Georgia Tech losing top recruiter

The timing left a little to be desired, but otherwise it appears the sudden departure of Giff Smith is not going to undo any of Georgia Tech’s good recruiting work. Smith, the Yellow Jackets’ defensive line coach and well-respected recruiting coordinator, resigned Tuesday in order to accept a position as outside linebackers coach for Chan Gailey’s Buffalo Bills. Smith was actually in Buffalo, N.Y., late Tuesday afternoon as he called the many Tech recruits and players with whom he had a relationship. – Atlanta Journal Constitution

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

Scoop: With Tub in Trouble, is Butch on Horizon?

The winds of change have been set in motion in Auburn, Alabama. Sources at the school tell Football Rumor Mill that Coach Tommy Tuberville’s chances of returning in 2009 look about the same as a Republican takeover of Congress next month.

Saturday’s 22-25 loss to Arkansas may be the beginning of the end for Tub. Talk about irony… Remember “Jet Gate” in 2003? Steve Ensminger was calling the plays for Auburn’s offense and a bunch of trustees wanted to hire then Louisville Coach Bobby Petrino to replace Tuberville.

Fast forward to 2008… Tommy Tuberville fired his latest offensive coordinator earlier in the week (his fifth). Now, he has Steve Ensminger calling his plays and current Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino likely just cost him his job.

Barring a miracle turnaround, it’s hard to see who Auburn beats the rest of the season. Following an off week, the Tigers travel to West Virginia, play at Ole Miss, return home to take on UT-Martin and end the season with Georgia and Alabama. Getting to seven wins would be a season salvaged. Auburn could conceivably finish 5-7. We’re not sure seven wins would be enough to ensure Tuberville’s return. In fact, we’re told he likely has to win at least eight.

Who would replace him? That’s an interesting question. With Petrino likely off the table, next in line would have probably been Florida State OC Jimbo Fisher. However, Fisher was named head coach in waiting for the Seminoles last year. The three names we’ve been hearing are North Carolina Coach Butch Davis, Texas DC Will Muschamp and Georgia Tech Coach Paul Johnson, whom we consider a long shot.