Like the Energizer Bunny, the DC search is still going... still going

So Kirby Smart stays at Bama. Ok. If he doesn't want to come to UGA then, by default, he is not the man for the job. Who then?

It seems that Bloggers, Tweeters and Venters are focused on three guys and a ghost. Todd Grantham in Dallas, Travis Jones in New Orleans, Tim DeRuyter at Air Force and the Ghost of Erk Russell. I am not sure if folks are looking at Travis to be DC or on the new staff as a position coach. Either way, he is well-respected and would be a great addition.

I think my favorite from this group may be Tim DeRuyter. Check this out:

Against Navy's triple option (hello PJ) - held them to 209 total yards and lowest point total of the season at 13 in regulation.

Against Utah's spread (hello Urban Meyer) - held them to their lowest scoring output of the season at 16 in regulation.

(Both of the above games went into OT so I didn't count the 10 points allowed in OT)

Against Houston's air show (hello 5600 passing yards) - held them to lowest scoring output of the season at 20.

Also held TCU to their third lowest scoring output at 20.

Air Force played some pretty potent offenses of all styles and held their own with service academy defenders. This guy knows what he is doing. He is smart and he is a service academy grad - which earns extra points at the HDD Blog.

This is from the USAFA Athletic Dept. Bio:
All told, DeRuyter has 18 years of coaching experience, all at the NCAA Division I-A level, and has coached in nine bowl games. He has experience with both 4-3 and 3-4 defensive schemes and in pressure, attack-style philosophies. DeRuyter's defenses have traditionally been ranked among the national leaders during his 18-year coaching career at three different I-A schools.

And there is this from the The Gazette in CO. Springs:
DeRuyter’s defensive unit was among the nation’s best in 2009. The Falcons finished the season ranked 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. And the unit’s performance in the Armed Forces Bowl against Houston was a masterpiece. The Falcons limited the nation’s top-ranked passing offense to a season-low 222 yards through the air and picked off quarterback Case Keenum six times.

DeRuyter earned $205,000 in 2009. He will be a head coach one day. But perhaps a 4 or 5 year stint at a Top 10 program will be the perfect stepping stone.

Your thoughts?