Hey there Tiger fans. Here’s this weeks “Know Your…” segment. Take this with a grain of salt as we did. And yeah, we cringed our way through this hot mess as well. Here are our answers over at their site.
1. How has Paul Johnson changed the way Tech fans feel about football games?
Paul Johnson has electrified the fan base of Georgia Tech. From his days at Georgia Southern, he already had developed a passionate hatred for UGA. Chain Gailey was boring as hell. If you asked him what his favorite ice cream flavor was, it would surely be vanilla. His favorite breakfast is a plain bagel with black coffee. In fact, Gailey was not born, he congealed out of a bowl of plain yogurt. On the other hand, CPJ is the perfect mix of smart ass and bad ass. He says what right on his mind and he demands perfection. Chan was always labeled a “good man” who simply “has integrity,” so much so that he never even said “To Hell with Georgia”. At a Tech basketball game against Kansas, Paul Johnson came out onto the floor to say a few words. He ended his speech with: “There’s been a lot of things going on and it’s been really fast. But there’s one thing I’ve already learned, and that’s TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!!”. The place erupted. If he told any Tech fan to go and do a dastardly deed, they would do it in a heartbeat.
2. Your D-line is known to be a strong point, as you mentioned in your questions posed to us. Where is another strong point and where is your biggest weakness on your team?
Our offensive backs have been pretty stellar when everyone is up and running. As A-Backs (slot back), Lucas Cox has been a bruiser who can always gain a few yards after contact, and Roddy Jones has been a speedy ground as well as air threat. However, the most explosive part of our offense is the duo of B-Back Jonathan Dwyer and QB Josh Nesbitt, who have had flashes of pure brilliance throughout the year. Dwyer MUST be blocked – no defense get away with not putting him as their #1 priority. This has allowed Nesbitt to showcase his own athletic ability, often surprising defenses with his strength. The Dwyer/Nesbitt combo is what won the BC game for us, and we look forward to seeing them working together again soon. The final reason they have been so spectacular is that they have played so well in spite of the answer to your second question.
The biggest weakness? Our offensive line. There has been a complete change in theory for our offensive line, as they are now splitting wide enough for two of me to walk between them, and their blocking techniques shifted to cut-blocking (not chop-blocking). Basically, they kept their size, but had to re-learn how to play football. No longer are they creating a pocket – they are slamming into the defense as hard as they can, pushing back as far as possible, in order to get the QB or the B-Back as far up the field as possible on every play. However, they are not performing at the level they need to be; in fact, they flat-out got beat by Gardner-Webb.
3. How does your team prepare for Saturday’s game given Clemson’s coaching jumble?
The approaches towards your team will be the same. “It won’t make a huge difference,” Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “They might tweak some things or change some things, but the players will be the same. The schemes will be the same. They’re not going to change everything in four days.” It is interesting to note that our daily fish-wrapper, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, has stated that the team expects to see Cullen Harper start, but will prepare for both. (note: this was 10/14 and was published before Korn was announced the official starter. The crap newspaper is also known for making up comments) With Korn now named the starter it will be interesting to see how we change our preparation. Definitely we will prepare for a scramble as that is what seemed to hurt us with Tyrod Taylor and Virginia Tech.
4. Do you ever have nightmares or worry that Reggie Ball will somehow make it back to your team and screw things up again?
Hindsight is always 20/20. The competent fans of Georgia Tech look back and say that our issues were not found in the player, it was in the system. Ball never developed after his freshman year and that is because of coaching. Looking back, Gailey’s regime really was that bad. Our offense that impotent and our defense really good enough just to give us a chnace to have winning seasons. Reggie, it wasn’t you. We know that now.
5. GWU kept it close last week. What do you take from that? What should Clemson fans take from that? Where did Tech struggle?
There were many strange issues going on in that game. Some combination of a team going through the motions and overlooking the opponent, a defensive back have multiple seizures on the sideline, and a 3rd string quarterback starting in a system in which he physically does not fit all were factors. In the end, we just overlooked the opponent and Paul Johnson took the blame. Many people overlook how our defense played (stellar) because of our offensive line. Swiss cheese comes to mind when you ask about our O-Line. Practice is already notorious for being harder than a game….I would hate to have been there on Monday. Clemson fans should have an idea of what can hinder our offense, but I would be nervous not just because of the turmoil on campus. CPJ will not let us under perform in Death Valley, Clemson is going to have to beat the same team that played against Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Duke.
6. Who are the top three Tech players we should look out for and why?
In the triple option attack, there are multiple elements and factors that can affect a game and they can never be the same element twice. We will give you 2 offensive and 1 defensive player to be on the lookout for:
1. Josh Nesbitt: Straight up athlete. May not know the system perfectly well but his athleticism and toughness makes up for it. Left the Miss. State game early because of a bad hamstring. By the time kickoff comes around, he will have had up to four weeks of rest. Once Josh’s reads become second nature and he can run the offense as smooth as Jaybo Shaw has, the system will be a thing of beauty.
2. Jonathon Dwyer: If Paul Johnson could sculpt a B-Back out of clay and breathe life into it (which he probably can, for now he just likes the challenge of recruiting), he would create someone that looks like Jon Dwyer. He fits the B-Back style of play almost perfectly, and it has shown in his game so far.
3. Michael Johnson: If we aren’t mistaken, Clemson’s offensive line has had trouble protecting it’s quarterbacks. That’s bad news for Clemson, because the 6’7″, 265 lb. defensive end Michael Johnson is an absolute beast who practices and plays at full throttle every down of his life. The guy is freakishly athletic, and Tigers fans will remember #93.
mogrits on 
AParker on 
Willy Mac on 
1Tom
on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:33 pm:
Unfortunately, Dabo’s first game isn’t going to be a pretty one. We’ll fight hard, but Paul Johnson will demonstrate yet again that he is the coach we should have hired. Tech 28, Clemson 21
2Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:58 pm:
I expect this to be low-scoring and violent. Clemson 17, Yaller Jackets 14
3Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:09 am:
legacy x-4 just posted yall’s responses, fyi
4Joe
on Oct 16, 2008 at 7:56 am:
Yeah we will remember number 93, GAINES ADAMS BABY!haha
5Tully
on Oct 16, 2008 at 10:11 am:
tl;dnr GT sux.
6VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:01 am:
Hey everyone, been reading a while now, but just now getting to posting a comment. Just want to say your site kicks *ss.
Now to the matter at hand. That was the most pompous, turgid bunch of garbage I’ve ever heard. I seriously don’t know how in the hell you were able to get through that without bashing your own face into the back of your skull.
Could that guy’s tongue be anymore firmly lodged in Paul Johnson’s a-hole? Seriously, who the f does he think he’s kidding with this shit. PJ can mold a back out of clay and breath life into it? This guy talks like PJ is God, and everyone knows that Danny Ford has already filled that position permanently.
Furthermore, holding Gardner-Webb to 7 is a “stellar” defensive performance, wtf?
Please, oh please, ban that douche from any further participation in Know Your…
7Chili
on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:17 am:
Best first comment ever.
8VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:36 am:
Chili,
Thanks for the compliment. I hope to make my future comments do that 1st one justice by making them even more disjointed, ranting, and hateful. That should fit perfect with the atmosphere of this site.
Also, how do I get a picture other than that freakish lookin’ bug-eyed dude to show when I post comments? (I’m a historian, and therefore technologically deficient)
9Chili
on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:44 am:
http://en.gravatar.com, should take a few minutes to kick in.
10Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:45 am:
dang chili i was gonna tell him and save you the trouble
11Tully
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:24 pm:
LOL. Nice post, Vlad.
12edbo
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:37 pm:
I don’t know how to load it here but please check out the bullshit the Orlando Sentinal wrote about Spence.
13Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:48 pm:
I’m trying to find it edbo, what day was it in there? today?
14Chili
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:51 pm:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2008/10/clemson-interim.html
I’ll do a little news post today and include this.
It’s sort of sobering to see (allegedly) Spence’s brother commenting at the bottom of the article about fan treatment of his brother and his family.
15Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:52 pm:
found it http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2008/10/clemson-interim.html
16Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:53 pm:
damnit chili you’ve beat me on the draw twice today
17Willy Mac
on Oct 16, 2008 at 12:54 pm:
Vlad. That was a great and sot-on comment. Thanks for posting that. I didn’t wanna be rude to the guy, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and chalked it up to him being a young guy who’s learning how the cfb blog world works. The Reggie Ball joke was a softball we lobbed to him… Larry Literal with a swing and a miss.
18VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 1:21 pm:
Thanks to everyone for the kind words about my first comment. Again, this site rules and is the only one I actually spend significant time reading (most others suck balls). Let me know of any other good sites I should check out.
Willy Mac, love the Larry Literal joke. Also loved the way you called that moron out on the Saturday night thing. Guess those Techies aren’t quite as intelligent as they purport to be.
Still working on my gravatar. It’s difficult to get it done with my supervisor constantly walking around the office looking over everyone’s shoulder.
19Chili
on Oct 16, 2008 at 1:34 pm:
That was my line on the Saturday night thing, FWIW.
20VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 1:45 pm:
Sorry for the mistaken assumption Chili, way to go on that line
I just read that thing on the Olrando Sentinel, I thought that the GT guy who did Know Your Jackets was a shoe in for Douchebag of the Year, but now I think it’s a 3 way tie b/t him the author of that article, and Dr. Stan Spence
21edbo
on Oct 16, 2008 at 2:02 pm:
Vlad, You’re a major ass kicker. personally, I was blowing chow all over the place when I was reading it
22Daniel
on Oct 16, 2008 at 2:15 pm:
That article in the Sentinel is crap. We replaced 3 starting offensive linemen last year and Harper had a record-breaking year. Spence’s statistics were inflated because of the way we would put up Xbox numbers on SC State, The Citadel, etc. Spence wasn’t all bad all the time, but he had run his course at Clemson and it was certainly time to go in another direction. Since the author of that piece was into stats, a real good one for him is that James Davis and CJ Spiller have combined for 20 carries per game so far this year. No way that should happen.
23edbo
on Oct 16, 2008 at 2:19 pm:
If that comment from Dr. Stan Spence isn’t total bullshit(undecided on that), then he is without doubt a p#ssy.
24VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 3:11 pm:
edbo, thanks man. Dig your gravatar btw.
25Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 3:48 pm:
Do I sense a bit of tension between our admins?
26Tom
on Oct 16, 2008 at 4:38 pm:
For a Historian, Vlad sure doesn’t know much about Paul Johnson, or the game against Gardner Webb. Either way, Saturday will demonstrate just what kind of a coach we’re facing.
27VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 5:11 pm:
Tom,
I never made a single statement in my comment saying that PJ wasn’t a good coach. My post was speaking to the guy’s complete and utter blind faith, elevating PJ to the status of a deity.
Furthermore, what the fuck does being a historian have to do with knowing about Paul Johnson. He is not a historical figure, dumbass!!! Even sports historians don’t keep up with individual coaches or games, it’s about sports as a social and cultural expression of the time and place in question.
You’re right, I don’t know a great deal about Paul Johnson. I do, however, know a fair amount about you, Tom, who formerly hung out with the Chester Clemson Club at many games. You were a fat douche then, and I can see that nothing has changed.
Keep your bullshit to yourself. If you’ve got a problem with me, I’ll give you my address so you can come by and I will kick your fucking teeth into the back of your fat face.
BOO_YAH, BITCH!!!
28Penthouse Tiger
on Oct 16, 2008 at 5:21 pm:
Wow, such animosity… this thread is probably the most violent ive ever read on block-c.
29DwightClark87
on Oct 16, 2008 at 6:08 pm:
KIRK IS BETTER THAN PICARD!
30Chili
on Oct 16, 2008 at 6:21 pm:
PIKE MOTHERFUCKER, PIKE
31CUvinny
on Oct 16, 2008 at 7:16 pm:
Nothing to add, just wanted to post in an epic thread.
(picard is the only true cap’t)
32Tom
on Oct 16, 2008 at 7:17 pm:
Any Time Vlad. I’m gonna be there Saturday. I’m not hard to spot, as you mentioned. Come by and say hi.
33Chili
on Oct 16, 2008 at 8:07 pm:
Tom, Vlad, if you guys are going to throw down, we can get some sponsors, maybe do a liveblog, hook up with AntiBowden on it. Let us know.
34VladimirUlianov
on Oct 16, 2008 at 8:19 pm:
Tom,
I won’t be at the game Sat. due to having to work until 1. I will be happy to meet your fat faggot ass that evening. When? Where?
35Willy Mac
on Oct 16, 2008 at 9:38 pm:
Guys, guys, guys… can you at least make sure this get’s filmed for the website????
36Tom
on Oct 16, 2008 at 11:49 pm:
Hey, if you’re going to make idle threats, don’t shy away when I call your bluff. I’m not going out and searching out anybody, I don’t have to, I’m right about Johnson just like I was right about Bowden, and I don’t have to use threats or insults to prove that. You want to find me, bring it.
37Willy Mac
on Oct 17, 2008 at 6:16 am:
Tom, not attacking but he said “when” and “where”… that’s not exactly shying away.
38Chili
on Oct 17, 2008 at 8:11 am:
Tom, constantly bragging about how you were right about Johnson and right about Bowden is lame enough, but add to it the fact of the matter that those weren’t exactly going out on a fucking limb. It’s not like you’re some Galilaen genius challenging long held beliefs with your cutting edge observations. You were yelling that Bowden was bad and should go, and that Johnson was a good coach.
HOLY FUCK, SIGN ME UP FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER.
There were maybe 10% of Clemson fans out there who would violently dispute your observations. Seriously enough about Bowden and Johnson, nobody cares.
39Clem
on Oct 17, 2008 at 9:44 am:
Good Lord, that Spence blog post has turned into the Dr. Stan hour with retort from Clemson supporters.
40VladimirUlianov
on Oct 17, 2008 at 11:11 am:
Tom,
I never said you were wrong about Bowden or Johnson. In fact, I agree with you on both points.
I also did not shy away from your challenge. (i.e. When? where?) The fact that you are only willing to meet up if it fits into your pre-arranged schedule of being at the game this Saturday (“I’m not going out and searching out anybody”) shows me that you are not serious about it. Therefore, I will ignore all of your future comments.
41Willy Mac
on Oct 17, 2008 at 11:19 am:
My names R. D. Mercer an bah gawd ahll whip your ass! Well, how bigga boyarhya?
42VladimirUlianov
on Oct 17, 2008 at 11:44 am:
Willy Mac,
How did you know that I was playing a character, and that this is all a performance art piece? Man, you totally blew my cover. Now it’s no fun at all.
43Bowman
on Oct 17, 2008 at 12:57 pm:
Big Tom Utley…still muttering like a big dumb monkey. Some things never change.
44Tom
on Oct 17, 2008 at 10:54 pm:
Chilli, it’s easy to say that now, after everything I’ve said has proven itself to be accurate.
Vlad, I’ll be at Sikes all day. (well until kickoff at least.) See ya.
45Chili
on Oct 18, 2008 at 8:12 am:
I’ve never seen someone beat their own chest so much over so little an accomplishment. Do you run around town bragging to people that you wipe your own ass, too, or is that still a mountain to climb for you?