Johnson: ‘Lack of competing’ in loss to UGA
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said he could have handled losing 42-10 to Georgia if he thought the effort was worthy. That was not the case.
Johnson said the Yellow Jackets were guilty of a “lack of competing” in their loss to the Bulldogs in Athens, Tech’s 11th in the past 12 years to its archrival. This season, Johnson has been critical of the team for missed assignments, poor tackling and lack of focus. However, his public challenge that the team lacked competitiveness – against an archrival, no less – compared only to his statement that the Jackets “no showed” in the 21-point loss to Middle Tennessee State. While hardly palatable to Johnson, the MTSU effort could be more understandable, given that Tech was facing a team it had blown out in each of the past two years and was seven days removed from an emotionally crushing overtime loss to Miami.
“You’ve got to play hard,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to sell out.”
From watching the game video, Johnson said coaches handed out “a lot” of efforts – demerits for not giving full effort on a play. Johnson said the offense, defense and special teams were all at fault. He did say B-back David Sims played perhaps as hard as Johnson had ever seen him play. But overall, he was confounded by what he saw from players in one of the biggest games of the year, if not the biggest.
“You get beat in life, you get beat in sports,” Johnson said. “Sometimes that happens. But what you want to do is give it your best effort and you want to compete from start to finish.”
By Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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
339 comments Add your comment
Just A Fan
November 27th, 2012
11:39 am
It isn’t that hard. Maybe you tech folks can’t see the answer without a slide rule. Where has CPJ coached? Navy and GA Southern. One school does very little recruting and the other takes the best prospects after D1 schools finish. He has never had to recruit and doesn’t know how. His personality vs, Ritch, Saban, Les Miles, James Franklin, Dabo, Jimbo Fisher,etc. is non existant. Success breads success Failure breads failure 6-8 next year 5-7
headley lamar
November 27th, 2012
11:40 am
So hedy lamar (or USMC Jacket or whatever you’re calling yourself these days), you claim your father and grandfather were Marines.
No
Grandfather served in US Navy for 25 years.
Father served in Air Force for same amount of time.
I took the asvab and was about to go through meps but ultimately decide it wasn’t for me.
Just to set the record straight.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
11:42 am
GTBob – the ACC is ripe for the taking.
The ACC is ripe for the taking but we are a part of why it is so down right now. We go through our ups and downs too. Historically, we are a mid level ACC team. Its hard to expect us to start dominating the conference just because it is perceived as down now. By that logic almost every team in the ACC should be dominating the conference.
Flak Jacket
November 27th, 2012
11:43 am
@Gold and White,YEP ,looks like TECH bought them at the dollar store.
Dawglasville
November 27th, 2012
11:45 am
GTBob – True, but you feel that Georgia fans settle and should expect more from Richt. Why wouldn’t you ask the same from your own program?
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
11:46 am
I came here to talk football so why don’t you take a big swallow of STFU???????????????????
Because we don’t need stealth trolls like you taking shots over here and pretending to be the righteous uniter of all fans. A lot of people here remember how you used to act and nobody is buying the whole I have changed and I really care about Tech football spiel that you are giving now. That would be like headley or WnE coming on tomorrow and trying to convince all of us that he really cares and wants to be friends.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
11:53 am
GTBob – True, but you feel that Georgia fans settle and should expect more from Richt. Why wouldn’t you ask the same from your own program?
Its all relative to expectations. Historically speaking, and looking at current trends, UGA should be better then they are as a program. They have all of the money and recruiting resources in the world. They are a party town, with an emphasis on football, a huge fan base and they play in the SEC. GT is a small engineering school with a modest fanbase, recruiting limitations, a modest athletic budget and a history of being a 7-8 win program in good years. Its not an apples to apples comparison. I personally think GT fans should be more appreciative of how well we have done recently but there are a lot of fans who expect 10 wins every season for absolutely no reason.
Tide/Dawg
November 27th, 2012
11:53 am
Tech may have something to brag about if they should beat Fl. St. Sat., although not very likely. They will go to a BCS bowl game with a 7-6 record and a 10-2 SEC loser will be shut out of the BCS games. CPJ’s plan is working:o)) The Orange bowl has to be cringing over that possibility. Tech should do the honorable thing and decline if that happens like Miami did to get Tech in the ACC Championship. PJ’s ego will prevent that from happening. Someone wrote that Tech could end up 8-6. How many bowl games has PJ won??? They’re in the ACC championship by default, not winning. I never disliked PJ personally, just his coaching, but after berating his players(who obiiously don’t believe in his methods) I don’t like him personally now, as if thaat matters.
GT Joe
November 27th, 2012
12:01 pm
people are quick to say “offense isn’t the problem”. Um, yes, it is.
We are 30th in offensive pts/game. Not good enough to be a top 10 team.
We basically went scoreless in the last 25 minutes of the miami game.
We scored 7 points in the 2nd half vs. MTSU.
We scored 3 points on UGA’s first team defense.
We scored 17 points on VT, which turns out to be a terrible team.
Against BYU? 3 pts. in the 2nd half.
And people think offense isn’t a problem? Same folks who think Tevin is our best QB.
GT
November 27th, 2012
12:09 pm
The Tech/ Georgia game doesn’t mean anything to this crew. It is like they come from a different country. I was raised from a child on this game, as many Bulldogs and Jackets were. I’m sure we look foolish to the kids today who most of their lives didn’t even know there was a game going on. The new America where tradition is a mystery, few things are kept in the light of tradition. Georgia was after a national championship so they had something new to play for. I think I see more involvement in these games away from our state; it may just be an Atlanta or Georgia too cool thing, hope so. You would think the college rivalry would kick in but I don’t think most of these kids think of themselves as students, just hired guns here to do a half a.. job.
Dawglasville
November 27th, 2012
12:09 pm
GTBob – I agree that expectation is a killer. We live in the deep south and you do have a winning history, there is no way around having a high expectation level. I believe George O’Leary (of course I picked him because of the success he had against UGA) could come in here and have Tech competing next year. You don’t need Saban, just another George O’Leary. That skyline during a night game is beautiful. Why wouldn’t you want to play in that environment? Maybe a move to the Big 10 would be the best thing. Bigger names, more TV interest.
Rick James
November 27th, 2012
12:10 pm
@Flak Jacket
@Rick James,good point,but we have got to get some quality coaching in here fast.
—————————————————————————————————————-
Paul Johson’s personality will not allow him to have an assistent who he thinks is smarter.So if you want better coaching it the change needs to be made at the top.In spite of what GT Bob says it is much easier to sell a kid on living and playing football in Atlanta than Athens.But if you ask a kid if he would rather play for Richt or Johnson we all know what the answer will be and thats the problem.Jonathan Dwyer always played hard and well against Georgia because is were he wanted to play.But sadly Richt chose to sign Caled King instead.Tech has to hire a coach that kids want to play for and wont roll them under the bus when the team losses.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:10 pm
They’re in the ACC championship by default, not winning.
So who should play in the ACC championship then? If Tech bows out, who is next? Duke? Would that make you feel better?
GT Lee
November 27th, 2012
12:13 pm
“Just to set the record straight.”
You’re nothing but a scumbag internet troll, headley. The record is straight on that.
Rick James
November 27th, 2012
12:14 pm
@GTBob
So who should play in the ACC championship then? If Tech bows out, who is next? Duke? Would that make you feel better?
——————————————————————————————————————————
The conference commisioner should allow the two best teams which are Clemson and Florida St to play for the title and everybody else should just suck it up.This is why tickets to the game are starting at 3 bucks..With Tech in the game it turns the ACC into a sideshow.
GT
November 27th, 2012
12:16 pm
Until I saw this mess I was a Johnson fan. They all look bored out there to me. Worse damn defense I have every seen in a division one school.
roughrider
November 27th, 2012
12:16 pm
This is to some of the Tech fans on here. Do you think that because we are UGA fans that we don’t pull for Tech in every other game besides the UGA-Tech game ? As a proud, native Georgian, I pull for all our teams. You guys might want to consider that and get the chip off your shoulders.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:16 pm
You don’t need Saban, just another George O’Leary.
The only problem with O’Leary is that he did a good job getting extra special exemptions for some of his athletes and then that backfired on him when flunkgate embarrassed the program. If he were here now he wouldn’t have anywhere near the flexibility he had when he was the coach so its hard to know how he would do with tighter restrictions. I do think he is a pretty good coach though.
Dadgum.....
November 27th, 2012
12:17 pm
GT isn’t going to be granted a waiver by the NCAA. CBS Sports said sources have confirmed that the Sun Bowl is taking USC and looking at Virginia Tech as the opponent.
They indicate that granting of a waiver last year occurred primarily as a result of not having enough teams to fill all the bowl slots. That is not the case this year. Thus UCLA is not a precedent to rely on. The NCAA has enough 6-6 teams or better to choose from leaving GT as having to beat FSU as their only hope of going bowling.
In addition, if GT was granted the waiver the Sun Bowl was in position to switch GT out for VT with the Music City Bowl. I’m not sure how many people know that about the waiver but the Sun Bowl has moved on and won’t take GT.
GT Lee
November 27th, 2012
12:17 pm
superDawg
September 26th, 2012
7:50 pm
ss you are a little man that likes to hide behind others.If sc beats UGA I will come down and tail gate with you and your brethren at tek.
_____________________________________________
So what happened superDwag? Couldn’t get your little dried up raisin sack “PUFFED UP” enough to be a man and keep your word? YOU are a little man who hides behind a keyboard.
‘Nuf Said.
Lost to Middle Tennessee by 3 TD's
November 27th, 2012
12:20 pm
Really? I guess it takes GT grad to figure this out?
DawginLex
November 27th, 2012
12:22 pm
GTBob doesn’t like me. I think that is a good thing considering the source
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:24 pm
Do you think that because we are UGA fans that we don’t pull for Tech in every other game besides the UGA-Tech game ?
From my experience with thousands of UGA fans, no, the majority of you are not pulling for GT in any other games.
11 of 12 supersized
November 27th, 2012
12:25 pm
One week can always turn these blogs around and make a difference. All doom and gloom on here this week like earlier weeks in the season after the middle Tennessee debacle and BYU loss. Then after the UNC win everyone acted as if Tech was great again and could beat UGA.
Should tech win Saturday and UGA lose (a possible scenario) all of this ranting will change and go in another direction. Support your team, enjoy championship Saturday, and be happy to have a horse in the race that a bunch of other teams are envious about because they are sitting at home. Ignore GTBob and his everyday synical comments about both programs. Dude is more depressing to read than most local economist these days. He isn’t always right either and not sure who anointed him but it is just his opinion people…..not the good book writings.
It is just college football and enjoy it!!!!!! Good luck against the noles!
Rick James
November 27th, 2012
12:26 pm
@GTBob
The ACC is ripe for the taking but we are a part of why it is so down right now. We go through our ups and downs too. Historically, we are a mid level ACC team. Its hard to expect us to start dominating the conference just because it is perceived as down now. By that logic almost every team in the ACC should be dominating the conference
—————————————————————————————————————————-
The ACC is going to implode.Florida St and Clemson are sick of it.In spite of what they say Virginia Tech would love to be in the SEC who wants that television market along with a team in North Carolina which I think will be State.With the Big Ten wanting to head south I see Tech on their radar.And if that happens and competing in the ACC will look like middle school ball.
Woodstockgt
November 27th, 2012
12:29 pm
After watching all the games this past weekend , and seeing All ACC teams go down I think I m beginning to know the problem with ACC and Tech. The ACC is the worst conference in the country (if not the worst, then next to worst). They definately do not have the top athletic players other conferences have like UGA. Having said that, you can still compete with a team that has better players if you play physical football. The ACC isn’t a physical league. They do not tackle and hit with authority. The reason Tech lost Sat was because they do not have nearly enough athletes as UGA. The reason Tech was BLOWN OUT by UGA is they are a weak, non intimating football team. When you play in the ACC and a bunch of patsey schools, you begin to play a weaker style football, its just human nature. UGA first fumble recover was due to Rambo physically taking the ball from Goodhigh. How many times has that happened to Tech this year or has Tech done that this year to their opponent before this game? Not once. The ACC dosent play that way and it should. How many Tech running backs were bodied slammed to the turf and did nothing in response. Why didn’t we do the same to them? Because we are a weak football team. Tech would do itself some good to get the Hell out of the ACC. It has no respect and nor should it. 90% of the games an ACC team plays that is against a non ACC school, they Loose. Ask Clemson (2nd best ACC team) and FSU (1st best ACC team) how well they faired Sat. against their respective openents USC( 6th best SEC team) and UF (3rd best SEC team). Point proven.
Rick James
November 27th, 2012
12:32 pm
@GTBob
From my experience with thousands of UGA fans, no, the majority of you are not pulling for GT in any other games.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Of course we pull for Tech Bob.(a) We beat Tech like we own them so we dont have to root for Tech’s opponents unlike Tech fans.(b) It does not help Georgia’s strength of schedule to play Tech with a losing record.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:32 pm
GTBob doesn’t like me. I think that is a good thing considering the source
You can take it as a good thing if you want. The fact that you are the only person here that I dislike should tell you something though.
William Casey
November 27th, 2012
12:33 pm
GTBOB is right about O’leary. His success wouldn’t happen today. And, even O’leary’s teams weren’t very good defensively. As long as college football remains a farm system for the NFL, changing coaches or schemes will not help much. GT MUST broaden its curriculum (sports management, entertainment management, etc.) or stop playing UGA and other SEC teams. The talent differential is a chasm. This isn’t 1962.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:33 pm
Of course we pull for Tech Bob
No you don’t. You just enjoy being condescending a few days after beating the crap out of us.
ACC implosion clock is ticking
November 27th, 2012
12:34 pm
Yup, the ACC is done in two years or less. The UNC/VA Tech television market is prime real estate for the SEC. Plus, that will balance out the current SEC East conference and allow Mizz and KY back into the western div. And Third, SEC presidents voted not to take GT/FSU back in 2011 due to they already own the television markets and the Gator AD did not want to further the recruiting battle in the state of FL.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:36 pm
The ACC is going to implode.
At this point, I certainly hope so. Even if Tech ends up in the Sun Belt.
TampaDawg
November 27th, 2012
12:41 pm
Go Tech … beat the Scuminoles and make a huge mess for the NCAA. My opinion on the coaching and recruiting situation is this. Recruiting issues are not a problem of academics as much as the coach. Tech has pulled in some good recruits in the past but even when you don’t pull in the big names, coaching makes up for that .. or makes it worse. See Boise State. Not one high 4 star or 5 star recruit on the team last year. But coaching put Kellen Moore in a position to be successful every game.
Have to bring in a coach who brings a system that kids can look at and realize that if they are successful in that system, they are that much more ready for the NFL. Tech can be good again, but I doubt under CPJ they will ever get to the point of bringing in some of the wealth of talent around the state and that they do bring in won’t be put in a position to be successful now or in their future.
headley lamar
November 27th, 2012
12:43 pm
That would be like headley or WnE coming on tomorrow and trying to convince all of us that he really cares and wants to be friends.
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that.
Its too much fun running circles around you and making you look stupid.
headley lamar
November 27th, 2012
12:44 pm
GTBob doesn’t like me. I think that is a good thing considering the source
Id consider it a compliment.
demhairydwags
November 27th, 2012
12:45 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT FIRE MARK RICHT
Frustrated Jacket
November 27th, 2012
12:45 pm
No excuse sir! Or at the very least a pi$$ poor one. These are YOUR recruits that you’re throwing under the bus. I know CPJ doesn’t like stars but com’on man. What do expect 3 star recruits to look like when they’re playing 5 star recruits? Many of us on this board having been screaming that the lack of recruiting was going to come home to roost on the program and not many having wanting to listen. However, the lack of energy and competitiveness… um… isn’t that on YOU coach? It only indicates to me that you have lost the respect of this team and/or crushed their spirit. Probably both. Time for a change on the flats or we’re looking at possibly losing any competitive edge over top 25 teams for years to come. #Truth!
…and for those that like to say OH but the offense… BS! Save it! I don’t nor ever have had a problem with the offensive style, given a legitimate passing threat, i.e. Vad Lee. But the fact remains that it is too little too late for me. The head coach makes truck loads of money because he is responsible for every facet of the team, not just some glorified offensive coordinator. Defense and special teams is on you too CPJ! And you sir have not delivered.
GTBob
November 27th, 2012
12:47 pm
Id consider it a compliment.
Well sorry to disappoint you headley but I actually like you.
headley lamar
November 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
Well sorry to disappoint you headley but I actually like you.
Awwwww
There IS a solution, Techers
November 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
hire a youg coach from a Baylor or mid level program, like Louisville or from the Big 12. he will install an offense that can win. He would need to hire a D coach like VanOrder. You need a guy to teach the mentality of the Alamo defenders. then, RECRUIT to this system.
Within 2 years, GT culd win around 7,8 per year with upsets possible with home grown state of Georgia kids. Tbis scenario will work or GT, because it DID WORK in the past 30 years on and off.
Techers, Bobby Dodd used this strategy over his last 15 years of coaching. He knew that 7-3 was damned good for his direction for GT football. It can happen again AND in the ACC.
Go Dogs
UGA class of 71&73
headley lamar
November 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
Anybody seen Supersize lately ?
Wonder why he disappeared ?
Dadgum.....
November 27th, 2012
12:50 pm
I 100% agree that the ACC is about to implode. Without question it certainly appears that NC State will be the next team to bolt. It is the largest school in the state (by far) with a huge tv market and strong alumni base. ACC loyalty has been waning there for a number of years.
FSU, VT, and Clemson will probably leave. They are dominant football programs historically and a weakened ACC is not enticing to them. Pitt & Syracuse is bad enough but if the ACC adds UConn then I would expect the aforementioned teams to bolt. The $50 mil exit fee will be negotiated down in every case once Maryland forces their hand.
As for GT that is a tough call. They are still paying Hewitt 1.5 in addition to what they are paying CPJ. The new arena has a huge debt service so even a reduced exit fee right now probably wouldn’t allow Tech to bolt. GT would be an excellent fit for the Big 10 and would keep their Clemson and Georgia rivalry games. For GT the purse strings are a little tight but if mass migrations occur GT may be forced to leave too.
These rumblings about defection are certainly not without merit. VT has already begun their exit study with AD Weaver saying it is still a little too early to say. Gonna get real interesting real soon.
TampaDawg
November 27th, 2012
12:51 pm
Frustrated Jacket
November 27th, 2012
12:45 pm
No excuse sir! Or at the very least a pi$$ poor one. These are YOUR recruits that you’re throwing under the bus. I know CPJ doesn’t like stars but com’on man. What do expect 3 star recruits to look like when they’re playing 5 star recruits?
——————————–
See Boise State just about every year. They probably can’t even find a 5 star on a map much less on their roster.
dawg fan
November 27th, 2012
12:57 pm
I’m not talking crap here. I do not post on tech blogs.
All that said that was the worst defensive effort i have ever seen out of any team. If I were a tech fan I would be calling for PJ’s head. Poor job of coaching. He needs to make sure his players are ready that is his job!
good luck
GO DAWGS!
DawginLex
November 27th, 2012
1:03 pm
GTBob
I don’t need validaton one way or the other from a UGA hating steaming pile of excrement like you. UOAD, supersize, George Stein and others all have welcomed me on this blog. ech folks are guilty of spewing anti UGA stuff and I have done it the other way. Doesn’t make me a troll.
What makes you a troll is you bash UGA with absolutely no basis in real fact, just your UGA hatred.
Why don’t you just ignore me and I’ll continue posting wherever I want to? I’ll do the same for you.
Example of your moron rant=Richt couldn’t win at Tech because UGA recruits itself.
Richt could recruit anywhere and would win anywhere. You know why? Because the kids want to play for him and the parents trust him with their kids.
Stop using the academics as an excuse. Tech could recruit better players. They just don’t. That’s all on the head coach
Jacket Dad
November 27th, 2012
1:06 pm
I’ve had it with Johnson. I realize GT will never get the best coach or the 4-5 star players, but we can compete. However, most of the problems we see can be traced upward to Johnson. Dude, the buck should (and does) stop with you! Our guys did not show up to play Saturday and that is a constant theme with Tech. Stop throwing your players under the bus until you feel it running over you first.
I think this team has given up on their coach(es) and it will take some MAJOR changes to right the ship. We are stuck with Johnson, so get a DC who is young and has fire in his belly, get coaches who can recruit and related to today’s players, and hold Johnson to the fire.
And congrats to the Dawgs for your victory Saturday. You beat us like a pulp. I offer no excuses or make derogatory remarks about you. Your team is solid and hitting all cylinders. And thanks to the UGA fans who have actually made level-headed comments on this blog.
VABuzz
November 27th, 2012
1:06 pm
Sure the buck stops with the coach, but he doesn’t actually execute the plays, the kids do. I agree that the college game is simply a recruitment process for pro ball. Tech is a great school and difficult to enter. There was a difference in talent out there. Kids are different these days from 50 years ago and their goals are different. They’re harder to motivate. Look at the whole ACC as a conference. The SEC has most of nation when it comes to football. Give Johnson a break. They moved the ball, just didn’t score. Defense could definitely be improved.
ramblingbuzz
November 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
This article certainly kicked up a sh** storm on this blog! Some of the best posts I’ve read in a while. A lot of truth in most of them, even from our Dawg fans.
GT Willie
November 27th, 2012
1:12 pm
I don’t think GT would be a good fit into the BIG 10. We could not compete. Of the four mega conferences; SEC/BIG10/Big 12/PAC12, I think our only hope is htat the Big12 will invite us. We would fit better with their landscape of TCU and Baylor. Plus, It’s bad enough facing Uga every year. Imagine taking away layups like Duke, Va, Wake, and Navy and inserting OSU, Michigan, Penn St and Nebraska into our schedule every year. NO THANKS. Give me Kansas, Iowa St, Baylor and WVU every year.
old dog
November 27th, 2012
1:12 pm
Well said DawginLex,
It is hard for GTBob to fathom that some folks want Tech to do okay except against us. I am one who does; it is a good reflection on the state, and it makes the game more fun to look forward to. GTBob has nothing to offer, so he just fires at everybody. Where is Supersize (the real one) these days?