Georgia Football: Mel Tucker’s departure proof of Bulldogs’ dominance

Georgia football will need to find a new defensive coordinator. Now former DC Mel Tucker will leave the program to become the head coach at Colorado.

It didn’t take Kirby Smart long to turn Georgia into one of the premier programs in college football. The elevated status comes with an array of perks and pains, including the pilfering of their coaching staff every offseason. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will reportedly soon be named the next head coach at Colorado.

For Georgia, this is all somewhat new.  Turnover at the top Power 5 coaching jobs happens, but it seems to happen more regularly at the top schools. Just ask Nick Saban and Alabama, who look primed to lose their offensive coordinator Mike Locksley to Maryland in the near future. He follows in the footsteps of Brian Daboll, Lane Kiffin, Jeremy Pruitt and Kirby Smart, himself. Four former Alabama coordinators who have moved on from the program in the last three seasons.

The lack of continuity alone would sink most programs, but Alabama hasn’t missed a beat. Saban has built a machine which can plug and play its coaching staff and still produce a top-notch program on the field. Can Kirby Smart do the same?

If Georgia continues on this trajectory Tucker’s departure won’t be the last. Other programs will be after Smart’s staff every offseason, forcing a continual shuffling. Logistically that’s a tough ask. Recruiting relationships, schemes and play calling are all delicate aspects of a program that require some semblance of a rhythm. Now Georgia needs to make its own rhythm.

Given the short notice, Tucker will most likely coach the team in the SEC Championship Game, but any involvement after then is still up in the air. He’ll have to weigh his new responsibilities at Colorado with another championship run at Georgia. Welcome to the club, Georgia. Now go find a new defensive coordinator.