Quotes from Tech’s loss
SHREVEPORT, La. — Quotes from Georgia Tech’s 14-7 loss to Air Force in the Independence Bowl, courtesy of bowl organizers:
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson
“Air Force played a very good game. I said before the game started that the team that won the turnover battle is going to win the game and that is what happened. The way the game was going I knew both teams were not going to have the ball many times and I knew that.”
“We started the second half and we put together a great drive and then we fumbled the ball on the 3-yard line. It was kind of a microcosm of our season. Then we come in and have a defensive series and hold them, fumble again, go out and hold them. Then fumble again. It is hard to overcome all of those mistakes.”
“It is very disappointing. At the start of the third quarter I thought we had the game right where we wanted it. They got a touchdown and go up 14-7, but to their credit we didn’t get it in. We fumbled the ball.”
“We had to go to our back up returner, and he didn’t have it. He misjudged the first one and then he probably lost confidence after that. He has been the back-up returner all year and it is just one of those things. We had our chances, so don’t lay the loss on him.”
Defensive End Jason Peters
“Sometimes things don’t go your way and at this point we should know how to grow and mature as a team and learn how to handle those things better. The situations that don’t turn out in our favor we need to learn how to turn it in our favor and have a better outcome next time.
“That is one thing we expected to do and we expected from the young guys and you see how they work in practice. We push each other and we push ourselves and we know that we expect that from the rest of them.”
Running back Anthony Allen
On fumble before halftime
“We are kinda used to having long drives and taking some time off the clock and driving down and grinding it in. It is kinda heartbreaking and frustrating when you drive all the way into the red zone and have a fumble. The momentum kind of turned around from there when they went and scored.”
On if reality has set in that he has played his final college game
“Oh yeah most definitely. This was my last game. I wanted to go out with a win and get Georgia Tech its first bowl win in a few years but that is the way the season went, it was very frustrating. We had opportunities to make plays and win games and we did not do it.”
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun
On first half:
“We were fair on our execution in the first half, and when we’re fair we don’t move the ball nearly as proficiently. Our guys were excited, had a great week of practice, but we just weren’t quite as crisp as we have to be.”
“I thought the drive that we engineered prior to the half time was huge. It just gave us a real good boost coming in. To be able to move down the field . . . we took some shots and we able to make good throws, and in the end were able to convert the field goal. That was a key drive.”
On the upcoming off season:
“We’ll start from scratch. There’s a good bit of building that will have to occur, but we aren’t starting from the beginning. When you think of all the guys you have to replace . . . I mean we’ve got guys that have started nearly 40 games . . . and so we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
On the passing game:
“Coming in we thought we were going to have to hit some play action passes. Coming into the game it was going to be the turnover margin that would be a key part of it and special teams, and, just, how efficiently you could throw would be a part of it too.”
“We’ve got a guy who’s a heck of a passer and we do a tremendous job with protection. We have some capable guys on the outside who are able to run routes too.”
On 4th down conversion attempts:
“Our guys are good enough to execute. That’s who you trust.”
On the field goal kicker getting “iced” at the end of the first half:
“These guys aren’t going to get too riled up. They love to play. You’re not going to be around guys who are any more passionate, any more disciplined, guys that have any more care or pride in them than these guys. Ask these guys what’s it’s like to go through a basic training at the Air Force Academy. . . There’s some poise these guys have—that’s why they’re going to be great leaders.”
Running back Jared Tew
“That first half our offense struggled a little bit, we only got six points on the board, and we came into the locker room at half time and, just, realized we have to put some plays together, we’ve got to execute better than we did in that first half, and basically, if we took care of our responsibilities and every person did their job we knew we could drive the ball, and that’s pretty much what we did.”
On his last TD:
“My number got called on the three yard line and coach SingIeton [] says you get the ball in the red zone you don’t get stopped. I got lucky enough to get my number called, and in my last name I was lucky enough to get a touchdown. It’s pretty cool to end like that.”
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
455 comments Add your comment
gt87
December 27th, 2010
11:24 pm
Hey Paul Johnson,
Do you feel resoponsible for any of this?
“Reporters” will not ask you this question.
You will not reply.
Lame.
Brown Frown
December 27th, 2010
11:25 pm
I mean, you cannot even order a Independence Bowl Championship T-shirt………
PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!
SuperDawg
December 27th, 2010
11:26 pm
Tech this year is 21 of 38 on 4th down. That is 17 coaching turnovers this year. What a clever coach.
asa
December 27th, 2010
11:29 pm
sounds like could be worse found a boy friend and will come out next year
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 27th, 2010
11:31 pm
Lets discuss football and stop the bee bashing. Oh yeah we can’t talk football, this is a Tech blog and bee nerds, like CPJ, don’t KNOW FOOTBALL.
ben
December 27th, 2010
11:32 pm
I swear you guys are the biggest bandwagon jumpers I have ever seen. I warned you all that Gailey going 7-5 / 8-4 wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a program. But, you ran him off and now, one year removed from a ACC championship, you want to can his successor.
William A. “Bill” Alexander 1920-1944 134 95 15 .580
Robert L. “Bobby” Dodd 1945-1966 165 64 8 .713
Bud Carson 1967-197 127 27 0 .500
Bill Fulcher 1972-1973 12 10 1 .543
Pepper Rodgers 1974-1979 34 31 2 .522
Bill Curry 1980-1986 31 43 4 .423
Bobby Ross 1987-1991 31 26 1 .543
Bill Lewis 1992-1994 11 19 0 .367
George O’Leary 1994-2001 52 33 0 .612
Mac McWhorter 2001 1 0 0 1.000
Chan Gailey 2002-2007 44 32 0 .579
Jon Tenuta 2007 0 1 0 .000
Paul Johnson 2008-Current 9 4 0 .692
Who wouldn’t you fire on this list? Maybe you should fire yourself as the alumni apparently have done a crappy job attracting coaches and talent,
Logic Dawg
December 27th, 2010
11:34 pm
Honestly, Tech played well enough to win.
But IO want an honest assesment of Paul Johnson and the future of Tech football from a Tech fan. ARe you comfortable running this scheme, seeing the downsides to it after 3 years? Honestly,you beat UGA by stroke of mis-tackling luck in 2008, and won a VERY weak ACC last year (only to be embarrasses in a BCS bowl), and now this year.
You have seen what will take place in that scheme without a Nesbitt-like QB. You are about to find out what it is like without a QB and a power back. Roddy Jones is not going to do it for you next year.
I need say nothing about recruiting.
If you are happy with it, fine. But I personally am glad UGA does not have the same troubles you have (despite UGA without a doubt having troubles, don’t get me wrong).
So what do you think Tech? Is the Triple Option what you want run in the ACC caliber football??
Best of luck, when you are not playing the Dawgs.
crabapplejoe
December 27th, 2010
11:40 pm
Ok CPJ you just got smoked in a bowl game by a team that starts 8-9 European American athletes on defense….they held you to 7 points. Now look at your defense…coal black. Do you think, just maybe, when you go on the recruiting trail you might want to look at a couple of white athletes for your defense. Geez, Georgia Tech fielded a team that would make a “historically black college” proud tonight…Bobby Dodd was rolling over in his grave…
dawgfan
December 27th, 2010
11:40 pm
“But IO want an honest assesment of Paul Johnson and the future of Tech football from a Tech fan.”
LOL. Good luck with that pal. I want 100 billion dollars too.
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 27th, 2010
11:43 pm
“But IO want an honest assesment of Paul Johnson and the future of Tech football from a Tech fan.”
Okay, here you go… tech runs the triple FLOPtion and has a losing season!! Its going to be worse next year!
nerds are funny
December 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
Pleeeease keep CPJ, pleeeease! As a UGA fan and a bug hater I implore tech to keep this guy. Can’t recruit, can’t win a big game (oh yeah, maybe one ) and his offence, given enough time by a competant d coordinator can be shut down. Extend his contract another 10 years.
Grip Reality
December 27th, 2010
11:51 pm
Johnson is a mediocre coach with a one-trick pony act. He doesn’t recruit well enough to overcome his own self-imposed limitations as an offensive coordinator. Tech will be a non-factor for as long as he is in charge.
PUNCH THEM
December 27th, 2010
11:57 pm
THIS WAS CPJ BEST OFFENSIVE PLAN. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
PUNCH THEM
December 27th, 2010
11:59 pm
AS USUAL, CPJ CHOKED AGAIN. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
gtfanfrom1951
December 28th, 2010
12:01 am
This year has been a bust for the Jackets but I do not think it will be better until we can have quaterback that can pass the ball. Maybe we run more of the an like offense that Air Force and Navy. That is pass more….. Navy gave Ohio State all they wanted last year. Its not good being a Jacket fan with the way the football and basketball teams are playing now days.
GTBob
December 28th, 2010
12:01 am
I know UGA fans would like Tech fans to abandon their coach after one bad year but it isn’t going to happen. He has more then earned enough time to turn it back around. Nobody likes a bad season, but me personally, I’m gonna have to see how we play the next two years before I’m ready to make an assessment on CPJ. I’m more then on board with firing Paul Hewitt though. Do it DRad!
Marietta Dawg
December 28th, 2010
12:01 am
I’m trying not to be the typical dawg fan, but Tech’s troubles are mountainous. Your recruiting is shot for 2011. Not so much that you lost to a service academy, but because CPJ is a jerk. 18 year old kids who have been worshiped for their football abilities all their lives do not like playing for jerks. Especially ones who coach losing ACC programs. The offense begins with the quarterback. No high school quarterback worth his salt wants to play for a one dimensional running offense. Finally, there are no hot chicks at Tech, and that is why you will always lose to Georgia! Could not help that last one.
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 28th, 2010
12:02 am
Hey PUNCH THEM….. you really mean, as usual CPJ and his less than high school NO TALENT bag of bee nerd players CHOCKED AGAIN… can give CPJ all the credit for that one.
GTRocketCity
December 28th, 2010
12:05 am
I was going to put in a comment here but I read one by BAMAJACKET that is exactly what I was going to write.
BAMAJACKET you are right on. It’s all coaching, which includes motivating the players.
j
December 28th, 2010
12:05 am
You love your Johnson?
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 28th, 2010
12:06 am
Hey GTBob… don’t flatter yourself thinking that UGA fans even care about tech. I was a tech fan, but WE STINK and will continue to STINK!!! The triple FLOPtion is done.
crabapplejoe
December 28th, 2010
12:06 am
Hey CPJ…Chattahoochee won the 4A State Championship….maybe you should recruit some of their athletes instead of the “urban athletes” you seem to be in love with…..
j
December 28th, 2010
12:08 am
GTBob, you’re right. Keep Paul Johnson.
new guy
December 28th, 2010
12:14 am
Wow. I noticed that on the UGA blog, their fans jump all over someone: “How dare you say something negative about a college kid”.
Yet on the tech blog all of the ignorant a.s.$ UGA fans jump all over the team and kids. Seriously?
And to the commenter who said this: “The team has gone backwards the last two years”
STFU you stupid $.h.i.t. face. They won a conference title ONE year ago.
GTBob
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke, you are posting on a GT blog about GT and CPJ. I would say that is evidence enough that you care about GT. If you didn’t then you would probably have better things to do.
Taco
December 28th, 2010
12:17 am
Wes Durham does have a very large posterior for a white man. What is the deal the with that?
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 28th, 2010
12:18 am
New Guy is a true bee nerd… living in the past. I guess you like CPJ and his scary triple FLOPtion offense. It scared Air Force into beating your a.s.$
macrotech
December 28th, 2010
12:22 am
“JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke” is a joke….”I WAS a tech fan”? One bad season and you bailed? I think I speak for all Tech fans…….BYE! By the way, “CHOCKED”?! That’s not EVEN a typo!
This game was was, indeed, a microcosm of Tech’s season…too many turnovers lost at the worst times. Glad to put this season behind us. It’s been a long one. Hate that we lost, but I’m willing to bet that the sun will rise in the morning. To take a quote from pup fans….”Next year!!!!”
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 28th, 2010
12:22 am
GTBob… I do care about CPJ and his band of NO TALENT almost Jr. High School quality sissyball team. Long live the triple FLOPtion and CPJ… maybe we need a new mascot though… a bee come on man!!!
Old Tech Dude
December 28th, 2010
12:25 am
What a disaster – a service academy for cry’n out loud – we lost to a service academy. I tried to tell any that would listen – we have serious problems and a serious lack of talent.
Those of you still drinking the CPJ Kool-Aid need to get a grip – this program can’t recruit the talent needed to compete in big boy football.
I’m done – bring on baseball – our only decently run team.
Rueben Houstons Gun
December 28th, 2010
12:25 am
The Joke by Coke lives up to it’s billing once again. Why any kid would chose to play football at this trade school is beyond me. Nerds lose. Yawn.
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 28th, 2010
12:27 am
Hey macrotech… you “next year” will be another wait til “next year”. Don’t bust your brain cell trying to figure that one out. You will need to take a couple of tylenol and go to bed now!!! Triple FLOPtion, no passing fools!!!
Old Tech Dude
December 28th, 2010
12:28 am
New guy – take off the CPJ glasses. We won the title with players recruited by another coaching staff. The well is dry kiddo – we have no D1 talent.
Fire Paul Johnson
December 28th, 2010
12:29 am
Email DRad and let him know you are not happy with this season, the bowl loss, this boring offense and the two humiliating losses to UGA! Also tell him we need a special teams coach!
First losing season in 14 years! Even Gailey never lost 7 games!
http://firepauljohnson.blogspot.com
sasquatch
December 28th, 2010
12:30 am
so we go to shreveport, some not studying during the semester and FO, and some partying friday night, then fumble here, fumble there, and we lose. not very mature, guys……….i oughta kick you butts back to atlanta…..
macrotech
December 28th, 2010
12:30 am
No head ache here….I’m disappointed, but I’m gonna make it. I appreciate your concern! Have you tried cheering for uga…I think you’ll fit right in with their fans. You have the same bark.
GTBob
December 28th, 2010
12:32 am
Why are UGA fans pretending to be former Tech fans? It’s a little silly. At least show your true colors. You aren’t fooling anyone.
R
December 28th, 2010
12:33 am
Bring back Chan.
JR
December 28th, 2010
12:33 am
Go Falcons!
JacketsAndCPJAreAJoke
December 28th, 2010
12:35 am
Hey macrotech – I like your soft “yellow Belly” comments. You remind me of your football team and your triple FLOPtion, no passing coach CPJ, soft and disappointing.
crabapplejoe
December 28th, 2010
12:36 am
Hey, Georgia Tech, let’s go out and recruit two black offensive guards and we can be more “historically black” than Grambling….LMAO….Bobby Dodd would want his name taken off the field at this point
Hey guys
December 28th, 2010
12:39 am
Next year we can just punch em in the mouth.
Falcon66
December 28th, 2010
12:39 am
Hey JR, Falcons lost too. Are you on delay?
JacketBC
December 28th, 2010
12:42 am
It might be cheaper to get rid of Johnson than Hewitt, first.
Gatorman
December 28th, 2010
12:42 am
I have a quote to: PJohnson system is going south and this bunch is the heart of next year’s team. Here’s betting next year may not even be this good. He was out coached by a guy who has only been a head coach for a few years. A point was made tonight that passing is required even for a wish bone team, and unless he’s senile, he had better make it part of his strategy.
Lennox
December 28th, 2010
12:51 am
Chan Gailey never lost 7 games, yet this offensive “genius” Paul Johnson did. Paul Johnson could answer this easily…Where was O.J. Simpson hiding right before the famous white Bronco Chase?
On the Georgia Tech campus, because that’s the last place you’ll find a football player.
GTBobHead
December 28th, 2010
12:54 am
The Air Force is my favorite branch of the military.
Chuck
December 28th, 2010
12:55 am
Should have gone after Mike Leach. This is just the beginning, folks, of a long, painful slide. Leach could have built a powerhouse with the skill position talent in this area. Johnson is in over his head and recruits are gonna get tired of hearing the excuses. Too many bowl losses, too many bad regular season losses, and no relief in sight… Ouch!
BIGDAWGHF
December 28th, 2010
12:56 am
Way to go nerds. Losing to a service academy who you outweigh by about 50 lbs. across both lines is pathetic. Let’s see what excuses you come up with for this one. Go Dogs !!!!
Hire Chris Peterson
December 28th, 2010
12:59 am
0-3 bowl games, 1-2 UGA, Kansas and air force loss. Tech should have a press conference asap announcing they are firing CPJ. Another year with this talent and another poor recruiting class. It will take the next coach 3 years + to clean up the program. This year was the 20th year celebration of the 90 championship team and we go out an have a losing season. Great job CPJ. C’mon man of the year.