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
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:10 pm
But not as terrified as I was last night. I was playing dungeons & dragons and it was dark outside. I need to get my mom to replace my nite light.
HBTD
November 18th, 2009
2:12 pm
Spencer. It’s all relative. This year’s 9 – 4 campaign will be deemed a failure by many in the dawg nation, whereas, some other schools in the local area would deem a 9 – 4 season a tremendous success.
old grump
November 18th, 2009
2:12 pm
5 reasons he would:
1) the GT fan base sucks
2) money
3) the acc sucks
4) second rate facilities
5) GT will always be second fiddle in the state of UGA
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
2:17 pm
Yes, but that’s all relative to recent seasons.
If GT finishes this year with 12 or 13 wins and returns just about everybody next year, will they be satisfied with 9-4 next year? Of course not. Then again, what are the odds UGA actually goes 9-4 this year?
The difference isn’t what makes the fans happy. Fans are happy when they see improvement and expectations are exceeded, fans are disappointed when those things don’t happen. UGA is better than GT more often than not becuase when GT has the coaches that can make GT a perennial top 25 team, they usually bolt. UGA has the kind of money to keep them around. But when GT has those coaches that seem destined for greener pastures, it’s always fun until they do. And all UGA fans can do is pray for the day PJ decides he’d rather be somewhere else.
Delbert D.
November 18th, 2009
2:19 pm
Last comment on this blog. 6 years of bowls at Navy and 2 years of bowls at Tech do not equate to Bob Stoops’ body of work. Yes, I admit that Stoops’ record in bowls doesn’t even equal Mark Richt, but Stoops would be an expensive but possibly safer hire than the other candidates. But who wouldn’t want Kelly?
I’m off this blog.
What do they put in the water at GA Tech?
November 18th, 2009
2:24 pm
Point being, guys, is that Notre Dame has extremely deep pockets. And if there’s a legitimate, compelling reason out there, it’s money. $1 million dollars more per year is a pretty convincing.
Personally, I hope he stays. He has been good for the rivalry. But from my perspective, there are more reasons to go and fewer to stay. Who knows though….maybe they’ll offer CUM $6 million per year — afterall, who better to schmooze with Regis than Mr. Personality himself??
What do they put in the water at GA Tech?
November 18th, 2009
2:25 pm
Point being, guys, is that Notre Dame has extremely deep pockets. And if there’s a legitimate, compelling reason out there, it’s money. $1 million dollars more per year is pretty convincing.
Personally, I hope he stays. He has been good for the rivalry. But from my perspective, there are more reasons to go and fewer to stay. Who knows though….maybe they’ll offer CUM $6 million per year — afterall, who better to schmooze with Regis than Mr. Personality himself??
jacketnation
November 18th, 2009
2:26 pm
Tech had two consecutive Thursday night games on ESPN. Don’t talk this trash about Tech not drawing a national audience. We are ranked #7 by the experts including coaches and the BCS.
How does it feel to be a bottom feeder Ugag?
HBTD
November 18th, 2009
2:29 pm
Spencer.
“What are the odds that UGA goes 9 – 4 this year?? Pretty darn good!! Did you see the way we manhandled Tenn. Tech?? Seriously, I think they are pretty good, if we don’t put too much on Joe Cox to win the game for us, i.e. just manage the game and run the ball right at KY and Tech.
You really think coaches look at the tech job as a “stepping stone” to a bigger job?
Baba O'Riley
November 18th, 2009
2:29 pm
HBTD- UGA goes as their talent goes. If the other team has equal or greater talent, UGA loses. Coaching and discipleine are lacking in Athens. The team has reached it’s plateau or ceiling and they won’t get better. Next year is not looking too bright, either.
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
2:33 pm
HBTD
I don’t know if coaches are necessarily looking at Tech as a stepping stone, but the reality is that the potential for success is greater at other institutions, not to mention the potential for $$$. It’s possible that can slowly change about GT, it would certainly appear that they are, at least at the moment, taking efforts to make that happen, but for now if you are a top notch coach at GT, why would you stay? Someone with deeper pockets and and easier curriculum is bound to come calling.
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:34 pm
From yesterday’s South Bend Tribune:
Time to get out the coaches directory.
Word trickling out around the college football world puts Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh and Brian Kelly of Cincinnati as the leaders in the Irish sweepstakes.
Jon Gruden recently re-upped with ESPN for its Monday Night Football broadcast team, taking his name out of the mix.
Worth considering would be Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern. What about Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio? Don’t even go down the Tom Clements road again. Throw in Boise State’s Chris Petersen, just to add somebody who’s coached on a blue field. Urban Meyer? C’mon, didn’t that ship sail five years ago?
HBTD
November 18th, 2009
2:35 pm
O’Riley. Based on your comment, I’ll assume you have not seen the players on the field this year especially on offense. Mostly freshman and sophomores with a 5th year senior at QB who really didn’t play before this year. Defensively, dawgs need to replace the interior line and a couple of safeties, but everone else should be back. The key for the dawgs next year will be how fast the QB develops. An easier schedule and the experiences gained this year should put the dawgs back in the hunt for the SEC title.
Neil
November 18th, 2009
2:37 pm
I heard a couple of time people saying that it’s scary that Johnson is winning with Gailey’s players and it’s going to get better once he work his players into the system.
Quick question: Where does Johnson’s two recruiting classes rank? Don’t look… it’s somewhere after 30th.
So I wouldn’t be so excited about getting Johnson’s players in the system. Especially when other schools in the ACC are still recruiting better than GT.
Anyhoo, like any coach, they are only the next big offer away from leaving. If a school like Notre Dame calls up Johnson (if they don’t get Urban Myer)… he’s gone in a heartbeat. Why? Because Johnson can win with the players Weis have in ND. All he really have to do is recruit for the O-line. And if he can guide Notre Dame to a 10-1 or 11-1 record… he’s already in the BCS and is a top 4 team. No championship games to worry about.
Either way GT fans… it’s college football and unfortunately there are schools out there that has a LOT more than offer a coach than Tech. Don’t you see that GT is Johnson’s stepping stone to greener pastures? Stop deluding yourselves into thinking that loyalty and commitment are coveted values in college football.
Yeah… Paul is going to stay because the Tech fans love him. Sure… they love him now… but what happens when the honeymoon is over? Tech fans are bandwagon fans… period. And the lack of presense they’ll have (especially if Clemson goes and Tampa becomes a sea of Orange) at the ACC Championship game will show it.
I think Mr. Bradley is hoping more so than giving valid reasons.
roan st
November 18th, 2009
2:38 pm
O.K lets do some math. If Tech pays a run of the mill coach say 1.5 million and he takes them to a bowl game in Boise and the payout is 500,000 that would be a negative 1 million dollar expenditure. If they had to end up paying PJ 4 million to keep him and he can get them to a BCS bowl that has a payout of 8 million that would be a plus 4 million dollar net. So why do some of you say that Tech can’t afford to pay top dollar for a good coach? Can’t a really good coach offset his pay over time by getting his school the big payouts by going to top tier bowls?
Notre Ain't
November 18th, 2009
2:38 pm
The dogs aren’t at 9 & 4. I’ve got Tech winning 41-17. AT THE HALF!!!!!!!!! Kentucky & Rich Brooks are gonna paste the poodles because they are looking ahead to the asswhipping in the Flats. BOOK IT>
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:39 pm
From yesterday’s South Bend newspaper:
Time to get out the coaches directory.
Word trickling out around the college football world puts Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh and Brian Kelly of Cincinnati as the leaders in the Irish sweepstakes.
Jon Gruden recently re-upped with ESPN for its Monday Night Football broadcast team, taking his name out of the mix.
Worth considering would be Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern. What about Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio? Don’t even go down the Tom Clements road again. Throw in Boise State’s Chris Petersen, just to add somebody who’s coached on a blue field. Urban Meyer? C’mon, didn’t that ship sail five years ago?
About irish, charlie weis, game, south bend, notre dame | Find me About
November 18th, 2009
2:40 pm
[...] One difference: Paul Johnson proved he could win at Navy. Charlie Weis proved he can lose to Navy. 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, …Read Original Story: 5 reasons Paul Johnson isn't going to Notre Dame – Atlanta Journal Co… [...]
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:41 pm
I don’t know why it won’t post, but the South Bend Tribune doesn’t even mention Johnson in it’s discussion of the next coach.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091117/SPORTS13/911169917/1021/Sports
notredamefan
November 18th, 2009
2:42 pm
EVERONE IN AMERICA KNOWS THAT NOTRE DAME IS GOING AFTER URBAN MEYER!
UpwiththeWhiteandGold
November 18th, 2009
2:42 pm
CPJ is not going anywhere soon. Sorry dawgs. Urban Meyer is the perfect fit, just wait.
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:42 pm
Here’s the bleacher report’s top 5:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/286923-the-unofficial-top-five-notre-dame-coaching-prospects
Truth is, it’s hard to find anyone besides Dawg fans who are talking about Johnson leaving.
Neil
November 18th, 2009
2:43 pm
Technophobia… why would the South Bend Tribune mention Johnson now?
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:44 pm
I get scared playing dungeons & dragons in the dark. I need my mom to get me a new nite light.
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
2:44 pm
Neil… I’m still pretty excited about GT’s recruiting classes.
GT usually has recruiting rankings around the 30’s. Chan Gailey had that one magical year where they were around #15 just before he got fired, and yes those players are the ones that are now juniors under Johnson.
However, Johnson obviously recruits different kinds of players for his offense than most other teams do. The fact that he’s pulling in almost exclusively 3 and 4 star players isn’t bad at all. Just look at their latest recruit, Synjyn Days. He’s listed as a 3 star safety, but he’s coming to GT to play quarterback.
During Johnson’s impressive run at Navy, he never had a single recruited rated higher than 2 stars. He probably has more overall talent on the team than he will in a couple of years, but his teams should be running the O much more smoothly. Depending on which of GT’s 4 NFL caliber juniors leave this year(Dwyer, Demaryius Thomas, Burnett, Morgan) leave this year…. I would guess that next year will likely be Paul Johnson’s greatest potential to succeed at GT as long as he is here. But I don’t see any reason to believe as long as he is at GT that he will not be a consistent 9+ game winner.
Technophobia
November 18th, 2009
2:44 pm
Why wouldn’t they? They are talking about others.
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
2:46 pm
Roan st….
GT won’t actually get any more money if GT goes to a BCS bowl. The ACC, like most conferences, splits that money. It will actually mean they spend more becuase most coaches have incentives in their contract for making BCS bowls.
Huh Spencer?
November 18th, 2009
2:48 pm
Why in a couple of years would teams be running his offense more smoothly? They still have to come to Tech and learn it from the start, just like all the other players. Just because Paul recruits them, doesn’t mean they are going to come into the system and automatically understand it.
Bob
November 18th, 2009
2:49 pm
Notre Dame doesn’t play Jacksonville State two years in a row and Virginia, Vandy, Wake, and Duke in consecutive weeks. Paul Johnson would’t have the benefit of such a creampuff schedule at Notre Dame. He’d be crazy to leave. Besides, Georgia Tech is probably the only BCS program in the southeast where a 9-4 season is cause for celebration. The bar is absurdly low. He will never get fired unless he loses to Georgia six years in a row like his predecessor. Where else in the world can you have such a miserable record against your main rival and still keep your job for so long? Georgia Tech. That’s where. Johnson has these idiots eating out of his hand. He isn’t going anywhere. Besides, Notre Dame sucks.
Thanks.
Jeff
November 18th, 2009
2:50 pm
ND guns it. PJ runs it. Aint gonna happen.
Baba O'Riley
November 18th, 2009
2:51 pm
But I thought THIS year’s UGA was supposed to be improved because of all the experience gained by underclassmen last year due to injuries. All I heard was how Stacy Searles was the best O-Line coach known to mankind because he coached these linemen up and they were going to be one of the best O-Lines in the country this year. I mean, we fans hear year after year that “UGA doesn’t rebuild, we reload”. What happened??? Did you reload with BBs? or maybe the wrong guy is pulling the trigger?
Neil
November 18th, 2009
2:51 pm
I still think that the 1st national powerhouse that rings Johnson’s phone is going to get him.
BlahBlah O'Riley
November 18th, 2009
2:52 pm
Actually, the only people who reload with BB’s would be Tennessee.
George O'Leary
November 18th, 2009
2:53 pm
IF the money is right, it doesn’t matter what you little bee loving things want – He’s gone!!!!!!!!!
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
2:56 pm
Huh Spencer?
Because instead of throwing a team into it like he did last year…. every year he will have plenty of players that are familiar with it and some that aren’t. Most will get a chance to redshirt before they play, rather than have to start in their first year with the team. Did you notice how many more chop blocks and offensive line penalties GT was called for last year compared to this year? That’s one of the biggest reasons the offense has been so much more productive. No, we won’t always have Jonathan Dwyer type talent at the B-Back position(but who does? He’s one of the top 5 most talented RBs in the nation), or a QB with Nesbitt’s strength and speed. But we will likely have more consistency on the O, and where a future QB may lack Nesbitt’s running prowess, they will likely have a better ability to pass the ball.
Paul Johnson
November 18th, 2009
2:58 pm
After careful consideration, I will stay at Georgia Tech.
Thank you.
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
3:00 pm
Bob, you’re silly.
Notre Dame plays a much easier schedule than GT. And like I said before… celebrating a 9-4 season is all relative. When you’re coming off of Chan Gailey, the kind of 7-5, the kind of improvement you saw last year is going to be exciting no matter what kind of fans you have. Expectations are based on prior results. It’s not like if PJ wins 10+ for the next 4 years that GT fans will care about a 9 win season and a win over UGA 5 years from now.
Reality
November 18th, 2009
3:00 pm
Hey Trembling C You embarass the entire Georgia Tech Fanbase. And I want to explain the Coach Paul Johnson rumors to you on a level that even you can understand. CPJ will take the Notre Dame job, if offered, which is still not a done deal, because it is a football job that is on a much higher level than anything at GT. So on your level— it would be like Ruby Tuesday offering you a job after working for Mcdonalds!I tried to make it hit home for you.That would seem like a promotion to you and can you see now that I put it on your level?
So just like you hope Ruby Tuesday will come after you and you can make your life easier. So CPJ wants to better himself!
GTSteve
November 18th, 2009
3:01 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 dint realize that
Demoney !
November 18th, 2009
3:01 pm
Of course the love fest with Paul Johnson is in full swing now , the paper is very much in love with him and they will be so long as he is winning, Replay Mark Richt first several years at Georgia and the AJC and news outlet couldn’t get enough of him so now after suffering through 2 difficult seasons he is not so charming now why Mark B you even used him as a case to make your point in the article . So what happens , what happens when Paul Johnsosn team had their down year my guess is that you the media will do what you always do , he will become your target . My guess is thsi Mark B when his program has down years how long will it take you to write that article “5 reasons Paul Johnson should be fired ” so go ahead ajc have that writer dust off that articl on Mark Richt i know you got it somewhere …..
GA Tech Insider
November 18th, 2009
3:05 pm
With bonuses, Paul Johnson can just about meet your $3M target while at GA Tech this season, so don’t do around fooling yourself that he is being taken for granted here on the flats; in fact, his compensation at that rate will place him in the top 15 nationally, potentially even higher than UGA;s Mark Richt and the package that Mac Brown receives at Texas.
If any of you think that GA Tech isn’t willing to “belly up to the bar” and make our coach feel appreciated right here in Atlanta, you don’t know much about our real alumni base.
ff
November 18th, 2009
3:05 pm
Enter your comments here
Spencer
November 18th, 2009
3:05 pm
Oh and Bob… where else can you have such a miserable record against your rival and survive for so long?
Ask Richt how things are going with those pesky Gators.
You see… under GT’s prior AD, he thought Gailey was doing just fine. DRad has bigger plans for GT. Gailey out, PJ in.
HBTD
November 18th, 2009
3:06 pm
NotreAint.
Beware. You know what they say about a cornered animal?? I think the dawgs (and coaches)finally found themselves last Saturday in the 2nd half and are now ready to unleash the fury on whoever they happen to be playing. The tech game could get ugly. Look for the tech faithful to begin exiting in mass early in the 3rd period to avoid the beatdown from the 25,000+ UGA fans in attendance.
Ken
November 18th, 2009
3:07 pm
NEWS FLASH!! Notre Dame is NOT an elite football program anymore and the only thing they have going for them is media exposure. Anyone who knows football knows that going from Georgia Tech to Notre Dame is a backwards move, speaking in football terms. Notre Dame can’t even beat Big 10 teams and the last 3 time Georgia Tech has played them, we blew them out. The truth is that Ara Parseghian isn’t walking through that door. Notre Dame was great in a different era, but now they are on par with a Mississippi State or a Virginia. No better.
ED
November 18th, 2009
3:07 pm
Uga fans should swallow their pride and go after PJ before somebody else does.
neb dooh
November 18th, 2009
3:08 pm
i am a dawg fan but i must admit it is scary what cpj has put together their 2-deep depth chart has 2-3 seniors nesbit is from my home town so i pull for him last year he only threw 2 td passes this year he throws them about when tech needs one dawgs must get a few more 5-star players or else tech will be pre-season top 5 next year
Yeah C'mon!
November 18th, 2009
3:08 pm
Hey Dawgers…you better turn your attention to the KCats on Saturday night. They aren’t coming to UGA to tour the campus and w/o A.J. in the line-up you better be ready to play some football. A loss to UK wouldn’t exactly get the MO’ going for the GT game!
Dave from GT
November 18th, 2009
3:09 pm
How much $$$ is enough.!!???
This coaching thing is getting out of hand.
If Johnson does leave, just think……. we might get a guy named Dabo, BeeBob, or Cledus…..
WTH
November 18th, 2009
3:09 pm
Bob asks where else in the country can you have such a miserable record against your main rival and not get fired. Well CMR’s and UGA’s record against UF is pretty miserable. So, I guess you could say that one answer to his question is UGA.
Some people really don’t think before you type unless of course Bob considers GT their main rival. I have been hearing for years that GT is no longer considered UGA’s main rival, so forgive me if I am a little confused.