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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > November > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUGA could have had Paul Johnson, but …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nineteen years ago, Paul Johnson was just the offensive coordinator at Hawaii with an uncertain future.
He had just finished a recruiting trip in California. He was headed home to Charlotte for the holidays. But his head was on potential employment in Georgia until his wife greeted him at the airport and delivered some news.
“She said, ‘Did you hear? Erk turned the job down,’ ” Johnson said Tuesday. “She heard it on the radio. My first thought was, ‘Well, I just lost two jobs.’ “
Actually, one job in particular. In Athens.
Johnson, now the head coach at Georgia Tech, was closer to becoming the offensive coordinator at Georgia in 1989 — and the heir apparent as head coach — than we may ever know.
When Vince Dooley resigned and briefly considered a jump to politics, Erk Russell seemed like the obvious choice as his replacement. He had been the popular, snarling, head-banging, chief barker of the “Junkyard Dawgs” defense, and was winning I-AA championships at Georgia Southern.
But when Russell was hired — either because he turned down the job or never was offered it, depending on whom you believe — it had a ripple effect that could be felt at the baggage terminal of Charlotte International.
Russell’s intent was to hire Johnson — formerly of Georgia Southern and then Hawaii — to run the Bulldogs’ offense.
“I called coach Russell after I found out and asked what happened,” Johnson said Tuesday. “He said, ‘I turned it down. I didn’t feel like I could give them a commitment for four years, and it wasn’t fair to anybody.’ He said they offered him the job, or he thought they did. But I didn’t have any idea. I wasn’t privy to anything.
“I think if he was younger he would’ve done it, because the one thing he always said to me was that he would’ve loved to see what that offense could do over there.”
Johnson figured at worse, if Russell went to Athens and didn’t hire him, he would have been offered the head coaching job at Georgia Southern. But there had been enough conversations between the two coaches that Johnson had a pretty good idea what was going to happen: He and the triple-option were headed to Georgia in 1989 if Russell had been hired.
Instead, he got neither job. He stayed at Hawaii for five more years, before moving on to becoming the offensive coordinator at Navy in 1995, and then head coach at Georgia Southern and Navy.
Dooley recommended Russell to the search committee as his replacement. He presumed the triple-option would be coming with him. He projected Russell as a good coach “for the transition,” believing he would only want to coach “another four or five years.”
Logic dictates that would’ve opened the door for Johnson as Russell’s replacement — especially given how Dooley believes the offense would’ve fared in the SEC.
“How would it have gone over? In the same way it’s going over right now,” he said. “I mean, it’s good. It would’ve caused a lot of nightmares for a lot of defensive coaches in the SEC.”
Dooley’s version of the hiring process coincides with most — that the search committee and then-UGA president Charles Knapp never actually offered Russell the job.
“I think they made contact with him but didn’t really pursue it,” he said. “Perhaps they had another idea what they wanted to do.”
That other idea turned out to be Ray Goff.
Oops.
Georgia plays Georgia Tech on Saturday. Johnson will walk into Sanford Stadium and take his place on the Jackets’ sideline. He smiled when asked about the irony and how different things could have been.
“You can always wonder how things like that,” he said. “What if I had never gone to Hawaii [from Southern]? But it’s not something I dwell on.”
He will, however, get a chance to watch his offense at the Division I level in Athens.
Permalink | Comments (97) | Post your comment | Categories: Tech/ACC, UGA/SEC
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By Joey
November 25, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
I get the feeling Johnson feels about UGA about the same way Spurrier does. Pretty much hate. Remember the sign in Tech’s weight room before the season even started? The Dawgs better be ready Saturday…
By Herschel Talker
November 25, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
Willie “Thumbs” Martinez is going to get us killed against that offense. We are screwed.
By Calvin
November 25, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
It’s a rare coach who really cares about the school. We alumni are fools to ever think otherwise.
By Sarcastic Dawg
November 25, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Uh oh. Tech has a sign in its weight room. We’re doomed!!!
By Georgia Fan
November 25, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
Oh well Jeff. It took us awhile but I think we finally got the right guy for the job. His name is Mark Richt. Boy you AJC writers sure want Tech to win this game don’t you?
By Calvin
November 25, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
(continued) Curry couldn’t wait to jump to Alabama, Ross couldn’t wait to coach in the pros. Friedgen couldn’t wait to go to Maryland, O’Leary couldn’t wait to defect to Notre Dame, and now Johnson would have rather been at Georgia all along. So let’s return the favor; if Johnson doesn’t win, fire him and try somebody else.
By Dog Since Birth
November 25, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
Exactly “Sarcastic Dawg!” I coach on the High School level….you can put up as many signs as you like…still gotta line up and play football!
Go Dawgs!
By Huh?
November 25, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
Tech could have had Mark Richt, but…….
then they woke up.
By Jamal
November 25, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
7 in a row….that’s all Mark Richt has to say. Hopefully Saturday, it will be 8. Tech fans have no room to talk schmit right now. They have always suffered from a inferiority complex and still do.
By Jamal
November 25, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
7 in a row….that’s all Mark Richt has to say. Hopefully Saturday, it will be 8. Tech fans have no room to talk schmit right now. They have always suffered from a inferiority complex and still do.
By TechFan
November 25, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
All I have to say is it should be a very good game. I hope can end the streak this year regardless of what Coach about went here or there. All I want for Christmas is a yellow jackets Victorty.
By TechFan
November 25, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
All I have to say is it should be a very good game. I hope can end the streak this year regardless of what Coach about went here or there. All I want for Christmas is a yellow jackets Victory.
By bobby dead dodd
November 25, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
he HUH. Tech woke up and got their Asses beat by Richt every year.
By Truedawg
November 25, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson is a good man and somewhat of a good gimmick coach, but Mark Richt is the best thing that has happened to UGA in years. If Tech wins Saturday (and they won’t), Georgia will continue to dominate this series severely if the coaching matchup continues. Teams in the ACC and UGA will figure out how to negate the Tech offense just as they have the spread. Watching an ACC game (Tech vs. Miami) illustrates the superiority of SEC football.
By Observer
November 25, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Anybody else think Willie Martinez might be a little bit sleep deprived this week?
By hj
November 25, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
Acc the 2nd best conference in nation and sec 3rd by Saragin. But that is actual statistics and facts not emotion. Guess uGay fans dont understand that!! Ask Auburn or Missy State??
By Hairy Dawg
November 25, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
The Dawgs will lose this game if they come out and play like they did against South Carolina, Tennessee, Vandy, Kentucky, and Auburn.
And I didn’t even mention Alabama and Florida.
Think about that. That’s seven games this year where we can point to a Dawgs game and say, “What’s wrong with this team?” I don’t trust this bunch to come out and smack Tech around this Saturday. I just want our guys to play smart and not turn the ball over. If they do that, they should beat Tech.
If not, they will lose.
With two weeks to prepare, there are no excuses.
By KneeJerk
November 25, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
Truedawg- What about watching an Auburn-Miss St game? UGA, keep hanging your hat on your conference and bragging about who kicked your a$$. It’s like Peter McNeely bragging about how tough he is because he got beat up by Mike Tyson.
By T-Bone
November 25, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
Truedawg, So teams like UGA have figured out the spread? Doesn’t seem like UGA or anybody else has figured out the spread the Fla runs, or Tx Tech.
Coach Dooley was ready to hire Johnson at UGA; he must think its a pretty good offense.
Let’s just play some football. Go Jackets!
By Tech Fan in UGA Country
November 25, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Truedawg, Maybe you were watching a different SEC this year than I was. There were two great teams, one good team (UGA), one okay team (SC), and a BUNCH of lousy teams. I don’t think this is the year to be talking conference trash talk.
You won’t hear the Tech fans putting down CMR. We all respect him as a good coach … it is the UGA fans in the blogs that say he is too soft, etc. We are happy to have a passionate coach now and hope he can turn this back into a rivalry again. If Tech plays great, as they did vs. Miami, then maybe, just maybe. Otherwise, if Stafford and Moreno both leave, I think next year will be the year. I know everyone is going to jump on that and say “its always next year for Tech”, but with another year under Josh Nesbit’s belt and Dwyer in the backfield, I do believe think we will be in great shape. Let’s hope for a great game this year and every year.
By Captain Kirk
November 25, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Fellow Jacket Fans, If TECH plays this game the way they are capable of playing, this game has all the smellings of Pepper Rodgers 1974 team that smacked down the dogs 34 to 14 in Athens for those of you around that remember that glorious day.
By CMR
November 25, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
Hi! I’m Mark Richt….Truck salesman,Hair Model,Bail Bondsman, Part-time Football Coach.
When Staffy & Knowshow leave school for big NFL bucks,it’s back to 6-6,where we rightly belong.
By Mr. Klingon
November 25, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
We all know CPJ is the greatest thing since the stun mode on phasers!(loss of life is not acceptable) When we beat down Ugag in their own stadium, I’ll have the whole game recorded. I actually plan on “Beaming Down” a little early to that hole in the galaxy, Athens, to check out a D&D conference. If any one would like to carpool, I’ll meet you at the Blue Oyster in midtown Hotlanta 9ish. I’ll be wearing my starfleet commander uniform as well as my Spock ears. (Please don’t laugh when you see them, they’re a little worn out) Anywho, gotta go I’m watchng the episode where Capt. Kirk is the cowboy, man he gets all the girls.
By next year...uGA theme
November 25, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
The funniest thing ever that could have happened….georgie hiring Chan the Man Gailey! I think he turned you guys down.
By Forrest Gump
November 25, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
I think that Florida had a sign in their weightroom too.
By CFB Fan
November 25, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Truedawg: “Watching an ACC game (Tech vs. Miami) illustrates the superiority of SEC football.” I’ve got an idea, let’s look at the facts. Miami was losing 9-3 AT Florida (of mighty SEC) after 3 quarters (final 26-3). This same Miami team was getting blasted 41-10 to Georgia Tech (of ACC) thru 3 quarters, with Nesbitt & Dwyer on the bench at that point btw. So let’s stop with the blanket conference superiority statements.
Yes the SEC has been best the conference in the country the past few years, but not this year my friend - Big 12 and ACC are right up there. SEC is 3-3 vs. ACC this year. SEC is 5-6 vs. BCS non-conference teams this year, ACC is 12-7. The GT-Miami game didn’t tell you anything about the SEC. But out of conference results and common opponents can. Cut the crap and come with facts next time, and stop living in the past.
By USMC DAWG
November 25, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
Schu,tz, you really get paid to sit around and write this crap? I’ve read better articles on a bathroom door.
By SE GA LADY
November 25, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
You AJC Sports Writers are really weird. Why do you try to stir-up trouble? I honestly think the GA/GA TECH rivalry isn’t that big anymore, except for some really old timers, and I’m not young! Both teams would obviously like to win, but to think this article began about something that happened 20 years is ridiculous! UGA and GA Tech have had good seasons, but you writers are not having one!!!
By StingerSplash
November 25, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
How’s that for the landmark institution of higher learning in your state? They ask a beloved figure if he wants the job, he says no and they come back and say, well, we never really offered it to him.
By The Big Bug
November 25, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
SE GA LADY:
You must not be an alumnus if you don’t think Tech-GA is a rivalry. If Tech upsets Ga on Sat you will hear the howling all the way to Waycross.
By Larry
November 25, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
What IF…..What IF….What is your POINT…Both schools have coaches, and both coaches seem happy….Get on with the GAME….Please
By RAMBLE ON!!!
November 25, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
I smell some scared fleabags.
By ColMosby'sBatman
November 25, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Hey Captain Kirk, I was there in 1974 and it was great except it was the coldest day I’ve ever spent watching a football game. Plus the seats were in the end zone with no wind protection. After the game I felt warm and fuzzy!
By Acc Stinks
November 25, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this
HJ,
I have no logic to offer, only facts. The SEC is 11-4 (.7333 winning percentage) all time in BCS bowls, the acc is 1-9 (that’s .100 winning percentage, rocket scientist). Now I am not going to ask you to logically determine which record is better. I will ask you to “ascertain” which conference has the better winning percentage. Then you can proceed with your “logic” of where the conferences are “ranked” and how the acc is soooo grand…..Face reality and what everyone else understands, the acc stinks when they venture out to play other teams. Can we leave an acc representative at home so their record does not run to 1-10 after this year?
By Zeb
November 26, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
Ramble; fleabags, mutts, leghumpers, butt snifers………..blah..blah…blah..f’ng blah. I asked you a serious question last week and you have not responded. I personally think you just might be 12…or have no comprehension as to how to get your point across without the dumbazz remarks you make. To the great Tech folks out there, I apologize for my dumbazz brethren who can only spew hate and the most idiotic posts I’ve ever read. Looking for a great game Saturday, and if you guys take us………..then the better man won. Alt, Kali, Cuz, Gen….your takes?
By DAWGHATER
November 26, 2008 1:18 AM | Link to this
HEY UGAly: Your going down to the JACKETS! Get ready to start making excuses when your redneck trash talking overated azzes lose to the youngest team in the ACC. Not only do you lose on 11/29/08, but you lose for several more years. I can’t wait to see all your redneck seniors crying after the game. “TO HELL WITH GEORGIA” GO JACKETS! RAMBLE ON!
By DAWGHATER
November 26, 2008 1:26 AM | Link to this
HEY ACC STINKS: You are clueless! However, that does not surprise me as you are a UGAy fan. Actually, the Big 12 is rated 1st followed by the ACC, then the SEC. Get your facts right. Also, your SEC (Sorry Education Conference) has a graduation rate of 17%. The ACC is at 75%. That’s a pretty sad accomplishment to be at 17%. Nevertheless, your redneck team goes down to the JACKETS on 11/29/08, as you won;t be able to stop the option. Your coach isn’t smart enough and neither are your players. It takes Math to figure it out. Obviously that is something most if not all UGA students lack! Hey, follow Dooley’s suggestion on stopping the option and listen to Old azz Munson stuttering before the game. I can’t wait to see your overated azzes get beat between your crappy smelly hedges in your lil chitty city of Athens. Enjoy the game. Hey, who knows, maybe KNOWSHOW will still win the Heisman and UGAy will still win the NC this year. LMFAO! Oh, I got it, it’s next year. Yeah, that’s it, Next year is our year! GO JACKETS! ” TO HELL WITH GEORGIA” RAMBLE ON!
By DAWGHATER
November 26, 2008 1:32 AM | Link to this
UGAy: I cannot wait to see Michael Johnson deck the Stafford and the lil man KNOWSHOW. It’s going to be a pretty sight to see. The DAWGS SUCK AZZ! GO JACKETS!
By 3MonthsLonger
November 26, 2008 3:33 AM | Link to this
I get to talk smack ‘til the end of November. Gamecock fans have to stop in September.
By 3MonthsLonger
November 26, 2008 3:34 AM | Link to this
I get to talk smack ‘til the end of November. Gamecock fans have to stop in September.
By TripleOption
November 26, 2008 3:36 AM | Link to this
debian, suse and fedora
By GTSUX
November 26, 2008 3:54 AM | Link to this
ESAD you commie b*******. I would pull for the Taliban before I would Georgia Tech. DIE. DIE. DIE. This will be 8 in a row if your counting Trekmites! DIE. ESAD!
By GermanJacket
November 26, 2008 4:53 AM | Link to this
SE GA LADY, Give me a break. The dawgs are living in the past - 28 years to be exact - the last time they sniffed a national championship. If you really believe none of this matters, you may actually be the only dawg fan that has a life. Props to you.
By blackwatchdefense
November 26, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
Georgia has shown nothing this year of being a top 15 program. The two top 15 programs they did actually play blew you puppies out of the water. The rest of the games where you played a “decent” team (and I’m stretching calling Auburn a decent team) they all had chances to win.
The UGA o-line will not be able to handle the Tech front four. They will be on the backsides often, or will be turned around grabbing the back of the jackets d-line players jerseys on the way to Mutt Stafford.
The UGA d-line will look like a bunch of three legged chinese immigrants trying to contain Nesbitt and Dwyer.
TECH 41 UGAG 20
It will be even worse next year after CPJ gets some recruits suited for this offense and UGAG is depleted without a OB or RB.
By reebok
November 26, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
I’m afraid Tech is still 1-2 years away from matching up w/ Georgia (IMHO, as always). The Dogs are better, deeper, have had 2 full weeks to prepare and are playing at home. But for the first time since the lamentable Chan Gailey experiment started, Tech is the better coached team, not just in terms of head coach but also Defensive Coordinator - I’m sure many will diagree, but I’d take Wommack over Martinez. GO JACKETS!!!!
By borodawg
November 26, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
Interesting take on a what if CPJ coming to UGA with Coach Russell. However, just like in your summary, it’s highly debatable that Erk was ever actually offered the job. It’s also in a long line of what ifs … like Barnett, et al. Heck, might even throw in D. Erickson as a what if. Interesting, nonetheless.
Ok Techies; UGA is the ONLY div 1 school with TWO Rhodes scholars, as we speak. It’s also true GT has a better overall grad rate; but CMR is definitely making progress and Felton is working on it. Not to mention, our grad rates go down when we have early departures to the NFL. Not as many N.Ave Trade School athletes do that.
IF we don’t throw INTs and IF we have only 5 or 6 penalties, we win. CWM will have the Dawgs playing assignment D, therefore slowing down the option enough for us to whip that arse.
Gooooooo Dawgs! Heck with tech!
By Hal
November 26, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Saturday will tell us if great recruting classes will be evened out by the strategy and style of Johnson’s offense. I feel both coaching staffs are excellent and will have their players ready.
By Rob
November 26, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Jeff you ignorant slut. IF you were writing for the Nat’l Enquirer right now more people might actually believe what you write about.. I’ll give you credit though, you are 1000 times better than TMoore.
By YellerSkeetersArePeterEaters
November 26, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
What if, what if, what if…..yadda, yadda, yadda. What if Schultz got fired? Then we wouldn’t be subjected to his ignorant rantings. What if your Aunt Jean had ballz? She would be your Uncle John.
By Navigator
November 26, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Georgia must be worried about Tech, based on the amount of sarcastic remarks on all of the blogs. I would be ashamed if I felt that way toward a first year coach/program with only 70 scholarship players (UGA has 85). I guess they’re worried about getting embarrassed.
By mike
November 26, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
Silly jacketts…..it takes more than a sign in the weight room to win football games……
By Seriously
November 26, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
I just don’t get how Tech fans can be so obnoxious about this game when they’ve lost 7 in a row to UGA. Just stay quiet and be obnoxious if you win. As of now, you just sound dumb. You are an inferior team in an inferior conference. If you win, it’ll be a great upset and something to be really, really proud of. Lets just wait til that happens though, because right now you have nothing to brag about in this rivarlry.
By Scott
November 26, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
TO SE GA LADY
Do you consider the GA FL game a rivalry?
By R U Serious?
November 26, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Johnson’s offense requires intelligent players who are also students and can make split second decisions on the run. That’s why it worked at Navy and that’s why it would work at Vanderbilt, but nowhere else in the SEC, particularly Georgia.
By BuzzFactor
November 26, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
What a bunch of classless crap being spewed here, from both sides. I can hate UGA and still not act like some of these people. Anyway, interesting story about the what ifs, I doubt Erk made it up that he was offered. So back to the present, CMR has had the respect of Tech fans since his hire was announced. Paul Johnson has earned his respect this year from most of the UGA fans this year. Should be interesting over the next 5 or 10 years. No since in talking conferences til january, SEC fans will not look at the regular season stats. In all fairness the ACC needs to do well in the bowls too. Back to the Game, We have 2 capable teams, that can also struggle at times. Either team has the talent to win a close one or even pull away with a convincing win, with a little break here or there. Those breaks will be turnovers. If either team has a Plus 2 margin by the 3rd quarter, that team wins. I think the total score will be between 60 and 70 points. …and Admit it or not, this game does matter to the true Tech and UGA fans. Some of the Bandwagon sidewalk fans may not care so much. Here’s to the game being a good one either way. I do think if Tech executes UGA will have to outscore us to win. If that is what it comes to, Stafford could throw a couple of INT’s. He has done that a few times when the pressure was on.
By Sarcastic Dawg
November 26, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
“I think that Florida had a sign in their weightroom too.”
Good thing we aren’t playing Florida on Saturday.
By BAMA STAN
November 26, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
31-0 at the half?!!
This will be a very interesting game matching two programs with two different mindsets:
UGA is just hanging onto a thread after TWICE getting Humiliated on national TV while trying gain national respect for a program that is the MICHIGAN STATE of the SEC - by virtue of their 5th place historical overall standing in SEC. With the high expectationas, realization of being overated - the Dogs have not packed it in - give them credit - but are definately two incredible catches being dropped from being 7-4 (against KY and AUB). The national view of UGA is a group that in not ready for Prime Time and an Underachieving group of individuals that did not gel as a team. UGA looks tired and menatlly gassed - not ready for war!!
Everyone senses that UGA is focussed to just playing out the season and hoping to hang onto a few more victories to save face to an emabarrasing season from a national exposure perspective.
TECH had zero expectations going into the year with a new coach - new system - low number of scholly players - just hoping to be relevant in some form or fashion. As the season progressed, excellent coaching has made a team out of a small group of good individual athletic players to where they now Believe in themselves as a unit and are Overachieving as a team!!! GT in mentally ready for war. The sense is that GT is Playing with a greater purpose and desparately wants to extend the season and Tackle big challanges.
With this in mind - here is Bama Stan’s Prediction: UGA is talented - but mentally whipped and playing to hang on.
GT has a purpose and is mentally ready for war.
Tech 34 - UGA 21.
Other Predictions: BAMA 35 - Auburn 7 Gators 48 - FSU 17 So Carolina 21 - Clemson 17 Navy 34 - Army 7
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!
By Hey Bama Stan...
November 26, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Here’s a prediction for you… Florida 45 Alabama 10 in the SEC Championship. Florida is still a couple notches above ole Alabama. For the sake of the SEC, I hope they beat Auburn, but I’m not even sure of that.
By BuzzFactor
November 26, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
BamaStan, I think FSU may play a little closer than a lot of folks think. UF still gets the win, but FSU makes it interesting early. 38-27
Clemson 27 - SC 20 Auburn - Bama - that game will be ugly.
By wes
November 26, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Tech has played NOT TO LOSE under Chan Gailey.
With Paul Johnson, they have an attack-based offense. Helps to play this type of scheme in high-pressure environments/situations.
Could not be more happy that my team picked up Paul Johnson. The man is a flat-out winner.
By THE_Craigslist Kisser
November 26, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Stanley will disappear as soon as Florida ROLLLLLLLLS tha ‘Tide in the SECCG. Better look out for Auburn in the mean time, their streak against the Tide is almost as big as ours is against the NATS.
By dawgs will lose
November 26, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
dawgs will get trounced on saturday.
By blackwatchdefense
November 26, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
GA football…top 10 recruiting class every year…and a couple stumbles every season. What exactly does UGA do with all that “talent”? It’s pretty laughable.
“Tech 41” “UGA 20”
By blackwatchdefense
November 26, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
I also love the “Georgia will be ready on defense” comment. Georgia will stay home, not over-pursue.
Why in the world would UGA have waited until this one game to show up on defense? Ha ha ha. Keep coaching them up Martinez!
By BuzzFactor
November 26, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Yeah UGA’s Defense is going to have a tough time. We just have to stop the big plays, put pressure on Stafford, and let him throw “US” the ball a few times.
By Heath
November 26, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Blackwatchdefense,
What does Georgia do with that talent every year? How about beat Tech 7 straight times and 14 out of the last 17. Heck, I am 37 and Georgia is 28-9 against Tech in my lifetime. And two of the 3 tech wins in the last 17 years were in 1998 and 1999, a period when Tech was initially put on probation and was going to be forced to give up its 1998 ACC Championship as well as any wins during those years until Tech appealed and it was granted. Had that not been granted, it would be 16 out of 17. Either way, no wonder Tech hates us so much…geeks always hate the popular kids, right?
By Little Johnson
November 26, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
Thankfully Paul Johnson didn’t make it to Georgia. I would shoot myself watching that boring option offense.
By You got to be kidding me
November 26, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Just to point out… Coach Johnson’s spread offense is damaging… that is until it is defended correctly! It takes man-to-man assignments and good tackling by individuals and then that type of offense breaks down. Georgia has very good athletes on defense (perhaps more so than Tech has seen all year) so dont start penciling in that W just yet!
By Pitbull
November 26, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Tech’s offense is not that different than the Single Wing run in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Defenses figured out how to stop it and it was junked for the pro set.
In the 1960’s the Wishbone became the rage, but again defenses figured it out and it is gone. In the 1970’s the Veer was popular, only to disappear in a few years. Johnson’s offense will be gone soon and so will he.
I would much rather have a coach who runs a balanced offense where the run sets up the pass, and where the pass sets up the run. Coach Richt has won 81 games in less than 8 full seasons and if the Dawgs come through on Saturday and in the bowl game he will be 83-20 in 8 years.
Tech could only dream of a coach that good. I will take Coach Richt any day of the week and he reminds me of Coach Dooley in one other respect.
Coach Dooley almost only lost to teams with superior field talent. There were only a handful of exceptions when a Georgia Dooley team was not prepared to play a team of lesser talent and got beat.
The 1979 Wake Forest game, the Miami of Ohio Citrus bowl, the Stanford Bluebonnet Bowl and the two Sugar Bowls against Arkansas are 5 of maybe 10 exceptions over 25 years that come to mind.
Coach Richt is thus far a better coach than Coach Dooley was (and I loved Coach Dooley as Georgia’s coach).He has had only loses to teams with superior talent (like Alabama and Florida this year) and beats the teams that he should.
He gets his teams ready and he will beat Tech Saturday. Tech plays a weak schedule and has not played a team as good as Georgia all year. Tech will fold under the pressure and Coach Richt will have a few surprises for Tech.
BTW, Georgia’s defense is much stronger than folks realize. We could have lost the Kentucky and Auburn games due to offense miscues and special teams errors that put the defense in bad situations, just as they did in the Alabama and Florida games. The defense has been much better than people realize.
By John McCarthy
November 26, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Tech’s Talk————nobody has ever done it better. Only college in America, where you can still walk up to the ticket office on game day and get a seat. That’s pitiful.
By Eric Zeier
November 26, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
“Georgia fans are passionate, but let’s face it……they’re not the brightest fans. Passionate, but not bright.” - Eric Zeier, Nov 21, 2001, on 790TheZone
By Mark Richt
November 26, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
The poor Dawgs will just have to settle for this Mark Richt guy who always gets them double digit wins every year and is the classiest guy in college football. Poor, poor Dawgs….
By Tar Heel fan
November 26, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Anybody remember the last time Tech had the disadvantage of playing a team that had the bye week before? Go Heels! Georgia will have an easy time rolling up on that Tech D.
By Big Fat know it all
November 26, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
You know, I was wondering where the idiot GT and UGA trash talkers were today. Both Tech and UGA blogs seemed relatively civil today. Glad to know where they decided to play today.
With that out of the way, the way Schultz has put the headline, he is trying to imply that UGA would be better off without Richt, which is just ridiculous. That being said, I wouldn’t trade Richt for anything in the world, but wouldn’t complain if we HAD gotten Johnson back in the day. Regardless of how one feels about his offense, the man can coach. It’s not his offense that has made Tech as dangerous this year (though it does present a challenge), but it’s the attitude he has instilled into that program. Should be a dandy, Sat.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
By GT Gator
November 26, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
First off Tar Heel Fan what happened in Chapel Hill on Sat in that lil game with NC State. Tech played the worst game of the year, committed numerous turnovers and got beat by a very well coached team. Also they missed several prime scoring opportunities. Go back and think what might have been if UNC had taken care of business after the Tech victory.
Second Heath as a Tech fan first and a Gator fan second if you want to use stats then make sure you use all the facts. As far as fans talking smack….UGA fans have no room to talk. After last years UGA/UF game all I heard was how great the DAWGS were and this year not a peep they would not even return my text messages. And RIVALRY the GT/UGA game is as much of a rilvalry as the UF/UGA game is a rilvary.
Now to the only reason I even posted….IF Tech plays the game that CPJ has planned for them without mistakes and UGA plays the game that CMR has planned for them this game will be close and probably under 60 total pts with UGA winning. If Tech plays well with mistakes(ie…UNC, VT, GW, UVA) it will not be close. If UGA plays sloppy then it will not be close. If both teams play sloppy then it is whoever makes the least amount of mistakes or whoever has the ball last….either way it will be a great game maybe one of the best in a long time.
Before someone gets too sarcastic and says something that has nothing to do with football…I am a Tech Alum and my wife is a UF alum. That is the reasoning.
Just wait till Saturday November 29, 2008 at 12:00 noon for the kickoff and about 3:30 we shall have the answer. Until then keep it civilized and remember that gloating is for one year only…..UGA should know that…..Tech may need to learn that also.
Go Jackets!!!!!
By To tell the truth
November 26, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
* Erk Russell always told the truth* and he turned the job down,then the Dawgs ended up with Goff the goof.
By ColMosby'sBatman
November 26, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Pitbull, The Tech offense is not that different from the single wing? Have you ever seen the single wing, If so how are they the same? 11 players with 7 on the line, yep they are the same. What an idiot!
By old and busted: 2 Rhodes Scholars
November 26, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
New hotness: 3 GT grads doing a fly over in the SPACE SHUTTLE prior to the game.
By LESD
November 26, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
Yeah, I saw Tech’s game with Miami. I also saw their game with North Carolina. Tech has a good coach and a few good athletes. But they are not in Georgia’s class, as Techies will learn all over again on Saturday.
By GTsteve
November 26, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
So Lesd,
So you , as a UGA fan I assume, how many Tech games did you watch this year?
By Tron5000
November 26, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
Come on, GTsteve. Don’t ask a UGA fan to perform an arduous task like counting.
By Sautee Dawg
November 26, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
GT Gator evidently you didn’t accompany your wife to any UGA/Fla. games if you think the UGA/GT rivalry is equal. Maybe back when Tech was in SEC it was more heated. Hasn’t seemed that way since then,
By Take Willie
November 26, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Willie Martinez for Head Coach!!…somewhere,someone, please?
By THE Ohio State Buckeyes
November 26, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
READ MY LIPS DAWGS, PLEASE…I HOPE YOU HEAR ME, PLEASE PLAY YOU’RE HEARTS OUT AGAINST GEORGIA TECH!!!!!!!!!! BECAUSE………………THE…….. AND I DO MEAN………….THE……..OHIO STATE BUCKEYES WANT YOUR HAIRY A* IN THE CAPITOL ONE BOWL. AND ALL YOU BLOGGERS SMACKING DOWN ……..THE…….OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, I WILL BE ON YOUR A* LIKE ALABAMA AND FLORIDA (AND MAYBE GEORGIA TECH) DURING THE ENTIRE 2009 OFF SEASON. DON’T THINK YOU CAN POST HERE AGAIN WITHOUT MAJOR LEAGUE REBUTTAL FROM……..THE…………………………………..OHIO STATE BUCKEYES!
CAN ANYONE SAY “WEDGES BETWEEN THE HEDGES”? I THINK THEY ARE ON THE HORIZAN…..bahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOlololhahahahahahalolololololhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
By BE#3
November 26, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
theohiostatesuckeyes……..It’s spelled “horizon”. The last big shot mobile freshman QB that UGA faced was Jamarcus Russell of LSU. I think you know him very well (LSU 38 — OSU 24). Do you know what happened to Jamarcus in his only game against UGA? He was injured and knocked out of the game. You better hope your boy Pryor doesn’t have the same fate as Jamarcus.
By 7NAROW
November 26, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
wow, slowhio state d-bag can’t find his caps lock. the dawgs will provide THE…..arsewhoopin sec style. try winning the big 11 first.
By GT 90
November 26, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
Plain and simple. This game will come down to turnovers. If Tech reverts back to 3+ turovers, we’ll get taken behind the woodshed. If not,this will come down to the wire. UGA had two weeks to prep but rmember that Johnson had 10 days to counter their preps and insert more thowing plays now that the kids are picking up the offense as it should be played.
By WEBBL
November 27, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this
CPJ has won 75% of the games when he has 10 or more days to prepare. CVD had great recruiting class every year. But was not in the same class as the Bear or Bobby Dodd. Georgia played a very over rated ND team to win its only NC. The other teams of the SEC have be down for Georgia win.
By Statistics
November 27, 2008 2:22 AM | Link to this
CMR has won 100% of his games when the opponent was the North Avenue Trade School.
By GT4Ever
November 27, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
Truedawg…Didn’t UF’s spread beat you guys 49-10. UGA had that one figured out, huh???? Every real college football man respects CPJ and his offense is dangerous. Don’t be in denial!!! Only time will tell but things are looking good and the offense is starting to purr. Everyone is so focused on our offense their forgetting we have a top 20 defense. Who will win the battle? Don’t know but it should be a helleva game. GO JACKETS!!!!
By CPJ is th MAN
November 27, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Lets look at the coaching matchup the last few years…Chan vs.Richt…of course UGA is gonna win year in and year out. Plus compare that to Reggie vs David Greene,bennett vs Stafford and the fact Tech stayed close to UGA is sad. That said now that there is a new sheriff in town and a new offence in town…a bold prediction is that CPJ leads our boys to atleast as many wins against the mutts as he loses. Georgia will never go on a winning streak like this any time in the CPJ era.
Tech 24, Mutts 20
By borodawg
November 27, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
Past few years don’t mean squat. As usual, this game is filled with what ifs. No one knows how 19-year-olds will act on any given day.
However, the Bulldogs will stomp all over the Jackets (aka N. Avenue School for Boys)!
Heck, we’ll probably play Logan Gray at QB by the start of the fourth quarter. And Richard Samuel will be the main RB.
Goooooo Dawgs! Heck with Tech!
By theedge
November 27, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Wow complete sentences and all amazing!
By Dan
November 27, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Now that Johnson has completed his mission at Tech- giving them wins again…he should try for Fulmer’s job. Let’s face it, only a few pounds added and he would be a great new “pumpkin” for the Vols. As for Ga getting him earlier, “Who the hell would want him???”Big reality check coming Sat bugs!!!!
By Dawg Fan
November 27, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
ACC has never won a BCS game.
By gdawginkalamazoo
November 27, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Hey Jeff he could have been Pope too. Instead he will be Our Next Victim at Tech as HC. ONV Johnson.
Hey luckeye. Up here Ohio will always be a four letter word!
By lostdog
November 27, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Should be a good game! Both teams have glaring weaknesses. UGA has soft D and Tech can’t pass. UGA will make Tech throw to win and Stafford WILL throw for tons on the Tech corners. Should be fun to watch.