Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson questions school’s commitment to football
After two straight losses to notable conference opponents, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is questioning the school’s commitment to football.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets started this season 3-0, with wins over Boston College and Vanderbilt as relative highlights. The competition level has risen over the last two games though, against Clemson and Miami, and as expected, two straight losses have come. Head coach Paul Johnson has had a relatively successful run at Georgia Tech, with a 65-46 record into his ninth season.
After a press conference on Monday, Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution passed along some notable remarks from Johnson about the school’s commitment to his sport.
"“Here’s what has to happen, it’s what I tell our team about playing: commitment has to meet expectations,” Johnson said during his press conference Monday, according to Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “You can’t have expectations with no commitment. It won’t work, no matter what you do.”"
"“You guys look, you don’t have to ask me, do you think we have the same things Clemson does?” he asked the room of reporters. “How can the expectation be to beat them?”"
"“People have committed, for whatever reasons, the other schools have committed to it,” the 59-year-old said. “They are committed to having a good program.”"
Georgia Tech is clearly a mid-tier ACC team, as others like Johnson’s cited example of Clemson have risen. The Yellow Jackets did rise up to win 11 games and win the Orange Bowl just two years ago, but a 3-9 campaign in 2015 immediately took the shine off that and perhaps put Johnson on the hot seat.
Johnson brought the run-oriented wishbone offense with him from Navy when he went to Georgia Tech, but that system has become particularly antiquated when compared to the best teams in the ACC.
It’s worth noting that Georgia Tech has a new athletic director, with alum Todd Stansbury officially coming from Oregon State a few weeks ago. Increased investment in the football program could be coming, but Stansbury also has no tie to Johnson that would prevent a coaching change.
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Johnson’s lament about a lack of commitment is common among college coaches of high revenue sports. The recruiting angle is often played up, in a desire for better facilities and such. But in this case, Johnson seems to recognize the 2016 edition of his team needs to turn things around quickly. Otherwise, a change at the top of Georgia Tech’s athletic department will quickly transfer to who is leading the football program.