Possible Coaches Up For Grabs For The Bulldogs
Now I am not a fan for the ax to come down on Coach Richt's head but I just wanted to give those who do think it is time a look at who is out there. It is hard to picture UGA now without Richt in that picture. He has been a great coach but hasn't really lived up to what the fans were hoping for.
I believe he can still pull this season out and put some pretty big wins on the board but it is definitely an up hill battle. The fan base needs to rally around this team and coach if they want this season to turn around but Richt also needs to make some changes to help his case. I think everyone can agree Bobo either needs to stop making the play calls or has to go.
These slides are in no particular order.
Chris Peterson
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Doesn't seem to be too far off of a hire knowing his capabilities. To do what he does with the players he has is pretty remarkable. Imagine what he can do with SEC caliber talent. He is young and experience with winning. I think a lot of the UGA nation would be happy with this hire but I don't think everyone would be sold on him. He does have some experience in a real conference. He coached WR's at Oregon before becoming OC at Boise Sate. One big snug in the road could be that he did just sign a very nice contract with Boise Sate but we will see how that works out.
Fun Fact: First and only Coach to win Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year twice
Jon Gruden
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The man has the resume to back him up and is very talented. He has the NFL experience that can bring in the recruits and to get them to the next level. He is an offensive genius just as Richt but I believe an even better grasp on the game.
Look what he did in Oakland and that franchise that has probably the worst ownership in the league. His final two years there he won the AFC West but never reached the Super Bowl, losing one year in the AFC Championship game and the other year in the Divisional game. He did a great job with what he had in that town and ownership.
Tampa Bay was an impressive stint. With the players that he had, he did pretty well. In his first year there he won the Super Bowl. Yes, first year. Not many coaches can say they have done that. The following seasons were pretty much a mixed bag but he at least made Tampa Bay more of a threat than they are now.
Fun Fact: Youngest Head Coach to win Super Bowl at the time.
Kirby Smart
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Defensive Coordinate, University of Alabama. Georgia failed to bring him in for the Defensive Coordinator job but I believe it would be easier to bring him in for the Head Coaching job. He has potential to take this team to the next level by knowing what it is like to coach for a championship team, which is what UGA has been lacking.
He has been under Saban's watch now since 2006 when Saban was with the Dolphins. He is a former UGA player and knows all about UGA traditions. He has lead the Alabama Defense and what did that get them? Oh yeah a National Championship.
Fun Fact: His Wife also played Basketball at UGA
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Kyle Whittingham
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He may be a little be more under the radar but he is my wild card pick. He has done a great job with the Utes in Utah. He has had a impressive season so far by beating Pitt and cracking the top 12 in the rankings. He has a pretty winnable schedule until he meets TCU on Nov. 16th. That could be a real challenge for his program.
His teams always play with intensity and play to win. They do not get intimidated by who they play and you can see that on the field. His teams are always well coached and disciplined which is what UGA has been lacking these past few seasons. That discipline payed off when they beat Alabama in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. Just in case you forgot that.
Fun Fact: Hasn't lost a bowl game yet.
Gary Patterson
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Gary Patterson has been more impressive lately than in the past. TCU joined the MWC in 2005 and has had a pretty going showing in the conference thanks to Patterson. He runs a pretty stout Defense and an offense that has a pretty running game that is lead by a decent QB.
We will how he can turn out this year before I really make him a front-runner for the job. He has a lot of history with TCU since he has been there since 1998. It may be a little harder to pull him away than other coaches.
Fun Fact: Has 3 MWC "Coach of the Year" awards.
Herman Edwards
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He has a long NFL history and resume. He has been in the league since 1990 and had an average career while there. He is more of a defensive minded coach than offensive but does a good job of balancing the two.I have seen him recently on ESPN doing some commentating work for some college football games and am wondering if he is trying to find a way into the college ranks since his long ago stint with San Jose Sate as an offensive assistant.
Fun Fact: Second in career interceptions with the Philadelphia Eagles
Tony Dungy
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This one is probably the biggest stretch of them all but, hey, it's worth a shot. He is probably going to go down as one of the top 10 best coaches and rightfully so. He had a great tenure with Indianapolis for the six years he was there. Dungy had a pretty good run with Tampa Bay but that was lost in the shadows in Indianapolis. One other thing that could make this hard to get is that him and Richt are friends and I don't think he could ever do that to a friend like that.
Fun Fact: Part of 1978 Super Bowl Champion Steelers team and led the team in interceptions.
Your Suggestions
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Once again I am NOT calling for Richt to go but some of you are. I am simply putting the options on the table. Some of them easier to get than others but I don't think all of them are crazy ideas. Let me know what you think and who you think would be a substitute if UGA decided to let such a great coach go.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
