Still crazy after all these years

At Roll Bama Roll, there’s a certain flame that will never burn out.

However when Kirby Smart made his classless exit from Tuscaloosa while photographing the recruiting board, he also stole a few Bama rising star staff members including Schumann. After a couple years as inside linebacker coach, he was promoted to co-defensive coordinator along with another former Bama staffer Dan Lanning (also pilfered).  Those two built the best defenses in the nation.

Butt still hurts, does it?

(Schumann) has proven his worth. He knows the system. He can recruit. He is an Alabama man. And taking a guy back from Kirby would be so satisfying.

I’m beginning to think they want Schumann more for sticking it to Kirby than for his coaching ability.

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Did you know UGA has to replace Stetson Bennett this season?

Expect this kind of talk to intensify as we approach G-Day.

As Georgia players began offseason workouts this week, the months ahead will determine who will replace Bennett when the Bulldogs open their season on Sep. 2 against Tennessee-Martin.

Carson Beck, who will be entering his redshirt junior season, served as the backup this season and would seem to be the clear favorite, but former five-star Brock Vandagriff from Prince Avenue Christian could make a push and redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton from Rabun County is also part of the three-player race.

“We’ll just start at square one,” Beck said. “Nothing is set in stone. Every day each one is going to come in and compete and work our butts off and work our tails off.”

QBR snark aside, the one I’m most curious to see on the field is Vandagriff.

“I’ve taken huge leaps since I’ve got on campus, but the main thing for me is I’ve been watching 30 to 45 minutes every morning different cutups of our offense and checks,” Vandagriff said. “I believe those things are just invaluable. Coach Monken has helped me out with that. Just being able to know what I’m doing at all times like the back of my hand. Not having to guess any out there.”

Beck’s gotten the live game work.  Stockton has time on his side.  Vandagriff pretty much needs to make an impression the game is slowing down for him.  We’ll see soon if that’s the case.

Real men of financial genius

You know, you’d think it would be really hard for a sports organization generating over a billion dollars in revenue to lose money, but this is the NCAA we’re talking about.

The NCAA operated at a nearly $59 million deficit for its 2022 fiscal year after generating revenue of $1.14 billion, the association’s new audited financial statement shows.

The association saw a major revenue increase from the return to the usual playing setup for the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, but those gains were offset primarily by net investment losses and a one-time charge connected to the association’s creation of a self-insurance entity…

That latter item set them back $84 million.  Part of the problem was self-inflicted.

In addition, because of the many anti-trust lawsuits it has faced, the NCAA has had difficulties with insurers getting satisfactory outcomes from its legal coverage.

Coming soon, to a GTP Gift Guide near you

Is this the coffee you want now, or the coffee you need now?

It’s here, y’all. How bout that coffee?! https://t.co/jVxtJp6tfc pic.twitter.com/ntMax3NJPT

— Jittery Joe's (@JitteryJoes) January 25, 2023

Got to pay the piper

Naturally, there’s a lot of speculation about whom Nick Saban will turn to in filling his open coordinator positions.  Lots and lots of names are being bandied about.

There is something to be said for Occam’s razor, though.

Who will Saban and sports agent Jimmy Sexton — I mean Byrne — bring in this time? If I had to put money on it, my guess is Dan Mullen will be Alabama’s next offensive coordinator and Jeremy Pruitt will return to be the defensive coordinator. They’re both great coaches, and they’re both clients of Sexton who are looking to rehab their images.  [Emphasis added.]

You have to admit that all makes for a tidy package.  For Jimmy, especially.

Moar Godd Monken

Yesterday’s post about Monken’s success calling plays inspired me to rummage around YouTube, looking for some clips that might have illustrated that.  No such luck on that front, but I did find something illuminating.  It’s a breakdown of plays from the Peach Bowl and it does an excellent job of showing out what I like best about Monken, his ability to take what defenses give him.

Give it a watch. I think you’ll be as impressed as I am.

Out of state beautification project comes to fruition.

Well played, my Florida brothers and sisters.

We did it, Bulldogs!

Thanks to the dogged determination of UGA alumni and supporters across the state, we sold 3,000 vouchers for a UGA specialty license plate in Florida!

Our team is now working with the State of Florida to verify each sale. Once that becomes official with the state, they will begin production of the license plate for those who have purchased a voucher. It will take approximately 3-4 months for the plates to be produced and mailed to your local tax collector’s office.

Every little bit helps.

(h/t)