ajcsportstalk

By gomdawg

January 24, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Great to see him back very good coach.

By The Gamecock

January 24, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

You can have the lying sack of crap back.

By gdg73

January 24, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

He’s a good coach, but he just jumps from job to job too much. He doesn’t seem committed to the cause or any cause for that matter. Kinda like Petrino. Why not let Hue Jackson stay as OC. That’s the $1milion question!!!

By eljewell

January 24, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

Just when I was happy with the selection he makes a boneheaded move. VanGorder is a mover. He will not be here for the long haul. I hope that Dim, Blank and McKay sees this for what it really is.

By michael

January 24, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

so you rip petrino but applaud van gorder for bailing on spurrier 2 weeks before signing day. fair coverage. ajc is a joke

By marcellis wiley

January 24, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Here’s the dealio. This is the same guy who got run out of Georgia, though that’s never been reported. There’s a reason he wasn’t back in Athens. He goes off and ruins Georgia Southern. THEN Mister Personality Petrino hires him to join the staff. Now it appears Mike (don’t call me Rankin) Smith feels comfy with this dullard. Great. I’ve said it before on here: Some folks you can just look at and tell they’re aren’t going to get along with folks. Art Blank mustn’t have the personnel acumen as a strong suit. VanGorder is not the personality this defense needs.

By Island Eagle

January 24, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

What is this 6 jobs in 5 years? I thought he said he was through with the pros? What a LOSER!! I wonder how long he decides to stay in Atlanta the second time?

By source

January 24, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

The issue isn’t whether he can be a good dc. (Mike Smith will make sure the defense is strong.)

The problem with Van Gorder is he moves around more than Hillary Clinton on her views on Iraq.

By outofreverse

January 24, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

How can anyone blame this guy? He moved on from the Falcons after the disaster that was Petrino, taking a DC job at an SEC school. He’s been begging for a high-level position in the NFL, which is the primary reason he coached LB’s in Jax for 2 years.

Now, he has a chance to be a DC in the NFL under a guy he’s worked with in the past (coaching defense, no less). This guy has had a bad string of luck professionally the last few years, but he’ll be here until Mike Smith or the Falcons escort him out.

By GSUTrueBlueEagle

January 24, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Oh no; not again

UGA….J’ville…….GaSouthern(go Eagles)….Falcons…..USC……Falcons??

By unruly

January 24, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

This is why Smith may not be the best choice.Hiring VanGorder is a Bad,Bad move.

By Island Eagle

January 24, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

If he wanted to be in the NFL then why did he say that he wanted to be in college football not the NFL. If he wanted to be in the MFL he should not have left in twice. The man has no loyalty and when I was going to come back and cheer for the falcons, bvg has to come back and stop it from happening.

By cockhead

January 24, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

outofreverse, How can you not blame him? If he had stayed in Jax more than(1)year he could be the DC there. He will get what he deserves in the long run. Mike Smith is what at best the third choice for the Falcons? Smith’s position is not very secure & if this doesn’t work out BVG will not be able to get job anywhere.

By Freehawk

January 24, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Brian “Moving” Van Gorder.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

By Randy

January 24, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

WOOOOOOW!!!!! What is Smith thinking!!!!!! Van Gorder???????? Get your facts straight guys… Van Gorder was in Jacksonville for ONE season. Of all the great defensive football minds in the NFL, SMITH PICKS BRIAN VAN GORDER!!!!!! WOW!!!!

By Dave In Tampa

January 24, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

I believe the bell rung on who he was going to be working for. How many times do you think Spurrier has thrown his visor? 30-40 times?

marcellis wiley: Tell me more about Van Gorder being run out of Georgia. I was not aware of that scenario.

By MP

January 24, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

With all the movement among coaches today I’m beginning to think they are all overpaid/overrated. Apparently you just grab someone and put em in a job to babysit a bunch of pro’s to just do a head count at practice and make sure they get on the plane on time for a road game.

By david

January 24, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

He returned to the college game because his employment was uncertain. Petrino had just fled and every assistant was facing the very real prospect of being unemployed.

Each move he has made since leaving UGA has made sense, with the possible exception of the Ga. Southern job.

The Rivals.com Web site that covers South Carolina is reporting this same news, citing two sources, and its report includes the information that VanGorder was also offered the job as defensive coordinator by Jaguars. If true, then Del Rio thinks he would make a good DC, too.

By J-Mo

January 24, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

While I do find it very interesting that he does resemble Petrino/Saban as far as not staying anywhere for too long … I love it that Darth Visor is getting screwed!!!

By Gman

January 24, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

Bad move. I didnt think he did a great job with the linebackers last year. There are higher qualified candidates out there for DC.

By keeping it real

January 24, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

oh no mike Smith please don’t do this to the fans or the team please no, no, no!!!!!!

By Larry M

January 24, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

The only good aspect of this is that Van Gorder won’t be on the other sideline when the Dawgs go to Columbia this fall. Say what you want about VG being wishy-washy, etc. - his defenses at UGA were top notch and I was not looking forward to facing him every year in the SEC.

By Mike

January 24, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

There is nothing wrong with personal ambition, and Van Gorder is a good, proven coach. But he has proven himself to lack loyalty and gives the impression he is looking for the shortest ladder to the top. I would be cautious to hire him. His lack of stability is scary. Just as in business, frequent job changes do not enhance your resume. The Falcons need long-term proven winners to add stability to this program. I’m afraid he is not it.

By michaelgee

January 24, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Hey BVG, what we learned about you in Statesboro is prophetic by now. you big dummy

By Erk

January 24, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe this! Van Gorder hired as defensive coordinator based on what?

He’s Bobby Petrino without Petrino’s resume. He left UGA and Richt said “See Ya”, and didn’t miss a beat after he left. He single handedly tore down a Georgia Southern team in 9 months, that had been a football machine for 20 years and walks out. Now he walks out on South Carolina before he has coached a down and a week before signing day.

The Falcons are a fool, they have not learned from their mistakes. What next, draft a QB that likes to go “fishing” in Virginia on his days off.

I was happy about the Mike Smith hire. This has ruined it for me.

By Fire_Mike_Smith

January 24, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

I was beginning to think the Falcons finally got it right when they hired Smith.

Now it looks like they blew it again.

You would think they would have learned about COLLEGE coaches but I guess they didn’t.

We blew the Head Coach and GM hire.

By Mike

January 24, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Apparently, Smith thinks VG can coach, having worked with him in JAX. But Brians leaping from job to job smacks of Bobby Quittrino. It’s one thing to embrace opportunities, but when he speaks in absolutes (“I’m committed to college”) and then does a 180 - it reveals a serious character flaw.

By DawgNCalifornia

January 24, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Hiring Van Gorder, with his track record, shows the Falcons as an organization really haven’t learned much.

By cockhead

January 24, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Blank & Falcon fans now have no right to speak badly of Patrino. Atlanta has just out done Patrino with BVG’s hire. If Loyalty & Honor are not what you look for in your employees then you can’t be surprised if they don’t show you any.

By NASCARfan

January 24, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

As a member of Bulldog Nation, I am tickled pink that I won’t have to see Coach Moving Van in that ugly shade of red and black on the sidelines with Darth Visor in that rat-trap town called Columbia.

Say what you want about him and his likeness to Saban and Petrino (which he’s well earned), but the man can coach. He MADE Michael Boley into the player he was this year, tenacious and unrelenting. He can’t help it if the always OVERRATED Keith Brooking is running on his last gasps.

I can just imagine Darth Visor getting the news and ripping his favored head wear to the ground in a fit of childish behavior he’s famous for.

Happy day for Bulldog Nation.

And to the idiot who claims he got run out of Georgia… dude, reveal your sources or shut the frak up.

By FLEE HOUND

January 24, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

The hiring of people to run the falcons has turn’ed into won hell of a mess.nobody with any respect wants to coach here. all we get here is reruns and no name coach’es it’s time to pull the plug on this sorry franchise. i though when mr blank got the team from the smiths it would be better but dam’ed if it doesn’t get worse. i give up.

By Eagle Man

January 24, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder is an out-of-control freak. If you hire that a-hole you’d better put a stiff penalty in for breaking the contract. But he’ll be more likely to stay because nobody else will touch him after this for a loooooong time. He stinks and I hate him for what he did to my beloved Eagles. Chris Hatcher rocks!

By Wes

January 24, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

Vuck FanGorder

By nategsudawg

January 24, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Vangoober is a loser and every program that he has left has been much better off than when he was there. Just look at Georgia, Georgia Southern, Jacksonville, and the falcons would be better withoug him too. He just screws programs up.

By david

January 24, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Ga Southern fans: You were thrilled that VanGorder left, so don’t bash him for leaving.

South Carolina fans: As much as we in this region know that the SEC is by far the better conference than any other in college football, the gap between the NFL and the SEC is even larger.

By nategsudawg

January 24, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Vangoober is a loser and every program that he has left has been much better off than when he was there. Just look at Georgia, Georgia Southern, Jacksonville, and the falcons are all better off now that he is gone. He just screws programs up and will do so again with the falcons.

By Rollo

January 24, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

So you hire a guy with 2 years NFL experience to be your DC. Logic would say, the rest of the Def. staff is going to answer to him. What’s he going to do, hire an all college staff. We’ve already seen what he can do when he’s in charge of a staff. He took Georgia Southern to their all-time worst record in team history. Completely dismantling a playoff team and effectively benching the most talented player in 1-AA(who happened to win the Walter Payton award the year after Van Butthead ran our)

This is a disaster, and an utter nightmare. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Hiring the “Swampfox” for the third time would be better than this.

By Ducky

January 24, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

That guy would lie to the Pope if he had the chance. Now maybe Carolina knows how everybody in Statesboro, GA feels about Van”Goober”.

By CrazyDawg

January 24, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

He’ll be back for about 1 year, then leave for more money somewhere else. Plus, he’s overrated.

By Pat

January 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

BVG clearly has a problem but he cares ONLY about coaching football. No recruiting and Superior to put up with in the NFL plus a chance to be a coordinator. He likely will never return to college coaching now. The NFL is where he belongs and he’ll do a good job.

By TW

January 24, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Trade both VanGorder and Smith to have back last year’s defensive coordinator. Take back Mora in a heart beat - Abraham and Hartwell earn thier pay Mora’s last year, the Falcons would have been in the play-offs….

By reserviorDAWG

January 24, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

I think he will do a fine job as Falcon’s DC. Smith obviously has confidence in him and I would think he is experienced enough to know if VG has what it takes to be a DC in the NFL.

By Eagle 86

January 24, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder is a Rump Ranger

By Hatch Attack

January 24, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

VERY HAPPY that he SCREWED OVER DARTH VISOR. Very sad that he is the new DC with the Falcons. I swear, that man will be coaching at West Georgia in 2009.

By FalconsneedReeves

January 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

I do not know why a man would move so much. I suspect it is about money. I am sure the falcons are paying him double what he was getting at USC so why not take it. I have never read that the guy cannot coach defense. He screwed up GSU but that was more on offense. Let’s hope Smith knows what he is doing.

If not Dan Reeves is still out there.

By K-Town Dawg

January 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

I’m with NASCARfan!

This is going to make me laugh all spring and summer. Anything that shafts the Ol’ Ball Coach is great for UGA.

As for Georgia Southern fans, sounds like sour grapes! I can hear the whining already (see you 8-30-08). Maybe the program was on the way down even before BVG got there. The defense in Athens hasn’t skipped a beat since he left!

Or maybe the GSU program is mediocre at best. GSU has an all-time win percentage of .636, which is a 7-4 year every year, including Russell (.790) and Johnson (.861). That type of success is going to very difficult to match.

By reeves

January 24, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

try me again and i will get the job done.

By reeves

January 24, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

try me again and i will get the job done.

By Big Al

January 24, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Rolling on the floor laughing my a* off. The Falcons will always be the Falcons.

As much as Van Gorder likes moving, I don’t know why he did not apply for the Hawaii job.

By Malibu

January 24, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

BRIAN VAN GORDER= PIECE OF $HIT

By merger_king

January 24, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

“….he moves around more than Hillary Clinton on her views on Iraq”

or more than Guilanni and Romney on Abortion and McCain on Religion

By hoop235

January 24, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Although I don’t agree with the way he changes jobs often, don’t give up on him just yet. He must have some good coaching ability or the “Visor” in South Carolina wouldn’t have wanted him. For what he had to work with at Atlanta, he done a good job. You can’t blame a guy for wanting out of the NFL after the mess he was in last year. Mike Smith must have seen something in him at Jax. Draft O-Line and protect the QB at all cost. Look how much time Brady has in the pocket. Lots of QB’s could be good if given the time.

By Bo

January 24, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Give Steve Smith the right to hire the Coaches he wants. He has worked with Van Gorder and know what he can do..ITS HIS CALL, NOT THE FANS or ajc Smith has to have who he can work with. Give him a Chance. As for VanGorden leaving the Falcons last month, what was he suppost to do? All coach were dismissed.

By GSUGA

January 24, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

He is a legend in his own mind. That is enough said. The Falcon’s do not need dead weight. To give him a coordinators position after what he has done the past five years is awful. He had horses at UGA and set GSU back five years. Just as the Patrino staff did for the Falcons. I cannot believe Blank would have anything to do with any of Patrino’s staff. “He will never learn.”

By merger_king

January 24, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

a college guy.” When asked if he was sure he replied “I’ve declared. I’m committed.”

“I’ll enjoy all the things about college football that I always have and I won’t look back at the NFL,” VanGorder said in December. “That’s something I’ve put behind. I’m ready to finish my career as a college football coach.”

HONOR and INTEGRITY!

By So Fla Dawg

January 24, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder had 4 all americans at UGA on the same defense pollack thurman davis and jones even my grand mother couldn’t have messed that up.. good hire falcons keep this up and i will have to start doing all my home improvement at LOEW’S…

By Dylan

January 24, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

Leave it to AJC to start some BS. Always questions what Falcons are anyone else does.

By Bob In Suwanee

January 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Glad to see everyone can separate the emotion from the issue at hand. Anyway, if you want your defensive scheme implemented, wouldn’t you hire someone that has lived and breathed the scheme before? The BVG hire just makes so much sense, but too many of you can’t see the forest for the trees on this one.

By Dee

January 24, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

I can’t blame VanGorder for leaving after Quitrino. Man’s gotta eat. As long as he gets the defense where they have to be on the field, I’m fine with him coming back.

By Joshua Barlowe

January 24, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

You know what the Falcons need more than anything?

Somebody with good PR skills. They have no idea how stupid this makes them look.

By fatz

January 24, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

these coaches and their lack of commitment to anything is amazing. for him to get a coordinator job under a coach like spurrier- and walk away before he even gets started. I don’t even know why they sign contracts in sports anymore. I”m sure this is good job for van gorder, but it probably also indicates Smith wants to effectively run the defense and doesn’t want a big name coordinator getting in his way. so i guess it works. but the ol’ ball coach is probably p*ssssed

By dawg1

January 24, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

As a Dawg fan I am glad Van Gorder is gong back to the Falcons. And will not be on the other side of the field when we play SC. He is a Dam good DC and now is his chance to prove it even more.

By Bleeding Red and Black

January 24, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

Stop hating on coach BVG. He was one hell of a DC at UGA and the defense hasn’t been consistently as nasty and attacking since he left. Not to mention UGA finished in the top 5-10 annually in all major defensive statistics, and consistenly had players on defense drafted highly. We saw what he can do last year I think our linebackers were our strongest unit last year (excluding Keith “gt” Brookings who always padded his stats by tackling the opposition 15-30 yards down the field). I say good luck coach Maybe you can mold D.Hall into the player he was becoming before Petrino after all you did get Odell to behave for a few years.

By KO

January 24, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

this is laughable. I had no real opinion one way or another on Smith and was hoping for the best. If this is any indication of the decision making process to come, the time has com to find another NFL team after 30 years. Van Gorder never finishes what he starts and there is plenty of evidence that he has a natural ability to screw things up and run, a la the current arkansas coach. Those of us who prefer college sports and have kids bound for college in the next couple of year should probably be thankful he wont be in the college game.

By In the round 1980

January 24, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Doesn’t surprise me at all. Next thing you know George O’Leary will be offered the offensive coordinators position. Hell, he did win a national championship in ‘90. Boy, now wouldn’t that be a pair, Van Gorder and O’Leary. Ha Ha Ha, Wow.

By Chrono

January 24, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder is a lying opportunist of the worst kind, and a lousy coach. If this is Mike Smith’s first decisions he’s starting off badly.

By southernfriedfalcon

January 24, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

VanGorder coached a solid defense at UGA. He worked under Smith at Jacksonville. If the descriptions of Smith are accurate, then I imagine most of the defensive scheme will be developed by Smith, leaving VanGorder to focus on player development and technique. This might be seen as his strong suit since players like Boss Bailey, Thomas Davis, and David Pollack developed during his tenure at UGA. It may or may not be accurate, but I offer this as speculation on the thinking behind his return.

By reserviorDAWG

January 24, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

Chrono BVG may be an opportunist but a lazy coach he is not!

By saint

January 24, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Petrino is really having a good ha!ha! He knew VanGorder belonged to the Committed Club too, but didn’t tell the Falcons. The ajc says that Mike Smith is also committed. Holy smokes! Well, Smith did work with him, so he probably knows what he is doing. It’s a one-year contract, right?

By reserviorDAWG

January 24, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

I meant lousy.

By saint

January 24, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

It couldn’t be that VG had his Atlanta house on the market, and it wouldn’t sell?

By SirReal

January 24, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Someone a while back said that this team was cursed. I am really starting to lean in that direction. I mean of all the quality assistants in the NFL, you guys go and grab DVG?!! This moves sucks as bad as the one they made hiring Smith in the first place..

By **GREAT HIRE**

January 24, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder is a great coach with a strong personality and that is exactly what the Falcons D needs. He took UGA’s defense to the top of the SEC and NCAA. We need a guy like him to put guys like DHall in their place.

By neckville rednecks

January 24, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

howling crew from neckville says he is great. another good ol boy hire.. The neckville crew from UGAy says he is great. The clowns have took over! must be Joe Brave inbreed family from ugay!

By real world

January 24, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

By Great Falconi

January 24, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder would have to be a damn fool not to take an NFL def. coordinator position. Screw Spurrier. And hey, Georgia Southern fans didn’t like the guy because he was the one-year transition between a strictly option offense (Erk and Paul Johnson did quite well with that) and a more sophisticated attack (which meant fewer wins and inadequate personnel). He was a hell of a coordinator at UGA. If he (or Smith…or Dimitroff) stinks, he’ll be no worse than any other schmuck the Falcons have hired over the years. People here are too quick to rip the Falcons on everything. Let the team embarrass you NEXT season before you wash your hands of the new leadership. That’s the only sane way to be a Falcon fan. Wait for the disappointment and then fire away.

By frankthetank

January 24, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Nearly destroyed GA. Soutern’s football program berfoe running out to contribute to an even larger dissaster with the Falcons. Quits Spurrier in an instant to return???Let Van Gorder stay a Van GONNER!!!!

By jim

January 24, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

as a georgia fan i think its great cause I was not looking forward to a carolina defense under him. Hes a good coach who felt that he could only go down when looking at carolinas returning defense and program as a whole. Rumor out of cockland is spurrier is about to retire anyday now, so cocks standby it coming! GATA

By Ike

January 24, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Almost all NFL assistant coaches lead a Gypsy life. No one’s job is any more secure than that of the head coach although VanGorder does take the life style to the extreme. With Petrino gone, leaving the Falcons wasn’t really his choice and the guy has to make a living. Still, it was pretty rotten of him to profess a new found love for the college game just to get the SC job and then do an about-face so soon. Except for the fiasco at Ga. Southern he has been an excellent coach, especially when restricted to defense. Least some forget, he contributed significantly to Mark Rich’s early success at UGA and their continued success after he left doesn’t diminish what he accomplished there. I doubt he’ll be leaving the Falcons again of his own volition anytime soon because who wants that kind of instability. At this point all we fans can do is sit back and hope Authur Blank has finally done something right in the personnel department since his major screw-up in firing Dan Reeves.

By WeJustNeedaBreak

January 24, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Are you kidding me, this guy can’t even decide if he wants to grow a mustache or not. Hopefully JAX offers him more than we do. I like the guy, but a NFL Defensive Coordinator is a far cry from a college coordinator. I wish him the best…and for God’s sake grow the d@mn stache PLEASE!

By BigTech

January 24, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

VANGORDER?!?!?! You must be kidding me! He’s like Nick Saban and Petrino rolled into one, only not a proven commodity. Please say it ain’t so!!!

By Edd

January 24, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this

Wait and see is all that I can say about the whole situation from Smith till now. Win less than 6 games in back to back seasons and Blank will fire them again, which he will be doing the right thing.

By falcon1

January 24, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

I just love all of these people on here who have so much actural game time under there belts. In the front office, the meeting rooms, on the sideline, and all of the scouting trips. and so on and so on. These people in charge of any teams in the NFL will forget more about Football. Then you will ever know.

By drew

January 24, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Van Gorder - isnt that Dutch for ‘A* Clown’? He’s nothing more than Petrino-lite. Got a good rep due to extra-ordinary defensive talent at UGA. Just when I was feeling good about the new head coach. Plus, Mr. VG still has that bulldog stink all over him.

By AZEagle

January 24, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

Van Joker has zero credibility!!! He set the GSU program back several years.

By toshie

January 24, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

I’m glad they hired VanGorder so it would give you people something to b*** about. I was worried for a day or two there you did not have anything. I guess since Smith thinks he’s good enough for a DC and the Jacksonville Jags Head Coach thinks he good enough. I don’t think any of you dumb a#@es are qualified to hire anyone are you. Put your resume on the blog if you think you are. I would like to check it out.

By toshie

January 24, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

Oh yes just another comment to you dumb a#@es Steve Spurrier hired him and he has a pretty good record with his coaches.

By Laugh-in

January 24, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this

It didn’t take Spurrier long to find a replacement for VanGoober. Ellis Johnson is SC’s new DC. Now here is the funny part, Johnson was supposed to be Petrino’s DC at Arkansas. So the coach left holding the bag without a DC is Petrino.

By Tim

January 24, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this

VanGoober will probably jump ship before the season starts. That is his MO. If a high school head coaching job opens he may bolt. A very restless SOB he is.

By nativefalcon

January 24, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

At least Van Gorder will blitz and he was good at UGA. Hes been like Petrino, but he stayed longer then petrino at UGA 4 years and was good there. Give him a break.

By mahjk17

January 24, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

YO PEOPLE is this just me or DOESNT MIKE SMITH LOOK LIKE OUR BRAVE GENERAL MANGER FRANK WREN the both just a like.

By B. VanGorder

January 24, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

I’m a hazard to myself…don’t let me get me.

By steve

January 24, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this

Having Van Gorder on staff again makes it really hard to root for the Falcons.

Brian, ever heard of the word integrity.

However, I must say, as a GSU grad, I am glad you are not in Statesboro anymore.

By JoeDuck

January 24, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

HYPOCRISY, ANYONE? Petrino bolts early and Blank’s boys slam him. Van Gorder bolts early, and Blank’s boys welcome him with open arms. Only hours after claiming integrity and strong character for our the new HC (a choice I heartily approve of), the same HC announces they’ve essentially STOLEN VanGorder from USC. Petrino and VG are both jumpers, but at least Petrino had been successful before the Falcons.

By USCndaATL

January 24, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this

Let me see if I got this straight.

Bobby Petrino leaves the Falcons to be the head coach at Arkansas after Houston Nutt left there to be head coach at Ole Miss. Brian VanGorder leaves the Falcons to be the DC at USC after Tyrone Nix leaves USC to be the DC at Ole Miss. Meanwhile, Petrino hires Ellis Johnson to be the DC at Arkansas after he leaves Miss St. The Falcons hire Mike Smith, who was the DC of the Jaguars, to be head coach. His wife is supposedly the sister of VanGorder’s wife. VanGorder used to coach linebackers under Smith in Jacksonville before leaving to be head coach at Georgia Southern before leaving to be LB coach in Atlanta. Smith then hires VanGorder, who leaves USC to go back to Atlanta to be DC there. Spurrier then hires Ellis Johnson from Arkansas to be the DC at USC. And now, Petrino, who started this whole fiasco by leaving the Falcons to go to Arkansas, has no DC.

Who writes this stuff? This kind of fictional crap can’t happen in real life.

By This Gets Old

January 24, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this

A first time head coach hires a first time DC? You’ve got to be kidding me! I don’t care WHAT he did at UGA. The SEC ain’t the NFL.

He’s got TWO seasons in the league as a position coach. He!! (where Satan lives) Spurrier couldn’t hack it in the league. What happened again with Petrino?

I don’t care if he moves around a lot. He shouldn’t get this job. Brooking’s problem isn’t coaching, it’s age and health! If I’m going to elevate a position coach then the guy is going to have more than two years in the league! God, they NEVER change!

By HFE

January 24, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this

Hey K-town Dawg, you’re a moron. Nice research, buddy.

In FACT GSU’s all-time win percentage is 225-76 which for the moronic dawg fans out there =’s .748

By Gimme a break

January 24, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

Who cares if Spurrier hired him you idiot? Spurrier isn’t an NFL coach anymore is he?

And why isn’t he an NFL coach? Because the NFL isn’t the friggin SEC you fools!

By Tim

January 24, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this

I had a feeling all along that Van Gorder was coming back as the Falcons DC. I love that we stuck it to Spurrier. Couldn’t happen to a better scumbag.

By greg

January 24, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this

crow tastes tough, if van gorder is willing to to eat it i’m ready for him to show us why. i feel he will do a hell of a job. i’m very much looking forward to the next 2 years

By Butler

January 24, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

U-Haul’s Man of the Year…Brian VanGorder!

Seriously folks, no one knows how good a coach BVG is because he hasn’t stayed anywhere long enough to prove anything.

He has displayed what kind of character he has though, dipping out on two programs leaving recruits high and dry.

Hope he dips out of Atlanta soon and heads to the far west…I’m not a fan of any of those teams.

By Butler

January 24, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this

P.S. For the UGA fan who cannot do math and/or research…

GSU’s all-time win percentage is 225-76 which equals .748

By joebrave

January 25, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this

The next person that mentions that no talent Mike Dingleberry,I will personally come to where you are and Plant My boot in Yo Azz!!!!!

By joebrave

January 25, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this

What the problem here is .The Gangsta Party Is OVER….. no more thuggin in da DOME,and Neckville,looks like not only yo jiggaboo hero Vick is Gone,so are His Hoodies!!! LMAO!!!!

By Singletary

January 25, 2008 3:25 AM | Link to this

Joshua Barlow is excactly correct. Did no one in the PR Dept dial up the chain of command and say “what the BVG were you thinking?” “I’m supposed to flack a Coach HK Fooey retread with a congenital resistance to telling the truth and living up to his contracts to an already tentative Falc season ticket holder fan base?”

USCndaATL you are now hired in that Flowery Branch pr office for putting a spin on the absolute lunacy of a DC proffer to BVG.

Please let me go back to my waking dreams of Brooking on the weak side, new beefy tackles and guards on the blind side of Redman and the as yet Unnamed He who Comes Later.

Calgon, take me away.

By gsueagle

January 25, 2008 3:41 AM | Link to this

VanGorder…hahaha good luck you haven’t impressed me yet, not at GSU, not for the Falcons and oh yea, wait you only stayed at USC for a month, now you’re back with the Falcons…. what can I say? Show me SOMETHING!!!!

By Ray

January 25, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

Whether or not this guy may be a good coach is not the issue. WHY HIRE someone who will alienate the fan base from the get-go?

By deputydawg

January 25, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Excellent coach….questionable loyalties. BVG has made a habit of jumping from job to job. His betrayal of the folks at Georgia Southern University was/is deplorable. One minute he is a “college man” and the next he jumps ship for the Falcons. 5 jobs in 4 years…doesnt say much for the man. I used to have the utmost respect for him..now I loathe the name

By Eagleman

January 25, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

VG is the biggest sack of crap in the history of sacks of crap. How many lives does this guy have? I wonder what the Falcon’s players are thinking. Do they listen when he talks about commitment, dedication? He stills owes about $200K to Statesboro constractors for his unfinished house. Falcons, you’ve done it again. Where’s Marion Campbell when you need him!

By Big Daddy in D'ville

January 25, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

BVG may be a mover, but he is a hell of a motivator, besides Coach Smith gave all of us Dawgs the biggest you know what when bent Spurrier over.

By GSUintheknow

January 25, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

Hell of a motivator??!?!?!?! Really? do you truly believe that? Erk Russell was a hell of a motivator, and setit up to where any coach that EVER coached at Georgia Southern again could use the motivational tools of tradition. So what is the first thing BVG did when he got to Statesboro, anyone?

Yes, correct, take away one of the oldest tradition of riding in on school buses in favor of coach busses. (to put it into comparison Coach Chris Hatcher actually drove one of the schoolbuses to the stadium this year). His players were afraid to lose and did not look forward to playing on Saturdays. If that is a hell of a motivator, then you are right… He is great.

By Dan

January 25, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I think BVG will be okay. His defense were always tough and physical( particularly up the middle, where the Falcons are vulnerable). The players like him a good bit too( Keith Brooking is a big fan of his). It will be interesting to see how he does in with the linebacking core. I think they need to get another guy to play middle linebacker and move Brooking back to outside linebacker where he can use his quickness and not have to take on so many double teams. This defense is built for speed and for blitzing, and they can force turnovers. They just need an offense that can take advantage of those turnovers, which is what killed the Falcons last year.

By Iowahorse

January 25, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

This is a horrible decision. I had hoped to never have to see his lying ship-jumping a* ever again. This moron has “idiot” stamped all over his forehead.

By Henri

January 25, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Could the hiring of Brian VanGorder be the first mistake by the new Head coach? Also is VanGorder able to step up to the NFL level presently. Is VanGorder any different from Petrino moving from Job to Job every year? I like VanGorder because I am a Bulldogs Fan, but I am also a Falcons Fan and a season ticket holder. I understand that he needed a Job when he went to Carolina, but the comments attributed to him upon leaving makes me somewhat apprehensive about this hire. Let us hope we are not seeing another coming of Petrino? Good luck to Arthur, Thomas and the new Coach. I wish VanGorder great success, but I also hope he will settle down in this job.

By Henri

January 25, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Now that Petrino has lost his DC can there be someone willing to offer his OC a job 2 days before national signing day. How great would that be.

By neckville rednecks

January 25, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Joe BRAVE MOVE OUT THE TRAILOR WITH YO MAMA AND MOVE OR SELL SOME OF THOSE OLD CARS IN THE YARD TO BUY A TICKET TO BE A REAL FAN . YOU ARE A MEAT HEAD DUMB AS DIRT. ANY TIME YOU WANT A PICE OF ME CLOWN I AM A SECTION 112 ROW 3 SEAT 4 . T- 561 BEFORE VICK RETURE AND PLEASE DON’T DIE JB!

By Hamp

January 25, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

I think it is a good move he and the coach worked in jax together so they must be on the same page he just put his foot in his mouth but when you were in the mess that was atlanta last year you are liable to have all kinds of feeling going on. it has been reported that if we did not get me jax was about to make him their DC so that says a lot about what jack del rio thinks about him sometimes thing present themseleves in a way that it seems you flip flop but I don’t think he is Pertrino

By Randy

January 25, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

“Van the Mover Man,” has commitment phobia. Wherever he perceives the grass being greener is where he is bolting to. He reminds me of Julia Roberts in the “Runaway Bride!”

By falcon21

January 25, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

ITS A GREAT HIRE.YOU BUNCH OF CRY BABIES,

By Benj Smith

January 25, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this

Can you say Bran Van Petrino? He will move again within the next 18 months. BAD HIRE!

By xmen

January 25, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

I now know Arthur Blank had no part in the brains of the rise of home depot. The guy is an idiot. Hire a kid to become GM(over the phone like pizza). The guy may be wonderful at evaluating talent, that does not mean he knows how to manage pro athletes with delegate egos. Hire a head coach who has been pedestrian in the NFL his whole career( wasn’t their defense 12th ranked). Where is the WOW!!! factor here. Does’nt Blank want to fill the stands again? Way to go Art!!! Hire back a guy who bolts on the Falcons back to the safe and cumfy world of college and reiterates that that is where he belongs!! That will get the fans back Art, good thinking knucklehead. The only smart thing the falcons have done is hire Mularkey. Please Arthur, get some therapy and some good drugs to boot, because you’re going to need s ome good anti-depressants once you see the seats half empty next year. Arthur, why don’t you go open a ladies clothing empire? It seems like you have a backbone for that.

By David Duke

January 26, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

Hey Neckville, also known as Jungle Buns, Vick isn’t coming back here boy. He’s got plenty more time to do in prison and then he will have a nice, long suspension to deal with. All the Falcons want from that turd is their twenty-two million bucks back. As for wanting a piece of you, well, there won’t be another game for months and that’s a long time to wait, don’t you think? Only a coward would offer that sort of challenge! That pretty much sums up what you are, doesn’t it boy?

By BigDawg117

January 26, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

I don’t care what the Falcons do until they win. This is Georgia Bulldog Country Great in 08’