AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 27
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
No grace period for new coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The decision has been made as expected.
Chan Gailey’s a class guy and he held things together through some tough times, never slipping into a losing season or out of bowl contention.
That’s no easy task considering Flunk Gate, injuries to guys like Hollings and Gathers, and probation restrictions on scholarships.
He was ultimately, in the end, doomed by his inability to defeat a UGA team that is enjoying a historic period of success.
And make no mistake, this is not the same UGA program that O’Leary defeated three years in a row.
Still…It doesn’t really matter now. It’s all water under the bridge. It’s time to look forward and move on.
I’m really curious to see who the next coach will be but don’t have any real preferences.
I do know the next coach at GT will have even less margin for error than Gailey did. He’s going to be expected to win immediately, maintaining the winning seasons and the bowl streak.
Why?
Because you don’t fire a coach who won more than he lost and kept you in the post season and then give his replacement a few years to “rebuild” or “recover.”
The program is in better shape today than when Gailey took over, based largely on the last recruiting class and a new Athletic Director.
Gailey’s successor has to win…there will be no grace period. None.
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