For all the "No to Johnson" posters...

[KnuckleStang]

His players have to get up every day and line up in formation for non-football related crap at 5:00 am. The average Navy football player has an SAT higher than the SMU general student population average. You could go on and on. If he's winning 8-10 games/yr coaching at the place like that, playing arguably a tougher schedule than ours, I don't really see how anybody can say the guy can't recruit.

He's not from Texas. This is difficult for some of you to get your minds around, but you need to get over it. He is a great coach and a great fit for SMU. We should not even dream of being able to snag this guy, and yet here we are, thanks to Orsini.

As far as the "veerbone" and recruiting, that's overblown as well. Good running backs would be lining up to play for Johnson. Certain kinds of QB's too.

[PK]

From Paul Johnson's Bio:

"Prior to joining the Navy staff, Johnson spent eight seasons as the offensive coordinator at the University of Hawai'i (1987-94). He helped guide the Rainbows to their first Western Athletic Conference title and their first bowl appearance coordinating an explosive offense that broke or equaled over 160 school records.

While at Hawai'i, Johnson developed a successful offensive unit which earned top-20 I-A statistical rankings in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense during six of his eight seasons. He earned Top Offensive Coach honors in the WAC and was named one of the top-10 assistant coaches in the country by The Sporting News."

I would have to assume he did some recruiting under NCAA rules while at Hawaii.

[smupony]

I posted this on another thread, but it is pertinent here:

From our friends at Wikipedia but very important to our discussion:

Much of Johnson's success has been predicated on his triple option flexbone offense, a run oriented attack that has led NCAA Division I-A/FBS football in rushing yards three of the last four years. Some have criticized the triple option as an antiquated, unbalanced system unfit for major college football, which may explain some BCS teams' reluctance to offer him a position despite his accomplishments at both Georgia Southern and Navy. Johnson has rebutted this argument in numerous press conferences and interviews, asserting that several top teams, including 2005-2006 national champion Texas and 2006-2007 national champion Florida, use various forms of the option. He has repeatedly stated that the superior athletes in power conferences could help the triple option flourish.

However Johnson has also stated that if he had a good throwing quarterback he would use the pass more often.

I believe, in a way, SMU already runs an option similar to what Texas and Florida does (in theory, not success). The "Zone Read" is a form of that offense. You know, the plays we run where DeMyron in improperly used and runs east-west (stretch play) looking for a hole that never materializes.

Johnson was the offensive coordinator at Hawaii when they ran more of a "Zone Read Spread" (if that exists). That is pretty much what we have been recruiting for. I think Johnson would change this team dramatically for the better. He won't run a true triple option, he will run to our strengths. This is why he has been successful everywhere he has been.

He will get rid of the pistol spread it out a little and teach Willis how to properly read the defensive end and linebacker. I think a lot of our poor "Zone Read" plays comes from Willis and the line not being taught the right reads. Hell, if Vince Young can read a defense anyone can.

105-39 as a head coach, 43-29 at Navy.

Sign him up.

[Longtime]

If the guy can beat Notre Dame and Pittsburgh with the kind of talent Navy throws out there, he can WIN. That will be his recruiting edge.

Don't just tell me this is the worst Notre Dame team ever. It's still Notre Dame. They have tremendous athletes. So does any BCS major conference school compared to Navy.

If he can win big at Navy, he can certainly win in C-USA with the talent on hand at SMU. If SMU ever starts winning consistently, the D-FW media will fall in love with us. The media will do half our recruiting for us.

And contrary to popular belief, it's really the assistant coaches who do the recruiting. I have faith that if Johnson is smart enough to do well at Navy, he's smart enough to hire assistants who know how to get the kind of recruits SMU needs.

I agree with Stallion that recruiting is the lifeblood of a program. But I'm not willing to say Paul Johnson CAN'T recruit, but I do know he can win. I have, however, seen coaches who know how to recruit and can't win. Give me a winner, first, and the recruiting doors will open.

[jason54858]

I have no doubt that Paul Johnson would be a great hire of, to quote Orsini "an established coach with a proven track record". I and hope that like everyone else in the SMU nation, we get a great hire. But if the man comes to SMU, rather than Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Duke, NC State, Washington State, Arkansas, and every other school his name has been linked to, I will dance naked on the BLVD on the day of the press conference!

[PonySnob]

Any idea as to how many "top 25" teams Navy has beaten since Johnson became their coach?

[davidsmu94]

just look at what they are saying on the TCU message Board...that should make you want to hire him RIGHT NOW!!!

http://www.killerfrogs.com/msgboard/index.php?showtopic=73089&st=0

Man they have some loser over there with over 12,000 posts??

[J.T.supporta]

Any idea as to how many "top 25" teams Navy has beaten since Johnson became their coach?

0-8 against ranked teams...

[smupony]

I have no doubt that Paul Johnson would be a great hire of, to quote Orsini "an established coach with a proven track record". I and hope that like everyone else in the SMU nation, we get a great hire. But if the man comes to SMU, rather than Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Duke, NC State, Washington State, Arkansas, and every other school his name has been linked to, I will dance naked on the BLVD on the day of the press conference!

People say "why would he come here"..."This is where coaches careers go to die"...

Don't you think someone said that to him when he went to NAVY?

I think we have a better chance than many give us...

[KnuckleStang]

Any idea as to how many "top 25" teams Navy has beaten since Johnson became their coach?

0-8 against ranked teams...

It's not fair to draw conclusions from that. Very few of SMU players could be admitted to Navy. Look at the fact he's played a more difficult schedule than us, and his record: 8-5, 10-2, 8-4, 9-4, 7-4 and 5 bowls in a row. At NAVY. In the two years prior to his arrival under Weatherbie, they were something like 1-22.

[J.T.supporta]

Any idea as to how many "top 25" teams Navy has beaten since Johnson became their coach?

0-8 against ranked teams...

It's not fair to draw conclusions from that. Very few of SMU players could be admitted to Navy. Look at the fact he's played a more difficult schedule than us, and his record: 8-5, 10-2, 8-4, 9-4, 7-4 and 5 bowls in a row. At Navy.

PB had a better record against ranked teams than PJ

[KnuckleStang]

Any idea as to how many "top 25" teams Navy has beaten since Johnson became their coach?

0-8 against ranked teams...

It's not fair to draw conclusions from that. Very few of SMU players could be admitted to Navy. Look at the fact he's played a more difficult schedule than us, and his record: 8-5, 10-2, 8-4, 9-4, 7-4 and 5 bowls in a row. At Navy.

PB had a better record against ranked teams than PJ

What like 1-70?

[J.T.supporta]

Any idea as to how many "top 25" teams Navy has beaten since Johnson became their coach?

0-8 against ranked teams...

It's not fair to draw conclusions from that. Very few of SMU players could be admitted to Navy. Look at the fact he's played a more difficult schedule than us, and his record: 8-5, 10-2, 8-4, 9-4, 7-4 and 5 bowls in a row. At Navy.

PB had a better record against ranked teams than PJ

What like 1-70?

1 is better than ZERO...and it came against a Rival too

[BrianTinBigD]

I believe that PB was the worst coach in SMU history based on winning percentage, expect for Forrest Gregg who only coached 2 years and had a little bit more difficult situation to deal with.

[KnuckleStang]

The only other Navy coach in the "modern era" (?) to have sustained success w/ bowls, etc. was George Welsh, in the late 70's early 80's. He was also regarded as an excellent coach who ran a boring, unimaginative offense. We all know what job he jumped to. Well, maybe y'all don't, he went to UVA (to that point they were a national joke who had enjoyed TWO winning seasons in the previous THIRTY YEARS) and turned them into a winner within 2 years, eventually putting together a string of 17 straight seasons with at least 7 wins or better. In a row. Virginia didn't go for the "sexy" candidate. They went for the good coach. I think it worked out.

Coaches who prove they can win consistently at a place like the Naval Academy don't come along that often.