Tennessee Now Talking To Garner

After University of Georgia Assistant Head Coach Rodney Garner ((pictured, thanks/Georgia Sports Communications)) gave Auburn University a "Thanks, but no thanks," the SEC cannibalization of its own continues as, now, the University of Tennessee is doing its share of jibber-jabbering with Garner.

From Drew Edwards article from the Knoxville News-Sentinel...

The Athens Banner-Herald reported that Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt met with Garner on Sunday evening.

"Mark's dealing with Rodney right now and talking to him about some things," Georgia athletic director Damon Evans told the Banner-Herald. "I'll just wait for Mark to report back to me."

UT offered Garner a package that could approach $400,000, according to ESPN.com. He earned $253,301 last season at Georgia, making him the third-highest paid assistant on staff, according to the Banner-Herald.

"We'll do what's appropriate for Georgia," Evans said. "There's always going to be other schools out there - the market changes constantly in this business - and we can make sure that we do what's appropriate. All I'll say is that we want to keep Rodney at this institution because we think he's a good football coach, a good person and means a lot to our program."

According to flightaware.com and their analysis of McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, a Beechcraft Super Air King 350 registered to the University of Tennessee arrived in Athens, Georgia on Sunday afternoon. She stayed on the ground for a few hours, and returned to Knoxville. No word on who was on the flight and what may or may not have been accomplished.

What role Garner would play in a Kiffin Administration is currently unclear. Lane's father, Monte, coaches defense and recently hired Ed Orgeron is the recruiting coordinator.

Those of us here at OSG HQ think this is, simply, a case of driving up the market value of a commodity in an attempt to get the opposition to blink.

Georgia should blink here...