Vandy's interim coach revels in unexpected opportunity

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

HOOVER, Ala. -- Robbie Caldwell stood at the front of a big ballroom at SEC Media Days on Thursday, looking out at several hundred reporters.

"I know the first question you're asking," he said, "is ‘Who's Robbie Caldwell?'"

He is Vanderbilt's interim head coach, having ascended to the position when Bobby Johnson surprisingly retired last week.

An offensive-line coach at various colleges for 30 years, the past eight at Vanderbilt, Caldwell is reveling in his unexpected opportunity to be a head coach, even if it proves to be a one-season gig, as most expect.

"I told my wife, if it's two days or 20 years, I will now be able to say, ‘Hey, I was a head coach one time,'" Caldwell said. "This is the greatest thrill of my life other than my child being born.

"I go from lining the field to being a head coach in the SEC."

With his thick drawl and self-deprecating humor, Caldwell broke the tension of the SEC's preseason media event, which has been dominated by talk of improper dealings between players and agents. Caldwell's session with the media, by contrast, was full of quips and laughs as he talked about everything from his first job on a turkey farm ("I was on the inseminating crew") to his anonymity in the high-profile SEC.

"I can still walk in places and nobody knows me," Caldwell said. "Last night I was opening the door for people, and they gave me a tip."

He is unknown, he said, even to most of the SEC head coaches.

"They have no idea who I am."

Herschel who?

Caldwell claims that Vanderbilt running back/kick returner Warren Norman couldn't fully appreciate the accomplishment when he broke Herschel Walker's SEC freshman record for all-purpose yards last season.

"We tried to explain to him about Herschel Walker," Caldwell said. "I don't mean to age some of you, but ... he had to Google and find out who Herschel Walker was."

Norman, from Stone Mountain, was born in 1990, eight years after Walker last played at UGA.

But Norman said that, Caldwell's version notwithstanding, he did know of Walker without the aid of Google.  "I grew up in Georgia," he said. "I was a big football fan."

Richt likes what he sees

The first question to Georgia coach Mark Richt in his appearance in the main ballroom was from a reporter who said he is picking the Bulldogs to win the SEC East.

"I hope you're right," Richt replied. "What was your name? Dan? I like you, Dan."

Richt was decidedly upbeat about his team, too.

"There's an energy we have this off-season that we probably haven't had in a while," he said.

"Everything I've seen so far makes me feel like we're going to have what it takes from an emotional standpoint, from a physical standpoint," Richt added. "I think we've got really fine leaders. ... I feel real good about this bunch."

Will Green improve blocking?

Richt called A.J. Green "as good as I've seen" at running routes and catching the ball. But there is one area in which Richt is looking for improvement from his star wide receiver.

"I think he's been a good blocker, not a great blocker," Richt said. "I think he needs to get better at really becoming a factor as a blocker."

A punter at Media Days

Georgia's Drew Butler led the nation in punting average last season, but it will be fine with Richt if Butler's average of 48.1 yards per punt declines this season.

"A lot of the reason [for the high average] was, quite frankly, we struggled offensively," Richt said. "When he was punting, there was a whole lot of grass in front of him, too much grass.

"This year my guess is he won't have quite the average because I think and hope we'll be punting with less grass in front of him. Hopefully he punts a lot less. I think his focus is going to be more on trying to pin people deep."

Butler was one of three Georgia players at Media Days, joining Green and fullback Shaun Chapas. It is rare for a team to bring a kicker.

Georgia was the only team not to bring a defensive player. "I kind of blew that one," Richt said.

Etc.

Green said he has an insurance policy to protect future NFL earnings against career-ending injury. ... Chapas said Georgia redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray is "always going to be prepared" and is "one of the smartest guys I've been around." ... "I never thought I'd get a bigger bonus for our players graduating than for the bowl game," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. "But that's what happened this year."