UGA

By Joey

January 19, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this

No, they will not turn it around. Last year’s SEC tournament run did nothing for our program. Felton still cannot recruit blue chip players, and cannot make adjustment during games. He’s had his chance. We are getting farther and farther behind even the average teams in the SEC. Please make a change now, Evans.

By Don

January 19, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

Regretfully, it’s time for Felton to go.

It is not a question of whether or not we get a good replacemet, because it seems that anyone with reasonable merit would be as effective as Felton.

By Bryan G.

January 19, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this

The only turnaround for Georgia basketball is to show Dennis Felton the door. If you’re a UGA supporter, email Damon Evans at devans@sports.uga.edu and tell him you’re tired of our basketball team looking poorly coached and unmotivated.

By Atlanta Gator

January 19, 2009 9:15 AM | Link to this

Nope. Sorry, Dawgs fans, but this looks like the end. Last year’s SEC tournament championship was a major upset, even in an off year, and I don’t see it being repeated this season. Dennis Felton has many redeeming qualities as a coach, but the bottom line is that he has not pulled the hoops Dawgs’ out of the swamp of mediocrity. Given the available high school basketball talent in the state of Georgia, the UGA basketball program should be a consistent winner, if not an SEC contender.

It’s time for a change, and I hear Tubby’s available.

By BlackoutBob

January 19, 2009 9:15 AM | Link to this

I know this sounds crazy —- put the feelers out to Tubby now! Tubby was popular, won ball games, and knows how to deal with kids who may not be perfect students, players, ETC. Felton tries to fit the square peg in the round hole to often. Unfortunatly that sums him up also. He has never won the fan base over (granted is record did’nt help).He deserves a lot of credit for cleaning up the mess he was hired to fix but he’s the wrong fit for the program, university, and fan base. Anyone have a canidate or two? I know the Tubby idea is a long shot at best.

By It's Bad

January 19, 2009 9:17 AM | Link to this

Worst basketball I’ve seen in 30 years in Athens. Damon, please fire him BEFORE the SEC Tourny this year.

By richtfan

January 19, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this

no way felton will turn this around. what would you have after the turnaround? you’d still have a crappy coach and recruiter and someone who just has not gotten it done. The tournament championship was great, but the glitter off that star has faded already, and we’re back into the doldrums of the cellar. UGA deserves better based on the talent we have just in our own state. We deserve a coach who is not only willing but capable of bringing the championship to UGA.

By JB

January 19, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

OK, Does this make sense ? 6 years ago you hired Dennis Felton to run your Hardware store that was really in a mess and wasn’t doing well. SIX years later it’s in a bigger mess and losing more money. Well, Damon Evans, What would you do ? Any answers. Even us UGA Business School grads know the answer to this !

By Tired B-ball

January 19, 2009 9:28 AM | Link to this

No Felton will not be able to turn this around because Felton does not adjust. Felton has his system, and if things aren’t working, it’s never the fault of his system. It’s always the fault of those who didn’t do what they were supposed to. That is not a good sign.

Hopefully the players have enough pride and grit to fight through this and win, but it will be inspite of, not because of, Felton.

And get off the Tubby Wagon people. He is a good coach, but UGA doesn’t need to go down that road again.

By reservoirDAWG

January 19, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this

I have given Coach Felton all the chances I can. It is time for a change. He cannot recruit the players we need to compete and when he does land a good one, they are dismissed from the team. It has been six years and I don’t see the progress I hoped for. Look at what Pearl is doing at UT in the time he has been there (3rd season?). I understand the state Harrick left the program in, but six years is plenty of time to overcome.

By bpdawg

January 19, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this

Chip, I hear alot of people calling for Tubby to come back to Athens. In your eyes, what is the possibility of that happening?? If not Tubby, what coaching candidates do you see as a successful fit at UGA??

By bank walker

January 19, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this

No way, not with Felton. He has wasted enough of my tax money! He obviously didn’t deserve the job in the first place.

By Red GA Dawg

January 19, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this

Felton and Hewitt both need to have new opportunities, how can a state that produces so much talent have two teams in major conferences that are awful, hopefully Evans pulls trigger first.

Give UGA a head start on new coach, only time before both GA and Tech are on new track.

By Chip Towers

January 19, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this

bpdawg: I’m afraid there is not a very good chance of Tubby returning to Athens. I haven’t checked on this yet — and I will — but after his stint with Kentucky, Tubby commands some extremely rich contracts. I’m sure Minnesota probably locked him down pretty good. But, like I said, I’ll check on it to be sure and will probably write about it down the line.

By Fort Worth Dawg

January 19, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this

Chip — If UGA lets Coach Felton go at the end of this season, what will that cost UGA, if anything, per Felton’s contract?

By bpdawg

January 19, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this

Chip, thanks for the response. Since that does not look like a possibility, who do you think are possible candidates if/when Felton is removed??

By Dawg Fud

January 19, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this

chances of turn around are slim to none. i really like Felton but at the end of the day he has not gotten the job done.

if he had a point guard things might be s little different. swansey has heart but probably should be playing at Division III school. defenses are feasting on his lack of ability - not only in the press but in all areas of his game.

we are also incredubly weak in the paint. we never attack the rim. we just go up praying for a foul or that the defender will not block the shot.

By Chip Towers

January 19, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this

As for possible replacements, that’s always a tough call for Georgia. It’s a hard job. Like they say, it’s not easy turn around an aircraft carrier. There are years and years of negative momentum. Athens is a relative rural outpost compared. People don’t drive over from Atlanta for games, though they’ve proven they will for a consistent winner. But then there’s the chicken-egg argument again… . The reality is the best candidates tend to be young coaches from mid-majors or old coaches with glorious pasts. It worked with Tubby and it worked at Tennessee with Bruce Pearl. That’s probably what you’ll see again unless Damon has some grandiose plan I’m unaware of. The Dayton coach’s name already has been bandied about. Many more will come to light as the season progresses… .

Felton’s contract is not an issue. UGA didn’t extend him after last season — pretty telling, don’t you think? — so he has only three years remaining. I forget the exact amount but I think it’s about 800 per.

By DAVE

January 19, 2009 11:57 AM | Link to this

We are three years late in making a change. Enough is enough, the change must be made now. The long term negative impact on recruiting in arguably one of the most talent rich high school states will only get far worse if the change is not made.

Since day one of felton, we have not had a half court offense and the player rotations make no sense at all when we actually do have close games and a lead.

Thompkins is a real potential force, bring in a new coach and build around him.

By Captain

January 19, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

Felton should be relieved of his coaching duties today, Monday, January 19, 2009. His team has just been blown out, they haven’t scored 50 pts in their last two games, they are going nowhere. But Dennis Felton is going somewhere. With his team resting at the bottom of the SEC, Felton is off to Washington for a 3 day trip. UNBELIEVABLE!!! Why not just ‘spit’ in the face of the University Administration? I wonder how Michael Adams, Damon Evans, THE GEORGIA TEAM, all feel as the coach is off to Washington?

There could be no better time than at this very moment to dismiss Felton. How dare him take a vacation in the midst of what is going on. If he values his job no more than this, cut him loose immediately. The players on the roster deserve better, he has officially QUIT!!!

By Gordon

January 19, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this

When Tech beat UGA for the services of Favors, it actually lost. UGA will get a new coach first, and get a head start on getting it’s program turned around.

By NewnanDawg

January 19, 2009 1:11 PM | Link to this

No chance of a turnaround under Coach Felton. I sat through the 8 - 20 season a few years ago, and yesterday’s game was far worse. Their was no pride, no fight, just a lot of quit from that team. Corey and Wood were the only ones who seemed to even care. The coach has obviously lost the team. I have nothing against Coach Felton and I appreciate many of the things he has done to clean up the program. Unfortunately, his offense, if you can call it that, is horrific, and his use of the bench, or lack thereof, is a complete mystery. If you have a team struggling to score, why is the best shooter (Ricky McPhee - nickname McThree) not put in for an offensive spark. He may not be the best defender, but he can hold his own with help from the others. I especially didn’t get it in light of the fact that UK was doing a great job trapping our posts, and the other guards were shooting poorly. The posts looked completely lost as to where to go with the ball out of the trap and just kept getting blocked or turning it over without a shot. What’s even worse was the mood on the bench. That game couldn’t end soon enough for most of the team.

I must have heard the rumor of Felton being fired today from at least 10 people at the game yesterday. I wish him well, but I hope the rumors were true. Sundiata Gaines and Dave Bliss put last year’s team on their backs, demanded the best from every player, and got it. This year’s team doesn’t have those leaders, and Felton isn’t capable of developing them or leading himself.

I still support the Dawgs no matter what, but I hope we stop the bleeding soon.

Go Dawgs!

By DodgeDog

January 19, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this

Just to throw a name out there that would be an excellent choice: Greg Marshall at Wichita State. He coached Winthrop for a number of years and they completely dominated their conference and were a very dangerous team at tournament time, year after year. This is his second year at Wichita but he coached in the south for a number of years and may be ready to come back. I know it is way too early for this kind of speculation but I would love to get this bandwagon going. The guy can flat out coach.

By Wozzo the Wonder Dog

January 19, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this

Beep: This is Coach Felton’s phone. Coach Felton didn’t get the call about improving over the last few years. Instead of improving, Coach Felton will call a blackout. Fans can wear their black number 24 and number 7 replica football jerseys ‘cause that blackout thing is a proven winner. Maybe the new coach next year will have AT&T.

By Chip Towers

January 19, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this

I have heard the complaints about Felton going to D.C. for the Inauguration but I’m going to have to defend the coach on this one…

(1) Today is a national holiday and the Bulldogs don’t have a game until Saturday. Because they played on Sunday they’d be off the first two days of this week anyway. I’m sure they’ll lift tomorrow… .

(2) I imagine he sought permission from his superiors well ahead of time. He told me after the primary he and Melanie planned to go. And I’m sure he’ll be representative of UGA while in attendance.

(3) Felton feels a real kinship with our 44th president. Both he and Obama were born to Kenyan fathers who were not active in their upbringing and white mothers. Both parents met while attending college. Both traveled the world as children (Felton’s adoptive father was career Air Force). Felton is a Howard U grad with a keen interest in politics.

(4) This is a historical occasion of great significance, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Let’s keep collegiate sports in perspective folks.

By Barry

January 19, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

I have been a fan of Felton’s for the whole of his Georgia career. But I really thought we would be a decent team by now. We’re not.

I think most of the fan base would agree: if the Dawgs don’t turn it around this eason, Felton should go. It may cause the loss of Trey Thompkins but to me, there is no choice.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 19, 2009 3:37 PM | Link to this

I applaud Coach Felton for manning up and taking a job that almost nobody would take. He stepped into one of the most pathetic programs in the country (thanks to Mike Adams and his buddy Harrick). He worked hard for six years (dealing with things that most coaches don’t even have to think about) to turn around the program. I think he would agree that is just didn’t happen (maybe that’s the reason for the vacation). First he had to deal with Harrick’s players, or “playa’s”. He has had time to recruit his brand and type of players to UGA to get better results and it hasn’t worked. No ill will from me to the coach. I think he has tried his best and did a fantastic job of putting some discipline back into the program.

As far as Tubby goes, I can’t believe he is enjoying this $!#@#@$@%#ing weather up here. Minus 13 on the car thermometer the other day. Minus 20 wind chill. Snow up to my dogs arse then some. I would bet he doesn’t want to “make it a career” at Minnesota. Easier to recruit to fair weather Athens. I bet he has a good out clause on his contract just like any top notch coach would. I haven’t read anywhere that he was not happy in Athens. Just that a dream position opened up.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 19, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this

Good call on the vacation Chip. I agree with that one. I don’t think a .500 or subpar .500 season and another SEC tourney win would warrant the contract continuing.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 19, 2009 4:15 PM | Link to this

How about the shout out to Charlie Trippi yesterday on the Cardinals-Eagles broadcast? Last time the Cardinals went to the championship game.

By Chapple Belle

January 19, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this

I am a 1974 graduate of UGA. I just sent my email to Damon. This team has completely quit on Felton. Enough is enough!

By Gordon

January 19, 2009 6:54 PM | Link to this

Another similarity between Obama and Felton: they both talk a good game.

By fresh

January 19, 2009 7:51 PM | Link to this

anthony grant of VCU should be the new coach. let dennis the menace go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By dbc

January 19, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this

Hey Gordon,

I see a real similarity between you and a douche bag!

By UGASlobberknocker

January 19, 2009 9:12 PM | Link to this

Felton has to go ands its a year too late. Tubby and Harrick both had made significant progress in 2 years and both proved that GA can support basketball.This is Felton’s fifth. And every year we are starting over with a new team. everybody keeps dropping out or geting in trouble. I admire Felton trying to instill discipline..but he is the one recruiting these people to start with. We need a big name but we wont get it.

By GWJ

January 19, 2009 9:51 PM | Link to this

Time for Felton to go……..

By Duluth Dawg

January 19, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this

Maybe by some miracle Obama will offer him a job while he is in DC and he will not return to Athens.

By Mike

January 19, 2009 10:38 PM | Link to this

Chip,

Keeping college sports in persepctive, as you asked us to do, would mean that someone with Felton’s job would be paid far far less than $800,000 per year.

if he were paid $80,000 per year (probably what it is worth, properly put into perspective), he would either be tolerable or leave on his own.

By 82Dawg

January 19, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this

My displeasure over Felton is old news. I have been calling for his dismissal since 2007. Don’t go away mad, just go away, please.

By Uncle Sam

January 19, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this

Dear Dennis:

President Obama has just repealed the Bush tax cut and made it retroactive to day one. You now owe the US government $1,325,232.33. Thank you for your support.

By JohninJax

January 20, 2009 12:11 AM | Link to this

I like the HC from Tulsa as a replacement.

By Hurting Fan

January 20, 2009 12:36 AM | Link to this

The best coach we ever had came from Tulsa

By ............................................BuLLdawg

January 20, 2009 5:52 AM | Link to this

.

.

Who gives a crap about basketball, a sport where you need only 5 players and we have zero ?

8 Years of Coach Richt Era against Final AP Poll Top 25 Teams

Games against Final AP Poll Top 25 Teams :

Won over # 4 Tennessee 26-24 in 2001.

Loss to # 13 South Carolina 9-14 in 2001.

Loss to # 21 Boston College 16-20 in 2001.

Loss to # 3 Florida 10-24 in 2001.

Won over # 24 Georgia Tech 31-17 in 2001.

Won over # 11 Alabama 27-25 in 2002.

Won over # 14 Auburn 24-21 in 2002.

Won over # 21 Florida State 26-13 in 2002.

Loss to # 2 LSU 10-17 in 2003.

Loss to # 2 LSU 13-34 in 2003.

Won over # 15 Tennessee 41-14 in 2003.

Won over # 22 Clemson 30-0 in 2003.

Loss to # 24 Florida 13-16 in 2003.

Won over # 18 Purdue 34-27 in 2003.

Loss to # 2 Auburn 6-24 in 2004.

Won over # 16 LSU 45-16 in 2004.

Loss to # 13 Tennessee 14-19 in 2004.

Won over # 17 Wisconsin 24-21 in 2004.

Won over # 6 LSU 34-14 in 2005

Loss to # 14 Auburn 30-31 in 2005.

Loss to # 12 Florida 10-14 in 2005.

Loss to # 5 West Virginia 35-38 in 2005.

Won over # 9 Auburn 37-15 in 2006.

Loss to # 1 Florida 14-21 in 2006.

Loss to # 25 Tennessee 33-51 in 2006.

Won over # 19 Virginia Tech 31-24 in 2006.

Won over # 15 Auburn 45-20 in 2007.

Won over # 13 Florida 42-30 in 2007.

Loss to # 12 Tennessee 14-35 in 2007.

Won over # 19 Hawaii 41-10 in 2007.

Loss to # 1 Florida 10-49 in 2008.

Loss to # 6 Alabama 30-41 in 2008.

Loss to # 22 Georgia Tech 42-45 in 2008.

Won over # 24 Michigan State 24-12 in 2008.

17-17 against Top 25 Final AP Poll Teams in 8 years Coach Richt Era. How in the Hell is that an Elite Football Program ? The answer is that we are NOT.

.

.

By AlphaDog

January 20, 2009 8:47 AM | Link to this

Time for Felton to move on, With the available talent within the state there is no reason we shouldn’t at least be competitive in every sport. UGA should be a great job for anyone in the Nation.

1- Its THE state university. 2- Theres plenty of talent within the state 3- Athens will turn-out if theres winning product on the floor 4- Facilities aren’t great, but with WINS upgrades will come. 5- Its a major conference, though down some this year, it will come back. 6- Nowhere to go but up. 7- Patience from the administration

Sounds like a great job for anyone, Tubby would engerize the fan base, and plenty of younger guys would jump at the chance now that Felton has cleaned up Harricks mess.

No ill will to Felton, but its time for a change…

By Garrett

January 20, 2009 9:11 AM | Link to this

Sadly, I do believe it is time for Felton to go. I believe after last years conference tournament championship everyone had hope for the Dawgs and Felton. Yet, this year has turned sour quick and nobody, not even Dawg fans seem to remember what happened last year. Felton is a great guy and I believe a good coach but it just isn’t working out here. We really haven’t been competitive since he got here and I believe he has had time to turn it around. I love Felton but I believe a change is necessary in order to get Georgia basketball at a respectable level.

By jcy1968

January 20, 2009 10:10 AM | Link to this

The guys that that can score…He kicks off the team…????

By AltamahaDawg

January 20, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t really know anyone that believed last year’s SEC tourney was a magic turning point. Or going to change the personel returning this year. If you accepted that dismissing those players was the right thing to do last year, you had to know that it was not going to just wash away in one offseason. So lets stop pretending this is some kind of big surprise and we just cant understand how a bunch of first year starters, a walk on, and a few other less than SEC caliber players could possible not look good.

HOWEVER, there may a point at which you do just change for the sake of change. Certainly there are really good coaches out there, and unless Felton can find some way to have this team show significant improvement, I dont think he stays on. I think its tough to be the man that had to clean up the mess, or follow a legend. It seems the NEXT guy always reaps the rewards. Dennis is a big boy though, he knows how it works.

By GW

January 20, 2009 12:00 PM | Link to this

Short of a death there is no good reason to leave your team midseason, open date or not. Was this open date arranged just to coincide with inaguration?

By flydawg

January 20, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this

It’s time! No more waiting. Felton goes now. We have the #1 assistant head coach in Pete Herrmann. You never heard of him. Try Google. The man is a basketball genius and has the resume to prove it. He is more than capable of taking over today and taking us through the remainder of this miserable season. It would also be a good test run as a potential head coach candidate for next year. At least the world would understand that we have had enough of Felton who by the way is the least fan friendly coach we have ever had. We found Tubby. We can find another good coach.

By AltamahaDawg

January 20, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this

Its interesting to me that if a football player fails to make a tackle, folks point at the coordinator and say, “thats his responsibility”, but when BBplayers are only shooting 30%, nobody equates that to an assistant coach. Does Felton personally line them up and teach them to shoot or is that some assistant c

By Montrell

January 21, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this

All these racist fans and members of the media want Felton fired, but they aren’t doing the same thing for all these white coaches that aren’t doing well. Just another example of the white power structure in this area trying to keep the black man down in sports! I’m getting tired of all these racists in Georgia and may move back to New Jersey!

By UGA is so last year

January 21, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this

GT and UGA have awful, embarrassing basketball programs. Thank God for football!!!!

By AfroDawg

January 21, 2009 10:06 PM | Link to this

As much as I hate to admit it, Felton has lost his Mojo with this team. These Dawgs can’t win a game in the conference, unless every player has the game of his life on the same night, that ain’t happening. The key is guard play, and we have the weakest gguards in the league, that coupled with inconsistent inside play spells doom.

By jc_dawgs

January 21, 2009 10:12 PM | Link to this

“Any chance of turnaround for Hoop Dawgs?”

Any chance that a huge blizzard hits the Georgia area this summer?

In a word…..no.

This team is terrible…and I blame it all on the coaching scheme and there inability to recruit better talent given the HS talent in the Georgia area. Also…way too many good players kicked off the team or lost for whatever reasons over the years.

The offensive scheme involves no movement on the offensive side of the ball unless you are the ball handler. Oh…and if a shot is taken…get back on defense right away…forget about rebounding. Remember…it’s all about defense.

Been a fan since the John Guthrie days back in the 70s. Those guys were generally in the bottom third of the sec back then…but I guartantee you…they would easily take this 2008 group behind the woodshed.

By Jeff Grady

January 22, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

Since a similar question was asked during football season about the ACC and the BCS, I assume that it is fair to ask the question, “Should the SEC lose its automatic NCAA basketball tournament bid?”