Mostly “Fire Geoff Collins”, some reminiscing, maybe bourbon or other distractions

[first&ten]

This has been my biggest disappointment with CGC. He came in known as a defensive specialist, but his defenses have been close to abysmal (in terms of defensive FEI):

2019: 93
2020: 88
2021: 94 (*Through 8 games)


To his credit, he's increased the talent on our roster. You can say that increase in talent has been wasted with no appreciable improvement in performance. In fact, at this rate, with the 5th most talented roster in the ACC according to 247 recruiting service, we are on track to have the worst DFEI in CGC's 3 years at GT.

How bad has our defense been? The worst season we had since the Bill Lewis was the HC is CPJ's 2015 2-9 season. That year our DFEI was 48. That was under Ted Roof. Remember Roof? GT fans' favorite punching bag until he left for Appalachian State. Roof actually had multiple DFEI seasons in the 40's and 50's. Ted Roof also had less talent to work with.

IMO, if you have a calling card, but you're no longer good at what your calling card is, then we have a problem. This is like if CPJ came in and our rushing offense was horrendous.

When we beat UNC early this season, and we put on one of the most dominant defensive performances GT has had in a long time, I thought we may have turned the corner. Maybe it finally clicked for our guys and we would get similar results going forward. Unfortunately, it's looking more and more like fool's gold.

I REALLY want this to work out for CGC because that's what's best for GT. Transitions from one coach to another is difficult...and costly (BTW, this is another reason GT fans should be grateful with how CPJ handled leaving GT). However, as each week passes, my confidence that CGC will be able to turn the ship in the right direction erodes. It's just very difficult for me to imagine how he can do it. Maybe he cleans house with coordinators and some position coaches and those new coaches figure out how to coach the 5th most talented roster in the ACC.

I hope I'm wrong about this...and I would be happy to be wrong.

Johnson always said he loved GT and his job. I never appreciated him or his coaching, but I give him much appreciation and respect for the way he exited GT. He could have made it more expensive.

 

[first&ten]

CGC is not and will never be Ross.

Coach Ross also came in with a proven record of winning, unlike CGC's two mediocre seasons at a Temple team that was pretty good before he got there.

Very good point. A person would like to know what Tstan saw in Collins at that moment.

 

[cthenrys]

Very good point. A person would like to know what Tstan saw in Collins at that moment.

Pretty much the same thing as when someone buys the full set of Ginsu knives...

 

[bobongo]

Pretty much the same thing as when someone buys the full set of Ginsu knives...

I'm sure he saw someone who could recruit well, with ties to this area, and "change the culture", whatever that means. he probably thought he could coach. He does have a pretty good track record as a DC, and at least had a winning record in his two years at Temple. I guess he interviewed a lot better than he gives press conferences. I can see why Collins was hired but if TStan could get in a time machine and go back, I bet he wouldn't do it again. At least, I hope he wouldn't - not that it matters now. We'll see how it works out. Maybe we can at least win one tomorrow, and then it's on to South Bend...

 

[stech81]

Very good point. A person would like to know what Tstan saw in Collins at that moment.

 

[LibertyTurns]

Pretty much the same thing as when someone buys the full set of Ginsu knives...

It came with an orange peeler and an apple corer. Just saying.

 

[Augusta_Jacket]

I wouldn’t want Jim Mora Jr. as my HC if he was free

I mean, there's a reason why he's not getting looks from P5 schools...

 

[TruckStick]

I wouldn’t want Jim Mora Jr. as my HC if he was free

Who else taking the UCONN job but a washed up coach?

We can only pray we aren’t seen as another UCONN after Collins. I can only imagine what washed up coach we would get.

 

[Wrecked]

I'm sure he saw someone who could recruit well, with ties to this area, and "change the culture", whatever that means. he probably thought he could coach. He does have a pretty good track record as a DC, and at least had a winning record in his two years at Temple. I guess he interviewed a lot better than he gives press conferences. I can see why Collins was hired but if TStan could get in a time machine and go back, I bet he wouldn't do it again. At least, I hope he wouldn't - not that it matters now. We'll see how it works out. Maybe we can at least win one tomorrow, and then it's on to South Bend...

Read the article by Ken with Stansbury in the ajc. He absolutely would hire him again. He thinks Collins is doing fine even though he himself thought we should be close to a bowl game this year. That is concerning to me. He says he knows fans are frustrated but he doesn't appear to be doing anything about it, at least publicly.

 

[cthenrys]

I'm sure he saw someone who could recruit well, with ties to this area, and "change the culture", whatever that means. he probably thought he could coach. He does have a pretty good track record as a DC, and at least had a winning record in his two years at Temple. I guess he interviewed a lot better than he gives press conferences. I can see why Collins was hired but if TStan could get in a time machine and go back, I bet he wouldn't do it again. At least, I hope he wouldn't - not that it matters now. We'll see how it works out. Maybe we can at least win one tomorrow, and then it's on to South Bend...

I'm sure you are right about that. I have to think that CGC absolutely killed the interview with ADTS. I can't imagine being bowled over by CGC, but hey it happens. I think he put all the stock in recruiting / culture / marketing and bet on the coaching. Hasn't worked out on the latter. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[cthenrys]

Read the article by Ken with Stansbury in the ajc. He absolutely would hire him again. He thinks Collins is doing fine even though he himself thought we should be close to a bowl game this year. That is concerning to me. He says he knows fans are frustrated but he doesn't appear to be doing anything about it, at least publicly.

This sounded like walking the line between "a vote of confidence" and "I better hope he turns it around otherwise it's my a**". All in all not a very encouraging response to me.

 

[Animal02]

Read the article by Ken with Stansbury in the ajc. He absolutely would hire him again. He thinks Collins is doing fine even though he himself thought we should be close to a bowl game this year. That is concerning to me. He says he knows fans are frustrated but he doesn't appear to be doing anything about it, at least publicly.

Of course he has to say that. How many ADs have said they have the utmost confidence in the head coach in a presser....and then fire the guy weeks later

 

[slugboy]

Read the article by Ken with Stansbury in the ajc. He absolutely would hire him again. He thinks Collins is doing fine even though he himself thought we should be close to a bowl game this year. That is concerning to me. He says he knows fans are frustrated but he doesn't appear to be doing anything about it, at least publicly.

I can’t think of an AD worth their salt who would undercut their coach in the media. Why would you expect him to say anything different?

 

[Animal02]

I'm sure he saw someone who could recruit well, with ties to this area, and "change the culture", whatever that means. he probably thought he could coach. He does have a pretty good track record as a DC, and at least had a winning record in his two years at Temple. I guess he interviewed a lot better than he gives press conferences. I can see why Collins was hired but if TStan could get in a time machine and go back, I bet he wouldn't do it again. At least, I hope he wouldn't - not that it matters now. We'll see how it works out. Maybe we can at least win one tomorrow, and then it's on to South Bend...

I saw through his BS the moment I met him in Detroit prior to the bowl game.

 

[bobongo]

Read the article by Ken with Stansbury in the ajc. He absolutely would hire him again. He thinks Collins is doing fine even though he himself thought we should be close to a bowl game this year. That is concerning to me. He says he knows fans are frustrated but he doesn't appear to be doing anything about it, at least publicly.

That's the operative word.

 

[bobongo]

Of course he has to say that. How many ADs have said they have the utmost confidence in the head coach in a presser....and then fire the guy weeks later

Vote of confidence = Kiss of death.

 

[AlabamaBuzz]

Everyone knows how I feel about CGC and his actual coaching acumen, but even I am tired in this thread. It was kinda amazing to me that more people could not see through his schtick early on. I've had years and years of experience with people who say the right things but really never have performance that back up the words. They usually get promoted before anyone realizes that they really had NO accomplishments in their previous position. I know many times on the manufacturing floor, hourly employees would say to me, "how is he getting that opportunity? He made our jobs harder, and nothing is actually better." In most of these cases, the person has political skills but lacks practical skills. I realize I cannot know this for sure about CGC, but that was my first impression, and I haven't seen very much to change that impression.

 

[TruckStick]

Everyone knows how I feel about CGC and his actual coaching acumen, but even I am tired in this thread. It was kinda amazing to me that more people could not see through his schtick early on. I've had years and years of experience with people who say the right things but really never have performance that back up the words. They usually get promoted before anyone realizes that they really had NO accomplishments in their previous position. I know many times on the manufacturing floor, hourly employees would say to me, "how is he getting that opportunity? He made our jobs harder, and nothing is actually better." In most of these cases, the person has political skills but lacks practical skills. I realize I cannot know this for sure about CGC, but that was my first impression, and I haven't seen very much to change that impression.

I have personally seen this as well and agree with this sentiment. It never ends well for either party when the final results are due.

 

[Animal02]

Everyone knows how I feel about CGC and his actual coaching acumen, but even I am tired in this thread. It was kinda amazing to me that more people could not see through his schtick early on. I've had years and years of experience with people who say the right things but really never have performance that back up the words. They usually get promoted before anyone realizes that they really had NO accomplishments in their previous position. I know many times on the manufacturing floor, hourly employees would say to me, "how is he getting that opportunity? He made our jobs harder, and nothing is actually better." In most of these cases, the person has political skills but lacks practical skills. I realize I cannot know this for sure about CGC, but that was my first impression, and I haven't seen very much to change that impression.

I deal with salespeople all the time....from real estate brokers to building product reps to contractors. The BSers get pretty easy to spot.

 

[AlabamaBuzz]

I deal with salespeople all the time....from real estate brokers to building product reps to contractors. The BSers get pretty easy to spot.

Don't get me wrong - I truly believe the gift/talent of salesmanship is important, but it should not be the main skill of a P5 HC. It is a good tool to have in the toolbox when you are recruiting. Unfortunately, sometimes it is obvious when that is all someone has to offer.