On Paul Johnson’s poor early choice and Tech’s lack of fans
OK, so this was not the happiest of days for the men of Georgia Tech. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
This post is an adjunct to the Georgia Tech column off today’s game, which can be found here.
1. Paul Johnson’s first tactical error came before the game began. Georgia Tech won the coin toss and chose to defer its choice until the second half. This is, we must note, standard coaching procedure. But this was not a standard game. The Yellow Jackets’ only hope rested on their offense and its capacity to steal an early lead and then play keep-away. Instead Johnson chose to put his special teams and his defense on the field first. Malcolm Mitchell returned the kickoff past midfield. Georgia led 7-0 after 63 seconds. When finally Tech exercised its option at the start of the third quarter, it trailed 28-3. Asked about his decision to defer, Johnson said: “Pick your half. They’re going to get it sometime.”
2. Time of possession can be the world’s most misleading statistic. The Jackets held the ball for 21 minutes and 22 seconds of the first half but were outscored by 25 points. The Jackets’ offense did not punt in the first half; neither did it score a touchdown. It mustered 238 first-half yards, which is pretty darn good, but only three points, which was deficient to requirements on a day when Georgia was scoring four touchdowns in five first-half tries. A fumble — actually Bacarri Rambo’s snatch of the ball from Robert Godhigh — defused Tech’s first drive, and an intercepted Vad Lee pass snuffed the third. The half ended, fittingly, with a missed field goal.
3. There were surely fewer visiting fans on hand Saturday than for any Tech-Georgia game since … maybe ever. It was a source of great Bulldog glee that the Jackets returned nearly one-quarter of their allotment of 8,000 tickets, and apparently more than a few of those seats sold by Tech fell into enemy hands. Not counting the Tech band, there couldn’t have been 2,000 folks wearing gold in Sanford Stadium at the opening kickoff. It’s possible some Tech backers came incognito. If so, they made a wise decision.
By Mark Bradley
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261 comments Add your comment
RedandBlackDAWG
November 25th, 2012
9:02 am
Once again, tech fans, all 20 of you, get on the blog and try to make disparaging remarks about the team that once again, has dismantled your team. It has got to be sad knowing you are obligated by law, to get your butt handed to you each year after the the first big holiday of the year, time after time.
There is hope for both tech. and the ACC though. Notre Dame is going to be part of the ACC in football, so at least you will have one quality team. Of course, with the likes of Maryland leaving the ACC to play in a conference where they will get solidly beat to death each year, you should then realize just how bad it is. Right now, the only thing that makes the ACC have any relevance at all in the college football world, is the bowl tie in with the Orange Bowl. Doesn’t say much for either the bowl, or the conference that has that tie in. I am sure that most conferences would welcome tech. as a member because all teams like a patsy game each year, and tech. will surely be one for the foreseeable future for any good teams.It is sad, when you tally up the years performance and realize that Tech. is even worse than GSU and they are an FCS team. All of the excuses you can come up with, such as hard academic standards, and such, don’t matter a hill of beans, as other tough academic standard schools out perform you each year, and yes tech. fans, they actually win meaningful football games. Accept your place as a second division team, in a second division conference, and don’t try so hard to offend UGA and its’ fans. It just makes you look that much more childish and inferior. Win on the field and then you have something to brag about on these blogs.
SC Fan
November 25th, 2012
9:03 am
To all you dog fans gloating! The game was over in the third period and king Mark keep his first team in the game. How dumb was that? Your most important game of the year is next week, stupid. The dobsonfly played two good teams all year and you lost one of them. National champs, I don’t think so.
Tech out gained your defense, SC out gained your defense and here comes Bama., roll tide. You will never be national champs under King Mark because he keeps getting out coached.
Tech has four national titles to your one. None of you dog fans will live long enough to touch us in class and championships. Sorry I had to bring your sorry asses back you back to earth.
drew
November 25th, 2012
9:04 am
I agree with what Coach said in an earlier posting – the treatment of any visiting fan to UGA stadium is disgraceful. I can only imagine what will happen to the UGA campus should the Dawgs win the title. Some of the most ignorant and redneck following ever, with no idea about class or sportsmanship. However, we sure won’t find our trusty AJC writers talking about it.
Joey
November 25th, 2012
9:04 am
You know, I think if UGA somehow manages to beat #2 next week, and #1 in January, in addition to beating #4 a month ago, the nerds will still yap their silly mouths that UGA “didn’t play anybody.”
What a complete embarrassment for the ACC today . . .
Joey
November 25th, 2012
9:07 am
Goldenrod (whereever you are) does UGA still “looks about like North Carolina”?
son's who?
November 25th, 2012
9:10 am
Anyone who would ridicule The University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources would not be intelligent enough to be admitted to Georgia Tech.
bubba4dawgs
November 25th, 2012
9:11 am
Hey dry dirt road, the Tech guy is gay and the Georgia guy was simply loving him back. That’s all, just a bit of simple reciprocity. It gave something for the gays to look at and they appreciate it. The referees were gay too and they enjoyed it as well.
MH Brown
November 25th, 2012
9:13 am
“Folks” is not a word.
Iluvnutella
November 25th, 2012
9:16 am
We have one more year, then Johnson’s exit wont be as expensive. Hopefully, our new AD will be a better evaluater of coaches than his/her predecesser(sp). Will be interesting to see. Unfortunatly, we have a whole season to lament next year. Maybe someone can hire Coach Fish-fry away……..lol
Road Scholar
November 25th, 2012
9:21 am
Yeah SimpleDawg (like the name), you have people/fans/graduates in many professions, including law enforcement. You even felt the need to sign a registered bail bondsman to you team …just in case. (wink wink).
Yes we stink. The players are not motivated. I’ve seen them come out at home 3 times w/o any emotion this year…and got their a$$e$ beat.Even if you have 5 star recruits, motivation is mandatory.
As for the lack of Tech fans at the game, I attended a few in Athens and the majority of the fans were civil. But there is a large group that should not be let out in public. I swore off ever going to UGA for a FB fame long ago. I have been on campus many times for classes and seminars. But the group of yahoos who don’t have any class is the reason I do not attend. I have GT FB tickets and held BB tickets for 20 years. By the way the seats they gave us sucked.
For the rest of Dawgnation out there, how many of you are now beating your chest and calling UGA invincible, when one year ago you were crying…no yelling to dump Richt as coach? Congrats on your win and good luck against Bama.
WOW!
November 25th, 2012
9:23 am
Hey Tekies, how about a little cheese with that wine!
Piedmont Southern
November 25th, 2012
9:24 am
Time to end the series. Schools are in different conferences, differnet student body and different size alumni base.
Tech should replace Georgia with Georgia State as its last game of the year.
Start a new series between two Atlanta teams.
Or rotate the last game between Georgia State and Georgia Southern playing both at Grant Field – Booby Dodd Stadium.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 25th, 2012
9:24 am
For a school with so many smart folks you would think GT would buyout Paul and hire a football coach. I guess the salute to Furman Bisher is a good thing since getting Tech out of that mean ole SEC has really done wonders for the program. UGA should just remove Tech from the schedule going forward until GT makes an effort to upgrade their program.
Dadgum....
November 25th, 2012
9:26 am
It is very apparent GT simply does not have the talent to compete against any top tier program from any conference let alone UGA. Some here want to blame academic standards. Bulllsheeet! It is always about coaching. Always. Look at freakin ND. They were worse than us 5 years ago. They bring in Kelly from Cincy and boom they are in the NC game. Same time frame CPJ was hired and has taken GT in the opposite direction. Let me add here, ND has just as high or higher academics than GT. Also no great talents were looking to play at ND either. The program was dust. It took a coach with a vision and knowledge.
CPJ simply doesn’t have what it takes to get GT back to being seriously competitive. It is time to make a change next year. Won’t make any difference for 2013 as the recruiting is in place. He is coaching without an extension next year so it will be his last. If I was the incoming AD the first thing I would do is notify CPJ he is in a lame duck year and his contract will not be renewed.
Rock on……VT is in the early exploratory stages of leaving the ACC. Just trust me on that.
Piedmont Southern
November 25th, 2012
9:31 am
According to the Athletic Director of Michigan, only about 40 of the 120 Division I (of whatever) schools break even, and the present system is not sustainable.
Looks like there will be some major changes in college football organizaion in the next few years. It’s already underway with all the changes in conferences. Predict the changes will continue.
Tom
November 25th, 2012
9:32 am
Tech should hire Chan Gailey to do recruiting for PJ. Also calling Jon Tenuta. Report to North Avenue as Head Coach of Defense. Blank check to follow.
Piedmont Southern
November 25th, 2012
9:36 am
PJ’s offense is gaining a lot of yards, but it hurts him in recruiting. So it’s a new loss.
Can’t help the defense to practice all week against the option. How do they prepare against a regular offense.
long-time dawg
November 25th, 2012
9:38 am
Relative to Tech’s recruiting: If you were a 5-star defensive recruit, would you want to go to Tech and have the O-line et al firing off at your knees in every practice? And in this day where the NFL is the ultimate objective, could you get a 5-star QB to go to Tech and run that offense?
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 25th, 2012
9:40 am
Even if TECH has a chance to win in Athens not many TECH fans want to go to Athens.
atlxmen
November 25th, 2012
9:41 am
gtbob—what nd team have you been watching? they have looked like a weak little acc team . only game they looked half way decent was against okl..other than that they havent been more impressive than uga. uga will crush nd when the 2 teams play.. nd defense is pretty good at linebacker but uga has face way better defensive lines already this year and ND hasnt faced 1 defense as good as uga or ala for that matter. you seem to have a ton of bad execuses why tech is really bad and the rest of the acc is awful
Jimmy
November 25th, 2012
9:42 am
Great game for UGA. GT fans must remember you win with defense. Offense is nice but
D wins game. GT must recover from Al’s weak defense. Give them time. Also for you idiot’s
that don’t understand. Your pecentages of winning are much greater when your offense , like GT,
goes on 4th down. When the other team will be back to where the ball is at within 1 minute makes the decision easy. PJ will get there just gonna have to work on the recruiting game. UGA went through this for 10 years just lingering into middle of the pack with SEC East.
Piedmont Southern
November 25th, 2012
9:43 am
long-time dawg – Agree, and that’s one of the main problems, along with PJ’s personality as a recruiter.
ACC is just a different world. Don’t see playing out of the conference against the SEC teams is much of a plan for Tech, or any other ACC team.
Incoming Tide
November 25th, 2012
9:46 am
Bammer 49, Dwags 10
abby normal
November 25th, 2012
9:49 am
Not long after Tech hired Paul Johnson I happened to be playing golf with a friend who’s a UGA insider. I mentioned that I was a big fan of Johnson’s and thought it was a great hire for Tech. My friend disagreed and listed several reasons why. So far he has been dead right.
It will be interesting to see what happens (if anything) when the new AD is in place.
Hoping for a miracle in Charlotte…………….
Jimmy
November 25th, 2012
9:53 am
Dog fans don’t bark just yet. Big mouth granthan’s d could not stop anybody first half of the year
and GT and GS put up some big plays and big yardage against them. No doubt Ga. has the talent but has had for several years. Thanks to the East being a three team division we are in the championship. Let’s see if we can run the course.
hit a single
November 25th, 2012
9:58 am
I see post where people wouldn’t send their kid to play for Paul Johnson. Well keep your whiney little sucker at home. That is part of the problem. Kids can’t take the heat when someone gets on them. Recruiting has been a problem for Johnson. He has brought in some kids that can’t take the heat and it shows, especially on D. I have never seen so many kids get out of the way so they wouldn’t have to make a lick. D is more guts and who wants it and the TECH doesn’t want it. It took a kid from UGA to fire their D up because the Coaches wouldn’t get on any butt. Well guess what it paid off. It seems TECH doesn’t have that type of kid.
it is what it is
November 25th, 2012
10:06 am
GT needs to hire an AD that along with CPJ will not ask but demand a change in curriculum so that programs are offered that will help recruiting..
Drexel Gal
November 25th, 2012
10:08 am
I inadvertently left my car unlocked at the mall with two tickets to the ACC championship game on the passenger seat. When I returned, there were six ACC tickets on the seat.
hit a single
November 25th, 2012
10:11 am
Drexel – you are lucky. It is a wonder your car was still there. I could see the tickets still being in the parking place but not your car if it was unlocked.
Ghost
November 25th, 2012
10:20 am
So much for PJ coaching up his players.
Dumbo
November 25th, 2012
10:22 am
SC Fan…uh, isn’t more like 3 1/2 NC’s for Tech and answer me this…which end of the NC trophy did Tech get in 1990, the front half or the back half because I seem to remember Colorado has the other end……we don’t count 1/2 truths in the SEC and why does the great Techies somehow forget the previous NC’s UGA won like 1942 and such, could it be selective memory or just flat out stupidity
Ghost
November 25th, 2012
10:23 am
Tech can get most anyone they want into school football and basketball (Joe hamilton, Kelly Campbell, Reggie ball, Stephon Marbury Kenny Anderson), PJ keeps offering the same players as everyone else , they just don’t want to play for him or in his system.
Piedmont Southern
November 25th, 2012
10:26 am
Dumbo – Who does anyone care about all that?
TRUTH HURTS
November 25th, 2012
10:28 am
I thought all you rich GT alumni had authority. So, why do you allow some regents board in GA dictate what degrees GT can have and not have? Why have you put up with this nonsense all these years? Who are you people afraid of? The boogie man? UGA doesn’t have much in state competition. Their biggest recruiting rivals are out of state and that is pitiful. Also pitiful on UGA that it took 32 years to even be in position to play for a national title again with no in state competition.
But why do you GT alumni allow it to go on? Thought alot of you were CEO’s and CFO’s of companies? But yet, it seems you allow some inbred morons in Athens call the shots in the state of Georgia, why?
I like to know the answer.
Dawgfan '91
November 25th, 2012
10:29 am
Can we finally put the argument to rest… The ACC is a best, a basketball conference, and at worst the laughing stock of all BCS automatic qualifying conferences. If G-Tech pulls off a miracle this coming weekend would the ACC really be able to look anyone in the country in the eyes and send a 7&6 team to the Orange Bowl? Seriously? There about 3 dozen teams that are all more deserving and that will play a better game than Tech.
The ACC just sent its 2 best and 1 of its supposedly betters up against the SEC in head-to-head match-ups and their 2 “best” both had home field advantage. All 3 of them lost and lost in fairly convincing fashion. Tech was reminded that they truly are nothing more than the “North Avenue Trade School,” FSU got a meaningless touchdown late to make the score look closer than the game really was and Clemson lost a close one to Carolina, but the Gamecocks had their top quarterback on the bench with a bad ankle and their best running back on crutches or it wouldn’t even have been as close as it was.
Can we please get rid of the Automatic qualifiers and the maximum number of allowable teams from any one conference stipulations from the BCS and just put the best teams in the country in the games. Even though the play-off will help, it still doesn’t solve the problem of unworthy conference champions from automatic qualifiers taking up a space that they didn’t earn and don’t deserve.
Georgia Tech is in Atlanta
November 25th, 2012
10:31 am
Georgia State has more attractive home games next year than us with their move to the Sun Belt (a far better football conference than the ACC).
cdbgolf
November 25th, 2012
10:34 am
When Tech loses to UGA they always claim it was the academic qualifications that keep their team down.If you think that the Tech players take the same classes as the other students,you are kidding yourself.Its funny how Stanford,Vanderbilt,Northwestern and now Duke are able to compete.
DaveDawg
November 25th, 2012
10:34 am
Road Scholar….it’s funny that you comment on some UGA fans being a..holes, but do you recall the that bourbon bottles flying out of the student section out the opposing teams bench at Tech or that UGA fans were buying more tickets to Grunt field games than Techies, so much so that DRAD changed the visiting fan section to upper south end of the East stands….do you remember, now you remember why UGA started packing Tecies into the upper deck
UGAJD
November 25th, 2012
10:52 am
@ Couch – Your attendance argument doesn’t wash. Other visiting teams don’t seem to have a problem selling their full allotment of tickets. Tech’s fan-base simply has no passion for its team.
yellowfever
November 25th, 2012
11:00 am
you either have play makers or you don’t. If Tech thinks Orwin Smith is a difference maker then we really are in trouble. The same on defense, if Tech thinks Attouche is a difference maker then please wake me up in about 10 years.
Joey
November 25th, 2012
11:09 am
Just for laughs, Chip, I wish you would list the posting names of these techies who comment under numerous names, usually changing to some version of UGA’s next opponent. Please Chip.
Incoming Tide?
Geez.
Double T
November 25th, 2012
11:11 am
GT Letterwinner, what sport did you win your Letter? This is the sport of football, if you want to talk about the areas where you say the bees run the state, we will compete with you there as well. But for today, one the subject of Football, your team is awful and your coach is a jerk. Simply put, your comment looked as weak as your team.
And for you, COACH, at least we have enough seats to even offer you guys. The last time we came to Tech to play, our seats were few and far apart. Then only to be heckled by a group of middle eastern coders who do not understand the game. How about showing some class and just realize that “It is what it is”. You will sleep better that way.
yellowfever
November 25th, 2012
11:13 am
Paul Johnson was a BAD decision. No one knew he couldn’t recruit, couldn’t coach special teams, could evaluate defensive coach’s, and was such an A-HOLE.Thanks Mr. Johnson from this 50 year old Tech fan who has been through some tough times but even then the coach’s didn’t throw players and other coach’s on the staff under the bus like you do. I know in your Mind your the Best coach to ever have not played the game. Again thinks for nothing, and I mean nothing cause we all know now you only won because somebody recruited better than you have when you took over. Wake me up when Tech wakes up and realizes what a mistake you were.
Jabo
November 25th, 2012
11:13 am
I go on record ; Georgia is not even a top ten team. They played two good (not great) teams all year, one humbled them and the other only lost (barely) because they turned the ball over six times, loosing it four of the six. The rest of their schedule was composed of average and below average teams. If there ever was a cupcake schedule Georgia had it. To see this team ranked number three in the nation is a disgrace. The only hope Georgia has in beating the Tide is for the Tide to beat themselves. I look for a real humbling beatdown for Georgia in the SEC championship game. I also see a large portion of your fans as classless and pure trash. I also believe your coach is as phony as a three dollar bill; if you talk it you should live it. Enjoy your week of chest- thumping and how great we are. Come sat.,barring a miracle, the football nation will see what a prentender the dogs really are.
Joey
November 25th, 2012
11:13 am
Let’s see, Georgia Southern scored 2 TDs on us, Tech, just 1, mop-up TD.
Just who is our in-state rival now?
Joey
November 25th, 2012
11:23 am
Jabo, your jealousy is oozing.
Did you forget that UGA had 3 tournovers also vs the #4 team in the BCS, and still held them to 3 FGs? Of course you did.
But you are right, we will see what’s what this Saturday.
But is you seriously think any UGA fan will be “chest-thumping” this week for beating Ga Tech, you’re in la-la-land. Seriously, Ga Southern gave us more heart burn for a quarter than your football team.
As far as the “pure trash” fans, you should go to a Tech game in person sometime, and take a walk around the stadium. If you make it back with your wallet, or make it back alive, you may have a different take on fans.
Oh, and one more word to the wise – don’t play the Ga Southern Eagles anytime soon.
They would SO kick y’alls asses . . .
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 25th, 2012
11:27 am
Yeah, about the GT fans – we saw 3 rows of their fans in lower 102 and that was it except for an obnoxius GT fan eating a hot dog sitting below us.
I probably would have avoided the game too if I were a GT fan.
Tidomonkey
November 25th, 2012
11:27 am
UGA fans can keep making fun of Tech attendance all they want. They obviously have many more fans. To be a fan of Tech, you generally need get into Georgia Tech. To be a fan of UGA, you have to have $5 and access to Walmart.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 25th, 2012
11:29 am
Jabo, We also were discussing who the 2nd best team in the state is after the game and unfortunately for you it looks like GA Southern after seeing both games.
headley lamar
November 25th, 2012
11:30 am
“Nobody has ever stopped my offense”
- Paul Johnson