Johnson apologizes for comment
Greetings-
Notes from Tuesday.
1. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, whose oft-unfettered tongue and unwillingness to back down to rival Georgia have earned him the admiration of Tech fans, apologized for a poor choice of words on his radio show Tuesday night.
Near the end of his show, a caller, presumably a Georgia Bulldogs fan, came on the air and said, “Hello? Hello?” and then began barking before either hanging up or being cut off. Johnson responded, “Hello? Hello? He just got off from Walmart.”
Johnson, who earlier in the day had commented how most Georgia fans he encounters are cordial, said, “Anybody who calls into a radio show and barks is either retarded or doesn’t have a life.”
After the show, Johnson said he meant his response as a joke, “but it was a poor choice of words on my part and I sincerely apologize. It was not my intention to offend anyone.”
Advocates for people with mental disabilities have campaigned to stop the use of the word “retard” or “retarded” as a slur, calling it hurtful and dehumanizing.
(Not sure what to say. It was a poor choice of words.)
2. A-back Orwin Smith, who sat out last Saturday’s game with a toe injury, practiced Tuesday and will try to play in Saturday’s game against Georgia.
“I will at least try,” Smith said Tuesday. “The worst that can happen is me going out there and me not being able to play, but I will give it a shot.”
Smith said he ran full speed at practice and “limped around a couple times,” but overall said he felt great. Smith is the Yellow Jackets’ most dangerous playmaker on offense. He averages 10.8 yards per carry and 23.8 yards per reception and has scored 11 touchdowns in 65 offensive touches. He has been receiving a variety of treatments, including hot and cold tubs and ultrasound, to stimulate healing of his turf toe injury, typically a painful malady.
Wide receiver Stephen Hill and A-back Roddy Jones were held out of practice for the second day in a row, but both expected to return to practice Wednesday and play. Guard Will Jackson practiced but was kept out of contact drills.
(The fact that Smith may be hampered is, obviously, noteworthy. Bears watching.)
3. Hal Miller, an All-American offensive tackle and a co-captain of Tech’s 1952 national championship team, died Monday following a short illness. He was 81.
In 1952, Miller helped lead the Jackets to a 12-0 record and a Sugar Bowl win over Mississippi, giving them the titled awarded by the International News Service. Born in Kingsport, Tenn., Miller was enshrined in the Georgia Tech, Georgia and Tennessee sports halls of fame.
The school is working on a tribute to honor both Miller and legendary Georgia play-by-play voice Larry Munson, who died Sunday, at Saturday’s game.
(While it’s sad news, I do hope that both are honored before the game.)
4. Hill is friends with one Georgia player he’ll likely see plenty on Saturday, cornerback Branden Smith. The two hung out last summer, Hill said. They played each other in high school and Hill played basketball and long jumped against another Georgia corner, Brandon Boykin.
“They’re real fast,” Hill said. “Their technique is great, so it’s going to be a challenge.”
5. Defensive coordinator Al Groh on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray:
“He’s certainly as good as we’ve seen. We compare him and his skill level to (Clemson quarterback) Tajh Boyd. He moves very well within the pocket as well as getting out. … He’s always got his feet underneath his shoulders. He re-sets very quickly. He makes a lot of big throws when the rush initially makes him move off his normal throwing spot without leaving the pocket.”
(One thing I appreciate about Groh: No player assessment will ever be, “Kid’s got a rocket for an arm.”)
6. Wide receiver Tyler Melton has been playing his best football the past two or three games, Johnson said. Melton has seven catches in the past three games for 122 yards, including three for 54 yards against Duke. The seven receptions are more than he had in any of his first three seasons and as many receptions as he had in the first eight games of this season. He has also blocked particularly well over that stretch.
Johnson said he’s not making a concerted effort to get Melton the ball, “but when the ball’s gone his way, he’s made a couple of nice catches and come down with it.”
(Melton has shown some nice ability to adjust for passes. I have no idea what his draft stock is, but he’s shown plenty of other skills – namely blocking ability and special teams play. If he can keep up his pass catching, he’ll hopefully get a shot in somebody’s camp. Remember that Kevin Cone – who caught six passes last year – fought his way onto the Falcons practice squad.)
7. Tuesday, Johnson dismissed an Internet report that Mississippi had contacted representatives for Johnson regarding its coaching opening.
“I don’t know anything about it,” he said. “That stuff’s crazy.”
I want to thank the posters who have kept things clean and respectful, for the most part. I was very tempted to not post the notes on the blog, because this seems like a fire waiting to happen, but decided that you deserved a chance to comment on it. If the posts aren’t respectful, however, I’ve got no problem closing commenting, and probably for the rest of the week. Please don’t be the bad apple that spoils it for everyone.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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422 comments Add your comment
All Cupcakes Conference
November 23rd, 2011
12:21 am
Yawn… desperate comments from a desperate man. He’ll have a whole lot more to apologize for come Saturday afternoon, as usual.
Gtfan478
November 23rd, 2011
12:22 am
I have an autistic child and honestly this doesn’t offend me one bit, and I’m not being bias cause it was Techs coach that said it. Had it been Richt and a dumb@ss Tech fan called in and buzzed at him, I would say the guys a retard too. Dude deserved what was said to him and I commend Johnson for calling the douche out.
gtkenz
November 23rd, 2011
12:26 am
HawkDawg………whoohoo! What if, but, if you only knew. Conjecture, that’s all it is. Let’s see how many of you Ugag fans fly your Rebel Flags on Saturday morning at Tech. Explain that one Mr. Perfect.
dawgum
November 23rd, 2011
12:28 am
The more you tech guys respond, the worse it makes you look. You and your coach might want to stop while you still have a speck of dignity still intact!
George Stein
November 23rd, 2011
12:28 am
They’re not offended, gtkenz. They’ll take any chance they can get to take a shot at Johnson. I have no real issue with that as it’s just part of being a rival. At the end of the day, they’re still the same fans that are fine with Grantham so long as his defense performs well.
George Stein
November 23rd, 2011
12:29 am
If only I cared about what you thought of how I looked, dawgum.
dawgum
November 23rd, 2011
12:32 am
Read my previous response Mr. Stein
George Stein
November 23rd, 2011
12:33 am
Like I said, dawgum, I don’t care what you think of me.
gtkenz
November 23rd, 2011
12:37 am
Dawgum, you talk about dignity, well tell me about dignity when I have to deal with idiot, retard, Ugag fans cussing me out in the stands while I’m sitting in Athens with my young daugther and my wife.
Doesn’t happen anywhere else but Ugag. Low life, RETARDS!!!!!!!!!!!
dawgum
November 23rd, 2011
12:43 am
I defer to my previous comment gtkenz that it would be better if you Tech kept quiet as you continue to destroy what’s left of Tech’s feeble reputation with each keystroke!
NiquePhotog
November 23rd, 2011
12:52 am
How is this getting so blown out of proportion? He
I don’t really see how the mutts, or anyone, can try and take the moral high-ground. It seems to me that “retard” was deemed politically incorrect rather recently. All through middle school and high school, people would say retard ALL THE TIME. It seems like the more recent batch of kids have been taught to avoid that word.
I thought nothing of it when I read that CPJ said that. He should be held to a higher standard since he is our head coach, and he made a mistake. But he did the right thing and issued an apology. What else can be said?
duronimo
November 23rd, 2011
12:58 am
I’m a life long UGA fan. Taking Johnson to task over this is pretty lame. Anyone who knows a thing about him understands his style. The caller was being funny and the reply was funny. Think about it … how intelligent is it to take seriously a comment you know for a fact is a joke? Come on … jokes don’t have to be politically correct.
Glory Glory
November 23rd, 2011
12:59 am
This is an embarassment to Georgia Tech so I’m not sure why some of you are condoling it. I was embarassed for UGA with the Todd Grantham incident. At least our coach didn’t make a slur towards mentally handicapped individuals. Also, I like the fact that our coach doesn’t tell his defense to quit and let the opposing team score. Also, going to Wal-Mart is economical in these times so us Georgia fans are showing initiative. Also, RIP Larry Munson
Glory Glory
November 23rd, 2011
1:04 am
Bar,
I bet you didn’t attend Georgia Tech..or any institution of academics..due to the quality of your grammar skills and spelling. Also, you just made fun of someone for their last name…someone who is the OC at one of the premiere college football schools in the nation, played for that same school as qb, and holds several records for that school. I’m sure these things outweigh a simple last name. Also, you insulted our DC..who happens to be the hottest coaching commodity in the nation right now because he took a defense that ranked 70th in total defense to 4th in two years. Herego, both of these men have accomplished more in life than you ever will. Herego, shut up
macrotech
November 23rd, 2011
1:07 am
Are you kidding me?! One poster on the first page asks, “How long will you let this coach get away with….blah, blah, blah”; coming from a mutt fan that, more than likely defended his defensive coordinators choke sign to the kicker of UF. Too funny! While, I admit that CPJ was out of line with his use of the word “retarded”…WHO calls into a talk show and barks?! I’m afraid to choose a word for fear that it would be deemed inappropriate, but I ASSURE you that it wouldn’t be “brilliant”! I’m glad CPJ apologized and hope that he’ll remove “retarded” from his vernacular. GO TECH!!!
duronimo
November 23rd, 2011
1:08 am
I might add that Johnson was nice enough to apologize. Maybe that will help those traumatized by his errant words, buck up and pull their lives back together.
St. Clarrkston
November 23rd, 2011
1:15 am
All this time I thought Paul Johnson was arrogant. Turns out he’s just a jerk. When you cross the field Saturday to congratulate Mark Richt, try not to drop the R bomb.
Gotcurry04
November 23rd, 2011
1:58 am
Hey Glory Glory,
If you still don’t understand why GT’s defense let uga score at the end of the game last year, you know nothing about football (or math). We got the ball back and had a chance to tie the game. It was dumb of Richt to run a play rather than just take a knee and end the game. Fortunately for uga, our offense couldn’t move the ball on the last possession.
Ken Sugiura
November 23rd, 2011
2:08 am
Let’s not go crazy on the judgments of Johnson. He’s also the guy who, without being asked, went to visit a Maryland football player who was hospitalized in Atlanta after getting injured in a game at Tech to give him his cell phone number and offer his help. He’s not perfect, but he’s not a monster.
Really?
November 23rd, 2011
2:09 am
After reading all the insensitive classless remarks cpj made and the way he coaches his players to take cheap shots and throw punches whenever possible it’s obvious why tech is the most hated team in the acc and why johnson gets no respect from any coach in the ncaa.
I guess those tiny number of extra victories johnson has provided to the techwood trade school are a good trade off for the tiny bit of respect techies used to have.
kudos gt no one outside of atlanta respects your sad little program now.
Really?
November 23rd, 2011
2:14 am
come on ken I have seen a definite change in the way you handle this blog over the course of this season. You still are a pro when it comes to your coverage of tech but not so much in the way you pander to the tech fans and condemn everyone else.
You’re better than that
TechFan
November 23rd, 2011
2:17 am
Tyler Melton has been on his game the past few games yet Johnson isn’t making an effort to get him the ball? Doesn’t make sense at all.
Stinger 2
November 23rd, 2011
4:56 am
Is there anyone who has chastized CPJ for his inappropriate comment ever at some point not made a similar mistake? I know the argument about those who represent an institution like GT are held to higher standards. However, as human beings, we are all the same in that no one is perfect and we all make mistakes.
I think we’ve got our fan of the week now. | Get The Picture
November 23rd, 2011
6:11 am
[...] Johnson haz a funny… and then apologizes. Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, whose oft-unfettered tongue and unwillingness to back down to [...]
Paddy
November 23rd, 2011
6:19 am
You know, people talked just like CPJ 30 years ago and nobody thought it was a problem. Way to sensitive boys. Take off those pink skirts, GEEZ!
JSS
November 23rd, 2011
6:21 am
@ Ken Suguira..
First off, a Happy Holiday season to you and yours, as the past week proves no one is promised tomorrow…
I rarely post on these college blogs, but I read them. As I’ve pointed out before, you’re one of the best to come down pipe and the Tech folks are lucky to have you over here… You’re putting it straight down the middle and giving them proper perspective…
I said it more than ten days ago, this is the “silly season,” especially because of the immaturity that comes along with college football actually means something beyond being a game set of fans. But, the Johnson statement was unfortunate. At least he was man enough to understood that point. As I know from the past six days, you have to deal with every illiterate blogger trying to make a name or fool of them self, even on something as silly as a blog…
Enjoy the holiday, the game (I hope that people remember that is what it is), and your first bowl game as the beat writer…
Had enough
November 23rd, 2011
6:48 am
Paul Johnson is a retard.A very good coach but a retard on his talk show.By the way tech fans whoof ,whoof and whoof.
Honestly
November 23rd, 2011
6:52 am
I want an apology for his appearing in public sans brassiere.
Cloudodust
November 23rd, 2011
6:53 am
I think we need a federally mandated two year study, at a cost of around 20 million dollars expensed to the American taxpayer, to find out why people call in to a radio talk show to bark. Chip in another 10 million to find out why a person responds by lashing out with percieved misplaced retorts. btw, I’m available to conduct the study.
Original Spike
November 23rd, 2011
7:01 am
It was a dumb thing to say. He apologized for it. Let’s move on to insulting each other, shall we?
JB
November 23rd, 2011
7:22 am
Confirms the elitist little world the Tech culture lives in, that if it ain’t about Tech, it ain’t worth talking about.Most veterinarians,Lawyers,Bankers,Teachers and farmers attended UGA and to hear Tech people talk, we all live in trailers and work at McDonalds. Well, a lot fans do. So. It’s the states flagship University.. Johnson is perfect for Tech. He gets a lot out of little talent and he got there as arrogant as the school he serves.I’ll take Richt any day.
b.c.
November 23rd, 2011
7:24 am
This politically correct crap has ruined our country. The liberal press has played right along with the socialist programs, and this makes it a crime to say anything without being hung out to dry.If we do not wake up, this country is going to flip over to the other side, and its guys like us that do nothing about it. If a man calls up on a radio show and starts barking like a retard, he chould be called one.Coach J. should have said mentally challenged, and would have had less heat. GO JACKETS (or should I say proceed with vigor)
Matt Lauer
November 23rd, 2011
7:27 am
PJ is a hack. A poor example of how to act and teach young men to behave in the future. You can’t go into the business world acting like a child. Overall, outside of football Gtu does not prepare its students for real life.
InsectInside
November 23rd, 2011
7:28 am
Dog fans lecturing someone on civility is like a skunk lecturing on foul odors.
Tad
November 23rd, 2011
7:30 am
I worked for a firm a few years ago that surveyed the type of individuals that purchase UGA merchandise from Walmart. Explained how my yard crew are all UGA fans.
Original Spike
November 23rd, 2011
7:31 am
Any ring orders yet?
JB
November 23rd, 2011
7:32 am
Insetlnside…the odor is coming from the flats….And nobody calls Johnson a backwoods hillbilly from the mountains of North Carolina. That just wouldn’t be PC.
bulldog ben
November 23rd, 2011
7:32 am
im a HUGE georgia fan. but i have to agree with coach johnson. what a classless thing to do. every fan base has idiots. he should have better things to do than calling up a rivals radio show like that.
RambleOn84
November 23rd, 2011
7:33 am
I fail to see the problem with Coach’s comments.
The way I understand it, the people pushing this campaign are against people using the word “retarded” as an insult; Johnson used it sincerely. Barking constantly could be construed as a sign of someone having Down’s syndrome.
Lighten up.
JOD
November 23rd, 2011
7:33 am
Love UGAers saying tech should be embarrassed with Johnson, when they have a huge, I mean HUGE embarrassment with Grantham. That guy is a class fail. UGA has no room to throw stones in a glass house, retarded or not.
doodoobailey
November 23rd, 2011
7:34 am
Stay Classy CPJ….I’m sure every special needs kid in this country that was BORN that way just shrugs it off….like he has had to do when everyone else throws that word around. No need for a supposed mentor and molder of young men to be any different.
Don’t worry special needs kid…..UGA is going to run this ape out of town in less than 3 years….if powerhouses like UVA don’t do it first.
JB
November 23rd, 2011
7:35 am
Tad, at our firm, when we have our Christmas party, To keep it from being humorless, boring and womanless, we exclude the Tech folk, just say’n.
Original Spike
November 23rd, 2011
7:36 am
CPJ needs the AHHH BRA for Christmas.
George Stein
November 23rd, 2011
7:37 am
You lost all your credibility, JB, when you went with the humorless comment. Can’t claim we’re so arrogant and turn around and do it yourself and hope to maintain any credibility.
Road Scholar
November 23rd, 2011
7:38 am
Coach was wrong to say Walmart….we all know they work at McDonalds!
George Stein
November 23rd, 2011
7:39 am
He’s already been here four years, dooboo. Perhaps you suffer from a similar affliction as the caller.
JB
November 23rd, 2011
7:40 am
George, like I had any here. Johnson showed his colors ( He hates UGA, we get it) and his kind respond. But, that’s what people do, take up for their coach. Just look at Penn St and the students rioting defending that.
Gordon
November 23rd, 2011
7:40 am
Were Florida and Vanderbilt fans this sensitive when Grantham got a little over zealous? And I seem to remember many UGA fans being very proud of their coach. Of course, that was different somehow. Johnson apologized on his own, by the way. That IS one difference.
DAWG
November 23rd, 2011
7:41 am
Good Lord, I didn’t know using the word retarded was not politically correct. I’m a DAWG fan but having to apologize for a word found in the dictionary is crazy and whats wrong with working at Wal Mart, I know quite a few folks with degrees at both schools who are out of work and would love a job there
George Stein
November 23rd, 2011
7:42 am
Well, I think you’re generally a reasonable guy, JB. I think criticizing anyone solely on the basis of his or her school affiliation is silly and easy to do when you’re anonymous. I can’t imagine most people saying this stuff in person.