When last week started, University of Georgia president Dr. Michael Adams (a graduate of Chattanooga High School) probably thought his next meeting with Dennis Felton would be in his office with athletic director Damon Evans, not in Georgia Tech’s basketball coliseum celebrating an SEC championship. Adams, who performed all the cheers as the band played during last Sunday’s title game, talked about the program, Felton and cheering in the stands following the win over Arkansas.
Q. What kind of step is this for the Georgia basketball program?
A. “It’s a giant step forward, but it’s just a step. You do it brick by brick and stone by stone over a good period of time. I think that’s what we’re doing. I hope that’s what we’re doing. I believe it is.”
Q. Concerning Dennis Felton’s job, was there any doubt going into this thing?
A. “I think that’s a Damon question. I said to a couple of other people, and it’s true, I think we learned a long time ago that it’s better to let coaches focus on coaching during the season and then to sit down with them at the end of the year. And the main revenue coaches, there’s no secret, I do that as well with them. I’ll get a recommendation in the next few days from Damon, but I don’t know I’ve ever seen an SEC champion coach go anywhere.”
Q. Yeah, that would be a first.
A. “And there’s a lot of growth here in the last month. You’ve watched it. This young man right here (Albert Jackson) has grown up so much. Zac Swansey hitting that shot. You could just see over the last month the confidence level building even though we’re short-handed. And it finally came together. So it’s an important step and a great time, yet you and I both know that what we’re about at Georgia is building quality programs over a long period of time. I certainly think this one is headed in the right direction.”
Q. What did you think their chances were after finding out they had to play two games in one day?
A. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that, coming into this, nobody thought this was any more than the most outside of chances. And if anybody told you anything else, I think they’re misleading you. But I will say this — I thought after the Kentucky win, again, I think they gained a lot of self-confidence and I wasn’t surprised they beat Mississippi State. I was a little more surprised at the first couple of games than I was at the last two because you could see it develop.”
Q. You looked really into the game. You really love basketball, don’t you?
A. “I do get into it. I have to divorce myself from the president role and the fan role and I want to do both. I want the kids to think I’m here cheering for them because I am, but I also want the coaches and the other administrators to think we’re going to do what we need to do to develop a sound program. So there’s at least two roles there.”
Or login with:
New Account