Would have been nice to have a killer

[dcpony]

like PJ on the sidelines. Good read.

Paul Johnson Hired by Ga. Tech: All Attitude
Matt Zemek
CollegeFootballNews.com Dec 8, 2007

Now that Georgia Tech has taken the plunge and hired Paul Johnson, the college football community is waiting to see if the triple option--or a variation thereof--will rule the roost in the ACC. However, to think this hire is all about offense is to underestimate the man who made Navy football great again.


There's no question that Johnson's calling card is his offensive wizardry, a potent combination of schematic precision and play-calling feel that won a boatload of ballgames at Georgia Southern and Navy. Johnson's X-and-O understanding of the sport enabled him to become one of the great coaches in service academy history, and probably the best coach in the Army-Navy rivalry since George Welsh piloted the Midshipmen in the late 1970s. It was only a matter of time before a BCS conference school sought Johnson's services. That Georgia Tech became that school isn't very surprising.

For one thing, Johnson's history in the state of Georgia didn't hurt. On an even more obvious level, though, the impotence of Georgia Tech's offenses in the Chan Gailey era made it that much more important for the Yellow Jackets to seek a man who could light up the scoreboard in Atlanta. The frustration and futility of the Reggie Ball years, which robbed all-world receiver Calvin Johnson of even greater statistical achievements while denying the Jackets an ACC title, made it all too clear that Gailey--for an offensive mind--failed in his attempt to build on the George O'Leary years. If anything, the Tech program--despite the efforts of stellar defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta--regressed under Gailey. Johnson is the new play-calling sheriff in town, charged with providing a winning wisdom that can outflank and outthink ACC opponents.

But just in case you think Johnson's hire is all about offense, think again. The reason why Johnson's offensive knowledge jumps from blackboard to playing field is that this superb head coach posesses the attitude of a winner.

Yes, Johnson isn't a maverick personality or a rebellious figure in the college football world (unlike, say, a Steve Spurrier or a Mike Leach). This ascendant member of the coaching fraternity ran the GSU and Navy programs cleanly and with distinction. However, Johnson has had some testy and prickly exchanges with journalists over the years. This isn't a profound failing (coaches aren't generally buddy-buddy with the press) or a major news flash, but it's worth mentioning just because Johnson possesses the edge and swagger of an especially vigorous competitor. Navy teams achieved what they did over the past five years because Johnson wouldn't allow them to settle for being a .500 program, which--in Annapolis--would have been perfectly acceptable (as long as Army usually got defeated) when Johnson took over as the man in charge of the Midshipmen. A relentless insistence on top-shelf execution catapulted Navy to new heights at a time in college football when service academy football lacked prestige and heft. Johnson truly was the spiritual and emotional center of a renaissance in the life of Navy football. Attitude, not offense, provided the fuel behind a rapid rise to pigskin prominence in Annapolis. Without Johnson's hard-edged and driven pursuit of perfection, the coach's play-calling gifts wouldn't have mattered all that much. Navy won ballgames under Johnson's leadership because the Midshipmen bought into the message their coach sold them. The execution of the triple option merely fulfilled on gameday what already started in Johnson's offseason sessions, mini-camps, and game-week practices.

Paul Johnson's offensive mind will have a lot to do with his level of success in Atlanta, but Navy's ex-coach will either sink or swim based on his ability to instill a winning attitude into a program that has underachieved in recent years. Georgia Tech might have a new offensive system and a new plan of attack on Saturdays, but without a newfound injection of mental toughness--which was noticeably absent in the Chan Gailey era--the Xs and Os won't override the Jimmies and Joes. Paul Johnson will win big in Atlanta if his insistence on excellence is absorbed by the players who represent the future of the Yellow Jacket program. What will that future be? That's the question that is waiting to be answered.

[bigdaddy08091]

like PJ on the sidelines. Good read.

Paul Johnson Hired by Ga. Tech: All Attitude
Matt Zemek
CollegeFootballNews.com Dec 8, 2007

Now that Georgia Tech has taken the plunge and hired Paul Johnson, the college football community is waiting to see if the triple option--or a variation thereof--will rule the roost in the ACC. However, to think this hire is all about offense is to underestimate the man who made Navy football great again.


There's no question that Johnson's calling card is his offensive wizardry, a potent combination of schematic precision and play-calling feel that won a boatload of ballgames at Georgia Southern and Navy. Johnson's X-and-O understanding of the sport enabled him to become one of the great coaches in service academy history, and probably the best coach in the Army-Navy rivalry since George Welsh piloted the Midshipmen in the late 1970s. It was only a matter of time before a BCS conference school sought Johnson's services. That Georgia Tech became that school isn't very surprising.

For one thing, Johnson's history in the state of Georgia didn't hurt. On an even more obvious level, though, the impotence of Georgia Tech's offenses in the Chan Gailey era made it that much more important for the Yellow Jackets to seek a man who could light up the scoreboard in Atlanta. The frustration and futility of the Reggie Ball years, which robbed all-world receiver Calvin Johnson of even greater statistical achievements while denying the Jackets an ACC title, made it all too clear that Gailey--for an offensive mind--failed in his attempt to build on the George O'Leary years. If anything, the Tech program--despite the efforts of stellar defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta--regressed under Gailey. Johnson is the new play-calling sheriff in town, charged with providing a winning wisdom that can outflank and outthink ACC opponents.

But just in case you think Johnson's hire is all about offense, think again. The reason why Johnson's offensive knowledge jumps from blackboard to playing field is that this superb head coach posesses the attitude of a winner.

Yes, Johnson isn't a maverick personality or a rebellious figure in the college football world (unlike, say, a Steve Spurrier or a Mike Leach). This ascendant member of the coaching fraternity ran the GSU and Navy programs cleanly and with distinction. However, Johnson has had some testy and prickly exchanges with journalists over the years. This isn't a profound failing (coaches aren't generally buddy-buddy with the press) or a major news flash, but it's worth mentioning just because Johnson possesses the edge and swagger of an especially vigorous competitor. Navy teams achieved what they did over the past five years because Johnson wouldn't allow them to settle for being a .500 program, which--in Annapolis--would have been perfectly acceptable (as long as Army usually got defeated) when Johnson took over as the man in charge of the Midshipmen. A relentless insistence on top-shelf execution catapulted Navy to new heights at a time in college football when service academy football lacked prestige and heft. Johnson truly was the spiritual and emotional center of a renaissance in the life of Navy football. Attitude, not offense, provided the fuel behind a rapid rise to pigskin prominence in Annapolis. Without Johnson's hard-edged and driven pursuit of perfection, the coach's play-calling gifts wouldn't have mattered all that much. Navy won ballgames under Johnson's leadership because the Midshipmen bought into the message their coach sold them. The execution of the triple option merely fulfilled on gameday what already started in Johnson's offseason sessions, mini-camps, and game-week practices.

Paul Johnson's offensive mind will have a lot to do with his level of success in Atlanta, but Navy's ex-coach will either sink or swim based on his ability to instill a winning attitude into a program that has underachieved in recent years. Georgia Tech might have a new offensive system and a new plan of attack on Saturdays, but without a newfound injection of mental toughness--which was noticeably absent in the Chan Gailey era--the Xs and Os won't override the Jimmies and Joes. Paul Johnson will win big in Atlanta if his insistence on excellence is absorbed by the players who represent the future of the Yellow Jacket program. What will that future be? That's the question that is waiting to be answered.

Would be nice if you would post this [deleted] on GT board. We could care less at this point. Yall got him and God Bless. We will see what is being said about halfway through the season 08.

[Arkpony]

Well I disagree! I could NOT care less! (meaning I don't care at all)

[ALEX LIFESON]

It would be real nice, if some people didn't copy and paste every month long post.

[Stallion]

yeah what's up with that

[westexSMU]

[quote="dcpony"]like PJ on the sidelines. Good read.

Paul Johnson Hired by Ga. Tech: All Attitude
Matt Zemek
CollegeFootballNews.com Dec 8, 2007

On an even more obvious level, though, the impotence of Georgia Tech's offenses in the Chan Gailey era made it that much more important for the Yellow Jackets to seek a man who could light up the scoreboard in Atlanta. The frustration and futility of the Reggie Ball years, which robbed all-world receiver Calvin Johnson of even greater statistical achievements while denying the Jackets an ACC title, made it all too clear that Gailey--for an offensive mind--failed in his attempt to build on the George O'Leary years. If anything, the Tech program--despite the efforts of stellar defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta--regressed under Gailey.[/quote].....................You guys missed the important part of the article which says exactly what I have been saying about Chan Gailey. I have said Jon Tenuta was the good part of Gailey's staff. SMU is about to make another HUGE MISTAKE if we offer this guy our job. Hey Orsini, read this..