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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > September > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USJohnson’s fire misunderstood
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Maybe it’s my old-school background, filled with screamers from my high school days as a football player through my years as a sports journalist.
Anyway, give me a fiery coach or manager in most situations. Give me Paul Johnson, the consummate perfectionist, who is often yelling and frowning at his Georgia Tech players when he isn’t stomping or snarling.
To say this veteran college football coach, who is in his first season with the rapidly improving Yellow Jackets at 2-1, is an inferno on the sidelines is to say veteran college basketball coach Bobby Knight got excited at times. “Well, you know, I don’t think I’m Bobby Knight,” Johnson said softly on Tuesday at the Edge Center before his weekly news conference. With apologies to Johnson, he is Bobby Knight in so many ways, and that’s a compliment. Consider, for instance, that Knight was Woody Hayes, Billy Martin, Frank Robinson, George O’Leary and Lou Holtz.
I know, because I dealt with those rather animated coaches and managers up close and personal through the decades. Give or take a Hayes swinging at the head of an opposing player or a Knight wrapping both hands around somebody’s neck, there usually was a hidden, and in their mind, logical reason for their explosions.
The same goes for Johnson, who has spent his first games with the Jackets greeting mistakes by players with one-on-one conferences on the spot.
And loudly.
“I talk to our guys all the time that we’re going to coach you aggressively, and we’re going to coach you hard, but don’t take it personally,” said Johnson, sounding like Knight, Hayes and the rest, while also producing some of their success. Georgia Southern and Navy won a combined 73 percent of their games during Johnson’s 11 seasons as a head coach. That included an unprecedented five consecutive trips to bowl games for Navy and two consecutive Division I-AA titles for Georgia Southern.
Added Johnson, “I mean, there are some guys that if you yell at, they go in the tank. Other guys, if you yell at them, they play better. It’s whatever it takes to motivate them to do their best. If I can make them mad at me and that motivates them, that’s all right. Four hours later, we can sit and laugh about it, and then it’ll be over.”
Before such levity, there is a lot of Johnson standing centimeters from somebody’s face. The conversation isn’t pleasant. AJC cameras have captured several of those moments. There was Saturday, when Johnson (ahem) chatted with lineman Cord Howard after he jumped offside during a two-point conversion attempt.
More famously, there was that Embry Peeples thing in the season-opener against Jacksonville State. “He had missed a blocking assignment, and, actually, when I grabbed him, we had scored a touchdown,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t a big deal. He knew it wasn’t personal. It was my way of conveying to him, ‘That’s your guy.’ We even joked about it later. I told him that he’s going to have to do something to get me in the paper next week, because I got him in the paper with that one.”
Knight often joked with his players, too, and so did Hayes and the rest. They also were obsessed with trying to keep their players from becoming punch lines during games. So they refused to let them become less than they could be. Even if those coaches and managers had to scream discipline into them.
“I tell my guys, ‘If I don’t feel like you can do it, I won’t waste my time yelling at you,’ ” said Johnson, who currently has a persistent roar in games, which means he believes these Jackets can do it.
Permalink | Comments (106) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech/ACC
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By snellville jacket
September 16, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
o’leary reacted the same way. remember the coke incident at half time.
Maybe it takes somebody to be hard nosed to get the attention. For every reason Gailley was bad this coach will be good.
By Ted Striker
September 16, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
If it consistently takes yelling and screaming to get a point across then an individual will eventually be proven to lack self control — a fatal flaw.
Bobby Knight, Woody Hayes, Billy Martin all were intense, talented coaches/managers. However they eventually wore thin on their players and/or employers. Ultimately, the fiery dispositions that were never kept in check flamed them out.
Paul Johnson is a very good coach. But to be a great coach is to recognize his weakness as well as his strength. Paul Johnson can either learn as much as he’s teaching while he coaches — or his success will eventually peak before he wishes.
By Algonquin J. Calhoun
September 16, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
This guy’s a jerk! Like most jerks he’ll test the nerves of those who have to deal with him. after a time, records won’t matter. He’ll have to go!
By LizDawg
September 16, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
* EIGHT IN A ROW * that’s alls that matters coach Johnson, getting ready cause one of the best teams in the US will be spanking that arse come November!
By TDone
September 16, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
To the Pilot of Airplane I and Airplane II, all I have to say is YGBSM, Sunshine!
This is Division I College Football!!!
If a guy can’t deal with his football coach yelling at him for messing up, how in the world do you think he is going to make it on the mean streets of Fayette County?
Every player on the team knows Coach Johnson cares. All he is trying to do is make the player realize he can be better than himself.
The one thing that Coach Johnson said in the first few practices was that he felt Tech needed to be tougher. In the first three games, I can tell the difference, we are.
A football coach is like a drill instructor in basic training. You expect him to be honest, fair, but firm when he has to be. Coach Johnson is trying to grow this team.
But if you can’t understand that, then we can’t help you.
By dave
September 16, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
passion is fine… abuse is not.
By not a coach
September 16, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
Try pulling that yelling/grabbing in a UAW work environment and see how long you last.
or,
try that with you wife…
CPJ is too smart to have to be a bully.
By Brent Harbert
September 16, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
CPJ is just what the jackets have needed for the past few years. Chan never acted like he gave a crap whether we won or lost and it ultimately rubbed off on our players. With the talent the jackets have had in the last 4 years we should have made it to at least 2 bcs bowl games. CPJ could have made Reggie Ball an All American!
By Brad
September 16, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
As a UGA fan, I like him. Tech will win more than it’s been used to in recent history. I think when they do lose, it won’t be from lack of effort or discipline, and I think that’s what galled so many during the Gailey era. I liked Chan as a person, but PJ will prove a much better coach.
By max
September 16, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
Striker- I’m sure Coach Johnson could CARE LESS about what you say about him. You don’t have a clue the relationship he has with his players.
LizDawg-Learn proper grammar…”alls”?? No wonder yall get accused of living in a trailer. BTW…#3 Ha! Ha! I hope ASU beats your ARSE…
GO JACKETS!! THWG!
By JB
September 16, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Come on people. He has been an extremely successful coach and each school that he left did not want to see him go. They just knew he was going to a bigger and better place nationally. If he was abusive, that would have come out long ago. It is football, people! Passive coaches are not the norm.
By joe
September 16, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
It’s abuse of authority, plain and simple. You can do the same thing without grabbing people, and if you can’t motivate without yelling, you aren’t a good coach. Poor impulse control; don’t excuse it. And don’t think his players are learning by watching.
By mike
September 16, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Football players are taught not to attempt a block after the play has advanced past you. The player in the picture I believe tried to make a block that was almost a klip when the runner was about to go into the endzone well behind the play(Jacksonville State).The conversation that took place on the sideline probably will keep that player from doing the same thing in a game late in the season that could cost Tech a touchdown or even a game.
By GTgrad86
September 16, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
This is FOOTBALL !! All you pansies need to go find a tree to hug !!
By Jack G
September 16, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
TM—-Yelling at his players is one thing, but calling Anouncers Morons is a horse of a different color.
As Truman said “if you cant stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.”
CPJ is just a little to sensetive. All coaches are second guessed—it goes with the territory.
Good coaches just ignore it and go on about their business of coaching.
By Jack G
September 16, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
And another thing——I dont agree with getting in a players face and yelling during a game.
In their face and yelling is OK a practicebut not during a game. Do your coaching during the week and do your game management on game day. At game time its to late to coach or motivate. If a stadium full of fans dosent motivate a player, he has no business on the team
By GM
September 16, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
Airplane Pilot: You make a valid point, and PJ should be careful not to cross the line, but there are plenty of different coaching styles out there that are successful. He is a COACH to these players, not a husband, or father, or minister, or drinking buddy - he’s a COACH, so let him coach. So far I like what I see.
Anybody else think it’s funny when girls call themselves “dogs”?
By GM
September 16, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
I though it was hilarious that PJ called the announcers morons. I chuckled because I thought the same thing. It was an appropriate comment, unless you’re worried about hurting the announcers’ feelings.
By ga_tech_92
September 16, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
Coach Johnson is the man, because he doesn’t bow down to the Politically Correct BS that has this great Nation walking around on ‘egg shells’ too afraid of ‘offending’ someone. It’s refreshing to see someone have passion, desire, hands on, and tell it like it is. HE is what is right with the world. Anyone who plays for him is a volunteer. All his past players and teams have been sorry to see him go. All you have to really know is that his previous teams and players loved and respected him and were sorry to see him go.
Keep it real Coach Johnson, we believe in you!
By The BIG Boss Man
September 16, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Well, I see that all of the tree-hugging soccer moms have chimed in with their opinions, which come straight from the set of “The View”.
Honestly, ladies, if you won’t comment about football, I won’t talk about quantum physics. Deal?
“Not a coach”: How much blocking and tackling goes on in a UAW plant? How much blocking and tackling goes on with your wife? (I can tell you from personal experience that she likes getting “blitzed”.)
Jack A: There’s no better time for a coach to make a point than right after a mistake has been made. Of course, I imagine you wait until AFTER the game to admonish your son for dropping his pom-poms.
The bottom line? Folks this is FOOTBALL. It ain’t the band, it ain’t the debate team. If a player can’t handle a little in-your-face coaching, then he should join “Not a coach” and “Jack A” for a stirring rendition of “It’s Raining Men”.
By Trip
September 16, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
I put the picture of him and peebles on my desktop for a week! I’m more fired up about TECH football than I’ve been all my life!
By MisterT
September 16, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
OK no more panty waste patsies on this board. If you can’t handle a coach yelling at your players, go pull for the uga gym dawgs. This is FOOTBALL dang it!
If you think CPJ is bad, imagine what it would have been like with Muschamp on the sidelines. If he instills dicipline and wins, let him yell his fool head off. He yells and still looses…that is a problem.
I am liking what I am seeing so far. He just needs to have Coach Heisman’s talk with the guys…”this is an inflated pig bladder….it is better that you had never been born than to fumble this ball!”
By Tech Man
September 16, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Hey Jack G go buy yourself a volkswagon and paint some flowers on it, this is a sport for thick skinned men. Coach Johnson is a great coach and he has a record that speaks for itself. The problem with sports today is there arent enough Paul Johnsons out there that get on their players butt whe they screw up, if there were more Paul Johnsons you wouldnt hear about all these other schools having players getting arrested and such.
By Dooley
September 16, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Man, there hasn’t been this many bed wetters in one place since the Pampers / Huggies convention.
Lets all hold hands, make a circle, and sing kumbya.
By LongBeachJacket
September 16, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Terence - This doesn’t measure up to the level of your last few analyses.
This is a “media manufactured” discussion that is of limited value.
Taking a few “snapshots” of a coach interacting with players on the sideline then trying to extrapolate it as descriptive of his overall style, demeanor and personality. Baloney….
Coach Johnson is doing a fine job. He’s an aggressive coach and he is doing EXACTLY what he is suppposed to do — COACH! and COACH DURING THE GAME!
Football games are intense and emotional during games. Yelling and getting animated is necessary to emphasize the point at times. Clearly Coach Johnson is getting his across because the positive results (i.e. the overall intensity and competitive spirit of the team) are OBVIOUS. And if you read his comments or listen to him, he’s clearly sophisticated enough to know where the limits are and how to differentiate when needed.
Did anyone notice the number of times he was clapping and encouraging the players and having a measured discussion with the QB when occasional shots were shown???….if not, then pay better attention next time.
Next topic, please……
GO JACKETS!!!
By ramblin wreck
September 16, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
This is all ridiculous! Shut up and let the guy coach more than 3 games before some of you idiots try to run him out of town. CPJ has done a great job so far.
By rah
September 16, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
Those announcers are morons. What’s wrong with saying it if it’s true.
Anybody else think all these dog fans posting on here are just a little worried. CPJ will win at GT and he will beat the dogs soon and often.
By Brookwood1
September 16, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
I’m an Auburn grad but I love Paul Johnson. He holds his players accountable for their actions on the field. Tech will definitely improve under his leadership. Just watching him, you know he’s a football coach and would be successful.
By OldGold
September 16, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
CPJ = Real Football Coach
By GT76
September 16, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
Max, since you are correcting people it’s “couldn’t care less”. If he could care less he cares some.
If his ways and means worked at NAVY I’m fine with them at GT.
If he wins like Knight that will be fine also, but he probably will have a few throwing episodes along the way.
By AtlantaNative62
September 16, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
If you have never been coached by a leader who genuinely DEMANDS the best out of YOU, then you should not be commenting on this thread. Paul Johnson is NOT being a jerk and he is NOT a Bobby Knight. He is one of those coaches that is a passionate person in general and is VERY passionate about the young people around him learning to learn that to truly enjoy your craft, you must be passionate too. At the end of the day, PJ is also making sure these kids know they can trust him….and they are believing. Show me another program that has had such a 180 difference in coaches and have 95% of the kids onboard in less than nine months together and clearly evident three games into the season? Greatness is ahead for this program precisedly because PJ is the kind of coach he is…..an all-around winner. Coach, glad you are here.
By DJA55
September 16, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
Read up on another old-school coach, Vince Lombardi. Coach Johnson�s coaching philosophy seems very similar to Lombardi’s.
TDone’s drill instructor analogy seems appropriate and exactly what the Jackets need - The D.I. cares, teaches, motivates, leads, disciplines, praises, instills pride in self and team, demands and earns respect and oh yea they even get in your face sometimes and yell…..I am sure that Coach is being constructive in his “yelling”.
Winners not Whiners!
By scooter
September 16, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
Those guys calling that game were morons
By AlabamaRamblinwreck
September 16, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
To Ted Striker and others:
A college coach can and must hold his players accountable, and that does mean being demonstrative at times. I agree that if he was a pro coach, he could only get away with these tactics for a short time, but he will only coach these players for 3-4 years (if they stay academically eligible), and that is not too long to use these tools/tactics to get these YOUNG guy’s attention.
College coaches must use positive and negative motivation on their players, just like parents must do the same. Unfortunately, some of these guys have never had parents, teachers, or coaches that held them accountable to help them be the best they can be. In otherwords, they did not get the discipline needed. If they are going to succeed in the classroom and on the playing field, they must be held accountable. This will include some timely CHEWING OUT when the coach sees it as necessary.
We have a real college coach!! GO JACKETS!!
By lisa
September 16, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
I am a lady and I totally agree with Coach Johnson. If Gailey had been this kind of coach we would have been beating UGA and getting decent bowl games. If Michael Vick had been yelled at and held accountable maybe he wouldn’t be in jail right now. I have a son and I have to get in his face sometimes. It doesn’t mean I don’t love him. I am behind you PJ!
By jk
September 16, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
over the next 10 years i guarantee tech will split with the dogs
By Mike45
September 16, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
That is unessissary I believe if you can’t motivate or correct people by yelling or talking as a coach you should’nt be coaching no need to put your hands on anyone.* very simple*
By Wreck7
September 16, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
I’ll reiterate what another poster said before: Coach Johnson has been a LEGEND everywhere he has been. Those schools were in love with the man. Ask anyone from Georgia Southern and they would bring him back in a heartbeat. You think Navy or Hawaii wouldn’t love to have him back? This guy is not a Bobby knight because he has NEVER EVER IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER been at the point of losing his job because of his coaching style and honesty with the press. You panty-wastes are embarrassing and need to leave the beautiful state of Georgia.
By Big Bee
September 16, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
LizDawg, eight in a row ties the record.Nine in a row breaks the record and starts a new one. UGA people have a hard time with math. There have been some statements that the jackets hang on to a record that was set in the 50’s and 60”. Well if that is the case, why are the Dawgs trying so hard to break it?
By tom
September 16, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
I think Johnson needs to go back on his medication.
By Oakland
September 16, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
This is college football. These players are tough and can take the heat. Very proud of them. This team is solid maybe moreso than any GT team in the last 9 years. Coach Johnson is using lots of underclassmen and walk-ons and is doing a darn good job.
By Big Man
September 16, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
Coaches aren’t supposed to be your friend. Announcers are morons for the most part. Paul Johnson is a great coach. End of discussion.
By gt_thwg
September 16, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
Some of these comments are unreal. Please remember this is football…if you have thin skin, you’ll probably get offended by what is said in the stands! All this PC bull crap should left to politics…
I agree that this entire story is baited. The extremely unbiased AJC would never take a “Drive-By” snippit and portray it as the entire story! So why would we expect any better from Mr. Moore?
By No Tree Hugging
September 16, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
I think half of these posters need to grow a pair. Don’t you think that a lot of young people need to be yelled at to get their attention? You see how wonderful our schools are…I guess sweet talking a misbehaving kid into his timeout corner doesn’t work so well afterall, huh? These are 20 yr old kids who need discipline and just might need to be yelled at from time to time…
I’m sure I speak for Tech fans when I say this, Tech would rather have a coach yell at his players then have 8 offseason arrests. Maybe if Richt got in those players faces, they wouldn’t be in trouble…
By Terence Moore
September 16, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
To piggyback on what Dave said, “Passion is fine. Abuse is not …”
It’s interesting. The overwhelming majority of guys who have played for these types of coaches through the years will tell you that it was all about passion, not abuse.
You can’t look at sports in general and football in particular as you do other entities in life. It often takes a different mentality to be successful in athletics, and often, a coach or a manager can’t take a politically correct approach to make that happen for their players.
Sometimes it takes screaming, grabbbing and stomping.
By Ted Striker
September 17, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
T —
If screaming, grabbing, and stomping is modus operandi, what’s Plan B?
By JY
September 17, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
The ones that need to stay out of the “Kitchen” if they cannot stand the heat are the “Media” people. Thank goodness Bill Curry has been hired as a coach again. He was not a media person. He second guessed everything as an announcer.
By JY
September 17, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
I guess you are not supposed to yell at a kid to prevent him from nearly running into traffic. You are supposed to wait until he recovers in the hospital to remind him or tell him to stop and look both ways?
By Brock
September 17, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Holy Sh@t I can’t believe some of the nonsense I’m reading on here. Have any of you ever coached anyone?!! Have any of you ever played any competitive sport?!!(Tiddly winks with your mom is not a sport).
What is with these PC illiterate posts?
Jack G- You’re an embarrassment to the entire man population. You are a pu$$. I hope that offends you enough to grow some balls. You sound like one of those guys who has to ask his wife/girlfriend if he can take a p**. You have no idea what it takes to coach a football team so STFU!
Mike45- until you can spell necessary stop commenting…..on anything. You, like the announcers Are a moron. Read a f’n book. That goes for you too Liz.
PJ is and will be one of the best coaches in GT history. Just give it time. He knows what it takes to motivate and discipline these kids to be men when they leave the college world and enter the real world. Do you hear the kids complaing? Did you read the acrticle? Sounds to me like these kids respect him and are starting to see the results of his hard nose approach.
Get over it girls, If you don’t like his coaching style don’t watch and for godsakes don’t be a GT fan. We don’t want you!!
By brock
September 17, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
I apologize for the mis-spelling of complaining and article. I’m just p**!!!
By Jack G
September 17, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
I watched a lot of football games coached by Bobby Dodd and if I recall corectly he never got in a players face during a game.
Just my personal opinion but i think he was a pretty fair country coach.
I knew a lot of his players and they said he was pretty intense at practice.
Yelling at players and getting in their face during a game is an admission by the coach that he didnt do his job at practice
By GTsince62
September 17, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Anyone who has ever played high school or college level football will tell you that this style of Paul Johnson’s style of coaching breeds success, as evidenced by his awesome record. Go Yellow Jackets. THWG
By son_sir
September 17, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
TM….CPJ is just what Tech needs. GT has had a coach with no pulse for too long. CPJ is intense…not abusive….. Much like another guy he worked for by the name of Erk Russell. Remember him Dawg fans ? He’s chewed on his share of butts, but I don’t remember him being criticized. CPJ is cut from that same kind of cloth..very different from Bob Knight. This is college football, not a chess club.
By GTsince62
September 17, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Kudo’s Brock you stole my response. Most of the announcers are MORON’s with microphones. PJ is my kinda Coach. The kind that gives 110% coaching and telling it like it is.
By Bama Fan
September 17, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Most people would agree that the Marine Corps has used the “in your face” instruction and motivation technique for 200 years with remarkable success. It does not work with everyone. Those who can’t handle it don’t join or they quit. The ones who endure become the best.
Coach Johnson will attract and keep those who can handle it. I expect those players to become very good very soon. I expect them to be very good for a long time.
By Speaking of which
September 17, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Look at pofo calling someone a jerk. Pffft. Ha. Wah, ha ha ha. It’s like a pot calling the can aluminum.
By Melinda
September 17, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
I don’t think a comparison to Bobby Knight is exactly spot on. Paul Johnson has never been accused by his players of being abusive. Most of his passion is game day excitement and wanting the best for his players. I learned the most from the mentors who didn’t let me get by with anything. They set the bar high, were tough and taught me the most about life.
He is passionate, expects the best… these players are excited to play for him. He and Tracey Ham, the first QB he coached, are still very close. I think Ham would tell you he got yelled at plenty by Coach Johnson. How many coaches have you seen that don’t yell? Competitive people are usually passionate. I don’t think PJ crosses the line between passion and abuse.
By Jean
September 17, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
I’m a grad of Indiana University, and I have a daughter at the Naval Academy. Paul Johnson is fiery, but unlike Knight, he is not out of control. If you at GT don’t want him, be aware that we at Navy were quite happy with him, and didn’t want him to leave. HIS PLAYERS at Navy begged him to stay.
By Oneiron
September 17, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Oh, and by the way, T. Moore, calling yourself a sports journalist is taking liberties with the title, to put it mildly.
By Georgia Southern Fan
September 17, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
I remember a game when Georgia Southern was playing at Wofford. On the first offensive series, GSU went three and out. When the offensive linemen got to the bench, they were yelling at each other and the offensive line coach was having trouble getting them to stop and listen. Coach Johnson walked over to them, and yelled, “Shut the F up!” They all shut up at once, even the assistant coach and then Coach Johnson explained that Wofford had changed their scheme and told the GSU lineman how to make the adjustment. It was simple and no need to panic. We did not punt again in the entire game and won it 44-0. Just another day in the life of Coach Johnson and Eagle football.
By GSUGRAD03
September 17, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Wow, I can’t believe this is even an issue people! Lets don’t forget that the hiring of This coach has put Georgia Tech back on the map and has brought the Jacket nation together and exciting about GT Football! PJ Was one of the reasons I went to Georgia Southern and will always be a legend in the hearts of Georgia Southern fans and players! I am glad to see that he has a passion for GT football and hopefully will bring us a well deserving National Championship!!
Also i was once told if you are not getting yelled at by your coach when you have done something wrong, That they have given up on you and have moved on to someone else that they think can make that big play that defines the team!!
Go Jackets!! See you Saturday!!
By son_sir
September 17, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Great point DJA55…Any of you people who have your panties in a wad ever watched videos of Lombardi at practice or on the sidelines ? … Some of you might say… Oh that was when you could get by with it….and that’s the problem with sports in general today ! We’ve pandered to political correctness and wonder why so many NFL players run afoul of the law. It’s called discipline morons and football from high school to the NFL is mostly devoid of it. Then we wonder why so many of these kids get into trouble. Pampering creates the Michael Vicks of the world !
Glad you panty wearers weren’t running things in the 40’s. We’d all be speaking German and eating sauerkraut. Grow a pair !
By fred
September 17, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Look, if players can’t handle a strong butt chewing, how are they ever gonna react to playground crap in MIDDLE SCHOOL?
I graduated from Tech, immeadiately went to Parris Island (that’s USMC bootcamp), and spent a great 45 year career in industry as CEO of three companies (fired once, laid off , never met a good leader who did not have lots of p—- and vinegar in his system).Young folks learn from leaders who are very firm. That’s why good parents SPANK their children and weak parents are , today, still trying to logic with their 48 year old brats. Thank God for a Coach like PJohnnson.
Go Jackets!!!
By Brock
September 17, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Jack G- again the communication process has been broken down. LEAVE!! Nobody cares about your personal opinion!! I will keep attacking you and your lady comments until you shut up. Have you been to a GT practice? How do you know he is not doing his job? 2-1 record tells me so far he is.If you don’t like the way he coaches then stop watching. You are not a GT fan, you are a Chan Gailey fan so GO AWAY!!!
By KellyK
September 17, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
There’s a basketball coach in Durham, NC who gets pretty fired up and animated. Not afraid to use colorful language and got his start as a coach at a military academy. I hear he’s pretty good. Even has an Olympic gold medal.
By Doug
September 17, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Just leave Johnson alone and let him do his thing! Results are on the way!
By GT45
September 17, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
The best coach I had in high school gave me a chewing out on a weekly basis, for awhile! After that, I learned how to avoid them-give all I had and do the best I could. I respect him to this day, and he still greets me with a hug and a handshake! It ain’t personal, people. This man has a great football mind, and is a great motivator of young men. I hope he is here for a long time! Go Jackets-
By JBoy
September 17, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Ok…I guess he can be the Steve Spurrier of the ACC…the world needs one more.
By SavTechIE
September 17, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
There’s no way to compare CPJ with Dodd,* except they’re both great coaches.* CPJ is a perfectionist and demands perfection regardless of how much yardage the play makes. He treats all his players the same way, so no one feels picked on. Bobby Dodd, however, played fun and games. He had as much fun and emotions over winning as any player. Winning was his existance, regardless of the game. That confidence and enthusiam carried over to his coaches and players and stayed with them throughout their lifetimes. That’s the difference between pro and college coaching. I imagine that’s where the Ray Graves and Pepper Rodgers coached Spurrier picked up his traits. Graves coached and Rodger QB’d at TECH under Dodd before both coaching at UF, where Dodd’s son also shared starting QB.
By gtforever
September 17, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
This is hilarious…. For all you experts. I think that Knight, Hayes, and the rest of the coaches are very good examples of intense coaching. All were very successful. I submit to the gentleman that said this kind of coaching eventually wore thin on the players and employees. LOL, All these coaches had LONG successful careers, and I would want my kid to play for anyone of them! That’s the problem with our culture, too many tree huggers, and not enough accountability. Everyone has to be politically correct! It’s all HORSE CRAP! CPJ will do VERY WELL, just leave him alone!
By jabster
September 17, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Sounds like somebody needs to come through here and take up some man cards…
Agree 200% with GSUGrad03. 99% of the time, when your coach or whatever criticizes you, it’s because they care about you. You don’t want to be ignored.
Yes, there are exceptions, but they are just that. You can spot those exceptions by the lack of success in their wake. Clearly NOT the case here.
By Trevor
September 17, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Just a matter of time before he grabs the wrong player at the wrong time. He needs to find a better way to get his point across. Intense, call it what you want, it’s only a matter of time until he starts turning people off (him and the program).
By To Hell With Georgia
September 17, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Oh my God people. Are you kidding me? This is the game of football. If you don’t like the screaming, yelling, getting up in your face mentality, then perhaps you should interest yourself in the game of water polo or something nice and comfy like that. I love it. I am a female. I am watching what my daddy use to do in CPJ. This is southern football. Get over it and if you don’t like it don’t watch it. Be tough. Remember that old cheer. Be aggressive be be aggressive. Has the game of football really come to this? Unbelievable. Us who grew up in Atlanta are use to this and have been waiting on this for quite some time. Did you happen to catch how packed the stadium was opening game against JSU? Can you tell we are once again excited about GT football? Point made.
Keep on Keeping on PJ. We love you and are there for you 110%.
By john dean
September 17, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
As a player, if paul johnson EVER put his hands on ME it would be the last time!!!!!!
By GT alum in HSV, AL
September 17, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Does this mean that most of you think that Tony Dungy is a bad coach? He never yells at his players, consistently wins year after year, and won the Super Bowl in 2007.
By kissel
September 17, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
Reading some of these negative comments just solidifies what is wrong with this country. We are being innundated with wusses. GATA Paul Johnson!!!
By son_sir
September 17, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
GT alum in HSV, AL: Tony Dungy has Peyton Manning at QB…Nuff said……
By son_sir
September 17, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
John Dean: Don’t know about your skill set, but you definitely have the mindset to be a GA Bulldog.
By Tom
September 17, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Trevor, if he ever grabs “the wrong player” it will only be because the player was just that….the WRONG player to be playing for Johnson…..
….and probably football, period, for that matter.
Methinks john dean probably has a helicopter mommy.
By Correction
September 17, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
How can you write an article about who PJ reminds you of or acts like and never once mention Erk Russell? Remember he gave PJ his big start. Don’t you think Erk had any influence in PJ’s coaching style?
By Justin
September 17, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
I say that if you can’t handle a coach yelling at you then you don’t need to play football. Coach Johnson is trying to get the best out of his players and he is assertively letting them know that they did something wrong and need to correct. I’m not saying one style of coaching is right or wrong, but yelling at players in such a high contact sport should be the least of the player’s worries.
Paul Johnson is one heckuva coach and he shows some fire in him unlike the previous regime. I think the team has shown on the field that they are playing better and with more effort than I’ve seen in the past few years.
As long as he’s not doing anything illegal or immoral then continue to yell at my Yellow Jackets, it seems to be working so far in getting this team to play at 110%.
By To Hell With Georgia
September 17, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
Your right on son_sir.
John Dean you also have the mindset of disrespect for authority. Trust me if there was a problem at GT, I am quite sure the players parents would be all over it. If you allow the players to run the show then you will certainly not win. We were in need of some discipline and sometimes drastic times call for drastic measures. As a player you allow people to toss you around on the field during a game. Some wanting to injure you badly. What is the huge difference here? Football is a contact sport. PJ is coaching and is doing a d* good job of it.
By Toby Cash
September 17, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
There are times when players need a good lecture however loud it may be and some announcers are morons…That is why they are announcing and not coaching.
By Will67
September 17, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Sometimes as a football coach you have to get people’s attention. Sometimes you can do that by grabbing their jersey collar. Anyone out there that thinks that jersey collar grabbing and yelling in the context of football coaching is “abuse” has become a total pansy and needs to take up an interest in a sport where there is no risk of yelling or collar-grabbing, such as checkers or pick-up-sticks. Name a great sports coach and you will have named a person who grabs hold of his/her players and yells at them when necessary. Name a truly great athlete and you will have named someone man or woman enough to deal with harsh criticism and in-your-face coaching. Name someone who objects to all this and you’ve named someone who is too weak to handle big time competitive sports. Plain and simple.
By Jack G
September 17, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Brock
You sir are an alligator. All mouth and no ears.
I am sure you flunked reading comprehension.
One—-I think CPJ is doing a good job two —-I never said dont get in the players face. What i said is during the game is not the time for chewing A— Chew all the A— you want at practice.
Having said that you questioned my manhood—Let me tell you something—-I am 84 years old and can still whip your sorry A—
As for being a Ga Tech fan, I have been a fan as far back as i can remember and that goes back to the days of coach Alexander.
By GT
September 17, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Could you imagine talking about this with Bobby Knight and not getting physically intimidated? There is a big difference in PJ and this ego maniac. I dealt you will see PJ tossing a chair across the playing field or assaulting a policeman or dumping a fan into a trash can at a restaurant. I don’t think the administration views PJ as a primo Dona, difficult to work with like the before mentioned Haynes or Martin or Knight. PJ is and will be a great coach, but he doesn’t take advantage of that position and act like he is 12 years old.
By Casey
September 17, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Ok LizDawg I’m a bulldog fan, and you sound like a total idiot with your rant about “Eight In A Row”. Who gives a crap about that right now? Georgia has too many other things on it’s plate at the moment to worry about the last game of the year, so save it. That’s the kind of crap that gives all Georgia fans a bad reputation, the few that always run off at the mouth.
Algonquin J. Calhoun, your a total “moron”. Paul Johnson is the best thing to happen to Tech in a long while. He is not only making these guys better football players, but better people outside the game. He demands respect and perfection, as the real world does. He hasn’t won every place he’s been cause he lets his players run all over the place like a Penn State or Miami. Your comments make you sound soft, and that you can’t handle the pressures that someone like him may put on your shoulders. Tech is only gonna be better because of him, and the country needs more people like him out there to help manage the percentage of immature kids that run the fields on Saturday’s.
I think he hit right on when he called the announces morons. These guys have nothing to lose by their comments, and no pressure on their backs to win games. Half of these early morning commentators have never played football a day in their life, but feel they have the right to critique someone who’s been around it their whole life. Paul Johnson is in it to win, not tie or lose. He has a knack for winning at Georgia Southern and Navy, so anything that comes out of his mouth is something I actually believe and can trust, and I’m a Georgia fan. Definitely needs to be more coaches and people out there like Mr. Johnson who run a tight ship, with no room for non-sense and rule breakers. Best of luck Jackets, until that last weekend of the season, when it gets here.
By Ted Striker
September 17, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
When an 84 year old guy says he could whip another guy’s sorry azz — he could probably whip the other guy’s sorry azz
By son_sir
September 17, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I played at GS back in the days when CPJ was an asst. under Erk. Prior to practice one day I had a stomach virus, but kept it quiet because I didn’t want to risk losing my starting position by missing practice. I made it about 30 min. in the Statesboro heat before I had to go to the sidelines and puke my guts out. As I was on my hands and knees emptying out, Coach Mike Healey, former All-SEC at UF, was standing over me demanding me to get my a$$ off the ground and get back in the scrimmage….. I got my a$$ off the ground and returned to the scrimmage. That’s football. If you can’t take it…choose another sport. BTW, I never had any animosity over it and look back on it and laugh.
By SouthBendJacket
September 17, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
First of all, for those of you crying abuse, you people are part of the problem. You are part of the reason there is no discipline of young people in our country.
Running the option takes discipline, much like being a soldier in any one of our armed forces. If players miss assignments, the entire team fails, much like the military. Maybe that’s why you never heard anyone from Navy complain about his coaching tactics. The officers at the Naval Academy probably thought he was too soft. Once players have the discipline, coaching won’t be so physical. By the way, did CPJ hit anyone harder than our opponents did? They are football players.
By To Hell With Georgia
September 17, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
A bulldog fans sums it up. Ironically. I admire bulldog fans like you Casey.
By Nolan School
September 17, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
I like coach Johnson. Any one who has ever been to Newland NC will know he has been raised and groomed for success in a place where survival is an every day thing.
I hate Georgia and the Morons who bark. Great English Department UGA, woof woof woof.
Hating Georgia and liking Coach Johnson seems to be a mutually supportive thing of beauty.
Enjoy the shine of the sun on your dawgs butt today, better days are coming for Tech.
By Spud Webb
September 17, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Well the dumbest comment (among the many) thus far is from brock with “Yelling at players and getting in their face during a game is an admission by the coach that he didnt do his job at practice”. REALLY ahahhahaha, that is just stupid. Are these robots playing? If you coach well enough during the week then the players will be perfect on Saturday? I see, so why isn’t every team undefeated by you’re theory they should be. DUMB comment. NO YELLING DURING GAMES, when a kid messes up. Don’t even tell him, let him think he played well. ahahhahhaha and god forbid, don’t show EMOTION at a FOOTBALL GAME. ahahhahahhahahha LOVE IT. Different coaches coach different ways (lol, I know, it’s obvious) and some get good results and some don’t. Johnson is a heck of a coach and will do very, very well for Tech. For all the sissies, this is football. The players don’t mind it and probably appreciate it. I know I did in high school. You laugh about it with the boys when it’s all over, years later they will be laughing about it. So go send you’re kid to time out and all that politically correct crap. Football is for men, they can handle it Nancies. Geez. Go CUSE. ahhahah, we suck I know. please fire Greg Robinson, he could use some passion.
By Ross
September 17, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Football is all about execution. If some of the players perform stupidly and require execution, then that’s just how it goes!
I have never been so thrilled by a local coach. Win or lose, and it will be more of the former than the latter by a large margin, PJ is a real man and a damn fine football coach.
(from a Tech grad.)
-drl
By Max
September 17, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Anyway, GT76…I think I got the point across. It seemed to get YOUR attention!!! As ramblin wreck says…”Shut up” and let the guy coach!
Go Jackets!! THWG!
By gtforever
September 17, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Right, john dean. If you do your job then you have NO problems. I would bet that IF your a player, with that statement said, your one of the BRATS that we are all referring as the PROBLEM….
By paul lee
September 17, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
Bama fan here. I like Coach Johnson alot and I think he is going to make Tech a much better team. I always thought they were kind of soft before but not anymore. The ACC is not gonna want to play Tech pretty soon.
By JRICEGT
September 17, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
Hey Jack G, Do you think that Embry Peeples will miss another block after getting his but chewed off in front of 55,000 fans and his teammates?…..I don’t think he will. Keep the fire in them. The First impression is the Last impression. He’ll ease up, Paul Johnson has to show the Yellow Jackets whose is the boss and if yelling gets that new system drilled in those players heads quicker keep yelling. GO TECH!!
By Navy grad/Tech fan
September 17, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
I was a senior at the Naval Academy during Paul Johnson’s first year there, and I’ve followed Navy football very closely since graduating, so I feel pretty confident in saying that at NO time during Paul Johnson’s time in Annapolis did anyone at the school or in the press complain about his temper or treatment of players. Granted, all of us midshipmen were pretty used to rough treatment, but everyone seemed to realize that he coaches that way for a reason: it works. During PJ’s first year at Navy we looked very similar to this year’s Tech team in that we showed lots of promise but were killed by turnovers and penalties… discipline problems which PJ quickly turned around.
By Brock
September 17, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Spud- Here’s how it works. The person’s name posting the comment is preceded by “by”. Go back and read who really posted those comments you were calling me out for. Read instructions in the manual carefully before operating equipment. And BTW it’s “your kids” not “you’re kids”.
By smydauf
September 17, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
This is kind of a backhanded compliment towards the end of muckraking.
Moore selected the coaches he selected for a reason but poses the article as a compliment.
He could have used examples of more analogous coaching styles: Coach K, Les Miles, Pat Summit… These are all great coaches with a lot of fire who have never had any off-the-field incidents or unredeemable outbursts.
All three of these coaches have been publicly critical of reporters, the media, the NCAA, and officials. They may be frank about it but they are not abusive—nor are they with their players.
There’s a big difference between Knight rarely exhibiting self-control and exercising ungodly tirades from Coach Johnson responding to a question about people’s opinions of his decisions. He was asked, “What do you think?” and he responded, “those guys are morons.” Then, everyone moved on. He didn’t spend 3 hours lambasting the media etc, a la Coach Knight.
Moore chose the coaches he chose in an effort to generate just this kind of Buzz—to incite arguments. It’s muckraking at it’s best.
This is Coach Johnson’s style. It works for him. He can only be who he is and if he attempted to be someone else or change his ways it would ring hollow and false. There’s no one right way. No absolutes. What worked for Dean Smith worked for Dean Smith and his players loved him and he was extremely successful. Similarly what works for Pete Carroll works for him and if he suddenly turned into a raving lunatic his people would see through it—he is also extremely successful.
There is a line drawn between “intense, fiery, and competitive” and “abusive, maniacal, and self-absorbed.” Coach Johnson is the former. There are examples of coaches who cannot be the former without the latter so we are lead to draw the illogical conclusions that they are exclusive one to the other, but we also have the provided example to the contrary disproving this.
Coach Johnson is doing an great job. He has brought accountability to GT football and he will never do anything to embarass himself, the state, or the institute…
By nathan
September 17, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
Whats wrong with a coach getting in a kids facing and chewing him out if he screws up? Anyone who ever played sports competitively knows it is just part of the game. All the people complaining about him yelling at the players probably agrees that there should be no tryouts for sports and every kid out there deserves a chance to play. I can guarantee growing up when a coach chewed you out you wouldn’t make the same mistake again, which is the point. Liberal America needs to get over the yelling and let it go. Oh and for those who point out that Bobby Knight got fired or wore out his welcome remember that he still had top recruiting classes before he left Indiana and got some of the best players in the country. Bobby Knight was fired because the president of the university didn’t like the “image” he potrayed. Ask any of Knights players what they think of him and 90 percent of them will tell you he had a positive impact in their lives and they would play for him again. Who cares about the yelling? Sports is suppose to be filled with emotion and anger is an emotion so let it go.
By ga_tech_92
September 17, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
The same people who are uptight about a coach being physical or loud…are probably the same people who give GT fans a bad name by sitting on their hands like they are at a tennis match.
FOOTBALL IS ABOUT BEING LOUD AND PHYSICAL
(are they coaches who win without yelling?…sure…so what?)
By John Dean = Quitter
September 17, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
By john dean September 17, 2008 10:27 AM As a player, if paul johnson EVER put his hands on ME it would be the last time!!!!!!
What a laugher!!! Would you be crying as you walked off the field?? Quitter!
By ga_tech_92
September 17, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
John Dean is 100% correct. If he was getting chewed out and couldn’t deal with it, he would be kicked off the team. Players will know what they are getting into when they sign up to play with Johnson. Track record shows, people LOVE playing for him. They are the people who count. They will all be volunteers, so ‘it’s’ nothing to feel bad about.
By saywhat
September 17, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
To - ‘Not a coach’ - If the UAW had someone “yelling/grabbing in a UAW work environment” - maybe the auto industry would be much better than the lazy as* workers that run it now