Big news on The Flats. Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator Patrick Nix is headed to the Miami Hurricanes to take the same position at Da U (Source: ESPN).Nix and Giff Smith are GT's two best recruiters. Losing Nix is a big blow to what was becoming a solid staff...at least from a recruiting front.
It doesn't appear to be much of a blow to Tech from an Xs and Os standpoint.
His greatest QB protege is Reggie Ball. His most infamous play calling moment was sending in the "spike" call on third down vs. Georgia in 2004. He is also notorious for not finding ways to get Calvin OMG Johnson the ball in huge games (see: Clemson '06, UGA '06, the second half of the ND Game in '06, etc.).
Nix calls for the spike. Click to enlarge (Image: Anti-Orange Page)
As for the Canes, one has to ask..."Huh?" It's one thing to appreciate Nix as a recruiter. It's an entirely different thing to appreciate him as a play caller, QB coach or a guy that can count to four. Nix is a big step down from Dirk Koetter, former ASU head coach, who was initially announced as the offensive coordinator in Miami before taking a job with the Jacksonville Jags.
While FSU dramatically upgrades its coaching staff, Miami hires a guy who managed the #91 ranked passing offense and #54 ranked scoring offense in the nation and only created six points vs. Wake Forest in the ACC Title game. But I digress.
It is a win professionally for Nix. Randy Shannon, Miami's head coach, will likely give him a longer play calling leash than Chan Gailey gave him. Also, with Gailey's new found professional wandering eye, he may end up with greater professional stability in Coral Gables.
Either way, it doesn't make Georgia Tech look like much of a destination employer. Just sort of a stop over on the path to something "better."
pwd
Update:
Nix Confirms Things with the AJC
