AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 25 > Entry
Valdosta LB Mike Gilliard had overtures from Georgia Tech
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Everybody knows about Georgia Tech fending off Georgia to keep Miller Grove wide receiver Stephen Hill this week.
Much lesser known, however, is when Georgia did the same thing to Georgia Tech in December.
Valdosta lineman Antonio Foster had switched from Tennessee to Tech. And while the Jackets were down that way, they tried to see if Foster’s teammate, linebacker Mike Gilliard, would do the same. Gilliard was an early commitment to Georgia.
He said he got a pep talk from Tech coach Paul Johnson.
“[Johnson] told me I was the No. 1 linebacker on their recruiting board, and the No. 1 target of their entire class,” Gilliard said. “They said I could start as a freshman. All they wanted was for me to visit.”
Like with Hill, Gilliard politely declined the invitation from the rival school. “When you commit to a school, it’s your word. Georgia is place I’ve always wanted to go, and I’m sticking to my word.”
Tech thanked Gilliard for hearing them out. And every time the Jackets have returned to Valdosta to meet with Foster, they smiled at Gilliard. In fact, Gilliard said that Tech asked for a few minutes of his time again.
“The only thing, the Georgia coaches were coming at the same time, so that wouldn’t have looked too cool.”
What did Georgia Tech have to say about Gilliard’s claims? Nothing, as the NCAA prevents coaches from commenting on student-athletes.
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Permalink | Comments (62) | Post your comment | Categories: Other schools




DEL.ICIO.US


Comments
By GooseDawg
January 29, 2009 5:26 AM | Link to this
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, who is letting the AJC write such LIES??? Surely this can’t be true. UGA is the ONLY school in the nation that tries to “steal” other team’s recruits. Ain’t that right all you 42-45 broken records?
Wake up, clear your head and welcome to the hypercompetitive world of CFB recruiting people—this stuff happens ALL the time!
By Glenn
January 29, 2009 6:24 AM | Link to this
Kind of a misleading article, wouldn’t you say? This isn’t comparing apples and oranges.
GA Tech has been recruiting and offering offering Gilliard for months, even before UGA. Why not stay in touch?
UGA did’t go after Stephen Hill until after all other receivers turned them down. Totally different.
By gtwin
January 29, 2009 6:39 AM | Link to this
aw how nice of the ajc to make an article to make uga fans feel better about their crappy football team
45-42!
By jeff
January 29, 2009 6:56 AM | Link to this
carvell is that the best article you could come up with?your a journalist,a child could write an article better than this.
By SportsFan
January 29, 2009 6:58 AM | Link to this
This again shows the bias the AJC has towards UGA…GT recruited Gilliard from the start. What a shame!!!
By technodude
January 29, 2009 7:23 AM | Link to this
What do you expect? It is impossible for Michael Carvell to be unbiased. This is the same guy who last year wrote that UGAg was leading for Favors and half an hour later retracted that article to say that everyone was even.
Related to this article, what Carvell fails to mention is that GT had offered Gillard from the beginning whereas UGA never presented Hill with an offer until trying to snatch him this week.
I guess it is too hard to ask AJC writers to be unbiased for a change.
By I love the AJC
January 29, 2009 7:53 AM | Link to this
Really I do. Its too funny. Also, my dog can always find a good T. Moore article to sh!t on. Great article guys, keep up the good, inflammatory work.
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 7:56 AM | Link to this
Wow, Yech going after yet another one of our “dumb thugs” that couldn’t cut it academically at the trade school? Why on earth would they want one of our “dumb thugs” if all they seek are STUDENT ATHLETES? LOL!!!! Yech hypocrisy is hilarious!!!! HAHAHA!!!!
By Big MIKE
January 29, 2009 8:01 AM | Link to this
Shouldn’t this article be entitled” GT DID THE SAME TO UGA LAST YEAR”.GT fans, it doesn’t matter, you guys are still doo-doo! The reason you hold on to that 45-42, because you know it want happen again in the near future.Paste that win in the family photo album, so you can look back and have memories.Make sure you paste 38-3 in your own backyard as well Sisssssssy’s!
By MoDawg
January 29, 2009 8:03 AM | Link to this
gtwin
UGA - #10
GT - #22 (Welcome to the top 25. It has been a while. We are used to being here, so we act like it)
Gilliard, like his school of choice is a class act!!
256-160
By UGA Fan
January 29, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this
Hey gtwin, at least our crappy football team didn’t suffer a beatdown in their bowl game like GT did and as far as the one win that GT has over UGA in the last eight years(1-7, now that’s pretty crappy) well even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. I also believe that when everything was said and done, UGA was ranked higher in the polls. Enjoy posting your 45-45 because it will be the only time you’re able to do so for a long time to come.
By Gator Fan
January 29, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this
Like all UGA fans relying on another team to beat a team they couldn’t beat. STFU and go get another one of those fat Krystal Chicks from Athens! Get ready for your beatdown again this year at the WLCP! Chomp!
By Hey UGA
January 29, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
You still lost. Have fun taking solace in the fact that you ended up ranked higher. Pathetic
By Hey UGA
January 29, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
You still lost. Have fun taking solace in the fact that you ended up ranked higher. Pathetic
By Recruitnik
January 29, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this
Glenn, You are incorrect. The Stephen Hill and Gilliard stories are the same. UGA did indeed recruit Stephen Hill BEFORE his commitment to GT. GT also recruited Stephen Hill even though Stephen was committed to UCF. Georgia did not decide to offer Stephen until after they realized he was the best wr on their board. Jut like GT didn’t offer an already committed Stephen Hill until they decided he was the best wr on their board. Either way GT fans need to shut their pie holes because it’s obvious you guys don’t know jack about recruiting.
By YeLLow jAcKeTS BulDog BEATERS
January 29, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
We beat the best team in the country 45-42, and the sour grapes keep rolling in, wooopie.
By GT Fan 1250
January 29, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
It’s the same old crap from the mutts about a blind rodent finding a nut. And we did. We found that nut in your house in what was supposed to be your year. Yes we got killed by LSU…something you couldn’t do. I can’t begin to understand how bad it must feel to watch your team slide from #1, but don’t be hostile towards Tech, or Bama, or Flordia. It’s your team to lost all of those games…man up, take it on the chin, and move on. For all the trash you guys talk on here, I thought you’d all handle the cheapshots back a little better than you do. But, that’s UGA for you…
By To fake RealityYech
January 29, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this
Awww, is the little baby getting pi$$y at the facts I post? Lol!!! I love driving you toolbags insane with anger!! I love owning you!!!
Lol, what’s got you so bent out of shape? That the REALITY of Yech going after the SAME exact kids out of hs that UGA does, or the myth of Yech ONLY seeks “student athletes” is being exposed yet again? Or did you look in the mirror this morning and saw the same 52 year old loser that lives in his mommy’s basement? LOL!!
Don’t you have a short bus to catch little fella? Buddle up little guy, it’s a bit nippy outside!!! Lol!!!!!
By hiveredtech
January 29, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this
The only thing that made the Hill deal seem worse was how late in the game it was. I have nothing against them doing it…it just makes them look bad. This was similar to Vance Walker several years ago when we discovered him at the Shrine Bowl…gave him his first offer and he committed. His dream school, Virginia Tech, came in with 10 days left to get him and he stayed with his commitment.
As information….Georgia also came hard after Jemea Thomas and Chris Crenshaw after their commitment to us…but they have stuck with us.
Regarding Gilliard…we have been recruiting him for two years…we offered back in the spring and have never really backed off completely…but he never really told us to back off either. He said we could stay in contact. He even hung out with the GT guys after the GT/UGA game this year. I respect his decision though and wish him well personally…I just hope his team goes 0-4 (or 0-5) against us while he is there.
By bill
January 29, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this
*”Yes we got killed by LSU…something you couldn’t do.” *
You’re right GT Fan 1250. We couldn’t get killed by LSU. Instead we beat them handily in Baton Rouge. Thanks for reminding us of our lone bright moment of an otherwise disappointing 10 win and top 10 ranked season.
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this
What facts did you present? None of course. HAHA Look at me! Im ALWAYS on these blogs aggravating you stupid NERDS! All I do is talk trash because i don’t actually know anything about football, and the only time i have been around a jock is when i use to sneak into the mens locker room and sniff the doo-doo butter :). In reality, im a 250lb loser, and i just write on here when im not beating off to gay porn. Speaking of which, i need some more astroglide, the chaffing is getting really bad :(. NERDS
By IbeeToopid!!
January 29, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
I’m now convinced it’s a 3 year old that comes up with the titles for the articles. Are you freaking kidding me Michael? Hopefully you were drunk when you came up with it, cause if that’s sober work then let me suggest you taking remedial English courses.
Recruitnik,
Your logic is a bit twisted. UGA TALKD with Hill early on, but that’s not the same thing as recruited. And you’re also incorrect about when UGA offered Hill. They didn’t offer him “after they realized he was the best on their board.” They offered him after the best on their board kept going to other schools. They were settling with Hill. Not the same thing.
By To Fake RealityYech
January 29, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this
What facts did I present? Yech hypocrisy of course little boy. Which is what sent you in orbit and has your fat little face so red right now with anger and I love it!! Lol!!!! Get angry little bee, get VERY angry!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!
By sunday
January 29, 2009 9:16 AM | Link to this
UGA did NOT recruit Hill from the beginning, Recruitnik. Hill was very interested in UGA, but they neither scheduled a visit with him, nor did they offer him a scholarship.
By st simons
January 29, 2009 9:16 AM | Link to this
maybe uga can beat Tech in gymnastics! hahahhahahhahahahahhahaahahaa 45-42!
By FeltonGone!!
January 29, 2009 9:19 AM | Link to this
Dennis Felton has just been let go!!!
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
Thats an opinion. Just like our recruits aren’t worthy to play at ugay (even though you recruit them) your recruits are too stupid and thuggish to play at gt (even though we recruit them). Its called stupid fans. HAHA Look at me! Im ALWAYS on these blogs aggravating you stupid NERDS! All I do is talk trash because i don’t actually know anything about football, and the only time i have been around a jock is when i use to sneak into the mens locker room and sniff the doo-doo butter :). In reality, im a 250lb loser, and i just write on here when im not beating off to gay porn. Speaking of which, i need some more astroglide, the chaffing is getting really bad :(. NERDS
By To Fake RealityYech
January 29, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this
Actually my 52 year old virgin friend, it’s a F-A-C-T!! All we read on here is your STUDENT ATHLETES this, STUDENT ATHLETES that, which most of whom don’t ever graduate, let alone major in Yech’s speality programs. Yech recruits 100% of the kids we go after right out of hs, and UGA maybe, at best, recruits 20% of the kids Yech does. Don’t worry little fella, it’ll be ok. I’m sure you thought you’d be a happier person after beating UGA this year, but only to find out you’re still the same friendless loser after the joy wore off. Poor little guy. God still loves you!!!
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Are you serious? B/c some idiots on here say that they are smart student atheletes, its a fact? You are a moron, and im done with you child. And beating ugay on senior/dooley day did put a smile on my face :). You replying to everything I say does as well. Who has their feathers ruffled now little boy? HAHA Look at me! Im ALWAYS on these blogs aggravating you stupid NERDS! All I do is talk trash because i don’t actually know anything about football, and the only time i have been around a jock is when i use to sneak into the mens locker room and sniff the doo-doo butter :). In reality, im a 250lb loser, and i just write on here when im not beating off to gay porn. Speaking of which, i need some more astroglide, the chaffing is getting really bad :(. NERDS
By David
January 29, 2009 9:40 AM | Link to this
Way to try and make yourself feel better Carvell.
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
MODAWG
Keep enjoying that #10 ranking you loser
The only one that matters is #1 you mutt, we just caused you guys to fire your head coach to…
You guys are the Ohio State Buckeyes of the South, overrated pukes…Oh Yeah TIMEOUT.
By UGADawg
January 29, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
Let’s not make GT the poor victim here, as Central Florida was the real victim, being denied by Mr. Hill after initially giving a verbal to UCF, probably all the while being pursued by every other BCS school in the SE.
Hope he enjoys catching 2 or 3 balls out of the maybe 10 that will be thrown to him during his college career.
By To Fake RealityYech
January 29, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this
Awww!!! Is the little boy going to pout now and take his ball home since he’s getting slapped silly with facts? Lol!! Those idiots are tools like you trying to spread the lie that Yech has STUDENT ATHLETES. You can’t beat the Dawgs consistently on the grid iron so you’re forced to resort to fiction like “at least we have real student athletes!!!” Lol, Michael Johnson has been at Yech for 5 years and still can’t put together a single coherent, intelligent sentence if his life depended on it.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much this morning!! Just knowing I get under your skin so much with facts to drive you to make a fake handle directly soley at me shows me how much I own you :)
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
LMAOHAHA Look at me! Im ALWAYS on these blogs aggravating you stupid NERDS! All I do is talk trash because i don’t actually know anything about football, and the only time i have been around a jock is when i use to sneak into the mens locker room and sniff the doo-doo butter :). In reality, im a 250lb loser, and i just write on here when im not beating off to gay porn. Speaking of which, i need some more astroglide, the chaffing is getting really bad :(. NERDS
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 29, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
MoDawg and dish it out but can’t take it.
RealityYech keep rationalizing 45-42 FACT douchbag. HAH, it’s pretty obvious that you must be that loser:
………………………………..bulldawg.
That redneck has been gone every since you showed up, totally obsessed with GT. It obviously is driving you crazy knowing UGAg can’t beat GT in anything relevant from the class room to the playing field.
Good luck with your Lady Gymnastics, I’m sure you’re a huge fan.
By hurts
January 29, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
You know what has to hurt as UGA fan? Knowing that Tech has a no non-sense college head coach now, with a ridiculous winning percentage as a head coach and coordinator, a guy who learned how to motivate his players from the master - UGA legend Erk Russell, G.A.T.A and all that stuff, a guy who beat Georgia in his first year in Athens, with all 11 starters coming back next year on offense, and a guy who is a God at UGA lite a.k.a. Georgia Southern. That has to hurt.
All you doggies like to bring up the last 8 years, well guess what, that Gailey - Ball ship has sailed. If you put another streak like that together then I’ll eat my words, but you know and I know that it is looking pretty unlikely that will happen again soon.
By ………………………………..buLLdawg
January 29, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
You know what hurts?
Sticking a bottle in your bum!
Did you see the 3 people were shot in a Clarke County Trailer Park???
Wow, Athens is Great
Yes I am RealityYech
I live in my moms basement.
Im contemplating suicide
By ………………………………..buLLdawg
January 29, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
You know what hurts?
Sticking a bottle in your bum!
Did you see the 3 people were shot in a Clarke County Trailer Park???
Wow, Athens is Great
Yes I am RealityYech
I live in my moms basement.
Im contemplating suicide
By ………………………………..buLLdawg
January 29, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
You know what hurts?
Sticking a bottle in your bum!
Did you see the 3 people were shot in a Clarke County Trailer Park???
Wow, Athens is Great
Yes I am RealityYech
I live in my moms basement.
Im contemplating suicide
By Sven Ottke
January 29, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
This is how pathetic this newspaper/blog has become. Michael, did you feel the need to make those poor doggies feel better because they were spurned by the top WR in the state……as of late any WR they went after? It’s not wonder this paper is circling the drain.
By Rapists_R_Us
January 29, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
No non-sense like playing a rapist next year? Some things never change at Tech. Like how they played a drug drealer that was busted in an FBI drug sting.
Took Richt 8 seasons to lose his first game to an ACC team, and he only did by 3. Johnson lost to an SEC team, in a DOWN year, by 35 in his first season. Richt won the SEC in his second year. Johnson won’t even win his division.
You’ll be eatting your words sooner than you think, tool
By Interesting
January 29, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this
All of you keep complaining about the biased writing of the AJC yet you continue to get on and read the articles, interesting. You finally won a game in the series and suddenly GT athletics is superior to UGA’s, interesting. Most of you criticize others of having no class while your posts are filled with put downs and name calling, interesting.
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Ramble On sounds exactly like the fake RealityYech douche.
Hey Ramble, are you excited now that the series lead is now down to 23 games? LOL!!! What a loooooooooooooser but I love it!!!
By Interesting
January 29, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this
All of you keep complaining about the biased writing of the AJC yet you continue to get on and read the articles, interesting. You finally won a game in the series and suddenly GT athletics is superior to UGA’s, interesting. Most of you criticize others of having no class while your posts are filled with put downs and name calling, interesting.
By Rapists_R_Us
January 29, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this
You know what hurts?
Sticking a bottle in your bum!
Did you see the 3 people were shot in a Clarke County Trailer Park???
I bet the meth deal went bad
Wow, Athens is Great
Yes I am RealityYech
Yes I am ………………..buLLdawg
I live in my moms basement.
I also suckle at her teet.
Im contemplating suicide
By Rapists_R_Us
January 29, 2009 11:04 AM | Link to this
You know what hurts?
Sticking a bottle in your bum!
Did you see the 3 people were shot in a Clarke County Trailer Park???
I bet the meth deal went bad
Wow, Athens is Great
Yes I am RealityYech
Yes I am ………………..buLLdawg
I live in my moms basement.
I also suckle at her teet.
Im contemplating suicide
By Rapists_R_Us
January 29, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
You know what hurts?
Sticking a bottle in your bum!
Did you see the 3 people were shot in a Clarke County Trailer Park???
I bet the meth deal went bad
Wow, Athens is Great
Yes I am RealityYech
Yes I am ………………..buLLdawg
I live in my moms basement.
I also suckle at her teet.
Im contemplating suicide
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 29, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
Go Gators, MoDawg likes to calculate the scores of the last 8 years.
Do you think your calculator goes that high if you were to do it?
I know it wouldn’t if you went all the way back to the Ole Ball Coaches.
By MoDawg
January 29, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
(YAWN)
By RealityYech
January 29, 2009 11:21 AM | Link to this
Notice how poor little Ramble is stuck talking about the Gators vs. UGA and can’t say the saME about UGA vs. Yech during the past 8 years.
Bust out your calculator on that one, tool!! HAHAHA!!
By jacketbacker
January 29, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this
45-42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THWG
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this
Hey Reality
2 National Championships in 3 years, UGA 1 in 28 years. Reality Bites Huh…
MoDawg keep enjoying your 10th ranking and yawn all you want. I’ll enjoy my NC…oh did I mention it’s the second in three years??
MoDawg…TIMEOUT, gymnastics are right around the corner ball lickers
By okeefe59
January 29, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this
Everybody’s doing it!!!!!! Who cares.
By Mike T.
January 29, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
42-45 a fluke
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this
I came here to pick on the mutts but then I read this article. How exactly are these 2 events remotely the same thing??? The 2 situations are completely different from one another. This Mike Carvell guy is clueless.
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this
I came here to pick on the mutts but then I read this article. How exactly are these 2 events remotely the same thing??? The 2 situations are completely different from one another. This Mike Carvell guy is clueless.
By odw
January 29, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
LMAO. There you go leg humpers, the AJC published an article just to make you feel better.
Can’t have GT shown in a good light now can we? And you guys wonder why this paper is bleeding money?
By We should shut up
January 29, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
Fact is, we didn’t get it done this year:
We got stomped by Flordia by 39 points and we lost to a young GT team at Sanford Stadium. That is just just not getting it done. We don’t need feel good articles, we need to go out and get some players and BEAT these teams!
It hurts but Florida and now Tech beat us on the field and have bragging rights. Until we earn those rights back, we can’t expect to convince a guy like Stephen Hill to switch to us.
Just my opinion—things are slipping, but Richt will right the ship!
By Mike
January 29, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
Gee Mikey,
News must be slow for you Dawg lovers.
Mike
By We Really Should Shut Up
January 29, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
Fact is, we should have won the ACC this year.
The ACC was ours for the taking. We got spanked at home by a miserably pathetic Virginia team. We got our pants pulled down and beat silly by NC, and don’t even remind me about the humiliating pounding by a 5 loss SEC team in our own backyard. Yes, we did finally beat UGA, but look at how horrible their defense was?
We’re losing the 3 best defenders we’ve ever had at one time to graduation and the ACC is only getting better.
Just my opinion - But we shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch!!
By BILLY JACK
January 29, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
Tech trying to take a football player from Georgia! Now that is funny.
By Dawg4Lyfe
January 29, 2009 2:01 PM | Link to this
GT Fan 1250,
For a Tech fan to talk about taking it on the chin and moving on is about as ironic as you get!! This coming from the same base that has been hiding behind UF for years since they can’t handle the Dawgs like the Gators have.
Thanks for the laugh of irony.