By Bob

November 11, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

If the “easier path” argument held any water nobody would want to coach in the SEC. Urban Meyer would have went to Notre Dame. Mark Richt would have went to Virginia. Les Miles would have went to Michigan. Steve Spurrier would have hung it up and retired. These guys are who they are because they like a challenge. If Butch Davis is anything like them he would consider Tennessee a far greater opportunity than North Carolina.

By makes total sense

November 11, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Light Blue vs. that Fugly Orange!!!

By The Grinch

November 11, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Agreed completely on Willie Martinez. The players have plenty of speed to get to the ball, but they can’t make the tackle when they get there. That’s on Martinez. If your basic scheme calls for pressure from the front four, and you can’t get any pressure at all from the front four, then you ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. That’s on Willie Martinez. It’s not ALL on him, mind you; the special teams are atrocious. But he still needs to step it up or go.

By CrimsonRedScarlett

November 11, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

By Tom

November 11, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Butch Davis is just getting started at UNC and already has a shot to win the division and play for the ACC title. Why would he wnat to leave? Looks like a great gig to me… UT will have a long way to go before they play for a title!

By Mike

November 11, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

I had no idea Jeff Schultz was such an expert on Tennessee football….for a second, I thought i was reading the Tennessean or Knoxville paper.

By Bill

November 11, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

I think this TN team is the same team (minus QB) that was in the SECCG game last year. Then they tried to install a brand new offense and got exposed for having NO QB. Jeff makes it sound like they have been awful for the last 10 years….I believe they have been to 5 SECCG, the most of any team in the SEC. THey have talent but are messed up in the head with the coaching they are getting up there.

By Diocletian

November 11, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

You $EC (that would be selectively ethical conference) dolts are all the same and gotta love the arrogantly delusional Vols fans. Schultz is righ — Knox pales in comparison to the Hill. And I don’t care how many rubes fill up that stadium of theirs, they are behind the 8 ball on this one and will be for some time. UT does not have the built in recruiting base in Tenn. If their Regional/National recruiting is down (e.g.; Losing to rivals and recruits aren’t leaving Richt/Saban/Meyer territory) they will continue to struggle.

And I’m no Heels fan but it is a much better all around school (I can’t imagine the facilities @ UNC are that sub par in comparison) and they will poney up if need be (No matter of UT athletic/booster budget, see UNC endowment and Rams Club).

By Blackberry Cobbler

November 11, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

FINALLY, a voice of reason!

If it’s the same scheme that BVG taught but now we’re not getting results, it’s either the talent level, the coaching or both.

If we’re not getting the rush from the OL to pressure the QB, then WHY does WM insist on still playing that soft zone in the secondary? Makes absolutely no sense to me.

But then again, CMR says we’re just fans and don’t know what we’re talking about. Maybe so, but I know what a UGA defense used to look like and I can see what it has become………….. and it ain’t a pretty site.

Fire WM.

By SECFan11

November 11, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Knoxville vs. Chapel Hill? The Pseudo Elite vs the Deliverence Wanna be’s. A chaw of tobaccy or navy blazers and khakis? Rocky Top vs. Nothing Could Be Finer, Than to be in Carolina? Daisy Mae at a tractor pull or Preppys at a Debutante Party? A trust fund or a truss belt?

The unknown factor in this puzzle is that Butch (the name would fit in well at Knoxville) is an Arky. Even Tennessee would be a step up from “R”kansas.

By baloney

November 11, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

I’d like to see the reasons UGA hasn’t won an NC since 1980. (speaking of tradition,recruiting,fan base,budget,facilities,area appeal,football only school etc.)

By Zach

November 11, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

You cannot blame WM for the players not executing and making tackles. the play calls during the Kentucky game were right. Georgia was in Kentucky’s back field, but it took the third guy (Curran) to make the tackle.

Don’t blame WM for the players’ lackluster performance.

By Whopper Dawg

November 11, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this

In regards to WM, it is not even debatable. If I am the DC and my defense is bad (at least by UGA standards), then I am the problem. My responsibility. End of discussion. Most UGA fans would agree it has been getting worse every year he has been in charge. The numbers don’t lie, and I am afraid that for MR, if he doesn’t do something, WM will get him too. ALA, FLA aren’t going to get worse, TN is probably going to get better and Spurrier is about to get if figured out. And with this defense Tech is going to be a problem, maybe this year. Think of this year with a first year (on experience anyway) QB and no Knowshown and a WM defense. Ouch!! Well, you are looking at next year folks. I am sure he is a good man, but we need a new DC.

The Whopper

By The Grinch

November 11, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Do players learn how to tackle on their own, or is that what the coaches are for? Are players inspired on their own, or is that what the coaches are for? No point in having a DC at all I guess if the players know it all to begin with. More than half the players on the Falcon’s D were there last year and couldn’t play their way out of a paper bag; you don’t think VanGorder’s coaching them up a bit this year over Donatell? UGA’s front line after losing Owens to injury and our DE’s to the draft isn’t what it was last year, but there’s still PLENTY enough talent overall to do better than give up 29 ppg in the SEC. That’s just poor coaching no matter how you slice it. In my opinion, of course.

By PTC DAWG

November 11, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Ut is the bunch that just fired a Coach who won the SEC East last year, and came within an interception of winning the SECCG.

Obviously they have all the answers. Let them worry about it.

By JB

November 11, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Coach Mark Richt makes us good. Willie Martinez keeps us from being great………

Also…….Butch Davis goes 10-2 at North Carolina, he gets a contract extension. At Tenn. you get run off…Ask Mark Richt how they feel about 10-2 in the SEC East.

By Rake

November 11, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Fugly Orange! Awesome statement - can anyone tell me why you would want that color (or that song)?

By Finchdawg

November 11, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

I’m not a Notre Dame fan, but I think maybe that Charlie Weis was winning with Bob Davie’s players and Willingham’s first recruiting class. Let’s say that, just for argument’s sake, that the average player at Notre Dame redshirts his first year. With Willingham there for three seasons, the players recruited for Davie’s last season were seniors Weis’s first year. During his 2nd year, the seniors would have redshirted Willingham’s first year (he’s coming from an excellent record at Stanford at this time). For his third and 4th (now) years he’s relying on Willingham’s 2nd and 3rd recruting classes as his seniors, which are one of the reasons Willingham got fired in the first place. So he’s got a lot of his players, yes, but his leaders the past two years were primarily Willingham’s recruits.

By rlinaug

November 11, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

I think Mark Richt is good man, with much more class than every other coach in the SEC, and I I’m proud to say he coaches UGA. And admire him for being loyal to his friends. But his first loyalty needs to be the University of Georgia. If he can’t see, even in hindsight, that the defense comes out unprepared every third or fourth game and in nearly every big game, then he deserves what being satisfied with that kind off play leads to.

By 82DAWG

November 11, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Agreed on Martinez. The players themselves said they have been unmotivated. They agree that they have not practiced like it was game day; joking around about missed assignments, etc. This is not the way Erk Russell or VanGorder ran a defense. Soft Willie has got to go.

By Supe

November 11, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

Mike, didn’t you realize Jeff Scultz and John Adams are twin sons of different mothers? The doctor’s arm got so tired of slapping them (the Moms) he had to turn into a switch hitter. ;-)

By lostdawg

November 11, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

It definatley dos not speak well for Williw Martinez if they are running the same defense as Vangorder.

I was at the Falocons game Sunday. That defense looked great. The Secondary was all over the field, delivery big hits all day long. The linbackers played solid all day long and the Defensive line was harassing Brees all day long with great pressure from the DE’s…even 98. ALL TRAITS GA DEFENSE HAD WHILE VANGORDER WAS THE DC!

What has Martinez bought to Ga…more points per game each and every year. Tn scored more against us than Wyoming!!!

By Kent N

November 11, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Tennessee fans are not wondering why he is not jumping at the chance. The facts are they he is not been offered the job because he is NOT 1st on the list. Gruden is ! Texas Tech Leach is 2nd. Why bash without facts ?

By Kent N

November 11, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

SECFAN11 - Deliverance was filmed in N.GA, not Tennessee.

By Dodd's Legacy

November 11, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

@Bob

If you “would have went” to your english classes, you wouldn’t speak like a uga grad.

.

By steve

November 11, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

I have spent some time in Knoxville and considerably more time in Chapel Hill. There is no comparison. I’d stay at UNC too!

By Douglas

November 11, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

You know what Richt ought to do: Fire Martinez and hire South Carolina’s DC — wouldn’t that be a thorn in Spurrier’s side! Martinez and the special teams coach needs to go….period. Martinez has been looking for a head coaching job — let’s release him so he can find one!

By Dean

November 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

UGA defense will be fine with Martinez. Just having an off year. Personally, I’d rather be in Chapel Hill than Knoxville. Also, in Tennessee you haveto get your talent from out of state for the most part. Fulmer raided Georgia during his best years. That’s just not gong to happen right now. At UNC, in the ACC, he could be the top dog very soon and run with it for quite a while. Given the athletic department at UNC and the campus, recruits will come to him. Unfortunately, UNC is a more attracitve option at this time than Tennessee.

By Bob

November 11, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Sorry Dodds Legacy. I am actually a Tech Grad. You know we are not steeped in English there. Now Math, different thing.

By Bob

November 11, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Sorry Dodds Legacy. I am actually a Tech Grad. You know we are not steeped in English there. Now Math, different thing.

By Vol Fan

November 11, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

Jeff, What a self-serving, pro-Georgia, anti-Tennessee piece of “homer journalism”!!! First of all, we “Vols fans” are not “trying to figure out why Butch Davis would not want to coach at Tennessee” as you suggested and I wonder whether you made up such a notion or got it from some Georgia buddy of yours and thought it would make a good headline. We “Vols fans” want to get the best coach we can (and I bet that makes Georgia fans a bit nervous) and one of those MIGHT be Butch Davis. If so, and he is interested, then perhaps we will try and lure him away from UNC. Any objective, non-biased journalist could come up with as many pros as cons to such a move (whether it be to Tennessee or to Georgia or another SEC school with a winning tradition). Your comments seem to want to make a case for the cons without acknowledging the pros. One can only speculate as to your motives. Would they be to discourage Mr. Davis perhaps? and if so, why? Only you can answer, Mr. Objective Journalist.

By Kent N

November 11, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

Schultz in the last 10 years UT has won a NC. Over the past 100 years UT has the best overall record in recorded college football history. It hasnt been until the past 3 years that UT has not been consistant winning 9 games a year. What another Ga homer you are ! How can you be allowed to write without facts? I bet you are another fool that voted for OBama?

By GT

November 11, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

You ever been to North Carolina, most people haven’t because it take grades but if you have stayed at the Carolina Inn or gone to a football game more less a basketball game you would see night and day differences between Chapel Hill and Knoxville. I understand Davis’s wife selected the job over many offers at the time because she could actually have a social life with normal people there. She actually felt she could have a family there. I think you are going to see more and more coaches optioning out for a nice place to coach as opposed to a meat market with half wits to answer to. I think as players get more sophisticated you will see more of them that can get into the better school choosing that also. More first round draft choices have come out of the ACC in the last few years than any other conference and it is just getting started. What keeps the SEC alive is so many just can’t get in ACC schools.

By Forrest Gump

November 11, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

The President Elect of the United States has urged young black males to pull up their pants and turn off music that promotes violence. Maybe Richt should consider something along those lines.

By ATDAWG

November 11, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe this defense is this bad. I would rather lose and only give up 10 points a game than win an give up 38+. This is beyond embarrassing. At UNC Davis can win with his in-state recruits. AT UT he would have to recruit all over the country;the pickings in TN are meager compared to most other southern states.

By joe

November 11, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this

Jeff is a pro-redneck, typical UGA fan who has the audacity to question the Tennessee job vs. UNC. Hands down no question UT is a much better job with a much better football program. 99% of knowledgable college football fans would agree. The other 1% is made up of delusional fans that have an axe to grind, such as dumba$$ UGA pimp Jeff “schmeckle kisser” Schultz. Over the past 10 years UT has won one national championship, two SEC titles and put many athletes in the NFL. How many national championships has UNC (or UGA for that matter) won? ZERO. UT has had two losing seasons including this year. Every program has their ups and downs, just look at Florida under Zook and UGA under Ray Goof and Donnan. Tennessee will be back to kicking UGA’s a$$ on a regular basis soon enough…even if the recruits come from other parts of the country. Also, even with he coaching change, UT still has a better recruiting class per Rivals and ESPN than UGA or UNC.

Jeff, you are a pathetic excuse for a journalist on par with the liberals at NBC and CNN with regards to journalistic integrity. Here’s hoping you get fired soon and have to take a job picking up trash, aka the AJC. Suck it…

By Dogbyte

November 11, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this

If you don’t have the def. ends to put pressure on the Qb. you bring a safety or LB on a zone blitz almost every play. Duh!

By AL

November 11, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

I think Mark Richt is one of the top 5 coaches in the country. I’m glad he’s at Georgia and hope he stays for a long ,long time. He is also a good person which makes pulling for them even more fun. Georgia is fortunate to have him he adds class to our program some coaches do the opposite.

Coaching or any other business or realm of life has one ingredient for long term success and that is the ability to change and adapt. I think good coaches and etc have to change with the players and the environment (i.e the present game). I’m not sure we’re doing that well this year. For example if you don’t have the personnel to run Van Gorders defense change. In a game situation if they’re beating our brains out running the ball (LSU) change formstions , personnel etc. Do something to stop the bleeding , adapt. I haven’t seen it.

One more observation. Red Zone play calling. All year we have run up and down the field and when we get past the 20 we stall. It’s so obvious Bobo pulls out a new playbook. The formations are different everything about the offense seems to change. The formations the whole thing , if we ran down the field we get in the Red Zone and start throwing cheesey fade routes etc. Continue what’s working for goodness sake.

By heeldawg

November 11, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this

Sorry, UT fans—Chapel Hill trumps Knoxville as a place to live (and recruit). Football expectations are low, fans are appreciative, the conference is easier, there is plenty of money in the athletic department, and the academics at the school are top-notch. At UNC, Butch Davis can become The Man. At UT, he’d always have the ghost of General Neyland peering over his shoulder.

Where would you rather live? Where would you rather coach?

I’d take UNC over Tennessee 10 times out of 10. That’s a no-brainer.

By jk

November 12, 2008 6:41 AM | Link to this

The SEC is sooo overrated and the UT schedule is like GA easier than perception. GA plays such an easy schedule and all we hear and the media says is “its soo hard playing in the sec” go to the un-biased computer and you will see the ACC is tough. Ga ends with KY and auburn,. GT ends with FSU, UNC and Miami. Which schedule would you chose. Look at the SEC out of conference and record. ITS JUST FACTS!!!

By Go Vols

November 12, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

Typical Schultz article and the GA rednecks lap it up like pigs at the trough. Yes, Tennessee is a southern state and I accept all the stereotypes that come with it, but are you GA people serious in thinking that you are any different?? This is such a wannabe state. I must have missed the many national championships won by the mighty Dawgs. Fulmer should have gone 3 years ago, but to assume Rocky Top isn’t a national caliber program is absurd. Ever heard of General Neyland, Jeff??? You’re a complete moron - it’s time to find some original material. Oh, but I forgot - this is the same paper that brings us “Mr. College Football”. What are you and the others going to do now that Fulmer isn’t around for you and others to refer to his weight? Oh, yeah, you’ll continue to refer to the hillbillies. God, you’re all so clever. I love it when the Gator nation mauls you on an almost annual basis and then mocks you for the overrated biatches that you are.

By pstone

November 12, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

In all honesty I’m not going to argue that Knoxville is a better place to live but to be honest its very comparable. In my mind it is nice enough that paying him a few extra dollars should quickly make him forget about it. The REAL problem at UNC is that Davis can’t justify being paid more than Roy Williams at this point. If UNC were to match a UT offer they would also have to raise Williams salary… things could get interesting here.

By Hillbilly Vol

November 12, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Keep in mind that a rare UT loss to UGA this year is what put one of the final nails in Fulmer’s coffin.

The notion that the UNC football coaching job is more prestigious than UT, UF, UGA, Bama, Auburn (and maybe a couple more) is absurd.

By GoVols_16

November 12, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

You mentioned that “Every game at Carolina is sold out.” If Butch Davis were to put a product on the field worth watching Neyland Stadium would be sold out every Saturday, too. Tennessee fans over the past few years have become increasingly frustrated with seeing an undisciplined/unprepared & outcoached football team week-in, week-out. For crying out loud, they just lost to Wyoming in Knoxville. My 90 yr. old grandma with a bad hip could have thrown a couple of TDs against Wyoming.

Your logic is weak. If you put an exciting, hard-nosed football team together in Knoxville, the elite players of the country would be foolish to choose UNC over UT. Tennessee has better facilities, better tradition, better national coverage. Plus, it’s SEC football!!!!

By Too Easy

November 12, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

jk: Pretty asinine. You talk about gtu’s last 3 conference games with fsu, unc and the u. You only mention the Dawgs final 2 conference games. Did you forget Florida to make it an accurate comparison? Of course, if you add the final games for both teams on Thanksgiving weekend, gtu’s is definitely tougher.

By jds

November 12, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

wow…I don’t get why there’s all the hate, Jeff. I haven’t always agreed with you, but I find your articles informative and entertaining .

And you’ve got a good first name too.

By Real Heel

November 12, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Get real, Butch is smart enough to know there is a gold mine in Chapel Hill and OL Roy doesnt mind sharing! UNC surpasses UT in more ways than basketball/football…its just a better place to live,work and raise a family!UT find another coach to lead your mediocre program! Go Heels!

By David

November 12, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

There’s no way UNC has made Davis lazy. Given the opportunity any real head coach would leave B-Ball school and come to an all around sports dominated school. UT has programs in each sport that compete every year in playoffs or championships. UNC “might” and I mean it when I say “might” be pretty but who gives a !@#$, you have never seen Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Oh, “Every football game is sold out”, those games include: Some still drunk students from Friday night, Players parents, some faculty, boosters, maybe future players and thats about it. No where close to 107,000 screaming fans cause Davis just led our team to victory over UGA at home. Sorry basketball fans turned football all the sudden…..your team and school has never or will never match up to TN’s. Can you honestly tell me any sports writer would even be mentioning UNC right now if it wasn’t for Davis leaving? Didn’t think so.

By Uaintkidding

November 12, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

NC go ahead and THINK u have arived.. tennessee even this year would kick ur butts in FB and will in BB as well.. UT has much better fan base and facilities are way better than NC..U guys are dreaming.. I mean BB is your bread and butter..give me a break..NC over UT.. Ut is the better place..By the way..10 and 2 against ACC teams..My grandmother could coach that.. ACC FB is a big fat joke.period

By Paul from Milton

November 12, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

You’ve got to be kidding me with that Butch Davis argument. That explains why Jeff Schultz is content to be a big fish in a small (media market) pond. Successfiul people don’t view oppotunities that way. Where others see challenges and roadblocks they see opportunity.

Look at this from Tennessee’s perspective - why would Tennessee want a coach that was content playing second fiddle in a second tier conference?

By vabass

November 12, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this

Why would he go to UT? How about mucho $$$$$. Better athletes (look at the number of players in the pros, recruiting classes year in and year out), winning tradition, game day atmosphere much better in Knoxville and maybe most importantly he wouldnt have to be Frank Beamers b.tch each year (as he was at Miami and now again in N Carolina). I think TN would be better off with Mike Leach however due to age and his exciting offenses. Either would do fine in TN.

By bamaguy

November 13, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Dear GoVols: Take metro Atlanta out of Georgia and what is left is Mississippi without the casinos. That “we are better than the other southern states” attitude is just wishful thinking and akin to argueing over who the tallest midget in the room is.

By Bhouse

November 13, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

What a pointless article! Seriously Shultz, since when did you become an expert on Tennessee football? Tennessee has only went to the SEC Championship game once every 3 years since winning a National Championship in a Conference that has puts teams in the big game almost every year. Stick to covering the Braves and leave the College Football to the informed, so-called experts.

By Bhouse

November 13, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

What a pointless article! Seriously Shultz, since when did you become an expert on Tennessee football? Tennessee has only went to the SEC Championship game once every 3 years since winning a National Championship in a Conference that has puts teams in the big game almost every year. Stick to covering the Braves and leave the College Football to the informed, so-called experts.

By Okay, where to now ?

November 13, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

yes Jeff, it is time to respond.

I really have tried over the years to ignore the constant dissing of TN by you, Jeff, but get off of your “high homer” horse. Most TN fans do not think Butch Davis should jump at the chance to go to TN. We aren’t that dumb. It will be a tough job irrespective of who takes it.

Contrary to what you think (and the rest of you GA homers…and I could express some opinions about your ancestry too but I won’t), TN is realistic. It will take a LOT of money, and a LOT of patience. We have both. In a year of two, we will be competitive again…count on it. You will recognize it when we do to GA what we did last year and the year before again.

By the way Jeff, this is the first year I have read your article when you chose TN to lose every time, and they did not make you look foolish 80% of the time. It will come again, just like last year. Just wait.

By matt

November 13, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

i just want to say that i love the fact that some random journalist from atlanta georgia is saying that being the coach at a major university like tennessee in the best conference in college football wouldnt be better then being the coach at a lower level football university that doesnt have half the tradition of tennessee and that plays in what basically amounts to a junior varsity conference compared to the rest of the major conferences across the country..Weird..atlanta is an ACC city..Wierd..this man has no business even speaking about college football if he is stupid enough to write something like that and be that openly bias to the conferenc formally known as the ACC..