Ramblin' On

By THWG

December 19, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

As a season ticket holder and rabid Tech fan…I am glad PJ got his new contract but I am truly upset at the buy-out amount. Why not do the same as other schools and increase this amount? $1 million buy-out for only the first year is ridiculously low! Why not make it $5 million to ensure the program has continuity? $1 million means if we continue to succeed the yearly Johnson is leaving rumors will persist because the penalty for leaving is next to nothing with the current economic model.

As for raising money to pay for the increase? Why not make every seat against the rail (front row seats in all sections) cost more? I have personally attempted to get one of these locations for years (I have a very short wife 4’10) and even with the offer of a substantial donation the ticket office says I do not have enough points. Why can’t dollars overide points? :)

By m

December 19, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

If you paid Paul Johnson a BILLION dollars a year (that’s right I said a BILLION) you would still be getting better value for your money than paying Chan Gailey one PENNY. Paul Johnson is a perfect fit for Tech. Chan Gailey was the worst mistake in the history of Tech. Chan Gailey sucks and everyone that ever supported him or defended him in any way sucks just as bad as he does. Tech must never make a mistake as bad as Chan EVER again. Thank God for Paul Johnson and Thank God and Greyhound that Chan is gone FOREVER!! Hallleeeeedamloooyah!!

By TDone

December 19, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Now that we got the finance business taken care of, let’s put our minds on the business on beating LSU.

We have not done well in the Peach/Chik-fil-a Bowl in the past, now let’s take care of business and put the icing on the cake.

By Wrecker1

December 19, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

m, you are a complete idiot. I’ve read your dribble on here for a year now and haven’t responded b/c responding to a moron like you (that’s what the m stands for isn’t it?) only feeds your fire. I didn’t think Chan Gailey was a good hire 7 years ago but he is not by far the worst coach TECH has ever had. Two names come to mind, Curry and Lewis, that weren’t very good coaches. Lewis was a mediocre coach at best with one season where everything fell in place for him. Curry just did stuff that was just idiotic. As for Paul Johnson, I thought a year ago he was a great hire and no I’m not surprised by anything he’s done this year. I never had any doubt the offense would work here. Why shouldn’t it? He rolled up points and yards at Navy against BCS teams during the regular season and bowls so why on earth wouldn’t it work with better athletes running it? Coach Johnson’s offense hasn’t been the difference this year, it’s the attitude he has instilled in his team that has made the difference. This guy is hard-nosed and he has developed that same mentality in the TECH team. If the one million dollar buy out is correct I do think that should be higher but I don’t see Coach Johnson as a money grabber so that may not be a problem. I think Coach Johnson is a guy that really enjoys coaching, will be doing it a long time and hopefully the next 20 or so will be here on the Flats. People, really good times are ahead and he will earn every nickle he is paid. GO JACKETS!!!

By AlabamaRamblinwreck

December 19, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

I certainly don’t want to be a killjoy, but if the buyout is only 1 Mil., this is not good. I agree that CPJ is a man of integrity, and it is not likely that he would just up and leave early in his Tech tenure, BUT:

Notre Dame will be firing Mr. Weis this time next year. They have much, much money to go after CPJ. I would have liked to see at least a 2.5 Mil. buyout.

It is kind of funny that we all want our team to do well and play for championships, but if they do, these other schools are going to keep on coming after CPJ?

It comes with the territory I guess. All we can do is keep supporting the team. Fill the stadium, get loud, and make BDS a place other teams do not want to play!!! But for that to happen, the wine and cheese crowd must let their hair down a little, and stay in their gold seats!! Also, it might be awesome if you guys would actually get in your seat before the game starts?? It is embarrasing on national/regional t.v. coverage to see empty seats because people had rather sit in a lounge!!

Go Jackets!!

By GT45

December 19, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Well said, Chris! Alabama, I’ve been begging the fans to get in the games the last three years. If you don’t have a reason to get excited now, you don’t have a pulse! The people in the gold seats should donate those tickets to auction for charity if they are not going to use them! Go Jackets-

By Sharecropper

December 19, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

I don’t think “m” likes Chan Gailey very much. Don’t know how I came to that conclusion.

By Buzz Belle

December 19, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

45 - 42. Still smiling. PJ is worth every bit of this but remember we will have times when we want to scringe - we have to stay with PJ because I think he is going to stay with us. He just doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who would leave for dollars. I think Ga Tech might have been a dream job to him and he feels like he is home. DRad went to him first and Johnson respects that - it is definitely a feather in the hat if any other colleges come knocking. m - chill man. We got the picture last year. Lets focus on beating LSU and winning the Peach/Chik Bowl. 10 & 3 is a great way to start 2009! THWG

By BLAZER

December 19, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

AMEN BUZZ BELLE

By razerGT

December 19, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Thank you, Alabama and GT45, for calling out the people in the gold seats. Before the game (every game!) that is the emptiest section of the stadium, and it doesn’t fill in until the game is well under way. If you’re not going to show up early (or even on time) to the games then give up your prime seat to someone who will! It’s embarrassing to see so many open seats in the lower levels.

By CW

December 19, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Stop worrying about the flipping buyout already. The guy just got a huge raise and is now paid at or near the top of all the coaches in his conference. Our AD, all but promised that if he has another great season next year, he’ll get another raise then.

If Tech continues to pay Coach Johnson a competitive salary and he is able to recruit and retain players that he can win with, there is no reason for him to leave.

If Notre Dame or any other school comes calling again next year, a $2 million buyout isn’t going to stop them, so enough about the buyout.

By AGTfan

December 19, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

Is it just me or does “M” dislike the previous coach?

By Go Jackets

December 19, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

go jackets

By m

December 19, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Wrecker1…you need to look in the mirror to seed the idiot. Chan Gailey inherited a program that had finished the season in the TOP 25 for FIVE seasons in a row!! Tech did not finish in the Top 25 in ANY of Chan’s horrendous SIX long seasons and NEVER beat ugag. Bill Curry inherited a program in terrible shape and built a team that beat ugag two years in a row and finished #17 in the nation in 1985. I REPEAT, Chan Gailey is by FAR the worst coach in the history of Tech and the only things that SUCKS worse than Chan are IDIOTS like wrecker1 that tolerated Chan and still try to defend him. Thank God and Greyhound that Chan is gone forever…a shame that he didn’t take his IDIOT suckups like wrecker1 with him.

By M. H. Chaffin

December 19, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

M I think you have HD or HDFD. Get a life, Bubba!!

By John

December 19, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

The constant harping on Chan by “m” is getting old, but the rest of you guys need to understand that there was a lot of pent-up frustration at the lack of outrage from the fanbase at losing to Georgia every year, getting 5 losses minimum, failing to get an end of year ranking. And all the excuses, excuses, excuses. God, all the excuses that Tech fans came up with to defend that mediocrity! And now all that pent up frustration is coming out. SIX YEARS worth. So, you guys are just going to have to accept it. A lot of you were part of the problem, defending Chan and his losing ways, and now you ought to just stand back and let the guy feed you some crow. You earned it.

By Gary

December 19, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this

Everybody seems to overlook the fact that CPJ’s success is based on Chan Gailey’s recruiting. The big bucks should be withheld until Johnson demonstrates the required recruiting prowess on par with his other skills . Two seasons in he hasn’t. Far from it.

By Paddy

December 19, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this

Gary you are way off base on your points. Just one persons opinion. One man’s crap is another man’s ice cream.

By Lee Smith

December 20, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Congrate to coach Paul Johnson and congrats to Georgia Tech!!!!!! Congrats also to his assistants - these guys are hte real winners!!!!!

I have followed coach Johnson since the Ga. Southern days and wil let all of the Tech nation know you ahve only seen the beginning - 2009 will be fun.

One of the assistants is from my home town of Griffin Georgia - Brian Bohannon. I have known Brian for a long time and knew his father very well. Welcome home Brian!!!!

A quick footnote on the Teck Greorgia game which fits into what I said earlier. I was a t the game sitting with all my friends (that are puppy fans) and half time one look at me and said “this is esy money”. My response was this and I quote “we have 2 quarters left and you have not done research on coach Johnson”. What was the first play of the 3rd quarter!!!!!

Go Jackets!!!!!

By Observer

December 20, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

m - You made a lame argument supporting how Chan Gailey was worse than Bill Curry but you seem to have forgotten about Bill Lewis. I am dying to see the statistical analysis that shows he was somehow better than Gailey.

I stand with Wrecker1 - YOU ARE A MORON!

By Shambo

December 20, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

I have a question…Mr. Boggs, you probably can get an answer….Are we still paying Gailey $1 million/yr even though he has a job back in the NFL? I recall Gailey’s contract was drawn up by Mr. Braine(now there is an oxymoron for you)as a “no-cut” deal.

I agree with JOHN regarding pent-up frustration with Gailey’s mantra of mediocraty. Even though all of us think “m” should try some decaf, his point is technically correct. After 7 years, give the man some room to breath.

As for LSU, Mr. Johnson had better get serious about pass defense. Start with a pass rush.

All-in-all a great year for Tech. Win, lose or draw, mediocraty is dead on the Flats.

By Gary

December 20, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

I think it is kind of foolish to do this after just one year. Remember Notre Dame and coach Weiss. One year does not make a progam!!!

By Sautee Dawg

December 20, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Boggs

What is this “tough environment at Ga. Tech?” What leads you to believe this is such a tough environment. Do you have any idea how many coaches would love to play in a conference with a schedule that Tech plays? Accademics? Tech offers the same business management courses that every other school offers, so don’t make it sound like only a chosen few can attend. As far as coach Johnson goes, one of the best in the country, i just wonder how dissapointed he’ll be when he looks up in the stands and sees the same old 10,000 empty seats that every other Tech coach has faced in the past 20 years. I wouldn’t pop a cork on that LSU game just yet. You know according to the crowd that you’ll probally be the visiting team in that matchup. If Tech were to lose this bowl game, 10,000 Tech faithful will be on this blog wanting their 17 million back.

By Sautee Dawg

December 20, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Boggs

Almost forgot, that Pro-sec and pro-UGA bias that you referred to is simply not true. AJC reports what sells papers and when you win consistently you get to be in the paper. Duh?

By gt4ever

December 20, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

LSU will be the 2nd best team we have played all season! We better come to play!

Go Jackets

By jackets445

December 20, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this

m u r being complete idiot ” thank god for greyhound gailey is gone forever” every time you say that it makes us tech fans sound like nerds as uga fans would say.. gailey is not the worst coach bc the man could recruit and none of us on this board can deny that..but johnson is 100% better coach than he was..i agree there..

By jabster

December 20, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this

Sautee Dawg:

Couple quick ones:

Tech’s “easiest” big major has long been Management—really a business degree, and on a par with Terry. We did pick up History of Science and Technology, as well as International Affairs, but not many athletes major in those.

Being a large state university, UGA offers a lot more majors—including a lot of ones much easier than anything Tech offers. Look it up.

Of course, some other UGA majors are as tough—AgE, landscape architecture, and pure sciences come to mind.

What would be interesting is if you lined up UGA’s Terry players on one side of the ball and Tech’s GTCOM players on the other, and saw what happened in a b-school playoff.

On your second point, the AJC probably runs more UGA articles because more readers follow UGA (and why not—they know who butters their bread). I don’t think winning has much to do with it. UGA would probably get as much if not more ink if they went 2-10.

A whole lot of this argument can be solved by simply remembering that UGA is a bigger school, with more majors and a bigger student and alumni base—particularly locally.

Tech alumni come from all over and go all over after they get out. For example, you can buy a Tennessee or Virginia Georgia Tech license plate, but not a Tennessee or Virginia UGA license plate. It’s all about local demand.

By jabster

December 20, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

It’s plainly obvious by now that m wasn’t a Jackets fan between 1992 and 1994, as he would not call Chan the worst coach in the history of the NCAA if he had been. Fulcher was also worse than Chan (the only other Tech coach besides Bxxx Lxxxx to have never beaten UGA), and Curry is debatable, although Curry beat UGA twice. Ditto for Pepper. Both Pepper and Curry had a worse record overall than Chan.

By Ben

December 21, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

Hmmm, so if m wasn’t a fan by 1994, then he is either an idiotic teenager about 15 years old (in which case, I might almost excuse his moronic behaviour for being a clueless, nonothing high school freshman that without an attitude change will go nowhere in life), or a an immature bandwagoner who has likely gone nowhere in life and never will.

Personally, as much as I love and support Georgia Tech, I’m almost inclined to say that if PJ ever leaves (I don’t think he will and hope he doesn’t), then we should rehire Chan solely to spite m, and then we can blame our crappy mediocrity on m!

By m

December 21, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Everyone of you idiots that are defending Chan Gailey in any way SUCK even more than he did. The fact that you supported him and tolerated him as he nearly dismantled our football program is bad enough. But now with the success that has happened immediately on Chan’s departure, and could have been happening for the last 6 years….for you to try to defend that crap is insane. You idiots were just as big a part of the problem as Chan was. But you cannot bring our program down anymore because we have a real college football coach now. Not some pitiful excuse for a coach that wasn’t even a has been….Chan was a NEVER WAS!! Thank God and Greyhound that the sorriest excuse for a coach that ever lived is gone forever…too bad he didn’t take his idiotic suckups with him.

By Tokyo jacket

December 21, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

Jabster, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Sautee Dawg ASSumed a lot in that post. The one point that you left out is that our “weakest” major is ranked 32 nationally by USNWR. This major is over 25% student athletes. So, our student athletes make up a large part of a program that outranks UGA’s best program with “real” students. Interesting…

Ben, maybe you shouldn’t talk so harshly across the board. I wasn’t a Tech fan until 1996 (my junior year in HS). I make well over 100K a year and have 25 professional employees under me. I also bleed Gold and White. I flew 14 hours (one way) to watch the UM and UGA games. Would you care to talk down to me sir?

I don’t reply to M, but he’s started backing up his comments pretty well. He’s giving numbers and facts that really support his argument. The rest of us respond with “Gailey was a good guy, leave him alone.” The point about O’Leary vs Gailey and where they finished pretty much explains a lot.

By Tokyo jacket

December 21, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this

Now, onto the content of the blog - is CPJ worth the money? YES, YES, YES.

He is energizing the fan base. He is winning. He has a proven track record as a HEAD COACH. He beat UGA. He is recruiting fairly well; he’s averaging 3-stars per recruit. What more do we want from a head coach?

By the way, you’re hearing it hear first: CPJ will not go to ND because they will hire Urban Meyer. Mark it down.

By SouthGARules

December 22, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

Gary: To compare CPJ to the fat tub of lard in South Bend is ridiculous! CPJ has been a winner everywhere he has been. (Ga. Southern & Navy) Weis had NEVER been a head coach before ND.

By JACKETS445

December 22, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

“m” all i was saying is chan could recruit..he just couldnt devolpe them once he brought the players to our school. but i agree he wasnt a great coach but not the worse either.

go jackets

By ATLDawg

December 22, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

“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.”

Just so you know Tech fans, this paragraph is the very reason why I have very little respect for you as football fans. You do not have it nearly as hard as you would like everyone to believe, nor do the “football factories” have it as easy as you would like everyone to believe. You perpetuate these myths to justify your historically mediocre performance on the football field. It is absolutely pathetic. Paul Johnson is a man of integrity and accountability. I doubt he would approve of paragraphs like this. I continue to maintain that he deserves better fans. You better hope he never realizes that.

And please do not waste my time by claiming that you do not care what I think. There isn’t a more insecure and self-conscious fan base in all of sports than Georgia Tech football fans. You care what EVERYONE thinks and make fools of yourselves trying to pretend otherwise. You are frantically desperate for respect and recognition.

By jabster

December 22, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

ATL Dawg wrote:

Just so you know Tech fans, this paragraph is the very reason why I have very little respect for you as football fans. You do not have it nearly as hard as you would like everyone to believe, nor do the “football factories” have it as easy as you would like everyone to believe. You perpetuate these myths to justify your historically mediocre performance on the football field. It is absolutely pathetic.

[citation needed]

By The Big Bug

December 23, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

Sautee, I will now summarise for you the difference between the curricula offered to the athletes at Tech & GA. True enough, the IM at Tech is similar to the business degree at GA. It is by no means a cakewalk. You can get a good education at GA. You will get out of it what you put into it.

The fact is, Tech has no cupcake majors. Tech must recruit from a different pool. GA has majors that most Tech students could pass while comatose.

I know this for a fact: You can get a degree from GA without being educated. You can’t do it at Tech.

By The Big Bug

December 23, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

ATLdawg wrote: You (Tech) are frantically desperate for respect and recognition. We already have more of each! Good Grief!

I have just wasted my time on an anus sniffer.

By Von Jennings

December 23, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

one million to Notre Dame is pocket change. When they fire Wies the first person they are coming for is CPJ. He wil be offered at least 3 mil a year on at least an 8 year contract. I hate to see it but look out; it’s coming.

By wiggy

December 23, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this

Hey m, go pour yourself another drink. You are an alcoholic who gets drunk every night and rambles on. Worse than that, you are just plain stupid.

You know nothing about the history of football at Ga. Tech, crawl back into your hole and sleep it off.

The ajc needs to block you off this blog. You degrade the institution with your idiot comments.

By Sam

December 24, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

That 1 mil buyout tells us all we need to know. PJ is on the first thing smokin out of time when one of the big boys comes callin.

By BHO

December 24, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

By THWG

December 19, 2008 7:56 AM As for raising money to pay for the increase? Why not make every seat against the rail (front row seats in all sections) cost more? I have personally attempted to get one of these locations for years (I have a very short wife 4’10) and even with the offer of a substantial donation the ticket office says I do not have enough points. Why can’t dollars overide points? :)

You sir are an absolute jerk. The world needs less of you buy your way to the head of the line types.

By RetCol

December 24, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Ben, maybe you shouldn’t talk so harshly across the board. I wasn’t a Tech fan until 1996 (my junior year in HS). I make well over 100K a year and have 25 professional employees under me. I also bleed Gold and White. I flew 14 hours (one way) to watch the UM and UGA games. Would you care to talk down to me sir?

So what Tokyo jacket? I too make well over 100k per year, have a West Point degree, and 54 professional employees under me. Your point is?

By Tommy

December 24, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

By The Big Bug

December 23, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

ATLdawg wrote: You (Tech) are frantically desperate for respect and recognition. We already have more of each! Good Grief!

I have just wasted my time on an anus sniffer

All that from a species categorized as pests right along with cockroaches. Go suck up some pesticide Big Bug.

By what?

December 24, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

How are y’all going to sell more season tickets? More people graduating and staying in Atlanta, and more Tech alumni moving back to Atlanta? Because Lord knows you guys don’t want any “SIDEWALK fans”. Everyone that cheers for your school must have a degree from Tech, correct? I mean, y’all don’t even let current students cheer at the games because they “don’t have a degree from Tech”. At least not yet! Am I right? I mean, that would mean you’re like GEORGIA! Ewww, successful!…Gross!