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DEL.ICIO.USTech’s Johnson the ‘anti-TO’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
San Francisco — You have those celebrated wonders for Southern Cal. Vince Young also is gifted. The same goes for Brady Quinn and the rocks on LSU’s defensive line who look more fit to play on Sundays than Saturdays. Even so, between now and that little game in Pasadena, when the bowls change from Peach to Sugar to Rose, nobody will surpass Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson as a double miracle.
If I could, I’d adopt Johnson as a son, and it goes back to that double miracle: Not only is he so good as an All-America selection during his sophomore year along the way to becoming so great as a pro, but he is so humble to the point that you wonder if he is too good to be true. For three decades, I’ve covered more than a few athletes who were princes when it came to attitude before they evolved into frogs.
Turns out, we can believe in a fairy tale that is flirting with a happy ending after a nice beginning and a promising middle. This one wears No. 21 for the Yellow Jackets, and it won’t change easily. Let’s begin by dispensing with the least impressive part of that double miracle regarding Johnson: He can play. Chances are, he’ll do an incredible thing or three at wide receiver Thursday against Utah during the Emerald Bowl before a nationally televised audience. Why? Because he always does.
Tech wide receiver Damarius Bilbo laughed, saying, “Even in practice, he’ll do something that looks amazing to us, but it’s just simple to him. He catches with one hand like I catch with two. Sometimes you don’t know whether to be jealous of him or in awe of him.”
You can’t ignore him, though. Johnson hasn’t stopped making folks rub their eyes raw since he went from impressing at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone to playing beyond his hype at Tech as a freshman to operating as the extraterrestrial receiver that he is now. He could become known as that other Johnson with perennial Pro Bowl ability after he joins the one called Chad in the NFL as soon as his junior year ends.
Whatever the case, this Johnson won’t resemble that other Johnson regarding post-touchdown celebrations. In fact, this Johnson will become the anti-TO. He also won’t, say, fake a moon or something in an opponent’s stadium a la Mr. Moss. That’s because this Johnson is so stunned like the rest of us by his Flying Wallenda moments that he often responds with a “Wow” under his breath.
“Well, I’m not your flashy type of guy,” said Johnson, with a hint of embarrassment. “I might get excited and spike the ball in the end zone every once in a while, but I won’t have any antics.”
Then Johnson smiled after we discussed some of the best of his best, including his catches for the ages against N.C. State last year and Miami this year. “I surprise myself sometimes,” he said. “I’ll be watching film of something I did and it’s like, ‘Man.’ ” Which brings us to the most impressive part of that double miracle regarding Johnson: He keeps his fame in perspective.
“All gifts given to you can be taken back, and Calvin realizes that, because he’s a really spiritual guy who knows where his blessings come from,” said Bilbo, a senior, who was among the Jackets who sought to adopt Johnson as a brother after they discovered his talent was accompanied by humility and dedication.
“True, he works hard, and he takes advantage of his ability, but he’s not one of those guys who is changed by all of these people asking for his autograph,” Bilbo added. “He also is the type who won’t be changed by money.”
He won’t be changed, partly because he has a dose of the bad to keep all of that good from swelling his head. And, yes, there was bad for even the mighty Johnson, when he dropped a potential game-winning catch in the end zone during Tech’s home loss this year to N.C. State.
According to Johnson, he has yet to get over the memory, and that’s not necessarily an awful thing. “It’s always in the back of my mind, and it drives me,” Johnson said, with his slew of impossible catches in the aftermath to prove it.
Permalink | Comments (28) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
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By larry w.
December 28, 2005 06:13 PM | Link to this
I really like this kid. I think if he stays healthy, he will eventually be the best wide receiver in the NFL.
By Larry
December 28, 2005 10:06 PM | Link to this
Refreshing. Simply refreshing.
By willie
December 28, 2005 11:47 PM | Link to this
Great Story Mr. Moore. Great kid, great future. Keep up the good work.
By john
December 29, 2005 12:44 AM | Link to this
Great article. Calvin already is the best receiver in the college game in most peoples eyes. I am willing to bet he will be a top, if not the best receiver in the NFL in the years to come.
By B.L. Jackson
December 29, 2005 12:48 AM | Link to this
I had the pleasure of officiating one of #21’s high school games. He dove for the corner pylon from the 5-yard and landed two yards deep in the end zone. Impressive physical skills, as a junior…
By Come on
December 29, 2005 01:00 AM | Link to this
Give me a break.
By David Henderson
December 29, 2005 02:16 AM | Link to this
Calvin will win the Heisman trophy next year by a record vote! Take that one to the bank …
By john
December 29, 2005 07:09 AM | Link to this
He is a super kid. Quiet and humble. A class act going to a class school.
john
By PreyDawg
December 29, 2005 08:50 AM | Link to this
I’m a Bulldog but I watch Calvin any chance I get and pull for his success.
Falcons front office…When he comes out make a trade. Do what you’ve got to do. Sign this kid!!
By Earl from Tifton
December 29, 2005 09:01 AM | Link to this
Two questions, only one slightly unrelated..
Does Reggie break Bonds’record for number of balls sent into McCovey cove today?
Does Rueban’s trip to Alcatraz count as time served?
In all sincerety, have fun at your baseball game today…oops….meant bowl game.
Actually thinks Calvin is one heckuva wideout. To bad he has a quarterback who can’t count and a coach who’s offensive genuis has lead to four straight years of offenses ranked BELOW 90 out of 117 teams.
I really feel for him in that regard.
By Steve
December 29, 2005 09:52 AM | Link to this
I think ‘Earl from Tifton’ says it all. What? No, I’m not referring to his post. What I mean is, quite simply, EARL from TIFTON says it all.
By C.J.
December 29, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this
Just wanted to stop by and give thanks to Mr. Terrance Moore for actually once writing a great article. He is the lone non-mutt graduate at the AUC, and I for one thank him for single-handly trying to derail the vast-uga conspiracy.
Also wanted to give thanks to Reggie Ball. All my success goes to him. I mean how can I make those tremendous grabs if nearly every pass wasn’t so badly thrown? If it weren’t for his erratic passing style, I wouldn’t have half the sportscenter highlights under my belt.
OH, and big props to the big man himself, Chan Gailey. Love you big guy. If it weren’t for your wonderful offensive acumen in only throwing my way 2-4 times a game, my catches wouldn’t be nearly so memorable or important!!!
By Ala. Jim
December 29, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this
I always thought that Johnson was as you described him. I’m happy that you affirmed it. That pass in the NCS game was so far behind him that even he would never have made that catch. I’m sorry that it bothers him.
By CalvinFan
December 29, 2005 11:04 AM | Link to this
Calvin is a great kid and a very good talent. However, he will be remembered as the greatest unused potential in GT history. Unless RB improves dramatically, we will not see Calvin’s full potential until his last year when he will have a new QB. It is a really a shame.
By Paul
December 29, 2005 11:27 AM | Link to this
Sure wish UGA had him. Actually he would’ve been a Bulldog had he not been recruited at the same time that Gibson and Edwards were in their prime. Bad timing.
By Akbar Patel in Technology Square
December 29, 2005 12:07 PM | Link to this
Just taking time out from kick butt Halo 2 tournament to wish Calvin well today.
Here’s to our third top 20 appearance in nearly 20 years.
By Adam
December 29, 2005 12:38 PM | Link to this
Hey Dawg fans it is your asinine comments that reflect more on why Calvin came to Tech and not Georgia. For some it is more than JUST football.
By Greg
December 29, 2005 12:40 PM | Link to this
I would like to personally think Earl from Tifton for confirming the sterotype of a dumbass UGA fan. Thanks Earl!
By Jman
December 29, 2005 12:59 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately T.O. was the same way in college. At UT-Chattanooga he was considered a quiet, nice, humble guy. He often played the “Faith” card. When he got to the NFL he played the “Faith” card for a while until he became a great player. He laid the “Faith” thing down and picked up the “only care about myself, forget the team, NFL multi-millionaire” card.
Hopefully Calvin will keep his head on, and his mouth shut.
You UGA fans only WISH you had someone as good on and off the field.
By The master
December 29, 2005 01:03 PM | Link to this
C.J. is the best wideout in college football period, but here is our problem: we got top defense, top receiver, really good running game but we still are ranked 93rd in offense…why? cuz we got reggie ball and chan gailey…who said chan was the offensive genious? whoever said that is an idiot…i would rather have John T call our offensive plays
By GT
December 29, 2005 01:05 PM | Link to this
Earl needs to go back to Tifton and picking beans, cotton or whatever livestock he attends to…
By Earl in Tifton
December 29, 2005 01:06 PM | Link to this
Hey Greg no problem Bubba! I got this thar new intraweb thang hooked up in the doublewide and am looking for articles that don’t have to many words in them.
Now back to the lunch, and by lunch I mean a grilled cheese sandwich, an ice cold PBR and a pack of Malboro’s.
Chan-tastic!!!
By Wildcard
December 29, 2005 01:09 PM | Link to this
C.J. is not like T.O, Chad Johnson, or Moss he’s more like Marvin Harrison. Why don’t anyone compare C.J with Harrison?
By MF
December 29, 2005 01:38 PM | Link to this
In all seriousness, has Johnson ever commented on why he chose Tech over UGA or any other schools? My first thought is education, but with his talent is he going to stay all four years to get a degree?
If you have an answer, I’d like to read it. If you have some dumb comment about how all Dawg fans are rednecks and the players are criminals, then please keep it to yourself.
Thanks, MF
By CJ
December 29, 2005 02:13 PM | Link to this
By Stan
December 29, 2005 02:27 PM | Link to this
I heard he eventually wanted to become an architect, so that attracted him to Tech’s Building Construction program.
By Jim
December 29, 2005 02:40 PM | Link to this
Great to focus on a special person deserving of the attention …. we should all pray for him to remain the same genuine great person despite all the fame that is sure to come if he stays healthy….
Thank God we have guys like him to help us understand that TO, Randy Moss, Iverson, Rodman and the rest are not everybody….
By Kevin
December 29, 2005 09:34 PM | Link to this
I teach at Calvin’s former middle school. Even then he was a class act (if you know anything about middle school, that’s not very common—ha ha). I’m good friends with several of Calvin’s high school coaches who say he is a wonderful kid. I remember them saying he did want to be an architect or engineer and that he selected Tech as his school a long time before signing day. By the way, if you look close enough, there are a ton of guys on both teams (UGA and Tech) who are excellent role models now and always will be. Thank God for these guys! However, being a Dawg fan, I can only imagine the numbers Calvin would put up playing for UGA! Would have been interesting to see. Five in a row! Go Dawgs!