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 > 2008 > March > 10
Monday, March 10, 2008
Multifaceted decision on Felton’s fate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the first time since Georgia’s basketball season went into this prolonged swoon, coach Dennis Felton this past Saturday defended the job he has done with the Bulldogs and, consequently, acknowledged that his job is indeed on the line.
In case you missed it, in summary, Felton said he thought it was “bizarre” that anyone would question the work he has done at UGA; he compared the Bulldogs’ situation to the similar ones at Baylor, St. Johns and St. Bonaventure and said Georgia has done better overall than all three while playing in a much tougher league and against tougher competition overall; he said they’re recruiting great at the moment and close to being where he wants to competitively; and he said while this season was “definitely a step back,” he added that virtually no coach could have overcome the personnel losses the Dogs incurred.
It was a pretty passionate defense Felton delivered to me and three or four other scribes after the Bulldogs’ loss to Ole Miss in the regular-season home finale Saturday and I spoke to Felton briefly one-on-one after that. He clearly feels he and his staff should be allowed to stay on at least another year and beyond.
I’ve asked you guys to weigh in on the situation here before and, as always, you’re welcomed to share your opinions on that again now. But let’s talk about some of the other factors involved.
One, you must consider who you might be able to bring in. Remember, Georgia is going to be a little behind in this regard because South Carolina and LSU in the SEC and Indiana and Oregon State and some others outside of it already have been actively searching for coaches. By my estimation at least eight major conference jobs could be open by season’s end and that number will likely grow considerably after that. I am compiling a list of candidates but you tell me who you think might be out there and available for Georgia.
Two, recruiting is always a consideration and, by all indications, Felton and his staff have done pretty well the last season or so. As it is, the five freshmen from this year’s team would return next year, then you’d have PF Howard Thompkins (No. 6 in nation per Rivals), PG Dustin Ware and SF Drazen Zlovaric coming in along with two other as-yet unsigned prospects. Fire Felton and there are no guarantees how many of those guys would stay around to play under a new coach.
Three, for what’s it’s worth I’ve been told by some folks close to the situation that money won’t be a factor in the decision. That’s a good thing because it’s likely to be a costly one. UGA will owe Felton $760,000 per year for the next three years and then the market will likely produce a coach commanding $1 million or more in salary, depending on the candidate.
As for Damon Evans, I don’t have a strong feel for how he might handle this. If it were still Vince Dooley calling the shots, I’d bet you the farm that he’d give Felton another year to coach himself out of it. Dooley, being a former coach himself, always erred on the side of the coach (see Ray Goff, Hugh Durham and Jim Donnan). Evans, by contrast, has a mostly business background.
And finally, all of that might mean nothing. We’ve seen in recent years how UGA president Michael Adams doesn’t mind exercising his influence in athletics matters. He overruled Dooley on Donnan and showed a quick trigger on Ron Jirsa. He may just pipe up and say “do it” or “extend him” and that will be that.
I’m rambling on but these are all legitimate factors going into the postseason. Let me hear what y’all think about them.
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