First year head coaches

Lionel Hutz · Jan 23, 2003

Seen a lot of posts that first year head coaches can work wonders, make drastic improvements and IMMEDIATELY turn a program around.

Seen a lot of posts that Chan is taking us down a road that will take years to recover from.

If you believe a first year coach can work wonders, why worry about what Chan is doing? If he doesn't get the job done next year, then he is fired, we bring in one of these miracle workers and immediately we begin winning right?

Obviously, this is TIC and I don't believe that someone can come in and immediately have success without his own players. But,if you do believe that then how long can GT possibly be hurt by Chan?

Wrecked · Jan 23, 2003

Your statement is correct if you believe that Dave Braine is capable of hiring a "first year miracle worker."

beeware · Jan 23, 2003

There wasn't any turnaround needed in our program when CG took over. Coach O'leary had already turned the program around. The cupboard that was near empty when O'leary took over was nearly full when he left.

CG took over a program in much better shape than the Maryland program that the Fridge took over, and the Fridge has won 10 or more games his first two seasons, and this was done without his own players. Just imagine what the Fridge could have done with our talent base.

The high expectations were not met. The team regressed as the season went along. The more time that CG had to coach the team...two weeks for ugag....four weeks for fresno....the team got noticably worse.

The program is headed in the wrong direction....fast. The guy that follows CG will have a much tougher time than the guy that followed Coach O should have had.

And the longer it takes for this change to take place....the longer it will take to recover....whether you hire a miracle worker or not.

GMC 68 · Jan 23, 2003

Beeware, I agree with some of your points. However most people don't realize the bad shape the progam was in when O'Liar left. The team had played terribly all year. O'Liar was leaving because he could see the handwriting on the wall. Without Fridge, he was toast. I do agree that CG took over a better program than GOL.

bugboy · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by beeware:
Just imagine what the Fridge could have done with our talent base.

This is one thing (probably the only thing) we agree on, BW. He certainly would have done more with the talent than GOL did in 2001...and Gailey in 2002.

IMO, the worst day in recent Tech history was the day that Maryland fired Ron Vanderlinden. If only they'd waited a year or two, we could have kept Fridge when GOL went to ND for his one-week vacation.

Unlike you however, I'm not gonna look at an 8-5 season (2001) and act like GOL had the engine going full bore. You know as well as I that the 2001 team underachieved and did not play well, especially on defense. Mark Bradley wrote a column right after GOL left entitled, "Tech Got Lucky"...he was right, as far as I'm concerned.

I'll grant you that we played horrible in 2002 toward the end of the season. But the overall results (record) were exactly the same except for the bowl game.

DaveTech · Jan 23, 2003

Gailey’s staff will return 15 starters from a 2001 team that many felt underachieved based on preseason expectations. Only FSU (53) outpaces the Yellow Jackets in the number of returning lettermen, as the Yellow Jackets are tied for second with Clemson with 46.

Link for that one complainer
Returning all that talent from a team that underachieved but was picked to challenge for the NC is NOT an empty cupboard.

In 2002 GOL w/o Ralph (whom I have utmost respect for) scored 405 points. I believe CG scored 280.
Or defensively Roof allowed 237 and 281.Last year was 267 so no big improvement there either.

For those that think the program is on the upswing you may as well start the usual "Wait until 2004."

ncjacket · Jan 23, 2003

DaveTech, you are right that we returned 15 starters. But explain then why we were picked 5-6 by more prognosticators last year then? They knew who we returned just as well as we did. What they were willing to admit is what we were missing - especially Goose. And maybe, they paid attention when watching AJ play at TN and saw problems there, and maybe they weren't as enamored of Bilbo as we were. I still contend that we have 3 main problems: QB, size on the DL and lack of playmakers.

In a related note, did anyone hear the State players after last night's win against Duke? One said WTTE, "coach has a great game plan, but you have to make plays to beat a team like Duke. Players make plays." Couldn't have said it better myself.

By playmakers I mean someone who goes up over a D-back and steals the ball (like the FSU kid did to us in the SVB)... or who makes a one handed catch for a winning TD (like Kerry against Clemson 2 years ago). Not saying we don't have guys with the potential, just that we didn't have anybody do it last year, with the exception of Gordon's run against NCSU. That's what we need to improve on.

jacketguy · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by GMC 68:
Beeware, I agree with some of your points. However most people don't realize the bad shape the progam was in when O'Liar left. The team had played terribly all year. O'Liar was leaving because he could she the handwriting on the wall. Without Fridge, he was toast. I do agree that CG took over a better program than GOL.

GMC you hit the nail on the head !!

Beeware, GOL did a terrible job his last year at Tech... how could you be so happy with the 2001 results and be so critical of the 2002 results... it doesnt add up.. .but few of your posts do add up.. I suggested earlier that you go and spend some time talking with the coaches and/or administration... why dont you do that?

I think it is painfully obivous that GOL knew that things were sliding, and on top of that, he was slowly losing control of the program...everyone knew that!

GTTerrific · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by jacketguy:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by GMC 68:
Beeware, I agree with some of your points. However most people don't realize the bad shape the progam was in when O'Liar left. The team had played terribly all year. O'Liar was leaving because he could she the handwriting on the wall. Without Fridge, he was toast. I do agree that CG took over a better program than GOL.

GMC you hit the nail on the head !!

Beeware, GOL did a terrible job his last year at Tech... how could you be so happy with the 2001 results and be so critical of the 2002 results... it doesnt add up.. .but few of your posts do add up.. I suggested earlier that you go and spend some time talking with the coaches and/or administration... why dont you do that?

I think it is painfully obivous that GOL knew that things were sliding, and on top of that, he was slowly losing control of the program...everyone knew that!<hr /></blockquote>Jacketguy, good to hear from you. We don't hear from you enough.

In my opinion you're right on target. Also, your suggestion stated is a good one. Of course people feel it more pleasing and effective to use message boards to

bellyseries · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by ncjacket:

In a related note, did anyone hear the State players after last night's win against Duke? One said WTTE, "coach has a great game plan, but you have to make plays to beat a team like Duke. Players make plays." Couldn't have said it better myself.

I fed the kid that line.

GEETEELEE · Jan 23, 2003

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gailey’s staff will return 15 starters from a 2001 team that many felt underachieved based on preseason expectations. Only FSU (53) outpaces the Yellow Jackets in the number of returning lettermen, as the Yellow Jackets are tied for second with Clemson with 46.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSU: 9-5
CU: 7-6
GT: 7-6

I really don't think GO'L would have faired any better. Returning talent don't always mean a whole lot.

Big Buck · Jan 23, 2003

Time will surely reveal what we have in a head coach. Was this year an aberration or was it a true measure of the man? I hope and pray that this year was an aberration although I don't think so.

I hate to see one font call another a lap dog. Dang, this board would be awfully boring if one font posted a point and 20 other fonts responded ME TOO. That is one of the negative things about
a message board. Intolerance speaks volumes about us.

beeware · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by Big Buck:
I hate to see one font call another a lap dog.

BB,
Does that mean that you don't hate to see one font call another font a "whiny ninny pissant"?

Thanks for the laugh.

bellyseries · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by beeware:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Big Buck:
I hate to see one font call another a lap dog.

BB,
Does that mean that you don't hate to see one font call another font a "whiny ninny pissant"?

Thanks for the laugh.<hr /></blockquote>My Mama called me worse than either of those names at least once a week, fellas. Usually when it was Saturday night bath time.

carib · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by bellyseries:
I'm not quite as in love with the Fridge as everyone else here. I think his experience at MD was a little like Richt's, on a smaller scale. He followed a coach who could recruit but not produce on game day.

I doubt anybody would have much difference at Tech last year. A coach who might have beaten Clemson and Wake might well lose to NCSU and UVa.

Surely you jest. From reading the hive over the years the concensus view was Maryland was never good (never mind Bobby Ross' and Fridge's success in the 80's prior to their arrival at GTech or Claiborne's success in the 70's or Jim Tatum's or Curly Byrds success - Md won some southern conference championships) and never would be good. No way, no how did their recruiting base give them a chance to compete in the ACC especially compared to the southern fb schools of clemson, Gtech & fsu. Georgia and Florida simply yields too much talent and too much of the right kind of talent for Md to compete -no spring HS football in the north east etc. Md is a basketball school and on and on.

Now you and other posters I have seen that post on this site or the 'new hive' have compared the situation Fridge walked into with Richt or just refuse to credit the Fridge. Actually comparing what he walked into to Richt and uga is rediculous. Simply amazing how all of a sudden Md became so talent laden. So all that disparaging talk about Md's talent must have been alot of BS.

The hive, tigernet2, the tarpit all towed the same line with regards to Mds talent [it sucked] now all of a sudden Md is talent laden. Go figure. Coaching had nothing to do with it.

bellyseries · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by carib:

Now you and other posters I have seen that post on this site or the 'new hive' have compared the situation Fridge walked into with Richt or just refuse to credit the Fridge. Actually comparing what he walked into to Richt and uga is rediculous. Simply amazing how all of a sudden Md became so talent laden. So all that disparaging talk about Md's talent must have been alot of BS.

Did you see them play the last two years? Those weren't Southern Conference players out there.

PA, VA and NJ have turned out some pretty good athletes, right in U Md's recruiting patch. So, to answer your question, no, I'm not joking. We'll know more about the Fridge after 5 years, just like we will about Richt.

His offense at Tech never beat FSU, but I guess we're not much of a football school, either. Is that your point?

By the way Carib, may I refer Beeware to your sig? That's a great line.

Lionel Hutz · Jan 23, 2003

carib,
I wish Fridge was our coach at GT, but he isn't.

Having expressed how much I like Fridge, I also have to say that the cupboard at UM wasn't bare. For starters, EJ Henderson was the best LB in the nation IMO and Fridge had nothing to do with him coming to UM.

You are right though that UM did not and does not have nearly the talent of UGA.

IMO, Fridge > Richt

beeware · Jan 23, 2003

Difference in the Fridge and CG:

Fridge knows exactly what he wants to do....he knows exactly how to do what he wants to do....and there isn't anything going to stop him from accomplishing his mission.

Chan does not have a clue what he wants to do....and even if he did he does not have a clue about how to do it....and even if he did he has no fire in the belly or even a sense of a mission that is even remotely obvious.

In other words one has a roaring fire in the belly (a big belly at that) and the other barely has a pilot light.

carib · Jan 23, 2003

[/qb][/QUOTE]Did you see them play the last two years? Those weren't Southern Conference players out there.

PA, VA and NJ have turned out some pretty good athletes, right in U Md's recruiting patch. So, to answer your question, no, I'm not joking. We'll know more about the Fridge after 5 years, just like we will about Richt.

His offense at Tech never beat FSU, but I guess we're not much of a football school, either. Is that your point?

By the way Carib, may I refer Beeware to your sig? That's a great line.[/QB][/QUOTE]

________________________________________________

I know where the players on Md's roster came from. My point is that BS spouted on the hive about Md recruiting territory not allowing them to be competive in the ACC was BS. Regardless, no way, no how does Md play as well as they have without the Fridge. Some folks, present company included act like his situation was like Richt's or Coker getting handed the keys at Miami. Give me a break.

And as far as the Fridg'es offense not beating FSU, list time I checked a third of the game was defense! 40+ points and still lose to an FSU team with bunch of future NFLers on the roster. What more do you want.

**DONOTDELETE** · Jan 23, 2003

Originally posted by GMC 68:
Beeware, I agree with some of your points. However most people don't realize the bad shape the progam was in when O'Liar left. The team had played terribly all year. O'Liar was leaving because he could see the handwriting on the wall. Without Fridge, he was toast. I do agree that CG took over a better program than GOL.

I agree with GMC 68. GOL was spent. He came to Tech and brought a good attitude and a good OC. As much as I hate to admit it, the offense was exciting. When the Fridge left, it was over. The offense took a step back and the defense was still bad. O'Leary never had a defensive coordinator. If you look at the other successful coaches in their first year, most have good assistant coaches. Those are the guys that can get the players to achieve (or overachieve). After the way O'Leary left, Gailey did not have a chance his first year. No chance.

First year head coaches

Varsity Lurker

Flats Noob

Jolly Good Fellow

Varsity Lurker

Damn Good Rat

Varsity Lurker

Dodd-Like

Damn Good Rat

Dodd-Like

Dodd-Like

USAUSAUSAUSA

Flats Noob

Jolly Good Fellow

Dodd-Like

Varsity Lurker

Dodd-Like

Varsity Lurker

Jolly Good Fellow

Varsity Lurker

Banhammer'd