From Athens- Friday Thoughs

Find it interesting when reading articles and most begin with . . . . Johnny Football has 19 offers, or 20 offers.

More and more I am beginning to get the “entire picture”. It ain't the number of offers, it is the coaching staff and young men they will line up with that really matters.

Doing some “looking back”, and some of the “looking back” takes me to this . . . .

Not that long ago, if we (UGA) landed a top rated recruit from Georgia, made headlines, the chatter would go on much longer than it seems to this day and time.

See where this is going . . . . right?

First things first. The coaching staff has first responsibility in the “recruiting wars” and that is exactly what recruiting has come to . . . . wars.

Notice that Georgia is spending substantially more green backs since the arrival of the new coaches, both offensive and defensive. For a while most of the talk centered on Pruitt/Rocker and Company, beginning to see a shift to the offensive side. Not saying that the defense is backing up, not so.

What is happening in my opinion is this . . . .

This group of defensive coaches came in, said hello, and hit the road, or the airport. Go back through years of recruiting prior to Bryan McClendon and the amount of green backs do not come close to what is being spent now. Fact. Tells me that there has been a change in the way Georgia Football is doing business. Question is this . . . . Why did it take 14 years for this to happen?

Whether any of us want to accept what has happened, it is plain for even the most loyal of Mark Richt loyalist to look at the 14 going on 15 year history of “our program”.

I am a believer in results. Only way that I made money and paid the bills.

Have to say this . . . . our head coach has been paid handsomely for 14 going on 15 years. By whose standards does this take us to where we want to go?

I have seen more enthusiasm from those of us that support the Red and Black in the past two years than the previous x amount of years, not only from Richt, there has been a long list as ogredawg suggests . . . . “stoopid spit” from coaching choices made, one of which caught up with VD's choice of head coach in 2001.

What happens to the newly gained “footage” because we made a “U Turn” in coaching hires . . . . We will know more as we watch the progress being made in the next two or three years. Sure as hell can't be any worse than the lack of “leadership” provided to this point. That is not on the players, too many have moved on to the NFL, problem existed/exists in the Classic City.

If I was allowed to sit in on one meeting in Athens and ask a question . . . .

When was the last time “anyone” felt comfortable in the past 14 years under Mark Richt? A show of hands will suffice.

sadlerdawg, for a minute thought I was reading a post from you, then saw stevedawg's name. Remember your thoughts on the issue well.

Yeah Buc I agree 100% with what Steve wrote. I know it isn't likely to stay like that, but unfortunately it's one of many things (most of them are $$ related of course) that are ruining college football, IMO

Strong points stevedawg.

Having been involved with Disney directly here in Central Florida at one time, can see the "takeover" of college football moving forward. Not too long from now, there will be no "exterminator" that will be able to rid SEC Football of M&M.

Believe you and I had some long discussions about IMG and M&M. Was said then and will say it again . . . . folks there is more to come, ain't seen nuthin' yet.