Tech captains explain what it was like to play for Paul Johnson

At a TaxSlayer Bowl news conference Friday, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and captains Harrison Butker, Patrick Gamble and Justin Thomas met with media to offer a preview of Saturday’s game. The three captains were asked about what it has been like playing for Johnson for the past four or five years. Their answers were illuminating.

Harrison Butker

“I’ve enjoyed playing under Coach Johnson. Being a kicker, it’s a little different. I think Coach Johnson might have yelled at me once, in the Duke game my freshman year. Other than that, he hasn’t said a word to me on the field. I really appreciate that a lot. As a kicker, you want to focus on the kick, I don’t think yelling will help that much.

“Coach Johnson is an old-school coach. He’s a hard coach, I really like that about him. I’ve appreciated Coach Johnson the four years I’ve been here.”

Patrick Gamble

“Like Harrison said, I appreciate it. I’ve definitely enjoyed playing under Coach Johnson. He jokes with us every day in stretch lines about sacks and tackles and stuff. He jokes with my friend (defensive end Rod Rook-Chungong) about how he’s got as many sacks as he does (laughter).

“But it’s definitely been a pleasure. Unlike Harrison, we get yelled at. It’s definitely been a pleasure. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I stand by my decision I made four or five years ago. It’s definitely been a pleasure for me.”

Justin Thomas

“I’m very appreciative. Since day one, I stepped on campus, he’s been truthful with me 100 percent. Never backed down on his word. He’s not going to sugarcoat anything with you. He’s going to run things how he wants to. He expected perfection out of all of us.

“Even on wins, he might be upset that we didn’t win how we should have won. That’s how it should be. You kind of accept success even though it should be better. That’s kind of what I liked about him. I can go in his office anytime and talk to him, even if it’s not about football. We have a relationship over the time. I’m happy with the decision I made.”

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