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
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
7:57 pm
I didn’t say a thing about the women at Georgia, bubba. I was talking about the women that most of you mutts get stuck with. The women at Georgia have more class than to date or marry somebody like you.
m
July 19th, 2011
7:58 pm
Just because georgia’s coaches dont have large enough members to stand up to justice, don’t take it out here on the tech faithful.
Patrick
July 19th, 2011
7:59 pm
Got to go now that Stinger and Yellow Fuzz are spewing their venom. Must be a couple of obese teenage nerds who never had a date with a girl (blow-up doll does not count).
As I stated before, I think that GT got a real raw deal from the NCAA. We will see what happens next and I really hope that GT wins the appeal. Again, I am a UGA fan but this NCAA ruling is just wrong.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
7:59 pm
Stick, have you seen the “women of WalMart”? Google it and you will see what I am talking about. Most of them in this part of the country are wearing Georgia shirts, and some of them are dragging along their redneck farmer hubbies or bf’s.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
8:00 pm
Patrick, thank you. You show that a person of class can rise above the rivalry and post intelligent remarks.
Dubvee
July 19th, 2011
8:08 pm
Here’s the deal. We need to get back to Tech values. A friend of mine played for Bobby Dodd, and he told of how Dodd would talk to the team at the start of every season — saying “if you ever do anything to disgrace the name of Georgia Tech, I will personally cut your (insert favorite body part here) off”. The veins on his neck would stick out, he was so passionate. Quit skirting the rules, and quit disgracing the name of Georgia Tech. Let’s start being like we’re supposed to be.
Gunslinger
July 19th, 2011
8:09 pm
Enough about this garbage already!!!! File an appeal, then just let it go. The past is the past, we lost NO scholarships and haven’t in any way been banned from post-season, so who gives a rat’s rear what some NCAA punks want to rule. We have a new season coming up REAL soon, and the NCAA douchebags have been kind enough to provide us with enough motivational material for a decade. Trust me, the ACC is going to have to deal with one SERIOUSLY pissed off team of Yellow Jackets this year!!
As an aside though, why hasn’t more been made of the fact that GT contacted the ACC for guidance and Swofford/the ACC said that D. Thomas was eligible and to go ahead and play him! And according to the report, someone from the NCAA headquarters told them the same thing — go ahead and play him. Now they want to slam us for doing what they said to do?
Yep, lots of motivation to to put a hurtin’ on some people this season!!!!!!!!
Vince
July 19th, 2011
8:12 pm
What did I prove?
I was reacting to a challenge by a Tech fan. George Stein made a derogatory comment about UGA fans and how they were overwhelmingly on this blog enjoying Tech’s problems. I stated that most comments I read from UGA fans were in support of Tech….something I know would not happen if the situation was in reverse. That fan suggested I go back and read the entire blog…..so I did…and I took count.
I was right! Most UGA fans expressed comments that sided with Coach Johnson and Tech in this situation. What I didn’t expect (but should have) was the overwhelming number of vitriolic comments from Tech fans about UGA….so I started counting those too, after page two.
Vince
July 19th, 2011
8:15 pm
Does it strike anyone else as hilarious that “Supersize that order” would commend someone for posting intelligent remarks? If that isn’t the most hypocritical remark I have ever read on a blog then I cannot imagine what was!
Bull Meacham
July 19th, 2011
8:17 pm
What arrogance!
Yep
July 19th, 2011
8:17 pm
The ironic thing about the situation is that it involved a WR? A position he doesn’t use????
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
8:20 pm
Vince, I only responded in kind to what Stick said. Unlike those Tech fans you said lambasted even the good UGA fans’ comments, I have shown nothing but gratitude for the classy remarks that many dawgs have posted today. Frankly, I was surprised at the number of classy posts, but when I come across one of the putzes who post most of the time on here, then I’m going to fire right back at them.
Danram
July 19th, 2011
8:24 pm
Sorry Paul, it doesn’t work that way. If you say the NCAA is punishing 115 guys for what one kid did, then you can just as easily say, if 20 cheated, that they’re punishing 95 guys who don’t deserve it. Where do you draw the line? 5 cheaters? 10? 20?
No, that fact is that everyone knows the rules and the potential consequences of failing to abide by them. As we can plainly see from what’s going on at Ohio State, UNC, Oregon, Auburn, etc., cheating is rampant in college football today. The only it’s ever going to stop is if the NCAA starts coming down like a load of bricks on programs that are caught breaking the rules.
While I have sympathy for the GT team and for Coach Johnson and his staff, who put together a great season in 2009, it is entirely right and proper that they be stripped of their ACC title and be required to return their championship trophy.
Reality
July 19th, 2011
8:27 pm
Its the ACC Championship their giving up, not that big of a deal in today’s college football……..
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
8:28 pm
Danram, the problem with what you posted, which I agree with in principle, is that the Tech players involved have NEVER been leveled with charges of breaking ANY rules. Both the ACC and somebody from the NCAA said that they were NOT ineligible, and that was back before the games in question were ever played. That has not changed. That being the case, EVERY player on the Tech team is being punished for what NOBODY did wrong. You call that justice???
Jorg'e O'leary
July 19th, 2011
8:32 pm
STFU? Is that the next CUSA team you lose to in a bowl game jowelmolesters?
Sartre
July 19th, 2011
8:33 pm
To those accusing Coach Johnson of having Auburn ties: Remember Coach Dooley was as tied up with Auburn as tied up could be.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
8:34 pm
EXCELLENT point, Sartre
Paul N Destin
July 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
Timing is everything in life and GT is very unlucky with this issue. The NCAA has the hammer and OSU,UT and soon to be Auburn will get the full dose. Auburn will be the last because that program will be the example to college football about what you can expect if you decide to take the auburn path. Just hold on GT fans and take a deep breath and allow the NCAA to complete their process. The you can appeal and get some relief but don’t start that process now if you’re smart. Need not think LSU is done with the NCAA either because this is just phase I for the Tigers. This street agent deal is going to explode. When this is all complete the SEC will be getting blasted by the rest of the country for all the cheating and Slive will get a lot of the blame for how it let it unfold last year even though the AU lawyers had both the NCAA and the SEC over a barrel….at that time. That time is over and it will soon be AU’s turn in that barrel and they will have a better understanding of what “ALL IN” really means. They deserve what they shall reap.
MC
July 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
There hasn’t been a story about GT in Bleacher Report since 11 Feb. Until today. GT Hit By NCAA Hurricane. LMAO! GT football is o irrelevant.
Vince
July 19th, 2011
8:46 pm
@ Supersize
As stated earlier, I think the punishment is way over the line, but to say that no one did anything wrong is incorrect. Did you read the report?
The compliance officer was told not to speak to anyone about the investigation other than the university president and the athletics director. Instead, he told Coach Johnson. Johnson and a team then interviewed the athletes. This compromised the integrity of the investigation. Furthermore, the NCAA told Tech that the players COULD be ruled ineligible at a later date and that they might want to consider not playing them. They played them anyway.
Investigators also noticed a difference in their first and second interviews with the players and decided they could have been coached in giving their answers.
So, I side with Tech (as hard as it is to get that phrase out of my mouth), but tell me honestly: Would you do the same for Georgia?
Woof Woofy
July 19th, 2011
8:49 pm
Lemme rap a bit…
Ga Tech got caught wiff pants down
Got a player taking money what a clown
PJ is da coach rite now
His momma big and fat like a dairy cow
Dem bees done got dissed by NCAA
The game of football dey don’t know how to play
A bunch of nerds with no game
Lost their trophy from da case what a shame
Dem Yeller jackets thought dey had it made in da shade
But dey got cold busted with a can of Raid…
Vince
July 19th, 2011
8:50 pm
@ Sartre
So, Dooley went to school at Auburn in the 1950’s….what’s your point? I went to Atlanta City Schools in the 1960’s but I don’t have anything to do with their cheating scandal.
MC
July 19th, 2011
8:50 pm
PJ will be out of here on the first thing smokin after this season. Probably back to some conference where his Mickey Mouse offense, massive ego, and over sized mouth can survive.
Buzz ME
July 19th, 2011
8:51 pm
NCAA+ Non Competent A-hole Association
Buzz ME
July 19th, 2011
8:52 pm
Hey Woofy Woofy…let me guess…PHD in English from UGA!
dawgfan
July 19th, 2011
8:54 pm
Vince, as long as Tech did it it can’t be wrong. Its impossible. If Tech did it its okay. If anybody else does the same thing its wrong. If UGA does the same thing its evil, corrupt, and probably the work of Satan. I have heard Tech fans say that they entire University of Georgia should be shut down because we drink too much beer at football games, but its okay for Tech to obstruct an NCAA investigation, play an ineliglble player, and then show absolutely no respect for the rules after they break them. That’s okay because Tech did it. Are you following me here Vince?
You’re fighting a losing battle Vince. These idiots just don’t get it. Never will. They are very much like a cult. Seriously.
MC
July 19th, 2011
8:56 pm
STINGER
July 19th, 2011
7:29 pm
F@ck you dog fans. You buntch of loud mouthed redneck bitches.
How old are you little girl?
Vince
July 19th, 2011
8:57 pm
@ Dawgfan……. Yes, I definitely get it…but I want at least ONE to admit it. (crickets chirping, owls hooting, etc….)
MC
July 19th, 2011
8:59 pm
STINGER
July 19th, 2011
7:34 pm
Every time I catch one you loud mouths in a bar I make a point to b*tch slap your a$$.
With your panties on your head or off?
Vince
July 19th, 2011
9:00 pm
@ Buzz me
Actually, woof woofy has done a fairly good job of enacting the vernacular he meant to impart in his poem. It’s very clever. (He/she actually knows that is not the proper spelling or grammar one would use in a formal paper) That’s Composition 101.
TechRedNeck
July 19th, 2011
9:01 pm
Come on people, Tech and UGA have good solid programs. This penality was way over the top and we all know it. Some of you calling CPJ arrogant and man boobs are the ones arrogant and if you want to see nerds just ride around Athens.
MC
July 19th, 2011
9:06 pm
Not to mention GT is a serial violator. Remember the worst academic fraud case in ACC history? 11 ineligibles. You guys are damn good to out cheat Free Shoes and the U. Kudos. Keep up the good work and the world will soon be rid of GT football forever.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:07 pm
Vince, I didn’t say NOBODY did anything wrong. I said none of the players did anything wrong. Obviously DRAD and his counsel didn’t do exactly what was right (read my post from 7:15PM though if you want to see how absurd the NCAA rules are). So I have no problem (other than the logic behind it) with the 100K penalty or maybe even the 4-year probation. But even though the NCAA said the players MIGHT YET be charged with some kind of violation, SOMEBODY in both the NCAA offices and the ACC offices, said they were NOT ineligible. Also, read the transcripts of the interviews and tell me you think they sounded coached in their responses. They sounded like typical kids not knowing what the hell was going on to me. If that was the result of being coached, then whoever coached them is either the best on earth or the worst. As far as the argument about Dooley going to Auburn in the 50s, you are exactly right, but by the same logic what possible connection could there be between CPJ having been at Auburn (which I don’t think is correct) and what’s going on at either Tech or Auburn now?
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:08 pm
MC. you are an example of the pot calling the kettle black, assuming you are a Georgia fan. Remember the Jan Kemp revelations and the Jim Harrick exams??? Talk about a serial violator. SHEESH
MC
July 19th, 2011
9:10 pm
And that was when Supersize? This entire decade has been one sordid incident after another at GT.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:11 pm
Vince, in case you don’t want to go back an find and read my 7:15 post, I am pasting it in again here —
Imagine, if you will, the following scenario: Setting CPJ’s office, November, 2009 –
DRAD: Paul, BayBay and Derrick will not be able to play next week.
CPJ: Oh? Why is that? What happened?
DRAD: Paul, I can’t tell you. Just accept the fact that they can’t play.
CPJ: But are they sick, or has there been a death in their families?
DRAD: Paul, I can’t tell you. Just accept the fact that they can’t play.
CPJ: So they don’t even know about it yet, and I’m supposed to tell them.
DRAD: No, you can’t tell them. Just accept the fact that they can’t play.
CPJ: But what am I supposed to say to them?
DRAD: Paul, you can’t tell them anything. They and you just need to accept the fact that they can’t play
I guess this is what would have made the NCAA goon-squad happy. GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!
MC
July 19th, 2011
9:13 pm
And by the way, how damn dumb can a compliance staff be to not know some of those 11 had 1 year of credit toward graduation after being on campus 4 years? Give me a break. Can you say Reggie “duhhh” Ball?
Vince
July 19th, 2011
9:14 pm
@ Supersize
Actually, in your 8:28 post you did state that “all Tech players are being punished for what NOBODY did wrong.” …but I don’t want to get bogged own in emotional semantics.
I did read the interview transcripts and thought to myself,initially, “gee these are college kids?” But then I had to remember that they were just (most likely) very nervous kids in a tough situation.
There is no connection between CPJ and Auburn that I care about. Besides, no one has offically alleged any wrongdoing at Auburn.
You didn’t reply to my last question: Would you stick up for UGA if the bulldogs had gotten the same treatment from the NCAA? (be honest here)
This is a "what if"?
July 19th, 2011
9:15 pm
When that $1k already worn uga shirt was sold and the nzaa found out…what if the investigator told your legal guy that he could tell your prez and the AD but he could not tell your coach…and he told you guys that a highly talented receiver could not play in the first game. What would your coach say when your AD told him Mr Green could not play…etc etc etc
Vince
July 19th, 2011
9:18 pm
It is actually your compliance director you guys should be most upset with……
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:20 pm
MC, you’re telling me there is a time-limit on sleazy behavior????
MC
July 19th, 2011
9:23 pm
Mark Bradley
Memo to Georgia Tech: LSU shows how to handle the NCAA
Damn! LA swamp rats are smarter than techsters. Imagine that.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:23 pm
Vince, I didn’t see that last question until your most recent post. To be honest, I don’t know if I would stick up for UGA in a similar situation or not. Once upon a time, I would have, but since I began reading these blogs and seeing the mostly inane comments made by so many (not all, but so many) UGA fans, I guess I am no longer able to be as gracious as I once was. Believe it or not, I was once a big UGA fan, second to Tech, but still I always pulled for the dawgs except for T’giving weekend.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:24 pm
MC, what did you expect from LSU? Hell, they got off easy. A slap-on-the-wrist ONE YEAR PROBATION for what the NCAA admittedly describes as a MAJOR violation. Hell, I’d keep my mouth shut too.
Vince
July 19th, 2011
9:24 pm
The LSU report really lauds the Tiger’s compliance office for being cooperative, upfront and honest.
MC
July 19th, 2011
9:25 pm
Hey supersize ever heard the old saying what have you done lately? In GT’s case it’s an entire new decade of sleaze and slime. By the way is Rueben still peddling pot over there?
MC
July 19th, 2011
9:26 pm
And Tech wasn’t smart enough to do that were they supersize? They turned the proverbial molehill into a mountain with sheer stupidity.
Vince
July 19th, 2011
9:27 pm
@ Supersize
But look at your blog name dude. You rant against UGA fans for their uncivil behavior but most of them go a name that is positive….not derogatory.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 19th, 2011
9:27 pm
MC, I don’t know. Is Hines Ward still drunk driving? Is your former AD still wearing red panties? Do any of your basketball players know yet how many points are in a 3-point basket?