Hindsight: What if Tech had hired Neuheisel over Johnson?
"Hey, do any of you guys know if that job in Atlanta is still open?" (AP photo)
History lesson: Georgia Tech fired Chan Gailey after he lost to Georgia in 2007. It settled on Paul Johnson of Navy as his replacement and hasn’t been sorry. Johnson beat Georgia in his first season and won the ACC title, since vacated, in his second.
In sum: Good hire.
That said, there was another candidate who could have been described as the runner-up and of whom a few impressed Tech insiders would say later, “We hired the right person, but that other guy’s going to do well in his next job.”
That other guy: Rick Neuheisel.
He’s about to get fired at UCLA.
Tech liked Johnson because he seemed to fit the Institute. (Again, can’t argue that.) Tech was impressed by Neuheisel because he’s smart and innovative — not that Johnson isn’t — and glamorous. He played quarterback at UCLA and won the Rose Bowl, tutored Troy Aikman as an assistant coach, won as Colorado’s head coach and won the Rose Bowl coaching Washington. But the part about Neuheisel that made Tech uneasy was his background.
Nearly four years after he left Colorado for Washington, Neuheisel was hit with an eight-month NCAA recruiting ban for violations committed while coaching the Buffaloes. That was strange. Far stranger was the revelation that he’d broached another NCAA regulation by entering and winning an NCAA basketball tournament pool. This, eventually, prompted Washington to fire him.
Neuheisel at first denied his pool winnings, then said he’d been given permission by Washington to enter. The whole thing got so confusing that he filed a wrongful-termination suit against the NCAA and Washington and wound up settling for $4.5 million. Another win! (FYI, Neuheisel has his law degree.)
In 2007, Neuheisel was the offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens but was looking to get back into college football. Tech didn’t hire him that winter, but his alma mater did. This was a huge story in Los Angeles. Neuheisel spoke boldly of unseating Southern Cal and Pete Carroll and went so far as to hire Norm Chow, the coordinator who’d coached Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart to Heismans at USC. But nothing much has gone right for the Bruins since.
Chow was bought out with two years’ remaining on his contract — seems he and Neuheisel couldn’t get along — and UCLA went 4-8, 7-6 and 4-8. On Thursday they lost 48-12 to Arizona, which had just fired coach Mike Stoops, to fall to 3-4. (The game was enlivened, if that’s the word, by a players’ brawl ignited by, of all things, a fake referee who started ripping off his clothes.)
Afterward Neuheisel told reporters: “My argument is that I’m absolutely the right guy for the job.”
The best Dan Guerrero, the UCLA athletic director, could offer was that he wasn’t going to fire Neuheisel over the weekend.
Maybe it would have been different for Neuheisel at Tech. Maybe he’d have charmed and disarmed this big city and the ACC. (That approach hasn’t exactly worked in a bigger city or the Pac-12, we must note.) On the strength of 3 1/2 seasons you’d have to say Dan Radakovich’s instincts served him well: Rick Neuheisel was a good guy to interview; Paul Johnson was absolutely the right guy for this job.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
235 comments Add your comment
Dawglasville
October 21st, 2011
12:24 pm
Stafford with Petrino would be scary. (I know he wasn’t with Arkansas then).
Chuck
October 21st, 2011
12:25 pm
With Georgia connections (2 championships at Geogia Southern) and a winning record at Navy, Johnson was a no-brainer as a hire. It’s obvious the man can coach. Neuheisel is best remembered for being the losing quarterback for UCLA when they played Georgia on Labor Day night in 1983. On a potential game-winning drive, he threw a pick-6.
dawgfan
October 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
Johnson is 1-2 vs. Georgia and has been unable to beat us in two of our most down years in program history. He is 0-3 in bowl games. He just had a losing 6-7 season last year. He is going on his 4th straight season of having one of the worst defenses in the pathetic ACC. Despite all of his supposed genius, he cannot teach his team how to tackle. He has never been able to develop a legitimate passing attack anywhere he’s been. He cannot develop quarterbacks beyond teaching them how to run the 10 plays that make up his offense. Paul Johnson quarterbacks throw a football like a girl.
Don’t get me wrong. Despite the fact that I think he’s an arrogant smug punk (ie. a good fit at Tech), I think he’s a good but not great coach. When that offense is rolling I don’t think there are many teams outside of an LSU or Bama that can stop it. It would just be nice to have a little perspective on this man instead of the usual Mancrush BS we’ve been getting out of the AJC since he took over at Tech. Its ridiculous.
Thanks.
Herschel Talker
October 21st, 2011
12:26 pm
MB:
How about writing this for a blog: Hindsight: What if UGA had fired Mark Richt last year and had hired Kirby Smart? The answer that you know and I know is that UGA would probably be undefeated right now and in the top 5 and looking at a BCS Bowl. Enough of Richt dragging the program to mediocrity.
HT
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:27 pm
I almost pitty Miami’s coach.
A rouge fan gets half the team suspended and embarrasses the heck out of grads.
Fringe may well think him cool like fringe guys everywhere.
Then the NT hits a downed UNC WR on the ground where it counts.
Ought to be kicked off the team though.
The DAWG
October 21st, 2011
12:27 pm
What if Johnson could recruit like Chan Gailey. He won with Gaileys recruits but now his team is going down hill fast with his own recruits
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:29 pm
I agree HT.
Pitiful performance to start the year and a new guy klcking butt would have done a whole lot better.
Probably won both as you’re thinking.
GTJeff
October 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
Gailey was a Florida grad & didn’t give a d.amm about Tech. I hate that man & I hope he flames out with the Bills. I still remember that idiot at halftime of the 51-7 drubbing we got by UGA sounding like a bumbling fool.
layinlow
October 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
Yes PJ over Neuheisel for Tech. However thats not saying much because Neuheisel has been a disaster at his alma mater. PJ for the most part wins the games he should win against less than stellar competition. However, he has been soundly beaten when playing better competition. His 0-3 record in bowl games is a testament to that.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
@The DAWG.
U need some new material.
We’ve been told that a zillion times already.
The jury is not in.
BTW Gailey only had one great year of recruiting, late in his tour here.
Alphare
October 21st, 2011
12:33 pm
Recruits are attracted by 2 factors: coaches and school.
Gailey might not win, but recruited well, KJohnson etc, remember? Gailey’s failure has a lot to do with RBall if you ask me.
Stanford attracts good players the last few years.
BAMA’s recruiting was mediocre when Shula was the head coach.
O’Leary was pretty good. He beats UGA even at UCF. WV was a nobody but now has bigger name than UGA.
Newman
October 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
What if? What if my aunt had a moustache? She’d be my uncle.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
@GTJeff.
I remember the expression on his face when he was hired.
Like he could not believe we were that dumb.
Deer in the headlights every Uga game.
He could motivate one time vs undefeated NCState and Rivers.
Why couldn’t he do that more often?
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
@Alphare.
Riddle me this.
Reggie Ball won the QB job 4 years in a row.
I am sick of people trashing him.
He didn’t have Freigen but dumb auburn guy hired and fired also by Canes.
Godsey not a big deal without Ralph.
The huge mistake made was not pushing George out the door and promoting the brains of the outfit, Ralph Freigen.
BTW Reggie Ball had some damn good games beating clemson at the last minute and starting our 4 in a row vs Canes.
Also beat auburn twice.
If no one could beat Reggie out for 4 years, then we must stink if he was so bad.
George Stein
October 21st, 2011
12:40 pm
His bowl record is a testament to the fact that games played a month apart tell us next to nothing, layinlow.
Ernest T. Bass
October 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
Gailey is allot better coach than CPJ.
All Paul Johnson has done is win with Gaileys players.
Heck he even has Buffalo at 4-1.
Think CPJ could do that ??
Didn’t think so.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
funny Newman.
But r u sure?
The DAWG
October 21st, 2011
12:43 pm
2011 GTs new material is the same as the old material. CPJ can’t coach nor can he recruit, period.
Ernest T. Bass
October 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
His bowl record is a testament to the fact that games played a month apart tell us next to nothing,
Actually its a testament to his offense being a gimmick and when the other time has to prepare it tends to do a lot better. Every opposing coach ive heard go up against Tech has said basically the same thing.
Now that they have time to prepare for it it isn’t a big surprise.
Then its athlete on athlete and Tech is gonna lose that one.
Alphare
October 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
Jackets 2011,
Ball would have some flashing moments, but played dumb most other times. Wasn’t he DQed for his last bowl game?
GT '08
October 21st, 2011
12:45 pm
Do any of the puppy fans really think GT people take offense to being called nerds, or any other supposed “insult” ignorant people use to try to close the ground between them and their intellectual superiors?
I’d rather have an degree from one of the best schools in the world and a great job, than a drunken, hill billy, whose sole existance is based on how a bunch of 17-23 year old boys perform on Saturday.
That being said MOST actual uga alums I have met are very classy and are just as annoyed with the trailor trash fans (if not more) as any GT fan.
THWG!
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:45 pm
@Ernest T. Bass.
A lot better coach would have done better than 0-5 vs the arch-rival.
I’m not a grad.
If Tech can’t do better than 1-10 vs Uga, I may find something else to spend my season ticket money on.
It sure looks to me like others have already left the fan base because of that.
George Stein
October 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
Uh, coaching at the pro and college levels are different, Earnest.
Every coach would do better with extra time, genius. Also, lose the loaded terms. You make yourself look like a clown
The DAWG
October 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
GT08 what the heck does your comment have to do with sports. Aren’t you smart enough to realize this is a sports blog and sports fans do care about football on Saturdays.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
With Ball, he had academic issues at the end.
A 4 year starting QB can have problems with the fan base.
Happened to Chris Rix at FSU.
Both starting QB and fan base may start to despise each other or at least resent.
QB may think he gets too much of the blame.
Fans think he has not produced.
U need a good O coordinator.
I don;t think Godsey would have been anything special without Freigen.
GT '08
October 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
@Dawg what does calling fans Tech fans NERDS have to do with FOOTBALL? I think that was my point. Take your time catching up…it is ok.
The DAWG
October 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
GT08, is that the way you smart people speel trailer
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:50 pm
I hope CPJ proves me wrong but the Tech offense run by Freigen has never looked as good since Dodd in the fifties.
O’Leary never beats Uga either without Freigen.
Dawgs fans started rejoicing as soon as he left.
JB
October 21st, 2011
12:54 pm
There would be a lot less fish cooked and lot’s of 2X Navy colored Tech wind suits for sale at the book store, just say’n.
Really?
October 21st, 2011
12:56 pm
sad to say it
Stafford would have won exactly ZERO championships at other SEC schools. Remember Tebow?
Ted M
October 21st, 2011
12:56 pm
If only Johnson could coach Special Teams we might have something great goin on.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:57 pm
It is time for a big game from Sims and other B Backs.
Or admit our line can’t block the Canes 2nd string with their injuries and suspensions.
Oh
We could not find a place in grad school for two of our graduating lineman who wound up starting at G State and may have made a big difference there.
Do we want to win or produce players for other team like NC State?
ex-NC State QB may get the Heisman.
Bet their fan base is happy about that.
dawgfan
October 21st, 2011
12:58 pm
Johnson just took the #12 team in the nation and lost to a team that hadn’t won an ACC game since 2009, but Mark Bradley is still singing his praises like he never even happened. Let’s take a look at the 2nd page of Paul Johnson’s resume that the AJC must have lost:
1-2 vs. Georgia. Georgia was a combined 14-12 in 2009-2010 and Johnson could not beat us.
0-3 in bowl games. Got utterly demasculated by LSU. Outmuscled by Iowa. Then lost to Air Force. I’m pretty sure they know a thing or two about calculus at Air Force Techies, so what’s your excuse for that one?
6-7 losing season
Thanks.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:58 pm
I saw two O coordinators in Tech program and no special teams coach.
That has not worked.
And still hasn’t.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
I mean O line coaches, not coordinators.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 21st, 2011
12:59 pm
Ernest T. Bass = Cupcake = Headley Lamar
Enough said
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
Thanks Super.
Really?
October 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
Paul Johnson is your Jim Donnan. He will take you nowhere.
JB
October 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
GT08 @12:45……….apparently you have never had the time to read the insults hurled at UGA folks on these blogs, who are Veterinarians,Teachers,Lawyers,Bankers and Most important, Farmers to feed your butt. That’s why Georgia people hate Tech for painting with that broad brush you do and that crap they teach you day 1 about hating everything UGA…and I mean hate. The world doesn’t revolve around everything Tech, and Georgia grads for the most part lead a wonderful, enriched, successful Techless life.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
I don’t know all the cast members yet.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 21st, 2011
1:04 pm
JB, apparently YOU never read the insults hurled at Tech and Tech fans and players and coaches on these blogs by UGA fans who probably never went to school anywhere. Do like Lex does and shut those trailer-trash rednecks up, and then maybe we can all get along. Lex and a couple of other dawg fans are welcome anytime on a Tech blog, but most of the UGA fans who post there are mutt trolls. They demean your true fan base and generate and deserve the hate that they receive.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
1:05 pm
JB
The venom goes both ways.
Could tell u a funny story where someone in same profession as dad decided to befriend me and show me around Dublin, GA.
When we met later in the evening, his best friends were horrified I was a Tech fan.
But they decided I was OK for a techie I think.
I’ve joked since then if he had another week or two setting me up with Uga babes, I might have defected.
Dumbo
October 21st, 2011
1:06 pm
Chan biggest mistake was not recruiting a real QB, instead he gave the keys of Tech Offense to a runt named REGGIE BALL. Bless you Chan, we UGA will never forget you!!!!!!!!!!
JB
October 21st, 2011
1:06 pm
Easier to stop Tech this year knowing the QB won’t and can’t pitch the ball . Takes about 40% away from it’s effectiveness.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 21st, 2011
1:07 pm
JB, apparently you never read the insults hurled at Tech, the fans, the coaches, and the players by UGA hate-spewing rednecks who demean your entire fan base. They propagate the hatred which you perceive, and they deserve every bit of it they get in return. There are good dawg fans like Lex and a few others who are welcome anytime on the Tech blogs. The rest of them who post there are nothing but mutt trolls.
JB
October 21st, 2011
1:08 pm
Thanks Jackets 2011……..Both my business partners are Tech grads and great and SMART guys. The insults get a little vile sometimes….both ways.
JB
October 21st, 2011
1:09 pm
Supersize, true. Where do you live in Augusta? I live in Jones Creek.
Atlien
October 21st, 2011
1:10 pm
To pretend that we know how any coach would have fared versus if he had been hired is foolish. As much as I complained about Gailey, if GT was lucky enough to sign a Philip Rivers or Sam Bradford instead of Reggie Ball, I bet Chan would still be coaching GT. Coaches are never as good or as bad as people make them out to be.
In a sport won and lost on inches, it is amazing how many people can be so quick to credit a single individual for the success or failure of an organization.
Jackets 2011
October 21st, 2011
1:10 pm
A big question for Tech.
Can the B back dive play work like it worked for Dwyer?
Can Tevin start to hit his WRs?
Can we stop making stupid penalties when someone is 20 yards downfield and it is best just to get out of the damn way?
Supersize that order, mutt
October 21st, 2011
1:11 pm
JB, I am in Country Club Hills