Groh tears into Tech
In an interview with the Roanoke Times, former Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Al Groh left little doubt about his feelings about his 2 ½ years coaching the Yellow Jackets.
“Just to say it briefly, this circumstance here was the most unprofessional, divisive and negative environment in which I’ve ever been,” Groh said. “To say more would be unprofessional of myself. It was just a bad cultural match.”
Tech coach Paul Johnson hired Groh in Jan. 2010 after Groh had coached at Virginia for nine seasons. He made the decision to dismiss him Oct. 8, six games into the season, after the Jackets had allowed 40-plus points in three consecutive games.
“I’m sorry to hear that Al feels that way,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’m surprised he would stay here for 2 1/2 years if he felt like that it was that bad.”
A statement released from Groh at the time of his firing was decidedly more diplomatic.
“I appreciate all the help and input from (assistant defensive coaches) Charles Kelly, Joe Speed and Andy McCollum, and the effort of all the players,” part of Groh’s statement read. “I aimed to give the best that I had every day. It’s been an honor to be a part of the legacy of Georgia Tech football.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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428 comments Add your comment
stalin's ghost
January 2nd, 2013
4:50 pm
what on earth do you base “monster season” on next year?
Techmate
January 2nd, 2013
4:51 pm
Tough decision to fire the DC in the middle of a season anywhere. CPJ took the bull by the horns and did what needed to be done. Kudos for that. How he now handles the hiring of a new DC will also reflect on our head coach.
I am wishing for more variety in our offense next year. I like the shotgun option formation. CPJ ’s standard offense is becoming a bit stale for me and a bit too predictable. Time for some new ideas. Also, please get a coach that can explain to the QB’s the importance of good footwork when throwing the ball – it will help make the QB’s more accurate in their throws.
TVFan
January 2nd, 2013
4:51 pm
What did he expect…..did he really think they would keep him after Miami, Middle Tenn and Clemson?
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
4:51 pm
I watched UGAs’ defense put on a juggernaut yesterday.
dawgfan
January 2nd, 2013
4:51 pm
Alot of tough talk out of the Techies about Groh. Funny how they don’t hold their head coach to the same standard. 21-18 in three seasons but a Tech fan will blame the janitor that cleans the bathroom stalls at Bobby Dodd before they lay any blame with Paul Johnson. I’m convinced that if Paul Johnson slapped a Techies’ mother in the face they would thank him for it and immediately bow down and kiss his feet. Its like Kim Jong Il in North Korea or something. They freaking worship the man. I’ve been following college football for around 20 years now and I’ve never seen a relationship that a fan base has with its coach that is this freaky and weird.
Honestly
January 2nd, 2013
4:52 pm
Anybody could have looked great against that USC quarterback. He couldn’t hit anything over 5 yards. I’ll give you some credit for FSU, but don’t act like those other games without Groh were any good.
Max Sizemore
January 2nd, 2013
4:53 pm
Johnson is such a nasty SOB that “unprofessional, divisive and negative” would certainly seem to fit a guy who is quick to blame others but slow to accept responsibility.
GT
January 2nd, 2013
4:55 pm
The man could not react quickly enough to what was going on, on the field. This no huddle fast offense left him with no answers, even the Middle Tennessee embarrassment, and he frustrated his players who couldn’t get lined up properly.
I found it interesting that the teams that beat him in the ACC were Miami and Virginia who knew his tenancies having coached under him, yet he had no clue of what they were up to. AJC was talking about talent deficiencies on Tech’s defense until the loss to MT. Hard to said that was a talent deficiency. I also wonder how professional coaching under the big Tuna must have been for him.
Great job with Southern Cal, first time Kelly really had time to work with the defense like a spring practice session. Night and day difference and I saw talent out there all of a sudden. Coaching in college football is very hard to hide.
Freddie Blassie
January 2nd, 2013
4:55 pm
Paul Johnson is a solid guy and a damned good football coach. So times have changed since only sissies wore football helmets, an injured player cost your team a time out and quarterbacks were considered football players and could be tackled just like anyone else….even a step or two out of bounds. If a ball carrier was still moving, stick a hat in his ribs. SEC gave forty scholarships a year and independents gave a hundred if they could afford it. Now everyone expects a football coach to be a wonderful guy who is part motivational speaker, part Sunday School teacher and the world’s greatest father figure and human being who reads Aristotle in Greek every morning.
I am sorry Al Groh was chapped about his time at Tech, but Al got axed after being the boss for years and he decides to work for someone else at a tough academic institute. He laid an egg and I have never met Paul Johnson but I don’t think things were very comfortable in the coaches’ offices after the defense could not get lined up to play game after game. Al worked as hard as he could but you can look at Johnson and know that he would fire his mother if she was not getting the job done.
Say what you will about Johnson, but I have been around Tech long enough to know that Paul Johnson is going to succeed at Tech. If you don’t like him, tough.
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
4:55 pm
“Tech fan will blame the janitor that cleans the bathroom stalls at Bobby Dodd before they lay any blame with Paul Johnson”
Not true, I would blame you.
stalin's ghost
January 2nd, 2013
4:56 pm
I worked with people like CPJ before. they are never wrong, they always take any and all credit for anything which works, actively work to undermine their staff, and will burn anyone and everyone for the sake of their egos.
AG showed considerable restraint in my opinion. pity he couldn’t have coached as well
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
4:57 pm
These are the same dog fans that made fun of Grohs’ hire and performance the last 2+ years. Hypocrites much?
stalin's ghost
January 2nd, 2013
4:59 pm
CPJ is a solid guy and good coach?
yeah, and the AJC leans to the right politically
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
4:59 pm
“I worked with people like CPJ before.”
Sure you did. And I am the Holy Roman Emperor.
Call Me a Cab
January 2nd, 2013
4:59 pm
Lol. Good stuff there. Gtu sucks.
stalin's ghost
January 2nd, 2013
5:00 pm
no GTJohn2
you’re a CPJ clone – and not even a good one.
Destin Dawg
January 2nd, 2013
5:01 pm
Glad GT beat USC….GT has played better on defense since Al left…. don’t hire these old out of touch guys…. Groh $hould have enough $$$$ to retire… leave it for the younger guys
GT
January 2nd, 2013
5:02 pm
Johnson the offensive co. had one bad outing this year, BYU. I imagine that was his worse coached game of his career. Against Georgia they had played the same offense the week before and have 11 better athletes on the field, than Tech. His special teams still suck, but he actually went out and got one of the best kickers in the country coming in next year. I think Groh thought like Gailey this was a place to retire, football had lost it passion.
ToeMeetsLeather
January 2nd, 2013
5:03 pm
Concerned, TECH was 2-4 with Groh this year and 5-3 AG(after Groh). They were also playing as a unit and not running around confused as he** at the end of the year like they were in October. They improved steadily since November.
Surprised?
January 2nd, 2013
5:03 pm
Born squared,
I don’t see much talent there and I haven’t seen a lot of it coming in, either. Why compare them to Virginia Tech and USC? Why not compareTech to MTSU and BYU? Both those teams had better talent. I’ll take BYU in next year’s game right now.
If you see talent out there, then more power to you. I did see improvement with the defense because a couple of players didn’t play in the bowl that has been playing for sometime now. USC’s QB wasn’t exactly Aaron Murray, either.
Mulk
Al Grow some . . .
January 2nd, 2013
5:06 pm
Al your D sucked. . . Slowly the D came around and in the last 2 games was respectable. Maybe the reason you have never been a winner is because you cannot accept any responsibility and always try to deflect the blame. Everyone should get a 2nd chance, but a 3rd or 4th is debatable. Go retire!
Coach D
January 2nd, 2013
5:07 pm
Whoever has the GT defense with Paul Johnson at Tech is going to have his hands full because of the offense Tech runs. The first D can’t get an even close look from the scout team offense. I could be wrong, but I think Tech’s defense will improve if/when Johnson is let go in a few years. They won’t beat UGA for a while, either : ~). GO DAWGS!!!
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
5:09 pm
“you’re a CPJ clone – and not even a good one.”
Huh? That does not even make sense. I guess from your handle you are the ghost of a mass murder. How’s Hell?
Born2Buzz
January 2nd, 2013
5:10 pm
I’m not letting PJ off the hook. He’s still the HC and responsible for the entire program. Next season is pivotal and he is definitely on the hot seat. It will be an interesting year.
At least we get a bowl victory to sit on until next fall, even if it was against a USC team that didn’t want to be there and the lamest coach in the country.
Hey, maybe Kiffen will hire Al G to be his new DC. They would be a perfect match!
Nativebird
January 2nd, 2013
5:14 pm
Just more information that points to the abject failure that has been the Paul Johnson “experiment” in major Div I college football. He, his offensive, his style, attitude, lack of leadership ability, egomaniacal tunnel vision have been nothing less than abject disaster for my beloved GT football program. He not only needs to be fired…he needs to be fired unceremoniously. I’d like to see college security literally walk him off the campus.
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
5:14 pm
Mulk:
Sūrat al-Mulk (Arabic: سورة الملك) (The Sovereignty, Control; literally ‘the kingdom’) is the 67th sura (chapter) of the Qur’an, comprising 30 ayat. The name of this sura refers to Malik al Mulk (Arabic: مالك الملك) ‘The Owner of All Sovereignty’, literally ‘King of the realm’, one of the 99 Names of Allah.
So you are a Muslim?
Maybe you mean “Mook”, much more appropriate.
He's right
January 2nd, 2013
5:15 pm
Toe, how quickly people forget BYU, UNC, and UGA. Yeah they did well against Maryland who was playing a LB at QB, BC who was 111th in the nation and scoring, and USC where the QB couldn’t hit the ocean standing on the beach. The duke came was decent but when the offense holds the ball for 38 minutes it’s not hard to be. The only really impressive performance was FSU, but we were equally prepared against VT in the opener.
Yes, it was ill timed. It was also probably asked by the reporter and Groh did a good job of both presenting his view and directing the conversation away from that topic. It’s also very similar to remarks that Johnson made about Tenuta when Johnson was hired. It was no more ill timed than the coaching staffs comments after the UNC game about Washington grading out better than Lee. Johnson is a hole to the media and has flat out lied the past two weeks regarding the QB situation at half time.
Lastly, Groh took over in a very bad position in terms of talent and even more so considering we were moving to a 3-4. People gave Johnson so much leash on “getting his players” into the system but apparently Groh doesn’t even get a chance with guys he recruited (or were recruited under him)? If it were just about performance Groh would have been let go at the end of the year. No, there was a lot more and people are kidding themselves if they think it was all, or even mostly, Groh.
Tech fan in NC
January 2nd, 2013
5:15 pm
ESPN ACC blog had good article on this issue and the supporting stats showing Tech’s defensive rank in the different categories in first 6 games vs last 6 games and after Sun Bowl..they improved in every single category. Something to build on for next year..hope they give the defensive coordinator a chance to continue on.
doc
January 2nd, 2013
5:16 pm
it was what groh didnt say at his firing. never was the name of cpj mentioned as he left. this is no surprise only the timing.
cudos to the bees in this ONE game. let us review again in one year. i hope we can look at the firing of groh as a turning point instead of continuation of the same ole thing.
Rick James
January 2nd, 2013
5:17 pm
As thin as Paul Johnson’s skin is there is no way he wil hire ever hire top knotch assistants.He will always have to be the smartest guy in the room.Find a way to show him the door and bring home Ken Wisenhunt and Tech will be headed in the right direction.
GT
January 2nd, 2013
5:18 pm
Some SEC teams lost to Sunbelt Conference teams this year too. Nothing to brag about, but makes you wonder how mighty the SEC is outside Alabama, and I got my feeling they are going to have their hands full against ND. I only thought so after watching the SEC look very human in this post season. And this same ND defense played this very same quarterback and USC and didn’t do near as well as Kelly’s defense. This is one of the weirdest years I can ever remember for college football and if the Irish beat Alabama, which could happen; it will be the weirdest year ever.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 2nd, 2013
5:18 pm
A statement released from Groh at the time of his firing was decidedly more diplomatic.
Hey Ken…Al thanked his folks and made a positive about GT football from the past and that was it. No love for PJ at all.
Just Saying
January 2nd, 2013
5:18 pm
Tell you what Al, go offer your services to Miami or Clemson and do GT a favor.
doc
January 2nd, 2013
5:19 pm
chan gailey also said yesterday what most coaches feel as they are fired. ” this will be the first team i am fired from who i will pull for”, when speaking of his exit and feelings buffalo. seems al feels a little animosity for the institution that paid him well after he was fired from uva and exited into retirement much healthier financially.
Old with a Stinger
January 2nd, 2013
5:19 pm
I’ve stated this in the blogosphere before; CPJ overestimated Al’s expertise and ability to adapt. The results demonstrated that reality. “If” Al refused to adjust, he needed to be assisted out the door. I have noticed while he was the DC our d-players did not demonstrate basic tackling skills (wrapping up and tackling “through” the body). I also commented earlier that we should emulate the NFL Texans – when a d-rusher cannot reach the Qb, put your hands up and you might tip or block the pass. It’s a good thing we had a bowl game to play and the d-staff had the opportunity and time to sell the team on those skills. I specifically read a player comment after the bowl that the staff had drilled the d-line and lb’s on that skill (probably showed them a loop of how J D Watt disrupts offenses even without sacks). I think the present staff should be given a full season to demonstrate they can teach up everybody. We don’t need to get a “legendary expert.” [I think Al was embarassed by our 3-week improvement before the bowl. His statement was classless.]
1990_Champs_GT
January 2nd, 2013
5:19 pm
Groh’s mad that he was tossed like garbage. It’s not like Johnson was giving him any pointers; not sure Johnson knows the names of the guys on defense.
Not enough room between Johnson’s ears to remember them AND the five plays we run on offense…
Just a neutral observer
January 2nd, 2013
5:24 pm
After a slow decline at Virginia, Groh bombed badly at Tech and is bitter that nobody calls him. Happens to everyone eventually. But Coach PJ seems to have few friends. I don’t know the man but he comes off as an arrogrant prick.
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
5:26 pm
“Whisenhunt” Rick James, and I’m not necessarily against the idea. Currently he’s interviewing for other NFL jobs.
It’ll take some serious money to attract his attention. Plus buying out CPJ’s contract would mean even more money.
yellowfever
January 2nd, 2013
5:27 pm
Tech’s defensive showing against USC was the worst thing that could have happened. Now CPJ will take the easy road and promote coach Kelly and then tell the world that he has earned it. Are you kidding me, pleased CPJ,go out and find the best defense coordinator in the land that’s available and do whatever it takes to hire him. Your job depends on it.
will
January 2nd, 2013
5:28 pm
wow this is crazy….it seems like groh is jealous bitter old man who needs to grow a pair
Technically Correct
January 2nd, 2013
5:28 pm
Since Mr. Groh is hurling superlatives, let me add one that the defense under his mismanagement was the worst I have ever seen at Georgia Tech!
5150 UOAD
January 2nd, 2013
5:29 pm
Rick James and when was the last time you had a nice long conversation with Paul Johnson to know he has a thin skin and has to be the smartest person in the room? If you were in the room I am sure he would be smarter than you for sure.
GT
January 2nd, 2013
5:29 pm
He’s right you are just writing what you want to believe. Groh was a disaster, I admire Johnson for firing him when he did, and it turned the whole season around. Can’t remember a team turning around like this one, it was heading toward a Lewis season.
Jacket78
January 2nd, 2013
5:31 pm
Dementia has set in …. Can we please hire someone born in the last 50 years for our next coordinator? This bum was born before the forward pass was invented.
Born2Buzz
January 2nd, 2013
5:31 pm
“It was definitely our best game of the year defensively,” Johnson said.
all we need to hear about Al G.
I’m actually pulling for PJ to keep Kelly as the DC. Kelly deserves the chance.
Jacket78
January 2nd, 2013
5:33 pm
Also only an idiot would run a 3-4 defense with an undersized line. Clueless.
Mike Geigerman
January 2nd, 2013
5:36 pm
Maybe Al can go help Lane Kiffin at Trojan Land ! and Chan you are the A- Hole.
David
January 2nd, 2013
5:40 pm
As long as Tech runs a rinky dink gimmick high school office, it doesn’t matter who the DC is. That offense causes way too many turnovers and puts the defense on the field way too much.
David
January 2nd, 2013
5:42 pm
As long as Tech runs a rinky dink gimmick high school offense, it does not matter who the DC is. That offense causes way too many turnovers and puts the defense on the field way too much.
CAPT-ATL
January 2nd, 2013
5:43 pm
he was so unhappy that he would still be here if he wasnt fired for a poor coaching job. Sour Grapes for a man who has lost 2 jobs in less than 3 years.