Paul Johnson slams NCAA for Georgia Tech’s probation
Paul Johnson wasn't happy during Tech's probation news conference. He's still fuming. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
Paul Johnson doesn’t cheat. Doesn’t like cheaters. Calls the suggestion that he would cheat “almost insulting.”
“I’m sure I cheated in board games,” the Georgia Tech coach said. “And when I played, yeah, you’d do stuff. Move the ball forward. Move it back. Kick it. Maybe grab a guy where you’re not supposed to. But heck, everybody does that.”
But not as a coach. It’s why Johnson took a verbal 2-by-4 to the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions. He says he did nothing wrong. He says the punishment slapped on Georgia Tech’s football program, including the forfeiture of the 2009 ACC championship, is wrong. He wants the school to appeal. That decision hasn’t been made yet, but the trophy has been removed from a case in the Edge Athletics Center and is sitting in an office closet.
At the very least, Johnson wants it known that the Yellow Jackets gained no competitive advantage before the conference title win over Clemson. Also, he’s not giving his ring back.
“I’m proud of what those guys did on the field — they won it on the field,” Johnson said. “The NCAA can’t take away the memories or what happened on the field. Let’s say somebody took something illegal. I’m still not convinced that happened, but let’s say it did. Well, you’re punishing 115 guys who didn’t do anything but work their butt off.”
Johnson said he’s still “stunned” by the NCAA’s actions. He never expected anything of significance would come of the investigation until, “They started ripping [former compliance director] Paul Parker in the hearing.”
He understood why the NCAA might be upset that athletic director Dan Radakovich informed him of the impending investigation after he been told not to, but said, “I knew there was no coverup. If we were trying to cover the thing up, we would’ve just said that Dan never told me anything. Their perception of what happened and my perception of what happened wasn’t close.”
Johnson’s perception: “That they came in here and talked to seven or eight kids and they didn’t find what they were looking for.
“I’ve been in this business a long time. You see all the things that are going on in college sports today, and you get slammed for this? I mean, come on now. I feel for Dan and [Tech president G.P. "Bud"] Peterson. I’ve known Dan since I got here. Dan Radakovich isn’t going to cheat or cover up anything. Did you get bad information or maybe make a bad decision? You can debate that. But I certainly wasn’t privy to any information we had.”
The Tech case will go down as one of the strangest in NCAA history. Investigators never found proof or established a paper trail indicating former players, specifically Demaryius Thomas and Morgan Burnett, received improper benefits from agents. But there was the suspicious matter of $312 worth of clothing given to Thomas. Radakovich also went against the NCAA’s mandate by forewarning Johnson (and indirectly players) of the investigation.
Any potential violations might’ve been secondary, but the NCAA didn’t like the way Tech acted during the investigation, perceiving administrators tried to hinder the process.
Johnson said, “We thought we were cooperating,” then pointed to a black book on his desk and added, “I guess if they say that book right there is red and you don’t agree, then you’re not cooperating.”
He named at least five Tech players who were interviewed during the bye week before the Georgia game — Thomas, Burnett, Derrick Morgan, Jonathan Dwyer and Cord Howard (as well as Morgan’s roommates) — and said they shuttled off and on the field during practice. Peterson, who was relying primarily on the advice of since-retired school counsel Randy Nordin, ultimately cleared Burnett and Thomas to play.
Johnson said an investigator also interviewed one of his assistant coaches.
“They tried to say that he [the assistant coach] was directing players to agents,” Johnson said. “He even asked me if I was directing players to agents. I told him, ‘Dude, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.’ ”
The assumption here is that the NCAA was not expecting a warm embrace. Maybe they’ve just got a thing about bluntness.
“If you went out and you did something to gain a competitive advantage, if you knew you cheated or you paid somebody, it might be easier to swallow,” Johnson said. “But when you don’t feel like you’ve done anything wrong, it’s tough to take.”
The one saving grace for Tech is that the NCAA didn’t take away scholarships or issue a postseason ban. Also, this whole ugly process and resulting anger might help Johnson’s cause in at least one area with his players.
“Motivation won’t be a problem,” he said.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier: Tuesday Countdown: Tech stashes ACC trophy; Ohio State’s really stiff ‘I’
Earlier: Georgia’s RB legacy takes another hit with suspension
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891 comments Add your comment
Stop whinning
July 19th, 2011
4:55 pm
Rambler, just more hyperbole with no substance behind it. UGA is “widely recognized as the trashiest school in the country”? Give me a break…where exactly did you get that “fact.” Did you administor your own opinion pole to the other Dungeons ‘n Dragons participants?
midtown
July 19th, 2011
4:56 pm
gtalum06
And how many of you athletes have engineering degrees?
I am sure they all are working for NASA now.
Rambler
July 19th, 2011
4:58 pm
dbldawg:
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/9/1/1663448/the-fulmer-cup-season-closes-and
This is what I was referring to. Here are the facts. I’m not really sure why you’re insulting me on a personal level…
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
July 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
We will get another ACC Championship this year!!!! Mark my words!!!!!!!! Go GA TECH!!!!!!!!!
midtown
July 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
gtalum06
And if you believe the football and basketball players at GT are held to the same admisson
requirements and standards as the regular students then you are a F—— Idiot.
Rambler
July 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
Stop whining:
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/9/1/1663448/the-fulmer-cup-season-closes-and
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:00 pm
A better analogy: the blue lights go on while you are driving drunk (barely, but legally intoxicated) and you try to out run the cops and then when the cops come to your door you try to switch seats with someone who had not been drinking. Why, because you so badly want to beat that team down the road from you and you play them in a couple of days.
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:03 pm
Rambler: Yep, facts – LOL. By the way, the trashiest fanbase is the discussion you are having with the other guy. However, interestingly enough it shows the silly hypocrisy of questioning why I was insulting you (by merely pointing out your insecurity which you demonstrated by your need to insult UGA fans). I am not sure if you can follow this though the rage but if so I trust you will understand how this only furthers my point.
Rambler
July 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
I feel like you call what I’m saying hyperbole because what your saying only takes into account GT’s actions presently and your view of GT, and no bigger picture (such as u(sic)ga’s actions, and those of Auburn, Ohio State, etc).
Rambler
July 19th, 2011
5:05 pm
So the 12 players who were arrested and won u(sic)ga the Fulmer Cup are their fanbase? I’m confused.
GT
July 19th, 2011
5:05 pm
The best thing dawg fans could have done is ignore us. One thing CPJ has done is get the good old fashion hate back. Yall give us something, 12 or 15 times a year to let go on so we have kind of grown with the process. You enjoy yourself Georgia, we needed something in this hot weather to motivate us and you have helped tremendously. To that I say “go dawgs”.
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:05 pm
That made absolutely no sense, dbldawg.
recruitnik
July 19th, 2011
5:08 pm
Crybaby paul johnson.. love it.
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:09 pm
George: I would be happy to explain it to you but you are going to have to let me know where I lost you.
Rambler: You may be confused but you are primarily deflecting. It will be Ok, though,
michael
July 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
someone got pee’d off in the ncaa and made a tragic rash decision. can we now revamp the ncaa by hiring professionals, perhaps former coaches, players from the nfl and not those that never played any sports??
GT Grad 1995
July 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
I love being called a nerd. I think it is great! You know what UGA grads call Tech grads after college? BOSS! I use this line often to the several UGA engineers working beneath me!
Shorter CPJ: “Sure, I cheated at Monopoly. Who hasn’t?!” « Red, Black and Three Sheets to the Wind
July 19th, 2011
5:12 pm
[...] July 19, 2011 tags: Fish Fry, Football, Nerds, Why tech sucks by Rum-Dawg Millionaire Paul Johnson is insulted at the insinuation that he would cheat. He’d never [...]
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
Let’s start with switching seats to beat your rival.
More specifically, your analogy isn’t parallel. I’ll let you figure out why.
GT
July 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
GT Grad 1995 I am with you.
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
GT Grad 1995. No you don’t. In fact in haunts you. However, if you post enough times that it doesn’t bother you maybe it will be true. Me thinks all of those who are above you are not Tech grads but, hey, it is a great engineering school so maybe you also get the pleasure of calling a Tech grad boss.
JM
July 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
I wonder why the call came into the NCAA on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving?
Rambler
July 19th, 2011
5:14 pm
I’m not sure where I brought the fanbase in (except my jab about you ‘trying’ to read). I was referring to the Fulmer cup in my analogy. Georgia is the reigning Fulmer cup champs. That’s as far as it goes. I’m not sure where I’m using hyperbole in that. The Fulmer cup is considered by anybody who reads EDSBS to be the definitive measure of football program trashiness, regardless of school. So I’m not sure where my claims are wrong or overstated or what part of stating the fact that georgia has a trashy football program makes me an insecure nerd. Being a rocket scientist makes me a nerd, and being insecure would be totally unrelated to that. By the way, your plane is going to crash. I’m building it now.
Wade Garrett
July 19th, 2011
5:14 pm
The punishment did not fit the crime. Crime, that is something even the Dawg fans should be able to understand. But, I doubt it.
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:15 pm
Methinks is one word, dbldawg.
Is there anything sadder than an idiot trying to sound intelligent?
geechee
July 19th, 2011
5:16 pm
Very Simple to understand. Our lawyer made their lawyer mad and they were dead set to find something.
Doggies need to be quiet, season has not started and you need RB’s.
Jeff
July 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
For once I agree with Johnson and Tech. That the NCAA did this is a disgrace to our intelligence. I wish someone would take a good hard look at the NCAA from the President down and do something to straighten out this sorry excuse for an organization involved with college athletics. Someone needs to stand up to the piece of slime president of the NCAA- if the college institutions would all band together- something would change. Meanwhile, Cammies Daddy can solicit 180,000 grand for his kid to play at Auburn and this same president condones it…..talk about a disgrace…….more like a complete and utter loser.
Un-Tank
July 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
So does this mean that the NCAA isn’t invited to PJ’s next fish fry?
This is why he is ...............
July 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
He is angry, and maybe he should be. To my knowledge, he did no wrongs.
He is also mad because ……………. he knows now that his chances of ever, ever winning an ACC title at GT are very much dimmed with FSU and VaTech and Clemson and Miami being in the league and a couple of these schools do have legit shots at national successes.
North Carolina? When Davis is fired …………….being a native son North Carolinian, CPJ might JUMP at the chance to coach the flagship North Carolina school as far as brand awareness is all over USA ……………..why not? He might then be able to win large. He now knows how tough it will be at GT to be successful on a consistent basis. He might also be fired, if they go 5-6 and 5-6 over next two years.
Until then, he has won nothing at GT. His w/l record vs a “‘down” UGA has been dreadful. It might be time for CPJ to move on if/when Butch Davis is blown away.
Jackets …………….. you know this COULD be a scenario that he considers going forward. Davis goes ………………….. watch out for NC.
Sporty Black
July 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
BREAKING NEWS!!! The NCAA is going to vacate two conference title we won 20 years ago becasue my pee-coach gave me a helmet when I was in the 4th grade.
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
Ok, George: Switching seats – i.e. trying to get out of the DUI. Very much in keeping with the attempts by GT to thwart the NCAA’s investigation. If you will recall, one of your distinguished fans tried to compare what happened to Tech to a guy getting pulled over and blowing a .08 while his buddies have been driving hammered for years. You see, not only did your player get an improper benefit (driving drunk) but the kicker was and is that you tried to avoid any punishment by thwarting the investigation.
RipK46
July 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
UGA fans can be such hypocrits. Wasn’t it your world class receiver out there selling his game jersey on EBay? What about that infamous teaching scandal back in the 80’s – asking that professor to pass those “student athletes” of yours. At least PJ has some fight in him instead of laying down like a dawg!
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:20 pm
They were all in the league two years ago, this is why he is.
Tossed Salad
July 19th, 2011
5:20 pm
Big deal. If Tech holds BayBay from the ACC title game like they should have they lose, anyway. Why all the crying over an ACC title? It’s like winning the shortest midget contest.
puppydawg
July 19th, 2011
5:20 pm
So, you’re not cheating if you don’t think you’re cheating??? What a moron!!!
Tossed Salad
July 19th, 2011
5:21 pm
Or tallest midget contest, rather.
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:21 pm
George: Are you sure Me thinks is actually a word (or two words)? However, the answer to your question lies within but atleast (or how at about at least) you avoided any attempt at sounding intelligent in your post – just terribly insecure. Seems to be a theme.
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:22 pm
The problem, dbldawg, is that the NCAA never proved we drove drunk.
Sporty Black
July 19th, 2011
5:22 pm
It’s okay to sell your son for $100,000 (and lie about it) but it is wrong for your teammate to give you a pair of shoes and some jeans. Oops I forgot… risking $1,000,000,000 on bowl revenue is more important than $312. NCAA: National Constipated A$$es of America.
Paddy
July 19th, 2011
5:22 pm
I love this guy!!!! What a stand up guy!!
Rogeriter
July 19th, 2011
5:22 pm
I am a die-hard dawgs fan but I agree with Coach Johnson. The NCAA is becoming like the Gestapo on a witch hunt.
GT
July 19th, 2011
5:23 pm
Good question who did turn us in? I can’t imagine someone that needs a life that bad. Hell I can see Auburn and Alabama going after it, but this is Tech for crying out loud.
Todd
July 19th, 2011
5:23 pm
WOW…finally a coach that isnt “AFRAID” to stand up and defend his team and spit on the NCAA. That we dont have others that do the same is why this body is allowed to call the rules and punishment as they want. maybe if other coaches had some backbone and would call them out things would change. Here in the SEC, we have Mike Slime that muzzles his coaches and ADs because he is so spineless he could care less about whats right and wrong…..
Rambler
July 19th, 2011
5:24 pm
Nicely put Sporty Black.
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:25 pm
Rambler: Look, I took no issue with your claim about trashyness – (or, George, is it trashiness) that was the other guy. I think the conversation is silly and this statement furthers that silliness: The Fulmer cup is considered by anybody who reads EDSBS to be the definitive measure of football program trashiness, regardless of school. I was the one who asked you to compare and contrast how we handled the AJ situation as well as how we handled the unethical behavior of our AD. You might learn a bit by looking at that situation. Now, as for your insecurity, it is very much relevant as it is as the heart of your attacks and defenses and your need to now tell us what it is that you do (congrats on that, by the way).
Go Dawgs!
July 19th, 2011
5:26 pm
I have a totally new found respect for coach Johnson……at least he isnt afraid to stand up and speak his mind when something is clearly wrong. I just wish the coach 60 miles to the east could do the same…….
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:26 pm
A more proper analogy would be driving completely sober, being pulled over, questioning why you were pulled over, never having a field sobriety test or breathalyzer test taken, reacting angrily when you were booked, and being punished for fighting the traffic stop.
And, yes, methinks is a word. Who’s really the insecure one? I’ll take the guy who tries to sound smart but has an IQ in the 80’s for $200, Alex.
GotGame?
July 19th, 2011
5:27 pm
News Flash – They ALL cheat. Every single school. If the say they don’t it’s BS. Anytime you try to lure uneducated black kids to play for you and offer them the moon….well, you understand. And what’s really, really funny is that most of those “die-hard” football fans are Republicans (just take a look at the bumper stickers at any college game) and just love the poor black kid when he’s helping the team win..but, help his family with any type of federal aid program – OH HELL NO…just another day in America…yippiee!
dbldawg
July 19th, 2011
5:30 pm
George: The NCAA doesn’t have to – they got you for resisting arrest and thwarting their investigation. Further, they didn’t have to get you for the DUI – they knew you were drunk as does everyone. Further, the DUI example was the naive attempt by a GT fan to portray this as an honest slip up that the NCAA is hammering you for.
George Stein
July 19th, 2011
5:30 pm
So in your mind NCAA rules equate to ethics rules?
As I stated earlier, I believe – although freely admit I could be wrong – that if the opening game last year was Boise, UGA would have rolled the dice. It was easier last year because UGA opened up against a girl scout troop.
GT
July 19th, 2011
5:31 pm
Most coaches can’t call em out because they are guilty. I think Richt could let it rip a little more. His players stay in personal trouble and he has a hard time keeping alumni in the hoster but I don’t think he cheats. I bet you could go down to Arkansas right now on a dull Tuesday and find something upside down. When you have a quarterback that is almost a drug addict something is going on down there. Lot easier coming to Atlanta, having a steak on the expense account and leaving a dirty note at Tech.