Seeing that reminded me of this. Good times.
More to the point, it made me wonder about something: if Richt’s record, which included multiple appearances in the SECCG and BCS bowl games, several top 10 finishes and a couple of conference titles, wasn’t good enough for Greg McGarity, why isn’t that the case with Fox?
Mind you, I’m not asking that because I want to judge either coach, or because I’m advocating showing Fox the door. I’m simply trying to discern what McGarity’s standards are for retaining a head coach of a revenue producing program. Anybody have a clue? Because I sure as hell don’t.
Get The Picture 
It is simple. McGarity probably catches some grief about Fox but it is a fraction of the constant Richt on the hotseat narrative. He can withstand it for one more year and save the buyout. Firing Fox wouldn’t create any extra enthusiasm for UGA basketball at the moment anyway. That won’t happen until a new guy proves something. McGarity may even be hoping Fox leaves on his own.
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What coach DOES want to stay under Mcgoof….all of them have stated what a “small thinker” he is. Obviously today there were several outspoken athletes that found it hard to believe what he was saying. A rainy day fund….really….damn boys it’s raining like a sonofabitch around Athens! The only decent teams are the Country Club ones…..mediocrity is accepted as the norm now…the whole damn place is eat up with it!
It takes very little effort to separate yourself and become great, but it does take effort. Just gaze across the river and look at Clemson….yea Clemson…hard to believe right! Very forward thinking AD, throwing
money hand over fist at athletic programs, venues, etc….
It creates championship teams that bring in more money, how hard is that!?
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If the money comes in and the boosters are largely unperturbed, he can stay. If either the losses are costing the school money, or the boosters are perturbed, fire him as soon as you can do it while covering your ass. Its quite simple, really.
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This year set some sort of record for basketball season ticket sales. I don’t think they’d can him unless there was a sustained drop-off in ticket sales
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My guess is certain well heeled boosters don’t GARA about basketball, but they feel free to light McGarity’s phone up every time UGA fails to gain positive yardage. Greg doesn’t work for us, or UGA. He works for the guys who sign the big checks. If they cared, Fox would be gone. They don’t care, so it’s another win for the reserve fund.
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It’s not only the well heeled boosters who don’t GARA about hoops; it’s students, alumni and supporters of UGA. There was at least some expectation that UGA could find a coach who could win more than Richt. I don’t think the powers that be think they can reasonably lure anyone better than Fox to Athens.
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and if they do he’ll be gone as soon as he proves they did and/or have the NCAA on campus asking questions.
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I don’t see the confusion in McGarity’s standards. Fox is doing everything I expect from UGA basketball, roughly 500 in SEC play and doesn’t have the NCAA on campus and that is all I ask for until B-M makes a statement by seriously upgrading basketball facilities.
We know how likely McGarity and B-M as a whole has been about spending on facilities well… other than football since Richt has been gone.
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The chances of off-siting basketball and gym for 2 years to implode the Steg are zero.
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I think the chances of replacing the Steg is zero and going offsite at Gwinnett, or building another facility on a new location on campus is moot.
Fox is hitting a decade which might be enough for B-M to pull the plug but as stated above given B-M’s commitment to the program Fox is doing as expected. He isn’t overachieving nor underachieving, in my opinion.
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two first team all SEC players and unlikely to make the tournament but he isn’t underachieving?? Did you watch the Texas A&M game or miss the fact that he is around 3-40 against top 50 RPI teams…he’s a sorry recruiter, a sorry coach and is lucky we have even a more pitiful AD
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Agree. We might have better talent right now than Tubby had. Tubby could coach and get results.
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Well, SOMEBODY of consequence wants Fox gone, otherwise that story wouldn’t have been “leaked.”
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Further, if he’s looking for a good value coach from the mid major ranks, whats the point? If you’re looking for a guy who’s a good x’s and o’s coach to do the most with whats there, you’ve already got your guy. THE ONLY reason to switch it up would be to cover your ass.
If you want to win, its very simple; you’ve got to go shell out for a big, big name coach who can go recruit the one and done’s. Otherwise you’re hoping for a stroke of luck every 3-4 years to take you to the tournament, but it’ll never get you past the first couple rounds.
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Georgia has to figure out how to elevate its talent. There is no easy path to that, and the only reason to get a new coach is to find someone who can definitively recruit better than Fox.
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To get more talent, Fox has to PLAY the talent he does manage to get. Crump and Harris greatly outscore the upper classmen that start over them, yet Fox still complains about the inability to score. Look at all the freshmen playing meaningful minutes all around the country, and then look at our freshmen on the bench. What top BB recruit is going to come to Athens to ride the pine?
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thats pretty much it.
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Actually you can win in basketball without Kentucky-type talent. Moreover, the SEC is no powerhouse conference and never has been–it;s consistently ranked below the Big East, Big 12, and Atlantic 10 in overall strength, per the metric that analyze these things. The constant presence of schools like Butler, Villanova, Gonzaga, and Wichita State should demonstrate that what you need, more than any thing else, is a good coach who knows what they’re doing…and preferably doesn’t run an overcomplicated, outdated offense that players don’t want to run–like the triangle, Fox’s preferred offense when he started, that he has largely given up on, finally.
It helps to have a fan base and administration that gives a damn, though, that’s for sure, and you have to actually dig in and make a decent hire before they’re a hot commodity for the higher-profile schools–a process that has eluded almost all of the SEC schools for years and years, because they just don’t care about basketball very much.
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Senator –
You must first realize that with AD McGarity you are dealing with a pompously aloof know-it-all who’s tact and people skills are like a beer hangover fart in an elevator. Given the coaching changes he’s made and the replacements he’s selected, I don’t think there are any standards at all.
The situation with Coach Fox might just come down to the fact all of AD McGarity’s hires have been failures and since he has football in play with a new guy he is for the first time considering his administrative mortality at UGA.
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If McGoofy’s contract isn’t extended after next year do we really want him making any hiring and firing decisions?
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That’s my take as well Augusta. I’m thinking the powers that be want to take this out of his hands thus he has to stay with the status quo so to speak.
At least we can hope this is the case…………….
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That’s encouraging to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Ifg they don’t plan to renew (nd why exactly would they?), surely they will buy him out this summer and give some hope for things to get better. We are worse off, or level, in every sport I can think of ( basketball, baseball, golf, gymnastics, tennis, women’s basketball, football, etc) since he arrived. And the relations with the fan base are getting worse with the PR shortfall being downright embarrassing. So the reason to continue to tolerate this goober is…?
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He’s made nine or so HC hires. They’ve mostly been bad (Lemke), jury’s still out (Smart, Taylor), or somewhere in between (Durante, which is absurd to use with her since she’s now in her fifth season). The only good hire, I’d say, is Kyprianou, but he was a promotion from within. So I don’t know how much credit to give McGarity.
I’d definitely prefer someone other than him doing the hiring.
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Is say the difference is the ability to get a top flight coach. Our ability to atract coaching talent in basketball is a lot different than football. I don’t think the big donors are breathing down McGarity’s neck about Fox.
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“Our ability to attract coaching talent in basketball is a lot different than football.”
What about the process from last December indicated that other than the liquor barons believed their choice was getting ready to take the job in Columbia East? We went after the hot coordinator which is about the same as hiring the hot mid-major coach in basketball.
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The liquor barons don’t care, so the AD is going to sit tight with Fox. No reason to write checks from the “rainy day fund” if you don’t have to.
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Unfortunately Incorrect, the liquor barren does care…he and Ms. Yoculan are very close with Fox and his wife…add to this one of Fox’s players is the son of a very well-heeled booster and you have a perfect reason to keep a very mediocre coach
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Now there is info you can hang your hat on! More of this good intell and less opinions make for a much healthier read!
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Just wondering if all this public ‘support’ for Fox is actually the kiss of death. Maybe not; as many have noted, the liquor barons probably don’t care, but the old “he’s our coach until he isn’t” song is a fairly common ploy.
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Fox has plateaued. No real reason to keep him if you want to improve our basketball team.
We had two good coaches in the past, Tubby and Harrick. Tubby jumped to Kentucky as soon as he could, though we never really made a play to keep him. Harrick of course was a cheater that should have taken his benefactor, Herr Adams, with him when he was fired.
Still, we have attracted good coaches, and Fox was a good candidate when he was hired. There’s some decent talent on the team right now. Get a coach that will let them play and I think we could improve. Start winning and a lot of the other issues start to fade away.
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Because comparing UGA football to UGA basketall is like comparing an Audi S8 to a Scion.
What irks me is ADGM feeling like he needs to stroke his own ego by meeting with the team and telling them that Fox’s job is safe. If his job is safe, stfu and don’t say a thing other than something simple like, “Fox is and will continue to be our coach. No further comments will be forthcoming to any erroneous reports stating otherwise.”
The fact that he’s meddling and making this a bigger deal than it should be is telling on myriad fronts.
Very, very poor leadership. But we already knew that.
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I don’t think Kirby coaches basketball.
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Man I hate the offseason.
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One more observation on McG’s logic. Were talking about firing a coach who has been in Athens 9? years and there are 23 replies in 2 hours?
How many replies would a Mark Richt hot seat posting get?
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Georgia just got selected with 2 All SEC picks and no one cares. Last time it happened – 1990.
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and we’re still not making the tournament…what does this say about his “coaching”
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He continues to improve at getting talent on campus?
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Maybe we should build them an indoor practice facility.
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We already did. It’s connected to Stegeman and one of the finest in the country.
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I was being sarcastic
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Doesn’t it depend upon Frank Martin’s status in Columbia? If he announces his retirement or that he’s leaving, then Mark Fox is OUT. After all _________ will take that job at USC if we don’t snatch him up first and we can’t have that can we?
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McGarity just informed the coaching ranks and donors that Fox’s departure is officially on the clock.
Gives him a year to feel out prospects and donors, size up his resources and opposition. Exact same thing he did with Richt. And if he has to pull back, he can say with a straight face that he was behind Fox all the way.
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So we have to beat UF next year?
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Nice snark. My 1st complaint with McG is this is suicide for recruiting. You don’t let the press get wind that you’re giving your HC a make it or break it year.
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You are right. Our already troubled program looks like dookey right now.
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Did you mean donkey? Cuz I think that feels about right…
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I get all this. But I watched most of their games this year. and I saw a scrappy, tough never quit team that battled to the end in every game.
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I agree. I think Mark Fox is a damn good coach. Not great at recruiting but we’ve struggled with recruiting BB players for as long as I can remember. It seems every time there’s been a big time in state recruit they go out of state. Even when Tech was good, they relied on out of state guys. The state produces a lot of talent but they all seem to want to go play elsewhere.
In any event, there is no reason to expect that a change in the coach is going to change what ails UGA basketball.
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damn good coach?? please…we’re in a mediocre conference and he’s made the tournament twice in eight years, once with Felton’s players…there’s nothing good about the coach except for his ability to worm his way into the good graces of the powers to be (Leeburn and Young)
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I know. He’s totally destroyed a traditional basketball power. I look at the games against the top teams on our schedule and we’ve been competitive with much less talent than the opposition. I’m sure that’s not because of good coaching but in spite of it.
We usually don’t go to the dance and only twice have we gotten past round two. 12 appearances in school history. That’s one out of every three since 1983. Fox has three appearances in 8 years which is consistent or slightly better than our average, if you start counting in 1983. We kinda suck a basketball. But what the hell? Can the guy. Get someone else in here who will get us there roughly one out of every three years and we’ll go 1-3 in the tourney over the next decade and then we can fire that asshole too.
The OTHER problem with UGA basketball is that if anyone really did anything with the program, he be gone…. Just like Tubby. Maybe we get lucky someday and we get a Billy Donovan because that happened that one time.
I said it when CMR’s job was on the line. You don’t fire a guy because of your results don’t match your aspirations. You fire him because you have to. We don’t have to fire Fox and so we shouldn’t.
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That you think he’s a damn good coach tells me you simply aren’t paying attention and are somehow dazzled by mediocrity.
Fox has mismanaged public relations, recruiting, roster management, playing time for freshmen, substitution patterns, in game defense, etc etc since he’s been here.
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How many tournament appearances do we have in school history? How many does Fox have?
I’m sure that none of the basketball coaches in school history can coach hence the mediocrity (or worse) of the basketball program over all that time.
I do pay little attention because of that mediocrity. If you are paying close attention to UGA basketball what other explanation could there be other than being dazzled by mediocrity?
I can say that that I’ve seen the close losses to the top teams on the schedule this year and it appears to me that Fox is competitive with a less than stellar roster.
Maybe you should take a shot at it since you’re the expert. Either way no one will really give a shit. Kansas plays basketball and sucks at football. It’s not because Kansas hires bad coaches. It’s because they’re Kansas. We play football and we suck at basketball. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Btw: We’ve had six bb coaches since 1983. 12 NCAA appearances in school history. 3 of those belong to Fox. That’s not a fireable record in spite of your subject matter expertise.
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If you’re going to take shots, at least have your facts right…Fox has two NCAA appearances, both first round exits..percentage of tournament appearances from 1983 til Fox: 39 percent…Fox: 25 percent, since you admittedly don’t pay attention and don’t give a shit, maybe stop commentating and embarrassing yourself
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You’re not counting this year. Be optimistic!
Also 2 NIT’s= NCAA!
I’m not sure but I think there were tourneys before 1983.
We’ve made it 12 times and got out of the second round twice. What a fucking legacy! Of our scholarship sports,this one is probably the least successful in school history. You’re welcome to think it’s jes coachin’.
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. . . and you’re welcome to stick with your We’re Eternally Cursed theory to explain why the Fox Era of UGA Hoops is mediocre. Some of us simply want BM to hire a coach who can simply outperform other “Football Schools” like Arky, UT, Bama, MSU, Ole Miss who are in states with half the talent of ours and compete with other FB schools like UF and Arky. Nobody sober on this blog is suggesting we should be Kentucky.
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Well said…we can do better than Foxy.
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Arky has a long basketball history. Bama, UT, Ole Miss and MSU all together have the same number of final fours that we have. Florida got lucky and got the right coach who stayed a good long while.
I’m sure that Vandy, Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri and Mississippi State find that any discussion about their never being relevant in football is an “eternally cursed theory” but they are exactly that. They aren’t winning any conference titles and they aren’t getting into any playoffs. Not gonna happen.
Getting to the final four in 1983 was magical. Knocking off MJ’s defending national title team in a regional final was incredible. I hope something like that happens for us again, but it probably won’t and hiring and firing coaches ain’t gonna change that. Even if you got the right guy, he’d be gone just like Tubby. That’s the reality of it.
We’ve never been able to get the best players in the state. Neither has Tech. When they were good their best players weren’t from Georgia. For whatever reason the best in state guys want to go somewhere else. Georgia in basketball is like New Jersey is in football. They have a decent talent base but Rutgers ain’t getting them. Probably bad coaching at Rutgers or a defeatist attitude or a lack of commitment or reality. Take your pick.
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Less than stellar rooster? You mean the 2 All SECs?
Come off it.
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McGarity may also have to pull the trigger on the baseball coach in a couple of months and I doubt if he wants to go for the hat trick in 18 months.
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Nothing inspires a team better than a well-timed pep talk from Mr. McGarity.
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I don’t follow college hoops as adamantly as I used to but I’d say it’s a bad year to make a change. Not a great pool of available coaches and some more prominent jobs will be open that you’d have to compete with. I also don’t trust McGarity’s hiring ability at this point. I’m hoping Haack, Diaz and Buerle hang around longer than McGarity so he’s not filling those positions. That all being said I think Fox is a good enough coach to make this work. And once more I’d say “damn those red panties” fir getting us to this point with B-M.
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senator –
correct me if i’m wrong, but i thought greg’s SOP was to evaluate the coach at the end of the season and not address media speculation on a coach’s fate / future? doesnt his press release / meeting with the b-ball team to reassure them fox is safe now establish a new (bad) precedent?
assuming the young baseball dawgs dont develop and we have another bad season (and by all accounts, it appears we are headed that way), what’s he going to do when people start asking questions about stricklin’s future?
i, like you and many others here, have been exceedingly concerned about the competency of adgm and his team at bm. this to me is simply another example of making reactionary decisions on the fly without having a clear process / plan, or the ability to think strategically.
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This is crazy, no doubt.
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Above Average. It’s the Georgia way. Think I am joking – watch how well this fits:
an explicable loss. not beating the top teams.
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Anyone got some red panties?
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When he was hired, McGarity said that he would evaluate each program with expectations based on previous tradition and whether the team was improving. I’m trying to find the article, but it was from years ago not long after he was hired. I have no idea of what his interpretation of each program’s history is though. Mark Fox has the roundball team on the verge of having four consecutive 20 win season for the first time in program history. The team has played below expectations this year, but it is still a better performance than were our program has traditionally been. Historically, our basketball team has the tradition of Kentucky Football. Being a consistent bubble team is an improvement. That consistency has allowed him to finally start landing some better recruits. I see no reason to expect the roundball team to regress under Fox.
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I have good news and I have bad news.
The good news: You are in a play-in game for the NCAA tourney.
The bad news: It’s against Kentucky in front of their crowd.
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I know I’m late to the game today, but this stems from the beloved AD’s single most consistent problem he has had since he took the job: he is a complete buffoon when it comes to PR/ marketing. It’s almost unbelievable that an organization which brings in as much jing as it does can have such a terrible perception among the customer base.
Everyone I know that is in the know says the same thing about him. He’s a nice guy with his heart in the job, but is completely incompetent and incredibly overwhelmed. He is great at numbers, so he can make the books look stellar- especially when ESPN is writing you a check every year that is larger than what the fan base pays and more money than cannot possibly be spent in one year.
The only hire I give him grief about is the Strickland hire- he fired a guy who is a native Athenian who was a remarkably successful coach only to replace him with a person who has completely destroyed the program.
As far as Fox goes, barring an incredible year next year, it will be his last in Athens. His son will be a senior in high school and his departure may be a little cleaner, which will make the bean counter happy- no buy out. With or without him, the program will continue in mediocrity for the following three reasons 1) nobody really cares 2) the facilities are just average and there is no PR juice…ever and 3) and most important…Josh Basner (Ga Tech Coach) is about to run laps around Fox in recruiting and make the NATS program much more sexy since it is in the ACC.
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