Georgia Tech will close practices
Following an unfortunate trend in college athletics, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has decided to close all football practices to the media and public.
The Yellow Jackets begin practice on Thursday.
Practices were open throughout August during Johnson’s first season two years ago. The first two weeks were open last season.
Johnson isn’t the first coach to walk down this path. Mark Richt at Georgia has closed their practices, for example.
But it does strike me as odd.
In a business that is growingly full of contol-focused men, Johnson has always had a refreshingly practical view of the job and sport.
He also has seemingly never been concerned about other’s views of him or his offense, saying things like “it doesn’t matter what system, it’s about beating the guy in front of you,” or “they’ve got 20 years of film, and they haven’t stopped it yet.”
No reason was given, but I’m sure Johnson will be asked on Thursday.
I would assume that growing social-media trend (youtube, twitter facebook, blogs) is a factor in his decision.
Do you care that practices are closed?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
165 comments Add your comment
Ken Adams
August 3rd, 2010
11:05 am
No. There is some advantage in the element of surprise. If others are closing practice sessions, why shouldn’t we?
jkt4life
August 3rd, 2010
11:06 am
If it helps get more wins, more power to him. It’s his team/job!
GMan
August 3rd, 2010
11:11 am
No.
Steady GT Fan
August 3rd, 2010
11:16 am
A closed practice allows you to try new things, work out the problems, try it again, get better and prepare for the season. New things will work well as long as they work within a good system, but sometime it takes time to get them to work within the system. I like it.
Golden Tornado
August 3rd, 2010
11:18 am
Something new is brewing.Shotgun maybe?
THWG
August 3rd, 2010
11:19 am
I think if you are going to play with the big boys, you gotta act like the big boys. Close them, and close them for good. GO PJ!!!
WreckIt
August 3rd, 2010
11:20 am
I hear it’s so we can practice running a new fangled play that’s going to revolutionize the game. My sources in the Institute say that Coach calls it the “forward pass.” Sounds like the devil’s voodoo to me.
AtWork
August 3rd, 2010
11:23 am
I don’t it amounts to anything. Maybe a reporter said something to him to tick him off and they ruined it for everyone else. Could be that he wants to try something different. I don’t think if affects anything except the people trying to report from camp.
Less distractions and more focus is all i see.
dawgfansmakemelaugh
August 3rd, 2010
11:23 am
I don’t care a bit. I’m sure he is doing what he thinks is best for the team and the school.
AtWork
August 3rd, 2010
11:24 am
I don’t THINK* it…
Doug Roberson
August 3rd, 2010
11:26 am
So this assumption is that Georgia Tech didn’t try anything new the past couple of years? That seemed to do OK with them some of the practices being open.
snapshot
August 3rd, 2010
11:28 am
As they should be.
Paul in RDU
August 3rd, 2010
11:31 am
After the agent issues at UNC, SC, etc. I don’t blame CPJ for closing practices
gt
August 3rd, 2010
11:33 am
Do you care if we win or lose? If PJ thinks practice should be closed it is generally believed it is for the good of the team. What the press fails to tell us is many times this has nothing to do with secrets, the poor football team can’t run its plays because the reporters and such think the players are cattle and need to be right in the middle of them as the run pass patterns or whatever else. There is a fine line between cheap entertainment and journalism with the sport’s media. They take the protections of the press, the perks of a fat man, and the income of an entertainer and then report a violation of the press as if they were serious reporters in the battle fields of Iraq, weeks on end.
beauvighn
August 3rd, 2010
11:37 am
It is not so much someone seeing a particular play or scheme that you might run but if a player is injured during practice or is in a non contact jersey, that would be all over the internet for your opponent to see. This way PJ can control a lot of information and mis-information that may give an opponent a slight advantage.
aztec
August 3rd, 2010
11:37 am
aztecs also have closed practics, not that anyone would show up anyway.
VegasGT
August 3rd, 2010
11:39 am
He’s the coach and the person ultimately responsible for wins and losses. If he wants practices closed, so be it. Do I really care? NO.
I would think the pros of closed practices far outweigh the cons. Eliminate potential distractions, keep things secret you want to keep secret (strengths and weaknesses), emphasizes FOCUS. he only real con I can think of is keeping the press happy and feeling like they are a part of the team/environment, smoothing their egos a bit, but there are other ways to accomplish that.
Given the offensive style, changes to personnel and the defensive change, I would have to believe that closed practices are more about focus than anything else.
bobbydoddsghost
August 3rd, 2010
11:40 am
What Would Damon Do?
wondering
August 3rd, 2010
11:42 am
so does this means that Tech fans shouldn’t complain when they feel like they’re not getting the media coverage they think they should get?
little honey bee from the hood
August 3rd, 2010
11:42 am
uh oh.
its obvious that he doesnt want people outside of the programto see just how bad they SUCK this coming year.
GO GA STATE!!!!!
Tech82
August 3rd, 2010
11:43 am
In the world of YouTube I’m surprised ANY school opens their practices. Programs have too much to lose and nothing to gain by opening practices.
Cuttysark
August 3rd, 2010
11:43 am
How many people are allowed to show up at anyone’s place of employment? Maybe at a PTA conference. I think that Coach Paul Johnson can run his organization anyway he chooses. He is the CEO and we can see the finished product once the season begins on September 4, 2010 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. For more Georgia Tech Football articles go to http://isportsweb.com. Go Jackets!
Dave from GT
August 3rd, 2010
11:45 am
Red panties syndrome.
Robert
August 3rd, 2010
11:46 am
I am with the coach 100%. It is sad for me personaly, because I had always planned on attending a lot of Tech football practices when I retired. Well, I retired in February, so my long time plans are down the drain. I blame it on people being unable to watch practice and keep it a secret. They seem to want to be the one who scoops the world on what the team is doing. Shame on them.
StingerSplash
August 3rd, 2010
11:52 am
When Paul was at Georgia Southern, the practice fields were right next to the busiest intersection in town. You could watch practice from your car at the traffic signal (and yes, there is more than one in the Boro). A lot of the older supporters and fans would be there to watch, every day, and if someone missed a practice — a fan, not a player — they heard about it from the other fans the next day. They also kept watch, seeing if anybody looked out of place or unfamiliar. They were very protective of their Eagles.
But closing them at Southern wasn’t exactly an option, either. Logistically, it wasn’t that simple, unless he wanted to go to the stadium to practice.
Doug Roberson
August 3rd, 2010
11:52 am
vegas gt….egos don’t have if anything to do with it. It’s more about providing information to you, the fans.
Stinger
August 3rd, 2010
11:53 am
Good decision. We don’t want the enemies to know what hit them. Paul Johsnon is the man.
WDE
August 3rd, 2010
11:53 am
Do we really need to have reporters at practice? When you think about it- where is the sense in that at all? It is all about hyping your team- and guess what, PJ has never cared one anyone said or thinks. It’s why we win and it’s the personality of GT football, for better-or-worse.
I think it’s pretty B.A. that he closed practices, it removes a bunch of distractions. All that ever comes out of practice reporting is speculation, and there’s no point in having your players reading that stuff online. Build the program mindset the way you want to as coach.
Doug Roberson
August 3rd, 2010
12:00 pm
I would be curious what speculation you’ve seen reported…
George
August 3rd, 2010
12:01 pm
If closing practice will help, do it! I tire of the mindless dribble about training camp reporting anyway. It doesn’t matter till it matters! And right now, it doesn’t matter.
GTax
August 3rd, 2010
12:03 pm
OK GA STATE Fan,
I am a GSU alum. and a GT football fan and a GSU fan soon, but come on, let’s not even get on a Tech or UGA blog until we have played some football. GT doesn’t affect GSU this year and won’t for a long time. GSU has no bragging right whatsoever over Tech or UGA for that matter. Best to keep it inside.
Ted
August 3rd, 2010
12:10 pm
If a single GT opponent closes their practice, then we should too.
POAD
August 3rd, 2010
12:15 pm
It is football not an attack on a Taliban stronghold. Let people see practice.
YoungDawg
August 3rd, 2010
12:18 pm
Practices should be closed. He’s probably making this move so that the new D & wrinkles on O are not reported on. He’s adding the shotgun & possibly other things to the O, they showed some of it in the Spring Game, therefore closing practices forces teams to at least prepare for that possibility.
DogDo
August 3rd, 2010
12:25 pm
Southern Cal used to have a “Y’ll come” policy for practices; the more, the better. When the axe fell, the first thing they did was close the practices. Good policy. Too many idiots, agents, and enemies out there to invite them in. We’ll show everyone what we can do (#1 rushing offense) on game day.
GT BABY
August 3rd, 2010
12:32 pm
HELLO….
GT BABY
August 3rd, 2010
12:33 pm
WHY ISNT ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT THE 6′6″ WIDE RECEIVER WE JUST GOT OVER THE WEEKEND??? LOOK UP THE NEXT CALVIN JOHNSON……JEFF GREENE!
wombat
August 3rd, 2010
12:33 pm
I care, but I don’t care so much that I’ll call the GTAA to object. It’s his team, and things are a whole lot different than just 10 years ago.
Techwreck
August 3rd, 2010
12:35 pm
Rumor has it that Tech now is practicing the tickle piles naked…therefore the practices are now closed.
TXDawg
August 3rd, 2010
12:36 pm
GT Baby – Maybe because your offense doesn’t necessarily mean much to receivers, unless Nesbitt is throwing a desperation pass because the run is stuffed.
kevin
August 3rd, 2010
12:36 pm
Maybe they are trying to install an arm that works on Nesbitt.
Bungle Bee
August 3rd, 2010
12:41 pm
There closing practice in anticipation of playing in front of no one on game day, LOL, here comes the RAID bug fans, the beat down is gonna be great, remember 51-7 bugs? BUWHAAAAAAAAA!
Tech Fan Since 1950
August 3rd, 2010
12:43 pm
There is no such thing as a closed practice at Georgia Tech, unless Tech ever builds an indoor practice facility or works out at the Georgia Dome. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out formations viewed from the countless skyscrapers surrounding the Tech campus. Look all you want to world, you are not going to stop the Triple Option (or Quadruple with Shotgun) or penetrate the 3-4 Defense on a regular basis.
St. Clarrkston
August 3rd, 2010
12:44 pm
No one observing practice? It’ll be just like a home game. Tech will struggle to make ends meet financially with no UGA home game this year.
Bungle Bee
August 3rd, 2010
12:46 pm
No I got it, they’re closing practice because their afraid some HS will steal the GT offensive scheme, LOL!
Bungle Bee
August 3rd, 2010
12:47 pm
C-cup Johnson lost his bra!
bb
August 3rd, 2010
12:50 pm
It’s a good move. There is way too much information in todays world. Sometimes too much information is a problem. With the internet, blogs, twitter, etc., etc. there is way to much made of every play and move in practices.
It’s practice for heavens sake. The players should have to worry about every play being over-analyzed by, maybe or maybe not well-meaning, fans and media.
The AJC can’t and shouldn’t use this as an accuse to ignore GT (though they probably will). There is plenty of coverage today in the AJC on UGA’s opening of practice, which has been pointed out is closed.
GT BABY
August 3rd, 2010
12:59 pm
txdawg- thats why we put the number 1 receiver in the nfl last year, you f&*king idiot!
Bob in SF
August 3rd, 2010
1:04 pm
As some have mentioned already, I think we’re going to see some shotgun installed during that time. The concepts of the shotgun spread option are very similar to what they already do, I don’t think it will be much of a stretch to insert that formation.
GT Alum
August 3rd, 2010
1:06 pm
Anyone consider that it’s Al Groh who wants this? Did Groh do this at UVA?
Habersham Dawg
August 3rd, 2010
1:11 pm
Paul in RDU is most likely correct.
Johnson is an intelligent man. If he closed practices, it isn’t because he’s afraid someone might figure out his offensive schemes, it’s because there are undesirables hanging around that he doesn’t want around his players, like agents or agents’s bird-dogs.
H15
August 3rd, 2010
1:11 pm
Close them… Shotgun with 5 Wide should suprise them.
POAD
August 3rd, 2010
1:21 pm
First O play of the year will be NESBITT keeping the ball and going for 8 yards. 2nd play a pitch wide to Roddy fo a 1st down. 3rd play is a deep pass to Melton for a 20 yrd+ gain.
Next question?
Kay
August 3rd, 2010
1:21 pm
Whatever Paul Johnson wants to do to prepare his team should be fine with any and all tech Fans!!!
Goooo Jackets!
Luke
August 3rd, 2010
1:29 pm
Won’t matter in a few years. Rumor has from higher ups that there is an indoor practice facility in the works.
Voice of Reason
August 3rd, 2010
1:31 pm
Maybe CPJ is going to change his archaic offense to something more “workable”. Like coming into the twenty first century? Let’s face it, as long as academics are key, Tech is not going to be a power, yes power! How often is GT listed with the top national teams. Yes, Wake and even Duke can get lucky every once in awhile, but it is always very short lived. Keep the academics, less emphasis on football.
addicted
August 3rd, 2010
1:34 pm
I think the agent comment is spot on.
Its not for secrecy etc. (you can just enter Klaus and watch the entire practice if you want) but rather to avoid unwarranted contact with players.
RDR
August 3rd, 2010
2:04 pm
Does it really matter?? Let me guess……….new blocking schemes? Some new pass routes? Delay the reality of how bad the team is going to be this year? All the above??
athens inbreds
August 3rd, 2010
2:06 pm
CPJ SHOULD CLOSE PRACTICE..why? because idiots are J E A L O U S..they pretend they do not care but they cannot stand CPJ’s success…and want to spy on him and the team…it is nobody’s business good for him
Doug Roberson
August 3rd, 2010
2:09 pm
An indoor practice facility isn’t a rumor. I’ve reported on it.
As for agents at practices, that is likely the last place you would find an agent or employee or representative of an agent.
Chad
August 3rd, 2010
2:10 pm
Practice? Are we talking about Practice!?!
Seriously, it has always cracked me up that anybody would want to go to a practice. If you’ve been to more than 2 practices, they should just stamp a D on your forehead for dork. Spring game doesn’t count, it’s a at least a fake game.
No Worries
August 3rd, 2010
2:12 pm
In Paul we trust
Steady GT Fan
August 3rd, 2010
2:18 pm
The great thing about this decision is that it show PJ is serious about competing this year. “I think we will be competitive” – PJ
WDE
August 3rd, 2010
2:21 pm
I’m not talking about any particular reporting… but there are benefits of my team having a secured and positive practice environment vs. having the media and other people on the field disecting their every move and play. Save the outside scrutiny for the season.
This way, the players have no choice but to be focused on their preparations and how the play is developing in front of them during practice. Don’t have to worry about the onlookers until the games get started.
wxwax
August 3rd, 2010
2:42 pm
So what’s the reason for closing practices?
Is it because the coach has secret plays?
Not likely.
So I guess the internet is the reason.
It’s not just the newspaper that reports on daily events. The sensational-hungry internet, where everything is the most spectacular, disastrous thing ever — until the next day’s most spectacular, disastrous thing ever — may be harming team chemistry and player concentration.
Or do you really think it’s an attempt to shelter players from would-be agents?
Onomatopeia
August 3rd, 2010
2:44 pm
Bungle Bee must have failed out of 2nd grade language arts.. (their vs. there vs. they’re) I know…it’s just so confusing for the simple minded.
Close the practices…never understood why they were open to the public anyway. But if you want a great viewing spot just go to the Ford ES&T or the Molecular Science & Engineering building and hang out in the glass window stairwells. That is what I did the past few seasons in grad school.
BG
August 3rd, 2010
2:45 pm
Ole Paul is teaching the freshmen how to chop block. I hope the ACC throws a flag on tech when one of their players does an illegal chop block on another player.
O'Keefe Gym Strangler
August 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
C’mon BG, why would would one go high and the other go low when both could cut him?
And exactly how many opposing players have we injured by cutting since CPJ took over? None that I can remember. Correct me if I’m wrong.
spectator
August 3rd, 2010
2:50 pm
I think it makes a lot of sense to close practice. I doubr they are doing it to keep reporters out since reporters wouldn’t know what they were looking at anyway.
Tony
August 3rd, 2010
2:53 pm
It doesn’t matter what the coach decided to do. He’s the coach and it’s hs perogative. Just play ball!
Hidden Surprises
August 3rd, 2010
2:57 pm
Does the public care about Broadway play practices? No, they just want the real production to go well when they pay money for a ticket to go see it. Same with us and our teams.
But i do realize, though, that sports writers need something to attend/see/hear — because without that, they have nothing to write about. Sort of diminishes the quality of their work. So, how about writing about the “what-ifs” that come from supposings and speculations on the season? We all like to hypothesize.
John Jackson
August 3rd, 2010
2:57 pm
I’m just hoping the lame new rule on cut blocks doesn’t ruin our season. Beamer threw a big enough whine and cheese party to get the rule changed so we can only do cut blocks when both players are in exact North South positions. That is absurd and what the flags fly and our drives fail. Mark my words…
Hidden Surprises
August 3rd, 2010
3:03 pm
By the way go to the following YouTube video to see Allen Iverson’s take on practice. Hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
The sound of a falling tree in an empty forest...
August 3rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Zen master says: “Is practice really closed, if no one wanted to watch any way?”
NYJacket
August 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
Great move by Coach Johnson.
PJ's a genius
August 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
He’s not protecting secrets, he’s simulating game day attendance conditions.
He’s got that PE degree from Western Carolina working at peak capacity.
jarvis
August 3rd, 2010
3:14 pm
I have to agree with NYJacket. Media is just an unneeded distraction at practice.
Also, what’s up with the formatting of the blog? Is it just my view, or does it look like poetry to everyone?
Take deep breaths
August 3rd, 2010
3:16 pm
Seriously… going through life pissed off and paranoid cannot be a healthy choice…
Reality
August 3rd, 2010
3:21 pm
It’s a good idea from PJ. I am thinking that he will be installing even more of his offensive package, so why allow others to tape it? In addition, the new defensive scheme (while not new) would be another element.
Lonely Truth-teller
August 3rd, 2010
3:26 pm
One thing you can count on with Paul Johnson is that he has a reason behind every action. Just wait and see what the “system” looks like this fall and you will likely be surprised…and so will the opponents. Go Jackets!
michael
August 3rd, 2010
3:26 pm
just don’t black-out the games.
FanAttic All this is much ado about nothing! Coach Paul is the man, it's his team and his call.
August 3rd, 2010
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
ArkyTech
August 3rd, 2010
3:43 pm
Getting the shot gun ready for UNC.
pws
August 3rd, 2010
3:49 pm
DR: Are you upset because you can’t go to practice and now have to come up with other topics to write about other than practice? Sounds a little like you are going to have to do some work now.
Paul Johnson
August 3rd, 2010
3:50 pm
I don’t want the media laughing at the guys.
punch your GF all the Jackets are doing it!
August 3rd, 2010
3:59 pm
Watch your local high school team practice it is the same thing!
No Girls at GT
August 3rd, 2010
4:01 pm
I can see it now…
Coach Johnson (belching fire): “Practice is cloooosssssed! Everybody else get out!”
Football assistant: “But Coach, there’s no one else here anyway. What difference does it make?”
Coach Johnson (continues belching fire setting a trash can ablaze): “I don’t give a rat’s @#$%^! I said close it! I’m not gonna let ‘em see our practice, especially if they don’t want to. %^&*@#$ media…. I’ll show them. It’s a conspiracy, I tell you. The AJC hates Tech…”
BartBuzz
August 3rd, 2010
4:04 pm
I support whatever Coach Johnson thinks will make GT football better. Close practices adds a bit of mystique.
Go Jackets!
Jerry
August 3rd, 2010
4:06 pm
Yeah, this is something I always enjoyed doing in the past. Being retired and with time on my hands, going to the practices was a form of entertainment and a way to spend some time with my buddies and do some amateur coaching among ourselves. I will miss going down there.
Go Jackets!
RDR
August 3rd, 2010
4:11 pm
PJ’s a genius
August 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
He’s not protecting secrets, he’s simulating game day attendance conditions
PJ – I think you’re on to something here.
RDR
August 3rd, 2010
4:16 pm
Ahahahahahaha!!
killerj
August 3rd, 2010
4:20 pm
No,pumpkin eaters always cheat! THWG!
GTFan
August 3rd, 2010
4:33 pm
It doesn’t matter to me, I’ve waited so long for football to start this season that what’s another couple of weeks, or month for that matter?
Dawghater
August 3rd, 2010
4:34 pm
No one cares how practice went. It’s about winning on the field. PJ can do whatever he wants to make the team better.
JMB
August 3rd, 2010
4:35 pm
Easy way around this would be to head to the Ford environmental science building and watch with a nice view and AC
UGAY REALLY STANDS FOR JOE DIRT
August 3rd, 2010
5:12 pm
Doug, any arrests at ugay to report on? Man, those guys are due for an arrest like a virgin losing her virginity on prom night! Any ugay fan want to bet that you don’t get beat by spurrier and ryan mallet this year?? I’m ready to run some small on it. Ugay 5 loses in 2010….BANK ON IT!!! Usc,Ark, Uf, Aub, and cpj will go 2-0 in athens. The wildcard is miss st for ugay. GT beat them worse than the gators did last year and i think that game will be very close. Actually we could see 6 loses at ugay and hell kentucky isn’t an easy game for the leghumpers either anymore. SEE LAST YEARS GAME IN ATHENS!
THWG
bonnie raitt
August 3rd, 2010
5:16 pm
lets give em somethin to talk about.
swimdawg68
August 3rd, 2010
5:25 pm
Closed practice by Tech, that is hilarious, I can watch that offense at most high schools in Atlanta metro. Nov. 27th, 2010 another 55 gallon drum of whup-a** will be poured all over the trade school boys once again. All the closed practices this fall will make no difference.
bonnie raitt
August 3rd, 2010
5:26 pm
how about love?
bonnie raitt
August 3rd, 2010
5:28 pm
that special feeling between two or more men in tight white pants…
Hey, PJ closing practice is starting to make sense now…
bonnie raitt
August 3rd, 2010
5:31 pm
Ewww… that’s just not right… nobody wants to see that…
anybody but gt
August 3rd, 2010
5:41 pm
No one wants to see that high school crap offense anyway. It is what you run when you don’t have players and you can’t coach. Also when your coach is a negative jerk who says nothing positive about anybody.
Paul in RDU
August 3rd, 2010
5:47 pm
Doug – I don’t mean to be argumentative, but agents were all over USC’s practices.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/30/usc-finally-ban-agents-and-financial-advisors-from-practice/
BuzzGT
August 3rd, 2010
5:53 pm
I wish that UGA would open their practices. Then all of the UGA fans that love to hover around the GT boards would have something else to do.
POAD
August 3rd, 2010
5:53 pm
I guess UGA is going to run buses to the downtown Athens bars to get drunks to watch Parctice and Pee and crap on the field to make the UGA players feel at home just like on game day.
POAD
August 3rd, 2010
5:55 pm
UGA did oprn their practices but the fans have to stan in t 2 foot ditch so A MURRY will look tall.
POAD
August 3rd, 2010
5:56 pm
Red Panties will be free to hide your eyes when A Murry throws a pass.
DawgBone
August 3rd, 2010
6:41 pm
Does playing football at GT come with an instruction book for each player??
Tim
August 3rd, 2010
6:49 pm
Just like Bear Bryant closed practices readying for UCLA he surprised the Bruins with the wishbone….. never mind.
sad little bees
August 3rd, 2010
7:33 pm
it’s funny how one victory in forever makes an acc team feel like they are somehow relative. maybe johnson is installing the single wing. such new ideas that come out of top secret practices. how “get smartish.” maybe next will be the cone of silence. lmao
Athens, Georgia
August 3rd, 2010
7:41 pm
.
Nesbitt for Heisman
.
richard cranium
August 3rd, 2010
7:46 pm
To heck with the media. If PJ wants to keep an element of surprise, let him do it – makes sense to me, especially with this years scheming.
Uh oh, now the media will turn on PJ like Bo (brainless) Bock did a few years back. GT didn’t give him access, so then he started spewing bad things about GT.
Hey, here’s some info… IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU MR. MEDIA DICK …!!!
Go cover the Clarke County Correctional Institute in Athens. There’s a 70% chance of an arrest tomorrow.
Trash.
THWG.
Reality
August 3rd, 2010
7:55 pm
So many ugag folks here. So much jealously. Try to win your own division this year, okay? Maybe then you can ‘woof’ and it’ll mean something other than amusing for everyone else.
wesleywhatwhat
August 3rd, 2010
9:01 pm
nesbitt for heisman
http://twitpic.com/2be0py
no. 9 says “why do we need to hold open practices?”
south eastern chumps
August 3rd, 2010
9:20 pm
good for CPJ..because it is nobody’s B I Z N E S S, dogpoops. And you media types can go write about the quarterbacks in the sec and good luck with that cr@p
Triple Option Back
August 3rd, 2010
9:45 pm
Reality, I doubt you were amused while hearing the “woofing” the last time GT played UGA… And what means more than a head to head victory? UGA won your conference last year. South Carolina was the runner-up.
Doug the Jacket
August 3rd, 2010
9:51 pm
No. Good move, new wrinkles will be installed. Go Jackets!
GT Rich
August 3rd, 2010
9:56 pm
I’ll miss stopping by after work, but I imagine it is his desire to keep building on the playbook and to keep the 3-4 under wraps. We should cruise by SC St and Kansas, so these new wrinkles will have more impact for UNC.
Time Out
August 3rd, 2010
11:13 pm
Paul Johnson needs to punch himself in the face. The guy is a complete tool.
wiggy
August 3rd, 2010
11:39 pm
Time out, the fool is you. P.J. is your worst nightmare, book it. He has your number. One more time like the last time between the hedges.
frank james
August 3rd, 2010
11:45 pm
I would close practice just because that is the way it is suppose to be. Media can talk before or after practice. Practice should be just the team.
wiggy
August 3rd, 2010
11:47 pm
I guess all you UGAG fans have passed out. Great to be number one in party schools. The football team will never reach the lofty status you have set. Go p???s in the streets like always.
Tokyo jacket
August 4th, 2010
12:24 am
John Jackson, you’re way off dude. The officials will actually be helping us this year. They did a piece on it where they trained refs NOT to call incidental contact chop blocking (i.e. when one lineman cut blocks LOW, and another’s shoulder accidentally brushes the D lineman while he’s on his way to make a second level block). This is good news for Tech.
The rule change is that you can no longer come back toward the line of scrimmage to make a blindsided block. Those are dangerous and generally take a player out of the game with a “neck stinger” (which is actually a mild form of whiplash). Tech rarely does that. The last one I remember was from 5 years ago.
Tokyo jacket
August 4th, 2010
12:30 am
By the way, I would have liked to get daily reports from practice. However, if CPJ thinks it’s best, I can agree with whatever he thinks. He’s the head coach, he wins, and he makes the right adjustments both during the game and during the offseason.
Conyers Yellow Jacket
August 4th, 2010
4:17 am
I do not believe it matters (open or closed practices) except to fans
who may truly like to watch them. As for the media, they can get and report
info. that the coaches want the public to know about AFTER practices.
Al Groh
August 4th, 2010
6:01 am
Al Groh infuence
And the winner is.........
August 4th, 2010
6:35 am
So Coach Johnson close the practices? Guess he wants to simulate game day situations with half empty stadiums.
Old Gold
August 4th, 2010
7:17 am
Doug,
Stop whining. So it makes your job a little harder. The rest of us trust that if CPJ thinks it’s best for the team, then so be it. Go get an “easier” job if you don’t like it.
GaTech is irrelevent
August 4th, 2010
8:17 am
a nothing story about a nothing school
GSP Informant
August 4th, 2010
8:22 am
CPJ just got arrested fo DUI. When the cops pulled him over, he had Al Groh’s depends in his lap!
Bill
August 4th, 2010
8:42 am
Open practice is a distraction to the players. Good for Coach Johnson. Maybe Richt will too.
Obama
August 4th, 2010
8:44 am
GSP wanna be…not in your life time, idiot.
calhoundawg
August 4th, 2010
8:47 am
Unless they’re changing a lot from last year, we’ve already seen it anyway …Go Dawgs !!!!!!!
Fire Paul Bewitt
August 4th, 2010
8:53 am
Thats already been said by Coach Johnson “calhoundawg” . GT’s not doing it for U puppies…was Richt doing it for GT ? Don’t believe that trash!
LMFAO
August 4th, 2010
9:10 am
Word is CPJ didn’t want all two of the reporters that normally come to Tech’s practice bothering them.
GTman
August 4th, 2010
9:41 am
One thing you can be sure of is that he is not doing it to keep other people from seeing what we are working on. CPJ doesn’t care that the D knows what we are going to do. He says “here is what we are running now see if you can stop it”.
With all that has gone on with agents, parties, and other outside distractions, I think he is trying to limit that contact with our players that will get them and the team in trouble.
Whatever the reason, you can bet CPJ makes his decisions based on what is best for GT football!
In God I trust. In CPJ I trust for doing what is best for GT football.
Go Jackets!
buffaloe springfield
August 4th, 2010
10:08 am
Paranoia cuts deep, it starts when you’re always afraid.
dawgfan
August 4th, 2010
10:58 am
Just remember, there’s nothing dumber than a Georgia Bulldog.
GSP Informant
August 4th, 2010
11:02 am
Word is Damon Evans’ wife forces him to wear red panties now with a big Georgia G on them as punishmnet for his indiscretion and a reminder that he went to a crappy school.
GSP Informant
August 4th, 2010
11:05 am
Oops I thought I was on a Dawg blog. Disregard my post
UGA DAWG 1978
August 4th, 2010
11:06 am
EVERYONE already knows what you are running. Why close practices. The nerds want to see so they can all yank each others junk in front of CPJ.
LMFAO
August 4th, 2010
11:07 am
GTman – don’t worry no agents are trying to talk with GT players. Maybe some High School coaches who are trying to figure out how to run the option better.
DawgsGiveGoodBJ's
August 4th, 2010
11:10 am
CPJ is obviously not too worried about people seeing his offense. People have been running this offense for YEARS…ever since the game of football was invented. With the athletes that CPJ is now bringing in, our offense will be putting up HUGE numbers! Another defensive scheme with players that have a great deal of talent! It still cracks me up to hear UGA fans talk about what they did 2 yrs ago (oh wait….45-42..nevermind) 8 yrs ago, 12 yrs ago, 39 yrs ago, etc. Swimdawg68…take your redneck, cousin lovin’, gay bark elsewhere…we don’t care to hear it. THWG!!
DawgsGiveGoodBJ's
August 4th, 2010
11:12 am
Or even last year! Oh wait the Dawgs ran all over us last year. 30-24! Nevermind!
UGA DAWG 1978
August 4th, 2010
11:19 am
Nesbitt for Heisman is an absolute hilarity. The boy doesn’t have the numbers to even be considered. Makes me laugh.
KeithB
August 4th, 2010
11:23 am
Close them. I can’t go watch anyway…..
Dawg Days
August 4th, 2010
11:31 am
CPJ closed practices because he doesn’t want the world to see how bad the techies are, not because he may be installing a new wing on the chicken bone offensive scheme….cluck, cluck go the bumble bees, and you can’t sees me practice anymore!
BayAreaJacket
August 4th, 2010
11:33 am
I would imagine the things CPJ is trying to protect are on the defensive side of the ball which is new this year. I don’t think he cares too much about the offense being revealed. Strange that Doug didn’t pick that up in his commentary. You pup fans are hilarious BTW.
Morpheus
August 4th, 2010
11:54 am
Good point BayArea. It is surprising that Doug didn’t mention your point. It’s not surprising at all that the Dawg fans missed the obvious; they’re usually clueless to begin with and just want to find a way to insult.
calhoundawg
August 4th, 2010
11:58 am
Whatever …GT is a third-rate team in a second -rate conference. Who cares?
calhoundawg
August 4th, 2010
12:02 pm
Of course, UGA is a fourth-rate team in the second-rate division of their conference, so I guess I should shut up from making stupid comments.
Morpheus
August 4th, 2010
12:07 pm
calhoundawg,
You stated “Who cares?”
The obvious question is why did you take the time to post anything? If you didn’t care then you simply look foolish. If you did care and that’swhy you posted, then you look disingenuous. So which is it calhoundawg, are you simply stupid or just dishonest? Either way, we would expect a Dawg fan to be stupid and/or dishonest. Thanks for proving that point. What a tool.
JacketSteve
August 4th, 2010
12:09 pm
Maybe this is a sign that he’s installing some new wrinkles in the offense, like more passing plays or tricks to use against Va Tech or Miami later in the season. It’s nice to get reports on what’s going on during practice, but I can live without it. I don’t questions CPJ on his methods.
dawgfan
August 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
There’s nothing dumber than a Georgia Bulldog.
ACC’s lunchtime links | SportsTalk South
August 4th, 2010
1:04 pm
[...] Tech coach Paul Johnson has decided to close his practices to the public and media this year, a change from his previous two [...]
John Jackson
August 4th, 2010
1:57 pm
Tokyo Jacket, I believe you’re the one that’s “way off dude”. I never said anything about “chop blocking” in my post. I said “cut blocking” (which is legal). Now if we come in from any angle we will be flagged:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLzYtczNfKY
Watch what #24 did to Cam Chancellor (#17) @ 2:56…
That is going to be a flag next year because he was not north south. Again, I never said anything about chop blocking.
Does Anybody Really Care About Calhoun Dawg?
August 4th, 2010
2:12 pm
calhoundawg- we thank you for posting “who cares” on a GT blog during your lunch break. It’s pretty obvious that you have a s.h.itty job and are just bored. That’s right I’m posting at 2:10 because I’m a GT fan who is 38 and retired. Again thank you for posting from your s.h.itty job.
ACC’s lunchtime links | SportsXXL
August 4th, 2010
2:14 pm
[...] Tech coach Paul Johnson has decided to close his practices to the public and media this year, a change from his previous two [...]
ACC’s lunchtime links | NowSportsLive
August 4th, 2010
4:05 pm
[...] Tech coach Paul Johnson has decided to close his practices to the public and media this year, a change from his previous two [...]
Ron Hudspeth
August 4th, 2010
4:59 pm
Nope.
killerj
August 4th, 2010
9:44 pm
Hey sounds like Go Suck U growing some balls.THWGSU! Curry Sucks! tell,em the grass needs cutting at jelly land.
hbjacket
August 5th, 2010
10:18 am
I feel sure the only people bothered by this will be the media.
Chip
August 5th, 2010
10:21 am
No worries here. I work in the building that overlooks their practice field. They can’t keep my birds-eye view out!!!
Boob
August 5th, 2010
10:56 am
The element of surprise PBJ is keeping is how horrible the team looks this year
Mell Grove
August 6th, 2010
7:33 am
No. but, it is a sign of the times. I am from the old school and really like P J’s approach to the job. As a former coach, it appears to have gotten out of hand with facebook, twitter, etc. and the team, school, etc are much more exposed to “hate” stuff….