So how do people feel about Brent Key and Geoff Collins-

[GoldZ]

I want to see our players get better over time. We have not done as well in developing players lately as we perhaps could be doing. I honestly believe that we will get better over time from expanded recruiting efforts and relentless pursuit of players that hitherto were dismissed as not being able to make the grade at Tech. The days of teams coming into metro Atlanta and stealing players right out from under our noses are about to come to an end. This state is producing talent in the top 5 of all states in the country. It is high time we got our share and then some.

Lately, the dismissed as not being able to make the grade at Tech, may have been justified--see graduation rates. Imo, we will get more recruits who qualify than we used to, but it's a numbers game vs ugag, auburn, fsu, clem, etc. Enthusiastic young tech savvy coaches will not improve the dismal status of education in the Southeast among the best (by far) players. It's worse, far worse than many realize. Now, if TStan gets some leeway with exceptions, AND gets even more academic support for players, then we will be cooking with gas!

 

[InsideLB]

The following IMO is germane to the tenor of this specific discussion, and the board in general:

IMO the dumbest posts right now are those calling out the "skeptics", "doubters", "CPJers", etc.

First, if you despise "the negative energy", why add to it and propagate it by making such posts? Why not let folks quietly have their own opinions and just go about your own way being happy and optimistic? The people you are addressing are relatively few so why cram up the board with such drivel?

For the record I am optimistic, and I also feel T. Stan gave Collins 7 years for the reason he stated: If we are going to build a contender here it's going to take some time to get from A to B. I suppose I might also be a CPJer because I like going to Orange Bowls. It doesn't detract from CPJ for me to say the program can improve. IMO, the timing is right: AD is getting out of debt, we have a solid director in T. Stan who 'gets it', ACC Network tap is about to begin flowing, facilities are being updated, Adidas, etc.

I am hoping Collins really truly embraces the GT mission/total person concept and puts down roots here. His salesmanship is not an act, it's who he is. He is pathologically positive, effusive, and fun loving. I also valued CPJ's straight shooting, running a clean program (few off the field and major academic issues), and he was well-liked by his players. It doesn't have to be either/or. CPJ stepped down, so even if one doesn't like him/the offense you can like him because he made it so we don't have to pay him (unlike say, Paul Hewitt).

If someone chimes in and says "lets wait and see how Collins does on the field" that really shouldn't piss anyone off. People said the same stuff about Dabo and now he is one of the most respected coaches in the game. BUT Dabo had to earn that. Collins will have his chance, and I'm excited to see him do it. Early returns are good in that he is attracting some really good assistants.

Just my two cents and people have the right to post however they like. It's just gotten for me to where 'ignore' is gettin' ready to come out again.

 

[croberts]

No, I don't "know that is wrong" - I'm sure it's pretty right. The only ones stirring the pot are the ones continuing to crap on our new HC and his efforts to rid the malaise that had settled over the program. No more "It Is What It Is" football, please!

Actually several of us would be laughing our *** off about our new coach winning with Chan Gailey (woops) I meant PJs recruits!!!

 

[Cam]

The following IMO is germane to the tenor of this specific discussion, and the board in general:

IMO the dumbest posts right now are those calling out the "skeptics", "doubters", "CPJers", etc.

First, if you despise "the negative energy", why add to it and propagate it by making such posts? Why not let folks quietly have their own opinions and just go about your own way being happy and optimistic? The people you are addressing are relatively few so why cram up the board with such drivel?

For the record I am optimistic, and I also feel T. Stan gave Collins 7 years for the reason he stated: If we are going to build a contender here it's going to take some time to get from A to B. I suppose I might also be a CPJer because I like going to Orange Bowls. It doesn't detract from CPJ for me to say the program can improve. IMO, the timing is right: AD is getting out of debt, we have a solid director in T. Stan who 'gets it', ACC Network tap is about to begin flowing, facilities are being updated, Adidas, etc.

I am hoping Collins really truly embraces the GT mission/total person concept and puts down roots here. His salesmanship is not an act, it's who he is. He is pathologically positive, effusive, and fun loving. I also valued CPJ's straight shooting, running a clean program (few off the field and major academic issues), and he was well-liked by his players. It doesn't have to be either/or. CPJ stepped down, so even if one doesn't like him/the offense you can like him because he made it so we don't have to pay him (unlike say, Paul Hewitt).

If someone chimes in and says "lets wait and see how Collins does on the field" that really shouldn't piss anyone off. People said the same stuff about Dabo and now he is one of the most respected coaches in the game. BUT Dabo had to earn that. Collins will have his chance, and I'm excited to see him do it. Early returns are good in that he is attracting some really good assistants.

Just my two cents and people have the right to post however they like. It's just gotten for me to where 'ignore' is gettin' ready to come out again.

Great post. I agree. Something I'll add in regards to the comparisons to Dabo: one of the knocks on Dabo was that he was never considered a good football coach. Most would point out early that he was pure salesman and didn't have much of an X's and O's mind at all, suggesting this was the element holding him back (before the program took off). I feel so many think the same about Collins, and that without the insane program support that Clemson possesses that he'll fail.

But I think many of us forget (myself included) that Collins was a three time finalist for the Broyles award. The guy was a superb football coach who was long considered one of the best defensive coordinators in the game before becoming Temple's head coach. Remember how thankful we were to hear he wouldn't be coaching the 2014 Orange Bowl? Heck, you can call it sucking up, but Thacker said he was straight up the best DC in college football. Collins knows the X's and O's in addition to being a great motivator. That adds a decent bit more to my belief that he'll be successful, but I'm not blind to the fact that there are real obstacles he has to overcome to get there.

 

[SoMsJacket]

Actually several of us would be laughing our *** off about our new coach winning with Chan Gailey (woops) I meant PJs recruits!!!

Then, why didn't CPJ win with them?
Stop throwing rocks!

 

[Animal02]

Then, why didn't CPJ win with them?
Stop throwing rocks!

The ones that haven't started school yet. Duh
Nice glass house you are living in.

 

[Whiskey_Clear]

If someone steps up and gives us good QB play I think we can make a run at the coastal this year.

I think the scheme change with Woody last year will actually pay off some next year. The Dline started shooting gaps and stunting more and I’m pretty certain this will continue with CGC / Thacker. That learning curve won’t be as steep next year if so.

I think a 3-3-5 is the best fit for our personnel next year. Two issues with that though. Number one is a lack of a big powerful MLB to attack the opposite Agap from what the nose attacks. The second is corner cushions. Most 3-3-5 corners play off the ball and don’t play press cover. A lot of zoze coverages like cover 3 are prevalent in 3-3-5s. CGC has said we will play a lot of, maybe primarily, press cover at corner. So I’m intrigued how this plays out and what scheme we do use. God knows fans will have meltdowns the second we don’t play press man. (Some teams actually succeed with playing with cushions but that’s another discussion)

So imo we have our biggest question mark on O at the most important position. The rest of the pieces can certainly succeed at a fairly high level if we get solid QB play. I think we can.

On D the scheme we will use is a question that creates further questions. Pass rush off the edge and LB play being the biggest. How these are resolved will determine our level of success.

I won’t be shocked if we manage ten wins and I won’t be shocked if we only manage 5. Crazy huh? That’s football.

 

[slugboy]

It is hard to believe that Central Florida was only 56th in recruiting being smack dab in the middle of a recruiter's dream in the Sunshine State but then they have three bullies to contend with in the U, FSU, and the mighty Gators, so maybe it is legit. Could be that is why Coach Frost elected to leave Central Florida to go home to Nebraska.

Nebraska is his dream job. Otherwise, he’d have stayed at UCF.
UCF has done well before Frost, and is still doing well afterwards. If anything, Florida, FSU, and the other “big boys” ducking his program would have been a bigger factor in Frost leaving.
Back on this topic, they’re a firm example that you can be a top 20 team recruiting in the 50’s


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[Techster]

..... but I'm not blind to the fact that there are real obstacles he has to overcome to get there.

"They're not obstacles, they're advantages."

Geoff Collins.
Georgia Tech Head Football Coach

 

[dressedcheeseside]

"They're not obstacles, they're advantages."

Geoff Collins.
Georgia Tech Head Football Coach

Actually, in this case, it is both. However, I believe they are obstacles to the majority of the recruits that fall in the elite category.

 

[Techster]

Actually, in this case, it is both. However, I believe they are obstacles to the majority of the recruits that fall in the elite category.

My personal belief in life is that you choose how you wish to view things.

In terms of recruiting, will some view our academics or high entrance requirement as obstacles? Sure.

The flipside, is it's an advantage to GT because our high academics and test requirements weeds out the guys that do not want to be here, and the guys not willing to do the work. It think if you look at GT's history, it's rare that we have knuckleheads that are constantly in the news for arrests or doing something stupid. I think our requirements help filter those type of recruits out.

There are more than enough ELITE players out there that are smart enough and willing to do the work that GT can do well. Elite high academic guys usually know what they want in life, and they are usually attracted to high academic schools...and GT as just as good as any of the elite guys playing P5 football. It's literally now CGC's and our staff's job to find them and sign them. How successful they are will determine how successful their legacy is.

 

[Animal02]

It's literally now CGC's and our staff's job to find them and sign them. How successful they are will determine how successful their legacy is.

And hopefully TStan allocates the $$$ to allow them to be as successful as they can be. (It looks like he is starting to)

 

[croberts]

Then, why didn't CPJ win with them?
Stop throwing rocks!

Im not throwing rocks ,certainly never have toward Collins or PJ or Gailey or any of our coaches . I cant stand those that do. If we win a National Championship in the next three years with some of PJs players, I will laugh my *** off while running circles around my house with a Tech banner! Unlike some on here, I dont give a crap who recruited the players, Just win baby.

 

[croberts]

By the way, I love the coaching hires. I have zero issues with hiring Key as a big part of the new staff. I have no idea how this will turn out but feel good about the direction. We are lucky to be free of Hewitt and other contracts and have the right athletic director.

 

[Techster]

And hopefully TStan allocates the $$$ to allow them to be as successful as they can be. (It looks like he is starting to)

I said it before, and it's true not only at GT, but at other schools: The new coach always gets what the previous coach was asking for.

Ted Roof was BEGGING for more support and facilities upgrades at Duke. He never got it...but when Cutcliffe came in, they gave him what Roof was asking for.

It appears the same thing is happening at GT.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

My personal belief in life is that you choose how you wish to view things.

In terms of recruiting, will some view our academics or high entrance requirement as obstacles? Sure.

The flipside, is it's an advantage to GT because our high academics and test requirements weeds out the guys that do not want to be here, and the guys not willing to do the work. It think if you look at GT's history, it's rare that we have knuckleheads that are constantly in the news for arrests or doing something stupid. I think our requirements help filter those type of recruits out.

There are more than enough ELITE players out there that are smart enough and willing to do the work that GT can do well. Elite high academic guys usually know what they want in life, and they are usually attracted to high academic schools...and GT as just as good as any of the elite guys playing P5 football. It's literally now CGC's and our staff's job to find them and sign them. How successful they are will determine how successful their legacy is.

I agree with a lot of this. This is why we need to expand our net nationally. The state of Georgia is too small a geographic region to find enough of these guys. On top of that, the state of Georgia is not known for its production of academic scholar athletes. I’m Not sure these are the kind of guys The new staff is going after anyway.

 

[iceeater1969]

I agree with a lot of this. This is why we need to expand our net nationally. The state of Georgia is too small a geographic region to find enough of these guys. On top of that, the state of Georgia is not known for its production of academic scholar athletes. I’m Not sure these are the kind of guys The new staff is going after anyway.

As you know I'm a big Houston Dallas proponent because of the excellent schools, football , and number of Tech alumni .

However, after thinking about next steps , I think we really should concentrate your area Jacksonville and Tampa and Orlando. Our coach is showing us we have a great strategic advantage of being in Atlanta. The florida areas are closer and in the foot print of the teams were likely to play ( UFC, USF).

 

[first&ten]

I loved CPJ. He gave us great memories. I’d love to have a whiskey clear with him one day. I wanted Monken. However 95% of you wanted a change. That being said, we literally got the best change anyone could ask for. Collins is Dabo.

Well, as for me, not all the memories were great.But, since you liked PJ alot I like you're attitude re: the new staff! If CJC is close to being a Dabo were in terrific shape!

 

[Heisman's Ghost]

Lately, the dismissed as not being able to make the grade at Tech, may have been justified--see graduation rates. Imo, we will get more recruits who qualify than we used to, but it's a numbers game vs ugag, auburn, fsu, clem, etc. Enthusiastic young tech savvy coaches will not improve the dismal status of education in the Southeast among the best (by far) players. It's worse, far worse than many realize. Now, if TStan gets some leeway with exceptions, AND gets even more academic support for players, then we will be cooking with gas!

Preach it to the choir. I just retired after teaching public schools in south Georgia for 30 years. The public has no idea how bad it has become in just the last 15 years.

 

[Heisman's Ghost]

Nebraska is his dream job. Otherwise, he’d have stayed at UCF.
UCF has done well before Frost, and is still doing well afterwards. If anything, Florida, FSU, and the other “big boys” ducking his program would have been a bigger factor in Frost leaving.
Back on this topic, they’re a firm example that you can be a top 20 team recruiting in the 50’s


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Well, Coach Frost did win a national championship for the Big Red when he was a quarterback back in the day so I guess Nebraska is his dream job but he might find things have changed a bit. Like Thomas Wolfe said: "You can't go home again" Meaning you can go home but it is never the same, the people are different, the culture is different everything from what you remember. It can be quite a shock.