College recruiting

By View from Above

February 28, 2009 7:12 PM | Link to this

I gotta say. I LOVE THIS. I hate Tech, but I love how CPJ handled this one. The kid pretty much backed up every single word he said. Hey AJC, my question to CPJ is Why are you so boring with your comments during the football season? Where has this fire been? You’d probably rocket your Q rating to the stars if you were this passionate with all of your sleepy snoring statements during the football season. You’re so boring. This stuff, I love this sh*t.

By UGA FAN 84

February 28, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this

View from the top - I take it ur in on all CPJ recruiting visits?!?! I mean you know how passioniate he is all the time right? What about before media was as big as it is now. Those were times when some of the best coaches of anytime where coaching and they were not judged on what they said to the press. Richt is pretty calm with the press himself and he is a great coach. You dont have to get fired up to the media to be a good coach. Be logical.

By UGA FAN 84

February 28, 2009 7:37 PM | Link to this

View from the top - I take it ur in on all CPJ recruiting visits?!?! I mean you know how passioniate he is all the time right? What about before media was as big as it is now. Those were times when some of the best coaches of anytime where coaching and they were not judged on what they said to the press. Richt is pretty calm with the press himself and he is a great coach. You dont have to get fired up to the media to be a good coach. Be logical.

By Huh??

February 28, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

So, if you are going to keep this storyline going then have the balls to ask CPJ why he did not yank the scholarship of Stephen Hill? If he is all about maintaining integrity in the process then logic dictates that Stephen Hill should have had his scholarship pulled when he began flirting with GA in the final weeks. The fact is he tried to play hardball with this kid and he called his bluff. If CPJ thought he was worth fighting for or if he that he would not inevitably go to AU, he would not have pulled the offer. He only pulled that which he knew was lost anyway, so spare us all of the self-righteous, CPJ is a hard-a* latter day Vince Lombardi crap.

Lastly, he talks about how a kids word is his word and it should mean something and “recruiting is over”, but when the door swings the other way and GT may convert a previously committed recruit then it is “not my problem.” So, what we are to take from this is that if the kid has poor character, jacks around other coaches and schools in the process, but ultimately wants to go to GT, then all bets are off and a kids word and character is only a nice-to-have, but is no longer a requirement. Nice coach you are a hero.

By Sharecropper

February 28, 2009 8:02 PM | Link to this

So why don’t all of you get over it? The kid is 18. Any of you ever know an 18-year-old, including you, who knew his rear end from third base? When I was 18 I was gonna be a coach. Or a professional baseball player. Or maybe a lawyer. Or … The kid us going to Auburn because there he will be a running back, and knows if he wants to get to the NFL — a pipe dream for 99% of college players — it won’t be as an option QB. That’s the long and short of it. Give it up. He did what he thought was best for him, and Johnson did what he thought was best for Tech. So where is the problem? Grow up. You’re all acting like it is quantum physics.

By What a joke

February 28, 2009 8:03 PM | Link to this

Wow, this is hardcore journalism at its best. Mike Wallace would be envious with the tough questions posed to CPJ in this one. If you are going to waste his and our time with this story, then at least grow a pair and ask why this model of integrity is only applied to certain recruits? Why did he not pull the scholly of Stephen Hill — if a commit means that “recruiting is over.” CPJ is a blow hard douche who tried to bully this kid into not going to AU only because he knew that if he did take the visit and got an offer he would do what 99 out of 100 recruits would have done — chose AU over GT. Yeah, CPJ is a real bad-a$s. What a joke.
Of course, this where we queue up the sycophant World of Warcraft faithful who will post about how CPJ is so hardcore and is poised to lead GT back into relevance.

By LBS

February 28, 2009 8:14 PM | Link to this

“But when you decide and commit, then you’re giving people your word that you’re coming. It’s not a game. It’s not ‘Ok, I’ll take this one unless I can find something better. Or let me lock this down there so I can shop around for some other spots.’ If you’re doing that, you’re not committing.”

CPJ is inconsistent on this point and the AJC needs to point that out.

(1) He allows other committed recruits to visit GT, showing that he is saying its OK and encouraging this so called Game.

(2) He isn’t consistent with all of GTs recruits. There should be some articles on other recruits that committed to GT, but didn’t receive the same penalty as Aycock for looking at other options.

By tom

February 28, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this

PLEASE! This is so childish for a grown man and a teenager to be sniping at each other through the paper like this. GROW UP!

By Technique

February 28, 2009 8:56 PM | Link to this

CPJ’s recruiting philosophy doesn’t apply to kids committed to other school anyway. First of all Stephen Hill de-committed from UCF, before he even committed or visited Tech so please all you newbs need to stop.

Huh??, maybe you should read the CPJ’s comments. Stephen Hill never visited UGA, that why no recinding……its kinda simple guys, come on.

By TLP3

February 28, 2009 9:09 PM | Link to this

I love how people totally overlook what the man said just so they can crap on him.

You’re all a bunch of mutts that want a reason to hate CPJ other than the fact that his “highschool offense” whooped the h* out of your Preseason National Champs Bullpup’s defense. Get outta here!

Go p** on your own blog.

By Cremins

February 28, 2009 9:25 PM | Link to this

Dear Huh? Did Hill make a visit to Athens? No. He took and made phone calls. That is the difference. A fine line? Yes. But that it the line.

By blackprix

February 28, 2009 9:27 PM | Link to this

Every coach has THEIR WAY of doing things and how they run their program and how they recruit their players.

I have no problem with how Coach Johnson chooses to recruit and the procedures he’s set in place.

It’s not like he didn’t let the SAs who are considering GT know his policies regarding committing to GT and continuing to visit other schools.

IF he did not tell them, then and only then would this be an issue - it’s not, end of story.

By blackprix

February 28, 2009 9:28 PM | Link to this

Every coach has THEIR WAY of doing things and how they run their program and how they recruit their players.

I have no problem with how Coach Johnson chooses to recruit and the procedures he’s set in place.

It’s not like he didn’t let the SAs who are considering GT know his policies regarding committing to GT and continuing to visit other schools.

IF he did not tell them, then and only then would this be an issue - it’s not, end of story.

By spotts

February 28, 2009 9:41 PM | Link to this

oh my goodness. Can we remember that we’re dealing with 17 and 18 year olds here?! They’re gonna be stupid and they’re not gonna be fully mature yet. Everyone seems to be acting like every HS prospect should belong on the cover of GQ.

By Richt Is Enjiying Missionairy Positions In Uzbekistan

February 28, 2009 10:15 PM | Link to this

Spotts, I agree with you, BUT then you have MORONIC coaches who would promise 25 different kids he would hold numbers for them if they come to his school.

By Tonto

February 28, 2009 10:15 PM | Link to this

Me think Aycock speak with forked tongue.

By The Ghost of Coach Alex

February 28, 2009 10:32 PM | Link to this

The big question is: Why would coach even address this garbage? He owes no explanation.

By GTMan

February 28, 2009 10:36 PM | Link to this

CPJ said what he meant and meant what he said. If you dawgies can’t figure that out by now, then buzz off…

Huh?? (must be hard of hearing), LBS (Large Bucket of S…), and What a Joke (I don’t believe I would give myself that name), all of you need to go find some place where you are welcome, because it is not here. Again,… buzz off, you 45-42 bunch of losers (not loosers as you learned in that cow college).

You boys go have your usual seven course dinner…a possum and a six pack.

What does a UGA grad and a tornado have in common? They both will end up in a trailer park!!

Why is it so hard to solve a murder in Athens? All the DNA is the same and there are no dental records.

What do they call duct tape at UGA? Chrome.

Now, seriously, pups, get the heck off our blog and stay off.

By tiger7_88

February 28, 2009 10:42 PM | Link to this

Ahhh… so the Righteous Coach Paul expounds from the mountain-top once again. And what have we learned from his sermon today?

That a commitment to Georgia Tech is a COMMITMENT.

And a commitment to any other school? NOT SAINT PAUL’S PROBLEM.

And how about a commitment by signed contract to the United States Naval Academy? Yea, verily, sayeth the very righteous Saint Paul: “What?”

How easy the world must be for millionaire college coaches when they can insist on having it both ways with regard to those tricky, nefarious high school kids!

By College Football Fan

February 28, 2009 10:45 PM | Link to this

I think he looked at RBs AU has put in the NFL and then he compared girls at each school and the decision was easy.

By Sid

February 28, 2009 10:47 PM | Link to this

So now CPJ has added a new word to the recruiting process ! I want my commitment cooked “soft” coach. I hope this whole thing blows up for the Yech cook-oops-I mean coach.

By GameTime

February 28, 2009 11:09 PM | Link to this

Hey Pups,hard for you to accept a coach who looks for character in the athletes he recruits. Perhaps you should try it at UGA. Might result in fewer off field incidents and arrests of your football players and players that show more discipline on the field. Its a big factor in why you underperform most years.

By Ga Fan

February 28, 2009 11:14 PM | Link to this

We might not have as purty gurls as Atlanta but they is some mighty purty farm animals over at the Vetrinary skool.

By Sam

February 28, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this

cpj, well he’s taking kiffins place in the news….. johnson’s way is to let it be known that if a kids nods his way, then he better go home and wait til signing day…and tech doesn’t have to fool with him until…but you better stay home kid…we’re here at tech waiting to snag some OTHER kid that’s commited somewhere else, but we don’t have to worry about you kid….well I think the ball bounces both ways….but this kid got taught a lesson….could this ruin the kid? maybe or maybe not but not johnson, he’s at tech… at least 3 or 4 more years….did it hurt johnsons reputation???? SURE IT DID……I sure would hate to tarnish my rep. over a 3 star kid…GO DAWGS

By Coach Alex

February 28, 2009 11:41 PM | Link to this

Coach Johnson’s star shines bright. He does you all a favor to even address such drivel.

By Bumble Buzzed

February 28, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this

Do ANY of you morons READ before you open your PIEHOLE? coach Johnson addressed Stephen Hill. Can any you mutts read? “I view anybody that’s still visiting [other] schools as not committed. That’s just me. That’s just the way I do it. Well, people say ‘That’s a double standard because you let other kids visit [Tech] who are committed [to other schools]. That’s not my problem.’ So sorry your preacher got beat for Stephen Hill.

By addicted

February 28, 2009 11:56 PM | Link to this

The IQ level on this board is really low.

Like Paul Johnson said (if you can read), other coaches do not insist on Hard commits, like Paul Johnson does. So a player being committed to another school need not mean the same thing as the player being committed to Georgia Tech (with PJ in charge).

Secondly, the obvious point is that Aycock came to an agreement with PJ about not visiting other schools. He even cancelled his Louisville visit for that reason. Other recruits (Stephen Hill) might not have come to the same agreement.

Its not about visiting. Its about breaking an agreement.

By blue cole

March 1, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this

CPJ’s way, or the highway. It’s that simple. It’s about time Tech had a coach with a pair.

B.

PS: Oh, and if you don’t like it, nobody’s forcing you to read & comment about it.

By GTex

March 1, 2009 12:28 AM | Link to this

I love how Coach Johnson makes all the bulldog fans nervous. GT is headed in the right direction.

By Reggie Ball

March 1, 2009 12:55 AM | Link to this

Good thing coach signed one of dem “soft” contracts wit Navy or he would not be here on da Flats.

By mickeyd

March 1, 2009 12:56 AM | Link to this

Coach Johnson is a bada$$. U don’t screw around with this guy.

I luv it!

By Commitment a two way street???

March 1, 2009 1:02 AM | Link to this

If a commitment is a two way street, why didn’t CPJ and Tech stay with the kid even though he looked elsewhere. If CPJ had been as committed as he wants his players to be, he might have made a different decision. Maybe CPJ could have taught the kid more what commitment means if he had stayed committed to him. Maybe CPJ was really only committed to doing what was in his best intrest. A commitment should be through both good times and bad. If CPJ’s commitment to this kid had been as strong as it should have been or he believes it to be, it would have survived the kid visiting another school.

None of us will ever really know what was said between the two of them. There are two sides to the story and somewhere in between lies the truth. I’m not being negatively critical of CPJ, just looking at it with a different pair of glasses. If I were in CPJ shoes I might have made a the same decision or maybe not. I wasn’t there.

Regardless, this decisions by both coach and player have had and will have more ramifications for each. Maybe things will turn out better for both or worse for both, only time will tell.

Can anyone tell me why CPJ wasn’t as committed as he wanted this kid to be?

By GA IQ...Why?

March 1, 2009 1:13 AM | Link to this

Why do most Georgia fans put their IQ in their on-line name? Like the first one in these postings, UGA FAN 84. If I only had an 84 IQ I would not be advertising it!

By GTex

March 1, 2009 1:14 AM | Link to this

Commitment a two way street???

“If I were in CPJ shoes I might have made a the same decision or maybe not. I wasn’t there”

excellent thought… very decisive.

By Reggie Ball

March 1, 2009 1:19 AM | Link to this

Dat $hit bout IQ be funny…..I knows I smarter than thos bulldawgs cuz i went to tech…..

By FL Dawg

March 1, 2009 1:31 AM | Link to this

Does anyone know if Aycock contacted Auburn or did Auburn contact him? If memory serves me correctly, Stephen Hill contacted UGA b/c it was during the non-contact period. If Aycock and Hill contacted the other respective schools, how is the situation any different, with the exception CPJ couldn’t contact anyone else. If AU contacted Aycock, I would think CPJ should have been more committed to Aycock and stayed with him. CPJ would have been more consistent to yank Hills scholorship since we know Hill had to make the first move to contact UGA. CPJ saw what would benefit him the most with Hill and did not yank the scholorship since it was during the dead period. The Hill kid played his cards far better than Aycock. Hill tied CPJ’s hands as much as he could before he talked with anyone else (after he committed). Aycock left CPJ with more cards to play than Hill. Hill played the game with CPJ and won by knowing more of the cards CPJ held. Aycock simply called CPJ to soon. If I were a techie, I wouldn’t look at Hill as bleeding gold just yet. He may have signed with tech but, is his heart at tech?

Recruiting is a big game with high stakes for both sides. A coaches job depends on how good he can coach and recruit. A kids life will turn depending on which school he choses. I hope the best for both of these kids except when they play UGA, and I acutally hope the best for CPJ/tech and Auburn, except when they play UGA.

By Commitment a two way street???

March 1, 2009 1:39 AM | Link to this

Gtex

If you read the whole post, I wasn’t trying to be the decisive blogger, I was trying to get others thinking a little more about what commitment means. If you want me to be decisive, I will be…I wouldn’t have pulled the offer based on the info we have. In truth neither one were loyal to each other, it would have been a bad marriage to start with and both are better off for going seperate ways.

By Commitment a two way street???

March 1, 2009 1:52 AM | Link to this

Gtex you didn’t answer the question…Can anyone tell me why CPJ wasn’t as committed as he wanted this kid to be?

By sunday

March 1, 2009 1:59 AM | Link to this

anybody else remember what happened last two times tech and auburn played each other?

By GTex

March 1, 2009 2:40 AM | Link to this

CPJ was committed. A man has only 2 things in this world… his balls and his word. Coach Johnson laid each on the line. Unfortunately, the kid didn’t.

It’s a new era for GT. Either you are with us or not. Those that want to be a Yellowjacket will… those that don’t become bulldogs.

C’est la vie

By Rick H

March 1, 2009 4:30 AM | Link to this

Actually his balls and his word would be three things (I hope but maybe he’s like Bobby Cremins). Anyway, I am a Tech guy so I like him. If you are a Georgia guy, you don’t. Whoop de doo, let’s all make pithy statements on the blog.

By Ted Striker

March 1, 2009 5:11 AM | Link to this

Mr. Paul Johnson was SCARED to pull Stephen Hill’s offer — when Hill backed away from his solid commitment to Tech and flirted with UGA.

Two coaches that obviously enjoy talking about recruits that signed with OTHER schools: Mr. Lane Kiffin & Mr. Paul Johnson.

By UGASlobberknocker

March 1, 2009 5:42 AM | Link to this

Love the Dawgs. Hate Tech. Even so, CPJ is absolutely right. If these guys can back out anytime, then the schools should be able to as well. This is CPJ’s JOB. He makes a lot of jack. He has to know who is coming.

My only prob with CPJ is that I know he is good, and he will get the Jackets back. And that sux.

By Baba O'Riley

March 1, 2009 6:03 AM | Link to this

Isn’t it ironic that the only people that have a problem with this are some UGA fans?

By Baba O'Riley

March 1, 2009 6:11 AM | Link to this

Don’t blame Johnson or Aycock for re-hashing this. I’m sure Carvell keeps asking about it. At least it’s not the 53rd blog about Orson Charles.

By coin

March 1, 2009 7:14 AM | Link to this

I love tech, but this is BS….Coaches “decommit” all the time on student athletes when they chase other schools for more $$$’s and leave for better contracts… universities decommit on student athletes all the time when they fire coaches and staff who have told student athletes they will be with them for 4 years… this process happens coonstantly in the world..so to ridicule or hold students athletes to a differnt standard is arrogrant on any coaches part… Didn’t PJ leave Navy and shop around for a better job while under contract???

By Sharecropper

March 1, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this

Re “Tom”: you nailed it. A good piece of advice for any adult, particularly a coach of a major sport, would be to stay out of public disputes with 18-year-olds. It is the reporter’s job to ask the question. But Johnson doesn’t have to answer it.

By PJisApieceOfwork

March 1, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this

Now Paul Johnson is verbally sparring with an 18 year old publically. Can you believe his immaturity? He must have coveted this kid badly to be emitting such a visceral and mean spirited response. Not only is Paul Johnson a raging egomaniac, but a classless azz and bully as well. Fits right in with the tech fanbase though, doesn’t he? Let it go Paul.

By Doug C.

March 1, 2009 8:37 AM | Link to this

I can hardly stop laughing this morning after reading this comment from that retarded coach over on North Avenue.

“That’s not right either. If the whole story was told, Dontae would tell you that I made him call Lousville and tell them that he wasn’t coming. I told him that’s only fair to Louisville. He went [the following day] and did that. There was a lot more to it. Then he got some bad advice. And maybe not. Maybe he wanted to go to Auburn anyways. That’s what I took it as. If he wanted to visit Auburn, then he wanted to go there.”

What an utter moron this guy has to be. The above statement is like any guy on this blog saying, “if I want to look at another woman, I want to divorce my wife”. Paul you are an absolute idiot.

By FormerNavyPlayer

March 1, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this

You guys ain’t seen nothing yet. He’s just getting started. The real Paul Johnson is gradually starting to show. You got the next Woody Hayes on your hands. Just wait until he suffers a couple more of those LSU beatdowns. He’ll be throwing players around the locker room at halftimes like he did at Navy. But there’s a big difference in GT and Navy. It’ll hit the news here in Atlanta.

By UGA

March 1, 2009 8:47 AM | Link to this

CPJ is new to the high stakes of recruiting in the south. At Georgia Southern, recruting is a horse of a different color. He really does have an ego problem and his whole career is at stake. The really outstanding athletes are involved with several schools. An 18 year old is in a difficult position concerning recruiting. Aycock is a good player but not great. He had to make sure he had a scholarship. He got to Auburn and liked it better. CPJ needs to put a hold on his ego. He was a big fish at Navy but not in the ACC or SEC.

By Danny Thomas

March 1, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this

By Reggie Ball

March 1, 2009 12:55 AM | Link to this

Good thing coach signed one of dem “soft” contracts wit Navy or he would not be here on da Flats.

Damn! Reggie Ball is a hell of a lot more astute than given credit for. Thanks Reggie. You nailed it squarely on the head. Paul Johnson is a POS in the mold of George O’Leary.

By TJ

March 1, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

Hey Doug C, when GT wins again this year you better start getting a little worried about the “retarted” GT coach. Your coach is a great recruiter but his pious, suspend them only for North Dakota State Kentucky, mentality is dragging your program down from where it should be.

Paul took our 3 star recruits and BEAT your 4 and 5 star recruits on your home field. Paul is a better football coach, ask anyone who really knows coaching. If Paul and Mark had switched teams for the game, UGA would have won by 40, you know and I know it. Of course this assumes the prima donna student athletes can accept discipline.

2008 UGA football slogan: From Number 1 in the nation to Number 2 in the state.

You had better keep your sense of humor, you are going to need it at the end of November.

By Forrest Gump

March 1, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this

When a Tech player draws a stupid penalty, Johnson grabs him by the collar and shakes him. When a Georgia player does the same, Richt screams at the referee.

By bigreddawg81

March 1, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this

It looks like a one way street. Aycock had to keep his word that he was committing to Tech but Johnson did not have to keep his word that a scholarship would be avaiable. It looks like Johnson is the loser in this case!

By Doug C.

March 1, 2009 9:16 AM | Link to this

By TJ

March 1, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

Hey Doug C, when GT wins again this year you better start getting a little worried about the “retarted” GT coach. Your coach is a great recruiter but his pious, suspend them only for North Dakota State Kentucky, mentality is dragging your program down from where it should be

News flash TJ. I’m an LSU fan you idiot. 38-3! Got rings you little puzzy?

By B.Mo

March 1, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this

I network with many high school coaches in this state, and I can tell you the consensus is they are NOT happy with how CPJ has handled this situation.

Keep it up coach. Your stubbornness and arrogance will dry GA high schools up for you. Then what?

By Factoid

March 1, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

By Forrest Gump

March 1, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this

When a Tech player draws a stupid penalty, Johnson grabs him by the collar and shakes him. When a Georgia player does the same, Richt screams at the referee

Yeah, and one of these days he’s gonna grab the wrong kid and with the types of kids Tech recruits, one of them is going to grab back, turn him upside down and stuff a joint up his fat butt and light it in front of a stadium full of oppossing fans and show the world what ultimately happens to bullies like CPJ.

By B.Mo

March 1, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this

I network with many high school coaches in this state, and I can tell you the general consensus is they are NOT happy with how PJ handled this situation.

Keep it up coach - your arrogance will eventually dry up your recruiting in this state - then what?

By JFKDawg

March 1, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

While its inherent in my DNA to despise everything GT, I actually agree with CPJ. It will mess up your recruiting downstream and move away from other players if you think you have QB covered. And if CPJ can throw around any of his players at half-time, he’s got bigger worries than that leaking out. He will need to recruit bigger and stronger kids.

By Okefenokee

March 1, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

CPJ, two things… (1) Never call an eighteen year old out in the press, it makes you look bad. (2) You did the kid a favor.

By carmatter

March 1, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this

All you GT genius dudes that say “get off our blog” - this is a college football recruiting blog, not a GT blog. This just happens to be a story that involves GT.

By the way, you GT guys sure talk big after winning once in the last 8 years. I’d suggest some humility and reality. You’re making yourselves look ridiculous.

By Central Georgia Dawg

March 1, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this

It’s amazing to me how you never hear anything from Tech fans until they win a game. You are just like a cicada, you come out about once every 7 or 8 years and then subsequently leave an empty shell with no substance. You guys are living off of a 45-42 victory. And you really kicked our tails? I have to laugh at you. Georgia Southern has more football relevance in the state of Georgia than you. In fact when that job opens, CPJ will probably run back to Statesboro. At least they can sell out a stadium. How many seats are you guys dynamiting this year?

Now that’s off my chest, I totally agree with past bloggers. You can’t play both sides of the fence in coaching. You can’t say we don’t support visits when an athlete commits, then host an athlete who is committed to another school. What are you telling the players? You are telling them I will lie to now, tomorrow, and the next day to get you to sign. CPJ should have left this alone, and not taken the stand on committed athletes excuse. He should have said we are just going in another direction. Not to mention you are splitting hairs with an 18 year kid. Who’s the adult?

By Les Miles

March 1, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this

You tech girls sure are talking loud about your future. You could very easily be 2-5 after your 1st 7 games next year. PJ won’t take anybody by surprise next year and you have absolutely no defense next year. What little D you had in 08 left. PJ has never ever had good defensive teams and at this level that’s the kiss of death.

By the way…38-3. Get used to it girls. Theres plenty more of those beatdowns in your future.

By Jordan Jefferson

March 1, 2009 9:48 AM | Link to this

Who the hell is Michael Johnson? I heard a lot about him before the Chick fil a Bowl. Looked all over for him during the game but he was nowhere to be found. He must of done his disappearing act during that beatdown.

By Paddy

March 1, 2009 9:59 AM | Link to this

Huh… you need to read the article more carefully. Your comments do not address what CPJ says. Keep doing what you are doing CPJ, you are a stand-up guy in my opinion .

By Art

March 1, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this

Paddy, are you George O’Leary? Only another POS could call Paul Johnson a stand up guy. He’s becomming the stand up comedian of college football, but stand up guy? Come on!

By AlabamaJack

March 1, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this

dawg fans suck

By UTfan

March 1, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this

THANK YOU PAUL JOHNSON! Finally somebody got Lane Kiffin out of the spotlight. As long as Paul Johnson is around Kiffin can’t be the sole possessor of the title, Clown Prince of College Football. Thanks Paul. You even look the part.

By Mark

March 1, 2009 10:23 AM | Link to this

I beleive in commitments maybe more people should Certainly he would have gotten an education either way.. I bet eventually something goes wrong at Auburn…seems to be that way…wonder what kind car did he or is he going to get..haha maybe im wrong..

By DAWES

March 1, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

georgia tech coach johnson i don.t blame the kid any body with class would not go georgia tech great way to go i would pick auburn over georgia tech also

By TMAC6844

March 1, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this

WAH-WAHWAH—QUIT CRYING AND HARPING NADLICKERS WE WHIPPED YOUR A* THIS YEAR AND INTEND TO KEEP ON WHIPPING YOUR A* FOR YEARS TO COME!! GET READY FOR IT—BEND OVER AND CLOSE YOUR EYES—CPJ AND THE JACKETS ARE NOW YOUR MOMMA AND DADDY—HA,HA,HA!

By Julius Caesar

March 1, 2009 11:14 AM | Link to this

Ho hum, another story about Aycock. It’s been 3 weeks, can’t you just quit bashing this kid?

For those of you who say breaking his SILENT verbal committment reflects a lack of character, then how to you feel about Stephen Hill, who signed with GT after making a PUBLIC committment to UCF? Does Hill also exude a lack of character?

AJC - why not run 3 weeks worth of posts asking Hill about why he committed such a heinous crime?

From what I’ve read, GT fans are happy with the way things turned out, and Aycock is happy with the way things turned out with Auburn. So everybody’s happy, right?

Leave the kid alone!! It’s a done deal.

By SWIMFAN

March 1, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this

i wonder if coach johnson would tell a #1 recruit already committed somewhere else to not visit GT, honor your committment…..yeah right!!!

By griffdawg1

March 1, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

If that is the way CPJ wants to conduct his recruiting I say great! It will take one more year of this hypocrite jerking kids around before they won’t even give him the time of day. This will definitely help Georgia’s recruiting in the future cause all the in state kids will travel to visit UGA first!! Thanks CPJ , you hypocrite jerk douchbag!!!!!

By Mart

March 1, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this

I don’t get it, a player commits to a school and that school yanks his scholarship offer. And that school says the player broke his commitment? HEY TECH (OR WHOEVER ELSE DOES THIS), KEEP YOUR WORD!

By Mart

March 1, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this

I don’t get it, a player commits to a school and that school yanks his scholarship offer. And that school says the player broke his commitment? HEY TECH (OR WHOEVER ELSE DOES THIS), KEEP YOUR WORD!

By Jack

March 1, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this

Paul Johnson doesn’t want his “committed” recruits visiting elsewhere, but he continues to recruit others’ “committed” players. It is sad, sad, sad that a fine university like Georgia Tech would employ such a hypocrite. Paul Johnson demonstrates through his own words and actions why college football coaches can be such despicable people. He appears to be a good football coach. Too bad he can’t be an honest human being also. Every parent must carefully consider whether their kid should play for such a hypcrite.

By coondawg69

March 1, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

Am I to understand that the head coach at GTU is airing “dirty laundry” about a teenaged recruit in the paper?? I am not a fan of the stupid “shell game” that these kids do w/ various university hats. They are teenagers and so it is understandable. What is even more outrageous is a head coach talking about such matters in the paper.

I do love it though.

By Bill in Sandy Springs

March 1, 2009 12:33 PM | Link to this

I want to hear PJ say this to a recruit he actually needs, like at position where they actually have depth problems. I would have loved to hear him say the same thing to JC Lanier or a more important recruit than Ayock. I dig PJ’s firuosity and enthusaism but what Ayock did was all part of the recruiting game.

By JARRETT

March 1, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this

.

Now that coach Johnson has stooped to this t**-for-tat level the WHOLE thing has become so PETTY.

For a big time coach to even comment on this back-and-forth stuff with a teenager takes the shine of of his great start at GT.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS Coach!! There is no need for comment when you are secure in your actions. Everyone can see the coach made a great decision … and now, it just all seems so dirty & tainted.

.

By USNA Grad

March 1, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this

The real Paul Johnson is showing up early in Atlanta I see. Just wait until you get the whole picture on Paul. The administration at USNA was not exactly disappointed to see that guy leave. He’s a real piece of work and you Tech fans better brace for the bad pub this guy will bring you. As if you didn’t already have enough of that with your scandal filled recent past.

By Rod

March 1, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

COACH DIDN’T KEEP HIS COMMITMENT WHEN HE RAN OUT OF HIS CONTRACT TO NAVY - AND LIED TO ALL THOSE PLAYERS HE “COMMITTED” TO.

COACH IS AN A.S.S. He required 18 year old kids to commit and he gets to lie and break contracts.

PATHETIC.

By DJ

March 1, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this

First of all, you Pugs crack me up.

Paul Johnson = 1 Hypocrite Richt = 0

Adoption, church, etc. doesn’t take away that the thug factor in Athens is MUCH higher. Sure, we’ve got a few, but please don’t try to count them on both sides. It’s lopsided, and you ALL know it.

And USNA Grad, please tell us all the bad pub Coach Johnson brought to Navy? I’ll be waiting for a while I’m sure for that answer.

By Larry

March 1, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

Notice how the Tech coach said they would have recruited him up to a point where they would say “Hey we’ve got to know something or we have to move on.”

I have no doubt in my mind that the coach was saying that during the weekend Aycock was there. He was letting him know that they were filling schollies at his position and if he didn’t committ then, it wasn’t guaranteed.

Johnson was tired of having to work at recruiting a kid, which is part of the business. He keeps whining about how they recruited him for a year without getting a commitment. Look at how many highly rated kids pick schools on signing day, and the quality of the programs that get those big name kids - Florida, Bama, USC, LSU, etc. Those schools get the talented players because they are willing to work up to the very end to get them. Those schools also recruit players for sometimes two to three years. If you get tired of recruiting a player, you are not going to win over players who want to play for the coaches who will recruit them to the very end. Johnson demonstrates that he is not ready to recruit with the big boys yet.

And besides that, why did he let Aycock make a “silent commitment”? I mean, he tries to cover his a* by saying he made him call Louisville, but if he is this “no bs in recruiting” coach as he preaches from his pulpit, why did he let him do it in the first place? It was all over the recruiting networks that there was a possible silent commitment, but Johnson let it continue to be a secret instead of actually making the commitment public. Johnson is hypocritical in that very point because he NEVER made Aycock go public with the commitment. Then, when Auburn called, Johnson got SCARED and put pressure on a 17 year old.

If Johnson was smart, he would have told Aycock to go look because he wanted him to be sure he wanted to go to Tech and that a visit to Auburn would have assured him of that. Instead of selling his program, he laid down an ultimatum that Aycock saw right through - that Tech was scared of Auburn recruiting their players.

It is plain and simple. Johnson was classless/hypocritical and now is trying to defend himself against the words of a 17-year old kid in the newspaper.

By SlimG

March 1, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this

Don’t u love a good ‘ol fashion p** contest. Didn’t know bees could accomplish that one, but hey they did put someone in outer space.

It’s snowing in Atlanta! Wow

Reality here again. The kid wanted freedom to choose, and Paul wanted the kid to come to Georgia Tech. Plain and Simple. Plain, hahahahaha…..

By TJ

March 1, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this

Hey Doug C., yeah we got four national titles you worthless redneck piece of shiate. Got a question for you areshole, Do any of your female fans have any dignity? They looked like a bunch of two dollar hoes to me.

By Keeping It Real

March 1, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this

I hope Aycock does well at Auburn with no injuries and moves on to the NFL to make a lot of money like Johnson and Richt. Who gives a damn about what these two hypocritical coaches have to say when they are making millions on the backs of these young players. Get real.

By dap01

March 1, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this

Johnson kind of give you a warm feeling huh?

Maybe that is one of the many reasons that Tech struggles to have 45,000 in a 55,000 seat stadium.

By root4au

March 1, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this

Let’s see…play at GT in front of 50k or AU and 87k..I’d take AU as well..

By hryder

March 1, 2009 3:22 PM | Link to this

I left college coaching permanently over forty years ago when the top tennis player in Arizona signed with another school even though his sister was attending my school and he was going to have a full scholarship. Later, I learned he had the use of an auto, two bedroom apartment apartment, and all educational expenses paid at the other school. This still occurs in almost all sports but is largely ignored unless the cheating becomes too blatant. My athletic director informed each coach prior to being hired that you were gone if you knowingly signed and/or did not report such incidents to him in writing and verbally telling him which athletic supporters you suspected of providing such largess.

By The Big Bug

March 1, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this

I think I’ll tell my fiance that I just want to sample this other chick. No big deal. I just want sample it. Yeah! That’s the ticket!

By The Big Bug

March 1, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this

The only ballFormerNavyPlayer ever touched was his own. Give us a break!

By Huh?

March 1, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe Johnson is STILL ranting about this. Its borderline classless. Get over it and move on. This guy sounds more and more like a pompous windbag every single day.

By southerncomfort

March 1, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this

2003…..GT 17 AU 10……2005…GT 23 AU 14….then AU bought their way out of a neutral-site game in the Ga Dome…the A-d*s deserve A-c**

By DJ

March 1, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this

Navy Grad, still waiting. Seriously, bad press from Paul Johnson? Making Navy football relevant once again isn’t bad press, is it? And I love how all you Pugs are so upset with us little Yechies. Oooohh, for something, or should I say, somebody that doesn’t matter to you there sure is lots of venom on here. Hey, Roddy Jones just got bumped again, but he’s still running…………

By The Big Bug

March 1, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this

I agree with Huh? on this one. PJ has already clarified this issue. Why give the enemy more material. Take a cue from Richt on this one & blow it off.

By Supersize that order, mutt

March 1, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this

Damn, you poodle phuckers sure get riled up easy over other schools and coaches. It takes a lot of nerve to berate Coach Johnson for “hypocricy”, when you have Saint Mark (HA!) as coach. Richt is out of the Bobby Bowden and Bear Bryant school of “Christian coaches” (except they were both good coaches; Richt is only fair). All those mission trips and such seem pretty meaningless when, in order to fire up his about-to-fall-apart team, he not only allowed, but encouraged, breaking rules. The celebration rule may be a stupid petty rule, but it IS a rule, and “Saint Mark” in one short period of time in Jacksonville in 2007, said, “It’s ok to break rules, so long as the end justifies the means.” What a sterling example to set for young men! If you don’t like Johnson, or what he says or does, that’s your business, but don’t lower him to Richt’s level; he is FAR ABOVE that, and a better coach too. The years to come will prove that last statment to you, which, I guess, unfortunately will mean you pupps will post even more ridiculously stupid comments on these blogs.

By Julius Caesar

March 1, 2009 6:12 PM | Link to this

Hey, The Big Bug, are you using just one past name today? :) What about the “Hon. Sen……”. LMAO!

Your analogy of your and your fiance is about as limp as you. First, because I seriously doubt you have a fiance, and second, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Try this instead, you’re pursuing a lovely young lady who “silently” commits to be your girlfriend, but all the while you’re also pursuing another fine young lady to be your girlfriend yet she has publicly declared herself to be the girlfriend of another guy. Yes, that’s quite an example of integrity and character.

Let me close by reminding you of this - if you or anyone believes Aycock has character issues because he was visiting another college after SILENTLY committing to GT, then what does it say about Hill who PUBLICLY committed to UCF and changed his mind to go to GT?

By EW

March 1, 2009 7:14 PM | Link to this

Jerking a kids scholarship offer because he was trying to take advantage of his available visits with no indication of rescending his commitment, and then having the gall to blame the kid for not being committed to them? Huh? Seems like PJ wasnt commited to the kid and wanted an out instead of just saying he screwed up in recruiting him from the beginning. It is a shame that a professional would treat a kid like this. This would really discourage most athletes.

Honestly Tech is a mediocre football program (at best) and needs to stay present in decent recruits minds if they want to progress. These kids are going take their visits and will act like kids. If a coach acts so childish as this, then Tech will have no early commits (which will hurt other commitments) or will just be written of by the good athletes out there. The academics at Tech are a draw but whether they want to admit it or not the academics at many of the close schools (UGA, Auburn, S. Carolina, Clemson, etc) are superior or equal in all but their Engineering schools.

PJ needs to learn he is not at Ga. Southern (who would get leftovers anyway) or Navy (who had a very narrow recruiting window) and has to learn to recruit in the real world if Tech is going to progress further. One win over a rival does not a national power make.

By Technique

March 1, 2009 7:16 PM | Link to this

Football player going to Navy commit the to the Navy idiot, not a football coach.

By Thoughts

March 1, 2009 7:36 PM | Link to this

Okay, so obviously the UGA (and some stupid LSU and Auburn fans) are having a problem with CPJ. That’s fine with me. You guys just keep talking… I will agree with you on one thing, personally I’m not bragging about our victory over the Pups. I haven’t rubbed it in anyone’s face and don’t plan on it. Am I proud? Of course, but I do realize we are obviously losing the series head to head with Georgia.

On a further note…. If you Georgia fans are going to call out our “girls” at Tech, that’s seriously a low blow. And even worse if you make fun of the international and foreign students here. You have no idea how hard school is here, and making fun of the students is really sad…

Last… You guys make fun of our high school stadium and offense…what else do you have? Did the infamous Samford Stadium win you guys the SEC or NC last year….I don’t think so….

Go ahead though and keep embarrassing UGA though. You are only hurting yourself.

By DawgsRule

March 1, 2009 8:08 PM | Link to this

I’m no Tech fan, but Paul Johnson handled this the right way. A commitment means something—-if you don’t want to commit to a school, tell them, but don’t lie and start taking other visits. These prima donna athletes need to learn that the world will go on without them.

By SD

March 1, 2009 8:47 PM | Link to this

Yeah and calling UGA a “cow college” and our alumni trailer park dwellers is perfect etiquette? If you pick a fight don’t cry when someone bloodies your nose.

Recruiting is the life blood of a program. PJ would have continued to recruit him if Ayock had said he was not ready but he says screw him when Ayock commits but wants to visit Auburn? Hey, there is a reason that a commitment is not binding until national signing day.

Moreover, let’s not kid ourselves that college football is anything but a HUGE money making business. If a kid wants to “commit” to protect himself and then look for a better deal he is doing the exact same thing 90% of college coaches do when they dump their recruits to go to a bigger, better paying program. Didn’t Paul Johnson commit to the Naval Academy and his recruits and then dump them to go to GA Tech? Didn’t he commit to his recruits at GA Southern and then dump them to go to Naval Academy?

He is a self-righteous hypocrite.

By USNA Grad

March 1, 2009 10:36 PM | Link to this

Reading comprehension not your forte huh DJ? I didn’t say he created bad pub for USNA, but he will for you. Already has based on this Aycock debacle. The Academy’s problem with Johnson was some of his temper tantrums and disrespectful behavior toward the Academy itself and his attitude that he had gotten bigger than the place itself. Believe me. The Academy was glad to see him take his classless behavior and overblown ego on the road to Atlanta.

By BLAZER

March 2, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this

a win is a win 45-42- kinda like them people when

they beat florida so they should know the feeling.

why do they worry about other peoples attendance??

they should worry about their own things-like

finishing second in the sec east again.

By SavTechIE

March 2, 2009 10:34 AM | Link to this

Has a man’s word come to mean so little that it generates this much discussion?

By oledawg

March 2, 2009 10:47 AM | Link to this

Welcome to big time college football——————cry me a river. “We recruited him for a year”. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. This ain’t the Naval Academy.

By Do the Right Thing

March 2, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

There is another side of this coin as well as related to the recruitment process in general. My son was recruited by several 1AA schools and told by one in particular in Nov. that they were going to make him an offer in Jan and they also told his Asst. Head Coach in Dec. two weeks before the Christmas holidays the same thing. Well January came and gone (emails and calls placed to the program not returned) and they only informed his high school coaches after being pushed for a response just before Feb 4th that they were going another direction. We also had 3 additional schools that called and visited him and expressed strong interests that lead him to believe that he had a good shot at a scholarship with them. In the end these schools also did not have the common decency to reach back out to him to let him know what they were doing nor did they respond to emails and voicemails.

I understand that the universities in this process hold all the cards but at least have the decency to the right thing and reach out and inform the kids that are 18 years old what direction your program is taking and give them proper feedback. My son sure would have appreciated that courtesy as he even had thoughts of what he had done wrong etc. in the process.

The other negative is that the college programs need to also understand that when situations like this occur that it puts that school in a bad light with that staff and that they are much less likely to be welcome on that high school campus in the future.

By BIG bee

March 2, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this

TO ALL: When I was 18 years old indecision was the biggest thing in my life—-I think. Enough of this story, bring it on UGA, see you next Nov.

By Michael Hickman

March 2, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

Huh??

Stephen Hill was screwing with U(sic)GA. Sort of the same way I got U(sic)GA to offer me a full ride to their Agricultural Engineering School, then PAID to go to Tech.

By sidewalk74

March 2, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this

Stephen Hill did NOT take an official visit to UGAy. He decided to stick to his commitment. That is why his scholarship was not pulled. UGAy supporters go back to your own blog and try to figure out how your going to throw the ball with a kid that has never played a meaningful game in college. 45-42 still makes me smile. THWG !!!!!!!!!

By hey sidewalk74 moron

March 2, 2009 7:50 PM | Link to this

hey moron…

the clear logic that your coach was using was that once you commit you are done with the recruiting process.

hill didn’t take an official visit, but he certainly wasn’t “done” with the recruiting process.

moreover, cpj doesn’t ‘stop’ recruiting other schools players once they commit elsewhere.

he’s a load of crap.

finally, you’re last statement is wrong. joe cox has started and won on the road in the sec and lead 4th quarter comeback wins.

By Buwhahahha

March 2, 2009 11:15 PM | Link to this

hey mutts, just one question… does it still hurt?

45-42 Huh?

You just let two first rounders go, including, in St Mark’s words, “the best qb I’ve ever coached” and never even managed to win your own division.

Does it still hurt? 45-42

Too bad The Davids still aren’t on campus, I miss all those peewee football video montages.

45-42

By Melinda

March 3, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this

USNA Grad,

If the academy was so disenchanted with Johnson, why did they go to extraordinary lengths to keep him, each and every year? This per the athletic director? He led Navy to its first win over Notre Dame (and I don’t care what kind of season Notre Dame was having… Navy should NEVER beat them) in 43 years and his first comment was that he was glad for the academy because of the good exposure it would get them as an institution. He OWNED Army and Air Force, stressed the academics (Navy was first in graduation rate during his tenure) and supported the other athletic programs. I think you will find very few reporters that dislike him… most appreciate his honest answers to their questions.

RE: the coach signs a contract and leaves = not committed. Every coach in America who leaves one school for another does this. Johnson, however, never, ever denied that he would listen to offers (unlike Saban, etc.). He admitted it would be stupid not to do so.

Perhaps part of UGA’s problem with discipline/arrests and unfocused football play this year could be addressed by having the coach exert more control over his players and programs. This is not the pros where players and their egos have a lot of influence on a club. 18 year old recruits should not be the ones running the show at the college level. We all have to learn that their are consequences for our actions. Coach Johnson did the right thing.

By Maddog

March 3, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this

Buwhahahha, strange post. Of course, I didn’t expect much from a GT fan.

During the Stafford/Moreno and Greene/Pollack years, just what exactly did the mightly GT accomplish? I’ll help you in case you don’t remember - ONE win against UGA. And you claim to miss those days? LMAO

By RealityYech

March 4, 2009 7:34 AM | Link to this

Spin away for Saint Johnson AJC, spin, spin, spin!!! LOL!!!! BAWHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!

Nothing, and I repeat, N-O-T-H-I-N-G changes the fact that Saint Johnson is a hypocritical, lying douche. His recruitment of Stephen Hill AFTER he was already committed to UCF is in no way different than Aycock simply wanting to visit Auburn.

So Johnson gets his man thongs in a wad if a kid already committed to him does EXACTLY what Hill did to UCF.

That’s the moral of the story and exactly why Saint Johnson is a hypocritical douche :)