Another thought that rolls around in my head.
Garner goes to Auburn and basically takes the same position that he had at Georgia. At the beginning of the 2013 Season, I would not call that a horizontal move. Auburn coming off of an awful 2012, Georgia going into the season ranked at #5 nationally and some went so far to say that we would definitely be in a BCS bowl.
Auburn played some good defense this season. Under Ellis Johnson's direction, they fooled many, including Nick Saban.
What bothers me is this. Garner's group played some serious football in 2013, under the direction of another defensive coordinator. That did not happen between Garner and grantham. For anyone, and I have read a lot of differing opinions, to say to me that there was not friction in Athens, don't buy it.
Coach Chris Wilson comes on board and we/I could see the difference in the defensive line play. End of 2013, best I have seen the defensive line play in a long time. Is the improvement because of Coach Wilson, or because Garner left? Did grantham have a yoke around his neck with Garner in Athens? Noticed that our head coach did not try to retain the services of Garner. Head coach made a decision that grantham over Garner was the way to go.
Yes, I do understand and have said this myself on this board . . . . Garner gone, did not do his job, little things like not keeping up with recruiting meetings. Way I see it, Garner was pissed, totally pp'd at the way our head coach was not running the program. Garner took with him to Auburn a defensive front that will be there for at least two more years.
Here is where I am at. head coach and defensive coordinator don't produce this season, McGarity needs to have another meeting. Should be short and sweet. Pay both of them off and move forward. Do I expect that to happen, nope. 2014 does not meet expectations, grantham is gone, head coach remains. It has already been laid out, probably what the meeting between McGarity and head coach was about today.
I also believe that we have one more year for a chance to bring Kirby Smart home. After that, Kirby will land a really good position elsewhere. Do I think that Kirby Smart would make a difference in Georgia football . . . . don't think it, know it. Some might not like it, but if Kirby were to come, Mike Bobo would remain as offensive coordinator, and to his business card the title would also read . . . . Assistant Head Coach. With the benenfits that he is not getting now, those benefits were passed along to our ex-NFL defensive coordinator.
Have to say this . . . . Ellis Johnson understands college football. Kirby Smart understands college football. I truly believe that Kirby is primed and ready to return to Athens. Yes I know, our head coach is a good man. So is Kirby Smart, ask Nick Saban.
Greg McGarity, shame on you for saying this. Apparently you have not been schooled in Public Relations. Walking a fine line Mr. Athletic Director.
I get tons of letters. ‘You need to fire (Todd) Grantham, you need to do this, you need to do that.’ Three years ago it was, ‘you need to fire (Mike) Bobo.’ It’s just the soup of the day. But I tell them, I don’t hire assistant coaches. After the LSU game, it was totally different. It’s amazing, the swing of emotions people have. I wish I saved them all. Even during games people are emailing me. Those are the ones I wish I could read back to them because people are so reactionary. There are so many ways of technology to get to people. It’s our world today and we’re living in it. We shouldn’t be surprised what anybody does any more. Sometimes people do irrational things. But it’s our world and nothing surprises me these days. We just have to manage the best we can.
