Did Mark Fox have a shadow?

Nick Jezierny/Idaho Statesman has a very interesting column out. Take a read and we'll comment below.

Fox escapes Trent's shadow at Georgia
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
April 4, 2009

Mark Fox had $1.3 million reasons to take the head coaching job at football-crazy Georgia.

In addition to that irresistible annual salary, here's another reason I think Fox left a comfortable situation at Nevada to take over a program that lacks significant tradition: It gives him a chance to be the architect of what will be a major rebuilding project.

He's no longer in the shadow of his former boss, Trent Johnson, who turned around the Wolf Pack in six years, culminating with a run to the Sweet 16 in 2004...

Go here for the remainder.

We take the position that Fox had no shadow at Nevada. Regardless of who recruiting which players (and Fox certainly had a hand in landing some of the kids he inherited), it was Fox who coached them to 20+ win seasons. What we would love to know is who on Trent Johnson's coaching staff first 'found' Nick Fazekas? Was it Fox or someone else on the staff. Please weigh in if you happen to know. The same with Marcelus Kemp.

Plus, landing JaVale McGee (who was never going to be a four-year college player regardless of who coached him) and Luke Babbitt (more than likely ditto) puts to rest any qualms about Fox's own recruiting prowess. We don't know who initially came across McGee but newspaper reports indicated Fox himself sealed the deal with his wooing of Pam McGee.

We also envision nothing but success for Fox at Georgia, given the opportunity for a couple of seasons of recruiting. Anyone (and there will always be the doubters) who is skeptical of Fox's overall ability to run a successful program is delusional. Some may not enjoy his personality and/or some of his disciplinary decisions and/or a few moments of his personal behavior but there is simply no way to substantiate any form of a shadow.

Have at it.