Georgia Bulldogs: Rocker, Sherrer look forward to 2016
By John Buhler
The Georgia Bulldogs’ 2015 football season has ended. The two remaining coaches, Tracy Rocker and Kevin Sherrer, share their thoughts on last year and next.
Only two coaches from Mark Richt’s 2015 staff at the University of Georgia will have a role with the 2016 Georgia Bulldogs under new head coach Kirby Smart: defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer. Smart has hired three other members to his staff: offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jim Chaney, offensive line coach Sam Pittman, and defensive specialist Glenn Schumann.
After the Georgia Bulldogs’ 24-17 bowl game victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the TaxSlayer Bowl Saturday, Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution spoke with the only two returning coaches on the Georgia football program.
While Rocker referred to the turmoil surrounding the program this past season as “a mutiny”, but wouldn’t exactly expand on that for Towers. He was just glad that the team stuck together and played hard for interim head coach Bryan McClendon to win this bowl game.
More from UGA Football
- Georgia Football: Past, Present and Future on Display in Win
- Georgia Football: Road Game Becomes a Home Game for Bulldogs
- Georgia Football: 2nd Half Dominance By Young Defense Brings Hope
- Georgia Football: Bulldogs Smartly Cruise Versus Vanderbilt
- Georgia Bulldogs 10 Days From Opening Game With Vanderbilt
Rocker understands that changing jobs is a part of the business of being a coach saying, “I’ve moved a lot, but I’m glad to be here. I have a young son that I’d like to finish school in Athens…Georgia’s my home, and I’m happy to be here.”
Sherrer who had worked with Smart as a part of Nick Saban’s staff at the University of Alabama had the following to say about the Georgia Bulldogs’ incoming head coach: “I think he’s going to bring, energy, excitement, passion, hard work, and that’s not just on the field. That’s on the recruiting trail…These kids will love playing for him. He’s a high-energy guy. He’s demanding, but that’s what you want.”
While Sherrer would like the opportunity to become Georgia’s next defensive coordinator, he said he spoke with Smart the other day, but believes “it will work itself out in time” and that Smart will “let everybody know what the staff situation will be.”
As of now, Smart has four more vacancies to fill on his coaching staff, most notably the defensive coordinator position. Smart has to coach in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game for the Alabama Crimson Tide when they take on the Clemson Tigers in Glendale, Arizona on Monday, January 11th.
Next: Georgia Bulldogs win TaxSlayer Bowl over Penn State, 24-17
It had been a tough month for the Georgia Bulldogs with the Richt dismissal, but the Dawgs showed resiliency during their bowl victory to get to 10-3 on the year. Rocker and Sherrer await what all that is in store for Georgia Bulldogs 2016 spring practice. Spring semester begins in Athens on Monday, January 11th, 2016.