Johnson fends off NCAA questions at ACC meet

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PINEHURST, N.C. -- At breakfast on Monday, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson was asked when his football team would gather for fall camp, and he said Aug. 2.

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Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com Paul Johnson says he's done commenting on the NCAA investigation regarding Tech.

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"It can't get here soon enough," the coach added.

One reason for his eagerness revealed itself later in the day when he met with reporters at the ACC football kickoff at Pinehurst Resort. Media members came armed with questions about the NCAA sanctions levied against Tech on July 14.

After at least 18 questions about the NCAA investigation, ruling and penalties, Johnson decided he'd had his fill.

"I'm not even going to comment on that anymore," Johnson said in an even tone after parrying with a writer. "I've answered all I’m going to answer about that."

A few times during the hour-long session, Johnson grew agitated but held his composure. He smiled in disbelief at the persistence of the questions. He framed a number of different answers with his desire to move on.

He was asked if he had learned anything from the NCAA investigation process, and Johnson replied that he hadn't. He said, as he hadn't been involved in one before and wasn't that involved in this one. A series of follow-up questions ensued, including one concerning what he took away from the experience.

"I take away that I'm going to move on," said Johnson, looking back at his questioner. "How about you?"

Johnson revealed better information at other points. He said he had spoken with former wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, whom the NCAA had ruled guilty of a preferential treatment violation for accepting $312 worth of clothes from his cousin's roommate.

Johnson said Thomas was frustrated and felt he had done nothing wrong. He said a team meeting informing players of the penalties on the day the NCAA ruling was released would probably be the last time he talked to the team about the matter, "Unless I can use it for motivation somewhere."

Johnson defended athletic director Dan Radakovich and school president G.P. "Bud" Peterson, saying "they're not going to do anything that's dishonest or anything else." Asked if he knew if rival coaches in recruiting had begun to use the NCAA's findings of misconduct that resulted in four years' probation, a $100,000 fine and the removal of the 2009 ACC title, Johnson said, "I’m sure people are going to use whatever they can use, but the good news is that, moving forward, I don't think it affects us from a [scholarship] standpoint or from whatever, so we try to stay positive that way."

He declined to give an opinion on whether or not Tech should appeal the ruling or if the penalties were fair.

"I learned a long time ago what I want doesn't matter a lot of the times," he said.

Johnson likely would have welcomed questions about whether defenses had caught up to his spread-option offense, a topic that has rankled him in the past.

He caught a break when North Carolina coach Butch Davis took a seat at a table no more than 20 feet away for his interview session. Davis, whose program is under NCAA investigation for improper benefits and academic misconduct, drew several reporters from Johnson's table. Football-centric questioning followed. The hour ended and soon after Johnson was on his way back to Atlanta.

"I'm looking forward to [starting practice]," Johnson said. "I'd be telling a story if I wasn't."