December 7, 2015 · 12:48 PM

Somebody sounds ready.

I do believe this.

***************************************************************

UPDATE:  Smart killed it at the presser.  Polished, in control.  Saban’s rubbed off in that department.

One thing I liked hearing:

Thanks, Jimmy Sexton.

68 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football

68 responses to “Somebody sounds ready.”

  1. Jared S.
    December 7, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    … and mystery Asst Coach Glenn Schumann already on recruiting trail!

    Like

  2. Turd Ferguson
    December 7, 2015 at 12:53 PM

    Watching now. In response to question about offensive philosophy, he says, “You’ve got to have balance. And in order to have balance, first and foremost, you’ve got to have great depth on the offensive line. Big, grown men on the offensive line.”

    Preach, coach.

    Like

  3. Pantslesspatdye
    December 7, 2015 at 12:56 PM

    Listening to conference now; Coach Richt is better spoken.

    Like

    • Turd Ferguson
      December 7, 2015 at 12:57 PM

      And as everyone knows, the best football coaches are always the most gifted orators.

      Like

    • J Scott
      December 7, 2015 at 12:58 PM

      I work for a guy who’s a terrible speaker…. but damn does he make more good decisions than not.

      Like

    • 3rdandGrantham
      December 7, 2015 at 12:59 PM

      Of course he is…he’s been doing this for years. Kirby has rarely done any PC’s ever, due to Saban putting his assistants off-limits to the media.

      Like

    • chilidawgnv
      December 7, 2015 at 1:29 PM

      Who cares how Miami’s head coach is at speaking to the press? This ain’t no Canes blog.

      Like

      • Pantslesspatdye
        December 7, 2015 at 2:17 PM

        Fair enough. Simply making an observation. Hopefully, he is better at everything else.

        Like

        • The Dawg abides
          December 7, 2015 at 2:53 PM

          It’d be pretty hard to be worse with roster management, clock management, and in game decisions. Full disclosure: I was on the fence about a coaching change this year and have always been a Richt supporter, until he wasn’t our coach. I wish him well, but I’ve always despised Miami. Now it’s full steam ahead. No looking back.

          Like

    • JP
      December 7, 2015 at 1:49 PM

      And Coach Dooley sold more Golden Flake potato chips than Richt did. Big deal.

      I think we’ve upgraded. His #1 priority, as it should be, is the OL. Richt’s decidedly was NOT. And his reluctance to remedy that is part of what chipped away at his job stability.

      Like

  4. 3rdandGrantham
    December 7, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    A few observations: CKS is very, very nervous, though he’s smoothed out a bit. A lot of this can be blamed on Saban; after all, as you know, he rarely allows assistants to speak to the media. Thus, CKS is rather green when it comes to public speaking, though he’ll certainly improve over the coming months.

    At one point, he mention how great it was to be at the Univ. of Alabama…then caught himself and the mistake. His opening statement was pretty decent; not a huge wow factor to it but that’s quite ok. I’m not looking for a coach to win the PC (see: Muschamp)…I’m just looking for a coach that can win.

    The roaring applause when he mentioned being hands-on concerning every aspect of the program (when asked if he’d be hands-on with the D, unlike CMR’s approach with the O) was, no doubt, the best moment IMO. He then followed that up by immediately mentioning special teams (special teams!), which will be music to all our ears. By the way, I could be wrong but I think that applause was a glaring indictment of CMR’s rather passive ways in recent years. Quite telling.

    Overall, I’m really, really excited. I think we’ve finally found a coach that can put us over the top.

    Like

    • 83dawg
      December 7, 2015 at 1:01 PM

      CKS was a bit wooden at first, but got better, and mostly said not a lot, but that is to be expected when he is coaching two teams and trying to hire from other teams after the bowl games.

      As far as special teams, if you want to read some unfortunate comedy, try this:

      https://www.canesinsight.com/thread/kickoff-return-punt-return/95006

      They will learn…

      Like

    • SRQDawgs15
      December 7, 2015 at 2:56 PM

      So the UGA admin basically forces Richt to give up play calling and pushes him into this CEO role, which coincidentally lines up perfectly with his “drop off,” and you people use that to take shots at Richt rather than Evans, Adams, and McGarity. He even specifically mentioned it in his own press conference and said something to the effect of wanting to be more hands on but not being allowed this year. The line and applause was an indictment of McGarity and the Georgia Way much more than Richt. See the comment below for further proof of this exact thing. Then again, you folks have never seen an issue at UGA that wasn’t Mark Richt’s fault because (1) he doesn’t like to win enough and (2) his religion is a fault somehow. Carry on with your straw men!

      Like

      • Will (The Other One)
        December 7, 2015 at 3:16 PM

        Hold on there with the revisionist history Mr. Handle I’ve Never Seen Before Today.
        Richt handed over the playcalling to Bobo at the tail end of the 2006 season. Which was long before McGarity was even around. Now, Richt did hint that under Evans he did get caught up in too much administrative stuff, and not enough coaching, and that was a drop off from 2001-2005, but 2007 was hardly a disaster season.

        Like

        • SRQDawgs15
          December 8, 2015 at 12:58 PM

          Right, he handed over play calling in 2006 when Damon Evans asked him to. McGarity kept it that way and would not allow him to take play calling back over this year. Both said as much in the press conference. Your welcome for providing you with the facts!

          Like

  5. Turd Ferguson
    December 7, 2015 at 1:00 PM

    “Kirby says the administration hasn’t placed any restrictions on who he can hire on his staff.”

    His next words, as I recall, were a definitive: “As it should be.”

    Like

  6. Bright Idea
    December 7, 2015 at 1:00 PM

    Press and fans gonna’ have to brace themselves. Not gonna’ be a lot of touchy, feely talk anymore…all about football.

    Like

    • jntiii
      December 7, 2015 at 1:53 PM

      Obviously, he will have his own unique style. He gave some heartfelt comments there though. He’s not going to be robotic. His talk about the type of program he plans to run were very inspiring. I can see why kids want to play for him.

      Like

    • Otto
      December 7, 2015 at 4:39 PM

      Good I’m tired of touchy feely aww shucks coaches. I wanted someone with more drive and facing things head on.

      Like

  7. Twistification
    December 7, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    “Thanks Jimmy Sexton” Chalk that one up to words I did not expect on this blog…

    Like

  8. Spike
    December 7, 2015 at 1:03 PM

    Early Dawg Porn, Senator? 🙂

    Like

  9. Moe Pritchett
    December 7, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    ” the administration hasn’t placed any restrictions on who he can hire on his staff.” …that was loud.

    Like

  10. Bro Tereshinski III
    December 7, 2015 at 1:12 PM

    GM: So, Kirby, thanks for taking my call. Listen, how’d you like to be the new head coach at Georgia?

    KS: Sounds pretty good, although I’ve got a sweet set-up here.

    GM: Well look, we’ll pay you handsomely and we’ve got a great set of assistant coaches ready to work with you. How does a salary of $2 million dollars sound?

    KS: $2 million? Sounds pretty good to me.

    GM: You’re right, that’s way too low for someone of your caliber. Can $3 million get it done?

    KS: I just said $2 million was ok. Why would you think $3 million somehow isn’t?

    GM: Make it 3.75. You are an alumnus, after all.

    KS: Sure. Can we move on to something else? Can I pick my own assistants?

    GM: Well… We’ve already made financial commitments, so you’d have to live with the current staff for …

    KS: … yeah, I’m not gonna do that.

    GM: Well, ok, that’s fine. I can see where you’re coming from. You can hire who you want.

    KS: And pay them what I need in order to get them here?

    GM: Sure, whatever you want.

    KS: Boy, you’re a pretty weak-willed negotiator. Wait, you didn’t already tell everyone I was coming, did you?

    GM: Maaaaaaybe?

    KS: Damnit, Greg.

    Like

  11. QuoteLight Dashboards
    December 7, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    It was a GREAT Question about restrictions on staff and answered the question that all of us had.

    Like

  12. Mary Kate Danaher
    December 7, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    One of the surprises from the press conference was that Beau Bock asked a question. I thought he died 20 years ago.

    Overall, a stellar first press conference for the Coach.

    Like

  13. chilidawgnv
    December 7, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    Said his wife raises his kids in a good Christian home but the most important thing to him right now is to W. I. N

    I like it.

    Like

  14. BarneyDawg
    December 7, 2015 at 1:34 PM

    I liked the part where he told Chip Towers that he didn’t have to validate anything to him.

    Like

    • chilidawgnv
      December 7, 2015 at 1:45 PM

      Shit, I really need to listen to the whole thing lol.

      Like

    • Cousin Eddie
      December 7, 2015 at 1:47 PM

      would have been funny if he would have just thrown a Coke at him and said, “Talk to the bottle, that’s all YOU are getting from me. Then asked if anyone else not from the ajc has a question.”

      Like

    • lakedawg
      December 7, 2015 at 3:32 PM

      Wonder if GM lets him talk to Snultz and Badley in that manner?

      Like

    • alamosa
      December 7, 2015 at 7:57 PM

      @BarneyDog: really, I am going to have to listen to the full thing. Maybe someone put the word out on AJC writers–I will give Emereson a pass. After living in Bama afew years, I can see how one would get really tired of all the press. Here it is so many brown noses it is scary.

      Like

  15. Derek
    December 7, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    Just watched the full press conference. I liked the underlying message: “We are going to keep doing everything the same way. Just a lot harder and with better players.”

    Our problem rarely was X’s and O’s. It was more often always Jimmie’s and Joe’s AND preparing and playing with the right mind set that held us back.

    I get the feeling that rather than having 7-10 ranked classes that we’ll have Top 3 classes consistently and we’ll bring back the mental toughness that got lost in Athens a long, long time ago. That could be a hell of a combination. Need to lock Eason down today.

    Like

    • Jared S.
      December 7, 2015 at 2:09 PM

      “Need to lock Eason down today.”

      I have a feeling he’s already locked down, but yeah, you’re right. =D

      Like

    • alamosa
      December 7, 2015 at 8:08 PM

      @Derek: And Jimmies and Joes make one hell of a difference. As somebody once asked me bout a UGA team that had been destroyed by UF under Spurrier. How many of our players would start for them? Answer maybe 3 or 4. Time will tell.

      Like

  16. W Cobb Dawg
    December 7, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    This type of serious, no messing around talk isn’t gonna go over well with our admin. And they thought Pruitt was a problem…

    Like

    • alamosa
      December 7, 2015 at 8:03 PM

      @W Cobb Dawg. If they truly hired him to win national championships and not just be very good, which I believe they did, ie welcome to the SEC of 2016 and beyond—-then stay out of his way and let him be like his mentor. Plus just tell the administration, enough of this we hold ourselves to a higher standard, you hired me to win NC’s. There is the door bye.

      Like

  17. 202dawg
    December 7, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    “I am busy, and I’m gonna continue to be busy. That relentless energy and passion I why I am where I am today.”

    THAT’S what i’m talking about, Coach!!!

    Like

  18. Debby Balcer
    December 7, 2015 at 2:24 PM

    I have not listened but it sounds like he got what he wanted and needed to be successful. Hopefully they follow through for him.

    Like

  19. eethomaswfnc
    December 7, 2015 at 2:44 PM

    The only thing I would have done differently is call Jeff Schultz a d-bag and tell him never to ask me another question.

    Otherwise, he did a great job. Good start and hopefully, some good results on the recruiting trail are coming.

    Like

  20. CannonDawg
    December 7, 2015 at 3:08 PM

    Kirby was obviously nervous in his opening remarks, which is understandable, but when the talk turned to football, and specifically about offenses and defenses in the SEC, he became much more relaxed and animated. There’s a look on his face that seems to me to indicate a no-nonsense seriousness of purpose. He mentioned how driven he will be to achieve the excellence he will demand from everyone, including himself. How could he have stayed with Saban for so long and be anything but? He also seems to know what separates the consistent winners from the rest. Whether he can clone that sort of self-assurance, mental toughness, and total dedication into the DNA of his Georgia football teams will remain to be seen.

    But after today’s presser, I have to confess I’m feeling a whole lot better about Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs.

    Like

  21. Russ
    December 7, 2015 at 3:24 PM

    I read the transcript. I particularly liked the part about Bobo and Muschamp
    (paraphrasing, of course):
    “Yeah Mike and I are really close. We both ask and give each other advices…(gush, gush, nicety, nicety)”

    “Uh, yeah, I know Will and we talk every now and then”.

    Seems like he knows that maybe Boom isn’t the most beloved character around these parts.

    Like

    • lakedawg
      December 7, 2015 at 3:37 PM

      Think Kirby knows he has to win, cause once GM gone Bobo will be standing by when the big backers are wanting an offensive guy.

      Like

  22. Jktom
    December 7, 2015 at 7:17 PM

    Unfortunately, given the Georgia way, I think Smart is going to fail miserably. I will be surprised if he can get even 9 wins next year – maybe he will beat Tech…. And we can celebrate then.

    Like