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.
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577 comments Add your comment
Tech Gets ANOTHER 26-0 3rd Quarter? Not!
November 24th, 2009
11:41 am
Ga Tech’s hanging their hopes for beatng Georgia on a repeat of the 26-0 3rd Qrtr. Of course, Tech lost the 1st, 2nd, AND 4th Qrtrs. If Georgia has ANOTHER 26-0 3rd Qrtr, Tech barely wins by 3 again. that’s a pretty big “IF” to hang Ga Tech’s hopes on–good “luck” with that one, you’ll need it.
Jt
November 24th, 2009
11:42 am
Mark. Next year Richt is going to be only the 3rd best coach in the state- behind Johnson, and Bill Curry. Rut-roh
Shane
November 24th, 2009
11:43 am
Shane – you should quit while you’re behind.
On my scoreboard im way ahead. Sorry you cant handle the truth.
Arent Tech fans excited. Were finally going to fill up our dump of a stadium.
FREE HOTDOGS ALL AROUND !!!!!!
Man is there going to be some relish and mustard used Saturday night !!!!!!!!!!
Nick Papagorgio
November 24th, 2009
11:44 am
UGA fans, it’s ok to be scared. You’re only human. Embrace it now before it’s too late.
Ted
November 24th, 2009
11:45 am
Curry opens his career at state against Alabama. It will be long year or 3
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:45 am
swimdawg68, LSU or Miami did not stop the Tech offense. Special teams and turnovers stopped Tech in the LSU game, running attack was almost 400 yards. Miami game Tech played poorly. You know guys like you should be UGA DC, you have all the answers. Mark writes these article just to get a rise out of people and it works so well on you dawgs. Tech is a program that is turning the corner and CMR will turn UGA also or be gone. I find it very interesting the dawgs are ready to can the entire staff after just one down season. Maybe MB has a point, losing to Tech has you bothered.
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:47 am
Denver Dawg, if that helps you sleep at night then great. Remember, CPJ is no Pepper Rogers and CMR is no Vince Dooley.
Talk to me about the Dawg's Future?
November 24th, 2009
11:48 am
Richt is so good, 4th winningest active coach, he coaches in the SEC, the toughest conference, and wins so many games, you fans have one bad year and all the sudden Richt can’t coach? Ask FSU how their program did after Richt left–no more Heisman’s, no more Natl’ Championships, no more lots of consecutive winning games years?
The last time time Richt had a 4 loss year, what happened the next year? #2 Natl’ ranking 2007 (should have been #1–Georgia WAS the Natl Champion that year). Next year, with:
Green/Brown at WR (#1/#2 ranked WR’s in U.S.)
Ealey at RB (the guy who broke Herschel Walker’s rushing records), Murray at QB (we’ll see how long those 1 yard TD rushes Tim Tebow records last–I say we break his record during the Ga/Fla game)
Charles at TE (top TE in U.S.)
It’s going to be fun beating up on Ga Tech. Aaron Murray kind of gives you that Jamelle Holliday feeling, right? Don’t remember Holliday? Oh, he’s the QB who led his teasm to an 11-1 record and Natl’ Championship, as a Freshman. Kosar at Miami had a good freshman QB year too: 61% pass completion, 2300 yards, 15 TD’s, 11-1. Murray will be in the Heisman talk EVERY year at Georgia. Ealey/Green/Brown/Charles might too. We’re going to on a Heisman/Natl’ Championship run like USC did.
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:48 am
Johnson Dreams about Being Like Coach Richt…., at least you have the past to comfort you.
All The Way...To The Bank
November 24th, 2009
11:49 am
Jim Donnagain, I mean Mark Richt will make $7,621.23 TODAY and over $53,000 this WEEK and every day/week during the offseason.
I don’t feel bad at all about Richt getting the heat. He’s insulated with all that cold cash.
vet, then and now
November 24th, 2009
11:49 am
I was in the deserts of Kuwait last year. Got up in the middle of the night to watch the game. Dismayed by the first half, I vowed to watch the first series of the second to see what we could do. I never went back to bed. PJ showed where he’s a master, making half time adjustments. Back in the states now, looking forward to Saturday.
Go Jackets!
b.davis
November 24th, 2009
11:49 am
What Paul Johnson has done Mark Richt simply could not have.
He has taken a program and is building something special.
Richt took a program that should always be special and has run it into the ground.
Johnson develops warriors, Richt doesn`t even understand the question.
What he is doing at Tech is creating winners for life, not just football heroes.
Sautee Dawg
November 24th, 2009
11:49 am
Go Jackets
Willie Martinez could be coach of the year in the ACC.
Brock
November 24th, 2009
11:50 am
“I think Paul Johnson wont be able to recruit well either. I mean who is going to let their son go play for a guy who is going to cuss them out on the sidelines the whole game.”
I guess Bobby Knight couldn’t recruit any kid or convince his parents to let him play basketball for Indiana either right? Your argument has as many hole as the ga defense.
Now go change your tampon and cry in your pillow little girl.
Mark Bradley
November 24th, 2009
11:50 am
Whoops. 45 + 42 is indeed 87.
At Paul Johnson’s press conference now.
DawginLex
November 24th, 2009
11:51 am
Georgia is having a bad year but Tech had nothing to do with it. It has everything to do with a series of bad decisions that can be corrected.
Martinez-out, Kirby Smart in
Cox out, Murray in (for the next 4 years)
Ealey and King set from day one and not spending half the season wondering who is going to play running back.
Entire OL returns for 3rd season starting together.
We lose the three DL but there are recruits ready to step up.
Tech should be favored Saturday and should win. They better win. Hell hath no fury like a laughing Dawg.
Dawg Nation
November 24th, 2009
11:52 am
Joe Joe Joe, wake-up man. Mr. Bradley is right.
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:53 am
Shane, you are the biggest idiot that has ever been on this blog. And there have been some big ones. This is 2009, anything from 2008 back is history and does not count for a hill of beans.
Brock
November 24th, 2009
11:53 am
now that shane has been put in his place he resorts to stadium size. Here we go again…
DawginLex
November 24th, 2009
11:54 am
b davis,
I know you are a Techie and you hate all things UGA but, to say that Richt is not building these young men that play for him into winners off the field is a big joke.
Richt’s faith is not phony. He lives it everyday and factors his faith into every area of his life including his football team.
Why don’t you try again and state something that might actually have a little bit of truth in it.
Talk to me about the Dawg's Future?
November 24th, 2009
11:54 am
Richt led Georgia to its 1st SEC Championship in 20 years. Johnson couldn’t have done it in the SEC, please child?
Brock
November 24th, 2009
11:55 am
I guess Bobby Knight couldn’t convince parents and their kid to come play for him because he cursed huh? Your argument has as many holes as the ga defense. Try again little girl. Oh, I’m sorry, did I hurt your feelings?
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:55 am
Tech Gets ANOTHER 26-0 3rd Quarter? Not! – I believe the 3rd Qt. was Kentucky’s big quater.
Brock
November 24th, 2009
11:56 am
my apologies if my post shows up twice. Must just be slow.
CrackerJacket
November 24th, 2009
11:57 am
Dawgs future – take your predictions to Vegas. After you fail the mental exam and background check, you can play the slots. Your odds would be MUCH better!
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
November 24th, 2009
11:58 am
Do we all have to pray to the new god of football? Do you stay up nights Mr Bradley, worshipping at the alter of CPJ? It was one game against a pitiful Ga defensive effort, it was not a trend, it is not the start of years of GT dominance. Tech is a good ballclub, and this year Ga is not, but the game will be played on saturday, and GT may well not like the outcome. I have never seen such a case of man worship in my life. I’m certain you’re breaking a commandment. Please try to be a journalist instead of a personal relations advocate for CPJ, it’s not very becoming
MR
November 24th, 2009
11:58 am
Talk to me about the Dawg’s Future? said “Richt led Georgia to its 1st SEC Championship in 20 years. Johnson couldn’t have done it in the SEC, please child?”
I only see two teams in the SEC, Fla and Ala. What makes you think things are so much tougher. UGA just lost to a basketball school. As to the dawgs future, CMR makes no changes to his coaching staff, will you still spout off about the future.
JoeV
November 24th, 2009
11:58 am
GoJackets,
“On pace to win 80 in 8 yrs”
One of the stupidest things I’ve ever read on one of these blogs. You obviously know nothing about college football and that statement is laughable.
MattDawg
November 24th, 2009
11:59 am
Seriously!! Wow and I thought Terrance Moore was bad. I guess Mark is taking his spot at writing crazy headlines.
CrackerJacket
November 24th, 2009
12:00 pm
Hell hath no fury like a laughing dog? What does that mean? That I’m gonna have to listen to uneducated, mindless drivel and unsubstantiated boasting? You guys do that anyway. There will be no fury!
gtfanfrom1951
November 24th, 2009
12:00 pm
I can tell the children are out of school because momy is let them play on the computer. Look at the last photo of last years game. That’s when both schools meet and prayed at center field. Maybe the players have more……
Sautee Dawg
November 24th, 2009
12:00 pm
Enter your comments here
3 points won't change Recruiting...
November 24th, 2009
12:01 pm
Mark Richt- 46 NFL Drafts.
Paul Johnson- O NFL Drafts (please correct me if he’s ever had at least SOMEBODY get drafted)
sharecropper
November 24th, 2009
12:02 pm
I gotta love those posts responding to “Shane’s” whining about 18-year-olds. I am guessing Shane himself was never in the military, and certainly spent no time at a military academy where it is discipline, discipline from morning until, well, the next morning. Doesn’t appear to me that with this year so far along, Peeples broke anything. If his feelings got hurt — and there was no indication of it — they surely healed up well, don’t you think? If “Shane” wants to see 18-year-olds yelled at and cussed out and generally manhandled he should get his keister down to the Marine Corps recruiting office. I got worse in one day of boot than in six years of football. Excellent for developing an intolerance for really ignorant posts, it didn’t seem to hurt me any.
MR
November 24th, 2009
12:02 pm
Typical dwagies, Hate your coach one day and praise him the next. He won you a SEC championship but he has one down turn and you are ready to run him out of Athens on a rail. Fans that leave the game when you still have a chance to win…booing your players. This CFB not the pros. These kids are play hard and they deserve better. It would serve you right if CMR left.
Go Jackets
Scoots
November 24th, 2009
12:03 pm
Tech Gets another 26-0 Quarter: You’re right, it took that quarter to get the win, but last I checked, that quarter counts.
But let’s not dwell on the past, it’s 2009, not 2008 and things are different. No Stafford, no Moreno, UGA has a worse defense than last year. Tech is on a roll with all kinds of momentum. UGA just lost to Kentucky and everyone’s questioning the coaching staff.
So you’re right. Tech might not get that 26-0 3rd Quarter. But I’m thinking they won’t need it.
Gt4ever
November 24th, 2009
12:04 pm
3points, amazing as that stat is, just think what CPJ’s record would have been had he had all that talent….. Just mind boggling!
MR
November 24th, 2009
12:04 pm
3 points won’t change Recruiting… At least 3 last year.
Game On
November 24th, 2009
12:05 pm
this 2nd half highlights says it all….damn it’s fun to watch dwyer and jones heading toward the en zone but the best was the Samuel fumble and little #8 Wright come up with the ball LOVE IT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJPTYTswPCI
Damon
November 24th, 2009
12:05 pm
This is a pretty pathetic blog
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 24th, 2009
12:06 pm
The fact is, two of the best college football coaches in the country reside in our great state. Mark Richt’s all-time winning percentage is among the all-time leaders, and CPJ’s is not far behind. (As a matter of fact, if you take away his first season at the Naval Academy, Johnson’s winning percentage is even higher than Richt’s.) I refuse to believe that the Dogs are in any kind of long-term decline. Rather, I am thankful that BOTH SCHOOLS now have excellent coaching staffs and the opportunity to make this rivalry once again among the best in the nation.
Will GT be able to reel off seven or eight in a row, as the Dogs recently did? Not likely. But are we likely to LOSE 3-4 in a row while CPJ is at the helm … I don’t think so!!!! As Ted said at 11:19, I hope one day soon we’ll see both schools enter this game undefeated, with the winner (hopefully the Jackets) bound for the MNC game.
Go Jackets!!
dagnabit
November 24th, 2009
12:06 pm
I’m going to enjoy this season and the probable win over Jawja this weekend. Next year the GA. team will be a year older and a lot better.
j
November 24th, 2009
12:06 pm
Shane,
Guess your right. People want their kids to lose against Kentucky and OSU….And get embarrased by Tennessee, Florida, LSU and the rest of the sec. Good call man!
AdMan
November 24th, 2009
12:06 pm
b.davis..are you kidding? Is that what you really think CPJ is doing? If so I feel sorry for you but clearly understand why you are a Tech student and/or support Tech. It will take a while for me to quit laughing at your blog. CPJ..building something special…LOL and puke!
Big Ten Sleeper
November 24th, 2009
12:07 pm
1st finally
Ph.D. of Pigskinology
November 24th, 2009
12:08 pm
Jackets 45, Bulldogs 28
Gt4ever
November 24th, 2009
12:08 pm
Thanks for the insight Sharecropper, it’s amazing the mentality we have from our youth today…. I couldn’t have said it better! Thanks for your service to our country!
All The Way...To The Bank
November 24th, 2009
12:08 pm
Damon…not as pathetic as your post.
MR
November 24th, 2009
12:08 pm
As a Tech fan I also find this article rather insulting. CPJ is a good coach as is CMR. Tech will have one of those seasons under CPJ. All coaches and teams do. No reason to throw CMR under the bus. With CPJ Tech there will no longer be those long winning streaks for UGA. Both sides will get their wins and both sides will do well in their conferences. MB just loves to stir the post and with the kids out of school he is preaching to the 12 year olds.
Game On
November 24th, 2009
12:08 pm
I was in Germany and at the mercy of the Armed Forces Network deciding which noon game (there were about 8 games and numerous state rivalries) was going to come on at 6 pm Germany time. When the network put on the UGA-GT game, I literally cried being a GT fan. I knew it was going to be good!