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Monday, December 31, 2007
Johnson pledges ‘fresh start’ with Jackets
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Boise, Idaho — For Georgia Tech football players, especially those who’ll return next season in search of prominence under a new coaching regime, Paul Johnson spent Monday inside the freezer that was Bronco Stadium as the invisible man, just the way he wanted it.
Like others, Calvin Booker responded to the news of Johnson’s presence with wide eyes after a valiant but futile comeback by the Yellow Jackets against Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl evolved into a 40-28 loss.
“No, I didn’t even know [Johnson] was there,” said Booker, Tech’s junior backup quarterback, whose brilliance down the stretch nearly helped the Jackets overcome the second of two 20-point deficits.
Johnson was there, all right. He really was, which caused raised eyebrows from freshman running back Jonathan Dwyer, another reason for Tech’s mighty spurt near the end. “This is news to me, because I didn’t know,” Dwyer said. “I’ve only seen him long enough [at Tech since his hire earlier this month] to say, ‘Hi.’ “
Booker. Dwyer. If you throw in a few nice moments from returning safety Morgan Burnett, wide receiver D.J. Donley and several other Tech players, the view was lovely for Johnson from the upper deck of the stadium. Above, you had an Idaho sky as blue as Boise State’s famous playing surface. Across the way, you had a rolling portion of the Rocky Mountains dressed with fresh snow. Below, you had the Tech team he was inheriting after the game doing all sorts of nice things.
Then crazy things.
Finally, there were a bunch of losing things for the Jackets under interim coach Jon Tenuta and his staff before some encouraging things from Booker, Dwyer and the rest. Through it all, Johnson braved the temperatures in the low 20s from his spot in the stands just like everybody else among the shivering 27,062.
Unlike everybody else, Johnson studied the action on the field more than he watched it, but only to a point.
“All of these guys will have a fresh start with me, and I’ll look at them and base my opinions on what I see in front of me,” said Johnson, taking a break at halftime, with Tech’s colors represented by his blue sweater and gold shirt under his heavy black coat. “I’m not going to go off what I’m seeing out there today. What I do want to see is guys compete.”
No problem for Johnson in the second half, when Booker delivered more than a few clutch plays while completing 7 of 15 passes for 116 yards and a spectacular touchdown. Then there was Dwyer, who relieved injured star Tashard Choice and carried 12 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
“I didn’t know who I was looking at — Jonathan Dwyer or Walter Payton or somebody,” said Booker, laughing, after resembling a pro star himself while improvising on a 20-yard pass to Donley between two defenders in the end zone. How about Montana to Rice?
There also was Burnett doing his Deion Sanders routine. Once, he flew out of nowhere on his freshman legs to knock away a pass that was destined for a Fresno State long gainer or worse.
Johnson would settle for a bunch of college guys who fit his system.
“For me, they’re going to find out that it’s all about the team. I’m more into the team than I’m into the individual,” said Johnson, owner of a 107-39 record after head coaching stints with Navy and Georgia Southern. “We’ll have plenty of opportunity over the next three or four months to have them show me what they can do. The big thing is, I just want to get our staff in and start to get our program installed.”
There was the meantime, when Johnson tried so hard to stay away from the Jackets through Monday’s game that he purposely didn’t fly into town until late Sunday night. He wanted those who remained from Chan Gailey’s regime to have their time. “That’s commendable, and it showed that he had enough respect for the coaches and our seniors to sit back and let us do what we were doing,” Booker said. “His time is here now, and we’re going to follow his program.”
Hopefully, for Tech’s sake, that program won’t lead back to this scenic but chilly setting. Translated: A better bowl.
Permalink | Comments (57) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Stafford’s chance to get ‘08 momentum
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
New Orleans — Matthew Stafford has spent most of his football life as a centerpiece. This week, he has been closer to the water glass.
It goes with Georgia’s season, which had some early bumps.
It goes with tonight’s opponent, Hawaii, 12-0 and the cool story.
It goes with the opposing quarterback, Colt Brennan, who has thrown 131 touchdown passes, exactly 100 more than Stafford.
“People have been joking with me all week: ‘How does it feel to be the other guy?’ ” Stafford said.
And the answer?
“It doesn’t bother me at all, really.”
Of course, that’s the right thing for him to say, whether or not he actually believes it. But after acknowledging Brennan’s statistics, Brennan’s records, Brennan’s star status and all other things Brennan, Stafford eventually admitted something.
“Sure, it motivates me,” he said. “You always say you don’t want to compete against the other guy. It’s quarterback vs. quarterback — you’re not really going to play against each other. But it’s definitely something that motivates me. It definitely gets me going.”
Tonight’s Sugar Bowl ends this season for the Bulldogs. But if Stafford views this year’s 13th game more as the start of next season, it’s understandable.
He often struggled as a true freshman. That wasn’t surprising, but his play at the outset of this year was. He admits he was so intent on cutting down mistakes that he became overly cautious. His obvious talent notwithstanding, he didn’t resemble the aggressive, attacking, carefree quarterback who was recruited out of Texas.
Mike Bobo, Georgia’s offensive coordinator, disclosed that he met with Stafford in October before the Vanderbilt game to discuss the player’s mind-set. The Dogs were 4-2 at the time and had just been smacked in Tennessee.
“We had several discussions, and part of it was just not to play scared,” Bobo said. “Have fun. Don’t play extremely cautious. Earlier we were stressing ball security and I still wanted to do that, but I didn’t want him out there playing afraid that he was going to make a mistake, and I felt like he was doing that. That was really before the Vanderbilt game we had that talk. We didn’t play particularly well for three quarters, but he played well in the fourth quarter that enabled us to get
the win.”
Stafford actually remembers the conversation with Bobo taking place after the Vanderbilt game. No matter. He clearly was a different quarterback down the stretch, triggering a six-game winning streak.
In consecutive victories over Florida, Troy and Auburn, Stafford threw for 671 yards and seven touchdowns. In the previous three games against Mississippi, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, he totaled 519 yards and four touchdowns. He threw only one interception in those three games but he felt tight.
“[Bobo] told me just to go out there and play like I did in high school,” Stafford said. “Last year we had so many turnovers, I guess I just wanted to play it safe. It was hard for me because that’s not my personality. But now I feel like I’m back on track.”
Which leads to this evening. Stafford can’t erase what happened earlier this season. But his performance in the Sugar Bowl, especially against Brennan, can go a long way toward jump-starting next season and shaping his tenure in Athens. He can be the centerpiece
again.
“Every guy wants to be the guy — that’s why you recruit guys like that,” Bobo said. “I hope [the lack of attention] does bother him some. Colt Brennan is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country. If that motivates Matthew to work a little harder and study a little more tape, great.”
Permalink | Comments (32) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, UGA / SEC
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