AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 18
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Big Money for a Big Time Coach…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By this point, everyone is aware of Coach Johnson’s contract extension and pay increase.
$17 million over 7 years is alot of money and it puts Johnson solidly at #2 on the ACC pay scale. The guy ahead of him, Bobby Bowden, has been coaching his team since 1976 and owns something like twelve ACC conference titles and a pair of national titles.
So yes…Paul Johnson has achieved Bobby Bowden pay status after one season of 9-3 football, a division co-championship, a win over UGA, and a December bowl bid.
Right about now you are probably thinking to yourself, “This guy doesn’t support the new contract!” but you’d be wrong.
I support the contract because I don’t think there is a coach that is better suited to build a national contender at Georgia Tech than Paul Johnson.
There are plenty of big name coaches out there that have succeeded at football factories where the low academic requirements and depth of easily accessible talent makes it near impossible to fail. But there aren’t very many coaches who have the temperment and ability to step into an admittedly tough environment like Georgia Tech and swing for the fences.
Paul Johnson’s connections and experience in the state of Georgia and the deep South make him a natural geographically. His experience at the Naval Academy makes him a natural from a recruiting and academic focus perspective. And the chip he carries on his shoulder, as a master of the triple option offense, is absolutely perfect for a program like Georgia Tech that struggles beneath the shadow of a pro-SEC and pro-UGA media machine here in Atlanta.
Paul Johnson is the perfect coach for Georgia Tech. Allowing him to be stolen away to another job is unthinkable. Dan Radakovich realizes this and has taken steps to make sure it doesn’t happen.
Winning solves all problems in athletics and after the Jackets defeat LSU to reach the 10-3 plateau this season we should see a big jump in season ticket purchases and interest. That new interest and new investment in the program from fan and alumni will be needed to pay the bills…
Go Jackets!
45-42!
