ATHENS, Ga. — He’s not the first to arrive inside the plush football offices inside the Butts-Mehre building. That distinction belongs to defensive line and associate head coach Tracy Rocker, who makes his way through the double doors at 5:15 a.m.
No, Jeremy Pruitt, the second-year Bulldogs defensive coordinator, sleeps in. He arrives at 6 a.m.
What little sleep Pruitt gets has decreased since June 1st.
That Monday, Pruitt and his wife, Casey, welcomed Ridge, all 7 pounds and 14 ounces, into the world.
“I've really enjoyed it,” Pruitt told me. “When you go home at night, he's not worried about whether or not the DB's kept the guys cut off or we got any turnovers that day or how many touchdowns we gave up, he just wants some attention.”
During the season, Pruitt gives the Bulldogs football team nearly 20 hours of attention each day. Those close to him tell me he’s in his office at 6 a.m. and usually doesn’t head home until 1 in the morning.
There is game film to watch, practice to go over and opponents’ tendencies to evaluate.
What do they do on 2nd down and long, what's their 3rd down efficiency, what hole does their running back always look to crack?
The downside to being one of the most respected defensive minds in the game? Less time with Casey and Ridge. But, Pruitt does not want anyone to feel sorry for him.
“To me, being a football coach, it's just a job,” Pruitt said. “I don't think we do any more than anyone else out there. There are guys who work in the steel mills, there are guys in our military that do a lot more than we do. When I go to work every day, to me, it's just my job, but I'm very thankful I have a job like this.”
And the Bulldog Nation is lucky to have him. Babies always bring good luck, right?
WSBTV
