AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIn D.C. they love Paul Johnson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Washington, D.C.—It’s “Free-wheeling Friday” again, which means we just might veer off the topic of college football. But you’re free to do the same. If you’re got something you need to get off your chest today, then let ‘er rip. Here are just a few things that are on my mind this morning.
I’m up in Washington, D.C. after watching Georgia play in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. I’ve run into several Navy people who want to know how Paul Johnson is doing at Georgia Tech. All I can tell you is that the Navy people love this guy. They are grateful for what he did for the program and have no doubt that he is going to be successful at Georgia Tech. They find it funny when people say that Johnson’s option offense can’t succeed at this level of football. Bottom line, they said: People should quit trying to pigeon hole Paul Johnson. He is a ball coach and knows how to win. He always has.
I’m headed back to Atlanta today after watching Georgia lose to Xavier. There is no doubt in my mind that for 30 minutes Georgia was the better team. But Xavier finally wore Georgia down in the last 10 minutes. The only thing that struck me as strange is the fact that Sundiata Gaines, one of the best penetrating guards in college basketball, played 38 minutes and NEVER got to the free throw line. I don’t’ know. I’m just asking.
I hung around Thursday night at the Verizon Center and watched as Belmont, a No. 15 seed, almost beat second-seeded Duke before losing 71-70. I thought the Blue Devils might lose to the Bruins in this NCAA Tournament, but not the Bruins from Belmont. Belmont’s kids played toe-to-toe with Duke and never backed down. Rick Byrd, the Belmont coach, is the son of veteran sportswriter Ben Byrd of the Knoxville Journal. He really had his team prepared. How big an upset would it have been if Belmont had won? Since the tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, the No. 15 seed is 4-88 against the No. 2 seed. It would have been one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament. But if you were watching the game, it didn’t look like an upset. Belmont was not playing like a 15 seed. And Duke sure wasn’t playing like a 2.
I heard that Coach Bob Knight wants to expand the men’s basketball tournament field from 65 to 128 teams. It would add only one round to the tournament. But it would also greatlyexpand the number of bad games in the first round. We got a bunch of stinkers yesterday. Kent State had only 10 points at halftime and lost 71-58. Baylor couldn’t guard my mother. The Bears didn’t even pretend to play defense as Purdue ripped through them 90-79. UCLA beat Mississippi Valley 70-29. There were 16 games yesterday and only three were decided by less than double digits. If you expanded the tournament to 128, that means all of the 32 teams that are now in the NIT plus all of the 16 teams in the new College Basketball Invitational (whose idea was that?) would be in the Big Dance and the bracket still would not be filled. Why mess with one of the most successful sports properties in the world?
The endless litany of football players getting in trouble this time of year pretty much has me numb. But this is a big one. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has dismissed running back Brandon Ore from the team. Ore was a rising senior and, I believed, was going to have a huge year for the Hokies if he stayed healthy. But there was always an undercurrent about this kid when you talked to the coaches. They didn’t want to throw him under the bus in a public way but it was clear that Ore was a problem child. When a guy gets to be a redshirt senior and he’s still not committed to being a good player, you have to let him go for the good of the team.
One last thought:
Please say a prayer for the family of Central Florida football player Ereck Plancher. The 19-year-old receiver from Naples collapsed and later died after a series of conditioning drills earlier this week. The cause of his death is not yet known. It will take weeks to determine. I know that George O’Leary, the head coach at UCF, is having a very tough time with this one. He comes across as gruff sometimes, but he has always cared a lot about his players. Our condolences go to the family and the UCF community.
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Comments
By Dick Rod
March 21, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
Re: Gaines and the free throw line - Tony, what are you asking?
Bob Knight, in his new position as analyst, has a lot of wild ideas. He also (so I hear, I don’t watch much ESPN) proposed getting rid of automatic bids (or was that Digger). Whether you’ve got 1’s playing 16s or 1’s playing 32’s, you’re going to get a lot of bad matchups early and more than a few good matchups that no one expected (see your own Belmont story). I don’t think we need another round, but I don’t think it would be absolutely awful. Think of it like adding a 12th game to the College Football season that for the most part improves the chances of a D1 team scheduling a 1-AA team (formerly Football Championship Subdivision).
By don
March 21, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
I’m a big Bulldog fan, but as a Ga Southern grad, and after watching Paul Johnson and meeting him on a few occassions during my time at GSU, I think GT made the perfect hire. He’ll mold his option O to fit his personell and will field a very competitive team. I remember when UGA played GSU and Coach Johnson’s option team, they struggled to maintain assignments despite having better athletes. I think that’s what will make the option offense work at this level, the fact that it forces defenses to play disciplined, mistake free football for all 60mins, which goes against what alot of defenders are taught today about always swarming to the ball.
By Bamafan
March 21, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
Belmont has a very good coach and I will trade hime for Mark Gottried anyday. Sure hope Coach Saban will get rid of any trouble makers like Frank Beamer does!! Have a nice easter everybody!!
By BuzzfanŽ
March 21, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Great stuff, TB…….and most especially your ‘last thought’. Perspective, unfortunately, often comes with a high pricetag. Prayers to the Plancher and UCF Knight familiies.
By Keith
March 21, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
The people that want to expand the tournament never think of this: The NCAA tournament started about 2 weeks ago. It’s called conference tournaments. Think of the conference tournaments plus the NCAA tournament as one big tournament. Yes, it is true that some teams can lose in this tournament and still advance, but the fact is that every single team in America that is in a conference makes this big tournament. All this about how 128 teams should advance beyond the conference tournaments is absurd. Think about it - starting with the conference tournaments, if you win, you move on. If you win again, you move on. It’s endless until the national championship game. Every team in America, in early March, even if they are 0-30, can say “If we win the next 10 games, we are national champions.” Sounds like to me everyone still has a chance after the regular season.
By Roswell Ed
March 21, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Tony:
Great article.
Please keep us up to date on all the ACC goings on.
I can’t get enough.
The Jacket fans do appreciate their football.
It was great to see the Dogs do so well. The refs are what cost them that game.
I think they were way under rated this season.
If they could have pulled out a couple of close games they could have won the SEC regular season too!!!
Go Dawgs!!
The news out of Va Tech is disturbing.
With just one or two exceptions Frank Beamer has had nothing but exceptional young men go through that program.
I always say that if you want to bring out the best in a young man if you can’t get Nick then Frank is your man.
Hey Tony tomorrow could you profile the Tech assistants?
That would make a great read.
Y’all have a great weekend and god bless!!
Wouldn’t it be great for all of these young men if their games could all end in a tie?
That way there would be no losers!!
By Roswell Ed
March 21, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
By the way is anybody else out there that feels proud to be an American for the 1st time in your life?
Barack Hussein is our uniter and I ought to know because
I’m a typical white person!!
Go Hussein!!
Wouldn’t Hussein and Hillary be a dream ticket?
That way we all win!!
By Matt
March 21, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Ed, I think you’re missing a KKK meeting this morning, bud. Why don’t you crawl back under that rock you sleep under. Idiot.
By Matthew33
March 21, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Is Georgia Tech Spring Practice open to the public?
By lakerat
March 21, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Most everyone seems to be missing Coach Knight’s point re: the 128 team field - he was only saying that with just one extra game you will NOT hear the whining from the VA Tech coach (Seth Greenburg), or the Arizona State coach (Herb Sendeck), or any other coach who thinks his team was “robbed” of a chance for his players to participate in the “Big Dance”. Tha one extra game gives the extra 63 teams the chance to go to the next round of 64, while still giving the NIT its field in a timely manner.
RE: UGA and the loss in DC, they reverted back to their old ways in the final 10 minutes, by throwing up threes when all they needed to do was go back to banging the ball inside and try to hang tough instead of catching up all at once. However, I do agree that without Yata getting to the line at all, there may some credence to some very questionable officiating.
By Lindsey Snot
March 21, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
ugag was the better team for 30 minutes only beacuse Xavier let’em hang around. When it was time, they took over the game like we all really knew they would. This was nothing like the Dook/Belmont game, Belmont would have torn ugag a new one too. Sorry bandwagon dawgs - time to back to the Divine Richt school of the perpetual next year’s NatChamp.
By Jack G.
March 21, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Anyone who has to tell the world that they are typical—-“aint”
By Roswell Ed
March 21, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Matt,
What did I type that was racist?
Hussein said this this the other day and I just felt so typical this morning.
After I had gotten up from passing out I realized that we are all typical.
“… .. The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn’t. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn’t know there’s a
reaction that’s been been bred into our experiences
that don’t go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that’s just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it…”
It was my mistake to bring in politics. I was just feeling so good about everything.
Let’s stick to football. I’m sorry I brought it up.
I just have a dream that Tiger fans can one day lay down with Crimson Tide fans, that we will be judge by the content of our character and not the colors of our t-shirts
and
I think that Hussein and Hillary are the two that can make it happen.
Matt have a blessed day.
By JJ
March 21, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
Yep. Paul Johnson will WIN early and often!
The ref’s helped UGA last week with no calls in the SEC tourney so without that they would not even have gotten to DC. Quit the whining!
Belmont got screwed by the ref calls at the end. There was a play with about a minute left when a DUKEY was clearly out of bounds and flipped the ball back in, also a non-call on a leaner by Belmont with 20 seconds. Coach K always gets the calls at the end.
UGA is the best example of why you do not need to expand the NCAA’s tourney. Essentially every team that has a conf. tourney gets a shot. So really there about about 250 teams or more with a shot already.
Va. Tech officials and fans should be really disappointed with all the players (and former players…like Vick, Hall) giving the school a bad image.
By Marietta Dawg
March 21, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
No matter how big or small the NCAA tourney is, there will be complaints from teams that don’t get bids. It would be a neat idea to expand the tourney to 128 teams. The first round could be played on the home court of the higher seed and then the winners advance and the losers could be selected for the NIT (which is a joke to anyways).
Now back to football, my heart goes out to the family of Ereck Plancher and the UCF family.
By lakerat
March 21, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
JJ -
Which “non-call” are you referring to last week in the UGA run to the title? If it is the baseline “non-call” at the end of the UK game to which you refer, it was only a “non-call” on the UK guy who did not have his feet set when the UGA guy ran into him.
You are correct, however, with the many VA Tech guys tainting the image of that school. And, yes, DOOK always gets the calls!
By Ramblin Wrecker
March 21, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
ED,
Roswell called, they want their city back and stop calling them, it’s bordering on harassment.
Senator Obama wasn’t speaking to you ED. Because people like you, ED, will always be on the fringe of society trying to keep old hate and resentment alive regardless of anyone who comes along to appeal to your better angels. He also wasn’t talking to black extremists or any other corner of America (or the World for that matter) where people seek to divide rather than unite. America doesn’t belong to the corners, ED, it belongs to the middle, where real people live who don’t want to waste space in their hearts and minds with hate.
ED, or can I call you Erectile Dysfunction, or maybe Tiley for short?
Tiley, this is not Auburn country and it certainly is not a political blog. Take it somewhere else.
By Roswell Ed
March 21, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Can’t we all just get along?
That’s my point Ramblin.
We all need a group hug with Hussein in the middle.
All we need is love
and to be
TYPICAL AMERICANS!!!!!!!!!!
By Skydawg
March 21, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
LMAO, now I know you are an idiot Roswell Eddy. Your ramblings here just proved it. Voting for either one of those clowns will push us closer to communism than ever. Socialized medicine. Yikes! Great we’ll all be able to get cheap presciptions, but oh yeah it’ll take you 6 months to be able to set an appt with your doctor. Ask Canada. Let alone stripping all of us more of our hard earned money. I’m assuming you have a job Ed? Let alone surrendering to terrorists. Please, keep your political mumbo jumbo off the board here. Remember, this is a red state and most would rather jump off a bridge than see either of those clowns elected.
By yellowblood
March 21, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Paul’s greatest challenge will be what to do about the Tickle Pile controversy and whether to let his players participate or not. I hope he will decide to let them. They bring a lot to the Piles.
By Chris
March 21, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Ummm…how about everybody ignore the jackass? That would, you know, keep things on track. The thread only gets off track when someone responds.
On football, I hear nothing but good things about Paul Johnson. I’m really optimistic about the future of football at Georgia Tech.
I hate to admit it, but it really did look like Georgia deserved to win that BBall game. Georgia was executing and Xavier looked like they belonged on the Benny Hill show with Yakety Sax playing over the PA.
By bob
March 21, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
In the ESPN channel that I saw the Belmont v. Duke post-game interview by the press to the players and coaches, in the ultimate sign of disrespect, no one and I mean no one had any questions for Belmont coach Rick Byrd after his greatest effort ever. The emcee tried to get someone to ask him a question but they would not. Instead of saying like I was what in the heck is wrong with the press, Coach Byrd smiled like a gentleman and left. Congratulations!
By Coach Paul Johnson
March 21, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Well, Gollygee, I shore do uh-preciate all the SUP-port I’m uh gettin from all you cute little yellow insects. I tells ya, the ones that aint foreign, they shore are dorky. They love to come on these here blogs and act like they played pigskin, but the reali-tee is they ain’t never laced up cleats in they life, lessn it was as a MGR in high school. But hey, it’s good to have support, no matter how nerdy, uninformed, and ridiculous it may be. I’m gonna need ALL the suppor I can muster with my high school offense I run. I bet Wake and Duke and the Heels are shakin in they booties.
By Jacketnation
March 21, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Barack is the anti-christ. Don’t be fooled. He is clever,just like satan.
By Albany j
March 21, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Those criticizing Roswell Ed should understand that you are coming across as defending black hate speech as a product of white racism. Obama says he is a man of the future while exposing his children to the most vicious, reprehensible, profane nonsense ever uttered from a church’s pulpit. He is to be pitied for he has thrown away any chance to be POTUS.
By MichealV
March 21, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Our prayers to the Plancher family.
Whenever I hear of George O’Leary I think of Dustin Vaitekunas.
Link:One Man’s Opinion
By JJ
March 21, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
lakerat- The no call with about a minute or less to go in the Miss St. game. I don’t recall who but MSU had a breakaway opp. and a UGA guy grabbed the guy and kept him from getting to the ball. It went out of bounds to UGA. It was 4 point turnaround.
One one in the Kentucky game you refer to was questionable. UGA did run over the guy who was supposed to get the inbound pass, forcing them to call a timeout before a 5 second call. I thought he did have his feet set.
By StingerSplash
March 21, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
To don at 9:12,
Dante relegated people like you to the ninth circle of hell. A GSU grad and a big Georgia fan? Et tu, Brute? Tony B, truer words were never said than your point No. 1 today. PJ can coach - period.
By WOODIE
March 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Dude- let it die. The game is over!!
By Pat
March 21, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Why not add 32 teams and let the 33-96 teams play to eliminate each other first in play-in games? I think we would find some of these teams don’t really want in.
By hop
March 21, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
your socialist need to get off of ed’s back and develop some degree of humor!
the hate mongering from sen. obama’s two pastors is not being in the center of the political spectrum, but one has to wonder why the good senator would stay in a church for 20 years with such radical and hateful preaching allowed!
By Coach Paul Johnson
March 21, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
What’s all this talk of a black president? Get serious! In the mountains where I’m from, this wouldn’t fly! I may be an ugly redneck, but this just ain’t right!!
By Dawgstrodamus
March 21, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
CPJ will be a very good coach, no doubt. How good is the question. There is a reason this offense isn’t run at the next level, and there’s also a reason that unranked Pitt could completely shut down the best “spread option” attack out there. The answer is SPEED AT LINEBACKER!!! Even when WVU jumped all over Georgia three years ago, Georgia adjusted, came back, and it took a trick play to hold us off. I think CPJ will be successful, but I might wait and see before I start capitalizing his pronouns.
By Roswell Ed
March 21, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
I hear Hussein the Change is trying to hire
Richard Williams
as his new spiritual adviser.
Any truth to this?
Uniter-Man of Change-Vision-Experience-Hussein
Bringing America together one race group at a time.
I didn’t know how rough the Williams Sisters had it growing up in America.
The rags to riches story of the sisters could have happened anywhere in the world and especially on their home continent of Africa.
By ben
March 21, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
Tech might have been tournament bound if they only had to play 30 minutes per game. Point is, bad teams have a habit of looking good until crunch time, then choke like dawgs(no pun intended).
By CarolinaJacket
March 21, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Very good point Ben, and you even talked about sports rather than politics. Thank you.
By The refs %#!@! us
March 21, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
I can see the writing on the wall …… Get ready fellow Tech Fans.
Get ready for the excuses from the GA fans about who all %#!@! the Dawgs when they lose to Tech in late Nov., 2008. Should be some good reading.
GA played aggressive vs. Xavier — a GREATfree throw shooting team — looks like they were a little too agressive. That’s what happens when you make your “free” shots … you get another “free” shot!
By Eagledawg
March 21, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
If Dante were still around, he’d create yet another lower level for those in the Boro who try to suck up to Yech when they don’t even have the cajones to play us although they have played nearly every other team in the SoCon. In Erk’s and PJ’s day, it was out of fear— fear of losing— and perhaps being outnumbered at their own home field. Give Hatch another year or two and we’ll be back up to speed. GSU is my 1-A and UGA is my 1-AA. Tech will be tougher this year and will win with PJ very soon. To all my Dawg friends, discount PJ at your own peril. This is tough for me and others. We love PJ and despise Tech. It’s like when Herschel went to the $%^ Cowboys. TB— I’ve long wanted to make this comment on your book Southern Fried Football. I loved the book but there was one glaring omission from the list of great coaches— Erk Russell. You had Eddie Robinson and Roy Kidd listed, but not Erk? And you even listed him as one who helped you with the book! Was that Erk’s humility? How could you ignore the awesome accomplishment or building a 3-time national champion (crowned in the legitimate format of a playoff) from scratch? Could your familiarity with him have clouded the impact of what a job he did? I’ve always wanted to ask that question. Gooo Eagles and go Dawgs!!
By Dawgstrodamus
March 21, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
The Refs: When a certain technical school hasn’t beaten a certain university in a certain sport with eligible players since 1990, I don’t really think excuses need to be in order. We’ve forgotten how to make excuses in regards to losing to Tech. The reason? It’s been unneccessary. When you never lose to the inferior school in your state, you don’t need excuses. Silly nerd.
By shane#1
March 21, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
1-we are all wondering how johnson is doing at tech.he sure doesn’t say much.at least he won’t be plagued with foot in mouth disease,like saban.he paul,why don’t you speak up,hey nick,if you are smart you will shut up!2-one and done,but at least they got there.with the new talent coming in next year the building blocks are there for a good team.now if coach felton can put them together and avoid the distractions that de-railed this team.3-i watched the game and was most amazed at the depth belmont had.it is not unusual for the starting five of a small school to hang with the big boys,but belmont didn’t seem to lose anything when they substituted.that allowed them to keep the energy level up on defense.congrats to them,they left it all on the floor.4-i like coach night.he is a very smart man,but i do not like this idea.i think thirty teams that don’t belong is enough to have in the big dance,now we want twice as many that don’t have a prayer?5-from what was posted on another blog,the young man had a problem with getting to team meetings on time,staying in shape,doing voluntary workouts and going to classes.vt also has some good young rbs on the roster.there is one way college football is like the pros,getting a starting slot is not as hard as keeping it.there is always a new kid coming in at your posistion and he wants your job and if you get lazy he will take it.i join tony with sympathy and prayers for the young man’s family and the ucf family.
By mike
March 21, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Of course the navy people love PJ. He was a 8-4, 8-5 coach at Navy. CG was a 8-4, 8-5 coach at Tech. Urban is considered a coaching god by the media and he goes 9-4 last year. The bottom line, PJ aint going to have much or any better of a record than CG. If Tech thinks he is going to win 9-10 games a year, they are going to be disapointed. But they are in the ACC so that should help.
By surfrider
March 21, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Good blog. I’ve always felt the hardest offense to stop was an option/wishbone based offense with a passing attack. The Fridge came the closest to developing that concept. Just imagine what a Joe Hamilton offense could have accomplished at a bigger school. The keys with the option is it involves potential running by the FB and QB as well as two halfbacks and two wr’s. It then opens up passing for all 5 skilled players including FB. It freezes the defense in place if only for a split second or two to read the play/option. But most important it brings the QB and FB more into the play which opens it up for the other players. The problem with the old Wishbone was little passing schemes were developed. That is old history as passing is now available and more explosive off the option. Tech has more experience at this than purely drop back recruiting in terms of previous offenses.
By surfrider
March 21, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Good blog. I’ve always felt the hardest offense to stop was an option/wishbone based offense with a passing attack. The Fridge came the closest to developing that concept. Just imagine what a Joe Hamilton offense could have accomplished at a bigger school. The keys with the option is it involves potential running by the FB and QB as well as two halfbacks and two wr’s. It then opens up passing for all 5 skilled players including FB. It freezes the defense in place if only for a split second or two to read the play/option. But most important it brings the QB and FB more into the play which opens it up for the other players. The problem with the old Wishbone was little passing schemes were developed. That is old history as passing is now available and more explosive off the option. Tech has more experience at this than purely drop back recruiting in terms of previous offenses.
By shane#1
March 21, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
some other thoughts on players getting in trouble.mo and ill are near the top in the fulmer cup standings,rated #1 and 2.they also had great years.i am going to figure a fulmer cup average and see how it compares to the top ten at the end of the year.stupid stuff like dope and armed robbery will not count,but barroom brawling will bring extra points.i would not want a dt or lb that had never duked it out in a bar.when you think aboiut it,the only difference in playing on the interior d line and a barroom brawl is in technique.imo,all lbs should look like jack lambert.i saw a photo of him once,stalking the sidelines in pittsburg,in the snow.his helmet was off and that long sweaty hair was hanging down past his shoulders.front teeth missing and blood streaming from a cut on his nose.he was scowling like an old bear.he intimidated me just looking at his picture.by the term linebacker in webster’s they could just put a picture of lambert.i’ll bet he could wreck the heii out of a bar too!
By dale
March 21, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Friedgen did take his offense to a “bigger” school. Maryland. last 4 years, 25-23. Nuff said.
By uGA bball, a tradition since last Friday!
March 21, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
LOL!
Gaines kept trying to go between two guys in white and kept making turnovers…
By Tattoo Eliminator
March 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
If I was the Bulldog coach, I would make those players wear long sleeves to make them look more like athletes rather than street thugs with the trashy tattoos.
By GO DAWGS
March 21, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
An article in the AJC says “Xavier SHREDS UGA’s defense”. I didn’t see that game!!! That is not fair to the effort that UGA put forth. Xavier scored all their points at the foul line.
Also not fair to them is saying that they were worn down and fatigued. That is a nice cop-out for those letting the officials off the hook. When every possible call and non-call goes against you, it will tend to wear you down. That is not the opposition doing it.
UGA was the better team for 40 minutes but awfully frustrated the last 10-12 minutes. Any one critical of my comments should just watch the game again with the sound muted and decide for yourself.
OK, OK let’s get past it and let it go! It is just an example of how bad college officiating frequently turns out to be and how it can totally decide the outcome. It ripped the hearts out and totally changed the momentum. And it will happen to other teams until there is a better system for training college officials and keeping them consistent and holding them accountable. Some of you may think it is just a game(I wish that was the case) but unfortunately the conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament are some of the largest dollar items around. Maybe that is why it is subject to corruption but I digress.
NO ONE shredded the Dawg defense!
Go Dawgs!
By gt45
March 21, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Shane, please capitalize and space, it is very tiring reading your post. I think PJ is holding his cards close, on purpose. He won’t talk alot even when he starts winning, and I respect that. To the doubters, tell me in a couple of years if his offense won’t work, because you ain’t got a dam clue right now, so shut up. I know we have four ESPN150 verbal commits right now, and folks are starting to hear footsteps! A great football mind with athletes will be a fun thing to watch, again!
By son_sir
March 21, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Having played at Georgia Southern when CPJ was an asst. under Erk and being a diehard Tech fan for life, I think I have a pretty good read on what to expect from him.
CPJ’s Tech team will be much more disciplined than in recent years, because he’s not going to put up with BS, individualism, prima donas, or complainers. At the same time, he will be loved by his players, because CPJ will make the game fun to play. He is the prototypical “player’s coach”.
Tech will be very well conditioned. CPJ knows the value of busting a$$ on the field and in the weight room. He will demand 100% in a very positive way. He will challenge players individually to produce. He will bring something to The Flats that we haven’t seen much of out of a GT head coach in a while. That something is emotion. I promise you he won’t spend his Saturday afternoons with his headset permanently on, arms folded, with a gaze fixed on the ground. He will ignore detractors and focus on the job at hand. He will demand alot out of his coaches, but let them do their job. If the #1 guy at whatever position isn’t getting it done, he won’t hesitate to throw another body in there and see if the job can get done. He is going to find the players who will give the effort and NOT be influenced by fan opinion, the media, ignorant bloggers, etc. etc. He is very personable with his players and not so much with the media or fickle fans. Get used to it. With the media, he is very “matter of fact”, but also very humorous at times.
As for his X’s and O’s, doubt it if you must. If you aren’t convinced I think you will be in time.
Will Tech turn things around in a hurry ? Only time will tell. Two things that will turn around in a hurry is attitude and effort and those are two big steps in the right direction.
By Doug
March 21, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I too was at the Georgia game in DC and was completely STUNNED at the poor lopsided officiating. They didn’t even try to hide it. One play, Bliss and an X player were fighting for the ball going out of bounds. Dave was already out of bounds when the X player bounced it off him. They gave the ball to X. I really hope the NCAA reviews the officials and takes action. It is one thing to be blown out but it’s another to lost it like that. I also wish all the TV people would stop saying GA ran out of Gas!
By Adamm
March 21, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
What are the biggest differences between Coach Gailey and Coach Paul Johnson? Who will be in the starting line up for the jackets next year? These are a few of the great discussions we are having and Georgia Tech Players are participating. Check it out at www.meetthemachine.com
By Adamm Oliver
March 21, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
What are the biggest differences between Coach Gailey and Coach Paul Johnson? Who will be in the starting line up for the jackets next year? These are a few of the great discussions we are having and Georgia Tech Players are participating. Check it out at www.meetthemachine.com
By m
March 21, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
The Good news….Tech has Paul Johnson. THE GREAT NEWS….Tech DOES NOT have CHAN GAILEY!! HALLLEEEDAMLOOOYAH!!!
By athdawg
March 21, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this
A few thoughts: CPJ is an excellent coach, he’s proven it wherever he’s been. His type of football: hardnosed, intense, fundamentally sound, will win anywhere and should do well for 11 games a year at Tech. I mean after all, he’s in the ACC so how tough could it be? Thoughts are with the entire UCF family. Why’d the Falcons spend 8 mil on Elam when they could’ve spent 4 mil on Morten. Is Elam twice as good? Coenen is still going to be the kickoff man, it seems money could’ve been better spent elsewhere. I was shocked Ga hung in as long as they did agains X, maybe X is the better team, but come on single digit free throws for an entire game as physical as that one? Even the idiot JJ should see the folly in that. Finally, two chocolate easter bunnies standing there, one with his tail bitten off said ‘owowowo, this hurts!!!’ the one with his ears bitten off said ‘what?’
By CarolinaJacket
March 21, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
son_sir, very nice observations. I only wish others would stick to thoughtful comments and stay off the name calling, etc.
m, you’ve made your point. How about letting it go. You are reaching a point of having a pathological obsession.
By Donald
March 21, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
Well said ‘son_sir’ —-I don’t think that CPJ will put up with half tail effort and from what I’ve seen there has been some of that at Tech the last few years!!! Option coaches are typically very hard nosed and not laid back—-Bear Bryant pops into mind—-remember he played an average of 60 plus players when he ran the wishbone—-a very good recruiting tool—-a kid knows he will play and not stand on the sidelines with a clipboard wig-wagging signs to the field!!!
By War Eagle
March 21, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
VA Tech is NCAA # 1 school for discipline problems. It all starts with recruiting. Its no way the problems in Hokie land can accumulate after arriving on campus as a freshman.Can CFB ignore background checks?
By Chathamcodawg
March 21, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Tony, great article. As a life long Atl Constitution fan, dating myself, back to the days of Jesse Outlar, Jim Minter, ? Ashby, Ron Hudspeth and Pete the Northside barkeep, and the coolest and my fellow Reed Hall Dorm mate, Lewis Grizzard,you guys make the paper fun. Sorry that the AJC backed out of the Sav’h area, but “bidness is bidness”. Anyway, Tony, I enjoy your work, and if you stay with the AJC, you will become the next, great Furman Bisher, but Pleeze do not ever do the revisit to the “The Story of a College Football Fix”. Obviously, FB has mellowed a bit toward Re: UGA. Best Regards, Tony
By Hoopie1
March 21, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
No more playoffs. It cheapens the regular season. UGA wins 4 SEC regular season games, gets hot, wins the SEC tourney and loses in the first round of the 64 team national tourney. It ought to only be 16 or 32 games.
I hate pro football b/c of the playoffs. For goodness sake the NY Giants were a “wildcard” team. They didn’t even win their own division, they just happened to be good at the end. ESPN has brainwashed the fans into thinking this is quality. All it is about is more money.
By surfrider
March 22, 2008 3:07 AM | Link to this
If not mistaken the point was to take Joe Hamilton and Fridge’s offense to a bigger school (football wise) like UF, LSU, etc…It’s not a concern as I think and am hearing Johnson will throw out of the option but I still believe we will need a passing component to beat the big boys defenses in the SEC (Ga.) and the ACC (Miami, FSU, VT, etc). What we lacked for several years was that option attack to attack the outside and set up play action. I’m looking forward to spring game.
By Don
March 22, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
If you want to get some things off your chest get them off your chest. Gaines didn’t get to the foul line because the refs sucked. Oh and by the way Obama is black and Reverend Wright is a racist. Those or two more things that you press guys aren’t supposed to say either. Get it off your chest Tony.
By be3
March 22, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
OK, enough with the “bad calls” as an excuse for winning or losing. If your team is truly better on a given day, you’ll win the game. Anyone who has watched UGA basketball this season would know that UGA is in the game for 30-35 minutes before fatigue sets in. Sometimes luck is involved (SEC Tourney) and you win a few games but overall UGA just didn’t have the depth this year due to a few kids who obviously were not focused on playing D1 basketball. Not to mention a couple of key injuries to some talented freshmen. Let’s give Felton and his boys credit for playing as hard as they did all season long. Gaines & Bliss will be missed next season as they gave 100% in every game. The future looks bright for UGA basketball! Get out next season and support the Dawgs at the Stegasaurus!
And yes, Paul Johnson is a good coach and good hire for Tech. Tech’s got a long way to go to catch up with the DAWGS though!
May God bless the family of the UCF player.
By Adamm Oliver
March 22, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
check out a more disscussions like this one at www.meetthemachine.com, website created by the players
By WFC
March 22, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
I’m very tired of political blogging: please take it to Wooten’s blog.
Let’s give Paul Johnson a chance at GT and see what he can do. One big advantage: there are mny more great high school option QB’s out there than drop-back NFL style QB’s.
The NCAA tourney is great as is but adding teams won’t hurt. I’m old enough to remember when Maryland was the second best team in the nation and NC STATE sent them home in the ACC tourney.
Roswell was a great town when I lived there in the 1980’s.
By BS
March 22, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Frank Beamer built the program at Va Tech on prop 48’s back when that was possible (early - mid 90’s). He’s always known what he’s had up there, so I certainly hope we’re not supposed to be impressed with him letting Ore go from the team. That just means the kid must have been beyond “in trouble.”
By Jess
March 22, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
WORN DOWN says Barnhardt, hey they aren’t your age! These kids are 19-21 yrs and they had THREE days of rest before the tourney. For you to use this as an excuse for losing a 16pt lead is misleading and typical of your bias. During the 1st half when they burst to the big lead they weren’t tired? Typical blather from a alum writing about his school.
By Kevin
March 22, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
PJ, All I have to say is Adrian Peterson, GSU. He ran ALL over UGA when they played. Johnson is a stud. Bring it on UGA…..
By Kelvin
March 23, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
So, Kevin, what the score when Peterson ran all over Georgia?? I forget. We’ll bring it on once again. Thanks for asking.
By What else they love in DC
March 23, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
They also love w******* in DC. What’s your point?