By T

January 17, 2007 07:25 PM | Link to this

Good article. You ask the same question I have asked. But, its not just the Tech fans Terrence.. the AJC journalists have had a big hand in helping to point out flaws while overlooking the positive attributes of Gailey. I tip my hat to your for writing this, I hope that you and others at the AJC realize your hands are dirty too and will try to keep them cleaner in the future. Gailey is a good coach. I hope he stays at Tech.

By GT Fred

January 17, 2007 07:37 PM | Link to this

You hit it right on the money Terrance! Gailey is a great guy. Great and well liked guys do not always have the winning programs though. It has been expressed time and time again, there is one main reason GT had problems being a 10-2 team the past 4 years and Chan’s failure to adjust the roster, even for a few plays, is generally accepted as the reason.

I hope very much Chan stays at GT and takes this recruiting class through their 4-5 years. He made some coaching decisions that did not work out; hopefully he will adjust sooner next time. We have a great recruiting class and some very talented players. Also, all the upcoming QBs are over 6’2” tall which should lead to a much better passing game and improved offense.

Winning is about the program, not about one individual. Few teams consistently make the top 5 and I feel Gailey is the guy to get us there 1 out of every 4 seasons (starting 2008)

The GT voices against Gailey seem to be for Tenuta. I think Tenuta is a great coach…he recieves much acclaim as “Tenuta’s defense” from the sportscasters. However, does Tenuta’s name get mentioned when the defense can’t stop the run (Clemson/WVA)? No. Did Tenuta get interviewed for any head coaching jobs? No. There may be more to it than the voices know.

I for one hope Chan stays. If he goes, I wish him the absolute best and hope we pick a new coach based on his ability to win, not just his name. Holtz did not win at SC; Spurrier is not winning at SC or the pros; Bowden is not winning at FSU anymore…it is more than the head guy! Maybe Bilichick will be available after the Patriots fire him for losing to the Colts.

Keep in mind, GTs average 55th ranking in recruiting vs UGAs top 20 recruiting rankings. If GT can land a top notch winning coach like MR, then maybe we can be 7-5 again; instead of 9-5. At some point, the players need to throw the %$#@ ball and score some points!!!

By RunningDog

January 17, 2007 07:39 PM | Link to this

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a UGA fan who has a ton of respect for Gailey who coaches my schools beloved rival and is a native of my beloved state. That said, Gailey’s record speaks for itself: adequate, but not impressive. Can Chan win a national championship as a college coach? Can Chan win a Super Bowl as a pro coach? Not likely.

By misterwax

January 17, 2007 08:41 PM | Link to this

Terence…no wonder think so poorly of your work…in the last line itr should be “Buzz could run the program better then HE (could run the program)…..” not “him (could run the program)”.. you should do better with your grammar.

By spike

January 17, 2007 08:41 PM | Link to this

I wish the Techmites would make up their collective mind about him. If he leaves, and who could blame him, who do you guys think you are going to hire that will be any better than Gailey that is a decent coach? And who is willing to come to Tech and put up with the “fans” on these blogs? Be careful what you wish for.

By Quo vadis Tech?

January 17, 2007 09:22 PM | Link to this

Nobody questions Gaileys integrity and class as a human being. By sticking to Reggie way too long, Chan lost his last fans. Too bad for him Taylor played the game of his life in the Gator Bowl. We all know there is no turning back now.

By Connie Lingous

January 17, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this

Good comment T-Mo; for true fans of GTU and the tradition we wish to uphold here, Chan has put forth an admirable demeanor and example for our young men to admire and emulate. I pray he stays around for many many years.

By BirdDawg

January 17, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this

Moore, the only player that Tech has gotten during Mark Richt’s era at Georgia that the Dawgs wanted was Calvin Johnson. And now, looking back at it, just how dumb does young Mr. Johnson look for the choice he made, and just how much do you think he regrets that decision?

Johnson could have had David Greene, DJ Shockley, and Matthew Stafford throwing to him. A freshman Calvin Johnson would have made the difference in the Tennessee game that year, and maybe even against Auburn. Georgia began the year No. 3, and a freshman Calvin Johnson could have made a difference in Georgia’s two losses that year.

Instead, he got conned to go to the trade school because it was closer to his mommy and daddy than Athens was. I guess a 90 minute car ride was too far for the poor young man.

But Moore, the Bugs don’t convince football players to not become Bulldogs. Gailey gets the scraps in Georgia. This year, he’s doing better, but has none of the recruits we’ve targeted, and has done better recruiting the country admitadly.

But Mark Richt doesn’t lose to Chan Gailey. Regular season or recruiting season.

By Ronny

January 17, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this

Paul Johnson of Navy would have to be a top candidate should Chan leave. He turned Georgia Southern around before moving to Navy, where he’s been very successful in a demanding academic environment. He’s also highly respected as an individual, as is Chan. But Paul could probably take Tech to a higher level.

By Tom

January 17, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this

Oh, please. Navy does not have a demanding academic environment. You do not have to have the academics to get into Navy. You need character and leadership qualities. Looking at the local police blotter, the kids going to Tech may have inflated high school grades (HS teacher only gives A’s and B’s these days regardless of the quality of work) and marginally high SATs (if you have not noticed, every colleges has bloated SAT scores these days too, the increase in the State of GA’s SAT was related to the subjective writing component) but their character is for below Navy’s.

Paul Johnson probably would do wonders at Tech on his way to a better job. However, he should stay where he is. He has the opportunity to do something there with those preparing to defend the nation that he could never repeat at Tech.

Oh, and give me a break about “academics” at Tech. The course on “History of Technology?” Get real. NOne of your football players who are on scholarship and see the field on a regular basis during games take real engineering classes.

By BirdDawg

January 17, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this

I know you’re dumb as hell so this will be hard…

-Logan Walls -DJ Donley -Morgan Burnett -Jonathan Dwyer -Josh Nesbitt

UGA wanted ALL of them, at a minimum. They were interested in others, too. Get the pompous stick out of your a* and wake the hell up.

By TechTitan

January 17, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this

This is like a nightmare. The Dolphins have hired the wrong head coaches, paid way too much for washed-up quarterbacks, offered jobs to players known to assault 15-year-old girls. You know, Chan Gailey looks like a perfect fit for such a scum bag organization. Gailey can’t coach his way out of a paper bag - He’s perfect for the Dolphins. He’d probably promote Marcus Vick to QB and let Reggie Ball catch the passes. He’s a team player and would look the other way when the water bottles are filled with something else besides H20. He can’t even oversee his college players. What a catch!

By GT & Navy Dad

January 17, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this

Tom, you couldn’t be more wrong about the academics at Navy. Not only do midshipmen have unbelievable course loads, but military training that is tough on any midshipman, much less varsity athletes. Every midshipmen has to stand watch, whether they have a test of football practice. It is the hardest school to get into in the US (not my opinion), even harder than Harvard and Princeton. It is by far the toughest academically. One of my sons went there and he barely got in with a 1380 on his SAT, and struggled the entire time he was there. My friend, you have just exposed your ignorance (or blind allegiance for UGA) for all its worth.

Also, before you expose yourself anymore I would advise you to check the degree paths of the players on Tech’s team. It is an insult to the many academically accomplished players that you think that they do not take engineering courses or a difficult curriculum. Daryl Richards (starter on defense) just finished an Accounting degree in three years and has applied for his MBA. Tech does not have degrees in Leisure Studies or HomeEc (er, excuse me - Family and Consumer Sciences). Imagine all those UGA studs in knitting class.

Look, if you want to show your pride in Georgia, you have every right to do so; I’ll admit there is a lot to be proud of. But you are telling everybody what kind of person you are by having to tear down somebody or their school to build up you and your team.

By Najeh Davenpoop

January 17, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this

Gailey has proven himself to be a decent, but not great, coach while at Tech. But if Tech wants to let him go, they better have someone better in mind. Because Gailey seems like the kind of guy that Tech fans will appreciate a lot more when he leaves than while he’s here.

By LongBeachJacket

January 18, 2007 12:41 AM | Link to this

GT & Navy Dad has posted the best tome in quite some time. Very accurate and well said.

I hope Coach Gailey stays at Tech. Selfishly, I’m a bit disappointed that he seems to be interviewing the with the NFL so aggressively. It lends the impression that he feels underappreciated by the sometimes carping Tech Nation. However, at times a few of Coach Gailey’s decisions and elocution have been at least questionable.

Bottom line - nobody’s perfect.

Finally, Najeh Davenpoop’s “poop” is pretty much on the mark.

By crenshawcrusher

January 18, 2007 12:54 AM | Link to this

Birddawg - Wow, not sure how Tech held back Calvin, I mean he only became a 2 time all american, ACC poty, and will be drafted in the top 5. Looks like his decision to go to Tech really hurt him. I might agree that Tech didn’t get as much out of Calvin as they should but one thing that Calvin has proven is that if you are talent and you go to Tech you can get your due, become well known nationally, and get a great education. I guess this should make it much easier for other great players to play at Tech since Calvin has shown that it was a positive for him.

By gt1990

January 18, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

Why should Gailey go? Riley Skinner. Remember him? Wake’s Freshman QB, whos father is a GT letterman. They begged gailey to ask Riley to walk on at Tech, he wouldn’t even do that! Reggie Ball is Chan’s Scarlet Letter.

By INcredibility

January 18, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

OK, first of all, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Terrence Moore = MORON. Is he serious?? Yes, we get it, and we AGREE with you. Chan’s a great guy with strong ethics and character and what-not. But he is NOT a STRONG decision-maker on the field. Why do you think the NFL wants him so badly!!? He has shown NO innovation and NO willingness to deviate from the norm, especially when it obviously wasn’t working (hello, Reggie Ball!)

By Ted Montgpmery

January 18, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

U crack me up,, Ok lets start with…. Reggie Ball, how many coachs would have let him play when he continues to make mistake after mistake each game, Now the big one … 0 for what against the dawgs … Terrence most ga fans dont wont him to leave either, who are you pulling for ?

By Birddawg

January 18, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

If you haven’t noticed yet I do enjoy taking it from behind by Coach Richt.

By GT Fan Jeff

January 18, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

I would compare Gailey’s current courtship with the NFL to Bobby Cremins’ almost move to South Carolina, and I predict the results will be the same. Cremins continued to work hard and coach to the best of his abilities after the SC fiasco, but his RESULTS were never again up to the expectations he had established at GT. If Gailey stays at GT, recruiters for competing schools will no doubt point out Chan’s OBVIOUS interest in returning to the NFL someday, and that WILL cause GT to lose some recruits. Bottom line, THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME at GT for Gailey, and I think it will be best for both parties if he moves on now. I am willing to take my chances on who will replace Gailey, rather than continuing on with this “NFL cloud” hanging over GT as long as Chan is the HC.

By Birdawg

January 18, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

If you haven’t realized it, I actually enjoy being tag teamed by UGA (the dog) and Coach Richt.

By Rick

January 18, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

Birddawg, You need to have your facts together before you keep making dumb * statements. Tech has a lot of recruits that Georgia wanted but decided to get an education while playing football for Georgia Tech. Mr. Johnson will go in the top 5 in the NFL draft because he was the featured receiver with Tech and later in life when football is over something more valuable is a degree with Tech instead of Georgia.

Shouldn’t it be birddog instead.

By ben

January 18, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t think it that he is a bad college coach, I just think he is better suited for the NFL. He has taken teams to bowls every year but never had a team at tech play to potential.

By K-Dogg

January 18, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

Not every GT fan wants Chan to go. Yes, there are some decisions he’s made that have made me upset - but I feel he is the right man for the job and I’ve seen a slow progression each year he’s been our coach. Should he have played Taylor sooner? Probably. But, Reggie had been the man up until the last couple of games this season. Chan can be loyal to a fault sometimes…hopefully, he has learned something from this whole thing.

By GT Booster

January 18, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

Yes, it would hurt VERY much if we lost Coach Gailey for several reasons:

1) What would all the idiots who are “self-professed” experts in coaching/recruiting a college team do? Oh yeah, turn on the next head coach. I know one guy on the board who complains who never even saw a football game until Tech.

2) I read someone else’s post above, and we averaged 52nd (better than I thought,) and now we are top 15. Is it a coincedence that when Tech is coming off probation, CCG is recruiting better?

3) Gailey lost about 25 players — if you count the cap on scholarships — and has not publicly complained about it once that I’ve heard. The lack of complaining made me love him for that fact alone. And I still had to hear guys in the stands complain about special teams when opponents were staffing their’s with their extra 25 players.

Look at all our other coaches records since Dodd. Look at any other 5-year span. Look at the level of opponents during Chan’s reign.

As I said in another post, it just makes me want to puke when people who married well try to run the Tech program based on their resume of being an average player during a below Chan average 4 years at Tech.

By theedge56

January 18, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

You people are amazing I will point this out again.

1. He has been saddled by NCAA sanctions
2. Look at recruiting 8 four star recruits. Tech hasn’t had more than five in the last five years combined.
3. Stability that the players like
4. Removed himself from the OC business. The OC should be held accountable as well as Chan gailey for personnel decisions. However most of us writing in here did not see practice, Bennett was not even a starter at his high school, and WVU had the 108th pass defense out of 119.
5. Give the guy a break he is running a clean program, holding the players asccountable. People always will think the backup is better people will always complain about the head coaches. I think he deserves the support of the fan base and not the bashing.

By Not disappointed

January 18, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Great article Terence. I wish Chan will regardless. Ramblin Wreck!

By m

January 18, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

Chan Gailey is the WORST college football coach I have ever seen in my life. He should be fired TODAY. If the NFL is stupid enough to hire him, so be it.

By Bernard EE94

January 18, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

“Gailey isn’t that bad.” Is that the best thing you can say for him? That’s why I want him to go. He’s not that good either. As an alumnus of GA Tech, I’m looking for excellence, not mediocrity. You said it yourself, he should have won 12 or 13 games this season, and we should have beat Georgia, but it is not just about this season. The NFL is full of GT talent from the past few years, but what do we have to show for it? We have one good, unexpected win per season, and losses to Duke and Wake Forest, that’s what. I throw the question back at you. Why won’t one of these flirtatious teams actually hire him?

By smitty

January 18, 2007 01:07 PM | Link to this

your header says it best, “NFL sees gailey’s potential”…..bu*#%$cough/cough$%hit…..excuse me while i laugh……..so the two NFL teams who know chan best are falling all over themselves trying NOT to hire him……..pittsburgh gave him a courtesy interview and said no thanks………miami knows chan will jump at the opportunity to coach the fins and yet they seem to have an endless supply of time and candidates to see if they can find someone ‘better’…….hardly a ringing endorsement……..in fact, i would have to say the opposite is true…………gailey is a known but limited quantity with little to no potential and unfortunately for GT, most everyone in the NFL, including miami and pittsburgh see that clearly, ………

By For the Record

January 18, 2007 01:17 PM | Link to this

Mark Richt has NEVER lost to GT. How many years in a row did his side beat GT while at FSU? (maybe 12) How many times since being at UGA? (6)

18-0 is pretty good.

By yellowblood

January 18, 2007 01:19 PM | Link to this

Birdog: You are the best example of UGA thinking there is. Its all about recruitin’ ain’t it ? If you had Calvin, etc. Woulda, Coulda, shoulda. GA proves every year that getting the best players dosen’t deliver championships. Until you get over the fact that you would rather beat FLA than be #1, UGA will always be second rate. As far as QB’s none of your guys have been on Joe Hamilton’s level.

By GT

January 18, 2007 02:10 PM | Link to this

I am getting close to understanding Moore which is probably a terminal condition. Terence perceives that some establishment does not like Gailey so suddenly Gailey is a good coach. At least 50% of the coaches in the NFL are considered bad coaches in modern day result oriented analysis. Being interviewed by the NFL is no measure of ability and certainly not being hired by the team that interviewed the coach should not be noted as a special event as far as in favor of his skills. The NFL is a fraternity. It recycles its people for years with friendship scoring higher than skill level. These people are on scholarship most of their lives, making millions with little to show for it. As for the recruits coming because of Gailey, to a man they said if he leaves they are sticking to their commitment, because they came to Tech because of Tech not Gailey. Terence’s employer tells us this in print in this weekend’s paper. Gailey is just a coach, no Steve Spurrier but certainly not the worst coach in America either. As far as getting along with the press, there are some issues there that I think Moore’s fellow writers and sport’s reporter have voiced about this coach that fly in the face of Terence’s description. What I have a hard time with is these “just a coach” types getting paid so much money to fill a space that a hundred others could do just as well. That kind of leads back to wondering why a NFL team would interview “just a coach”, but they do it all the time. We have had a front row seat to that process with our own Falcons for decades.

By gtalumn

January 18, 2007 03:23 PM | Link to this

Yes, the Georgia Tech boosters, alumni and fan base are not completely happy with Chan Gailey. I believe that most of us were surprised and uncertain about this hire from the start, and decided then that this coach needed to prove himself to us. Chan, we are told, is a good guy and a decent head football coach. I believe this. GT has not had bad football seasons under his tutelage. Yes, we did go to the Emerald Bowl last year and we did make it to the Gator Bowl this year - although the Gator Bowl had to be reminded that they had no choice but to invite us. We lost both of these bowl games. The Emerald Bowl was an exhibition of just about how bad a college football team can play. We have also lost to UGA every year during Chan’s tenure - as we all know. We have also endured academic infractions, Reggie Ball (who is gone now, no need to discuss that issue any further) and seasons in which we engineered masterful upsets of Auburn, Miami and Virginia Tech, only to be clobbered shortly thereafter by Virginia Tech in ‘05 and Clemson in ‘06, and go on to lose to the likes of N.C. State, Virginia and Wake Forest in this year’s ACC Championship.

For all of the downfalls that we have had to endure, finally, after watching Tech play a very decent game in the Gator Bowl with a very promising new quarterback and with a highly touted class of incoming recuits, Chan further frustrates us by interviewing for other head coaching jobs. Chan could have gone a long way to reach out to the alumni at the end of the ‘06 season by turning down these offers and stating that he is committed to the success of GT football and that the upcoming season will be one we can all look forward to. Instead, he considers leaving at the worst possible time and gives us the impression that his time at Tech is just as unstable as the quarterback we had to endure for the last four seasons. This is yet another example of why the GT fan base and alumni are not completely happy with Mr. Gailey and why we feel that as our head football coach, he still has something to prove to us.

By Geoffrey Paul

January 18, 2007 04:03 PM | Link to this

ben- I would counter that every one of Chan’s teams has not only lived up to potential but OVERACHIEVED. The incoming recruiting class is the first one we have had in over a decade that is being mentioned on a national level. Every year of Chan’s tenure we have been picked by the media to finish lower than we ultimately have, and we have never been better than a bottom third ACC team in terms of talent and depth. If people want to talk about not living up to potential, then they should talk about how well the two Bowdens have been coaching up the player’s at their respective schools.

By Bill

January 18, 2007 04:26 PM | Link to this

Those of you who suppose to be in the KNOW - seem to not KNOW that Gailey has a few years to complete his NFL retirement plan. This is a no brainer.

By smitty

January 18, 2007 06:13 PM | Link to this

Gpaul, you have got to be kidding……all of you who constantly chime that “his teams have overachieved” are clueless……low ranked recruiting classes? who’s responsible for that?….what, WHAT?…chan can’t recruit so it’s not his fault?…….overachieved?…..just a short time ago GT was dreaming of finishing in the top ten and going to the orange bowl…….3 losses later and we’re unranked…..and i think that some of the players on GT would argue that your assessment of the talent level is way off…….why is tenuta able to glean so much from so little talent?………oh, i forgot, gailey gives the all the talent to the defense (maybe GT should have tried CJ at MLB)………uh, gag me……..the media?…..they pick us to finish lower because chan is GT’s coach……helllloooooo……please, it’s time you chansters come up with different talking points………maybe chan will bring his magic to miami and we don’t have to continue this discussion……..and by the way, the bowdens have nothing to do with the sad state of affairs that is GT football under chan

By Senior Citizen

January 18, 2007 06:23 PM | Link to this

Bobby Ross is at Army now but may be available. He did a super job at Maryland before coming to Tech. He won a conference and national championship in his fourth year there.

Somebody tell Dan R. about him, in case he does not remember.

Forget that he’s age 70. He’s not senile.

By Valerie

January 18, 2007 06:48 PM | Link to this

I hope Gailey will stay too and this a good article. He had a lot of recruiting came in last year and more coming now and we had a better record this year, wheather we beat UGA or not, I dont care cause I rather beat the ACC teams and go to a champ game and remember we still went to bowl games every year. We still had a good year and a close one.

By MoWreck

January 18, 2007 07:01 PM | Link to this

I am a GT fan, and found this site: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/americansports.html?inarticleid=429758&inpageid=1960#StartComments

By Keith in W.R.

January 18, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this

Hey Tom, pull out a tape of the 2000 GT vs. UGA game and you will see that slow footed whiteboy QB running it in for a TD against your Dawgs (George Godsey) has both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Engineering, and our LB Ron Rogers (teammate to Keith Brooking) got a Degree in Civil Engineering

By gt student

January 19, 2007 01:06 AM | Link to this

I want Gailey to stay at Tech and that is the same way most of the students around Tech feel. Gailey represents Tech well and has been able to accomplish a lot with the horrible recruiting classes over the last half decade. With this recruiting class TECH has huge potential and I think many recruits in the future will realize the competitive advantage of going to Tech over UGA. Gailey just needs to get that big win over UGA to make the “highly regraded” alumni happy. I believe if Gailey clears that hurdle Tech can achieve top tier status like it has done with evefrything else it puts time into. Go Tech. To Hell with Georgia and hope for a WIN at Notre Dame in 8 months