How three points and one man changed football in Georgia
Paul Johnson exulted as UGA fell and the tides turned. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Three points on a rainy day when 87 were scored. Three points that halted a seven-year run of losing for one side and induced an abject reversal for the other. Three points that changed the state of college football in a state that lives for college football.
Georgia Tech beat Georgia 45-42 on Nov. 29, 2008, and never has one skinny victory assumed such heft. Tech is now the champion of the ACC Coastal Division and has been ensconced among the nation’s top 10 teams for a month. Georgia has had its worst season under Mark Richt and could be bound for Shreveport. You can argue that a different result 12 months ago wouldn’t have affected anything that has occurred in 2009, but you’d be wrong.
We stopped seeing Tech as hopeless during the first seven minutes of that famous third quarter. The Jackets went from 28-12 behind to 35-28 ahead in the time it took you to say, “There goes Dwyer!” And when it ended, Tech having won for the first time since George O’Leary was coaching against Jim Donnan, this much was clear: Mark Richt wasn’t coaching against Chan Gailey anymore.
Gailey tried six times against Richt, lost six times. In 2006 he even had the better team. Didn’t matter. There was something about Gailey that made you believe he could go 0-for-100 against the Bulldogs. Paul Johnson needed only one swing. Paul Johnson, as we now know, is different.
The Tech booster (and former co-captain under Bobby Dodd) Taz Anderson tells the story: Not long after Johnson was hired, he and Anderson were playing golf. The format was alternate shot. Johnson stood over the second shot on a par-5 hole. Anderson said, “Might want to lay up, Coach.” Johnson said, “Oh, I don’t know.” And knocked the darn thing on the green.
Just as faint heart never won fair maiden (really old saying), a timid Tech wasn’t going to unhorse Georgia. Tech stopped being timid the day Johnson strode — PJ doesn’t so much walk as he strides — through the door. Here’s a man secure enough to use an offense that supposedly ran its course decades ago, secure enough to run an actual play on any fourth-and-you-name-it. Johnson doesn’t care what you think of him. He’s so secure in himself and his methods that he needs no endorsement.
Nor, to hear him tell it, does he necessarily need to beat Georgia. “I’m not making it out to be the Super Bowl the way you guys are,” he said at his media briefing Tuesday. “I’m not going to let one game define our season.”
And then: “I don’t want to leave the impression that it’s not important. It is important. But I’m going to get Georgia Tech to the point where our program is bigger than one game.”
It helped that PJ won that one game on his first try. (”Been there, done that,” he said Tuesday.) Richt was no longer the scourge of the heated series but the guy who’d lost to the guy with the high school offense. Willie Martinez was the coordinator who couldn’t stop an offense that completed one pass (that on the game’s first snap). Georgia was no longer mighty, Tech no longer meek.
Had Georgia won on Nov. 29, 2008 — the 2009 Georgia media guide, perhaps inadvertently, lists the score of the game as 42-42 — the Bulldogs would have rounded off a disappointing season by at least reasserting their in-state dominance. Instead they laid themselves open to question, and in the succeeding Richt has seemed to have no answers. The guy who works at North and Techwood has hijacked every answer.
And now PJ and his program move from strength to strength, while Richt is under heavy pressure to change something, anything. Johnson’s team could play in the Orange Bowl. Richt’s just lost at home to Kentucky. Johnson’s team is the rising power, Richt’s the fading light. Three points did all that. Three points and one cocksure coach.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
577 comments Add your comment
Ted
November 24th, 2009
11:19 am
One year, hopefully soon, they will meet at the end of the year when both teams are undefeated.
CPJ rocks
November 24th, 2009
11:19 am
any GT that hasn’t seen these 2nd half highlights in a while needs to take a look, it will fire you up all over again and one of the greatest GT wins ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJPTYTswPCI
Lawson
November 24th, 2009
11:19 am
LOL. I love the UGA ‘necks always pulling the “Paul Johnson is gonna leave Tech” line. It’s not happening you inbreds. CPJ is here to stay…he’s said so MANY times. But keep dreaming! LOL
Pee Pee on a dawg
November 24th, 2009
11:20 am
Cocksure is a hilarious word!
Shane
November 24th, 2009
11:20 am
Shane – If an 18 year old can’t take a cuss word from a coach (and Paul didn’t cuss out the guy), then why do we allow 18 year olds to fight in wars? With guns?
Umm 18 year old kids volunteer to fight in wars. Last I checked the kids at Tech didnt volunterr to be verbally abused by a bully of a coach. Just a matter of time before he chokes or slaps a kid.
Shane
November 24th, 2009
11:22 am
CPJ is here to stay…he’s said so MANY times.
And as we all know no coach in the history of coaching has ever said he was going to stay and then left. Its never happened. Ever.
EW
November 24th, 2009
11:22 am
Can the Tech fans here (the real ones, not the five yr olds) tell me what will be the opinion of their season if UGA wins Saturday? Does it ruin the season for GT? Does the doubt about success against UGA start to creep back in? Just curious and trying to promote some actual blogging here. Obviously the concensus is that MB missed the Mark on this article (no pun intended).
Dawghater
November 24th, 2009
11:23 am
UGAy fans are just like democrats. They’re both bitter and won’t admit their failings. It’s quite amusing to watch them both implode.
Frustrated Dawg
November 24th, 2009
11:23 am
I’m tired of watching our coaching staff nonchalantly working on their suntans while Florida, the bugs, and Kentucky run all over us. We need someone who knows how to win and will instill some discipline in our players. Evans should get Terry Bowden on the phone right now and pay him whatever it takes.
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 24th, 2009
11:23 am
Shane, thanks for posting the two dumbest things I’ve read all week.
AJC is what it is...
November 24th, 2009
11:23 am
The premise of this article is ridiculous. The author probably aware of that but if you’ve noticed, AJC has got to do something — anything — to increase readership and Georgia Tech’s great season (along with UGA’s issues) is an opportunity for them. Drumming up Tech as though they’re the next Southern Cal and kicking UGA during a down season (one of the five top teams in wins over the last decade, incidentally) are both good for the paper. It’s simply business. But I no longer expect any keen insights or real journalism from the Sports section at AJC!
Randy Marsh
November 24th, 2009
11:23 am
Mark, could you be more dramatic? This is ridiculous. GA would be in the same situation in ‘09 if they would’ve just wrapped up a few tackles in the game last year and won it. Last year’s game was more about GA collapsing, as we’re getting used to seeing (see last week’s game).
snapshot
November 24th, 2009
11:23 am
Hmmmm, interesting. Good article and really brings the mutts blood to boiling point. LOL
However, it was just one game and I have the feeling this game will be a war to end all wars between these two schools.
Go Yellow Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sunday
November 24th, 2009
11:24 am
@ Shane:
59 wins divided by 103 total meetings equals a winning percentage of 57%. While that is a winning record, it’s no where near the 80% winning percentage you suggest.
Or maybe that’s too much math and reason for you.
1 Loss = Bad Coach for Future?
November 24th, 2009
11:24 am
Did the 38 to 3 Tech loss of Johnsons to Florida doom his season this year? Not.
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 24th, 2009
11:25 am
EW, yes it does ruin the season, but it ain’t happening.
Have you check CPJ’s record in rivilary games?
Heath
November 24th, 2009
11:25 am
Oh, I didn’t say he was leaving, I just wondered if he would get any offers from schools who COULD sell out a high school stadium.
1 Loss = Bad Coach for Future?
November 24th, 2009
11:26 am
Was Johnson’s Tech’s recent 38 to 3 loss to Florida or LSU? Some SEC team, oh well, he lost, and he did ok the next season.
snapshot
November 24th, 2009
11:26 am
Worry, worry, worry. I must admit, I am worried. But dang its fun!!!!!!
Go You Hairy Yellow Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNNsKuPfQYw
Dawgs73
November 24th, 2009
11:27 am
Mark, did you actually use the word “cocksure”????
Lois Pewterschmidt
November 24th, 2009
11:27 am
Shane – Go back to your little sandbox and tell your mommy if anyone hurts your feelings!
AdMan
November 24th, 2009
11:27 am
Darrell..if Tech wins Saturday it won’t be because CPJ knows more football than CMR…cause he clearly doesn’t. CPJ’s team might of won last year and will most likely win this year but it will be because this is a down year for ther dawgs…you remember those don’t you? I believe that Tech has a history of down years. When CPJ wins the ACC title a couple of times and takes Tech to a BCS game for three or four years and Tech finishes #2 in the final polls then come talk to me…until then CPJ’s just on a short run of success catching the dawgs on bad run. What will you do if the Dawgs actually win Saturday? I can’t wait to hear the excuses….fear the unknown.
SimpleDawg
November 24th, 2009
11:28 am
We aint skeered…..worried, concerned, anxious….yep, but we aint skeered.
Nick Papagorgio
November 24th, 2009
11:28 am
Heath, real schools produce astronauts, not gardeners. Do you mean a football factory that treats athletes as commodities? Or have you forgotten the whole student-athlete thing?
THWG!
Ted
November 24th, 2009
11:29 am
it was LSU
GoJackets
November 24th, 2009
11:29 am
Mark Richt?
80 wins in 8 years. SEC Coach of the year. Twice. 48 NFL Drafts. .768 winning %. Finished #2 (many say #1) in 2007.
End of story. Goodbye.
——————
Paul Johnson?
.792 winning %
ACC COTY in 2008, likely again this year.
On pace to win 80 in 8 yrs
And that’s just in his 2 yr tenure at Tech. Want me to go on w/ his records at Navy & Georgia Southern (2 of the hardest places to win, btw)
What else you got?
BIG BEE
November 24th, 2009
11:30 am
To All Above–We won’t know who wins the game until after the game is played!!!
3 Points Don't Mean a Thing Long Term...
November 24th, 2009
11:30 am
Johnson Navy 2002-2007—.744%, 10th Best
Richt Georgia 2001-2008 .768, 4th Best
Rico
November 24th, 2009
11:30 am
We will find out Saturday night how Tech and CPJ handle being in the “favorite” roll. Will that 3 point victory from last year help them on Saturday night? Of course it will, mentally. But, it does not mean a “shift in power” until Tech beats UGA on a consistant basis. UGA will ALMOST always have better individual athletes accross the roster (this year is the exception). To beat UGA on a regular basis Tech needs 3 things: Great Coach, Great System, and Great Confidence. Great Coach and Great System are in place. Saturday night around 8:10 pm, we know know if the Confidence is in place. In my opinion, unlike most Tech games this year, the outcome of this game will be determined first 10 minutes. If UGA can stop Tech’s offense even once in the first 10 minutes, then game on! If not – it could be a REVERSAL of the 2002 game when UGA won 51 – 7.
I still think UGA’s concentration level will be up and the turnovers and penalties will be down.
41-38 Tech…
PS There will be SEC officials. So, you can bet on some kind of drama.
Heath
November 24th, 2009
11:31 am
EW, yes, it would ruin the season, because as we all know, there is no such thing as a Tech fan, just people who hate Georgia.
Dan
November 24th, 2009
11:32 am
Shane, do you know the difference between your and you’re? It’s not difficult, genius.
Ted
November 24th, 2009
11:32 am
Mark,
Are you sleeping?
Ricky Bobby
November 24th, 2009
11:32 am
Shane – there’s gonna be some slappin” going on in The Flats this weekend and it’s gonna be upside some doggy heads!
THWG!
November 24th, 2009
11:32 am
Coach Johnson might not sustain the level of success he has had so far but all this talk about how he will not be able to recruit is wrong. The 12 recruits committed for next year are all from Ga and all have big time offers and at least 4 or 5 have UGA offers. If this class was bigger than 12 (only have maybe a couple of more spots) then it would be as good as the 2007 class and they are all from Ga.
Just wanted to give a dose of realty to the notion that CPJ cannot recruit.
dan
November 24th, 2009
11:32 am
EW,
You’re such a freaking poon.You know everyone keeps bitcing about that endzone dance, but you know what? IT WORKED IN THAT GAME! That UGA team matched up well with Florida, they just needed to have the fight and the belief that they could beat their ass. I will say it AGAIN: UGA didn’t win that game because of a dance, they won it because they imposed their will on Florida in that game! Watch the tape if you don’t believe me. Guys like Terence Moore would ridicule UGA about being dominated by Florida in the AJC yet would question Richt’s methods when they finally did win! Playing like your hair is on fire is what wins football games, and that’s exactly how UGA played that day! I’ll tell you one thing right now: if UGA played Tech last year with the same intensity that they played against Florida in 2007, the Dawgs would have blown the Jackets out! Maybe one of these days the Dawgs will quit playing like a bunch of wet pussies and get back into the business of out hitting opposing players. And if they don’t then maybe we should hire a coach who will bench their sorry asses for even thinking of quitting on the field!
Sonny Clusters
November 24th, 2009
11:33 am
They is some bigger fish to fry. Yesterday, Paula Deen was hit in the face by a ham and here we are talking about how football has changed in Georgia. A 12-pound ham. Right in the face. Two days on the front page of ajc.com complete with video. Flying hams is big news. She took that hit like it was delivered by Chris Houston and remained on her feet. Now, that’s news.
Shane
November 24th, 2009
11:33 am
@ Shane:
59 wins divided by 103 total meetings equals a winning percentage of 57%. While that is a winning record, it’s no where near the 80% winning percentage you suggest.
Or maybe that’s too much math and reason for you.
We have won 22 of the last 30 meetings which is around 73 percent so i wasnt that far off.
Plus we have only played 101 times. The 1943 and 1944 games dont count because UGA men were off winning WWII while the pansies stayed home.
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:33 am
Shane, idiot.
willie martinez
November 24th, 2009
11:33 am
But Mark, as you said, tech only completed one pass.
willie
DaWg
November 24th, 2009
11:34 am
We’ll see, come bowl time, how tech does.
Shane
November 24th, 2009
11:34 am
Arent Tech fans excited. Were finally going to fill up our dump of a stadium.
FREE HOTDOGS ALL AROUND !!!!!!
The Last 2 Times Richt Lost 4 Games?
November 24th, 2009
11:34 am
Take a look at what happened THE NEXT SEASON, BOTH TIMES, in Richt’s career when he had a 4 loss season at Georgia? Impressive, eh cynics?
O Ye of Litte Faith
DaWg
November 24th, 2009
11:34 am
Enter your comments here
Shane
November 24th, 2009
11:35 am
Shane, do you know the difference between your and you’re? It’s not difficult, genius.
I do. This is a blog not a grammar expo
CrackerJacket
November 24th, 2009
11:37 am
Real dog fans – I really hope and believe that the Jackets will beat the dogs this weekend. However, anything can happen and I, like most Tech fans, are not smug about it. I just want to win and hope for the best. The mutts definitely have nothing to lose and all to gain. This is the season for them. We’ve been there before. Good Luck to all!
AdMan
November 24th, 2009
11:38 am
Last time I checked Richt beat Tech on his first,second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh try…Tell me someting that I don’t know Bradley.
EW
November 24th, 2009
11:39 am
Dan..The dance signified what was wrong with the program. If you need your players to dance in the endzone to get them fired up for a UGA FL rivalry game then you haven’t done your job. It also showed a disregard for getting penalties, something that’s been a problem SINCE! Of course you say it worked because we won. How about that blackout vs. Bama, how’d that motivational tactic work??? It worked against Auburn…so was it really the jerseys and the dancing that won against Florida and Auburn??? NO! If you can’t see that the lack of discipline and focus have been our demise, then you sir are the poon.
Gt4ever
November 24th, 2009
11:39 am
Shane, Your kidding right! Did your coach scream at you and hurt your feelings…….. I’ll bet you never played sports. What a sissy…. I mean, really. If your statement weren’t so ridiculous, it would be funny…
CrackerJacket
November 24th, 2009
11:39 am
Shane – you should quit while you’re behind.
Michael
November 24th, 2009
11:40 am
Hyperbole much Mark? Sure Tech won one game last year. They might win again this year. But if they don’t it will be funny to watch all of the backpeddling that you and your bretheren will have to do.