Read this article, and I think that you’ll be fired up.
This will get you pumped.
Anthony Dasher
Managing Editor
Talk about it in The Dawgvent
It's finally official. Todd Grantham is Georgia's new defensive coordinator.
Rivals.com Tom Deinhart and UGASports both reported late Thursday night that the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys had accepted the job, a fact Georgia officials confirmed Friday morning.
Grantham takes over for Willie Martinez, who was fired along with John Jancek and Jon Fabris back on Dec. 2.
\"I would like to thank Coach Mark Richt and Damon Evans for the opportunity for myself and my family to be part of the University of Georgia community,\" Grantham said in a statement. \"I'm very excited about being part of a staff that will work tremendously hard to return Georgia football to one of the premier teams in the SEC. To the fans and boosters of the University of Georgia, I understand the passion and standard of excellence expected. I look forward to developing an aggressive, physical, attacking style defense that offenses will not look forward to playing against.\"
Richt said he was relieved that his search is finally over.
\"I'm excited the search is over, we have our man, and look forward to what Todd will bring to our defense, our team, and our University,\" Richt said in a statement. \"I think it is particularly valuable that he has a wealth of experience on the defensive side of the ball at both the NFL and collegiate levels. Now we look forward to moving ahead with the home stretch of recruiting, finishing out the defensive staff, and getting ready for spring practice.\"
Grantham, who has served with the Cowboys the past two years, is also the former defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Brown. He also enjoyed stints on the staffs of Indianapolis and Houston following four years as an assistant at his alma mater Virginia Tech. At Dallas, Grantham coached noseguard Jay Ratliff, a sixth round draft choice, has been named to two consecutive Pro-Bowls and was named Thursday to the sportswriters All-Pro team. In addition, All-Pro Demarcus Ware recorded a career high 20 sacks in 2008.
Grantham is expected to fill out the rest of his staff soon. New Orleans Saints assistant defensive line coach Travis Jones and Green Bay Packers defensive backs coach Joe Whitt Jr. have been mentioned as possible additions.
Exact details of Grantham's contract were not announced, but the reported three-year deal is expected to make him the third-highest paid defensive coordinator in the country behind Monte Kiffin (who was making $1.2 million at Tennessee) and Will Muschamp (who is making $900,000 at Texas).
Although he's been in the NFL for 11 years, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said he could see his former assistant's methods transferring well should he go back into the college game.
\"I think whether you're in college or the NFL, if you know what you're talking about and treat people with respect, you're going to do OK,\" Beamer said. \"There's no question he can be as good as he is in college as he's been in the NFL.\"
So what kind of coach is Grantham?
Some have described as an excellent X's and O's coach, while others have described him as an intense motivator who demands his players to be their very best.
Beamer said both descriptions fit the Virginia native well.
\"Todd's hard-nosed, hard-working, very intelligent and very likable,\" Beamer said. \"There are a lot of good things I can say about Todd Grantham. The years he worked for us I was always impressed, and I know Coach Saban felt the same about him when Todd coached for him.\"
PVBDAWG
)
