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
Sonny Clusters
November 30th, 2009
9:59 am
Schools that have cows and chickens on campus have a leg-up on the Chik-fil-a Bowl. We was fond of that bowl when we was planning to go to Clemson. We was sure we’d get to play there. No matter, you get to play in the Dome and that’s special when the little cows get turned loose and they’s coming from everywhere and you’re trying to catch ‘em.
GreggJ
November 30th, 2009
10:00 am
Who cares dude!!!! GA gets bragging rights for the state this year!! Its all we had left to play for and WE came through GO DAWGS!
Atticus Finch
November 30th, 2009
10:01 am
Mark — This is becoming a running joke. We are watching a journalistic career unravel before our very eyes. Did you lose a bet with Dan Radacovich or Paul Johnson? Do they have your child hidden in a well somewhere as ransom? I keep thinking, this is the day where Bradley does a mea culpa after 12 months of CPJ groveling and genuflection, but you continue to out do yourself. You have become a caricature.
Pray tell, why does it have to be either or? Help us with your logic here. If CPJ is such a bad a– then why can he not win his conference and beat a bad Georgia team (you know that team that couldn’t beat Kentucky)? Why does he get special dispensation for having to do what most great or even good coaches can accomplish, which is win their conference sub-division and beat a just over .500 team whose program is disarray (as told to us by you and Schultz)? If Georgia were ranked in the top 10, with 10-1 record going into the game and got beat at Sanford Stadium — would you be writing this article today on Richt’s behalf? Would you? Hmmm….no, didn’t think so.
Whatever dude. Make yourself feel better about your year long emotional investment in Paul Johnson and the Maggots can medicate on your ridiculous assertions. However, you really have become a running joke, just so you know.
calvin
November 30th, 2009
10:02 am
Why was it so hard for Tech to stop any team this season,
and may not be able to stop Clemson? Would it have been
different if Cooper Taylor had not been lost for the season?
He’s just one player, but would he have made the difference
against Georgia? He was the hero of the Florida State game
last year, we all know.
Atticus Finch
November 30th, 2009
10:05 am
Mark — This is becoming a running joke. We are watching a journalistic career unravel before our very eyes. Did you lose a bet with Dan Radacovich or Paul Johnson? Do they have your child hidden in a well somewhere as ransom? I keep thinking, this is the day where Bradley does a mea culpa after 12 months of CPJ groveling and genuflection, but you continue to out do yourself. You have become a caricature.
Pray tell, why does it have to be either or? Help us with your logic here. If CPJ is such a bad a– then why can he not win his conference and beat a bad Georgia team (you know that team that couldn’t beat Kentucky)? Why does he get special dispensation for having to do what most great or even good coaches can accomplish, which is win their conference sub-division and beat a just over .500 team whose program is disarray (as told to us by you and Schultz)? If Georgia were ranked in the top 10, with 10-1 record going into the game and got beat at Sanford Stadium — would you be writing this article today on Richt’s behalf? Would you? Hmm….no, I didn’t think you would.
Whatever dude. Make yourself feel better about your year long emotional investment in Paul Johnson and the Maggots can medicate on your ridiculous assertions. However, you really have become a running joke, just so you know.
Art Vandalay
November 30th, 2009
10:07 am
Paul Johnson has the right idea. The problem with UGA has been the philosophy coming down from the coaches. They down play having a goal of being the best team in the country so much that there is ZERO intensity. I have heard Mark Richt say our only goal is to get to the SEC Championship game, do you think that is Urban Meyer’s only goal, or Nick Saban’s only goal? Georgia Tech is closer to UF and Bama just by virtue of their coaches outlook on things.
If Florida lost a game or Bama lost a game they still have the ultimate goal of being National Champion so they move on and prepare for the next one, UGA however is not bigger than one game they have a narrow outlook and lack the vision from the top of having a larger goal outside of their rivalries or their conference. Bottom line is UGA fans can gloat here and that’s all they want, but if GT wins out the college football world will recognize them. The world remembers who won the Orange Bowl, not who beat that team in November.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:08 am
tech fan
November 30th, 2009
9:56 am
Ahem…..is this thing on? Um, 30-24. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
JB
November 30th, 2009
10:08 am
Glad we won, but good luck Tech this Saturday……I’m still born and raised in Georgia..
Just Sayin'
November 30th, 2009
10:09 am
It was still a loss. Plain and simple. Congrats to the dawgs for their victory. Let’s hope we’re ready to battle those soaring Clemson Tigers now. Go Tech!
By the way, thank you UGA for putting a stop to that Saint Simons nonsense. Just don’t resort to the same thing. Best of luck in your bowl game.
calvin
November 30th, 2009
10:09 am
What caused that hole that the Georgia player ran through
on their first play of the second half, for a touchdown?
I could have run through that hole, and Im a non-athletic
nerd. Could better coaching have prevented that from
happening. I don’t know.
Bill. B
November 30th, 2009
10:10 am
“Tech’s great season? Based on the latest BCS standings, the highest rated team tech played all year long was #17 Miami, and tech got creamed.” -Grinch
Ah, Grinch, I think GT played Virginia Tech which is now ranked 12th in the BCS Poll and 11th in all the polls.
mike on lake hartwell
November 30th, 2009
10:13 am
UGA
state of south carolina champs
state of georgia champs
and the real ACC CHAMPS
moneyman
November 30th, 2009
10:13 am
Orange Bowl $17 million — Chick-Fil-A Bowl $3 million
whatever
November 30th, 2009
10:14 am
bill, u still suck
TechCrybaby
November 30th, 2009
10:14 am
Right, as usual, Mark. Coach Johnson has told the team that they “haven’t done anything yet.” When he said that, he was clearly
focussed on winning the Coastal Division, the ACC championship, and a big bowl.
Meanwhile, UGA has not re-established its dominance in the Tech-Georgia series. Next year in Athens will be a battle.
Too bad our game-winning drive at the end, narrowly failed. The final score should have been 31-30, Tech. But last-minute game-winners succeed or fail every week in college football.
calvin
November 30th, 2009
10:16 am
If Tech could just make a game of it with Clemson,
at least there would be something to enjoy watching.
With LSU last year, and Miami and Georgia this year,
it was like Tech was crawling through glue, hardly
able to play.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 30th, 2009
10:16 am
UGA didn’t win the game, the victory was a gift from CPJ because ya’ll had such a crappy year.
Gt4ever
November 30th, 2009
10:17 am
Jackets2009
The reason SC stopped Clemson is that they have a DEFENSE! GT does not have a DEFENSE! We will find a way to make it a close game for the ACCCG…. We have had NO defense for two years running. Someone please hire a DC!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:17 am
Bill. B
November 30th, 2009
10:10 am
Oversight on my part. But a closer look reveals:
UGA played #1, #10, #13, and #20 out of the top 20.
tech played #12 and #17.
Still a weak schedule, but congrats on your best season in the past 9 years. A season in which you still lost to UGA, which endured its WORST season in the past 9 years.
Reggie Ball Sack
November 30th, 2009
10:18 am
The Dawgs were able to run the ball like they did because of the team they were playing. This same offensive gameplan would not have worked versus teams with a decent defense (any SEC team). But hopefully we will make more of an effort next year to stick to the run while we break in a Redshirt QB. Lord knows we are going to need it to take the pressure off.
NERDS!!!!!!!!
TechCrybaby
November 30th, 2009
10:19 am
All glory to ole Georgia, which came out ahead of a supposedly better offense. Their bigger offensive front just beat up our smaller defensive players, and opened the lanes. We’ve got to recruit a defense, and Paul Johnson knows it. Enjoy your win, UGA fans. It may be a long time coming again.
spence
November 30th, 2009
10:19 am
SCENE: Grant Field, shortly after the game. An ANNOUNCER, mic in hand, walks up to JOE COX, CALEB KING and WASHAUN EALEY.
ANNOUNCER: Joe Cox! You’ve just beaten #7 Georgia Tech! What are you going to do now?
COX, KING & EALEY: We’re going to St. Simons!!!
Bill. B
November 30th, 2009
10:20 am
“Still a weak schedule, but congrats on your best season in the past 9 years. A season in which you still lost to UGA, which endured its WORST season in the past 9 years.”
Grinch, I’m not even remotely a GT fan and yes, the ACC is definitely the weak sister to the SEC.
Floyd
November 30th, 2009
10:20 am
PJ’s argument that the Georgia game doesn’t mean much would have a lot more merit had Tech not gone out and made State Championship rings after last year’s win. Just sayin’.
DScottGT91
November 30th, 2009
10:20 am
As a GT fan for the last 25 years, one positive thing that I hope will come out of Saturday’s debacle is a slow-down in the deification (a helping hand for the UGA folks – http://www.thefreedictionary.com/deification) of CPJ. As a south Georgia native, I saw first-hand the job Paul Johnson did at Georgia Southern. I think he is a fine coach and (from talks with people who know him personally) a fine man. But he is still just a football coach; a middle-aged coach who has never won at the highest levels of FBS collegiate football. Let’s stop panicking about the fact that he might leave, and discontinue the practice of giving CPJ a raise/contract extension every time his name is mentioned by some idiot sports-talk host in connection with another coaching opportunity.
When I’ve read some of the hyperbole-stuffed comments on these blogs (along with some of the recent AJC postings themselves) recently, I can’t help but wonder if I would have read much the same thing in some of the Chicago area websites a few years ago….. about Charlie Weis. That turned out great, didn’t it?
CPJ will be an effective coach, and he should win many more than he will lose. But please, PLEASE stop advancing the idea that he won’t get his pants wet if he strolls across the SAC swimming pool.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 30th, 2009
10:21 am
GEORGIA TECH ranked #10,GEORGIA just rank.
Tech82
November 30th, 2009
10:21 am
E-Dog – Please cite a source for the quotes you attribute to Paul Johnson. He has NEVER said that beating Georgia last year was bigger than a conference championship or a BCS title. To the contrary, he has consistently told the team that they haven’t accomplished anything UNTIL they win a conference championship and/or a BCS title.
St Simons
November 30th, 2009
10:21 am
If you look at the stats Tech actually won!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:22 am
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 30th, 2009
10:16 am
Riiiiiiight. After all, it IS the season for giving, right?
matt magnus
November 30th, 2009
10:22 am
This year’s victory proves the follwing:
-Tech can beat Georgia 1 out of 10 years.
-90% of the time Georgia’s worst year is better than Tech’s best year.
-Terrence Moore sucks about as bad as Tech Footall.
-There is nothing like 25,000 Tech Dorks leaving their crappy stadium early.
-Paul Johnson and Tech can go play for the ACC Championship along with Clemson, because these 2 teams could not beat SEC schools during bad years. However they are the best that the ACC has to offer.
-The last time Tech was a favorite in the UGA game was 22 years ago.
-I rather watch the Big East Championship than the ACC Championship
-Also do we have to read articles about how Paul Johnson rather win the ACC Championship than beat UGA. The fact is this moron had rings made for their win last year when Tech had not won this game in 7 years. The fact is Paul would have given anything to beat UGA. However he cannot beat UGA consistently. He is a loser just like Tech. He won big at Navy for many years, but nobody would take a chance on him until Tech. The reason for this is because there was nothing to jeopardize except a losing tradition.
Gt4ever
November 30th, 2009
10:23 am
Art Vandalay or whatever your name is???? That’s the biggest CROCK of CRAP I think I’ve ever heard! A REAL GT fan and especially an alum, will tell you every time that you must beat all the 6 and 5 teams you play….. PERIOD. Especially if they are UGA!
VespulaRegina
November 30th, 2009
10:23 am
It doesn’t matter how you look at the status of games if you’re not looking at the status of your performance in games. Tech’s defense is in critical condition and its defensive coach is a blind doctor who graduated from a Caribbean diploma mill. Dave Wommack needs to go now and Johnson needs to recruit defensive players. And a backup for Nesbitt! Jaybo Shaw will never be a quarterback.
dawgfan
November 30th, 2009
10:23 am
Bradley, I’m thinking nobody cares what you have to say about the subject of college football in this state. You and Schultz have made complete butthats of yourselves this year and you have ZERO credibility. Column after column after column on how Tech has overcome Georgia. LOL @ you idiots trying to pretend you know a single solitary thing about college football. I am still laughing at you.
What will Georgia be doing this weekend? We’ll be sitting at home. That’s what 7-5 teams do the first Saturday in December. We know our place. People are about to lose their jobs over this season. Nobody has any illusions that this was a good season. But what Bradley, in all your infinite wisdom, does it say about the state of these two programs that Georgia STILL won the damn game on Saturday? That sounds like a blog topic to me. Of course you don’t want to go there do you?
Good luck in the ACC title game Tech fans . Hopefully you’ll win and make us look good.
tech man
November 30th, 2009
10:24 am
All the ga fans out there listen up please. You lucked out and played Ga Tech on a night when they did not play there best at all and still almost beat you.Every good team don’t get them all. Evem your great sec Florida and Alabama have bad games,but the difference in those teams the great teams can still pulled them off.Ga Tech is not Florida right yet.But a 7 and 5 team can get beat by a team like ketucky and go home crying about it. All I am saying is grow up and take the only thing good that your team has done in o9 beating us by 2 field goals and enjoy your pizza. GO JACKETS
St Simons
November 30th, 2009
10:24 am
We’re just not good enough to play against the SEC but we’re getting a little closer.
The UGALY Truth
November 30th, 2009
10:25 am
2009 Projected Bowl Payouts
Orange Bowl ACC Champ v BCS at large January 5 8 pm FOX $17 million
Chick-fil-A Bowl ACC v SEC December 31 7:30 pm ET ESPN $3.25 million ACC,
2.4 million for SEC
Liberty Bowl C-USA v SEC January 2 5:30 pm ET ESPN $1.7 million
Music City Bowl ACC v SEC December 27 8:15 pm ET ESPN $1.6 million
Independence Bowl SEC v Big 12 December 28 5 pm ET ESPN $1.1 million
PapaJohns.com Bowl SEC v Big East January 2 2 pm ET ESPN $300,000
Now obviously GT still has to win next Saturday for the Orange Bowl (while the Dawg Nation sits at home watching other teams play for Conference Titles and BCS Bowl Bids)…But are there any mutts out there who still think that THIS Sat’s game is LESS important for CPJ and the Jackets than last Sat’s game?
How PATHETIC and DESPERATE we Tech Folk must have looked when Chandler Gailey drove our football program off the cliff…Sure, it would’ve been GREAT to beat UGAY Sat night, but in the grand scheme of things, you guys are just another out of conference SEC game just like Miss St and Vandy. Glad to know you can’t control yourselves after beating GT. Didn’t know we meant that much to you anymore…But clearly it’s understandable coming from fans of a 7-5 team.
Dawg Fans are GIDDY…Just a little over a week after LOSING TO KENTUCKY – Yeah, The Grinch…K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y!!! LOL…
Georgia Tech: BCS Ranking #10 in the country…Playing for a Conference Championship and a COVETED BCS Bowl Berth…Coastal Division Champs…10 Wins, 2 Losses. “Beating UGA” didn’t even SHOW UP on the Tech PLAYERS’ list of goals this year.
UGAY: No Ranking in ANY POLL in the country…Watching other teams play for Conference Championships on a big screen at Hooters…4 games BEHIND the East Division Champs…7 Wins, 5 Losses. Dawg Fans, Coaches and Players are elated by “SAVING their miserable season” with a 6 point win over the better, RANKED team in the state. Again, how pathetic we must have appeared to Dawg Fans during the Gailey Years…
It’s GREAT to be a Yellow Jacket and it has to absolutely SUCK to be a Dawg Fan as YOUR football program goes sailing off a cliff…7-5, Pizza Bowl, KENTUCKY…Just say it outloud now and everything will be OK. I promise…LOL
Gary
November 30th, 2009
10:25 am
Ok, so while we were at the game did anyone else notice that Tech gave away 2 cars!!!… During the game! Does an 10 and 1 ACC team really have to give away cars to get the fans to go to that awful stadium. It just seemed sad. Also, how are you allowed to have that GET LOUD stobe light flashing in the inzone during the play. We were on the opposite side of the field and it is blinding. The NCAA should ban that when the play clock is running. If Tech is too sad to make any real noise, they should not be allowed to pipe it in!.
Lastly, don’t act like this game doesn’t count. That is just sad. Not after everything you all have written for the past year about last years game. No one cares if you beat Clemson again or play in the Orange. You got spanked by the worst Georgia team to walk on that field in 15 years. Your now TODAY bitter rival CLemson just got worked by South Carolina. You had an extra week to prepare. You scheduled that because you wanted this game more than anything. Winning this game is about pride, it is about local recruiting, it means everything… No one. No one. No one cares about the ACC and their sad championship game except the poor sap who has to figure out how to get rid of all the unsold tickets.
This article and your excuses are worse than your performance as a team and a conference on Saturday. This is why you get treated this way. You deserve the redicule. Until your conference can man up and play for something. Beat their out of conference rivals you are a joke. Mr Bradley you are a joke as well. Reading this lets me know the loss stings more than I thought it would for a 10&2 school.
To the Tech players – Don’t mess with the hedges. Players remember that. That may have something to do with the fact that seven of your players got carried off the field.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 30th, 2009
10:26 am
Who is GEORGIA playing this Saturday? Themselves. GO JACKETS!!!!
yard gain
November 30th, 2009
10:26 am
as long as GT plays in th ACC and UGA plays in the SEC, wish the two schools would open the season with each other at the GA Dome and then go from there. GT could end it with Clempson and UGA could play SC last.
Clay
November 30th, 2009
10:27 am
Tech does not get worked up over a loss to Georgia because that’s a loss they pencil in every year. Last year was the fluke game they get to win and now it’s back to normal.
UGA won 7 in a row–and then Tech sneaks out of Athens with a 3 point win after a high scoring shootout and then they think they will win every year. UGA has won 8 of the last 9 and–if I’m not mistaken–33 of the last 45. Except for the 3 year streak a while back and the 8 year streak several decades ago, UGA wins this game year in and year out. CPJ acts like he doesn’t care about losing to UGA because he knows losing to UGA is one of Tech’s finest traditions.
By the way, when do the signs change to “Historic Mark Richt Field” at Tech? I want to make sure I’m there for the unveiling!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:28 am
St Simons
November 30th, 2009
10:21 am
And just how is that?
GT FAN ALL THE WAY
November 30th, 2009
10:28 am
Totally agree Mark! However, it is funny this year Georgia HAD to win this game to justify their season. Tech did not need this win, we will justify our season Saturday.
Also, GEORGIA FANS it is not like it was a blowout. After all, we were moving the ball with chance to win the game with little time left. Bebe makes that catch 99 out of 100 times.
Hope you MUTTS enjoy your non-important bowl game
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:29 am
GT FAN ALL THE WAY
November 30th, 2009
10:28 am
We’ll actually enjoy our rings. 30-24, glad it still hurts.
St Simons
November 30th, 2009
10:29 am
We’re just not good enough to play against the SEC but we’re getting a little close. I still like our coach Phil Johnson and hope he stays. Go Tech!
Shankit
November 30th, 2009
10:31 am
Sonny Clusters
You is right about the Chick Filet Bowl and all them
cow posters.
Question:
How is they going to get that cow to parachute into
the stadium with a closed roof?
Joe M
November 30th, 2009
10:32 am
Funny how all of a sudden the Georgia game isn’t as important for Tech folks and the AJC folks.
Good Lord, just two weeks ago you, Jeff, Tony, and the great minds from “790 the Zone” had Paul Johnson sitting at the right hand of the Father. Tech was well on its way to establishing new dominance over Georgia; the program and the state.
My, my how things change so quickly.
BTW, will Tech put this year’s score on their rings? Probably not, cause its not important right, or maybe because they lost.
You and this whole AJC staff are full of crap. Ya’ll are so hungry for Tech to matter that you continue to over-hype their success and justify their failures.
GT FAN ALL THE WAY
November 30th, 2009
10:33 am
The Grinch – It doesn’t hurt as bad you Georgia fans want it to hurt, we are playing for loftier goals than going to Shreveport like ya’ll are.
St Simons
November 30th, 2009
10:33 am
I bet we might beat yall next year.
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:33 am
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 30th, 2009
10:26 am
We’re not playing Saturday. We’re getting measured for rings. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
The Grinch
November 30th, 2009
10:34 am
GT FAN ALL THE WAY
November 30th, 2009
10:33 am
I feel your inner pain. Thank you for not using “calculus” as an excuse. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!