Posts tagged Rumors

If you are on twitter and have ever used the hashtag #Dawgs you have probably received a direct message resembling what Buck is saying here, at least on the first two points he makes. Bitter pills are being sent BUI’s way from all directions.

I don’t really have time to fully address it, but I will say this, I am glad Coach Richt didn’t kick Coach Garner to the curb. I am even more pleased the Buck refrained from bringing out the worst part of the supposed Smart-Garner tiff.

As for Strength and Conditioning Coach Dave Van Halanger, I can offer no defense for his continued employment. I am sure we are going to have the greatest attitude CDVH has ever been around this summer. That broken record needs to be fixed. Sometime earlier this year David Hale posted some strength numbers and I believe they displayed a few records for the Georgia program. David also made known he did not have info on other programs for a comparison.

It is apparent to me that we are not measuring up in the strength or conditioning department.

We are all aware of how close Coach Richt and Coach Martinez are and how difficult the decision must have been for Richt to sever their professional ties. I will go ahead and throw it out their, cutting CDVH loose will be even more difficult, much more difficult. Van Halanger is in the inner circle of Kevin “Chappy” Hines and Coach Richt’s father. Willie was an old friend from school. Coach Van Halanger’s relationship with Richt is not centered on football or the good ole days, but on eternity.
Buck’s Blog: Kirby Smart Fallout

I’m told it comes down to 3 things.
The first is Rodney Garner. These two guys have some sort of rivalry thing going on that started out on the recruiting trail. One of those competitive situations. Recruiting the same guy and one coach accused the other of something. They’ve been knocking heads ever since. Garner is the Assistant Head Coach. Kirby needed that title at Georgia to help make it a non-lateral move. Garner is the D-Line coach. Smart wanted to bring in “his guy” to coach the DL (that probably being Travis Jones). And remember, these guys coached together on Richt’s staff in 2005. There is some history here. And the word is, Kirby Smart didn’t want to work with Rodney Garner again.
Reason #2 is the Georgia strength program. It’s got a reputation of being less than outstanding. Some football guys even refer to it as being “outdated.” There are reports that have some Georgia players going to see a strength coach outside the program. Spoke with one NFL guy who commented that even when Van Halanger was at FSU, the OL/DL prospects coming out of there were great athletes, but not NFL strong. Coach Smart was concerned by this, after all doesn’t Alabama have one of the top strength programs in CF right now? Another person close to the program told me that Richt has been approached by 2 former Georgia strength coaches, who were interested in helping again, and they were told by Coach Richt that “they don’t have a strength issue.” The DC wants his DL strong. Sounds like this was an issue.
Reason #3 is that Saban put the hammer down with this idea that he doesn’t support assistant coaches making lateral moves. When that head coaching opportunity comes up for Kirby, maybe Saban trashes him behind his back. That thought isn’t encourarging. Don’t want to upset Nick Saban, right? Play it safe, work for Nick and get that awesome endorsement when the time comes.