Tag: florida gators news

Steve Spurrier on absence of spring practice, how long teams need to prepare for 2020 season

Steve Spurrier, while on the Paul Finebaum Show, discussed how long teams will need to prepare for the 2020 CFB season after coronavirus.

Coronavirus has forced the NCAA to cancel all spring sports, including spring practices and scrimmages for college football teams.

Losing offseason practices is never something a college coach enjoys, for the obvious reason it takes time away from evaluating your roster and preparing for the following season.

However, while on the “Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC coaching legend Steve Spurrier went into deal about just how big of a deal the absence of spring practice is for these teams, saying for some coaches it’s really not that huge of an obstacle.

“Most all coaches would tell you that the staffs that have been there for 2, 3, 4 years or more that it’s not that big a deal not having spring football,” Spurrier said. “Maybe if you had competition at quarterback or some other positions, it would be important, but preseason, if you can get a month in before you play, I certainly think everyone would be capable of playing — maybe not quite their best, but pretty close to playing the best they can.”

Where Georgia falls into that is tricky. Kirby Smart is going into his fifth season as head coach of the Bulldogs, so he has a pretty good understanding of how things will run and look next season.

But then there’s the quarterback factor. As far as competition goes, Georgia does not have one. Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman will be the guy under center in 2020. But at the end of the day, he’s still a new quarterback playing in a new conference against a much higher level of talent. So, yes, I’m sure Smart would love to be able to see how Newman gels with the team this spring. But all things considered Smart understands what’s important at a time like this.

“Right now, I think that’s what we’re all hoping and praying that colleges can get 3-4 weeks of preseason and, then, hopefully, we’ve gotta have fans in the stands. I don’t know how you play college football without the fans,” Spurrier said. “They make it what it is. To me, that’s why it’s the greatest sport in the world. The fans talk about it year-round.”

 

 

SportingNews releases preseason CFB top-25: Where is Georgia football?

Where is Georgia football in SportingNews’ preseason college football top-25 rankings?

This week, SportingNews released its preseason college football top-25 for the 2020 season.

Whether or not there will even be a 2020 season is uncertain right now. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit actually said that he would be “shocked” if we had an NFL or college season at the rate things are going in regards to the coronavirus pandemic.

With no spring practices or scrimmages, it makes it that much tougher to assemble these preseason rankings.

Related: USA TODAY releases preseason CFB top 25: Where is Georgia?

But those who are still taking it upon themselves to create a top-25 are doing us all a favor, making the offseason slightly more entertaining.

In SportingNews’ preseason top-25, created by Bill Bender, the site had the Georgia Bulldogs ranked fourth in America.

Bender’s top-five is as follows:

  1. Clemson
  2. Ohio State
  3. Alabama
  4. Georgia
  5. LSU

Notable mentions include: #10 Florida, #11 Auburn, #17 Texas A&M and #23 Kentucky.

On Georgia, Bender wrote:

Jake Fromm is gone, as well as the vast majority of Georgia’s offensive line. The Bulldogs did pick up graduate transfer quarterback Jamie Newman from Wake Forest, and he will work with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Georgia also hired Alabama strength coach Scott Cochran. Kirby Smart has built with a string of top-five recruiting classes. Zamir White and James Cook will keep the ground game going, and George Pickens could emerge as the best receiver in the FBS. Rising redshirt-sophomore linebacker Azeez Ojulari could make the jump to All-American. The road trip to Alabama on Sept. 19 is the next chance to win the big game.

Georgia will look to cap its season with a fourth consecutive trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. That will not be as easy as in years past – not that it was ever easy. Before November, Georgia visits Alabama, hosts Auburn and will play a Florida team in Jacksonville that’s received a ton of offseason hype.

We’ll know just how far this Bulldog squad is capable of going by November 1.

USA TODAY Sports releases preseason CFB top-25: Where is Georgia football?

Where did Georgia football ranks in USA TODAY’s preseason CFB top-25?

Kirby Smart and the Georgia football program will once again head into the next season with hopes of bringing the national championship back home to Athens, Georgia.

Via elite recruiting of both high school prospects and collegiate transfer students, the Dawgs have positioned themselves well to be in this position every year.

Even with the departure of a Jake Fromm, D’Andre Swift, Lawrence Cager, practically its entire offensive line, a few defensive leaders and one of the greatest kickers in school history, Georgia still should find itself sitting in the top-five come next fall.

With coronavirus causing so much uncertainty in the world of sports, whether or not there will even be a 2020 college football season is a mystery right now. However, that did not stop USA TODAY Sports from releasing its post-spring preseason top-25 for the 2020 season.

Paul Myerberg went ahead and compiled his rankings, with Georgia sitting at No. 3 in America.

Here is the top-five:

1. Clemson

2. Ohio State

3. Georgia

4. Oregon

5. Alabama

A few notable mentions include: #7 Florida, #9 LSU, #12 Auburn, #13 Texas A&M.

On Georgia, Myerberg wrote:

Georgia takes a big step forward in the post-spring rankings after cementing its quarterback position with Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman. If replacing Jake Fromm’s experience and reliability may be difficult, Newman’s arm and athleticism should provide a different look to an offense run by a new coordinator in Todd Monken.

Georgia will look to cap off its season with a fourth consecutive trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. That won’t be as easy as in years past – not that it was ever easy. All before November, Georgia visits Alabama, hosts Auburn and will play a Florida team in Jacksonville that’s received a ton of offseason hype.

We’ll know how elite this Bulldog squad is by November 1st.

Urban Meyer: ‘I think this is the year’ that Florida beats Georgia

Former Florida Gators HC Urban Meyer thinks this is the year Dan Mullen and UF beat Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs football program.

During his tenure at Florida, former Gators head coach Urban Meyer went 4-1 vs Georgia, with his only loss being the famous 2007 “Gator Stomp” game.

Meyer’s success against the Bulldogs has not yet been replicated by another Gator coach since.

Now, with Dan Mullen as the head guy in Gainesville, Florida is playing catch-up to Kirby Smart and Georgia. The Dawgs are 2-0 against Florida since Mullen took over and have won the last three vs the Gators.

Georgia has taken control of the series, holding a 6-3 record since 2011.

But Meyer, now a college football analyst with Fox Sports, thinks that this is the year that Mullen gets Florida back into the national spotlight, beats Georgia and navigates the Gators to their first playoff appearance.

“I think (Florida) should be in the playoff. I think it’s time,” Meyer told GatorBait’s Buddy Martin. “Dan’s built a good program. But I spent six years at Florida. Georgia is a big game. Until you beat Georgia you can’t say a thing. And I think this is the year.”

Meyer looks at 2020 as a transition year for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs.

He’s not wrong, but Georgia fans see the transition as a good thing. The Dawgs got an upgrade at offensive coordinator with Todd Monken, a fresh face at quarterback in Jamie Newman and what could even possibly be a boost at offensive line coach with Matt Luke coming into replace Sam Pittman.

There’s a lot of player talent to replace other than Fromm, but Kirby’s landed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in each of the last three years. I have no doubt that Florida will give Georgia a challenge the year, but I’m getting the sense that Kirby has Mullen’s number, and that’s not changing.

Florida is coming on strong, and many do expect the Gators to dethrone Georgia as SEC East champs in 2020. If that happens, it would make Florida the first team other than Georgia to win the division since 2016.

Texas AM officially announces hiring of former Georgia OC James Coley

Texas A&M officially announced the hiring of former Georgia football OC James Coley.

On Tuesday, Texas A&M officially announced that the Aggies have hired former Georgia offensive coordinator James Coley.

Coley will join Jimbo Fisher’s staff in College Station as the program’s tight ends coach.

“I have known James since our days at LSU and Florida State,” Fisher said. “He is an outstanding coach and top notch recruiter, but an even better person. His creativity and coaching are great additions to our staff at Texas A&M.”

During his tenure in Athens, Coley graduated from a position coach to a co-offensive coordinator with Jim Chaney to a full-time offensive coordinator. He was demoted following a lackluster 2019 season during which the Dawgs’ defense stole the show.

Prior to the Bulldogs’ Sugar Bowl win against Baylor earlier this month, Coley admitted some of his shortcomings as OC:

“You know what? I’ve got to do a better job. I’m looking at myself hard, criticizing myself, and busting my tail to get those things better.”

Georgia brought in Todd Monken from the Cleveland Browns to be the program’s new offensive coordinator.

From TAMU:

Coley served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Miami (Fla.) from 2013-15.  Prior to joining the Hurricane staff, he worked with Fisher as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach (2010-12) and tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2008-09) at Florida State.

At FSU, Coley worked with Fisher to mentor three first round draft picks in quarterbacks Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel, and Jameis Winston.  The Seminole offenses were high-powered, averaging 31.4 points per game in 2010, 30.6 in 2011, and 39.3 in 2012.

Former Georgia football OC James Coley set to join SEC foe

UGA now looks to hire a replacement QB coach to instruct Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman and freshman enrollee Carson Beck. 

After former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken was hired to perform the same role at the University of Georgia, former Bulldogs’ OC James Coley’s future was up in the air.

Is Coley now a co-offensive coordinator? Will he go back to coaching quarterbacks? Will he coach receivers?

It would appear none of these hypotheticals will come to fruition. James Coley will be the next tight ends coach at Texas A&M.

Bulldog faithful were introduced to Coley during Kirby Smart’s inaugural season as Top Dawg; Coley was hired as wide receivers’ coach in 2016 following Mark Richt’s removal in late 2015.

During his tenure in Athens, Coley graduated from a position coach to a co-offensive coordinator with Jim Chaney to a full-time offensive coordinator. He was demoted following a lackluster 2019 season during which the Dawgs’ defense stole the show.

Prior to the Bulldogs’ Sugar Bowl win against Baylor earlier this month, Coley admitted some of his shortcomings as OC:

“You know what? I’ve got to do a better job. I’m looking at myself hard, criticizing myself, and busting my tail to get those things better.”

So what will Georgia football’s offense look like next year? Without its beloved offensive line coach Pittman and its mildly maligned offensive coordinator Coley, it’s difficult to predict anything aside from “eh, maybe just a little different.”

In terms of points per game against conference opponents, hopefully it’s a lot different.

Georgia will now look to hire a replacement quarterbacks coach to instruct Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman and freshman enrollee Carson Beck.

Georgia football highest SEC team in PFF’s 2020 Top-25; Florida Gators low

Georgia football checked in very high in PFF’s preseason college football rankings while the Florida Gators were low.

Georgia football will once again be one of the highest ranked teams in college football heading into the 2020 season.

There were some big question marks surrounding the 2020 Bulldogs, however, a big one was cleared up when Georgia was able to reel in Wake Forest graduate transfer quarterback Jamie Newman to replace Jake Fromm in Athens.

And that’s a big reason why Georgia checked in at No. 3 in PFF’s “Way-too-early” Top-25 rankings, the highest of any SEC school.

The two teams ahead of the Dawgs, according to PFF, are Ohio State at No. 1 and Clemson at No. 2.

Other SEC schools inside the rankings include: Alabama (5), LSU (6), Florida (19), Auburn (20).

Florida fans reading this cannot be happy with that low ranking, seeing as how the Gators have cracked a lot of top-10s in the past few weeks.

For Georgia, PFF loves the addition of Newman, saying:

And they were fortunate enough to land the biggest graduate transfer of this offseason in Jamie Newman. During Newman’s 2019 season at Wake Forest, he displayed traits that Jake Fromm couldn’t touch — such as tight-window accuracy and effective deep passing — while displaying far superior athleticism. His tight-window passing grade and deep-passing grade (20-plus yards) both were second to only Joe Burrow this season. That’s pretty good company. Getting him out of Wake Forest’s up-tempo, RPO system will allow Newman to do what he does best — beat defenses with his arm instead of his legs.

Georgia also returns almost everyone from what was college football’s most ferocious defense last season. Additionally, George Pickens is due for a big sophomore season at wide receiver along with Zamir White at running back.

There’s still some concern at the offensive line position. The five starters that Georgia fields on day one will be elite, but it’s the depth that concerns me the most. Georgia lost four of its five starters to the NFL Draft or to transfer.

Decade in review: How Georgia football performed against rivals

From the beginning of the 2010 to 2019, the Georgia Bulldogs posted over a .500 winning percentage against each of their rival programs.

We’ve reached the end of college football’s 2019 regular season. From the beginning of the 2010 regulation schedule to the culmination of the current year’s, the Georgia Bulldogs posted a .500 or better winning percentage against each of their rival programs.

The Dawgs won eight and lost two against in-state rival Georgia Tech, earning the past three Governor’s Cups in a row.

They went 8-3 vs. Auburn, including a victory in the 2017 SEC Championship Game, winning the past three meetings consecutively.

They posted a record of six wins and four losses vs. Florida, also winning three meetings in a row.

The Bulldogs went 8-2 in matchups against Tennessee, again with three successive wins.

Georgia’s worst rivalry record of the decade comes against South Carolina. The Bulldogs split 10 games against the Gamecocks, accumulating five wins and five losses.

Watch: Dan Mullen makes it clear who he’s cheering for between Georgia and Auburn

When Florida Gators HC Dan Mullen was asked about Georgia football’s game vs Auburn, he made it clear who he was cheering for.

Following Florida’s win over Missouri on Saturday, the Gators will have their eyes glued to CBS to watch Georgia take on Auburn.

If Georgia wins, it secures a spot in the SEC Championship. A loss and Georgia will have to beat Texas A&M to make it in.

Florida’s game today was its final SEC matchup of the season. So if Georgia happens to lose to the Tigers and Aggies, the Gators are headed to Atlanta.

When Mullen was asked by CBS for his thoughts on the Georgia vs Auburn game, he made it clear who he was cheering for.

“War Eagle,” Mullen said.

Watch it here.