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DEL.ICIO.USFive ACC assistants who will make a difference
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spring practice is where new coaches begin to have their impact on a program. Here are my top five new assistant coaches in the ACC who will have the greatest impact this spring:
1. Dave Wommack, defensive coordinator, Georgia Tech: It’s going to be strange not having Jon Tenuta up in the box driving opposing quarterbacks (and offensive coordinators) crazy. But Wommack is a 27-year veteran who knows what a good defense is supposed to look like. In the late 90s his defenses at Southern Mississippi were very good and put the Eagles in position to beat-or scare-a bunch of SEC teams. His 2000 defense at USM was No. 2 in the nation in total defense. He was let go at Arkansas in a staff shakeup by Houston Nutt in 2004. Steve Spurrier did not renew his contract at South Carolina in 2007. Now Wommack is a coordinator again with something to prove.
2. Bill Young, defensive coordinator, Miami: Miami’s defense finished seventh in the ACC and gave up 5.1 yards PER PLAY last season. Young was at Kansas in 2007 where the Jayhawks were No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (16.4 ppg). He has a reputation for getting the most out of his talent and turning average players into good players and good players into great players.
3. James Franklin, offensive coordinator, Maryland: Franklin earned a reputation as one of the best recruiters in the country when he was at Maryland from 2000-2004. But then he left and did a stint with the Green Bay Packers and then went to Kansas State, where he tutored a big time quarterback in Josh Freeman. Head coach Ralph Friedgen brought Franklin back and named him offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. This guy is sharp and will be a head coach sooner rather than later.
4. Entire Duke staff: After years of struggling, Duke has finally decided that it wants to get back in the football business. They have not only invested in head coach David Cutcliffe, they have stepped up and paid the money necessary to hire a very good staff. When Cutcliffe was interviewing for the job, he told Duke that he wanted $2 million for his staff, which is more than a lot of SEC schools pay now. And he got it. There are a bunch of guys on this staff who can recruit. Jim Collins worked for Steve Spurrier at Duke and then went to Florida. Matt Luke was recruiting coordinator at Tennessee. Kurt Roper also came from Tennessee. Zac Roper worked for Cutcliffe at Ole Miss and then spent some time at Cornell. As recruiting coordinator he’ll understand the academic pool in which Duke will recruit. Marion Hobby, the defensive coordinator, played at Tennessee and has NFL experience.
5. Everett Withers, defensive coordinator, North Carolina: He’s only 44 but has a very impressive resume that includes stops at Texas, the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints. Everywhere that Withers has coached, the team has gotten better. He is a North Carolina native who played at Appalachian State and has a reputation for developing players. The Tar Heels were No. 43 nationally in scoring defense last season, giving up 24.5 points per game. Withers will make them better.
Comments
By CarolinaJacket
March 24, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Wommack had better come up with some defensive backs or Tech will be giving up 30 points a game to teams that can throw the ball.
By JacketMe
March 24, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Wommack better “coach up” some defensive backs rather than “come up” with some defensive backs. He can only work with what he curretnly has for next season.
By JacketMe
March 24, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Wommack better “coach up” some defensive backs rather than “come up” with some defensive backs. He can only work with what he currently has for next season.
By Roswell Ed
March 24, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Tony,
Was this the hardest article you’ve
ever had to type?
ACC assistant coaches!!!!
I can’t wait for the Tony Franklin paragraph tomorrow!!
By is Ros Dead?
March 24, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
ed, are you this “regular” in other things?
ps/your old Davidson is doing just fine!
By hop
March 24, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
there must be a very slow sports day in the ATL, for tony to have to write this piece.
By RAMBLE ON!
March 24, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Answer: Roswell EDiot
Question: the biggest, little Sally there is?
Answer: Roswell EDiot
Question: who has the lamest comments you’ll read?
Answer: Roswell EDiot
Question: Who thinks he’s witty and clever because some other SEC Redneck laughs at the same old recycled jabs ?
Answer: Roswell EDiot
Question: Who wished they could have been accepted into GT?
Answer: Roswell EDiot
Question: Who wishes he could beat GT in something?
Answer Roswell EDiot
Question: Who can dish it out, but can’t take it?
By Roswell Ed
March 24, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
I was accepted to Tech. I don’t care for nerds and Asian chicks.
I went to Davidson. I believe that Davidson is actually a fair amount harder to get into than Tech is for in-state students.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Answer: Those two wins over AU.
Question: What is the only thing and I mean only thing Tech has to hang their helmets on in the last 10 years?
Every time you bring that up you are paying AU a huge compliment.
What I hear is, “look how bad we suck except for the two games we won against that powerhouse Auburn.
Answer: 9
Question: What was AU’s win streak over Tech before those 2 games?
Reggie freaking Ball has two monster games in his whole Tech career!!
By KneeJerk
March 24, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Ed, I personally think Asian chicks are hot.
By ATL Flyer
March 24, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
What’s an ACC?
By KneeJerk
March 24, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
it’s not Scandals ae Every College
By tim in smyrna
March 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Kelly Johnson and Mark Teixeira found girls at GT but Ed couldn’t. Ed just how fat and ugly are you?
By TDone
March 24, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
I am a huge Tech fan, but lets face the fact that we suck at football and will always suck. I personally make myself feel better by going onto every UGA blog and making stupid comments that show my ignorance.
By Phil
March 24, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Ed - we won the ACC championship 10 yrs ago. We beat UGa 3x in that span as well.
Just fyi.
By yellowblood
March 24, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Our defensive coordinator, like our head coach, has never been successful at the BCS level. What exactly is the reason we hired him. Will he embrace the Tickle Pile tradition at The Institute?
By Just My Take
March 24, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
From everything I’ve read and seen, Georgia Tech is really going to struggle next year. You don’t just come in and implement the triple option, something 99.9% of the roster has never even seen before, and expect it to go smoothly. While Tech players are at square one learning an entirely new system, the rest of the ACC (and Georgia) are fine tuning the offenses they already know like the back of their hand. They will be light years ahead of Tech at the start of the season. I watched the Nesbitt kid in the bowl game and he was erratic and not very good. Nor do you lose your entire defense and one of the best d-coordinators in the business and expect that to go smoothly either. This Wommack guy might be alright but that fact that he couldn’t hang on at Arkansas and South Carolina raises some red flags to me. Steve Spurrier knows a thing or two about good assistants. The schedule does Tech no favors either. Its one of the toughest they’ve had in years.
All together, a losing season is not entirely out of the question. Tech fans need to be patient with Johnson. Its going to take some time.
By GT
March 24, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
The defensive coach at Tech gets a break; the offense stays on the field longer than most and certainly longer than the Tech offenses of the past. I like hearing of the intensity the practices are showing. This means we are getting away from “we’re too cool to be intense” Gailey, which may just be” I’m from South Georgia and think slow is good”. We had Richt tearing the woods up next door with his ideas of personal fouls in the Florida game and black outs in the Auburn games. The Yellow Jackets were sleep walking during most of their season including the defense. The defensive players would line up lazily walking to every spot, standing straight up before each snap like a guy waiting for the bus. When asked about it Gailey would get that bemused look like the question was idiotic, even after the man had lost to Duke.
By War Eagle
March 24, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Former asst. coach at UGA and Tech, an old buddy of mine for years are putting recruiting on another level at Texas. Before spring practice starts, They have SIXTEEN commitments, ten are four stars…I thought UGA was ahead of all, but not near Texas…Recruiting is gone to different twist. Could recruits be all committed before season starts?
By RAMBLE ON!
March 24, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Poor ole Roswell EDiot struggling to come up with some new material, once again without even knowing it, is back to his same ole recycled, not funny, stupidity.
Asian women? Gee you haven’t used that one since the last time you were on here making an ‘Ediot’ out of yourself…(last Friday I believe).
For someone who flunked out of Davidson, you should still be able up with some new material without using the UGA vent.
Here’s one for ya…
Answer: Pink Pony washing dishes
Question: Where was the last place William Andrews was last seen?
By CarolinaJacket
March 24, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
Davidson College is one of the most excellent academic institutions in the South. It is also known to be a class act. It is hard to believe that Roswell Ed is truly a graduate of Davidson. If so, he missed much of the “Davidson message”. Part of it is to stay out of the gutter.
By Roswell Ed
March 24, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
At least I don’t have to listen to William make an ar$e/idiot out of himself
on 680 The Fan
each afternoon.
Has Tech had more than 5(a stretch) ex football that would be worth keeping up with?
50 guys that made it big in the NFL compared to 2 or 3. Certainly the odds of one of them having trouble is a lot greater.
AND I’M GONE!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Isn’t that what DAWG fans say?
I do wish Mr Andrews the best?
By Roswell Ed
March 24, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
790 The Zone sorry.
By The Customer
March 24, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
Is this where I complain about the Tech grads who RETURN to India, get a “help” desk job, speak garbled English and frustrate me and all sane Americans who try to get help for computer, phone, internet, etc. etc. support? If so, I favor tightening immigration requirements!!!!! And, please no more camera shots of GIT students at football games. It looks like the reincarnation of Ellis Island! Have a nice day.
By RAMBLE ON!
March 24, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
This is exactly where you do it The Customer, but, if you just hit that button that says “super-size”…you should have no problem.
If that doesn’t work for you, your Asst. Manager working the broiler should be able to answer all your computer problems.
That should work, let me know if it doesn’t. I don’t want you messing up my order!!!
By Roswell Ed
March 24, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this
Hey Ramble On.
If the juttis fits!!!!
And remember The Customer is always right!!
By Gee Tech
March 24, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Honest Question for all Tech fans: Do you honestly believe that Georgia grads work in fastfood restaurants, or is that really the only “jab” you can throw our way? We all know you can’t talk about the ACTUAL RESULTS of football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, etc., and we also know that while Tech is ranked #35 to Georgia’s #59 ranking by U.S. News that there is not that big of a discrepancy academically. So, honestly, come up with an insult with some kind of factual basis, or keep your gay mouths shut.
By Coach Paul Johnson
March 24, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Well, Hayull boys, I hii-yured Wommack because he actually wanted to come to Tech. Nobody else would!!! They think that because I run a high school offense! Well, sheeyt-fire, I disagree! I may be a fat ugly redneck, but I shore know football!! I mean, I know division 1-AA football. Same thing, aint it??
By I'm Always Right
March 24, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
That’s exactly what I’m complaining about, you “Help” desk clerks that just ramble on….go ahead and take your break…you won’t be missed.
By TravelPro
March 24, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
Has Coarch Wommack ever been to Boise? If not, we may need to update his travel profile.
By Mumbai Diner
March 24, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
Ramble On, your Archari Boti Keebab w/rice is ready. We know your break is short, so we’ll deliver. Will you be paying in rupees or dollars? Speak clearly when you call.
By Gee UGA
March 24, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this
For Gee Tech. Then why do all UGA fans think all Techies are nerds!? Where did that assumption start? Yea we just sit at home and play D&D all day, just like you sit in your trailer and “play with your sister”. We are smarter, get over it. Do you actually believe your school is comparable academically to Techs? Please!
By Wiseup
March 24, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
You see the problem is, there isn’t enough intelligent people in this great state to fill the student quota at GT. Other state’s scholars tend to stay in state or go to other colleges of prestige. That means Tech has to go abroad to bridge the gap. If these kids grow up to be high tech terrorists, it your own fault for being such dumb a$$ rednecks.
By dawgman
March 24, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this
Gee UGA: Unlike tech kids, I like to back up my assertions with numbers (something I would think techies would be good at? I guess not.). USNews ranks Tech #35 academically. USNews ranks UGA #56. My point? Neither school is Ivy League. Neither school is a junior college. But to claim that 21 places in a widely recognized ranking system denotes that one school is superior to the other is laughable. But, if that’s all you have to hang your beanie on, so be it. Happy gaming, f@g.
By dawgstradamus
March 24, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this
Define “Irony” - Wiseup touts Tech’s academic superiority, and then uses the words “there isn’t enough intelligent people…”
Me fail Engish? That’s UNPOSSIBLE!!!
By Wiseup
March 24, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
I didn’t say I went to Tech did I ? I are a dumbass redneck that hates UGAG. Yes, a rare breed, but we do exist. Besides that, it’s almost midnight and I’ve had a few. Like all my jolly good fellows, I drink my whiskey clear. Now go f&ck yourself…or your sister.
By HRec
March 25, 2008 5:55 AM | Link to this
“Gee Tech” & “dawgman”, those GT fans aren’t making UGA insults any more ridiculous than the contrasting insults many UGA fans make towards Tech on these boards. The difference between Tech’s #35 (#7 public) and UGA’s #59 (#20 public) is actually pretty significant, because it’d most likely mean notable difference(s) in important rating score(s) that go into those rankings (i.e. academic reputation), but what it shows is that UGA is a good well respected school also. You shouldn’t put a lot of weight into the rankings without understanding the methodology. There’s also a reason they have a seperate US News ranking for public universities, because private schools have a natural advantage in many of the ratings categories (selectivity & acceptance rate, which also affect graduation/retention rates and freshman HS rankings & SAT/ACT scores, faculty ratio, class size, etc). Now with that said, isn’t this supposed to be a football blog?!?
By WFC
March 25, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
Have ANY of you guys actually coached a team in any sport beyond little league or pee wee football? I didn’t think so.
By Dawgstrodamus
March 25, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
HRec - you make good points, and here is mine. Tech is ranked roughly twenty spots ahead of Georgia in both Public and overall Universities. Think about any other system that ranks a field of several hundred. That is almost a negligible difference. But, if that helps you sleep at night, whatever. I understand it is the only argument you have, half-arsed as it may be.