Georgia Chasing Alabama DC Kirby Smart

In the aftermath of Alabama’s national championship, Georgia has redoubled its efforts to snag the Crimson Tide’s top defensive assistant. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, this season’s Broyles Award winner as the nation’s top assistant, is considering a lucrative offer to take over the defense at his alma mater. Multiple sources told the Press-Register that Georgia could be willing to at least double the $360,000 base salary Smart earned this past season at Alabama. Smart, 34, may not be the only Alabama assistant in play for jobs in the coming days. Unconfirmed speculation Saturday was that former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville may be interested in bringing former Auburn assistant and current Alabama inside linebackers coach James Willis onto his new staff at Texas Tech. An industry source said Saturday he did not think the Willis move would happen. But sources have maintained for the duration of UGA’s search that Smart and his family are happy at Alabama and not pursuing a move back to Athens. – al.com

LSU holds onto John Chavis

Mark Richt made a good run, but John Chavis has decided to stay put at LSU. LSU officials confirmed Thursday that Chavis’ deal at LSU will be sweetened after hammering out a new agreement with Chavis on Wednesday night. Georgia had offered Chavis a three-year deal worth at least $600,000 annually to be the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator. LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said Thursday that the Tigers did what they needed to to keep Chavis, who earned $450,000 in salary this season — his first at LSU. Keeping Chavis is a coup for the Tigers, whose defense improved substantially on his watch this season. They’re ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16 points per game. But more importantly, they regained their edge under Chavis, a no-frills guy who’s done it at a high level now in the SEC for the better part of the last two decades. – ESPN

John Chavis doesn’t refute Georgia rumors

How serious is LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis about the Georgia defensive coordinator’s job? Well, he’s not really saying. At least, not with the Tigers set to take on Penn State in two days in the Capital One Bowl. Chavis was asked two different times Wednesday at a Capital One Bowl press conference about his interest in the Georgia job and/or whether or not he expected to be at LSU next year. Both times, he essentially gave a lengthy no comment and certainly did nothing to distance himself from the Georgia job. “I’ll be happy to talk about our players and about this bowl game,” Chavis said. “Beyond that, I really want to leave it like it is.” Several people close to the situation contend that Chavis has emerged as Mark Richt’s top choice and that it’s his job if he wants it. The Bulldogs are prepared to pay $600,000 or more per year and would give Chavis a three-year contract. He earned $450,000 this season at LSU. – ESPN

Georgia AD: Mark Richt will make coaching decisions

If Georgia coach Mark Richt decides to make changes to his coaching staff, athletic director Damon Evans said he’s willing to be “competitive” to attract top candidates. “I’ll continue to assess things and try to do my best to make sure we’re competitive whether it’s from a salary standpoint, contractual standpoint or what have you,” Evans said. “I believe for the most part we’ve done that. Has the paradigm maybe shifted a little bit? I’m sure it has. As things go on and situations change, you look and assess and make decisions based upon that particular time.” – Athens Banner-Herald

Mark Richt under fire at Georgia

Georgia’s lackluster season has some calling for Mark Richt’s job. “For most good people, winning is enough. I was the exception,” Earl Bruce said. “You would have to know what the atmosphere was in Columbus, Ohio. I was not on the strong side of the ruling family. I’m not a political guy. I was a football coach, and the politics got me. It happens and there is nothing you can do about it. “What kind of athletic director does Mark have? Who hired him? Did that president there now hire him? The chain of command makes every difference if you check coaching hirings and firings. Normally when there is a change in presidents and change in athletic director, that’s a problem. The athletic director was not a problem for me, but the president was. When the president got involved, it was politics.” When Bruce was told some fans are urging Richt to replace defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, Bruce said Richt better beware. “That’s the start of the demise,” Bruce said. “The next step is you.” – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia AD “here to provide advice” for Mark Richt

The thought of such an event occurring is laughable, but that didn’t stop Georgia athletic director Damon Evans from addressing the possibility with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. One question: Why? Why would Evans even respond to questions of coach Mark Richt’s job security, especially considering Richt has led Georgia to two SEC championships, three BCS bowl games and an 86-26 record in nine seasons. Apparently, Georgia fans don’t remember what life was like pre-Richt and post-Vince Dooley. Instead of not responding to lunacy, Evans said he was sure Richt would evaluate the program at the end of the season and that he’s “here to provide advice” if Richt needs it. If that isn’t a subtle hint to the overly loyal Richt of needed changes on the coaching staff — embattled defensive coordinator Willie Martinez comes to mind — what is? – Sporting News

Changes brewing at Georgia?

Pressure may be mounting on Georgia coach Mark Richt to make some staff changes as the Bulldogs’ season continues to spiral downward. Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez is under the most pressure. His defense was shredded in a 45-19 loss at Tennessee. Georgia ranks 11th in the SEC, yielding 377.2 yards per game. The Bulldogs are No. 4 against the run (128.2 ypg) but 11th against the pass (249.0 ypg). Georgia also is last in turnover margin, gaining just five turnovers and committing 16. – Yahoo!

Bad Loss for Mark Richt, Georgia Turns Up Heat

As big as Saturday’s 45-19 win over Georgia was for Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, it was just as damaging for Georgia coach Mark Richt. The grumbling among the Georgia fans had already been simmering. It will be an all-out growl now. Not only did the Bulldogs lose to a Tennessee team that had yet to win in the SEC this season, but they were embarrassed. Watching those two teams play Saturday, it was obvious Tennesse wanted the win more… You wonder if the season is over for the Bulldogs, and if so, what that means for Richt and his staff. The Georgia defense deserves a lot of the blame. Tennessee’s 45 points marked the third time this season that a team had scored at least 37 points against the Bulldogs, who had a similar stretch of poor defensive performances a year ago. But offensively, the Bulldogs were just as bad, maybe even worse. They managed just three offensive points against the Vols. Everything else came courtesy of the defense and special teams. This one won’t play well in Athens. – ESPN.com

Georgia’s Mark Richt has good reason for concern

When you’re a head football coach, you never want to be asked the following question: “Are you concerned about the state of the program?” Because even if you aren’t concerned, somebody must be or they wouldn’t ask the question. It’s safe to say there are a lot of those somebodies around Athens today. For the record, here was Georgia coach Mark Richt’s response when a reporter asked that question after Saturday’s humiliating 45-19 loss at Tennessee: “We didn’t play very good today. We haven’t had a game this season where we played a really solid football game, so I’m concerned about that.” That’s a good reason for concern. And many of you undoubtedly are displeased with what you’ve seen in the last season’s worth of football from Richt’s ballclub… What’s amazing is that this very same Georgia bunch who stood toe-to-toe with LSU a week ago is only a handful of plays away from being 0-6. Such is the nature of this completely unpredictable Bulldogs squad. They can still win eight or nine games and end the season on a positive note, although that won’t live up to the lofty standards Richt established in his first eight years in Athens. That’s difficult to accept when this coaching staff has established such a run of consistency, but this isn’t 2002 or 2005 anymore. Richt’s teams seem to fall into unexplainable lulls with more frequency than at any point in his tenure at Georgia. What needs to change to remedy Georgia’s many problems depends on who you ask. But it’s clear the Bulldogs are trending downwards and there is no sign things will improve in the near future. – Athens Banner-Herald

Georgia Coach Mark Richt on Hot Seat

Georgia coach Mark Richt may need to start looking for life after football. The Georgia Bulldogs were slaughtered by the Volunteers. The offense looked anemic, the defense was atrocious and all of that could spell the end for Richt. The only question is, “Who do get to replace him?” – Tide Sports

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