It’s that time of year again! The time to laud the disappointments of season (unless you’re Alabama & Clemson), remember the good times, (hopefully) learn from our mistakes, and resolve to make improvements going forward. What better time to reflect on the legacy of an outgoing coach while simultaneously considering how the program might move forward? As a Georgia Tech fan, it’s the perfect time to review what Paul Johnson has meant to the football program and discuss how Geoff Collins can build upon that foundation.
The Close of the Paul Johnson Era
For the majority of my 5-year undergraduate career at Tech, the football program was in a dark cloud of mediocrity under the watch of Chan Gailey. To be charitable (and avoid a tangential rant), we brought in talent, but often failed to fully develop it. However, the real final straw was Gailey's inability to beat UGA in the annual rivalry...even once. After six years of futility in “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” (putting the rivalry record for longest win streak in jeopardy of being equaled or surpassed), Tech decided it was time for a change, and on December 7, 2007, hired Paul Johnson to bring his option-based offense to the Flats. Johnson, clearly understanding why he was hired, proudly proclaimed, “To Hell with Georgia!” at his introduction to the students and alumni. He was going to fit in really well.
With each new coach, there is inevitably a transition period wherein players learn the new system they weren't recruited for. During this time, the record might not reflect the growth and progress of the program. The advent of Johnson's option system at Tech was met with high levels of skepticism, with Sports Illustrated predicting a total of three wins and a fourth place finish in the ACC Coastal. To say expectations were “low” is an understatement. However, when all was said and done, the 2008 team ended with a 9-4 overall record, 6-1 record at home, and 4-2 record against ranked opponents. Most importantly, the Yellow Jackets defeated UGA 45-42 in Athens in a comeback performance for the ages. Expectations were now quite high.
In his 11 years at Tech, Johnson accrued an overall record of 82-61 (0.573) and a conference record of 51-37 (0.580). Those win totals include:
9 seasons of bowl eligibility (more on that in a bit)
5 seasons of 8+ wins
4 first place finishes in the ACC Coastal (2 tied, 2 outright)
3 appearances in the ACC Championship
2 Orange Bowl appearances (1 loss, 1 win)
1 ACC Championship (I don't recognize the legitimacy of the NCAA forcing us to vacate that title)
3 wins against UGA
While those stats seem reflective of a solid coaching tenure, there are also a number of downsides that Tech faithful were forced to endure during that same tenure:
The early success in 2008 and 2009 (nine and 10-win seasons, ACC Coastal champions, and an ACC Championship title) were largely the product of good recruiting during the Chan Gailey era. Johnson's third year saw a sharp decline to a 6-7 record.
The dismal 2015 season end with a 3-9 record and snapped Tech's 18-year streak of bowl eligibility (at the time, tied for 2nd longest in the NCAA).
As for bowl games, Johnson's teams went 3-6 in the nine games they were invited to play.
Play calling was maddening at times, as numerous games seemed to have been decided by or adversely affected by Johnson's play choices. In various instances it felt like Johnson overcomplicated the offense leading to illogical calls in an attempt to outsmart opposing defenses, typically leading to him just confusing his own players. In short, he sometimes let his pride in his offensive scheme override good decision making.
Johnson would notoriously underemphasize the importance of recruiting to his team, particularly on offense, insisting that his system could turn 3-star talents into 5-star performers. This recruiting deficit allowed regional rivals (e.g., Clemson, UGA, etc.) to grow in strength faster than if Tech had been courting the same players. Tech's last five recruiting classes according to 24/7 Sports:
Perhaps most frustrating to Tech fans, Johnson lost to UGA EIGHT times in his tenure.
All in all, Johnson was a step forward for our program, if for no other reason than his option offense gave Tech a unique identity. That identity provided a basis to bring Yellow Jacket players and fans together around a common set of values and goals. We didn't have to be the biggest or the fastest on the field; we would be disciplined and crafty because that's what Tech students are.
Great Expectations of Geoff Collins
When Paul Johnson abruptly announced his retirement on November 28 of this year, and the speculation began on who might succeed him, I was intrigued by one particular name -- Geoff Collins. In doing a bit of research Collins seemed to check all the right boxes: young, innovative, good at recruiting (he was partially responsible for the best recruiting class under Chan Gailey, the one Paul Johnson inherited and won the 2009 ACC Championship with), and having personal ties to Georgia Tech. Time will tell if he builds on the foundation laid down by Paul Johnson (though the option system seems to be on the way out), but the early signs are positive. Despite being on the job for all of a week before the early national signing day, he has already demonstrated his recruiting talents by flipping a multiple players from commitments to other schools and bringing in other talent via transfers.
Collins has stated that, instead of downplaying the academic rigor of Georgia Tech, he wants to emphasize the quality of the degree as a selling point to potential recruits. He understands Georgia Tech as a brand and a state of mind. He also wants to leverage the city of Atlanta as another positive for choosing the Yellow Jackets over other programs, and his Twitter game is on point.
Collins wants to link the coolness of the city with its preeminent institution of higher learning. Overall, he seems to understand young people and marketing, something that seems new and refreshing for a Tech coach. I think if he keeps pursuing his priorities at his current pace, he will have a successful career on the Flats.
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