AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWill this year be it for Bobby Bowden?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greensboro, Ga.-I spent Monday just hanging out with the head coaches at the ACC preseason meetings. Here are some topics for this morning’s discussion.
1. Is this it for Bobby Bowden? There have been rumblings that with his successor, Jimbo Fisher, already in place, this year just might be it for Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who turns 79 in November. Bowden said “no” when pressed on the question by the media.
“I’m still the head football coach and I’m not ready to get out,” said Bowden, who has 373 career victories, one more than Penn State’s Joe Paterno on the all-time list.
Many years ago Bowden told me (and a lot of others) that the only thing that would drive him out of coaching was poor health or losing. He said at the time that he couldn’t stand the idea of losing four or five games in a season. His last two teams have both gone 7-6.
“I’ve had to adjust my thinking of that,” he said.
Bowden concedes that if things don’t go well, or at least get better in 2008, the decision could be made for him. But nobody in Tallahassee, especially president T.K. Wetherell, wants that to happen.
My belief? Bowden believes that after a couple of good recruiting classes, 2008 will be the set-up year for a run at the ACC title in 2009. I can’t tell you how badly Bowden wants to go out with some kind of championship. He does not want to be remembered as limping to the end of his remarkable career.
But first he has to get through 2008 and for that, September is huge. Florida State will play its first three games without 20-plus players who were suspended in the academic cheating scandal. They’ll beat Western Carolina and Chattanooga with no problem. But on Sept. 20 Wake Forest comes to Doak Campbell Stadium, where the Deacons won 30-0 in 2006. Believe me when I tell you that this will be one of the biggest games in Bobby Bowden’s career.
2. Beamer to keep an open mind on quarterbacks: Virginia Tech received 58 of 65 votes from the media to win the ACC Coastal. Coach Frank Beamer was surprised at that margin because there are so many unanswered questions at Virginia Tech—like the quarterback position.
Beamer insists that both of his quarterbacks, Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor, are going to get an equal opportunity to win the starting job before the Hokies open the season on Aug. 30 against East Carolina in Charlotte.
“We needed both of them to win the ACC championship last season but I would like to get it down to one before we play East Carolina,” Beamer said.
You can tell from Beamer’s body language that he’s not really thrilled with the two-quarterback system. He certainly didn’t think it worked in the 24-21 loss to Kansas in the Orange Bowl.
“We just never got into a rhythm,” said Beamer, set to begin his 22nd season in Blacksburg. “It always felt like we were a play behind.”
I don’t know that Beamer will get his wish. If he can only play one quarterback, it would have to be Glennon, who is the most consistent of the two. But Taylor gives Virginia Tech a chance to make big plays. And with All-ACC running back Brandon Ore dismissed from the team, and with the next two backs both recovering from injuries in spring practice, I believe the Hokies will need two quarterbacks again to win the championship.
Keep your eye on this as we go through the season.
3. ACC plans to report on injuries: It’s not a rule so the coaches don’t have to follow it. And if the coaches don’t follow it, there will be no enforcement of it.
But several coaches told me that they have no problem with the new suggested guidelines from the league to report on injuries each Thursday during the season. Here is how it will work:
On Monday the school will announce if there are players who are having surgery and are known to be out for the season. Then there will be no discussion on injuries of any kind until after practice on Thursday, when the school’s medical staff will release information on players and there ability to play in Saturday’s game.
Each player will be listed in one of five categories: Definitely playing, probable, questionable, doubtful, and definitely out for the game.
“It’s not unlike the NFL and that seemed to work,” said Virginia coach Al Groh, the former head coach of the New York Jets.
“The coaches agreed that it would be a good idea to have some consistency in this area,” Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said. “We’ll see how it works.
Here is the only problem that I see. Coaches like Grobe who have open practices will see this information get out early. Coaches who close practice will be able to control the information.
4. Tommy Bowden hopes the media is right: As expected, Clemson was the overwhelming pick by the media to win the Atlantic Division and to win the ACC championship. Clemson received 59 of 65 first place votes in the division and 51 votes to go to Tampa and win the championship game.
“The last couple of years ya’ll have picked us to finish second or third and that’s kind of where we have been,” Bowden said to a large group of reporters gathered around his table. “Hopefully ya’ll will be smart again.”
In case you are wondering, the media have picked Clemson to win the ACC championship five times in their preseason poll here at the annual meetings. They were right four of the five times.
What the media wanted to know is how Bowden and his team will handle the pressure of high expectations. He was pressed by reporters to reveal how disappointed he would be if this team, which is his most talented, did not win the conference championship. Bowden insisted that he is not going to apologize if his team wins 10 games but does not capture the ACC championship.
“Look at (Georgia’s) Mark Richt. He didn’t win a championship but I don’t think he was disappointed in his season,” Bowden said.
Then someone pointed out that Georgia, despite not winning the SEC championship, did go to a BCS bowl (Sugar). No ACC team has ever received an at-large bid to the BCS.
Bowden has a new contract with a $4 million buyout. You would think he is totally secure after years of being on the hot seat. This is going to be a very interesting year at Clemson.
5. Randy Shannon says goodbye to Orange Bowl: A big chunk of Randy Shannon’s life was spent at the Orange Bowl as a player and a coach for the University of Miami. But last season was the Hurricanes’ last at the old stadium, where they had played their home games since 1937.
The Orange Bowl, the place where Joe Namath shocked the world and Doug Flutie threw the Hail Mary pass that won him the Heisman Trophy, is no more. It’s gone, demolished last spring.
“I was flying back to Miami and looked out the window and I noticed that it was gone,” said Shannon. “It’s just unbelievable that it’s not there any more.”
Shannon said he will not wax nostalgic about the Orange Bowl. He is already focused on Miami’s new digs at Dolphin Stadium, north of the city. The powers that be have built his team their own locker room facility at the stadium so they don’t have to share with the pro team. They have promised to make the stadium Miami green and orange on Saturdays instead of the Dolphin teal.
“There is so much good about this decision and I feel good about it,” Shannon said. “We are going to make it our home.”
Shannon conceded that the best way to make Dolphin Stadium feel like home for the Hurricanes is to start winning more games. He is absolutely right about that.
Comments
By m
July 22, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Tony… why don’t you report on the team that upgraded their coaching most significantly?? That’s right….GA TECH. Getting rid of Chan Gailey, the worst coach in the history of the NCAA, is the most significant event in the ACC. Why haven’t you properly discussed it?? Thank God and Greyhound that Gailey is gone….FOREVER!!! Halleeeedamlooyah!!!!
By Haywood Jablowme
July 22, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
1.) Yes. I live and work down there in Tally-Town, and I have a lot of friends and co-workers who are boosters, alums, or just close to the program. The general consensus among all is that this year will be his last. The new AD would only offer him a one year contract, and Jimbo is supposed to be shadowing him on everything to get ready to step up and sit on the throne. It doesn’t matter what Bowden says to the media about his futire at FSU…..he can barely remember what day it is anymore, anyway. Jimbo, in turn, will be given about 4 years to turn things around. If he can’t do so, then Coach Mark Richt will be the FIRST man FSU goes gunning for as their HC. Bank on it. All my co-worker Semenhole boosters and alums guarantee a campaign to “bring Mark home” in 2012 if things aren’t going well with Jimbo by then.
2.) Play Tire-rod as a RB, let Glennon continue as QB…..It worked well when Michael Vick was there. A RB playing QB, I mean. The real thing is, which one of em will get booted off the team before the end of the season?
3.) This will only benefit professional gamblers.
4.) Clemson will choke in at least 1 big game that they should have won…..They may win the conference, but they will lose at least 1 game that they should have won big. About what you can expect from Tommy (I’m on the hot seat again, Daddy) Bowden. I’m just wondering how much longer Clemson is gonna continue to put up with mediocre football simply because they have a Bowden in the coaching tower? I know they have gone on about 5 years too long with a Bowden in charge down in Tally-Town.
5.) Who cares? A cess-pool stadium in a cess-pool part of Miami. I’m too young to remember all those great moments Tony. I was only a year old in 69 when Namath shocked the world in Super Bowl III, but I was 16 when Flutie shocked the world and beat Thug-U in their own yard with the Hail Mary pass. Other than that, the only thing I remember about Miami was a riot in the background of the Super Bowl in, I think, 1989. Montana fiddled while Miami burned.
By SC
July 22, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
FSU will be a little better this year but Bowden is right that with the last two great recruiting classes and another potential top 5 class coming in this year, 2009 should be a really good year for the Noles.
You didn’t see immediate results in the win loss column last year but Jimbo Fisher and the new coaching staff is doing a great job in Tallahassee getting things turned around.
By Milton Jeff
July 22, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
This will be a rebuilding year for Tech. Tech is not expected to win more than 7 games this year. Clemson will get the nod as ACC champ if they can stay healthy. Look for the upseter…Duke!!
By Spike
July 22, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Good riddance to the Orange Bowl. It was in the toughest of ‘hoods, you had to park in someones yard, and the stadium itself was horrible. I wonder how many of the fair weather Canes fans will make the trek to Dolphins stadium? I’m sorry Tony, you are usually right on the money with your columns, but this ACC “news” is about the most boring thing I have read in a while.
By Spike
July 22, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Good riddance to the Orange Bowl. It was in the toughest of ‘hoods, you had to park in someones yard, and the stadium itself was horrible. I wonder how many of the fair weather Canes fans will make the trek to Dolphins stadium? I’m sorry Tony, you are usually right on the money with your columns, but this ACC “news” is about the most boring thing I have read in a while.
By tech-hater
July 22, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
m…….in case you haven’t heard, or have been hiding under a rock, nobody who really pays attention to football thinks Tech did anything special during the off-season. P. Johnson is a good man, and he would have whipped your @$$es if your school had ever had the b@lls to schedule him while he was at Ga. Southern, but Tech couldn’t risk a loss to both Duke and Ga Southern in the same year. However, I digress…..The glorified High School Wing-T he runs will not work in BCS-type games. I can’t wait to see how it works against a really fast defense like Virginia Tech, Clemson, (even though this game may be the shocker that Clemson stumbles in) FSU, or, dare I say it?? (GASP) UGA?? Oh, well….keep on hoping on North Ave., and stay classy, Techies.
By Ben Moore
July 22, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Tony, I love the information and your work as always but I want to clarify something you mentioned.
The number is a lot smaller than 20 for suspended players. That was the number for the Music City Bowl and let’s give you a run down of who has left or graduated. Marcus Ball has left the program, Letroy Guion is camping with the Vikings. Daron Rose is academically ineligible, Jacky Claude, Joslin Shaw and J.R. Bryant graduated.
That number is actually closer to 6 total impact players missing for the first 3 games mostly on the defensive line (3 players). With Preston Parker missing the first two games, he will be unleased on Wake and will do a little bit of everything.
Go ‘Noles!
By Maniac is accurate
July 22, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
I want Bobby to have the record, so I hope he will stick around longer and win more than that piece of fossilized dinosaur dung Joe Bah Paterno.
By saint nick
July 22, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Bowden should have retired 5 years ago!!!The orange bowl is a dump, and T. Bowden will find a way to screw the season up in the first 6 games and save his job in the last 6 games, the more things change the more they stay the same!!!!!!
By PTC DAWG
July 22, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
OK m, here’s the BIG news from GT. They fired a Coach who took them to Bowls every year,and very recently won their division of the ACC and played for the ACC Championship. They hired a Coach who runs a HIGH SCHOOL offense. That’s it from GT land.
By Rock Troy
July 22, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Mark Richt would have to be a fool and hurting for money to take the move down from UGA to FSU. He is neither. Sorry Seminole faithful, but that is reality. And I’m not a Bulldogger, either; neutral party here.
By swimdawg68
July 22, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
To Haywood, good luck trying to get Marc Richt to FSU. I remenber when Auburn tried to get Dooley and Auburn was where he played football. Marc, like Dooley is totally committed to UGA. He will be our Head Coach until he decides to retire. He will also pass Bowden in Championships before he is through.
We will however be glad to give you Damon Evans. Interested? Someday Marc will replace Damon if he seeks the position and many dawgs will be very happy.
By swimdawg68
July 22, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
To Haywood, good luck trying to get Marc Richt to FSU. I remenber when Auburn tried to get Dooley and Auburn was where he played football. Marc, like Dooley is totally committed to UGA. He will be our Head Coach until he decides to retire. He will also pass Bowden in Championships before he is through.
We will however be glad to give you Damon Evans. Interested? Someday Marc will replace Damon if he seeks the position and many dawgs will be very happy.
By Dave
July 22, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
I doubt that Jimbo is shadowing Bobby - I would guess that it’s Bobby who is tailing Jimbo to see what’s going on. Bobby has had little involvement over the last five years or more other than recruiting. Now that the “next head coach” is in place, I’m sure he has even less to do.
The question is how long will Jimbo be willing to do the work of the head coach, without the money or recognition?
By Fightin Gobbler
July 22, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
The key for VT is running back. We have two redshirt freshman (Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby) that are going to get a chance to show what they can do. If both play well, I think we win the ACC again. If only one does, I think its a coin toss.
If neither does, we lose 4 games…
Either way, our receiving core is so thin and our offensive line is so good, I just don’t see us throwing the ball more than 15 times a game. If we win this year, its because we played traditional VT football (ball control, suffocating defense, and big plays on special teams). The Glennon/Taylor contest will be interesting to watch but it won’t be the key to the season.
By dawgssux
July 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
PTC and tech-hater. This just in: You morons no nothing about College Football, of course your visions of National Championships has probably got you stir crazy right now. Calm down, its not going to happen. So this ” HIGH SCHOOL OFFENSE” won’t work? Tell that to West Virginia, Florida, and the others that run the spread and whooped your mutt butts! I can’t wait either for Tech to prove you wrong and win. Coach Johnson knows that its the BCS, not Independent. He’s going to pass the ball. Just watch. BTW, are my fries done yet?
By greg moore
July 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
B.Bowden will not retire until 2010 when FSU has guaranteed Jimbo the head coach position or a 1,000,000.00 buyout. This is Bobby’s set-up year and next year will be his swan song, with all the hoopla, a fairwell tour, and a run at the championship.
By bb
July 22, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Mr Barnhart,
Concerning your article on the ACC not living up to expectations. I don’t think it is any secret (or revelation) that the ACC has had a couple of ‘relatively’ down years, but I do think that the conference is much healthier than the media and especially SEC-fans like to paint.
As you say, numbers don’t lie. But, it is easy to pick random stats to support any statement, including your position that the ACC is weak, but I would like to see the same stats listed for each of the other BCS conferences. For example, you never see mentioned that the SEC is only 53-45 in the last 5 years in OOC games against other BCS confernce schools (the ACC is 57-62). Hardly the discrepancy you might expect given the impression you get from the national media (and SEC fans in particular). The numbers for just last year (admittedly a good year for the SEC) are: SEC 12-9, ACC 13-16. If the SEC is only 12-9 against all BCS schools what is their record against top 10 OOC foes??? Against top 25 foes???
By Skydawg
July 22, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Well if that’s the case Dave in regards to Jimbo and Poppa Bowden’s role over the past few years, then perhaps FSU is in more longtime trouble. If Jimbo has been basically running the team for the last few years, then you would have to be worried about results and the future of the team once Bowden retires. I always thought the pre-conceived notion of a predetermined coach was ridiculous. So now FSU might have locked itself in mediocracy for years to come.
By GATORZONE
July 22, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Dadgummitt, why won’t the head coach of FREE SHOE U go ahead and step down? He is just trying to outlast JOEPA. Bobby has been lost for 4 years. FSU needs new blood to instill enthusiasm back into their once storied program.
By TradeMe
July 22, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Ahhhhhhh who give a flying flip??? This is SEC country son!!!! Go Dawgs!!!!
By 4MoreYears
July 22, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Fellow Gators, quit demanding that Bobby step down. The longer he sticks around, the better. I enjoy having a guaranteed win against SOW each season.
By Puh-leeze
July 22, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Ah its that time of year again. Time to talk about FSU’s supposed resurgence and return to prominence. Blah, blah, blah. Its the same thing every year. Its like a broken record. I’ll believe it when I see it. This program just isn’t anything special anymore. Why is that so hard for people to understand? Its like they are blinded by the shiny gold helmets and pretty uniforms. The uniforms may look the same, but make no mistake that the guys wearing the uniforms are not the same. The guys that used to wear those uniforms are now wearing LSU, Georgia, Florida and probably even Auburn uniforms. The days of FSU hoarding these types of players are over. The playing field has been leveled. Even the guys calling the shots aren’t the same anymore. Its just not the same at FSU any way you slice it. Just because they are FSU doesn’t mean things are just going to happen for them. They are going to have to earn it just like everybody else. I’ll believe it when I see it.
By fruhoff
July 22, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Newspost:
Tom Osborne ran that “high-school” option attack too….
…remember Nebraska and it’s championship run and annihilation of the Univ. of Florida (sorry Spurrier…couldn’t resist to take another jab at you…LMFAO)
…Paul Johnson will impress…why…NAVY kicked some good team’s a$$ so whey not expect the same….
By Marco
July 22, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
fruhoff is correct. Osborne won three NCs in four years using an option attack when everyone else in the country had west coast fever. And it still works today.
By big sidney
July 22, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Bobby”if I don’t give him another chance who will?”Bowden retire today.
By Old GT Nut
July 22, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Enough of this orange media orgy already. Folks, Clemson WILL NOT win the ACC. Talk about over-hyped. Their games with GT, @BC, @FSU, @UVA LOOM LARGE on the schedule. When GT wrecks BC & VT…ON THE ROAD…those CU fans are gonna be poopin in their orange pajamas. This year’s GT run-defense is going to be BRUTAL with Johnson, Morgan, and Walker on the D-Line, and the GT secondary coverage(always suspect under Tenuta’s blitz-all-the-time defenses) is going to be MUCH MUCH better. Nowhere to run, nowhere to throw…nowhere to hide. And then….the offense will take over. The GT defense will deliver…THE PAIN, and the GT offense will deliver..THE SUFFERING. Just wait til “Thunder & Lightning” meets “PAIN & SUFFERING.” All you orange pajama types take note, prepare to feel THE STING.
By CKDawg65
July 22, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Comparing GT’s option to either a UF/WVU spread…apples and potatoes (oranges don’t do it justice). Comparing it to Nebraska options in the 90’s…pricelessly ignorant. Note to NATS…your talent is nowhere on the same planet as any of those 3! Dawgs will run the string into double digits before you sniff being close to us again.
By tech-hater
July 22, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
dawgssux…..I know enough about football to know that Johnson doesn’t run a spread option, stupid. He runs a flex-bone, which is a variant of the wing-t, which is the same offense many HS teams in Georgia run. Now, go back to your Dungeons and Dragons….or is it your “Best of Mr. Spock” Star Trek DVDs?
By Haywood Jablowme
July 22, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
I apologize to those of you who are under the mistaken impression that I am an FSU fan. I’m not. I am solidly behind UGA. I do, however work in Tallahassee, and I can tell you that they will try to get CMR back sometime in the future. They want him back down here like a bear wants honey. Bank on it….they will make a valiant try for CMR’s services.
By nolesfaninbamacountry
July 22, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Blowme
Your posts of college football is just stupid as your posts on DOB’s blog…
You have friends who are “close” to the program…went to Fsu…..and are “boosters”…. Well then I guess you truly know what you are talking about then…..Why should we even play the game then….
As far as the new AD only offering him a 1 year contract….Bowden’s only been signing 1 year contracts the last several years…..That’s not earth shattering…
The general consensus is that 2009 will be his last….
FSU insiders has privately stated for the last 2 years that 2009 will be Bowden’s last year, not 2008…..
Skydawg
Once again, Georgia public education at it’s best….
If Jimbo has been basically running the team for the last few years, then you would have to be worried about results and the future
If you are a TRUE DAWG FAN, then you would know that FIsher has only been at FSU only ONE YEAR
Before that, he was Saban’s & Miles OC at LSU.
Jeff (momma’s boy) Bowden, was the OC before him…that’s why the program went downhill.
And finally Saint Nick
Bowden should have retired 5 years ago
Yea. If Bowden has lost it, Imagine how bad FSU would have beat Bama last year with a coach who knew what he was doing…
While we are at it, how about those Warhawks of Louisiana-Monroe…Remember them….
Instead of worrying about what the Bowdens are going to do, I would worry about the 6 (Including this years game) losses in a row to Auburn….
btw…I like Bama, & Saban has done an outstanding job recruiting/changing the attitude at Bama, but like FSU, he’s still a year away….
I can’t see any situation where Richt will want to come back to FSU…..He has nothing to gain by coming here…
Go ahead Gator fans, talk the smack, Y’all have certainly deserved it the last few years. The UF/FSU rivalry always seems to go in spurts….Each team wins 4/5 in a row…..This is the Gators time right now…
FINALLY
I’m not one of these ACC/FSU fans who try to compare the two conferences…I LOVE Fsu football, always have, always will…But common sense dictates that the SEC, from top to bottom is the toughest conference in football….(I do think that the top 2 or 3 in the ACC could compete in the SEC, but I’m not stupid enough to say that the ACC is just as good as the SEC…They are not….
By Pitbull
July 22, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Haywood Jablowme: I remember when Mark Richt left FSU for UGA and the alumni and fans were so glad that he left because they considered him the primary reason that FSU did not win the games that they lost.
CMR arrived at UGA and committed that he would never leave UGA as long as UGA wanted him. He has moved all of his family here, bought a lake house not too far from Athens, and his son now plays at Clemson, which is approx 65 miles from Athens.
CMR is not going anywhere. No coach has received the love that UGA has given to him. I know for a fact that he has networked out into the Athens community and found the place that he wants to raise his family.
He remembers the anamosity that FSU fans had towards him when he left, and he won’t be going back.
In fact, if CMR decided to retire from coaching tomorrow, I doubt he would leave Athens. Remember that the last five UGA head football coaches left the game after their careers at UGA and continuted to make Athens their home.
Wally and Johnny passed away a while back. Ray and Jim still live nearby.
Who would want to live and raise children in a cesspool like Tallahassee anyway? Oh yea, Jimbo Fisher. Some people will do anything to get away from Louisianna.
By nolesfaninbamacountry
July 22, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Blowme
I’m also in your situation as well. I was born and raised in Tallahasse, graduated from FSU, bleed garnet and gold, but I now live in north/central Alabama. (about 40 miles from Tuscaloosa)
However, the administration at FSU is very high on Fisher. He is who they want for the long term.
At Fsu last year, much like Bama,the attitude is what changed. While it did not show up in wins/losses, it did lay the foundation for the long term success of both programs.
As far as the Richt situation goes, I know his family extremely well. Richt likens himself to a young Bobby Bowden in that Bowden was always infatuated with coaching at Alabama. When he finally got the chance, he realized that he would never be able to be Bobby Bowden. He would always be compared to the Bear. (Much like all coaches at Bama is today)……
Richt knows he can not succeed/build on Bowden’s accomplishments, nor does he want to….
Look at what he has done at Georgia. He will turn Georgia into a dynasty, much like Bowden did at FSU…
Meanwhile, FSU, much like Bama did after the Bear retired, will “talk about the good old days”
Believe me when I tell you, RICHT has no INTEREST AT COACHING AT FSU
By PTC DAWG
July 22, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Dawgssux (very original by the way, my compliments, it’s nice when our rivals like to put our team down instead of pumping up their own, it says a lot about the state of things), as others have pointed out, there is HUGE difference in the Spread offense and the Flex-Bone or Option offense as some would call it. It may work, but it’s very hard to find examples of it working.
GT has Navy type talent, but not a Navy type schedule. Can he improve the talent? Who knows, but Coaches have been using it as a crutch at GT since Dodd left, the fact that you can’t “recruit” at GT.
Time will tell, but I wouldn’t plan on being in any Bowls east of the Mississippi anytime soon.
Oh yeah, I hope you guys beat Clemson. How’s that for a fair fan?
By CarolinaJacket
July 22, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
CMR, I agree with you 100% about CMR. Why in the world would he leave a program that he has turned into a big time winner and packs a large stadium every home game? And if he keeps recruiting the way he is now he will be just as good for years to come. Now, Tech had better bring in some horses as well.
By blackjacket
July 22, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Hey Techsux, Why don’t you run on over and provide a vital service for Heywood Jablowme. Then y’all could run over to athens and jump in the tickle pile!!
By Happy Gator
July 22, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Four more years! Four more years!
By bb
July 22, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Just to be clear. I never said the ACC was ‘as good as the SEC’. In fact, I think it is clear that the SEC has been the best conference overall the last two years. My point is just that the ACC is not as far down as people like TB (and most of the fans on these blogs) like to paint AND that the SEC is not as much better than everyone else as he and the UGA/SEC fans like to think.
By dawgssux
July 22, 2008 7:01 PM | Link to this
Apples and Potatoes? That goes together just like Cornbread and salsa. OK, let me let you morons(tech-hater and PTC dawg) in on a little secret. He’s using the spread! The only difference is the QB is under center, not shotgun. He’s not using the flexbone or wing t. GT has NAVY talent? Navy wishes they had GT talent. It may not be up there with the SEC guys but there good. Look all I’m saying is Paul Johnson is a proven winnder. Yes the teams in the ACC are faster, but If i’m not mistaken he beat BCS teams at NAVY so don’t give me that crap.
By uga121
July 22, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
hey dawgsuxs were you trying to spell weiner or winner I would agree with weiner.
By Atlanta Gator
July 22, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Bobby was a great coach, and had an awesome run, but we all need to accept the inevitable. None of us are indispensable. Yes, it’s time to go. Past time, in fact.
Yep. It looks like the media pre-season selection of Virginia Tech to win its division was based on this simple fact: there is no else, and somebody has to win it.
I agree with the comment above that this only benefits bookies and gamblers.
As sure as the sum will come up tomorrow morning, Clemson will lose at least one game that they should win. This year, however, it may still not be enough to keep Clemson from wining its division.
Contrary to some of the comments above, the Orange Bowl was grand dame in her day and lived through some interesting moments in American sports histroy. But, like Bobby Bowden, her time had passed.
By GaytorsDone
July 22, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
4 more years of losing to LSU, Georgia, and starting this year, South Carolina for the trailer trash in central Florida. That’s the only way your post is right. Actually, since FSU has a better defense, receivers (there’s much more than one), running backs, and probably kickers this will be the start of at least 4 years in a row for them. You’ll be No. 3 in the state before then even. Get used to because that’s where you’ll stay for a long time. Be sure not to let USF pass you—if you can.
By dawgssux
July 22, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Weiner, that was a good one uga 121. Typo. It happens, I’m for from perfect.
By tech-hater
July 23, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
dawgssux…..An option offense already spreads the field. I’ll just bet you that Star Trek DVD collection you hold so dear that Tech lines up in a flexbone/wing-t to start off the PJ era. Not that it matters, though. “Spread” isn’t a scary word anymore…..unless, of course, the word is being used to describe the condition of your girlfriend’s legs. Just about every team runs some form of that offense in their game plan.
By Paula
July 23, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
After perusing some of these idiotic comments- I know how George Bush was re-elected!
Mark Richt is headed for the college football Hall of Fame and FSU will play no part in that accomplishment.
If Navy’s running game was so devastating last season, then why did they have to hold on for dear life to nip— Duke?
By PTC DAWG
July 23, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
OK, you got me. GT’s new Coach beat 3-4 BCS teams while at Navy. At least two of those teams had winless seasons. NONE of them had winning records, overall, or in conference. I will flat out state GT won’t win as many games the next 3 years as they have the last 3.
I do hope your team beats Clemson, but that’s all you’re getting from me. :)