GT Fires DC Dave Wommack, Targets Al Groh

Dave Wommack has been fired as Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator. Georgia Tech announced on Friday that Wommack will not return for the 2010 season. Coach Paul Johnson says he and Wommack “both agreed” a change was needed after Georgia Tech finished the season ranked 54th in the nation in total defense and 56th in scoring defense. Wommack was asked if he wanted to stay on the coaching staff in a different position, but he declined, a source told ESPN The Magazine’s Bruce Feldman. “Dave is a good man and a good football coach,” Johnson said. “But after speaking to him earlier this week, we both agreed that it was time for a change at that position.” According to the source, Johnson would like to run a 3-4 defense and is interested in hiring former Virginia head coach Al Groh. – ESPN.com

Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson agrees to extension

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson agreed to a one-year contract extension, which will now carry through the 2016 season, the school announced Friday. The extension restores the agreement to the 7-year length the school had negotiated with Johnson in December of 2008. “It goes without saying how much we value what Paul Johnson continues to do for the Georgia Tech program and the energy he has created within the Yellow Jacket family,” athletic director Dan Radakovich said in a prepared statement. “We remain committed to Paul in every way, and we foresee a long-term relationship with much continued success in the coming years.” – ESPN

Why Paul Johnson isn’t a fit at Notre Dame

Five reasons why Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson won’t be the next coach at Notre Dame: He’s a little too much like Charlie Weis. Meaning: He’s blunt, and he can’t be coached in the gentle art of public relations. NBC might not be thrilled about the prospects of airing a team that runs the football 83 percent of the time. Notre Dame cares about recruiting rankings. Johnson famously does not. Johnson doesn’t want to live in South Bend. He’s a Southern guy. Notre Dame once hired a coach from Tech. The perfect union, right? A feisty Irishman coaching the Fighting Irish. It lasted 3 1/2 days. – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Al Groh Likely Done at Virginia

You mean Al Groh hasn’t been fired yet? Coaches more successful than Groh - who is 56-47 in nine seasons at Virginia - have gotten canned, so it would seem his ouster is imminent. The Cavaliers have endured losing seasons in two of the past three seasons and appear spiraling downhill this season with an 0-3 start. Losing to FCS member William & Mary in the season opener had to inflame what already was a hot seat. Then, last week the Cavaliers blew a 27-10 lead and lost 37-34 to Southern Miss. The Cavs are idle this week. Maybe the extra practice time will enable Groh to shore up areas in which the Cavs are struggling. Perhaps they will bounce back and have a strong run through October and November. But the Cavs couldn’t beat William & Mary, so their chances against North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Miami, Clemson and Virginia Tech don’t appear good. Can Groh survive another losing season? Not likely. – Yahoo.com

Randy Shannon off the hot seat?

Tonight is the game Randy Shannon has been building his past couple of years toward. it’s the one where Miami fans legitimately can say they’re on their way back. They aren’t there with a win tonight. Being back to Miami would mean running the table on these first four games - and I still think there’s some growing to be done before that. But Miami has put in enough building blocks for a win tonight against Georgia Tech. Scouts Inc. agrees in its analysis of the game — pointing out the beef on Miami’s interior being key to stopping the 1920s Georgia Tech offense. A healthy Eric Moncur at defensive end adds to that. What underlines the thought of Miami being back though is you saw some things against Florida State that you haven’t seen in a while. Namely, big-play makers at wide receiver. Shannon has been talking for a while about better recruiting. You can go down the list of receivers and see just what he’s talking about. – Sun-Sentinel