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
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 22nd, 2011
5:43 pm
You can’t beat UGA.
You should focus your efforts on other in state schools, like getting revenge against powerhouse Kennesaw State.
kybodawg
November 22nd, 2011
5:43 pm
with ugas size and speed on d it comes down to assignment football. make washington eat the ball and by half time he will be gone. he can set and watch with crowell.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
5:44 pm
Johnson at .663% and no bowl wins.The offense is pretty good until it meets a pretty good defense. He’s beat a couple of good teams with it, but BCS ranked type teams usually out play it. You know it. We know it.
Pierce County DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
5:45 pm
YOU WILL LOOK LIKE A WRECK AFTER SATURDAY EVENING.
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 22nd, 2011
5:45 pm
Chop block our boys and I guarantee Grantham will put a bounty on Washington’s ability to walk again.
I say he’s out by the second quarter.
Todd GrAnThAm
November 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
A word of warning for you nerds – Jarvis Jones is coming to Atlanta – and he’s even better than Justin Houston who smacked Washington in the mouth last year!
42-34!!!
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
Hit the quarterback every time. It is worth a few personal fouls.
Good strategy. Our QB hardly ever gets hit now.
UGAKev
November 22nd, 2011
5:46 pm
Early prediction from Techwood Ave:
Jackets 47
Leghumpers 24 (although they will be lucky to score if their drug abusing running backs don’t play)
- It’s people like this that will disapear around 4pm saturday…people like this just love to stir the pot and get their shots in before the game is played.
Chuck
November 22nd, 2011
5:47 pm
Man, sounds like Tech fans eat a lot of McDonald’s.
They must rock the B-Cups like Chesty Johnson.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
5:47 pm
Nesbitt, as big and tough as he was, couldn’t last the whole game his junior year.
GT
November 22nd, 2011
5:47 pm
Will Cobb let it be put on record I do not think we are going to beat anybody, our players are scared to death. This is one of the greatest Georgia team in memory, Richt is a genius, uncle, no mas and whatever else they use in pro wrestling. People will be walking around North Ave naked so you won’t confuse them with Tech hat wearing people. No clue of who they are pulling for, just butt naked. And you Will Cobb what will you be wearing big boy?
Pierce County DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
5:48 pm
TECH WILL GET HIT SATURDAY. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PHYSICAL FOOTBALL YELLOW FLIES.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
5:49 pm
gonna be close. always is. except the 51-7
sports
November 22nd, 2011
5:49 pm
who cares what he says, thinks, or does!!
weiser
November 22nd, 2011
5:50 pm
bottom line..Tech LAID DOWN and let Georgia score on purpose. If Georgia ever EVER does that against ANY opponent it will be the last Georgia game I go to. What a freaking embarrassment. maggots
Pierce County DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
5:51 pm
ITS FUN TO WHIP YOU IN YOUR BACKYARD SON
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
5:51 pm
If Georgia ever EVER does that against ANY opponent it will be the last Georgia game I go to.
UGA fans are still pretty upset about CPJ outsmarting Richt on that one aren’t they?
JB
November 22nd, 2011
5:52 pm
How many Dawgs in the house tomorrow night? And where do they get the extra 20K tickets?
GT
November 22nd, 2011
5:52 pm
Munson’s funeral 12 or 1 pm on Sat? I can’t find a notice.
Finebalm
November 22nd, 2011
5:53 pm
I’m not impressed with PJ fat arse either.
SouthGADawg
November 22nd, 2011
5:53 pm
The game is Saturday bring your A game to the stadium, strap it on and get ready for the fight of your life. UGA fans do not want to hear excuses why you lost. I have wished GT luck all season in hopes they would be ACC champions because they are about to get on heck of a butt whooping. Both teams bring your best players and lets play ball. GO you Damn Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SICKEM
GaDawg
November 22nd, 2011
5:53 pm
Hey, Fish-Fry (aka punch-em in the Face) RRRRRRRight, in other words I’m not gonna give my guy’s ring’s for a stinkin 3 point win cause it just doesn’t mean that much? GATA Dawg’s take care of the extermination an head to the Dome, IT”S GRET TO BE A GA BULLDAWG a bug not so much Paul LOL
Pierce County DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
5:53 pm
LIKE I SAID YOU WILL GET SWATTED YELLOW FLIES
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 22nd, 2011
5:53 pm
I hope that’s someone who stole GT Bob’s name.
It didn’t work.
He didn’t outsmart shart.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
5:54 pm
The Georgia game is only a big deal to Johnson IF he wins. It’s just another OOC game when he loses.
Say’s a lot about the guy. I’ll take Richt any day.
Paul in NH
November 22nd, 2011
5:55 pm
JB @5:49 – I agree with that one.
Some of your fellow UGA fans seem to disagree with you though. I haven’t seen so much confidence about how overmatched a UGA opponent is since 4PM on 9/3/11.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
5:57 pm
He didn’t outsmart shart.
Really? So not getting the ball back and being down by 1 is better then getting the ball back and being down by 8?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
5:57 pm
The post attributed to me at 5:31 was by an imposter…..although I guess I do agree with what he said. LOL
Pierce County DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
5:57 pm
SouthGA DAWG I AM WITH YOU. WE WILL PLAY PHYSICAL,THE YELLOW FLIES BETTER BE READY. GO DAWGS WHIP SOME A$$
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 22nd, 2011
5:57 pm
GT Bob,
Who won?
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 22nd, 2011
5:59 pm
NCAA Violations
Constant beatings by UGA.
And you want your claim to fame to be that he told his pu**y D to not tackle?
JB
November 22nd, 2011
5:59 pm
GTBob……………..and we all know he’s got a bunch of backwoods mountain sayings also, like only good bulldog is a dead one….Geez. Paul ain’t out smarted everyone with a .663% at Tech, just say’n.
this dawg want hunt!!
November 22nd, 2011
5:59 pm
Tech and their arrogant coach is a joke. Tech might not be the 2nd best team in the state. Ga.Southern would probably beat Tech. One thing the idiot Johnson forgot, when he said Tech had lined up against a pretty good d.e. in the kid from N.Carolina, and when he mentioned the D.T. from Clemson, and when he mentioned the T.E. from Clemson, he didn’t mention that UGA has better players than all 3 of those guys on the same team. P.J. is such a poor loser, and so are the Tech fans and players. UGA has more talent on defense than any team in the ACC, or any team Tech has faced since P.J. has been at Tech. He will find out Saturday, and can’t wait to hear his pathetic excuse as to why he got his ass whipped again. This guy is a joke, and an arrogant prick, that would never admit that his team and his offense will never win a big bowl game. Tech only wishes it had the talent UGA has on defense, and they can only dream about having a balanced offense like UGA. The reject Hill at tech would never see the field at UGA, and he is the best receiver Tech has had since calvin johnson. This guy should admit he has inferior talent on offense and defense. This isn’t Clemson the nerds are playing Saturday, this is UGA your big brother. Besides UGA owns Clemson as well as Tech, CLemson has lost it’s last 5 meetings against UGA. ACC=losers, always has, always will.
Finebalm
November 22nd, 2011
6:00 pm
My favorite recent victory is the WE RUN THIS STATE edition. CK4 pimp slapped the NERDS. But I always liked the one where Reggie Ball said…It’s just a game dog. LOL. All of them make me laugh really. I remember the one where Hearst lit them up. Man, whipping tek’s arse never gets old.
SupremoDawg
November 22nd, 2011
6:00 pm
Stinger2, Know why we play ya’ll? Cuz you need the money! Just check out the red there at your dump Sat.!
Paul in NH
November 22nd, 2011
6:01 pm
OSU just announced that they are dropping their games against Tenn because the BIG is going to a 9 game schedule. Expect them to drop the game against UGA in 2020 (or whenever it is supposed to be).
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/53919/ohio-state-cancels-series-with-vols
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 22nd, 2011
6:01 pm
Never gets old, all 61 times.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
6:02 pm
The best defensive performance I’ve seen this year was by DT Joe Vellano of Maryland with 22 tackles.
all I remember is that Victory Formation
November 22nd, 2011
6:03 pm
It kinda craws on ya.
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:03 pm
Nesbitt…uga won…but (I HATE that mutts DON’T get this), by LETTING uga score, it gave us a shot at tying the game up. Damn, THIS isn’t even calculus!
This game is going to be a fierce fight to the end….GO TECH!!!
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
6:03 pm
Geez. Paul ain’t out smarted everyone with a .663% at Tech, just say’n.
Highest winning percentage at GT since Bobby Dodd. Was supposed to win 5-6 games at most this year. He seems to be doing alright to me.
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:05 pm
The last three meeting have come against Mark Richt’s shakiest UGA teams that had him on the hotseat. The ACC CHAMPION Jackets lost to a UGA team that had six wins going into the game. That same year, Clemson also lost to a six win South Carolina squad. In 2008, Tech’s reward for beating UGA was a 38-3 pasting in the Chick Fil A bowl to a 7 win LSU squad. Johnson tried this same line of talk in 2008 after beating the two worst SEC teams, Vandy and Miss St. Then he lost to a 6 win UGA squad with a sub-500 SEC record.
Johnson is a blow hard. He will play this trumpet all day long while scheduling Kansas, Vandy, and Miss St. At least Gailey had the nerve to schedule Notre Dame, BYU, and Auburn. Eat it up if you like, but the fact is, the ACC is terrible in non-conference games. Their bowl record stinks. They have only ONE BCS victory…ONE. Cincinnati pasted NC St…the same Cincinnati team that got pasted by Tennessee. Maryland got pasted by Temple…TEMPLE. Virginia lost to Southern Miss and needed OT to beat Idaho.
The ACC gets no respect because they haven’t earned any. Rivalry wins won’t help that either. Want respect? Go beat the top teams from other conferences…something the ACC has not been able to do.
I'm flying a ..... Georgia Tech flag right now
November 22nd, 2011
6:06 pm
Washington for Heisman
SupremoDawg
November 22nd, 2011
6:07 pm
Paul, What’s your record against UGA for the last twenty years? You ain’t 7-0 against the Dawgs!
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
6:07 pm
The poster’s handle at 5:59 made my “Worst posts” list. That’s a first.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
6:08 pm
Who won?
We would have 100% lost if we didn’t let you score. By letting you score, we gave ourselves a small chance. I’m surprised that UGA fans can’t figure this one out. It’s not really advanced logic.
GaDawg
November 22nd, 2011
6:09 pm
PJ is this an impotant game ? Not at all, BUT if we win, we will purchase Bling for all the playa’s an I will have a fish fry for the staff. Please, PJ knows he’s second rate to the SEC an the DAWG’s. We win this for Munson, nothing else matters GATA THWGT
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:09 pm
Supremo….WHAT kind of math are YOU using in your 6:07 post?! Are you sure you’re not superDump?
Bob
November 22nd, 2011
6:10 pm
I guess the perception of getting whipped every year…go figure.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
6:11 pm
Paul has taken the hate bait since getting this job. I read the article again, and when served up 4 or 5 questions about Georgia players, he gives a non answer and starts talking about other ACC players they have played. That’s as close as you’ll get to a head coach saying “screw them” when ask about the upcoming game.