Tech's going to be better than some think | Tech

By Jmoneywg

August 26, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Bottom line. Paul Johnson wins football games

By Joshua Barlowe

August 26, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Thanks Matt. It’s great to hear optimism on the program from someone with an objective eye. Thanks again for all your hard work - I hope you have a good last few days on the job.

As for the article on the front page with the Stafford video - ask your sports editors why there isn’t video of Stafford spooning with Cox and lifting Kegs as his offseason workout?

http://deepsouthsports.blogspot.com/2007/05/talledega-days.html

By GT6

August 26, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

Good article Matt, as always. I agree Tech will beat expectations this year, which, outside of Georgia Tech fans, are incredibly low. I think Tech will win 7 or 8.

GO JACKETS!

By stinGTime

August 26, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Hope we are not satisfied too long with that prediction…sounds about what was expected of the guy that left (and is still being paid?).

As you stated, by the end of the season, that Johnson Express should really be “wrecking”!

By GT45

August 26, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

In the past, all the pressure has been on the defense to hold offenses, and pray we could score 21 points to win. By the end of the game, the defense was whipped, because of so many three and outs. I don’t see that being such a problem this year or the future. I was wanting Tenuta to stay as DC, to see what his defense could do staying “fresh” the whole game. Winning will bring the athletes to compete every play on defense, and the gimmicktry, if you will, of Tenuta’s defense will cancel out each other. Right now, let’s take baby steps, and grow as we go. Most importantly, let’s SUPPORT OUR TEAM!!! Go Jackets and THWG

By JD

August 26, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

The Tech theme this year will be “Turnovers Galore” and the players will start to doubt the coaches and their system. Five wins will be a stretch and they will long for the days of the Boise Blue Turf.

By Moe Ron

August 26, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Here we have a blog about GTs chances of going to a bowl game. Good topic. What response do you get from GT fans? Comments about “spooning”. It is usually followed by the “UGAy” thing. Lame, just lame. Tells you volumes about the status of their program.

By Fred G. Sanford

August 26, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

The “G” stands for Georgia, you big dummy!

GT45, good post. I like the thought process about the defense being fresh at the end of the game by eliminating so many one and outs. I believe GT will be competitive throughout the season, but your best years are ahead.

By davo

August 26, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Tech will struggle with turnovers on offense and depth on the O-Line. When it’s all said and done…4-8 or 5-7. You will not really know about Johnson’s scheme until about the 3rd year. If he still 5-7,6-6..it will be time to rethink.

By GT GRAD

August 26, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

Dear Mr. Moe Ron,

There was only one blogger who decided to post a negative comment about UGA. I wish there were none by the way.

Let’s have a little test run here…….I would be willing to bet less than 5% of the future blogs will contain negative or attacking comments towards UGA as long as the DAWG fans do not start the nonsense or post fake blogs posing as a true GT fan.

I am excited about the future of GT Football and I am taking a realist approach regarding the 2008 season. I am hoping for 7-9 wins and expecting 5-6 wins. No matter what the end results are this year, I truly think we will have a football program we can be very proud of by 2010 and beyond.

By BuzzFactor

August 26, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

I have the same feeling and thoughts on the situation basically. It would be a bonus to get an early road win at BC or VT, but it may be too early in the season for those 2 games. Once this team gets it’s feet wet and starts to get in a groove(somewhere about mid-season) the naysayers will be pulling in behind the Johnson Express. I can see an 8-4 season very possible. But I think the defense will hold teams to lower numbers, which is what will really give us a chance to stumble a bit on offense early. That D-line should be the heart and soul of the team and the other units, offensive and defensive will feed off of them as the season rambles on…

By limpdikdawg

August 26, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

If Tech can continue to recruit the quality of defensive talent that it has over the past 3-4 yrs, they will be a force because PJ will make this offense work. QBs,RBs,and linemen who are hardnosed and love to block ,come on down! WR’s will be shocked as to how much they will like this O.

By GT78

August 26, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Well Matt, maybe you’re right but realistically 8 of the 12 teams on our schedule are probably better than we are right now. The point that Tech has better athletes may be true, with a disclaimer. The opposition is much better than PJ ever faced at Navy. There are 4 teams on our schedule that have the potential to embarrass us. I just want to temper all the optimism with some logical thought. My fear is that we Tech fans will become, well, Tech fans after a few losses. It is undeniable that we don’t handle disappointment well. This thing to me is a 3 to 4 year project. And in the mean time our opposition isn’t standing still either. UNC comes to mind.

By Ruthless One

August 26, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

Good article! I am excited to see the “new” Tech this year. In fact I almost feel the exact same way about the Falcons with the new coaching staffs and the whole fresh start thing. I think both programs will surprise people and are going to be better than first thought.

I too would like to have seen Tenuta stay, but I feared him leaving after another year and other job’s opening up. So maybe this was a smart move to give Paul Johnson’s guy a shot.

All I know is I can’t wait to see how surprised everyone is about our football team. Will there be fumbles and mis-queues? Yes. Not much of a surprise there considering it’s a new scheme. This would happen to any program (Even the supposedly unbeatable UGA) if they drastically changed their scheme.

Go Wreck.

By olderiget

August 26, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

My tickets are in hand and GT Football is going to be a blast. Win or lose, once a Jacket fan always a jacket fan. Let’s just enjoy the ride and let Coach Johnson do what he does- build and win.

By BB Express

August 26, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

BuzzFactor, Bud Foster is the best Defensive Coordintor in America. VT is going to show you exactly how fast things can go very wrong with your offense when faced with deeper, faster, stronger defenses. It will definately prepare you for the beatdown waiting for you from your in state rival.

By The Truth Hurts

August 26, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Valdosta State could win 7 games in the ACC.

By john

August 26, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Option or no option all this talk about how it will take 3 years and that we won’t do well this year makes me laugh. We have some extremely talented athletes on our team. That being said, they will do just fine - if not great!!! If I could have one wish though? Beat Georgia in Athens this year!!!!

By 1Jacket7

August 26, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

Well GT FANS Lets show how ready we are to make a successful change in our program. Get out to the games and get off your butts and establish a true football enviornment that our boys would love to shine for. Call up your friends and business partners that love TECH and get them to Bobby Dodd Stadium on Thursday Night. We are going to have a great year and the one noticeable difference will be that of the excited fans that flood the seats at Grant Field. GO Jackets!! THWG and everyone else on on schedule.

By old nerd

August 26, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

i have no opinion about the likely record this year, but i believe a significant (positive) change is in the works. to me, the look of disbelief and dismay on coach johnson’s face after a lackluster effort on a play in the last bowl game spoke volumes. the w-l record may or may not be what tech fans want, but i think they will be very pleased with the team’s effort

By 1Jacket7

August 26, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Folks, please stop with the logic quotes. Playing this sport for over 15 years of my life never had a coach tell me to weigh the logic. The game is played on the field, not on paper. Those that live in fear are absent of faith. And faith is where overcoming the odds is found. Just get excited about your Team and let them know we believe in them. And these guys with there new leader will accomplish a lot. Logic has its place, but its place is not on the football field. Just Win TECH, Just Win. Go Jackets!!!

By 1Jacket7

August 26, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Folks, please stop with the logic quotes. Playing this sport for over 15 years of my life never had a coach tell me to weigh the logic. The game is played on the field, not on paper. Those that live in fear are absent of faith. And faith is where overcoming the odds is found. Just get excited about your Team and let them know we believe in them. And these guys with there new leader will accomplish a lot. Logic has its place, but its place is not on the football field. Just Win TECH, Just Win. Go Jackets!!!

By Fred

August 26, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

John why don’t you man up and quantify all that. Compare your athletes and your depth to other teams on your schedule. Your talent level is not what you think it is and your depth with a few exceptions doesn’t exist. You don’t have near the talent that Croom does at MSU. Clemson, VT, UGA? Forget it. You got a long way to go to catch those guys. Get real and you won’t be dissappointed.

And I second 1Jacket7’s emotion. Get off your butts and do more than talk to make all your dreams reality. Otherwise Tech football will continue to be nothing more than the same old nightmare on North Avenue.

By conga man

August 26, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

I love hearing the talk about a weak ACC every year. Lets see- the SEC has UGA, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee? But lets not kid ourselves- you can’t be serious when you argue Vandy, Kentucky, Miss., Miss St., even South Carolina as being the best in the country! All of those teams would lose to the top teams in the ACC and struggle with their counterparts in the ACC as well.

By 1Jacket7

August 26, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

Tenuta’s defense was exciting to see but it had so many flaws. It didn’t teach the DB’s to turn and find the ball. It was so complicated that after 4 years in the system the guys were still confused. It tired out the players so that in the fourth quarter they had nothing left. Its solution to everything was blitz more. Go back and look at North Carolina when tenuta was there. North Carolina was great for 3 QTRS and then they would lose the game in the 4th Qtr. Tenuta help John Bunting to Unemployment and did the same for Chan Gailey. Even though Chan didn’t need any help. Case in point, check out Kansas City Chiefs this year. Oh brother.. We are and have what we need to be successful. Up with the New and Bold and down with the Old and Forgotten. GO JACKETS!!!

By john

August 26, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

? Fred…who r u? A UGA fan? I can qualify them with a link to rivals.com but you can go in there yourself and check out all the positions and the rankings of players. We had plenty of mention in there. I didn’t see that UGA had really anymore sorry.

By GT45

August 26, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Man, I hate to admit it but Fred is right, when your record the last two decades is barely over 500.,..that says it all. Getting to a Bowl game is barely reaching mediocrity these days, you think we could at least do that from time to time. Lets recruit better in states like Georgia, Florida, as well as the growing high scchollers from up North, and make GT attractive again. Beating those Dawgs when they are bragging about a National Championship would really be a feather in out bonnets. See ya at the next Nambla meeting, Gaybo.

By HellsCowBells

August 26, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

You really believe that conga man? My condolences. Now tell us how teams like GT would do if they played UGA’s schedule. They might win 2 games. The ACC has been pitiful against the rest of college football. What are they in BCS bowl games? 0-9..something like that? Why do ACC teams that finish 2 and 3 in the ACC get matched up in bowl games with teams from the SEC that finished 5 and 6? Figure that one out conga man. The ACC is awful and Tech is one of the ACC weak sisters.

By GTsince62

August 26, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Coach PJ will return GaTech to the glory days in a very short time. Get UP and Get OUT to Grant Field to support the our Yellow Jackets.

THWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Dawgman19

August 26, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Tech will more than likely have to win at least 8 to go to a bowl. I don’t think the wins over Jax St. and Gardner Webb will count towards a bowl unless the rule has been changed. I don’t see them winning 6 more. I’m not sold on the option either. Winklejohn writes about having better talent at Tech well guess what everybody else has better talent as well so that nullifies that theory. Tech is not an upper level program and fans think they are. Winning 7-8 games a year is reality at Tech. I think everybody is more hopeful than confident right now. Please let this work! is what they are saying. I think the offese is gimmick and Paul Johnson will be exposed in a couple of years. Alot of turnovers and frustration to come. You have to be able to pass the football and I don’t think Tech can do it efficiently and consistently. Tech’s defense will fall off which they haven’t been all they are cracked up to be. Georgia finished ahead of them in total defense many times. Consider me not worried. GO DAWGS!

By The Truth Hurts

August 26, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

I didn’t say anything about Vandy, Kentucky, Miss., Miss St., even South Carolina. I said the ACC is an embarassment and the concensus choice as the worst of the BCS leagues. The fact that their top teams can ONLY beat the SEC’s bottom teams only proves the point genius. The ACC cannot compete with elite BCS teams. That is not my opinion. This is a FACT. You’re not going to get any respect beating up on Vandy and Ole Miss.

The point is that winning 7 games on Georgia Tech’s schedule is no big accomplishment. I wouldn’t be surprised if they won 8 or 9 games on that schedule to be quite honest. Heck, you may knock off perrenial choke artist Clemson one week and then bite the big one against Virginia the next. Nothing would surprise me. ACC football is like a bunch of drunk monkeys fighting over a banana. Anything can happen on any given Saturday, including a Georgia Tech victory.

I will not be impressed. As of now I count only 3 ranked teams on the entire schedule. The ACC is a choke fest and the OOC schedule is one of the weakest around with 2 D-1aa’s on the slate. Tech wouldn’t even deserve a bowl with 7 wins in my opinion.

And I hardly see how this young team thing is any worthy excuse. Gailey had young teams too and he always managed at least 7 wins. Wasn’t Johnson supposed to raise the bar?

By GT45

August 26, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Man, find something else to do, other than stealing names and making off color posts. To everyone else out there, this idiot ain’t me, but don’t excuse him/her/it!

By Macon Countyline

August 26, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

What, Winklejohn is taking the buyout? No! Who is going to cover Tech, some stringer from the student body?

By ATLHokie

August 26, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Never seen a fanbase suffer with such an inferiority complex. Reminds me of an angry midget. Tech will be lucky to win 6 games this year.

By Navigator

August 26, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

What’s the big mystery?? Tech is now striving to be just like Wake Forest (not bad), where they run at you most of the time. Call it what you will, but it’s the way you play without enough talent to win the old fashion way. It’s too bad the school attached their wagon to a disciple of Vince Dooley. Remember him, he road the back of the greatest college running back (name eliminated) to a national championship. I guess you won’t be seeing Tech play Texas, Oklahoma, Southern Cal, Ohio State or even LSU on or after new years day, anytime soon. I think that Bobby Dodd would recognize what Johnson is trying to do, however, I think it’s 4-5 years of what we just got rid of.

By people

August 26, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

Why are people still talking about turnover problems? Tech fumbled all over the place in the spring game after about 8 practices in the new system. In the last open scrimmage game 2 weeks ago I didn’t see any turnovers. Turnovers aren’t any more of a problem than any other team in college football.

Talent- Tech has it. There is no doubt about. The highly ranked 2007 class are sophomores now and are all over the two deep depth chart. Take a look at the AJC Top 50 in Georgia. Tech has 8 commits so far, UGA has 9, and no other school has more than 2.

ACC-Everyone knows the ACC isn’t the SEC and hasn’t been that close the last 3 years, but it’s still a tough conference top to bottom. The conference just lacks some powerhouse teams. With that being said, Tech is in the top 3 in wins in the conference the last 10 years. We aren’t a bottom dweller by any means, and the cupboard wasn’t even close to being bare when Johnson arrived. 1 or 2 wins against Georgia in the last 7 years would’ve changed the perception of our program dramatically. We aren’t as far behind Georgia in talent as Georgia fans think we are.

Prediction- 7-5. But for once we’ll win the ones we are supposed to win, and lose the ones we are supposed to lose. Time to get some consistency back on the Flats and build upon it.

By GeoSci

August 26, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

GT won’t beat Miss St. They wouldn’t beat a Houston Nutt coached Ole Miss. They couldn’t beat Mark Richt’s worst team with O’Liary, George Godsey, Joe Burns, and only God knows how many ineligibles. Paul Johnson may be a good coach, but he has never even sniffed the rarified air that coaches in the SEC inhale every week. He beat 4 teams with winning records in 6 years at Navy. He won a subdivision NC with the team that Erk Russell built. Tech fans will find out soon enough that there is no savior in their case. I predict 3 weeks from Thursday when they are 1-3 and just got beatdown by Miss St. that they will in their hearts know it ain’t going to get any better. Tech is a 2nd tier 7 win team at best year after year. And for a team that is only 20 games over .500 since 1964 that is really all they can expect.

By Glen Burns

August 26, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

I bet you Tech fans are glad all this rain moved out before Thursday night. That could have been really really ugly. Double digit turnovers and a loss against Jax St. could have been devastating.

By Gaybo Shaw

August 26, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

I’m now running the second team offense. I can’t contain my excitement! Thank GOD tech is located so close to both the ghetto and fairyland, or else, I just wouldn’t be able to make it here. Paul Johnson is the sexiest man alive! I can’t believe I’m playing for him! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pump out some naked pushups in my dorm room before my Burmese roommate comes home. He is so easily offended!

By David Cutcliffe

August 26, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Coach Johnson, this is Coach Cutcliffe. Want to be our Homecoming opponent?

By Sam

August 26, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

people, I would think that there is a rather substantial talent difference between #1 and #80.

By GT45

August 26, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

You guys kill me talking about Johnson’s record at Navy. He turned it into a winning program, and the games he lost was because he didn’t have any defensive talent. They simply couldn’t score enough. Sure, it was a down year for Notre Dame, but Navy beat them last year for the first time in over 40 years-40 years! No way in hell that should happen with ND talent, but he did it fair and square in three overtimes. If he can take a team as talented as Tech, and make them play over their heads, no wonder you flea gaggers are nervous!

By southern fan

August 26, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Barlowe, you are ONE big Jack a*!!

By GTsince62

August 26, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

THW all you UGA Fruits. Go sniff Stafford’s crack and get off our Blog.

By southern fan

August 26, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Barlowe, you are ONE big Jack a*!!

By ga_tech_92

August 26, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Regardless of talent, the option game requires LOTS of reps. You cannot snap your fingers and have years of experience running it. We will have a lot of turnovers and struggle the first part of the season….recover and see a vision of things to come at the end of the season…realistic, but tough goal will be 7 wins because of learning a new offense that is known to be turn-over prone until you’ve mastered it.

By Cashfan

August 26, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Isn’t Auburn in the almighty SEC? I believe the lowly Yellow Jackets beat them the last two times they played them and Auburn was ranked both times. And even though Georgia has been beating Tech they never beat them easily while some ACC teams have. The SEC fans are living in a dream world. If they HAVE an edge it’s for the same old reasons - lower academic standards and cheating. And speaking of unrealistic expectations, UGA fans are about to find out how rough it can get - #1? What a joke! They won’t be there more than a week or two.

It may take Johnson a couple of years to get his team built the way he wants it but Tech will be fine.

By honestly

August 26, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Even in Johnson’s losses to BCS teams, he scored more points than Gailey could manage. Heck, Johnson’s Georgia Southern teams scored more against Georgia than Tech has in over 7 years. Also, I think it’ safe to say Nesbitt and Dwyer are better than anything Johnson had at Navy.

By Ruthless One

August 26, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

Last time I checked this was a blog for Tech fans and how well Tech might do this year.

Of course the insecurity accusations of all these dawg b*** explains a lot. I think you dawg fans are the ones that are insecure.

If your team does not win the national championship then that is a major dissapointment (even with that schedule). Dawgs are insecure about Tech actually having a good team in the future. This stems from the fact that it might tarnish the ability to constantly brag about a team that has accomplished less in major bowl wins and championships across all sports when compared to so the so called little girl school in the city of Atlanta.

Must be embarrasing to think that such a crappy program such as Tech has still managed more success across all the sports as a whole and yes not to mention more championships in football. I have some tissues if you need it.

Bottom line is if you do not like tech then so be it, but this is for tech fans being positive about our teams future and I stress “OUR”. As a Tech fan I don’t care if you have optimism for your team. In fact I can appreciate it. I was okay with it in the early 90’s when UGA was a consistent let down and the SEC was as well.

In fact this whole bragging of conferences is pointless because the ACC has had many years with a very strong conference for all sports and not just football. SEC cannot always say that. The ACC and SEC will have periods where one is better than the other. It happens in all sports. The SEC is no doubt better right now, but that does not diminish the talent that is in the ACC now and in the future.

I for one am excited about Tech this year and the future with Paul Johnson. A lot of criticism can be made about his scheme and the players that it will attract, but the bottom line is we will get top notch talent because it’s different and fits certain athletes better than othes.

Go Wreck.

By TrainWreckTech

August 26, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

I agree. Tech will be better than some think. They might win 5. Not the 3 or 4 some think.

By brent

August 26, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Guys, as much as you want to poo poo the fact that Johnson ONLY beat four teams with winning records over his SIX years at Navy due to Navy’s “inferior talent,” you have to face the facts. Navy wasn’t exactly playing Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. They were losing to Northwestern, Delaware, and Middle Tennessee. As much as you hate to admit it, Navy did have talented athletes, in addition to being smart and mentally tough as nails. I’m not saying Johnson is a bad coach, he’s just not the miracle worker you tech fans are making him out to be. He’ll be about like Chan, record-wise. Not much change.

By Fred

August 26, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

The opposition is better too honestly. That will be PJ’s problem. DUH!!!!

By ga_tech_92

August 26, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

I will be happy if I see the men learning and pulling the same direction. I’m not worried about W’s and L’s this year. At least a year or two before we can start judging. Keep the expectations realistic folks…we are changing EVERYTHING…and rightly so.

By JD

August 26, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Cashfan - I’m glad you brought up lower academic standards and cheating in the SEC. Remind me, what happened at tech back in 2002? Hadn’t half the team been playing when they were ineligible? And are you sure you want to go there with such bastions of academic integrity like Clemson, VT, Miami, FSU, and NC State in the ACC? Didn’t think so. Not so wise to throw stones in a glass house, is it nerd?

By Get A Grip

August 26, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

2007 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE RECORD: 8-5 DATE OPPONENT
8-31-07 at Temple (Fri.) WON 30-19 Navy at Temple Football Tickets 9-7-07 at Rutgers (Fri.) LOST 24-41 Navy at Rutgers Football Tickets 9-15-07 BALL STATE LOST 31-34 (OT) Ball State at Navy Football Tickets 9-22-07 DUKE WON 46-43 Duke at Navy Football Tickets 9-29-07 AIR FORCE WON 31-20 Air Force at Navy Football Tickets 10-10-07 at Pittsburgh (Wed.) WON 48-45 (2OT) Navy at Pittsburgh Football Tickets 10-20-07 WAKE FOREST LOST 24-44 Wake Forest at Navy Football Tickets 10-27-07 DELAWARE LOST 52-59 Delaware at Navy Football Tickets 11-3-07 at Notre Dame WON 46-44 (3OT) Navy at Notre Dame Football Tickets 11-10-07 at North Texas WON 74-62 Navy at North Texas Football Tickets 11-17-07 NORTHERN ILLINOIS WON 35-24 Northern Illinois at Navy Football Tickets 12-1-07 vs. Army @Baltimore, MD WON 38-3 Army/Navy Game Football Tickets POINSETTIA BOWL @San Diego, CA
12-20-07 Utah LOST 32-35

There’s the kind of opposition PJ has been playing.

By tj

August 26, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

excuses, excuses, excuses… No way in H E double hockey sticks, does Tech have more talent than Ga. Southern, or the Navy… Face it, Tech gets the players who the BIG schools pass over!!! Also, the coach is NOT the one on the field, its the PLAYERS… so what if the coach knows football, the players are the ones who will determine if they win or lose, by their actions on the field.. GT football, what a JOKE !!!!!

By coaching

August 26, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Who in the ACC is a better coach than Johnson? Beamer and Grobe maybe. That’s about it. The ACC is up for grabs these days and Tech is in a great position to take it. Paul Johnson isn’t just a triple option guy, he one the best in-game college coaches around. Johnson threw the ball at Hawaii, ran the ball at Navy, at won like 90 % of his games at Southern. I’m pretty sure he can adapt the system to the personnel. Gailey ran the ball about 65 % of the time. Johnson will probably run it about 70%, the only difference is Johnson’s offense is setup for big plays, Gailey’s was not.

By BringItOn

August 26, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

You’re right Ruthless One. It is a blog for how well Tech will do this year. 3-9! Got a problem with that puzzy?

By Wallace

August 26, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Ruthless One: Let me get this straight…

“Must be embarrasing to think that such a crappy program such as Tech has still managed more success across all the sports as a whole and yes not to mention more championships in football.”

It’s really not emabarrasing at all when one stops to consider that it’s not true. Please itemize the “success” that tech has enjoyed over UGA in “all the sports as a whole.” Considering that Tech has ONE championship that’s recognized by the NCAA, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree.

And in your retort, please, please remember to mention the three national championships in football that were self-awarded back in the days before facemasks. No tech argument would be complete without that devastating talking point.

By Gaybo Shaw

August 26, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

I didn’t care about the lack of recent tradition and success at teck when I committed to them over Wofford and Furman. I didn’t care that we’d never won a consensus national title in anything other than women’s tennis. I didn’t care about all the asians (nay, I loved it!)and ugly girls (I like shopping with them, but that’s ALL people!) on campus. All I cared about was the teck degree and telling people that I had passed Survey of Calculus, and acting like this was the pinnacle of academic achievement. Well, that and Paul Johnson is a sexy beast!! I’m going to reward my good decision making with a round of naked pushups. Talk to you later!!!

By Georgia Fan

August 26, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Georgia plays the past two BCS champions on consecutive weeks this season and you think we’re nervous about the defending blue turf bowl runner up? Are you flippin’ off your rocker Techies? I submit there isn’t a more delusional fan base in all of sports than Georgia Tech fans. Good grief. Get a clue.

By tech

August 26, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Wallace-

I’m 26 years old. I was alive when Tech won the national championship in football and I remember it well. In fact I’ve seen Alabama, FSU, Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Clemson, and Miami win one also. Funny, I’ve never seen Georgia win one. I have seen them win 26 straight preseason national championships as declared from that great fanbase of theirs though. Go away.

By Cashfan

August 26, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

JD, I brought up academic standards because it is true. The SEC powerhouses (+ Georgia) have had WAY more NCAA violations for academic and recruiting violations. Always have and always will! And the standards for the ACC overall are still higher than those of the SEC overall. What happened at Tech in 2002 was an error of misinterpretation that Tech self-reported and it was considered minor…and it was Tech’s first and only academic issue. SEC schools have repeatedly been caught (not self-reported) for major recruiting and academic shenanigans. It’s a fact. As for being a nerd, I’ll take that over being a half-wit Dawg fan any time. Thanks!

By Yellow Jacket Alley

August 26, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

coaching: Going strictly by results, I would have to put Butch Davis (BCS bowl win), Tommy Bowden (12-0 season at Tulane, something Johnson hasn’t accomplished), and Tom O’Brien (consistent winner at BC, not exactly a recruiting hotbed) ahead of CPJ at this point. All have accomplished more thus far. This is Johnson’s first big gig, so it’s pretty irresponsible to anoint him the savior just yet. Talk to Georgia fans about how the “savior” from I-AA football (Jim Donnan) worked out for them. Just give it time.

By tj

August 26, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

oh my goodness, I just glanced at Tech’s Schedule LOL…. I say 2 victories Top, and that is against Gardner-webb and Duke LOL…. No way you guys beat N. Carolina, Clemson, FSU, Miami, Jackson St, oh, and the ever mighty UGA LOL !!!!

By Georgia Fan

August 26, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

Wallace-

I�m 26 years old. I was alive when Tech won the national championship in football and I remember it well. In fact I�ve seen Alabama, FSU, Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Clemson, and Miami win one also. Funny, I�ve never seen Georgia win one. I have seen them win 26 straight preseason national championships as declared from that great fanbase of theirs though. Go away.

How many times have you cried yourself to sleep after yet another crushing lost to the Dawgs? I count 19.

By Sam

August 26, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Tell us about the biggest ACADEMIC FRAUD case in ACC history Cashfan. What was it again? 52 counts I think. And didn’t Lack of Institutional Control factor in too Cashfan? LMAO! And by the way Cashfan. Tech did not self report. They started cooperating after the NCAA crawled all over you. And then tried to call 7 years of systematic channeling of players into crip non degree courses an “oversight”. That was one hell of a penalty the NCAA stuck on your cheating azzes for “oversight”, huh, Cashfan.

By tj is an idiot

August 26, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

TJ,

Dwyer - offers from Georgia, FSU, Florida, Auburn Nesbitt - offers from Georgia, FSU, Auburn Jones - offers from Clemson, Florida Burnett - offers from Georgia, Tennesse, Alabama Morgan - offers from Miami, Ohio State, Penn State

I could go on, but are you saying Navy and Southern has that kind of talent? Please show me. I’m sorry you had to go out to Dallas to get a pudgy faced QB and to New Jersey to find a running back. At Tech we get them from our own backyard.

By Wallace

August 26, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

tech - funny, I seem to remember Colorado winning the national championship in 1990, not some team that tied a terrible UNC team and beat a crappy Nebraska team in a second tier bowl, i.e. Tech. And you failed to address my invitation related to explaining and itemizing just how tech has “managed more success across all the sports as a whole.” I guess that’s S.O.P. at tech though, just try to change the subject, and then when that doesn’t work just start name calling from behind your keyboard. Enjoy your fumbleriffic high school offense.

By west coast

August 26, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

In the past the seven win seasons were achieved with a boring offense and strong defense. There were sufficient missed opportunities on offense to account for some of the turnovers that might occur in the new system. The last time I looked we ran the ball in the past more that we passed and could not make the big plays. These are smart kids and I expect them to do everything they can to win. If the other team beats us and we gave it our best physically and mentally, so be it. I expect to see a savvy, hustling, well coached team on the field at all times capable of making mid game adjustments. If that occurs, the 8, 9 wins will take care of itself.

By Mark Richt

August 26, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

tj is an idiot - the bottom line is that we offered Dwyer as a contingency plan when we thought Caleb King was an Auburn lock. We offered Nesbitt as a safety and he wanted to play quarterback. Burnette’s older brother went to Georgia and Morgan wanted to be differetnt (not to mention he’d be fifth string safety at Georgia). We didn’t offer Roddy Jones because we don’t let midgets play football. They could get hurt for God’s sake. Does this clear things up for you?

By fleming

August 26, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Don’t be so sure about the defense staying rested with the new option offense. If CPJ’s offense runs like as it did at Georgia Southern, time of possession will usually go to the opposing team. Many times the offense will score very fast with a lot of 1-3 minute drives. When they don’t score they runs plays so fast that a 10 play drive only takes a few minutes.

By Compliance Officer

August 26, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

At a July 2003 meeting to discuss the eligibility of five or six football players, football coach Chan Gailey “explained that he could not weather another academic-related scandal and try to recruit quality student-athletes to Georgia Tech,” the suit says. “Defendant New repeatedly warned Defendant Braine that another eligibility scandal, if brought to the public’s attention, would ruin Georgia Tech’s athletic and academic reputations.” Olivett argued Tech had an obligation to self-report rules violations, but Braine and New rejected his advice, the suit says. Clough, who was not present at the meeting, and Braine “made the decision to conceal these facts from the NCAA and the public,” the suit says. Less than a year later, the NCAA enforcement staff learned of Tech’s rules violations via an anonymous tip and informed the school, which conducted an audit of its athletes’ academic records. In the end, the NCAA ruled Tech had allowed 17 ineligible athletes in four sports to compete. Tech and the NCAA said the violations were inadvertent, and Tech blamed its failure to uncover the problem in 2003 on communications failures within the department. The NCAA characterized Tech’s 2003 self-investigation as “inadequate,” but the NCAA never accused the school of intentionally concealing any wrongdoing.

Whoops there it is Cashfan. Tech is the cesspool of the ACC. Academic Fraud, rape, felony drug trafficking, heroin overdose. What’s next? An al Queda cell maybe. You guys are really good when it comes to denial. You are definately champs when it comes to that.

By Brent

August 26, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Tech, very well said. I’m your age and am glad to say I saw Tech win a NC. Mutt fans our age can’t say that. Good luck ‘between the bushes’ this year mutts.

By Cashfan

August 26, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Well, Sam, you sure used a lot of capital letters to make what the NCAA called a minor case sound huge. If that was the biggest case of academic fraud in ACC history then you just made my point for me. How many SEC schools have been slammed with MUCH greater penalties, some of them multiple times? When are you morons going to face it? Any superiority the SEC has is due to the fact they have lower standards? It’s OK. We all have to grow up some time. As a Tech fan I accept that my favorite team deals with that reality. It makes the victories that much sweeter. Enjoy your day.

By Steven Q. Erkel

August 26, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

� INDIANAPOLIS —- The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee upheld five findings of violations against the Georgia Institute of Technology that involved its athletics program between the 1988-89 and 2004-05 academic years. �
Specifically, the violations centered on 17 student-athletes over a six-year period being certified as making satisfactory progress toward their degrees even though their academic work did not meet the standards established by NCAA bylaws. All 17 student-athletes were improperly certified as eligible through Georgia Tech�s then existing certification process. For example, six student-athletes were allowed to use courses in which they received grades of D even though their majors required a grade of C or higher in order for those courses to count toward their degrees. �
In its November 2005 report, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions found that Georgia Tech had allowed a breakdown in its eligibility certification process and also had failed to exercise necessary institutional control. Though the committee felt that the university�s self-imposed penalties were meaningful, the committee levied additional penalties because it believed that the university had obtained a substantial competitive advantage because of the large number of prominent student-athletes who competed while ineligible.

Did you do that?

By Tech97

August 26, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

I just hope we can get 6 wins and make it to the Emerald Bowl this year so our bowl appearance record does not get broken.

I know we can beat Gardner-Webb.

I think we can beat Jacksonville State, but they have that LSU quarterback so who knows?

Mississippi State gets stronger each year with Sylvester Croom as coach. They beat Alabama last year and I think they won their bowl game. I do not think we can beat them.

I think we can beat Duke, but I think Duke has a better coach in David Cutcliff than we do so who knows.

North Carolina has a better coach than we do in Butch Davis and this will be his second season so they should be much tougher.

The same is true for Miami with Randy Shannan. They should be much better in his second season.

The Virginia coach and the Wake Forest coach both have a really solid programs established and good players.

The rest of the ACC games we play are against teams that should cream us, especially Clemson and Florida State and Boston College.

We should just quit playing Georgia. They are so much better than we are. I hope we replace them on the schedule with Georgia State. We cannot beat them and I am so tired of losing to them.

We should have hired Bill Curry as our HC. I cannot believe we passed him by and let Georgia State grab him. Obviously he was interested in coaching again. If he can build their program from scratch then he could rebuild ours.

Maybe we will win 6 games, but I would not bet money on it. Would you? I think 2 wins and maybe 2 more if we don’t fumble and get a lucky break.

Face it, we are not a football school anymore.

I am just hoping the basketball team be better this year?

By ATLHokie

August 26, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

Never seen a fanbase suffer with such an inferiority complex. Reminds me of an angry midget. Tech will be lucky to win 6 games this year.

By tech

August 26, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

Wallace-

I’m not the guy who said Tech is better in all sports as a whole, but without looking it up Tech and Georgia have to be pretty close. I mean, you can throw out Equestrian and Gymnastics because we don’t have those, and most other schools don’t either. Looking at baseball, football, and basketball we have 4 National championships total you have 3. We have 27 conference championships in those 3 while you have 19. You probably have us beat in sports that nobody cares about though.

By surfrider

August 26, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

We will soon find out whether this year will be good or the next year. One thing is for certain this team and program has more depth now than I can remember. 110 players on the team? 5 QB’s who can play maybe 6 and we will at least need 3 to 5 per year I would think. Depth was a problem at Tech until Bobby Ross started to address it and after a step or two backwards we are now moving forward on that front which is critical. To me the key will be how good is this front 4 on defense as it could be dominating or just good. At the same time the other key is turnovers on these pitches as we can’t fumble 6 times a game and expect to win. The third key will be the passing game. In my opinion we will need to throw the ball 20 to 30 times a game to keep defenses honest and open up the option game. Remember the term we have to establish the run before we can open up the passing game, well it’s vice versa now we have to establish a passing game to open up this option game in some sense. So all this will be decided on the field instead of the blogs, but we should be better on offense than 70-90 in the Country and we should be decent on defense in the say 25-45 range. If those numbers hold up there is no reason we can’t win 7 or more games and really surprise people.

By surfrider

August 26, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

We will soon find out whether this year will be good or the next year. One thing is for certain this team and program has more depth now than I can remember. 110 players on the team? 5 QB’s who can play maybe 6 and we will at least need 3 to 5 per year I would think. Depth was a problem at Tech until Bobby Ross started to address it and after a step or two backwards we are now moving forward on that front which is critical. To me the key will be how good is this front 4 on defense as it could be dominating or just good. At the same time the other key is turnovers on these pitches as we can’t fumble 6 times a game and expect to win. The third key will be the passing game. In my opinion we will need to throw the ball 20 to 30 times a game to keep defenses honest and open up the option game. Remember the term we have to establish the run before we can open up the passing game, well it’s vice versa now we have to establish a passing game to open up this option game in some sense. So all this will be decided on the field instead of the blogs, but we should be better on offense than 70-90 in the Country and we should be decent on defense in the say 25-45 range. If those numbers hold up there is no reason we can’t win 7 or more games and really surprise people.

By surfrider

August 26, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

We will soon find out whether this year will be good or the next year. One thing is for certain this team and program has more depth now than I can remember. 110 players on the team? 5 QB’s who can play maybe 6 and we will at least need 3 to 5 per year I would think. Depth was a problem at Tech until Bobby Ross started to address it and after a step or two backwards we are now moving forward on that front which is critical. To me the key will be how good is this front 4 on defense as it could be dominating or just good. At the same time the other key is turnovers on these pitches as we can’t fumble 6 times a game and expect to win. The third key will be the passing game. In my opinion we will need to throw the ball 20 to 30 times a game to keep defenses honest and open up the option game. Remember the term we have to establish the run before we can open up the passing game, well it’s vice versa now we have to establish a passing game to open up this option game in some sense. So all this will be decided on the field instead of the blogs, but we should be better on offense than 70-90 in the Country and we should be decent on defense in the say 25-45 range. If those numbers hold up there is no reason we can’t win 7 or more games and really surprise people.

By Dave

August 26, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this

Not to mention that UGA owns you overall in football, right tech? What are you 12-32 against UGA since 1964?

By Brent is a tool

August 26, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

Brent: Tech didn’t win the national championship in 1990. Colorado did. Idiot. Good luck playing in front of 18,000 fans in your dump stadium in the ghetto this year nerd.

By Vince

August 26, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

Cashfan - “it makes victories that much sweeter”? Victories against who? Gardner Webb? Maybe?

By Moe Ron

August 26, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

All you GT fans can continue to gloat about that split 1990 NC. Do you remember how things played out? Colorado was ranked #1 prior to the bowls and pulled out a close win against #4 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. GT was #2 and played in the Citrus Bowl (wuss bowl at the time) against an abnormally bad Nebraska team. I think they were ranked #19. Sure, you beat them by a bigger point spread than Colorado beat Notre Dame, but how the heck does #1 (after beating #4) get leap frogged after beating by #2 (after beating #19). Spare me the bad call in the Orange Bowl. Miami has a bigger gripe when the lost to OSU a few years ago.

Bottom line, UGA will make it 8 straight this year. You want to talk about people of a certain age not being able to remember something? You may soon be fielding players who were in elementary school the last time GT defeated UGA. They wouldn’t have even been in preschool if you didn’t count the GT wins when Tech willingly used academically ineligible players. Academic superiority my foot!

By Tech97

August 26, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this