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
steve 79
November 30th, 2009
7:38 am
Bradley-Why do you need to help CPJ rationalize the GA. game? It WAS a
big game, Tech DID lose and I guarantee you it DOES hurt Jacket fans to
lose to the DAWGS. Also to ST. Simons, remember, the words you type today may be the words you have to eat tomorrow. Pass the salt!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
7:38 am
To Decade of Dominance
Actually, it will be pay per view. And if you act in the next 30 minutes you will receive a free Sham Wow. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Doogie Howser
November 30th, 2009
7:39 am
WTFyousay – your comments are hilarious. Posting 3 times within 5 minutes apart with anti SEC & UGA comments just lets us all know how much GT’s loss means to you. “Florida and Alabama strike fear in the hears of no one”, hahahah! Do you honestly think any ACC team at this point will get any respect during bowl season? I heard the Orange Bowl committee isnt even going to waste the money to print tickets, they know no one is coming.
bamafan
November 30th, 2009
7:40 am
Where are you M? Inquiring minds want to know. You were totally correct about the SEC having a down year. You told this over and over, and you were right. However, what does that say for the ACC? The two ACC division winners lost to the #3 and #4 teams in the SEC east (generally considered weaker than the SEC west this year overall). Are you still going to post your usual trash about how the ACC is better that the SEC?
Scrap
November 30th, 2009
7:42 am
The loss puts a terrible blemish on what ever championships we finish with this year. UGA is a terrific program and I truly hope they always will be. This only goes to show that this gloried rivalry is as big as the institutions themselves. Things will return to the point that records don’t really matter, this game can and will make or break either team’s season. Yes, TECH will beat their number 2 rival this Saturday, and yes, TECH will be ACC champion, and probably Orange bowl champion. BUT, we won’t be state champion. The great this rivalry, we will likely get the chance to return the favor one day soon. GO JACKETS, BEAT CLEMSON.
Cosmo
November 30th, 2009
7:42 am
Just go win the rest of the games and we can discuss this painful loss with CPJ later. Congrats to the bulldogs for outplaying us and winning the game. I’m sure they wonder what could have been against Kentucky, Oklahoma State, etc. if they could have put forth an effort like they did in Atlanta. GOOOOO Jackets! Sting dem Tigers!
Big Al
November 30th, 2009
7:42 am
How can Tech be excited about playing in the ACC championship game. Tech lost to Georgia and Clemson lost to South Carolina. The TWO TOP TEAMS IN THE ACC lost to middle of the pack SEC teams the week before playing for the ACC championships. What an uninspiring conference and what a worthless title.
Sautee Dawg
November 30th, 2009
7:43 am
There goes Roddy White. Hold on that was Washuan Ealey.
Required Reading | Hard Knox Sports
November 30th, 2009
7:43 am
[...] Paul Johnson looking at bigger picture. [AJC] [...]
winderdawg
November 30th, 2009
7:44 am
Wow! How the worm has turned we go from the GT owning the state and the downfall of the “UGA” program to it really was not that big of a game?
The Tech program has grown since the arrival of CPJ that it can beat UGA every 4-5 years. The Tech/UGA game over the last decade has always been close with the Dawgs making the plays at the end to win.
UGA was down this year because of losses on the offensive side of the ball and poor defensive coaching. I really liked CMR personality last Saturday night – you get a personal foul penalty you sit!
The state of the UGA program is fine with talent coming and talent a;ready present. We do need to make a change at defensive coach and CMR needs to be more involved on the offense play calling.
UGA will compete for the east title next year and will have chance to defeat the BUGS once again!
Clemson in the Orange, GT in ??? and the Dawgs will take the best non new years day bowl CF Bowl.
GO DAWGS
Jackets2009
November 30th, 2009
7:44 am
Steve, Georgia fans are mocking the brat named Saint Simons from the past year who pestered them and us with his childish posting of scores and poor sportsmanship.
I would have licked him blocked and many Tech fans dished him too but now we are stuck, if we read these blogs, with the folks he angered.
MASSDAWG
November 30th, 2009
7:44 am
Hey Mark,
If PJ didn’t think it was as important, then why did he put the score on the rings last year? He had two weeks to prepare for UGA and still got out coached. We must give the entire coaching staff their kudo’s…they did an excellent job. Especially, the office staff…Bobo and Searles had an awesome plan and the OL dominated the entire game!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!
Sautee Dawg
November 30th, 2009
7:45 am
Mark????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Your predictions last week sux.
Ted Striker
November 30th, 2009
7:45 am
If Paul Johnson — who had an extra week of practice — hadn’t been out-coached on Saturday by Willie Martinez and Mike Bobo, he might not have to choose. I say “might not” because he could be out-coached again, this time by Dabo Swinney.
If that happens, Tech players will be down to their 3rd favorite choice in ring design, cOAsTaL DiViSiOn chUMpz
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
7:47 am
I must admit that the “bigger picture” excuse for losing is somewhat a surprise and, I might add, a bit of fresh air. AFter all, I’m used to the “academics” excuse when we beat tech. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Jon
November 30th, 2009
7:48 am
Beating a SEC team goes further than beating any cupcake in the ACC in the minds of the BCS voters. Winning the ACC title does more for PJ pocket book incentive laden contract than in the eyes of real football fans. PJ knows the GT job is a intern position for a better coaching job, and his goal is to insist on trying to find the path of least resistence for a backdoor pass into a BCS bowl, because it helps his position.
JP
November 30th, 2009
7:48 am
It’s funny how unimportant the Georgia game becomes to Tech fans when Tech loses. Last year it was the greatest thing to happen to Tech in many years, and this year it is just another game.
SWGADAWG
November 30th, 2009
7:49 am
I would look to the title first also. It’s much easier to achieve! Losers look for excuses……step mright up up Mr. PJ.
Dawgonit
November 30th, 2009
7:50 am
It (the Georgia game) means enought that you have rings made with the score on it when you win. It doesn’t mean much when you lose.
SWGADAWG
November 30th, 2009
7:50 am
Oh yeah….didn’t they get a ring for beating UGA last year??? Will PJ take it away this year because it’s no longer “that important”????
TROTTINGHOME
November 30th, 2009
7:51 am
gROHL got fired just now because he couldn’t beat his in-state rival…or anybody else for that matter.
Mike
November 30th, 2009
7:51 am
Dear Mark:
postpone the coronation of Tech(and the canonization of Paul Johnson)
and understand this: in the final analysis, Tech will always be Tech, and Georgia will always be Georgia. As a Tech fan said to us on the
way out of the stadium, “samo-samo”. They know, Mark, even if you
don’t.
mike
ParrisIsland Dawg
November 30th, 2009
7:51 am
If I remember correctly Tech had trouble with dive vs Clemson as well. Two special teams TD’s were the difference. Bottom Line: if tech can’t make Clemson LB’s respect the dive, they won’t win. Clemson has better DE’s than us.
MC
November 30th, 2009
7:53 am
Scrap, you actually think GT can win the Orange Bowl against Cincinnati or TCU after watching the UGA game. And God help you if by some twist of fate you had to play the SEC runner up. It might be better if you lose to Clemson and spare yourself the annual bowl beatdown that has become tradition at Tech. At least minimize that possibility by getting a game you could possibly win.
Big time?? Not
November 30th, 2009
7:54 am
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes……..lunch money please
Jackets2009
November 30th, 2009
7:54 am
Just for the record, I didn’t like the rings – lead to the flat game vs LSU – nor have I ever liked tearing up the hedges for souvenirs. So though I did not like the Georgia players with gold terf, do to them and you’ll get it back.
And I knew Paul blew the Wake game and was saved by his team. In the replay when Nesbitt was sacked on 4th down, the camera caught a worried Paul Johnson.
Morgan’s sack saved him.
It might have been better to lose that game so maybe the coches would have to think a little.
We need a short pass game.
The 4th down play should have been called earlier.
Maretta
November 30th, 2009
7:55 am
PJ IS SAYING THAT BECAUSE HE’S NEVER BEATEN GEORGIA. THE GEORGIA PLAYERS ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR WINNING DESPITE THEIR THIRD-RATE COACHES. IT’S NO CONSOLATION FOR THOSE PATHETIC COACHES THAT THEY BEAT GEORGIA TECH; THEY CAN BE EXPECTED TO DO THAT AS LONG AS PJ IS THERE — PJ CAN’T RISE TO THAT TASK.
MC
November 30th, 2009
7:56 am
Jon you have the guy figured out. Paul Johnson is all about Paul.
SuperB
November 30th, 2009
7:56 am
Mark Bradley is such a dickhead. Tell me great writer: When do ‘genuine’ good teams start picking between two wins. As one of the closing lines in “Comin’ to America,” Coleman’s girlfriend said, “Can’t we have both?” As a writer, Bradley will always be at the ACC level, never at the SEC level.
All I'm Saying Is...
November 30th, 2009
7:58 am
This crap about winning a title outranking beating Georgia is absolute baloney. Dawgonit said it best: “It (the Georgia game) means enough that you have rings made with the score on it when you win. It doesn’t mean much when you lose.” Actions speak louder than words, Bradley, so we know the truth.
Also, Bradley: the ACC is an absolute joke: the two teams playing for the ACC Championship lost to SEC also-rans. And I’m not talking about losing to SEC also-rans early in the season as they each lost their most recent game, and an in-state rivalry game at that. This year the ACC Champion should be forced to give up their automatic BCS berth and become an at large team that MIGHT get picked for a BCS bowl.
Either way, I guess Saint Simons won’t be posting the score of this most recent UGA/G-Tech game for the next 11 1/2 months.
LizDawg
November 30th, 2009
7:58 am
30-24 – TURNT up all the way! As Washaun and Caleb said en route to their 339 yd rushing performance – WE RUN THIS STATE!
How conveeeeeenient
November 30th, 2009
7:59 am
Just another non-conference loss? 100% rationalization.
Jackets2009
November 30th, 2009
7:59 am
I am wondering this week whether Tech’s coaches will figure out how the Gamecoacks managed to stop plays with both Ford and Spiller as WRs. It’s called pass rush.
We better have one or the secondary will be torched as usual.
InsectInside
November 30th, 2009
8:01 am
It is so funny to see these band-wagoning, out-of-the-woodwork UGA “fans” crash the boards with their ignorant drivel. They ALL believed they would lose on Tech’s last drive. Get your popcorn out. You can watch on TV next Saturday. Barely upsetting the “nobody” team from the nowhere ACC shouldn’t be something you brag to the kids about.
Maretta .. are you smoking crack
November 30th, 2009
8:02 am
uhhh… I think PJ was the coach last year in Athens… just in case you are unaware… Tech did win that game.. hence, PJ HAS beaten Georgia
deMARYius"oops"Thomas
November 30th, 2009
8:02 am
So one victory over UGA is enough{been there done that mentality}
Makes sense if you only have one
The ACC Champ Game is more important
November 30th, 2009
8:06 am
than beating Georgia… always will be.. UGA is not ranked… UGA will be watching football this weekend, not playing… UGA will not play in a BCS Bowl… Tech is ranked, Tech will play this weekend, and has a chance to play in a BCS Bowl… I would take that ANY DAY as opposed to being 7-5 and beating Georgia…. Tech’s program is on the rise, everyone knows that… Georgia outplayed Tech Saturday night, they deserved the win, but I like Tech’s prospects….
dobearsbare
November 30th, 2009
8:08 am
They had rings made for tying for the Coastal? Riiiight. Will they have Coastal rings made this year if they lose to Clempson? If they don’t then the bigger picture argument crumbles.
Dawg Fan 4 Life
November 30th, 2009
8:08 am
MB, how did that big plate of Crow taste? Ask Schultz while you’re at it. Let the back-peddling begin to CYA. Weak!
ugarc
November 30th, 2009
8:09 am
Mark- is your wife altogether comfortable with the searing man-crush you seem to have on Paul Johnson? She probably oughtn’t be.
dwf
November 30th, 2009
8:10 am
Mark,
I know you’ve always been a front-runner, but this is getting a little bit ridiculous. Instead of making excuses for the great CPJ, how about calling him to task for his boneheaded play calling down the stretch? How about questioning what this offense will do when it loses Josh Nesbit, a guy tailor made to run the triple option? How about a mention of how order has been restored in our great state?
Rodster
November 30th, 2009
8:10 am
You bet Tech fans. Console yourselves with that drivel. Be secure in the knowledge that the two best teams in the ACC got housed by two middle tier SEC teams coming into the their championship game.
Our Turn
November 30th, 2009
8:11 am
30-24
You can win the ACC Championship and play in the Orangle bowl, but your still the second best team in the state.
Reality
November 30th, 2009
8:12 am
Winning 8 out of 9 is no fluke, however 1 out of 9 is definitely a fluke! Now you termites can go chew on that for awhile.
Enjoy your ACC Championship game aka the Consolation Bowl.
Bone
November 30th, 2009
8:12 am
A rivalry game in this state is bigger than some conference game in one sense…recruiting. Good ol’ fashion hate will push a kid from one college to another, not a conference game. Was the same thing said when UGA was playing for the SEC title? Yes, because they beat Tech.
This whole college game is all about money…where it comes from and when is the next payday. The only true spirit of the game is from a rivalry, like UGA/Tech. Call it what you will, but to keep kids from jumping to another school, especially out of state, we need this game to live up to the hype.
BTW, Saint Slim-mon….(((((((((((((((((( 30-24 ))))))))))))))))))))
F-105 Thunderchief
November 30th, 2009
8:14 am
If Paul Johnson hadn’t turned into June Jones for a minute, I’m thinking Tech would’ve beaten Georgia. As a Ga. Southern and Paul Johnson fan, who grew up a Dawg fan, I was glad to see UGA play some ol’-time Georgia power football and avoid a .500 regular season.
Jackets2009
November 30th, 2009
8:14 am
The plate of crow does not taste good Georgia fans but the punks who deserve it most aren’t here.
The unanswered question is with a new quarterback, why did Georgia wait until the last regular season game to discover power football again.
A number of the 5 loses would have been wins.
Dawgrulz
November 30th, 2009
8:14 am
Revisionist history from yellow jackets fans, Mark Bradley and the other columnist who have been sucking up to CPJ all year. Sure, now that UGA ruined GT’s season the bigger goals do not include beating UGA. If they can not beat UGA in the worst season in 15 years what does that mean for the future? There is an old sheriff in town and his name is CMR. Those running backs and all offensive line will be back next year so you better spend the next year studying for the beatdown you will get next year.
Dawg Fan 4 Life
November 30th, 2009
8:15 am
Insectinside, deal with it! We had to deal with you nerds crashing UGA blogs for the past year because GT won 1 freaking game in 8 years. And please don’t speak for UGA fans when you don’t have a clue. BTW, no one in America will be watching come Saturday. What a pathetic excuse for a championship game! 30-24!!!!!!!!
Jon
November 30th, 2009
8:16 am
With last year win out of the previous 9 years, GT’s dominence over Georgia has now propeled them into a national powerhouse. So much so that the Georgia game is simply a tune-up for the vaulted ACC Championship game. We should be so honored GT took time out of their busy season to give us a moral victory, and we will try to be gracious host to them in Athens next year.