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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > March > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTech’s Johnson clearly in charge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No coaches have more distinctive personalities than those involved with college football. Take Georgia Tech, for instance, where Bobby Dodd was a battler, Bill Curry was a philosopher, Bobby Ross was a perfectionist, George O’Leary was a screamer and Chan Gailey was a — well, he was a what?
Tech offensive tackle Andrew Gardner paused before saying, “Coach Gailey was a nice guy. He was more of a hands-off coach in that he coached the coaches and the coaches coached the players. He probably was a real pro-style coach in the sense that, once his players earned a level of trust by making good grades and staying out of trouble, he expected them to be responsible for themselves.”
You know where we’re going. So what is Paul Johnson, Gailey’s successor, who was a head coach of distinction at Georgia Southern and Navy for 11 seasons? His first group of Yellow Jackets finished their fourth spring practice on Saturday at Rose Bowl Field, where the week was dominated by two consistent sights: Johnson teaching and his assistants yelling.
Which means what about Johnson, especially compared to the coaching personalities of Dodd, Curry, Ross, O’Leary, Gailey and the rest?
“Gosh, I don’t know. I’m probably a little of all of them,” Johnson said, sliding into a smile. “I try to be a teacher, but sometimes you have a lot of intensity if it calls for that, and sometimes it doesn’t require that, and you have to just do what you think needs to be done. Players can tell you [about my personality] better than I can. I don’t know what their perception of me is.”
They don’t know, either.
That’s because their perception of Johnson is a work in progress.
Here’s what they do know: Their new guy won a couple of Division I-AA national championships at Georgia Southern and made Navy football relevant for the first time in decades. Even though their new guy has an eternal love affair with the triple-option offense, he has spent large chunks of his first spring with the Jackets throwing and throwing some more. In other words, their new guy isn’t obsessed with trying to shove Tech’s round pegs that aren’t triple-option friendly into the square holes of his preferred offensive style. Their new guy also has shown wisdom by not having preconceived ideas of who can do what and allowing open competition.
Plus, their new guy already isn’t into folks who bark. Consider that Johnson has “Beat Georgia” on more than a few items around Tech’s practice fields.
“We’re still trying to get to know Coach Johnson, but we already can tell that he’s a no-games coach,” said cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels. “He sticks to the rules. He’s all about doing the right thing, and he wants perfection, and he wants to get the best out of us every time we hit the field. I’m sure we’ll learn more about him as the spring, summer and season goes on. But you can tell right now that he won’t accept anything less than the best from us.”
The same goes for Johnson’s wired assistants during practices. According to Johnson, such a thing isn’t a coincidence, with Johnson adding, “We need to be high energy, and I really believe that the players react to how the coaches are. So we’re asking them to get after it and move around with intensity, so we need to do exactly the same thing.”
No problem there for linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, a holdover from the Gailey regime, who is among the many assistants who keeps his tongue flapping and legs churning before, during and after drills. This is Jean-Mary’s fourth year at Tech, and he once spent two seasons as a graduate assistant under the intimidating Lou Holtz at South Carolina.
Said Jean-Mary, “Make no mistake about it. You knew who was in charge at South Carolina. You knew Lou Holtz was the captain of the ship. When he walked into a room, he had everybody’s attention without saying a word. That’s the same thing I’d say about Coach Johnson.”
Here’s another thing you can say about Johnson: He’ll add more yelling to his teaching along the way. How much more? It will depend on whether his Jackets are moving closer to beating Georgia.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech/ACC
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Comments
By GA Tech Insider
March 29, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Very interesting article Mr. Moore. Thank you for a refreshing slant we haven’t seen in a while.
By lakebuzz
March 29, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
IF GT can win 8 games this year the momentum + returning talent = GREAT recruiting class = 2009 ACC Champs = 2010 ACC Champs & top 10 team = re-negotiate Johnson’s contract. If not 8 wins this year just add one year to the formula - Its a matter of time…..they may win more than 8 this year if Josh continues to play like today and continues to improve.
By jason
March 29, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
I am a die hard UGA fan. The fact that Tech hired Johnson is outstanding. I like all things Georgia. Now i prefer beatibg those Jackets every year; however I want them to win every one of their other games. I don’t know if it will be this year, but soon tech will have every reason to be proud of their team.
By jacketu4ria
March 29, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
CPJ has disrupted the hive and the jackets are swarming! Does that Bulldog have any idea what’s coming?
By LongBeachJacket
March 29, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
Nice article, Terence. Of course it is just the very beginning of the very beginning, but the buzz is encouraging.
One thing about amateur athletics, and college still qualifies (perhaps marginally), is that enthusiasm, high-energy and motivation is a key component.
The one thing that often seemed to frustrate the faithful in recent years was a tendency to let down after a few big wins and lay the proverbial “egg”.
It seems the style and substance this staff brings to the table may mitigate against further “egg laying” in coming seasons.
Sure there may be ups, downs, near misses and some close calls. But I like the intensity. It is needed at the college level. These players are not in the pros. They are in college. They need college style coaching to succeed. They may now have it.
GO JACKETS!
By quaildawg
March 29, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Lakebuzz and some of your Tech buddies need to take a reality pill. (And some techsters saay UGA fans are unrealistic?!) Johnson has proven he can get the job done at DivII where he inherited a pretty good program from Erk. He proved he can roll up some yards with his O at Navy (and win a few games as well) but hold the phone on those predictions as you are probably setting your self up for some angst.
By The Ole Ball Coach
March 29, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
Oh My Gosh The sky is falling the sky is falling Oh My Gosh - they have hired Johnson at Ga. Tech…….. UGA we will never win another Game in the history of Football …… Oh My Gosh………
By Bob Sacamano
March 29, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Not a chance in hell. But they can try, try, try with that funky offense. Who knows, they may eek out a win every 9 years or so.
By TDone
March 29, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Say Muttlanders, if I were you, I would expect Coach Johnson’s offense to work and work well. In that way, you can prepare for it. But since you seem to want to discount its merits, I think I like that even more.
Go Jackets!!!
By SickandTired
March 29, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Oh Bobby boy, thou art so challenged in seeing that except for Gailey’s decision of who his QB was for 4 years, he could have beaten thy beloved dawgs on 3 occasions with just mediocre QB play. Tech will never possess the resources of Georgia, Tech will never be able to out recruit Georgia, but they will always be able to be competitive when it comes to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This may be a year of heartbreak for the dawgs if they are their usual cocky selves and without doubt (I’m sure you agree with me that they’ll be undeafeated) they’ll be undefeated when they play Tech this year. At least they should, because it’s time Mark Richt performed at a level that’s he’s paid finally. It’s time for him to deliver that National Championship isn’t it? He can either deliver or good Dawg fans such as yourself, if history tells us anything, will start calling for his head on a stick because he hasn’t given you what you and your flea bag kind think is your God given right and that’s to be the National Champions. Put up or shut up time. Heck, even Mack Brown has won a Title now…..Georgia, at what point will you play as good as your fans think you are? That’s the question here. You Dawg Fans need to worry about your own kitchen as Paul Johnson prepares his team.
By TDone
March 29, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this
Sick and Tired, I could not say it any better. The Muttlanders have had an overinflated view of themselves for years and years.
They sort of remind me of the Clintons. You know, that sense of entitlement thing.
By ga_tech_92
March 29, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
GO Jackets!
By BADDAWG
March 29, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
Finally. A little excitement on the flats. So glad to see the nerd herd Gettinjg excited. Heck some of them are even talking about buying tickets…..what a novel idea.Next GT vs Duck game at Durham the attendance may even push 15,000. If you guys happen to make it back to the ACC championship game again by default…they may have to open the upper deck!!!! New coach. New offense. Yada, yada, yada. Blah, blah, blah. Same ole song 8th verse. Glad you guys excited mthough….that means eight in a row gonna hurt even more!!!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!! To HE*L with Tech!!!
By Dawg 1
March 29, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
Wow…
Sick and Tired…
Just a little advice…
First, CMR will be a Georgia long after CPJ has moved on to greener pastures. And the man has a track record taking a ‘bettr offer’.
Second, you are correct, we have our fair share of vocal idiots, but the truth is, no more in percentage than you do. In fact, your a fine example.
Third, with Georgia’s schedule, most of us understand that we are going to need to stay injury free and a little lucky to be in a position to challenge for the NC in December.
I wish Paul Johnson success, with the exception of one very important game a year and any key recruit that both schools are pursing. Having many friends who are graduates or fans of Tech, I understand that people like you are in the minority. And what about you? What if CPJ is .500 in three years and hasn’t beaten Georgia? How patient will you be? Yeah, that’s what I thought…
I sincerely hope that you have a life outside of this. Based on the venom you were spewing in this blog, this part of your life is pretty miserable. At the end of the day, it’s just College Football…
By Paddy
March 29, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
After reading the comments of the Dog fans, I get the impression they are not comfortable. It has been years since they even bothered themselves with the Yellow Jackets. Can’t wait for the season to start. Might be one of the most interesting football seasons on record in the state of Ga. I hope both teams win 10 games in’08.
By War Eagle
March 29, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
Coach Johnson will make Tech a success, IF he can recruit metro Atlanta, Georgia and calm CMR recruting tone down some.
By GT76
March 29, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Tech has a better chance to win 8 this year than UGA has of winning 11!
I too wish every UGA fan continues to belittle and look over Tech. So far those of you on the blogs are doing a good job. A few of you seem to have a brain and know your day is coming.
I think a run of a few years will come when UGA is in the same boat (going to mediocre bowls and wondering what happened)
By GT4EVER
March 29, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
The very next thing Radikovich needs to do; start the process for getting our Yellow Jackets back into a real football conference. The SEC is where we should be and where we should stay! Our attendance would improve 100 percent, our recruiting would also improve. Imagine GT vs. Auburn, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida. What a beautiful thing!
By Tenn Man
March 29, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
Those dawg fans must really be worried or stupid! Everytime there’s an article about Ga.Tech, their fans are reading it and putting their two cents in. I wouldn’t even take the time if I didn’t care. It just proves the point. I guess it’s just ignorance and they don’t understand!!
By gatekdude
April 3, 2008 12:12 AM | Link to this
Ga. Tek needs to add a world class swimmer who is adept at the Backstroke, Why? Because thats what the jackets will be doing when it comes to beating The University of Georgia…The Backstroke. Georgia kicked Paus Johnsons a* when he was at Ga. Southern and they will do no less now that he is at tek. For that matter, Ga. Southern is a better program than tek or Navy. Paul, you’re going backward.
By bigeasy830
April 3, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
HAHAHAHA. I do not care if Paul Johnson seems to be in charge so what. When Tech run the ball 80 percent of the time and teams stack the line and shut them down, remember it is Johnson who is in charge and made those calls. I have said it from day one you should have hired Chris Hatcher from Ga Southern via Valdosta Sate, orginally from Macon. Tech will not win with that run first, second then last style of offense. I do not care if Johnson have them line up in the Triple Option, Wing T, Spread, Run And Shoot, Shoot Gun, Broken Bone or whatever formation, they will run the ball 80 percent of the time and every one knows that and Tech’s loses will come in bunches year after year until eventually these blogs that are now filled with more optimism and hope than an Obama speech turns colder and uglier than Hiliary. I am an UGA fan but I do cheer for Tech as long as they are not playing my Dogs. i would love to see Tech be a winner, but I am just keeping it real.
Holla if you hear me, Say Amen if you feel me
P.S. T. Moore I perfer you write on Tech than UGA cause you are a Hater and I can”t stand your muther bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep.
By StupidMutt
April 5, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Listen up. THE TRIPLE-OPTION WILL WORK! Ok its in caps so the pupps can understand. Dawg 1, First CMR won’t be there as long as you think, wait until this year and next when he fails to reach expectations in Athens.
Second - There is no greater example of vocal idiots than a UGA fan. Please don’t insult our intelligence.
Third- UGA has one of the finest coaches in the nation but the schedule is brutal, best of luck.
To be real, 6-6 is more liklely this year but 09 and beyond looks promising. I hope Tech can upset everyone and especially last game in November!
For you repsong to sick and tired shows you don’t have much life yourself.
By GT4EVER
April 14, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure that a run oriented offense like the one he had at Navy will work. What I hope is that CPJ will adapt his talent and offense accordingly. There is just way too much speed on the defensive side of the ball for a offense like Navy…. As a GT fan I can only hope for the best! Win or Lose I will be there watching!
Go Jackets!