This is a man that is very well respected. He’s produced three All-America DBs at UGA and is about to have his 10th drafted into the NFL. He has played and coached the game at a very high level. A South Florida guy, he starred at Hollywood Hills High in Coral Gables and helped win a national championship as a defensive back at Miami in 1983. He has all those Florida connections and recruits that area hard — and well — for the Bulldogs. And for all the criticism of this past season, it truly was his only bad season. They were ranked in the top 20 in yardage and scoring his first three seasons. As it was they were 22nd and 54th, respectively, this season.
As of around noon, the Athens Banner-Herald reported there is no change in status. Miami still has not contacted UGA about talking to CWM, and messages for CWM were unreturned.
Who has two thumbs and does not rush...to return phone calls?
32 comments:
I'm not Willie's biggest fan but I don't feel too confident in being able to hire anyone better than him this late in the game. If this was a month ago I'd be excited to see him leave, but right now I'd rather see him stay for next year and get one more chance to right the ship....
I think it would highly unlikely that CWM will leave for UM at this point in the recruiting year.
CMR has shown CWM a great deal of loyalty over the years and I think CWM will respond in kind.
I mentioned the same type of sentiments in other places on the interwebs. While some Dawg fans may be very excited at the news, when reality sets in, they're not going to be too thrilled.
I've see folks talk about going out and getting Tuberville, Ty Nix, or other coaches and the harsh reality is that ain't gonna happen. If CWM goes, then the first man offered the job is Rodney Garner. Period. You don't keep a guy like that on staff for so long (and keep him out of UT) without giving him a shot should the current situation change.
Also, not many folks want to think about how this could affect recruiting. Towers has a good point of All-Americans and NFL players. CWM has gotten talent drafted. It is what it is, and if he leaves, so MIGHT some of our guys like Branden Smith, Shawn Williams, Jordan Love, etc.
For a school that kept ________(fill in blank:Goff, Donnan,Felton) as long as we have, you would think that after ONE bad year we would not be so quick to dismiss Willie.
Can anyone with any common sense point to a year outside this past one where we have been bad on D?
Didn't think so.
Who are the 3 All-American DBs?
Thomas Davis, Sean Jones, Greg Blue
sean jones, thomas davis, greg blue
Anonymous is always there before I am. Damn Ubiquitous Anonymous.
I just saw WM at the Raleigh in south beach. he and shannon were in a bungalow knocking back mojitos and knocking boots with some latino girls. The smell was awful. There was some white powder all over the place and I thought I saw Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp at the bar.
The three All-American DBs are: Sean Jones, Greg Blue and Thomas Davis.
I have hated on CWM over the past few months, well years, but I am beginning to rethink my position. Not that I am saying that CWM is great or anything like that I am going to hold off on the fire CWM a little while longer.
My first reason is that I have begun to consider the evidence of the "injury bug" that seems to hit us every other year. I can't remember when we had all our starters healthy throughout the season. My reasoning is that I want to see what CWM can do with a healthy defense all year long something he never has had.
Secondly, I think that CWM can honestly look at himself and see if he can change and adapt. We know that he can adapt at the half but not during the game. Consider the off season his half time adjustment. I think maybe we should give him this opportunity to see what he can do. This really is the only season the defense has totally sucked it up and choked in one quarter every game.
So in the midst of this turmoil I am going to admit that maybe I have been overly harsh. I am going to recant my position and say that I will give him a little more time to adjust and overcome. He has only been a DC for 4 years. Well, that may not be the best argument. SO FIRE CWM NEXT YEAR IF HE DOESN'T BETTER.
Option A (and best) keep Willie
Option B promote Garner to DC and Lilly to RC
Option C bring in Kirby Smart and promote Lilly next year to RC after Garner BOLTS
I imagine the appreciation meter for Willie is rising.
Frankly, I believe we should try to bring Kirby in to coach DBs, we just have not had the production there since Willie to over the DC position. That may be more of a talent issue. JMO
Could I please nominate Jon Fabris as a DC at Miami....or anywhere besides here.
Please.
Dawgnotdog,
I have to disagree with the comment about Fabris. Aside from the '08 season, can you name another year where we had an underperforming group of DEs? I can't. When you look at names like Pollack, Moses, Johnson, Howard, etc., you have to admit that Fabris hasn't done a poor job of coaching those guys up.
Now, would I nominate Fabris do ANYTHING other than coach special teams?
Abso-F'n-lutely.
A fair comment.
But my comment is based on the fact that 8 years of kickoffs out of bounds, etc. do not seem to be enough to even consider taking THAT part of special teams off his plate.
But yes, he has done a good job of coaching the DEs.
If you wait until all the pretty girls have been asked to the dance, you got to hope like hell your backup plan doesn't leave at the last minute for someone who might return her affection. Otherwise, you find yourself all alone at the end of the night.
If the house was to be cleaned, it should have been done a few weeks ago. That way, you could have your picks of DC's, and RG could have taken his payday without Richt seeming disingenuous. Now, you have to do whatever it takes to keep Martinez around in order retain program stability, future of the program be damned.
BTW, Willie-Mart isn't goin' anywhere. Going to Miami would be career suicide.
I think Richt orders the corner kicks
Good synopsis of Willie's tenure at UGA and our defensive problems.
http://www.dawgsports.com/2008/12/4/679390/the-case-against-willie-ma
Wasn't Tra Battle voted All American on some lists as well?
Tra Battle was not an All-American.
While you can totally blame the third quarter meltdown in the Tech game on the defense, the offense in the Alabama and Florida games was not exactly lights out.
Rodney Garner would be a disaster. Has anyone else ever wondered why he hasn't been offered a DC job anywhere? IMO his DT's have underperformed.
Has anyone else wondered why he didn't go to UT when he had all but agreed to the job? I can tell you it was his wife that shot it down and told him to play with the other coaches. CMR laid the law down with him to actually do work. CMR realized he painted himself into a corner in 04' when he took him over BVG, making him the Associate HC. Well the AHC doesn't take orders from a DC. So the humble interview that followed RG last minute decision to stay is a result of him putting his ego in check and actually having to work. Momma trumped him.
CWM has had to deal with coaches that didn't get along and wouldn't work together. With the injuries this year it all came home to roost. CWM has been playing with a half deck since he took over.
This is the first year he will actually have everyone on the same page.
Anonymous - "Rodney Garner would be a disaster...."
Can't put too much stock in your post. Really interested in who you are and how you came about this information, or is it an opinion? Like your analysis of the DT play. Momma and wife, really? That type of inside information would make you one hell of a reporter.
Perhaps the NY Times is still hiring fabricators.
Guys, this is depressing but if you connect the dots it explains a lot. We would be better off starting over with a complete new defensive staff. That is not going to happen so next year is the defining year for Richt and his staff. I do not think you can blame only CWM for the defensive failures but you have to blame all of the defensive coaches. We are a team so if we fail, we fail as a team which includes all of the coaches. If the defense fails next year all of the defensive coaches should be let go without exception or accept being a third rate team in the SEC.
Any excuse to use the Martinez thumbs up pic eh? It is awesome. I feel like I am in an episode of The Office.
THE LOBO.
What's Blue up to these days?
He has all those Florida connections and recruits that area hard — and well — for the Bulldogs.
Well, just who are they then? If he has such great connections down south Can anyone name them.
Last i saw Greg Blue was an announcer screaming "this kid just stopped Marion Barber solo twice inside five" playing for lions.I have said from day one Ga. fans were throwing CWM under the bus.KS would not take a lesser job title , he just got this one(also unproven).CWM job would be alot easier if dawgs could cover a kickoff once in a while.
Sorry Jacob, but Tra Battle was a third team All-American in 2006.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/9866824
Battle was an all-american for one game - AU 2006. The rest he was good, but not an AA performer.
My question is when will we have that type of day against the Gators? We really need to wipe the field with their asses asap.
anon 12:37--PREACH ON!
According to the Red and Black, Bobo is telling recruits that Willie isn't going anywhere.
http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2009/01/23/Sports/Linebacker.Commit.Says.Martinez.Is.Staying-3594362.shtml
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