Navy Football Perspective on PJ

[jkflamebo]

Why is PJ seriously considering SMU when he has turned down UNC, NC State, etc.?

(sorry to anyone with connections there, but I don't count that other college out in Colorado Springs).

I went to USAFA you stupid dumba$$$.....don't dump on another academy while on another teams board. "you dont count that other college"...you should have class......reserve that for your own board knucklehead.

who are these new people stirring it up the board?

[cs09viking]

Why is PJ seriously considering SMU when he has turned down UNC, NC State, etc.?

who are these new people stirring it up the board?

i am a pony fan!

[holden123]

It really was just supposed to be a joke, but you're right; it was ill-considered and I apologize. I'll edit.

[cs09viking]

It really was just supposed to be a joke, but you're right; it was ill-considered and I apologize. I'll edit.[/quote]

thanks. will do the same.

[originaloverthehilltop1]

good perspective holden and interesting post. we don't really care what you think of air force.

[westexSMU]

Navy Football thanks...You have said what I've been trying to explain all along. Remember, Coach Johnson runs the offense he runs at Navy in order to WIN. He threw the ball 80% of the time at Hawaii ! Many here are under estimating Coach Johnson because you don't understand what a GREAT COACH & WINNER Coach Johnson is............He really may be our best choice in that he has WON EVERYWHERE he has been.....If true, what more could we ask for from Orsini than picking a true winner ???

[Pony Soup]

I can't take it anymore. I am a USNA alum, ex football player, and Dallas native. I am more familiar with Navy football and Paul Johnson then probably anyone on here. As I'm reading these posts, I feel a need to answer or clarify a few of the items being discussed about PJ and his fit at SMU:

Recruiting:
Do you really think PJ does not have enough recruiting experience at Navy? Do you think telling a high school kid that he can come play D1 football, but after 4 years, he will have to join the military and end up in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other dangerous part of the country is an easy thing to do? How about the sales pitch he has to put on the parents who would prefer to have their son closer to home and out of harms way. Or what about the top recruit who thinks he's got NFL potential, but PJ has to explain to him there is no such thing as going to the NFL right after college and how he will have to serve for at least 2, but probably five years before he's eligible. Do you really think after experiencing those situations he won't be able to handle the recruitig at SMU. The players he has at Navy have been overlooked by every single D1 school. You only go to five straight bowl games by finding and evaluating talent and then through coaching them up to maximize their potential.

Players not wanting to play in that offense:
If your looking for a coach that will get guys to the NFL, then no, PJ is not your guy. If your players want to come to SMU and use it as a springboard into the NFL, then don't hire PJ. But I believe the overall goal is to WIN games, and that is all PJ is about. He's not afraid to tell it like it is, get up in the face of the best player, or do whatever it takes to win a game. If it means calling a qb sneak on every play to win the game, he would make that call 100% of the time. I love everyone saying the skill position players would transfer because their stats would suffer. The only thing PJ cares about is winning, and if the players are not onboard with that, PJ will personally walk them out the door.

Spread Triple-Option Offense:
PJ runs whatever offense he has to in order to be successful. At Navy, the biggest line-man are 270 lbs, there is no deep threat receiver, and he has 10 qbs on the roster that fit the same mold. He runs the triple option offense not because he wants to, but because it gives Navy the best chance to win. At Hawaii, he threw the ball 80% of the time and set NCAA records in the meantime. He adjusts to the players he's given. That is why he's a successful coach.

As a die hard Navy fan, I hope he does not go to SMU. PJ's goal is to see if his option offense will work in a BCS conference. Because of his current financial situation at Navy (over 1.5 mil/years) and the character of his players, he's turned down offers at NC State, UNC, and other BCS schools. It wasn't because he's not a good recruiter or because his offense would not appeal to fans.

PJ is an amazing coach and I hope he stays put or goes to a BCS conference. Even if he ends up at SMU, you'll have him maybe 3-5 years before he turns your program around and proves again that he's worthy of any coaching position in the country.

A+, Excellent contribution