Paul Johnson says SEC’s superiority all about perceptions
Paul Johnson says the SEC isn't the overwhelming beast it's made out to be. (Johnny Crawford)
The same week that the top of the BCS rankings are punctuated with three SEC teams and the overwhelming shadow beast of Athens prepares to bring its football team to Georgia Tech, Paul Johnson said precisely what we’ve come to expect from him.
To capsulize his thoughts: Whatever.
Johnson, whose weekly news conferences can be relative standup comedy dotted with sarcastic jabs, was unusually low key Tuesday. But afterward, he addressed perceptions of the SEC’s Godzilla to the ACC’s Bambi, which filters down to the annual Georgia-Georgia Tech game. This subject has been one of Johnson’s pet peeves since he arrived at Tech in 2008 (and won at Georgia in his first season, after the Jackets had lost the previous seven in the series).
“It’s all perceptions,” Johnson said. “People will think what they’re going to think. There’s nothing I’m not going to do to change their mind.
“Personally, I think the conference thing is way overblown. How are you going to evaluate? Are you looking at the top two teams in the conference or are you going to take the conference as a whole? There’s four SEC-ACC games Saturday. Let’s see what happens. Who’s favored in the Clemson-South Carolina game? Who’s favored in the Florida-Florida State game? Wake-Vandy? I don’t know. But you see what I mean? Now, if we’re just talking about Alabama and LSU, that’s different.”
Johnson makes a point. While you can make a case that the SEC is the nation’s superior conference, the strength at the top – and certainly five consecutive BCS titles – exaggerates the differences between conferences from top to bottom. Not to diminish the accomplishments of Georgia during this nine-game winning streak, but even the most ardent Dogs supporter recognizes that the East Division is down this year.
Perceptions certainly play into this week. Johnson figures to milk this for all its worth to players. He’ll talk about how nobody’s giving Tech a chance, how Georgia’s already looking ahead to the SEC title game, how the Jackets have punched the Dogs in the mouth before and they certainly can do it again.
“Every coach does something,” he said, without getting specific. “You always take anything you can find or post, things that you think will get your guys ready to go.”
This is Johnson’s fourth season. Tech’s senior class is 34-17, including 1-2 against Georgia. In 2008, the Jackets won 45-42 as an underdog in Athens. In 2009, they lost 30-24 as a favorite in Atlanta. In 2010, as a 12½-point underdog in Athens, they accumulated 512 yards in offense but committed four turnovers and trailed 35-34 (on a missed extra-point attempt) until a touchdown by Washaun Ealey with 1:29 left.
The point being, there hasn’t been much difference between the two programs over the past three years.
Two years ago, Tech was where Georgia is at this week. The Dogs will pay for the SEC championship next week. In 2009, the Jackets had secured a spot in the ACC title game. The Georgia game was secondary in importance (as foreign a concept as that may be).
When asked if that played a role in the loss, Johnson said, “I don’t think that played into it at all. That was the week we had the NCAA [investigators] in here. That played into it a great deal. That played into it far more than [looking ahead to] the ACC championship.”
This year, there’s no question. This is Tech’s final game before a bowl. Johnson spent part of Tuesday reaffirming that while he thinks the Dogs are good, it’s not like Tech has been facing middle schools.
He was asked about the strength of the Dogs’ defensive line. He responded with some praise but added, “I don’t know. We’ve played some really good players. [North Carolina's] Quinton Coples is a first-round draft pick. [Clemson's] Brandon Thompson is a pretty good player. This won’t be the first good players we’ve seen.”
He was asked about Georgia tight end Orson Charles. He responded with some praise but added: “We’ve played against other tight ends who are really good. The tight end at Clemson [Dwayne Allen] is probably an early-round draft pick in the NFL.”
Johnson realizes his words won’t change perceptions. But the last thing you’re going to hear from him is any suggestion that his overshadowed program from the overshadowed conference can’t win Saturday. And, truth is, the past three meetings have affirmed as much.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,026 comments Add your comment
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:01 pm
hopefully we can add another one to that list SEC EAST Champs! Also hopfully your name will be SEC CHAMPS IN TWO WEEKS
wolfman
November 22nd, 2011
10:02 pm
@GADAWGS: The ACC hasn’t assigned the conference games yet….
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:02 pm
Nice. Handle stolen again.
I do enjoy my work as the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary, though.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:03 pm
tech fans what year is tevon wsahington?
DILLIGAF
November 22nd, 2011
10:03 pm
“You find me annoying because I rip apart all the nonsense you fools write”
No, I find you annoying because you are annoying. Trust me, you are not enlightening anyone with your profound football knowledge.
“You show me one place where I wrote anything derogatory about the kids at UGA, the school, or the football team, or the coach and you won’t see me here again. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your response.’
Calm down George…I never said that you wrote anything derogatory, I just said that you were redundant and annoying. Post to your heart is content.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
Ah one can see if that week, that week that is so muc fun every year. Win or lose I will support the Jackets and look back on the year with pride. Can Tech win? Yes, they can, it will take a very good game in all phases of the game but we’ve seen the team is capable of such efforts. And, yes, GA can win the game as well. Very talented players and if GA plays its best it would be a very difficult game for Tech.
Despite all the of the usual comments/insults/ramblings from the usual cast of characters this is going to be a fun week and, I, for one, look forward to Saturday and the chance to see 2 teams lay it all on the line on behalf of their respective schools.
Go Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!! THWG!!!!!!!!!!!!
George Costanza
November 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
Sorry George. Didn’t mean to blow your cover.
builderdawg
November 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
Johnson, you are such a meathead, yes git has played against some good defensive players, BUT they were on different teams, not the same one. What a moron.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:08 pm
DIllAGDJGDJFDLF whatever your name is calm down you’re attacking random people for no reason on A COLLEGE FOOTBALL BLOG probably cuz u have some insecurities
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
10:08 pm
@Chris, Tevin is a RS junior
George Costanza
November 22nd, 2011
10:08 pm
My nephew’s high school team has better defensive stats than Georgia. Guess that means they could whup up on Tech too?
Reggie's Balls
November 22nd, 2011
10:08 pm
UGA’s D will move so fast at Tech, they may even dodge a bullet or two flying around the Tech campus.
Rick Strickland
November 22nd, 2011
10:09 pm
It is what it is. You can currently get 6 (SIX) points out in Vegas if you want to throw your money out there. That’s the line I “expected”. I watched both teams as much as I could all year long. I simply think the “intangibles” are on our side this season and will result in a GT win.
You bring in Nick Saban, or Les Miles………………
Look at our student-athletes in nothing but Under Armor gear on one side – put UGA’s on the other side.
Tell them they gotta pick a group to go with. My gut tells me they go without hesitation to UGA’s side.
Thus, the 6 (9 if you consider the Vegas 3 pts for being at home) pt spread.
I’ve seen it all too often, and this team will have NO distractions Saturday. It IS our Superbowl. Don’t think that it will be the case on the other side but I do think OUR KIDS and OUR COACHES have enough to overcome it!
Give em’ hell Jackets. I KNOW you will.
GT
November 22nd, 2011
10:10 pm
Go to a game in Athens…. Big trucks, country site, chicken coops & chewing tobacco galore
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:10 pm
@Chris
DILLIGAF don’t look like the kind of guy who gives a flip.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:11 pm
I don’t know that I have much profound football knowledge. I have a basic understanding, though. Regrettably, there isn’t much football talk here. There is, however, a tremendous amount of nerd, redneck nonsense.
What I do have is a very good ability to think and write critically. If you find my posts annoying, that’s your issue. No one is forcing you to read them.
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:11 pm
GT
November 22nd, 2011
10:10 pm
Go to a game in Athens…. Big trucks, country site, chicken coops & chewing tobacco galore
Yep… Beats hell out of downtown ATL.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:11 pm
RS Junior, Chris.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:12 pm
haha most likely but still people should be defended even though george probably doesnt care he was called annoying.
Big L
November 22nd, 2011
10:13 pm
John Wooden said that Michigan was just another game. CPJ can keep telling himself whatever makes him feel good about losing to UGA, but any fanbase with an inferiority complex is gonna get fed up eventually. Maybe he lasts 10 years. His record against the Dawgs will be why he gets fired. Oh yeah, Dawgs 35, Nerds 21. Its like clockwork, now ain’t it.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:13 pm
georgia games aren’t like that
Finebalm
November 22nd, 2011
10:13 pm
tech gets an extra three points for playing at home? DAWGS own that crap hole field. That place will be 70% UGA fans.
davidinloganville
November 22nd, 2011
10:13 pm
goodnight and goodby until after the game going out of town everyone have a good Thanksgiving week and please don’t drink and drive even if someone one here hopes you will, just kidding George.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:14 pm
Eh, never been a big believer in the intangibles, Rick. I think a lot of that stuff is ex post facto analysis. I suppose in your case, you’ve proven me wrong, but that is not often the case. Typically, someone will say after the game that they had more heart or whatever.
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:14 pm
@George Stein
Not too much to say about this game. I consider it a pick-em. We’ll just have to wait and see. Both teams have been very inconsistent this season. It could be a close game – or a blowout either way. Flip a coin.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:14 pm
He never said it wasn’t important, Big L.
davidinloganville
November 22nd, 2011
10:15 pm
by the way Georgia beat Notre Dame in bball tonight. Sorry I know it’s a football blog.
North ave. faithful
November 22nd, 2011
10:15 pm
Davis dawg, my favorite cousin is named davis and is a uga grad, that wouldnt be you would it cuz.
DILLIGAF
November 22nd, 2011
10:16 pm
Chris, I haven’t attacked anyone. I made a nonoffensive statement while adding that I meant no disrespect to the poster.
Why don’t you spend some time to learn how to properly compose a sentence before you join an adult forum on college football, something that you know nothing about and make yourself look uneducated.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:16 pm
We’ll see, Perception. I think UGA will win because of their defense. My expectation is that they will score on us, but we won’t quite be able to keep up. If I had to guess, I’d say 34-24 UGA. But I’ll root like hell for my team.
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:16 pm
@davidinloganville (and everyone else)
Happy Thanksgiving. May the best teams win… They often do.
Rick Strickland
November 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm
Big L, he aint going anywhere. However, keep telling yourself that you can finish (2nd, 3rd) in the SEC “Least” and pretent to have your irrational fanbase buy into it! High Dives in the aquatics pool, missionary trips to Zimbabwe, and long french kisses on CBS might be your thing, but it is what it is. He’s a NON-PLAYER in that elite conference of your’s and after Saturday, will be just (2-2) staring at (2-3) next year. Enjoy!
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:18 pm
george i think that is about right but not as high scoirng is say 27 17 THE DAWGSO ON TOP
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:18 pm
@DILLIGAF
I get the impression that Chris doesn’t give a flip what you think either!
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
10:19 pm
John Wooden, UCLA basketball guru……………………Michigan game, no basketball history until the 90’s…………..relationship to the GT/GA game?
Big L
November 22nd, 2011
10:19 pm
@Perception is Reality. You mean as opposed to drug dealers, cross dressing hookers and sword wielding robbers. Yeah, I’ll take the occasional chicken house. Trucks with big tires, Cutlass Supremes with 30 inch rims. What’s the real big difference?
MISSING LINK
November 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm
KICK DAS DAWG AXX ONCE AND FOR ALL
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm
DIllIGAF i apologize for my sentence and structure and grammar. I had two papers do today right before thanksgiving so im a little tired of grammar at the moment. Im a way bigger football than you’ll ever be and i think i can hang with the “big” boys on college football forums + i don’t see an age limit on the blogs
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
Fair enough, Chris. Ultimately, we’ll need to make a stop and I don’t trust our defense to do it. Plus, I am absolutely terrified of Orson Charles. He’s a matchup nightmare.
Hyponic
November 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
The president of Walmart is a Tech Graduate. I don’t know how that relates, but I thought it was interesting.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
November 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
@Blue Fox: Who will run the ball for us? It definitely won’t be Samuels. If we have to play the same players we used against Kentucky it could be a sad ending. Nobody will say about Thomas and we never know if Crowell will be a participant or observer. If we play as we did against Auburn I like our chances against anybody. The prime factor will be if Murray brings his Auburn game or his Kentucky game,
Big L
November 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
John Cooper. , the head coach of Ohio State after Earl Bruce. My apologies.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
bobo said thomas will play so thats good. and george i dont think we have gotten the ball to OC enough. Yes he is a matcup nightmare if he is matched up on a linebacker lets send him deep on a flag!!!
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:24 pm
The “prime factor” is whether you’re playing a lousy team, or an incredibly lousy team.
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
10:24 pm
Whew!!!!!!!!!!! Big L, I thought I had really missed something there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:25 pm
I’m perfectly fine with OC not getting enough touches!
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
tech has a tough job defending charles, malcolm mitchell (a future all american) chris conley michael bennett TK marlon brown in the red zone Pick ur poison
DILLIGAF
November 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
Perception is Reality :
“DILLIGAF
I get the impression that Chris doesn’t give a flip what you think either’
You’re right, I wasn’t trying to start a fight, I was just posting an observation. I post football 98% of the time but sometimes the temptation is too much besides, I think that Chris might be George’s son or an alias at the least.
Sorry if I offended anyone, that wasn’t my intention. Happy Thanksgiving!
UGA/85′
GATA!
Ol'JacketFan
November 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
Perhaps OC can develop a case of the drops! He is a beast at TE
Rick Strickland
November 22nd, 2011
10:29 pm
Get to know #14 Saturday. We’ll talk afterwards. Give em’ hell Jamea!