Topic: AJC: UGA extremes: Dooley and Donnan

[W0lfman]

Donnan? Well, if a six-year career at Marshall that resulted in a 64-21 record with four trips to the 1-AA title game and one national championship is considered Hall of Fame material, so be it. But I’m with T Kyle King (no relation) of the Dawg Sports blog, who took umbrage at Donnan’s post-award announcement comments in which he seemed to reach for a bit of credit for doing “some good things” during his time at UGA that “got it started” for Mark Richt. As King put it: “Jim Donnan made few, if any, contributions to Georgia football which were both enduring and valuable” aside from redshirting David Greene. “It seems to me that everything Coach Donnan started was something Mark Richt had to fix, whether it was running off [Quincy] Carter, booting Jasper Sanks off the team, implementing meaningful player discipline, instituting mat drills, halting the losing streak to the Yellow Jackets, or winning games consistently against meaningful opposition.” No argument here.

http://blogs.ajc.com/junkyard-blawg/2009/05/14/uga-extremes-dooley-and-donnan/?cxntfid=blogs_junkyard_blawg

[marshallisqbu]

Regardless of their opinions, I'd take Donnan back in a second.

[banker]

They have short memories.  In Donnan's 4 years he won 35 games at georgia (lost 15).  In the four years before he got there they were 22-22.  His worst year was 8 wins, the best of the preceeding 4 years was 6 wins.  He also won 4 consecutive bowls, something no other coach in their history has done.

[Chevy1]

They have short memories.  In Donnan's 4 years he won 35 games at georgia (lost 15).  In the four years before he got there they were 22-22.  His worst year was 8 wins, the best of the preceeding 4 years was 6 wins.  He also won 4 consecutive bowls, something no other coach in their history has done.

Good post banker.  I know some UGA guys - they seem to overlook those facts as well.  I have to remind them of what their record was before Donnan.

[HERDFAN1999]

If you use the beginning of their tenure as a benchmark then Donnan did a hell of a lot more for UGA than Richt has done.  I like coach Richt but I think they have been underachieving during his time there.  He is not near as good a recruiter as Donnan.  UGA talks big but really, what have they done?  They have big mouths with nothing to back it up.  They got their (@/:; handed to them by WVU so you know they aren't that great.  Heck, we only lost to them by 10 points with several key players injured (but playing) playing in their stadium.

[richmondherdfan]

My brother is a graduate of UGA and was there at the time Jim Donnan was the HC. While glad Richt is the head coach, I can assure you any logical Dawg fan realizes that Donnan was light years better than Ray Goff, who he took over for. He definitely left UGA better off than when he got there, there is no denying that. Most UGA fans don't give JD his credit, because Richt has done a phenomenal job since taking over for him, but JD definitely got them on better footing.

Also, he's going into the Hall for his Marshall accomplishments, in the 1-aa, D2, D3 division, so nothing to do with his tenure at UGA.

[herdfan429]

My brother is a graduate of UGA and was there at the time Jim Donnan was the HC. While glad Richt is the head coach, I can assure you any logical Dawg fan realizes that Donnan was light years better than Ray Goff, who he took over for. He definitely left UGA better off than when he got there, there is no denying that. Most UGA fans don't give JD his credit, because Richt has done a phenomenal job since taking over for him, but JD definitely got them on better footing.

Also, he's going into the Hall for his Marshall accomplishments, in the 1-aa, D2, D3 division, so nothing to do with his tenure at UGA.

Mark Richt is right behind fat Phil Fulmer in the do less with more dept. 

[biggreenarms]

They have short memories.  In Donnan's 4 years he won 35 games at georgia (lost 15).  In the four years before he got there they were 22-22.  His worst year was 8 wins, the best of the preceeding 4 years was 6 wins.  He also won 4 consecutive bowls, something no other coach in their history has done.

good stats banker. Looks like they are blinded by feelings over facts.

[herdman]

Donnan did pave the way for Richt, who is vastly overrated. Donnan had to build it back. Georgia is always one of those funny programs to figure out. They haven't won a title since Herschel Walker was there. But, they believe they are at the pinnacle.

[Huffnagel]

I would take Donnan back in a second as well! IMO he built the foundation for what Marshall was in the 90s.

This is not a Pruett stab, just showing a little respect for what he did.

[biggreenarms]

What's the story behind the lack of respect for Donnan from UGA? I always thought he had done a good job there.

[bbcard1]

Donnan was never very good at a** kissing...it was true in Huntington when he called out the fans for not showing up when the team was winning and it was true at GA...where he didn't bend over backwards for donors...and i would take him back in a heartbeat. The man was right, just not very diplomatic.  I'd trade diplomacy for bowl trophies right now.

[Mako]

Mark Richt is right behind fat Phil Fulmer in the do less with more dept. 

Agreed.  Everyone focuses on Fulmer winning a national championship but if Arkansas doesn't have an insanely stupid fumble, Tennessee never gets the chance at a national championship.

[AtlTom]

My favorite Jim Donnan/UGA moment was right after UGA beat South Carolina, the first question sideline reporter Loran Smith asks Donnan was about the team getting cramps during the game.

Donnan snaps back to Loran that he didn't want to talk about "damn cramps" because beating SC was a big win for the program.