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
BuckheadDog
December 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
It was just a football game… that Georgia won 30-24! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
BuckheadDog
December 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
JB, read the original thread. It is not in Indian or Chinese so get one of the three Americans that go to Tech to translate for you. I DID NOT say THIS year. Idiot! But seriously… settle down. You are really going to stroke out – it was just a football game.
BuckheadDog
December 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
Btw… doe anybody really take http://www.buzzle.com/ seriously? Really?
BuckheadDog
December 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
I have 4 tech grads working for me in my IT department and none of them could tie their own shoes without the help of their mothers. They know computers though. Never had a date.. but they can name every character in every episode of Star Trek. Good guys though. Just not a whole lot of demand for good guys… outside the computer room.
GO DOGS!!!! 30 – 24!!!!!! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
JB
December 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
Buckhead Dog,
Where’s your explanation for the lies you posted? Don’t want to address those do you? All you can do is post bwahaha crap that is completely senseless.
You were busted for ignorance, but that’s pretty common among UGA graduates. And all you got is
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha You realize of course that your stupidity is on display and everyone is laughing at YOU? Now that’s funny.
BuckheadDog
December 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
Gotta go JB. It was fun screwing with you. If you weren’t so pathetic I would have really ragged on you. We UGA people are simply giving back what was given to us for the past 12 months. We are a giving people. Just as you Techies were last year. Fair well. And, I hope you find a real flesh-and-blood girl one day and can retire that plastic one you’ve had in your closet all these years… oh yeah… we know. 30-24… Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
JB
December 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
Buckhead Dog,
“Btw… doe anybody really take http://www.buzzle.com/ seriously? Really?”
It’s YOU that no one takes seriously. What was your degree in Buckhead Dog? Did you even graduate? Can you present any FACTs about your assertions or are you just an ignorant homer? Thought so.
Waiting for you to provide all these top 10 school facts for UGA….
crickets, crickets, crickets
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:01 pm
Buckhead Dog,
You conveniently have to go when you know that you’ve been exposed as a fraud. Your school is a joke and so are you. All you have is a football team and a girl’s gymnastics program. Thanks for exposing your ignorance to the world on these blogs. Now everyone knows what an idiot you are.
It’s ok to go away though. Good riddance little puppy.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
Buckhead Dog
waiting for all those facts
crickets, crickets, crickets
Patrick
December 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
BuckheadDog
December 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
“And, I hope you find a real flesh-and-blood girl one day and can retire that plastic one you’ve had in your closet all these years… oh yeah… we know.”
————–
Now THAT was funny. LOL
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
Buckhead Dog,
After all the lies you just spewed do you really think ANYONE is going to believe that you have Tech alumni working for you? What an idiot. I know it’s easy to make up $hit on a blog, but you’re pathetic. Your credibility is zero Buckhead Dog.
Still waiting… crickets, crickets, crickets
ATLshirt.COM
December 1st, 2009
5:06 pm
Look. Ealy just ran for another 45 yards!
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:10 pm
Patrick aka Buckhead Dog,
For what it’s worth I’m married a UGA alumnus who also got her Masters at Agnes Scott. She never makes the mistake of comparing Tech and Georgia academically because she actually went to UGA. So, I suppose that you’re only trying to insult one of your own. At least my wife is smart enough to know the truth instead of coming on an anonymous blog to make up stuff just to talk smack. What morons!
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:11 pm
ATLshirt.com
Hey T-shirt boy, let us know when you get a real job. LMAO
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:12 pm
That’s “I married” above for the few UGA fans that can actually spell. From the posts above none of the ones on here know how to.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
ATLshirt.com
What degree did you get at UGA to sell T-Shirts??? Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha
ATLshirt.COM
December 1st, 2009
5:13 pm
You need a job? We are hiring. Can’t say that for the engineering profession right now. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
30-24. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:15 pm
ATLshirt.com
You know that no self-respecting Tech fan would buy any shirts from a Dawg don’t you? And how are you going to compete with all of the Walmart Dawg shirts that just won’t sell this year?? I guess you’ll be on the street soon after your online store goes under. Poor puppy.
Patrick
December 1st, 2009
5:16 pm
What happened to The Grinch? He posts were the funniest of all.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:18 pm
I bet that minimum wage job is just what you were looking for as a Dawg grad. And don’t tell me that you own the store, because what would any bright business owner be doing on a blog??? No one is going to believe that. Next you’ll be telling us that your T-Shirt stand is the biggest in Atlanta, or Georgia, or “top 10 in the country” like Buckhead Dog. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
You guys are so obviusly stupid it’s hilarious. Really.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:20 pm
Patrick
“What happened to The Grinch? He posts were the funniest of all”
Did you just say “He posts were”? Now THAT’S funny!!!
Next you’ll be saying “I guess they aint teached me no book learnin’ in Athens!”
You idiots are too funny!!!
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:22 pm
ATLshirt.COM
Tech Topics reports that the placement rate for Tech graduates in June of this year was greater than 99%. I don’t think that Tech alums are hurting for jobs. I don’t know what the placement rate is at UGAg but they’re probably afraid to reveal it in these economic times.
Once again, you UGAg graduates are absolutely stupid on this blog.
ATLshirt.COM
December 1st, 2009
5:22 pm
We’re doing just fine JB. But thanks for caring. I’d love to compare tax returns with you sometime. I don’t get a salary. I do pay many though.
Patrick
December 1st, 2009
5:24 pm
I meant HIS POSTS. Just like you meant “I Married” instead of I’M MARRIED.
Patrick
December 1st, 2009
5:26 pm
Hey, The Grinch? This place is no fun without you.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:27 pm
ATLshirt.com
You don’t actually think ANYONE will believe you, do you? I know I wouldn’t. You don’t want to compare tax returns with me buddy. I do actually believe that that you don’t get a salary. As a nonexempt employee you don’t receive a salary. Didn’t they teach you anything at UGA? Just sayin.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:30 pm
Patrick,
That UGA education starting to show and it’s no fun anymore? I suppose when your stupidity is on display and you don’t have Saint Simons (aka The Grinch) to fill up the blogs so no one reads your crap that you feel secure. Thanks for the entertainment Patrick, you’re pathetically funny along with your T-shirt peddler friend. Buckhead Dog already went home with his tail between his legs.
Patrick
December 1st, 2009
5:31 pm
And, in case it matters JD. I went to Georgia State – undergraduate and then Emory Med. I am a P.A. at Northside. Not a Bulldog. Although I do wish I could have gone there my first 4 years. I have friends who went there and loved it. I hated Georgia State. But, we finally get a football team next year. That ought to be rich.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:44 pm
Patrick,
I’m glad that you went to Georgia State. That is a fine school although my friends that went there said they were most disappointed about not having a real campus. It’s hard to have a true campus in one of the largest cities in the nation, so I completely understand. If you went to Emory you received a fine education also.
Regarding football, you have one classy head coach and there are a lot of GSU alumni that are ready to support their own team in this football crazy state. Best of luck to you, but please don’t get caught up in this UGA crap slinging fest by posters like The Grinch, who although he might be ridiculously funny in some twisted way, in the end he is just ridiculous.
JB
December 1st, 2009
5:46 pm
Kudos to you Patrick. Good luck with the new GSU football program. You’ll have something to be proud of soon enough.
Parker
December 1st, 2009
5:50 pm
well were still 10-2 and yall are still 7-5
Patrick
December 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
Thanks for the kudos, JD. I read Bradley’s article and then started reading the posts and The Grinch just made me laugh. I actually have as many friends who went to Tech as Georgia. Good luck to you too. I’m going to dinner. It appears that the the funny stuff has dried up in this blog.
WHY DO MUTTS BARK?CAUSE BUMBLE BEES STING
December 1st, 2009
7:38 pm
THAT IS THE MOST TRUEST STATEMENT I’VE HEARD ALL DAY,THE DEVIL WEARS RED AND BLACK,AND HOW FITTING THOSE ARE THE COLORS OF THE MUTTS! WHO ARE THE MUTTS PLAYING THIS WEEK? NOBODY,YOU HICKS JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH THE BUMBLE BEES BEAT KLIMPSON THIS WEEK,AND GO TO A BCS BOWL,WHILE THE MUTTS GO TO THE PIZZA HUT BOWL!
P.S.GOT TITLES LATELY MUTTS 1980
WHILE WE HAVE 1917 1948 1952 AND 1990 FOR THE BUMBLE BEES HAVE A NICE NITE!
WHY DO MUTTS BARK?CAUSE BUMBLE BEES STING
December 1st, 2009
7:42 pm
MOST OF YOU HICKS DIDNT EVEN GO TO UGAY,BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY YOU DUMB HICKS DONT KNOW HOW TO SPELL ON YOUR BLOGS!
justanotherGAfan
December 2nd, 2009
5:28 pm
Even though I am a loyal Ga fan, I believe in division 1 football that any team can beat any team on ANY given day. Even though it felt GREAT to beat Tech, it could have just as easily gone the other way. It just depended on who decided to show up that day. I will say this in Tech’s defense: they have come too far in their season to let one game against Ga determine the quality of their team. A championship would reflect their entire season as a whole and how hard they worked, so I can see why the ACC title would mean a hell of a lot more than one win against Ga—just saying
Big Bob
December 2nd, 2009
10:07 pm
I’m thinking Paul Johnson may see a title, but never win one. He has to accept the consolation prize for 2nd place in the State of
Georgia.
Big Bob
December 2nd, 2009
10:10 pm
How does it feel to have a conference championship between 2 losers to SEC teams? (((30-24))) I RUN THIS STATE
al77lan
December 3rd, 2009
2:35 pm
Just goes to show it is better to be 7-5 in the SEC than 10-2 in the ACC…. Winning the ACC championship is kinda like being named “Chef of the Year” at… say… McDonalds!
JB
December 3rd, 2009
6:38 pm
al77lan
“Winning the ACC championship is kinda like being named “Chef of the Year” at… say… McDonalds!”
Did someboday say McDonald’s? We understand your analogy perfectly. And, of course, a Dawg would be intimately familiar with McDonald’s, their so-called chefs, and other matters relating to fast food delivery. Everyone knows that there are thousands of Dawg alums faithfully preparing our Big Macs and working the fryer to get those perfect morsels of potatoes for us every day. Keep up the good work al77lan, and keep those fries coming!
JB
December 3rd, 2009
6:40 pm
Big Bob,
You appear to be suffering from developmental expressive writing disorder. You know there is help out there for you, right? Best of luck finding something actually intelligent to say in the future.