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 > December > 08
Monday, December 8, 2008
Losing Garner would hurt Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I don’t know how serious Auburn is about hiring Rodney Garner as its next head coach. Reports out of Alabama refer to him as a long shot. But I can tell you for certain Georgia is seriously concerned about losing him. And if I was involved with the Tigers’ coaching search he wouldn’t be a long shot.
First of all, this is not like 2005. If you recall, LSU coach Les Miles was about to fly Garner to Baton Rouge by private jet to offer him a job on his defensive staff, allegedly as defensive coordinator. But before Garner could get on that plane, Georgia coach Mark Richt canceled his plans to serve as honorary coach in the Hula Bowl in order to meet with Garner face to face. UGA President Michael Adams also called Garner from London to implore him to stay, as did AD Damon Evans from Vietnam. They offered Garner a hefty raise and added the title of assistant head coach to the ones he already had as recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach.
And Garner stayed. He also “owes me a trip to Hawaii,” Richt said.
That gives you some idea of what Garner means to the Bulldogs’ football program.
But this is different. This is Garner’s alma mater. This is to be a head coach in the SEC. Even if he could, Richt wouldn’t stand in Garner’s way for something like this. In fact, CMR has been very outspoken of his belief that Garner could be an exceptional head coach. And Richt knows better than anybody much Garner leaving would hurt.
Garner is like a string that runs through everything the Bulldogs do. He’s the first UGA voice most prospects hear and the first face they see. Great defensive linemen want to play for him because his guys always end up in the NFL. He came to Georgia from Tennessee and immediately got the Dogs’ recruiting foot into the door of downtown Atlanta high schools, where it’d rarely been. He’s organized. He’s smart. Knowshon Moreno liked him.
Yep, losing Garner would be a big blow for the Bulldogs. But there is one thing they could possibly do.
The latest trend in the college game is to designate a hot assistant coach as “head coach in waiting.” Will Muschamp received that title (and a $900,000 salary) after just one season as defensive coordinator at Texas because other schools wanted to hire him away as a head coach. Jimbo Fisher has the same deal at Florida State (he’s mentioned for Auburn’s opening as well). Oregon did it with Chip Kelly as well.
I don’t know, just a thought. What do y’all think?
Some links:
Here you can see all the stories on Auburn’s coaching search… .
Georgia had eight players named to the AP All-SEC team. You can see the list of all the players from all the teams here at the SEC website. By the way, the coaches’ team should be posted there today or tomorrow… .
Here’s some great news for the Bulldog Nation: Florida QB Tim Tebow says he’s “leaning toward coming back”… .
Speaking of quarterbacks coming back next season, this Texan said he definitely is… .
Apparently Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen has been interviewed for Mississippi State’s head job… .
Our old buddy Mark Schlabach, now of ESPN.com, rates the bowls from best to worst. Spoil alert: Dogs-MSU made his Top 10… .
Here’s a great look at how every coach voted in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Spoiler alert: CMR voted Gators 1 but Urban Meyer voted Dogs 21st.
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