Dawgs Lose to South Carolina

When you lose to a team that is as bad as South Carolina, you would think you could look at the box score and have something just jump off the page at you. Disparity in turnovers or shots taken or free throws. Something.  But...there isn't. Georgia just showed up and didn't play like it mattered if they won or loss.

We can blame poor ball management in the last minute for the loss, but it was an entire game of not being smart. We had two 7 point leads, yet still didn't do anything to stem runs by a team that isn't geared to make runs or score much for that matter. We again switched from an offense that was creating problems for them handle to one that they disrupted easily or we couldn't run (insert your own Bobo joke here). There is a stunning lack of outward care in Georgia basketball. I have no doubt these losses gnaw at the coaches and players, but from the outside, it looks like all anyone is saying is 'one of those basketball deals' [shrugs shoulders and walks away from the mic].

The last week was nothing but fools gold. Fools Gold, y'all. 
TD

PS. I feel for KCP, as he is shouldering the blame with the big turnovers in the last SC run and the cold day shooting, but he was hustling on defense the whole game. He took some ill advised shots, but often he was the only one that wanted to actually take open looks instead of passing the ball.

Not Good

When the only thing about the night that seemed to go right is not getting pushed onto the tracks waiting on the Marta train, it isn't a good night.  Obviously, I'll have more later, but I got to Athens at 2:30am, so the only thing I have right now is the recurring thought that this must be what it felt like being in the Johnson administration during Vietnam.  We are a power without the will or leadership to do what it takes to be a superior power

Right now, there is no end in sight, no hope of a resolution, and no signs any of those things needed fixed, will be.  Hats off to Boise State.  They came in, played their game, and dominated in the places where they had advantages.  I hope they are a really good team, a top 5 team, because if they are merely a good MWC team....well, it is hard to contemplate how mediocre an SEC team we are.

I won't have a chance to watch the replay until later today, so I am sure whatever rays of sunshine I can find will involve gallows humor about the fact that I didn't wake up in Boulder this morning.

TD

Why the AJC is such a joke

A UGA player not getting arrested for receiving a relatively minor citation makes the paper. While a two year long NCAA investigation into Georgia Tech resulting in sanctions goes unreported until the final day of the process.

That's not a shot at Chip Towers. It's a huge shot at the gross incompetence and/or negligence of the former Tech beat writer and the AJC's Sports Editor. Every time I think I'm done commenting on the GT thing...I get dragged back into it.

PWD

GT goes down over $312

I remember UGA basketball fans saying, "I can't believe we got in all of this trouble over a $300 payment to Tony Cole and a bogus PE class."

My retort to all of those Harrick apologists at the time was pretty simple. It wasn't the violation that killed us. It was the moment where Jim Harrick allegedly told Chris Daniels and Reshad Wright to lie to the investigators about the PE class that got us slaughtered.

There's nothing worse than a cover up to the NCAA. That's why Bruce Pearl was fired at UT. It's why Jim Harrick was fired at UCLA. It's why Jim Tressel isn't at Ohio State, and it's why Georgia Tech is no longer the ACC Champion from the 2009 season.

As for GT fans who think the punishment is too harsh....Thomas caught a 70 yard TD pass on a 1 play drive in a game decided by five points in which he should've been sitting down pending the outcome of his investigation. Even UNC had the good sense to sit their guys when the NCAA started snooping around.

Read the report sometime. It's amazing how inept their cover up attempt was.

That said...all those who think DRad is a bad AD because this happened on his watch, I present an alternate theory. Any AD who can keep an NCAA investigation a secret for over 20 months is running a tighter ship than most. It also helps to have a hometown newspaper completely and totally asleep at the wheel.

Georgia fans get three days of articles on the transfer of Brent Benedict and a full article on the assistant recruiting coordinator (a guy I had never heard of) leaving while GT is going through an investigation in two sports without a peep.

Amazing.

PWD

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln

With the whirlwind of speculation going on around the resignation of Jim Tressel, what are the bigger lessons for college football programs?

Based on the SI article out yesterday, it looks like one answer is insulate your head coach. I couldn't tell you if the Vest is a control freak, but from the outside looking in, it sure seems like he is. For his new gig selling insurance...or used cars, he needs to learn to delegate.

I am not making light of those decisions or the outcomes. They are very bad on both accounts. However, it isn't hard to make the argument that had Tressel trusted an assistant coach or a director of football programs, he'd still have Gordon Gee picking up his lunch tab on a regular basis. His pleas of ignorance can only work if he has plausibility deniability. You have to have the pretense of not being in the loop to make it work.

The sin of omission is viewed very differently than the sin of commission. When you are the loop, there is no one to kick the smoking gun toward when the police show up. Gene Smith and Gordon Gee are about to prove that point pretty convincingly in front of the NCAA.

I am sure we'll see more about this in the coming days, but it isn't hard to see why blue chip players thought Columbus was such a cool place to play football. Being treated like royalty is hardly unique in a college football town. Being treated like Vince Neal on the Girls,Girls,Girls tour is something entirely different. Not to say it doesn't happen other places (it does), but when you add that context it makes those decisions more understandable.

TD

=======
Ed. note: After re-reading this, it appears I could be condoning these actions. I am not. I am simply saying Pat Dye and Jim Tressel got into trouble when they took matters too much into their own hands.

Mike Slive's faux accountability

At the risk of belaboring the whine-a-thon regarding the LSU game, Mike Slive invites some discussion when he says the SEC has an accountability system for officials and if somebody is not good enough they won't stay. Slive's "just never felt that a public hanging in the square" will make better officials.

That accountability system must really be effective if Al "Jasper was down!" Ford is still around. He was the replay official for the LSU game Saturday and the poster child for the fact the SEC does not run a meritocracy with respect to officials.

Bobby Gaston, right, selects his successor.

The problem with Slive's comment is that no one knows anything about the accountability system. And if there is an accountability system, shouldn't the conference talk with specificity about how it operates in order to inspire the kind of confidence Slive was trying to create?

I think such a discussion is important to the integrity of the game. The system for hiring, firing, and evaluating Southeastern Conference officials lacks transparency. It's precisely this veil of secrecy that permits conspiracy theories to take hold. It's easy to believe the SEC Supervisor of Officials is a patronage position for farted-out old Tech ankle biters when only Total Assholes Persons like Bobby Gaston and Rogers Redding have ever held the job, and no one quite knows what they do. Was that job opportunity even posted, or a successor merely annointed?

I would like to see the SEC talk about how it selects officials (are there fitness & vision requirements? How are they enforced?), what kind of training is required, the rate at which officials are involuntarily "retired" and other related facts. The LSU game merely brought these kinds of questions into focus for me, and Slive's bobbing and weaving on the issue only makes it look worse.

Miami DC departs for Oklahoma State

According to the Miami Herald, Defensive coordinator Bill Young has left the University of Miami to join his alma mater, Oklahoma State. Miami head coach Randy Shannon did not tip his hand regarding potential replacements. The Herald quotes him as saying: "I will be looking for the best possible defensive coordinator to replace him. If that candidate is not out there, those responsibilities will fall to me."

Randy had better get a move on if he doesn't want to double up as his own defensive coordinator, because he still has not replaced offensive coordinator Patrick Nix.

According to the AJC, Mark Richt's spokesman said Miami had not requested permission to speak with Willie Martinez.

Who has two thumbs and no comment?

Miami DC departs for Oklahoma State

According to the Miami Herald, Defensive coordinator Bill Young has left the University of Miami to join his alma mater, Oklahoma State. Miami head coach Randy Shannon did not tip his hand regarding potential replacements. The Herald quotes him as saying: "I will be looking for the best possible defensive coordinator to replace him. If that candidate is not out there, those responsibilities will fall to me."

Randy had better get a move on if he doesn't want to double up as his own defensive coordinator, because he still has not replaced offensive coordinator Patrick Nix.

According to the AJC, Mark Richt's spokesman said Miami had not requested permission to speak with Willie Martinez.

Who has two thumbs and no comment?

You see...what I meant was....

Gene Chizik on the move from Auburn to Texas:

"I left Auburn because I thought The University of Texas was the best job in the country and I think Mack Brown is the best coach in the country. You come to a crossroads in your career when you've got to make a decision that's the best for your family and yourself."
-- BurntOrangeBeat 01/01/2006

Gene Chizik on the move from Iowa State to Auburn:

"Through my travels in coaching over the last 23 years, there's one place that I've always wanted to return to and that is Auburn," Chizik said. "The tradition of the Auburn football program combined with the passionate fans and their love for Auburn are second to none. My family and I are Auburn through and through, and look forward to being part of the Auburn family and community."
-- Official Auburn Statement 12/13/2008

So...he's really excited to be there. Unless something better opens up.

PWD

You see...what I meant was....

Gene Chizik on the move from Auburn to Texas:

"I left Auburn because I thought The University of Texas was the best job in the country and I think Mack Brown is the best coach in the country. You come to a crossroads in your career when you've got to make a decision that's the best for your family and yourself."
-- BurntOrangeBeat 01/01/2006

Gene Chizik on the move from Iowa State to Auburn:

"Through my travels in coaching over the last 23 years, there's one place that I've always wanted to return to and that is Auburn," Chizik said. "The tradition of the Auburn football program combined with the passionate fans and their love for Auburn are second to none. My family and I are Auburn through and through, and look forward to being part of the Auburn family and community."
-- Official Auburn Statement 12/13/2008

So...he's really excited to be there. Unless something better opens up.

PWD

George Wallace's Reaction to the AU Hire

George Wallace Approves of this Hire
I'm not one to get into race very often on the blog because it never ends well. But just how exactly does Auburn justify the differences between Gene Chizik's resume and Turner Gill's resume?

Chizik is 5-19 while riding a 10 game losing streak at Iowa State. Meanwhile, Turner Gill took over arguably the worst program in college football history, and he made them MAC Champs in three seasons. In fact, Gill's winning percentage as a head coach is almost exactly twice the percentage as Chizik's.

The only teams that both programs have played over the past two years are Kent St. and Toledo. Chizik was 1-2 vs. them while Gill was 2-1. As for national titles as an assistant, Gill has three to Chizik's one.

Basically, Auburn's athletic department could've made the search easier if they had simply spun George Wallace's "Wheel of HR Success" to find the appropriate hire.

Ironically, Gill would be an exceptional hire for Iowa State given his ties to the Big 12 North, and his expertise in program building. So this could end up being the best thing to happen to Turner Gill.

See Also:
-- "Nick Saban will eat Chizik for Breakfast" - Birmingham News
-- Tide Fan Rolls Toomers Corner (Ht - Finebaum.com)

PWD


(ht - weaglejohn for the Wallace reference)

George Wallace's Reaction to the AU Hire

George Wallace Approves of this Hire
I'm not one to get into race very often on the blog because it never ends well. But just how exactly does Auburn justify the differences between Gene Chizik's resume and Turner Gill's resume?

Chizik is 5-19 while riding a 10 game losing streak at Iowa State. Meanwhile, Turner Gill took over arguably the worst program in college football history, and he made them MAC Champs in three seasons. In fact, Gill's winning percentage as a head coach is almost exactly twice the percentage as Chizik's.

The only teams that both programs have played over the past two years are Kent St. and Toledo. Chizik was 1-2 vs. them while Gill was 2-1. As for national titles as an assistant, Gill has three to Chizik's one.

Basically, Auburn's athletic department could've made the search easier if they had simply spun George Wallace's "Wheel of HR Success" to find the appropriate hire.

Ironically, Gill would be an exceptional hire for Iowa State given his ties to the Big 12 North, and his expertise in program building. So this could end up being the best thing to happen to Turner Gill.

See Also:
-- "Nick Saban will eat Chizik for Breakfast" - Birmingham News
-- Tide Fan Rolls Toomers Corner (Ht - Finebaum.com)

PWD


(ht - weaglejohn for the Wallace reference)

Auburn's Savior is ... Gene Chizik? Seriously? No, Really?

So, Auburn fires a guy who won a conference crown and went undefeated to hire a guy who's gone 5-19 in his two years as a head coach. Wow.

Chizik has a decent defensive background. He was, after all, the defensive coordinator for that 2004 Auburn team. After he jumped ship to Texas in 2005, the Horns won a national title (although Vince Young had more to do with that than defensive scheme). Chizik had an excellent reputation after the Texas title. He was the Will Muschamp of 2006, but chose to leave Austin for Ames, Iowa in one of the odder coaching decisions I can recall. He was to be the savior of Iowa State, a historical bottom dweller that had inched its way up the Big 12 North standings in the mid-2000s under Dan McCarney. Chizik promptly returned the Cyclones back to the cellar. They didn't win a conference game this year.

It's not just the Barners who are confused by the hire. Paul Clark of CycloneReport.com provides a lengthy, searing indictment of Chizik, observing that "if Mike Sanford and Tom Amstutz and Doug Martin hand you your lunch with inferior talent, what's Saban going to do with superior talent?" Why stop there Paul? Chizik will also battle Richt, Miles, Nutt, Petrino, and now Mullen, every year. I'd take every one of those coaches over Chizik.

If this hire is as bad as most Aubs believe, this is an amazing reversal of fortune. Remember when the SEC writers thought Auburn would win the SEC West this year? Remember when people thought Tony Franklin's offense was going to blaze throught the conference? Not only did that not remotely come true, every bit of news that came out of Auburn this season stunk of incompetence, boiling politics, and fear. I can sort of get that they wanted to improve their head coach because of what Saban did this year. I don't agree with the decision, but I at least can understand the sentiment. But, one would want a better coach than Tubs to properly execute the switch. By what calculus is Gene Chizik better than Tommy Tuberville?

See Also:
-- Reaction from Ames - Mobile Press Register

Quinton

Auburn's Savior is ... Gene Chizik? Seriously? No, Really?

So, Auburn fires a guy who won a conference crown and went undefeated to hire a guy who's gone 5-19 in his two years as a head coach. Wow.

Chizik has a decent defensive background. He was, after all, the defensive coordinator for that 2004 Auburn team. After he jumped ship to Texas in 2005, the Horns won a national title (although Vince Young had more to do with that than defensive scheme). Chizik had an excellent reputation after the Texas title. He was the Will Muschamp of 2006, but chose to leave Austin for Ames, Iowa in one of the odder coaching decisions I can recall. He was to be the savior of Iowa State, a historical bottom dweller that had inched its way up the Big 12 North standings in the mid-2000s under Dan McCarney. Chizik promptly returned the Cyclones back to the cellar. They didn't win a conference game this year.

It's not just the Barners who are confused by the hire. Paul Clark of CycloneReport.com provides a lengthy, searing indictment of Chizik, observing that "if Mike Sanford and Tom Amstutz and Doug Martin hand you your lunch with inferior talent, what's Saban going to do with superior talent?" Why stop there Paul? Chizik will also battle Richt, Miles, Nutt, Petrino, and now Mullen, every year. I'd take every one of those coaches over Chizik.

If this hire is as bad as most Aubs believe, this is an amazing reversal of fortune. Remember when the SEC writers thought Auburn would win the SEC West this year? Remember when people thought Tony Franklin's offense was going to blaze throught the conference? Not only did that not remotely come true, every bit of news that came out of Auburn this season stunk of incompetence, boiling politics, and fear. I can sort of get that they wanted to improve their head coach because of what Saban did this year. I don't agree with the decision, but I at least can understand the sentiment. But, one would want a better coach than Tubs to properly execute the switch. By what calculus is Gene Chizik better than Tommy Tuberville?

See Also:
-- Reaction from Ames - Mobile Press Register

Quinton

Auburn Fans Heckle Jacobs over Chizik HIre

Glorious.

Auburn Fans Heckle Jacobs over Chizik HIre

Glorious.

Auburn: When you Reach Rock Bottom. Start Digging

Auburn's clownish coaching search continues to spiral towards the abyss. After Will Muschamp publicly rejected them once again, another qualified candidate has apparently exited the process. ESPN.com's Chris Low is reporting that TCU's Gary Patterson is no longer a candidate at Auburn.

Patterson is 71-27 at TCU with two conference titles. His team enters their bowl with a shot at four 11 win seasons in 8 years with the Horned Frogs, and I think he has a winning record vs. Big 12 teams. (Bumper Sticker Image: Charles Goldberg)

Instead of hiring Patterson, Auburn is having serious conversations with Gene Chizik. In fact AuburnUnderCover.com's Phillip Marshall suggests that he's now the front runner. Chizik is best known for driving the Iowa State Cyclone program into the ocean...which is no small undertaking given Iowa's proximity to the coast.

In his two years with the Cyclones, Chizik is a blistering 5-19 as head coach. He is currently 2-10 while riding a 10 game losing streak, and his team hasn't beaten a BCS conference member since Nov. 10, 2007.

If this hire were to happen, the movie would be called Zooked on the Plains.

See Also:
-- Derek Dooley withdraws from consideration - AL.com
-- Search is full of hot air - Huntsville Times
-- Finding Coaches isn't Easy - Tuscloosa News
-- No News is News - Florence Times
-- What do you think of Chizik - The Goldmine

PWD

Auburn: When you Reach Rock Bottom. Start Digging

Auburn's clownish coaching search continues to spiral towards the abyss. After Will Muschamp publicly rejected them once again, another qualified candidate has apparently exited the process. ESPN.com's Chris Low is reporting that TCU's Gary Patterson is no longer a candidate at Auburn.

Patterson is 71-27 at TCU with two conference titles. His team enters their bowl with a shot at four 11 win seasons in 8 years with the Horned Frogs, and I think he has a winning record vs. Big 12 teams. (Bumper Sticker Image: Charles Goldberg)

Instead of hiring Patterson, Auburn is having serious conversations with Gene Chizik. In fact AuburnUnderCover.com's Phillip Marshall suggests that he's now the front runner. Chizik is best known for driving the Iowa State Cyclone program into the ocean...which is no small undertaking given Iowa's proximity to the coast.

In his two years with the Cyclones, Chizik is a blistering 5-19 as head coach. He is currently 2-10 while riding a 10 game losing streak, and his team hasn't beaten a BCS conference member since Nov. 10, 2007.

If this hire were to happen, the movie would be called Zooked on the Plains.

See Also:
-- Derek Dooley withdraws from consideration - AL.com
-- Search is full of hot air - Huntsville Times
-- Finding Coaches isn't Easy - Tuscloosa News
-- No News is News - Florence Times
-- What do you think of Chizik - The Goldmine

PWD

ESPN: Fulmer Stepping Down

Quinton Points Out:
ESPN is reporting that Phil is gone. It's officially a "step down" rather than a "pack your stuff and leave." Presser is supposed to happen sometime later today. As for a replacement, I humbly suggest Kevin Ramsey.

At least there's something to smile about today. More to follow.

PWD Update:
-- More from Volquest.com including these stats: "Sources indicated that Fulmer's fate had been sealed even before the team lost its 20th game since 2005. The Vols are just 3-9 in their last 12 against Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Further, against the Southeastern Conference's "Big 5" of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and LSU they are just 12-21 since 2001."

-- Tennessee has not launch a formal coaching search for head football coach since 1976, and they haven't been outside of the Vol Nation for a head coach since then either. Fulmer was on the coaching staff for Johnny Majors when Majors was fired. Majors, who was also a UT alum, started at Tennessee in 1977.

-- The Vols have only hired outside of the SEC once since 1963.

-- UT has only been without a UT alum as head coach for about 14 total years since General Neyland retired following the 1952 season.

ESPN: Fulmer Stepping Down

Quinton Points Out:
ESPN is reporting that Phil is gone. It's officially a "step down" rather than a "pack your stuff and leave." Presser is supposed to happen sometime later today. As for a replacement, I humbly suggest Kevin Ramsey.

At least there's something to smile about today. More to follow.

PWD Update:
-- More from Volquest.com including these stats: "Sources indicated that Fulmer's fate had been sealed even before the team lost its 20th game since 2005. The Vols are just 3-9 in their last 12 against Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Further, against the Southeastern Conference's "Big 5" of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and LSU they are just 12-21 since 2001."

-- Tennessee has not launch a formal coaching search for head football coach since 1976, and they haven't been outside of the Vol Nation for a head coach since then either. Fulmer was on the coaching staff for Johnny Majors when Majors was fired. Majors, who was also a UT alum, started at Tennessee in 1977.

-- The Vols have only hired outside of the SEC once since 1963.

-- UT has only been without a UT alum as head coach for about 14 total years since General Neyland retired following the 1952 season.