Food for thought

Mark Richt is reportedly interviewing for the Miami job today, so chew on this for a moment:

146 Comments

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146 responses to “Food for thought

  1. After wanting to have GM tarred and feathered in front of the Arch and paraded down Sanford Drive from Baldwin to the Coliseum before being run out of town on the old railroad tracks, I would probably say, “Good for CMR for finding a job and a QB at the same time.” I would probably adopt the U as my 2nd favorite team.

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  2. Athens Townie

    Why do we even need a search firm? I’m here to solve our head coaching problem right now.

    She’s already in Athens. She doesn’t fold like a cheap lawn chair in the spotlight. She demands the best. She’s a winner.

    Athens Townie is a Suzanne Fan.

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  3. Athens Townie

    Mark Richt as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes:

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  4. Vinny Testaverde was a 6’5″ gunslinger like Eason…if Eason goes anywhere other than UGA, I would like it to be to the U. He would be fun to watch.

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  5. Wade Wilson

    No chance. Eason has made it clear he wants to play in the SEC. He has very little time to get in anymore official visits which is why I think he ends up at Florida if Georgia doesn’t retain him. Now THAT would make my head explode. Eason will be the #1 priority for the incoming coaching staff if just to keep him away from the Gators.

    Hopefully Jacob is getting a good look at Gainesville today and realizes how unappealing the thought of living there for the next 3-4 years would be.

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    • Puffdawg

      That place really is a dump. Seriously.

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      • Mayor

        They know it’s a dump. Al Golden was trying desperately to get the infrastructure improved there. He just didn’t win enough to have the backing he needed. BTW, I thought Golden (a pretty damn fine coach) got treated by the Canes shabbily. He had to live though the NCAA sanctions which held back the team and took the fall for his W-L record when NOBODY could have done much better under the circumstances. Apparently the U is trying to do something about the facilities and it is still a WIP. If they want CMR that bad he can probably extract a whole lots of vigorish from the administration as a condition of coming there. #1 ought to be TOTAL control of football operations. No “Miami Way.” #2 is they have to build an on-campus stadium. I know, I know. The place is supposedly landlocked and they can’t do it but they would have to find a way even if they have to but up surrounding property at an inflated rate. Without both of those, in writing, CMR shouldn’t take the job. The good: If he can get everything fixed this is a national program with a history the sort of which Georgia can only dream of becoming, and will not be becoming unless the “Georgia Way” is killed a final death. Unlike some, I believe Miami is still a potential power like it was in the 80s. It is located in…well…Miami, the hotbed of football in Florida–one of the best producers of football talent in the nation. The bad: A whole lot of “ifs.”

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  6. steve

    Maybe Eason would have a good couple years with an OL that someone else was able to recruit for CMR as he did with JD’s.

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  7. MGW

    It makes perfect sense. Aside from just him having played and grown up there. The whole reason Miami isn’t Miami anymore is because they are one of the few other schools who does anything like “the Georgia way”. Their administration has done everything in their power since Jimmy Johnson to try to stamp out the bad boy image. Who else but Richt has been successful under those kinds of constraints? Plus I doubt they have the same drug policy which, lets be honest, would have resulted in at least a couple if not several more wins and probably a couple more East titles.

    Good for him, I hope he takes it. I’d love to see him coach the bowl game and get a proper send off from the fans, though.

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    • Sh3rl0ck

      There are also 8 schools in the ACC that have more revenue than Miami. Their facilities are second rate, and they don’t have the money to catch up.

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  8. Biggus Rickus

    I’ll still respect Richt and hate Miami. I really don’t understand the people declaring their love for teams Richt might coach in the future.

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    • Derek

      I wouldn’t mind him proving everybody wrong about his ability to win the big game, but I don’t want him doing it at our expense. Unfortunately, I think those things are completely incompatible. If he gets a job, he’s going to steal from us sooner or later and often. What he does with his plunder will have to be seen. Put me down as one that thinks he’ll win if he gets a job at a place that’s capable of winning…like Miami.

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      • Biggus Rickus

        I think he’ll be reasonably successful if he decides to coach again. I don’t think he’s a bad coach or anything, and I don’t think I’ve belittled his accomplishments at Georgia. It just wasn’t enough for me. I understand why others disagree with me.

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        • Irwin R. Fletcher

          But you do understand that if he goes to another program and wins championships then your assumption that CMR was the issue we weren’t winning championships is probably wrong?

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          • Biggus Rickus

            I’m pretty sure that won’t happen, but of course it would prove me wrong.

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          • Mayor

            Let me come right out and say it: The reason CMR didn’t win more championships was he was hamstrung by the “Georgia Way.” Unless there are major changes in personnel and attitude at B-M and the hierarchy at the UGA administration the new guy, whoever he is, will have the same problems that CMR had with at best similar results and at worst 3-9 seasons.

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    • Not hard to understand. People have a lot of respect for Richt and what he did here.

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      • Biggus Rickus

        And respecting the man makes sense. Pulling for a team you purportedly hate simply because he’s their coach doesn’t.

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        • I hated them because I grew up in Lincoln, Neb. I have no real opinion of Miami now.

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          • Biggus Rickus

            Fair enough. Maybe it’s just that I’ve never had a secondary team. I root for Georgia and either dislike or don’t care about everyone else.

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            • garageflowers

              If this were to happen and I pulled for Miami, it is because I’m pulling for Mark Richt. I would love for him to become the OC at LSU, and him and Les string together a bunch championships together. Not going to happen.

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              • playmakers in space

                I would’t. Because that would mean we weren’t winning ’em.

                I was annoyed with a lot of the constant “Richt must go” beating of the drum that went on around here the last few months (no matter the topic), but there seems to be some validity to the accusation that a certain segment of our fan base puts the man above the program.

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      • Will (The Other One)

        And he’s had a well-regarded QB recruit follow him (even though he said you don’t really have to) before — if I recall, Shockley was originally an FSU commit that signed with us in Richt’s first class, redshirted in 2001, and won our last SEC title.

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  9. sectionzalum

    i think the level of integrity would creep the U out.

    but if CMR goes to the Cocks and Eason joins him there?? we deserve it.

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  10. truck

    Although I also believe Coach Richt will take a year off, if we miss out on him I’d rather see Eason go to Miami than Florida.

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  11. JCDAWG83

    My feelings toward Richt are; don’t go away mad, just go away. I wish him well, but I’m glad he’s gone and I don’t care to follow his moves now.

    As to Eason, I’d love to have him in Athens, but if he doesn’t come, we’ll still have a football team. No program should let a high school kid hold it hostage.

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    • Rocket Dawg

      We need to screenshot this so when Eason lights up the Dawg defense for 5TD’s in Jacksonville we can pull it out and remind you of your comments.

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      • JCDAWG83

        If it happens, it happens, I remember hearing how Mettenberger was going to light us up when LSU came to town, we managed to win. I’m tired of hearing about what offense the new coach might run as it pertains to whether Eason comes or not. I hope he comes to Georgia and has a multiple Hesiman career, but we don’t need to let the decision of a kid who has never played a down of college football have any influence on who we hire as a coach or whether or not we should have kept Richt.

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    • No program should let a high school kid hold it hostage.

      Huh? Explain to me how that’s going on here.

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      • JCDAWG83

        It doesn’t appear to be happening except in the world of online comment sections and fans who are petrified that a high school kid who hasn’t ever played a down of college football might go somewhere else. The original article had a comment about Richt taking Eason to Miami. My response is; if he does, OK, we’ll be fine.

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        • Your comment insinuated that Eason was playing some sinister hand with the “holding hostage” line. I just found blaming a kid for something he isn’t doing to be a little strange. I assure you that Georgia isn’t making this coaching decision based on where Eason may or may not go to play college ball and never was and that he’s doing what any prudent athlete should do in this situation and make sure he’s picking the best option for his future. Nothing more, nothing less.

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          • Trbodawg

            I very rarely agree with JCDawg83, but i see his point here. I don’t think he’s calling out Eason as much as he is the interweb’s hissy fit. Just my take YMMV
            C

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      • DawgPhan

        its just a thing that they feel the need to say over and over again. it clearly didnt happen in this case, probably never really has happened, but damn if they arent going to keep reminding everyone that it shouldnt happen.

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      • SemperFiDawg

        It’s not, but most folks round here don’t let he truth stand in the way of a good straw man.

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    • Aladawg

      Do you remember Hershel Walker?

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      • JCDAWG83

        No, but I remember HERSCHEL Walker. I was a student at Georgia then and no one was talking about a coach selection being dependent on his choice when he was being recruited.

        Come back when you can spell Georgia football legends names correctly.

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  12. 3rdandGrantham

    CMR would be utterly insane to take that job. I mean, completely loony, and it would only serve to reaffirm my strong conviction that, as much as I like and respect CMR, ADGM made the right decision in letting him go.

    Miami is, without a doubt, the worst so-called ‘big’ job in the country. In previous years at least they had “the OB,” which was a dump of a stadium that drew 35-40k a game, but it was somewhat near campus and has a certain mystique about it.

    These days, they bus 40 miles north to another dump of a stadium (but hey, unlike the OB its still standing), which is 1/3 full at best in the lowel level, and all but empty in the upper level for every game sans FSU bi-yearly.

    Being a small, private school with an apathetic fan base, including alumni who mostly return to their northeast roots upon graduating, they have limited funds, mediocre at best facilities, and are infamously known for their shady ethics in a shady town (as Miamians proudly say…their city is a sunny place for shady people).

    Sure, CMR grew up in S. Florida, but that is just not a place you return to..especially after spending so many years in rather Bucolic Athens.

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  13. Gurkha Dawg

    I have an Uncle, Aunt, and cousins in Miami and have always been a U fan after the Dawgs. Visited there a lot growing up. The inventors of SWAG baby! Would love for CMR to lead them back to greatness.

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  14. watcher16

    Or if he takes them to the National Championship game in 3-4 years…

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  15. Chi-town Dawg

    Miami isn’t a dumpster fire, it’s a raging forrest fire! I can’t see CMR going there because the expectations and pressure too win now are way too big for the budget and facilities based on the past results of the glory days plus all the two cents added by former players. The recruiting base is great, but facilities and fan support suck. He’d have his hands full trying to turn around the thug image. Then again, when your Alma Mater comes calling, you never know what can happen…

    The real salt in the wound would be if CMR had a new head coaching gig lined up before we even fill our opening, LOL. CMR is a class act right down to that last press conference and I wish him nothing but the best wherever he winds up, but for his own sanity he can do better than the U.

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    • Otto

      If he had been looking before getting fired, I think he might be at VaTech.

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      • Chi-town Dawg

        I agree Otto. I think the UVA job would be a great fit for him. Even the Maryland job is better than Miami. I doubt he winds up at an SEC school, but will be interesting to watch.

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        • Otto

          I could see South Carolina pulling the trigger. I wouldn’t put $$ on it but I certainly wouldn’t wager against it.

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        • Otto

          Miami is the most likely to get him a national title but the negatives are numerous and well discussed. Who know he might but I don’t see it.

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    • Mayor

      Did it ever occur to you that GM has been played? That CMR finally was fed up with the “Georgia Way” and was actually looking to get out? The way it came down makes me think he just maximized his payout from a job he intended to leave anyway. I really would like to see the terms of the severance agreement.

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  16. I think Eason stays with UGA. If not then better hold on to Hockman. Either way it is going to be a down year at QB next year with what we have on board now or Eason in the learning stages.

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  17. Jared S.

    Eason at any other SEC school would be a nightmare.
    Richt at any other SEC school would be a nightmare.
    Eason & Richt at an ACC school? Eh…. shoulder shrug

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  18. I wanna know what Derek’s opinion is of these fans who are supposedly going to become Miami fans or Maryland fans if Richt goes there.

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    • AthensHomerDawg

      You’re trolling Chilisquirts. ..we need to stop baiting each other.

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    • Jared S.

      I’m an easy 2.5 hour drive from Maryland, and my wife graduated from Maryland (even though she’s a UNC fan). We’ve never been to a Terp football game, but we’ll definitely catch some Maryland Football up-close, in-person if Richt were to coach there. We love him!

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    • Gaskilldawg

      I am not Derek but I will answer. I have no opinion at all about their decisions. They can like whomever for whatever reason and it no skin off my nose. What is the Chillidawg authorized opinion?

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    • Rick

      Hey, buddy, I’m one of them. Am I supposed to be tribalistically allied to my school and my school alone, regardless of what decisions they make?

      I am not, nor will ever I be a fan of the 2010 Auburn ‘All In’ variety. I have been wounded into apathy by this insanity, with the hope that I can recover once McGarity is canned.

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    • Derek

      Since you asked: The only way any fan would sink as low as you would be if they pulled for CMR’s new team to beat UGA in a game. I doubt any UGA fan is that worthless, except you of course. However, I would note that CMR is not a candidate at UF, Auburn or Tech; all teams you wanted to lose to so Coach X. Therefore, a UGA fan who pulled for Maryland or Miami to beat UGA in order to prove a point, would be all sorts of terrible. However, YOU would still be a worse fan.

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  19. shane#1

    I could see Eason going to Miami with Richt, not much of a stretch with Richt stating that he wanted to be more involved with calling plays and coaching QBs. I thought about something else last night. If Richt wants to lose some of the pressure his good friend Les Miles could use a proven QB coach and play caller. He could give LSU a cleaner image, connections with Metro Atlanta recruiting, and possibly bring a in a highly ranked QB. CMR as OC could be what Les needs to finally beat’ Bama.

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  20. Bulldog Joe

    Given how quickly the interview was scheduled, this move may have been in the planning stages for a while.

    Plus, he can continue to collect the bi-annual rent at Mark Richt Field.

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  21. ugadawgguy

    I hope for his sake that Richt takes a year off before coaching again.

    But I do look forward to seeing him coach again, ideally at a place where the administration doesn’t constantly put obstacles in his way the way Butts-Mehre (and the string-pullers behind Butts-Mehre) always did.

    Honestly, part of me hopes to see Richt win 11+ games a year and a national title or two while Georgia continues to handicap itself via the Georgia Way. Maybe THAT would be the wake-up call necessary to spur the sort of foundational cultural change Georgia football needs.

    Either way, for Georgia to do better than it has in the last 20 years, it’s going to need to make much more substantial changes than merely replacing its head football coach. The problems keeping the program from winning championships did not leave town with Richt.

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  22. Russ

    I’d love to see him at Miami. He could continue to improve on his 13-2 record against the maggots and would have very little impact on us. If Eason doesn’t come here, I’d much rather Miami over Florida.

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    • Jared S.

      Yes, Dear God, please don’t let Eason go to Florida (….and do well. He can go to Florida and bomb, for sure).

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  23. Jeff

    Some of you guys are hilarious. One reason Richt had to go was letting us get in the shape we were in this year at QB by letting Deshaun Watson go to Clemson, where he committed as a sophomore because he loved the school and coach. Now the QB he was bringing in, who is the best QB prospect in the land, may get away to our biggest rival, and you guys are like, “Meh, we’ll be OK”.

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  24. Jared S.

    Call me crazy, but the more I survey the landscape, I think it’s very likely that Richt takes a year off and ends up at Texas next year.

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    • They already fired Mack Brown once. Don’t think they want him back.

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      • Rick

        Ah, as much as I dislike your whole deal around here, I can’t really disagree with you that Richt is very Mack Brown-like. But notice that Texas let Mack Brown go four consecutive years (four!) without managing double digits in wins (including a 5 win season) before they fired him.

        No, they don’t want Richt at the tail end of his career when he gets tired, but Richt is likely at least 5 years away from that.

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  25. I would quite prefer this scenario over Eason going to Florida

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  26. AusDawg85

    Maryland is a better fit. Richt already recruited some studs from the NE Atlantic Coast area. Big IX gets a new TV contract. He’d get a shot to match wits again with Urban, Franklin plus Dantonio and Harbaugh. Big IX football is his style. He could possible get Eason to follow. And he’s taking the interview according to the radio report I heard.

    Sure does answer the “no one wants Mark Richt” bs a few of you crowed about.

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    • Wow, Meyer owned richt at FU would probably own him if he took the job at Maryland, as would Harbaugh and Dantonio.

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      • Chi-town Dawg

        I agree Mike, but do you really think Maryland would care? If you can consistently go 8-4 or occasionally 9-3 with a semi-decent bowl game and keep the program out of trouble, they’d be ecstatic at Maryland. The Big10 gravy train would keep the dollars flowing and all would be well. Not much support from the admin in terms of budget and facilities, but the pressure in terms of expectations is pretty low as well. Fans are decent and if he got rid of those god awful uniforms, he’d be a hero before even setting foot on campus, hahahah.

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        • Yeah like Eason would even follow him there is just stoooopid. Eason will either play in the SEC or for Harbaugh.

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          • Mayor

            Now that CMR is gone look for Eason to go to school on the West Coast. I’m betting Washington State, whose current QB leads the nation in passing and is a soph. Eason could show up next year in Pullman for a redshirt season and then when the incumbent QB turns pro after next year Eason can step right in as the starter. It takes a year to learn the Pirate’s system anyway.

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      • Have you written one even civil thing about Richt since this whole thing broke? I don’t think Maryland is the place for him. Virginia, maybe? Miami, very possibly?

        You got your wish. Can you just give it a rest?

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        • AusDawg85

          Assuming you fired that off at Bozo and not me? I need to know so I can direct my snarky feedback at the right person. Thanks for your cooperation in advance.

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        • Give what a rest that if richt went to the B1G that Meyer would not continue to own him…..uh ok…now if he went to the ACC then Fisher would own him how about that.

          Richt nice Christian man looks out for his players even after they have left the program…..brought UGA out of the dark times of goff/Donnan but should of been fired after the UCF Liberty Bowl and 6-7 debacle.

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  27. All of the Glad he is gone folks got their wish. I still believe the next HC will
    not fare as well as Richt No other Dawg Coach ever has. Time will tell.
    Miami, Maryland, Mizzou, Or Mars Hill would all work for Richt?.
    How about being Bobo’s OC Before Bobo comes back to the SEC?

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    • Mayor

      Right 39. The history of Georgia football (and most other places, too) is that after the long time “man” leaves the HC spot (usually by retiring) the next HC fails and gets fired. Then the NEXT guy is the savior. This situation presents all the signs of happening in Athens this time, too.

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  28. rchris

    If Miami became bigtime again, that might help us. Not only would Florida have to deal with FSU, but also someone to the south. So Florida’s natural recruiting area would be constrained and their recruiting hauls might be less imposing, rendering the team less competitive against us. Miami wouldn’t hurt our recruiting as much as it would hurt Florida because most of what they take would be in southern Florida. We won’t meet Miami ever except occasionally in the postseason.

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  29. Turd Ferguson

    I’d love to have Eason, but I’ve been saying for months now that the Eason-hype is way out of control. (Remember all those national championships we won with Stafford?) If he goes elsewhere, it’ll be a bummer (especially if it’s at a rival school), but I’m certainly not going to lose sleep over it.

    Besides, for all we know about the direction the football program is headed in the near future, 5-star QBs may be no more essential to our success than they apparently are for Alabama.

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    • People are panicking for nothing. Aside from the fact that Jacob Eason’s decision should be the least important thing to anybody right now, his HS said today “people in Georgia need to put the razorblades down, he’s a dawg.”

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