Garner still mulling UT offer

Georgia assistant football coach Rodney Garner is still mulling an offer to join Tennessee's staff, while Georgia spent Sunday working on a more attractive financial package to keep their recruiting coordinator in Athens.

Garner, a UT assistant 1996-97, told ESPN.com he hoped to have a decision by Sunday afternoon. A source with knowledge of the situation indicated to the News Sentinel on Sunday afternoon that Garner's decision might not come until Monday.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported that Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt met with Garner on Sunday evening.

"Mark's dealing with Rodney right now and talking to him about some things," Georgia athletic director Damon Evans told the Banner-Herald. "I'll just wait for Mark to report back to me."

UT offered Garner a package that could approach $400,000, according to ESPN.com. He earned $253,301 last season at Georgia, making him the third-highest paid assistant on staff, according to the Banner-Herald.

"We'll do what's appropriate for Georgia," Evans said. "There's always going to be other schools out there - the market changes constantly in this business - and we can make sure that we do what's appropriate. All I'll say is that we want to keep Rodney at this institution because we think he's a good football coach, a good person and means a lot to our program."

UT's plane flew to Athens-Ben Epps Airport on Sunday afternoon and returned to Knoxville shortly after 6 p.m., although it is unclear who made the trip to Athens and if anyone from UT met with Garner on Sunday.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.