I’m thinking PJ sees a real title as bigger than beating UGA
Paul Johnson and Josh Nesbitt can still be champions. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
I had this conversation with a Georgia Tech booster last night: If Paul Johnson had to pick between beating Georgia and winning the 2009 ACC title, which would have chosen?
“As fans, we’d always pick beating Georgia,” the booster said. But that’s from the fan’s perspective, which isn’t the same as a coach’s. And if I had to guess — and I don’t have to guess, but just for grins I will — I’d say PJ would take being the champion of a BCS conference. (Yeah, yeah. Even if it is only the ACC.)
I base this on something PJ said last week about beating Georgia — “Been there, done that” — and on his stated desire to win championships at Tech. “We almost did it last year,” he said, and the Jackets did. They shared first place in the Coastal Division but lost to Virginia Tech on a tiebreaker. And now the moment is here. Beat Clemson in Tampa and the Jackets will play in the Orange Bowl in Year 2 under Paul Johnson. And that’s pretty darn impressive even if they did lose to the hated mutts.
A year ago, I think PJ would have chosen the other course: He needed to beat Georgia to establish credibility among his constituency. And that had to come first lest he run the risk of turning into Chan Gailey. (Who was fired because he couldn’t beat Georgia, fired 51 weeks after he played for the ACC title in Jacksonville.) Having done the deed in Year 1, Johnson has more global goals.
Which is why, I submit, he talked down the rivalry last week. (Indeed, he came tantalizingly close to channeling Reggie Ball and saying of Georgia: “It’s just a game, dog.”) PJ said this flat-out: “I’m going to get Georgia Tech to the point where our program is bigger than one game.”
Georgia fans will crow that the ACC title game now holds no currency, but that’s not true. (The Tech fan’s comeback: “So who are you playing this week?”) Tech was the best team in its conference, which isn’t to be confused with the SEC but isn’t the New York-Penn League, either. And that was the Jackets’ stated goal from spring practice on — win the ACC.
Remember Tech’s rings from last season? They weren’t presented for beating Georgia, although they did bear the famous score. (I’m pretty sure this year’s rings won’t be engraved with “30-24.”) The rings were for tying for the Coastal title. This year GT and PJ don’t have to share a division with anyone. This year they can win the whole conference. And I’m thinking, in this coach’s mind, that was Job 1 all along.
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1,540 comments Add your comment
GATA RUSS
November 30th, 2009
2:15 pm
On one street-best pizza in America, next, best pizza in America, next to it best pizza in town.
GATA be the best in state. Ray goff once opined that. It is the game. No excuse for Goff. To PJ -you ain;t from around here are ya?
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
2:16 pm
It’ll be interesting to see PJ’s spin after the beatdown they get this weekend from Clemson. This one could get ugly quick for the techies. 41 – 13 sounds about right. Kyle Parker, CJ and Co. will take that sorry excuse for a defense to the wood shed. Defensively, Clemson will just follow the same format as UGA.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
2:16 pm
GS
November 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
Glad to see 30-24 hurts so bad. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
2:16 pm
T-MAN – Hilarious stuff….Cops….
Actually, we’re gonna watch the National Championship game in Atl…..
Sid
November 30th, 2009
2:16 pm
I guess CPJ won’t look at the Ga. game film !!! It’s not important enough !!!
Sid
November 30th, 2009
2:17 pm
Shall I go on?
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
2:20 pm
GT GOT BEAT UP BY A TEAM THAT PLAYS DIRTY. HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHA, AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA AND MORE HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA FOREVER AND EVER
Whatever
November 30th, 2009
2:20 pm
Bradley do you do Johnson’s dishes, take out his trash, and wash his car! In your eyes (column) the man can do no wrong. He is Lombardi come back from the dead!
Steel Metal Chair
November 30th, 2009
2:21 pm
Mark: Glad to see you finally show up on the comments to this column.
I generally like you as a columnist (especially when it comes to defending Bobby Cox), but it is clear that you have some ’splaining to do.
Your neck must be very sore from the swivel it’s been on recently in your UGA/GT columns. It is indeed fortunate that sportswriters don’t have to defend their “records” to a fan base, otherwise you would be in the same long line as Weis, Groh and (as you have yourself called for) Willie Martinez. But rather than having to answer to your detractors, you can simply decide to change sides with the wind – - and all in the name of good journalism. The changes in position from your columns just this weekend alone are dizzying: GT in a blow-out//Wow, UGA is good//Aw, GT wouldn’t really have preferred to win this game over a spot in a conference showdown now-tarnished by losses to middling-SEC teams. And, I guess, 7+ pages of blog comments show that your journalistic “efforts” bear fruit.
But, at some point, shouldn’t all this dancing teach you to calm down the hating a bit (or at least practice more consistency) in your CFB columns? Are the vitriolic attacks and pot-stirring against individual coaches or players really worth dirtying your generally good reputation as a columnist (not to mention generating the kind of drivel poured out by less-than-thoughtful fans of both GT and UGA)? If this is good journalism, then I guess college football is now on a par with most broadcast political opinion (rabidly spewed invective intended solely to rabble rouse). Please consider these thoughts before your next piece trashing a local coach/player or calling for their job.
As for this column, I have two thoughts. First, and as others have said, Coach Johnson’s words reek of rationalization and can’t be taken seriously. This game means a great deal to both programs each year in two hugely important ways: (1) keeping the alums happy and their wallets open (I’ve already seen posts here by GT fans saying that they are now seeking to sell their ACC champ. game tickets b/c of the loss) and (2) recruiting (this is the continued lifeblood of both programs and most of those recruits, as we know, are local kids who pay close attention to the UGA/GT game).
Second, call this year’s game what it is: (A) A tough, disappointing loss by a Tech team that has had a fantastic year, but which will — in reality — now only be defined as a smashing success by winning against Clemson and making it to the Orange Bowl (should GT lose to Clemson and in their bowl game, just watch as the long knives come out for GT ass’t coaches and even Johnson); and (B) a terrific win by UGA to use as punctuation to this disappointing year and as a source of inspiration to start prepping for next year (no matter the bowl) and what should be a very good team (if QB can be solved). As an old UGA fan, I’m glad we’ve re-discovered our running game and that all signs for the future are brightening. Still, Techies should feel proud: I’d much prefer being in the Top 10, with a conference championship game and January bowl still to come.
Sorry for the length – - I had a lot to say.
DDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:21 pm
Easy to diminish the importance of something when it doesn’t go your way…does anyone really believe CPJ or the Tech fans would be talking about how inconsequential the UGA-GT game is if Tech had won this year? Give me a break.
Per Bradley’s own comments, it was this very game that was cited as a key reason for firing Gailey, in spite of Tech’s appearance in the ACC title game.
Congrats Tech on a helluva year. I’m just relieved I’ll be able to proudly wear my UGA gear when I’m back in town over the holidays.
Neutral site
November 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
Oh, come on. If you’re ranked #7, 10-1, EVERY game is important, isn’t it? Or at least it should be, so why the rationalizations now? And it’s fine to be proud you’re going to the ACC championship game — it does mean something, no question — but wouldn’t it mean a lot more if the two teams in it hadn’t lost to unranked SEC teams ON THE SAME DAY? That means something, too — and that reality drives Tech fans crazy. Inferiority complex.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
2:22 pm
Hey everyone, help me out. Which game do you think will draw a bigger audience:
The SEC Championship that pits #1 Florida (with Heisman QB Tebow) versus #2 Alabama (with a Heisman hopeful RB). Both teams are undefeated. The winner of this game has won the past three NCs. Or…
The ACC Championship that offers a rematch of #10 tech and not-even-in-the-top-25 Clemson. Both teams have a combined 6 losses. One team, tech, has never even played in a BCS bowl game.
I know it’s tough, but help me out if you will. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Whatever
November 30th, 2009
2:23 pm
According to Bradley, Johnson is the second coming of Lombardi. He wins even when he loses!
willie martinez
November 30th, 2009
2:23 pm
Does this mean that I get to stay?
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
SEC SAYS IT DESERVES A THIRD TEAM IN BCS(ORANGE bOWL), OUT WITH ACC (ASSOCIATION OF CUP CAKES). HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA AND MORE OF HA.
TechCrybaby
November 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
Hey, Tech sucks – Enjoy your 7,000 sq. ft. house. You got silver britches – I got silver.
JIMBOB
November 30th, 2009
2:25 pm
UGA fans are fully aware of the fact that unless they knock Nesbitt out of the game for a while, they had no chance of winning, and even with their year after year of top 10 recruiting classes, they’re lucky to be 1-1 against the new regime at GT.
OldDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
techies….UGA’s female dog for another year….15 of 19 and counting!
Gman
November 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
When was the last time Georgia won a national championship in Football? And Tech? How many does Tech have compared to Georgia?
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
YES, WILLIE MARTINEZ YOU CAN STAY BUT JUST FOR GT(CUP CAKE) GAME. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
EEJacket
November 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
Some condolence offered, I still feel sick to my stomach. Thanks MB.
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
UGA = Lousy school, redneck inbred fans. The trailer parks are rockin’ with the BIG win over Tech. Your school is an embarassment. Your fans are an embarassment. Deal with it.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
JIMBOB
November 30th, 2009
2:25 pm
Riiiiiiiight. Yet another entry for my “tech excuses” file. Thanks. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
Dawgs – how does it feel to be STUPID?
GT VET
November 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
Yes georgia won the game ,but kicked the crap out of GT..LOL..6 points and we got the crap kicked out of us???…if thats the case what did Fla tenn okey st lsu and Ken do to uga..????We were driving for the winning TD and every pup fan in the states butt hole was puckered and you KNOW it LOL..OK YOU WON UGAG,and say all you want about the ACC but we are STILL playing for the Championship,and you AINT PLAYING for crap…If the ACCs so weak pups schedule a few games with them besides GT..we “kicked the CRAP out of 2 SEC schools ” we are 2 and 1 in the sec better winning % the the pups.Yall use to play Clemson but play Ga southern now…whats the problem,Vandy and Kentucky use to schedule wake and duke but got tired of losing to them,SECs supposed top 2 teams have 3 cup cakes out of conference along with the cupcakes in conference,Clemson loses to SC for second time in ten years and they own them huh…I hate that GT lost to Tech but in all honesty Ill take an ACC Championship over beating buttsniffers anyday…ohh btw Ugay fans yall did get 8 votes by the press for your win,that ought to get ya a cup of coffee..BCS polls #10 team ..ohhh yes baby GEORGIA TECH…now talk and run that toothless mouth all ya want buttsniffers but no matter what,you will NOT be ranked higher than GT this year …and probably no time in the near future either…get use to it
OldDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
techies….UGA’s female dog AGAIN…15 of 19 and counting!
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
Dawgs – how does it feel to represent the 49th out of 50 states in academic rating? Yeah, I’m sure you’re really proud of being a moron.
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
UGA – stupid is as stupid does
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
GT GOT BEAT BY UGA THAT STILL SUX, LOUSY SCHOOL, REDNECK INBRED, AND AN EMBARASSMENT. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA AND MORE HAHAHAHAHAHHA, AND MORE HAHAHAHHAHAAHHA FOREVER AND EVER.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
UGA Still Sux – Really original stuff…..lousy school, redneck inbred fans, trailer parks…..
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
UGA = Poor White Trash
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:26 pm
Thank you, Joe Hamilton. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Buzzsaw
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
Sad that it takes Nesbitt getting hurt in the first half and a “no call” on pass interference on the throw to Stephen Hill for UGAG to win the game. Bad coaching lost that ballgame (for the record, I rarely disagree with CPJ). We had 2:30 and 2 time outs to go 60 yards, We had already put up 21 points on the Ga. Defense in the 2nd half and CPJ chooses to go deep three straight plays. And to top it all off BeBe drops a pass for a first down on the UGA 30. Give me a break. You ignorant UGA fans act as if the game was never in question. Why do Tech Alums despise you so much? It’s your arrogance. I was a huge Ga. fan before I went to Tech and graduated. Since then, I have had to put up with UGA fans arrogance and ignorance. Last year UGA had the better team and GT won. This year GT had the better team and UGA wins.
Had Nesbitt not gotten hurt, this would have been a 10 point loss for UGA. Kudos to your running attack. Our Defense sucks. You proved nothing that we didn’t already know. What you did was shut down our O when Nesbitt was not in the game. I will still take 10-2 and a possible Orange Bowl bid as opposed to 7-5 and a trip to the Grand Ole Opry. Honestly, there are 4 teams in the ACC that would play evenly or beat UGA. Miami, VT, Clemson and possibly UNC. Add Tech and a healthy Nesbitt and you have 5. And please don’t say I am whining. I have heard it from UGA fans after every loss. UGA never loses, they just get screwed by the refs. Please!
30-24 GO DAWGS
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
LOL YEAH PAUL YOU KEEP DOWNPLAYING IT. YA’LL KNOW IT WAS DEVASTATING TO HAVE THE WORST TEAM UNDER MARK RICHT COME IN AND RUN THE BALL STRAIGHT DOWN YOUR GULLET FOR FOUR QUARTERS. THE WORST GEORGIA TEAM IS BETTER THAN THE BEST TECH TEAM! HAHAHA
THE THING ABOUT TECH IS, THEY’D RATHER BEAT GEORGIA AND LOSE EVERY OTHER GAME, THAN WIN OUT AND LOSE TO GEORGIA. TO SAY THIS LOSS DIDN’T COUNT OR HURT IS BULLSHIT AND PAUL JOHNSON AND EVERY TECH FAN KNOWS IT! LOL THE EXCUSES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN GNATS!
TAKE THIS ((((((((((((30-24))))))))))) AND SHOVE IT WHERE THE SUN DOESN’T SHINE FOOLS!
TechCrybaby
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
By the way, sincere congratulations to all you UGA fans on a good, smart win. Yes, it was close, and I thought Tech was about to win at the end. But you didn’t win it at the end; you won it a lot earlier, by pounding Tech with Tech’s own game plan!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
Just how many names have you posted under today? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
GT GOT BEAT BY A STUPID TEAM. THEN WHO IS MORE STUPID. HAHAHAHAHAHHA AND MORE HAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA AND MORE HHAHAHHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER.
Eye on a bigger prize????
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
Sounds like another typical whiny excuse for typical wimpy Tech fans!
Enjoy that ACC Consolation game!!!! The two best ACC teams aren’t even on the level with middle of the pack SEC teams!
Do you Techies need a hankie for that crying. Let Bradley lead you all in a big group cry. It’s very therapeutic for you neurotic types!
Atlanta Gator
November 30th, 2009
2:31 pm
GTbill wrote: “Since Georgia won that somehow diminishes an ACC championship for Tech if we win next week. By that logic, Florida was not a legitimate National Champion last year because they lost to Ole Miss. LSU lost two games (Kentucky and Arkansas) the year before and were still National Champs.”
Note that Florida lost to an SEC (the strongest conference) team. Also, LSU lost to two other SEC teams. NEITHER lost to an ACC team (which, if they had, would surely knocked them out of the national picture).
Bottom line… Tech lost to a sub-SEC-standard team to Georgia and Clemson lost to a sub-SEC-standard team in SC. Thus, neither Tech nor Clemson should even be considered for a top 20 finish, much less a mention in Championship conversations.
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:31 pm
UGA = only South Carolina has a worse academic school system than Georgia. Guess where most of the teachers in the state of Georgia graduated? Yep, you guessed it — UGAg. What a bunch of morons.
OldDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:31 pm
You need to know if you didnt already…..midiot, yellow fuzz, ramble, pi## on a dog.and the rest of the nerd herd lunatic fringe have been here since early Sun. morning…they have read every word…they are simply hiding behing new monikers such asGator Bait, etc. to save face…cowards all! But what would you expect from nerdy key board bad azzes?
Dean
November 30th, 2009
2:32 pm
And the usual banter starts back up. I actually think CPJ is correct. Tech has got to get past their fascination with UGA and start thinking a little bigger. That said, you guys thought you were just going to steamroll us and forgot that the game had to be played. It was a good game but Tech lost so don’t try to put a spin on it. I actually will root for Tech in the ACC game because it’s good for the state of Georgia that our universities do well. Beat Clemson, win the Orange Bowl, and learn to put a leash on your most obnoxious fans like ‘m’ and Saint Simons. I have a feeling this series could go back and forth for a while so we better watch how bitter and hatefull we are to one another or nothing good will come of it. Good luck and Go Dawgs!
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:32 pm
Atlanta Gator: agreed SC and UGA are “sub-standard” teams and schools.
30-24 GO DAWGS
November 30th, 2009
2:32 pm
THE ACC TITLE GAME IS SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. RIGHT? OH WAIT…. BOTH TEAMS GOING INTO THE GAME ARE COMING OFF A LOSS TO MID-LEVEL SEC TEAMS. HAHAHA THE ALL CUPCAKE CONFERENCE GOT SPANKED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH SATURDAY! WHAT A JOKE OF A CONFERENCE. THAT TITLE GAME IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE DIV. II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! WAIT, EVEN THAT’S A BIGGER GAME THAN THE ACC TITLE.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
Buzzsaw
November 30th, 2009
2:30 pm
The “no call on Stephen Hill” excuse. Niiiiiice. Hadn’t heard that one yet. Thanks. I’ll add it to my “tech excuses” file. But the “nesbit injury” has been worn out. Get some new material. Thanks.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
UGA Still Sux
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
UGA = Trailer Trash
GT VET
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
corretting error..I hate that GT lost to Ugay….liberal arts school of the south..bunch of Democrate liberal,baby killing ,anti gun idiots that wear RED
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
No one respond to UGA Still Sux. Not worth it.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
GT GOT BEAT UP BY POOR WHITE TRASH. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH, AND MORE HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAH AND MORE HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA AND MORE HAHHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH FOREVER AND EVER.
HBTD
November 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
That was the most pathetic looking #7 team in the country that I’ve seen in 40 years. Are they really playing for the Almost Competative Conference championship? I can’t believe this conference is even considered a BCS conference. What a waste when you could have some legitimate teams playing in what used to be an exciting bowl.