Meet the Coaches: George Godsey
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 18, 2012 6:30 AM EST
in Football
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Print(Ed. Despite multiple reports that Godsey has indeed been hired by Coach O'Brien, including a post on ESPN Boston blog, Bob Flounders at PennLive reported yesterday that the move was not official...yet. In the event that the "multiple reports" that Flounders cites are incorrect, we will cover the ninth coach, presumably still the QB coach, at the appropriate time.)
Today's installment of the run-through of new coaches brings us new quarterbacks coach George Godsey, a former collegiate and Arena league quarterback who has spent time with both college and pro coaching staffs. Godsey recently turned just 33 years of age, and possesses one of the best player photos known to man. Let's get into it.
Playing Experience. Godsey played his college ball at Georgia Tech, becoming a two-year starter at the beginning of the millennium. His numbers while at Georgia Tech were quite good. Following a statistically sound junior year in 2000, which saw a torn ACL for Godsey against LSU, Goose, a nickname he earned as a boy, posted the nation's sixth-best passer efficiency numbers while leading the Yellow Jackets to an 8-5 mark, including a 24-14 victory over Stanford in the Peach Bowl. Two of his coaches on that Georgia Tech team included offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien and offensive line coach Mac McWhorter. Small world.
After a brief stint in the Arena Football League, Godsey made his way to the coaching ranks...
Coaching Experience. Godsey was given his first break into collegiate coaching by his former head coach, George O'Leary, who had taken over the head spot at UCF. Godsey served one year as a graduate assistant before earning the role of quarterbacks coach for four seasons (2005-2008). In 2009, for reasons I can't quite figure out, Godsey became the running backs coach at UCF. Then, in 2011, he was hired by the New England Patriots as an offensive assistant. Godsey got the New England job when Brian Ferentz, then offensive assistant that worked "mostly with the tight ends", was promoted to tight ends coach.
Buzzsaw? Buzzsaw. Godsey will inherit a position that is a pure dumpster fire. Three scholarship quarterbacks will enter spring practice, each with at least two years of time spent with the program, and there is still no clear cut starter. One is a former walk-on who has shown flashes of greatness mixed with sprinkles of boneheadedness. The remaining two were highly touted freshmen in 2010, each of which is dealing with their own issues (grades, being a robot, etc.). Throw in a true freshman (we hope) and a couple of walk-on fillers, and Godsey will certainly have his work cut out for him. [INSERT JOKE ABOUT JAY PATERNO HERE]
Anything else? To be honest, we don't know too much about Godsey, but that's because the man is still only 33 years old. In the coaching business, he's still the one carrying the equipment after practice and drinking the coffee with a bar of soap in it.
Outside of his playing and coaching days, Godsey has a strong football lineage, which generally bodes well. His father played for Bear Bryant at Alabama and his two brothers both played Division 1 college ball, at Air Force and Notre Dame. Born in North Carolina and raised in Florida, George Godsey held, at one time, eight Georgia Tech records.
Outlook? Ask again later. Despite the fact that he's never coached a game at Penn State, it's still entirely too early in his career to make too many judgment calls. The offenses at UCF weren't the best, but then again it was UCF. He was on staff at New England for this year's juggernaut of an offense, but how much input did he actually have? With Bill O'Brien seeking an active role in offensive playcalling, as well as interaction with the quarterbacks, Godsey's greatest asset may end up being recruiting. At 33, he could relate more easily to some 17- and 18-year olds than other members of the staff.
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He get's a C
mainly because I need more information.
at least he's not a Paterno
I, for one, plan to continue my life long contempt for the powers that be and I fully expect to be disappointed with whatever choice is made. ~PSUgirl
Developmental System
Since this hire was announced, I got the feeling that Godsey would be in charge of developing the backups and O’Brien would be in charge of the starter and maybe the primary backup. It would make sense because each quarterback would get top-notch coaching on a more individual basis. Besides I don’t think Godsey does a lot of coaching Tom Brady.
While I like the idea of BOB taking time to work with the QB's
when it comes to practices and whatnot, I hope he’s just not spending time with the QB’s and ignoring everything else. I like a coach to watch over everyone to make sure his vision of the team is being carried out, and stepping in to correct anything he doesnt like.
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by skarocksoi on Jan 18, 2012 7:41 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Loved Godsey when he was in college
and he knows the system O’Brien will try to install. Unknown how good of a QB teacher he’ll be, but he definitely understands the position at a very high level. I gave it an A on potential, understanding that’s probably generous given what we really, actually, know
GO IOWA AWESOME
Is he bringing Maverick with him?
//lame joke’d
Fire Dan Snyder
by Cari Greene on Jan 18, 2012 7:59 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I've never closely followed another school as it filled out a new coaching staff...
Is it normal to keep your new hires this “in the family?” All these guys are contacts that BO’B worked with in his previous stops, several of which weren’t terribly successful endeavors.
I’m oscillating between depression and cautious (irrational?) optimism with this new staff.
Boy, isn't the off season awesome?
by SkellerDweller06 on Jan 18, 2012 8:34 AM EST reply actions
Good question.
I’m curious of that myself. My gut tells me that there are usually several coaches on staff that have ties to the new head coach while others come from the outside. I feel like I’m in the cautious optimism stage at this point, but that could be quickly flipped to depression come September.
_______________________
I'm guessing O'Brien wants people he's comfortable with
and I don’t blame him; he’s walking into a tough situation. “In-the-family” hires happen in sports frequently; the Houston Astros recently hired a Cardinals exec to be their GM; he in turn brought along a bunch of his guys from the Cards with him. Jumping into a new siutation, you want to be able to know what the people around you can do.
And for what it’s worth, this happens in most industries. Just the way the game is played.
"Every time you go to that cook-off you get drunk as a poet on payday!"
Think about what you would do.
Say you started your own company in your field of business. Who would you hire as VPs, as Counsel, etc.? If you’re experienced in the field, you’d hire those you’ve worked with in the past, with whom you’re comfortable, and so on.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 18, 2012 9:01 AM EST up reply actions
I work with a lot of start-ups
Generally, the majority of the hires are from the outside. It’s similar to they way most established companies hire in that there’s a process with interviewing, etc. You might recommend someone for a job, but it’s rare that you just appoint people without considering other alternatives in my experience.
My guess is that this type of relationship-based hiring is more common in football then elsewhere, and is particularly more common when a guy takes over a program and has a limited period of time to put together a staff. BOB wasn’t really in a position to interview three different people for the QB coach position. I’d expect the staff to change fairly dramatically over the course of the next couple years, but that’s a complete guess.
I wouldn't trust old rooster me neither.
I think it works both ways.
I’ve seen a lot of start-ups in the energy business essentially cherry pick VPs from old companies. When a small or mid-level company is purchased, it’s not uncommon for the old leadership to peel off and form a new company.
However, I’ve also seen the use of recruiting agencies to get some top-quality talent. In sports, though, as you allude to, I imagine the comfort level of past experiences is a highly valuable quality.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 18, 2012 9:31 AM EST up reply actions
Think Military not corporate
Football is more akin to a military unit. And promotion from within is what happens with well run units. In this case the new head coach is going to be implementing an offense/attack that has significant differences to what has been taught and attempted previously. So in order to effectively achieve the goal/objective, assigning leadership to those that understand his plan and methods is the ONLY way to have any reasonable chance of success. College football has limitations on the amount of time available to achieve the proficiency necessary to be good AND successful thus adding to the need and urgency of having everyone on the same page.
And while they are all or mostly familiar with each other, their depth of experience at a diverse number of other locations has to have brought them additional experience and expertise. Their backgrounds are far from insular or singular, and they have been successful at very high levels.
I remember Godsey playing for GT. I think his exposure to GT’s competition playing the position at that level, against Florida State and Georgia and other big time programs successfully gives him a unique ability to prepare/coach and improve the QB situation.
by bluehenfan73 on Jan 18, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Very similar...
in basketball too.
Sigh.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 18, 2012 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
Combination of time constraints and familiarity.
Maybe if BOB had more time, it would be different.
by Chris Grovich on Jan 18, 2012 9:37 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe this has been said somewhere,
but what is the deal with money in these situations. Maybe by getting a few guys he knows like Roof and Godsey who may take a pay cut to work for him he can spend more on some of the better options and/or keeping LJ and Vanderlinden.
WE'RE DANCIN!!!
I give him an A soley on his player photo
And a C based on what I think he do for this team. So a solid B average it is!
by lexi1031 on Jan 18, 2012 8:34 AM EST via mobile reply actions
He's the ultimate in the
“can’t be worse” argument. Obviously his resume is still a little blank so it’s hard to get a beat on him. However, I really don’t think he could be a worse QB coach than Jay. That said, however, both Godsey and BOB will likely be spending significant time with the QB’s, so the coaching won’t be limited to one inexperienced guy.
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of course he can be worse
if I’ve learned anything these past 2.3 months, is that it can always be worse.
Generally speaking, yeah....
But at quarterback? Pretty hard to do worse. Are QBs led an offense ranked 110 out of 120 FBS teams.
_______________________
yes
Jay does have a few good QBs on his resume, this past 2 seasons notwithstanding.
I am sure that there are QB coaches out there who have never coached an all-conference QB.
Fire Dan Snyder
by Cari Greene on Jan 18, 2012 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
btw
why are you posting the profile for a guy who hasn’t been hired when we’ve got a wide receivers coach who is also listed as “assistant head coach?”
He wasn't hired?
Cause according to “multiple reports” I’ve seen, he was. Only Bob FLOLounders is saying it hasn’t happened. And even he is saying “not yet.”
Stan Hixon will get his. Don’t worry. The profiles are being done in a positional order.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 18, 2012 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
my turn for fail
there
(not t’ain’t)
it’s not as funny to pretend to be eliterit when you actually are
by PSUgirl on Jan 18, 2012 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
One Point We're Overlooking Here...
Is that all these coaches were around great coaches. Godsey may be young, but he’s seen some formidable teams and seen how they are coached and how they practice. Our former coaching staff haven’t been out in the world since The Beatles were still together.
I like the fact that we have a collection of relative unknowns who have been exposed to greatness.
As for Roof, I taught a “rocks for jocks” class at Duke back in ‘02. I had the starting QB and the starting outside linebacker. Both had to tell me they were on the football team or I’d never have known.
With Penn State’s guys, you can tell our football players are for real…
Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.
A better question?
The question that is asked is how much input did he actually have while on staff at New England. A better question may be how much did he learn while he was on that staff. My guess is that he learned quite a lot just from working with the guys operating the best offense (arguably) in the NFL. He brings that experience and knowledge to us; therefore, he rates at least a B.
He looks like a white, fully grown Beetlejuice (sp.) from Howard Stern.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 18, 2012 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
oh hell no
"There are too many Irish guys on this team"
Joesph Vincent Paterno
April, 2010
by letsgopsu on Jan 18, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
LOL
I miss listening to Stern in the car. I can’t listen in my home office, too distracting.
"There are too many Irish guys on this team"
Joesph Vincent Paterno
April, 2010
The best question of all (imho) is,
What will BOB do about the coaches who fail to produce? Will he let being buddies interfere with getting rid of them if/when needed? He needs to remember he is not the winningest CFB coach of all time, and that the masses need to be placated quickly, quickly.
He needs to be tough enough not to let one or two of his cronies drag down the entire ship, esp. since this is his first HC job. Time will tell what he will do, and that in turn will help determine success or failure for future Penn State football.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
Will Godsey bring some Arena League ethos to our QBs?
Will he teach our guys to get the ball out more quickly — Tommy “Gun” Maddox style?
Of course this approach might simply lead to throwing the pick six more quickly.
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein
Whenever I hear the name, my first thought is almost always of Ike Godsey.
Ew, she's presenting like a mandrill!
Mine is Jessica Simpson
as in, “OMGsey, look at the size of those things!”
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 18, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions
Unless it was twins
it’s one for the baby and one for somebody else . . . .
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 19, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
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