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
10:31 pm
my father would never be a tech fan!!!
cuz then i wouldn’t bleed red and black
Larry Bowie
November 22nd, 2011
10:32 pm
When is Dragon Con?
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:33 pm
sorry i dont know what that is
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:33 pm
sorry i dont know what that is
bdawg
November 22nd, 2011
10:34 pm
I just love when you technuts don’t have anything to say you talk about getting a better education at tech. well there is one class yall should be good at by now which is first aid. UGA has been chewing your butts for years now.
Shakey
November 22nd, 2011
10:34 pm
I told my UGA and Alabama-Tuscaloosa friends at lunch today that the NFL should seek a merger with the SEC.
Go Tech, anyway!
GTLIFE
November 22nd, 2011
10:35 pm
Not gonna downplay the Ga 9 game win streak cause I will give ya that…
But it will be nice seeing Ga play a team with an Offense and a winning record…..Lets see haw it plays out….I think Tech Wins…..either way we are real young and will be alot better next year…….And have a QB that throws the Deep ball Really good…..VAD time
Big L
November 22nd, 2011
10:36 pm
So , 2 SEC championships, 4 SEC east championships and 2 BCS wins. Mean nothing. The best 10 year winning stretch in UGA history. 9-1 against the North Ave. boarding school. Not one championship has been stripped either. Mind you, I said nothing disparaging about that school in my post. CPJ is far too smug for a man who has yet to win a bowl game. I am certain, tech fans want more , than his misplaced confidence .
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:37 pm
tev is as good throwing the ball as my highschool qb…. whose a sophmore
Dave from GT
November 22nd, 2011
10:38 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5aiwxSfdH0&feature=share
Perception is Reality
November 22nd, 2011
10:40 pm
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:33 pm
sorry i dont know what that is
Don’t Google it with your Mom in the room.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dragon+con+images
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:41 pm
oh gotcha hahaha i will not be searching it then
Paul in NH
November 22nd, 2011
10:42 pm
Big L
November 22nd, 2011
10:13 pm
John Wooden said that Michigan was just another game
———
I don’t know about that. I am pretty sure beating Michigan in the final of the NCAA in 1965 to win a 2nd National Championship was definitely more than just another game.
George Stein
November 22nd, 2011
10:43 pm
North Avenue Boarding School? Seriously, Big L?
Drew
November 22nd, 2011
10:47 pm
As a Georgia fan, I’ll admit Coach Johnson is right. The ACC deserves more respect. I hereby deem them the best mediocre conference in the country. There, feel better?
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
10:47 pm
Does Granthum even know how to read a newspaper….I thought doggies just used them to pee on
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
10:49 pm
I love the SEC morons who think that just because 2 or 3 teams are very good the rest of the rubbage, yes that includes a poor UGAG team, is just that. notice the empty seats this year in Sanford & Son Stadium…….chuckle
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:51 pm
sanford stadium is always full. And the sec is the best conference top middle and bottom.
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
Best part is cuz U mutts have won K-9 in a row….over rather pathetic teams we must confess…..that U get to keep Mr. Richt for another 2-3 years. Wait til next year when the Gators are back and U actually have to play some of the other 3 good teams! haha
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
vt is the only team i have been very impressed with
athdog
November 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
The only bad thing about Tech week is that the season is almost over. Every year for most of my 50 years, it’s been the same thing: Yech talks about how they have the most academically accomplished students in the history of mankind, and Georgia’s students all eat boogers. Then we find out that their players beat up their girlfriends, or they have the NCAA down their throats for failing to graduate any of those academically gifted athletes, Georgia waxes their yellow tails, again, and they shut up until the next season. Even though it’s predictable, it never gets old.
Go Dogs, Larry and Erk will watch this one together.
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
10:52 pm
U ovbiously have not been to many games this year…..many empty seats and why not….mediocre football is where U R
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:53 pm
clemson and tech and fsu are pretty goodteams and minus them the rest of the conference is total garbage
FLA DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
Does Johnson live in an alternate universe?
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:55 pm
i have only been to 3 counting the boise game. South carolina a lot ofpeople left with 3 minutes left. Kentucky the top sections were empty i guess cuz of fall break. But tech is usually empty too despite having a small stadium
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
10:56 pm
Larry and Erk can now move on to something of value….maybe U can recruit some RB next year that can finish the season…..where is Caleb and Washumup when U wish U had them?
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
10:57 pm
hey were still winning??? im glad caleb and washaun are gone! and keith marshall and gurley will compliment richard samuel and isaiah nicely
Intrepid
November 22nd, 2011
10:59 pm
Here are the Cold Hard Facts:
1. Tech’s d is awful and you know it. GA offense is going to impress you.
2. CPJ has made so many 4th and dumb calls and nothing is said about it. Cost you the VA Tech game. Hope he keeps making them.
3. Your offense is cute, and has rolled up alot of yards vs GA. However, the junkyard is back. Live with it!
4. Lastly, we “run the state” !
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
11:00 pm
our d is 10X better than last year
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
11:02 pm
Its amazing how many STATE of GA residents are so freakin ignorant and don’t have a clue as they grow up (many in the backwoods) that mom and dad never went to UGAG but since they never know any better they just root for whoever they see the surrounding Bubbas rooting for
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
11:04 pm
your comments are pointless. Yes my parents went to uga and even if they didn’t i can root for whoever i want
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
11:04 pm
running your mouth does not constitute running anything of value. Go back to flipping burgers and sucking down some cheap beer. watch a game sober for a change and realize that UR dilusional. Who have U beaten????
Dawgiedoo
November 22nd, 2011
11:06 pm
Yo Chris….look around U….after LSU and BAMA (as long as Saban is there) U got abject mediocrity. Razormeat had a couple decent years but will fall back in line with doggies next year. Hurry and check the jailhouse…..U might find a UGAG RB doing time…..again!
Doggie
November 22nd, 2011
11:07 pm
Funny how no tech posters are mentioning Jarvis Jones.. Hmmmm…they’ll be hearing his name soon enough. Please tech, try to drop back and pass the ball. Have fun talkin smack tek.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
11:08 pm
ummm sec schools and going to be tech saturday. WHo have u beaten? yes clemson is the only team yall have beaten and they have no defense so it isnt that great. Also yall have lossed to virgina and miami who SUCK.
P.S. Im 14 and i don’t plan on ever drinking
ole yeller
November 22nd, 2011
11:09 pm
Intrepid, who is we? Do you play on the football team? I really don’t think you run anything, but a mouth that gets ahead of your brain and reasoning ability. If you play this weekend please give all of us your number so we can follow you.
Chris
November 22nd, 2011
11:10 pm
you act like 9-2 is bad! its better than yalls record and plus it will be worse once yall lose
James Adams
November 22nd, 2011
11:18 pm
The ONE game they one was by 3 points to a team that really didn’t give a $hit anymore, and two of the only other three they have won since 1991 (!!!!!!) were on bogus fumble calls. Georgia Tech is a joke to Georgia. If they were to win this year, they’d still be a joke. He has to be obnoxious to be heard because he and his team are irrelevant.
Larry Bowie
November 22nd, 2011
11:20 pm
“Anybody who calls into a radio show and barks is either retarded or doesn’t have a life.”
After the show, through a school spokesman, Johnson said he meant his response as a joke “but it was a poor choice of words on my part and I sincerely apologize. It was not my intention to offend anyone.”
Paul Johnson……what a class act.
Larry Bowie
November 22nd, 2011
11:35 pm
Johnson and perceptions.
Saywhut
November 22nd, 2011
11:55 pm
The biggest difference in the two leagues is the coaches. The SEC’s are much better. Oh, one other difference, the biggest jackass coach is in the ACC– and works on North Avenue.
SuperB
November 23rd, 2011
12:01 am
The biggest– of too many to name– difference in the two leagues? The ACC’s top team (Clemson) got dominated by N. C. State, while Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech had to struggle to get by— Duke. The SEC gets the 4 and 5-star guys.
The ACC gets the 2 and 3-star guys. Look at Tech’s roster for proof.
oh brother!
November 23rd, 2011
12:09 am
What a dumb article and a total waste of my time.
oh brother!
November 23rd, 2011
12:10 am
Can’t imagine why any parents would not want their kids playing for Johnson…on yeat…that is right…this LOSER is a total jerk.
oh brother!
November 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
Dawgiedoo…what a clown you are. Wait till next year when… Wait till next year when…. Wait till next year when….
oh brother!
November 23rd, 2011
12:15 am
UGA has been sold out all season and I am confident Dawgiedoo has not been to ALL the home games. I have and at no game was there not a full stadium…even Kentucky filled in later on. The seats were sold even if no one was in it. GT is such a joke…can’t even fill a high school stadium and you advertise your tickets on billboards….simply amazing.
I do not have social skills but I know how to build bridges
November 23rd, 2011
12:22 am
I have never kissed a girl.
ATLien
November 23rd, 2011
12:23 am
Are there really Tech fans trying to talk about empty seats? Really? Seriously, you lot should seek professional help. The level of obsession you have for the University of Georgia absolutely can’t be healthy. Get out of the basement, smell the fresh air, turn off the WOW and maybe, just maybe, you can start to understand simple reality. Which in this case is….UGA is the big boy school…they get the big boy players and play the big boy games. Tech, well, is a joke of a school, with a complete fool for a coach who’s only saving grace is his conference is so WEAK that his gimmicks half work. Tech is also the only school in this state to EVER have a championship stripped from them by the NCAA. The sooner you lot realize your place in life, as the dorks we pay to make sure our gadgets work, the happier you’ll be.
Reggie Ball
November 23rd, 2011
12:39 am
I am glad UGA had this cupcake schedule this year. Now they are back in love with Richt again and will have to put up with his underachieving ways for the next couple seasons.
Attention all UGA Fans
November 23rd, 2011
12:40 am
There will be a Swap Meet for all UGA fans in The Varsity parking lot starting at 8am on Saturday.