Game of Thrones dropped its final season's trailer today, so I believe I'm allowed to make this reference now: SEC hiring can be more incestuous than the Targaryens and the Lannisters ever dreamed of being.
After Georgia lost offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to SEC East bunk mate Tennessee, the Bulldogs then spoke to fellow SEC bunk mate Kentucky's offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. Plenty of debate raged about just how seriously the Dogs pursued Gran and whether or not they even wanted him as their offensive coordinator as opposed to a position coach, but Gran on Tuesday said he had a legitimate offer from Georgia.
“Serious to the point that they offered the job,” he told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “It came down to: I love this community. I love this administration — Dr. (Eli) Capilouto, Mitch Barnhart — the guy that I work for is fantastic. And I’ve become a part of this community, and I love it. I think we’re doing some things that are special, and those (were) all a part of the decision-making when I decided to stay.”
In the SEC's game of thrones, the truth is what you make of it and looking superior to your rival houses is of tantamount importance, so one must consider the source here. Georgia is never going to publicly admit it didn't have enough juice to lure away Kentucky's offensive coordinator, and Kentucky's offensive coordinator is never going to admit Georgia wasn't really interested in him.
No matter where the truth actually lies, the reality was that Gran returned to Kentucky and Kirby Smart promoted James Coley to offensive coordinator. It was Coley's second promotion in now four off-seasons at Georgia, coming one year after he was moved to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, a necessary move to keep Jimbo Fisher from prying him away to another one of the SEC's 14 kingdoms in Texas A&M.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.