Latest / The Growth Project / Episode 344: From the Gridiron to the Headset with Coach Jim Donnan

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Episode 344: From the Gridiron to the Headset with Coach Jim Donnan · The Growth Project

• 0:00
  You.
• 0:03
  Okay. Welcome to The Growth Project, a podcast brought to you by amylose. I'm thrilled to have Coach Jim Don on here today. Coach, just just first of all, as we get started, I just want to thank you for taking some time to spend with us today. Hey, I'm like an old married man. I'm available. I got plenty of time.
• 0:23
  I'm glad to be with you. And, just thrilled to, tell the fans out there and everybody associated with what a tremendous impact you've been for the Georgia football program and for for everybody personally. Just to have a guy like you that we can rely on and have so much confidence in. So anything I can do to help you out?
• 0:43
  Hopefully we got a good story here. And, and, have a good time. Awesome. Well, that's super kind of you especially. It means a lot coming from someone who has, who knows what success looks like at the highest level. So I appreciate that. Big time. Okay. I think we've got to start with, at least for a few minutes with Lauren.
• 1:03
  South Carolina. Okay. Because we I know you maybe were expected that, but as a proud graduate of Presbyterian College, right down the road, having been to Lawrence, that's where it all started for you, correct? Yeah. I was born in Lawrence, and, never lived there very long. Both my parents did. And the first game I ever went to was PC, against Newberry.
• 1:26
  And my granddaddy took me to the game, and I was mad because I didn't get to play. I had my uniform on, but I thought I was going to get to play. I was only 16 years old, but it was fun. But, got a lot of good memories about Lawrence and, the my family and, the people that, you know, my parents grew up with.
• 1:45
  But kind of a sad story. When I got the Georgia job, I started finding out a lot of people and said they were kin to me, that I didn't know about, that wanted tickets from Lawrence. So it was pretty cool. So you showed up with your uniform and thought they were going to throw you out there. And that's the Bronze Derby game, right?
• 2:04
  The bronze derby. It was fun. It was, you know, it just impacted me from that point on. I love football and all sports, but, my parents, were kind of different from stamp on a large family and my mom side and my dad was, just had a sister. But throughout they, they were sprinkled throughout South Carolina when I lived in, Spartanburg in one in, Buford.
• 2:28
  And actually, and one of them lived, moved up to North Carolina to, to Maxton. So we were around everywhere, but but the people that, might remember my, mother's side of the family, the Denby brothers used to have a really good, grocery store and and also a, furniture store. And a lot of people got their stuff from.
• 2:49
  And and then my mother, sister, was married to, Tinsley, who was kind of the manager of the John Graham stores, which was the first really big group, like maybe wal mart there in Spartanburg. So we had a good time. Awesome. Well, I know that you would go on of course, to have a great career in football, but can you share a little bit about like just kind of growing up of how did you get going in sports and what did you love and and talk a little bit about kind of what that look like in your early years?
• 3:20
  I got tremendous support from my parents, just throughout my career. They they were the first people in all of my games and stayed with me all the time. And, it was, very encouraging. You know, back in the day, we had the YMCA up, and we moved to Asheville when I was very young and, got really good start up there and then ended up living in Burlington, but had really good youth coaches and was able to play a lot of sports and, just do everything, from a standpoint of, being around
• 3:53
  sports. And, the one thing that my mother just was really tough on, if I didn't do good in school, she wouldn't let me play. So I really wasn't that smart. But I had to so I could play. That's funny. So you were a heck of an athlete and then decided to take your talents to NC state.
• 4:12
  To the little Raleigh. Like, why NC state? How did you make that decision? Well, when I was in high school, state was kind of rolling. You know, they had Roman Gabriel, and, Roman was doing pretty good, but, Duke was doing pretty well, too. But we had another kid at my school named Bill gentry, who was my tight end, and we always said we wanted to go to school together.
• 4:35
  And, I really liked football, but I like basketball better. But I wasn't quite tall enough. I almost went to Davidson to play basketball, but I wasn't. I was worried about the academics there. So, I ended up playing football at state, and, we just had a good run there. And I had a really good coach that kind of formulated a lot of things for me that I use throughout my career.
• 4:59
  I really didn't like him that much as a head coach when I was there, but now that I reflect back on it over the years, he taught me a lot. That got me going. Okay, so here's here's a sports trivia question I want to throw in here. How many AC former ACC player of the year, player of the years also played a second sport while in college.
• 5:22
  I don't know, I lucked out on that. I mean, I standpoint of, we had a really good team and, I got chosen by Coach and Athlete magazine for our group, but, it was, I played tennis because I grew up playing tennis and I enjoyed it. And state was not a real big tennis school. So, I was trying to get out of spring practice, if you want to know the truth about it.
• 5:45
  But, coach wouldn't let me. But I enjoyed playing tennis, and, of course, the lifetime sport, and I still play, but, it was it was a real thrill for me to be involved with the team that we had. And. And one thing that you and I talk about on the sidelines over there when we watch and practice is, when you come back and watch the practice or you go back to these alumni meetings or the and go back and talk to the players you played with or players you coached, it's pretty evident that the guys that were a big part of the success of that team are the same kind of people are
• 6:22
  successful, and today, that's why I think it's so great to be involved in a team sport and that we were very fortunate at state and a bunch of good guys that, from all different backgrounds, particularly in that day and age, we had several guys from up north and from Virginia area, but we all bonded and, kind of put it all together and really had a chance to play for a national championship.
• 6:48
  But, we came up a little short against Penn State and then, of all things, the Clemson Tigers got us the last game. And I'll tell you a quick story about that. One of my first speaking engagements when I was start stopped coaching was over there. And, and in Anderson and there, they have a bunch of guys that played on that Clemson team that beat us.
• 7:09
  But our defensive team and white shoes, for some reason, that was what they did. They painted all red shoes white. And that day coach our name. They painted their shoes orange and they kick their butt. Never seen the wind blow like that. And, and we just couldn't get anything rolling. But they deserved to win, so.
• 7:29
  And then, ironically, we ended up playing Georgia in the Liberty Bowl and, beat them. And that was my first contact with, Vince Dooley. How about that? Well, I just think it's incredible. Before we switch gears here, I just think it's incredible that you were that caliber of a football player, but also able to play tennis in college.
• 7:48
  You know, I got a feeling there's not many of those going on out there currently. Yeah, that's not a real duo. You expect to see that? You know, with these new rackets and the speed they hit the ball. Now, I, I have a hard time. But, you know, a lot more people are into tennis now and, athletic type guys that are bigger and stronger.
• 8:07
  But, back in my day, you, you know, more the kids played baseball, but, always enjoyed it. And I had a lot of good friends that from South Carolina that that I got to know, Keith Stoneman from over there in Greenville. And, it was always a good player that ended up going to University of North Carolina.
• 8:25
  And, over the years, we all played in tournaments in the summertime. And one of the things we were able to do is, stay with parents and people in town and some really nice tournaments in South Carolina. I always enjoyed playing, except playing down in Buford with all those bean skeeters and everything. I didn't like that too much.
• 8:45
  I didn't know we had mosquitoes in South Carolina. Coach. Yeah, yeah, that's pretty bad.
• 8:50
  Okay, so when in your life did you begin to realize that coaching was going to be a big part of your future?
• 8:59
  I'm glad you covered that today, because, you know, some people, you know, say they know what they want to do.
• 9:05
  And, and, and they did say they're living the dream and all that stuff. You know, I never even thought about being a coach because back in the days when I was growing up, you know, you were used, you had to go usually be a high school coach, which involved being a teacher, which is good that there's some of the best people out there, but I didn't have any interest in classroom or anything like that, and I was all set to go into a job with, a group of people in the, textile industry because, as you know, just like around Greenville and Spartanburg, with all that during Millikin and all that Burlington Industries, the
• 9:43
  big deal up there where I'm from and, one of the guys that, was that I played tennis with in the summertime, his father was getting ready to start a new, new business, and, and, and the evolution of double knit fabric, which we all know made it big. And, so I was going to work for him.
• 10:03
  And then my senior year, after we finished, I got to play tennis that spring, and my head coach called me in and said that he was going to create a new position because he felt like some of their older coaches were kind of losing their, you know, weren't quite as into recruiting. And coach Bill Dooley, who was Vince's brother, and taking over at North Carolina and was really recruiting, you know, the SCC way.
• 10:30
  And he said, I want you to kind of be a freshman coach and and help with that recruiting. So, I was married early in life, which, was a big part of my success because my wife was my biggest fan, and we kind of grew up together, in a lot of different ways because we had a young family.
• 10:49
  But the biggest thing about it was, I wasn't sure that that double knit. This is the worst statement I'm going to make today. I went home and told Marion's, I don't know that double that's going to make it. And that shows you how much I knew about the textile industry, obviously made it big. And so, you know, here's a chance for me to get into college coaching right away.
• 11:12
  And, if I don't like it here, I'll never like it anywhere else. This is my school, and I'm no coach. Edwards will take care of me. So I started out right after my, ACC tennis tournament in, 1968, as a freshman coach at NC state and never looked back. Wow. So it came together that quickly as he put he put that offer out there for you and you gave it some thought and jumped in.
• 11:39
  Yeah, he was you know, I think it was just I was just fortunate because, you know, he knew I had a very good knowledge of the system and that I could probably handle the freshmen and do what he was more in and involved me being involved in the, recruiting standpoint and, going out on the road more, which I did.
• 12:02
  But, the one thing I had to do right away was go out and, make some speeches, you know, like these Bulldog clubs and things like that. And I never will forget. I was pretty nervous now. And you. I made my first speech, and I go down to Washington, North Carolina, and, there's we're sitting with this guy, and there's four people there, and, you know, we're waiting.
• 12:27
  And I'm saying this thing to this guy back and forth, and I said, what time we're going to start? He said, okay, we're getting ready to start. And I'm looking around, there's four people. And he gets up and he said, oh, it's good to have such a great crowd here. We got twice as many as we had last year.
• 12:44
  So that was my first speech. How did it go? It was good. I mean, I wasn't nervous, I mean, for people, I mean, you can handle it, I know. And then over the years, I started doing these big corporate speeches where you got a thousand people. Was it? Yeah. Biggest thing. And you just got to be yourself, you know, and relate to everybody.
• 13:05
  And, but most of these, when you go out to these Bulldog clubs and or whatever it might be, you know, the fans want to know about your team, but, there's a real correlation between businesses and, you know, when you go out and do some of these corporate things. Well, and then I want to touch on here, coach, because I want to make sure our listeners have a full understanding of.
• 13:29
  And then when I think about the places you coached in your career, you only coached at a high level well known. I mean, when I go on the list here, NC state, North Carolina, Florida State, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Marshall, and of course, we'll get to Georgia here in a few minutes. But I want to talk about Oklahoma for a minute.
• 13:51
  And, I don't know if you and I have talked about this before, but I actually lived in Norman there for a short time. Well, years and years ago. Yeah. When was that? We were in Oklahoma. 2009, 2010. Yeah. Good town. You know, the weather's not the greatest, but, it's very similar to, Athens, you know, college town, close to Atlanta, and it's close to Oklahoma City, but, really easily, career wise, it just made a big difference in me being where I am today.
• 14:24
  Mainly because of Coach Switzer and his ability to, you know, articulate what he wants and then delegate authority and let you do, do your job. But, I was very fortunate to get that job, but we had beaten Oklahoma twice when I was at Missouri. And, they were in a transition stage to, try to start throwing the ball a little bit more because they just recruited Troy Aikman.
• 14:51
  And, of course, everybody knows about Troy and he and his first year and Mack Brown, who I had coached at Florida State, and was the coordinator, and he took the two lane job and he told Coach Switzer about me. And it of course, he knew about me. And and I went down there and there was a couple coaches I knew and ended up getting the job.
• 15:12
  And, sure enough, Troy, we were rolling and playing, and then he breaks his leg in the, fourth game against Miami, and we have to resort back to the wishbone, which I knew absolutely nothing about. I mean, I guarantee you they could have gotten somebody McDonald's to know more about the wishbone. And I did, and we had to put it in in a week.
• 15:34
  So it's all well. Wow. All we had was wishbone quarterback. Well, we had a freshman kid from out in California named Jamal Holloway, and we just went on a tremendous run. Over the next two and a half years. I mean, we lost to Miami that year, that game. But then when I had won the national championship and, it was, you know, my son was going to high school there.
• 15:57
  You know, everybody talks about working 11:00 and sleeping in the, office and. Oh, I mean, we went to work at 830. Game on with 530, man. With his roll of balls out every day. Oh, let's let's stick with that for just a second. And that and you know, Coach Switzer is obviously a name that a lot of people are familiar with.
• 16:19
  Both in college and then also in the NFL. What what was it about him that you could tell us that really kind of made him such a great coach? Well, there's so many attributes that I can't really get them all here in a quick capsule, but I would say the best part about him, he's very genuine and he he really cares about people, you know, because he's so outgoing and, and everybody thinks he's swashbuckling and all that and, you know, kind of says what he thinks as some people don't like that.
• 16:51
  But he always cared about the kids first. And he really did a great job of, recruiting and but, he hadn't had a brilliant mind. He still does. And he's, he's, very, I mean, I don't even know what his IQ is, but he had an appointment to the Naval Academy, but he didn't take in.
• 17:13
  And then he went to, Arkansas, and he ended up coaching for Frank Broyles. And then he got to work on the job. But he was great at letting him coach, and, and he was just the CEO type, but he could run offense or defense or do anything, you know, football. But he let you be be your, your do your thing.
• 17:34
  And he was really good about, seizing the moment, which, you know, I haven't said a lot about different kind of motivations and things, but one of the best motivations I think I've ever heard anybody say was we were getting ready to play Nebraska in the 1987, and we and and two terrible injuries, the week before, when we played Missouri, the week of that, when we lost our quarterback and our fullback, which in the wishbone is the nucleus of it, no question.
• 18:06
  So we're at it. We were ranked number one at that time and Nebraska was two. But unfortunately, we weren't ready to, put some new guys in there. We'd been playing Charles Thompson and some other guys, but, I would say it's not unfortunate. He was good enough, really. But. So what happened was Switzer gets the whole team out there on Wednesday and as you know, come into practice is a rough day.
• 18:33
  Wednesday. You usually just kind of put in the hay in the barn. And Thursdays you just kind of go over everything. But Wednesday is a big day and, it's about halfway through practice and it calls the whole team up. And he starts to ask him of these defensive players like, hey, are you going to go to the game and have we talking about.
• 18:53
  And he said, well, I just want to make sure you're going and hit about four. He said, listen, everybody, dog, we don't have a chance. We don't even need to show up. I will make sure you're going to go. He said. I'm going to tell you how good I feel, but I feel so good. We're not even going to practice anymore.
• 19:08
  And of course, all the coaches are thinking, Good God, we need to go over everything. But those players lean into the fact that here's Barry Switzer, the all time winningest coach ever at that point, his record against Tom Osborne, 12 and five with a tie, felt so good about the way that he made the practice. And we went up there and beat Nebraska with our second team quarterback.
• 19:31
  On national television. It was an unbelievable victory. Wow. So so did he really follow through on that? Y'all stop practicing. Hey, those guys were in the locker room. He gave them a chance to do anything. I mean, you know, have you ever seen a team leave the field fast? It's faster than you've ever seen, but it really, I mean, anything, anything we did that day, drew would have been nothing compared to what we we got in.
• 19:54
  That's awesome. The the mind. You know, it was just the fact that he even said we got more than two players on this team. We're going to find a way to play. And then he said he told them that Charles Thompson was going to shock the nation. But Coach Charles was a little bit different style than than Jamal because he was faster.
• 20:12
  You know, Jamal was more of a run up inside type guy, and Charles really outran them on the perimeter several times. So you have a great run at oh, you. And then, in part due to all that success, get the opportunity to go be the head coach at Marshall and, you know, ton of success at Marshall, which you then, transition into good Ole Athens, right?
• 20:35
  Beginning in 96 as the head coach at Georgia. Yeah, I think the thing about Marshall that was so good, I want to make sure it's kind of ironic. We're playing them, this. Yeah. But the people in West Virginia were so receptive to me, and they were hungry. You know, everybody knows about the plane crash and all that.
• 20:54
  That happened 15, 16 years before I got there. But they really wanted to, we're in the midst of building a new stadium, moving up to a to one a and doing all the things that, that they hope that they can make with the program. But but that little corner of the state, everybody's behind. Marshall. I had unbelievable support from, from the outside and the community and kind of got to do my own blueprint as far as, you know, what we did with the staff and, and what we did with the recruiting and all that.
• 21:27
  And Coach Switzer told me when I took the job, he said, get you some young coaches that are going to stick with you and are going to be there instead of just giving a friend a job, it's probably going to take some the next year. And one of the prime parts of of the success factors of the six young guys I brought in there for him became head coaches.
• 21:48
  So we all we all did it together. But we had a lot of support and, had an unbelievable run up there. And the other thing that happened, which was hard to leave Marshall, I didn't lose a game for two years after we left, so we left them. And that was the year Randy Moss was coming in, transferring from Florida State, which I had, didn't have a lot to do with, but he was coming in and Chad Pennington was our quarterback.
• 22:13
  And then several other, pro type players. But, they did a great job. Coach Pruitt taking over and, taking it on. And then they became one AA but, I would have never been, that Georgia coach or any coach without Marshall. It was it was a tremendous time in my while. Okay. So I wasn't thinking about your your knowledge of Chad Pennington.
• 22:36
  I got to tell a quick Chad Pennington story. Okay, before we get to the next part. So, so turn back the clock. And I think it must have been 1995 or not. It was either 95 or 96, you know, because because I grew up in Knoxville where Chad did and, I'm a freshman, he's a senior and I'm playing on the varsity team in basketball that winter.
• 23:01
  And, we're playing Chad's team. And I check into the game about midway through the second quarter. Didn't play a whole lot as a freshman. Played a little bit here and there. So I get in the game and soon as soon as I get in the first little sequence here, I get a steal and I'm dribbling the ball down the court and I'm thinking like, well, this is no big deal, right?
• 23:22
  Like, this isn't that hard. While they give me more time, I'll take that ball to the basket. I go up to lay that ball in, and the next thing I know, somebody comes out of nowhere, flies in and pins that ball to the backboard. And that was Chad Pennington's welcome party to me of welcome to, varsity basketball in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• 23:43
  I've never forgotten it. Well that's unbelievable. You, you were playing the web school. I tell you what. Yes. Chance had an uncle that lived up in West Virginia, and, he would come up there in the summertime and his family, and they would go, on different types, fishing trips and things. And so he was up there and, and between the ninth and the 10th grade, and we were having a camp like everybody does.
• 24:07
  And so his uncle brought him over there, and he was just a young guy. But, you know, you could tell he had to arm and and so I told him, I said, you know, you're probably going to get recruited by everybody, but, I can just tell you right now, I'd like for you to be our quarterback here in three years.
• 24:22
  And of course, telling him that in the 10th grade, you know, hit home with him. And he hung with me the whole time there. At the end, they started trying to get him. But, he was awesome. And, you know, everybody knows them and got drafted. And now, yeah, now he's a coach and, he's coaching it up there in Lexington.
• 24:39
  And, that's a good job is that I think is transfer quarterback to Gardner-Webb. Now I was at Marshall, but Chad Chad Pennington boy I'm tell you, you get quality. I mean, that's one of the things that makes me feel so good when people still call you coach and everything. But Chad Pennington, we just had him one of our players passed away a few years ago that it was a sad deal, but, Chad was got everybody together there and, to show the leadership he has, he's unreal.
• 25:11
  That's awesome. Okay, so let's let's talk a little bit about the Georgia days. So, you know, man, and I think it's cool. I can't wait to hear your perspective on some of the, the, the household names. Now, whether it be Coach Smart or Coach Bobo. What can you tell us about what you remember about coaching those guys back then?
• 25:34
  Well, you know, first of all, it was just a real thrill to know that you were the Georgia coach. But we were coming in here when when, Florida and, Tennessee were kind of at their zenith. I mean, Florida won the national championship in 96 and then Tennessee in 98. And then our other big rival in recruiting was, Florida State.
• 25:55
  And they actually won it, too. So, plus Georgia was on probation for for a couple things. So we had our hands tied a little bit. And the transition of trying to, as you know, when you take over a coaching job, it's kind of like a divorce. You're taking over some other people's kids. So some kids back then it's harder to transfer compared to now.
• 26:16
  But some of them we kind of questioned things about what we were doing and the change changes were making and all that. But two of the guys that really backed me from day one were Coach Smart and Coach Bobo, because they were both coaches sons, and they knew what what it was like to be around the changing world of coach and where assistant coaches would come and go, or their dad would pick up and move to another job and, I'm defending them there as well.
• 26:43
  I think they did. But any time we ever needed any kind of reinforcement, both of them were there leadership wise, early on, and you could see they had two attributes that have carried on to them being very successful coaches today. But, we didn't do a very good job the first year I talk about it, and it was my fault.
• 27:03
  I spent way too much time raising money and trying to get, get, facilities upgrade and all that instead of getting to know my team, not only their ability, but, but, what makes them tick? I mean, you know, you just take for granted that you've been in the kid's home and you've gotten to know their parents.
• 27:21
  And you know what their ups and downs are. And we made some mistakes personnel wise the first year and lost some games we should have won and looked like we hadn't in practice sometime because we were making silly mistakes, which from my standpoint is something I never wanted to happen as a coach, but turned it around in 97 and got it going and then, ended up in the top 15 the next three years.
• 27:46
  And yeah. So and I think probably a lot of people listen to this podcast, coach just don't understand just how challenging it is to take over in a place like Georgia. Especially as you said. I mean, because that's back when Florida was, you know, you got Werfel playing quarterback and Rex Grossman and they're throwing the ball over the field.
• 28:05
  And you got the Peyton Manning era going on over there at Tennessee. And then you're trying to, to, you know, in the same conference. Right. Get to that level. It's hard. Yeah. I say I get paid when I see him. The reason he came back is senior year was so I could kick my ass one more time.
• 28:23
  I mean, he was unbelievable against us and a great guy and still is, but but I think, anytime you, you take over a job and we'll talk about Kirby taking over here, you got to try to build your program around what it takes to beat the best team in your league. Yeah. So, yeah. And I think that's what Kirby did without question, because he knew the blueprint that Alabama had.
• 28:48
  He wanted to work on our facilities and work on our squad. And Coach Rick did a tremendous job here. I mean, we're very close to get to the mountaintop, but as you know, the closer you get to the top of the mountain, the higher the wind blows. So but they got real close and, but but I, I really like living here.
• 29:07
  My wife like living here. And, you know, usually when you got three years left on your contract, you don't really worry about too much. But I had some conflicts a little bit with the president, and it didn't work out, but, but so we decided to just sit around here for a year and find out where we might go.
• 29:27
  And we had some nice offers, but I decided to just continue living here. And I've always loved the people around here, and I have some other interests. So. But when Kirby came back, it really made it a lot easier for me. I mean, Rick was great about me going over there and Bo Bo. But with Kirby over there now, I mean, I try to stay out of the way, but, it really is, like like your own son being out there, being a coach.
• 29:55
  Yeah. So let's talk about that coach. So it's you know we're about to start year ten of the Kirby Smart era. Which will kick off as you said against Marshall in nine days. So you've had literally kind of a front row seat over these last nine, about to be ten years. What's it been like for you to see one of your former players have this kind of success as the coach?
• 30:15
  Well, I mean, kind of unparalleled in a lot of different ways. But, you know, there's so many people want to talk about what Kirby's line and obviously, you see the public persona, but really good family man, like right now and getting ready, his sons playing the junior high game. And I'm hoping Kirby can go watch him at least a little bit.
• 30:34
  But the idea is that this is his school. It's his. It's where he went, you know, it's where his wife went. And. And he feels like he owes the Dog Nation is like, you know, this is what he wants to do. And, I think the, the first part is he really is a very intelligent guy and one of the few coaches I've ever been around that can coach every position.
• 30:58
  And he knows the ins and outs of each position, and he demands that from his assistant coaches, just like he does. I'm sure he tells you what to do, but, he made me great psychologist, too. But I think he's, he's just a real good, knowledgeable person and so many areas. And he's ultra competitive, but, but the players, even though he works them hard, they believe in him, and, they understand if you do what you what he tells you, and the coaches tell you, and you work hard, you can reach your goals.
• 31:33
  And, you know, goals are different for each person, different people. But when you look at the recruiting that we've done and the people he's put in the pros and the record, he's had goodness. 31 straight home wins. And last year was a great year SEC champs. But still, you you didn't get the last game. But the best thing I can say about success from him, though, one of my neighbors has a, a daughter they just graduated, was here for the last four years.
• 32:03
  And all of the fans that aren't Georgia fans and the Georgia fans know that team you supposed to beat or take Auburn, Tennessee and Florida during that span. He didn't lose to any of those. He beat them every time. He also won two national championship and they never lost a home game. So that young lady probably thinks college football's a piece of cake.
• 32:27
  I think it was win, but what a tremendous run. And that's what I tell my my buddies and all that. Worried about this year. I said, look, this year take care of itself. But it's just been kind of the golden era. And of course, when you look at some of the staff members he's put out, I know you had Coach Stamp on here.
• 32:47
  He's got people that believe in him that he can delegate to and, and really good staff. And, and he's got, a really good, support base. Doctor Morehead has really worked with him as far as, being behind facility wise. And, and I think you can have a better athletic director from than George, who really has worked hard not only in football, but all sports, to try to make it, give the the athletes the kind of facilities we need.
• 33:16
  Quick story here on that. When I was here, we were trying to build an indoor building, and we're also trying to work on an end zone, put in a new locker room. And I told our our people that. And so I told Kirby when both of them got built here, I said, I told you we're going to have an indoor building and a and a new locker room.
• 33:38
  I didn't know it was going to be 20 years when you were the head coach. So we had. Coach, let me ask you about this. And, you know, obviously there is a lot about college football today that's different than it was 20 years ago. Like, obviously 30 years ago. What are the things that are just as true today as they were 20, 30 years ago in the game of college football?
• 34:05
  Well, as far as the game itself, you know, no matter what you got, you got to block and tackle and you got to have good discipline and not beat yourself and all those things about it. But it's just a little bit with the transfer portal and the and hell and and it is what it is. I mean, people, these old people like me are traditionalists and everything.
• 34:26
  You're not going to change it. That's the rules. Let's work with it. But I think what you got to do is understand. Excuse me? To build a team, it's got to be some sacrifice. And even though you might be making money and all that, you just got to be able to put it all together and everybody know what their roles are.
• 34:43
  And Kirby does a great job of bringing guys in here early and get them involved in the special teams to try to get them leads. No. One, and they're playing some because for the fans out there, there's all these agents and all trying to hit you behind the scenes saying, look, you're not playing in Georgia. You can come here and play and all that.
• 35:01
  And, so he tries to get them on the field. And then I think the other thing is just the competitive nature of the sport. There's so many good teams out there that you better be ready every week. It used to be like when I was at Oklahoma, we had to play Oklahoma and Texas every year, and then the rest of them is very difficult for for them to have much of a shot.
• 35:23
  But man, every week in the SEC you got to be ready. There's no doubt. What do you mean. You've, you're I see you at practice. I see you over. But Mia you, you, you have a really good feel understanding for kind of how things work in that building. What have you seen with related to our culture over these last few years.
• 35:46
  Within football. Like how do you, how have you seen our culture be a competitive advantage for us? Well, it's always been good, no question about the, you know, talking back and forth and, and good communication among the assistants and among the do the players. But I think what you had tremendous help during the Covid years when you really had so many restrictions, a couple things happened that I really think were beneficial to the coaches and the players.
• 36:13
  The coaches, every coach wants that last minute and they're going to be on the road or they're going to be working that extra hour. But once you got in the Covid rules and you couldn't do it, they realized that, hey, we can still coach, but we can spend some time with our family and we can do all these other things.
• 36:30
  And then the players were so restricted to their own groups, they weren't in any team meetings because you and the and small team that you had to work at, getting to know your other fellow players a little more and boy, they then that connection with you started out where they had these meetings where, let's say a guy, a running back, but he doesn't know the linebackers or he doesn't know the safeties, and they have 4 or 5 people in a group, and they all talk about some of the issues that are out there.
• 37:01
  You know, that maybe they wouldn't talk about just in the locker room. And I really think that, I'll tell a short story about this. He connects to me when I was a coach at Marshall, we had a tremendous tragedy happened, and one of our players got sick on a Tuesday, and he was a walk on kid from and transferred in from Army.
• 37:24
  That was from over there close to, Marshall. And this didn't make it up an army. And he got this mysterious, disease. And they called me from the hospital, and I went over there and the guy said, coaches, guys in bad shape. And I said, so we started sitting around with him. And then before you know it, the next day, the kid passed away.
• 37:44
  And of course, it's just, you know, you know, as a coach, as a parent, you don't really know what to do. So I asked the chaplain and we got our whole team together and talked to him, and I was having a hard time, too. I mean, it just came imagine that how bad all of us felt and, wasn't even thinking about the game, you know, looming here.
• 38:05
  And a couple days and this young kid from Atlanta named Derek Greer was in the back of the, chapel there. And he started walking to the front very slowly. And I wasn't sure what Derek was doing, and he got right to the front and stopped and said, coach, I need to talk to the players. And he got up there right in front of everybody, and he said, I'm here to tell you today that this guy was on my team and I didn't even know him.
• 38:35
  I knew his jersey number and I knew he's out there running on the scout team. But you know he was just a body. He was just somebody to help us get ready and everything. He said we gotta, we gotta do a better job. No one everybody else. And what makes them tick and all that. And from that day on, every time I've ever been a coach of any team, I don't let the players sit together.
• 39:00
  I mean, so. So, for instance, if we're eating all the bags game set to together, all the trainers and managers have to split up. I want you to get to know everybody because they got a job, you know, but you got to respect that and what's their role with them. And that's pretty true with most places. But but the fact that that connectivity makes, you know, a little bit more about what makes a guy tick, because some people don't realize that the kid was brought up different than you.
• 39:28
  I mean, some kid trying to survive just to get to school every day. And where's you got mom and daddy and all that? So once you know the ins and outs of, you know, your own players and your fellow teammates, I really, really let you know what they might be doing stuff and why they've been like they are.
• 39:46
  And then and then the coaches that meet with them get to know other players, too. They're not just talking to the running back. They got different groups. So I would say those two things that really helped our team, that's that's a powerful story, really, really powerful story. Okay, now I know we need to move toward the finish line here in a second coach, but there's one question I like to ask, and most of our podcasts.
• 40:11
  I'd love to hear your perspective on this. And then we'll wrap up here in a moment. What what is your definition of success? Well, I think that, the one thing you got to be careful about is you want to set goals, but they want to be realistic, and you want to be understanding that success for some people is different than others.
• 40:33
  So I would say you measure success and degrees as far as football, it might be a team like Georgia is went in. I have a chance to win every game. Whereas like the first year I went to Kansas State, they lost 20 straight conference games and we had taken over a team that really was kind of the doormat of the, the big eight conference.
• 40:56
  But we won four conference games that first year, and we did so well in the last game. He left the scoreboard on for two weeks because. So that was success for us. But but I do think that a couple things about about being positive and being, a coach or somebody in a position of authority, most people like for you to tell them they're doing a good job.
• 41:22
  There's nothing better than to put your arm around some young kid or or whoever it might be and say, boy, that was awesome. We really you can't you can't imagine how much that helps us. But on the other hand, the worst thing you can tell them sports praise because somebody dropped the thought that they're going to be able to play and they're not.
• 41:42
  And I tell them what they want to hear. You know, sometimes young coaches try to keep everybody happy and say, wow, you're going to play a lot this week. We're going. And then the guy that they can get in the games and, on my own here, I'm on bus myself. I had a kid in North Carolina named Amos Lawrence, who was one of the best backs I ever coached, and he was ready to play as a true freshman and should have played the first game against Kentucky.
• 42:06
  And I didn't put him in the game because I was worried about trying to get him in there and get him ready, and it was a terrible job by me. And after the game, I went up to him and said, Amos, I'm just going to tell you right now I was wrong. You should have played you going to play this next week, and I hope you'll forgive me because it was a bad job.
• 42:26
  I mean, to coach. I believe in you. Understand? Where are you going next? We got 236 yards. So the point is you got to. You got to be. You got to level with him. And that's that's something Coach Switzer used to have us do on Thursdays. We always met with with all our players individually because you can lose contact with a younger guy.
• 42:47
  Let's say you're coach in a position where the guy's being redshirted, he's on the scout team you don't ever seen. And then all of a sudden it's spring practice and you hadn't seen him do anything. You hadn't talked to him. We had to meet with him 15 minutes every week and say how your grades going? What's going on?
• 43:05
  Where where are you going? And that's why when Kirby does and that's why he gets guys like, Davis, you know, was doing a good job on the scout team and the coaches were watching him. And by the eighth or ninth game, they had him playing. They kept up with him, you know, and and he takes a little time and practice every day and puts in three guys out there and takes away from the ones in the twos a little bit.
• 43:29
  But down the road, he let those kids know they're at least looking at them, you know. So I would say success there. Tell them they do what they're doing and tell them what they need to do to get better. But also when they're doing good, give them a little credit for it, too, you know? And, nobody likes to, to, no, they're not doing that.
• 43:50
  Great. But you need to you need to level with them, that's for sure. And level with the parents, too. We had a deal with the parents at the open door policy call and say anytime. But, you know, we need some reinforcement from you when all of a sudden the kid's not doing good. You don't need to start talking to them about, hey, they're screwing you over.
• 44:10
  So we need to get this straight and try to keep them because they know what makes them tick. And, we had good communication there to. Well, I tell you, this has been, a really great conversation, I think about some of your past in College Football Hall of Fame head coach of both Marshall and George, star quarterback at NC state.
• 44:32
  You've done some tremendous things. Well, I appreciate you, but the best thing I did was I had a great family, great family support system. You know, I think, all of us, need to realize, your philosophy was that 90% of your happiness in life is usually going to come from your made and your family. I mean, certainly your your ability to be out in the public and be be out with among, you know, as a coach, you know, is great, but when through thick and thin, they're always going to be there for you and they're always going to be what makes you tick.
• 45:07
  And, I would just, just tell everybody at this point, both of us have had a little setback, helped us. Don't take anything for granted on the off. But also, just be thankful that you, you know, you have ability to have people that care about you and and that are going to do all they can to, you know, make you happy and be happy, too.
• 45:29
  And but I would encourage anybody that, as a, as a parent or anybody listening that, if you can get your kids involved in any kind of activity sporting wise, whatever it might be, some people might be the band of whatever, you know, I think some of the best people I ever met were our band members. It just it means so much to them.
• 45:50
  I know last year I was doing a little rehab, and one of the ladies that helped me, her son was in a Georgia band, and he was just hoping that he could be on the group that got to go to Alabama. You know, when they go for just to the they don't take everybody for a away game because the tickets.
• 46:06
  But he was fired up to make the travel team because he wanted to be part of the Georgia band. And, everybody means a lot to them. So, but, yeah, we some when we finish up here, I know you got your own, group, but you and I talk about motivation and, about the different things that, you know, give each team edge.
• 46:28
  And there's not going to be that real pep talk that's going to make the difference every week. But you got to work on those kids psyche. I mean, they got to believe. And it's like guys in golf ball getting ready to hit across the war. You think you're going to hit it in the water. And, I think that's where you've done such a tremendous job individually because each kid's got different kinds of kind of things they got to overcome because what a tremendous adjustment.
• 46:54
  You been a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior phenom in your own school. Now you're jumping into this place where everybody's good and, you know, and and everybody thinks if you don't play your first game and all of a sudden you're not that great, but it's hard to do, isn't it very hard to do it? Well, let me just say this as we kind of finish up for a second, I'll tell you what, what's was meant so much to me is it's been years since I've been the new guy.
• 47:19
  I'm definitely not the new guy anymore. But years ago, when I was the new guy, you were just so welcoming and warm and just went out of your way to to get to know me. And I really, genuinely appreciate that. To this day, I know that's just reflective of who you are as a man. So thank you for being that way.
• 47:36
  Well, I appreciate that, but realistically, I needed the need for that. And, when Ron Portion and Kirby told me you were coming over, because I saw the impact that we had a couple places I had with with the guys with your background, because there's so many ways that you can influence a player as a coach. I mean, they got nutrition and they got strength, coach.
• 47:58
  And but, the mental area area right now is that area. It's something that you look at these golfers and tennis players and everybody along those lines. But, I just think, you got to be realistic for sure. There's no question about it. But but you got to make sure that everybody's got a motor. And how can you get that baby running full speed to help everybody else?
• 48:24
  And we we've got a five star guy and you, that's for sure. Well, I appreciate that big time. Well, hey, thank you for taking time to join us, coach. And, look forward to seeing you real soon. And, hey, like, hey, you know, we're kicking off here in no time at all. These Marshall people asked me who I'm going will be pulling for, but it's going to be hard to go against the dogs.
• 48:47
  But I got a lot of my old players coming down here, but, I hope it's going to be fun to see some, But I would have never thought in 1990, when I got on that plane from Oklahoma that Marshall would be down in Georgia, but they certainly are. Wow. 35 years later, how about it? All right.
• 49:05
  Well, thank you for spending time with us. And we wish you nothing but the best coach and look forward to seeing you over there soon.