UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 08
Monday, January 8, 2007
Dogs get their line coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was an interesting weekend around Athens. I’m sure everybody saw where Georgia coach Mark Richt hired a new line coach in Stacey Searels of LSU. That was a pretty good get for Richt and the Bulldogs. Obviously, the Tigers have had very good offensive lines the last several years and Searels also has a strong reputation as a recruiter.
It’s not common to get a position coach to make a lateral move in the SEC. I haven’t been able to interview Searels yet myself, but a fellow scribe in Louisiana tells me the Trion, Ga., native recently lost his father and wanted to move his family back to Georgia to be closer to his mother. We’ll get you more details on him soon.
I’ve said here before that I thought the O-line coach may be even more important for Georgia at this juncture than who would be offensive coordinator. Offensive line play will be the most important ingredient to the Bulldogs’ success or failure next season. Searels, in my opinion, fills the bill well.
Meanwhile, there’s always a domino effect where coaching changes are concerned and LSU could be having to make more adjustments besides just for Searels. Early word is LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will be a candidate for head coach at Louisville, which just lost Bobby Petrino to the Atlanta Falcons.
That would be another tough lick for Les Miles to absorb, in addition to losing Searels and having Nick Saban come back into the league in his own division.
So, do you like the hire of Searels? You think he’s going to help with the Dogs’ O-line? Is there a chance he could actually boost recruiting?
Following is the entire press release on Searels if you care to read more about him:
Stacy Searels, offensive line coach at LSU the past four years, has been named to the same position at the University of Georgia according to an announcement Saturday by Bulldog head coach Mark Richt.
Searels replaces Neil Callaway who was recently named head coach at UAB.
A native of Trion, Ga., and 1990 graduate of Auburn, Searels was an All-America lineman for the Tigers in 1987 when he was a teammate of current Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner. Prior to joining the LSU staff, he coached the offensive line at Cincinnati (2000-02), Appalachian State (1994-2000), and served as a graduate assistant at Auburn (1992-93).
“We’ve played LSU a few times since Stacy’s been there and weve also had a chance to see his offensive lines while studying tape on other opponents as well,” said Richt. “Their line has been impressive. They’re well coached, they play hard, and theyve been as good as any line weve played against in recent years. Certainly the success theyve had speaks for itself.”
LSU’s offensive unit in 2006 finished first in the SEC in total offense and scoring offense and was third in rushing offense and passing offense.
“I’m tremendously excited about coming to Georgia and working for Coach Richt and the rest of the staff,” said Searels. “I’m looking forward to being part of the Georgia football program that has such great tradition and one that I know has a great future.”
Searels made a habit of producing All-America linemen for LSU. In four years as LSU*s offensive line coach, Searels coached two First-Team All-Americans in Stephen Peterman and Ben Wilkerson and a Second-Team All-America in Andrew Whitworth.
In addition, during that four-year stretch, LSU*s offensive line produced a pair of First-Team Academic All-Americas in Rodney Reed and Rudy Niswanger. LSU had an offensive lineman named First-Team Academic All-America four straight years.
Niswanger became the most decorated student-athlete in school history in 2005, winning the Draddy Award as college football*s top scholar-athlete as well as being the inaugural recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy. Niswanger also claimed the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award for football following the 2005 season and was named the recipient of the McWhorter Award, which goes to the overall top scholar-athlete in the SEC.
Searels coached five former Tigers to roster spots in the NFL with Whitworth being a second round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006; Peterman a fourth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2004; and Wilkerson, Niswanger and Nate Livings signing free agent contracts.
Searels’ 2004 offensive line consisted of Rimington Award winner (Ben Wilkerson) along with First Team All-SEC offensive tackle Whitworth. LSU led the SEC in rushing that year with over 193 yards per contest.
Searels joined the staff at LSU after a two-year stint as offensive line coach at Cincinnati. During his two-year stay with the Bearcats, Cincinnati played in two bowl games as well as winning the school*s first conference title since 1964 by capturing the 2002 Conference USA crown. In 2002, Searels coached an offensive line that helped Cincinnati lead Conference USA in total offense (397.5 yards per game), while averaging 29.2 points a contest.
Prior to joining Cincinnati, Searels served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State from 1994-2000, helping the I-AA squad to five playoff appearances and to a pair of Southern Conference titles. He also coached players to five All-America and 15 all-conference honors in seven years as an offensive line and tight ends coach at Appalachian State.
While at Appalachian State, Searels was presented with the NCAA Award of Valor, which has been given only eight times since its inception in 1974, for his for act of courage following a head-on collision involving a van carrying members of the Mountaineer football team and support staff on Sept. 30, 2000.
With the Appalachian State van burning, Searels pulled out two staff members, who were trapped in the vehicle (11 other passengers in the van were able to escape on their own). Moments after Searels got the two staff members to safety, the van was engulfed in flames. Searels, who had been traveling on the team bus behind the van, had saved the life of his student assistant coach (Jonathan Taylor) and assistant athletic trainer (Tony Barnett). Taylor, who was airlifted to a hospital, spent three weeks in intensive care before making a complete recovery.
The NCAA Award of Valor honors those who, ”when confronted with a situation involving personal danger, averted or minimized potential disaster by courageous action or noteworthy bravery.”
Searels got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 1992, working with the Tiger squad that posted a perfect 11-0 mark in 1993.
As a player, Searels earned First Team All-America honors from both the Associated Press and Football News as a senior at Auburn in 1987. Searels was a three-year starter for Auburn, blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson in 1985 and All-America Brent Fullwood in 1986. He participated in four bowl games as a member of the Auburn football team.
A First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection as both a junior and senior, he was honored with the teams Ken Rice Award as the schools best blocking lineman in 1987. He played in both the Japan Bowl and the Senior Bowl following the 1987 season.
In 1990, the Birmingham Post-Herald named Searels to the Auburn team of the 1980s.
Searels was a fourth round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers in 1988, playing two seasons there before moving to the Miami Dolphins for the 1990 season. He ended his professional career in 1991 with the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football.
Searels graduated from Auburn in with a degree in marketing and transportation in 1990. He followed that with a Master*s degree in higher education administration from Auburn in 1995.
Searels is married to the former Patricia Hale and the couple has two daughters, Taylor (8) and Savannah (5).
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