampson and Bias and Price and Salley and Valvano.

By Coastal

January 29, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this

UGA needs an Oliver Purnell type coach. Clemson is a stepping stone program for coaches just like UGA is. Both Schools are football first schools and always will be. I don’t expect Purnell to stay very much longer because some big school will be calling his name pretty soon. Same with South Carolina, Darin Horn will be gone in 3 years max. UGA just needs a mid-major young coach to get the program from the basement to the next level. Marshell from Witchia St. would work well.

By coondawg69

January 29, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this

Interesting that I do not recall seeing Sean Miller’s name anywhere. Sure, he went to Pitt and beat Georgia in the NCAA. Pitt’s program is very strong and probably not going to be looking for a coach any time soon.
A coach of that nature can be had.

Lon Kruger should have been brought in after Harrick. He put Florida on the map and rebuilt Illinois. I cannot imagine leaving the set up he has in Vegas. The environment at UNLV, in it’s totality, leads me to believe his ship has sailed.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 1:48 PM | Link to this

I’ll see you girls later. I’m really not sure why I have wasted so much time chatting about basketball at a non-Bball school. The SEC is a football conference. There is only one Bball school in the SEC conference. And its NOT Georgia. This basically means it must be a cold day in hll if the nation is really talking about an SEC Bball team NOT named KY. And sorry to burst your bubble, but the nation doesn’t really know you even fired your coach. They really don’t give a ___. They only care about schools that might give them fits in the NCAA Tournament year after year. And the only SEC school that has a history of that is KY. The SEC needs KY to be on its game. Without them, the SEC will continue to be the 6th or 7th best Bball conference. Every year, when I fill out my NCAA Bracket, the first thing I do is have EVERY SEC team losing in the first round. I usually do better than others who put trust in the loser SEC Bball teams. It works! You can count on most of them to choke when it really counts. It didn’t work a few years. But it works most years. D Felton, you will do well when you get a job at a real Bball School.

I’m out, Losers!

By Dawg Fud

January 29, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this

Mark - excellent point re: Coach K & Duke

By ToccoaDawg

January 29, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this

So let me get this straight. He wouldnt fire the worse Defensive Coordinator in Georgias history. But he fires a man who demands his players are accountable?

By chuck allison

January 29, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this

UGA, please take Paul Hewitt. We could throw in a “one and done” for you if you would assume Hewitt’s contract.

By Michael Scharff

January 29, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this

As I said a little earlier, the Steg is awful in terms of concession stands and restrooms, BUT, so, for that matter, is Sanford Stadium. In terms of places to play, I think that the arena itself is pretty decent. We have a good scoreboard, and a great A/V system. The students get PRIME seating in the middle of the arena, and they can be very supportive (and LOUD) when they actually have a product to cheer for. Now, admittedly, Auburn is in the midst of building a new facility, but, in the meantime, if you REALLY want to see a DUMP, try Eaves Colliseum. And for all you War Eagles out there, I am not taking shots at you or your team. But, holy cow, your current basketball facility is a disgrace (and, again, for fan comfort, ours isn’t much better). One of the MAJOR roadblocks to getting fans in the building occured when they started asking for a per ticket donation to the Athletic Fund in addition to the cost of Season tickets. As a fortunate fan who is able to attend all home football games, I have heard numerous fans comment that the per ticket donation for basketball tickets is what made them stop buying season tickets.

By GA Fan

January 29, 2009 2:10 PM | Link to this

I think the above comment about Coach Knight would be great. I know he could turn our program into a winning one.

By John

January 29, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this

I think Mike Davis would be a good hire. As soon as Gottfried “stepped down” at Alabama I thought Bama may look in-state and try and get Davis cause DeMarcus Cousins that big time recruit from Alabama who played Derrick Favors only a couple of weeks ago seems to have a relationship with Davis since he wanted it put in his scholarship that if Davis were let go then he’d want to be released from his scholarship so if Georgia hired Davis maybe Cousins would follow and we’d have the start of a good looking recruiting class.

By Michael Scharff

January 29, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this

joefly, I’m not sure when you last attended a game at Stegman, or if you ever did at all. There have not been animals housed at Stegman for years now. I am sorry you are such a bitter person.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 29, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this

Good God, what in the world is Coach K doing in this blog?

By Tech 79

January 29, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

Mark, I look forward to your column on Saturday. If you don’t have a dynamic offense in CBB then you better have some guards and small forwards that can hoist the 3-pointers. Hewitt has only had that once.

Poor free throw shooting, turn-overs and stand around offense screams coaching problem. And, Mark Price is working for the Hawks and not the Jackets???? Something is not right at the thriller dome.

By HI McDunnough

January 29, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

Are you Gregory’s agent or something? You’re the only one I’ve seen mention this guy for any open position. I’d prefer to have a guy that has been to the tourney in the last 4-5 years. Grant is probably the likely choice, but he shouldn’t be the first choice. Mike Davis? Puleeze. Your three candidates don’t inspire any UGA Basketball fan with an IQ above room temperature.

By leland

January 29, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr. MF—whoever they get, they should make sure at his interview that he knows all the rules. See what I’m saying—how could he teach somebody how to play if he doesn’t know the rules? He needs to know the rules. Your pal, Leland

By sanddbag

January 29, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this

I know Xavier is a better job than Georgia, and I know that overtures to lure Sean Miller to IU were not successful. However, the first step in this process should be a call to his agent with an offer to pay his $2m buyout and give him $1.5m dollars per year. That would almost double what he makes now. Don’t make it public and if he says no, move on.

The opportunity to recruit metro Atlanta should get him excited about the opportunity to coach here. Of course, the opportunity is only validated with a commitment to build a successful program and $1.5m should go a long way in doing that. He’s been to two elite 8’s in 5 years and can flat out coach.

Bobby Knight? Puhlease.. Mike Davis - intriguing candidate who could lure talent but any IU fan will tell you that he can’t coach. Brad Stevens and Anthony Grants are intriguing but by no means are they guaranteed commodities. Sean Miller is a guy who has the program significant in the SEC in 2 years and Nationally in 3 years.

By Poppy

January 29, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

I think it was time for Felton to go. Hopefully Evans and UGA will get a top notch coach who can bring great basketball back to Athens.

By Jake

January 29, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

Mark,

Why do people hold Mike Davis in such high regard in respect to the Georgia/Alabama openings.

Other than taking Bobby Knight’s recruits to the National Championship game, Davis has done NOTHING to warrant consideration for either job.

At UAB, he has shown that he’s unable to recruit, keep his players eligible, or make the postseason.

I know that he has a great relationship with highly regarded big man Demarcus Cousins, but would a school really pay big bucks and entrust a program to a coach in order to get a “one and done” recruit?

I like Mike Anderson better than Mike Davis.

By Bring Back The Glory

January 29, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this

Simple solution: Tevester Anderson

By UGAStudentBoredInClass

January 29, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this

I like the idea of Brad Brownell from Wright St. I used to watch his teams at UNCW (NC Wilmingtion) and went to him and Jerry Wainwright’s (formerly of UNCW & Richmond, now on the hot seat at DePaul) basketball camps at UNCW. Both coaches would light a fire under your a$$ and get on you if you didn’t do the drills right. And this was to a pack of 10-17 year olds. Both would be good hires for UGA because both have won games in the NCAA tournament, coached at nothing but small schools, and been able to recruit good players nationally while getting the community to buy into the team. Put Brownell or Wainwright here and they will not only sell the program to the fans but use the tremendous wealth of talent in Georgia that they never enjoyed at the mid-major schools. They both won NCAA Tournament games at an NC school which is more than Sidney Lowe can say at NC State and he gets recruits and plays in the ACC. Whoever we get lets hope he’s more of a “team first” type of guy. Nobody wanted to cheer for Felton’s teams because going to the Steg and seeing how disjointed they were was worse than watching it on TV or even listening to the disgusted UGA announcers. Go Dawgs! At least Hermann coached The Admiral?!

By Tee

January 29, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this

Yes, it is time for a much needed change. No doubt Felton is a good man, he just did not get it done. There is no way in the world that with the talent in Georgia, the basketball program at UGA is such a mess, especially on the court. Obviously we need a proven big-time coach who is willing to come to Athens. But in order to do that, UGA is going to have to pay big-time money (i.e. Jamie Dixon, Mark Few, etc.)to come and fix this mess as well as build a new on-campus arena. You get what you pay for!!! Granted, a new arena does not automatically mean championships, but it would surely send a message that UGA does CARE about its basketball programs. If big-time football schools like Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma can win on a consistent basis, surely UGA can. I am tired of “football” schools like Tennessee pass us by. The firing of Felton should put Andy Landers on notice. He has been a great coach with 800 wins and all, but the women’s team is stagnant. Even on the women’s side, the state’s best talent ends up at Tennessee, Duke, or UConn. There are those of us Dawg fans who do care about basketball. No disrespect to the Gym Dogs, those are fantastic young ladies who do an outstanding job, and to the tennis, golf, softball, and equestrian teams, but that won’t cut it!!!!! GET A COACH AND BUILD A NEW ARENA!!!!!!

By UGAStudentBoredInClass

January 29, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this

I like the idea of Brad Brownell from Wright St. I used to watch his teams at UNCW (NC Wilmingtion) and went to him and Jerry Wainwright’s (formerly of UNCW & Richmond, now on the hot seat at DePaul) basketball camps at UNCW. Both coaches would light a fire under your a$$ and get on you if you didn’t do the drills right. And this was to a pack of 10-17 year olds. Both would be good hires for UGA because both have won games in the NCAA tournament, coached at nothing but small schools, and been able to recruit good players nationally while getting the community to buy into the team. Put Brownell or Wainwright here and they will not only sell the program to the fans but use the tremendous wealth of talent in Georgia that they never enjoyed at the mid-major schools. They both won NCAA Tournament games at an NC school which is more than Sidney Lowe can say at NC State and he gets recruits and plays in the ACC. Whoever we get lets hope he’s more of a “team first” type of guy. Nobody wanted to cheer for Felton’s teams because going to the Steg and seeing how disjointed they were was worse than watching it on TV or even listening to the disgusted UGA announcers. Go Dawgs! At least Hermann coached The Admiral?!

By jacketbacker

January 29, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this

Georgia basketball is the most irrelevant sports team in the state…NOBODY cares!!!…Ugag fans don’t even care….its football season, recruitin’ and spring practice…thats it!…..i feel sorry for the poor slob who gets this job…..its the worst bball job in the country…

45-42!!!!!!

THWG

By DukeFan

January 29, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this

Mike Davis? You can’t be serious. Mike Davis and Indiana are an exact paralell to Dennis Felton and Georgia. Both were brought in to clean up a messy situation and couldn’t get the job done. The difference is Davis replaced someone with integrity.

As far as coach Knight is concerned, if you think Felton ran players off, just wait.

By BILLY JACK

January 29, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this

Damon-please hire Brad Stevens-Butler or Gary Williams-Maryland Williams has worn out his welcome at Maryland.He is an excellent coach and has 5-7 years left.We have one of the top fertile recruiting state in the country and year after year are getting beat in our own state.You can have a great basketball program at a football school.Williams will not be at Maryland next year.Pull the trigger.

By buckheadbill

January 29, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this

joefly, I hope you get your GT A** caught in a spider web. Enough of your bs. Don’t trash our good ole Steg. I have been to games in Mc Alexander and it ain’t no MSG. Sheeeesh, get back on the yeller jackets blog, please.

By Clay

January 29, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this

Felton could not recruit nor could he put together any decent offensive schemes. That is why he could not win!

Anytime UGA has put together back to back excellent season the fans have erupted and attendance soared but UGA has never developed the consistency needed to get the basketball program over the hump. A really good coach could turn that place upside down with excitement and easily sell out Stegman Coliseum if they will just win consistently.

By Greg

January 29, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this

NOTE TO TOCCOADAWG:

The AD hires and fires the head coach. The coach hires and fires HIS staff. I am in absolute shock that you are comparing an assistant coach in football to a head coach in basketball. Next time you chime in, read your statement 10 times before posting.

By Paul from Milton

January 29, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this

You know, being a fan of neither team I decided to pull for Tech in the last UGA-Tech football game. I will never make that mistake again. I have never seen such an obnoxious and classless bunch - and I am including Florida and Alabama fans in the mix. Grow up Tech Fans, you are really coming off as small-timers.

By DukeFan

January 29, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this

*Re:By Duluthtiger

Mike Davis is at Missouri now not UAB*

You are mistaken. Mike Anderson is at Missouri. He left UAB to go there. Mike Davis replaced him at UAB

By PHIL

January 29, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this

I’m with Bug Killer on the reason the B Ball program is in dsarray is our noble President. Obviously Vince will tell you Mark that HE hired Harrick. He doesn’t want to lose face. But we all know he was forced. What recruit would want to come to UGA when they know that the President of the University might ruin their careers on a whim? Like he pulled the rug out from under that team. Those kids did nothing wrong, they should not have been the ones punished.

By Tilldawg

January 29, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this

Hey joefly and other nerds from north avenue….

It is’nt like GT is some powerhouse program. UGA has the same amount of conference championships. GT has a few more NCAA appearances and one more Final Four. Big whop.

And to these statements that the ACC is the only real basketball conference, please. The SEC and ACC both have 10 NC and both have won 5 since 1992. So stop with the ACC is supperior crap.

I am glad Felton is gone and I wish we had not won the SECCG last year because we would have a new coach already building a new program.

There is no reason that UGA should be competitive year in and year out with the talent in this state. With our new facilities, we can compete with anyone in the SEC and ACC.

Just take UF for example, they were nothing until Spurrier got there in football and Donovan got there in basketball.

We can and should be competitive in basketball every year.

I believe that D. Evans believes this as well.

By Charles

January 29, 2009 3:15 PM | Link to this

Mark,

We can and will do better than any of the guys you mentioned. UGA is a much more attractive opportunity than you give it credit. Stegeman is about to undergo a major overhaul, and the practice facility, where coaches and players spend all their time, is world class. Atlanta, the mecca for hoops talent in this country, is right down the street. Athens is a beautiful college town and campus, with very solid academics. And basketball is literally the one untapped resource in an otherwise tremendous athletice dept.

To your candidates. Grant has accomplished nothing more than had Felton…less, in fact, and we’ve learned from our mistakes. This business about him being a great recruiter is overstated.

I’m convinced Brian Gregory has you on retainer. Guy’s a plan C or D.

Mike Davis doesn’t interest me at all.

UGA will go after a proven commodity and throw serious money around this time. That’s not me speculating, either. Furthermore, Damon knows basketball will be his legacy at UGA. I hope I don’t need to expound there. The Georgia job is sitting there waiting for someone to blow it’s roof off. Damon knows athletic departments are judged to a great extent by their hoops programs, and this hire will make a statement. Believe that.

You’re lowballing UGA based on the past. Frankly, I don’t blame you. But be prepared to sit back and take notice. Georgia has a lot of money and an A.D. who cares. The time has to be now for Georgia basketball…and Grant, Gregory, and Davis are hires that can go either way.

By Hoof Hearted

January 29, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this

All the “Stegeman sucks” talk is crazy. Most college basketball arenas are older. Granted, the Coliseum’s “architecture” on the outside is a bit odd, but at least it has some character. I prefer it to some soulless mega-arena (i.e. Thompson-Boling). Cameron Indoor Arena isn’t exactly “nice.” Alexander (the boob) in Atlanta is equivalent to Stegeman too, and they get good recruits there. A new arena will not change Georgia’s performance on the court. A new coach and some new players, on the other hand…

By JEWELL ROLLEN

January 29, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

TO TECH 79, MAN DID YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD! WHEN YOU HAVE MORE TURNOVERS THAN ASSISTS, AND ARE DEAD LAST IN FREE THROW SHOOTING AND 3 PT SHOOTING, YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE TWICE AS MANY GAMES AS YOU WIN….AND POOR COACHING AND A TEAM WITH A LOW BASKETBALL I.Q. GOES HAND IN HAND!

By ugarvz

January 29, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this

I looked Damon Evans in the eye when he hired Dennis Felton and told him he had made a major mistake. I watched how he treated the team right after he came to campus. It was obvious he was a bully and incompetent. I have waited for 5 years for Evans to admit the mistake he made. I just feel badly for all the young men that were hurt because of this decision.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this

Here’s my issue with pursuing guys like Lon Kruger and Sean Miller: Those guys are working at basketball schools in non-BCS leagues. I’m not sure they’d see Georgia, which isn’t a basketball school, as a step up.

By buford the redneck

January 29, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this

thank god that president adams forced damon evans to fire dennis felton. felton was more intrested in clothes than he was about winning. bring back harrick now! buford

By Jason

January 29, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this

James you are and idiot!!! Fire Andy Landers there should not be room for you to post a comment like that on here.

This will be a great test for Evans being his first real chance to pick a coach for a the Men’s Basketball Program. It needs to be someone that can “sell” the program to get the recruits and people in seats to watch and knows the X’s and O’s. Someone young and energetic!!!

Dennis Felton might have been a good man but he was not very appealing.

Unfortunately, until the program wins no one will attend games.

By griffdawg1

January 29, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this

What about Leon Rice?

By HSE

January 29, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this

To Greg: Technically you are correct. But don’t think for one moment the head coach, Richt or anyone else, can’t be told whom to hire and fire. Especially if you have strong personalities calling the shots. The head coach doesn’t have to do it, but, then, his only alternative is to quit or be fired. Coaches like Spurrier (at the height of his career) can pretty well call their own shots, but there are not many of them around who can.

By dan Dawg

January 29, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this

The best coach the Dawgs could get was just fired. I do not understand this firing. What is more important than winning? I’ll tell you some things that are more important. Education, making a man out of a boy, teaching that there is a real world out there and helping them to rise to the challenge of meeting it prepared for life. Felton did this. Just ask his players. And he did a lot with less tallent than most universities. The recruting ploblem was not his. The blame is on the University of Georgia, the athletic director, the alumni and the athletic association. There will always be a recruting problem as long as the team has to play in that pig sty. There are no great players that want to play in that gym. I have seen better high school facilities. Come on folks. This is the University of Georgia, one of the top public universities in the nation and we cannot provide better a facility than that pig’s sty? There is a great coach available. His name is Dennis Felton.

By HOG

January 29, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this

Nolan Richardson!

By Jake

January 29, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

Why is no one mentioning Sam Mitchell (ex-NBA coach of the year) who just last week said he would be interested at the job. He has NBA credibility, Georgia ties, and is geniunely a nice man that everyone would love to play for.

By Jake

January 29, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this

Why is no one mentioning Sam Mitchell (former NBA coach of the year) who just last week said he would love to coach the Dawgs. He has NBA coaching and playing experience, Georgia ties, and is a genuinely nice human being that top talent would respect and love to play for.

By Billy

January 29, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

I am sorry to see Felton go. He is a good man and a smart basketball coach. I cannot understand why he had so little success at Georgia. I listened to his call-in shows and he seemed to know much about the game. I wish you the best of luck in the future, Felton.

By boogerbear

January 29, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this

Actually Dooley narrowed his choices to Brey and Buzz Peterson. He interviewed both. Buzz blew the interview when he told Dooley that he was ready to leave St. Louis because they had too many Italians and Catholics there. Guess what Vince is.

Brey did well and was the leader. Then Adams threw Harrick’s name on the table. Truly a last minute addition. Eager to please Adams because Dooley was concerned about his contract renewal and because Adams was driving him nuts, Dooley agreed to meet Harrick at the Atl airport. Dooley liked Harrick. So Dooley hired him, but it was because of Adams.

Harrick actually was the best basketball x and o coach UGA ever had. Too bad he couldn’t take care of business off the court.

By Robert

January 29, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

Hate this happened for Coach Felton. Think he is a good coach but he has had bad luck with losing so many recruits (Humphrey, Mercer, Brown, etc) for various reasons. Then the biggest recruit he signed (Williams) went straight to the NBA. He’ll bounce back somewhere.

Next coach certainly needs to keep the GA talent in GA.

By dd

January 29, 2009 4:08 PM | Link to this

Mark, what do think about looking at Duke & NC assistant coaches?

By Aaron Neville

January 29, 2009 4:08 PM | Link to this

He can always come back to singing with us.

By Will

January 29, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton conducted himself and demanded of his players a level of character and responsibility that UGA should be proud of.

What I could never understand was the disconnect between what Coach Felton demanded of his players and the type of person he continued to recruit.

If you look at many of the players dismissed by Coach Felton, almost anyone who follows college basketball will tell you that they weren’t too surprised given the character of the individual.

I wish only the best for Coach Felton.

Given the history of basketball at UGA, it is very unlikely Damon Evans will be able to attract a big-time current head coach. That means the next coach will likely be an assistant from a major basketball school or a head coach from a mid-major or below.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 29, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this

Here is Evans chance to get the program going in a positive direction. It will be interesting to see who and how much they are willing to throw at it. BTW I don’t think you win because of the building you are playing in. I mean Ford Field is an awesome facility by any means.

By Mike in DC

January 29, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this

As a ‘69 grad, I have seen a lot of round ball at UGA. A commendation to Damon for decisive action…even if long overdue. The turmoil in the program with all the players leaving clearly shows a problem. Felton has been the CEO and for some reason has not been able to mentor, motivate, coach, and recruit at the level necessary. Let’s go for the gold ring of a coach who can inspire and motivate fans and players. I do not buy the notion we can not be a first rate program. Go Dawgs!!!

By Mike in DC

January 29, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

As a ‘69 grad, I have seen a lot of round ball at UGA. A commendation to Damon for decisive action…even if long overdue. The turmoil in the program with all the players leaving clearly shows a problem. Felton has been the CEO and for some reason has not been able to mentor, motivate, coach, and recruit at the level necessary. Let’s go for the gold ring of a coach who can inspire and motivate fans and players. I do not buy the notion we can not be a first rate program. Go Dawgs!!!

By GAonmyMind

January 29, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

Now is the time to fire the women’s coach also.Andy Landers has not been that great of a coach either and he has had the talent.

By Elvis

January 29, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

The Gymdogs do not seem to have trouble getting fans or athletes to come to The Stegasaurus.

When it was “The Tub” that place was rockin’.

Blaming facilities is too easy. The problem must be some deep, dark secret.

For cryin’ out loud we did not make the Final 4 until AFTER Nique left. UGA B-ball may be cursed…

By shannon

January 29, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this

One of these:

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 4:46 PM | Link to this

FYI, I’ve just filed a list of possible replacements. (It’s set to run in tomorrow’s print edition.) Before you accuse me of flip-flopping, let me point out that Brian Gregory’s name isn’t on the list because I don’t think Georgia will be terribly interested in him. I would be, but I’m not Damon Evans.

My list: Anthony Grant, VCU; Lon Kruger, UNLV; Scott Drew, Baylor; Brad Stevens, Butler and Mike Davis, UAB.

I also threw in a wild card: Orlando Smith.

By Steve

January 29, 2009 4:55 PM | Link to this

I know I’m in the minority here, but I really wanted to give Felton 2 more years. His last 2 recruiting classes were ‘his’ kind of players, great academics and good players, and 10 of the 13 scholarship players are either Freshmen or Sophmores. He did it the right way, with integrity and character, but he just couldn’t win.

By Telling It Like It Is

January 29, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this

Jawja will never get the big name players to come and play so be satisfied with 14-14 seasons at best.Jawja is just a stopping point for coaches on the way to bigger programs. Vandy can recruit good athletes with some smarts so they can compete. Nashville has a lot more things to do than Athens. Tech will always recruit better than Jawja because they are in Atlanta. It will be very difficult for any coach to recruit players to come to Athens in this day and time.

By fresh

January 29, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this

hey mark, i would to see anthony grant at uga, but if he is not interested, i would like to see uga, make a run at p.j. carlesimo. he was a great college coach, but he was awful in the nba. he would bring name recognition to the program and recruits will know that he coached in the nba. rick pitino, sidney lowe, lon kruger, and john calipari all failed in the nba, but look what they are doing in college.

By Diggity Dawg

January 29, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

Glad that Felton is history; he merits no further mention.

Now can we do something about putting the students where they will be the background for TV. All you see are season ticket holders’ seats that aren’t being used. This makes a bad attendance situation look even worse. As for Stegeman, it really WAS a barn - complete with the annual rodeo — when I was in school (84-88). Those who say it still is one probably haven’t been there in 10 years.

By RedDevilDawg

January 29, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

What about Chris Collins or Wojo at Duke? May be a long shot but I think those guys are possibly ready to move on from Duke.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

Don’t see an obvious choice on the North Carolina staff. And neither Chris Collins nor Wojo — Duke assistants — does much for me. But thanks for asking.

By TRD23

January 29, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this

UGA should hire Matta from Kennesaw State Univ. His brother is the head coach at Ohio State.

By RedDevilDawg

January 29, 2009 5:11 PM | Link to this

It was a shot in the dark, thanks for your response, Mark. I have faith that Damon Evans will be able to find an up-and-coming coach to right the ship.

By derrickl

January 29, 2009 5:12 PM | Link to this

How about Charlton Young, former ga southerm pt guard and hewitt’s #2?

By coondawg69

January 29, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this

Mr. Bradley, while I enjoyed today’s article, I respectfully disagree about Georgia not being a step up. Is Georgia a step up over Xavier?? Okay, on the surface, maybe not. But let’s dig a little deeper. That’s where the sales job from Damon Evans comes into play.

You make the commitment to the program. Much like past commercials w/ Oldsmobile saying “this isn’t your dad’s Oldsmobile”, Damon would let a potential coach know that this is not Georgia athletics under a past regime. He is here to win. Damon is selling a brand and setting the standard. In my opinion, that standard can be richer in a large scale SEC program than that of, say an A-10 school. As you know, millions of $$$ rolling in thanks to ESPN and CBS football deals.

Does Jeremy Foley simply hire the best applicant or does he go out and literally recruit the best coaches? Heck, he offered Jack Baurele everything under the sun to get him in Gainesville. Ultimately, Jack stayed in Athens, and thankfully so. I know, this is just swimming, but that’s my point, that was just swimming.

Ultimately, the culture and expectations have to change in Athens. For Damon Evans, making a great sales pitch should not be that difficult, nor will getting such a coach and changing the culture in Athens be that easy.

Yes, I like Sean Miller, but then again, I’m not paid large sums to make such decisions. I firmly believe that this hire will set the tone for Damon’s legacy at Georgia.

Lon Kruger?? I firmly believe he could have been had after his time w/ the Hawks. He’s done the SEC and Big 10 thing, and at a high level. Lon has it too good in Vegas now.

Thanks again and have a great day

By derrickl

January 29, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this

How about Charlton Young, former ga southerm pt guard and hewitt’s #2? I like mike davis too..

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this

I put Sean Miller in the same category with Tom Crean, whom I recommended to take over after Harrick. But Crean, who was in the process of taking Marquette to the Final Four, wasn’t going to leave a very good job for a school that wasn’t a hoops brand name. So he waited five years and wound up at Indiana, which is a brand name.

I see Miller doing likewise.

By Bill

January 29, 2009 5:23 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is a great man and coach. He took time to talk with my son each time my son approached him. I will miss Coach Felton. He did inherit a mess. I thought he should have until next year. This was the first signing class that had not had many problems. Combine that with who is coming next year and the beginnings of a new era was approaching. I agree with AD Evans that we need to lock down GA like in football but many people complain about football guys getting away and us not being able to go for a national championship.

Good luck and best wishes to Coach Felton.

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this

By the way, Damon Evans didn’t hire Dennis Felton. Vince Dooley did.

By Dawgma

January 29, 2009 5:31 PM | Link to this

Felton was a good man in no-win position.

It will be hard for UGA to get a top-level coach with the lousy fan support. We are the basketball equivalent of Tech football. Great frontrunners when we are good - no-shows when times are hard.

To those complaining about Stegman Hall, take a trip to Cameron Indoor Arena. It is a glorfied gymnasium with pull-out bleachers on the floor. It’s not the facility, it’s the passion. And all the banners don’t hurt

By bill

January 29, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this

As a Tech fan, I admired Felton and am ….honestly…sorry to see a good man fired. I respect him and he has tried to sort out a big mess of problems with academics since he was hired. I wish him well…as for your sake, you better pounce on Grant. Tremendous coach who will be somewhere else next year building a winning program. Best mid major coach out there….bad for Tech, but great for you if you get him. Good Luck!

By Mark

January 29, 2009 5:39 PM | Link to this

I have praise for Coach Felton too. His stance on player conduct is greatly admired. He is there to coach BB but also to develop the character of these young men. Teach them some life lessons. Bad apples spoil the chemistry of a team and also the reputation of the program.

Thanks coach, best wishes to you and your family.

By cya

January 29, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this

The man has 1.5 million to tide him over until his next job. Move on. Let’s see how Coach Hermann, who coached David Robinson in college, fares. Good luck, Coach Pete!! GO DAWGS

By Mark Bradley

January 29, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this

Lo and behold, interim coach Hermann will make his debut against Alabama, which has an interim coach itself.

Winner gets to coach another week, I guess.

By CarolinaDawg

January 29, 2009 6:19 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton had the lowest percentage of player compliance with UGA Athletic standards than any other UGA sports team. He had more players with behavior and acadenic issues than during Harrick’s tenure.

All this “he was the right coach for the moment” is malarky! He failed on every account.

By brewdawg

January 29, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this

Mark

I see and understand your above points about Miller and Crean, but that just means UGA needs a coach that can make us a brand name. I don’t think Florida was much of a brand name before Donovan, but they certainly are now. I just see no reason why UGA can’t be competitive in the SEC every year. I think this hire will be even more important to the future of the program than Felton’s was. I really do.

By Early 80s Dawg

January 29, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this

Boogerbear @ 4:01 nailed it.

By John Withers

January 29, 2009 7:25 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is a good basketball mind. Good luck, Dennis, and Thanks.

Bobby Knight should be the next UGA basketball coach. Give him 5 years. He will build a WAR CHEST of recruits, graduate em all and whip tech’s butt regularly while he competes for the SEC and — who knows— maybe even a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. WHY NOT??? He may even want to stay longer than 5 years. If not Bobby, then TUBBY is our man!!!!

By Joey Porter

January 29, 2009 7:35 PM | Link to this

THERE IS ONLY ONE COACH WHO IS CAPABLE OF WAKING THIS SLEEPING GIANT AND CREATING THE BUZZ TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY.

NOLAN RICHARDSON

40 MINUTES OF HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Top Dawg

January 29, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

What’s Hugh Durham up to these days? Is he available?

By Chuck Uga

January 29, 2009 7:46 PM | Link to this

MARK: You’ve been wrong many times before, and you’ll be wrong again. One, UGA will hire a Saban-like BB coach, and two, that new coach will make a run at Favors who PUBLICLY STATED he would take another look at UGA if they got a new coach.

By warhorse

January 29, 2009 8:05 PM | Link to this

Gators wipe out another UGA coach.

Next up. Mark Richt if he suffers another devastation in Jacksonville, he may be gone at a Sunday press conference. Richt should beg Donna Shalala for a shot at the Miami job to replace the dimwitted Randi Shanon.

By el martin

January 29, 2009 8:56 PM | Link to this

The SEC in general and Georgia in particular is a basketball wasteland!

But I do agree on Bob Knight.

By Rod

January 29, 2009 9:55 PM | Link to this

Oh Bradley, put a sock in it. Moore got it right, bring the TUBBy back.

By PHIL

January 29, 2009 10:29 PM | Link to this

Where is the IQ test for “James”. I thought the AJC had added an IQ level that had to be met before a post? Landers just won his 3rd in a row in a rebuilding year by beating #4 and undefeated Auburn. Lets send him off with Coach Martinez only one season past the #2 total defense in the nation. Idiots.

By corey

January 29, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this

STEVE LAVIN

By Good Grief!

January 29, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this

For goodness sakes, please let the Harrick era go! It had a hell of a lot to do with the first years but not now! Felton had enough time and failed. Even T. Moore admits that he failed…that should be enough to prove it if you understand my point.

This blog is filled with trash from supporters of other schools. Sorry you don’t have a life of your own.

Every very good coach “wouldn’t want to come here, wouldn’t want to leave where they are, blah, blah, blah.” With that attitude we won’t get anyone. Just hire the best high school coach in the state you can find interested and move on. If you want to get in the big leagues you MUST drop that defeatist attitude and move forward and upward. With the right offer one might be surprised who would listen.

By turkey

January 30, 2009 12:17 AM | Link to this

And take Willie Martinez with you.

By Vic Johnson

January 30, 2009 6:51 AM | Link to this

I would like to see an interview granted to KENO DAVIS, currently at Providence College. The blood lines are there, success is there, and I think UGA could make a better deal than Providence.

My darkhorse, Mark Slonaker, Mercer University.

By T-rey

January 30, 2009 7:42 AM | Link to this

I absolutely love the idea of Anthony Grant becoming the coach of the UGA men’s basketball team. Coach Grant would be the best choice because of his youth as well as his basketball knowledge. Grant served as a assistant at Florida for the first of the two titles Florida won. He obviously learned from the best at Florida on how to win SEC games. He also brings an intensity to game that Felton was lacking, and he gets his players to lay their hearts on the line when they go to battle for him. Felton obviously was not able to get the same love from his players.

By JD

January 30, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget Lander’s failure to get the state’s rich lady’s talent to UGA. That program’s fall is even more evident. Could old dank Stegman hurt the school’s chance to land Georgia’s best?

By BobbyDDawg

January 30, 2009 8:33 AM | Link to this

Not that much stability with Felton in my opinion. He must have set records for the number of players dismissed from a team during his time here. He was good at doling out discipline but he stunk at instilling it in his players.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

Mark Slonaker is no longer the Mercer coach. He was fired after last season.

But he is a Georgia grad and a fine fellow.

By sope creek

January 30, 2009 9:16 AM | Link to this

Well, I’ll be surprised if Mark’s list of likely candidates ends up being anything close to the list Evans uses to select UGA’s next coach. If they do look at Scott Drew, I hope they do a deep level of due diligence with Indiana high school and AAU coaches to make sure they know what Drew’s recruiting is like, in terms of NCAA compliance. And from Drew’s perspective, why would he want to go from a B12 school to an SEC school? The B12 is clearly one of the top 3 conferences year in and year out, and the SEC is up and down … and somewhat more down now with the level of coaching talent now present in the SEC.

Brad Stevens is a very good coach in the perfect context for him, where he can get passed over high bball IQ kids from Indiana in quantity to play at a school like Butler and win in a mid-major confrerence. I’m not sure that will translate well at Georgia, though, because the SEC requires superior athletes to compete.

Kruger? I doubt he’d want to come back to Georgia after the melancholy stint with the Hawks. That history would always affect whatever he would do at UGA .

Tubby? I don’t think Tubby would leave what he’s building at Minnesota to return to a place that apparently wasn’t a satisfactory situation for an him before. Besides, the B10 is an up and coming power conference in bball again, with its excellent stable of coaches … you can argue that only Iowa might - and that’s might - have a weak coach.

Mike Davis? All you have to do is read the Indiana and UAB message boards to know the frustration that both programs have had with the way Davis runs his programs, coaches games, recruits, interacts with high school coaches, throws his players under the bus time and again and … well, all I can say is that I would hope Evans would perform deep due diligence on Davis, too. (Besides, Davis’ dream job is his alma mater, Alabama, which just so happens to have an opening. Wouldn’t it be rich if Davis were to get the Alabama job and, as some rumors are suggesting, Georgia wants to hire Bob Knight … .).

And that leaves Anthony Grant. He might be exactly the right guy … and I know nothing about him. Maybe that’s a name to start with on the long list … along with maybe Bob Knight?

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this

Sam Mitchell will be the next UGA coach. He won’t be the first choice, but will ultimately get the job.

By Hoop Master

January 30, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this

I have known Felton for many years. He is an ok person if he wants to recruit your son. Once he sucks you into his program, you soon find out that: 1. He is not a good coach. 2. He does not develope his players. 3. He has no relationship with his players. 4. He is only about himself and his family. 5. His coaching philosophy did not fit his teams. 6. He always had excuses and never took blame for anything.

When Adrissi left the team without any comment and never called, I knew something was very wrong. Felton’s response was that Adrissi had issues. We did want him anymore anyway with his attitude. After that you could notice Toney at games not even going to the huddles during timeouts. You would notice when the substitution buzzer would sound, all five players would look to the table to see who had to come out, even when they had just went in the game. The substitutions were like every minute. Some for no reason at all. This killed the spirit of the players. He would not let them shoot when they were open. They did not press when they had athletes to do so. They played so predictable that it bored the players and fans. Most of the players he recruited like Humphreys and Mercer were real good kids before coming to UGA. They never liked it there once things got started. Their attitudes showed that. They resorted to the parties, drinking etc. to get thru the pain of playing for Felton. The coaches job is to make his players want to play for him and the school. Anybody can set some rules and kick people off if they don’t follow them, that does not make you a good coach or a good man. A good coach and a good man can convince young men to change if necessary for the good of themselves and the university. All this talk about Harrick is ridiculous. That guy could coach and recruit! He packed Stegman. People working for him made bad decisions and he did not oversee them the way he should have. Bottom line, Felton got what he deserved. There were AAU teams he could have recruited and won the SEC but did not do so, taking guys like Singleton, Jackson etc. And his religious comments in practice were ridiculous. Some of us do believe in GOD!

By Kyle

January 30, 2009 4:51 PM | Link to this

Thanks for “righting” the ship, Dennis. We appreciate your efforts and accomplishments.

Tubby! Tubby! Tubby! …

By Nate

January 31, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this

As a UGA alumni (89) and athelete, I know UGA has never had a solid basketball program. Personally, this is a problem of bad hiring decisions since Tubby Smith left and then Adams insisted on hiring Herrick for political reasons. Thus, UGA doesn’t need a coach with a scandalous past (e.g. Bob Knight, Mike Davis, Keven Sampson). Further, it needs a firm youthful upcoming coach who respects academics and wants to develop a program with his stamp. Lastly, Adams should have no input into this decision given his ignorance in such matters.

Therefore, UGA should look at Drew Scott at Baylor and a Duke assistant coach like Chris Collins. Or a UNC assistant coach on Roy’s staff. As a former Duke graduate student, I know that the elite ACC teams have assistant coaches with the knowledge and leadership skills to lead UGA to a long term winning program.

Adams: let the athletic director do his job and stay out of this decision. You don’t have a clue when it comes to basketball.