Bill Belichick has nothing but high praise for Shaq Mason

[GaTech4ever]

Academis may not scare off some blue chip recruits, but GT's perception among recruits, which is driven by academics, does.

Name one thing other than O scheme that turns off recruits that's not tied some how to being a STEM school.

PJs personality? I wouldn't trade him for just about anyone. But I do think the perception that he's a grouchy old man who stays pissed off at the world hurts us in some recruits (and parents) eyes. He isn't good enough to act like Saban.

We can say that if the players can't handle it, we don't want them and they aren't Tech material anyway. But I just think he's only hurting himself and his program with how he often carries himself.

 

[redmule]

How many at GT have to take that? None. Well, I should say none in the Business school have to. I'm not positive on what the requirements are for Psyche majors.

Is it a lot tougher to get through GT than Bama or UNC? Yes. Is it as tough as some on this board make it out to be? No.

Most athletes at GT take Finite and Survey of Calc while doubling up on EAS. Are those still tougher than what 99% of football players across the country are taking? Most definitely, but not unbearable by any stretch of the imagination.

You vastly overestimate the mathematical skills of the population at large which includes high school football players. The girl that graduated second in my high school class was a conscientious student that applied herself to her studies. In her first year in college (not Tech obviously) she called me in tears because she was struggling so much in what was essentially a remedial math class that was the math requirement for her degree field. She was stumped by how you know where to put the decimal when you add numbers with decimals as opposed to multiplying them. Fractions are even more of a mystery to many. We are all ignorant, just on different subjects. I am hopeless in many fields of endeavor. I know many good engineers at Tech and later at work that could not write a complete sentence ,and without spell check they would be deemed illiterate by any normal reader. To say that the math requirement is "not unbearable by any stretch of the imagination" is not defensible. I would be willing to wager that most of the college graduates with Education Degrees in the state of Georgia could not pass Survey of Calc nor would they go to a college that required it.

 

[OldJacketFan]

PJs personality? I wouldn't trade him for just about anyone. But I do think the perception that he's a grouchy old man who stays pissed off at the world hurts us in some recruits (and parents) eyes. He isn't good enough to act like Saban.

We can say that if the players can't handle it, we don't want them and they aren't Tech material anyway. But I just think he's only hurting himself and his program with how he often carries himself.

You might want to talk to some of the Tech parents on here before you say something like that. As a rule they ALL talk about what a funny and delightful person PJ is.

 

[OldJacketFan]

PJs personality? I wouldn't trade him for just about anyone. But I do think the perception that he's a grouchy old man who stays pissed off at the world hurts us in some recruits (and parents) eyes. He isn't good enough to act like Saban.

We can say that if the players can't handle it, we don't want them and they aren't Tech material anyway. But I just think he's only hurting himself and his program with how he often carries himself.

@flea77 you can certainly address better that I can

 

[Lee]

Academis may not scare off some blue chip recruits, but GT's perception among recruits, which is driven by academics, does.

Name one thing other than O scheme that turns off recruits that's not tied some how to being a STEM school.

Location. Not everybody loves the idea of going to school in downtown Atlanta. I've heard the crime in Atlanta used against us before.

I do agree that the perception of GT in terms of academics is used a lot in recruiting battles. My initial post was just to say that it's not as tough as some make it out to be once you get on campus. That doesn't matter that much in recruiting circles, but it's the truth.

Part of me think that some of our alumni (not you necessarily) don't want to admit that it's not as hard as they think it is because it will harm the academic perception of the school. Based on what I've read from some older posters on here, GT is not what it used to be. My GPA was actually higher at Tech than HS (a lot of which had to do with effort). It's still tough, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's nearly as cut throat as it sounds like it was for previous generations.

 

[ATL1]

I personally don't think CPJ is a strong recruiter, no I don't have anything more than my opinion on that.

 

[GaTech4ever]

You might want to talk to some of the Tech parents on here before you say something like that. As a rule they ALL talk about what a funny and delightful person PJ is.

I wasn't talking about current players' parents. They obviously liked him enough to let their kid go here. My point was centered around those whose kids haven't played for him yet, who are trying to decide the best place for their child and use perception to help base their opinion. I'm not saying he's not a good guy.

 

[OldJacketFan]

I wasn't talking about current players' parents. They obviously liked him enough to let their kid go here. My point was centered around those whose kids haven't played for him yet, who are trying to decide the best place for their child and use perception to help base their opinion. I'm not saying he's not a good guy.

Do you think there is an iota of difference between the parents between parents that have youngins' playing at Tech and those who don't when it comes to how they feel about PJ? He's the same both groups, I would think he'd be received well by both groups. I've never seen anything to suggest otherwise. Have you? Why would think it would there would be a different perception? I'm not saying he's universally loved, no coach is. But I fail to see anything to suggest he turns off parents of players Tech is recruiting.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Location. Not everybody loves the idea of going to school in downtown Atlanta. I've heard the crime in Atlanta used against us before.

I do agree that the perception of GT in terms of academics is used a lot in recruiting battles. My initial post was just to say that it's not as tough as some make it out to be once you get on campus. That doesn't matter that much in recruiting circles, but it's the truth.

Part of me think that some of our alumni (not you necessarily) don't want to admit that it's not as hard as they think it is because it will harm the academic perception of the school. Based on what I've read from some older posters on here, GT is not what it used to be. My GPA was actually higher at Tech than HS (a lot of which had to do with effort). It's still tough, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it's nearly as cut throat as it sounds like it was for previous generations.

I thought of location, too, but left it out because so many on here think the "ATL" is some huge draw for innercity youth around the the country.

I realize GT may have tacked away from the "weedout" mentality that existed during my time, but I still think the average college applicant is woefully unprepared for the academic demands at Ma Tech, with or without the GTAA hand holding.

 

[Lee]

You vastly overestimate the mathematical skills of the population at large which includes high school football players. The girl that graduated second in my high school class was a conscientious student that applied herself to her studies. In her first year in college (not Tech obviously) she called me in tears because she was struggling so much in what was essentially a remedial math class that was the math requirement for her degree field. She was stumped by how you know where to put the decimal when you add numbers with decimals as opposed to multiplying them. Fractions are even more of a mystery to many. We are all ignorant, just on different subjects. I am hopeless in many fields of endeavor. I know many good engineers at Tech and later at work that could not write a complete sentence ,and without spell check they would be deemed illiterate by any normal reader. To say that the math requirement is "not unbearable by any stretch of the imagination" is not defensible. I would be willing to wager that most of the college graduates with Education Degrees in the state of Georgia could not pass Survey of Calc nor would they go to a college that required it.

I agree that math is not for everyone and I'm sure there are plenty that couldn't cut it. I would venture to say that most that couldn't cut it would be due to lack of effort more than anything. I played with a few guys and saw several in other sports that I had no clue how they got into the school. They all "got out." It's not that hard to get a D in those classes if you show up, which is mandatory for Freshman.

I made 2 of my 3 C's at GT my first semester and that was purely due to effort. I was used to not having to put forth much in the classroom to make A's and B's. I was much more interested in girls and sports. Most of my effort was working on improving my game for both... I quickly learned the effort it would take to be successful at GT and made the necessary changes. I'm not that smart either.

That's what is great about Tech to me. It teaches you what it takes to be successful. The one's that usually struggle at GT and/or fail out aren't because they aren't smart enough, it's because they don't want to put in the effort it takes to be successful. This is why GT grads are typically so successful when they get out, they are prepared and understand what it means to work hard and be pushed to limits they didn't think they could overcome.

 

[Lee]

I thought of location, too, but left it out because so many on here think the "ATL" is some huge draw for innercity youth around the the country.

I realize GT may have tacked away from the "weedout" mentality that existed during my time, but I still think the average college applicant is woefully unprepared for the academic demands at Ma Tech, with or without the GTAA hand holding.

I agree with this. I wasn't ready for it my first semester by any stretch of the imagination. As I mentioned in my last post though, I think effort and work ethic have as much to do with being successful as anything else, if not more for those that are admitted into GT. I guess that's the "weed out" process now. On top of the classes being tough, the workload is pretty heavy for anyone, much less an athlete that is used to coasting in HS.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

I agree that math is not for everyone and I'm sure there are plenty that couldn't cut it. I would venture to say that most that couldn't cut it would be due to lack of effort more than anything. I played with a few guys and saw several in other sports that I had no clue how they got into the school. They all "got out." It's not that hard to get a D in those classes if you show up, which is mandatory for Freshman.

I made 2 of my 3 C's at GT my first semester and that was purely due to effort. I was used to not having to put forth much in the classroom to make A's and B's. I was much more interested in girls and sports. Most of my effort was working on improving my game for both... I quickly learned the effort it would take to be successful at GT and made the necessary changes. I'm not that smart either.

That's what is great about Tech to me. It teaches you what it takes to be successful. The one's that usually struggle at GT and/or fail out aren't because they aren't smart enough, it's because they don't want to put in the effort it takes to be successful. This is why GT grads are typically so successful when they get out, they are prepared and understand what it means to work hard and be pushed to limits they didn't think they could overcome.

The big difference between you and the vast majority of blue chip recruits is you graduated hs with the required foundation in math to be successful at Tech.

 

[GaTech4ever]

Do you think there is an iota of difference between the parents between parents that have youngins' playing at Tech and those who don't when it comes to how they feel about PJ? He's the same both groups, I would think he'd be received well by both groups. I've never seen anything to suggest otherwise. Have you? Why would think it would there would be a different perception? I'm not saying he's universally loved, no coach is. But I fail to see anything to suggest he turns off parents of players Tech is recruiting.

Yeah, I definitely do think there's a difference in the perception of Paul Johnson between those who have had their kids play for him for 4+ years, and those whose perception of him largely stems from how they see him in the media (and on the field sometimes, but this is less of a concern personally).

Regardless, I think you're missing my point. My point is not whether or not he acts differently with recruits and his players. My point is when you're a parent of a recruit and you have a limited sample size/interaction with him, you go off what you see. I don't think that's a stretch at all. If he gets a chance to actually visit someone's home then he already (literally) has his foot in the door. But what about those parents who cross GT off their list right away because he comes across as a jerk sometimes? I have had multiple successful GT players who played for him for their whole career tell me he's an a-hole. Granted, that could be kids this generation not knowing how to handle tough love/old-school style. Regardless, that's as close to seeing something to suggest otherwise as I can give you. Obviously no parent is going to come out and volunteer a negative opinion on him, especially if their kid isn't going here. Again, this doesn't mean he's a bad guy or not a good coach. It's obvious to me he's a good guy AND a good football coach. But in my opinion, if you think CPJ is doing all he can to help how he (and therefore the program) is perceived, you aren't seeing the reality.

 

[OldJacketFan]

Yeah, I definitely do think there's a difference in the perception of Paul Johnson between those who have had their kids play for him for 4+ years, and those whose perception of him largely stems from how they see him in the media (and on the field sometimes, but this is less of a concern personally).

Regardless, I think you're missing my point. My point is not whether or not he acts differently with recruits and his players. My point is when you're a parent of a recruit and you have a limited sample size/interaction with him, you go off what you see. I don't think that's a stretch at all. If he gets a chance to actually visit someone's home then he already (literally) has his foot in the door. But what about those parents who cross GT off their list right away because he comes across as a jerk sometimes? I have had multiple successful GT players who played for him for their whole career tell me he's an a-hole. That's as close to seeing something to suggest otherwise as I can give you. Obviously no parent is going to come out and give their opinion on him, especially if their kid isn't going there. Again, this doesn't mean he's a bad guy or not a good coach. It's obvious to me he's a good guy AND a good football coach. But in my opinion, if you think CPJ is doing all he can to help how he (and therefore the program) is perceived, you aren't seeing the reality.

Then I guess we have differing opinion. I know how my son and I were treated when we were at Tech camps and his visit. Oh and he's not at Tech playing, he decided to not play and focus solely on his studies much to dad's initial chagrin

 

[GaTech4ever]

Then I guess we have differing opinion. I know how my son and I were treated when we were at Tech camps and his visit. Oh and he's not at Tech playing, he decided to not play and focus solely on his studies much to dad's initial chagrin

Again, I'm not saying he treats any recruits/players wrong at all! I'm saying there are people out there who don't get the opportunity to meet him in person who have this opinion because of how he is perceived. And the perception is largely a result of how he carries himself in the media.

 

[OldJacketFan]

Again, I'm not saying he treats any recruits/players wrong at all! I'm saying there are people out there who don't get the opportunity to meet him in person who have this opinion because of how he is perceived. And the perception is largely a result of how he carries himself in the media.

And I'll say to that, if that "perception" is the reason ANY parent or player rules out Tech there are a LOT of coaches out there that suffer from the same perception. And I'm not talking about the Sabans, Meyer and the like. We met a ton of coaches over the years who came across wonderfully in the media and who are complete douche bags away from the cameras. I understand where you're coming from but I simply disagree it is a factor unless a player or parent is predisposed to that mindset.

 

[LongforDodd]

You might want to talk to some of the Tech parents on here before you say something like that. As a rule they ALL talk about what a funny and delightful person PJ is.

 

[Boomergump]

It may have been more of the fact his thoughts were on his Dad's illness than anything else.

Can you imagine trying to play football and do well in classes, all while your dad struggling for his life in the hospital? I admire Freddy for playing through it. There is absolutely no way that these personal circumstances failed to affect the rest of his life to some degree. I hope that Fred has found peace and that he can regain some kind of normalcy to his student-athlete existence. He may indeed have been hurt, but it probably paled in comparison to what he was feeling in his heart.

 

[B Lifsey]

@Boomergump , no, I can't come close to imagining what his mental, emotional and physical ups and downs were. At 50, I watched my 80 year old mom battle and eventually succumb to cancer and it tore me up. A very hard, tough year for him...

 

[Skeptic]

Yeah, I definitely do think there's a difference in the perception of Paul Johnson between those who have had their kids play for him for 4+ years, and those whose perception of him largely stems from how they see him in the media (and on the field sometimes, but this is less of a concern personally).

Regardless, I think you're missing my point. My point is not whether or not he acts differently with recruits and his players. My point is when you're a parent of a recruit and you have a limited sample size/interaction with him, you go off what you see. I don't think that's a stretch at all. If he gets a chance to actually visit someone's home then he already (literally) has his foot in the door. But what about those parents who cross GT off their list right away because he comes across as a jerk sometimes? I have had multiple successful GT players who played for him for their whole career tell me he's an a-hole. Granted, that could be kids this generation not knowing how to handle tough love/old-school style. Regardless, that's as close to seeing something to suggest otherwise as I can give you. Obviously no parent is going to come out and volunteer a negative opinion on him, especially if their kid isn't going here. Again, this doesn't mean he's a bad guy or not a good coach. It's obvious to me he's a good guy AND a good football coach. But in my opinion, if you think CPJ is doing all he can to help how he (and therefore the program) is perceived, you aren't seeing the reality.

If parents of recruits saw Dabo Swinney go off on his punter in the ACC championship game -- it was, in Blazing Saddles lingo, a doozie -- would they allow their boy to go to Clemson as a result of a sideline flareup? (I know I am being kind, because it was a a world class rant.)

Yet from what I have been told of Swinney from one close to him, once he walked away that second time, it was a done deal, over and done with, and he'd never bring it up again nor hold it against the player. And sure enough the kid was trusted to punt two or three times more afterwards.

Or might doubters recall those wild "dance" celebrations in the locker room after every win, with Swinney in the middle, and his players saying they love to play for him; his pizza night for 30,000 fans after 13-0, and then wait until Swinney came into their house before deciding? Because dollars to donuts if he gets his feet under the dining room table that boy is Clemson bound, and that rant goes to the rear view mirror. Johnson is not so demonstrative for sure, but I don't recall reading about any parent crossing Tech off because of him. The point being, if there is one, is that there are many mitigating factors with parents and players, and face time most often is the determinant. Not to mention of course, the recruits meet a lot of players before committing, and truth always outs.