UGA

By Doug Roberson

January 29, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this

Chip Towers will be answering any questions you may have about today’s news, so feel free to ask your questions on the blog.

Thanks Doug Roberson College Sports Editor AJC

By bentavius

January 29, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this

can we get tubby back?

By Doug Roberson

January 29, 2009 10:44 AM | Link to this

Dennis Felton’s career stats Year School Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. Postseason 1998-99 W. Kentucky 13-16 .448 9-7 (t-3rd) .563 — 1999-2000 W. Kentucky 11-18 .379 8-8 (5th) .500 — 2000-01 W. Kentucky 24-7 .774 14-2 (1st) .875 NCAA 2001-02 W. Kentucky 28-4 .875 13-1 (1st) .929 NCAA 2002-03 W. Kentucky 24-9 .727 12-2 (1st) .857 NCAA WKU TOTALS: 100-54 .649 56-20 .737

2003-04 Georgia 16-14 .533 7-9 (5th) .438 NIT 2004-05 Georgia 8-20 .286 2-14 (6th) .125 — 2005-06 Georgia 15-15 .500 5-11 (6th) .313 — 2006-07 Georgia 19-14 .576 8-8 (5th) .500 — 2007-08 Georgia 17-17 .500 4-12 (6th) .333 NIT 2008-09 Georgia 9-11 .450 0-6 (6th) .000
UGA TOTALS: 84-91 .480 26-60 .302

By BPDAWG

January 29, 2009 10:47 AM | Link to this

Will the press conference be televised? If so, what station??

By Doug Roberson

January 29, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this

Mark Bradley has already given his take on the possibility of getting Tubby back. Mark says he thinks Tubby is having too much fun at Minnesota to come back. Mark does list several other intriguing candidates though.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 29, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

I would like to thank Coach Felton for stepping into one of the worst situations that a coach could possibly face. He tried his damnest to turn the program around and do it his way and it just didn’t happen. He did it with class and other than a couple of games here and there score wise, without embarassment to UGA. Hopefully he will go out with his head hung high and move on to another coaching job. Thanks Coach for your effort.

Now time for Evans to find a name coach that can recruit the in state talent.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 29, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

Who is in the lead for the job Chip? Throw some names out there?

By Doug Roberson

January 29, 2009 10:59 AM | Link to this

It’s on www.georgiadogs.com

By dawgfan1911

January 29, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this

Paul Hewwitt should be next. Get these sorry coaches outtta here.

By Football Ken

January 29, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this

Tim,

I said it weeks ago. It’s time. Now Evans needs to make the right hire. I like Grant (VCU), Miller (Xavier), Few (Gonzaga) even bringing Tubby back would be good. The measure of Evans tenure as AD starts now.

By Rickaroo

January 29, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this

He should have never been hired…if he’d been white, he’d have been fired long ago. He was only hired because of his race.

By 82DAWG

January 29, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this

Two years too late. Let’s get some exciting basketball back at UGA! We have had it before; the right coach can do it again.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Alabama will hire Dennis Felton. He is a great coach. He was unfortunately in a program that is, and will never be, a great Bball program. H would be a great fit at Alabama. And he has a better shot of winning at Alabama. He would be UGA’s pimp for the next decade.

I don’t care how much money UGA throws at coaches, you have NO SHOT at a big name coach. Its a lose/lose situation at UGA. Not a basketball conference and not even the most storied Bball program in the state. GA Tech is in the ACC. UGA can never overcome the Bball greatness of the ACC. So why would a good Bball coach want to go to a school that’s not a Bball school, playing in a football conference? Won’t happen! Be happy with the second-rate small school coaches. That’s all you’re gonna get.

By Bryan G

January 29, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this

Things Felton is good at: Growing mustaches, kicking players off his team, being an atheist, coaching defense.

Things Felton sucks at: Winning SEC games, winning on the road, teaching his team to not turn the ball over, scoring points, and shaving.

Time to go.

By Captain Gator

January 29, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this

I love the fact that the Gators worked UGA silly and then got their Head Coach fired. In the words of Nelson Muntz… “Ha-Ha” No offensive to the man himself, just the logo he was wearing on his lapel at the time. I hope he finds a better opportunity elsewhere. It’s Great, to be, A FLORIDA GATOR!

By Justwokeup

January 29, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this

Huh? Georgia has a basketball program? When? Who? Serious?

By Chapple Belle

January 29, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG OVERDUE!

By joefly

January 29, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

Quote from another article: “We have significant resources, a brand new $30 million basketball practice and office facility.”

How about bulldozing Stegeman, one of the nastiest arenas in the south.

By buck

January 29, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this

until uga get serious…committed about basketball…is does not matter if red auerbach, bobby knight or coach k are there they will stink….the facilities are pitiful….dam…if i rememeber correctly pistol pete dropped 50+ in that same nasty building …..

By KNelson

January 29, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this

The Egyptian cat is gone??????? Its the curse of going to the Swearing in ! Bottom line it doesnt matter who coaches @ UGA the basketball has not been watching in forever.

By madisonbulldawg

January 29, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this

Why doesn’t Evans have the B—-s to do the same thing with some of the coaches on the football program? Why do you ask? He is afraid of CMR…. Enough said!!!

By gator

January 29, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this

sorry to see felton go he was good for the rest of the sec. one uga coach cleans up the program and gets rid of the thugs and rapist and actually suspends players when needed. cmr pats them on the back and asks them not to do it again guess he wants to keep his millions and keep letting the undisciplined thugs play.

By bank walker

January 29, 2009 11:40 AM | Link to this

thank God!!

By Rick

January 29, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this

Stop listing names of coaches from better basketball schools. Few would NEVER leave Gonzaga to come to Georgia (or a lot of schools for that matter). Neither would Miller from Xavier. Get a grip on reality. This is basketball, not football! We have nothing to offer guys from solid basketball programs other than maybe money. That is why Tubby left and won’t be coming back. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find the next Tubby and ride his wave for the next few years until that coach goes on to bigger and better things. That’s reality. That’s Georgia basketball. Unfortunately. I would love nothing more than to have UGA be a consistent winner in basketball as we are in almost all of our other sports, but until the Athletic dept steps up and makes a clear commitment to the program and until the fans step up and attend more games, it’s just not going to happen.

By st. bernard

January 29, 2009 11:42 AM | Link to this

stegeman has to go. Throw some money at a coach worth having. Let’s either prove that we want to play basketball at UGA or just drop it.

By GATOR CHOMP

January 29, 2009 11:42 AM | Link to this

One down one too go Saint Richt will be fired after this season “Book It” Go Gators!!!!!!!!

By Clay

January 29, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this

Two words: Johnny Dawkins

By 59bulldawg

January 29, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this

Tubby come home! Minnesota is no place for the most beloved basketball coach in Georgia history. Come back to the school that has always loved you the most!

By urban liar

January 29, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this

Captain Gator is it great to be a prick also. You sure fit to mold.

By danman

January 29, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

Chip, What about Gary williams at Maryland at season’s end? Sounds like he’s getting frustrated there.

By wheres tubby?

January 29, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this

where is Tubby, call him back….

By Captain Gator

January 29, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

To UL.. I have learned in these past few years with greatness, comes the hateness. And you sure have a lot of it. But with good reason of course. Prick??? Maybe. I guess winning 4 national championships in Football and Basketball will do that. Just make sure you refer to me as National Championship Prick. Don’t worry, you still have women’s gymnastics right? Go out and buy that t-shirt and wear it with pride.

By Dwight Shroot

January 29, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this

Question: Is it still racism if a black coach is fired by a black AD??

By Gary

January 29, 2009 12:04 PM | Link to this

I agree that this is time for Evans and UGA to make a statement about the future of Georgia basketball. I still remember the excitement and early success when Hugh Durham was hired and probably our best hire was Tubby, though that unfortunately, was short-lived. If we can get school presidents to stay out of the process (remember the Harrick hiring?) we should be able to attract a proven quality coach, or at least a young star on the rise (we thought that was Felton) We have great basketball talent in this state. We need a great recruiter to sign them up, and a great tactition to make them successful on court. Then we won’t have to recruit schoolyard thugs who can shoot but can’t stay in school our out of trouble. That’s a tall order since that’s what everyone wants but with the early firing, we should have plenty of time to see who’s out there, and who’s interested.

By 59bulldawg

January 29, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

I know how you feel Captain Gator! It’s sort of like that stretch between 1970 and 1989 when your beloved football gators went 5-15 against us. I really enjoyed watching Coach Dooley kick your gator butt pretty much most of the time and then for extra entertainment seeing you folks run off Doug Dickey, Charley Pell, and Galen Hall. You should be thankful though since it caused Florida to hire Spurrier who laid the foundation for the championship football program you have today. Sort of like the law of unintended consequences. Who knows this could be the beginning of a new era in Georgia basketball. But methinks I’ll hold my judgement though until I see who they hire and the results he brings. If not Tubby who I personally like a great deal then perhaps a young guy like your former gator assistant under Donovan, Anthony Grant at VCU who is also an excellent coach. But I’ll take anyone who can recruit and win on a consistent basis … and do it the right way.

By Clay

January 29, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

Dwight Shroot Question: Why does someone always have to bring up race?

By GT08

January 29, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

UGA has so many barriers in its way to becoming a contender for conference championships and national championships its ridiculous for AD Evans to even have that mentality at UGA right now. Joefly and st bernard are right. UGA will never have a chance while Stegeman Coliseum is around. Plus the students have no reason to support below average players in a horrible basketball environment. Finally, no one of significant status in college basketball circles will ever come to UGA. Few loves the Northwest…he goes fly fishing in Idaho and eastern Washington all the time - he will never leave. Johnny Dawkins is even more absurd - he is too smart and would never get himself into a situation like UGAs. No one cares enough about UGA basketball and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

By Cynic

January 29, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this

Once again, the Gators smoke the Dawgs and get their coach fired as a “last straw” to boot!

Poor UGA, y’all just can’t buy a victory over UF!

But why didn’t you fire Coach Richt after we took you to the woodshed in last fall?

Oh well, there’s always next year!

By Doug Roberson

January 29, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this

Folks, let’s keep this civil.

Addressing Tubby desires: he signed a seven year deal last March with Minnesota for $13 million bucks. That’s football coach money. And according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he could make as much as $3.3 million this year.

I would be stunned to see Georgia pay that much for a coach, especially after our reporting detailed the small raise that asst. football coach Rodney Garner received to not go to Tennessee.

But, who knows?

By PM

January 29, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this

By Dwight Shroot January 29, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this

Question: Is it still racism if a black coach is fired by a black AD??

Answer: Probably not, but it’s probably the first time a D1 black coach was fired by a D1 AD! So UGA has that going for em.

By 59bulldawg

January 29, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

Danman, even though he once coached at Ohio State, I think Gary Williams is a dyed-in-the-wool ACC guy. Plus he’s extremely popular with the Maryland folks and UMD is his alma mater. Granted he is very frustrated with his team right now but he’ll get it straightened out and be a terrapin until he dies. I just don’t see him coming to Athens.

By Fred

January 29, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

And how many staff did you say you’ll lay off or furlough for that $1.5m? And how much more than the extra $100 you’ve already stuck the students with to maintain UGA inefficiency in the face of budget cuts will you add? And how many more kids will you ‘hire’ to play your so important sports who no way on green or scorched earth can’t even pass the idiot tests out of high school that you’ll call “students?”

By DawgGirl32

January 29, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this

I love how the gator fans wanna act like us losing to them last night was the sole reason why our coach just got fired. We could have played anyone like we did last night and he would’ve gotten fired. This has been a long time coming. Don’t kid yourselves.

By Clay

January 29, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

As a Dawg fan I have to say lets get our heads out of the clouds. Do we really think we can get Gary Williams? Mark Few? We need to look at quality assistants who can build the program from the ground up. Knocking down the Steg-o-sauras would be a good start. As for the florida fans I don’t know why we fuel your fire. Just think how dissappointing it will be when you don’t win the National Title next year with your hero Timmy Tebow back. Hope you all are stocking up on Tebow Jersey and PJ’s.

By Dwight Shroot

January 29, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this

Clay- FACT: I ask myself that almost every day!!

PM- QUESTION: As opposed to…??

By Headhunter

January 29, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

UGA will have to get on the stick about a new arena if they want to attract any coach worth having. Just imagine being the A.D. and taking the guy on a tour of the facilities?

“….and this is Stegeman Coliseum, otherwise known as the plywood ratshack”

By BIG BEE

January 29, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this

Tubby is where he wants to be. I don’t think UGA could get up enough money to bring him back. It would be just the last time, when he was treated like a step child. Tubby, stay where you are, and see if you can get a job up there for CPH and get him out of GT.

By Football Ken

January 29, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this

Hey Rick,

Money talks!!! You can have ANY coach in America, if you show them the bucks..Think I’m lying, look what “BIG” bread did for Obama.

By Spike

January 29, 2009 12:48 PM | Link to this

It is not racism is it, if a black AD does the firing?

By Cynic

January 29, 2009 12:49 PM | Link to this

DawgGirl32:

Coincidence or not, you’ll have an uphill battle convincing anyone that last night’s shellacking wasn’t the “straw that broke the camel’s back!”

See y’all in Jacksonville!

By **Doug Roberson**

January 29, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

Question for those who say Stegeman is a dump and is holding Georgia’s program back:

What exactly is bad about it? I’ve been there many, many times, and once I sat down to watch the game, I didn’t really care what the outside looked like.

I’ve roamed the bowels of the place, and to be honest I’m not sure how it could be improved. Same for many of the other gyms in the SEC and the ACC.

Plus, as Evans pointed out Georgia has some of the best training facilities in the country, which I think would outweigh whatever cosmetic deficiences Stegeman may have.

By Rick

January 29, 2009 1:03 PM | Link to this

Football Ken,

I hope you are right, because if there’s one thing the UGA Athletic association has - it’s money, and lots of it! I still don’t see anyone of any real stature coming in to this situation. The only reason Harrick did was because nobody else would give him a chance - and of course, we now embarrassingly know why! I agree with most folks on this blog. Evans needs to make a huge statement by doing 3 things: 1) bulldoze the stegosaurus as quickly as possible, 2) make it known to everyone that you will be forking out big dough to land the best coach possible (although that has a relatively good chance of backfiring), and 3) spend lots of money marketing the basketball team. Get the program as much visibility as possible, perhaps playing a significant portion of their games in Gwinnett until a new stadium can be constructed. Something…anything is better than what they are doing today. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

By Headhunter

January 29, 2009 1:09 PM | Link to this

Doug, the floor itself looks awful even on TV. Of course that may be due to the poor lighting. But my kids play on a better floor in high school. There is plywood tacked up in places where either a door or a wall should be. It’s too small and the men’s rooms always have water on the floor.

My point is that some assistant coach from Bugtussle might think Stegeman is a palace. But a nice new arena would go a long way toward attracting a cosch who is already a proven commodity.

By joefly

January 29, 2009 1:11 PM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is the best coach going for any school looking for a new coach. He is a great person and a great coach. And when he gets a job at a true basketball school, he will rise quick. He had no shot at GA. Western KY is a basketball school. GA is not. ANY basketball school looking for a quality coach, D Felton IS the best thing going right now.

By Rabun Dawg

January 29, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

I would have to agree with Rick’s post earlier. UGA will not get a Few,Miller, or a name coach to come to Athens. Our Univ. has never made a big commitment to BBall. Probably get some assistant from some program who sees the opportunity to use UGA as a stepping stone to a better job, which is what Tubby did, although he was a head coach at the time UGA hired him. Gary Williams, get serious, why leave the ACC to come to a dreary program like UGA.? Until the Administration makes some big commitment to BBall with regard to facilities(other than practice), we will always be stuck in the rut that we are in at present. We are considered a Football school as far as perspective goes, but if they can be successful in Gainesville balancing the two sports, why not Athens? And, I am not talking about G’ville Ga!

By Gman

January 29, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this

Captain Gator:“I have learned in these past few years with greatness, comes the hateness” –

Yes Captain Gator, apparently though proper syntax does not accompany greatness. Thanks for you cute theory though. Enjoy all your winning and gloating. Run along now.

By The truth hurts

January 29, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

The guy was more interested in his wardrobe than building a solid basketball program. The fluke SEC championship last year had the local media thinking he had turned the program around overnight. He should have been fired then if not sooner. Sure he came into a bad situation, but unfortunately he didn’t improve on it. I say good riddance. Don’t leave mad Felton, just leave.

By dawg78

January 29, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this

Now we need for Evans to step up and get rid of Andy Landers! He has run the women’s program into the ground!

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this

dawggirl 32

Isn’t that you in the Krystals commercials. Fat and nasty. Stop posting you bring nothing to the table…oh yeah TIMEOUT

By RedDevilDawg

January 29, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this

How about Dean Smith? Coach K? John Wooden? Get real people! We will not get a name coach at UGA. We need to find an up-and-coming assistant who is willing to take over an awful program. I say take a chance on Chris Collins or Wojo at Duke. Both have been assistants at Duke for a while and should be ready to step out on their own.

By Yankeedawg

January 29, 2009 2:07 PM | Link to this

To all you Gators do not forget every time you one a football championship the next year we whipped your behinds. So look out for next year Gayterds! Why would a coach make a player get pain killer shots in his shoulder and keep him in games that were already one? It shows how he cares for his players. Tebow is just as stupid to stay in there he could have really been hurt!!!

By Artie

January 29, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this

Tubby back at UGA??? That’s friggin’ hilarious!!! He’s moved on to better days at UM. Why would he take three steps back after taking two steps forward???

By griffdawg1

January 29, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this

Mark Few or his assistant Leon Rice at Gonzaga should be looked at . Consideration should also be given to Anthony Grant at VCU who was Billy Donovan’s assistant at Florida. Good luck to coach Felton at his next stop.

By reservoirDAWG

January 29, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this

Like that idiot m likes to say, “thank god and greyhound he is gone forever.”

By griffdawg1

January 29, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this

Hey Artie, as for Tubby, he actually took one step forward then two steps back so coming back to Ga. would be like a lateral move !!!

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 2:48 PM | Link to this

LOL yankeedawg LOL…

By WRDawgfan

January 29, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this

There is no doubt that Tubby Smith will return to Georgia. He and his wife still own land here in Georgia and his wife has family here. She wants to be in Georgia.

The problem for Tubby is that his son, Saul, is a prominent member of his staff at Minnesota. If Georgia can somehow dance around the nepotism rule then I guarantee you that Orlando “Tubby” Smith will return to Athens.

Otherwise, Damon Evans needs to focus upon one other coach. His name is Anthony Grant, who is at Virginia Commonwealth.

By Hotty Toddy- Dawg

January 29, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this

Hey Gator fans…beware…even be afraid…gloat all you want to… you deserve it. But remember when the time comes and your Gators are no longer on top you won’t be able to show your face because of the way you act now.Every school in the SEC and throughout the country will be standing in line to kick your A$$ and put you down. What goes up…. eventually comes down.So keep on running your mouth…show everyone how much class you don’t have…but be very afraid of the future….Ole Miss can’t wait to get you in Oxford next year…Georgia is counting the days until the rematch..so is Tennessee. Fla State and S.Carolina. I’ll bet you that Urban Crier leaves Florida so fast when you start falling because he has no loyalty to your school….he cares only about himself..The average GPA of your football team is in the lower third of the SEC…Urban doesn’t care…as long as his players can say “do you want fries with that? ….he’s happy.So gloat while you can…because when you start to fall everyone will be lining up to make sure you stay down where you belong.

By WRDawgfan

January 29, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this

Georgia is a better basketball job than Minnesota because Georgia has a superior base of players. Jody Meeks (Kentucky) is a GA native. 2008 NBA 1st Round pick J.J. Hickson (NC State) graduated from Marietta HS. The best player on the floor in last night’s Duke vs. Wake Forest game was Norcross HS star Aminu. Florida State’s best player is Jonesboro HS grad Tony Douglas.

Georgia is the best basketball state in America according to a number of publications. Georgia Tech signee and America’s top high school player Derrick Favors said that he preferred Georgia over Georgia Tech at his press conference at ESPNZone. I was there. He said that Georgia Tech ha a better history of putting players in the NBA.

Tubby Smith will put a subpar coach like Paul Hewitt out of business. Anthony Grant is a MONSTER recruiter, who’s VCU team would destroy either Georgia or Georgia Tech. Either Tubby or Grant would lock down the Peach State.

By WRDawgfan

January 29, 2009 3:02 PM | Link to this

Artie, Minnesota has not played in the NCAA Tournament in over a decade. How is Minnesota this phenominal basketball coach. Tubby is the 3rd coach at Minnesota since they reached the NCAAs.

Take a look at www.rivals.com and review the top 150 high school players in America over the past 5 seasons. After you review that list, you will see just how ridiculous it is to ever lose at Georgia or Georgia Tech.

I am not saying that these programs will win multiple National Championships. I will say that there is an issue when both programs sit winless and in last place in their respective conferences.

If I am Georgia Tech, I fire Paul Hewitt and steal whatever coach Georgia attempts to hire. My guess is Damon Evans will not be savvy enough to pull off the Tubby deal, which means Anthony Grant becomes the man.

FYI: Every other Gonzaga coach has moved on and failed (i.e. Monson from Gonzaga to Minnesota) miserably.

Georgia should focus upon coaches with ties to the South. I like Anthony Grant or a top assistant at Duke or Memphis. Georgia must focus upon a coach who can retain the top players in Georgia. That is clearly Anthony Grant, who practically locked down the entire state of Florida as a Gator assistant. He is highly talented.

Like Grant, Tubby would sign every top player in Georgia. Heck, Tubby signed Ralph Sampson III from Gwinnett County at Minnesota last year. Now, Sampson is starting and putting up double-doubles for a top 25 program as a freshman. How does that kid go from Georgia to Minnesota. Two words: Tubby Smith. Evans should already get permission to speak to Tubby and Grant.

By ugarvz

January 29, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Felton was a bad hire from the beginning. He’s a bully, a whiner, and a bad coach. He harmed more young men than he ever helped. The team spent more time worrying about the coach yelling at them than in playing their game. I have been waiting 5 years for Evans to final admit he was wrong in hiring him. I thank God that this has finally happened.

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Hotty Dog

You guys haven’t shut your mouths since 1980 so whats your point. I live in Atlanta so I enjoy taunting you guy much like you guys like to do to those guys over at Tech. So basically Hotty you whole statement is comparable to I don’t know POT…Kettle…Black…

By Stegemanhater

January 29, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this

We got Felton because he was black. They cannot coach, write or think. Let’s get us on the right track and get a young white man in there to do the job.

By r u kidding?

January 29, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this

Some of you die hard dogs need to face a little reality about your basketball program (one of the worst D-1 programs in the U.S.). No successful coach from a big name program is about to come to Athens, GA, the graveyard of BB coaches. Why would they? The BB facility wasn’t any good when new, and now it is old and depressing. Dogs are never going to draw many fans; it is not like football, where all the sidewalk alums can drag their trailers in from all over the state to tailgate, get drunk, and go to a football game. Basketball games are played in mid-week, when not even dogs living in Atlanta are going to drive to Athens to see a game. This leaves Athens residents (not many BB fans) and students for midweek games…and most students are in the bars drinking. If they have a Saturday game, most of the students get out of Athens (go home or to Atl to party)except on football Sats.,, which leaves it up to Athens locals for the “crowd”. Given this set of facts, dogs can’t afford to build a better facility, and therefore will never attract bigtime talent(except a fluke once in a while). Those type players don’t want to come to Athens and get lost. These are the reasons uga won’t attract any up and coming coach, or current coach at a decent program. They will have to settle for an unknown assistant (see Ron Jirsa), or an old “retread” like Harrick, or a Felton type from a small program. And why would a big time recruit want to play for a coach like that? Might as well face it, uga will never have a good BB program.

By Veteran Fan

January 29, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this

7 games under .500 for a Georgia coach is outstanding! Coach Felton is a class act and a good person, but winning is the bottom line in college basketball these days! When you get the big bucks you better win! The really bad thing about this is that he was a breath of fresh air in the quagmire of filth which is college basketball and the AAU system today in the state of Georgia. Too many adults using too many young people and Coach Felton wouldn’t lie to them or use them! I am not a Georgia fan, but will miss this honorable person.

By shane#1

January 29, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this

I feel badly for Coach Felton, and I must accept some of the blame for the state of UGA basketball. I have been going to football games in Athens since I was about 10 years old, but I have never driven from Southwest Georgia to Athens for a basketball game. Let’s face it, UGA is a football school, and unless Evans can lure Coach K away from Duke it will stay that way. It is not just us older Dawgs either, I have three nieces and two nephews that graduated from UGA and I don’t recall any of them ever buying tickets for a bball game. Long term success for UGA basketball will take a massive effort from everybody involved in UGA athletics. The whole culture must be changed. I watched the Wake Forest-Duke game last night, well coached teams stocked with excellent athletes! Is it possible for UGA to build that kind of excitement about their bball team? Yes, but it will take a real commitment from the athletic department, and the boosters, like me.

By Dawg Fud

January 29, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this

Captain Gator - in the words of Bart Simpson, “eat my shorts.”

By DawgGirl32

January 29, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this

Go gators- Please learn proper punctuation. You’re making it too obvious that you’re in highschool. You would be lucky to get one of those “fat and nasty” Krystal’s chicks.

So now that Felton’s gone and Coach Herrmann is our coach, have we just kind of chalked up this season as a lost cause and focused our attention on next year? I mean, are even LESS people going to go to games now, because that would be just pathetic. I just feel bad for the players because they have to keep playing the rest of this season even if everyone else is over it. If they did hire a coach kind of soon, would he not take over until next year, or are we just absolutely waiting until the end of the season to hire one?

By Chip Towers

January 29, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this

Headhunter: The floor at Stegeman Coliseum is a brand new, maplewood court. You should try showing up and seeing the place in person… .

I’m with Doug. Any of you guys been to Cameron Indoor Stadium, Alexander Memorial, how ‘bout Florida’s O’Connell Center? Any number of other places for a basketball game? These aren’t fancy new buildings. An arena is a freakin’ building with a 94-foot court and seats around it. There’s nothing wrong where Georgia plays. Perhaps it could be more ideally situated. But it’s better than a lot of places I’ve been, and I’ve been to them all. The training facility is what they recruit to and Georgia’s is as good as any of them… . And here’s the bottom line, the starting price for a new arena would be at least $100 million. It’s not going to happen. Not any time soon anyway.

By Dawg Fud

January 29, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this

WRDawgfan

to which publication are you referring? most of what i read and see has Virginia and North Carolina atop those lists. Look at the NBA and the number of players who come from those states & high schools. Maryland is right there with them.

not attacking, just curious. would like to see the Dawgs get more of the home grown talent as well.

By Chip Towers

January 29, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this

Getting Tubby back is not very likely. Start with the $10 million buyout and finish with “been there, done that.”

By buford the redneck

January 29, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this

is there any chance we can get back jim harrick?

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this

I hope Felton enjoyed his trip to see Obama in the middle of the season instead of doing his job. Hope it was worth your job buddy. As a basketball coach you don’t take a vacation in the middle of the season. You have the rest of the year to take a vacation.

By Edugator

January 29, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this

I like Felton. He brought stability to Dawg program that had crapped all over itself and thought it cool to do so. He disciplines, suspends, and does what is necessary. Your recruiting stinks. With all the talent in the Atl area you should have no trouble winning but if you have to suspend half of these student ath. because of their character maybe you are looking in the wrong place. I take no great joy in his dismissal, like some of my bretheren, but the truth was NO support.

By DukeFan

January 29, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this

Georgia is a football school only?

You make it sound as though you are in the same league with Southern Cal, Texas, or Oklahoma.

By GA Fan in TN

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

Grant or any Duke Assistant would be fine with me.

By Dawg Fud

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

*r u kidding? *

so you are saying that our basketball program is like South Carolina football?

By Go Gators

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

Dawgirl did you just try and correct my grammar on a blog??? Let me explain how it works on a blog honey…YOU DON”T CORRECT PEOPLES GRAMMAR IT IS CONSIDERED BUSH LEAGUE. Learn the rules and bring something to the table next time.

By Doug Roberson

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

Here’s some perspective on Grant: he makes about $700k a year at VCU, which is the same amount Felton signed for at UGA. I would guess he would want a heck of a lot more to come coach in the SEC. LSU tried to recruit him. Florida had him, when Donovan flip-flopped a few years ago.

So, it goes back to money. Will Georgia pay?

By Dawg Fud

January 29, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this

Chip’s correct. Richt is going to get that indoor practice facility WAAAAAAAAAY before the Stegasaurus is replaced.

By Ben

January 29, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

Couldn’t agree more Chip. People that keep holding up Stegeman as some reason for UGA’s failures can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s ridiculous. Winning is what makes an arena tough. If we were a good team and beating people consistently, the Steg would be viewed as “classic” and a “tough place to play”. I was in school at UGA during the Tubby years and games against South Carolina, UT, and Florida were PACKED and it was a fantastic atmosphere. I even rushed the court when they beat that undefeated (in conference) South Carolina team. Anyone that says the Steg is the reason is just flat out an idiot. Wrigley Field, Lambeau field, Fenway? These places are dumps but they have a legacy and history. Win consistently and the aura of a facility will come.

By DawgGirl32

January 29, 2009 3:51 PM | Link to this

Go Gators- You’re a Florida fan on a Georgia blog and you’re telling me to bring something to the table? All you’ve brought to the table is your lame time-out jokes, “honey.”

I never knew that Stegeman Coliseum was considered to be bad. It always looked pretty nice to me when I went to games and the location seemed to be pretty convenient being right in the middle of campus. What exactly is wrong with it that warrants it to be torn down?

By Cynic

January 29, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

Hey Hotty-ToddyDawg:

UF doesn’t play Ol’ Miss next year, in Oxford or anywhere else, moron!

We do, however, have a date with your squad on Halloween.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

By Dawg Fud

January 29, 2009 4:05 PM | Link to this

Go Gators…that would be “busch” league

By Cynic

January 29, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this

Yankeedawg:

Good luck with that, “do not forget every time you one a football championship the next year we whipped your behinds” bit.

We are returning everyone except Harvin on both sides of the ball.

You lost 75% of your offense to the NFL.

And judging from the game in Jacksonville last year you won’t be returning much of a defense either.

Oh and by the way the numeral “1” is spelled “one,” while the synomym for victory is spelled “won.”

Einstein

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this

Dawgirl 32 This I apologize what I meant to say was bring the truth to the table you wrote below

By DawgGirl32

January 29, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this

That Florida game sucked this year, but am I the only one who thinks that the endzone celebration was totally worth it? I mean, they probably would have beat us regardless, and the time-outs just proved to everyone what a classless jerk UM is. If anything, it made him look a lot worse than it made us look. Even all the ESPN announcers thought it was classless on his part and said so. The endzone celebration and the Auburn blackout were probably my two favorite memories from my senior year.

—————In Fact they said no such thing they actually referenced the dancing in the endzone(classless) and stated perhaps the TIMEOUTS were a little bit of payback. Don’t make up lies…oh yeah TIMEOUT

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

Bottomline Dawggirl don’t make up stuff you wish were true, ESPN would be the last place you would see UGA defended, you terds got upset when they didn’t show knowshows little gimp jump over that weakling DB enough on sportscenter…sorry “Honey” 1980 was a long time ago.

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this

DawgGirl32:

“DawgGirl32, is that your graduation year?

Or your IQ?

By dawgfan

January 29, 2009 4:14 PM | Link to this

Go Gators -

Get your facts straight… several other prominent coaches skipped out of town to go the inauguration. They missed team practices no less. Felton had no practices scheduled that weekend from the beginning of the season and no games.

Get a grip.

He got screwed in the end. How do you win games when you don’t have the support of your administration, fans, and university? You don’t.

By Cynic

January 29, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this

Hey DawgGirl32,

What UGA did in the end zone (and Coach Richt condoned) was illegal (not to mention disrespectful and unsportmanlike) and you were penalized for it.

What UF did was entirely within the rules.

If it got under you and your coach’s skin, that much the better!

See y’all on Halloween.

Oh, and bring your cute little black outfits if you think it will help!

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this

Ok dawgfan, maybe he should have had some extra practices and he wouldn’t have found himself where he is now, as for other prominent coahes, I didn’t realize there teams sucked or that we were discussing them in this blog.

Oh who ever stole my call sign insulting dawgirls IQ seriously it’s not hard to make up your own.

By PBR=America in a can

January 29, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this

Sounds like Go Gaytors has his Jorts on a little tight…. its ok there little buddy!!! Your mommy will be home to make you some easy mac in a bit.

By Anonymous

January 29, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this

Sorry, Go Gators.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

By WRDawgfan

January 29, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this

D-Fud…I have two publications for you. One is ESPN-The Magazine, who recently rated the best US cities for basketball. The other was Slam Magazine.

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this

So Clever PBR

By PBR=America in a can

January 29, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this

thanks little buddy

By Go Jackets

January 29, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this

See you on Halloween PBR, you are a little to weak for me so I’ll go with something a little stronger. PBR smells like urine ball licker…

By DawgGirl32

January 29, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this

Go Gators- It wasn’t during the game or after the game. It was on one of the game reviews like the next day. The announcers were having a discussion about the time-outs and everyone agreed that it wasn’t right. It was also on espn.com. I think it was Pat Forde who stated that he totally disagreed with the time-outs and thought it was childish.

You can talk about it being illegal and all that but here’s the main difference: Coach Richt’s endzone celebration was used to motivate HIS players. It had nothing to do with taunting Florida’s players and that was obvious. Urban Meyer’s purpose for the time-outs was simply to show disrespect to Coach Richt and his team. It was not used for the good of the Florida football team.

Either way, it’s something I’ll never forget. the look on Urban Meyer’s face was priceless.

By Go Jackets

January 29, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this

It was not used for the good of the Florida football team

—————-Actually it was used for the good of the UF players it’s called rep’s and the back up’s got additional playing time due to the timeouts. So please learn about football before posting anything about it. You UGAG folks can continue to say what you want about the endzone dance but it doesn’t matter what you say or think, what matters is how UF playes look at it. you can down play it all you want to be but all you did was make UM hate you guys. So congrats you created another Ole Ball coach to run it up on you guys because it’s personal now.

By Gainesville Swamp Gator

January 29, 2009 5:32 PM | Link to this

I think that GT fella hit it on the head, you gave UM a reason to hate you guys. Coach Spurrier had one and that’s why he was extra motivated. Hope that dance was worth the next 10 yrs of beat downs…

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 5:35 PM | Link to this

dawgirl I am glad you will never forget the look you have a long road of losses ahead because of that stunt so enjoy…Hmm one moment of joy vs years of enjoyment coming for the gator nation.

By AltamahaDawg

January 29, 2009 5:46 PM | Link to this

DG32, another comparison would be the handling of the situation. One coach openly apologized to the other coach, wrote a letter to the conference pres., and continued to admit that the whole thing was his fault for not being more carefull in directing his team. The other coach, well, its on the record as to his “explaination”.

But I am with you, worth every dime (or yard). That look, priceless!

But to be honest, considering that UGA played so poorly this past year, UM did us a favor by rubbing it in.

By AltamahaDawg

January 29, 2009 5:57 PM | Link to this

So we need to take serious advice from men who profess to know college football going on record as predicting that UF will beat UGA for the next 10 staight years? uh huh.

Doesn’t speak very highly of your coach if you truly believe that he wasnt going to give 100% to win that game from now on without some stupid penalty from 2 years ago.

Back ups got an extra snap of a ball game _ vs _ knowing damn well the national perception was going to be that the head coach of the UF Gators is rubbing it in during a lopsided victory. Great trade off there. Because you really can’t teach that run straight up the middle for no gain stuff is all the weeks and months of practice.

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 5:58 PM | Link to this

Priceless or not the PRICE will be paid for years to come…

By Go Gators

January 29, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this

2 NC’s in three years, any questions abut UM’s coaching?

By shane#1

January 29, 2009 11:08 PM | Link to this

My, My, My, the haters are sure out tonight. Alt old buddy, hang it up and wait for a better class of opponents. It’s sad that a fan of a NC team goes on another team’s blog to put them down. But then again, Gator fans have even less class than their jerk of a coach. No wonder UF is know as the worst program in the country! I will say one thing for Meyer, it wasn’t him that called the timeouts, it was the biggest liar in the country, Tim Tebow. Tebow pretends to be a Christan, but loves to rub it in on beaten opponents, like when he did the gator chomp in the OU player’s face. When he loses the big baby cries! It’s a damn shame nobody taught him to be a man. What a wussy. I would take a real man like Stafford over that piece of crap any day! Tebow, do you want to be a pro? Well you had better learn to take it like a man! The pros will laugh your butt off the team for your crying and your rah, rah, b******! The other teams can put a stop UF’s piling on, just take your best shot at Tebow’s knees, or spear him when he’s on the ground and Meyer will pull his a*. Some personal fouls are worth the fifteen yards. That will stop some of the running up the score that Meyer and Tebow love to do.

By Go Gators

January 30, 2009 8:07 AM | Link to this

Oh Ok Shane because UGA fans never go to other teams blogs…pot kettle …black you puke…

By shane#1

January 30, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

I mounted a vicious and {mostly} unwarrented attack on Meyer and Tebow and all you can come up with is “pot kettle black…you puke”? Are you a real Gator fan or are you posing? Hmmmmm….. I set you up, chump! I don’t think you are a Gator fan at all. Either you are some Techie with no balls, or you are not ready for prime time. BTW, To all real UF fans, I don’t want to see Tebow or any other fine athlete hurt, I was just scamming this jerk.

By Go Gators

January 30, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

LOL, Shane are you kidding me, some “Techie” since I recognize most mutts call signs and have been on these sights since before football season It shows you are utterly clueless a new to this side of town. “I was just scamming this jerk” what are you 15 years old. If you read my blogs previously all I did was deal with idiots like you saying stuff about Meyer. IE Dawggirl32, Sautee Dawg, Atl dawg. It just happened to be on a blog about your blessed Saint Richt not this one. So after dealing with the same subject ALL DAY LONG I get tired of dealing with you low claas ball lickers that say the same thing over and over and over and over again. Bring something new to the table you douche bag and I’ll come back with a little more enthusiasm. My God go read multiple blogs before you post something moron. Scam that stool sample…

By Go Gators

January 30, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah Shane(that’s an AWESOME NAME)…TIMEOUT

By shane#1

January 31, 2009 1:45 AM | Link to this

Go Gators, you are tired of dealing with caustic remarks about your heros? Well, I am afraid that Meyer and Tebow are not so well loved on this site. We heathens will not be soon converted, so if you are sick of UGA fans go take a walk, or watch TV, or work out another drug deal. You may try to find the UF blogs, people there might like you. BTW, my monicker is my old college nickname, it sounds like my real name and was hung on me after some of the guys saw the old movie.