AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > November > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech needs spark only new coach can offer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
This time of year used to be a bowl scramble. Now, institutes of higher learning — but even higher bowl mandates — have turned into cutthroat job roulette.
We’re not even through November, but already there are openings at Michigan, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Mississippi, Baylor and SMU. A buyout is underway at Colorado State. Exits could be pondered at Auburn and LSU.
At Georgia Tech, things remained quiet Sunday.
It won’t last.
Chan Gailey is scheduled to meet Monday with athletics director Dan Radakovich, at which time his future at Tech will be determined. In the words of associate A.D. Wayne Hogan: “Dan is going through the process that he laid out from day one. He’s never wavered on that. He was always going to wait until the end of the year, evaluate things and go from there.”
Sounds good. But a question: What exactly is left to evaluate?
Radakovich has known this day was coming for weeks, even months.
Make a decision. Move on.
There is only so much to analyze. Whether the plan is to fire Gailey — the odds-on favorite — or to keep him, it doesn’t seem fair to let the man and his coaching staff twist in the employment wind for another 24 hours.
Some assistants left Sunday to recruit. Does that seem right?
Lloyd Carr told his players he was retiring the day after Michigan lost to Ohio State. Nebraska (Bill Callahan) and Mississippi (Ed Orgeron) announced firings Saturday. Dennis Franchione beat everybody to the punch — he announced his resignation one hour after Texas A&M beat Texas. (To his credit, he didn’t leak it in a newsletter.)
There’s a school of thought that Radakovich is balking at firing Gailey because it would be too costly, given Gailey has four years and over $4 million left on his contract. But if you believe that school of thought, change schools.
If Radakovich makes a coaching change, it will be because of money, not in spite of it. Tech is in a financial hole, largely because of the football stadium’s expansion. But the Jackets’ best hope for paying down debt is selling more tickets and personal seat licenses, attracting more sponsors, luring more donations from alumni and boosters.
All of those things are contingent on creating a perception that something better is around the corner. That perception hasn’t existed with Gailey, and it’s not likely to change.
If Gailey is fired, it will be because Radakovich sees a ceiling with his coach, not merely in victories but in marketing. Radakovich wants atmosphere. He wants excitement. He wants anticipation. If he has that with the next coach and the Jackets still win seven games every year, so be it. But he will have given it a shot, and maybe more people will have bought in.
The worst thing about Saturday for a Georgia Tech administrator wasn’t that the Yellow Jackets lost to Georgia for the seventh straight year. What must have made it a truly miserable day for Radakovich was that this was a home game but Bobby Dodd Stadium seemed half-filled with red-clad Bulldog fans.
If Tech fans are excited about Gailey and their program, that doesn’t happen.
College coaches are fired often today. Wins and losses are only part of the reason. Consider what happened last week at North Carolina. First-year coach Butch Davis had his contract extended a year through 2014. He was given a $291,000 raise to $2.1 million. But it wasn’t because the Tar Heels were going to a BCS bowl — they were 3-8 at the time.
Part of the reason was rumors linking Davis to the Arkansas job. But the biggest reason was North Carolina sold out its home games all year. Revenue was up. Interest was up. There was a general perception: Something better was around the corner.
The crowd Saturday at Tech reaffirmed that feeling doesn’t exist on or around campus. It rarely has under Gailey. It doesn’t mean he can’t coach. It doesn’t mean he’s not a good man. It just means it’s not working.
When Radakovich meets with Gailey Monday, that figures to come up. The way this all ends seems predictable. It has been for weeks. But for one more day, everybody waits.
Permalink | Comments (146) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC
Comments
By Chan B. Gone
November 25, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
We know Gailey is a goner. But, do we go with a fill-the-gap coach for the bowl game or go shopping now? I say we hire as soon as possible and start righting the ship right away. But who?
By JustMe
November 25, 2007 8:29 PM | Link to this
I think that one of two things should happen. Of course, one is that Chan is fired.
The other is that Dan must insist for Chan to hire a GREAT offensive coordinator and to leave him alone. Also, Chan must hire a GREAT QB coach. This basically leaves Chan to do what a head coach should do - look after the big picture.
By Paul from Milton
November 25, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this
I think the best observation is that Tech is moving sideways - and sideways ain’t gonna do it in the world of big-time southern football. That program has advanced as far as it can with Gailey.
By the way JS, it’s time to stop messing with Phat Phil and the Vowels. It’s now clear they are on a mission from God and you don’t want to be standing in front of the Holy Express.
By Get Real
November 25, 2007 8:45 PM | Link to this
Anyone think Paul Johnson has any interest in heading to the Flats?
By contract question
November 25, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
Are all college coach contracts now guaranteed? Without incentives?
By JacketGrad07
November 25, 2007 8:52 PM | Link to this
I want Chan gone as badly as the next Tech fan, but once again: who are they going to hire to replace him?
By Chan B. Gone
November 25, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
I hope Paul Johnson is interested. He would seem to be an excellent prospect. Being at a service academy, he wouldn’t be put off by the academics at Tech. His success—with limited resources and recruits—has been phenominal. An obvious offensive genius and most importantly, a winner.
If you look around at football—high school, college, pros—successful coaches are successful wherever they coach. It’s almost a universal truth.
By Quiet Observer
November 25, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
We need someone to compete. Compete on the recruiting trail, compete with the ACC’s best. Compete with Mark Richt, compete with the bulldogs, and compete for his players undivided attention. We need a youthful, exuberant, inovative, no nonsense coach. We don’t a retread, or an old gaurd coach. We do need someone with energy and desire. Let’s go get someone with southern roots, a pedigree background. Someone that can relate to todays players. Again, I vote for Charlie Strong.
By GPBurdell
November 25, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this
Promote Jon Tunata to HC. He motivates, brings intensity, and this allows us to keep the recruiting continuity of the program. This one’s a no Brainer.
By Todd
November 25, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
I say bring June Jones and the run & shoot back to Atlanta, Keep the defensive coordinator and win some games 51-7
By Quiet Observer
November 25, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
Charlie R. Strong (born August 2, 1960 in Batesvile, Arkansas), is a college football coach currently serving as co-defensive coordinator, assistant head coach, and linebacker position coach of the Florida Gators.
After lettering for four years (1980-83) at University of Central Arkansas, Strong joined the Gator coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 1983. He later served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 1985. His first full-time coaching job was at Southern Illinois in 1986, where he coached wide receivers. He later assumed defensive coaching duties at Florida and Notre Dame. He also received a Masters and Education Specialist Degree from the University of Florida.
In 1999 Strong joined the South Carolina Gamecocks as defensive coordinator, becoming the first African-American coordinator in Southeastern Conference history. His stifling defenses and well-mannered personality created buzz that he would be possibly the first black head coach in the SEC, but job offers were slim[1] (Sylvester Croom eventually broke the color barrier in the SEC coaching ranks).
Strong was hired as defensive coordinator for the Gators before the 2003 season. When head coach Ron Zook took the University of Illinois coaching job with one game left in the 2004 season, Strong served as interim coach of the Gators for one game, the 2004 Peach Bowl, technically making him the second black head coach in SEC history. Florida lost the game, 27-10, to the Miami Hurricanes.
By Keith
November 25, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
How about Bobby Johnson. He can coach and he has been recruiting well in Georgia for the past 10 years.
By Keith
November 25, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this
How about Bobby Johnson. He can coach and he has been recruiting well in Georgia for the past 10 years.
By yellowblood
November 25, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
Chan may not be working but the Lamda Chis are. They held a wonderful Tickle Pile last despite the devastating loss to UGAG.
By Observer
November 25, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
While I agree that Chan is not the long term solution at Tech, I’m not sure this is the year to fire him. Tech will be competing with Michigan, Nebraska, Texas A&M and others for a very limited crop of top coaching candidates. Since we have to pay Chan for the next four years whether we fire him or not, why not look quietly and only fire Gailey when a contract with a new coach is a done deal?
By gtclassof2013
November 25, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
Gailey has to go. He’s a hindurance to Tech and I hope he is let go.
By elijah
November 25, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
Can boosters and grads. not come up with the pay off?
By Dan
November 25, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
I like the June Jones idea. It would be a lot of fun to see that offense in the ACC. Good luck getting somebody to move from Hawaii to Atlanta. The tribes probably worship him there by now.
I wonder if he would bring Glanville with him…
By OkieDon
November 25, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
As a Tech grad and long-time Tech fan,I used to feel a loss to UGA was the end of the world. No longer - under Gailey a loss to the Bulldogs is a given - expected and anticipated. Apathy has set in to mostTech fans. Now we need someone to at least try to revive the excitement. Pepper, Curry, Ross, O’Leary all did this, at least for a time. A change is needed now.
By Michael White
November 25, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
Hello Jeff:
The misery may finally be over at last, but the financial and poor administrative management of the past A.D. definitely needs to be purposefully thrown in every description of Tech’s dilemma. Gailey was used, unfairly, like a shiv in a prison cell ruckus, to stand as a statement of cheap political power by David Brane - all for the purpose of Dave getting the last word. What an absolute insecure creep of a human being - and what a dumb way to end a career.
By smitty
November 25, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
there’s another article in the ajc about bowls…..specifically that GT might be going to boise, the blue carpet bowl, as the “least desirable of the ACC teams”…….geesh chan, how’s that for building a bowl and coaching resume……and for GT, they’re going to the least desirable ACC team bowl, congratulations!………and yet, all the focer’s, in their support of chan, continually refer to chan’s run of bowl appearances ( including the blue rug, nutcase, and muffler bowls) as a testament to his coaching prowess………excuse me while i hurl………yep, i got another request from GT for donations……..it starts out, “date of last donation, 9/04”……..yep, that’s the year i stopped supporting the million dollar salary of the clueless wonder chan, and he’s still here…………thanks dave braine, dr clough……it’s been real…….
By west coast
November 25, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this
I do not expect us to be a top five team. The academic restrictions limit our ability to get the 5 star players. However I expect a quality product. I expect the team to compete and force the opposition to earn the win. I think we have turned the corner and I expect Gailey to step it up, open it up offensively and utilize the smarts these kids have. It takes 30+ points to consistently win at the college level. Fire the Ad and hire a coach as the AD that can bring something to the table and a business manager to run the business.
By bake
November 25, 2007 9:26 PM | Link to this
the only 51-7 that’s going to happen is when uga whips that tech a$$. tech will never win a game like that. TENUTA (learn how to spell tech geeks…math isn’t the only thing that counts!) is a great coordinator but a head coach he is not. he has the personality of a rock. that wouldn’t work!!! acc is still a joke but keep pretending techies!
By GTSting
November 25, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Go get Spurrier. Do what it takes!
By GTsophomore
November 25, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this
Bobby Johnson also has experience beating UGA with less talent at Vandy.
By Get Real
November 25, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
Hey bake, if we wanted to learn something from a UGA fan, it would be how to manage to pass out in a pool of your own vomit before noon. Thanks for the spelling lesson, fool. Now work on your capitalization and punctuation, idiot.
By Drexel Gal
November 25, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
I have just thought of the perfect candidate to replace Gailey. This candidate has a proven record in recruiting and winning in our state. Furthermore, he has good reasons to defeat UGA, as he has an unspoken vendetta against the school in Athens. My nominee is … VINCE DOOLEY.
By JAMES B McCOY
November 25, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
THEY SHOULD LET HIM GO .BUT LET THE NEW COACH BEABLE TO GET THE COACHES THAT HE NEEDS TO DO THE JOB AT GA TECH. THAT INCLOUDS A QT COUCH THAT CAN DO THE JOB
By GM
November 25, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this
Schultz: I run hot and cold on you usually, but you just wrote the best Gailey summary (tombstone engraving) ever written in one article. He’s a great man. I’ve met him numerous times and agree, but his welcome is over. He will be gone tomorrow.
For all you people out there that are happy with 7-6, 8-5, or whatever, and argue that’s all Tech should aim for, screw you. Tech had tradition until Gailey brainwashed you with this mediocrity. Granted, Tech may not be a 10 win team every year, but to aim for it every year and contend for a NC every 10 years or so is not unreasonable at Tech, even with the academics etc, with the right administration and coaching.
Give D-Rad the chance to make Tech what we all want - competitive - and he will do it. No, competitive does not mean coming close to beating UGA the last 4 years.
Everyone willing to accept the current state of affairs, please get up tomorrow, got to work, and strive to be only as good as you were yesterday - and no better. Your boss will eventually fire you too.
By Jim D**
November 25, 2007 9:52 PM | Link to this
What about Rick Strom. Is he a possibility? JD
By Drexel Gal
November 25, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
I have seen this year before … Tech losing at home, 31-14 to Georgia, and LSU meeting Tennessee at the Georgia Dome in the SEC championship game. It was 2001, and, before Tech’s trip to the Seattle Bowl (remember THAT one?), O’Leary was on to his five-day sojourn to Notre Dame, and Mac McWhorter led the Jackets to an upset win over Number-16 Stanford. Does that mean that Tenuta will guide Tech to a win over Clemson … er … too late, they already beat Clemson … I mean, the Mighty Ducks of Oregon? And then, who will be the next savior at The Flats?
By Rhino
November 25, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
Be realistic about a replacement. The last two successful coaches, Ross and O’Leary left Tech. Even Tech’s golden child, Bill Curry, left Tech for a better gig. Tech has become a stepping stone job for better jobs. Lack of money is not going to attract an established winner. Tenuda may be the only candidate. The only other candidates will be a young assistant who wants to make a name for himself to put himself in a position for a bigger job. Kind of like Steve Spurrier going to Duke, if you can win there you can win anywhere kind of thing. The City of Atlanta, namely the traffic, will turn off many coaches. To get someone with a big name the paycheck needs to start at the $2.5 million range. Add to this the $1 million you will have to pay Chan and this is only part of the financial dilemna. Add to this an increase in recruiting budgets and facilities that will be demanded by a big time coach and you are really getting into some big numbers. With only a 50,000 seat stadium that has a history of being quite empty and a fan base that has shown they mostly don’t care you are going to have a hard time attracting anybody.
By BT
November 25, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson !!!!!! 2004 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year, success everywhere he goes ….. AND he already has his option QB - Josh Nesbitt!!!!
By reality check
November 25, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
Chan suffered the consequences of losing scholarships due to probation and losing 10 players to academics. But he didn’t cause either problem.
I have a question. What happened to the person responsible for the academic losses? Anything? If something did, I sure missed it.
What about Clough’s accountability? The athletic department financial difficulties have occured on his watch. Nothing happened without his authorization. By reputation he runs Tech as a dictator. Are the Tech grads still scared of him?
Chan is the lightning rod. He is in the public eye. He is making a good living, and with what he has made and what Tech will have to pay him to leave he can live comfortably, so I don’t feel sorry for him. He has been vilified by Tech fans for years and I am sure he will find it a blessing if he gets fired.
I don’t think firing Gailey will do anything for Tech football. I’ve written on the Tech blogs on a number of occasions that it appears to me the problems are higher up in administration, and nothing is happening to get that fixed.
By Najeh Davenpoop
November 25, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
Who replaces him?
I’m assuming many of the people on this blog are Falcons fans too. We should know by now what happens when you fire an average coach and don’t have a better opportunity in mind. Case in point: Firing Dan Reeves and replacing him with Jim Mora.
By SMiller
November 25, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
Why we fired Mac McWhorter I will never know…Anyway to get him back from Texas???
By rob2595
November 25, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
First I would like to say I am a UGA fan but follow Tech b/c many of my closest friends are Tech fans. First as a UGA fan I admit the rivalry is going lame. I used to love going to the game each year and spending hours tailgating, talking trash, and going into a game with an electric atmosphere for the home team. Yesterday’s game their was none of that. UGA fans were worried about the UT - Kentucky game and Tech fans were wondering how bad Chan would lose this game. I know it will hurt when it happens but Tech needs to win every 2 - 4 years to make this compelling again. I think over most 10 year periods UGA will usually have more wins but that is due to facilities and somewhat academic standards (though not as bad as some Tech folks think, do not tell me how smart Reggie Ball or Stephan Marbury were in a classroom, please!.)
As far as coaches here are some ideas:
Jimbo Fisher - I think top of the list for you LSU background AD.
Paul Johnson - This is a mistake. HE has run the options at Ga Southern and Navy for years. It will not work.
Charlie Strong - Good PR, good coach, good for recruiting, good on the wallet.
Spurrier - He hates UGA more than any school so that is your pull. Bad news he will cost 3 times what you want to spend.
Muschamp - Another good coordinator that played at UGA and knows the area.
Cutcliff - If I am a Tech fan he his tops on my list. Did great at Ole Miss (never should have got rid of him), and as a Coordinator at UT I am not sure if he has EVER lost and ALWAYS puts up BIG numbers on us. Great QB coach and great for the community. I am not sure if you can get him though b/c he may go to somewhere higher profile if these places do not get their 1st choice.
Jim Mora Jr - I know you all stop and laugh now. Bust listen; young guy, relates to the younger players, good motivator, knows the area, charismatic, great PR guy, has expressed interest in coaching at the college level, and has been a head coach…Coach of the Year one season.
By GM
November 25, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this
Money? Get real!!! I personally know at least 2 Tech people that could completely buy out Gailey and not cramp their style in the least. I don’t control their checkbooks, but the buyout hurdle is only talk. It’s a drop in the bucket to the big picture of the athletic dept and stadium expansion.
We didn’t fire McWhorter. He just wasn’t retained. Bad move? Maybe.
Who replaces Gailey? I don’t know, and neither do you. D-Rad, I suspect, has a plan.
And again for all you Gailey lovers: Everyone willing to accept the current state of affairs, please get up tomorrow, got to work, and strive to be only as good as you were yesterday - and no better. Your boss will eventually fire you too.
Gailey is gone tomorrow. Bet on it.
By Joshua Barlowe
November 25, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this
Will Muschamp!
By Len
November 25, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this
McWhorter will NEVER be head coach at Tech. He not only went to and played for Georgia, his family name is all over Athens. I believe there is a McWhorter Hall on campus as well as a McWhorter Highway that runs through town. Not gonna happen.
By combodougnut
November 25, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
Many here are making the assumption that the Tech job would be a plumb. It ain’t. The excitement at UGA comes from many of its student body being from Georgia. Tech is made up of only a few Georgians, the rest are Asian, Indian, Muslim, and Yankees with big noses. They have the ugliest student body in all of college sports, maybe with the exception of Fisk or Wyoming.
By GM
November 25, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this
rob2595: Thanks for the comments. Mostly, I agree with you, and appreciate the UGA input and lack trash talking. However, Mora Jr? I gotta think about that one. No discipline could be a serious issue.
By hop
November 25, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
THE JOHNSON BOYS BOTH BOBBY AND PAUL ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER VANDY AND NAVY JOB, BUT ONE WITH DEEP POCKETS WHERE ONE CAN COMPETE AT A CONSISTENT TOP 15 LEVEL.
TECH IS A TWO-THIRD TIER PROGRAM WITH A SMAL BASE OF BOTH ALUMS AND FANS WITH LITTLE DRAW TO A BIG TIME WINNING COACH TO THE FLATS. YOU CAN FIRE GAILEY,BUT YOUR RESULTS WILL BE LESS THAN THEY ARE NOW.
By GM
November 25, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
hop: turn off you Caps Lock button, and hit “UGA” under the Sports tab on the screen above. You are on the wrong web address.
By Fly like an eagle
November 25, 2007 10:55 PM | Link to this
Get Hatcher from Ga Southern. He’s already made Statesbory forget about Van Gorder. He’s won 2 Natl Titles, he’s from Macon, coached/developed Daunte Culpepper at UCF, and has strong recruiting ties in both Georgia and Florida.
If you don’t get him now, you will wish you had 5 years from now! Bank on it.
By GaDawgs7
November 25, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
As an outsider looking in, here’s my opinion on the coaching situation. Obviously, yesterday’s game proved the weaknesses of Gailey. As has been pointed out, there were as many Bulldog fans as Tech fans in the stands. In watching a few of the Tech games this year, they played uninspired, unmotivated football with very poor game planning, especially in the Virginia Tech game, which had the chance to be a statement game. The fans were equally uninspired, and this falls squarely on the shoulders of the head coach. I think the problem that you guys will face in a year of so many coaching vacancies is that you won’t be able to secure a top notch, big name head coach. You need a high energy, experienced assistant coach thats ready to be a head coach. Thats what we did with Coach Richt, and you see how thats worked out. Promoting Tenuta is one option, but the thinking will probably be that you need a fresh start. Charlie Strong is a great choice but no idea if he’d be interested. Bobby Johnson may be the one head coach that would be interested, but is he really the answer? He’s a good coach but can he get people excited about him coming to GT? The worst thing that can happen to you is to fire Gailey and then discover you can’t upgrade the position? Here’s a long shot for you…how about Bobby Petrino? He is finding out this year that he is a much better college coach than a pro coach. After the year he’s had, he may be ready to head back to the college ranks…just a thought :)
By ray
November 25, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
Gailey is DULL AS DIRT!!! No excitement,poor communicator,can’t motivate. Even if we get someone who has same record,maybe at least we could find a coach who could talk to us. Jeez,Chan is BORING!
By Ward
November 25, 2007 11:06 PM | Link to this
Techies- Sorry for all the UGA people talking trash. I’m a UGA grad and I feel fortunate to win yesterday. That game could have gone any direction heading into the 4th quarter. I think your future looks good all things considered…the one person you guys are not talking about is Jim Grobe. He would be the best choice for you guys. If he can win at Wake he can win at Tech…That is one of 4 or 5 coaches that I think are highly underrated right now.
By bob
November 25, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
Bulldog fan’s observation…The experience of going to a Ga.Tech game is…goofy. What’s with all these silly games ya’ll play between time-outs? The crowd got more excited about the game…”are you smarter than a 5th grader” than they did when Tech scored…and what’s the deal with the ticket package that includes free pizza or is it hot-dogs?????…and the decision to hire a rap singer for the VT game…trying to expand your fan base????? I’ll say this if you want to be a big time program..you need to stop acting so silly!!! Leave Gailey alone…he can’t coach with a bunch of Silly Willies around him….Would welcome any comments…Bob
By Sam
November 25, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
Take this for what it is worth coming from a Dawg fan, but Tech is not competing for the same quality of coach that Nebraska and Michigan (or potentially LSU) is going for. Those 3 schools have deeper pockets and more upside than Tech. If they call, the agents will listen; if Tech calls someone like Tuberville will not even answer. (Now his agent might might just to jack up Auburn).
There are several coordinators out there that should be considered. I would add Dan Mullen of Florida to the list along with Charlie Strong—never sure what has kept him from getting a HC job unless it is that he is black or that he is just biding his time; the latter is dangerous since at some point people stop calling. Hiring a black head coach would be a great PR move and he certainly has shown himself to be a very good coordinator.
I think Muschamp would be a fascinating choice. Why should Tech be hung up on a UGA man leading them? It has not stopped Auburn and UGA from hiring one another’s grads (Dooley, Dye, Muschamp, Searels just to begin). All have been successful.
By GM
November 25, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
GaDawgs7 and Ward: Thanks for the comments. I’d take Bobby Petrino or Jim Grobe in a heartbeat. Either would arguably be an upgrade to their career, and quality men. But, are either willing to make a move?
I just have a feeling that D-Rad has a plan, or at least an approach, and I’m comfortable waiting to hear it.
By Chan B. Gone
November 25, 2007 11:23 PM | Link to this
I’m afraid Hatcher’s youth may be a negative factor (34), but I don’t think it should be. Remember, Dooley was what, 31? Hatcher would also have to give up the snuff dipping. But, I agree, five years from now—or sooner—he’ll have a big time job. He’s a sure and proven winner. And, his price tag would not be outrageous. Sign him up!
By GM
November 25, 2007 11:27 PM | Link to this
bob: You make some great points. I’ve always believed that a quality product will fill the seats, and have never been in favor of the gimmicks (pizza, hot dogs, Big Boi, whatever). It is silly. What puzzles me is…thinking back to 1991, Tech coming off a NC year and not being able to fill the home-opener, and the stadium held less than now. We just don’t have the fan base (and I won’t rehash the reasons here). All the answers? Dont’ have em.
By LongBeachJacket
November 25, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this
This is a business decision. College football is a business. Coach Gailey is a good man. I know he has done an honest, hardworking, dedicated job. He has my respect. Football is not the be all end all. But it is time for a change. When you look at our football team on the field, our offenses just have never been very good under this regime and that’s hard to swallow when the head guy is an offensive coach from the NFL level. That’s simply a “football business” observation and hard to counterargue when you look at the numbers.
I do care about the program and want the best. I think we will probably have a change at the helm. If we do, I’ll support the program. If we don’t, I still will and hope we go 12-0 next year.
Call me a blind loyalist. I have no shame in that.
Our new AD is a guy who “gets it” on the nature of this business and I think he’ll make a good decision.
Perhaps our former AD didn’t quite have the business angle, but it should be recalled that the athletic dept overall maintained or improved success in many sports from the mid-90s into this decade… Give credit where it is due…
One comment above refers to “firing the AD”…I have to assume that was a misprint or just a benignly uniformed fan as to the present state of affairs on the Flats.
By GaDawgs7
November 25, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
Muschamp would be definitely worth a look, and as a Dawg fan, would hate to see him at Tech, but at some point, he’s going to get his shot. I threw out Petrino as a long shot earlier..here’s another…what would Tech fans think about bring back O’Leary? He had some success, but the feelings may still be too bitter. Patrick Nix is also an OC/coach that has Tech ties that could be considered
By asswipe
November 25, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
June Jones would be the number one target and Paul Johnson of Navy 2nd. Maybe Paul 1st, both are excellent coaches and both have records way better than their players. I’m a dog fan but I like Tech also. With the smaller contract Paul would take the school could better afford to hire him.
By Jeff
November 25, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
I’m a Gerogia fan and I’m not trying to be sarcastic, but I think they need to give Chan Gailey more time. The past couple of years have proven to be good recruiting classes for them. They have in John Tenuta one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. Tech is never gonna be on the same level as Georgia so just accept the facts and continue to improve your team and maybe win one of those ACC championships like Wake Forest did last year. You see there is hope.
By GaDawgs7
November 25, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this
Petrino came to the Pros, and in particular the Falcons, to be able to work with Vick. he’s now stuck in an obvious rebuilding situation, and can’t be happy. Falcon fans and players aren’t happy with him either right now. He was a tremendous college coach, an offensive mastermind, and while this may seem a long shot, it could be a good fit for y’all. Money might be the biggest factor there.
By Ramblin Wreck
November 25, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
Ward- I agree with Jim Grobe at WF but he is also being mentioned for the Nebraska job because of his focus on running the ball.
I would like Cutcliff from Tennessee or Norm Chow from the Tennessee Titans. Both are offensive gurus.
By GM
November 25, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this
Patrick Nix: no way, no substance.
O’Leary: no bitterness, but was he really that good? Good enough to take that leap into the media “I can’t believe Tech re-hired O’Liar”.
I liked your first thoughts much better. I think we’ll have a better clue tomorrow.
By BR
November 25, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
This thread is a perfect example of why Tech is going to struggle in football. As a 5th year student, I can tell you that Tech fans don’t show up because of Gailey, they don’t show up because they are some of the worst fair-weather fans imaginable. I was a freshman for the Final Four year, at the Duke game the stadium was 1/3 empty until almost halftime. Even then it was never packed out, meanwhile students had been camping out for a week. In fact, that whole basketball season and the next, not only was the Thriller Dome hardly ever full, but at every tournament game, our sections were mostly made up by the opposing team’s fans, who got their tickets from our select, best alumns that were even eligible for the few hundred tickets. It does not matter how good our teams are, or how great the coach is, Tech alums are just pathetic. Suprised that Bobby Dodd was mostly red last night, not me, because I know Tech alumni would rather scalp their tickets on eBay than either come out and support their school, or at least sell them to another Tech fan. The bowl committees do not pass us over every year because they dislike Chan, instead it is because the local high school teams travel better than we do.
Yes, Gailey has not beat Georgia, course Georgia is playing better ball than they have in 20 years, and in at least half of the last 6 we should have been blown out, not lose in close games. Never mind that he beat #3 Miami in the Orange Bowl, beat Auburn twice, destroyed Clemson’s season more often than not, and has won more ACC games since the merger than only Va Tech. A lackluster recruiter, well I guess Calvin was just luck. Never had a losing season, almost no blowout loses, always bowl eligible, …, ya he needs to be fired as bad as Ty Willingham, and we know what a success that was. As Tech fans we are supposed to be proud and have honor. Instead, we would rather get rid of such a football coach, and hire a royal jerk like Spurrier, because he MIGHT win more (When he is not complaining that South Carolina has such high standards that they will not admit each and every thug that meets the clearinghouse).
The trouble is that until the alumns start supporting Tech like a first rate program, we are going to continue to be a mediocre stepping stone. For the first time in our history, we were sanctioned by the NCAA. What a disgrace. But, did anyone get hot under the collar and call for heads to roll, nope. Was anyone upset that we got unknown Dan R-something-another as the AD instead of someone that is a Tech man, nope. When Clough rammed home his Honors Program, did anyone rise up and let him know Tech was an honors university. Triple Nope. Anyone even care that the Tech Core has been dumbed done so that freshman can be “nurtured.” Of course not. Instead, just like the rest of the schools that we belittle, our fans only unite for important things like firing football coaches. Course, in our case, that is really ironic since no one shows up to watch the football games. So, while you guys debate which man is going to the “magic bullet,” I am going to try to explain to the rest of the country where are honor went.
By BR
November 25, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
This thread is a perfect example of why Tech is going to struggle in football. As a 5th year student, I can tell you that Tech fans don’t show up because of Gailey, they don’t show up because they are some of the worst fair-weather fans imaginable. I was a freshman for the Final Four year, at the Duke game the stadium was 1/3 empty until almost halftime. Even then it was never packed out, meanwhile students had been camping out for a week. In fact, that whole basketball season and the next, not only was the Thriller Dome hardly ever full, but at every tournament game, our sections were mostly made up by the opposing team’s fans, who got their tickets from our select, best alumns that were even eligible for the few hundred tickets. It does not matter how good our teams are, or how great the coach is, Tech alums are just pathetic. Suprised that Bobby Dodd was mostly red last night, not me, because I know Tech alumni would rather scalp their tickets on eBay than either come out and support their school, or at least sell them to another Tech fan. The bowl committees do not pass us over every year because they dislike Chan, instead it is because the local high school teams travel better than we do.
Yes, Gailey has not beat Georgia, course Georgia is playing better ball than they have in 20 years, and in at least half of the last 6 we should have been blown out, not lose in close games. Never mind that he beat #3 Miami in the Orange Bowl, beat Auburn twice, destroyed Clemson’s season more often than not, and has won more ACC games since the merger than only Va Tech. A lackluster recruiter, well I guess Calvin was just luck. Never had a losing season, almost no blowout loses, always bowl eligible, …, ya he needs to be fired as bad as Ty Willingham, and we know what a success that was. As Tech fans we are supposed to be proud and have honor. Instead, we would rather get rid of such a football coach, and hire a royal jerk like Spurrier, because he MIGHT win more (When he is not complaining that South Carolina has such high standards that they will not admit each and every thug that meets the clearinghouse).
The trouble is that until the alumns start supporting Tech like a first rate program, we are going to continue to be a mediocre stepping stone. For the first time in our history, we were sanctioned by the NCAA. What a disgrace. But, did anyone get hot under the collar and call for heads to roll, nope. Was anyone upset that we got unknown Dan R-something-another as the AD instead of someone that is a Tech man, nope. When Clough rammed home his Honors Program, did anyone rise up and let him know Tech was an honors university. Triple Nope. Anyone even care that the Tech Core has been dumbed done so that freshman can be “nurtured.” Of course not. Instead, just like the rest of the schools that we belittle, our fans only unite for important things like firing football coaches. Course, in our case, that is really ironic since no one shows up to watch the football games. So, while you guys debate which man is going to the “magic bullet,” I am going to try to explain to the rest of the country where are honor went.
By GM
November 25, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
Jeff: You might want to try a little harder not to be sarcastic.
By SoCalinGA
November 25, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this
Ramblin Wreck: Norm Chow is a great choice. I lived in LA when he was the OC at USC. He may take the GT job if offered to get HC experience.
By Tech/Ga/Falcon Fan
November 25, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this
You Fools, you fools, with a few exceptions, you appear similar to a pen of turkeys frantically gobbling when disturbed. If you want Gailey gone, then put up your money where your mouth is and then put your a—- in the empty stadium seats.
By GM
November 26, 2007 12:00 AM | Link to this
BR: Since you’re a student, and I’m an alum, let’s talk. I was a student in the late 80’s, early 90’s, and let me tell you that our student body attendance blows yours away be a long shot. You were only in elememtary school so I’m sure you don’t remember. We sold out 1/4 of Alexander Coliseum for games and camped out for days to do it. I come to the b-ball games now and I’m embarrassed that only 1 section can fill up with students, 2 for a good game if you count the band. We had 4 sections top to bottom full. As for Bobby Dodd, we weren’t sanctioned to the end zones back then, but I think you’re far behind there also.
Quit complaining about the alums, and get your buddies to join you at the games, big shot.
By ray
November 26, 2007 12:05 AM | Link to this
Does Petrino have an expensive long-term contract with the Falcons? Maybe the Falcons would like to hire another coach and would possibly slip us a few bucks to be able to get out from under Petrino’s contract—-could help in paying off our “Mister Excitement.”
By Boo Boo
November 26, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
Upon entering the processing room to Heaven, Jeff Schultz waits nervously.
Voice: Declare please - Good or Evil. Schultz: Mostly perfect, so count me as Good. Voice: God will be with you shortly. (Schultz picks up newspaper on coffee table in waiting room. Headline: Georgia Given the Death Penalty by NCAA. Nooooo!!!!, screams Schultz)
God: Hmmmmmm Jeff Schultz says he was Good. That’s a laugh. You ARE the crappy sportswriter that could never find a good paper to work for, other than the one in Atlanta, right? Schultz: That would be me. God: It says here on your paperwork that you used to play God, when on earth. Schultz: My bosses said it was part of my job description. God: Same thing that Bradley fellow said. Such a messy suicide his. Anyway,it says you led to the firing of fourteen head coaches at Georgia Tech over your career. You know they all suffered because of you; but, none complained and all ended up here. They tended to only hire good people at Georgia Tech. Schultz: So. I hate Tech and the constant change helped my Dawgs win more. God: (tisk, tisk, tisk) Well Jeff, you have two options at this point: One) You go back as a poor Tennessee mountain child, born to parents that will send you to Vanderbilt University, where you will be a freshman walk-on, breaking your neck in the opening SEC game of the season - against Georgia - and will have to live the remaining 90 years of your life as a quadraplegic Commodore fan. Or ….. Two) You can get a waver from that guy over there. Schultz: I think I prefer the waver thing. God: Well, its all up to that good soul’s decision. If he says no, its option one only. (walking over to man standing on edge of cloud peeing into a great abyss, yelling, “Sorry, Mark. I can’t quite get anything wet to your burning tongue.”) Schultz: Excuse me sir …. Soul: (smiling) Just call me Chan. Schultz: (screaming as he winds through the vagina of a Tennessee woman) Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
By GM
November 26, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
Boo Boo: I’m sure Schultz will spend time reading your ramblings, just like I didn’t.
ray: Since Gailey is such a great “pro” coach, maybe the Falcons would trade for Petrino?
By norcrossfan
November 26, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this
bringing in petrino doesn’t make any sense. he would be leaving the falcons in disgrace as a failure. granted, much of it is not his fault, but he does not exactly have a stellar name in the area. he is not going to stick around here if he leaves the falcons after one year. i can totally see him take a job like LSU or Michigan.
By GTSam
November 26, 2007 12:55 AM | Link to this
I say lets ride one more year with gailey. He has been getting close to outstanding seasons and the games we do lose are usually close ones. Another thing is that we are having another good recruiting year which means that prospects like the way tech is run now so why change it? Just let him build for one more year and we will show them all what Tech can do.
By Jack Stenger
November 26, 2007 1:15 AM | Link to this
Stick with Chan. It will be a disaster to the program to start again. We need to have patience and recognize that there are no saviors out there. Stick with Chan. We’re going to break through. But we have to stick with Chan.
By Keno
November 26, 2007 1:26 AM | Link to this
Schultz is my favorite local sportswriter. He’s entertaining and insightful. Most of you people seem to want a “homer.” Obviously he’s not always picking on Tech. He does it to everyone as he sees it, and he’s entertaining to read. I’ve lived in several cities across the country, and the AJC has the best sportswriting I’ve come across. I hear that from others too. Quit complaining and taking personal jabs just because someone says something you don’t agree with. By the way, no one mentioned Jim Donnan. Personally I like Gailey with the recruits he’s getting lately, but if he has to go, he goes. I want to see some offense. Go for June Jones. Also, who cares if McWhorter went to Georgia. He was great as an assistant at Tech. As someone pointed out, Dooley went from Auburn to UGA and Pat Dye went the other way. Big deal. Anyway, I don’t know who would be good at Tech, so it’ll be interesting.
By surfrider
November 26, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this
Whatever we do if there is a change let’s don’t reinvent the wheel. What does that mean? Every coaching change has brought some setback due to a lack of consistency or experience at Tech, which is somewhat unique in recruiting southern football players. We had a youthful energic coach once that had actually trained under Vince Dooley and was an excellent recruiter? His name, Bill Lewis. Attrition killed us because the recruits quit or could’nt do the homework or injuries, etc.. The best models I think are Bobby Ross/& Lt’s or Bill Curry and his Lt’s. Curry had nothing to work with when he started. The next coach is coming into a much better situation. Mindset is critical. We are one or two wins away from being a consistent 8 to 10 game winner and beating UGA. Offense is key, but so is keep the defense good. Recruiting Nationally is also critical as well as in state. A 60 +/- coach is not all bad thinking they will stay around and train some pretty good assistants, particularly if they have experience at Tech before. The names I would look for would consist of O’leary, Fridge, Curry, Tenuta, Johnson, Fisher, Mcwhorter. We definitely need a QB’s coach that can focus on that maybe an OC/QB that is left to call his game. Bond had a pretty good track record at Northern Ill. There are going to be a lot of coaching changes this year so it will be interesting. But we are not that far off, particularly if we had an offense and particularly passing game to go with our defense and special teams. Gailey has done some good things at Tech keeping us in winning terrortory but it’s clear from many that until last year recruiting had dropped and the passing game never took off. The offense will sell tickets so a deficit should not be that big of a concern right now.
By Keno
November 26, 2007 1:47 AM | Link to this
I’d like to see Tech stick with Gailey because of his staff’s ability to recruit. They’re very good with what they have to work with. I’ve seen good coaches at Tech, and other places, that couldn’t recruit, and it’ll inevitably be their downfall. My greatest fear is that this great public uproar about Chan Gailey has poisoned the recruiting well. When the negativism towards a coach gets as bad as it is now at Tech, there’s not much choice but change. How many coaches after Bobby Dodd did we run through before we got a good match. I’m not optimistic for Tech for the next several years with any new coach.
By JSS
November 26, 2007 5:12 AM | Link to this
I knew Keno was on the Clarke Co. “Meth” when he decried this: “Schultz is my favorite local sportswriter. He’s entertaining and insightful.”
I don’t want the Hack to be a “Homer.” I do want him to knowledgeable, honest, and moreover, fair to the reader and those that he is opining about in print or in other media outlets that he appears on representing his views… There is no one in their right mind that can say that about Schultz… He, Terence Moore, John Kincade, and Mark Bradley have so poisoned the environment around the landscape of Atlanta sports that it has become a national joke…
People, June Jones the III will never return to Atlanta… He knows how lucky he was to go home to Momma (Hawai’i)… This town tried to ruin that man… Oh, for the millionth time, Hawaii runs the Power Spread offense, it is not the “Run-and-shoot!!!” My goodness, it just ask Boise about it, and turn on ESPN2 watch them dismantle Washington this weekend for yourself… Even if were the “Run-and-shoot,” I’d take it over that mess I’ve been witness to in GA Dome this year…
Tech needs to show some guts like Mississippi State did in hiring Sylvester Crooms… Some people never learn, look at what he’s done with lesser talent than Gailey… With the exception of LSU and West Virginia, his teams compete and get up when they are punched in the mouth! Shoot, even Vince Dooley took a real chance on that HPV spreader Coach Mark Richt… The easy hire is not always the best hire… Who knew Robert Lee Dodd before he came to the Flats? There are some fine coaches in America who are not re-threads or as dim as Gerry Faust or Bill Lewis… I’m always so amazed by how adverse to change people on this by the Tenuta would be a fine choice, keep John Bond and take the straps off your offense if you hire Jon.
By Dean George Griffin
November 26, 2007 5:12 AM | Link to this
The name of a younger version of O’Leary was floated in a blog after last season. Don Brown of UMass.
A hard-nosed, no-nonsense defensive guy who had immediate success at Northeastern in Boston, and then again in Amherst at the state’s flagship where he was runner-up last year in 1-AA to national champion App State, Brown also has excellent skills in recruiting and running a balanced offense. His 1-AA quarterback, Liam Coen, has been much better than anything 1-A Tech has put on the field lately.
Tech also really needs a guy who’s already got HC experience and somebody they can afford who will actually see the job as a dream in a dynamic town with a decent climate and recruiting base. UMass is looking maybe to go 1-A and Brown will make the jump with them if it happens, but Tech could have him right now.
None of these other guys mentioned want Tech, unless they see it as a stepping stone to a bigger job like Curry, Ross, and for that matter, O’Leary, did. Tech needs somebody who is a tough fundamentals coach who will also actually be excited about the overwhelming challenge down there on the Flats. Like O’Leary, Brown is no shrinking violet and that style will be what’s toughest for Richt to handle just like O’Leary’s was for a very good coach, Jim Donnan.
By TechBuzz
November 26, 2007 5:25 AM | Link to this
Radovich should go after a proven coach, like Spurrier or Stoops, and stop hiring these overrated incompetents like Gailey. For the right money ($3-$4) mil, they can get any coach they want. Just raise tuition and fees to pay for it.
By Bob
November 26, 2007 7:11 AM | Link to this
Who would want the job? The worst fans in college football and a graveyard for coaches. Tech is the black hole of college football.
By YellowJacket01
November 26, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this
I love Ga Tech, I hate to see how no one thinks we can be a above average team. Yes, we should have beaten Maryland and Virgina. I really feel like we should have beaten UGA. I think Gailey is a good man, he has good judgement and the players like him. If we want to always be a 7 and 5 team we need to keep him. But if we want to be 8 and 4, 9 and 2 or better, we need a different coach. We need someone who is willing to take chances and not be predictable. I have to give credit to UGA…They have excitment and deserve to go to a BCS bowl. Their coaching staff takes chances, sometimes for the bad and some for the good. Had we taken move chances we would have ended in the to ten last year and would not have lost our last 3 games of the year. This year, we would not have ended at 7 and 5…9 and 2 more than likely. Come on GT, get it together and give us some hope. I have been a tech fan all my life.
By kenny
November 26, 2007 7:30 AM | Link to this
bring back pepper rogers and the wishbone….
By One More Time!
November 26, 2007 7:32 AM | Link to this
Like He#& you are gonna take Hatcher. Im a tech fan, and you will not take our coach. He is getting his feet wet in the Boro and will be here until we hang a number 7 on the flag pole at Paulson.
GATA
By NCdawg
November 26, 2007 8:00 AM | Link to this
I wonder, if Tech would have won the ACC title game last year would you still be wanting to axe Gailey?
By NYJACKET
November 26, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
Dan R_ has a really tough decision to make. For whatever reason Chan has not inspired the fan base. College football is about a lot of things but it is also a business.
I think Chan will turn the Tech program into a solid winner that will compete for championships. But, the program needs to bring in revenue - either fill the seats or have wealthy supporters open their check books.
Viginia Tech kept Frank Beamer when the fan base was screeming for him to be fired and he built a power. But Virginia Tech never had to worry about filling the stadium.
Replacing Gailey carries great risk. This is especially so this year when so many schools are going to be recruiting.
The fans may not like it but Dan R__ needs to keep Gailey as Tech’s coach.
By Joe
November 26, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
KEEP CHAN
STOP PLAYING GEORGIA