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 > March > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDogs banking on Felton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I imagine everybody’s heard the news by now that Dennis Felton is getting a pay raise and two-year contract extension. Actually it doesn’t become official until it’s improved by the executive board of the Georgia Athletic Association during a specially-called teleconference meeting this afternoon at 5:15 p.m. But the deal is already agreed upon in principle between Felton and AD Damon Evans and has been signed off on by President Michael Adams.
Georgia, of course, had to do this. You cannot have a coach out there recruiting with only two years left on his contract. Rival recruiters will chew that up and spit it out. You must be able to tell a prospect you’re going to be there for them for the entireity of their careers. Otherwise, you might as well cut them loose right then and there. Now he’s contracted through 2011.
A WSB-TV report on Felton’s extension said Felton was a candidate for several other Division I basketball jobs. I don’t think there’s any truth to that. At least, I haven’t heard a word about it and I am constantly monitoring such things. The only jobs of significance out there are, of course, Kentucky, Michigan, Arkansas and Iowa and I haven’t heard Felton’s name associated with any of those openings. Anything else would be pretty much a lateral move or down. And Felton has a little momentum here at Georgia, what with four starters coming back, four recruits signed and probably one more coming and a $30 million practice and training facility being completed this summer.
So the obvious topic for today’s blog is whether you think extending Felton’s contract and giving him a big fat raise ($50,000 a year) was the right move for Georgia. Clearly, the program has shown progress in the last two years. Has the progress been significant enough, in your opinion? What about next year? NCAA tournament or bust?
Also, do you believe the extension was long enough? Some programs are giving their coaches 6-, 8- and 10-year contracts. Also, Felton’s pay still ranks in the bottom half among SEC coaches. It was bottom third before this raise but I haven’t had a chance to quantify where this places him now.
Anyway, I’ll be monitoring this story all day and will let you know all the details when they come out following the executive board teleconference. Let’s hear your opinions on this development.
Permalink | Comments (54) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball
Comments
By ballen12
March 28, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
I like Felton, and think he deserves a little loyalty from the University. At the same time he better make the NCAA tournament next year.
By gdawginkalamazoo
March 28, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Chip, According to Tubby Smith on ESPN, he didn’t know his agent had been talking to Minnesota for six weeks. Now days some people can keep things confidential. I might have missed it but I had no idea Minnesota was considering Tubby until it was announced.
Good move by UGA and Felton. I do think this next year is THE YEAR soemthing better has to happen. Looks to me like Felton has done a good job and has the four starters coming back along with the good recruits. It he performs well then there is always time to re-write the contract to fit the accomplishments. The money can always be added later.
By gtinsc
March 28, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
as a gt fan, i love this move. lost by 32 points in the NIT. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
By No Felton
March 28, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Next year it’s NCAA Tourney or Bust. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t make the tournament. If they don’t, get rid of Felton and his LACK of coaching ability.
By Brian
March 28, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
Great move by Damon Evans. Felton is a quality coach and a very good recruiter. He is slowly but surely taking Georgia basketball to that next level. The SEC is tough, and with Donovan, Pearl, and company around i feel it is imperative that we make the NCAA next year to keep the momentum going and to continue to build the program.
By yeah, but
March 28, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
to gtinsc:
As long as ya’ll keep Chan Gailey, we Dawg fans will be happy.
By Apaul404
March 28, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Yeah Tech sure made a lot of noise in the tournament. Just wait till next year.
By Jim
March 28, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
Lets see if Felton can land a top player in the State of Georgia now! Who wants to play for Felton?
By Carlton Powell
March 28, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
A good move at this point in time. If UGA is to get serious about BB, then they MUST begin projecting a sense of continuity. In all honesty, the verdict is still out on Coach Felton. As has been hinted, he had NO idea how bad things were whe he arrived post-Harrick. But, within the next two years, sustained success has to be achieved, or just throw in the towel on BB at GA. The BB ‘Dogs must learn how to win on the road when the going gets a bit tough. No more coughing up wins like at Alabama. Wins like that are worth their weight in gold in late season. Good teams find ways to hold it together and win in such circumstances. Again, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and time will tell. I still think the BB ‘Dogs are two years away from really being a force.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
March 28, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
Where are the new recruits coming from? Chip, can you give some info about them. All I’ve heard is that they’re suppose to be good. If that’s true, then with 4 starters coming back the Dawgs should “Dance” next season even though to lose the last game the way they did was ugly.
By Chip Towers
March 28, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
Buck,
Felton’s recruits are 6-9 Jeremy Price of Decatur (Columbia), 6-8 Chris Barnes of College Park (Riverdale), 6-7 Jeremy Jacob of Baton Rouge (Hargrave Military Academy) and 6-1 Zac Swansey of Dunwoody (Dunwoody).
By JM
March 28, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
gtinsc, as much as Felton sucks, he’s still 2-2 against Tech and about to be 3-2, because we get you in Athens next year.
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
March 28, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Why a $50K raise is big and fat to most people, I don’t think it is to a Division I major sports coach. Especially since Florida is going to have to raise Donovan’s salary, and since Kentucky is going to solve its coaching vacancy by throwing lots of money at the problem. Arkansas will be shopping as well.
The direction of UGA basketball is up in terms of wins. UGA students are much more involved in the basketball programs. Recruiting looks solid.
That said, the SEC (especially the SEC East) remains a meatgrinder.
Chip: Another in a string of excellent topics.
Go Dawgs.
Unrelated, but where is (& where will he be) Tubby’s son who graduated from UGA? As I recall he was a grad assistant at UK shortly after Tubby left UGA.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
March 28, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
THANKS
By Hunk Erdown
March 28, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
I think the biggest thing that Felton has accomplished is restoring some integrity to the program. Yes, they need to continue to show progress in the W-L column. Whether anyone was actually trying to get Felton to jump ship or not, there is the possibility of it, and I feel that bringing his pay more in line with other coaches in the same type of enviroment is deserved. If the University shows loyalty and trust in Felton, that will project over to recruiting and make guys feel more comfortable about the program and where it is headed. Good move, and the timing (2 years), is fine too.
By Ramble ON!
March 28, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
The 50K raise means Felton has to help pass out the free pizza to the 1500 fans that come to the game. He’ll also be expected to work the concession stands during the Women Gymnastic meets.
By bubba the redneck
March 28, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
does it really matter if felton got a raise. the man got a raise for mediocrity. 19-14 equals a raise what kind of crap is that. if i were the athletic director i would tell him he better make the real tournament if not his a* would be out looking for a new job. uga should have kept harrick in the first place. harrick was a hell of a coach who got caught. everybody cheats we just got caught with harrick. we will find no better coac then him. why all the grovelling over felton 4 years at uga and no ncaa bid. that merits a raise. feltons teams have been horrible and mediocre at best including this year. getting blown out by air force by 31 points merits a raise. if any of us fell that bad doing a job we would be fired by dennis gets a raise. the only reason this mediocre coach and overbearing man got a raise was because of his color. this coach felton is a total whacko. i remember reading last year that felton want let his wife buy clothes without his approval. is that a nut job or what. bring back harrick.
By AltamahaDawg
March 28, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
Well thats not too bad if that a condition. At least HE could say hes actually been in the same building with pretty co-eds. You are welcome to come and see for yourself what that’s like.
By AltamahaDawg
March 28, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
I sure hope that Joakim Noah gets kicked off of American Idol tonight, he is horrible.
By honest_abe
March 28, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
great move by uga.
some of you guys are delirious. first of all before the harrick fiasco it wasn’t like georgia was ever a basketball powerhouse. at times the program has reached levels of respectability.. sometimes a lil higher (i.e. under coach durham and coach smith) coach felton inherited a program that was in shambles. he got a team in which the players got away with anything they wanted. once coach felton got here he added some much needed discipline and those former harrick players all left. leaving CF with a bunch of walk ons. now you tell me which star georgia players would jump through hoops to come to a program like that. but you never heard one complaint of the situation CF got himself into. instead he CLEANLY and slowly turned the program around. he would’ve had a major coup in louis williams.
look bottom line the dawgs have a great coach. he is the polar opposite of harrick. he doesn’t bend the rules so he can get a win. some of you had a problem with him benching levi stukes. i didn’t. sometimes these young athletes think they own the world. and it’s the coaches responsibility to ground and humble them.
it’s some of you moronic fans that think uga should’ve been competing for a national championship that’s going to drive this guy out of here.
it’s not like he has the best facilities in the world to attract young talent. i mean they play in the stegasoraus … geez.
By bubba the redneck
March 28, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this
honest abe you are the one thats delusional. theres no such thing as discipline in sports. harrick was probably the best bb coach uga ever had or will. so he bent the rules so what who doesnt. harrick has one of the best minds in college bb what has the great dennis felton done. harrick came to uga when it had no talent didnt he. his first year there uga only won 10 games 3 in coference. the next year he took the team to the ncaa tornament. feltons been here 4 yrs no tournament. the man goes 19-14 and we axct like he is the second coming. he sucks as a coach. if harrick would have been given a second chance uga would have been in the final 4 by now. felton is nothing but an overrated windbag who had good references getting him the job at uga, if he were white he would not have been considered. when uga goes 18-15 next year you guys will be saying will were getting closer. closer to what i ask. we need the best bring back harrick.
By MadMerf
March 28, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this
Altamaha,
Do you mean to tell me that Joakim Noah is on American Idol? And all this time I thought she played roundball for the Lady Gators!
Oh well, shows you how much I keep up with such things.
By Hunk Erdown
March 28, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
bubba-
This is your butt-> (l) This is a hole in the ground-> 0
Ohhhh never mind….
By Matthew at the SLC
March 28, 2007 6:31 PM | Link to this
No way this guy deserves a raise. He is not even worthy to hold Billy Donnavan’s clipboard.
He should have been fired the minute he benched the team’s best player before the biggest game of the year.
He is a disgrace to the university and has no commitment to winning!
By MadMerf
March 28, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this
The above poster has been identified as an imposter. The real Matthew does not speak out against Dennis.
Bubba has been identified as Michael Adam$. He feels that since Dooley’s out of the way, “bubba” Harrick should return to finish off the job they started: To demolish UGA!
By bubba the redneck
March 28, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this
jim harrick had ugas team in the tournament twice it would have been 3 times if that sell out tony cole would have quiet. you tell me who the better coach is, bring back harrick and jr. bubba the redneck knows bb
By Sports Fan
March 28, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
March 28, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this
These childish posts by the gt elitist are getting a bit old.
Seems to me gt under achieved in both FB and BB this year.
By the way when was the last time the gt FB team beat UGA without the help of ineligible athletes? Oh yeah, I almost forgot the gt athletes have to take calculus to graduate. But how many actually graduate? Now it is time to counter with the same old tired argument of how much smarter gt athletes are than UGA’s.
Of course the truth the only difference between the academic prowess of the gt athlete and the ones at Clemson are the color of the uniforms they wear.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
March 28, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this
Had work to do and now I’m having double vision. Bring back Harrick? I’m almost sure I read that. Somebodys just funning! comparing Harrick and Felton as coaches? There’s no comparison because Harrick has proven IMO that he’s by far the better game day coach but I’m glad he’s gone. It may be to late for Felton to change; however, if CMR could grow as a coach like it’s showing already, then Felton can do the same. I’m just afraid that his ego may get in the way of any personal growth. Time will tell.
By Concerned
March 28, 2007 7:50 PM | Link to this
Chip-
Been hearing rumblings that Takais might not be eligible next year…have you heard anything?
By greg
March 28, 2007 8:10 PM | Link to this
FELTON WILL DO ALL HE CAN TO WIN OVER THERE MAN!IF HE GETS PLAYERS THAT WANT TO DO HIS THANG HE WILL WIN!
By Matthew at the SLC
March 28, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this
The only thing he might win is one of the free pizzas that are given out at home games. He may get the free pizza due to the fact he is only person in the building.
But then he might verbally berated the Papa Johns girls and suspend them for the next home game.
By bubba the redneck
March 28, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
why the love fest with this overrated so called coach felton. what has he accomplished at uga in 4 yrs except running off coaches and picking out his wifes wardrobe and finding his biological mama. someone out there please tell me what are his accomplishments outside of that. he could not coach his way out of a bag. harrick was 100 times better, adams made the right decesion to bring him in. its just a shame that dooley set up coach harrick by backdooring that sellout tony cole. dooley let cole in to begin with. harrick wasnt dooleys boy so he found a way to get rid of harrick. harrick and his son were turning uga around into a bb dynasty like fla but dooley couldnt handle adams success at picking coaches so he set harrick up to fail the sob. if it were not for adams we would not have had coach richt remember it was dooley who wanted to keep donnan. dooley is out for himself look at all the radio commercials he is such a wh*re. he would sell his soul for a dollar. he couldnt stand adams being better in coaching personnel decesions. you idiots must like mediocrity with rthis overrated coach of bb we currently have. like i said before next year when we are 18-15 you guys will be taliking about oh how young we are and how we are improving. give me a break get rid of felton and bring in a real coach like harrick. you people need to remember dooley hired felton and youy guys want tp hold on to that last memory of prince vince. i say good riddance to that smary smug man. i am glad adams got rid of him and i will be glad when adams gets rid of this nonentity of a coach we currently have. all felton does is whine and cry to the officials and stomps his feet where is the coaching where is it. bubba knows his stuff.
By AltamahaDawg
March 28, 2007 9:09 PM | Link to this
Does coach Felton have an unusually large Ego?
By black24us
March 28, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this
GO GEORGIA BULLDOGS WE LOVE YOU ALL DOWN HERE IN AUGUSTA GA!!!!!!!!
By Gen Neyland
March 28, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this
50K is but a teaser. If he gets them to the Show next year, add 75K…Tubby will have the Gallopin’ Gophers in the Show within 2 yrs, Sweet 16 within 3 yrs. Next to college hockey, a winter with a winning BB program is a must in Dinkytown, but mark my words, Tubby’s Travels aren’t done yet…On a closing note, when will UGA build a House to sit 18,000..?
By Chris
March 29, 2007 3:59 AM | Link to this
Felton has done very little at Georgia and has no reason at all to be making as much as he does every year. He needs to prove himself before getting these kinds of deals. I know my company doesn’t give me an extra penny until I produce quality work. Felton has yet to do that, and I really don’t think he ever will.
By AltamahaDawg
March 29, 2007 7:47 AM | Link to this
Chris, was your company in bankrupcy a few years ago, and then asked you to produce a product even though they didn’t have any raw materials on the shelf? Since you are making corporate comparisons.
Also, if you work for a company that wouldn’t recognize , and invest in, vast improvements in a product line, I’d say you need to look for some other company where the managers have a little more vision.
By D Ellis
March 29, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this
Good Coach in Felton…not great but good.-Bring back Jim Harrick????? Why so we can be the laughing stock of college basketball again….there is no pride in cheating..even if it gets you in the dance 3 out of 4 years….and BUUBBA…at least Felton picks out his wifes clothes….your wife probably picks out yours…..D Ellis knows his stuff. At the current pace of improvement…we should be in the dance next year. Just stay behind the program and good things will happen
By Brian is delusional
March 29, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
Brian wrote: “Felton is a quality coach and a very good recruiter. He is slowly but surely taking Georgia basketball to that next level.”
No. Not. None of that is true.
By gdawginkalamazoo
March 29, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Well said AltaDawg.
By AltamahaDawg
March 29, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
A little late, but I noticed somebody said that, “there is no reason they shouldn’t make the tourney next year” and “felton has a Lack of coaching ability”. Actually there are a number of reasons they might not, just ask the majority of the SEC conference that didn’t this year.
Anyway…Here is my probem with that logic. If he can’t coach, (and I assume you dont think UGA is just a powerhouse BB program cranking out all SEC players every year without even trying), wouldn’t the presumsion be that there is no way they should make the NCAAs. Why would a poorly coached team of really mid level players, be expected to do anything? Isn’t the “expectation” of making the NCAAs in fact a compliment to his coaching abilities?
By Ramble ON!
March 29, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
Felton is a class act, I hope he leaves UGA soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Gen Neyland
March 29, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
AltamahaDawg
Good analogy…
By Marietta Dawg
March 29, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
Hey Chip - I read in your article that even with Felton’s raise he’s still in the bottom half of SEC Coaches from a pay standpoint. Can you post all of the SEC basketball coaches’ salaries to show where he stands? Thanks!
By honest_abe
March 29, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
heh… anybody else notice bubba refer to himself in the 3rd person? i thought that was hilarious!
By Fort Worth Dawg
March 29, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Surely we’re going to be guessing who all the new basketball coaches are going to be. Last I heard, Michigan is going after West VA’s coach, and Arkansas has made an offer to someone (some say Texas A&M’s coach; others say not him). Surely, Florida and Tennessee will be trying to make their coaching positions bulletproof. I’m thinking UK is going to offer Donovan the Big Bag of Money and Florida, knowing that, is going to have to do the same (or will anyway due to recent post-season success). UK must be thinking that they need a bigger name than Pitino, and I wonder who that will be (other than Donovan).
By gdawg84
March 29, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
Felton is a mid-level coach at a mid-level program. He has done nothing to create an ounce of excitement in his four years. Sure, give him a raise-who cares? Or fire him, again, who cares? Cancel the whole program, who cares?
Fact is the UGA men’s bball program is never going to attract the talent necessary to do anything consistently significant. Look at our record in the SEC tourney over the last 10 years - abysmal!
By AltamahaDawg
March 29, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
gdawg, that’s odd you should use the term “our” record, almost as if you were a UGAdawg fan yourself. Didn’t you mean “your”?
By Buck Cochran in the NW
March 29, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
I don’t think it unreasonable to be thinking “Dance ” in’08. 4 starters coming back and 4 good(outstanding?) recruits coming in appear to be the basis for a good team. Still, a team has to have a little luck(no injuries), a few calls to go your way and all important chemistry of the players. Thinking “Dance” for ‘08 isn’t out of line.
By gdawginkalamazoo
March 29, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
Ft Worth Dawg, UK search will be interesting. IMO I don’t think Donovan will leave. Why? Because he is looking at having a future arena named after him if he stays. Plus all the money anybody else offers UF will match. He could cruise for a decade with just tournament appearances under no pressure and UF fans will be okay with that (not that that would happen, the program is too strong).
I think the UK people will BAMAtize some lucky dog with a ton of $$$$. Probably former NBA coach. Don’t know what top level college coach would step in. Especially after Tubby got crucified.
By bigdawg
March 29, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
I don’t think anything UK can do will pull Donovan away from UF at this juncture
By Buck Cochran in the NW
March 29, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
BidDawg, you’re right. Meyer is already pushing for Donovan to be paid more than he’s making. Any report that Billy D is looking at the Ky. position is wrong. The ONLY thing he’s doing is getting his tam ready for U.C.L.A.
By BadgerDawg
March 29, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this
The analogy with Saban going to UA is really good. Both are teams with tradition and no other reason to believe their program should be great. Donovan has better instate talent staying right where he is, and he won’t be threatened with getting fired for winning 25 a year. The only reason Donovan would leave is the same one that Saban did: $$$$$$$$$$$$. Crean and Few are the only candidates that should consider the UK job a step up.
By the way, what was Frank Broyles taking (or not taking) to think Bill Self is a candidate for his bball job? That’s way nuttier than the Donovan scenario.
By Frank
March 30, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
If Florida should win everything again, and I don’t think they will, then Donavan will more than likely take the Kentucky job. This has very little to do with money. After winning a national championship (or two straight) at one school there is nowhere to go but down at that school. That is when coaches start looking for new challenges.