Johnson

[Skeptic]

Nope not after 3-9 season, where he tries to call out the defense when his offense was the problem!!! However is we go 8-4 or 9-3 CPJ will probably pick up his 4th ACC Coach of the year award!!!!!!

Need to get yourself some more exclamation points. I always feel a guy with five or six of them is much more right than with only one. Or even none.

 

[65Jacket]

Jacketup, how many more times do I have to explain to you that the academic restrictions on football recruits are far more severe now than they were under OLeary and even more so than they were under Ross. In easy language, we can't take the type players Ross, OLeary, or Gailey could.That is a fact!

 

[swampsting]

First, CPJ likes being in Atlanta. He likes being at Tech. He likes the kind of young man you have to recruit at Tech - someone with some gray matter and who has some character about him. He doesn't want to have to have a probation officer or the school attorney on his favorites call list.

He gets exceptions but it is different now. And he gets a couple, not a dozen. We got punished for past transgressions, remember, and a lot of the guys GOL got into school, how many of them could get in now?

PJ knows it takes speed to compete. Look at last year's signing class - Philpott, Benson, Cottrell ... all speed guys. And those are just the ones off the top of my head.

Fritz is probably at GSU one more year, maybe two, before he goes to another conference that doesn't suck out loud. They can't afford to keep him beyond that.

 

[Techster]

He gets exceptions but it is different now. And he gets a couple, not a dozen. We got punished for past transgressions, remember, and a lot of the guys GOL got into school, how many of them could get in now?

Actually, Bobinski has said CPJ can have as many "exceptions" as he wants. They are no longer going to put a number of how many he can bring in. If a kid is 50/50...CPJ gets the final say.

The caveat is it's on CPJ if he kid makes it or not. CPJ is a smart guy...even with the rope Bobinski is giving him, he's not bringing a line of guys who are academic risks and hang himself. There's no point in bringing in a kid who will play one year, and get kicked out for academics next year. It does GT and the kid no good no matter what level of talent the kid may be. CPJ has talked about how he's been here long enough to know what kind of kid will or will not make it.

 

[upwgdrb]

This is absurd, and it perpetuates the meathead position that says doing anything different is a gimmick. It's no different than the A's or Rays in baseball, who are competing against teams with financial advantages they can't overcome allocating significant funds to free agents. Instead, they have to find players whose value isn't seen by the market at large (think Ben Zobrist). We should embrace creativity and not run from it.

Did you read what he said? He is saying we need to recruit nationwide which right now would be very creative. We have limited our recruiting area for some reason. Some if it may be a previous budgetary limitation that is not longer there since MBob came.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

How many of those guys would NOT have stayed eligible with today's APR? You don't know any more than I do...APR is a convenient excuse for not recruiting better talent. There is elite talent willing to do the work, and capable of doing the work. We just need to get them.

For instance, a QB like Josh Dobbs (Tennessee's starter), a 4 Star dual threat QB and an Elite 11 QB, that prepped 20 minutes up I-400 LOVED GT's aerospace engineering program wanted to come here for the academics, but GT's offense didn't fit him. You think a talent like that would play in a system like Art Briles or Gus Malzahns that uses the option to complement the vertical passing game? Guys like Dwyer, Nesbitt, Sean Renfree (a commit under Gailey, now an NFL QB), Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, etc...all got through GT's academics.

The point is, there are enough guys who can get into GT and do the work, and enough top tier guys, that saying "CPJ's system is the only system that will make GT successful" is false. There are plenty of top level recruits that can and will do the work at GT...GT just needs to give those recruits a reason to come here. We're not going to get a line of elite guys lining up to play here, but we can get our fair share, and we have before. I agree recruiting ain't easy, but having CPJ's system makes it harder. I'm saying that as someone who actually likes CPJ's system.

Your list better be 10x that long if you want to field a good team. Cherry picking a handful of our best players going back 10+ years ain't gonna do it for me. Any team can make a fantasy allstar team out of the last 10 years and say "all we gotta do is just recruit these guys." Yeah, right.

And APR is not an excuse, it's reality. It's not just that, academic scandal from

Jacketup, how many more times do I have to explain to you that the academic restrictions on football recruits are far more severe now than they were under OLeary and even more so than they were under Ross. In easy language, we can't take the type players Ross, OLeary, or Gailey could.That is a fact!

I've been saying this very thing for a long time.

 

[upwgdrb]

Actually, Bobinski has said CPJ can have as many "exceptions" as he wants. They are no longer going to put a number of how many he can bring in. If a kid is 50/50...CPJ gets the final say.

The caveat is it's on CPJ if he kid makes it or not. CPJ is a smart guy...even with the rope Bobinski is giving him, he's not bringing a line of guys who are academic risks and hang himself. There's no point in bringing in a kid who will play one year, and get kicked out for academics next year. It does GT and the kid no good no matter what level of talent the kid may be. CPJ has talked about how he's been here long enough to know what kind of kid will or will not make it.

MBob is giving CPJ all the tools to he needs to be a consistent top 25 program. He has added to the recruiting budget and lifted the limit on exceptions. I don't see how CPJ could ask for more than that.
I will once again say it once again, CPJ is a super talented coach, the expectations should be higher for him. He can do better on a consistent basis and I believe he can win a National Championship here. I want him to live up to potential.

 

[Techster]

Your list better be 10x that long if you want to field a good team. Cherry picking a handful of our best players going back 10+ years ain't gonna do it for me. Any team can make a fantasy allstar team out of the last 10 years and say "all we gotta do is just recruit these guys." Yeah, right.

And APR is not an excuse, it's reality. It's not just that, academic scandal from

I've been saying this very thing for a long time.

Um, notice the timing when those elite offensive recruits stopped coming in? Funny how it coincided with CPJ's arrival with his offense?

Re-read what I wrote...I never said GT was stuffing our classes with elite recruits. I said "Friedgen didn't get top level offensive recruiting classes, but he got really good recruits and sprinkled it with top tier guys." That has always been GT's formula for success. Find good recruits we can develop into our system (guys like Shaq Mason, Orwin Smith, Andrew Gardner, etc.), and sprinkle it in with difference makers like Dwyer, Demaryius Thomas, Calvin Johnson, Josh Nesbitt, etc. We just need to sign more guys like the Dwyers and Demaryius to go with guys like the Shaqs and Orwins.

That's not a slam on CPJ's offense...that's just the reality of recruiting to his system, which has been well documented, and many elite recruits have said publicly.

 

[iceeater1969]

Y'all do know that Fritz is only 3 years younger than PJ?

Ill

Jacketup, how many more times do I have to explain to you that the academic restrictions on football recruits are far more severe now than they were under OLeary and even more so than they were under Ross. In easy language, we can't take the type players Ross, OLeary, or Gailey could.That is a fact!

Does our tougher entrance and limited courses lead to believe we would be better if we recruited in a small area or a large area? Answer is obvious to me ?

To me we have to find a way - ,coach should demand it. Gtaa shouls seek $$ . I already sent in a donation.
Can't get any support on this site. How bout u 65

 

[augustabuzz]

How many of those guys would NOT have stayed eligible with today's APR? You don't know any more than I do...APR is a convenient excuse for not recruiting better talent. There is elite talent willing to do the work, and capable of doing the work. We just need to get them.

For instance, a QB like Josh Dobbs (Tennessee's starter), a 4 Star dual threat QB and an Elite 11 QB, that prepped 20 minutes up I-400 LOVED GT's aerospace engineering program wanted to come here for the academics, but GT's offense didn't fit him. You think a talent like that would play in a system like Art Briles or Gus Malzahns that uses the option to complement the vertical passing game? Guys like Dwyer, Nesbitt, Sean Renfree (a commit under Gailey, now an NFL QB), Calvin Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, etc...all got through GT's academics.

The point is, there are enough guys who can get into GT and do the work, and enough top tier guys, that saying "CPJ's system is the only system that will make GT successful" is false. There are plenty of top level recruits that can and will do the work at GT...GT just needs to give those recruits a reason to come here. We're not going to get a line of elite guys lining up to play here, but we can get our fair share, and we have before. I agree recruiting ain't easy, but having CPJ's system makes it harder. I'm saying that as someone who actually likes CPJ's system.

It took a long time to recover from "Flunkgate". I think it is still a mitigating factor in using exceptions.

 

[redmule]

Didn't Gailey have a lot of cleanup to do academically after O'Leary left. Hell, O'Leary couldn't keep his own academic record straight. I liked O'Leary and was very disappointed to see him leave, but I've been to two Orange Bowls with CPJ, and that hadn't happened since Dodd was here.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

Regardless, next year is crucial. It is tough to recover from back to back bad seasons.

 

[Skeptic]

Um, notice the timing when those elite offensive recruits stopped coming in? Funny how it coincided with CPJ's arrival with his offense?

Re-read what I wrote...I never said GT was stuffing our classes with elite recruits. I said "Friedgen didn't get top level offensive recruiting classes, but he got really good recruits and sprinkled it with top tier guys." That has always been GT's formula for success. Find good recruits we can develop into our system (guys like Shaq Mason, Orwin Smith, Andrew Gardner, etc.), and sprinkle it in with difference makers like Dwyer, Demaryius Thomas, Calvin Johnson, Josh Nesbitt, etc. We just need to sign more guys like the Dwyers and Demaryius to go with guys like the Shaqs and Orwins.

That's not a slam on CPJ's offense...that's just the reality of recruiting to his system, which has been well documented, and many elite recruits have said publicly.

And we were doing so well before Johnson, too.

 

[JorgeJonas]

Even if Johnson is allowed to recruit at the NCAA minimum (which I seem to recall that he is), it doesn't change the fact that there are limited majors and, more importantly, the kids with whom the athletes are in class are as talented as ever. I'm not certain I'd even get admitted to Tech now. And if the kids are smarter, that means the athletes have to be, too, or they get left behind. That doesn't exactly do wonders for the school's APR, which in turn would eventually leave us with scholarship reductions.

 

[Techster]

And we were doing so well before Johnson, too.

I'm a big CPJ fan, but comments like this are a bit ridiculous considering some overlooked facts.

FACT: In the last 18 years, GT has had 2 losing records.
FACT: CPJ is the only coach in the last 18 years to have a losing record (2010 6-7; 2015 3-9)

FACT: GT had the nation's 2nd longest bowl streak at 17 straight bowl games
FACT: GT's bowl streak ended in 2015 under CPJ.

FACT: CPJ has had more double digit win seasons since Bobby Dodd.
FACT: CPJ has played an average of 13.13 games a season. Chan Gailey teams played an average of 12.67 games per season. George O'Leary teams played an average of 11.71 games per season (did not include the 3 games GOL had to coach as the interim HC). Bobby Ross teams played an average of 11.6 games per season. Bobby Dodd teams played an average of 10.77 games per season.

FACT: Since 1995 (20 years), GT has never had a losing record in ACC play.
FACT: 2015 is the first year GT has had a losing record in ACC play since 1995.

FACT: Paul Johnson has played in 3 ACC Championships, and won 1 (2009).
FACT: Every GT HC since Bobby Ross (excluding "he who shall not be named") has either won the ACC Championship or been to the ACC Championship game, and every coach since then excluding Gailey has won an ACC Championship.

FACT: Paul Johnson has a 59.38 win percentage in ACC play.
FACT: George O'Leary had a 62.07 win percentage in ACC play. Chan Gailey had a 58.33 win percentage in ACC play.

There are other pretty interesting facts if you dig into it, but I think the point is made. The gist is, CPJ is a good coach, but GT wasn't exactly struggling before he got here. I'm a big CPJ fan, but let's not make him out to be something he's not.

GT has been a good football program for the last 20+ plus years. In fact, you could say GT has been a model of consistency in terms of being a competitve football team. CPJ didn't exactly have to save us from college football purgatory.

 

[croberts]

I

MBob is giving CPJ all the tools to he needs to be a consistent top 25 program. He has added to the recruiting budget and lifted the limit on exceptions. I don't see how CPJ could ask for more than that.
I will once again say it once again, CPJ is a super talented coach, the expectations should be higher for him. He can do better on a consistent basis and I believe he can win a National Championship here. I want him to live up to potential.

I like high expectations as much as you but would tell you that 75 other ADs have given their coach everything they have asked for and should be in the top 25 every year. They also have more degrees to choose from and places to hide kids that were not thinking about education until they ran a 10.6 100 meter in the 10th grade. That kid is in the majority in the SEC. Review the degrees and you will find 60 to 70% of players are in degree programs that carry very little value after completion. I am not satisfied with this year but am not as concerned as much as some , as I truly feel the guy hates to lose as much as anyone in this business. I am complaining about our limitations but our coach has embraced who we are and believes he can win a championship. All I have to here is pj tell me he still believes that.

 

[southernhive]

Ross left after winning national championship and O'Leary left for Notre Dame. I think O'Leary had one foot our the door before ND came calling based on some of his public comments, but that is pure speculation.

TBH, I did not want Gailey fired (I don't want to start that debate up), but I was then and I still am now happy with CPJ hire. I have seen no reason to ditch CPJ. He seems to be committed to GT for the long haul. He is committed to the Student Athletes for more than just football. He is running a clean program.

I think this year was an anomaly of several factors hitting all at once, such as schedule, graduation, and injuries. I'm not happy with how things turned out, but I am not willing to jump on the Fire CPJ bandwagon either.

 

[65Jacket]

Ill


Does our tougher entrance and limited courses lead to believe we would be better if we recruited in a small area or a large area? Answer is obvious to me ?

To me we have to find a way - ,coach should demand it. Gtaa shouls seek $$ . I already sent in a donation.
Can't get any support on this site. How bout u 65

I've given well for a long time. It irks me that some would rather go on Stub Hub than pay the ticket fee to help the program.

 

[JorgeJonas]

I'm a big CPJ fan, but comments like this are a bit ridiculous considering some overlooked facts.

FACT: In the last 18 years, GT has had 2 losing records.
FACT: CPJ is the only coach in the last 18 years to have a losing record (2010 6-7; 2015 3-9)

FACT: GT had the nation's 2nd longest bowl streak at 17 straight bowl games
FACT: GT's bowl streak ended in 2015 under CPJ.

FACT: CPJ has had more double digit win seasons since Bobby Dodd.
FACT: CPJ has played an average of 13.13 games a season. Chan Gailey teams played an average of 12.67 games per season. George O'Leary teams played an average of 11.71 games per season (did not include the 3 games GOL had to coach as the interim HC). Bobby Ross teams played an average of 11.6 games per season. Bobby Dodd teams played an average of 10.77 games per season.

FACT: Since 1995 (20 years), GT has never had a losing record in ACC play.
FACT: 2015 is the first year GT has had a losing record in ACC play since 1995.

FACT: Paul Johnson has played in 3 ACC Championships, and won 1 (2009).
FACT: Every GT HC since Bobby Ross (excluding "he who shall not be named") has either won the ACC Championship or been to the ACC Championship game, and every coach since then excluding Gailey has won an ACC Championship.

FACT: Paul Johnson has a 59.38 win percentage in ACC play.
FACT: George O'Leary had a 62.07 win percentage in ACC play. Chan Gailey had a 58.33 win percentage in ACC play.

There are other pretty interesting facts if you dig into it, but I think the point is made. The gist is, CPJ is a good coach, but GT wasn't exactly struggling before he got here. I'm a big CPJ fan, but let's not make him out to be something he's not.

GT has been a good football program for the last 20+ plus years. In fact, you could say GT has been a model of consistency in terms of being a competitve football team. CPJ didn't exactly have to save us from college football purgatory.

You're assuming the level of competition has remained the same. Gailey coached in an ACC with a down FSU and Clemson and North Carolina. So down, in fact, that Wake Forest won the conference (against Gailey's team, ironically enough). No one is suggesting Johnson walks on water or that Gailey was a bum, but it should seem clear that Johnson is a superior coach. As for O'Leary, he had a terrific 1998 season, but people remember him fondly because he beat UGA three times in a row. I won't hold his record of hiring great assistants against him, but the Fridge was the highest paid assistant in America when he was here. Let's give Johnson $2MM to hire a DC and see what happens.

 

[iceeater1969]

I've given well for a long time. It irks me that some would rather go on Stub Hub than pay the ticket fee to help the program.

We lived in tex but moved to nw fla so could go to games. Only gave to aa, but after seeing how Baylor football changed the college and city I have started helping gtaa quite a bit more than aa. If we win big in downtown atl, the prestige of a gt degree as viewd by general public would greatly increase ( as well as merchadise sales from zero to measurable, sellouts, roudy crowds, no room for dawg fans, better uni contract, etc) .

I never buy stub hub as prefer to sit w gt fans.