We haven’t had a reader poll in a while, but this Mike Griffith version of reality merits a simple one.
The 43-year-old Smart named 41-year-old Charlton Warren his defensive backs coach on Saturday, shortly after crossing paths with him on the recruiting trail and conversing.
Get The Picture 
This one ain’t gone be close.
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No way Kirby hires this guy spur of the moment, and certainly not just to get a prized recruit. That would border on criminal negligence. Had to have been some back-channel discussions previously. The timing, however, was very interesting and I’m sure seriously pissed Mullen off, which doesn’t hurt my feelings.
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Wouldn’t it look even worse for the Gators if all it took was a chance meeting on the recruiting trail?
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Kirby > I’ve heard good things about you
Warren > Heard you have an opening?
Kirby > Yes, you looking?
Warren > I am now
Kirby > Why would you leave Florida?
Warren > Mullen and Grantham? Do you really have to ask?
Kirby > I see your point,
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Considering how meticulous Kirby is at all other aspects of his job, I don’t buy the notion that he hired Warren on the fly. They are similar ages, from the same state, played as DBs, coached as DBs, probably ran into eachother on the recruiting trail, coached against eachother at least twice, etc. Professionals usually know a good deal about their peers. One could ask the same question about the Hankton or Lanning hires last year.
My concern is the Hartley hire. We lost Chaney and Jay Johnson. Those are some big shoes to fill. I would’ve preferred somebody with at least a little QB and/or OC background. Do we really need a full time TE coach? I think Hartley would be a fine analyst hire. But hey, I’m just a fan and interested onlooker. I’ve got great confidence in Kirby, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
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OT but SEC Shorts has a new video out and it’s pretty funny.
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Anyone who didn’t pick the third option did not read that far.
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+1 for the South Pacific reference. “Strangers in the Night” woulda worked too.
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Pretty sure our dline coach knew a little birdy.
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Guess ole Danny Boy will chalk it up to poor, blind Kirby just stumbling across another acorn. Didn’t know Mully had folks out on the recruiting trail.
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What do we make of the Coley situation?
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Readers have a few words for that sentence. Piss damn poor in all phases.
Every thing before the common is probably factual and can be proved.
The hire was “shortly” “after crossing paths”. Okay, a meeting. But when in hell did he happen Mike? Here is the rub, Mike has no damn clue.
Then he uses that broad generic term “conversing” with him. Again when, but more important what was the means of communication.
See when Mike stated their ages, coaching positions, and names, he is trying to make everything after the common a fact too.
What I gather from Mike is this. He thinks Coach Smart and Coach Warren are more than likely “elementals” and they bumped into each other floating around.
We have it from a reliable, unnamed source, who is very familiar with the SEC coaches, and Bull Gator contributors that Smart and Warren had talked to each other the past two years both before and after the game in Jax.
Well, damn there is your shortly and crossing paths.
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I not sure Coach Smart will hire a DC.
Think with the promotion of Coley. The hire of Hartley that completes the offense.
The defense. Want to look at the secondary this past year. Give it a close inspection. Doubt if Smart was satisfied where is was, more so after the Bama and Texas games.
Coach Smart interviewed the DB coach out of LSU. That coach declined, but he did interview. Would think it was would difficult to leave there because that coach is “LSU”; however, he was interested.
Warren saw the players, the school, plus closer to his home town of Atlanta, and the opportunity to develop more as a coach. Think he is a very solid, smart coach.
All three of these coaching changes look good to me and some others.
Think he will look at a LB coach, and stand pat for 2019. Plus, he has the salaries of a DC and OC to pay more for these changes.
High motivation for them to coach up and make more in 2020.
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Florida fans now claiming we did them a favor. Lol. They so salty.
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I’ve noticed that, too. “Upgrade” is what I’ve seen several times.
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