It’s understandable if Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is sentimental to face Georgia Southern this Saturday — a school where he spent nearly a decade of his 37-year coaching career — but Johnson insists he’s focused on winning above all else.
Georgia Southern (1-2) gave Johnson his first head coaching job from 1997 through 2001. Before he became the man in charge, he served as a defensive line coach in 1983 and 1984 and then offensive coordinator for two more seasons in 1985 and 1986.
“I’ve got a lot of fond memories of the place,” Johnson said. “When I was there, we were really successful.”
In his five seasons as head coach, Johnson remembers a lot of winning. Southern was 62-10, 36-4 under Johnson and he led the Eagles to the playoffs every year and won NCAA Division I-AA Championships in 1999 and 2000.
As he turns to the Southern team the Jackets will face on Saturday, Johnson’s last run-in with the Eagles in 2014 is still fresh in Johnson’s mind.
“Now we’re trying to get ready to play and having been there, I’m trying to get our guys to understand how excited they’re going to be to have a chance to come in here and play and we’re got to be able to match their intensity and everything and be ready to play,” Johnson said.
In their 2014 matchup, the Yellow Jackets (3-3 this season) nearly lost to the Eagles in Bobby Dodd Stadium in a season in which they made it to the ACC Championship and secured an Orange Bowl victory. The Eagles scored 28 consecutive points in the third quarter to take the lead, but fumbled late in the fourth quarter making way for a 13-yard touchdown pass to Deon Hill from quarterback Justin Thomas. The Jackets won 42-38.
Echoing the call to match the Eagles’ intensity, Johnson’s players know they must take Saturday’s game seriously because of what happened in 2014 and for the sake of what’s left of their season.
“I’ve seen it this year: They were down a few touchdowns and they came back in the fourth quarter,” Thomas said. “They didn’t win, but they still made it a game. We just have to come in and play four quarters and be ready to go.”
Thomas completed 11 of 24 for 188 yards and four touchdowns and no picks against the Eagles in 2014. Thomas also ran the ball for 137 yards and one touchdown. Thomas had something to do with four of the Jackets’ five touchdowns in that game.
Approaching Saturday’s game, Johnson was most confident about his senior quarterback’s ability to make good decisions.
“I think that for the most part, Justin Thomas is going to get us in the right place and right situations,” Johnson said. “I think you can pretty much count on that. I’d like to think we’re going to play hard.”
Thomas has passed for 588 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 206 yards and one touchdown.
Offensive lineman Freddie Burden, who is from Statesboro High, has experienced the power of Georgia Southern’s program firsthand.
“This is going to be their Super Bowl, how they’re treating it,” he said. “You know they’re going to bring their A-game. So they’re going to (give it) their best shot, and we’re going to have to match it.”
