Jan. 16, 2008
The first in a series of interviews with the new members of the Georgia Tech football coaching staff. This week’s Q&A is with defensive coordinator Dave Wommack. The questions were asked by the Voice of the Yellow Jackets, Wes Durham:
Click “Video” to watch Wes Durham’s interview with Dave Wommack.
Q: Defensive Coordinator Dave Wommack comes to Atlanta from Southern Miss. There are a lot of people who have been accustomed the last 15 years, since Georgia Tech won that National Championship in 1990, that defense has been a pretty big statement.
A: There is no doubt about over the years that they have done a tremendous job of playing defensive here at Georgia Tech.
Q: What is the one thing your defense will be known for?
A: That’s hard to say. Hopefully a defense that plays hard and flys around the field.
Q: How much of this early process are you allocating to the guys you are going to be dealing with in the spring?
A: I am trying to spend a lot of time with them one-on-one. I have a little questionnaire I have for them to fill out, about eight pages, and then I can use it for some things in the future. I have watched a little bit of film, not as much as I want.
Q: You know Coach in this market people are very familiar with a former player you had at Southern Miss, Michael Bowling — a guy who has become a phenomenal player in the National Football League. People see that kind of athlete out of a Southern Miss defense, it’s very similar to some of our athletes we have here it looks like.
A: I was pleased when I came here, I got a chance to see some of our defensive lineman. We have some young linebackers and some young DB’s that I am anxious to look at in the Spring.
Q: How important will spring be?
A: Our goal is to find the top 11 players on defense and obviously the next 11. So hopefully we will be able to find a first team unit and some depth.
Q: You have tackled several different situations, Southern Miss, Arkansas, South Carolina, etc. Is every place just a little different from the other?
A: Absolutely, the head coaches are obviously a little different and where the emphasis is put. But it all comes back to the same thing – blocking and tackling – and who does that the best.
