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UGA's Kirby Smart is a semifinalist for national Coach of The Year
Posted on 12/19/24 at 9:54 am
Posted on 12/19/24 at 9:54 am
Not completely surprising when one considers the Dawgs played the toughest schedule in the nation at the same time they're struggling in keeping players healthy --- QB gone, Punter gone, top 2 WR's gone, 3 of 4 RBs gone, multiple shifts on the OL & DLs.
It really is a wonder UGA was even able to break even, much less compile an 11-2 record while defeating the so-called best team in the conference, Texas, twice (on their home field and in the SECCG).
While he may not win the award (I personally feel Indiana's coach will win it), Kirby may have done his beat coaching job in the 9 years he's been at UGA.
In any case, he deserves a big hand of congratulations (and at least he's earned his pay).
It really is a wonder UGA was even able to break even, much less compile an 11-2 record while defeating the so-called best team in the conference, Texas, twice (on their home field and in the SECCG).
While he may not win the award (I personally feel Indiana's coach will win it), Kirby may have done his beat coaching job in the 9 years he's been at UGA.
In any case, he deserves a big hand of congratulations (and at least he's earned his pay).
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Posted on 12/19/24 at 9:58 am to JetDawg
No disrespect to Kirby, but Cig 100% deserves that award
Posted on 12/19/24 at 9:59 am to JetDawg
Would've been nice if you'd post the other semifinalists.
quote:
Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State)
Jeff Monken (Army)
Spencer Danielson (Boise State)
Kalani Sitake (BYU)
Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
Deion Sanders (Colorado)
Kirby Smart (Georgia)
Curt Cignetti (Indiana)
Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
Tim Albin (Ohio)
Ryan Day (Ohio State)
Dan Lanning (Oregon)
James Franklin (Penn State)
Rhedd Lashlee (SMU)
Shane Beamer (South Carolina)
Posted on 12/19/24 at 10:06 am to FootballFrenzy
quote:
Would've been nice if you'd post the other semifinalists.
Thanks for doing it for me! (my fingers get tired sometimes).
Posted on 12/19/24 at 10:13 am to JetDawg
Posted on 12/19/24 at 10:23 am to JetDawg
Won't weigh in on if he deserves it or not as it's not something I've given much thought to. I will say this. Given this teams weaknesses, this may be his best coaching job so far in getting them to where they are now.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 10:51 am to FootballFrenzy
Ryan Day? Did the list come out before Michigan?
Posted on 12/19/24 at 10:54 am to JetDawg
quote:
while defeating the so-called best team in the conference, Texas, twice (on their home field and in the SECCG).
Interesting… wasn’t Georgia preseason #1?
Georgia’s own underachievement this season contributed to Texas being favored in those games.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 10:55 am to Porter Osborne Jr
Dunno, I just copied the list.
I expect the IU or SMU coach to win it, especially if they make it past Round 1 of the playoffs.
I expect the IU or SMU coach to win it, especially if they make it past Round 1 of the playoffs.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 11:01 am to FootballFrenzy
Pretty sure Ryan Day couldn't win if the voters were limited to OSU fans. If he drops this game against the Vols he could be fired as crazy as that sounds.
This post was edited on 12/19/24 at 11:03 am
Posted on 12/19/24 at 11:12 am to All Gas No Brakes
quote:
Interesting… wasn’t Georgia preseason #1?
The season's not over yet, Moo Moo.
Georgia’s own underachievement this season contributed to Texas being favored in those games.
Georgia whipped Texas TWICE this season. Yeah....come to think of it.....beating Texas TWICE this season really is an underachievement for us.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 1:00 pm to All Gas No Brakes
quote:
Georgia’s own underachievement this season contributed to Texas being favored in those games.
And you still lost both
Posted on 12/19/24 at 1:34 pm to All Gas No Brakes
quote:
Georgia’s own underachievement this season contributed to Texas being favored in those games.
UGAs superior talent and coaching contributed to UGA beating Texas twice in the same season.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 1:50 pm to FootballFrenzy
It has to go to Cignitti but Shane Beamer has to get some serious consideration.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 2:19 pm to MasterAbe1
quote:
No disrespect to Kirby, but Cig 100% deserves that award
If Indiana makes a deep run, then maybe.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 3:18 pm to All Gas No Brakes
quote:
Interesting… wasn’t Georgia preseason #1?
Georgia’s own underachievement this season contributed to Texas being favored in those games.
Underachievement is a bit rich considering the amount of guys injured after the Clemson game. The legend of Sark, offensive genius, & Texas's soft schedule contributed a good bit, but the biggest contributor was a media hard on for Texas. See also 2022 UGA vs. TENN.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 3:20 pm to JetDawg
Yes what an amazing job he’s done with a roster loaded with 5*… 
Posted on 12/19/24 at 3:22 pm to MasterAbe1
Why is this downvoted? Schedule be damned, Indiana went 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9 the 3 preceeding years and are now in the playoffs year 1 with Cignetti at 11-1
Posted on 12/19/24 at 3:24 pm to FootballFrenzy
quote:
Rhett Lashlee (SMU)
Arguments about their schedule aside, it's hard to ignore what Lashlee has accomplished with this team.
But they will win a national championship in the next five years, so might as well pass on him right now while they're still beatable.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 3:32 pm to All Gas No Brakes
I'm not a huge fan of coaching awards, because all they've become is the award to the coach who had the biggest turnaround. Saban lost one game per year for over a decade and could never sniff the award because he was "supposed" to win. It's stupid.
I have no doubt Cignetti will win it. I'm not saying he's necessarily undeserving, but let's face it, Indiana would be the underdog against, and would most likely lose to, over half the teams in the SEC (UGA, UT, Bama, TX, A&M, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mizzou). They would struggle with Arkansas, Miss. St., Vandy. They might even lose to Auburn or Oklahoma. Sorry Kentucky, they probably win that one.
They benefitted from an outrageously weak schedule for the Big 10, with their best win by far coming against Michigan by 5 (a 7-5 team). But, still, he did a great job turning that perennial joke of a program into a contender.
I have no doubt Cignetti will win it. I'm not saying he's necessarily undeserving, but let's face it, Indiana would be the underdog against, and would most likely lose to, over half the teams in the SEC (UGA, UT, Bama, TX, A&M, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mizzou). They would struggle with Arkansas, Miss. St., Vandy. They might even lose to Auburn or Oklahoma. Sorry Kentucky, they probably win that one.
They benefitted from an outrageously weak schedule for the Big 10, with their best win by far coming against Michigan by 5 (a 7-5 team). But, still, he did a great job turning that perennial joke of a program into a contender.
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