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
Ben the Independent
January 2nd, 2013
5:44 pm
Let the record speak for it’s self. The Jacket defense looked pretty good in the bowl game eventhough USC used a backup quartrerback. Al’s bitter comments will not enhance his marketability. I see my UGA friends are using this to blast the team their second favorite team plays.
I pull for both UGA and Tech if you are wondering.
Jacket78
January 2nd, 2013
5:45 pm
Congrats David that maybe the most ignorate thing I have read or heard so far this year. They routinely dominate in TOP. Shows your football acumen,
MTSU
January 2nd, 2013
5:46 pm
Dont worry Georgia Tech fans….if you play us again we will be sure to take it easier on you next time.
TechFan77
January 2nd, 2013
5:47 pm
I sent CAG an email early in the season offering encouragement and motivation when things were going south. He called me the next day and thanked me for my email. I was really a big supporter of his until now. CAG needs to know what being a professional is all about. Irregardless of how you feel, it is only common courtesy that you keep those opinions to yourself… because that is exactly what it was. P.O.S.!!!!
Big Dog 89
January 2nd, 2013
5:48 pm
Who cares about Tech.
They win one bowl game about every 8 years.
JB
January 2nd, 2013
5:49 pm
Lot of folks on think Al was making this up. After watching/ listening to Johnson the last few years, sounds about right.
oldfart
January 2nd, 2013
5:49 pm
He is 68 years old and should face his forced retirement with a bit more dignity.
wrecked
January 2nd, 2013
5:53 pm
The Tech staff is one of the worst in CFB with or without Groh.
WillinRoswell
January 2nd, 2013
5:53 pm
Congratulations to the Jackets for a great finish.
Dawg Patrol
January 2nd, 2013
5:53 pm
Groh should have been gone before this season started. PJ is an offensive coach and he has to have a strong DC. Groh wasn’t it. Carry on. GO DAWGS
danny
January 2nd, 2013
6:03 pm
I can’t imagine coach johnson being unprofessional, divisive and negative… but don’t ask him about his offense or why his players quit agaainst Ga, or why groh’s plays were too complicated or if he ever made a mistake.
Whiskey Breath
January 2nd, 2013
6:06 pm
What a ungrateful piece of crap. Yea Paul is guilty of hiring the retread in the first place.
The retread hasn’t done anything in years. I know Paul hired him because he was a easy
hire, but haste makes waste Paul. Paul, this is one piece of crap you hired that is going to haunt you.
This should be a lesson to all of us. Don’t hire somebody because it is easy, take the time to do it right.
hind tit
January 2nd, 2013
6:06 pm
Groh was not the problem at Tech. The problem is still there. You will see that Groh is right.
GT fan
January 2nd, 2013
6:09 pm
Forget it and move forward..Get a AD and DC and win in 2013….
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
6:11 pm
Don’t know if we play MTSU next year, but if we do it’ll CIRCLED!
Hayseed Dixie
January 2nd, 2013
6:13 pm
Tech allows 7 points in its last 6 quarters against teams stocked with 4 and 5 star O-linemen.
Drop-kicked Coach Al Groh’s is recorded as whining about The Institute in the Exit 12 Press Register.
Coincidence?
Guess the door *did* get him in the rear on the way out. What. a. chump.
GTJohn2
January 2nd, 2013
6:14 pm
“Groh was not the problem at Tech. The problem is still there. You will see that Groh is right.”
Really? Did you watched any of the games when he was DC?
What’s the problem at Georgia? Go post your comments on their blog.
Dubb
January 2nd, 2013
6:16 pm
Anyone see Gaileys comments after being fired by Buffalo? And does anyone remember him coming into a rebuilding situation when he got the HC job after O’ Leary left?
Ben
January 2nd, 2013
6:16 pm
Paul Johnson does kinda seem like a dick… But Groh was a crappy coach at UVA and a crappy coach at Tech. Still don’t understand why Tech hired him in the first place. Usually you would want a defensive coordinator to have a history of successful defenses, but he didn’t.
OldGold1964
January 2nd, 2013
6:17 pm
Regarding Coach Groh: no comment (he’s gone, stoppe kicking him). Being interviewed by VA news source, what else did you expect them to ask or him to say.
Regarding Coach Johnson: he is the head coach. Let him work and we’ll see how it turns out. Name a head coach that hasn’t gotten in the face of a youngster when he messed up and I’ll show you a head coach that won’t be one for very long. {Even mild-mannered Curry, Gaily, Ross and Dodd would step in when need be. Of course, Coach Dodd didn’t do it on national TV, but if he had an assistant send you into his office, watch out. Coaches just need to stop short of what Woody Hayes, Earl Bruce, Bo Shembechler, Mike Leach and Tommy Turberville have done while cameras were on them.}
Therut
January 2nd, 2013
6:17 pm
I have been in sports all my life, some coaching, am the same age as Groh and I am right where I should be and he also. Sleeping until 10- 11 a.m. everyday and watching sports rather than COACHING them.
GTGRAD88
January 2nd, 2013
6:18 pm
Al, show some class. Your comments are pathetic, as your defense’s performance at TECH reflects one of the poorest in the history of GT football.
Ben
January 2nd, 2013
6:20 pm
I wonder if it occurred to Groh that things were negative because his defenses sucked and everyone knew it?
Flak Jacket
January 2nd, 2013
6:21 pm
I swear, what a big baby.He should have NEVER been hired at GT.His defense at UVA was flat out horrible.Happy trails.
Birmingham Jacket
January 2nd, 2013
6:26 pm
Hilarious!
“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.”
Ummm… To say that is unprofessional AND unclassy. Kind of like the scene in Talledega Nights where Will Ferrel precedes his insult with “ALL DUE RESPECT…”
Not too sure I would hang my hat on improvement in our D since he left however.
USCs QB played horribly, and we didn’t show up at all against UGA.
Joe Smoe
January 2nd, 2013
6:28 pm
Really, Al? Life’s short. Be happy.
ignition
January 2nd, 2013
6:29 pm
Curious from an X & O’s standpoint whats the reason for Stanford’s defensive prowess and GT’s lack there of. Both
went to a 3-4 around the same time, both have had simular recruiting classes, and both have simular size lineman.
Both using coaches with NFL experience Stanford Vic Fangio GT Al Groh
There hasn’t been a turnaround like this since the Second Punic War | The Unofficial Stanford Blog
Since then Stanford’s defense has taken off even while losing their D coordinator and has even improved to be what they are known for and rely heavily on:
Mason builds defensive power at Stanford – Stanford Football Blog – ESPN
While Tech’s sputtered to having to fire Al Groh. Was this purely poor coaching, poor recruiting once Al took over, lack of motivation, or is like many have said is it that his scheme was too complicated. According to the article listed above Stanford’s defense has expanded to be more complicated as well. Just asking the question.
rlm
January 2nd, 2013
6:31 pm
To all the wise old sophomore making old man remarks that is ageism. Age has nothing to do with anything other than your immaturity. Most coaches get better as they get older not worse. This man just did not grow with the times. Young people can get stuck in a rut also. Read a book since high school or college other than a mystery?
Birmingham Jacket
January 2nd, 2013
6:38 pm
Also,
Like CPJ or not, you’ve got to love the quote: “I’m surprised he would stay here for 2 1/2 years if he felt like that it was that bad.”
Hint… Hint…
I wish you would have left sooner!!!
fatboyslim
January 2nd, 2013
6:39 pm
CPJ is the smartest guy in the room, any room. We will win the ACC next year and finish in the top ten . Vad Lee is awesome and will be a heisman front runner by his senior year. We just steamrolled a team that was ranked #1 early in the year. The D is on track now, too bad we can’t play UGA right now but we’ll see you on The Flats in Nov. The Flats will be a scary place next !
Flak Jacket
January 2nd, 2013
6:40 pm
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Delbert D.
January 2nd, 2013
6:48 pm
I guess the lesson to take from all this is for the new AD to hire a cultural attache for the football staff.
Ol'JacketFan
January 2nd, 2013
6:49 pm
I have to admit I’ll a bit surprised (shocked) at CAG’s comments. He was given free reign to handle the D and during his tenure there was zero improvement over what CDW was putting on the field. When he was hired I was pleased given his resume as a defensive coach and yet, over his time I saw nothing but disarray and lack of proper postional play. When players cannot get lined up properly, looked confused and, worst of all, look like they get no help from their coordinator then change is not only warranted, it’s mandated.
In watching Tech’s D in the FSU and USC games you saw players in the proper position to make plays and that, in turn, allowed them to play fast and hard. I don’t know if Coach Kelly is the right person for the coordinator but he has demonstrated what having players in position to use their talent means and that is yet another indictment of CAG.
I love the trolls who show up to condemn and belittle the Tech program as if they have “inside” knowledge of what is transpiring. If CPJ was such a difficult coach to play for or coach under why does the program has minimal player transfer or coaching turnover? I know! It’s because none of Tech’s players or coaches could go anywhere else!!!! *Sarcasm* To hell with all you trolls and naysayers. Tech is doing just fine without you or your ilk!
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re
January 2nd, 2013
6:56 pm
Enter your comments here
Gorilla Biscuit
January 2nd, 2013
6:56 pm
A victory against an uninterested USC squad will prove to be fool’s gold. GT will not be getting any better than they are right now. The bubble is plumb.
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT!
January 2nd, 2013
6:57 pm
Dear Concerned, 42 in one wonderful afternoon in Athens!
D-MAN
January 2nd, 2013
7:00 pm
You really played some great D against the Dawgs,what a joke!
Flamboyant Sun Bowl
January 2nd, 2013
7:01 pm
It took two and half years to get rid of Al’s Awful three year plan.
Re
January 2nd, 2013
7:06 pm
Was given free reign to run the d, with limited players. Know he was limited player wise, UVA hasn’t been that good except for a few years, here and there.Tech played a fl state offense that was milking the clock and sc quarterback was awful. D is more like what you saw against UGA. Needs more players, but, granted should have stayed silent as hard as it is, I like pj, but biggest problem is their offense, if their not going to get much better players on offense. If sc had their qb they would have easily one. Sc defense play good enough
SlimG
January 2nd, 2013
7:10 pm
Beat USC without a QB and this defense is great?????What? FSU couldn’t score on NIU????The talent level and CEO are terrible. Remember CPJ calling timeout before a half when the opposition was taking a knee????This guy needs to go with AG fishing…….
Just ride out the next 2 years and hire a coach who adjust his coaching to the players he has on the team not force them into an outdated offensive scheme.
Dawgie
January 2nd, 2013
7:18 pm
To All the fellow UGA bloggers…..Please quit complaining about Paul Moobs Johnson as the coach. Nothing would be in the better interest of UGA than to have Paul Moobs Johnson as coach for life at the trade school.
Uncle Mike
January 2nd, 2013
7:19 pm
Eff you Gouch!!!! Eff you to hell, you are a bitter
poS!!!! Hope you die!!!!!!!
Mike S.
January 2nd, 2013
7:22 pm
Considering Wommack’s defenses were terrible and the fact Groh’s replacements didnt do any better, I’d have to say Tech’s defensive issues didnt begin or end with Al Groh. Whatever is going on here with the recruiting and practice habits, its clear Groh couldnt fix it. Tech hasnt seen anything resembling defense since Tenuta and Chan Gailey.
GTBob
January 2nd, 2013
7:23 pm
Johnson is a jerk!
SlimG
January 2nd, 2013
7:23 pm
Well put Mike
steel eye
January 2nd, 2013
7:24 pm
File this under “Sour Grapes” and right next to “Who Gives a Rat’s Ass”. The fact is that Tech’s defense has been better since Kelly took over. Period!!
slydog
January 2nd, 2013
7:25 pm
Disclaimer: Dawg fan here. Anyway, I can’t think of anything more disgusting and unprofessional than for Groh to say what he just said. If he was so much more of a diplomatic and professional coach than the rest of CPJ’s staff, then he would not have made the statements he made to a newspaper, no less. While I do not doubt that what he said was the truth( just replay any CPJ news conference), it makes him less of a man to say so publicly 3 states and 900 miles away. Peace!!!
Rick
January 2nd, 2013
7:26 pm
I agree with TDone’s comments. I have several close UVA alumni friends and he was loathed up there and said he had a very caustic personality. They thought we had lost our collective minds when we hired Groh. He hasn’t been successful since his stint with the New York Giants in the early 90’s.
Dawg Fan
January 2nd, 2013
7:27 pm
Please sign Johnson to longer contract!!
Uncle Mike
January 2nd, 2013
7:30 pm
Al Grope is a bitter old man…