AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHow to play the expectations game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes the sports world mimics the political one. It’s all about creating and managing expectations.
For example, going into and coming out of the Pennsylvania Democratic primary Clinton and Obama were playing the expectations game based on:
—Her lead in the polls six weeks ago.
—How much money he spent.
—The demographics of the state.
Football coaches have to play the expectations game, too. Paul Johnson, for instance, doesn’t want to set the bar too high for 2008, or people will be disappointed with the results. He doesn’t want to set the bar too low, or he will come across as defeatist and Georgia Tech won’t sell as many tickets. Here’s his latest pronouncement, on Tuesday’s ACC spring football teleconference. Some of the factors in the football season expectations game:
—The talent of the players.
—The experience (or inexperience) of the players.
—The newness of the system and the time it takes to get players efficient in running it.
—How well or how badly the players match the system.
—The schedule.
—What the team did and didn’t accomplish in 2007 and other recent seasons.
What are your expectations, and what are the biggest factors that lead to them? 6-6? 7-5? Better? Worse?
Stay tuned for an upcoming article about what history suggests one should expect from a coaching transition in Division I-A football.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
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By NYJacket
April 23, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
I expect a coach to have his team ready to play.
I expect players to give everything they have on every play.
I expect a coaching staff to make adjustments during the game.
I expect a coach to bench a player who is not performing.
I expect a coach to bench a player who is called for a dumb penalty.
I expect players to play smart.
By 3 Rivers jacket
April 23, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
I feel that Johnson is really trying to lower the expectations so that the fans will accept a 6-6 and think an 8-4 is great. That isfair. I do think that the transistion to the new of which is not the spread but the wishbone except with a few awrinkles is much harderthan the people think. In the spread the qb is in the shotgun and most teams and high schools have been running out of the shotgun with the qb reading the d. In Johnson’s system the qb is under the center and it is a true triple option of quad option if you count passsing. The spread is not that hard to learn. The wb is. It takes both a great and smart athlete at qb who has the guts of a burglur but it can be run and you can find peole to dun it. After all Tracy hamm was about as good as you can get. If the o is going to work and I think it can but it is not a lock it will take a while. I do think that the d can be good enough to keep Tech in games and that Johnson will make sure that he has players who understand that winning is important. It may be a bumpy but exciting ride.
By Navigator
April 23, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
If Tech can win 3 ACC games this year, I’ll be totally surprise. I think the realization that Vince Dooley just showed up as PJohnson. Run, run, run, kick and play good defense.
By m
April 23, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
I expect to never again to see a Tech team coached by Chan Gailey, who was the worst coach in the history of Tech. I expect to see a REAL college football coach do his job. It will take a little time to purge the Gailey mentality off this team, but it WILL happen. I expect Coach Johnson to have a fired up team ready to play TO WIN each week. I expect Chan Gailey to at least have the decency to NEVER set foot on Georgia Tech property again. All he is and ever will be is a BAD memory. THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND HE IS GONE FOREVER. It is a bright new day at Tech…even Coach Johnson is having to wear shades.
By longtimeGTfan
April 23, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
m, coach Gailey was not the worst coach in Techs history but it was his time to go. Gailey had some great moments and very bad moments here. Gailey was a fine man he just could not adapt to the college game. Mr. Chan Gailey was a great person unlike you m!
By MEB !E 1960
April 23, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
m,you should be over Gailey by now. Let it go, you’ll feel better & you won’t need to rage so much. We are tired of reading your rage. Gailey, was a good coach. Won some he shouldn’t have and lost some he shouldn’t have. He was missing one player— a George Godsey or a Joe Hamilton or anybody better than Reggie Ball or Taylor Bennett. He was bone headed about trying and developing some of the other quarterbacks. Anyway, Gailey is where he can thrive @ KC Chiefs. So, let’s all move on, OK?
By GT2k8
April 24, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this
Tech fans(and opposing fans) need to realize we now have a real college coach. Chan was good at evaluating talent but he is a pro coach. CPJ has shown on every level he knows how to score, but more importantly he can inspire young men to be a focused, cohesive unit on offense, defense, and special teams. Knobby, We need to win 7 games in the regular season, and go to a bowl game. I think with our defense, we can survive some swing games. 8 wins-PJ is the man, 9 wins-Cheetah for everyone,PJ picture on the mantle, 10 wins- I cream my jeans. Mail my 401k to DRad for a raise. That is a successful season with this years team looking on paper. But every year we see a few paper tigers go down after all the preseason hype. We will sneak up on a few teams this year. 2K9 and beyond, look out.
By mowreck
April 24, 2008 5:31 AM | Link to this
m u need to grow up.
By yellowblood
April 24, 2008 5:50 AM | Link to this
I thought the Tickle Pile would start after the spring game not during!
By BobbyDodd
April 24, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
I for one will be delighted to win split the D-1 games and win the two AA games. That would give us 7 wins after a coaching transition and with a much younger team. That would also keep alive our bowl streak even if we wind up in Idaho or SanFran. But to be honest…I foresee us winning around 5 and having a down year. I do believe PJ will actually improve our team above the 7 win mediocrity of the Gailey years but I also believe this year we will struggle. Hope I am wrong! I would be satisfied with 5 wins especially if one is in Athens!!!
By reebok
April 24, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
4 wins this year. But 10-2 and contending for the ACC title by 2010.
By G-MAN
April 24, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
Well……Chan never had less than 7 wins and there is more talent here now than when he got here! There is no academic train wreck on the horizon for GT and Paul Johnson….Expectation should be at least 7 wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By MDawg
April 24, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
You’re all missing it Jaybo is coming to save the program & lead Tech to a victory over UGA! LOL! That’s if he gets off the sauce & makes it on the field! LOL
By Techater
April 24, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Lets see, two tech professors and Jaybo drinking and Reuben and George O’liary, and The whole Tech program cheating and then the baseball fiasco. And Tech throws stones. Classless program
By techster
April 24, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Yellow jackets love to put their faces in nectar. Bulldogs keep their faces in other things
By inveniojacket
April 24, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
G-MAN, one thing you are forgetting in your unrealistic 7 win expectation is that when Gailey came to Tech there was no fundamental change to the offensive system. Even with all of Tech’s talent it will take some time to get this complete different offensive style to humming on all cylinders. 7 wins would be wonderful for us this year, but we can not be disappointed with less. It will just simply take some time for the new system to be installed and optimized.
By Eagle/Jacket
April 24, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
It will take time - a few games- before the Tech offense begins to click. Johnson inventd this offense along with the orignal GSU staff. It’s been successful at 3 programs and will be successfull at Tech. Tracy Ham averaged over a 1000 yards passing in this “running” offense. I don’t know about year (1), but long term (9) win seasons will be the norm.
By Jack G
April 24, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Yellowblood and m are monomaniacs. Both are in bad need of help.
Moving on to football lets talk basics.——running—-passing——catching——blocking and tackling.
So what is so difficult about a new system. every play is a different system. Tech football players are suppose to be smart so get over thinking different system and just play ball.
No I am not a dawg fan
By Kevin
April 24, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Techater,
Glad you could focus all of your effort on hating our ahtletics program. Very productive existence. Interesting compilation for your list:
Reuben and O’Leary, those were embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as our red neighbors letting illiterate football players take remedial studies for 20 yrs to win a National Championship. Or our orange neighbors paying recruits to win theirs.
Does Tech speak up too soon when others get in trouble? Sometimes. But the Reuben and O’Leary incidents pale in comparison to the volume of trouble at our rival schools. Many outsiders would tell you that rather than classless, we’re one of the classier programs around.
By Kevin
April 24, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Techater,
Glad you could focus all of your effort on hating our ahtletics program. Very productive existence. Interesting compilation for your list:
Reuben and O’Leary, those were embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as our red neighbors letting illiterate football players take remedial studies for 20 yrs to win a National Championship. Or our orange neighbors paying recruits to win theirs.
Does Tech speak up too soon when others get in trouble? Sometimes. But the Reuben and O’Leary incidents pale in comparison to the volume of trouble at our rival schools. Many outsiders would tell you that rather than classless, we’re one of the classier programs around.
By Son of a Gun
April 24, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
I’m pretty sure m is just trying to get attention. I wouldn’t be surprised if he were a UGA fan. Ignore him.
By dawghatter
April 24, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Techater: Brother you have a lot of nerve talking about the “baseball fiasco”. Take your buttsniffing to the leghumpper blog. We don’t need your BS here. Tech’s off the field issues pale in compraison to UGA and you know it! Quincy Carter called and wants some crack rock.
By wes
April 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
m m m m m m, please stop posting the same stupid one line crap on here. You are the dumbest human being alive!!
By West coast
April 24, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Johnson inherited a team with talent. It underachieved and that is why there was a need for a change. There are no excuses, he supposedly has what it takes. It is now put up or shut up time. 7-5 is the minimum acceptable performance.
By 7 in a row and counting
April 24, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson had better athletes at Georgia Southern. Us Georgia fans are really really scared of the option let me tell you. Not only do we have a bye week before we play y’all, we get to look at film from the other 11 games. I love it how much you hate on us here at UGA…it just lets us all know how pathetic y’all truly are. Good luck this season. And the hell with Georgia Tech!
By jack
April 24, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
I don’t think it matters who the coach is for the 08 season. Tech lost a lot from the 07 team and will struggle this fall. 5 and 7 will be a good year.
By troutman
April 24, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Let’s go AJC. There is still a LONG LONG TIME before the season kicks off. Lets not write Tech off yet. They only practiced a short time hence the poor execution. Before you start saying .500 team lets wait and see what they look like come September. In the mean time, AJC go report your beloved Blowdogs while we watch them achieve nothing once again.
By $1,000,000 studs
April 24, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
C.P.J won’t have a winning season this year unfortunately but after this were going to kick the leghumpers butt
By College Fan
April 24, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson is going to make tech fans long for the good old days of Bill Lewis. This is going to prove to be the worst coaching choice tech has ever made - and that is saying a lot. Bend down and grab your ankles tech fans - and I mean all three of you.
By GT80
April 24, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
Let’s look at this logically. We play BC, VT, Clemson & UGA on the road. Expect losses in all of those. We win both games against D2 schools, beat Duke and Miami at home. Can we beat UNC on the road? Yes. Can we win 2 of the remaining home games against Miss St., UVA and FSU? I think so. That gives us a 7-5 record. Win one we don’t count on, say BC or FSU and we have 8 wins.
I think the expectations in PJ’s first year should be 7 wins, maintain our bowl string even if it is the Nut bowl, and look for better returns in 09. If we win 8 we’ve exceeded expectations.
I also agree with everything NYJacket expects. I also expect us to NEVER call a time out without ever running a single play.
And I expect ‘m’ to let it go.
By NYJacket
April 24, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
College Fan,
You really throw a low blow when you compare Paul Johnson to Bill Lewis.
By scooter11
April 24, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Dawghatter (whatever that is): I’m sure Quincy has Reuben’s number.
GT80: I don’t discount your logic, but if you are thinking about picking up a win you don’t expect, think the same thing about a loss you don’t expect (Miami, UNC?). 7-5 sounds about right, but might not get you even the Nut Bowl. The 2 lower division games will hurt you.
By BuzzEng
April 24, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
I saw the article on Joe Hamilton coming back to GT. I recall the excitement of the Joe Hamilton offense - he kept us in every game. He may be a great teacher for the QBs in PJs system. Go Jackets!!
By Buddy McCoy
April 24, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Boys, I remember a cold dreary day in Athens when Pepper Rodgers carried a smooth, slick wishbone into town with the likes of Eddie Lee Ivery, David Sims, a smart tough little QB named Gary Lanier, and a stalwart defense. It rained, it sleeted and it snowed. The final score was 41-10 or thereabouts (help me with the details, Mike). Talk about a “Blackout”! The red hordes left early. The Jack and Coke was good to the end. Just a few of the old guard had the stands to ourselves. One of the great days in my life. This offense, much like Pepper’s, is designed to break their will. I live for another day just like that one. PJ understands the concept. Perhaps even moreso. It will come.
By Mike Knobler
April 24, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
BuzzEng
Joe Hamilton might be a good teacher of quarterbacks in Johnson’s system in the future, but for now he can’t work with them on the field. That would be a big-time NCAA rules violation.
By Mike Knobler
April 24, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Buddy
Pepper Rodgers beat Georgia in Athens 34-14 in 1974. David Sims was the tailback on that team, and Danny Myers was the quarterback, and Lucius Sanford was in his first season as a starting linebacker. Gary Lanier and Eddie Lee Ivery played together in 1976 and 1977, with a victory at Grant Field over Georgia, 16-7, in 1977.
By Bravesfan79
April 24, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this
Yellowblood: can you get any gayer? all you talk about is stupid nonsense. Why even waste your time blogging??
Owell onto a sport that has a actual champion….when yall gonna write a article about GT hoops again?
Hopefully its not written by that idiot Matt that seems to think middle of no where louisiana is better than Atlanta to live and coach.
Go write for LSU matt since u love them so much.
By GT80
April 25, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
scooter11, you are right. But I don’t expect Paul Johnson to have the same maddening tendency to win games we don’t expect to win and then turn around and lose games we shouldn’t lose. From everything I’ve seen and heard Johnson has and will require the mental toughness that Gailey never seemed to have and we will avoid that pratfall.
By CarolinaJacket
April 25, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Anyone know when the depth chart will come out? They said it would be after the spring game, but, of course, that could be any time before the first game in the fall.