Georgia Bulldogs

[Professor Tiger]

Say what you want about Mark Richt, he always looked a lot like Helen Hunt. Nobody can take that away from him.

[The Gray Ghost]

heh

[Professor Tiger]

According to the Dawg chatter, the early favorites to succeed Richt are Smart and Houston Coach Tom Herman.

[DDAL]

Georgia made a tough decision, but it was the right one. Richt did a great job for a long time, but the results were clearly diminishing. Georgia lost too many games to quality opponents over the last 8 seasons. The only really strong push for a championship came in 2012, and they lost. 5-15 against Florida is just not going to cut it either. The last two losses were the death knell.

All the Georgia people are sad to see him go, but we are all ready for something new. For better or worse, it is time to do something different.

[10ac]

Better sooner than later as UT fans know.

[Professor Tiger]

Scuttlebutt says GA is going after Kirby Smart. There is certainly an argument for that. He is an excellent DC (although he has trouble against spread teams). He has spent a long time working under The Dark Lord. I'm sure he learned a lot. Pat Dye wanted to hire him when Tubby left.

The only knock against him is he has no Head Coach experience. That could be a big deal or not a big deal. UGA could hire Smart, and it could turn out like Oklahoma hiring Bob Stoops, who also had only been a coordinator. He's been a quality hire except for big games. Or, hiring Smart could turn out like Florida hiring Muschamp.

Only time will tell. I tend to agree with Dye and that Smart would be a fabulous hire.

[savgator]

I Stoll say Rich got a raw deal. He should go to Miami and collect his four million

[Jungle Rat]

Smart call. (see what I did there?)

[hedge]

"I tend to agree with Dye and that Smart would be a fabulous hire."

I agree that it would be fabulous and smart if you would die...

[Professor Tiger]

AL.com saying Smart to Georgia. They're just working out the details. Good for both of them.

I wonder what happens to Pruitt. Maybe he replaces Smart at Bama? That would work. Pruitt's a 3-4 guy.

[KeviNole]

It would work logistically but personality-wise it would be interesting. Pruitt has definitely burned bridges at FSU and UGA with his attitude and behavior; I don't know if he did the same when he left Bama. He's a good coach and a great recruiter but it seems he's kind of a dick.

I think Smart => UGA has been a done-deal for a while. Dawg fans have been clamoring for him for years to replace Richt, and there's no way that UGA cans Richt without having his replacement set (especially after the LSU debacle). I'm hearing that the money issue is contentious but how much money is Smart asking for? Jimbo had a solid resume and was paid like $2M to start, then once he proved himself he got paid as an elite. If Smart is wanting elite money up front, it kinda says he's not confident in his abilities more than over confidence in his abilities.

Smart is a good recruiter, if he's able to attract a solid coaching staff he might do ok.

[AlabamAlum]

Smart makes over a million a year as DC. He's probably looking for 3, I would assume, at UGA. I don't think it'll be a good fit for UGA. JMO.

Pruitt is a dick. Not with Saban, though, reportedly. He didn't burn any bridges here.

I can't imagine them offering Pruitt the DC job, I think we should promote Mel Tucker, and if Pruitt comes back, it should be as a position coach.

[DDAL]

AA once said CPJ is the best coach in CFB, so I am rather pleased he doesn't like the hire. I just hope he's a better coach than he was a safety...

[AlabamAlum]

Paul Johnson, at a major school, would be dangerous. Not sure what happened this year with him. This is his first year to not make a bowl, and his first losing regular season at Tech. The last time he didn't make a bowl game was his first year at Navy.

I would love to see Kirby do well, though.

And Julio > AJ

[Professor Tiger]

I don't see Pruitt as anybody's position coach. He was a very successful DC at a top tier program. Defense has not been the reason UGA has faltered. I'm sure a lot of other top tier programs would be glad to have him. If Muschamp follows Smart to UGA (as some are predicting), I'd like to have him. Tracy Rocker too. He needs to come home.

And I don't get the attraction to Paul Johnson. I like him, and I can see how his resemblance to Bear Bryant would make you like him. But there's a reason every other program in America (except the service academies) dropped the wishbone 30 years ago.

[AlabamAlum]

Pruitt was Saban's position coach. And his name has taken a bit of a hit due to his behavior at UGA and FSU. But I really like Mel Tucker. I'd take him over Pruitt. I would be okay with either, though.

He wouldn't run a wishbone at a school that can get 4 and 5-star players.

[DDAL]

I only wished Julio was better. They are both great with noodle armed QB's. It is shameful. I'd love to see AJ or JJ have a top QB.

CPJ's a good coach, but he's not a great one. He is, however, and asshole.

[AlabamAlum]

Julio > AJ

[Professor Tiger]

CPJ's a good coach, but he's not a great one. He is, however, and asshole.

DDAL, you are a moron.

[DDAL]

I'm wounded.