From Navy Boards: GT Press conference at 11 am

[SMU Football Blog]

i just called the gt sid's office, and they said "no press conference is scheduled"

You get a Purple Hippo merit badge for your fine work, unless we find out you made that up, in wich case, we will pummel you. You get a gold star if you call the USNA.

I am not beginning to think there are no press conferences at 11; not enough time. Maybe another kind of non-press meeting.

[Pony^]

Latest Update

The Capital has spoken with several reliable sources in Atlanta, including college football writers at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Georgia Tech HAD NOT called a press conference to announce the hiring of a new head football coach as of 10 a.m. this morning.
Furthermore, those same sources believe Georgia Tech has the ability to pay "going rate" for a quality football coach and that athletic director Dan Radakovich has money in the coffers to work with. Former head coach Chan Gailey made just over $1 million and Radakovich knew full well he would need to pay the next head coach more than that.

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/blog_bwagner.html

[PhirePhilBennett]

Also, could be introducing Jon Tenuta

[Scoops]

No players meeting has been scheduled and the assistants are still on the road recruiting, which is an even stronger indication that an announcement of Johnson's departure is NOT imminent.
One source in Atlanta reports that Georgia Tech has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. to announce its new football coach. The Capital has not been able to confirm that news from a second, more trusted source.
However, if that information is true it would be virtually impossible for Johnson to be the new head coach at Georgia Tech. In fact, the latest information coming from my most reliable sources in Atlanta is that Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich could not meet Johnson's salary demands. In other words, the Yellow Jackets' financially-strapped athletic department could not put together a total compensation package that was better than what Johnson currently has here at Navy.
Remember, Georgia Tech was forced pay a $4 million buyout to fired head coach Chan Gailey.
That leaves SMU and Navy. The Dallas Morning News has already reported that SMU athletic director Steve Orsini is willing to pay at least $2 million to lure Johnson, who is clearly the Conference USA school's top target.
Johnson visited the SMU campus on Tuesday and, by all accounts, came away impressed with the football facilities and other fundamental foundations for the program. Orsini has pledged total and complete support for football and has clearly put money behind his words.
It appears the ball is now in the court of Navy and Gladchuk to improve Johnson's total compensation package in light of the very handsome SMU offer.

That's interesting. First of all, I didn't think we were headed as high as $2 million per year. But even if we were, I've heard from more than one person (with some level of credibility) that GT's AD had had a change of heart and had agreed to go somewhere near the $2.5 range (not quite, but close). Surely he wouldn't have a higher salary demand to go to GT than he would to come here, would he?

[Scoops]

Also, could be introducing Jon Tenuta

I hope so. He deserves a crack at being a head coach, if that's what he wants to do. He's been an exceptional assistant coach for a long time, and if he's going to get a shot at it, now's as good a time as any. Hope he gets it.

[PhirePhilBennett]

"It could mean they didn't get him" - Uri, in Firefox

[jimhagle]

PJ has one tough decision to make -hopefully it will be soon for all our sakes!

[Eagle01]

There's a surprising (to me, anyway) number of people on the Tech board who don't want PJ. You'd think his track record would be enough to convince them he's a good coach. The fact that they say he's not any improvement over Gailey is shocking, to me. They'd rather have Tenuta than PJ, which is absurd to me.

You guys seem to understand just how good a coach PJ is. For that reason alone, I hope he goes to SMU.

[ponyinNC]

There's a surprising (to me, anyway) number of people on the Tech board who don't want PJ. You'd think his track record would be enough to convince them he's a good coach. The fact that they say he's not any improvement over Gailey is shocking, to me. They'd rather have Tenuta than PJ, which is absurd to me.

You guys seem to understand just how good a coach PJ is. For that reason alone, I hope he goes to SMU.

well, call or text your boy PJ and tell him!!!

[Billy Joe]

If the contracts are equal or close between SMU and Ga. Tech, then one would think Ga. Tech. gets the nod over SMU since SMU is in a non-bcs conference. If that is the case then no hard feelings and we move on to Plan B (which will still be better than what we had). The real competition is going to be Navy. If Navy matches the current offers then he may likely stay put and not have to move his family across country and relocate (no hastling with new schools, new friends, new social circle).

[ponyinNC]

from the Navy boards:

Listening to 790 "The Zone" here in ATL...11-12 show is the Home Depot Southern Football Kickoff Show...Tony Barnhart, Wes Durham, Chris Dimino...as of 11:15...they are quoting Wags blog, and referring to it as the most reliable source for PJ info. Way to go Wags!

Their take: PJ has offers from SMU(upwards of 2M), GT, Duke(if he wants it), and WF will come quick if Grobe does if fact go to ARK...plus he'll still listen to a Navy counter.

Talk about leverage!!!

[Eagle01]

There's a surprising (to me, anyway) number of people on the Tech board who don't want PJ. You'd think his track record would be enough to convince them he's a good coach. The fact that they say he's not any improvement over Gailey is shocking, to me. They'd rather have Tenuta than PJ, which is absurd to me.

You guys seem to understand just how good a coach PJ is. For that reason alone, I hope he goes to SMU.

well, call or text your boy PJ and tell him!!!

I interviewed the man once when I wrote for the GSU paper. The man is intimidating as hell, especially to a student-reporter. Although I did coach his daughter's soccer team, though his wife was usually the one to take her to practice. I wonder if that's enough of a connection to get the inside info from him.

[George S. Patton]

If the contracts are equal or close between SMU and Ga. Tech, then one would think Ga. Tech. gets the nod over SMU since SMU is in a non-bcs conference. If that is the case then no hard feelings and we move on to Plan B (which will still be better than what we had). The real competition is going to be Navy. If Navy matches the current offers then he may likely stay put and not have to move his family across country and relocate (no hastling with new schools, new friends, new social circle).

He can't go any further at Navy. Beaten the rival 6 times, won the Commander In Chief's trophy 3-4 times(?), will be known as the coach who beat Notre Dame. His market will never be higher. If he falls to 6-6 next year with the middies, then his stock drops.

But he may be fine with staying. If he's ambitious to go somewhere, then this is the time to move.

Heck, he may be freaked out because we play Navy next year.

[ponyinNC]

There's a surprising (to me, anyway) number of people on the Tech board who don't want PJ. You'd think his track record would be enough to convince them he's a good coach. The fact that they say he's not any improvement over Gailey is shocking, to me. They'd rather have Tenuta than PJ, which is absurd to me.

You guys seem to understand just how good a coach PJ is. For that reason alone, I hope he goes to SMU.

well, call or text your boy PJ and tell him!!!

I interviewed the man once when I wrote for the GSU paper. The man is intimidating as hell, especially to a student-reporter. Although I did coach his daughter's soccer team, though his wife was usually the one to take her to practice. I wonder if that's enough of a connection to get the inside info from him.

i hope so!

[huskerpony]

Nothing of great importance. Just thought this post on the Navy board was funny.

"With all of us glued to this board, wag's blog, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, message boards from Wake, Duke, Arkansas, SMU and streaming radio programs from local markets, the country is less secure. We know that on this board there are active duty folks in the pentagon and world wide, defense contractors and others that assist in providing the common defense.

They have to solve this now as a matter of national security."