ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 23, 1995 TAG: 9512250031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
HE WAS Bulldog born and Bulldog bred, but fans called for Ray Goff's head.
There was no rancor in Ray Goff's voice when it was suggested that Georgia football fans certainly have become supportive now that his coaching tenure is coming to a close.
``Better at the end than not at all,'' said Goff, whose forced resignation became public in the week leading up to the Bulldogs' final regular-season game.
Nobody was more supportive than the players, who rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to defeat Georgia Tech 18-17 and prolong Goff's tenure for another five weeks. His career as the Bulldogs' coach will end Dec.30 with the Peach Bowl game against Virginia.
``I can't say enough about the way they've overcome adversity,'' Goff said. ``First of all, when the year started, with all the questions about me. Then, secondly, with all the injuries we've had. A lesser group of young men ... never would have overcome it.''
Goff, too, held his head high despite circumstances that conspired to doom him. There had been calls for that head as early as the 1994 season, when athletic director Vince Dooley called for ``significant improvement'' after a 6-4-1 record.
He didn't get it. The Bulldogs didn't have the six wins required for bowl eligibility until they beat Georgia Tech to finish 6-5.
``It was kind of interesting,'' Goff said. ``We played Florida and we had our sixth-team tailback, our fourth-team fullback and our third-team tailback starting that day. I'm told we had 17 starters miss one game or more. I've never been through it before and I hope I never go through it again.
``I wouldn't wish this [season] on anybody.''
Goff is a loyal Bulldog, a former Georgia quarterback who didn't stray far from his Moultrie, Ga., roots. If he's bitter, he doesn't show it.
``There's no handbook for this,'' he said. ``But, I've had to make that choice. I've had to let people go and I've been very fortunate with the ones that I did [let go] that they handled it extremely well. And, I think that's taught me a lesson.
``I really believe there's a reason why things happen the way they have. I really believe something good's going to come out of it. I believe something good for Georgia's going to come out of it, and I believe that something good's going to come out of it for me and my family.''
The Bulldogs, after a 31/2-week search, introduced Glen Mason from Kansas as their coach this week. Goff, linked with the Rutgers vacancy that was filled by Terry Shea, will be looking for a job after next week.
``You always play the `what if?' game,'' said Goff, 40. ``But, unfortunately, it doesn't do any good right now. So, what I've got to do is take the cards that were dealt me and move on.''
Goff has a seven-year record of 46-33-1, including back-to-back seasons in which the Bulldogs were a combined 19-5 and won each of their bowl games in 1991-92.
``I'm not really one to question authority,'' wide receiver Juan Daniels said. ``I'm here to do what I'm told and to be a Bulldog. But, yeah, I have to ask, `Why?' Personally, I don't think it was fair. It was just a stroke of bad luck for him.''
It has been reported that Goff called the parents of each of his players to thank them for their support. According to senior linebacker Whit Marshall, he also called each of the players.
``He said he respects them for allowing him basically to be their parent away from home for four years,'' Marshall said. ``It just shows the class he has. Everybody supports him over here. Even after he lost his job, everybody stuck together.
``It's [the injury epidemic] been real disappointing, especially for the fact that people lose their jobs over it. I think any time that happens, you've got to second-guess, but there's not a whole lot we can do about it.''
In the final analysis, Goff was doomed by a 24-27-1 Southeastern Conference record. Georgia was 0-4 this year and 4-18 over Goff's term against Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. He never beat Tennessee in five games and lost his last six games against Florida.
That might change if quarterback Mike Bobo and tailback Robert Edwards return to full strength after injuries limited them to four and two games, respectively, but Goff won't be around to see it. Bobo had passed for at least 250 yards in three straight games before he suffered a broken leg; Edwards was leading the country in scoring when he broke his foot.
``When they get everybody back, they're going to be - we're going to be - really good,'' Goff said. ``It was probably the best football team we've had in the last, shoot, 12 [or] 13 years when we started the season. And then injuries just destroyed us.
``There's no doubt that it's disappointing. I'd love to come back and coach this football team next year 'cause I don't think there's any doubt that they're going to be a preseason top 10 or 15 team. If they're not somebody's crazy.''
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. Outgoing Georgia football coachby CNBRay Goff said, ``I wouldn't wish this [season] on anybody.'' color.