Georgia Tech begins bowl practice
Greetings-
Some notes, including coach Paul Johnson’s response to rumors/speculation about freshman quarterback Vad Lee transferring after Monday’s practice. Some other stuff first.
1. The team began a full week of practices on Monday. There will be three practices next week, two the week after that and then players will be released Dec. 20 and go to El Paso for the Sun Bowl Dec. 26. There will be 15 practices total.
2. The first stretch of bowl practices is mostly about working on fundamentals. Out of about 20 periods in Monday’s practice, only about six involved scout teams. That means that for most of the practice, all of the players, including the redshirt freshmen, were getting repetitions in Tech’s offense and defense.
3. Johnson said he doesn’t have any plans to make any changes on the staff. That would mean a second offseason in a row without any turnover. Defensive coordinator Al Groh said “for sure” he intends to be back for the 2012 season.
4. Johnson doesn’t expect any players to miss the bowl game because of grades, “but you never know,” he said. “That won’t be for a couple weeks.”
5. Johnson said he’d heard “a lot of really good things” about the Sun Bowl and is looking forward to it. Johnson went to El Paso when he was an assistant coach at Hawaii as Hawaii and UTEP were in the same conference.
“It’ll be a good game against a real good opponent,” he said. “Utah’s real good. Especially defensively, they’ve been good for awhile.”
6. Finally, Lee. At the risk of giving this more attention than I sense is worthy, I’ll provide the Q&A from the post-practice scrum with Johnson and let you draw your own conclusions.
Q: How was Vad Lee at practice today?
A: He’s fine. No problem. He worked hard. I coached the quarterbacks today. Coach (Brian) Bohannon wasn’t there today. He worked hard. All of them did.
(Bohannon was out recruiting, which is pretty typical for early bowl practices. Several questions later, the topic returned to Lee.)
Q: Is there any reason to think that he wouldn’t return?
A: Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t see anything today that made me think he was leaving. But guys could leave tomorrow. I don’t know. It happens all the time.
Q: Has he talked to you about it?
A: I talk with Vad every day.
Q: But has he talked with you about transferring?
A: I’m not going to get into what I talk with the players about. You’d be surprised sometimes. I talk to them about a lot of things.
Q: Homesickness seems to come up with players, particularly those from out of state. Do you have a particular way you address it with players?
A: It’s part of growing up. Everybody gets homesick. It’s part of it. You know what 18- and 19-year-olds are like. It’s something different every day. It is what it is. Just move on.
A couple points of note. I’m guessing it might read that Johnson was being defensive or curt, but he was at ease. I’d say he was trying to downplay the matter but obviously he didn’t say nothing is happening, perhaps to some degree because it’s not for him to say.
That said, if something were really moving forward with a possible transfer, I think Johnson would have answered questions differently. The fact that he’s practicing isn’t a guarantee of anything, but it would indicate that he’s not exactly packing up his boxes.
I’ll say this: Players considering transferring because they’re homesick is not uncommon. You may remember I wrote that David Sims went through the same thing as a redshirt freshman quarterback. I dug back into my notes and found a quote from Bohannon in August regarding the matter.
“I’m sure that goes through a lot of their minds,” he said. “When you deal with these young men who are the life of their town and their school and all of the sudden, they come to college and all of the sudden, they’re just another guy in the mix, it’s a tough adjustment.”
All this to say – I’d take all this with a grain of salt.
Thanks for reading. I’ll have something up Wednesday morning. (I’m off this week, technically.)
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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296 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
December 6th, 2011
4:31 pm
Well, Georgia does have Bill King’s blog on the AJC.
1980 was so long ago
December 6th, 2011
4:36 pm
“” UGA had defensive guys like that when they won their one-and-only National Championship in 1980.”"
WOW, was it really that long ago!!!
fan of shorter passes
December 6th, 2011
4:37 pm
As just a fan, I have a hard time criticizing any Qb in the Tech O…things happen/change quickly. But, if the QB had the capability/reputation of being a better passer, perhaps the other teams would not crowd the line as they seem to do now (at times). Then the option works better (and the coach seems smarter).
Is Lee that guy? We may not know until next fall.
On sale now at the campus bookstore
December 6th, 2011
4:37 pm
The Old Gold sweat are on sale now at the bookstore and they ARE in Kevlar, perfect for El Paso nights, as the drug lords fire shots into the Jaurez night.
Sun Bowl where your dreams come true. The TECH FUND crowd ARE LOOKING for a bowl win. If not, then next September the ESPN boys will be doing their annual PRE SEASON Coaching Hot Seat Awards and CPJ will be topic # 1. Bank on it with a Sun Bowl loss.
fan of shorter passes
December 6th, 2011
4:38 pm
filters suck
GT in 90 also had ...............
December 6th, 2011
4:40 pm
Sean Salisbury, Jim Lavin and Mike Mooney who beat up that lil girl at the old N Avenue pizza joint near the old Tech Motel.
Why Peachtree Orthopedics can re build any facial features, with enough time and TECH MONEY. THAT is what was going on at the Flats in 1990.
Paddy
December 6th, 2011
4:42 pm
The kid is going to be your starting QB next year. He is not going anywhere!
me
December 6th, 2011
4:43 pm
High School Offense, D3 talent, D2 coach
William Casey
December 6th, 2011
4:45 pm
So original and insightful, “me.”
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
4:45 pm
10 years from now, the stadium will be renamed “Vad Lee field” and “Paul Johnson Stadium” and there will be a large, bronze statue of my hoisting Vad onto my shoulders after winning our 4th consecutive national title, bank on it
GT
December 6th, 2011
4:50 pm
You know if Richt had red shirted Crowell the kid might have made it and certainly would not have been branded. I think Johnson knows what he is doing despite the horrendous play there in some games this year.
I also remember how bad Georgia’s defense looked two years ago and maybe has improved this year. Maybe if Groh had that kind of talent he could improve too but maybe some of that talent was red shirted for next year as well. Johnson is not afraid to fire somebody so lets see if he was right.
carolinajacket
December 6th, 2011
4:57 pm
Right GT. We need some big, big horses, like UGA has, to play Groh’s defense.
Hayes
December 6th, 2011
4:57 pm
Please god stay vad. you could be the next big thing at Tech. Joe hamilton and Vad Lee lets go
Nom Nom Nom Chuck's Taylor, or Norris if he is avaliable
December 6th, 2011
4:58 pm
“He is the future of GT. He could very well be the play that takes GT from a mediocre team to a National Championship team. That would certainly put him in the mix for Heisman.”
Huh?
gt45
December 6th, 2011
4:59 pm
Lee is staying. and CPJ is opening up the offense!
Nom Nom Nom Chuck's Taylor, or Norris if he is avaliable
December 6th, 2011
5:03 pm
National Championship? Heisman?
I would say crawl before you walk….but I would say you need to learn to roll over first, just saying.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
5:03 pm
Vad Lee is the Paul McCartney to my John Lennon….and we will make beautiful music together for years to come
What's All the Fuss?
December 6th, 2011
5:11 pm
Dude, Vad is the next Scott Frost running the option. This offense is designed for Vad. Can’t wait to see him perform on stage Bobby Dodd! Go Vad. Go Jackets! We are all behind you!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eWfe597CKY
Dawg Fan
December 6th, 2011
5:18 pm
I hope Vad listens to any and all negativity and decides to leave GT so we don’t have to face that kid for the next 4 years.
Go DAWGS!!!
Tommie Frazier
December 6th, 2011
5:24 pm
Tommie Frazier was better than Scott Frost. Either way, Vad Lee is the first kid I’ve seen that has potential to trump both!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oO18ZbCLbE&feature=related
Hayseed Dixie
December 6th, 2011
5:29 pm
My goodness, what we could do with a Tommy Frazier…
Vad will be fun to watch .............
December 6th, 2011
5:39 pm
Vad Lee will be fun to watch and see him grow and perform for EC U. He will transfer.
Right now, he has finals ……right?? If he passes his courses, then he can make that move. Why would he leave today or Friday, unless his classes are done.
Wait until end of the semester and then see what you all think.
I say he is gone, knowing that the stage at GT is small ball.
Jackets90
December 6th, 2011
5:43 pm
Can someone please tell me why you would keep al groh???
fan of shorter passes
December 6th, 2011
5:55 pm
Does the filter queue or destroy post?
Woofy One
December 6th, 2011
6:06 pm
Paul Johnson may well be the most competitive coach to grace Tech’s doors in many years. The guy cares about winning and about his players.
TW Fan
December 6th, 2011
6:12 pm
I’m not ready to give up on Tevin. I think we have an easier road to correct his minor issues than to basically start completely over with a new QB. Vad may offer some improvements. But my money says he will not have a good enough understanding of the TO to work the miracles everyone seems to expect him to.
… if CPJ is as smart as I hope he is – he will find a way to use both players – perhaps in the game at the same time! Now that would shake some teams up!
Tevin has proven speed, understands the offense and another year of eligibility. A smart man would find a way to maximize on all the talent he has.
Ramblin Man
December 6th, 2011
6:14 pm
Lex, congrats on landing Marshall. A little more size and he will be a beast. Is he going to be an early enrolle?
I like TW for his heart and effort I just don’t think he has the “it” factor.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
6:15 pm
Me, Coach Paul Johnson and Vad Lee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ1Rb9hC4JY&feature=related
Jackets90
December 6th, 2011
6:16 pm
TW FAN just stfu! your a dumbass. TW sucks!
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
6:20 pm
I am a troll who likes fragrance and casual conversations.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
6:21 pm
Indeed, I do
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
6:37 pm
I also like clothing magazines.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
6:45 pm
I hate Paul Johnson. When I’m not trolling GT football blogs, I am stalking football recruits and experiencing fragrance.
dynamicbigboy
December 6th, 2011
6:49 pm
Come on Vad, if you are as good as they say you are why are you playing for the bumblebees? Go ahead and transfer before you talent gets lost in gimmickville and the ” I can’t get real talent so I will run the triple option BS”.
dynamicbigboy
December 6th, 2011
6:54 pm
CPJ 2K11, your comment about 4 MNC’s would be funny if I thought you were being facetious, but I really think you are delusional and have swallowed the CPJ koolaid.
SlimG
December 6th, 2011
6:58 pm
Just read on si.com that techs offense under the genius johnson averages a stellar 8 points in bowl games. Can u say high school even buford throws the ball more.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
7:03 pm
I like to use multiple screen names and talk to myself. Do you see how I did that?
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
7:12 pm
Whoever is using my screen name plus a typing space so that it appears that it is me, has actually got me spot on….except for the fact that I love CPJ
QBE
December 6th, 2011
7:13 pm
So, all these weeks of practices and we can’t have a playoff? The Federal Government needs to get involved and fix this huge mess. We have children being raped on a college campus and it being covered up. I can bet there are many other awful things happening and being covered up. Congress needs to abolish the NCAA and take over every college in America.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
7:17 pm
I’ve been told I look like Harry Potter. Drunk men tell me I look like Christian Slater.
Iuperay
December 6th, 2011
7:33 pm
I have been following Tech football for 40 years and one thing that I have learned is that those in command are not committed to winning. They kept a so-so basketball coach an additional year just because they didn’t want to pay him off. They hired a coach with a high school offense because he was cheap and no one with commitment would want the job because they know the school is not committed.
Let[s face it Jacket fans, what we have now is the best we can be. Until the establishment makes up their mind that they want to win we can’t win.
We can’t beat Georgia because they are committed and they have a better program, better facilities, and an enduring alumni. We alums at Tech have been waiting for years and have finally realized that some things will never change. We have used the crutch of “academics” for far too long. I am proud that I went to school at Tech but I am embarrassed by the football program.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
7:45 pm
I like to claim I am a Tech alumnus, but I’m really not. I graduated from Coastal Carolina but I am an expert on evaluating talent and determining who has a chance at the NFL. Did I mention I like to use multiple screen names?
savjacket
December 6th, 2011
7:59 pm
Hey Mr. Grinch,
Did you go to SEC U? Is that a school? I’m sure you did not, and probably did not go to UGA either. But seriously, how does UGA stack up in those stats you spouted off? Don’t worry, I will tell you.
UGA is not playing in the BCS National Championship.
UGA did not win the SEC Championship.
UGA played three ranked teams and beat one. P.S., you lost to Boise State who I believe was going to be shown true football by UGA. Good job on that one.
UGA lost to USC, who should have played LSU in Atlanta. Damn record.
UGA won the East because it is AWWWWWWFUL, except for USC. Wait, damn, ya’ll lost that one.
UGA got MAULED by LSU.
Your top recruit is a pansy on Spice.
Blah, Blah, Blah. Nothing stated here is speculation, but fact.
Savor the flavor my friend while the East sux. Mediocrity is coming. Oh, and Paul Johnson is a great coach and will continue to be. I would love to see a smart man like yourself talk football with him.
Last fact. Your life must suck, because you spend an inordinate amount of time on Tech blogs. If you are such an SEC man, why are you not talking about the UGA 2012 National Title on the other side?
You’re dismissed.
1 4 GT
December 6th, 2011
8:11 pm
I get so tired of the mutt trolls, especially the ones that try to pose as GT grads and/or fans, who don’t seem to have any more productive to do and apparently live here and constantly spew their garbage. I don’t ask the AJC to be censors. I have seen admonitions at the end of the blogger’s reportage for us to keep it clean and civil and to remember this is a sport’s blog and how the reporter is not afraid to ban people who cross the lines of decent and civil discourse. I sure wish the AJC would back these words up with actions. I also get tired of repeatedly asking for this needed enforcement. Thank You.
BirminghamJacket
December 6th, 2011
8:25 pm
Half the problem with our program are our ignorant fans.
I’ll guarantee you 75% of the posters on this board don’t even show up to fill the stadium on Saturdays. And I get to look at empty seats from my season tix in section 107, every home game.
BirminghamJacket
December 6th, 2011
8:26 pm
The posts on here are absurd.
CPJ 2K11
December 6th, 2011
8:43 pm
I like to pose as a Tech alumnus or a Tech fan and then say Tech has the worst fans in the world. I tell people I have season tickets, but I really live in Northern Kentucky and rarely leave my apartment except to shop for fragrance. Did I mention I like to use multiple screen names?
Hit a Single
December 6th, 2011
9:04 pm
Good luck to Ga. Tech, Ga. Southern and the UGA. Let’s enjoy the Bowl Games and the FCS Playoffs. I am sure that the late Al Ciraldo, Larry Munson, Coach Erk Russell and Bobby Dodd are sitting around discussing each team.
1 4 GT
December 6th, 2011
9:12 pm
Hit a Single—thanks for a bit of sanity. Back to ya!
Insight 1
December 6th, 2011
9:17 pm
The issue at the Sun Bowl will be — Are you tough enough? — Utah will play tough for 60 minutes — Georgia Tech will need to match that to win!!