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
LOL!
November 22nd, 2011
6:12 pm
he’s right. the SEC was not that good this year.
Northern Sympathizer
November 22nd, 2011
6:13 pm
I hope the dawgs get motivated for the bees. Won’t be easy this year.
Bob
November 22nd, 2011
6:14 pm
Paul Johnson has been stealing from Tech for the past two years, and figures to continue for another two or three. It takes Tech fans a while to catch on, ie. their last two BB coaches.
GT
November 22nd, 2011
6:15 pm
Yep we are a joke just like I am saying. We don’t deserve any respect. We have no civil rights or entitlement and our sisters are ugly, fat and dumb too. Lets meet at the Varsity tomorrow and work out a surrender. Greatest Georgia team in 100 years.
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:16 pm
JB, you might be correct….OR, CPJ just isn’t all that impressed by y’alls win against Auburn. It REALLY eats you guys up when a coach calls it like he sees it. Why is that? Aren’t you tired of this PC world we live in? Seriously? It’s refreshing to have someone that just answers the questions. I’ve grown weary of all the non-answers offered up by so many coaches. It’s gotten to the point that it’s futile to even bother asking questions! Sorry you don’t care for him…we respect that your bias against all things Tech fuels your hatred. Good luck with that!
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:17 pm
Instead of running his mouth about it, maybe Johnson should schedule Bama, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, or anyone in the SEC other than Vandy, Kentucky or the Miss schools. Everyone knows anything can happen in a rivalry game. If you want to see how tough the SEC is, go play a game against one of the top programs you dont usually play. Its easy to sit back, beat Vandy, beat Miss St., and win a rivalry game or two against a middle of the pack UGA team, and try to talk down the SEC.
Just ask Va Tech and Clemson who have played LSU, Bama, and Auburn over the last several years and have something like a 1-5 record.
GT
November 22nd, 2011
6:18 pm
I just heard the funeral is at 1 pm.
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:21 pm
Mike…we opened with Auburn when they were ranked #5 for a home and home….we beat them BOTH games. Personally, I’d love to see Tech play Bama and LSU again!
WONDERING
November 22nd, 2011
6:23 pm
Clemson may have just got their butt handed to them, but they have the same record as UGA and I would like to see them match up. Who would win? Just wondering
SupremoDawg
November 22nd, 2011
6:24 pm
GT Bob: I know you love the smell of PJ’s fat arse and think he’s the greatest since Boddy Dodd. Well I was there when a young Vince Dooley sent him into retirement. Mr. Dodd was a class act, and PJ’s arrogant bloated self shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath. And Paul, by the way your studly jackets are 4-16 against the Dawgs for the last 20years.
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:26 pm
What infuriates me about Johnson, is he makes comments like this without any base behind them. Its all a mental pep rally to distract from the fact his offense and style isnt good for more than 7 or 8 wins in an average football conference.
IMO he knows his offense cant recruit talent. Thats why when he loses he has to blame a block or two like his players just arent running his system right. It couldnt possibly be that the talent on the other side of the ball is superior and was ready to play him.
He makes bold statements about other conferences when he wont schedule any more than bottom feeders like Kansas and Vandy. Chan Gailey played legit top 10 UGA squads, not shaky 6 win squads or largely unproven squads like this years UGA team. Chan Gailey played home and home dates with the likes of Notre Dame, Auburn, and BYU.
Am I the only one who sees this as a fraud?
nsnstv
November 22nd, 2011
6:26 pm
Cousin Vicker @3:52 pm
You mean like most SEC fans?
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:27 pm
@macrotech – you did that under Chan Gailey years ago…not Paul Johnson. Johnson is the one running his mouth while scheduling Kansas and Vandy.
8-1vsTheNerds
November 22nd, 2011
6:28 pm
GT lost to a terrible Miami team, a below avg UVA team, and VT. We lost to top 5 boise and top 10 South Carolina WITH Lattimore and Garcia. Did i mention we’re 8-1 vs the Nerds in the last 9 games. Lets make it another 1 win decade for the Nerds.
WONDERING
November 22nd, 2011
6:28 pm
Gonna be some sad sacks Saturday Night. Who will it be? Just WONDERING
AJ
November 22nd, 2011
6:28 pm
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.
_______________________________________________________________________________
That sounds so pathetic. And as a Technical matter, you did 100% lose.
All Saints
November 22nd, 2011
6:32 pm
This is a reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud, a shameful scam that Mark Richt carries on today, almost thirty years later.
Please approach this special moment with awe and reverence as we honor her sacred name.
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:34 pm
@AJ – I would actually agree with GTBob and so would Mark Richt. That move was the only hope Tech had of winning the ball game. If UGA had just dropped on the ball and not scored, they run the clock out.
But at the same time it underscores the fact that Johnson HAS to outscore teams. The defense which used to be great under Tenuta is a shadow of its former selves. Tenuta would have shut down UGA the last couple of years just like he did in 04, 05, 06 and most of the 07 game. 07 was the only hear UGA scored 20 pts, and those were far better teams than the last two UGA squads. The defense immediately fell flat in 08 as soon as Johnson stepped in. Has Johnson ever coached a team that could play defense? What do you think they practice against? The option?
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:37 pm
Mike, I hear ya…however, as you stated, this is your humble opinion and you’re welcomed to it. Your concern for our team’s coach is appreciated. CPJ has been doing this for a while; we’ll stick with him! Best of luck to ya!
bradrey3d
November 22nd, 2011
6:39 pm
Mike,
1) PJ agrees with you that LSU and Bama are superior (did you read the article?).
2) What would you do if you were the coach in the press conference…”Yup are guys just got whooped. They suck and everybody knows it.” Yeah that’s great motivation for the team right there. And I think the difficulty of the school is way more of a drawback to offensive candidates. What running back would not want to play for Tech? Great school and they would be the center of attention always.
3) “What infuriates me about Johnson, is he makes comments like this without any base behind them.”
Yeah exactly what you’re doing by saying “the fact his offense and style isnt good for more than 7 or 8 wins in an average football conference.”
This is PJ’s 4th year coaching…he still has 2 games to make the record this year greater than 8. Plus Tech had 11 wins in 2009 so what’s your explanation for that?
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:43 pm
I don’t miss Tenuta’s defense at ALL. He could create chaos at times with his constant blitzing, but we got burned by ANY QB with an arm…I’m still holding out hope for Al Groh’s efforts. We’re REALLY young this year, but we’ve enjoyed moments of brilliance. We’ve suffered through moments of stupid, too!
Greg on the Florida Emerald Coast
November 22nd, 2011
6:44 pm
There is nothing more irritating than a Georgia Tech fan. Now they have an irritating coach with a complex to boot. I’d rather have poison ivy than deal with Tech fans.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
6:45 pm
Georgia offense & defense stats comparison through 11 games, 2010 and 2011:
2010 Georgia allowed over 300 yds total offense 7 times (over 400 4 times).
2011 Georgia has allowed over 300 yds total offense 3 times(373-Boise, 436-SC, 443-Vandy).
2010 Georgia produced under 300 yds total offense 6 times (under 300 2 times; 253-SC & 290-UK).
2011 Georgia has produced under 300 yds total offense 5 times( lows of 315-MS.ST & 317-UK)
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:47 pm
“Greg on the Florida Emerald Coast”, you ought to try dealing with pup fans….they’ll make you think you’re standing in the middle of Walmart after midnight!
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:47 pm
@macrotech – I’m actually a Tech grad haha. Its my team too, and I have never been on board with this hire. Johnson has been at this a while…at Ga Southern and Navy. Miami, Va Tech, and maybe now Virginia are locked in on the option. That’s 3 divisional games. His teams dont play well away from home. With Clemson, UNC, Va Tech, and UGA on the same home rotation schedule, that spells disaster every other year.
Another Johnson quote I love “Most teams that beat us have more than a week to prepare.” You mean like a Bowl game? HAHA So now we are mailing in the bowl games which BTW Johnson is averaging one TD per game so far?
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:49 pm
“sec blah…”…I don’t think anyone thinks that uga is the measuring stick for sec’s dominance in the past few years. At least, I hope not!
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
6:53 pm
Mike – CPJ vs Georgia is 1-1 on the road, 0-1 at home.
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:54 pm
My bad Mike, twas not my intent to insult you. Certainly, I was concerned with the hire of CPJ at first; however, I believe that by the time he is done here, he’ll have added a national championship trophy to the other four we already have…at least! I’m an optimist by nature…rarely, will you find me without a smile. This offense has, and WILL work at this level! If we can get our defense on track, we’ll be a tough team to beat! A little size on the O-line couldn’t hurt, either!
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:55 pm
@bradrey3d – 1) Im not just talking about this years teams. Pick any SEC team that usually at least qualifies for a bowl. Anyone other than Vandy and Miss St. That LSU team he lost 38-3 to had a losing SEC record and only 7 wins overall…just like the last two UGA teams.
2) How about just saying, “My only concern is beating UGA, not whether the ACC is better than SEC. My focus is preparing our kids to play and beat our in-state rivals. They have a dangerous club, and we can’t afford to get distracted by anything else”
3) Jonathan Dwyer, Josh Nesbitt, Demaryus Thomas, Derrick Morgan, Morgan Burnett, and the rest of the highly stocked cupboard of young NFL level talent Chan Gailey left him.
tell me again
November 22nd, 2011
6:56 pm
It’s all about perception – I perceive that 9 out of 10 is pretty much an ass kicking of galactic proportions! Go Dawgs!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
6:57 pm
Did anybody notice the post made about an hour ago by “this dawg want hunt!!”? The name alone (or spelling actually) indicates just how stupid the mutt who posted it is. If that is an indication of the quality (sic) of education (sic) at the University (sic) of Georgia, then I pray at least he didn’t major in education. Of course, I think it’s more likely that he hasn’t attended any college anywhere. After reading his name, I didn’t even waste my time reading what he had to say.
slydog
November 22nd, 2011
6:57 pm
Asking CPJ this question is the same as asking him does his offense always work. Hey squirrels, do you collect acorns in the winter? Do bears hibernate? Do chickens fly? Try this. Ask Nick Saban who has the best team in college football. Ask Les Miles the same thing….lol. Paulie J. knows the SEC is a ’slightly’ better football conference because of the overall depth of the talent on their rosters. But he will never say that. That’s like asking Bill Gates is Apple a better company today than Microsoft or Google….lmao
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
6:58 pm
How about going with what Johnson says? No mystery, there.
Mike
November 22nd, 2011
6:59 pm
@macrotech – haha its ok. Everyone thinks I am a UGA fan because Im not behind the Johnson hire. I actually was for a long time before I went to Tech. That has blurred things to the point where I’m basically just an overall fan of good football. I like Pro-style offenses and tough aggressive defense. I’m getting neither in this deal HAHA. Then when I hear Johnson rattle off like this when he is making no effort to play anyone out of conference other than UGA…I cant just not say anything haha.
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
6:59 pm
Mike, you have to remember that LSU team had an amazing defense…just no offense until they put the ball in Jefferson’s hands. That game was his coming out party…much to my frustration that night! I think CPJ was, merely, RESPONDING to a question about the sec. What he said, in my humble opinion, was correct! Why not use the question as an opportunity to defuse some of the misnomers that exists out there?
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
7:00 pm
@tell me again – Why pick the last 10 years?
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
7:02 pm
“when he is making no effort to play anyone out of conference other than UGA”
That’s Radakovich’s job.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:03 pm
mike, how can you say that any team we play on a regular basis is “locked in on the option”? VT hasn’t stopped us; we just couldn’t stop them. UVA didn’t stop us as much as we played a crappy game offensively. The only year that Miami “stopped” us was in 2009 when we played 3 games in 2 weeks and didn’t do a thing on either side of the ball all night long. UGA has beaten us the last 2 years, but they still haven’t “stopped” the offense. The only team Tech has played since CPJ arrived who actually “stopped” us on any kind of consistent basis during the game was Iowa, and that was because they were probably the most disciplined defensive team I have ever seen. But even in that game, we still had a chance with 6 minutes left, and if Nesbitt could have hit the side of a barn who knows how it might have ended. NOBODY is “locked in” on CPJ’s offense.
Tech Man
November 22nd, 2011
7:03 pm
What is the plantation doing for those that attend UGA? What is Caleb King doing today? Is he headed down the path of Pulpwood? Just curious.
It really is a shame. UGA fans gain great joy in the use of their athletes without returning value to them. Where do these kids go? What do they do after UGA? Sad. But representative of where we are as a society.
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
7:04 pm
Hey Supersize! Haha…I’m about to duck out of here…I have guest coming over and must play the role of good host! You all take care…I’ve enjoyed the convos and laughs! Mike, I hear ya…I’d like to see our D get a little more aggressive…not Tenuta aggressive, but a few more blitzes would be nice! Hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving!!! Blessings!!! GO TECH!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
yeah, mike, DRAD sets up the schedules, not CPJ. Although I’m sure CPJ has some input in the matter.
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
PERCEPTION?…………………….. PERCEPTION?…………………………PERCEPTION?………………….How can that be?
ESPN has a HUGE contract with the SEC. ESPN would never say the SEC isn’t the CASH COW they suck from the teet of or vice versa!
What UGA student won the QUIDDITCH on campus Championship? UGA fans call Tech people NERDS, but UGA students held a Harry Potter Quidditch Championship on campus this year!
TECH= educated nerds
UGA= drunk/stoned nerds
macrotech
November 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
Remember what Coach Johnson said fellow Tech fans, if a leghumping fan starts spouting out at the mouth on Saturday, just punch them right in the mouth!
We have bigger fish to fry, Georgia’s just a speedbump!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:05 pm
have a good one, macro. Hope you’re going to the game. If you need a ride, let me know
Rich
November 22nd, 2011
7:06 pm
I have a question — where’s St. Simons?
(((((((((((42-34))))))))))))
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
7:08 pm
PERCEPTION?…………………………….The White Girl Plantation College of Georgia is the BEST.
slydog
November 22nd, 2011
7:11 pm
Tech fans, this simple. Your team has the same issue as Florida: Too many athletes, good ones, but not enough football players who make football plays. CPJ should easily get top rated RB’s, OL’s and dual threat QB. He is spending too much time finding diamonds in the rough and recruiting against Conference USA schools. No offense, just check the other offers from your commits so far and years in the past. Al Groh is wise, but he is too old (as fas as recruiting tactics goes) to get the talent you guys need on defense. I have no problem with CPJ’s offense, but he needs to upgrade his player profile. Nebraska before Bill Callahan should be your model.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
7:12 pm
Nobody mentions McGarity’s news conference last year when he said “we have other fish to fry.” I though there would be a lot of stuff posted about it, but I believe I was the only one.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 22nd, 2011
7:13 pm
Delbert, turn on the CPJ call-in show on 790 the zone
slydog
November 22nd, 2011
7:14 pm
@Tech Man
So does a Management degree from Tech prepare one for drug trafficking? Or was that in internship since he was still enrolled at the time. What a hypocrit. All of these punk schools are using these young men raise revenue to fatten their “endowment” so guys like you can benefit from low cost resources.