Tech’s expert AD sends Paul Johnson yet another love note
One more year tacked onto a contract that already had six years to run won’t keep Paul Johnson from going to Notre Dame — or to Oklahoma, should Bob Stoops wind up in South Bend — should PJ want to leave. Georgia Tech will never be able to outspend the big boys. (Example: Even with Johnson’s deal having been redone twice in 11 months, Mark Richt still makes more.)
But that wasn’t the intent of the one-more-year tack. This was designed as a love note, a reminder that nobody anywhere is going to love PJ more than the folks at GT. As Dan Radakovich noted in the official release: “We remain committed to Paul in every way, and we foresee a long-term relationship with much continued success.”
We knew already that Tech has a splendid football coach. What was evident with Friday’s announcement is that the Institute’s athletics director is every bit as good. Homer Rice was a great AD. Vince Dooley was a great AD. D-Rad is cut from that same regal cloth.
Hiring a splendid coach is only half the battle. The care and feeding of that man is the trickier part. How long do you wait to renegotiate? (With PJ, D-Rad waited less than a calendar year, and that proactivity was warranted because Auburn was believed to have offered Johnson a blank check.) But Notre Dame once deemed Charlie Weis was the real deal, and now it’s facing an elephantine buyout. You have to be quick, but you also have to be right.
An AD has to read both the terrain and his constituency, and Radakovich has done that since Day 1. You’ll recall that certain of Tech’s big contributors — the Old Guard — were displeased when D-Rad was hired over Bill Curry. Within six months, those same folks could be heard to say of Radakovich, “We’ve got ourselves a star.”
Radakovich gets that Johnson isn’t just a good coach but the right coach. He’s beloved by Tech backers both old and new, and he has done in two years what Chan Gailey couldn’t do in six — he has made Georgia and Richt play catch-up ball. It was instructive that one of Radakovich’s first hires was Wayne Hogan, who as associate AD for public relations has a politician’s ear and a journalist’s nose. Between D-Rad and Hogan, Tech is rarely surprised by developments and seems to hit every grace note.
And that’s what this added year is — a grace note. It’s Tech sending another bouquet to PJ. It’s Dan Radakovich saying, “You might make more money somewhere else, but you’ll never find a better fit.”
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317 comments Add your comment
sec fan
November 20th, 2009
8:34 pm
seriously, stadium size and uniform colors matter more than wins.
Not Disappointed
November 20th, 2009
8:37 pm
wow! sec fan I didn’t know that. I guess, I had it all wrong………………………”Not!” But nice try.
Raise
November 20th, 2009
8:39 pm
Hopefully, they give CPJ a raise if he beats the tiggers in two weeks.
Dean George Griffin
November 20th, 2009
8:39 pm
Dan Rad, I’m so happy, I can’t see straight! We’re going to beat those
little red rascals like a drum!
sec fan
November 20th, 2009
8:41 pm
ok, what can be better than 90,00 fans all wearing black and crying about a loss. very similar to a huge funeral. what would happen to an acc team in the same scenario? 50,000 fans would shrug it off and go back to their successful jobs and nice houses and move on. see? the sec and our bug stadiums and our self esteem holding football teams are better!
jojatek
November 20th, 2009
8:43 pm
Thanks, Mark… great piece here. When we hired Chan Gailey, it was immediately clear to most of us that we would have to bide our time until his time on the Flats finally ran out (nothing against Gailey, but you knew from Day One that he was not the guy to overcome the challenges that are unique to coaching – and recruiting – football successfully at Georgia Tech). D-Rad had the foresight to lift us out of the gray twilight of perpetual 7-4 seasons and bowl games in Boise. Paul Johnson and his philosophy are truly the “perfect option” for our program (recruit solid first and second-tier talent that can handle a classroom, then inspire them to overachieve on Saturday afternoons…). Don’t get me wrong: CPJ will have some tough years (inevitable). I just hope that, when the challenges come, my fellow alumni will stand by this guy and continue to believe in him and what he is building for us…
John Heisman
November 20th, 2009
8:43 pm
If that Paul Johnson breaks my scoring record that I set against Cumberland next Saturday, I will haunt CPJ’s family forever!
Realist
November 20th, 2009
8:45 pm
Next year may be a rebuilding year as the players that St. Richt didn’t pull may leave early. Dwyer and D.Morgane are likely 1st rounders and Bay Bay may leave as well. Too bad we didn;t pull King instead of Dwyer, we could have him forever as he will never reach the next level
BawlingDawg
November 20th, 2009
8:46 pm
I can’t believe those bees have him for another 7 years…where’s my bottle?
POSER
November 20th, 2009
8:48 pm
OK my good tech fans, lets not be too obnoxious. Remember the mutts were thrilled to death the first few years CMR was at Athens. But since they were picked preseason no. 1 in 2008 and he didn’t deliver, then this season they havn’t had a great season, they’re ready to tar and feather him and run the poor guy out of town. Anything can happen.I agree theres not as much pressure at tech and I hope he continues to succeed at the flats. Love the white and gold.
Bowing to Wisdom
November 20th, 2009
8:50 pm
Wow, sec fan, if uniform colors matter so much, no wonder Barbara Dooley
was quoted as saying, UGA’s colors are “stylish,” whatever that means.
You have to realize, though, that Georgia has to wear red, because UGA students can’t spell crimson, and scarlet.
GT-Armchair-QB-Class of '93
November 20th, 2009
8:50 pm
Mark:
1. Appreciate your positive coverage of Tech and Paul Johnson for the past 2 seasons. You liked the hire. And thus far, you are right!
2. Maybe I’m being paranoid and pessimistic— but I’m afraid D-Rad’s one year extension might have been a humble, but honorable forthright admission that (A) he expects CPJ to get some interviews and lucrative offers this year and (B) don’t worry about Tech matching them— we can’t and won’t.
Damn, I hope he stays. He will win a NC at Tech!
Your thoughts, Sir?
tom
November 20th, 2009
8:52 pm
Macdog,
Get ready, we are comming to chop block you. Enjoy the ride.
WestOfAthens
November 20th, 2009
8:54 pm
Congratulations to the fact of new found life in GT football.
I commend all of those displaying their brand new glossy decals and banners upon their mode of transport.
Can that bandwagon make a sound similar to that of a choo-choo train?
THWGT
Joe
November 20th, 2009
8:58 pm
I don’t see CPJ leaving for any of the jobs opening this year no matter the $$. Notre Dame is worse than Duke as far as ending a coaches career. KU, nope. FSU, nope. Maybe UF if Urban leaves, but I doubt they would want a “boring” run only offense. Nebraska and Oklahoma may adopt his offense, but why leave the southeast where he is from to go there? Just don’t see money making that big a difference for CPJ.
Joe
November 20th, 2009
9:02 pm
kinda like all the new G’s that we saw for a few days last fall?? hahaha!!! all the G’s were ripped off after the black came off in athens due to Saban.
woodee
November 20th, 2009
9:03 pm
do you think maybe uga is a little embarrassed? theyve had top 10 recruiting classes and nothing to show for it. their mascots croak at the very thought of seeing the triple option again.(dwyer just scored on the dogs… again…and again… and again… this time it’s roddy… nesbitt’s turn… nesbitt for another…) the score in atlanta on the 28th is going to be ugly. i mean really ugly. like 50’s – teens. im sure uga was really excited when they got richt and he was working his magic in the first couple of years, but theyre now looking for a new d coordinator and after that it will be a new head coach. and quit outting your mascot on the mangino-weis diet its unhealthy for humans and mutts too.
UGGA's Mourner
November 20th, 2009
9:07 pm
I don’t like to know a good dog is dead, who does? But if the Dawgs at halftime in the Kentucky game use Ugga VII’s death to motivate the team, or make the crowd observe a moment of silence, anything left of UGA honor will have reached the absolute bottom.
Joe
November 20th, 2009
9:07 pm
And how does uga fans call tech fans bandwagoners when they are notorious for not supporting their team when they are losing? Did you see the stadium in the third quarter of the UF game? Or even the LSU game when uga was still in in it. pathetic support.
W.A. Alexander
November 20th, 2009
9:30 pm
Golden Tornado, while you’re smiling over Tech’s having 4 National Championships to only one for UGA, don’t forget this added goodie: In 118 years of playing football, UGA has had only four undefeated seasons, though they’ve come close, sometimes.
TECH has had EIGHT undefeated seasons. Not this year. At 10-1, we’ve
already missed unbeaten status for 2009. We’ll tame the Dawgs next week, though.
Boss
November 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
Go Tech! Tech is the best!
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
10:06 pm
Thanks to those who appreciated the quote by Dodd on page 1. As I looked throught some of the quotes of the legendary coaches I saw a common thread, respect for others achievements and maintaining a proper perspective. Johnson believes in his system and believes in his kids. Will we win every game? Of course not. But as he said when asked why he didn’t take a piece of the hedges at Athens after beating Georgia “I figured I’d be back”. As long as Johnson coaches at GT, no matter what happens, Tech WILL be back. Go Jackets!
Cuz
November 20th, 2009
10:18 pm
Well believe it or don’t I hope PJ stays at Tech. Why? Because if you want to be the best you have to play the best. And right now he is good as it gets as an offensive, no pun intended, genius. Get a good DC and you can talk Crystal footballs. We just happen to have one in Athens that would be a great fit for our instate rivals.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
10:22 pm
Does any team in the SEC use cut blocking? SEC officials will handle the game on Nov. 28. Hopefully they have seen enough cut vs. illegal chop blocking to make the right determination.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 20th, 2009
10:26 pm
Did I hear a dawg died or the DAWGS are dead?
Alabama Jack
November 20th, 2009
10:27 pm
So lets move on to more important things. What color helmets will the dawgs wear tomorrow?
Pi$$onaDawg
November 20th, 2009
10:28 pm
CUZ just take me talking crap just in fun. I want to date you ex-wife on the far right of Baylie. Have a great time at the game.
stingtime
November 20th, 2009
10:29 pm
Another great day,in a fantastic season!! can’t wait for next saturday night.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
10:31 pm
Georgia alumni can appeal to Damon Evans to extent Mark Richt’s contract as well.
A warning, though. Now that Adams has finished his NCAA stint, he may refocus on transforming UGA to the Virginia of the deep south.
War Jacket
November 20th, 2009
10:34 pm
Good coaches come and go. It hasn’t been that long ago, when a new star arose over Athens. SEC championships and top ten rankings seemingly were routine. At that time it couldn’t have been any gloomier at Tech. Todays times, will too, pass. Enjoy them while they last.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
10:36 pm
Cuz – Mr. Bradley gave 80-20 odds on Tech retaining Dave Wommack. There must be some source of info that we simple consumers don’t have access to.
stingtime
November 20th, 2009
10:37 pm
another great day in a fantastic season!! can’t wait till Saturday night.
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
10:38 pm
Well I see that not EVERYONE learned their lesson from the “scooter incident” earlier this year. But running a red light on a motorcycle, that’s just crazy. Car vs. motorcycle is like Dwyer vs. DB, it ain’t pretty.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 20th, 2009
10:42 pm
TechMD the dawgs don’t know no better. They forgot the UT B BATES vs WALKER. We want to see J DIESEL DWYER vs R CURRIN.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
10:46 pm
If Curran is moving at full speed and has a bead on Dwyer, it could be quite a collision. Maybe they won’t have to get the magnets at CERN fixed to discover the mysterious boson particle.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:01 pm
This is a blog focused on a Tech theme, so incorporating a reference to the Standard Model of Particle Physics into it is okay, right?
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:04 pm
I didn’t mean to scare everybody away.
I get it, y’all are just rolling your eyes.
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
11:10 pm
That’s a great post Delbert. lol
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:13 pm
Higgs? Large Hadron Collider? Anyone?
Sorry, Mark…I think I just killed another one of your blogs….
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:14 pm
Whew! Thanks, TechMD. Thought everybody had disappeared into another part of the multiverse.
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
11:18 pm
I’m trying to watch the Boise St game before it’s a blowout. oops too late
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:21 pm
I was planning on watching that, but my wife has the controller, and we’re watching Bill O’Reilly and Sarah Palin again. I get the controller on Saturdays, *all day* .
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
11:24 pm
Boise’s quick and executes but they are very small. Looks almost like a high school game. They’re gonna have a great undefeated regular season followed by a bone crushing loss.
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
11:25 pm
I think Dwyer could run over their linemen. Nesbitt too.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:26 pm
I’m afraid so. Wildly thinking ahead, I’d like to see Tech against TCU in the Orange Bowl. I think they are very good.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:28 pm
Boise St. looked convincing in the Oregon game. That’s the only full game I’ve seen them this year.
SEC Fact Check .com
November 20th, 2009
11:28 pm
Great move, Dan. Hopefully, CPJ sees Tech as his domain to build and succeed. It seems he loves to defy the odds. Where else could he go with such an opportunity… Great history with flashes of national prominence. Mediocre program in the underrated ACC in the back yard of the SEC surrounded by UGA, TN, AL, AU, FL, & SCar. What an opportunity to steal the bacon these teams and the reason attributed largely to him and his leadership. Go to Notre Dame, OK, etc and folks will say he needed their prestige to pull off building a successful program.
Additionally, Paul Johnson and success at GA Tech could help move D-1 to a playoff style post-season. Paul Johnson at Notre Dame or OK does nothing to move that process forward.
So, with the greatest bias, I believe it is indeed the best fit for GA Tech and CPJ to stay connected at the hip.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
11:34 pm
Well, got to check out for the night. I tuned over to the game and got Herbstreit and Gameday.
TechMD
November 20th, 2009
11:35 pm
Yeah, but the Boise Oregon game was in September. Besides, Oregon is , ya know…. a west coast team.
willie martinez
November 21st, 2009
12:00 am
paul johnson needs to get out of ga.i own this state and .
Ps.does any know how to effectively stop the triple option.a friend of mine who coachs some where else want s to know.