Not sure how I feel about this. You guys were 1-3 without him, then 4-3 with him (throwing out that Georgia game, I wouldn't hold that against anyone). I like his background at UCF and Bama, + big ties to GT of course.

I think that I look at it kind of like how I'd look at Wisconsin if they'd promoted Leonhard instead of bringing in Fickell. Leonhard would have been a safe/cheaper choice, but Fickell was a swing for the fences. I'm assuming either GT liked what they saw with Key in charge, or they struck out on the flashier hires they were considering. Perhaps both.

He really seemed to jump start the team this year as the interim coach. I thought both he and Leonhard would be given the full time jobs. Curious as to what the expectation is for GT fans. Be a tough out every week and get to a bowl game? Compete for ACC championships? Just beat Georgia?

Georgia Tech picks from the O'Leary Tree again.

Guess I should be happy someone with UCF ties has a head coaching gig.

Key specifically was HCIW at UCF during the winless 0-12 season. Promptly fired when UCF cleaned house. O'Leary was wearing the AD hat and the HC hat so I tend to blame Key more for the 0-12 season.

Just think its a lame selection for Georgia Tech.

(11-29-2022 03:40 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  Not sure how I feel about this. You guys were 1-3 without him, then 4-3 with him (throwing out that Georgia game, I wouldn't hold that against anyone). I like his background at UCF and Bama, + big ties to GT of course.

I think that I look at it kind of like how I'd look at Wisconsin if they'd promoted Leonhard instead of bringing in Fickell. Leonhard would have been a safe/cheaper choice, but Fickell was a swing for the fences. I'm assuming either GT liked what they saw with Key in charge, or they struck out on the flashier hires they were considering. Perhaps both.

Scuttlebutt:

Jamey Chadwell wanted to bring his entire staff. GT thought the defensive side of his staff needed upgrades.

Roughly a dozen candidates were interviewed. The biggest interview culling came from those who demanded large guarantees as part of their contract. This is positive for GT, which is laboring to get out from under several bad contracts by former ADs. I'd rather have somebody at GT who is hungry to be there and not so unfathomably greedy that they pitch a hissy fit over $20m guaranteed versus $30m guaranteed. If it's just about the biggest paycheck possible they're not sticking around at GT even if they are successful anyway. And the risk chasing those type hires is you end up with a Jimbo Fisher or a Mario Cristobal and now your athletic department has taken on a near 9 figure financial boat anchor. You have Brinks trucks full of ESPN money at the SEC to help liquidate such staggering losses. Teams in the ACC don't.

Unsure what sunk Willie Fritz's candidacy, but I know there was VERY BIG backlash among the fans.

Brent Key should minimize the transfers going out. He should know who on staff is and isn't carrying water. And he's demonstrated he knows how to fix Geoff Collins' f*** ups, even when down to 3rd and 4th string QBs. He wants to be there. He's fired up and you can see it. The players have bought in. The boosters have bought in. He'll be cheap which means reinvestment in a supporting staff.

If I had to characterize this hire ... I'd say GT is trying to get a Dabo Swinney type hire.

(11-29-2022 03:42 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  He really seemed to jump start the team this year as the interim coach. I thought both he and Leonhard would be given the full time jobs. Curious as to what the expectation is for GT fans. Be a tough out every week and get to a bowl game? Compete for ACC championships? Just beat Georgia?

The expectations are a bowl game every year and a Top 25 team that can occasionally make a run. Be competitive with and beat U[sic]GA. Rip through the soft ACC.

(11-29-2022 03:44 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Georgia Tech picks from the O'Leary Tree again.

Guess I should be happy someone with UCF ties has a head coaching gig.

Key specifically was HCIW at UCF during the winless 0-12 season. Promptly fired when UCF cleaned house. O'Leary was wearing the AD hat and the HC hat so I tend to blame Key more for the 0-12 season.

Just think its a lame selection for Georgia Tech.

O'Leary is still a behind the scenes facilitator in Atlanta. O'Leary was doing too much at UCF and was frankly past his retirement age. I would have dinged the President for even considering allowing O'Leary to be AD and FB HC at the same time. Worked out great for Barry Alvarez right? Oh ... right ... Well that worked out great for Phil Fulmer ... okay not so much again. Has that EVER worked?

(11-29-2022 03:48 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(11-29-2022 03:40 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  Not sure how I feel about this. You guys were 1-3 without him, then 4-3 with him (throwing out that Georgia game, I wouldn't hold that against anyone). I like his background at UCF and Bama, + big ties to GT of course.

I think that I look at it kind of like how I'd look at Wisconsin if they'd promoted Leonhard instead of bringing in Fickell. Leonhard would have been a safe/cheaper choice, but Fickell was a swing for the fences. I'm assuming either GT liked what they saw with Key in charge, or they struck out on the flashier hires they were considering. Perhaps both.

Scuttlebutt:

Jamey Chadwell wanted to bring his entire staff. GT thought the defensive side of his staff needed upgrades.

Roughly a dozen candidates were interviewed. The biggest interview culling came from those who demanded large guarantees as part of their contract. This is positive for GT, which is laboring to get out from under several bad contracts by former ADs. I'd rather have somebody at GT who is hungry to be there and not so unfathomably greedy that they pitch a hissy fit over $20m guaranteed versus $30m guaranteed. If it's just about the biggest paycheck possible they're not sticking around at GT even if they are successful anyway. And the risk chasing those type hires is you end up with a Jimbo Fisher or a Mario Cristobal and now your athletic department has taken on a near 9 figure financial boat anchor. You have Brinks trucks full of ESPN money at the SEC to help liquidate such staggering losses. Teams in the ACC don't.

Unsure what sunk Willie Fritz's candidacy, but I know there was VERY BIG backlash among the fans.

Brent Key should minimize the transfers going out. He should know who on staff is and isn't carrying water. And he's demonstrated he knows how to fix Geoff Collins' f*** ups, even when down to 3rd and 4th string QBs. He wants to be there. He's fired up and you can see it. The players have bought in. The boosters have bought in. He'll be cheap which means reinvestment in a supporting staff.

If I had to characterize this hire ... I'd say GT is trying to get a Dabo Swinney type hire.

Why would this be. Fritz is a good candidate. He took Tulane to 10-2. Tulane.

Key seems like a boring hire.

(11-29-2022 04:07 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(11-29-2022 03:48 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(11-29-2022 03:40 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  Not sure how I feel about this. You guys were 1-3 without him, then 4-3 with him (throwing out that Georgia game, I wouldn't hold that against anyone). I like his background at UCF and Bama, + big ties to GT of course.

I think that I look at it kind of like how I'd look at Wisconsin if they'd promoted Leonhard instead of bringing in Fickell. Leonhard would have been a safe/cheaper choice, but Fickell was a swing for the fences. I'm assuming either GT liked what they saw with Key in charge, or they struck out on the flashier hires they were considering. Perhaps both.

Scuttlebutt:

Jamey Chadwell wanted to bring his entire staff. GT thought the defensive side of his staff needed upgrades.

Roughly a dozen candidates were interviewed. The biggest interview culling came from those who demanded large guarantees as part of their contract. This is positive for GT, which is laboring to get out from under several bad contracts by former ADs. I'd rather have somebody at GT who is hungry to be there and not so unfathomably greedy that they pitch a hissy fit over $20m guaranteed versus $30m guaranteed. If it's just about the biggest paycheck possible they're not sticking around at GT even if they are successful anyway. And the risk chasing those type hires is you end up with a Jimbo Fisher or a Mario Cristobal and now your athletic department has taken on a near 9 figure financial boat anchor. You have Brinks trucks full of ESPN money at the SEC to help liquidate such staggering losses. Teams in the ACC don't.

Unsure what sunk Willie Fritz's candidacy, but I know there was VERY BIG backlash among the fans.

Brent Key should minimize the transfers going out. He should know who on staff is and isn't carrying water. And he's demonstrated he knows how to fix Geoff Collins' f*** ups, even when down to 3rd and 4th string QBs. He wants to be there. He's fired up and you can see it. The players have bought in. The boosters have bought in. He'll be cheap which means reinvestment in a supporting staff.

If I had to characterize this hire ... I'd say GT is trying to get a Dabo Swinney type hire.

Why would this be. Fritz is a good candidate. He took Tulane to 10-2. Tulane.

Key seems like a boring hire.

Fritz is 41-45 in 7 seasons mostly .500 ish seasons at Tulane, until going 2-10 last year and 10-2 this year. That's not a program builder, that's just a reversion to the mean. If he continues to do well for another year or 2 then things might be different, but right now it's hard to get too excited about him.