Don’t expect ‘movie, TV crap’ from Johnson
Don’t expect Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson to do anything special to try to get his players motivated for Saturday’s game at North Carolina. The players admit that they have played flat the past two weeks in a win against S.C. State and a loss at Kansas.
“From the looks of the game, I can certainly motivate better,” Johnson said. “But you know what my experience has been in 31 years? That’s movie, TV crap. You’d better be able to motivate yourself. I’m not going to motivate you 12 Saturdays a year. Anybody that thinks you’re going to go into the locker room and somebody’s going to punch the locker, or cave in the blackboard or head butt somebody and everybody’s going to go ‘AAAAAAAAHHHH!’ It’s make believe. It doesn’t happen.”
Saturday’s game is important for a variety of reasons, starting with it’s the Yellow Jackets’ first conference game since winning the ACC championship last season. Also, the team hasn’t lost back-to-back games since Johnson took over for the 2008 season. Johnson has said good teams rarely lose consecutive games.
“It’s a challenge for us,” he said. “We’ve got to play better. If we don’t play better than we did in the first two games we aren’t going to win on Saturday, I can tell you that. This is the best team we’ve played.”
Johnson said he hasn’t seen any of the players step up to try to help focus the team, nor does he want to. He said the entire operation, from the coaches on down, needs to improve.
“Show me, don’t tell me,” Johnsonn said. “We’ll see what they can do on Saturday. You do it by playing and doing your job, and doing what’s right. Anybody can stand up on the plane and say ‘Guys, we’re coming this week,’ until you get hit in the mouth the first time. Let’s see what happens on Saturday.
“We’ll find out starting today how serious we are.”
The players said as much after the game on Saturday, saying it’s time to start doing and stop talking.
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175 comments Add your comment
Alex
September 14th, 2010
6:39 pm
Well then either GT or UNC is not good after this game because one will have consecutive losses.
Nate
September 14th, 2010
6:43 pm
we’ll see how much you live johnson when he has 3-4 seasons of 6-7 win ball in the 5th worst conference. this season is shaping up for as a 6-6 year.
Doug Roberson
September 14th, 2010
6:46 pm
It’s one loss, folks. One loss! In a game that, despite how badly Tech played, they still had a chance to win.
Funniest post on this blog...
September 14th, 2010
6:51 pm
is from
Dan @4:16 pm
Yep Dan – CMR always says it is on him and the coaches – apart from when he had his news conference and said the players “played timid”.
dawgfan
September 14th, 2010
6:55 pm
Roberson, is there some Techie that provides all of your talking points for you?
“What has Georgia done with its top 10 recruiting classes?”
“We almost won and still had a chance to win.”
LMAO!!! Good grief you’re like a puppet. You spew the same crap they spew.
I’ll tell you what I tell all the smack talking Techies about our top 10 recruiting classes. They’ve been good enough to wipe the field with your sissy butts 8 out of the past 9 times. That’s all any Techie should concern themselves with, including you Roberson. This would be the part where Tech should be DOING instead of TALKING like their coach says they should.
Class dismissed.
Rabun Dawg
September 14th, 2010
6:58 pm
Well, must say that while I somewhat agree with CPJ about the motivation stuff, he more than likely was taking a shot at CMR with the “gimmicks” he has tried. Blackouts, changing jersey and helmet colors, etc., etc. That being said, I have personal acquaintences who played for UGA when Erk Russell was the defensive co-ordinator, and I will tell you that they all said that when Erk headbutted a locker and had blood streaming down his face before a game, they were so fired up that some were ready to run through a wall. It worked, as his defenses did play with passion. On the other hand, if players cannot get “up” for a game by just realizing they are on scholarship at a major school and are there because of their ability, then I doubt not much of anything will motivate them.
Sorry to wade in on your time, but you some of you sound much like what is being said on the UGA blogs. I know both fan bases are disappointed with the losses, but let’s see what this next game brings. Good luck to the Jackets,I wish all State teams well every week! (not applicable to last Sat. in Nov}
Paul in RDU
September 14th, 2010
7:07 pm
Let me see if I have this correct – the reason that GT won the ACC last year was because of Chan Gailey’s recruits and the reason they lost to UGA, Iowa and Kansas was because CPJ has brought in stiffs. Never mind that CPJ won 20 games the last 2 years with the players Gailey recruited (Gailey won 9 games once – his next best year he won 7) – do any of you “experts” have a calendar? Who do you think recruited all of those JRs, SRs and R-SOs playing for GT?
CPJ took over in January, 2008. The recruiting for the 2008 class was pretty much over by then (although signing day is after the season for FB, unlike B’Ball). He has had 1 real signing class (2009) and he redshirted most of them. They’ve basically played 2 games.
BTW – If the TO has been found out – as demonstrated in the games against UGA (24 pts), IO (14 pts) and KS (25 pts) – what does UGA scoring 2 FGs from a pro set mean? How about PSU scoring 1 FG?
Doug Roberson
September 14th, 2010
7:17 pm
Thank you, paul, for saying in one post what I’ve been trying to say in several.
Russ the Painted Mascot
September 14th, 2010
7:25 pm
Any Georgia Tech fan who has a problem with Coach Paul Johnson has a problem with 99% of the Tech fanbase also. CPJ is a great fit for the Institute and represents us better than any coach since Bobby Cremins. Go Jackets, and Keep up the Good Work Coach Johnson.
Old Tech & Mountaineer fan in NC
September 14th, 2010
7:31 pm
Without a doubt, better ingredients (recruiting) make better pizza.
Wow, I thought I was disappointed with the loss Sat, but some of you guys must have had a heck of a bet on the game…..so bitter. Relax. Enjoy the game against the heels Sat.
Russ the Painted Mascot
September 14th, 2010
7:44 pm
Fellow Tech fans, I’d rather have Coach Johnson chewing out a Jacket about a missed block than showing “Rudy” to “motivate” them. At Georgia Tech every student, including student-athletes, know the value of preparation and execution in their professional, workaday approach to meeting the challenges of work and life.
Russ the Painted Mascot
September 14th, 2010
7:50 pm
It’s amazing how many “fans” put such an inflated value on pep talks and collective emotions to college football teams. So it’s refreshing to hear CPJ once again tell it like it is.
BKB
September 14th, 2010
7:51 pm
Folks, remember UNC didn’t know they’d be missing all those players until the day before the game. Now, they’ve had over a week both to ready their players and specifically to prepare for Tech – it’s going to be a tough one.
Onimonipea
September 14th, 2010
7:59 pm
Why do Tech bloggers resort to calling the other team’s players thugs? I believe Tech would have taken any of the UNC players who have been held out. Did they not really want Austin, Quinn and Little? Everybody else did. I guess they are thugs simply because they didn’t want to go to Tech, because they have not been found guilty of anything to this point to my knowledge. They might get a several-game suspension for making bad decisions, but I don’t automatically equate that to being a thug. Maybe Tech has a moral character assessor they use when assessing recruits. Or maybe the bloggers are simply guilty of hypocrisy. But, its not really for me to judge.
Russ the Painted Mascot
September 14th, 2010
7:59 pm
Rabun Dawg, you are right on. Erk was something special, and he and Coach Johnson undoubtedly got along well during their Ga. Southern days. Johnson also gets fired up and can fire up his team because, as it was with Russell, it is genuine. These coaches who rely on gimmicks may find it works once, but overdoing it is counterproductive. If a player knows his job well he should be able to perform it regardless of distractions, mood, or cheesy gestures.
Goldenrod
September 14th, 2010
8:00 pm
Yes, Doug – you are right – it was just one loss. What troubles me is this offense is so one-dimensional, especially with Dwyer and Bebe gone. Teams focus on Joshua and if they stop him then they stop the Perfect Option.
Our recuiting isn’t bringing in any big stars – where do you see this program headed once Nesbitt is gone?
I’m headed to Chapel Hill this weekend but to be honest I’m dreading the results I think we will see on the field. At least UGAy will lose this weekend as well.
Russ the Painted Mascot
September 14th, 2010
8:09 pm
Onomatopoeia? Is that the word you were trying to spell?
I don’t see an over-emphasis on “thuggery” in Tech blogs. It is true that when other teams (Richt’s UGA with 9 arrests this year so far, for example, or Davis’s UNC with numerous investigations/suspensions) show a propensity for illegal, unethical, or other grossly inappropriate behavior we might call them “criminals, thugs, etc.”. Would you rather us call them “socially maladjusted individuals” or “victims of cultural pressures.”? In that case,, your name must be “EUPHEMISM.” No program is perfectly “clean” but habitual, repeated violations do indicate a problem by any name.
Alex
September 14th, 2010
8:10 pm
I have NOT been impressed with Coach Al Groh’s defense.
There’s a reason his Cavalier teams won 2 games last season, looks awful so far. Can’t wrap-up/tackle.
Russ the Painted Mascot
September 14th, 2010
8:13 pm
IF we have to lose, it’s better to lose in Week Two than in Week Eleven or Twelve. Still time to learn from our mistakes. I have predicted a 7-8 win season all along, but I hope it’s better, of course. Still, the departed talent and our over reliance on Nesbit’s toughness (added to his passing woes) makes this year particularly challenging.
yellow kool aid
September 14th, 2010
8:18 pm
So one pandering comment to techies from PJ and every single tech alum is back on the bandwagon? A tidal wave of insert massive problem here followed up with “…but we’ll be fine” isn’t fooling anybody. The ACC doesn’t play SEC level football (god willing) yet but that doesn’t mean every other team hasn’t been prepping for GT since last year. I sincerely feel bad for any athlete who is having their professional prospects hurt by this fool and his crazy no playbook offense. But I’m still going to delight in every techster’s anguish over the coming 6-6 season. GO JOKETS!!
Onimonipea
September 14th, 2010
8:22 pm
Russ, thanks for helping me with my spelling, but I don’t need your condescension. I believe that UNC has run a pretty clean program over the years, far from being guilty of demonstrating a Propensity for illegal, unethical , or grossly inappropriate behavior. Matter of fact, UNC will not tolerate such behavior among its players, and will take immediate action to dismiss such players from its team if and when such behavior is determined to haven taken place. Have they ever done otherwise? In your opinion, has UNC run such an unethical program in the past? What more would you ask them to do at this point? “Pontificate”, like Russ the Painted Ascot does.
UGA VII
September 14th, 2010
8:27 pm
I am a ball licker and a leg humper.
UGA VII
September 14th, 2010
8:27 pm
I be taken a dirt nap.
yellow kool aid
September 14th, 2010
8:31 pm
TO Russ the Painted Mascot – You’re saying that GT wouldn’t accept highly recruited individuals because they were/are ‘thugs’. Haha I thought it was because every single one of them passed on tech.
yellow kool aid
September 14th, 2010
8:31 pm
6-6 season baby write it down
messin with sasquatch
September 14th, 2010
8:39 pm
i thought the run set up the pass. go hogs….
Wally Butts
September 14th, 2010
8:45 pm
yellow kool aid, yew shur got a pretty mouth, ain’t cha?
Damon Evan's smelly syphiitic pustules and lessions
September 14th, 2010
8:52 pm
Where Courtney at? That ho cost me my wife, kids, job and now my johnson got some kind of nasty. I would do it again tomorrow as Courtney a fine juicy peach.
yellow kool aid
September 14th, 2010
8:53 pm
thats correct byetch
brokeback jacket
September 14th, 2010
9:02 pm
Where will the honey bees be after the tarholes stomp them a new mudhole? No doubt, it’ll be mighty quiet in that already quiet “stadium” at the next “home” game.
The Truth
September 14th, 2010
9:19 pm
Is there an uglier coach in the history of the NCAA? I don’t think so.
Paul “Fish Fry” Johnson runs a high school offense that is unstoppable. LOL!
GT Sambo
September 14th, 2010
9:23 pm
Thank you Doug for trying to defend CPJ and his recruiting. Techblood, what do you base CPJ’s lack of recruiting talent on. If you are comparing CPJ’s talent to Texas, USC, UF, FSU, and even UGA then you are corrent, we are not getting that kind of talent. But why would you expect that kind of talent to come to Tech? The 2008 recruiting cycle was CPJ’s first class, which means that most of his first full class of recruits are only RS Freshmen. Get back to me in three years, and then let me know how our overall talent compares to today.
CDAWG
September 14th, 2010
9:27 pm
I totally disagree with CPJ saying it is not up to him to motivate his players; yes it is. He gets paid the big bucks to produce a high quality product and if it takes motivational speaking then that is his job. I saw that and thought what a load of crap. If he does not want to do that and his team loses, well there will be someone else who would be glad to pick up that paycheck. Yea the players have to take some responsibility but it goes back to the head coach.
Stinger
September 14th, 2010
9:33 pm
All that matters is we are still much much better than UGA.
Stinger
September 14th, 2010
9:36 pm
uga is PATHETIC. WHAT A POOR EXCUSE FOR A FOOTBALL TEAM. GRADE SCHOOL ALL OVER AGAIN.
The Tech Shop
September 14th, 2010
9:40 pm
I watched the replay of the game this afternoon on CSS. The holes up the middle last week and this week are bc of no lbs helping the linemen who have to dance with the offensive linemen. The Tech lbs tackle lousy on the runs up the middle. Sometimes they tackle well on blitzes, but that’s the only time they tackle well. The dbs really miss that guy who played last year and went to the pros. They are not playing well. They need to blitz some, not just the lbs. They can get in there quicker than lbs. On offense, Nesbitt can’t throw it in the ocean. He overthrew against Kansas on soft, semi-long trajectorys. Hill can’t catch. Tech needs a tight end to throw it to. What about Cox to throw to from two years ago? I think CPJ needs to realize Nesbitt can’t throw it anymore, and has the equivalent of the yips in golf now. Nesbitt threw ok two years ago, and ran out of ability halfway into last season. CPJ should switch qbs to some youinger guy, and switch Nesbitt to a halfback, use Allen as a fullback, and run some I formation plays- alot of them. Joshua is a runner now, a running back. In college ball the qb needs to pass it sometimes, not just run it, particularly if the run is defended well, like Kansas and Iowa did. Tech need to line up in shotguns against good defenses like Kansas fielded. I hate to say this about my alma mater, but I expect Tech to lose every ACC game this year. Look at how many points Duke scored against Wake this week. And N Dakota State beat Kansas. I thought Tech would go undefeated, and now I think they will go defeated, except for SC State. I wish The Tech Shop was still in business. I never went in there, just window shopped it.
The Tech Shop
September 14th, 2010
10:04 pm
“CPJ should switch qbs to some younger guy, not youinger guy”. Sorry for misspelling younger. I did not do it intentionally. Also, Nesbitt has no chance whatsoever of winning the Heisman bc of his passing.
Roger Ramjet
September 14th, 2010
10:09 pm
Both GT and UGA have excellent coaches and excellent football programs. That doesn’t mean they will win every game or even most of the games since the other team has a serious say in the outcome. Let’s be thankful for the class and professionalism both coaching staffs exhibit. No one on either staff is acting like a Lane Kiffin and for that we’re all thankful.
TechFoolsGalore
September 14th, 2010
10:23 pm
Stinger
September 14th, 2010
9:33 pm
All that matters is we are still much much better than UGA.
Yeah you’ve proved that 8 of the last nine years moron. LMAO!
Ed Delacroix
September 14th, 2010
10:32 pm
At least we won’t go to one of those bowls this year where we know our butt is already kicked in the first 10 minutes like last year’s Orange Bowl. The kind where their defensive line pushes our undersized Oline 5 yards into it’s own backfield before the play even gets off.
messin with sasquatch
September 14th, 2010
10:49 pm
cmr really does motorvate me to sleep……..
Paul in RDU
September 14th, 2010
10:56 pm
Onimonipea,
I agree with you that UNC has run a clean program in at least the past 25 years (post LT) but there are definitely some problems in CH at the moment and you are burying your head in the sand if you think otherwise. I won’t call any of the players “thugs” (especially not Quinn, who is a great story), because I don’t think they have behaved as thugs but there are likely some violations of NCAA and school rules.
Austin, for one, is a fool. He’s deeply involved in the agent scandal and after being put on the scout time has effectively been kicked off the team by Butch for misbehaving. Several of the other players are implicated with the same agent/runner who paid AJ Green $1,000 for a jersey. That’s before we even get to the matter of the Associate Head Coach resigning under pressure for being accused of steering players to an agent – who he just happened to work for several years ago. Don’t forget that a former tutor of Davis’ son (a current HS SR) may have written papers for UNC players while she was employed by the school.
Nope the players aren’t thugs – it’s just that a significant number (down to 12 right now, but could possibly increase since Baddour admitted last week that the problems may have been going on for a while) have only been implicated in violations of NCAA rules and/or an academic cheating scandal.
Delbert D.
September 14th, 2010
11:12 pm
This offense does not need 6′6 330 lb 4 and 5-star linemen. Like Alex Gibbs’ cut-blocking OLs, Johnson looks for quickness, mobility and precision blocking. Gibbs once said he’d never draft an OL or RB above the 3rd round.
Paul in RDU
September 14th, 2010
11:17 pm
Delbert – Alex Gibbs? What the heck does he know? All he ever did was put together OL’s who produced 1,000+ yard runners in the NFL and led to 2 Super Bowl wins
Gt Fan
September 14th, 2010
11:30 pm
Doug, Can you get my brother a press pass for the next home game so he can take some pictures of the game?
college football
September 14th, 2010
11:39 pm
rumor is the ACC has petitioned the NCAA to go Division II…that would certainly fit the ga tech blowflys that lost to Kansas who lost to that High School team in South or North Dakota…what a phony bunch HAHAHAHA
4 Jacks
September 15th, 2010
12:13 am
Good for CPJ. Any coach can only do so much. If your coaches are putting you in position to win that is all the players can ask. If these players cannot get motivated, then that is their problem. If they can’t throw the ball, catch the damn ball when it is thrown decently, cannot block or tackle because they are not motivated, then that is a them problem. One more thing for the players to think about, if you can’t motivate yourself in the work force you won’t keep your job very long even if you have a GT degree. Some of these so called playersneed to wake up and smell the coffee. This is not on the coaches, this is on the players. It is time to step up and show what you are made of, if anything.
The Right Opinion
September 15th, 2010
2:48 am
You guys can argue about recruiting all you want. The issue is that the majority of 4 and 5 star players aren’t smart enough to play at Tech, literally. You forget that college players have to take college classes. There are only so many VCR programming classes available, and GA Tech’s programming classes are much much harder than those at other schools. The thugs they recruit in the SEC, more recently other ACC schools, and the likes couldn’t maintain the grades necessary to stay eligible at Tech even with all the “help” the football program gives them.
So in short, no the Yellow Jackets will never have the caliber player other programs have unless high schools start producing mass amounts of students with huge athletic talent who also have a mental capacity capable of more than holding on to a ball and running fast.
Tombee
September 15th, 2010
3:10 am
Actually, if Josh could throw a ball in the ocean from the beach we would have won rather easily. He can tote the mail but is a miserable passer. I cannot help but wonder why he was left in on the obvious passing downs.
JD
September 15th, 2010
4:34 am
I don’t know why Coach Johnson is upset. He has stated that his one and only goal is to beat UGA. Wait, he lost to them too.