Doing it now, while he's been hired as our OC would be of greater benefit recruiting-wise, and (just guessing) it might even enhance our opportunity to snag one or more of their transfers if he lingers.
Also, there's the money aspect.
So, if there's something in it for us, the question for me boils down to whether one loves Tech more than one hates the mutts.
I hate uGA as much as the next Tech fan. But in this case, I would not have an issue with him being in the box because it's uGA.
I WOULD have an issue with him being in the box
because they're a competitor, and because he's already been on the recruiting trail for us (thus, his employment has already started). Some thoughts on some of the posts I've seen on this thread...
- If it means something to recruits that he was an analyst on a national championship team, great! He was the analyst when uGA won it in 2021. And he was the analyst for the entire season when they (hopefully) choke and lose it in the semifinals in 2022. Much like TFGCGC was the DC at Mississippi State when we beat the snot out of them in the Orange Bowl (only he wasn't, because he'd already left for Florida and wasn't coaching them that week).
- As an analyst, you do more than just sit in the box and translate. You do a lot of scouting and research leading up to the game itself. It's not just "show up and improvise." So this would pull him away from recruiting for more than just a day or two.
- I think the balance question comes down to which weighs more - the value of our new OC having been an analyst in the press box a second time for a uGA national championship team, or the weight of recognition and recruiting boost uGA will see from winning a second national championship in a row.
- Yes, coaches coach bowl games after committing to new roles all the time. That's usually part of the contract they agree to. This scenario is one thing if you're Scott Frost, moving from UCF to Nebraska, and want to coach the team in one more bowl game. It's another thing if you're helping your new employer's primary in-state rival go through 2 bowl games that are late in the season, and win a national championship - thus helping them with future recruiting and recognition, to the detriment of Tech.
I agree with the analogy of someone from Coca-Cola going to work for Pepsi. Let's say it's the head of marketing. And it's 1-2 months before the Super Bowl, when campaigns are beginning to take shape. If I'm Pepsi, I sure as hell wouldn't want my new CMO helping my biggest rival get more eyeballs. No matter how many Clio awards their Super Bowl commercial may win for Coke's (now former) CMO - now that they're on payroll, it's now more important for them to get in the office and start producing amazing campaign spots for their new boss, not their old one.
If it were Clemson, or UNC, or Pitt, or any team we play and recruit against each year, I'd say the same thing.
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