RC Giff Smith is doing a terrific job for Tech!

[GT Ace]

He's the lead recruiter for 4 of the 8 commitments that the Yellow Jackets now have. They're all in-state, which is slightly easier to recruit, but nontheless Mr Smith has done a fabulous job in less than 2 yrs!!!!

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/07/13/0714techfoot.html

 

[gnats67]

I'd have to agree with this statement. Giff Smith is da man. Superhuman characterisitics. How long can we keep him? Thanks Giff.

 

[hiveredtech]

I'd have to agree with this statement. Giff Smith is da man. Superhuman characterisitics. How long can we keep him? Thanks Giff.

If he does not become a defensive coordinator soon at GT he will definitely leave for somewhere else.

I have to wonder if Tenuta leaves after this year. This would be the year....we have 7 senior, and 3 junior, starters on defense...he loses both of his safeties and one CB. Plus...his son graduates from high school in May 2008.

If there were ever an upside to losing someone of JT's status...it would be to lock in a future star like Giff Smith who has been around him and recruits like no one we have ever had.

 

[buzztheirazz]

I like the:
"he's bucking close to 190 pounds"
good way for a coach to add emphasis without cursing.

 

[33jacket]

If he does not become a defensive coordinator soon at GT he will definitely leave for somewhere else.

I have to wonder if Tenuta leaves after this year. This would be the year....we have 7 senior, and 3 junior, starters on defense...he loses both of his safeties and one CB. Plus...his son graduates from high school in May 2008.

If there were ever an upside to losing someone of JT's status...it would be to lock in a future star like Giff Smith who has been around him and recruits like no one we have ever had.

Maybe...but being a good recruiting coord does not always mean you are a good coach. I am not saying Giff is a bad coach, but if there was a coach on our staff today, that I would say would be more prepared to take JT's role it would be BJ. He coaches a much more complex position, a position that is required to make all the defensive calls on the field and has a heavy assignment burden; and BJ calls all the plays into the field.

I would vote for him; Giff is awesome don't get me wrong; but to anoint him as the next D-coord b/c he is a good recruiting coord...I don't connect the dots.

Anyway...just one mans' opinion...

 

[Techbert]

RC And Coaching Are Indeed Separate

It is my opinion that Giff is an outstanding coach, separate from his recruiting successes.

 

[33jacket]

Re: RC And Coaching Are Indeed Separate

It is my opinion that Giff is an outstanding coach, separate from his recruiting successes.

yeah mine too...but I still think BJ is in a better position to lead the defense over Giff...based on what he does now....that is all my point was!

 

[hiveredtech]

Re: RC And Coaching Are Indeed Separate

yeah mine too...but I still think BJ is in a better position to lead the defense over Giff...based on what he does now....that is all my point was!

Regardless of whether Giff would be a good DC...we will lose him to someone as a DC before long. Heck, Geoff Collins is making 50% more than him only being a Director of Player Personnel at Alabama!

I would hope that Giff and BJ are both learning a lot under Tenuta. I am not sure how good he is at mentoring.

One thing is certain...you have to have the players to win. A good coach just gets you to the next level. Bad coaches can win 7-8 games when they have the talent level each year that Florida, Georgia, etc. have (i.e. Pat Dye at Auburn!).

 

[33jacket]

Re: RC And Coaching Are Indeed Separate

Regardless of whether Giff would be a good DC...we will lose him to someone as a DC before long. Heck, Geoff Collins is making 50% more than him only being a Director of Player Personnel at Alabama!

I would hope that Giff and BJ are both learning a lot under Tenuta. I am not sure how good he is at mentoring.

One thing is certain...you have to have the players to win. A good coach just gets you to the next level. Bad coaches can win 7-8 games when they have the talent level each year that Florida, Georgia, etc. have (i.e. Pat Dye at Auburn!).

true I agree

 

[Techbert]

Re: RC And Coaching Are Indeed Separate

I would hope that Giff and BJ are both learning a lot under Tenuta. I am not sure how good he is at mentoring.

I think you can learn a lot under Tenuta by osmosis. After a certain amount of "This is the way it is," you know how things are without being told each time. He does not have to hold your hand to teach you. You just have to pay attention to all the "If they do this, we do that"'s, and why.

And I am confident he is more open with his colleagues than he is with unwashed alumni. (Unwashed alumni are only worthy of being told,
a. "No."
b. "He's in the mix." and
c. "That's what spring ball is all about.")

I am purposely avoiding comparing BJ and Giff. Both are great position coaches. You have to interview both to decide who would be the better DC. Both are outstanding recruiters. I agree with Redtech that Giff is more likely to be snatched away first, but it would not shock me if BJ gets a promotion elsewhere as well.

(And if you have not interviewed both, I don't see the point of saying which one you would prefer as DC.)

 

[33jacket]

Re: RC And Coaching Are Indeed Separate

(And if you have not interviewed both, I don't see the point of saying which one you would prefer as DC.)

I am just basing it on what I see at practice, who holds what responsibility directing the teams etc etc...

purely my opinion based on somewhat background observations

With that said...who knows who would actually be better. I also don't think an interview for a few hours tells u much. Just tells you who interviews better.

The point of saying it is to express my opinion, based on my observations for the sake of reasonable discussion on a message board...

 

[Techbert]

Duly noted, and valid.

I think you do learn from an interview. This is true even if you work daily with both men. You can explicitly ask about and learn about their visions for the defense, what they would do differently, and what they would do the same. Also, part of the job of a position assistant is to implement the opinions of their boss and be good soldiers about it while they are on the clock. An interview lets them share more about who they really are rather than just giving Jon and Chan what they want.

Some people are natural captains and some people are natural lieutenants. Seeing people yelling and teaching on the practice field tell you something about their people skills and football knowledge, but not if they have the leadership to guide a defense.

There's a lot of Peter Principle in football.

Again. Again. Again. I am not in any way comparing the two men, with the one exception that I do think we would lose Giff before we lose BJ. And that does not mean I necessarily agree on the merits of that.

But if Tenuta moves on, and he just might after this year, we may lose everyone on the defensive side but who we promote anyway, and it may not be our first choice.