Monday Thoughts - Why Kirby Smart will be a Success: Culture

Guys, I need some help here. Is the guy in the UGA video Hocke who Pruitt brought over from Bama? If so, his actions remind me of Cochran. I say wejust keep him as S&C coach because strength and conditioning and power can't be turned around in a year.

If Pruitt is the reason he is here, I trust Pruitt's opinion. What say you?

BulldogShannon, Hocke is the S&C coach that served under Cochran for many years.

Smart has not said yet whether or not Mark Hocke remains. From what I gather reading clips here and there, Kirby wanted Cochran and only a guess, offered.

I am one of those that believed in Pruitt for this reason . . . . Jeremy Pruitt was much like some other coaches being mentioned in this thread. All football business, door to his office was never closed and the players appreciated the fact that "someone" on campus had "fire in his belly".

Bet this . . . . Nick Saban knew that Kirby Smart was going elsewhere in 2016. Too many universities with head coaching openings for Kirby Smart to remain.

NIck Saban, being Nick Saban, knew who he wanted as the replacement for Kirby Smart.

Pruitt pissed folks off in Athens, not players, they loved him, pissed folks off that were positioned higher on the ladder than himself. Folks that understand dollars and cents, not much on football knowledge.

Simple fact. the 30 or so million dollar IPF being constructed in Athens was started much earlier than planned because Jeremy Pruitt stepped up. Not Mark Richt, nor anyone else, Jeremy Pruitt put the "truth" about recruiting young men front and center. Frankly, that kind of "stand up guy" was and has been needed in Athens for x number of years.

Back to Kirby Smart. Trained under Nick Saban. Now our head coach. Also, Jeremy Pruitt back with Nick Saban, his next move will be very similar to the move Smart made.

Think about this my friends, I do.

Nick Saban, Cochran, Pruitt and the supporting cast of assistants, don't see Alabama football missing a lick. Leadership.

EDIT:

And this . . . . If Kirby smart had put "both feet" inside the door in Columbia, South Carolina, Mark Richt would still be the head coach in Athens. Not a doubt from where I sit.

Mark Richt in Athens, a scary thought.

From what I gather Saban hired Pruitt because, although Tucker is a good coach, he hates to recruit.

Buc, so right, Pruitt and Kiffen will both be HCs soon.

Smart in Columbia, so close to reality.

Buc wrote: Pruitt pissed folks off in Athens, not players, they loved him, pissed folks off that were positioned higher on the ladder than himself. Folks that understand dollars and cents, not much on football knowledge.

Simple fact. the 30 or so million dollar IPF being constructed in Athens was started much earlier than planned because Jeremy Pruitt stepped up. Not Mark Richt, nor anyone else, Jeremy Pruitt put the "truth" about recruiting young men front and center. Frankly, that kind of "stand up guy" was and has been needed in Athens for x number of years.

This will be, in my estimation, the greatest contribution for which UGA fans will owe a debt of gratitude Jeremy Pruitt for years to come. We can all safely say that Jeremy Pruitt left this program in better shape than he found it in his two short years here. This program needed someone to come in and stir the pot and clear the foam off the top. He's a DGD in my book and always will be. I wish him the best, and I know he will do "his thing" under Saban until he's ready to launch out on his own, which leads me to my next point...

Buc wrote:
Back to Kirby Smart. Trained under Nick Saban. Now our head coach. Also, Jeremy Pruitt back with Nick Saban, his next move will be very similar to the move Smart made.

If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say this is probably the main reason why Pruitt isn't here any longer. I can't see him being a DC much more than another season or two before he gets a HC gig somewhere in the SEC. Malzahn, who can't even find a DC right now, is on borrowed time at Auburn. And who knows what happens to the Mad Hatter at LSU after this coming season, seeing that there ain't much love in the air for him in Baton Rouge. Pruitt will make a fine HC and will up the game just that much more when his time comes. Kirby probably wants someone who he can groom and will be at least a 3 to 4 season commitment at UGA as DC and there's no way that was going to happen with Pruitt. This is why I'm still keeping my bets in the betting circle that Sherrer is named DC after the bowl game.

When you look at the branches falling off the Saban tree right now into HC positions in the SEC, the other conferences better enjoy what little remaining time they have right now where the SEC is having a "down" spell, because when you look at the coaches who are digging in to their new positions, it's going to be a much different look in the SEC in the very near future.

SouthernDawg, knowing how close Sherrer and Pruitt were/are, on board with Sherrer being appointed defensive coordinator. He and Kirby have some history together.

Think that Kirby tipped his hand keeping Sherrer and Rocker. Another area that our previous head coach did not have a grip in . . . . continuity.

Some of that can be witnessed with a couple of players withdrawing their commits from UGA soon after Pruitt leaving. Have heard more being said by recruits and players about Pruitt leaving than Richt moving on. There is a story there.

Players knew what was expected under the leadership of Pruitt/Rocker and Company. While we lost some coaches, Kirby Smart knew exactly who he wanted that were already in Athens. There will be no lapse in leadership with Kirby Smart taking over. If anything, I suspect we will see improvement in areas that needed a guiding hand.

Still find it interesting that Jimbo Fisher became the head coach in Tallahassee and the ACC began to get a lot of coverage. Another NIck Saban hire at one point.

Guess that leaves me with this . . . .

Why should I not expect Georgia football to progress leaps and bounds under Kirby Smart? Kirby Smart was under Nick Saban for many years, and Nick Saban also went out of his way to keep Kirby Smart at one point. Saban knew that the time had come, and I have no reason to doubt that Saban gave and is giving Smart his blessings.

Here is the deal . . . . Nick Saban does not worry about the coaches that leave, only builds his reputation to a higher level. All part of the Alabama recruiting angle. Solid leadership and a belief in one's self. Young men are not blind to those that "produce".

Something that I have wanted to say for some time.

It was time for the "political BS" to be removed from the Athens Campus.

Do I think it has been eradicated, nope.

Do I believe a step forward has been made, yep.

Another lesson if not known prior to coaching with Nick Saban, Kirby Smart soon learned after getting on board with Saban.

Nick Saban speaks, folks in Alabama, the entire State of Alabama, listen.

Back to this . . . . Time for the removal of "political BS" in Athens. Many of us, especially on this board know who they are.

McGarity, get off of your butt and take care of the things that you can control. Restrooms?

Stay out of the new group of coaches paths, listen to what they say and remember they are asking for one reason . . . . to put a better product on the field. The product that puts the much needed money in the vault.

Folks, had to say that. I am not fooled by things that I have seen in the past reoccur. Know that I don't have to say this again or should not but . . . . First time shame on you, second time shame on me.

I am all for a love fest, but I also know that common sense is not the rule, it is the victim, more times than not.