In honor of Paul Johnson being at the game tomorrow... what's your favorite memory from his time as coach?

[georgiatech22]

Thought this might spark some good debate and wonderful memories. I've included the popular options but feel free to include others I failed to mention. Mine would probably have to be the first UGA win in 2008/ I was sitting in the cold rain watching that first half thinking we were in for another blowout, then Dwyer ran the opening play back

#2 would be a tie between the 2014 Kick and Pick and the Orange Bowl win.

 

[juraitwaluzka]

2008.

This is one poll that doesn't need a Vad Lee option.

 

[BainbridgeJacket]

2008 FSU fumble. When the camera cuts to the students dog piling against the wall, I was at the bottom of that pile. Stormed the field, had a quick handshake and chat with Mr. Bowden, he asked how my uncle was doing, and we wished each other well.

 

[LagrangeJacket]

2008 was my last football season as a student. What an amazing year.

 

[coit]

There is only one correct answer.

 

[coit]

2008 was my last football season as a student. What an amazing year.

 

[LagrangeJacket]

Yup, I'm a gtg.

Edit: the grass in that video looks great. Sigh.

 

[gtg712x]

I have a really hard time picking one.
-The 2009 VT game is the benchmark for my favorite atmosphere ever in Bobby Dodd.
-Rushing the field for the 2008 FSU game was a lot of fun and probably my best home game memory as a student (my last season as one).
-The 2008 UGA game is the only time I've ever been to a game in Athens, and I'll always fondly remember the 2nd half and relishing the victory while leaving the stadium.
-My dad came with me to the 2015 FSU game, so that was special.
-I watched the 2014 UGA game with a bunch of Tech fans/alums at a local bar. I remember a female UGA fan ducking into the patio area where we were just as UGA scored their last TD in regulation. She gave a little "yes" under her breath and fist-pump and quickly retreated thinking they had won the game. If it was anyone other than a UGA fan I wouldn't have really found it particularly obnoxious, but dawg. Felt really good to flash her a smile as I was walking out after OT.
-The 2014 Orange bowl was just the culmination of a magical season. Probably highest I've ever felt as a Tech fan.

 

[Nanajoth]

09 VT only because I helped relocate the goal post.

 

[Walton]

I think 2008 because it was a pure Johnson win: beat a more talented team because they couldn’t stop his offense; made adjustments at half that UGA had no hope of stopping. He called the TD after the half.

And it stopped UGA from winning 8 in a row in the series.

 

[gtleviathan]

I voted for the 2014 U(sic)GA win in the poll (because F the dwags) but when it comes to remembering the genius of Paul Johnson, 3 games from 2009 come to mind...

• The fake field goal against Clemson was the best fake special teams play I've ever seen.
• The crackback blocks on Cam Cancellor to shut him up in the VT game were magnificent.
• The twist that Paul threw against FSU that year where the orbit motion came from a motioning slot back coming behind the A-back was the most masterful offensive game planning strategy I've ever witnessed. FSU literally had no idea what to do after practicing against our normal A-back motion for the entire year in preparation. And Saint Bobby's flustered interview after the game (or was it at halftime?) was the cherry on top.

 

[verdi]

09 VT rocked, but my favorite memory was 14 UGA. There was so many rare football moments in that game.

 

[The Champ]

In order:
08 UGA
09 VT
16 UGA
14 UGA
09 ACC CG
09 FSU
08 FSU
11 Clemson
15 FSU
Sun Bowl
Gator Bowl

There are also a few unlisted I’d rank in the same group. Like 08 Miami 09 Clemson 14 Clemson and the miracle comeback in Ireland.

 

[CPJ= Master Yoda]

PJ was the f’n man. Wish he’d have had the support behind him that he needed. Could have won it all. Maybe even a couple.

 

[coit]

I think 2008 because it was a pure Johnson win: beat a more talented team because they couldn’t stop his offense; made adjustments at half that UGA had no hope of stopping. He called the TD after the half.

And it stopped UGA from winning 8 in a row in the series.

This, this, all of this.

Was watching with my Dwag in-laws as per tradition. I came in cocky and at the half they were trying to cut me down to size. I told them I wasn't worried, we are going to win the game. And that 2nd half, woooo boy. One nephew was a Dwag fan but went to Southern so he didn't really mind seeing SPJ winning it.

Good times, and is my second favorite game after 1990 Citrus Bowl.

 

[Dirty Jacket]

Hard to pick a favorite child. 2008 was pure joy after the misery of the previous decade. But 2014 was my personal favorite. I was at both games in nearly the same seats (5 yard line on the uga sideline, in the end zone where the kick and pick both happened). 2014 felt like we snagged it from them at the end and just beat the öööö out of them with dominant offensive line (shaq) play.

 

[bonham]

The UGA wins were great but were nail biters that I think took years off my life.

I don't think I've EVER had as much fun watching a GT game as I did that 2014 Orange Bowl. We absolutely steamrolled a top 10 team. Watching our OL and RB's just truck their defense was something else.

The comments from the announcers during the game were memorable.

"The SEC is reeling"

"They can't stop it. folks"

"The whole defense is in a Days" (after Sinjyn Days was running over them)

 

[swampsting]

2014 Orange Bowl was a master class in what PJ could do when he had the kind of team he wanted - and we didn't even have Smelter, Zenon or Snoddy, three of our fastest players, for that game.
But 2008 made them hate us again.
We were becoming an afterthought. We were becoming Vanderbilt or Kentucky on their schedule, just a team that no mattered how hard they tried, they weren't going to beat Georgia.
And then in a space of a few minutes, it was the football equivalent of the dive bombers finding the Japanese fleet at Midway. They were stunned at how quickly an option team could blow them out of the water. The silence around us in Sanford Stadium as Dwyer ran through them untouched to make it 35-28 was startling.
That afternoon, they had to start taking us seriously again. the one outlier since then during the PJ era was 2012 (and to an extent 18) - they were really just that much better than us that year. But 14 and 16 showed them as long as there are seconds on the clock, we're coming after them.
Georgia fans hated PJ and the option. They started dreading that game again. We got back in their heads rent-free.
And it started with 08.

 

[BuzzinWreck78]

2008 was memorable for me as i was in Ft Collins,Co about a week longer than expected to meet my dau (no pic) returning from her first Iraq deployment. That was my driving out day so i arranged a later flight to watch the game in a bar at the Denver airport....
. still 2014 was my favorite CPJ game.

 

[79tech]

Boy do i miss those days. Even games such as going to VT twice with not great teams and 2nd string QBs and just blowing their doors off was a lot of fun. Or Louisville when we scored 59 at their place. When he got it going it made the other team just wilt and give up. The TO was the most fun offense to watch.