5 reasons Paul Johnson isn’t going to Notre Dame
1. He’s a little too much like Charlie Weis. Meaning: He’s blunt, and he can’t be coached in the gentle art of public relations. That works in Atlanta, where there’s one daily newspaper, but might not in South Bend, where the college team is covered by the Chicago papers in addition to the South Bend folks. Notre Dame is going to want a charmer this time around, someone who can schmooze with Regis about the big game. PJ has never heard of Reege, let alone Kelly.
2. Notre Dame isn’t just a program; it’s a TV show. Meaning: Appearances matter. NBC might not be thrilled about the prospects of airing a team that runs the football 83 percent of the time. (Understand: I admire Johnson’s offense. But I’m not a network programmer.)
3. Notre Dame cares about recruiting rankings. Johnson famously does not. The subway alumni wouldn’t like it if their adopted team didn’t show up in Rivals’ top 10. (Understand: I’m with Johnson on this one, too. Recruiting rankings are overblown — ask Mark Richt — but I don’t contribute to anyone’s program.)
4. He’s happy at Georgia Tech. In two years Johnson has become not just a hero but something approaching a legend. If the final fourth-down gamble against Wake Forest had failed, he wouldn’t have been second-guessed one bit. Because Tech people love PJ, and Dan Radakovich is about to put yet another bumped-up dollar figure on that love. And Johnson doesn’t want to live in South Bend. He’s a Southern guy who has a nice spread in Vinings — “Inside the Perimeter,” he always takes pains to say — and doesn’t even have to take an Interstate to work.
5. Notre Dame once hired a coach from Tech. The perfect union, right? A feisty Irishman coaching the Fighting Irish. It lasted 3 1/2 days. Even Cher and Gregg Allman made it past a week.
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577 comments Add your comment
UKnowY
November 18th, 2009
4:08 pm
Yechno, what about 91-97 and 01-07? That’s what 5 times in 19 years? Make it 5 in 20 on the 28th!
HBTD
November 18th, 2009
4:09 pm
Techno. You’re probably too young to remember, but 98 and 99 are not recognized as dawg losses due to “bad officiating.”
chuck
November 18th, 2009
4:11 pm
PJ isn’t going to Notre Dame. He’s never gonna have it any better than he does in Atlanta. Besides, ND has their eyes on the Bearcat coach.
Alabama Jack
November 18th, 2009
4:12 pm
dawg fans suck.
Pound the puppies.
Chan
November 18th, 2009
4:13 pm
Technophobia, I’d like to ask you to please take back that comment. I can coach circles around Willie and the NCAA CF world knows it. That hurt me a lot.
UKnowY
November 18th, 2009
4:13 pm
Yechter, I will be at the hole in a wall you nerds call a stadium on the 28th and would love to show you how shut in I am in person. At least we can sell out a stadium with our fans and our stadium 40% larger then ya’lls!
Reality
November 18th, 2009
4:14 pm
Trembling C ………………. must have hit too close to home! That newspaper thing was good but didn’t make too much sense. The QB you guys have might have fit the line a little better! But hey I will be sure to help the cause in the morning and upsize to help you guys out! No wait a minute I think I will just get my maid to cook for me in the morning!
You know I have never met you, thank goodness, and still was able to look up the word loser in the dictionary and saw your picture.
Again most tech fans are cool! You really make them look bad!
And your not worth of my time I am too good to carry on a conversation with a loser! So enough of you! Sorry real Tech fans and congrats on a great season but I can’t handle idiots so its time to go!
UKnowY
November 18th, 2009
4:17 pm
Thank you and good night!
TechCrybaby
November 18th, 2009
4:17 pm
Gravy Train, all of us GT fans seem to be stomping you, but I don’t. I see your point, when you say Tech’s offense under Johnson seems boring.
However, you must understand that it makes all the difference whether you are a Tech fan or not. I can hear UGA viewers saying, “This is dullsville.” But to me it’s supremely exciting, because we’re winning.
I’m looking, and laughing at the confusion of Tech’s opponent, as they wonder if they’re ever going to get the ball back! I’m looking and smiling at an offense that lulls the opponent with three yards, six yards, then pops 60 yards, and TD! Winning is very exciting.
TDAS
November 18th, 2009
4:22 pm
UKnowGaY – so what? What has that done for your win/loss column this year. How about last year? Get use to it, buttsniffer. It is over for the coaching staff at UGAg. Kentucky will kick your asses and then Tech will destroy what’s left.
Trembling Chihuahua
November 18th, 2009
4:24 pm
You came back again. You are a dumbass loser!
Rebel Fan
November 18th, 2009
4:30 pm
Ga Tech Insider,
Do the names of Ara Parseghian and Dan Devine not ring a bell with you. What about Frank Leahy. He led the Irish to a record of 87 wins, 11 losses, and 9 ties including 39 games without a loss (37–0–2),[37] four national championships, and six undefeated seasons.
Parseghian should. In 1964, Parseghian was hired to replace Devore as head football coach and immediately brought the team back to a level of success comparable only to Rockne and Leahy in Irish football history. These three are the only coaches to have an 80% or greater winning percentage while at Notre Dame — Rockne at .881, Leahy at .864, and Parseghian at .836. Parseghian’s teams never won fewer than seven nor lost more than two games during the ten game regular seasons of the era.
I am not a Notre Dame fan and even I know who they are. Anyone remember “Rudy?” They were the coaches he played under.
Just a little FYI Insider, do you homework before you say something like Name me one PROMINENT Notre Dame Coach. Here are some more. Lou Holtz and Bob Davies.
Do me a favor. Can you name me a couple of Prominent Tech players. I bet you can name a lot more PROMINENT Notre Dame players. Here are a few:
Joe Montana
Joe Theisman
Jerome Bettis
Rick Mirer
Mike Golic
Bob Golic
Paul Hornung
Rocket Ismail
Daniel “Rudy” Ruetiger (sorry if I mispelled the last name)
Brady Quinn
Angelo Bartelli (1943 Heisman Trophy Winner)
Johnny Lujack (1947 Heisman Trophy Winner)
Tim Brown (1987 Heisman Trophy Winner)
Ricky Waters
Reggie Brooks
Speed Racer
November 18th, 2009
4:31 pm
Don’t be silly. Of COURSE Johnson is not going to Notre Dame: Urban Meyer is.
Atlanta Jacket
November 18th, 2009
4:31 pm
What about Mark Richt going to FSU?
Bob Davie
November 18th, 2009
4:32 pm
Mark,
You are completely right. CPJ has a better chance of going back to coach Georgia Southern than he has of going to Notre Dame. Maybe Notre Dame will hire me, and I can suck as a coach again and stop sucking as a commentator.
footballfan
November 18th, 2009
4:32 pm
Paul Johnson will be at GATECH for a long time. I don’t know why folks think he would leave. PJ has all he needs at TECH, he is in the south where the best high school athletes come from. For all of you who think the Triple option will be stopped soon, you better get real and start reading. The triple option has been around since the birth of football. When Coach Johnson was at GA Southern those teams never got the hang of it could never stop it on a consistent basis. PJ was at Navy and guess what folks same thing happened there too. So don’t think for one minute that someone is gonna shut it down on a consistent basis week in and week out, it can’t be done and won’t be done.
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
4:34 pm
Sorry about that Chan, maybe that wasn’t fair. Your more like Ray Goff’s brother Jack.
Atlanta Jacket
November 18th, 2009
4:36 pm
Rebel Fan Notre Dame has a great history, but everyone you mentioned played many many years ago. Brady Quinn – boy he has been impressive with the Browns.
GT has several in the pros now and in fact here are two Techies contributing big time to their respective teams in the NFL today:
Tashard Choice & Calvin Johnson – those names familiar to you?
willie martinez
November 18th, 2009
4:36 pm
techno, hate to tell you, but jack is gay.
Frances
November 18th, 2009
4:38 pm
Any of you Tech Homos try and touch me…I’ll kill ya!
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
4:41 pm
Richt may go to FSU in a year or two because the FSU alumni are NOT sold on Jimbo Fischer (sp?) and he will need to perform quickly to succeed. But another possibility would be Miami. It’s his alma mater and one more disappointing year for Shannon and I think he may be in trouble.
TechCrybaby
November 18th, 2009
4:42 pm
Regardless of whether UGA wins over, or loses to Kentucky this Saturday,
I hope Dawg fans will keep on calling us, and our team, “nerds,” and keep on sneering at our “high school offense.” If they can just keep doing it for nine more days, Coach Johnson and the Tech team will come out on the field so hyper, the Chihuahuas won’t know what hit ‘em.
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
4:44 pm
Jack Goff isn’t gay. That limp handshake is for other reasons.
GT US VET
November 18th, 2009
4:50 pm
Gdawg 70…better check your stats again on nobody wanting the Players at Tech…UGA wanted Dwyer.and RJones as did Auburn ,Miss,and Ala ,and Tenn..best tail backs in Ga the year Dwyer and Jones went to Tech…were Dwyer ,Jones and the kid yall have now..now the kid yall have (King) was rated #1 in Ga…Dwyer was #2 and Jones #3..UGA wanted all three…so much for the ratings..I think and most anyone with ANY football knowledge,would say we have the best of the bunch at GT..Now thats not to mention our QB,Lbs and DL men were recruited by MANY TOP programs..lord it must really be BAD at UGA to find only the size of our Stadium,our fans,and KIDS playing a game to downgrade..Grow up Georgia people and act like a Man for god sakes,and that goes for the smart ass GT people on here too..I KNOW its good old fashioned HATE..but still ITS A DAMN GAME…We have men and women dying for your right to blog here..act like you have been in the world more than 10 years..I have 2 UGA brothers and many UGA friends and I would never say things to them like you people do on here MY GOD ..GROW UP..AND ..GO JACKETS
Purdue Pete
November 18th, 2009
4:51 pm
Your primise is wrong, wrong, wrong!
1. Notre Dame has just one paper…the Chicago Tribune(South Bend doesn’t count.)
2. Notre Dame won the national championship with a running quarterback
under Lou Holtz.
3. Notre Dame just wants to win games at this point and doesn’t care
about recruiting.
4.Winning games will take care of TV ratings that must be slumping with all the losses…the rival games with USC and MICH will be much more important to TV if ND is ranked.
5.Paul Johnson runs a clean program
6.ND is the biggest thing in Indiana(hate to say it) so he won’t ever be number 2 behind an instate rival like he is with Georgia.
7. Fat guys like it cold!
Crackerjacket
November 18th, 2009
4:51 pm
Rebel Fan – Bob Davies got fired. He’s on TV now. Anybody under 25 years old wouldn’t know a single name on that list except for Joe Montana-maybe. You sound like the dogs. Living in the past. History is to be studied and not lived!
Trembling Chihuahua
November 18th, 2009
4:58 pm
Reality – boy, you really got Trembling C. Especially that one about looking up loser in the dictionary and finding his picture. That one always brings fourth graders to their knees! Your maid, my ass!
GT US VET
November 18th, 2009
4:58 pm
Rudy was a prominent ND player…wow I thought he just played 30 seconds in his only and LAST game…no Im wrong it was 23 seconds..sorry Rudy rudy rudy..lol
Kathy
November 18th, 2009
4:59 pm
I really hope Ga does play clemson in the bowl game so they will have back to back acc blowout losses. That will shut up most of the idiots on here.
TechCrybaby
November 18th, 2009
5:03 pm
Sorry, guys, I have to chuckle when I read comments like, “Other teams will catch up with the option, and start beating it.” Answer: Sure – figuring out the opponent’s offense is what coaches do. But Paul Johnson is innovative enough to change his style just a tad, and keep on beating those smarties.
GTSteve
November 18th, 2009
5:04 pm
GT has actually done pretty well against UGA. 4-1 in the last 5 against UGA in which Gailey was not the coach.
I told you mutts last year, that at some point real soon, ya’ll are going to wish you would have let Chan win one or two of those.
GTSteve
November 18th, 2009
5:05 pm
Kathy…….You can’t shut an idiot up….that is why he is an idiot
Confused
November 18th, 2009
5:07 pm
is paul johnson to ND even a rumor? he’s done a great thing at GT, but I find it hard to believe he’d be any sort of good fit at ND to begin with.
GTSteve
November 18th, 2009
5:08 pm
Purdue Pete , what is a primise, i thought i was just dumb. so i went to dictionary.com….its not me
Gdawg
November 18th, 2009
5:12 pm
Congratulations to CPJ. I was a huge fan of his while he was at GS and I followed him while at Navy. I was very worried that GT would hire this guy and unfortunately they did. Techies you have a great coach, and I am glad to see you guys are doing well. This success only reignites the rivalry with UGA. I am sure that the UGA / Tech series will only get hotter over the next 5 to 10 years. Also, contrary to many triple option haters, I love watching a team that knows how to run this offense. I feel that it is the most difficult offense to defend, especially when you effectively mix the pass in, something that CPJ does really well. With the exception of the UGA game, I hope Tech can win all of its remaining games. Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!
TechCrybaby
November 18th, 2009
5:23 pm
Allow me to comment on my comment: Some Dawg fan said the triple option was new, and thus shaky. Go back and check up on your football history, pal. The option, and its cousins, the wishbone, and the belly series, have been around for many decades.
Tech’s belly series, learned from College of the Pacific, of all places, was very similar to the option. Bobby Dodd used it for all it was worth, and then added other plays to it. They’d catch on to it, and Dodd would do something different the next year. Paul Johnson does not have Dodd’s same personality, but he is exactly the same type when it comes to outsmarting the opposition, and having the strong will to win.
UGASlobberknocker
November 18th, 2009
5:23 pm
What is the big deal about being first? The first 5 posts on this blog today concern who was firsy? That is pathetic..Some people on this boArd need to seriously get a life.
Tidewatch
November 18th, 2009
5:30 pm
You are exactly right on this. Fans at the traditional powerhouses have become so obsessed with recruiting rankings that they would never accept Johnson’s offense. Tech,on the other hand,never signed the blue chippers anyway,so as long as the coach is winning it’s fine.
bp
November 18th, 2009
5:35 pm
who cares about blue chippers?they usually end up in jail and embarrassing your team.
VolCrazy
November 18th, 2009
5:42 pm
Hey bp – I resemble that remark!
gators81
November 18th, 2009
5:46 pm
last time i checked…there are 9 people slated to be the n.d. head coach next year!
tennessee Tom
November 18th, 2009
6:12 pm
we need a bail bondsman in Ktown,guess you can take the boy out of the hood,but not the hood out of the boy,dumn a$$es
Go DOGS
November 18th, 2009
6:26 pm
Techno and ATL Jacket…where are the UGA jokes? The ones from the other day were pretty funny. Seriously, if you can’t laugh at yourself….
For Techsters, you two are alright!
Not Disappointed
November 18th, 2009
6:41 pm
Funny how so many none Georgia Tech fans have reason(s) for CPJ to leave for “God knows what?”
Funny how so man none Tech fans go into great detail WHY CPJ should leave Georgia Tech. (Coach Paul Johnson took a pay cut to coach at Georgia Tech)
I wonder why that is? Besides, this is only a high school offense!………………………”NOT!”
Funny how so many none fans are more concern about CPJ leaving than their own team winning there last one or two games of the season. Could it be………………………..”Fear of Coach Paul Johnson.” After all, he’s only human; moreover a Defensive Coordinator’s nightemare and most Head Coaches.
The upside: “Thanksgiving will be here soon enough. See some of you on the Flats November 28th, 2009. Ramblin Wreck!!!
Hurricane Joe
November 18th, 2009
6:43 pm
Paul who?
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
6:51 pm
I’ll work on it Go Dogs but I’m not gonna post any UGA jokes that aren’t good. I got standards.
I did find out that the toothbrush was invented at UGA. It had to be. If it was invented anywhere else it would have been called a teethbrush.
GT For You And Me
November 18th, 2009
7:12 pm
Teacher asked the kids in class,what they saw interesting over the weekend. Little boy raised his hand and said,I saw two Dawgs racing. Teacher said,please tell us what you saw. Little boy said he saw two Dawgs racing on the football field. The Dawg winning the race,all of a sudden stopped,the Dawg behind him,ran his nose up the other Dawg’s a$$–le.. Teacher said. Son don’t say a$$–le,say rectum! Little boy said,Rectum Hell! It killed them both!!!
LJ of UGA
November 18th, 2009
7:24 pm
Mark, I agree recruiting rankings are overblown. But your swipe at Mark Richt (a la Steve Spurrier about Ray Goff) was unnecessary. Why?
Mark Richt Era (2001-present)
LSU 90-25, 3 SEC titles (2-3 vs. UGA)
Georgia 88-26, 2 SEC titles
Florida 87-26, 2 SEC titles (7-2 vs. UGA)
Auburn 78-34, 1 SEC title (3-6 vs. UGA)
Tennessee 73-39 (4-5 vs. UGA)
Alabama 72-40 (1-3 vs. UGA)
Arkansas 61-49 (0-5 vs. UGA)
South Carolina 59-49 (2-7 vs. UGA)
Ole Miss 54-52 (0-4 vs. UGA)
Kentucky 47-59 (1-8 vs. UGA)
Mississippi State 33-72 (0-2 vs. UGA)
Vanderbilt 31-74 (1-8 vs. UGA)
…and…
Georgia Tech 70-43 (1-7 vs. UGA)
Overall, CMR has done OK with his highly ranked recruiting classes. Obviously, he has some big problems to fix at the end of this year, but other than Florida and LSU (barely), no one else has much room to talk.
bcwreck
November 18th, 2009
7:24 pm
Mark,
You need to do a column on how Paul Johnson is the modern day Bobby Bowden from late 1970s.
Southern boy who came home, Offensive genius, Great motivator, the press loves to see him win, the mothers and fathers want their son to play for him (and go to school there).
Lots of similarities.
Tolja Sew
November 18th, 2009
7:39 pm
What’s the old southern aphorism, “Money Talks and Bulls*** walks?” I guarantee, with the right situation, AND MOOLAH, CPJ would burn a concrete path out of Atlanta or anywhere else, his relationship with “DRad” notwithstanding.