Paul Johnson Perpetuating Culture Shock at Georgia Tech

(Even Gator grad Erin Andrews has to respect the changes afoot at the North Avenue Trade School)

Georgia Tech and Florida State do not have a long history, but they certainly have a lively one.

Many's the time this matchup has come down to the last five minutes, and until last year, those minutes always belonged to the 'Noles.

They were the Beatles to Tech's Rolling Stones—the Jackets simply could not break through when it mattered most. That obviously changed last night.

It's yet another signal of a new trend in Atlanta. To quote an over-quoted man, "The times, they are a-changin."

In just 19 games, Paul Johnson has managed to completely alter the level of expectation at Georgia Tech.

This was a program former athletic director Dave Braine once said, under some stress, might always struggle to compete nationally because of academic expectation. It is that program no longer. 

Now, to be fair, Braine exited not long after—perhaps in part because of that comment. But after six uninspiring years under Chan Gailey, that quote came to symbolize what many fans of the program felt the Jackets had become; champions of mediocrity.

So when newboy Dan Radakovich went out on a considerable limb and hired Paul Johnson and his option offense from Navy, the general consensus was a turnaround at Tech, if it was coming at all, would be slow and painful. 

Enter Johnson, whose expectation is insatiable and of perfection. Where Gailey would ask, Johnson demands. And that is the difference between the men, and their two programs.

In his short tenure, Johnson has beaten Miami once, Florida State and Clemson each at home and on the road, and came tantalizingly close to beating Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium.

Most important, where Gailey was a notorious 0-for-6 against Georgia, Johnson has one win in as many tries, and it came in Athens.

Moreover, there is accountability on the Flats—brought about by Johnson's demanding demeanor—that did not exist previously. The goal is continual improvement, and mistakes are condemned far worse than good play is celebrated.

He can be positive, but even then, it says something about the man that the players who receive the majority of Johnson's praise earn it through hard work and obvious toughness (see Josh Nesbitt).

Obviously, the Jackets are still a work in progress.

They fumble far too much. The defense looked plain awful against Florida State, and has generally looked so at several points this season. The loss to Miami could be the difference between a trip to Tampa in December and the Champs Sports Bowl.

But frankly, I'm not sure Johnson would want it any other way. And that's what's going to make the Georgia Tech program great again.