'Dogs Don't Get Smart
A Georgia man turns his back to his alma mater, even after it offers an unprecedented contract. Make no mistake about it, this is a blow to Richt and the Bulldog program. There will be a backlash. Bad P.R. will surround this move. This hurts. There will be no joy of a big homecoming. The big splash isn't going to happen. Perception says Richt and Georgia is a second-class citizen right now.
But Damon Evans and Mark Richt owed this to the Georgia program. They needed to go after the best man for the job, and that was Coach Smart. Perhaps they didn't realize how strong a pull Alabama and Saban had on Kirby. Maybe they were led to believe the "knock his socks off" offer would be enough to lure him away. They obviously couldn't control the timing of the Tide playing in the title game, so they had to wait.
The only Georgia man that's relieved is Rodney Garner. Reportedly, he and Smart have knocked heads out on the recruiting trail and Garner was a good as gone, if Kirby took the job.
Georgia didn't get their man, but I'm encouraged about Richt & Evans stepping up with a legitimate contract offer. It shows they are truely committed and all in, when it comes to competing against the top programs.
Where do they turn now? Signing day approaches. The next move needs to be clean and swift. Coach Smart isn't the only guy that knows good defense. So, target a winner and go get him.
Here is a list names: Groh, Glanville, Tenuta, Mora, Jr. Okay, eliminate those guys, even though it would be interesting to hear about Richt approaching the same guy Tech is going after. Glanville's name just makes me smile, because it would make for such an odd mix. Tenuta and Mora have some Atlanta area ties and are available, but let's be real...they don't appear to be good matches.
Another list of names: Grantham, Travis Jones, Sal Sunseri, Tim DeRuyter, Kevin Steele. These guys know defense. And Jones, Steele and Sunseri learned defense from Nick Saban. Grantham might be a short-term solution. But DeRuyter appears to be a long-term solution. Richt would be smart to target that dude AND Travis Jones. Pair them up.
Stay tuned.
But Damon Evans and Mark Richt owed this to the Georgia program. They needed to go after the best man for the job, and that was Coach Smart. Perhaps they didn't realize how strong a pull Alabama and Saban had on Kirby. Maybe they were led to believe the "knock his socks off" offer would be enough to lure him away. They obviously couldn't control the timing of the Tide playing in the title game, so they had to wait.
The only Georgia man that's relieved is Rodney Garner. Reportedly, he and Smart have knocked heads out on the recruiting trail and Garner was a good as gone, if Kirby took the job.
Georgia didn't get their man, but I'm encouraged about Richt & Evans stepping up with a legitimate contract offer. It shows they are truely committed and all in, when it comes to competing against the top programs.
Where do they turn now? Signing day approaches. The next move needs to be clean and swift. Coach Smart isn't the only guy that knows good defense. So, target a winner and go get him.
Here is a list names: Groh, Glanville, Tenuta, Mora, Jr. Okay, eliminate those guys, even though it would be interesting to hear about Richt approaching the same guy Tech is going after. Glanville's name just makes me smile, because it would make for such an odd mix. Tenuta and Mora have some Atlanta area ties and are available, but let's be real...they don't appear to be good matches.
Another list of names: Grantham, Travis Jones, Sal Sunseri, Tim DeRuyter, Kevin Steele. These guys know defense. And Jones, Steele and Sunseri learned defense from Nick Saban. Grantham might be a short-term solution. But DeRuyter appears to be a long-term solution. Richt would be smart to target that dude AND Travis Jones. Pair them up.
Stay tuned.
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