Chan Gailey: Breaking free of the 7-win rut at Georgia Tech

<p>When Georgia Tech's outgoing athletic director gave Chan Gailey a new contract, there was plenty of grumbling among the Yellow Jackets' fan base.</p><p>What had Gailey done to deserve another four years at a million bucks apiece? After all, this was a coach who couldn't seem to break free from a rut of seven-win seasons and minor-league bowl trips _ the kind of stuff that gets other guys fired.</p><p>Well, no one's complaining now.</p><p>The No. 16 Yellow Jackets (9-2) have locked up a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, where they'll go for their first outright league title since 1990 and a spot in the Orange Bowl. They're on the cusp of a 10-win season, which has been done only seven times in the school's long football history.</p><p>"Coach Gailey is the right match for this program," defensive tackle Joe Anoai said Tuesday. "He's got us on the right track. There's no limit to what this program can do."</p><p>It didn't always seem that way. Gailey's first four seasons all had a familiar look: The Yellow Jackets knocked off some better teams, lost to some inferior teams and couldn't do any better _ or worse, for that matter _ than seven wins a year.</p><p>Sure, Georgia Tech managed to extend its school-record streak of bowl appearances, which will grow to 10 straight this season, but no one was tearing down the goalposts over such lowbrow postseason fodder as the now-defunct Silicon Valley Classic.</p><p>Nevertheless, former AD Dave Braine tore up the last year of Gailey's contract and gave him a new five-year deal (albeit at the same salary he was already receiving). Then it was Gailey's turn to give a little.</p><p>He turned over the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Patrick Nix, who brought fresh ideas to a scheme that relied a little too heavily on the power running game and failed to take advantage of star receiver Calvin Johnson. The players rallied around the move, impressed by their coach's act of unselfishness.</p><p>"Obviously, he knows what he's doing," said Anoai, noting that Gailey has been both a head coach and offensive coordinator in the NFL. "But he had the ability to swallow his pride and hand it over to another man. That's really where leadership comes from. If he can do that, we can put ourselves aside for a teammate, give our all for the next guy on the roster."</p><p>Gailey admits that it was tough to cede the play-calling duties, but feels that it made him a more rounded coach. Instead of working exclusively with the offensive players and spending a great deal of time in the film room, studying defenses, he's been able to hang out more with everyone.</p><p>"I'm not going to say I'll never do it again," Gailey said. "But you've got to choose whether to dislike your role or embrace your role. I chose to embrace my role on this football team."</p><p>The players have also noticed a change in Gailey's gruff, sometimes-abrupt demeanor. He seems to have softened just a bit, which may have its roots in the heart attack he survived in the spring of 2005. Whatever the case, it's been just the right touch for an experienced, senior-laden team that didn't require an overbearing leader.</p><p>"Coach Gailey seems to be getting younger," Anoai said. "He's kind of swinging more to the cool side. He's a lot easier to talk to. He was always easy to talk to about the serious factors in life. He's so wise and has been through so much. But now, he's so much more cool. You can joke with him and kid with him."</p><p>Gailey cringes when he hears those sort of things. "That makes me nervous," he said with the slightest of smiles.</p><p>He also knows that true acceptance won't come until he beats Georgia. The Yellow Jackets face their biggest rival on Saturday, trying to break a five-year losing streak that actually began in George O'Leary's final season.</p><p>But Gailey concedes that things are different, both on and off the field.</p><p>"When you don't spend all your time in the meeting room or all your time on one field in practice, it does leave time to go by the training room and see the guys in there," Gailey said. "You can go through the locker room from time to time. When guys are on break outside their meeting room, I'm seeing them."</p><p>During those impromptu meetings, Gailey is willing to listen to suggestions.</p><p>"The players can talk to him, tell him we like this or we like that. He's open to things," running back Tashard Choice said. "But he's also our leader. When he says something, we follow that. I think everyone on the team has gotten behind him and done what he's told us to do."</p><p>Gailey isn't sure all this warm and fuzzy talk will last. He's still a football coach, pure and simple, a guy who really hasn't changed all that much.</p><p>"Next year, they may be saying I'm cold-hearted," Gailey said. "Maybe nine wins is why I'm nicer. Who knows?"</p>

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